The Reign of William Rufus and the Accession of Henry the First, Volume 2 (of 2)

by Edward A. Freeman

Ke l’en nel’ péust encercier,

Ne voil dire par kel savoir

Haschier li fist Danfront aveir,

Ne coment il fu recéuz

Quant il fu à Danfront venuz,

Ne coment il cunquist Passeiz

E le toli as Belesmeiz;

Ne coment Robert le cunquist,

E de Danfront partir le fist.”

The covering of one of Henry’s eyes with pitch by way of disguise may be believed or not; but the “savoir” of Haschier answers to the “sagacitas” of the “indigena nobilis et dives.” Passeiz, Passais (see Pluquet, Wace, ii. 319; Neustria Pia, p. 423), is the district which contains Domfront and the abbey of Lonlay, a district which lay in the ancient diocese of Le Mans, but which was added to Normandy by William’s conquest.