[Sidenote: An. Reg. 21.] And now
king William, who hauing brought the Englishmen so lowe and bare, that
little more was to be got out of their hands, went once againe ouer
into Normandie with an huge masse of mony, where soone after he fell
sicke, so that he was constrained to keepe his bed longer than he had
beene accustomed to doo, whereat Philip the French king in iesting
manner said, that king William his cousine laie now in childbed
(alluding belike to his big bellie, for he was verie corpulent) and
withall added; [Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Matth. Paris._] "Oh what a
number of candels must I prouide to offer vp at his going to church!
certeinelie I thinke that 100000. will not suffice," &c. [Sidenote:
_Wil. Malm._ _Ran. Higd._] This frumping sp?ech so moued the king,
that he made this answere: "Well, I trust when I shall be churched,
that our cousine shall be at no such cost, but I will helpe to find
him a thousand candels myselfe, and light them too, to some of their
paines, if God grant me life." Which promise he bound with an oth, and
in d?ed performed. [Sidenote: He inuadeth France. _Gemeticensis_. The
citie of Maunt burnt by K. William. _Matth. West._ _Matth. Paris._]
For in Julie next insuing, when their corne, fruit, and grapes were
most florishing, and readie for the sickle, he entered France with a
great armie, set fire on manie of their cities and townes in the west
side of that countrie, and came at last to the citie of Maunt, which
he burnt with the church of our ladie, and an ankresse inclosed in the
wall thereof as an holie closet, for the force of the fire was such as
all went to wrecke.
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