Amongst other acts of rapacity, made in a manner necessary by his former profusion, he kept the See of Canterbury vacant four years (upon the death of Lanfranc), that he might take the profits to his own use; nay, he did the same by the Bishoprick of Lincoln, and all others that became void in his Reign; and at the time of his death he had in his hands the Sees of Canterbury, Winchester, Salisbury, twelve[87] rich Abbeys, besides many other Benefices of less consideration[88]; so little regard has ever been paid to things _sacred_ by Arbitrary Princes (as our Kings were at that time) to gratify either their necessities or their passions. But this was not the worst part of the story; for, not satisfied with the First-fruits, to which he was entitled,--after he had seized the vacant Benefices, and pillaged them of every thing valuable (even to the very Shrines), he sold them publicly to the best bidder, without regard to merit or capacity[89]. [87] The Saxon Chronicle says but Eleven. [88] Matthew Paris. [89] Saxon Chronicle. After having been led, by the nature of the subject, to speak thus freely of this King's rapacity, it is but justice to mention an instance of his generosity. It is related that, two Monks striving to outbid each other for a rich Abbey, the King perceived a third standing by, who did not bid any thing; to whom the King addressing himself, asked "how much _he_ would give?" The Monk replied, "he had no money, and, if he had, his conscience would not suffer him to lay it out in that manner:" upon which the King swore his usual oath[90] "that he best deserved it, and should have it for nothing[91]." [90] "Per Vultum di Lucca." See Lord Lyttelton's note, vol. i. p. 424, octavo. I have seen a private letter from his Lordship in defence of his opinion. [91] Higden.