Source.—Lanfranci Opera, ed. Lucas d’Achéry, p. 304.

To the most excellent pastor of the Holy Church, Gregory, William by the grace of God glorious king of the English and duke of the Normans, greeting with affection.

Holy Father, your legate, Hubert, coming to me on your behalf, has admonished me to do fealty to you and to your successors, and to take better heed touching the money which my ancestors used to send to the church of Rome. To the one request I consent, to the other I do not consent. I have refused to do fealty, and I do refuse, because neither did I promise it, nor, as I find, did my predecessors do fealty to your predecessors. As to the money, it was negligently collected for nearly three years, while I was in France, but now that I by divine mercy have returned to my kingdom, that which has been collected by the aforesaid legate is being sent, and the residue shall be despatched by the messengers of our faithful archbishop Lanfranc, when opportunity shall serve. Pray for me and for the estate of our realm, because we have loved your predecessors and desire sincerely to love you before all men, and obediently to hear you.