e more safe at once
and more cautious. Love conquers all things; ah! it
has wrought in me not to fear, though in an
uncultivated and unpolished style, to offer to so
wise and glorious a Prince what I reflected upon in
my mind, and to open to your serene Highness as I
best may what I have conceived in my heart for your
royal safety. Hence it is that I have endeavoured
to draw up a brief table of events from the
commencement of the conquest of Neustria [Normandy]
by the Normans down to their conquest of England;
which I have carried on to the time when your
Majesty, with power and victory, compelled the same
Normandy, alienated against right and justice from
your ancestors for about two hundred and twenty
years, to come under your yoke, and royally to be
governed according to your desire. Wherefore, my
redoubted Lord and King, in this little work I
offer to your inspection past deeds, various wars,
mutual covenants of peace; leagues, though
confirmed by an oath, violated; the promises,
pledges, offerings, treacherously made to your
predecessors; the deceit and hypocrisy of the
enemy; and whatever the antagonist could with
exquisite craftiness invent, by which they might
entrap your noble spirit. Wherefore, since it
becomes no one to possess knowledge more than a
Prince, whose learning may be most beneficial to
his subjects,--I, a poor and humble votary, offer
(if it be your will) this volume to the inspection
of your Highness; giving it the name of Ypodigma
Neustriae, because it especially portrays the events
and falls of that country from the time of Rollo
the first Duke down to the sixth year of your happy
reign, which may God Almighty of his great mercy
crown with peace, and preserve in all prosperity!
Amen."]

CHAPTER XXI.