" Helias being, thus set at libertie, did nothing
after (to make anie account of) against the king, but rather kept
himselfe quiet. [Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Polydor._] Howbeit some
write, that he was not taken at all, but escaped by flight. To
proceed king William being returned into England, and puffed vp with
pride of his victories, and now seeing himselfe fullie deliuered from
all troubles of warre, began after his old manner to spoile and wast
the countrie by vnreasonable exactions, tributes and paiments.
[Sidenote: Variance betwixt the king and the archbishop Anselme.]
Herevpon fell a great controuersie betweene Anselme and the king, who
pretended a reproch of cruell surcharging of his commons with
subsidies, lones, and vnreasonable fines: but the cheefe cause was,
for that he might not call his synods, nor correct the bishops, but
all to be doone as the king would. The king also chalenged the
inuestiture of prelates, and indeed sore taxed both the spiritualtie
and temporaltie, spending the monie vpon the reparations and buildings
of the Tower, & Westminster hall, as is before remembred. Besides
this, his seruants spoiled the English of their goods by indirect
meanes: but especiallie one Rafe sometime chaplaine vnto William the
Conquerour, & at this time the kings proctor and collector of his
taskes and subsidies was so malicious & couetous, that in steed of two
taskes, he would leuie three, pilling the rich, and powling the poore,
so that manie through his cruell dealing were oftentimes made to
forfeit their lands for small offenses: and by his meanes also diuerse
bishoprikes were bought and sold as other kinds of merchandizes,
whereby he was in singular fauour with the king.
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