It is allowed that King Alfred enlarged his Household very much; but, what was the nature and office of the individuals of it, we shall probably never be able to gather. We may, however, fairly suppose his Retinue in number, and his Court in splendour, was far superior to those of any of his Predecessors. Of the _Conqueror's Court_ we know still less, neither do I learn that King Alfred's establishment was followed by his immediate successors; but it is reasonable to suppose that the _Court_, as well as the _Kingdom_, would be new-modelled, and assume a different face, upon so great a revolution as that of the Conquest. WILLIAM RUFUS. Notwithstanding the fair inheritance left by the Conqueror, equal to the Regal Dignity, and the exigences of the State, William Rufus, the successor, not only dissipated the great treasure of which he was possessed at the demise of his Father, but ran into so extravagant a profusion of expence, that he was at last obliged to apply to resources, unwarrantable in themselves, and derogatory to his Crown and Dignity. The late King's treasures were said to amount to 60,000_l._; but, according to Henry of Huntingdon[84], who lived very near the time, to 60,000 pound _weight_ of silver, exclusive of gold, jewels, plate, and robes; and "the silver money alone (says Lord Lyttelton[85]), according to the best computation I am able to make, was equivalent at least to nine hundred thousand pounds of our money at present:" but this would not suffice; for the Crown-lands, which were held so sacred by his ancestors, were alienated; and he was at last compelled, as a dernier resort, to resume his own grants, a practice now used for the first (but not the last) time, and a measure equally scandalous and iniquitous. Rufus's ordinary revenues did not probably exceed those of his Father; but, as he ran into more needless and wanton expenses, he was necessitated to make frequent demands upon his people. Considering the influence of artful Churchmen, in those times of Papal tyranny, over weak Princes, it is not to be wondered that Rufus should be easily prevailed upon by Ranulphus, Bishop of Durham[86], who was Master both of his Councils and his Conscience, to resume his own grants, though made for valuable considerations; or to take any measure, however unwarrantable and unprecedented-- "Tantum Religio potuit suadere malorum." [84] Erant autem in Thesauro 60 Mille Libræ Argenti. Lib. vi. [85] Introduction to the Life of Henry II. The Reader may see his Lordship's grounds of computation in a long note on this passage. The Saxon Chronicle says, the King's Treasures were _difficiles numeratu_, p. 192. [86] Lord Lyttelton calling him Ralph Flambard, a Norman. Life of Henry II. vol. i. p. 87, where his character may be seen at large.