n men in hunting." Whether the arrow, as tradition
has it, was shot by Walter Tyrrel or no, whether it was aimed at the
King or no, can never now be known. The most graphic account of the
affair is given to us by Ordericus Vitalis, who, however, was not only
not present, but at best can have been but a child at the time, for he
died in 1150. For all that he doubtless had access to sources of which
we now know nothing, and the whole atmosphere of his story suggests
that, as we might expect, the King was murdered because of his general
harshness and oppression, perhaps especially exemplified in his Forest
Law. It was he and not the Conqueror who demanded the life of a man for
that of a beast; his father had been content with an eye or a limb.

It would seem, according to Ordericus, that the whole country was full
of stories of terrible visions concerning the end of the King long
before his sudden death. Henry of Huntingdon, for instance, tells us
that "blood had been seen to spring from the ground in Berkshire," and
adds that "the King was rightly cut off in the midst of his injustice,"
for "England could not breathe under the burdens laid upon it."
Ordericus himself says that "terrible visions respecting him were seen
in the monasteries and cathedrals by the clergy of both classes, and
becoming the talk of the vulgar in the market-places and churchyards,
could not escape the notice of the King."

He then gives a particular instance: "A certain monk of good
repute and still better life, who belonged to the Abbey of St Peter at
Gloucester, related that he had a dream in the visions of the night to
this effect: 'I saw,' he said, 'the Lord Jesus seated on a lofty
throne, and the glorious host of heaven, with the company of the
saints, standing round. But while, in my ecstasy, I was lost in wonder,
and my attention deeply fixed on such an extraordinary spectacle, I
beheld a virgin resplendent with light cast herself at the feet of the
Lord Jesus, and humbly address to Him this petition, "O Lord Jesus
Christ, the Saviour of mankind, for which Thou didst shed Thy precious
blood when hanging on the Cross, look with an eye of compassion on Thy
people, which now groan under the yoke of William. Thou avenger of
wickedness, and most just judge of all men, take vengeance I beseech
Thee on my behalf of this William and deliver me out of his hands, for
as far as lies in his power he hath polluted and grievously afflicted
me." The Lord