Note 215 — Chapter I · THE ENGLAND OF HENRY I. 1100–1135. (continued 2)

Will. Malm. Gesta Pontif., l. v. c. 240 (Hamilton, p. 394), and Gesta Reg., l. ii. c. 122 (Hardy, p. 190). The story seems however to be false. It probably originated in a confusion, first between John Scotus and John the Old-Saxon, who was nearly murdered by the monks of Athelney; and secondly, between both these Johns and a third scholar bearing the same name, who is mentioned by Gotselin of Canterbury as buried at Malmesbury, but whose real history seems to be lost. See Lanigan, Eccles. Hist. of Ireland, vol. iii. pp. 300, 301, 315, 316, 318–320.