As Rufus has been mentioned I got out my copy of The Killing of William Rufus by Duncan Grinnell-Milne, David & Charles 1968. Quite a good detective
story and a very evocative book on the New Forest.
Especially worthwhile if you are interested in historical and family continuity in an area a lot of us love.
As to the death of William Rufus, the book concludes that Henry his brother conspired to murder him. Several quoted historians also say they think he dun it. However, the most that can be said about their verdicts is Non Proven. All circumstantial evidence and the only contemporary suspect fled with people thinking him guilty not of murder but of causing an accidental death. Experienced hunters and soldiers as those present mostly were would know from what direction the arrow came, given the posture that Rufus would most likely have been in while waiting for his deer and they saw no problem in thinking it an accident.
If murder by someone unknown that person would have had to get into and out of position unseen. Everybody would also have known that you could not guarantee an immediate death or even a fatal wound. Should Rufus have not been killed then the conspiracy would have been unmasked and Henry finished.
All in all it is safer to call it an accident. The book though is thoroughly recommended.
story and a very evocative book on the New Forest.
Especially worthwhile if you are interested in historical and family continuity in an area a lot of us love.
As to the death of William Rufus, the book concludes that Henry his brother conspired to murder him. Several quoted historians also say they think he dun it. However, the most that can be said about their verdicts is Non Proven. All circumstantial evidence and the only contemporary suspect fled with people thinking him guilty not of murder but of causing an accidental death. Experienced hunters and soldiers as those present mostly were would know from what direction the arrow came, given the posture that Rufus would most likely have been in while waiting for his deer and they saw no problem in thinking it an accident.
If murder by someone unknown that person would have had to get into and out of position unseen. Everybody would also have known that you could not guarantee an immediate death or even a fatal wound. Should Rufus have not been killed then the conspiracy would have been unmasked and Henry finished.
All in all it is safer to call it an accident. The book though is thoroughly recommended.