was legally entitled, he was already one of the richest Monarchs in Europe. The Saxon Chronicle says, he omitted no opportunity of extorting money from his subjects upon the slightest pretext, and speaks of it as a thing of course[75]. It must be owned, however, (says Lord Lyttelton) that, if his avarice was insatiably and unjustly rapacious, it was not meanly parsimonious, nor of that sordid kind which brings on a Prince dishonour and contempt. He supported the _dignity of the Crown_ with a _decent magnificence_; and, though he never was _lavish_, he was sometimes _liberal_[76]. [73] Domesday Book. [74] Rapin. [75] "_Pro more suo_, extorsit multum pecuniæ suis subditis ubicunque haberet aliquem pretextum, sive jure sive aliter." Chron. Sax. p. 187. In another place the writer says, he extorted money, "partim justè, maximâ verò ex parte injustè, rebus parùm urgentibus." p. 191. [76] Lord Lyttelton's Henry II. vol. i. p. 74. Thus did the Conqueror leave an ample and splendid revenue to his Successor, sufficient to maintain his Court in dignity and magnificence, and adequate to every expence both foreign and domestic. It is, at this day, almost impossible to discover the nature and magnitude of William's Household; but most probably, as it was numerous, it was likewise magnificent; though, perhaps, composed of Officers and Offices very different from what have been adopted in succeeding Reigns. We read of Treasurers, for such a King _must_ have: and in the next Reign mention is made of Robert Fitz-Hamon, _Gentleman of the Bed-chamber_[77], who conquered Wales, while William Rufus was engaged in a war with Scotland, anno 1091; and we afterwards read of other Officers similar to what we have at present, though the rudeness of the times rendered most of the offices now in being unnecessary, which seem to have been added from time to time, as luxury and refined necessity required, and in conformity to the pride and ostentatious spirit of the Prince who erected them. [77] _Gentleman of the Bed-chamber_ means what we now call a _Lord of the Bed-chamber_; which last is a title of a late introduction. When the _Gentleman_ was the superior, the next subordinate Officer was the _Groom_; which last title continues to this day. Had the first been originally called _Lords_, the latter would probably have been styled the _Gentleman_. William of Malmsbury speaks of the _Cubicularius_ in that ridiculous instance of William Rufus's absurd profusion with respect to the price of a pair of hose; by whom, I should suppose, he means an inferior Officer of the _Bed-chamber_, by the rough language he uses to him; no less than calling him a _son of a whore.--Filî, ait, meretricis._