The Bower & Collier Family History
Research by Colin Bower
The Death of William II (William Rufus)
Interim Report II
Conclusions
In Interim Report I listed:
A. Comments on the then Information To Date under 7 Categories
B. Interm Conclusions
In preparation for Interm Report II, I obtained some additional infomation.
I have duly updated A. & B.above
Comments Under the 7 Categories
1. The Chronicles
From Interim Report I
The Chronicles are the main source of information about the death of William Rufus.
Nick Saunders has pointed out the weaknesses in relying on the Chronicles written some years after the event (Article 26).
As explained in the Introduction, there will be different explanations according to which sources the chroniclers used.
In the case of contemporaries William of Malmesbury and Geffrei Gaimar we do not know the sources they used.
You have to ask how information about the killing was communicated.
The members of the hunting party would have been a main source of information.
A basic outline only would have been passed on by word of mouth at the time and conveyed as far a field as Europe where certain parties/enemies would have been agog.
So far I have not seen reference to anything that was written down shortly after the event.
The only reports (we are told) were from a potential witness - Walter Tirel - who claimed that he was elsewhere/innocent.
This theme is developed in 7. below.
Additional Comments From Interim Report II
The accounts by Malmesbury and Vitalis are extremely colourful but may have a vestige of the truth
The description of events by later chroniclers were embroidered with other details that may or may not be true.
2. The Build Up to the Hunt
From Interim Report I
We know that the Royal Hunting Party headed out on the second day of the stag-hunting season.
It seems that William Rufus was living at Winchester Castle but it would have been a long ride to hunt in the New Forest.
The start of the stag-hunting season would have been a magnet for the King and his nobles.
It is likely that the hunting party would have assembled and stayed at a hunting lodge.
The choice of hunting lodge is between Brockenhurst and Malwood Castle/Keep. (see 3. below)
There is some evidence that William Rufus enjoyed dinner the night before the hunt and breakfast and lunch/dinner the following day.
Most accounts suggesst that the hunting party left in the afternoon but 2 say they left in the morning. (this has a bearing on when the accident occurred).
Some accounts say that the accident happened late in the day.
The names of those who left the hunting lodge to go on the hunt is valuable information.
Additional Comments From Interim Report II
None
3. Where the Hunting Lodge was (Brockenhurst or Malwood Castle/Keep).
From Interim Report I
There appears to be evidence that there were hunting lodges in Brockenhurst and Malwood Castle/Keep. It does seem odd that there should be two relatively near each other.
If William Rufus was killed near Beaulieu, it seems more likely that he would have hunted out of the hunting lodge in Brockenhurst.
Strangely, Malwood Castle/Keep was near to Minstead, near the site of the Rufus Stone.
Additional Comments From Interim Report II
Arthur Lloyd says that: - there is no reference to a hunting lodge at Castle Malwood until the 1270s - two writs have survived written in the presence of Rufus when in the Forest and both were witnessed, apud Brocheherst
4. Who was in the Royal Hunting Party
From Interim Report I
There is a difference between the Articles some saying that the hunting party was small and others saying it was a good size.
Because the hunt was right at the start of the stag-hunting season it seems likely that it was a good size.
If William Rufus only hunted on the afternoon of the second day some nobles may have gone ahead without him (if that was allowed or advisable!).
It is frustrating that I cannot follow up on the article written for the Wessex Society. It is unique in listing a number of nobles who were in the hunting party, but unfortunately the Society has closed down and the author has died.
As a postscript, if the hunting party had been small, the killer of William Rufus would have been more easily identified.
Additional Comments From Interim Report II
None
5. Where the Hunting Accident Took Place
From Interim Report I
It would have neen great if the Rufus Stone marked the spot where William Rufus was killed. It has been a tourist attraction and for many a must-visit.
However it seems more likely that it was in fact on what is now the Beaulieu estate. Arthur Lloyd thought so!
As yet, I don't know why John Leland wrote about William Rufus in 1530 and what his source was.
Was there a written account in Royal records of the death of William Rufus?
Additional Comments From Interim Report II
John Leland toured England in his role as librarian for Henry VIII and in thje 1530s was told by Sir William Berkeley that Rufus fell at Thorougham (thought to be Truham in the Domesday Book)
A key finding has been that a monk at Waverley Abbey noted in its Annals, shortly after the foundation of Beaulieu Abbey (c1204), that the Abbey was built cvlose to where Rufus was killed.
Another was reference to Througham (on the dissolved Beaulieu Abbey estate), Throughams Park (1578), Trou(t)ham in Sacrist's Accounts.
6. Who fired the arrow that killed William Rufus
From Interim Report I
It was one of his own men!
We are told that hunting accidents were commonplace. Presumably horses chased deer at high speed - not a good idea where trees are involved. Also presumably archers had to get their shots of quickly - dangerous if others in the hunting party are nearby.
In this case, some of the articles suggest poor shooting with an arrow richocheting off a tree; while others say that a second stag was involved and/or the evening sun caused a problem.
It is not clear how far the rest of the party were away from William Rufus and Tirel. It sounds very odd and very dangerous that some of the party fanned out in a circle round the king. (Articles 11 and 25)
The last 3 internet searches about Malwood Castle/Keep carried some surprises.
Whereas in most articles the King and Tirel dismounted and used a bow and arrow, one Article has the King being shot whilst on horseback by a crossbow
The article has the King breaking a bow string while other articles have Henry doing this.
Additional Comments From Interim Report II
One article has the arrow glancing off an animal's back before striking the King
7. The Aftermath of the Killing
From Interim Report I
It ought to have been easy to summarise what happened to William Rufus after he was killed.
Either all the hunting party abandoned him or some saw to the body.
If so, you would expect that they would have needed a horse to take the body to a place where a cart could take the body on to Winchester.
The accepted narrative has a charcoal-burner (some say name of Purkis) who lifted the body on to his cart. It would have been quite a feat for him to have done so on his own.
Many articles have him taking the body to Winchester but in 7.7 of Categories, the article says he took the body to the hunting lodge (so far the only article to say this)
Then there is the heavily-biased accounts of his funeral, with no agreement as to when it took place.
This is arguably the most important section of the Interim Report, because it determines how many people knew about the death and in how much detail, because this would be the source of information that would be written up or handed down by word of mouth.
People who would know of the death
Depending on which group they were in would determine whether they knew a liile of a lot of what happened:
1. servants at the hunting lodge
2. members of the hunting party
3. Henry I and his entourage
4. The Royal Household/Staff etc at Winchester Castle & Winchester Cathedral and later London
5. The inhabitants/countryfolk of the New Forest
6. Misc people who were told of the event at the time and it was passed down through the ages
Additional Comments From Interim Report II
The additional information provided a number of comments on the aftemath:
- William was killed outright denying Rufus any hope of absolution
- it was thought an accident, so there was no investigarion and no punishment/loss of land.
- One view was that Purkis took the body to Romsey Abbey overnight
- Arthur Lloyd points out that no medieval source mentions Purkis/Purkess nor a charcoal burner's cart
- Eli discovered the body
- The actions by brother Henry were so rapid they looked planned
- there was no tolling of the bells or a religious service
- the burial was attended by many of the nobility
- the burial was attended by only clerics and monks in attendance
Final Interim Conclusions
The objective of the project was to find out more facts.
It seems reasonable to conclude:
Facts
From Interim Report I
1. Hunting in the New Forest was very popular particularly at the start of the stag-hunting season.
2. William Rufus hunted in the New Forest on 2 August 1100 (2nd day of the stag-hunting season)
3. He was killed in a hunting accident by one of his own men.
4. Walter Tirel is implicated
5. Brother Henry & others made off for Winchester and Henry claimed the treasury and the crown.
Additional Facts From Interim Report II
6. Arthur Lloyd felt that, from the evidence that he had collated, he has proved that Rufus was killed at Truham (Througham or Thorougham)
7. The chronicles whilst embellished, may have the vestige of truth in them
8. The chroniclers did not agree on some points of detail:
Examples
The size of the hunting party
When it set out to hunt
How Rufus was killed e.g. whether he was mounted or dismounted when he was killed
Who dealt with the body
The extent of the burial service and who attended
Likely
From Interim Report I
1. It was a good-sized hunting party with nobles, huntsmen and servants
2. The hunting party stayed at a hunting lodge possibly Brockenhurst
3. The hunting accident occurred on what is now the Beaulieu estate (meaning the Rufus Stone was in the wrong place)
4. Whilst many of the hunting part left the scene, William Rufus did receive some attention.
5. It took at least 2 days before the body reached Winchester after Rufus was killed
6. William Rufus' death would have been hot news and passed round.
Additional Information that is Likely to be True From Interim Report II
7. The hunting party stayed at a hunting lodge probably Brockenhurst
8. It was an accident not murder.
9. A number of People attended the burial
10. William Rufus' death would have been hot news/legendary status and passed round widely.
Colin Bower
30 September 2024
