[1] The king being thus at quiet and without warre in all places, Anno Reg. 12. 1099 began now to set his mind on buil|ding, and first causes new walles [...]o be made about the tower of London, and also laid the foundation of Westminster hall, which though it be a verie large and roomthie place, yet after it was finished at his returne out of Normandie, he came to view it, Fabian. Ran. Higd. Matth. Paris. and held his court therein with great pompe and honor. He repented that he had made it no larger, saieng; it was too little by the halfe, and therefore determi|ned to haue made a new, and that this other should haue serued but for a dining chamber. A diligent searcher (saith Matthew Paris) might yet find out the foundation of the hall, which he had purposed to build, stretching from the Thames side vnto the common street. But though those his buildings were great ornaments to the realme, yet bicause he tooke vp monie by extortion of his subiects towards the charges of the same, he was euill spoken of; the re|port being spred, Polydor. that he should take them in hand but onelie vnder a colour to spoile his subiects, in ga|thering a far greater summe than the expenses of them did amount vnto.The king go|eth ouer into Normandie. About the same time that king William beganne these buildings, he went ouer into Normandie, to vnderstand in what state that countrie stood.