[1] [2] Not long before his death, he released his brother Odo bishop of Bayeux out of prison,He set all pri|soners at li|bertie saith Wil. Malm. Polydor. Marchar earle of Northumberland, and Wilnotus the sonne of king Harold, or (as some say) his brother. Moreouer he repented him (as some say) when he lay on his deathbed of his cruell dealing with the English, con|sidering that by them he had atteined to such honour and dignitie, as to weare the crowne and scepter of a kingdome: but whether he did so or not, or that some moonke deuised the excuse in fauour of the prince: surelie he was a puissant prince, and though his time was troublesome, yet he was right fortunate in all his attempts. Againe, if a man shall consider that in a strange realme he could make such a conquest, and so exactlie and readilie assure the same to his heires, with new lawes, orders, and constitutions (which are like for euer to endure) he would thinke it a thing al|togither void of credit. Yet so it was, & so honourable were his dooings in the sight of the world, that those kings, which succeeded sithens his death, begin their [page 15] account at him, as from one that had by his pru|dence renewed the state of the realme, and instituted an other forme of regiment, in atchiuing whereof he did not so much pretend a rightfull challenge by the grant of his coosine king Edward the Confessor, as by the law of armes and plaine conquest, than the which (as he supposed) there could be no better title.