• William II had utter contempt for the English church and extorted large sums of money from it. He occupied Normandy when Robert II left on a crusade, and gained control (1097) of the Scottish throne. He was killed while hunting, and his death may not have been an accident. His brother Henry I succeeded him.
2833, p 3• Reigned 1087-1100. His harsh rule aroused baronial and ecclesiastical opposition, notably from Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury. He made several attempts to recover Normandy from his elder brother Robert and was killed by an arrow while hunting. He may have been assassinated by order of his younger brother who became Henry I. Had red hair. He had little time for religion and presided over a liberal court but treated his subjects brutally. He was reluctant to fill church vacancies and waited four years to appoint Anselm.
2962•
1087-1100. WILLIAM II (Rufus), a passionate, greedy ruffian, second son of the Conqueror, designated by his father on his death-bed (Robert, the eldest, received Normandy; Henry, cash).
William, deeply hated, was assassinated (?) in the New Forest.
3794, p 193