William was passionately fond of hunting, and the penalty for killing a deer or boar without authority was greater than for killing a human being out of season.

In order to erect a new forest, he devastated thirty miles of farming country, and drove the people, homeless and foodless, to the swamps.  He also introduced the curfew, which he had rung in the evening for his subjects in order to remind them that it was time to put out the lights, as well as the cat, and retire.  This badge of servitude caused great annoyance among the people, who often wished to sit up and visit, or pass the tankard about and bid dull care begone.

William, however, was not entirely happy.  While reigning, his children grew up without proper training.  Robert, his son, unhorsed the old gentleman at one time, and would have killed him anonymously, each wearing at the time a galvanized iron dinner-pail over his features, but just at the fatal moment Robert heard his father’s well-known breath asserting itself, and withheld his hand.

William’s death was one of the most attractive features of his reign.  It resulted from an injury received during an invasion of France.

Philip, the king of that country, had said something derogatory regarding William, so the latter, having business in France, decided to take his army with him and give his soldiers an outing.  William captured the city of Mantes, and laid it in ashes at his feet.  These ashes were still hot in places when the great conqueror rode through them, and his horse becoming restive, threw His Royal Altitoodleum on the pommel of his saddle, by reason of which he received a mortal hurt, and a few weeks later he died, filled with remorse and other stimulants, regretting his past life in such unmeasured terms that he could be heard all over the place.

[Illustration:  Demise of William the conqueror.]

The “feudal system” was now fully established in England, and lands descended from father to son, and were divided up among the dependants on condition of the performance of vassalage.  In this way the common people were cheerily permitted the use of what atmosphere they needed for breathing purposes, on their solemn promise to return it, and at the close of life, if they had succeeded in winning the royal favor, they might contribute with their humble remains to the fertility of the royal vegetable garden.

[Illustration:  The feudal system was now fully established.]

CHAPTER IX.

THE FEUDAL SYSTEM:  SUCCESSFUL INAUGURATION OF HOMOGENEAL METHODS FOR RESTRICTING INCOMPATIBLE DEMAGOGUES.

At this time, under the reign of William, a year previous to his death, an inventory was taken of the real estate and personal property contained in the several counties of England; and this “Domesday-book,” as it was called, formed the basis for subsequent taxation, etc.  There were then three hundred thousand families in England.  The book had a limited circulation, owing to the fact that it was made by hand; but in 1783 it was printed.