516.
The words of this last historian, who is very ancient, are remarkable, and worth transcribing.

Rex itaque factus, Willielmus, quid in principes Anglorum, qui tantae cladi superesse poterant, fecerit, dicere, cum nihil prosit, omitto.

Quid enim prodesset, si nec unum in toto regno de illis dicerem pristina potestate uti permissum, sed omnes aut in gravem paupertatis aerumnam detrusos, aut exhaeredatos, patria pulsos, aut effossia, oculis, vel caeteris amputatis membris, opprobrium hominum factos, aut certe miserrime afflictos, vita privatos.

Simili modo utilitate carere existimo dicere quid in minorem populum, non solum ab esed[**] a suis actum sit, cum id dictu sciamus difficile et ob immanem crudelitatem fortassis incredibile.] [Footnote 13: NOTE M, p.

263 Henry, by the feudal customs, was entitled to levy a tax for the marrying of his eldest daughter, and he exacted three shillings a hide on all England.