The Accounts of Malmcsbury iduI Vitalis. 93 



his special friend, came to him with another dream, dreamt 

 also that very night by a foreign monk then staying at the 

 court, who had seen the King enter a church, and there seize 

 the rood, tearing apart its legs and arms. For a time the image 

 bore the insult, but suddenly struck the King. He fell, and 

 flames and smoke issued from his mouth, putting out the light 

 of the stars. The Red King's courage, however, had by this 

 time returned. With a laugh, he cried, " He is a monk, and 

 dreams for money like a monk : give him this," handing 

 Fitz Hamon a hundred shillings. Still the two dreams had 

 their effect, and "William hesitated to test their truth.* At 

 dinner that day he drank more than usual. His spirits once 

 more returned. He defied the dreams. In spite of their 

 warnings, he determined to hunt. As he was preparing, his 

 armourer approached with six brand-new arrows. Choosing out 

 two, he cried, as he gave them to Walter Tiril, Lord of Poix 

 and Pontoise, who had lately come from Normandy, " The best 

 arrows to the best marksman." The small hunting-party, 

 consisting of his brother Henry, William of Breteuil, Walter 

 Tiril, and Fitz Hamon, and a few more, set out. As they are 

 leaving the court^^ard, a monk from St. Peter's Abbey at 

 Gloucester arrives. He gives the King a letter from Serb, the 

 abbot. It told how a monk of that abbey had dreamt that 

 he had seen the Sa\dour and all the host of heaven standing 

 round the great white throne. Then, too, came the Virgin 

 robed in light, and flung herself at the feet of her Son, and 

 prayed Him, by his precious blood and agony on the cross, to 

 take pity on the English ; prayed Him, too, as He was judge 



* William of Malmesbury : Gesta liegum Aiigloriun. Ed. Hardy, 

 torn, ii., lib. iv., sect. 333, p. 508. 



