160 Beijucgtg of tDe IBttng, 



Moriar, of Beron, and Ulnot, the brother of Harold, 

 were accordingly set at liberty ; and the Norman, Roger 

 Fitz Osborn, formerly Earl of Hereford, with Odo, the 

 turbulent Bishop of Bayeux, also received permission to 

 leave their respective prisons, although the king re- 

 marked with reference to the latter, that by so doing 

 he was letting loose a firebrand, that might desolate 

 both England and Normandy. 



One morning early, the chief prelates and barons 

 received a summons to assemble with all haste in the 

 chamber of the king, who finding his end approach, 

 desired to finish the settlement of his affairs. They 

 came accordingly, though the day had not yet dawned, 

 and found with him his two sons, Henry and William, 

 who waited impatiently for the declaration of his will. 

 " I bequeath the duchy of Normandy," said he, " to 

 my eldest son Robert. As to the crown of England, I 

 bequeath it to no one, for I did not receive it, like the 

 duchy of Normandy, from my father, but acquired it by 

 conquest, and the shedding of blood, with mine own 

 sword. The succession of that kingdom, I therefore, 

 leave to the decision of the Almighty. My own most 

 fervent wish is, that my son William, who has ever 

 been dutiful to me in all things, may obtain and 

 prosper in it." " And what do you give me, O 

 my father ? " impatiently cried Prince Henry, who 

 had not been mentioned. " Five thousand pounds 

 weight of silver out of my treasury," was his answer. 



