He pretends that Count Geoffrey, his father, had left his these dominions by a secret will, and had ordered that his body should not be buried till Henry should swear to the observance of it, which he, ignorant of the contents, was induced to do.

But besides that this story is not very likely in itself, and savers of monkish fiction, it is found in no other ancient writer, and is contradicted by some of them, particularly the monk of Marmoutier, who had better opportunities than Newbridge of knowing the truth.

See Vita Gauf Duc.

Norman, p.

103.] [Footnote 16: NOTE P, p.293.The sum scarcely appears credible; as it would amount to much above half the rent of the whole land.