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THE  MISCELLANEOUS   WORKS  AND  REMAINS   OF  THE    REV.  ROBERT 
HALL,  «'ii!i  Memoir  by  DR.  GRKUOKY,  and  Ks-<ay  by  JOHN  FOSTKH.     J'orlrcit. 

&  3.  ROSCOE'S   LIFE  AND   PONTIFICATE  OF   LEO   X..    Kditcd  by  his  Son, 
•lie  l"<]|'vri.'lit  Nntci,  Documents,  Sec.     la  -2  \  ols.     Purlraitj. 

SCHLEGELS  LECTURES  ON  THE  PHILOSOPHY  OF  HISTORY.     Translated 
from  the  (ierM.;iM,  "••'•-"••"•"'••  !•«'    "    » l<—        " ' 


&  6   SISMONDI'S 
EUROPE.    Trans 

ROSCOE'S  LIFE  O 
SCHLEGELS  LEC 

&  11.  BECKMANT 
ORIGINS.     Four 

SCHILLERS   HIS' 
OF  THE  NETH 

SCHILLERS  WOR 

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43. 
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foundation  of  the 

19,  It  23.  LANZIS 
OCKLEY'S  HISTC 

SCHILLER  S  WO 
Orleans,"  ;.nd  "  H 

26,  &  33.   LAMA 

the  French   Uc\  ( 

MACHIAVELLIS 

SCHLEGEL'S   LE 

PHILOSOPHY  < 

32.  &  36.     RANK 
Vols.     Partf 

30,  «c  34.    COXE 
ii.     Part  nit 

••(  K  fln«  li  thnu 

pubtUbcd  in  the  orij 

SHERIDAN'S  DRAMA  1 10  wuuKb  ANU  Llrt.    rorimu. 

GOETHE'S    WORKS.      Vol.1.     [His  Autobiography.     13  Books.]    Portrait. 

WHEATLEY  ON  THE  COMMON  PRAYER.     Frontispiece. 

39.  40,  81.  It  86.  MILTON  S  PROSE  WORKS.     I»  5  Vols,  with  general  Index 
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GOETHE'S  WORKS.     V,,l.  II.     riU-niRiuder  of  hi*  Autobiography,  ;,nd  Travels.] 
SCHILLERS    WORKS        Vol.    IV.       r,T1)e    Pa,llllcn,  .,     ..  Kie^    ..    ..  ^  d 

^L^'  Translated  l,j    HK.NKY  U.  HOH.N. 


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JAUIH.M:  and  oilier*,  edited,  with  large  additions,  by  E.  JESSE,  Lsq.  With  40 

DIDRONS  CHRISTIAN 'ICONOGRAPHY,   vitk  150  beautiful  JEnyrariuffs.    In 

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REDDING  ON  WINES      New  and  Revised  Edition,  vilh  20  bfatttiful  Woodcuts. 
U  16   ALLEN  S  BATTLES  OF  THE  BRITISH  NAVY.    New  Edition.    Enlarged 

by  the  Author.    Ifwmenmtfiae  i',,rtr«Uf  on  Steel.    2  Vols. 
&  18.  ROME  IN  THE   NINETEENTH  CENTURY.     Fifth  Edition,  iu  2  Vols., 

\  fine  Steel  Kityrnrinj.i.  and  Index. 
MAXWELLS  VICTORIES  OF  WELLINGTON  AND  THE  BRITISH  ARMIES, 

'rith  Eiii/rnrint/t  on  Steel. 

LIFE  OF  WELLINGTON,  by  "  Ax  OLD  Soi  im.H."  compiled  from  the  materials  of 
..  and  continue. I  by  an  eminent  Author,  with  an  Account  of  the  Funeral. 
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*.*  The  U'M.l  Uxi!i  i    I  >ld  -.^inrriti'ly,  pri'.'f  2*. 

CHINA:  PICTORIAL,  DESCRIPTIVE,  AND  HISTORICAL,  with  some  account 
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ir;  and  emUidying  the  whole  of  AIKKM'S  Calendar  of  Nature,     iptrurdt 
,>f  I  nil  ItiHStrnlimu.  ' 

DANTE,  translated  into  English  Verse  by  I.  C.  WKIOTIT,  M.A.    Third  Edition,  care- 
fully revised.     Portrait  a-,d  :it  Illustrations  on  Steel,  nfter  FI.ASMAN. 
&  29    MUDIE'S   BRITISH    BIROS,   or  History  of  the  Feathered  Tribes  of  the 
ManiK     Fifth  Edition,  revised  by  W.  C.  L.  MAKI  IN.  E*n.     Complete  in 
-'ilh  52  fiiinres  nf  VirJi.  and  1  ad\lil>onul  Plata  of  AWs.     (Of,  wilk  the 
1'lnle,  Colonrtd.Ti.  6.1.  \xr  Vol.) 

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INtJIA  :  PICTORIAL.  DESCRIPTIVE,  and  HISTORICAL,  from  th 
ItaH  to  the  Present.  Illustrated  by  vpieardi  of  100  Mngratings  on 
Map  nf  Hindoostnti. 

NICOLINI'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  JESUITS  :  their  Origin,  Progress,  Doctrines 
'1','nv      Purtrniti   nf   l,iyn!a,    Luine/.,  Xavier,  Burgia,    Acquavira,    Tire 

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ROBINSON  CRUSOE,  with  llmstnitions  by  STOTHAKD  and  HARVEI,  12  beautiful 
"*  •"•''"!«  OH  Stetl,  and  74  on  Wood. 


e  Earliest 
Wood,  and 


<s* 


BOM'S  ANTIQUARIAN  LIBRAE!. 


ORDERICUS  VITALIS. 


THE 


ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY 


ENGLAND   AND    NORMANDY, 


ORDERICUS     VITALIS. 


TRANSLATED,  WITH   NOTES, 
AND     THE     INTRODUCTION     OF     GUIZOT, 

BY  THOMAS  FORESTER,  M.A.  ' 


VOL.  II. 

LONDON: 

HENRY  G.  BOHN,  YORK  STREET,  COVENT  GARDEN. 

MDCCCLIV. 


D(\ 


MAY  15 1956 


THE 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY 

OP 

ORDERICUS    VITALIS. 


>     BOOK  IV. 

CH.  I.  The  Conqueror  founds  two  abbeys  at  Caen,  and  Battle 
abbey — Restores  order  in  England — The  great  English 
nobles  submit — Aggrandizes  his  Norman  followers. 

IN  the  time  of  Pope  Alexander  II.,1  many  states  throughout 
the  world  were  a  prey  to  severe  calamities ;  the  nations 
plunging  into  furious  contests  to  their  mutual  ruin.  This 
was  particularly  the  case  with  the  western  states,  which 
suffered  great  disasters.  On  the  death  of  those  excellent 
kings,  Henry  of  France,  and  Edward  of  England,  the 
French  and  English  had  long  reason  to  lament  their  loss,  as 
the  princes  who  succeeded  were  little  like  them  for  virtue 
and  gentleness  of  disposition.  When  these  fathers  of  their 
country  were  removed,  they  were  followed  by  tyrants  who 
abused  the  royal  authority.  England,  stained  by  the  cruel- 
ties and  perjury  of  Harold,  fell  to  decay,  and  deprived  of  its 
race  of  native  kings,  became  a  prey  to  foreign  adventurers, 
the  adherents  of  William  the  Conqueror,  presenting  a 
melancholy  subject  for  the  pen  of  the  feeling  historian. 

Writers  of  learning  and  eloquence  found  ample  materials 
for  several  works,  having  lived  for  many  years  at  the  court 
of  King  William,  and  had  opportunities  of  observing  all  he 
did,  and  the  varied  and  illustrious  events  of  his  reign;  they 
were  privy  to  his  most  secret  counsels,  and  by  his  muni- 
1  September  30,  1061— April  20, 1073. 

VOL.  II.  B 


2  OHDEEICTJS   VITALIS.  [B.IV.  CII.I. 

ficence  rose  to  wealth  and  eminence,  to  \vhich  their  origin 
gave  them  no  pretensions.  The  churches  he  erected,  or 
which  were  built  in  his  time  to  the  glory  of  God,  both  in 
Normandy  and  England,  are  noble  monuments  of  his  devo- 
tion and  his  liberality  in  providing  for  the  service  of  God, 
and  have  left  to  posterity  an  example  worthy  of  their 
imitation.  His  piety  led  him  also  to  found  a  number  of 
monasteries,  and  to  enlarge  those  which  he  and  others  had 
already  built,  liberally  endowing  them  with  ample  pos- 
sessions, and  taking  them  under  his  protection  against  all 
adversaries.  The  two  convents  he  founded  at  Caen,  the 
one  for  monks  the  other  for  nuns,  are  special  witnesses  of 
his  munificence.  They  were  both  erected  in  honour  of  the 
King  Eternal,  while  he  himself  was  yet  a  duke  only,  select- 
ing one  for  his  own  tomb,  the  other  for  that  of  his  consort.1 
The  war  in  England  being  terminated,  his  enemies  having 
submitted  to  his  victorious  arms,  and  the  royal  crown  being 
placed  on  his  head  at  London,  William  founded  at  Senlac, 
where  the  decisive  battle  was  fought,  the  abbey  of  the  Holy 
Trinity,3  endowing  it  with  revenues  and  domains  fitting  a 
royal  foundation.  Goisbert,  a  pious  monk  of  Marmoutier, 
was  appointed  the  first  abbot,3  under  whose  rule  monastic 
order  and  regular  discipline  were  duly  established.  The 
monastery  at  Marmoutier,  begun  by  the  most  holy  Martin, 
bishop  of  Tours,  became  by  God's  grace  an  increasing  semi- 
nary of  excellent  men.  In  our  times  Albert  and  Bartho- 
lomew, Bernard,  and  Hilgot,  and  afterwards  William  of 

1  The  abbey  of  the  Holy  Trinity  was  founded  in  1066,  and  the  church 
dedicated  on  the  18th  of  June  of  the  same  year.  The  foundations  of  the 
abbey  of  St.  Stephen  were  also  laid  before  the  conquest,  through  tlie 
exertions  of  Lanfranc,  who  became  the  first  fibbot,  but  the  works  were 
carried  on  much  more  slowly,  and  it  was  not  consecrated  until  the  13th  of 
December,  1077. 

*  This  abbey  has  always  been  better  known  as  Sanctus  Martinus  de 
Delta,  or  Battle  Abbey.  William  determined,  notwithstanding  the  opposi- 
tion of  the  monks,  to  build  it  on  the  field  of  battle,  so  much,  that  the  high 
altar  was  placed  on  the  spot  where  tbe  body  of  Harold  was  found  after  the 
battle,  as  some  say,  but  as  others,  where  the  royal  standard  was  taken. 
Part  of  the  church  was  built  of  Caen  stone,  until  a  quarry  was  discovered 
in  the  neighbourhood. 

3  The  first  abbot  of  Battle  was  not  Goisbert,  but  Robert  Blancard,  who 
was  drowned  in  returning  from  Marmoutier.  Goisbert  succeeded  him  in 
1076,  nine  years  after  the  foundation  of  the  abbey. 


A.D.  1067 — 1068.]  WILLIAM'S  ADMINISTRATION.  3 

Nantz,  were  abbots  of  that  monastery;1  men  by  -whose 
sanctity  and  virtues  numbers  were  benefited,  and  whose 
fame  was  diffused  not  only  throughout  the  neighbourhood, 
but  in  foreign  countries.  After  Goisbert's  death,  Henry, 
the  prior  of  Canterbury,  was  promoted  to  the  government  of 
Battle  Abbey,  an  office  which  he  worthily  filled.  On  his 
decease,  he  was  succeeded  by  Eodolph,  prior  of  Rochester,2 
who  was  before  a  monk  of  Caen.  He  directed  all  his  efforts  by 
a  zeal  for  holiness  and  sound  doctrine  to  secure  his  welfare 
and  that  of  his  contemporaries,  and  persisted  with  ardour 
in  his  spiritual  exercises  to  a  good  old  age.  At  length  the 
aged  monk  departed  happily  out  of  this  world  to  God  his 
maker,  in  the  25th  year  of  the  reign  of  Henry,  king  of 
England. 

After  his  coronation  at  London,  King  William  ordered 
many  affairs  with  prudence,  justice,  and  clemency.  Some 
of  these  concerned  the  profit  and  honour  of  that  city,  others 
were  for  the  advantage  of  the  whole  nation,  and  the  rest 
were  intended  for  the  benefit  of  the  church.  He  enacted 
some  laws  founded  on  admirable  principles.  No  suitor  ever 
demanded  justice  of  this  king  without  obtaining  it :  he  con- 
demned none  but  those  whom  it  would  have  been  unjust  to 
acquit.  He  enjoined  his  nobles  to  comport  themselves  with 
grave  dignity,  joining  activity  to  right  judgment,  having 
constantly  before  their  eyes  the  Eternal  King  who  had 
given  them  the  victory.  He  forbade  their  oppressing  the 
conquered,  reminding  them  that  they  were  their  own 
equals  by  their  Christian  profession,  and  that  they  must  be 
cautious  not  to  excite  revolt  by  their  unjust  treatment  of 
those  whom  they  had  fairly  subdued.  He  prohibited  all 
riotous  assemblages,  murder,  and  robbery,  and  as  he 
restrained  the  people  by  force  of  arms,  he  set  bounds  to 
arms  by  the  laws.  The  taxes  and  all  things  concerning  the 
royal  revenues  were  so  regulated  as  not  to  be  burdensome 
to  the  people.  Bobbers,  plunderers,  and  malefactors  had 
no  asylum  in  his  dominions.  Merchants  found  the  ports 
and  highways  open,  and  were  protected  against  injury. 

1  Albert,  1037—1063  or  1064;  Bartholomew,  1063  or  1064—1084; 
Bernard,  1084—1100;  Helgot,  1100—1105;  William  de  Nantz  (of  which 
he  had  been  archdeacon),  1105 — 1124. 

2  Prior  of  the  cathedral  church  of  St.  Andrew  at  Rochester. 

B   2 


4  OBDEBICUS    VITALTS.  [u.IY.  CH.  I. 

Thus  the  first  acts  of  his  reign  were  all  excellent,  and 
eminent  for  the  great  benefits  flowing  from  good  government 
conferred  on  his  subjects,  which  were  confirmed  by  perse- 
verance in  a  right  course,  with  plain  indications  of  a  suc- 
cessful result. 

The  king,  quitting  London,  spent  some  days  at  Barking,1 
a  place  not  far  off,  while  some  fortifications  were  completed 
in  the  city  for  defence  against  any  outbreak  by  the  fierce 
and  numerous  population.  Edward  and  Morcar.  the  sons 
of  Earl  Algar,  and  the  most  powerful  of  the  English  nobles 
from  their  birth  and  possessions,  now  came  to  the  king, 
asking  his  pardon,  if  in  aught  they  had  offended  him,  and 
submitting  themselves  and  all  they  had  to  his  mercy.  Then 
Earl  Coxo,3  a  nobleman  of  singular  courage  and  prudence, 
Turkil  of  Lime,4  Siward  and  Aldred,  sons  of  Ethelgar,5  the 
late  king's  grandson,  with  Edric  surnamed  Guilda,  that  is, 
"The  Wild,"6  nephew  of  the  infamous  prince  surnamed 
Streone,  that  is,  "  The  Rapacious,"  and  many  others  of  high 
rank  and  great  wealth  made  their  peace  with  William,  and 
taking  the  oath  of  fealty,  were  honourably  restored  to  their 
respective  domainsi  The  king  then  made  a  progress  through 
several  parts  of  the  kingdom,  making  regulations  to  the 

1  Or  Berkhampstead  ?  The  Tower  of  London  was  built  after  the  plan 
of  the  old  Tower  at  Rouen,  says  Pommeraye  in  an  inedited  note  to  the 
text  of  Ordericus  Vitalis. 

1  Edwin,  earl  of  Mercia,  and  Morcar,  earl  of  Northumbria.  All  the 
other  historians  agree  in  describing  the  submission  of  these  powerful  earls 
to  have  been  made  at  Berkhampstead. 

1  Coxo.  His  real  name  was  Copsi.  Though  he  governed  all  the  country 
north  of  the  Tyne,  under  Morcar,  it  does  not  appear  that  he  ever  received 
the  title  of  earl  himself. 

4  Not  Lyme  Regis  in  Dorsetshire.  Most  probably  this  Tutkil  was  son 
of  Alwine,  vicount  of  Warwickshire,  who,  according  to  Dugdale,  styled 
himself  in  the  reign  of  William  Rufus,  Turkil  de  Earden,  from  the  forest 
of  Arden.  He  held  twenty-one  manors.  The  name  given  him  by  our 
author  may  be  derived  from  Leming-tun,  now  Leamington  Priors,  on  the 
river  Learn. 

*  This  Siward  is  the  same  person  as  Siward  Barn,  who  shut  himself  up 
in  the  isle  of  Ely  in  1071,  with   Earl  Morcar  and  Bishop  Egelwin.     He 
possessed  a  great  nuirber  of  manors  before  the  conquest.     We  do  not  find 
any  such  person  as  Etheljrar,  a  nephew  of  King  Edward,  but  there  was  an 
Ethel  ward  banished  by  Canute  in   1020,  who  may  have  been  the  same, 
having  one  of  Edward's  three  sisters  for  his  mother. 

•  The  domains  of  Edric  were  in  the  county  of  Hereford;  as  to  the 
infamous  assassin,  his  father,  see  what  is  said  in  vol.  i.  p.  148. 


A.D.  1067.]      WILLIAM  BETURNS  TO  EOEMANDY.  5 

mutual  advantage  of  himself  and  the  inhabitants  of  the 
country.  He  gave  the  custody  of  castles  to  some  of  his 
bravest  Normans,  distributing  among  them  vast  possessions 
as  inducements  to  undergo  cheerfully  the  toils  and  perils  of 
defending  them. 

He  built  a  strong  castle  within  the  walls  of  "Winchester, 
a  fortified  and  wealthy  city  contiguous  to  the  sea,  and 
placing  in  it  William  Fitz-Osbern,  the  best  officer  in  his 
army,  made  him  his  lieutenant  in  the  south  of  the  kingdom. 
Dover  and  all  Kent  he  committed  to  his  brother  Odo, 
bishop  of  Bayeux,  a  prelate  distinguished  by  great  liberality 
and  worldly  activity.  These  two  were  entrusted  with  the 
chief  government  of  the  realm  of  England ;  and  he  joined 
with  them  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil,  Hugh  Montfort,  William 
de  Warrene,  and  other  brave  warriors.  Some  of  them 
governed  their  vassals  well ;  but  others,  wanting  prudence, 
shamefully  oppressed  them. 

CH.  II.  Rejoicings  on  William's  arrival  in  Normandy — 
Abbey  churches  consecrated — Death  of  Maurilius,  arch- 
bishop of  Rouen — His  epitaph,  and  successor. 

THE  king,  having  thus  provided  for  the  security  of  the 
kingdom,  rode  to  Pevensey,  where  many  English  knights 
assembled  to  meet  him.  Here  the  stipendiary  soldiers  who 
were  returning  to  their  own  countries  received  handsome 
pay.  Bang  William  then  set  sail  in  the  month  of  March, 
and  crossed  the  sea  in  safety  to  his  native  dominions.  He 
took  with  him,  in  honourable  attendance,  Stigand  the  arch- 
bishop, Edgar  Etheling,  cousin  of  King  Edward,  and  the 
three  powerful  earls,  Edwin,  Morcar,  and  Waltheof,1  with 
Ethelnoth,  governor  of  Canterbury,  and  several  others  of 
high  rank  and  most  graceful  person.  The  king  adopted  a 
courteous  policy  in  thus  preventing  these  great  lords  from 
plotting  a  change  during  his  absence,  and  the  people  would 
be  less  able  to  rebel  when  deprived  of  their  chiefs.  Besides, 
it  gave  him  an  opportunity  of  displaying  his  wealth  and 
honours  in  Normandy  to  the  English  nobles,  while  he  de- 
tained as  a  sort  of  hostages  those  whose  influence  and 
safety  had  great  weight  with  their  countrymen. 

The  arrival  of  King  William  with  all  this  worldly  pomp 
1  Wiiltheof  held  the  earldoms  of  Northampton  and  Huntingdon. 


6  OEDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [B.IV.  CH.II. 

filled  the  whole  of  Normandy  with  rejoicings.  The  season 
was  still  wintry,  and  it  was  Lent ;  but  the  bishops  and 
abbots  began  the  festivals  belonging  to  Easter,  wherever  the 
new  king  came  in  his  progress ;  nothing  was  omitted  which 
is  customary  in  doing  honour  to  such  occasions,  and  every- 
thing new  they  could  invent  was  added.  This  zeal  was 
recompensed,  on  the  king's  part,  by  magnificent  offerings  of 
rich  palls,  large  sums  in  gold,  and  other  valuables  to  the 
altars  and  servants  of  Christ.  Those  churches  also  which 
he  could  not  visit  in  person  were  made  partakers  of  the 
general  joy  by  the  gifts  he  sent  to  them. 

The  feast  of  Easter1  was  kept  at  the  abbey  of  the  Holy 
Trinity  at  Fecamp,  where  a  great  number  of  bishops,  abbots, 
and  nobles  assembled.  Earl  Eadulph,  father-in-law  of 
Philip  king  of  France2  with  many  of  the  French  nobility, 
were  also  there  beholding  with  curiosity  the  long-haired 
natives  of  English-Britain,  and  admiring  the  garments  of 
gold  tissue,  enriched  with  bullion,  worn  by  the  king  and  his 
courtiers.  They  also  were  greatly  struck  with  the  beauty  of 
the  gold  and  silver  plate,  and  the  horns  tipped  with  gold  at 
both  extremities.  The  French  remarked  many  things  of 
this  sort  of  a  royal  magnificence,  the  novelty  of  which  made 
them  the  subject  of  observation  when  they  returned  home. 

After  Easter,  the  king  caused  the  church  of  St.  Mary  on 
the  Dive  to  be  consecrated,3  at  which  he  himself  reverently 
assisted,  with  a  great  attendance  both  of  the  nobles  and  com- 
monalty, on  the  calends  [1st]  of  May.  He  there  pro- 
claimed by  a  herald,  ordinances  which  were  very  beneficial 
to  his  whole  people.  On  the  calends  [1st]  of  July,  he 
ordered  the  consecration  of  the  church  of  St.  Mary  at 
Jumieges,  and  was  present  himself  at  the  holy  ceremony.4 
He  made  large  endowments  on  both  of  these  churches  out 
of  his  own  domains,  and  devoutly  assisted  at  the  celebration 
of  the  holy  mysteries.  Maurilius,  archbishop  of  Rouen, 
with  his  suffragan  bishops,  humbly  and  reverently  performed 

1  Easter  fell  this  year  on  the  8th  of  April. 

*  Ralph  the  Great,  count  of  Valois. 

3  The  abbey  of  Notre-Dame,  at  St.  Pierre-sur-Dive,  was  founded  in 
1046. 

*  The  nave  of  this  church,  begun  by  Robert  Champert  in  1040,  is  still 
standing. 


A.D.  1067.]    DEATH  OF  AECIIBISHOP  MAUBILIL'S.  7 

the  consecration,  and  shortly  afterwards  took  to  his  bed  in 
the  twelfth  year  of  his  episcopate.  Having  fulfilled  all  the 
duties  of  a  devout  servant  of  God,  he  departed  to  him 
whom  he  had  long  served  on  the  5th  of  the  ides  [9th]  of 
August.  His  body  was  conveyed  to  the  cathedral  church, 
which  five  years  before  [the  first  indiction]  he  had  dedicated 
to  St.  Mary,  mother  of  God,  and  it  was  there  interred  with 
high  honours  before  the  crucifix.1  His  epitaph,  composed 
by  Richard,  son  of  Herluin,  a  canon  of  that  church,  and 
inscribed  in  letters  of  gold  on  a  plate  of  brass,  runs  thus  : — 

Men  of  Rouen !  drop  a  tear 
On  your  honour'd  Maurille's  bier : 
Monk  and  bishop,  such  the  claim 
Of  that  venerable  name. 
Lordly  Rheims  beheld  his  birth, 
Academic  Liege  his  worth, 
While  he  wisdom's  treasures  gain'd, 
From  her  triple  fountain  drain'd. 
Citizens !  to  him  endear"d, 
'Twas  for  you  this  fane  he  rear'd ; 
Rais'd  its  pillar'd  arches  high, 
Fill'd  it  with  sweet  minstrelsy, 
And,  amid  your  joyous  throng, 
Led  the  holy  prayer  and  song. 
Scarcely  past  the  sacred  mirth, 
In  the  consecrated  earth 
Maurille's  honour'd  relics  rest ; 
While  his  soul  is  with  the  blest, 
And,  released  from  mortal  clay 
On  the  eve  of  Laurent's  day, 
Borne  to  mansions  in  the  sky, 
Keeps  the  laurelled  feaat  on  high. 

After  the  death  of  Maurilius,  the  church  of  Rouen  elected 
Lanfranc,  abbot  of  Caen,  archbishop,  a  choice  which  King 
William  with  his  nobles  and  the  whole  people  gladly  con- 
firmed. But  full  of  devotion  to  God  and  unfeigned  humility, 
Lanfranc  refused  to  take  upon  himself  the  burden  of  this 

'  This  expression  always  means  the  crucifix  placed  between  the  choir 
and  the  nave.  That  Maurillius  was  interred  between  the  choir  and  the 
principal  nave  of  the  cathedral  at  Rouen,  appears  still  from  an  inscription 
near  his  tomb.  This  prelate  was  a  native  of  Rheims,  and  had  governed  an 
abbey  at  Florence.  The  consecration  here  spoken  of  by  our  author  was 
celebrated  in  the  month  of  October,  1 063. 


8  OBDEMCUS   YITALIS.  [fi.IV.  CH.II. 

high  dignity,  and  used  all  his  influence  for  the  promotion  to 
it  of  John,  bishop  of  Avranches.1  That  this  might  be 
canonically  accomplished,  he  went  to  Borne  and  obtained 
from  Pope  Alexander  a  licence  for  bishop  John's  conse- 
cration, and  brought  back  with  the  licence  the  pallium, 
which  conferred  so  much  honour  on  himself  and  the  whole 
of  Normandy. 

In  consequence  John  was  translated  from  the  see  of 
Avranches,  which  he  had  filled  seven  years  and  three  months, 
to  the  metropolitan  chair  of  Eouen.  He  was  animated  by  a 
lively  zeal  for  virtue  both  in  his  words  and  actions,  and  like 
Phineas,  his  hatred  of  vice  was  fervent.  As  for  worldly 
honour,  his  birth  was  most  illustrious,  being  a  son  of  Kalph, 
count  of  Baieux,  the  uterine  brother  of  Eichard  the  elder, 
duke  of  Normandy.2  He  governed  the  metropolitan  see 
with  firmness  and  activity  ten  years,  taking  severe  measures 
to  separate  incontinent  priests  from  their  concubines;  and 
when  in  a  synod  he  prohibited  their  intercourse  under  pain 
of  excommunication,  he  was  assailed  with  stones,  and 
forced  to  make  his  escape,  on  which  occasion  when  flying 
from  the  church  he  intoned  with  a  loud  voice  the  verse : 
"  0  God,  the  heathen  are  come  into  thine  inheritance."  * 

John  was  succeeded  at  Avranches  by  an  Italian  named 
Michael,  a  prelate  of  great  learning,  and  venerable  for  his 
religious  zeal,  who  was  raised  by  canonical  election  to  the 
see  of  Avranches.  He  worthily  filled  the  pastoral  office 
more  than  twenty  years,  and  after  a  happy  old  age,  died 
in  the  time  of  i)uke  Eobert.  At  his  death  Turgis  was 

1  John,  surnamed  d'Avranches,  became  bishop  of  Avranches  in  Sept. 
1060;  and  archbishop  of  Rouen  in  1067.  He  was  celebrated  for  his 
quarrels  with  the  monks  of  St.  Ouen,  and  for  his  great  arrogance. 

1  Ralph,  count  d'lvri  and  de  Bayeux,  was  uterine  brother  of  Richard  I., 
aa  being  son  of  his  mother,  Sprote,  and  Asperleng,  a  rich  miller  of  Vau- 
dreuil  (says  the  continuator  of  William  de  Jumieges),  to  whom  she  was 
married  after  the  death  of  William  Longsword.  This  union  may  appear 
leas  disproportioned  when  it  is  recollected  that  she  was  only  the  duke's 
concubine,  he  having  a  lawful  wife,  the  .duchess  Leutgarde,  who  after  his 
death  married  Theobald,  count  de  Chartres.  However  this  may  be,  this 
count  Ralph  played  a  distinguished  part  in  the  court  of  his  brother  and 
his  nephew. 

1  Psalm  Ixxiz.  1.  The  acts  of  this  synod,  which  caused  this  disturb- 
ance, will  be  found  in  a  further  part  of  this  work,  under  the  year  107'2. 


A.D.  1067.]  THK    ENOLIST    EEVOLT.  9 

appointed,  and  has  now  held  that  bishopric  almost  thirty 
years.1 

CH.  III.  Norman  oppression. — The  English  secretly  form 
conspiracies. — Large  bodies  emigrate  to  Constantinople  and 
join  the  emperor's  body-quard. — Attempt  of  Eustace,  count 
of  Boulogne,  to  surprise  Dover  Castle. 

MEANWHILE  the  English  were  oppressed  by  the  insolence 
of  the  Normans,  and  subjected  to  grievous  outrages  by  the 
haughty  governors  who  disregarded  the  king's  injunctions. 
The  chiefs  of  inferior  rank,  who  had  the  custody  of  the 
castles,  treated  the  natives,  both  gentle  and  simple,  with 
the  utmost  scorn,  and  levied  on  them  most  unjust  exactions. 
Bishop  Odo  himself,  and  William  Fitz-Osbern,  the  king's 
lieutenants,  puffed  up  with  pride,  gave  no  heed  to  the 
reasonable  complaints  of  his  English  subjects  and  disdained 
to  weigh  them  in  the  balance  of  equity.  They  screened 
their  men-at-arms  who  most  outrageously  robbed  the  people 
and  ravished  the  women,  and  those,  only  incurred  their 
wrath  who  were  driven  by  these  grievous  affronts  to  be  loud 
in  their  remonstrances.  The  English  deeply  lamented  the 
loss  of  their  freedom,  and  took  secret  counsel  how  they 
might  best  shake  off  a  yoke  so  insupportable,  and  to  which 
they  were  so  little  accustomed.  They  accordingly  sent  a 
message  to  Sweyn,2  king  of  Denmark,  entreating  him  to  take 
measures  for  recovering  the  crown  of  England,  which  his 
ancestors  Sweyn  and  Canute  had  formerly  won  by  their  vic- 
torious arms.  Some  went  into  voluntary  exile,  either  to 
free  themselves  from  the  domination  of  their  Norman 
masters,  or  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  foreign  aid  to 
renew  the  contest  with  their  conquerors.  Some,  the  very 
flower  of  the  English  youth,  made  their  way  to  distant 
regions,  and  served  valiantly  in  the  armies  of  Alexius, 
emperor  of  Constantinople,3  a  prince  of  great  sagacity  and 

:  Michael  was  bishop  of  Avranches  A.D.  1067 — 1094 ;  Turgis,  his 
successor,  1094 — 1138.  It  appears,  therefore,  that  this  passage  was  written 
in  1124. 

8  Sweyn  II.  (Erickson),  April  28,  1044—1074  or  1076.  He  was  not  a 
ck'scondant  of  Canute  the  Great  in  the  direct  line,  but  hw  nephew.  His 
mother,  Estrith,  married  first  Richard  II.,  duke  of  Normandy,  who 
divorced  her. 

*  There  is  no  more  certain  fact  than  the  existence  of  a  corps  of  Danen, 


10  OUDEEICTTS   TITALTS.  [B.IT.  CH.1II. 

astonishing  munificence.  Being  attacked  by  Robert  Guis- 
card,  duke  of  Apulia,  with  all  his  force  in  support  of  Michael, 
•whom  the  Greeks  hnd  expelled  from  the  imperial  throne  for 
the  despotism  of  his  government,  the  English  exiles  met  a 
favourable  reception,  and  were  arrayed  in  arms  against  the 
Norman  bands  with  which  the  Greeks  were  unable  to  cope. 
The  emperor  Alexius  laid  the  foundations  of  a  town  called 
Chevetot,1  beyond  Byzantium,  for  his  English  troops,  but  as 
the  Normans  gave  them  great  annoyance  in  that  post,  he 
recalled  them  to  the  imperial  city,  and  committed  to  their 
guard  his  principal  palace  and  the  royal  treasure.  In  this  way 
the  Anglo-Saxons  settled  in  Ionia,  they  and  their  posterity 
becoming  faithfully  attached  to  the  holy  empire,  and  having 
gained  great  honour  in  Thrace,  continue  to  the  present  day, 
beloved  by  the  emperor,  senate,  and  people. 

Provoked  to  rebellion  by  every  sort  of  oppression  on  the 
part  of  the  Normans,  the  English  sent  messengers  to  Eustace, 
count  of  Boulogne,  inviting  him  to  despatch  a  powerful  fleet 
to  take  Dover  by  surprise.  They  were  formerly  much  at 
variance  with  Eustace,  but  as  differences  had  now  risen 
between  him  and  the  king,  and  they  knew  by  fatal  experi- 
ence that  he  was  a  skilful  and  fortunate  commander,  they 

Norwegians,  and  English  in  the  service  of  the  Greek  emperors,  who  formed 
their  body-guard.  They  were  armed  with  battle-axes,  were  exceedingly 
brave  and  faithful,  and  possessed  great  privileges.  They  are  called  by  tho 
Greek  historians  Varanges  or  Baranges,  a  word  of  northern  derivation, 
signifying  warrior  (waring),  and  found  in  Normandy  as  a  family  name, 
and  in  names  of  places,  as  Warrene,  Varingeville.  This  body  of  Varangi 
were  employed  at  Constantinople  so  long  back  as  the  reign  of  the  emperor 
Michael  the  Paphlagonian,  1034 — 1041,  and  consequently  at  a  time  far 
preceding  that  in  which  our  author  places  the  English  exiles  among  them, 
or  the  battle  of  Hastings.  No  doubt,  the  original  band  were  Danes  or 
Norwegians,  and  the  English  were  incorporated  with  them,  as  they  suc- 
cessively withdrew  from  the  Norman  yoke.  Besides,  the  great  body  of  the 
English  who  adhered  to  Harold  were  of  Dano-Norwegian  extraction,  as 
indeed  two  thirds  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  north  of  England  then  were, 
and  it  was  quite  natural  for  them  to  join  their  countrymen  at  Constantinople 
with  the  allurements  of  high  pay  and  distinction.  In  the  end,  their  num- 
bers became  so  great,  that  several  Greek  writers  speak  of  the  Varangi  as 
exclusively  English. 

1  The  Chevetot  of  our  author  is  called  by  Villehardoun,  Chivetoi,  and  he 
informs  us  that  it  was  situated  on  the  Gulf  of  Nicomedia,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Nice.  The  true  name  is  Ki/3wroc.  Ducange  thinks  that  Alexis 
Conme;j;ug  only  rebuilt  the  city,  which  was  of  older  date. 


AJ>.  1067 — 1068.]   DOVER  ASSAULTED.  11 

were  reconciled  to  him,  and  used  their  utmost  efforts  to 
wrest  Dover  castle  from  the  royal  garrison  and  deliver  it  to 
Eustace.  He  no  sooner  received  the  message  of  the  Ken- 
tish-men, than,  his  fleet  being  in  readiness,  he  embarked  his 
troops  and  made  a  quick  passage  in  the  dead  of  the  night, 
hoping  to  find  the  garrison  off  their  guard.  He  had  with 
him  many  knights,  but  all  their  horses  were  left  behind, 
except  a  very  few.  The  whole  neighbourhood  was  in  arms, 
and  especially  a  strong  body  of  Kentish-men  who  seconded 
Eustace's  attack  with  all  their  might.  The  bishop  of  Bayeux 
and  Hugh  de  Mountfort,  who  were  principally  charged  with 
the  defence  of  the  coast,  were  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Thames,  and  had  drawn  off  with  them  the  main  part  of  the 
troops.  If  the  siege  had  been  prolonged  for  two  days,  a 
large  body  of  the  enemy  would  have  assembled  from  a  dis- 
tance. But  while  the  assailants  made  desperate  attacks  up- 
on the  place,  the  garrison  were  prepared  for  an  obstinate 
defence,  and  offered  a  determined  resistance  at  the  points 
most  open  to  attack.  The  conflict  was  maintained  with  fury 
on  both  sides  for  some  hours  of  the  day.  But  Eustace 
beginning  to  be  doubtful  of  success,  and  being  apprehensive 
of  a  sally  by  the  besieged,  which  might  force  him  to  a  more 
shameful  retreat,  gave  the  signal  for  retiring  to  the  ships. 
Upon  this  the  garrison  immediately  opened  the  gates,  and 
falling  on  the  rear-guard  with  spirit,  but  in  good  order, 
killed  a  great  many  of  them.  The  fugitives,  panic-struck  by 
a  report  that  the  bishop  of  Bayeux  had  unexpectedly  arrived 
with  a  strong  force,  threw  themselves  in  their  alarm  among 
the  crevices  of  the  perpendicular  cliffs,  and  so  perished  with 
more  disgrace  than  if  they  had  fallen  by  the  sword.  Many 
were  the  forms  of  death  to  which  their  defeat  exposed  them, 
many,  throwing  away  their  arms,  were  killed  by  falling  on 
the  sharp  rocks  ;  others,  slipping  down,  destroyed  themselves 
and  their  comrades  by  their  own  weapons  ;  and  many,  mor- 
tally wounded,  or  bruised  by  their  fall,  rolled  yet  breathing 
into  the  sea ;  many  more,  escaping  breathless  with  haste  to 
the  ships,  were  so  eager  to  reach  a  place  of  safety  that  they 
crowded  the  vessels  till  they  upset  them  and  were  drowned 
on  the  spot.  The  Norman  cavalry  took  prisoners  or  slew  as 
many  as  they  could  overtake.  Eustace  escaped  by  having  the 
advantage  of  a  fleet  horse,  his  knowledge  of  the  road,  and 


12  ORDEBICUS   TITAHS.  [B.IV.  CH.III. 

finding  a  ship  ready  to  put  to  sea.  His  nephew,  a  noble 
youth  who  bore  arms  for  the  first  time,  was  taken  prisoner. 
The  English  escaped  through  by-roads,  the  garrison  of  the 
castle  being  too  few  in  number  to  pursue  a  multitude  who 
thus  dispersed  themselves. 

Not  long  afterwards  Count  Eustace  effected  a  reconcilia- 
tion with  King  William,  and  enjoyed  his  friendship  for  many 
years  afterwards.  This  count's  origin  was  most  illustrious, 
as  he  was  a  descendant  of  Charlemagne,  the  mightiest  king 
of  the  Franks.  His  power  also  was  very  great,  he  being 
sovereign  prince  of  the  three  counties  of  Boulogne,  Guines, 
and  Terouanne.1  He  married  Ida,2  a  noble  and  religious 
woman,  who  was  sister  of  Godfrey,  duke  of  Lorraine.  She 
bore  him  three  sous,  Godfrey,  Baldwin,  and  Eustace,  and  a 
daughter  who  married  Henry  IV.,  emperor  of  Germany. 

While  most  of  the  English,  sighing  for  their  ancient  liber- 
ties, were  plotting  rebellion  for  the  purpose  of  recovering 
them,  there  were  numbers  of  that  nation  who  kept  the  faith 
they  had  pledged  to  God,  and  were  obedient  to  the  king  whom 
he  had  set  up,  according  to  the  apostle's  precept :  "  Fear  God, 
honour  the  king."8  Earl  Copsi,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished of  the  English  nobles  both  by  birth  and  power,  and 
still  more  by  his  singular  prudence  and  entire  honesty  of  pur- 
pose, faithfully  adhered  to  King  William,  and  espoused  his 
cause  with  much  zeal.  His  owu  vassals  were,  however,  very 
far  from  following  his  example,  being  determined  supporters 
and  friends  of  the  malcontents.  They  therefore  assailed 
him  in  every  way,  using  prayers,  threats,  and  protestations, 
to  induce  him  to  desert  the  party  of  the  foreigners  and 
second  the  wishes  of  good  men  of  his  own  race  and  nation. 
But  finding  that  his  mind  was  too  firmly  fixed  in  the  right 

1  Eustace,  second  of  the  name,  count  de  Boulogne,  about  1049 — 1093, 
was  indeed  descended  from  Charlemagne  by  his  mother,  Maud  of  Louvain. 
As  to  his  being  count  of  Terouanne,  no  such  title  appears,  and  Guines 
belonged  to  Baldwin  I.,  count  d'Ardres.     Eustace's  first  wife  was  Goda, 
sister  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  whom  he  married  in  1050. 

2  Ida  of  Ardenne,  daughter  of  Godfrey  le  Barbu,  duke  of  Lower  Lor- 
raine, was  married  to  Eustace  II.  in  December,  1057,  and  died  in  the 
odour  of  sanctity  the  13th  of  August,   1113.     Her  only  children  were 
Godfrey  de  Bouillon,  Eustace  III.,  and  Baldwin  I.,  king  of  Jerusalem 
after  his  eldest  brother. 

1  1  Peter  ii.  17. 


A.D.  1068.]        WILLIAM  EETTJENS  TO  ENGLAND.  13 

course  to  be  diverted  from  its  purpose,  his  country  neigh- 
bours rose  against  him,  and  he  was  treacherously  slain  on 
account  of  his  devoted  fidelity.1  This  excellent  man  thus 
sealed  with  his  blood  the  truth  that  their  lord's  dignity 
ought  always  to  be  respected  by  loyal  subjects. 

Then  Aldred,  primate  of  Tork,  and  some  other  bishops, 
rendered  themselves  serviceable  to  the  king,  in  obedience  to 
justice,  remembering  the  admonition  of  the  wise  man : 
"My  son,  fear  God  and  the  king."2  At  the  same  time 
some  of  the  most  discreet  citizens  of  the  towns,  and  noble 
knights  of  distinguished  names  and  wealth,  with  many  of  the 
commonalty,  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Normans  against 
their  own  countrymen  with  great  zeal. 

Meanwhile,  King  William  was  employing  his  residence  in 
Normandy  to  provide  carefully  for  its  tranquillity  during  a 
long  period.  With  the  advice  of  wise  counsellors,  he 
enacted  just  laws,  and  rendered  equal  justice  to  the  poor  as 
well  as  the  rich.  He  selected  the  best  men  for  judges  and 
governors  in  all  the  provinces  of  Normandy.  He  freed  the 
holy  monasteries  and  the  domains  granted  to  them  from  all 
unjust  exactions,  by  royal  privileges  and  charters  of 
protection.  He  proclaimed  by  the  voice  of  heralds  security 
to  all,  both  natives  and  foreigners,  throughout  his  dominions, 
and  at  the  same  time  the  severest  penalties  against  thieves, 
rioters,  and  those  who  broke  the  peace  of  the  country. 

Cn.  IV.  William  returns  to  England — Overawes  the  mal- 
contents— Besieges  Exeter — Queen  Jtfatilda  comes  over  and 
is  crowned — The  English  nobles  break  into  open  rebellion. 

WHILE  the  king  was  thus  occupied,  reports  reached  him 
from  beyond  sea,  and,  mingling  evil  with  his  best  hopes, 
caused  him  great  disquietude ;  for,  the  disaifection  of  the 
English,  joined  by  the  efforts  of  the  Danes  and  other 
barbarous  nations,  threatened  the  Normans  with  great 
losses.  Leaving  the  government  of  Normandy  to  his  Queen 

1  He  was  assassinated  at  Newburn,  about  the  middle  of  March,  1068, 
by  Osulf,  his  predecessor  in  his  government.  Copsi,  attacked  by  surprise, 
took  refuge  in  a  church,  which  was  set  on  fire,  and  when  he  attempted  to 
escnpe  from  the  flames,  Osulf  stabbed  him. 

3  Proverbs  xxiv.  21. 


14  OBDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.IT.  CH.IT. 

Matilda,  and  his  young  son  Robert,1  with  a  council  of 
religious  prelates  and  valiant  nobles  to  be  guardians  of  the 
state.  He  then  rode  on  the  night  of  the  6th  of  December 
to  the  mouth  of  the  river  of  Dieppe,  below  the  town  of 
Arques,2  and,  setting  sail  with  a  south  wind  in  the  first 
watch  of  the  cold  night,  reached  in  the  morning,  after  a  most 
prosperous  voyage,  the  harbour  on  the  opposite  coast  called 
Winchelsea.  Hitherto  the  wintry  winds  had  made  the  sea 
very  tempestuous,  but  the  church  was  then  celebrating  the 
feast  of  St.  Nicholas,  bishop  of  Myra,  and  prayers  were 
offered  in  Normandy  on  behalf  of  their  pious  prince.  The 
providence  of  God,  therefore,  which  conducts  all  those  it 
favours  when  and  where  it  wills,  brought  the  good  king  to  a 
port  of  safety,  amid  the  storms  of  winter.  In  his  present 
voyage  he  was  attended  by  Roger  de  Montgomery,3  who,  at 
the  time  of  his  former  expedition  to  invade  England,  was 
left,  with  his  wife,  governor  of  Normandy.  The  king  first 
conferred  on  him  the  earldoms  of  Chichester  and  Arundel, 
and,  after  a  time,  made  him  earl  of  Shrewsbury. 

On  the  king's  landing  he  was  well  received  by  the  English, 
and  entertained  with  fitting  honours,  both  by  the  monks  and 
secular  officers.  He  kept  the  feast  of  Christmas  at  London, 
treating  the  English  bishops  and  nobles  with  great  courtesy. 
He  received  each  with  open  arms,  gave  them  the  kiss  of 
welcome,  and  was  affable  to  all.  When  they  made  any 
request  it  was  graciously  granted,  and  he  listened  favourably 
to  what  they  reported  or  advised.  By  these  arts  the  numbers 
of  the  treasonably  disposed  were  reduced.  While  he  some- 
times gave  instructions  to  the  Normans  with  equal  care  and 

1  This  prince  could  not  have  been  older  than  thirteen  years  at  this  time 
(A.D.  1067),  as  he  died  in   1134,  at  the  age  of  eighty,  at  Cardiff  Castle, 
where  he  was  detained  prisoner  by  his  brother  after  the  battle  of  Tin- 
chebrai,  and  if  he  was  then,  as  it  is  supposed,  twenty-four,  he  must  have 
been  born  in  1054.     It  appears  by  a  charter  of  Srigand  de  Mesidon,  that 
he  was  declared  by  William  his  successor  in  the  duchy  of  Normandy  as 
early  as  1 063  ;  and  this  charter  bore  his  signature,  though  he  was  not  then 
more  than  nine  years  old. 

2  The  river  Dieppe,  which  gave  its  name  to  the  town  built  at  its  mouth 
after  this  voyage,  is  now  called  the  Bethune  to  its  junction  with  the  river 
at  Arques. 

3  Ordericus's  father  probably  accompanied  his  patron  on  this  occasion, 
and  remained  in  England  with  him,  where  our  author,  who  seems  proud  to 
style  himself  an  Englishman,  was  born  about  five  years  afterwards. 


A.D.  1068.]  SIEGE   OF   EXETEB.  15 

address,  at  others  he  privately  warned  the  English  to  be 
continually  on  their  guard,  in  all  quarters,  against  the  crafty 
designs  of  their  enemies.  All  the  cities  and  provinces 
which  he  had  himself  visited  or  had  occupied  with  garrisons, 
obeyed  his  will ;  but,  on  the  frontiers  of  the  kingdom,  in  the 
northern  and  western  districts,  the  same  wild  independence 
prevailed  which  formerly  made  the  people  insubordinate 
except  when  they  pleased,  to  the  kings  of  England  in  the 
times  of  Edward  and  his  predecessors. 

Exeter  was  the  first  to  contend  for  freedom,  but  being 
attacked  with  vigour  by  powerful  troops  it  was  compelled  to 
submit.  It  is  a  rich  and  ancient  city,  built  in  a  plain,  and 
fortified  with  much  care,  being  distant  about  two  miles  from 
the  sea  coast,  where  it  is  reached  by  the  shortest  passage  from 
Ireland  or  Brittany.  The  townsmen  held  it  in  great  force, 
raging  furiously,  both  young  and  old,  against  all  Frenchmen. 
In  their  zeal  they  had  invited  allies  from  the  neighbouring 
districts,  had  detained  foreign  merchants  who  were  fit  for 
war,  and  built  or  repaired  walls  and  towers,  and  added 
whatever  was  reckoned  wanting  to  their  defences.  They 
had  also  engaged  other  towns,  by  envoys  they  sent,  to  join  in 
league  with  them,  and  prepared  to  oppose  with  all  their 
strength  the  foreign  king,  with  whom  before  they  had  no 
connection.  When  the  king  heard  of  these  proceedings,  he 
commanded  the  chief  citizens  to  take  the  oath  of  fealty  to 
him.  But  they  returned  this  reply :  "  We  will  neither 
swear  allegiance  to  the  king,  nor  admit  him  within  our  walls  ; 
but  will  pay  him  tribute,  according  to  ancient  custom."  To 
this,  the  king  gave  this  answer :  "  It  does  not  suit  me  to 
have  subjects  011  such  conditions."  He  then  marched  an 
army  into  their  territories,  and  in  that  expedition  called  out 
the  English  for  the  first  time.  The  elders  of  the  city,  when 
they  learned  that  the  king's  army  was  approaching  near, 
went  out  to  meet  him,  entreating  for  peace,  promising  to 
obey  all  his  commands,  and  offering  him  such  hostages  as  he 
required.  When,  however,  they  returned  to  their  fellow 
citizens,  who  were  in  great  alarm  at  the  guilt  they  had 
incurred,  they  found  them  still  determined  to  persist  in 
their  hostilities,  and  for  various  reasons  roused  themselves  to 
stand  on  their  defence.  The  king,  who  had  halted  four 


16  ORDEEICTTS   YTTALIS.  [B.IT.  CH.IT. 

miles  from  the  city,  was  filled  with  anger  and  surprise  on 
receiving  this  intelligence. 

In  the  first  place,  therefore,  he  advanced  with  five  hundred 
horse  to  reconnoitre  the  place  and  the  fortifications,  and  to 
ascertain  what  the  enemy  was  doing.     He  found  the  gates 
shut,  and  crowds  of  people  posted  on  the  outworks,  and 
round  the  whole  circuit  of  the  walls.     In  consequence,  by 
the  king's  order,  the  whole  army  moved  to  the  city,  and  one 
of  the  hostages  had  his  eyes  put  out  before  the  gate.     But 
the  mad  obstinacy  of  the  people  neither  yielded  to  fear  nor 
to  commiseration  for  the  fate  of  the  other  hostages ;  but 
strengthened  itself  in  the  determination  to  defend  themselves 
and  their  homes  to  the  last.     The  king  therefore  strongly 
invested  the  city  on  all  sides,  assaulted  it  with  the  utmost 
force  of  his  arms,  and  for  many  days  continued  his  attacks 
on  the  townsmen  stationed  on  the  walls,  and  his  efforts  to 
undermine    them    from    beneath.1     At    length    the    chief 
citizens  were   compelled,  by  the  resolute  assaults  of  the 
enemy,  to  have  recourse  to  wiser  counsels,  and  humbling 
themselves,  to  implore  mercy,  a  procession  of  the  most  lovely 
of  the  young  women,  the  elders  of  the  city,  and  the  clergy, 
carrying  the  sacred  books  and  holy  ornaments,  went  out  to 
the  king.     Having  humbly  prostrated  themselves  at  his  feet, 
the  king,  with  great  moderation,  extended  his  clemency  to 
the  repentant  people,  and  pardoned  their  offences  as  if  he 
had  forgotten  their  obstinate  resistance  to  his  authority, 
and  that  they  had  before  treated  with  insult  and  cruelty 
some  knights  he  had  sent  from  Normandy,  and  who  were 
driven  by  a  storm  into  their  port.     The  citizens  of  Exeter 
were  full  of  joy,  and  gave  thanks  to  God  at  finding  that,  after 
so  much  anger  and  such  terrible  threats,  they  had  made 
their  peace  with  the  foreign  king  better  than  they  expected. 
William  refrained  from  confiscating  their  goods,  and  posted 
strong  and  trusty  bands  of  soldiers  at  the  city  gates,  that  the 
army  might  not  force  an  entrance,  in  a  body,  and  pillage 
the  citizens.     He  then  selected  a  spot  within  the  walls  for 
erecting  a  castle,  and  left  there  Baldwin  de  Meules,  son  of 
Count  Gislebert,  and  other  knights  of  eminence  to  complete 
the  works  and  garrison  the  place.     Continuing  his  march 
afterwards  into  Cornwall,  the  furthest  extremity  of  Britain,3 
1  The  siege  lasted  eighteen  days.  a  "  Cornu- Britannia." 


A.D.  1068.]  QUEE5"  MATILDA.  CEOWXED.  17 

and  having  everywhere  restored  order  by  his  sudden  move- 
ments, he  disbanded  his  army,  and  returned  to  Guent1  in 
time  for  the  vacation  at  the  feast  of  Easter. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1068,2  King  William  sent  persons 
of  high  rank  to  Normandy  to  bring  over  his  queen  Matilda, 
who  quickly  obeyed  her  husband's  commands  with  a  willing 
mind,  and  crossed  the  sea  with  a  great  attendance  of 
knights  and  noble  women.  Among  the  clergy  who  were 
attached  to  her  court  for  the  performance  of  sacred  offices, 
the  most  distinguished  was  Guy,  bishop  of  Amiens,  who 
had  composed  a  poem  on  the  battle  between  Harold  and 
"William.3  Aldred,  archbishop  of  York,  who  had  crowned 
and  anointed  her  husband,  consecrated  Matilda  to  partake 
in  the  honours  of  royalty,  at  the  feast  of  Whitsuntide,  in 
the  second  year  of  William's  reign.  Being  now  a  crowned 
queen,  Matilda,  before  a  year  was  ended,  gave  birth  to  a 
son  named  Henry,*  who  was  declared  heir  to  all  the  king's 
dominions  in  England.  This  young  prince  had  his  attention 
turned  to  a  learned  education  as  soon  as  he  was  of  age  to 
receive  instruction,  and  after  the  death  of  both  his  parents, 
had  a  bold  career  in  arms.  At  last,  having  distinguished 
himself  by  his  various  claims  to  merit,  he  filled  his  father's 
throne  for  many  years. 

The  same  year,  Edwin  and  Morcar,  sons  of  Earl  Algar, 
and  young  men  of  great  promise,  broke  into  open  rebellion, 
and  induced  many  others  to  fly  to  arms,  which  violently 
disturbed  the  realm  of  Albion.  King  William,  however, 
came  to  terms  with  Edwin,  who  assured  him  of  the 
submission  of  his  brother  and  of  nearly  a  third  of  the 
kingdom,  upon  which  the  king  promised  to  give  him  his 
daughter  in  marriage.  Afterwards,  however,  by  a  fraudu- 
lent decision  of  the  Normans,  and  through  their  envy  and 
covetousness,  the  king  refused  to  give  him  the  princess  who 
was  the  object  of  his  desire,  and  for  whom  he  had  long 
waited.  Being,  therefore,  much  incensed,  he  and  his 
brother  again  broke  into  rebellion,  and  the  greatest  part  of 

1  "  Guentam,"  Winchester. 

2  We  have  found  our  author  sometimes  reckon  the  commencement  of 
thf  year  from  Christmas ;  he,  begins  this  from  Easter. 

1  See  vol.  i.  p.  492. 

4  Afterwards  King  Henry  I.,  surnamed  Deuu-elere. 

VOL.  II.  C 


18  OEDEEICUS   YITALI3.  [B.IT.  CU.1T. 

the  English  and  AVelsh  followed  their  standard.  The  two 
brothers  were  zealous  in  the  worship  of  God,  and  respected 
good  men.  They  were  remarkably  handsome,  their  relations 
were  of  high  birth  and  very  numerous,  their  estates  were 
vast  and  gave  them  immense  power,  and  their  popularity 
great.  The  clergy  and  monks  offered  continual  prayers  on 
their  behalf,  and  crowds  of  poor  daily  supplications. 

Earl  Algar  had  founded  a  monastery  at  Coventry,1  and 
amply  endowed  it  with  large  revenues  for  the  subsistence  of 
the  monks  belonging  to  it.  The  countess  Godiva  also,  a 
devout  lady,  had  contributed  all  her  wealth  to  the  monastery, 
and  employed  goldsmiths  to  convert  all  the  gold  and  silver 
she  possessed  into  sacred  tapestries,  and  crosses,  and  images 
of  saints,  and  other  ecclesiastical  ornaments  of  wonderful 
beauty,  which  she  devoutly  distributed.  These  excellent 
parents,  thus  devoted  to  God  and  praiseworthy  for  their 
piety,  had  a  fine  family  which  merited  the  greatest  distinc- 
tion, viz.,  Edwin,  Morcar,  and  a  daughter  named  Edith,  who 
was  first  married  to  Griffith,  king  of  Wales,  and  after  his 
death  to  Harold,  king  of  England.2 

At  the  time  when  the  Normans  had  crushed  the  English,  and 
were  overwhelming  them  with  intolerable  oppressions  Blethyn, 
king  of  Wales,3  came  to  the  aid  of  his  uncles,  at  the  head  of  a 
large  body  of  Britons.  A  general  assembly  was  now  held 
of  the  chief  men  of  the  English  and  Welsh,  at  which  uni- 
versal complaints  were  made  of  the  outrages  and  tyranny  to 
which  the  English  were  subjected  by  the  Normans  and  their 
adherents,  and  messengers  were  despatched  into  all  parts  of 
Albion  to  rouse  the  natives  against  their  enemies,  either 
secretly  or  openly.  All  joined  in  a  determined  league  and 
bold  conspiracy  against  the  Normans  for  the  recovery  of 
their  ancient  liberties.  The  rebellion  broke  out  with  great 
violence  in  the  provinces  beyond  the  Humber.  The  insur- 

1  The  abbey  of  Coventry  was  founded  about  the  year  1043,  by  Leofric, 
earl  of  Mercia,  Algar's  father,  or  rather  by  Godiva,  his  mother.  She  was 
sister  of  Torold,  sheriff  of  Lincolnshire,  and  her  name  appears  several 
times  in  the  Domesday- book  as  tiodeva  Comitissa.  A  passage  in  it  proves 
that  she  lived  till  after  the  Conquest. 

a  Our  author  is  mistaken  in  making  Edith,  sister  of  Edwin  and  Morcar, 
have  for  her  first  husband  Griffith,  king  of  Wales.  See  vol.  i.  p.  461. 

*  Blethyn-ap-Cynvyn,  therefore,  was  not  nephew  of  Edwin  and  Morcar. 
lie  was  brother  of  Griffith. 


A.D.  1068.]       IXSUEftECTIONS — CASTLES    BUILT.  19 

gents  fortified  themselves  in  the  woods  and  marshes,  on  the 
estuaries,  and  in  some  cities.  York  was  in  a  state  of  the 
highest  excitement,  which  the  holiness  of  its  bishop  was 
unable  to  calm.  Numbers  lived  in  tents,  disdaining  to  dwell 
in  houses  lest  they  should  become  enervated ;  from  which 
some  of  them  were  called  savages  by  the  Normans. 

In  consequence  of  these  commotions,  the  king  carefully  sur- 
veyed the  most  inaccessible  points  in  the  country,  and,  select- 
ing suitable  spots,  fortified  them  against  the  enemy's  excur- 
sions. In  the  English  districts  there  were  very  few  fortresses, 
which  the  Normans  call  castles ;  so  that,  though  the  English 
were  warlike  and  brave,  they  were  little  able  to  make  a  deter- 
mined resistance.  One  castle  the  king  built  at  Warwick,  and 
gave  it  into  the  custody  of  Henry,  son  of  Roger  de  Beau- 
mont.1 Edwin  and  Morcar,  now  considering  the  doubtful  issue 
of  the  contest,  and  not  unwisely  preferring  peace  to  war,  sought 
the  king's  favour,  which  they  obtained,  at  least,  in  appear- 
ance. The  king  then  built  a  castle  at  Nottingham,  which  he 
committed  to  the  custody  of  William  PevereU. 

When  the  inhabitants  of  York  heard  the  state  of  affairs, 
they  became  so  alarmed  that  they  made  hasty  submission,  in 
order  to  avoid  being  compelled  by  force ;  delivering  the  keys 
of  the  city  to  the  king,  and  offering  him  hostages.  But, 
suspecting  their  faith,  he  strengthened  the  fortress  within 
the  city  walls,  and  placed  in  it  a  garrison  of  picked  men.  At 
this  time,  Archill,  the  most  powerful  chief  of  the  Northum- 
brians, made  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the  king,  and  gave  him 
his  son  as  a  hostage.  The  bishop  of  Durham,2  also,  being 
reconciled  to  King  William,  became  the  mediator  for  peace 
with  the  king  of  the  Scots,  and  was  the  bearer  into  Scotland 
of  the  terms  offered  by  William.  Though  the  aid  of  Mal- 
colm had  been  solicited  by  the  English,  and  he  had  prepared 
to  come  to  their  succour  with  a  strong  force,  yet  when  he 
heard  what  the  envoy  had  to  propose  with  respect  to  a  peace, 
he  remained  quiet,  and  joyfully  sent  back  ambassadors  in 
company  with  the  bishop  of  Durham,  who  in  his  name  swore 
fealty  to  King  William.  In  thus  preferring  peace  to  war,  he 
best  consulted  his  own  welfare,  and  the  inclinations  of  his 
subjects ;  for  the  people  of  Scotland,  though  fierce  in  war, 

1  He  was  created  earl  of  Warwick. 
a  Egclwin,  bishop  of  Durham. 
C   2 


20  OB1JEBICUS   TITALIS.  [fi.IV.  CH.IT. 

love  ease  and  quiet,  and  are  not  disposed  to  disturb  them- 
selves about  their  neighbours'  affairs,  loving  rather  religious 
exercises  than  those  of  arms.  On  his  return  from  this 
expedition,  the  king  erected  castles  at  Lincoln,  Huntingdon, 
and  Cambridge,  placing  in  each  of  them  garrisons  composed 
of  his  bravest  soldiers. 

Meanwhile,  some  of  the  Norman  women  were  so  inflamed 
by  passion  that  they  sent  frequent  messages  to  their  hus- 
bands, requiring  their  speedy  return,  adding  that,  if  it  were 
not  immediate,  they  should  choose  others.  They  would  not 
venture  as  yet  to  join  their  lords,  on  account  of  the  sea 
voyage,  which  was  entirely  new  to  them.  Nor  did  they  like 
to  pass  into  England  where  their  husbands  were  always  in 
arms,  and  fresh  expeditions  were  daily  undertaken,  attended 
with  much  effusion  of  blood  on  both  sides.  But  the  king 
naturally  wished  to  retain  his  soldiers  while  the  country  was 
in  so  disturbed  a  state,  and  made  them  great  offers  of  lands 
with  ample  revenues  and  great  powers,  promising  still  more 
when  the  whole  kingdom  should  be  freed  from  their  opponents. 
The  lawfully  created  barons  and  leading  soldiers  were  in 
great  perplexity,  for  they  were  sensible  that,  if  they  took  their 
departure  while  their  sovereign,  with  their  brothers,  friends 
and  comrades,  were  surrounded  by  the  perils  of  war,  they 
would  be  publicly  branded  as  base  traitors  and  cowardly 
deserters.  On  the  other  hand,  what  were  these  honourable 
soldiers  to  do,  when  their  licentious  wives  threatened  to  stain 
the  marriage  bed  with  adultery,  and  stamp  the  mark  of 
infamy  on  their  offspring  ? l  In  consequence,  Hugh  de 
Grantmesnil,  who  was  governor  of  the  Gewissse,  that  is,  of 
the  district  round  "Winchester,2  and  his  brother-in-law  Hum- 
phrey de  Tilleul,3  who  had  received  the  custody  of  Hastings 
from  the  first  day  it  was  built,  and  many  others,  departed, 
deserting,  with  regret  and  reluctance,  their  king  struggling 

1  M.  Thierry  remarks  on  this  passage :  "  Bitter,  and  not  very  decent 
jests  were  directed  against  the  Norman  women  who  were  in  such  haste  to 
recall  their  protectors  and  the  fathers  of  their  children;  and  imputations  of 
cowardice  diffused  witli  reference  to  those  who  might  abandon  their  leader 
in  a  foreign  land." — History  of  the  Norman  Conquest,  Hazlitt's  translation, 
p.  215. 

3  The  present  Hampshire;  but  the  Gewissae,  properly  speaking,  were  the 
inhabitants  of  a  far  more  extensive  district. 

*  Tilleul-en-Auge,  two  leagues  north  of  Grant-mesnil. 


A.D.  1069.]    THE  BEYOLT  BECOMES  GENEBAL.  21 

amongst  foreigners.  They  returned  obsequiously  to  their 
lascivious  wives  in  Normandy,  but  neither  they  nor  their 
heirs  were  ever  able  to  recover  the  honour  and  domains 
which  they  had  already  gained,  and  relinquished  on  this 
occasion.1 

England  was  now  a  scene  of  general  desolation,  a  prey  to 
the  ravages  both  of  natives  and  foreigners.  Fire,  robbery, 
and  daily  slaughter,  did  their  worst  on  the  wretched  people, 
who  were  for  ever  attacked,  trampled  down,  and  crushed. 
Calamity  involved  both  the  victors  and  their  victims  in  the 
same  toils,  prostrating  them  alternately  by  the  sword,  pesti- 
lence, and  famine,  according  to  the  dispensations  of  the 
Almighty  Disposer  of  events.  The  king,  therefore,  taking 
into  consideration  the  impoverished  state  of  the  country, 
assembled  the  stipendiary  soldiers  he  had  in  his  pay,  and, 
rewarding  their  services  with  royal  munificence,  kindly  per- 
mitted them  to  return  to  their  homes. 

CH.  V.  Descent  of  the  sons  of  Harold  from  Ireland  in  the 
west  of  England — invasion  of  the  east  and  north  by  the 
troops  of  Sweyn,  king  of  Denmark — They  are  joined  by  the 
Anglo-Danish  nobles  and  population — King  William1  s  cam- 
paign in  Yorkshire  and  Durham — Lays  waste  the  country 
between  the  Humber  and  the  Tees — Marches  against  the 
insurgents  in  Cheshire  and  the  borders  of  Wales. 

IN  the  third  year  of  his  reign,  King  William  gave  the 
county  of  Durham  to  Robert  de  Comines,  who  soon  after- 
wards entered  the  city,  with  great  confidence,  at  the  head  of 
five  hundred  men.  But  the  citizens  assembled  early  in  the 
night,  and  massacred  Robert  and  all  his  troops,  except  two, 
who  escaped  by  flight.2  The  bravest  of  men  were  unable  to 
defend  themselves,  taken  at  disadvantage,  at  such  an  hour, 
and  overwhelmed  by  numbers. 

Not  long  afterwards,  Robert  Fitz-Richard,  the  governor  of 
York,  was  slain  with  many  of  his  retainers.  Confidence 

1  William's  resentment  against  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil  does  not  appear 
to  have  been  so  lasting  as  our  author  represents  it,  for  Hugh  not  only 
returned  to  England,  where  at  the  time  of  making  the  Domesday  survey 
he  possessed  a  vast  number  of  manors,  and  where  he  filled  important 
offices,  but  his  wife,  Adeliza,  held  directly  of  the  crown  several  manors  in 
her  own  name,  a  distinction  granted  to  very  few  of  the  Norman  ladies. 

"  This  massacre  took  place  on  the  28th  of  January,  1069. 


22  OEDEKICTJS   YITALIS.  [B.IT.  CH.T. 

now  became  restored  among  the  English  in  resisting  the 
Normans,  by  whom  their  friends  and  allies  were  grievously 
oppressed.  Oaths,  fealty,  and  the  safety  of  their  hostages, 
were  of  little  weight  to  men  who  became  infuriated  by  the 
loss  of  their  patrimony  and  the  murder  of  their  kinsfolk  and 
countrymen. 

Marlesweyn,  Cospatric,  Edgar  Atheling,  Archill,  and  the 
four  sons  of  Karol,  with  other  powerful  and  factious  nobles, 
collected  their  forces,  and  joining  a  band  of  the  townsmen 
and  their  neighbours,  made  a  desperate  attack  on  the  royal 
fortress  of  Tork.  William  Malet,  the  governor  of  the  castle, 
was,  therefore,  compelled  to  inform  the  king  that  he  must 
surrender,  unless  his  harassed  troops  received  immediate 
reinforcements.  The  king  flew  to  the  spot,  and  fell  on  the 
besiegers,  none  of  whom  he  spared.  Many  of  them  were 
taken  prisoners,  numbers  slain,  the  rest  put  to  flight.  The 
king  spent  eight  days  in  the  city,  making  an  additional  for- 
tification, and  committed  the  place  to  the  custody  of  the 
earl  William  Fitz-Osbern.  He  then  returned  in  triumph 
to  Winchester,  where  he  celebrated  the  feast  of  Easter. 
After  the  king's  departure,  the  English  re-assembled  and 
renewed  their  attack,  menacing  both  the  fortresses ;  but 
Earl  AVilliam  and  his  troops,  falling  on  the  insurgents  in  a 
certain  valley,  defeated  them,  many  being  slain  or  taken 
prisoners,  and  the  rest,  for  the  present,  escaped  by  flight. 

Being  thus  unceasingly  occupied  by  revolts  which  broke 
out  in  every  quarter,  King  William  sent  back  Matilda,  his 
dearly  beloved  wife,  to  Normandy,  where,  sheltered  from  tho 
tumults  with  which  England  was  distracted,  she  might  have 
leisure  to  devote  herself  to  religious  duties,  and  watch  over 
the  safety  of  the  province  and  of  Robert  her  son.  This 
princess  was  cousin  to  Philip,  king  of  France,  and  being 
descended  from  the  royal  line  of  the  French  kings  and  the 
emperors  of  Germany,1  she  was  no  less  distinguished  by  her 
illustrious  birth,  than  by  the  effulgence  of  her  virtues.  Her 
august  husband  had  by  her  an  enviable  family,  consisting 
both  of  sons  and  daughters :  Robert  and  Richard,  William 
Rufus  and  Henry,  Agatha  and  Constance,  Adeliza,  Adela, 
and  Cicely,  who  met  with  different  fates  in  this  uncertain 

1  Queen  Matilda  was  daughter  of  Adela  of  France,  sister  of  Henry  I., 
and  consequently  cousin-gennan  of  Philip  I. 


A.D.  1068.]  EXPEDITION  FEO1I   IBELA5TD.  23 

life,  and  have  afforded  ample  materials  from  which  eloquent 
writers  have  composed  voluminous  works.1  Beauty  of  person, 
high  birth,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  exalted  virtue,  combined 
to  grace  this  illustrious  queen,  and,  what  is  still  more  worthy 
of  immortal  praise,  she  was  firm  in  the  faith,  and  devoted  to 
the  service  of  Christ.  Her  charities,  which  she  daily 
distributed  with  fervent  zeal,  contributed  more  than  I  am 
able  to  express  to  the  prosperity  of  her  husband,  continually 
struggling  in  his  warlike  career. 

The  two  sons  of  Harold,2  king  of  England,  took  refuge 
with  Dermot,  king  of  Ireland,  disconsolate  at  their  father's 
death  and  their  own  expulsion.  Obtaining  succour  from 
him  and  his  chief  nobles,  they  appeared  off  Exeter,  with 
sixty-six  vessels,  full  of  troops.  Landing  on  the  coast  they 
began  boldly  to  ravage  the  interior  of  the  country,  subjecting 
it  to  severe  losses  by  fire  and  sword.  But  they  were  quickly 
encountered  by  Brian,  son  of  Eudes,  count  of  Brittany, 
and  William  Gualdi,  at  the  head  of  an  armed  force,  which, 
after  two  battles  on  the  same  day,  reduced  their  fearful 
numbers  so  much  that  those  who  were  left  escaped  in  two 
vessels,  and  on  their  return  filled  Ireland  with  grief.  Indeed, 
if  night  had  not  put  an  end  to  the  conflict,  not  even  one 
would  have  returned  home  with  tidings  of  the  disaster.  So 
just  a  fate  befell  the  tyrant's  sons,  attempting  to  revenge 
him  and  those  who  aided  them  in  such  an  enterprize.3 

During  these  occurrences  Githa,  the  wife  of  Godwin  and 
mother  of  Harold,  secretly  collected  vast  wealth,  and  from 

1  The  histories  of  the  sons  of  William  and  Matilda  are  well  known ;  of 
the  daughters,  Agatha,  the  eldest,  was  betrothed  successively  to  Harold 
and  to  Alphonso,  king  of  Gallicia,  but  died  while  she  was  on  her  way  to 
Spain,  as  will  appear  hereafter.  Constance  married  Afen  Fergan,  duke  of 
Brittany,  nnd  Adela,  Stephen,  count  de  Blois.  Adeliza  became  a  nun  in 
the  convent  of  St.  Leger-de-Preaux,  and  Cecilia  in  that  of  the  Holy 
Trinity  at  Cadiz,  of  which  she  was  afterwards  abbess. 

a  There  were  three,  not  two,  sons  of  Harold,  who  claimed  the  protection 
of  Dermot,  king  of  Leinster ;  Godwin,  Edmund,  and  Magnus. 

*  According  to  our  English  historians,  this  expedition,  which  was  under- 
taken in  1068,  was  neither  so  short  nor  disastrous  as  our  author  represents. 
It  was  not  Brian  of  Brittany,  but  Eadnoth,  formerly  Harold's  master-of- 
the-horse,  who  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the  forces  which  resisted  the  sons 
of  his  late  master.  He  was  killed  in  the  battle,  but  the  fleet  though  repulsed 
at  this  point  ravaged  the  coasts  of  Devonshire  and  Cornwall,  returning  to 
Ireland  loaded  with  the  plunder  of  the  two  counties. 


24  OBDEBICT78   TITALIS.  [B.IV.  CH.V. 

her  fear  of  King  "William  crossed  over  to  France,  never  to 
return.1 

At  that  time  Sweyn,  king  of  Denmark,  equipped  with 
great  care  a  powerful  fleet,  in  which  he  embarked  both 
Danes  and  English  under  the  command  of  his  two  sons2 
and  his  brother  Osbern,  with  two  pontiffs  and  three 
distinguished  earls,  directing  the  armament  against  England. 
For  he  had  often  been  invited  by  the  earnest  prayers  of  the 
English,  accompanied  by  large  sums  of  money,  and  he  was 
also  moved  by  the  loss  of  his  countrymen  recently  slain  in 
the  battle  with  Harold;  and  being  the  nephew  of  King 
Edward,  who  was  son  of  Hardicanute,  his  ambition  was 
excited  by  his  near  relationship  to  the  throne.  This  king 
was  possessed  of  great  power,  and  he  assembled  the  whole 
strength  of  his  kingdom,  which  was  augmented  by  aux- 
iliary forces  from  neighbouring  countries  with  which  he 
was  allied.  He  was  thus  supported  by  Poland,  Frisia,  and 
Saxony.  Leutecia3  also  furnished  a  body  of  stipendiary 
soldiers  hired  with  English  wealth.  That  populous  country 
was  inhabited  by  a  nation  which,  still  lost  in  the  errors  of 
paganism,  was  ignorant  of  the  true  God,  but,  entangled  in 
the  toils  of  ignorance,  worshipped  Woden,  Thor,  and  Frea, 
and  other  false  gods,  or  rather  demons.  This  nation  was  ex- 
perienced in  war  both  by  sea  and  land,  but  Sweyn  had  often 
gained  victories  over  it  under  its  king,  and  had  reduced  it 
to  submission.  Grown  arrogant  by  repeated  successes,  and 
seeking  to  raise  his  power  and  glory  to  a  still  higher  pitch, 
Sweyn,  as  we  have  already  mentioned,  fitted  out  an  expedi- 
tion against  King  William.  The  Danes  attempted  a  landing 
at  Dover,  but  were  repulsed  by  the  royal  troops.  Making 

1  This  princess,  who  is  also  called  Edith,  escaping  from  Exeter  in  1067, 
spent  some  time  in  concealment  on  the  little  island  called  the  Flat-Holmes 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Severn.     She  afterwards  reached  the  coast  of  Flan- 
ders, and  took  refuge  at  St.  Omer.     Her  name  frequently  appears  in  the 
Domesday-book,  where  it  is  spelt  Ghida,  Gida,  or  Gueda.     The  entries 
there  prove  that  she  held  of  the  crown,  before  the  conquest,  39,600  acres 
of  land. 

2  The  fleet  was  under  the  command  of  Sweyn's  second  son,  Canute, 
afterwards  Canute  IV.,  1080— July,  108C,  who  was  canonized  in  1100. 

3  "A  country  in  the  north  of  Germany,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Oder, 
and  near  its  mouth,  and  consequently  to  the  north  of  Saxony." — Le  Pri- 
vosL    "  Probably  the  country  of  the  Lettons,  now  called  Lithuania." — 
Dubois, 


A.D.  10C9.]     THE  DANES  LAND  ON  THE  HTTMBEE.  25 

another  attempt  at  Sandwich,  they  were  again  repulsed  by 
the  Normans.  However  they  found  an  opportunity  of 
disembarking  at  Ipswich,  and  dispersed  themselves  to  pillage 
the  neighbourhood ;  but  the  country  people  assembled,  and 
slaying  thirty  of  them,  compelled  the  rest  to  save  themselves 
by  flight.  Having  landed  at  Norwich  for  a  similar  incur- 
sion, they  were  encountered  by  Ralph  de  Gruader,  who  put 
numbers  of  them  to  the  sword,  caused  many  to  be  drowned, 
and  forced  the  rest  to  retire  with  disgrace  to  their  ships 
and  put  to  sea.  King  William  was  at  this  time  in  the 
forest  of  Dean  following  the  chace,  as  it  was  his  custom  to 
do.  Receiving  intelligence  there  of  these  descents  of  the 
Danes,  he  instantly  despatched  a  messenger  to  York,  with  di- 
rections to  his  officers  to  be  on  their  guard  against  the  enemy, 
and  to  summon  him  to  their  support  if  necessity  required. 
Those  to  whom  the  custody  of  the  fortresses  was  entrusted 
sent  word  in  reply  that  they  should  need  no  succour  from 
him  for  a  year  to  come.  By  this  time  the  Atheling,1 
"Waltheof,  Siward,  and  other  powerful  English  lords,  had 
joined  the  Danes,  who  landed  at  the  mouth  of  the 
broad  river  Humber.  The  Atheling  had  gone  there  on  a 
predatory  excursion  with  his  own  followers,  and  was  sepa- 
rated from  the  allied  troops.  But  they  were  unexpectedly 
attacked  by  the  king's  garrisons,  sallying  forth  from 
Lincoln,  who  took  them  all  prisoners,  except  two  who 
escaped  with  the  Atheling,  and  destroyed  their  ship  which 
those  who  were  left  to  guard  it  abandoned  in  alarm. 

The  Danes  now  invested  York,  their  force  being  much 
increased  by  the  number  of  the  natives  who  assembled  to 
support  them.  "VValtheof,  Cospatric,  Marisweyn,  Elnoc, 
Archill,  and  the  four  sons  of  Karol,  marched  in  the  van, 
taking  their  stations  in  front  of  the  Danes  and  Norwegians. 
The  garrison  of  the  castle  made  a  rash  sally,  and,  engaging 
within  the  city  walls,  fought  at  a  disadvantage.  Being 
unable  to  resist  the  numbers  of  the  assailants,  they  were  all 
killed  or  made  prisoners.  The  castles  having  lost  their 
defenders  were  open  to  the  enemy.  The  king  was  still  en- 
joying a  false  security  when  the  news  of  this  disaster  reached 
him.  Report  magnified  the  force  of  the  invaders,  and  said 
tliat  they  were  prepared  to  join  battle  with  the  king  himself. 
1  "  Adclinus,"  Edgar  Atheling. 


26  OEDERICUS   YIT^LIS.  [B.IT.  CH.V. 

William,  roused  by  grief  and  anger,  hastened  his  preparations 
for  advancing  against  them ;  but  they,  fearing  to  measure 
themselves  with  so  renowned  a  commander,  fled  to  the 
Humber,  and  sailed  over  to  the  shore  which  borders  on 
Lindsey.  The  king  pursued  them  with  his  cavalry,  and 
finding  some  marauders  in  the  almost  inaccessible  fens,  put 
them  to  the  sword  and  destroyed  some  of  their  fastnesses. 
The  Danes  escaped  to  the  opposite  shore,  waiting  an  oppor- 
tunity of  revenging  themselves  and  their  comrades. 

At  that  time  the  West  Salons  of  Dorset  and  Somerset, 
and  their  neighbours,  made  an  attack  on  Montacute,  but  by 
God's  providence  they  were  foiled  in  their  attempt ;  for 
the  men  of  Winchester,  London,  and  Salisbury,  under  the 
command  of  Geoffrey,  bishop  of  Coutances,  came  upon  them 
by  surprise,  slew  some  of  them,  and  mutilating  a  number 
of  the  prisoners,  put  the  rest  to  flight.  Meanwhile  the 
Welsh,  with  the  men  of  Cheshire,  laid  siege  to  the  king's 
castle  at  Shrewsbury,  aided  by  the  townsmen  under  Edric 
Guilda,1  a  powerful  and  warlike  man,  and  other  fierce 
English.  The  same  thing  was  done  at  Exeter  by  the  people 
of  Devonshire,  and  a  host  of  men  assembled  from  Cornwall. 
It  is  the  extreme  point  of  the  west  of  England  towards 
Ireland,  from  whence  it  derives  its  name  of  Cornu  Bri- 
tannia, the  horn  of  Britain,  or  Cornwall.  The  citizens  of 
Exeter  took  the  king's  side,  for  they  had  not  forgotten  the 
sufferings  they  had  formerly  endured.  The  king  receiving 
this  intelligence  lost  no  time  in  giving  orders  to  two  earls, 
William  and  Brian,2  to  march  to  the  relief  of  the  two 
places  which  were  attacked.  But  before  they  reached 
Shrewsbury,  the  enemy  had  burnt  the  town  and  retired. 
The  garrison  of  Exeter  made  a  sudden  sally,  and  charging 
the  besiegerr  with  impetuosity,  put  them  to  the  rout. 
William  and  Brian,  meeting  the  fugitives,  punished  their 
rash  enterprise  with  a  great  slaughter. 

Meanwhile  the  king  found  no  difficulty  in  crushing  con- 

1  Edric  the  Wild,  see  before,  vol.  L  p.  147.  The  Normans  called  him 
le  Sauvage,  the  Forester. 

*  Probably  William  Fitz-Osborn,  governor  of  Winchester,  and  Brian  of 
Rrittany,  mentioned  before,  p.  23,  who  was  the  second  son  of  Eudes, 
count  de  Penthievre,  and  brother  of  Alan  the  Black  and  Alan  the  Red, 
earls  of  Richmond  in  Yorkshire. 


A.D.  1069.]    WILLIAM'S  CAMPAIGN  nr  THE  ITOBTII.  27 

siderable  numbers  of  the  insurgents  at  Stafford.  In  so 
many  conflicts  blood  flowed  freely  on  both  sides,  and  the 
defenceless  population,  as  well  as  those  who  were  in  arms, 
suffered  from  time  to  time  severe  disasters.  The  divine  law 
was  everywhere  violated,  and  ecclesiastical  discipline  became 
almost  universally  relaxed.  Murders  were  wretchedly  fre- 
quent, men's  hearts  were  stimulated  to  evil  by  the  incentives 
of  covetousness  and  passion,  and  they  were  hurried  in 
crowds  to  hell,  condemned  by  God  whose  judgments  always 
prove  just.  Upon  King  William's  return  from  Lindsey  he 
left  there  his  half  brother  Eobert  Count  de  Mortaine,1 
and  Eobert  Count  d'Eu,  to  restrain  the  incursions  of 
the  Danes.  The  invaders  lurked  for  a  while  in  concealment, 
but  when  they  supposed  it  was  safe,  they  issued  from  their 
dens  to  join  in  the  festivals  of  the  country  people  on  what 
are  called  their  farms.  Upon  this  the  two  earls  fell  upon 
them  unexpectedly,  and  mingling  their  blood  with  the  feasts, 
followed  them  up  while  they  were  in  disorder,  and  pursued 
them  to  their  very  ships,  slaughtering  them  as  they  fled. 
It  was  again  reported  that  the  brigands  had  gone  to  York, 
to  celebrate  the  feast  of  the  nativity,  and  prepare  themselves 
for  battle.  The  king  was  hastening  thither  from  Notting- 
ham, but  was  stopped  at  Pontefract,  where  the  river  was 
not  fordable,  and  could  not  be  crossed  by  boats.  He  would 
not  listen  to  those  who  advised  him  to  return  ;  and  to  those 
who  proposed  to  construct  a  bridge  he  replied  that  it  was 
not  expedient,  as  the  enemy  might  come  upon  them  un- 
awares, and  take  the  opportunity  of  their  being  so  engaged 
to  inflict  a  loss  upon  them.  They  were  detained  there 
three  weeks.  At  length,  a  brave  knight  named  Lisois  des 
Moutiers,  carefully  sounded  the  river,  searching  for  a  ford 
both  above  and  below  the  town.  At  last,  with  great  diffi- 
culty, he  discovered  a  place  where  it  was  fordable,  and 
crossed  over  at  the  head  of  sixty  bold  men-at-arms.  They 
were  charged  by  a  multitude  of  the  enemy,  but  stoutly  held 
their  ground  against  the  assault.  The  next  day,  Lisoig 
returned  and  announced  his  discovery,  and  the  army  crossed 
the  ford  without  further  delay.  The  road  now  lay  through 
forests  and  marshes,  over  hills  and  along  valleys,  by  paths 
so  narrow  that  two  soldiers  could  not  march  abreast.  In 
1  The  king's  half-brother  by  his  mother  Arlotta. 


28  ORDEEICITS   VITALIS.  [B.IY.  CH.V. 

this  way  they  at  last  reached  the  neighbourhood  of  York, 
when  they  learned  that  the  Danes  had  already  retreated. 
The  king,  therefore,  detached  a  body  of  men-at-arms,  with 
commanders  and  officers,  to  repair  the  fortresses  inside  the 
city  walls,  and  posted  others  on  the  banks  of  the  Humber  to 
oppose  the  advance  of  the  Danes  ;  while  he  himself  con- 
tinued his  march  through  an  almost  inaccessible  country, 
overgrown  with  wood,  in  the  full  intention  of  pursuing  the 
enemy,  without  relaxation,  into  the  fastness  in  which  they 
lurked.  His  camps  were  scattered  over  a  surface  of  one 
hundred  miles ;  numbers  of  the  insurgents  fell  beneath  his 
vengeful  sword,  he  levelled  their  places  of  shelter  to  the 
ground,  wasted  their  lands,  and  burnt  their  dwellings  with 
all  they  contained.  Never  did  William  commit  so  much 
cruelty ;  to  his  lasting  disgrace,  he  yielded  to  his  worst 
impulse,  and  set  no  bounds  to  his  fury,  condemning  the 
innocent  and  the  guilty  to  a  common  fate.  In  the  fulness 
of  his  wrath  he  ordered  the  corn  and  cattle,  with  the  imple- 
ments of  husbandry  and  every  sort  of  provisions,  to  be 
collected  in  heaps  and  set  on  fire  till  the  whole  was  con- 
sumed, and  thus  destroyed  at  once  all  that  could  serve  for 
the  support  of  life  in  the  whole  country  lying  beyond  the 
Humber.  There  followed,  consequently,  so  great  a  scarcity 
in  England  in  the  ensuing  years,  and  severe  famine  involved 
the  innocent  and  unarmed  population  in  so  much  misery, 
that,  in  a  Christian  nation,  more  than  a  hundred  thousand 
souls,  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages,  perished  of  want.1  On 
many  occasions,  in  the  course  of  the  present  history,  I  have 
been  free  to  extol  William  according  to  his  merits,  but  I 
dare  not  commend  him  for  an  act  which  levelled  both  the 
bad  and  the  good  together  in  one  common  ruin,  by  the 
infliction  of  a  consuming  famine.  For  when  I  see  that 
innocent  children,  youths  in  the  prime  of  their  age,  and 
grey  headed  old  men,  perished  from  hunger,  I  am  more 
disposed  to  pity  the  sorrows  and  sufferings  of  the  wretched 
people,  than  to  undertake  the  hopeless  task  of  screening  one 
who  was  guilty  of  such  wholesale  massacre  by  lying  flatteries. 
I  assert,  moreover,  that  such  barbarous  homicide  could  not 
pass  unpunished.  The  Almighty  Judge  beholds  alike  the 

1  This  famine  lasted  nine  years,  but  its  ravages  were  most  severe  in  the 
years  1068,  1069,  and  1070. 


A.D.  1069 — 1070.]  SUBMISSION  OF  THE  ENGLISH.  29 

high  and  low,  scrutinizing  and  punishing  the  acts  of  both 
with  equal  justice,  that  his  eternal  laws  may  be  plain  to  all. 

"While  the  Avar  was  in  progres,  William  ordered  the 
crown  and  the  other  ensigns  of  royalty,  and  plate  of  value, 
to  be  brought  from  "Winchester,  aud  stationing  his  army  in 
camps,  went  himself  to  York  where  he  spent  the  feast  of 
Christmas.  He  learnt  that  a  fresh  band  of  the  marauders 
was  lurking  in  a  corner  of  the  country  defended  on  all  sides 
either  by  the  sea  or  by  marshes.  There  was  only  one  ac- 
cess to  this  retreat,  by  a  sound  strip  of  land  not  mor.e  than 
twenty  feet  wide.  They  had  collected  abundance  of  booty, 
and  lived  in  perfect  security,  believing  that  no  force  could 
hurt  them.  However,  when  they  heard  that  the  royal  troops 
were  at  hand  they  quickly  decamped  by  night.  The  indefatiga- 
ble king  pursued  his  desperate  foes  to  the  river  Tees,  through 
such  difficult  roads  that  he  was  obliged  sometimes  to  dis- 
mount and  march  on  foot.  He  remained  seven  days  on  the 
Tees.  There  he  received  the  submission  of  Waltheof  in  per- 
son, and  of  Cospatric  by  his  envoys  who  swore  fealty  on  his 
part.  Their  former  allies,  the  Danes,  were  now  exposed  to 
great  perils,  having  become  wandering  pirates,  tossed 
by  the  winds  and  waves.  But  they  suffered  no  less  from 
famine  than  from  storms.  Part  of  them  perished  by 
shipwreck  ;  the  rest  sustained  life  by  feeding  on  a  misera- 
ble pottage ;  and  these  not  only  common  soldiers,  but  the 
princes,  earls,  and  pontiffs.  Meat  entirely  failed,  even  musty 
and  putrid  as  they  had  long  eaten  it.  They  did  not  venture  to 
land  in  search  of  plunder,  nor  even  touch  the  shore,  so  great 
was  their  terror  of  the  inhabitants.  At  last  the  small  re- 
mains of  that  powerful  fleet  sailed  back  to  Denmark,  and 
carried  to  Sweyn,  their  king,  a  miserable  account  of  all  the 
misfortunes  they  had  undergone,  the  savage  courage  of  tho 
enemy,  and  the  loss  of  their  comrades. 

In  the  month  of  January,  King  William  returned  from 
the  Tees  to  Hexham,  by  a  road  hitherto  unattempted  by 
an  armv,  where  the  peaked  summits  of  the  hills  and  the  deep 
glens  were  often  covered  with  snow  at  a  season  when  the 
neighbouring  plains  were  clothed  with  the  verdure  of  spring. 
The  king  passed  it  in  the  depth  of  winter  during  a  severe 
frost,  but  the  troops  were  encouraged  by  the  cheerfulness 
with  which  he  surmounted  all  obstacles.  Still  the  march 


30  OEDERICUS   TITALIS.  [B.IV.  C1I.Y. 

was  not  accomplished  without  great  difficulty  and  the  loss  of 
a  great  number  of  horses.  Every  one  had  enough  to  do  in 
providing  for  his  own  safety  without  having  much'  concern 
for  that  of  his  chiefs  or  his  friends.  In  these  straits,  the 
king  lost  his  way,  having  no  escort  but  six  men-at-arms,  and 
spent  a  whole  night  without  knowing  where  they  were. 
Having  returned  to  York  he  repaired  the  several  castles  in 
that  place,  and  ordered  affairs  advantageously  for  the  city 
and  neighbourhood.  He  then  engaged  in  another  expedi- 
tion against  the  people  of  Chester  and  the  Welsh,  who,  in 
addition  to  their  other  delinquencies,  had  lately  besieged 
Shrewsbury.  The  troops  who  had  just  gone  through  so 
much  suffering  were  apprehensive  that  they  would  be  expo- 
sed to  still  greater  in  the  present  enterprise.  They  dreaded 
the  ruggedness  of  the  country,  the  severity  of  the  winter, 
the  dearth  of  provisions,  and  the  terrible  fierceness  of  the 
enemy.  The  soldiers  of  Anjou,  Brittany,  and  Maine  com- 
plained that  they  were  ground  down  with  a  service  more 
intolerable  than  that  of  guarding  the  castles,  and  made 
vehement  claims  on  the  king  for  their  discharge.  They  said, 
for  their  justification,  that  they  could  not  serve  under  a  lord 
who  was  venturing  on  enterprises  which  were  unexampled 
and  out  of  all  reason,  nor  carry  into  effect  impracticable 
orders.  The  king,  in  this  emergency,  imitated  the  example 
of  Julius  Ca3sar,  and  did  not  condescend  to  reconcile  them 
to  his  service  by  earnest  entreaties  or  fresh  promises.  He 
proceeded  boldly  on  his  march,  commanding  the  faithful 
among  his  troops  to  follow  him,  and  giving  out  that  he 
cared  little  for  these  who  would  desert  him,  considering 
them  as  cowards,  poltroons,  and  faint-hearted.  He  promised 
repose  to  such  as  contended  successfully  with  the  difficulties 
they  had  to  surmount,  declaring  that  there  was  no  road  to 
honour  but  through  toilsome  exertions.  With  unwearied 
vigour  he  made  his  way  through  roads  never  before  travelled 
by  horses,  across  lofty  mountains  and  deep  valleys,  rivers 
and  rapid  streams,  and  dangerous  quagmires  in  the  hollows 
of  the  hills.  Pursuing  their  track  they  were  often  distressed 
by  torrents  of  rain,  sometimes  mingled  with  hail.  At  times 
they  were  reduced  to  feed  on  the  flesh  of  horses  which 
perished  in  the  bogs.  The  king  often  led  the  way  on  foot 
with  great  agility,  and  lent  a  ready  hand  to  assist  others  in 


A.]),  1070.]       SYNOD  AT  W1NCHESTEB.  31 

their  dfficulties.  At  length  he  conducted  hia  whole  force 
safely  to  Chester,  and  put  down  all  hostile  movements 
throughout  the  province  of  Mercia  by  the  power  of  a  royal 
army.  He  then  built  a  castle  at  Chester,  and  another  on 
his  return  at  Shrewsbury,  leaving  strong  garrisons  and 
abundant  stores  of  provisions  in  both.  From  thence  march- 
ing to  Salisbury,  he  recompensed  his  soldiers  for  all  their 
sufferings  by  an  ample  distribution  of  rewards,  giving  due 
praise  to  all  who  deserved  it,  and  dismissing  them  with 
many  thanks.  To  mark  his  displeasure  with  those  who  had 
threatened  desertion,  he  detained  them  forty  days  longer 
than  their  comrades,  a  slight  penalty  for  men  who  deserved 
a  much  severer  punishment. 

CH.  VI.  King  William 's  care  of  the  church  in  England — 
Digression  on  its  origin,  eminent  men,  and  monastic  esta- 
blishments— Lanfranc's  early  life ;  he  is  appointed  arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury. 

AFTEB,  these  events,  King  William  kept  the  feast  of  Easter 
at  Winchester,  where  certain  cardinals  of  the  Roman  church 
solemnly  crowned  him.  For,  at  his  request,  Pope  Alexan- 
der had  sent  over  to  him,  as  his  most  beloved  son,  three 
special  legates,  Ermenfrid,  bishop  of  Sion,1  and  two  cardinal 
canons.  He  detained  them  at  his  court  for  a  year,  listening 
to  and  honouring  them  as  if  they  were  the  angels  of  God. 
They  so  ordered  aifairs  with  respect  to  various  places  and 
on  several  occasions,  as  to  distinguish  the  districts  which 
needed  canonical  examination  and  orders. 

But  what  was  most  important,  a  numerous  synod  was 
held  at  Windsor2  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1070,  at  which 
the  king  and  the  cardinals  presided.  In  this  synod,  Stigaud, 
who  had  been  already  excommunicated,  was  deposed.  His 
hands  were  stained  by  perjury  and  homicide,  and  he  had  not 
entered  on  his  archiepiscopal  functions  by  the  lawful  door, 
having  been  raised  to  his  dignity  by  the  two  bishops  of 
Norfolk  and  Winchester,  by  the  steps  of  an  infamous  am- 
bition, and  by  supplanting  others.  Some  suffragans  were 
also  deposed  for  having  disgraced  the  episcopal  office  by 

1  In  the  Valais.     The  cHrdinals'  names  were  Peter  and  John. 
-  The  synod  was  not  held  at  Windsor  but  at  Winchester,  immediately 
after  Easter. 


32  ORDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [fl.IT.  CII.VI. 

their  criminal  life  and  ignorance  of  pastoral  duties.  Two 
Norman  prelates,  chaplains  of  the  king,  were  nominated 
bishops,  Walkelin  of  Winchester,  and  Thomas  of  York  ;l  the 
first  in  the  place  of  one  who  was  deposed,  the  second  of  one 
who  was  dead.  Both  of  these  prelates  were  prudent,  full  of 
gentleness  and  humanity,  venerated  and  beloved  by  men, 
and  venerating  and  loving  God.  Others  were  replaced  by 
bishops  translated  from  France,  men  of  letters,  of  excellent 
character,  and  zealous  promoters  of  religion. 

King  William  exhibited  in  various  ways  his  desire  to 
further  what  was  good,  and  especially  he  always  esteemed 
true  piety  in  the  servants  of  God,  on  which  the  peace 
and  prosperity  of  the  world  depend.  This  is  abundantly 
proved  by  general  report,  and  it  is  most  clearly  esta- 
blished by  his  actions.  When  one  of  the  chief  shepherds 
was  at  any  time  removed  by  death  from  the  scene  of  his 
labours,  and  the  church  of  God  deprived  of  her  ruler  was 
sorrowing  in  her  widowhood,  the  careful  prince  sent  pru- 
dent commissioners  to  the  bereaved  house,  and  caused  an 
inventory  to  be  made  of  the  goods  of  the  church,  that  they 
might  not  be  wasted  by  sacrilegious  guardians.  He  then 
assembled  bishops  and  abbots  and  other  wise  counsellors, 
and  with  their  assistance  made  inquiry  who  was  most  fit 
and  proper  to  have  the  government  of  the  house  of  God, 
both  as  regarded  its  spiritual  and  temporal  wants.  Accord- 
ingly, the  person  recommended  by  them  for  his  virtuous 
life  and  proficiency  in  learning,  was  appointed  by  the  king's 
tender  care  to  the  vacant  bishopric  or  abbey.  He  acted  on 
this  principle  during  the  fifty-six  years2  he  governed  the 
dukedom  of  Normandy  and  the  kingdom  of  England,  leaving 
thus  an  excellent  example  and  pious  custom  to  his  suc- 
cessors. He  held  simony  in  the  utmost  detestation,  being  in- 
fluenced in  his  choice  of  abbots  and  bishops  by  then-  sanctity 
and  wisdom,  and  not  by  their  wealth  or  power.  He  advanced 
persons  of  worth  to  the  government  of  the  English  monas- 

1  Thomas,  archbishop  of  York,  was  a  native  of  Bayeux,  of  which  he  was 
canon,  but  not  a  chaplain  to  the  king.  The  nomination  was  made  at 
Whitsuntide. 

a  There  is  some  exaggeration  in  this  computation.  William's  govern- 
ment, reckoning  from  his  accession  to  the  dukedom  of  Normandy,  only 
lasted  fifty-two  years,  and  as  he  was  then  only  eight  years  old,  he  could 
not  have  exercised  much  discretion  in  the  choice  of  bishops  and  abbots. 


A..D.  596 — 870.]    MONASTEBIES   IN   ENGLAND.  33 

teries,  by  whose  zeal  and  discipline  the  monastic  rule,  which 
had  somewhat  relaxed,  became  more  strict,  and,  where  it 
seemed  to  have  failed,  was  restored  to  its  former  vigour. 

It  must  be  recollected  that  Augustine  and  Lawrence,1 
and  the  other  first  missionaries  in  England  were  monks,  and, 
instead  of  canons,  piously  established  monks  in  their  episcopal 
sees,  a  system  rarely  found  in  other  countries.  They 
founded  a  number  of  famous  abbeys,  and  recommended  to 
their  converts  monastic  institutions  both  by  word  and  ex- 
ample. This  order,  therefore,  flourished  in  England  with 
great  lustre  for  more  than  two  hundred  years,  and  Christian 
perfection  happily  numbered  among  its  votaries  the  English 
kings  Ethelbert  and  Edwin,  Oswald  and  Ofia,  with  many 
others,  whom  it  raised  for  their  souls'  health  to  the  highest 
pitch  of  virtue,  until  the  time  that  Edmund,  king  of  the 
East- Angles,  and  two  other  English  kings  received  martyr- 
dom at  the  hands  of  the  pagans.2  After  that,  the  Danish 
kings,  Oskytel  and  Ghithrum,  Anwind  and  Halfdene,  Inguar 
and  Hubba,  invaded  England  with  their  heathen  bands, 
giving  to  the  flames  the  monasteries  and  churches  of  the 
monks  and  clergy,  and  butchering  the  flock  of  Christ  like 
sheep. 

After  some  years,  Alfred  king  of  the  Grewissae3  and  son 
of  King  Ethelwulph,  made  a  bold  stand  against  the  pagans  ; 
and  having,  by  God's  help,  slain,  expelled,  or  subjugated  his 
enemies,  was  the  first  of  the  English  kings  who  united  in 
his  person  the  monarchy  of  the  whole  of  England.  In  my 

1  These  missionaries,  sent  by  Pope  Gregory  the  Great,  arrived  in 
England  in  the  year  596.  Augustine  aud  Lawrence  were  successively 
archbishops  of  Canterbury. 

*  St.  Edmund  the  Martyr  was  murdered  on  the  20th  of  November,  870. 
The  two  other  kings  alluded  to  in  this  passage  are  Osbert  and  Ella,  com- 
petitors for  the  kingdom  of  Northumbria,  who  were  killed  by  the  Danes  in 
the  year  866. 

8  Gewissie  is  the  Anglo-Saxon  term  for  the  people  of  the  west  of 
England,  signifying  the  "  west."  They  were  not,  therefore,  confined  to  the 
small  county  of  Hants,  as  M.  Le  Prevost  observes.  The  Visigoths  are  a 
name  of  similar  signification.  Wessex  was  Alfred's  proper  hereditary 
kingdom,  to  which  he  succeeded  in  87'2.  Sussex  had  been  long  absorbed 
in  it;  Kent  and  Mercia  were  annexed,  and  he  gradually  extended  his  sove- 
reignty over  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  Heptarchy,  the  portions  still  possessed 
by  the  Danes  after  his  conquests  being  governed  by  tributary  princes  of 
that  nation.  Alfred  died  on  the  26th  of  October,  901. 
VOL.  II.  D 


34  OEDERICTTS   VITALIS.  [s.IV.  CH.VI. 

opinion  he  surpassed  all  the  kings  of  England,  before  or 
after  him,  in  courage,  munificence,  and  above  all  in  pru- 
dence, and  after  a  glorious  reign  of  twenty-nine  years  left 
his  sceptre  to  his  son  Edward  the  elder.  When  peace  and 
order  were  re-established  throughout  the  realm,  pious 
princes  and  bishops  began  to  employ  themselves  in  restor- 
ing the  monasteries  ;  and  as  all  the  monks  in  England  had 
either  perished  or  been  driven  out  by  the  fury  of  the  hea- 
thens in  the  troublesome  times  already  mentioned,  they 
commissioned  a  young  man  of  high  character  whose  name 
was  Oswald,  to  proceed  to  the  abbey  of  Fleury  in  France, 
built  by  Leodebod  of  Orleans  on  the  banks  of  the  Loire  in 
the  time  of  Clovis,  son  of  Dagobert,  king  of  the  Franks.1 
The  place  is  held  in  great  reverence  on  account  of  the  bones 
of  St.  Benedict,  the  founder  and  master  of  the  monastic 
order,  which  the  monk  Aigulf  sent  by  the  abbot  Mummo- 
lus,  translated  from  Beneventum  to  the  country  of  Orleans.3 
This  happened  after  the  devastation  of  the  abbey  of  Monte 
Cassino,  which  the  holy  father  Benedict  foretold  with  tears 
to  the  monk  Theoprobus,  a  worthy  servant  of  God,  as  we 
Tead  in  the  second  book  of  the  dialogues  which  Pope 
Gregory,  the  illustrious  doctor  of  the  church,  so  eloquently 
addressed  to  Peter  the  sub-deacon.3 

After  the  death  of  King  Clepo,  before  his  son  Autarith 
was  of  age  to  govern,  when  the  whole  Lombard  nation, 
having  no  king,  was  subject  to  thirty-four  dukes ;  some 
Lombard  brigands  made  an  attack  in  the  night  with  a  view 
to  plunder  and  pillage  the  abbey  of  Monte  Cassiuo ;  but  all 
the  monks,  by  God's  protection,  escaped  in  safety  with  their 
Abbot  Bonitus.  For  a  hundred  and  ten  years  afterwards 
the  abbey  remained  desolate,  until  Petronax,  bishop  of 
Brescia,  went  there,  and  by  the  help  of  Pope  Zachary  rebuilt 
it  in  a  style  of  great  magnificence,  and  from  that  day  to  this 
the  abbey  of  Monte  Cassino  has  continually  increased  in 
splendour.4  During,  however,  the  continuance  of  the  deso- 

1  This  abbey  was  founded  in  the  year  641,  the  fourth  of  the  reign  of 
Clovis,  by  Leodebaud,  abbot  of  St.  Aignau,  at  Orleans. 

2  The  translation  of  the  relics  of  St.  Benedict  was  made  about  the  year 
653.     See  an  account  of  it  in  the  Ada  SS.  Ordinis  S.  Benedict!,  t.  ii. 

3  Vita  S.  Benedict!  ubbat.  c;>p.  xvii. 

4  Ordericus  states  the  destruction  of  Monte  Cassino  to  have  taken  place 


950 — 980.]  INTRODUCTION  OP  THE  BENEDICTINE  ETTLE.       35 

lation,  and  while  the  abbey  was  destitute  of  worshippers,  the 
house  of  Fleury  was,  according  to  God's  will,  enriched  by 
the  possession  of  the  precious  remains  of  the  illustrious 
father  Benedict,  whose  translation  the  Cisalpine  monks 
commemorate  yearly,  with  solemn  and  pious  offices,  on  the 
fifth  of  the  ides  [llth]  of  July.  To  Fleury,  therefore,  was 
the  reverend  youth  Oswald  sent,  to  be  professed  a  monk, 
and,  being  instructed  in  the  monastic  rule,  order  his  own 
life  well  according  to  the  will  of  God,  as  well  as  conduct 
others  who  should  attach  themselves  to  that  discipline,  in  the 
footsteps  of  the  apostles,  to  the  summit  of  their  heavenly 
vocation.  And  so  it  happened. 

For,  after  some  years,  Oswald  was  sent  back  to  England1 
by  the  abbot  of  Fleury,  at  the  courteous  request  of  his 
countrymen,  and  being  distinguished  by  great  sagacity,  as 
well  as  excellence,  he  was  placed  at  the  head  of  all  the 
monastic  institutions  in  England.  Those  venerable  men, 
Dunstan  and  Athelwold,  seconded  him  with  all  their 
influence,  and  their  first  effort  was  to  introduce  the  regular 
discipline  at  Glastonbury  and  Abingdon.  These  doctors 
were  faithfully  obeyed  by  Athelstan,  Edred,  Edmund,  and 
(especially)  Edgar,  son  of  Edmund,  kings  of  England.  In 
their  reigns  Dunstan  was  raised  to  be  metropolitan  of 
Canterbury,  and  Athelwold  to  be  bishop  of  Winchester,  and 
Oswald  became,  first,  bishop  of  Worcester  and  afterwards 
archbishop  of  York.  At  their  entreaty  Abbo,  a  wise  and 
pious  monk  of  Fleury,  was  sent  over  the  sea  and  instituted 
the  monastic  rule  at  Ramsey,2  and  other  English  monasteries, 
after  the  same  manner  in  wrhich  it  was  practised  in  France 
at  that  period.  He  inspired  the  bishops  just  named  with 

some  time  between  the  death  of  Clepo,  second  king  of  the  Lombards,  5th 
of  January,  575,  and  his  son  Autarith  coming  of  age,  584.  It  appears  to 
have  actually  occurred  about  the  year  582,  when  Bonitus  was  the  sixth 
abbot.  St.  Petronax,  who  was  never  a  bishop,  but  abbot  of  Monte  Cassino, 
began  to  restore  it  from  its  ruins  about  the  year  720,  and  died  there  the 
6th  of  May,  750,  or  thereabout. 

1  St.  Oswald's  residence  at  Fleury -sur-Loire  appears  to  have  been  about 
the  middle  of  the  tenth  century;  his  return  to  England  in  961 ;  his  pro- 
motion to  the  bishopric  of  Worcester   the  year  following;  and  to  the 
archbishopric  of  York  in  970. 

2  The  abbey  of  Ramsey,  in  Huntingdonshire,  was  founded  by  Oswald  in 
971.     Abbo  appears  to  have  undertaken  his  journey  to  England  about  the 
year  980,  remaining  there  nearly  two  years. 

D   2 


36  OBDEBICTJS   VITALIS.  [B.TT.  CII.YI. 

the  love  of  holiness  and  all  goodness,  shedding  lustre  on 
them  by  their  doctrines,  and  the  miracles  they  performed, 
thus  rendering  great  services  to  men  of  learning  as  well  as 
to  the  vulgar. 

Bishop  Athelwold  then  restored  in  the  time  of  King 
Edgar,  in  the  town  now  called  Burg,  the  abbey  of  Medes- 
hamsted,  which  bishop  Sexulf  founded  in  the  reign  of 
Wulfere,  king  of  the  Mercians.1  He  also  endowed  with 
great  wealth  the  church  dedicated  to  St.  Peter,  prince  of  the 
apostles.  Afterwards,  Thorney  abbey,  Ely  abbey,2  and 
many  other  monasteries,  were  built  in  different  places ;  and 
societies  of  monks,  clerks,  or  nuns,  were  suitably  established 
in  them.  Abundant  revenues  were  assigned  to  each  of  these 
houses,  sufficient  to  supply  the  servants  of  the  altar  with 
meat  and  clothing,  in  order  that  they  might  not  fail  in  the 
divine  service  for  want  of  necessaries. 

Monastic  discipline  being  thus  restored  in  England,  a 
glorious  army  of  monks  was  furnished  with  the  arms  of  the 
Spirit  to  contend  against  Satan,  and  taught  to  persevere  in 
fighting  the  Lord's  battle  until  victory  was  gained.  But 
after  the  lapse  of  some  years,  in  the  time  of  King  Ethelred, 
son  of  Edgar,  a  violent  storm  rose  in  the  north,  to  winnow 
the  wheat  in  which  tares  had  abundantly  multiplied.  Sweyn, 
king  of  Denmark,  a  bigoted  idolater,  sailed  to  the  coast  of 
England  with  a  powerful  fleet,  manned  by  pagans,  and, 
making  a  descent  with  formidable  numbers  when  it  was  least 
expected,  drove  the  terrified  king  Ethelred,  with  his  sons 
Edward  and  Alfred,  and  his  queen  Emma,  to  take  refuge  in 
Normandy.3  It  was  not  however  long  before,  by  God's 
providence,  Sweyn,  the  cruel  persecutor  of  the  Christians, 
was  killed  by  St.  Edmund,  and  Ethelred,  on  learning  his 
death,  returned  to  his  own  kingdom.  Then  Canute,  king 
of  Denmark,  when  he  heard  his  father's  fortunes,  made 
an  alliance  with  Lacman,  king  of  Sweden,  and  Olave,  king  of 
Norway,  and  their  allied  forces  landed  in  England.  In  the 

i  This  abbey,  afterwards  called  Peterborough,  or  Peter's  "  Burjr,"  was 
founded  about  the  middle  of  the  seventh  century,  and  restored  by  Bishop 
Athe.-.rold  in  972. 

4  Thorney  abbey  was  founded  in  472 ;  Ely  restored  in  970. 

1  The  events  here  recapitulated  occurred  in  the  year  1013,  but  Ethelred 
did  not  at  first  accompany  his  wife  and  children  to  Normandv.  but  retired 
for  some  time  to  the  Isle  of  Wight. 


A.D.  596 — 735.]      LEABHED   ECCLESIASTICS.  37 

end,  after  many  defeats,  on  the  death  of  King  Ethelred  and 
his  son  Edmund  Ironside,  he  ascended  the  throne  of  England, 
which  he  and  his  sons,  Harold  and  Hardicanute,  possessed 
for  more  than  forty  years.1 

During  these  events  Canterbury,  the  metropolitan  city, 
was  besieged  and  burnt,  and  St.  Elphege,  the  archbishop, 
was  tortured  by  the  heathen  Danes  and  suffered  martyrdom.2 
At  that  time  other  cities  were  also  burnt,  and  episcopal  and 
abbey  churches  destroyed,  with  their  sacred  books  and 
ornaments.  The  flock  of  the  faithful  was  dispersed  by 
these  storms  through  various  quarters,  and  dreadfully  torn 
by  the  ravages  of  the  wolves,  to  which  it  became  a  prey. 

I  have  made  a  long  digression,  I  trust  to  some  advantage, 
and  collected  facts  from  former  annals,  for  the  purpose  of 
showing  to  the  attentive  reader  how  it  was  that  the 
Normans  found  the  people  of  England  so  clownish  and 
almost  illiterate,  notwithstanding  the  [Roman  pontiffs  had 
long  since  supplied  them  with  institutions  best  calculated 
for  their  instruction.  Gregory  and  Boniface  had  sent 
excellent  teachers,  with  sacred  books  and  all  the  necessaries 
for  performing  the  offices  of  the  church  for  the  service  of  the 
English  people,  and  had  taught  them,  as  their  dear  children, 
all  that  was  good.  After  that,  Pope  Vitalian,  in  the  reigns 
of  Oswy  and  Egbert,  sent  into  England  those  learned  men, 
Theodore,  archbishop,  and  Adrian,  abbot,  by  whose  labours 
and  intelligence  the  English  clergy  were  well  instructed, 
both  in  Latin  and  Greek  literature,  and  became  much 
distinguished.  In  the  next  age  flourished  Abbot  Albinus 
and  Bishop  Aldelm,  whose  learning  and  piety  enlightened 
numbers,  and  whose  writings  have  handed  down  to  posterity 
memorable  proofs  of  their  virtues.3  All  these  and  many 

1  See  before,  b.  i.  vol.  i.  p.  146.     The  reign  of  Canute  in  England  Listed 
from   1017—1035;  Harold- Harefoot,  1035 — 1040;  Hardicanute,  1040— 
1 042  ;  which  together  are  far  from  making  up  the  forty  years  assigned  to 
these  reigns  by  our  author.     For  Lacman  and  Olave,  see  the  preceding 
reference. 

2  The  destruction  of  Canterbury  Cathedral,  and  the  murder  of  Arch- 
bishop  Elphege,  occurred  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1011;  the  latter  on 
EHster  Eve,  the  19th  of  April,  the  former  some  weeks  preceding. 

3  The  mission  of  Theodore  and  Abbot  Hadrian  took  place  in  668.     See 
Beile's  Eccles.  Hist.  p.  171,  Bohn's  Edition.     Albinus  succeeded  Hadrian 
as  abbot  of  St.  Augustine's,  Canterbury,  in  709,  ib.  p.  276.     Bede  acknow- 


38  OKDEBICUS  YITALIS.  [B.IT.  CH.VII. 

more  have  been  rendered  illustrious  by  the  labours  ot  the 
eloquent  Bede,  who  has  equalled  them  to  the  most 
accomplished  masters  of  the  liberal  arts,  and  inquirers  into 
the  secrets  of  nature.  This  venerable  man  divided  the  life- 
giving  bread  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  among  the 
children  of  Christ,  by  his  lucid  commentaries,  explaining  in 
his  works  more  than  sixty  mysterious  subjects,  and  thus 
gained  lasting  honour,  both  in  his  own  and  foreign 
countries.1 

When  the  precious  stones  were  happily  set  in  the  walls 
of  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  and  the  grains  of  wheat  safely 
housed  in  the  garner  of  the  true  Joseph,  the  stones  were 
scattered  in  the  streets,  and  the  chaff  was  cast  on  the  dung- 
hill, and  carelessly  trodden  under  foot  by  those  who  passed 
by.  Thus,  by  the  just  judgment  of  Almighty  God,  when 
his  chosen  servants  had  passed  out  of  this  transitory  world 
to  that  which  is  eternal,  the  Danes,  as  we  have  already  seen, 
restrained  by  no  fear  of  God  or  man,  long  revelled  in  the 
ruin  of  England,  practising,  without  remorse,  innumerable 
breaches  of  the  divine  law.  Human  actions,  always  prone 
to  evil,  become  by  an  infamous  course  truly  abominable, 
when  rulers,  who  ought  to  govern  with  the  rod  of  discipline, 
are  taken  away.  This  freedom  from  control  had  relaxed 
the  bonds  both  of  the  clergy  and  laity,  and  inclined  both 
sexes  to  every  species  of  license.  The  abundance  of  meat 
and  drink  led  to  excess,  and  levity  and  wantonness  paved 
the  way  to  crime.  "With  the  ruin  of  the  monasteries, 
religious  discipline  was  enfeebled,  and  canonical  rules  were 
not  restored  till  the  times  of  the  Normans. ' 

For  a  long  period  the  monastic  life  had  fallen  into  decay 
among  the  islanders,  and  the  lives  of  monks  little  differed 
from  those  of  men  of  the  world  ;  their  dress  and  their  name 

ledges  the  assistance  he  received  from  this  learned  monk  in  the  compilation 
of  his  history.  Aldelm,  abbot  of  Malmesbury,  became  the  first  bishop  of 
the  new  see  of  Sherborne  about  the  same  time,  and  died  in  709.  His 
works  were  published  in  London  in  1842,  in  vols.  i.  and  ii.  of  Patres 
Eccletia  Anylicante. 

1  The  venerable  Bede  flourished  673— May  26,  735.  His  well  known 
Ecclesiastical  History  has  been  several  times  translated,  and  is  published 
in  the  first  volume  of  Bohn's  Antiquarian  Library.  The  Commentaries 
on  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  other  works  alluded  to  by  Ordericus  Vitalis, 
are  enumerated  in  the  preface  to  that  volume. 


A..D.  1070.]  1ANFBANC.  39 

was  a  mere  deception ;  they  were  abandoned  to  gluttony,  to 
endless  peculation,  and  foul  prevarication.  By  the  care  of 
King  William  the  order  was  reformed  according  to  the 
canonical  rules,  and  its  blessed  usages  being  restored,  be- 
came highly  honoured.  Some  new  abbots  were  appointed 
by  the  king,  and  several  monks  received  instruction  in  the 
monasteries  of  France,  who,  placed  by  the  king's  command 
in  the  English  abbeys,  perfected  the  discipline  and  gave 
examples  of  a  religious  life.  Scotland,  an  abbot,  distin- 
guished for  his  learning  and  great  worth,  was  instituted 
to  the  abbey  of  St.  Peter,  prince  of  the  apostles,  founded  by 
Augustine,  the  first  doctor  of  the  English  nation.  Born  in 
Normandy,  of  a  noble  family,  and  strictly  educated  at  the 
monastery  of  Mount  St.  Michael  the  archangel-in-peril-of- 
the-sea,  he  was  preferred  by  the  Normans  to  be  abbot  for 
the  reformation  of  the  monks  of  Canterbury.1  In  like  man- 
ner there  was  a  change  of  rulers  in  other  monasteries, 
which  in  some  was  profitable,  in  others  dangerous,  both  to 
those  who  governed  and  to  those  who  were  placed  under 
them. 

The  see  of  Canterbury,  in  which  St.  Augustine  sat,  and 
which,  by  a  decree  of  Pope  Gregory,  obtained  the  primacy 
over  all  the  bishops  of  Britain,  was,  on  the  deposition  of 
Stigand,  committed  to  Lanfranc,  abbot  of  Caen,  by  the 
choice  of  the  king  and  all  his  council.  Born  of  a  noble 
family,  in  the  city  of  Pavia,  in  Italy,  he  learnt  from  child- 
hood in  the  schools  the  liberal  arts,  and  applied  himself 
with  zeal  to  the  study  of  the  civil  law,  according  to  the  cus- 
tom of  his  country,  with  the  intention  of  continuing  a 
layman.  The  youthful  orator,  when  pleading  a  cause,  fre- 
quently triumphed  over  his  veteran  opponents,  and  by  a 
torrent  of  eloquence  won  the  prize  from  men  long  in  the 
habit  of  eloquent  speaking.  At  a  ripe  age  his  opinions 
were  given  with  so  much  wisdom,  that  learned  doctors, 
judges,  and  praetors  of  the  city,  readily  adopted  them.  But 
when  in  exile,  the  former  academician,  like  Plato,  learnt  to 
philosophize,  the  light  eternal  flashed  into  his  mind,  and  the 

1  He  was  abbot  of  St.  Peter's  of  Canterbury  before  the  year  1092,  when 
he  attended  the  synod  at  Winchester  ;  and  died  in  September,  1087.  M. 
Le  Prevost  conjectures  that  he  belonged  to  a  Norman  family  which  gave 
its  name  to  the  village  of  Pontdcoulant,  Pons-Scollandi. 


40  OEDEKICTJS   VITALIS.  [B.IT.  CH.TII. 

love  of  true  wisdom  enlightened  his  soul.     He  saw  with 
Ecclesiastes,  though  he  had  not  as  yet  learnt  the  use  of 
ecclesiastical  writings,  that  the  things  of  the  world  are  but 
vanity.     Casting  off  the  world  therefore  with  sovereign  con- 
tempt, he  took  on  himself  the  profession  of  religion,  and 
submitted  to  the  yoke  of  the  monastic  rule.    He  selected  for 
his  retreat  the  abbey  of  Bee  in  Normandy,  for  its  secluded 
site  and  poor  endowment,  enriching  it  by  his  prudent  and 
ever  watchful  care,  and  bringing  it  into  a  state  of  the  most 
perfect  order,  ruling  the  brotherhood  with  a  discipline  at 
once  mild  and  strict,  and  aiding  the  holy  abbot,  Herluins, 
with  profitable  counsel.1    A  novice  and  an  exile,  while  he 
mortified  himself  from  sin  and  the  world,  and  laboured  most 
for  what  was  spiritual  and  heavenly,  God,  the  searcher  of 
hearts,  decreed,  that  his  light  should  be  set  in  a  candlestick, 
that   it   might   lighten  the   spacious   house   of  the   Lord. 
Forced  from  the  quiet  of  the  cloister  by  his  sense  of  obe- 
dience, he  became  a  master,  in  whose   teaching  a  whole 
library  of  philosophy  and  divinity  was  displayed.     He  was 
a  powerful  expositor  of  difficult  questions  in  both  sciences. 
It  was  under  this  master  that  the  Normans  received  the 
first  rudiments  of  literature,  and  from  the  school  of  Bee 
that  so  many  philosophers  proceeded  of  distinguished  at- 
tainments, both  in  divine  and  secular  learning.     For  before, 
in  the  time  of  six  dukes  of  Normandy,  scarce  any  Norman 
devoted  himself  to  liberal  studies,  nor  did  any  doctor  arise 
among  them  until,  by  the   Providence   of  God,    Lanfranc 
landed  on  the  shores  of  Normandy.     His  reputation  for 
learning  spread  throughout  all  Europe,  and  many  hastened 
to  receive  lessons  from  him  out  of  France,  Gascony,  Brit- 
tany, and  Flanders. 

To  understand  the  admirable  genius  and  erudition  of 
Lanfranc,  one  ought  to  be  an  Herodian  in  grammar,  an 
Aristotle  in  dialectics,  a  Tully  in  rhetoric,  an  Augustine 
and  Jerome,  and  other  expositors  of  the  law  and  grace,  in  the 
sacred  scriptures.  Athens  itself,  in  its  most  flourishing 
state,  renowned  for  the  excellency  of  its  teaching,  would 
have  honoured  Lanfranc  in  every  branch  of  eloquence  and 

1  After  spending  some  time  at  Avranches,  Lanfranc  came  to  Bee  in 
1042.  He  was  named  prior  there  in  1045,  and  immediately  afterwards 
opened  bis  school 


A.D.  1045—1070.]  LANFBAKC.  41 

discipline,  and  would  have  desired  to  receive  instruction 
from  his  wise  maxims.  Our  monk  was  full  of  zeal  to  cleave 
asunder,  with  the  sword  of  the  word,  whatever  sects  at- 
tacked the  Catholic  faith.  In  the  counsels  of  Rome  and 
Vercelli1  he  crushed,  with  the  weapons  of  spiritual  elo- 
quence, Berenger  of  Tours,  esteemed  by  some  an  heresiarch, 
condemning  his  doctrine,  which  made  the  consecrated  host 
the  ruin  instead  of  the  salvation  of  souls.  Lanfranc  there  ex- 
plained, with  deep  reverence,  and  most  conclusively  proved, 
that  the  bread  and  wine  which  are  placed  on  the  Lord's 
table  are,  after  consecration,  the  true  flesh  and  the  true 
blood  of  the  Lord  our  Saviour.  He  publicly  defeated  Be- 
renger, after  a  most  elaborate  controversy,  both  at  Eome 
and  at  Tours,  and  compelled  him  to  abjure  his  heresy,  and 
to  profess  in  writing  the  orthodox  belief.  Afterwards  the 
blasphemous  heretic,  blushing  for  shame  at  having  cast  into 
the  fire  at  Eome,  with  his  own  hands,  the  books  containing 
his  perverted  doctrines,  to  save  himself  from  being  burned, 
corrupted  his  disciples  by  his  money  and  his  deceitful 
arguments,  to  conceal  at  home  his  latest  writings,  and  after- 
wards convey  them  to  -foreign  countries,  that  his  old  errors 
might  receive  fresh  support,  and  their  duration  be  extended  to 
future  years.  To  refute  which  Lanfranc  published  a  work, 
written  in  a  clear  and  agreeable  style,  and  founded  on  sacred 
authorities,  which  treats  on  the  subject  of  the  eucharist* 
with  the  strongest  force  of  reasoning,  and  while  it  is  lucid 
with  eloquent  discourse,  is  not  prolix  and  tedious.  Many 
churches  earnestly  desired  to  have  Lanfranc  for  their  bishop 
or  abbot,  and  even  Home,  the  capital  of  Christendom,  so- 
licited him  by  letters  to  come  there,  and  used  prayers  and 
even  force  to  detain  him.  So  illustrious  in  the  sight  of  all 

1  The  two  councils  here  mentioned,  in  which  Lanfranc  confuted  the 
errors  of  Berenger,  archdeacon  of  Angers,  were  held  in  the  year  1 050,  the 
first  after  Easter,  and  that  of  Vercelli  in  the  month  of  September.  It  is 
very  doubtful  whether  Lanfranc  assisted  at  the  council  of  Tours,  but  he 
was  present  at  that  of  Rome  in  April,  1059,  when  Berenger  was  compelled 
to  abjure  his  errors. 

*  Lanfranc's  principal  work  against  this  heretic,  to  which  he  gave  the 
strange  title  of  Liber  Scintillarum,  but  which  is  commonly  known 
l>y  that  of  De  Corpore  et  Sanguine  Domini,  was  written  in  the  year 
1079. 


42  OBDEBICUS   TITALIS.  [B.VI.  CH.VI. 

men  was  one  whom  virtue  and  wisdom  especially  orna- 
mented. 

When  the  bishop  of  Sion  had  deposed  Stigand,  as  before 
related,  he  invited  Lanfranc  to  undertake  the  primacy,  and 
announced  to  him  the  petition  of  the  church  of  G-od  in  a 
synod  of  the  bishops  and  abbots  of  Normandy.  Lanfranc, 
in  much  distress  of  mind,  and  fearing  to  take  on  himself  so 
great  a  charge,  begged  for  time  to  consider,  holding  it  for 
certain  that  the  retirement  of  a  monk  and  the  active  duties 
of  an  archbishop  could  not  be  reconciled.  Abbot  Herluin 
laid  his  commands  upon  him,  and  he  was  accustomed  to 
obey  him  as  he  would  Christ.  The  queen  and  her  son  the 
prince  entreated  him ;  the  elders  of  the  council  also  who 
were  assembled  earnestly  exhorted  him.  He  would  not 
give  a  hasty  reply,  because  every  word  and  act  of  his  was 
guided  by  the  rule  of  discretion.  He  was  unwilling  to  for- 
feit his  o'bedience,  and  to  offend  those  who  entreated,  per- 
suaded, admonished  him.  He,  therefore,  mournfully  crossed 
the  sea  to  make  his  excuses,  hoping  for  a  happy  return.  The 
king  cordially  received  his  coadjutor  in  Christian  culture, 
and,  combating  with  dignity  and  grace  the  excuses  his  humi- 
lity offered,  succeeded  in  overcoming  his  reluctance.- 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1070,  Lanfranc,  the  first  abbot 
of  Caen,1  was  sent  by  divine  providence,  to  become  the 
teacher  of  the  English,  and  after  a  canonical  election,  and 
lawful  consecration  enthroned  in  the  archiepiscopal  see  of 
the  church  of  Canterbury  on  the  fourth  of  the  calends  of 
September  [August  29th.]  A  number  of  bishops  and 
abbots,  with  a  great  concourse  of  the  clergy  and  people,  were 
present  at  the  ceremony.  The  inhabitants  of  the  whole  of 
England,  whether  present  or  absent,  were  raised  to  the 
highest  pitch  of  joy,  and  would  indeed  have  offered  bound- 
less thanks  to  God  if  they  had  known  how  much  good 
Heaven  was  then  bestowing  upon  them. 

In  the  church  of  Caen,  Lanfranc  was  succeeded  by 
"William,  son  of  Radbod,  bishop  of  Seez,  who,  I  think,  nine 
years  afterwards  was  translated  by  King  William  to  the 

1  The  French  editors  of  Ordericus  place  the  nomination  of  Lanfranc  to 
his  abbey  of  St.  Stephen  at  Caen  in  the  middle  of  the  year  1066,  contrary 
to  the  general  opinion.  See  book  iii.  c.  xii.  (voL  i.  p.  466). 


A.D.  1070.]  BONNE-AME,  ABBOT  OF  CAEN.  43 

metropolitan  see  of  Rouen.  He  was  cousin  of  William 
bishop  of  Evreux,  son  of  Girard  Fleitel,  the  influence  of 
which  family  was  extremely  powerful  in  Normandy  in  the 
time  of  the  Richards.1  As  canon  and  archdeacon  of  Rouen 
he  was  under  Mauritius,  archbishop  of  that  see,  and 
becoming  more  ardent  in  his  love  of  God,  he  went  abroad 
with  Theodoric,  abbot  of  St.  Evroult,  devoutly  making  a 
pilgrimage  to  the  glorious  sepulchre  of  our  Lord  at  Jerusa- 
lem. After  his  return,  being  apprehensive  of  losing  the 
fruit  of  his  former  labours,  he  withdrew  altogether  from  the 
temptations  of  the  world,  and  devoted  himself  with  delight 
to  his  holy  warfare  in  the  abbey  of  Bee.  He  was  afterwards 
sent  with  Lanfranc  to  instruct  the  novices  who  assembled 
from  all  parts  for  the  service  of  Christ  in  the  city  of  Caen, 
and  in  the  course  of  time  became  their  worthy  father  and 
superior. 

At  the  death  of  "William,  bishop  of  Evreux,  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Baldwin,  the  duke's  chaplain,  who  regularly 
governed  the  bishopric  nearly  seven  years.  At  his  decease 
Grislebert  Fitz-Osbern,  canon  and  archdeacon  of  Lisieux, 
became  his  successor.  He  held  the  see  to  its  great  benefit 
more  than  thirty  years,  augmenting  its  revenues  in  various 
ways,  and  skilfully  regulating  its  affairs.  On  the  death  of 
Ives,  bishop  of  Seez,  Robert,  son  of  Hubert  de  Rie,  succeeded 
him,  governing  the  see  nearly  twelve  years,  and  being  him- 
self zealous  for  the  service  of  Grod,  was  a  kind  friend  to  the 
monks.2 

CH.  VII.  TJie  earls  Edwin  and  Morcar  slain  or  imprisoned 
—Their  vast  estates  distributed  among  the  Norman  lords — 
Names  and  titles  of  the  new  possessors. 

IN  these  times,  by  God's  gracious  providence,  tranquillity 
prevailed  in  England,  and  the  brigands  being  driven  to  a 

1  William  Bonne- Ame,  son  of  Radbod,  bishop  of  Se"ez  (1025—1032), 
was  made  archbishop  of  Rouen  after  John  d'Avranches  in  1079.  Our 
author  is  right  in  stating  him  to  be  cousin  of  Gerard  Fleitel,  father  of 
William  I.,  bishop  of  Evreux  from  1046—1066.  From  a  charter  of  his, 
signed  by  William  the  Conqueror,  giving  the  commune  of  St.  Denis-du- 
Bosc-Guerard,  which  derived  its  name  from  him,  to  St.  Wrandrille's  abbey, 
it  appears  that  he  long  survived  the  dukes  Richard  I.  and  Richard  II. 

8  It  is  supposed  that  a  bishop  named  Michael  intervened  between 
William  Fleitel  and  Baldwin.  The  latter  was  bishop  of  Evreux  before 


44  OBDZBICUS  VITALIS.  [B.IV.  CH.YII. 

distance,  the  cultivators  of  the  soil  renewed  their  labours  in 
some  sort  of  security.  The  English  and  Normans  lived 
amicably  together  in  the  villages,  towns,  and  cities,  and 
intermarriages  between  them  formed  bonds  of  mutual 
alliance.  Then  might  be  seen  in  some  of  the  towns  and 
country  fairs  French  traders  with  the  merchandize  they 
imported,  and  the  English,  who  before  in  their  homely  dress 
cut  a  sorry  figure  in  the  eyes  of  the  Normans,  appeared  in 
their  foreign  garb  a  different  people.  No  one  dared  any 
longer  to  live  by  robbery,  but  all  cultivated  their  lands  in 
safety,  and,  though  this  did  not  last  long,  lived  happily  with 
their  neighbours.  Churches  were  built  and  repaired,  and 
the  ministers  of  religion  zealously  performed  in  them  the 
service  of  God.  The  king's  great  activity  watched  over  the 
public  good,  and  roused  the  people  by  all  possible  means  to 
profitable  pursuits.  He  took  some  pains  to  make  himself 
master  of  the  English  language,  to  enable  himself  to  hear 
the  complaints  of  his  subjects  without  an  interpreter,  and 
to  render  equal  justice  to  all  according  to  the  rules  of 
equity ;  but  his  time  of  life  rendered  this  study  a  work  ot 
difficulty,  and  his  attention  was  necessarily  diverted  to 
other  objects  by  the  multiplicity  of  his  occupations.1 

But  as  the  enemy  of  man  goeth  about  like  a  roaring  lion 
seeking  whom  he  may  devour,  fresh  disturbances  of  a 
serious  character  arose  between  the  English  and  Normans, 
so  that  the  relentless  furies  were  again  let  loose,  and  for  a 
long  period  wrought  endless  mischief.  This  originated  in 
the  evil  counsels  which  led  King  William,  much  to  the 
injury  of  his  reputation,  to  a  breach  of  faith  in  shutting  up 
the  illustrious  earl  Morcar,  in  the  Isle  of  Ely,  where  he  was 
besieged,  though  at  the  time  he  was  in  alliance  with  the 
king,  and  neither  plotted  nor  suspected  any  evil.  Their 

June,  1066.  He  died  in  1070,  and  our  author  is  mistaken  as  to  the 
number  of  years  he  held  that  see.  Gislebert,  his  successor,  filled  it  thirty- 
four  years,  as  we  shall  find  hereafter.  Ives  de  Belesme  also  died  in  1070, 
and  Robert  de  Rie  about  1082. 

1  Hume  charges  the  Conqueror  with  the  preposterous  design  of  eradi- 
cating the  English,  and  substituting  the  Norman  language.  The  use  of  the 
latter  in  the  courts,  generally  alleged  in  evidence  of  this  design,  was  only 
the  natural  consequence  of  almost  all  the  ecclesiastics,  who  were  also  the 
lawyers,  being  Normans.  The  Conqueror's  own  charters  are  either  in 
Anglo-Saxon  or  Latin. 


A.D.  1071.]  EDWIN  AND   MOBCAK.  45 

differences  were  fomented  by  wily  newsmongers,  who  went 
to  and  fro  propounding  the  treacherous  terms  that  the  earl 
should  surrender  himself  to  the  king,  and  the  king  restore 
him  to  his  favour  as  a  trusty  adherent.  The  earl  might 
have  defended  himself  for  a  considerable  time  in  his  inac- 
cessible retreat,  or  when  things  came  to  the  worst,  have 
taken  advantage  of  the  river  which  surrounded  it  to  escape 
by  sea.  But  weakly  listening  to  false  representations,  he 
left  the  island,  and  came  to  court  with  his  attendants  in 
peaceable  guise.  The  king,  however,  was  apprehensive  that 
Morcar  would  avenge  the  evils  unjustly  inflicted  on  himself 
and  his  countrymen,  and  be  the  means  of  raising  endless 
disturbances  in  his  English  dominions ;  he,  therefore,  threw 
him  into  prison  without  any  distinct  charge,  and  committing 
him  to  the  custody  of  Roger  de  Beaumont,  confined  him  in 
his  castle  all  the  rest  of  his  life.1  When  Earl  Edwin,  that 
handsome  youth,  heard  of  his  brother's  imprisonment,  he 
declared  that  he  would  prefer  death  to  life  unless  he  could 
deliver  Morcar  from  captivity,  or  have  his  revenge  by  a 
plentiful  effusion  of  Norman  blood.2  For  six  months  he 
solicited  aid  from  the  Scotch,  the  "Welsh,  and  the  English. 
Meanwhile  three  brothers  who  were  admitted  to  his  fami- 
liarity, and  were  his  principal  attendants,  betrayed  him  to 
the  Normans,  assassinating  him,  though  he  made  a  despe- 
rate defence  at  the  head  of  twenty  men-at-arms.  The  high 
tide,  which  rendered  it  necessary  for  Edwin  to  halt  on  the 
bank  of  a  stream,  aided  the  Normans  in  perpetrating  this 
outrage,  by  cutting  off  his  retreat.  The  report  of  Edwin's 
death,  spread  throughout  the  kingdom,  was  the  cause  of 
deep  sorrow,  not  only  to  the  English,  but  even  to  the  Nor- 
mans and  French,  who  lamented  his  loss  like  that  of  a  friend 

1  Ordericus  has  not  related  these  circumstances  quite  correctly.  King 
William  did  not  shut  up  Morcar  in  the  Isle  of  Ely,  but  the  earl  retired 
there,  and  took  refuge  with  Hereward  to  escape  the  king's  persecutions. 
We  find  that  he  was  committed  to  the  custody  of  Roger  de  Beaumont, 
who  probably  guarded  him  in  one  of  his  castlea  of  Beaumont,  Brionne,  or 
Pontaudemer.  Morcar  was  restored  to  liberty  by  the  Conqueror  on  his 
death- bed,  but  almost  immediately  afterwards  sent  back  to  prison  by 
William  Rufus. 

8  It  does  not  appear  that  Edwin  was  induced  to  become  insurgent  in 
consequence  of  his  brother's  arrest,  but  that,  on  the  contrary,  he  was  the 
first  to -break  with  the  Conqueror. 


46  ORDEH1CTJS   YITALIS.  [B.IV.  CH.TII. 

or  kinsman.  This  young  nobleman  was,  as  I  have  before 
said,  born  of  pious  parents,  and  lent  himself  to  all  good 
works  as  far  as  his  multifarious  engagements  in  difficult 
worldly  affairs  allowed.  The  graces  of  his  person  were  so 
striking  that  he  might  be  distinguished  among  thousands, 
and  he  was  full  of  kindness  for  the  clergy,  the  monks,  and 
the  poor.  King  William  was  moved  to  tears  when  he 
heard  of  the  treason  which  had  cut  off  the  young  earl  of 
Mercia,  and  with  a  just  severity  sentenced  to  banishment 
the  traitors  who,  to  gain  his  favour,  brought  him  the  head 
of  their  master. 

Thus  far  "William  of  Poitiers  carries  his  history,1  which, 
imitating  the  style  of  Sallust,  eloquently  and  acutely  recounts 
the  acts  of  King  "William.  This  author  was  by  birth  a 
Norman,  being  a  native  of  the  town  of  Preaux,2  where  his 
sister  was  abbess  of  a  convent  of  nuns  dedicated  to  St. 
Leger.  He  is  called  "William  of  Poitiers,  because  in  that 
city  he  drank  deeply  at  the  fountain  of  learning.  Returning 
into  his  own  country,  he  became  eminent  as  the  most 
learned  of  all  his  neighbours  and  fellow  students,  and  made 
himself  useful  to  Hugh  and  Gislebert,  bishops  of  Lisieux,  in 
ecclesiastical  affairs,  as  archdeacon  of  that  diocese.  He  had 
served  with  courage  in  a  military  career  before  he  took 
orders,  fighting  bravely  for  his  earthly  sovereign,  so  that  he 
was  the  better  able  to  describe  with  precision  the  scenes  of 
war,  from  having  himself  been  present  and  encountered 
their  perils.  As  age  came  on  he  devoted  himself  to  science 
and  prayer,  and  was  more  capable  of  composing  in  prose  or 
verse  than  of  preaching.  He  frequently  wrote  clever  and 
agreeable  poems,  adapted  for  recitation,  submitting  them 
without  jealousy  to  the  correction  of  his  juniors.  I  have 
briefly  followed,  in  many  parts,  his  narrative  of  King  Wil- 
liam and  his  adherents  without  copying  all  he  has  written, 
or  attempting  to  imitate  his  elegant  style.  I  come  now, 
with  God's  help,  to  recount  events  which  took  place  among 

1  If  the  history  of  William  de  Poitiers  extended  as  far  as  this  period,  as 
it  is  impossible  to  doubt  after  what  our  author  here  says,  an  important  part 
of  it  has  been  lost,  for  in  the  state  we  now  possess  it,  the  narrative  goes  no 
further  than  the  murder  of  Copsi. 

7  Near  Pont  Audemer.  There  were  two  abbeys  here;  a  convent  of  monks 
dedicate  1  to  J- 1.  Peter,  and  one  of  nuns  to  St.  Leger.  A  sister  of  William 
de  Poitiers,  named  Emma,  was  the  first  abbess  of  St.  Leger. 


A.D.  1071.]  THE   NORMAN  LOEDS.  47 

our  neighbours  in  the  times  which  succeeded,  not  allowing 
myself  to  doubt  that,  as  I  have  freely  made  use  of  what  my 
predecessors  have  published,  so  those  who  come  after  me  and 
are  yet  unborn,  will  diligently  investigate  the  history  of  the 
present  age. 

The  two  great  earls  of  the  Mercians  having  been  got  rid 
of,  Edwin  by  death,  and  Morcar  by  strict  confinement,  King 
William    distributed    their    vast   domains   in   the    richest 
districts  of  England  among  his  adherents,  raising  the  lowest 
of  his  Norman  followers  to  wealth  and  power.     He  granted 
the  Isle  of  "Wight  and  the  county  of  Hereford  to  William 
Fitz-Osbern,  high-steward  of  Normandy,  giving  him   the 
charge,  in  conjunction  with  Walter  de  Lacy  and  other  tried 
soldiers,  of  defending  the  frontier  against  the  Welsh,  who 
were  breathing  defiance.     Their  first  expedition  was  a  bold 
attack  on  the  people  of  Brecknock,  in  which  the  Welsh 
princes,  Rhys,  Cadogan,  and  Meredith,1  with  many  others, 
were  defeated.     The  king  had  already  granted  the  city  and 
county  of  Chester  to  Grherbod  of  Flanders,  who  had  been 
greatly  harassed  by  the  hostilities  both  of  the  English  and 
Welsh.     Afterwards,  being  summoned  by  a  message  from  his 
dependants  in  Flanders,  to  whom  he  had  entrusted  his 
hereditary  domains,  he   obtained  leave  from  the  king  to 
make  a  short  visit  to  that  country,  but  while  there  his  evil 
fortune  led  him  into  a  snare,  and,  falling  into  the  hands  of 
his  enemies,  and  thrown  into  a  dungeon,  he  had  to  endure 
the   sufferings  of  a  long  captivity,  cut   off  from  all   the 
blessings  of  life.     In  consequence,  the  king  gave  the  earldom 
of  Chester  to  Hugh  d'Avranches,  son  of  Richard  surnamed 
Goz,  who,  in  concert  with  Robert  of  Rhuddlan,  and  Robert 
of  Malpas,  and  other  fierce  knights,  made  great  slaughter 
among  the  Welsh.     This  Hugh  was  not  merely  liberal  but 
prodigal ;  not  satisfied  with  being  surrounded  by  his  own 
retainers,  he  kept  an  army  on  foot.     He  set  no  bounds 
either  to  his  generosity  or  his  rapacity.     He  continually 

1  Rhys-ap-Owen,  Cadogan-ap-Blethyn,  and  Meredith-ap-Owen.  Orde- 
ricus  probably  in  his  youth  heard  frequent  mention  of  these  Welsh  chiefs 
and  others  he  has  named  before.  Shrewsbury,  the  seat  of  his  father's  patron, 
Roger,  earl  of  Montgomery,  was  a  frontier  garrison,  intended,  like  those 
of  Chester  and  Malpas  also  mentioned,  to  curb  the  inroads  of  the  tribes  of 
North  Wales. 


48  ORDERICTTS   VITALI3.  [B.IV.  CH.YII. 

wasted  even  his  own  domains,  and  gave  more  encouragement 
to  those  who  attended  him  in  hawking  and  hunting,  than 
to  the  cultivators  of  the  soil,  and  the  votaries  of  heaven. 
He  indulged  in  gluttony  to  such  a  degree  as  to  become  so 
fat  that  he  could  scarcely  walk.  He  abandoned  himself 
immoderately  to  carnal  pleasures,  and  had  a  numerous 
offspring  of  both  sexes  by  his  concubines,  but  they  have 
almost  all  been  carried  off  by  one  misfortune  or  another. 
He  married  Ermentrude,  daughter  of  Hugh  de  Clermont,  in 
the  Beauvais,  by  whom  he  had  Bichard,  who  succeeded  him  as 
his  heir  in  the  earldom  of  Chester,  and  when  yet  young  and 
childless  perished  by  shipwreck  in  company  with  William, 
son  and  heir  apparent  of  Henry,  king  of  England,  and  many 
of  the  nobility,  on  the  seventh  of  the  calends  of  November 
[26th  October].1 

King  William  gave  first  to  Roger  de  Montgomery  the  castle 
of  Arundel  and  the  city  of  Chichester,  and  afterwards  the 
earldom  of  Shrewsbury,2  which  town  is  situated  on  a  hill  by 
the  river  Severn.  This  earl  was  wise,  moderate,  and  a  lover 
of  justice ;  and  cherished  the  gentle  society  of  intelligent  and 
unassuming  men.  For  a  long  time  he  had  about  him  three 
well-informed  clerks,  Godebald,  Odelirius,3  and  Herbert, 
whose  advice  he  followed  with  great  advantage.  He  gave 
his  niece  Emerie  and  the  command  of  Shrewsbury  to 
Warin  the  Bald,4  a  man  of  small  stature  but  great  courage, 
who  bravely  encountered  the  earl's  enemies,  and  maintained 
tranquillity  throughout  the  district  entrusted  to  his 
government.  Roger  de  Montgomery  also  gave  commands  in 
his  earldom  to  William,  surnamed  Pantoul,  Picot  de  Say,  and 
Corbet,5  with  his  sons  Roger  and  Robert,  as  well  as  other 

1  Our  author  gives  a  full  account,  in  the  twelfth  book  of  this  history,  of 
the  shipwreck  of  the  Blanche-Nef,  in  which  the  young  Earl  of  Chester, 
and  many  others  of  the  nobility,  were  lost  on  the  25th  of  November,  1119, 
off  Barfleur,  with  two  sons  and  a  daughter  and  niece  of  King  Henry  I. 
See  also  Henry  of  Huntingdon's  History,  b.  vii.  p.  249,  Dohn's  edition. 

8  Roger  de  Montgomery,  earl  of  Shrewsbury  in  England,  was  count  of 
Belesme  and  Alen9on  in  Normandy,  through  his  wife,  Mabel  de  Belesme. 

s  Odelirius  was  the  father  of  Ordericus  Vitalis. 

4  Warin  is  probably  the  person  mentioned  in  the  fifth  book  as  Guarinut 
Vicecomes. 

4  William  Pantoul  was  lord  of  Noron,  near  Falaise.  See  b.  v.  c.  16. 
Piqot  de  Say,  a  place  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Armenian.  He  had  twenty- 
nine  manors  in  Shropshire,  and  a  castle  on  the  coast  of  Pembrokeshire,  in 


A.D.  1071 — 1080.]    NOBMANS  MADE  ENGLISH  EABLS.  49 

brave  and  faithful  knights,  supported  by  whose  "wisdom  and 
courage  he  ranked  high  among  the  greatest  nobles. 

King  William  conferred  the  earldom  of  Northampton  on 
Waltheof,  son  of  Earl  Siward,1  the  most  powerful  of  the 
English  nobility,  and,  in  order  to  cement  a  firm  alliance  with 
him,  gave  him  in  marriage  his  niece  Judith,2  who  bore  him 
two  beautiful  daughters.  The  earldom  of  Buckingham  was 
given  to  Walter  Giffard,3  and  Surrey  to  William  de 
Warrenne,  who  married  Gundred,  Gherbod's  sister.  King 
William  granted  the  earldom  of  Holdernesse  to  Eudes,  of 
Champagne,  nephew  of  Count  Theobald,  who  married  the 
king's  sister,  that  is,  Duke  Robert's  daughter;4  and  the 
earldom  of  Norwich  to  Ralph  de  Guader,  son-in-law  of 
William  Eitz-Osbern.  To  Hugh  Grantmesnil  he  granted 
the  town  of  Leicester,  and  distributed  cities  and  counties 
among  other  lords,  with  great  honours  and  domains.  The 
castle  of  Tutbury,  which  Hugh  d'Avranches  before  held,  he 
granted  to  Henry,  son  of  Walkelin  de  Ferrers,5  conferring  on 
other  foreigners  who  had  attached  themselves  to  his 
fortunes,  such  vast  possessions  that  they  had  in  England 
many  vassals  more  rich  and  powerful  than  their  own  fathers 
ever  were  in  Normandy. 

What  shall  I  say  of  Odo,  bishop  of  Baieux,  who  was  earl 
palatine,  and  generally  dreaded  by  the  English  people, 
issuing  his  orders  everywhere  like  a  second  king.  He  had 
the  command  over  all  the  earls  and  barons  of  the  realm, 

South  Wales.  It  appears  by  Domesday  Book,  that  Roger  Corbet  held 
lands  in  Shropshire,  where  the  family  still  flourishes. 

1  King  William  did  not  confer  on  Waltheof  the  earldoms  of  Northamp- 
ton and  Huntingdon,  as  he  possessed  them  before  the  conquest,  but  only 
confirmed  his  right  to  them.  His  father,  Siward,  was  earl  of  Northumbria, 
but  counties  or  earldoms  were  not  yet  strictly  hereditary,  and  Henry  of 
Huntingdon  informs  us  that  on  account  of  Waltheof's  being  of  tender  years 
at  his  father's  death,  the  earldom  of  that  powerful  and  turbulent  province 
was  conferred  on  Tosti,  Earl  Godwin's  son.  Siward  himself,  the  stout  earl 
immortalized  by  Shakespeare  in,  Macbeth,  was  of  Danish  or  Norwegian 
extraction. 

1  Judith  was  the  daughter  of  William's  half-sister  Adelaide,  countess 
d'Aumale. 

*  Walter  Giffard,  lord  of  Longueville,  near  Dieppe. 

*  Our  author  is  mistaken  here ;  Adelaide  was  daughter  of  Herluin  de 
Couteville,  and  not  of  Duke  Robert. 

5  In  the  county  of  Stafford,  with  seven  lordships,  and  created  him  earl  of 
Derby. 

VOL.  II.  B 


50  ORDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [B.IT.  CH.TI1. 

and  with  the  treasures  collected  from  ancient  times,  was  in 
possession  of  Kent,  the  former  kingdom  of  Ethelbert,  son 
of  Ermenric,  Eadbald,  Egbert,  and  his  brother  Lothaire, 
and  where  the  first  English  kings  were  converted  to  the 
faith  of  Christ  by  the  disciples  of  Pope  Gregory,  and 
obtained  the  crown  of  eternal  life  by  their  obedience  to  the 
divine  law.  The  character  of  this  prelate,  if  I  am  not 
deceived,  was  a  compound  of  vices  and  virtues ;  but  he  was 
more  occupied  with  worldly  affairs  than  in  the  exercise  of 
spiritual  graces.  The  monasteries  of  the  saints  make  great 
complaints  of  the  injuries  they  received  at  the  hands  of 
Odo,  who,  with  violence  and  injustice,  robbed  them  of  the 
funds  with  which  the  English  had  piously  endowed  them  in 
ancient  times.1 

Geoffrey,  bishop  of  Coutances,  of  an  ancient  JsTorman 
family,  who  rendered  essential  services  and  support  at  the 
battle  of  Senlac,  and  was  a  commander  of  troops  in  other 
conflicts,  in  which  natives  and  foreigners  crushed  each 
other,  received  for  his  share,  by  grant  from  King  William, 
two  hundred  and  eighty  vills,  which  are  commonly  called 
manors,  which,  at  his  death,  he  left  to  his  nephew  De 
Mowbray,  who  speedily  lost  them  by  his  rashness  and  mis- 
conduct.2 

Likewise,  Eustace  de  Boulogne,  and  Robert  Morton, 
"William  d'Evreux,  Eobert  d'Eu,  Geoffrey,  son  of  Rotrou  de 
Mortagne,  and  other  counts  and  lords,  more  than  I  can 
enumerate,  received  from  King  William  great  revenues  and 
honours  in  England.  Thus  strangers  were  enriched  with 
English  wealth,  while  her  sons  were  iniquitously  slain,  or 
driven  into  hopeless  exile  in  foreign  lands.  It  is  stated  that 
the  king  himself  received  daily  one  thousand  and  sixty 
pounds,  thirty  pence,  and  three  farthings,  Stirling  money, 
from  his  regular  revenues  in  England  alone,  independently 
of  presents,  fines  for  offences,  and  many  other  matters  which 
constantly  enrich  a  royal  treasury.  King  William  also  caused 

1  Lnnfranc,  with  great  firmness,  claimed  before  the  inquest  of  the  county 
•rended  over  by  Geoffry,  bishop  of  Coutances,  certain  estates  of  which 

deprived  the  see  of  Canterbury,  and  obtained  their  restoration. 
Geoffry  de  Mowbray,  a  commune  in  the  canton  of  Perci,  was  made 
bishop  of  Goutances  m  April,  !048,  and  died  the  2nd  of  February,  1093. 
t   will   he-eafter  appear   how    his   ncnhew    lest    the    immense   heritage 
bequeathed  to  him. 


A.D.  1080 — 1086.]    ECCLESIASTICAL  ABUSES.  51 

a  careful  survey  to  be  taken  of  the  whole  kingdom,  and  an 
accurate  record  to  be  made  of  all  the  revenues  as  they  stood 
in  the  time  of  King  Edward.1  The  land  was  distributed 
into  knights'  fees  with  such  order  that  the  realm  of  England 
should  always  possess  a  force  of  sixty  thousand  men,  ready 
at  any  moment  to  obey  the  king's  commands,  as  his  occasions 
required. 

CH.  VIII.     Tyranny  of  the  conquerors — Abuses  of  ecclesias- 

ical  patronage — The  English  ejected  to  make   way  for 

Normans — Story  of  Guitmond,  afterwards  bishop  ofAversa. 

POSSESSED  of  enormous  wealth,  gathered  by  others,  the 
Normans  gave  the  reigns  to  their  pride  and  fury,  and  put  to 
death  without  compunction  the  native  inhabitants,  who  for 
their  sins  were  subjected  by  divine  Providence  to  the 
scourge.  In  them  we  find  fulfilled  the  couplet  of  the  Man- 
tuaii  Maro : — 

O  mortals !  blind  of  fate,  who  never  know 
To  bear  high  fortune,  or  endure  the  low.* 

Young  women  of  high  rank  were  subject  to  the  insults  of 
grooms,  and  mourned  their  dishonour  by  filthy  ruffians. 
Matrons,  distinguished  by  their  birth  and  elegance,  lamented 
in  solitude ;  and,  bereaved  of  their  husbands  and  deprived  of 
the  consolation  of  friends,  preferred  death  to  life.  Ignorant 
upstarts,  driven  almost  mad  by  their  sudden  elevation,  won- 
dered how  they  arrived  at  such  a  pitch  of  power,  and  thought 
that  they  might  do  whatever  they  liked.  Fools  and  perverse, 
not  to  reflect,  with  contrite  hearts,  that,  not  by  their  o\yi 
strength,  but  by  the  providence  of  God,  who  ordereth  all 
things,  they  had  conquered  their  enemies,  and  subjugated  a 
nation  greater,  and  richer,  and  more  ancient  than  their  own ; 
illustrious  for  its  saints,  and  wise  men,  and  powerful  kings, 
who  had  earned  a  noble  reputation  by  their  deeds,  both  in 
war  and  peace !  They  ought  to  have  recollected  with  fear,  and 

1  This  famous  record  is  called   The  Domesday  Book,  and  sometimes 
Rotulus,  or  Liber  Wintnnia,  it  having  been  kept  in  the  treasury  at  Win- 
chester.    The  survey  was  begun  in  1080,  and  completed  in  1086. 
2   Nescia  mens  hominum  fati,  sortisque  future, 
Et  servare  modum,  rebus  sublata  secundis ! 

Virg.  JEn.  X.  501. 
E  2 


52  ORDEBICTJS  VITA.LIS.  [B.  IV.  CH.VIII. 

deeply  inscribed  in  their  hearts,  the  word  which  says :  "  With 
the  same  measure  that  ye  mete,  it  shall  be  measured  to  you 
again."  l 

Some  churchmen,  who,  to  all  appearance,  were  wise  and 
religious,  constantly  followed  the  court,  and  became  abject 
flatterers,  to  the  no  small  disgrace  of  their  Christian  pro- 
fession, that  they  might  obtain  the  dignities  they  coveted. 
As  the  hire  for  their  services  is  demanded  of  princes  by 
newly  enlisted  soldiers,  so  some  of  the  laity  repaid  the 
clergy  for  paying  them  court  by  gifts  of  bishoprics  and 
abbeys,  wardenships,  archdeaconries,  deaneries,  and  other 
offices  of  power  and  dignity,  which  ought  to  be  conferred 
for  the  merits  of  holiness  and  learning.  The  clergy  and 
monks  now  attached  themselves  to  an  earthly  prince  to 
obtain  such  rewards,  and,  for  their  worldly  advantage,  lent 
themselves  without  decency  to  a  service  which  was  incom- 
patible with  their  spiritual  duties.  The  old  abbots  were 
terrified  by  the  threats  of  secular  power,  and,  unjustly 
driven  from  their  seats  without  the  sentence  of  a  synod,  to 
make  way  for  hirelings,  who,  more  tyrants  than  monks,  were 
intruded  in  their  places.  Then  such  traffic  and  agreements 
took  place  between  prelates  of  this  class  and  the  flocks  com- 
mitted to  their  charge,  as  may  be  supposed  between  wolves 
and  sheep  having  no  protector.  This  may  be  easily  proved 
by  what  happened  in  the  case  of  Turstin,  of  Caen,  and  the 
convent  of  Glastonbury.2  This  shameless  abbot,  attempting 
to  compel  the  monks  of  Glastonbury  to  disuse  the  chant 
which  had  been  introduced  into  England  by  the  disciples  01 
the  blessed  Pope  Gregory,  and  to  adopt  the  chant  of  the 
Flemings  or  Normans,  which  they  had  never  learned  or 
heard  before,  a  violent  tumult  arose,  which  ended  in 
disgrace  to  the  holy  order.  For  when  the  monks  refused 
new  fashions,  and  their  haughty  superior  persisted  in  his 
obstinacy,  all  of  a  sudden,  laymen,  armed  with  spears,  came 
to  their  master's  aid,  and  surrounding  the  monks  severely 
beat  some  of  them,  and,  as  report  says,  mortally  wounded 
them.  I  could  relate  many  such  instances,  if  they  would 
edify  the  reader's  mind ;  but  such  subjects  are  by  no  means 

1  Luke  vi.  38. 

1  Turetin  was  intruded  on  the  monks  of  Glastonbury  in  1081.  The 
tumulu  here  described  broke  out  in  1083. 


A.D.  1070.]  THE   MONK   GT7ITMOIO).  53 

agreeable,  and,  therefore,  without  dwelling  on  them,  I  gladly 
employ  my  peii  on  other  matters. 

Guitmond  was  a  venerable  monk  of  the  monastery  called  La 
Croix  d'Helton,  where  we  read  that  Leudfred,  the  glorious 
confessor  of  Christ,  happily  served  the  Lord  forty-eight  years 
in  the  reigns  of  Childebert  and  Chilperic.1  Guitmond 
crossed  the  sea  on  a  royal  summons,  and  was  offered  by  the 
king  and  great  men  of  the  realm  a  high  ecclesiastical  office, 
but  he  positively  refused  to  undertake  the  charge.  He  was 
in  the  prime  of  years,  devout  and  deeply  learned ;  having 
left  to  the  world  a  remarkable  proof  of  his  genius  in  the  book 
he  wrote  against  Berenjrer,  On  the  Body  and  Blood  of  our 
Lord,3  as  well  as  in  his  other  works.  When  the  king 
entreated  him  to  remain  in  England  until  he  should  have  an 
opportunity  of  suitably  promoting  him,  Guitmond  took  time 
to  consider  the  matter  carefully,  and  pointed  out  how  much 
his  own  views  differed  from  the  proposal  which  had  been 
made,  in  a  long  letter  replying  to  the  king  to  the  following 
effect : — 

"  I  am  averse  to  undertaking  any  ecclesiastic^  function  for 
many  reasons,  which  I  am  not  willing,  nor  would  it  become 
me,  fully  to  detail.  In  the  first  place,  when  I  consider  well 
the  infirmities,  both  bodily  and  mental,  which  I  continually 
suffer,  I  painfully  feel  my  inability  to  undergo  the  scrutiny 
of  the  divine  Judge,  for  even  now  I  lament  that  in  my  daily 
struggles  to  keep  the  path  of  life  I  am  in  continual  danger 
of  erring  from  the  truth.  But  if  I  cannot  safely  rule  my- 
self, how  shall  I  be  able  to  direct  the  course  of  others  in 
the  way  to  salvation  ?  Besides,  after  carefully  considering 
all  circumstances,  I  do  not  see  by  what  means  I  can  fitly 
undertake  the  government  of  a  community  whose  foreign 
manners  and  barbarous  language  are  strange  to  me ;  a 
wretched  people,  whose  fathers  and  near  relations  and 
friends  have  either  fallen  by  your  sword,  or  have  been  disin- 
herited by  you,  driven  into  exile,  imprisoned,  or  subjected 
to  an  unjust  and  intolerable  slavery.  Search  the  scriptures 

1  La  Croix  St.  Leufroi,  between  Evreux  and  Gaillon,  in  the  diocese  of 
Evreux.  St.  Leufroi  died  about  the  year  738,  in  this  monastery  which  he 
founded,  after  governing  it  forty-eight  years. 

4  Guitmundi  episcopi  Aversani,  de  corporis  et  sanguinis  veritate  in 
Eucharistia.  This  work  was  written  in  the  year  1075. 


54  ORDEBICTJS   YITALIS.  [B.IT.  CU.TIIT. 

and  see  if  there  be  any  law  by  which  a  pastor  chosen  by 
enemies  can  be  intruded  by  violence  on  the  Lord's  flock. 
Every  ecclesiastical  election  ought  to  be  purely  made  in  the 
first  instance  by  the  society  of  the  faithful  who  are  to  be 
governed,  and  then  confirmed  by  assent  of  the  fathers  of 
the  church  and  their  friends,  if  it  be  canonical ;  if  not,  it 
should  be  rectified  in  a  spirit  of  charity.     How  can  that 
which  you  have  wrung  from  the  people  by  war  and  bloodshed 
be  innocently  conferred  on  myself  and  others  who  despise 
the  world  and  have  voluntarily  stripped  ourselves  of  our  own 
substance  for  Christ  sake  ?  It  is  the  general  rule  of  all  who 
take  religious  vows  to  have  no  part  in  robbery,  and,  for  the 
maintenance  of  justice,  to  reject  offerings  which  are  the 
fruits  of  pillage.     For  the  scripture  saith  :  '  The  sacrifice  of 
injustice  is   a  polluted  offering ;'   and  a  little  afterwards: 
'  Whoso  offereth  a  sacrifice  of  the  substance  of  the  poor  is 
like  one  that  slayeth  a  son  in  his  father's  sight.'1  Reflecting  on 
these  and  other  precepts  of  the  divine  law,  I  cannot  but 
tremble.    I  look  upon  England  as  altogether  one  vast  heap 
of  booty,  and  I  am  afraid  to  touch  it  and  its  treasures  as  if 
it  were  a  burning  fire.     As  God  commands  every  man  to 
love  his  neighbour  as  himself,  I  will  tell  you  sincerely  what 
I  learn  from  divine  inspiration  :  what  I  think  profitable  for 
myself  is  also  for  your  good.     Let  not  that  which  is  spoken 
in  friendship  be  considered  offensive ;   but  do   you,  brave 
prince,  and  your  fellow  soldiers,  who  have  encountered  with 
you  the  greatest  perils,  receive  with  kindness  the  expression 
of  my  advice.     Reflect  every  day  of  your  lives   on  the 
operations  of  the  Lord,  and  in  all  your  undertakings  have 
his  judgments,  which  are  incomprehensible,  before  your  eyes, 
BO  weighing  your  course  of  life  in  the  scales  of  justice  accord- 
ing to  the  will  of  God,  that  the  righteous  Judge,  who  orders 
all  things  rightly,  may   be  merciful  to  you  in  the  day  of 
doom.     Let  not  flatterers  betray  you  into  a  deceitful  secu- 
rity, and  from  the  success  which  has  attended  you  in  the 
present  life  lull  you  into  the  death-sleep  of  worldly  prospe- 
rity.     Vaunt  not    yourself  that  the  English  have   been 
conquered  by  your  arms,  but  gird  yourself  carefully  for  that 
more  difficult  and  dangerous  combat  with  your  spiritual 
enemies  which  still  remains  and  is  to  be  fought  daily.     The 
1  Ecclus.  xxxiv.  21  and  24. 


A.D.  1070.]     GUITMOXD'S  LETTER  TO  WILLIAM  i.  55 

revolutions  of  earthly  kingdoms  are  exhibited  in  the  pages 
of  scripture  in  which  the  knowledge  of  past  events  is 
divinely  furnished.  The  Babylonians,  under  their  king 
Nebuchodnosor,  subdued  Judea,  Egypt,  and  many  other 
countries,  but  seventy  years  afterwards  they  were  themselves 
conquered  aud  subjugated  by  the  Medes  and  Persians  under 
Darius  and  his  grandson  Cyrus.  Two  hundred  and  thirty 
years  afterwards,  the  Macedemonians,  under  the  command  of 
Alexander  the  Great,  defeated  Darius  the  king  of  Persia  and 
his  innumerable  hosts  ;  and  many  years  afterwards,  when  the 
.Romans  sent  forth  their  legions  into  every  quarter  of  the 
globe,  the  Parthians  were  utterly  subdued  under  their  king 
Perseus.  The  Greeks,  led  by  Agamemnon  and  the  son  of 
Palamede,  laid  siege  to  Troy,  and  having  slain  the  king 
Priamus,  son  of  Laomedon,  and  his  sons  Hector  and  Troilus, 
Paris,  Deiphobus  and  Amphimacus,  after  a  ten  years'  siege, 
destroyed  with  fire  and  sword  the  famous  kingdom  of 
Phrygia.  A  remnant  of  the  Trojans,  with  Eneas  for  their 
chief,  established  themselves  in  Italy  ;  another  band,  under 
the  command  of  Antenor,  after  a  long  and  difficult  journey, 
reached  Denmark,  and  made  a  settlement  there  which  their 
posterity  inhabit  to  the  present  time.  The  kingdom  of  Je- 
rusalem, enriched  by  David  and  his  powerful  successors  with 
the  spoils  of  other  nations  and  aggrandized  by  their  conquest 
of  the  surrounding  barbarous  tribes,  was  overturned  by  the 
Romans  in  the  reigns  of  Vespasian  and  Titus,  and  the  stately 
temple  of  the  Jews  destroyed  one  thousand  and  eighty-nine 
years  after  its  foundation,  eleven  hundred  thousand  Jews 
perishing  by  the  sword  or  famine.  The  Franks  formed  an 
alliance  with  the  Gauls  in  the  time  of  their  duke  Sunno,  and 
having  resolutely  shaken  off  the  Roman  yoke  began  to  lord 
over  them.  It  is  now  almost  six  hundred  years  since  the 
Anglo-Saxons,  under  their  chiefs  Hengist  and  Horsa, 
wrested  by  force  or  fraud  the  government  of  Britain  from 
the  natives  now  called  Welsh.  The  Guinili,  driven  by  chance 
from  the  Scandinavian  island  invaded  that  part  of  Italy  now 
called  Lombardy  in  the  reign  of  Alboin,  son  of  Audo,  and,  long 
resisting  the  Romans,  have  held  possession  of  It  to  the  pre- 
sent day.  All  these  great  men  whom  I  have  described, 
as  elated  by  victory,  not  long  afterwards  miserably  perished, 
and  together  with  their  victims  are  subject  to  endless  tor- 


56  OKDEBICUS   TITALIS.  [B.IV.  CH.VIII. 

tures,  under  which  they  groan  in  the  noisome  caverns  of  hell. 
The  Normans,  under  their  chief  Rollo,  wrested  Neustria  from 
Charles  the  Simple,  and  have  now  held  it  for  one  hundred 
and  ninety  years,1  against  all  the  efforts  of  the  French,  not- 
withstanding their  frequent  attacks.  Need  I  speak  of  the 
Gepidi  and  the  Vandals,  the  Goths  and  the  Turks,  the 
Huns  and  the  Heruli,  and  other  barbarous  nations  ?  Their 
whole  business  is  to  ravage  and  rob,  and  to  tread  under  foot 
•  every  vestige  of  peace.  They  lay  waste  the  soil,  burn 
houses,  disturb  the  world,  scatter  the  means  of  subsistence, 
butcher  the  population,  spread  every  where  barbarism  and 
confusion.  Such  signs  as  these  are  omens  of  the  end  of 
the  world,  as  we  are  plainly  told  in  the  word  of  truth : 
'  Nation  shall  rise  against  nation,  and  kingdom  against 
kingdom ;  and  there  shall  be  great  earthquakes  in  divers 
places,  and  famines  and  pestilences :  and  fearful  sights  and 
great  signs  shall  there  be  from  heaven.'4 

So  sinks  the  reeling  world  with  woes  oppressed. 

"Reflecting  thoughtfully  on  these  and  such  like  revolutions 
in  human  affairs,  let  not  the  conqueror  glory  in  the  ruin  of 
his  rivals ;  for  he  himself  shall  hold  his  footing  no  longer 
than  his  Maker  wills.  I  will  now,  0  king,  apply  what  I 
have  said  to  your  own  case,  beseeching  you  to  listen  to  me 
Avith  patience  for  youi  soul's  sake.  Before  you,  no  one  of 
your  race  obtained  the  kingly  dignity ;  that  high  honour 
did  not  accrue  to  you  by  inheritance,  but  by  the  free  gift  of 
Almighty  God,  and  the  kind  preference  of  your  kinsman 
King  Edward.  Edgar  Atheling  and  many  other  scions  of 
the  royal  stock,  are,  according  to  the  laws  of  the  Hebrews 
and  other  nations,  nearer  in  degree  than  yourself  as  heirs 
to  the  crown  of  England.  They  have  been  set  aside  by  the 
lot  which  has  led  to  your  advancement:  but  the  more 
mysterious  is  God's  providence,  the  more  terrible  is  the 
account  you  will  have  to  give  of  the  stewardship  committed 
to  you.  I  submit  these  considerations  to  your  highness 

i  Without  its  being  necessary  to  follow  the  venerable  monk  through  all 
his  historical  disquisitions,  it  may  be  proper  to  remark  that  this  calculation 
would  carry  back  the  grant  of  territory  made  by  Charles  the  Simple  to 
Hollo  nnd  his  followers  to  the  vear  880 

»  Lukexxl  11,  1-2. 


A.D.  1077.]  GUITMO2TD   GOES   TO   EOME.  57 

with  the  fullest  good  wishes,  humbly  beseeching  you  to  be 
ever  mindful  of  what  must  come  at  last,  and  not  to  be 
wholly  engrossed  with  present  prosperity,  which  is  too  often 
followed  by  intolerable  suffering,  wailing,  and  gnashing  of 
teeth.  And  now  I  commit  you,  your  friends  and  followers, 
to  the  grace  of  God,  intending,  with  your  permission,  to 
return  to  Normandy,  and  leave  the  rich  spoils  of  England 
to  the  lovers  of  this  world,  as  dross  and  dung.  I  truly  pre- 
fer, for  my  part,  that  poverty  for  the  love  of  Christ  which 
was  the  choice  of  Anthony  and  Benedict,  above  all  the 
riches  of  the  world  which  were  the  coveted  portion  of 
Cro3sus  and  Sardanapalus,  and  when  they  afterwards 
miserably  perished,  became  the  spoils  of  their  enemies. 
Christ,  the  good  shepherd,  has  uttered  the  warning  :  '  "Woe 
to  the  rich  of  this  world,'  who  enjoy  here  vain  and  super- 
fluous luxuries,  while  he  promised  the  blessings  of  the  world 
to  come  to  the  poor  in  spirit ;  which  may  He  vouchsafe  to 
grant  us,  who  liveth  and  reigneth  through  all  ages.  Amen." 
The  king,  who  with  his  great  lords  admired  the  firmness 
of  the  venerable  monk,  treated  him  with  deference,  and 
taking  leave  of  him  with  marked  respect,  commanded  him, 
with  fitting  honours,  to  return  to  Normandy,  and  there  wait 
his  own  presence  where  he  pleased.  When  G-uitmond  re- 
turned to  the  enclosure  of  his  own  monastery,  it  was  noised 
abroad  that  he  had  preferred  monastic  poverty  to  episcopal 
wealth,  and  further,  that  he  had  in  the  presence  of  the  king 
and  his  nobles  stigmatized  the  conquest  of  England  with 
the  character  of  robbery,  and  accused  of  rapacity  all  the 
bishops  and  abbots  who  had  obtained  preferment  in  England 
against  the  feeling  of  the  natives.  These  allegations  of  his 
becoming  known  throughout  the  kingdom,  and  causing  much 
discussion,  were  very  distasteful  to  numerous  persons  who 
being  little  disposed  to  follow  his  example,  were  extremely 
exasperated  by  what  he  had  said.  Not  long  afterwards,  on 
the  death  of  John,  archbishop  of  Rouen,  the  king  and  others 
selected  G-uitmond  for  his  successor ;  but  his  enemies,  the 
men  he  had  so  severely  rebuked,  did  all  in  their  power  to 
hinder  his  preferment.  They  found  nothing,  however,  to 
object  to,  in  a  man  of  his  worth,  but  that  he  was  the  son  of 
a  priest.  Upon  this,  Guitmond,  wishing  to  be  clear  of  all 
suspicion  of  covetousness,  and  preferring  to  suffer  poverty  in 


58  OEDEBTCUS  TITALIS.       >       [B.IV.  CH.  VIII. 

a  foreign  country,  rather  than  foment  disturbances  in  his  own, 
applied  respectfully  to  Odilo,  the  abbot  of  his  monastery,  and 
humbly  petitioned  for  permission  to  travel  abroad,  which  was 
granted.  This  illiterate  abbot  little  knew  what  treasures 
of  wisdom  were  concealed  under  the  humble  exterior  of  the 
learned  monk,  and  so  he  made  no  difficulty  in  parting  with 
a  philosopher  of  inestimable  worth,  who  was  received  with 
joy  by  Pope  Gregory  VII.  on  his  arrival  at  Home,  and  made 
a  cardinal  of  the  holy  Roman  church,  and  by  Pope  Urban, 
after  experience  of  his  abilities,  solemnly  consecrated  metro- 
politan of  Aversa.2  That  city,  built  in  the  time  of  Leo  IX., 
Dy  the  Normans  when  they  first  settled  in  Apulia  was  called 
Adversa  by  the  Romans,  because  it  was  founded  by 
their  adversaries.  Abounding  in  wealth,  powerful  from  the 
warlike  character  of  its  Cisalpine  inhabitants,3  formidable 
to  its  enemies,  and  respected  by  its  faithful  subjects  and 
allies,  that  city,  by  the  determination  of  the  Normans,  was 
immediately  dependent  in  ecclesiastical  affairs  on  the  pope 
himself,  from  whom  it  received  the  philosopher  Gruitmond, 
honoured  with  the  mystical  decoration  of  the  pallium,  as  its 
bishop.  This  prelate  long  governed  the  church  entrusted 
to  his  care,  enjoying  the  apostolical  privileges  of  his  see  free 
from  all  the  exactions  of  men.  Having  diligently  taught 
his  flock,  and  given  them  the  protection  of  his  merits  and 

E  ravers,  after  many  struggles  in  the  exercise  of  his  virtues 
e  departed  in  the  Lord.* 

1  It  could  not  be  the  result  of  this  affair  which  induced  Guitmond  to 
leave  Normandy,  for  he  went  to  Italy  in  1077,  and  John  d'Avranches  did 
not  die  till  1079.  It  may  even  be  doubted  whether  William  proposed  »<> 
prefer  him  to  the  archbishopric  of  Rouen  two  years  after  he  had  entirely 
renounced  his  country  to  attach  himself  altogether  to  the  court  of  Rome. 
He  went  so  far  as  even  to  change  his  name,  and  adopt  that  of  Christian  or 
Cristin. 

3  Guitmond  was  not  made  a  cardinal.  The  see  of  Aversa  was  not  an 
archbishopric,  but  immediately  dependent  on  the  holy  see.  The  city  was 
rebuilt  by  the  Normans,  on  the  site  of  the  ancient  Atella,  not  in  the  pope- 
dom  of  Leo  IX.,  1048 — 1054,  but  about  the  year  1030.  Ranulph,  one  of 
their  leaders,  was  invested  with  the  title  of  Count  d'Aversa  by  the  emperor 
Conrad  in  1038. 

1  Our  author  means  the  Normans,  as  coming  from  this  side  of  the  Alps. 

*  The  precise  date  of  Guitmond's  death  is  unknown.  Like  his  patron, 
Pope  Urban  If.,  he  probably  died  about  the  end  of  the  eleventh  century. 
For  his  life  and  writings,  see  L'Histoire  Littfraire  de  la  France,  t.  viii. 


A.D.  1067 — 1093.]    DEATH  OF  WILLIAM  FITZ-OSBEBN.  59 

CH.  IX.  Affairs  of  Flanders —  William  Fitz-Osbern 
killed  in  battle  there — King  William  crosses  over  to  Nor- 
mandy. 

IN  the  fifth  year  of  his  reign  King  William  sent  "William 
Fitz-Osbern  to  Normandy  to  assist  Queen  Matilda  in  the 
defence  of  the  duchy.  At  that  time  there  was  great  con- 
tention in  Flanders  between  the  heirs  to  that  province. 
Baldwin,  son-in-law  of  Eobert  king  of  France,  and  count  of 
Flanders,  of  distinguished  bravery  had  by  his  wife  Adela 
several  sons  and  daughters  of  great  merit.  Robert,  the 
Frisian,  Arnold,  Baldwin,  Odo,  archbishop  of  Treves,  Henry 
the  clerk,  Queen  Matilda,  and  Judith,  wife  of  Earl  Tostig,  were 
all  children  of  Baldwin  and  Adela.1  Their  characters  and 
the  various  occurrences  of  their  lives,  would  furnish  histo- 
rians with  matter  for  extended  works.  Robert  the  eldest, 
having  offended  his  father,  and  being  banished  by  him, 
sought  the  court  of  Florence,  duke  of  Frisia,  his  father's 
enemy,  and,  in  reward  for  his  services,  received  his 
daughter's  hand  in  marriage ;  at  this  the  duke  of  Flanders 
was  much  incensed  and  in  his  anger  gave  his  son  Robert 
the  name  of  the  Frisian,  and,  proclaiming  him  an  outlaw, 
appointed  his  second  son  Arnold  his  heir.  A  short  time 
afterwards,  Duke  Baldwin  died,  and  Arnold  held  Flanders 
for  a  short  time.  But  Robert  the  Frisian  invaded  it  vigo- 
rously with  a  large  body  of  Frisian  and  other  troops.  Philip 
king  of  France,  who  was  their  kinsman,  came  to  the  aid  of 
Arnold,  with  a  French  army,  summoning  Earl  William 
[Fitz-Osbern]  to  attend  him  as  governor  of  Normandy. 
But  Earl  William  joined  the  king  with  only  ten  men-at- 
arms,  and  rode  with  him  gaily  to  Flanders,  as  if  he  was  only 
going  to  a  tournament.  Meanwhile,  Robert  the  Frisian, 
had  united  his  forces  with  those  of  the  emperor,  and  on  Sep- 
tuagesima  Sunday,  the  tenth  of  the  calends  of  March  [20th 
of  February],  attacked  the  enemy  by  surprise  early  in  the 
morning,  and  Philip,  king  of  France,  and  his  army  flying, 
Arnold,  and  his  nephew  Baldwin,  and  Earl  William  were 
slain.2  Robert  afterwards  held  the  dukedom  of  Flanders 

1  Baldwin  V.  had  only  four  children ;  Arnold  was  his  grandson,  son  of 
Baldwin  VI.,  who  succeeded  his  father,  Baldwin  V.,  September  1,  1067. 

2  This  battle  was  fought  at  Bavinchove,  near  Cassel,  the  20th  of  Feb. 


60  OHDEEICUS   TITALIS.  [B.IV.  C II. VIII. 

for  many  years,  and  at  his  death  left  it  to  his  sons  Eobert 
of  Jerusalem  and  Philip.1  The  body  of  Earl  William  was 
carried  to  Normandy  by  his  men-at-arms,  and  interred  amid 
much  sorrow  in  the  abbey  of  Cormeilles.  He  had  founded 
two  abbeys  on  his  patrimonial  estates  in  honour  of  St.  Mary, 
Mother  of  God ;  one  at  Lire,  on  the  river  Bille,  where 
Adeliza  his  wife  was  buried,  and  the  other  at  Cormeilles 
where,  as  I  have  just  mentioned,  he  was  himself  interred.3 
This  baron,  the  bravest  of  all  the  Normans,  was  deeply 
lamented  by  all  who  knew  his  generosity,  his  good  humour, 
and  general  virtues.  King  AVilliam  thus  distributed  his 
inheritance  among  his  sons.  William  the  eldest  son  had 
Breteuil,  Pacy,  and  the  rest  of  his  patrimonial  estates  in 
Normandy  which  he  possessed  during  all  his  life,  nearly 
thirty  years.  Roger,  the  younger  brother,  had  the  earldom 
of  Hereford  and  his  father's  other  possessions  in  England  ; 
but  he  shortly  afterwards  lost  all  by  his  perfidy  and  folly, 
as  will  appear  in  the  sequel. 

Though  Matilda's  government  was  powerful  and  her 
resources  vast,  she  was  plunged  into  the  deepest  affliction 
by  the  death  of  her  father,  her  mother's  bereavement,  the 
cruelty  of  one  brother,  which  caused  the  loss  of  another,  as 
well  as  of  her  beloved  nephew,  and  a  number  of  her  friends. 
It  is  thus  that  the  Almighty  God  punishes  the  inhabitants 
of  the  earth  when  they  forget  him,  casts  down  the  proud,  and 
makes  it  plain  that  he  is  the  Ruler  of  the  universe.  Robert 
the  Frisian  now  subjugated  the  whole  of  Flanders,  and  held 
possession  of  it  for  almost  thirty  years,8  securing  with  ease 
the  alliance  of  Philip  king  of  France.  Those  two  princes 
were  cousins  by  descent,  and  both  married  daughters  of 
Florence,  marquis  of  Frisia;1  and  their  sons  are  to  the 

1 07 1 .  The  person  described  by  our  author  as  nephew  of  Robert  the  Frisian, 
was  Baldwin,  count  d'Hainault,  Arnold's  eldest  brother,  but  he  did  not 
fall  in  the  battle,  living  till  the  first  crusade,  which  he  joined. 

1  Robert  the  Frisian  died  suddenly  in  October,  1093,  leaving,  as  our 
author  states,  two  sons,  and  also  three  daughters ;  but  the  sons  did  not 
possess  his  states  jointly  or  successively,  the  share  of  Philip  being  only  the 
buiyravate  of  Ypres. 

1  Concerning  these  two  abbeys,  see  before,  vol.  i.  p.  384.  Adeliza,  wife 
of  William  Fitz-Osbern,  was  daughter  of  Roger  de  Toni. 

3  Only  twenty-one  years. 

*  These  two  princes  were  not  brothers-in-law ;  Philip  married  Bertha,, 


A.D.  1072.]      KI>TG  WILLIAM   VISITS   NOBMA.NDT.  61 

present  day  united  in  the  same  bonds  of  amity.  But  a  new 
cause  of  dissension  between  the  Normans  and  Flemings 
sprung  out  of  the  death  of  the  queen's  brother  and  other 
relations,  and  especially  that  of  Earl  William  [Fitz-Osbern]. 
Affairs  in  Normandy  becoming  thus  disturbed,  the  king  put 
his  English  dominions  into  a  good  condition,  and  then 
hastened  over  to  Normandy  that  he  might  order  things 
there  to  the  best  advantage.  The  king's  arrival  being 
known,  the  hearts  of  the  peaceable  were  gladdened,  but  the 
promoters  of  discord,  and  those  stained  with  crimes,  whose 
consciences  reproached  them,  trembled  at  the  approach  of 
an  avenging  power.  The  king  assembled  the  leading  men 
of  Normandy  and  Maine,  and  in  a  royal  speech  recommended 
them  all  to  maintain  peace  and  do  justice.  The  bishops  and 
churchmen  he  exhorted  to  lead  good  lives,  continually  to 
study  Grod's  law,  to  consult  together  for  the  welfare  of  the 
church,  to  correct  the  morals  of  their  flocks  according  to 
the  canonical  decrees,  and  in  all  things  to  govern  with 
prudence. 

CH.  X.   A  synod  held  at  Souen  under  John  the  archbishop — 
Acts  of  the  synod. 

IN  the  year  of  our  Lord  1072  a  synod  assembled  in  the  city 
of  Eouen,  the  metropolitan  see,  in  the  church  of  the  blessed 
St.  Mary,  ever  virgin,  mother  of  God.  John,  archbishop  of 
that  see,  presided,  and  following  in  the  steps  of  the  fathers, 
consulted  on  various  points  regarding  the  necessities  of  the 
church  with  his  suffragans,  Odo,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  Hugh  of 
Lisieux,  Robert  of  Seez,  Michael  of  Avranches,  and  Gisle- 
bert  of  Evreux.1  The  doctrine  of  the  church  on  the  holy 
and  undivided  Trinity  was  first  taken  into  consideration, 
which  they  affirmed,  ratified,  and  made  profession  of  their 
belief  with  their  whole  hearts  according  to  the  decrees 
of  the  sacred  councils  of  Nice,  Constantinople,  the  first  of 
Ephesus,  and  Chalcedon.  After  this  profession  of  the 

daughter  of  Florence,  count  of  Holland,  and  Robert  the  Frisian,  Gertrude 
of  Saxony,  the  count's  widow,  who  was  Philip's  mother-in-law. 

1  The  account  of  this  synod  given  by  Ordericus  Vitalis  is  the  only  record 
we  have  of  it. 


62  ORDERICTTS   TITALIS.  [B.IT.  CH.X. 

Catholic  faith,  the  following  articles  were  added  as  they  are 
hereunder  written. 

First.  It  is  ordered  by  us,  that  according  to  the  decrees 
of  the  fathers,  the  chrism,  and  the  oil  for  baptism  and  the 
holy  unction,  be  consecrated  at  a  convenient  hour,  that  is, 
after  the  second  nones,  as  the  aforesaid  fathers  decreed.  The 
bishop  should  take  care  that  twelve  priests,  or  as  many  as  he 
has  with  him,  assist  at  the  consecration  in  their  sacerdotal 
vestments. 

Item.  In  some  dioceses  an  odious  practice  has  grown  up 
for  the  archdeacons,  in  the  absence  of  the  bishop,  to  obtain 
from  some  other  bishop  small  portions  of  oil  and  chrism, 
and  to  mix  them  with  oil  of  their  own ;  which  custom  is 
condemned,  and  every  archdeacon  is  to  present  the  whole  of 
his  chrism  and  oil  to  the  consecrating  bishop,  the  same  as  if 
it  was  his  own  diocesan. 

Item.  The  distribution  of  the  chrism  and  oil  shall  be  made 
by  the  deans  with  the  greatest  care  and  reverence,  so  that 
they  wear  albs  while  the  distribution  takes  place,  and  it  be 
so  ma'de  in  such  vessels,  that  no  portion  be  lost  by  care- 
lessness. 

Item.  It  is  ordered,  that  no  priest  shall  celebrate  mass 
without  also  communicating. 

Item.  No  priest  shall  baptize  a  child  unless  he  wear  his 
alb  and  stole,  but  upon  urgent  necessity. 

Item.  There  are  some  priests  who  reserve  the  viaticum 
and  holy  water  beyond  the  eighth  day,  which  is  condemned. 
Others,  when  they  have  no  consecrated  host,  make  a  fresh 
consecration,  which  is  severely  forbidden. 

Item.  It  is  ordered,  that  the  gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit  shall 
not  be  conferred  without  both  givers  and  receivers  having 
fasted,  nor  the  confirmation  be  made  without  fire  [candles  ?]. 
This  is  enjoined,  that  in  conferring  holy  orders  we  may  not 
violate  apostolical  authority.  For  we  read  in  the  decrees  of 
Pope  Leo,  that  holy  orders  shall  not  be  given  indiscrimi- 
nately every  day,  but  after  Saturday  in  the  beginning  of  the 
succeeding  night,  the  holy  benediction  be  given,  both  those 
who  give  and  those  who  receive  it  being  then  fasting.  The 
same  rule  will  be  observed  when  the  office  is  performed  on 
the  morning  of  the  Lord's  day,  the  fast  having  been  pro- 


A.D.  1072.]        ACTS    OP   THE    SYNOD    OF    BOUEJT.  63 

longed.  This  portion  of  time  is  a  prolongation  of  the 
commencement  of  the  night  preceding,  and  it  is  not  to  be 
doubted  that  it  belongs  to  the  day  of  the  resurrection  as  is 
also  declared  in  our  Lord's  passion. 

Item.  The  observance  of  the  four  seasons,  according  to 
the  divine  institution,  is  to  be  kept  among  us  with  general 
accord  at  the  proper  periods ;  viz.,  the  first  week  in  March, 
the  second  in  June,  the  third  in  September,  and  the  same 
in  December,  ux  honour  of  the  nativity  of  our  Lord.  It 
would  be  unseemly  that  an  institution  of  the  saints  should 
be  nullified  by  worldly  cares  and  occupations. 

Item.  Clerks,  who,  without  election,  vocation,  or  the 
intervention  of  a  bishop,  intrude  themselves  into  sacred 
orders ;  those  who  have  been  ordained  [priests]  by  the 
bishop,  supposing  them  to  be  already  deacons ;  and  those 
who  are  ordained  priests  and  deacons,  without  having  had 
the  minor  orders ;  all  these  ought  to  be  deposed. 

Item.  Those  who  have  received  the  tonsure,  and  afterwards 
relinquished  it,  shall  be  excommunicated  until  such  time  as 
they  make  due  amends.  Clerks  offering  themselves  for 
ordination  are  to  present  themselves  at  the  bishop's  residence 
on  the  fifth  day  [Thursday]. 

Item.  Monks  and  nuns,  who,  quitting  their  convents, 
wander  about  from  place  to  place,  and  those  who  have  been 
expelled  for  their  offences,  ought  to  be  compelled  by  pastoral 
authority  to  return  to  their  convents.  If  the  abbots  shall 
refuse  to  re-admit  those  who  have  been  expelled,  let  them  be 
supplied  with  food  as  alms,  or  which  they  may  earn  by  the 
labour  of  their  hands,  until  it  be  ascertained  that  they  have 
amended  their  lives. 

Item.  Forasmuch  as  the  cure  of  souls  is  trafficked  in  by 
buying  and  selling,  both  by  the  clergy  and  laity,  and  even  by 
monks,  such  practices  are  strictly  forbidden. 

Marriages  are  not  to  be  solemnized  in  private,  nor  after 
dinner ;  but  the  bride  and  bridegroom  shall  receive  the 
nuptial  benediction  fasting,  from  a  priest  who  is  also  fasting, 
at  the  manse.1  And,  before  they  are  united,  their  family 
shall  be  inquired  into ;  and  if  there  be  found  to  be  any  con- 

1  "  In  monasteries."  The  French  editor  of  Ordericus  remarks  that  the 
term,  in  writers  of  the  middle  ages,  often  means  the  parish  church.  See 
the  observations,  vol.  i.  p.  396. 


64  OBDERICUS  TITALIS.  [B.IV.  CH.X. 

sanguinity  within  the  seventh  generation,  or  if  either  of  the 
parties  has  been  divorced,  they  must  not  be  married.  Any 
priest  who  breaks  this  rule  shall  be  deposed. 

Concerning  priests,  deacons,  and  subdeacons,  who  have 
taken  women  to  live  with  them,  the  decree  of  the  synod  of 
Lisieux  shall  be  observed ;  that  they  are  not  to  have  the  care 
of  churches,  neither  of  themselves,  or  by  their  vicars,  and 
shall  receive  no  part  of  the  revenues.  Archdeacons,  who 
eught  to  enforce  discipline,  may  not  be  allowed  to  have  con- 
cubines, or  handmaids,  or  any  women  smuggled  in;  but 
should  set  an  example  of  continence  and  holiness  to  their 
subordinates.  Those  should  be  chosen  deans  who  know 
how  to  reprove  and  correct  the  inferior  clergy,  whose  life  is 
irreproachable,  and  who  merit  the  preferment  more  than 
others.1 

Item.  It  is  forbidden  any  one  who,  in  the  lifetime  of  his 
wife,  has  been  charged  with  adultery,  after  her  death  to 
marry  the  woman  with  respect  to  whom  he  was  accused. 
For  great  mischief  has  ensued  from  this  practice ;  and  men 
have  even  murdered  their  wives. 

Item.  No  one  whose  wife  has  taken  the  veil,  shall  marry 
again  while  she  is  living. 

Item.  If  the  wife  of  any  man  who  has  gone  in  pilgrimage 
or  elsewhere,  shall  marry  another  before  she  has  received 
certain  intelligence  of  his  death,  she  shall  be  excom- 
municated until  she  has  made  due  satisfaction. 

Item.  It  is  decreed  that  those  who  fall  publicly  into  mortal 
sins  shall  not  be  very  soon  reinstated  in  holy  orders.  For, 
as  St.  Gregory  says,  if  the  lapsed  obtain  license  to  return  to 
their  order,  the  influence  of  canonical  discipline  is  undoubt- 
edly weakened,  as  the  hope  of  being  restored  diminishes  the 
tear  of  encouraging  the  inclination  to  evil  conduct.  It  should, 

1  This  canon  caused  a  tumult,  in  which  the  archbishop  barely  escaped 
with  his  life.  The  controversy  about  married  priests  caused  great  dis- 
turbances throughout  Europe.  A  similar  decree  was  made  by  a  synod 
held  at  London  in  1102.  See  Huntingdon's  History,  p.  241,  252. 
No  distinction  was  drawn  between  wives  and  concubines  ;  indeed  the 
words  of  this  canon  seem  studiously  to  ignore  the  legal  existence  of  the 
former — "  qui  feminat  us  ur paver  int."  The  term  uxores  is  used  by  the 
synod  of  London,  but  that  is  understood  to  apply  both  to  wives  and  con- 
cubines. The  synod  of  Lisieux  here  mentioned  was  held  in  1055.  It 
deposed  Archbishop  Mauger.  Its  acts  are  lost. 


A.D.  1072.]        ACTS    OF    THE    SYNOD    OF    KOUEN.  65 

therefore,  be  an  established  rule,  that  those  who  fall  into 
open  sin,  should  on  no  account  be  restored  to  their  former 
rank,  but  under  special  circumstances,  and  after  making 
amends  by  a  long  penance. 

Item.  If  any  clerk  who  has  lapsed,  is  liable  to  be  deposed, 
and  a  sufficient  number  of  bishops,  according  to  the  canons, 
cannot  be  assembled  for  that  purpose,  viz.  six,  in  the  case  of 
priests,  and  three,  in  that  of  deacons,  any  bishop  who 
cannot  attend  may  substitute  bis  vicar-general  with  equal 
authority. 

Item.  It  is  decreed,  that  during  Lent,  no  one  shall  dine 
till  the  hour  of  nones  is  passed,  and  vespers  begin.  No  one 
who  eats  before  shall  be  considered  as  fasting. 

Item.  It  is  decreed,  that,  on  the  Saturday  of  Easter,  the 
office  shall  not  commence  before  nones.  For  it  has  regard 
to  the  night  of  our  Lord's  resurrection,  in  honour  of  which 
the  Gloria  in  Excelsis  and  Alleluia  is  sung.  It  is  also 
marked  by  the  benediction  of  the  candle  at  the  beginning  of 
the  office.  The  book  of  Offices 1  says  that,  on  these  two 
days,  the  eucharist  is  not  celebrated.  By  the  two  days  are 
meant  the  sixth  day  [Friday]  and  Saturday,  on  which  the 
grief  and  mourning  of  the  apostles  are  commemorated. 

Item.  If  the  feast  of  any  saint  occurs  on  a  day  on  which 
it  cannot  be  kept,  it  shall  be  celebrated  not  before  but 
within  the  octave. 

Item.  According  to  the  decrees  of  the  holy  fathers,  Popes 
Innocent  and  Leo,  we  order  that  general  baptism  shall  only 
be  administered  on  the  Saturday  of  Easter  and  Whitsuntide  ; 
with  this  provision,  that  the  washing  of  regeneration  shall 
not  be  denied  to  infants,  at  whatever  time,  or  on  whatever 
day  it  is  required.  However,  we  entirely  forbid  the  adminis- 
tration of  baptism  on  the  eve  or  the  feast  of  the  Epiphany, 
unless  in  case  of  sickness. 

The  decrees  of  this  synod  were  subscribed  by  John,  arch- 
bishop of  Rouen,  Odo,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  Michael,  bishop  of 
Avrauches,  Gislebert,  bishop  of  Evreux,  and  some  venerable 
abbots,  who  were  at  that  time  the  honour  of  the  monasteries 
of  Normandy,  and  maintained  the  monastic  discipline. 

1  This  work,  composed  by  Archbishop  John  while  he  was  bishop  of 
Avrauches,  was  published  at  Rouen  in  1G79. 

VOL.  ii.  v 


GO  OBDEBICUS   TITALTS.  [u.IV.  CH.XI. 

CH.  XI.  Notices  of  eminent  men  in  the  alleys  of  Normandy 
in  the  author's  age— particularly  in  the  alley  of  Sec. 

I  THINK  it  well  to  transmit  to  posterity  an  account  of  the 
holy  fathers  who  wisely  governed  the  abbeys  of  Normandy, 
in  the  time  of  King  William,  and  whose  study  it  was  worthily 
to  serve  the  eternal  King,  who  reigns  unchangeably.  Their 
disciples,  I  think,  have  already  committed  to  writing  many 
of  their  memoirs  for  the  information  of  future  times,  but 
there  are  some  whom  it  is  pleasant  to  me,  as  well  as  to  my 
superiors,  at  least  to  name  in  these  pages,  for  the  particular 
regard  I  bear  them,  and  not  for  any  worldly  advantage,  but 
simply  from  my  love  of  learning,  and  the  piety  with  which 
they  were  divinely  inspired. 

The  abbey  of  Fecamp,  which  stands  in  sight  of  the  sea, 
and  is  dedicated  to  the  holy  and  undivided  Trinity,  Creator 
of  all  things,  was  nobly  founded  by  Richard  I.,  duke  of 
Normandy,  and  afterwards  richly  endowed  with  lands  and 
possessions  by  Eichard  II.  After  William  of  Dijon,  a  man 
of  great  wisdom  and  zealous  for  religion,  the  venerable  abbot 
John  governed  this  monastery  fifty-one  years.  Next,  it  was 
held  for  almost  twenty-seven  years  by  William  de  Eos,  a 
clerk  of  Bayeux  and  monk  of  Caen.1  Like  the  mystical 
spikenard,  he  was  an  odour  of  sweet  smelling  in  the  house 
of  the  Lord  by  his  charity,  munificence,  and  many  virtues. 
The  works  he  diligently  performed  either  before  the  world, 
or  in  secret  before  few  witnesses,  bore  witness  to  the  spirit 
which  dwelt  within  him,  and  entirely  possessing  him,  con- 
ducted him  to  his  crown  before  the  throne  of  the  Lord  of 
Sabaoth. 

The  monk  Gontard  was  removed  from  the  abbey  of 
Fontenelles2  by  the  election  of  prudent  men.  and  appointed 
ruler  of  the  abbey  of  Jumieges,  after  the  death  of  Abbot 
Robert.  He  diligently  spread  the  food  of  spiritual  wisdom 
before  the  flock  committed  to  his  charge,  and  sustained  with 
vigour  the  strictness  of  monastic  discipline.  He  cherished 

1  William  de  Dijon,  1001—1028 ;  John,  a  native  of  the  neighbourhood 
>f  Ravenna,  1028-1-V-bruary  22,  1079;  William  de  Ros,   1079-March 
'-(>,  I 108. 

2  This  abbey,  afterwards  known  by  the  name  of  St.  Wandrille,  its 
patron  saint. 


A.D.  1079 — 1093.]  AXSELiI  ABBOT  OF  BEC.  G7 

and  honoured  the  gentle  and  submissive,  as  a  father  treats 
his  children,  but  applied  the  rod  of  correction  to  the  repro- 
bate and  contumacious  and  despisers  of  discipline,  like  a 
severe  master.  At  length,  having  accompanied  his  col- 
leagues, the  bishops  of  Normandy,  to  the  council  of  Cler- 
mont  held  by  Pope  Urban,  A.D.  1095,  the  third  iudiction, 
Father  G-ontard,  by  God's  will,  died  there  on  the  sixth  of 
the  calends  of  December  [November  26],  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Tancard,1  prior  of  Fecamp,  who  proved  to  be 
tierce  as  a  lion^, 

On  the  death  of  Herluin,  who  was  the  founder  and  first 
abbot  of  the  monastery  of  Bee,2  and  being  endowed  with 
spiritual  graces  in  his  lifetime,  contributed  much  to  the 
profit  of  the  children  of  the  church,  he  was  succeeded  by 
the  venerable  Anselm,  a  man  of  deep  erudition,  who,  by 
God's  grace,  filled  the  abbey  much  to  its  renown,  with 
devout  and  learned  brethren.  As  the  number  of  the 
servants  of  God  increased,  their  means  of  subsistence  did 
not  fail,  but  there  was  abundant  provision  for  the  honour- 
able entertainment  of  the  noble  friends  and  attached 
brothers  who  nocked  to  the  abbey  from  all  quarters. 
Learned  men  of  eminence,  both  clergy  and  laity,  resorted  to 
hear  the  sweet  words  of  truth  which  flowed  from  his  mouth, 
pleasing  to  the  seekers  of  righteousness  as  angels'  dis- 
courses. ,  Anselm,  who  was  a  native  of  Italy,  had  followed 
Lanfranc  to  Bee,  and  as  the  Israelites  carried  off  the  gold 
and  wealth  of  the  Egyptians,  so  he  entered  with  joy  the 
land  of  promise  with  a  full  lading  of  the  worldly  erudition 
of  the  philosophers.  Becoming  a  monk,  he  gave  himself  up 
to  the  study  of  theology,  and  poured  forth  abundantly  the 
honeyed  streams  of  wisdom  from  the  rich  fountain  of 
wisdom.  He  skilfully  cleared  up  the  difficulties  of  the 
obscure  passages  of  scripture,  threw  light  upon  them  by  his 
discourses  and  writings,  and  expounded  with  soundness  the 
mysterious  predictions  of  the  prophets.  All  his  words  were 
valuable,  and  edified  his  attached  hearers.  His  attentive 
pupils  committed  to  writing  his  letters  and  typical  dis- 
courses ;  so  that,  being  deeply  imbued  with  them,  they 

1  Gontard,  abbot  of  Jumieges,  about  1078 — November  26,  1095,  the 
day  on  \vhich  the  council  closed;  Tancard,  1096— about  1101. 
-  1034— August  26,  1078. 

r  2 


68  onDEBicrs  TITALIS.  [B.IT.  CH.XI. 

profited  others  as  well  as  themselves,  to  no  small  degree. 
His  successors,  "William  and  Boso,  were  deeply  penetrated 
with  this  spirit,  and  having  drawn  deeply  at  the  source  of 
so  much  wisdom,  were  able  to  distribute  large  draughts  of 
the  pure  stream  to  their  thirsting  disciples.  Anseltn  was 
courteous  and  affable,  replying  with  kindness  to  all  who 
questioned  him  in  simplicity.  At  the  instance  of  his  friends 
he  published  books,  keenly  and  profoundly  written,  on  the 
Trinity,  on  Truth,  Freewill,  the  Fall  of  Satan,  and  the 
question,  Why  God  was  made  Man  ?  His  disciples  spread 
the  report  of  his  talents  through  all  the  Latin  world,  and 
the  western  church  was  filled  to  inebriation  with  the  nectar 
of  his  exalted  character.  The  vast  deposit  of  learning  and 
theology  at  the  abbey  of  Bee,  begun  by  Lanfranc,  was  nobly 
added  to  by  Anselm,1  and  thence  proceeded  a  succession  of 
enlightened  teachers,  careful  pilots  and  spiritual  cha- 
rioteers,2 to  whom  were  confided  the  helm  and  the  reins  by 
which  the  church  is  divinely  guided  in  the  concerns  of  the 
present  world.  The  monks  of  Bee  are  thus  become  so 
devoted  to  literary  pursuits,  and  so  exercised  in  raising  and 
solving  difficult  questions  of  divinity,  and  in  profitable  dis- 
cussions, that  they  seem  to  be  almost  all  philosophers ;  and 
those  among  them  who  appear  to  be  illiterate,  and  might  be 
called  clowns,  derive  from  their  intercourse  with  the  rest 
the  advantages  of  becoming  fluent  grammarians.  Delight- 
ing in  God's  worship  with  mutual  good-will  and  sweet 
affection,  and  taught  by  true  wisdom,  they  are  unwearied  in 
the  offices  of  devotion.  The  hospitality  of  the  monks  of 
Bee  I  cannot  sufficiently  praise.  Ask  the  Burgundians  and 
Spaniards,  and  their  other  visitors  from  far  and  near,  and 
their  replies  will  tell  truly  with  what  kindness  they  are 
entertained;  and  they  will  doubtless  strive  to  imitate  it 
under  similar  circumstances.  The  gate  of  the  abbey  of  Bee 
stands  for  ever  open  to  every  traveller,  and  their  bread  is 
never  refused  to  any  one  who  asks  it  for  charity's  sake. 

?  St.  Anselm,  abbot  of  Bee,  1079— March  (?,  1093,  was  a  native  of 
Aosta  in  Piedmont.  For  his  works,  consult  the  Hixloire  JMteraire  de  la 
France,  t.  ix.  William  de  Montfort ;  his  successor,  August  2,  1094— 
April  16,  1124;  Boson,  1124— June  24,  1136. 

1  Providi  nauta  et  tpiritnales  a^rigec ;  the  latter  phrase  sounds 
strangely  in  the  French  translation,  "  des  cochers  spirituels." 


A.D.  1063 — 1092.]    ABBOTS  OF  FONTENELLES,  ETC.  69 

What  more  can  I  say  of  the  merits  of  the  monks  of  Bee  ? * 
May  He  who  graciously  began  and  carries  on  the  good 
works  which  so  eminently  distinguishes  them,  keep  them 
stedfast  in  the  right  way,  and  conduct  them  safe  to  the 
haven  of  salvation ! 

Gerbert  de  Fontenelles,  Ainard  of  Dives,  and  Durand  of 
Troarn,2  three  illustrious  abbots,  shone  brilliantly  in  the 
temple  of  the  Lord  like  bright  stars  in  the  firmament  of 
heaven.  They  were  no  less  distinguished  by  their  piety 
and  charity,  than  by  numerous  accomplishments,  among 
which  they  were  remarkably  eminent  for  the  zeal  with 
which  they  studied  sacred  psalmody  in  the  house  of  God. 
Standing  in  the  first  rank  among  the  masters  of  music  who 
have  applied  their  art  to  sweet  modulation,  they  composed 
some  charming  chants  for  antiphons  and  responses.  The 
King  supreme,  who  is  lauded  by  angels  and  archangels,  and 
all  the  company  of  heaven ;  Mary,  the  immaculate  virgin 
who  bore  the  Saviour  of  the  world ;  angels,  apostles,  and 
martyrs ;  confessors  and  virgins ;  these  were  the  themes 
which  drew  from  them  mellifluous  streams  of  heart-felt 
praise ;  and  with  these  they  carefully  instructed  the  youth- 
ful choristers  of  the  church  to  sing  praises  to  the  Lord 
with  Asaph  and  Eman,  Elthan  and  Idithun,  and  the  sons 
of  Corah. 

Nicholas,  son  of  Eichard  III.,  duke  of  Normandy,  after 
being  from  his  boyhood  a  monk  of  Fecamp,  governed  for 
nearly  sixty  years  the  abbey  of  St.  Peter,  prince  of  the 
apostles,  in  the  suburbs  of  Rouen.  He  began  building  a 
church,  remarkable  for  its  size  and  elegance,  in  which 
reposes  the  body  of  St.  Ouen,  archbishop  of  that  city, 

1  The  abbey  of  Bee  long  continued  to  be  a  distinguished  school  of 
learning,  and  the  resort  of  men  of  letters  and  eminence.  It  gave  another 
archbishop  to  Canterbury  in  1 1 39,  in  the  person  of  Theobald,  who  w.is 
abbot  of  Bee.  Henry  of  Huntingdon,  the  English  historian,  accompanying 
that  prelate  to  Rome,  soon  after  his  appointment,  they  rested  at  Bee  on 
their  journey,  and  there  Huntingdon  tells  us,  in  his  "  Letter  to  Warin,"  he 
met  the  celebrated  monk  Robert  de  Torigny,  otherwise  called  Del  Monte, 
a  great  antiquarian,  who  showed  him  the  work  of  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth 
recently  published,  from  which  Huntingdon  extracted  his  abridged  account 
of  the  ancient  British  kings. 

a  Gerbert,  abbot  of  St.  Wandrille,  1055— September  4,  1089;  Ainard, 
abbot  of  Notre-Dame  de  St.  Pierre  sur-Dive,  1046 — January  14,  1078; 
Durand,  abbot  ol'Troarn,  May  13,  1059— February  11,  1088. 


70  ORDEEICUS   YITALIS.      .  [B.IT.  C1I.XII. 

•with  many  other  relics  of  saints.1  There  were  also  in  Nor- 
mandy at  that  time  many  other  superiors  of  monks,  whose 
numerous  virtues  I  am  compelled  to  omit,  least  I  should 
weary  the  reader  by  too  great  prolixity. 

CH.  XII.     Popes  Alexander  II.  and  Gregory  VII.  (Hilde- 
brand) — Singular  nomination  of  Hoel  to  the  see  of  Mans. 

IK  the  year  of  our  Lord  1073  (the  eleventh  indiction),  Pope 
Alexander  II.  departed  this  life,  after  filling  the  Eoman  and 
apostolical  see  eleven  years ;  and  Gregory  VII.,  whose  baptis- 
mal name  was  Hildebrand,  succeeding  him,  sat  in  the  chair  of 
St.  Peter  seventeen  years.2  A  monk  from  his  childhood, 
Gregory  was  deeply  read  in  the  law  of  God,  and  his  fervent 
zeal  in  the  path  of  justice  brought  on  him  much  persecution. 
He  launched  his  apostolical  decrees  through  all  the  world, 
and,  sparing  no  one,  thundered  forth  the  holy  oracles  with 
terrible  effect,  summoned  all  men  to  the  marriage  feast  of 
the  Lord  of  Sabaoth  with  both  prayers  and  threats.  At  the 
request  of  this  pope,  the  venerable  Hugh,  abbot  of  Cluni, 
sent  to  Borne  Oclo,  prior  of  that  monastery,  who  had  been  a 
canon  of  Kheims,  accompanied  by  other  chosen  monks,  who 
were  joyfully  received  by  the  pope  as  fellow  labourers  sent 
him  by  God.3  He  selected  Odo  for  his  principal  counsellor, 
and  made  him  bishop  of  Ostia,  which  see  has  the  prerogative 
of  having  its  bishop  elected  by  the  clergy  of  Home,  and 
consecrated  by  the  pope  himself.  Benedict  also  promoted 
the  other  monks,  as  circumstances  permitted,  preferring 
them  to  the  government  of  different  churches. 

On  the  death  of  Arnold,  bishop  of  Mans,  King  "William 
said  to  Samson,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  his  chaplain :  "  The 

1  Nicholas,  son  of  Richnrd,  abbot  of  St.  Ouen,  1 056— February,  1092. 
The  end  of  the  north  transept  of  the  church  here  mentioned  is  still 
standing.  This  striking  ruin,  which  stands  between  the  present  church  and 
the  hotel  of  the  municipality,  examined  from  the  interior,  iully  justifies,  by 
its  fine  proportions,  the  admiration  with  which  our  autl.or  viewed  it. 

*  Pope  Alexander  II,  September  30,  1061— April  21,  1073;  Gregory 
VII.,  April  22,  1073—  May  25,  1085. 

*  It  was  not  Gregory  VII.,  but  his  successor,  Urban  II.,  who  on  giving 
up  the  bishopric  of  Ostia,  when  rbised  to  the  popedom,  invited  his  old 
contemporary  at  Cluni,  the  learned  Odo,  to  succeed  him  in  the  see  of 
Ostia,  which  he  held  till  the  year  1101. 


AJ).  1080.]        HOEL   NAMED   BISHOP   OF   MANS.  71 

bishopric  of  Mans  being  now  void,  I  wish,  by  God's  will,  to 
promote  you  to  that  see  in  his  place.  Mans,  an  ancient  city 
which  derives  its  name  from  canine  madness,1  has  a  popula- 
tion which  is  always  aggressive  and  blood-thirsty  as  regards 
its  neighbours,  and  insolent  and  rebellious  to  its  lords.  I 
have,  therefore,  resolved  to  place  the  reins  of  its  ecclesias- 
tical government  in  your  hands,  having  cherished  and 
dearly  loved  you  from  your  childhood,  and  desiring  now  to 
place  you  high  among  the  great  men  of  my  dominions." 
Samson  replied:  "According  to  the  apostolical  precept,  a 
bishop  ought  to  be  irreproachable ;  but  I  hsve  been  far  from 
answering  to  that  character,  during  the  whole  course  of  my 
life,  for  1  feel  that  before  God  I  am  polluted  with  sins,  both 
of  body  and  mind ;  and,  wretched  and  unworthy  as  I  am, 
my  manifold  offences  forbid  me  to  aspire  to  so  high  a 
dignity."  The  king  said :  "  With  your  natural  shrewdness 
you  see  clearly  that  you  act  rightly  in  confessing  yourself  a 
sinner;  but  I  have  set  my  mind  on  you,  and  shall  not 
depart  from  my  purpose,  unless  you  either  accept  the 
bishopric,  or  recommend  me  another  to  take  it  in  your 
place."  Simon  heard  this  with  joy,  and  replied:  "My  lord 
and  king,  you  have  now  spoken  well ;  and  you  will  find  me 
ready,  with  God's  help,  to  do  what  you  wish.  You  have  in 
your  chapel  a  poor  clerk,  who  is  well  born  and  of  good 
conversation.  Give  him  the  bishopric,  in  the  fear  of  the 
Lord,  for  I  think  he  is  worthy  of  that  honour.  On  the 
king's  inquiring  who  he  meant,  Simon  replied:  "His  name 
is  Hoel,  and  he  is  a  native  of  Brittany,  and  a  humble  and 
truly  good  man."  Hoel  was  presently  summoned  at  the 
king's  command,  without  being  informed  for  what  purpose. 
But  when  the  king  saw  before  him  a  mere  vouth,  in  mean 
apparel,  and  of  emaciated  aspect,  he  conceived  a  contempt  for 
him,  and,  turning  to  Simon,  said :  "  Is  this  the  person  you 
praised  so  highly  ?  "  To  which  Samson  replied :  "  Even  so, 
my  lord ;  I  honestly  recommend  him  without  the  slightest 
hesitation,  and  it  is  not  without  reason  that  I  prefer  him  to 
myself  and  such  as  me.  His  gentleness  and  benevolence 
make  him  fit  to  be  a  bishop.  Do  not  despise  him  for  his 
emaciated  appearance.  His  humble  dress  only  makes  him 

1  A  play  upon  the  Latin  term  for  Mans;  cceno-manis  a  canind  rabie 
dicta. 


72  OEDEEICUS   VITA1I8.  [B.IY.  Cn.XII. 

more  estimable  in  the  eyes  of  wise  men ;  Q-od  himself  does 
not  regard  a  man's  exte'rior,  but  has  respect  unto  the  worth 
concealed  beneath  it."  The  king,  in  his  wisdom,  reflected 
on  observations  so  full  of  sagacity,  and,  coming  to  a  better 
mind,  and  bringing  his  scattered  thoughts  under  the  control 
of  reason,  hastened  again  to  call  the  clerk  we  are  speaking 
of  to  his  presence,  and  committed  to  him  the  charge  and 
temporalities  of  the  bishopric  of  Mans.  The  royal  will 
being  made  known  among  the  clergy,  testimonies  of  Hoel's 
good  conversation  were  universally  forthcoming.  The  faithful 
offered  their  devout  praises  to  God  for  so  just  and  excellent 
a  selection,  and  the  pastor-elect  was  introduced  with  fitting 
honour  to  the  sheepfold  of  his  flock  by  the  bishops  and 
other  servants  of  God  who  received  the  king's  commands. 
The  new  bishop  was  not  more  astonished  at  his  sudden  pro- 
motion than  David,  when  he  was  scorned  by  his  brethren,  at 
Samuel's  raising  him  to  the  throne  of  Judah.  Hoel,  bishop 
of  Mans,  thus  elevated  to  the  government  of  that  see, 
presided  over  it  in  great  sanctity  for  fifteen  years.  He  laid 
the  foundations  of  the  cathedral  church  in  which  the 
remains  of  St.  Julian  the  confessor,  and  first  bishop  of  Mans, 
were  deposited ;  and  began  other  works,  which  the  church 
required,  labouring  to  complete  them  as  opportunity  offered.1 
At  his  death,  he  was  succeeded  by  Hildebert,  a  distinguished 
versifier,  who  worthily  filled  the  see  for  thirty  years.  He 
completed  the  cathedral  church  begun  by  his  predecessor, 
which  he  solemnly  consecrated  amid  the  great  rejoicings 
of  the  people.  Not  long  afterwards,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  1125,  the  fourth  indiction,  when  Gislebert,  arch- 
bishop of  Tours,  died  at  Home,  at  the  same  time  as  Pope 
Callistus  II.,  he  was  called  to  the  metroplitan  see  of  Tours 
in  the  time  of  Pope  Honorius,  by  the  demands  and  orders 
of  the  holy  church,  and  still  continues  to  hold  it  with  laud- 
able care  and  exemplary  conduct. 

1  The  appointment  of  Hoel  to  the  see  of  Mans  was  not  made  in  1073. 
but  after  ^the  death  of  Arnold,  his  immediate  predecessor,  the  24th  of 
July,  1097.  The  historians  of  Mans  repudiate  the  extraordinary  circum- 
stances related  by  our  author  on  the  subject  of  h;s  election.  According  to 
them,  Hoel  completed  the  cathedral  begun  by  Vularin  and  Arnold,  and 
Hildebert  only  erected  the  chapter-house  and  sacristy.  But  as  the  con- 
secration of  the  cathedral  was  not  made  till  1120,  it  is  hardly  probable 
that  it  would  have  been  deferred  so  long,  if  it  had  been  finished  by  Hoel. 


A.D.  1051—1062.]    HEEBEET,  COUNT  OF  MAINE.  73 

CH.  XIII.  Affairs  of  Maine — Expedition  of  King  William, 
which  established  his  power  in  that  province. 

As  the  ocean  never  remains  in  a  state  of  complete  rest, 
but  its  troubled  waves  are  always  in  motion ;  and,  though 
its  surface  at  times  appears  calm  to  the  unobservant  spec- 
tator, those  who  navigate  it  are  not  the  less  in  dread  of 
changes  and  fluctuations:  so  this  world  is  in  a  constant 
state  of  turmoil  from  the  tide  of  events,  and  is  always  pre- 
senting new  forms  of  sorrow  or  joy.  Thus,  endless  alterca- 
tions are  constantly  arising  and  proceeding  to  extremities 
among  those  unsatisfied  worldlings,  whose  wishes  the  world 
itself  is  insufficient  to  satisfy.  While  each  strives  to  be  first 
and  endeavours  to  tread  under  foot  his  rivals,  the  law  of  God 
is  broken  in  the  disregard  for  justice,  and  human  blood  is 
shed  without  mercy  in  the  struggle  to  obtain  what  every  one 
covets.  This  is  abundantly  shown  by  the  records  of  ancient 
history,  and  modern  reports  tell  the  same  tale  in  our  very 
streets  and  villages.  It  follows  that  some  rejoice  for  the 
moment,  while  others  are  filled  with  sorrow  and  trouble.  I 
have  already  treated  shortly  of  some  instances  of  this  kind 
in  my  present  work,  and  shall  add  more,  faithfully  detailing 
what  I  have  heard  from  my  seniors. 

Herbert,  count  of  Maine,  who  was,  it  is  said,  of  the  race 
of  Charlemagne,  merited  by  his  great  bravery  the  name  by 
which  he  was  commonly  known,  in  bad  Latin  signifying 
watch-dog.  For  after  the  death  of  Hugh  his  father,  who 
was  subdued  by  the  powerful  Fulk  the  elder,  he  rose  in 
arms  against  the  conqueror,  and  by  his  nightly  expeditions, 
frequently  alarmed  the  men  and  dogs  of  the  city  and  for- 
tified towns,  so  that  their  fears  made  them  be  on  the  watch 
against  his  formidable  attacks.1 

1  It  has  been  remarked  that  Ordericus  is  very  apt  to  multiply  the  number 
of  the  descendants  of  Charlemagne,  but  it  is  well  known  that  on  the  dis- 
memberment of  the  Carlovingian  empire,  not  only  the  sovereign  princes  of 
the  highest  rank,  but  a  vast  number  of  the  powerful  nobles,  who  under 
various  titles  carved  out  for  themselves  independent  sovereignties  in  frag- 
ments of  the  empire,  strengthened  their  pretensions  by  connecting  them- 
selves with  the  common  stock  of  honour  and  power  among  the  Franks  of 
the  ninth  and  succeeding  centuries.  Herbert  Eveille-chien  succeeded  his 
father,  Hugh,  in  1016,  or  earlier,  and  died  the  15th  of  April,  1036.  Our 
author  has  before  given,  vol.  i.  p.  448,  a  different  and  far  less  natural  account 
of  his  strange  surname. 


74  OEDEKICCS   VITALIS.  [B.IT.  CH.XIII. 

Hugh,  the  son  of  Herbert,  after  Alan  count  of  Brittany, 
died  in  Normandy  from  poison  given  him  by  the  Normans, 
married  hia  widow  Bertha,  daughter  of  Theobald  count  de 
Blois,  by  whom  he  had  a  son  named  Herbert  and  three 
daughters;1  one  of  them  was  given  in  marriage  to  Azzo, 
marquis  of  Liguria;  another,  named  Margaret,  was  be- 
trothed to  Eobert,  sou  of  "William  duke  of  Normandy,  but 
died  while  she  was  his  ward,  before  marriage.  The  third 
married  John,  lord  of  the  castle  called  Fleche,  by  whom  she 
had  three  sons,  Goisbert,  Elias,  and  Enoch.2 

Geoffrey  Martel,  the  brave  count  of  Anjou,  dying,  was 
succeeded  by  his  two  nephews,  sons  of  his  sister  by  Alberie, 
count  du  Gatinois,  one  of  whom,  Geoffrey,  a  prince  of 
simple  and  gentle  manners,  obtained  the  county  in  right  of 
his  being  the  eldest.  After  the  death  of  the  younger 
brother  Herbert,  "William  duke  of  Normandy  acquired  his 
share  of  the  inheritance,  and  Count  Geoffrey  conferred  the 
fief  on  llobert,  with  his  daughter's  hand  in  marriage, 
receiving  from  him  homage  and  fealty  in  the  presence  of  his 
father  at  Alen9on.  Not  long  afterwards  Fulk,  surnamed 
Rechin,  revolted  from  Geoffrey  his  brother  and  liege  lord, 
and  treacherously  siezing  him  kept  him  prisoner  in  the 
castle  of  Chinon  more  than  thirty  years.  Such  were  the 
revolutions  which  disturbed  the  province  of  Anjou  and  its 
neighbours,  and  in  which  the  nobles  of  the  country  took 
different  sides,  according  to  their  inclinations. 

While  Fulk  himself  was  deeply  grieved  at  seeing  Maine 
under  the  supremacy  of  the  Normans,  the  turbulent  citi- 
zens and  neighbouring  garrisons,  with  some  hired  soldiers, 
joined  unanimously  in  a  conspiracy  against  their  foreign 
masters,  and,  vigorously  assaulting  the  citadel  and  other 

1  Hugh,  Herbert's  son,  succeeded  him  in  1036,  and  married  Bertha, 

daughter  of  Eudes,  count  de  Bois  and  Champagne,  and  widow  of  Alan 

III.,  duke  of  Brittany,  who  was  poisoned  in  Normandy  the  1st  of  October, 

•40.     Hugh  died  the  7th  of  April,  1051,  leaving,  notwithstanding  what 

our  author  says,  only  one  son  and  one  daughter. 

7  Gereende,  second  wife  of  Azzo,  marquis  of  Liguria,  was  sister,  not 
daughter,  of  Hugh  II.  The  same  may  be  said  of  Paule  or  Haberge,  the 
mother,  and  not  the  wife  of  John,  lord  of  Fleche,  of  the  family  of  the 
lords  of  Beauquency.  For  the  dates  of  the  deaths  of  Herbert  II.  and 
Margaret,  ha  sister,  betrothed  to  Robert  Court-hose,  see  before  vol  L 
pp.  448  and  449. 


A.D.  1073.]       KING  WILLIAM   BEDUCES   MAINE.  75 

fortifications  of  the  city,  defeated  and  expelled  Turgis  de 
Traci1  and  William  de  la  Forte,  and  the  rest  of  the  king's 
officers.  Some  were  slain,  making  a  brave  resistance,  others 
were  cruelly  thrown  into  prison,  and,  ample  revenge  was 
taken  on  the  Normans  thus  deprived  of  their  liberty.  All 
the  country  was  now  in  a  state  of  disturbance,  the  Norman 
power  was  eclipsed,  and  assailed  by  almost  all,  as  by  an 
universal  blight.  In  like  manner  Geoffrey  de  Mayenne  and 
other  barons  of  Maine,  formed  a  conspiracy  and  rose  against 
the  Normans  ;  a  few  only,  for  their  own  reasons  and  under 
various  circumstances,  maintained  their  allegiance  to  King 
William. 

When  this  great  king  heard  the  dreadful  reports  of  the 
massacre  of  his  officers,  his  anger  was  roused,  and  he  took 
measures  for  checking  the  progress  of  his  enemies,  and 
revenging,  by  arms,  the  rebellion  of  the  traitors  as  it  de- 
served. The  Normans  and  English  were  quickly  summoned 
to  the  field,  and  the  several  bodies  of  troops  being  formed 
into  one  army,  with  horse  and  foot  skilfully  arrayed  under 
their  several  commanders,  he  marched  at  the  head  of  this 
formidable  force  into  the  country  of  Maine.  He  first  be- 
sieged the  castle  of  Fresnai,  where  he  knighted  Eobert  de 
Belesine.  Hubert,  the  governor,  however,  came  to  terms, 
and,  surrendering  his  castles  of  Fresnai  and  Beaumont2  to 
the  king,  continued  his  submission  for  some  time.  Having 
next  laid  siege  to  the  castle  of  Sille,  the  governor  gave  him- 
self up  to  the  king  and  obtained  peace.  No  one  indeed  was 
able  to  make  any  resistance  to  the  overwhelming  force  of 
the  royal  army,  but  all  the  garrisons  of  the  castles  and  the 
country  people,  with  the  clerks  and  monks,  decided  on 
receiving  the  king  as  the  restorer  of  peace,  with  fitting 
honours.  At  length  he  came  before  Maine,  and  investing 
the  place  with  several  divisions  of  his  army,  made  his  royal 
commands  duly  known,  imperiously  requiring  the  citizens 
to  consult  their  own  safety  by  quietly  surrendering  the 
place,  and  so  avoiding  an  assault  and  the  consequent  horrors 
of  fire  and  sword.  Listening  to  this  wise  counsel,  the  citi- 
zens came  the  next  day,  bringing  with  them  the  keys  of  the 

1  Turgis   ile   Traci,   near  Vire,  where  there   are  still   the   ruins   of  a 
magnificent  castle  of  the  middle  u-j;e. 

2  i'resiuu  and  Beaumont,  le  Vicomte,  both  on  the  Sarthc. 


76  OBDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.IV.  CH.XIII. 

city,  and  offering  their  submission,  which  the  king  received 
with  favour.  The  rest  of  the  people  of  Maine  were  terrified 
at  seeing  so  vast  and  fierce  an  army  marcbing  through  their 
territories,  and  they  found  that  their  fellow  conspirators 
and  supporters  were  unable  to  make  any  stand  against  so 
experienced  a  general.  They  therefore  sent  delegates  to 
the  conqueror  to  ask  for  peace,  and  terms  being  made,  they 
gladly  joined  their  standards  with  the  royal  ensigns,  and 
were  permitted  thenceforth  to  live  in  peace  in  their  own 
homes  and  under  their  vines,  and  enjoy  themselves  as  they 
pleased. 

Order  being  thus  restored  in  Maine  without  much  fight- 
ing, and  the  province  continuing  tranquil  under  the  do- 
minion of  King  William,  Count  Fulk l  became  mischievously 
jealous,  and  his  anger  broke  forth  against  some  of  the  ad- 
herents of  the  Normans.  John  de  la  Fleche,  the  most 
powerful  lord  in  Anjou,  who  was  particularly  obnoxious  to 
him  on  this  account,  having  ascertained  that  the  count  was 
ready  to  fall  upon  him  with  an  armed  force,  summoned  his 
confederates  in  the  neighbourhood  to  his  assistance,  and 
demanded  the  support  of  King  \Villiam,  which  was  granted 
him.  For,  without  delay,  the  king  sent  to  him  William  de 
Moulins,  Eobert  de  Vieux-Pont,  and  other  brave  and  ex- 
perienced knights,  who  were  at  once  united  by  John  with 
his  own  followers  in  the  defence  of  his  towns.  Fulk, 
learning  these  dispositions,  was  much  vexed,  and  immediately 
collecting  a  body  of  troops  laid  siege  to  John's  Castle. 
Count  Hoel*  also  came  to  the  succour  of  Fulk  with  a  large 
force  of  Bretons,  with  which  he  did  all  in  his  power  to 
second  the  enterprise  of  Fulk.  King  William,  knowing 
that  such  large  bodies  of  troops  must  completely  surround 
his  own  adherents,  again  issued  a  royal  proclamation  for 
mustering  the  Normans  and  English  and  other  people 
under  his  rule,  and  like  a  resolute  general  led  an  army  of 
00,000  men,  as  report  says,  against  the  enemy.  Meanwhile 
the  Angevins  and  the  Bretons,  on  hearing  of  the  approach 
of  the  royal  army,  did  not  retire,  but  boldly  crossed  the 
Loire,  and  after  etfecting  the  passage  destroyed  their  boats, 
that  the  hope  of  retreat  might  not  make  them  less  des- 
1  Fulk  le  Rlchin,  count  d'Anjou,  April  4,  1067— April  14,  1109 
a  Hoel  V.,  duke  of  Brittany,  10G6— April  15,  1084. 


A.D.  1078.]  SETTLEMENT   OF   MAINE.  77 

perate  in  fighting.  While,  however,  the  two  armies  were 
in  face  of  each  other,  drawn  out  for  battle,  and  many  hearts 
quailed  at  the  fearful  death,  and  the  still  more  fearful  fate 
after  death,  which  awaits  the  reprobate,  a  cardinal  priest  of 
the  Roman  church,  and  some  pious  monks,  interfered  by 
divine  inspiration,  and  remonstrated  with  the  chiefs  of  both 
armies.  They  firmly  forbade  the  battle  in  God's  name,  and 
used  exhortations  and  prayers  to  effect  a  peace.  Their 
endeavours  were  powerfully  seconded  by  "William  of  Evreux 
and  Eoger  [de  Montgomery],1  and  other  counts  and  brave 
soldiers,  who,  bold  and  forward  as  they  were  in  legitimate 
contests,  were  slack  to  engage  in  odious  quarrels,  brought 
about  by  pride  and  injustice.  The  messengers  of  Christ 
thus  sowing  the  seeds  of  concord,  the  arrogance  of  the  am- 
bitious gave  way,  and  the  fears  of  the  timid  were  gradually 
allayed.  Many  conferences  were  held,  a  variety  of  proposals 
were  discussed,  there  was  a  contest  of  words ;  but  by  the 
power  of  God  the  ambassadors  of  peace  were  successful 
with  both  parties.  The  count  of  Anjou  ceded  his  rights  in 
Maine  to  the  young  prince  Robert,  the  king's  son,  with  all 
the  fiefs  which  the  prince  acquired  by  Margaret  his  wife 
from  Count  Herbert.  Finally,  Robert  performed  due 
homage  to  Fulk,  as  a  vassal  to  his  superior  lord.  John 
and  the  other  Angevins,  who  had  borne  arms  for  the  king 
against  the  count,  were  reconciled  to  their  sovereign,  while, 
on  the  other  hand,  those  of  Maine,  who  had  revolted  with 
the  count  against  the  king,  were  included  in  the  treaty. 
The  grace  of  God  thus  reconciling  the  hearts  of  the  princes, 
offences  were  repented  and  forgotten  on  one  side  and  the 
other,  and  the  good  people  made  great  rejoicings  at  the 
peace  which  delivered  them  from  the  lowering  storms  that 
disturbed  their  tranquillity.  The  peace  between  the  king 
and  the  count,  which  was  concluded  at  a  place  commonly 
called  Blanch-Land  or  Blanche-Bruyerre,2  lasted  all  the 
king's  life  to  the  advantage  of  the  two  states. 

1  William,  count  d'Evreux,  December  13, 1067 — April  18, 1 1 18  ;  Roger 
de  Montgomery,  earl  of  Belesme,  Alenfon,  and  Shrewsbury,  1070— July 
27,  10.94. 

2  There  is  still  a  fkrm  called  Blancheland,  near  St.  Mards  de  Cr6,  at 
one  extremity  of  the  vast  sandy  desert  called  the  Landes,  which  at  that 
time  extended  south  of  the  Loire  from  the  suburbs  of  La  Fleche  to  this 
place. 


78  ORDEHICUS   VITALIS.  [u.IV.  CH.XIT. 

CH.  XIV.  Conspiracy  of  the  great  English  nobles  against 
King  William — Arguments  used  to  induce  Earl  Waltlieof 
to  join  it — The  rest  break  into  open  rebellion,  and  are 
defeated. 

AT  the  same  period  [A.D.  1074]  there  arose  another  violent 
storm  fraught  with  trouble  and  disaster  to  vast  numbers  in 
England.  Two  powerful  English  noblemen,  Roger,  earl  of 
Hereford,  and  his  brother-in-law,  Balph,  earl  of  Norwich,1 
concerted  together  an  open  revolt,  being  resolved  to  wrest 
the  dominion  of  England  from  King  William,  and  to  set  up 
themselves  as  its  sovereigns,  or  rather  its  tyrants.  They 
therefore,  rivalled  each  other  in  fortifying  their  castles, 
preparing  arms,  and  mustering  soldiers,  sending  frequent 
messengers  far  and  near  to  their  trusty  adherents,  and 
inviting,  by  entreaties  and  promises,  all  over  whom  they  had 
any  influence  to  aid  their  enterprise.  Having  reflected  on  the 
revolutions  of  affairs  and  the  chances  of  the  times,  they  said 
to  their  confederates  and  allies  :2  "  All  prudent  men  know 
that  a  favourable  moment  must  not  be  neglected,  and  that 
when  the  right  time  is  come,  then  it  is  that  brave  men 
ought  boldly  to  engage  in  a  work  of  glory.  But  there  never 
was  a  more  fitting  opportunity  than  that  which  is  now 
afforded  us  by  the  mysterious  dispensations  of  Providence 
for  aspiring  to  the  throne.  He  who  now  bears  the  title  of 
king  is  unworthy  of  it  as  being  a-  bastard,  and  it  must  be 
evident  that  it  is  displeasing  to  God  such  a  master  should 
govern  the  kingdom.  He  is  involved  in  endless  quarrels  in 
his  dominions  over  the  sea,  being  at  variance  not  only  with 
strangers  but  with  his  own  children,  and  in  the  midst  of  his 
difficulties  his  own  creatures  desert  him.  He  has  deserved 

1  Roger  de  Breteuil,  earl  of  Hereford;  Ralph  de  Guader  or  de  Gaol. 
The  Saxon  Chronicle  says  that  he  was  a  Welshman  on  his  mother's  side, 
and  his  father  an  Englishman  named  Ralph,  and  born  in  Norfolk.  It 
appears,  however,  that  the  family  was  of  the  -Armorican  branch  of  the 
Welsh,  having  come  from  Brittany  and  been  settled  in  England  before  the 
conquest.  King  William  conferred  on  Ralph  II.  the  earldoms  of  Norfolk 
and  Suffolk,  with  the  daughter  of  William  Fitz-Osbern  in  marriage. 

*  The  conspiracy  was  formed  at  the  bridal  feast,  where  the  two  great 
earls,  with  Waltheof  and  other  nobles,  and  bishops,  and  abbots  of  the  party 
were  assembled,  and  as  the  Saxon  Chronicle  quaintly  says — 
"  They  quaffed  bride-ale, 
Source  of  man's  bale." 


A.D.  1074.]         THE   ENGLISH   NOBLES   BEYOLT.  79 

this  by  the  crimes  which  are  openly  talked  of  all  over  the 
world.  He  disinherited  and  drove  out  of  Normandy  William 
Werlenc,1  Count  de  Mortain,  for  a  single  word.  Walter, 
Count  de  Pontoise,  nephew  of  King  Edward,  and  Biota  his 
wife,  being  his  guests  at  Falaise,  were  both  his  victims  by 
poison  in  one  and  the  same  night.2  Conan,  also,  was  taken 
off  by  poison  at  William's  instigation ;  that  valiant  count 
whose  death  was  mourned  through  the  whole  of  Brittany 
with  unutterable  grief  on  account  of  his  great  virtues.3 
These,  and  other  such  crimes  have  been  perpetrated  by 
William  in  the  case  of  his  own  kinsfolk  and  relations,  and 
he  is  ever  ready  to  act  the  same  part  towards  us  and  our 
peers.  He  has  impudently  usurped  the  glorious  crown  of 
England,  iniquitously  murdering  the  rightful  heirs,  or 
driving  them  into  cruel  banishment.  He  has  not  even 
rewarded  according  to  their  merits  his  own  adherents,  those 
by  whose  valour  he  has  been  raised  to  a  pitch  of  eminence 
exceeding  that  of  all  his  race.  Many  of  these  who  shed 
their  blood  in  his  service  have  been  treated  with  ingratitude, 
and  on  slight  pretexts  have  been  sentenced  to  death,  as 
if  they  were  his  enemies.  To  his  victorious  soldiers,  covered 

1  William  Werlenc,  earl  of  Mortaine,  is  only  known  by  two  passages  in 
our  author's  history,  and  by  the  nineteenth  chapter  of  the  seventh  book  of 
William  de  Jumieges.  As  the  circumstances  connected  with  his  being 
deprived  of  his  earldom  appear  to  have  been  little  honourable  to  his 
sovereign,  the  Norman  historians  carefully  abstain  from  enlarging  upon 
them. 

*  See  an  account  of  these  persons,  and  the  crime  of  which  they  were 
victims,  book  iii.  p.  448  of  the  first  volume.  Walter,  count  du  Vexin,  de 
Chaumon,  and  Mantis,  was  son  of  Drogo,  count  of  the  Vexin  and  Amiens, 
who  died  on  his  pilgrimage  to  the  Holy  Land  with  Robert,  duke  of  Nor- 
mandy, in  1035.  He  was  nephew  of  Edward  the  Confessor,  by  his  wife 
Edith,  a  daughter  of  Ethelred  and  Emma. 

8  This  is  one  of  the  foulest  acts  imputed  to  William.  Conan,  duke  of 
Brittany  (1040— 1066),  finding  that  the  duke  was  on  the  point  of  with- 
drawing all  his  troops  from  Normandy  for  the  invasion  of  England, 
prepared  to  take  advantage  of  it  by  making  an  incursion  into  Lower 
Normandy.  It  appears  that  William  could  think  of  no  other  means  of 
parrying  this  attack  than  by  procuring  Conan  'a  gloves  and  helmet  to  be 
poisoned  by  one  of  his  chamberlains  who  held  lands  in  Normandy.  This 
atrocious  scheme  was  entirely  successful.  According  to  Conan's  epitaph, 
he  did  not  die  till  the  llth  of  December,  which  suggests  the  conjecture 
that  the  effects  of  the  poison  were  not  instant.  See  the  Continuator  of 
William  de  Jumieges,  book  vii.  c.  33. 


80  ORDEBICFS   VITALIS.  [B.IT.  CH.XIT. 

\vith  wounds,  were  allotted  barren  farms  and  domains  depo- 
pulated by  the  ravages  of  war ;  and  even  these  his  avarice 
subsequently  compelled  them  to  surrender  in  part  or  in 
whole.  These  things  cause  him  to  be  generally  hated,  and 
his  death  would  be  the  signal  for  universal  joy.  Now, 
the  greatest  part  of  his  army  is  detained  beyond  sea,  busily 
employed  in  continual  wars.  The  English  think  of  nothing 
but  cultivating  their  lands,  they  are  more  intent  on  feasting 
and  drinking  bouts  than  on  the  thoughts  of  battle ;  but, 
notwithstanding,  they  thirst  for  revenge  for  the  blood  and 
ruin  of  their  relations."  In  such  language  as  this  the  con- 
spirators vented  their  treason,  and  encouraging  themselves 
by  all  sorts  of  motives  to  the  execution  of  their  wicked  pro- 
ject, they  called  to  their  councils  Waltheof,  earl  of  North- 
ampton, and  tempted  him  to  join  them  by  a  variety  of  sug- 
gestions, to  this  effect :  "  Brave  sir,  you  may  plainly  see  that 
now  is  your  time  for  recovering  your  forfeited  honours,  and 
for  securing  vengeance  for  the  unmerited  injuries  you  have 
lately  suffered.  Join  our  party,  and  support  it  without 
faltering  in  your  resolution,  and  the  third  part  of  England 
shall  be  yours,  by  an  equal  division  among  ourselves.  It  ia 
our  object  that  the  realm  of  England  should  be  restored  to 
the  same  state  in  which  it  lately  was  in  the  time  of  Edward 
our  most  pious  sovereign.  Let  one  of  us  be  king,  the  other 
two  dukes,  and  thus  all  the  honours  of  England  will  be 
divided  among  us.  William  is  now  engaged  beyond  the 
sea  in  endless  wars  which  absorb  his  whole  strength,  and  we 
know  for  certain  that  he  will  never  land  again  on  the  shores 
of  England.  Come,  then,  noble  sir,  listen  to  counsels  so 
advantageous  to  you  and  your  family,  and  act  in  the  manner 
which  will  prove  the  salvation  of  our  enslaved  fellow 
countrymen." 

Waltheof  replied  as  follows :  "  In  such  enterprises  the 
utmost  caution  is  required;  and  in  all  nations  the  fealty 
sworn  by  every  subject  to  his  liege  lord  should  be  faithfully 
kept.  King  William  has  received  mine,  lawfully  given  as 
to  his  superior  lord  by  one  holding  under  him,  and  to  secure 
my  fidelity  he  gave  me  his  niece  in  marriage.  He  also  gave 
me  a  rich  earldom,  and  admitted  me  into  the  number  of 
his  familiar  companions.  How  can  I  be  faithless  to  such 
a  prince  without  entirely  breaking  my  fealty  to  him  ?  I  am 


A.D.  1074.]          THE    CONSPIRATOBS   DEFEATED.  81 

well  known  in  many  countries,  and  far  from  me  be  the 
disgrace  which  would  attend  my  being  proclaimed  a  sacri- 
legious traitor.  Never  was  there  a  song  so  sweet  as  to 
charm  away  the  disgrace  of  treason.  All  nations  curse 
traitors  and  turncoats,  as  they  do  wolves,  thinking  them 
only  fit  to  be  hanged,  and  if  they  can  catch  them,  condemn 
them  to  the  gibbet,  with  all  the  insults  and  tortures  they 
can  devise.  Ahitophel  and  Judas,  both  traitors  aud  apos- 
tates, and  each  of  them  doomed  to  the  gallows,  to  be 
suspended  between  heaven  and  earth  as  fit  for  neither, 
perished  by  their  own  hands.  The  law  of  England  sen- 
tences a  traitor  to  lose  his  head,  and  on  his  attainder 
the  inheritance  of  his  children  is  escheated.  God  forbid 
that  such  a  crime  should  taint  my  honour,  and  my  name  be 
held  up  to  scorn  with  such  infamy  throughout  the  world ! 
The  Lord  God,  who  showed  his  power  in  saving  David  from 
the  hands  of  Goliah  and  Saul,  Adarezer  and  Absalom,  hath 
delivered  me  also  from  many  dangers  both  by  sea  and  land. 
I  commit  myself  entirely  to  his  keeping,  trusting  in  him 
that  my  life  will  never  be  stained  with  treason,  and  that  I 
shall  not  be  branded  with  apostacy  like  Satan  and  the  fallen 
angels." 

When  Ealph  the  Breton  and  Eoger  heard  the  determi- 
nation of  Waltheof,  they  were  sorely  troubled,  and  bound 
him  by  a  terrible  oath  not  to  divulge  their  conspiracy.  Not 
long  afterwards  it  suddenly  burst  forth  into  open  rebellion 
in  all  parts  of  England,  and  the  opposition  to  the  king's 
officers  became  general.  Upon  this,  William  de  Warrene, 
and  Richard  de  Bienfaite,  son  of  Earl  Gislebert,  who  had 
been  appointed  chief  justiciaries  of  England,  summoned  the 
rebels  to  appear  in  the  king's  high  court.  They,  however, 
disdained  to  pay  any  attention  to  the  precept,  and,  following 
\ip  this  contempt  of  court,  set  the  royal  authority  at  de- 
fiance. William  and  Richard,  therefore,  without  further 
delay,  assembled  the  English  army,  and  fought  a  severe 
battle  with  the  rebels  on  the  plain  called  Fagadun.1  By  God's 
help  they  defeated  the  enemy,  and  taking  them  prisoners, 
marked  every  one,  without  regard  to  his  rank,  by  ampu- 
tating his  right  foot.  Ralph  the  Breton  was  pursued  to  his 
own  castle  without  being  taken.  They  then  concentrated 
1  Beecham  or  Beechamwell,  near  Swaffham,  Norfolk  (?) 

VOL.  II.  O 


82  OEDEEICTJS    YITALIS.  [B-1V>  CH-X1T- 

their  forces  and  invested  Norwich,  and  adding  to  their 
strength  by  their  display  of  valour  and  military  skill,  they 
harassed  the  besieged  with  constant  assaults  and  their 
engines  of  war,  pressing  the  siege  for  three  months  with 
unwearied  vigour.  The  besieging  army  was  continually  aug- 
menting, and  was  abundantly  supplied  with  abundance  of 
food  and  other  necessaries  to  prevent  desertion.  Ralph  de 
Guader,  finding  himself  thus  shut  up  and  expecting  no 
relief  from  his  accomplices,  entrusted  the  fortress,  with 
many  cautions,  to  the  trusty  garrison,  and  embarked  at  the 
nearest  sea-port  to  seek  for  help  in  Denmark.  Meanwhile, 
the  king's  lieutenants,  William  and  Robert,  pressed  the 
townsmen  to  surrender,  while  they  despatched  hasty  messen- 
gers over  the  sea  to  the  king,  giving  an  account  of  these 
transactions  and  begging  him  to  return  with  all  speed  for 
the  defence  of  the  kingdom. 

No  sooner  had  the  indefatigable  king  received  these 
tidings  than  he  set  in  order  the  affairs  of  Normandy  and 
Maine,  and  all  being  arranged,  crossed  over  to  England 
without  loss  of  time.  He  then  summoned  all  the  great  men 
of  the  realm  to  attend  his  court,  and  having  addressed  in 
flattering  terms  the  lords  who  had  been  faithful  to  their 
allegiance  and  proved  their  fidelity,  he  demanded  of  the 
authors  and  supporters  of  the  rebellion  the  reason  why  they 
preferred  wrong  to  right.  The  garrison  of  Norwich  having 
made  terms,  the  place  was  given  up  to  the  king,  and  Ralph 
de  Guader,  earl  of  Norwich,  was  disinherited~of  his  English 
honours  and  domains.  Being  banished  the  kingdom,  he 
returned  to  Brittany  with  his  wife  and  settled  on  his  patri- 
monial estates  which  his  attainder  by  the  sovereign  of 
England  could  not  affect.  In  that  province  he  had  on  his 
domains  two  noble  castles,  Guader  and  Montfort,  which  his 
sons  possess  by  hereditary  right  to  the  present  day.  He 
himself,  some  years  afterwards,  took  the  cross,  and  accom- 
panying Robert  II.,  duke  of  Normandy,  in  his  crusade  against 
the  Turks,  and  reaching  Jerusalem,  died,  as  well  as  his  wife, 
a  penitent  and  a  pilgrim. 

Roger  de  Breteuil,  earl  of  Hereford,  having  obeyed  the 
summons  to  attend  the  king's  court,  and  an  inquiry  being 
made,  his  treason  was  so  plain  that  he  could  not  deny  it. 
He  was  therefore  judged  by  the  Norman  laws  and  sentenced 


A.D.  1074.]      EOGEB  DE  BEETEUIL  IMPBISONED.  83 

to  the  forfeiture  of  his  lands  and  perpetual  imprisonment. 
Even  there  he  often  caused  the  king  great  annoyance,  and 
rendered  him  implacable  by  his  obstinate  contumacy.  For 
instance,  on  one  occasion  when  the  faithful  were  celebrating 
the  feast  of  Easter  in  due  form,  and  the  king  had  sent  to 
Earl  Roger  in  prison,  by  the  hands  of  his  guards,  a  box  con- 
taining a  suit  of  very  valuable  robes,  the  earl  caused  a  large 
fire  to  be  made  and  committed  to  the  flames  the  royal 
presents,  the  surcoat,  and  silken  tunic,  and  mantle  of 
the  furs  of  precious  ermines  brought  from  abroad.  The 
king,  hearing  of  this,  exclaimed  in  great  wrath :  "  He 
is  very  insolent  to  put  such  an  affront  upon  me ;  but, 
by  God's  light,1  he  shall  never  get  out  of  prison  while  I 
live."  And  the  royal  will  was  so  determined,  and  so  firmly 
carried  out,  that  even  after  the  king's  death  the  earl  was 
detained  in  captivity  until  his  own  death  released  him  from 
it.  His  two  sons,  feeynold  and  Eoger,  young  men  of  great 
promise,  are  now  in  the  service  of  King  Henry,2  and  in  great 
distress,  are  waiting  for  the  exercise  of  his  clemency,  which 
appears  to  them  sufficiently  tardy. 

Truly  the  world's  glory  droops  and  withers  like  the 
flower  of  grass,  and  is  spent  and  scattered  like  smoke. 
Where  now  is  William  Titz-Osbern,  earl  of  Hereford,  the 
king's  lieutenant,  high-steward  of  Normandy,  and  the  valiant 
commander  of  the  royal  troops  ?  He  was,  without  excep- 
tion, the  first  and  greatest  of  the  oppressors  of  the  people 
of  England,  and  amassed  an  enormous  fortune  by  his  exac- 
tions, causing  the  ruin  and  death  of  thousands  by  his  severi- 
ties. But  the  righteous  Judge,  who  seeth  all  things,  rewards 
every  man  according  to  his  deserts.  Miserable  fate !  Earl 
William  falls,  and  the  bold  warrior  receives  the  punishment 
he  deserves.  Many  had  fallen  by  his  sword,  and  by  the 
sword  he  himself  was  suddenly  cut  off.  After  his  death, 
before  five  years  elapsed,  the  spirit  of  discord  stirred  up  his  son 
and  son-in-law  to  hostilities  against  their  lord  and  kinsman, 
the  same  spirit  which  wrought  in  the  Schechemites  against 
Abimelech  whom  they  had  set  over  them  after  slaying  the 
seventy  sons  of  Jerobaal.  I  have  thus  correctly  described 

1  An  oath  frequently  used  by  William  the  Conqueror. 
*  This  paragraph,  therefore,  was  written  in  the  reign  of  Henry  I.  of 
England,  who  died  December  ],  1135. 

G   2 


84  OBDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.IV.  CH.XT. 

the  crime  for  which  the  race  of  "William  Fitz-Osbern 
has  BO  entirely  disappeared  in  England,  that,  if  I  mistake 
not,  the  slightest  trace  of  it  cannot  there  be  found. 

CH.  XV.     Trial  and  execution  of  Earl  Waltheof  for  alleged 
complicity  in  the  rebellion. 

EA.BL  WALTHEOF  was  summoned  before  the  king,  and 
accused,  on  the  testimony  of  his  wife  Judith,  of  having  been 
privy  to  and  encouraged  the  conspiracy  already  spoken  of, 
and  thus  become  guilty  of  treason  against  his  sovereign. 
The  earl  fearlessly  acknowledged  that  the  conspirators  had 
communicated  to  him  their  nefarious  designs,  but  declared 
that  he  had  refused  all  concurrence  in  such  wickedness.  This 
confession  caused  much  discussion  on  the  judgment  to  be 
pronounced,  and  there  being  great  difference  in  opinion 
among  the  members  of  the  court,  it  was  deferred,  by  successive 
adjournments,  for  a  whole  year.  Meanwhile,  the  earl  was 
kept  in  close  custody  in  the  king's  prison  at  AVincbester, 
where  he  often  deplored  his  offences,  confessing  them  with 
tears  in  his  eyes  to  the  good  bishops  and  abbots  who  visited 
him  in  his  confinement.  For  the  space  of  a  year,  under 
the  direction  of  the  priests,  he  continued  his  penance, 
chanting  in  his  daily  devotions  the  one  hundred  and  fifty 
psalms  of  David  which  he  had  learnt  in  his  childhood. 
Waltheof  was  in  person  tall  and  stout,  very  handsome,  and 
superior  to  thousands  in  generosity  and  courage;  devoted 
to  God,  he  listened  with  humility  to  the  instructions  of 
the  clergy  of  every  class,  and  was  a  kind  friend  to  the 
church  and  the  poor.  For  these  and  many  other  Christian 
virtues  which  distinguished  him  above  all  the  rest  of  the 
laity,  he  was  much  beloved  both  by  his  own  people  and  by 
strangers  who  had  regard  to  the  will  of  God,  so  that  his 
deliverance  from  prison  was  anxiously  looked  for  during  the 
year's  delay.  At  last  his  enemies  assembled  in  such  numbers 
in  the  king's  court  as  to  form  the  majority,  and  after  much 
discussion  prevailed  in  getting  him  sentenced  to  death  for 
having  made  himself  a  party  to  the  treasonable  conspiracy 
of  his  fellow  lords  by  not  openly  resisting  their  designs 
against  the  king's  life,  or  at  once  denouncing  their  criminal 
projects.  No  time  for  respite  was  granted,  as  the  Nor- 
mans were  apprehensive  of  his  escape,  and  greedy  to  get 


A.D.  1075.]         EXECUTION  OF  EAEL  WALTIIEOr.  85 

posession  of  his  ample  domains  and  high  honours.  He  was 
therefore  hurried,  at  dawn  of  day,  while  the  people  were  yefc 
asleep,  to  the  hill  on  which  the  church  of  St.  Giles,  abbot 
and  confessor,  was  afterwards  built  j1  and  having  distributed 
among  the  clergy  and  poor  who  happened  to  be  present  the 
robes  of  honour  which  his  rank  of  earl  entitled  him  to  wear, 
he  threw  himself  <on  the  ground  and  continued  some  time  in 
prayer  to  God,  mixed  with  sobbings  and  tears.  The  execu- 
tioners, dreading  that  the  townsmen  when  they  awoke 
would  rise  in  arms  to  resist  the  king's  warrant,  and,  taking 
the  part  of  so  noble  a  countryman,  massacre  the  royal 
guards,  called  to  the  kneeling  earl :  "  Rise,  sir,  that  we  may 
execute  our  lord's  commands."  To  which  he  replied,  "  Wait 
awhile,  for  the  love  of  God  Almighty,  at  least  while  I  say 
the  Lord's  prayer  on  your  behalf  and  my  own."  As  they 
gave  their  consent,  the  earl  rose  from  the  ground,  and  on 
bended  knees,  with  eyes  raised  to  heaven  and  hands  up- 
lifted, began  to  say  aloud  "  Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven." 
But  when  he  came  to  the  last  petition,  having  said,  "  Lead 
us  not  into  temptation,"  his  tears  fell  so  fast,  and  his  sobbings 
were  so  violent,  that  he  was  unable  to  conclude  the  prayer 
he  had  begun.  The  executioner  would  wait  no  longer,  but 
drawing  his  sword  severed  the  earl's  head  from  his  body 
with  a  single  stroke.  But  the  head,  after  it  was  severed,2 
uttered  with  a  loud  and  distinct  voice,  in  the  hearing  of  all 
present,  the  words:  "But  deliver  us  from  evil.  Amen!" 
Thus  Earl  "Waltheof  was  beheaded  at  Winchester,  on  the 
morning  of  the  second  of  the  calends  of  May  [30th  April].5 
His  body  was,  without  ceremony,  thrown  into  a  hole  dug  on 
the  spot,  which  is  now  covered  with  the  green  turf.  The 
townsmen,  roused  from  their  sleep  by  reports  of  what  was 
going  on,  abandoned  themselves  to  grief,  men  and  women 

1  The  ruins  of  the  hospital  dedicated  to  St.  Giles  are  still  seen  on  the 
hill  here  mentioned,  which  is  separated  from  Winchester  by  the  river 
Itchin. 

a  We  should  have  been  glad  to  have  avoided  leaving  any  blemish  on  a 
very  affecting  and  interesting  narrative,  by  using  the  phrase,  "  in  the  act  of 
being  severed,"  but  the  text  ia  too  stubborn  to  be  so  dealt  with :  caput, 
poftquam  prised  urn  fuit. 

s  Earl  Waltheof  was  executed  on  the  31st  of  May,  and  not  on  the  30th 
of  April,  1075.  Consult  for  further  particulars  Ingulphus,  and  the  Vita  et 
passio  Waldcvi  Comitis;  Chroniquet  Anglo-Normandes,  t.  ii.  Rouen,  1836. 


86  OEDEBICUS   TITALIS.  [B.IT.  CH.XVI. 

joining  in  loud  lamentations  for  the  fate  of  Earl  "Waltheof. 
Fifteen  days  afterwards,  at  Judith's  request  and  with  the 
king's  permission,  Ufkytel,  abbot  of  Croyland,  came  to  the 
place,  and  raising  the  bloody  corpse  which  exhibited  no  signs 
of  decay,  the  blood  being  as  fresh  as  if  the  earl  was  just 
dead,  conveyed  it  to  the  abbey  of  Croyland,  followed  by  the 
lamentations  of  vast  crowds  of  people,  and  there  gave  it 
honourable  interment  in  the  chapter-house  of  the  monks. 

CH.  XVI.  Life  of  St.  Guthlac,  the  hermit  of  Croyland, 
abridged  from  the  Acts  of  that  saint,  written  by  the  monk 
Felix. 

I  TAKE  the  liberty  of  inserting  in  this  part  of  my  poor 
work  an  abridgment  which  I  have  lately  made  from  the 
Life  of  St.  Guthlac,  the  hermit,  at  the  desire  of  the  venerable 
prior  Wulfine.  A  bishop  of  the  East- Angles  named  Felix,  a 
native  of  Burgundy,  and  a  prelate  of  great  sanctity,  wrote 
an  account  of  the  acts  of  the  holy  hermit,  which  is  very 
long,  and  the  style  rather  obscure.1  I  have  cleared  up  its 
difficulties,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  in  the  short  compi- 
lation which  I  made  in  compliance  with  the  flattering 
request  of  the  brethren  of  Croyland  Abbey,  where  I  resided 
five  weeks,2  the  venerable  abbot  Geoffrey  having  kindly  laid 
his  commands  upon  me  to  that  effect.  My  account  of  Earl 
Waltheof  has  given  occasion  to  this  notice  of  the  holy 
hermit,  for  the  earl  was  a  kiud  brother  and  ally  of  the 
monks  of  Croyland,  as  I  shall  carefully  relate  in  the  close  of 
this  history  from  the  reports  of  the  older  brethren.  I  have 
no  sort  of  doubt  that  the  acts  of  the  Saxon  and  English 
saints,  across  the  channel,  would  be  no  less  profitable  to  the 
faithful  Cisalpines,  than  those  compiled  on  Greek  and  Egyp- 
tion  saints  by  the  zeal  of  the  learned,  delightful  and  useful 
as  those  collections  are.  I  think,  moreover,  that,  little  as 

1  The  history  of  St.  Guthlac  could  not  have  been  written  by  Bishop 
Felix,  who  was  raised  to  the  see  of  Dunwich  by  Sigebert,  king  of  East 
Anglia,  and  filled  it  A.D.  629—632.  It  is  the  work  of  another  Felix,  a 
disciple  of  Theodore,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  monk  of  Jarrow,  who 
wrote  it  about  the  middle  of  the  eighth  century.  Mabillon  has  inserted  it 
in  the  Ada  SS.  ord.  S.  Benedicti,  sac.  iii.  p.  1. 

3  Probably  about  the  time  of  his  visit  to  Worcester,  the  only  occasion, 
as  it  appears,  on  which  Ordericus  came  over  to  England,  after  leaving  it  at 
a  tery  early  age. 


A.D.  673 — 699.]  su.  GUTHLAC'S  EARLY  LIFE.  87 

the  former  are  known  among  our  countrymen,  they  cannot 
fail  of  giving  satisfaction,  so  ardent  was  the  charity  with 
which  these  saints  were  inflamed,  and  with  such  sorrow  they 
deplored  their  sins  from  the  bottom  of  their  hearts. 

Guthlac  was  born  in  the  time  of  Ethelred  king  of  the 
English,1  Gruthlac  having  Penvald,  sprung  from  Icles  lord  of 
the  Mercians,  for  his  father,  and  Tetta  for  his  mother.  At 
his  birth  a  sign  in  the  heavens  was  manifest  to  the  people  ; 
for  a  hand  was  seen  stretched  out  from  the  clouds  towards 
a  cross  which  stood  before  the  door  of  the  house  where 
Tetta  was  in  labour.  After  eight  days  the  child  was  bap- 
tized, and  named  Guthlac,  that  is,  the  gift  of  war,  from  the 
tribe  which  is  called  Guthlacingas.  After  a  gentle  child- 
hood, when  he  felt  the  impulses  of  youth  and  studied 
the  valiant  deeds  of  heroes,  he  collected  his  dependants 
and  gave  himself  up  to  the  career  of  arms,  ravaging  and 
destroying  the  villages  and  castles  of  his  adversaries  with 
fire  and  sword.  Gathering  immense  booty,  he  made  volun- 
tary restitution  of  a  third  part  of  the  plunder,  for  the  love 
of  God,  to  those  from  whom  it  was  taken.  After  pursuing 
this  course  of  life  for  nine  years,  causing  great  losses  to  his 
enemies  in  person  and  goods,  he  began  to  reflect  on  the  un- 
certainty of  this  mortal  life  and  the  instability  of  all  human 
things,  and  coming  to  himself  in  a  state  of  alarm,  arid 
examining  his  conduct  as  if  death  was  before  his  eyes,  he 
resolved  to  enter  on  a  better  course  of  life.  He  therefore 
left  his  comrades  and  relations,  quitting  his  own  country, 
and  holding  cheap  even  the  companions  of  his  childhood  for 
the  sake  of  Christ,  and  in  the  twenty-fourth  year  of  his  age 
renounced  all  worldly  vanities  and  entered  the  monastery  of 
Eipandun,  when  he  assumed  the  tonsure  and  clerical  dress 
under  the  abbess  whose  name  was  Elfrida.2  Prom  that 
time  he  abstained  from  excessive  drinking  and  every  kind  of 
debauchery  with  the  utmost  care,  devoting  himself  to  a 
good  and  religious  life  with  all  the  zeal  which  human  nature 

1  Ethelred,  king  of  Mercia,  675 — 704,  when  he  resigned  his  crown,  and 
became  a  monk  at  Bardney  Abbey. 

3  According  to  Mabillon,  this  is  the  monastery  called  Rapendum  by 
William  of  Malmesbury,  and  which  was  in  Cheshire.  It  must  not  be 
confounded  with  that  of  Ripon  in  Yorkshire,  where  there  never  was  a. 
convent  of  nuns.  Another  conjecture  places  it  at  Repton  in  Derbyshire 
where  there  was  a  very  ancient  monastery. 


88  OBDEBICTIS   VITALIS.  [E.IV.  CH.XVI. 

is  capable  of.  For  two  years  he  was  trained  in  sacred 
studies  and  monastic  discipline,  but  he  was  not  content  to 
rest  there,  for  it  was  his  object  to  engage  in  the  single 
combat  of  a  hermit's  life  and  meet  the  enemy  face  to  face. 

Having  at  length  obtained  leave  from  his  superiors,  he 
was  ferried  over  in  a  fishing-boat  to  a  place  called  Croyland 
by  a  man  named  Tatwine.  There  lies  in  the  middle  district 
of  England  a  vast  and  inhospitable  marsh,  which  begins 
from  the  bank  of  the  river  G-ranta,1  and  extends  over  a  very 
extensive  tract  from  south  to  north,  parallel  with  the  sea. 
The  surface  is  broken  into  ponds  and  lakes,  and  sometimes 
by  dark  watercourses,  and  islands  covered  with  thick 
underwood,  among  which  the  rivulets  wind  in  irregular 
channels.  Many  had  made  the  attempt  to  settle  themselves 
in  these  fens,  but  had  been  so  terrified  by  the  strange  mon- 
sters which  made  it  their  habitation,  and  other  alarming 
objects,  that  they  soon  abandoned  so  gloomy  a  residence. 
Q-uthlac,  having  surveyed  Croyland  in  the  summer  season, 
returned  to  his  brothers  and  superiors,  from  whom  he  had 
parted  without  taking  leave ;  but  three  months  afterwards, 
on  the  eighth  of  the  calends  of  September  [24th  August], 
he  returned,  in  company  with  two  boys,  to  the  spot  he  had 
chosen  for  his  hermitage,  being  then  of  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  years.  It  was  the  day  on  which  the  feast  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew is  observed,  to  whom  he  prayed  to  be  his  friend 
and  defender  in  all  adversities. 

For  fifteen  years  the  saint  used  neither  woollen  nor  linen 
garments,  but  was  covered  with  skins,  and  lived  on  barley- 
bread  and  muddy  water,  using  these  sparingly  after  the  sun 
was  set.  Satan  tried  a  thousand  ways  to  entangle  him  in 
his  nets,  or  at  least  to  drive  him  from  his  hermitage. 

Once  he  was  beginning  to  despair  of  completing  a  work 
on  which  he  had  laboured  for  three  days,  when  suddenly 
Bartholomew,  his  faithful  patron,  appeared  to  him  visibly 
during  his  morning  watch,  and  allaying  his  fears  with 
spiritual  comfort,  promised  him  his  continual  help  ;  and  he 
faithfully  fulfilled  his  promise  on  various  accasions  in  which 
he  was  tempted. 

Another  day  two  demons  came  to  him  in  human  shape, 

1  Every  one  knows  that  this  is  the  ancient  name  of  the  Cam.  on  which 
Cambridge  stand*. 


A.D.  699 — 714.]    THE    HEBMIT    OF    CBOTLAKD.  89 

and  tempted  him  to  endeavour  to  fast  like  Moses  and  Elias 
and  the  Egyptian  fathers  ;  but  the  saint  began  to  sing,  and 
to  show  his  contempt  of  them,  proceeded  to  eat  a  piece  of 
barley-bread. 

At  one  time  \vhen  the  man  of  God  was  employed  in 
watching  and  prayer  through  the  dreary  hours  of  the  night, 
he  saw  troops  of  demons  enter  his  cell  from  all  sides. 
Having  bound  him  hand  and  foot,  they  carried  him  forth 
and  plunged  him  into  a  muddy  pond.  They  then  dragged 
him  through  the  roughest  parts  of  the  marsh,  where  the 
thorns  grew  thickest,  and  having  thus  torn  his  flesh,  com- 
manded him  to  quit  his  hermitage.  The  saint  refusing, 
they  scourged  him  with  iron  rods,  and  after  subjecting  him 
to  severe  tortures,  transported  him  into  the  cold  regions 
above  the  clouds.  They  then,  accompanied  by  legions  of 
devils  who  assembled  from  the  north,  brought  him  with 
threatening  aspect  to  the  gulf  of  Tartarus.  On  seeing  the 
gates  of  hell  Guthlac  began  to  be  frightened,  but  despising 
the  demons'  threats,  he  prayed  inwardly  to  God.  Instantly 
St.  Bartholomew  stood  by  him  arrayed  in  robes  of  celestial 
light  arid  commanded  his  foes  to  carry  him  back*  in  perfect 
safety  to  his  own  cell.  The  demons,  groaning,  obeyed  the 
apostle's  commands,  and  angels  rejoicing  met  him  singing  : 
"  The  just  shall  go  from  strength  to  strength."1 

Oitentimes  and  in  various  ways  the  demons  tried  to  terrify 
Guthlac,  but,  the  Lord  being  his  helper,  he  foiled  all  their 
attempts.  He  stood  fearless  in  the  strength  of  his  virtues, 
endured  severe  struggles  in  the  conflict,  and  defeated  all 
the  attacks  of  the  devil.  In  the  time  of  Cenred,  king  of 
Mercia,*  Becelin,  a  clerk  who  was  tempted  by  the  devil  to 
kill  the  man  of  God  while  he  was  renewing  his  tonsure,  was 
rebuked  by  him  for  conceiving  such  a  crime  in  his  heart. 
But  the  clerk,  when  he  saw  that  his  wickedness  was  known, 
threw  himself  at  the  saint's  feet,  confessed  his  crime,  and, 
obtaining  pardon,  promised  thenceforth  to  become  his  com- 
panion. 

A  crow,  having  stolen  a  piece  of  parchment,  let  it  fall  on 

some  bulrushes  hanging  over  the  water  in  the  middle  of  a 

pool,  but  through  the  merits  of  the  man  of  Goa,  restored  it 

safe  to  the  writer,  who  had  been  sorely  afflicted  at  the  loss. 

1  Pa.  Ixxxiii.  8.  *  Cenred,  king  of  Mercia,  704—708. 


90  OBDEBICUS   VITAL1S.  [B.IV.  CH.IVI. 

Two  crows  which  frequented  the  island  were  very  troublesome 
to  St.  G-uthlac,  destroying,  throwing  into  the  water,  tearing 
to  pieces,  tod  fouling  everything  they  could ;  doing  all  this 
mischief  indoors  and  out,  without  any  respect  to  the  man  of 
God ;  but  he  bore  it  all  with  patience,  according  to  his  vows. 
The  birds  which  wandered  over  that  waste  wilderness,  and  the 
fishes  which  darted  across  its  muddy  waters,  came  flying  and 
swimming  to  his  call,  as  sheep  come  to  their  shepherd's 
voice,  and  took  their  food  from  his  hand,  as  the  instinct  of 
each  required.  In  the  presence  of  the  venerable  Wilfrid, 
when  two  sparrows  were  flitting  gaily  about  him,  according 
to  their  nature,  and  settled  on  his  arms,  and  knees,  and 
bosom,  singing,  he  put  straw  in  his  chimney,  and  so  showed 
them  where  to  make  their  nest ;  for  they  would  not  have 
ventured  to  build  it  in  Guthlac's  hermitage  without  his 
leave. 

Wilfrid  had  one  day  brought  the  exiled  Ethelbald1  to 
vist  the  man  of  God,  and  having  left  his  gloves  in  the  boat 
which  brought  them  over,  the  mischievous  crows  carried 
them  off.  The  saint  presently  learned  this,  while  sitting  in 
his  porch,  by  divine  inspiration,  and  mentioned  it  to  Wilfrid 
during  their  conference.  Shortly  afterwards  his  regrets 
were  ended  by  the  gloves  being  restored  by  virtue  of  the 
saint's  faith  and  prayers. 

Whitred,  a  noble  youth  of  East  Anglia,  was  possesed  by 
the  devil,  by  whom  he  was  miserably  vexed  for  four  year:<, 
wounding  and  tearing  himself  and  all  he  could  get  at  with 
wood  and  iron,  his  teeth,  and  his  nails.  At  one  time,  when 
a  number  of  men  tried  to  manacle  him,  he  seized  an  axe,  and 
killed  three  of  them.  After  the  four  years  were  ended,  he 
was  brought  to  Croyland ;  and  the  man  of  God,  taking  him 
by  the  hand,  led  him  into  his  oratory,  and  continuing  iu 
prayer  and  fasting  three  days  delivered  him  from  all  vexa- 
tions of  the  evil  spirit. 

Egga,  Ethelbald's  companion  in  his  exile,  was  so  possessed 
by  an  unclean  spirit  that  he  neither  knew  what  he  was,  nor 
where  he  was,  nor  what  he  did.  In  this  state  he  was  brought 
to  the  threshold  of  Guthlac,  and,  having  put  the  saint's 
girdle  round  his  loins,  he  recovered  his  senses,  and  for  the 

1  Ethelbald  became  afterwards  king  of  Mercia,  and  reigned  prosperously 
forty  years,  from  715  —  756. 


A.D.  699 — 714.]     ST.  GTTTHLAC'S   MIBACLES.  91 

rest  of  his  life  kept  the  girdle,  and  continued  to  be  of  a 
sound  mind. 

Moreover,  Guthlac,  the  man  of  God,  was  gifted  with  the 
spirit  of  prophecy,  and  was  in  the  habit  of  predicting  future 
events,  and  telling  to  those  who  were  with  him  what  took 
place  in  their  absence.  In  this  way  he  told  to  a  certain 
abbot,  who  came  to  him  for  a  pious  conference,  all  the 
circumstances  attending  a  visit  by  two  of  his  clergy  to  a 
widow's  cottage,  before  the  third  hour,  to  get  drunk.  He 
rebuked  two  other  monks  for  concealing  two  bottles  of  beer 
under  the  sands  in  the  marsh,  and  kindly  pardoned  them  as 
they  knelt  before  him,  astonished  at  the  extent  of  the  saint's 
knowledge. 

St.  G-uthlac's  fame  being  noised  abroad  far  and  wide, 
numbers  of  all  ranks  resorted  to  him  ;  abbots,  monks,  earls, 
the  rich,  the  poor,  and  the  oppressed,  from  the  neighbouring 
districts  of  Mercia,  and  from  remote  quarters  of  Britain,  all 
seeking  relief  either  for  their  souls  or  bodies ;  and  each  one 
who  came  in  faith  obtained  what  he  sought:  the  sick,  a 
cure ;  the  sorrowful,  joy ;  the  penitent,  consolation ;  and 
every  anxious  soul  received  comfort  from  the  conversation 
and  efficacious  prayers  of  the  man  of  God. 

Obba,  one  of  the  companions  of  the  exile  Ethelbald, 
when  walking  through  a  rough  field,  was  wounded  in  the 
foot  by  thorns,  which  were  covered  by  the  coarse  grass,  so 
that  his  whole  body  swelled  from  his  feet  to  his  loins,  and 
the  extreme  pain  would  not  allow  him  either  to  sit,  stand,  or 
lie  in  quiet,  and  he  could  scarcely  make  his  way  to  Croyland. 
Presently  he  was  brought  to  the  man  of  God,  and  the  cause 
of  his  pain  related,  upon  which  Guthlac  wrapped  round  him 
the  sheepskin  rug  in  which  he  was  used  to  pray,  and  the 
thorn  darted  from  his  foot,  as  quick  as  thought,  like  an 
arrow  from  a  bow.  The  same  hour  all  the  inflammation 
ceased,  and  the  sick  man,  restored  to  health,  gave  thanks  to 
God  with  those  who  were  witnesses  of  his  cure. 

It  happened  that  Chad  the  bishop,1  with  certain  monks 
and  laymen,  came  to  visit  Guthlac,  and  during  their  journey 
had  various  conversations  about  the  holy  man.  The 
bishop,  finding  the  holy  man  enlightened  by  divine  grace 
and  full  of  wisdom  in  expounding  the  holy  scriptures,  com- 
1  St.  Chad,  bishop  of  Dorchester,  676— July  6,  705. 


92  ORDEEICUS  YITALIS.  [B.IV.  CH.XVI. 

pelled  him  by  his  duty  of  inviolable  obedience  to  receive  the 
office  of  the  priesthood,  after  he  had  consecrated  the  church 
of  Croyland,  on  the  twelfth  of  the  calends  of  September 
[August  21st].  On  this  occasion  the  holy  man  was  forced 
to  dine  with  the  bishop,  contrary  to  his  habits.  While  there 
he  observed  Wigfrid,  the  librarian,  sitting  apart,  and  began 
to  question  him  relative  to  the  promise  he  had  made  the  day 
before  to  his  companions  on  the  road,  that  he  would  find  out 
whether  the  hermit's  piety  was  true  or  pretended.  "Wigfrid, 
blushing,  threw  himself  on  the  ground  and  asked  for  pardon, 
which  he  obtained;  while  all  were  astonished  that  their 
conversation  on  the  road  was  thus  revealed  by  the  Spirit  of 
God  to  the  holy  saint. 

The  very  reverend  abbess  Egburg,  daughter  of  King 
Aldulf,1  having  humbly  requested  Guthlac  by  her  messenger, 
he  accepted  from  her  a  leaden  coffin,  with  a  shroud  to  wrap 
his  corpse  after  his  death ;  and  when  he  was  asked  who 
would  be  his  successor  in  that  place,  he  answered,  that  he 
was  still  a  heathen.  This  happened ;  for  Cessa,  who  after- 
wards occupied  his  cell,  was  baptized  some  time  afterwards 
in  Brittany.  Child-Ethelbald,s  who  was  driven  from  place 
to  place  by  the  persecutions  of  King  Ceolred,3  when  hia 
strength  was  exhausted  by  the  sufferings  he  underwent, 
came,  as  he  was  wont,  to  the  man  of  God,  that  when  human 
counsels  failed  he  might  obtain  those  that  were  divine. 
Guthlac  administered  to  him  the  kindest  consolations,  pro- 
mising him,  by  inspiration  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  the  throne 
of  his  kingdom  and  the  government  of  the  people,  and  the 
subjection  of  his  enemies ;  and  all  this,  not  by  force  of  arms, 
and  shedding  of  blood,  but  by  the  hand  of  the  Lord.  These 
things  came  to  pass  in  the 'manner  the  man  of  God  pre- 
dicted, for  Ceolred  died  and  Ethelbald  ascended  the  throne. 

After  having  spent  fifteen  years  in  his  hermitage,  the 
venerable  Guthlac  fell  sick  four  days  before  Easter;  but 
making  an  effort  beyond  his  strength  he  got  up  and  cele- 
brated mass  on  Easter  day.  On  the  seventh  day  of  his 
sickness  he  gave  orders  to  Beccel  his  servant,  that  when  he 

1  Aldulf,  kin*  of  East  Anglia  in  Bede's  time,  664 — 680  or  683. 

C/i/o;  "Child  and  Etheling,"  were  the  Anglo-Saxon  titles  for  the  heir 
apparent 
*  Ceolred,  king  of  Mercia,  709—716. 


A.D.  714.]  DEATH   OF   ST.  GUTHLAC.  93 

was  dead  he  should  fetch  his  sister  Pega  to  wind  his  corpse 
in  the  shroud  placed  in  the  coffin  which  Egburg  had  sent 
him.  Then  Beccel  began  to  pray  and  conjure  the  man  of 
God  to  tell  him  before  his  death,  who  it  was  with  whom  he 
heard  him  converse  every  morning  and  evening.  The  kind- 
hearted  champion  of  God,  taking  breath,  after  a  short 
interval  replied :  "  My  son,  give  yourself  no  concern  on  that 
account.  What  I  would  not  reveal  to  any  one  during  my 
life  1  shall  now  open  to  you.  From  the  second  year  of  my 
dwelling  in  this  hermitage,  the  Lord  sent  an  angel  morning 
and  evening  to  comfort  me  by  his  discourse ;  and  he  made 
known  to  me  mysteries  which  it  is  not  lawful  for  man  to 
relate ;  he  alleviated  the  sufferings  of  my  painful  labours 
by  heavenly  consolations ;  and  he  showed  to  me  things 
absent  as  if  they  were  present.  0  my  son,  preserve  my 
words,  and  tell  them  to  no  one  but  to  Pega  or  the  hermit 
Egbert."  When  he  had  finished  speaking,  so  sweet  an 
odour  proceeded  from  his  mouth  that  the  perfume  filled  the 
whole  house.  The  following  night,  while  the  brother  Beccel 
was  watching,  he  perceived  the  whole  house  to  be  irradiated 
with  a  brilliant  light  from  midnight  to  the  dawn  of  day. 
As  the  sun  was  rising,  the  man  of  God,  raising  himself  up 
a  little,  and  stretching  out  his  hands  towards  the  altar, 
strengthened  himself  with  the  communion  of  the  body  and 
blood  of  Christ.  He  then  lifted  his  eyes  to  heaven  and 
raised  his  hands  on  high,  and  so  his  soul  departed  to 
everlasting  bliss  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  715. l 

Meanwhile,  Beccel  beheld  the  house  filled  with  celestial 
light,  and  what  seemed  to  be  a  tower  of  flame  raised  from 
earth  to  heaven,  compared  with  which  splendour  the  sun 
paled  its  fires  like  a  candle  at  noonday.  The  vault  of  heaven 
rung  with  angelic  chants,  while  the  whole  island  was  per- 
fumed with  the  essence  of  all  fragrant  and  spicy  odours. 
The  aforesaid  brother,  terrified  at  these  wonderful  signs, 
and  the  flashings  of  intense  light  being  insupportable,  took 
a  boat,  and  passing  over  to  Pega,  the  virgin  of  Christ,  he 
informed  her  of  what  had  taken  place,  and  communicated  to 
her  the  last  commands  of  her  brother.  She  mourned  his 
loss  with  deep  sorrow :  the  next  day  she  accompanied  the 
reverend  brother  to  Croyland,  and  the  third  she  interred 

1  A.D.  714.     Saxon  Chronicle. 


94  OBDERICUS   VITALIS.  [B.IT.  OH. XVI. 

Guthlac's  blessed  remains  in  the  oratory,  according  to  his 
wishes.  The  Lord  afterwards  wrought  there  numerous 
miracles  by  healing  the  sick,  on  account  of  the  merits  of 
his  faithful  servant.  On  the  anniversary  of  St.  Guthlac, 
his  sister  Pega  assembled  priests  and  others  of  the  ecclesias- 
tical order,  and  opened  the  grave  in  order  to  transfer  the 
corpse  into  another  tomb.  The  body  of  the  saint  was  then 
found  to  be  perfect  as  it  was  in  his  life-time,  and  the  clothes 
in  which  it  was  wrapped  were  as  white  as  ever,  and  shone 
with  all  their  former  purity.  The  whole  company  being 
astonished  and  trembling  at  the  miracle  they  saw,  Pega, 
moved  by  the  Spirit,  reverently  inclosed  the  holy  body  in 
the  shroud  which  Egburg  the  abbess  had  sent  for  that  pur- 
pose during  Guthlac's  life,  and  caused  the  coffin  to  be 
placed  above-ground,  as  a  monument ;  and  as  such  it  is 
preserved  with  reverence  to  the  present  day. 

The  exile  Ethelbald,  already  named,  on  ^hearing  of  the 
holy  man's  death,  came  to  the  spot  in  much  affliction.  He 
was  sleeping  in  a  neighbouring  hut  after  pouring  out  his 
soul  with  tears  and  prayers  at  the  tomb,  when  the  saint 
appeared  to  him,  and,  offering  him  consolation,  promised 
him  that  he  should  ascend  the  throne  before  a  year  was 
past.1  On  his  asking  a  sign,  the  saint  foretold,  that  before 
the  third  hour  of  the  morrow  an  unexpected  supply  of  food 
should  be  furnished  for  the  maintenance  of  the  dwellers  in 
Croyland ;  which  happened  accordingly.  Ethelbald,  having 
succeeded  to  the  throne,  caused  the  tomb  of  the  venerable 
Guthlac  to  be  enclosed  with  buildings  of  admirable  archi- 
tecture and  richly  ornamented. 

A  certain  master  of  a  family,  in  the  province  of  ~Wisa,J 
lost  his  eyesight  a  whole  year,  and  failed  to  recover  it  by 
the  application  of  any  sort  of  ointment.  At  length  he  was 
brought  to  Croyland,  full  of  faith,  and  seeking  a  conference 
with  the  holy  virgin  Pega,  received  permission  to  enter  the 
oratory  and  stretch  himself  by  the  side  of  the  sacred  re- 
mains. Meanwhile  Pega  dissolved  in  water  a  particle  of 

1  As  observed  in  a  former  note,  Ethelbald  succeeded  to  the  throne  of 
Mercia  in  716. 

»  In  the  narrative  of  Felix,  it  is  called  Wissa;  the  country  of  the 
Huiccii  or  Wiccii,  a  British  tribe,  who  inhabited  Worcestershire,  Warwick- 
shire, and  the  north  of  Gloucestershire. 


A.D.  716.]   FOUNDATION  OF  CROYLAND  ABBEY.         95 

salt,  which  had  been  consecrated  by  the  holy  man,  and 
inserted  some  drops  within  the  eyelids  of  the  blind  man. 
As  soon  as  the  first  drop  touched  his  eyes  the  sight  was 
restored;  and  having  recovered  it  by  the  merits  of  St. 
Guthlac,  the  master  of  a  family  offered  his  thanks.  Many 
others,  labouring  under  various  infirmities,  having  heard 
reports  of  the  miracles  of  the  blessed  Guthlac,  resorted  to 
the  marshes  of  Croyland,  where  the  holy  remains  repose, 
and,  recovering  their  health  through  his  merits,  gave  thanks 
to  God. 

Cn.  XVII.  Foundation  of  Croyland  Abbey,  by  Ethelbald, 
king  of  Mercia — Ravages  of  the  Danes — Its  restoration 
by  Turkytel — Series  of  abbots  to  Ingulphus  and  Godfrey — 
Miracles  wrought  at  the  tomb  of  Earl  Waltheof—his 
epitaph. 

THUS  far  I  have  followed  the  account  of  bishop  Felix1  in 
my  short  abridgment  of  the  acts  of  St.  Guthlac,  inserted  in 
this  work  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  edification  of  the 
faithful.  "What  now  remains  to  be  told  of  the  building  of 
Croyland  Abbey  and  its  possession  by  the  monks,  I  derive 
from  the  exact  recital  made  to  me  by  Ansgot  the  sub-prior, 
and  others  of  the  oldest  monks.  King  Ethelbald,  as  his 
blessed  comforter  was  displaying  his  glory  in  the  working 
of  miracles,  visited  his  tomb  with  joy,  and  granted  for  ever 
to  the  servants  of  the  saint  the  possessions  which  he  had 
conferred  on  him  on  mounting  the  throne.2  For  on  one 
occasion,  the  king  coming  to  Croyland  to  visit  his  patron 
before  his  departure,  the  man  of  God  asked  for  the  grant  of 
a  quiet  abode  in  the  island,  and  Ethelbald  gave  him  a  tract 
of  land  five  miles  long  on  the  east,  where  it  was  bounded  by 
a  ditch,  called  Asen-dyk,s  three  on  the  west,  two  on  the 
south,  and  two  on  the  north,  free  from  all  rent,  and  secular 

1  See  note  before,  p.  86. 

2  Ordericus  seems  to  have  forgotten  that  in  the  preceding  chapter  he 
has  made  St.  Guthlac's  death  precede  Ethelbald's  accession.     We  may 
suppose  that  this  gift  may  have  been  promised,  or  perhaps  even  made,  in 
anticipation ;  but  our  author's  language  in  the  succeeding  sentence  is  precise 
as  to  an  actual  grant  to  the  saint.     Ingulphus  gives  the  charter,  the  date  of 
which  is  716. 

s  This  ditch,  which  was  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Spalding,  lay  to  the 
north,  and  not  the  east  of  Croyland. 


96  ORDEBICUS   TITALI8.  [B.1V.  CH.rVII. 

customs  and  demands  of  every  sort.  The  charter  granting 
it  was  sealed  by  Ethelbald  in  the  presence  of  his  bishops 
and  great  men. 

The  soil  of  Croyland  being  marshy,  as  the  name  indicates, 
(for  Croyland  signifies  a  crude  or  spongy  land),  it  would 
not  allow  of  a  foundation  of  masonry,  and  therefore  king 
Ethelbald  caused  an  immense  number  of  oak  piles  to  be 
driven  into  the  ground,  and  hard  earth  to  be  conveyed  in 
boats  from  the  uplands,1  at  a  distance  of  nine  miles,  and 
mixed  with  the  loose  soil  of  the  marsh.  Thus  he  laid  the 
foundations  of  a  stone  church,  which  he  afterwards  com- 
pleted, but  St.  Guthlac'had  been  content  with  an  oratory  of 
wattled  boughs.  The  king  assembled  there  men  devoted  to 
a  religious  life,  founded  a  monastery,  enriched  it  with  orna- 
ments, revenues,  and  other  possessions,  in  honour  of  God  and 
the  holy  hermit  to  whom  he  had  been  firmly  attached  by 
reason  of  the  soothing  consolation  he  had  often  received 
from  him  during  his  banishment.  He  showed  his  regard  for 
the  place  all  his  life,  and  since  its  first  foundation  by  this 
king  the  house  of  Croyland  has  not  ceased  to  be  a  settlement 
of  monks  to  the  present  day.  Kenulf,2  who  governed  the 
monastery  of  St.  Guthlac  for  some  time,  had  a  great  reputa- 
tion in  those  days,  and  from  him  the  boundary  stone  which 
he  set  up  between  the  abbey  lands  and  those  of  the  people 
of  Deeping,3  is  still  called  Kenulf-stan. 

England  was  soon  afterwards  shaken  by  the  tempests  of 
successive  wars,  and  the  native  kings  being  defeated  by 
Inguar,  Halfdene,  and  Guthrum,4  and  other  Danish  and 
Norwegian  chiefs,  the  abbey  of  Croyland  was  ravaged,  like 
many  others ;  it  was  stripped  of  its  ornaments,  the  farms 
laid  waste,  and  subjected  to  laymen  contrary  to  canonical 
law.  But  the  divine  goodness,  which  sometimes  allows  the 
wicked  to  prevail  for  a  season  to  punish  the  people's  sins, 
saw  fit,  after  their  chastisement,  to  restore  quiet  times  under 
the  government  of  their  lawful  rulers.  The  cruel  tyrants 

1  "  Uppalonda:"  our  author  has  coined  a  Latin  word  to  render  literally 
an  old  English  phrase. 

*  Kenulf  was  a  monk  of  Evesham  when  Ethelbald  selected  him  to  take 
the  charge  of  the  new  establishment  at  Croyland. 

•  Deepingenses.     The  village  is  situated  to  the  west  of  Croyland. 
Inguar,   870;    Hdlfdene,    876;    Guthrum,   877—890.     The   Danish 

invasions  began  in  the  early  part  of  the  reign  of  Ethelwulf,  837—857. 


A.D.  948 957.]  ABBOT    TUEKTTEL.  97 

who  had  murdered  St.  Edmund,  king  of  the  East  Angles,  and 
numbers  of  the  faithful,  and  had  given  the  churches  of  the 
saints  and  the  habitations  of  Christian  men  to  the  flames, 
were,  by  God's  help,  destroyed,  subjugated,  or  expelled ; 
Alfred,  son  of  King  Ethelwulf,  obtaining  the  ascendancy,  and 
being  the  first  of  the  English  kings  who  was  monarch  of  all 
England.  After  him,  his  son  Edward,  surnamed  the  Elder, 
had  a  long  and  prosperous  reign,  and  at  his  death  left  his 
dominions  to  his  three  sons,  Athelstan,  Edmund,  and  Edred. 
All  these  successively  ascended  the  throne  of  England,  and 
each  in  his  time  exerted  himself  to  govern  well  and  benefit 
his  subjects.1 

In  the  time  of  king  Edred,  a  clerk  at  London  named 
Turkytel  asked  the  king  to  give  him  the  abbey  of  Croyland, 
with  which  request  the  king  willingly  complied.  This  clerk 
was  of  the  royal  race,  and  a  relation  of  Oskytel2  metropolitan 
of  Tork  ;  he  was  very  wealthy,  having  vast  domains,  all  which 
he  thought  of  no  value  compared  with  the  heavenly  inheri- 
tance. He  had  asked  Croylaud  of  the  king,  as  we  have 
already  seen,  not  to  increase  his  possessions,  but  because  he 
knew  the  religious  men  who  dwelt  in  its  solitudes  surrounded 
by  swamps  and  marshes,  and  determined  to  devote  himself 
there  to  God's  worship,  spurning  all  the  delights  of  the 
present  world.  Having  therefore  ordered  his  affairs  with 
prudence,  he  became  a  monk  of  Croyland ;  and  the  number  of 
monks  having  been  increased  by  his  zeal,  he  became  their 
superior  and  abbot,  by  the  will  of  God  and  lawful  election  of 
the  brethren.  Turkytel  was  an  intimate  friend  of  some  of  the 
holy  bishops  who  then  presided  over  the  English  church. 

1  It  is  singular  that,  among  so  many  circumstantial  details  connected 
with  the  history  of  Croyland  abbey,  our  author,  alter  describing  its  flour- 
ishing state  at  its  first  foundation,  should  proceed  to  give  an  account  of  its 
restoration  after  the  devastations   of  the   Danes,  without  any  particular 
account   of  that   memorable  passage  in  its  annals.      This  is   the   more 
extraordinary  as  the  preceding  paragraph  has  the  character  of  a  peroration 
preparatory  to  some  precise  information  on  the  subject  of  this  disaster,  and 
it  would  almost  appear  that  a  paragraph  containing  it  is  wanting. 

2  Turkytel  and  Oskytel  are  clearly  Danish  names,  as  were  those  of  some 
of  the  first  abbots  and  monks  of  Croyland  after  its  restoration,  and  many  of 
their   domains   betray  the  same  origin.     In  fact,  Croyland   became  the 
favourite  religious  house  and  seat  of  education  of  the  Anglo-Danes,  who 
formed  so  large  a  part  of  the  population  of  the  middle  and  eastern  districts 
of  England. 

VOL.  IT.  H 


98  ORDERICTJS   VITALIS.  [B.IY.  CH.XTII. 

Dunstan,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Ethelwold,  bishop  of 
Winchester,  and  Oswald,  bishop  of  "Worcester,  afterwards 
archbishop  of  York,  by  -whose  counsels  he  earnestly  strove 
to  be  guided.  He  was,  as  I  have  before  remarked,  of  high 
birth,  and,  inheriting  sixty  manors  from  his  ancestors,  he 
gave  for  the  good  of  their  souls  six  vills  to  the  abbey  of 
Croyland,  viz.,  Wendlinburg,  Beby,  Wridthorpe,  Elminton, 
Cottenham,  and  Oakiugton.1  The  charter  was  confirmed  by 
the  seal  of  the  powerful  king  Edgar,  son  of  King  Edmund. 
Archbishop  Dunstan  also  and  his  suffragans  ratified  the 
grant  of  the  aforesaid  lands  by  making  the  sign  of  the  cross 
on  the  charter,  and  the  archbishop  denounced  the  penalty  of 
excommunication,*  and  eternal  malediction  on  those  who 
should  plunder  the  church  of  any  of  the  possessions  before 
named,  unless  they  made  sufficient  amends. 

A  long  time  afterwards,  Turkytel  having  died  on  the 
4th  of  the  ides  [12th]  of  July,3  was  succeeded  by  his  nephew 
Egelric,  who  on  his  death  left  the  ahbey  of  Croyland  to 
another  Egelric,  his  kinsman.  At  his  decease  Oskytel,  a 
monk  who  was  of  the  royal  race,  was  made  abbot.  His 
sister  Leniova  was  abbess  of  Eynesbury,4  where  the  body  of 
St.  Neot,  abbot  and  confessor,4  then  lay,  but  the  service  was 
not  such  as  befitted  the  memory  of  so  great  a  saint.  In 
consequence,  this  lady  removed  to  "Whittlesea,  and  invited 
there  abbot  Oskytel  her  brother,  and  some  monks  of  Croy- 
land, and  delivered  to  them  the  body  of  St.  Neot,  which  she 
had  brought  there  with  all  honour,  thinking  them  more 
worthy  than  herself.  The  monks  received  with  joy  the  gift 
God  had  sent  them,  and  deposited  it  with  great  ceremony 
near  the  altar  of  St.  Mary,  mother  of  God,  on  the  north 

1  See  the  charter  in  Ingulphus.  Its  date  is  966.  Beby  is  in  Leicester- 
shire, Wridthorpe  and  Elminton  in  Northamptonshire,  and  Cottenham  and 
Oakington  in  Cambridgeshire. 

*  Dunstan's  name  appears  subscribed  to  the  charter  of  Edgar,  but  the 
instrument  denouncing  the  excommunication  is  a  distinct  document. 

s  In  the  year  957. 

*  In  Huntingdonshire.    The  ancient  name  of  this  place  was  Arnulphs- 
bury. 

*  St  Neot  was  the  founder  of  an  abbey,  which  bore  his  name,  near 
Liskeard  in  Cornwall.     He  afterwards  founded   another   at   Eynesbury, 
where  he  ended  his  days.     He  died  about  the  year  877.     St.  Neot's  in 
Huntingdonshire  became  ultimately  a  priory  of  Bee. 


A.D.  957 — 1052.]   ABBOT  OP  CEOTLAJTD.  99 

side  of  their  church.  To  this  day  it  is  the  object  of  the 
faithful's  veneration,  and  St.  Neot's  feast  is  kept  on  the 
second  of  the  calends  of  August  [31st  July].  On  the  death 
of  Oskytel,  on  the  twelfth  of  the  calends  of  November 
[21st  October],1  he  was  succeeded  by  Goodrich,  who  going 
the  way  of  all  flesh  on  the  fourteenth  of  the  calends  of 
February  [14th  January],2  Brihtmer  was  appointed  abbot. 

At  that  time  there  was  a  convent  at  Pegeland,3  presided 
over  by  an  abbot  named  Wulfgate,  a  man  of  noble  birth. 
There  Pega,  St.  Guthlac's  sister,  was  for  a  long  time  a  servant 
of  the  Lord.  After  her  brother's  death,  she  used  all  her 
endeavours  to  wear  out  her  life  for  the  love  of  Christ,  by 
still  severer  austerities.  She  therefore  undertook  a  pilgrim- 
age to  Rome,  to  pray  at  the  threshold  of  the  holy  apostles 
for  herself  and  her  kinsfolk,  and  she  there  triumphantly 
departed  on  the  sixth  of  the  ides  [8th]  of  January.4  Her 
remains  repose  in  the  church  built  at  Borne  to  her  honour 
by  the  faithful,  and  are  in  high  veneration  for  the  many 
benefits  conferred  by  her  on  those  who  faithfully  invoke 
her. 

Brihtmer,  abbot  of  Croyland,  having  died  on  the  seventh 
of  the  ides  [7th]  of  April,5  Wulfgate,  the  superior  of  the 
monastery  of  Pegeland,  asked  permission  of  King  Edward, 
son  of  Ethelred,  to  unite  the  flocks  of  the  two  monasteries, 
and  to  make  of  them,  for  God's  glory,  a  single  convent, 
under  one  abbot  and  one  rule,  which  the  king  soon  af- 
terwards graciously  acceded  to.  After  having  the  charge 
of  Croyland  for  a  number  of  years,  Wulfgate  died  on  the 
nones  [7th]  of  July,6  and  Ulfkytel,  a  monk  of  Peterborough, 
by  permission  of  his  abbot  Leofric,  received  the  government 
of  the  abbey  of  Croyland  from  King  Edward.  He  held  it 
twenty- four  years,  and  began  the  building  of  a  new  church, 
the  old  one  threatening  to  fall  to  ruins.  His  great  patron 
in  this  undertaking  was  Waltheof,  earl  of  Northampton, 

1  In  the  year  1005. 

a  In  1018. 

'  "  Now  Peakirk  in  Northamptonsire." — Le  Privost. 

*  Pega's  journey  to  Rome  is  supposed  to  have  been  made  in  the  year 
717,  but  we  have  no  account  of  the  honour  paid  to  her  memory,  or  of  the 
church  dedicated  to  her  in  that  city. 

5  In  the  yeor  1048. 

*  In  1052 ;  Wulfgate,  therefore,  was  abbot  only  four  years. 

H  2 


100  OBDEHICTTS   VITALIS.  [B.tV.  CH.XTIT. 

son  of  Siward,  earl  of  Northumbria,  who  gave  the  vill  of 
Baraack1  to  the  servants  of  God  and  St.  Guthlac.  Not 
long  afterwards  the  malice  of  the  Normans,  who  were 
jealous  of  him,  and  feared  his  distinguished  qualities,  brought 
him  to  the  block,  at  Winchester,  contrary  to  all  justice,  and 
to  the  great  grief  of  the  people  at  large,  on  the  day  before 
the  calends  of  June  [30th  May],  his  body  being  carried  to 
Croyland  by  Abbot  TJlfkytel,  at  the  entreaty  of  his  wife 
Judith,  and  by  permission  of  King  William. 

Not  long  afterwards,  this  abbot,  who  was  English  born, 
and  therefore  disliked  by  the  Normans,  being  accused  by 
his  competitors,  was  deposed  by  archbishop  Lanfranc, 
and  sent  into  confinement  at  Glastonbury.2  Upon  this, 
the  abbey  of  Croyland  was  conferred  by  King  William 
on  Ingulfus,  a  monk  of  Fontenelles ;  and  he  governed  it 
twenty-four  years  in  difficult  circumstances.  He  was  an 
Englishman  by  birth,  had  been  secretary  to  the  king,3  and 
made  a  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem.  On  his  return,  he  went 
to  Fontenelles  and  assumed  the  monastic  habit  under  Abbot 
Gerbert,  from  whom,  having  made  proficiency  in  the  con- 
ventual rules,  he  received  the  oflice  of  prior.  The  king, 
who  had  long  known  him,  requested  his  abbot  to  give  him 
up,  and  sent  him  to  preside  over  the  monks  of  Croyland. 
After  he  became  abbot,  he  kindly  used  his  influence  with 
King  William  on  behalf  of  his  predecessor,  and  obtained 
permission  for  him  to  return  to  Peterborough  abbey,  of 
which  he  had  been  a  monk,  and  where  he  died  some  years 
afterwards  on  the  7th  of  the  ides  [7th]  of  June.4 

Meanwhile,  abbot  Ingulfus  did  all  he  could  to  benefit  the 
monastery  of  which  he  had  undertaken  the  charge ;  but  he 
had,  by  God's  will,  to  struggle  with  many  difficulties.  In 
the  first  place,  part  of  the  abbey  church,  with  the  sacristy, 

Barnack  in  Northamptonshire,  celebrated  for  its  quarries. 
In  1075.     The   installation   of  Ingulphus   took    place  the  25th   of 
January,  1 076.     See  in  his  history  details  of  the  ceremony,  and  the  circum- 
stances which  preceded  it 

3  He  was  employed  by  William  in  that  capacity  during  his  visit  to 

fingUad  m  I05J.     When  the  invading  expedition  was  fitting  out  in  1066, 

Ingulphus,  as  prior  of  Fontenelles,  or  St.  Wandrille,  presented  the  duke,  on 

tie  part  of  his  abbot  Gerbert,  twelve  knights  and  one  hundred  silver  marks 

as  the  contingent  of  that  abbey. 

*  Ulfkytel  died  the  30th  of  September,  1085. 


A.D.  107G — 1109.]       INGULPH,  ABBOT  OF  CROYLAND.  101 

vestments,  books,  and  many  other  necessary  articles,  were 
consumed  by  a  fire  which  broke  out  suddenly.1  Then,  he 
himself,  being  grievously  afflicted  with  the  gout,  was  in  a 
bad  state  of  health  long  before  his  death,  but  his  active 
mind  would  not  allow  the  society  to  suffer  by  his  infirmities. 
Ingulphus  caused  the  remains  of  Earl  Waltheof  to  be  trans- 
ferred from  the  chapter-house  into  the  church,  and  ordered 
warm  water  to  be  got  ready  to  wash  the  bones.  But  when, 
the  lid  of  the  coffin  was  removed,  the  corpse  was  discovered 
to  be  as  sound  after  its  repose  of  sixteen  years  as  on  the 
day  it  was  buried,  and  the  head  was  reunited  to  the  body ; 
only  there  was  a  red  streak  round  the  neck  where  the  head 
had  been  severed ;  and  this  was  seen  by  the  monks  and 
several  laymen  who  had  gathered  round.  The  body  having 
been  thus  translated  into  the  church,  and  interred  with 
great  ceremony  near  the  altar,2  miracles  were  often  per- 
formed there.  The  truth  of  this  is  experienced  by  the  sick, 
who,  seeking  their  cure  in  faith,  frequently  obtain  the  benefit 
they  implore. 

At  length,  Abbot  Ingulph,  dying  on  the  sixteenth  of  the 
calends  of  December  [16th  November],3  he  was  succeeded 
by  Geoffrey,  who  conferred  many  benefits  on  the  abbey  of 
Croyland  and  its  inhabitants,  through  his  love  of  goodness 
and  virtue.  He  was  a  Frenchman  by  birth,  of  the  city  of 
Orleans,  and  having  pursued  liberal  studies  from  an  early 
age,  and  become  deeply  versed  in  literature,  took  a  distaste 
to  worldly  objects,  and,  inflamed  with  divine  love,  devoted 
himself  to  a  monastic  life  in  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult, 
which  that  saint  had  founded  at  Ouche  in  the  time  of 
Childebert,  king  of  the  Franks.4  In  that  monastery  where 
piety  is  more  abundant  than  wealth,  Geoffrey  becoming  a 
novice  under  Abbot  Mainier,  whose  zeal  procured  him  a  great 
reputation,  after  a  time  took  the  vows  and  became  a  monk, 
and  having  worthily  filled  various  offices  was  promoted  to 

1  This  fire  happened  in  1091. 

2  This  translation  was  also  made  in  the  year  1091. 

3  The  real  date  of  Ingulphus's  death  was  the  1/th  of  December,  1109. 
He  was  interred  on  St.  Thomas's  day,  the  21st. 

4  Childebert  I.  died  in  558.     St  Evroult  retired  to  the  forest  of  Ouche 
about  the  year  560.     Our  author  probably  means  Childebert  II.,  king  of 
Austrasia,  who  paid  a  visit  to  the  holy  monk  about  the  year  593,  as  we  find 
in  b.  vi.  c.  9. 


102  OEDEBTCUS   TITAL1S.  [B.IT.  CH.3TIT. 

that  of  prior  fifteen  years  after  his  profession.  At  last,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  1109,1  by  command  of  Henry  king  of 
England,  he  undertoook  the  government  of  the  abbey  of 
Croyland.  He  began  the  new  church  in  a  splendid  style  cf 
architecture,  and  many  other  useful  works  ;  and  during  the 
fifteen  years  he  held  the  dignity  of  abbot,  earnestly  la- 
boured for  their  completion,  for  the  benefit  of  his  own  soul 
and  of  those  committed  to  his  charge. 

In  the  third  year  of  abbot  Ingulph,  miracles  began  to 
be  wrought  at  the  tomb  of  Earl  "Waltheof,  the  news  of  which 
caused  great  delight  among  his  countrymen.  The  English 
common  people  crowded  in  great  numbers  to  his  tomb, 
hearing  that  God  had  honoured  him  with  many  significant 
tokens  of  his  merits,  and  both  exhibiting  their  joy  at  this 
new  thing,  and  interceding  for  succour  in  their  various  ne- 
cessities. On  seeing  this,  a  Norman  monk  whose  name  was 
Audin,  was  much  enraged,  laughing  at  the  crowd  of  votaries 
and  mocking  and  disparaging  the  earl  himself,  and  giving 
out  that  he  was  a  base  traitor  and  deserved  to  lose  his  head 
for  his  crime,  as  he  had  done.  Abbot  Geoffrey,  hearing  of 
this,  mildly  expostulated  with  Audin,  as  he  was  a  foreigner, 
reminding  him  that  it  was  sinful  to  disparage  the  divine 
operations,  because  God  had  promised  to  display  his  pre- 
sence to  the  faithful  to  the  end  of  the  world,  and  had  de- 
clared that  the  sincerely  penitent  should  drink  of  the 
fountain  of  his  inexhaustible  mercy.  However,  while  the 
abbot  was  thus  endeavouring  to  restrain  his  folly,  and  he 
vented  his  spleen  in  words  which  became  continually  more 
unbeseeming,  he  was  suddenly  seized  with  fainting  at  the 
heart  in  the  abbot's  presence,  and  died  a  few  days  after- 
wards in  the  church  of  St.  Alban  the  first  English  martyr ; 
•where  he  had  made  his  monastic  profession.  The  following 
night,  when  Abbot  Geoffrey  was  lying  on  his  bed  reflecting 
anxiously  on  the  events  just  related,  he  presently  saw 
himself  in  a  vision  at  the  tomb  of  Earl  Waltheof,  and 
the  holy  saints,  Bartholomew  the  apostle  and  Guthlac  the 
hermit,  standing  near  in  robes  of  shining  white.  The  apostle, 
as  appeared  in  the  vision,  laid  his  hand  on  the  head  of  the 
earl  reunited  to  the  body,  saying:  "He  is  not  headless." 
Guthlac,  who  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  corpse,  now  took  up  the 
1  Abbot  Geoffrey  was  installed  on  Palm  Sunday,  1110. 


A.D.  112.]     EAEL  WALTIIEOF'S  TOMB  AND  EPITAPH.          103 

word,  and  said:  "He  was  an  earl".  .  . .  The  apostle  inter- 
rupted the  speaker  and  thus  finished  the  sentence  :  "  And  is 
now  a  king."1  The  abbot  having  heard  these  things  and  re- 
ported them  to  the  brethren,  they  were  filled  with  joy  and 
gave  glory  to  the  Lord  God,  who  in  all  ages  never  ceases  to 
show  his  mercy  to  those  who  believe  in  him.  Having  spent 
fifteen  years  in  his  government,  the  venerable  abbot  and  priest 
Geoffrey  died  on  the  nones  [5tb]  of  June ;  and  was  succeeded 
by  Waltheof,  an  Englishman  and  monk  of  Croyland,  who 
was  brother  of  Earl  Cospatrick,2  and  of  high  English  lineage. 
Miracles  becoming  more  frequent  at  Croyland  the  monks 
were  filled  with  joy,  and  wishing  to  pay  all  the  honour  in 
their  power  to  the  remains  of  the  great  earl,  engaged  Vita- 
lis,  the  Englishman,  to  write  his  epitaph  in  heroic  verse. 
Paying  a  ready  obedience  to  their  request,  after  some 
reflection,  he  repeated  the  following  verses : — 

Beneath  this  stone  a  noble  warrior  lies, 

Earl  Waltheof,  great  in  arms,  in  council  wise ; 

Stout  Siward's  son,  'twas  his  an  ancient  race 

Through  Danish  Juris,  Northumbrian  earls  to  trace. 

But  honours,  power,  and  riches  counting  dross, 

With  contrite  heart  he  knelt  before  the  cross : 

For  Christ  he  loved,  his  righteous  judgments  feared, 

His  servants  honour'd,  and  his  saints  revered. 

But  chief,  where  Croyland  spreads  her  wide  domain, 

And  holy  Guthlac  holds  his  mystic  reign, 

He  joyed  to  tread  the  cloister's  hallowed  ground, 

Her  monks  he  cherish'd,  and  her  altnrs  crown'd. 

On  Winton's  hill  the  patriot  bow'd  his  head, 

By  Norman  malice  numbered  with  the  dead. 

Ah,  fatal  last  of  May  !'     Unrighteous  doom  ! 

Now  marshy  Croyland  boasts  her  patron's  tomb, 

Where,  living,  oft  he  came  an  honour'd  guest : 

God  rest  his  soul  in  mansions  of  the  blest ! 

The  death  of  Earl  "Waltheof  was  the  cause  of  much  censure 

1  This  vision  of  the  Abbot  Geoff/  ey  is  related  in  much  the  same  language, 
but  with  some  difference  of  circumstances,  by  Peter  de  Blois,  the  continuer 
of  Ingulphus.  It  falls  under  the  year  1112,  as  well  as  the  chastisement 
divinely  inflicted  on  the  monk  Audin. 

*  Cospatric  was  made  earl  of  Northumbria  after  Copsi's  death. 

1  This  date  is  exact,  and  it  is  difficult  to  understand  how  Ordericus,  who 
must  have  had  it  clearly  in  his  memory,  as  the  composer  of  these  verses, 
should  have  made  the  mistake  respecting  it  which  occurs  just  before.  See 
p.  85. 


104)  ORDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.IT.  CH.XVIIT. 

on  King  William  from  many  quarters,  and  numerous  were 
the  troubles,  which  by  the  righteous  judgment  of  God  he 
afterwards  suffered  from  various  attacks  which  never  after- 
wards permitted  him  to  enjoy  any  continuance  of  tranquillity. 
He  indeed,  such  was  his  resolution,  still  maintained  a 
manful  struggle  against  all  his  enemies,  but  success  did  not 
attend  his  enterprises  as  it  had  done  before,  nor  were  his 
conflicts  often  crowned  with  victory.  In  the  thirteen  years 
which  he  afterwards  lived,  he  never  won  a  pitched  battle, 
nor  succeeded  in  taking  a  town  he  besieged.  The  Almighty 
Judge  disposes  all  events  aright,  suffering  no  crime  to  go 
unpunished,  in  this  world  or  the  next. 

CH.  XVllI.  King  William  invades  Brittany  and  lays  siege 
to  Dol — Precipitate  retreat — The  Duke  Alan  Fergan 
marries  the  king's  daughter  Constance — Her  character 
and  death. 

KINO  WILLIAM  being  desirous  to  extend  the  frontiers  of 
his  dominions,  and  to  reduce  the  Bretons  under  the  same 
subjection  which  they  had  formerly  been  forced  to  pay  to 
Eollo  and  "William  [Long-sword]  and  other  dukes  of  Nor- 
mandy, he  laid  siege  to  the  town  of  Dol,  endeavouring  to 
terrify  the  townsmen  with  tremendous  threats,  and  swearing 
a  great  oath  that  he  would  not  raise  the  siege  till  he  had 
taken  the  place.  But  by  the  overruling  will  of  God, 
things  turned  out  very  differently ;  for  while  the  king, 
having  pitched  his  tents,  was  swelling  with  pride,  and 
glorying  in  his  riches  and  power,  news  was  brought  him 
that  Alan  Fergan,  earl  of  Brittany,  was  at  hand  with  large 
bodies  of  troops,  hastening  to  the  relief  of  the  besieged 
town.  Alarmed  at  the  intelligence,  King  "William  patched 
up  a  peace  with  the  defenders  of  the  place,  who  had  as  yet 
received  no  account  of  the  approaching  succour,  and  de- 
camped at  once.  But  his  retreat  was  attended  with  severe 
loss,  for  in  their  haste  the  royal  army  was  forced  to  abandon 
their  tents,  baggage,  arms,  and  all  kinds  of  utensils  and 
equipments,  the  value  of  which  was  estimated,  to  their  deep 
grief,  at  15,000  pounds  sterling.1  The  politic  king,  finding 

1  This  disastrous  expedition  of  King  William  into  Brittany  belongs  to 
the  year  1075,  according  to  the  opinion  of  Simeon  of  Durham  and  Roper 
de  Hoveden.  His  disgraceful  retreat  was  caused  not  merely  by  the 


A.D.  1075.]        WILLIAM    I.    I5TVADES    BEITTAXT.  105 

that  he  could  not  conquer  the  Bretons  by  force  of  arms, 
prudently  adopted  measures  more  advantageous  to  himseL 
and  his  successors,  concluding  a  treaty  of  peace  with  Alan 
Fergan,  and  giving  him  his  daughter  Constance  in  marriage, 
the  ceremonies  of  which  were  conducted  with  great  state  at 
Caen.1  Constance  lived  virtuously  nearly  fifteen  years  with 
her  husband,  studying  her  subjects'  good,  and  that  of  all 
connected  with  her.  Diffusing  around  her  the  balm  of 
peace,  she  was  kind  to  the  poor,  and  treated  with  great 
respect  all  the  servants  of  God,  who  were  greatly  afflicted 
at  her  death,  and  the  more  so  as  she  left  no  offspring.  All 
right-minded  persons  in  Brittany  would  have  been  exceed- 
ingly delighted  if  there  had  been  any  issue  from  this  happy 
marriage  to  govern  them  worthily,  holding  fairly,  from  their 
innate  goodness,  the  balance  of  justice  among  the  indomi- 
table Bretons,  and  curbing  them  by  the  restraints  of  the  di- 
vine law  and  civilization.  Earl  Alan  Fergan,  after  the  death 
of  Constance,  married  the  count  of  Anjou's  daughter,  by 
whom  he  had  a  son  named  Conan,  to  whom  Henry,  king  of 
England,  lately  gave  his  daughter  in  marriage  to  cement  the 
peace  between  them.* 

CH.  XIX.     Short  notice  ofAinard,  allot  of  St.  Pierre-sur- 
Dive — His  epitaph. 

ABOUT  this  time,  the  revered  Ainard,  first  abbot  of  Dive, 
Mas  obliged  to  take  to  his  bed,  and,  having  caused  all  that  is 
befitting  a  servant  of  God  to  be  done  on  his  behalf,  departed 
this  life  on  the  nineteenth  of  the  calends  of  February 
[14th  January] ?  He  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  well 
taught  in  both  sciences,  as  well  as  accomplished  in  versi- 
fying, chanting,  and  composing  charming  music.  This  is 

approach  of  Alan  Fergan,  but  by  intelligence  that  the  king  of  France  in 
person  was  marching  to  threaten  his  rear. 

1  "  We  can  hardly  suppose  that  this  marriage  was  contracted  imme- 
diately after   the   disastrous   expedition   against   Dol,  nor   can  we,   with 
Lobmeau,  fix  it  in  the   year   1086,  during  which  William  did  not  quit 
England.     We  therefore  think  that  it  took  place  about  the  year  1077." — 
Le  Prevost. 

2  Constance  died  on  the   13th  of  August,  1090,  without  leaving  any 
children.      Alan  Fergan  married  again,  in  1093,  Ermengarde,  daughter  of 
Fulk  le  Rechin.     Conan  III.,  their  son,  married  Matilda,  the  illegitimate 
daughter  of  Henry  I.     This  union  produced  bitter  fruits,  for  he  was  under 
the  necessity  of  publicly  disclaiming  the  only  son  who  was  the  issue  of  it. 

3  In  the  year  1078. 


100  OBDEHICTJS  YITALIS.  [B.IY.  CH.XIX. 

proved  by  his  histories  of  Kilian,  bishop  of  "Wurtzbourg,1 
Catherine  the  Virgin,  and  many  elegant  canticles  which  he 
composed  in  praise  of  the  Creator.  Burning  with  zeal  for 
religion  in  his  youth,  he  sought  out  Abbot  Isembert,  and 
voluntarily  submitted  himself  to  his  discipline  for  the  love 
of  God,  and  made  his  profession  as  a  monk  in  the  convent 
of  the  Holy  Trinity  founded  by  Groscelin  d'  Arques2  on  the 
hill  at  Eouen  to  the  west  of  the  city.  Thence  he  was 
removed  by  the  rulers  of  the  church  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1046,  and  set  upon  a  candlestick,  that  he  might  give  light 
to  all  that  are  in  the  house.  Having  been  consecrated  abbot 
of  Dive,3  built  by  the  countess  Lesceline,  wife  of  "William 
count  d'Eu,  he  profitably  filled  the  charge  he  had  received, 
both  by  his  life  and  teaching,  for  thirty-one  years,  when  at 
last,  old  and  full  of  days,  he  finished  his  course.  The  vene- 
rable Durandus,  abbot  of  Troarn,  interred  his  body  in  the 
church  of  St.  Mary,  and  composed  some  memorable  verses 
to  be  engraved  on  the  face  of  his  tomb,  in  which  the  moral 
virtues  of  Abbot  Ainard,  and  the  Christian  graces  with 
which  he  was  divinely  inspired,  are  thus  described  :  — 

Odours  breathe  from  AINARD'S  tomb, 
Like  the  spikenard's  rich  perfume  ; 
While  his  virtues  blooming  round 
Flower  in  consecrated  ground. 
He  with  boundless  cost  and  care 
Reared  this  holy  house  of  prayer  ; 
Here  he  spent  his  peaceful  life, 
Lamb-like,  innocent  of  strife  ; 
Gave  to  learning  all  his  days, 
Speeding  on  in  wisdom's  ways  : 
Sober,  honest,  chaste,  and  mild, 
Humble,  simple  as  a  child, 
Save  when,  in  his  high  degree, 
Bearing  modest  dignity. 
When  the  new  year's  wintry  sun 
Fourteen  times  its  course  had  run,1 

'  St>  ^jJif1'  a?  Injh  bi"n°P.  Preached  the  gospel  in  Franconia  about 
ofJulr*689  "U  martvrd°m,  with  his  two  companions,  the  8th 

»  Isembert,  a  fellow  countryman  of  Aynard's,  became  in  1033,  abbot  of 
the  monastery  founded  near  Rouen  by  the  viscount  Goscelin  d'Arques, 

"^f  Ste  X'eriL  *  *"  ^  Wbidl  *  afterWar 

For  particulars  respecting  this  abbey,  see  vol.  L  p.  382. 


to 


A.D.  1078.]  EPITAPH   OF    ABBOT   AIKAKD.  107 

With  shrunk  form  and  hoary  head 
He  was  number'd  with  the  dead. 
Passing  stranger  !  breathe  a  prayer 
That  he  may  Christ's  mercy  share. 

The  widowed  church  of  Dive,  on.  the  loss  of  her  former 
lord,  was  given  to  Fulk,  prior  of  St.  Evroult,  who  was  con- 
secrated abbot  by  Robert  bishop  of  Seez.  He  governed 
that  house  for  many  years  in  the  time  of  King  William  and 
several  under  duke  Robert  II.,  and  advanced  it  nobly  as 
opportunity  occurred.2  This  lord  carried  with  him  from  St. 
Evroult  the  monks  Bernard,  surnamed  Matthew,  his  cousin, 
Richard,  AVilliam  de  Montreuil,  and  Turketel,  quick  and 
skilful  copyists,  and  well  skilled  in  the  services  of  the 
church.  These  were  his  peaceful  coadjutors,  and  took  the  lead 
in  zealously  putting  their  shoulders  to  God's  work  both  by 
day  and  night,  saying  cheerfully  to  others  their  associates 
by  word  and  unwearied  example,  "Come  with  us  to  Bethel."3 

CH.  XX.  Quarrels  between  the  sons  of  King  William — 
Robert  attempts  to  seize  Rouen  by  surprise — Sis  followers 
dispersed — The  Icing  marches  against  the  malcontents. 

ROBEBT,  the  king's  son,  it  is  reported,  was  the  cause  and 
fomenter  of  the  disturbances  which  broke  out  as  we  have 
seen,  between  the  people  of  Maine  and  the  Normans ;  for 
Duke  William,  both  before  the  battle  of  Senlac,4  and  after- 
wards at  a  time  when  he  fell  sick,  had  declared  his  eldest 
son  Robert  his  heir,  causing  all  his  barons  to  do  him  fealty 
and  homage,  which  they  had  readily  consented  to.  But  the 
young  prince,  after  the  death  of  his  wife  Margaret,  urged 
on  by  youthful  ambition  and  the  imprudent  suggestions  of 
those  about  him,  demanded  of  his  father  the  honours  which 
he  claimed  as  his  right,  viz.,  the  sovereignty  of  Maine 
and  Normandy.5  His  politic  father,  after  much  reflec- 

1  Abbot  Ainard  died  on  the  14th  of  January,  1078. 

7  Fulk,  who  was  consecrated  by  Robert,  bishop  of  Se"ez,  disgusted  the 
monks  by  his  great  severity,  and  was  obliged  to  retire  beyond  sea  in  1092  ; 
he  was  restored  to  his  functions  towards  the  close  of  the  century,  and  died 
at  Winchester  in  the  year  1 1 06. 

8  Ordericus  evidently  means  in  this  place  to  quote  from  the  bible,  but 
his  memory  failed,  for  there  is  no  passage  in  the  Vulgate  which  can  be 
exactly  referred  to  for  this  expression. 

*  It  hns  been  already  remarked  that  William's  intentions  with  regard  to 
his  son  Robert  were  publicly  declared  as  early  as  1063. 

*  These  pretensions  of  Robert  Court-hose  could  not  have  been  advanced 


108  ORDEBICUS  TTTALIS.  [B.IY.  CS.XX. 

tion,  refused  to  gratify  his  pretensions,  and  recommended 
his  son  to  wait  for  a  more  fitting  opportunity  of  obtaining 
what  he  desired.  The  prince  was  talkative  and  prodigal, 
very  bold  and  valiant,  and  a  strong  and  sure  archer ;  his 
voice  was  loud  and  clear ;  his  tongue  fluent ;  his  features 
dull  and  heavy;  his  body  stout,  and  his  stature  short; 
whence  he  commonly  received  the  surname  of  Gambaron1 
or  Courte-heuse. 

One  day,  when  the  king  was  preparing  an  expedition 
against  the  inhabitants  of  the  Corbonnais,2  and  was  enter- 
tained at  the  house  of  Gkmher,  in  the  village  of  Eicher 
(which  is  called  L'Aigle,  on  account  of  an  eagle's  nest 
being  found  in  an  oak  tree  while  Fulbert  was  building  his 
castle),  a  diabolical  quarrel  arose  between  the  king's  sons, 
from  which  sprung  afterwards  endless  contentions  and 
crimes.*  For  two  of  the  brothers,  William  Rufus  and 
Henry,  took  their  father's  part,  and  thinking  their  strength 
equal  to  their  brother  Robert's,  were  indignant  that  he 
alone  should  make  pretensions  to  their  father's  inheritance, 
and  affect  equality  with  the  king  among  the  crowd  of  para- 
sites who  paid  their  court  to  himself.  In  consequence  they 
came  to  the  castle  of  L'Aigle  to  visit  Robert,  who  was 
sojourning  in  the  house  of  Robert  Calcege,  and  there  began 
to  play  at  dice  in  the  gallery,*  as  the  custom  of  military  men 
is.  They  then  made  a  great  noise,  and  threw  water  on  the 
heads  of  Robert  and  his  hangers-on  who  were  underneath.6 
Upon  which  Ivo  and  Aubrey  de  Grantmesnil6  said  to 

till  some  years  after  the  conquest  of  England,  for  at  that  period  Robert 
was  not  more  than  twelve  years  old. 

"  Gambaron:"  gambes  (jambes),  rondes?— Ducange,  Glossar. 

*  The  Corbonnais  was  the  ancient  name  of  a  district  in  Maine,  bounded 
on  the  east  by  the  Commanche  and  L'Huisne,  and  on  the  north-west  by 
the  Sarthe,  and  which  obtained  the  name  of  Perche  from  the  forest  which 
overspread  the  greatest  part  of  it. 

8  It  is  difficult  to  fix  the  period  when  these  family  quarrels  burst  forth. 
There  are  several  reasons  for  thinking  that  it  was  after  the  peace  of 
Blancheland,  but  they  cannot  be  stated  as  entirely  satisfactory. 

*  Solaria;  a  terrace  or  gallery  in  a  house,  where  they  walk  to  sun 
themselves. 

*  In  ccenaculum.     If  our  author  has  not  used  the  two  words  indis- 
criminately, we  must  suppose  that  the  two  young  princes  had  retired  into 
the  banqueting-room  after  their  sport  in  the  gallery. 

*  They  were  the  fourth  and  fifth  sons  of  Hugh  de  Grant-mesnil  and 
Aucliza  of  Beaumont-sur-Dive. 


A.D..  1078  ?]     QTJAEEELS  OF  KINO  WILLIAM'S  SONS.  109 

Eobert :  "  Why  do  you  put  up  with  this  insult  ?  see  your 
brothers  have  mounted  above  you,  and  shower  their  filth 
upon  you  and  us,  in  contempt.  Do  not  you  perceive  what 
they  mean  ?  if  you  do  not  instantly  resent  this  insult,  you 
are  a  lost  man,  and  can  never  lift  up  your  head  again."  This 
speech  roused  his  fury,  and  he  hurried  to  the  banqueting 
room  where  his  brothers  were,  determined  to  chastise  them. 
The  clamour  which  ensued  brought  the  king  from  his  lodg- 
ings, and  by  interposing  his  royal  authority  he  put  an  end, 
for  the  time,  to  his  sons'  quarrels.  But  the  night  after- 
wards, Eobert  and  his  attendants  withdrew  from  the  king's 
troop  of  horse,  and  making  for  Rouen  attempted  to  seize 
the  castle  by  surprise.  However,  Roger  D'lvry,  the  king's 
butler,  who  had  the  custody  of  the  tower,  having  anticipated 
the  plot,  put  the  fortifications  in  order  to  resist  the  treason- 
able enterprise,  and  in  all  haste  sent  messengers  to  his  lord 
the  king,  to  apprize  him  of  the  state  of  affairs.  The  king 
in  his  wrath  ordered  all  the  malcontents  to  be  arrested ; 
hearing  which  they  were  in  the  greatest  consternation. 
Some  were  taken,  others  fled  and  secured  their  safety  by 
taking  refuge  in  foreign  countries. 

Then  Hugh  de  Chateau-Neuf,  nephew  and  heir  of  Albert 
Ribald,  was  the  first  to  receive  the  exiles,  and  opened  the 
gates  of  Chateau-Neuf,  Eaimalard,  Sorel,1  and  other  places 
belonging  to  him,  hvorder  that  they  might  make  predatory 
incursions  on  Normandy.  He  was  son-in-law  of  Earl 
Roger,  having  married  Mabel,2  sister  of  Robert  de  Belesme, 
who  had  attached  himself  to  the  king's  son,  with  Ralph  de 
Conches  and  many  others.  These  deserters,  embarking  in 
a  wicked  and  detestable  enterprise,  had  left  their  towns  and 
rich  farms  for  vain  hopes  and  worthless  promises.  The 
king  took  their  domains  into  his  own  hands,  and  with  the 
rents  paid  the  stipendiary  troops  who  fought  against  them. 

These  troubles  caused  great  commotions  among  the  inha- 
bitants of  the  country  and  their  neighbours,  who  flew  to 
arms  in  every  quarter  either  for  or  against  the  king.  The 
French,  the  Bretons,  the  Manceaux,  the  Angevins,  and  other 
people  fluctuated  in  their  opinions,  and  knew  not  which  side 

1  Remalard,  in  the  department  de  1'Orme  ;  Sorel  in  Eure  et  Loire. 

a  Mabel  de  Montgomery,  third  daughter  of  Count  Roger  and  Mabel  de 

IJi.-lesme. 


110  OBDEBICTTS   VITALIS.  [B.IV.  CH.XX. 

they  ought  to  take.  "War  threatening  them  on  all  sides,  the 
king,  full  of  determination,  assembled  an  army,  and  marching 
against  the  enemy,  made  terms  with  Botrou  count  de 
Mortagne.  This  count  had  often  pillaged  the  lands  of  the 
church  of  Chartres,  which  is  dedicated  to  St.  Mary-ever-a- 
Virgin,  and  having  been  frequently  remonstrated  with  by  the 
bishop  and  clergy,  and  continuing  incorrigible,  had  been  ex- 
communicated. By  an  infliction  of  divine  justice,  he  became 
deaf,  and  remained  so  to  the  end  of  his  days.  King  William 
took  him  into  his  pay,  employing  him  with  his  own  troops 
in  the  siege  of  Raimalard,  because  it  was  a  fief  held  of  him. 

He  fortified  four  castles  in  the  country  round,  and  placed 
garrisons  in  them.  Meanwhile,  on  a  certain  day,  Aimer  de 
villerai1  was  conducting  the  steward  of  the  king  of  France3 
on  his  return  to  his  master,  and  came  with  three  men-at- 
arms  to  his  own  castle,  where  King  William's  enemies 
were  protected,  when  it  chanced  that  four  knights  of  the 
royal  army  sallied  forth  and  stopped  his  way,  just  as  he 
had  nearly  reached  the  castle  gate,  and  falling  upon  him 
killed  him  on  the  spot.  They  then  laid  the  body  of  the  un- 
fortunate freebooter  across  a  horse,  like  the  carcass  of  a  pig, 
and  threw  it  down  before  the  huts  of  count  Eoger  with 
whom  he  had  long  been  in  hostilities.  Groulfier,  Aimer's  son, 
struck  with  terror  at  his  father's  fearful  end,  made  peace 
with  the  king,  and  he  and  his  heirs  remained  faithful  more 
than  fifty  years. 

The  calamities  which  threaten  the  sons  of  earth  are  end- 
less, and  if  they  were  all  carefully  committed  to  writing 
would  fill  large  volumes.  It  is  now  winter,  and  I  am 
suffering  from  the  severity  of  the  cold,  and  propose  to  allow 
myself  some  respite  for  other  occupations,  and  fatigued  with 
my  work,  shall  here  bring  the  present  book  to  a  close. 
When  the  returning  spring  brings  with  it  serener  skies,  I 
will  resume  in  the  sequel,  my  narrative  of  matters  which  I 
have  hitherto  treated  cursorily,  or  which  still  remain  to  be 
told,  and,  by  God's  help,  employ  my  faithful  pen  in  elucidat- 
ing the  causes  of  peace  and  war  among  my  countrymen. 

*  Villerai,  a  castle  in  the  neighbourhood  of  L'Huisne,  near  Alencon,  on 
the  Sarthe. 

'Probably  Frederic,  who  was  high  steward  of  France  in  1075,  or 
Robert,  who  held  that  office  in  1079. 


Ill 


BOOK  Y. 

CH.  I.  The  author  gives  a  short  account  of  himself  and  the 
contents  of  two  of  his  former  books — Proposes  to  treat  of 
the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult  and  public  affairs  from  the  year 
1075  to  the  death  of  William  I. 

TEEADING  in  the  steps  of  those  who  have  gone  before  us,  it 
is  our  duty  to  contend  ceaselessly  with  enervating  sloth, 
devoting  ourselves  to  profitable  studies  and  healthful  exer- 
cises, by  application  to  which  the  mind  is  purified  from 
vice,  the  life-giving  discipline  nobly  arming  it  against  all 
wickedness.  "Every  slothful  man,"  says  Solomon,  "  is  a 
slave  to  his  desires."  And  again :  "  The  desire  of  the 
slothful  killeth  him."1  He  indeed  is  slothful  and  idle  who 
abandons  himself  to  a  vicious  life  for  want  of  a  good  reso- 
lution. That  man  may  be  considered  as  sunk  in  the  lethargy 
of  idleness  who  fails  to  meditate  on  the  law  of  God  day  and 
night,  that  is,  in  prosperity  and  adversity,  and  does  not 
earnestly  struggle  to  resist  the  wiles  and  assaults  of  Satan 
that  he  may  be  worthy  to  obtain  the  reward  of  his  heavenly 
calling.  Such  a  one,  doubtless,  hurtful  "  desire  killeth ;" 
drawing  him  into  evil  courses,  while  he  is  lulled  to  sleep  by 
prosperity,  and  sinking  him  into  the  pit  of  perdition  by  the 
broad  road  of  his  own  lusts.  The  ancients  therefore  strongly 
condemn  idleness  and  sloth  as  the  enemy  of  the  soul,  in- 
viting their  followers  to  profitable  labour  and  exertion,  both 
by  word  and  example ;  and  on  this  point  the  heathen  poets 
agree  with  Christian  writers.  For  Virgil  says : — 

Ah !  what  avail  his  service,  what  his  toil  ? 

Stern  labour  all  subdues 

And  ceaseless  toil  that  urging  want  pursues.2 

1  Prov.  xxi.  25.     The  preceding  quotation  is  not  to  be  found  in  the 
Vulgate. 

*  Quid  labor  aut  benefacta  juvant  ?    .     .    . 

"Virg.  Gcorg.  iii.  525. 

Labor  omnia  vincit, 

Improbus  et  duris  urgens  in  rebus  egestas. 
Virg.  Georg.  i.  145. 


112  OBDEBICTJS  YITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.I. 

Ovid  also  gives  this  advice  to  those  who  endeavour  to 
resist  their  passions  and  strive  against  Venus : — 

Advised  by  me,  all  slothful  habits  shun, 
Those  foes  to  worth  by  manly  vigour  won. 
'Tis  idleness  that  fosters  Cupid's  arts, 
And  lights  his  torch  and  points  his  shining  darts.1 

Weighing  with  attention,  father  Warin,  such  sentiments  as 
these,  I  have  determined  to  publish  something  which  may  be 
useful  and  interesting  to  our  brethren  in  the  house  of  the 
Lord,  pursuing  with  diligence  the  task  I  have  commenced, 
that  when  the  Lord  cometh  to  judgment  I  may  not  be  con- 
demned, like  the  unprofitable  servant,  for  having  buried  my 
talent  in  the  ground.  In  the  first  instance,  I  endeavoured 
to  obey  the  commands  of  the  venerable  abbot  Eoger,  and 
yours  also,  received  at  a  later  period,  by  undertaking  a  short 
account  of  the  state  of  the  abbey  of  Ouche,  a  work  which 
our  predecessors  have  often  called  on  each  other  to  engage 
in,  but  which  none  of  them  have  been  willing  to  undertake : 
for  they  chose  rather  to  be  silent  than  to  speak,  preferring 
tranquil  leisure  to  the  consuming  toil  of  investigating  past 
transactions.  They  were  willing  enough  to  peruse  the  acts 
of  former  abbots  and  brethren,  and  the  annals  of  their  own 
house,  which,  having  been  slenderly  endowed  at  first  by  poor 
but  pious  founders,  have  been  gradually  aggrandized  by  the 
indefatigable  exertions  of  our  reverend  fathers ;  but  they 
shrunk  from  bending  their  minds  to  the  task  of  dictating  or 
writing  the  result  of  their  researches.  At  length  it  fell  to  my 
lot,  a  stranger  and  an  Englishman,  who  coming  here,  when 
only  ten  years  old,  from  the  furthest  borders  of  Mercia,8 

1  Otia  corrodunt  mentes  et  corpora  frangunt. 

This  verse  is  not  in  Ovid.  The  other  three  are  quoted  from  his  poem 
De  Remedio  Amoris,  v.  133,  139,  140,  with  an  unimportant  transposition  in 
the  first  line : 

Fac  monitis  fugias  otia  prima  meis     .     .     . 
Otia  si  tollas,  periere  Cupidinis  arcus, 

Contemptque  jacent  et  sine  luce  faces. 

*  Ordericus  was  born  at  Atcham,  anciently  Attinghatn,  a  village  on  the 
banks  of  the  Severn,  three  miles  from  Shrewsbury,  on  the  1 6th  of  February, 
1075.  His  father,  who  was  attached  to  the  household  of  Roger,  earl  "of 
Shrewsbury,  and  had  followed  him  to  England,  received  from  that  noble- 
man grants  of  land  in  that  neighbourhood,  which  was  on  the  Welsh 
borders  of  the  ancient  kingdom  of  Mercia.  Ordericus  was  entered  as  a 
novice  at  the  abbey  of  St.  Evioult  in  1086.  See  the  account  of  his  life  in 
M.  Guizot's  Notice  appended  to  the  preface  of  this  work. 


A.D.  1076 — 1086.]  ATITHOB'S  ACCOUNT  OF  HIS  WOBKS.     113 

and  rude  of  speech  and  manners,  mixed  with  a  people  full 
of  intelligence,  to  compose,  by  God's  help,  a  narrative  of 
Norman  events  and  transactions  for  the  use  of  the  natives 
of  Normandy.  I  have  already,  by  the  divine  assistance, 
published  two  books,1  in  which  I  have  given  a  true  account 
of  the  restoration  of  our  house  and  of  three  of  our  abbots, 
with  some  public  aifairs  of  that  period  which  I  have  care- 
fully collected  from  information  given  me  by  men  of  years 
and  experience. 

1  now  begin  my  third  book  from  the  %ear  of  our  Lord 
1075,  meaning  to  treat  of  my  own  abbot  and  the  society  of  St. 
Evroult,  as  well  as  of  public  aifairs  generally,  during  the  suc- 
ceeding period  of  twelve  years,  that  is,  to  the  time  of  King 
"William's  death.2  I  choose  the  former  year  for  the  com- 
mencement of  my  present  undertaking,  because  it  was  then 
I  was  born,  on  the  fourteenth  of  the  calends  of  March 
[16th  February],  and  was  regenerated  in  the  holy  font  of 
baptism  by  the  ministry  of  Ordericus  the  priest,3  at  Atting- 
ham,  in  the  church  of  St.  Eata  the  confessor,4  which  stands 
on  the  bank  of  the  river  Severn.  Five  years  afterwards,  my 
father  entrusted  me  to  a  noble  priest,  whose  name  was 
Siward,  for  instruction  in  the  first  rudiments  of  learning,  to 
whose  mastership  I  remained  subject  for  five  years.  Then, 
being  in  my  eleventh  year,  I  was  separated  from  my  father, 
for  the  love  of  God,  and  sent  a  young  exile  from  England  to 
Normandy  to  enter  the  service  of  the  King  Eternal.  Here 
I  was  received  by  the  venerable  father  Mainier,5  and  having 
assumed  the  monastic  habit,  and  become  indissolubly  joined 
to  the  company  of  the  monks  by  solemn  vows,  have  now 

1  Our  author  here  speaks  of  the  third  and  fourth  books  of  his  history. 
The  first  and  second  were  an  afterthought,  and  not  as  yet  written.     He, 
therefore,  in  the  next  paragraph  calls  this  fifth  book,  which  he  is  now 
beginning,  the  third. 

2  September  9,  1087. 

8  It  is  elsewhere  observed  that  in  baptism,  which  took  place  on  the 
Saturday  in  Easter  week  (April  11),  our  author  took  the  name  of  the 
officiating  priest,  who  was  also  his  sponsor. 

*  For  the  life  of  St.  Eata,  a  Saxon  bishop  of  great  sanctity  in  the  seventh 
century,  see  Bede's  Eccles.  Hist.  pp.  161 — 229  (Bohria  Edition),  and 
Acta  SS.  ord.  Henedlcti,  s<ec.  iii.  P.  1,  p.  221. 

s  Mainier,  the  fourth  abbot  of  St.  Evroult,  flourished  from  July  1G- 
1066— March  5,  1080. 

VOL.  II.  1 


114  OBDEBICTJS  VITALIS.  [B.Y.  CH.T. 

cheerfully  borne  the  light  yoke  of  the  Lord  for  forty-two 
years,1  and  walking  in  the  ways  of  God  with  my  fellow 
monks,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  according  to  the  rules  of  our 
order,  have  endeavoured  to  perfect  myself  in  the  service  of 
the  church  and  ecclesiastical  duties,  at  the  same  time  that  I 
have  always  devoted  my  talents  to  some  useful  employment. 
If  our  bishops  and  other  rulers  of  the  world  were  so 
gifted  with  sanctity  that,  for  them  and  by  them,  miracles 
were  divinely  wrought,  as  was  frequently  the  case  with  the 
primitive  father^  and  these  accounts  scattered  through 
ancient  books  sweetly  influence  the  readers'  mind,  refresh- 
ing their  memories  with  the  glorious  signs  and  wonders  of 
the  early  disciples ;  I  also  would  fain  shake  off  sloth,  and 
employ  myself  in  committing  to  writing  whatever  may  be 
worthy  of  the  eager  ken  of  posterity.  But  in  the  present 
age,  in  which  the  love  of  many  waxes  cold  and  iniquity 
abounds,  miracles,  the  tokens  of  sanctity,  cease,2  while  crimes 
and  lamentable  complaints  multiply  in  the  world.  The 
litigious  quarrels  of  bishops,  and  the  bloody  conflicts  of 
princes,  furnish  more  abundant  materials  for  the  writers  of 
history  than  the  propositions  of  theologians,  or  the  pri- 
vations or  prodigies  of  ascetics.  The  time  of  antichrist  is 
at  hand,  whose  appearance,  as  the  Lord  intimated  to  holy 
Job,3  will  be  preceded  by  the  failure  of  miracles  and  the 
rapid  growth  of  outrageous  vices  in  those  who  are  given  up 
to  their  own  fleshly  lusts.  Now,  most  reverend  abbot,  I 
will  resolutely  apply  myself,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  to  the 
task  I  have  undertaken,  trusting  with  confidence  that  your 
experience  will  correct  whatever  errors  my  own  ignorance 
may  suffer  to  escape. 

1  According  to  this  statement,  our  author  composed  this  fifth  book  of 
his  history  in  the  year  1 128. 

3  This  is  an  important  admission  of  our  author.  He  has,  indeed,  like 
other  monkish  writers,  made  free  use  of  former  legends,  but  he  rarely 
vouches  for  miracles  when  he  comes  to  the  history  of  his  own  times. 

There  seems  nothing  in  the  book  of  Job  to  justify  this  allusion.  It 
may  be  a  question  whether  our  author  did  not  mean  to  refer  to  the  epistle 
of  St.  Jude,  ver.  16,  18.  But  the  failure  of  miraculous  powers  in  the 
church  is  not  expressly  predicted  either  there  or  in  other  passages  of  scripture 
where  the  signs  of  the  "last  days,"  and  of  the  coming  of  antichrist  are 
mentioned.  See  2  Thess.  i.  3;  1  Tim.  iv.  1;  2  Tim.  iii.  1;  2  Pet.  iii.  3. 


A.D.  1075 — 1127.]      CECILIA,  ABBESS    OF   CAE1T.  115 

Cn.  II.  William's  daughter  Cecilia  becomes  a  nun  at  Caen 
— Mission  of  three  English  bishops  to  Rome — Consecration 
of  cathedrals  and  abbeys  in  Normandy — Anselm,  abbot  of 
Sec,  made  archbishop  of  Canterbury. 

[1075—1127.]  IN  the  year  of  our  Lord  1075,  the  four- 
teenth indiction,  King  "William  spent  the  holy  feast  of 
Easter  at  Fecamp,  and  presented  his  daughter  Cecilia  to  be 
consecrated  to  G-od  by  the  hands  of  Archbishop  John.1  She 
had  been  brought  up  with  great  care,  and  well  educated  in 
the  convent  at  Caen,  where,  being  dedicated  to  the  holy 
and  undivided  Trinity,  she  became  a  nun  under  the  vene- 
rable abbess  Matilda,  faithfully  submitting  to  the  holy  rule. 
The  reverend  mother  departing  this  life  after  governing 
the  convent  forty-seven  years,  Cecilia  succeeded  her,  and 
having  presided  over  the  nuns  for  nearly  fourteen  years 
with  great  credit,  she  expired  on  the  third  of  the  idea 
[13th]  of  July,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1127.  She  thus 
worthily  devoted  herself  to  the  service  of  God,  in  the  habit, 
and  order,  and  religious  exercises  of  a  nun,  for  fifty-two 
years  after  she  was  first  dedicated  by  her  father,2  and  her 
death  happened  in  the  twenty-sixth  year  of  the  reign  of  her 
brother  Henry. 

While  King  William  was  residing  in  Normandy,  and,  by 
God's  help,  defended  his  dominions  against  all  adversaries, 
the  English  bishops,  Lanfranc  of  Canterbury,  Thomas  of 
York,  and  Eemi  of  Lincoln,  undertook  a  journey  to  Rome, 
and  were  received  with  great  honours  by  Pope  Gregory  and 
the  Eoman  senate.3  The  wealth  of  England  supplied  pro- 

1  It  would  appear  by  the  charter  of  foundation  of  the  abbey  of  Caen, 
referred  to  by  the  French  editor  of  Ordericus,  that  it  was  there,  and  under 
Archbishop  Maurillius,  and  not  John,  and  in  the  year  1066,  not  1075, 
that  William  and  Matilda  caused  their  daughter  Cecilia  to  be  consecrated 
a  nun  of  the  abbey  of  the  Holy  Trinity  on  the  day  it  was  dedicated.  If 
this  be  so,  it  is  singular  that  our  author  should  have  fallen  into  error  on 
facts  which,  though  not  of  any  public  importance,  occurred  so  near  his  own 
times. 

*  According  to  the  correction  just  proposed,  Cecilia's  religious  life 
extended  to  sixty-one  year?,  of  which  she  was  abbess  only  seven.  The 
abbess  Matilda  died  on  the  6th  of  July,  1120. 

8  The  journey  of  the  three  prelates  took  place  in  1071,  when  Alexander 
II.  was  pope,  not  Gregory  VII.  Alexander  having  been  a  pupi!  of 
Lanfranc  at  Bee,  condescendingly  rose  from  his  seat  to  receive  him,  saying 

I  2 


116  OEDEEICUS  YITAIJS.  [B.T.  CH.II. 

fuse  presents  for  the  greedy  Romans,  and  the  prelates 
appeared  to  the  Latins  no  less  admirable  for  their  munifi- 
cence than  for  their  eloquence  and  their  learning,  both 
sacred  and  profane.  The  pope  and  clergy  of  Rome  received 
favourably  the  message  of  King  William,  accompanying  the 
offerings,  of  which  the  bishops  were  bearers,  and  readily 
confirmed  the  privileges,  formerly  granted  to  his  prede- 
cessors, which  the  king  demanded  by  his  envoys.1 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1077,2  the  bishops  just  named 
returned  to  Normandy  highly  delighted,  and  the  king  with 
all  the  Norman  people  were  transported  with  joy  at  their 
arrival.  At  that  time  several  churches  in  Normandy  were 
consecrated  with  great  ceremony,  at  which  the  king  and 
queen,  with  their  sons  Robert  and  William,  and  vast  assem- 
blages of  the  nobles  and  commons  were  present.  The 
mother  churches  of  the  bishoprics  of  Bayeux  and  Evreux 
and  the  abbey  church  of  Bee,  were  dedicated  to  the  honour 
of  St.  Mary,  mother  of  God,  always  a  virgin. 

The  same  year,  the  abbey  church  of  St.  Stephen  the  pro- 
to-martyr,  at  Caen,  was  also  consecrated,  being  enriched  by 
the  king  and  his  nobles  with  valuable  offerings  and  large 
sums  of  money.  The  solemnities  of  these  consecrations 
were  performed  by  John  archbishop  of  Rouen  and  his  suffra- 
gans, the  reverend  metropolitans  Lanfranc  and  Thomas  being 
present,  with  many  abbots  and  a  vast  concourse  of  people. 

The  venerable  abbot  Herluin  rejoiced  in  spirit  at  the 

that  he  paid  him  this  mark  of  respect,  not  to  do  honour  to  the  archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  but  to  his  learned  master.— William  of  Malmesbury,  Antiq. 
Lib.  p.  324.  The  French  editor  of  Ordericus  remarks,  that  the  two  other 
bishops  were  not  so  well  received,  and  had  to  defend  themselves,  the  one 
for  being  the  son  of  a  priest,  the  other  for  obtaining  the  bishopric  of 
Lincoln  in  recompence  for  the  supplies  he  had  furnished  William  towards 
the  conquest  of  England.  (See  vol.  L  of  this  work,  p.  465.)  We  find 
nothing  of  this  in  the  English  historians  we  have  consulted.  Henry  of 
Huntingdon,  who  was  a  canon  of  Lincoln,  gives  a  high  character  of  Bishop 
Remi.  See  his  History,  p.  220,  and  Letter  to  Warin,  p.  304  of  Bohn's 
edition.  Remi  transferred  the  seat  of  the  bishopric  from  Dorchester  (in 
Oxfordshire)  to  Lincoln. 

1  Malmesbury  inserts  the  acts  of  a  synod  on  the  subject  of  these 
privileges,  held  in  1072,  to  which  Pope  Alexander  had  referred  the 
question.  See  Modern  History,  p.  321. 

*  This  date  is  incorrect ;  the  three  bishops  were  present  at  the  synod  at 
London  in  1072,  having  returned  from  Rome  in  the  interval. 


A.D.  1034—1109.]  ASSELM.  117 

consecration  of  the  church  of  Bee,  and,  having  witnessed 
the  accomplishment  of  his  most  ardent  earthly  hopes,  was  no 
longer  for  this  world.  He  had  retired  from  military  service 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1034,  and  changing  his  course  of 
life  received  the  religious  habit  from  the  Lord  Herbert, 
bishop  of  Lisieux.  Three  years  afterwards  he  was  ordained 
by  the  same  bishop  and  appointed  abbot.  It  was  then  that 
the  abbey  of  Bee  was  first  established.  He  died  on  the 
seventh  of  the  calends  of  September  [26th  August],  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  1078,  being  the  eighty-fourth  year  of 
his  age,  and  the  forty-fourth  of  his  profession  as  a  monk. 
After  an  interval  of  a  few  days,  Anselm,  then  prior  of  that 
house,  was  elected  abbot.  The  year  following  he  was 
consecrated  abbot  in  the  abbey  church  at  Bee  by  the  lord 
Gislebert,  bishop  of  Evreux,  on  the  festival  called  "  The 
Chair  of  St.  Peter."  l  He  submitted  to  the  monastic  rule 
when  he  was  twenty-seven  years  old,  and  continued  three 
years  in  the  cloister  without  being  preferred  to  any  office. 
He  then  succeeded  Lanfranc  as  prior,  which  rank  he  held 
for  fifteen  years,  and  then,  on  the  death  of  Herluin  the  first 
abbot  of  Bee,  was  appointed  to  the  government  of  the  abbey 
which  he  administered  for  another  fifteen  years.  He  was 
afterwards  raised  to  the  archiepiscopal  throne  of  Canterbury 
on  the  demise  of  the  venerable  Lanfranc,  and  filled  the  see 
for  sixteen  years,  during  which  he  was  exposed  to  many 
trials.  He  departed  out  of  this  life  on  the  eleventh  of  the 
calends  of  May  [21st  April],  being  the  fourth  day  before 
Holy  Thursday,  in  the  seventeenth  year  of  his  archiepiscopate, 
the  forty-fourth  of  his  monkhood,  and  the  seventy-sixth  of 
his  age.* 

Cn.  III.  Hugh,  bishop  of  Lieux,  his  singular  death — His 
epitaph — He  is  succeeded  by  Giskbert  Maminot — His 
character. 

[A.D.  1077.]  FoBASiiucn  as  thoughtless  mortals  are  apt 
to  be  inflated  by  a  false  appearance  of  prosperity,  while  they 
are  driven  to  and  fro,  bending  like  reeds  before  the  blasts 

1  A  feast  observed  at  Rome  on  the  18th  of  January,  at  Antioch  on  the 
22nd  of  February,  in  every  year. 

a  St.  Anselm,  "born  at  Aosta  about  the  year  1034,  took  the  monastic 
habit  at  Bee  in  1060.  He  waa  elected  abbot  immediately  after  the  death 


118  OEDEEICTT8   TITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.ITI. 

of  adverse  fortune,  the  providence  of  G-od,  which  governs  all 
things,  therefore  mixes  the  rough  with  the  smooth,  to  retain 
within  safe  bounds  the  fickle  enterprises  of  mankind.  For 
while  King  "William  was  much  pulled  up  with  worldly  pomp, 
and  the  people  of  Normandy  abandoned  themselves  to  every 
sort  of  luxury,  giving  no  thought  to  the  punishment  which 
awaited  their  accumulated  offences,  a  terrible  thunder  storm 
burst  over  the  sanctuary  of  the  church  of  Lisieux,  and  the  awful 
crash  struck  down  the  people  assembled  on  the  pavement  of 
the  cathedral  church.  It  happened  one  morning  on  a  Sun- 
day in  the  summer  season,  when  the  holy  mysteries  of  the 
mass  were  being  celebrated,  and  a  priest  named  Herbert  was 
standing,  mitred,1  at  the  altar,  that  there  was  suddenly  a  fear- 
ful flash  of  lightning,  immediately  followed  by  a  tremendous 
crashand  the  falling  of  athunderbolt.  Striking  the  crosswhich 
stood  on  the  pinacle  of  the  tower,  it  shattered  and  threw  it 
down,  and  descending  from  thence  into  the  body  of  the 
church  it  was  attracted  by  the  crucifix,  from  which  it  tore 
off  a  hand  and  foot  and  drew  the  iron  nails  which  attached 
them  to  the  cross  in  a  most  singular  manner.  A  dark 
cloud  concealed  all  objects  from  the  trembling  congregation, 
and  the  lightning  shot  flashes  through  all  the  church,  killing 
eight  men  and  one  woman.  It  burnt  the  beards  and  hair  of 
men  and  women,  and  gave  forth  a  most  offensive  smell. 
One  woman,  whose  name  was  Mary,  preserved  her  footing, 
under  great  alarm,  in  a  corner  of  the  church,  from  whence 
she  beheld  the  whole  crowd  of  people  lying  apparently 
lifeless  on  the  floor  of  the  church,  while  she  herself  was 
ready  to  faint. 

This  occurred  before  the  feast  of  the  nativity  of  St.  John 
the  Baptist,  and  soon  afterwards  Hugh,  bishop  of  Lisieux,2 

of  the  venerable  Herluin,  but  was  not  consecrated  by  Gislebert,  bishop  of 
Liseux,  till  the  22nd  of  February  following.  He  resigned  tbe  government 
of  the  abbey  to  succeed  to  the  archbishopric  of  Canterbury  on  the  Gth  or 
March,  1093,  and  was  installed  on  the  25th  of  September  following.  He 
died,  aa  here  stated,  on  the  21st  of  April,  1109,  in  the  seventy-sixth  year  oi 
his  age. 

1  Infulatus;  the  ministrant  being  only  a  priest,  the  description,  which  is 
literally  translated,  does  not  seem  applicable. 

9  Hu^h  d'Eu,  son  of  William,  count  d'Eu,  and  of  Lesceline,  the  foundress 
of  the  abbeys  of  Dive  and  St.  Desiderius  at  Lisieux,  was  bishop  of  that  see 
from  1050— July  17,  1077. 


A.D.  1050 — 1077.]      HUGH,  BISHOP  OF  LISLEUX.  119 

fell  sick.  In  the  month  of  July,  his  disease  increasing,  the 
bishop,  perceiving  that  his  death  was  at  hand,  began  carefully 
to  examine  himself  as  the  servant  of  God  summoned  to  his 
Master's  presence,  and  prepared  himself  with  great  reve- 
rence to  give  an  account  of  his  stewardship.  Purified  by 
confession  and  penance,  washed  with  prayers  and  floods  of 
tears,  and  strengthened  by  the  blessed  communion  of  the 
life-giving  mysteries,  he  exhorted  the  clergy  and  laymen 
who  were  assembled  about  him,  and  gave  them  absolution 
and  his  blessing.  As  his  end  approached,  he  recollected 
one  thing  which  caused  him  especial  regret,  and  in  refe- 
rence to  which  he  thus  implored  all  who  were  present :  "  I 
know  that  I  am  now  going  the  way  of  all  flesh,  but  it 
troubles  me  to  think  that  I  die  at  a  distance  from  my  see, 
away  from  that  spouse  to  which  by  God's  ordinance  I  have 
been  lawfully  united  for  almost  forty  years.  I  therefore 
entreat  all  you  whom  I  have  formerly  loved,  nourished,  pro- 
moted, and  raised  to  honour,  that  you  carry  me  forth  from 
hence,  and  transport  me  to  the  spouse  I  have  so  dearly  loved. 
I  have  completed  the  church  of  St.  Peter  the  apostle,  which 
my  venerable  predecessor  Herbert1  began;  1  carefully  em- 
bellished it,  supplied  it  with  clergy,  and  furnished  it  with 
the  sacred  vessels  and  all  other  requisites  for  divine  worship. 
Humbly  commending  it  to  the  protection  of  the  Lord  of 
heaven,  in  its  sacred  bosom  I  wish  to  repose,  and  there  wait 
in  faith  the  second  advent  of  our  Lord."  At  these  words 
all  present  immediately  arose,  and,  placing  the  bishop  on  a 
convenient  hand-litter,  they  carried  him  from  the  village  of 
Pont  1'Eveque  to  Lisieux,  the  clergy  of  the  highest  rank 
and  the  most  honourable  among  the  laity  bearing  their 
beloved  father  on  their  shoulders.  But  while  they  were 
using  their  utmost  efforts  to  reach  the  city  as  quickly  as 
posible,  his  death  becoming  imminent,  they  turned  out  of 
the  road  on  a  piece  of  level  turf,  and  tarried  there  expecting 
every  moment  the  bishop  to  breathe  his  last  in  the  open  air 
amidst  their  prayers  and  tears : — 

The  sun  in  Cancer,  flashing  brightest  rays, 
Shrouded  the  dving  prelate  in  its  blaze. 

Laid  in  the  bright  sunshine  on  this  delightful  spot,  the  illus- 
1  Herbert,  bishop  of  Liseux,  1022—1050. 


120  OBDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.Y.  CII.III. 

trious  Bishop  Hugh,  surrounded  by  his  attached  friends,  and 
commended  to  God  by  their  prayers,  breathed  his  last  on 
the  sixteenth  of  the  calends  of  August  [17th  July]. 

Thus  calmly  died  the  venerable  Hugh : 
Such  honours  to  their  country  are  too  few  ; 
The  gem  of  priesthood,  and  the  best  of  men, 
Alas !  we  ne'er  shall  see  his  like  again. 

May  Christ,  the  chief  bishop,  whose  vicar  on  earth  he  was 
for  a  time,  be  ever  propitious  to  him  !  Pont  1'Eveque  is  four 
leagues  distant  from  Lisieux ;  a  cross  was  erected  in  the 
field  near  the  road,  where  the  bishop  died,  which  is  called 
to  this  day  the  Bishop's  Cross.1  His  body  was  carried  to 
Lisieux,  but  the  funeral  was  deferred  for  eight  days  in  con- 
sequence of  a  dispute  between  the  canons  and  nuns.  For 
the  clergy  wished  to  bury  him  in  their  cathedral,  but  the 
nuns  strongly  remonstrated,  saying :  "  Our  father  Hugh 
built  our  abbey  of  Notre  Dame ;  he  assembled  us  here  to 
serve  Grod,2  and  brought  us  up  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord  -with 
the  love  of  a  father  to  his  daughters ;  when  death  approached 
he  chose  the  church  which  he  had  founded  for  his  burial 
place ;  cursed  be  he  who  should  attempt  to  deprive  us  hia 
daughters  of  our  father's  remains." 

The  case  was  brought  before  the  king's  court  at  Rouen, 
and  the  question  was  argued  on  both  sides,  but  the  royal 
decision  was  in  favour  of  the  weaker  sex.  Whereupon  Wil- 
liam sent  for  Archbishop  John,  and  commanded  to  hasten 
with  all  speed  to  Lisieux,  and  honourably  inter  the  bishop's 
corpse  in  the  chapel  of  St.  Mary.  But  the  archbishop,  being 
a  harsh  and  haughty  prelate,  and  having  a  dreadful  enmity 
to  the  deceased  bishop  lurking  in  his  bosom,  was  much 
incensed,  and,  treating  the  royal  command  with  contempt, 
refused  to  go  and  bury  his  fello\v  bishop.  As  he  was 
returning  from  the  king's  court,  riding  on  his  mule  through 
the  city,  speaking  arrogantly  about  the  present  affair,  he 

1  It  is  supposed  that  this  interesting  scene  took  place  on  a  spot  now 
called  Pre"-FEveque. 

*  The  nuns  who  were  originally  settled  by  Lesceline  at  the  abbey  of  St. 
Peter-sur-Dive,  having  been  replaced  by  monks,  were  transferred  to 
Lisieux,  where  their  new  church  was,  like  the  former,  dedicated  to  St. 
Mary. 


A.D.  1077.]  EPITAPH   OP   BISHOP   HUGH.  121 

was  seized  with  violent  spasms,  by  the  divine  permission, 
just  as  he  approached  his  own  house,  and,  falling  to  the 
ground  in  the  sight  of  the  multitude,  lost  the  use  of  his 
speech  for  the  two  years  he  survived.  Upon  this,  Gislebert, 
bishop  of  Evreux,  went  to  Lisieux,  with  a  great  concourse 
of  the  faithful,  and  interred  the  bishop,  as  was  becoming,  in 
the  choir  of  the  nuns,  in  the  presence  of  Robert,  Count 
d'Eu,  his  brother.  A  suitable  stone  was  laid  over  the  grave 
of  this  great  bishop,  and  an  epitaph  in  Adonic  metre,  which 
consists  of  a  dactyl  and  a  spondee,  was  engraved  in  letters  of 
gold,  on  a  brass  plate,  as  follows : 

Underneath  lies  Bishop  HUGH, 
Honoured  lord  of  Lisieux : 
Not  more  noble  was  his  birth 
Than  the  splendour  of  his  worth. 
Doubly  gifted,  he  combined 
Wit  and  sanctity  of  mind. 
France's  sceptre  Philip  sway'd, 
England  William's  rule  obey'd, 
And  the  blazing  lamp  of  day 
On  the  verge  of  Leo1  lay, 
When  the  bishop  pass'd  away. 
Heavenly  mercy  speed  him  well, 
With  the  blest  above  to  dwell ! 

Gislebert,  surnamed  Maminot,  the  king's  physician  and 
chaplain,  was  chosen  bishop  of  Lisieux,  and  consecrated 
by  Michael,  bishop  of  Avranches,  in  the  presence  of  the 
lord  archbishop  John,  who,  as  we  have  just  said,  had  lost  the 
use  of  his  speech.  He  was  the  son  of  Robert  de  Courbe- 
pine,2  a  brave  knight ;  and,  filling  the  see  twenty-three  years, 
managed  ecclesiastical  affairs  with  a  strong  hand.  Though 
deeply  skilled  in  the  art  of  medicine,  after  he  became  bishop 
he  was  unable  to  cure  himself.  He  was  eminent  for  his 
learning  and  eloquence,  abounded  in  wealth  and  the  luxuries 
it  procured,  but  was  a  slave  to  his  own  gratification  and  the 
care  of  the  flesh.  Ease  and  leisure  were  his  great  objects, 
and  he  indulged  frequently  in  dice  and  other  games  of 
hazard.  Negligent  and  slothful  in  his  ecclesiastical  duties, 
he  was  ready  and  active  enough  in  hunting  and  hawking. 
He  therefore  devoted  his  life  to  worldly  exercises  and 

1  The  bishop  died,  aa  stated  before,  on  the  17th  of  July. 

2  Near  Bernai. 


122  OBDEBICUS  VITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.HI. 

employments,  and  did  not  give  them  up  till  age  com- 
pelled him.  I  could  write  more  about  him,  but  I 
check  my  pen,  because  it  was  by  him  that  I  was 
admitted  to  the  order  of  subdeacon,  with  (as  well  as  I  can 
recollect)  three  hundred  others.  But,  as  I  have  mentioned 
some  things  that  are  not  very  creditable  to  him,  it  is  but 
right  that  I  should  record  his  merits  and  his  doings  which 
are  worthy  of  imitation.  He  gave  alms  freely  to  the  poor,  and 
was  distinguished  for  a  stately  sumptuousness  and  wise 
liberality.  In  his  judgments  he  keenly  investigated  the 
truth,  and  was  indefatigable  in  defending  the  right,  dis- 
pensing justice  freely  to  all  who  came  for  it.  He  treated 
with  gentleness  offenders  who  humbly  confessed  their  sins, 
and  judiciously  gave  wise  and  salutary  counsel  to  true  peni- 
tents. He  performed  the  ceremony  of  conferring  sacred 
orders,  and  of  consecrations,  with  care  and  devotion ;  but  he 
was  inert  and  difficult  to  be  roused  to  undertake  them,  nor 
would  he  engage  in  these  offices  until  he  was  compelled  by 
the  united  entreaties  of  numbers.  The  church  of  Lisieux 
at  that  time  numbered  among  its  clergy  some  honourable 
persons  and  eminent  archdeacons  and  canons ;  such  as 
William  de  Glanville,  dean  and  archdeacon,  Eichard  de 
Angerville,  and  William  de  Poitiers,1  archdeacons,  Geoffrey 
de  Triqueville  the  treasurer,  Turgis  the  chanter,  and  his  son 
Balph,  with  many  others  who  had  been  educated  by  Bishop 
Hugh,  and  advanced  to  offices  of  dignity  in  the  church.  His 
successor  attached  these  persons  to  himself,  and  gave  them 
instructive  lessons  in  the  wide  field  of  arithmetic,  astronomy, 
physics,  and  other  profound  sciences,  receiving  them  as  his 
guests,  and  familiarly  conversing  with  them,  at  his  entertain- 
ments. 

CH.  IV.  John  cTAvranches,  archbishop  of  Rouen — his  epi~ 
taph — William  Bonne-Ame  succeeds  —  His  character — 
Translates  the  relics  of  St.  Romanus. 

IN  the  year  of  our  Lord  1079,  the  archbishop  John  died, 
after  governing  his  church  eight  years.  He  was  buried  in 
the  baptistery  of  his  cathedral  church,  on  the  north  side, 

1  William  de  Poitiers,  the  historian,  derived  his  surname  from 
having  studied  at  Poitiers,  but  he  was  a  native  of  I'reaux,  near  Pont- 
Audemer. 


A.D.  1079.]    EPITAPH  OF  JOHN,  ABCHBISHOP  OF  EOUEK.     123 

under  a  tomb  of  alabaster,  on  which  this  epitaph  was  skil- 
fully cut : — 

Reft  of  thy  patron,  of  thy  glory  shorn, 
Thy  honoured  primate,  widowed  ROTTEN,  mourn  I 
JOHN  sleeps  beneath,  and,  as  in  days  of  old, 
Devotion  flags,  and  priests  again  grow  cold. 
'Twas  his  with  foul  incontinence  to  strive, 
The  canon's  rigour  and  the  laws  revive. 
No  venal  bribes  the  priesthood's  honour  gain'd, 
The  church's  state  his  liberal  hand  maintain 'd. 
Alas !  this  little  stone,  this  narrow  space — 
Is  all  that  genius,  eloquence,  and  grace, 
And  noblest  birth,  and  wisdom's  highest  aim, 
And  purest  life,  and  excellence  can  claim. 
Nine  times  September's  sun  had  mounted  high,1 
And  shed  its  brightness  from  the  autumnal  sky, 
When  bishop  JOHN  put  off  this  mortal  coil ; 
God  rest  his  soul,  and  with  his  grace  assoil ! 

On  the  death  of  the  primate  John,  William,  abbot  of 
Caen,  being  canonically  elected,  was  removed  from  his 
monastery,  where  he  had  duly  served  God  as  a  professed 
monk,  and  called  to  govern  the  church  of  Rouen.8  He  was 
consecrated  by  the  great  Gislebert,  bishop  of  Evreux,  in  the 
church  of  St.  Mary,  mother  of  God,  and  was  the  forty-sixth 
metropolitan  of  Ilouen  from  St.  Nicasius,  who  was  first 
appointed  by  St.  Dionysius,  bishop  of  Paris,  to  the  see  of 
Rouen.3  "William  was  good,  cheerful,  and  courteous,  and 
continued  shepherd  of  the  flock  divinely  committed  to  him 
for  thirty-two  years.4  He  furnished  the  mother  church  with 
ample  stores  of  all  the  ornaments  necessary  for  divine  wor- 

1  John  d'Avranches,  archbishop  of  Rouen,  died  on  the  9th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1079.  He  was  probably*  installed  in  the  year  1069,  so  that  he  filled 
the  see  longer  than  the  term  assigned  by  our  author.  His  infirmities  were 
such,  that  the  active  pope  Gregory  VII.  did  not  wait  till  his  death  in 
taking  measures  for  providing  a  successor. 

*  William  Bonne-Ame,  son  of  Radbod,  bishop  of  Sdez,  was  abbot  of 
Caen,  succeeding  Laufranc,  1070 — 1079. 

8  The  story  of  St.  Nicasius  is  very  obscure.  He  is  supposed  to  have 
been  commissioned  by  St.  Denys  to  preach  at  Rouen  about  the  middle  01 
the  third  century.  Having  passed  tho  Epte,  he  suffered  martyrdom  with 
his  two  companions,  Quirinus,  a  priest,  and  Scuviculus,  a  deacon,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Gani,  to  which  place  their  bodies  were  carried. 

*  William  Bonne-Ame  died  the  9th  of  February,  1110.     Our  author 
states  in  book  iii.  (see  vol.  i.  p.  419),  that  he  filled  the  see  nearly  thirty-six 
years.     The  real  time  was  thirty -one  years  just  commenced. 


124  OBDEEICTJS   VITALIS.  [u.V.  CH.III. 

ship,  and  rebuilt  from  the  foundations  the  cloisters  of  tho 
bishop's  palace  and  convenient  offices.1  The  relics  of  St. 
Eomanus  the  bishop  were  translated  with  great  ceremony 
from  his  own  church  to  the  cathedral,  and  enshrined  in  a 
coffer  of  gold  and  silver,  exquisitely  enriched  with  precious 
stones.  He  appointed  his  feast  to  be  celebrated  throughout 
the  diocese  on  the  tenth  of  the  calends  of  November  (Octo- 
ber 23rd) ;  and  by  a  general  decree  ordered  a  solemn  pro- 
cession to  be  made  every  year  to  the  deposit  of  the  body  of 
the  holy  bishop  without  the  city,  inviting  almost  all  the 
inhabitants  of  the  diocese  to  be  present  by  monitions  and 
the  promise  of  absolution  and  benediction.2  Like  a  tender 
father,  this  bishop  was  kind  to  the  clergy  and  monks,  and  all 
who  were  under  his  rule.  He  occupied  himself  continually 
with  psalms,  and  hymns,  and  spiritual  songs,  #nd  celebrated 
regularly  the  sacred  mysteries.  He  was  a  stranger  to  deceit 
and  malice,  seeking  no  one's  injury,  but  succouring  the 
indigent  as  occasion  required.  He  had  naturally  a  fine 
voice,  and  was  a  skilful  chanter ;  was  deeply  versed  in 
ecclesiastical  law,  and  had  a  great  command  of  clear  and 
expressive  language  in  preaching  the  word  of  Grod  to  the 
uninstructed.  His  patience  and  benevolence  charmed  all 
who  enjoyed  his  society,  and  he  committed  without  jealousy 
a  large  share  of*  his  official  burdens  to  his  deans  and  arch- 
priests,  admitting  good  men  without  reserve  to  a  participa- 
tion in  the  honours  of  his  station. 

Cn.  V.     Acts  of  the  synod  and  assembly  of  nobles  held  at 
Lillebonne,  in  the  year  1080. 

[A.D.  1080.]  In  the  year  of  our  Lo,rd  1080,  King  William 
spent  the  feast  of  Whitsuntide  at  Lillebonne,  where  he 
summoned  William  the  archbishop,  and  all  the  bishops  and 
abbots,  with  the  counts  and  other  barons  of  Normandy  to 
attend  him.  The  king's  commands  were  obeyed.  It  was 
in  the  eighth  year  of  the  papacy  of  Pope  Gregory  VII., 

1  No  vestiges  remain  of  the  buildings  here  attributed  to  William  Bonne- 
Ame. 

3  The  translation  of  the  relica  of  St.  Romanus  appears  to  have  been 
made  in  1079,  and  probably  on  the  23rd  of  October.  The  procession  here 
mentioned  seems  to  have  been  the  origin  of  the  celebrated  fair  still  held  at 
Rouen  on  that  day. 


A.B.  1080.]  SYNOD   AT   IILLEBOKNi:.  125 

that  the  celebrated  synod  was  held  at  Lillebonne,  in  which 
the  wants  of  the  church  and  the  state  generally  were  care- 
fully provided  for  by  the  wisdom  of  the  king,  with  the 
advice  of  his  barons.  I  propose  to  insert  here  the  canons 
of  the  council,  as  they  were  faithfully  committed  to  writing 
by  persons  present,  in  order  that  posterity  may  know  what 
were  the  laws  of  Normandy  in  the  time  of  King  "William. 

1.  The  Peace  of  God,  or  as  it  is  commonly  called,  the 
truce  of  God,1  is  to  be  strictly  observed,  as  our  Duke  William 
established  it  at  first ;  and  let  it  be  proclaimed  afresh  in  every 
diocese,  with  the  penalties  of  excommunication.      If  any 
contumaciously  refuse  to  observe  it,  or  shall  in  any  manner 
break  it,  let  the  bishops  take  cognizance  of  the  offence,  and 
do  justice  according  to  what  is  already  decreed.     But  if  the 
offender  will  not  submit  to  his  bishop's  decision,  the  bishop 
shall  report  him  to  the  lord  under  whom  he  holds  his  land, 
and  he  shall  carry  into  effect  the  bishop's  sentence.     And  if 
the  lord  shall  disregard  the  order,  let  the  king's  viscount 
execute  it,  all  pretences  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

2.  Let  the  bishops  do  justice,  according  to  the  canons,  on 
those  who  marry  wives  within  the  prohibited  degrees  of  kin- 
dred, and  on  wives  who  marry  their  kinsmen.      The  king 
will  not  succour  or  defend  any  such,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
admonishes  and  gives  his  support  to  the  bishops  in  strictly 
enforcing  the  divine  law. 

3.  Let  no  priest,  deacon,  or  subdeacon,  nor  any  dean  or 
canon,  have  in  his  house  a  woman  under  any  pretext :  if 
any  one  shall  be  found  to  have  relapsed  into  this  sin,  after 
having  had  the  charge  brought  against  him  by  the  bishop's 
officials,  let  him  clear  himself  in  the  episcopal  court.     But 
if  one  of  his  parishioners  or  liege  lords  before  accused  him, 
let  there  be  an  adjournment  till  he  can  refer  to  the  bishop ; 
and  if  he  designs  to  clear  himself,  let  him  do  it  in  the  pre- 
sence of  some  of  his  parishioners  in  the  presence  of  the 
bishop's   officers,   who   shall  give  their  judgment   on  his 
defence.     But  if  he  cannot  clear  himself  he  shall  forfeit  his 
preferment  for  ever. 

1  The  Peace  of  God,  a  cessation  of  hostilities  at  certain  holy  seasons,  is 
commonly  supposed  to  have  been  solemnly  introduced  in  a  synod  held  at 
Caen  in  the  year  1061;  but  there  are  traces  in  an  old  chartulary  of  its 
having  been  so  established  as  early  as  1046. 


126  OEDEBICUS   TITALIS.  [u.Y.  CH.V. 

The  king  has  decreed  this,  not  for  the  purpose  of  encroach- 
ing, in  perpetuity,  on  the  judicial  rights  of  his  bishops,  but 
because  the  bishops  of  that  time  had  been  supine  in  that 
matter ;  but  when  he  should  find  them  doing  their  duty,  he 
would  restore,  as  matter  of  grace,  the  power  of  which  they 
were  temporarily  deprived  for  their  default. 

4.  Let  no  layman  receive  any  part  of  the  altar-dues,  or 
burial-fees,  or  of  the  third  of  the  tithes ;  nor  take  money  in 
any  shape  for  their  sale  or  grant.    Let  no  priest  do  any  ser- 
vice for  his  preferment,  except  it  be  to  carry  a  message  from 
his  lord,  but  so  that  he  return  the  same  day  to  his  duties  in 
the  church.     He  may  go  with  his  lord  as  chaplain,  if  the 
lord  wishes  it,  but  not  out  of  Normandy';  being  maintained 
in  the  lord's  household,  and  providing  a  curate  to  take  charge 
of  his  church  while  he  is  absent. 

5.  Priests  shall  not  be  compelled,  by  force  or  threats,  to 
give  anything  to  the  bishops  or  their  officers,  beyond  their 
just  episcopal  dues.     No  money  shall  be  exacted  from  them 
on  account  of  their  women. 

6.  The   archdeacons   shall  hold  visitations  once  a  year 
throughout  their  jurisdictions,  at  which  they  shall  inspect 
the  vestments,  vessels,  and  books  belonging  to  the  church ; 
the  bishop   appointing  three  places   only  in  every  arch- 
deaconry where  the  priests   of   the  neighbourhood  shall 
produce  them  for  inspection. 

7.  While  the  archdeacon  is  engaged  in  his  visitations  he 
shall  receive  from  the  priests  who  attend  it  sustenance  for 
three  days. 

8.  If  a  priest  incurs  any  forfeiture  in  the  king's  forests 
or  those  of  his  barons,  the  bishop  shall  receive  no  part  of 
the  fine. 

9.  Once  a  year,   about  the  feast  of  "Whitsuntide,  the 
priests  shall  cause  processions  to  be  made  to  the  mother 
church,  and  wax  from  each  house  of  the  value  of  a  penny, 
or  the  worth  of  it,  shall  be  offered  at  the  altar  for  lighting 
the  church.    "Whoever  neglects  shall  be  compelled  by  the 
priest,  in  exercise  of  his  office,  to  pay  the  due  without 
deduction. 

10.  No  layman  shall  prefer  a  priest  to  a  benefice,  nor 
deprive  him,  without  the  bishop's  cousent.     But  the  bishop 


A.D.  1080.]   ACTS  OF  THE  SYNOD  OF  LILLEBOXNE.     127 

shall  not  refuse  to  institute  any  one  who  is  duly  qualified ; 
nor  admit  any  priest  who  is  not  fit. 

11.  In  cemeteries  which  belong  to  churches,  whether  in 
cities,  castles,  or  burghs,  the  bishops  shall  retain  whatever 
rights  they  had  in  the  time  of  Count  Robert,  or  with  the 
consent  of  King  William. 

12.  As  for  the  cemeteries  in  the  marches,  if  there  be  war, 
and  any  persons  come  to  dwell  there  while  hostilities  con- 
tinue, and  making  the  sacred  inclosure  their  habitation  on 
account  of  the  war,  the  bishop  shall  amerce  them  in  no  fine 
except  such  as  they  incurred  before  they  took  refuge  in  the 
churchyard.   When  peace  is  restored,  those  who  thus  sought 
an  asylum  during  the  war  shall  be  compelled  to  depart,  or 
shall  become  subject  to  the  bishop's  jurisdiction.     Those 
however  who  had  ancient  dwellings  in  the  cemeteries,  shall 
possess  their  former  holdings  without  disturbance. 

13.  The  country  churches  shall  preserve  the  same  extent 
of  cemeteries  which  belonged  to  them  in  the  time  of  Count 
Robert,  or  up  to  the  period  of  the  present  synod.     The 
bishops  shall  possess  the  same  rights  in  those  inclosures 
which  they  had  in  the  time  of  Count  Robert,  or  now  hold 
with  the  consent  of  King  William,  unless  they  have  given 
any  release  for  them  with  the  king's  permission. 

14.  If  after  this  council  a  new  church  is  built  within  any 
village,  the  bishop  shall  make  a  cemetery  with  the  concur- 
rence of  the  lords  of  the  soil  and  parishioners.     But  if  a 
new  church  is  erected  where  there  is  no  village,  it  shall  have 
five  perches  of  land  round  it,  allotted  for  a  cemetery. 

15.  If  a  church  be  granted  to  monks,  the  priest  who  is 
in  possession  of  it  shall  enjoy  whatever  belonged  to  it  before 
it  was  given  to  the  monks,  and  so  much  the  more  because 
he  is  then  connected  with  more  holy  men.     On  his  death 
or    other    avoidance,    the    abbot   shall    select  a  qualified 
priest,  and  present  him  to  the  bishop,  either  in  person  or 
by  letters  dimissory.     If  he  is  a  fit  person  the  bishop  shall 
institute  him :  but  if  the  priest  should  wish  to  live  with  the 
monks  under  their  strict  rule,  let  him  see  that  the  church 
to  which  he  has  been  instituted  by  episcopal  licence,  be 
decently  provided  with  vestments,  books,  and  other  things 
necessary  for  divine  service,  according  to  its  means.     But  if 


128  OBDEBICTTS  TITALTS.  [B.V.  CH.  V. 

the  priest  has  no  desire  to  live  with  the  monks,  let  the 
abbot  make  him  such  allowance  from  the  revenues  of  the 
church  as  will  enable  him  to  live  comfortably,  and  to  per- 
form properly  the  service  of  the  church.  If  the  abbot 
refuse,  let  him  be  duly  compelled  by  the  bishop.  The 
priest  who  has  the  cure  is  to  be  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
his  bishop,  and  shall  pay  him  the  dues  belonging  to  his  see. 
What  remains,  the  abbot  may  take  for  the  use  of  his 
monastery ;  let  the  same  rules  be  observed  with  respect  tc 
churches  held  by  canons. 

16.  Profanation  of  churches  and  churchyards,  as  it  has 
been  before  decreed,  and  offences  causing  interruptions  to 
divine  worship,  shall  be  punished  by  fines  inflicted  by  the 
bishops.     Assaults  on  the  road  to  church  shall  be  punished 
in  the  same  manner. 

17.  Item.  If  any  person  shall  pursue  another  in  a  rage 
into  the  churchyard  or  church. 

18.  Item.  If  any  one  ploughs  or  builds  in  the  churchyard 
without  the  bishop's  licence. 

19.  If  a  clerk  commits  a  robbery  or  rape,  or  strikes, 
wounds,  or  kills  any  one,  or  engages  in  a  duel,  without  the 
bishop's  license,  or  accepts  a  pledge  of  battle,  or  makes  an 
assault,  or  seizes  anything  unjustly,  or  is  guilty  of  arson, 
or   any  one   in  his   service,  or  dwelling  in  the  church- 
yard ;  they  shall  be  mulct  by  the  bishop  in  a  fine,  in  like 
manner. 

20.  Item.  If  a  clerk  commits  adultery  or  incest. 

21.  Item.  If  a  priest  forfeits  his  ministry. 

22.  Item.   In  the  case  of  priests  who  neglect  to  attend  the 
synod. 

23.  Item.  If  any  priest   shall  not  pay  the  synod  and 
visitation  fees  at  the  appointed  times. 

24.  Item.  If  a  clerk  shall  give  up  the  tonsure. 

25.  Item.  If  a  monk  or  nun,  not  living  under  any  rule, 
put  off  the  monastic  dress. 

26.  Item.  If  priests  excommunicate  any  persons,  except 
for  breaking  the  truce  of  God,  and  robbery  without  the 
bishop's  licence. 

27.  If  any  stray  cattle,  commonly  called  waifs,  come  to 
the  yard  of  the  priest,  or  of  a  clerk  living  in  the  churchyard, 
they  shall  belong  to  the  church  or  the  bishop. 


A..D.  1080.]      ACTS   OP   THE    SYNOD   OP   LILLEBONNE.  129 

28.  Whatever  is  left  through  a  dispute,  in  the  house  of  a 
priest  or  a  clerk,  or  in  the  yard  of  the  priest  or  clerk  or  their 
servant,  shall  belong  to  the  bishop. 

29.  If  any  thing  is  lost  and  found  in  the  church  or  church- 
yard, it  shall  belong  to  the  bishop. 

30.  If  any  one  shall  assault  or  strike  a  priest,  rnonk^  or 
nun,  or  shall  seize  them,  or  slay  them,  or  burn  their  houses  in 
the  churchyard,  he  shall  be  mulcted  in  the  same  way. 

31.  Item.  If  any  man  commits  adultery  or  incest  with  his 
mother,  or  his  godmother,  or  his  daughter. 

32.  Item.  If  a  woman  does  the  like. 

33.  Item.  If  a  husband  divorces  his  wife,  or  a  wife  her 
husband  without  the  bishop's  licence. 

34.  Item.  If  any  one  consults  ghosts,  or  has  dealings  with 
magic. 

35.  Item.  If  any  one  repudiates  or  denies  a  crime  with 
which  he  is  charged,  and  is  convicted  by  the  ordeal  of  hofc 
iron,  unless  during  the  Peace  of  God. 

36.  Item.  As  to  any  one  who,  in  contempt  of  a  sentence, 
suffers  himself  to  be  excommunicated. 

37.  The  offences  of  parishioners  which  belong  to  the  juris- 
diction of  the  bishop,  shall,  where  such  is  the  custom,  be 
judged  by  the  bishop. 

38.  If  a  sentence  be  disputed,  let  it  be  decided  in  the 
bishop's  presence. 

•  39.  If  the  ordeal  by  hot  iron  be  sentenced,  let  it  take 
place  in  the  mother  church. 

40.  If  the  law  is  to  be  made  clear,  let  it  be  done  where 
the  plea  was  first  commenced. 

41.  No  one  is  allowed  to  preach  in  a  bishop's  diocese 
without  his  license. 

42.  Whoever  falls  into  these  delinquences,  and  voluntarily 
offers  to  do  penance,  shall  have  it  assigned  him  according  to 
the  nature  of  his  offence,  and  no  fine  shall  be  exacted. 

43.  If  a  layman  commits  a  robbery  in  the  churchyard,  he 
shall  be  mulct  to  the  bishop ;  if  the  robbery  is  committed 
elsewhere,  whatever  be  its  nature,  the  bishop  shall  have 
nothing. 

44.  The  bishops  shall  have  their  customary  dues  in  those 
places  in  which  they  possessed  them  in  the  time  of  Count 
Robert,  or    now  have  them  with  the  consent   of   King 

YOL.  II.  K 


130    '  OBDERICTJS   Y1TALIS.  [B.T.  CH.T. 

"William.  Those  which  have  been  released  shall  have  the 
freedom  which  they  have  maintained  till  now.  In  all  these 
jurisdictions  and  customary  rights,  the  king  retains  in  his 
own  power  what  he  has  hitherto  possessed. 

45.  If  a  priest  disputes  his  lord's  judgment  for  somo 
ecclesiastical  cause,  and  unjustly  wearies  him  by  proceedings 
in  the  bishop's  court,  he  shall  pay  a  fine  of  ten  shillings  to 
the  lord. 

46.  If  the  bishops  can  prove  in  the  king's  court  that  they 
possessed  in  the  time  of  Count  Robert  or  of  King  William, 
with  his  consent,  any  thing  which  is  not  here  mentioned,  the 
king  does  not  deprive  them  of  their  right,  only  let  them  not 
take  seizin  of  it  until  they  have  shown  in  his  court  what  it 
is   they   claim.     Likewise,   the  king,   by   this    instrument, 
takes  none  of  their  rights  from  the  laity  which  they  can 
prove  in  his  court  to  belong  to  them   and  not  to  the 
bishops ;  only  let  them  not  disseize  the  bishops,  until  they 
have  proved  in  the  king's  court  that  the  bishops  ought  not 
to  have  it. 

This  synod  was  held  at  a  royal  country-seat  on  the  Seine, 
where  once  stood  an  ancient  city  called  Caletus.  From 
which  the  neighbouring  district  from  the  sea  to  Talou  is 
still  called  Caux.  This  city,  as  we  read  in  ancient 
annals  of  the  Romans,  was  besieged  by  Julius  Caesar,  and 
was  destroyed  on  account  of  the  obstinate  defence  made  by 
the  warlike  inhabitants.  Having  reduced  the  enemy  in  this 
place  to  submit  to  his  will,  he  was  so  struck  with  the 
advantageous  site,  that  he  took  the  precaution  of  making  it 
a  Roman  garrison,  and  called  it  after  his  own  name  Julia 
Bona,  which  the  barbarians  corrupted  into  the  name  it  now 
bears,  of  Lillebonne.1 

CH.  VI.     Description  and  antiquities  of  the  city  of  Rouen — 
The  mission  and  martyrdom  of  St.  Nicaisius. 

CJESAE,  having  over-run  the  whole  of  Neustria,  commanded 
the  city  of  Rouen  to  be  built  in  a  desirable  situation  on  the 
river  Seine,  where,  to  the  east  of  the  place  the  rivera 

1  No  authority  is  to  be  found  in  any  ancient  history  for  any  of  th<t 
statements  in  this  paragraph ;  and  so  far  from  Rouen  being  founded  by 
Julius  Casar,  it  does  not  appear  from  his  Commentaries  that  he  ever  set 
foot  in  any  part  of  Normandy. 


DESCEIPTIOK   OF   EOUETT.  131 

Aubette  and  Robec,  and  on  the  west,  the  Maromme,  form  a 
junction  with  the  Seine.  It  was  called  by  its  founders 
Rodomus,  signifying  the  house  of  the  Romans,1  and  became 
the  station  of  a  Roman  legion,  to  overawe  and  command  the 
provincials  in  the  neighbourhood. 

The  city  of  Rouen  is  populous,  and  enriched  by  commerce, 
its  busy  port,  and  flowing  rivers,  and  pleasant  meadows, 
making  it  a  cheerful  residence.  It  abounds  in  fruits  and  fish, 
and  is  affluent  in  its  supplies  of  all  commodities,  is 
surrounded  on  all  sides  by  woods  and  hills,  is  strongly 
fortified  by  walls,  trenches,  and  bulwarks,  and  its  public  and 
private  buildings,  its  houses  and  churches,  make  a  fine 
appearance.  St.  Nicaisius  the  bishop,  was  commissioned  to 
come  to  this  city  with  his  companions  by  St.  Denys,  in  the 
time  of  the  Emperor  Domitian,2  but  on  the  road  he  was 
arrested  by  Sisinnius  Fescenninus,  at  a  place  called  Scamnis,* 
and  remaining  constant  in  the  faith  of  Christ  was  beheaded, 
as  well  as  Quirinus  the  priest,  and  Scuviculus  the  deacon, 
on  the  fifth  of  the  ides  [llth]  of  October.  Their  bodies 
were  left  by  their  persecutors  to  be  devoured  by  birds  of 
prey,  dogs,  and  wild  beasts,  but  by  command  of  the 
Almighty  God,  angels  preserved  them  untouched.  The 
heathen  guards  being  withdrawn  the  night  following,  the 
holy  martyrs  miraculously  arose  by  God's  help,  and  having 
replaced  their  heads,*  crossed  the  river  Epte  by  a  ford 
unknown  to  man,  and  reposed  themselves  on  a  pleasant  islet 
in  that  river.  The  place  has  been  called,  in  memory  of  the 
saints,  from  that  day  to  the  present  Yani,  that  is  the  ford  of 
Nicaisius  ;5  and  there  the  Almighty  conferred  many  good 
gifts  on  those  who  asked  in  faith,  for  the  merits  of  the 

1  This  absurd  etymology  needs  no  serious  refutation.  The  original 
name  of  Rouen  was  Rotomagus,  which  has  nothing  in  common  with 
Uom.inus.  It  was  afterwards  corrupted  to  Rotomas,  Rodomus,  &c. 

3  See  chap.  iv.  of  this  book.  The  mission  of  St.  Nicaisius  was  not  in 
the  time  of  Domitian.  The  mistake  arises  from  the  common  error  in  the 
middle  ages  of  confusing  St.  Denys  the  Areopagite,  with  St.  Denys,  bishop 
of  Paris. 

'  Supposed  to  be  the  place  since  called  Roche-Guion. 

*  The  stories  of  saints  carrying  their  own  heads  probably  arose  from 
images  which  thus  represented  to  the  ignorant  the  nature  of  their  martyr- 
dom, and  to  which  succeeding  generations  gave  a  literal  interpretation. 

*  The  author  means,  it  may  be  supposed  Fa-dum  M-casii,  a  strange 
etymology.     Gam  was,  indeed,  anciently  called  Vadiniacus. 


132  OBDERICTTS   TITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.TI. 

martyrs.  Its  former  heathenism  long  heldy  possession  of 
Eouen,  after  the  martyrdom  of  its  missionary,  and  filled  it 
with  idolatrous  abominations  until  the  time  of  St.  Mellon 
the  archbishop. 

CH.  VII.     Legends  of  St.    Taurinus,   the  first  lisJiop   of 
Evreux. 

AT  that  time  the  faith  of  Christ  savingly  possessed  and 
illuminated  the  city  of  the  Evantici,  that  is  to  say  of  Evreux, 
situated  on  the  river  Iton.  For  St.  Taurinus  was  sent  there 
by  the  blessed1  Dionysius,  and  by  God's  help  wrought  many 
miracles,  God  being  always  with  him  and  gloriously  directing 
all  his  works.  For  this  he  had  chosen  to  undergo  patiently 
all  the  trials  and  sufferings  of  this  present  life ;  and  leaving 
at  Home  Tarquinius  Eomanus  his  father,  and  Eutychia  his 
most  pious  mother,  with  many  other  friends  and  relations, 
by  order  of  Pope  Clemens,  the  young  exile  penetrated  into 
Gaul  with  Dionysius  the  Greek.  When  the  second 
persecution  raged  furiously  against  the  Christians,  under 
Domitian,  this  Dionysius,  who  was  then  bishop  of  Paris, 
ordained  his  godson  Taurinus,  who  was  now  forty  years 
old,  bishop,  and,  predicting  many  things  he  would  have 
to  suffer,  sent  him  among  the  inhabitants  of  Evreux,  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord.  As  the  man  of  God  drew  near  the  gates 
of  the  city,  a  demon  encountering  him  in  three  different 
shapes,  that  of  a  bear,  a  lion,  and  a  buffalo,  endeavoured  to 
terrify  the  champion  of  Christ.  But  he  stood  firm  in  the 
faith  like  an  impregnable  wall,  and  completing  his  journey 
was  hospitably  entertained  in  the  house  of  Lucius.  On  the 
third  day,  while  Taurinus  was  preaching  to  the  people,  and 
the  charm  of  the  new  faith  gained  him  willing  hearers,  the 

1  Machario,  Greek  for  blessed.  The  following  legend  is  extracted  from 
that  found  in  the  Bollandists  under  2nd  of  August.  It  is  of  the  same 
stamp  as  the  other  fabrications  of  the  ninth  or  tenth  centuries,  when 
all  knowledge  of  the  real  facts  was  lost  or  corrupted,  and  it  was  sought  to 
supply  them  by  fables  very  ill  put  together,  and  all  servilely  copied  one 
from  another.  Here  we  have  the  confusion  before  referred  to  between  the 
two  St.  Denys's,  and  the  introduction  of  our  old  acquaintances,  the  magi- 
cians Cambyses  and  Zara,  to  do  honour  to  the  miraculous  powers  of  St. 
Taurinus.  All  that  is  known  with  truth,  is  that  Taurinus  first  preached 
Christianity  in  these  parts  among  the  Aulcrci.  about  the  beginning  of  the 
fifth  century. 


LEGEND   OF   ST.  TATTKINTJS.  133 

devil  in  alarm  began  to  torment  Euphrasia,  the  daughter  of 
Lucius,  and  cast  her  into  the  fire.  She  immediately  died, 
but  shortly  afterwards  Taurinus,  praying,  and  commanding 
her  to  arise,  she  was  restored  to  life  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
No  signs  of  fire  appeared  about  her.  All  who  were 
witnesses  of  this  miracle  were  struck  with  fear  and  astonish- 
ment, and  believed  in  Jesus  Christ.  On  that  same  day  one 
hundred  and  twenty  men  were  baptized,  eight  blind  men 
received  sight,  four  dumb  were  cured,  and  many  more  were 
healed  of  their  various  infirmities  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

Then  Taurinus  entered  the  temple  of  Diana,  and  compelled 
Zabulon,  by  the  power  of  God,  to  stand  visible  before  all  the 
people,  at  which  spectacle  the  heathen  multitude  was 
greatly  terrified.  For  he  appeared  to  them  in  the  shape  of 
an  Ethiopian,  black  as  soot,  having  a  long  beard,  and 
breathing  out  flames  of  fire  from  his  mouth.  Then  there 
came  an  angel  of  the  Lord,  shining  like  the  sun,  and  in  the 
sight  of  all  bound  the  demon's  hands  and  carried  him  off. 
On  that  day  therefore,  two  thousand  souls  were  baptized, 
and  all  the  sick  were  cured  by  divine  interposition. 
Deodatus,  the  brother  of  Euphrasia,  seeing  these  things, 
believed  and  was  baptized,  and  being  made  a  priest  recorded 
truly  all  that  happened.  Then  Taurinus  entered  the 
defiled  temple  of  Diana,  and,  purifying  it  by  exorcisms  and 
prayers,  consecrated  it  as  a  Christian  church  in  honour  of  St. 
Mary,  mother  of  God.  He  then  proceeded  to  destroy  the 
idols  every  where  around,  and  to  dedicate  churches  to 
Christ,  visiting  his  whole  diocese,  making  canonical 
ordinations,  and  establishing  hospitality  every  where. 

Satan,  becoming  envious  at  beholding  so  much  good,  in 
his  despair  devised  many  schemes  for  injuring  the  man  of 
God,  and  roused  against  him  numerous  enemies.  Two 
magicians,  Cambyses  and  Zara,  priests  of  Diana,  groaned  at 
seeing  the  people  converted  to  God,  and  incited  twenty  of 
their  disciples  to  kill  Taurinus.  But  as  they  drew  near 
to  him,  they  were  discovered  at  some  distance  by  the  man  of 
God,  who,  making  the  sign  of  the  cross  against  them, 
caused  them  to  stand  fixed  on  the  spot.  At  his  command, 
the  second  time,  they  were  set  free,  and,  throwing  them- 
selves at  his  feet,  believed,  and  were  baptized,  in  the  name 
of  the  holy  and  undivided  Trinity.  The  magicians,  fir. ding 


134  OEDEBICUS   TITALI8.  [B.V.  CH.TI. 

that  their  devices  could  not  prevail  against  the  soldier  of 
Christ,  stabbed  themselves  with  their  own  knives. 

Meanwhile,  Licinius  the  consul  hearing  of  the  fame  of  the 
holy  bishop,  he  caused  him  to  be  presented  to  him  at  his 
villa  of  Gisai.1  While  he  was  being  conducted  there,  he 
met  a  paralytic  man,  and  his  sister,  who  was  blind,  deaf,  and 
dumb.  He  forthwith  blessed  water,  and  sprinkled  the  sick, 
who  were  immediately  made  sound.  The  executioners, 
seeing  this  miracle,  instantly  believed  on  the  Lord.  The 
bishop  and  the  consul,  having  sharply  disputed  concerning 
idolatry  and  divine  worship,  the  consul  flew  into  a  rage,  and 
commanded  the  bishop  to  be  stripped  naked  and  scourged 
with  rods ;  but  the  holy  man  devoutly  prayed  to  God,  aud 
presently  a  voice  was  heard  from  heaven,  comforting  him. 
The  hands,  also,  of  the  executioners  immediately  withered ; 
but  the  wife  of  Licinius,  interceding  for  the  man  of  God, 
the  consul  was  so  incensed,  that  he  commanded  her  to  be 
tortured. 

While  this  was  passing,  a  messenger  arrived  with  the 
intelligence  that  his  son  had  fallen  down  a  precipice  as  he 
was  hunting  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  castle  of  Alercus,8 
and  died  on  the  spot,  as  well  as  his  attendant.  Licinius  and 
all  his  troops  were  thrown  into  the  deepest  sorrow  at  this 
calamity,  and  by  God's  will  he  was  compelled  to  implore 
the  aid  of  the  man  of  God,  whom  he  had  begun  to  torture. 
Then  Taurinus,  having  prostrated  himself  in  the  church  of 
St.  Mary  and  prayed,  went  with  the  people  to  the  bodies 
which  were  lying  dead.  There  he  poured  forth  devout  sup- 
plications to  God ;  and,  having  ended  his  prayers,  took  the 
hand  of  his  cousin 3  Marinus,  and  restored  him  to  life  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord.  Licinius,  and  his  wife,  and  all  his  chief 
men,  seeing  this,  rejoiced  greatly,  and  casting  themselves  at 
the  bishop's  feet,  begged  to  receive  holy  baptism.  And  that 
day  one  thousand  two  hundred  souls  were  baptized. 

|  Probably  Gisai,  between  Broglie  and  La  Barre,  where  ruins  of  Roman 
buildings  have  been  discovered,  to  which  traditions  of  St.  Taurinus  art» 
attached. 

*  Mediolanum  Aulercorum,  the  Roman  site  of  old  Evreux,  two  leagues 
and  a  half  south  of  the  present  city,  where  traces  of  a  castle  of  the  middla 
ages  hstve  been  found. 

3  Our  author  has  omitted  the  passage  of  the  legend  in  which  Licinius  ia 
represented  to  have  made  the  discovery  that  the  saint  was  his  uncle. 


LEGEND   OF   ST.  TATJEINUS.  135 

Then  Marinus  entreating  for  his  follower,  Taurinus 
assented,  and,  approaching  the  body,  invoked  God,  and 
called  to  Paschasius,  who  was  immediately  restored  to  life 
by  the  power  of  God.  Both,  on  their  recovery,  told  each 
other  what  they  had  seen  in  the  place  of  the  departed. 
Paschasius  predicted  to  Marinus  that  he  would  die  on  the 
day  he  put  off  his  white  robes  of  baptism,1  which  came  to 
pass ;  for  Marinus,  being  seized  with  a  slight  fever,  died  on 
the  eighth  day  after  he  was  baptized. 

By  such  miracles  as  these,  Taurinus,  the  first  bishop  of 
Evreux,  became  illustrious,  and  brought  many  thousands  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  truth  and  righteousness.  At  length 
when  Pope  Sixtus  filled  the  apostolic  see,  and  -Sluis 
Hadrian  was  emperor,  Taurinus,  full  of  years  and  virtues, 
received  a  call  from  heaven,  on  the  third  of  the  ides  [llth] 
of  August,  and  the  church  in  which  the  people  were  assem- 
bled was  filled  with  a  thick  and  odoriferous  cloud.  After 
the  space  of  an  hour,  the  cloud  was  withdrawn,  and  the 
bishop  was  seen  sitting  on  his  chair,  with  his  hands  stretched 
out  in  the  act  of  prayer,  and  his  eyes  lifted  to  heaven. 
Deep  grief  fell  on  the  people  of  the  diocese  for  the  loss  of 
their  bishop  ;  and,  at  the  command  of  an  angel,  who  appeared 
to  them  in  the  shape  of  a  person  of  eminence,  the  man  of 
God  was  buried  outside  the  city,  about  the  distance  of  one- 
third  of  a  mile  on  the  west  side.  The  place  long  remained 
without  any  mark  of  respect,  but  now  a  chosen  company  of 
monks  have,  by  the  grace  of  God,  settled  there,  to  carry  on 
their  soul-saving  warfare.2  An  extraordinary  thing  hap- 
pened at  the  funeral  of  the  venerable  bishop.  While  he 
was  being  laid  in  the  grave  in  the  usual  manner,  and  the 
people  were  making  great  lamentations,  he  raised  himself  in 
the  pit,  as  if  he  were  alive,  and  said :  "  My  little  children, 
why  do  ye  so  ?  Fear  not :  listen  to  a  just  one."  And, 
bending  his  head,  he  was  again  silent.  Accordingly,  as  soon 
as  the  servant  of  Christ  was  buried,  an  angel  of  the  Lord 

1  According  to  primitive  custom  and  the  canons  of  the  church,  the  white 
garments  of  baptism  were  worn  for  eight  days. 

*  The  place  where  the  tomb  of  St.  Taurinus  stood,  and  where  a 
monastery  was  founded  to  his  honour  before  the  end  of  the  seventh 
century,  is  stili  shown.  Though  now  within  the  modern  city  of  St.  Evreux, 
5t  waa  at  a  little  distance  from  the  Roman  town. 


136  OEDEBICUS   TITALIS.  [B.Y.  CH.TII. 

said  to  the  people :  "  Depart  quickly,  lest  ye  be  surrounded 
by  the  enemy ;  this  city  shall  be  destroyed,  but  none  of  you 
shall  be  injured.  This  place  shall  remain  unknown  for  a 
long  time."  The  angel  then  vanished,  and  all  that  he  had 
foretold  came  to  pass.  For  the  tomb  of  the  holy  bishop 
and  the  anniversary  of  his  departure  were  long  concealed, 
but  at  length  became  gloriously  known  by  a  divine  revela- 
tion.1 Some  miracles  are  also  daily  wrought  by  him  at 
Evreux.  For  the  demon  which  he  expelled  from  the  temple 
of  Diana  still  haunts  the  city,  appearing  in  various  shapes, 
but  hurting  no  one.  The  common  people  call  it  the  G-ob- 
lin,2  and  assert  that  ib  is  restrained  to  this  day  from  injuring 
mankind  by  the  merits  of  St.  Taurinus  ;  and  that  because  it 
obeyed  his  commands  by  breaking  its  own  idols,  it  was  not 
forthwith  cast  into  the  pit,  but  undergoes  its  punishment  in 
the  very  place  where  it  had  reigned  supreme,  by  witnessing 
the  salvation  of  those  whom  it  had  before  insulted  and 
tormented. 

It  is  also  said  by  the  inhabitants,  and  it  is  true,  that  no 
venomous  animal  can  exist  in  Evreux.  At  one  time  the 
rich  soil,  flooded  by  the  waters  of  the  river  Iton,  gave  birth 
to  such  numbers  of !  vipers  and  snakes,  that  the  city  of 
Evreux  was  full  of  reptiles  of  that  kind.  The  citizens 
complaining  of  this  pest,  St.  Taurinus  prayed  to  the  Lord  to 
deliver  them  from  the  annoyance,  and  that  no  venomous 
reptile  should  in  future  be  suffered  to  live  within  the  walls. 
His  prayers  were  heard.  If  by  any  accident  an  adder  or  a 

1  Our  author's  abridgment  of  the  legend  ends  here;  it  is  not  known 
where  he  obtained  the  additional  traditions. 

a  Gobilenus,  from  the  Greek  »:6/3a\oc,  a  demon  (1)  Du  Cange,  "vulgtx 
feunus,  folletus,"  [the  follet  and  ku-follet  of  the  French],  He  quotes 
Caspian.  Coll.  7,  c.  32,  to  show  that  these  merry  sprites,  lurking  by  the 
road-side  and  in  out-of-the-way  places,  delighted  in  mocking  wayfarers,  and 
leading  them  astray,  and  thus  annoying  them,  rather  than  in  doing  them 
serious  injury.  Tnis  object  of  vulgar  superstition  had,  it  appears,  and  still 
retains  the  same  name  and  character  in  Normandy  as  in  England. 

"  You  are  that  shrewd  and  knavish  sprite 
Called  Robin  Goodfellow  .  .  . 
Those  that  Hobgoblin  call  you,  and  sweet  Puck." 

Midsummer  Nights'  Dream. 

See  also  Archives  Wormandes,  1824  ;  and  La  Stalislique  du  D6parte- 
ment  de  fOrnte,  par  M.  Du  Bois. 


MAETYES   IK    GAUL.  137 

toad  is  introduced  in  a  bundle  of  grass,  the  moment  it  comes 
within  the  walls  it  dies. 

A  long  time  afterwards  the  religion  of  Christ  spread,  and 
the  clergy  of  Evreux,  with  the  faithful  inhabitants,  made  a 
search  for  the  tomb  of  Taurinus,  their  first  bishop,  and  by 
God's  help  found  it.1  His  remains  were  then  reverently  lifted 
from  the  earth,  and  after  a  short  time,  translated  by  the 
faithful  to  Fecamp.  A  venerable  monastery  of  monks 
devoted  to  the  worship  of  God  was  built  there,  and  the  body 
of  the  saint  was  deposited  in  a  rich  shrine.2 

May  God  deliver  us  from  all  venom  of  sin,  by  the  inter- 
cession and  merits  of  Taurinus,  the  benignant  bishop ;  and 
shedding  on  us  abundantly  the  perfect  light  of  his  holy  vir- 
tues, unite  us  to  the  company  of  his  saints  in  the  heavenly 
mansions,  where  we  may  worthily  pour  forth  praises  to  the 
King  of  kings,  through  all  ages.  Amen ! 

CH.  VIII.  Sufferings  of  the  Christians  in  Gaul  during  the 
reigns  of -Hadrian  and  Antoninus  Pius — Martyrs  in  the 
Diocletian  persecution. 

IN  the  time  of  the  emperors  Hadrian  and  Antoninus  Pius, 
the  infant  Christianity  of  Gaul  was  crushed  by  the  rage  of 
its  adversaries,  and  our  holy  mother  the  church  deeply  hu- 
miliated for  nearly  one  hundred  and  sixty  years.  History 
does  not  distinctly  inform  us,  what  nation  it  was  which  into- 
lerably oppressed  both  Christians  and  idolaters,  or  whence  it 
came,  nor  under  what  prince  or  tyrant  it  vented  its  fury.3 

1  St.  Landulf,  then  a  clerk,  and  afterwards  bishop,  of  Evreux,  discovered 
the  relics  of  St.  Taurinus  in  the  beginning  of  the  seventh  century,  when 
he  built  a  chapel  on  the  spot. 

a  There  are  various  accounts  of  the  translation  of  the  relics  of  St. 
Taurinus.  At  the  invasion  of  the  Northmen  they  were  taken  to  Lezoux 
in  Auvergne;  afterwards,  at  the  beginning  of  the  tenth  century,  to  Gigni  in 
Franche-Compte'.  It  is  not  known  when  they  were  brought  back  to  Nor- 
mandy, but  spite  of  the  claims  of  the  abbeys  of  Gigni  and  Fecamp,  and 
those  also  advanced  by  the  cathedral  of  Chartres,  which  pretends  to  have 
received  them  after  the  pillage  of  Evreux  by  Philip-Augustus  in  1 1 95,  the 
abbey  of  St.  Taurinus  possesses  them,  where  they  are  preservi-d  in  an 
exquisite  reliquary  of  the  thirteenth  century,  of  which  M.  Le  Provost  has 
published  a  description. 

8  This  pretended,  invasion  of  Gaul  is  altogether  apocryphal,  and  wag 
invented  by  the  legend-writers  of  the  middle  ages  as  a  frame  for  their  pious 
frauds. 


138  OEDEEICUS   YITALIB.  [fi.V.  CH.Vin. 

However  it  dearly  appears  in  the  acts  of  many  of  the  saints  of 
that  period,  that  during  the  reign  of  the  emperors  above  named 
an  army  of  savage  barbarians  ravaged  Gaul.  At  that  time 
there  were  no  kings  in  Gaul,  but  the  emperors  of  Rome,  from 
the  time  of  Julius  Caesar,  had  all  the  Cisalpine  nations  under 
their  dominion,  appointing  prefects  and  other  magistrates  in 
the  cities  at  their  will. 

The  word  of  God  was  almost  forgotten  in  Neustria  after 
the  death  of  the  holy  bishop  Taurinus,  until  the  times  of 
Diocletian  and  Maximian,  by  whom  the  tenth  persecution 
was  carried  on  with  diabolical  fury,  and  raged  more  fiercely 
and  longer  against  the  church  of  Christ  than  any  before. 
But  He  who  promised  to  be  ever  with  his  people,  wonderfully 
comforted  and  delivered  his  spouse  in  the  storms  of  her  deep 
tribulation,  protecting  and  exalting  her  and  making  her 
triumphantly  glorious.  Moreover,  he  will  reward  her  with 
an  eternal  crown  in  the  presence  of  his  Father  in  the 
heavenly  Jerusalem.  Her,  therefore,  he  so  much  loved,  he 
did  not  leave  long  destitute  of  illustrious  teachers  during 
the  fury  of  her  persecutors. 

When  the  tenth  persecution  fatally  harassed  the  Christians 
for  ten  years,  and  innumerable  multitudes  of  martyrs  were 
slain  with  every  species  of  torture,  ascending  to  heaven  with 
the  glorious  ornament  of  their  precious  blood,  Quentin  and 
Lucian,  Valerian,  Rufinus  and  Eugenius,  Mellon  and  Avi- 
cian,  and  many  others  of  the  clergy  and  nobility  of  Borne, 
went  forth,  and  were  scattered  throughout  Gaul  faithfully 
preaching  the  word  of  God.  Quentin  came  to  Amiens,  and 
Lucian  to  Beauvais ;  Mellon  with  Avician  and  some  other 
distinguished  persons  to  Rouen.1 

1  St.  Quentin,  martyr  in  the  Vermandois,  October  31,  287  ;  St.  Lucien, 
apostle  of  the  Beauvais,  about  the  same  time ;  St.  Valerien,  martyr  at 
Tournus,  the  15th  of  September,  279;  St.  Rufinus,  martyr  in  the  diocese 
of  Soissons,  about  237 ;  St.  Eugenius,  martyr  at  Deuil  near  Paris,  in  the 
third  century.  The  time  at  which  St.  Mellon  began  to  preach  at  Rouea 
is  not  exactly  known;  but  he  was  the  first  to  introduce  Christianity  there, 
and  must  have  died  before  314,  the  date  of  the  council  of  Aries,  at  which 
his  successor,  Avician,  was  present,  and  the  acts  of  which,  his  name  being 
subscribed  as  bishop  of  Rouen.  All  the  martyrs  whose  names  are  men- 
tioned, suffered  before  the  tenth  persecution,  which  was  not  regularly 
enforced  until  the  year  303;  it  is  therefore  incorrect  to  say  that  these  sainti 
were  led  by  it  to  leave  Rome,  and  preach  the  gospel  in  Gaul.  It  ia 


ST.  MELLON",  ABCHBISHOP   OF   BOTJEIT.  139 

Diocletian  and  Herculeua  Maximian  voluntarily  abdicating 
their  authority,  Constans,  a  prince  of  great  humanity,  suc- 
ceeded to  the  government  in  the  provinces  of  the  west  from 
which  Herculeus  retired.1  Constans  displayed  much  cle- 
mency to  the  people,  great  devotion  to  God.  For,  as 
Eusebius  of  Caesarea  attests,  in  spite  of  the  fury  of  his 
colleagues,  he  neither  stained  his  reign  with  the  blood  of  the 
saints,  nor  destroyed  with  violence  the  oratories  and  conven- 
ticles of  the  Christians  as  Maximian  had  done.  This  prince 
built  a  city  in  Neustria  which  he  called  Constance  [Coutan- 
ces]  from  his  own  name ;  and  his  concubine  Helen  came  from 
that  province;  she  bore  him  Constantine  the  Great,  the 
founder  of  Constantinople.2 

CH.  IX.  Series  of  the  archbishops  of  "Rouen  from  l&ellon 
(about  A.  D.  310)  to  Geoffrey,  A.  D.  1110— 1127—  Contain- 
ing also  chronicles  of  other  persons  and  public  events. 

AT  that  time  the  venerable  Mellon,  with  some  other  faith- 
ful men,  settled  at  Rouen,  where  he  was  the  first,  who  by 
God's  permission  sat  in  the  episcopal  chair ;  and  from  that 
time  to  the  present  day  the  metropolitan  dignity  has  been 
vested  there.  It  has  six  other  cities  as  the  seats  of  suffra- 
gan bishops ;  those  of  the  Belocasi,  that  is  Bayeux ;  of  the 
Evantici,  that  is  Evreux ;  Lisieux,  Avranches,  Coutances,  and 
that  of  the  Salarii,  which  is  called  Seez.  The  church  of 
Rouen  has  now  had  forty-six  bishops,  and  the  clergy  of  that 
city  have  published  for  the  information  of  posterity  a  distich 
in  heroic  verse  concerning  each  of  them,  which  I  propose  to 
insert  in  an  agreeable  order  with  some  necessary  additions.' 
1.  "  St.  Mellon  was  the  first  bishop  who  taught  his 

probable  that  St.  Mellon  himself  began  his  apostolical  labours  before  tne 
end  of  the  third  century. 

1  Constans  was  created  Caesar  and  associated  in  the  empire,  March  1, 
292;  raised  to  the  rank  of  Augustus,  May  1,  305;  and  died  25th  of  July 
of  the  year  following. 

2  It  is  not  known  when  or  where  Constans  married  Helena,  if  sne  wfis 
his  legitimate  wife,  as  seems  to  have  been  the  case,  notwithstanding  our 
author;  for  it  appears  that  he  was  compelled  to  divorce  her  in  292,  when 
he  married  Theodora,  the  daughter  of  Maximian  Herculeus.     The  emperor 
Constantine  was  born  the  27th  of  February,  274. 

3  These  distichs,  which  contain  v-ry  meagre  information,  in  barbarous 
verse,  are  incorrectly  attributed  to  our  author  by  P.  Pommerage  in  his 
Histoire  des  Archevtques  de  Rouen. 


140  OEDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [B.Y.  CH.IX. 

doctrine  to  the  people  of  Rouen."  He  flourished  in  the 
time  of  popes  Eusebius  and  Melchiades,1  and  departing  to 
the  Lord  on  the  eleventh  of  the  calends  of  November  [22nd 
of  October],  was  buried  in  the  crypt  of  the  church  of  St. 
Gervase  the  martyr,  outside  the  city,  where  his  remains  long 
reposed.  His  tomb  indeed,  is  preserved  there  to  this  time, 
but  his  body  was  removed  for  fear  of  the  Danes,  and  trans- 
lated to  a  castle  in  the  Vexin  called  Pontoise.  It  is  there 
preserved  in  a  church  dedicated  to  his  name,  to  which  is 
attached  a  celebrated  convent  of  canons.8 

2.  "  Immediately    after    Mellon,    the    devoted    Avician 
succeeded  to  the  government,  and  ruled  his  charge  like  a 
good  master."     He  was  present  at  the  council  of  Aries, 
which  was  held  in  the  time  of  Pope  Silvester  under  the 
Emperor  Constantine,  who  began  his  reign  in  the  year  from 
the  building  of  Rome,3 1061.     It  was  then  that  the  council 
of  Nice  was  held,  attended  by  three  hundred  and  eighteen 
bishops,  among  whom  were  Nicholas,  bishop  of  Myra,  in 
Lycia,4  and  many  other  very  eminent  prelates. 

3.  "  Severus  came  next,  a  bishop  illustrious  for  his  virtues, 
of  admirable  conduct,  and  gentle  to  his  flock."    "He  held  the 
see  fifteen  years,5  flourishing  in  the  times  of  Constantine 

1  May  20,  31 0— January  11,314.     It  is  most  probable  that  St.  Mellon 
was  rather  contemporary  with  the  predecessors  of  these  popes,  as  we  have 
Been  that  his  own  successor,  Avician,  was  at  the  council  of  Aries  in  314. 

2  St.  Mellon,  as  well  as  his  successor,  Avician,  was  in  truth  buried  in  a 
crypt  still  remaining  under  the  church  of  St.  Gervase  at  Rouen;  or  to 
speak  more  correctly,  in  the  public  cemetery  on  the  road  to  Lillebonne, 
where  one  of  their  successors  (probably  St.  Victricius)  built  the  existing 
crypt  over  their  tomb,  after  Christianity  became  established.     M.  Le  Pr£ 
vost,  considers  it  as  the  most  ancient  Christian  monument  to  be  found  in 
Normandy.     There  axe  to  be  seen  the  two  elliptic  arches  under  which  the 
remains  of  the  two   archbishops  long   reposed.      Those   of  St.    Mellon, 
removed  to  Pontoise  to  escape  the  ravages  of  the  Danes,  gave  rise  to  the 
foundation  of  an  abbey  which  was  afterwards  converted  into  a  collegiate 
church  of  canons. 

3  Our  author  here  returns  to  the  computation  of  venerable  Bede.     It 
«hould  be  A.U.C.  1 059,  A.D.  306,  July  25. 

*  It  is  very  doubtful  whether  St.  Nicholas,  bishop  of  Myra,  assisted  at 
the  council  of  Nice;  indeed,  the  doubts  connected  with  this  bishop  may  be 
carried  still  further. 

*  The  dates  assigned  by  Ordericus  Vitalis  to  most  of  the  bishops  in  the 
ensuing  series  are  very  doubtful,  but  there  exist  no  authentic  records  from 
which  they  can  be  corrected. 


AHCHBISHOPS   OP   EOTJEK.  141 

and  Constans,  under  Popes  Mark  and  Julius.  In  his  age, 
Maximin  bishop  of  Treves,  Hilary  of  Poitiers,  Athanasius  of 
Alexandria,  Eusebius  at  Vercelli,  and  Dionysius  at  Milan, 
were  bright  stars  of  the  church. 

4.  "  Eusebius,  so  gentle  and  so  constant  in  the  duties  of  a 
bishop,  sweetly  displayed  the  flowers  of  his  virtues."     He 
flourished  twenty-five  years,  in  the  time  of  Popes  Liberius 
and  Felix,  and  during  the  reigns  of  Constantino,  Julian  the 
apostate,  Jovian,  and  Valentinian. 

5.  "Marcellinus  succeeded  by  the  grace  of  Christ,  an 
eminent  pastor,  distinguished  by  the  excellence  of  his  life." 
He  laboured  for  the  good  of  the  church  for  twenty  years,  in 
the  time   of   Pope   Damasus,   and   during    the  reigns   of 
Valentinian,  Valens,  Gratian,  and  Valentinian  [II.]     At  that 
time  died  Anthony,  the  most  illustrious  of  the  Egyptian 
monks.     Peter,  an  eminent  orator,  flourished  at  Saragossa : 
Ambrose  of  Milan  withstood  the  Arians,  like  an  impregnable 
wall.     A  council  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  fathers  assembled 
at  Constantinople  under  Pope  Damasus,  against  Macedonius 
and  Eunomius. 

6.  "  Peter,    the    ever    watchful    guardian    and    worthy 
protector  of  his  people,  piously  filled  the  see  committed  to 
him."     He  governed  it  nineteen  years,  in  the  time  of  Popes 
Siricius   and  Anastasius,  under   Theodosius  and  Arcadius. 
Then   Martin   of   Tours,   Maurilius   of   Angers,   Basil  of 
Caesarea,  and  the  eloquent  preacher  Augustine  of  Hippo,  and 
St.  Jerom,  the  interpreter  of  the  word  of  God,  flourished. 

7.  "  Victricius,  the  brave  victor  and  avenger  of  sin,  taught 
the  church  of  God  his  pious  precepts."     He  held  the  see 
eleven    years,1    in    the    time    of    Pope    Innocent,    under 
Arcadius  and  Honorius.     In  his  age,  Donatus,  bishop  of 
Epirus,  and  John  of  Jerusalem,  flourished.     The  discovery 
of  the  body  of  St.  Stephen,  the  proto-martyr,  was  made,  by  a 
divine   revelation   to   Lucian,   a   priest   of    Caphargamala 
Then  the  priest  Orosius,  who  wrote  a  history  of  the  world 
called  the  Hormesta,2  having  been  sent  by  Augustine  to 

1  It  is,  however,  known  that  Victricius  filled  the  see  of  Rouen  at  least 
from  the  year  383  to  404. 

-  Sie  note,  vol.  i.  p.  2.  The  discovery  of  the  relics  of  St.  Stephen,  and 
the  voyage  of  Orosius  to  Palestine  occurred  in  415.  John  II.  was  patriarch 
of  Jerusalem  from  386  to  417. 


142  OEDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [u.V.  CH.IX. 

Jerora  to  consult  him  on  some  deep  questions,  met  Lucian, 
from  whom  he  received  the  relics  of  St.  Stephen,  which  he 
conveyed  to  Spain  for  the  priest  Avitus. 

8.  "  He  was  succeeded  by  Innocent,  a  pious  bishop,  who 
re-established  the  church  of  God,  and  reformed  the  people." 
He  flourished  nine  years,  in  the  time  of  popes  Zosimus, 
Boniface,   and    Celestine,  under    Honorius    and    his    son 
Arcadius.     It  was  then  that  a  council  of  two   hundred 
bishops  was  held  at  Ephesus,  of  which  Cyril  of  Alexandria 
was    president.     Palladius,    ordained    a    bishop    by   Pope 
Celestine,  was  sent  as  the  first  missionary  to  convert  th« 
Scots. 

9.  "Evodus1    succeeded:    he   was  gifted   with    a    holy 
eloquence,   firm   and   irreproachable,  prudent,   pious,   and 
modest."     He  flourished  eight  years,  in  the  times  of  popes 
Celestine  and  Sixtus.     Then  the  Gauls  rebelled  against  the 
Romans,  in  conjunction  with  the  Franks,  who  sprung  from 
the  race  of  the  Trojans.     These  two  nations  jointly*  elected 
Pharamond  the  Frank,  son  of  Duke  Sunno  to  be  their  king. 
Maximus,  bishop  of  Tours,  was  much  esteemed  for  the 
eloquence  of  his  sermons. 

10.  "  St.  Silvester  governed  his  see  honourably,  ruling  it 
justly,   and    prudently   enriching   it."     He   flourished   tea 
years,  when  Leo  was  pope,  and  Clodion  and  Meroveus  were 
kings  of  the  Franks. 

11.  "  Bishop  Malson,  relying  on  his  divine  doctrines,  was 
a  shepherd  held  in   veneration  by  the   people  in  every 
quarter."     He  flourished  nine  years,  under  Martian  and 
Valentinian,  at  the  time  that  Pope  Leo  held  a  council  of  six 
hundred  and  thirty  bishops  at  Chalcedon,  against  Eutyches 
and  Dioscorus.     In  his  time,  the  Saxons  and  Angles,  under 
Hengist  and  Horsa,  passed  over  into  Britain  in  three  long 
ships,  and  entered  into  engagements  with  Vortigern  against 
the  Picts.     Then  Germanus  of  Auxerre  was  greatly  distin- 
guished. 

12.  "Germanus,*    an    illustrious    prelate,    the    vigilant 

1  It  is  supposed  that  St.  Evodus  flourished  in  the  course  of  the  fifth 
century,  but  nothing  more  is  known  of  him.  The  acts  attributed  to  him 
are  apocryphal. 

a  Whatever  our  author  may  say,  the  Gauls  had  nothing  to  do  with 
Pharamond's  election. 

•  All  that  is  known  of  this  bishop  is  that  he  was  present  at  the  first 
council  of  Tours  in  461 


AECHBISHOPS   OE   BOT7EW.  143 

guardian  of  his  people,  filled  the  episcopal  see."  This 
bishop  flourished  eight  years,  while  Childeric  governed  the 
Gauls,  and  Leo  the  Romans.  At  this  time  Theodore,  a 
bishop  of  Syria,  wrote  his  ecclesiastical  history,  from  the  end 
of  that  of  Eusebius  to  his  own  times,  that  is,  to  the  reign  of 
Leo,  in  which  he  died. 

13.  "  Crescentius  was  careful  of  his  flock,  adorning  them 
with  eminent  virtues,  and  causing   them  to  increase  in 
goodness."     He  flourished  twenty-six  years,  in  the  time  of 
popes   Hilary   and   Simplicius,  and  of  Leo   the  emperor. 
Then  Childeric,  son  of  Meroveus,  was  king  of  the  Pranks. 

14.  "  Godard  flourished,  a  holy  and  benevolent  pastor, 
generous  and  constant,  and  shedding  abundantly  the  fight  of 
the  word."     He  governed  the  church  fifteen  years,  in  the 
times  of  popes  Felix,  G-elasius,  Auastatius,  and  Symmachus, 
under  the  Emperor  Zeno,  and  he  consecrated  St.  Leo  bishop 
of  Coutances.     At  that  time  flourished  Remi,  bishop   of 
Rheims,  and  Solin  of  Chartres,  and  Vedast  of  Arras,  who 
baptized  the  Merovingian  Clovis,  king  of  the  Pranks,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  488. !     The  third  year  afterwards, 
Mamertus,  archbishop   of  Vienna,  instituted  processional 
litanies,  on  account  of  the  calamities  which  threatened  the 
city,  that  is,  the  rogations  before  Ascension  day.     Victorius 
composed  his  Easter  cycle  for  532  years  by  command  of 
Pope   Hilary.     Odoacer,  king  of  the  Goths,  took  Rome, 
which   their   kings,   Theodoric,   Triaricus,   and    Theodoric 
Walamer  afterwards  held.     Hunneric  the  Arian,  king  of  the 
Vandals  in  Africa,  expelled  more  than  three  hundred  and 
thirty-six  Catholic  bishops,   shut   up   their  churches,  and 
persecuted  the  people  with  various  punishments.     Godard 
of  Rouen,  and  Medard  of  Soissons,  had  Nectard  of  Noyon 
for  their  father  and  Protagia  for  their  mother,  and  both 
departed  to  the  Lord  on  the  sixth  of  the  ides  [8th]  of 
June.2    The  illustrious   Ouen  composed  these  verses   on 
them : — 

1  The  conversion  of  Clovis  took  place  in  496,  and  not  in  488,  as  the 
MS.  of  St.  Evroult  states,  or  498,  as  the  date  stands  in  Duchesne's  text. 

*  St.  Godurd  died  before  St.  Medard  was  made  a  bbhop.  The  former 
was  present  at  the  first  council  of  Orleans  in  511.  St.  Medard  became 
bishop  of  Noyon  about  530,  and  of  Tournay  in  532,  and  died  about  545. 
The  only  possible  circumstance  in  the  traditions  relating  to  them  is  that 
they  might  be  brothers. 


144  OKDEEICTIS   TTTALIS.  [B.T.  CH.IX. 

Godard  of  Rouen,  Medard  of  Soissons,  twins, 
Together  issued  from  their  mother's  womb ; 
White-robed  were  washed  together  from  their  sins, 
Both  went  together,  bishops,  to  the  tomb. 

15.  "Flavius1  was  radiant  with  the  bright  flowers  of 
virtue,  and  fed  the  people  committed  to  his  charge  with  the 
divine  word."  He  flourished  during  thirty-five  years,  in  the 
times  of  popes  Symmachus,  John,  Felix,  Boniface,  John,  and 
Agapete,  under  the  Emperors  Anastatius,  Justin  the  Elder, 
and  Justinian.  After  the  death  of  Clovis,  Sigismund,8 
Childebert,  and  his  other  sons  succeeded.  Clotaire,  who 
survived  them  all,  was  king  of  the  Franks  fifty-one  years ; 
during  whose  reign,  Laumer,  Evroult,  and  other  holy 
men  flourished  in  his  kingdom.  Thrasamond,  king  of  the 
Vandals,  closed  the  Catholic  churches,  and  banished  two 
hundred  and  twenty  bishops  to  Sardinia,  to  whom  Pope 
Symmachus  supplied  food  and  clothing  yearly.  The 
Emperor  Anastatius,  who  favoured  the  Eutychian  heresy, 
was  struck  with  lightning  because  he  persecuted  the 
Catholics.  In  the  time  of  Justin  the  Elder.  Pope  John  gave 
sight  to  a  blind  man  at  Constantinople,  and  on  his  return  to 
Havenna  was  slain  by  Theodoric.  The  king  of  the  Goths 
also  put  to  death  Symmachus  the  patrician,  and  Boethius, 
and  he  himself  was  cut  off  suddenly  the  year  following. 
Athal;iric,  his  nephew,  succeeded  him.  Hilderic,  king  of  the 
Vandals,  recalled  the  bishops  from  exile,  and  commanded  the 
churches  to  be  restored,  after  seventy-six  years  of 
profanation  by  the  heretics.  Benedict,  the  abbot,  was 
illustrious  for  his  virtues,  respecting  which  Pope  Gregory 
wrote  in  his  Book  of  Dialogues.  Belisarius,  the  patrician, 
being  sent  into  Africa  by  Justinian,  conquered  the  Vandals, 
and  sent  their  king  Gelimer  a  prisoner  to  Constantinople. 
Carthage  was  re-taken  ninety-six  years  after  its  occupation 
by  the  barbarians.  Dionysius  the  Little  wrote  his  Paschal 
Cycle,  beginning  from  the  year  of  our  Lord  532 ;  and  the 
Justinian  Code  was  promulgated  the  same  year.  Victor, 
bishop  of  Capua,  wrote  a  book  respecting  Easter,  in  which 
he  confuted  the  errors  of  Victorius.  The  senator,  Cassio- 

1  This  bishop  was  present  at  the  councils  of  Orleans  in  533, 538,  and  54  J . 
a  Clovis  hud  no  sou  named  Sigismund. 


ABCHBISHOPS    OF   EOTJEN.  145 

dorus,  and  Priscian,  the  grammarian,  and  the  sub-deacon, 
Arator,  flourished. 

16.  "  Pretextatus  suffered  martyrdom  by  the  command  of 
Queen  Fredegunde.  for  the  name  of  Christ."  *    He  flourished 
during  forty-eight  years,  in  the  times  of  popes  Agapetus, 
Silverius,  vigelius,  Pelagius,  John,  and  Pelagius,  under  the 
Emperors  Justin  and  Tiberius  Constantino.     In  Italy,  the 
patrician,  Narses,  defeated  and  slew  Totila,  king  of  the 
Goths.     The  Lombards,  under  their  King  Alboin,  over-ran 
all  Italy,  with  famine  and  death  in  their  train. 

17.  "  Melantius2  governed  the  church  for  a  long  course  of 
years,  instructing  the  people,  and  causing  them  to  lead  a 
life  of  righteousness."     He  was  bishop  of  Rouen  twelve 
years,  in  the  times  of  Pelagius,  Benedict,  and  the  doctor, 
Gregory  the  Great,  under  Maurice,  the  first  Greek  emperor 
of  the  Komans.     His  conduct  was  base,  because,  as  it  is 
reported,  he  betrayed  his  master  Pretextatus,  who  was  put  to 
death  by  Fredegunde,  wife  of  King  Chilperic. 

18.  "  Hildulf  nobly  filled  the  see  of  Eouen,  and  studied 
the   doctrines  of  the   word  of  God."     He  flourished  for 
twenty-eight  years,  in  the  times  of  popes  Gregory,  the  great 
doctor,     Savinian,     Boniface,     Deusdedit,     Boniface,    and 
Honorius,  and  during  the  reigns  of  the  Emperors  Maurice, 
Phocas,  and  Heraclius.     At  that  time  Childebert,  and  his 
sons  Theodoric,  Theodebert,  and  Lothaire  the  Great,  were 
successively  kings  of  the  Franks.8     In  England,  Ethelbert 
was  king   of  Kent,  Edwin  of  Northumbria,  Redwald   of 
"Wessex,    and    Penda    of    Mercia.1      Gregory    sent    there 

1  St.  Pretextatus  appears  to  have  been  appointed  to  the  archiepiscopal 
see  of  Rouen  about  the  year  550.  He  was  present  at  the  third  council  of 
Paris  in  557,  and  the  second  of  Tours  in  566.  He  was  deposed  by  a 
council  held  at  Paris  in  577»  at  the  instigation  of  Fre"degonde  and  Chil- 
peric, for  having,  the  year  preceding,  married  Merove  and  Brunehaut. 
He  was  afterwards  banished  to  Jersey.  He  was  reinstated  after  Chilperic's 
death  in  584,  was  present  at  the  second  council  of  Macon  in  585,  and  was 
assassinated  at  the  altar  by  the  orders  of  Fre'de'gonde,  then  at  Vaudreuil, 
on  Sunday,  February  24,  586. 

a  Melantius,  after  having  filled  the  place  of  Pretextatus  during  his 
banishment,  succeeded  him  at  his  death.  He  was  still  living  in  601. 

s  The  author  here  makes  great  mistakes,  confounding  Clotaire  II.  with 
his  grandfather,  Clotaire  I.,  and  therefore  misrepresenting  his  cotempo- 
•aries,  as  well  as  their  degrees  of  relationship. 

*  Ethelbert,  king  of  Kent,  560—616;  Edwin,  king  of  Northumbria,  617 

VOL.  II.  1    «• 


146  OBDEBICUS   TITALIS.  [B.Y.  CH.IX. 

Augustine,  Mellitus,  John,  and  several  other  monks  who 
feared  the  Lord,  to  preach  the  word  of  God,  by  whom  the 
English  were  converted  to  Christ.  In  Italy,  Autarith,  son 
of  Clepo,  and  Ago-Agilulf,  with  the  excellent  Queen 
Theodelinda,  governed  the  Lombards.  In  Neustria,  St. 
Evroult,  abbot  of  Ouche,  died,  being  then  eighty  years  old, 
on  the  fourth  of  the  calends  of  January,  [29th  December],  in 
the  twelfth  year  of  King  Childebert.1  About  the  same 
time  the  abbey  of  Monte  Cassino  was  attacked  in  the  night 
by  the  Lombards,  when  Bonitus  was  the  fifth  abbot,  and  the 
monks  were  driven  out  and  the  place  ruined.  Before  that 
time,  Benedict,  Constantine,  Simplicius,  Vitalis,  and  Bouitus, 
presided  successively  at  Monte  Cassino.  Chosroes,  king  of 
the  Persians,  made  destructive  inroads  on  the  empire,  and 
grievously  afflicted  the  holy  church  with  fire,  rapine,  and 
slaughter.  Anastatius,  a  monk  of  Persia,  received  the 
glorious  crown  of  martyrdom  with  seventy  others.  The 
Emperor  Heraclius  defeated  the  Persians,  putting  Chosroes 
to  the  sword,  and  restored  the  cross  of  the  Lord  to 
Jerusalem,  releasing  all  the  Christian  captives. 

19.  "  St.  Bomanus,  illustrious  for  his  noble  acts,  was  dis- 
tinguished for  the  excellence  of  his  life  and  his  enlightened 
knowledge  of  the  word  of  God."     His  government  of  thir- 
teen years,  in  the  time  of  popes  Honorius,  Severinus,  and 
John,  and  under  the  Emperor  Heraclius,  was  memorable  for 
the  miracles  he  wrought,  and  he  departed  gloriously  to  the 
Lord  on  the  tenth  of  the  calends  of  November  [Oct.  23].* 
At  that  time  the  Christian  kings  Dagobert  and   Clovis, 
reigned  in   Gaul;    and  in  England   Oswald,   Oswin,   and 
Oswy;  in  Italy,  Agilulf,  Adaloald,  Arioald,  Botarith,  and 
Bodoald.    During  the  reign  of  Arioald,  St.  Columban,  a  Scot 
by  birth,  after  having  founded  in  France  the  monastery  of 
Luxeuil,  erected  one  at  Bobbio,  in  the  Cottian  Alps. 

20.  "  Ouen5  succeeded  Bomanus,  illustrious  in  the  order 
of  bishops  and  eminent  for  his  virtues."     He  nourished  in 

—633;  Redwald,  king  of  East-Anglia,  598  or  599—624;  Pendai,  king  of 
Mercia,  624  or  625—655. 

1  St.  Evroult  died  the  28th  of  December,  596;  and  consequently  in  the 
twentieth,  and  not  the  12th  year  of  the  reign  of  Childebert,  king  of 
Austrasia. 

7  It  is  supposed  that  St.  Romanus  died  the  23rd  of  November  638 

9  St.  Ouen,  640— August  24,  683. 


AECHBISHOPS   OF   EOUEN.  147 

the  times  of  popes  Theodore,  Martin,  Eugenius,  Vitalian, 
Adeodatus,  Donus,  Agatho,  Leo,  Benedict,  and  John,  when 
Heracleon,  son  of  Heraclius,  and  the  three  Constantines, 
were  emperors,  living  long  and  well,  labouring  earnestly, 
and  rendering  hrilliant  services  to  the  church.  I  want  the 
power  of  relating  with  what  grandeur  and  sanctity,  with 
what  excellence  of  every  kind  his  life  was  distinguished. 
Pope  Martin  held  a  council  of  one  hundred  and  five  bishops 
at  Eome.  He  was  afterwards  carried  off  by  the  exarch 
Theodore,  at  the  command  of  Constantine,  nephew  of  He- 
raclius, and  being  banished  to  the  Chersonesus,  died  there 
in  the  odour  of  sanctity.  Archbishop  Theodore  and  abbot 
Adrian  being  sent  into  Britain  by  Pope  Vitalian,  enriched 
many  of  the  English  churches  with  the  fruits  of  their  doc- 
trine. From  the  time  that  Pope  Gregory  sent  the  mission- 
aries to  sow  the  seed  of  the  divine  word  in  Britain,  the 
following  bishops  presided  over  the  see  of  Canterbury ; 
Augustine,  Lawrence,  Mellitus  of  London,  Justus  of  Ro- 
chester, Honorius,  and  Deusdedit;  they  brought -to  the 
faith  of  Christ  the  following  kings  of  Kent,  with  their  sub- 
jects ;  Ethelbert,  Eadbald,  Ercombert,  and  Egbert.  Vigard1 
was  chosen  the  seventh  archbishop  by  the  kings  Oswy  and 
Egbert,  and  sent  to  Eome  to  receive  consecration.  He  died 
there  while  he  was  waiting  for  the  day  appointed  for  the 
ceremony ;  and  Theodore,  a  Greek,  eminent  for  sanctity  and 
wisdom,  was  ordained  in  his  place.  In  Neustria,  Philibert, 
a  man  illustrious  for  his  birth,  his  holiness,  and  the  splen- 
dour of  his  miracles,  by  license  from  King  Clovis  and  his 
queen  Bathilda,  founded  a  monastery  for  eight  hundred 
monks  at  Jumieges :  some  years  afterwards  he  set  over  it 
St.  Aicadre,  who  was  removed  from  the  abbey  of  Noirmou- 
tier.2  Then  also  Wandrille  built  a  monastery  at  Fonte- 
nelles,3  and  collected  there  almost  four  hundred  monks  for 
the  service  of  God,  out  of  whom  the  church  of  God 
afterwards  delighted  to  select  several  bishops  and  abbots 
worthy  to  govern  it.  Sidonius,  also,  and  Eibert,  Geremar, 
Leufroi,  and  many  other  monks  arrived  at  eminence  in  the 

1  Wighard;  see  Bcde's  Eccles.  Hist.  p.  166. 

2  St.  Philibert  founded  the  abbey  of  Jumieges  in  654,  gave  it  up  to  St. 
Aicadre  about  682,  and  died  the  20th  of  August,  684.     St.  Aicadre  died 
in  687. 

s  St.  Wandrille,  648— June  21,  667. 
L2 


148  OBDEBICUS   TITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.IX. 

diocese  of  Rouen,  who  were  all  favoured  by  the  care  and 
assistance  of  the  venerable  Archbishop  Owen,  as  the  zealous 
reader  will  find  clearly  in  the  accounts  of  their  acts.  In 
Italy,  on  the  death  of  Aribert  at  Pavia,  after  a  reign  of  nine 
years,  he  was  succeeded  by  his  two  sons,  who  were  yet  very 
young;  Q-odebert  fixing  his  seat  of  government  at  Pavia, 
and  Bertarith  at  Milan.  A  short  time  afterwards  Grimo- 
ald,  the  powerful  duke  of  Beneventum,  slew  Godebert  and 
drove  out  Bertarith,  and  obtained  their  throne,  with  their 
sister's  hand,  reigning  securely  and  prosperously  nine  years. 
On  his  death,  Bertarith  reigned  eighteen  years,  associating 
in  his  government  Cunipert  his  son  by  the  Queen  Rode- 
linda.  Both  were  lovers  of  justice,  devoted  to  God  and  his 
church,  and  protectors  of  the  poor.  Alacheris,  duke  of 
Brescia,  rebelled  against  them,  and  kept  the  whole  province 
in  alarm  by  frequent  incursions,  until  they  were  put  an  end 
to  by  his  death  in  battle  with  Cunipert.  Pope  Agatho,  at 
the  request  of  the  most  pious  emperors  Constantine,  He- 
raclius,  and  Tiberius,  sent  John,  bishop  of  Ostia,  John  tho 
deacon,  and  other  legates  of  the  holy  Roman  church,  to 
Constantinople ;  and  held  there,  under  their  presidency,  a 
council  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  bishops  against  George, 
bishop  of  the  imperial  city,  Macharius,  bishop  of  Antioch, 
and  other  heretics.  At  the  termination  of  the  controversy 
George  stood  corrected,  but  Macharius  and  his  confederates 
were  condemned. 

21.  "  The  illustrious  Ansbert,   arriving  at  the  highest 
pitch  of  merit,  well  governed  the  church  which  his  sanctity 
ennobled."     He  held  the  see  eighteen  years,1  in  the  time  of 
popes  Leo,  Benedict,  John,  Conon,  and  Sergius,  under  the 
emperors  Constantine   and   Justinian  the   younger :   then 
Lothaire,  Theodoric,  and  Hilderic,  were  kings;  and  Leo- 
degar,  Ebroin,   and   Pepin  were  the  first  mayors   of  the 
palace. 

22.  "  Grippo  was  eminently  distinguished  as  the  succes- 
sor in  the  sacred  order,  a  prelate  of  great  merit,  and  a 
venerable  pastor."    He  flourished  during  twenty-four  years, 
in   the   time   of  popes  John,  Sisinnius,   Constantine,   and 
Gregory.    Leo,  Tiberius,  Justinian,  Philippicus,  Anastasius, 
and  Leo,  were  then  emperors ;  and  Clovis,  Chudebert,  and 

1  683— February  0,  693  or  695. 


AECHBISHOPS   OF   EOTJEK.  149 

Dagobert  the  younger,  were  kings  of  the  Franks.  In 
Britain,  the  life  of  the  most  reverend  Cuthbert,  who,  from 
a  hermit  became  a  bishop,  was  illustrious  for  miracles  from 
infancy  to  age.1  His  body  was  found  undecayed  by  Ealph, 
bishop  of  Eochester,  in  the  time  of  Henry,  king  of  England, 
and  his  vestments  were  changed  in  the  presence  of  Alex- 
ander, king  of  the  Scots,  who  stood  reverently  by  with  the 
clergy  and  monks. 

23.  "  Radiland2  threw  lustre  on  his  order  by  bis  justice, 
his  compassion  for  all,  and  his  surpassing  merits."    He  held 
the  see  three  years  in  the  time  of  Pope  Gregory,  when  Leo 
was  emperor.    On  the  death  of  Dagobert,  the  Franks  raised 
Daniel,  a  clerk  to  the  throne.     The  Saracens  besieged  Con- 
stantinople with  an  immense  army  for  three  years ;  but 
although  the  citizens  resisted  more  with  prayers  than  with, 
arms,   they  were   defeated,   and   drew  off,   their  numbers 
thinned   with    famine,   cold,   and    pestilence.      Liutprand, 
king  of  the  Lombards,  at  the  instance  of  Pope  Gregory, 
confirmed  the  donation  of  the  patrimony  of  the  church  in 
the  Cottian  Alps,  which  Aripert  had  sent  to  Borne  in  let- 
ters of  gold,  and  he  had  renewed.     He  also  redeemed  the 
relics  of  St.  Augustine,  the  doctor,  at  a  vast  expense,  and 
translated  them  from  Sardinia,  which  the  Saracens  had  pro- 
faned and  devastated,  to  Pavia,  where  they  were  honourably 
interred. 

24.  "  The  venerable  Hugh8  was  a  great  benefactor  to  the 
Lord's  people,  and  set  before  his  flock  the  doctrines  of  a 
holy  life."     He  was  cousin  of  Pepin,  prince  of  the  Franks, 
and  was  archbishop  eight  years  in  the  time  of  Pope  Gregory 
II.     He  had  also  presided  over  the  churches  of  Paris  and 
Bayeux,  and  the  abbeys  of  Jumieges  and  Fontenelles.     His 
body  was   translated  to   Lorraine  with  the  relics  of  St. 

1  The  life  of  St.  Cuthbert  (664 — 687),  bishop  of  Lindisfarne,  is  given  in 
liede's  Eccles.  Hist.  b.  iv.  ch.  27,  28,  29.     The  translation  of  his  relics 
here  mentioned  took  place  on  the  24th  of  August,  1104,  under  the  care  of 
Ralph,  then  abbot  of  St.  Martin  at   Seez,  and  successively  bishop  of 
Rochester  and  archbishop  of  Canterbury.     Alexander,  afterwards  king  of 
Scotland  (January  8,  1107— April  24,  1124),  was  present 

2  Mabillon  doubts  the  existence  of  this  bishop,  but  he  may  have  filled 
the  see  of  Rouen  about  713. 

*  St.  Hugh,  archbishop  of  Rouen  about  720,  bishop  of  Paris,  abbot  of 
Fontenelle  and  Jumieges,  April  8,  730. 


150  ORDEEICtrS   VITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.LX. 

Aichadre  by  the  monks  of  Jumieges,  where  it  is  preserved 
to  this  day  with  hoiiour  in  a  silver  shrine,  at  a  place  called 
Aspes,  in  the  territory  of  Cambray.  Constantine  was  then 
emperor.  The  Englishman  Bede,  a  servant  of  Christ,  and 
a  priest  of  the  monastery  of  the  holy  apostles,  SS.  Peter  and 
Paul,  at  Wearmouth,  near  Jarrow,  now  flourished.  He  was 
born  on  the  domains  of  that  monastery,  and  when  seven 
years  old  was  entrusted  by  his  relations  to  the  most  re- 
verend abbot  Benedict,  and  afterwards  to  Ceolfrid,  for 
education ;  and  spent  his  whole  life  as  an  inhabitant  of  that 
monastery,  giving  himself  up  to  meditation  on  the  holy 
scriptures ;  but,  besides  his  observance  of  the  regular  dis- 
cipline, and  his  daily  duty  of  chanting  in  the  choirs,  he 
found  pleasure,  as  he  tells  us  himself,  in  always  having 
something  either  to  learn,  or  to  teach,  or  to  write.  In  his 
nineteenth  year  he  received  the  order  of  deacon,  and  in  his 
thirtieth  that  of  priest,  at  the  hands  of  the  most  reverend 
Bishop  John,  in  submission  to  the  directions  of  his  Abbot 
Ceolfrid,  on  both  occasions.  Even  after  he  was  admitted  to 
the  priesthood,  he  never  relinquished  his  useful  studies  till 
the  fifty-ninth  year  of  his  life,  but  made  many  short  com- 
mentaries on  the  holy  scriptures,  from  the  writings  of  the 
venerable  fathers,  and  took  care  to  add  them  to  the  text  to 
explain  and  interpret  it.  The  fruits  of  his  labours  and 
studies  were  most  valuable  to  the  church  of  Christ ;  for  he 
composed  seventy-two  books  on  the  law  of  God  and  the 
inquiries  connected  with  it,  all  which  he  exactly  enumerates 
and  describes  at  the  end  of  his  English  History.1  At  the 
same  time  Paul,  a  monk  of  Monte-Cassiuo,  flourished  in 
Lombardy ;  and  Fortunatus,  the  excellent  bishop  of  Poitiers, 
in  Gaul.2 

25.  "Eadbert,  succeeding  worthily  to  the  pastoral  chair, 
was  eminent  for  his  sanctity  and  lived  a  holy  life."  He 
filled  the  see  four  years,  in  the  time  of  Pope  Gregory  II. 
and  the  emperor  Constantine,8  when  Charles  Martel/that 
is,  "  of  the  hammer,"  governed  Trance ;  together  with  Duke 

1  See  note  in  the  preceding  page,  and  the  account  of  Venerable  Bede's 
life  and  works,  prefixed  to  Doha's  edition  of  the  Eccles.  Hint. 

a  There  was  more  than  a  century  between  St.  Fortunatus  (born  about 
530,  died  about  600)  and  St.  Hugh. 

3  About  A.D.  730. 


ARCHBISHOPS   OF    BOUEX.  151 

Eudes,  he  gave  battle  to  the  Saracens  in  Aquitaine,  where 
three  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  fell.1  He  also  gave 
them  a  severe  defeat  with  great  slaughter  in  the  province  of 
Narbonne. 

26.  "  Grrimo,  a  devout  pastor,  pious  and  active  in  his 
duty,  undertook  the  government  of  the  church  according  to 
the  divine  law."     He  held  the  see  of  Rouen  four  years  in 
the  time  of  Pope  Gregory  III.     In  England,  on  the  death 
of  Bertwald,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  he  was  succeeded  by 
Tatwine.     At  that  time  two  English  kings,  Coenred  king  of 
Mercia,  and  Offa,  son  of  Sighere,  king  of  the  East  Saxons, 
renounced  their  earthly   sceptres  for   Christ's   sake,   and 
going   to   Rome,2   became    monks,    with    the    blessing   of 
Pope  Constantine,  abiding  at  the  threshold  of  the  apostles 
to   the  day  of  their  death  in  prayers,  fasting,   and   alms. 
"Wilfrid,  the  venerable  archbishop  of  York,  died  in  the  forty- 
fifth  year  of  his  episcopate  in  the  province  of  Undalum,3 
during  the  reigns  of  Coenred,  and  Osred,  son  of  Alfrid,  kings 
of  .Northumbria.     Not  long   afterwards  the   very  learned 
abbot  Adrian  died,  and  was  succeeded  by  bib  accomplished 
disciple  Albinus. 

27.  "  Rainfrid  raised  to  the  highest  rank  of  a  pastor,  was 
magnificent  in  all  his  acts,  and  rebuilt  the  episcopal  mansion." 
He  governed  the  see  seventeen  years,  in  the  times  of  popes 
Zachary  and   Stephen.     Carloman   and   Pepin   were   then 
mayors  of  the  palace. 

28.  "  Remigius  the  bishop,  sprung  from  the  royal  race, 
lived  devoutly,  and  was  diligent  in  instructing  the  people 
committed  to  his  charge."     He  was  son  of  Charles  Martel, 
and  brother  of  King  Pepin.    After  Rainfrid  was  expelled 

1  Our  author  is  wrong  in  placing  the  battle  of  Poitiers  before  that  of 
Toulouse.  It  was  in  the  latter  (A.D.  721)  the  Arabs  suffered  this  immense 
loss,  but  Charles  Martel  was  not  engaged  in  it. 

8  Coenred  and  Offa  retired  to  Rome  in  708. 

3-4  In  the  province  of  Undalum."  This  word  puzzled  the  French 
editors  of  Ordericus.  M.  Dubois's  remark  on  it  is,  "  Mot  defigur6,  sans 
doute,  par  les  copistes."  M.  Le  Provost  gave  an  incorrect  note,  which  he 
amended  in  the  errata  at  the  end  of  the  volume  from  information  supplied 
by  Mr.  Stapleton.  Our  author  has  faithfully  followed  Bede  both  as  to  the 
place  and  date  of  Wilfred's  death.  The  former  is  Oundle,  in  Northamp- 
tonshire, a  monastery  to  which  he  retired  when  deprived  of  his  bishopric. 
He  was  interred  at  Ripon.  See  Bede's  Eccles.  Hist.  b.  v.  c.  19;  Saxon 
Chronicle,  A.D.  709. 


152  OEDEBICUS   YITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.IX. 

he  governed  the  church  of  Rouen  seventeen  years1  in  the 
time  of  popes  Paul,  Constantine,  and  Stephen.  The  em- 
peror Constantino,  son  of  Leo,  assembled  at  Constantinople 
a  council  of  three  hundred  and  thirty  bishops.  Pope 
Stephen,  harassed  by  the  persecutions  of  Astolphus,  king  of 
the  Lombards,  repaired  to  France  and  consecrated  King 
Pepin  and  his  sons  Charles  and  Charlemagne.  At  that 
time  Boniface,  archbishop  of  Mayence,  and  Guy,  abbot  of 
Fontenelles,  flourished.  Constantine,  and  Abdallas  emir, 
king  of  the  Saracens,  rivalled  each  other  in  persecuting  the 
orthodox.  Leo  the  son  of  Constantine,  the  seventy-first 
emperor  from  Augustus,  reigned  five  years.  King  Pepin 
died  the  eighth  of  the  calends  of  October  [24th  September^, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  768,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Charlemagne. 

29.  "  Bishop  Meginhard,  full  of  the  odour  of  sanctity, 
taught  his  flock  and  purified  them  from  the  foulness  of  sin." 
He  flourished  in  the  time  of  Pope  Adrian  for  eight  years.2 
Charles  undertook  an  expedition  to  Rome  in  the  sixth  year  of 
his  reign  ;  on  his  return  he  took  Pavia,  and  making  prisoner 
Desiderius  king  of  the  Lombards,  who  had  grievouly 
harassed  Pope  Adrian,  he  led  him  captive  to  France,  and 
expelled  his  son  Adolgiso  out  of  Italy.  This  Desiderius 
was  the  thirty-first  king  of  the  Lombards.  On  account  of 
his  crimes,  the  royal  dignity  ended  with  him,  and  the  Lom- 
bard people  never  afterwards  had  a  king  of  their  own,  but 
has  been  always  subject  to  the  kings  of  the  Franks  or  the 
emperors  of  Germany.  The  first  chiefs  of  the  Guiuili  were 
Ibor  and  Aio,  who,  with  their  mother  Gambara,  led  those 
tribes  from  the  island  of  Scandinavia.3  The  names  of  their 

1  A.D.  755 — January  19,  772. 

*  A.D.  772—799. 

3  The  ancients  included  Sweden,  Norway,  and  an  indefinite  portion  of 
the  north  of  Europe  adjoining,  in  what  they  called  the  island  of  Scan- 
dinavia. Those  two  kingdoms,  with  Denmark,  have  been  more  properly 
designated  the  Scandinavian  peninsula  in  modern  times. 

It  would  be  impossible,  in  the  compass  of  a  note,  to  consider  the 
question  of  the  Scandinavian  origin  here  attributed  to  the  Lombards 
by  our  author,  in  common  with  Paul  the  deacon.  Every  one  knows 
that  this  name  was  attached  to  them  after  their  migration  to  the  borders 
of  civilization.  Our  author  constantly  calls  them  Guinili  or  Winili,  and 
the  best  geographers  place  them  between  the  Elbe  and  the  Oder  in  the 


AECHBISHOPS   OF   ROTTEN.  153 

kings  in  succession  were :  Agelmund,  Lamissio,  Lethu, 
Hildehoc  and  Godehoc,  Clepho  and  Tato,  Wacho,  Waltarith, 
Audoin,  and  Alboin.  Agelmund  led  the  Lombards  into 
Bulgaria,  Audoin  into  Pannonia,  and  Alboin,  with  the  aid 
of  the  patrician  N  arses,  into  Italy.  King  Alboin  was  killed 
by  his  armour-bearer  Helmechis,  at  the  instigation  of  his 
wife  Eosamond,  upon  which  Clepho  was  elected  king  by  the 
people.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Flavius  Autarith,  who 
married  Theodilind,  daughter  of  Garibald,  king  of  the 
Bajoari.  Autarith  was  poisoned  after  reigning  six  years, 
and  Agilulf  Ago,  duke  of  Turin,  obtained  his  queen  and 
kingdom,  which,  on  his  death  twenty-five  years  afterwards, 
he  left  to  his.  son  Adoloald.  That  young  prince,  with  his 
mother  Theodelind,  governed  the  Lombards  for  ten  years, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Eotharith,  a  brave  king,  but  infected 
with  the  corruptions  of  the  Arian  heresy.  After  reigning 
sixteen  years,  he  abdicated  in  favour  of  his  son  Eodoald, 
who,  five  years  [months  ?]  afterwards,  being  surprised  in 
adultery,  was  killed  by  his  Lombard  rival.  Aripert,  son  of 
Gondoald  and  nephew  of  Queen  Theodelind,  succeeded, 
and  after  a  reign  of  nine  years  left  the  kingdom  to  his  sons 
Bertharith  and  Godibert.  Meanwhile  Grimoald,  duke  of 
Beneventum,  had  married  Eodelind,  daughter  of  King  Ari- 
pert, and  got  rid  of  her  brothers, — Godibert,  by  putting  him 
to  death,  and  Bertharith,  by  driving  him  out  of  the  king- 
dom. On  his  death,  nine  years  afterwards,  Bertharith 
recovered  his  throne,  having  ejected  Garibald,  the  son  of 
Grimoald,  who  had  occupied  it  three  months.  Bertharitli 
reigned  eighteen  years,  and  after  him  Cunipert  twelve  years; 
on  whose  death  the  Lombards  had  four  kings  in  two  years ; 
viz.,  Liutpert,  son  of  Cunipert,  Eaginpert,  son  of  Godibert 
and  duke  of  Turin,  Aripert  his  son,  and  Eotharith,  duke  of 
Bergamo.  In  the  end,  Aripert,  being  the  most  powerful, 
slew  Liutpert  and  Eotharith  ;  he  expelled  Ansprand,  Liut- 
pert's  guardian,  from  the  island  of  Comacine,1  and  put  out 

reigns  of  Augustus  and  Trajan.  The  assertion  of  their  Scandinavian  origin 
is  attacked  by  Cluverius,  a  native  of  Prussia,  Germania  Antiq.  1.  3,  c.  26, 
p.  102,  &c.,  and  defended  by  Grotius,  the  Swedish  ambassador,  Prolegom. 
ad  Hint.  Gottornm,  p.  28. 

1  This  island  gave  its  name  to  the  Lake  of  Como,  anciently  called  the 
Larian  Lake. 


154  OEDEEICTJS   TITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.IX. 

the  eyes  of  his  son  Sigisbrand,  reigning  afterwards  nine 
years,  and  granting  to  St.  Peter  more  than  his  predecessors 
had  wrested  from  the  apostolic  see.  At  last,  while  swim- 
ming in  the  Po,  he  sunk  from  the  weight  of  gold  he  had 
about  him,  and  was  drowned.  Ansprand,  though  a  sagacious 
prince,  reigned  only  three  months,  but  Liutprand,  his  bold 
son,  maintained  himself  on  the  throne  nearly  thirty-two 
years.  His  nephew  Hildebrand,  who  succeeded  him,  died 
two  years  afterwards.  Then  Ratchis  and  Astolphus,  sous  of 
Penmon  duke  of  Friuli,  seized  the  crown,  but  the  first- 
named  voluntarily  abdicated  and  became  a  monk  at  Rome. 
Astolphus  harassed  the  church  in  various  ways  while  Stephen 
was  pope,  but  at  last,  by  the  judgment  of  God,  was  pierced 
by  an  arrow  while  he  was  hunting.  Finally,  Duke  Desi- 
derius  was  made  king  of  the  Lombards  by  the  aid  of  Pope 
Stephen,  but  having  secured  the  crown,  he  commenced  hos- 
tilities against  the  pope  and  clergy  and  people  of  Rome. 
This  made  it  necessary  for  Pope  Adrian  to  invite  the  help  of 
the  Franks,  who  crushed,  and  to  this  day  have  trodden  down, 
the  fierce  power  of  the  Lombards.  This  took  place  in  the 
time  of  Mainard,  bishop  of  Rouen,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
774. 

30.  "Bishop  Willebert1  succeeded;  he  was  firm  but  gentle, 
and  the  faithful  shepherd  of  his  flock."  He  held  the  see 
forty-eight  years  in  the  times  of  popes  Adrian,  Leo,  Stephen, 
and  Paschal,  while  Contantine,  Leo,  Nicephorus,  and  his 
son  Stauracius,  Michael,  Leo  (the  Armenian),  and  Michael, 
were  emperors  of  Constantinople.  Charles,  king  of  the 
Franks,  rose  to  the  summit  of  power,  and  extended  his 
dominion  surprisingly  over  all  his  neighbours.  He  razed 
the  walls  of  Pampeluna,  took  Saragossa  by  siege,  reduced  to 
submission  Grascony,  Spain,  and  Saxony,  and  ravaged  the 
territories  of  the  Bavarians,  the  Sclaves,  who  are  called 
Wiltzes,  and  the  Huns.  In  the  time  of  Constantino  and 
his  mother  Irene,  a  stone  coffin  was  found  at  Constantinople 
with  a  man's  body  lying  in  it,  and  which  had  this  inscription, 
"  Christ  shall  be  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  I  believe  in 
him.  When  Constantine  and  Irene  are  emperors,  O  sun, 

1  All  that  is  known  of  Bishop  Willebert  is  that  he  was  one  of  the  missi 
dominici,  or  imperial  commissioners,  in  823.  He  filled  the  see,  not  forty- 
eight  years,  but  at  furthest  twenty-eight. 


AECHBISHOPS   OF   BOUEN.  155 

thou  shalt  see  me  again."1  In  the  time  of  Pope  Leo,  there 
was  a  great  earthquake  which  shook  almost  all  Italy,  and 
threw  down  great  part  of  the  roof  and  timber  work  of  St. 
Paul's.  In  the  year  of  our  Lord  800,  the  eighth  indiction, 
King  Charles  received  the  imperial  crown  from  Pope  Leo, 
and  was  received  by  the  Eoman  people  with  acclamations  of 
Augustus.  At  the  time  of  Charles's  death  his  reign  had 
lasted  forty-seven  years  ;  he  was  succeeded  by  his  own  son 
Lewis,  who  reigned  twenty-seven  years.  Archbishop  Guille- 
bert  was  of  his  privy  council. 

31.  "  Eainoward,*  happily,  came  next  in  order :  he  fostered 
the  meek,  and  kept  the  rebellious  in  subjection."     He  held 
the  see  ten  years  in  the  times  of  popes  Eugenius,  Valentine, 
and  Gregory  IV.,  under  the  emperor  Theophilus.     In  his 
time  there  were  great  troubles  in  France  arising  out  of  the 
rebellion  of  Lothaire  against  his  father  Lewis  the  Pious.  The 
Northmen  also  began  to  ravage  Britain  and  other  countries. 
In  consequence  the  body  of  St.  Philibert  was   translated 
from  the  island  of  Noirmoutier.8 

32.  "  Gumbald4  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  a  just  life, 
regarding  his  people  with  the  feeling  of  a  venerable  pastor." 
This  bishop  governed  the  see  of  Eouen  eleven  years  in  the 
times  of  popes  Gregory  and  Sergius,  and  during  the  reigns 
of  the  emperors  Michael  and  his  son  Theophilus.     The  em- 
peror Lewis  died  on  the  twelfth  of  the  calends  of  July  [20th 
June],  840 ;  and  Archbishop  Drogo,  his  brother,  caused  his 
body  to  be  carried  to  Metz  for  interment.     The  empire  was 
divided  between  Lewis's  three  sons,  Lewis,  Lothaire,  and 
Charles  the  Bald,  but  not  without  hostilities,  for  a  bloody 
battle  was  fought  near  Auxerre  on  the  seventh  of  the  calends 
of  July  [25th  June],  in  which  Christian  nations  put  each 
other  to  the  sword  without  mercy.  The  relics  of  St.  Ouen  were 
removed  at  the  time  the  Northmen  ravaged  Eouen  and  burnt 
liis  monastery,  on  the  ides  [15th]  of  May. 

33.  "  The  'illustrious  Paul,5  worthy  of  the  episcopal  dig- 

1  Our  author  has  already  told  this  story  in  precisely  the  same  terms,  in 
book  i.     See  vol.  I  p.  132. 

3  Rainoward,  or  Ragnoard,  828—837  or  838. 

8  See  book  i.  vol.  i.  p.  135. 

*  Guntbald,  833— January,  848. 

5  Paul,  January  6,  849—855. 


156  OBDEBICUS  YITA1IS.  [B.V.  CH.IX. 

nity  to  which  he  was  raised,  distinguished  himself  both  by 
his  teaching  and  the  excellence  of  his  life."  He  held  the 
see  six  years,  in  the  time  of  Pope  Sergius  and  the  emperor 
Michael.  Lothaire  retained  that  part  of  Prance  which  his 
father  had  allotted  to  him,  with  the  title  of  king,  which  is 
now  called  Lorraine,  that  is  the  realm  of  Lothaire.  Charles 
the  Bald,  a  pious  and  powerful  prince,  was  king  of  the 
Franks  and  emperor  of  Eome. 

34  "  Wanilo,1  a  wise  prelate,  deeply  versed  in  sacred  learn- 
ing, taught  his  flock  the  laws  of  eternal  salvation."  He 
flourished  eleven  years  in  the  times  of  popes  Leo,  Benedict, 
and  Nicholas.  In  the  fifth  year  of  his  episcopate,  there  was 
hard  frost  from  the  day  before  the  calends  of  December  to 
the  nones  of  April  [30th  November — 5th  April], 

35.  "  Adelard,2  remarkable  for  the  natural  goodness  of  his 
disposition,  religiously  defended  the  rights  of  the  highest 
order  of  the  clergy."     He  held  the  see  three  years  in  the 
time  of  Pope  Nicholas.     Basil  killed  his  master  Michael  at 
Constantinople,   and   reigned   in   his   stead   twenty   years. 
A  severe  famine,  and  mortality,  with  a  murrain  among  the 
cattle,  raged  throughout  the  world  for  three  years. 

36.  "Eiculfus,8  the   fortunate  and  good,  sprung  from  a 
noble  stock,  added  large  domains  to  the  territories  of  the 
church."    He  held  the  see  three  years,  in  the  times  of  popes 
Nicholas  and  Adrian. 

37.  "  John,4  by  divine  right,  an  eminent   bishop,  shone 
brightly  in  the  ranks  of  his  order  by  the  light  of  his  virtues." 
He  was  archbishop  of  Rouen  two  years. 

38.  "  Witto,5   ascending   the   pontifical    throne,   became 
eminent  for  his  prudence  and  holy  doctrine."      He  held 
the  see  one  year  in  the  times  of  Pope  Adrian  and  the  empe- 
ror Basil. 

39.  "  Franco6  succeeded ;  the  kind  protector  of  the  people, 
he  baptized  Eollo  in  the  holy  font."     This  bishop  flourished 
fourty-four  years,   in  the  times  of  popes  John,  Marinus, 

1  Wanilo,  855—871. 

2  Adelard,  871— March,  872. 

3  Riculfus,  872 — 875.     There  are  extant  an  original  charter  of  this 
bi-hop,  and  another  addressed  to  him  by  Charles  the  Bald. 

*  John  I.,  875— at  least  till  888. 

*  Witto,  at  least  892—909. 
6  Franco,  909?— 919. 


ARCHBISHOPS   OF   BOTJEIT.  157 

Adrian,  and  Stephen.  Then  Leo  and  Alexander,  the  sons  of 
Basil,  reigned  twenty-two  years.  In  the  year  of  our  Lord 
876,  Eollo  and  his  followers  invaded  Neustria,  and  for  thirty 
years  afterwards  ravaged  Prance  with  fire,  sword,  and  rapine. 
He  fought  against  Eichard,  duke  of  Burgundy,  and  Ebblis  of 
Poitou,  with  other  French  princes,  and  puffed  up  with  his  re- 
peated triumphs,  grievously  harassed  the  Christians.  At  last 
Charles  the  Simple,  son  of  Lewis  Faineant,1  no  longer  able  to 
resist  Eollo,  came  to  terms  with  him,  giving  him  his  daughter 
GHsla  in  marriage,  and  ceding  Neustria.  At  that  time  Alex- 
ander and  Constantine,  with  their  mother  Zoe,  and  Eomanus 
the  Armenian,  were  emperors  at  Constantinople. 

40.  "  Gunhard,2  next  filled  the  episcopal  seat ;  rendering 
great  services  to  the  people,  and  prudently  conciliating." 
He  held  the  see  with  distinction  twenty-three  years,  in  the 
time  of  the  emperors  Eomanus,  the  Armenian,  and  Constan- 
tine. Duke  Eobert  now  usurped  the  crown  of  France  ;  the 
same  year  King  Charles  attacked  and  killed  the  traitor,  but 
in  the  end  Hugh,  son  of  the  deceased  duke,  prevailed.  Soon 
afterwards  Herbert,  count  de  Peronne,  brother-in-law  of 
Hugh  the  Great,  got  possession  of  the  king's  person  by  a 
stratagem,  and  kept  him  ia  prison  till  he  died,  three  years 
afterwards.  Lewis,  the  king's  son,  with  his  mother  Edgiva, 
took  refuge  in  England  with  Athelstan  his  uncle,  son  of  King 
Edward  the  Elder;  and  Eodolph,  the  illustrious  son  of 
Eichard,  duke  of  Burgundy,  and  Charles's  nephew,  usurped 
the  throne  seven  years.  On  his  death  "William  Long-sword, 
duke  of  Normandy,  was  moved  by  the  entreaties  of  the 
French  to  invite  Lewis  to  return  from  England,  and  restored 
him  to  his  father's  throne  as  the  lawful  heir.4  Agapete, 
Basil,  Stephen,  Formosus,  John,  and  Stephen  filled  the 
apostolic  see.  William,  the  son  of  Eollo,  restored  the  abbey 
of  Jumieges,5  and  had  a  strong  desire  to  retire  there  and 

1  Ludovici  Nihilfecit.  This  surname  is  often  attached  to  Lewis-le- 
Begue  (the  stammerer)  by  the  chroniclers  of  the  middle  ages.  See  the 
notes  in  p.  136  of  vol.  L,  respecting  our  author's  account  of  Hollo. 

3  Gunthard,  919—942? 

8  Louis-d'Outre-Mer,  so  called  from  his  having  taken  refuge  beyond 
sea,  was  restored  in  936.  M.  Le  Prevost  observes  that  he  was  brought 
over  by  William,  archbishop  of  Sens. 

4  William  Long-sword  restored  the  monastery  of  Jumiegea  in  940  by 
means  of  thirteen  monks,  whom  he  brought  for  the  purpose  from  Poitiers, 


158  OBDERICUS   VITALIS.  [u.V.  CII.IX. 

become  a  monk  under  Abbot  Martin,  but  the  abbot  deferred 
it  until  William's  son  was  old  enough  to  take  the  govern- 
ment. Meanwhile  the  duke,  having  administered  it  with 
firmness  twenty-five  years,  and  reduced  his  enemies  and 
neighbours  either  by  force  or  policy,  was  murdered  by  Arnulf, 
count  of  Flanders,  on  an  island  in  the  Somme,  where  he  un- 
suspectingly went  to  a  conference  with  him  on  the  fifteenth 
of  the  calends  [15th]  of  January.  Bichard  his  son,  sur- 
named  Sprotiades,  who  was  then  only  ten  years  old,  succeeded 
to  the  dukedom.  Duke  William  and  Gunhard,  archbishop 
of  Rouen,  both  died  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  942,  when 
Louis  d'Outrcmer  was  king  of  France. 

41.  "  Hugh1  succeeded  Gunhard ;  a  violator  of  the  law  of 
God,  a  prelate  of  illustrious  birth,  but  who  failed  to  be 
illuminated  by  the  light  of  Christ."  He  held  the  bishopric 
forty-seven  years,  but  is  not  spoken  of  in  terms  of  praise  by 
any  of  the  writers  who  have  given  accounts  of  him  and  his 

by  the  intervention  of  his  sister  Gerloc,  countess  of  Perth.  M.  Le  Prevost 
remarks  that  nothing  short  of  this  could  have  induced  monks  to  go  and 
settle  in  the  middle  of  brigands,  such  as  the  Normans  were  at  this  time. 
He  says  with  respect  to  William's  personal  intentions :  "  Our  historians 
represent  him  as  aspiring  to  the  monastic  life  for  himself.  If  one  may 
believe  them,  it  was  with  the  greatest  reluctance  he  submitted  to  the  delay 
enjoined  him  by  Abbot  Martin,  who  had  more  sense  than  his  prince,  and 
was  not  to  be  satisfied  till  he  had  extorted  from  him  a  gown  and  a  cowl, 
which  he  carefully  enclosed  in  a  chest,  the  silver  key  of  which  he  always 
carried  hanging  by  a  string  to  his  neck.  Unfortunately,  the  impartial 
Frodoard  gives  a  flat  refutation  to  all  these  monkish  tales,  by  describing 
William  as  engaged  that  year  more  than  ever  in  warlike  enterprises,  and 
heading  an  expedition  against  Rheims.  Another  historian,  in  reference  to 
events  which  occurred  in  940,  calls  him  the  most  ferocious  duke  of  Nor- 
mandy. The  monk  Richer,  who  often  brings  him  on  the  scene,  can  find  no 
other  description  so  fitting  for  him  as  that  of  '  Prince  of  the  Pirates,'  and 
exhibits  him  as  not  having  the  slightest  disposition  to  the  abnegation  and 
gentleness  of  the  monastic  life." 

1  It  was  towards  the  end  of  942,  and  consequently  a  year  before  his  own 
tragic  end,  that  William  Long-sword  summoned  Hugh  from  the  abbey  of 
St.  Denys  to  raise  him  to  the  see  of  Rouen.  It  would  have  been  difficult 
at  that  time  to  have  made  a  more  promising  selection,  but  the  bishop 
disappointed  all  the  expectations  formed  respecting  him.  He  completely 
abandoned  the  monastic  life  to  give  himself  up  to  the  pomps  of  the  world 
and  the  works  of  the  flesh,  having  a  numerous  offspring,  and  alienating  the 
domains  of  his  church.  Among  others,  he  gave  Tobeni  to  his  brother 
Ralph,  who  thus  became  founder  of  the  family  of  the  lords  of  Tooeni  and 
Conches,  and  of  Stafford  in  England. 


ARCHBISHOPS   OF   EOUEK.  159 

predecessors.  Indeed,  they  plainly  intimate  that  he  was  a 
monk  by  his  habit  only,  and  not  by  his  conduct.  In  hia 
time,  Marinus,  Agapete,  Octavian,  Leo,  Benedict,  and  John, 
filled  the  apostolical  see ;  and  the  kingdoms  of  the  world 
were  agitated  by  great  revolutions.  King  Lewis  got 
possession  of  Rouen,  and,  taking  Richard  the  duke  captive 
by  surprise,  brought  him  to  Laon,  and  there  threw  him  into 
prison ;  but  by  God's  providence  and  the  prudence  of 
Osmond,  his  guardian,  he  made  his  escape.  Then  Harold, 
king  of  Denmark,  at  the  instance  of  Bernard,  the  Dane, 
landed  in  Normandy  at  the  head  of  an  army  to  punish  King 
Lewis  for  the  murder  of  William  Long-sword.  A  battle 
was  fought  on  the  river  Dive,  in  which  Herluin,  count  of 
Montreuil,  with  his  brother  Lambert,  and  sixteen  other 
French  counts  were  slain,  and  Lewis  was  taken  prisoner  and 
sent  captive  to  the  tower  of  Eouen.  Q-erberg,  queen  of 
France,  who  was  daughter  of  Henry,  the  Trans-Rhenish 
emperor,  made  peace  with  the  Normans,  by  the  advice  of 
Hugh  the  Great,  giving  as  hostages  for  the  observance  of  the 
treaty  her  son  Lothaire  and  two  bishops,  Hilderic  of 
Beauvais,  and  Guy  of  Soissons.  In  consequence,  the  king 
was  set  at  liberty,  and  the  Count  Richard,  the  father  of  his 
country,  was  established  in  power.1  The  emperor  Otho 
over-ran  Italy;  Stephen  and  Constantino,  the  sons  of 
Romanus,  deposed  their  father  Romanus  from  the  throne  of 
Constantinople,  but  Constantino  expelled  them  in  turn,  and, 
having  associated  his  son  Romanus  in  the  government,  they 
reigned  sixteen  years,  and  were  succeeded  by  the  Emperor 
Nicephorus.  Ludolf,  son  of  King  Otho,  died,  after  having 
subdued  Italy,  and  Otho,  an  infant,  was  raised  to  the 
throne  at  Aix-la-Chapelle.  Nicephorus,  having  been 
murdered  by  his  wife,  was  succeeded  by  John,  whose  niece 
was  married  to  the  Emperor  Otho.  In  England,  King 
Edmund  was  traitorously  murdered  in  the  sixth  year  of  his 
reign,  and  his  brother  Edred  was  raised  to  the  throne.  At 
his  death,  Edgar,  Edmund's  son,  succeeded,  and  during  a 
long  reign  rendered  great  services  to  the  people  and  the 
church.  At  that  time,  Dunstan,  archbishop  of  Canterbury, 

1  The  taking  of  Rouen,  the  captivity  of  Louis-d'Outre-mer,  and  the 
restoration  of  Duke  Richard,  seem  all  to  belong  to  the  year  945,  or  the 
beginning  of  946. 


160  OBDERICUS    YITALIS.  [fi.V.  CH.XI. 

and  Oswald,  of  York,  with  Ethelwold,  bishop  of  Winchester, 
ruled  the  church  with  great  lustre ;  and,  by  their  care  and 
exertions,  seconded  by  the  favour  and  assistance  of  King 
Edgar,  twenty-six  abbeys  were  erected  in  England.  After 
the  death  of  Lewis,  his  son  Lothaire  reigned  six  years. 
He  was  the  last  of  the  race  of  Charlemagne  who  sat  on  the 
throne  of  France :  for  Charles,  and  the  other  sons  of  King 
Lothaire  were  placed  in  confinement,  and  Hugh  the  Great, 
son  of  Hugh  the  Great,  was  elected  king. 

42.  "Robert,  an  eminent  prelate,  of  most  illustrious 
origin,  after  governing  happily,  ended  his  days  devoutly." 
He  was  son  of  Duke  Richard  the  Elder  by  Gunnor,  and 
was  for  forty-eight  years  archbishop  of  Rouen  and  count  of 
Evreux,  in  the  time  of  Robert,  king  of  France,  and  his  son 
Henry.  During  that  period  Agapete  and  Silvester 
[Gerbert],  John  and  Benedict,  and  another  John  and 
Benedict,  filled  the  see  of  Rome.  Otho,  Henry,  and 
Conrad,  were  emperors  in  lawful  succession.  Archbishop 
Robert  was  amply  endowed  with  the  goods  of  this  world, 
and  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  secular  affairs  of  his  city,  nor 
did  he  observe  the  continence  which  was  becoming  his  order.1 
For,  in  his  character  of  count,  he  took  a  wife  named 
Harleve,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons,  Richard,  Ralph,  and 
William,  to  whom  he  bequeathed  his  county  of  Evreux,  and 
his  other  ample  honours  and  possessions,  according  to  the 
secular  laws.  But,  as  he  advanced  in  years,  he  became 
sensible  of  his  errors,  and  repenting  of  them  was  struck 
with  alarm  at  his  many  and  great  offences.  He  therefore 
distributed  alms  largely  to  the  poor,  and  began  to  rebuild 
from  the  foundations  the  cathedral  church  of  Rouen, 
dedicated  to  the  holy  mother  of  God;  and  he  completed  a 
considerable  part  of  the  new  erection.2  Richard  II.,  duke 
of  Normandy,  governed  the  province  thirty  years  with 
signal  success.  He  was  a  great  friend  to  the  poor  in 
Christ,  the  clergy  and  monks,  treating  them  as  a  father,  and 
augmented  and  protected  three  monasteries  which  his 

1  Robert  was  archbishop  of  Rouen  from  989  or  990 — 1137.  He  was 
also  count  of  Evreux.  Our  author's  suggestion  that  it  was  in  that  character 
he  married,  though  as  an  ecclesiastic  he  was  bound  to  celibacy,  is  rather 
amusing. 

*  It  was  finished  by  Archbishop  Mauritius,  and  consecrated  in  1065. 


AECHBISHOPS    OF   BOUEIT.  161 

father  had  founded,  viz.,  that  of  Fecamp,  St.  Ouen  in  the 
suburbs  of  Eouen,  and  St.  Michael-in-peril-of-the-Sea.1  Ho 
also  restored  the  abbey  of  Eontenelles,2  and  ratified  by  his 
charter  all  the  endowments  made  in  its  favour  by  Turstin, 
and  Gerard  Fleitel,  and  other  barons.  At  his  death  he 
bequeathed  his  dominions  to  his  sons  Richard  the  younger 
and  Eobert,  who  did  not  enjoy  their  honours  more  than  nine 
years.  For  Richard  III.  was  taken  off  by  poison  before  two 
years  were  over,  and  after  seven  years  and  a  half,  his 
brother  Robert  undertook  a  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem.  On 
quitting  his  country  never  to  return,  he  left  the  dukedom  to 
his  son  William,  a  boy  eight  years  old,  appointing  his 
cousin  Alan  count  of  Brittany  to  be  his  guardian.3  At 
this  time,  Alfred  and  Edward,  the  young  English  princes, 
became  exiles  in  Normandy ;  for  Richard  II.  had  given  his 
sister  in  marriage  to  Ethelred  king  of  England,  who  had 
by  her  Alfred,  and  Edward,  who  was  afterwards  king.  That 
princess  after  her  husband's  death  sent  her  sons  to 
Normandy,  and  married  Canute  king  of  Denmark,  to  whom 
she  bore  Hardicanute,  king  of  Denmark  and  England,  and 
G-unilde  who  was  married  to  Henry,  emperor  of  the 
Romans.4 

1  Richard  I.  settled  regular  canons  in  the  ancient  convent  of  nuns  at 
Fecamp,  founded  by  Waninge  in  658.  The  church  was  dedicated  the 
16th  of  May,  990,  by  the  new  archbishop.  Richard  II.  substituted 
monks  under  the  blessed  William  of  Dijon  in  1001.  About  the  same 
epoch  lived  Hildebert,  first  abbot  of  St.  Ouen  after  the  Norman  invasion, 
«nd  probably  a  disciple  of  William.  Monks  were  substituted  for  canons  at 
Mont  St.  Michael  in  965. 

*  The  abbey  of  Fontenelles,  now  called  St.  Wandrille,  was  restored  about 
the  year  950,  by  Mainard,  a  monk  of  Ghent. 

*  Alan  III.,  duke  of  Brittany,  was,  by  his  mother,  Hawise,  daughter  of 
Richard  L,  cousin -german  of  Robert,     in  103(>  Alain  came  (o  the  aid  01 
the  young  duke  William,  and  was  poisoned  on  the  1st  of  October,  1040,  at 
Vimoutier,  while  carrying  on  the  siege  of  the  castle  of  Montgomery.     He 
was  buried  at  Fecamp. 

4  Emma,  daughter  of  Richard  I.,  married  Ethelred  in  1002,  and  had  by 
him  Edward  the  Confessor,  Alfred,  and  Edith,  Code,  or  Godeve,  married 
first  to  Dreux,  count  de  Vexin  and  Amiens,  and  afterwards  to  Eustace  II., 
count  de  Boulogne.  She  afterwards  married  Canute  the  Great  in  1017,  by 
whom  she  had  Hardicanute  and  Gunilde.  After  an  eventful  life,  she  died 
at  Winchester  the  6th  of  March,  1052,  and  was  interred  in  the  cathedral 
there.  Her  daughter  Gunilde  died  at  Bruges  the  21st  of  August,  1042, 
with  such  reputation  for  personal  charms,  that  three  centuries  afterwards 
she  was  still  described  as  the  most  lovely  of  women. 
TOL.  II.  M 


162  OUDEEICTJS    TITALIS.  [B.V.  C1I.IX. 

43.  "  Mauger  was  still  young  when  he  was  elevated  to 
the  highest  ecclesiastical  rank :  he  was  illustrious  only  for 
his  birth  and  not  for  his  actions."  He  was  the  son  of 
Richard  II.  by  his  second  wife  named  Papia,  and  governed 
the  see  of  Rouen  eighteen  years,  in  the  times  of  popes 
Clement,  Damasus,  and  Leo,  without  the  apostolic 
benediction  and  the  pallium.1  He  was  unbecomingly 
addicted  to  the  desires  of  the  flesh,  and  involved  in  worldly 
pursuits ;  he  had  a  son  named  Michael,  a  brave  and  honest 
knight,  who  is  now  in  England  in  the  decline  of  life,  and 
much  beloved  and  honoured  by  King  Henry.  There  were 
at  this  time  great  commotions  in  the  world,  grievously 
harassing  and  afflicting  the  nations.  The  Saracens 
invading  Sicily,  Italy,  and  other  Christian  kingdoms, 
carried  fire,  and  sword,  and  rapine,  into  every  quarter. 
Manichetus,2  emperor  of  Constantinople,  assembled  the 
imperial  forces,  and,  after  many  disasters,  attacked  and 
defeated  the  infidels,  and  delivered  the  frontiers  of  Christen- 
dom from  their  ravages.  He  also  translated  the  bones  of 
St.  Agatha,  virgin  and  martyr,  and  the  relics  of  many  other 
saints  from  Sicily  to  Constantinople,  that  they  might  not  be 
profaned  in  fresh  irruptions  of  the  infidels.  Diogenes3 
succeeding  him,  Osmund,  Drengot,  and  Drogo,  and  other 
Normans  began  to  settle  in  Apulia,  and  to  turn  their  arms 
manfully  against  the  Arabs  and  pseudo-Christians.4  In  the 

1  The  date  of  Mauger's  elevation  is  unknown,  but  he  was  deposed  in  a 
council  held  at  Liseux  in  1 055.     He  was  then  banished  to  the  island  of 
Jersey,  where  there  are  still  many  traditions  concerning  him,  and  even 
claims  of  filiation.     For  the  particulars  of  his  death,  see  Wac.e,  t.  ii.  p.  61, 
inc.    Being  a  native  of  Jersey,  his  information  was  good. 

2  The  name  should  be  written  Maniaces.     He  assumed  the  purple  in 
1042,  but  was  not  acknowledged  emperor,  being  killed  in  battle  on  his 
march  to  Constantinople  for  the  purpose  of  dethroning  the  emperor  Con- 
stantino Monomachus.     He  brought  back  the  relics  of  St.  Agatha  from 
Catania  to  Constantinople  about  the  year   1040,  whence  they  had  been 
carried  to  Sicily  in  1 127. 

3  Romanus  Diogenes,  emperor  in  1068,  did  not  succeed  Maniaces,  as 
we  have  just  seen.     There  was  an  interval  of  twenty-six  years  between 
them. 

4  Osmund,  or  Godfrey  Drengo,  and  the  other  Normans,  had  established 
themselves  in  the  south  of  Italy  long  before  this.     They  first  made  their 
appearance  there  in    1016,  took  service  under  Melo  in   1017,  and  had 
rendered  him  great  assistance  in  1019,  when  the  loss  of  a  battle  reduced 
their  numbers  from  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  ten.     Melo,  who  went  to 


AKCHBISHOPS   OF   EOUEN.  163 

end,  Eobert  Guiscard,  after  long  hostilities,  obtained,  first 
from  Harduin  the  Lombard  and  his  nephew  Melo,  and 
afterwards  from  Pope  Leo,  a  grant  of  Apulia,  on  condition 
of  his  for  ever  defending  it  against  the  enemies  of  St. 
Peter.  By  the  help  of  God  he  bravely  held  it,  extending 
his  power  into  Sicily,  Calabria,  and  Bulgaria,  and  be- 
queathing his  territories  to  his  children  as  their  hereditary 
right.1 

In  Normandy  many  crimes  were  perpetrated  at  this  time. 
The  Normans  took  off  by  poison  Alan,  count  of  Brittany, 
their  own  duke's  guardian,  and  defeated  his  successor, 
Count  Gislebert,  in  a  bloody  battle,  the  two  nations 
massacring  each  other  incredibly  in  almost  daily  encounters. 
Likewise,  Turketil  de  Neufmarche,  and  Eoger  de  Toni,  and 
Osbern,  steward  of  Normandy,  and  William  and  Hugh,  the 
two  sons  of  Roger  de  Montgomery,  and  Eobert  de 
Beaumont,  "Walkelin  de  Ferrers,  and  Hugh  de  Montfort, 
and  many  other  powerful  knights,  made  war  on  each  other 
in  turn,  causing  great  confusion  and  distress  in  the  country, 
which  was  now  deprived  of  its  natural  protectors.2 

implore  the  aid  of  the  emperor  of  Germany  against  the  Greeks,  died  at 
Bamburg  in  1020.  A  new  band  of  Normans  then  came  into  Italy  under 
Drengo,  who  was  compelled  to  leave  his  country  in  consequence  of  having 
killed  William  Repostel,  the  favourite  of  Richard  II.  Ranulf,  one  of 
their  chiefs,  was  created  count  of  Aversa  in  1030.  At  that  time  they 
joined  the  Greeks  and  Lombards  in  driving  the  Saracens  out  of  Sicily. 
Our  author  calls  the  Greeks  pseudo-Christians,  on  account  of  their  being 
schismatics  from  the  church  of  Rome.  In  1042  Drogo  became  lord  of 
Venosa,  and  his  brother,  William  Bras-de-fer,  of  Ascoli.  In  1043, 
William  was  proclaimed  count  of  Apulia.  Drogo  succeeded  him,  and  was 
assassinated  in  1051. 

1  Robert  Guiscard  did  not  become  count  of  Apulia  until  1057,  after  the 
death  of  his  brother  Humphrey.     He  had  nothing  to  do  with  Harflouin 
or   Melo,  who  were   dead   before   his   arrival.     It   waa   Humphrey  who 
received  from  Pope  Leo  IX.,  in  1054,  the  investiture  of  all  the  territories 
gained,   or  which   he  should  conquer,  from  the  Greeks,  though   these 
dominions  never  belonged  to  the  holy  see.     But  Pope  Nicholas  II.,  in 
1060,  changed  Robert's  title  of  count  of  Apulia,  to  that  of  Duke  of 
Apulia  and  Calabria.     The  conquest  of  Sicily  was  begun  in   1061,  by 
Roger,   Robert's  brother,  and  completed   by  taking   Palermo  from  the 
Saracens  in  1072.     The  invasion  of  Epirus  took  place  in  1081,  and  was 
still  prosecuted  when  Robert  Guiscard  died  in  the  island  of  Cephalonia, 
the  17th  of  July,  1085,  leaving  the  principality  of  Tarentum  to  his  eldest  son, 
Boemond,  and  the  duchy  of  Apulia  and  Calabria  to  his  second  son,  Roger. 

2  This  important  paragraph  adds  some  valuable  details  to  the  account 

M   2 


164  OEDEEICITS   VITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.IX. 

In  England,  on  the  death  of  King  Hardicanutc,  Edward, 
his  half-brother  succeeded,  and  reigned  worthily  and 
prosperously  twenty-three  years.  In  Brittany,  Eudes 
succeeded  his  brother  Alan,  and  held  his  principality  for 
fifteen  years  as  freely  as  if  he  owed  no  fealty  to  a  superior 
lord.1  God  also  gave  him  seven  sons,  who  became  remark- 
able for  the  singular  and  changeable  events  of  their  lives. 
The  studious  might  compose  a  long  and  pleasing  history, 
from  true  accounts  of  their  various  fortunes. 

44.  "  Maurilius,  a  prelate  enlightened  with  sound  learn- 
ing, and  of  exemplary  life,  was  no  less  distinguished  by  his 
good  deeds."  A  native  of  Mayence,2  he  had  governed  a 
monastery  at  Florence,  with  the  rank  of  abbot,  but  exposing 
himself  to  the  hatred  of  offenders  by  the  severity  of  his 
discipline,  he  detected  them  in  mixing  poison  in  some 
beverage  which  was  offered  to  him.  Upon  this,  he  imitated 
the  example  of  the  most  holy  father  and  doctor,  St. 
Benedict,  and,  leaving  those  incorrigible  sinners,  accom- 
panied his  countryman  Gerbert,  a  learned  and  pious  monk,  to 
Normandy,  where  he  came  to  Fecamp  in  the  time  of  Abbot 
John,  and  chose  that  house  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  the 
holy  and  undivided  Trinity  for  his  fixed  abode.  Some  time 
afterwards  he  was  taken  from  thence  and  raised  by  a 

given  in  book  i.  c.  24  (vol.  i.  p.  149,  &c.)  of  the  fierce  intestine  quarrels 
which  distracted  the  court  of  the  young  duke  during  his  minority.  It 
appears  that  these  disorders  did  not  commence  until  after  the  Normans 
had  rid  themselves  of  Alan,  duke  of  Brittany,  by  poisoning  him,  the  1st 
of  October,  1040.  Turketil,  governor  of  the  young  prince,  here  called 
lord  of  Neuf-Marche'-en-Lions,  must  be  the  same  person  who  is  designated 
by  William  de  Jumieges  as  Turold.  Perhaps  the  name  is  only  a  diminu- 
tive of  Turold,  as  Ansketel  is  of  Hans.  On  the  circumstances  attending 
the  death  of  Gislebert,  count  de  Brionne,  see  before,  vol.  i.  p.  391;  and 
some  details  are  given  with  respect  to  the  other  persons  mentioned  in  this 
paragraph,  in  the  notes  to  pp.  149,  150,  of  vol.  L 

1  Eudes,  Count  de  Penthievre,  November  20,  1008— January  7,  1009, 
never  assumed  the  title  of  duke  of  Brittany,  but  was  regent  for  twenty -seven 
years.  His  nephew,  Conon  II.,  was  only  three  months  old  at  the  death  of 
Alan  III. 

^  2  Maurilius,  archbishop  of  Rouen.  September,  1055— August  9,  10G7. 
The  Acts  of  the  archbishops  of  Rouen  are  far  from  agreeing  exactly  with  the 
account  given  by  our  author.  They,  as  well  as  his  epitaph  (see  book  iv. 
p.  7),  describe  him  as  born  at  Rheims,  studying  at  Liege,  and  residing  for 
some  time  at  Fecamp  before  he  went  into  Italy.  These  accounts  are 
most  probably  correct. 


AECHBISHOP8   OF   BOTJEN.  165 

canonical  election,  on  the  deposition  of  Mauger,  to  the 
metropolitan  throne  of  Eouen.  He  filled  it  for  twelve  years, 
in  the  times  of  popes  Victor,  Stephen,  Nicholas,  and 
Alexander,  and  consecrated  the  metropolitan  church  in  the 
ninth  year  of  his  episcopate.  He  removed  with  great 
ceremony  the  bodies  of  the  dukes  Eollo  and  William  into 
the  new  church  he  dedicated,  depositing  the  remains  of 
Eollo  near  the  south  door,  and  those  of  Duke  "William 
within  the  north  door,  and  caused  their  epitaphs  to  be 
inscribed  in  letters  of  gold.  This  is  the  inscription  on 
Eollo's  tomb : — 

HOLLO  the  brave  lies  buried  here, 

A  name  to  Normans  ever  dear ; 

They  glory  on  this  tomb  to  see 

His  style  of  Duke  of  Normandy. 

In  battle's  front  his  followers'  shield, 

His  sword  made  boldest  foeman  yield : 

In  the  far  north  his  ancient  sires, 

From  whom  he  breathed  his  martial  fires, 

To  king  or  lord  ne'er  bowed  the  knee, 

But  held  their  lands  from  service  free.1 

And  first  he  fleshed  his  maiden  sword, 

With  bands  obedient  to  his  word, 

On  kindred  Danes,  whose  numerous  hosts 

Before  him  hushed  their  warlike  boasts. 

Then  Hainault's  sand,  and  Frisia's  fen, 

And  coast  of  marshy  Walcheren, 

Poured  forth  their  mingled  bands  to  feel 

The  terrors  of  the  Northmen's  steel ; 

But  Frisons,  spite  their  neighbours  aid, 

Their  tribute  and  their  homage  paid. 

From  firths  and  islets  of  the  north, 

Again  he  launched  his  galleys  forth, 

And  boldly  sailing  o'er  the  main, 

Burst  like  a  tempest  on  the  Seine. 

The  plains  of  France  were  stained  with  gore, 

Her  bravest  sons  he  backward  bore ; 

1  M.  Le  Prevost  remarks  that  this  and  the  following  epitaph  are 
founded  on  the  fabulous  traditions  connected  with  the  first  two  dukes  of 
Normandy,  which  were  current  in  the  middle  ages.  One  thing  is,  however, 
certain,  however  the  author  of  these  lines  gained  his  information,  that  he 
gives  here  a  very  exact  description  of  the  independence  of  the  old  Scandi- 
navian landholders,  among  whom  the  feudal  tenures,  with  their  burden- 
some services,  were  never  introduced.  It  may  be  further  observed,  that  in 
Norway  the  free  udal  rights  have  continued  in  force,  through  all  revolu- 
tions, to  the  present  day. 


166  OBDEEICTJS   VITALIS.  [u.T.  CH.IX. 

Now  Bayeux  yielded  to  his  arms, 

And  sweeping  on  with  war's  alarms 

In  the  full  tide  of  victory, 

Twice  regal  Paris  groaned  to  see 

The  Northmen  thundering  at  her  gates. 

For  thirty  years  the  cruel  fates 

Gave  France  to  rapine,  sword,  and  fire, 

Till  helpless  Charles  the  conqueror's  ire 

Soothed  by  his  gifts,  to  stay  the  strife, 

A  province  and  a  royal  wife. 

Then  the  fierce  heathen  humbly  bent 

Before  the  Christian  sacrament ; 

And  Franco  on  that  happy  day 

Washed  in  the  font  his  sins  away. 

The  savage  wolf  a  lamb  became, 

May  God,  propitious,  cleanse  his  shame ! 

A  funeral  elegy  was  engraved  in  letters  of  gold  on  the 
tomb  of  William  Long-sword,  which  stands  on  the  north 
side. 

DUKE  WILLIAM'S  friends  who  dared  assail ! 
Against  his  arms  who  could  prevail ! 
Princes  and  kings  his  will  obeyed, 
Imperial  Henry's  mind  he  swayed. 
Five  times  five  years  his  skill  and  might 
The  Normans  led  through  field  and  fight. 
He  reared  Jumieges's  mouldering  towers, 
And  raised  again  her  cloistered  bowers ; 
While  to  her  shades  his  willing  feet, 
Fain  would  have  turned  in  habit  meet, 
And,  heaven-taught,  in  that  holy  school, 
Submitted  to  St.  Bennett's  rule. 
But  wiser  MARTIN  checked  his  zeal, 
And  bade  him  seek  his  country's  weal. 
'Twas  not  for  him  in  peaceful  cell 
With  pious  anchorites  to  dwell, 
But  still  in  arms  to  spend  his  life, 
And  end  it  by  the  assassin's  knife, 
Where  on  the  Somme's  translucent  streair 
An  islet's  shadows  softly  gleam  : 
Arnold  the  Fleming  planned  the  deed. 
May  heavenly  grace  the  victim  speed 
In  the  last  awful  day  of  need  ! l 

1  The  two  epitaphs  preserved  by  our  author  were  not  engraved  on  the 
new  tombs  to  which  the  remains  of  the  first  dukes  of  Normandy  were 
transferred  after  the  cathedral  of  Rouen  was  rebuilt.  These  are  still  to  be 
seen,  one  in  the  north,  the  other  in  the  south  transept  of  the  church  in  the 
first  two  chapels  towards  the  nave. 


AECIIBISHOPS  OF  HOTTER.  167 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1063,  in  the  month  of  October,  iu 
the  second  indiction,  Archbishop  Mauritius  consecrated  with 
great  ceremony  the  metropolitan  church  of  St.  Mary,  mother 
of  God,  in  the  city  of  Rouen,  which  Robert  had  begun. 
This  was  the  eighth  year  of  the  reign  of  the  emperor  Henry 
IV.,  and  the  fourth  of  that  of  Philip,  son  of  Henry  king  of 
France.  The  same  year  the  Normans  obtained  possession 
of  the  city  of  Mans.  It  was  also  the  tenth  year  from  the 
battle  of  Mortemer,  and  the  seventeenth  from  that  fought 
between  William  and  Guy  at  Valesdunes.1  At  the  same 
time  Michael  drove  his  father-in-law  Diogenes  from  the 
imperial  throne  at  Constantinople,  and  seized  the  crown 
which  he  not  long  afterwards  disgracefully  lost.  In 
England,  there  was  great  dissension  on  the  death  of  King 
Edward,  Harold,  the  perjured  son  of  Godwin,  who  had  no 
claim  to  royal  blood,  having  usurped  the  throne  by  fraud 
and  violence. 

History's  ancient  annals  fix 
The  year  one  thousand  sixty-six 
(Then  a  fiery  comet  whirled, 
Dreadful  omen,  round  the  world), 
As  the  time  when  England's  lord 
Fell  before  the  Norman's  sword. 

The  same  year  the  battle  of  Senlac  was  fought,  in  which 
Harold  was  slain.  It  was  on  the  second  of  the  ides  [14th] 
of  October  that  "William  obtained  this  victory,  and  he  was 
crowned  on  the  following  Christmas  day. 

45.  "  John,  raised  to  the  see  of  Rouen,  was  a  vigilant 
pastor,  and  studied  to  observe  the  lessons  of  the  apostolical 
law."     He  was  the  son  of  Ralph,  count  de  Bayeax,  and 
having  been  originally  bishop  of  Avranches,  was  elevated  to 
the  primacy,  which  he  held  for  ten  years  in  the  time  of 
popes  Alexander  and  Gregory  VII.2 

46.  "  Next,  "William,  a  prelate  of  high  birth  and  great 
benevolence,  canonically  governed  the  people  of  Rouen." 

1  The  year  1063  was,  in  point  of  fact,  the  fourth  of  Philip  I.  (August, 
29,  1060),  and  the  eighth  of  the  emperor  Henry  IV.  It  was  also  the 
seventeenth  after  the  battle  of  Valesdunes,  and  the  tenth  after  that  of 
Mortemer.  In  the  text  of  Duchesne,  the  reference  to  the  battle  of  Mor- 
temer is  omitted,  and  the  date  attached  to  it  is  given  to  that  of  Vaiestlune?. 

a  See  before,  p.  123,  respecting  the  period  and  duration  of  the  episcopate 
of  John  d'Avranclies. 


1G8  ORDEIilCTJS   VITALJS.  [u.Y.  CH.IX. 

He  was  the  second  abbot  of  Caen,  from  whence  he  was 
removed  to  the  archbishopric,  which  he  filled  thirty-two 
years,1  in  the  time  of  popes  Gregory,  Victor,  Urban,  and 
Paschal.  He  buried  King  William  and  his  queen  Matilda 
at  Caen.  Their  son  Eobert  succeeded  to  the  duchy  of 
Normandy,  and  "William  to  the  kingdom  of  England. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1095,  there  was  a  great  drought 
and  mortality,  and  falling  stars  were  seen  in  the  heavens  on 
a  night  in  the  month  of  May.  Pope  Urban  held  a  great 
council  at  Clermont,  and  preached  the  crusade  to  Jerusalem 
against  the  infidels.2  At  the  same  time  there  was  a  severe 
famine  in  France.  In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1099,3  the 
seventh  indiction,  Jerusalem  was  taken  by  the  holy  pilgrims, 
the  infidels  who  had  long  held  it  being  conquered  ;  and  the 
abbey  church  of  St.  Evroult  at  Ouche  was  consecrated  on 
the  ides  [13th]  of  November.  The  year  following,  William 
Kufus,  king  of  England,  was  pierced  by  an  arrow  in 
hunting,  and  died  on  the  4th  of  the  nones  [2nd]  of  August. 
He  was  buried  at  Winchester,  and  his  brother  Henry 
ascended  the  throne,  and  was  crowned  at  London  on  the 
nones  [5th]  of  August.  It  is  now  the  twenty-seventh 
year  since  he  began  his  reign.4  By  God's  providence,  he 
has  enjoyed  a  full  share  of  worldly  prosperity,  mixed 
however  with  some  adverse  events  among  his  family  and 
friends,  arising  from  disturbances  among  his  subjects. 
Philip,  king  of  France,  died,  after  a  reign  of  forty-eight 
years,  and  his  son  Lewis  succeeded  in  the  ninth  year  of 
King  Henry.5 

47.  "  The  Breton,  Geoffrey,  wise,  eloquent,  and  severe, 
raised  to  the  highest  episcopal  rank,  fed  the  people  with 
spiritual  food."  He  had  been  dean  of  the  church  of  Mans, 
in  the  time  of  the  venerable  bishops  Hoel  and  Hildebert, 
and  becoming  the  forty-seventh  metropolitan  of  Rouen,  has 

1  William  Bonne- Ame,  July,  1079— February  9,  1110.  See  rol.  i.  p. 
419,  and  p.  123  of  the  present  volume,  respecting  this  prelate. 

*  This  council  opened  the  18th,  and  closed  the  26th  November,  1045. 

3  On  Friday,  the  15th  July,  1099. 

4  It  appears  from  this  passage  that  Ordericus  wrote   his   fifth   book 
between  the  5th  of  August,  1 127,  and  the  5th  of  August,  1 128. 

*  Philip   I.  died  at  Melun,  the  29th  of  July,  1108,  after  a  reign  of 
forty-nine  years,   two   months,  and   six   days,  and    Lewis   the   Fat   was 
crowned  at  Orleans  the  2nd  of  August  following. 


ARCHBISHOPS    OF    ROUEN".  169 

now  governed  the  church  seventeen  years,1  in  the  time  of 
popes  Paschal,  Grelasius,  Calixtus,  and  Honorius.  Henry  I., 
and  Lothaire,  governed  the  Latins,  and  Alexius  and  John, 
his  son,  the  Greeks.  During  this  period  many  memorable 
events  occurred  in  the  world,  which  my  pen  will  have  to 
record  faithfully  in  their  several  places,  for  the  information 
of  posterity,  if  my  life  is  spared  and  attended  by  divine 
goodness  and  mercy. 


Kind  reader,  I  entreat  your  indulgence,  now  that  I  am 
about  to  resume  the  regular  thread  of  my  narrative.  I 
have  made  a  long  digression  while  giving  an  account  of  the 
archbishops  of  Rouen,  as  I  was  extremely  desirous  to  put 
on  record,  in  full  detail,  their  continuous  succession  for  the 
benefit  of  those  who  come  after  us.  For  this  reason  I  have 
traced  the  annals  of  nearly  eight  hundred  years,  and  have 
enumerated  the  whole  series  of  Roman  apostles,8  from  Pope 
Eusebius  to  Lambert  of  Ostia,  who,  under  the  name  of 
Honorius,  now  fills  the  apostolic  see.3  I  have  also  inserted 
in  my  work  the  names  of  all  the  emperors,  from  Constan- 
tine  the  Great,  the  founder  of  Constantinople,  to  John,  the 
son  of  Alexius,  the  reigning  emperor  there,*  and  to  Lothaire, 
the  Saxon,  who  is  now  emperor  of  the  Romans.5  I  shall 
now  return  to  my  own  times  and  to  my  own  country,  and 
endeavour  to  relate  what  happened  in  Normandy  under 
King  William,  after  the  council  of  Lillebonne. 

CH.  X.  Quarrels  between  William  I.  and  Ms  eldest  son — 
Robert  leaves  his  father's  court — William  besieges  him  in 
Oerberoi — They  are  reconciled  for  a  time — Robert  finally 
separates  from  his  father. 

[A.D.  1077 ?6]  A  set  of  factious  young  men  took  advantage 

1  According  to  another  passage  in  our  author,  Geoffrey  was  elevated  to 
the  see  of  Rouen  in  1111,  but  it  appears  from  a  charter  of  Henry  I.  that 
he  filled  it  before  the  2nd  of  March,  1110. 

4  Our  author  means  the  popes  who  are  commonly  called  aposloiles  in 
the  Romance  tongue. 

3  Honorius  II.,  December  21,  1 1 24— February  14,  1130. 

4  John  Commenus,  August  15,  1118 — April  8,  1143. 

&  Lothaire  II.,  September  13,  1 1 25— December  4,  1137. 

8  It  is  extremely  difficult,  as  already  observed,  to  assign  certain  dates  to 


170  OBDEBICTTS   TITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.X. 

of  the  inexperience  of  the  king's  son  Robert,  by  continually 
flattering  him,  and  urging  him  to  fruitless  enterprises. 
Their  language  was  of  the  following  description :  "  Most 
illustrious  son  of  the  king,  how  is  it  that  you  are  suffered 
to  live  in  such,  extreme  indigence  ?  Your  father's  courtiers 
so  securely  guard  the  treasury  that  you  can  scarcely  extract 
a  penny  from  it  to  serve  a  friend.  It  is  a  great  disgrace  to 
you,  as  well  as  loss  to  us  and  to  many  more,  that  you  are 
thus  excluded  from  all  share  in  the  royal  wealth.  Why  do 
you  submit  to  this  ?  He  it  is  who  deserves  to  have  money, 
who  has  the  heart  to  distribute  it  freely  among  those  who 
ask  it.  Alas  !  your  great  liberality  is  miserably  curtailed 
by  the  poverty  to  which  your  father's  parsimony  restricts 
you ;  and,  not  content  with  chosing  his  own  attendants,  he 
imposes  upon  you  men  of  his  own  choice  for  yours.  How 
long,  brave  prince,  will  you  bear  this  ?  Rouse  yourself 
manfully,  and  demand  from  your  father  a  share  of  the 
kingdom  of  England,  or  at  least  claim  the  duchy  of  Nor- 
mandy, which  he  long  ago  granted  you  in  the  presence 
of  a  numerous  assemblage  of  the  barons,  who  are  ready  to 
support  you.  It  does  not  become  you  to  submit  any 
longer  to  be  lorded  over  by  those  who  are  born  to  be  your 
servants,  and  to  have  your  demands  for  your  hereditary 
domains  rejected,  as  if  you  were  a  stranger  and  a  mendicant. 
If  your  father  agrees,  and  grants  your  request,  your  natural 
spirit  and  incomparable  goodness  will  be  magnificently  dis- 
played. But  if,  on  the  other  hand,  he  persists  in  his 
obstinacy,  and,  giving  way  to  his  avarice,  refuses  you  the 
dominions  which  are  your  right,  assume  the  lion's  part,  drive 
from  your  presence  those  who  are  a  disgrace  to  you  while 
they  serve  you,  and  rely  on  the  counsels  and  support  of 

the  long  series  of  quarrels  between  William  I.  and  his  eldest  son.  A 
passage  in  book  iv.  (p.  78)  would  seem  to  prove  that  they  commenced  as 
early  as  the  year  1074,  but  we  are  not  able  to  place  the  occurrences  at 
L'Aigle,  which  seem  to  have  caused  Robert's  first  departure,  earlier  than 
the  year  1078.  One  of  our  principal  reasons  is  the  extreme  youth,  even 
then,  of  Henry,  one  of  the  princes  concerned  in  them,  who  was  born  in 
1068.  Perhaps  we  ought,  with  Florence  of  Worcester,  to  assign  these 
occurrences  to  the  year  1077,  and  place  the  discussion  between  Robert 
and  his  father,  which  our  author  here  proceeds  to  relate,  before  the 
attempt  of  the  former  to  surprise  the  tower  of  Rouen,  which  was  followed 
by  his  taking  refuge  with  Hugh  de  Chateau-ncuf. 


A.D.  1077  ?]          EGBERT   CURT-HOSE    REBELS.  171 

your  friends.      Depend  upon  it,  you  will  find  us  ready  to 
second  all  your  wishes." 

Prince  Robert,  listening  like  a  raw  youth  to  speeches  of 
this  sort,  had  his  wrath  and  ambition  violently  inflamed,  so 
that  he  went  to  his  father  and  said  :  •'  My  lord  the  king, 
put  me  in  possession  of  Normandy,  which  you  granted  me 
long  ago,  before  you  crossed  the  sea  to  make  war  on 
Harold."1  To  which  the  king  replied:  "What  you  ask, 
my  son,  is  not  convenient.  It  was  by  Norman  valour  that 
I  made  the  conquest  of  England.  Normandy  is  mine  by 
hereditary  descent,  and  I  will  never,  while  I  live,  relinquish 
the  government."  Eobert  then  said  :  "  But  what  am  I  to 
do,  what  have  I  to  bestow  on  my  followers  ?"  His  father 
answered :  "  Be  obedient  to  me  in  all  things,  as  becomes 
you,  and  be  wisely  content  to  share  my  power  in  all  my 
dominions,  as  a  son  under  his  father."  But  Robert  re- 
torted :  "  I  am  not  content  to  act  for  ever  the  part  of  a 
mercenary.  I  desire  to  have  an  establishment  of  my  own, 
that  I  may  be  able  worthily  to  recompense  my  attendants 
for  their  services.  I  therefore  pray  you  give  up  to  me  the 
dukedom  which  is  my  own,  that  while  you  are  king  of 
England,  I  may  be  duke  of  Normandy,  but  subject  always 
to  fealty  to  you."  But  the  king  replied :  "  What  you  ask, 
my  son,  is  quite  preposterous.  It  is  shameful  to  wish  to 
deprive  your  father  of  the  dominions,  which,  if  you  are 
worthy,  you  will  receive  from  him  in  due  course,  with  the 
willing  assent  of  the  people  and  the  blessing  of  God. 
Choose  good  advisers,  and  drive  from  your  presence  the 
rash  young  men  who  imprudently  tempt  and  urge  you  to 
criminal  enterprises.  Remember  what  Absalom  did  ;  how 
he  rebelled  against  his  father  David,  and  how  ill  it  turned 
out,  not  only  to  himself  but  to  Ahitophel  and  Amasa,  and 
his  other  councillors  and  abettors.  The  Normans,  always 
restless,  are  eagerly  longing  for  some  disturbance.  They 
are  endeavouring  to  incite  you  to  some  absurd  attempt,  in 
order  that  in  the  confusion  which  would  ensue,  they  may 
give  the  reins  to  their  own  insubordinate  desires,  and 
commit  evil  with  impunity.  Do  not  listen  to  the  persua- 

1  It  has  been  already  stated  that  William  named  his  son  Robert  as  his 
successor  in  the  duchy  of  Normandy  long  before  the  conquest  of  England, 
but  there  was  no  idea  of  its  being  given  up  to  him  during  his  father's  life. 


172  OBDERICTTS   YITALIS.  [n.V.  CH.X. 

sions  of  a  parcel  of  headstrong  youths,  but  be  advised  by 
the  archbishops  William  and  Lanfranc,  and  other  men  of 
wisdom,  and  experienced  nobles.  If  you  carefully  attend 
to  what  I  say  to  you,  you  will  in  the  end  be  glad  of  your 
good  conduct.  But  if,  on  the  other  hand,  you  follow  the 
example  of  Rehoboam,  who  treated  with  contempt  the 
counsels  of  Benaiah  and  other  wise  men,  and  suffer  yourself 
to  be  led  by  these  foolish  youths,  you  will  long  suffer  to 
your  own  cost  the  humiliation  and  contempt  which  he 
experienced  before  his  own  people  and  strangers."  Kobert 
then  said :  "  My  lord  the  king,  I  did  not  come  here  to  hear 
speeches,  of  which  I  have  had  enough,  and  more  than 
enough,  to  my  infinite  disgust  from  my  teachers  of  grammar; 
answer  me  plainly  concerning  the  dominion  which  is  my 
right,  that  I  may  know  what  I  have  to  do.  One  thing  I  am 
resolved  on,  and  I  wish  every  one  to  know  it,  that  I  will  no 
longer  do  service  to  any  one  in  Normandy  in  the  mean 
condition  of  a  dependant." 

The  king  was  greatly  incensed  at  this  language,  and  re- 
plied :  "  I  have  already  told  you  plainly  enough,  and  I  have 
no  hesitation  in  most  distinctly  informing  you  that  I  will 
never  suffer  my  native  land  of  Normandy  to  pass  out  of  my 
hands  as  long  as  I  live.  Nor  will  I,  neither  is  it  advisable 
that  I  should,  during  my  life,  divide  the  kingdom  of  Eng- 
land which  I  have  acquired  by  immense  exertions ;  for,  as 
our  Lord  says  in  the  gospel,  '  Every  kingdom  divided  against 
itself  is  brought  to  desolation.'1  He  who  gave  me  the  king- 
dom will  dispose  of  it  according  to  his  will.  I  wish  it  to  be 
understood  by  all  as  my  fixed  purpose  that,  so  long  as  I  live, 
I  will  not  abdicate  my  prerogative  in  favour  of  any  one,  and 
no  human  being  shall  share  my  kingdom.  The  consecrated 
crown  was  solemnly  placed  on  my  head  by  Christ's  repre- 
sentatives, and  the  royal  sceptre  of  Albion  was  given  to  me 
alone  to  bear.  It  is  therefore  unbecoming,  and  altogether 
unjust,  that  while  life  remains,  I  should  suffer  any  one  to 
become  my  equal  or  my  superior  within  my  dominions." 
Upon  hearing  his  father's  irrevocable  determination,  Robert 
said :  "  Compelled,  like  Polynices  the  Theban,  to  betake  my- 
self to  a  foreign  land,  henceforth  I  shall  serve  strangers,  and 
see  whether  by  fortune's  favour  I  cannot  gain  in  exile  those 
1  Luke  xi.  17. 


A..D.  1077 — 1078.]      BOBEBT   CUBT-HOSE   AK  EXILE.  173 

honours  and  advantages  which  are  shamefully  withheld  from 
me  in  my  father's  house.  Would  that  it  may  be  mine  to 
find  a  prince  like  the  old  Adrastes,  to  whom  I  can  cheerfully 
offer  the  tribute  of  my  faithful  service,  and  from  whom  I 
may  receive  a  grateful  acknowledgment." 

Having  said  this,  Robert  left  his  father's  presence  in 
great  anger,  and  departed  from  Normandy.  There  went 
with  him  Robert  de  Belesme,1  William  de  Breteuil,2  Roger, 
son  of  Richard  de  Bienfaite,  Robert  de  Moubray,3  William 
de  Molines,  William  de  Rupierre,  and  several  others  of  high 
birth  and  chivalrous  courage,  swelling  with  pride,  terrible  in 
their  fierce  encounters  with  enemies,  and  ready  to  undertake 
any  enterprise  however  formidable  or  unjust.  At  the  head 
of  a  band  of  such  associates,  the  young  Robert  wandered  in 
foreign  lands  for  five  years  to  no  purpose.4  He  had  already 
freely  distributed  among  them  his  private  patrimony,  making 
vain  promises  of  aggrandizing  their  possessions.  On  their 
part  they  exalted  his  hopes  by  empty  professions  ;  and  they 
thus  mutually  deceived  each  other  by  false  representations. 

When  Robert  first  quitted  his  native  land,  he  joined  his 
uncle  Robert  the  Frisian,  count  of  Flanders,  and  his  brother 
Eudes,  who  was  archbishop  of  Treves.8  He  afterwards 
visited  other  noble  kinsmen,  dukes,  counts,  and  powerful 
lords  of  castles  in  Lorraine,  Germany,  Aquitaine,  and  Gas- 
cony.  To  these  he  stated  his  grievances,  in  which  he  often 
mixed  falsehood  with  truth.  Many  listened  readily  to  his 
complaints,  and  the  higher  nobles  made  him  liberal  presents ; 
but  he  foolishly  lavished  on  jugglers,  parasites,  and  harlots, 
the  supplies  he  received  from  his  generous  friends.  When 
they  were  thus  improvidently  spent,  he  was  compelled  by 
his  extreme  necessities  to  have  recourse  to  begging,  and,  an 


1  Robert  de  Belesme,  son  of  Roger  de  Montgomery. 

1  William  de  Breteuil,  son  of  William  Fitz-Osbem. 

8  Robert  de  Moubray,  nephew  of  Geoffrey,  bishop  of  Coutances. 

4  Our  author  confounds  Prince  Robert's  first  emigration  with  his  second, 
to  which  only  the  five  years  here  spoken  of  can  apply. 

8  According  to  the  French  genealogists,  Eudes,  who  was  archbishop  of 
Treves,  1067 — 1079,  was  indeed  brother  of  Robert  the  Frison  and  Queen 
Miitilda,  but  the  French  editor  of  Ordericus  remarks  that  this  is  a  great 
mistake.  This  prelate,  who  was  son  of  Everard,  count  de  Nellembourg  in 
STabia,  having  no  connexion  with  the  house  of  Flanders. 


174  ORDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.X. 

exile  and  poor,  he  sought  loans  of  money  from  foreign 
usurers. 

Queen  Matilda,  compassionating  her  son's  distresses  with 
a  mother's  tenderness,  often  sent  him,  without  the  know- 
ledge of  her  husband,  large  sums  of  gold  and  silver,  and 
other  things  of  value.  The  king,  discovering  this,  forbade 
her  with  terrible  threats  from  continuing  to  do  so ;  but 
finding  shortly  afterwards  that  she  contumaciously  repeated 
the  offence,  he  said  to  her,  in  great  wrath,  "  A  wise  man 
remarked  truly,  as  I  myself  have  reason  to  find,  that — 

'  A  faithless  woman  is  her  husband's  bane.' 

"Who  in  the  world  can  henceforth  reckon  on  finding  a  mis- 
tress who  will  be  faithful  and  devoted  to  him  ?  Behold  my 
own  wife,  whom  I  love  as  my  very  soul,  and  who  is  entrusted 
by  me  with  my  treasures  and  jurisdiction  through  my  whole 
dominions,  succours  my  enemies  who  are  plotting  against 
my  life,  enriches  them  with  my  wealth,  carefully  supplies 
them  with  arms  to  attack  me,  and  abets  and  strengthens 
them  in  every  way."  To  this  Matilda  replied :  "  Do  not 
wonder,  I  pray  you,  my  lord,  that  I  have  a  tender  affection 
for  my  first-born  son.  By  the  power  of  the  Most  High,1  if 
my  Robert  was  dead,  and  buried  seven  feet  in  the  earth  out 
of  the  sight  of  living  men,  and  I  could  bring  him  to  life  at 
the  expense  of  my  own  blood,  I  would  freely  shed  it  for 
him,  and  I  would  undergo  sufferings  greater  than  can  be 
expected  from  female  weakness.  How  can  you  suppose  that 
I  can  take  any  delight  in  the  abundance  of  wealth,  while  I 
suffer  my  son  to  be  crushed  by  the  extremity  of  want  and 
distress  ?  Far  from  me  be  such  hardness  of  heart,  nor 
should  you,  in  the  fulness  of  your  power,  lay  such  an  injunc- 
tion upon  me." 

At  hearing  this  the  stern  prince  turned  pale,  and  he 
became  so  enraged  that  he  ordered  one  of  the  queen's 
messengers,  whose  name  was  Samson,  a  Breton  by  birth,  to 
be  apprehended,  and  .to  have  his  eyes  forthwith  put  out. 
However,  learning  the  king's  animosity  by  intelligence  from 
those  the  queen  trusted,  he  made  his  escape  to  avoid  the 

1  This  appears  to  have  been  the  form  of  oath  used  by  Queen  Mitilda, 
as  her  husband,  William,  swore  by  God's  light,  par  la  resplendor  Di. 


A.D.  1077 — 1078.]     A  HERMIT'S  PREDICTION.  175 

barbarous  command,  and  took  refuge  in  all  haste  at  the 
abbey  of  St.  Evroult.  He  was  admitted,  at  the  queen's 
request,  by  Abbot  Mainier,  and  entered  on  the  monastic  life 
for  the  safety  equally  of  his  soul  and  body.  He  was 
shrewd,  talked  well,  was  continent,  and  lived  as  a  monk 
twenty-six  years. 

At  this  time  there  lived  in  some  part  of  the  Teutonic 
country  a  hermit,  who  was  a  devout  and  holy  man,  and 
among  his  other  gifts  and  graces  had  the  spirit  of  prophecy. 
To  this  man,  Queen  Matilda  sent  messengers  and  presents, 
earnestly  entreating  him  to  pray  for  her  husband  and  her 
son  Kobert,  and  besides  to  send  her  a  prediction  of  what 
would  happen  to  them  in  time  to  come.  The  hermit  gra- 
ciously received  the  messenger  of  so  great  a  queen,  and 
begged  time  to  the  third  day  for  making  his  reply.  When 
the  third  day  dawned,  he  summoned  the  queen's  envoys  and 
said  to  them :  "  Go,  carry  back  this  message  from  me  to 
your  mistress.  According  to  your  request  I  have  prayed  to 
Grod  and  have  seen  a  vision,  in  which  he  revealed  to  me  the 
things  I  will  relate  to  you.  I  saw  a  certain  meadow,  beau- 
tifully clothed  with  grass  and  flowers,  and  in  it  there  was  a 
fierce  horse  feeding.  Herds  of  cattle  stood  all  round,  keenly 
desiring  to  graze  in  the  meadow,  but  the  wild  horse  drove 
them  away,  not  suffering  any  animal  to  come  there  and  crop 
the  grass  and  the  flowers.  Unfortunately,  the  stately  and 
high-bred  horse  suddenly  disappeared,  and  a  lascivious  heifer 
undertook  the  guardianship  of  the  luxuriant  meadow.  Forth- 
with, the  whole  herd  of  animals  which  stood  outside  ran 
freely  in,  and  depasturing  the  meadow  in  every  part,  de- 
stroyed all  its  former  beauty,  without  fear  of  its  guardian, 
treading  it  under  foot,  and  defiling  it  with  their  dung.  On 
seeing  this  I  was  much  astonished,  and  asked  my  conductor 
what  it  meant.  He  therefore  explained  the  whole,  saying : 
'  The  meadow  which  you  behold  is  Normandy,  and  the  grass 
is  the  multitude  of  people,  living  in  peace  and  in  abundance 
of  all  things.  The  flowers  represent  the  churches,  where 
are  to  be  found  the  chaste  companies  of  the  monks  and 
clergy  and  nuns,  and  where  faithful  souls  are  continually 
engaged  in  holy  contemplations.  The  unbridled  horse  sig- 
nifies William,  king  of  the  English,  under  whose  protection 


176  OUDERICUS   VITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.X. 

the  sacred  orders  of  the  devout  securely  war  for  the  king 
of  angels.1  The  greedy  animals  which  stand  around  are  the 
Franks,  the  Bretons,  and  the  men  of  Picardy  and  Anjou, 
and  other  neighbouring  people,  who  are  jealous  of  the  pros- 
perity of  Normandy,  and  are  ready  to  pounce  upon  its 
resources,  like  wolves  on  their  prey,  but  are  repelled  by  the 
unconquerable  might  of  King  William.  But  when,  accord- 
ing to  the  laws  of  human  nature,  he  shall  be  taken  away, 
his  son  Robert  will  succeed  him  in  the  dukedom  of  Nor- 
mandy. Then  her  enemies  will  gather  around  her  on  all 
sides,  and,  as  she  will  have  lost  her  protector,  they  will 
invade  her  rich  and  noble  territory,  despoil  her  of  her 
honour  and  her  wealth,  and  holding  in  contempt  her  weak 
ruler,  nefariously  tread  under  foot  the  whole  country.  He, 
like  the  lascivious  heifer,  will  abandon  himself  to  lust  and 
sloth,  and  set  others  the  example  of  plundering  the  property 
of  the  church,  and  spending  it  on  filthy  pimps  and  lechers. 
To  such  he  will  give  up  his  dominions,  and  they  will  be  his 
counsellors  in  his  urgent  necessities.  In  the  dukedom  of 
Eoburt,  favourites  and  effeminate  persons  will  bear  rule, 
and  under  their  government  crime  and  misery  will  abound. 
The  cities  and  villages  will  be  burnt,  and  the  churches  of 
the  saints  shamefully  profaned.  The  societies  of  the  faith- 
ful, of  both  sexes,  will  be  dispersed,  and  thousands  of 
human  beings  will  perish  by  fire  and  sword,  many  of  them 
unabsolved  and  without  the  last  sacraments,  so  that  for 
their  sins  they  will  be  plunged  at  once  into  the  bottomless 
pit.  Such  calamities  will  fall  upon  Normandy,  and  as  of 
old  she  was  enormously  puffed  up,  as  the  conqueror  of 
neighbouring  nations,  so  under  a  lax  and  debauched  prince, 
she  will  be  held  in  contempt,  and  will  be  long  and  miserably 
exposed  to  the  arms  of  her  enemies.  The  weak  duke  will 
have  only  the  name  of  prince,  while  in  truth  rogues  will 
have  the  rule,  both  over  him  and  the  distracted  province,  to 
the  general  loss.'  Such  was  the  vision  which  1  lately  had 
in  answer  to  my  prayers,  and  such  the  explanation  which 
my  spiritual  guide  gave  of  it.  But  you,  venerable  lady,  will 
not  witness  the  calamities  with  which  Normandy  is  threat- 

1  There  is  a  play  of  words  in  the  original  text :  Regem  Amjlorum  .  .     . 
rc^i  Angelorum. 


A.D.  1079.]  SIEGE   OF    GEBBEBOI.  177 

ened ;  for,  after  a  good  confession,  you  will  die  in  peace,  and 
neither  behold  your  husband's  death,  nor  the  misfortunes  of 
your  son,  nor  the  desolation  of  your  beloved  country." 

Having  received  this  message  from  the  hermit,  the  messen- 
gers returned  and  related  to  the  queen  the  prophecy  in 
which  good  was  mixed  with  evil.  The  men  of  the  succeeding 
age,  who  were  partakers  in  the  disasters  of  Normandy  and 
saw  the  fires  and  other  ravages,  found  to  their  cost  that  the 
prophecy  of  the  horrible  calamities  and  destruction  which 
awaited  them  was  but  too  true. 

At  last,  after  many  useless  peregrinations,  Eobert  began 
to  repent  of  his  folly,  but  still  he  was  unwilling  to  return 
frankly  to  his  incensed  father  whom  he  had  so  inconsiderately 
left.  He  therefore  repaired  to  his  cousin  Philip,  king  of 
France,  and  earnestly  entreated  him  to  render  him  aid.  He 
was  well  received,  and  the  castle  of  Q-erberoi  assigned  to  him 
for  his  residence,  because  it  stands  in  the  Beauvais  on  the 
borders  of  Normandy,  and  is  a  very  strong  fortress 
both  from  its  site  and  its  walls  and  other  defences.  Elias 
the  vidame,  and  his  fellow  governor  of  the  castle,  received 
the  royal  exile  with  great  good-will,  promising  all  sorts  of 
succour  to  him  and  his  followers.  For  it  is  the  custom  of 
that  castle  that  it  has  two  equal  lords,1  and  that  all 
fugitives  are  harboured  there  from  whatever  quarter  they 
come.  Eobert  collected  in  this  place  a  troop  of  horse, 
promising  them  and  the  barons  of  France  who  flocked  about 
him,  in  return  for  their  assistance,  more  than  he  could  ever 
perform.  Many  evils  ensued  from  this  arrangement,  the 
sons  of  perdition  taking  arms  and  devising  mischief  against 
the  peaceable  and  defenceless,  and  contriving  endless  iniqui- 
ties. Numbers  who  to  all  appearance  had  been  peaceably 
inclined,  and  gave  good  words  to  the  king  and  his  adherents, 
now  unexpectedly  joined  the  enemies  of  the  state,  betraying 
their  kinsfolk  ancl  lords  to  the  disinherited  exiles.  Thus  Nor- 
mandy had  more  to  suffer  from  her  own  people  than  from 
strangers,  and  was  ruined  by  intestine  disorders. 

Meanwhile,  the  undaunted  king  had  levied  numerous  bodies 
of  troops  with  prudent  forethought,  and  quartered  them  in 
the  castles  of  his  own  province  which  stood  nearest  the 

'  Two  collateral  branches  of  the  same  family  possessed  jointly  the  title 
and  authority  of  vidames  of  this  place. 
VOL.  II.  IT 


178  OEDEBICTJS   VITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.X. 

enemy's  borders,  making  head  against  his  adversaries  in  all 
quarters,  and  suffering  no  one  to  make  inroads  on  his 
territories  with  impunity.  He  was  also  much  annoyed  that 
his  enemies  had  chosen  a  post  so  near  his  own  frontier, 
nor  would  he  submit  to  it  any  longer  without  a  sharp 
contention.  He  therefore,  although  it  was  mid-winter, 
assembled  his  mailed  troops,  as  soon  as  Christmas  was 
past,  and  paid  a  visit  to  the  enemies'  quarters  at  Gerberoy 
from  which  he  had  received  threatening  messages ;  and  for 
three  weeks  he  besieged  the  garrison  with  great  vigour.  The 
chiefs  on  both  sides  had  frequent  encounters,  and  often  chal- 
lenged each  other  to  the  conflict  with  a  select  number  of 
followers  chosen  for  their  bravery  and  skill  in  arms.  On  one 
side  the  Normans,  with  the  English  and  the  king's  auxiliaries 
from  the  immediate  neighbourhood,  made  fierce  onslaughts, 
on  the  other,  the  French  and  King  "William's  enemies  on 
the  borders,  who  took  the  side  of  Robert,  made  a  desperate 
resistance.  In  these  conflicts  many  were  unhorsed,  horses 
were  killed,  and  the  combatants  suffered  considerable  losses.1 
The  king  having  returned  to  Rouen,  his  faithful  coun- 
sellors took  into  consideration  the  means  of  reconciling  the 
father  and  son.  "With  this  view  Roger,  earl  of  Shrewsbury, 
Hugh  de  Gournay  and  Hugh  Grantmesnil,  Roger  de  Beau- 
mont, with  his  sons  Robert  and  Henry,2  and  many  others 
assembled.  They  addressed  the  king  in  the  following 
terms :  "  Great  king,  we  humbly  approach  your  highness, 
beseeching  you  favourably  to  receive  our  supplications. 
Tour  son  Robert  has  been  led  astray  by  the  pernicious 
advice  of  evil  counsellors,  from  which  violent  dissentions 
and  much  mischief  have  arisen.  He  now  repents  of  his 

1  Our  author's  account  of  the  sie?e  of  Gerberoi  is  far  from  complete. 
He  has  omitted  to  inform  us  that  Philip  I.  joined  William,  the  duke,  in 
besieging  his  son  Robert  in  the  very  place  he  had  assigned  him  for  his 
refuge.  This  appears  from  a  charter  signed  jointly  by  the  two  kings  while 
engaged  in  the  siege,  which  also  fixes  the  date  of  its  commencement,  in  the 
month  of  January,  1079.  Ordericus  haa  also  omitted  the  well  known 
story  of  Robert's  having  wounded  and  dismounted  his  father  in  one  of  the 
chivalrous  encounters  under  the  walls  of  Gerberoi,  and,  discovering  him  by 
his  voice,  having  remounted  him  on  his  own  horse  after  vainly  imploring 
his  forgiveness.  It  was  probably  in  consequence  of  this  occurrence,  and  at 
nil  events  after  it,  that  the  lords  of  William's  council  named  by  Ordericus 
succeeded  in  effecting  a  temporary  reconciliation. 

*  Robert,  count  de  Meulan,  and  Henry,  earl  of  Warwick. 


A.D.  1079.]      WILLIAM   I.  AND   HIS    SON   EGBERT.  179 

errors,  but  he  cannot  venture  to  approach  your  presence 
without  receiving  your  commands.  He  humbly  implores 
your  clemency  to  take  pity  on  him,  and  he  seeks  to  obtain 
your  favour  through  our  interference,  who  are  your  devoted 
subjects.  He  acknowledges  himself  to  [be  guilty  of  many 
and  grave  offences,  but  he  confesses  them,  and  promises  to 
conduct  himself  better  in  future.  We  all,  therefore,  join  in 
imploring  your  clemency  to  extend  your  gracious  pardon  to 
your  repentant  son.  Correct  your  erring  child,  permit  him 
to  return  home,  and  mercifully  accept  his  penitence."  The 
assembled  nobles  also  earnestly  interceded  with  the  king  on 
behalf  of  their  sons,  brothers,  and  kinsmen,  who  accom- 
panied Eobert  in  his  exile.  The  king  replied  to  them  as 
follows :  "  I  am  surprised  that  you  so  earnestly  plead  the 
cause  of  a  traitor,  who  has  dared  to  make  a  most  infamous 
attempt  on  the  peace  of  my  dominions.  He  has  stirred  up 
intestine  disturbances  against  me,  and  seduced  the  flower  of 
my  young  nobility  whom  I  myself  have  educated  and  in- 
vested with  the  ensigns  of  chivalry.  He  has  also  brought 
on  me  Hugh  de  Chateauneuf,1  and  other  foreign  enemies. 
"Which  of  my  predecessors,  from  the  time  of  Eollo,  has 
been  subjected  to  such  a  conflict  on  the  part  of  his  sons  as 
I  have  ?  Look  at  William,  the  son  of  the  great  Eollo,  and 
the  three  Richards,  successively  dukes  of  Normandy,  and 
my  own  father  Eobert,  and  see  how  faithfully  they  obeyed 
their  fathers  to  the  hour  of  their  death.  This  youth  en- 
deavoured to  wrest  from  me  the  dukedom  of  Normandy  and 
the  earldom  of  Maine,  and  he  has  formed  against  me  a 
powerful  combination  of  the  French,  the  people  of  Anjou 
and  Aquitaine,  and  many  others.  If  it  were  in  his  power 
he  would  arm  the  whole  race  of  mankind  against  me, 
and  put  me,  and  yourselves  too,  to  the  sword.  According 
to  the  law  of  God  given  by  Moses,  he  is  worthy  of  death : 
his  offence  is  like  that  of  Absalom,  and  should  meet  with 
the  same  punishment." 

Still  the  nobles  of  Normandy  had  frequent  conferences 

1  Chateauneuf  in  the  Thimirais ;  see  before,  book  iv.  p.  109.  This 
passage  strengthens  the  opinion  that  the  quarrel  began  at  L'Aiglc,  on 
occasion  of  the  liberties  taken  by  William  Rufus  and  Henry  with  their 
brother  Robert,  and  that  this  occurrence  can  only  be  assigned  to  the 
summer  or  autumn  of  the  year  1077- 

N   2 


180  OBDEBICUS   TITALIS.  [u.V.  CH.X. 

with  the  king,  and  endeavoured  to  mollify  his  resentment 
by  gentle  remonstrances  and  entreaties.  The  bishops,  also, 
and  other  men  of  religion,  tried  to  soften  the  hardness  of  his 
heart  by  lessons  drawn  from  the  word  of  God.  The  queen, 
also,  and  the  envoys  of  the  king  of  France,  and  the  neigh- 
bouring nobles  who  were  in  alliance  with  him,  used  their 
efforts  to  restore  peace.  At  last  the  stern  prince,  giving 
way  to  the  entreaties  of  so  many  persons  of  rank,  and 
moved  likewise  by  natural  affection,  was  reconciled  to  his 
son,  and  those  who  had  been  leagued  with  him.  He  also, 
with  the  concurrence  of  his  nobles,  ratified  and  renewed  the 
grant  which  he  had  made  to  him,  when  he  was  sick  at 
Bonneville,1  of  the  succession  to  the  duchy  of  Normandy 
after  his  own  death.  The  restoration  of  peace  caused  great 
joy  to  the  people  of  Normandy  and  Maine,  who  had  now 
grievously  suffered  for  many  years  from  the  calamities  of 
war.  But  this  long-wished-for  tranquillity,  arising  from  the 
reunion  of  father  and  son,  was  speedily  overclouded.  For 
the  obstinate  young  prince  was  too  proud  to  attend  or  obey 
his  father,  and  the  passionate  monarch  often  loaded  him  in 
public  with  accusations  and  reproaches  for  his  disobedience. 
He,  therefore,  after  a  time,  again  left  his  father's  court2  ac- 
companied by  a  small  number  of  adherents ;  nor  did  he  ever 
return  until  his  father  on  his  death-bed  sent  Count  Aubrey* 

1  Bonneville  sur  Touque.     The  text  of  Duchesne ;  for  Villam-Bonam, 
reads  Juliam-Bonam,  Lillebonne.     The  resemblance  of  these  two  names 
of  the  residences  of  the  dukes  of  Normandy  causes  them  to  be  often 
mistaken  the  one  for  the  other.     It  is  the  same  of  the  ports  Barfleur  and 
Harfleur. 

2  The  precise  time  when  the  king  and  his  son  again  quarrelled  cannot 
be  ascertained,  but  it  did  not  occur  till  after  Robert's  expedition,  under- 
taken by  his  father's  orders,  into  Scotland,  during  which  he  founded  an 
English  Chateau-neuf.  Newcastle-upon-Tyne.     This  was  in  the  autumn  of 
1080. 

8  Aubrey,  before  this,  earl  of  Northumberland,  who  must  not  be  con- 
founded with  Aubrey  de  Vere,  the  ancestor  of  the  earls  of  Oxford.  Little 
is  known  of  the  Aubrey  mentioned  by  our  author.  At  the  time  the 
survey  recorded  in  Domesday-book  was  taken,  his  estates  were  in  the  king's 
hands,  having  probably  been  wrested  from  him  on  account  of  his  incapacity. 
After  a  disastrous  expedition  to  Greece,  induced  by  his  credulity  in  the 
promises  of  astrologers,  which  leaves  no  great  opinion  of  his  judgment,  he 
returned  to  Normandy,  and  was  there,  it  is  said,  married  to  a  lady  who 
bore  the  name  of  the  country  he  had  been  silly  enough  to  think  of  con- 
quering. 


FAMILY   OF   KIITG   WILLIAM    I.  181 

to  him  in  France  to  invite  him  to  take  possession  of  the 
duchy  of  Normandy. 

CH.  XI.     Account  of  the  family  of  William  I.,  particularly 
his  son  Richard,  killed  when  young,  and  his  daughters. 

IF  William,  though  a  father,  sometimes  cursed  in  his  anger 
his  rebellious  son,  and  wished  him  all  sorts  of  evil  for  the 
attempts  which  have  been  just  related,  his  sons  William  and 
Henry,  who  had  been  always  dutiful,  received  his  hearty 
blessing.  As  for  his  son  Richard,  born  after  Robert,  and 
who  had  not  yet  received  the  honour  of  knighthood,  while 
he  was  hunting  in  the  new  forest  not  far  from  Winchester, 
and  running  down  a  stag  at  full  speed,  he  sustained  a  violent 
blow  on  the  pommel  of  the  saddle  from  a  stout  hazel  bough, 
and  was  mortally  injured.  Receiving  the  same  week  the 
supports  of  confession  and  absolution,  and  the  last  sacra- 
ments, he  shortly  afterwards  died  to  the  great  sorrow  of 
many  of  the  English.1  William  Rufus  and  Henry  having 
always  been  devoted  to  their  father  obtained  his  blessing, 
and  had  for  many  years  been  advanced  to  the  highest  pitch 
of  power  both  in  the  kingdom  and  the  duchy.  His  daughter 
Agatha,  who  had  been  betrothed  to  Harold,  was  afterwards 
demanded  in  marriage  by  Alphonzo,  king  of  Gralicia,2  and 
delivered  to  his  proxies  to  be  conducted  to  him.  But  she, 
who  had  lost  her  former  spouse  who  was  to  her  liking,  felt 
extreme  repugnance  to  marry  another.  The  Englishman 
she  had  seen  and  loved,  but  the  Spaniard  she  was  more 
averse  to  because  she  had  never  set  eyes  on  him.  She, 
therefore,  fervently  prayed  to  the  Almighty  that  she  might 
never  be  carried  into  Spain,  but  that  he  would  rather  take 
her  to  himself.  Her  prayers  were  heard,  and  she  died  a 
virgin  while  she  was  on  the  road.  Her  corpse  was  brought 

1  This  calamitous  event,  which  was  supposed  to  be  judicial,  is  generally 
assigned  to  the  year  1081,  but  there  is  reason  to  place  it  several  years 
earlier. 

*  Alphonzo,  king  of  Leon,  the  Asturias,  and  Oviedo,  in  1065,  of  Castile 
in  1072,  and  of  Galicia  the  year  following.  The  Spanish  historians,  who 
call  Agatha,  Agueda,  place  the  marriage  in  1068,  when  Alphonzo  was  as 
yet  only  king  of  Leon.  It  was,  therefore,  in  that  year  the  young  princess 
died.  Alphonso  still  continued  to  seek  alliances  in  France,  for  in  1074  he 
married  Agnes,  daughter  of  William,  count  de  Poitiers,  and  afterwards,  in 
1080,  Constance,  daughter  of  Robert,  duke  of  Burgandy. 


182  OEDEEICUS  TITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.XI. 

back  by  her  attendants  to  her  native  country,  and  interred 
in  the  church  of  St.  Mary-ever-a- Virgin,  at  Bayeux.  King 
William's  daughter  Adeliza,  who  was  very  beautiful,  when 
she  reached  the  age  of  marriage,  piously  devoted  herself  to 
G-od,  and  made  a  holy  end  under  the  guardianship  of  Roger 
de  Beaumont.1  Constance  was  given  amid  great  rejoicings 
at  Bayeux  to  Fergan,  count  of  Brittany,  son  of  the  count  of 
Nantes ;  and  she  died  in  Brittany  without  leaving  any 
children.2 

Stephen,  palatine  count  de  Blois,8  wishing  to  make  a  firm 
alliance  with  King  William,  demanded  his  daughter  Adela 
in  marriage,  who,  by  the  advice  of  his  counsellors,  gave  his 
consent,  and  they  were  united  with  gVeat  rejoicings.  The 
espousals  took  place  at  Breteuil,  and  the  marriage  was 
celebrated  at  Chartres.  Stephen  was  son  of  Theobald,* 
count  palatine,  and  nephew  of  Bertha,  countess  of  Brittany 
and  Maine.5  His  two  most  powerful  counts  were  his 
brothers  Odo  and  Hugh,8  and  he  had  four  sons  by  his  wife 
first  mentioned,  William,  Theobald,  Stephen,  and  Henry, 
the  three  first  of  whom  are  puissant  lords,  and  rank  with 
the  highest  nobles  of  France  and  England.  William,  the 

1  She  retired  to  St.  L6ger-de-Pre"aux,  a  convent  for  nuns  founded  by 
Humphrey  de  Vieilles,  father  of  Roger  de  Beaumont,  and  Aubrey,  his 
mother,  and  afterwards  endowed  by  Roger  himself.     William  de  Jumieges 
confounds  Adeliza  with  her  sister  Agatha. 

2  This  marriage  is  mentioned  before,  vol.  i.  p.  185,  where  our  author 
says  that  it  was  celebrated  at  Caen.     (See  also  the  note,  book  ii.  c.  5.) 
Alan  Fergan  was  not  son  of  a  count  of  Nantes,  but  grandson  of  Alan 
Pugnart,  count  de  Cornwall. 

3  Stephen,  count  de  Blois,  in  1081,  and  who  married  Adela  the  same 
year,  became  count  de  Chartres  about  the  year  1090,  after  his  father's 
death,  and  was  slain  in  battle  against  the  Saracens  in  Palestine  in  1101. 
He  had  returned  there  to  wipe  off  the  disgrace  of  having  deserted  from  the 
first  crusade  before  the  deliverance  of  Jerusalem.     Ordericus  is  mistaken 
in  giving  him  the  title  of  count  Palatine,  which  was  first  borne  by  his  great 
grandfather,  Eudes  II.,  count  of  Blois  and  Champagne,  and  passed  to  the 
branch  of  the  family  which  succeeded  to  the  latter.     The  title  was  purely 
honorary. 

*  Theobald  III.,  count  de  Blois,  Tours,  and  Chartres,  in  1037,  after- 
wards count  Palatine  de  Champagne,  in  prejudice  of  his  nephew  Eudes, 
about  1048. 

5  Bertha,  sister  of  Theobald,  first  married  in  1027  to  Alan  III.,  duke  of 
Brittany,  and  afterwards  to  Hugh  II.,  count  du  Mans. 

6  Hugh,  count  de  Champagne;  Eudes,  count  de  Troyes;  besides  Philip, 
bishop  of  Chalons-sur-Marne,  omitted  by  our  author. 


FAMILY   OF   BLOIS.  183 

eldest,  son-in-law  and  heir  of  G-illon  de  Sully,  is  a  worthy, 
quiet  man,  whose  family  and  wealth  make  him  powerful.1 
Theobald,  who  succeeded  to  the  hereditary  states,  is  distin- 
guished by  his  valour  and  merits.2  Stephen,  who  is  son-in- 
law  and  heir  of  Eustace,  count  de  Boulogne,  has  had  the  earl- 
dom of  Moreton,  in  Normandy,  and  many  English  honours 
conferred  on  him  by  his  uncle  king  Henry.3  The  fourth 
son,  Henry,  was  devoted  from  infancy  to  the  service  of  the 
church  at  the  abbey  of  Cluny,  and  under  the  monastic  rule 
was  fully  instructed  in  sacred  learning.  Should  he  persist 
in  this  religious  life  he  will  be  an  heir  of  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  and  present  a  memorable  example  of  contempt  for 
the  world  to  earthly  princes.4  Let  what  I  have  shortly 
noted  respecting  the  decendanta  of  King  William  suffice 
for  the  present,  for  I  am  urged  onward  by  an  earnest 
desire  to  complete  my  undertaking,  and  unceasingly 
actuated  by  the  determination  to  fulfil  my  promise. 

1  William,  the  eldest  son,  who  married  Agnes  de  Sully,  was  put  aside 
from  the  succession  by  the  intrigues  of  his  mother  and  on  account  of  his 
incapacity.  He  was  also  deformed  and  stammered.  Our  author  just 
gives  him  the  negative  character  suited  to  his  deserts. 

*  The  second  son,  Theobald,  called  the  Grand,  succeeded  his  father  ia 
1102,  as  count  de  Blois,  &c.,  and  in  1125  became  count  of  Champagne  by 
inheritance  or  purchase  of  his  uncle. 

*  Stephen  de  Blois,  the  third  son,  played  a  distinguished  part  in  history. 
Count  de  Boulogne,  in  right  of  his  wife  Matilda,  and  earl  of  Morton  by 
creation  of  his  uncle,  Henry  I.,  at  the  time  when  Ordericus  wrote  this 
book,  his  future  honours  as  king  of  England  could  not  then  be  anticipated. 
Having  seized  the  throne  in  December,  1135,  his  reign  lasted  till  October, 
1154. 

4  Henry,  the  fourth  and  youngest  son,  was  the  famous  Henry  de  Blois, 
bishop  of  Winchester,  who  took  a  leading  part  in  the  wars  foi  the 
succession  to  Henry  I.  of  England.  He  was  originally,  it  appears,  a  monk 
of  Cluny,  but  in  1 126,  two  years  before  our  author  wrote  this  book,  though 
he  does  not  seem  to  have  been  aware  of  it,  Henry  had  been  made  abbot  of 
Glastonbury.  He  was  raised  to  the  bishopric  of  Winchester  in  1129.  The 
hypothetical  form  in  which  Ordericus  frames  this  short  reference  to  the 
early  promise  of  this  ambitious  and  worldly  prelate,  seems  to  indicate  an 
impression  that  his  hopes  were  not  likely  to  be  fulfilled.  Some  years 
nfterwards,  when  still  his  character  was  not  fully  developed,  Henry  of 
Huntingdon  speaks  of  him  in  these  terms :  "  Henry,  the  king's  son,  who 
promises  to  exhibit  a  monstrous  spectacle,  compounded  of  purity  and  cor- 
ruption, half  a  monk,  half  a  knight." — Letter  to  Walter  on  the  Bishop* 
and  Illustrious  Men  of  his  Times,  p.  315,  Bohn's  Edition. 


184i  OBJDEKICTJB   YITALIS.  [B.  V,  CH.XII. 

CH.  XII.  Mainier,  fourth  abbot  of  St.  Evroult — Began  the 
new  church — His  administration — Men  of  rank  become 
monks — State  of  the  church  in  Normandy  after  the  con- 
version of  the  Danes. 

THE  eternal  Disposer  of  all  events  impels  by  his  power  and 
guides  by  his  wisdom,  his  bark,  the  church,  through  the 
storms  of  this  world,  and  mercifully  gives  his  daily  support 
to  the  labourers  in  his  vineyard,  strengthening  them  by  his 
holy  inspirations  for  their  toils  and  dangers.  He  thus 
providentially  guides  his  church  among  the  tumults  of  wars 
and  battles,  and  secures  its  advancement  in  a  variety  of 
ways.  This  has  been  most  especially  shown  with  respect 
to  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult,  which,  though  founded  in  a 
poor  country,  and  surrounded  by  worthless  people,  has  been 
defended  by  divine  help  against  all  the  threats  and  malice 
of  its  enemies.  Abbot  Mainier  undertook  the  charge  of 
this  abbey  in  the  month  of  July,  and  has  now  presided 
over  it  with  great  advantage  twenty-two  years  and  eight 
months.1  He  introduced  into  the  Lord's  fold  ninety-two 
monks,  prudently  selected  to  do  his  work ;  and  diligently 
instructed  them  how  they  ought  to  conduct  themselves  in 
it.  He  also  began  to  erect  the  new  church,  and  suitable 
houses  for  the  residence  of  the  monks,  and  by  God's  aid 
completed  them  with  all  the  beauty  so  desert  a  country  per- 
mitted. The  good  reports  of  their  religious  life  raised  the 
abbey  of  St.  Evroult  to  high  honour,  and  gained  them  the 
love  of  great  numbers  of  persons  of  all  ranks.  Many 
hastened  there  to  connect  themselves  with  this  society,  and 
become  worthy  of  partaking  of  its  benefits  in  divine  things. 
They  gave  their  worldly  possessions  in  order  to  'receive 
heavenly  ones  from  God. 

Some,  inflamed  with  divine  love,  entirely  renounced  the 
world,  resigning  their  wealth  to  the  monastery,  according  to 
the  monastic  rule,  and  enforcing  on  their  friends  and  relations 
similar  conduct,  by  their  advice  and  entreaties.  Among 

1  Mainier,  son  of  Goscelin  d'Echaufour,  was  fourth  abbot  of  St.  Evroult. 
He  was  consecrated  by  Huph,  bishop  of  Lisieux,  the  16th  of  July,  1066. 
Our  author  has  considerably  varied  in  his  calculations  of  the  period  of 
Mainier's  administration.  It  appears  to  have  lasted  twenty-two  years  and 
seven  months,  and  that  he  died  on  the  5th  of  March,  1089. 


A.D.  10G6 — 1087.]    MAINIER,  ABBOT   OF    ST.  EVB.OULT.        185 

these  were  Koger  de  Sap  and  his  brother  Odo,  Serlo  de 
Orgeres,  Razso  son  of  Ilbert,  Odo  of  Dole,  Geoffrey  of 
Orleans,  and  John  of  Rheims,  and  many  more  who  were 
both  well  imbued  with  learning  and  fit  for  God's  service. 
Some  were  men  of  high  birth,  and  took  charge  of  the  exter- 
nal affairs  of  the  abbey.  Among  these,  Drogo,  son  of 
Geoffrey  de  Neuf-Marche,1  and  Roger,  son  of  Erneis  de 
Coutauces,  nephew  of  William  Warrenne,  and  Arnold,  son 
of  Humphrey  de  Tilleul,  nephew  by  his  sister  of  Hugh  de 
Grantmesnil,  and  the  physician  Goisbert,  were  men  about 
the  court,  through  whose  exertions  lands,  churches,  and 
tithes,  were  obtained  for  their  brethren.  Mainier  did  not 
fail  to  make  use  of  such  supporters,  and  by  their  means 
the  abbey  increased  its  advantages,  its  means,  and  its  pious 
inmates. 

This  abbot  chose  for  his  assistant  in  the  management  of 
the  house  Pulk  de  Guernanville,  a  clever  and  proper  per- 
son, to  whom  he  committed  the  superintendence  of  the 
monastery.  He  was  son  of  Fulk,  dean  of  Evreux,  and 
being  full  of  zeal  for  his  order,  diligently  seconded  his 
abbot  in  all  things,  besides  inducing  his  father  to  enter  the 
abbey,  and  endow  it  with  a  great  part  of  his  patrimony. 
The  dean  was  one  of  the  pupils  of  Fulbert,  bishop  of  Chartres, 
and  held  a  knight's  fee  by  inheritance  from  his  father. 
According  to  the  custom  of  that  period,  he  had  a  noble 
partner,2  whose  name  was  Orielde,  who  bore  him  a  numerous 
offspring.  He  had  eight  sons  and  two  daughters,  whose 
names  are  as  follows :  Warin,  Christian,  Ralph,  William, 
Fulk,  Fromont,  Hubert,  and  Walter,  surnamed  Tyrrel;8 
Avise,  and  Adelaide.  At  this  time,  and  ever  since  the  com- 

1  We  have  seen  before,  vol  i.  p.  455,  that  Duke  William  deprived 
Geoffrey  of  the  castle  of  Neuf-Marche,  of  which  he  was  the  lawful  heir 
(probably  as  son  of  Turketil,  its  former  governor),  and  after  in  vain  trying 
others,  committed  this  important  fortress  to  the  custody  of  Hugh  de 
Grantmesnil,  whose  abilities  and  courage  were  guarantees  for  his  holding  in 
submission  his  turbulent  neighbours,  especially  the  inhabitants  of  Mill!  and 
G^rberoy. 

*  Sociam ;  wife  or  mistress!  It  seems  that  at  this  periodc  anons  at 
least  were  not  bound  to  celibacy,  nor  indeed  any  of  the  secular  clergy,  as 
appears  from  the  sequel  of  this  curious  paragraph. 

3  This  person  must  not  be  confounded  with  his  namesake,  Walter 
Tyrrel,  second  lord  of  Poix,  who  is  supposed  to  have  bceii  the  unintentional 
murderer  of  William  Rufus. 


186  OKDEEICTT8  YITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.XII. 

ing  in  of  the  Normans,  the  celibacy  of  the  clergy  was  so 
little  preserved,  that  not  only  priests,  but  even  bishops, 
used  freely  the  beds  of  concubines,  and  openly  boasted  of 
their  numerous  families  of  sons  and  daughters.  This  cus- 
tom generally  prevailed  among  the  neophites  who  were 
baptized  at  the  same  time  as  Rollo,  and  who  took  posses- 
sion of  the  unpopulated  country,  not  versed  in  letters  but 
in  arms.  These  priests  of  Danish  origin,  with  very  little 
learning,  obtained  possession  of  the  parishes,  and  were 
always  ready  to  take  up  arms  to  defend  the  lay  fees  by 
military  service.  At  length,  Bruno  of  Lorraine,  bishop  of 
Toul,  was  called  to  Rome,  and  by  the  providence  of  God, 
became  pope,  under  the  name  of  Leo.  While  he  was 
journeying  to  Rome,  he  heard  the  angels  singing :  "  I  know 
the  thoughts  that  I  think  towards  you,  saith  the  Lord, 
thoughts  of  peace  and  not  of  evil,"  &C.1  This  pope  applied 
himself  to  do  much  good,  and  rendered  great  services  to 
those  who  were  committed  to  his  charge,  both  by  his  good 
deeds  and  his  faithful  teaching.  He  came  into  France  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  1049,  and  consecrated  the  church  of 
St.  Remigius,  the  archbishop,  at  Rheims,  on  the  calends 
[1st]  of  October ;  and  at  the  instance  of  Abbot  Hermar, 
translated  the  body  of  the  saint  with  great  ceremony  to  the 
place  where  it  is  now  held  in  veneration.  He  then  held  a 
general  council  at  Rheims,  and  among  other  canons  for  the 
good  of  the  church,  one  was  made  prohibiting  priests  from 
carrying  arms  and  having  wives.2  From  that  time  the  fatal 
practice  began  gradually  to  decline.  Priests  have  now 
readily  ceased  from  bearing  arms,  but  they  are  still  reluc- 
tant to  give  up  their  concubines,  and  observe  celibacy. 

[1066 — 1089.]  Dean  Fulk,  before  mentioned,  after  being 
denied  by  a  long  continuance  in  corrupt  habits,  turned  his 
mind  to  better  things,  and  now  bent  with  age,  was  induced 
by  the  advice  and  admonitions  of  his  son  Fulk  to  flee  to 
Ouche,  where  he  entreated  admission  as  a  monk,  not  indeed 
so  much  giving  up  the  world,  as  that  the  world  gave  him 
up.  When  he  became  a  monk,  he  gave  to  St.  Evroult 

1  Jeremiah  xxix.  1 1 .     This  paragraph  is  before  inserted  in  nearly  the 
same  terms,  book  i.  ch.  xxiv.     See  vol.  i.  p.  151,  and  the  note. 

2  We  do  not  find  any  injunctions  respecting  celibacy  in  the  canons  of 
the  council  of  Rheims,  though  there  is  one  against  the  clergy  bearing  arms. 


BEKEFACTOES  TO  ST.  EVKOULT.          187 

the  church  of  Q-uernanville,  and  the  land  belonging  to  it ;  he 
also  gave  another  farm  he  possessed  in  the  same  village, 
which  Hugh,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  had  given  him,  and  which 
he  had  long  held  under  "William  Fitz-Osbern,  nephew  of 
the  same  bishop.1  "William,  the  son  and  heir  of  Fulk,  pub- 
licly ratified  these  grants  in  the  chapter,  and  joined  his 
father  in  offering  the  deed  of  gift  on  the  altar  of  St.  Peter, 
whereupon  he  received  by  the  good-will  of  the  monks  an 
ounce  of  gold  as  an  acknowledgment.  The  grant  was  also 
confirmed  by  William  de  Breteuil  and  Gislebert  Crispin 
with  his  two  sons,  and  the  witnesses  present  were,  Roger 
de  Clare,  Hugh  de  L'Ane,2  Robert  d'Estoteville,  Rodolph 
de  la  Lande,  Rodolph  des  Fourneaux,  Walter  de  Chaumont, 
and  William  de  Longueville  and  Gruernanville.  These  lands 
were  also  granted  by  William  Grastinel,  in  the  presence  of 
Richer  de  L'Aigle,  and  he  received  for  it  an  ounce  of  gold. 
The  witnesses  were  AVilliam  Halis,  Morin  du  Pin,  Robert, 
son  of  Heugo,  and  Rodolph  Cloeth. 

CH.  XIII.     Founders  and  benefactors  of  the  abbey  of  St. 
Evroult,  particularly  Roger  de  Montgomery,  afterwards 
earl  of  Shrewsbury. 

I  propose  here  shortly  to  enumerate  the  possessions  of  the 
abbey  of  Ouche,  that  the  endowments  piously  made  may  be 
known  to  the  novices,  and  that  by  reference  to  this  account 
it  may  be  ascertained  by  whom  or  at  what  time  they  were 
made,  or  for  what  price  they  were  purchased.  The  greedy 
owners  of  worldly  possessions  are  engrossed  with  these 
passing  interests,  and  think  little  of  those  which  are 
supreme  and  eternal,  and  men  in  general  scarcely  attempt  to 
do  any  thing  for  the  hope  of  heaven,  unless  they  find  it  for 
their  temporal  advantage.  Tithes,  which  the  Lord  required 
by  Moses  to  be  devoted  to  his  service  for  the  use  of  the 
sanctuary  and  the  Levites,  are  withheld  by  our  temporal 
lords,  who  refuse  to  restore  them  to  the  ministers  of  the 
church,  except  they  are  redeemed  at  a  great  price.3  The 

1  This  bishop  held  vast  estates  in  the  department  of  L'Eure,  as  the  son 
of  Ralph,  count  d'lvri. 

*  This  person  was  a  vassal  of  William  Fitz-Osbern,  on  his  domains  in 
the  county  of  Hereford. 

3  We  may  be  well  surprised  to  find  the  vast  amount  of  tithes  and 


188  OBDEBICTJS   VITA.LIS.  [B.V.  CH.X1II. 

stewards  of  the  alms  for  the  poor  admonished  laymen  to  give 
back  the  tithes  to  the  church  of  God,  and  in  their  zeal  to 
obtain  them  by  any  means  have  often  given  large  sums  for 
them,  in  ignorance  that  the  sacred  canons  absolutely 
prohibit  any  bargains  of  this  sort.  Even  in  modern 
councils,  the  holy  bishops  have  pronounced  an  anathema 
against  this  traffic,  but  from  merciful  considerations  have 
passed  by  former  offences  of  the  kind,  and  allowed  the 
possessions  which  the  church  then  held  to  remain  in  her 
hands,  under  the  sanction  of  this  episcopal  authority. 

The  founders  of  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult  were  men  of 
moderate  fortune,  who,  erecting  it  on  an  unfertile  soil, 
endowed  it  with  some  small  possessions,  widely  dispersed, 
according  to  their  moderate  means,  for  the  support  of  the 
brethren.  Their  neighbours  all  around  them  were  ground 
down  by  poverty,  and  driven  by  want  and  their  evil  dis- 
positions to  live  by  dishonesty,  fraud,  and  robbery,  so  that 
the  monks  at  Ouche  were  compelled  to  procure  food  for 
themselves  and  their  visitors  from  a  great  distance.  But  as 
they  submitted  themselves  to  regular  discipline  from  the 
time  of  their  first  institution,  great  nobles  and  pious 
prelates  conceived  a  high  regard  for  them,  and  providing  for 
their  necessities  by  gifts  of  tithes,  and  churches,  and  other 
endowments,  came  to  be  held  in  great  respect. 

Thus  Ealph  de  Conches,  son  of  Eoger  de  Toni,  the 
renowned  standard-bearer  of  Normandy,  intending  to  go 
into  Spain,1  came  to  Ouche,  and,  attending  a  chapter  of  St. 

church  lands  in  Normandy,  which  had  become  the  property  of  laymen 
before  the  age  when  our  author  wrote.  Every  one  knows  that  in  England 
such  possessions  did  not  get  into  lay  hands  till  the  time  of  Henry  VIII., 
on  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries.  In  Normandy,  and  the  case  was  the 
same  elsewhere  in  France,  the  tithes  and  church  lands  appear  to  have 
become  the  prey  of  the  various  lords  of  all  degrees  who  established  their 
independence  in  the  ninth  and  tenth  centuries,  when  no  law  was  known 
but  that  of  the  strongest.  There  might  have  been  some  justice  in  the 
unceasing  efforts  of  the  monks  in  our  author's  time  to  influence  or  extort 
the  re-grant  of  the  tithes  to  their  legitimate  owners,  but  the  only  excuse  for 
their  appropriation  to  the  abbeys  consists  in  the  very  low  state  to  which  the 
secular  or  parochial  clergy  appear  to  have  sunk  at  that  period,  both  as  to 
learning  and  morals. 

1  His  father,  Roger,  lord  of  Toni  and  Conches,  had  also  been  in  Spain, 
and  obtained  his  surname  from  it.  See  vol.  i.  p.  149.  Both  were  standard- 
bearers  of  Normandy.  Ralph  de  Toni,  or  Toeni,  as  the  name  was  spelt, 


QUANTS   OF   EALPH   DE   lOffl.  189 

Evroult,  implored  pardon  from  the  abbot  and  monks  for 
having  some  time  before  abetted  Arnold  d'Echaufour  when 
he  burned  the  town  of  Ouche.  He  then  made  recompense 
to  the  monks,  and  laid  his  gage  on  the  altar,  making  many 
pious  vows  in  case  of  his  safe  return.  He  likewise  recom- 
mended to  them  his  physician  Goisbert,  whom  he  much 
loved,  who,  as  soon  as  he  was  departed  made  his  profession 
as  a  monk,  and  firmly  kept  it  for  nearly  thirty  years  to  the 
end  of  his  days.  The  aforesaid  knight  returning  home  some 
time  afterwards,  did  not  forget  his  vow,  but,  coming  to  St. 
Evroult,  gave  two  acres  of  vineyard  which  he  had  at  Toui 
for  the  service  of  masses  in  the  abbey.  He  further  gave  all 
that  he  had  at  Guernanville,  that  is  to  say  his  land  and  the 
pasnage,  so  that  the  first,  that  of  the  servants,  was  not  granted, 
but  the  second  or  third  was  granted,  and  none  was  to  be 
given  for  the  monks.1  He  also  gave  three  yearly  tenants,2 
one  at  Conches,  another  at  Toni,  and  the  third  at  Acquigni, 
which  Gerald  Gastinel  had  held  of  him,  and  voluntarily 
ceded  to  St.  Evroult.  Ralph  de  Toni  some  years  afterwards 
took  Goisbert  the  monk  with  him  to  England,  and  through 
his  means  gave  to  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult  two  farms,  one 
named  Caldecot  in  Norfolk,  and  another  in  the  county  of 
Worcester,  called  Alvington.  All  these  grants  King 
"William  confirmed,  and  ratified  them  by  a  royal  charter  in 
the  presence  of  his  great  nobles.  Likewise  Elizabeth,  the 
aforesaid  knight's  wife,  and  Roger  and  Ralph,  his  sons, 
freely  joined  in  the  grant.  The  witnesses  to  the  charters  of 
these  grants  were  Roger  de  Clair,  Walter  d'Espagne, 
William  de  Pacey,  Robert  de  Romilly,  Gerald  Gastinel, 
Gislebert  son  of  Thorold,  Roger  de  Mucegros,  and  Walter 
do  Chaumont. 

was  the  founder  of  the  great  family  of  Stafford  in  England.  At  the  time 
of  the  Domesday  record  he  possessed  one  hundred  and  thirty  manors,  the 
most  part  in  Staffordshire.  The  first  Ralph  de  Toni  was  descended  in  the 
female  line  from  Malahulcius,  uncle  of  Hollo,  first  duke  of  Normandy. 

1  It  would  be  difficult  now  to  assign  a  precise  meaning  to  the  grant 
contained  in  the  preceding  sentence.     The  pasnagium  was  the  right  of 
feeding  hogs  or  cattle  in  the  forest?,  or  the  dues  paid  for  it. 

2  "  Yearly  tenants,"  hospites,  a  term  which  often  occurs  in  Ordericus,  and 
to  which  we  can  hardly  attach  an  exact  sense.     Du  Cange  says  they  were 
inhabitants  of  tenements  in  vills  or  hamlets,  under  yearly  rents,  thus  "  dif- 
fering from  slaves  and  villeins  attached  to  the  soil.'*     We  have  elsewhere 
translated  the  word  "  cottiers." 


190  OBDEBICUS   TITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.XIII. 

Also,  Bobert  de  Vaux  gave  to  St.  Evroult  one  moiety  of 
two  parts  of  the  tithes  of  Berners.  His  son  Roger,  after 
his  father's  death,  confirmed  the  aforesaid  gift  in  Prank 
Almoign,  receiving  forty  shillings  of  the  currency  of  Dreux, 
and  his  wife  had  ten  shillings  from  the  monk's  charity. 
This  was  freely  confirmed  by  the  aforesaid  Ralph,  who  was 
the  chief  lord,  and  he  kindly  procured  the  concurrence  of  hia 
wife  and  children.  This  Ralph  [de  Toni]  gained  great  glory 
in  the  wars,  and  was  reckoned  among  the  first  of  the 
Norman  nobles  for  honours  and  wealth,  serving  bravely  in 
the  armies  of  King  William  and  Duke  Robert  his  son, 
princes  of  Normandy,  for  nearly  sixty  years.  He  carried 
off  by  night  Agnes,  his  half-sister,  daughter  of  Richard, 
count  of  Evreux,  and  married  her  to  Simon  de  Montfort. 
He  obtained,  in  return,  the  hand  of  Isabel,  Simon's 
daughter,  who  bore  him  noble  children,  Roger,  and 
Rodolph,  and  a  daughter  named  Godehilde,  who  was  first 
married  to  Robert,  count  of  Mellent,  and  then  to  Baldwin, 
son  of  Eustace,  count  of  Boulogne.1  At  length  Ralph  the 
elder,  after  various  turns  of  fortune,  good  and  bad,  died,  on 
the  ninth  of  the  calends  of  April  [2-.lth  March],  and  Ralph 
his  son  held  the  patrimonial  estate  nearly  twenty-four  years. 
Both  on  their  death  were  buried  with  their  ancestors  in  the 
abbey  of  St.  Peter  at  Chatillon.2  Isabel,  having  been  for 
some  time  a  widow,  repenting  of  the  sinful  wantonness  in 
which  she  had  too  much  indulged  in  her  youth,  gave  up  the 
world,  and  took  the  veil  in  a  convent  of  nuns  at  Haute- 
Bruyere,3  where  she  reformed  her  life  and  worthily  per- 
severed in  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 

When  Count  William  Fitz-Osbern  fell  in  battle  in 
Flanders,  King  William  divided  his  honours  and  estates 
between  his  two  sons,  giving  Breteuil  and  all  his  father's  do- 
mains in  Normandy  to  William,  and  to  Roger  the  earldom  of 
Hereford  in  England.  William,  who  was  more  gentle  than 
his  father,  had  a  great  regard  for  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult, 

1  He  was  the  youngest  brother  of  Godfrey  de  Bouillon,  and,  following 
him  to  the  first  crusade,  was  first  created  count  of  Edessa  in  1097,  and  on 
the  death  of  his  brother,  in  1100,  elected  king  of  Jerusalem. 

9  More  generally  called  the  abbey  of  Conches. 

*  A  priory  of  the  order  of  Fontevrauld,  at  St.  Remi-l'Honor6,  near 
Montfort-l'Amauri. 


CHABTEB   OP   WILLIAM   DE    BBETEU1L.  191 

and  made  it  great  gifts  for  the  repose  of  the  souls  of  his 
father  aud  mother.  He  sent  by  the  monk  Boger  de  Sap  a 
copy  of  the  gospels,  enriched  with  ornaments  of  gold,  silver, 
and  jewels ;  he  also  confirmed  all  the  grants  his  vassals  had 
made  to  St.  Evroult,  either  by  gift  or  sale.  He  also  granted 
them  a  yearly  payment  of  one  hundred  shillings  out  of  his 
tolls  at  G-los,  and  freely  executed  in  presence  of  his  principal 
men  a  charter  to  the  following  effect : — 

"  I,  William  de  Breteuil,  son  of  Count  William,  do  give 
and  grant  to  St.  Evroult  and  his  monks,  out  of  the  tolls  of 
Glos,  one  hundred  shillings  yearly  to  buy  fish  at  the  begin- 
ning of  Lent,  for  the  repose  of  the  souls  of  my  father  and 
mother,  and  that  of  my  own  ;  and  that  their  anniversaries 
and  my  own  may  be  observed  by  all  the  monks  as  a  feast ; 
and  that  on  each  of  our  anniversaries,  a  portion  of  meat  and 
drink  equal  to  a  monk's  share  be  given  to  the  poor.  During 
my  life  also  a  mass  of  the  Holy  Trinity  is  to  be  sung  for 
me  in  the  abbey  every  Sunday.  I  also  grant  to  the  monks 
one  burgess  in  Breteuil,  and  whatever  my  mesne-tenants, 
Bichard  Fresnel,  William  Halis,  and  Kalph  de  La  Cunelle, 
and  others,  have  granted  to  them  I  also  give  and  confirm. 
All  this  I  grant  by  these  presents,  and  I  faithfully  promise 
them  hereafter  my  counsel  and  aid  and  other  privileges. 
Whoever,  after  my  death,  shall  take  away  or  diminish  the 
things  granted,  let  him  be  accursed."  This  charter  was 
ratified  and  witnessed  by  the  signatures  of  William  de 
Breteuil  himself,  Ralph  his  chaplain,  William  the  steward, 
son  of  Barno,  Arnold,  son  of  Arnold,  and  Robert  de  Lou- 
viers. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1099,  the  seventh  indiction, 
William,  so  often  mentioned  before,  was  present  at  the 
consecration  of  the  church  of  Ouche,  when  he  added  one 
hundred  shillings  from  the  rents  of  Glos,  to  the  like  sum 
which  he  had  before  given  to  St.  Evroult.  He  deposited 
the  deed  of  gift  on  the  altar  still  wet  with  the  holy  water 
sprinkled  in  the  consecration,  in  the  presence  of  three 
bishops,  five  abbots,  and  the  whole  clergy  and  people  stand- 
ing round.  He  died  at  Bee  not  long  afterwards,  on  the 
second  of  the  ides  [12th]  of  January,1  and  lies  buried  in  the 
cloister  of  the  abbey  of  Lire,  which  his  father  founded  on 
1  A.D.  1102. 


192  ORDERICTJS   YITALIS.  [u.V.  CH.XIIT. 

his  own  domains  :  his  anniversary  is  kept  as  a  festival  every 
year  at  St.  Evroult.  The  charter  of  the  aforesaid  grant  of 
two  pounds  was  afterwards  confirmed  by  the  seal  of  Henry, 
king  of  England,  and  Eustace  and  Ralph  de  Guader,  and 
Robert  of  Leicester,1  William's  successor,  renewed  the  grant 
to  the  monks,  and  have  regularly  paid  it  to  this  day. 

William  de  Molines,  with  the  consent  of  his  wife  Albe- 
rede,  gave  to  St.  Evroult  the  church  of  Maheru,  with  the 
tithes,  and  all  the  priest's  land,  and  the  cemetery  belonging 
to  the  same  church.  He  also  gave  the  church  of  St. 
Lawrence  in  the  town  of  Molines,  and  his  demesne-land 
near  the  castle,  in  the  same  manner  as  he  himself  held  it. 
He  made  this  grant  in  the  chapter  before  his  chief  men 
Walter  d'Apres  and  Everard  de  Ray,  with  some  others.  It 
was  thus  he  merited  the  good  offices  of  the  church,  as  a 
brother  and  munificent  benefactor.  Then  abbot  Mainier 
offered  to  the  aforesaid  marquis,2  as  a  free  gift  from  the 
brethren,  fifteen  livres  in  pennies,  and  conducted  him  to 
the  altar  with  Alberede,  Gruitmond's  daughter,  whose 
inheritance  it  was,  to  confirm  the  gift.  They  freely  granted 
all  that  has  been  described  in  the  presence  of  the  whole 
convent,  and  confirmed  it  by  a  charter  duly  offered  on  the 
altar  of  St.  Peter.  Sometime  afterwards,  the  aforesaid 
knight  granted  to  St.  Evroult  the  church  of  Bonmoulines, 
with  all  the  tithes  of  corn,  and  of  the  mill  and  oven ;  to 
which  Reynold  the  Little,  who  at  that  time  had  the  affairs 
of  the  monks  in  that  place  entrusted  to  him,  charitably 
added  thirty  shillings. 

After  Alberede  had  borne  her  husband  two  sons,  William 
and  Robert,  a  divorce  took  place  between  her  and  her 
husband  on  account  of  consanguinity.  The  proceedings  for 
the  divorce  before  the  bishop  having  been  completed, 
William  married  another  wife,  Duda,  daughter  of  Waleran 
de  Mellent,  who  bore  him  two  sons,  Simon  and  Hugh,  who 
were  both  cut  off  in  their  youth  by  cruel  death,  leaving  no 
children.  Meanwhile,  Alberede  embraced  a  religious  pro- 

1  Ralph  de  Guader  was  nephew  of  William  de  Breteuil,  to  whom 
Eustace  resigned  the  family  estates  in  1119;  Robert,  earl  of  Leicester  was 
his  son-in-law. 

*  Marquis  is  used  here  in  its  original  and  proper  sense  of  Lord  Marcher, 
at  warden  of  a  frontier. 


FAMILY   OF   MOLINES.  193 

fession,  and  ended  her  days  in  a  monastery  of  nuns.  Tho 
aforesaid  William  was  son  of  Walter  of  Falaise,  and  being 
a  gallant  soldier,  King  William  gave  him  Guitmund'a 
daughter,  with  the  whole  fief  of  Molines.  He  was  too  fond 
of  vain  and  empty  glory,  in  pursuit  of  which  he  was  guilty 
of  indiscriminate  slaughter.  It  is  reported  that  he  shed 
much  blood,  and  that  his  ferocity  was  so  great  that  no  one 
who  was  wounded  by  him,  however  slightly,  escaped  with 
life.  Through  prosperity  and  adversity,  he  lived  to  grow 
old,  and  so  far  as  this  world  is  concerned,  spent  his  days  in 
honour.  At  length  he  died  at  his  own  castle  on  the  four- 
teenth of  the  calends  of  November  [19th  October],  and  lies 
buried  in  the  chapter-house  at  St.  Evroult. 

His  son  Robert,  inheriting  the  domains  of  his  ancestors, 
was  not  unmindful  of  his  eternal  salvation;  he  therefore 
came  to  Ouche  and  renewed  the  grants  of  all  that  his  father 
and  mother  had  given  to  the  abbey,  and  freely  confirmed  all 
that  the  tenants  in  his  lordship  had  either  given  or  sold  to 
St.  Evroult.  This  grant  he  laid  on  the  altar  upon  the  copy 
of  the  gospels,  and  afterwards  received  as  a  free-gift  from 
the  monks  five  marks  of  silver  and  the  best  horse.  For  fif- 
teen years  he  justly  governed  his  paternal  fief,  defending  it 
stoutly  against  his  neighbouring  enemies,  for  he  was  a  brave 
soldier,  though  rather  slow  in  his  movements.  He  even 
transgressed  the  command  of  King  Henry,  and  attacked 
Engerraud,  surnamed  D'Oison,  with  whom  he  had  frequent 
conflicts.  This  exasperated  the  king  against  him,  and  his 
anger  being,  enflamed  by  malicious  accusations,  he  disin- 
herited him  ;  after  which  he  left  Normandy  and  went  to 
Apulia,  with  his  wife  Agnes,  daughter  of  Robert  de  Grant- 
mesnil,  to  whom  he  was  lately  married,  and  he  died  there 
some  years  afterwards,  having  been  a  wanderer  among  the 
dwellings  of  strangers.  The  eldest  brother  being  thus  vio- 
lently thrust  out  from  his  inheritance  by  the  duke,  Simon 
succeeded  to  it,  and  freely  confirmed,  with  the  concurrence 
of  his  wife  Adeline,  all  that  his  predecessors  had  granted  to 
St.  Evroult. 

Roger  de  Montgomery  possessed  for  twenty-six  years, 
after  the  fall  of  the  family  of  Griroie,  all  their  patrimony  of 
Echaufour  and  Montreuil,  and  at  first,  as  long  as  his  wife 
Mable  lived,  was,  at  her  instigation,  a  very  troublesome 

VOL.  n.  o 


194  OEDEBICTJS   VITALIS.  [B.Y.  CH.XIII. 

neighbour  to  the  inmates  of  Ouche,  she  having  been 
always  opposed  to  the  family  of  Griroie,  the  founders  of  the 
abbey  of  St.  Evroult.  At  last  the  righteous  Judge,  who 
spares  repentant  sinners  but  exercises  vengeance  on  the  im- 
penitent, permitted  that  cruel  woman,  who  had  caused  many 
great  lords  to  be  disinherited  and  to  beg  their  bread  in 
foreign  lands,  to  fall  herself  by  the  sword  of  Hugh,  from 
whom  she  had  wrested  his  castle  on  the  rock  of  Ige,1  thus 
unjustly  depriving  him  of  the  inheritance  of  his  fathers.  In 
the  extremity  of  his  distress,  he  undertook  a  most  audacious 
enterprise ;  for  with  the  assistance  of  his  three  brothers, 
who  were  men  of  undaunted  courage,  he  forced  an  entry  by 
night  into  the  chamber  of  the  countess  at  a  place  called 
Bures2  on  the  Dive,  and  there,  in  revenge  for  the  loss  of  his 
inheritance,  cut  off  her  head,  as  she  lay  in  bed  just  after 
enjoying  the  pleasures  of  a  bath.  The  death  of  this  cruel 
lady  caused  much  joy  to  many  persons ;  and  the  perpe- 
trators of  the  bold  deed  instantly  took  the  road  for  Apulia. 
Hugh  de  Montgomery,  who  was  then  in  the  place  with 
sixteen  men-at-arms,8  on  hearing  of  his  mother's  murder, 
instantly  pursued  the  assassins,  but  was  unable  to  come  up 
with  them,  as  they  had  taken  the  precaution  to  break  down 
behind  them  the  bridges  over  which  they  crossed  the  rivers, 
to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  Mabel's  avengers. 
It  was  the  winter  season,  the  night  was  dark,  and  the 
streams  being  flooded,  there  were  such  obstacles  in  the  way 
of  pursuit,  that  the  assassins,  having  satiated  their  revenge, 
were  able  to  escape  out  of  Normandy.  The  brethren  of 
Troarn,  where  Durandus  was  then  abbot,  gave  burial  to  the 
mangled  corpse  on  the  nones  [5th]  of  December,4  and  caused 
the  following  epitaph  to  be  inscribed  on  her  tomb,  due  more 
to  the  partiality  of  her  friends  than  to  her  own  merits : — 

Sprung  from  the  noble  and  the  brave, 
Here  MABEL  finds  a  narrow  grave. 

1  La  Roche  d'Ige,  canton  de  Belleme. 

1  Bures,  near  Troarn. 

3  Hugh  de  Montgomery  succeeded  his  father  as  earl  of  Shrewsbury  in 
]  094.  The  word  here  translated  "  men-at-arms,"  is  milites,  the  sense  of 
which  much  varies.  It  might  have  been  rendered  "  knights,"  but  sucli  a 
retinue  would  seem  to  be  too  great  even  for  a  son  of  this  powerful 
nobleman. 

*  The  5th  of  December,  1082. 


MABEL,  COUNTESS  OF  MONTOOMEnY.        195 

But,  above  all  woman's  glory, 
Fills  a  page  in  famous  story. 
Commanding,  eloquent,  and  wise, 
And  prompt  to  daring  enterprise ; 
Though  slight  her  form,  her  soul  was  great, 
And,  proudly  swelling  in  her  state, 
Rich  dress,  and  pomp,  and  retinue, 
Lent  it  their  grace  and  honours  due. 
The  border's  guard,  the  country's  shield, 
Both  love  and  fear  her  might  revealed, 
Till  Hugh,  revengeful,  gained  her  bower, 
In  dark  December's  midnight  hour. 
Then  saw  the  Dive's  o'erflowing  stream 
The  ruthless  murderer's  poignard  gleam. 
Now,  friends,  some  moments  kindly  spare, 
For  her  soul's  rest  to  breathe  a  prayer ! 

After  the  murder  of  Mabel,  count  Roger  married  a 
second  wife,  Adeliza,  daughter  of  Everard  du  Puiset,  one  of 
the  highest  of  the  French  nobility.  The  earl  had  by  his 
first  wife  five  sons  and  four  daughters,1  whose  names  are  as 
follows :  Robert  de  Belesme,  Hugh  de  Montgomery,  Eoger 
the  Poitevin,  Philip,  and  Arnold :  Emma,  a  nun  and  abbess 
of  Almenesches,  the  countess  Matilda,  wife  of  Robert,  earl 
of  Morton,  Mabel,  wife  of  Hugh  de  Chateauneuf,  and 
Sybil,  wife  of  Robert  Fitz-Hamon.  By  his  second  wife  he 
had  only  one  son  whose  name  is  Everard,  and  who  being 
brought  up  to  learning,  became  attached  to  the  courts  of 
William  and  Henry,  kings  of  England,  as  one  of  the  royal 
chaplains.  The  successor  to  the  former  countess  was  of  quite 
a  different  character  ;  for  she  was  remarkable  for  her  good 
sense  and  piety,  and  frequently  used  her  influence  with  her 
husband  to  befriend  the  monks  and  protect  the  poor. 

In  consequence,  the  earl  repented  of  the  ill  turns  he  had 
often  done  the  monks,  and  prudently  endeavoured  to  efface 
his  former  errors,  by  his  subsequent  amendment  of  life.  In 

1  1.  Robert,  count  d'Alen9on;  2.  Hugh  de  Montgomery,  earl  of 
Shrewsbury;  3.  Roger  of  Lancaster  (see  p.  203);  4.  Philip  the  Grammarian, 
who  died  at  the  siege  of  Antioch  in  the  first  crusade;  5.  Arnulph  de 
Montgomery,  keeper  of  Pembroke  castle.  The  daughters  were,  1.  Emma, 
abbess  of  Almenesches,  who  died  the  4th  of  March,  1113;  2.  Matilda, 
wife  of  Robert,  earl  of  Morton,  half-brother  to  William  the  Conqueror  ; 

3.  Mabel,  who  married  Hugh,  lord  of  Chateauneuf,  and  was  living  in  1131 ; 

4.  Sybil,  wife  of  Robert  Fitz-Hamon,  lord  of  Creulli  in  Normandy,  and  of 
Tewkesbury,  6cc.,  in  Gloucestershire. 

o  2 


193  OBDEBICITS  YITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.XITI. 

short,  he  afterwards  strongly  supported  the  monks,  and 
made  them  large  grants  both  in  Normandy  and  England. 
His  charter,  made  freely  before  the  great  officers  of  his 
household,  is  in  these  terms : — 

"  I,  Roger,  by  the  grace  of  God,  earl  of  Shrewsbury, 
desiring  to  honour  the  monastery  of  the  holy  father  St. 
UJvroult,  hereby  give  thereto,  for  the  repose  of  my  own  soul 
uid  those  of  my  ancestors,  as  follows :  I  order  that  every 
year,  at  the  beginning  of  Lent,  thirty  shillings  sterling  of 
Maine  be  paid  out  of  my  rents  at  Alen9on,  for  lights  to  be 
burnt  day  and  night  in  the  church  of  St.  Evroult,  before  the 
crucifix  of  the  Lord.1  I  also  grant  to  the  monks,  out  of  my 
own  rights,  free  passage  at  Alen9on,  and  release  them  from 
all  tolls  and  customs  throughout  my  territories ;  and  I  give 
right  of  pasture  for  the  monk's  swine  in  all  my  forests  for 
ever.  At  Echaufour,  I  irrevocably  give  one  plough  land, 
and  the  tithes  of  the  mill,  and  of  all  the  rents  of  that  place ; 
and  I  freely  add,  of  my  own  part,  the  tenth  of  the  fair  at 
Planches.  Of  my  own  free  will,  and  for  the  love  of  God, 
I  grant  the  church  of  Radon  and  all  the  tithes  which  William 
Sor  gave  to  St.  Evroult,  and  the  church  of  St.  Jouin,  and  all 
the  tithe  which  Reginald  the  priest  gave,  and  Odo  de  Peray 
released ;  and  the  altar  of  St.  Leonard,  in  the  church  of 
Baliol,  and  one  part  of  the  tithe  of  the  same  village,  and 
the  land  which  Reginald  de  Baliol,  and  Aimeria  his  wife, 
my  niece,  gave  to  the  monks.  Likewise,  in  England,  I  give 
two  manors,  Onne  and  Merston,  in  Staffordshire,*  the  tithe 
of  my  cheese  and  wool  at  Paulton,  and  all  that  I  have  at 
Melbourne,  in  Cambridgeshire,  and  one  hide  of  land  at 
Graf  ham  in  Sussex,  and  the  land  of  "Wulfine,  the  goldsmith, 
at  Chichester.  Moreover,  I  confirm  whatever  Warin  my  vis- 
count,3 and  "William  Pantulf,  and  Hugh  de  Medavi,  and  my 

1  It  has  been  remarked  before  that  the  crucifix  (par  excellence)  was 
always  placed  in  ancient  churches  between  the  choir  and  the  nave.  It 
stood  in  what  was  called  "  The  Rood-loft,"  in  the  English  churches. 

s  Dugdale,  Monasticon,  ii.  966,  gives  the  Conqueror's  confirmation 
charter,  "  S.  Ebrulfo  Rogerius,  comes  Scrobesburise,  dedit  Othnam  et 
Merestonam,  in  Estaforde-scira." 

3  This  Warin,  viscount  of  Shrewsbury,  has  been  mentioned  before  under 
the  name  of  Warin-the-bald.  The  reader  probably  understands  that  at 
thig  period  the  vice-count  was  the  representative  and  executive  officer  of 
the  count  or  earl  of  the  shire,  answering  to  the  present  sheriff  (shire-reeve), 


ABOUT  1083.]    FOUNDATION  OF  SHEEWSBUEY  ABBEY.  197 

other  mesne-tenants  have  before  given  to  St.  Evroult,  in 
England  or  Normandy.  All  this,  with  the  consent  of  my 
sons  Bobert  de  Belesme,  Hugh,  and  Philip,  I  thus  grant, 
before  God,  for  the  repose  of  my  soul,  and  of  those  of 
Mabel  and  Adeliza  my  wives,  and  those  of  my  ancestors, 
and  my  future  heirs,  and  ratify  this  instrument  with  the 
sign  of  the  cross,  and  whosoever  shall  diminish,  annul,  or 
abstract,  the  premises,  let  him  be  anathema." 

Earl  Eobert  granted  this  charter,  and  ratified  it  with  his 
signature ;  and  after  him  it  was  subscribed  at  Aleii9on  by 
his  sons,  Eobert  and  Hugh,  and  Philip  the  Scholar,  and  by 
others,  his  chief  officers,  Eobert,  son  of  Theobald,  and  Hugh 
his  son,  Gislebert,  the  constable,  Hugh  the  son  of  Turgis, 
Fulk  du  Pin,  Engelbert,  the  master  of  the  bousehold, 
Eeginald  de  Baliol,  William  Pantulf,  Odo  de  Pire,  and 
several  others. 

CH.  XIV.  Foundation  of  the  abbey  of  Shreiosbury  by  Roger 
de  Montgomery — The  share  of  the  author's  father,  Ode- 
lirius,  in  that  work — Sis  character,  and  death,  and  that 
of  the  earl  his  patron. 

MOEEOVEE,  Earl  Eoger  made  many  grants  to  other  monas- 
teries, such  as  Troarn,  Seez,  Almeneches,  Cluny,  Caen,  and 
several  others,  of  domains  he  had  acquired  which  were  not 
part  of  his  hereditary  estates.  He  also  began  the  erection 
of  a  new  monastery  in  honour  of  St.  Peter,  prince  of  the 
apostles,  near  the  east  gate  of  his  own  capital  town  of 
Shrewsbury,  on  the  nver  Meole,  where  it  runs  into  the 
Severn.  There  stood  on  that  spot  a  chapel  built  of  tember1 

and  that  it  was  an  office  held  during  pleasure,  or  at  least  for  life.  It 
appears  from  the  charter  of  foundation  of  the  abbey  of  Shrewsbury,  that 
Warin  was  the  brother  of  Reginald  de  Baliol,  here  also  mentioned  by 
our  author,  and  who  had  four  manors  in  Staffordshire.  The  Conqueror's 
charter,  just  referred  to,  confirms  Warm's  grant  to  the  abbey  of  St 
Evroult,  of  Newton  and  the  church  of  Hales,  and  tithes  of  Weston  in 
Staffordshire.  In  the  Domesday-book,  Reginald  Baliol  appears  as  tenant  in 
capite  of  Weston  and  Newton. 

1  Sxich  were  probably  a  large  proportion  of  the  ancient  Anglo-Saxon 
churches  in  country  places,  built  cheaply  and  quickly  out  of  the  thick 
forests  which  were  close  at  hand.  One  singular  specimen  of  such  structures 
has  escaped  the  ravages  of  time,  the  church  of  Greensted,  near  Ongar,  in 
Essex.  The  walls  are  formed  of  trunks  of  trees  set  upright  closely 
together  side  by  side,  the  interstices  being  filled  with  clay.  It  is  twenty-nine 


198  OBDEBICTTS  TITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.XIT. 

which  had  been  erected  in  former  times  by  Siward,  son  of 
Ethelgar,  a  cousin  of  King  Edward,1  and  which  then  be- 
longed to  Odelirius  of  Orleans,  son  of  Constantius,  a  man 
of  talent  and  eloquence,  as  well  as  of  great  learning,  it 
having  been  granted  to  him  by  Earl  Eoger.  He  was 
much  devoted  to  pious  objects,  and  being  of  the  privy 
council  of  the  earl,  took  convenient  opportunities  of  ex- 
horting him  to  erect  the  monastery,  and  when  there  were 
some  difficulties  about  the  spot  on  which  it  should  be 
founded,  and  the  means  of  prosecuting  so  great  an  under- 
taking, Odelirius  addressed  to  him  advice  of  the  following 
nature.2 

"  You  are  surrounded,  noble  sir,  by  a  number  of  persons 
who  are  actuated  by  different  motives  in  their  efforts  to 
serve  your  lordship,  both  by  word  and  deed.  Some,  in  their 
cupidity,  are  more  anxious  to  secure  advantages  to  them- 
selves from  your  munificence  than  to  counsel  you  to  seek 
for  possessions  which  will  not  pass  away.  But  he  who 
endeavours  to  serve  you  faithfully  ought  always  to  have  in 
view  your  interest  more  than  his  own,  and  never  to  shrink 
from  proposing  to  you  what  is  for  the  good  of  your  soul. 

feet  nine  inches  long,  fourteen  feet  wide,  and  only  five  feet  six  inches  high 
at  the  eaves,  and  is  probably  a  counterpart  of  Siward's  church  at  Shrews- 
bury, where  our  author,  when  a  boy  first  assisted  at  the  service.  It  does 
not  appear  that  the  Northmen  introduced  into  England  their  singular 
architecture  in  timber  churches,  of  which  some  specimens  still  remain  of 
most  elaborate  workmanship  in  the  Byzantine  or  Gothic  style,  of  large 
proportions  and  vast  antiquity,  in  the  central  and  western  districts  of  Nor- 
way. See  Forester's  Norway  in  1848,  p.  177.  The  Domesday-book 
calls  Siward's  wooden  church  "  a  monastery."  For  what  is  meant  by  the 
use  of  the  term  in  such  cases,  see  vol.  i.  p.  396. 

1  The  expression  priscis  temporibus,  "former  times,"  probably  means 
before  the  arrival  of  the  Normans;  for  Siward  was  still  living,  and  it  was  by 
«ome  arrangement  with  him  that  this  site  of  the  future  Benedictine  abbey 
of  Shrewsbury  had  come  into  the  hands  of  Roger  de  Montgomery,  and 
under  him  of  Odelirius.  As  to  this  Siward,  see  before,  book  iv.  p.  4, 
where  he  ia  mentioned  with  his  brother  Aldred  as  sons  of  Ethelgar,  or 
Aigar,  and  great  nephews  of  the  king.  The  king's  name  is  here  added  as 
Edward,  but  it  was  probably  not  Edward  the  Confessor,  but  Edward  the 
Elder,  his  youngest  son  being  father  of  Ailward  Snow,  whose  son  Algar  was 
probably  the  father  of  Siward  Barn  and  Aldred,  as  well  as  of  Brightrie, 
who  had  the  largest  possessions  in  Gloucestershire,  Herefordshire,  and 
Shropshire. 

a  Odelirius,  it  will  be  recollected,  was  the  father  of  our  author.  See 
the  introduction  to  this  work. 


ABOUT  1083.]  ODELIEITJS'S   COUNSEL.  199 

Tou,most  noble  lord,  have  entertained  the  project  of  founding 
a  monastery,  but  you  have  received  little  encouragement 
towards  so  arduous  an  undertaking  from  those  about  you, 
who,  in  their  eagerness  to  receive  benefits  for  themselves, 
are  jealous  of  what  is  given  to  others.  Now,  it  appears  to 
me  most  desirable  that  you  should  found  this  monastery, 
and  carefully  establishing  in  it  a  society  of  monks  belonging 
to  the  holy  order  of  St.  Benedict,  endow  it  largely  out  of 
your  vast  possessions  with  the  means  of  providing  food 
and  raiment  for  the  true  poor  in  Christ.  Consider  well 
how  it  is  that  the  well-disciplined  brethren  are  constantly 
employed  in  the  monasteries  which  are  under  strict  rule. 
In  them,  innumerable  good  deeds  are  performed  daily,  and 
war  is  manfully  waged  against  the  devil  by  the  soldiers  of 
Christ.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  severer  be  the 
conflict  to  the  resolute  champion,  the  more  glorious  will  be 
his  victory,  and  the  greater  his  triumphant  reward  in  the 
heavenly  kingdom.  Who  can  recount  the  watchings  of  the 
monks,  their  chants  and  psalmody,  their  prayers  and 
alms-givings,  their  daily  offerings  of  the  mass  with  floods  of 
tears ?  Followers  of  Christ,  they  have  but  one  object,  to 
crucify  themselves,  that  so  they  may  please  God  in  all  things. 
They  despise  the  world  and  lovers  of  the  world,  counting 
its  delights  as  dung,  and  its  treasures  as  nothing  compared 
with  their  eternal  hopes.  They  have  chosen  for  their  lot 
coarse  and  mean  garments,  insipid  and  scanty  food,  and  the 
entire  sacrifice  of  their  own  wills  for  the  love  of  Jesus  their 
Lord.  I  need  not  speak  of  the  chastity  of  the  monks,  their 
perfect  continence,  their  silence,  their  modesty  of  deport- 
ment, their  profound  submission.  My  mind  is  bewildered 
in  recounting  so  many  virtues,  and  I  feel  that  my  tongue 
fails  entirely  in  the  attempt  to  describe  them.  Monks  who 
are  worthy  of  the  name  are  inclosed  in  royal  cloisters,  as  if 
they  were  king's  daughters,  lest  they  should  wander  forth 
like  Dinah,  Leah's  daughter,  and  be  shamefully  defiled,  as 
she  was  by  Shechem,  son  of  Hamor  the  Hivite,1  to  the 
distress  of  her  righteous  father,  and  the  dishonour  of  her 
cruel  brethren.  Shut  out  from  the  world  they  become  their 
own"  guardians  against  offences,  and  if  they  lapse  they  are 
their  own  accusers  in  the  depth  of  their  retirement,  proving 
1  Genesis  xxxiv.  2. 


200  onuEincus  VITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.XIV. 

themselves,  like  gold  in  the  furnace,  that  they  may  be 
purified  from  all  sinful  dross.  I  believe,  therefore,  that 
their  prayers  on  behalf  of  those  for  whom  they  are  offered 
ascend  direct  to  the  mercy-seat,  and  obtain  from  the  Lord 
of  Sabaoth  what  they  supplicate.  I  have  been  in  most 
intimate  communication  with  monks  from  my  earliest  youth, 
and  had  a  most  familiar  acquaintance  with  their  proceedings 
by  close  observation.  When,  therefore,  I  reflect  on  the 
conduct  of  all  classes  of  persons  who  inhabit  this  earth,  and 
especially  examine  the  lives  of  hermits  and  canons,  I  con- 
sider them  all  to  be  inferior  to  monks,  who  live  canonically 
and  observe  the  rules  of  their  order.  I  therefore  offer  to 
you,  most  noble  earl,  my  faithful  advice,  that  while  it  is  in 
your  power,  you  cause  a  stronghold  for  monks  against  Satan 
to  be  built  for  the  service  of  God  in  the  chief  seat  of  your 
earldom,  which  is  not  yours  by  inheritance  from  your 
ancestors,  in  order  that  these  cowled  combatants  may  with- 
stand the  devil  in  a  continual  conflict  for  the  good  of  your 
soul.  » 

"  There  stands  on  the  river  Meoel,  a  homestead  which  you 
lately  granted  me,  on  which  I  have  commenced  building  a 
church  of  stone,  in  fulfilment  of  a  vow  I  made  last  year 
when  at  Rome  before  the  altar  of  St.  Peter,  prince  of  the 
apostles.  This  church,  which,  as  I  said  before,  I  lately  com- 
menced building  in  performance  of  my  vow,  with  the  home- 
stead and  all  my  property  appertaining  to  it,  I  freely  offer 
to  Almighty  God,  and  promise  that  I  will  aid  the  work  in  all 
things  according  to  the  best  of  my  ability  in  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ.  Come  to  an  immediate  decision,  resolutely 
begin  and  prosecute  worthily  this  work  of  God : — 

""Tis  dangerous  to  delay  a  work  resolved  on.'1 

"  Fellow  labourers  in  the  good  work  will  not  be  wanting, 
nor  those  who  will  offer  devout  prayers  for  you  after  your 
death.  In  the  first  place,  as  soon  as  the  monks  arrive  with 
masons  to  lay  the  foundations  of  the  abbey,  I  will  advance, 
as  a  beginning,  fifteen  pounds  sterling.  In  the  next  place,  I 
will  devote  myself  with  my  son  Benedict,  who  is  now  five 
years  old,  and  all  that  I  possess  to  the  service  of  the 

1  Lucan  Pharsal.  5.  281. 


A.D.  1087.]  BUILDING   THE   ABBEY.  201 

monastery,  under  the  condition  that  whereas  one  moiety  of 
all  shall  pass  with  myself  under  the  power  of  the  monks, 
the  other  moiety  shall  be  held  by  my  son  Everard  as  a  fief  of 
the  abbey.  Having  placed  my  eldest  son  Ordericus  for 
some  time,  under  a  learned  master  to  acquire  the  rudi- 
ments of  a  liberal  education,1  I  have  secured  him  a  safe 
retreat  among  the  servants  of  God  at  the  abbey  of  St. 
Evroult  in  Normandy,  paying  out  of  my  substance  thirty 
marks  of  silver  to  his  future  superiors  and  fellows  as  an 
offering  on  his  reception.  I  thus  surrender  my  eldest  son  for 
the  love  of  my  Saviour,  and  destine  him  to  banishment  over 
the  sea,  that,  a  voluntary  exile,  he  may  enter  the  service  of 
the  King  of  heaven  among  foreigners,  where,  free  from  all 
family  ties  and  hurtful  affections,  he  may  be  the  more  de- 
voted to  the  monastic  duties  and  the  worship  of  the  Lord. 
All  this  I  have  long  wished,  by  God's  inward  motions,  and 
have  above  all  things  desired  to  devote  myself  and  my  chil- 
dren to  this  way  of  life,  that  I  may  be  found  worthy  by 
God's  grace  to  be  numbered  with  them  among  the  elect  at 
the  day  of  account." 

Accordingly,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1083,8  the  fourth 
indiction,  Earl  Roger,  approving  the  prudent  advice  of  his 
faithful  counsellor,  summoned  his  viscount  Warin,  and  Pigot 
de  Say,8  and  the  rest  of  his  great  officers,  to  meet  on  Saturday 

1  The  master  was  Siward,  the  "  noble  priest,"  so  often  mentioned,  who 
lived  in  the  suburbs  of  Shrewsbury,  which  may  thus  claim  our  author  for 
its  first  scholar.  Ordericus,  in  the  next  paragrnph,  dates  the  foundation  of 
the  abbey  in  )  083,  and  as  he  was  not  sent  to  St.  Evroult  until  the  year  1086, 
if  the  words  he  puts  into  his  father's  mouth  on  this  occasion  are  under- 
stood to  speak  of  that  journey  as  an  accomplished  fact,  the  date  assigned 
for  the  foundation  is  too  early,  as  will  presently  appear  on  other  grounds. 
It  has,  indeed,  been  suggested,  that  as  Ordericus  frequently  retouched  his 
MS.,  which  lay  by  him  for  many  years,  he  may  have  introduced  and  some- 
what loosely  expressed  this  trait,forgetting  its'inconsistency  with  what  follows. 

8  The  preparatory  works  may  have  begun  in  1083,  but  it  appears 
by  a  charter  of  William  Rufus,  and  the  local  histories  concur  in  the  state- 
ment, that  the  arrangements  for  building  the  new  abbey  were  not  com- 
pleted and  the  work  commenced  till  1087. 

3  For  Warin,  see  before,  note,  p.  196.  Pigot  de  Sai,  in  the  canton  of 
Argentan,  in  which  family  the  surname  of  Pigot  (in  Norman-French  2'icot) 
appears  to  have  been  hereditary.  Pigot  de  Sai  having  been  a  follower  of 
Roger  de  Montgomery,  received  from  him  the  grant  of  twenty-nine  manors 
in  Shropshire.  Our  author  has  mentioned  him  before,  book  iv.  p.  48.  He 


202  OBDEEICUS   YITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.XIV. 

the  fifth  of  the  calends  of  March  [25th  February].  Having 
made  known  his  design,  it  was  generally  approved ;  upon 
which  the  earl,  attended  by  his  chief  men,  proceeded  to  the 
church  of  St.  Peter  the  apostle,  where  he  took  a  vow  before 
many  witnesses  that  he  would  erect  an  abbey  on  that  spot, 
and  he  gave  to  St.  Peter  the  whole  suburb  situated  outside 
of  the  east  gate,  in  token  of  which  he  pledged  his  gauntlets 
on  the  altar.1  The  same  year  two  monks  of  Seez,  Reginald 
and  Frodo,  came  over  for  the  first  time,  and  with  the  aid  of 
Odelirius,  Warin,  and  many  others,  began  to  erect  the  monks' 
lodgings.  The  eloquent  Fulchred  was  the  first  abbot  of  this 
monastery  in  the  reign  of  William  Eufus,  and  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Godfrey  in  that  of  King  Henry.  Both  were 
learned  and  pious  pastors,  who  for  nearly  forty  years  care- 
fully nurtured  the  Lord's  flock.  Under  their  superintendence 
the  external  affairs  of  the  new  monastery  became  prosperous, 
and  they  established  within  an  excellent  discipline  among  their 
disciples  for  the  good  of  souls.  Odelirius  (the  father  of 
Vitalis2),  who  has  been  so  often  mentioned,  fully  performed 
all  that  he  had  promised,  offering  his  son  Benedict  to  God  in 
that  society  with  two  hundred  silver  livres ;  and  he  himself 
took  the  monastic  habit  there  after  the  death  of  Earl  Eoger. 
He  served  God  in  that  monastery  as  a  monk  under  the  rule 
of  the  holy  father  St.  Benedict  seven  years,  and  after  many 
labours  for  God,  having  penitentially  confessed  his  sins  and 

had  also  large  possessions  in  Pembrokeshire.  In  Normandy,  Jordan  de 
Sai  founded  the  abbey  of  Aulnai  about  the  year  1131. 

1  Instances  frequently  occur  in  our  author  of  the  ratification  of  covenants 
or  gifts  by  some  token  of  this  description.     Allied  to  these  emblems  of 
possession   were   the   investitures   in   the    temporalities   of    ecclesiastical 
dignities  by  the  staff  or  crozier,  of  which  wo  have  instances  in  our  author 
on   the  appointment  of  abbots,  and  which  soon  afterwards  became   the 
source  of  violent  controversies  between  the  pope  and  the  sovereigns  of 
Europe.     Thus  also  publicity,  as  well  as  effect,  was  given  to  grants  of  lands 
by  delivery  of  a  turf  or  twig,  a  necessary  ceremony  in  the  species  of  convey- 
ance called  a  feoffment,  till  very  recently  in  common  use  in  this  country; 
as  copyhold   lands  are  still   transferred  by  delivery  of  a  rod   from   the 
steward  of  the  manor  to  the  new  tenant ;  and  the  induction  to  livings  is 
made  by  delivery  of  the  key  of  the  church,  or  laying  the  hand  on  the  ring 
of  the  church  door. 

2  The  words  in  a  parenthesis  are  not  in  the  autograph  MS.  of  our  author 
from  St.  Evroult.     It  will  be  perceived  that  they  refer  to  him. 


A.D.  1094.]      DEATH   OF   BOGER  DE   MONTGOMEBY.  203 

received  absolution,  holy  unction,  and  the  viaticum,  he  died 
on  the  third  of  the  nones  [3rd]  of  June,  being  the  sixth-day 
in  Whitsun  week.1 

Earl  Roger  survived  William  the  Bastard  six  years,  the 
aged  lord  being  among  the  greatest  of  the  English  nobles. 
The  abbey,  of  which  I  have  related  the  foundation,  he 
moderately  endowed  with  lands  and  rents.  He  died  there 
in  the  year  1094,2  on  the  sixth  of  the  calends  of  August 
[July  27],  and  was  buried  with  distinguished  honour  in  the 
new  church,  between  the  two  altars.  His  son  Eobert  suc- 
ceeded to  all  his  fiefs  in  Normandy,  and  being  both  cruel 
and  proud,  as  well  as  unjust,  he  was  guilty  of  endless  crimes. 
Hugh  de  Montgomery  succeeded  to  the  earldom  of  Shrews- 
bury, but  some  years  afterwards  he  was  pierced  suddenly 
by  the  stroke  of  a  javelin3  by  Magnus,  brother  of  the  king 
of  Norway,  and  died  on  the  sea-shore ;  but  his  corpse  was 
conveyed  to  Shrewsbury  with  great  lamentations,  and  buried 
by  the  monks  in  the  abbey  cloister.  The  prudent  old  earl 
obtained  earldoms  for  his  two  remaining  sons,  Roger*  and 
Arnulph,5  who,  after  his  death,  lost  them  both  for  their  trea- 
sonable practices  in  the  reign  of  King  Henry. 

I  have  thus  made  a  short  digression  respecting  the  foun- 
dation of  the  abbey  on  my  father's  property,  which  is  now 
occupied  by  Christ's  family,  and  where  he,  at  the  age  of 
sixty,  if  my  memory  serves  me,  voluntarily  submitted  to  the 
Lord's  yoke  till  the  end  of  his  life.  Forgive  me,  I  pray  you 
good  reader,  and  let  it  not  be  thought  wearisome,  if  I  have 

1  The  year  1102  is  that  which  may  be  assigned  to  this  event  with  the 
greatest  probability.  The  Friday  in  Whitsun  week  fell  that  year  on  the 
31st  of  May,  four  days  before  the  3rd  of  June.  We  may  suppose  that  our 
author's  father  did  not  assume  the  monastic  habit  till  the  course  of  the  year 
following  the  death  of  his  patron,  Earl  Roger. 

8  This  date  is  a  late  interpolation  in  the  MS.  of  St.  Evroult. 

3  The  circumstances  of  this  catastrophe  will  be  examined  in  book  x., 
where  it  is  more  fully  related. 

4  Roger  has  been  improperly  called  earl  of  Lancaster;  he  had  great 
possessions  in  that  county,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  its  earldom  was 
conferred  upon  him.     It  would  appear  that  his  title  was  personal  only, 
though,  in  general,  titular  earls  were  first  created  by  King  Stephen. 

s  Arnulph  de  Montgomery  was  indeed  keeper  of  Pembroke  castle,  and 
buiit  that  of  Carew  in  the  same  neighbourhood,  but  our  impression  is  that 
the  first  earls  of  Pembroke  were  01  the  family  of  De  Clare,  and  that 
Arnulph  had  no  such  title. 


291  ORDEEICTTS   TITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.XT. 

committed  to  •writing  these  few  short  particulars  respecting 
my  father,  whom  I  have  never  seen  since  the  day  when,  for 
the  love  of  the  Creator,  he  sent  me  into  exile  as  if  I  had 
heeu  a  hateful  step-son.  It  is  now  forty-two  years  since 
that  time,1  a  period  during  which  there  have  been  many  re- 
volutions in  the  affairs  of  the  world.  Often  meditating  on 
these,  I  insert  some  of  them  in  my  pages,  and,  as  I  have 
ever  been  an  enemy  to  idleness,  I  thus  employ  myself  in 
composition.  I  return  again  to  the  subject  I  have  under- 
taken, meaning,  though  a  foreigner,  to  inform  my  juniors, 
who  are  natives,  of  things  which  they  might  otherwise  be 
unacquainted  with,  and  thus  render  them,  by  God's  help,  a 
profitable  service. 

CH.  XV.  Further  benefactions  to  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult. 

[ABOUT  A.D.  1075.]  When  Goisbert,  a  citizen  of  Chartres, 
came  to  make  his  profession,  as  before  related,2  he  sold  an 
excellent  house,  which  he  possessed  in  that  city,  for  thirty 
pounds  sterling  of  Chartres,  and  gave  the  whole  to  the 
monks  of  St.  Evroult  with  the  utmost  satisfaction.  In  per- 
son he  was  tall  and  thin,  of  a  kind  disposition,  conversible, 
magnanimous,  and  liberal.  His  great  skill  in  medicine  made 
him  well  known,  and  an  intimate  and  useful  friend  to  many 
persons.  It  was  through  him  that  Fulcher  of  Chartres, 
Peter  de  Maule,3  and  several  others,  became  acquainted 
with  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult,  and,  respecting  their  worth 
and  piety,  gave  them  a  becoming  share  of  their  property. 
Fulcher  was  of  noble  birth,  and  inherited  a  large  estate 
from  his  father,  and  being  tolerably  well  educated,  became  a 
canon  in  the  church  of  the  holy  Mother  of  God.  He  made 
a  charter  of  the  possessions  he  granted  to  St.  Evroult,  which 
Eobert  Andrew,  an  excellent  scribe,  wrote  down  from  his 
clear  and  agreeable  dictation  in  the  following  terms : — 

"  I,  Fulcher,  son  of  Gerard,  an  unworthy  canon  of  the 
church  of  St.  Mary  at  Chartres,  frequently  reflecting  on  my 
own  condition  and  the  state  of  mankind  in  general,  have 

1  The  preface  to  this  work  contains  some  observations  on  this  tribute  of 
filial  piety  and  the  author's  recollections  of  his  early  years. 

2  See  pp.  185  and  139. 

1  Maule,  a  large  village  on  the  Mauldre;  in  the  department  of  Seine-et- 
Oisc. 


A.D.  1075 — 1076.]   BENEFACTIONS  TO  ST.  EVBOULT.     205 

found  that  almost  all  things  under  the  sun  are,  as  Solomon 
says,  vanity,  and  that  there  is  nothing  on  earth  which  can 
bring  a  blessing  to  men  after  the  troubles  of  this  life,  unless 
they  have  done  some  good  action  while  they  lived.  Moved 
by  these  considerations,  and  in  great  alarm  at  the  enormity 
of  my  sins,  as  every  one  must  give  an  account  to  God  of  all 
his  actions,  it  has  seemed  fitting  to  me  (I  believe  inspired 
by  God)  to  make  over  to  St.  Evroult  some  part  of  my  pos- 
sessions for  the  repose  of  my  own  soul  and  those  of  my 
friends ;  so  that  my  dear  brothers  who  dwell  there  may  have 
something  towards  the  sustenance  of  their  bodies,  and  may, 
in  consequence,  sometimes  be  willing  to  hold  me  in  remem- 
brance. For  as  to  what  we  leave  to  our  posterity  by  the 
right  of  inheritance,  I  not  only  say  that  it  can  be  of  no 
benefit  to  ourselves  after  we  are  dead,  but  more,  that  if 
we  bequeath  it  ill,  it  will  be  greatly  injurious.  Be  it 
known  therefore  to  all  faithful  members  of  holy  church, 
that  of  my  own  free  will,  and  to  the  end  that  provision  may 
be  made  for  my  future  welfare,  I  do  hereby  grant  to  St. 
Evroult  and  his  monks,  to  be  held  by  them  for  ever,  the  fol- 
lowing hereditaments,  though  small, as  hereinafter  mentioned, 
that  is  to  say :  The  church  of  Moulicent,  and  one  moiety  of 
the  tithes  of  that  village,  the  church-yard  and  three  acres 
of  land  behind  it;  also  the  right  of  safe  keeping  at  the 
manse  as  Goscelin  held  it,  and  the  tithe  of  my  mill;  if  I 
establish  a  market  there,  they  shall  also  have  the  tithe  of  it : 
also,  the  monk  who  resides  at  Moulicent  shall  never  pay  toll 
for  his  corn.  If  he  desires  to  grind  at  his  own  mill,  let  him  do 
so  ;  if  he  choose  rather  to  grind  at  mine,  let  him  be  toll-free. 
Also  whatever  I  possess  in  Marcheville,  the  lands,  the 
manse,  the  mill,  all  these  I  give  to  the  monks  for  ever. 
Moreover  I  give  one  plough-land  and  the  manse  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Landelles.  I  also  give  the  tenth  of  my  woods,  viz., 
of  the  dues  for  pasture,  and  of  the  honey  and  beasts-of-chace 
there  taken.  Also,  the  monks'  swine  shall  be  subject  to  no 
dues  for  pasturage.  Neither  shall  the  monks  be  liable  to 
any  work,  or  service,  or  expedition,  for  me  or  my  heirs,  at 
any  time.  And  if  any  of  my  mesne-tenants  shall  desire  to 
give  or  sell  anything  to  St.  Evroult,  I  grant  them  full  power 
to  do  so  without  fear  of  me.  All  these  gifts  I  freely  offer 
to  Almighty  God,  to  whom  I  owe  my  being,  and  to  St. 


206  OBDEBICTTS   VITALIS.  [fl.T.  CH.XY. 

Evroult,  the  glorious  confessor ;  and  if  any  evil-minded  or 
senseless  person  shall,  either  by  force  or  fraud,  attempt  to 
lessen,  violate,  or  take  them  away,  let  him  lie  under  an 
everlasting  curse,  and  not  see  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  in 
the  land  of  the  living,  unless  he  repent  and  make  an  ample 
satisfaction.  At  my  request  the  Lord  Robert,  bishop  "of  the 
church  of  Chartres,  in  whose  fief  the  premises  before-men- 
tioned are  situated,  has  willingly  confirmed  this  present  gift 
out  of  my  poor  means.  My  brothers,  canons  of  the  said 
church,  and  my  wife  Alpes  and  my  sons,  have  also  con- 
firmed it." 

The  monks  of  St.  Evroult  have  held  for  fifty  years  the 
property  which  the  worthy  person  just  mentioned  granted  to 
them,  and  which  his  heirs,  Bartholomew,  surnamed  Boel, 
and  Gerard  his  son  willingly  confirmed.  There  have  lived 
upon  it  Aimer,  Ealph,  Hugh  the  Englishman,  "William  de 
Merle,  and  several  other  monks  distinguished  for  their 
eloquence  and  virtues,  who  were  kindly  patronized  by 
Robert,  and  Q-eoifrey,  Ivo,  and  Geoffrey  II.,  bishops  of 
Chartres.1  In  this  manner,  by  the  zeal  of  the  monks  and 
the  assistance  of  good  men,  the  church  of  Marchesville  was 
erected,  and  consecrated  to  St.  Mary,  mother  of  God, 
through  whom  the  Saviour  of  the  world  came. 

At  the  same  time,  Landric,  Geoffrey,  and  Gunhier,  gave  to 
St.  Evroult  all  the  land  of  Charancei.  Isnard,  of  whom  they 
had  long  held  it,  releasing  it  to  the  monks  from  all  claims, 
received  six  pounds  from  Abbot  Mainier.  Afterwards, 
Landric  and  the  others  before  named  received  back  one 
moiety  of  the  land,  and  did  fealty  for  it  to  the  abbot  in  the 
presence  of  Isnard  by  joining  hands.  The  same  three, 
before  Isnard  and  several  others,  granted  the  church  of  that 
village  with  its  appurtenances,  and  the  whole  tithes,  both  of 
the  land  which  belonged  to  Isnard  and  of  that  which  belonged 
to  St.  Stephen  or  any  one  else.  This  grant  was  made  in  the 
presence  of  Gerard  the  priest  and  many  others. 

1  Robert,  second  of  that  name,  1075—1076  ;  Geoffrey  L,  July,  1077 — 
1089;  Ives,  1090—1115;  Geoffrey  II.,  1116— January  24,  1149. 


A.D.  1073.]         GKANTS    BY   WILLIAM    PANTULF.  207 

CH.  XVI.  History  of  William  Pantulf,  a  Norman  and 
English  TcnigJit — Robert,  ex-abbot  of  St.  Evroult  pays  a 
visit  to  Normandy. 

IN  the  year  of  our  Lord  1073,1  the  tenth  indiction,  and  in 
the  reign  of  William  the  Great,  king  of  England  and  duke 
of  Normandy,  the  knight  named  William  Pantulf,2  at  the 
instance  of  his  friend  the  venerable  Abbot  Mainier,  and  with 
the  permission  of  his  lord,  the  Earl  Roger,  gave  to  St. 
Evroult  the  churches  at  Noron,8  one  of  which  was  built  in 
honour  of  St.  Peter,  and  the  other  of  St.  Cyr  the  martyr, 
with  his  own  enclosed  park,4  and  part  of  the  wood  of  Pont- 
Ogeret,  and  his  share  in  a  farm  called  Molinx,  and  of 
another  situated  over  the  brook  commonly  called  Ruptices. 
He  also  gave  the  whole  fee  of  William  de  Maloi,  comprising 
about  thirty  acres  of  land.  Thereupon  he  received  from  the 
charity  of  the  monks  sixteen  pounds  of  Rouen  money  to 
enable  him  to  undertake  a  pilgrimage  to  St.  Giles.  He  also 
gave  to  St.  Peter  all  the  land  which  Walter,  son  of  Rufa 
sold  to  Robert  the  monk,  for  which  the  aforesaid  monk  gave 
him  a  hundred  shillings  of  Rouen.  Moreover,  the  said 
William  gave  to  the  monks  sixty  acres  of  land  in  the  same 
place,  the  mill  at  Hommet  and  the  tithes  of  a  moiety  of  the 
mill  at  Xoron.  He  gave  also  the  church  of  EmievilJe,5  with 
the  tithes  and  all  the  rents  belonging  to  the  church,  and  in 
the  same  vill  the  land  of  one  vavasor,  and  two  sheaves  of 
the  tithes  of  his  own  estate,  and  of  all  his  mesne-tenants  in 
Mesnil-Baclai,  and  the  whole  tithe  of  the  mill  of  Roiville. 
He  gave  to  St.  Peter  all  the  land  which  his  mother 
Beatrice  held  in  his  fief  Des  Fosses,  and  the  cottier's  free 

1  Duchesne  reads  it  1074. 

*  It  appears  before,  book  iv.  p.  197,  that  William  Pantulf  was  one  of 
the  officers  to  whom  Roger  de  Montgomery  entrusted  the  administration  of 
affairs  in  his  earldom  of  Shropshire. 

3  Noron  is  near  Falaise;  St.  Cyr  only  is  now  standing,  and  is  the  parish 
church. 

4  Proprium  plesseitium.     French,   Plessis.      Ducange   says  that   the 
term  is  sometimes  applied  to  a  country  house,  or  rrfaison  [query,  rather 
jardin]  de  plaisance,  but  that  Joseph  Scaliger  considers  plessis  to  signify  a 
fence  or  paling  of  wood,  surrounding  parks,  as  in  the  present  use  of  the 
word  by  our  author. 

*  Eraieville,  between  Caen  and  Troarn. 


208  OEDEEICUS   YITALIS.  [B.V.  CII.XYI. 

tenements  at  St.  G-ennain-d'Aubri.1  Helvis,  sister  of  the 
said  William,  gave  to  St.  Peter  all  her  dowry  in  Aubri, 
which  the  said  William  confirmed.  He  also  added  the  tithe 
of  his  tenants  Raimbault,  Robert  the  heretic,  and  Walo,  son 
of  Saffred.  Moreover,  the  same  William  gave  to  St.  Peter 
de  Noron  all  his  churches  and  the  tithes  of  all  places  in  his 
possession  in  England  or  Normandy,  or  which  he  should 
thereafter  acquire ;  together  with  the  tithe  of  all  his  chattels, 
such  as  mares,  cows,  and  cheese,  and  every  thing  else  which 
would  admit  of  tithing.  In  like  manner  he  confirmed  what- 
ever his  tenants  should  give  or  sell  to  St.  Evroult,  so  that 
the  fealty  due  to  himself  should  not  be  parted  with.  As  for 
his  effects,  he  gave  them  in  such  wise  that  after  his  death 
the  monks  of  St.  Evreux  should  have  one  half,  and  the  monks 
of  Norun  the  other. 

All  this,  William  Pantulf,  and  Lesceline  his  wife  freely 
gave  to  Grod  (as  before  mentioned),  for  the  repose  of  their 
souls  and  of  those  of  their  friends,  and  they  ratified  the  gift 
in  the  chapter  of  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult,  convened 
generally,  before  many  witnesses.  William  at  the  same  time 
paid  forty  marks  of  silver  towards  the  support  of  the  monks, 
who  were  about  to  proceed  to  Norun  to  build  a  cell  there. 

Afterwards,  Abbot  Mainier  and  Fulk  the  prior,  with 
William  Pantulf,  went  to  Earl  Roger,  who  was  then  residing 
at  Belesme,  and  humbly  petitioned  him  to  confirm  the  said 
knight's  grants  by  his  own  charter.  He,  being  pious  and 
liberal,  received  favourably  their  lawful  petition,  and  rati- 
fied all  their  demands,  in  the  presence  of  those  who,  on 
various  affairs,  were  then  attending  his  court.  The  feast  of 
St.  Leonard  was  then  being  celebrated  at  Belesme,2  to  pay 
due  honour  to  which  the  count,  with  his  usual  munificence, 
had  assembled  a  great  number  of  guests.  Among  these 
were  Hoel,  bishop  of  Mans,*  and  Eobert,  bishop  of  Seez ; 
also  the  abbots  Ainard  of  Dive,  Durand  of  Troarn,  Eobert 
of  Seez,  and  Hugh  of  Lonlai,  with  Emma,  abbess  of  Alme- 

1  Now  Aubre-le-Ponthou,  near  Vimoutier. 

*  The  feast  of  the , dedication  of  the  church  built  at  Belesme  by  William 
the  first  of  that  name  who  was  count  de  Belesme,  to  receive  the  relics  of 
St.  Leonard,  was  annually  held  with  great  pomp  on  the  26th  of  June. 

3  Hoel,  who  was  made  bishop  of  Mans  the  29th  of  November,  1080, 
could  not  in  that  character  at  least  have  been  one  in  an  assembly  of 
prelates  with  Hugh,  bishop  of  Lkieux,  who  died  the  17th  of  July,  1077. 


A.D.  1077.]  AFFAIBS   IN  APULIA.  209 

nesches;1  also  Herve,  chaplain  to  the  bishop  of  Lisieux, 
Roger  Faitel,  Hugh,  son  of  Foucault,  Eobert,  son  of  Theo- 
deline,  Eoger  Gulafre,  and  many  others,  both  clerks  and 
laymen,  who  were  witnesses  to  the  above-mentioned  charter. 
In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1077,  the  fifteenth  indiction,  Eo- 
bert, the  noble  abbot,2  brother  of  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil, 
sought  an  interview  with  "William,  king  of  England,  in  Nor- 
mandy, and  at  the  king's  request  pardoned  him  for  having 
unjustly  driven  him  into  exile.  He  had  received  an  in- 
vitation from  Philip,  king  of  France,  who  wished  to  make 
him  bishop  of  Chartres,  but,  as  the  French  disliked  sub- 
mitting to  Normans,  Geoffrey,  nephew  of  Eustace  count  de 
Blois,  was  appointed  to  the  see.  Therefore  the  illustrious 
Eobert,  having  assisted  at  the  consecration  of  the  churches 
of  Caen,  Bayeux,  and  Bee,  which  took  place  that  year,  and 
having  had  friendly  intercourse  with  King  William,  and 
others  his  friends  and  relations  whom  he  had  not  seen  for 
many  years,  went  back  to  Apulia,  taking  with  him  William 
Pantoul,  and  Eobert  de  Cordai,3  his  nephew,  with  many 
other  gallant  knights.  At  that  time  Eobert  Guiscard  com- 
manded in  Apulia,  and  had  acquired  the  dukedom  of  Gisulf 
duke  of  Salerno.4  He  was  the  son  of  Tancred  de  Hauteville, 
a  person  of  moderate  station,  who,  by  his  bravery  and  good 
fortune,  had  succeeded  in  acquiring  great  power  in  Italy. 
With  the  aid  of  his  brothers  and  others  of  his  countrymen 
who  joined  him,  he  imposed  his  yoke  on  the  people  of 
Apulia,  and  having  most  unexpectedly  risen  to  great  emi- 
nence, he  was  exalted  above  all  his  neighbours,  amassed 
great  wealth,  and  was  continually  enlarging  his  territories. 

1  Hugh,  bishop  of  Lisieux,  1049 — July  17,  1077;  Robert,  bishop  of 
Se'ez,  1070 — 1082;  Ainard,  abbot  of  Notre  Dame  de  St.  Pierre-sur-Dive, 
1046 — January  14, 1078;  Durand,  abbot  of  Troarn,  May  13, 1059 — Feb.  11, 
1088;  Robert,  abbot  of  Seez,  1056?— January  13,  1089;  Emma,  abbess  of 
Almenesches,  daughter  of  Roger  de  Montgomery,  by  whom  they  were 
entertained,  1074— March  4,  1113. 

a  The  ex-abbot  of  St.  Evroult,  now  abbot  of  St.  Euphemin  in  Apulia. 
See  book  iii.  vol.  i.  p.  438.  { 

*  Cordai,  to  the  south  of  Falaise. 

*  The  conquest  of  Salerno  by  Robert  Guiscard  was  accomplished  in  the 
course  of  this  same  year,  1077  ;  but  if  Robert  de  Grantmesnil  was  present 
at  the  dedication  of  the  abbey  of  Bee,  which  took  place  on  the  '.-'3rd  of 
October,  it  is  hardly  probable  that  he  arrived  in  the  kingdom  of  Naples 
before  1078. 

TOL.  II.  P 


210  OBDEBICITB   VITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.XYII. 

He  received  William  Pantoul  with  distinguished  honours, 
and  making  him  great  promises,  tried  to  retain  him  in  his 
service  on  account  of  his  merit.  He  made  him  sit  by  his 
side  at  dinner  on  the  feast  of  Easter,  and  offered  him  three 
towns  if  he  would  remain  in  Italy. 

Meanwhile,  the  Countess  Mabel  had  perished  by  the 
sword  of  Hugh  D'Ige,  the  revengeful  knight;1  and  this 
murder  was  the  cause  of  great  troubles  after  William 
Pantoul's  return  from  Apulia.  For  he  was  accused  of 
treason,  and  the  charge  was  prosecuted  with  great  ani- 
mosity by  some  of  his  rivals.  The  deceased  lady  had  taken 
possession  of  the  castle  of  Perai,  which  had  been  given  to 
William;  on  which  account  there  had  long  existed  a 
violent  hostility  between  them.  It  was  hence  suspected 
that  William  had  contrived  her  death,  particularly  as  he 
was  on  terms  of  intimacy  and  frequent  communication 
with  Hugh.  Earl  Eoger  therefore  and  his  sons  seized  his 
whole  estate,  and  sought  an  opportunity  of  putting  him  to 
death.  In  consequence,  William  and  his  wife  took  refuge  at 
St.  Evroult,  where  they  remained  for  a  long  time  under  the 
protection  of  the  monks,  but  in  the  greatest  alarm.  The 
knight  boldly  denied  the  crime  of  which  he  was  accused ; 
and  no  one  was  able  to  convict  him  of  it  by  certain  proof, 
but  while  he  asserted  his  innocence,  no  opportunity  was 
allowed  him  of  lawfully  clearing  himself  of  the  charge,  as  he 
offered  to  do.  At  length  however,  by  the  interference  of 
many  of  the  nobles,  it  was  determined  by  the  king's  court 
that  the  accused  should  purge  himself  from  the  stain  at- 
tached to  him,  by  undergoing  the  ordeal  of  hot  iron  at 
Bouen,  in  the  presence  of  the  clergy,  which  was  done ;  for 
having  carried  the  flaming  iron  in  his  naked  hand,  by 
God's  judgment,  there  was  no  appearance  of  its  being 
burnt,  so  that  the  clergy  and  all  the  people  gave  praise  to 
God.  His  malicious  enemies  attended  the  trial  in  arms, 
intending,  if  he  was  declared  guilty  by  the  ordeal  of 
fire,  to  have  immediately  beheaded  him.  During  the 
troubles  to  which  William  Pantoul  and  his  family  were 
exposed,  he  was  much  comforted  by  Abbot  Mainier  and  the 
monks  of  St.  Evroult,  who  rendered  him  all  the  help  they 
could  both  with  God  and  man.  This  increased  their  mutual 
1  On  the  5th  of  December,  1082.  See  before,  p.  1 94. 


A.D.  112.J       THE   KNIGHT  WILLIAM    PANTOUL.  211 

regard,  and  "William  offered  to  St.  Evroult  four  of  the 
richest  palls  he  had  brought  from  Apulia,  out  of  which  were 
made  four  copes  for  the  chanters  in  the  church,  which  are 
preserved  there  to  this  day,  and  used  in  the  solemn  services 
of  divine  worship. 

After  the  death  of  William,  king  of  England,  "William 
made  another  visit  to  Apulia,  and  on  his  return  brought 
with  him  the  relics  of  the  body  of  the  holy  confessor  of 
Christ,  St.  Nicholas,  with  which  he  enriched  the  church  of 
Noron,  where  they  were  deposited.  He  afterwards  gave 
to  the  monks  of  that  place  a  manor  in  England,  called 
Trotton,1  with  the  church  and  mill  of  that  village,  and  the 
tithes  of  six  hamlets,  which  belonged  to  that  church.  In 
the  year  of  our  Lord  1112,  that  is  to  say,  the  twelfth  year 
of  the  reign  of  Henry,  king  of  England,  and  the  fourth  of 
that  of  Lewis,  king  of  France,  "William  Pantoul  came  to  St. 
Evroult,  it  being  the  fortieth  year  after  he  founded  the  cell 
for  monks  at  Noron,  and  mindful  of  his  former  friendship 
and  the  grants  which,  as  we  have  already  related,  he  before 
made,  he  recapitulated  them,  and,  with  his  wife  Lesceline, 
confirmed  them  all  in  a  general  chapter  of  the  monks.  At 
the  same  time  Philip,  Ivo,  and  Arnulph,  his  sons,  confirmed 
all  the  grants  of  their  father  to  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult, 
and  they  all,  that  is  to  say,  William  and  Lesceline,  and  their 
three  sons,  Philip,  Ivo,  and  Arnulph,  laid  the  grant  on  Ihe 
altar  together.  Kobert  the  Bald,  Geoffrey  and  Ascelin,  and 
several  other  pious  monks,  occupied  the  cell  at  Noron, 
while  four  bishops,  Eobert,  Gerard,  Serlo,  and  John,  were 
bishops  of  Seez,2  and  living  in  the  fear  of  God  and  love  to 
man,  they  set  the  rustics  examples  of  an  honest  life. 
William  Pantoul,  so  often  mentioned,  lived  long,  respecting 
the  clergy  and  being  kind  to  the  poor,  to  whom  he  was 
liberal  in  alms ;  he  was  firm  in  prosperity  and  adversity, 
put  down  all  his  enemies,  and  exercised  great  power  through 
his  wealth  and  possessions.  He  gave  sixty  marks  of  silver 
towards  building  the  new  church  at  St.  Evroult,  under- 
taking a  work  of  great  beauty  to  the  honour  of  God,  which 
death  prevented  him  from  completing.  His  sons  succeeded 

1  In  the  county  of  Sussex. 

1  Robert,  1070—1082;  Gerard,  1082— January  23,  1091  ;  Serlo,  June 
22,  1091— October  27,  1118;  John  1,  April  24,  1124—1143. 

P  2 


212  OBDEBICT7S  TIT  ALTS.  [fi.V.  CH.XVII. 

to  his  estates,  Philip  in  Normandy,  Robert  in  England, 
but  they  have  failed  of  prosecuting  their  father's  enterprises 
with  equal  spirit. 

CH.  XVII.   The  family  of  Mount-Pinion  (near  Falaise), 
benefactors  to  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult. 

RALPH  of  Mount-Pin9on,  steward  of  "William  the  Great, 
king  of  England,  devoted  himself  with  entire  fidelity  to  St. 
Evroult,  and  humbly  requested  the  lord  abbot  Mainier, 
that  some  clerk,  fit  for  God's  service,  should  be  admitted 
into  the  monastery,  and  made  a  monk,  for  the  purpose  of 
constantly  offering  prayers  to  God  for  the  souls  of  himself 
and  his  wife.  And  this  was  accomplished;  for  by  God's 

5rovidence  a  certain  scholar  of  Rheims,  whose  name  was 
ohn,  was  then  a  postulant  for  admission  to  the  order.  He 
was  accordingly  taken  to  court,  and  engaged  with  the  knight 
to  give  him  the  benefit  of  his  prayers,  and  of  the  duties 
which  he  was  about  to  undertake  for  Christ.  Ralph  was  so 
greatly  delighted  that  he  humbly  kissed  the  scholar's  feet 
before  all  who  were  present.  Upon  this  the  monks  most 
willingly  admitted  this  John,  and  had  good  reason  to  rejoice 
at  having  him,  for  he  was  an  excellent  grammarian,  and 
devoted  himself  unremittingly  to  useful  studies,  until  he 
was  advanced  in  years.  The  said  knight,  in  consideration  of 
his  maintenance,  gave  to  St.  Evroult  for  ever  five  mills, 
three  at  Jort,  the  fourth  at  a  place  they  call  Heurtevent, 
and  the  fifth  at  Mont-Pn^on  j1  also,  two  sheaves  of  the 
tithes  of  the  villeins  of  Vaudeloges,  and  one  moiety  of  the 
tithes  of  Epanai,  with  two  acres  of  meadow  at  Emendreville. 
Some  years  afterwards  Ralph,  the  steward,  died  on  the  ides 
[13th]  of  February,  and  his  body  was  carried  to  Ouche,  and 
there  buried  by  the  monks  in  the  cloisters  at  St.  Evroult 
with  great  honours.  His  two  sons  were  present,  with  their 
mother  Adeliza,  and  truly  devoted  themselves,  and  all  that 
their  father  had  given,  to  St.  Evroult,  before  many  witnesses 
who  were  assembled  at  the  funeral  of  so  great  a  baron. 
Thirty  years  afterwards,  Hugh  de  Mont-Pin9on  paid  a  visit 

1  Mont-Pinfon,  the  chief  seat  of  this  family,  and  the  other  places  here 
named,  are  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Lisieux  and  Falaise,  except  Emendre- 
ville, which  is  now  called  St.  Sever,  a  suburb  of  Rouen  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  Seine. 


FAMILY   OP   MOTTNT-PINCON.  213 

to  his  spiritual  brothers  at  St.  Evroult,  bringing  with  him 
his  eldest  son  Ralph  and  his  wife  Matilda,  the  daughter  of 
Hugh  de  Grantmesnil,  who  was  in  trouble  for  the  recent 
death  of  her  sister  Adeline.1  Hugh  now  renewed  his 
brotherhood  with  the  monks  which  he  had  accepted  in  his 
childhood,  and  entreated  their  prayers  for  his  brother  Ealph, 
who  had  died  on  the  road  while  performing  a  pilgrim- 
age to  Jerusalem.  Ealph,  Hugh's  son,  a  young  boy,  was 
adopted  by  the  monks  as  his  relations  had  been,  and  being 
led  round  the  chapter  by  Walter  the  Bald,  a  talkative 
knight,  he  kissed  the  brethren,  and  then  consented  to  the 
grants  made  by  his  father  and  uncle  to  St.  Evroult. 

At  length  Hugh  also  died  at  Rouen  when  he  was  sixty 
years  old  on  the  nones  [7th]  of  March,  and  by  order  of  his 
wife  and  sons  his  body  was  carried  to  St.  Evroult,  where 
the  monks  buried  their  brother's  remains  with  high  honour 
in  the  chapter-house,  and  his  sons,  Ralph,  William,  and 
Arnulf  devoted  themselves  and  all  that  their  ancestors  had 
granted  to  the  church  of  St.  Evroult.  Ralph,  the  eldest, 
married  the  daughter  of  Ranulph,  chancellor  to  King  Henry,2 
and  dying  soon  afterwards,  was  buried  by  the  convent  in  the 
chapter-house  by  the  side  of  his  father.  William  then  suc- 
ceeded to  the  patrimonial  estates  in  Normandy.  Arnulf 
went  into  Apulia  to  seek  his  uncle  William  de  Grantmesnil. 
Matilda,  their  mother,  after  her  husband's  death,  fell  in  love 
with  a  young  adventurer  named  Matthew,  in  whose  company, 
deserting  her  relations  and  friends,  she  undertook  a  journey 
to  Jerusalem ;  but  both  were  cut  off  by  premature  deaths 
in  the  same  year,  Matthew  dying  in  Apulia,  on  the  journey 
outward,  and  Matilda  at  Joppa,  on  her  return. 

CH.  XVIII.     Account  of  John  of  RJieims,  a  learned  monk 
of  St.  Evroult. 

HAVING  shortly  referred  before  to  John  [of  Rheims],3  I 

1  Adeline,  eldest  daughter  of  Hugh   de   Grantmesuil,  wife  of  Roger 
d'lvri,  the  king's  cupbearer. 

2  Ranulph,  an  astute  and  grasping  lawyer  in  the  time  of  Henry  I.     His 
character  is  well  drawn,1  and  his  death  by  an  accident  related,  in  Henry  of 
Huntingdon's  History  and  Acts  of  Illustrious  men.     See  pp.  250  and  310, 
Bohn's  Edition. 

*  See  pp.  185,  212.  For  an  account  of  John  of  Rheims  and  his  works, 
•ee  L'Histoire  Htt6raire  de  France,  t.  xi.  pp.  15—20. 


214  OBDEBICTJS  TITALIS.  [B.Y.  CH.XYIII. 

now  purpose  to  bring  more  clearly  before  the  reader's  mind 
who  he  was,  and  in  what  manner  and  how  long  he  lived 
under  the  monastic  rule.  His  genius  was  acute,  and  he  was 
persevering  in  his  studies ;  he  spent  nearly  forty-eight  years 
in  the  practice  of  his  duties  as  a  monk,  and  employed  him- 
self indefatigably  in  searching  out  the  meanings  of  difficult 
passages  he  found  in  books.  He  entered  the  Lord's  fold, 
being  admitted  by  Abbot  Mainier,  when  he  was  a  young  man, 
and  continuing  his  service,  and  being  promoted  to  the  priest- 
hood under  Serlo  and  Roger,  he  engaged  others,  both  by 
precept  and  example,  to  fight  the  good  fight,  and  at  last  died 
in  the  confession  of  Christ  on  the  tenth  of  the  calends  of 
April  [23rd  March],1  when  Warm  was  abbot.  He  long  held 
the  office  of  subprior,  and  often  supplied  the  abbot's  place 
in  preaching  the  word  of  God.  By  order  of  abbot  Roger, 
he  went  to  Rome  in  the  time  of  Pope  Urban  with  the  de- 
posed abbot  Fulk;2  during  which  journey  he  suffered  greatly 
from  sickness,  and  encountered  many  hardships.  As  old 
age  came  on,  he  suffered  for  more  than  seven  years  from  stone 
in  the  bladder;  but  though  he  was  thus  afflicted  with  a 
chronic  disease,  he  did  not  take  to  his  bed,  but  rose  every  day 
to  join  in  the  divine  offices,  giving  thanks  to  God;  and 
being,  as  I  believe,  well-prepared,  departed  in  the  beginning 
of  a  stormy  night.  As  he  was  a  great  versifier,  Vitalis  the 
Englishman,3  his  disciple,  in  the  midst  of  his  tears,  com- 
posed some  verses  to  his  memory  on  the  day  he  went  to  his 
rest,  when  the  funeral  was  over,  to  the  following  effect : — 

Thrice  had  Maich,  lowering,  windy,  cold,  and  bleak, 
Held  her  inclement  course  throughout  a  week; 
Dark,  stormy  night  closed  a  tempestuous  day, 
When  JOHN'S  pure  spirit  calmly  passed  away. 
Poncia  to  Rheimish  Ilbert  gave  him  birth, 
Numbered  among  the  humblest  sons  of  earth. 

1  A.D.  1125. 

2  Fulk,  abbot  of  Notre  Dame  de  Saint-Pierre-sur-Dive.     This  journey 
was  made  in  the  year  1092.     See  before,  book  iv.  p.  107. 

8  It  need  hardly  be  observed  that  our  author  speaks  of  himself.  We 
would  once  for  all  take  the  opportunity  of  entreating  the  readers'  indul- 
gence in  the  difficult  task  we  have  undertaken,  while  attempting  to  give  the 
metrical  compositions  contained  in  this  work  a  version  which,  preserving  the 
thoughts  and,  as  far  as  possible,  the  language  of  the  original,  may  not  be 
unacceptable  to  modern  taste. 


A.D.  1125.]  JOHN   OP  EHEIMS.  215 

His  destiny,  to  learn  the  cobbler's  art, 

John  early  changed,  to  choose  a  nobler  part, 

Gave  all  his  youthful  hours  to  wisdom's  lore, 

With  manhood  left  the  low  paternal  door, 

And,  Rheims  deserting,  traced  his  venturous  way 

To  where  St.  Evroult's  distant  cloisters  lay. 

Enrolled  among  the  faithful  band,  to  heaven 

For  fifty  years  his  ardent  vows  were  given. 

Nor,  sheltered  in  that  safe  retreat,  the  monk 

In  slothful  ease  and  useless  leisure  sunk ; 

But  well  his  subtle  genius  exercised, 

And  learning's  hoarded  treasures  keenly  prized, 

Turning  with  eager  hand  the  fruitful  page 

Which  held  the  records  of  an  older  age. 

Still,  first,  Christ's  claims  his  earnest  care  he  made, 

In  daily  service,  nightly  vigil,  paid. 

By  word  and  deed  he  true  religion  taught, 

His  whole  discourse  with  sacred  wisdom  fraught. 

Sagely  he  culled  for  each  the  doctrines  fit, 

With  lessons  chosen  well  from  holy  writ ; 

In  every  heart  strove  heavenly  thoughts  to  raise, 

And  trained  the  novices  in  wisdom's  ways ; 

Gave  counsel,  comfort,  and  with  sharp  rebuke, 

When  duty  called,  the  sinner's  conscience  shook; 

As  bees  which  honey  bear  beneath  their  wings, 

For  time  of  need  are  also  armed  with  stings. 

His  pregnant  genius  shone  in  prose  and  verse, 

His  matter  copious,  but  his  style  was  terse. 

To  Christ,  the  Virgin,  and  the  Saints  most  blest, 

He  noblest  praise  in  tuneful  songs  addressed, 

And  paid  our  sainted  patron  honour  due, 

Singing  the  virtues  of  the  good  Evroult, 

(A  work  his  reverend  father,  Ralph  of  Rheims,1 

The  duteous  offering  of  his  pupil  claims). 

Nor  was  our  monk  from  spite  and  envy  free, 

Who  in  this  evil  world  can  perfect  be  ? 

But  still  the  shafts  of  malice  pointless  fell 

From  one  who  kept  the  rule  of  life  so  well. 

'Twas  others'  sins  gave  venom  to  the  dart, 

For  others  flowed  his  tears,  for  others  bled  his  heart. 

At  length,  with  sharp  disease  by  power  divine 

His  flesh  was  given  for  seven  long  years  to  pine: 

Scourged  by  a  Father's  hand,  he  kissed  the  rod, 

In  meek  submission  to  the  will  of  God  ; 

And  prayed  that,  having  run  his  painful  race, 

He  might  in  heaven  behold  his  Saviour's  face. 

Then  from  the  storms  and  tumults  of  the  world, 

When  equinoctial  hours  around  it  whirled, 

1  Ralph  le  Verd,  archbishop  of  Rheims,  1108—1124. 


216  OBDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.Y.  CH.XIX. 

Our  holy  monk's  pure  spirit  passed  away, 

And  soared  to  mansions  of  celestial  day. 

Christ  grant  him  light  serene,  eternal  rest, 

In  those  abodes  of  peace,  among  his  saints  most  blest ! 

CH.  XIX.  History  of  the  Priory  of  Maule,  near  Paris, 
a  cell  to  the  Abbey  of  St.  Evroult;  and  of  the  family  of  that 
name,  benefactors  to  the  monks. 

IK  the  year  of  our  Lord  1076,  the  fourteenth  indiction, 
when  Goisbert  the  physician  was  visiting  his  countrymen 
and  friends  in  France,  and  giving  the  benefit  of  his  science 
to  the  poor  and  needy,  he  found  out  several  of  his  friends 
and  acquaintances  to  whom  he  had  before  rendered  assist- 
ance by  his  art,  and  kindly  entreated  them  to  give  alms  out 
of  their  superfluities  for  their  eternal  salvation,  especially 
admonishing  them  to  give  to  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult  such 
of  their  possessions  as  it  did  not  become  laymen  to  hold. 
Sojourning  for  a  time  with  Peter  de  Maule,  the  son  of 
Ansold,  a  rich  Parisian,  and  conversing  with  him  in  a  familiar 
and  friendly  manner,  he  begged  him  to  make  a  gift  of  the 
churches  at  Maule  to  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult.  Peter,  being 
of  a  gay  and  liberal  disposition  and  ready  to  engage  in  any 
large  schemes,  either  good  or  bad,  was  easily  induced  to 
consent,  and  made  a  deed  of  gift  before  his  principal  tenants. 
The  text  of  the  charter  is  as  follows  : — 

"  The  shortness  of  human  life,  men's  want  of  faith,  and  the 
revolutions  of  the  world,  and  desolation  of  states,  daily 
warn  us  that  the  end  of  the  world  is  at  hand.  He  that  was 
Truth  itself  taught  us  this  when  it  was  said  to  the  disciples : 
'  When  ye  shall  see  these  things  come  to  pass,  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  nigh.' *  The  careful  ant  ought  to  provide  more 
carefully,  on  it  perceiving  winter  rapidly  approaching,  so  to 
lay  up  her  store  of  corn,  that  when  the  frost  destroys  the 
grass  she  may  have  an  abundant  supply  of  meal.  It  is  also 
said  in  a  certain  place  to  those  who  halt  in  the  way  of  life : 
'  Look  well  that  your  flight  be  not  on  the  sabbath-day  or  in 
the  winter."  Considering  these  things,  I,  Peter,  unworthy 
sinner  as  I  am,  wishing  to  make  some  provision  for  my 

1  Matt.  xxiv.  33;  Mark  xiii.  29.     This  quotation  does  not  exactly  cor- 
respond with  the  Vulgate. 

2  Matt.  xxiv.  20. 


A  D.  1076.]  PEIOliT   OF    MATJLE.  217 

future  welfare,  desire  to  bring  the  bees  of  God's  hive  into 
my  orchards,  that  they  may  make  honey  and  fill  their  cells 
with  honey-comb,  rendering  thanks  to  their  Creator,  and 
sometimes  bearing  in  mind  their  benefactor.  I  therefore 
freely  make  these  trifling  offerings  from  my  possessions  to 
St.  Evroult,  that  the  brethren  dwelling  there  may  have 
wherewith  to  sustain  life  and  may  be  better  able  to  remem- 
ber me  before  God.  Whereas,  whether  we  will  or  no,  we 
must  leave  all  things  here,  and  after  death,  nothing  can 
profit  us  but  the  good  we  may  have  done  in  our  lives,  I  have 
given  and  granted,  and  do  give  and  grant,  these  lands  and 
hereditaments  to  St.  Evroult ;  and  by  this  instrument  in 
writing  under  my  hand  do,  for  the  good  of  my  soul,  ratify 
and  confirm  the  same  for  ever.  I  give  the  two  churches  iu 
the  village  of  Maule,1  that  is  to  say,  the  church  of  St.  Mary, 
and  the  church  of  SS.  Germain  and  Vincent,  with  the  church- 
yards, and  all  which  belongs  to  the  parsonage :  also,  one 
plough-land  and  four  cottiers'  tenements,  and  land  for  a 
habitation  for  the  monks,  with  one  orchard,  and  the  quit- 
rent  of  three  half-acres  in  the  vineyard  of  La  Meniere, 
which  Walter  the  Blind,  and  his  nephew  Hugh,  sumamed 
Muscosus,  gave  to  St.  Mary.  All  these  I  give  for  ever  to 
the  monks  of  St.  Evroult,  to  hold  as  freely  as  I  hold  the 
same.  Also,  if  any  of  my  tenants  should  wish  to  give  any- 
thing to  the  holy  monks  in  frank-almoign,  whatever  shall  be 
so  given,  without  prejudice  to  my  claims  of  fealty  and 
without  interfering  with  my  right  of  jurisdiction,  I  freely 
grant  for  myself  and  my  heirs,  in  such  sort  and  with  this 
irrevocable  provision,  that  if  any  of  them  should  forfeit  his 
fief  for  any  default,  nevertheless  the  church  shall  not  lose 
what  it  so  holds  in  frank-almoign.  All  this  is  confirmed  by 
my  wifo  Windesmoth,  and  my  sons  Ansold,  Theobald,  and 
William,  who  religiously  engage  to  defend  this  charitable 
gift,  as  long  as  they  live,. against  all  impugners  to  the  utmost 

1  Maule,  where  stood  the  priory  affiliated  to  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult  of 
which  our  author  gives  an  account  in  this  chapter,  is  situated  not  far  from 
Paris,  between  Poissy  and  Mantes.  The  church  of  Notre  Dame  here 
mentioned  is  the  parish  church,  being  now  dedicated  to  St.  Nicholas. 
The  site  of  the  priory  may  still  be  traced  on  the  south  of  the  church,  with 
some  vestiges  of  the  buildings.  The  church  of  St.  Vincent  has  completely 
disappeared  since  the  revolution,  except  the  base  of  the  tower,  which  has 
been  worked  into  a  house. 


218  OEDEEICTJS  VITALIB.  [B.V.  CH.XXX. 

of  their  power.  Those  also  who  owe  me  fealty,  seeing  my 
good-will  towards  the  servants  of  God  and  encouraged  by 
my  good  example,  have  joined  the  brotherhood  of  the  monks 
and  have  made  them  liberal  endowments  out  of  their  lands. 
All  the  knights  of  Maule  have  earnestly  sought  to  belong  to 
their  society,  and  have  been  admitted  faithful  members  of 
their  fraternity,  that,  aided  by  the  prayers  of  the  convent, 
they  may  be  the  better  able  to  resist  the  assaults  of  the  evil 
spirits. 

"  Thus  Hugh,  son  of  Odo,  who  was  distinguished  among 
his  fellow  townsmen  for  wealth  and  property,  gave  to  the 
church  of  St.  Mary  and  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult  all  the 
tithes  of  his  lands  in  Maule,  viz.,  of  corn  and  wine,  of  the  mill 
and  oven,  of  pigs,  sheep,  geese,  wool,  hemp,  flax,  and  all 
things  from  which  tithes  are  due.  And  if  his  tenants  should 
plough  fresh  land,  the  monks  shall  have  the  same  tithe  as 
Hugh  himself  would  have  done.  His  son  Paganus-Odo  at 
first  refused  to  confirm  this  grant,  but  afterwards,  being 
taken  prisoner  by  the  French  at  Mellent,  he  thought  better 
of  it,  and,  compelled  by  the  power  of  God,  both  he  and  his 
wife  Elizabeth  and  their  sons  Hugh  and  Simon  absolutely 
granted  the  before  mentioned  tithes  to  St.  Mary,  laying 
the  deed  of  gift  on  the  altar  in  my  presence  and  before  my 
son  Ansold  and  Peter  who  was  yet  a  child,  and  many  others. 
The  monks  gave  to  Paganus  ten  pounds  in  pennies,  and  twenty 
shillings  to  his  wife.  Also,  Adelelm  de  Gaseran  committed 
to  the  monks  his  son  Amauri,  with  the  tithes  of  Puiseux,1 
granting  the  tithes  to  the  church  for  ever,  for  seven  pounds, 
if  the  boy  died  within  seven  years.  But  the  boy  grew  up, 
and  lived  to  become  a  priest,  long  holding  the  tithes  of  Pui- 
seux, and  at  his  death  bequeathing  them  to  the  monks  very 
justly,  as  they  had  brought  him  up  and  carefully  educated 
him.  Also,  Hugh  the  son  of  Walo,  surnamed  Fresnil, 
before  he  became  a  monk,  gave  three  cottier's  tene- 
ments2 to  St.  Mary ;  and  Stephen  the  son  of  Gilbert  gave 
to  the  monks  half  a  plough-land  at  Goupillieres  ;  and  although 
this  did  not  belong  to  my  fief,  I  have  nevertheless  confirmed 
the  grant  by  my  charter.  All  these  lands  and  premises, 

1  There  are  two  places  of  this  name,  one  near  Pontoise,  the  other 
between  Dreux  and  Chartres. 

=  Tres  hospites.    See  note,  p.  189. 


A.D.  1076—1100.]      PEIOBT   OF  MATTLE.  219 

given  by  me  and  my  friends  to  the  monks,  I  fully  grant ;  and 
I  also,  as  a  benefactor  to  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult,  assent  to 
whatever  gifts  my  mesne-tenants  may  make,  saving  only 
their  fealty  to  me  and  my  rights  of  jurisdiction.  Moreover,  I 
trust  that  if  any  one,  instigated  by  the  malice  of  the  devil, 
should  be  so  envious  or  perverse  as  to  have  the  presumption  to 
violate  or  infringe  these  our  grants,  he  will  forthwith  repent  of 
his  insane  attempt,  lest  he  should  be  condemned  by  the  righte- 
ous Judge  in  the  day  of  judgment  to  have  his  part  with  the 
reprobate  and  the  doubly  dead,1  for  the  sin  of  his  iniquitious 
and  sacrilegioxis  aggression." 

The  noble  person  before  mentioned  confirmed  this  char- 
ter with  his  own  signature,  and  gave  abbot  Mainier  seisin 
of  the  afore-mentioned  lands  in  the  presence  of  many  credi- 
ble witnesses.  There  were  present  his  own  sons,  Ansold, 
Theobald,  and  "William,  and  his  sons-in-law  "Walter  de  Poissi, 
and  Baudri  de  Dreux  ;  together  with  the  chief  men  of  Maule, 
Hugh  and  Stephen,  Walter  the  priest,  and  "Walter,  a  knight 
whose  surname  was  La  Cote,  with  Richer  the  provost,  Fulk 
son  of  Fulcher,  Hugh  and  Odo  sons  of  Walo,  Herve  son  of 
Everard,  and  the  greatest  part  of  the  parishioners  of  Maule. 
Abbot  Mainier  then  appointed  Goisbert  prior  of  that  cell, 
and  he  shortly  afterwards  finished  the  little  church  which 
Godfrey,  a  priest  of  great  simplicity  and  innocence,  had 
begun  building.  Not  long  afterwards,  the  monks  gaining 
ground  both  within  and  without,  and  the  worthy  parishioners 
rejoicing  at  their  progress,  the  old  church  of  St.  Mary  was 
taken  down,  and  the  foundations  of  a  new  and  handsome 
structure  being  laid,  the  work  was  carried  on  in  an  ele- 
gant style  of  architecture,  as  occasion  offered,  for  twenty 
years,  while  Goisbert,  Guitmond,  Roger,  and  Hugh  were 
priors.2  Many  monks  have  dwelt  there  up  to  the  present 
day,  piously  devoted  to  God's  service. 

1  liiothanatis.  This  word  properly  signifies  those  who  perish  by  a 
violent  death,  but  the  translation  adopted  is  the  false  signification  given  it 
in  the  middle  ages,  after  Isidore  of  Seville. 

a  M.  Le  Provost  remarks  on  this  passage,  that  what  our  author  says 
about  the  rebuilding  the  church  of  Maule  must  not  be  taken  quite  literally. 
A  personal  inspection  satisfied  him  that  Goisbert  and  his  successors  did  not 
level  to  the  ground  the  erection  of  Prior  Godfrey,  but  were  content  with 
adding  to  it.  In  particular,  the  apsis  appeared  to  be  evidently  their  work, 
except  some  older  remains  very  easy  to  be  distinguished.  But  the  whole 


220  OBDEEICTJS   YITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.IIX 

Peter,  lord  of  Maule,  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  the  eccle- 
siastical foundation  and  congregation  of  the  people  there, 
thanks  to  his  liberal  patronage,  continually  gained  ground. 
He  was  much  beloved  by  his  tenants  and  neighbours,  because 
his  manners  were  frank,  and  he  did  not  entrench  himself 
with  craft  and  deceit.  His  alms  were  bountiful  and  he  de- 
lighted in  the  practice,  but  he  had  no  liking  for  fasts,  and 
as  far  as  it  was  in  his  power  shunned  having  any  thing  to  do 
with  them.  He  was  free  in  giving  promises  and  sometimes 
made  away  with  things  of  value  for  a  worthless  price.  He 
was,  at  once  both  covetous  and  prodigal.  It  was  no 
concern  of  his  from  whence  his  good  cheer  came,  nor  did  he 
care  whether  his  means  of  living  were  obtained  by  robbery 
or  paid  for  fairly,  nor,  again,  however  they  were  gotten,  how 
lavishly  they  were  bestowed ;  so  that  he  had  never  the  com- 
mand of  much  money.  Peter  had  four  sons  by  his  wife 
"Windesmoth,  Ansold,  Theobald,  "Warm,  and  "William,  and  as 
many  daughters,  Hubeline,  Erenburge,  Odeline,  and  Her- 
sende.  They  brought  him  many  grandchildren,  who,  experi- 
encing the  vicisitudes  of  this  uncertain  life,  met  with  various 
fortunes,  according  to  Grod's  providence  which  rules  all 
things.  At  last,  worn  out  with  age,  he  died  on  the  second 
of  the  ides  [12th]  of  January,  and  was  buried  in  the  monks' 
cloister  on  the  south  side  01  the  church.1  John  of  Eheims 
wrote  his  epitaph  in  these  terms : — 

Lord  PETER,  born  of  noble  race, 

And  heir  to  lands  of  boundless  space, 

Lies  buried  in  his  native  earth, 

Among  the  tokens  of  his  worth. 

But  though  a  knight  of  high  degree, 

'Twas  not  by  deeds  of  chivalry 

He  won  a  never  dying  name; 

Such  honours  blazon  not  his  fame. 

He  prudent  shrunk  from  war's  alarms, 

And  feasting  pleased  him  more  than  arms : 

of  the  north  wall  of  the  nave,  and  even  a  small  portion  of  the  south  wall, 
towards  the  west  end,  appeared  to  him  to  be  the  remains  of  Godfrey's 
church.  Perhaps  the  short  and  massive  pillars,  and  rustic  arcades  above 
(which  recall  to  the  Norman  observer  the  nave  of  Briquebec),  belong  also 
to  the  older  building.  The  accounts  given  of  churches  completely  levelled, 
to  make  room  for  others,  in  the  middle  ages,  and  particularly  in  the  llth 
and  12th  centuries,  must  be  received  with  some  reserve. 
1  There  are  no  remains  of  this  cloister. 


A.D.  1100.]        EPITAPH   OF   PETEE   DE   MATTLE.  221 

Good  humoured,  lavish,  jovial,  free, 
He  spent  his  days  in  revelry. 
His  liberal  bounty  never  failed, 
He  lived  beloved  and  died  bewailed. 
Devotion  stirred  him,  highest  praise, 
In  Mary's  name  this  house  to  raise. 
0  Virgin  Mother,  intercede 
To  speed  him  well  in  day  of  need  ! 
Revolving  centuries  ten  and  one, 
In  the  world's  age  their  course  had  run. 
And  now  six  times  the  new  year's  sun 
In  clouds  and  gloom  the  zenith  won, 
When  good  lord  Peter  bowed  his  head, 
Numbered  among  his  fathers  dead. 
Ye  men  of  Paris,  him  lament, 
With  you  his  youthful  days  he  spent. 
And  saints !  your  merits  be  the  price 
To  win  him  rest  in  Paradise ! 

Ansold,  Peter's  son,  was  in  many  respects  unlike  his 
father ;  his  virtues  were  more  eminent,  or,  to  say  the  least, 
they  were  equal.  His  disposition  was  excellent  and  magna- 
nimous, he  was  tall  and  powerful  in  person,  and  a  most  gal- 
lant soldier ;  he  exercised  his  authority  with  great  dignity, 
and  his  decisions  were  marked  by  justice ;  he  was  prompt  and 
eloquent  in  argument,  and  might  almost  be  reckoned  a  phi- 
losopher. He  was  a  constant  attendant  at  church  and 
listened  with  attention  to  the  sacred  discourses  delivered 
there.  He  studied  history  in  the  works  of  ancient  writers, 
diligently  investigating  their  learned  records,  and  commit- 
ting the  lives  of  the  men  of  old,  which  he  heard  related,  to 
his  tenacious  memory.  He  held  in  abhorrence  unfaithful 
narratives,  and  those  who  corrupted  the  word  of  God,  and 
were  greedy  for  base  gains ;  and  he  delighted  in  publicly  con- 
futing dangerous  sophisms  which  might  lead  astray  simple 
minds.  He  paid  great  respect  to  his  pious  mother,  VVindes- 
moth,  and  obeyed  her  in  all  things  like  a  dutiful  son.  She 
was  descended  from  a  noble  family  in  the  district  of  Troyes, 
and,  surviving  her  husband,  lived  nearly  fifteen  years  in 
widowhood  and  devotion  to  God.  Happy  mother,  whose 
old  age  was  solaced  in  her  husband's  chamber  by  the  affec- 
tionate care  of  her  son.  Having  him  at  her  side  as  her 
steadfast  supporter,  she  received  there  the  last  sacraments 
and  then  departed.  Being  thence  conveyed  to  the  tomb 


222  OEDEBICUS  TITALI8.  [B.T.  CH.XIX. 

with  great  respect  by  her  loving  son,  her  corpse  was  in- 
terred with  high  honour  in  the  body  of  the  church  by  the 
bide  of  the  partner  of  her  bed. 

This  knight  was  distinguished  in  his  youth  by  his  noble 
acts ;  for,  leaving  all  his  acquaintance,  kinsfolk,  and  relations, 
he  displayed  his  innate  valour  in  foreign  countries.  Italy 
was  his  choice ;  where  he  joined  the  brave  duke  G-uiscard  in 
his  expedition  into  Greece,  and  fought  gallantly  in  the  bat- 
tle in  which  Alexius,  emperor  of  Constantinople,  was  defeated 
and  put  to  flight.1  After  a  time  he  was  prevailed  on,  by  the 
earnest  entreaty  of  his  father,  to  return  to  France,  and  he 
then  married  a  noble  and  virtuous  young  lady,  whose  name 
was  Adeline,  daughter  of  Ralph  surnamed  Malvoisin,2  who 
had  the  castle  of  Mantes.  This  man  of  arms  might  have 
been  taken  for  a  model  even  by  persons  living  under  the  mo- 
nastic rule ;  such  was  the  frugality  with  which  he  led  all  who 
associated  with  him  to  a  prudent  course  of  life,  and  such  the 
limits  of  temperance  to  which  he  restricted  himself.  He 
never  tasted  apples  in  an  orchard,  grapes  in  a  vineyard, 
or  nuts  in  the  woods,  taking  food  only  when  the  table  was 
spread  at  regular  hours ;  for  he  said  that  it  was  the  part  of  a 
beast,  and  not  of  a  man,  to  eat  what  chance  offered  without 
regard  to  time  or  place.  Content  with  lawful  marriage,  he 
was  strictly  chaste,  and  instead  of  attacking  licentiousness  and 
obscenity  like  a  layman  in  vulgar  phrases,  he  distinctly  con- 
demned it  with  the  pointed  observations  of  a  doctor  of  the 
church.  Fasting  and  all  bodily  abstinence  he  praised  in 
others,  and  resolutely  practised  himself,  so  far  as  it  is  re- 
quired of  a  layman.  He  made  no  predatory  incursions,  but 
carefully  husbanded  his  own  property  and  the  fruit  of  his 
labours ;  making  however  the  lawful  payments  of  tithes,  first- 
fruits,  and  alms  which  his  ancestors  had  granted  to  the 
servants  of  God.  He  not  only  gave  nothing  to  strollers, 

1  This  battle  was  fought  near  Durazzo,  "  the  western  key  of  the  Greek 
empire,"  in  Epirus,  on  the  18th  of  October,  1081.  The  Anglo-Danes  in 
the  service  of  Alexius,  the  celebrated  Varangi,  who  formed  the  emperor's 
body  guard,  were  the  main  strength  of  his  army.  Having  fled  from 
Norman  oppression  in  the  west,  they  encountered  their  former  enemy  on 
new  ground.  See  chap.  iii.  of  our  author's  present  book,  p.  10,  and  the 
note. 

*  This  family,  which  was  originally  of  Mantes,  settled  in  Normandv, 
where  it  had  domains  near  Evreux,  and  at  Serquigni  near  Bernai. 


A.D.  1106.]        THE  THIED  CEUSADE.  223 

buffoons,  and  dancing  girls,  but  would  have  no  kind  of 
intercourse  or  familiar  conversation  with  them.  He  had 
seven  sons  and  two  daughters  by  his  lawful  wife,  whom  he 
had  married  when  she  was  very  young,  forming  her  docile 
mind  to  modesty  and  virtue.  Their  names  are:  Peter, 
Ralph,  Warin,  Lisiard,  G-uy,  Ansold  and  Hugh ;  Mary  and 
Windesmoth ;  of  whose  lives  the  page  of  history  may  record 
something  in  the  proper  place. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1106,  towards  the  end  of 
February,  when  a  comet  was  seen  in  the  west,  emitting  a 
long  and  fiery  tail,1  Bohemond,  the  famous  duke  came  to 
France  after  the  capture  of  Antioch,  and  married  Constance, 
daughter  of  Philip,  king  'of  France.2  The  marriage  was 
celebrated  with  great  ceremony  at  Chartres,  the  Countess 
Adela  providing  every  thing  necessary  with  profuse 
liberality.  At  that  time  the  third  crusade  of  the  people  of 
the  West  to  Jerusalem  was  set  on  foot,  and  a  vast  concourse 
of  many  thousands  advanced  through  Thrace,3  threatening  to 
tread  under  foot  the  Byzantine  dynasty.  But  the  righteou. 
providence  of  Grod  frustrated  the  enterprises  of  those  who 
burned  with  desire  to  invade  their  neighbour's  property ;  so 
that  this  proud  gathering  of  the  ambitious  missed  the  prize 
which  they  vainly  thought  was  within  their  reach.  The 
same  year,  three  weeks  after  the  comet  appeared,  Ansold  de 
Maule,  actuated  by  his  fears  of  divine  vengeance,  presented 
himself  humbly  in  the  court  held  at  St.  Mary's  church,  and 
with  tears  of  penitence  made  voluntary  satisfaction  for  some 
contentions  he  had  with  the  monks.  He  then,  in  the 
presence  of  all  his  barons,  who  were  assembled  in  the  monk's 
dormitory,  granted  to  the  church  and  St.  Mary  of  Maule  all 
the  lands  that  his  father  Peter,  and  Hugh,  Paganus,  and 

1  It  is  supposed  that  this  comet  is  the  one  which  appeared  in  1680.  It 
was  visible  in  the  west  of  Europe  from  the  7th  of  February  till  an  advanced 
period  of  the  month  of  March.  Notwithstanding  what  our  author  says,  it 
was  more  remarkable  for  its  brightness  than  for  the  length  of  its  tail. 

8  Antioch  was  taken  by  the  crusaders  in  1098.  In  1104  Bohemond 
returned  to  Italy,  and  from  thence  came  to  France,  where  he  married,  in 
the  spring  of  1 1 06,  Constance,  daughter  of  Philip  I.  and  Bertha  of  Holland. 
She  had  been  married,  in  1101,  to  Hugh,  count  of  Champagne,  and  though 
divorced  on  account  of  nearness  of  kindred  in  1104,  the  Countess  Adela 
continued  to  treat  her  as  her  sister-in-law. 

5  Contra  Thraces  is  the  exact  reading.     There  is  another  contra  Turcos. 


224  OBDEBICTTS  YITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.XIX. 

Anastasius,  Bobert  the  son  of  Hubeline,  and  Herve  son  of 
Everard,  Odo  son  of  Walo,  and  Fulk,  and  Bicher,  sons  of 
Fulcher,  and  other  his  liege-men,  of  whatever  condition,  had 
given  or  should  give,  excepting  always  the  fealty  due  to 
himself;  with  this  provision,  that  if  either  of  them  should 
forfeit  his  fief  for  any  default,  the  church  should  nevertheless 
not  lose  her  rights  of  frank-almoign.  Ansold  also  granted 
that  the  tithe  which  his  sister  Hersende  received  as  her  mar- 
riage portion,  and  before  her  death  had  given  to  St.  Mary,  by 
the  delivery  of  a  rod1  into  the  hand  of  John,  monk  and 
priest,  should,  after  the  death  of  his  nephew  Peter  freely 
belong  to  the  church.  He  also  gave  to  St.  Mary  the  quarry 
of  mill-stones  in  the  wood  of  Beule,2  so  that  for  each  mill- 
stone two  pence  should  be  given  towards  the  lights  in  the 
church,  and  whoever  should  defraud  the  church  should  forfeit 
six  pence.  Before,  sixty  pence  were  paid  for  an  offence  of 
this  description,  but  as  the  ecclesiastical  law  is  more  humane 
than  the  civil,  fifty-five  pence  were  remitted,  and  only  five 
taken.  Ansold  and  his  wife  Adeline,  and  his  two  sons  Peter 
and  Balph,  placed  the  deed  of  gift  of  these  possessions  on 
the  altar  of  St.  Mary  by  the  side  of  the  missal ;  at  which 
ceremony  all  the  knights  of  Maule  were  present. 

Ansold  declared  his  eldest  son  Peter  heir  to  his  whole 
estates,  and  the  boy  received  the  homage  and  fealty  of  all  the 
knights  of  Maule,  Goscelin  de  Mareil  being  their  spokes- 
man  and  scribe.  There  were  present  "William,  Ansold's 
brother,  and  Bobert  his  nephew,  the  knight  Guibold, 
son  of  Balph  Malvoisin,  Odo-Paganus  son  of  Hugh,  and 
Gilbert  Fitz-Haimon,  Odo  son  of  Walo,  and  his  sons 
Peter  and  Arnulf,  Pulk  son  of  Fulcher,  and  his  two 
nephews,  G-eoffrey  and  Odo,  Grimold  son  of  Alman,  and 
Walter  son  of  Fulk. 

The  knight  so  often  mentioned  administered  justly  the 
iurisdiction  he  inherited  from  his  fathers  for  eighteen 
years,  being  in  all  things  the  faithful  patron  of  the  monks, 
and  having  daily  edifying  conferences  with  them.  So  far 
from  diminishing  their  endowments,  he  made,  as  before 

1  See  note,  page  202. 

a  Mill-stone  quarries  are  still  worked  in  this  wood,  and  in  other  spots  in 
the  neighbourhood. 


CHAETEE   OF   ANSOLD   DE   MATTLE.  225 

observed,  some  augmentations,  and  his  deed  of  gift  is  couched 
in  these  terms : — 

"  I,  Arnold,  do  give  and  confirm  all  that  my  father  Peter 
on  behalf  of  his  ancestors,  Arnulph  and  Warin,  and  his 
other  relations,  gave  to  God  and  St.  Mary,  and  the  monks 
of  St.  Evroult,  in  the  same  manner  and  form  that  he  granted 
the  same.  The  tithes  also  of  Maule,  which  my  two  sisters 
hold  as  their  marriage  dowry,  viz.,  Eremburge  the  wife  of 
Baudri  de  Dreux,  and  Hersende  wife  of  Hugh  de  Voisins,1 
if  the  monks  can  obtain  them  from  my  grandsons  either  by 
gift  or  bargain,  I  freely  grant  as  far  as  concerns  myself 
and  my  children.  I  know  that  tithes  are  the  portion  of 
God,  and  that  he  thought  fit  in  the  old  times  to  retain  them, 
through  Moses,  for  the  support  of  the  Levites.  No  wise 
man  can  therefore,  I  think,  be  ignorant  that  whosoever 
persists  in  living  by  such  robbery  exposes  himself  to  a 
terrible  retribution  hereafter.  Moreover,  I  give  the  mill- 
stone quarry  in  the  wood  of  Beule2  to  St.  Mary,  in  such  wise 
that  two  pence  be  given  for  each  mill-stone  towards  the 
lights  of  the  church.  And  whoever  makes  default  shall  pay 
five  pence,  instead  of  the  sixty  hitherto  forfeited.  Adeline 
my  wife,  and  Peter  and  Ealph  my  sons,  confirm  this  grant. 
In  return  we  have  the  good  offices  of  the  monks,  and  the  privi- 
lege of  being  associated  with  them ;  and  in  testimony  thereof 
I  have  received  as  a  gift  from  the  monks  one  horse,  worth  a 
hundred  shillings,  which  belonged  to  Grimold  de  Saulx- 
marchais.  I  therefore,  with  my  wife  and  sons,  grant  this 
charter,  by  which  I  freely  and  without  reserve  make  this 
irrevocable  donation  to  the  church,  that  through  God's  mercy 
I  may  be  admitted  into  the  society  of  the  faithful.  Amen." 

Germund  Rufus  of  Montfort,  when  he  was  dying,  gave  to 
St.  Mary  and  the  monks  living  at  Maule  the  half  of  all  his 
possessions  in  Puisieux,  for  the  repose  of  his  soul,  his  wife 
Eremburge,  of  whose  dowry  the  land  formed  a  part,  and  his 
sons  Hugh  and  Walter,  consenting.  It  was  then  appointed 
that  the  heirs  who  should  hold  the  land  should  perform  all 
the  service  due  to  the  lord  in  whose  fief  it  was,  and  the 
returns  from  the  woods  and  the  open  field  should  be  collected 
wherever  it  was  agreed  on  both  sides,  and  divided  in  equal 

1  Probably  Voisins  le  Bretonneux,  to  the  south-west  of  Versailles. 
*  See  note  in  the  preceding  page. 
YOL.  II.  Q 


226  OKDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.XIX. 

shares.  At  that  time  Hugh  de  Gace  was  prior  of  Maule, 
who  stood  by  with  several  others  when  the  deed  of  gift  was 
placed  on  the  altar  of  St.  Mary,  before  the  corpse  of  the 
deceased  was  committed  to  the  earth.  Afterwards,  when 
Walter,  the  son  of  the  before  mentioned  Germund,  was 
made  a  knight,  he  denied  his  having  agreed  to  this  donation, 
asserting  that  his  father  had  given  the  land  to  him  before  the 
gift  to  the  monks.  Wherefore  the  monks  went  to  Amauri, 
count  de  Montfort,  and  lodged  a  complaint  with  him  of  the 
disturbance  given  them  by  Walter.  The  count,  taking 
jurisdiction  of  the  affair,  the  following  agreement  was  made 
between  the  disputants.  The  monks  paid  the  young  Walter 
forty  shillings  at  Montfort,  and  he  granted  them  the  lands 
above  mentioned  in  the  presence  of  Richelde,  Amauri's  wife. 
On  the  next  Sunday,  both  brothers,  Hugh  and  Walter, 
confirmed  the  grant  at  Maule,  placing  the  deed  of  gift  on  the 
altar,  in  the  presence  of  David  the  prior  and  the  rest  of  the 
monks,  and  of  Ansold,  and  his  son  Peter,  and  all  the  clergy 
and  people  assembled  in  the  church.  Afterwards,  their 
brothers  Engenold,  and  Herve,  made  the  same  grant.  This 
was  done  the  year  that  Henry  king  of  England  attacked  the 
castle  of  St.  Clair  in  France,1  while,  on  the  other  hand, 
Lewis  king  of  France  built  the  castle  of  Gani  in  Normandy, 
from  whence  ensued  cruel  wars  between  them,  attended  with 
great  losses. 

Nivard  de  Hargeville  gave  all  his  lands  of  Boinville  to  the 
monks  of  Maule  and  half  the  tithes  thereof,  for  which  he 
received  by  the  goodwill  of  the  monks  twenty-eight  shillings. 
His  brother  Simon  confirmed  the  gift,  whereupon  Hugh  the 
prior  gave  him  a  pair  of  Cordovan  shoes.  Peter,  also,  and 
Guarimbold,  sons  of  Nivard,  confirmed  the  gift  their  father 
had  made,  and  each  of  them  received  shoes  worth  six  pennies. 
On  the  following  Sunday,  Mvard  came  to  Maule,  and 
deposited  the  deed  of  gift  on  the  altar  before  all  the  parish- 
ioners. 

Geoffrey  de  Marcq,  having  taken  on  himself  the  monastic 
rule  at  Maule,  gave  to  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult  the  whole 
church  of  Marcq,  with  half  the  churchyard  and  half  the 
tithes.  Emmeline  his  wife,  and  their  sons  William,  Simon, 

1  Saint-Clair-sur-Epte.  The  events  which  are  merely  alluded  to  here 
are  described  in  the  beginning  of  our  author's  twelfth  book. 


GttANTS  TO   THE   PEIOET   OP   MAULE.  227 

Hugh,  Stephen,  and  Paganus,  confirmed  the  same.  After- 
wards Hugh  Bufus  de  Fresnai,  under  whose  fief  Geoffrey 
held,  came  to  Maule,  and,  on  the  petition  of  the  monks, 
released  what  Geoffrey  had  given  from  all  services  ;  so  that 
whether  the  inheritors  of  Marcq  did  their  fealty,  or  made 
default  in  the  service  due  from  them,  the  monks  should 
for  ever  hold  in  frank-almoign.  His  brother  "Walter  granted 
the  same. 

Walter,  son  of  Heldeburge,  after  having  received  a  mortal 
wound,  gave  to  the  monks  at  Maule  all  the  tithes  which  he 
had  at  Puisieux,  of  the  fief  of  Herve,  son  of  Everard.  His 
wife  Isemburge,  with  "Walter's  three  brothers,  Bichard, 
Theobald,  and  Geoffrey,  were  present,  and  ratified  the  gift. 
Herve  also  confirmed  all  the  tithes  of  Puisieux  which 
belonged  to  him,  and  Simon  de  Toiri  gave  to  the  monks  that 
part  of  the  tithes  which  was  in  his  lordship.  The  monks, 
also,  to  satisfy  all  claims,  gave  to  Herve  one  house,  with  many 
chattels,  for  four  pounds  in  pennies  and  one  arpent  of  vine- 
yard at  La  Gard,  which  Walter,  son  of  Alpes,  had  given  to 
St.  Mary;  and  to  Adeline  his  wife,  of  whose  dowry  it  was 
part,  one  piece  of  fustian ;  also  to  Simon  twenty  shillings, 
and  to  his  wife,  of  whose  inheritance  it  was  part,  three 
shillings. 

Baldric  the  Bed,  of  Montfort,  on  his  becoming  a  monk, 
gave  to  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult  the  rent  which  he  had  at 
Mantes,  viz.  ten  shillings  and  a  sestary  of  salt.1  The  monks 
of  Fecamp,  who  had  a  cell  at  Mantes,  paid  this  at  the  feast 
of  St.  Bemi.  Baldric  also  gave  whatever  interest  be  had  in 
the  church  and  tithes  of  Jumeauville,  and  twelve  pence, 
which  the  sons  of  Burge  paid  him  for  quit-rent  of  a  farm 
called  La  Concie.  His  wife  also  confirmed  this,  and  received 
for  it  one  cow.  Geoffrey  his  son  also  granted  the  same  to 
the  monks,  and  received  from  them  a  horse  worth  sixty 
shillings,  and  also  twenty  shillings  in  money.  The  sure 
witnesses  were  Ansold,  lord  of  Maule,  and  Peter  his  son, 
Geoffrey,  son  of  Bicher,  and  Grimold,  son  of  Alman, 
Amauri  Floenel,  and  many  others.  On  the  death  of  Baldric, 
his  son  disputed  the  property,  but,  in  consideration  of 
twenty  shillings  more,  paid  to  him,  he  renewed  the  grant. 
In  consequence,  he  went  to  Mantes  with  David  the  prior, 

1  A  measure  holding  about  a  pint  and  a  half,  or  twenty-four  ounces. 
Q  2 


228  OBDEBICUS   YITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.XIX. 

and  gave  directions  to  the  monks  of  Fecamp,  who  lived  at 
St.  George,  that  they  should  pay  yearly  to  the  monks  of 
Maule  the  six  shillings  and  sestary  of  salt  which  they  used 
to  pay  to  his  father.  Also,  William,  son  of  Henry  de 
Richebourg,  in  whose  lordship  it  was,  granted  it  to  the 
monks,  and  he  received  from  them  ten  shillings  and  half  a 
muid  of  wine  as  a  gratuity. 

Eremburge,  daughter  of  Peter  de  Maule,  and  Amauri  her 
son  restored  to  the  church  the  moiety  of  the  tithes  which 
they  had  unjustly  detained,  and  deposited  the  deed  of  gift 
on  the  altar  of  St.  Mary,  mother  of  God,  before  all  the 
people.  The  lord  Ansold,  the  proposer  and  faithful  upholder 
of  this  grant,  was  present,  and  confirmed  it,  with  his  sons 
Peter  and  Ralph.  Then  the  monks,  to  redeem  the  tithes, 
which  were  mortgaged  to  William  de  Maule  for  twenty 
pounds,  gave  ten  pounds  to  Eremburge,  and  granted  three 
arpents  of  vineyard  to  him  and  his  heir.  But  when  Erem- 
burge took  the  veil,  she  and  the  forenamed  Amauri,  her 
son,  gave  their  part  of  the  aforesaid  tithes  to  God,  and 
deposited  the  deed  of  gift  on  the  altar  as  before,  by  the  side 
of  the  gospels.  There  were  present  William  de  Maule,  and 
Robert  his  nephew,  and  Geoffrey  his  brother-in-law,  with 
Odo-Paganus,  and  Odo,  son  of  Walo,  and  Eulk  the  clerk, 
and  Geoffrey,  son  of  Richer,  who  gave  thanks  to  God,  who 
had  delivered  this  woman  from  the  fatal  burden  of  an  impious 
rapacity. 

Thus  the  priory  at  Maule  grew  rich  by  the  address  of  its 
occupants  and  the  gifts  of  those  who  flocked  to  it ;  but  it 
suffered  a  great  loss  in  the  death  of  Ansold  its  worthy 
patron.  Having  borne  arms  for  fifty-three  years,  old  age 
coming  on,  he  fell  sick,  and  having  lingered  for  nearly  seven 
weeks,  prepared  himself  for  appearing  before  the  judgment- 
seat  of  the  Most  High  by  confession  and  penitence.  He 
did  not  take  to  his  bed,  but  went  daily  to  the  offices  of  the 
church,  and  retained  complete  possession  of  his  faculty  of 
memory  and  gift  of  speech,  but,  notwithstanding,  he  was 
sensible  of  the  entire  decay  of  the  bodily  powers,  from 
which  physicians  prognosticate  that  men  will  either  sink  or 
rally,  and  that  there  was  no  escaping  the  imminent  approach 
of  death.  Anxious,  therefore,  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul, 
he  turned  to  the  Lord  with  all  his  heart,  and  applied  himself 


A.D.  1118.]  ANSOLD'S  LAST  DATS.  229 

zealously  to  fulfil  what  wise  men  had  taught  him,  and  he  had 
carefully  committed  to  memory.  In  consequence,  hearing 
one  night  the  church  bell,  he  got  up  and  went  to  the  church, 
attended  by  one  faithful  servant,  and  prayed  to  Q-od  to 
accept  his  offering,  and  to  accomplish  his  desires.  When 
matins  were  ended,  he  summoned  the  monks  to  his  side,  and, 
opening  his  mind  to  them,  entreated  them  to  admit  him 
into  their  brotherhood.  David  was  then  prior,  and  there 
were  with  him  the  worthy  monks  and  priests  John  of 
Bheims,  Osbern,  and  Odo.  "With  these  it  was  Ansold's 
fervent  desire  to  be  associated  in  their  monastic  habit,  as 
well  as  in  spirit ;  saying,  that  he  had  now  divested  himself 
of  all  concern  about  his  wife  and  children,  that  he  had  done 
with  worldly  power  and  possessions,  that  death  was  near, 
and  his  only  desire  was  to  draw  closer  to  God,  and  that  his 
request  ought  not  to  be  refused.  The  monks  rejoiced  much 
at  hearing  his  pious  wishes,  but  deferred  acceding  to  them 
for  two  days,  in  consequence  of  the  absence  of  his  eldest 
son  and  heir.  Ansold  bore  the  delay  with  impatience,  so 
eager  was  his  desire  for  the  spiritual  rewards  which  the 
Master  of  the  household  reserves  for  his  watching  servants. 
He  declared  that  all  he  wished  and  hoped  for  was  to  live 
and  die  with  the  poor  in  Christ,  that  he  might  be  a  partaker 
in  the  promises  which  Q-od  has  made  to  such  his  children. 
The  two  days  being  elapsed,  he  summoned  his  son  and  his 
wife  to  his  presence,  and  giving  many  directions  to  his  son 
before  several  knights,  thus  addressed  him  in  the  hearing  of 
a  number  of  persons  of  both  sexes  and  different  ages : — 

"  My  dearly  beloved, son,  whom  I  have  brought  up  with 
great  care,  that  I  might  leave  an  heir  and  successor  accept- 
able to  God  and  man,  lay  up  carefully  in  your  memory  what 
I  am  about  to  say  to  you  very  seriously.  In  the  first  place, 
love  God  at  all  times  and  before  all  things.  Fear  and 
honour  your  bishop  and  king  as  your  earthly  superiors,  and 
endeavour  to  obey  their  commands  as  far  as  in  you  lies. 
Pray  daily  to  God  for  their  prosperity,  that  by  the  watcliful 
care  and  merits  of  your  excellent  bishop,  your  soul  may 
obtain  eternal  salvation,  and  under  the  government  of  a 
peaceful  king  you  may  enjoy  your  temporal  possessions  in 
quietness  and  security.  Extend  to  your  liege-men  the  pro- 
tection which  you  owe  them,  ruling  them,  not  as  a  tyrant, 


230  OEDEEICUS   YITALIS.  [s.T.  CH.XIX. 

but  as  a  gentle  master.  Maintain,  prudently,  the  rights 
belonging  to  your  fief,  whether  in  fields,  woods,  meadows,  or 
vineyards,  and  be  careful  not  to  diminish  them  by  impru- 
dent grants.  Meddle  not  with  the  property  of  others,  and 
have  nothing  to  do  with  thieves  and  robbers.  Guard  your 
own  substance  by  lawful  means,  and  beware  of  laying  vio- 
lent hands  on  that  of  other  people.  Prom  thence  arises 
anger,  then  quarrels ;  robbery,  fire  and  slaughter  follow, 
with  other  evils  too  numerous  to  mention.  A  prudent  man 
will  be  on  his  guard  against  those  causes  of  mischief  which 
he  sees  affecting  others.  Observe  well  these  my  last  injunc- 
tions. Always  love  and  frequent  our  holy  mother  church. 
Daily  listen  to  the  word  of  God,  the  food  and  life  of  our 
souls,  and  attend  the  mass  and  other  divine  offices.  Honour 
the  servants  of  God  both  by  word  and  deed,  and  more 
especially  venerate  and  support  the  monks,  our  masters  and 
brothers,  who  are  the  ministers  of  this  church,  to  the 
utmost  of  your  power ;  assisting  them  both  by  your  advice 
and  your  exertions,  as  occasion  may  require.  Freely  confirm 
them  in  the  peaceable  possession  of  the  estates  which  my 
father  and  I  have  granted  them  for  the  good  of  our  souls. 
Do  not  encroach  on  their  lands  and  revenues,  nor  suffer  any 
of  your  tenants  to  injure  them.  If  you  study  to  show  your- 
self their  firm  adherent,  their  prayers  to  God  for  you  will 
be  constant.  Never,  then,  have  any  ill-will  towards  them, 
or  be  jealous  of  their  wealth,  but  treat  them  kindly,  and,  if 
the  Lord  shall  give  you  length  of  days  and  prosperity,  aug- 
ment it.  If  you  observe  and  do  what  I  command  you,  I 
give  you,  in  the  name  of  God,  the  blessing  which  our  fore- 
fathers left  to  their  heirs,  earnestly  beseeching  Him,  that  it 
may  descend  and  rest  upon  you.  But  if  you  should  do 
otherwise,  which  God  forbid,  I  leave  you  my  curse,  by  the 
authority  of  God  and  the  holy  fathers." 

Having  concluded  this  exhortation  to  his  son,  the  excel- 
lent lord  thus  addressed  his  wife  Adeline :  "  My  sweet  sister 
and  amiable  wife,  Adeline,  I  pray  you  lend  a  favourable  ear 
to  my  requests.  Thus  far  we  have  faithfully  kept  our  mar- 
riage vows,  and  by  God's  help  have  lived  together  more 
than  twenty  years  without  quarrels  and  shameful  conten- 
tions. Worthy  offspring  have  been  born  to  us  in  lawful 
wedlock,  and  you  must  lead  them  by  your  earnest  admo- 


A.D.  1118.]  AXSOLD   DIES   A   MONK.  231 

nitions  to  obey  their  Maker's  will.  My  end  is  approaching, 
and  whether  I  will  or  not,  I  am  near  at  death's  door.  I  am 
going  the  way  of  all  flesh,  and  have  to  pay  the  common  debt 
of  nature.  I  am  unwilling  to  trouble  you  with  a  long  dis- 
course. Tour  life  may  serve  as  a  lesson  to  numbers,  add 
one  more  to  your  good  works,  and  henceforth  live  chastely 
in  holy  widowhood.  Grant  me  also  your  permission  to  be- 
come a  monk,  and,  quitting  the  showy  garments  belonging 
to  my  worldly  estate,  put  on  the  black  robe  of  our  holy 
father  Benedict.  It  is  my  desire  to  be  admitted  into  the 
society  of  those  who  relinquish  the  delights  of  the  world  for 
Christ's  sake.  Release  me  therefore  I  pray  you,  my  lady, 
from  the  bonds  of  marriage,  and  commend  me  earnestly  to 
God,  that,  relieved  from  all  secular  ties,  I  may  be  in  a  con- 
dition to  receive  the  monastic  habit  and  the  tonsure.  I  ask 
this  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart ;  this  is  the  object  of  my 
most  earnest  wishes,  that  my  soul  may  be  numbered  in  the 
company  of  the  monks,  and,  renewed  by  being  invested  with 
the  religious  garb,  may  sing  in  the  present  life,  '  I  am  black, 
but  comely.'1  I  am  black  because  I  wear  a  dark,  shapeless, 
and  coarse  robe,  but  comely  because  it  covers  the  humility 
of  a  holy  purpose,  and  a  devotion  well  pleasing  to  God." 

When  Ansold  had  concluded  his  discourse  to  this  pur- 
pose, his  good  wife,  who  had  never  resisted  his  will  and  now 
obeyed  her  husband  as  she  was  wont,  granted  his  request 
with  a  respectful  modesty,  shedding  a  flood  of  tears,  though 
she  did  not  give  way  to  noisy  lamentations.  At  that 
season  holy  church  was  celebrating  the  eve  of  our  Lord's 
nativity,  and  there  was  a  violent  tempest  which  shook  the 
world,  overthrowing  woods,  houses,  and  other  buildings,  and 
did  much  damage  both  by  sea  and  land,  to  the  great  terror 
of  mankind.  Leave  having  been  given,  the  novice  was  ton- 
sured, and  put  on  the  religious  habit,  in  which,  having  worn 
it  three  days,  he  was  also  buried,  that  in  it  he  might  rise 
again.  On  the  third  day,  finding  that  death  was  near,  he 
caused  his  brethren  to  be  summoned,  and  begged  them  to 
recite  the  prayers  for  the  dying.  When  they  were  ended, 
he  asked  for  holy  water  and  a  crucifix.  On  their  being 
brought,  he  sprinkled  himself  with  holy  water,  and  bowing 
before  the  crucifix,  thus  commended  himself  to  Him  who 
1  Canticles  i.  5. 


232  OEDEEICUS  VITALIS.  [u.v.  CH.XIX. 

hung  on  the  cross,  adopting  the  words  which  had  been  used 
by  some  man  of  wisdom :  "  Lord  God,  I,  once  a  sinner  but 
now  a  penitent,  commend  my  spirit  into  thy  hands  as  a  ser- 
vant should  submit  to  his  master."  With  these  words  he 
expired,  as  we  believe,  happily.  Then  vigils  were  chanted 
and  psalms  and  prayers  said,  and  masses  solemnly  per- 
formed, with  much  grief  for  his  decease.  All  which  being 
duly  performed,  on  the  day  when  the  feast  of  the  assumption 
of  St.  John  was  kept  by  the  church,1  his  body  was  com- 
mitted to  the  earth,  the  mother  of  all,  to  be  preserved  and 
given  up  again.  Odo  of  Montreuil  assisted  at  the  funeral, 
performing  what  belonged  to  the  priest's  office,  and  has 
comprehended  in  a  short  notice,  his  name  and  rank,  and  the 
day  of  his  death,  with  a  devout  prayer  on  his  behalf. 

Stranger,  dost  thou  wish  to  know 
Who  lies  buried  here  below  ? 
ANSOLD  was  his  name,  a  knight 
Once  the  foremost  in  the  fight. 
Six  days  'fore  the  year  begun 
Its  due  course  of  time  to  run, 
He  was  summoned  to  his  rest : 
God  reward  him  with  the  blest ! 

[1118 — 1128.]  Peter,  who  now  became  lord  of  Maule,  was 
distinguished  for  his  conduct  in  war  and  made  himself  for- 
midable to  his  neighbours,  but  in  some  of  his  doings  he  did 
did  not  follow  his  father's  steps.  For  he  was  led  by  youth- 
ful levity  to  delight  in  players  and  gamblers,  and  listening 
to  the  persuasions  of  the  young  men  about  him  engaged  in 
rapine,  and  frequently  oppressed  the  cultivators  of  his  own 
domains  and  those  of  others.  He  ravaged  without  mercy 
his  neighbour's  property  and  foolishly  wasted  his  own. 
Hence,  while  he  inflicted  great  evils  on  the  inhabitants  of 
other  villages,  the  freebooters  of  the  neighbourhood  took 
every  opportunity  of  making  secret  inroads  on  him  and 
his  tenants.  "When  in  a  passion,  his  threats  were  severe, 
when  he  was  pleased,  he  rashly  made  promises  which  were 
difficult  to  be  performed ;  so  that  he  was  often  false  in  both. 
After  his  father's  death,  he  married  a  wife  of  a  very  noble 

1  It  appears  before,  in  book  ii.  c.  vi.  (vol.  i.  p.  247)  that  our  author  adopted 
the  opinion  of  St.  Ephrem  and  others  respecting  the  Assumption  of  St. 
John,  which  was  not  held  in  the  time  of  Polycrates,  bishop  of  Ephesus, 
and  was  consequently  posterior  to  the  second  century  after  Christ. 


A.D.  1118 — 1128.]    PETEB  ii.,  ANSOLD'S  SON.  233 

family,  Ada,  niece  of  Bouchard  de  Montmorenci  and  daugh- 
ter of  the  Count  de  Guinea.1  As  far  as  words  go,  he  pays 
due  respect  to  the  monks  and  clergy,  and  takes  their  re- 
proofs in  good  part,  veiling  his  follies  under  the  excuse  of 
his  youth,  and  promising  to  amend  his  life  in  riper  years, 
which  may  God  grant !  I  will  now  give  a  short  account  of 
the  possessions  which  were  given  to  the  monks  by  him,  or 
in  his  fief. 

Ansold,  before  he  died,  bequeathed  his  best  palfrey  to  the 
monks,  in  lieu  of  which,  Peter  gave  them,  at  his  father's  re- 
quest, the  land  of  Montmarcien ;  and  at  the  same  time  he 
confirmed  to  them  all  that  his  predecessors  had  granted. 
John  de  St.  Denis,  and  Mary  his  wife,  and  Arnulf  their  son, 
had  freely  given  to  St.  Mary  the  vineyard  of  Clairfont,  but 
afterwards,  undertaking  a  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem,  they  sold 
it  to  a  certain  Breton  of  Montfort  named  Fulk,  notwith- 
standing the  claims  of  the  monks.  The  Breton  being 
disseized  of  it  by  a  sentence  of  the  bishop,  it  fell  into 
Peter's  hands,  but  Providence  shortly  afflicting  him  with 
disease,  on  making  his  confession  he  restored  it  to  St.  Mary 
discharged  of  all  quit-rent.  He  also  gave  the  crop  of  grapes 
that  year  to  purchase  an  image  of  the  holy  Virgin. 

Grimold,  nephew  and  heir  of  Stephen  de  Maule,  gave  to 
the  monks  all  the  tithes  of  his  lands,  both  in  the  lordship  of 
Ansold  and  in  that  of  Paganus,  together  with  the  tithes  of 
his  mill  and  vineyards,  and,  together  with  Petronilla  his 
wife,  deposited  the  deed  of  gift  on  the  altar.  Afterwards, 
on  her  death,  he  granted  to  the  monks  two  arpents  of  land 
at  Montjubert,  and  added  a  third  in  the  same  place  at  his 
daughter's  obit.  He  went  to  Jerusalem  with  Stephen 
Count  de  Blois,2  and,  having  undergone  many  sufferings  in 
that  expedition,  lived  uprightly  after  his  return. 

Gerald,  surnamed  La  Cote,  Grimold's  brother-in-law, 
falling  sick,  was  so  terrified  by  the  divine  chastisement,  that 
he  gave  to  the  monks  certain  tithes  which  he  possessed  in 
the  territory  of  Marole,  and  his  part  of  the  churchyard  of 
the  same  village  ;  his  wife,  part  of  whose  dowry  it  was,  con- 

1  JLD.  about  1091—1137.  He  married  Ada,  daughter  of  Manasseli, 
count  of  Guines  (about  1091 — 1137),  and  Emma  de  Tankerville,  widow 
of  Odo  of  Folkstone. 

*  See  before,  note,  p.  182. 


£34  OEDEBICTJS   VITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.XIX. 

senting,  as  well  as  Peter,  lord  of  Maule,  in  whose  fief  it  was. 
Aubrey  de  Marole,  also,  gave  to  the  monks  twelve  acres  of 
land  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  to  the  west  of  Marole. 

Odo,  son  of  "Walo,  an  honourable  knight,  at  the  death  of 
his  son  Arnulf,  gave  to  the  monks  of  Maule  three  acres  of 
land  which  were  at  that  time  cultivated  by  Fulk  the  priest. 
He  also  gave  them  three  muids  of  wine,  and  granted  the 
same  quantity  to  be  furnished  yearly  out  of  his  vineyards  ; 
so  that  the  church  should  not  lose  the  endowment  in  conse- 
quence of  any  succession  or  change  of  the  heirs  of  Maule ; 
and  the  monks  were  constantly  to  make  due  prayers  for  the 
souls  of  his  sons  Peter,  Arnulf,  Milo,  and  his  other  friends. 
It  happened  a  few  days  afterwards  that  Odo  fell  sick,  and 
wishing,  like  a  good  son,  to  reap  profit  from  the  visitation 
by  his  father's  rod,  he  called  together  his  wife  Beliarde, 
his  daughter-in-law  Cornelia,  his  daughter  Cicily,  and  his 
son-in-law  Godfrey,  and  with  their  consent  gave  the  whole 
of  his  tithes  to  God  and  St.  Mary.  The  aforesaid  women 
and  Godfrey,  by  Odo's  command,  then  went  to  the  church 
and  laid  the  donation  on  the  altar.  After  this  was  done, 
his  sickness  increasing,  he  became  a  monk  there  and  lay  in 
the  monks'  infirmary  ten  days.  Meanwhile,  "Walter  the 
Bold,  his  son,  hastening  from  Troyes,  where  he  had  long  dwelt, 
found  his  father  alive.  At  his  request  he  confirmed  what 
his  father  and  relations  had  given  to  the  church  of  God ; 
viz.,  three  acres  of  land,  two  muids  of  wine  yearly,  and  all 
the  tithes  his  father  possessed,  whether  of  corn,  wine,  or  first- 
fruits.  All  which,  after  his  father  was  dead  and  buried,  Walter 
granted  by  an  instrument  which  was  laid  by  a  book  on  the 
altar  of  St.  Mary,  mother  of  God  ;  and,  in  imitation  of  his 
father,  has  been  a  good  neighbour  to  the  monks  to  the 
present  time. 

In  the  time  of  Hugh  de  Gace,  David,  and  other  priors,  who 
laboured  usefully  at  Maule,  -it  was  commonly  well  known, 
and  I  wish  it  to  be  handed  down  to  posterity,  that  Tesza, 
wife  of  Bernard  the  Blind,  gave  to  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult 
dwelling  at  Maule,  one  moiety  of  the  farm  of  St.  Columb, 
both  plain  and  wood,  besides  two  arpents  of  land  which  he 
also  gave  them,  that  they  might  build  a  house  and  have  cot- 
tages without  any  one's  interfering  with  them.  He  did  this 
with  the  assent  of  his  lords,  Gosceline,  who  held  the  other 


GIFTS   TO    THE    PEIOET   OF    MATJLE.  235 

moiety  of  the  land  in  demesne,  because  of  default  in  the 
services  due,  and  Guaszo  de  Poissi,  who  was  the  chief  lord. 
The  monks  at  different  times  gave  large  sums  to  these  lords, 
hoping  to  increase  the  property  of  the  church  by  legitimate 
means,  and  secure  advantages  for  their  successors.  Hugh, 
who  was  enterprising  and  magnanimous,  began  the  affair 
when  he  was  prior,  giving  to  Tesza,  beforenamed,  ten  shil- 
lings, and  a  piece  of  fustian  to  her  son  Odo,  and  ten 
shillings  to  her  son-in-law  William.  He  also  gave  to 
Gosceline  one  horse  of  the  value  of  four  pounds,  to  his  wife 
twenty  shillings,  and  to  Gruaszo  twenty-five  shillings,  with  a 
horn  cup,  and  another  to  his  wife.  These  things  and  others 
they  received  from  the  generosity  of  the  monks,  and  made  a 
firm  deed  of  gift,  which  they  deposited  on  the  altar  before 
many  witnesses.  But  they  afterwards  iniquitously  falsified 
their  engagements  in  various  ways  :  especially,  Guaszo,  the 
most  powerful  among  them,  who  ought  to  have  corrected 
the  others  if  they  went  astray,  disturbed  the  endowment, 
pillaged  the  cottiers,  and  destroyed  their  houses ;  so  that 
the  place  became  waste  as  it  was  before,  and  the  monks 
were  compelled  for  the  present  to  abandon  the  spot.  Some 
years  afterwards  Amauri,  son  of  Guaszo,  was  slain :  the 
monks  then  went  to  him  while  he  was  in  tribulation  for  the 
death  of  his  son,  and  requested  him  to  abate  the  injury  he 
had  done  them.  Softened  by  his  affliction,  he  made  a 
humble  reply,  promising  to  cure  the  evil  he  had  done.  He 
therefore  committed  the  affair  to  Gosceline  and  Amauri  de 
Beauvoir,  to  whom  he  had  lately  restored  the  fief,  and  of 
whom  Gosceline  then  held  it.  They  in  consequence  met  at 
Fresnes,  and  treated  respecting  the  adjustment  of  the  busi- 
ness, and  at  the  demand  of  Guaszo  and  the  monks,  Amauri 
confirmed  the  grant  which  Tesza  had  made,  and  Guaszo  and 
Gosceline  had  ratified.  By  common  agreement,  therefore,  of 
all  parties,  Amauri  and  Gosceline  publicly  enfeoffed  the 
monks  in  the  presence  and  hearing  of  Grimold  de  Maule  and 
Roger  his  son,  and  many  others.  Finally,  Amauri  came  to 
Maule  on  a  day  appointed,  and  deposited  on  the  altar  of 
St.  Mary  the  donation  which  he  had  made  at  Fresnes,  re- 
ceiving from  the  generosity  of  the  monks  twenty  shillings 
of  Mantes. 

In  this  manner  the  cell  at  Maule  rose  through  the 


236  OEDEBICTJS   TITALIS.  [B.V.  CH.XIX. 

exertions  of  careful  monks,  and  was  suitably  endowed  by  the 
generous  contributions  of  its  supporters,  to  the  praise  of 
God.  The  place  was  well  situated  for  vineyards  and  fertile 
fields,  and  watered  by  the  river  Mauldre,1  which  has  its 
course  through  them.  It  is  well  protected  by  a  number  of 
noble  knights.  These  give  freely  to  the  church,  during  their 
lives,  of  their  lands  and  substance,  and  the  order  of  monks  is 
treated  by  them  with  great  respect ;  and  at  the  hour  of  death 
their  aid  is  earnestly  sought  for  the  salvation  of  their  souls. 
The  knights  frequent  the  monk's  cloister,  and  confer  with 
them  on  practical  and  theoretical  subjects.  Thus  it  is  the 
school  of  the  living,  and  the  refuge  of  the  dying. 

In  the  time  of  Peter  the  elder,  Abbot  Mainier  went  to  the 
court  of  King  Philip,  and  humbly  sought  his  confirmation  of 
the  grants  which  had  been  made  to  the  monks  of  St. 
Evroult  of  possessions  in  Prance.  The  king  not  only 
graciously  ratified  all  the  endowments  already  made,  but 
kindly  and  cheerfully  exhorted  those  who  were  about  him  to 
further  gifts.  This  took  place  on  the  road  between  Epone 
and  Mantes.  Afterwards,  in  the  time  of  Peter  the  younger, 
King  Lewis  came  to  Maule,  and,  being  incensed  with  Peter 
on  account  of  some  excesses  he  had  committed  in  the 
insolence  of  youth,  razed  the  fortified  wall  with  which  the 
prudent  Ansold  had  surrounded  his  house,  and  demolished 
the  house  itself.  The  king  accepted  the  hospitality  of  the 
monks  at  the  priory,  and  confirmed  to  them  by  his  royal 
charter  all  that  had  been  given  them,  or  they  had  purchased, 
in  the  time  of  the  three  lords,  Peter,  Ansold,  and  the  other 
Peter.  Warin  of  Seez,  a  prudent  and  learned  monk  was 
then  prior,  and  made  use  of  his  attendance  upon,  and 
familiar  intercourse  with,  the  king,  to  obtain  his  sanction  to 
all  the  endowments  of  that  cell  which  had  been  procured  by 
Goisbert,  and  Guitmond,  William,  and  Hugh,  David,  and 
Halph,  and  other  priors.  This  may  suffice  for  what  I  have 
to  say  of  Maule  in  the  present  book. 

CH.  XX.     Guitmond,  second  prior  of  Maule — Other  bene- 
factions to  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult. 

GOISBEBT,  the  famous  physician,  having  laid  the  foundations 

of  the  church  at  Maule,  as  we  have  before  related,  consulted 

1  A  rivulet  which  falls  into  the  Seine  near  Epone,  not  far  from  Mantes. 


GUITMOJTD,  PEIOE  OF   MATJLE.  237 

some  of  his  acquaintances  and  friends  for  the  common  good 
of  his  own  monastery.  With  their  concurrence  he  earnestly 
entreated  his  abbot  to  entrust  the  priory  of  Maule  to  fresh 
hands,  in  order  that  he  might  be  free  to  prosecute  other 
affairs.  This  was  done ;  G-uitmond,  who  had  been  a  priest  at 
Soulangi,1  an  excellent  man,  being  appointed  in  his  place, 
while  the  physician  made  pressing  instances  to  several 
French  knights  on  behalf  of  his  brethren.  Some  he  gained 
by  his  medicinal  care  and  assistance,  others  by  presents,  and 
all  by  his  eloquent  discourse. 

Humphrey,  surnamed  Harenc,  and  Havise  his  wife,  and 
the  sons  of  the  same  Havise,  Paganus,  Alexander,  and  Roger 
de  Rolleboise,  with  his  wife  Basile  and  her  son  Gruiard, 
gave  to  G-od  and  St.  Evroult  the  church  of  St.  Villegast, 
with  the  tithes  thereto  belonging,  and  one  plough-land. 
They  also  gave  the  herbage  of  the  whole  vill,  free  from  any 
commonage,  and  all  the  land  in  the  parish,  whether  in  grass 
or  tillage,2  to  be  cultivated  by  the  tenants  settled  there, 
reserving  only  the  champarty3  to  himself.  This  grant  was 
made  before  the  lord  Robert  at  Ivri,  and  was  confirmed  by 
him  and  his  sons  Ascelin,  Q-oel,  and  William.  He  granted 
all  that  he  had  in  the  same  vill,  for  which  he  received  the 
seignory  of  the  place  and  an  ounce  of  gold.  Not  long  after- 
wards he  was,  by  (rod's  providence,  afflicted  with  a  painful 
disease  in  his  privy-parts,  and  having  the  fear  of  death  before 
his  eyes  became  a  monk  in  the  abbey  of  Bee.  His  son 
Ascelin  Goel  succeeded  to  his  domains  by  right  of  inherit- 
ance, and  was  a  long  time  eminent  among  his  neighbours 
for  his  gallant  actions.  He  built  a  very  strong  castle  at 
Breval,  and  filled  it  with  fierce  freebooters  who  ruined  num- 
bers. He  surprised  the  castle  of  Ivri  by  a  skilful  stratagem, 
defeating  and  making  prisoner  William  de  Breteuil  its 

1  Near  Falaise. 

s  Tarn  in  mangurls  quarn  in  rupturis ;  whether  of  the  old  homesteads, 
or  land  fresh  broken  up? 

3  Camparto.  "  The  portion  of  the  produce  which  the  farmer  gives  to 
the  owner  of  the  soil ;  from  campum  partiri.'' — Ducange.  The  French 
call  this  tenure  "  Metayer ;"  it  was  very  common  in  France  to  a  late 
period,  and  we  believe  is  still  prevalent  in  some  districts.  Arthur  Young 
devotes  part  of  a  chapter  to  the  exposure  of  a  system  which  he  considers 
nlike  ruinous  to  the  landlord  and  occupier.  Travels  in  France,  vol.  i.  p. 
406. 


238  OBDEBICTJS   VITALIS.  [B.T.  CH.XI. 

master,  whom  he  threw  into  close  confinement.  For  his 
ransom  he  extorted  violently  a  thousand  livres  of  Dreux 
and  the  stronghold  of  Ivri,  taking  to  wife  his  daughter 
Isabel,  by  whom  he  had  seven  sons.  He,  with  his  wife  and 
sons,  released  all  the  lands  which  St.  Evroult  had  in  his  lord- 
ship, viz.,  Villegast,  and  one  moiety  of  the  tithes  of  Mon- 
tigni,  for  which  he  received  from  the  monks  a  gratuity  of  sixty 
shillings,  and  he  sealed  his  charter  of  confirmation  at  Breval. 
The  same  Ascelin,  in  the  monks'  house  at  Hillier,  released 
to  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult  all  tolls  for  passage,  as  well  in 
that  lordship  as  in  all  his  other  lands.  Eobert  and  William, 
surnamed  Louvel,  his  sons,  afterwards  confirmed  the  grant, 
and  strictly  observed  its  tenor  for  a  long  time. 

Hugh  Paganus,  Grosse-Langue,  with  his  wife  Agnes,  and 
his  son  Guy,  granted  to  St.  Evroult  the  viscounty,  that  is, 
the  voierie,1  as  much  as  they  had  in  Villegast,  from  which 
the  monks  received  at  one  time  ten  shillings  and  a 
deer-skin,  at  another  time  twenty  shillings.  The  son 
received  ten  shillings  of  Mantes  for  his  release.  John  of 
Eheims  wrote  out  the  charter  of  this  covenant  before  the 
tower  of  Breval,  Hugh  Fresnel  dictating  it;  and  Hugh 
Paganus  and  his  sons  confirmed  it.  Some  time  afterwards 
Hugh  became  a  monk,  and  his  sons  Eodolph,  Simon,  and 
Eobert,  attempted  to  deprive  the  monks  of  the  viscounty ; 
but  they,  to  hold  their  possessions  in  peace,  gave  to  Eodolph, 
the  eldest,  one  hundred  and  ten  shillings  of  money  .of 
Mantes,  to  Simon  five  shillings,  and  to  Eobert,  Cordovan 
shoes. 

The  year  that  Q-oe'l  died,  Alexander  and  Gilbert  gave 
to  St.  Evroult,  in  the  presence  of  Eobert  de  St.  Nicholas, 
a  field  belonging  to  the  farm  of  a  certain  villein  named 
Eobert,  although  he  complained  that  he  had  not  land  suffi- 
cient for  one  plough.  Fulk  de  St.  Aubin  having  given  part 
of  his  lands  in  Villers  to  St.  Evroult,  Theodoric  and  Eainier 
his  heirs,  with  their  wives  Emmeline  and  Tesceline,  through 

1  Viariam;  Ducange  remarks  that  Ordericus  confounds  the  rights  of 
the  viscount  (answering  in  some  measure  to  our  sheriff)  with  those  of  the 
seigneur,  voyer.  It  is  well  known  that  rights  of  seignorage  and  jurisdiction 
often  passed  to  the  monks,  with  the  domains  granted  to  them.  The  word 
may  have  been  vicariam,  the  deputyship,  right  of  being  judges  in  small 
causes. 


CELLS   TO   THE   ABBEY   OF   ST.  ETEOULT.  239 

whom  they  inherited,  confirmed  the  grant,  retaining  a 
certain  part  for  their  own  entertainment ;  Alexander,  in 
whose  fief  the  land  was,  consenting. 

I  have  given  a  long  account  of  the  possessions  granted  to 
the  church  of  St.  Evroult,  but  have  not  been  able  to  include 
them  all  in  the  present  book  ;  for  there  are  small  portions  ob- 
tained from  persons  of  the  middle  rank,  either  by  fair  words, 
or  extorted  by  violent  means,  or  purchased,  or  gained  in 
some  other  way,  which  lie  dispersed  in  different  dioceses. 
In  these  a  certain  number  of  monks  are  settled  according  to 
the  extent  of  the  property,  who  serve  the  Lord  daily  on 
behalf  of  their  benefactors  with  hymns  and  prayers,  and  a 
life  of  continence.  "What  remains  shall  be  faithfully  col- 
lected in  the  sequel  of  this  work,  and  clearly  related  for  the 
benefit  of  those  who  shall  succeed  us  in  labouring  in  the 
field  of  the  Lord. 


240  OEDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [E.TI.  CH.I. 


BOOK  VI. 

CH.  I.  Introduction,  containing  remarks  on  scurrilous  criti- 
cism, and  the  decay  of  piety  among  the  prelates  of  the  au- 
thor's age. 

THE  human  mind  has  continual  need  of  heing  usefully 
exercised,  so  that  it  may  be  well  directed  in  a  virtuous 
coxirse  for  the  future,  by  its  researches  into  the  annals  of 
the  past,  and  its  observation  on  what  is  passing  around. 
It  is  every  man's  duty  to  be  daily  learning  how  he  ought  to 
live,  by  having  the  examples  of  ancient  worthies  ever  present 
before  his  eyes,  and  profiting  thereby.  It  sometimes  happens 
that  many  events  present  themselves  to  the  ignorant  as 
unheard-of  things,  and  new  circumstances  are  frequently 
occurring  in  modern  times  on  which  no  light  can  be  thrown 
to  inexperienced  minds  but '  by  reference  to  former  transac- 
tions. Studious  persons  therefore  inquire  into  the  obscure 
passages  of  history  with  anxious  care,  and  set  a  high  value 
on  whatever  can  profit  a  well-disposed  mind.  Animated  in 
their  labours  by  this  good  design,  they  unfold  the  past  to 
posterity  with  perfect  impartiality,  while,  notwithstanding 
their  ability,  senseless  men  snarl  at  their  works  and  tear 
them  in  pieces  with  their  currish  fangs.  Smarting  under 
such  attacks,  even  wise  men  sometimes  flag  in  their  energies, 
abandoning  their  undertakings  and  shutting  themselves  up 
in  perpetual  eilence.  Thus  it  happens  that  from  some  frivo- 
lous circumstance,  the  world  suffers  a  lamentable  loss.  If 
this  were  not  irreparable,  and  a  kindly-feeling  posterity  could 
recover  what  it  had  lost,  it  would  shake  off  its  indifference 
and  joyfully  rouse  itself  to  gather  with  eagerness  the  flowers 
and  the  fruit  of  the  labours  thus  subjected  to  malicious 
attacks,  and  to  study  them  with  lively  and  careful  attention. 
We  often  find  complaints  of  this  sort  in  ancient  writers,  and 
unite  with  our  illustrious  masters  in  their  lamentations  over 
the  injuries  heaped  upon  them  by  their  envious  contempo- 
raries. We  hear  St.  Jerome  and  Origen,  and  other  doctors 
of  the  church  complaining  in  their  works  of  the  cavils  of 
scurrilous  critics,  and  it  is  a  cause  of  regret  that  on  this 
account  we  have  been  deprived  of  many  important  commu- 


DECAY   OF   PIETY.  241 

nications ;  able  men  preferring  to  rest  in  peace  rather  than 
employ  their  talents  in  skilfully  treating  difficult  subjects, 
when  by  so  doing  they  exposed  themselves  to  malicious 
attacks.  Let  those,  I  beg  and  entreat,  observe  silence,  who 
neither  produce  any  thing  of  their  own,  nor  accept  the 
labours  of  others  in  a  friendly  spirit,  nor  correct  with  temper 
any  thing  which  dissatisfies  them.  Let  them  learn  what  they 
are  ignorant  of,  and  if  they  are  incapable  of  learning,  at  least 
let  them  suffer  their  fellow  disciples  to  publish  what  they 
think  right. 

The  primitive  state  and  the  fall  of  man,  the  revolutions  of 
the  passing  age,  the  vicissitudes  in  the  lives  of  our  prelates 
and  princes,  the  events  of  peace  and  war,  and  the  never- 
ending  chances  which  affect  mankind,  offer  a  vast  field  for 
any  writer  to  expatiate  on.  As  for  miracles  and  wonders 
wrought  by  the  saints,  they  are  now  of  such  rare  occurrence 
in  the  world  that  authors  have  little  need  of  bestowing 
much  attention  on  stories  of  that  kind.  Time  was  when 
our  ancient  fathers,  Martial  and  Taurinus,  Silvester,  Martin 
and  Nicholas,  and  other  admirable  men,  whose  tongues  were 
the  keys  of  heaven,  and  who  were  full  of  supernatural  graces 
and  gifts,  shone  in  the  church  like  the  light  of  the  sun,  and 
in  the  power  of  the  Almighty  gave  laws  to  the  elements  of 
nature  and  the  power  of  the  air ;  but  these  now  enjoy  the 
rest  of  the  blessed  with  their  heavenly  King,  from  whom  they 
have  received  everlasting  rewards.  Their  present  successors, 
who  are  raised  to  the  summit  of  power,  and,  sitting  in  Moses' 
seat  are  called  Rabbi,  while  they  revel  in  worldly  riches  and 
pomp,  of  which  most  of  them  are  too  fond,  are  far  from 
being  equally  illustrious  as  their  predecessors  for  the  merits 
of  sanctity  and  miraculous  powers  and  influences.  Still  we 
may  faithfully  relate  the  revolutions  of  the  world  and  the 
course  of  human  events,  and  history  can  be  made  the  vehicle 
for  the  praise  of  Him  who  is  the  Maker  and  righteous 
Governor  of  all  things.  The  eternal  Creator  works  without 
ceasing  and  disposes  all  things  in  a  wonderful  order ;  let 
every  one  treat  devoutly  of  those  glorious  acts,  according  as 
his  inclination  and  ability  prompt  him  and  as  he  shall  be 
divinely  instigated. 


YOL.  H. 


242  OEDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [B.TI.  CH.n. 

CH.  II.  Some  account  of  Hugh  <F  Avranches,  earl  of  Chester 
— His  character — His  excellent  chaplain  Gerald. 

IK  the  year  of  our  Lord  1066,  the  fifth  indiction,  the  race 
of  the  great  king  Edgar  having  so  degenerated  that  none  of 
his  descendants  were  able  to  sustain  the  weight  of  the  royal 
sceptre,  William,  duke  of  Normandy,  crossed  over  to  England 
with  many  thousand  troops,  and  on  the  field  of  Senlac  slew 
Harold  the  usurper  of  the  English  throne.  Soon  afterwards 
on  Christmas  day,  he  was  crowned  at  Westminster  by  Aldred 
archbishop  of  York,  with  the  acclamations  of  both  Normans 
and  English,  and  governed  the  kingdom  of  Englandwitha  strong 
hand  twenty  years,  eight  months  and  sixteen  days.1  Under 
his  rule  the  native  inhabitants  were  crushed,  imprisoned, 
disinherited,  banished  and  scattered  beyond  the  limits  of 
their  own  country ;  while  his  own  vassals  and  adherents 
were  exalted  to  wealth  and  honours  and  raised  to  all 
the  offices  of  the  state.  Among  these  Hugh  D'Av- 
ranches,  son  of  Bichard  surnamed  Goz,  was  highly  dis- 
tinguished among  the  chief  nobility,  and  invested  with  the 
earldom  of  Chester  by  the  advice  of  the  king's  counsel  after 
Gerbod  of  Flanders  had  returned  home.3  This  Hugh  was 
fondly  attached  to  the  world  and  worldly  pomps,  in  which 
he  considered  the  highest  portion  of  human  happiness  to 
consist.  He  was  a  brave  soldier,  lavish  in  his  liberalities, 
and  took  great  delight  in  riotous  sports,  in  jesters,  horses 
and  dogs,  with  other  vanities  of  that  sort.  He  was  always 
surrounded  by  a  numerous  household,  in  which  a  crowd  of 
young  men  of  all  ranks  both  low  and  high  continually 
revelled.  But  the  earl  also  entertained  about  him  many 
honourable  men,  clerks  as  well  as  knights,  and  was  well 
pleased  to  share  with  them  both  his  cares  and  his  riches. 
Attached  to  his  chapel  was  a  clerk  from  Avranches,  named 
Gerald,8  who  was  eminent  for  piety  and  virtue  as  well  as 
for  learning.  This  chaplain  performed  daily  the  service  of 
God  and  frequently  celebrated  the  holy  offering  with  great 
devotion.  He  used  his  best  offices  with  the  courtiers  of  his « 

1  December  25,  1066 — September  9,  1087. 

1  Our  author  has  given  some  further  particulars  of  Hugh  d' Avranches, 
earl  of  Chester,  in  b.  iv.  c.  7.  See  before  pp.  47,  48. 

8  Gerald  assumed  the  monastic  habit  in  the  Benedictine  Abbey  attached 
to  the  cathedral  of  Winchester. 


I 

GEBALD,  CHAPLAIN   OP   HUGH   D'AVBANCHES.        243 

lord,  by  setting  before  them  tbe  example  of  those  who  had 
gone  before,  to  move  them  to  amendment  of  life.  He  observ- 
ed in  many,  and  justly  condemned,  their  headstrong  tendency 
to  carnal  pursuits,  and  mourned  over  the  neglect  of  divine 
worship  generally  shown.  Great  barons,  simple  knights,  and 
noble  youths  all  received  their  share  of  his  salutary  admoni- 
tions, and  he  drew  both  from  the  Old  Testament  and  the 
more  recent  Christian  records  copious  accounts  of  holy 
warriors  who  were  worthy  of  their  imitation.  He  described 
with  eloquence  the  combats  of  Demetrius  and  George,  The- 
odore and  Sebastian,  of  Maurice,  tribune  of  the  Theban  legion, 
and  Eustachius,  the  illustrious  commander  of  the  forces, 
•with  his  comrades,  who  obtained  heaven  by  the  crown  of 
martyrdom.1  To  these  he  added  the  history  of  "William  the 
noble  champion,  who  after  a  long  military  service  renounced 
the  world  and  gloriously  fought  the  fight  of  faith  under  the 
monastic  rule.  Many  profited  by  Gerald's  exhortations, 
and  like  gallant  ships  were  towed  through  this  world's 
waves  and  safely  moored  in  the  haven  of  a  regular  life. 

CH.  III.  The  story  of  St.  William  (Court-nez)  duke  of  Sep- 
timania  and  count  of  Toulouse  and  Barcelona  under  Char- 
lemagne— His  wars  with  the  Saracens — Becomes  a  monk 
— -founds  the  abbey  of  St.  Saviour  in  the  Herault. 

HAVING  happened  to  mention  St.  William,  I  take  the  oppor- 
tunity of  inserting  in  my  history  a  short  account  of  his  life. 
I  am  satisfied  that  it  is  very  little  known  in  this  province, 
and  there  are  many  persons  who  will  be  gratified  by  being 
furnished  with  a  faithful  memoir  of  so  distinguished  a  saint. 
Anthony,  a  monk  of  Winchester,  brought  it  here  not  long 
since,  and,  complied  with  our  eager  desire  to  see  it.  There 
is  indeed  a  story  in  verse  concerning  St.  William  which  is 
commonly  %ung  by  glee-men,1  but  the  preference  must  be 

1  An  opportunity  will  occur  in  b.  ix.  of  our  author's  history,  for  giving 
some  account  of  the  first  three  saints  here  mentioned,  who  belonged  to  the 
Greek  church.  St.  Maurice,  and  his  soldiers  of  the  Theban  legion, 
suffered  martyrdom  on  September  22,  286,  under  the  emperor  Maximian, 
at  a  place  then  called  Agaunum,  but  now  well  known  as  St.  Maurice  in 
the  Valais.  St.  Sebastian  was  martyred  at  Rome  about  the  year  288 
(Jan.  20).  St.  Eustachius  also  suffered  martyrdom  at  Rome  under 
Adrian  (Nov.  1). 

8  These  songs  on  the  acts  of  St.  William,  called  William  Court-Nez, 
B  2 


244  OBDERICTJS   VITALI3.  [B.TI.  CH.III. 

justly  given  to  an  authentic  narrative,  written  with  care 
by  learned  monks,  and  which  is  respectfully  recited  by 
studious  readers  in  the  presence  of  the  assembled  brethren. 
But  as  the  bearer  was  in  haste  to  depart  and  the  severe 
winter's  frost  prevented  me  from  writing,  I  made  a  short 
abridgment  on  my  tablets,1  which  I  now  hasten  to  transfer 
correctly  to  parchment  and  thus  spread  abroad  the  fame  of 
the  brave  lord-marcher. 

In  the  time  of  Pepin,  king  of  the  Franks,  count  Theodoric3 
had  by  his  wife  Aldana  a  son  named  William.  The  boy 
was  taught  letters  from  his  childhood,  and  afterwards  took 
arms  in  the  service  of  Charlemagne.  He  obtained  the  title  and 
office  of  a  count  and  the  command  of  the  first  cohort  in  the 
army.  Charles  afterwards  made  him  duke  of  Aquitain,3  and 
confided  to  him  an  expedition  against  king  Theodebald,4  the 
Spaniards  and  Saracens.  Having  lost  no  time  in  marching 
into  Septimania,  he  crossed  the  Ehone  and  laid  siege  to  the 
city  of  Orange  which  he  reduced,  defeating  the  invaders. 
He  then  fought  many  battles  with  the  infidels  from  beyond 
sea  and  the  Arabs  of  the  neighbourhood,  his  sword,  by  G-od's 
help,  giving  safety  to  the  faithful,  enlarging  the  bounds  of 

are  preserved  in  the  Royal  Library  at  Paris.    See  description  of  the  MSS. 
by  M.  Pauslin.     Paris,  t.  iv.  p.  113  and  172. 

1  The  author  again  speaks  of  his  sufferings  from  the  cold  at  the  close  of 
the  present  book.     The  climate  of  Normandy  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  much  improved  since  he  wrote,  for  even  at  a  recent  period  Mr.  St. 
John,  in  his  entertaining  journal  of  a  residence  near  Caen,  describes  the 
•winter  to  have  been  so  severe  as  to  have  often  incapacitated  him  for  literary 
occupation,  much  in  the  same  terms  as  Ordericus  used  eight  hundred  years 
before.    The  nature  and  scarcity  of  the  fuel  must,  doubtless,  have  added 
to  the  distress.     Our  author  seems  to  indicate  that  the  frost  interfered  less 
with  his  tracing  his  extracts  on  tablets  coated  with  wax,  using  a  hard  stile 
or  pen,  than  with  his  writing  on  parchment  with  pen  and  ink,  which  is  per- 
fectly natural. 

2  Some  authors  have  supposed  that  this  Count  Theodoric  is  the  same 
person  as  the  Theodoricus  comes  described  by  Eginhard  as  a  relation  of 
Charlemagne. 

*  St.  William  was  not  created  duke  of  Aquitain  by  Charlemagne  in 
789,  but  count  de  Toulouse,  in  the  place  of  Corson,  with   the  title  of 
duke,  probably  of  Septimania. 

*  We  find  no  such  name  as  this  among  the  Saracen  kings  and  emirs 
with  whom  St.  William  was  in  conflict  during  his  long  military  career, 
789 — 806,  in  the  time  of  Hatchem  and  El-Hakem,  successively  caliphs  of 
Cordova. 


WILLIAM,  COUNT   OF   TOULOUSE.  245 

the  Christian  empire,  and  subduing  the  Saracens.1  William 
built  a  monastery  in  honour  of  St.  Saviour  and  the  twelve 
apostles  in  the  territory  of  Lodeve  in  a  valley  called  Grellone 
surrounded  by  rocks,2  placing  in  it  an  abbot  and  a  company 
of  devout  monks,  and  largely  endowing  it  with  all  things 
necessary  for  them,  and  he  had  their  grants  confirmed  by 
his  own  and  royal  charters.  His  two  sisters  Albana  and 
Bertha  became  nuns  there  and  continued  perseveringly  in 
the  service  of  God. 

A  long  time  afterwards,  William  coming  to  France  on  the 
summons  of  Charles*  was  honourably  received  and  disclosed 
to  him  his  desire  of  becoming  a  monk.  The  king  could  not 
refrain  from  tears  in  granting  his  permission,  and  bid  him 
take  whatever  he  would  from  his  treasury  to  carry  to  his 
church.  However  William  rejected  all  worldly  riches,  but 
asked  for  and  obtained  a  reliquary  containing  a  portion  of 
the  wood  of  the  holy  cross.  It  had  been  sent  to  Charles  by 
Zachariah,  patriarch  of  Jerusalem,  a  prelate  of  great  worth, 
while  the  king  was  at  Rome  in  the  first  year  of  his  reign. 
When  William's  intention  to  change  his  state  of  life  became 
known,  the  king's  court  was  agitated  and  all  the  city  in  an 
uproar.  A  crowd  of  nobles  forced  their  way  into  his  presence, 
and  sorrowfully  entreated  him  not  to  desert  them.  He 
however,  inflamed  with  divine  ardour,  abandoned  all,  and, 
being  brought  on  his  way  with  great  honour,  bidding  them 
farewell,  at  length  left  the  army  of  the  Franks  amid  their 
tears  and  groans.  When  he  reached  the  town  of  Brives  he 
offered  his  armour  on  the  altar  of  St.  Julian  the  martyr,4 
hanging  his  helmet  and  splendid  shield  over  the  martyr's 
tomb  in  the  church,  and  suspending  outside  the  door  his 

1  It  does  not  appear  that  the  invasions  of  the  Saracens  during  the 
government  of  Duke  William  ever  reached  the  banks  of  the  Rhone,  and 
still  less  the  territory  of  Orange.  His  most  remarkable  exploit  was  the 
taking  of  Barcelona  in  the  year  801. 

*  The  little  valley  of  Gellone,  near  its  junction  with  that  of  the  Herault, 
in  the  canton  of  Lodeve. 

3  According  to  the  original  legend,  the  emperor  did  not  send  for  the 
count.     This  intercourse  took  place  in  the  year  806. 

4  The  altar  of  the  church  of  the  celebrated  chapter  of  St.  Julian  of 
Brives  in  the  Limosin.     The  arms  offered  by  St.  William  were  still  pre- 
served in  the  eleventh  and  twelfth  centuries  in  the  treasury  of  this  chapter, 
and  attested  by  their  weight,  as  well  as  their  dimensions,  the  strength  and 
size  of  the  warrior  who  bore  them. 


246  OEDEEICUS  VITALIS.  [B.TI.  CH.III. 

quiver  and  bow  w'th  his  long  lance  and  two-edged  sword, 
as  an  offering  to  Grod.  He  then  set  forth  in  the  guise  of  a 
pilgrim  of  Christ  and  passed  through  Aquitain  to  the  monas- 
tery which  he  had  built  a  short  time  before  in  the  wilderness. 
He  drew  near  to  it  with  naked  feet  and  with  hair-cloth 
about  his  body.  When  the  brethren  heard  of  his  approach, 
they  met  him  at  the  cross  roads,  and  forming  a  festive  pro- 
cession against  his  will,  conducted  him  to  the  abbey.  He 
then  made  his  offering  of  the  reliquary  more  precious  than 
gold,  with  gold  and  silver  vessels  and  all  kinds  of  ornaments, 
and  having  proffered  his  petition  gave  up  the  world  with  all 
its  pomps  and  enticements. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord,  therefore,  806,  in  the  fifth '  year 
of  the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Charles,  on  the  feast  of  SS. 
Peter  and  Paul,  Count  William  became  a  monk,  and  was 
suddenly  changed  and  made  another  person  in  Christ 
Jesus.  For  after  his  profession  he  was  taught  without 
being  offended,  and  corrected  without  being  angry.  He 
suffered  blows  and  injuries  unresistingly  and  without 
having  recourse  to  threats.  He  rejoiced  to  be  subject,  and 
delighted  in  every  kind  of  humiliation,  being  ready  to  serve, 
obey,  and  submit  to  all.  He  made  daily  progress  in  all 
sanctity  and  religion  and  the  observance  of  the  sacred  rule, 
like  gold  made  bright  in  the  furnace.  He  completed, 
according  to  his  design,  the  monastery  which  was  in  an 
unfinished  state  when  he  became  a  monk,  receiving  the  aid 
of  his  sons  Bernard  and  William  (to  whom  he  had  resigned 
his  counties2),  and  of  other  counts  in  the  neighbourhood. 
He  made  a  road  to  the  monastery  by  a  sharp  and  difficult 
ascent  through  the  mountains,  cutting  the  rocks  with 

1  It  should  be  the  sixth  year. 

*  M.  Le  Prevost  remarks  that  "  our  author,  following  his  original,  here 
represents  the  pious  monk  as  disposing  of  his  dignities  just  as  if  he  had 
lived  several  generations  later."  The  titles  of  duke,  count,  Sue.,  certainly 
were  not  hereditary  in  the  time  of  Charlemagne,  nor  till  long  afterwards. 
They  were  merely  personal,  and  conferred  official  rank  and  power  as 
governors  of  provinces,  &c.,  at  the  will  of  the  emperor  or  king.  Still  St. 
William,  as  a  favourite  general  of  Charu  magne,  may  have  obtained  per- 
mission to  resign  his  governments  in  favour  of  his  sons.  In  point  of  fact, 
we  find  Bernard,  the  eldest,  in  possession  of  the  duchy  of  Ssptimania 
and  the  counties  of  Toulouse  and  Barcelona,  but  not  till  the  year  817.  as 
to  the  tirst,  and  820  as  far  as  concerns  the  two  last. 


THE    COUNT'S  LABOTJES   AS   A   MONK.  247 

hammers  and  pickaxes  and  other  iron  tools,  and  with  the 
fragments  laid  the  base  of  a  causeway  along  the  river 
Herault  and  abutting  on  the  heights.1 

Lewis,  king  of  Aquitain,  the  son  of  Charlemagne,  at  the 
request  of  "William,  gave  to  the  monastery,  with  great 
willingness,  several  fiefs  in  his  territories,  and  confirmed  the 
grant  by  a  royal  charter  sealed  with  his  ring.2  Meanwhile, 
William  caused  vineyards  and  oliveyards,  and  several  gardens 
to  be  laid  out  on  the  ground  surrounding  the  monastery,  and 
clearing  the  valley  of  the  woods  which  naturally  grew  there, 
planted  fruit-trees  in  their  place.  He  devoted  himself  with 
intense  industry  to  these  and  similar  works,  labouring  with 
his  own  hands,  for  the  love  of  God,  in  rural  occupations,  and 
continually  thus  employed  himself  with  true  humility  and 
religion.  He  often  prostrated  himself  before  the  abbot  and 
brethren,  beseeching  that  for  God's  mercy,  he  might  be 
allowed  still  greater  self-renunciation  and  humiliation.  He 
sought  the  lowest  offices  in  the  monastery ;  it  was  his 
desire  to  be  considered  the  vilest  of  all,  and  to  be  held  in 
contempt.  He  would  be  a  beast  of  burthen,  and  as  an  ass's 
colt  bear  the  burthens  of  the  brethren  in  the  house  of  the 
Lord.  He  who  had  been  a  mighty  duke  was  not  ashamed 
to  mount  a  miserable  ass  with  a  load  of  bottles.  See  the 
Lord  William  from  a  count  become  a  cook,  from  a  duke 
become  a  menial,  loading  his  shoulders  with  faggots,  carry- 
ing vessels  of  water,  lighting  and  extinguishing  fires.  With 
his  own  hand  he  washes  the  bowls  and  platters,  gathers 
vegetables,  makes  the  soup  and  mixes  the  pulse  with  it. 
When  the  hour  of  refection  is  come,  without  delay  he 
spreads  the  table  for  the  monks  in  due  order,  while  he 
himself,  still  fasting,  watches  and  guards  the  house.  He 

1  The  Herault,  which  now  gives  its  name  to  a  department  of  France, 
rises  in  the  Cevennes,  and  runs  into  the  gulf  of  Lyons  between  Montpelier 
and  Narbonne.  The  abbey  of  St.  Saviour  being  built  in  a  rocky  valley, 
surrounded  by  mountains,  far  up  towards  the  source  of  the  river,  the  diffi- 
culties St.  William  had  to  contend  with  in  making  the  road  may  be  easily 
conceived.  But  the  old  general  seems  to  have  been  a  good  engineer  ad 
well  as  planter  and  gardener,  to  say  nothing  of  the  more  humble  offices 
ascribed  to  him  in  this  most  amusing  legend,  in  which  truth  and  fiction  are 
strangely  mingled.  . 

2  The  royal  charter  bears  date,  Dec.  28,  808.  The  lands  granted  are  in 
the  district  of  Beziers. 


248  OEDEEICUS  TITALIS.  [B.TT.  CH.IIT. 

undertakes  the  baking,  heats  the  oven,  places  the  loaves  in 
it  and  draws  the  bread  when  it  is  baked. 

Once,  when  wood  for  baking  was  scarce,  he  was  forced  to 
gather  twigs,  straw,  and  whatever  he  could  lay  hands  on, 
which  he  threw  into  the  oven  in  order  to  heat  it  quickly. 
But  as  time  pressed  and  those  within  sharply  chid  this 
servant  of  God  because  the  usual  hour  for  the  brethren's 
meal  was  somewhat  passed,  and  he  had  nothing  that  would 
serve  to  clear  out  the  ashes,  he  invoked  Christ,  and  making 
the  sign  of  the  cross,  entered  the  oven  and  did  all  that  was 
needful  without  sustaining  any  injury.  Throwing  out  the 
hot  cinders  with  his  naked  hands,  he  collected  the  ashes  in 
his  cowl  without  its  being  singed,  put  the  oven  in  order 
and  sprinkled  it  for  putting  in  the  loaves.  Though  "William 
thus  stood  in  the  fire  for  some  time,  neither  his  body  nor  his 
clothes  were  scorched.  After  this,  however,  the  abbot,  by 
the  advice  of  the  brethren,  forbad  his  engaging  in  any  servile 
works,  and,  allotting  him  a  suitable  cell,  enjoined  him  to 
apply  his  leisure  to  prayer  and  holy  meditation.  Thus 
having  had  a  long  experience  of  active  exercises,  he  began 
to  take  rest  in  a  life  of  reflection,  and,  having  performed 
the  service  and  busy  occupations  of  Martha,  joined  with 
Mary  in  the  delights  of  heavenly  contemplation. 

When,  at  length,  "William  was  full  of  perfection  in  virtue, 
he  was  endowed  with  the  spirit  of  prophecy,  and  his  course 
of  life  was  shown  him  by  divine  revelation.  He  predicted 
the  day  of  his  death  to  the  abbot  and  brethren,  and  even 
announced  it  in  writing  to  many  of  the  neighbours.  He  also 
sent  a  messenger  to  Charlemagne  to  inform  him  distinctly  by 
what  sign  he  should  know  the  hour  of  his  death.  At  last, 
after  all  offices  had  been  duly  performed,  the  blessed 
William  departed  on  the  fifth  of  the  calends  of  June,1  [May 
28],  to  the  joy  of  angels  and  the  grief  of  men.  There  im- 
mediately followed  in  all  the  churches,  great  and  small, 
throughout  the  neighbouring  districts,  a  loud  and  strange 
tolling  of  the  bells,  both  tenor  and  treble  ;2  and  the  knell 
was  rung  and  the  small  bell  tinkled  for  a  long  space  of  time, 

1  In  the  year  812. 

1  "  II  est  visible  que  dans  ce  passage,  signum  ordinairement  Fynonyme  de 
tympana,  a  et6  employ^  dans  le  Bens  de  clochettes  ou  grelots,  tintinnabula." 
— Le  Provost. 


THE   COUNT   CANONIZED.  249 

although  no  human  hands  pulled  the  ropes  or  swung  the 
clappers,  but  solely  by  divine  power  acting  on  them  from 
heaven.  The  holy  body  of  the  illustrious  saint  was  honourably 
interred  in  the  abbey  of  St.  Saviour,  and  the  praises  of  God 
were  devoutly  sung  "for  many  miracles  gloriously  performed, 
The  venerable  monastery  remains  there  to  the  present  day, 
in  which  a  great  company  of  monks,  the  army  of  the  Lord 
God  of  Sabaoth  triumphantly  serves,  and  by  the  merits  of 
St.  "William,  who  from  an  illustrious  knight  became  a  pious 
monk,  crowds  of  sick  people  receiving  health  rejoice  in 
Christ  Jesus,  who  gives  eternal  glory  to  all  who  are  united 
to  him. 

CH.  IV.  Gerald  of  Avranches,  prior  of  Cranbourn — after- 
wards abbot  of  Tewksbury — Robert  Fitz-Hamon,  its 
founder — Roger  Fitz-Warrene  a  noble  monk  of  St. 
Evroult. 

IT  was  thus  that  Gerald  of  Avranches  frequently  re- 
counted the  triumphs  of  the  invincible  soldiers  of  Christ, 
and  stirred  up  the  knights  with  whom  he  associated,  and 
their  well-born  squires,  both  by  persuasions  and  alarms,  to  a 
similar  course  of  life.  The  result  was,  that  in  the  first 
instance  five  men  of  eminence  quitted  the  earl's  household, 
whose  names  are  these ;  Roger,  son  of  Erneis,  nephew  of 
William  Warrene,  earl  of  Surry,  Arnulf,  son  of  Humphrey 
de  Tilleul,  nephew  of  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil,  viscount  of 
Leicester,  and  Guy  of  Mantes  his  squire ;  Dreux,  son  of 
Geoffrey  de  Neuf-Marche ;  and  Odo,  son  of  Arnulf  of 
D61,  and  chaplain  to  the  earl.  At  the  suggestion  of  Ar- 
nulf, whose  kinsmen  had  assisted  in  building  the  abbey 
of  St.  Evroult,  all  these  went  to  Ouche  and  were  gladly 
received  into  the  monastery  by  abbot  Mainier.  They  lived 
there  regularly  for  a  long  time,  and  contributed  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  community  by  their  exertions  and  care. 

Thus  Gerald  had  by  preaching  the  word  of  God  stirred 
up  to  better  things  those  who  were  sunk  in  fatal  oblivious- 
ness  in  the  gulf  of  the  world's  temptations,  as  the  cock 
rouses  those  who  are  sleeping  in  the  dead  of  the  night.  He 
now  shook  his  wings,  and  casting  off  his  sluggishness,  with 
a  lively  effort  prepared  to  follow  his  disciples,  who  have  just 
been  named,  to  St.  Evroult.  But  God's  providence  com- 


250  OHDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [B.VI.  CH.IV. 

pelled  him  to  remain  in  England.  For,  having  reached 
Winchester,  he  was  taken  very  ill,  and,  in  fear  of  death, 
devoutly  assumed  the  monastic  habit  in  the  old  monastery 
of  St.  Peter,  where  he  long  lived  a  regular  life  under  the 
abbot  Walkeline,  and  G-odfrey  the  religious  and  learned 
prior.1  Some  time  afterwards  he  was  canonically  advanced 
to  ecclesiastical  rule,  and  was  appointed  the  first  abbot  of 
Tewksbury,  when  Samson  of  Bayeux2  was  bishop  of 
Worcester.  Robert  Eitz-Hamon3  had  founded  this  abbey 
of  Tewksbury,  on  the  river  Severn,  in  the  reign  of  William 
the  younger,  king  of  England,  and  richly  endowed  it.4  Ge- 
rald, now  raised  to  the  summit  of  pastoral  care,  diligently  ful- 
filled the  holy  duty  of  preaching,  which  he  had  willingly  per- 
formed while  he  was  only  a  clerk,  and  by  that  means  drawn 
many  from  the  depths  of  debauchery  and  rapacity  to  purity 
and  innocence  of  life.  He  gave  the  regular  institutions  of 
the  order  to  his  new  society,  admitted  a  number  of  novices 

lGodfrey  de  Cambray  was  made  prior  of  Winchester  in  1082,  when  his 
predecessor  Vauquelin  was  appointed  abbot  of  Ely.  He  died  in  the  odour 
of  sanctity,  Dec.  27,  1107. 

*  He  was  brother  of  Thomas,  archbishop  of  York,  and  was  consecrated 
bishop  of  Worcester,  June  15,  1096,  and  died,  May  5,  1112. 

3  Robert,  earl  of  Gloucester,  the  natural  son  of  Henry  I.,  married  the 
daughter  and  heiress  of  this  Robert  Fitz-Hamon,  and  succeeded  to  his 
great  estates.  Hamon-aux-Dents,  lord  of  Creulli  and  Torigni,  who  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Valesdunes  (1047)  left  two  sons,  Hamon,  steward  of 
King  William,  and  Robert,  who  appears  to  have  died  without  children 
before  the  Domesday  book  was  compiled.  Hamon,  the  steward,  was 
viscount  of  Kent,  and  one  of  the  judges  in  the  cause  between  Lanfranc 
and  Odo,  bishop  of  Bayeux.  He  had  two  sons,  the  eldest  of  whom  was 
this  Robert  Fitz-Hamon,  and  the  second  was  named  Hamon,  like  his 
father  and  grandfather. 

*  It  was  originally  a  priory,  founded  as  early  as  the  year  715.     Alward, 
or  Ethelward,  surnamed  Mew,  was  its  patron  in  the  time  of  King  Ethelred 
and  St.  Dunstan.     About  the  year  980  he  founded  a  small  monastery  on 
his  domains  at  Cranbourn  in  Dorsetshire.     Brictric  Mew  was  his  lineal 
descendant  and  heir.  His  estates  were  given  to  Queen  Matilda,  and  after  her 
death,  by  William  Rufus  to  Robert  Fitz-Hamon.    That  king,  and  afterwards 
his  brother  Henry  in  1 1 00,  confirmed  to  the  abbey  of  St.  Mary  at  Tewks- 
bury the  endowment  made  by  Robert  Fitz-Hamon,  who,  at  the  instance 
of  his  wife  Sibyl,  and  Gerald  d'Avranches,  abbot  of  Cranbourn,  deter- 
mined in  1102  to  rebuild  the  church  of  Tewksbury  from  the  foundation, 
and  to  transfer  there  the  monks  of  Cranbourn,  except  a  prior  and  two 
brethren.      The  union  of  the  two  establishments  dates  only  from   this 
period  and  not  from  the  time  of  Alward. 


AFTER  A.D.  1096.  J  OEBALD  MADE  ABBOT  OF  TEWKSBUEY.  251 

under  the  monastic  rule,  and  gave  them  the  best  regulations 
for  a  life  of  strictness.  He  took  part  with  those  who  were 
under  his  government  in  religious  offices,  and  sometimes 
even  exceeded  the  juniors  in  the  labours  to  be  undergone; 
while  he  managed  the  aifairs  of  the  monastery  both  internally 
and  externally  with  diligence  and  prudent  address.  How- 
ever, after  some  years  the  malice  of  Satan  was  directed 
against  the  Lord's  flock,  grievously  afflicting  the  tender 
sheep  by  the  trouble  iniquitously  caused  to  their  shepherd. 
For,  after  Eobert  Fitz-Hamon's  death,  Eobert  of  Brittany 
brought  some  false  charges  before  King  Henry  against  his 
abbot,  by  whom  he  had  been  admitted  into  the  monastery. 
The  abbot  being  summoned  before  the  king  declined  to 
enter  into  long  explanations,  but,  satisfied  with  the  con- 
sciousness of  his  innocence,  voluntarily  resigned  to  the  king 
the  government  of  his  abbey,  and  after  submitting  to 
Martha's  toilsome  services,  chose  with  Mary  the  better  part, 
by  returning  again  to  his  retirement  in  the  monastery  at 
Winchester.  To  finish  his  history,  he  sometime  afterwards 
received  an  invitation  from  the  venerable  Ralph,  bishop  of 
Rochester,1  and  at  the  request  of  many  persons,  went  to  the 
bishop  for  the  purpose  of  conferring  with  him  on  sacred 
subjects ;  but  while  there,  at  the  summons  of  God,  he  took 
to  his  bed,  and  having  duly  performed  all  that  was  fitting 
for  a  servant  of  God  died  in  sanctity.2 

Roger  de  Warrenne,  who  was  converted,  as  we  have 
already  seen,  by  the  exhortations  of  Gerald,  escaping  as  it 
were  from  the  destruction  of  Sodom,  went  to  St.  Evrpult 
with  four  of  his  companions  to  become  a  monk,  and  lived 
there  nearly  forty-six  years,  filled  with  zeal  for  the  duties 
of  his  order,  and  abounding  in  all  virtues.  Though  his 
person  was  handsome,  he  chose  to  disfigure  it  by  a  mean, 
dress.  A  respectful  modesty  marked  his  whole  demeanour, 

1  He  was  born  near  St.  Pierre-sur-Dive,  and  assumed  the  monastic  habit 
at  St.  Martin-de-S£ez,  of  which  he  became  abbot  in  1089.     Being  obliged 
to  leave  Normandy  on  acconnt  of  the  tyranny  of  Robert  do  Belcsme,  he 
took  refuge  in  England  in  1103,  was  made  bishop  of  Rochester  in  1103, 
and  translated  to  the  archbishopric  of  Canterbury,  April  26,  1114. 

2  It  appears  from  the  chronicle  of  Tewksbury,  that  Gerald   (who  is 
cailed  Giralde)  was  at  first  abbot  of  Cranbourn,  before  the  change  men- 
tioned in  the  preceding  note.     He  was  therefore  the  first  abbot  of  the  new 
monastery,  as  our  author  says,  and  the  last  of  the  old. 


252  ORDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [3.  VI.  CH.IV. 

his  voice  was  musical,  and  he  had  an  agreeable  way  of 
speaking.  His  strength  of  body  enabled  him  to  undergo 
much  toil,  while  he  was  at  all  times  ready  to  sing  psalms 
and  hymns.  He  was  gifted  with  pleasing  manners  and 
courteous  towards  his  brother  monks.  He  was  abstemious 
himself  but  generous  to  others,  always  alive  for  vigils,  and 
incredibly  modest.  He  did  not  plume  himself  with  carnal 
ostentation  on  account  of  his  noble  birth,  but  obeyed  the 
rule  with  unhesitating  humility,  and  chose  with  pleasure  to 
perform  the  lowest  offices  required  of  the  monks.  For 
many  years  he  was  in  the  habit  of  cleaning  the  brethren's 
shoes,  washing  their  stockings,  and  cheerfully  doing  other 
services  which  appear  mean  to  stupid  and  conceited  persons. 
He  ornamented  a  book  of  the  gospels  with  gold,  silver,  and 
precious  stones,  and  procured  several  vestments  and  copes 
for  the  chanters,  with  carpets,  and  curtains,  and  other 
ornaments,  for  the  church.  He  got  all  he  could  from  his 
brothers  and  relations,  as  occasion  offered,  and  what  he 
wrested  from  their  bodily  gratifications  he  applied  with  joy 
to  divine  offices  for  the  good  of  their  souls. 

Richard  de  Coulonces,  the  brother  of  this  Roger,  came  to 
St.  Evroult  and  gave  to  the  abbey  the  church  of  Etouvi, 
which  lie  bad  redeemed  from  one  Ernest,  his  tenant,  adding 
the  tithe  of  two  mills.  The  grant  of  these  possessions,  in 
which  Adelaide,  his  wife,  and  tho  aforesaid  Ernest,  joined, 
he  placed  on  the  altar.  In  return  for  this  grant,  the  monks 
gave  to  Richard  eight  livres,  and  to  Robert  de  Mowbray,1 
who  was  the  paramount  lord,  a  hundred  shillings,  where- 
upon he  forthwith,  in  the  orchard  of  Turstin  de  Soulangi,* 
confirmed  the  grant  of  the  church  of  Etouvi  as  the  monks 
required.  This  Richard  de  Coulonces  became  very  rich, 
and  being  a  favourite  with  King  Henry  rose  to  eminence 
among  his  peers.  His  prosperity  continued  to  an  advanced 
age,  and  he  had  by  his  wife  eleven  sous  and  four  daughters, 
whose  names  are  here  given :  Hugh,  Geoffrey,  Richard. 
John,  Robert,  Odo,  Henry,  Ivo,  Rodolph,  William,  and 
Henry;  Rohais,  Adeliza,  Matilda,  and  Avicia.  Of  these, 
two  were  dedicated  to  God  from  their  infancy ;  for  John 

1  Robert  de  Mowbray,  earl  of  Northumberland,  nephew  of  Geoffrey, 
bishop  of  Coutances. 
3  boulangi,  near  Falaise. 


A.D.  1081.]  ST.  EVROULT  ABBEY-LANDS  IK  ENGLAND.    253 

was  admitted  a  monk  at  St.  Evroult,  and  Adeliza  became  a 
nun  in  the  convent  of  the  Holy  Trinity  at  Caen. 

Eichard  de  Coulonces  died  on  the  seventeenth  of  the 
calends  of  October  [September  15],  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1125 ;  and  the  year  following  his  son  Hugh  came  to  St. 
Evroult,  and  making  an  offering  to  God  upon  the  altar,  of  a 
golden  salver,  truly  confirmed  the  grant  of  all  that  his  father 
had  given  as  before-mentioned,  placing  also  the  charter  on 
the  altar.  He  also  devoted  himself  to  St.  Evroult. 

CH.  Y.  Abbot  Mainier's  journey  to  England — Obtains 
grants  of  lands  and  tithes  for  St.  Evroult — The  charter 
of  William  I. —  Queen  Matilda's  visit — Abbots  Roger-du 
Sap  and  Warin  des-Essarts. 

ENCOURAGED  by  the  serenity  shed  on  affairs  by  prosperous 
times,  Abbot  Mainier  crossed  the  sea  to  England  in  the 
fourteenth  year  of  his  government,1  having  in  his  company 
Eoger  de  Warrene  and  Dreux  de  Neuf-Marche.  He  pre- 
sented himself  at  the  court  of  King  William,  from  whom 
he  had  often  received  invitations,  and  paid  friendly  visits  to 
Lanfranc  the  archbishop,  and  others,  to  whom  he  was  greatly 
attached.  He  was  treated  with  great  respect  by  the  king 
and  his  nobles,  and  took  the  opportunity  of  addressing  pru- 
dent admonitions  to  the  brethren  of  St.  Evroult,  who  had 
left  Normandy  to  better  their  fortunes,  and  obtained 
promotion  in  England.  These  distinguished  monks  were 
also  received  with  favour  by  the  great  lords  of  the  realm, 
whose  kindness  to  the  strangers  was  shown  by  the  gifts 
heaped  upon  them  out  of  the  wealth  acquired  with  violence 
in  a  foreign  land.  The  king  and  his  nobles  joyfully  made 
them  gifts  of  farms,  sums  of  money,  and  ornaments  for  their 
church,  commending  themselves  to  their  prayers  with  confi- 
dence and  devotion.  At  this  time  the  possessions,  churches, 
and  tithes,  which  the  friends  and  neighbours  of  the  monks 
of  St.  Evroult  had  granted  to  them,  were  recorded  in  a 
charter  for  the  better  knowledge  of  posterity.  The  charter 
by  which  the  illustrious  William  freely  confirmed  the  grants 
made  by  himself  and  his  liege-men  to  the  abbey  of  St. 
Evroult,  by  his  royal  authority,  is  in  these  words : — 

"  William,  by  the  grace  of  God,  king  of  England,  duke  of 
1  In  the  year  1081. 


254  OEDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [B.TI.  CH.T. 

Normandy  and  prince  of  Maine,  to  all  who  profess  the 
catholic  faith  and  keep  the  peace  of  the  church,  sends  full 
and  infinite  joy.  Whereas  the  life  of  man  is  short,  and  all 
things  are  transitory  from  one  generation  to  another,  we 
are  pleased  to  confirm  the  statutes  of  our  time  by  an  instru- 
ment in  writing,  that  what  we  duly  execute,  of  our  own 
right  and  the  power  given  to  us  by  Q-od,  none  of  our  suc- 
cessors may  presume  to  violate,  lest  he  should  be  found  to 
withstand  Him  who  disposes  kingdoms  according  to  his  will. 
I  therefore  William,  by  the  grace  of  God  king,  have  deter- 
mined to  endow,  in  frank-almoign,  in  the  kingdom  commit- 
ted to  me  by  G-od  for  my  eternal  profit,  the  convent  of  St. 
Evroult ;  and  whatever  my  faithful  subjects  lawfully  dedicate 
to  God,  for  the  common  salvation  of  all,  out  of  the  pos- 
sessions given  them  by  me  I  ratify,  and  by  these  presents, 
under  my  hand,  make  known  the  confirmation  to  all  now 
living,  and  to  all  the  faithful  in  time  to  come.  In  the  first 
place  therefore  I  give,  out  of  my  domains,  to  the  abbey  of 
Ouche,  which  Evroiflt  the  holy  confessor  of  Christ  built  in 
the  wilderness,  the  ville  called  Rawell,  that  is,  Goatswell, 
in  Gloucestershire,1  and,  in  Lincolnshire,  the  church  of  Net- 
tleham,2  with  all  its  appurtenances.  Moreover,  the  lords 
who  hold  under  me  having  given  the  following  domains  to 
St.  Evroult,  have  demanded  that  they  should  be  secured  by 
the  authority  of  a  royal  charter  against  all  pretenders. 
Roger  of  Shrewsbury  hath  given  all  that  he  holds  at 
Melbourne,  in  Cambridgeshire,3  together  with  Onne  and 
Marston4  in  Staffordshire,  and  one  hide  of  land  in  Graff- 

1  Before  the  conquest  this  manor  belonged  to  the  Saxon  Ulward.     The 
monks  of  St.  Evroult  exchanged  it,  by  licence  from  Ed.  I.,  with  those  of 
Winchcomb  for  twenty  pounds  rent  out  of  their  manors  of  Drymarston 
and  Admington. 

2  Nettlehum,  three  miles  from  Lincoln.     Domesday  book  contains  no 
record  of  this  grant  to  St.  Evroult.     The  patronage  of  the  church  has  be- 
longed from  time  immemorial  to  the  bishop  of  Lincoln. 

*  Melbourne  and  Meldreth,  two  parishes  in  the  present  hundred  of 
Armingford  in  Cambridgeshire,  are  recorded  in  Domesday  book  as  belong- 
ing to  Roger  de  Montgomery. 

4  Little-On,  in  the  parish  of  Church-Eaton,  Staffordshire;  the  church  is 
of  Norman  architecture.  Marston  is  a  manor  near  Stafford,  and  gave 
name  to  a  prebend  in  the  collegiate  church  of  St.  Mary  there.  In 
Domesday  book,  Marston  is  appropriated  to  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult,  under 
Eaxl  Roger.  The  manor  afterwards  belonged  to  the  Giffards  of  Chillington. 


A.D.  1081.]  CHARTEB   OP   WILLIAM   I.  255 

ham,1  and  the  land  of  Wulfine  the  goldsmith,  at  Chichester, 
and  the  tithes  of  cheese  and  wool  at  Poulton,2  and  the  tithes 
of  Shengay  in  Cambridgeshire.  Likewise  Mabel,  the  said 
earl's  daughter,  gave  out  of  her  rents  in  England  sixty 
pence  sterling  for  the  lights  of  the  church.  Warm,  viscount 
of  Shrewsbury,  gave  to  St.  Evroult  Newton3  and  the  church 
and  tithes  of  Hales,  with  the  tithes  of  "Weston  in  Stafford- 
shire. All  these  Earl  Eoger  his  lord  confirmed.  Moreover, 
Hugh  de  Grantmesnil,  (who,  with  his  brother  Bobert  and 
his  uncles  William  and  Eobert,  sons  of  Giroie,  rebuilt  the 
abbey  of  St.  Evroult),  gave  the  following  hereditaments  in 
England  to  hold  for  ever:  all  the  land  he  had  in  Little 
Pillerton  in  Warwickshire,  and  two  parts  of  the  tithes  of 
all  his  lands,  together  with  sixteen  villeins  to  collect  the 
tithes,  and  nine  churches.  He  gave  also  three  villeins  at 
Shilton,*  two  at  Ware,4  two  at  Belgrave,  one  at  Stoughton, 
one  at  Laughton,  one  at  Tormodeston,  one  at  Kirkby,6  one 
at  Merston,  one  at  Oxhill,7  one  at  Charlton,  and  one  in  the 
other  Charlton.8  He  also  gave  the  church  of  Ware,  with  all 
the  tithes  belonging  thereto,  and  two  plough-lands ;  and 

1  Graffham,  a  parisn  near  Midhurst  in  Sussex. 

8  Poulton,  in  the  hundred  of  Highworth,  Wilts. 

3  Newton,  a  hamlet  in  the  parish  of  Blithfield,  Sherriff-Halea  (from 
Warin  the  viscount),  and  Weston-under-Lizzard,  all  in  Staffordshire. 
Newton  and  Weston  were  held  of  the  king  in  capile  at  the  time  of 
making  Domesday  book,  by  Reginald  de  Baliol,  who  married 'the  widow  of 
Warin  the  viscount,  and  succeeded  him  in  his  office.  Hales  was  at  the 
same  time  held  in  capite  by  Earl  Roger,  and  under  him  by  Reginald  de 
Baliol.  It  afterwards  became  the  chief  seat  in  England  of  the  family  of 
Pantoul,  called  also  Paunton,  Pantulf,  or  Pandulf.  William  Pantoul 
was  a  great  benefactor  to  St.  Evroult,  and  the  connexion  continued  after 
the  family  settled  in  England.  See  b.  v.  c.  16. 

*  Earl-Shilton,  a  manor  and  chapel  in  the  parish  of  Kirkby-Malory,  in 
the  hundred  of  Sparkenhoe  in  Leicestershire. 

5  Ware  in   Hertfordshire,  a  priory  dependent  upon  the  abbey  of  St. 
Evroult.    The  prior  acted  as  general  proctor  for  the  abbey  in  England,  not 
only  as  regarded  the  possessions  of  that  house,  but  also  for  those  of  its 
priories  of  Noyon  and  Neuf-Marche. 

6  Belgrave,   near   Leicester  ;    Stoughton,  a   hamlet   in   the   parish   of 
Thornby;  Church-Langton,  near  Market-Harborough;  Tormodeston  (Thur- 
meston),  a  hamlet  and  chapel  in  the  parish  of  Belgrave;  Kirkby-Malory, 
mentioned  before,  in  Leicestershire. 

7  Dutlers-Merston  ;    Oxhill   (Ostesilvp.)  ;   parishes  in  the  hundred   of 
Kineton  in  Warwickshire. 

B  Charlton-Curlicu,  Leicestershire,  and  Charlton-upon-Olmoor,  Oxford- 
shire. 


256  OEDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [B.TI.  CII.V. 

the  church  of  Turchillestone,  the  tithes  thereto  belonging, 
and  two  yard-lands ;  the  church  of  Grlendfield,  with  .all  the 
tithes,  and  two  yard-lands;  the  church  of  Charlton  with 
the  tithes,  and  five  yard-lauds  ;  the  church  of  Nosley1  with 
the  tithes,  and  two  yard-lands ;  the  church  of  Mergrave, 
now  called  Belgrave,  with  the  tithes  and  eleven  yard-lands ; 
with  "Wilcot,3  and  whatever  Hugh  the  clerk  of  Sap  held 
under  him  in  England;  the  church  of  Merston3  with  the 
tithes  and  land  thereto  belonging;  also  the  church  of 
Pilardenton,  with  the  tithes  and  tenements  appertaining  to 
the  church;  the  church  of  the  other  Charlton,  with  the 
tithes  and  three  yard-lands ;  the  church  of  Cotesford,4 
with  the  tithes  and  one  hide  of  land ;  and  the  church  of 
Peatling,  with  all  that  Leofric  held  there  under  him.5  These 
are  the  possessions  which  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil  hath  given 
to  St.  Evroult  with  my  consent.  Also  Ealph  de  Conches 
hath  given  to  the  said  saint  two  manors,  Alvinton  in  Wor- 
cestershire and  Caldecot  in  Norfolk  ;6  and  Hugh,  the  son  of 
Constantius,  hath  given  the  church  of  G-uafra  and  one  hide 
of  land.7  Moreover,  Hugh,  earl  of  Chester,  hath  dedicated 
his  son  Robert  to  God,  as  a  monk  in  the  abbey  of  St. 
Evroult,  and  hath  given  to  the  same  church  one  hide  of 

1  Turchillestone  (Thurcaston)  Glendfield,  NosJey,  all  in  Leicestershire. 
3  Wilcot,  a  manor  and  hamlet  in  the  parish  of  Quinton,  Gloucestershire. 

3  Merston;  Butler's-Merston,  already  mentioned.     The  patronage  of  the 
church  did  not  rest  with  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult,  which  possessed  only 
the  tithes.     Ralph-the-Butler  gave  it  to  the  abbey  of  Alcester. 

4  Cotesford,  a  parish  in  the  hundred  of  Ploughley,  Oxfordshire.     The 
manor  had  been  granted  to  Ralph  d'lvri,  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil's  son-in- 
law,  when  Domesday  book  was  compiled.     His  wife,  Adeline  de  Grant- 
meonil,  gave  it  to  the  abbey  of  Bee,  with  several  other  manors  composing 
her  dowry,  and  her  sister  Rohais,  married  to  Robert  de  Courci,  gave  to 
the  same  abbey  a  manor  she  held  by  the  same  title  at  Cotesford.     The 
monks  of  St.  Evroult  ceded  the  patronage  of  this  church  to  the  priory 
of  Okebourne,  a  cell  of  Bee. 

*  In  Leicestershire ;  part  of  the  domains  of  Adeliza,  Hugh  de  Grant- 
mesnil's  wife,  when  Domesday  book  was  made,  which  says  that  Leofric 
held  under  her  eight  plough-lands  and  a  half.  Peatling  was  called  a  priory 
until  about  the  year  1379,  when  it  is  described  as  a  dependency  on  Ware. 

6  Alton,  a  hamlet  in  the  parish  of  Rock,  hundred  of  Doddingtree, 
Worcestershire  ;  Caldecot,  a  hamlet,  formerly  a  parish,  in  the  hundred  of 
Guenhow,  Norfolk. 

7  Guafra,    Wara,   Over,   Churchover,   in    the   hundred   of  Knighton, 
Warwickshire.     In  Domesday  book  it  is  part  of  the  fief  of  Rob.-rt  de 
Stafford,  brother  of  this  Ralph  de  Conches,  or  Toni. 


A.D.  1081.]  CHAUTEB   OF   WILLIAM   I.  257 

land  in  Little  Pilardenton,1  and  the  tithes  of  one  farmer  iu 
the  vill  called  Birch-hill,2  and  the  tithes  of  Shenley  in 
Buckinghamshire.  Also  Robert  de  Ehuddlan,  with  the  con- 
sent of  his  lord,  the  said  Hugh,  earl  of  Chester,  gave  Kirby,3 
with  two  churches,  one  in  the  village  itself,  and  the  other  at 
the  manor  lying  near,  surrounded  by  the  sea ;  together  with 
the  church  of  St.  Peter  the  apostle  and  its  appurtenances, 
in  the  city  of  Chester  ;4  and  the  church  of  St.  Lawrence  at 
Marston,  in  Northamptonshire,  with  its  appurtenances ;  and 
in  the  same  county  the  church  of  Byfield,  with  two  plough- 
lands.5  Also  other  mesne-tenants  of  Earl  Hugh  gave  to  St. 
Evroult  tithes  in  Lincolnshire,  viz.,  Boscelin  of  Staiuton, 
Osbern,  son  of  Tezson,  of  Newbold,  Baldric  de  Fairford,6 
the  tythe  with  one  villein ;  Koger  de  Millai,7  and  Brisard, 
and  Kobert  Pultrel5  in  Leicestershire.  All  these  gave  their 
tithes  to  St.  Evroult,  and  the  aforesaid  earl  freely  con- 
firmed the  grant.  All  the  aforesaid  lands  which  I  have 
given  to  the  abbey,  often  before  mentioned,  from  my  own 
demesne,  and  which  my  barons  and  I  have  confirmed  to  the 
same,  I  ratify  by  this  present  charter,  made  at  the  city  of 

1  Little  Pillerton,  in  the  hundred  of  Kineton,  Warwickshire. 

a  There  are  three  adjoining  parishes  of  this  name  in  the  hundred  of 
Newport,  Buckinghamshire.  Shenley,  in  the  same  hundred,  has  been 
mentioned  before. 

1  West  Kirby,  a  parish  in  the  hundred  of  Wirra!,  Cheshire.  The 
church  is  dedicated  to  St.  Bridget.  The  other  church  here  mentioned  is 
St.  Mary's,  in  Hilburg-Eye  (Norsk  for  an  islet),  now  Hillbree,  and  annexed 
to  the  parish  of  St.  Donald,  belonging  to  the  cathedral  of  Chester. 

*  The  abbey  and  convent  of  St.  Evroult  afterwards  gave  up  to  the  monks 
of  St.  Werburgh  at  Chester  all  their  rights  in  this  and  the  two  preceding 
churches,  in  consideration  of  a  yearly  rent  of  twenty  pounds  issuing  out  of 
the  manor  of  Peatling  in  Leicestershire. 

8  Marston-St.-Lawrence,  a  parish  in  the  hundred  of  King-Sutton;  By- 
field,  in  that  of  Chipping- Warden,  both  in  Northamptonshire.  These  two 
manors  formed  part  of  the  hundred  of  the  earl  of  Chester,  and  were  held 
under  him  by  Robert  de  Rhuddlan  when  Domesday-book  was  compiled. 

*  All  in  the  division  of  Lindsey  in  Lincolnshire.     These  three  places 
were  part  of  the  domains  of  Earl  Hugh,  and  the  names  mentioned  in  the 
charter  are  included  among  his  vassals  in  Domesday-book. 

7  Roger  de  Millai  was  also  a  mesne  tenant  of  Earl  Hugh  in  Tedding- 
worth.    His  surname  was  brought  with  him  from  Normandy,  very  probably 
from  the  parish  of  M£lai  in  Cinglais. 

8  This  Robert  de  Pultrel  gave  his  name  to  Hotton,  a  hamlet  of  the 
parish  of  Pustwold,  also  held  of  Earl  Hugh.     The  name  of  Poultrel  is 
Btill  common  in  Normandy. 

VOL.  II.  S 


258  OfiDEEICt/S   VITAL1S.  [B.TI.  CH.T. 

Winchester,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1081,  the  fourth  indic- 
tion ;  and  I  deliver  this  instrument  to  be  executed  with  the 
mark  of  the  holy  cross,  to  those  my  capital  tenants,  who 
have  given  their  lands  in  frank  alinoign  or  their  sureties, 
that  this  endowment  may  be  for  ever  ratified  by  royal  au- 
thority, and  that  sacrilegious  invaders  of  sacred  rights  may 
incur  the  penalty  of  an  irrevocable  anathema,  unless  they 
repent  of  their  crime." 

In  consequence  "William,  the  great  king  of  England,  first 
affixed  the  sign  of  the  holy  cross  to  this  charter,  and  after 
him  the  following  nobles  also  subscribed,  whose  names  are 
hereuuder  written :  viz.  Bobert  and  William,  the  king's  sons 
and  earls  of  the  highest  rank;  Eoger  of  Shrewsbury,  Hugh  of 
Chester,  Ealph  de  Conches,  and  William  de  Breteuil,  Hugh 
de  Grantmesnil  and  his  nephew  Robert  de  Ehuddlan,1  Eobert 
son  of  Murdac,2  Groulfier  de  Villerai,3  William  de  Molines,4 
Eicher  de  Laigle,  Eudes  the  steward,  and  Warin,  Viscount 
of  Shrewsbury.5 

On  his  return  from  England,  Abbot  Mainier  brought  with 
him  this  charter  and  laid  it  up  in  the  archives  of  the  church. 
Then  Queen  Matilda,  hearing  a  goof:  report  of  the  life  of  the 
monks,  came  to  St.  Evroult  to  pay  her  devotions,  and  being 
received  by  the  brethren  with  due  honours  offered  a  mark  of 
gold  on  the  altar,  and  commended  herself  with  her  daughter 
Constance  to  the  prayers  of  the  brethren.8  She  also  ordered 

1  Rhuddlan  in  Flintshire. 

2  This  noble  family,  which  has  extended  its  branches  both  in  Normandy 
and   England,  and  a  member  of  which  was  archbishop  of  York  in  the 
twelfth  century,  appears  to  have  been  originally   lords  of  Courtonne-la- 
Meurdrac,  near  Lisieux.    In  Domesday-book  we  find  Robert,  son  of  Mur- 
dac, described  as  tenant  in  capite  of  two  manors,  one  in  Oxfordshire,  the 
oilier  in  Hampshire. 

3  Seeb.  iii.  c.  19. 

4  See  b.  v.  c.  1 3. 

*  Warin,  the  viscount,  often  mentioned  before.  See  p.  196.  He  was 
not,  however,  the  brother  of  Reginald  de  Baliol,  but  his  first  wife's 
husband. 

8  It  appears  from  this  passage  that  Queen  Matilda  remained  in  Nor- 
mandy while  William  was  in  England.  M.  Le  Prevost  remarks  that  he 
was  mistaken  in  fixing  the  marriage  of  Constance  with  Alan  Fergan,  duke 
of  Brittany,  about  the  year  1077,  when  she  was  quite  young.  See  c.  1!!, 
p.  105.  She  may  have  been  betrothed  about  that  time  (1076),  but  the 
marriage  did  not  take  place  till  1086. 


QUEEN   EMMA   TISITS    ST.  ETEOTJLT.  259 

that  a  refectory  of  stone,  for  their  common  use,  should  be 
built  at  her  expense.  She  further  gave  to  St.  Evroult  a 
chasuble  enriched  with  gold  and  jewels,  and  an  elegant  cope 
for  the  chanter,  with  a  promise  to  make  further  offerings  if 
she  lived ;  but  she  was  prevented  by  death  from  fulfilling  it. 
Likewise  Adeline,  wife  of  Roger  de  Beaumont,1  gave  to  the 
monks  of  St.  Evroult  an  alb  fringed  with  gold,  which  the 
priest  was  used  to  wear  when  celebrating  mass  on  solemn 
occasions.  In  like  manner  many  persons  of  both  sexes  made 
offerings  of  various  kinds  to  the  abbey,  desiring  to  participate 
in  the  spiritual  benefits  which  were  there  conferred  by  the 
Maker  of  the  universe. 

At  this  time  three  brothers  served  God  with  merit  in  the 
monastic  habit  at  St.  Evroult ;  Roger,  surnamed  Nicholas, 
Roger  and  Odo.  They  were  the  sons  of  a  priest  named 
Gervase  de  Montreuil,  who  had  been  long  ago  transferred  by 
abbot  Theodoric  from  being  curate  of  the  parish  of  Les 
Essarts  to  that  of  Sap.  The  three  brothers  made  their 
profession  while  they  were  youths,  and  becoming  remarkable 
among  the  brethren  for  their  worth,  were  highly  esteemed 
both  by  God  and  man.  The  eldest  was  an  unlearned  man, 
but  a  devoted  lover  of  virtue,  and  he  skilfully  superintended 
the  work  of  building  the  new  church.  The  two  others  were 
eminent  scholars  and  priests,  firm  supporters  of  their  superior, 
and  his  able  vicars,  both  within  and  without  the  convent. 
The  abbot  made  Odo  prior  of  his  monastery,  for  though  he 
was  the  youngest  brother  he  was  the  best  speaker  and  most 
fitted  for  active  affairs.  Roger  the  eldest  brother  who  had 
made  the  greatest  advances  in  learning,  was  sent  to  England 
on  affairs  of  the  church.  In  this  he  promptly  obeyed  his 
superior's  command ;  he  also  made  by  his  own  efforts  a  shrine 
to  hold  relics  of  the  saints,  which  he  elegantly  ornamented 
with  silver  and  gold.2  His  skill  procured  many  treasures  for 
the  church,  such  as  a  variety  of  furniture,  and  copes  and 
vestments  for  the  chanters,  sconces,  silver  dishes,  and  other 

1  She  was  daughter  of  Waleran,  and  sister  of  Hugh,  count  de  Meulan, 
who  became  a  monk  at  Bee  in  1077,  and  died  in  1079  or  1089.  She 
married  Roger  de  Beaumont  in  1036,  and  died  in  1081. 

3  A  chasse,  or  reliquary,  of  very  ancient  and  curious  workmanship, 
which  may  possibly  have  been  that  here  mentioned,  escaped  the  plunder 
of  the  revolution,  and  is  still  preserved  at  St.  Evroult. 

8  2 


260  OEDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [B.YI.  CH.TI. 

ornaments  used  in  divine  service.  He  was  gentle  and 
modest,  temperate  in  food,  drink,  and  sleep,  and  beloved  by 
all  for  his  kind  disposition.  Having  filled  the  various  offices 
which  the  monastic  system  requires  for  twenty  years,  he  was 
afterwards  promoted,  by  common  consent  of  the  brethren,  to 
succeed  Mainier  and  Serlo  in  the  government  of  the  abbey  of 
St.  Evroult.1  He  held  it  for  thirty-three  years  through  good 
and  evil  fortune,  but  finding  himself  broken  by  the  infirmi- 
ties of  age,  he  committed  it  to  one  of  his  disciples  named 
"Warin,  and  for  three  years  before  his  death,  made  him,  as 
far  as  possible,  his  deputy  and  successor.8  But  of  these 
affairs,  if  life  be  spared  me,  I  shall,  with  God's  help,  give  a  full 
account  in  the  sequel  of  this  history.  I  now  return  to  the 
enumeration  of  the  possessions  granted  to  the  abbey  of 
St.  Evroult. 

CH.  VI.  Sow  the  tithes  of  Lommoie  were  granted  to  the  abbey 
of  St.  Evroult. 

THE  young  Ralph,  son  of  Albert  de  Cravent,  at  the  com- 
mencement of  his  military  career,  fell  in  with  Q-uitmond  the 
monk3  in  the  valley  of  Guyon,  coming  from  Maule,  attended 
by  a  servant ;  and  unhorsing  the  monk,  carried  off  the 
palfreys.  The  monk  made  his  way  to  Paci  on  foot,  and  in 
great  tribulation  implored  Albert's  protection  against  his 
son.4  The  knight  however  replied  superciliously,  and  at  once 
refused  to  render  him  any  assistance  in  the  recovery  of  his 
horses.  Upon  finding  this,  Alberede  his  wife  began  making 
lamentations,  tossing  her  hands,  and  tearing  her  hair,  and 
mourning  for  her  son  as  if  he  were  just  dead.  She  cried  out 
like  a  distracted  person,  exclaiming  with  mingled  groans  and 
tears  :  "  My  son  Ralph,  you  have  begun  your  career  in  folly 
rather  than  in  arms.  Alas !  you  have  listened  to  detestable 
teachers,  and,  foolish  boy !  have  been  led  astray  by  their  fatal 
sophisms,  by  which  you  are  miserably  drawn  to  the  brink 

1  Roger  du  Sap  was  consecrated  abbot  of   St.  Evroult  the  24th  of 
August,  1099. 

2  Warin  des  Essarts  was  consecrated  on  Ascension  day,  the  24th  of 
May,  1123.     His  predecessor  survived  till  January  13,  1126  or  1127. 

8  Prior  of  Maule.     See  book  v.  c.  1 9. 

4  Paci-sur-Eure.     Albert   probably  had  a  command  in  the   garrison. 
The  valley  of  Guyon  must  have  lain  between  it  and  Maule. 


PLUNDEHIN&   A   MONK.  261 

of  perdition.  "What  a  sad  message  have  you  sent  me !  what 
bitter  grief  have  you  occasioned  me !  misguided  young  man ! 
what  shall  I  say  to  you  ?  Ton  have  incurred  fatal  degrada- 
tion by  unjustly  treating  an  unarmed  servant  of  Christ.  O 
my  son  Ralph !  what  were  you  doing  in  your  folly  when  your 
first  passage  in  arms  was  against  the  Almighty  ?  I  am 
persuaded  full  well,  that  I  shall  have  small  cause  for  joy  and 
abundant  sorrow  for  your  exploit.  Do  not  all  the  doctors 
of  the  church  agree  in  asserting  unanimously,  that  the  Most 
High  dwells  in  his  saints  and  shares  with  them  good  and 
evil  ?  And  you,  his  father,  come  to  the  aid  of  your  infatuated 
son,  and  use  all  diligence  to  have  the  stolen  horses  restored 
to  the  disconsolate  monk,  lest  your  only  son  should,  for  such  a 
crime,  be  forthwith  given  over  to  the  devil."  The  prudent 
mother  thus  supplicating  for  her  son's  welfare,  and  seriously 
endeavouring  to  console  the  distressed  monk,  Albert  and  all 
his  household  were  moved  and  frightened,  and  his  mule  being 
returned  he  sent  his  men-at-arms  with  him  as  far  as  Breval, 
and  having  severely  reprimanded  his  son  insisted  on  his 
instantly  giving  up  every  thing  he  had  taken  from  him. 
Gruitmond  therefore,  recovering  his  horses,  departed  for  Paci, 
having  returned  thanks  to  Albert  and  his  wife,  both  of  whom 
solicited  and  obtained  his  pardon  for  the  offence  which  had 
been  committed.  Alberede  was  daughter  of  Hugh  bishop  of 
Evreux,1  and  was  highly  esteemed  by  the  neighbours  for  her 
great  worth,  as  far  as  things  were  in  her  power. 

The  same  year  the  young  man  just  spoken  of  fell  sick,  and 
repenting  of  his  crime  sought  for  pardon  from  the  monks  of 
St.  Evroult.  and  devoted  himself  and  all  he  posessed  to  the 
saint.  At  his  death  his  sorrowing  father  caused  his  corpse 
to  be  conveyed  to  the  abbey,  and  gave  one  moiety  of  the 
tithes  of  Lommoie  to  St.  Evroult,  free  as  he  himself  possessed 
it.  The  other  moiety  was  held  of  him  by  the  monks  of 
Coulombs,8  under  the  agreement  that  they  should  pay  and 
perform  on  his  behalf  all  episcopal  dues  and  all  services  which 
were  reserved.  This  grant  was  made  to  St.  Evroult  in  the 
year  of  our  lord  1070,  when  Philip  was  king  of  France  and 
Geoffrey  (nephew  of  Keginald,  bishop  of  Paris)  was  bishop 

1  Hugh,  bishop  of  Lisieux,  who  died  at  the  council  of  Rheims,  held  in 
October,  1049,  was  eldest  son  of  Ralph,  count  d'lvri,  uncle  of  Richard  II. 
8  An  abbey  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Eure,  near  Nogent-le-roL 


262  OEDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [B.VI.  CH.YII. 

of  Chartres.1  Ralph  Malvoisin,  who  was  the  lord  of  the  fee, 
freely  granted  at  Medan,  on  the  request  of  abbot  Mainier, 
the  tithes  of  Lommoie,  which  as  before  related  belonged  to 
the  church. 

Not  long  afterwards  Albert  himself  died,  and  his  body- 
was  carried  to  St.  Evroult,  and  the  gift  of  the  tithes  was  con- 
firmed by  his  heirs,  Guy  his  son-in-law,  Everard  de  Rai  his 
son,  and  Ealph  de  La  Cunelle,  and  others  who  have  succeeded 
to  the  present  time ;  and  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult,  by  God's 
mercy,  have  quietly  possessed  them  for  nearly  sixty  years 
under  three  bishops,  Geoffrey,  Ivo,  and  Geoffrey.2 

CH.  VII.  Foundation  of  the  priory  of  Aufay  near  Dieppe,  a 
cell  to  St.  Evroult — Possessions  belonging  to  it  in  Normandy 
and  England. 

I  WISH  now  to  commit  to  writing  for  the  benefit  of 
posterity  how  and  at  what  time  the  cell  of  Aufay,  in  the 
county  of  Talou,8  was  erected,  and  subjected  to  the  monks  of 
St.  Evroult,  in  the  time  of  King  William  and  Archbishop 
John,  and  to  record  in  this  work  the  charter  of  donation 
and  confirmation  which  was  authorized  by  King  Henry. 

As  human  life  is  constantly  fleeting,  and  mortal  man  must 
irrecoverably  part  with  the  possessions  which  he  has  used 
the  greatest  exertions  to  acquire,  every  one  ought  faithfully 
to  obey  the  commandments  of  God  while  he  lives  and  has  it 
in  his  power,  that,  holding  transitory  things  in  contempt,  he 
may  by  God's  grace  obtain  those  that  are  eternal.  Taking 
this  into  his  serious  consideration,  a  noble  Norman  knight, 
named  Gilbert,  son  of  Richard  de  Heugleville,*  at  the  instance 

1  From  July  30,  1077—1089.  The  date  given  in  the  text  is  incorrect, 
though  it  is  written  at  full  length  in  the  MS.  of  St.  Evroult.  It  should 
probably  have  been  1080.  This  Geoffrey,  bishop  of  Chartres,  has  been 
mentioned  before,  book  v.  c.  16. 

1  Geoffrey  I.,  1077—1089;  Ives,  1090—1115;  Geoffrey  II.,  1116— 
1 149.  This  paragraph  must  have  been  written  some  time  about  the  year 
1140. 

8  The  priory  of  Aufay,  in  the  county  of  Talou,  on  the  Sie,  a  rivulet 
which  discharges  itself  into  the  sea  a  little  to  the  west  of  Dieppe.  Aufay 
is  the  second  station  on  the  railroad  to  Rouen,  as  Longueville,  presently 
mentioned,  the  original  seat  of  the  Giffards,  earls  and  dukes  of  Bucking- 
ham, is  the  first. 

*  Heugleville-sur-Sie. 


PBIOEY   OF   ATJFAT,  UEAE   DIEPPE.  2C3 

of  his  wife  Beatrice,  determined  to  establish  monks  on  his 
patrimonial  domains  at  Aufay,  by  whose  intercessions  and 
merits  he  might  be  aided  in  the  day  of  account.  His  nephew 
Dreux  had  lately  retired  from  his  worldly  service,  and  become 
a  monk  in  the  monastary  of  St.  Evroult  the  confessor,  for 
which  reason  Gilbert  had  become  much  attached  to  abbot 
Mainier  and  the  monks,  and  gave  them  the  church  of  St. 
Mary  d' Aufay,  with  all  his  prebends ;  in  such  wise  that  six 
monks  should  be  appointed  instead  of  the  six  canons  who 
then  served  the  church,  and  should  succeed  to  their  prebends 
when  the  canons  died  or  gave  up  their  secular  calling  for  a 
stricter  rule  of  life.  The  aforesaid  lord  gave  also  to  the 
same  monks  all  the  vill  of  Pare,1  with  the  church  and  entire 
tithes  of  the  same  vill,  as  free  and  discharged  from  all 
burdensome  services,  as  he  held  it  himself.  He  released  the 
men  of  Pare  from  all  compulsory  service,  except  they  were 
summoned  by  the  duke  of  Normandy  in  a  general  levy.  He 
gave  for  yearly  tithes  from  his  mill  at  Aufay  two  bushels  of 
wheat,  and  half  a  bushel  of  any  sort  of  grain  from  another 
mill  on  the  Sie.  He  also  granted  liberty  for  the  monks  to 
receive  daily  two  ass-loads  of  fire-wood  from  his  forest  of 
Herichards.  The  aforesaid  knight  had  the  fee  of  two  waggon 
loads  of  wine  yearly  from  the  duke  of  Normandy,  out  of 
which  he  granted  for  ever  to  the  monks  one  muid  for  use 
in  celebrating  the  mass.  He  further  gave  two  churches, 
with  all  the  tithes  and  land  belonging  to  them,  one  at  Pare 
which  was  built  in  honour  of  St.  Mary,  mother  of  God,  and 
the  other  at  Beaunai,  dedicated  to  St.  Peter,  prince  of  the 
apostles.  These  being  prebends  of  the  church  of  Aufay  were 
then  held  by  two  of  the  canons.  Ralph  served  the  church 
of  Pare,  but  some  time  afterwards  he  was  overtaken  by  a  tem- 
pest as  he  was  returning  from  England,  and  the  ship  being 
wrecked,  perished  in  the  sea  with  all  on  board.  Walter 
had  the  church  of  Beaunai,  but  he  soon  afterwards  became 
a  monk  of  St.  Evroult. 

All  these  Gilbert,  with  his  wife  Beatrice,  freely  gave  to 
the  church  of  God  for  the  good  of  his  soul,  and  he  often 
used  his  best  efforts  to  persuade  his  tenants  and  friends  to 
augment  his  endowment.  Geoffrey  therefore,  one  of  his 
knights,  gave  to  St.  Mary  the  church  of  St.  Denys*  with  all 
1  Notre-Dame-du-Parc.  *  St.  Denys-sur-Sie. 


264  OHDERICUS   TITALIS.  [B.VI.  CH.\II. 

the  tithes,  recovering  for  the  church  by  entreaties  and 
purchase  the  portions  thereof  which  three  knights,  Osbern 
Capes,  and  two  sons  of  Aszo,  Bernard  and  Ralph,  held  of  him. 
He  also  gave  a  farm,  with  the  villeins  and  all  the  services 
due  from  them,  in  La  Rue-Sauvage.  Robert,  a  knight  of 
Heugleville,  gave  to  the  monks  the  church  of  St.  Aubin  with 
the  tithes,  receiving  a  gratuity  of  sixteen  livres  of  Rouen. 
Bernard,  son  of  Geoffrey  de  Neuf  Marche,  granted  to  St. 
Mary  the  church  of  Speen1  with  the  land  belonging  to  it,  and 
all  the  tithes  which  Everard  the  priest  held,  and  gave  for 
exchange  of  the  churches  of  Burghill  and  Brinsop2  twenty- 
pence  of  the  rents  of  Newbury,  at  the  feast  of  St.  Michael. 
Baldric  son  of  Nicholas,  gave  one  burgess  at  Dieppe,3  and 
Ralph  son  of  Ansered  one  cottier  at  Hotot.* 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1079,  the  second  indiction,  in  the 
fourteenth  year  of  "William  the  Great,5  king  of  England  and 
duke  of  Normandy,  the  aforesaid  Gilbert  and  Beatrice  his 
wife  deposited  the  donation  of  the  possessions  before  men- 
tioned on  the  altar  of  St.  Mary,  in  the  presence  of  the 
following  witnesses  :  Gilbert,  Ralph,  Walter,  and  John,  the 
four  canons  of  that  church ;  Bernard  de  Neuf- Marche, 
Geoffrey  de  St.  Denys,  Osbern  Capes,  and  Osbern  Buflo, 
Eustace  de  Carcuit,  and  Eustace  de  Torci,  Robert  de 
Heugleville,  Roger  de  Pare,  and  many  others. 

At  last,  Gilbert  dying  on  the  eighteenth  of  the 
calends  of  September  [the  15th  August],  and  having  been 
honourably  interred  by  the  monks  he  had  established  on 
his  domains,  his  son  Walter  succeeded  to  the  fief,  and  con- 
firmed the  grant  of  all  that  his  father  and  his  vassals  had 

1  Speen,  near  Newbury,  Berkshire. 

8  Burghill  and  Brinsop,  two  parishes  in  Herefordshire. 

8  Dieppe  had  been  recently  built.  It  appears  not  to  have  been  in 
existence  as  a  town  when  William  first  embarked  there  on  his  return  to 
England  in  1067.  (See  book  iv.  c.  4.)  There  might  have  been  a  few 
scattered  huts  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  Arques  from  an  early  period,  as 
Roger  de  Toni,  who  was  contemporary  with  Duke  Richard  L,  gave  his 
vill  of  Dieppe  to  the  abbey  of  Conches ;  but  the  place  really  owed  its 
foundation  to  the  intercourse  with  England  which  sprung  up  after  the 
conquest. 

*  Hotot-sur-Dieppe. 

B  As  the  donation  here  referred  to  was  made  before  the  1 5th  of  August, 
1079,  it  must  have  been  in  the  thirteenth  year  of  William  I.,  reckoning 
hia  reign  from  Christmas,  1066. 


ENDOWMENTS   OF   AUFAY.  265 

given  to  St.  Mary.  Again  also,  in  the  time  of  Robert  duke 
of  Normandy,  having  married  Avicia,  daughter  of  Herbrand 
de  Sackville,  at  her  instance  he  ratified  the  endowment 
made  by  his  father  and  mother  by  his  own  act.  He  also 
added  the  tenth  of  the  tolls  of  Aufay,  and  six  burgesses, 
with  all  their  services,  entirely  releasing  them  from  all  obli- 
gation to  himself,  except  in  respect  of  the  general  service 
due  to  the  duke  of  Normandy.  He  also  granted  to  the 
monks  liberty  to  fish  at  their  pleasure  in  all  his  waters. 

Moreover,  his  wife  Avicia,  in  her  zealous  love  of  God, 
gave  to  the  monks  sixty  pence  out  of  her  rents  payable  on 
the  calends  [1st]  of  October  to  buy,  yearly,  oil  and  wax  for 
lights  in  the  church,  together  with  incense ;  and  she  offered 
the  deed  of  gift  with  her  husband  on  the  altar  of  St.  Mary. 
The  witnesses  to  these  grants  were  Adam  and  William,  sons 
of  Tedfred,  Osbern  Buflo,  and  Eustace  de  Torci,  Robert  de 
CropUs,1  and  Robert,  son  of  Godmond,  John-Catus,  and 
many  others.  Some  years  afterwards  the  same  Walter  and 
Avicia  his  wife,  making  progress  in  devotion  to  God,  de- 
manded from  Roger,  abbot  of  St.  Evroult,  twelve  monks,  and 
assigned  for  their  necessary  sustenance  the  mill  of  Pare, 
which  paid  eleven  bushels,  and  five  acres  of  land  at  Heugle- 
ville,  with  three  cottiers  paying  fifteen  pence  of  yearly  rent, 
and  the  church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  with  the  whole  tithe, 
at  the  ville  called  "  The  Hundred  Acres." 

All  these  grants  to  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult  by  Gilbert 
and  his  mesne-tenants,  were  ratified  by  the  confirmation  of 
William,  king  of  England,  and  John  and  William,  arch- 
bishops of  Rouen.  Afterwards  Robert  II.,  duke  of  Nor- 
mandy, granted  to  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult  all  that  Walter,8 
son  of  Gilbert,  added  to  his  father's  endowment ;  and  also 
granted  them  licence  to  hold  a  fair  at  Pare  on  the  nativity 
of  St.  Mary,  and,  by  Walter  the  elder,  surnamed  Giffard, 
entirely  prohibited  every  one  from  having  any  toll  or  privi- 
ledge  in  it  except  the  monks.  Moreover,  his  brothers 
William  Rufus  and  Henry,  kings  of  England,  and  Geoffrey 
the  archbishop,  granted  to  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult  all  the 

1  Cropus,  to  the  N.E.  of  Aufay.  Walter  de  Cropus  settled  in  Breck- 
nockshire after  the  conquest. 

a  Walter  Giffard,  second  of  that  name,  earl  of  Buckingham  and  lord  of 
Longueville. 


266  OBDEBICUS   TITALIS.  [B.TI.  CH.V1II. 

premises  before  mentioned,  which  they  have  now  peaceably 
possessed  for  many  years.  The  canons  gave  place  to  monks, 
perceiving  that  the  latter  excelled  them  in  virtues  to  which 
they  were  unable  to  attain.  Guinimar,  Benedict,  and  John 
his  son,  associated  themselves  with  the  monks  for  many 
years,  and  their  infirmities  increasing,  at  last  departed.  But 
Gilbert,  who  was  far  the  most  intelligent  of  the  canons,  and 
Walter,  voluntarily  embraced  the  monastic  rule,  and,  engag- 
ing in  a  stricter  course  of  life,  died  worn  out  with  age. 

CH.  VIII.  Account  of  the  lords  ofAufay  and  their  connections 
— Bernard  de  Neuf-Marche,  lord  of  Brecknock  and  others 
— The  author  advocates  the  practice  of  endowing  monas- 
teries. 

IT  is  now  my  intention  to  give  some  account  of  the  origin 
of  the  lords  of  Aufay,  and  their  acts.  Gilbert,  surnamed 
the  Advocate  of  St.  Valeri,1  married  a  daughter  of  -Duke 
Richard,  by  whom  he  had  Bernard,  father  of  Walter  de 
St.  Valery  and  Richard  Heugleville.  Richard  was  long 
employed  in  the  military  service  of  his  uncle,  Richard,  duke 
of  Normandy,  from  whom  he  received  in  marriage  the 
noble  Ada,  widow  of  the  elder  Herluin  of  Heugleville,  with 
all  her  inheritance.  The  duke  also  made  him  many  presents, 
and  promised  him  more  ;  which  promises  he  would  have  libe- 
rably  performed  if  Richard  had  taken  pains  to  please  him. 
He  built  a  town  at  the  place  formerly  called  Isnelville,  on 
the  river  Sie,  and  called  it  from  the  hill  above  it  overspread 
with  beech-trees,  Aufay  [Alfagium],  introducing  among  hia 
colonists  the  customs  of  Corneilles.  This  Richard  was 
distinguished  for  his  military  conduct  and  great  liberality, 
whereby  he  was  formidable  to  his  enemies,  and  faithful  to 
his  friends. 

1  Advocatus.  It  is  meant  that  the  lords  of  St.  Valery  (sur  Somme) 
did  not  hold  the  fief  in  their  own  right.  They  were  tributaries  to  the 
abbey  founded  there  by  Clothaire  in  013,  to  which  the  lordship  belonged. 
It  was  not  likely,  that  as  this  was  the  port  from  which  the  Norman  fleet 
sailed  for  the  conquest  of  England,  its  lords  would  be  forgotten  in  the 
division  of  the  spoil.  We  find,  accordingly,  Walter  de  St.  Valery 
possessed,  among  other  domains,  of  the  extensive  manor  of  Isleworth, 
Middlesex,  which  continued  to  be  part  of  the  English  barony  of  St.  Valery. 
It  was  still  held  by  Robert,  count  de  Dreux,  in  1220,  in  right  of  his  wife 
Annora,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Thomas,  lord  of  St.  Valery-sur-Soinuie. 


A.D.  1066 — 1091.]     BEBNABD  DE  JTEUF-MABGUfe.  267 

During  the  non-age  of  "William,  Duke  Robert's  son,  when 
"William  d'Arques  revolted  against  the  duke,1  and  almost  all 
the  lords  of  Talou  likewise  deserted  the  cause  of  the  bastard 
prince,  Richard  alone  held  his  castle  near  the  church  of 
St.  Aubin  against  the  rebels,  and  endeavoured  to  defend  the 
country  round  in  its  allegiance  to  the  duke  against  the 
irruptions  of  the  garrison  of  Arques.  He  was  seconded  in 
this  enterprise  by  his  sons-in-law  Geoffrey  and  Hugh  de 
Morimont,  both  sons  of  Turketil  de  Neuf-Marche  ;2  but 
Hugh  having  been  suddenly  surrounded,  with  his  followers, 
by  the  people  of  Arques  near  Morimont,  they  were  cut  to 
pieces,  defending  themselves  bravely.  As  for  Geoffrey,  he 
had  two  sons  by  Ada,  daughter  of  Richard,  Bernard  and 
Dreux,  whose  lots  were  very  different.  Dreux  relinquished 
military  service  and  devoted  himself  to  a  religious  life  at 
St.  Evroult ;  becoming  a  monk,  he  learnt  letters,  and  rose 
through  the  different  gradations  of  holy  orders  to  the  priest- 
hood. On  the  contrary,  Bernard  continued  in  the  career 
of  arms  till  an  advanced  age,  and  served  in  the  wars  under 
three  kings  of  England  with  great  bravery.3  In  the  time  of 
"William  Rufus,  he  fought  a  battle  with  Rhys,  king  of  Wales, 
and  having  slain  him,  built  the  castle  of  Brecknock,  and 
possessed  the  kingdom  of  the  Welsh,  of  which  Talgarth  was 
the  capital  for  many  years.4  He  also  built  a  church  in 
honour  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist  in  his  town  of  Brecknock, 

1  This  rebellion  broke  out  in  1053. 

2  As  to  Geoffrey  de  Neuf-Marche",  see  book  iii.  c.  10,  and  book  v.  c.  12. 

3  For  Bernard  de  Neuf-Marche",  lord  of  Brecknock,  and  his  wife  Nesta 
or  Agnes,  daughter  of  Trahaern-ap-Caradoc,  king  of  North  Wales,  and 
their  posterity,  see  Dugdale'i  Monast.  Anglic,  vol.  i.  p.  319. 

At  the  time  Domesday-book  was  compiled,  Bernard  did  not  possess  any 
estates  in  England.  The  manor  of  Speen  belonged  to  Humphrey  Vis-de- 
Lew;  Burghill  and  Brinsop  to  a  Saxon  named  Alfred  de  Marlborough, 
and  Newbury  was  not  yet  built  on  the  territory  of  Speen.  Bernard's 
signature  appears  on  the  charter  of  William  the  Conqueror  to  Battle 
Abbey,  but  it  is  probable  that  he  did  not  acquire  the  domains  here 
mentioned  till  the  time  of  William  Rufus. 

4  Rhys-ap-Tewdor,  king  of  South  Wales,  was  slain  in  1091,  at  the  age 
of  ninety-eight,  gallantly  defending  his  country  and  throne,  in  the  battle 
fought  near   Brecknock  with   Robert  Fitz-Hamon  and  his  confederates. 
His  tomb  is  seen  in  the  cathedral  of  St.  David's.     Talgarth  is  situated  ten 
miles  N.E.  from  Brecknock. 


2G8  OEDEEICUS   YITALIS.  [B.VI.  CH.YTII. 

and  settling  monks  there,  endowed  them  with  the  tithes  of 
all  his  possessions.1 

Gilbert,  Richard's  son,  married  Beatrice,  daughter  of 
Christian  de  Valenciennes,2  an  illustrious  captain,  who  bore 
to  her  husband  Walter,  Hugh  and  Beatrice.  This  lord,  the 
duke's  kinsman,  fought  by  his  side  at  the  head  of  his  vassals 
in  all  the  principal  actions  during  the  English  war.  But 
when  William  became  king  and  peace  was  restored,  Gilbert 
returned  to  Normandy,  notwithstanding  William  offered 
him  ample  domains  in  England  ;  for  with  innate  honesty  of 
character,  he  refused  to  participate  in  the  fruits  of  rapine. 
Content  with  his  patrimonial  estates,  he  declined  those  of 
others,  and  piously  devoted  his  son  Hugh  to  a  monastic 
life  under  abbot  Mainier  in  the  monastery  of  St.  Evroult. 
He  lived  long  with  his  religious  wife,  who  was  a  cousin  of 
Queen  Matilda,  and  continued  to  the  end  in  the  practice  of 
almsgiving,  prayers,  and  other  good  works.  The  venerable 
Beatrice  survived  her  husband  three  years,  and  died  in  a 
holy  confession  on  the  second  of  the  nones  [4th  of  January]. 

AValter  was  a  young  man  of  elegance  but  little  wisdom  ; 
in  consequence  of  which  he  paid  a  ready  submission  to 
Edmund  and  other  false  teachers.  Frequenting  the  society  of 
spendthrifts,  he  wasted  his  inheritance  by  their  pernicious 
advice,  and  troubled  the  monks  and  clergy  and  tenants  with 
frequent  and  unjust  attacks.  Having  been  knighted,  he 
married  Avicia,  the  accomplished  and  beautiful  daughter  of 
Herbrand,3  by  whose  counsels  and  wise  influence  he  was  in 
a  measure  withdrawn  from  his  evil  ways.  She  was  prudent, 
fluent  in  speech,  and  devoted  to  God  from  her  youth,  exer- 
cising herself  in  good  works  to  the  utmost  of  her  power. 
She  had  three  brothers,  Jordan,  William,  and  Robert, 
distinguished  knights,  by  whose  assistance  their  brother-in- 
law  prevailed  against  his  crafty  advisers,  and  recovered  much 
which  he  had  dissipated  and  lost  by  fraud  and  robbery. 
Avicia  bore  her  husband  twelve  sons  and  daughters,  most  of 
whom  died  prematurely  in  their  infancy.  She  herself,  after 

1  Bernard  made  the  priory  of  Brecon  a  dependency  on  Battle  Abbey. 
8  This  lady  probably  came  into  Normandy  with  the  Duchess  Matilda, 
being  her  cousin,  as  we  are  told  towards  the  close  of  the  paragraph. 
3  De  Sackville. 


HAV1SE  AND   WALTEE  D'ATJFAY.  2G9 

living  fifteen  years  with  her  husband,  died  on  the  eighth  of 
the  calends  of  March  [22nd  February],  and  was  buried  in 
the  cloisters  of  the  monks  she  so  much  loved,  near  the 
church  door.  Prior  Warin  caused  an  arch  of  stone  to  be 
built  over  her  grave,  and  Vitalis  the  Englishman  composed 
her  epitaph,  as  follows : — 

HAVISE,  a  noble  lady,  lies  below, 

May  Christ  on  her  eternal  rest  bestow ! 

Her  life  to  excellence  in  virtue's  ways 

She  framed  with  earnest  zeal — her  highest  praise. 

Still  she  was  fair,  and  to  her  beaming  face, 

Wisdom  gave  eloquence,  and  talent  grace. 

To  God  her  earliest  years  she  willing  lent, 

Her  steps  to  mass  and  vespers  daily  bent ; 

Then  WALTER  D'ACFAY'S  honoured  wife  became, 

Bore  him  twelve  scions  of  his  ancient  name, 

And  fifteen  years  maintained  her  spotless  fame. 

For  sacred  rites  this  priory  she  endowed, 

With  her  own  ornaments  the  altars  glowed ; 

Nor  cost  nor  care  for  priests  and  monks  she  spared, 

And  widows,  sick,  and  poor,  her  bounty  shared. 

When  February's  latter  days  gave  promise  fair, 

And  holy  church  kept  feast  of  "  Peter's  chair," l 

High  festival,  o'ershadowed  then  with  gloom, 

Saw  pious  Havise  summoned  to  the  tomb. 

Ye  men  of  Aufay,  mourn  your  lady  lost ; 

Christ,  number  her  among  the  heavenly  host !     Amen. 

Walter  survived  his  wife's  funeral  nearly  three  years,  and 
suffering  under  a  lingering  disease,  assumed  the  habit  of  a 
monk,  and  soon  afterwards,  having  made  his  confession  and 
received  absolution,  he  died  on  the  sixth  of  the  calends  of 
June  [26th  May].  Prior  Hildegord  buried  him  at  the  feet 
of  his  wife,  and  Yitalia  made  the  following  verses  upou 
him: — 

SIR  WALTER,  LORD  OP  AUFAY,  here  finds  rest ; 

Peace  be  his  endless  portion  with  the  blest ! 

A  cloistered  monk,  he  went  from  hence  to  heaven, 

When  May's  bright  suns  had  numbered  twenty-seven. 

His  sins  confessed,  his  lingering  tortures  ceased, 

Christ's  mercy  shield  him,  from  his  guilt  released  !     Amen. 

1  The  22nd  of  February,  the  day  on  which  the  church  celebrates  the 
anniversary  of  the  installation  of  St.  Peter  as  patriarch  of  Antioch,  which 
is  supposed  to  have  taken  place  on  the  22nd  of  February,  37.  His 
installation  at  Rome  has  the  date  assigned  il  of  January  18,  44.  These 
two  feasts,  which  are  of  very  high  antiquity,  bear  the  name  of  "  St.  Peter's 
Chairs." 


270  OBDEKIC'US   VITALIS.  [fi.TI.  CH.TIII. 

Walter  left  at  his  death  four  orphan  children ;  Richard, 
Jordan,  "Walter,  and  Elias ;  who  fell  to  the  guardianship  of 
King  Henry,  and  he  entrusted  the  government  of  the 
lordship  of  Aufay  to  Robert  the  viscount,  for  two  years. 
Meanwhile,  Jordan  de  Sackville  obtained  the  whole  fief  by 
his  services  and  presents  to  the  king,  and  had  the  custody 
of  his  nephews  to  bring  them  up  out  of  their  own  patri- 
mony, which  for  four  years  he  managed  well  and  improved. 
Richard,  however,  died  when  he  was  only  twelve  years  old, 
and  was  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  Mary,  mother  of  God. 
Jordan  then  succeeded  his  brother ;  he  was  a  handsome 
youth,  and  his  conduct  was  excellent.  Having  learnt  his 
military  exercises  in  the  court  of  Henry,  that  king  gave  him 
a  prudent  and  handsome  wife,  Juliana,  the  daughter  of 
Godescalch,  who  had  followed  Queen  Adelaide  to  England 
from  the  country  of  Louvaine.1 

Thus  far  I  have  frequently  spoken  of  the  affairs  of  St. 
Evroult,  which  fill  the  greatest  part  of  my  book.  I  entreat 
my  reader  not  to  be  displeased,  if,  mindful  of  benefits  con- 
ferred, I  make  mention  of  our  benefactors.  It  is  indeed  my 
desire  to  fix  firmly  in  the  memory  of  postery  the  history  of  • 
our  founders  and  their  benevolent  fellow  labourers,  that  the 
children  of  the  church  may  be  mindful  before  God,  in  the 
presence  of  angels,  of  those  by  whose  endowments  subsis- 
tence is  provided  for  them  while  they  perform  the  services 
of  the  Creator  of  all  things.  Thus  when  Abram  returned 
victorious  from  the  slaughter  of  the  four  kings,  and  recovered 
his  nephew  Lot,  with  his  fellow  captives  of  both  sexes  and 
all  his  substance,  he  commanded  his  confederates  to  take 
their  share  of  the  spoils  of  Sodom.  By  Abram,  which 
signifies  the  supreme  father,  are  to  be  understood  those 
men  of  perfection  who  contend  daily  with  evil  spirits  and 
the  sins  of  the  flesh,  overcoming  the  world  and  the  prince 
of  this  world,  and  treading  under  foot  and  esteeming  as 
dung  worldly  vanities  and  the  temptations  of  the  flesh.  By 
Lot  led  into  captivity  by  the  barbarians,  but  nobly  delivered 

1  Adelaide,  Adeliza,  or  Alice,  de  Lourain,  daughter  of  Godfrpy  I., 
count  of  Brabant  and  Louvain,  and  Ida  of  Namur,  was  married  to  Henry 
I.  in  1121,  his  first  queen,  Matilda,  daughter  of  Malcolm,  king  of  Scot- 
land, having  died  in  1118.  Adeliza  was  remarkable  for  her  great  beauty. 
See  Huntingdon's  History,  p.  249  (JBohn's  edition). 


BENEFITS   OF   MONASTIC   ENDOWMENTS.  271 

by  the  active  valour  of  his  spiritual  uncle  (Lot  signifying 
one  bound  or  led  aside),  is  meant  the  carnal  mind  or  brutal 
people,  enchained  in  Sodom,  that  is  in  sinful  delights,  and 
which  fast  bound  in  the  embraces  of  sin,  is  led  astray  from 
God  and  made  captive  by  evil  spirits.  By  the  confederates 
of  Abram  who,  as  we  read,  fought  in  his  company,  are 
justly  signified  those  faithful  laymen  who  at  his  command 
are  said  to  have  received  a  share  of  the  spoils.  For  thus  it 
is  written  in  the  book  of  Genesis :  "  And  the  king  of  Sodom 
said  unto  Abram,  Give  me  the  persons  and  take  the  goods 
to  thyself.  And  Abram  replied  to  him,  I  will  not  receive 
anything  that  is  thine,  save  only  that  which  the  young 
men  have  eaten  and  the  portion  of  the  men  which  came 
with  me,  Aner,  Eshcol,  and  Mamre :  let  them  take  their 
portion."1  Many  of  the  laity  are  distinguished  by  their 
courteous  and  decorous  manners,  are  united  in  faith  and 
good-will  to  the  regular  soldiers  of  Christ,  and  kindly  cheer 
them  in  their  manful  conflicts  with  the  demons.  But  they 
do  not  give  up  the  fleeting  world,  nor  entirely  relinquish  its 
advantages,  they  are  bound  to  it  by  a  legal  servitude,  and 
they  offend  God  by  repeated  transgressions  of  his  law ;  but 
they  expiate  their  sins  by  alms,  as  Daniel  counsels.  They 
found  monasteries  for  the  service  of  God,  from  the  portions 
they  receive  of  the  spoils  of  the  enemy,  and  from  the 
mammon  of  iniquity  they  piously  erect  hospitals  for  the  sick 
and  poor,  and  provide  food  and  clothing  for  the  votaries 
of  heaven  out  of  their  substance.  Moreover,  the  king 
of  Sodom,  when  congratulating  Abram  on  his  victory, 
represents  the  devil  who  daily  tempts  the  saints  with  a 
thousand  artifices,  assailing  them  night  and  day  with 
blandishments  and  terrors,  and  craftily  employing  all  the 
delights  of  the  world,  its  wealth  and  its  honours,  to  the  sole 
purpose  of  drawing  souls  into  his  own  pit  of  perdition. 
We  find,  however,  that  Abram  despised  the  king's  smooth 
flatteries,  and  disdained  to  accept  either  his  praises  or  his 
gifts,  only  suffering  his  companions  in  arms  to  receive  their 
portions,  and  what  was  necessary  for  their  subsistence.  So 
it  is  that  holy  men  while  they  spend  the  time  of  their  war- 
fare in  this  present  life  despise  all  worldly  things  in  their 

1  Genesis  xiv.  21 — 24.     Our  author,  as  usual,  is  not  very  exact  in  his 
quotations  from  the  sacred  writings. 


272  OHDEEICTJS   TITALIS.  [B.TI.  CII.VIII. 

desire  after  heavenly,  and  desire  no  reward  for  their  sanctity. 
Still  they  warn  the  great  men  of  the  world,  who  are  their 
fellow  heirs  of  the  catholic  faith  and  the  hope  of  everlasting 
bliss,  that  they  ought  to  endow  the  monasteries  with  some 
portion  of  their  domains  and  fortunes,  and  thus  support  by 
their  gifts  the  poor  and  the  despisers  of  the  world,  that  they 
may  claim  eternal  glory  from  Christ  who  saith,  that  he 
dwells  with  the  poor.  It  may  be  proved  by  many  authorities 
and  examples  that  men  are  the  gainers  towards  their 
eternal  salvation  to  the  full  extent  of  all  they  mercifully 
distribute  in  alms,  according  to  our  Saviour's  precept ; 
for  what  they  lavishly  spend  in  carnal  delights,  or  throw 
away  to  no  purpose  on  the  empty  splendour  of  worldly 
felicity,  passes  away  like  flowing  water  never  to  return. 
Those  also  who  amass  great  wealth  to  leave  it  to  their  heirs 
often,  alas !  lay  up  for  themselves  an  increase  of  perversity 
and  wretchedness,  and  only  take  pains  to  bring  up  their  chil- 
dren to  many  misfortunes,  while  they  themselves,  abandoned 
to  robbery,  rapine,  and  all  kinds  of  wickedness,  deservedly 
perish,  undergoing  the  vengeance  merited  by  their  crimes. 
Thus  it  happens  that  they  are  neither  fit  for  heaven  or 
earth,  and  while  their  ungrateful  heirs  succeed  to  their 
ample  possessions,  those  who  have  gathered  enormous  riches 
for  unworthy  successors  are  subject  to  the  maledictions  of 
many. 

Wise  and  provident  men  make  themselves  friends  of 
the  mammon  of  unrighteousness,  who,  while  they  receive 
their  carnal  things  for  the  sustenance  of  life,  repay  their 
benefactors  by  their  merits  and  prayers  with  spiritual  and 
eternal  benefits.  Evroult  of  Bayeux  took  great  pains  to 
obtain  such  debtors.  I  have  already  related  many  things 
concerning  him  in  the  present  work ;  I  shall  now  enter  into 
further  particulars  of  this  father,  shortly  abridging  his  acts 
as  they  have  been  handed  down  to  us  from  old  times,  either 
in  writing  or  by  tradition,  and  endeavouring  to  insert  his 
life  in  these  pages  for  the  edification  of  my  readers.1 

1  This  legend  of  St.  Evroult  is  very  inferior,  both  in  point  of  antiquity 
and  as  a  composition,  to  that  published  by  Mabillon  in  the  Ada  SS.  ord. 
S.  lienediclt,  saec.  I.,  from  the  the  two  MSS.  of  Bee  and  Conches.  But 
both  literally  agree  in  all  the  details. 


A.D.  517 — 560.]   LIFE  OF  ST.  EVBOULT.  273 

CH.  IX.  The  life  of  St.  Evroult,  the  founder  of  the  abbey  of 
that  name  in  the  forest  of  Ouche,  in  the  sixth  century. 

THE  venerable  father  Evroult  was  descended  from  a  noble 
family,  and  born  at  Bayeux.1  His  parents  educated  him 
•with  great  care,  and  entrusted  him  to  teachers  of  the 
catholic  faith.  Such  was  the  facility  with  which  he  pursued 
his  studies  both  in  divinity  and  human  learning  that  he  is 
said  to  have  excelled  his  masters  while  he  was  yet  a  boy. 
For  divine  grace,  which  foresaw  that  he  would  become  a 
doctor  of  religion,  efficaciously  rendered  him  docile  in  all 
things.  Nor  did  he,  by  the  pride  or  self-conceit  natural  to 
his  age,  spoil  the  dignity  of  his  exalted  character.  His  person 
was  graceful  and  his  discourse  agreeable,  and  no  fickleness  of 
temper  ever  led  him  to  be  severe  to  any  one.  Illustrious, 
as  we  have  just  remarked,  by  birth,  and  already  marked 
out  by  the  prescience  of  Almighty  God,  he  presently  became 
known  to  King  Clothaire,  son  of  Clovis,  who  was  the  first  of 
the  Frank  kings  who  became  Christian,  and  was  baptized 
by  St.  Kemigius,  bishop  of  Rheims,  with  three  thousand  of 
his  nobles.  Clothaire,  discovering  who  Evroult  was  and  his 
high  nobility,  ordered  that  he  should  be  forthwith  presented 
to  him,  judging  that  one  so  gifted  with  brilliant  talents 
should  serve  in  the  offices  of  the  state.  Notwithstanding 
his  humility,  the  Supreme  Ruler  gave  him  such  favour  with 
the  earthly  sovereign  that  he  was  preferred  before  others,  and 
obtained  the  highest  appointment  in  the  palace.  Endowed 
with  great  eloquence,  he  took  his  seat  among  the  most 
learned  officers  of  the  court  who  had  the  administration  of 
affairs.  But  while  thus  applying  himself  to  secular  affairs 
he  never  diverted  his  mind  from  the  contemplation  of 
heavenly  love. 

As  on  him  rested  the  hope  of  continuing  the  line  of  his 
father's  family,  he  was  induced  by  the  frequent  well-intended 
instances  of  his  friends  to  choose  a  wife  of  fitting  birth. 
Marrying  for  the  sake  of  offspring  and  not  for  carnal 
pleasure,  he  frequently  meditated  on  the  divine  precepts, 

1  Mahillon  places  the  birth  of  St.  Evroult  in  the  year  517.  The 
flourishing  state  of  the  church  of  Bnyeux  during  the  first  half  of  the  sixtli 
century  is  very  remarkable.  It  then  produced  the  two  first  heiuls  of 
monastic  establishments  in  Normandy,  S*.  Marcellus  and  St.  Evroult. 

TOL.  II.  T 


274  OBDEEICUS   VTTALTS.  [B.VI.  CH.IX. 

which  he  devoutly  fulfilled.  The  man  of  God  thus  fully 
enjoyed  temporal  blessings,  while  using  great  care  not 
to  displease  his  Maker  in  the  use  of  his  benefits  ;  and  be- 
coming very  wealthy,  delighted  more  in  good  works  than  in 
the  abundance  of  his  possessions.  It  was  his  anxious  study 
to  transfer  to  himself  the  virtues  of  the  old  fathers  of  whom 
he  read  accounts  in  many  volumes.  Multiplying  his  alms, 
and  prayers,  and  vigils,  he  induced  his  wife  to  join  him  in 
the  same  holy  course,  so  that,  herself  pious,  her  piety  was 
increased  by  that  of  her  husband.  Thus  living,  though  as 
yet  a  layman,  he  seemed  scarcely  to  differ  from  those  who 
were  under  the  restraints  of  monastic  discipline. 

While  this  blessed  man  was  thus  worthily  living  under  a 
certain  rule  of  his  own,  and  zealously  submitting  to  the 
evangelical  precepts,  he  happened  to  be  struck  with  what 
was  said  by  our  Lord  to  his  disciples  in  the  gospel :  "  If 
any  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himself  and  take 
up  his  cross,  and  follow  me."1  The  man  of  God  had  deeply 
stored  in  his  mind,  as  the  sum  of  perfection,  that  which 
truth  itself  promises  to  the  contemners  of  this  world : 
"  Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  that  ye  which  have  forsaken  all 
things  for  my  name's  sake  shall  receive  an  hundredfold, 
and  shall  inherit  eternal  life."2  Inflamed  by  these  divine 
promises  Evroult  no  longer  confined  himself  within  the 
boundary  of  his  former  discretion,  but  sold  all  that  he  had, 
and  gave  whatever  was  in  his  power  to  the  poor.  The  wife 
he  had  married  in  order  to  become  a  father,  he  caused  to  take 
the  veil,  espoused  to  a  heavenly  husband,  whilst  he  himself 
hastened  to  a  monastery,  like  one  escaped  from  shipwreck,  . 
and  becoming  a  monk  remained  there  for  some  time  serving 
God  in  all  humility ;  and  the  love  of  that  holy  state  of  life 
increased  in  him  more  and  more. 

The  author  of  his  life  has  not  told  us  the  name  of  the 
monastery  to  which  the  holy  man  retired.  I  think  it,  there- 
fore, worth  while  shortly  to  note  for  the  information  of 
posterity  what  I  have  learnt  from  the  reports  of  old  persons 
respecting  it.  The  venerable  Martin,  abbot  of  Vertou,3  had 

1  Luke  ix.  23.  z  Matthew  xix.  29. 

3  The  history  of  this  saint  may  be  found  in  the  Ada  SS.  ord.  lienedicti, 
sa;c.  i.  p.  371.  He  was  a  native  of  Nantes,  and  founded  the  abbey  of 
Vertou,  near  that  city,  about  the  24th  of  October,  600. 


A.D.  560—596.]      ST.  EYEOULT   BECOMES    A   MONK.  275 

founded  a  monastery  in  a  place  which  from  ancient  times 
was  commonly  called  Deux  Jumeaux,1  from  the  restoration 
to  life  of  the  twins  which  old  accounts  represent  to  have 
taken  place  there.  For  the  twin  children  of  a  powerful  lord 
had  died  prematurely  and  without  baptism,  which  occasioned 
excessive  sorrow  to  both  their  parents.  But  the  blessed 
Martin,  on  his  return  from  England,  found  his  friends 
plunged  in  grief,  and,  imploring  Heaven  to  give  them  relief, 
restored  the  twins  to  life  by  his  prayers  and  merits,  and 
dedicated  them  to  God  as  monks  on  their  own  property. 
The  village  preserves  to  the  present  day  the  ancient  name 
it  derived  from  this  occurrence,  and  great  masses  of  stones, 
which  formed  the  foundations  of  buildings,  and  ruined  walls, 
prove  that  the  territory  of  Bayeux  was  formerly  the  residence 
of  men  of  great  dignity.  It  is  reported  that  Evroult,  while 
yet  a  layman  possessed  of  great  wealth  and  honours,  was  a 
liberal  contributor  to  the  erection  of  this  monastery.  He 
aided  with  his  counsel  those  who  undertook  it,  encouraged 
the  hesitating,  and  forwarded  the  new  work  by  supplying 
funds,  and  in  various  other  ways.  At  length  he  stripped 
himself  of  every  thing,  and  retiring  there  became  truly 
one  of  the  poor  in  Christ,  embracing  the  monastic  rule, 
and  engaging  in  the  Christian  warfare  with  the  arms  of 
obedience,  so  that  he  was  a  bright  example  to  all  observers. 
When,  however,  the  glorious  confessor  Evroult  began  to 
be  honoured  by  the  brethren  on  account  of  the  grace  of 
sanctity,  he  felt  the  danger  he  incurred  of  self-elation,  and 
determined  without  delay  to  plunge  into  the  wilderness  and 
devote  himself  altogether  to  the  contemplation  of  God, 
taking  with  him  three  monks  who  were  attached  to  him  by  a 
familiar  intercourse,  and  were  as  he  knew  well  fitted  for  the 
struggle  after  the  highest  perfection.  Passing  therefore 
through  the  district  of  Exmes,  they  came  to  a  place  called 
Montfort,2  and  resting  there,  because  the  spot  was  pleasant 
and  abounded  with  woods  and  springs,  they  led  for  awhile  a 
solitary  life  according  to  the  rules  of  holiness.  But  as  there 

1  In  the  canton  of  Isigni.  It  is  possible  that  a  monastery  may  have 
existed  in  this  place  in  the  sixth  century,  and  even  that  St.  Evroult  may 
have  assumed  the  habit  there.  But  it  could  not  have  been  under  St. 
Martin  de  Vertou,  whose  foundation  was  not  anterior  to  that  of  St.  Evroult. 

*  St.  Evroult  de  Montfort,  half  a  league  north  of  Gace". 
T   2 


c 


276  OBDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.TI.  CH. 

were  two  castles  in  the  neighbourhood,  Exmes  and  Gace1  to 
which  a  number  of  people  were  attracted  by  judicial  proceed- 
ings, the  servants  of  God  were  often  exposed  to  inter- 
ruptions by  the  resort  of  so  many  strangers.  It  is  reported 
that  these  towns  existed  in  the  time  of  Cesar2  and  stoutly 
resisted  him,  and  that  they  were  the  seats  of  princes  for 
many  ages.  It  now  happened  that  numbers  of  persons  of 
all  ranks,  both  high  and  low,  to  whom  the  noble  lord  was 
known  when  he  was  in  an  exalted  station,  came  to  visit  him 
while  he  was  fervently  devoting  himself  to  heavenly  con- 
templations, and  by  their  multiplied  conversations  on  affairs 
in  which  they  were  interested,  disturbed  his  mind  when  he 
was  meditating  on  divine  things.  The  venerable  men  there- 
fore quitted  the  spot ;  on  which  a  church  was  afterwards  built 
in  honour  of  St.  Evroult,  which  is  standing  at  this  day. 

In  their  ardour  for  a  hermit's  life,  the  monks  then  struck 
into  a  forest  which  the  people  of  the  neighbourhood  call 
Ouche.  It  was  fearfully  gloomy  from  its  depth  of  shade, 
the  frequent  resort  of  robbers  after  their  predatory  excur- 
sions, and  the  abode  of  ferocious  animals.3  However,  they 
traversed  its  vast  solitudes  with  fearless  steps,  without  being 
able  to  find  a  spot  suited  to  their  devotional  purposes, 
when  at  length  St.  Evroult,  in  the  fervour  of  his  pure  spirit, 
prayed  to  the  Lord,  saying :  "  0  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who 
shewedst  thyself  to  thy  people  Israel  as  their  faithful  guide 
in  their  journey  through  the  wilderness  by  a  column  of  cloud 
and  of  fire,  vouchsafe  mercifully  to  show  us,  who  desire  to 

1  Roger  de  Montgomery  was  viscount  D'Exmes.  Gac6  is  a  little  bourg 
on  the  post  road  from  Lisseux  to  Alenfon.  Gace  stands  on  the  skirts  of 
the  forest,  through  which  it  is  a  pleasant  walk  to  St.  Evroult. 

a  Our  author  evidently  obtained  the  references  he  makes  to  the  Roman 
antiquities  of  Normandy  from  a  fabulous  composition  which  was  popular 
in  the  eleventh  century  under  the  title  of  Gesta  Romanorum,  but  is  now 
lost.  There  is  no  foundation  for  the  accounts  of  Julius  Cassar's  proceed- 
ings in  this  part  of  Gaul.  See  a  preceding  note  respecting  Lillebonne,  p. 
130. 

3  This  forest  still  overspreads  the  country  in  a  circuit  of  fifty  or  sixty  Eng- 
lish miles.  Like  most  of  the  French  forests,  it  is  for  the  most  part  denuded 
of  timber,  but  while  traversing  its  dense  thickets  on  a  gloomy  evening  for 
three  leagues  in  one  direction,  the  scene  struck  us  as  even  now  possessing 
many  of  the  features  ascribed  to  it  by  our  author.  The  forest  abounds 
with  wild  animals,  including  wolves,  numbers  of  which  are  killed  every 
winter. 


A.D.  560 — 596.]     CELL   IX   THE   FOBEST   OF   OUCHE.  277 

escape  the  condemnation  of  Egyptian  servitude,  a  place  of 
liberty  and  an  asylum  for  our  weakness."  Scarcely  had  he 
finished  his  prayer  when  an  angel  of  the  Lord  appeared  to 
the  holy  man,  commissioned  to  point  out  what  he  desired. 
Following  his  guidance,  the  solitaries  came  to  springs  well  suit- 
ed for  drinking,  which,  issuing  from  several  sources  shortly 
collected  in  one  large  pond.  Kneeling  down  on  this  spot 
they  offered  fervent  praises  to  God  their  conductor,  who  never 
forgets  his  servants  who  trust  in  him.  After  this  thanks- 
giving, they  invoked  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  built  a  hut  with 
boughs  and  leaves,  just  large  enough  to  shelter  its  intended 
inhabitants ;  and  having  made  an  inclosure  round  it  by  a 
slight  fence  of  the  same  materials,  settled  themselves  in  it, 
having  obtained  the  quiet  resting  place  they  had  long  co- 
veted. The  freer  their  service  now  was,  the  more  acceptable 
it  proved  to  be  to  God.  Trampling  under  their  feet  all  the 
turmoils  of  the  world,  they  gave  their  thoughts  entirely  to 
heavenly  contemplations,  and  having  abandoned  all  earthly 
things,  had  nothing  left  but  God  only.  They  might  well 
•  therefore  say  with  the  Psalmist :  "  Thou  art  my  portion,  O 
Lord ;  I  have  promised  to  keep  thy  law."  l  Obedient  to  the 
law  of  the  most  high  God,  they  sought  him  as  their  only 
portion. 

While,  however,  their  whole  attention  was  directed  to  their 
spiritual  progress,  and  neither  the  wildness  of  the  place  nor 
fears  of  savage  beasts  diverted  them  from  their  object,  it 
happened  that  one  of  the  robbers  who  made  their  resort  in 
the  woods  paid  them  a  visit.  Admiring  their  resolution 
and  perseverance  in  the  service  of  Christ,  he  said  to  them  : 
"  0  monks,  what  disturbances  have  driven  you  to  take 
shelter  in  these  thickets  ?  How  can  you  venture  to  make 
your  abode  in  such  a  desert  ?  You  have  not  chosen  a  fitting 
spot.  Do  you  not  know  that  this  is  a  place  for  robbers,  and 
not  for  hermits  ?  The  inhabitants  of  this  forest  live  by 
plunder,  and  will  not  suffer  among  them  those  who  live  by 
the  labour  of  their  hands.  Here  you  cannot  long  be  safe. 
Besides,  you  will  meet  with  nothing  but  a  barren  and 
unproductive  soil,  on  which'  your  labour  would  be  spent  to 
no  purpose."  To  this  the  venerable  father  Evroult,  as  he 
was  a  man  of  eloquence,  replied  with  reference  to  each  pro- 
1  Psalm  cxix.  57. 


278  OEDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [fi.VI.  CU.IX. 

position :  "  In  truth,  brother,  it  is  no  swelling  tumult,  but 
the  providence  of  Almighty  God  which  has  conducted  us 
here ;  nor  do  we  come  to  usurp  this  place,  but  to  have  mor 
liberty  to  bewail  our  sins.  And  as  the  Lord  is  with  us, 
having  him  for  our  defence,  we  fear  not  the  threats  of  men, 
since  he  himself  hath  said  :  '  Pear  not  them  which  kill  the 
body,  but  are  not  able  to  kill  the  soul.'1  As  to  what  you 
said  last  concerning  our  labours,  you  should  know  that  the 
Lord  is  able  to  prepare  a  table  for  the  sustenance  of  his 
servants  in  the  wilderness.  You  also,  my  son,  may  be  par- 
taker of  his  abundance,  if  you  turn  from  your  evil  courses 
and  promise  devoutly  to  serve  the  living  and  true  God. 
For  saith  the  prophet :  '  In  the  day  that  the  sinner  turneth 
away  from  his  wickedness,  our  God  shall  deliver  to  oblivion 
all  the  evil  that  he  hath  done.' 2  Do  not  despair  therefore, 
my  brother,  of  the  goodness  of  God  on  account  of  the  enor- 
mity of  your  sins,  but  follow  the  admonition  of  the  Psalmist : 
'  Flee  from  evil  and  do  good,' 3  understanding  of  a  surety  that 
'  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  are  over  the  righteous,  and  his  ears  are 
open  unto  their  prayers.'  But  I  would  not  have  you  igno- 
rant that  the  same  passage  contains  a  terrible  threat :  '  The 
countenance  of  the  Lord  is  against  them  that  do  evil,  to 
root  out  the  remembrance  of  them  from  the  earth.' 4  If  the 
regards  of  divine  mercy  are  present  with  the  just,  it  is 
doubtless  plain  that  they  must  be  turned  away  from  the 
unjust,  that  their  wickedness  may  be  some  time  severely 
punished."  The  robber,  touched  to  the  heart  by  grace  from 
above  as  he  listened  to  this  discourse,  presently  departed. 
When  however  morning  was  come,  he  left  all  that  he  had, 
and,  taking  with  him  only  three  cakes,  baked  on  the  embers, 
and  a  honey-comb,  returned  with  hasty  steps  to  the  servants 
of  God,  and  throwing  himself  at  the  feet  of  St.  Evroult  made 
a  holy  offering,  and  shortly  afterwards,  inspired  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  promised  to  amend  his  life  and  there  first  assumed 
the  profession  of  a  monk.  Following  his  example  many 
robbers,  who  infested  the  same  forest,  either  became  monks 
through  the  preaching  of  the  holy  man,  or  abandoning  their 
life  of  rapine  became  cultivators  of  the  soil.  His  fame  and 
merits  being  noised  abroad,  some  came  to  him  also  from  the 

1  Matthew  x.  28.  2  Ezek.  xviii.  21. 

3  Psalm  xxxiv.  14.  *  Psalm  xxxiv.  17. 


A.D.  560 — 596.]  ABBEY  OF  ST.  EVBOULT  FOUNDED.     279 

neighbouring  districts  desiring  to  see  his  angelical  counte- 
nance and  hear  his  delightful  discourse.  They  supplied  him 
with  things  necessary  for  his  bodily  wants  and  returned  home 
with  joyful  hearts  refreshed  with  his  spiritual  gifts.  Some 
of  them  also  entreated  him  to  admit  them  into  his  holy  com- 
pany that  they  might  have  the  advantage  of  constant  inter- 
course with  him,  so  that  from  the  numbers  who  frequented 
it,  the  forest  soon  lost  its  character  for  solitude. 

As  the  number  of  the  brethren  increased,  so  also  grace  and 
virtue  increased  in  the  blessed  Evroult.  His  patience  was 
singular,  his  abstinence  remarkable,  his  prayers  incessant, 
his  exhortations  fervent.  He  did  not  permit  himself  to  be 
elated  by  prosperity  nor  cast  down  by  adversity.  What 
was  brought  to  him  by  pious  people  who  flocked  about  him 
he  ordered  to  be  distributed  to  the  poor,  saying  that  monks 
ought  not  to  be  anxious  for  the  morrow. 

One  day  when  there  was  not  sufficient  bread,  a  poor  man 
came  to  the  gate  and  asked  for  alms.  As  the  minister  to 
whom  he  applied  informed  him  that  they  had  nothing  to 
give  him,  the  venerable  father  said  :  "  Brother,  why  do  you 
disregard  the  cries  of  the  needy  ?  give  alms,  I  pray  you,  to 
this  poor  man."  Upon  which  he  answered;  "My  father,  I 
have  only  half  a  loaf  which  I  have  kept  for  our  poor  children, 
all  the  rest  I  have  distributed  according  to  your  orders." 
But  he  said ;  "  Son,  you  ought  not  to  hesitate,  have  you  not 
read  what  the  pvophet  saith :  '  Blessed  is  he  that  considereth 
the  poor  and  needy ;  the  Lord  shall  deliver  him  in  the  time 
of  trouble  ?' *  Never,  indeed,  will  the  faithful  Creator  of  all 
things  fail  to  nourish  those  for  whom  he  condescended  to 
shed  his  precious  blood,  nailed  to  the  cross."  The  minister 
on  hearing  these  words  of  the  venerable  father  gave  the  half 
loaf  which  he  had  reserved  for  the  children  to  one  of  the 
servants,  saying :  "  Run  quickly,  and  give  this  to  the  poor 
man,  but  do  not  call  him  back."  The  servant,  in  obedience 
to  his  commands,  ran  after  the  poor  man  until  he  overtook 
him  at  the  distance  of  almost  a  stadium  from  the  monastery, 
and  addressed  him  saying :  "  Take,  master,  the  alms  which 
the  abbot  sends  you,"  whereupon  he  stuck  in  the  ground 
the  staft'  which  he  carried,  and  received  the  offering  of  cha- 
rity in  both  hands.  But  when  he  withdrew  the  staff  which 
1  Psalm  xlL  1. 


280  OEDEEICUS   ViTALIS.  I^.VI.  CH.1X. 

lie  had  planted  in  the  ground,  before  the  bearer  of  the  alms 
had  left  the  spot  a  plentiful  spring  of  water  suddenly  burst 
forth  on  the  spot  following  the  point  of  the  staff,  and  it  con- 
tinues flowing  there  to  the  present  day.1  Many  diseases  have 
been  cured  at  that  place,  and  persons  afflicted  with  fevers 
are  attracted  from  distant  quarters  in  the  hope  of  obtaining 
relief.  Many  also  received  visions  commanding  them  to 
seek  out  the  forest  of  Ouche,  and,  for  the  recovery  of  their 
health,  drink  of  the  spring  which  flows  there.  Several  came 
from  Burgundy,  Aquitaine,  and  other  parts  of  Prance,  and 
made  inquiries  for  Ouche  under  great  difficulties,  for  the 
place  was  desert  and  unknown,  so  that  it  was  scarcely  pos- 
sible to  find  it  out.  When  at  length  they  had  discovered 
the  fountain,  and  drawn  the  water  and  drunk  it  in  faith, 
invoking  the  holy  name,  or  bathed  the  head  or  limbs,  they 
had  the  happiness  to  recover  their  health,  and  giving  thanks 
to  Grod,  returned  joyfully  home. 

Miracles  were  wrought  at  this  place  for  many  ages,  until 
the  times  of  Henry,  king  of  France,2  when,  in  consequence 
of  the  ravages  during  the  Danish  invasions,  the  district  of 
Ouche  had  become  thinly  populated,  and  was  thrown  out  of 
estivation.  At  that  time  a  certain  peasant  named  Beranger 
succeeded  by  inheritance  to  that  farm,  and  inclosed  the 
spring  with  a  hedge  to  prevent  the  sick  people  who  resorted 
to  it  from  treading  down  his  crops  ;  for  the  farmer  was  often 
incensed  and  grieved  because  his  meadows,  gardens,  and  all 
his  land  round  about  were  trampled  upon  by  strangers  who 
flocked  there  for  the  benefit  of  their  health.  Thenceforth 
miracles  of  healing  ceased  to  be  performed  as  long  as 
Beranger  and  his  heirs,  Lethier,  AVilliam,  and  Grervase, 
possessed  the  farm. 

1  About  a  league  from  the  abbey  there  is  a  hollow  in  the  wood 
covered  with  green  sward,  and  shaded  by  scattered  forest  trees,  beneath 
which  the  spring  mentioned  in  the  legend  bursts  forth,  still  bearing  the 
name  of  the  fountain  of  St.  Evroult.  Its  cool  and  pellucid  waters 
collected  in  a  large  tank  of  solid  masonry,  are  still  resorted  to  by  pilgrims 
and  sick  persons  in  reliance  on  their  virtues.  On  the  bank  above  stands 
a  little  chapel,  with  a  statue  of  the  saint  in  a  niche  over  the  door.  The 
building  had  fallen  to  decay,  but  was  under  repair  in  the  autumn  of  1853, 
the  bishop  of  Sedz  being  expected  to  re-open  it  with  solemn  services  in  the 
ensuing  summer. 

*  July  20,  1031— August  29,  10CO. 


MIRACLES    AT    THE    ABBEY   OF    ST.  EYBOULT.  281 

St.  Evroult,  having  caused  the  bread  to  be  given  to  .the 
poor  man,  lo !  before  sunset  a  beast  of  burden  was  seen  to 
stop  before  the  door  of  the  cell  with  a  full  load  of  bread 
and  wine.  The  conductor  called  the  minister ;  and,  saying 
that  he  was  a  borrower  at  usury,  delivered  to  him  what  he 
had  brought,  adding,  "  Go,  brother,  and  give  it  to  your 
abbot:"  so  saying,  he  mounted  the  horse,  as  if  to  hasten 
his  journey,  and  quickly  departed ;  so  that,  when  the  holy 
father  wished  to  see  him,  he  was  told  with  what  despatch  he 
had  taken  his  leave.  He  therefore  understood  that  the 
provisions  were  sent  by  God ;  and,  rejoicing  in  spirit,  gave 
thanks  to  His  unbounded  loving  kindness,  who  magnifies  his 
mercy  to  his  servants,  and  makes  a  rich  return  for  small 
offerings.  Prom  that  day  there  never  failed  to  be  a  sufficient 
supply  of  what  human  wants  required. 

The  temporal  goods  of  the  new  society,  through  the 
merciful  providence  of  the  Lord,  beginning  to  increase,  two 
fierce  robbers  from  another  province,  hearing  that  their  sub- 
stance was  multiplied,  directed  their  steps  towards  the  cell 
of  the  holy  man,  and  seizing  a  herd  of  swine,  hastened  to 
make  their  escape  from  the  forest ;  but,  instead  of  doing 
so,  found  themselves  repeatedly  following  the  same  track  in 
a  circuit  round  the  inclosure.  Being  unable  -to  discover 
any  free  way  of  exit,  they  were  astonished  at  what  happened ; 
when,  just  as  they  were  worn  out  with  wandering,  they 
heard  the  bell  which  summoned  the  brethren  to  assemble  to 
their  usual  office  of  prayer.1  The  sound  struck  them  with 
excessive  terror,  and  leaving  the  swine,  they  came  with  all 
haste  to  the  man  of  God,  and,  confessing  the  crime  of  which 
they  had  been  guilty,  became  monks  on  the  spot. 

To  render  the  glory  of  the  master  more  conspicuous,  we 
must  not  omit  what  the  sevenfold  grace  of  the  Spirit  per- 
formed by  means  of  one  of  the  disciples  of  so  illustrious  a 
saint.  A  crow  which  had  built  its  nest  near  the  monastery, 
secretly  stole  eggs,  and  getting  into  the  refectory  by  one  of 
the  windows,  put  everything  in  disorder,  and  carried  off  to 
its  nest  all  that  it  found.  Then  one  of  the  brethren,  whose 

1  This  circumstance  concurs  with  others  of  the  same  kind  mentioned  by 
Gregory  of  Tours,  to  prove  that  the  use  of  bells  in  the  western  church  was 
far  anterior  to  the  time  of  Pope  Sabinian  to  which  its  introduction  is 
frequently  attributed. 


282  OBDEHICUS   VITALIS.  [B.TI.  CII.IX. 

duty  it  was  to  look  after  the  refectory,  praying  with  sim- 
plicity, said  :  "  0  Lord,  avenge  us  of  the  enemy  who  carries 
off  what  thy  mercy  has  bestowed  on  us."  And  the  bird 
was  forthwith  found  dead  under  the  tree  where  she  had 
made  her  nest.  Thus  whoever  attempted  to  injure  the 
monks,  either  quickly  perished,  or,  repenting  of  it,  engaged 
in  a  better  course  of  life. 

God,  who  beholds  all  things,  regarding  with  favour  the 
glorious  conflict  of  his  beloved  servant  Evroult,  strength- 
ened his  heart  with  all  the  firmness  of  faith,  that,  persevering 
in  his  good  work,  he  might  become  a  model  of  regular 
discipline  to  others.  He,  indeed,  longed  to  retire  to  the 
deepest  recesses  of  the  wilderness,  and  free  himself  entirely 
from  human  companionship  ;  but  wiser  counsels  led  him  to 
consider  how  best  his  presence  might  profit  the  band  of 
combatants,  whose  leader  and  master  he  had  become. 
Fearing,  therefore,  that  if  he,  the  founder  of  the  establish- 
ment, withdrew,  the  work,  in  its  infant  state,  would  receive  a 
shock,  he  took  precautions  that  he  might  not  cause  injury 
to  others,  while  he  was  providing  a  quiet  retreat  for  himself, 

In  consequence,  as  the  general  of  this  militant  body,  he 
remained  at  his  post,  fighting  in  the  ranks  as  a  private 
soldier,  and  also  exalting  himself  by  his  eminent  virtues  as 
a  brave  commander  in  front  of  the  ranks.  His  great 
reputation  for  sanctity,  being  spread  abroad  through  many 
provinces,  attracted  numbers  of  wealthy,  resolute,  and  God- 
fearing persons,  to  enrol  themselves  for  the  same  conflict. 
They  surrendered  to  the  holy  man,  their  houses,  farms, 
possessions,  and  families,  entreating  him  to  cause  monas- 
teries to  be  built  for  them ;  and  that,  as  their  wise  pastor, 
he  would  give  them  a  rule  under  which  to  live.  The  saint 
granted  their  petitions,  arid  founded  fifteen  monasteries  for 
men  and  women,  with  regular  institutions,  appointing  a 
person  of  approved  conduct  to  govern  each.  He  himself 
continued  to  preside  over  the  convent  which  he  first  built, 
exhorting  the  brethren  to  make  a  loftier  progress,  and  to 
shun  the  multiform  snares  of  the  devil.  At  length  the 
fame  of  the  sanctity  of  so  eminent  a  father  reached  the  ears 
of  the  princes  who  then  held  the  reins  of  government  among 
the  Franks,  recently  brought  into  subjection  to  the  light 
yoke  of  Christianity. 


A/D.  f>Gl — 613.]    THE   KINGS   OP   THE   FRANKS.  283 

Clotaire  the  elder  reigned  fifty-one  years,1  and  at  his 
death  divided  his  kingdom  into  tetrarchies  among  his  sons. 
Caribert  fixed  the  seat  of  his  government  at  Paris,  Chilperic 
at  Soissons,  G-ontran  at  Orleans,  and  Sigebert  at  Metz. 
Sigebert,  the  youngest,  was  the  first  to  marry,  taking  for  hia 
wife  JBrunehaut,  daughter  of  the  king  of  Galicia,2  who 
bore  him  Childebert,  who  became  king,  Ingoude,  wife  of 
Herminigilde,  king  of  the  Goths  and  martyr,3  Bertha,  wife 
of  Ethelbert  king  of  Kent,4  and  Beuve,  who  became  a  nun.5 
Eight  years  afterwards 6  Sigebert  was  slain  by  the  treachery 
of  his  brother  Chilperic,  and  Childebert,  who  was  yet  a 
child,  mounted  the  throne,  with  his  mother  Brunehaut 
as  regent.  He  maintained  himself  in  it  resolutely  twenty- 
five  years,  as  it  is  related  in  his  acts ;  but,  after  many  diffi- 
culties, was  taken  off  by  poison.7  He  left  the  two  portions 
which  belonged  to  hia  father  and  his  uncle  Gontran  to  his 
sons  Theodebert  and  Theodoric,8  with  whom  Clotaire  the 
Great,  son  of  Chilperic,  was  at  variance  for  nearly  twenty 
years.  At  length  he  slew  King  Theodebert  in  battle,  and 
caused  Brunehaut,  who  was  now  advanced  in  age,  to  be 
cruelly  bound  to  the  tails  of  wild  horses,  and  this  powerful 
queen,  whose  favour  had  been  humbly  implored  by  Pope 

1  511 — after  November  10,561. 

8  Youngest  daughter  of  Athanagilde,  king  of  the  Visigoths,  554 — 567. 
We  do  not  understand  why  our  author  makes  him  king  of  Galicia,  as  he 
made  Toledo  the  capital  of  his  kingdom  of  the  Visigoths. 

*  Ingonde  was  married  in  580,  and  died  in  585.     Herminigilde  suffered 
martyrdom  the  13th  of  April,  586. 

*  Bertha  married  Ethelbert,  king  of  Kent,  in  566,  and  he  was  converted 
in  597.     She  was  not  the  sister  of  Ingonde,  but  her  cousin-german,  and 
daughter  of  Caribert,  king  of  Paris. 

s  St.  Beuve,  abbess  of  Rheims,  was  not  a  daughter  of  Sigebert  I. 
Frodoard  supposed  her  to  be  daughter  of  Sigebert  II.,  but  she  was 
probably  his  niece. 

6  It  does  not  appear  from  what  event  our  author  reckons  these  eight 
years,  unless  from   Brunehaut's   marriage  in   566,  or   568.     We  know, 
however,  that  Sigebert,  king  of  Metz  in  561,  was  assassinated  in  575  by 
Fredegonde's  emissaries. 

7  Childebert,  king  of  Austrasia,  was  poisoned  in  596,  his  reign  having 
then  lasted  only  twenty  years,  in  the  twenty-sixth  year  of  his  age.     His 
government  did  not  merit  the  epithet  applied  to  it  by  our  author. 

8  Theodebert  II.,  king  of  Austrasia,  596—612.     Theodoric  II.,  king  of 
Orleans  and  Burgundy,  596  —  613.     Theodebert  II.  was  killed  at  Chaloas- 
sur-Saone  by  Theodoric  and  Brunehaut. 


284  OEDEEICUS   YITALIS.  [B.TI.  CH.1X. 

Gregory  (as  it  is  stated  in  the  Pontifical  Acts  and  the 
Register),  was  torn  to  pieces.1  Thus  Clotaire,  having  got 
rid  of  all  his  rivals,  reigned  sole  king  of  France,  and  at  his 
death  left  the  kingdom  to  his  son  Dagobert,  whose  history 
is  very  well  known  to  the  French. 

At  that  time,  while  these  princes  governed  the  Franks, 
Justinian  and  Justin  the  younger,  Tiberius,  Maurice, 
Phocas,  and  Heraclius  were  emperors  of  Home  ;2  and  the 
apostolical  see  was  filled  by  Hormisdas,  John,  Felix,  Boni- 
face, John,  Agapete,  Silverius,  Vigilius,  Pelagius,  Gregory 
the  great  doctor,  Sabiuian,  Boniface,  Deusdedit,  and  Boni- 
face, famous  for  the  dedication  of  the  church  of  All-Saints.8 
In  those  times  Flavius,  Pretestatus,  Melantius,  Hildulfus, 
and  Romanus,  the  celebrated  son  of  Benedict,  were  metro- 
politans of  Rouen.* 

I  have  collected  these  particulars  from  the  Chronicles, 
and  shortly  noted  them  for  the  reader's  benefit,  in  order 
that  it  may  clearly  appear  in  what  times  the  holy  father  St. 
Evroult,  whose  life  was  prolonged  for  eighty  years,8  nou- 
rished in  the  world.  I  must  now  endeavour  to  retrace  my 
steps  for  the  purpose  of  relating  some  circumstances  which 
I  have  not  found  in  books,  but  have  learned  from  stories 
told  me  by  old  persons.  The  writings  of  the  ancients,  as 
well  as  the  churches  and  monasteries,  were  destroyed  in  the 
furious  storms  which  devastated  Normandy  in  the  time  of 
the  Danes ;  and  with  whatever  ardour  posterity  thirsts  for 
them,  the  most  zealous  students  of  our  day  have  failed  to 
recover  them.  Some,  which  were  adroitly  saved  from  the 
hands  of  the  barbarians  by  the  care  of  our  predecessors, 
have  since  perished,  shame  to  say,  by  the  culpable  negli- 
gence of  their  successors,  who  took  no  pains  to  preserve  the 
profound  wisdom  contained  in  the  works  of  their  spiritual 
fathers.  With  the  loss  of  the  books,  the  actions  of  the  men 
of  former  ages  sunk  into  oblivion,  and  all  the  efforts  of 

1  In  613,  at  Reneve,  in  Burgundy,  five  miles  from   Dijon.      The 
Register  was  the  name  given  to  a  collection  of  St.  Gregory's  Epistles. 

*  The  reigns  of  these  emperors  embraced  the  period  from  527  to  Feb. 
11.641.     See  vol.  i.  pp.  114— 11.9. 

*  These  popes  filled  the  papal  chair  from  the  month  of  July,  514,  to 
the  21st  of  October,  625.     See  vol.  i.  pp.  338—349. 

*  For  these  archbishops,  see  before,  pp.  145 — 147. 

*  St.  Evroult  lived  from  A.D.  517— December  29,  596. 


ABOUT  A.D.  593.]    YISIT   OF   KINO   CHILDEBERT.  285 

modern  times  to  retrace  them  are  fruitless,  these  ancient 
monuments  having  disappeared  with  the  revolutions  of  the 
world  from  the  memory  of  men,  like  hail  or  snow  lost  in  the 
waters  of  some  rapid  river,  and  flowing  onward,  past 
recovery,  in  its  mingled  current.1 

The  names  of  the  places  at  which  father  Evroult  founded 
the  fifteen  monasteries,  and  of  the  fathers  he  set  over  the 
religious  societies,  as  vicars  of  Christ,  have  been  lost  in  the 
various  revolutions  of  four  hundred  years,  during  the  reigns 
of  the  numerous  kings  who  have  governed  France  from 
Lothaire  the  Great  and  Childebert  to  Philip  and  his  son 
Lewis.2  Nevertheless,  some  old  men,  bowed  down  with 
years,  have  related  to  their  sons  with  natural  garrulity  what 
they  saw  and  heard,  which  these  again  retained  by  strong 
efforts  of  a  tenacious  memory,  and  handed  down  to  the 
succeding  age.  These  traditions  of  things  worthy  of 
remembrance  they  make  known  to  their  brethren,  thereby 
stirring  up  the  hard  hearts  of  men  to  the  love  of  their 
Creator,  and  not  hiding  their  talent  in  the  earth  with  the 
useless  servant,  and  incurring  his  condemnation.  Listen, 
then,  to  what  I  heard  myself,  when  a  boy,  from  our  old 
fathers,  and  magnify  with  me  the  wonderful  works  of 
God  in  his  saints. 

The  fame  of  the  holy  father  Evroult  being  noised  abroad 
far  and  near,  reached  the  ears  of  Childebert  king  of  France, 
who,  impelled  by  a  strong  desire  to  see  him,  undertook  a 
journey  to  Ouche  with  his  wife  and  some  of  his  family.3 
Approaching  the  monastery  of  the  man  of  God,  at  the 
place  where  the  church  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  mother  of 
God,  now  stands,4  he  dismounted  from  his  horse,  and  com- 

1  This  noble  image  recalls  to  memory  a  passage  in  the  bible  which  con- 
tains the  same  idea :  "  Let  them  fall  away  like  water  that  runneth  apace." 
Ps.  Iviii.  6. 

a  This  passage  was  written  in  the  reign  of  Lcwis-le-Gros,  and  con 
sequently  before  the  month  of  August,  1137,  the  date  of  that  king's  death. 

s  See  note  to  book  iv.  c.  16  (p.  101).  This  visit  of  Childebert  and  his 
queen  to  St.  Evroult  probably  took  place  shortly  after  the  28th  of  March, 
893,  when  Gontran  left  to  his  nephew  vast  possessions  in  the  west  of 
France,  of  which  Childebert  might  wish  to  take  possession  in  person. 

4  Probably  the  church  now  called  Notre-Dame-du-Bois,  built  on  the 
site  of  the  oratory,  under  the  same  invocation,  acquired  by  Abbot  Theodoric. 
See  vol.  i.  p.  399.  The  church  stands  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Charenton, 


286  OEDEHICUS   YITALI8.  [B.VI.  CH.LX. 

manded  all  to  prepare  themselves  duly  for  meeting  the 
saint.  Then  the  clerks  who  were  in  his  train  stood  ready  in  , 
their  vestments,  laying  their  hands  on  the  crosses  and  relics 
which  they  had  spread  on  palls ;  but  when  they  attempted 
to  remove  them,  they  could  by  no  means  do  so.  All,  there- 
fore, in  great  tribulation,  threw  themselves  on  the  ground, 
and  humbly  prayed  for  God's  mercy.  The  queen,  also, 
bound  herself  by  a  vow,  saying :  "  If  Almighty  God  shall 
give  us  the  power  of  safely  removing  the  holy  things  which 
we  have  here  deposited,  I  will  cause  a  venerable  church  to 
be  built  on  this  spot  in  honour  of  his  mother."  After  she 
had  said  this,  the  clerks  again  laid  their  hands  on  the  sacred 
things,  but  to  no  purpose.  Then  the  queen  was  very 
sorrowful,  and  said  with  tears :  "  I  know  that  I  deserve  for 
my  sins  not  to  see  the  servant  of  God;  but  if  God  the 
Creator  of  all  things  shall,  by  the  intercession  of  the  saint 
himself,  take  pity  on  us,  and  permit  us  to  remove  the  holy 
relics,  I  will  have  a  marble  altar  made  at  my  own  expense, 
and  cause  it  to  be  brought  to  the  holy  man."  When  she  had 
uttered  these  words,  all  the  relics  moved  of  themselves,  and 
they  took  them  up,  and  went  in  joyful  procession  to  meet 
the  man  of  God.  Already  the  blessed  man  was  on  his  way, 
attended  by  a  body  of  the  monks  ;  and  a  crowd  of  people  of 
both  sexes  hastened  with  him  in  great  triumph  towards  the 
king.  Being  received  into  the  monastery,  the  king 
remained  there  three  days.  On  the  third  day  he  signed  a 
charter  granting  ninety-nine  vills  to  St.  Evroult,  and  then 
returned  homewards  rejoicing. 

The  queen,  remembering  her  vow,  caused  a  church  to  be 
built  in  honour  of  Mary,  mother  of  God,  always  a  virgin,  on 
the  hill  which  stands  between  the  rivulet  of  Charenton  and 
the  wood,1  and  also  sent  the  marble  altar  which  she  promised 
to  the  venerable  man,  which  remained  for  many  years  in  the 

overlooking  the  valley  in  which  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult  stood  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river.  The  French  editor  of  Ordericus  here  corrects  a  note 
which  is  inserted  in  vol.  i.  p.  399,  describing  this  church  as  having  been 
originally  the  mother-church  of  the  parish  in  which  the  abbey  was  built. 
However  that  may  be,  it  is  the  parish  church  at  the  present  day. 

1  The  church  of  Notre-Dame-du-Bois  stands  on  the  side  of  the  hill 
above  the  Charenton,  and  must  formerly  have  been  surrounded  by  the 
forest,  the  verge  of  which  in  the  course  of  time  has  receded  to  some  little 
distance. 


A.D.  582 — 596.]      CHTJECH  OF  NOTRE-DAME-DU-BOIS.  287 

same  place.  Long  afterwards,  in  the  course  of  years,  a 
worthless  fellow  attempted  to  transfer  part  of  the  marble 
to  another  place ;  but  it  happened  to  break  in  the  middle. 
It  was  plain  to  all  that  this  act  was  displeasing  to  God,  and 
he  did  not  suffer  it  to  remain  long  unpunished,  for  before 
the  year  was  past  the  man  lost  his  life. 

In  the  church  built  by  the  queen,  as  I  have  just  stated, 
two  altars  were  consecrated ;  one  of  them  dedicated  to  the 
Holy  and  Undivided  Trinity  the  other  to  the  pure  virgin 
mother  of  God.  It  is  reported  that  there  was  there  a 
convent  of  monks,  and  a  cemetery  for  the  monks  and  men 
of  distinction.  Their  bodies  were  carried  thither  for  inter- 
ment, because  the  ground  in  the  valley  was  marshy,  and  in 
the  winter  wherever  it  was  dug,  the  water  forthwith  sprung 
up,  and,  overflowing,  filled  the  graves.  Traces  of  a  building 
of  importance  are  discovered  near  the  church  of  the  Virgin 
Mother,  and  to  this  day  stately  tombs  are  preserved  there, 
which  are  believed  to  have  certainly  belonged  to  eminent 
persons.  After  this  description,  I  proceed  to  relate  what 
further  remains. 

The  man  of  God,  seeing  that  he  could  not  bear  the  crowds 
of  people  who  flocked  to  him,  set  his  convent  in  order,  and 
withdrawing  from  it  privately,  concealed  himself  for  three 
years  in  a  crypt,  so  that  none  of  the  monks  knew  where  he 
was,  except  one  whose  name  was  Malchus,  a  godson  of  the 
saint,  who  knew  his  secrets  better  than  the  rest.  The  crypt 
stood  by  the  side  of  a  rivulet  under  a  wooded  hill,  and  was 
almost  half  a  league  distant  from  the  monastery.1  Mean- 
while, the  devil,  that  enemy  of  all  that  is  excellent,  perceiving 
that  the  brethren  were  growing  in  good  works,  sought  to 
fill  them  with  the  gall  of  bitterness,  and  to  cause  lamenta- 
ble disturbances  among  them.  He  therefore  raised  a 
tumult,  which  was  carried  so  far  that  two  were  killed  and 
the  rest  were  plunged  in  unutterable  grief.  "When  the  god- 
son of  the  holy  man  perceived  this  incurable  wound  in  the 
body  of  the  brethren,  he  ran  with  all  haste  to  the  abbot. 
The  man  of  God,  seeing  him  from  a  distance  thus  running, 
concluded  that  it  was  not  without  reason  he  made  such 
haste,  and  going  to  meet  him  inquired  the  cause  of  his 

1  This  crypt  was  probably  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  fountain  of  St. 
Evroult,  described  in  a  former  note. 


288  OEDEEICUS   YITALIS.  [B.VI.  CH.IX. 

coming.  Upon  this,  Malchus  related  at  length  how  the 
monks  had  been  stirred  up  to  insurrection  by  the  instigation 
of  the  devil.  Hearing  this,  the  holy  man,  inflamed  with  zeal 
for  God,  shuddered,  and  hastened  to  accompany  the  mes- 
senger on  his  return.  When  he  drew  near  to  the  convent, 
and  had  reached  the  spot  where  the  church  founded  in 
honour  of  him  now  stands,  all  the  bells  of  the  monastery 
began  to  ring  of  their  own  accord.  So  also  did  the  bells  in 
the  church  of  St.  Mary,  and  in  that  of  St.  Martin,  called 
The  Elegant,  at  a  place  commonly  called  La  Bercoterie. 

Then  the  devil,  perceiving  that  the  saint  was  come,  as- 
sumed a  human  form,  and  began  to  flee.  The  holy  man 
seeing  this,  said  to  his  godson :  "  My  brother,  do  you  see 
that  man  running?"  He  replied,  "My  lord,  I  see  no 
one."  Then  said  the  saint,  "  Lo,  the  devil  flees,  trans- 
figured into  the  form  of  a  man,  and  fearing  to  remain  any 
longer  in  this  place."  As  he  said  this,  he  pursued  Belial 
as  he  fled ;  but  when  he  was  come  to  the  village  now  called 
by  the  inhabitants,  Echaufour,  Satan,  not  having  permission 
to  flee  any  further,  stood  still.  Upon  which  the  blessed 
Evroult  boldly  went  up  to  trim,  and  threw  him  into  a  fiery 
oven  which  was  heated  in  readiness  for  baking  bread,  and 
immediately  closed  its  mouth  with  an  iron  stopper  which 
he  chanced  to  find.  From  this  circumstance  the  place  took 
its  name  of  Echaufour.1  The  women  who  had  brought  their 
loaves  to  be  baked,  seeing  with  astonishment  what  was  done, 
said  to  the  man  of  God,  "  What,  sir,  shall  we  do  with  our 
loaves  ?"  To  which  he  replied,  "  God  is  able  to  bake  your 
loaves  without  corporeal  fire ;  clear  well  the  hearth  before 
the  oven,  and  lay  your  loaves  in  order  upon  it,  and  when 
they  are  thoroughly  baked,  depart  to  your  homes,  which 
was  done  accordingly ;  all  who  saw  it  giving  glory  to  God. 
Then  the  blessed  Evroult  returned  to  his  monastery  and 
having  commanded  the  two  monks  who  had  been  killed 
to  be  brought  before  him,  laid  himself  prostrate  on  the 

1  From  echauffer,  to  heat ;  four,  an  oven.  Echaufour  is  a  small  bourjr, 
with  a  fine  old  church,  on  the  verge  of  the  forest,  about  three  leagues  from 
St.  Evroult,  the  monks  of  which  had  large  possessions  in  the  parish. 
There  was  a  castle  here,  probably  on  the  site  of  the  present  chateau,  about 
a  mile  from  the  village,  which  was  the  scene  of  a  surprise  described  in 
vol.  i.  p.  433. 


A.D.  582 — 596.]      ACTS  or  ST.  EYBOULT.  289 

ground,  and  continued  praying  until  such  time  as  the 
brethren  were  roused  from  the  sleep  of  death.  Having  con- 
fessed and  communicated  with  the  Lord's  body,  they  again 
gave  up  the  ghost,  to  the  joy  and  astonishment  of  all  who 
saw  it.  The  venerable  father  ordered  them  to  have  honour- 
able burial,  and  being  assured  of  their  salvation,  gave  devout 
thanks  to  God. 

Old  men  report  these  and  many  such  miracles  performed 
by  Evroult,  adding  that  they  had  seen  at  Ouche  a  very  aged 
monk  named  Natalia,  who  had  a  large  volume  filled  with 
accounts  of  the  miracles  and  actions  of  this  servant  of  the 
Lord.  One  day,  mass  being  ended,  a  lighted  candle  was 
carelessly  left  on  the  altar,  and  while  the  attendants  were  busy 
about  other  matters,  the  wick  burnt  down  till  it  set  fire 
to  a  napkin,  and  the  flame  caught  the  altar-cloth,  which  was 
utterly  destroyed,  as  well  as  the  book,  of  which  we  have 
never  been  able  to  discover  another  copy ;  and  every  thing 
on  and  about  the  altar  which  was  of  a  combustible  nature 
was  burnt.  All  joined  in  lamenting  this  irreparable  loss 
of  the  record  of  past  events :  but  as  the  monks  wre  illite- 
rate, they  did  not  supply  it  by  writing,  but  transmitted 
verbally  to  the  younger  members  of  the  society  the  particu- 
lars of  what  they  had  seen  and  heard.  When  they  were 
removed  by  death,  the  thick  clouds  of  ignorance  overspread 
their  successors,  and  hid  under  an  impenetrable  veil  the 
knowledge  of  past  events,  except  only  what  some  erudite 
man  made,  a  short  abstract  of  the  life  of  St.  Evroult  to  be 
read  in  the  church.  Having  already  inserted  in  my  work 
the  first  part  of  this  recital,  I  will  now  proceed  to  relate 
from  it  the  end  of  the  holy  father's  life  and  labours  in  a 
profitable  manner  without  any  false  colouring. 

Twenty-two  years  having  passed  since  the  monks  began 
their  settlement  in  the  depth  of  the  wilderness,  the  monas- 
tery was  subjected  to  the  ravages  of  a  plague  producing 
sudden  death,  by  the  assaults  of  the  great  deceiver  of  man- 
kind.1 The  blessed  Evroult  did  not  act  as  a  mercenary  who 

1  The  same  plague  appears  to  have  ravaged  at  this  time  the  rising 
convent  of  Glanfeuil,  now  St.  Maur-sur- Loire.  It  is  also  mentioned  by 
Gregory  of  Tours  as  having  prevailed  in  580.  The  date  here  given  by 
our  author  enabled  Mabillon  to  calculate  the  time  of  the  establishment  of 
St.  Evroult  in  the  forest  of  Ouche,  which  he  fixed  in  560. 

YOL.  II.  V 


290  OEDEEICUS   TITALIS.  [B.  VI.  OH. IT. 

took  to  flight  and  left  the  sheep  in  the  midst  of  the  wolves, 
but  like  a  true  shepherd,  engaged  with  them  in  the  conflict, 
and,  fulfilling  the  apostle's  admonition,  "rejoiced  with  them 
that  did  rejoice,  and  wept  with  them  that  did  weep."1  Ad- 
dressing them  in  words  of  exhortation,  he  said,  "  Brethren, 
strengthen  your  hearts,  and  be  prepared.  Be  courageous 
and  comforted  in  the  Lord,  knowing  that  tribulation  worketh 
patience.2  Be  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  your  minds  and 
fight  against  the  old  serpent.  Be  of  one  heart  and  one 
mind  in  the  Lord.  Behold  the  day  of  our  vocation  is  near, 
when  our  works  shall  be  made  manifest,  and  the  righteous 
Judge  will  give  to  every  man  according  to  his  merits.  Watch, 
then,  and  pray,  for  ye  know  neither  the  day  nor  the  hour. 
Blessed  is  that  servant  who,  when  the  Lord  cometh,  shall  be 
found  watching."  By  these  and  such  like  evangelical  dis- 
courses, the  wise  preacher  addressed  himself  to  the  con- 
sciences of  the  brethren,  enlarging  on  the  joys  prepared  for 
the  good,  and  the  torments  which  awaited  evil  doera. 

Sudden  deaths  becoming  frequent,  it  happened,  in  order 
to  exhibit  in  a  clearer  light  the  powers  of  the  saint,  that  one 
of  the  monks  named  Ansbert  died  without  receiving  the 
viaticum.  The  brother  who  had  the  care  of  him  immediately 
oame  to  the  abbot,  saying  :  "  Father,  pray  for  your  son  who 
has  just  departed  out  of  this  life  most  unhappily.  Let  your 
intercessions  prevail  to  bring  him  safely  on  the  way,  seeing 
that  he  was  not  strengthened  for  it  by  the  communion  of  the 
blessed  sacrament.  St.  Evroult  severely  blamed  himself  for 
this  occurrence,  as  if  it  happened  from  his  own  negligence,  and 
hastening  to  the  bed  of  the  deceased,  shed  tears,  and  threw 
himself  in  the  dust,  using  the  arms  of  prayer,  on  which  he 
relied.  When  however  he  felt  within  himself  the  presence 
of  the  divine  power,  he  arose  from  the  earth,  and  called  on 
the  dead  man.  At  the  sound  of  that  voice,  he  who  had  lost 
his  sight  raised  his  head  and  opened  his  eyes,  and  perceiving 
the  restorer  of  his  freedom,  said,  "  Welcome,  my  liberator, 
welcome !  your  prayers  have  saved  me,  having  unravelled 
the  devices  of  the  enemy,  who  had  claimed  me  as  his  own, 
because  he  found  me  without  communion.  Shut  out  from 
the  feast  of  the  blessed,  I  was  condemned,  as  not  having 
received  the  viaticum  to  the  torments  of  cruel  hunger. 
1  Rom.  xii.  15.  a  Rom.  vii.  3. 


A.D.  582 — 596.]      ACTS  OF  ST.  EVEOTTLT.  291 

Wherefore,  kind  father,  I  pray  you  not  to  delay  allowing 
me  to  partake  of  the  life-giving  host."  Need  I  say  more  ? 
The  sacrament  \vas  ordered  to  be  brought,  and  as  soon  as  he 
had  received  it,  while  all  were  wondering  at  his  revival,  he 
again  gave  up  the  ghost  by  the  wise  dispensation  of  God. 
The  glorious  saint  exults  in  the  certainty  of  the  brother's 
salvation ;  the  monks  exult,  praising  God  for  this  new 
miracle.  Evroult  rejoiced  because  he  had  restored  to  life, 
by  the  accepted  way,  a  brother  snatched  from  death ;  the 
monks  rejoiced  that  they  had  a  father  at  whose  prayers  hell 
trembled.  Great  as  they  felt  the  perils  of  the  pestilence 
which  threatened  them  with  destruction,  with  such  a  leader 
and  guide  they  were  encouraged  to  be  less  fearful  of  being 
cut  off  unprepared.  However,  the  mortality  was  so  great, 
that  eighty-eight  of  the  monks  died  of  the  pestilence,  and 
the  loss  among  the  domestics  was  not  less. 

I  must  not  pass  over  in  silence  what  happened  to  one  of 
the  number,  a  most  useful  officer  of  the  abbey,  who  breathed 
his  last  on  the  very  day  of  our  Lord's  nativity.  Everything 
having  been  properly  arranged  for  bis  funeral,  he  was  borne 
forth  from  the  monastery  to  the  spot  where  the  place  of  burial 
lay.  There  the  corpse  was  deposited  until  the  mass  was 
finished  preparatory  to  its  being  committed  to  the  grave. 
The  whole  society  grieved  for  the  loss  of  so  worthy  a  servant. 
He  was  a  most  active  steward,  and  managed  the  affairs  of 
the  monks  with  great  industry,  so  that  he  was  held  in  high 
esteem  by  them  all.  While  they  were  thus  plunged  in 
general  grief,  St.  Evroult  felt  the  Holy  Spirit  conceived 
within  him,  and  trembling  with  awe,  while  he  compassionated 
the  sorrow  of  the  brethren,  had  recourse  to  his  familiar 
remedies.  His  prayers  were  fervent,  he  smote  his  breast, 
and  he  shed  tears,  and  continued  his  intercessions  until 
such  time  as  the  domestic  for  whom  they  were  offered  rose 
to  life  and  threw  himself  at  the  holy  father's  feet,  giving 
thanks  for  his  restoration.  Then  shouts  rose  to  heaven ; 
the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity  was  blessed  by  all,  and  Evroult 
was  acknowledged  to  be  illustrious  and  apostolical,  because 
he  raised  the  dead.  The  servant  restored  to  life  resumed 
his  duties,  and  lived  for  many  years  afterwards.  At  length, 
through  divine  mercy,  this  fatal  pestilence  terminated. 

Notwithstanding,  however,  the  mortality  ceased,  the 
TJ  2 


292  OBDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.YI.  CH.IX. 

good  shepherd  continued  to  pray  for  the  departed,  believing 
that  true  charity  is  more  concerned  about  the  soul  than 
about  the  body.  Although  his  head  was  become  grey  with 
venerable  age,  he  was  far  from  being  bowed  down  by  the 
burden  of  years,  but  prolonged  his  labours  of  reading  and 
praying  into  the  night,  according  to  what  the  psalmist  says 
amongst  other  descriptions  of  the  man  who  is  blessed :  "  He 
meditates  in  the  law  of  the  Lord  both  day  and  night."1 
Inflamed  with  ardent  charity,  he  devoted  himself  more 
zealously  to  the  exercise  of  all  virtues.  Though  he  was 
compassionate  to  sinners,  he  carefully  guarded  his  own  dis- 
course. Neglecting  the  care  of  his  person,  his  hair  was 
cut  only  three  times  in  a  year.  He  was  never  known  to 
return  evil  for  evil.  When  any  loss  of  transitory  things 
was  reported  to  him,  his  constant  reply  was :  "  The  Lord 
hath  taken  away;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord."2  He 
had  such  a  happy  art  of  reconciling  differences  that,  however 
much  at  variance  persons  came  to  him,  they  returned  at 
peace,  soothed  by  his  honeyed  words.  Indeed,  all  who 
approached  him,  high  and  low,  poor  and  pilgrims,  met  with 
a  cheerful  reception.  He  made  himself  pleasant  to  all,  and 
seldom  any  one  was  permitted  to  retire  from  his  presence 
without  receiving  some  little  present.  The  sick,  who 
regained  their  health  by  his  benediction,  departed,  joy- 
fully giving  thanks  to  Grod.  It  was  restored  to  all  who 
resorted  to  the  holy  man  in  the  hope  of  recovering  it. 
Many,  also,  who  were  so  prostrated  by  the  violence  of  fever 
that  they  could  not  come  into  the  presence  of  the  saint,  sent 
messengers  to  entreat  that,  of  his  goodness,  he  would  send 
them  some  token,  such  as  a  girdle  which  he  had  made  him- 
self from  rope,  or  some  fragment  of  his  clothing ;  and  those 
who  handled  these  things  with  faith  regained  their  former 
health. 

A  certain  mother  of  a  family,  who  could  not  obtain  a  cure 
from  any  physician,  hearing  a  report  of  the  virtues  of  the 
blessed  man,  sent  to  beg  the  fringe  of  his  garment,  and 
having  received  it,  she  was  relieved  from  her  disorder,  as 
were  many  others.  Behold  this  admirable  physician,  who 
not  oaly  granted  the  gift  of  health  to  those  who  hastened  to 
his  presence,  but  failed  not  when  absent  to  impart  it  to  those 
i  Psalm  L  2.  a  Job  i.  21. 


A.D.  596.]  ST.  EVBOTTLT'S  DEATH.  293 

who  were  at  a  distance.    Those  felt  his  influence  who  never 
saw  his  face. 

"While  all  flocked  to  him  in  their  several  necessities,  one 
poor  wretch  among  the  rest  came  from  a  strange  country. 
Perceiving  that  his  whole  frame  was  wasted  by  severe  disease, 
and  that  he  was  bent  to  the  knees  as  he  walked,  the  most 
compassionate  saint  said  to  him  :  "  Brother,  how  could  you 
bear  the  fatigue  of  such  a  journey,  seeing  under  what  debi- 
lity you  labour?"  He  replied:  "My  lord,  it  was  under 
compulsion  by  a  double  necessity  that  I  determined  to  come 
to  your  holiness ;  first,  I  was  hungry  and  wanted  employ- 
ment, and  secondly,  I  was  infirm  and  depended  upon  you 
for  a  cure."  The  holy  man  told  him  to  remain  there,  and 
immediately  restoring  his  health,  made  him  a  monk,  and  set 
him  to  work  in  the  garden.  So  he  who  came  with  two 
requests,  rejoiced  at  obtaining  three  benefits,  for  he  escaped 
the  danger  of  famine,  found  a  remedy  for  his  infirmity,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  profession  of  a  better  course  of  life. 

Another  pauper  presented  himself  who,  though  he  was  in 
sound  health,  pretended  to  be  sick  and  somewhat  palsied,  in 
order  to  obtain  something  more  than  the  others.  Presently, 
however,  when  he  had  received  alms  from  the  man  of  God, 
he  was  struck  with  fever,  what  he  had  feigned  becoming  a 
reality  ;  and  he  breathed  his  last  a  few  days  afterwards  in 
the  monastery,  having  confessed  his  wicked  fraud. 

In  the  midst  of  so  many  striking  proofs  of  his  miraculous 
powers,  the  aged  soldier  of  Christ,  having  attained  the  age 
of  eighty  years,  fervently  desired  to  see  the  face  of  him  he 
had  so  long  served;  regarding  him  as  an  unbelieving  servant 
who  would  wish  to  avoid  the  presence  of  his  master.  For 
forty-seven  days,  during  which  he  was  afflicted  with  a  fever, 
he  was  never  seen  to  take  food,  except  occasionally  the 
sacrament  of  the  body  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  was  inces- 
santly engaged  in  imparting  the  mysteries  of  the  divine  word 
to  the  brethren,  as  if  he  suffered  no  inconvenience.  And 
when  pious  persons  of  the  neighbourhood  came  to  see  him, 
and  begged  of  him  to  accept  something,  as  an  offering  of 
their  love,  which  might  serve  to  sustain  his  feeble  body,  he 
said  to  them :  "  Cease,  brethren,  cease  from  persuading  me 
to  receive  what  I  altogether  loathe."  Truly  he  was  in  no 
need  of  earthly  food  who  was  nourished  within  by  the  Holy 


OKDEKICTJS   TITALIS.  [B.YI.  CH.IX. 

Spirit.  He  was  fed  by  the  sweet  hope  of  eternal  delights, 
and  assured  of  enjoying  a  blessed  immortality  as  the  reward 
of  his  labours.  At  length  the  day  approaching  on  which  it 
was  his  desire  to  be  dissolved  and  to  obtain  the  wished-for 
vision  of  his  Maker,  he  called,  together  the  brethren,  and  as 
they  were  sorrowing  at  his  departure,  and  considering  what 
they  should  do  when  their  shepherd  was  dead,  he  thus 
addressed  them :  "  My  children,  continue  to  be  of  one  mind, 
united  by  the  bond  of  charity !  Let  there  be  divine  love 
among  you,  one  toward  the  other!  Be  not  betrayed  into 
the  deceitful  snares  of  the  devil,  and  study  to  fulfil  your 
vows  to  God !  Be  lovers  of  temperance ;  observe  strict  con- 
tinence ;  cultivate  humility ;  esohew  pride,  and  let  each 
strive  to  excel  the  others  in  good  works !  Receive  with 
benevolence  pilgrims  and  strangers  for  the  sake  of  Him  who 
said,  'I  was  a  stranger  and  ye  took  me  in.'" 

The  glorious  Evroult  uttering  these  and  other  his  last 
words  to  the  same  purpose,  and  having  given  his  blessing  to 
the  brethren,  his  most  holy  soul  departed  from  the  body,  and 
immediately  his  face  shone  with  so  much  brightness,  that  no 
one  doubted  that  his  free  spirit  was  already  triumphing 
among  the  angels  in  heaven.  He  left  the  world  on  the 
fourth  of  the  calends  of  January  [December  29],  in  the 
time  of  Robert  bishop  of  Seez,  and  in  the  twelfth  year  of  the 
reign  of  King  Childebert.3  The  brethren  carried  the  corpse 
into  the  church  with  great  reverence,  and  chanted  hymns 
and  praises  to  God  for  three  days  and  nights,  while  they 
carefully  watched  the  holy  body,  waiting  for  the  assembling 
of  the  servants  of  God.  When  it  was  known  at  Seez  that 
the  benefactor  of  the  whole  country  was  removed  from  the 
world,  all  the  inhabitants  flocked  together  to  the  monastery 
to  have  the  happiness  of  being  present  at  his  solemn 
funeral.8  The  poor  lamented  him  who  was  indeed  one  of 

1  Matt.  xxv.  43. 

3  It  should  be  Clotaire,  which  is  the  ancient  reading  of  the  MS.  of  St. 
Evroult.  In  fact,  St.  Evroult  died  the  29th  of  December,  596,  in  the 
eightieth  year  of  his  age,  which  was  the  twelfth  of  the  reign  of  Clotaire, 
and  the  twentieth  of  that  of  Childebert,  king  of  Austrasia,  575 — 596. 
The  notice  here  taken  of  Robert,  bishop  of  Seez,  584—628  ?  is  the  only 
trace  of  that  prelate  to  be  found  in  history. 

8  fe'e"ez,  the  smallest  city  in  France,  is  about  thirty  miles  distant  from 
St.  Evroult,  which  belonged  to  the  diocese.  The  cathedral  is  a  fine 


A.D.  596 — 7.]         ST.  EYEOULT'S  MIEACLES.  295 

Christ's  poor ;  the  rich,  him  who  was  rich  in  spiritual  bless- 
ings ;  children,  a  father ;  the  aged,  one  stricken  in  years. 
All  had  found  him  a  common  friend,  and  all  lamented  their 
common  loss. 

I  think  I  ought  not  to  omit  mentioning  that  remarkable 
proof  of  his  goodness  which,  amongst  others,  the  holy  man 
gave,  when  he  was  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  eternal  light. 
One  of  the  brethren,  distinguished  for  his  piety  and  the 
grace  of  obedience,  had  served  in  the  monastery,  and  was 
raised  to  the  rank  of  deacon.  Evroult  loved  him  much  on 
account  of  his  merit  of  sanctity.  When  this  deacon  found 
that  he  was  deprived  of  so  great  a  father,  he  became 
overwhelmed  with  grief,  and  said :  "  Alas !  wretched  man 
that  I  am,  what  shall  I  do  ?  Why,  my  father,  have  you  left 
him  whom  you  confessed  you  loved  ?  Why  have  you  suf- 
fered him  who  was  in  your  entire  confidence  to  be  separated 
from  you  ?  Do  you  treat  as  an  enemy  him  you  called  your 
son  ?  Assuredly  I  never  deserved  that  you  should  wish  to 
descend  into  the  tomb  before  me." 

"  In  sighs  and  tears  thus  vented  he  his  grief:"  * 

And  behold,  on  the  very  night  of  the  circumcision  of  our 
Lord,  the  deacon,  by  God's  will,  gave  up  the  ghost.  This 
plainly  appears  to  have  been  accomplished  through  the 
intercession  of  the  holy  father  Evroult,  that  he  whom  he 
loved  might  not  become  the  sport  of  the  world,  and  that  he 
himself  might  exhibit  his  readiness  to  hear  the  petitions  of 
those  who  invoked  his  aid.  Thus  the  monk,  according  to 
his  wishes,  was  carried  out  for  burial  on  the  morrow,  at  the 
same  time  with  his  abbot.  Oh,  glorious  death,  more  precious 
than  life !  It  secured  him  in  heaven  what  he  lost  on  earth. 
As  far  as  I  can  conjecture,  it  was  better  thus  to  die  than  to  be 
restored  from  death  to  life.  For  now,  assured  of  his  salvation, 
he  has  not  to  fear  being  defiled  by  sin.  If  he  were  raised  up 
again,  he  would  have  to  struggle  with  uncertain  hope  against 

edifice,  with  one  of  those  deep  porches  for  which  the  French  churches  are 
remarkable,  flanked  by  two  spires,  and  a  nave  of  the  early  pointed  style. 

1  "  Talia  perstabat  memorans,  lacrymasque  ciebat." 
The  first  part  of  this  verse  is  taken  from  Virgil,  ./En.  ii.  650 ;  the  second 
from  /En.  vL  46U. 


296  OBDEBICUS    VITALT8.  [B.VI.  CH.  I. 

a  double  danger.  This  miracle  is  therefore  not  to  be  consi- 
dered less  than  that  of  the  resurrection  of  dead  persons 
before  related. 

The  venerable  father  Evroult  was  interred  in  a  marble 
tomb  of  admirable  workmanship  in  the  church  of  St  Peter, 
prince  of  the  apostles,  which  he  had  built  himself  of  stone. 
To  this  day  many  persons  are  there  healed  of  their  infirmi- 
ties, and  by  the  goodness  of  our  merciful  Redeemer  the 
sorrowful  find  consolation.  To  Him  be  honour  and  power, 
with  the  Father  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  throughout  all  ages ! 
Amen. 

CH.  X. — Materials  for  history  destroyed  by  the  Northmen — 
Relics  of  saints  dispersed — Those  of  St.  Evroult  translated 
to  Orleans — The  abbey  deserted — Its  restoration — Notices 
of  public  events — Letter  of  Abbot  Warin,  in  the  name  of 
Jifervey,  bishop  of  Ely. 

I  have  thus  faithfully  described  the  life  of  the  holy  father 
Evroult,  inserting  it  in  this  work,  as  it  was  compiled  by  our 
predecessors,  that  the  knowledge  of  so  exalted  a  patron  may 
profit  the  reader,  and  my  labour  and  regard  be  pleasing  to 
the  Lord  God,  while  I  have  endeavoured  to  publish  the 
glorious  actions  of  my  nursing  father  to  the  praise  of  Him 
in  whom  we  live,  and  move,  and  have  our  being.  But,  from 
the  time  that  this  illustrious  man  was  taken  from  the  world, 
who  and  what  his  successors  were  in  the  convent  of  Ouche 
for  four  hundred  years,  or  what  were  the  fortunes  of  the 
monks  or  the  inhabitants  of  the  neighbourhood,  I  am 
entirely  ignorant.  In  the  times  which  succeeded,  as  I  have 
already  distinctly  stated  on  several  occasions,  bands  of  pirates 
issued  from  Denmark,  first  with  Hasting  for  their  leader,  and 
afterwards  Hollo,  invaded  Neustria,  and  ignorant  of  Chris- 
tianity and  of  the  pure  worship  of  Q-od,  inflicted  the  most 
cruel  disasters  on  the  believing  natives.  They  burnt  Noyon 
and  Rouen,  and  many  other  cities,  towns,  and  villages, 
destroyed  a  number  of  monasteries  of  venerable  sanctity, 
devastated  a  vast  extent  of  country  with  their  incessant 
ravages,  and  having  either  exterminated  or  driven  out  the 
inhabitants,  reduced  the  towns  and  villages  to  utter  solitude. 
In  the  midst  of  so  much  desolation,  the  defenceless  monks, 
not  knowing  what  to  do,  were  often  in  the  greatest  terror  ; 


A.D.  841 — 876.]   ABBEYS  BAVAGED  BY  THE  NOBTHMEff.     297 

and  in  their  tribulation  gave  vent  to  their  distress  in  conti- 
nual lamentations,  and  waited  their  end  in  caverns  and 
thickets,  absorbed  in  grief.  Some  indeed  in  terror  at  the 
savage  cruelty  of  the  barbarians,  fled  to  foreign  lands  which 
had  hitherto  escaped  the  hostile  attacks  of  the  pagans.  Some 
also  bore  with  them  the  remains  of  their  fathers,  whose  souls 
reign  with  the  Lord  of  Sabaoth,  whom  they  devoutly  served 
while  on  earth.  The  fugitives  also  carried  abroad  with  them 
the  writings  which  contained  the  acts  of  these  same  fathers 
in  the  Lord,  and  accounts  of  the  possessions  of  the  churches, 
their  nature  and  extent,  and  by  whom  they  were  given ;  but 
great  part  of  these  documents  was  swept  away  in  the 
storms  of  the  times,  and  alas !  irrecoverably  lost  amidst  such 
fearful  commotions. 

This  is  what  the  monks  of  Jumieges  and  Fontenelles  did  j1 
overtaken  by  a  terrible  disaster  they  never  brought  back 
what  they  carried  away.  The  monks  of  Jumieges  translated 
to  Haspres  *  the  relics  of  St.  Hugh  the  archbishop  and  abbot 
Aicadre,  which  the  inhabitants  of  Cambray  and  Arras  pre- 
serve in  precious  shrines,  and  venerate  to  this  day.  The 
monks  of  Fontenelles  carried  to  Ghent  the  relics  of  the  holy 
confessors  Wandrille  the  abbot,  and  Ansbert  and  Wulfran, 
archbishops,3  which  are  in  the  possession  of  the  Flemings  to 

1  Both  these  abbeys  stood  in  the  valley  of  the  Seine,  and  were  therefore 
particularly  exposed  to  the  devastations  of  the   Northmen.     For  some 
account  of  Jumieges,  see  a  note  towards  the  close  of  the  present  chapter, 
under  date  of  the  year  1050.     The  abbey  of  St.  Wandrille,  originally 
Fontenelles,  was  founded  in  648.     Its  ruins  are  now  seen  embosomed  by 
woods  in  a  glen  which  issues  on  the  road  from  Rouen  to  Havre,  about 
three  miles  from  Caudebec.     The  refectory  exhibits  the  only  relics  of  the 
Norman  structure,  and  with  some  pointed  arches  of  the  church  destroyed  at 
the  revolution,  is  the  principal  remains  of  this  once  stately  abbey. 

2  Haspres,  between  Cambray  and  Valenciennes.     It  appears  that  Pepin 
d'Herinstal,  towards  the  end  of  the  sixth  century,  founded  a  priory  in  this 
place,  which  he  attached  to  Jumieges.     The  remains  of  St.  Aicadre  and 
St.  Hugh,  archbishop  of  Rouen,  were  translated   there  to  secure  them 
from  the  outrages  of  the  Northmen,  but  it  must  have  been  after  their  first 
devastation  of  Jumieges,  which  took  place  the  24th  of  May,  841. 

3  The  relics  of  St.  Wandrille  and  St.  Ansbert,  after  several  migrations 
from  Fontenelles  to  Boulogne-sur-Mer,  and  from  thence  to  Chartres  and 
back  again  to  Boulogne,  between  the  years  858  and  944,  found  their  final 
resting  place  on  the  3rd  of  September  of  the  latter  year  in  the  abbey  of 
St.  Peter  at  Blankenberg,  near  Ghent.     The  account  of  the  translation  of 
the  relics  of  St.  Wulfraii  is  not  so  clear,  but  there  are  formal  records  01 


298  OBDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.VI.  CII.X. 

the  present  time,  and  are  held  by  them  in  high  veneration. 
The  monks  of  several  other  abbeys  did  the  same  thing, 
whose  names  I  omit  partly  from  want  of  information  (as  I 
have  not  discovered  them  all),  and  partly  that  I  may  avoid  a 
wearisome  prolixity  on  matters  of  small  importance. 

Dudo,  dean  of  St.  Quintin,  wrote  with  care  concerning 
the  arrival  of  the  Normans  and  their  barbarous  cruelty,  and 
dedicated  his  work  to  Eichard  II.,  son  of  G-onnor,  duke  of 
Normandy.  William,  surnamed  Calculus,  a  monk  of  Jumi- 
eges  made  a  skilful  use  of  the  materials  furnished  by  Dudo 
cleverly  abridging  them,  and  adding  the  history  of  Richard's 
successors  to  the  conquest  of  England,  finished  his  narrative 
with  the  battle  of  Senlac.1  He  addressed  his  work  to  King 
William,  the  greatest  of  his  native  princes.  As  others  have 
published  magnificent  accounts  of  sublime  actions  dedicated 
to  exalted  personages,  and  have  voluntarily  offered  them- 
selves to  describe  important  events  in  fitting  colours,  I  too, 
moved  by  their  example  have  undertaken  a  similar  enter- 
prise, and  have  already  written  an  account  at  some  length, 
of  the  monastery  in  the  forest  of  Ouche  which  was  honoura- 
bly restored  in  the  time  of  William,  who  was  first,  duke  of 
Normandy,  and  afterwards  king  of  England.  However,  I  have 
been  able  to  find  no  written  records  of  ancient  times  after  the 
decease  of  father  Evroult,  and  I  shall  therefore  more  especially 
endeavour  to  commit  to  writing  the  traditions  I  have  col- 
lected from  old  persons  respecting  the  translation  of  the  re- 
mains of  the  holy  confessor  from  his  own  abbey  of  Evroult. 
A  short  account  is  to  be  found  at  Rebais,  which  I  do  not 
altogether  approve,  and  it  seems  to  have  been  drawn  up  by 
an  ignorant  writer,  not  fully  informed  with  any  certainty,  as 
it  appears  to  me,  of  dates  and  circumstances.  As  therefore 
I  cannot  rely  on  the  narrative  of  another  writer,  I  propose 

their  having  also  been  carried  to  Blankenberg,  with  the  others  already 
mentioned.  On  the  other  hand,  the  monka  of  St.  Wandrille  (Fontenelles) 
maintained  that  the  body  of  St.  Wulfran,  discovered  in  their  monastery  in 
1027,  had  never  been  removed  from  it ;  while  the  inhabitants  of  Abbeville 
also  claim  the  possession  of  these  remains  on  respectable  authority,  as 
having  been  conveyed  there  direct  from  Fontenelles.  See  Mabillon,  Ada 
S.  Benedict,  saec.  iii.  part  i.  pp.  365,  366  . 

1  Some  account  of  these  two  Norman  historians  is  given  in  the  notes  to 
pp.  375  and  37b'  of  vol.  i.  of  the  present  work. 


A.D.  943.]    LEWIS  D'OTJTliE-MEB  INVADES  XOB1IANDY.          299 

to  commit  to  writing  a  clear  account  of  what  I  have  myself 
gathered  from  old  inhabitants  of  Ouche  respecting  the  time 
and  manner  of  the  French  obtaining  possession  of  the  pre- 
cious remains  of  the  venerable  Evroult. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  943,  after  Arnulph  count  of 
Flanders  had  slain  William  Long-sword,  duke  of  Normandy, 
and  Richard  son  of  Sprote,  his  son  then  aged  only  ten  years, 
had  succeeded  to  the  dukedom  and  received  at  Eouen  before 
his  father's  funeral  the  homage  and  fealty  of  all  the  barons, 
Lewis  D'Outre-Mer,  king  of  France  entered  Normandy  with 
an  army  and  succeeded  by  fraud  in  carrying  off  the  young 
duke  to  Laon,  promising  the  Normans  on  oath  that  he 
would  bring  him  up  as  his  own  son,  and  have  him  fitly  edu- 
cated in  his  royal  court  for  governing  the  state.  But  things 
turned  out  otherwise  ;  for  king  Lewis,  at  the  instigation  of 
the  traitor  Arnulph,  resolved  to  put  the  boy  to  death,  or  at 
least  to  deprive  him  of  the  power  of  bearing  arms  by  ampu- 
tating some  of  his  limbs.  Osmund,  the  youth's  tutor,  learn- 
ing this  from  Ives  de  Creil,2  grand  master  of  the  royal 
ordnance,  he  secretly  persuaded  Richard  to  feign  sickness, 
that  he  might  thereby  induce  his  guards  to  be  less  vigilant. 

One  day,  while  the  king  was  at  supper,  and  every  one  was . 
engaged  in  his  own  concerns  or  those  of  others,  Osmond 
bought  a  truss  of  green  forage,  and  ascending  the  castle  rolled 
it  round  the  young  duke.  Then  descending  the  tower  he 
made  all  haste  to  his  quarters  with  the  truss  of  grass  and 
spreading  it  before  his  horse,  concealed  the  lad.  When  the 
sun  was  set,  he  got  out  of  the  town,  cautiously  taking  the 
prince  with  him,  and  made  for  Couci  where  he  gave  him  in 
charge  to  Bernard,  count  de  Senlis,  his  uncle.* 

Meanwhile,  Bernard  the  Dane,  who  was  governor  of  Nor- 
mandy, sent  envoys  to  Harold,  king  of  Denmark,  announcing 
to  him  the  death  of  Duke  William,  and  that  his  son  was 
deprived  of  his  inheritance.  Harold,  in  consequence,  sailed 
to  Normandy  with  a  powerful  fleet,  and,  being  received  in 
the  Cotentin  by  order  of  Bernard,  waited  two  years  for  a 

1  Near  Senlis. 

*  Bernard,  count  de  Senlis  and  Valois,  son  of  Pepin  II.,  a  descendant 
of  Charlemagne.  He  was  not  Richard's  uncle,  bnt  cousin-german  of  the 
Duchess  de  Leutegarde,  William  Long-sword's  queen. 


300  OBDEHICUS   VITALTS.  [B.YI.  CH.X. 

favourable  opportunity  of  falling  on  the  French,  but  at  length 
took  a  bloody  revenge  for  the  murder  of  his  cousin  William 
and  the  banishment  of  that  duke's  son.  For,  hostilities 
breaking  out  during  a  conference  between  the  Danes  and 
French,  he  seized  king  Lewis,  and  put  to  the  sword  Herluin 
and  Lambert,  with  sixteen  barons  and  numbers  of  inferior 
rank. 

While  however,  Eichard,  the  young  duke,  was  detained 
for  nearly  three  years  in  exile,  and  the  king  of  France 
supposed  that  Normandy  was  entirely  his  own,  he  had  some 
apprehension  of  Hugh  the  Great,  duke  of  Orleans,  rendering 
aid  to  the  Normans,  and  he  therefore  ceded  to  him  Exmes, 
Bayeux  and  all  the  district  of  the  Cotentin  as  far  as  Mont  St. 
Michel-in-peril-of-the-sea,  giving  him  strict  orders  to  reduce 
the  rebellious  Normans  with  a  strong  force,  and  get  possession 
of  their  fortified  places.     The   ambitious  marquis  received 
these  commands  with  great  satisfaction,  and,  at  once  break- 
ing the  treaties  which  he  had  previously  entered  into,  invaded 
Normandy  with  a  powerful  army.     Hugh  himself  established 
himself  with  his  household  at  Gace,  while  his  troops  overspread 
the  whole  province.  Herluin,  the  duke's  chancellor,  and  Ralph 
de  Tracy,  were  quartered  at  Ouche,  and  lodged  in  the  con- 
vent of  St  Evroult  the  confessor.     Both  were  men  of  piety 
and  lived  in  the  fear  of  God.     The  simple  monks  rejoiced  to 
entertain   such  distinguished  men,  and  rendered  them  all 
hospitable  attentions  in  their  power  with  the  utmost  kind- 
ness.      Conducting   them   without  reserve    through   their 
chapels,  oratories,  and  secret  recesses,  they  showed  them,  to 
their  loss,  the  shrines  and  relics  of  the  saints  which  they 
contained.     The  strangers  examined  with  great  reverence 
these  objects  preserved  with  so  much  secrecy,  and  on  their 
departure  offered  their  prayers  and  gifts ;  but  they  returned 
shortly  afterwards,  like  the   Chaldeans  to  Jerusalem,  and 
cruelly  carried  off  the  holy  vessels  of  the  church,  and  all  its 
valuable  treasures. 

Hugh  the  Great  sat  down  before  Exmes  with  his  array, 
but  the  garrison  made  a  brave  resistance  and  prevented  his 
further  advance.  At  the  same  time,  the  king  of  France  en- 
tering the  country  of  Evreux  with  a  strong  force  spread 
fire  and  rapine  through  all  Normandy.  Bernard  the  Dane 


944.]  PABT  OF  NOBMANDY  CEDED  TO  HUGH  THE  GBEAT.    301 

being  apprized  of  these  incursions,  and  receiving  sure  ac- 
counts of  the  devastation  of  the  country,  was  in  great  dismay 
at  his  inability  to  withstand  the  attacks  of  such  powerful 
princes,  with  only  his  Norman  levies.  In  consequence, 
having  keenly  surveyed  the  state  of  affairs,  his  crafty  genius 
devised  the  means  of  extricating  himself  and  the  people  he 
governed  from  the  difficulties  in  which  they  were  placed. 
He  therefore  met  the  king  with  the  air  of  a  suppliant  and 
thus  addressed  him :  "  What  are  you  doing,  my  lord  the  king  ? 
Tour  undertaking  is  impious  and  unbefitting  your  rank. 
All  this  Normandy,  which  you  are  ravaging,  is  your  own. 
Kouen  and  the  other  cities,  with  the  villages  and  strong  places, 
throw  open  their  gates  at  your  command,  and  the  whole 
population,  both  rich  and  poor,  submits  to  you,  and  having 
no  other  lord  respect  and  love  you.  Who  can  have  given 
you  the  disastrous  counsel  to  ravage  your  own  property  with 
the  sword  of  the  destroyer,  and  to  butcher  a  people  devoted 
to  you  ?  He  must  be  a  wicked  traitor  who  has  persuaded  you 
to  devastate  your  own  states  with  fire  and  sword."  The 
king's  heart  was  softened  by  this  specious  language,  so  that 
he  dismissed  his  army  and  entered  Rouen  with  Bernard. 
Bernard  gave  him  a  brilliant  reception,  surrounded  with 
the  citizens  full  of  joy,  and  having  prepared  for  him  a  mag- 
nificent banquet  entertained  him  for  several  days  with  great 
respect.  However,  as  the  king  was  sitting  one  day  after 
dinner  in  the  great  hall,  conversing  cheerfully  with  those 
about  him  on  affairs  of  state,  the  crafty  Barnard  addressed 
them  in  ambiguous  terms :  "  We  have,"  he  said,  "  O  Norman 
lords,  great  cause  for  joy,  and  let  us  render  thanks  to  God  for 
it,  as  we  ought.  Hitherto  we  have  obeyed  a  duke  of  the  race 
of  Bollo ;  now,  by  God's  will,  we  are  the  subjects  of  a  great 
king  of  the  race  of  the  emperor  Charlemagne.  To  this  time 
we  have  been  ducal,  now  we  are  royal,  and,  what  is  more, 
imperial."  All  the  company  applauding  this  discourse,  and 
deceiving  the  French  by  flattering  words,  Bernard  again 
entreated  silence,  and  thus  proceeded  while  there  was  gene- 
ral attention  :  "  I  acknowledge  the  shrewdness  of  the  French 
in  many  affairs,  but  there  is  one  thing  my  lord  the  king  baa 
done  which  I  cannot  approve,  for  I  perceive  in  it  his  own  dis- 
advantage and  great  dishonour.  We  all  know  that  Hugh 
the  Great  is  a  traitor,  and  the  son  of  a  traitor ;  and  yet  the 


302  ORDEHICTJS   TITALI3.  [B.TI.  CH.X. 

king  has  aggrandized  him,  as  I  think,  to  his  own  great  injuiy, 
by  giving  him  the  districts  of  Exmes  and  the  Cotentin,  with 
many  thousand  men  bearing  arms.  Some  pestilent  adviser 
has  taken  advantage  of  his  master's  simplicity,  and,  to  speak 
the  truth,  has  plunged  a  dagger  into  his  heart  by  persuading 
his  lord  to  strengthen  his  enemy  against  himself.  I  wonder 
much,  my  lord  the  king,  that  you  have  so  entirely  forgotten 
the  past.  It  is  plain  to  all  the  world,  for  such  crimes  cannot 
be  committed  in  private,  that  Robert,1  Hugh's  father,  was  a 
traitor,  and  having  rebelled  against  your  father  Charles,  and 
breaking  his  oath  of  allegiance  usurped  the  crown  and  de- 
servedly fell  in  battle.  Hugh  was  a  party  to  these  designs, 
and  disturbed  France  for  seven  years  while  you  were  an 
exile  with  your  uncle  Athelstan  in  England.2  Is  it  not 
clear  as  the  light  to  any  sensible  person  that  he  is  guilty  of 
high  treason  who  wickedly  suggests  to  the  king  that  strip- 
ping himself  of  his  own  estates,  he  should  lessen  his  own 
dominions  to  augment  the  strength  of  an  enemy  who  will 
turn  it  against  yourself.  Let  no  one  have  a  share  in 
the  duchy  of  Normandy,  but  the  king  of  France  be  the 
sole  ruler  of  the  Normans  who  pay  him  their  willing  obe- 
dience." 

On  hearing  this,  the  king  became  anxious  about  the  gift 
he  had  voluntarily  made  to  Hugh,  without  any  application 
on  his  part,  and  asked  to  be  advised  what  he  should  do  jn 
the  affair.  The  crafty  Dane  replied  that  the  king  ought 
without  hesitation  to  annul  his  engagements,  and  give  a  posi- 
tive command  to  Hugh  to  raise  the  siege  of  Exmes ;  and  if 
he  should  rebelliously  resist  the  order,  they  should  fall  upon 
him  with  their  united  forces.  Bernard  selected  two  knights 
for  this  embassy,  and  the  king  dictated  to  them  the  impe- 
rious orders  they  were  to  carry  to  Hugh.  Thereupon,  the 
envoys  made  all  haste  to  the  camp  of  Hugh,  and  reported 
to  him  faithfully  the  king's  message :  "  Your  presumption," 
they  said,  "  is  intolerable  in  invading  the  dominions  of  your 
lord  the  king  of  France,  and  besieging  the  castle  of  Exmes, 

1  Robert,  duke  of  France,  second  of  the  name,  was  son  of  Robert  the 
Strong,  king  of  France,  June  24,  922 — June  15,  923. 

3  Louis  d'Outre-Mer,  who  was  born  in  920,  resided  at  the  court  of  his 
uncle  Athelstan  nearly  thirteen  years,  from  the  captivity  of  King  Charles, 
his  father,  in  923  to  936,  when  he  was  crowned  at  Laon. 


A.T>.  944.]    HUGH  EVACUATES  THE  PBOVINCE.         303 

which  has  been  a  royal  seat  from  ancient  times.1  Hoar  now 
his  commands  in  this  matter;  and  on  the  fealty  you  owe 
him,  obey  them  without  delay.  Raise  the  siege  before  sun- 
set, and  give  account  of  your  rash  enterprise  to  the  king  at 
Laon,  with  the  advice  and  judgment  of  his  peers,  when  he 
shall  appoint  a  time.  Otherwise,  prepare  yourself  and  your 
people  for  battle,  for  the  king  your  lord,  if  he  finds  you  here, 
will  attack  you  with  the  forces  of  Prance  and  Normandy 
before  the  week  is  passed." 

This  message  violently  enraged  Hugh  the  Great,  and 
rousing  him  to  the  highest  pitch  of  resentment,  he  exclaimed 
to  his  attendants :  "  This  weak  king  must  be  demented  to 
send  me  such  a  message  while  I  am  supporting  him  with 
all  my  power.  I  never  coveted  the  possession  of  Normandy, 
or  demanded  any  part  of  it  from  him  ;  but  he  made  me  the 
voluntary  offer  of  the  whole  country  on  this  side  of  the 
Seine,  as  far  as  the  sea,  and  required  my  assistance  to  sub- 
due these  indomitable  pirates.  Does  he  not  manifest  his  folly 
to  all  the  world  when  he  threatens  to  fight  me  at  the  very 
time  I  am  obeying  his  orders.  The  man  who  serves  an 
unjust  master  is  much  to  be  pitied,  and  he  who  submits  to 
one  who  is  at  once  faithless  and  weak  is  a  fool  himself.  Let 
us  make  a  hasty  retreat ;  but  see  that  you  devastate  the 
whole  country,  ruin  the  churches,  burn  the  houses,  level  the 
ovens  and  mills,  drive  oif  the  flocks  and  herds  of  cattle,  and 
carry  away  with  you,  never  to  return,  every  sort  of  plunder, 
and,  loaded  with  booty,  leave  those  miscreants  to  them- 
selves." 

Receiving  such  orders,  the  troops  dispersed  themselves 
like  bands  of  robbers  throughout  the  province,  and  taking 
the  country-people  by  surprise,  while  they  thought  them- 
selves safe  under  the  duke's  protection,  executed  his  orders 
without  mercy.  Then  Herluin,  the  chancellor,  and  Ralph 
de  Tracy  did  not  trouble  themselves  about  the  cattle  or  the 
goods  of  the  peasantry,  but  recollecting  their  sojourn  at 
Ouche,  returned  thither,  and  unexpectedly  entered  the  con- 
vent with  their  followers.  While  the  monks  who  suspected 
no  evil,  stood  aghast,  the  armed  band  burst  into  the  church 
with  violence,  and  penetrated  into  its  secret  recesses,  and 

1  M.  Le  Prevost  remarks  that  Exmes  had  never  any  pretensions  to  be 
a  renal  residence. 


304  OEDZKICTTS   TITALIS.  [B.TI.  CH.I. 

even  broke  open  the  tombs.  Taking  the  bodies  of  the  three 
saints  Evroult,  Evremond,1  and  Ansbert2  out  of  their  coffins 
and  wrapping  the  bones  in  deer-skins,  they  carried  them  off 
with  the  relics  of  other  saints.  The  armed  retainers  pene- 
trated into  every  corner  of  the  abbey  and  irreverently  laid 
hands  on  all  that  was  serviceable  to  human  existence,  in 
spite  of  the  lamentations  of  the  weeping  monks.  Setting 
no  bounds  to  their  rapacity,  and  respecting  no  one,  they 
pillaged  the  books,  vestments,  and  various  articles  of  furni- 
ture belonging  to  the  monks  and  their  servants,  and 
ransacking  every  place  which  the  brethren  themselves  had 
opened  to  them  on  a  former  occasion,  as  already  related, 
they  swept  every  thing  away.  They  then  joined  the  rest  of 
the  invaders,  and  the  whole,  united  in  one  body,  marched  out 
of  Normandy,  and  hastened  back  to  their  own  country  with 
the  booty  they  had  collected.  The  monks  of  Ouche  were 
overwhelmed  with  grief  at  their  sad  desolation,  and  were  at 
a  loss  'to  determine  what  they  should  do  or  where  they  should 
go  now  that  they  had  been  stripped  of  all.  After  consider- 
ing, however,  all  circumstances,  they  resolved  to  leave  the 
country,  and  follow  the  relics  of  their  sainted  founder. 

A  venerable  old  man,  whose  name  was  Ascelin,  filled  at 
that  time  the  office  of  prior  of  Ouche,  diligently  performing 
its  functions  according  to  the  circumstances  of  the  times. 
Seeing  the  monks  and  their  servitors  plunged  in  excessive 
grief,  and  all  preparing  to  leave  together  their  now  desolate 
abode  and  follow  their  blessed  patron  among  hostile  bands, 
after  much  careful  reflection  he  determined  to  wait  the  time 
of  his  dissolution  in  that  place  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord.  He, 
therefore,  called  the  brethren  together,  and  when  they  were  all 
assembled, thus  spoke:  "For  our  sins,  and  those  of  our  fathers, 

1  St.  Evremond  was  a  native  of  Bayeux,  as  well  as  St.  Evroult,  and 
their  legends  are  very  similar.  St.  Evremond  quitted  the  world  to  retire 
into  a  solitude  in  another  part  of  the  diocese  of  Se"ez,  Fontenay-les- 
Louvets,  after  previously  founding  a  monastery  half  a  league  from  thence. 
Annobert,  bishop  of  S6ez,  drew  him  from  his  retreat  to  take  the  govern- 
ment of  another  convent,  called  Mons  Major,  supposed  to  be  Montme're', 
between  Argentan  and  Seez,  where  he  died  in  the  odour  of  sanctity  about 
the  year  720. 

a  This  saint  is  the  monk  restored  to  life  by  St.  Evroult,  in  order  that  he 
might  receive  the  viaticum,  and  not  St.  Ansbert,  archbishop  of  Rouen, 
mentioned  before,  p.  290. 


A.D.  941.]       ABBEY   OF    ST.  EVBOULT   DESEBTED.  305 

the  scourge  of  God  has  fallen  upon  us,  and  its  terrible  stroke 
has  levelled  us  and  ours,  and  brought  us  to  irreparable  ruin. 
Behold  the  Judge  Almighty,  as  he  destroyed  Jerusalem  by 
the  hands  of  Nebuchodnosor  and  the  Chaldees,  justly 
humbling  his  own  sanctuary,  so  he  has  punished  this  house 
by  the  hands  of  Hugh  and  the  French  with  afflictions  of 
various  kinds,  but  principally  (which  is  most  to  be  lamented) 
by  depriving  us  of  the  bones  of  the  blessed  father  Evroult 
and  other  saints.  As  for  you  who  propose  to  follow  the 
relics  of  your  founder,  for  various  reasons,  I  do  not  venture 
to  prohibit  your  enterprise,  as  this  whole  neighbourhood  is 
now  a  desert,  and  defenceless  monks  would  starve  while 
princes  are  in  arms.  Go,  with  God's  blessing,  and  be  faith- 
ful servants  to  the  kind  father  who  has  hitherto  sustained 
you  in  his  own  country,  becoming  now  pilgrims  with  him  in 
a  strange  land.  For  myself  I  shall  not  desert  Ouche,  but 
shall  still  serve  my  Creator  in  this  place  where  I  have 
enjoyed  so  many  blessings,  and  never  quit  it  while  life 
remains.  I  know  that  the  bodies  of  many  saints  repose 
here,  and  the  spot  was  pointed  out  to  our  holy  father  by  an 
angelic  vision,  for  the  exercise  of  his  spiritual  warfare  to  the 
profit  of  numbers.  A  great  company  of  the  faithful  have 
here  offered  to  the  King  Most  High  the  acceptable  incense 
of  a  devout  life,  of  which  they  are  now  receiving  the  crown 
and  the  rewards  in  paradise.  Here,  then,  I  shall  remain 
after  your  departure,  and  in  imitation  of  our  founder, 
become  the  guardian  of  these  solitudes  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  until,  through  his  mercy  who  is  King  of  kings,  better 
times  shall  dawn  upon  us." 

At  these  words,  the  afflicted  brethren  parted.  There- 
upon, the  monks  of  St.  Evroult  and  their  attendants  aban- 
doned their  home,  and  joining  their  enemies,  followed 
weeping  the  relics  of  their  patron.  Their  number,  including 
their  domestics,  was  about  thirty,  and  they  all  marched  on  foot 
in  company  with  the  [duke's]  chaplains.  The  latter  knew 
the  monks  well  enough,  but  showed  them  no  courtesy,  as 
they  suspected  and  feared  that  their  object  was  privately  to 
rob  the  French  of  their  precious  treasure.  But  the  merciful 
Lord,  who  chastises  the  erring  to  bring  them  back  to  the 
right  way,  treats  those  who  are  converted  with  fatherly 

VOL.  II.  X 


30G  OEDEEICUS   TITALIS.  [B.YI.  CH.X. 

kindness,  and  gives  his  aid  in  a  wonderful  manner  to  those 
who  need  it. 

The  troop  encamped  the  first  night  after  leaving  Nor- 
mandy at  a  place  called  Champs,1  and  after  supper  some  of 
the  duke's  boon  companions  fell  into  bantering  and  unseemly 
talk.  One  of  these  jesters  said  jocosely  to  the  duke :  "  Have 
you  heard,  my  lord  duke,  what  your  chancellor  Herluin  and 
your  chamberlain  Ealph  have  done  ?  They  have  dug  up  the 
bodies  of  some  Norman  peasants,  and  deluding  themselves 
with  the  notion  that  they  are  holy  relics,  they  have  deposited 
them  in  your  chapel,  and  are  reverently  conveying  them 
into  France."  The  duke  asking  the  names  of  those  whose 
bodies  they  were  carrying,  the  jester  said:  "Evroult, 
Evremond,  and  Ansbert;"  whereat  the  French,  to  whom 
these  names  were  not  familiar,  and  who  were  ignorant  of  the 
glory  to  which  the  blessed  saints  were  exalted  in  heaven, 
indulged  in  much  idle  banter  about  the  relics.  But  in  the 
first  night-watch,  when  all  were  asleep,  the  Almighty  thun- 
dered awfully  out  of  heaven,  and  shooting  forth  his  lightning 
in  bright  flashes,  struck  the  buffoon  and  his  companions  who 
had  made  light  of  the  holy  relics.  Their  sudden  death 
caused  no  small  alarm  to  the  duke  and  his  whole  army ; 
whereupon  he  assembled  the  troops  very  early  in  the  morning, 
and  commanding  the  chancellor  to  bring  the  relics  reverently 
into  his  presence,  he  made  every  one  offer  their  devotions 
to  them  before  they  began  their  march.  He  also  summoned 
before  him  the  weeping  monks  and  their  attendants,  and 
requiring  from  them  some  account  of  Evroult  and  his  com- 
panions, listened  with  pleasure  to  the  history  they  gave  of 
the  venerable  men,  and  called  on  the  Belgian  nobles2  to  hear 
the  marvels.  He  was  also  touched  by  the  worth  and  sim- 
plicity of  the  monks  of  Ouche,  and  being  moved  to  compas- 
sion towards  them  by  the  inspiration  of  Grod,  who  shows 
mercy  to  his  faithful  servants  on  all  occasions,  he  said  to 
them :  "  I  esteem  above  gold  and  silver  the  relics  of  your 
founder  which  you  voluntarily  follow.  For  his  sake,  too,  I  will 

1  Champs,  in  the  canton  of  Torouvre,  the  church  of  which  is  dedicated 
to  St.  Evroult,  probably  in  memory  of  this  circumstance. 

3  Our  author  is  mistaken  in  his  references  to  the  Roman  topography  of 
Gaul.  The  nobles  who  followed  Hugh  in  his  expedition  did  not  belong  to 
the  Belgian  provinces. 


A.D.  94  i.]      BELICS    OF    ST.  EYBOTJLT   DISPEBSED.  307 

show  you  favour  and  take  you  under  my  protection,  ordering 
my  chancellor  to  take  charge  of  you  and  treat  you  well,  and 
to  permit  you  to  receive  all  the  offerings  made  to  the  holy 
relics,  until  you  shall  reach  Orleans,  the  capital  of  my 
duchy,1  when  I  will  provide  for  your  sufficient  main- 
tenance." 

The  prospects  of  the  monks  of  Ouche  in  a  strange 
country  now  began  to  brighten,  and  they  daily  received 
large  o'fferings  from  the  faithful,  and,  through  God's  mercy, 
were  comforted  by  the  abundant  gifts  which  flowed  from  the 
necessities  of  the  sick  or  the  benevolence  of  the  devout. 
"When  they  arrived  at  Orleans,  the  troops  of  soldiers  with 
their  squires  and  horses,  filled  all  the  houses  and  buildings 
in  the  city,  so  that  the  monks  with  the  holy  relics  took 
refuge  in  a  bakehouse,  where  they  rested  the  first  night. 
The  citizens  afterwards  built  a  church  on  the  spot,  dedicated 
to  St.  Evroult,  and  through  the  merits  of  the  saints  many 
miracles  of  healing  were  performed  there.  Herluin  the 
chancellor  was  abbot  of  St.  Peter-en- Point,  where  he  depo- 
sited the  holy  relics  by  command  of  Hugh  the  Great.2  Then 
Ralph  de  Tracy  claimed  his  part  of  the  spoil,  and  would  not 
relinquish  it  at  any  price.  He  was  an  eminent  citizen  of 
Soissons  and  the  duke's  first  chamberlain,  possessed  large 
domains,  honours,  and  wealth,  and  was  distinguished  by  his 
piety  and  other  virtues.  No  one  dared  to  wrong  so  powerful 
a  lord,  and  by  a  general  order  the  relics  were  brought  into 
court  and  divided  in  the  presence  of  the  judges.  Herluin 
being  a  priest,  and  abbot  of  the  canons  of  St.  Peter,  as  well 
as  first  chaplain  to  the  duke,  retained  for  his  share  the  head 
and  the  greatest  part  of  the  bones  of  St.  Evroult,  also  a  book 
and  a  portable  altar  plated  with  silver,  the  gown  and 
girdle  of  St.  Evroult,  and  the  charters  of  donation ;  the  rest 
of  the  body  he  yielded  to  Ralph.  There  was  no  difficulty 
about  the  division  of  the  other  relics,  for  the  Orleannois 
chose  the  bones  of  St.  Evremond  the  abbot  for  their  share, 

1  Orleans  was  not  Hugh's  capital  as  duke  of  France,  but  as  count  of 
Orleans. 

4  This  monastery  became  afterwards  a  collegiate  and  parochial  church, 
and  the  anniversary  of  the  translation  of  the  relics  of  St.  Evroult  was 
annually  celebrated  in  it  till  the  revolution.  Its  site  is  now  occupied  by 
a  Rotunda  lately  built  for  Protestant  worship. 

x  2 


308  ORDEEICTJS   YITALIS.  [B.TI.  CH.X. 

and  left  those  of  St.  Ansbert,  the  monk,  to  Ealph.  He 
hastened  with  this  precious  treasure  to  Rebais,1  and  devoutly 
offered  it  to  that  abbey  of  which  he  was  a  brother  and 
friend.  The  monks  of  Rebais,  in  white  and  silken  vestments, 
came  forth  in  procession  with  lighted  tapers  and  censers 
fuming  with  incense  to  receive  the  relics  in  great  triumph, 
and  they  preserve  them  with  reverence  to  this  day.  Then 
Ealph,  wishing  to  augment  the  property  of  the  church  out  of 
his  own  domains,  gave  them  Port  d'Aunois  and  Bonneil,3 
and  that  there  might  be  abundant  means  for  supplying 
shrines  for  the  relics  he  added  large  sums  of  gold  and  silver. 
In  return  for  these  offerings,  this  lord  at  his  death  was 
buried  in  the  church. 

In  such  changes  foreign  worshippers  are  sometimes  de- 
ceived, but  as  their  object  is  good,  they  easily  obtain  pardon 
for  unintentional  error.  They  venerate,  indeed,  the  relics 
which  chance  gave  them,  to  the  utmost  of  their  power; 
being  mistaken,  however,  in  their  notions  respecting  Ans- 
bert,  a  stranger  to  them,  and  exalting  him  beyond  his  due 
by  making  him  to  have  been  archbishop  of  Kouen.  But  I 
boldly  assert  what  I  have  learnt  from  careful  inquiries,  that 
this  Ansbert  was  the  young  monk  who,  having  died  sud- 
denly without  the  viaticum,  was  soon  afterwards  restored  to 
life  by  St.  Evroult,  and  having  received  the  communion 
departed  in  the  Lord,  and  was  admitted  to  partake  in  the 
feast  of  the  saints.  As  for  Ansbert  of  Eouen,  his  remains 
are  preserved  at  Fontenelles  with  those  of  abbot  Wandrille 
and  Wulfran,  archbishop  of  Sens,  and  are  daily  honoured  by 
the  devotions  of  the  faithful.3  Thus  I  have  given  a  faithful 
account  of  the  division  of  the  relics  of  St.  Evroult,  as  I 
received  it  myself  long  ago  from  truthful  and  religious  old 
persons. 

On  the  death  of  Hugh  the  Great,  his  son,  also  called 

1  The  abbey  of  Rebais  in  Brie  was  founded  by  St.  Ouen  in  634.     It 
was  at  first  called  Jerusalem,  but  afterwards  took  the  name  of  the  stream 
on  which  it  was  built.     St.  Agile  was  the  first  abbot,  and  it  was  under  him  , 
that  St.  Philibert,  the  founder  of  Jumieges,  embraced  the   monastic 
profession. 

2  Probably  the  hamlet  of  Aunois,  on  the  bank  of  the  Marne,  between 
Chateau-Thierre  and  Bonneil. 

3  See  what  our  author  says  of  the  translation  of  these  relics,  and  the 
notes,  p.  297. 


AFTEB  956.1      EELICS   BKOTJGIIT   TO   ANGEBS.  309 

Hugh  the  Great,1  succeeded  him  in  the  duchy,  and  disturb- 
ances breaking  out  between  Charles  and  the  nobles  of  the 
realm,  Hugh  usurped  the  crown,  which  has  descended  to  his 
heirs  to  the  present  day.  Geoffrey,2  son  of  the  count  of 
Anjou,  was  this  Hugh's  godson,  and  having  been  brought 
up  by  him  until  he  arrived  at  man's  estate,  received  at  his 
hands  the  honour  of  knighthood.  Having  learnt  with  sor- 
row at  court  that  his  father  was  dead,  he  demanded  of  the 
king  to  be  invested  in  his  hereditary  domains,  at  the  same 
time  earnestly  beseeching  him  to  give  him  some  part  of  the 
bones  of  St.  Evroult,  whose  miracles  he  had  often  witnessed 
while  residing  at  Orleans.  Hugh  had  a  great  regard  for  the 
young  man,  and  he  therefore  granted  him  his  father's 
estates,  and  gave  him  some  of  the  relics  of  St.  Evroult.  It 
was  therefore  through  him  that  the  relics  of  St.  Evroult 
were  obtained,  which  still  receive  the  veneration  of  the 
faithful  in  the  church  of  St.  Main-beuf  at  Angers.3  The 
monks  of  Ouche,  who  expatriated  themselves  with  the  holy 
body  found,  by  God's  providence,  a  welcome  home  among 
their  foreign  hosts,  and  receiving  abundance  of  bread  and 
wine,  and  also  of  fish,  which  the  Loire  supplies,  ended  their 
days  in  France,  after  experiencing  the  many  changes  of 
unstable  fortune. 

Meanwhile  the  aged  Ascelin  remained  in  the  wilderness 
at  Ouche  with  a  few  poor  inhabitants,  bringing  up  his 
nephew  Ascelin,  with  Guisbert  de  Gace  and  Harmoud  de 
la  Tillaie,  and  some  other  youths  whom  he  taught  reading,4 
that  they  might  perform  the  daily  service  of  God  in  that 
place.  One  day  he  assembled  all  the  scattered  dwellers  in 

1  It  does  not  appear  that  Hugh  Capet  ever  bore  the  surname  of  Hugh 
the  Great  as  well  as  his  father.  The  author  has  committed  the  same 
error  before.  See  vol.  i.  p.  141,  where  the  dates  of  the  events  here  referred 
to  are  given. 

*  Geoffrey,  first  count  of  Anjou  of  that  name,  who  succeeded  his  father 
in  958,  could  not  have  been  the  godson  of  Hugh  Capet,  nor  received 
knighthood  or  the  investment  of  his  county  from  him,  as  ha  was  much  his 
junior.  But  as  Geoffrey  lived  till  the  21st  of  July,  987,  it  is  very 
probable  that  he  was  on  friendly  terms  with  Hugh  Capet,  and  received 
from  him  some  relics  of  St.  Evroult. 

3  The  collegiate  church  of  St.  Mainbeuf  at  Angers.  It  would  appear 
from  what  follows  that  all  the  relics  of  St.  Evroult  which  were  deposited 
at  Orleans,  were  afterwards  translated  to  Angers. 

*_"  Communes  literas  edocuit."     Taught  them  their  letters. 


310  OBDEBICTJS  TITALIS.  [B.TI.  CH.X. 

those  solitudes,  and  announced  to  them  his  intention  to  hold 
a  festival,  which  at  the  appointed  time  he  celebrated  to  the 
best  of  his  power,  and  after  a  solemn  mass  delivered  this 
discourse  to  the  people  who  were  present : — "  We  ought  to 
fear  the  divine  threatenings,  but  our  hearts  are  so  hardened 
that  we  take  no  account  of  the  warnings  addressed  to  us, 
until,  like  the  wicked  servant,  we  feel  the  rod  with  which 
we  are  scourged,  and  its  sharp  strokes  cause  us  to  wail  and 
lament.  When  formerly  the  Danes,  who  were  then  pagans, 
ravaged  Neustria  under  Hasting,  and  returned  with  new 
fury  under  the  command  of  Rollo,  they  ruined  numberless 
churches  and  monasteries,  cities,  and  fortified  places,  but  we, 
living  in  a  wild  and  barren  country,  escaped,  under  God's 
protection,  the  swords  of  the  invaders,  although  we  were 
subject  to  great  alarm  and  severe  penury.1  Now,  alas  !  the 
day  of  the  Lord's  wrath  is  come  unexpectedly  upon  us,  and 
we  have  been  robbed  of  the  sacred  relics  which  we  valued 
above  all  precious  things  by  those  we  trusted  on  the  score 
of  the  hospitality  we  had  shown  them.  We  read  in  the  holy 
Scriptures  that  God  forsook  the  tabernacle  in  Silo  and  de- 
livered his  tent  that  he  had  pitched  among  men  to  the 
uncircumcised,  that  is  the  falsely  accusing,  Philistines.2  A 
like  judgment  has  now  fallen  upon  us ;  we  have  lost  the 
bodies  of  the  saints,  in  which  we  placed  our  main  dependence, 
and  our  brethren  having  followed  the  coffins  of  our  fathers 
into  a  foreign  country,  we  are  left  alone,  few  and  weak  in 
this  wild  solitude.  But  although  the  French  have  trans- 
lated the  sacred  bones,  and  carried  off  our  books,  vestments, 
and  other  precious  articles,  they  have  still  left  us  the  tombs 
and  the  most  sacred  ashes  of  the  saints'  bodies,  through 
God's  mercy,  to  our  great  consolation,  with  other  holy 
things  which  they  could  not  remove.  It  is  our  duty  to  use 
diligence,  in  carefully  concealing  and  preserving  with  re- 
verence, what  our  enemies  have  left  us.  We  still  have,  by 

1  M.  Le  Provost  considers  that  our  author  is  perfectly  correct  in  stating 
that  St.  Evroult  and  the  country  round  escaped  the  devastations  of  the 
Northmen.  He  remarks  that  it  was  too  poor  and  too  remote  to  attract  the 
pirates  from  the  neighbourhood  of  the  navigable  rivers.  Ordericus  falls 
into  the  error,  common  to  the  Norman  historians,  of  perpetually  introduc- 
ing the  name  of  Hasting  into  a  province  in  which,  as  far  as  is  known,  he 
never  set  foot. 

*  Psalm  Ixxviii.  61. 


A..D.  994 — 996.]  HELICS  CONCEA.LED  AT  ST.  ETROTJLT.          311 

God's  mercy,  a  hair  of  the  apostle  St.  Peter's  beard,  which 
Pope  Romanus  sent  to  St.  Evroult  at  the  dedication  of  this 
church.  We  also  know  of  other  precious  relics  which  have 
been  hidden  in  this  church  by  the  old  fathers.  I  now  pro- 
pose, if  it  is  agreeable  to  you,  to  examine  and  inspect  all 
these  memorials,  and  conceal  them  in  a  place  of  safety,  to 
preserve  them  from  sacrilege,  until  they  shall  be  discovered 
by  a  revelation  of  God  to  future  worshippers."  All  who 
were  present  approving  his  design,  the  old  monk  finished 
the  mass,  and  when  the  service  was  ended  gave  the  benedic- 
tion and  dismissed  the  people,  retaining  however  the  young 
scholars  to  carry  the  candles  and  censer  of  incense.  He 
then  proceeded,  accompanied  by  a  mason,  to  the  grave  of 
St.  Evroult,  and  causing  the  stone  which  covered  it  to  be 
removed  with  reverence,  collected  some  nodules  of  the 
sacred  dust.  He  also  took  out  several  cases  and  reliquaries 
inscribed  with  the  names  of  the  relics  they  contained.  Then 
desiring  the  youths  to  go  to  dinner,  he  caused  the  mason, 
with  the  assistants  required,  all  of  whom  were  of  mature 
age,  to  build  up  the  relics  in  a  place  of  concealment,  having 
dismissed  the  youths  that  they  might  not  learn  the  secret.1 
I  received  this  account  from  themselves  many  years  after- 
wards, but  the  exact  spot  where  the  relics  were  deposited  I 
was  unable  to  discover,  because,  as  I  have  already  said,  my 
informants  were  excluded  at  the  time  of  their  concealment. 

These  events  happened  in  the  time  of  Duke  Eichard  I., 
who  governed  Normandy  fifty-two  years,  and,  as  it  has  been 
before  related,  was  at  first  driven  into  exile  and  enduivu 
many  tribulations,  but  afterwards,  by  God's  help,  subdued 
his  enemies  and  became  powerful.  In  the  midst  of  furious 
storms,  the  good  old  Ascelin  continued  to  live  under  tho 
monastic  rule  until  he  was  bowed  down  with  age,  and  at  his 
death  committed  the  guardianship  of  Ouche  to  his  nephew 

1  It  is  very  difficult  to  reconcile  this  statement  with  the  dates  furnishr-d 
by  our  author.  He  says,  just  afterwards,  that  the  circumstances  took  piace 
in  the  time  of  Duke  Richard  I.,  who  died  in  995,  and  Asceline  may  h-ivft 
lived  till  about  the  same  period,  and  probably  did  not  conceal  the  relics  till 
his  end  was  approaching.  But  supposing  the  choristers  to  have  been  ton 
years  old  at  that  time,  they  would  have  been  one  hundred  in  1085,  when 
Ordericus,  at  the  age  of  eleven,  was  admitted  a  novice  at  St.  Evroult.  The 
account  has  an  air  of  great  probability,  but  a  link  in  the  chain  of  traditioas 
appears  to  be  wanting. 


312  ORDEBICTJS  TITALIS.  [B.VI.  CH.X. 

Ascelin,  who  was  a  clerk.  This  young  man,  in  the  ardour 
of  youth,  became  disgusted  with  his  rude  and  solitary  life, 
and  longed  after  the  enjoyments  of  a  town ;  and  betaking 
himself  to  France  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  instruction,  he 
was  so  captivated  by  all  sorts  of  pleasures,  that  he  lived 
there  almost  fifty  years,  rising  by  the  regular  steps  to  the 
rank  of  priest.  Enslaved  by  carnal  delights,  and  inflated  by 
growing  prosperity  during  his  residence  in  Prance,  he  lost 
all  recollection  during  his  long  life,  even  to  old  age,  of  what 
his  predecessors  had  entrusted  to  him  in  Normandy. 

Meanwhile,  by  the  death  and  departure  of  its  inhabitants, 
Ouche  returned  to  its  original  solitude,  and  all  vestiges  of 
human  life  having  disappeared,  the  oratories  and  houses  be- 
came overgrown  with  thick  wood,  and  for  a  long  period  were 
the  resort  of  wild  animals.  Then  it  was  said  in  a  vision  to 
a  certain  priest  named  Restold,  who  lived  in  the  province  of 
the  Beauvaisis ;  "  Go  to  St.  Evroult  in  Normandy,  and  you 
will  enjoy  there  length  of  days,  and  a  life  full  of  joy  and 
pleasure."  The  priest  therefore  left  his  native  country,  and 
journeying  through  Normandy  searched  for  the  house  of  St. 
Evroult,  but  although  he  continued  his  inquiries  for  many 
days,  he  could  find  no  one  to  point  it  out.  At  last  he  found 
the  old  church  of  St.  Evroult  at  Montfort,1  and  sojourned 
there  for  some  time,  in  the  belief  that  it  was  the  spot 
assigned  by  his  heavenly  oracle  to  him  and  his  posterity. 

A  peasant  of  the  name  of  Fala,  in  the  territory  of 
Bauquence,  had  a  bull  which,  frequently  separating  from 
the  herd,  ran  into  the  forest,  and  though  the  owner  sought 
for  it  a  long  time  with  his  servants  and  dogs,  he  never  could 
find  it,  but  at  the  end  of  five  or  seven  days,  when  it  was 
supposed  to  be  irrecoverably  lost,  it  made  its  appearance  in 
good  condition.  This  happened  so  repeatedly  that  it  be- 
came a  customary  thing.  It  became  a  joke  among  the 
neighbours  who  observed  it,  and  the  bull  had  free  leave  to 
go  and  come  when  he  pleased.  After  a  time,  however,  the 
curiosity  of  the  herdsmen  was  roused,  and  attempts  were 
made  to  trace  the  bull's  wanderings  in  the  forest,  and  it  was 
followed  through  the  thickest  brakes.  Fala  obtained  the 
assistance  of  an  experienced  hunter,  whose  name  was  Dui- 
lett,  and  he  tracked  the  bull  with  the  sagacity  of  a  hound, 
1  Near  Gac6. 


ABOUT  1030.]       THE    ABBEY    CHUECH   EEBTJILT.  313 

until  it  was  discovered  lying  before  the  altar  of  St.  Peter 
the  apostle  as  if  it  were  at  prayers.  The  walls  of  the 
church  were  shattered  and  held  together  by  roots  of  ivy, 
and  the  ruins  of  ancient  buildings  could  be  traced  by  the 
observers.  A  dense  wood  had  sprung  up  both  within  and 
without,  no  one  having  lived  there  for  fifty  years.  Upon 
this  discovery  grey-headed  old  men  recollected,  that  accord- 
ing to  what  their  fathers  had  told  them,  St.  Evroult  and 
many  others,  who  held  the  world  in  contempt,  had  dwelt 
there. 

Restold  also  had  a  new  vision,  which  rebuked  him  for  not 
having  justly  obeyed  the  former  command ;  and  upon  the 
priest's  anxiously  inquiring  by  what  means  he  could  bet- 
ter fulfil  the  injunctions  laid  on  him,  he  was  told  to  go 
to  Ouche,  and  there  serve  God  as  the  follower  of  St. 
Evroult.  Eestold  therefore  left  his  first  habitation  at  Mont- 
fort,  and  going  to  Ouche  with  his  wife  and  his  son  Ilbert, 
was  the  first  who  now  took  up  his  abode  there. 

There  was  at  that  time  a  noble  knight,  named  Gaston  de 
Montfort,  who,  inspired  by  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  formed  the 
design  of  restoring  all  the  churches  in  his  neighbourhood 
which  had  fallen  to  decay  from  age  and  neglect  during  the 
many  troubles  I  have  before  mentioned ;  and  to  this  good 
work  he  devoted  his  whole  attention,  and  consecrated  all  the 
means  in  his  power.  In  consequence,  he  repaired  the  old 
church  of  St.  Peter  at  his  own  expense,  endeavouring  to 
propitiate  Almighty  God  by  this  undertaking.  One  morn- 
ing, as  his  herdsman  was  keeping  his  oxen  on  a  hill,  washed 
at  its  base  by  the  rivulet  of  Charenton,1  and  was  resting 
among  the  ruins  where  the  herbage  was  most  luxuriant,  all 
of  a  sudden,  one  in  the  guise  of  a  pilgrim  stood  before  him, 
and  appearing  wearied  by  his  journey,  sat  down  and  began 
to  converse  with  him:  "  Go,"  said  he,  "quickly  to  Gaston, 
and  tell  him  to  come  to  me  without  delay."  The  herdsman 

1  The  Charenton  is  only  a  rivulet  in  this  part  of  its  course,  but  has 
worked  for  itself  a  deep  channel  in  the  soft  bed  of  the  valley.  Alter  its 
confluence  with  the  Risle,  their  united  waters  discharge  themselves  into  the 
estuary  of  the  Seine,  between  Honfleur  and  Quillebceuf.  The  Orne,  also, 
and  the  Dive,  the  Touques  and  the  Iton,  all  take  their  rise  in  the  elevated 
forest  district  about  St.  Evroult  which  is  the  water-shed  between  the  rivers 
which  discharge  themselves  into  the  Manche,  and  the  Sarthe,  the  Huine, 
and  other  rivers  and  streams  flowing  into  the  Loire. 


314  ORDEBICUS  YITALIS.  [B.VI.  CH.X. 

hastened  to  his  master  and  gave  him  the  pilgrim's  message, 
but  Gaston  was  idly  disposed  and  would  not  obey  the  sum- 
mons, but  desired  the  pilgrim,  through  his  servant,  to  come 
to  him.  The  pilgrim  repeated  his  message  to  G-aston  a 
second  and  a  third  time,  but  being  occupied  by  I  know  not 
what  affairs,  he  obstinately  refused  to  come.  When  there- 
fore the  herdsman  returned  the  third  time  and  told  this  to 
the  pilgrim,  the  old  man  said,  "  Come  with  me  and  mark 
carefully  what  I  say:  this  place  was  sanctified  in  ancient 
times  by  the  divine  benediction,  and  is  rich  in  most  sacred 
relics."  Thus  saying,  the  hoary  speaker  rose  and  pointed 
out,  in  the  middle  of  the  area,  the  site  of  the  altar  of  the 
holy  Mary,  mother  of  G-od,1  and  to  the  east  that  of  the 
holy  and  undivided  Trinity.  He  then  said  further  to  the 
astonished  herdsman :  "  If  your  master  had  come  to  me  as  I 
required  him  by  you,  I  would  have  discovered  to  him  hidden 
treasures,  by  means  of  which  he  might  have  repaired  this 
old  church,  and  I  would  have  made  known  to  him  another 
secret,  which  would  have  caused  great  joy  throughout  all 
Normandy.  Upon  hearing  these  last  words,  the  servant 
retraced  his  steps  and  repeated  them  to  Gaston,  who  im- 
mediately mounted  his  horse  and  came  with  all  speed  to  the 
place  pointed  out,  but  the  pilgrim  had  disappeared.  He 
was  now  extremely  sorry  for  the  indifference  he  had  mani- 
fested, and  eagerly  questioned  the  herdsman  as  to  all  he  had 
heard  about  the  holiness  of  the  place  and  the  two  altars. 
He  then  had  a  conference  with  Ralph  Fresnel,2  son  of 
Thorold,  who  was  then  lord  of  the  soil,  and  with  God's  help 
undertook  the  restoration  of  the  church  of  St.  Mary-always- 
a-virgin.  The  labourers  cleared  out  the  old  ruins,  in  which 
they  found  a  prodigious  quantity  of  stones,  enabling  them 
to  carry  on  the  work  with  great  dispatch.  They  found  the 
tombs  of  many  noble  persons,  in  which  old  men  declare, 
from  certain  marks  they  discovered,  the  bodies  of  kings  and 
bishops  were  laid. 

1  The  church  here  spoken  of  is  that  built  by  Queen  Faileube  in  honour 
of   the  Virgin,  and   on  the  site    of   which    Notre-Dame-du-Bois  now 
stands. 

2  A  person  of  this  name  is  related  in  the  sequel  to  have  built  the  castle 
of  La  Ferti-Fresnil.     His  sons  William  and  Robert  are  mentioned  before, 
vol.  i.  p.  399. 


A.D.  1050.]      ABBEY   OF   ST.  EVBOTJLT   RESTOnED.  315 

Some  miracles  were  also  wrought  there.  A  knight  named 
Harduin,  having  observed  a  large  block  of  stone  among  the 
ruins  of  the  church,  desired  to  appropriate  it  to  his  own  use, 
and  caused  it  to  be  transported  to  his  house  and  converted 
into  a  cistern  for  himself  and  his  cattle ;  but  when  they 
began  to  hollow  it  out,  he  fell  ill.  During1'  his  illness, 
Gunfold  de  Touquette,1  a  knight  of  that  country,  had  a 
vision ;  instructed  by  which  he  visited  Harduin,  who  was 
lying  sick,  and  admonished  him  to  restore  the  block  of  stone 
to  its  original  site,  otherwise  he  would  inevitably  die.  On 
hearing  this,  the  sick  man  immediately  called  his  servants, 
ordered  them  to  harness  four  yoke  of  oxen  to  a  waggon,  and 
earnestly  begged  them  to  carry  back  the  stone  to  the  church 
of  the  holy  Virgin  Mother.  The  block  of  stone  being  loaded 
on  the  waggon,  he  caused  himself  to  be  lifted  on  it,  and 
thus  conveying  it  back  to  the  holy  building  from  which  he 
had  purloined  it  he  confessed  his  sin,  and  invoking  the 
mercy  of  the  Almighty  Lord,  was  immediately  cured. 

Many  other  miracles  were  wrought  in  this  place  which 
have  fallen  into  oblivion  by  the  death  of  the  neighbours 
then  living,  not  having  been  committed  to  writing,  from  the 
great  dearth  of  penmen  at  that  time  in  Normandy. 

When,  at  last,  the  church  was  erected  on  a  wooded  hill, 
all  the  inhabitants  of  the  district  were  full  of  joy,  and  the 
cure  of  it  with  the  government  of  the  parish  was  committed 
to  Eestold  of  the  Beauvaisis,  as  well  by  G-aston  and  Ealph, 
as  by  the  bishop  of  Evreux,  in  whose  diocese  it  stood. 

At  that  time  William,  son  of  Giroie,2,  was  lord  of  Echau- 
four,  and  heard  of  the  existence  in  the  forest  of  the  fountain 
of  St.  Evroult  and  the  old  church  of  St.  Peter  the  apostle  on 
the  rivulet  called  Charenton.  Led  by  curiosity,  he  surveyed 
this  spot,  and,  perceiving  it  to  be  a  fitting  place  for  the 
worshippers  of  God,  honoured  it  with  respect,  and  settled 
there  the  priests  B-estold  and  Ingeran,  providing  them  a 
sufficient  maintenance  out  of  the  revenues  of  Echaufour.  In 
process  of  time,  as  is  fully  related  in  the  third  book  of  the 
present  work,  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult  was  restored  by  this 
William  Giroie  and  his  brothers  and  nephews,  and  received 

Touquette,  a  commune  to  the  west  of  St.  Evroult. 

3  A  full  account  of  William  Giroie  is  given  in  vol.  i.  p.  384,  &c.  The 
abbcv  church  of  St.  Evroult  was  dedicated  to  St.  Peter. 


316  OBDEEICUS   TITALIS.  [B.VI.  CH.X. 

regular  institutions  by  the  labours  and  means  of  the  monks 
of  Jumieges. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1051  Theodoric,  a  monk  of 
Jumieges,  undertook  the  administration  of  the  abbey,  edu- 
cating the  voung  flock  with  piety  and  prudence  for  eight 
years,1  and  instructing  them  to  work  worthily  in  the  law  of 
the  Lord  according  to  the  rule  of  St.  Benedict.  Afterwards, 
as  I  have  already  related,  he  shrank  from  the  burden  of  the 
government,  and  resigning  it,  to  the  great  grief  of  the  pre- 
lates Mauritius  of  Rouen,  and  Hugh  of  Lisieux,  he  became 
a  pilgrim  in  foreign  lands,  treading  under  foot  worldly 
things,  and,  longing  for  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  laboured  to 
reach  the  terrestrial.  But  he  died  in  the  island  of  Cyprus, 
in  the  church  of  St.  Nicholas,  before  the  altar,  on  the  calends 
[1st]  of  August,  and  was  interred  with  respect  by  the  con- 
vent of  monks,  in  that  place,  which  he  made  illustrious  by 
frequent  miracles  in  healing  the  sick.  I  composed  the 
following  epitaph  in  heroic  verse,  to  his  memory  : — 
Trained  in  Jumieges'  holy  school, 
Thence  called  St.  Evroult's  monks  to  rule, 

1  Our  author  states  in  b.  iii.  p.  387,  that  Theodoric  was  appointed  in 
1050.  There  is  a  further  mistake  here  respecting  the  period  of  his  admi- 
nistration. It  lasted  from  October  3,  1050,  to  August  29,  1057.  Jumieges, 
founded  by  St.  Philibert  in  654,  was  one  of  the  most  magnificent  of  those 
Benedictine  abbeys  which  were  celebrated  for  their  learning  in  the  dark 
ages.  A  short  notice  of  William  Calculus,  one  of  the  monks  who  wrote 
the  histories  of  the  dukes  of  Normandy,  and  who  died  in  1090,  is  given  in 
a  note,  p.  376,  of  vol.  i.  The  situation  of  the  abbey  on  a  peninsula  round 
which  the  Seine  makes  a  bold  sweep,  almost  encircling  it  with  its 
stream  and  high  wooded  banks,  was  well  calculated  for  a  studious  and  con- 
templative life.  The  remains  are  among  the  most  considerable  and  the  best 
preserved  of  the  monastic  buildings  of  Normandy.  The  west  front  of  the 
abbey  church  is  still  surmounted  by  two  lofty  octagonal  towers,  but  one 
side  only  of  the  great  central  tower  is  standing.  The  nave,  with  its 
massive  pillars  and  columns  supporting  circular  Norman  arches,  remains 
entire.  These  parts  of  the  building  are  of  the  date  1067.  The  choir  has 
been  razed  to  the  ground,  except  part  of  the  apsis,  and  some  arches  exhi- 
biting the  pointed  style  of  the  thirteenth  century.  The  site  is  strewed 
with  interesting  fragments  of  the  building  and  monumental  slabs  and 
effigies,  which  are  carefully  preserved  though  the  ruins  have  repeatedly 
changed  owners.  Many  portions  of  the  conventual  buildings  may  still  be 
traced.  The  gate-house  has  been  converted  into  a  residence,  and  a  lofty 
wall  surrounds  the  large  enclosure  formerly  the  convent  gardens,  and  now 
a  well  planted  park,  over  the  trees  and  shrubberies  of  which  the  grey  ruins 
tower  with  a  most  picturesque  effect. 


A.D.  1058.]        EPITAPH   OP   ABBOT   TIIEODORIC.  317 

THEODORIC  taught  the  discipline 
Which  thirty  years  his  task  had  been, 
While  Satan's  malice  he  defied, 
And  triumphed  o'er  his  hellish  pride. 
The  flock  he  reared  in  forest  glade 
Eight  years  his  gentle  sway  obeyed ; 
Religion  in  the  wilderness 
He  nurtured  in  her  humblest  dress, 
And,  pattern  of  wise  industry, 
The  scribe's  art  practised  skilfully. 
At  length  inspired  with  ardent  zeal, 
Before  the  Saviour's  tomb  to  kneel, 
The  pilgrim  found  a  hallowed  grave, 
Where  Cyprus  fronts  the  eastern  wave; 
The  last  of  July  saw  him  die, 
Christ  give  him  endless  life  on  high  ! 

The  monks  of  St.  Evroult,  profoundly  grieved  at  not  pos- 
sessing the  body  of  their  patron,  have  made  various  efforts 
to  obtain  its  restoration,  but  hitherto  without  success. 
Having  been  unable  to  fulfil  their  wishes  in  this  respect, 
they  have  procured  several  relics  by  various  ways,  and,  by 
God's  favour,  recovered  some  at  different  times. 

Fulk,  prior  of  St.  Evroult,  who  was  afterwards  abbot  of 
Dive,  was  sent  by  "William  the  Bastard,  king  of  England,  to 
the  countess  Bertha,  at  Brie,  on  particular  business.  While 
there  he  obtained  from  a  chaplain  of  the  countess,  a  Norman 
who  belonged  to  the  church  of  Eebais,  a  tooth  of  St.  Evroult, 
which  on  his  return  he  restored  to  the  abbey  at  Ouche  to 
the  joy  of  all. 

During  the  reign  of  King  Lewis,1  there  was  a  canon  at 
Paris  named  Fulbert,  who  possessed  one  of  the  vertebral 
bones  of  St.  Evroult,  which  a  chaplain  had  purloined  from 
the  chapel  of  Henry  king  of  France,  and  had  presented  to 
him  long  before  as  a  pledge  of  his  regard.  Fearing  how- 
ever, on  various  accounts,  to  keep  it  in  his  possession, 
Fulbert,  through  the  intervention  of  Fulk,  a  priest  of  Maule, 
sought  an  interview  with  "William  de  Montreuil,  prior  of 
Maule,2  and  delivered  the  relic  to  him  for  transmission  to 
the  church  of  St.  Evroult.  The  prior  received  the  present 
with  great  delight,  and  speedily  fulfilled  the  errand.  "While 

1  Lewis  !e  Gra«,  August  3,  1108 — August  1,  1137. 
9  According  to  b.  v.  c.  19  (p.  236),  this  William  was  third  prior  of 
Maule. 


318  ORDEEICUS   YITALIS.  [B.VI.  CH.X. 

he  was  still  speeding  on  his  way,  he  experienced  the  holy 
father's  aid  ;  for  without  being  aware  of  it  he  partook  of 
poison  in  hrs  food,  which  the  exercise  of  riding  diffused 
through  his  limbs  and  entrails.  Finding  that  death  was  ap- 
proaching his  vitals,  he  cried  to  God  in  great  anguish  of 
mind  praying  that,  for  the  merits  of  St.  Evroult,  he  would 
have  mercy  on  him.  His  prayers  and  invocations  being 
ended,  he  vomited  the  poison,  and  was  soon  cured  ;  so  that, 
having  returned  thanks  to  God,  he  arrived  safely  at  St. 
Evroult,  where  he  deposited  the  relic  with  great  joy,  en- 
closing it  decently  in  a  silver  shrine. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1130,  Warin  seventh  abbot,  of 
St.  Evroult,  paid  a  visit  to  Rebais,  where  he  understood  one 
half  of  the  saint's  body  was  deposited.  He  was  attended  by 
two  monks,  Odo  of  Montreuil,  and  Warin  of  Seez,  in  this 
search  after  their  holy  father's  remains,  in  which  they  met 
with  considerable  difficulties.  Natalis,  the  abbot  of  Eebais,1 
was  absent  at  that  time,  and  it  was  the  pleasure  of  the  con- 
vent to  receive  them  not  with  hospitality,  but  with  hostility. 
They  found  the  neighbours  equally  averse  to  them,  and  they 
were  warned  to  depart  with  threatening  language.  How- 
ever, their  good  resolution  was  only  strengthened,  and 
pushed  them  forward  to  the  object  they  had  in  view. 
Abbot  "Warin  therefore,  leaving  his  two  companions  at 
Rebais,  and  laying  aside  his  state  as  abbot,  undertook  a  toil- 
some journey,  and  riding  as  a  poor  monk,  was  not  ashamed 
of  being  met  on  the  road.  Determined  to  find  Abbot  JNa- 
talis,  he  went  first  to  the  court  of  Count  Theobald  at  Eugni  ;2 
and  on  the  second  day  he  was  introduced  to  the  abbot,  but 
did  not  tell  him  who  he  was  or  what  he  wanted.  Natalis 
told  him  that  it  'was  his  intention  to  go  to  Clairvaux,  and 
offered  to  conduct  him  there.  In  consequence,  they  went  in 
company  to  Clairvaux,  with  their  attendants,  and  were 
kindly  received  by  the  brethren  of  that  monastery,  who  en- 
deavour to  practise  the  rule  of  St.  Benedict  to  a  letter. 
They  presented  themselves  to  the  Lord  Bernard,3  abbot  of 

1  Natalis,  abbot  of  Rebais  in  11 33,  was  chance_or  of  France  in  1140. 
He  retired  to  end  his  days  at  Cluny,  and  died  there  in  1 145. 

2  Rugni,  near  Tonnere.     Theobald  the  Great,  count  of  Champagne. 

3  St.  Bernard,  first  abbot  of  Clairvaux,  which  he  founded  in  1115.     The 
two  abbots  were  fortunate  in  meeting  him  in  his  monastery  this  year,  for 


A.D.  1130.]     EELIC8  OF   ST.  ETEOTJLT   RESTOEED.  319 

that  monastery,  and,  conversing  with  him,  made  many 
inquiries,  and  were  struck  with  his  profound  wisdom.  He 
commented  with  clearness  on  the  sacred  scriptures,  satisfy- 
ing all  their  questions  and  demands.  On  hearing  the  claims 
of  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult,  he  kindly  supported  Abbot 
Warm,  and  gave  letters  of  exhortation  to  the  convent  at 
Eebais.  The  abbots  "Warin  and  Katalis  now  returning 
thither,  found  the  monks  Odo  and  "Warin  in  good  spirits 
and  on  most  friendly  terms  with  the  monks  of  Eebais  ;  for 
they  were  both  of  mature  age,  courteous  and  modest  and 
well  founded  in  both  sacred  and  profound  learning.  But 
though  they  were  equally  distinguished  for  their  eloquence 
and  erudition,  Odo,  in  his  loving  zeal,  did  all  in  his  power  to 
have  Warin  preferred  to  himself.  Indeed,  Warin  had  much 
grace  and  wisdom  in  discoursing  on  religion,  and  during  the 
eight  days  they  staid  there  he  gave,  at  the  request  of 
Amaury  the  prior,  exhortations  to  all  who  were  in  the 
cloister ;  so  that  he  obtained  the  good  opinion  of  the  whole 
convent,  and  was  no  longer  regarded  as  an  enemy,  but  as  a 
faithful  friend.  Abbot  Warin  delivered  the  letter  of  the 
venerable  Abbot  Bernard,  which  was  well  received  by  the 
chapter  of  Eebais,  and  when  it  was  read  they  determined  to 
comply  with  the  request.  By  G-od's  will,  Stephen1  bishop  of 
Paris,  and  Burchard 2  bishop  of  Meaux,  were  present,  and 
earnestly  exhorted  the  monks  of  R-ebais  that  they  should 
comfort  those  of  St.  Evroult  with  a  sweet  charity.  A  day 
was  therefore  appointed  by  the  bishops  when,  by  common, 
consent,  the  relics  of  the  saints  reserved  there  should  be 
exhibited  together,  and  the  people  of  the  neighbourhood  be 
assembled  to  see  them  and  made  joyful  with  a  multiplied 
benediction ;  whereupon  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult  should 
receive  what  they  desired  and  return  home. 

But  now  Abbot  Natalis  changed  his  mind,  and  gave  un- 
easiness to  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult  by  his  caution  and  incon- 

hc  was  twice  absent  on  remarkable  occasions;  first  in  April,  to  attend  the 
council  of  Etampes  at  which  he  presided,  and  secondly,  to  have  an  inter- 
view with  Henry  I.,  king  of  England,  and  induce  him  to  embrace  the  cause 
of  Innocent  II.  in  the  schism  which  then  divided  Christendom. 

1  Stephen,  bishop  of  Paris  in  1 1 24,  had  been  chancellor  of  France  in 
1106—1119,  and  died  May  6,  1142.  He  was  son  of  Guy  de  Seulis,  lord 
of  Chantilly  and  Ermenonville. 

•  Burchard,  bishop  of  Meaux,  1120—1134. 


320  ORDEBICTJS   YITALI3.  [B.VI.  CH.X. 

sistency ;  for  he  said,  that  without  Count  Theobald's  consent 
lie  would  never  part  with  what  he  had  given  to  the  convent. 
It  was,  therefore,  agreed  that  Odo  of  St.  Evroult  should 
proceed  to  Normandy  and  see  the  count,  who  had  gone 
there  to  confer  with  his  uncle,  King  Henry.     The  monk, 
obedient  to  his  orders,  undertook  this  toilsome  journey,  and 
following  the  count,  arrived  at  Vernon,1  where,  in  the  first 
instance,  he  made  known  his  secret  object  to  the  king  him- 
self, begging  him  to  further  it.     The  king   promised  his 
assistance,  and  interfered  with  his  nephew  on  behalf  of  the 
monks.     The  count  acceded  to   his   uncle's   request,  and 
transmitted  his   consent  to  the  monks  of  Rebais  by  his 
steward  Andrew,  who,  however,  did  not  appear  on  the  day 
when  the  relics  were  exhibited,  but  remained  at  Coulom- 
miers,  the  duke's  castle.     In  consequence,  the  abbot  of  St. 
Evroult,  with  "Warin  of  Seez,  and  Andrew  of  Coulommiers,1, 
proceeded  to  the  steward,  who  received  them  graciously,  and 
commending  himself  to  their  prayers,  informed  them  of  the 
count's  consent,  and  declared  himself  his  master's  envoy  and 
commissioner  in  the  affair.     Abbot  Warin  and  his  compa- 
nions now  returned  to  Eebais  with  great  joy,  and  Abbot 
Natalis,  that  hearing  the  count's  licence  was  obtained,  and 
repenting  of  the  vexation  he   had  caused  the  monks  of 
St.  Evroult,  granted  their  petition.    (The  prior,   Amaury, 
therefore,  assembled  the  chapter  the  following  morning,  and 
led  the  way  to  the  church  with  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult ; 
the  whole  assemblage  forming  a  procession  to  the  sacristy. 
The   silver   coffer,  which   contained  the   memorials  of  St. 
Evroult8  was  then  opened,  and  the  relics  reverently  taken 
out,  consisting  of  the  right  arm,  and  a  casket  full  of  frag- 
ments of  bones.     The  monks  of  St.  Evronlt  now  returned  to 
Normandy,  arriving  at  Ouche  on  the  seventh  of  the  calends 
of  June  [May  26th].     They  were  met  by  a  vast  multitude 
of  both  sexes  to  the  number  of  four  thousand,  who  assem- 
bled to  partake  of  the  blessings  of  their  great  patron,  and 
to  obtain  by  their  prayers  his  intercession  with  God.     Those 
who  were  labouring  under  various   disorders  hastened  to 

1  Vernon-sur-Seine. 

*  Coulommiers  in  Brie,  too  leagues  from  Rebais,  and  on  the  same  river. 
3  An  ancient  chasse,  or  reliquary,  supposed  to  have  contained  the  relics 
of  the  saint,  is  still  preserved  at  St.  Evroult. 


A.D.  1133.]  A  MIEACULOTJS   ESCAPE.  321 

implore  the  Most  High  to  relieve  them  of  their  pains,  for 
the  merits  of  the  good  father  Evroult,  of  whom  numbers 
having  their  petitions  granted,  triumphantly  confided  in  the 
merits  of  the  holy  saint. 

There  was  a  man  named  Geoffrey,  a  native  of  Brittany, 
but  living  in  the  Corbonnais,1  who,  as  he  related  himself,  was 
in  his  youth  addicted  to  rapine  and  theft,  but  after  a  time, 
by  God's  grace,  changed  his  course  of  life  for  the  better. 
He  took  a  wife  in  lawful  marriage  whose  name  was  Hilde- 
burge,  and  listening  to  her  good  advice,  dismissed  his  fierce 
and  bloody  followers,  and  laboured  with  his  own  hands  for 
the  means  of  existence.  He  even  gave  alms  of  what  he 
procured  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow,  distributing  among  the 
poor,  the  clergy,  hermits,  and  monks  all  the  superfluity  he 
thus  earned,  beyond  what  was  absolutely  necessary  for  the 
subsistence  of  himself  and  his  family.  He  frequented  the 
society  of  the  monks  of  St.  Evroult,  and  becoming  their 
brother  in  Christ,  maintained  well  the  bond  of  fraternity. 
He  was  always  present  in  the  abbey  at  the  principal  festivals 
of  the  saints,  and  remembering  the  precepts  of  the  law,  did 
not  come  empty  handed. 

A  singular  occurrence  happened  two  years  before  the 
death  of  King  Henry.  On  the  night  of  the  Nativity  of 
the  Holy  Innocents,2  a  snow  storm  came  on  suddenly  with 
such  violence  that  the  like  had  not  been  seen  in  the  memory 
of  any  man  living,  or  of  those  who  were  their  teachers.  All 
entrance  to  the  houses  was  blocked  up,  the  surface  of  the 
roads  was  covered,  valleys  were  filled  to  the  level  of  hills, 
birds  and  animals  were  suffocated,  and  even  men  were  buried 
in  the  drifts,  and  numbers  of  the  faithful  were  prevented 
from  attending  the  service  in  the  churches  on  that  day. 
Geoffrey,  however,  got  up  while  the  storm  was  raging,  and, 
disregarding  the  depth  of  snow,  loaded  a  pack-horse  with 
bread  made  of  wheaten  flour,3  took  his  son  with  him  and  set 
forth  to  attend  the  feast  of  the  holy  father,  St.  Evroult. 

1  Also  called  La  Perche,  lying  to  the  south  of  Normandy,  and  the 
east  of  Maine. 

2  The  night  of  Thursday,  December  28, 1133.    The  feast  of  St.  Evroult 
was  held  on  the  morrow,  December  29. 

3  Bread  made  of  the  flour  of  wheat  was  at  that  period  esteemed  a  great 
luxury.     Several  centuries  afterwaids  the  meal  used  in  making  bread  wa» 
composed  of  one  part  of  wheat,  one  of  barley,  and  one  of  oats. 

VOL.  II.  T 


322  ORDEBICTJS  YITALIS.  [B.VI.  CH.X. 

But  when  he  reached  the  water  called  the  Bisle,1  over  which 
there  was  no  bridge,  he  found  that  it  was  not  fordable  as 
the  waters  were  in  flood,  and  in  great  terror  and  dismay  he 
cried  to  the  Lord  of  merer,  and  implored  his  aid.  He 
immediately  became  sensible  of  the  divine  support  in  the 
pious  undertaking  in  which  he  was  engaged,  and  found  him- 
self carried  over  the  river  without  any  visible  conductor. 
But  he  stood  there  alone,  discovering  that  his  son  and  the 
beast,  with  its  burden,  were  still  on  the  other  side  of  the 
stream.  At  last  the  son,  whose  faith  and  merits  were 
perhaps  less  than  his  father's,  trembling,  entered  the  water, 
up  to  the  middle,  and  dragged  the  horse  with  its  load  of 
bread  after  him,  getting  safe  through  with  some  difficulty. 
Although  the  loaves  intended  for  God's  servants  were 
plunged  in  the  stream,  they  remained  dry  and  uninjured,  so 
that  they  were  in  a  fit  state  for  the  use  of  Christ's  house- 
hold, being  miraculously  preserved  in  the  midst  of  the  waters. 
Father  and  son  then  proceeded  in  company  to  their  place  of 
destination,  and  triumphantly  described  the  perils  they  had 
escaped,  both  on  the  roads  and  in  the  waters,  attributing 
their  safety  to  the  merits  of  St.  Evroult,  for  whose  feast 
they  were  bound.  The  crowds  collected  at  this  solemnity, 
having  heard  their  account,  glorified  the  Lord  God  of 
Sabaoth,  who  is  for  ever  the  Saviour  of  his  people. 

At  that  time  Warin  was  abbot  of  St.  Evroult,2  and  he 
had  a  great  regard  for  G-eoffrey,  and  respected  him  much  for 
his  fervent  devotion  to  God.  The  abbot  himself  was  zealous 
in  the  performance  of  divine  worship,  and  set  an  example 
by  his  constant  attendance.  He  highly  esteemed  religious 
men,  giving  place  to  them  with  the  greatest  marks  of 
respect ;  and  he  also  applied  himself  diligently  to  useful 
studies.  Deeply  learned  as  he  was,  he  readily  divested  him- 
self of  his  magisterial  authority,  and  putting  himself  on  a 
level  with  his  juniors,  joined  as  one  of  themselves  in  the 
pursuits  suited  to  their  age  with  an  alacrity  which  aiforded 

1  To  reach   St.    Evroult  from   the  south-east,  this   rivulet,  not    the 
Charenton,  would  have  to  be  crossed.     They  afterwards  form  a  junction. 
See  note,  p.  313. 

2  This  paragraph  was  written,  as  it  appears,  after  the  death  of  Abbot 
Warin  des  Essarts,  which  happened  on  June  21,  1137.     He  was  then  of 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  forty-six  of  which  he  had  spent  in  the  abbey. 


A.D.  1115 — 1116.]   WABIJT,  ABBOT  OF  ST.  ETEOULT.  323 

an  excellent  example  to  all  who  were  under  his  government. 
Geoffrey  was  of  middle  stature,  tall  and  thin,  so  that  not 
being  burdened  with  flesh,  his  activity  was  remarkable.  In 
his  humility  he  heard  with  attention  the  words  of  instruc- 
tion and  doctrine  which  fell  from  the  lips  of  others,  and 
frequently  made  diligent  inquiries  from  his  equals  and 
inferiors  on  subjects  with  which  he  was  very  well  acquainted, 
listening  to  them  with  the  deference  of  a  disciple.  He 
handled  the  lessons  of  the  divine  law  with  overflowing  elo- 
quence, and  skilfully  explained  the  most  profound  doctrines 
by  his  lucid  dissertations.  Having  assumed  the  profession  of 
a  monk  when  he  was  a  young  man  of > the  age  of  twenty-three 
years,  he  was  a  soldier  of  the  most  high  King  forty-six  years, 
and  gave  to  the  world  the  fruits  of  his  penetrating  genius 
and  deep  meditations  in  metrical  poems,  eloquent  epistles, 
and  other  works.  I  will  extract  from  them,  and  insert'  in 
this  book  of  mine,  an  account  of  one  miracle  which  he  learnt 
when  he  was  at  Thorney  Abbey  in  England  with  Abbot 
Robert,1  and  committed  to  writing,  at  the  request  of  the 
bishop  of  Ely2  and  the  convent  of  monks.  The  following  ia 
the  text  of  the  letter  :3 — 

"  To  all  the  faithful  sons  of  holy  church,  and  especially  to 
those  who  are  subject  to  the  rule  of  the  excellent  father 
Benedict,  Hervey,  the  humblest  servant  of  the  servants  of 
God  and  the  unworthy  minister  of  the  church  of  Ely,  send- 
eth  greeting,  and  trusts  that  what  is  well  begun  may  be 
happily  ended.  It  is  our  wish  to  publish  for  the  praise  and 
honour  of  St.  Benedict,  the  patron  of  monks,  a  circumstance 
worthy  to  be  recorded  as  most  agreeable  to  those  who  hear 
it,  most  useful  to  those  who  retain  it  in  their  memories,  and 
perhaps  very  profitable  to  those  who  are  at  present  ignorant 
of  it. 

"In  the  time  of  Henry,  king  of  England  and  duke  of 
Normandy,  in  the  sixteenth  year  of  his  reign  over  England  and 
the  tenth  of  his  government  of  the  duchy,*  there  was  on  the 

1  Robert  was  abbot  of  Thorney  (in  Cambridgeshire),  1113 — 1151. 

*  Hervey,  first  bishop  of  Ely,  1108—1130,  Henry  I.  having  erected  the 
bishopric  in  October;  1108. 

8  This  letter,  though  bearing  the  name  of  the  bishop  of  Ely,  was  in  fact 
written  by  Warm  des  Essarts,  as  our  author  tells  us. 

*  Henry  I.,  crowned  king    of   England,  August  5,   1100,    obtained 

T2 


324  OBDEBICUS  YITALIB.  [B.VI.  CH.X. 

possessions  of  our  church  a  certain  free-  ten  ant  called  Bric- 
stan,  who  lived  at  Chatteris.1  This  man,  according  to  the 
testimony  of  his  neighbours,  never  injured  any  one,  and, 
content  with  what  he  had,  meddled  not  with  what  belonged 
to  others.  Neither  very  rich  nor  very  poor,  he  conducted  his 
affairs  and  brought  up  his  family,  in  moderate  independence, 
according  to  the  habits  of  laymen.  He  lent  money  to  his 
neighbours  who  wanted  it,  but  not  at  usury,  while,  on  account 
of  the  dishonesty  of  some  of  his  debtors,  he  required  security. 
Thus  holding  a  middle  course,  he  was  considered  not  better 
than  other  good  men,  nor  worse  than  the  ill-disposed.  Being 
thus  at  peace  with  all  mankind,  and  believing  that  he  had  not 
a  single  enemy,  he  was  inspired  by  divine  influence  (as  it 
appeared  in  the  sequel)  to  entertain  the  desire  of  submitting 
himself  to  the  rule  of  St.  Benedict,  and  assuming  the  habit. 
In  short,  he  came  to  our  convent  dedicated  to  St.  Peter  the 
apostle  and  St.  Etheldrida,2  implored  the  favour  of  the 
monks,  and  engaged  to  put  himself  and  all  he  had  under 
their  rule.  But,  alas  !  the  evil  spirit,  through  whose  malice 
Adam  fell  in  paradise,  will  never  cease  from  persecuting  his 
posterity  to  the  last  man  who  shall  exist.  God,  however, 
whose  providence  ordereth  all  things  in  mercy  and  goodness, 
in  his  omnipotence  bringeth  good  out  of  evil,  and  out  of 
good  what  is  still  better.  When,  therefore,  the  news  was 
spread  abroad  (for  Bricstan,  though  his  acquaintance  was 
not  extensive,  was  sufficiently  well  known),  a  certain  man 
who  was  in  King  Henry's  employment,  but  more  especially 
a  servant  of  the  devil,  interfered  with  malicious  spite. 

"  We  must  make  a  short  digression  that  you  may  under- 
stand what  sort  of  man  this  was.  His  name  was  Robert 
Malart  (which  signifies  in  Latin  malum  artificeni)  and 
not  without  reason.  He  had  little  else  to  do  but  to 
make  mischief  against  all  sorts  of  persons,  monks,  clerks, 
soldiers,  and  country  folk  ;  in  short,  men  of  all  ranks,  whether 

possession  of  the  duchy  of  Normandy,  September  28,  1100.    The  circum- 
stance here  related  occurred,  therefore,  between  September,  1115,  and 


1116. 

Cliatteris,  in  the  fens,  ten  miles  from  Ely.    At  the  time  when  Domes- 
day-book was  compiled,  it  was  divided  between  the  abbeys  of  Ely  and 
Ramsey. 
8  See  vol.  L  p.  124,  for  an  account  of  this  saint. 


A.D.  1115 — 1116.]      THE    STOET   OF   BBICSTAN.  325 

they  lived  piously,  or  the  contrary.  That  I  may  not  be 
accused  of  calumny,  this  was  his  constant  practice,  wherever 
he  was  able  to  vent  his  malice.  He  slandered  every  one 
alike  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  and  exerted  himself  to  the 
utmost  for  the  injury  of  others.  Thus  mischievous  to  one 
and  another,  he  may  be  counted  among  those  of  whom  it  is 
said  that '  they  rejoice  to  do  evil  and  delight  in  the  froward- 
ness  of  the  wicked.'1  When  he  failed  of  truth  for  hia 
accusations  he  became  a  liar,  inventing  falsehoods  by  help 
of  the  devil,  the  father  of  lies.  It  would  be  impossible  for 
any  one,  even  if  he  had  been  his  constant  companion  from 
childhood,  to  recount,  much  more  to  commit  to  writing,  all 
the  evil  doings  of  this  man,  who  was  truly  called  Thousand- 
craft  ;2  let  us,  therefore,  proceed  with  our  story. 

"When  Robert  heard  the  news  that  Bricstan  wished  to 
assume  the  habit  of  a  monk,  he  lost  no  time,  in  accordance 
with  the  teaching  of  his  master  the  devil,  who  is  always 
lying  and  deceiving,  in  presenting  himself  at  the  convent. 
Having  a  false  account  to  give,  he  began  with  a  falsehood, 
saying:  'This  Bricstan  is  a  thief;  he  has  fradulently  appro- 
priated the  king's  money  in  secret,  and  wishes  to  become  a 
monk,  not  to  save  his  soul,  but  to  save  himself  from  the 
sentence  and  punishment  which  his  crimes  merit.  In  short,  he 
has  found  a  hidden  treasure,  and  has  turned  usurer  with 
sums  clandestinely  subtracted  from  what  is  the  king's  by 
right.  Being  therefore  guilty  of  the  grave  offences  of  theft 
and  usury,  he  is  afraid  to  appear  before  the  king  or  the  judges. 
In  consequence,  I  have  the  royal  authority  to  forbid  your 
receiving  him  into  your  convent.'  Whereupon,  having  heard 
the  king's  prohibition,  and  dreading  his  anger,  we  refused  to 
admit  the  man  into  our  society.  What  shall  I  say  more  ? 
He  gave  bail  and  was  brought  to  trial.  Ralph  Basset  was 
judge,3  and  all  the  principal  men  of  the  county  were  assem- 
'led  at  Huntingdon,  according  to  the  custom  in  England :  I, 


il 


1  Prov.  ii.  H. 

a  Mille-Artifex ;  a  name  commonly  given  to  the  devil  in  the  middle 
ages.  Our  author  has  made  use  of  it  in  the  legend  of  St.  Martial,  vol.  i. 
p.  304. 

1  Ralph  Basset  was  one  of  the  minions  of  Henry  I.,  whom  he  raised, 
from  a  low  origin,  to  the  highest  offices  in  the  state,  in  preference  to  his 
nobles. 


326  OBDEBICTTS  VITALIS.  [B.YI.  CH.X. 

Hervey,  was  also  there  with  Beginald,  abbot  of  Bamsey,1  and 
Robert  abbot  of  Thorney,  and  many  clerks  and  monks. 
Not  to  make  the  story  long,  the  accused  appeared  with  his 
wife,  the  charges  falsely  made  against  him  were  recapitulated. 
He  pleaded  not  guilty,  he  could  not  confess  what  he  had  not 
done ;  the  other  party  charged  him  with  falsehoods,  and  made 
sport  of  him ;  he  was  indeed  rather  corpulent,  and  was  short 
in  stature,  but  he  had,  so  to  speak,  an  honest  countenance. 
After  having  unjustly  loaded  him  with  reproaches,  they  pre- 
judged him,  as  in  the  case  of  Susannah,  and  sentenced  him 
and  all  his  substance  to  be  at  the  king's  mercy.  After  this 
judgment,  being  compelled  to  surrender  all  that  he  possessed, 
he  gave  up  what  he  had  in  hand,  and  owned  where  his  effects 
were,  and  who  were  his  debtors.  Being  however  pressed  to 
give  up  and  discover  more,  he  replied  in  the  English  tongue : 
Wat  min  Laert  Godel  Mihtin  that  ic  sege  soth,  which  means 
'  My  Lord  G-od  Almighty  knows  that  I  speak  the  truth.' 
He  often  repeated  this,  but  said  nothing  else.  Having 
delivered  up  all  that  he  had,  the  holy  relics  were  brought 
into  court,  but  when  he  was  called  upon  to  swear,  he  said  to 
his  wife:  'My  sister,  I  adjure  you  by  the  love  there  is 
between  us,  not  to  suffer  me  to  commit  perjury ;  for  I  have 
more  fear  of  perilling  my  soul  than  of  suffering  bodily 
torments.  If  therefore  there  is  any  reservation  which  affects 
your  conscience,  do  not  hesitate  to  make  it  known.  Our 
spiritual  enemy  covets  more  keenly  the  damnation  of  our 
souls,  than  the  torture  of  our  bodies.'  To  this  she  replied : 
Sir,  besides  what  you  have  declared,  I  have  only  sixteen 
pence  and  two  rings  weighing  four  drachms.'  These  being 
exhibited,  the  woman  added:  'Dearest  husband,  you  may 
now  take  the  oath  in  safety,  and  I  will  afterwards  confirm, 
on  the  testimony  of  my  conscience,  the  truth  you  have  sworn 
by  the  ordeal  of  carrying  hot  iron  in  my  naked  hand,  in  the 
presence  of  all  who  desire  to  witness  it,  if  you  so  command.' 
In  short,  Bricstan  was  sworn,  he  was  then  bound  and 
carried  in  custody  to  London,  where  he  was  thrown  into  a 
gloomy  dungeon.  There,  heavily  ironed  with  chains  of  unusual 
weight,  in  a  most  cruel  and  outrageous  manner,  he  suffered  for 
some  time  the  horrors  of  cold  and  hunger.  In  this  extremity 

1  Reginald,  abbot  of  Ramsay  (in  Huntingdonshire),  from  1114— May 
20,  1133. 


APPABITION  OF  SS.  BENEDICT  AND  ETHELDEIDA.       327 

of  distress,  he  implored  divine  assistance  according  to  the  best 
of  his  ability,  inspired  by  his  urgent  necessity.  But  as  he 
felt  that  his  own  merits  were  but  very  small,  or  to  speak  the 
truth,  of  no  account  whatever,  having  no  confidence  in  them 
he  incessantly  invoked,  with  sorrowful  heart  and  such  words 
as  he  could  command,  St.  Benedict,  to  whose  rule,  as  we  have 
seen  before,  he  had  unfeignedly  proposed  to  devote  himself, 
and  the  holy  virgin  St.  Etheldrida  in  whose  monastery  he 
intended  to  make  his  profession.  In  this  dark  dungeon, 
loaded  with  chains,  tortured  with  cold,  and  wasted  with 
hunger,  he  wore  out  five  wretched  months,  and  would  rather, 
in  my  opinion,  have  chosen  to  die  at  once  than  live  thus 
miserably.  But  still,  seeing  no  hopes  of  human  help,  he 
continued  to  call  on  SS.  Benedict  and  Etheldrida  with  sighs 
and  groans  and  tears,  and  with  heart  and  mouth.  To  pro- 
ceed ;  one  night  when  the  bells  in  the  city  were  ringing  for 
lauds,  and  Bricstan,  in  his  dungeon,  besides  his  other 
suiferings,  had  received  no  food  for  three  days,  so  that  he  was 
quite  exhausted  and  entirely  despaired  of  his  recovery,  he 
repeated  the  names  of  the  saints  with  a  sorrowful  voice. 
Then  at  last,  the  clement  and  merciful  God,  the  never-failing 
fountain  of  all  goodness,  who  never  despises  those  that  are 
in  adversity,  and  chooses  none  for  their  wealth  or  power, 
at  last  vouchsafed  to  show  his  loving-kindness  to  the 
supplicant.  It  had  been  long  indeed  implored,  but  it  was  de- 
ferred, that  the  earnestness  of  his  supplications  might  be  more 
intense  and  the  mercy  shown  be  more  ardently  loved.  For 
now  St.  Benedictand  St.  Etheldrida,  withher  sister  Sexburga,1 
stood  before  the  sorrowful  prisoner.  The  light  which  pre- 
ceded their  appearance  was  so  extraordinary  that  he  screened 
his  eyes  with  his  hands ;  and  when  the  saints  were  seen 
surrounded  by  it,  Etheldrida  spoke  first :  '  Bricstan,'  she  said, 
'why  do  you  so  often  pour  out  your  griefs  before  us. 
What  do  you  implore  us,  with  such  earnest  prayers,  to  grant?' 
But  he,  spent  with  fasting,  and  being  now  thrown  into  a 
sort  of  trance  by  excessive  joy  and  the  supernatural  visita- 
tion, could  say  nothing  in  reply.  Then  the  holy  virgin 

1  Sexburga,  eldest  sister  of  St.  Etheldrida,  was  married  to  Ercombert, 
king  of  Kent.  She  founded  a  monastery  in  the  isle  of  Sheppy,  and  after- 
wards succeeded  her  sister  as  abbess  of  Ely.  See  Bede's  Eccles.  Hist.  p. 
205,  of  Bohn's  Antiquarian  Library. 


328  OBDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.YI.  CH.X. 

said :  '  I  am  Etheldrida,  whom  you  have  so  often  invoked, 
and  this  is  St.  Benedict  under  whose  rule  you  devoted 
yourself  to  the  service  of  Gk>d,  and  whose  aid  you  have 
continually  implored.  Do  you  wish  to  be  set  free  ?'  On 
hearing  this  his  spirit  revived,  and  waking,  as  it  were,  from 
a  dream,  he  said :  '  My  lady,  if  life  can  by  any  means  be 
granted  me,  I  should  wish  to  escape  from  this  horrible 
dungeon,  but  I  find  myself  so  worn  out  by  sufferings  of  every 
description,  that  my  bodily  powers  are  exhausted  and  I  have 
no  longer  any  hope  of  obtaining  my  liberty.'  Then  the  holy 
virgin  turning  to  St.  Benedict,  said  :  '  Holy  Benedict,  why 
do  you  hesitate  to  do  what  the  Lord  has  commanded  you.' 
At  this,  the  venerable  Benedict  laid  his  hand  on  the  fetters, 
and  they  fell  in  pieces,  so  that  the  prisoner's  feet  were 
released  without  his  being  sensible  of  any  act,  the  saint 
appearing  to  have  shattered  his  chains  by  his  word  alone. 
Having  detached  them,  he  threw  them  indignantly  against 
the  beam  which  supported  the  floor  of  the  prison,  making  a 
great  opening,  and  waking  the  guards,  who  lay  in  the  gallery, 
in  great  alarm  at  the  crash  which  took  place.  They  supposed 
that  the  prisoners  had  made  their  escape,  and  lighting 
torches  hastened  to  the  dungeon,  and  finding  the  doors  fast 
closed,  they  opened  them  with  the  keys  and  went  in.  Upon 
seeing  the  prisoner  they  had  left  in  fetters  freed  from  his 
chains,  their  astonishment  increased,  and  upon  their  demand- 
ing an  account  of  the  noise  they  had  heard,  and  who  had 
caused  it,  and  how  his  fetters  were  struck  off,  Bricstan  said 
nothing,  but  a  fellow  prisoner  replied :  '  Some  persons,  I 
know  not  who,  entered  the  prison  with  a  great  light,  and 
talked  with  this  man  my  companion,  but  what  they  said  or 
did  I  know  not ;  ask  him  who  knows  best.'  Then  the 
guards  turning  to  Bricstan,  said :  '  Tell  us  what  you  saw 
and  heard.]  He  replied :  '  St.  Benedict,  with  St.  Etheldrida 
and  her  sister  Sexburga  appeared  to  me  and  struck  the 
fetters  off  my  feet :  if  you  will  not  believe  me,  at  least 
believe  your  own  eyes.'  As  they  did  not  doubt  the  miracle 
they  saw,  the  gaolers  sent  in  the  morning  to  queen  Matilda,1 
who  happened  to  be  in  the  city  at  the  time,  to  tell  her  of  it. 

1  Matilda,  a  princess  of  great  piety  and  excellence,  daughter  of 
Malcolm,  king  of  Scotland,  and  Margaret,  sister  of  Edgar  Atheling,  waa 
married  to  Henry  I.  in  December,  1100,  and  died  May,  1  1118. 


A..D.  1115—1116.]     BBICSTAN'S  BELEASE.  329 

The  queen  sent  Ralph  Basset  to  the  prison,  the  same  who 
had  before  doomed  Bricstan,  who  said  that  magical  art 
was  now  employed.  Ralph  entering  the  dungeon  addressed 
the  prisoners  derisively,  as  he  had  done  on  the  former  occa- 
sion :  '  What  has  happened  Bricstan  ?  Has  God  spoken  to 
you  by  his  angels  ?  Has  he  visited  you  in  your  prison  ? 
Tell  me  what  witchcraft  you  have  been  practising.'  But 
Bricstan  made  no  more  reply  than  if  he  had  been  dead. 

"  Then  Ealph  Basset,  perceiving  that  his  fetters  were 
broken,  and  hearing  from  his  fellow  prisoners  of  the  three 
persons  who  entered  the  dungeon  surrounded  by  light,  the 
words  they  had  spoken,  and  the  crash  they  had  made,  and 
perceiving  the  hand  of  God  in  these  events,  began  to  weep 
bitterly  ;  and,  turning  to  Bricstan,  he  said  :  '  My  brother,  I 
am  a  servant  of  St.  Benedict  and  the  holy  virgin  Etheldrida; 
for  the  love  of  them  speak  to  me.'  He  replied :  '  If  you 
are  a  servant  of  those  saints,  you  are  welcome.  Be  assured 
that  what  you  see  and  hear  about  me  is  the  truth,  and  not 
the  effect  of  magic.'  Ralph,  then,  taking  charge  of  the 
prisoner,  conducted  him  with  tears  of  joy  into  the  pre- 
sence of  the  queen,  where  many  nobles  were  present. 
Meanwhile  the  report  flew  swifter  than  a  bird  throughout 
London,  and  coming  to  the  ears  of  almost  all  the  citizens, 
they  raised  shouts  to  heaven,  and  people  of  both  sexes  and 
every  age  praised  together  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and 
flocked  to  the  court  where  it  was  reported  Bricstan  was 
taken ;  some  shedding  tears  of  joy,  and  others  wondering  at 
what  they  saw  and  heard.  The  queen,  rejoicing  in  so 
great  a  miracle  (for  she  was  a  good  Christian),  ordered  the 
bells  to  be  rung  in  all  the  monasteries  throughout  the  city, 
and  thanksgivings  to  be  offered  by  the  convents  belonging 
to  every  ecclesiastical  order.  Bricstan  went  to  many  of  the 
churches  to  return  thanks  to  God  in  the  fulness  of  his  joy 
for  his  liberation,  great  crowds  preceding  and  following 
him  through  the  suburbs,  and  every  one  being  anxious  to 
see  him,  as  if  he  were  some  new  man.  When  he  reached 
the  church  of  St.  Peter,  called  in  English  Westminster, 
Gilbert,1  the  abbot  of  that  place,  a  man  of  great  eminence 

1  Gilbert  Crespin,  abbot  of  Westminster,  son  of  William  Crespin, 
governor  of  Neaufle,  one  of  the  greatest  benefactors  to  the  abbey  of  Bee. 
Gilbert  was  one  of  the  most  able  and  voluminous  writers  of  the  age.  It 


330  OBDEEICTTS  YITALIS.  [B.TI.  CH.X. 

in  sacred  and  profane  literature,  came  forth  to  meet  htm 
outside  the  abbey  in  a  procession  formed  of  the  whole  body 
of  monks,  with  all  the  pomp  of  the  church ;  for  he  said :  '  If 
the  relics  of  a  dead  man  are  to  be  received  with  ceremony 
in  a  church,  we  have  much  more  reason  for  giving  an 
honourable  reception  to  living  relics,  namely  such  a  man  as 
this :  for  as  to  the  dead,  we  who  are  still  in  this  mortal  life 
are  uncertain  where  their  spirits  are,  but  for  this  man,  we 
cannot  be  ignorant  that  he  has  been  visited  and  delivered 
by  God  before  our  eyes,  because  he  has  not  acted  unjustly.' 

"  "When  thanksgivings  had  been  offered  to  God,  to  the  best 
of  their  ability,  according  to  what  in  their  estimation  was 
due  for  Bricstan's  deliverance,  the  queen  sent  him  with  great 
honour  to  the  abbey  of  St.  Etheldrida  in  the  isle  of  Ely.  I 
went  myself,  attended  by  the  whole  convent  of  monks,  to 
meet  him,  with  candles  and  crosses,  chanting  Te  Deum 
laudamus.  Having  conducted  him  into  the  church  with 
befitting  ceremony,  and  offered  thanksgivings  to  God,  we 
delivered  to  him,  in  honour  of  the  blessed  Benedict  his 
liberator,  the  monastic  habit  he  had  so  long  desired.  "We 
also  hung  up  in  the  church,  in  view  of  the  people,  the 
fetters  with  which  he  was  bound,  that  they  might  be  a 
memorial  of  this  great  miracle,  to  the  honour  of  St.  Bene- 
dict, who  broke  them,  and  of  St.  Etheldrida,  who  was  his 
colleague  and  assistant;  and  they  long  continued  to  be 
suspended  there  to  keep  alive  the  remembrance  of  these 
events. 

"  I  have  been  desirous  of  making  known  to  the  sons  of  holy 
church  these  acts  of  the  venerable  father  Benedict,  not 
because  he  had  not  performed  greater  wonders,  but  because 
they  are  more  recent,  and  such  miracles  appear  in  our  days 
to  be  infrequent  in  England.  Nor,  as  regards  our  blessed 
father  Benedict,  let  any  one  be  surprised  that  he  wrought 
great  and  inconceivable  wonders ;  for,  according  to  Pope 
Gregory,  he  may  be  equalled  to  Moses  for  having  brought 
water  out  of  the  rock  ;  to  Elijah  for  receiving  the  ministry  of 
a  raven  ;  to  Elisha  for  raising  iron  from  the  bottom  of  a  pit 
and  to  Peter  for  having  caused  a  disciple  to  walk  on  the  water 

appears  that  he  was  still  living  in  1123.  For  his  life  and  writings,  see  th« 
Itatoire  Literairc  de  France,  i.  x.  p.  192 — 201. 


EULOGY  OF    ST.  BENEDICT.  331 

at  his  command.1  St.  Benedict  likewise,  as  is  well  known, 
showed  himself  to  be  a  prophet  by  predicting  events  to 
come,  and  an  apostle  by  the  miracles  he  wrought ;  and  to 
sum  up  all  in  few  words,  he  was  full  of  the  spirit  of  all  the 
just.  Since,  therefore,  we  know  with  certainty  that  he 
obtains  from  the  Lord  all  that  he  desires,  let  us  continue 
joyfully  in  his  service,  knowing  that  through  his  intercession 
we  shall  not  lose  our  reward :  and  if  St.  Benedict  did  not 
refuse  his  aid  to  one  who  had  engaged  to  become  a  monk, 
what  must  be  the  protection  he  will  afford  to  those  who 
are  actually  bound  by  their  voluntary  engagements  to  the 
rules  of  his  discipline  ?  It  is  clearly  manifested  by  many 
evident  tokens  that  our  kind  patron,  who  is  now  glorified 
by  God  in  heaven,  unceasingly  intercedes  for  his  suppliant 
disciples,  and  daily  renders  them  effective  aid  in  their 
necessities.  "We  then,  who  have  submitted  to  the  light  yoke 
of  Christ,  and  labouring  in  his  vineyard,  bear  the  burden 
of  the  day  with  constancy  and  perseverance,  may,  through 
the  divine  goodness,  be  assured  that  Almighty  God  will 
save  and  protect  us  for  the  merits  and  prayers  of  our 
wonder-working  master.  Let  us,  therefore,  earnestly  sup- 
plicate the  Creator  of  the  universe  that  he  will  bring  us  out 
of  Babylon  and  the  land  of  the  Chaldeans,  and  conduct  us 
to  Jerusalem  by  the  observance  of  his  laws,  and  that  He  who 
is  the  Almighty  and  merciful  God  will  give  us  a  place  in  the 
company  of  the  citizens  above,  to  praise  him  who  liveth  and 
reigneth  for  all  ages.  Amen." 

Having  thus  far  discoursed  on  various  subjects,  I  am 
weary  of  my  task  of  writing,  and  bring  to  an  end  this  sixth 
book  of  the  Ecclesiastical  History,  in  another  volume,2  by 

1  The  four  special  miracles  of  St.  Benedict  here  alluded  to  are  described 
in  the  5th,  6th,  7th,  and  8th  chapters  of  his  history  by  St.  Gregory. 

a  That  this  is  the  volume  which  was  saved  by  M.  Du  Bois  from  the  wreck 
of  the  library  of  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult,  and  deposited  at  Alen9on,  as 
related  in  the  introduction  to  this  work,  p.  xiii.  appears  from  its  exact 
coincidence  with  the  description  here  given  by  our  author.  The  two 
volumes  of  the  Colbert  library,  mentioned  in  the  introduction  comprising 
the  first  six  books,  are  evidently  of  the  same  age,  and  written  by  the  same 
hands,  for  the  author  dictated  to  scribes  and  in  the  commencement  of  the 
ninth  book  complains  of  the  want  of  them.  They  are,  therefore,  con- 
sidered to  have  formed  part  of  the  MS.  of  St.  Evroult,  and  there  is  little 
doubt  that  we  thus  possess  the  original  manuscript  dictated  by,  and  in 
Borne  places  the  autograph  of,  the  learned  and  pious  author. 


332  OKDEBICUS  VITALIS.  [B.VI.  CH.VI. 

God's  help,  I  have  already  completed  seven  books,  in 
which  I  have,  in  addition,  given  accounts  of  the  death  of 
King  William,  of  his  three  sons,  of  the  crusade  to  Jerusalem, 
and  of  various  events  which  have  occurred  in  my  own  times. 
The  Omnipotent  Creator,  as  he  did  from  the  beginning,  still 
wonderfully  directs  the  course  of  time,  and  instructs  the 
docile  minds  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth,  calling  them  off 
from  the  dangerous  pursuit  of  worthless  objects,  and  rousing 
them  to  better  desires,  by  the  display  of  memorable  deeds. 
For  mankind  receives  continual  lessons  from  the  fall  of  the 
proud  and  the  exaltation  of  the  humble,  the  damnation  of 
the  reprobate  and  the  salvation  of  the  just,  that  it  may  not 
lapse  into  impiety  by  an  execrable  warfare  against  God,  but 
may  constantly  fear  his  judgments  and  love  his  commands, 
avoiding  the  fault  of  disobedience  and  offering  perpetually 
faithful  service  to  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
One  God,  the  King  of  ages,  and  Lord  of  the  universe,  who 
liveth  and  reigneth  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen. 

Guide  us,  O  Virgin  Mother,  gate  of  heaven, 
Whose  gentle  aid  in  every  storm  is  given ! l 


Monks,  knights,  priests,  nobles,  crowd  the  busy  stage, 
Vitalis  notes  them  in  his  lively  page; 
Courts,  abbeys,  camps,  in  varying  shades  he  blends, 
And  here  the  fourth  book  of  his  story  ends.* 

1  Although  these  verses  appear  in  the  manuscript  of  St.  Evroult,  they 
are  evidently  a  subsequent  addition,  and  it_appears  plain  that  they  are  not 
the  author's  composition. 

1  Instead  of  these  verses,  the  MS.  of  St.  Evroult  has  the  following 
words  in  a  hand  of  the  thirteenth  century :  Explicit  quarta  pars  Vitalis, 
"  here  ends  the  fourth  part  of  Vitalis."  Although  now  the  sixth,  it  was 
the  fourth  book  in  the  author's  first  arrangement. 


333 


BOOK  VIL1 

CH.  I.  Annals  of  the  Carlovingian  kings  of  the  Franks — and 
of  the  succeeding  kings  of  France  from  Hugh  Capet  to 
Philip  I. 

IN  the  year  of  our  Lord's  incarnation  688,  Pepin  the  Aus- 
trasian,  mayor  of  the  royal  palace,  assumed  the  government 
of  the  Franks.1 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  711,  Childebert  king  of  the  Franks 
departed  this  life.3 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  712,  Pepin  the  elder  died,  and  his 
son,  who  was  called  Charles  Martel,  usurped  the  throne.4 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  715,  on  the  14th  of  the  calends  of 
February  [19th  January]  died  Dagobert  the  younger,  after 
having  reigned  in  France  five  years.4  In  the  second  year 
after  his  death,  the  prince  Charles  Martel  fought  his  first  bat- 
tle with  Radbod,  near  Cologne,  under  the  reign  of  Theodoric, 
son  of  the  before-named  Dagobert  the  younger.8  At  this 
time  the  heathen  nation  of  the  Vandals  began  to  ravage 
France,  when  churches  were  destroyed,  monasteries  ruined, 
cities  taken,  habitations  made  desolate,  castles  demolished, 
innumerable  numbers  slaughtered,  and  there  was  a  vast 
effusion  of  human  blood  in  every  quarter.  During  this 
period  the  furious  tempest  of  the  Vandal  invasion  raged 

1  In  Duchesne's  edition  of  Ordericus,  which  divides  the  History  into 
three  parts,  the  third,  commencing  with  this  seventh  book,  and  including 
the  remaining  six,  has  this  notice  of  the  contents  prefixed:  .  . .  "  In  which 
many  things  are  related  concerning  the  death  of  King  William  and  his 
three  sons,  as  well  as  the  expedition  to  Jerusalem,  and  other  contemporary 
events." 

*  This.date  is  correct.     It  was  in  687  or  688  that,  after  a  struggle  from 
the  year  680,  the  power  of  Pepin  d'Heristal  was  firmly  established  through- 
out the  whole  of  France. 

3  Childebert  III.  died  April  14,  711,  and  was  buried  in  the  church  of 
St  Stephen,  at  Choisi-sur-Aisne. 

*  Pepin  died  Dec.  16,  714,  but  it  was  not  till  the  following  year  that 
Charles  Martel  escaped  from  the  prison  in  which  his  mother-in-law  Plec- 
trude  had  immured  him,  and  seized  the  reins  of  power  in  Austrasia. 

5  Dagobert  III.  died  June  24,  715,  after  a  reign  of  four  years. 

6  This  battle  was  fought  in  715.    Our  author  might  have  added  that 
Charles  Martel  sustained  a  defeat. 


331  OEDEEICUS   YITALIS.  [u. Til.  OH.  I. 

through  the  whole  of  France,  which  was  laid  waste  with  fire 
and  sword.  Sitting  down  before  the  city  of  Sens  they 
assaulted  the  place  with  all  the  force  of  projectiles  and 
engines  of  war.  Perceiving  which,  the  bishop,  whose  name 
was  Eboba,1  made  a  sally  at  the  head  of  the  citizens,  trust- 
ing in  divine  aid,  and  repulsed  the  besiegers,  pursuing  the 
fugitives  until  they  were  driven  out  of  their  territories. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  741,  the  prince  Charles  Martel 
died,  and  was  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  Denys  at  Paris.1 
The  exigencies  of  continual  wars  caused  him  to  make  over 
the  possessions  of  the  churches  to  laics.  At  his  death,  his 
sons  Carloman  and  Pepin  succeeded  to  the  government. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  750,  Pepin  was  elected  king,  and 
Childeric,  the  last  representative  of  the  royal  race  of  Clovis, 
received  the  tonsure.8  With  him  the  line  of  that  king  became 
extinct. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  768,  King  Pepin  died,*  and  his 
sons  Charles,  the  emperor,  surnamed  the  Great,  and  Carlo- 
man, were  elected  kings. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  771,  Carloman  died.* 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  809,  died  Alcuin  the  philospher 
who  was  abbot  of  St.  Martin  at  Tours.6 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  814,  the  emperor  Charles  the  Great 
died,7  and  his  son  Lewis,  surnamed  the  Pious,  became  king 
of  the  Franks  and  emperor  of  the  Romans.  In  his  time  the 

1  For  Eboba  read  Ebbo,  and  for  Vandals  in  this  paragraph,  substitute 
Saracens.    Their  siege  of  the  city  of  Sens  appears  to  have  been  laid  in 
the  year  732. 

2  Charles  Martel  died  at  Quierzi-sur-Oise,  October  22,  741,  and  was 
interred  at  St.  Denys,  as  our  author  states. 

*  Pepin  was  proclaimed  king  in  the  general  assembly  of  the  nation  at 
Soissons  in  March,  752,  and   crowned  a  few  days  afterwards  by   St. 
Boniface,  archbishop  of  Mayence.    Childeric  was  sent  into  confinement  at 
St.  Berlin,  and  his  son  Theodoric  to  Fontenelles,  now  called  St.  Wandrille. 
See  note,  p.  297. 

4  Pepin  died  of  dropsy  at  St.  Denys,  Sept.  24,  768. 

*  Carloman  died  at  at  Samouci,  near  Laon,  Dec.  4,  771. 

*  Alcuin,  abbot  of  Tours  in  796,  died  May  19,  804. 

1  Charlemagne  died,  as  every  one  knows,  at  Aix-la-Chapelle,  Jan.  28, 
814.  It  will  also  be  understood,  that  by  Pagans  the  author  means  the 
Northmen  ;  but  their  ravages  in  Ponthieu  were  much  later.  They  endea- 
Toured,  indeed,  to  land  on  the  coast  of  Flanders,  but  were  vigorously 
repulsed.  The  invasion  of  the  valley  of  the  Somme  did  not  take  place 
until  after  that  of  the  valleys  of  the  Seine  and  the  Loire. 


A.D.  840.]  LEWIS-THE-PIOITS.  335 

pagans  overran  the  province  called  Ponthieu.  In  the 
twentieth  year  of  the  reign  of  the  emperor  Lewis  the  Pious, 
his  son  Lothaire  rebelled  against  him  and  wrested  from  him 
the  kingdom  of  the  Franks ;  but  the  same  year  his  father 
Lewis  collecting  a  great  army  recovered  his  kingdom  which 
his  son  had  deprived  him  of.1 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  840,  the  twelfth  of  the  calends  of 
July  [20th  June],  the  emperor  Lewis  the  Pious  died.2  The 
same  year  there  was  an  eclipse  of  the  sun  on  the  fourth  day 
before  the  feast  of  our  Lord's  Ascension,  being  the  second 
of  the  nones  [5th]  of  May,  at  the  ninth  hour  of  the  day. 
The  year  following,  on  Ascension-day,  a  battle  was  fought 
at  Fontenai3  in  Burgundy,  between  the  four  sons  of  Lewis 
the  Pious,  namely,  Charles  Lothaire,  Lewis,  and  Pepin,  in 
which  there  was  a  great  effusion  of  human  blood.  Of  these, 
Charles,  surnamed  the  Bald,  was  acknowledged  king  of  the 
Franks  and  emperor  of  the  Romans  :4  Lothaire  obtained  that 
part  of  France  which  to  the  present  day  is  called  from  him 
the  kingdom  of  Lorraine ;  and  Lewis  secured  Burgundy, 
and  was  anointed  king.5 

1  The  first  deposition  and  restoration  of  Lewis  le  Debonnaire  (or  Pius, 
as  the  Italians  called  him),  belongs  to  the  year  830.  The  second  deposition 
took  place  in  the  Champ  Rouge,  or  Champ  du  Mensonge,  near  Colmar,  in 
the  beginning  of  July,  833.  It  was  confirmed  in  the  month  of  October  at 
Compiegne,  and  Lewis  recovered  his  authority  the  spring  following.  It  is 
of  the  first  of  these  depositions  our  author  speaks. 

3  Lewis  le  Debonnaire  died  June  20,  840.    The  eclipse  here  mentioned 
occurred  on  Wednesday,  May  5,  the  eve  of  Ascension  day.    Our  author 
is  mistaken  in  fixing  it  at  nine  o'clock  instead  of  mid-day. 

*  Near  Auxerre.  This  battle  of  Fontenai  was  fought  on  Saturday,  June 
25,  840.  Its  issue,  with  the  partition  treaty  of  Verdun  made  shortly  after- 
wards, completed  the  dismemberment  of  the  empire  of  Charlemagne. 
Pepin  was  not  the  son,  but  grandson,  of  Lewis  le  Debonnaire. 

4  Charles  the  Bald  was  not  elected  emperor  till  Dec.  25,  875,  many 
years  after  his  accession  to  the  throne  of  the  Franks,  which  took  place 
June  20,  840. 

4  Lorraine  formed  but  a  small  part  of  the  states  of  Lothaire,  and  it 
took  its  name,  not  from  the  emperor  Lothaire,  but  from  his  second  son  of 
the  same  name,  who  reigned  from  Sept.  22,  853 — Aug.  8,  867.  By  the 
treaty  of  Verdun,  the  Carlovingian  empire  was  thus  divided  :  Lothaire, 
the  emperor,  had  Italy  and  all  the  country  comprised  within  the  Alps, 
the  Rhine,  and  the  Scheld,  together  with  the  ancient  kingdom  of  Bur- 
gundy, comprising  the  territories  from  the  source  of  the  Saone  to  its  con- 
fluence with  the  Rhone,  and  along  the  left  bank  of  the  Rhone  to  the  sea. 
To  Lewis,  of  Bavaria,  was  allotted  all  Germany  beyond  the  Rhine,  with 


836  OEDEBICTJS  VITAMS.  [B.TIL  CH.I. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  867,  Charles  the  emperor,  sur- 
named  the  Bald,  son  of  the  most  pious  emperor  Lewis,  as  he 
was  on  a  journey  to  Borne  for  the  second  time,  died  on  the 
road  on  the  third  of  the  calends  of  October,  at  the  city  of 
Vercelli,  and  was  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  Eusebius  the 
martyr.1  After  resting  there  seven  years,  the  body  was 
brought  to  France  in  compliance  with  a  vision,  and  honour- 
ably interred  in  the  church  of  St.  Denys  the  Martyr  at 
Paris.*  His  son  Lewis  succeeded  him  in  the  kingdom  of  the 
Franks.  The  year  following,  John,  the  pope  of  Eome,  came 
into  France  with  Formosus  bishop  of  Porto,  bringing  with 
him  very  precious  relics,  and  disembarking  at  Aries,  passed 
through  Lyons  and  other  cities  till  he  reached  Troyes,  where 
he  had  a  conference  with  King  Lewis,  son  of  Charles  the 


the  three  cities  of  Worms,  Spire,  and  Mayencc,  on  its  left  bank.  Charles 
the  Bald  retained  the  countries  situated  between  the  Scheld,  the  Meuse, 
the  Rhone,  the  Ebro,  and  the  two  seas. 

1  Charles  the  Bald  died  in  a  poor  cottage  on  this  side  of  the  Mont- 
Cenis,  on  the  6th  of  October,  877,  in  returning  from  Rome,  and  not  on  his 
journey  there.  The  contemporary  chronicles  call  the  place  where  the 
violence  of  his  disorder  compelled  him  to  stop,  Brios.  It  is  certain  that  it 
must  have  been  between  the  summit  of  the  pass,  which  he  had  just  crossed, 
and  the  town  of  St.  Jean-de-Maurienne,  where  the  Empress  Richilde,  at 
his  instance,  came  to  attend  him.  The  principal  places  on  the  route  are 
St.  Michel,  Modane,  and  Lanslebourg,  but  these  are  considerable  bourgs, 
and  would  have  afforded  better  accommodation  to  the  dying  emperor  than 
the  "  miserable  cottage  "  spoken  of  by  the  chronicles.  Besides,  the  road 
did  not  then  run  by  Modane.  Every  one  who  has  crossed  the  Mont-Cenis 
must  have  observed  the  succession  of  secluded  villages  in  the  beautiful 
valley  leading  down  to  St.  Jean-Maurienne,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Arc, 
which  the  rp:id  followed  till  the  year  1688.  One  of  these  is  named 
Avrievx,  which  appears  to  be  the  Brieux  or  Brios  mentianed  in  the 
chronicles.  It  is  about  eighteen  English  miles  from  St.  Jean-Maurienne. 
Ordericus  deserves  commendation  for  having  rejected  the  imputations  cast 
by  the  ecclesiastical  historians  on  Sedecias,  the  Jewish  physician  of  Charles 
the  Bald,  of  having  ended  his  days  by  administering  poison;  the  more 
improbable,  as  although  his  health  was  already  undermined,  he  survived  his 
seizure  eleven  days. 

3  It  was  proposed  to  carry  the  corpse  of  Charles  to  St.  Denys  at  once, 
but  it  so  infected  the  air,  that  they  were  compelled  to  deposit  it  at  the 
abbey  of  Nantua,  where,  under  the  care  of  Helmodeus,  the  eighth  abbot,  it 
was  interred  near  the  high  altar;  and  an  epitaph,  which  has  been  preserved 
in  the  obituary  of  the  abbey,  engraved  on  the  wall.  Seven  years  after- 
wards the  remains  were  removed  to  the  royal  resting  place  of  the  Frank 
kings  at  St.  Denys. 


A.D.  878 — 898.]    INVASIONS  OF  THE  UOBTHilEff.  337 

Bald,and  then  returned  to  Italy.1  After  this,Lewis  king  of  the 
Franks,  the  son  of  Charles  the  Bald,  died,  leaving  a  son  of 
tender  years  named  Charles  the  Simple,  whom  he  entrusted 
with  his  kingdom  to  the  guardianship  of  the  Prince  Eudes.2 
At  that  time  the  pagan  Northmen  overran  all  France, 
venting  their  fury  in  rapine,  slaughter,  and  every  kind  of 
barbarity.  Thereupon  the  chiefs  of  the  Franks,  the  Bur- 
gundians,  and  the  Aquitaui,  assembling  together,  unanimously 
elected  Eudes  king.3  But  he  dying  on  the  calends  [1st]  of 
January,  Charles  the  Simple,  the  son  of  Lewis,  recovered 
his  throne.*  At  this  same  time  the  Normans  advanced  into 
Burgundy  as  far  as  St.  Florentin,  but  Richard  duke  of  Bur- 
gundy met  them  with  his  army  at  Tonnerre,  and  attack- 
ing them  on  the  nones  [8th]  of  June ;  numbers  of  them 
fell  by  the  edge  of  the  sword,  and  the  rest  were  put  to 
flight.3  The  same  year  there  was  an  earthquake  near  the 
monastery  of  St.  Columb  the  Virgin,  on  the  fifth  of  the  ides 
[9th]  of  January.6  About  the  same  period  the  pagans 
besieged  the  city  of  Chartres,  whereupon  Richard,  duke  of 
Burgundy,  and  the  prince  Robert,  collecting  an  army, 
attacked  them  on  Saturday  the  thirteenth  of  the  calends  of 
August  [20th  July],  put  to  the  sword  six  thousand  eight 
hundred,  and  took  hostages  of  the  few  that  were  left,  the 
Divine  mercy  assisting  through  the  intercession  of  St.  Mary, 
mother  of  God.  After  this,  in  the  middle  of  the  month  of 
March,  a  star  appeared  in  the  north-west  for  nearly  four- 
teen days  emitting  very  luminous  rays.1 

1  Pope  John  VIII.  arrived  at  Aries  the  llth  of  May,  878.  There 
must  have  been  more  than  a  single  conference  at  Troyes  between  the  king 
and  the  pope,  for  the  pope  crowned  Lewis  on  Sunday,  the  7th  of  Septem- 
ber of  that  year, 

8  Lewis-le-Begue  died  at  Compiegne  on  Holy  Thuraday,  April  10,  879. 
The  Norman  chronicles  are  wrong  in  stating  that  this  prince  left  Charles 
the  Simple  under  the  guardianship  of  Eudes,  the  count  of  Paris. 

3  Eudes  was  not  elected  king  until  after  the  death  of  Lewis  III.  and 
Carlomun. 

*  The  3rd  of  January,  898.     Charles  had  been  crowned  on  the  28th  of 
January,  893,  in  opposition  to  Eudes. 

8  The  battle  was  fought  at  Argenteuil,  three  leagues  and  a  half  from 
Tonnerre,  in  848, 

*  The  monastery  of  St.  Columb  was  an  abbey  of  Benedictines  in  the 
Buburbs  of  Sens. 

1  A.D.  912.     The  comet  was  named  at  Constantinople  Xippias,  because 
it  presented  somewhat  the  appearance  of  a  sword. 
VOL.  II.  Z 


338  OBDEBICT7S   VITALI3.  [B.V1I.  CH.I. 

The  year  following,  there  was  a  great  famine  throughout 
France.  About  five  years  afterwards,  on  the  calends 
[1st]  of  February,  fiery  armies  were  seen  in  the  heavens 
of  various  colours  pursuing  each  other  in  a  wonderful 
manner.  The  same  year  there  was  a  sharp  quarrel  between 
the  king  and  his  barons,  which  caused  much  slaughter  of 
Christian  people,  but  through  the  mercy  of  God  that  con- 
troversy was  brought  to  an  end. 

In  the  third  year  after  this  calamity,  Rodolph,  duke  of 
Burgandy,  died  on  the  day  before  the  calends  [1st]  of 
September,  and  was  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  Columb  in 
the  oratory  of  St.  Symphorian1  the  martyr.  The  second 
year  after  his  death,  Robert  the  prince  revolted  against 
Charles  the  Simple,  and  received  the  royal  unction  on  the 
third  of  the  calends  of  July  [29th  June].  Before  a  year 
was  expired,  Charles  the  Simple  gave  battle  to  Robert  at 
the  city  of  Soissons,  in  which  battle  Robert  the  pretender 
tj  the  throne  of  the  Pranks  was  slain.2  While,  however, 
Charles  was  retiring  victorious  from  the  carnage  of  the 
battle,3  Herbert,  the  most  abandoned  of  traitors,  met  him 
and,  under  cover  of  pretended  amity,  induced  him  to  accept 
his  proffered  hospitality  in  the  castle  of  Peronne,  where 
having  thus  deceitfully  inveigled  him,  he  detained  him 
prisoner :  for  Robert  had  married  Herbert's  sister,*  from 
which  union  sprung  Hugh  the  Great.  In  this  strait  Charles, 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  Hugh  the  Great,  son  of  the 
said  Robert,  and  his  nobles  of  France,  raised  to  the  throne 
Rodolph,  the  illustrious  son  of  Richard,  duke  of  Burgundy, 
whom  he  had  held  at  the  baptismal  font.5  Charles  the 

1  It  was  not  Rodolph,  but  his  father  Richard,  who  died  at  the  end  of 
August,  921,  and  was  buried  the  1st  of  September,  in  the  church  of  St. 
Columb. 

*  Robert  was  crowned  the  20th  of  June,  922.     The  battle  of  Soissons 
was  fought  the  15th  of  June,  923. 

*  Charles   did  not  assume  an  air  of  triumph  after  the   battle :   "  He 
retired  to  Belgium  without  any  spoils."     It  was  on  his  return  from  thence, 
and  not  from  Soissons,  that  Herbert  seized  his  person,  and  conducted  him 
us  a  prisoner  to  Soi&sons. 

*  Beatrix,  second  daughter  of  Herbert,  count  de  Vermandois. 

5  Charles  took  no  part  in  the  election  of  Rodolph,  and  it  does  not 
elsewheie  appear  that  he  was  his  godfather.  Charles  died  in  prison  at 
Peronne,  the  7th  of  October,  929.  Rodolph  was  crowned  at  fcoissons, 
with  his  wife  Emma,  on  the  13th  of  July,  923. 


A.D.  936 — 954.]       LEWIS  D'OUTRE-MEB.  339 

Simple  himself,  after  undergoing  the  sufferings  of  a  long 
captivity,  died  in  confinement,  and  was  buried  in  the  church 
of  St.  Fursey  the  confessor,  within  the  castle  of  Peronne. 
Rodolph  was  consecrated  king  in  the  city  of  Soissons  ou  the 
fourth  of  the  ides  [13th]  of  July. 

At  this  time  the  pagans  again  devastated  Burgundy,  and 
there  was  a  battle  between  them  and  the  Christians  at 
Mont  Chalaux1  on  the  eighth  of  the  ides  [6th]  of  De- 
cember, in  which  many  thousands  of  the  Christians  were 
slain  by  the  pagans. 

King  Eodolph  dying  on  the  eighteenth  of  the  calends  of 
February8  [15th  January],  he  was  buried  in  the  church  of 
St.  Columb  the  Virgin.  On  his  death,  Hugh  the  Great 
with  the  Franks  applied  to  Duke  William,  surnamed  Long- 
sword,3  to  undertake  a  mission  to  Ogive,  wife  of  Charles  the 
Simple,  and  bring  back  his  son  Lewis,  who  had  taken  refuge 
with  his  uncle  the  king  of  England  for  fear  of  Herbert  and 
Hugh.  William,  therefore,  proceeding  to  England,  and 
Laving  given  hostages,  under  the  sanction  of  an  oath,  to  the 
mother  of  the  young  prince,  returned  with  him  to  France. 

Thereupon,  Lewis,  son  of  Charles  the  Simple,  was  anointed 
king  at  Laon  on  the  eighteenth  of  the  calends  of  July 
[19th  June].4  Two  years  afterwards,  on  the  sixteenth  of 
the  calends  of  March  [14th  February],  at  the  time  of  cock- 
crowing  till  the  dawn  of  day,  there  was  the  appearance  of 
armies  dyed  in  blood  over  all.  the  face  of  the  heavens.  The 
month  following,  on  the  ninth  of  the  calends  of  April 
[25th  March],  the  Huns,  who  were  still  pagans,  began  to 
ravage  France,  Burgandy,  and  Aquitain  with  fire  and  sword. 
After  this,  the  Frank  nobles,  and  especially  Hugh  the 
Great,  revolted  against  King  Lewis.5  The  same  year  a 

1  Near  Clameci,  in  the  Nievre. 

*  Rodolph  died  at  Auxerre  of  the  morbus  pedicularis,  on  the  15th  of 
January,  936,  and  was  buried  in  the  abbey  at  Sens. 

s  Ordericus,  following  the  error  or  misrepresentation  of  his  prede- 
cessor, Dudon,  substitutes  here  Duke  William  Long-s>word  for  William, 
archbishop  of  Sens. 

*  First  at  Laon,  as  here  stated,  by  William,  archbishop  of  Sens,  who 
brought  him  back  from  England,  and  a  second  time  at  Rheims,  by  arch- 
bishop Arnold. 

s  This  league,  formed  in  938,  seized  Rheims  in  940,  and  compelled 
Lewis  d'Outre-Mer  to  take  refuge  with  Charles  Constantine,  prince  of 

z  2 


340  OBDEHICUS   VITALIS.  [B.  VII.  CH.I. 

severe  famine  prevailed  throughout  all  the  kingdom  of  the 
Franks,  so  that  a  muid  of  wheat  was  sold  for  twenty-four 
pence.  Not  long  afterwards  King  Lewis,  son  of  Charles 
the  Simple,  was,  by  contrivance  of  Hugh  the  Great, 
treacherously  made  a  prisoner  by  the  Normans  in  the  city  of 
Bayeux,  where  many  of  the  Franks  were  massacred  by  the 
people.  After  this,  on  Tuesday  in  the  month  of  May,1  it 
rained  blood  upon  the  labourers  at  work  in  the  fields.  The 
same  year,  in  the  month  of  September,  King  Lewis  having 
spent  his  whole  life  in  straits  and  mortifications,  came  to 
his  end  and  was  burid  at  Rheims,  in  the  cathedral  of 
St.  Eemi.2 

The  month  following,  the  second  of  the  ides  [[12th]  of 
November,  his  son  Lothaire,  then  a  boy,  was  crowned  at 
Bheims,  and  Hugh  the  Great  was  made  duke  of  France.3 
Two  years  afterwards,  in  the  month  of  August,  Hugh  the 
Great  laid  siege  to  the  city  of  Poitiers,  but  without  success  ; 
for  while  he  was  engaged  in  the  siege,  on  a  certain  day  the 
thunder  of  the  Lord  crashed»terribly,  and  the  duke's  tent  was 
rent  by  a  whirlwind  from  top  to  bottom,  so  that  both  he  and 
his  army  were  struck  with  horror,  and  being  in  fear  for  their 
lives,  took  to  flight,  and  abandoned  the  siege.  The  Al- 
mighty did  this  through  the  intercession  of  St.  Hilary,  the 
constant  guardian  and  protector  of  the  city  of  Poitiers.* 

The  same  year  died  Gilbert,  duke  of  Burgundy,  leaving 
the  Duchy  to  Otho,  son  of  Hugh  the  Great,  who  had  mar- 
ried Gilbert's  daughter  :5  two  years  afterwards  Hugh  him- 
self, duke  of  France,  died  on  the  sixteenth  of  the  calends 
of  July  [June  16],  at  Dourdan,  and  was  buried  in  the 

Vienne.  He  returned  by  AquitaiA,  and  reached  Poitiers  the  5th  of 
January,  942. 

1  A.D.  954. 

8  Lewis  d'Outre-Mer  terminated  his  miserable  existence  at  Rheims  the 
1  Oth  of  September,  954,  from  the  effects  of  a  fall  from  his  horse. 

3  Hugh  the  Great  had  been  confirmed  as  long  before  as  943  in  the 
dignity  of  duke  of  France.  If  there  was  a  fresh  confirmation  after  the 
coronation  of  Lothaire,  it  was  a  mere  form.  He  died  at  Dourdan  the  16th 
of  June,  956,  and  his  son,  Hugh  Capet,  was  invested  in  90'0  with  the 
duchy  of  France,  the  counties  of  Paris  and  Orleans,  and  the  abbeys  held 
by  his  father. 

*  See  vol.  i.  p.  139. 

*  Gilbert  died  on  the  8th  of  April,  956,  and  his  son-in-law  Otho,  son  of 
Hugh  the  Great,  the  23rd  of  February,  in  965,  according  to  Frodoard. 


A.D.  956 — 965.]     BATTLE  NEAB  SENS.  341 

church  of  St.  Denys  the  martyr,  at  Paris.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  sons,  Hugh,  Otho,  and  Henry,  born  of  the 
daughter  of  Otho,  king  of  the  Saxons.  Hugh  became  duke 
of  the  Franks,  and  Otho  of  the  Burgundians,  and  on  Otho'a 
death,  his  brother  Henry  succeeded  him  as  duke  of  Bur- 
gundy.1 

About  the  same  time  there  was  a  quarrel  between  An- 
segise,  bishop  of  Troyes,  and  Count  Kobert.  Whereupon 
bishop  Ansegise,  being  expelled  from  his  see  by  the  count, 
went  into  Saxony  to  the  Emperor  Otho,  and  returning  with 
an  army  of  Saxons,  sat  down  before  the  city  of  Troyes  in 
the  mouth  of  October,  and  besieged  it  for  a  long  time.  The 
Saxons  having  made  an  attack  on  Sens,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  pillaging  the  city,  Archembold  the  archbishop,  and 
the  aged  Count  Rainard,  encountered  them  with  a  large 
body  of  troops  at  a  place  called  Villiers,2  and  the  men  of 
Sens  were  victorious  in  the  battle,  the  Saxons,  with  Helpo 
their  general,  being  put  to  the  sword.  Helpo  had  threat- 
ened to  burn  the  churches  and  villages  on  the  river  Vanne,3 
as  far  as  the  city  of  Sens,  and  to  drive  his  spear  into  the 
gate  of  St.  Leo.  But  he  was  slain,  as  we  have  said,  with 
his  followers,  by  the  men  of  Sens,  and  his  corpse  was 
carried  back  by  his  servants  to  his  own  country  in  the 
Ardennes,  as  pursuant  to  the  commands  of  his  mother 
Warna.  Count  Eainard  and  Archbishop  Archembold  de- 
plored his  death  in  deep  affliction,  for  he  was  their  kinsman. 
His  fellow  leader,  Bruno,  who  conducted  the  siege  of 
Troyes,  on  the  loss  of  Helpo  and  his  troops,  returned  home.4 

Not  many  days  afterwards  King  Lothaire,  assembling  a 
large  force,  recovered  possession  of  the  kingdom  of  Lor- 
raine, and  obtaining  an  entrance,  without  resistance  just  at 

1  The  dates  of  the  succession  of  Hugh  Capet  and  Otho  are  alrendy 
given.  Hudwide,  or  Hadwidge,  their  mother,  second  wife  of  Hugh  the 
Great,  was  sister,  not  daughter,  of  the  Emperor  Otho  I.,  and  consequently 
daughter  of  Henry  I.  of  Saxony,  surnamed  the  Fowler,  king  of  Germany. 
Henry,  duke  of  Burgundy,  called  the  Great,  succeeded  his  brother  Ottio 
in  965,  and  died  about  1002. 

1  Villiers- Louis,  about  eight  leagues  east  of  Sens. 

3  The  Vanne  takes  its  rise  in  the  department  of  the  Aube,  passes  a 
league  and  a  half  to  the  south  of  Villiers,  and  joins  the  Yonne  near,  and  to 
the  south,  of  the  city  of  Sens. 

*  See  vol.  i.  p.  139. 


342  ORDERICTJS  YITALIS.  [B.VII.  CH.I. 

the  hour  of  dining,  into  the  palace  at  Aix-la-Chapelle,  where 
the  Emperor  Otho  and  his  wife  were  residing,  Lothaire  and 
his  followers  feasted  on  what  was  provided  for  the  emperor's 
table,  who,  with  his  wife  and  attendants,  made  their  escape 
from  the  palace.  It  was  pillaged  by  King  Lothaire,  as  well 
as  the  whole  province,  and  he  then  returned  into  France 
without  molestation,  no  one  opposing  him.1 

After  that  the  Emperor  Otho,  having  assembled  his  army, 
marched  on  Paris,  where  his  nephew  Otho  and  many  others 
were  slain  before  the  city  gate,  having  set  fire  to  the  sub- 
urb, and  insolently  boasted  that  he  would  fix  his  lance  in 
the  gate.  King  Lothaire  summoned  Hugh  duke  of  France, 
and  Henry  duke  of  Burgundy,  to  his  aid,  and  joined  by 
their  forces  attacked  the  Lorrainers,  whom  they  defeated 
and  pursued  as  far  as  the  city  of  Sens.  .  Retreating  across 
the  river  Aisne  they  missed  the  ford,  and  numbers  perished. 
More  indeed  were  drowned  than  fell  by  the  sword,  and  the 
channel  was  choked  with  the  corpses  of  the  dead,  the  river 
being  then  in  flood.  King  Lothaire  pursued  the  survivors 
for  three  days  and  three  nights,  until  they  reached  a  river, 
which  takes  its  course  near  the  Ardennes  or  Argonne, 
putting  multitudes  of  the  enemy  to  the  sword.2  He  then 
drew  off  his  troops  and  returned  into  France  in  great 
triumph,  while  the  Emperor  Otho,  with  the  remnant  of  his 
army,  retired  into  his  own  states.  After  this  defeat  neither 
the  Emperor  Otho  nor  his  army  again  invaded  France.  The 
same  year  King  Lothaire  concluded  a  peace  with  Otho  at 
Rheims,  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  his  brothers  Hugh  and 
Henry  and  of  his  own  army.  King  Lothaire  ceded  to  Otho 
the  kingdom  of  Lorraine,  to  be  held  as  a  fief  of  his  own 
crown,  and  this  cession  caused  great  dissatisfaction  in  the 
minds  of  the  principal  Frank  nobles.3 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  976  King  Lothaire  departed  this 
life,  far  advanced  in  years  ;4  he  was  buried  in  the  church  of 

1  This  surprise,  which  our  author  has  also  before  related  (vol.  i.  p.  140), 
took  place  towards  the  end  of  June,  977. 

a  This  invasion  was  made  in  the  month  of  October,  977. 

3  The  treaty  by  which  Lothaire  ceded  Lorraine  to  Otho  II.,  reserving 
that  suzerainty,  was  made  at  Rheims  in  980. 

*  The  second  figure  in  the  text  is  incorrect  in  all  the  editions ;  this 
prince  died  the  2nd  of  March,  986,  at  the  age  of  only  forty-five  years. 


JL.\).  987.]  HUGH  CAPET  KING  OF  FRANCE.  £43 

St.  Remi  at  Rheims,  and  his  son  Lewis,  then  a  youth,  suc- 
ceeded to  the  throne  of  France. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  977,  the  young  King  Lewis  died, 
having  reigned  over  the  Franks  six  years.1  He  was  interred 
in  the  church  of  St.  Cornelius  at  Compiegne.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  brother  Charles,  son  of  King  Lothaire.  The 
same  year  Hugh,  duke  of  France,  revolted  against  him, 
because  he  had  married  the  daughter  of  Herbert  count  of 
Troyes.  Hugh  assembled  a  very  large  army  and  laid  siege 
to  Laon,  where  Charles  had  taken  up  his  residence  with  his 
queen.  The  king  marched  out  of  the  city,  and  routing 
Hugh  and  his  army,  burnt  the  huts  in  which  they  had  been 
quartered.  Duke  Hugh,  finding  that  he  could  not  conquer 
Charles  by  open  force  made  a  league  with  Ascelin,  an  old 
traitor,  who  had  intruded  himself  into  the  bishopric  of 
Laon,  and  was  counsellor  of  King  Charles.  In  consequence, 
Ascelin  betrayed  the  city  to  Hugh,  duke  of  the  Franks,  in 
the  night-time,  while  the  citizens  were  asleep,  and  Charles 
and  his  wife  were  thrown  into  chains  and  conducted  to 
Orleans.  He  had  not  yet  been  anointed  as  king  by  reason 
of  Duke  Hugh's  opposition.  While  he  was  detained  prisoner 
in  the  Tower  at  Orleans,  his  wife  bore  him  two  sons,  Lewis 
and  Charles.  The  same  year  Duke  Hugh  was  crowned  at 
Rheims  as  king  of  the  Franks,  and  in  the  course  of  the 
same  year  his  son  Robert  was  also  consecrated  king.  Thus 
ended  the  dynasty  of  Charlemagne.2 

At  that  time  Arnulph,  a  mild  and  excellent  prelate,  who 
was  brother  of  King  Lothaire  by  a  concubine  of  his  father, 
held  the  archbishopric  of  Rheims.  He  was  hated  by  King 
Hugh,  who  wished  to  exterminate  the  family  of  King 
Lothaire.  He  therefore  assembled  a  synod  at  Rheims,  to 
which  he  invited  Sewin,  archbishop  of  Sens,  with  his  suffra- 
gans. In  this  council  he  caused  the  Lord  Arnulph,  the 
archbishop  of  Rheims,  to  be  degraded  to  the  annoyance  of 
his  nephew,3  whom  he  detained  in  prison,  declaring  that  the 

1  Louis  V.  died  the  21st  of  May,  987,  at  the  age  of  about  twenty  years. 
He  suffered  more  from  misfortune  and  treason  than  from  indolence  or 
incapacity.     His  reign  lasted  less  than  two  years  aflei  the  death  of  his 
father,  and  seven  years  after  his  coronation. 

2  On  these  events,  see  vol.  i.  p.  14J. 

3  Charles  was  not  the  nephew,  but  just  the  contrary — the  uncle  of 
Arnulph. 


344  OEDEiiicus  YITALIS.  [B.TII.  CH.I. 

son  of  a  concubine  was  unfit  to  be  a  bishop.  In  his  place 
he  procured  the  consecration  of  the  Lord  Gerbert,  the 
monk  and  philosopher,  who  had  been  the  tutor  of  his  son 
King  Robert  and  of  Leotheric,  the  archbishop  who  suc- 
ceeded the  venerable  Sewin.  Arnulph  was  committed  to 
prison  in  the  city  of  Orleans.  But  the  worthy  archbishop 
Sewin  was  no  party  to  the  degradation  of  Arnulph  and  the 
consecration  of  Gerbert.  Some  other  bishops,  with  great 
reluctance,  were  induced,  by  the  king's  threats,  to  degrade 
the  one  and  consecrate  the  other ;  but  Sewin,  fearing  God 
more  than  an  earthly  sovereign,  refused  his  consent  to  the 
iniquitous  transaction,  and,  not  only  so,  but  he  opposed  to  the 
utmost  of  his  power  the  royal  wish,  in  consequence  of  which 
the  king's  wrath  was  inflamed  against  him.  The  king 
having  caused  Arnulph  to  be  shamefully  expelled  from  the 
church  of  St.  Mary,  mother  of  God,  at  Rheims,  thrust  him 
bound  into  prison,  and  then  removed  him  in  chains  to  a 
dungeon  at  Orleans,  where  his  nephew  was  a  prisoner ;  and 
he  was  confined  there  three  years.  These  transactions  were 
reported  to  the  pope  of  Rome,  who,  in  great  indignation, 
suspended  all  the  bishops  who  had  degraded  Arnulph  and 
consecrated  Gerbert.  He  also  sent  the  abbot  Leo  as  legate 
of  the  apostolic  see  to  the  Lord  Sewin,  archbishop  o&^Sens, 
with  instructions  to  summon  a  synod  at  Rheims  as  the 
pope's  vicar,  and  commanding  him,  without  delay,  to  recall 
Arnulph  from  his  confinement  and  degrade  Gerbert.  The 
synod  therefore  being  assembled,  Arnulph  was  released  from 
his  imprisonment  by  the  apostolical  command,  and  restored 
with  great  honour  to  his  own  see.  Gerbert  being  sensible 
that  he  had  illegally  usurped  the  archiepiscopal  authority 
submitted  to  penance.  The  instructive  controversy  between 
him  and  the  abbot  Leo  may  be  found  at  length  in  the 
archives  of  the  archbishop  of  Rheims.  After  this  the  Lord 
Gerbert  was  elected  bishop  of  Ravenna  by  the  Emperor 
Otho  and  the  people  of  that  city,  and  having  held  the  see 
many  years,  was,  on  the  death  of  the  pope  of  Rome,  called 
by  acclamation  of  the  whole  Roman  people  to  succeed  him. 
He  was  therefore  removed  from  Ravenna  and  consecrated 
pope  in  the  city  of  Rome.1 

1  See  the  account  of  these  transactions  and  the  notes,  vol.  i.  pp.  144. 
145. 


A..D.  999.]       EGBERT  I.  KING  OF  FBANCE.  345 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  918,  the  king  Hugh  departed  this 
life,1  and  was  interred  in  the  church  of  St.  Denys  at  Paris. 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Eobert,  the  most  pious  and 
temperate  of  kings. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  999,  the  venerable  Archbishop 
Sewin  began  to  restore  the  abbey  of  St.  Peter  at  Melun  from 
the  foundations,  and  establishing  there  a  fraternity  of  monks, 
appointed  Walter  their  abbot.  The  same  year,  the  knight 
Walter  and  his  wife  betrayed  the  castle  of  Melun  to  Count 
Eudes.  Upon  this,  King  Robert  assembled  a  strong  force 
with  Count  Bouchard,  and  calling  in  the  Normans  under 
their  Duke  Richard,  laid  siege  to  Melun.  The  castle  being 
taken,  Walter  and  his  wife  were  hung  on  a  gallows,  and 
Melun  was  restored  to  Count  Bouchard  its  former  lord.2 

Now,  Rainard,  the  old  count  of  Sens,  came  to  his  end 
after  many  evil  practices,  and  was  buried  in  the  church  of 
St.  Columb  the  virgin.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Fro- 
mond  who  had  married  the  daughter  of  Reynold,  count  of 
Rheims. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1000,  the  thirteenth  in  diction, 
on  the  sixteenth  of  the  calends  of  November  [17th  October], 
the  venerable  Sewin,  metropolitan  bishop,  departed  in  Christ. 
After  his  death  the  church  of  Sens  was  deprived  of  the  epis- 
copal benediction  for  a  whole  year.  All  the  people  demanded 
with  acclamation  that  the  Lord  Leotheric,  of  a  noble  family, 
who  was  then  archdeacon  and  eminent  for  his  virtues,  should 
be  ordained.  But  opposition  was  made  by  some  of  the 
clergy  who  aspired  themselves  to  the  archiepiscopal  throne. 
More  especially  Count  Fromond,  son  of  the  old  Rainard, 
and  thus  sprung  from  a  bad  stock,  forbade  the  appoint- 
ment, because  he  had  a  son  named  Bruno  in  holy  orders,  and 
he  desired  to  make  him  bishop.  However,  by  God's  provi- 
dence, the  suffragan  bishops  of  the  diocese  of  Sens,  having 
the  authority  and  consent  of  the  apostolical  see  and  regard- 
less of  the  fear  of  man,  solemnly  consecrated  the  lord  Leo- 
theric, and  installed  him  in  the  episcopal  throne  to  govern 
the  diocese  of  Sens.3 

1  October  24,  996. 

9  Bouchard,  count  of  Vcnd6me,  eldest  son  of  Fulk  the  Good,  count  of 
Anjou,  received  from  Hugh  Capet  the  county  and  castle  of  Melun,  with 
the  hand  of  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Aimon,  count  of  Corbeil. 

*  Sewin  died  October  27,  999.      Bruno  his  competitor  with  Leotheric, 


346  OHDEHTCTTS    YITALIS.  [B.TTI.  Cn.T. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1001,  Henry  duke  of  Burgundy 
died  without  issue,  and  the  Burgundians  rebelled  against  King 
Robert,  whom  they  refused  to  acknowledge  as  their  sove- 
reign. In  consequence,  Landri,  Comte  de  Nevers,  occupied 
the  city  of  Auxerre.1 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1003,  King  Robert  having  called 
in  the  Normans  with  their  Duke  Richard,  and  assembled  a 
very  large  army,  ravaged  Burgundy  and  besieged  Auxerre 
for  a  long  time.  The  Burgundians,  being  by  no  means  dis- 
posed to  submit  to  him,  were  unanimous  in  their  resist- 
ance ;  but  he  besieged  the  castle  of  Avalon  for  nearly  three 
months,  and  at  length  it  was  compelled  by  famine  to 
surrender  to  King  Robert,  who  then  returned  to  France.2 

On  the  death  of  Fromont,  count  of  Sens,  he  was  succeeded 
by  his  son  Rainard,  a  most  worthless  infidel.  His  perse- 
cution of  the  churches  of  Christ  and  his  faithful  servants 
was  such  as  has  not  been  heard  of  from  heathen  times  to 
the  present  day.  Archbishop  Leotheric  was  consequently 
plunged  into  such  difficulties  that  he  knew  not  which  way 
to  turn.  Committing  himself,  however,  entirely  to  the 
Lord,  he  implored  Christ  in  prayers  and  vigils  that  of  his 
heavenly  mercy  he  would  vouchsafe  to  aiford  relief. 

Thereupon,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1016,  the  thirteenth 
indiction,  on  the  tenth  of  the  calends  of  May  [22nd  April], 
the  city  of  Sens  was  taken  possession  of  by  Leotheric,  by 
the  advice  of  Reynold  bishop  of  Paris,  and  was  given  up  to 
King  Robert.  Rainard  was  forced  to  betake  himself  to 
flight  and  escaped  naked.  His  brother  Fromond  and  some 
other  knights  took  refuge  in  a  tower  which  stood  within  the 
city.  The  king,  however,  reduced  it,  after  an  assault  of 

was  second  son  of  Fromond  II.,  count  of  Sens.  It  required  two  journeys 
by  Leotheric  to  Rome  and  an  express  order  of  Silvester  II.  (Gerbert),  his 
former  tutor,  to  determine  them  to  consecrate  him  in  opposition  to  the 
count.  The  ceremony  was  performed,  in  1001,  in  the  church  of  St.  Fare. 

1  Henry  the  Great  died  in  1002.— Mabillon.  Otho- William,  his  son-in- 
law,  and  also  his  adopted  heir,  took  possession  of  the  duchy.  King  Robert 
seized  the  province  in  1003,  with  the  aid  of  thirty  thousand  Normans, 
commanded  by  their  duke,  Richard  II.;  but  he  was  compelled  to  retire 
without  taking  Auxerre,  which  was  defended  by  Landri,  count  de  Nevers, 
and  son-in-law  of  Otho-William. 

4  The  siege  and  taking  of  Avalon  belong  to  the  campaign  of  1005,  in 
the  course  of  which  the  king  also  took  Sens,  and  besieged  Dijon  in  vain. 
It  was  defended  by  Otho-William  in  person,  and  his  most  gallant  knights. 


A.T).  1031.]      ISSUE  OF  BOBEET,  KTJfG  OF  FEAtfCE.  347 

many  days'  duration,  and  taking  Fromond  captive,  sent  him 
to  Orleans,  where  he  died  in  prison.1 

Eobert,  king  of  the  Franks,  reigned  thirty-seven  years.* 
He  married  Constance,  a  princess  celebrated  for  her  wisdom 
and  virtue.  She  bore  him  a  noble  offspring,  Henry,  Eobert, 
and  Adele.  King  Eobert  died  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 

1031,  the  fourteenth  indiction,  and  Henry  his  son  reigned 
nearly  thirty  years.     Eobert  had  the  duchy  of  Burgundy, 
and  was  the  father  of  three  sons,  Henry,  Eobert,  and  Simon. 
Henry,  the  eldest,  had  two  sons,  Hugh  and  Eudes,  but  he 
died  before    his    father.     Hugh   therefore    succeeded  his 
grandfather  in  the   duchy,  which  he  governed  for  three 
years  with  distinguished  merit.    He  then  abdicated  in  favour 
of  his  brother  Eudes,  and  inflamed  by  divine  love,  became  a 
monk  of  Cluni,  where  he  piously  served  God  fifteen  years. 
Adele,  the  daughter  of  King  Eobert,  was  given  in  mar- 
riage to  Baldwin  count  of  Flanders,  to  whom  she  bore  a 
numerous   offspring,    Eobert    the    Frisian,   Arnulph,   and 
Baldwin,  counts  ;  Eudes,  archbishop  of  Treves,  and  Henry, 
a  clerk  ;   also  Matilda  queen  of  England,  and  Judith  the 
wife  of  Earl  Tostig. 

During  this  period,  while  Eobert  and  Henry  were  kings  of 

1  The  archbishop  made  the  engagement  to  deliver  the  city  to  the  king 
on  April  '22,  1015  ;  but  it  required  a  regular  siege  to  triumph  over  the 
resistance  of  Rainard  and  his  eldest  brother  Fromond,  whom  he  had  called 
to  his  aid.     Fromont  finished  his  days  in  prison  in  the  castle  of  Orleans, 
but  Rainard,  having  taken  refuge  with  Eudes  II.,  count  de  Champagne, 
built    with    his   assistance   the   castle   of  Montreuil-sur-Seine,   which   he 
afterwards  ceded  to  him,  and,  forcibly  re-establishing  himself  in  Sens,  lived 
afterwards  in  peace  with  the  king  and  the  archbishop  until  the  death  of 
Leotheric  (June  26,  1031). 

2  October  24,  996 — July  20,  1031.     Robert  and  Constance  had  four 
sons,  Hugh,  Henry,  Robert,  and  Hugh,  and  two  daughters,  Adelaide,  or 
Havise,  and  Adele.      Henry  I.  died  August  '29,  1060,  after  a  reign  of 
twenty-nine   years.     Robert    I.,   duke   of   Burgundy,   called   the    Elder, 
received  that  province  of  his  brother  Henry  in  full  sovereignty  in  the  year 

1032.  This  prince  had  four  sons   and  two  daughters.      Hugh  I.,  who 
succeeded  in    1075,  was  son  of  Henry  his  second  son.     He  resigned  the 
duchy  in   1078  to  his  brother  Eudes  Borel,  in  order  to  retire  to  Cluni, 
where  he  died  in   1093,  after  having  been   ordained   priest.      Adele  de 
France,  first  married  to  Richard  III.,  duke  of  Normandy,  and  afterwards 
to  Baldwin,  count  of  Flanders,  died  in  1071.      The  archbishop  of  Treves 
must  be  excluded  from  this  genealogy.     His  parentage  is  otherwise  given 
elsewhere. 


318  ORDEBICTTS   VITALIS.  [B.TII.  CH.II. 

France,  ten  popes  filled  successively  the  apostolic  see  ;  that 
is,  Gerbert  the  Philosopher,  who  assumed  the  name  of 
Silvester,  John,  Benedict,  and  John  his  brother,  Benedict 
their  nephew,  Clemens,  Damasus,  eminent  for  his  nobility 
and  love  of  justice,  Leo,  Victor,  Stephen  and  Nicholas.1 
Henry,  king  of  the  Franks,  married  Bertrade,  daughter  of 
Julius  Claudius  king  of  Eussia,2  by  whom  he  had  Philip,  and 
Hugh  the  Great,  Count  de  Crepi.  Philip  reigned  after  his 
father's  death  forty-seven  years,  and  espoused  Bertha, 
daughter  of  Florence  duke  of  Frisia,  who  bore  him  Lewis- 
Theobald  and  Constance.3 

CH.  II.  Short  notices  of  the  battle  of  Val-des-Dunes — Of 
Sing  William's  marriage  and  children — Of  the  invasion 
of  Normandy  by  King  Henry  of  France — And  the  battle 
of  Mortemer. 

ITT  the  year  of  our  Lord  1047,  the  fifteenth  indiction, 
"William  the  Bastard,  duke  of  Normandy,  invited  King 
Henry  into  Neustria,4  and  with  his  assistance  fought  a 
battle  against  his  kinsfolk  at  Val-des-Dunes,  in  which  he 
defeated  Guy  of  Burgundy  and  other  rebels,  forcing  some  to 
submit,  and  putting  others  to  flight.  After  this,  his  power 
being  established,  he  married  Matilda,  daughter  of  Baldwin 
marquis  of  Flanders,  who  bore  him  four  sons  and  five 
daughters  ;5  Robert,  Richard,  William,  and  Henry,  Agatha, 

1  Silvester  II.;  John  XVII.  (John  XVIII.;  Sergius  IV.);  Benedict 
VIII.;  John  XIX.;  Benedict  IX.  (Gregory  VI.);  Clement  XI.;Da:nasus 
II.;  Leo  IX.;  Victor  II.;  Stephen  IX.;  and  Nicholas  II. 

*  Henry  I.  married  in  1061  Anne,  daughter  of  Jaroslaw,  duke  of  Russia, 
by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  king  Philip,  and  Hugh,  count  of  Vermandois  in 
1102. 

8  Philip  I.  reigned  nearly  forty-eight  years  (August  29,  1060 — August 
3,  1108).  It  was  in  1071  that  he  married  Bertha,  daughter  of  Florence, 
count  of  Holland,  by  whom  he  had  Lewis-le-Gros,  and  Constance,  married 
first  to  Hugh,  count  de  Champagne,  and  afterwards  to  Bohemond,  prince 
of  Antioch. 

*  William  threw  himself  at  the  feet  of  King  Henry  at  Poissi  to  implore 
succour  against  the   league,  at  the  head  of  which  WHS  Guy  of  Burgundy, 
his  uncle  according  to  the  customs  of  Brittany  (son  of  Reynold,  count  of 
Burgundy,  and  Adeliza,  daughter  of  Duke  Richard  II ).    Guy  was  defeated 
in  1047  at  the  battle  of  Val-des-  Dunes,  three  leagues  to  the  south-east  of 
Caen.    See  the  dying  discourse  of  King  William  in  the  fifteenth  chapter  of 
this  book. 

6  The  marriage  of  William  and  Matilda  probably  soon  followed  the 


A.D.  1054.]  HENET  I.  rtTVADES  NOBMANDY.  349 

Adeliza,  Constance,  Adele,  and  Cecilia.  A  variety  of  for- 
tunes was  the  lot  of  this  illustrious  progeny,  and  each  in 
their  day  was  subject  to  mischance,  as  my  pen  has  elsewhere 
sufficiently  noted.  In  course  of  time  seditions  burst  forth, 
and  the  seeds  of  dissension  were  sown  among  these  princes, 
which  gave  rise  to  great  wars  between  the  French  and  Nor- 
mans, wherein  much  blood  was  shed. 

At  length,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1054,  King  Henry 
invaded  the  territory  of  Evreux,  and  made  great  devasta- 
tions, both  by  pillage  and  fire ;  at  the  same  time  causing  his 
brother  Eudes  to  cross  the  Seine  with  many  thousand  troops 
by  the  Beauvaisis.  Meanwhile  Duke  William  hung  with 
his  force  on  the  flank  of  King  Henry's  army  watching  for  a 
favourable  opportunity  of  bringing  him  to  an  engagement. 
Moreover,  he  ordered  Roger  de  Mortemer  and  the  Cauchois 
to  throw  themselves  on  the  royal  troops  [commanded  by 
Eudes].  Obeying  his  orders  without  delay,  they  encoun- 
tered the  French  at  Mortemer,  and  having  gained  the 
victory,  took  prisoner  Gruy  count  of  Ponthieu,  and  put 
to  flight  Eudes  and  Ralph  count  de  Mont-Didier,  many  of 
their  followers  falling  by  the  sword.1  Then  Pope  Leo  died 
in  the  sixth  year  of  his  pontificate,2  in  the  second  year  of 
which  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult  was  restored,  and  Theodoric, 
the  first  abbot,  was  consecrated  on  the  nones  [the  7th]  of 
October.  Eight  years  afterwards  he  went  on  a  pilgrimage, 
and  died  in  the  island  of  Cyprus,  on  the  calends  [the  1st] 
of  August,  many  miracles  being  wrought  on  his  tomb.3 

CH.  III.  A  fragment,  containing  part  of  the  genealogy  of 
Edward  the  Confessor. 

EDWAHD,  king  of  England,  after  a  reign  of  twenty-three 

successful  issue  of  this  contest,  which  established  the  young  duke's  power. 
For  the  children  who  were  the  issue  of  this  marriage,  see  before,  pp.  22,  23. 

1  More  full  details  of  this  double  invasion  of  Normandy  by  King 
Henry  are  given  in  the  discourse  supposed  to  have  been  made  by  William 
1.  on  his  death-bed,  for  which  see  the  fourth  chapter  of  the  preseut  book. 

1  Leo  IX.  Feb.  1049— April  19,  1054. 

3  The  abbey  of  St.  Evroult  was  restored  and  the  blessed  Theodoric 
consecrated  abbot  Oct.  5,  1050 ;  he  went  in  pilgrimage  to  the  Holy  Lane 
in  the  beginning  of  September,  1057,  and  died  in  the  ehurch  of  St. 
ISieholas,  in  the  island  of  Cyprus,  August  1,  1058,  as  already  related.  Se 
b.  iii.  iv.  vol.  i.  pp.  402—422. 


350  OEDEEICUS   YITA.LIS.  [B.TII.  CH.IV. 

years *  departed  this  life  in  the  sixth  year  of  Philip  king  of 
Prance.  His  genealogy  from  Shem,  the  son  of  Noah,  may  be 
thus  traced.  Shem  begat  Arphaxad  and  Beadung ;  Beadung 
begat  Wala;  Wala  begat  Hatra;  Hatra  begat  Itermod: 
Itermod  begat  Heremod ;  Heremod  begat  Sceldunea ; 
Sceldunea  begat  Beaw ;  Beaw  begat  Cetuna ;  Cetuna  begat 
Geata ;  whom  the  heathen  long  since  worshipped  as  a  god. 
Geata  begat  Findggoldwulf,  the  father  of  Fidhulput ;  of 
whom  came  Fealap,  the  father  of  Frithowald.  From  him 
sprung  Woden,  from  whom  the  English  call  the  sixth  day, 
Woden's  day.2  He  was  highly  exalted  among  his  people 

and  attained  great  power. 

#*#**» 

CH.  IV.  The  Emperor  Henry  IV.  supports  the  Anti-pope 
Guibert  (Clement  III.) — besieges  and  takes  Home — Gre- 
gory VIIL  (Hildebrand)  retires  into  Apulia. 

IN  the  year  of  our  Lord  1084,  Henry  king  of  the  Germans, 
having  assembled  a  great  multitude  of  Saxons,  Germans, 
Lorrainers,  and  other  people,  made  a  violent  inroad  into  Italy 
which  he  overran  and  besieged  and  assaulted  Eome.  The 
Kornans  surrendering,  being  tempted  by  the  rewards  pro- 

1  Edward  the  Confessor  succeeded  to  the  throne  of  England  June  8, 
1042,  but  was  not  crowned  till  Easter  in  the  following  year.  For  this 
reason  our  author  counts  only  twenty-three  years  in  his  reign,  which  ended 
Jan.  5,  1066.  The  genealogy  here  ascribed  to  this  king  is  found  in  most 
of  the  English  chronicles. 

4  It  was  not  the  sixth  but  the  fourth  day  which  was  consecrated  to 
Odin  in  the  primitive  religion  of  our  Saxon  ancestors,  and  which  still  bears 
his  name. 

8  The  conclusion  of  this  chapter  appears  to  be  lost.  Dur.hesne  appends 
the  following  note  to  the  fragment  preserved :  "  Some  things  are  wanting 
here  which  seem  to  have  been  a  recapitulation  of  those  events  which  the 
author  had  related  more  at  large  in  former  books,  viz.,  from  the  expedition 
of  Duke  William  to  England  until  the  year  of  Christ,  1083."  M.  Le 
Prtvost  observes,  that  it  cannot  escape  the  reader's  observation  that  the 
preceding  chapter  (the  third)  consists  of  detached  paragraphs  strung 
together  without  order.  Some  persons,  he  says,  have  supposed  that  it 
belonged  originally  to  b.  iii.,  others  to  b.  iv.  He  applies  to  chap.  iii. 
what  Duchesne  says  of  the  recapitulation,  which  consists  of  events  already 
related  in  books  iv.  and  v.  M.  Le  Prdvost,  while  acknowledging  the 
evident  existence  of  a  chasm  in  the  history,  is  unable  to  offer  any 
conjecture  on  its  extent,  its  contents,  or  the  place  it  filled  in  the  author's 
original  plan. 


1084.]  THE  EMPEEOB  HENEY  IT.  AND  POPE  GEEGOET  Til.  351 

mised  them,  he  took  possession  of  the  city.  Having 
expelled  Gregory  VII.  from  the  apostolic  see,  he  shamefully 
intruded  in  his  place  Guibert  metropolitan  of  Ravenna. 
Thereupon  Gregory  retired  to  Beneventum,  and  a  great 
schism  was  created  throughout  the  world,  which  caused 
much  evil  to  the  sons  of  the  church,  and  long  continued  to 
the  injury  of  many  persons.1  Pope  Gregory,  whose  name  in 
baptism  was  Hildebrand,  had  been  a  monk  from  his  child- 
hood, and  his  whole  life  was  a  pattern  of  wisdom  and 
religion,  maintaining  a  perpetual  conflict  against  sin. 
He  rose  through  the  several  degrees  of  the  ecclesiastical 
orders  to  the  popedom  the  summit  of  all,  in  which  for  sixteen 
years  he  applied  himself  diligently  to  the  observance  of  the 
divine  law.  Inflamed  with  zeal  for  truth  and  justice  he 
denounced  every  kind  of  wickedness,  sparing  no  offenders, 
either  through  fear  or  favour.  He  therefore  suffered  perse- 
cution and  exile  from  the  stubborn  and  insubordinate,  who 
refused  to  submit  to  the  Lord's  yoke ;  yet  no  device  of 
theirs  prevailed  against  him  to  the  hour  of  his  death. 

Pope  Gregory  repeatedly  admonished  and  corrected,  and 
at  length  excommunicated  Henry,  king  of  the  Germans, 
as  an  incorrigible  transgressor  of  the  divine  law.  For  that 
prince  deserted  his  wife,  the  daughter  of  the  illustrious 
count  Eustace  de  Bouillon,  and  like  a  swine  wallowing  in 
the  mire  abandoned  himself  to  foul  and  adulterous  pleasures, 
disregarding  the  commandments  of  God  and  the  admonitions 
of  good  men.  However,  Godfrey  duke  of  Lorraine,  incensed 
at  the  shameful  repudiation  of  his  sister,  declared  war 
against  Henry,  and,  collecting  together  a  force  of  several 
thousand  troops,  gave  him  battle,  and  forcing  him  to  quit 
the  field  in  a  shameful  flight,  thus  revenged  his  sister's 
wrongs.8 

1  The  emperor  Henry  IV.,  called  by  our  author  king  of  the  Germans, 
and  the  anti-pope  Guibert,  made  their  solemn  entry  into  Rome  on 
Tuesday,  March  21,  1084,  by  the  Lateran  gate;  and  on  Palm  Sunday, 
the  24th  of  the  same  month,  Guibert  was  consecrated  at  St.  Peter's  under 
the  name  of  Clement  III.  After  Henry's  departure,  and  the  raising  of 
the  siege  of  the  castle  of  St.  Angelo,  to  "which  Gregory  VII.  had  retired, 
and  the  sack  of  Rome  by  Robert  Guiscard,  the  pope  retired  to  Monte 
Cassino  and  Salernum. 

5  All  this  paragraph  is  incorrect.  The  emperor  did  not  marry  the  sister 
of  Godfrey  de  Bouillon,  and  so  far  from  their  being  at  war,  Godfrey 


352  ORDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [B.TII.  CH.IV. 

Henry  often  treacherously  invited  to  his  court  the 
nobles  whose  wives  or  daughters  or  estates  he  coveted,  and, 
causing  them  to  be  privately  way-laid  by  his  emissaries,  had 
them  despatched  on  the  road  when  they  expected  no  evil. 
This  abandoned  king  disgraced  himself  by  these  and  many 
such  enormities,  dragging  with  him  the  numerous  accom- 
plices of  his  crimes  to  a  common  ruin.  Pope  Gregory, 
receiving  complaints  of  these  iniquities,  frequently  implored 
Henry  to  amend  his  life,  but  he  wickedly  laughed  to  scorn 
his  physician  and  doctor,  and  disregarded  his  remonstrances. 
Gregory  therefore  held  frequent  councils  with  a  great 
number  of  prelates,  consulting  on  the  means  of  affording 
relief  to  the  Christian  empire  which  Henry  so  foully  and 
infamously  polluted.  At  last,  finding  that  notwithstanding 
his  frequent  admonitions  Henry  obstinately  persisted  in  his 
crimes,  the  pope  excommunicated  him  according  to  the 
sentence  of  a  synod,  deprived  the  obdurate  prince  of  the 
imperial  power  which  he  had  damnably  usurped,  and  by  his 
apostolical  authority  caused  Count  Conrad  to  be  anointed 
king  by  the  hands  of  an  assembly  of  bishops.  In  conse- 
quence Henry,  deprived  of  his  sceptre,  remained  quiet  a 
whole  year  in  his  own  abode,  shutting  himself  up  in  the 
county  which  was  his  own  by  right  of  inheritance.  Mean- 
while, he  lavishly  employed  the  treasures  he  had  amassed  to 
secure  himself  allies.  Having  thus  collected  a  force  of 
many  thousand  accomplices,  this  public  enemy,  in  contempt 
of  the  decree  of  excommunication,  broke  into  rebellion, 
engaged  in  battle  with  King  Conrad,  and  overthrew  and 
killed  him,  routing  his  army  with  losses  of  all  kinds.1 

Elated  with  this  victory,  Henry  re-assumed  his  imperial 

received  from  the  emperor's  hands  the  investiture  of  the  duchy  of  the 
Lower- Lorraine  in  1093. 

1  This  paragraph  is  not  more  correct  than  the  preceding  one.  It  was 
not  till  1093,  and,  consequently,  ei^ht  years  after  the  death  of  Gregory 
VII.,  that  Conrad,  son  of  Henry  IV.,  revolted  against  his  father  at  the 
instigation  of  the  Countess  Matilda,  his  aunt,  and  caused  himself  to  be 
crowned  king  of  the  Normans.  Our  author  has  confounded  Conrad  with 
Rodolph,  duke  of  Swabia,  elected  king  of  Germany  in  the  place  of  his 
brother-in-law  Henry,  in  March,  1077,  by  the  influence  of  Gregory  VII. 
It  was  Rodolph  who  was  slain  fighting  with  Henry  at  the  battle  of 
Marsbourg  (Oct.  15,  1080).  We  are  informed  that  he  received  his  mortal 
wound  from  the  lance  of  Godfrey  de  Bouillon,  who  is  represented  by  our 
author  as  the  determined  enemy  of  the  emperor. 


1081 — 1085.]    GBEGOBY  VII.  EXPELLED  FROM  ROME.  353 

authority,  coerced  his  rebellious  subjects,  and,  having 
strongly  reinforced  his  army,  laid  siege  to  Home,  directing 
all  his  efforts  against  Pope  Gregory.1  It  had,  I  consider, 
entirely  escaped  his  memory  how  Absalom,  having  gathered 
a  large  force  against  his  father  David,  had  by  the  advice  of 
Ahithophel  the  Gilonite  levied  arms  against  him,  attacking 
his  own  father  and  his  followers  as  they  were  departing  from 
Jerusalem,  and  caused  at  length  the  death  of  many  thousand 
warriors,  but  miserably  perished  when  he  had  accomplished 
his  impious  project  to  the  loss  of  many.  Thus  Henry  took 
up  arms  against  his  father,  and  justly  merited  in  return  to 
be  cruelly  persecuted  by  his  own  offspring.  When  he  was 
asked  how  he  presumed  to  engage  in  such  fearful  enterprises 
against  the  head  of  the  church,  he  replied,  laughing,  that 
the  cause  of  this  great  quarrel  between  himself  and  the  pope 
was  that  the  physician  had  recourse  to  remedies  too  violent 
for  an  unruly  patient. 

The  lawless  monarch  therefore  vigorously  urged  the  siege 
of  Rome,  alarmed  the  citizens  with  assaults  and  menaces, 
seduced  them  with  bribes  and  promises,  and  by  such  means 
won  over  the  people  and  got  possession  of  the  city.  The 
Romans  thus  deserting  his  cause,  Pope  Gregory  took  refuge 
in  Apulia,  and,  being  received  by  the  Normans  with  distin- 
guished honours,  dwelt  there  four  years  and,  having  given 
rules  of  life  to  the  sons  of  the  church,  ended  his  labours.4 
Thereupon  the  emperor  Henry  uncanonically  intruded  into 
the  Lord's  fold,  Guibert,  metropolitan  of  Ravenna,  whom 
they  called  Clement ;  on  account  of  which  a  long  and  grievous 

1  The  emperor  arrived  under  the  walls  of  Rome  with  the  anti-pope 
Guibert,   a   few   days   before    Whitsuntide,   1081.      The   wege    was   not 
interrupted  from  that  period  until  the  city  was  taken  in  1084. 

2  The  pope  retired  from  Rome  in  1084,  and  died  at  Salernum,  May  2.% 
1085,  long  before  the  four  years  of  which  Ordericus  speaks.     The  anti- 
pope  Guibert  continued  the  struggle  long  after  the  death  of  Gregory  VII., 
maintaining  his  position  at  Rome.     There  is  a  well  known  epigraph  in 
which  he  rallied  his  rival,  Urban  II.,  on  the  unsuitableness  of  the  name  he 
assumed  to  his  condition  as  an  exile  from  the  city. 

Diceris  Urbantis,  cum  sis  projeclus  ab  urbe  ; 
Vel  muta  nomen  ;  vcl  reyrediaris  ad  urbem. 

How  can  you  call  yourself  Urban  when  you  are  banished  from  the  city 
(ab  urbe)  I  You  would  do  well  to  change  your  name  if  you  cannot  return 
to  Rome  (ad  urbem). 

VOL.  II.  A  A 


354i  OBBEBICUS   YITAIIS.  [B.TII.  CH.T, 

schism  throughout  the  Christian  world  caused  the  ruin  o/ 
numbers  of  persons  by  a  twofold  death.  The  people  of 
Milan  and  Mayence,  and  many  others  who  espoused  the  party 
of  Guibert,  not  only  excommunicated  the  friends  of  Gregory 
but  cruelly  rose  in  arms  against  them.  On  the  other  hand 
Gregory  and  his  supporters  invited  the  erring  partisans  of 
Guibert  to  return  to  the  unity  of  the  church,  and  upon  their 
refusing  to  obey  the  summons  excommunicated  them  accord- 
ing to  ecclesiastical  right. 

Eudes,  count  of  Sutri,  who  was  nephew  of  the  in- 
truder Guibert,  used  every  exertion,  by  violent  measures 
and  entreaties,  to  bring  over  all  he  could,  whether  foreigners 
or  natives,  to  his  criminal  faction,  either  tormenting  or  put- 
ting to  death  those  who  opposed  him,  and  refused  to  submit 
to  the  unfounded  claims  of  a  heretic.1  The  Catholic  church, 
involved  in  these  dark  clouds,  and  full  of  grief,  sent  up  her 
prayers  to  the  Lord,  the  source  of  true  light  and  of  justice, 
beseeching  him  to  humble  and  remove  out  of  the  way  the 
fomentors  of  discord,  and  to  restore  peace  and  truth  on 
earth  among  the  men  of  good-will. 

CH.  V.  The  Emperor  Alexius  Commcnus  ascends  the  throne 
of  Constantinople — Expedition  of  Robert  Guiscard  and  his 
son  Bohemond  to  the  coast  of  Greece — Durazzo  besieged 
and  taken — Robert  Guiscard  recalled  by  the  affairs  of 
Italy. 

AT  this  time,  Greece,  the  mother  of  eloquence,  was  shaken 
by  the  storms  of  war ;  and,  afflicted  with  grievous  calamities, 
was  overwhelmed  with  grief  and  alarm.  For  the  Greek 
Bitinacius,  impelled  by  his  overweening  ambition  and 
arrogant  temper,  usurped  the  government,  expelling 
Michael,  the  emperor  of  Constantinople ;  and,  putting  out 
the  eyes  of  his  son  who  ought  to  have  succeeded  him  on  the 
throne,  threw  him  into  a  dungeon,  imprisoning  also  the  two 
daughters  of  Eobert  Guiscard,  one  of  whom  was  betrothed 

1  Sutri  is  an  episcopal  city  belonging  to  the  patrimony  of  St.  Peter. 
Although  its  lord  joined  the  party  opposed  to  the  pope,  and  persevered  in 
his  hostility  to  the  pontificate  of  Urban  II.  as  we  shall  find  in  the  succeed- 
ing book,  its  bishop  acted  quite  differently.  That  prelate,  who  wa- 
eminent  for  his  piety  and  learning,  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  emperor  in 
the  campaign  of  1083. 


A.D.  1078 — 1081.]  THE  EMPEBOB  ALEXIUS  COMMENTJS.      355 

to  the  young  prince.  The  discomfited  Michael  sought 
refuge  in  Italy,  humbly  imploring  the  aid  of  the  Normans 
on  behalf  of  himself  and  his  family.  The  illustrious  Duke 
Guiscard  received  the  imperial  exile  with  due  honours, 
soothed  his  misfortunes  by  attentions  and  good  offices,  and 
readily  promised  him  his  powerful  aid.  Nor  did  he  delay  in 
taking  determined  measures  for  accomplishing  the  revenge 
he  had  promised.1  But  such  not  being  the  will  of  God,  all 
his  vast  preparations  ended  in  vain  threats,  and  it  was  not 
permitted  him  to  carry  out  the  designs  which  he  anxiously 
entertained. 

Alexius,  the  general  of  the  army,  had  by  Michael's  order 
gone  into  Paphlagonia  at  the  head  of  the  Greek  troops  to 
oppose  the  Turks,  who  claimed  Nice,  a  city  of  Bithynia,  as  a 
pledge  of  peace.  Having  received  intelligence  of  the 
expulsion  of  the  lawful  emperor,  and  the  mad  tyranny  of 
the  traitorous  usurper,  he  harangued  his  troops,  and 
demanded  of  them  what  was  to  be  done.  Alexius  was 
prudent  and  virtuous,  brave,  liberal,  and  a  general  favourite. 
He  was  therefore  received  with  universal  acclamations,  and 
the  whole  army  declared  itself  ready  to  obey  his  commands. 
He  therefore  exhorted  the  troops  to  join  unanimously  in 
besieging  Byzantium,  and  manfully  wrest  it  from  the  reck- 
less usurper  of  the  imperial  throne.  Constantinople  was 
consequently  closely  invested  for  some  days ;  but  it  was 
opened  to  the  besiegers  by  Eaimond  of  Flanders,  in  concert 
with  the  citizens,  he  being  the  chief  warder  of  the  gates, 
and  having  the  custody  of  the  place  entrusted  to  him. 
Alexius  took  possession  of  the  imperial  palace,  hurled 
Bitinacius2  from  the  throne,  and,  causing  his  long  beard  to 

1  Nicephorus  Botaniates,  after  having  dethroned  Michael  Parapinaces, 
made  his  solemn  entry  into  Constantinople,  March  25,  1078.  All  that 
Ordericus  here  says  on  the  cruelties  inflicted  on  prince  Constantine,  and 
of  the  emperor  Michael  having  taken  refuge  with  Robert  Guiscard  is  con- 
troverted. It  is  certain,  however,  that  the  marriage  of  Constantine  with 
his  daughter  was  broken  off  in  consequence  of  the  revolution  which  had 
jutt  taken  place. 

s  Botaniates.  "  The  life  of  the  emperor  Alexius  Commenus  has  been 
delineated  with  laudable  though  partial  zeal  by  his  learned  daughter  Anna 
Commend."  Ordericus,  in  describing  him  MS  engaged  in  the  siege  of  Nice, 
has  confounded  the  movement  which  placed  him  on  the  throne  with  (hat 
of  Nicephoras  Melissens,  which,  in  point  of  fact,  was  simultaneous  with 
it,  or  with  that  of  Botaniates  himself  which  occurred  three  ytars  belbre. 
A  A  2 


356  OEDEBICTJS  VITALIS.  [B.TII.  CH.V. 

be  shaved,  threw  him  into  a  dungeon,  without  further 
injury.  Assuming  the  imperial  sceptre  and  diadem, 
amidst  general  rejoicings,  he  reigned  thirty  years  with 
firmness  and  dignity,  both  in  prosperous  and  adverse 
circumstances.  He  was  a  prince  of  great  sagacity,  com- 
passionate to  the  poor,  a  brave  and  magnanimous  soldier, 
affable  to  his  army,  to  which  he  made  liberal  largesses,  and 
a  devout  observer  of  the  Divine  law.  At  the  beginning  of 
his  reign,  he  released  from  prison  the  son  of  Michael,  who, 
as  before  mentioned,  had  been  deprived  of  sight,  and  placed 
him  under  the  care  of  the  abbot  of  St.  Cyrus.  The  young 
prince,  whose  worldly  career  was  ended,  became  a  monk  in 
that  monastery,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  with  the 
servants  of  Grod.  Alexius  affectionately  regarded  and 
kindly  treated  the  daughters  of  Ghiiscard,  as  if  they  had 
been  his  own,  and  nurtured  them  for  almost  twenty  years 
with  the  utmost  indulgence.  Their  office  was,  every 
morning,  when  the  emperor  had  risen  from  his  bed  and  was 
washing  his  hands,  to  present  him  with  a  towel,  and  holding 
an  ivory  comb,  to  dress  the  emperor's  beard.  Such  was 
the  light  and  easy  service  assigned  to  these  noble 
females  by  a  generous  prince ;  and  in  the  course  of  years 
they  were  sent  back  to  Roger,  count  of  Sicily,  by  the  kind 
offices  of  their  imperial  friend.1 

The  changes  of  the  reeling  world  afford 
Proof  of  the  wisdom  of  the  Sacred  Word. 

"With  the  same  measure  that  ye  mete,  it  shall  be 
measured  to  you  again."2  Thus,  as  Michael  had  driven  his 

1  M.  Le  Prevost  considers  the  office  assigned  to  these  ladies  about  the 
person  of  the  emperor  as  indelicate  and  improbable.  But  such  light 
services  about  the  person  of  the  sovereign,  partaking  of  the  nature  of 
grand-serjeanty,  were  considered  honourable,  and  are  characteristic  of  the 
age.  Every  one  must  remember  that  of  loosing  the  royal  sandals  after 
battle,  assigned  by  our  great  novelist  to  the  baron  of  Bradwardine, and  which 
he  has  so  humorously  travestied.  Our  author  says  nothing  about  the 
isolation  of  these  ladies  at  the  court  of  Alexius,  as  M.  Le  Prevnst  appears 
to  intimate.  Not  only  their  cousin  Constantine  Humbertopoule,  son  of 
Humbert  de  Hauteville,  who  assisted  in  the  emperors  elevation,  was  to  be 
found  there,  but  the  crusade  drew  to  Constantinople  all  the  flower  of  the 
Norman  chivalry.  It  is  questioned  whether  more  than  one  of  the  daughters 
of  Robert  Guiscard  was  sent  there — the  eldest,  called  by  the  Greeks 
Helena,  who,  after  Robert's  death,  was  sent  back  to  his  brother  Roger. 

a  Luke  vi.  38. 


A.D.  1081.]     THE  EMPEROB  ALEXIUS  COMMEXUS.  357 

father-in-law  from  the  imperial  throne,  he  himself  was  hurled 
from  it  by  Bitinacius,  who,  in  his  turn,  was  dethroned  by 
Alexius. 

In  concert  with  the  patriarch  of  the  royal  city,  and  the 
wise  men  and  senators  of  the  Greek  state,  Alexius 
resolved  that  the  holy  empire  should  not  be  restored  to 
Michael,  who  had  sought  refuge  with  the  public  enemy,1  and 
had  entrusted  himself  and  his  fortunes  to  the  faithless 
Normans,  whose  practice  it  was  not  to  replace  their  allies  in 
their  dominions,  but  to  usurp  their  states,  and  to  subject  to 
their  own  rule,  and  strip  of  their  honours,  by  a  refinement 
of  cruelty,  those  whom  it  should  have  been  their  duty  to 
liberate,  and  to  aid  in  the  recovery  of  their  lawful  authority. 
Alexius  therefore  formed  a  close  connection  with  the 
English,  who,  with  their  chiefs,  quitted  England  after  the 
death  of  King  Harold,  and,  flying  from  the  face  of  King 
William,  embarked  on  the  Black  Sea,  and  landed  in  Thrace. 
He  committed  to  their  custody  his  principal  palace,  and  the 
royal  treasures,  and  even  made  them  the  guards  of  his  own 
person  and  household.2  From  the  four  quarters  of  the 
globe  bands  of  warriors  assembled  for  the  prize,  which  their 
efforts  to  deprive  him  of  his  life  and  his  throne  might  secure. 
But  all  their  efforts  were  fruitless;  for  under  God's 
protection  he  escaped  the  many  plots  of  his  enemies,  and 
living  to  a  good  old  age  associated  with  himself  his  son  John 
in  the  imperial  title.3  Thus  it  is  evident  to  all  judicious 
observers,  that  no  human  power  can  overthrow  and  ruin 
those  who  have  God  for  their  supporter  and  protector. 

1  Michael,  "  whose  character,"  as  described  by  Gibbon,  "  was  degraded 
rather  than  ennobled  by  the  virtue  of  a  monk  and  the  learning  of  a 
sophist,"  does  not  appear  to  have  made  any  further  preten»io7is  to  the 
throne ;  but  having  been  decorated  with  the  title  of  archbishop  of 
Ephesus,  found  so  much  charm  in  a  monastic  life  and  manual  labour 
that  he  returned  to  his  convent  to  devote  himself  to  them  without  inter- 
ruption. 

1  M.  Le  Prevost  considers  that  our  author  has  exaggerated  the  services 
of  the  English  Varangian  guards ;  we  may,  however,  be  permitted  to 
remark,  with  great  respect,  that  no  facts  ore  better  authenticated.  See  the 
note  in  vol.  i.  pp.  9,  10. 

3  John  Commenus  took  possession  of  the  throne  on  August  15,  1118, 
rather  with  the  tacit  consent  of  the  dying  emperor,  than  by  any  formal  act 
of  association.  The  opposition  of  the  empress  Irene,  up  to  the  last 
moment,  to  this  transmission  of  the  imperial  authority  is  well  known. 


358  OKDKRTCUS   YITALIS.  [B.TII.  CH.T. 

While  the  storms  of  the  revolution  of  which  we  have  now 
spoken  were  raging  in  Illyricum,  and  Michael1  was 
imploring  the  aid  of  the  Italians  with  lamentations  and 
tears,  Robert  GKiiscard  assembled  a  powerful  force  of 
Normans  and  Lombards  from  all  parts  of  his  duchie»  of 
Apulia  and  Calabria,  and,  having  equipped  a  powerful  fleet, 
entered  the  port  of  Otranto.  He  then  sailed  with  a  favour- 
able wind  for  Durazzo,2  the  citizens  of  which  offering  a 
formidable  resistance,  towards  the  end  of  June  he  laid  siege 
to  the  place.  His  army  did  not  consist  of  more  than  ten 
thousand  troops,  but  he  relied  more  on  the  valour  than  on 
the  numbers  of  his  soldiers  to  strike  the  enemy  with  terror, 
in  his  invasion  of  G-reece  renowned  for  its  warlike  character 
since  the  times  of  Adrastus  and  Agamemnon.  Robert 
Griffard  and  William  de  Grantmesnil,3  with  other  gallant 
young  soldiers,  who  had  recently  arrived  from  Normandy, 
took  part  in  this  expedition.  Mark  Bohemond,  the  son  of 
Guiscard  by  a  Norman  lady,  seconded  his  father  in  his 
absence,  led  a  division  of  the  army  with  great  prudence,  and, 
exhibiting  much  discretion  in  the  conduct  of  affairs,  gave 
promise  of  his  future  worth.  His  brother  Robert, 
surnamed  Bursa,  remained  in  Apulia  by  his  father's  orders, 
and  took  charge  of  the  duchy,  the  succession  of  which 
belonged  to  him  in  right  of  his  mother. 

The  emperor  Alexius,  roused  by  the  complaints  of  the 

1  The  false  Michael,  who  was  only  a  monk  named  Rector,  the  puppet 
of  Robert  Guiscard,  was  paraded  by  that  prince  through  the  whole  of 
Southern  Italy.  Gregory  VII  seems  to  have  been  really  the  dupe  of  this 
imposture,  and  recomended  the  pretended  Michael  with  all  his  influence  to 
the  support  of  the  friends  of  the  church. 

1  On  the  opposite  shore  of  the  Adriatic,  near  Jannina,  the  modem 
capital  of  Albania.  Robert  Guiscard  sailed  from  the  port  of  Brundusium 
about  the  end  of  June,  1081,  and  while  he  was  engaged  in  the  conquest  of 
Corfu  detached  his  brother  Bohemond  to  the  continent  with  fifteen  vessels. 
Both  arrived  together  before  Durazzo  on  July  14,  the  fleet  of  Bohemond 
laving  been  dispersed  by  a  violent  storm.  The  Norman  army  was  reduced 
to  15.000,  not  10,000  men. 

3  Robert  Giffard  belonged  to  the  family  of  Giffard  of  Longueville,  being 
probably  brother  of  Walter  Giffard,  the  second  of  that  name,  who  was 
earl  of  Buckingham,  and  not  a  younger  son  of  the  family  of  Tillieres,  or 
Fougeres,  according  to  an  erroneous  statement  of  the  continuator  of  Wil- 
liam de  Jumieges,  to  he  found  in  Duchesne,  Hist.  Norm.  Script,  p.  312. 
Ot  William,  second  son  of  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil,  there  will  be  many 
opportunities  to  speak  in  the  sequel. 


A.D.  1081.]  BATTLE   OF   DURAZZO.  359 

inhabitants  of  Durazzo,  assembled  a  powerful  army,  and 
prepared  to  defeat  the  besiegers  of  his  city  in  engagements 
both  by  sea  and  land.  While,  however,  the  imperial  mes- 
sengers were  despatched  in  every  direction,  and  bands  of 
soldiers  were  being  collected  from  the  islands  and  adjacent 
provinces,  it  happened  that  one  day  Mark  Bohemond  going 
out  to  forage  at  the  head  of  fifty  men-at-arms,  found  himself 
unexpectedly  in  face  of  five  hundred  light-armed  troops, 
who  were  in  advance  of  the  enemy's  army,  to  carry  succours 
to  the  besieged.  As  soon  as  they  perceived  each  other  a 
sharp  encounter  ensued,  in  which  the  Greeks,  not  being 
able  to  sustain  the  charge  of  the  Normans  gave  way  and 
abandoned  a  considerable  booty.  In  this  engagement  they 
left  the  brazen  cross  which  the  emperor  Constantine,  when 
lie  was  about  to  give  battle  to  Maxentius,  made  in  imitation 
of  the  cross  he  had  seen  in  the  sky.  The  Normans,  return- 
ing from  the  conflict,  spread  the  greatest  joy  and  hope  of 
xictory  among  their  comrades ;  while  the  Greeks  were  in 
the  greatest  tribulation  and  despair  at  the  loss  of  our 
Lord's  cross,  which  they  strove  hard  to  redeem  for  a  very 
large  sum  of  gold.1  But  Guiscard  disdained  any  such  bar- 
ter, esteeming  for  Christ's  merits  the  brazen  cross  more 
precious  than  all  the  gold  in  the  world.  He  therefore 
carried  it  with  him  through  many  dangers,  and  since  his 
death  the  convent  of  the  Holy  Trinity  at  Venosa  reverently 
preserves  it  to  this  day,  honouring  it  with  many  other  relics 
of  the  saints. 

In  the  month  of  October  the  emperor  Alexius  ap- 
proached Durazzo  at  the  head  of  his  legions,  composed  of 
different  nations.  Battle  was  joined,  with  great  effusion  of 
blood  and  vast  loss  on  both  sides  in  the  severe  encounter. 
At  length,  however,  the  Almighty  had  regard  to  the  small, 
but  faithful  and  resolute,  band  of  the  pilgrims  from  the 
West,  and  giving  them  the  victory,  terrified  and  scattered 

1  Alexius  began  his  march  for  the  relief  of  Durazzo  at  the  end  of 
August,  after  two  successful  naval  engagements  with  Bohemond,  one  by 
the  Venetians,  the  other  by  the  Greeks,  which  had  not  discouraged  Robert 
Guiscard.  The  emperor  did  not  arrive  before  the  besieged  city  until 
October  15,  when  the  skirmish  between  Bohemond  and  his  advanced  guard 
here  related  occurred.  The  Labarum  was  not  lost  on  this  occasion,  but  at 
the  battle  of  Durazzo. 


360  ORDEBICUS   VITALIS,  [B.TII.  CH.T. 

with  disgrace  the  forces  of  the  East,  who  trusted  in  their 
own  might.  Then  Duke  Robert,  encouraged  by  so  signal 
a  triumph,  departed  from  Durazzo,  and,  after  a  long  inarch, 
wintered  his  army  in  Bulgaria ;  for  the  country  about 
Durazzo  had  been  so  devastated  during  the  three  months' 
siege,  that  no  subsistence  was  left  there  either  for  men  or 
horses.1 

At  this  time  Duke  Robert  received  envoys  from  Rome, 
who  were  the  bearers  of  apostolical  letters,  and  humbly 
saluting  him,  said,  "  Most  valiant  duke,  Pope  Gregory 
earnestly  and  suppliantly  entreats  you,  as  a  father  his  son, 
to  come  to  the  aid  of  the  apostolical  see  with  your  invin- 
cible courage,  and  not  to  suffer,  for  the  love  of  God,  any 
excuse  whatever  to  interfere  with  this  succour:  for 
Henry,  king  of  Germany,  has  laid  siege  to  Rome,  and 
closely  invested  the  pope  and  the  clergy  who  adhere  to  him 
in  the  castle  of  Crescens.2  Shut  up  in  that  fortress,  with 
a  crowd  of  the  faithful  people,  he  is  apprehensive  of  being 
betrayed  by  the  defection  of  the  Roman  populace,  who  are 
greedy  and  versatile,  and  of  being  shamefully  delivered  into 
the  hands  of  his  enemies.  He  has  therefore  sent  us  to  you 
to  demand  yoxir  speedy  assistance  in  his  urgent  need.  By 
God's  favour  your  might  is  established  over  all  your  foes, 
nor  can  mortal  power  resist  it  while  you  are  in  arms  for  the 
cause  of  God  and  are  obedient  to  the  vicar  of  St.  Peter,  the 
prince  of  the  apostles." 

On  receiving  this  message  the  mighty  lord  was  deeply 
troubled,  for  he  had  a  great  desire  to  hasten  to  the  succour 
of  the  venerable  pope,  worried  by  fierce  lions  like  Peter  in 
Herod's  prison ;  while  he  strongly  hesitated  at  leaving  his 
army,  which  he  reckoned  to  be  weak  in  numbers,  among 
hosts  of  crafty  and  cruel  enemies,  in  a  foreign  land,  without 
a  leader,  like  sheep  among  wolves.  At  length,  having  men- 

1  The  battle  was  fought  on  October  1 8,  three  days  after  tbe  arrival  of 
Alexius.  Robert  distributed  his  troops  in  winter  quarters  in  the  territory 
of  the  besieged  city,  particularly  at  Glabinniza  and  Jannina.  Durazzo  sur- 
rendered on  February  18. 

3  Originally  the  tomb  of  Adrian,  converted  into  a  fortress  in  the  middle 
a«es,  and  now  Called  the  Castle  of  St.  Angelo.  The  pope  did  not  shut 
himself  up  in  it  until  1083.  The  emperor  broke  up  his  army  from  their 
winter  quarters  at  Ravenna  in  the  spring  of  1082,  and  again  sat  dowu 
before  Rome  with  a  powerful  force  ;  but  the  siege  made  little  progress. 


1081 — ]082.]    EOBEKT  GUISCAED  EECALLED  TO  ITALY.      361 

tally  raised  his  eyes  to  the  Lord,  from  whom  all  good 
proceeds,  he  assembled  his  troops  with  his  son  Bohemoud 
and  thus  addressed  them :  "  It  is  our  duty  to  obey  God 
who  speaks  to  us  by  the  common  pastor  of  the  catholic 
church.1  By  his  help  I  shall  comply  with  the  pope's  injunc- 
tions, endeavouring  to  return  to  you  as  quickly  as  I  can. 
Meanwhile  remain  quiet  in  this  province,  and  be  very  cir- 
cumspect, surrounded  as  you  are  by  enemies  on  every  side. 
If  any  one  should  venture  to  give  you  battle,  in  God's  name 
make  a  stout  resistance.  Take  care  however  not  to  com- 
mence hostilities,  nor  to  give  the  enemy  an  opportunity  of 
fighting,  nor  provoke  the  natives  until  I  shall  return.  I 
will  undertake  the  service  enjoined  me  by  the  Lord,  and  if 
life  is  spared  will  soon  be  with  you.  I  swear  by  the  soul  of 
Tailored  my  father,  and  give  you  my  solemn  oath,  that  until 
I  return  to  you  I  will  neither  use  the  bath,  nor  have  my 
beard  shaved,  or  my  hair  cut." 

After  this  speech  the  brave  warrior  set  sail  with  a  small 
number  of  companions  in  arms,  and  by  God's  guidance 
landed  in  Apulia,  from  whence,  having  assembled  troops,  he 
marched  to  Borne.  Meanwhile  the  Emperor  Henry,  having 
received  a  true  report  of  the  victory  which  Duke  Robert 
had  gained  over  the  emperor  of  Constantinople,  and  learn- 
ing that  he  was  unexpectedly  hurrying,  with  the  speed  of 
lightning,  to  the  pope's  assistance,  and  taking  these  various 
circumstances  into  mature  consideration,  he  became  greatly 
alarmed,  and  having  concluded  a  peace  with  certain  of  the 
Roman  nobles,  and  obtained  possession  of  some  part  of  the 
city,  he  withdrew  to  the  western  provinces  of  his  empire. 
Eor  he  chose  rather  to  take  his  departure  freely  in  honour 
and  safety,  than  to  wait  for  the  arrival  of  his  furious  ad- 
versary, and  involve  himself  in  a  whirlwind  of  war  for  which 
he  was  unprepared. 

1  Notwithstanding  all  the  fine  words  which  our  author  has  put  into  the 
mouth  of  Robert  Guiscard,  his  ardent  zeal  for  the  defence  of  the  church 
anil  its  head,  did  not  prevent  his  directing  his  first  efforts  exclusively  to  tha 
safety  of  his  own  states,  which  were  threatened  by  local  revolt*  and  the 
hostile  demonstrations  of  the  emperor.  It  was  not  until  1084,  after 
Rome  was  taken  by  the  emperor,  and  the  close  investment  of  the  castle  of 
St.  Angelo  that  be  determined,  at  the  earnest  entreaty  of  the  pope,  to 
march  to  his  aid. 


362  OBDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.VII.  C II.  VII. 

Cii.  VI.  Death  of  Robert  de  Grantmemil,  at  first  abbot  of 
St.  Evroult,  and  afterwards  of  St.  Euphemia. 

WHILE  the  world  was  agitated  by  these  severe  commotions, 
and  wars  were  raging  in  every  quarter,  so  that  the  kingdoms 
of  the  world  reeled  like  a  ship  tossed  by  the  waves,  the  vene- 
rable Eobert,  abbot  of  St.  Euphemia,  after  his  return  from 
the  battle  at  Durazzo,  fell  sick,  it  is  said  of  poison  taken  in 
his  food,  on  the  eleventh  of  the  calends  of  December  [21st 
November.]  *  It  appears  that  a  certain  Saracen  was 
employed  as  a  baker  in  the  convent  at  Brescia.  This  man 
had  married  the  sister  of  the  prior  William,  son  of  Ingram, 
and  for  some  unknown  and  trifling  cause,  nurtured  a  secret 
hatred  of  the  abbot.  In  consequence,  at  the  instigation  of  the 
devil,  he  mixed  poison  with  his  food,  following  the  example 
of  his  father  Ishmael,  who,  by  a  criminal  artifice,  endea- 
voured to  delude  the  unsuspecting  Isaac.  The  man  of  G-od 
languished  for  thirteen  days,  surrounded  by  the  weeping 
monks,  and  having  made  his  confession  and  received  the 
holy  communion,  expired  on  the  second  of  the  ides  [12th] 
of  December.  He  was  interred  in  the  church  of  St. 
Mary,  Mother  of  God,  which  he  himself  had  built  from 
the  foundations,  and  the  anniversary  of  his  death  was 
appointed  to  be  reverently  kept  every  year  to  his  memory. 
This  is  willingly  done  by  the  monks  whom  he  carefully 
brought  up  in  the  house  of  God,  as  a  father  does  his 
children.  It  is  also  the  custom  to  distribute  liberal  alms  to 
the  poor  on  that  day,  on  behalf  of  their  deceased  pastor. 

CH.  VII.  Restoration  of  Gregory  VII.  and  the  sack  of  Home 
by  Robert  Ouiscard — Battle  of  Durazzo — Death  of  Bohe- 
mond — And  of  Robert  Guiscard. 

AT  the  approach  of  Guiscard,  the  proud  Eomans  gathered 
in  great  indignation  that  the  capital  of  the  world  should  be 
exposed  to  the  attack  of  foreign  assailants.  Encouraging 
themselves  therefore  with  mutual  exhortations,  they  flew  to 
arms,  and  marched  out  to  meet  the  enemy.  But  they  were 

1  Robert  de  Grantmesnil  was  at  first  abbot  of  St.  Evroult,  and  afterwards 
of  St.  Euphemia.  See  vol.  i.  pp.  422,  438.  Our  author  continues  in  this 
paragraph  his  former  error  of  placing  the  latter  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Brescia.  Robert  died  on  November  21,  probably  in  the  year  1082. 


A..D.  1084.]  GTJISCARD    SACKS    KOHE.  363 

instantly  repulsed  by  a  charge  of  the  veteran  and  dis- 
ciplined Norman  troops,  who  entered  the  city  mingled 
with  the  retreating  citizens,  and  by  order  of  their  furious 
duke,  set  flames  to  the  houses.1  Guiscard  thus  forced  an 
entrance  into  Eome  by  fire  and  sword ;  nor  did  any  of  the 
citizens  afterwards  venture  to  mutter  a  word  against  him. 
As  he  drew  near  to  the  castle  of  Crescens,  the  pope  with 
his  clergy  came  out  to  meet  him,  and  returned  him  thanks 
for  the  toil  he  had  undergone  in  coming  to  his  aid,  absolved 
him  from  his  sins  as  a  reward  for  his  obedience,  and  implored 
for  him  the  eternal  benediction  of  Almighty  God. 

After  a  conference  had  taken  place  between  these  illus- 
trious men,  and  the  pope  had  given  an  account  of  his 
vexations,  the  incensed  duke  gave  vent  to  his  anger  in 
threatening  language  to  this  effect :  "  The  citizens  of  Eome 
are  worthless  traitors ;  they  are,  and  always  will  be,  un- 
grateful to  God  and  his  saints  for  the  innumerable  benefits 
conferred  upon  them.  Eome,  which  was  formerly  called 
the  capital  of  the  world,  and  the  fountain  of  health  for 
sinful  souls,  is  now  become  the  habitation  of  dragons  and 
the  foul  pit  of  all  iniquity.  I  shall  therefore  destroy  this 
den  of  thieves  with  the  sword  or  with  fire,  and  root  out  its 
vile  and  impious  inhabitants.  The  persecution  of  their 
bishops,  of  which  the  Jews  set  them  the  example,  the 
Romans  have  obstinately  persisted  in  accomplishing.  As 
the  Jews  crucified  Christ,  have  not  the  Romans  crucified 
his  members  ?  Did  they  not  martyr  Peter  and  Paul  f  Need 
I  speak  of  Linus  and  Cletus,  Clemens  and  Alexander,  Sextus 
and  Telesphorus,  Calixtus  and  Urban,  Cornelius  and  Fabian? 
All  these  laboured,  as  bishops,  for  the  cure  of  the  diseased 
souls  of  their  flock,  and  were  cruelly  butchered  by  their 

1  Robert  Guiscard  disgraced  his  entry  into  the  capital  of  the  Christian 
•world  by  the  most  fearful  devastations  of  a  city  which  had  preserved  till 
that  time  the  greatest  part  of  the  monuments  of  its  ancient  splendour. 
The  Romans  did  not  march  out  to  encounter  him,  but  contented  them- 
selves with  manning  the  walls.  Towards  evening  he  forced  an  entry  by 
the  Flaminian  gate.  His  occupation  of  the  city  only  lasted  three  days, 
during  which  it  -was  abandoned  to  pillage,  fire,  and  rape.  To  excuse  the 
Normans,  the  main  barbarities  are  attributed  to  the  Sarncens,  of  whom,  it 
is  said,  there  were  great  numbers  in  the  army.  The  pope,  restored  to  the 
palace  of  the  Lateran,  had  great  difficulty  in  preventing  the  destruction  of 
Borne  of  the  churches. 


864  ORDEEICUS    TITALIS.  [B. VII.  CH.  VII 

fellow  citizens  whom  they  strove  to  save.  Shall  I  mention 
Sebastian,  pierced  by  them  with  arrows  in  a  sewer  and  hung 
in  chains  P1  What  shall  I  say  of  Lawrence,  who  was  placed 
on  a  gridiron  over  burning  coals  and  broiled  like  a  fish  ? 
"What  of  Hippoly  tus,  bound  to  wild  horses  and  torn  asunder  ? 
What  of  Hermes,  Tiburtius,  Zeno,  Valentine,  and  other 
saints  whose  numbers  are  beyond  the  power  of  memory  to 
recount  ?  It  is  commonly  reported,  and  affirmed  by  the 
assertions  of  many  persons,  that  entire  Rome  reeks  with  the 
precious  blood  of  martyrs,  and  unnumbered  bodies  of  the 
aaints  lie  concealed  in  the  Roman  catacombs.  The  same 
ferocity  which  formerly  actuated  the  pagans,  now  animates 
the  fury  of  pseudo-Christians,  who  inflamed  with  covetous- 
ness  ally  themselves  with  the  excommunicated,  and  lend 
their  aid  to  senseless  heretics  against  the  catholic  church. 
They  merit  not  that  any  pity  should  be  extended  to  them. 
I  will  punish  the  impious  with  the  avenging  sword ;  I  will 
give  the  bloody  city  to  the  flames ;  and,  by  God's  help,  I 
will  restore  it  to  a  better  condition,  and  fill  it  with  inhabit- 
ants from  the  Transalpine  nations." 

Then  the  pope  threw  hmself  at  the  duke's  feet,2  and 
bathed  in  tears,  exclaimed,  "  Far  be  it  from  me  that  Rome 
should  be  destroyed  on  my  account !  I  was  not  elected  its 
pastor  for  the  destruction  of  the  city,  but  for  the  salvation 
of  the  people.  I  would  rather  follow  the  steps  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  to  death  than  cruelly  avenge  my  injuries  by  the 
punishment  of  sinners.  They  are  the  enemies  of  our  Creator 
who  despise  his  statutes,  maliciously  trouble  the  order  of 
the  church,  and  scatter  the  Lord's  flock  like  ravening 
wolves.  The  injury  and  the  vengeance  are  alike  his,  the 
service  and  the  reward.  He  knows  his  faithful  servants,  and 
abhors  his  furious  enemies.  I  therefore  commit  myself  and 
my  concerns  to  his  Almighty  disposal,  and  implore  him 
with  a  full  heart  to  cut  off  with  the  sword  of  discipline  all 
that  is  opposed  to  his  holy  law,  and  to  guide  me  according 
to  his  good  pleasure." 

1  Gumfo,  which  signifies  a  chain,  is  a  word  used  in  the  Acts  of  St. 
Sebastian. 

2  Pope  Hildebrand  was  not  in  the  habit  of  throwing  himself  at  the  feet 
of  any  man.     Robert  himself  did  so  the  first  time  he  met  the  pope,  at 
Aquino,  in  the  month  of  June,  1080. 


A.D.  1084.]         BATTLE  OF  LAKISSA.  365 

In  this  manner  the  pope  calmed  the  incensed  duke,  and, 
having  prevailed  with  him  to  accept  his  counsel,  came  forth 
from  the  tower  of  Crescens,  and,  followed  by  his  clergy,  and 
attended  by  the  duke  and  a  strong  band  of  troops,  repaired 
to  Albano.  That  city  was  founded  by  Ascanius  Julius,  the 
son  of  ^Eneas,  and  was  given  by  the  emperor  Constantine 
to  Pope  Silvester ;  thereupon,  the  duke  having  received  the 
apostolical  benediction,  marched  in  haste  to  the  coast,  and 
crossing  the  sea  without  delay,  rejoined  his  army  as  he  had 
sworn. 

Meanwhile,  the  crafty  Greek  emperor,  when  he  learnt 
that  Robert  was  gone  to  Italy,  thought  that  it  would  be  in 
his  power  to  reduce  the  power  of  the  Normans  while  their 
leader  was  absent :  he  therefore,  collecting  a  large  body  of 
troops,  marched  against  them,  and  compelled  them  to  fight 
a  battle  which  they  would  have  willingly  avoided.  In  the  be- 
ginning of  the  conflict,  the  Normans  betrayed  some  weakness, 
and  at  the  first  onset  being  under  alarm  on  many  accounts 
were  nearly  worsted  ;  for  disheartened  by  their  inferiority  of 
numbers,  and  the  absence  of  their  successful  leader,  they  had 
scarcely  commenced  the  battle,  when  they  began  to  think  of 
flight.  While,  however,  Bohemond  and  his  troops  were  in 
this  state  of  hesitation  and  dismay,  and  in  his  anxiety  he 
fervently  called  upon  G-od,  he  suddenly  experienced  the 
divine  aid,  and  a  voice  from  heaven  sounded  in  his  ears : 
"  Bohemond,  why  do  you  shrink  from  the  conflict  ?  Fight 
it  out  bravely  ;  for  he  who  was  your  father's  support  will  be 
yours  also,  if  you  trust  in  him  and  faithfully  maintain  his 
cause."  The  courage  of  the  Normans  was  restored  by 
these  words,  and  pressing  onwards  they  charged  the  Greeks 
with  energy,  so  that  they  were  repulsed  by  this  sudden 
attack,  and  taking  to  flight,  left  an  immense  booty  to  the 
foreigners,  who  were  in  great  need  of  supplies.2 

1  The  duke  did  not  conduct  the  pope  to  Albano,  having  left  him  at  the 
palnee  of  the  Lateran.  He  did  not  depart  himself  for  Illym  till  the 
month  of  September.  Gregory  VII.  did  indeed  sojourn  at  Albano,  but  it 
was  in  the  year  1074,  when  hq  was  on  his  way  to  Monte  Cassino  and 
Capun.  He  arrived  at  Monte  Cassino  in  the  month  of  August,  and  did 
not  leave  Capua  on  his  return  to  Rome  till  the  middle  of  November. 

1  Several  statements  in  this  paragraph  are  contrary  to  the  facts.  Bohe- 
mond, who  was  victorious  at  Jannina,  and  afterwards  at  Arta,  ended  by 


OBDERICTTS   VITALIS.  [B.YII.  CH.TII. 

On  his  return  from  Tuscany,  Guiscard  found  his  troops 
highly  rejoicing  at  their  success,  and  he  also  exulting  at  so 
signal  a  triumph  returned  thanks  to  God.  Bohemond,  who 
had  been  wounded  in  the  battle,  was  sent  for  his  cure  to  the 
surgeons  of  Salerno,  whose  reputation  for  skill  in  medicine 
was  established  throughout  the  world.1 

Meanwhile,  the  citizens  of  Durazzo,  taking  into  account 
that  the  Normans  had  penetrated  far  into  Bulgaria,  and  had 
detached  by  force  of  arms  several  provinces  from  the 
Byzantine  empire,  as  well  as  that  they  were  entirely  cut 
off  from  receiving  succours  from  the  Thracians,  Macedo- 
nians, and  all  their  neighbours,  began  to  lose  their  confi- 
dence, and  consulted  among  themselves  how  they  might 
best  escape  from  their  difficult  position.  At  length,  the 
most  resolute  among  them  determined  on  their  course ; 
they  secretly  despatched  a  messenger  to  the  duke,  asking  for 
peace,  and  faithfully  promising  to  deliver  up  the  defence  of 
the  city  to  his  troops.  The  duke  granted  their  demands, 
and  detached  three  hundred  soldiers  to  take  possession  of 
the  place.  The  Normans  arriving  before  it  at  night,  were 
admitted  within  the  walls,  and  having  established  themselves 
securely,  peace  was  made  between  them  and  the  citizens.3 

Sichelgade,  wife  of  Robert  Guiscard,  was  daughter  of 
Gaimard  duke  of  Salerno,3  and  sister  of  Gisulf  who  was 
deprived  of  his  duchy  by  the  ambitious  usurpation  of  his 
brother-in-law.4  This  princess  conceived  a  violent  hatred  of 
Bohemond  her  step-son,  apprehending  that  as  he  was  much 
braver  and  superior  in  sense  and  worth,  her  son  Roger  would 
forfeit  in  his  favour  the  duchy  of  Apulia  and  Calabria  to 
which  he  was  heir.  In  consequence,  she  prepared  a  deadly 
potion  and  sent  it  to  the  physicians  of  Salerno,  among  whom 
she  had  been  brought  up  and  by  whom  she  had  been 

being  nearly  beaten  at  the  battle  of  Larissa,  and  was  obliged  to  cross  into 
Ittly  in  consequence  of  the  mutiny  of  his  troops. 

1  It  was  towards  the  close  of  the  year  1084,  after  a  naval  victory  over 
the  Greeks  and  Venetians,  that  Bohemond  was  compelled  to  seek  medical 
assistance  in  Italy. 

J  Durazzo  capitulated  as  early  as  February  18,  1082. 

3  Guimard  IV.,  prince  of  Salerno,  1027— 11)52. 

*  Gisulf  II.,  youngest  son  of  Gaimard  IV.,  1052—1077.  This  prince 
appears  to  have  retained  the  sovereigpty  of  Amain"  as  long  as  the  veer 
10«8,  and  not  to  have  died  till  1092. 


A.D.  1084 — 1085.]   BOHEMOND   POISOITBD.  367 

instructed  in  the  use  of  poisons.  The  physicians  lent  them- 
selves to  the  wishes  of  their  lady  and  scholar,  and  gave  the 
deadly  poison  to  Bohemond  whom  it  was  their  duty  to  heal. 
Having  taken  it,  he  was  reduced  to  death's  door,  and 
instantly  despatched  a  messenger  to  his  father  informing  him 
of  his  danger.  The  shrewd  duke  became  immediately  aware 
of  his  wife's  treachery,  and  calling  her  to  him  in  great  dis- 
tress thus  interrogated  her.  "  Is  my  lord  Bohemond  still 
alive?"  To  which  she  replied:  "I  know  not,  my  lord." 
Upon  which  he  said :  "  Bring  me  a  copy  of  the  holy  gospels 
and  a  sword."  On  their  being  brought,  he  took  the  sword 
and  swore  as  follows  upon  the  sacred  writings :  "  Listen  to 
me,  Sichelgade,  I  swear  by  this  holy  gospel  that  if  mv  son 
Bohemond  dies  of  the  malady  under  which  he  labours,  1  will 
plunge  this  sword  into  your  bosom."  Alarmed  at  this 
menace,  she  prepared  a  sure  antidote  and  forthwith  sent  a 
messenger  with  it  to  the  physicians  at  Salerno  who  had 
been  her  instruments  for  poisoning  Bohemond,  urging  them 
with  prayers  and  promises  to  extricate  her  from  the  peril  to 
which  she  was  exposed.  The  physicians  learning  that  the 
treachery  was  detected  and  the  embarrassment  of  their  lady, 
prayed  that  the  duke's  terrible  threats  might  not  be  put  in 
execution,  and  used  every  effort  which  their  skill  in  the  art 
of  medicine  suggested  to  restore  the  young  prince  to  health 
Through  Gop's  blessing,  who  designed  him  for  the  scourge 
of  the  Turks  and  Saracens,  the  enemies  of  the  faith,  Bohe- 
mond recovered ;  but  such  had  been  the  virulence  of  the 
poison  that  his  countenance  was  pallid  all  the  rest  of  hia 
life. 

Meanwhile,  the  treacherous  and  wily  woman  reflected 
within  herself,  in  a  state  of  great  alarm,  that  if  her  messen- 
ger should  meet  with  any  delay  in  crossing  the  sea,  and  the 
sick  prince  should  die  before  he  arrived,  there  would  be  no 
escaping  the  death  which  her  husband  had  sworn  to  inflict 
on  her.  She  therefore  devised  another  murderous  and 
execrable  scheme.  Sad  to  say,  she  gave  poison  to  her 
husband.  And  as  soon  as  he  began  to  sicken,  having  no 
doubt  of  the  inevitable  result,  she  assembled  her  attendants 
and  the  rest  of  the  Lombards  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  and 
hurrying  to  the  sea  shore  embarked  with  her  partisans  in. 
the  swiftest  ships,  burning  the  rest  that  she  might  not  be 


368  OEDEEICUS   TITALIS.  [B.VII.  CH.VII. 

pursued  by  the  Normans.  Having  reached  the  coast  of 
Apulia,  one  of  the  knights  who  attended  her  landed  privately 
and  hastening  to  Salerno  by  night  suddenly  appeared  before 
Bohemond,  saying :  "  Eise  quickly  and  fly  and  save  yourself." 
On  his  inquiring  the  reason,  the  bearer  of  the  tidings  replied : 
"  Tour  father  has  perished,  and  your  mother  has  landed  in 
Apulia.  She  is  hurrying  here  to  seek  your  death."  Bohe- 
mond, on  hearing  this  alarming  intelligence,  was  greatly 
agitated,  aud  mounting  an  ass,  clandestinely  withdrew  from 
the  cityandfled  to  Jordan,  prince  of  Capua,  his  cousin, 'by  whom 
he  was  kindly  received,  and  thus  escaped  from  the  machina- 
tions and  threats  of  his  stepmother.  She  was  much  mortified 
on  arriving  at  Salerno,  that  she  had  been  outwitted  by  the 
object  of  her  persecutions.  Her  son  Eoger,  surnamed 
Crumena,  secured  the  succession  to  the  rich  duchy  of  his 
ancestors  lying  on  this  side  of  the  sea.2 

The  Normans  who  found  themselves  in  a  foreign  country 
with  their  great  and  brave  leader  in  the  utmost  peril  from  a 
woman's  wiles  were  overwhelmed  with  anxieties.  They  felt 
also  that  the  strength  of  their  army  was  diminished  by  the 
defection  of  the  Lombards  who  had  secretly  departed  in 
attendance  on  their  mistress,  and  that  they  could  not  return 
to  Italy  without  great  difficulty  and  delay,  as  their  ships 
were  burnt.  The  noble  duke  therefore  summoned  to  his 
bide  Robert  count  de  Loritello,3  and  GreoiFrey  de  Conversana, 
his  nephews,  Hugh  Le  Borgne  of  Clermont,'4  and  William  de 
G-rantmesnil,  with  Hugh  the  good  marquis,5  his  brother-in- 
law,  and  others  his  kinsmen  and  chief  counsellors,  and 
inquired  of  them  what  they  proposed  to  do.  But  as  they 
all  whispered  together  and  were  unable  to  propose  any 
certain  plan,  he  thus  addressed  them  :  "  The  divine  vengeance 

1  Jordan,  prince  of  Capua,  April  5,  1 078— December  19  or  20,  1091 ; 
he  was  cousin-german  of  Bohemond  by  his  mother  Fredeline,  sister  of 
Robert  Guiscard. 

2  The  only  truth  in  this  paragraph  is  the  death  of  Robert  Guiscard, 
which  took  place  July  17,  1085,  in  the  island  of  Cephalonia  (where  Bohe- 
mond and  Sichelgade  went  to  receive  his  last  breath),  and  the  favouritism 
shown  to  Roger  in  the  division  of  his  territories. 

3  See  vol.  i.  p.  453. 

*  Hugh,  the  first  of  that  name,  count  de  Clermont  in  the  Beauvoisis, 
was  then  living,  but  does  not  appear  to  be  the  person  here  spoken  of. 
6  Odo,  the  good  marquis,  was  father  of  the  celebrated  Tancred. 


A.D.  1085.]     LAST  SPEECH  OF  EOBEET  GTJISCARD.  369 

scourges  us  for  our  sins,  and  punishes  us  for  our  ambition. 
The  Lord  justly  chastises  his  servants  and  plainly  teaches 
us  that  worldly  glory  is  not  to  be  coveted.  Let  us  give  him 
thanks  for  all  the  favours  which  he  has  vouchsafed  to  confer 
upon  us,  and  implore  him  with  our  whole  hearts  that  he  will 
always  show  mercy  to  us.  We  were  sprung  from  poor  and 
obscure  parents,  and  leaving  the  barren  fields  of  the  Cotentin 
and  homes  ill  supplied  with  the  means  of  existence,  we  set  out 
for  Rome,  and  it  was  not  without  great  difficulty  and  much 
alarm  that  we  passed  beyond  that  place.  Afterwards,  by 
God's  aid,  we  got  possession  of  many  great  cities.  But  we 
ought  to  attribute  our  success  not  to  our  own  valour  or 
merits,  but  to  divine  Providence.  Now  at  length,  for  the 
sins  of  the  natives,  we  have  wrested  from  the  empire  of 
Constantinople  as  much  country  as  it  has  taken  us  fifteen 
days  to  penetrate.  Tou  know  well,  that  I  was  invited  to 
undertake  the  protection  of  the  emperor  Michael  who  was 
unjustly  driven  from  his  throne  by  his  subjects,  my  daughter 
having  been  lawfully  betrothed  to  his  son.  I  had  deter- 
mined, if  it  pleased  God,  that  Constantinople,  which  is  in. 
possession  of  an  unwarlike  people  abandoned  to  pleasure  and 
lasciviousness,  should  be  subjugated  to  Catholic  warriors, 
who  would  deliver  Jerusalem,  God's  holy  city,  from  the 
Turks,  and  expelling  the  infidels  by  their  victorious  arms 
enlarge  the  bounds  of  Christendom.  It  was  for  this  purpose 
that  I  undertook  so  vast  an  enterprise,  so  perilous  a  conflict. 
The  mysterious  will  of  Almighty  God  has  otherwise  ordered. 
David  formed  the  design  of  building  the  temple  at  Jerusalem 
to  God's  honour,  biit  God  decreed  that  this  should  be  accom- 
plished with  great  triumph  by  his  son  Solomon.  So  I  con- 
ceive that  my  enterprise  will  be  completed  in  future  years, 
aud  the  fruit  of  my  labours  will  one  day  appear,  and  they 
will  be  profitably  cited  to  posterity  as  an  incitement  to  the 
like  virtues.  Receive  then,  brave  men,  prudent  counsel,  and 
do  not  lose  yoiir  former  courage  which  I  have  often  proved 
in  difficulties  and  dangers.  I  am  but  a  single  Avarrior,,  and 
mortal,  as  others ;  but  ye  are  many,  and  by  the  goodness  of 
God  in  the  possession  of  many  advantages.  You  have  per- 
formed great  actions  which  are  published  far  and  near; 
ancient  history  affords  no  examples  of  greater  achievements 
wrought  by  a  small  number  of  obscure  men,  than  those 

VOL.  II.  B   B 


370  OBDEBICUS   TITAI.IS.  [B.TII.  CH.TII. 

which,  by  God's  help,  you  have  accomplished.  Choose 
amoug  yourselves  the  bravest  and  wisest  of  your  number,  and 
appoint  him  your  leader.  Do  not  evacuate  this  rich  country 
which  you  have  made  your  own  by  such  exertions  and  in  so 
short  a  time.  My  son  Bohemond,  if  life  and  health  are  spared 
him,  will  soon  fly  to  your  succour." 

The  duke  having  said  this  and  more  to  the  same  purpose, 
Peter,  a  Frenchman,  and  others  his  friends,  after  keenly 
canvassing  the  duke's  proposals,  thus  replied;  "There  is 
much  danger  and  great  difficulty  in  the  injunctions  you  lay 
on  us.  Our  enemies  are  countless,  while  we  are  few  in 
number,  and  we  have  opposed  to  us  a  powerful  and  saga- 
cious emperor,  to  whom  at  your  instance  we  have  often 
given  grave  offence.  We  are  unable  to  resist  his  prowess 
and  widespread  power,  for  his  rule  extends  over  many 
kingdoms  and  nations.  Would  to  God  we  could  return  in 
peace  and  safety  to  the  homes  from  which  we  departed." 

The  duke  groaned  deeply  on  hearing  these  sentiments,  and 
began  calling  upon  God,  with  tears, .and  lamenting  his  son 
with  bitter  grief:  "Alas!  what  sorrows  surround  me  in  my 
misfortunes  !  In  times  past  I  have  done  much  injury,  and 
many  of  my  actions  have  been  unjust ;  now  the  punishments 
which  I  deserved  long  since  have  accumulated  upon  me. 
Most  High  God,  spare  me  !  merciful  God,  have  pity  upon  me 
a  sinner !  Almighty  God,  succour  thy  people  whom  I  have 
led  hither !  O  my  son  Bohemond,  the  equal  of  Epaminondaa 
the  Theban  in  valour  and  wisdom,  where  shall  I  find  thee  ? 
Bohemond,  thou  noble  warrior,  who  may  be  compared  in 
arms  to  the  Thessalian  Achilles  or  Eoland  the  Frank,  do 
you  yet  live,  or  are  you  detained  for  your  destruction  ?  What 
has  happened  to  thee  ?  What  has  become  of  your  proved 
courage,?  If  you  were  in  health  as  I  left  you  when  I  parted 
for  Italy,  you  would  quickly  be  here  and  take  possession  of 
this  rich  region  of  Bulgaria  conquered  by  our  arms.  For 
I  feel  assured  that,  if  you  live,  such  is  your  resolution  that  if 
divine  providence  allowed  you  to  be  present  at  my  death, 
you  would  by  God's  help  never  cede  the  rights  I  have  gained 
by  arms.  Courage,  my  valiant  comrades !  consider  carefully 
among  yourselves,  and  weigh  well  that  you  are  far  away 
from  your  own  homes.  Eecollect  what  great  deeds  the 
Normans  have  wrought,  and  how  often  our  fathers  have 


A.D.  1085.]  EOBEET   OUISCAED's   DEATH.  371 

resisted  the  French,  the  Bretons,  and  the  people  of  Maine, 
and  bravely  conquered  them.  Becall  to  your  minds  the 
great  exploits  you  have  performed,  with  me  for  your  leader,  in 
Italy  and  Sicily,  when  you  reduced  Salerno  and  Bari, 
Brundisium  and  Tarento,  Bismano1  and  Reggio,  Syracuse  and 
Palermo,  Cosenza  and  Castro- Giovanni,  and  many  other 
cities  and  towns.  By  God's  assistance,  you  subdued  under  my 
command  Gisulf  duke  of  Salerno,  Waszo,  count  of  Naples,2 
and  many  other  powerful  princes.  Strive  therefore  not  to 
lower  your  position  by  the  loss  of  your  former  magnanimity. 
Choose  one  of  yourselves,  as  I  said  before,  by  mutual  agree- 
ment, and  retain  with  honour  the  fertile  provinces  which 
you  have  now  gained." 

Of  all  those  who  were  present  at  this  council,  no  one  dared 
to  assume  the  command,  all  preferring  to  provide  for  their 
safety  by  flight.  At  length,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1085, 
Robert  Guiscard,  the  illustrious  duke  of  Apulia,  a  man 
whose  equal  can  scarcely  be  found  in  our  times,  having  con- 
fessed and  been  absolved  from  his  sins,  and  fortified  by 
receiving  the  holy  communion,  as  the  hour  of  death  approach- 
ed, was  taken  from  the  world,  not  struck  down  by  a  warrior's 
arm,  but  infected  by  a  woman's  crime  as  at  first  Adam  was 
driven  out  of  paradise,  not  the  victim  of  war  but  of  poison. 
As  soon  as  he  was  dead,  the  Normans  preserved  his  body  in 
salt,  aud  demanded  permission  to  depart  in  peace  to  their  own. 
country.  Though  the  emperor  rejoiced  at  being  freed  from 
his  formidable  enemy,  yet  he  wept  with  much  feeling  over 
the  deceased  duke  who  had  never  turned  back  in  battle.3 

1  JJismanus,  Bismantus,  Bismantum,  Bismantoa,  a  villnge  and  mountain 
in  the  Modenese,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Reggio,  which  our  author 
transposes  into  Calabria,  misled,  probably,  by  both  having  a  town  with 
the  common  name  of  Reggio.  Bismano  is  now  called  Pietra  Bismantova, 
and  is  a  mountain  which  bounds  on  the  north-west  the  valley  of  the 
Secchia,  between  that  river  and  the  village  of  Castelnuovo  ne'  Monte,  to 
the  south-west  of  Curpineti,  about  eighteen  miles  from  Reggio,  and  twenty- 
two  from  Modena. 

1  It  is  not  known  with  certainty  of  whom  our  author  speaks.  Surgius  VI. 
was  prince  of  Naples  when  Richard,  prince  of  Capua,  made  u  fruitless 
siege  of  it  in  1077 — 1078  ;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  Robert  Guiscard, 
who  was  then  engaged  in  the  siege  of  Beneventum,  took  any  active  part  in 
that  of  Naples. 

1  The  tears  of  Alexius  Commenus,  on  hearing  of  the  death  of  his  most 
formidable  enemy,  do  him  honour.  Durazzo  was  speedily  restored  to  hia 
B  B  2 


372  OBDERICTJS   VITALIS.  [B.VII.  CH.YIII. 

He  therefore  gave  his  willing  consent  to  those  who  desired 
it,  that  all  his  household  might  return  to  Italy  with  the 
corpse  of  their  prince,  while  he  offered  high  pay  to  others 
who  were  willing  to  remain  and  enter  his  service.  Thus  those 
who  had  vigorously  attacked  the  Byzantine  monarch  after- 
wards faithfully  served  him.  The  rest,  returning  to  Apulia, 
carried  the  body  of  Gruiscard  to  Venosa,1  and  there  buried  it 
with  great  lamentations  in  the  monastery  of  the  Holy  Trinity. 
That  convent  was  presided  over  by  the  venerable  abbot 
Berenger,  the  son  of  Arnold,  the  sou  of  Helgo;  he  had  been 
brought  up  by  the  pious  abbot  Theodoric  at  St.  Evroult,  and 
abbot  Robert  had  brought  him  in  his  company  from  thence 
to  Calabria.2  Pope  Alexander3  consecrated  him  abbot  of  tho 
monastery  of  Yenosa,  and  some  years  afterwards,  for  his 
virtuous  life  and  sound  doctrine  he  was  promoted  by  pope 
Urban  to  the  bishopric  of  that  city. 

CH.  VIII.  Ode,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  takes  measures  for  succeed- 
ing Hildebrand  in  the  papacy — fie  is  arrested  by  King 
William  for  abusing  his  authority,  and  imprisoned  at 
Rouen. 

WHILE  the  storms  which  we  have  just  described  were 
agitating  the  world,  certain  sorcerers  at  Rome  applied  their 
art  to  discover  who  would  succeed  Hildebrand  in  the 
papacy,4  and  found  that  after  the  death  of  Gregory,5  a  prelate 

dominion,  either  re-taken  by  the  Venetians  or  by  Bodin,  king  of  Servia.  A 
remnant  of  the  Normans  in  'the  isle  of  Cephalonia  entered  his  service, 
among  whom  was  Peter  d'Aulps,  the  founder  of  the  powerful  Byzantine 
house  of  the  Petraliphos,  and  who  is  supposed  to  be  one  of  the  ancestors 
of  the  family  of  Blacas,  of  which  there  will  be  occasion  to  speak  in  the 
next  book. 

1  Some  disasters  were  experienced  in  fulfilling  Robert  Guiscard's  direc- 
tions that  his  body  should  be  interred  at  Venosa.  The  ship  which  was 
freighted  with  the  corpse  encountered  a  violent  storm  off  Otranto,  and  the 
coffin  was  washed  overboard.  It  was,  indeed,  recovered,  but  notwithstand- 
ing the  rude  embalmment  mentioned  by  our  author,  the  body  was  in  such  a 
state  of  decomposition  that  it  was  necessary  to  deposit  the  heart  and 
entrails  at  Otranto.  William  of  Malmesbury  has  preserved  Robert  Guis- 
card's epitaph.  See  his  account  of  this  celebrated  Norman  chief,  b.  iii.  p. 
294— 296.— ttohn's  Antiq.  Lib. 

*  See  vol.  i.  p.  439. 

8  Alexander  II.,  Sept.  30,  1061— April  21,  1073. 

*  Urban  II.,  March  12,  1088— July  29,  1099. 

*  Gregory  VII.,  April  22,  1073— May  25,  1085.     The  last  words  of 


A.D.  1082.]    BISHOP  ODO  ASPIBES  TO  THE  PAPACY.  373 

of  the  name  of  Odo  would  be  pope  of  Borne.  "When 
Odo,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  who,  under  his  brother  King 
William,  had  the  chief  rule  over  the  Normans  and  English, 
heard  this,  he  made  light  of  the  authority  and  wealth  which 
the  government  of  a  western  kingdom  conferred,  and  aspired 
to  the  papal  power  which  would  give  him  wider  sway  and 
raise  him  above  all  earthly  princes.  He  therefore  despatched 
his  emissaries  to  Home,  where  he  purchased  a  palace,  and 
conciliating  the  senators  by  magnificent  gifts,  he  ornamented 
his  residence  with  lavish  expense  and  costly  superfluities. 
Attaching  to  his  person  Hugh,  earl  of  Chester,  and  a  goodly 
company  of  distinguished  knights,  he  engaged  them  to  attend 
him  to  Italy,  by  prodigal  promises  added  to  his  entreaties. 
The  Normans  are  ever  given  to  change  and  desirous  of 
visiting  foreign  lands,  and  they  therefore  readily  joined 
themselves  to  the  aspiring  prelate  whose  ambition  was  not 
satisfied  by  the  dominion  of  England  and  Normandy.  In 
consequence  they  resolved  on  abandoning  the  vast  estates 
which  they  possessed  in  the  west  of  Europe,  and  pledged 
themselves  to  attend  the  bishop  beyond  the  Po.1 

this  pope,  pronounced  at  the  point  of  death,  are  well  known :  "  I  have 
loved  justice  and  hated  iniquity ;  therefore  I  die  in  exile."  But  the  mag- 
nificent reply  of  one  of  the  prelates  who  attended  him  is  not  so  commonly 
known:  "  You,  my  lord,  cannot  die  in  exile,  for  as  the  vicar  of  Christ  and 
his  apostles,  you  have  received  the  nations  for  your  inheritance,  and  the 
utmost,  parts  of  the  earth  for  your  possession." 

1  M.  Le  Prevost  remarks  that,  notwithstanding  the  vanity  and  ambition 
of  Odo  were  equal  to  his  avarice,  there  is  difficulty  in  believing  that  the 
bishop  ever  seriously  contemplated  obtaining  the  papacy,  or  even  fixing  his 
residence  near  a  pontiff  of  such  rigid  morals  and  resolute  character  as 
Gregory  VII.,  in  the  midst  also  of  all  the  difficulties  and  dangers  which 
arose  out  of  the  contest  between  the  chief  of  the  church  and  the  emperor, 
seconded  by  the  anti-pope  Guibert,  which  was  then  at  its  highest  pitch 
of  violence.  Our  brother  editor  conjectures  that  Odo,  ill-informed  of  the 
obstacles  which  these  two  personages  raised  to  free  communication  with 
the  legitimate  pope,  only  proposed  to  exhibit  his  pomp  at  the  council  con- 
voked for  the  autumn  of  the  following  year.  It  is,  however,  scarcely  to 
be  supposed  that  the  bishop  of  Bayeux  would  have  taken  the  steps  related 
by  our  author  for  a  merely  temporary  purpose.  History  is  not  without  an 
example  of  English  wealth  spent  for  a  more  chimerical  purpose  in  the 
case  of  Richard's  (earl  of  Cornwall)  ambition  for  the  empty  title  of  king 
of  the  Romans.  Wolsey,  too,  whose  character  in  many  respects  was 
singularly  identical  with  that  of  Odo,  made  pretensions  to  the  papacy.  On 
the  whole  we  are  led  to  conclude  that  the  bishop's  real  intentions  had 
transpired,  and  that  our  historian's  statements  are  at  least  founded  on 


374  ORDERICUS   TITALIS.  [B.  Til.  CH.  Till. 

The  wise  king  William  speedily  heard  of  these  prepara- 
tions, but  the  scheme  did  not  meet  his  approbation,  for  he 
considered  that  it  was  fraught  with  injury  to  his  own  king- 
dom as  well  as  to  others.  He  therefore  lost  no  time  in  crossing 
the  sea,  and  at  the  isle  of  Wight  presented  himself  unexpect- 
edly to  bishop  Odo,  when  he  was  on  the  point  of  sailing  for 
Normandy  with  a  pompous  retinue.  Having  assembled  the 
great  nobles  of  the  realm  in  his  royal  court,  the  king  thus 
addressed  them : — 

"  Illustrious  lords,  listen  attentively  to  what  I  shall  say, 
and  give  me,  I  pray  you,  salutary  counsel.  Before  I  went 
over  to  Normandy,  I  entrusted  the  government  of  England 
to  my  brother  the  bishop  of  Bayeux.  There  were  in 
Normandy  many  who  revolted  against  my  authority,  and,  if 
I  may  so  say,  both  friends  and  foes  set  themselves  against 
me.  Even  my  own  son  Eobert,  and  the  young  nobles  whom  I 
had  brought  up  and  invested  with  the  ensigns  of  knighthood 
rebelled  against  me,  while  some  traitorous  vassals  and  my 
border  foes  eagerly  joined  the  ranks  of  the  malcontents.  But 
by  God's  help,  whose  servant  I  am,  they  failed  of  success,  and 
got  nothing  from  me  but  the  sword  which  pierced  them  with 
wounds.  By  the  terror  of  my  arms  I  restrained  the  people  of 
Anjou,  who  were  leagued  for  war  against  me,  and  I  also 
curbed  the  rebellious  inhabitants  of  Maine.  Thus  occupied, 
I  found  myself  embarrassed  by  affairs  beyond  sea,  and  was 
long  detained  labouring  earnestly  for  the  public  good. 
Meanwhile,  my  brother  grievously  oppressed  the  English, 
robbing  the  churches  of  their  lands  and  revenues,  and 
stripping  them  of  the  ornaments  with  which  our  forefathers 
enriched  them  ;  while  he  seduced  my  knights,  whose  duty  it 
was  to  defend  England  against  the  Danes  and  Irish,  and 
other  enemies  who  threatened  hostilities, '  and  has  made 
preparations,  in  contempt  of  me,  for  transporting  them  into 
foreign  regions  beyond  the  Alps.  My  heart  is  overwhelmed 
with  grief,  especially  on  account  of  the  injury  he  has  done  to 
the  churches  of  God.  The  Christian  kings  who  reigned 
before  me  were  devoted  to  the  church,  on  which  they  heaped 

what  he  thought  credible  authority.  The  accurate  Malmesbury  says  that 
Odo,  "  by  stuffing  the  scrips  of  the  pilgrims  with  letters  and  money,  had 
nearly  purchased  the  Roman  papacy  from  the  citizens." — B.  iii.  p.  307, 
Bohn's  Antiq.  Lib. 


A.D.  1082.]  BISHOP  ODO   ARBESTED.  375 

honours  and  gifts  of  every  kind,  and  hence,  as  we  believe, 
they  now  repose  in  the  seats  of  bliss,  rejoicing  in  their 
glorious  rewards.  Ethelbert,  Edwin  and  St.  Oswald, 
Ethelwulfa  and  Alfred,  Edward  the  elder  and  Edgar,  with 
Edward  my  cousin  and  most  dear  lord,  richly  endowed  our 
holy  church,  which  is  the  spouse  of  Christ.  And  now,  my 
brother,  to  whom  I  entrusted  the  care  of  my  entire  kingdom, 
has  laid  violent  hands  on  her  substance,  has  cruelly  oppressed 
the  poor,  has  seduced  my  knights  on  frivolous  pretences,  and 
has  spread  disorder  through  the  whole  of  England  by  his 
unjust  exactions.  Consider  then  prudently  what  is  to  be 
done,  and  let  me  know,  1  pray  you,  what  you  advise." 

All  the  council,  however,  being  restrained  by  fear  of  the 
powerful  prelate,  and  hesitating  to  make  a  decision  against 
him,  the  stout-hearted  king  said:  "A  dangerous  ambition 
must  always  be  curbed,  and  an  individual  must  not  be 
spared,  for  favour  or  affection,  to  the  public  detriment. 
Let  this  man  therefore  who  disturbs  the  state  be  arrested, 
and  closely  confined,  that  he  may  not  do  further  mischief." 
No  one  however  daring  to  lay  hands  on  a  bishop,  the  king 
was  the  first  to  seize  him,  upon  which  Odo  cried  out,  "  I  am 
a  clerk,  and  the  Lord's  minister ;  it  is  not  lawful  to  condemn 
a  bishop  without  the  judgment  of  the  pope."  To  which  the 
prudent  king  replied :  "  I  do  not  condemn  a  clerk  or  a 
bishop,  but  I  arrest  an  earl  I  have  myself  created,1  and  to 
whom,  as  my  vicegerent,  I  entrusted  the  government  of  my 
realm,  it  being  my  will  that  he  should  render  an  account  of 
the  stewardship  I  have  committed  to  him." 

In  this  manner  the  royal  authority  was  exerted  to  arrest 
the  bishop,  who  was  conducted  to  Normandy,  and  being 
imprisoned  in  the  castle  of  Rouen,  was  kept  there  in  close 
custody  four  years,  that  is,  as  long  as  the  king  lived.2  The 
chief  disturber  of  the  peace  being  thus  laid  low,  the  knights 
returned  to  their  duty,  and,  by  the  king's  wisdom,  his  throne 
was  fortified  against  all  attacks  from  within  or  without. 

In  this  prelate  we  see  clearly  exemplified  what  Fulgentius 

1  William  had  created  his  brother  earl  of  Kent. 

1  The  Saxon  Chronicle,  followed  by  Roger  de  Hoveden  and  others, 
places  the  arrest  of  Bishop  Odo  in  the  year  1082  (in  the  autumn), 
consequently  his  captivity  must  have  continued  for  five,  or  nearly  five, 
years.  _ 


.376  OBDEBICUS   TITALIS.  [B.TII.  CH.  IX. 

says,  in  his  book  on  Mythology:1  "The  man  who  makes 
pretensions  to  which  he  is  not  entitled,  will  sink  lower  than 
he  is."  The  bishopric  of  Bayeux,  and  the  rich  earldom  of 
Kent,  and  the  exercise  of  royal  power  in  common  with  his 
own  through  England  and  Normandy,  was  not  enough  for 
one  clerk,  who  aspired  to  the  government  of  the  whole 
world,  moved  neither  by  Divine  inspiration  nor  a  canonical 
election,  but  by  the  impulses  of  his  own  insatiable  ambition. 
He  lost  therefore  what  he  already  possessed,  was  left  to  pine 
in  captivity,  and  has  left  a  warning  to  posterity  not  to  be  too 
eager  in  the  pursuit  of  honours. 

CH.  IX.  Death  of  Queen  Matilda — Her  epitapli — She  is 
buried  in  the  abbey  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  at  Caen — Succes- 
sion of  the  abbesses. 

AT  this  time,  the  seventh  indiction,  Matilda,  queen  of 
England,  fell  sick,  and,  her  illness  being  prolonged  and 
becoming  serious,  she  confessed  her  sins  with  bitter  tears, 
and  having  duly  performed  all  the  offices  which  the  Christian 
profession  requires,  and  been  fortified  by  the  life-giving 
sacrament,  she  died  on  the  third  of  the  nones  [the  3rd]  of 
November.2  Her  body  was  carried  to  the  convent  of  the 
Holy  Trinity,  which  she  had  founded  at  Caen  for  nuns,  and 
interred  with  great  respect  by  many  bishops  and  abbots, 
between  the  choir  and  the  altar.  The  monks  and  clergy 
celebrated  her  obsequies  with  a  great  concourse  of  the  poor, 
to  whom  she  had  been  a  generous  benefactress,  in  the  name 
of  Christ.  A  tomb  was  erected  to  her  memory,  admirably 
ornamented  with  gold  and  jewels,  and  the  following  epitaph 
was  elegantly  engraved  on  it  in  letters  of  gold : — 

This  stately  momiment  Matilda's  name 

In  gold  and  marble  gives  to  endless  fame. 

High  was  her  birth,  sprung  from  a  royal  race, 

To  which  her  virtues  lent  a  nobler  grace. 

Her  fair  Adele  to  Flemish  Baldwin  bore, 

The  crown  of  France  whose  sire  and  brother  wore. 

1  Planciates  Fulgentius,  supposed  to  have  been  bishop  of  Carthage  in 
the  sixth  century.      His  work  on  mythology  in  three  books,  addressed  to  a 
priest  named  Catus,  has  been  printed  at  Augsburg  in  1507,  at  Bale  in  1543, 
and  at  Geneva  in  1599. 

2  Queen  Matilda  died  on  Tuesday,  Nov.  2,  1083. 


A.D.  1083.]        QUEEN  MATILDA'S  EPITAPH.  377 

When  conquering  William  made  her  England's  queen, 
'Twas  here  her  noblest,  holiest  work  was  seen, 
This  fane,  this  house,  where  cloistered  sisters  dwell, 
And  with  their  notes  of  praise  the  anthem  swell, 
Endowed  and  beautified,  her  earnest  care. 
Nor  others  failed  her  liberal  alms  to  share; 
The  sick,  the  indigent  partook  her  store, 
She  laid  up  wealth  by  giving  to  the  poor. 
To  heaven  by  pious  deeds  she  won  the  way, 
Departing  on  November's  second  day.1 

The  Abbess  Matilda  carefully  governed  the  convent  at 
Caen,  dedicated  to  the  holy  and  undivided  Trinity,  for 
forty-seven  years,  ably  educating  and  instructing  in  the 
service  of  God,  according  to  the  monastic  rule,  Cecilia,  the 
king's  daughter,  and  many  other  noble  ladies.1  On  her 
death,  she  was  succeeded  by  the  illustrious  Cecilia,  who 
tilled  the  office  of  mother  of  the  nuns  for  several  years,  in 
the  time  of  her  brother,  King  Henry.  After  her,  the 
daughter  of  Count  William,  who  was  son  of  Stephen  of 
Blois,  undertook  the  government  of  the  convent,  but  she 
held  it  only  for  a  short  time,  being  cut  off  by  a  premature 
death. 

Cn.  X.     Disturbances  in  Maine — Protracted  siege  ty  King 
William's  troops  of  the  castle  of  Sainte  Suzanne. 

AFTEB  the  death  of  the  glorious  Queen  Matilda,  King 
William,  who  survived  her  almost  four  years,  was  deeply 
involved  in  severe  troubles,  which  closed  around  him  like 
stormy  clouds.  First,  some  of  his  subjects  in  Maine,  a 
people  of  naturally  unsettled  temper,  and  ever  ready  to 

1  The  slab  of  black  marble  on  which  this  epitaph  was  engraved  is  still 
in  existence.  After  the  tomb  was  first  demolished  by  the  protestants  in 
1562,  and  a  second  time  by  the  revolutionists  in  1793,  when  it  was  placed 
in  a  lateral  chapel  of  the  church  of  St.  Stephen,  it  was  brought  back  to 
the  choir  of  the  convent  of  nuns,  and  a  third  tomb  was  erected  for  the 
royal  foundress  by  the  care  of  M.  le  Comte  de  Montlivault  in  1819.  The 
original  epitaph  which  it  bears,  presents  very  few  changes  in  orthography 
from  the  copy  our  author  gives  of  it. 

3  The  administration  of  the  Abbess  Matilda  appenrs,  by  an  authentic 
document,  to  have  lasted  fifty-four  years,  and  not  forty -seven  only,  as  our 
author  states.  She  died  July  6,  1120,  and  the  princess  Cecilia,  who 
succeeded  her,  July  13,  1127.  Isabelle,  or  Elizabeth,  whose  government 
lasted  only  one  year,  was  the  eldest  daughter  of  Stephen,  count  de  Blois, 
and  consequently  great  niece  of  Cecilia. 


378  OttDEKICUS   YITALIS.  [B.TII.  CH.X 

disturb  the  peace  of  others,  and  disquiet  themselves  by  their 
love  of  change,  flew  to  arms  against  the  king,  and  occasioned 
great  expenditure  and  damage  in  their  own  state,  as  well 
as  to  many  others.  Hubert,  the  viscount,  son-in-law  of 
William,  Comte  de  Nevers,1  gave  umbrage  to  the  king  at 
first  on  some  trivial  occasions,  but  his  delinquencies  after- 
wards increasing,  he  retired  from  his  castles  of  Beaumont 
and  Fresnai,2  and  established  himself,  as  a  public  enemy, 
with  his  wife  and  all  his  followers,  at  the  castle  of  3*. 
Suzanne.3  The  fortress  in  which  he  took  refuge  stands  on 
a  high  rock  above  the  river  Erve,  on  the  borders  of  Maine 
and  Anjou.  He  assembled  there  a  band  of  soldiers,  and 
lost  no  time  in  inflicting  loss  on  the  Normans,  who  were 
employed  in  guarding  the  country  of  Maine,  and  keeping 
them  in  constant  alarm.  The  viscount  was  a  man  of 
illustrious  lineage,  distinguished  for  his  talent  and  conduct, 
and  full  of  courage  and  enterprising  boldness,  qualities 
which  established  his  reputation  far  and  wide.  The 
garrisons  of  the  city  of  Mans,  and  the  neighbouring  castles, 
were  kept  in  constant  alarm  by  Hubert's  incursions,  in 
consequence  of  which  they  laid  their  complaints  before  King 
William,  and  implored  his  aid. 

Upon  this  the  king  assembled  troops  in  Normandy 
without  delay,  and,  summoning  such  of  the  people  of  Maine 
as  were  friendly  to  him,  entered  the  enemy's  country  with  a 
powerful  force.  He  did  not  however  venture  to  lay  siege  to 
the  castle  of  Ste.  Suzanne,  it  being  rendered  impregnable  by 
its  position  on  rocks,  and  the  dense  thickets  of  vineyards 
which  surrounded  it,  nor  could  he  closely  confine  the  enemy 
within  the  fortress  as  he  desired,  as  he  was  strong  enough  to 
command  supplies,  and  was  master  of  the  communications. 
The  king  therefore  constructed  a  fortified  camp  in  the 
Valley  of  Bonjen,4  and  placed  in  it  a  strong  body  of  troops  to 

1  Hubert  de  St.  Suzanne,  viscount  of  Maine,  married,  Dec.  6,  1067, 
Ermengarde,  daughter  of  William  I.,  count  de  Nevers. 

2  Beaumonte-le-Vicomte,  and  Fresnai-sur-Sarte. 

8  St.  Suzanne,  on  the  river  Erve,  in  the  arrondissement  of  Laval.  This 
place  consisted  of  a  castle  with  a  detached  keep,  and  a  walled  town  about 
1000  feet  in  circumference. 

*  The  remains  of  this  fortification  may  still  be  traced.  It  was  divided 
into  tvro  enclosures  separated  by  a  ditch,  each  being  about  eighty  feet  long 


A.D.  1083 — 1085.]      SIEGE  OF  SAIKTE  SUZAlTCfE.  37D 

check  the  enemy's  incursions,  being  obliged  to  return  into 
Normandy  himself  on  weighty  affairs.  The  royal  troops, 
under  the  command  of  Alan-the-Red,  count  of  Brittany,1 
made  a  brilliant  display  of  wealth,  feasting,  and  military 
array,  but  the  garrison  of  the  castle  was  superior  in  valour 
and  numbers.  For  knights  of  established  fame  hastened  to 
Hubert's  standard  from  Aquitain,  Burgundy,  and  other 
provinces  of  France,  anxious  tor  an  opportunity  of  rendering 
him  earnest  aid  and  displaying  their  own  intrepidity. 
Hence  it  happened  that  the  castle  of  Ste.  Suzanne  waa 
supplied  at  the  expense  of  those  who  were  encamped  at 
Bonjen,  and  their  means  of  resistance  were  continually 
increased.  Many  wealthy  nobles  of  Normandy  and 
England  were  taken  prisoners,  and  their  ransoms  honour- 
ably enriched  the  viscount,  and  Robert  of  Burgundy,  whose 
niece  he  had  married,  with  his  other  comrades.  In  this 
manner  Hubert  resisted  the  Normans  for  three  years,  and, 
growing  rich  by  his  enemies'  wealth,  foiled  all  their  assaults. 
In  this  war,  Eobert  de  Vieux-Pont,  Robert  d'Ussi,  and  other 
gallant  Norman  knights  were  slain.  On  the  fourteenth  of 
the  calends  of  December  [18th  November],  while  the 
Norman  troops  were  on  the  march  to  attack  the  enemy,  a 
beardless  youth,  concealed  in  the  bushes  by  the  road-side, 
nhot  an  arrow,  which  mortally  wounded  Richer  de  Laigle,  son 
of  Engenulf,3  piercing  his  eye.  His  followers  rode  up, 
burning  with  rage,  and,  seizing  the  youth,  would  have 
avenged  the  noble  Richer  by  putting  him  to  death  on  the 
spot,  but  the  dying  baron  saved  his  life.  For  when  they 
were  on  the  point  of  cutting  the  youth's  throat,  the 
wounded  man  with  a  violent  effort  cried  out :  "  Spare 
him,  for  the  love  of  God ;  it  is  for  my  sins  that  I  am 
called  thus  to  die."  His  assassin  being  dismissed,  the 
lamented  lord  confessed  his  sins  to  his  companions  in  arms, 
and  expired  before  they  could  convey  him  to  the  city.  The 
corpse  waa  borne  to  the  convent  of  monks  which  his  father 

by  forty  wide.  The  walls  appear  to  have  been  about  six  feet  high,  and  the 
trenches  four  feet  bro:id. 

1  Alan  the  Red,  earl  of  Richmond  in  England,  was  fourth  son  of  Eudes, 
count  de  Panthievre. 

*  Richer  de  Laigle,  second  ion  of  Engenulf,  who  waa  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Hastings. 


380  OBDEBICTJS   VITALIS.  [B.TII.  CII.X. 

Richer  had  founded  on  his  domains  in  honour  of  St. 
Sulpitius,  bishop  of  Bourges;1  and  he  was  buried  there, 
with  great  lamentations  of  his  kinsfolk  and  connexions,  by 
Gilbert,  the  venerable  bishop  of  Evreux. 

This  lord  was  deservedly  regretted  by  his  acquaintance 
for  the  many  virtues  with  which  he  was  endowed.  In 
person  he  was  strong,  handsome,  and  active;  a  faithful 
observer  of  the  divine  law,  courteous  and  humble  with  men 
of  religion,  prudent  and  eloquent  in  worldly  affairs,  and 
gentle  and  liberal  in  all  his  conduct.  He  married  Judith, 
daughter  of  Richard  of  Avranches,2  surnamed  G-oz,  and 
sister  of  Hugh^  earl  of  Chester,  by  whom  he  had  Gilbert 
de  Laigle,  Engenulf,  Matilda,  and  several  other  sons  and 
daughters.  They  all  died  except  Gilbert,  who  became  the 
heir  to  his  father's  virtues,  estates,  and  honours.  He  married 
Juliana,  daughter  of  Geoffrey,  the  brave  count  de  Mortagne, 
who  bore  him  Richer,  Engenulf,  Geoffrey,  and  Albert ;  the 
second  and  third  of  whom  perished  by  shipwreck  with 
William  the  Etheling,3  King  Henry's  son,  and  many  other 
nobles,  on  the  eighth  of  the  calends  [25th]  of  November.4 
His  sister  Matilda,5  married  Robert  de  Mowbray,  the 
powerful  earl  of  Northumberland,*  who  rebelled  the  same 
year  against  William  Ruf'us,  king  of  England.  But,  being 
taken  prisoner  shortly  afterwards,  he  was  detained  in  cap- 
tivity for  nearly  thirty-four  years  by  that  king  and  his 
brother  Henry,  living  to  an  advanced  age  without  having 
any  children.  I  now  return  to  the  events  from  which  I 
have  somewhat  digressed. 

In  the  month  of  January,  William  de  Warrene,  Baudri 
de  Guitri,  son  of  Nicholas,  and  Gilbert  de  Laigle,  who 
sought  to  avenge  the  death  of  his  brother  Richer,  made  a 
desperate  assault  on  the  garrison  of  S".  Suzanne,  with  a 
strong  band  of  Normans,  but  they  gained  nothing  but  the 
steel  in  their  wounds.  In  this  attack  William,  count 

1  St.  Sulpice-sur-Risle,  near  Laigle. 

*  On  thib  family  of  Avranches,  see  before,  p.  47. 

*  Our  author  gives  King  Henry's  son  the  title  generally  appropriated  to 
the  heir  apparent  to  the  crown  in  the  Anglo-Saxon  times. 

*  In  the  shipwreck  of  the  Blanche-Nef. 

'  Robert  de  Mowbray,  earl  of  Northumberland,  was  nephew  of  Geoffrey, 
bishop  of  Coutancfs. 
6  Richer 'b  younger  brother. 


A.D.  1083 — 1085.]     SIEGE  OF  SAINTE  SUZANNE.  381 

d'Evreux,1  was  made  prisoner,  and  Matthew  de  Vitot,2  son  of 
Godfrey  the  Little,  mortally  wounded.  Being  carried  to 
his  quarters  by  his  sorrowing  squires  and  comrades,  a  priest 
was  sent  forth,  and  having  confessed  his  sins  and  received 
the  comfort  of  the  holy  viaticum,  he  was  then  prepared  for 
the  approach  of  death. 

The  Normans  who  held  the  entrenched  camp  in  the 
valley  of  Bonjen,  having  suffered  serious  losses,  and  had 
their  numbers  thinned  by  the  swords  of  the  bravest  knights, 
were  apprehensive  of  still  greater  discomfiture.  Finding 
that  they  were  no  match  for  Hubert,  either  by  their  valour 
or  good  fortune,  they  changed  their  plan,  and  tried  to  bring 
him  to  an  agreement  with  the  king.  The  viscount,  although 
in  the  present  contest  he  had  greatly  advanced  his  power 
and  wealth,  was  so  sensible  of  the  value  of  peace  and 
security,  that  he  prudently  fell  in  with  the  plans  of  the 
mediators.  No  time  was  lost  in  despatching  envoys  to  the 
king,  who  was  now  in  England ;  and  William,  finding  that 
Kerrey  the  Breton,  whom  he  had  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  troops,3  with  Richer  and  other  brave  knights,  had 
fallen  in  battle,  and  that  his  adversary,  in  the  enjoyment  of 
his  good  fortune,  found  his  position  become  daily  stronger, 
was  careful  not  to  make  matters  worse  by  an  obstinate  per- 
sistance  in  hostilities.  He,  therefore,  prudently  pardoned 
the  viscount  for  all  his  past  offences,  and  having  granted 
him  a  safe  conduct,  Hubert  crossed  the  sea,  and,  coming  to 
court  on  terms  of  amity,  was  honourably  restored  to  all  hia 
father's  rights.  The  people  of  Normandy  and  Maine,  who 
had  deeply  suffered  for  four  years  *  in  the  prolonged  conflict, 
made  great  rejoicings. 

1  William,  count  d'Evreux,  Dec.  13,  1067— April  18,  1118. 

a  Matthew  de  Vitot,  near  Neubourg.  For  this  person  and  his  uncle, 
see  vol.  i.  pp.  449,  450. 

*  He  must  have  been  second  in  command,  under  Alan  the  Red,  earl  of 
Brittany  and  Richmond. 

4  It  is  thought  that  Ordericus  has  greatly  exaggerated  the  duration  of  the 
siege  of  the  castle  of  Stc.  Suzanne.  While  it  is  agreed  on  all  hands  that  it 
commenced  in  the  year  108C,  it  is  considered  impossible  that  it  could  have 
been  prolonged  beyond  1085,  a  period  when  the  alarm  of  a  Danish 
invasion  induced  the  king  to  return  to  England  with  all  the  troops  he 
could  muster,  even  including  the  volunteers  and  stipendiaries  he  levied  on 
the  continent,  as  afterwards  appears.  The  Saxon  Chronicle,  however, 
tells  us  that  William  disbanded  part  of  these  forces  in  the  course  of  the 


382  OBDEEICUS  YITALIS.  [B.TII.  CH.XI. 

Hubert  continued  faithful  to  the  king  during  the  remain- 
der of  William's  life,  rejoicing  in  his  independence,  and 
happy  in  the  possession  of  his  domains,  which  at  his  death 
he  bequeathed  to  his  sons  Ealph  and  Hubert. 

CH.  XI.  Threatened  invasion  of  England  by  Canute,  king 
of  Denmark — The  armament  dispersed — Canute  (St.)  is 
murdered  in  a  church  at  Odensee. 

AT  this  period  King  "William  caused  a  record  to  be  made  of 
all  the  knights'  fees  in  his  realm  of  England,  which  were 
found  to  amount  to  sixty  thousand ; '  and  he  commanded  all 
who  were  subject  to  him  by  military  tenure  to  be  prepared 
for  service  in  case  of  need;  for  at  this  time  Canute  the 
younger,  king  of  Denmark,2  was  fitting  out  a  powerful  fleet, 
and  making  preparations  for  the  invasion  of  England,  to 
assert  his  claims  in  right  of  his  ancestors  Sweyn  and 
Canute,  who  had  formerly  subjugated  it.  This  king  was 
distinguished  for  his  piety  to  Grod,  his  great  worldly  power, 
and  his  many  virtues.  By  his  threats  and  preparations  he 
occasioned  much  alarm  to  the  Normans  who  were  in  posses- 
sion of  England,  but  he  was  prevented  by  various  circum- 
stances from  carrying  them  into  effect  during  the  life 
of  the  Bastard  king.  In  the  reign,  however,  of  William 
the  younger,3  a  large  fleet  was  fitted  out,  and  being  moored 

same  year.  As  to  his  having  returned  to  England,  OUT  author  tells  us  that 
it  was  there  the  viscount  came  to  terms  with  him. 

1  This  is  a  reference  to  Domesday-book,  the  survey  for  which  was 
commenced  in  1080,  and  the  record  presented  to  William  at  Winchester, 
where  it  was  deposited,  at  Easter,  1086.  It  is  mentioned  in  nearly  the 
same  terms  in  b.  iv.  c.  7.  See  before,  p.  51. 

3  Canute  (St.)  IV.,  king  of  Denmark  in  1080,  assassinated,  Friday, 
July  10,  1086,  canonized  in  1101.  The  project  of  the  invasion  of 
England  seems  to  have  been  suggested  to  this  prince  by  Robert  the 
Frisian,  earl  of  Flanders,  his  father-in-law,  and  brother-in-law  of  William. 
Our  author  is  mistaken  in  representing  that  the  census  taken  of  the  tenant* 
of  the  crown  subject  to  military  service  had  reference  to  this  threatened 
invasion.  As  just  observed,  the  survey  was  commenced  long  before;  and 
the  precaution  which  William  took  consisted  in  drawing  forces  from  the 
continent,  who  were  quartered  on  the  the  convents  and  barons.  When 
the  alarm  of  invasion  had  blown  over,  part  of  these  mercenary  troops 
were  dismissed,  and  the  rest  followed  the  king  to  Gloucester  where  he 
fpent  Christmas  (1085). 

*  These  occurrences  did  not  take  place  in  the  reign  of  William  Rufus 


A.D.  1086.]      MABTYEDCm   OF  KING  (ST.)  CANUTE.  383 

to  the  shore,  the  crews  were  employed  in  embarking  the 
troops  destined  for  the  invasion  of  England,  for  which  the 
wind  was  then  favourable.  Meanwhile  King  Canute, 
desirous  of  learning  the  will  of  God,  entered  a  church,  and 
humbly  kneeling  before  the  altar,  besought  him  with  tears 
to  direct  his  course  according  to  his  goodwill.  His  brother, 
coming  to  the  church  at  this  moment,  and  seeing  the 
king  unattended  and  prostrate  before  the  altar,  the  thought 
struck  him  what  vast  difficulties  and  serious  perils  impended 
over  thousands  on  account  of  one  man,  and  what  a  sudden 
and  decided  change  would  be  made  if  he  were  removed 
out  of  the  way.  Without  reflection  he  drew  his  sword, 
and  cutting  off  the  head  of  the  prostrate  king,  forthwith 
fled  into  exile.  On  receiving  the  melancholy  intelligence, 
the  army  quickly  dispersed,  each  one  returning  to  his  own 
affairs.1  The  elders  of  the  nation  raised  to  the  throne 
Calomanoth,  the  lung's  brother,  the  assassin  being  banished. 
The  body  of  King  Canute  was  honourably  interred  in  the 
church,  where  many  miracles  were  performed  at  his  tomb. 
A  great  convent  for  monks  was  afterwards  built,  and  the  mo- 
nastic discipline  there  established,  after  the  same  order  as 
that  of  Evesham  in  England.;,  For  from  thence  it  waa 

as  our  author  supposes,  but  more  than  a  year  before  the  Conqueror's 
death. 

1  Ordericus  has  given  an  entirely  erroneous  account  of  the  circumstances 
connected  with  the  tragic  end  of  the  Danish  king.  After  the  assemblage 
of  the  armament  intended  for  the  invasion  of  England  in  the  gulf  of  Lym- 
tiord,  in  Finland,  some  delays  occurred  which  created  impatience  among 
the  troops,  and  they  deputed  the  prince  Olaf  to  remonstrate  with  the 
king  his  brother.  Canute,  however,  was  greatly  irritated  at  this  insubordi- 
nation, and  suspecting  Olaf  of  having  fomented  it,  sent  him  prisoner 
under  arrest  to  the  earl  of  Flanders.  The  armament  then  dispersed,  and 
Canute  treated  the  malcontents  with  excessive  rigour,  and  imposed  a  tax 
in  the  shape  of  tithes  most  odious  to  the  Scandinavian  nations.  At  last 
the  people  broke  into  open  rebellion,  and  the  king  took  refuge  in  Zealand. 
There  a  traitor  named  Black  invited  him  to  Odensee,  representing  that  his 
presence  would  appease  the  people  ;  but  he  had  scarcely  entered  the 
church  of  St.  Alban,  accompanied  by  his  two  brothers,  Benedict  and  Eric, 
when  Black  introduced  the  conspirators.  Canute  was  slain  after  a  short 
resistance  in  which  Benedict  and  some  of  the  officers  of  his  suite  felL 
Olaf,  whom  he  had  shortly  before  invested  with  the  duchy  of  Sleswig,  and 
who  was  still  in  Flanders,  succeeded  him,  and  reigned  till  1095. 

3  The  monastery  at  Odensee  wiis  at  first  a  priory  attached  to  the  abbey 
of  Evesham  in  Worcestershire.  It  was  dedicated'to  St.  Alban  the  proto- 


384  OEDEEICTTS   YITALIS.  [B.VII.  CH.XII. 

that  the  first  monks  sent  missionaries  among  the  Danes, 
and  carefully  instructed  them  in  conventual  rule  to  the 
admiration  of  the  barbarous  natives.  This  King  Canute 
was  held  in  deserved  honour  by  the  monks  and  others 
devoted  to  a  religious  life.  For  he  was  the  first  to  correct 
the  manners  of  his  people,  who  were  new  converts  and 
lived  disorderly.  He  also  founded  metropolitan  and  epis- 
copal sees  according  to  the  canons,  and  introduced  monks, 
who  were  before  unknown  to  and  disliked  by  the  Danes, 
liberally  providing  them  with  fitting  sites  for  their  establish- 
ment in  his  kingdom.1 

CH.  XII.  Legend  of  the  translation  of  the  relics  of  St. 
Nicholas,  bishop  and  confessor,  fror/i  Myra,  in  Asia  Minor, 
to  Bari,  in  Italy. 

IN  the  year  of  our  Lord  1087,  the  tenth  indiction,  on  the 
nones  [9th]  of  May,  the  body  of  St.  Nicholas,  archbishop 
and  confessor,  was  translated  from  Myra  to  Bari.  John, 
archdeacon  of  Bari,  has  eloquently  related  in  what  manner 
and  by  whom  this  translation  was  effected.2  I  propose  to 
make  some  extracts  from  his  narrative,  and  insert  in  my 
present  work  a  short  notice  of  this  remarkable  event,  for 

martyr  of  England,  whose  relics  by  soine  unaccountable  means  are  said  to 
have  found  their  way  to  Denmark,  and  have  been  deposited  in  this  church. 
One  account  says  that  they  were  carried  off  from  the  abbey  at  St.  Albans 
in  914,  at  a  time  when  the  invaders  were  still  (for  the  most  part  at  least) 
heathens;  another  that  they  were  purloined  from  Canterbury,  and  translated 
to  Odensee  in  1085,  the  monk  Elnoth,  the  biographer  of  Canute,  accom- 
panying them,  and  the  transaction  escaping  the  cognizance  of  King  Wil- 
liam. They  were  deposited  in  a  wooden  church  at  first  dedicated  to  the 
Virgin,  but  which  speedily  assumed  the  name  of  its  new  patron. 

1  The  relics  of  St.  Canute,  which  had  been  inclosed  in  a  magnificent 
shrine  after  his  canonization,  were  ejected  from  it  at  the  era  of  the  Re- 
formation, but  were  visited  in  the  years  1582  and  1696,  and  again  dis- 
covered, Jan.  24,  1833,  in  a  cavity  in  the  east  wall  of  of  the  stone  church 
which  had  been  substituted  for  the  wooden  edifice  just  mentioned. 

3  It  bears  this  title :  "  Translatio  S.  Nicolai  episcopi  ex  Myra  Lycia? 
urbe  ad  Apuliae  oppidum  Barium  vel  Barim,  scripta  ab  Jchanne  archi- 
diacono  Barensi  jubente  Ursone  Barensi  et  Canusino  archiepiscopo,  circa 
annum  Domini  1088,  apud  Surium  die  nono  Maii."  There  is  another 
cotemporary  account  of  this  translation  by  Niccphorus,  a  monk  of  the 
convent  of  St.  Benedict  at  Bari,  published  by  Falconius  in  hia  Ada 
primiyenia  S.  Nicolai,  of  which  the  substance  is  given  by  Father  Beatillo 
of  Bari,  in  his  history  of  St.  Nicholas. 


A.D.  1087.]       BELICS  OF  ST.  NICHOLAS  AT  MYRA.  385 

the  information  of  students  who  have  not  seen  the  arch- 
deacon's book,  if  they  condescend  to  cast  an  eye  on  what  I 
write. 

In  the  time  of  the  emperor  Alexius,  the  Turks  and  other 
infidel  nations  vented  their  fury  by  making  an  irruption 
beyond  their  frontiers,  and,  by  God's  permission,  devastated 
Lycia  and  other  Christian  countries,  destroyed  the  churches 
for  the  sins  of  the  faithful,  profaned  the  crosses,  and  images, 
and  sanctuaries  of  Christ,  and  gave  to  the  flames  a  number 
of  cities  with  their  inhabitants.  Their  ravages  continued 
for  many  years,  and  multitudes  of  Christians  fell  a  sacrifice 
to  their  cruelty. 

During  this  time  Myra,  the  capital  of  Lycia,1  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Turks,  being  evacuated  by  its  own  citizens,  for 
the  punishment  of  their  sins.  Meanwhile,  some  people  of 
Bari,  who  were  on  their  way  to  Antioch,  in  three  ships,2 
for  the  purpose  of  trade,  approaching  joyfully  to  the  huts 
which  some  of  the  Myrians  occupied,  sent  forward  a  certain 
pilgrim  to  the  church  of  St.  Nicholas,  which  stands  in  the 
town,3  to  make  observations.  On  his  return  he  reported 
that  a  great  number  of  Turks  were  assembled  to  perform 
the  obsequies  of  the  head  man  of  the  town,  who  then  lav 
dead.  On  hearing  this,  the  Barians  forthwith  set  sail,  and 
tumiug  the  prows  of  their  vessels  towards  Antioch,  having 
a  favourable  wind,  they  reached  Myra 4  in  the  course  of  a  few 

1  This  conquest  of  Lycia  by  Solyman  must  have  occurred  at  the  time 
when  he  overran  Caramania,  that  is,  in  1084  and  1085.  It  appears  that 
Myra  was  not  taken  till  1086. 

3  Sixty  persons  were  embarked  in  the  three  ships,  viz.  forty-seven 
inhabitants  of  Bari  (among  whom  were  two  priests  and  a  clerk,  the  others 
being  merchants  and  armed  mariners),  a  pilgrim,  and  twelve  foreign 
passengers.  The  ships  were  on  their  voyage  to  Antioch  with  cargoes  of 
wheat,  lor  which  they  were  to  receive  in  return  the  products  of  the  East 
for  the  merchants  of  Bari.  On  the  voyage  they  fell  in  with  eleven  other 
vessels  engaged  in  the  same  trade,  whose  crews,  like  their  own,  had  resolved 
on  carrying  off  the  relics  of  St.  Nicholas. 

3  This  church,  which  is  now  deserted  and  used  only  as  a  burying  place, 
with  the  adjoining  convent  inhabited  by  a  few  caloyers,  are  all  that  remains 
of  the  town  of  the  middle  ages.  Plans  and  drawings  of  them  are  given  in 
the  Atlas  of  M.  Charles  Texier's  Travels.  The  caloyers  pretend  that  they 
are  in  possession  of  the  remains  of  their  patron  saint. 

*  This  reading  should  clearly  be  Antioch.      Having  found  there   the 
Venetian  ship,  the  Barians,  as  soon  as  they  discovered  the  intentions  of  the 
crew,  hurried  their  own  departure  in  order  to  reach  Myra  before  them. 
VOL.  II.  C  C 


386  ORDEB.ICUS   TITALIS.  [B.  Til.  CH.7CII. 

days.  Finding  there  a  ship  from  Venice,  the  crews  began, 
as  people  are  wont,  to  inquire  of  each  other  for  news.  It 
happened  that  among  the  men  from  Bari,  there  were  some 
friends  and  acquaintances  of  the  Venetians,  and  they  began 
talking  together  about  the  body  of  the  saint.  The  Venetians 
made  no  reserve  in  disclosing  their  intentions,  acknow- 
ledging that  they  were  furnished  with  iron  crowbars  and 
hammers  ;  and  they  hastened  to  take  their  dinner  in  order 
that  there  might  be  no  delay  in  carrying  their  purpose  into 
execution.  The  Barians,  on  learning  this,  were  the  more 
resolved  to  engage  in  and  complete  the  enterprise  which 
they  likewise  had  determined  on,  not  so  much  for  their  own 
glory  and  honour,  nor  for  the  advantage  of  their  country, 
as  for  the  love  they  bore  to  so  eminent  a  confessor.  They 
therefore  hastened  to  complete  the  business  which  had  drawn 
them  to  Antioch,  and  then,  under  God's  guidance,  set  sail 
on  their  return.  But  when  they  drew  near  the  coast  of 
Myra  with  a  favourable  wind,  their  zeal  flagged  and  they 
would  have  sailed  onward,  had  it  not  changed  to  the  north 
and  become  contrary  by  Grod's  providence.1  The  south  wind 
failing,  the  mariners  of  Bari  were  forced  to  come  to  anchor. 
Learning  from  thence  the  Divine  will,  they  immediately 
seized  their  arms,  and  leaving  a  small  party  to  guard  the 
ships  in  their  absence,  the  rest,2  being  well  armed,  and  using 
the  same  precautions  as  if  they  had  to  encounter  an  enemy, 
proceeded  in  a  body  to  the  church,  which  stood  about  three 
miles  from  the  shore.  At  length  they  reached  the  enclosure 
surrounding  the  church,  and,  laying  down  their  arms,  entered 
the  sacred  building  with  deep  humility,  and  began  to 
address  their  prayers  to  the  holy  bishop.  Having  finished 
their  devotions,  they  demanded  of  the  sacristan  where  the 
body  of  St.  Nicholas  was  deposited.3  Accordingly  he 
pointed  out  the  spot,  and  drawing  out  a  portion  of  the 

1  The  wind  being,  at  first,  favourable  for  their  homeward  voyage  to 
Bari,  they  were  unwilling  to  lose  the  opportunity  of  prosecuting  it,  but 
changing  to  the  north,  it  drove  them  to  the  coast  of  Myra,  and  they  were 
induced  to  resume  their  original  design. 

*  To  the  number  of  forty-seven,  it  may  be  supposed  all  the  crew  who 
belonged  to  Bari. 

3  It  appears  that  the  convent  stood  apart,  but  not  far  distant,  from  the 
houses;  un  pezzetto,  ae  the  Italian  author  says.  Therj  were  four  monks, 
not  three,  ns  Ordericus  states. 


A.D.  1087.]      THE  EABIASS  PI£BLOIN  THE  RELICS.  387 

holy  liquor,  gave  it  to  them.  Thereupon,  Lupus,  a  priest  of 
Bari,  received  the  holy  unguent  in  a  glass  bottle,  and 
deposited  it  on  a  high  shelf  for  its  safe  preservation ;  but  it 
chanced  that  while  they  were  conversing,  the  bottle  fell  on 
the  marble  pavement,  but  was  not  broken,  remaining  unin- 
jured, to  the  wonder  of  all  present.  Meanwhile,  the 
Barians  began  to  confer  with  three  monks  who  remained 
there  to  guard  the  relics,  trying  to  seduce  them  from  their 
duty  :  "  We  wish,"  they  said,  "  to  bear  off  this  holy  body, 
and  transport  it  to  our  own  country.  "We  are  come  here  in 
three  ships,  commissioned  by  the  pope  of  Borne  to  effect 
this.  If  you  will  consent  to  our  doing  it,  we  will  give  you 
a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  from  each  ship." 

On  hearing  this  the  monks  were  struck  with  surprise  and 
alarm,  and  replied :  "  How  shall  we  dare  to  engage  in  an 
enterprise  which  no  human  being  has  yet  attempted  with 
impunity  ?  Who  is  there  so  audacious  as  to  venture  to  be 
either  the  buyer  or  seller  in  such  a  traffic  ?  What  is  there  so 
precious  and  so  admirable  as  to  be  put  in  comparison  with 
so  vast  a  treasure  ? l  If  the  rulers  of  the  earth  have  never 
attempted  such  an  enterprise  rashly,  however  they  may 
have  urged  it  with  prayer  and  supplications,  how  can  you 
succeed  ?  Relinquish  the  further  prosecution  of  this 
impious  design,  for  it  is  ddious  to  the  Divine  Majesty. 
But  you  may  make  the  trial;  behold  the  place!"  They 
said  this,  believing  that  it  was  impossible  for  the  Barians  to 
effect  their  purpose ;  for  it  was  nearly  two  hundred  Olym- 
piads since  the  death  of  St.  Nicholas,2  who  is  said  to  have 
departed  during  the  Nicene  council  held  under  Pope  Sil- 
vester and  the  emperor  Constantiue,  and  hitherto  no  person 
had  been  able  either  to  purloin  by  stealth,  or  obtain  by 
open  violence  or  by  prayers  to  the  Lord,  any  portion  of  his 
relics.  The  men  of  Bari  now  began  to  be  alarmed,  for  they1 
were  in  a  strange  place,  they  were  few  among  many,  the 

1  Our  author's  nurrative  abounds  with  accounts  not  only  of  the  extreme 
value  attached  to  the  relics  of  saints  in  the  middle  ages,  but  of  the  unscru- 
pulous means  constantly  resorted  to  for  obtaining  possession  of  things 
esteemed  so  holy. 

*  The  exact  date  of  the  death  of  St.  Nicholas  cannot  be  ascertained. 
Since  the  council  of  Nice,  there  had  now  been  one  hundred  and  ninety 
Olympiads  and  a  half,  which,  consisting  each  of  four  years,  makes  762 
years. 

c  c  2 


388  OEDEBICUS   YITALIS.  [*B.YII.  CH.XII. 

sun  was  near  setting,  and  their  return  to  the  ships  was 
attended  with  danger.  But,  divinely  supported,  they  first 
seized  the  monks  and  kept  them  closely  guarded,  and  also 
.sent  out  videttes  with  great  caution,  to  observe  all  who 
might  approach  the  spot,  while  they  stationed  themselves  in 
arms  at  regular  distances  to  guard  the  avenues.  Thus,  forty- 
four1  young  men,  full  of  courage,  were  ready  to  make  a 
determined  resistance  without,  while  two  priests,  Lupus 
and  Grimoald,  with  a  few  others,  were  doing  what  was 
necessary  in  the  church,  and  began  the  prayers  called  lita- 
nies; but  they  were  in  such  a  state  of  alarm  that  their 
voices  faltered  in  the  service  they  had  commenced. 

Meanwhile  Matthew,  one  of  the  mariners,2  manfully 
seized  an  iron  mallet,  and  striking  violently  the  marble 
pavement,  shattered  it,  and  discovered  masonry  under  it, 
which  being  broken  up  and  thrown  out,  the  face  of  a 
marble  urn  quickly  appeared.  This  discovery  filled  them 
with  joy  and  inspired  them  with  ardour  to  dig  still  deeper, 
so  that,  having  rent  asunder  and  reduced  to  fragments  the 
joints  of  the  ancient  masonry  with  a  small  pickaxe,  they  threw 
out  the  rubbish  in  great  haste.  When  this  had  been  cleared 
out  and  the  urn3  was  uncovered,  one  side  of  it  being  broken 
an  exquisite  odour  exuded  which  intoxicated  "all  who  were 
present  with  its  delicious  fragrance.  The  young  man  then 
inserting  his  hand  only  at  first,  the  urn,  which  was  of  consider- 
able size,  appeared  to  be  full  of  liquor  as  iar  as  the  middle. 
He  then  thrust  in  his  right  arm,  and,  feeling  the  invaluable 
treasure  which  it  was  the  object  of  his  most  ardent  wishes 
to  secure,  began  fearlessly  to  extract  it  without  loss  of  time. 
At  last  in  searching  for  the  head,  he  plunged  bodily  into 
the  full  urn,  and  groping  about  with  his  hands  and  feet 
while  endeavouring  to  find  it,  he  came  out  with  his  whole 
person  and  his  garments  dripping  with  the  sacred  liquid. 

1  The  whole  number  of  the  armed  crew  mustered  only  forty-seven,  and 
from  these  must  be  deducted  the  two  priests  and  the  clerk,  with  the  "  few 
others  "  who  entered  the  church  with  them,  BO  that  forty-four  is  too  high  a 
figure  for  the  guard  left  without.  , 

-  In  the  original  legend  this  Matthew  is  described  as  a  very  young  man, 
and  is  said  to  have  drawn  his  sword  and  threatened  to  kill  the  monks  if 
thev  did  not  comply  with  the  demands  of  his  comrades. 

8  Pila.  It  is  afterwards  called  an  urn.  It  appears  to  have  been  a  sarco- 
phagus of  white  marble. 


1087.]  THE  EELIC8  OF  ST.  NICHOLAS  BKOUGHT  TO  BAKI.    389 

This  took  place  on  the  twelfth  of  the  calends  of  May 
[April  20th],1  nearly  eight  hundred  years  after  the  death  of 
St.  Nicholas. 

And  now,  as  they  were  not  prepared  with  any  receptacle 
for  the  relios,  so  sudden  and  unexpected  was  their  success, 
the  Barians  wrapped  them  as  well  as  they  could  in  the 
vestment  of  Lupus,2  and  followed  him  in  procession  as  he 
carried  the  holy  burden.  Thus  they  hastened  to  the  sea- 
side, giving  thanks  to  God  for  the  inestimable  prize  which 
they  had  snatched,  not  from  an  enemy's  hands,  but  from 
the  treasury  of  the  Lord.  Some  of  them  also  carried  away 
the  fragments  of  the  broken  urn,  from  which  many  altars 
and  tables  were  consecrated  by  the  bishops  in  several  parts 
of  Italy.  "When  they  reached  the  port,  a  contention  arose 
among  the  sailors  as  to  which  of  the  ships  should  bear  the 
precious  freight,  for  all  were  desirous  of  securing  the  com- 
panionship of  so  powerful  a  patron.  At  last  it  was  settled, 
with  general  concurrence,  that  Matthew's  ship  should  carry 
the  treasure,  he  first  taking  a  solemn  oath  that  he  would 
faithfully  keep  company  with  the  rest ;  which  was  the  case. 

Upon  this,  they  embarked  full  of  joy,  and  wrapping  the 
relics  in  an  additional  covering  of  new  white  cloth,  they 
enclosed  them  in  a  wooden  vessel,  such  as  sailors  use  for  a 
wine-cask.3  It  is  needless  to  describe  the  grief  of  the  people 
of  Myra  for  the  loss  they  had  sustained,  when  they  w-ere 
informed  of  what  had  happened.  As  soon  as  the  report 
reached  their  ears  in  the  town,  which  stands  on  a  hill  not 
more  than  a  mile  from  the  church,*  they  nocked  together  in 

1  April  20,  1087. 

*  The  relios  were  wrapped  in  a  white  vestment  belonging  to  Grimoald, 
not  Lupus;  probably  his  alb  or  surplice.     According  to  the  narrative  of 
Nicephorus,  the  sailors  attempted  to  carry  off  a  picture  of  the  saint  which 
stood  upon  the  altar,  but  were  unable  to  detach  it.     The  white  vestment 
with  which  the  relics  were   covered   during    the  voyage   was   afterwards 
partod  among  several  cathedral  churches  in  Italy,  as  well  as  all  the  frag- 
ments of  the  lid  6f  the  sarcophagus  on  which  the  party  could  lay  their 
hands. 

3  Beatillo  calls  it  "  una  piccola  botta  a  portar  acqua." 

*  This  does  not  agree  with  the  previous  statement,  that  the  church  was 
in  the  town  or  its  suburbs ;  but  in  that  case  it  would  have  been  hardly 
possible  that  such  an  outrage  could  have  been  committed  without  the 
inhabitants  being  alarmed,  and  running  to  rescue  the  relics  of  their  patron 
from  the  violence  ottered  to  them. 


390  OEDEUICUS    VITALIS.  [B.VII.  C1I.XII. 

crowds,  and  hastened  to  the  shore  full  of  rage  and  grief, 
tearing  their  hair  and  beards,  and,  wailing  for  the  loss 
of  their  pastor  and  patron,  joined  with  one  accord  in  a 
mournful  chant : 

>Vh  wretched  day  !     Ah  foul  disgrace  ! 

Ah  sad  dishonour  to  our  race  ! 

The  gift  of  God,  the  glorious  prize, 

Has  vanished  from  our  longing  eyes. 

Not  lost  upon  the  battle-field, 

By  thronging  numbers  forced  to  yield, 

But  ravished  by  a  skulking  crew, 

(Alas  !  the  deed  was  done  by  few). 

We  wail  our  country's  treasure  gone, 

Too  easily  by  pirates  won. 

Where  now  our  Lycia's  proudest  boast, 

Her  fame  renowned  o'er  every  coast, 

The  strength  her  sainted  patron  gave, 

The  glory  shed  around  his  grave  ? 

Mourn,  Myrians,  mourn,  this  day  of  gloom, 

The  offerings  lost,  the  rifled  tomb  ! 

O  FATHER  NICHOLAS,  hast  thou  left 

Thy  country  and  thy  home  bereft 

Of  the,  fond  care  and  sheltering  aid 

Thou  gav'st  her,  for  her  homage  paid, 

When  raging  foes  around  her  prest, 

And  storms  of  trouble  her  distrest. 

For  this,  thy  home,  thy  native  soil, 

Beheld  thee  through  life's  lengthened  coil, 

In  youth,  in  age,  her  fortunes  share  ; 

She  thy  beloved,  thy  flock,  thy  care, 

Hanging  upon  thy  every  word. 

And  thou  her  pastor,  patron,  lord. 

Here  pilgrims  flocked  from  every  shore 

Thy  intercession  to  implore ; 

Before  thy  tomb  their  offerings  laid, 

And  sought  in  faith  thy  healing  aid. 

But  when  the  sad  report  is  spread, 

Of  rifled  shrine  and  spirit  fle.i,         « 

Who  then  our  hallowed  courts  will  throng, 

With  votive  gifts,  and  prayer,  and  song  ? 

The  wonders  wrought,  the  ancient  glory, 

Will  only  fill  the  page  of  story. 

And  now,  O  shepherd,  who  shall  keep 

From  ravening  wolves  thy  faithful  sheep  ? 

Deprived  of  thee,  our  guardian,  guide, 

Our  hope,  our  comfort,  and  our  pride, 

Where  shall  we  turn  to  find  relief 

From  shame  and  suffering,  fear  and  grief ! 


A..D.  10S7.J  THE  LAMENT  OF  THE  MYBIANS.     '  391 

VVoe  to  the  base  marauding  band, 
Who  dared  with  sacrilegious  hand 
To  violate  the  sacred  soil, 
And  bear  away  the  holy  spoil ! 
Alas  !  alas  !  a  glorious  prize 
Rewarded  their  bold  enterprise ; 
But  we,  forlorn  and  desolate, 
Are  left  to  mourn  our  hapless  fate.1 

While  the  Myrians,  unable  to  avenge  their  grief,  were 
giving  utterance  to  it  in  loud  lamentations,  the  exulting 
Barians  quickly  unmoored,  and  setting  sail  reached  the 
island  of  Cacabus2  the  same  night,  from  whence  they  con- 
tinued their  course  to  the  Magestran  islands.3  Here  the 
crew  took  to  their  oars  in  urgent  haste,  and  reaching  the 
shores  of  Makry,4  were  detained  there  three  days  by  contrary 
north  winds.  This  caused  them  great  uneasiness,  and  they 
began  to  doubt  their  really  having  on  board  the  relics  of  St. 
Nicholas,  or  whether  it  was  the  saint's  pleasure  to  be 
transported  further  by  them.  Then  one  of  them,  whose 
name  was  Eustace,*  had  his  doubts  removed  by  a  dream,  but 
was  terrified  by  seeing  in  the  vision  his  tongue  bloody  with 
the  bites  of  leeches. 

In  consequence  all  the  crews,  with  general  consent, 
brought  into  the  common  stock  the  minute  fragments  of  the 

1  The  pains  bestowed  in  illustration  of  our  author's  account  of  the 
translation  of  the  relics  of  St.  Nicholas  may  appear  misspent  But  it 
must  be  recollected  how  characteristic  it  is  of  the  feelings  and  habits  of 
the  middle  ages;  and  that,  considering  it  only  as  a  religious  romance, 
the  popular  literature  of  those  times  was,  as  11.  Guizot  remarks  in  his 
Histoire  de  la  Civilisation,  principally  composed  of  such  legends.  The 
present  narrative,  however,  has  an  intrinsic  value  from  the  vividness  with 
which  the  details  of  a  bold  enterprise  are  presented  to  the  reader. 

*  The  isle  of  Kakava,  the  Dolichistos  of  the   ancients,  not  far  from 
Myra,  to  the  south-west. 

3  Probably  the  island  of  Megista,  to  the  west  of  Kakava,  with  the 
numerous  islets  surrounding  it.  This  island,  which  was  also  named 
Cisthenes,  is  now  called  Castelorizo  or  Cailelrosso.  The  ships  of  Bari 
•ought  anchorage  there,  the  island  of  Kakava  not  offering  it.  From  thence 
they  made  Patara,  the  country  of  St.  Nicholas,  "  come  se  avesse  voluto 
egli,"  says  Father  Beatillo,  "  prima  di  Venire  in  Italia,  visitar  la  sua  partria, 
e  prenderne,  come  si  dice,  grata  licenza."  Patara  is  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Xanthus,  to  the  W.N.W.  of  Castelorizo. 

*  The  Gulf  of  Makry  (the   Glaucus  Sinus  of  the  ancients),  to  the 
N.N.W.,  is  very  near  Patara.     Makry  is  the  Tetmistus  of  the  ancients. 

*  Stafio  (Eustace)  Stanuaria,  of  a  distinguished  family  in  Ban. 


392  OBDEEICITS   TITALIS.  [B.TII.  CH.XII. 

relics  they  had  individually  purloined,  making  solemn 
asseverations  that  they  retained  no  portion  of  what  they 
had  thus  appropriated.  Eomoald  produced  two  teeth  and 
some  small  bones  which  he  had  concealed,  and  in  like 
manner  all  the  rest  surrendered  the  various  particles  they 
had  secretly  taken,  that  they  might  be  re-united  with  the 
other  parts  of  the  saint's  remains.  After  this,  the  adven- 
turers were  favoured  with  a  fair  wind,  and  while  their  keels 
were  ploughing  the  wide  sea,  St.  Nicholas  appeared  in  a 
dream  to  one  of  the  sailors,  Disigio  by  name,  and  gave  him 
the  encouraging  promise  that  they  should  enter  the  port  of 
Bari  on  the  twentieth  day  after  that  on  which  they  had 
borne  off  his  relics.  The  report  of  this  vision  to  his  ship- 
mates filled  them  with  entire  confidence. 

A  little  bird  also  was  suddenly  seen  by  the  -sailors  flitting 
about  the  ship,  and  inspired  them  with  hope  by  its  repeated 
visits.1  They  were  also  frequently  sensible  of  a  most  fragrant 
odour,  and  encouraged  by  other  delightful  indications  of 
the  saint's  presence,  so  that  as  they  drew  near  to  the  shores 
of  their  own  country  their  spirits  were  raised  to  a  high  pitch 
of  joy  and  exultation. 

At  length  piloted  by  the  providence  of  God,  the  mariners 
moored  their  vessels  in  the  port  of  St.  George,  distant  some 
five  miles  from  the  walls  of  Bari.2  Announcing  their 
arrival  to  the  clergy  and  people  of  the  place,  the  unexpected 
news  threw  the  whole  city  into  a  tumult  of  delight,  and  the 
entire  population  of  every  age  and  both  sexes  flocked  to  the 
port.  Meanwhile  the  mariners  had  entrusted  the  coffer5 

1  The  sailors  considered  this  bird  an  apparition  of  St.  Nicholas. 

*  The  port  of  St.  George,  about  four  miles  to  the  E.S.E.   of  Bari, 
affords  now  only  anchorage  to  vessels  of  small  burden.     It  is  the  nearest 
place  of  anchorage,  after  Bari,  in  this  direction.   We  need  not  be  surprised 
at  finding  a  place  which  is  now  only  a  roadstead,  described  as  a  port  in  the 
middle  ages.     It  is  the  natural  consequence  of  the  deposits  made  by  the 
sea,  and  the  gradual  increase  of  the  land,  on  all  this  part  of  the  coast. 
Porto  San  Giorgio  must  not  be  mistaken  for  another  anchorage,  called 
Torre  di  San  Giorgio,  on  the  same  coast,  two  miles  east  of  Monopoli. 
The  three  ships  arrived  in  the  port  of  St.  George  on  the  evening  of  Satur- 
day, the  8th  of  May. 

*  During  the  voyage  the  relics  were  transferred  from  the  cask  which  had 
served  at  first  to  hold  them,  into  a  wooden  chest  made  expressly  for  that 
purpose,  and  the  remains  of  which  were  preserved  with  great  care  to  the 
cKse  ol  the  seventeenth  centuiy, — probably  to  the  present  day. 


RECEPTION  OF  THE  RELICS  OF  ST.  NICHOLAS  AT  BAR!.    393 

containing  the  relics  to  Elias,  the  devout  abbot  of  the 
monastery  of  St.  Benedict  which  stands  near  the  harbour, 
and  receiving  with  respect  the  sacred  deposit,  he  and  his 
monks  placed  it  in  their  church  on  the  ninth  of  the  month 
of  May  and  there  carefully  guarded  it  three  days.1 

At  that  time  Urso,  archbishop  of  Bari,2  a  pious  prelate, 
acceptable  to  God,  and  the  intimate  acquaintance  and  friend 
of  the  Italian  princes,  was  absent  from  his  see.  A  ship 
had  been  equipped  and  was  ready  for  sea  at  Irani,3  and  the 
archbishop  had  determined  to  embark  on  the  morrow  with 
the  intention  of  undertaking  a  voyage  to  offer  his  devotions 
at  Jerusalen.  He  was,  however,  met  at  Trani  by  a 
messenger  with  letters  from  the  citizens  of  Bari  informing 
hirn  of  the  intelligence  which  had  filled  them  with  joy.  In 
consequence  Urso  deferred  his  pilgrimage  without  hesitation, 
and  lost  no  time  in  returning  to  Bari,  highly  rejoicing.  The 
body  was  then  transported  by  the  townsmen  to  that  city,  the 
solemnity  of  the  translation  being  fixed  for  the  seventh  of 
the  ides  [the  9th]  of  May.  It  was  carried  at  first  to  the 
palace  of  the  Catapan,4  and  there  deposited,  with  great 
reverence,  at  the  request  of  the  mariners  and  all  the 
citizens  in  the  church  of  St.  Stephen  the  proto-martyr, 
which  had  been  erected  by  the  archbishop  three  years 
before.5 

1  Here  our  author's  narrative  is  very  incomplete.  The  ships  were 
moored  in  the  port  of  Bari  in  the  morning  of  Sunday,  the  9tn  of  May, 
which  was  in  the  octave  of  the  Ascension.  Violent  disputes  then  arose  as 
to  the  disposal  of  the  relics,  which  were  terminated,  for  the  present,  by  the 
offer  of  abbot  Elias  to  take  charge  of  them  provisionally,  and  they  were 
accordingly  deposited  in  the  church  of  St.  Benedict,  before  the  close  of  the 
same  day,  and  rested  there  till  the  Thursday  following. 

"  Urso,  archbishop  of  Bari  and  Canosa,  June,  107U — Feb.  14, 1089. 

8  Trani,  an  arrhiepiscopal  city  in  the  kingdom  of  Naples,  on  the" 
Adriatic,  nine  leagues  to  the  north-west  of  Bari. 

*  "  Curia  Catapana."     Beatillo  calls  this  residence  Curia  del  Capitano, 
the  palace  of  the  Catapan,  as  the  governor,  who  resided  at  Bari,  in  the  last 
days  of  the  Greek  empire  in  Italy,  was  called.     It  stood  on  the  sea-shore. 

*  The  archbishop,  who  arrived  from  Trani  on  the  Sunday  evening,  was 
zealous  in  his  endeavours  to  have  the  relics  of  St.  Nicholas  deposited  in  his 
cathedral;  but  the  mariners  and  their  friends,  after  a  struggle  which  cost 
the  lives  of  two  youths,  carried  off  their  precious  deposit  about  ten  o'clock 
on  Thursday  morning  by  a  private  door,  and  lodged  it  in  the  palace  of  the 
Catapan.     The  oxen  which  drew  the  carriage,  frightened  by  the  tumult, 
turned  out  of  the  road,  and  made  towards  the  sea.     The  spot  on  the  shore 


891  OKDEEICTTS    VITALTS.  [B.VII.  CH.XII. 

The  foundations  of  a  church  dedicated  expressly  to  St. 
Nicholas  were  immediately  laid,  and  the  holy  relics,  with  the 
offerings  of  the  faithful,  and  the  carrying  on  of  the  work 
were  entrusted  to  the  venerable  abbot  Elias,  who  was 
appointed  overseer  of  the  whole  undertaking  by  general 
consent,  with  the  approbation  of  the  archbishop.  Multitudes 
speedily  flocked  to  the  spot  from  all  parts  of  Italy,  and 
innumerable  signs  and  miracles  were  daily  wrought  by  the 
power  of  God.  The  very  first  day,  while  the  holy  relics 
were  deposited,  as  it  has  been  just  related,  in  the  church  of 
St.  Benedict,  more  than  thirty  sick  persons  of  both  sexes  and 
every  age  were  freed  from  various  infirmities,  and  having 
recovered  perfect  health  returned  with  hearts  full  of  joy 
and  uttering  thanksgivings,  to  their  own  homes.  As  for 
the  succeeding  times,  we  shall  not  attempt  to  give  a  par- 
ticular account,  or  to  reckon  the  numbers,  of  the  demoniacs, 
the  deaf,  lame,  dumb,  and  blind,  with  others  suffering  from 
a  variety  of  disorders,  who  were  effectually  relieved  and 
cured.  In  short,  as  we  have  before  clearly  intimated,  the 
number  is  infinite  and  beyond  our  knowledge.1 

John,  archdeacon  of  Bari,  of  whom  I  have  already  spoken 

where  they  stopped  was  afterwards  selected  as  the  site  of  the  high  altar  in 
the  new  church,  and  to  commemorate  this  circumstance  two  oxen  and  a 
car  of  white  marble  were  sculptured  over  the  door.  From  this  place  the 
coffer  was  borne  on  the  shoulders  of  priests  to  the  palaqe,  and  placed  in  a 
church  built  three  years  before,  and  dedicated  to  St.  Stephen.  Here  they 
were  again  entrusted  to  the  care  of  abbot  Elias,  as  well  as  the  rich  offerings 
which  devotion  and  gratitude  soon  poured  in  from  all  quarters. 

1  The  superintendence  of  the  building  a  new  church  was  also  confided 
to  abbot  Elias,  and  he  pushed  forward  the  work  with  such  activity,  that  as 
early  as  the  30th  of  September,  1089,  Pope  Urban  II.  was  able  to  come  and 
consecrate  the  lower  church  and  altar,  where  the  relics  of  St.  Nicholas  were 
deposited.  Two  days  afterwards  he  ordained  the  pious  abbot,  who  had 
been  his  fellow  scholar  in  the  monastery  of  La  Cava,  as  archbishop  of  Bari. 
It  was  in  this  church  that  the  same  pope  opened,  on  the  1st  of  October, 
1099,  the  celebrated  council  in  which  were  discussed  the  controverted  points 
between  the  Latin  and  Greek  churches,  and  especially  the  procession  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.  The  distinguished  part  which  Anselm,  the  Norman 
archbishop  of  Canterbury,  took  in  these  weighty  theological  discussions,  is 
well  known.  It  appears  that  the  zeal  with  which  the  building  the  upper 
church  had  been  carried  on  was  afterwards  relaxed,  for  it  was  not  until  the 
22nd  of  June,  1199,  a  century  afterwards,  that  by  delegation  of  Pope 
Pascal  II.,  it  was  consecrated  by  Conrad,  bishop  of  Heldesheim  and  chan- 
cellor of  the  Aulic  Council  of  the  emperor  Henry  IV. 


ABOUT  1090.]      EELIC  OF  ST.  NICHOLAS  AT  VENOSA.  395 

and  from  whose  book  I  have  made  this  brief  extract, 
enumerates  distinctly  twelve  signal  miracles.  But  it  was 
not  in  his  power,  or  that  of  any  other  writer,  to  hand  down 
to  posterity  all  the  cures  and  other  benefits  which  Almighty 
God  has  conferred  in  his  mercy  on  his  servants  faithfully 
imploring  it  for  the  merits  of  the  most  holy  bishop  St. 
Nicholas  from  that  time  to  the  present.  Afterwards,  by 
God's  permission,  several  churches  obtained  portions  of  the 
sacred  relics  of  St.  Nicholas,  and  not  only  Italians  and 
Greeks,  but  other  nations  also  give  thanks  to  God  for  the 
precious  deposit.  One  Christopher,  a  knight,  who  had 
assisted  at  the  translation  of  the  illustrious  Nicholas,  con- 
cealed one  of  the  ribs  in  his  sleeve,  and  not  long  afterwards 
falling  sick  retired  to  the  monastery  of  Venosa,  imploring 
the  abbot  Berenger  to  admit  him  as  a  monk.  Having 
obtained  his  request,  he  presented  the  rib  of  St.  Nicholas 
which  he  had  in  his  possession  to  the  abbey  of  the  Holy 
Trinity,  and  was  cured  of  his  malady. 

CH.  XIII.  Some  relics  of  St.  Nicholas  carried  from  Sari  to 
Venosa — Also,  by  William  Pantoul,  a  Norman  knight,  to 
Noron. 

ABOUT  the  same  time,  Stephen,  the  chanter  of  the  monas- 
tery which  the  elder  Count  Fulk  erected  to  the  honour  of 
of  St.  Nicholas  in  the  city  of  Angers,1  went  to  Apulia,  and 
by  express  permission  of  the  lord  Natalis,  his  abbot, 
divested  himself  of  the  monastic  habit  and  lived  as  a  clerk 
at  Bari,  where  he  established  familiarity,  and  afterwards 
influence,  with  the  sacristans  of  the  church  dedicated  to  the 
holy  bishop.  At  length,  watching  hie  opportunity,  he 
secretly  purloined  an  arm  of  St.  Nicholas,  which,  set  in 
silver,  was  kept  outside  the  shrine,  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
the  benediction  to  the  people.*  He  then  attempted  to 
withdraw  into  France,  that  he  might  enrich  his  own  monas- 

1  This  abbey  had  been  founded  by  Fulk  Nerra  in  1020. 

2  The  custom  of  removing  an  arm  from  the  skeleton  of  a  saint,  to  place 
it  in  a  special  reliquary,  existed  also  in  Normandy.     The   arm    of  St. 
Aubert  at  Mont  St.  Michael  was  not  only  used  in  giving  the  benediction, 
but  also  to  sanction  oaths  taken  upon  it.     The    magnificent   chartulary 
of  this  abbey  contains  many  nets  in  which  this  formality  is  mentioned, 
and  on  some  of  its  beautiful  illuminations  there  are  drawings  of  the 
reliquary  so  used. 


896  OEDERICUS    VITALI8.  [B.VI1.  CH.XIII. 

tery    with    the   precious  treasure.      The  people   o£  "Bari, 
however,  speedily  discovering  the  loss  they  had  sustained, 
despatched  messengers  to  their  neighbours,  their  friends  and 
patrons,  and  had  all  the  avenues  on  the  road  to  France 
carefully  guarded  to  prevent  the  thief  s  escape.      Notwith- 
standing, Stephen  reached  Venosa  safely,  where  he  passed 
the  winter  in  great  alarm,  trying  to  conceal  himself;  but  while 
waiting  for  the  spring  to  bring  fair  weather  he  fell  sick,  and 
his  means  of  subsistence  failing  he  was  compelled  to  detach 
the  silver  from  the  holy  relic  and  apply  it  for  his  support. 
Meanwhile  the  report  that   the   arm  of  St.  Nicholas  was 
stolen  by  the  French  spread  through  the  whole  of  Italy  and 
Sicily,  and  the  robbery  becoming  the  subject  of  frequent 
conversation,  and  being  much  canvassed  among  the  peo- 
ple, the  silver  covering  was  seen  and  recognized  by  some 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Venosa  and  servants  of  the  convent. 
The  tidings  thus  reached  the  ears  of  the  monks,  whereupon 
Erembert,   an  active  brother,   suddenly  presented   himself 
with  the  servants  before  the  ex-monk,  who  was  lying  sick, 
and    with   great    vehemence,   demanded    the   arm   of   St. 
Nicholas  as  if  it  had  been  expressly  committed  to  his  charge. 
The  sick,  man,  perceiving  that  he  was  detected,  and  not 
knowing  where   to   turn   in   his  emergency,  all    pale   and 
trembling,  produced  the  precious  relic  to  the  resolute  monk, 
who  joyfully  seizing  it,  carried  it  to  the  abbey  of  the  Holy 
Trinity,  the  monks  and  citizens  returning  thanks  to  God. 
To  this  day,  St.  Nicholas  there  miraculously  succours  in 
their  several   necessities  those  who  faithfully  implore  his 
aid  in  virtue  of  the  sacred  relic.     This  Erembert,  a  Norman 
by  birth,  was  before  his  conversion  a  brave  soldier,  and  after- 
wards becoming  a  monk  was  a  zealous  member  of  his  order. 
In  these  times  a  certain  Norman  knight,  named  William 
Pantoul,1   betook  himself  to  Apulia,   and   having  a   great 
respect  for  St.  Nicholas,  made  diligent  inquiries  after  his 
relics.      By  God's  blessing  on  his  endeavours  he  obtained 
from  those  who  had  translated  the  body  one  tooth  and  two 
fragments   of  the  marble   urn.      William   Pantoul  was  a 
gallant  soldier,  endowed  with  great  talents,  and  well  known 

1  A  further  accunt  of  William  Pantoul,  or  Pantulf,  will  be  found  in 
book  v.  c.  16.  It  appears  that  he  undertook  this  (his  second)  journey  to 
Apulia  after  the  death  of  King  William.  See  btfore,  pp.  208 — 21 1. 


A.D.  1092.]      RELICS  OF  ST.  NICHOLAS  IK  NOEMANDT,          397 

among  the  nobles  of  England  and  Italy  as  one  of  the 
wisest  and  richest  among  his  neighbours.  Having  obtained 
the  tooth  of  so  great  a  man,  he  returned  to  Normandy,  and 
on  an  appointed  day  called  together  a  number  of  persons  at 
his  own  domain  called  Noron  to  receive  the  relics  in  a 
worthy  manner. 

Accordingly,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1092,  the  tooth  of 
the  blessed  confessor  Nicholas,  with  other  relics  of  the  saints 
brought  by  William  Pantulf  from  Apulia,  was  deposited 
with  great  reverence  in  the  church  of  Noron  erected  in 
ancient  times  in  honour  of  St.  Peter.  He  invited  Roger, 
abbot  of  St.  Evroult  and  Ralph,  who  was  at  that  time  abbot 
of  Seez  but  who  afterwards  became  archbishop  of  Canterbury ,' 
to  be  present  at  the  ceremony,  and  in  the  month  of  June 
they  received  the  holy  relics  amid  great  devotion  of  the 
monks  and  rejoicings  of  the  laity,  carefully  placing  them  in 
a  silver  coffer  liberally  provided  by  the  before  mentioned 
knight.  The  deposit  so  often  spoken  of  became  in  frequent 
request  by  persons  suffering  from  fevers  and  other  maladies, 
whose  devout  prayers  aided,  by  the  merits  of  the  good 
bishop  Nicholas  obtained  what  they  desired  in  the  recovery 
of  their  health. 

Soon  afterwards,  this  knight  laid  the  foundation  of  a  new 
church,  and  having  given  twenty  marks  of  silver  for  the 
work,  completed  a  considerable  part  of  the  building. 
Unfortunately  its  progress  was  stopped  by  unfavourable 
events,  and  in  consequence  of  the  founder's  death  it  was 
not  finished.  He  died  on  the  sixteenth  of  the  calends  of  May 
[16th  April],  and  his  wife  Lesceline  on  the  eleventh  of  the 
calends  of  October  [21st  September]  ;  both  were  interred  in 
the  monk's  cloister.  Their  sons  Philip,  Robert,  Ivo,  and 
Arnulph  have  not  hitherto  made  any  efforts  to  carry  into 
execution  their  parent's  designs  in  matters  of  religion.2 

Having  thus  introduced  a  faithful  account  of  the  transla- 

1  For  an  account  of  Ralph  d'Ecures,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  see 
before,  p.  '2.51. 

a  Nearly  the  same  details  are  given  in  book  v.  c.  16.  One  of  these 
personages,  Robert  Pantoul,  figures  among  the  robbers  of  the  abbey  of 
nuns  at  Caen  after  the  death  of  King  William,  and  the  losses  it  sustained 
by  his  devastations  are  valued  in  the  chartulary  at  six  pounds  of  silver. 
From  this  conduct,  it  may  be  easily  conceived  that  he  was  in  no  hurry  to 
complete  the  religious  establishments  commenced  by  his  parents. 


398  ORDEBICTTS   TITALI8.  [B.TII.  CH.XIT. 

tion  of  the  relics  of  St.  Nicholas  in  this  my  work  I  devoutly 
implore  him  who  worked  so  many  miracles,  that  mindful  of 
those  who  have  had  him  in  remembrance,  his  pity  may  be 
bestowed  upon  us  while  he  continually  intercedes  with  Grod 
on  our  behalf.  Let  us  now  return  to  the  course  of  our 
history,  from  which  I  have  somewhat  digressed. 

CH.  XIV.  Disturbances  on  the  banks  of  the  Eure  in  the  Vexin 
— Account  of  the  cession  of  that  district  by  Henry  I.  oj 
France  to  Robert,  duke  of  Normandy — King  William's 
expedition  to  recover  it — He  burns  the  town  of  Mantes 
— and  falls  mortally  sick. 

[1087.]  The  old  funds  between  the  Normans  and  Trench 
being  renewed,  hostilities  again  burst  forth,  and  the  flames 
of  war  occasioned  the  most  serious  losses  both  to  the  clergy 
and  laity.  For  Hugh,  suruamed  Stavel,  and  Ralph  Malvoi- 
sin,1  and  other  inhabitants  of  the  fortified  town  of  Mantes 
took  up  arms  against  King  William,  and  collecting  a  large 
band  of  freebooters  made  frequent  predatory  excursions  into 
Normandy.  Crossing  in  the  night,  at  the  head  of  their 
troops,  the  river  Eure  which  divides  Normandy  from  France,* 
they  threw  themselves  unexpectedly  on  the  diocese  of  Evreux 
determined  on  committing  the  most  cruel  devastations.  The 
brunt  of  the  inroad  fell  on  the  domains  of  "William  de  Breteuil 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Paci,  and  those  of  Roger  de  Ivri,3 
from  which  they  drove  off  herds  of  cattle,  and  carried  away 
many  prisoners,  so  that  deriding  the  Normans,  they  were  be- 
yondmeasure  elated  at  their  success.  This  inducedthe  warlike 
King  William,  who  was  excessively  enraged,  to  lay  claim  to 
the  whole  province  of  the  Vexin,  requiring  Philip,  king  of 
France,  to  surrender  Pontoise,  Chaumont,4  and  Mantes,  and 
making  terrible  threats  against  his  enemies  if  he  was  not 

1  S_»e  book  v.  c.  19. 

*  It  is  very  probable  that  at  a  remote  period  the  Eure,  during  a  great 
part  of  its  course,  formed  the  boundary  between  Evreux  and  that  portion 
of  the  territory  of  the  Carnutes  which  is  near  to  Mantes,  but  in  the 
eleventh  century,  as  in  the  eighteenth,  such  was  not  the  case,  except  be- 
t-.veen  St.  Georges- sur- Eure  and  Garennes. 

8  Paci,  Ivri,  both  places  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Eure.     Roger  d'lvri 
was  butler  to  William  the  Conqueror.     See  before,  pp.  109,  2.13. 

*  Chaumont  in  the  Vexin. 


A.D.  1032.]       THE  VEII3T  CEDED  TO  DTJZE  EOBEET.  309 

restored  to  his  lawful  rights.  The  grounds  of  his  claim  were 
as  follows. 

King  Henry,  son  of  Kobert  king  of  France,  after  the  death 
of  his  father,  was  heir  to  the  crown  as  his  eldest  son,  but  he 
was  opposed  with  a  step-mother's  hatred  by  Queen  Constance 
who  used  every  effort  to  elevate  his  brother,  Robert  duke  of 
Burgundy,  to  the  throne  of  France  in  his  place.  Henry 
therefore,  by  the  advice  of  Amauri,  lord  of  Montfort,  son  of 
William  de  Hainault,  came  with  twelve  attendants  to 
Fecamp,1  and  humbly  besought  the  assistance  of  Robert 
duke  of  Normandy,  in  the  state  of  misery  and  exile  to  which 
his  mother's  perfidy  had  reduced  him.  The  duke  gave  him 
an  honourable  reception  befitting  his  lawful  right  as  suzerain 
of  the  duchy,  and  liberally  entertained  him  during  the 
celebration  of  the  feast  of  Easter.  He  then  assembled  the 
forces  of  Normandy  from  every  quarter,  and  making  a  hasty 
irruption  into  France,  assaulted  Orleans  with  Norman 
impetuosity  and  set  fire  to  and  burnt  the  place.  Having 
lowered  the  pride  of  the  French  by  inflicting  on  them 
immense  losses,  Robert  restored  the  young  king  to  his  throne. 
Thus  reinstated,  King  Henry  returned  thanks  to  the  duke, 
and  for  his  service  ceded  to  him  the  whole  of  the  Vexin  from 
the  river  Oise  to  the  Epte.  Dreux,  the  count  of  that  pro- 
vince,2 assented  willingly  to  this  arrangement,  and  doing 
homage  to  the  duke  served  him  faithfully  as  long  as  he  lived.3 
Both  the  duke  and  the  count  were  distinguished  for  their 
merits,  their  regard  was  mutual,  and  each  delighted  to 
honour  the  other  and  advance  his  friend's  interests. 

Dreux,  as  I  have  before  remarked,  was  descended  from 
Charlemagne,  king  of  the  Franks.4  Duke  Robert  had  given 
him  in  marriage  his  cousin  G-oda,5  sister  of  Edward,  king  of 
England,  by  whom  he  had  the  Counts  Ralph  and  Walter,  and 
the  venerable  Fulk,  bishop  of  Amiens.6  The  young  princess 

1  This  journey  of  Henry  I.  to  Fecamp  was  undertaken  in  the  month  o 
March,  1032.  Easter  fell  that  year  on  the  2nd  of  April. 

Dreux,  count  of  the  Vexin,  about  1027—1035. 

1032— June,  1035. 

By  his  mother  Alice,  or  Adele,  daughter  of  Herbert,  comte  de  Senlia. 

Edith,  or  Goda,  sister  of  Edward  the  Confessor. 

Walter,  only,  was  count  after  his  father;  there  is  no  trace  in  history  of 
Ralph,  who  must  have  been  the  second  son.  Our  autbr  omits  Amauri 
de  Pontoise,  called  the  Delicate.  , 


400  OBDERICUS   VTTALT8.  [B.TII.  CH.XIV. 

had  become  an  exile  in  Normandy  with  her  brother,  at  the 
time  when  Canute,  king  of  Denmark  had  taken  forcible 
possession  of  England,  having  expelled  the  two  heirs  to  the 
crown,  Alfred  and  Edward,  and  cut  off  by  the  treason  of 
Edric  Prince  Edmund,  and  Edwin,  the  presumptive  heir.1 

After  some  years,  on  the  death  of  Duke  Robert  at  Nice,  a 
city  of  Bithynia,  the  Norman  barons  revolted  against 
William,  who  was  then  a  boy ;  for  when  his  father  set  out 
on  his  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem  in  company  with  Count 
Dreux,  William  was  only  eight  years  old,2  and  was  entrusted 
to  the  guardianship  of  his  cousin  Alan,  count  of  Brittany.3 
Robert  and  Dreux  dying,son  their  journey,  and  Alan  being 
carried  off  by  poison  treacherously  administered  by  the 
Normans  while  he  was  besieging  Montgomery,  their  heirs 
became  iniquitously  deprived  of  their  natural  protector,  so 
that  King  Henry,  by  the  advice  of  the  French  who  are 
always  at  variance  with  the  Normans,  was  able  to  take 
advantage  of  it,  and  re-annex  the  country  of  the  Vexin, 
which  he  afterwards  retained  in, his  own  power.  William 
was  at  that  time  prevented  from  asserting  his  rights,  on 
account  of  his  youth ;  and  afterwards  being  occupied  with 
more  important  affairs  in  Maine  and  England,  he  suffered  the 
matter  to  drop,  and  deferred^  taking  up  arms  for  the  recovery 
of  the  Vexin  against  Philip,  his  liege-lord,  or  his  son  Philip. 

At  length,  twenty-one  years  after  he  had  ascended  the 
throne  of  England,  William  addressed  his  claims  to  the 
county  of  the  Vexin  to  Philip,  king  of  France.  That  prince 
however  adopted  the  frivolous  subterfuges  suggested  by  the 
insurgents,  and  treated  with  contempt,  and  altogether  dis- 
regarded, the  demands  of  the  English  king.  Upon  this, 
William  made  his  appearance  suddenly  before  Mantes,  at 
the  head  of  an  army,  in  the  last  week  of  the  month  of  July,* 
and  his  troops  entered  the  city  mixed  with  the  .garrison. 
For  the  townsmen  had  stolen  out  of  the  place  to  observe  the 

1  "  Edwinum  Clitonem."     See  vol.  i.  p.  147. 

"He  was  between  seven  and  eight  years  of  age  at  his  father's  death,  for 
William  was  not  sixty  when  he  died,  the  9th  of  September,  1087.  He 
was,  therefore,  born  at  the  latter  part  of  1027,  or  the  beginning  of  1028. 

1  Alan  III.,  duke  of  Brittany,  died  of  poison  at  Viraoutiers  the  1st  of 
October,  1040. 

*  This  week  begaji  on  Sunday,  the  25th  of  July. 


A.D.  1087.]    WILLIAM  THE  CONQTJEBOB's  LAST  ILLNESS.    401 

devastations  which  Ascelin  Goel1  had  made  with  the  Norman 
troops  the  day  before  the  king's  arrival,  by  burning  the 
standing  corn,  and  rooting  up  the  vines.  The  royal  army 
thus  rushing  in  pell-mell  with  the  garrison,  passed  the  gates, 
and  in  their  fury  set  fire  to  the  castle,  which  was  burnt,  with 
the  churches  and  houses.2  It  was  there  that  King  William, 
who  was  very  corpulent,  fell  sick  from  the  excessive  heat  and 
his  great  fatigues,3  languishing  six  weeks  with  severe 
sufferings.  There  were  some  who  rejoiced  at  this  calamity, 
hoping  to  have  free  scope  for  pillage  and  robbing  their 
neighbours'  substance,  others,  who  looked  for  security  in 
peace,  greatly  feared  the  death  of  their  lord,  on  whom  it 
depended.  The  king,  who  during  his  whole  life  had  followed 
the  advice  of  wise  counsellors,  had  feared  God  as  became  his 
faithful  servant,  and  had  been  the*  unwearied  protector  of 
holy  mother  church,  maintained  his  exalted  reputation  to  the 
end.  His  death  was  worthy  of  his  life.  To  'the  very  last, 
through  all  his  illness,  his  intellect  was  clear  and  his 
conversation  lively;  repenting  of  his  sins  he  confessed  them 
to  the  priests  of  God,  and  humbly  strove  to  appease  his 
wrath  according  to  the  rites  of  the  Christian  church.  The 
bishops,  abbots,  and  men  of  religion  never  left  him,  and  were 
indefatigable  in  opening  to  the  dying  prince  the  salutary 
doctrines  of  eternal  life.  The  noise  of  Rouen,  which  is  a 
populous  place,  becoming  insupportable  to  the  sufferer,  the 
king  gave  orders  that  he  should  be  conveyed  out  of  the  city 
to  the  church  of  St.  Gervase,  standing  on  a  hill  to  the  west,4 

1  For  Ascelin  Goel,  lord  of  Breval,  see  before,  p.  237. 

1  The  Conqueror  was  severely  reproached  for  having  set  fire  to  this 
place,  and  even  burnt  the  churches,  and  it  appears  to  have  weighed  on  his 
conscience  in  his  last  hours.  But  the  circumstance  which  most  roused  the 
public  indignation,  was  the  cruel  death  of  two  nuns  (Malmsbury  says  one 
only),  "  who  did  not  think  it  justifiable  to  quit  their  cells  even  under  such 
an  emergency."  We  know  how  profound  was  the  sympathy  inspired  by 
such  recluses  in  the  pious  generations  of  the  middle  ages. 

3  Ordericus  speaks  very  vaguely  of  the  accident  which  caused  the  death 
of  William,  but  we  know  from  other  authorities  that  the  king,  who  was 
very  corpulent,  was  seriously  injured  in  the  bowels  by  the  pommel  of  the 
saddle  as  his  horse  was  leaping  a  ditch. 

*  That  is  to  say,  in  the  priory  attached  to  this  church.     St.  Gervase  was 

originally  only  an  oratory  raised  by  the  piety  of  the  faithful  over  the 

tombs  of  the  first  two  bishops  of  Rouen,  St.  Mellon  and  St.  Avicien, 

whose  tombs  are  still  shown  under  two   low  arches  in  the  crypt     St. 

VOL,  II.  D   D 


402  OKDEBICUS   TITALT8.  [B.VII.  Cn.XIV. 

which  his  grandfather,  Duke  Richard,  had  given  to  the 
monastery  of  Fecamp.  There,  Gilbert,  bishop  of  Lisieux,1 
and  Guntard,  abbot  of  Jumieges,2  with  some  others,  well 
skilled  in  medicine,  carefully  watched  over  him,  devoting 
themselves  zealously  to  their  master's  welfare,  both  spiritual 
and  temporal. 

At  length,  his  disorder  continually  increasing,  and 
perceiving  that  inevitable  death  was  becoming  imminent,  he 
became  anxious  about  the  future,  which  was  veiled  from  his 
sight,  reflecting  on  which  with  deep  concern,  he  was 
frequently  moved  to  sighs  and  groans.  He  summoned  to  his 
side  his  sons  William  Rufus  and  Henry,  who  were  in. 
attendance  on  him  with  some  of  his  friends,  and  gave  them 
many  wise  and  prudent  directions  for  the  regulation  of  hia 
states.  Robert,  his  eldest  son,  had  long  since  entered  on  a 
course  of  repeated  quarrels  with  his  father,  and  had  recently 
taken  umbrage  in  consequence  of  some  new  follies,  and 
retired  to  the  court  of  the  king  of  France. 

The  wise  king  hastened  to  make  provision  for  the  future 
welfare  of  himself  and  others,  ordering  all  his  treasures  to  be 
distributed  among  the  churches^  the  poor,  and  the  ministers 
of  God.  He  exactly  specified  the  amount  to  be  given  to 
each,  and  gave  directions  to  the  notaries  to  reduce  it  to 
writing  in  his  own  presence.  He  also  contritely  sent  large 
donations  to  the  clergy  of  Mantes,  to  be  applied  to  the 
restoration  of  the  churches  he  had  burnt.  He  gave 
admonitions  to  all  who  were  present  relative  to  the 
maintenance  of  justice  and  good  faith,  keeping  the  law  of 
God  and  peace,  the  privileges  of  the  churches,  and  observing 
the  rules  o£  the  fathers.  His  eloquent  discourse,  worthy  to 
be  held  in  everlasting  remembrance,  and  at  times  interrupted 
b*y  tears,  was  to  the~following  effect. 

Victrix,  it  is  believed,  having  obtained  some  relics  of  St.  Gervase  and  St. 
Proteus  (discovered  by  St.  Ambrose  in  386),  placed  this  church  under 
their  invocation.  It  is  at  least  certain  that  the  crypt  is  the  most  ancient 
Christian  monument  in  Normandy.  Roman  bricks  are  built  into  the  wall. 
Duke  Richard  II.  gave  this  church  to  the  abbey  of  Fecamp.  The  priorv 
erected  by  the  monks,  and  in  which  King  William  breathed  his  last,  stood 
to  the  south  of  the  church. 

1  Gilbert    Maminot,    bishop    of    Lisieux,  1077 — August,    1101.     See 
an  excellent  account  of  this  prelate  in  book  v.  p.  117,  &c.,  of  the  present 
volume. 

2  GouUird,  abbot  of  Jumiegcs,  1078— November  26, 1095. 


A.D.  1087.]      THE  CONQUEROR'S  DYINQ  WOEDS.  403 

CH.  XV.  Discourse  of  King  William  the  Conqueror  on  Jiis 
death-bed,  in  ivhich  he  recapitulates  the  principal  events  of 
his  life — His  disposition  of  his  treasure  and  states. 
"  I  tremble,"  he  said,  "  my  friends,  when  I  reflect  on  the 
grievous  sins  which  burden  my  conscience,  and  now  about 
to  be  summoned  before  the  awful  tribunal  of  God,  I  know 
not  what  I  ought  to  do.  I  was  bred  to  arms  from  my  child- 
hood, and  am  stained  with  the  rivers  of  blood  I  have  shed. 
It  is  out  of  my  power  to  enumerate  all  the  injuries  which  I 
have  caused  during  the  sixty-four1  years  of  my  troublesome 
life,  for  which  I  am  now  called  to  render  account  without 
delay  to  the  most  righteous  Judge.  At  the  time  my  father 
went  into  voluntary  exile,  entrusting  to  me  the  duchy  of 
Normandy,  I  was  a  mere  youth  of  the  age  of  eight  years, 
and  from  that  time  to  this  I  have  always  borne  the  weight 
of  arms.  I  have  now  ruled  this  duchy  fifty-six  years,* 
amidst  the  difficulties  of  incessant  wars.  My  own  subjects 
have  often  conspired  against  me,  and  shamefully  exposed  me 
to  serious  losses  and  great  injuries.  They  have  perfidiously 
put  to  death  Turketil  my  guardian,3  Osberne,  son  of  Hirfast,4 
steward  of  Normandy ;  Count  Gilbert,  the  father  of  his 
country,5  and  many  others,  who  were  the  pillars  of  the  state. 
In  these  trials  I  had  proof  of  the  fidelity  of  my  people  : 
often  by  night  I  was  secretly  taken  from  the  chamber  of 
my  palace  by  my  uncle  Walter,6  through  fear  of  my  own 

1  This   reckoning   is   inexact,  as  is  shown  in  a  former  note,  p.  4nO- 
Indeed,  William  just  afterwards  corrects  it  himself,  saying  that  he  was  only 
eijjht  years  old  in  1035. 

2  For  56  read  52. 

*  Turketil  du  Neuf-Marche",  son   of  Geoffry  du   Neuf-Marche".     See 
before,  vol.  i.  p.  455,  and  vol.  ii.  p.  185.     For  Hugh  de  Morimont,  who 
was  killed  at  the  same  time,  see  ib.  p.  267. 

*  Osberne  de  Cr6pon,  surnamed  the  Pacific,  son  of  Hirfast,  and  brother 
of  the  Duchess  Gonnor,  was  assassinated  at  Vaudreuil  when  sleeping  in 
the  chamber  of  William,  who  was  yet  a  child,  by  William  de  Montgomery, 
eldest   son   of  Roger   I.   de   Montgomery  ^      Barnon  de  Glos,  Osborne's 
steward,  avenged  his  lord's  death  by  surrounding  and  setting  on  fire  the 
house  in  which  the  assassin  and  his  accomplices  were. 

*  William  speaks  too  favourably  of  Count  Gilbert,  for  notwithstanding 
the  odious  circumstances  which  attended  his  death,  he  received  only  the 
just   punishment  of  his  rapacity  towards  the  orphans  he   had  unjustly 
rol.bed  of  their  inheritance.     See  vol.  i.  p.  391. 

6  This  person,  of  whom  history  furnishes  no  other  notice,  appears  to 
have  been  a  brother  of  Harlotta,  William's  mother. 
I)  D  2 


4.04  OEDEEICUS   TITALIS.  [B.TII.  CU.XT. 

relations,  and  conducted  to  the  dwellings  and  retreats  of  the 
poor,  that  I  might  escape  from  discovery  by  the  traitors  who 
sought  my  death. 

"  The  Normans,  when  under  the  rule  of  a  kind  .but  firm 
master,  are  a  most  valiant  people,  excelling  all  others  in  the 
invincible  courage  with  which  they  meet  difficulties,  and 
strive  to  conquer  every  enemy.  But  under  other  circum- 
stances they  rend  in  pieces  and  ruin  each  other.  They  are 
eager  for  rebellion,  ripe  for  tumults,  and  ready  for  ever)' 
sort  of  crime.  They  must  therefore  be  restrained  by  the 
strong  hand  of  justice,  and  compelled  to  walk  in  the  right 
way  by  the  reins  of  discipline.  But  if  they  are  allowed  to 
take  their  own  course  without  any  yoke  and  like  an  un- 
tamed colt,  they  and  their  princes  will  be  overwhelmed  with 
poverty,  shame,  and  confusion.  I  have  learnt  this  by 
much  experience.  My  nearest  friends,  my  own  kindred, 
who  ought  to  have  defended  me  at  all  hazards  against  the 
whole  world,  have  formed  conspiracies,  and  rebelling  against 
me,  nearly  stripped  me  of  the  inheritance  of  my  fathers. 

"  Guy,  son  of  Reynold,  duke  of  Burgundy,1  by  my  aunt 
Adeliza,  returned  me  evil  for  good.  I  had  kindly  received 
him  on  his  arrival  from  a  foreign  country,  and  treated  him 
with  the  regard  due  to  an  only  brother,  giving  him  Vernon, 
Brionne,2  and  an  important  part  of  my  Norman  territories. 
Notwithstanding  this,  he  did  all  in  his  power  to  injure  me, 
both  by  word  and  deed,  calling  me  bastard,  degenerate  and 
unworthy  to  reign,  and  defaming  me  as  if  I  had  been  his 
enemy.  Need  I  add  more  ?  Breaking  his  fealty,  he  rebelled 
against  me,  seduced  from  my  service  Kanulf  de  Bayeux,3 
Haymon-aux-Dents,*  Nigel  du  Cotentin,4  and  many  others, 
forcing  them  by  his  nefarious  counsels  to  be  partakers  of 
his  perjury.  Regardless  therefore  of  the  homage  and  fealty 
which  he  had  sworn  to  me,  he  strove  to  strip  me  of  the 
whole  of  Normandy.  Thus,  while  I  was  yet  a  beardless 

1  Guy,  second  son  of  Reynold,  count  (not  duke)  of  Burgundy,  1027 — 
September  3,  1057,  and  Adeliza,  daughter  of  Richard  IL     See  vol.  i.  p. 
150. 

2  Vernon-sur-Seine,  and  Brionne. 

3  Ranulf  de  Briquessart,  viscount  of  Bayeux,  father  of  Ranulf,  earl  of 
Chester. 

*  Haimon-aux-Dents,  lord  of  Torigni,  Creuilli,  &c. 
5  Nigel,  or  Ne"el  de  St.  Sauveur,  vicomte  du  Cotentin. 


A.D.  1087.]      THE  CONQUEROR'S  DYING  AVOBDS.  405 

youth,  I  found  myself  compelled  to  take  up  arms  against 
him,  and  to  fight  on  the  plain  of  Val-des-Dunes1  against  my 
cousin  and  liege  man.  Then,  by  the  help  of  G-od,2  the 
righteous,  judge,  I  conquered  my  foes  between  Caen  and 
Argences,3  and  having,  by  His  permission  utterly  defeated 
them,  I  obtained  entire  possession  of  my  paternal  rights.  I 
then  laid  siege  to  the  fortress  of  Brionne,  in  which  Guy, 
who  fled  wounded  from  the  field  of  battle,  had  shut  himself 
up,  and  I  did  not  depart  until  I  had  driven  the  public 
enemy  out  of  Normandy,  and  obtained  possession  of  all  his 
strong  holds.4 

"  Shortly  afterwards  a  still  more  grievous  calamity  befell 
me.  My  uncles,  Mauger,5  archbishop  of  Rouen,  and  his 
brother  William,6  to  whom  I  had  gratuitously  given  Arques 
and  the  county  of  Talou,  treated  me  with  contempt  as  a 
bastard,  and  inducedj  King  Henry  and  Engelran,  count  of 
Penthieu,  to  take  up  arms  against  me.  I  received  this  in- 

1  The  battle  of  Val-es- Dunes,  fought  in  1047.  This  name,  of  which  the 
roost  active  researches  have  failed  to  discover  any  trace  in  the  district, 
appears  to  mark  a  part  of  the  elevated  plateau  on  which  stands  the  church 
of  Bellengreville,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Caen.  See  also  the  note,  vol.  i. 
p.  151. 

*  William  appears  to  have  forgotten  that  he  obtained  this  victory  not 
only  by  God's  help,  but  by  the  powerful  assistence  of  Henry,  king  of 
France,  which  he  implored  on  his  knees  at  Poissy.     Vol.  i.  p.  1 50. 

*  Argences,  not  Argentan,  is  incontestibly  the  right  reading.     See,  on 
the  details  of  this  battle,  Wace  (t.  ii.  pp.  27 — 43),  who  gives  them  with 
great   tare  and  knowledge  of  the  localities.     The  king  of  France,  who 
marched  by  way  of  Valmerai,  made  a  circuit  round  the  valley  of  the  river 
Semillon,  instead  of  traversing  it  as  William  did.     The  Val-es-Dunes, 
surrounded  by  the  river  to  the  south  and  south-west,  is  situated  in  the 
parishes  of  Chichebovelle  and  Bellengreville. 

*  We  shall  see  presently  that  Guy  was   blockaded   in   his   castle   of 
Brionne  three  years  before  he  capitulated.     It  was  not,  therefore,  till  1050 
that  this  rebellion  was  extinguished,     'ihe  ruins  of  the  keep  of  the  strong 
castle  of  Brionne,  surrounded  by  the  Risle>  are  yet  to  be  seen. 

5  Mauger,  archbishop  of  Rouen,  1037 — May,  1055.  He  was  son  of 
Richard  II.  and  Papia,  and  must  have  been  very  young  when  he  succeeded 
his  uncle  Archbishop  Robert.  See  before,  p.  102. 

*  William  Comte   de   Talou.  Arques,  near  Dieppe,  was  part   of  the, 
appanage  given  him  by  his  nephew,  and  was  an  important  military  post 
from  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  Normans.     But  this  count  must  be 
considered  as  the  founder  of  the  castle,  and  he  was  the  first  who  substituted 
the  title  of  Arques  for  that  of  Talou.     Engelran,  count  of  Ponthieu,  was 
his  brother-in-law. 


406  OBDERICTJS   YITALIS.  [B.VII.  CH.XV. 

• 

telligence  in  the  Cotentin,1  and  lost  no  time  in  beginning 
my  march  contrary  to  the  opinions  of  most  of  my  advisers. 
Sending  forward  to  Arques  some  light  troops  who  were 
eager  for  the  fray,  I  followed  myself*  with  the  main  body, 
which  was  far  from  considerable,  to  lay  siege  to  the  castle. 
But  before  1  reached  the  country  between  the  two  rivers, 
the  Sie  and  the  Garenne,  the  advanced  guard  fell  in  with 
Count  Engelran  pushing  forward  to  occupy  the  fortress,  and 
killed  him,  fighting  bravely,  for  he  was  a  valiant  knight,  and 
routed  his  squadrons.  Pressing  the  siege  closely,  I  com- 
pelled the  perjured  count  to  go  into  banishment,  and  did 
not  permit  him  to  return  to  the  domains  he  lost  during  all 
the  days  of  his  life.3  I  also,  by  virtue  of  a  papal  decree,  de- 
posed the  insolent  archbishop,  who  neither  observed  his 
fealty  to  me,  nor  his  duty  to  God,  and  raised  to  the  see  the 
venerable  monk  Maurilius  who  was  providentially  sent  from 
Florence,  an  Italian  city.4 

"  Henry,  in  all  the  plenitude  of  his  royal  power  and  the 
fervour  of  his  chivalrous  spirit,  has  been  often  seen  at  the 
instigation  of  my  enemies,  to  trample  me  under  his  feet  as  a 
defenceless  man,  endeavouring  to  crush  me  and  impose  upon 
me  unjust  conditions.  He  has  made  frequent  irruptions 
into  my  territories  at  the  head  of  large  armies,  but  he  has 
never  been  able  to  triumph  in  the  spoils  and  booty  he  has 
gained,  or  the  captives  he  has  made  among  my  subjects.  He 
has  often  crossed  the  frontiers  with  great  military  pomp, 
and  terrible  menaces,  but  he  has  never  returned  to  his  own 
kingdom  without  sorr6w  and  shame.  He  has  brought  in 
his  train  numbers  of  most  valiant  men,  who,  alas  !  never 
saw  their  own  country  again,  having  fallen  by  ray  sword  and 
the  arms  of  my  followers. 

1  The  Cotentin  was  the  name  given  to  a  district  in  the  extreme  north- 
west of  Normandy,  nearly  surrounded  by  the  sea,  in  which  was  situated 
Valognes,  one  of  the  residences  most  frequented  by  the  duke  in  his  early 
years. 

2  Wace  has  preserved  the  names  of  most  of  the  places  through  which 
the  duke  passed.     He  rode  so  hard  that  six  only  of  the  men-at-arms  who 
formed  his  escort  when  he  left  Valognes  were  with  him  when  he  arrived 
before  Arques. 

3  This  revolt  occurred  in  the  year  1053.     Further  details  will  be  found 
in  the  narratives  of  William  of  Jumieges  and  Wace. 

4  For   Maurilius,  archbishop  of  Rouen,  see  before  p.  164,  anil   hia 
epitaph,  p.  7. 


A.D.  1087.]      WILLIAM  THE  COKQTTEllOB's  A.CTS.  407 

"  On  one  occasion,  King  Henry,  was  so  enraged  against 
me,  that  he  invaded  my  territories  with  a  vast  army  in  two 
divisions,  in  order  to  overwhelm  them  by  a  double  attack.1 
He  led  one  body  of  troops  himself  into  the  diocese  of  Evreux, 
and  ravaged  the  whole  country  on  this  side  the  Seine,  while 
ho  gave  the  command  of  the  other  division  to  his  brother 
Eudes,2  with  Eeynold  de  Clermont,  and  the  two  counts, 
Ralph  de  Montdidier,3  and  Guy  de  Ponthieu,4,  with  orders  to 
enter  Normandy  by  the  fords  of  the  Epte,5  and,  carrying  fire 
and  sword  through  Brai  and  the  Talois,  with  the  whole  dis- 
trict of  Rouen,  to  continue  their  devastations  to  the  sea- 

1  This  double  invasion  of  Normandy  by  the  French  was  made  in  the 
beginning  of  spring,  1054,  before  Lent  (February  16).  It  appears  to  have 
been  intended  to  revenge  the  ill-success  of  the  former  campaign  before 
Arques. 

a  Eudes,  fourth  son  of  King  Robert  and  Constance,  who  died  without 
having  been  married,  appears  to  have  been  a  prince  of  slender  abilities. 
Odo  namque  uimis  stullus  erat,  is  the  blunt  language  of  a  cotemporary 
chronicler. 

3  Ralph  III.,  called  the  Great,  comte  de  Valois  and  Amiens  in  1030,  in 
right  of  his  father,  Ralph  II.,  re-united  to  it  Pontoise,  Mantes,  and  great 
part  of  the  Vexin,  after  the  death  of  his  cousin  Walter  in  1063.  See 
before,  p.  79.  He  never  bore  the  title  of  Comte  de  Montdidier  given  him 
by  our  author,  and  only  possessed  that  place  by  depriving  his  cousin- 
german,  Hot  ha  is  daughter  and  heiress  of  Eudes,  comte  de  Montdidier  of 
it.  Having  married  twice,  he  divorced  his  second  wife  to  marry  the  queen, 
Anne  of  Russia,  widow  of  Henry  1.  Faithful  to  his  habits  of  violence 
and  usurpation,  towards  the  close  of  his  life  (about  1071  or  1072)  he  seized 
the  castle  of  Peronne,  of  which  exploit  he  was  so  proud  that  he  afterwards 
used  no  other  title  but  that  of  Ralph  de  P^ronne.  He  died  at  Montdidier, 
Sept.  8,  1074,  under  excommunication  for  his  divorce,  and  was  buried  in 
the  priory  of  Notre-Dame  in  that  town. 

Simon  de  Cr^pi,  his  son  and  successor,  led  a  life  as  pure  and  holy  as 
that  of  Ralph  had  been  violent  and  criminal.  One  of  his  first  cares  was 
to  restore  Montdidier  to  the  right  heirs,  and  to  disinter  his  father's  body, 
and  have  it  conveyed  to  his  own  patrimony  at  Cre'pi.  This  exhumation 
was  made  on  March  22,  1076.  Simon,  who  was  present,  was  so  shocked 
at  the  appearance  of  his  father's  corpse,  that  it  was  a  new  motive  for  1m 
quitting  the  world  and  devoting  himself  to  a  monastic  life,  which  he 
shortly  afterwards  did,  although  his  friends,  to  withdraw  him  from  it, 
brought  about  his  marriage  with  Judith,  daughter  of  Robert  Comte 
d'Auvergne.  The  new  married  pair  made  vows  of  chastity  on  the  day  of 
their  union,  and  both  embraced  a  religious  life.  Simon  was  one  of  tho 
nearest  relatives  and  most  devoted  friends  of  Queen  Matilda. 
4  Guy  comte  de  Ponthi?u,  1053 — October  13,  1101. 
*  It  was  probably  not  by  the  fords  of  the  Epte,  but  by  those  of  the 
Bresle,  that  the  French  army  reached  Mortemer. 


408  OEDEBTCUS   VITALIS.  [B.VII.  CH.XT 

coast.  Receiving  intelligence  of  these  movements,  I  lost  no 
time  in  preparing  to  meet  them.  Stationing  myself  with 
part  of  my  troops  along  the  bank  of  the  Seine  against  the 
king's  tents,  I  kept  him  in  check,  and  was  ready  to  fall  upon 
the  enemy  at  whatever  point  he  attempted  to  ravage  my 
territories.  Meanwhile,  I  detached  against  Eudes  and  his 
division  Robert,  Count  d'Eu,  with  Roger  de  Mortemer,1  and 
other  distinguished  knights ;  who,  encountering  the  French 
n'ear  the  castle  of  Mortemer,  the  line  of  battle  was  formed  by 
both  armies,  and  a  desperate  engagement  ensued,  in  which  the 
carnage  was  enormous,  for  the  combatants  on  both  sides  were 
full  of  ardour  and  resolved  not  to  yield  but  with  their  lives.  On 
one  side,  the  French  made  furious  assaults,  inspired  by  the 
hope  of  gaining  the  spoils  of  the  victory  ;  on  the  other,  the 
Normans  struck  home,  animated  by  their  determination  to 
repel  the  enemy  and  defend  their  lives  and  possessions. 
This  battle  was  fought  beyond  the  Seine  in  the  winter 
season,  before  Lent,  eight  years  after  that  of  Val-des-Dunes.2 
Guy,  count  of  Ponthieu,  was  taken  prisoner  and  Eudes, 
Reynold,  and  others  were  put  to  flight,  owing  their  escape 
to  the  speed  with  which  they  ran  away.  Count  Ralph  [de 
Valois]  would  also  have  been  taken,  if  Roger,  my  com- 
mander-in-chief,  had  not  favoured  his  escape  on  account  of 
the  fealty  he  had  formerly  sworn  to  him.  In  acting  thus, 
in  the  hour  of  the  count's  utmost  need,  he  paid  him  a  noble 
and  legitimate  service ;  receiving  him  in  his  castle,  where  he 
entertained  him  three  days,  and  afterwards  conducting  him 
in  safety  to  his  own  territories.  Notwithstanding,  for  this 
breach  of  his  duty  to  me,  I  banished  Robert  from  Nor- 
mandy, but,  being  soon  afterwards  reconciled  with  him, 
restored  him  all  his  domains,  except  the  castle  of  Mortemer, 
in  which  he  had  sheltered  my  enemy ;  which  I  think  he 
justly  forfeited,  and  I  granted  it  to  his  cousin  William  de 
Warrene,3  one  of  my  loyal  young  vassals.  Gruy,  count  of 

1  Roger  de  Mortemer,  brother  of  William  de  Warrene,  son  of  Walter 
(or  Ralph),  who  married  a  niece  of  the  Duchess  Gonnor. 

a  As  the  battle  of  Val-des-c!unes  was  fought  in  1047,  not  more  than 
seven  years  had  elapsed  in  February,  1054.  \ 

3  Although  Roger  de  Mortemer,  Roger's  son,  fought  bravely  at  the 
battle  of  Hastings,  the  castle  of  his  ancestors  was  not  restored  to  him.  In 
the  treaty  of  1 153,  between  King  Stephen  and  Duke  Henry,  by  which  the 
domains  of  Earl  Warrene  were  ceded  to  William,  the  king's  son,  the  castles 


A.D.  1087.]    WILLIAM:  THE  COXQUEBOB'S  ACTS.  409 

Bayeux,  was  detained  a  captive  during  my  pleasure;  but 
two  years  afterwards  I  received  his  fealty  on  the  terms  of 
his  being  always  my  faithful  subject  and  doing  military 
service  every  year,  wherever  I  should  appoint,  with  a 
hundred  men-at-arms.  I  then  heaped  favours  upon  him 
and  dismissed  him  in  peace  thus  honoured. 

"  As  soon  as  I  received  certain  intelligence  of  the  issue  of 
the  battle  of  Mortemer,  I  despatched  Ealph  de  Toni1  td  the 

of  Bellencombre  and  Mortemer  appear  in  the  first  line.  A  charter  of 
Reginald  de  Boulogne,  in  T204,  mentions  the  castle  of  Mortemer,  quod 
fuit  comilis  Garenniee. 

1  Ralph  de  Toni,  or  Toeni,  and  Conches  (see  vol.  i'  p.  462),  was  here- 
ditary standard-bearer  of  Normandy.  His  youngest  son  Robert  was.  the 
founder  of  the  great  family  of  Stafford  in  England. — Erdeswick's  Survey^ 
p.  118. 

William,  as  we  have  just  seen,  had  marched  in  person  against  the  king 
of  France,  who  had  crossed  the  Seine.     It  was  between  their  two  camps, 
separated,  probably,  by  only  a  small  interval,  that  Ralph  de  Toni  executed 
his  commission.     According  to  Robert  Wace,  he  climbed  up  into  a  tree, 
but  Ralph  de  Diceto  says  he  stood  on  a  hillock :  "  It  was  night  when, 
standing  on  a  neighbouring  hill,  he  began  to  shout  aloud,  '  My  name  is 
Ralph  de  Toni,   and   I   bring  you  melancholy  news;   hasten  with  your 
chariots  and  cars  to  Mortemer,  to  carry  off  the  bodies  of  the  slain.     The 
French  have  chosen  to  encounter  the  Norman  chivalry,  and  have  found  its 
assault  more  severe  than  they  expected.     Elides,  the  king's  brother,  has 
fled,  and  Guy,  count  of  Ponthieu,  is  a  captive.     All  the  rest  are  either 
prisoners  or  slain,  or  have  saved  their  lives  by  the  speed  with  which  they 
liave  run  away.     The  duke  of  Normandy  sends  this  message  to  the  king  of 
France.'"     A  balJad  of  a  later  age  is  to  the  same  purport : — 
"  Reveillez-vous  et  vous  levez, 
Franpois,  qui  trop  dormi  avez  ; 
Allez  bientdt'  voir  vos  amis, 
Que  les  Normands  ont  a  mort  mis 
Entre  iScouis  et  Mortemer : 
La  vous  convient  les  inhumer. 
These  verses  may  be  thus  paraphrased: — 

Wake,  Frenchmen,  wake!  you  sleep  too  sound, 
Your  friends,  upon  the  bloody  ground 
Sleep  a  sounder  sleep  afar, 
Between  Fjcouis  and  Mortemar. 
Haste,  Frenchmen,  haste!  if  not  to  save, 
At  least  to  give  an  honoured  grave 
To  gallant  knights  and  comrades  brave, 
Who  fell  before  the  tide  of  war, 
Between  l^couis  and  Mortemar. 

Mortimer  (mortuum-mare)  eu- Lions,  on  the  river  Caulne,  not  Mortemer- 


410  OEDEKICUS   YITALTS.  [B.TII.  CH.XT. 

king  of  France  with  an  account  of  what  had  occurred  on 
the  left  bank'  of  the  Seine.  On  hearing  the  news,  which 
reached  him  in  the  dead  of  the  night,  King  Henry  lost  not 
a  moment  in  putting  his  troops  in  motion,  and,  having  made 
a  precipitate  retreat,  from  that  hour  he  has  never  reposed 
for  a  single  night  on  my  territories. 

"  Thus,  from  my  very  infancy,  I  have  been  continually 
involved  in  numberless  embarassments,  but,  by  God's  mercy, 
I  have  freed  nyself  from  them  all  with  the  highest  honour. 
I  became  in  consequence  an  object  of  jealousy  to  all  my 
neighbours,  but  by  His  aid  in  whom  I  always  put  my  trust, 
none  of  them  were  able  to  prevail  against  me.  The  Bretons 
and  Anjevins  have  found  this ;  the  French  and  Flemings 
are  witnesses  of  it ;  the  Manceaux  have  severely  felt  it. 

"  Geoffrey  Martel,  count  of  Anjau,1  Conan,  duke  of 
Brittany,2  and  Robert  the  Frisian,  count  of  Flanders,3 
engaged  in  perfidious  enterprises  against  me ;  but  as  God 
was  my  protector,  though  they  made  great  efforts  and  laid 
many  snares  for  me,  they  were  never  able  to  accomplish 
their  designs.  I  have  placed  on  my  brow  a  royal  diadem, 
which  none  of  my  predecessors  wore,  having  acquired  it  by 
the  grace  of  God,  not  by  hereditary  right.  It  would  be  dif- 
ficult for  me  to  recount  my  labours  beyond  sea,  and  the 
perilous  conflicts  in  which  I  have  been  engaged  with  the 
people  of  Exeter,  Chester,  and  Korthumbria,  with  the  Scots 
and  Welsh,  Norwegians,  Danes,  and  other  adversaries  who 
attempted  to  deprive  me  of  the  crown  of  England :  in  all 
which  I  obtained  the  victory.  But  much  as  human  ambition 
is  disposed  to  triumph  in  such  successes,  I  am  a  prey  to 
cruel  fears  and  anxieties  when  I  reflect  with  what  bar bari- 

en-Brai,  was  the  scene  of  this  conflict ;  it  was,  therefore,  a  mistake  of  the 
later  writer  to  place  it  near  Ecouis.  The  language  of  the  former  has 
all  the  air  of  his  being  a  cotemporary  perfectly  acquainted  with  the 
localities. 

1  Called  also  Geoffrey  of  Mayjerme.     Malmesbury  gives  an  account  of 
this  expedition,  which  probably  took  place  in  105-2,  the  year  preceding 
the  revolt  of  William  d'Arques  before  mentioned.     Anliq.  Lib.  p.  266. 

2  King  William  here  refers  to  a  transaction  which  was  perhaps  the  most 
dishonourable  of  his  whole  career.     See  before,  p.  449. 

8  Allusion  is  made  to  the  battle  of  Ravenchoven,  near  Cassel,  February 
22,  1071,  in  which  William  Fitz-Oshorne  fell  (see  before  p.  59),  and  also 
to  the  preparations  made  for  invading  England  in  1005  concerted  between 
Robert  the  Frisian  and  St.  Canute,  king  of  Denmark. 


A.D.  1087.]    THE  CONQUEBOE'S  CAEE  OP  THE  CHTJECH.     411 

ties  they  were  attended.  I  therefore  humbly  entreat  you, 
the  priests  and  ministers  of  Christ,  to  commend  me  in  your 
prayers  to  Almighty  God  for  the  forgiveness  of  the  sins 
with  which  my  conscience  is  burdened,  and  that  through 
his  inexhaustible  mercy  he  will  vouchsafe  to  grant  me  salva- 
tion among  his  elect.  I  direct  my  treasure  to  be  given  to 
the  churches  and  the  poor,  that  what  was  amassed  in  crime 
may  be  dispersed  among  the  saints  and  applied  to  holy 
uses.  For  you  ought  to  remember  how  dearly  I  have  loved 
you,  and  how  stoutly  I  have  defended  you  against  all  your 
enemies. 

"  I  have  never  injured  the  church  of  God,  which  is  our 
mother,  but  have  always  paid  her,  as  circumstances  demanded, 
due  honour.  I  never  sold  ecclesiastical  dignities.  I  pro- 
hibited simony,  which  I  always  detested.  In  the  election  of 
prelates  my  choice  was  directed  by  meritorious  conduct  and 
wise  doctrine,  and  as  far  as  it  has  been  in  my  power  the 
government  of  the  church  has  been  committed  to  the  most 
worthy.  This  may  be  truly  proved  by  my  selection  of  Lan- 
franc,  archbishop  of  Canterbury ;  of  Anselm,  abbot  of  Bee ; 
Gerbert,  abbot  of  Fontenelles ;  Durand,  of  Troarn;  and 
many  other  doctors  of  my  realm,  whose  praise,  I  think,  is 
spread  to  'the  ends  of  the  earth.  Such  were  the  associates 
with  whom  I  conversed,  and  in  whose  society  I  learnt  the 
maxims  of  wisdom  and  truth ;  so  that  I  always  delighted  to 
receive  their  counsels. 

"  Nine  abbeys  of  monks  and  one  of  nuns,  founded  in 
Normandy1  by  my  predecessors,  have,  under  God's  blessing, 
been  augmented  by  my  care,  nobly  enriched  with  the  splen- 
did endowments  of  various  kinds  I  have  conferred  upon 
them.  Moreover,  during  the  time  I  have  governed  the 
duchy,  seventeen  convents  of  monks  and  six  of  nuns  have 
been  erected,3  in  which  the  full  service  is  regularly 

1  The  nine  abbeys  of  monks  here  referred  to  were  probably  St.  Ouen,  at 
Rouen,  St.  Wandrille,  Jumieges',  Mont  St.  Michel,  Fecamp,  Bernai.Mont 
St.  Catherine,  Cerisi,  and  Bee;  the  abbey  of  nuns,  Montivillieis. 

1  Grestain,  St.  Pierre-de-Preaux,  Notre-dame-de-St.  Pierre-sur-Dive, 
Lire,  St.  Sauveur-le-Vicomte,  St.  Evroult,  St.  Martin  de  Seez,  Conches, 
Troarn,  Lessai,  Le  Tre'port,  Corneilles,  St.  Stephen  at  Caen,  St.  Sever,  St. 
Georges  de  Bocherville,  St.  Victor-en  Caux.and  Bonne-Nouvelle  (a  priory). 
We  can  only  discover  five  convents  of  nuns  :  St.  Leger-de-Preaux, 
Almeneches,  St.  De'sir  de  Lisieox,  or  Notrt-Dame-du-Pre,  St.  Sauv^ur 
d'Evreux,  La  Trinit6  de  Caen. 


412  OBDEBICUS   VITA.LIS.  [B.TII.  CH.XV. 

performed,  and  large  alms  are  daily  distributed  for  the 
love  of  the  King  Supreme.  With  such  fortresses  Normandy 
is  well  protected,  and  in  them  men  are  taught  to  combat  the 
demons  and  the  sins  of  the  flesh.  By  God's  inspiration  all 
these  abbeys  have  been  either  of  my  creation  or  foundation, 
and  I  became  their  zealous  benefactor  and  kind  promoter. 
Moreover,  all  the  endowments,  whether  in  lands  or  other 
revenues,  which  my  barons  have  given  to  God  and  his  saints, 
for  the  good  of  their  souls,  both  in  Normandy  and  England, 
I  have  graciously  confirmed,  and  have  gratuitously  ratified 
by  my  princely  authority  the  charters  granting  them,  against 
all  claims  and  pretensions. 

"  Such  have  been  my  cares  from  my  earliest  years,  and 
these  duties  I  leave  to  my  successors  to  be  observed  in  all 
time  to  come.  In  these,  my  sons,  constantly  follow  my 
example,  that  you  may  be  honoured  for  ever  before  God 
and  men.  I  especially  exhort  you,  who  are  my  own  flesh, 
to  cultivate  unceasingly  the  society  of  good  and  wise  men, 
and  to  submit  to  their  rule  in  all  things,  if  you  desire  to 
possess  durable  glory.  From  the  teaching  of  pious  philoso- 
phers you  will  learn  to  discern  good  from  evil,  to  adhere  to 
justice  on  all  occasions,  and  to  spare  no  pains  in  avoiding 
iniquity ;  to  be  merciful  protectors  of  the  weak,  the  poor, 
and  the  pious,  while  you  bridle  and  put  down  the  proud  and 
malicious :  to  refrain  from  injuring  simple  folk,  to  frequent 
with  devotion  the  services  of  holy  church,  to  love  the  wor- 
ship of  God  above  all  riches,  and  to  observe  unweariedly 
the  divine  law  by  day  and  by  nightj  in  prosperity  and  in 
adversity. 

"  I  granted  the  dukedom  of  Normandy  to  my  son  Eobert, 
because  he  was  the  eldest,1  before  I  fought  against  Harold 
on  the  heath2  of  Senlac.  He  has  already  received  the 
homage  of  nearly  all  the  barons  of  this  land.  The  grant 
thus  made  and  ratified  I  cannot  annul.  But  I  know  for 
certain  that  the  country  which  is  subject  to  his  dominion 
will  be  truly  wretched.  He  is  a  proud  and  silly  prodigal, 
and  will  have  long  to  suffer  severe  misfortune. 

1  It  has  been  already  remarked  that  the  nomination  of  Robert  to 
the  succession  of  the  duchy  was  made  at  least  as  early  as  10C3.  See 
before,  p.  14. 

*  Epitumo,  query  epithymum  ?  a  word  found  only  in  our  author's  work, 
referring,  probably,  *o  the  odoriferous  plants  which  arc  found  on  heaths. 


A.D.  1087.]   THE  CONQUEROR  CONFESSES  HIS  CRUELTIES.   413 

"  I  appoint  no  one  my  heir  to  the  crown  of  England,  but 
leave  it  to  the  disposal  of  the  Eternal  Creator,  whose  I  am, 
and  who  ordereth  all  things.  For  I  did  not  attain  that  high 
honour  by  hereditary  right,  but  I  wrested  it  from  the  per- 
jured king  Harold  in  a  desperate  battle,  with  much  effusion 
of  human  blood,  and  it  was  by  the  slaughter  and  banish- 
ment of  his  adherents,  that  I  subjugated  England  to  my  rule. 
\  I  have  persecuted  its  native  inhabitants  beyond  all  reason. 
Whether  nobles  or  commons,  I  have  cruelly  oppressed 
them ;  many  I  unjustly  disinherited ;  innumerable  multi- 
tudes, especially  in  the  county  of  York,  perished  through 
me  by  famine  or  the  sword.  Thus  it  happened : l  the  Deiri 
and  other  people  beyond  the  Humber  called  in  the  troops  of 
Sweyn,  king  of  Denmark,  as  their  auxiliaries  against  me, 
and  put  to  the  sword  Eobert  Comyn  and  a  thousand  soldiers 
within  the  walls  of  Durham,  as  well  as  others,  my  barons 
and  most  esteemed  knights,  in  various  places.2  These  events 
inflamed  me  to  the  highest  pitch  of  resentment,  and  I  fell 
on  the  English  of  the  northern  counties  like  a  raving  lion. 
I  commanded  their  houses  and  corn,  with  all  their  imple- 
ments and  furniture,  to  be  burnt  without  distinction,  and 
large  herds  of  cattle  and  beasts  of  burden,  to  be  butchered 
wherever  they  were  found.  It  was  thus  that  I  took  revenge 
on  multitudes  of  both  sexes  by  subjecting  them  to  the 
calamity  of  a  cruel  famine ;  and  by  so  doing,  alas  me ! 
became  the  barbarous  murderer  of  many  thousands,  both 
young  and  old,  of  that  fine  race  of  people.  Having,  there- 
fore, made  my  way  to  the  throne  of  that  kingdom  by  so 
many  crimes,  I  dare  not  leave  it  to  any  one  but  God  alone, 
lest  after  my  death  worse  should  happen  by  my  means.  I 
trust  that  my  son  William,  who  from  bis  earliest  years  has 
always  attached  himself  to  me,  and  been  dutiful  under  all 
trials  to  the  best  of  bis  power,  may  live  long  and  prosperous 
in  the  influence  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  should  it  be  the 

1  A  full  account  of  William's  campaign  in  the  north  of  England,  and  of 
the  frightful  devastations  which  attended  its  progress,  is  given  by  Ordericus 
in  the  fifth  chapter  of  his  fourth  book  (see  p.  21  of  the  present  vol.), 
which  for  its  clear  and  vivid  details,  the  boldness  of  the  Anglo-Norman 
monk's  strictures  on  William's  cruelties,  and  the  style  of  composition,  ia, 
perhaps,  the  best  specimen  of  his  historical  powers  this  work  affords. 

1  In  this  passage  the  king  inverts  the  order  of  events. 


OBDEKICUS   VITALIS.  [B.TII.  CH.XTI. 

divine  will  that  he  succeed  to  the  throne,  his  reign  may  be 
illustrious." 

CH.  XVI.  Odo,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  exempted  from  the  general 
amnesty — The  last  hours  and  death  of  William  the  Con- 
queror— His  funeral — and  character. 

WHILE  King  William  discoursed  thus,  with  much  more  to 
the  same  effect,  and  the  bystanders  who  cautiously  scanned 
the  dim  prospects  of  the  future,  were  lost  in  amazement, 
Henry,  his  youngest  son,  hearing  that  no  provision  was 
made  for  him  out  of  the  royal  wealth,  said  sorrowfully  to  the 
king :  "  And  what,  my  father,  do  you  give  me  ?  "  to  which 
the  king  replied :  "  I  bequeath  to  you  five  thousand  pounds 
of  silver  from  my  treasury."  Upon  which  Henry  said: 
"  What  shall  I  do  with  this  money,  having  no  corner  of 
earth  which  I.  can  call  my  own?"  To  which  the  king 
answered :  "  My  son,  be  contented  with  your  lot,  and  trust 
in  the  Lord.  Suffer  patiently  your  elder  brothers  to  precede 
you.  Robert  will  have  Normandy,  and  William  England. 
J3ut  you,  also,  in  your  turn,  will  succeed  to  all  the  dominions 
which  belong  to  me,  and  you  will  surpass  your  brothers  in 
wealth  and  power."  After  he  had  said  this,  the  king, 
fearing  lest  in  such  extended  territories  some  sudden  tumults 
might  burst  forth,  addressed  a  letter  to  Lanfranc  the  arch- 
bishop, on  the  appointment  of  a  successor  to  the  throne,  and 
affixing  his  seal,  gave  it  to  his  son  William  Bufus,  com- 
manding him  to  embark  for  England  without  delay.  He 
then  kissed  him,  and,  giving  him  his  blessing,  directed  him 
to  hasten  his  departure  and  cross  the  sea  to  secure  the 
crown.  The  prince  lost  no  time  in  riding  to  the  port  of 
Wissant,1  and  there  he  received  intelligence  of  his  father's 
death.  Henry  was  equally  prompt  in  securing  the  money 
allotted  to  him.  He  had  it  carefully  weighed  that  there 
might  be  no  deficiency,  and,  summoning  bis  intimate  friends 
in  whom  he  could  confide,  sought  a  place  of  safety  in  which 
to  deposit  his  treasure. 

Meanwhile  the  physicians  and  royal  attendants  in  charge 

1  Wissant,  which  was  a  celebrated  port  in  the  middle  ages,  is  situated 
between  Boulogne  and  Calais,  about  four  leagues  and  a  half  from  the 
former;  In  his  tenth  book  our  author  makes  SViliiam  Rufus  embark  at 
the  port  of  Touque. 


A.D.  1087.]  A    GENEBAL   AMNESTY.  415 

of  the  dying  prince,'  together  -with  the  nobles  who  had  come 
to  visit  him,  took  an  opportunity  of  speaking  in  favour  of 
the  captives  who  were  detained  in  prison,  humbly  entreating 
him  to  have  pity  on  them  and  grant  their  release.  The  king 
replied  to  them :  "  I  have  long  kept  in  captivity  Morcar, 
the  noble  English  earl ;  in  this  I  have  been  unjust,  but  my 
fear  has  been  that  if  he  were  liberated  he  would  raise 
disturbances  in  the  kingdom  of  England.1  I  threw  into 
prison  Eoger  de  Breteuil2  who  opposed  me  with  bitter 
animosity,  and  stirred  up  against  me  his  brother-in-law 
Ealph  de  Guader  and  many  others,  and  I  swore  that  he 
should  not  be  set  free  as  long  as  I  lived.  In  like  manner  I 
confined  many  persons  to  punish  them  for  their  own  offences, 
and  others  to  prevent  their  causing  future  rebellions.  Justice 
requires  this,  and  the  divine  law,  through  Mosesj  commands 
the  rulers  of  the  world  to  restrain  the  guilty  that  the  inno- 
cent may  not  perish.5  Being  now,  however,  at  the  point 
of  death,  as  I  hope  to  be  saved  and,  by  God's  mercy, 
absolved  from  my  sins,  I  order  that  the  prison  doors  shall 
be  forthwith  thrown  open,  and  all  the  prisoners,  except  my 
brother,  the  bishop  of  Bayeux,  be  released  and  suffered  to 
go  free,  for  the  love  of  God,  that  He  also  may  have  mercy 
on  me.  But  they  are  not  to  be  liberated,  but  on  condition 
that  they  first  take  an  oath  to  my  ministers,  for  the  security 
of  the  state,  that  they  will  use  every  means  to  preserve 
the  peace  both  in  Normandy  and  in  England,  and  will 
stedfastly  resist  the  enemies  of  tranquillity  to  the  utmost  of 
their  power." 

When  Eobert,  earl  of  Morton,  heard  that  by  the  king's 
decision  his  brother  was  condemned  to  perpetual  imprison- 
ment he  was  much  distressed.  Herluin  de  Conteville4  had 
married  Harleve,  the  concubine  of  Duke  Robert,  by  whom 
he  had  two  sons.  Odo  and  Eobert.  William,  who  was  first 
duke  and  afterwards  king,  had  heaped  honours  and  posses- 
sions on  his  father-in-law  both  in  Normandy  and  England, 
and  had  enriched  with  large  domains  his  sons,  Ealph,  born 

'  See  before,  b.  iv.  c.  7,  P-  45. 
3  See  ib.  p.  82. 

3  We  are  not  able  to  discover  any  passage  of  this  kind  in  the  Penta- 
teuch. 

*  Conteville-sur-mer,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Risle. 


416  OBDEBICUS   VITALI3.  [B.VII.  CH.XVT. 

of  another  wife,1  and  Robert  and  Odo,  his  own  uterine 
brothers.  For  having  expelled  from  Kormandy  on  slight 
pretences  William,  surnamed  Werlenge,  count  of  Morton, 
son  of  Count  Mauger,2  he  had  conferred  the  county  of  Mor- 
ton on  Robert,  son  of  Herluin,  and  thus  his  own  brother. 
Moreover,  on  the  death  of  Hugh,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  son 
of  Count  Mauger,3  he  gave  that  bishopric  to  his  brother 
Odo,  whom  he  afterwards  made  earl  of  Kent  in  England. 
At  length,  King  William  arrested  him  in  the  Isle  of 
Wight,4  on  account  of  his  overweening  pride,  as  I  have 
before  fully  related,  and  having  detained  him  four  years  in 
prison,  was  unwilling,  such  was  the  insolence  of  Odo,  to 
release  him  even  when  he  was  himself  at  the  point  of  death. 
In  consequence,  the  earl  of  Morton,  of  whom  I  have  lately 
spoken,  was  sorely  afflicted,  and,  by  his  own  supplications 
and  those  of  his  friends  on  behalf  of  his  brother,  wearied 
the  suffering  prince. 

The  king  was  exhausted  by  the  numerous  solicitations 
from  so  many  quarters  for  the  release  of  the  bishop  of 
Bayeux ;  but  at  length  he  said :  "  I  wonder  that  your 
penetration  has  not  discovered  the  character  of  the  man  for 
whom  you  supplicate  me.  Are  not  you  making  petitions  for 
a  prelate  who  has  long  held  religion  in  contempt,  and  who  is 
the  subtle  promoter  of  fatal  divisions  ?  Have  I  not  already 
incarcerated  for  four  years  this  bishop,  who  when  he  ought 
to  have  proved  himself  exemplary  in  the  just  government 
of  England,  became  a  most  cruel  oppressor  of  the  people, 
and  destroyer  of  the  convents  of  monks?  In  desiring  the 
liberation  of  this  seditious  man,  you  are  ill-advised,  and  are 
bringing  on  yourselves  a  serious  calamity.  It  is  clear  that 
my  brother  Odo  is  a  man  not  to  be  trusted,  ambitious, 
given  to  -fleshly  desires,  and  of  enormous  cruelty  ;  and  that 
he  will  never  be  converted  from  his  whoredoms  and  ruinous 
follies.  I  satisfied  myself  of  this  on  several  occasions,  and 
therefore  I  imprisoned,  not  the  bishop,  but  the  tyrannical 

1  This  is  the  only  notice  we  have  of  this  eldest  son  of  Herluin  de  Con- 
teville,  and  half-brother  of  the  Conqueror. 

3  William  de  Jumieges  (b.  vii.  c.  19)  relates  the  circumstances  under 
which  William  Werlenc  forfeited  the  earldom  of  Morton. 

1  Ralph  comte  d'lvri.  It  was  in  1040  that  William  gave  his  brother 
vhe  bishopric  of  Bayeux,  vacant  by  the  death  of  William  d'lvri. 

*  See  before,  c.  viii.  p.  372,  et  seq.  for  the  details  of  this  transaction. 


A.D.  1087.]      CASE   OF   TUB   BISHOP   Of   BATEUX.  417 

earl.  There  is  no  doubt  that  if  he  is  released,  he  will 
disturb  the  whole  country  and  be  the  ruin  of  thousands.  I 
say  this  uot  from  hatred,  as  if  I  were  his  enemy,  but  as  the 
lather  of  my  country,  watching  for  the  welfare  of  a  Christian 
people.  It  would  indeed  give  me  inexpressible  and  heart- 
felt joy  to  think  that  he  would  conduct  himself  with  chastity 
and  moderation,  as  it  always  becomes  a  priest  and  minister 
of  God."1 

All  the  friends  of  the  bishop  pledging  themselves  for  hie 
reformation,  the  king  further  said :  "  Whether  I  will  or 
not,  your  petition  shall  be  granted,  but  after  my  death  there 
will  immediately  be  a  violent  change  in  affairs.  It  is 
against  my  own  judgment  that  I  permit  my  brother  to  be 
liberated  from  confinement,  for  be  assured  that  he  will 
cause  the  death  or  the  grievous  injury  of  many  persons.  Fur- 
ther, as  I  have  declared  the  .forfeiture  of  all  the  lands  of 
Baudri,  son  of  Nicholas,2  as  a  punishment  for  his  folly  in 
quitting  my  service  and  going  to  Spain  without  my  licence, 
1  now  restore  him  his  domains  for  the  love  of  God.  I  do 
uot  think  that  a  braver  knight  exists,  but  he  is  prodigal  and 
inconstant,  and  loves  to  wander  in  foreign  countries." 

Thus  King  William,  though  tormented  with  excruciating 
pains  in  his  intestines,  preserved  throughout  the  full  pos- 
session of  his  clearness  of  intellect  and  power  of  expressing 
himself  with  his  usual  vivacity ;  and  gave  with  readiness 
useful  counsels  to  all  who  addressed  themselves  to  him  on 
the  affairs  of  the  state. 

At  length,  on  Tuesday,  the  fifth  of  the  ides  [the  9th]  of 
September,3  the  king  waking  just  when  the  sun  was  begin- 
ning to  shed  his  rays  on  the  earth,  heard  the  sound  of  the 

1  Whatever  amplifications  our  author  may  have  made  in  the  speeches 
which  he  has  put  into  the  king's  mouth  (a  practice  we  find  him  frequently 
pursuing  in  common  with  most  ancient  historians),  it  doea  appear  that 
Odo  was  excepted  from  the  general  amnesty,  and  the  sequel  of  the  history- 
will  show  how  well  his  brother,  had  penetrated  the  real  character  of ^his 
voluptuous  and  turbulent  prelate. 

a  Buudri  de  Guitri.  This  offence  must  have  been  very  recent,  as  we 
liave  seen  Baudri,  in  1085,  fighting  bravely  in  William's  service  in  Maine. 
This  lord  held  a  fief  at  Bocquence  under  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult,  and 
must  have  been  personally  known  to  our  author,  who  makes  frequent  und 
honourable  mention  of  him. 

3  William  died,  as  before  stated,  on  September  9,  1037. 
TdL.  II.  E   E 


418  OBDEBICTTB   TITALTS.  [B.VIT.  CH.XYI. 

great  bell  of  the  cathedral  of  Rouen.  On  his  inquiring 
what  it  meant,  his  attendants  replied  :  "  My  Lord,  the  bell 
is  tolling  for  primes  in  the  church  of  St.  Mary."  Then  the 
king,  raised  his  eyes  to  heaven  with  deep  devotion,  and 
lifting  up  his  hands  said :  "  I  commend  myself  to  Mary, 
the  holy  mother  of  God,  my  heavenly  mistress,  that  by  her 
blessed  intercession  I  may  be  reconciled  to  her  well- 
beloved  Son,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  Having  said  this  he 
instantly  expired.  The  physicians  and  others  who  were 
present,  who  had  watched  the  king  all  night  while  he  slept, 
his  repose  neither  broken  by  cries  or  groans,  seeing  him 
now  expire  so  suddenly  and  unexpectedly,  were  much 
astonished,  and  became  as  men  who  had  lost  their  wits. 
Notwithstanding,  the  wealthiest  of  them  mounted  their 
horses  and  departed  in  haste  to  secure  their  property. 
But  the  inferior  attendants,  observing  that  their  masters 
had  disappeared,  laid  hands  on  the  arms,  the  plate,  the  robes, 
the  linen,  and  all  the  royal  furniture,  and  leaving  the  corpse 
almost  naked  on  the  floor  of  the  house  hastened  away. 

Observe  then,  I  pray  you,  my  readers,  how  little  trust  can 
be  placed  in  human  fidelity.  All  these  servants  snatched  up 
what  they  could  of  the  royal  effects,  like  so  many  kites,  and 
took  to  their  heels  with  their  booty,  lloguery  thus  came 
forth  from  its  hiding  place  the  moment  the  great  justiciary 
was  dead,  and  first  exercised  its  rapacity  round  the  corpse 
of  him  who  had  so  long  repressed  it. 

Intelligence  of  the  king's  death  was  quickly  spread,  and, 
far  and  near,  the  hearts  of  those  who  heard  it  were  filled  with 
joy  or  grief.  In  fact,  King  William's  decease  was  known  in 
Home  and  in  Calabria  to  some  of  the  exiles  he  had  dis- 
inherited, the  same  day  he  died  at  Rouen,  as  they  afterwards 
solemnly  asserted  in  Normandy.  For  the  evil  spirit  was 
frantic  with  joy  on  finding  his  servants,  who  were  bent  on 
rapine  and  plunder,  set  free  by  the  death  of  their  judge. 

0,  worldly  pomp,  how  despicable  you  are  when  one 
considers  that  you  are  empty  and  fleeting!  Ton  are  justly 
compared  to  watery  bubbles,  since  at  one  moment  you  are 
inflated  and  rise,  and  vanish  the  next.  Behold  this  mighty 
prince,  who  was  lately  obsequiously  obeyed  by  more  than  a 
hundred  thousand  men  in  arms,  and  at  whose  nod  nations 
trembled,  was  now  stripped  by  his  own  attendants,  in  a 


A.D.  10S7.J      WILLIAM   THE   CONQTJEHOR's   DEATH.  419 

house  which  was  not  his  own  ;  and  left  on  the  bare  ground 
from  the  hour  of  primes  to  that  of  tierce. 

Meanwhile,  the  citizens  of  Eouen  having  heard  the 
death  of  their  prince,  were  in  the  greatest  state  of  alarm  ; 
almost  all  of  them  lost  their  reason,  as  if  they  had  been 
intoxicated,  and  were  thrown  into  as  much  confusion  as  if 
the  city  had  been  threatened  with  an  assault  by  a  powerful 
army.  Each  quitted  the  place  where  he  received  the  news, 
and  ran  to  confer  with  his  wife,  or  the  first  friend  or 
acquaintance  he  met,  as  to  what  was  to  be  done.  Every  one 
removed,  or  prepared  to  remove,  his  valuables,  concealing 
them  with  alarm,  lest  they  should  be  discovered. 

At  length  the  religious,  both  clergy  and  monks,  recovering 
their  courage  and  the  use  of  their  senses,  formed  a 
procession ;  and,  arrayed  in  their  sacred  vestments,  with 
crosses  and  censers,  went  in  due  order  to  St.  Gervase, 
where  they  commended  the  spirit  of  the  departed  king  to 
God,  according  to  the  holy  rites  of  the  Christian  faith. 
Then  William,  the  archbishop,  ordered  the  body  to  be 
conveyed  to  Caen,  and  interred  there  in  the  abbey  of  St. 
Stephen  the  protomartyr,  which  the  king  himself  had 
founded.  His  brother  and  other  relations  had  already 
quitted  the  place,  and  all  his  servants  had  deserted  him,  as 
if  he  had  been  a  barbarian ;  so  that  not  one  of  the  king's 
attendants  was  found  to  take  care  of  his  corpse.  However, 
Herluin,  a  country  knight,  was  induced  by  his  natural 
goodness  to  undertake  the  charge  of  the  funeral,  for  the  love 
of  God  and  the  honour  of  his  country.  He  therefore 
procured  at  his  own  expense  persons  to  embalm  and  carry 
the  body ;  and,  hiring  a  hearse,  he  caused  it  to  be  carried  to 
the  port  on  the  Seine ;  and,  embarking  it  on  board  a  vessel, 
conducted  it  by  water  and  land  to  Caen. 

Then*  Gilbert,  the  lord  abbot,1  with  the  whole  convent  of 
monks,  met  the  hearse  in  solemn  procession,  accompanied  by 
a  sorrowing  multitude  of  clerks  and  laymen,  offering  prayers. 
But  at  this  moment  a  sudden  calamity  filled  the  minds  of  all 
with  alarm.  For  a  fire  broke  out  in  one  of  the  houses,  and, 
shooting  up  prodigious  volumes  of  flame,  spread  through 
great  part  of  the  town  of  Caen,  doing  great  damage.  The 
crowds,  both  of  clergy  and  laity,  hastened  with  one  accord  to 

1  Gilbert  d'e  Coutances,  abbot  of  St.  Stephen  at  Caen,  1079—1101. 
££2 


420  ORDERICUS   TITAL13.  [B.VII.  CII.XTI. 

extinguish  the  fire,  so  that  the  monks  were  left  alone  to 
finish  the  service  they  had  begun,  and  they  brought  the  royal 
corpse  into  the  abbey  church,  chanting  psalms. 

Afterwards,  all  the  bishops  and  abbots  of  Normandy 
assembled  to  perform  the  obsequies  of  the  illustrious  duke, 
who  was  the  lather  of  his  country.  I  will  insert  in  this 
work  a  short  list  of  some  of  the  number,  for  the  information 
of  posterity.  William,  archbishop  of  Rouen ;  Odo,  bishop 
of  Bayeux ;  Gilbert,  bishop  o^"  Evreux ;  Gilbert  Maminot, 
bishop  of  Lisieux ;  Michael,  bishop  of  Avranches  ;  Geoffrey, 
bishop  of  Coutances ;  and  Gerard,  bishop  of  Seez.  Among 
the  abbots  were  the  following :  Anselm,  of  Bee ;  William  de 
Boos,  of  Fecamp ;  Gerbert,  of  Foutenelles ;  Guntard,  of 
Jumieges;  Mainier,  of  St.  Evroult;  Fulk,  of  Dive;  Durand, 
of  Troarn ;  Robert,  of  Seez ;  Osbern,  of  Beruai ;  Roger,  of 
St.  Michael-in-peril-of-the-sea ;  the  two  abbots  of  Rouen, 
Nicholas,  of  St.  Ouen,  and  Walter,  of  Mont-de-la-Saiiite- 
Trinite ;  with  many  more,  whom  it  would  be  tedious  to 
enumerate.  All  these  assembled  at  the  funeral  of  the  illus- 
trious Baron,  and  buried  him  in  the  sanctuary,  between  the 
choir  and  the  altar. 

The  mass  ended,  when  the  coffin  was  already  lowered  into 
the  grave,  but  the  corpse  was  still  on  the  bier,  the  great 
Gilbert,  bishop  of  Evreux,  ascended  the  pulpit,  and  pro- 
nounced a  long  and  eloquent  discourse  on  the  distinguished 
character  of  the  deceased  prince.  He  expatiated  on  AVil- 
liam's  having  extended  by  his  valour  the  bounds  of  the 
Norman  dominion,  and  raised  his  people  to  a  pitch  of 
greatness  surpassing  the  times  of  any  of  his  predecessors ; 
and  on  his  having  maintained  peace  and  justice  in  all  his 
states,  wisely  chastising  thieves  and  robbers  with  the 
scourge  of  the  law,  while  he  firmly  defended  the  clergy  and 
monks,  and  defenceless  people,  with  his  meritorious  sword. 
When  he  had  concluded  his  discourse  he  addressed  himself 
to  the  congregation,  who  were  shedding  affectionate  tears 
and  attested  his  assertions,  and  added  this  supplication: 
"  As  in  this  present  life  no  man  can  live  without  sin,  I  be- 
seech you,  for  the  love  of  Christ,  that  you  earnestly  inter- 
cede with  Almighty  God  on  behalf  of  our  deceased  prince, 
and  that  you  kindly  forgive  him,  if  in  aught  he  has  offended 
aca!nst  you." 


A.D.  1087.]         rUXERAL   OF   THE    CONQUEBOR.  421 

Then  Ascelin,  son  of  Arthur,  came  forward  from  tho 
crowd,  and  preferred  the  following  complaint  with  a  loud 
voice,  in  the  hearing  of  all :  "  The  land,"  he  said,  "  on  which 
you  stand  was  the  yard  belonging  to  my 'father's  housp, 
which  that  man  for  whom  you  pray,  when  he  was  yet  only 
duke  of  Normandy,1  took  forcible  possession  of,  and  in  the 
teeth  of  all  justice,  by  an  exercise  of  tyrannical  power,  here 
founded  this  abbey.  I  therefore  lay  claim  to  this  land,  and 
openly  demand  its  restitution,  and  in  G-od's  name  I  forbid 
the  body  of  the  spoiler  being  covered  with  earth  which  is 
my  property,  and  buried  in  my  inheritance."  The  bishops 
and  other  great  men,  on  hearing  this,  and  finding  from 
inquiries  among  his  neighbours  that  he  spoke  the  truth, 
drew  the  man  aside,  and,  instead  of  offering  him  any  vio- 
lence, appeased  his  resentment  with  gentle  words  and  came 
to  terms  with  him.  For  the  small  space  in  which  the  grave 
was  made,  they  paid  him  on  the  spot  sixty  shillings,  and 
promised  him  a  proportionable  price  for  the  rest  of  the  land 
which  he  claimed.  This  agreement  they  soon  afterwards 
fulfilled,  for  the  good  of -the  soul  of  the  master  they  dearly 
loved.2 

1  That  is,  before  the  conquest  of  England,  when  the  abbey  was  built;  at 
which  time  William  was  oniy  duke  of  Normandy. 

1  The  narrative  of  Wace  entirely  agrees  with  that  of  our  author.  Ac- 
cording to  William  of  Malmesbury,  his  son  Henry,  afterwards  king  of 
England,  was  present  wt  the  funeral,  and  paid  to  Ascelin,  whom  he  calls  n 
"  knight  and  a  brawler,  a  hundred  pounds  of  silver  to  quiet  his  audacious 
claim." — B.  iii.  p.  311  of  the  edition  in  Bohn's  Anlig.  Lib. 

Two  cotemporary  facts  may  serve  for  a  fitting  conclusion  to  our  author's 
account  of  the  last  hours  of  William  the  Conqueror.  The^iist  is  supplied 
by  William  of  Malmesbury,  if>.  p.  307.  Honouring  his  father's  memory, 
he  had  sent  a  person  in  his  confidence  to  remove  the  body  of  Duke  Robert, 
which  had  been  interred  at  Nice,  and  bring  it  to  Normandy.  The  mes- 
senger, having  proceeded  on  his  pious  errand,  received  the  intelligence  of 
his  sovereign's  death  while  he  was  in  Apulia,  on  his  return  home  with 
Robert's  remains.  He,  therefore,  interred  them  there.  The  place  where 
they  were  deported  is  unknown,  but  might  Be  probably  discovered  by  the 
rest  arches  of  travellers  in  the  south  of  Italy. 

The  other  fact  present  a  curious  contrast  between  two  destinies  which 
were  terminated  within  a  few  days  of  each  other.  The  tourist  who  visits 
the  church  of  St.  Saviour  at  'Bruges  will  find  a  leaden  tablet,  trans- 
ferred from  the  church  of  St.  Donat  in  the  same  city,  which  records  that 
Gunilde,  born  of  illustrious  parents  in  England,  being  the  daughter  of  the 
powerful  Earl  Godwin,  by  Githa  a  noble  lady  of  Danish  extraction,  having 


422  OKDER1CUS    TITAL1S.  [B.TII.  CH.XTI. 

However,  when  the  corpse  was  lowered  into  the  stone 
coffin,  they  were  obliged  to  use  some  violence  in  forcing  it 
in,  because  through  the  negligence  of  the  maaons  it  had 
been  made  too  short,  so  that,  as  the  king  was  very  corpu- 
lent, the  bowels  burst,  and  an  intolerable  stench  affected 
the  by-stauders  and  the  rest  of  the  crowd.  The  smoke  of 
incense  and  other  aromatics  ascended  in  clouds,  but  failed 
to  purify  the  tainted  atmosphere.  The  priests  therefore 
hurried  the  conclusion  of  the  funeral  service  and  retired  as 
soon  as  possible,  in  great  alarm,  to  their  respective  abodes. 

I  have  thus  carefully  investigated,  and  given  a  true  ac- 
count of  all  the  manifestations  of  God's  providence  at  the 
duke's  death,  not  composing  a  well-feigned  tragedy  for  the 
lucre  of  gain,  nor  a  humorous  comedy  to  provoke  the 
laughter  of  parasites,  but  a  true  narrative  of  the  various 
events  for  the  perusal  of  studious  readers.  In  the  midst  of 
prosperity  adverse  circumstances  were  permitted  to  arise, 
that  the  hearts  of  men  might  be  impressed  with  the  fearful 
warnings. 

A  king  once  potent,  and  warlike,  and  the  terror  of  the 
numberless  inhabitants  of  many  provinces,  lay  naked  on  the 
floor,  deserted  by  those  who  owed  him  their  birth,  and  those 
he  had  fed  and  enriched.  He  needed  the  money  of  a 
stranger  for  the  cost  of  his  funeral,  and  a  coffin  and  bearers 
were  provided,  at  the  expense  of  an  ordinary  person,  for  him, 
who  till  then  had  been  in  the  enjoyment  of  enormous  wealth. 
He  was  carried  to  the  church,  amidst  flaming  houses,  by 
trembling  crowds,  and  a  spot  of  freehold  land  was  wanting 
for  the  grave  of  one  whose  princely  sway  had  extended  over 
so  many  cities,  and  towns,  and  villages.  His  corpulent 
stomach,  fattened  with  so  many  delicacies,  shamefully  burst, 
to  give  a  lesson,  both  to  the  prudent  and  the  thoughtless,  on 
what  is  the  end  of  fleshly  glory.  Beholding  the  corruption 

devoted  herself  to  a  life  of  chastity,  and  refused  the  highest  offers  in 
marriage,  left  England  when  it  was  conquered  by  William  the  Norman, 
and  her  brother,  King  Harold,  was  slain.  She  spent  some  years  of  her 
exile  at  St.  Ouen  in  Flanders,  charitable  to  the  poor,  gentle  and  agree- 
able to  her  attendants,  courteous  to  strangers,  and  only  severe  to  herself. 
She  afterwards  removed  to  Bruges,  and,  after  some  years  spent  in  the 
exercises  of  virtue,  departed  in  the  Lord  on  August  24,  1087.  The  death- 
bed of  this  chaste  and  pious  princess  was  exempt  from  the  remorse  and  the 
scandals  which  disgraced  the  last  hours  of  the  enemy  of  her  iamily. 


A.D.  1087.]      BEFLECTIONS  ON  THE  CONQUEIiOR's  END.      423 

of  that  foul  corpse,  men  were  taught  to  strive  earnestly,  by 
the  rules  of  a  salutary  temperance,  after  better  things  than 
the  delights  of  the  flesh,  which  is  dust,  and  must  return  to 
dust. 

There  is  but  one  lot  for  rich  and  poor ;  both  become  the 
prey  of  death  and  corruption.  Trust  not  then,  0  sons  of 
men,  in  princes  who  deceive,  but  in  the  true  and  living  God, 
who  created  all  thjngs.  Turn  over  the  pages  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testament,  and  take  from  thence  numberless  examples 
which  will  instruct  you  what  to  avoid  and  what  to  desire. 
Expect  nothing  from  iniquity,  and  covet  not  the  goods  of 
others.  "  If  riches  increase,  set  not  your  heart  upon  them." 
"  All  flesh  is  grass,  and  the  glory  thereof  as  the  flower  of  hay. 
The  grass  fadeth,  and  the  flower  thereof  perisheth ;  but  the 
word  of  the  Lord  remaineth  for  ever." 

I  have  determined  to  conclude  this  seventh  book  of  the 
history  of  St.  Evroult  with  the  end  of  King  William's  reign. 
In  the  eighth  book,  it  is  my  design  to  leave  to  posterity 
some  account  of  that  king's  sous,  and  of  the  various 
disturbances  by  which  both  Normandy  and  England  were 
long  grievously  afflicted. 


424 


BOOK  VIII. 

CH.  I.  William  the  Conqueror's  tomb  and  'epitaph —  William 
Rufus  crowned — Robert  succeeds  as  duke  of  Normandy — 
His  feeble  character — The  Norman  barons  become  turbu- 
lent—  Odo,  bishop  of  Sayeux,  his  character  and  acts — 
Robert  sells  the  Cotentin  to  his  brother  prince  Henry. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord's  incarnation  1087,1  the  tenth  in- 
diction,  William  the  Bastard,  king  of  England,  died  at 
Rouen  on  the  fifth  of  the  ides  [9th]  September,  and  his 
remains  were  interred  at  Caen,  in  the  church  of  St.  Stephen, 
the  proto-martyr.  His  son  Robert  then  became,  in  name 
at  least,  duke  of  Normandy  and  lord  of  Maine,  but  aban- 
doning himself  to  sloth  and  indulgence,  his  government  was 
never  remarkable  for  virtue  and  justice.  William  Rufus  de- 
livered his  father's  letter2  to  Archbishop  Lanfranc,  on  pe- 
rusing which  that  prelate  hastened  with  the  young  prince 
to  London,  and  crowned  him  in  the  old  church  of  St.  Peter 
the  apostle,  called  Westminster,  on  the  feast  of  St.  Michael. 
His  reign  lasted  twelve  years  and  ten  months  ;8  and,  as  to 
the  affairs  of  this  world,  he  endeavoured  to  follow  his 
father's  example  in  some  things,  being  distinguished  for  his 
valour  and  secular  magnificence,  while  he  was  but  too  prone 
to  pride,  lust,  and  other  vices.  But  he  had  but  scanty  zeal 
for  the  worship  of  God  and  frequenting  the  services  of  the 
church. 

He  delivered  to  Otho  the  goldsmith4  a  large  quantity  of 
gold,  silver,  and  precious  stones,  ordering  him  to  erect  a 
monument  of  extraordinary  magnificence  over  his  father's 
tomb.  Accordingly,  in  obedience  to  the  royal  commands, 

1  The  Paris  edition  (1845)  of  Ordericus  gives  the  date  in  the  text  as 
1082;  but  it  is  probably  a  misprint,  as  the  learned  editor,  in  a  note  in  the 
same  page,  fixes  the  accession  of  William  Rufus  in  1087,  which  is  the  true 
date  of  the  death  of  William  the  Conqueror.  The  text  of  Duchesne,  and 
the  French  edition  published  in  1826,  give  it  correctly. 

a  See  before,  p.  414. 

3  September  24,  1087— August  2,  1100. 

*  This  person  is  mentioned  in  Domesday -book,  among  the  king's  gold- 
smiths, as  Otto  Aurifaber.  His  son  William  was  living. in  1130. 


1087 — 1088.]    THE  CONQTJEKOB'S  TOMB  AND  EPITAPII.     425 

he  executed  the  work  in  an  admirable  manner,  and  the  tomb 
may  be  now  seen  resplendent  with  gold,  silver,  and  gems. 
Skilful  versifiers  have  composed  a  number  of  noble  and  ele- 
gant poems  on  this  great  man,  whose  life  furnished  so 
copious  a  theme  for  their  poetical  genius,  but  I  shall  only 
insert  the  epitaph  written  by  Thomas,  archbishop  of  York,1 
out  of  respect  for  his  metropolitan  dignity. 

Here  WILLIAM,  greatest  of  his  princely  race, 
A  home,  a  tomb,  finds  in  this  narrow  space. 
Him  the  fierce  Normans  faithful  homage  paid, 
And  lordly  Maine  his  stern  commands  obeyed  ; 
But  mightier  still,  he  England's  sceptre  swayed, 
The  glorious  prize,  when  Senlac's  bloody  field  a 
Saw  her  brave  sons  before  the  Conqueror  yield. 
When  seventeen  days  his  course  the  August  sun* 
'Mid  the  bright  Virgin's  stars  his  course  had  run, 
To  Him  who  rules  on  high  he  bowed  his  head, 
And  the  proud  king  was  numbered  with  the  dead.* 

Many  of  the  Xorman  nobility  died  the  same  year  as  their 
sovereign.  During  his  last  illness  his  cousin  Gilbert  d'Au- 
fay,5  son  of  Eobert  de  Hougleville,  a  worthy  and  simple- 
minded  man,  paid  the  debt  of  nature  on  the  nineteenth  of 
the  calends  of  September  [August  14],  and  was  interred  in 
the  church  of  St.  Mary,  which  he  had  endowed  for  the 
maintenance  of  six  monks  of  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult. 
Four  years  afterwards  the  pious  lady,  his  wife  Beatrix," 
\\  as  also  buried  there  on  the  second  of  the  nones  [9th]  of 

1  Thomas,  nrchbishop  of  York  (August,  1070— November  18,  1100), 
was  a  native  of  Bayeux,  and  brother  of  Samson,  bishop  of  Worcester. 

2  The  reader  will  have  observed  that  this  is  the  name  invariably  given 
by  our  author  to  the  battle  of  Hastings. 

3  The  verse  in  the  original  gives  the  date  ter  septem  atque  duobits,  but 
William  died  on  the  9th  of  September,  which  corresponds  with  the  seven- 
teenth, not  the  twenty-third  degree,  of  the  constellation  of  the  Virgin. 

*  The  magnificent  tomb  erected,   as  our  author  relates,  by    William 
Rufus    over   the    Conqueror's   grave,   was    destroyed,  the   grave   broken 
open  nnd  the  bones  scattered,  by  the  Huguenots  in   15G2.     It  was  again 
opened  by  the  prefect  C'lfarelli  in  1793,  after  having  escaped  the  ravages 
of  the  revolutionists.     The  stone  coffin  then  contained  some  fragments  of 
bones,  which  fell  to  dust,  and  one  thigh-bone,  which  was  re-interred.     A 
grey  marble  sliib  in  the  pavement  before  the  high  altar,  with  a  simple 
inscription,  now  marks  the  spot. 

*  See  before,  p.  26'2 
"  See  ibid. 


426  OEDEEICU8   VITALIS.  [B.TIII.  CII.I. 

January.  At  the  death  of  their  duke  many  of  the  Normans 
were  plunged  into  grief,  if  not  for  him,  at  least  for  their 
friends  and  relations  who  died  about  the  same  period, 
among  whom  were  Simon  de  Montfort,1  son-in-law  of 
Richard,  Count  d'Evreux,  Hugh  Paganel,2  Hugh,  sou  of 
Hugh  de  G-rantmesnil,3  a  young  man  of  distinguished 
bravery,  and  his  cousin  Robert  de  Rhuddlan,4  William 
d'Avranches,6  son  of  Witmond,*  with  many  other  men  of 

1  Simon  de  Montfort,  father  of  Amauri  de  Montfort,  who  inherited  the 
county  of  Evroux  after  his  uncle  William's  death.  Our  author  has 
already  related  that  this  marriage  was  effected  by  carrying  off  in  the  night 
Agnes  d'Evreux,  with  the  aid  of  Ralph,  lord  of  Conches,  her  half-brother, 
and  Simon's  brother-in-law. 

*  William  Paganel,  lord  of  Montiers-Hubert,  which  is  supposed  to  have 
been  the  original  seat  of  this  ancient  family,  and  not  their  estates  in  the 
Cotentin.     William  was  probably  the  eldest  brother  of  Ralph  Paganel, 
sheriff  of  Yorkshire,  who  possessed  forty-five  lordships  at  the  time  Domes- 
day-book was  made,  and  founded  the  priory  of  the  Holy  Trinity  at  York 
in   the   reign   of  William  Rufus.     Fulk,   the  founder  of  the  family  of 
the  Paganels  of  Dudley,  who  was  living  in  1130,  was  grandson  of  this 
William. 

Ralph  Paganel  had  a  son  also  named  William,  whose  daughter  was 
married  first  to  Richard  de  Courci,  and  secondly  to  Robert  de  Gant.  His 
eldest  son,  Alexander,  was  the  founder  of  the  family  of  the  Paganels  of 
Hooton  in  Yorkshire. 

William  Paganel  (II.)  also  held  the  lordships  of  Drax,  West-Rasen, 
&c.,  by  grant  from  the  king.  He  died  about  1150,  leaving  four  children, 
the  eldest  of  whom  received  from  Henry  II.,  then  count  of  Anjou  and 
duke  of  Normandy,  all  his  father's  barony  in  Normandy  and  England, 
except  Br6hal.  From  this  Hugh  descended  the  branch  who  were  lords  of 
West-Rasen  in  Lincolnshire,  who  lost  their  family  estate  of  Montiers  in  the 
time  of  Philip  Augustus;  and  from  Fulk,  his  eldest  brother,  those  of  the 
Paganels  of  Hamby,  lords  of  Drax.  Having  settled  in  Normandy,  and 
entirely  attached  himself  to  the  kings  of  France,  Drax  was  taken  from  him 
and  given  to  Hugh  Paganel,' to  indemnify  him  for  the  loss  of  Montiers. 

3  Hugh,  third  son  of  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil.     It  will  appear  hereafter 
that  this  young  nobleman  was  buried  at  St.  Evroult. 

4  Robert  de  Rhuddlan  will  be  spoken  of  in  the  third  chapter  of  the 
present  book. 

*  William  d'Avranches  was  son  of  Guitmond,  lord  of  Haie-Painel.     He 
married  Matilda,  daughter  of  Baldwin  de  Meules,  and  granddaughter  of 
Gilbert,  lord  of  Sap  and  Meules,  and  sheriff  of  Devonshire.     She  brought 
him  the  estate  of  Dolton  in  that  county.     William  d'Avranches  was  lord 
of  Folkstona  in  Kent,  which  remained  in  the  possession  of  his  male  heirs 
until  the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth  century.     At  this  time  it  passed  by 
marriage  to  the  family  of  Crevecoeur.    William's  son,  Robert  d'Avranchej, 
was  living  in  1130.     Besides  his  daughter,  married  to  William  Paganel,  ha 
had  a  natural  daughttr,  afterwards  legitimated,  who  was  called  Matilda 


A.D.  1087 — 1088.]      STATE    OF   NOEMAN1JT.  427 

eminence.  Happy  those  who,  departing  thus  opportunely, 
were  spared  the  pain  of  seeing  their  country  desolated  and 
having  no  protector ! 

At  that  time  affairs  in  Normandy  suffered  a  great  revolu- 
tion ;  the  unarmed  population  shuddered  with  alarm,  while 
the  powerful  gave  full  vent  to  their  towering  ambition  with- 
out any  check.  Robert  de  Belesme1  had  been  on  his  way  to 
court  to  confer  with  the  king  on  urgent  affairs,  but  on 
arriving  at  the  gate  of  Brionne  he  learnt  the  king's  death. 
Thereupon  he  immediately  turned  his  horse  round,  and 
hastening  to  Alen9on2  took  the  royal  garrison  by  surprise 
and  drove  them  out  of  the  castle.  He  did  the  same  at 
Belesme  and  all  his  other  strongholds,  and  not  only  in  bis 
own,  but  in  those  of  such  of  his  neighbours  as  he  conde- 
scended to  consider  as  his  equals.  All  these  he  either  got 
into  his  power  by  introducing  his  own  adherents,  or  razed 
to  the  ground  to  prevent  their  offering  him  any  resistance 
thereafter.  William,  Count  d'Evreux,  also  expelled  the 
royal  warders  from  the  keep  of  his  castle,  and  "William  de 
Bretcuil,  Ralph  de  Conches,  and  all  the  rest,  got  their  for- 
tresses into  their  own  hands,  so  that  every  one  might  be 
able  to  prosecute  with  impunity  his  infernal  feuds  against 
his  neighbours,  and  those  whose  territories  bordered  on  his 
own.  In  this  manner  the  Norman  lords  drove  out  the  royal 
garrisons  from  their  castles,  and  alternately  ravaged  the 
country,  which  was  rich  and  flourishing,  with  bands  of  their 
own  retainers.  The*  wealth  which  had  been  plundered  from 
the  English  and  other  nations  was  thus  deservedly  lost  by 
rapine  and  violence. 

All  the  world  knew  that  the  Duke  Robert  was  sunk  in 

d'Avnmches,  who  brought  to  Robert,  the  bastard  son  of  Henry  I.  (and 
earl  of  Gloucester),  one  half  of  the  lordships  of  Sap  and  Meules. 

This  family  of  Avranches  must  not  be  confounded  with  that  of  the 
viscin'iits  d'Avranches,  calls  of  Chester. 

1  Robert  became  count  de  Belesme  (the  second  of  his  name)  on  the 
death  of  his  mother,  the  countess  Mabel,  so  often  mentioned  by  our  author, 
although  his  father,  Roger  de  Montgomery,  was  still  living,  and  did  not 
die  till  1094. 

2  In  the  middle  ages  there  were  two  roads  from  Alen9on  to  Rouen,  one 
by  Bernai  and  Brionne,  the  other  by  Orbec  and  Pontaudemer.     Robert 
de  Belesme  probably  chose  the  former,  as  the  shortest,  and  passing  by 
Bernai,  his  father's  domain. 


428  OBDERICUS   VITALIS.  [B. Till.  C  IT.  I. 

sioth  and  carelessness,  so  that  he  was  despised  by  men  of 
enterprise  who  fomented  traitorous  insurrections  at  their 
pleasure.     The  duke  was  personally  brave  and  daring,  and 
had  many  merits  ;  was  a  good  speaker,  but  inconsiderate  in 
conducting  his  affairs,  profuse  in  spending,  and  liberal  in  his 
promises,  while  no  dependence  could  be  placed  upon  them  ; 
he  was  compassionate  to  those  who  implored  his  mercy,  but    ' 
too  gentle   and   easy   in   executing  justice   on   offenders ; 
changeable  in  his  resolutions,  and  too  affable  and  conde- 
scending in  his  general  behaviour,  he  was  held  in  contempt 
by  the  evil-minded  and  those  who  wanted  discretion ;   his  J 
figure  was  short  and  corpident,  from  which  his  father  gave   1 
him  the  surname   of  Curt-hose.      Endeavouring  to  please   I 
all,  he  gave,  promised,  or  yielded,  what  every  one  asked,    j 
His  prodigality  led  him.  daily  to  lessen  the  domains  of  his   I 
ancestors,  absurdly  granting  whatever  was  demanded  of  him,   I 
so  that  he   impoverished  himself  while  he  augmented  the  I 
power  of  others  to  injure  him.     He  gave  to  William  de  1 
Breteuil,  Ivri,  where  there  is  a  well-fortified  caatle,  erected  I 
by  his  grandmother  Alberede  ;l  and  he  granted  to  JJoger  de  I 
Beaumont,   who   had   the    custody   of   Ivri,    under   King  I 
William,  Brionne,  a  strong  fortress  in  the  heart  of  his  terri-  1 
to'ries. 

Odo,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  being  released  from  prison,  re-    j 
gained  all  his  former  possessions  in  Normandy,  and  became  1 
the  counsellor  of  the  young  duke,  his  nephew.     This  prelate   J 
was  a  person  of  distinguished  eloquence  and  high  spirit ;  he   J 
was  liberal,  and  his  bravery  would  have  become  a  secular 
man :  but   he  treated  men  of  religion  with  great  respect, 
protecting  his  clergy  resolutely  both  by  word  and  arms,  and 
enriching  the  churches  with  valuable  ornaments  wherever  j 
they  were  needed.     The  buildings  he  erected  are  proof  this, 
with  the  splendid  vessels  and  vestments  in  gold  and  silver 
which  his  liberality  furnished  for  the  use  of  the  churches 
and  clergy.     His  near  relationship  to  Duke  William  pro- 
cured for  him  the  bishopric  of  Bayeux  while  he  was  very 
young,  and  he  was  actively  employed  during  the  fifty  years 
he  held  it.z    The  spirit  had  a  praiseworthy  pre-eminence  in 

1  Alberede,  wife  of  Ralph,  count  of  Ivri  and  Bayeux,  and  half-brcthejr 
of  Richard  I. 
*  Odo  was  not  preferred  to  the  see  cf  Bayeux  until  the  death  of  his   I 


A.D.  1087  —  1088.]      ODD,  BISHOP   OF   BAYEUX.  429 

Borne  parts  of  his  conduct,  in  others  the  flesh  was  sadly  pre- 
dominant over  the  spirit.  Led  away  by  carnal  passions,  he 
had  a  son  named  John,  who  is  now  about  the  court  of  King 
Henry,1  where  he  is  eminent  for  his  eloquence  and  virtues. 
But  while,  in  some  things,  Bishop  Odo  lent  himself  to 
worldly  vanities,  externally  he  did  much  for  the  advantage 
of  the  church.  He  laid  the'  foundations  of  the  church  of 
St.  Mary,  mother  of  God,  and  completed  it  in  a  beautiful 
style  of  architecture,  amply  providing  it  with  wealth  and 
ornaments.2  He  established  monks  in  the  church  of  St. 
Vigor,*  bishop  of  Bayeux,  which  stands  outside  the  city- 
walls,  and  appointed  as  their  superior,  Eobert  de  Tombe- 
lainc,  a  pious  and  learned  man,  who,  among  other  monu- 
ments of  his  ability,  has  left  the  church  a  short  and  clear, 
but  profound,  commentary  on  the  Canticles.  After  Bishop 
Odo  was  thrown  into  prison,  Abbot  Eobert,  abandoning 
all,  went  into  foreign  countries,  and  arriving  at  Home, 
was  detained  by  Pope  Gregory  VII.  who  paid  him  great 
respect,  and  he  served  the  Roman  church  faithfully  until 
his  death.*  The  bishop  who  founded  it  being  in  confine- 
ment, and  the  abbot  detained  in  Italy,  the  newly  formed 

predecessor,  which  occurred  while  he  was  attending  the  Council  of  Rheinis 
in  October,  1049.  Odo  himself  died  at  Palermo  in  February,  1097. 

1  It  appears,  therefore,  that  this  chapter  was  written  before  the  death  of 
Henry  I.,  which  occurred  in  1 135. 

4  All  tlie  upper  part  of  this  church  was  destroyed  by  fire  by  Henry  I.  in 
1 106.  The  crypt  under  the  choir  is,  perhaps,  the  only  part  of  the  original 
church  built  by  Bishop  Odo,  which  now  remains.  It  is  supported  on 
twelve  pillars  with  rude  capitals.  The  west  end  of  the  nave  of  the  present 
edifice  consists  of  florid  Norman  arches  and  pillars,  attributed  to  Henry  II., 
but  which  M.  Le  i're'vost  considers  to  be  part  of  Bishop  Odo's  building. 
The  end  nearest  the  transept  ,  and  the  choir,  were  built  in  the  pointed 
Btyle  by  Bishop  Henry  de  Beaumont  in  1205. 

4  This  foundation  was  made  in  1066.  Odo  took  Robert  de  Tombelaine, 
as  well  as  five  other  monks,  from  the  abbey  of  Mont  St.  Michael,  making 
him  abbot  of  the  new  foundation.  Tombelaine  is  a  rock  near  the  former 
«bbey,  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  sands,  and  surrounded  by  the  sea  at 
high  tiilee.  There  are  still  some  ruins  of  the  houses  and  castle  which  were 
i:>  existence  as  late  as  the  fifteenth  century. 

*  For  the  life  and  works  of  Robert  de  Tombelaine,  see  L'Histoire 
Lillgraire  de  France,  t.  viii.  p.  334,  &c.  It  is  not  certain  that  he  resided 
at  Rome  till  his  death,  as  our  author  states.  It  is  believed,  on  the  con- 
trary (dull.  Christ,  t.  xi.  p.  404),  that  having  lost  his  patron,  Gregory 
VII.,  he  returned  to  Mont  St.  Michael,  and  there  spent  the  rest  of  his 
days. 


430  OEDESICTJS   TITALIS.  [B.TIIT.  CH.T. 

convent  of  monks  dispersed,  and  each  one  settling  himself 
where  he  could,  they  never  returned  to  that  monastery. 

In  the  end,  Bishop  Odo  gave  it  to  Jarenton,  abbot  of 
Dijon,  and  it  continues  to  this  day  to  be  a  cell  of  the  monks 
of  that  abbey.1  It  is  thus  plain  that  the  prelate  of  whom  I 
am  speaking  had  a  strong  regard  for  the  monastic  order. 
He  also  -sent  intelligent  young  clerks  to  Liege  and  other 
places  where  he  knew  that  the  study  of  philosophy  flourished 
most,  making  them  liberal  allowances  for  their  maintenance, 
that  they  might,  uninterruptedly  and  for  a  long  period,  em- 
ploy themselves  in  the  pursuit  of  learning.2  Among  the 
scholars  he  thus  supplied  with  the  means  of  education  were 
Thomas,  archbishop  of  York,3  and  his  brother  Samson,4 
bishop  of  Worcester,  William  de  Boos,5  abbot  of  Fecamp,  and 
Thurstan,  abbot  of  Glastonbury,  with  many  others  who  flou- 
rished during  my  time  in  the  church  of  God,  and  largely  pro- 
fited the  flocks  committed  to  their  charge  with  the  excellence 
of  their  teaching,  and  the  example  of  their  eminent  virtues. 
In  this  manner,  although  Bishop  Odo  was  deeply  entangled 
in  secular  affairs,  much  that  was  laudable  mixed  itself  with 
his  evil  deeds,  and  what  he  iniquitously  amassed  was  freely 
bestowed  on  the  churches  and  the  poor.  Afc  length,  by  the 
will  of  G-od,  he  left  all  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1096,  the 
fourth  indiction,  and  accompanied  his  nephew,  Duke  Eobert, 
in  his  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem,  as,  with  God's  permission, 
we  shall  more  particularly  relate  hereafter.  He  died  at 
Palermo  in  the  presence  of  Gilbert,  bishop  of  Evreux  ;  his 
body  was  interred  in  the  church  of  St.  Mary,  where  Roger, 

1  The  two  charters,  one  of  Bishop  Odo  and  the  other  of  Duke  Robert, 
creating  and  confirming  this  foundation,  are  both  dated  in   1096,  in  the 
eighteenth  and  nineteenth  years  of  Robert's  reign.     The  date  is  curious, 
because  it  shows  that  Robert  assumed  that  he  was  invested  with  the  duke- 
dom as  far  back  as  1077,  and  consequently  before  the  siege  of  Gerberoi. 

2  Here  again  the  parallel  features  in  the  characters  of  Odo  and  VVolsey, 
to  which  we  have  before  drawn  attention,  become  apparent ;  witness  the 
latter's  foundation  of  Christ  Church,  Oxford,  &c. 

3  See  note  before,  p.  425. 

4  Samson  was  bishop  of  Worcester,  June  15,  1097 — May  5,  11 12. 

5  William  de  Roos,  abbot  of  Fecamp,  1079 — March  24,  1108. 

6  Thurstan,  abbot  of  Glastonbnry  in  1081,  was  compelled  to  return  to 
Normandy  in  consequence  of  his  violence  to  the  monks  in  1083.     See  • 
before,  p.  52,  and  Malmsbury,  p.  308,  Bohn's  Antiq.  Lib. 


1087 — 1088.]  PBINCE  HENBY  PTJBCHA.SES  THE  COTEKTIX.  431 

count  of  Sicily,1  caused  a  splendid  tomb  to  be  erected  for 
him. 

Eobert,  duke  of  Normandy,  distributed  his  wealth  among 
his  knights  with  a  liberal  hand,  attaching  to  his  person  a 
number  of  young  aspirants  to  arms  who  coveted  his  favour 
and  rewards.  His  treasury  beginning  to  fail,  he  sent  to  his 
brother  Henry,  requesting  a  supply  from  his  abundant 
wealth — a  demand  Henry  was  by  no  means  disposed  to  grant. 
The  duke  then  sent  word  that  he  was  ready  to  sell  him  a 
part  of  his  territories  ;  and  when  Henry  understood  this,  he 
was  most  ready  to  comply  with  his  brother's  proposal.  Terms 
were  therefore  concluded  between  them,  by  which  Henry 
paid  the  duke  three  thousand  pounds  of  silver,  and  received 
in  exchange  the  whole  of  the  district  of  the  Cotentin,  which 
is  a  third  of  all  Normandy.2  In  this  way  Henry  first  ob- 
tained Avranches  and  Coutances,  Mont  St.  Michael-in- 
peril-of-the-Sea,  and  the  entire  of  the  lordship  which  Hugh, 
earl  of  Chester,  held  in  Normandy.  Prince  Henry  governed 
the  Cotentin  discreetly,  and  employed  his  early  years  in 
worthy  pursuits.  From  his  very  childhood,  his  parents  had 
devoted  him  to  the  study  of  letters,  and  he  became  admi- 
rably imbued  with  the  knowledge  both  of  moral  and  natural 
philosophy.  Lanfranc,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  as  soon 
as  the  young  prince  was  of  a  fitting  age,  armed  him  for  the 
defence  of  the  kingdom,  clothing  him  with  a  breastplate, 
putting  a  helmet  on  his  head,  and  giving  him  the  belt  of 
knighthood,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  as  the  king's  son,  and 
born  on  the  steps  of  the  throne.3  During  the  twelve  years 
of  the  reign  of  William  Eufus  in  England,  Henry  had  an 
active  life  with  various  changes  of  fortune,  and  acquired  ex- 
perience, both  from  prosperity  and  adversity.  At  length, 
on  his  brother's  death,  he  ascended  the  throne,  which  he  has 


1  Roger  I.,  count  of  Sicily,  1072— July,  1101. 

1  Avranches,  being  a  part  of  the  ceded  territory,  roust  be  added,  as  well 
as  the  lordship  of  Vire,  which  belonged  of  right  to  the  earl  of  Chester. 
But  even  with  these  additions,  the  statement  that  the  Cotentiu  formed  a 
third  of  Normandy  is  an  exaggeration. 

'  This  passage  can  only  mean  that  Archbishop  Lanfranc,  as  Prince 
Henry's  tutor,  presented  him  for  knighthood.  It  was  conferred  upon  him 
by  the  king  his  father,  while  he  held  his  court  at  Westminster,  in  1086  (not 
Winchester,  1087,  as  the  French  editor  states).  See  Saxon  Chronicle. 


432  .          OEUERICU8   TITALIS.  [B.VIII.  CU.II. 

now  filled  nearly  thirty-three  yeara.4  It  is  my  purpose,  with 
God's  permission,  if  my  life  is  spared,  to  give  an  account  of 
his  life  and  actions  in  their  proper  place.  I  now  return  to 
the  course  of  my  narrative,  and  shall  instruct  posterity  in 
the  history  of  my  own  times. 

CH.  II.  The  Norman  lords  in  England  league  and  revolt 
against  William  Rufus — Invite  Robert  Curthose — The 
insurrection  breaks  out  in  several  counties  —  Siege  of 
Rochester — Bishop  Odo  taken  and  banished. 

IN  the  first  year  of  the  government  of  the  two  brothers, 
there  was  a  meeting  of  the  great  men  of  both  states,  to  con- 
sult among  themselves  on  the  circumstances  in  which  they 
were  placed  by  the  division  of  the  sovereignty  formerly 
lodged  in  the  same  hands.  "  We  are  suddenly  involved," 
they  said,  "  in  a  serious  difficulty,  and  threatened  w'ith  a  great 
diminution  of  our  power  and  wealth.  Hitherto  we  have 
maintained  ourselves  with  honour,  under  illustrious  dukes,  in 
the  possession  of  Normandy,  which  our  ancestors  who  came 
with  Rollo  from  Denmark,  two  hundred  and  twelve  years 
ago,2  gained  with  their  daring  valour.  Afterwards  we 
crossed  the  sea  with  Duke  William,  and  subduing  the  Anglo- 
Saxons  by  the  might  of  our  arms,  seized  their  lands  and 
wealth,  for  which  we  freely  shed  our  blood.  Alas !  we  are 
now  witnesses  of  a  great  revolution,  and  the  sudden  over- 
throw of  our  power.  What  are  we  to  do  ?  On  the  death 
of  our  old  sovereign,  he  is  succeeded  by  two  young  princes, 
and  the  dominion  of  England  and  Normandy  is  suddenly 
divided.  How  can  we  conveniently  serve  two  lords  so  dif- 
ferent and  so  remote  from  each  other  ?  If  we  do  our  duty 
to  Robert,  the  duke  of  Normandy,  we  shall  offend  his 
brother  William.  It  wdll  follow  that  we  shall  forfeit  our 
great  revenues  and  high  honours  in  England.  On  the 
other  hand,  if  we  keep  our  fealty  to  King  William,  -Duke 
Robert  will  take  from  us  our  patrimonial  estates  in  Nor- 
mandy. It  behoves  us  to  avoid  such  a  separation  under 


1  This  passage  fixes  the  date  at  which  this  part  of  Ordericus's  History 
was  written  as  at  the  close  of  the  year  1 1 32,  or  the  commencement  of  1  ]  33. 

8  Our  author  adopts  the  opinion  generally  current  in  the  middle  ages  of 
the  settlement,  or  at  least  the  first  invasion,  of  Nonnandv  bv  Rollo  in 
876. 


, 


THE  BABOSS  LEAGUE  AGAINST  WILLIAM  BUFFS.       433 

these  princes  as  occurred  among  the  Israelites  in  the  time 
of  Rehoboam  and  Jeroboam.  Then  one  people  was  divided 
among  itself  between  two  rulers,  and  the  law,  the  temple 
and  the  worship  of  Grod  being  neglected,  fell  into  apostacy. 
At  length  one  part  of  them  were  carried  captives  into 
Media  by  the  Assyrians  and  never  returned,  and  the  rest 
underwent  the  Babylonish  captivity  under  the  Chaldeans. 
What  happened  to  the  Thebans  under  the  two  brothers, 
Eteocles  and  Polynices  ?  Did  not  many  thousands  perish 
on  both  sides  ?  At  last  both  brothers  fell  in  mutual  en- 
counter, and  left  the  succession  of  their  inheritance  to 
strangers.  It  behoves  us  carefully  to  consider  these  and 
such-like  instances,  and  to  take  prudent  precautions  that 
we  may  not  be  ruined  by  the  policy  of  these  youthful 
princes.  Let  us  therefore  enter  into  a  firm  and  inviolable 
league,  and  having  deposed  King  William  or  put  him  to 
death,  as  he  is  the  youngest  and  most  arrogant,  and  we 
owe  him  nothing,  let  us  make  Duke  Robert,  who  is  the 
elder  brother,  and  of  a  more  pliable  temper,  and  to  whom  we 
have  already  sworn  fealty  during  his  father's  life,1  sovereign 
both  of  England  and  Normandy,  that  the  union  of  the  two 
states  may  be  maintained. 

This  resolution  was  taken,  with  common  consent,  by 
Odo,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  Eustace,  count  of  Boulogne,8  Robert 
de  Belesme,  and  many  others,  and  their  intentions  were  an- 
nounced to  Duke  Robert.  That  thoughtless  and  inconside- 
rate prince  was  highly  delighted  with  their  empty  promises, 
and  pledged  himself  to  second  their  undertaking  in  all  points 
and  shortly  afford  them  effectual  succour  for  the  successful 
prosecution  of  so  great  an  enterprise.  Accordingly,  after 
our  Lord's  Nativity,3  the  before  mentioned  lords  crossed 

1  This  fealty  was  probably  sworn  at  the  time  from  which  Robert 
assumed  his  association  with  his  father  in  the  government  of  Normandy — 
1077.  The  truth  is,  that  although  William  nominated  him  his  successor 
in  the  duchy  before  his  invasion  of  England,  he  always  resolutely  withheld 
from  him  any  share  in  the  government.  See  his  reply  to  the  duke's 
demand  to  be  invested  in  the  duchy,  pp.  171,  172  of  the  present  volume. 

*  This  nobleman,  who  was  an  entire  stranger  to  Normandy,  joined  his 
fortunes  to  those  of  the  duke  rather  than  William  Rufus  in  consequence 
of  his  connexion  with  Bishop  Odo,  under  whom  he  held  vast  possessions  in 
the  county  of  Kent. 

1  According  to  Florence  of  Worcester,  this  league  was  not  entered  into 
VOL.  II.  F  F 


434  OBDEBICTTS   VITALTS.  [B.VIII.  CH.  II. 

over  to  England,  and,  putting  their  castles  into  a  state  of 
defence,  very  soon  raised  insurrections  against  the  king 
through  great  part  of  the  country. 

Odo,  as  I  have  said  before,  was  earl  palatine  of  Kent,  and 
several  earls  and  powerful  lords  owed  him  fealty.  Roger, 
earl  of  Shrewsbury,  Hugh  de  Grrantmesnil,  who  had  the 
government  of  Leicestershire,  with  Robert  de  Rhuddlan  his 
nephew,  and  other  knights  of  distinguished  bravery,  favoured 
the  conspirators,  and  fortified  their  castles  with  trenches, 
increasing  the  garrisonSj  and  drawing  in  abundant  supplies 
of  food  both  for  men  and  horses.  Already  rapacious  free- 
booters began  to  pillage  the  peasants  eagerly  anticipating 
the  arrival  of  Duke  Robert,  who  had  determined  to  follow 
his  precursors  with  the  returning  spring,  at  the  head  of  a 
large  body  of  troops.  At  the  same  time  Osbern,  son  of 
Richard,  surnamed  Scroop,1  with  Bernard  du  Neuf  Marche s 
his  son-in-law,  and  others  in  league  with  them,  who  held  the 
frontiers  of  Mercia,  made  a  savage  inroad  into  the  territory 
of  W  orcester,  pillaging  and  slaughtering  the  inhabitants,  in 
spite  of  the  prohibition  and  excommunication  directed 
against  them  by  the  man  of  God,  Wulstan,  bishop  of 
Worcester.3  Meanwhile  King  William  finding  that  his 

till  Lent  in  1088.  and  began  to  take  its  measures  after  Easter.  The  two 
authors  may  be  reconciled  by  supposing  that  the  first  idea  of  the  con- 
spiracy was  formed  in  Normandy  in  the  course  of  the  autumn,  but  that  it 
was  not  fully  organized  in  England  till  the  following  Lent.  He  reckons 
among  the  malcontent  nobles,  in  addition  to  those  named  by  Ordericus, 
Robert,  earl  of  Morton,  Geoffrey  de  Mowbray,  with  his  nephew  Robert, 
earl  of  Northumberland,  and  even  William,  bishop  of  Durham,  who  till 
that  time  had  been  the  principal  adviser  of  t.ie  young  king. 

1  He  appears  by  Domesday-book  to  have  held  in  capite  estates  in 
Worcestershire. 

8  For  Bernard  du  Neuf-Marche,  see  before,  p.  267.  Florence  of  Wor- 
cester adds  to  the  list  Roger  do  Lacy  from  Herefordshire,  and  Ralph  de 
Mortemer,  who  led  the  men  of  Shrewsbury ;  and  says  that  these  border- 
lords  were  followed  by  bands  of  robbers,  Norman,  English,  and  even 
Welsh. 

3  St.  Wulstan,  bishop  of  Worcester,  1062— Jan.  19, 1095.  The  flames 
burst  forth  at  several  other  points.  Robert  de  Mowbray,  who  was  with 
his  uncle,  the  bishop  of  Coutances,  at  Bristol,  pillaged  and  burnt  Bath, 
ravaged  Wiltshire,  and  attacked  Gloucester,  where  he  was  repulsed  by  the 
inhabitants.  William  d'Eu  overran  Gloucestershire  and  seized  Berkeley 
Castle.  Robert  Bigot  at  Norwich,  and  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil  at  Leices- 
ter, also  took  part  in  the  revolt. 


A.D.  1088.]      THE  ENGLISH  RALLY  BOUND  THE  KINO.          435 

nobles  had  formed  desperate  designs  against  him  in  his  own 
kingdom,  and  that,  the  mischief  spreading,  affairs  were 
getting  worse  and  worse,  he  was  far  from  skulking  like  a 
frighted  fox  in  the  depths  of  caverns,  but  roused  himself 
boldly  with  a  lion's  courage,  to  strike  a  terrible  blow  on  the 
rebels.  He  therefore  summoned  a  great  council  of  the 
archbishop  with  his  suffragans  and  the  earls  and  native 
English,  and  laid  before  them  the  attempts  of  his  adver- 
saries, and  his  own  wish  to  give  them  battle.  Those  who 
were  present  exhorted  the  king  to  put  down  the  disturbers 
of  the  peace,  and  promised  to  support  him  with  the  utmost 
eeal.  Thirty  thousand  Englishmen1  voluntarily  enrolled 
themselves  an  the  royal  service,  demanding  that  the  base 
traitors  should  be  punished  without  respect  of  persons. 
"  Act,"  they  said,  "  with  firmness  as  the  son  of  a  king,  and, 
yourself  placed  lawfully  on  the  throne,  command  with  con- 
fidence all  your  subjects.  See  you  not  our  numbers  who 
have  already  flocked  to  your  standard,  and  give  you  willing 
obedience  ?  Send  your  orders  through  all  England,  and 
crush  the  rebels  with  the  weight  of  your  lawful  power.  "We 
will  fight  for  you  to  death,  and  never  shall  another  prince 
usurp  your  place  in  our  affections.  It  would  be  indeed  a 
folly  and  a  crime  to  prefer  a  foreign  enemy  to  a  well-known 
king.  The  nation  which  breaks  its  allegiance  to  its  prince, 
must  be  held  accursed.  Death  to  the  band  which  exults  in 
the  ruin  of  ita  lord !  Search  well  the  histories  of  the 
English,  and  you  will  find  them  to  have  been  always  faithful 
to  their  kings." 

"William  Eufus?  was  so  much  encouraged  by  the  temper 
of  his  native  subjects,  that  he  immediately  took  the  field 
with  the  great  army  he  had  thus  assembled,  and  marched  at 

1  There  appears  to  be  some  exaggeration  in  this  number,  which  does 
not  ngree  with  the  expression  mediocris,  which  Florence  of  Worcester 
applies  to  the  army  of  the  young  king.  That  author  informs  us  that 
it  was  not  till  some  time  after  the  insurrection  broke  out,  and  after 
the  first  movements  in  the  campaign,  as  we  shall  presently  see,  that, 
finding  himself  unable  to  cope  with  his  powerful  Norman  barons,  who  had 
almost  all  declared  against  him,  he  summoned  the  English  to  his  aid  by  a 
levy  en  masse,  branding  as  niderings  all  who  should  not  follow  their 
sovereign's  standard. 

1  Ordericus,  in  this  and  other  passages,  calls  William  simply  ret  rufus, 
the  red  king. 

F  I-  2 


43(>  OBDEBICttTS  TITALIS.  [B.TIII.  CH.II. 

once  against  the  rebels  to  give  them  battle.     Upon  this, 
Odo,  bishop   of  Bayeux,   shut   himself  up  in   the  city  of 
Rochester  with  five  hundred  men-at-arms,  determining  to 
wait  the  arrival  of  Duke  Robert,  with  the  auxiliary  forces 
he  had  promised  to  bring ;  for  the  league,  although  they 
were  very  numerous,  and  had  great  resources  in  money  and 
arms,  and  vast  supplies,  did  not  dare  to  meet  the  king  in 
open   fight  within   his  own  realm.     They  therefore,  with 
great  prudence,  selected  Rochester,  because,  if  the  king  did 
not  blockade  them  in  the  city,  the  position  was  central  for 
making  sudden  eruptions  and  plundering  London  and  Can- 
terbury, and  they  could  also  take  advantage  of  the  sea,  which 
lies  very  near,  and  the  neighbouring  islands,  to  despatch  mes- 
sengers to  obtain  assistance.     The  resolute  king,  however, 
anticipated  their  projects,  and,  in  the  month  of  May,  in- 
vested the  place  with  a  powerful  army ;  and,  erecting  two 
forts,  shut  up  the  enemy  within  the  walls,  so  that  every 
avenue  of  egress  was  closed.     As  I  have  said  before,  Bishop 
Odo,  Count  Eustace,  and  Robert  de  Belesme,1  with  many 
nobles,  as  well  as  persons  of  moderate  station,  held  the 
place,  expecting,  in  vain,  succours  from  Duke  Robert,  who 
was  detained  by  sloth  and  indulgence.     However  Roger, 
earl  of  Mercia,2  and  many  other  Normans  who  were  in  the 
besieging  army  gave  secret  aid  to  the  besieged,  as  far  as  it 
was  in  their  power,  although  they  did  not  venture  to  appear 
openly  in  arms  against  the  king.     All  the  bishops  of  Eng- 
land joined  the  English  people  in  loyally  supporting  the 
king,  and  laboured  to  restore  in  the  country  that  tranquil- 
lity which  good  men  love.     Also  Hugh,   earl   of  Chester, 
Robert  de  Mowbray,  earl  of  Northumberland,3  William  de 

1  If  we  could  be  surprised  at  anything  in  so  strange  a  character,  which 
will  be  further  developed  hereafter,  we  might  wonder  to  find  Robert  de  ' 
Belesme  among  the  partisans  of  Henry  Curt-hose  after  the  activity  he  had 
shown  in  expelling  the  duke's  garrisons  from  his  own  castles  of  Belesme 
and  Alencon,  and  in  even  inducing  the  lords  of  Evreux,  Conches,  and 
Breteuil  to  do  the  same.  However,  he  had  before  the  death  of  William 
the  Conqueror  been  one  of  the  partisans  of  the  young  duke,  so  far  as  to 
accompany  him  in  some  of  his  emigrations, 

*  Roger  de  Montgomery,  earl  of  Shrewsbury,  was  Robert  de  Belesme's 
father.     See  before,  p.  194. 

3  Wo  have  just  seen  that  Florence  of  Worcester  reckons  this  noble- 
man, with  his  uncle  Geoffrey,  among  the  insurgents. 


A.D.  108f8.]  SIEGE   OF   BOCHESTEE.  437 

Warenne,  and  Eobert  Fitz-Hamon,  -with  other  loyal  and  ex- 
perienced barons,  maintained  their  fealty  to  their  sovereign 
and  gave  him  useful  aid,  both  with  their  arms  and  their 
counsels,  against  the  common  enemy. 

A  plague,  like  the  plague  of  the  Egyptians,  made  its 
appearance  in  the  town  of  Rochester,  the  Almighty,  who,  in 
all  ages,  superintends  human  affairs  and  orders  them  aright, 
having  chosen  to  renew  an  ancient  miracle  in  modern  times. 
For  as  the  flies  tormented  the  Egyptians,  and  did  not  cease 
a  moment  from  whizzing  round  them,  in  the  same  manner 
these  flies  grievously  annoyed  the  besieged  with  -their 
incessant  attacks ;  for  all  egress  from  the  castle  was  pre- 
vented, and  many  of  those  who  were  thus  blockaded  fell 
sick  from  their  various  sufferings,  and,  their  disorders  in- 
creasing, at  length  died.  Innumerable  flies  were  engendered 
in  the  dung  of  men  and  horses,  and  being  nourished  by  the 
heat  both  of  the  summer,  and  of  the  atmosphere  caused  by 
the  breath  of  so  many  inhabitants  closely  pent  up,  their 
swarms  horribly  infested  their  eyes  and  noses,  food  and 
drink.  So  severely  was  the  insolent  band  of  rebels  afflicted 
with  the  annoyance  of  the  swarms  that  they  could  not  eat 
their  meals,  either  by  day  or  night,  unless  a  great  number 
of  them  were  employed,  in  turn,  in  flapping  them  away 
from  their  comrades'  faces.  In  consequence,  Odo  and  his 
allies  could  no  longer  suffer  the  miseries  of  the  siege  ;L  they 

1  Florence  of  Worcester  gives  a  somewhat  different  account  of  these 
transactions.  He  says  that  Robert  Curl-hose  despatched  the  earls  of 
Boulogne  and  Bel&sme,  with  a  body  of  auxiliaries,  to  support  Bishop  Odo, 
promising  to  follow  himself  with  a  larger  force.  This  was  the  first  notice 
the  king  had  of  the  danger  which  threatened  him,  and  he  immediately 
summoned  such  of  the  barons  as  he  could  rely  on,  and  assembling  a  small 
body  of  troops  at  London,  more  English  than  Normans,  marched  for 
Rochester,  biking  Tunbridge  in  the  way.  He  reduced  that  castle  after 
two  days'  siege,  having  wounded  Richard  de  Bienfacte>  one  of  the  con- 
spirators, who  held  it,  and  forced  him  to  capitulate.  On  the  king's 
approach  to  Rochester,  after  this  success,  Odo  made  his  escape,  and  took 
refuge  in  Pevensey  Castle  with  his  brother,  the  earl  of  Morton.  The  king, 
however,  deferred  the  siege  of  Rochester,  the  garrison  of  which,  in  the 
meantime,  ravaged  the  whole  neighbourhood,  and  followed  the  bishop  to 
Pevensey.  It  was  at  this  period  that  the  insurrection  burst  forth  in 
several  quarters,  as  mentioned  in  preceding  notes.  Pevensey  surrendered 
to  the  king's  troops  after  holding  out  8  x  weeks,  and  Bishop  Odo  was 
taken,  and,  as  Henry  of  Huntingdon  says  (p.  225,  Bohn' s  Antiq.  Library), 
solemnly  swore  to  depart  the  realm,  and  to  deliver  up  the  city  of 


438  OEDEBICTTS   TITALIS.  [B.TIII.  CH.IT. 

therefore  sent  envoys  to  the  king,  asking  for  peace  and  offer- 
ing to  surrender  the  place.  The  terms  proposed  were  these : 
that  they  should  be  re-instated  in  the  lands,  the  fief's,  and  all 
the  possessions  they  before  had,  and  should,  for  the  future, 
serve  him  loyally  as  their  natural  lord.  The  king  was 
greatly  incensed  at  these  proposals,  and,  so  far  from  making 
any  concession,  and  accepting  the  terms  offered  by  the 
envoys,  he  swore  that  he  would  seize,  by  force  of  arms,  the 
perfidious  traitors  shut  up  in  the  town,  and  forthwith  hang 
them  on  gibbets,  or  sweep  them  from  the  eartli  by  other 
kinds  of  death.  When,  however,  those  who  were  engaged 
in  the  siege  in  the  royal  cause  perceived  that  the  king  was 
so  inflamed  with  passion  against  their  relations  and  friends 
within  the  fortress  as  to  threaten  their  execution,  they  came 
about  him  with  deep  supplications,  and  endeavoured  to  pro- 
pitiate him  by  earnest  prayers  and  flattering  words.  Thus 
they  said :  "  Praise  be  to  God  who  is  ever  the  helper  of 
those  who  trust  in  him,  and  grants  that  good  parents  shall 
succeeded  by  worthy  children."  Lo !  these  aspiring  youths, 
and  old  men  blinded  by  their  ambition,  have  sufficiently 
learnt,  that  the  royal  authority  in  this  land  is  not  yet 
extinct;  for  those  who  flocked  here  out  of  Normandy,  to 
prey  upon  us  like  ravenous  kites,  have  discovered,  through 
the  interposition  of  God,  that  "William  the  younger  is  not 
less  powerful  than  "William  the  elder.  Already  half  con- 
quered they  submit  to  your  arms ;  and,  confessing  your 
might,  approach  you  as  suppliants.  We  too,  who  have 
stood  by  you  in  the  hour  of  your  greatest  peril,  as  we  did 
by  your  father,  now  humbly  approach  you  with  earnest  in- 
treaties  on  behalf  of  our  fellow  countrymen.  It  befits  you, 
who  have  subdued  by  your  valour  these  senseless  and  trem- 
bling men,  to  extend  your  clemency  to  them  now  that  they 
are  humbled  and  penitent.  Let  mercy  temper  the  king's 
severity,  and  a  glorious  victory  satisfy  the  claims  of  your 

Rochester.  Being  conducted  there  for  that  purpose,  he  broke  or  eluded 
his  oath,  and  having  got  into  the  city  remained  there  until,  on  its 
surrender,  he  became  again  a  captive.  It  was  at  this  period,  Florence  of 
Worcester  informs  us,  that  the  king  summoned  the  great  body  of  his 
English  subjects  to  his  side,  with  such  success  that  the  Normans  in 
Rochester,  brave  and  numerous  as  the  garrison  was,  could  no  longer  resist 
the  numbers  which  flocked  to  the  king's  standard;  and  the  garrison  was 
compelled  to  surrender  at  discretion. 


A..D.  1088.]  TEKMS   Of   CA.PITULA.TIoy.  439 

distinguished  valour.  The  great  King  David  pardoned 
Shimei  who  cursed  him,1  and  entreated  Joab  and  Abishai 
and  his  other  generals,  not  to  slay  Absalom  his  adversary.2 
Examples  of  this  sort  abound  in  the  sacred  volume,  and  the 
lines  of  the  sagacious  poet,  in  his  work  on  the  Wonders  of 
the  World,  are  to  the  same  purport. 

"  'Tis  lion-like  to  spare  a  fallen  foe, 
And  lion-hearted  kings  should  thus  their  greatness  show."  3 

King  William  replied  to  these  observations  ;  "  I  confess 
that  it  is  through  your  prowess  I  have  subdued  the  enemy, 
and,  by  God's  help,  with  your  valour,  the  victory  is  almost 
gained.  But  you  ought  to  be  the  more  cautious  not  to 
induce  me  by  your  supplications  to  deviate  from  the  course 
of  strict  justice.  When  we  spare  perjurers  and  robbers, 
plunderers,  and  execrable  traitors,  we  destroy  the  peace  and 
•ecurity  of  the  well-disposed,  and  sow  the  seeds  of  endless 
slaughter  and  pillage  among  the  innocent  and  defenceless. 
In  what  have  I  offended  these  criminal  men  ?  What  injury 
have  I  done  them  ?  Why  have  they  sought  to  destroy  me 
by  every  means  in  their  power,  and  raised  insurrections 
among  the  people  wherever  they  could,  to  so  much  public 
loss  ?  I  confirmed  them  in  all  their  rights,  and  have  given 
them  no  cause  to  revolt  against  me ;  and  yet  they  are  be- 
come my  determined  enemies.  I  consider  it  just  to  follow 
rigidly  the  judgment  of  the  great  king  David,  whose  ex- 
ample you  set  before  me;  thus,  as  Baanah  and  Eechab, 
the  sons  of  Eimmon,  the  Beerothite,  who  beheaded  Ishbo- 
sheth  in  his  own  house,  were  by  David's  sentence  con- 
demned to  be  hung,*  so  these  seditious  men  shall  be  fearfully 
punished,  that  men  of  this  and  future  ages  may  be  deterred 
and  restrained  by  the  report  of  this  terrible  vengeance." 

1  2  Samuel  xvi.  5 — 11. 

*  2  Samuel  xviii.  5. 

*  In  the  original  quotation, 

Parcere  prostratis  sit  nobilis  ira  leonis ! 
Tu  quoque  fac  simile,  quisquis  dominaris  in  orbe ! 
The  author,  whoever  he  was,  had  probably  in  his  mind  the  well-known 
line— 

"  Parcere  dejectis  et  debellare  superbos." 
4  2  Sam.  iv.  2—12. 


440  OEDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [B.T1II.  CH.II. 

To  this  the  nobles  replied,  "  "We  admit  all  that  you  say, 
our  lord  the  king,  to  be  right  and  just,  nor  can  we  contra- 
dict any  of  your  reasons.  But  we  are  compelled  by  our 
feelings  of  humanity  humbly  to  implore  your  mightiness  to 
consider  who  these  persons  are,  on  whose  behalf  we  so 
earnestly  implore  your  clemency.  Odo,  of  Bayeux,  is  your 
uncle,  and  has  been  consecrated  a  bishop.  He  assisted  your 
father  in  his  conquest  of  England,  and  to  his  great  peril 
stood  by  him  in  many  straits.  What  can  you  do  with  a  man  ol 
his  eminence  ?  Far  be  it  from  you  to  lay  hands  on  a  priest 
of  the  Lord,  and  shed  his  blood  for  such  a  cause.  Recollect 
what  Saul  did  at  Nob,1  and  what  he  suffered  in  Mount 
Gilboah  ?s  AVho  will  be  so  wicked  as  to  venture  to  advise 
you  to  condemn  the  Lord's  bishop,  and  your  own  uncle  ? 
No  one.  It  is  therefore  our  unanimous  request  that  you 
will  extend  your  clemency  to  him,  and  permit  him  to  depart 
without  injury  to  his  own  diocese  in  Normandy.  The  count 
of  Boulogne  was  also  faithful  to  your  father,  and  his  valiant 
supporter  and  comrade  in  many  a  desperate  battle.  Robert 
de  Belesme  likewise,  who  was  much  esteemed  by  your  father, 
and  promoted  by  him  to  great  honours,  has  now  obtained 
mastery  of  great  part  of  Normandy,  and  being  possessed  of 
the  strongest  castles,  holds  the  first  rank  among  his  neigh- 
bours, and  the  Norman  lords.  If  you  temper  your  animosity 
against  these  great  men,  and  treat  them  graciously  here,  or 
permit  them  to  depart  iu  safety,  you  may  advantageously 
use  their  amity  and  service,  on  many  future  occasions.  '  He 
who  is  your  enemy  now,  may  be  your  useful  friend  another 
time.3 

"  Under  their  ensigns  there  are  many  young  aspirants  to 
the  honours  of  chivalry  who  are  ready  to  serve  under  your 
standard,  and  whose  services  you,  O  king,  ought  not  to 
despise.  Those,  therefore,  whom  you  have  now  subjugated 
by  means  of  your  power,  your  wealth,  and  your  eminent 
bravery,  attach  to  your  person  by  generosity  and  cle- 
mency." 

In  consequence,  the  noble-minded  king,  vanquished  by 
the  prayers  of  his  faithful  followers,  granted  their  request, 

1   1  Sam.  xxii.  19. 

a  1  Siim.  xxxi.  1,  2. 

'  Idem  gut  l&dit,  furs  post  ut  amicus  obedil. 


A.D.  1088.]  THE    GABEISON   MABCH    OUT.  441 

and  relieving  the  besieged  from  the  sentence  of  death  or 
mutilation,  granted  them  leave  to  depart  from  the  place 
with  their  horses  and  arms.  But  he  utterly  refused  them 
all  expectation  of  having  any  inheritance  or  lauds  within  the 
realm  of  England,  as  long  as  he  was  on  the  throne.  Then 
bishop  Odo  attempted  to  procure  the  king's  command  that 
the  trumpeters  should  not  sound  a  flourish  while  the  gar- 
rison marched  out,  as  is  the  custom  when  an  enemy  is 
conquered,  and  a  fortresss  is  taken  by  storm.  But  the  king 
fell  into  a  great  passion,  and  would  not  listen  to  what  was 
asked,  asserting  that  he  would  not  grant  it  for  a  thousand 
marks  of  gold.  The  garrison  therefore  marched  out  with 
sorrow  and  dejection,  while  the  royal  trumpets  sounded  in 
notes  of  triumph,  and  the  crowds  of  English  who  were  on 
the  king's  side  shouted  aloud,  "  Halters,  bring  halters,1  and 
hang  this  traitor-bishop  with  his  accomplices  on  a  gallows. 
Great  king  of  England,  why  do  you  permit  this  author  of 
all  our  woes  to  escape  safe  and  sound  ?  This  perjured  homi- 
cide, who  has  caused  the  death  of  thousands  by  his  plots 
and  his  cruelties,  ought  not  to  be  suffered  to  live."  The 
crest-fallen  bishop  and  his  associates  were  compelled  to 
listen  to  the  foul  reproaches  which  were  heaped  upon  them, 
but  although  they  were  threatened  with  a  bitter  fate,  per- 
mission was  not  granted  for  the  populace  to  wreak  their  ven- 
geance on  them.  Thus  the  unholy  bishop  was  banished  from 
England,  and  his  vast  domains  were  forfeited,  so  that  the 
prodigious  wealth  which  he  had  iniquitously  amassed,  was, 
by  the  just  judgment  of  God,  lost  with  signal  disgrace.  He 
retired  in  confusion  to  Bayeux,  and  never  again  set  foot  in 
England.* 

It  was  thus,  that  in  the  first  year  of  king  "William's  reign, 
at  the  commencement  of  summer,  the  city  of  Kochester  was 
surrendered  to  him,  and  the  criminal  enterprise  of  those  who 
had  taken  arms  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  realm  was  de- 
feated. For  the  malignants  and  evil-doers,  when  they  under- 
stood the  king's  bold  and  resolute  character,  became  alarmed 
on  account  of  the  pillage  and  slaughter,  and  other  wicked- 

1    Torques,  torques  afferte. 

*  The  bishop  of  Durham  also  was  forced  to  take  refuge  in  Flande1? 
but,  according  to  Henry  of  Huntingdon,  not  until  the  king  had  beiiegeu 
him  in  Durham  itself.  P.  2*23,  Bohn's  Antiq.  Lib. 


442  OBDEBICTJS   VITALIS.  [u.VIII.  CH.m. 

ness,  of  which  they  had  been  guilty  in  so  much  haste,  and 
during  the  twelve  years  of  the  king's  reign  they  did  not 
dare  to  mutter  a  word  against  him.  Meanwhile,  William 
acted  with  great  caution,  watching  his  opportunity  for 
taking  revenge.  The  factious  attempts  of  some  of  his  ene- 
mies he  punished  with  the  utmost  severity  of  the  law,  but 
designedly  winked  at  the  offences  of  others.  The  old  barons 
who  had  shown  some  signs  of  disaffection  to  him,  were  pru- 
dently spared,  both  out  of  regard  to  his  father's  memory,  to 
whom  they  had  been  loyally  attached,  and  from  respect  to 
their  age ;  for  he  shrewdly  thought  that  disease  and  death 
would  soon  prevent  their  giving  him  any  trouble.  Some, 
however,  served  him  the  more  faithfully  in  after  times,  on 
account  of  their  having  been  deeper  involved  in  the  crime  of 
treason,  and  tried  to  render  themselves  acceptable  to  him  by 
their  gifts,  their  services,  and  their  flatteries. 

CH.  III. — History  of  Robert  de  Rhuddlan — His  successes 
in  curbing  the  Welsh — Is  slain  by  Gryffith-ap-Conan. 
Icing  of '  North  Wales — Buried  at  St.  Evroult — Elegy  to 
his  memory. 

IN  consequence  of  the  shock  which  England  received  from 
the  violence  of  the  storm  we  have  just  described,  and  of  the 
wounds  which  were  daily  inflicted  by  its  inhabitants  on 
each  other,  divided  as  they  were  into  two  parties,  one  of 
which  tried  to  depose  the  king,  while  the  other  stoutly 
maintained  his  cause,  Grryflith,  king  of  Wales,1  at  the  head 
of  an  array,  made  an  inroad  on  the  English  borders,  and 
devastated  the  country  about  Rhuddlan  with  fire  and  sword, 
taking  much  booty  and  many  captives.  On  the  return  of 
Eobert,  lord  of  Rhuddlan,  from  the  siege  of  .Rochester,2  he 
received  k^eLigence  of  these  barbarities  and  his  severe 
losses  which  filled  him  with  grief,  and  drew  from  him  in  his 

1  Gryffith-ap-Conan,  who  after  his  victory  over  Howel-ap-Owen  in  1 076, 
reigned,  it  is  said,  at  least  at  intervals,  until  1136.  Gryffith  was  allied  to 
the  Anglo-Saxon  kings,  being  eon-in-law  of  King  Owen,  the  grandson  of 
Grono,  who  married  Ethefleda,  widow  of  Edmund  Ironsides. 

1  Robert  dc  Rhuddlan  had  joined  the  league  against  William  Rufus, 
but  after  the  siege  of  Rochester,  as  it  here  appears,  returned  to  his  duties 
lin  Wales.  He  belonged  to  the  great  family  of  Grantmesnil  by  the  father's 
side,  and  to  that  of  Giroie,  of  which  our  author  gives  so  much  detail  in  the 
first  volume,  by  his  mother's. 


ROBEBT   DE   HHUDDLAW.  443 

wrath  the  most  terrible  threats.  He  was  a  brave  and  active 
knight,  free  of  speech,  a  formidable  enemy,  but  generous, 
and  celebrated  for  his  many  deeds  of  valour.  He  had  been 
one  of  king  Edward's  squires,  and  received  from  him  the 
belt  of  knighthood.  His  father,  Umfrid,  was  son  of  Amfrid 
of  Danish  race :  his  mother,  Adeliza,  was  sister  of  Hugh 
de  Grantmesnil,  of  the  noble  family  of  Giroie.  This  dis- 
tinguished warrior,  in  the  midst  of  his  military  employments, 
did  not  neglect  the  church,  constantly  treating  the  clergy  and 
monks  with  great  respect,  and  giving  liberal  alms  to  the 
poor,  according  to  his  means. 

The  abbey  of  St.  Evroult,  where  his  brothers  Arnold  and 
Roger  were  monks,  and  his  father  and  mother  and  other 
relations  lay  buried,  was  much  beloved  by  him,  and  he  en- 
dowed it  to  the  best  of  his  power.  In  consequence,  he  gave 
to  it  the  church  of  Tilleul,1  and  his  portion  of  the  church  of 
Damblainville,2  with  the  presbytery,  and  all  that  belonged  to 
him  in  the  church  of  Corneres.3  He  added  the  tithe  of  his 
mills,  and  of  all  his  rents,  with  an  additional  tenth  from  his 
butlery  and  cellar.4  The  same  Robert  gave  to  the  monks  of 
St.  Evroult,  of  his  possessions  in  England,  Little-Cwm,8 
comprising  two  plough-lands,  and  twenty  villeins ;  also,  the 
tithes,  and  the  whole  vill  called  Kirkby,6  with  the  church  and 
presbytery,  and  the  church  of  the  Island,7  and  the  church  of 
St.  Peter-in-theMarket,  and  three  cottages  in  the  city  of 
Chester:  and  that  St.  Evroult  might  possess  all  these  in 
perpetuity  and  without  molestation,  he  came  in  person  to  a 
chapter  at  Ouche,  and  confirmed  his  grant  of  all  that  has 
been  mentioned,  before  abbot  Mairiier,  and  the  convent  of 

1  Either  Tilleul-en-Auge,  in  the  canton  of  Dive,  or  Notre-Dame-du 
Tilleul,  canton  of  Merlerault. 

*  Damhlainville,  canton  of  Fnlaise. 

*  Supposed  to  be  Cormier,  near  Evreux. 

*  Redecimationem   promptuariorum  suoriim.     The    French  translator 
renders  it  "  La  dime  de  la  dime  de  sa  table." 

*  The   parish   of   Cwm,   which  in  Welsh   signifies  a  valley,   adjoins 
Rhuddlan.     It  comprises  a  smaller  valley,  which  is  lateral  to  the  vale  of 
Clwyd,  and  there  seems  no  doubt  but  that  it  is  the  same  which  Ordericui 
designates  by  the  diminitive  Cumbi-nellam. 

*  Kirkby,   Chircabia.     It   afterwards   belonged   to  the  church  of  St. 
Peter-in-the-Markct,  at  Chester. 

7  This  is  probably  "the  manor  surrounded  by  the  sea,"  described 
among  Robert  de  Rhuddlan '•  grants  to  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult,  in  the 
charter  of  King  William  I.  See  before,  p.  257. 


444  ORDEEICUS   VITALIS.  [fi.  VIII.  CH.  III. 

monks.  There  were  with  him  at  the  chapter,  Easzo  the 
dean,  Hugh  de  Mellai,  William  the  Butler,  son  of  Grimold, 
Roger,  son  of  Giroie,  Durant,  Burnell,  Osbern  d'Orgeres,1 
and  Walter  the  provost.  These  were  present  when  Robert 
proceeded  to  the  church,  and  laid  on  the  altar  the  charter 
containing  the  grant  of  these  premises. 

I  have  inserted  this  short  notice  of  the  donations  which 
the  aforesaid  lord  made  to  the  church  of  St.  Evroult,  and 
I  think  the  judicious  reader  will  not,  on  consideration,  be 
disposed  to  ridicule  me  when  I  conform  my  narrative,  as 
occasion  offers,  to  the  title  of  my  work. 

Eobert,  son  of  Umfrid,  came  over  to  England  with  his 
father  while  he  was  quite  young,  and  was  in  the  service  of 
King  Edward,  both  in  his  household  and  army,  until  he  was 
knighted  by  that  king.  Then,  newly  invested  with  splendid 
armour,  and  enriched  with  honourable  tokens  of  the  royal 
favour,  he  formed  the  design  of  visiting  his  relations, 
and  having  obtained  the  king's  licence,  returned  to  his 
own  country  radiant  with  delight.  After  the  battle  of 
Senlac,  while  King  William  was  engaged  in  making  head 
against  repeated  insurrections,  the  young  knight,  with  hia 
cousin  Hugh,2  son  of  Richard  d'Avranches,  surnamed  Goz, 
again  came  over  to  England,  and  distinguished  himself  in  all 
the  actions  where  military  glory  was  to  be  obtained.  After 
many  exploits,  he  was  attached  to  the  service  of  Hugh  before 
mentioned,  who  was  made  earl  of  Chester  and  appointed 
Robert  commander  of  his  troops,  and  governor  of  his  whole 
province.  At  that  time  the  Britons  on  the  borders,  who 
are  commonly  called  Gael,  or  Welch,  took  arms  with  great 
fury  against  King  William  and  all  his  adherents.  A  fortress 
was  therefore  built  at  Rhuddlan3  by  the  king's  command,  to 

1  Orgeres,  near  Gace\ 

9  Hugh,  viscount  d'Avranches  in  Normandy,  and  afterwards  created 
earl  of  Chester  in  England,  where  lie  is  better  known  as  Hugh  Lupus. 
His  young  nephew  held  by  grant  under  him  large  possessions,  including 
two  cantrefs  in  Flintshire  or  Denbighshire,  of  which  Tegengle  was  one, 
and,  in  the  end,  the  whole  kingdom  of  Gwyned,  or  North  Wales.  He 
also  held  in  farm,  at  forty  pounds  rent,  the  capital  and  royal  palace  of 
Aberfraw  in  the  island  of  Anglesey. 

3  Rhuddlan,  from  which  he  derived  his  surname,  was  Robert's  principal 
seat.  It  was  one  of  the  most  important  fortresses  in  Wales,  and  was  often 
taken  and  re-taken  in  the  long  succession  of  wars  from  early  times.  .It 
was  not  "  built "  by  Robert,  as  our  author  states ;  he  probably  added  to  it, 
and  strengthened  the  fortifications.  A  battle  was  fought  here  between  the 


BOBEET   DE   BIIfDDLAN   CUEBS    THE   WELSH.          445 

over-awe  the  Welch,  and  the  custody  of  it  committed  to 
Robert  that  he  might  defend  the  English  frontier  against 
the  inroads  of  those  barbarians.  The  warlike  lord-marcher 
had  frequent  encounters  with  that  turbulent  people,  in 
which  much  blood  was  shed.  The  British  inhabitants  were, 
however,  repulsed  after  some  desperate  engagements,  and 
Robert  enlarging  his  territories,  erected  a  strong  castle  on 
mount  Diganwy,  close  to  the  sea.1  For  fifteen  years  he 
severely  chastised  the  Welsh,  and  seized  their  territory  ; 
notwithstanding  that,  proud  of  their  ancient  independence, 
they  had  refused  all  tokens  of  submission  to  the  Normans. 
Making  inroads  into  their  country,  through  woods  and 
marshes,  and  over  mountain  heights,  he  inflicted  losses  on 
the  enemy  in  every  shape,  Some  he  butchered  without 
mercy,  like  herds  of  cattle,  as  soon  as  he  came  up  with  them. 
Others  he  threw  into  dungeons,  where  they  suffered  a  long 
imprisonment,  or  cruelly  subjected  them  to  a  shameful 
slavery.  It  is  not  fit  that  Christians  should  so  oppress  their 
brethren  who  have  been  regenerated  by  holy  baptism  in  the 
faith  of  Christ. 

Ambition  and  avarice,  those  mainsprings  of  human 
action  in  every  part  of  the  world,  were  the  powerful  stimu- 
lants which  urged  Robert,  the  lord-marcher,  to  the  indis- 
criminate pillage  and  slaughter  which  afterwards  plunged 
him  into  the  pit  of  destruction.  It  happened  that,  on  the 
third  of  July,  Qryffyth,  king  of  Wales,1  came  to  land  with 

Saxons  and  Welsh  as  farly  as  795,  on  occasion  of  which  a  plaintive  air 
was  composed  by  the  bards  called  Aforfa  Rhuddlan,  or  the  Red  Marsh, 
which  is  still  played  with  enthusiasm  by  the  national  harpers.  Camden 
says  that  the  castle  was  built  by  LJewelJyn-ap  Sylt  in  1015,  or  1020,  and 
became  the  palace  of  the  Welsh  princes.  It  was  burnt  down  by  Harold 
during  his  irruption  into  Wales  in  1063,  being  then,  as  the  Saxon  Chronicle 
says,  King  Gryffyth's.  It  having  been  again  occupied  by  the  Welsh,  Robert 
re-took  it,  and  by  command  of  the  Conqueror  restored  and  fortified  it,  as  we 
have  already  seen. 

1  Diganwy,  which  stood  on  the  heights  commanding  the  entrance  of  the 
river  Conway,  was  also  a  very  ancient  fortress.  It  is  supposed  to  ha»e 
been  the  Roman  etation  Dictum,  and  is  mentioned  in  the  Welsh  Chronicles 
as  esirly  as  810.  It  was,  therefore,  only  restored  and  strengthened  by 
Robert  de  Rhuddlan.  Conway  Castle,  which  stands  on  the  opposite  or 
western  bank  of  the  river,  was  not  built  till  1284. 

*  Gryffyth-ap-Conan,  king  of  North  Wales,  was  engaged  in  a  continual 
contest  for  the  defence  of  his  kingdom  and  independence.  This  is  not  the 
only  instance  of  his  daring  enterprises  against  Robert  of  Rhuddlan.  The 
Norman  lord,  on  one  occasion,  received  a  visit  from  the  Welsh  prince  to 


446  OEDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.  Till.  CH.  III. 

three  ships  under  a  mountain  called  Horma-heva,1  and  the 
band  of  pirates  presently  spread  itself  over  the  country  for 
pillage,  like  ravening  wolves.  Meanwhile,  the  tide  ebbed, 
and  the  ships  were  left  dry  on  the  beach ;  Gryffyth  and  his 
followers  scouring  the  coast  and  carrying  off  men  and  cattle, 
with  which  they  made  a  hasty  retreat  to  their  vessels  thus 
lying  on  the  strand. 

Under  these  circumstances,  Robert  was  roused  from  his 
noon-day  sleep  by  the  people's  cries,  which  made  him  aware  of 
this  hostile  inroad  on  his  territories.  He  sprung  up  quickly, 
unarmed  as  he  was,  and  without  delay  despatched  messen- 
gers to  summon  his  vassals  to  arms  through  all  the  district. 
Meanwhile,  he  pursued  the  "Welsh,  without  further  prepa- 
ration, at  the  head  of  a  few  soldiers,  and  reaching  the  top  of 
mount  Horma-heva,  which  is  very  lofty,  saw,  beneath,  the 
pirates  binding  the  captives  and  driving  them  to  their  ships 
with  the  cattle.  Upon  this,  the  noble  lord-marcher,  bold  as 
a  lion,  shouted  aloud  to  his  small  band  of  followers,  few  and 
unarmed  as  they  were,  calling  on  them  to  rush  on  the 
Welsh  on  the  dry  sands  before  the  return  of  the  tide.  They 
however  excused  themselves  on  account  of  their  scanty 
numbers  and  the  difficulty  of  descending  the  precipitous 
face  of  the  mountain.  Upon  this,  Robert,  who  saw  that 
the  enemy  was  only  waiting  the  return  of  the  sea  to  make 
their  escape,  was  overwhelmed  with  grief,  and  impatient  of 
delay,  scrambled  down  the  mountain  side  to  throw  himself 
on  the  enemy  without  armour  and  with  only  one  follower, 
a  man-at-arms  whose  name  was  Osbern  d'Orgeres.  Seeing 
him  coming  to  attack  them,  protected  by  his  shield  only  and 
supported  by  a  single  soldier,  the  Welsh  in  a  body  hurled 
their  spears  at  him,  and,  piercing  the  shield  with  the  insup- 
portable weight,  mortally  wounded  the  brave  Osbern.  But  as 
long  as  Robert  was  able  to  stand  and  clasp  his  shield,  no  one 
ventured  to  come  to  close  quarters  and  attack  him  sword  in- 
hand.  At  length  the  intrepid  warrior  fell  on  his  knees, 
pierced  with  darts,  and  his  strength  failing,  the  shield,  heavy 

ask  his  aid,  which  was  granted ;  but  on  some  quarrel,  Gryffyth  attacked 
him  in  his  own  castle,  took  and  burnt  the  bailey  or  yard,  and  killed  such  a 
number  of  his  men  that  very  few  escaped  into  the  tower. 

1  The  lofty  promontory,  conspicuous  from  the  Menai  Straits  and  the 
Irish  Channel,  which  forms  the  extreme  north-west  of  Carnarvonshire,  and 
is  now  called  Great  Orm's  head. 


EOBEET   DE   EHUDDLA.N   SLAIJT.  447 

with  the  weight  which  clung  to  it,  dropped  from  his  hand ; 
and  he  commended  his  soul  to  the  Almighty  and  St.  Mary, 
mother  of  God.  Then  the  whole  band  rushed  on  him,  and 
cutting  off  his  head  in  the  sight  of  his  people,  fixed  it  at  the 
mast-head  as  a  trophy  of  their  victory.  Many  witnessed 
this  spectacle  from  the  summit  of  the  mountain  with  grief 
and  rage,  but  they  were  unable  to  render  their  lord  any 
succour.  At  last  the  country  people  flocked  in  from  the 
whole  district ;  but  it  was  too  late ;  they  were  unable  to 
save  their  lord-marcher,  who  was  already  slain.  However, 
they  manned  some  ships  and  pursued  the  pirates,  as  they 
were  making  their  course  over  the  sea,  in  a  tumult  of  grief 
at  seeing  their  lord's  head  carried  off"  on  the  mast  of  the 
enemy's  ship.  Gryffyth  and  his  crew,  finding  that  they  were 
chased,  and  observing  that  their  pursuers'  rage  was  inflamed 
by  the  insult  to  their  lord,  took  down  his  head  from  the 
mast  and  threw  it  into  the  sea.  On  seeing  this,  Robert's 
followers  ceased  the  fruitless  chace.  His  body  was  lifted 
from  the  sea-shore  with  loud  lamentations  both  of  the  English 
and  Normans,  and  being  carried  to  Chester,  was  buried  in 
the  abbey  of  St.  "Werburgh  the  virgin.  That  monastery 
had  been  lately  built  by  Hugh,  earl  of  Chester,  who,  ap- 
pointing Eichard,  a  monk  of  Bee,  abbot  there,  established 
a  body  of  men  devoted  to  the  service  of  God  in  the  midst  of 
the  brutish  bands  of  that  border  fortress.1 

Some  years  afterwards,  Arnold  the  monk,  son  of  TJmfrid, 
crossed  over  to  England,  and,  with  the  licence  of  Robert  de 
Limesi,  bishop  of  Lichfield,2  took  up  his  brother's  remains 
and  transferred  them  to  the  abbey  of  St.Evroult  in  Normandy. 
They  were  received  with  due  honours  by  Abbot  Roger  and 
the  convent  of  monks,  and  interred  in  the  monks'  cloister  on 
the  south  side  of  the  church.  This  Arnold,  with  four  noble 
companions,  Guy,  Roger,  Dreux,  and  Odo,  quitted  the  mili- 
tary service  in  his  youth,  and  becoming  a  monk,  laboured 
more  abundantly  than  his  associates  in  the  duties  of  his 

1  The  abbey  of  St.  Werburgh,  founded  by  Edgar,  king  of  Mercia,  in 
358.     It  was  restored  by    Hugh  Lupus,   earl  of  Chester,  and   his   wife, 
Ermentrude,  in  1093.          > 

2  Robert  de  Limesi  was  consecrated  as  bishop  of  Lichfield  by  Arch- 
bishop Lanf'ranc  in  1085  (December  25).     He  transferred  the  seat  of  his 
bishopric  to  Coventry  the  18th  of  April,  1 102j  and  died  the  30th  of  August, 
1117. 


448  OBDEBICTTS   VITALIS.  [B.VIII.  CH.IIT. 

order,  which  he  performed  zealously  for  almost  fifty  years. 
He  devoted  himself  to  promote  the  interests  of  his  abbey, 
for  which  he  several  times  crossed  the  British  sea,  as  well 
as  penetrated  into  Apulia,  Calabria,  and  Sicily,  that  he 
might  procure  supplies  for  the  monastery  from  the  gifts  of 
his  relations.  In  these  journeys  he  visited  his  brother 
William,  who  was  abbot  of  St.  Euphemia,  and  William  de 
Grantmesnil  his  cousin,1  as  well  as  other  wealthy  relations 
in  Italy,  and  by  a  gentle  violence  carried  off  all  he  could  to 
enrich  his  own  abbey.  In  this  way  he  procured  from  his 
kinsmens'  stores  ornaments  and  other  things  required  for 
his  own  church,  making  his  kindred  subservient  to  the  de- 
mands of  the  abbey.  He  had  to  bear  many  slights  and 
rebuffs  on  several  occasions,  but  he  was  not  to  be  deterred 
from  his  undertaking  by  the  obstacles  which  he  sometimes, 
indeed  frequently,  met  with.  Nothing  induced  him  to  relax 
his  zeal  in  the  cause  he  espoused  ;  and  it  was  at  his  charge 
that  the  arch  of  stone,  which  is  still  standing,  was  built  over 
his  brother's  tomb.  Reynold  the  painter,  who  had  the  sur- 
name of  Bartolomeo,  decorated  the  arch  and  tomb  with 
painting  in  a  variety  of  colours,  and  Vitalis  the  Englishman, 
at  the  earnest  entreaty  of  Arnold,  composed  an  epitaph  in 
elegiac  verses,  to  the  following  purport : — 

I. 

Here  in  the  soil  that  gave  him  birth, 

As  mortals  all  return  to  earth, 

ROBERT  OF  RHUDDLAN'S  tomb  you  see ; 

The  flower  of  Norman  chivalry, 

Old  Urafrid's  son,  of  Danish  race, 

While  beaming  yet  with  youthful  grace, 

And  foremost  'mong  the  bold  and  brave, 

Fated  to  find  an  early  grave. 

What  though  a  stormy  life  he  led, 

The  fierce  lord-marcher  bowed  his  head 

To  holy  church,  the  spouse  of  Christ ; 

And  gave  her  wealth,  for  well  he  wist 

"i'was  shame  to  turn  from  open  door, 

The  priest,  the  pilgrim,  or  the  poor. 
II. 

Where  Gwyned*  meets  the  western  wave, 

And  Clwyd's  floods  the  meadows  lave, 

1  William,  second  son  of   Hugh  de  Grantmesnil,  and  son-in-law  of 
Robert  Gulcard. 
*  GwyneJ,  North  Wales. 


ROBEBT   DE    BHUDDLAN's   EPITAPH.  449 

He  Rhuddlan's  Castle  built,  a  name 

Which  gives  him  never-dying  fame ; 

And  fenced  it  well,  'mid  wars'  alarms, 

To  curb  a  savage  race  in  arms. 

O'er  Snowdon's  heights  and  Cefyn's  stream1 

Full  oft  they  saw  his  armour  gleam  ; 

For  in  the  fierce  and  wild  foray 

Nor  stream  nor  mountain  stopped  his  way. 

And  chief,  when  princely  Blethyn  fled3 

Before  the  scanty  band  he  led, 

Successful  by  a  bold  surprise, 

A  glorious  booty  was  the  prize. 

Prince  Howell 3  groaned  in  Chester's  towers, 

And  royal  Gryflfyth*  counted  hours 

Of  dark  and  sad  captivity ; 

And  prostrate  Trahaern  bowed  the  knee 

To  Robert,  flushed  with  victory. 

III. 

AlasJ  how  short  his  bold  career! 
See  reckless,  without  pause  or  fear, 
Alone  he  rushes  on  the  foe, 
Where  on  the  sandy  beach  below 
Orm's  beetling  cliffs  frown  fearfully ; 
'Twas  on  the  third  of  bright  July. 
Too  rashly  left  Diganwy's  walls, 
Pierced  by  a  hundred  darts  he  falls, 
And  Gryffyth  takes  his  gory  head, 
Sad  trophy  of  the  ruthless  deed. 
Fierce  Owen  raised  triumphant  song,8 
Prince  Howell's  bards  the  notes  prolong  ;* 

1  Cefyn,  the  Welsh  name  of  the  Conway. 

8  BLETHYN- A p-CoNWYN,  prince  of  North  Wales  and  Powis;  at  first, 
jointly  with  Rywallon  (1060 — 1066),  and  afterwards  solely  until  1073. 
The  expedition  of  which  our  author  speaks  must  have  taken  place  in  1 072. 

3  HoWEL-Ap-OwEN  and  his  brother,  Rhys-Ap-Owen,  princes  of  South 
Wales,  were  defeated  at  the  battle  of  Pwll-Getty  in  1076,  and  having 
been  made  prisoners,  were  both  put  to  death.  . 

*  GRYFFYTH-Ap-CoMAN,  having  endeavoured  to  dethrone  Trahaern-Ap- 
Caradoc,  seized  the  isle  of  Anglesey,  and  then  landed  on  the  coast  of 
Carnarvonshire,  where  he  fought  a  battle  at  Bron-yr-Erw  in  1073,  in 
which  he  was  defeated,  and  probably  sent  at  once  prisoner  to  Chester. 
Having  recovered  his  liberty,  he  attacked  Trahaero  again,  and  gained  a 
victory  on  the  moutains  of  Carno  in  1079. 

B  Owen,  son  of  Edwyn-Ap-Grono,  afterwards  made  king  of  North  Wales 
by  the  Normans. 

6  Howel-Ap-Grono,  though  originally  only  lord  of  Tegengle,  from  his 
right  of  suzerainty  may  have  well  been  called  prince  or  king  by  the  Welsh. 

<J  O 


450  OEDEBICUS   VITALI8.  [B.  VIII.  CH.IT, 

The  brave  lord-marcher's  country  weeps, 
While  here  his  mangled  body  sleeps, 
Hesting  in  Evroult's  cloistered  shade ; 
The  good  saints'  merits  be  his  aid  ! 

IV. 

Now,  reader  kind,  some  moments  spare; 
To  breathe  for  Robert's  soul  a  prayer ; 
ALMIGHTY  FATHER,  grant  him  rest, 
In  the  bright  mansions  of  the  blest ! 

,  CHRIST,  who  life's  breath  and  second  birth 

Dost  give  to  sinful  sons  of  earth, 
Author  of  immortality, 
Propitious  to  thy  servant  be ; 
Snatch  him  from  dreary  shades  below, 
From  fires  of  purgatorial  woe, 
And,  by  thy  cross,  his  ransom's  price, 
Waft  him  to  light  and  paradise ! 
And,  MART  mild,  the  sinner's  friend, 
Thy  powerful  intercession  lend  ; 
For  when  his  foes  around  him  pressed, 
And  Gwyned's  spearmen  pierced  his  breast, 
Robert  to  thee  his  prayers  addressed, 
Invoked  thee  in  the  hour  of  death,, 
And  sighed  to  thee  his  latest  breath. 

CH.  IV. — Robert  Curthose,  by  Ms  feeble  government,  suffers 
Norinandy  to  be  the  prey  of  violence  and  rapine — In  a  mo- 
ment of  alarm  he  arrests  and  imprisons  his  brother  Henry, 
and  Robert  de  Belesme. 

WHILE  William  Rufus,  having  established  his  authority- 
through  all  parts  of  England,  was  employed  in  keeping 
down  the  insurgents  by  the  strong  hand  of  his  princely 
power,  the  ambitious  Odo,  banished  from  England,  betook 
himself  to  his  diocese  of  Bayeux,  and  finding  duke  Robert 
sunk  in  slothful  ease,  set  himself  to  acquire  the  mastery 
over  the  whole  of  Normandy.  The  entire  province  was  in  a 
state  of  dissolution ;  bands  of  freebooters  overran  the  vil- 
lages and  country-side,  and  the  unarmed  peasantry  were 
every  where  at  the  mercy  of  thieves  and  robbers.  Duke 
Robert  imposed  no  restraint  upon  the  evil-doers,  who,  for 
eight  years  under  that  feeble-minded  prince,  vented  their 
fury  on  the  defenceless  people.  They  harassed  without 
remorse,  even  holy  church,  and  wrung  from  her  by  force  of 
arms,  or  devastated,  the  possessions  with  which  she  had  been 


A.D.  1088.]      WBETCHED   STATE   OF   NORMANDY.  451 

endowed  by  their  worthy  ancestors.  The  monasteries  were 
full  of  grief  at  their  desolation,  and  the  monks  and  nuns 
were  reduced  to  penury.1  In  the  midst  of  these  pestilent 
disorders,  no  honour  was  shown  to  persons  and  things  dedi- 
cated to  God ;  no  respect.  Fire,  robbery  '  and  homicide 
were  matters  of  daily  occurrence,  and  the  people  were  over- 
whelmed with  calamities  and  trouble.  Normandy  gave  birth 
to  wicked  sons,  who  abandoned  themselves  to  every  sort  of 
crime,  and  cruelly  devoured  their  mother's  bowels.  The 
Venus  of  Sodom  stalked  boldly  in  the  midst  of  such  scenes 
with  her  wanton  enticements,  defiling  the  effeminate,  who 
were  only  fit  to  be  burnt.  The  marriage  bed  was  polluted 
by  open  adultery,  and  every  part  of  the  divine  law  was  en- 
tirely neglected.  The  bishops  excommunicated  the  outlaws 
by  their  divine  authority,  and  theologians  gave  the  warnings 
of  God  to  the  guilty  in  their  discourses ;  but  vain  were  all 
these  against  the  irresistible  influence  of  pride  and  avarice, 
and  the  vices  which  follow  in  their  train.  Strong  places 
were  every  where  constructed  without  lawful  authority, 
where  the  sons  of  robbers  were  nourished  like  wolves'  whelps 
to  mangle  sheep.  The  malignants  sought  causes  of  offence, 
that  in  their  mutual  quarrels  they  might  have  opportunities 
of  resorting  to  places  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  that  burn- 
ings and  plunderings  might  result  from  their  enterprises. 
The  depopulated  country  and  crowds  of  widows  and  in- 
firm persons,  lamenting  the  calamities  brought  upon  them, 
are  witnesses  to  this  day  of  the  truth  of  my  statements. 
Thus  quickly  vanished  and  fell  into  decay,  confusion,  and 
disgrace,  through  the  sloth  of  the  careless  duke,  all  that  had 
oeen  created  by  the  vigour  and  ability  of  a  wise  prince  and 
nis  assistants,  and  had  long  flourished  in  Normandy. 

In  the  course  of  the  summer,  as  soon- as  certain  intelli- 
gence of  the  surrender  of  Rochester  was  received  beyond 
sea,  Henry,  the  heir-apparent,  now  count  of  the  Cotentin, 
crossed  over  to  England,  and  demanded  of  his  brother  the 

1  Some  idea  of  these  devastations  may  be  formed  from  the  fearful 
account  given  in  the  Chartulary  of  the  Holy  Trinity  at  Caen  (Uiblioth&qne 
Royale,  5650)  of  those  which  were  suffered  by  that  abbey  from  the 
neighbours  of  its  domains.  The  greatest  men  in  the  country,  William, 
count  d'Evreux,  Richard  de  Courci,  Robert  Bertran,  Robert  de  Mowbray, 
and  even  Prince  Henry  himself  did  not  blush  to  take  part  in  these  ravages. 

ft  ft  2 


452  OEDERICUS    TITALIS.  [B.TIII.  CH.T. 

investiture  of  his  mother's  domains.  King  William  received 
him  graciously  as  became  a  brother,  and  granted  him  frater- 
nally all  that  it  was  in  his  power  to  bestow.  Having  accom- 
plished his  business,  in  autumn  he  took  leave  of  the  king, 
and  embarked  on  his  return  to  Normandy,  with  Robert  de 
Belesrne,  who,  through  the  mediation  of  powerful  friends,  had 
made  his  peace  with  the  king.  Meanwhile,  their  arrival  had 
been  anticipated  by  certain  malevolent  sowers  of  discord 
who  mix  falsehood  with  truth,  and  who  sent  tidings  to  duke 
Robert  that  his  brother  Henry,  and  Eobert  de  Belesme  had 
not  only  made  peace  with  the  Bed  King,  but  had  also  bound 
themselves  by  an  oath  to  the  duke's  disadvantage.  In  con- 
sequence, the  duke  knowing  them  to  be  powerful  and  valiant 
knights,  and  being  in  great  fear  of  their  enterprises,  took 
counsel  with  the  bishop  of  Bayeux,  and  caused  them  to  be 
arrested.  Before  they  could  undertake  anything,  and  while 
landing  in  security  from  their  ships  on  the  sea  shore,  they 
were  seized  and  fettered,  and  committed  to  the  custody 
of  the  tyrannical  bishop,  one  at  Bayeux,  the  other  at 
Neuilly.  When  Roger,  earl  of  Shrewsbury,  heard  that  his 
son  Robert  was  a  prisoner,  he  hastened  over  to  Normandy, 
having  obtained  the  king's  licence,  and  put  all  his  castles  in 
a  state  of  defence  against  the  duke.  But  Odo,  of  Bayeux, 
like  a  dragon  struck  to  the  earth  and  vomiting  flames,  and 
full  of  rage  at  the  haughty  treatment  he  had  received  from 
the  king,  raised  all  sorts  of  commotions  in  Normandy,  that 
by  some  means  or  other  he  might  foment  evil  to  his  nephew, 
by  whom  he  had  been  disgracefully  expelled.  The  duke  was 
much  afraid  of  him,  and  followed  his  advice  in  some  things, 
while  he  made  light  of  it  in  others. 

CH.  V. — Odo,  bishop  of  Bayeux,  counsels  Robert  Curthose — 
Jfp  takes  up  arms  aqainst  Robert  de  Belesme — JBelesme's 
extraordinary  career  and  character. 

THE  malcontents  in  Normandy  being  every  where  in  arms, 
and  threatening  more  mischief,  the  turbulent  bishop  Odo 
came  to  the  duke  at  Rouen,  and  reviewing  the  state  of 
the  country  at  large  thus  addressed  him  : — "  Whoever  would 
worthily  govern  the  state,  and  rule  the  people  of  Grod, 
among  whom  there  is  so  much  diversity  of  conduct,  should 
be  both  gentle  and  severe,  according  to  circumstances.  He 


A.D.  1088.]  BI81IOP    ODO'S    ADVICE.  453 

should  be  gentle  as  a  lamb  to  the  good,  the  submissive,  and 
the  humble  ;  fierce  as  a  lion  to  the  wicked,  the  rebellious  and 
the  proud.   Consider  this  well,  my  lord  the  duke,  that  you  may 
well  govern  this  noble  duchy  of  Normandy,  which,  by  the 
grace  of  God,   you   have   inherited   from    your   ancestors. 
Take  courage,  and  act  with  firmness.     You  see  that  mis- 
creants and  outlaws  are  revelling  throughout  the  land,  more 
like  Pagans  than  Christians  in  their  evil  courses,  and,  if  I  may 
be  permitted  to  say  so,  equalling  the  former  in  the  enormity 
of  their  crimes.     The  monks  and  the  widows  cry  to  you, 
and  you  sleep.     Unutterable  delinquencies  are  frequently 
reported  to  you,  and  you  make  light  of  them.     It  was  not 
thus  that  holy  David,  and  the  great  Alexander  acted :  not 
thus,   Julius   Caesar   and  Severus,1  the   African ;  not   thus 
Hannibal  the    Carthaginian,    Scipio   Africanus,  Cyrus  the 
Persian,  and  Marius   the  Roman.      But   I   waste  time  in 
mentioning  barbarians,  whose  very  names  are  unknown  to 
you.     Let  us  turn  to  those  which  are  more  familiar,  and 
belong  to  our  own  race.     Think  of  your  fathers  and  fore- 
fathers, whose  firmness  of  mind   and  courage   made  them 
formidable  to  the  warlike  race  of  the  French.     I  speak  of 
Hollo,  William  Long-sword,  the  three  Richards,  your  grand- 
father Eobert,  and  lastly,  your  father,  "William,  who  was 
more  illustrious  than  all  his  predecessors,     I  beseech  you  to 
emulate  their  firmness   and   ability,   as  they  inherited  the 
vigour  and  industry   of  their  ancestors,  who  by  their  pro- 
digious exertions,  became  arbiters  of  the  fate  of  kingdoms, 
put  tyrants  under  their  yoke,  and  subdued  barbarous  nations. 
Rouse  yourself,  and,  assembling  the  invincible  army  of  Nor- 
mandy, lead  it  to  the  city  of  Nantes.     There  is  a  garrison  of 
your  own  soldiers  in  the  citadel  which  your  father  built, 
and  the  whole  city,  with  the  venerable  Hoel,  the  bishop, 
render  you  willing  homage.      Summon  all  the  leading  men 
of  Maine  to  attend  you  there,  and  receive  graciously,  and 
address  courteously,  those  who  obey  your  summons ;  but 
take  arms  against  such  as  treat  it  with  contempt,  and  lose 
no  time  in  besieging  their  castles  if  they  do  not  surrender 
them.      Having   secured  the   submission  of  the   people  of 
Muine,  march  against  Earl  Roger,2  and  rid   yourself  alto- 

1   Septimius  Severus. 

3  Koyer  de   Montgomery,  earl  of  Shrewsbury,  who,  as  Ordericus  hn* 


451  OBDEKICU8   VITALTS.  [B.VIIT.  CH.T. 

gether  of  him  and  his  sons,  by  utterly  expelling  them 
from  Normandy.  Fear  not ;  trusting  in  the  power  of  the 
Lord.  Carry  yourself  manfully,  and  be  guided  by  the 
counsels  of  the  wise.  Already  you  have  in  prison  Robert, 
earl  Roger's  eldest  son,  and  if  you  make  a  bold  eifort, 
such  as  becomes  a  brave  prince,  it  is  in  your  power  utterly 
to  expel  that  disloyal  family  of  Talvas  from  your  duchy.  It  is 
a  cursed  race ;  it  breeds  mischief,  and  contrives  it  as  their 
inheritance.  This  is  proved  by  their  horrible  ends  ;  death 
coming  upon  none  of  them  in  the  ordinary  course  of  nature. 
This  family  of  Talvas,1  if  it  be  not  now  extirpated,  will,  in 
my  opinion,  yet  prove  very  troublesome  to  you,  and  even 
irresistible.  They  hold  a  number  of  the  strongest  fortresses, 
Belesme,  Lurson,  Essai,  Alen9on,  Domfront,  St.  Ceneri,  La 
Roche  d'Ige,  for  which  the  bold  Hugh  assassinated  Ma- 
bel,* and  Vignas,  with  many  more  stately  castles,  built  by 
"William  de  Belesme,  Robert,  Ivo  and  Warin,  and  their  suc- 
cessors, or  which  they  wrested  from  their  lawful  owners  or 
their  neighbours,  either  by  force  or  stratagem.  Their  whole 
conduct  has  been  steeped  in  fraud  and  crime,  nor  have  they 
ever  kept  faith  with  any  one  with  whom  they  were  con- 
nected by  the  ties  of  friendship,  or  alliance.  They  have 
prospered  by  getting  rid  of  their  unsuspecting  neighbours 
by  death  or  captivity,  and  their  stately  houses  and  strong 
fortifications  have  been  bxiilt  at  the  expense  of  the  blood  ot 
the  peasants.  Now  is  your  opportunity,  most  noble  duke, 
for  stripping  them  of  these  strongholds  with  perfect  justice, 
if  you  will  only  resolutely  follow  the  example  of  your  mag- 
nanimous father  and  his  great  actions.  As  for  him,  he  was 
master  of  all  these  fortresses  as  long  as  he  lived,  and  com- 
mitted the  custody  of  them  to  those  he  thought  fit.  But 
this  Robert,  as  soon  as  he  received  intelligence  of  the  king's 
death,  arrogantly  expelled  your  own  garrisons  from  your  own 
castles,  and  disinherited  you  by  getting  them  into  his  own 
power.  Reflect  wisely  on  what  I  have  said,  and  like  a  good 
prince,  exert  yourself  worthily  for  the  peace  of  holy  mother 
church,  and  the  defence  of  the  poor  and  defenceless,  while 
you  crush  the  rebellious  by  the  force  of  your  arms.  If  you 
break  the  horns  of  the  leaders  who  raise  their  heads  against 

just  informed  us,  hastened  over  to  Normandy  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  his 
son  Robert  de  Belesme's  arrest. 

1  See  Tol.  i.  pp.  385—389.          *  S«e  p.  194  of  the  present  volume. 


A.D.  1088.]          AFFAIRS  OF  MAINE.  455 

you,  the  rest  will  be  terrified  by  the  ruin  of  their  associates, 
and  submit  to  your  commands  without  opposition.  Thus 
the  people  of  God  will  rejoice  in  peace  and  security  under 
the  shield  of  your  protection,  and  offer  devout  prayers 
to  the  Almighty  for  your  safety.  All  orders  in  your 
dominions  will  constantly  celebrate  divine  worship,  and  the 
law  of  God  be  duly  observed  in  general  security." 

The  bishop's  exhortations  were  cordially  approved  by  all 
who  were  present,  and  they  cheerfully  placed  themselves  at 
the  duke's  disposal  for  the  defence  of  the  country.  Duke 
Bobert  therefore,  having  assembled  troops,  led  them  to 
Mantes,  where  he  was  received  with  joy,  both  by  the  clergy 
and  citizens.  On  hearing  his  messages,  Geoffery  de 
Mayenne,1  Robert  the  Burgundian,2  Elias  son  of  John,3  and 
many  others  came  and  offered  their  services  to  the  Duke. 
The  Norman  troops  were  under  the  command  of  the  bishop 
of  Bayeui,  William  count  of  Evreux,  Ralph  de  Conches, 
and  his  nephew,  William  de  Breteuil,4  and  many  other 
knights  of  distinguished  merit.  Paganus  de  Montdoubleau 
with  other  malcontents  held  possession  of  the  castle  of  Bal- 
lon, and  made  an  obstinate  resistance,  when  the  duke  and 
his  army  proceeded  to  invest  it.  In  that  engagement,  Os- 
mund de  Gaspree,  a  handsome  and  honourable  knight  was 
slain  on  the  calends  [1st]  of  September:  His  body  was 
brought  to  St.  Evroult  by- the  monk  Arnold,  and  buried  in 
the  porch  before  the  church  door. 

After  many  losses  on  both  sides,  the  garrison  of  Ballon 
made  peace  with  the  duke,  and  afterwards  the  united  forces 
of  the  Normans  and  Manceaux,  under  the  duke's  command, 
laid  siege  to  the  castle  of  St.  Ceneri.  The  family  of  Robert 

1  Geoffrey,  lord  of  Mayenne  (1059—1099).  See  vol.  i.  p.  449.  He 
was  the  moat  formidable  of  the  opponents  of  Norman  domination  in 
Mayenne  in  1063.  Having  been  reconciled  with  Duke  William,  he 
accompanied  him  in  his  expedition  to  England.  He  married  Hildeburge, 
daughter  of  Judicael,  count  of  Nantes,  but  formed  an  attachment  to 
Hersende,  eldest  daughter  of  Huch  III.,  and  wife  of  Azzo. 

8  Bobert  de  Nevers,  surnamtd  the  Burgundian,  lord  of  Sabl£,  in  right 
of  Avicia  de  Sable,  his  first  wife. 

*  Elias  de  Beaugenci,  lord  of  La  Fl&che,  son  of  John  de  Beangenci, 
and  grandson  of  Faule,  daughter  of  Herbert  Eveille-jchien,  count  of  Maine. 
See  vol.  i.  p.  448. 

4  Son  of  Adeline,  sister  of  Ralph  de  Conches. 


456  OBDEBICUS   YITAL1S.  [B.TIII.  CH.V. 

de  Belesme  had  taken  refuge  there,  and  it  was  committed 
to  the  keeping  of  Robert  Quarrel,  a  knight  of  great  spirit 
and  resolution,  who  was  encouraged  by  Earl  Roger  to  offer 
a  determined  resistance  to  the  besiegers ;  but  their  pro- 
visions failing  the  castle  was  taken,  and  by  order  of  the 
enraged  duke,  Robert  Quarrel,  the  governor,  was  deprived 
of  sight.  Many  others  also,  who  had  joined  in  the  obstinate 
resistance  to  the  Norman  prince,  suffered  mutilation  of 
their  limbs  by  a  judgment  of  his  court. 

Then  Geoffrey  of  Mayenne,  with  the  lords  of  that  pro- 
vince, sought  an  audience  with  the  duke,  and  presented  to 
him  Robert  Giroie,  son  of  Robert  Giroie.1  "  This  man, 
my  lord  duke,"  said  Geoffrey,  "  is  your  cousin,  and  has 
long  dwelt  in  Apulia  with  your  kinsmen,  who  are  very  pow- 
erful in  that  country.  He  now  comes,  in  full  confidence,  to 
you,  his  lord  and  cousin,  offering  you  his  fealty  and  service, 
and  demanding  this  castle  as  his  right,  his  father  having 
held  it  all  his  life  by  inheritance,  and  died  there."  Duke 
Robert  readily  granted  this  claim,  and  restored  the  castle  of 
St.  Ceneri  to  Robert  Giroie.  He  held  it  for  nearly  thirty- 
six  years  afterwards,  and  fortified  it  with  walls,  and  ditches, 
and  watch-towers.  At  his  death  he  left  it  to  his  sons, 
William  and  Robert. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  place  seldom  enjoyed  any  peace 
or  respite  from  the  attacks  of  the  Normans  and  Manceaux. 
The  rocky  hill  on  which  it  stands  is  surrounded  on  three 
sides  by  the  windings  of  the  Sarthe.  St.  Generic,  the  ve- 
nerable confessor,2  dwelt  there  in  the  -time  of  Milehard, 
bishop  of  Seez.  He  founded  there  a  convent  of  monks,  be- 
coming the  Lord's  soldier  among  the  noble  company,  and 
after  a  well-spent  life,  departed  in  Christ  happily  on  the 
nones  [7th]  of  May.  At  length,  in  the  reign  of  Charles  the 
Simple,  at  the  time  Hasting  the  Dane,  with  his  heathen 
band,  was  ravaging  Neustria,  the  holy  remains  were  trans- 
lated by  the  faithful  to  Chateau-Thierri,  the  monks  were 
dispersed,  and  the  monastery  ruined.  In  the  times  that 
followed  it  changed  its  inhabitants.  Some  cruel  freebooters 

1  See  vol.  i.  pp.  390,  &c. 

a  St.  Ceneric,  who 'is  called  in  Normandy  St.  Ceneri,  and  even  St 
Cenerin,  established  himself  about  the  year  670  in  the  place  which  beais 
his  name,  and  died  there  on  the  7th  of  May,  as  OUT  author  states. 


A.D.  1088.]   CHARACTER  OF  ROBERT  DE  BELESME.     457 

established  a  den  of  thieves  where  the  despisers  of  worldly 
things  had  lived  orderly  under  the  rule  of  St.  Generic,  bear- 
ing the  Lord's  yoke  according  to  the  monastic  discipline  to 
the  end.  It  is  reported  that  one  hundred  and  forty  monks 
laboured  there  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  of  Sabaoth. 
Their  grave-stones  in  the  church,  and  all  around,  bear  open 
testimony  to  travellers  of  the  worth  and  reverence  of  the 
men  who  there  lie  buried.  The  miscreants  who  succeeded 
them  in  their  habitation  suffered,  as  they  deserved,  many 
calamities  ;  fires,  massacres,  and  numberless  other  miseries, 
being  their  frequent  lot. 

The  garrisons  of  Alen9on,  Belesme,  and  other  fortresses, 
hearing  of  the  sad  fate  of  Robert  Quarrel  and  his  comrades, 
were  much  terrified,  and  consulted  together  on  the  pro- 
priety of  surrendering  the  castles  on  the  duke's  approach. 
But  Robert's  exhibition  of  spirit  quickly  failed,  and  his  love 
of  ease  and  quiet  soon  led  him  to  terminate  the  campaign, 
disbanding  his  army,  and  suffering  each  man  to  depart  to  his 
own  home. 

Earl  Roger  was  much  delighted  at  the  dissolution  of  the 
united  forces  of  Normandy  and  Maine,  and  sent  fair-speak- 
ing envoys  to  the  duke  demanding  peace  and  his  son's 
release,  with  many  empty  promises.  The  duke,  who  was 
imprudent  aud  fickle,  easy  to  be  persuaded,  and  lax  in  the 
execution  of  justice,  accepted  unexpectedly  the  frivolous 
offers  of  his  disloyal  vassals,  making  peace  with  Earl  Roger, 
and  granting  his  demands,  and  releasing  Robert  de  Belesme 
from  confinement.  But  as  soon  as  he  had  obtained  his 
liberty  he  became  more  insolent  than  ever,  paid  little  atten- 
tion to  the  orders  or  threats  of  the  duke,  and,  mindful  of 
the  affront  he  had  received,  took  a  long  and  multiplied  venge- 
ance for  his  wrongs.  In  fact,  during  the  fifteen  years  he 
and  the  duke  remained  afterwards  in  Normandy  together,1 
his  rage  was  unbounded,  and  he  was  seldom  at  a  loss  for 
opportunities  to  raise  commotions  in  the  province.  By  his 
crafty  devices  he  drew  over  to  his  side  many  of  the  duke'a 
servants  and  adherents,  and  lessened  the  domains  which  his 
predecessors  had  possessed  and  largely  augmented.  Robert 

1  This  calculation  is  not  exact,  the  two  Roberts  were  only  fourteen 
years  together  in  Normandy,  and  they  were  reconcrled  before  the  battle  of 

Tinchebrai. 


458  OEDEUICUS   YITATIS.  [B.VIII.  CH.V. 

Belesme1  was  of  a  subtle  genius,  deceitful  and  wily:  in 
person  he  was  stout  and  of  great  strength ;  intrepid  and 
formidable  in  war  ;  he  was  a  fluent  speaker,  but  desperately 
cruel ;  his  avarice  and  lust  were  insatiable  ;  he  was  an  able 
manager  of  important  affairs,  and  toiled  with  the  utmost 
patience  through  the  greatest  worldly  trials ;  he  displayed 
great  skill  in  constructing  buildings  and  machines  and 
other  difficult  works,  and  inexorable  cruelty  in  tormenting 
his  enemies.  He  did  not  honour,  cherish,  and  clothe  holy 
church  as  a  son  should  a  mother,  but  dishonoured,  op- 
pressed, and  stripped  it  as  a  step-son  would  treat  his 
mother-in-law.  After  numberless  offences  and  traitorous 
conspiracies,  King  Henry,  by  God's  judgment,  has  most 
righteously  committed  him  to  close  confinement,  having 
thus  made  himself  the  stern  avenger  of  the  wretched  under 
the  special  influence  of  divine  revelation.  But  we  shall 
speak  of  this  in  another  place. 

This  lord,  with  the  assistance  of  King  "William,  by  whom 
he  was  much  beloved  for  his  father's  and  mother's  (Roger 
and  Mabel)  sake,  obtained  for  wife  a  daughter  of  Guy, 
count  of  Ponthieu,  Agnes  by  name ;  he  had  by  her  a  son 
called  William,  who  inherited  their  large  domains  scattered 
through  Normandy  and  Ponthieu.  By  means  not  only  of 
his  wealth  but  his  domineering  spirit,  Robert  established  his 
pre-eminence  over  all  his  brothers,  and,  disinheriting  them, 
usurped  the  entire  patrimony  of  their  ancestors  both  in 
Normandy  and  the  county  of  Maine,  of  which  for  a  long 
period  he  had  sole  possession.  He  used  his  utmost  efforts 
to  reduce  to  subjection  the  lords  of  his  neighbourhood,  his 
equals  in  birth,  and  with  some,  actuated  by  his  insatiable 
ambition,  he  succeeded,  either  by  treachery  and  insupport- 
able hostilities,  or  by  insidious  attacks.  This  was  the  case 

1  The  character  of  this  extraordinary  man,  whose  great  talents  dis- 
tinguished him  from  most  of  the  turbulent  nobles  of  this  age,  seems  to 
have  inspired  all  the  contemporary  historians  with  horror.  Henry  of 
Huntingdon  says,  "  He  was  a  very  Pluto,  Megaera,  Cerberus,  or  anything 
you  can  conceive  still  more  horrible,"  and  gives  details  of  his  cruelties 
which  are  omitted  by  Ordericus.  William  of  Malmesbury  pnrticularly 
enlarges  on  the  powers  of  dissimulation,  by  means  of  which  his  victims 
became  his  prey.  Huntingdon's  Letter  to  Warin  on  the  Illustrious  Men 
of  his  Time,  p.  311.  Malmesbury' s  History,  p.  432.  Bohris  Anliq. 
Library. 


A.D.  1088.]       GEOXTHEY,  COUNT   DE   MOETAGNE.  453 

with  Hugh  de  Nonant,1  Paganus,2  and  Eobert  de  St.  Ceneri,3 
Bernard  de  la  Ferte,1  and  several  others  whom  he  frequently 
troubled,  terrified,  and  perplexed  in  various  ways.  Many  he 
humbled  by  seizing  their  domains  and  burning  their  castles, 
or  reduced  them  to  the  utmost  poverty  by  ravaging  their 
lands,  or,  what  was  worse,  he  made  them  worthless  by  maiming 
their  limbs,  so  that  they  became  halt  and  lame,  or  by  depriving 
them  of  sight.  By  such  tyranny  of  the  cruel  lord-marcher 
while  he  was  aiming  to  crush  all  his  neighbours,  the  wretched 
country  was  reduced  to  desolation  ;  they,  on  the  other  hand, 
proud  of  their  nobility,  which  was  equal  to  his,  defending 
to  death  their  former  independence.  Thus  immense  inju- 
ries were  constantly  inflicted,  loss  beng  added  to  loss,  either 
through  revenge  or  covetousness,  until  the  people  of  the 
country  were  threatened  with  want. 

Geoffrey,  son  of  Eotro,  count  de  Mortagne,  took  up  arms 
against  Eobert,  and  set  fire  to  Echaufour*  and  several  other 
villages  around,from  which  he  swept  off  much  booty,and  made 
many  prisoners.  This  count  was  magnanimous, handsome,  and 
strong  ;  he  feared  God,  was  a  devout  friend  of  the  church,  a, 
staunch  protector  of  the  clergy  and  poor  ;  in  peace,  he  was 
gentle  and  courteous,  and  of  most  obliging  manners  ;  in  war 
he  was  powerful  and  successful,  and  became  formidable  to 
the  neighbouring  princes,  who  were  all  his  enemies.  The 
nobility  of  his  own  birth,  and  that  of  his  own  wife  Beatrice, 
rendered  him  illustrious  above  all  his  compeers ;  and  he  had 
among  his  subjects  warlike  barons  and  brave  governors  of 
castles.  He  gave  his  daughters  in  marriage  to  men  of  the 
rank  of  counts:  Margaret,  to  Henry  earl  of  Warwick,6  and 
Juliana  to  Gilbert  de  Laigle,7  from  whom  sprung  a  noble 
race  of  handsome  children.  The  glory  of  Count  Geoffrey 
was  exalted  by  such  a  progeny,  and  he  maintained  it  by  his 

1  Nonant,  a  bourg  to  the  north  of  S£ez. 

2  The  family  of  Paganel  were  lords  of  Hauterive,  near  Alencon. 

d  This  person  must  be  Robert  Giroie,  oftened  mentioned  by  Ordericus, 
who  was  in  constant  hostility  with  Robert  de  Belesme. 

*  Paganel,  as  well  as  Robert  de  St.  Ceneri.  were  probably  vassals  of 
Robert  de  La  Ferte-Bernard,  who  was  also  of  the  family  of  Giroie. 

5  Echaufour,  near  St.  Evrouit.     See  p.  288. 

*  Henry  was  eldest  son  of  Roger  de  Beaumont,  earl  of  Warwick. 

7  Gilbert,  lord  of  Laigle,  on  the  death  of  his  father,  Richer,  mentioned 
in  book  vii. 


460  OEDEEICUS    VITALIS.  [B.YIII.  CII.TI. 

valour  and  courage,  his  wealth  and  alliances.  Above  all, 
having  the  fear  of  God,  he  feared  no  man,  but  marched 
boldly,  with  a  lion's  port.  Laying  claim  to  the  strong  castle  of 
Domfront  and  other  domains,  as  his  right,  he  endeavoured 
to  dispossess  his  cousin  Robert  of  them.  He  was  grieved 
to  harass  the  unarmed  and  innocent,  but  he  could  not 
bring  the  public  enemy  with  whom  he  had  a  just  quarrel  to 
a  fair  field  for  deciding  it.  Robert  de  Belesme,  who  was  the 
terror  of  so  many  others,  was  not  the  less  in  constant  appre-  ' 
hension  of  them,  and  did  not  dare  to  join  issue  with  his  adver- 
sary in  open  fight.  He  therefore  prudently  skulked  within 
the  shelter  of  his  fortifications,  and  even  permitted,  with 
regret,  freebooters  to  ravage  his  territories,  rather  than  ven- 
ture to  march  against  them,  brave  as  he  was.  For,  in  his 
extreme  caution,  he  was  apprehensive  that  if  he  took  the 
field,  his  own  vassals  might  leave  him  in  the  enemy's  hands. 
In  consequence,  the  quarrel  between  the  two  lords-marchers 
was  long  .protracted,  and  was  the  cause  of  severe  losses  and 
much  bloodshed  among  their  dependants.  There  were 
similar  germs  of  evil  among  the  nobles  in  other  parts  of 
Normandy,  which  growing  to  a  head,  produced  a  fruitful 
crop  of  tragic  occurrences. 

CH.  VI. — Durand,  abbot  of  Troarn — His  death,  and  epitaph 
— The  sister  abbies  of  Troarn,  and  St.  JMJartin,  at  Se'ez,  both 
founded  by  Roger  de  Montgomery — Prince  Henry  released. 

WHILE  Normandy  under  an  inert  prince  was  a  prey  in 
every  quarter  to  the  turbulent  enterprises  of  her  factious 
lords,  and  the  peaceful  sons  of  the  church,  exposed  to  the 
loss  of  their  property  by  fire  and  frequent  depredations, 
vented  their  sorrow  in  groans  and  sighs,  the  merciful  Ruler 
of  mankind  took  pity  on  his  servants,  and  snatched  some  of 
his  veteran  followers  from  the  lake  of  misery  and  valley  of 
tears,  the  abode  of  mortals,  and, -as  we  believe,  enrolled  them 
in  the  company  of  those  who  had  been  their  fellow  soldiers 
in  the  same  service,  among  the  delights  of  the  blessed 
paradise. 

Thus  Durand,  the  aged  abbot  of  Troarn,  who  had  been  a 
monk  from  his  childhood,  and  was  celebrated  for  his  piety 
and  wisdom — a  doctor  of  great  skill  in  church  music,  and  of 
deep  erudition  in  sacred  learning,  severe  to  himself,  gentle 


A.D.  1088.]  DUEAND,  ABBOT    OF    TROAKW.  461 

to  others — took  to  his  bed  after  long  labours  in  the  worship 
of  God,  and  having  well  prepared  himself,  like  a  prudent 
and  faithful  servant,  for  going  worthily  to  his  court,  he 
departed  out  of  this  life  on  the  the  third  of  the  ides  [the 
llth]  of  February.  At  his  death,  an  extraordinary  circum- 
stance occurred.  The  corpse  appeared  to  be  of  two  colours  ; 
the  left  side  of  the  face,  and  the  whole  body  down  to  the 
feet,  were  of  a  snowy  whiteness :  the  right  side  was  of  a 
leaden  hue,  which  entirely  tinged  that  half  of  the  corpse 
from  the  crown  of  the  head  to  the  feet,  while  the  other  be- 
came white.  This  unusual  appearance  of  different  shades  of 
colour  struck  £he  beholders  with  terror,  and  supplied  those 
who  studiously  inquired  into  the  cause  of  such  a  phenome- 
non an  opportunity  of  exhibiting  their  subtlety  in  specu- 
lation. Some  said  one  thing,  some  another.  It  is  not  my 
business  to  insert  in  this  short  account  all  the  clever  ob- 
servations which  were  made  in  abundance.  Some,  indeed 
interpreted  the  difference  between  the  left  and  the  right,  as 
that  of  the  active  and  contemplative,  or  the  present  and 
future,  life.  Others  thought  that  the  prodigy  was  a  sign  of 
future  events. 

Durand's  devout  disciples  reverently  buried  the  corpse 
of  their  pious  master  in  the  chapter,  and  inscribed  the 
following  epitaph  ou  a  white  stone  which  covered  the 
grave : — 

Here  venerable  DURAND  finds  a  tomb ; 

February  th'  eleventh  bears  record  of  his  doom 

When,  from  the  burden  of  the  flesh  released, 

His  life  of  bliss  began,  his  earthly  labours  ceased. 

This  sacred  fane  to  God's  high  praise  he  reared, 

Whose  laws  he  honoured  and  whose  frown  he  feared; 

And  here,  as  abbot,  held  his  gentle  sway, 

Nursed  us  for  heaven,  and  showed,  himself,  the  way. 

Sure,  he,  we  mourning  lay  in  holy  ground, 

Has  for  his  pious  deeds  God's  heavenly  mercy  found. 

Having  interred  their  pastor,  the  monks  of  Troarn  elected 
Arnulf,  prior  of  Seez,  and  requested  their  ecclesiastical  and 
temporal  rulers  10  appoint  him  their  superior.  Arnold  under- 
took the  government  of  the  abbey  of  Troarn  with  their  full 
consent  and  approbation,  and  conducted  it  wisely  for  nearly 
twenty-two  years,1  edifying  his  flock,  both  by  his  writings 
1  1088—1112. 


462  OEDEEICtJS  VITALIS.  [B.VIII.  CH.VII. 

and  his  excellent  example.  The  two  monasteries  just  named 
were  founded  by  one  nobleman,  and  drew  from  one  source 
their  usages  in  divine  service,  and  their  monastic  discipline. 
For  Roger  de  Montgomery  established  the  convents  of 
monks  in  both,  and  the  abbey  of  Fechamp  supplied  the 
the  rules  for  their  regular  life.  The  two  societies  were 
united  by  a  mutual  regard,  and  they  were  both  under  the 
protection  of  the  miracle-working  Martin,  archbishop  of 
Tours.  The  monks  of  Seez  received  their  first  abbot  from 
the  brethren  of  Troarn,1  and  now  in  his  life-time  sought  a 
return  of  the  favour  in  the  person  of  one  of  his  disciples. 
They  returned  thanks  to  God  for  the  superior  that  was  sent 
them,  and  profited  much  by  the  talents  of  the  good  shep- 
herd. 

Then  Robert,  duke  of  Normandy,  in  compliance  with  the 
entreaties  of  his  barons,  pardoned  his  brother  Henry,  and 
released  him  from  the  confinement  into  which  he  had  been 
thrown  with  Robert  de  Belesme. 

CH.  VII.  Gregory  VII.  dies — Victor  III.  succeeds  him — 
Then  Urban  II. —  Guibert,  the  anti-pope — Affairs  of  the 
Normans  in  Apulia. 

ABOUT  this  time,  Pope  Gregory  died  in  the  city  of  Beneven- 
tum,2  and  Desiderius,  abbot  of  Monte- Cassino,  was  elected 
pope,  and  enthroned  by  the  name  of  Victor.3  The  body  of 
the  deceased  pope  was  interred  in  the  church  which  contains 
the  relics  of  St.  Bartholomew  the  apostle,4  where  abundant 
miracles  were  performed  by  his  merits,  on  behalf  of  those 
who  asked  them  in  faith.  Lepers  begged  the  water  in  which 
his  body  was  washed,  and  after  washing  themselves  in  it  with 
faith,  were  immediately  cleansed. 

Pope  Victor  having  been  elevated  to  the  papacy,  began  to 
chant  his  first  mass  on  the  holy  day  of  "Whitsuntide.  But 
by  God's  will  he  fell  suddenly  ill,  and  was  compelled  by 

1  His  name  was  Robert.  He  was  brother  of  Dreux,  abbot  of  Tr^port, 
and  flourished  1050 — January  15,  1089. 

3  Gregory  VII.  did  not  die  at  Beneventum,  but  at  Salerno,  the  25th  of 
May,  1085. 

3  Victor  III.,  elected  May  24,  1086,  consecnited  May  9,  1087. 

4  Gregory  VII.  was  not  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  Bartholomew  at 
Beneventum,  but  in  that  of  St.  Matthew  at  Salerno. 


A.D.  1086 — 1088.]     POPES  TICTOE  III.  AND  URBAN  II.        4G3 

diarrhoea  to  retire  thrice  during  the  service ;  so  that  he 
scarcely  performed  a  single  mass  while  he  was  pope.  He 
was  a  man  of  high  birth,  of  great  wisdom,  and  ardent  piety, 
and  governed  the  .monastery  at  Monte-Cassino  a  long  time. 
Removed  from  thence  to  the  popedom,  he  suddenly  fell  sick, 
as  I  have  said  before,  languishing  from  Whitsuntide  until 
August,  when  he  died.1  On  his  death,  the  Roman  clergy 
assembled,  and  elected  Odo,  who  from  a  monk  had  become 
bishop  of  Ostia,  pope,  by  the  name  of  Urban.  The  God  of 
Israel  made  him  powerful  against  the  Mahometans,"  and  gave 
him  the  tower  of  David  with  its  bulwarks  against  the  side 
of  Damascus.3  This  pope  was  a  native  of  France,  of  distin- 
guished birth  and  manners ;  he  was  born  at  Sheims,4  and 
had  been  a  monk  of  Cluni ;  of  the  middle  age,  stout  in 
person,  of  great  modesty,  earnest  piety,  and  remarkable  wis- 
dom and  eloquence.  Guibert,  the  intruder  into  the 
apostle's  see,  still  troubled  the  church  of  God,  and  either  by 
fair  words  or  persecution  drew  all  he  could  from  the  unity 
of  peace  to  join  in  his  schism.8  Odo,  count  of  Sutri,6  was 
his  nephew,  and  caused  many  vexations  to  the  supporters  of 
ecclesiastical  unity. 

Pope  Urban,  trusting  in  the  Lord  of  heaven,  who  does  not 
long  suffer  the  rod  of  sinners  in  the  lot  of  the  righteous,7  sent 
legates  and  letters,  with  the  authority  of  Rome,  to  the 
French,  the  Greeks,  and  other  nations  of  the  world,  exhorting 
them  to  persist  steadfastly  in  the  Catholic  faith,  and  care- 
fully avoid  all  schism  from  the  law  of  God,  and  the  body  of 
Christ,  which  is  the  church.  Only  Henry,  and  the  emperor 
of  Germany,  and  his  allies,  adhered  to  Guibert;  but  the 

1  The  16th  01  September  in  the  same  year.  He  was,  as  our  author 
intimates,  of  the  family  of  the  counts  of  Capua,  and  governed  the  abbey  of 
Monte-Cassino,  when,  after  a  long  struggle,  he  consented  to  accept  the 
papacy. 

*  Allophlloi;  the  adorers  of  Allah. 

3  Canticles  iv.  4. 

4  Urban  II.  was  a  native,  if  not  of  the  city,  of  the  territory  of  Rheims. 
He  is  supposed  to  have  been  born  at  Bainson,  near  Chatillon-sur-Marne, 
of  which  his  father  was  lord,  as  well  as  of  Lageri. 

5  The  anti-pope  Guibert,  archbishop  of  Ravenna,  who  was  elected  at 
Brixen  the  27th  of  June,  1080,  lived  till  September,  1100. 

*  Sutri,  an  episcopal  city  in  the  patrimony  of  St.  Peter. 
7  Psalm  L-SXV.  3. 


464  OBDEBICUS   VITALIS.          [B.VIII.  CH.VIII. 

French  and  English  arid  almost  all  other  nations  piously 
supported  Urban. 

In  Apulia,  the  Normans  favoured  with  one  accord  the 
catholic  pope ;  but  they  had  bitter  divisions  among  them- 
selves, and  brothers  waged  with  each  other  worse  than 
civil  wars.  Roger,  surnamed  Crumena,  which  signifies  a 
purse,  had  sole  possession  with  his  mother  of  the  duchy  of 
Calabria,  to  the  great  grief  of  his  brother  Bohemond,  who 
lived  in  exile  at  the  court  of  Jourdan,  prince  of  Capua.  In 
consequence,  with  the  aid  of  Jourdan,  his  brother-in-law, 
and  his  other  relations  and  friends,  he  took  up  arms  against 
his  brother,  and  began  to  recover  part  of  his  father's  terri- 
tories, which  he  had  assisted  him  in  conquering.  His 
brother  and  step-mother  could  not  withstand  this  attack, 
and  were  compelled  to  listen  to  prudent  advice  from  their 
friends.  By  the  persuasions  of  Roger,  count  of  Sicily,  and 
their  other  neighbours,  they  made  peace,  and  ceded  to  Bohe- 
,  mond,  Bari  and  Tarentum,  with  two  other  cities,  and  a  num- 
ber of  towns.1  The  two  brothers  having  made  this  treaty, 
gave  their  sister  Mabel2  in  marriage  to  William  de  Grant- 
mesnil,3  and,  as  he  was  very  brave,  placed  several  casfcles 
under  his  command.  The  Normans  prudently  connecting 
themselves  by  alliances  of  this  sort,  are  masters  to  this  day 
of  great  part  of  Italy,  which  Dreux,  Umfrid,  and  Richard,4 
and  above  all  Robert  Q-uiscard  conquered. 

CH.  VIII.  Ralph,  abbot  of  Seez,  becomes  afterwards  arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury — William  Rufus  severely  taxes  the 
English — Has  their  estates  re-valued — Appropriates  epis- 
copal revenues — Ralph,  his  chancellor,  a,  sharp  lawyer,  tlie 
instrument  of  his  exactions — His  character. 

IN  the  year  of  our  Lord  1089,  the  twelfth  indiction,  Robert, 
the  first  abbot  of  the  monastery  of  Seez,  a  worthy  and  sim- 
ple-minded man,  took  to  his  bed  in  the  month  of  January, 
and  having  received  the  Lord's  sacraments,  departed  this 
life  on  the  eighteenth  of  the  calends  of  February  [15th  of 
January].  He  was  succeeded  by  Ralph,  son  of  Silfred 

1  These  events  recurred  in  the  year  1088. 

8  Surnamed  Courte-Louve,  fifth  daughter  of  Robert  Guiscard. 

3  William,  second  son  of  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil. 

4  Richard,  prince  of  Capua,  son  of  Ansquetil  de  Quarrel. 


A.D.  1089.]  .  ENGLISH   PBELATES.  465 

d'Escures,  a  monk  of  the  same  abbey.1  Being  deeply 
learned,  as  well  as  fluent  of  speech  and  good  humoured,  he 
was  generally  liked.  In  his  youth  he  quitted  a  distin- 
guished family  to  enter  on  a  monastic  life,  and  humbly 
served  ten  years,  through  the  various  degrees  in  the  offices 
which  fell  to  the  monks.  At  last,  in  his  eleventh  year,  he 
succeeded  to  the  government  of  the  abbey  by  the  command 
of  Grirard,  bishop  of  Seez,  who  consecrated  him ;  and  he 
administered  it  piously  for  sixteen  years,  while  the  storms 
of  war  were  raging  around.  With  Q-od's  help,  he  diligently 
increased  the  possessions  of  the  church,  as  far  as  the  times 
permitted.  But  he  was  compelled  to  take  refuge  in  Eng- 
land from  the  increasing  severities  of  Eobert  de  Belesme, 
and  was  retained  there  by  King  Henry,  who  treated  him 
with  great  respect,  and  through  bishop  Gundulph,  raised 
him  to  the  see  of  Rochester.  Some  years  afterwards  he 
was  promoted  to  succeed  the  venerable  archbishop  Anselm, 
and  presided  over  the  metropolitan  see  of  Canterbury  nine 
years. 

In  the  third  year  of  "William  Eufus,  king  of  England, 
Lanfranc,  archbishop'  of  the  metropolis  of  Canterbury,  de- 
parted this  life,2  and  was  buried  before  the  crucifix  in  the 
church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  which  he  had  built  with  great 
magnificence.  Anselm,  abbot  of  Bee,  composed  an  elegy  in 
heroic  verse  to  the  memory  of  his  countryman,  and  by 
God's  providence  was,  after  three  years,  promoted  by  ca- 
nonical election  to  the  see  of  Canterbury.3  Afterwards, 
within  the  ten  years  of  the  reign  of  William  Eufus,  Thomas, 
metropolitan  of  York,  followed  his  brother  archbishop  to 
the  tomb,4  as  well  as  many  other  bishops  and  abbots.  Wul- 

1  His  father  was  lord  of  Escures,  a  hamlet  in  the  suburbs  of  S6ez,  not 
Escures  near  Falaise.  Ralph  became  a  monk  at  St.  Martin  de  S6ez  in 
1079,  succeeded  Robert  I.  in  1089,  and  was  made  bishop  of  Rochester  the 
9th  of  August,  1 108.  succeeding  bishop  Gundulph.  He  was  raised  to  the  see 
of  Canterbury  the  26th  of  April,  1114,  and  died  the  20th  of  October,  1 122. 

4  The  20th  of  May,  1089. 

*  Anselm  was  named  to  the  metropolitan  see  when  William  Rufus  lay 
on  his  sick  bed,  by  the  universal  agreement  of  those  who  were  present,  on 
the  6th  of  March,  1093,  and  consecrated  the  4th  of  December  following. 

*  Thomas,  archbishop  of  York,  the  first  of  that  name,  elected  May  24, 
1 070 — November  18,11 00.     It  is  not  quite  exact  to  say  that  this  bishop 
tlieil  during  the  reign  of  William  Rufus,  who  expired  on  the  2nd  of  August 
of  the  same  year. 

VOL.  II.  H  H 


466  ouirEBicus  VITALIS.       [B.VIII.  CH.VIII. 

stan,  bishop  of  Worcester,1  Robert,  bishop  of  Hereford,2 
Osmund,  bishop  of  Salisbury,*  and  Walkeliu,  bishop  of 
Winchester,4  also  Baldwin,  the  archdeacon,  who  was  abbot 
of  St.  Edmund's,5  bishop  and  martyr,  Thurstan,  abbot  of 
Glastonbury,6  and  Reynold,  abbot  of  Abingdon,7  and  several 
other  bishops  and  abbots,  died  ;  whom  I  refrain  from  naming 
individually,  lest  I  should  weary  the  reader. 

At  this  time  a  certain  clerk  named  Ralph8  gained  the 
confidence  of  William  Rufus,  and  acquired  pre-eminence 
over  all  the  king's  officers  by  his  subtlety  in  prosecutions 
and  his  skill  in  flattery.  This  man  was  of  an  acute  intellect 
and  handsome  person,  a  fluent  speaker,  fond  of  the  pleasures 
of  the  table,  and  addicted  to  wine  and  lust ;  he  was,  at  the 
same  time,  cruel  and  ambitious,  prodigal  to  his  own  ad- 
herents, but  most  rapacious  in  his  exactions  from  strangers.' 
Sprung  from  poor  and  low  parents,  and  rising  to  a  level  far 
beyond  that  to  which  his  birth  entitled  him,  his  arrogance 
was  by  swelled  the  losses  he  inflicted  on  others.  He  was 
the  son  of  one  Thurstan,  an  obscure  priest  of  the  diocese  of 
Bayeux,  and,  having  been  brought  up  from  his  earliest  years 
among  the  vile  parasites  of  the  court,  was  better  skilled 
in  crafty  intrigues  and  verbal  subtleties  than  in  sound 

1  St.  Wulstan,  bishop  of  Worcester,  September  8,  1062 — January  19, 
1095. 

2  Robert  Losing,  bishop  of  Hereford,  December  29,  1079— June  2G, 
1095. 

3  Osmund,  bishop  of  Salisbury,  1078— December  3,  1099. 

4  Walkelin,  bishop  of  Winchester,  May  23,  1070 — January  3,  109H. 

5  Baldwin,  a  monk  of  St.  Denis,  afterwards  abbot  of  St.  Edmund's, 
1065— December  29,  1097. 

•  Thurstan,  abbot  of  Glastonbury,  1083—1102. 

7  Reynold,  abbot  of  Abingdon,  1084 — 1097. 

8  This  was  another  of  the  remarkable  characters  of  the  age.     Henry  01 
Huntingdon  paints  it  in  a  few  short  sentences,  in  muph  the  same  colours  as 
Ordericua.     See  his  Notices  of  the  Distinguished  Men  of  his  own  Times,  p. 
310  (Antiq.  Lib.).     The  Saxon  Chronicle  calls  him  the  king's  chaplain, 
who  held  his  courts  (gemot)  all  over  England.     Ralph  appears  to  have  been 
a  sort  of  judge  in  eyre,  or  of  circuit,  and  a  very  corrupt  one.     Ingram 
quotes  a  curious  notice  of  him  from  the  Chronicle  of  Peterborough,  pub- 
lished by  Sparke,  typis  Bowyer,  1723,  from  which  we  learn  that  he  wrote 
a  book,  now  lost,  ON  THE  LAWS  OF  ENGLAND.     Ingram  says,  "  He  may, 
therefore,  be  safely  called  the  father  of  English  lawyers,  or  at  least  law- 
writers.     It  was  probably  the  foundation  of  the  later  woiks  of  Bracton, 
Fleta,  Fortescue,  and  others." 


A.D.  1089.]        THE  LANDS  BE- VALUED.  4G7 

learning.  Inflated  with  ambition  to  raise  himself  above 
the  eminent  men  who  adorned  the  court  of  the  great  king 
William,  he  undertook  many  things  without  orders,  and  of 
which  that  prince  was  ignorant,  making  impertinent  and 
vexatious  accusations  in  the  king's  court,  and  arro- 
gantly over-awing  his  superiors  as  if  he  was  supported  by 
the  royal  authority.  In  consequence  Robert,  the  king's 
steward,1  gave  him  the  surname  of  Flambard,  which,  indeed, 
prophetically  suited  his  genius  and  conduct;  for,  like  a 
devouring  flame,  he  tormented  the  people  and  turned  the 
daily  chants  of  the  church  into  lamentations,  by  the  new 
practices  he  introduced  into  the  country.  He  disquieted 
the  young  king  by  his  perfidious  suggestions,  recommending 
him  to  revise  the  record  which  had  been  taken  of  all  pro- 
perty throughout  England,  and,  making  a  new  division  of 
the  lands,  to  deprive  his  subjects,  both  native  and  alien 
of  all  that  exceeded  a  certain  amount.  Having  obtained 
the  king's  consent,  he  had  all  the  plough-lands,  which  are 
called  in  English  hides,2  accurately  measured  and  registered, 
and  setting  aside  the  larger  admeasurement  which  the 
liberal-minded  English  had  made  use  of  by  order  of  king 
Edward,  and  lessening  the  estates  of  the  farmers,  aug- 
mented the  royal  revenues.  By  this  diminution  of  the 
former  extent  of  their  estates,  and  the  heavy  burdens  of  new 
and  increased  taxation,  he  shamefully  oppressed  the  king's 
faithful  and  humble  subjects,  impoverishing  them  by  the 
loss  of  their  property,  and  reducing  them  from  affluence  to 
great  indigence. 

By  Ealph's  advice,  the  young  king,  on  the  death  of  the 

prelates,  took  their  churches  with  the  domains  attached  to 

them  from  ancient  times,  into  his  own  hands,  and  set  his 

.  courtiers  over  the  convents  of  monks,  and  the  deans  and 

canons  of  the   episcopal  sees,  allowing  these  a  small  pit- 

1  Dlspensator ;  from  whence  Despenser  became  the  family  name.  This 
Robert  is  so  described  in  the  Domesday -book.  He  was  brother  of  Urso 
d'AbitoL  The  castle  of  Tamworth,  the  honour  of  Scrivelsby,  and  his 
other  manors  in  England,  were  held  in  the  reign  of  Henry  L  by  Roger 
Marmion,  son  of  Robert  Marmion,  and  son-in-law  or  grandson  in  the 
female  line  of  the  family  of  Despenser. 

3  According  to  Gervase,  a  hide  contained  one  hundred  acres.     Ordericus 
describes  the  admeasurement  to  have  been  made  funiculo,  by  a  small  rope 
or  cord,  as  we  now  use  the  chain  in  surveying. 
H   H  2 


468  OEDEEICUS   TITALIS.  [B.  Till.  CH.  Till. 

tance  out  of  the  revenues  for  their  maintenance,  and  apply- 
ing the  rest  to  his  own  purposes.  The  king's  covetousness 
thus  impoverished  the  churches  of  God,  and  the  iniquitous 
practice  which  commenced  at  that  time  has  continued  to  the 
present  day  to  the  loss  of  many  souls.  For  the  avaricious 
king,  with  this  object,  deferred  appointing  pastors  to  the 
churches,  so  that  the  people,  having  no  guides  and  the  flocks 
no  shepherds,  became  a  prey  to  the  attacks  of  wolves,  and 
perished  from  wounds  inflicted  by  the  winged  arrows  of  their 
own  manifold  sins.  This  inordinate  covetousness  gathered 
into  the  royal  treasury  the  wealth  which  the  ancient  English 
kings  had  freely  and  piously  devoted  to  God ;  such  as 
were  Ethelbert,  Edwin,  Offa,  Ethelwulf,  Alfred.  Edgar,  and 
other  princes,  as  well  as  their  great  nobles.  They  indeed, 
having  been  converted  to  the  faith,  devoutly  worshipped  God, 
and  out  of  their  abundance  made  large  endowments  on  the 
monks  and  clergy,  that  those  special  servants  of  the  Divine 
law  might  enjoy  ample  means  of  subsistence,  and  be  able  day 
and  night,  without  hindrance,  to  perform  cheerfully  the  offices 
of  divine  worship,  and  keep  perpetually  the  appointed  vigils 
in  places  consecrated  to  the  service  of  God.  Thither  pil- 
grims and  wayfarers  resorted  in  security,  and  there  found  a 
short  repose  after  their  fatigues,  and,  according  to  the  fun- 
damental institutions  of  such  places,  a  plentiful  repast,  after 
their  privations.  Returning  thanks  to  God  for  such  unex- 
pected refreshment,  they  offered  devout  prayers  to  the  Creator 
of  all  things  for  the  benefactors,  long  since 'departed,  who 
had  secured  them  the  enjoyment  of  such  privileges.1 

Before  the  Norman  conquest,  it  was  the  practice  in  Eng- 
land, on  the  death  of  the  superiors  of  monasteries,2  for  the 
bishop  in  whose  diocese  they  were  to  take  an  accurate  ac- 
count of  the  possessions  of  the  convents,  and  become  their 

1  Our  author  has  drawn  in  this  passage  a  pleasing  picture  of  monastic 
hospitality  in  the  middle  ages. 

a  Hectares  ecclctiarum  ;  the  rectors  of  churches.  XI.  Dubois  gives  the 
literal  translation,  observing  that  the  clergy  with  cure  of  souls  are  still 
styled  "  rectors"  in  England,  while  in  France  they  are  called  cures.  Our 
own  opinion,  however,  is,  from  the  sequel  of  the  passage,  that  Ordericus 
intended  thus  to  designate  the  abbots  and  priors,  who  administered  the 
government  of  the  monasteries;  the  revenues  of  which  must  have  bet-n 
more  tempting  objects,  and  called  for  a  more  especial  guardianship  in  those 
days,  than  the  tithes  or  other  endowments  of  the  parochial  clergy. 


A,D.  3089.]      ECCLESIASTICAL   BEVENUES    SEIZED.  469 

pnardiaua  until  the  new  abbots  were  canonically  ordained. 
In  like  manner,  on  tbe  death  of  a  bishop,  the  archbishop  took 
charge  of  the  property  of  the  see,  and,  with  the  advice  of  the 
officers  of  the  church,  appropriated  it  either  to  the  relief  of 
the  poor,  the  repair  of  churches,  or  other  pious  uses.  "Wil- 
liam JRufus,  in  the  beginning  of  his  reign,  was  induced  by 
Elambard  to  abolish  this  custom,  so  that  he  suffered  the 
metropolitan  -see  of  Canterbury  to  remain  vacant  three 
years,1  and  seized  its  revenues  for  his  own  use.  It  is  evi- 
dently unjust  and  contrary  to  all  reason  that  what  has  been 
devoted  to  God  by  the  liberality  of  pious  kings,  or  laudably 
acquired  by  the  stewards  of  the  property  of  the  church 
should  fall  again  into  lay  hands,  and  be  iniquitously  devoted 
to  secular  uses.  Nor  can  we  doubt  that  as,  on  the  one  hand, 
thos£  who  have  consecrated  to  God  part  of  their  wealth  have 
received  from  Him  the  just  reward  of  their  good  deeds ;  so, 
on  the  other,  sacrilegious  intruders  into  sacred  things  will 
be  brought  to  punishment  by  the  avenging  hand  of  God,  and 
stripped  of  the  possessions  they  have  usurped  to  their  eternal 
disgrace.  Such  is  the  Almighty's  sure  and  immutable  law. 
Recompense  is  graciously  promised  to  righteous  doers,  while 
transgressors  are  threatened  with  fearful  vengeance  for  their 
crimes.  Every  page  of  the  sacred  writings  sets  forth  this 
mercy  and  severity,  so  that  they  are  as  clear  as  light  to  every 
well  informed  mind.  It  is,  therefore,  surprising  that  the 
human  heart  is  so  prone  to  evil,  and  covets  present  and 
fleeting  advantages  more  than  future  and  everlasting  re- 
wards, when  it  is  known  that  all  things  are  open  to  the  view 
of  the  Almighty,  and  that  nothing  can  escape  the  penetration 
of  the  divine  scrutiny. 

The  metropolis  of  Canterbury  having  languished  in  fear 
and  grief  and  a  state  of  widowhood,  deprived  of  its  bishop, 
for  three  years,  the  righteous  Judge,  who  beholds  from  heaven 
the  children  of  men  and  perceives  all  the  world  running  after 
the  vanity  of  vanities,  visited  with  a  severe  disease  the  king 
of  England  who  was  polluted  by  the  guilt  of  so  many  crimes. 
Thus  punished  by  sickness,  he  had  recourse  to  the  priests  of 
the  Lord,  and  laying  open  to  those  physicians  of  the  soul 

1  May  28,  1089— March  6,  1093  :  and  even  then  the  kins  was  only 
induced  by  an  alarming  illness  and  the  importunities  of  his  ministers  to  fill 
up  the  vacancy,  as  we  shall  presently  find. 


470  OEDERICUS    VTTALIS.          [B. Till.  CH. Till. 

• 

the  wounds  of  his  conscience  by  humble  confession,  pro- 
mised amendment  of  life  and  commanded  the  rulers  of  the 
church  to  choose  an  archbishop  according  to  -the  will  of 
God.  It  happened  that  at  that  time  Anselm,  abbot  of  Bee, 
had  crossed  over  to  England  on  the  affairs  of  his  monastery. 
On  hearing  that  the  king  had  given  orders  for  the  election  of 
a  metropolitan,  holy  church  was  filled  with  joy  and  an  assem- 
bly of  her  leading  rulers  was  held-  to  treat  of  the  business  on 
which  they  were  summoned.  At  length,  taking  into  consi- 
deration the  sanctity  and  wisdom  of  the  venerable  Anselm, 
he  was  unanimously  elected  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and, 
very  unwillingly  on  his  part,  elevated  to  the  metropolitan 
see  of  Canterbury.  Having  been  solemnly  enthroned,  this 
able  pastor  was  often  in  great  tribulation  when  he  carefully 
weighed  the  serious  and  difficult  burthens  imposed  upon 
him.  So  far  from  being  lifted  up  by  his  high  promotion,  he 
was  filled  with  alarm  lest  many  of  those  placed  under  his 
government,  who  were  erring  from  the  right  way,  should 
come  to  perdition.  He  found  a  variety  of  things  in  his 
diocese  which  required  correction.  It  was  often  his  duty  to 
censure  a  sinful  monarch  and  a  stubborn  nobility.  This  ex- 
posed him  to  their  repeated  attacks,  and  he  was  twice  driven 
into  exile  for  his  zeal  in  the  cause  of  justice.  Both  by 
word  and  good  example,  he  strove  to  improve  the  perverse 
habits  of  his  flock  ;  but  some  of  them  were  so  hardened  in 
iniquity  that  he  could  not  succeed  as  he  wished.  For,  as 
Solomon  says,  the  perverse  are  difficult  to  correct,  and  the 
number  of  the  foolish  is  infinite. 

In  those  days  the  light  of  true  holiness  was  dim  among  all 
orders  in  the  state,  and  the  princes  of  the  world  with  their 
subjects  abandoned  themselves  to  deeds  of  darkness.  Wil- 
liam Rufus,  king  of  England,  was  a  young  man  of  loose  and 
debauched  morals,  and  his  people  but  too  readily  followed 
his  example.  He  was  imperious,  daring,  and  warlike,  and 
gloried  in  the  pomp  of  his  numerous  troops.  His  great  de- 
light consisted  in  conferring  the  honours  of  knighthood  on 
account  of  the  worldly  splendour  with  which  it  surrounded 
him.  He  took  no  care  to  defend  the  country  folk  against 
his  men-at-arms,  so  that  their  property  was  at  the  entire 
mercy  of  his  young  knights  and  squires.  The  king's  me- 
mory was  very  tenacious,  and  his  zeal  either  for  good  or  evil 


A.D.  1089.]      THE  KINO'S  DESIGNS  ON  NOBMANDY.  471 

was  ardent.  Bobbers  and  thieves  felt  the  terrible  weight  of. 
his  power,  and  his  efforts  to  keep  the  peace  throughout  his 
dominion  were  unceasing.  He  so  managed  his  subjects,  either 
by  making  them  partake  of  his  bounty,  or  curbing  them 
by  the  terror  of  his  arms,  that  nt>  one  dared  whisper  a  word 
in  opposition  to  his  will. 

CH.  IX.  The  king  resolves  on  invading  Normandy — Death 
and  epitaph  of  William  de  Wiarrenne,  founder  of  the  priory 
of  Lewes — His  countess  Oundrede — The  king  comes  to  an 
understanding  with  some  Norman  Ivrds. 

WILLIAM  Eurus  being  now  firmly  established  on  the 
throne,  he  assembled  his  barons  at  Winchester  and  opened 
his  mind  to  them  in  the  following  discourse : — "  You  are 
well  aware,"  he  said,  "  illustrious  lords,  in  what  manner  my 
brother  Robert  has  kept  faith  with  me,  and  how  much  trou- 
ble he  has  occasioned  me.  It  does  not  require  many  words 
to  tell  you  what  numbers  of  my  liegemen  he  has  caused  to 
rebel  against  me,  and  how  he  conspired  to  deprive  me  of  my 
crown  and  my  life.  It  is  well  known  that  in  the  very  first 
year  of  my  reign  he  would  have  involved  me  in  insupport- 
able difficulties,  had  not  divine  goodness  in  its  great  mercy 
averted  the  evil.  And  now  our  holy  church  addresses  to- 
me her  lamentable  complaints  from  parts  beyond  the  sea, 
bathed  daily  in  tears  of  the  deepest  grief,  because  being 
without  a  just  patron  and  protector  she  finds  herself  among 
her  malignant  enemies  like  a  sheep  in  the  midst  of  wolves. 
He  who  takes  no  care  to  defend  his  own  dominions  from 
rapacious  attacks,  makes  it  his  object  to  usurp  mine  by  fraud 
or  force.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  I  warn  you  who  were  my 
father's  liegemen,  and  who  held  fiefs  of  him  both  in  Nor- 
mandy and  England,  to  support  me  loyally,  manfully,  and 
with  unanimity,  in  my  just  enterprises.  We  ought  not  to 
suffer  dens  of  robbers  to  exist  in  Normandy,  and  harass  the 
faithful  and  ruin  the  abbeys  which  our  fathers  founded  with 
so  much  zeal.  The  whole  country  is  a  prey  to  robbery  and 
murder,  and  is  often  forcibly  reminded  of  the  great  duke 
William  who  delivered  it  from  war  both  foreign  and  internal. 
It  becomes  me  who  inherit  both  his  name  and  his  crown, 
to  pursue  zealously  the  same  course  that  he  did  for  the 
defence  of  his  country.  Meet  therefore,  I  pray  you,  iu 


472  OEDEEICUS   TITALIS.  [B.TIII.  C1I.IX. 

council,  and  consult  with  prudence,  and  then  give  me  your 
advice  what  ought  to  be  done  in  this  state  of  affairs.  If  you 
approve  of  it,  I  will  send  over  an  army  to  Normandy  and 
make  reprisals,  for  the  mischief  which  my  brother  without 
any  provocation  has  contrived  against  me.  I  will  succour 
the  church  of  Grod,  protect  widows  and  orphans,  and  punish 
robbers  and  assassins  with  the  sword  of  justice." 

All  the  assembly  concurred  in  these  proposals,  and  lauded 
the  king's  intrepid  spirit.  At  that  time  King  "William  made 
"William  de  Warrenne  earl  of  Surrey  j1  but  not  long  after- 
wards he  was  snatched  away  by  death  which  spares  no  one.* 
The  Cluniac  monks  whom  he  had  established  at  Lewes,3  in- 
terred his  body  in  their  chapter,  and  recorded  his  character 
and  merits  in  verses  inscribed  on  his  tomb  on  a  white  marble 
slab : — 

Who  seeks  EARL  WARRENNE'S  tomb,  may  look  around, 
And  mark  the  buildings  on  this  holy  ground ; 
For  here,  with  pious  zeal,  his  wealth  he  spent 
In  rearing  this  his  noblest  monument. 

1  Our  author  states  here,  correctly,  that  William  de  Warrenne  was  made 
earl  of  Surrey  by  William  Rufus ;  but  in  his  fourth  book  (see  before,  p. 
49)  he  has  committed  the  error  of  attributing  that  appointment  to  William 
the  Conqueror. 

4  William  de  Warrenne  died  June  24,  1089.  He  was  son  of  Ralph  (or 
Walter)  de  Warrenne,  who  has  been  already  mentioned  (see  note,  p.  408). 
He  had,  also,  it  has  been  supposed,  a  brother  also  named  Ralph,  men- 
tioned in  the  Chartulary  of  the  Trinite'-du-Mont,  who  came  over  to 
England,  according  to  Domesday-book,  and  was  engaged  in  the  rebellion 
of  Ralph  de  Gauder,  if  the  passage  referred  to  does  not  apply  to  the  latter 
from  a  confusion  of  the  names.  This  illustrious  family  was  originally  of 
Bellencombre  near  St.  Saens. 

3  The  priory  of  Lewes  was  founded  by  William  de  Warrenne  and  Gun- 
drede,  his  wife,  about  the  year  1078,  in  the  meadows  below  the  castle, 
which  was  the  earl's  principal  seat.  The  church,  on  the  site  of  which  a 
small  chapel  stood  before  the  conquest,  was  dedicated  to  St.  Pancras. 
Both  the  earl  and  countess  were  interred  there.  Gundrede's  grave-stone,  a 
slab  of  black  marble,  the  greater  part  of  the  inscription  on  which  is  legible, 
was  carried  off  from  the  ruins  after  the  Reformation,  but  recovered  some 
years  since,  and  deposited  in  the  church  at  Southover  adjoining  the  town 
of  Lewes.  Recently,  in  cutting  a  line  of  railway  through  the  ruins  of  the 
priory,  the  coffins  containing  the  remains  both  of  William  de  Warrenne 
and  Gundrede  were  discovered.  They  have  been  removed  to  Southover 
church,  and  placed,  with  other  relics,  in  a  small  chapel  or  oratory  erected 
on  the  south  side  of  the  chancel  for  their  reception.  See  a  paper  addressed 
by  M.  A.  Lower  to  the  British  Archaeological  Association)  Nov.  19,  1845. 


A.D.  1089.]      WILLIAM  DE  WARBENNE's  EPITAPH.  473 

Here  the  poor  brethren  whom  his  bounty  fed 
With  dirge  and  requiem  laid  his  honoured  head ; 
ST.  PANCRASI  here  his  mouldering  ashes  guards, 
May  the  good  Saint  secure  him  rich  rewards, 
And  grant  him  with  the  blest  above  to  reign, 
Who  to  St.  Pancras  raised  this  stately  fane. 

The  earl  was  succeeded  by  his  two  sons,  "William  and  Key- 
nold,  with  their  mother  Gundrede,2  and  they  flourished  for  a 
long  period  under  William  and  Henry,  kings  of  England, 
being  distinguished  for  their  valour,  worth,  and  power. 

King  William  likewise  conferred  great  honours  and  pos- 
sessions on  Robert  Fitz-Hamon,3  so  that  he  ranked  among 
the  greatest  of  the  English  nobles.  He  married  Sibylle, 
daughter  of  Earl  Roger,  who  bore  him  a  daughter,  called 
Matilda,  afterwards  married  to  Eobert,  son  of  King  Henry. 

Stephen  d' Aumale,4  who  was  the  first  in  rank  of  the  Nor- 

1  St.  Pancras  was  born  in  the  third  century  of  noble  parents  in  Phrygia, 
and  coming  to  Rome,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  embraced  Christianity,  and  was 
baptized  by  St.  Cornelius.  The  emperor  Diocletian  endeavoured  to  win 
him  back  to  his  ancient  faith,  but,  preferring  martyrdom,  he  was  beheaded 
on  the  Aurelian  Way.  His  feast  was  kept  on  the  4th  of  the  ides  (12th) 
of  May. 

*  Gundrede  did  not  survive  her  husband  William  de  Warrenne.  She 
died  in  child-birth,  at  Castle  Acre  in  Norfolk,  the  27th  of  May,  1 085. 
The  Conqueror's  charter  of  foundation  of  the  priory  of  Lewes  discloses  the 
curious  fact,  which  no  historian  of  the  time  has  mentioned,  that  Gundrede 
was  a  daughter  of  Queen  Matilda.  Her  epitaph  at  Lewes  calls  her  stirps 
ducttm,  and  in  the  charter  of  donation  of  the  priory  of  Walton  in  Norfolk 
to  St.  Pancras  at  Lewes  by  William  the  Conqueror,  the  copy  of  which  is 
not  however  very  exact,  that  prince  calls  her  his  daughter.  But  it  boa 
been  well  conjectured  that  she  was,  in  fact,  as  well  as  her  brother  Gerbode, 
the  issue  of  Matilda  by  a  former  marriage.  She  must,  therefore,  have 
been  divorced  when  she  married  William,  and  that  might  have  been  the 
reason  for  Pope  Leo's  offering  so  strenuous  an  opposition  to  that  marriage. 

Gerbode,  who  had  the  earldom  of  Chester  conferred  upon  him  by  the 
Conqueror  (see  before,  p.  47),  appears  to  have  been  in  1086  high-steward 
of  the  abbey  of  St.  Bertin,  as  well  as  another  person  of  the  same  name 
mentioned  in  charters  of  the  years  1028  and  1056.  This  may  have  been 
Queen  Matilda's  first  husband. 

8  For  Robert  Fitzhamon  and  his  family,  see  before,  p.  250. 

4  Stephen,  count  d'Aumale,  son  of  Adeliza,  sister  of  William  the  Con- 
queior,  by  Eudes,  count  of  Champagne,  her  third  husband.  The  con- 
tinuator  of  William  de  Jumieges  is  for  making  this  lady  only  half-siater  of 
the  king.  But  that  is  clearly  an  error,  for  her  son  would  never  ha»e  been 
king  of  England  if  he  had  been  only  the  descendant  of  lierluin  de  Contcville. 


47-1  OKDEBICUS   VITALTS.  [B.YIII.  CH.IX. 

mans,  and  son  of  Eudes,  count  of  Champagne,  sent  his  ad- 
hesion to  the  king,  at  whose  expense  he  strongly  fortified 
his  castle  on  the  river  of  Eu,1  and  received  into  it  a  royal 
garrison  for  its  defence  against  the  duke.  His  example  was 
speedily  followed  by  Gerard  de  Gournai,*  who  put  into  the 
king's  hands  Grournai,  La  Ferte,3  Gaillefontaine,  and  all  hi* 
other  fortresses,  and  strove  to  bring  his  neighbours  over 'to 
the  royal  side.  Afterwards,  Robert,  count  d'Eu,  Walter 
Giffard,4  and  Ralph  de  Mortemer,8  with  almost  all  who 
lived  in  the  country  beyond  the  Seine,  as  far  as  the  sea 
leagued  themselves  with  the  English,  and  were  supplied  by 
the  king  with  large  sums  of  money  to  enable  them  to  fortify 
their  residences  and  arm  their  vassals.6 

Meanwhile,  duke  Robert,  to  prepare  a  barrier  of  defence 
against  so  many  enemies,  gave  his  daughter,  by  a  concubine, 
in  marriage  to  Elias,  son  of  Lambert  of  St.  Saens,  with 
Arques,  Bures,  and  all  the  neighbouring  country  for  her 
marriage  portion,  to  enable  him  to  resist  the  enemy  and  de- 
fend the  province  of  Caux.  Elias  addressed  himself  man- 
fully to  his  duties,  for  he  never  failed  in  his  fealty  towards 
Duke  Robert  and  his  son  William,  which  drew  upon  him 
much  persecution  during  the  reigns  of  William  and  Henry, 
kings  of  England,  when  he  was  disinherited-,  and  suffered 
many  losses,  exile,  and  perils. 

1  The  Bresle  ;  the  castle  of  Aumale  stands  above  it. 

2  Gerard  de  Gournay,  son  of  Hugh  de  Gournay  and  Basile,  daughter  of 
Richard  Flaitel,  was  son-in-law  of  William  Warrenne,  earl  of  Surrey,  whoso 
death  has  been  just  related. 

3  La  Ferte'-en-Brai,  Gaillefontaine.     The  castle  was  burnt  by  Henry  II., 
who  made  himself  master  of  it  in  1151. 

4  Walter  Giffard,  lord  of  Longueville  and  earl  of  Buckingham. 

5  Ralph  Mortemer,  son  of  Roger,  and,  as  well  as  his  father,  a  benefactor 
to  St.  Victor-en-Caux.     See  before,  p.  408. 

6  Our  author,  in  enumerating  the  nobles  who  opened  their  gates  to  the 
troops  of  Wi'liam  Rufus,  should  not  have  omitted  Walter  de  Sft.  Valleri, 
eldest  brother  of  Gilbert  d'Aufay  (see  chapters  7  and  8  of  book  vi.  pp.  '2(31 
and  2G6),  as  their  harbour  of  St.  Valleri-sur-Somme  was  so  valuable  to 
him  for  keeping  up  his  communication  with  the  strong  places  he  secured 
in  this  part  of  Normandy.     The  commission  given  to  the  commanders  of 
his  troops  was  to  devastate  all  the  neighbourhood,  and  there  is  little  doubt, 
from  what  we  know  of  the  practice  of  these  times,  that  it  was  effectually 
accomplished.     This  understanding  with  the  Norman  lords  appears  to  have 
been  entered  into  in  the  autumn  of  1089. 


1089—1090.]    FtTLK,  COUNT  OF  ANJOTT  AUD  BERTBADE.      475 

Cu.  X.  Fulk,  count  of  Anjou,  succeeds  in  deferring  the 
insurrection  in  Maine  —  The  terms  of  the  compact  made 
by  Robert  Curthose  —  Long-peaked  shoes,  and  other  new 
fashions  of  the  Hermans. 


N  the  people  of  Maine  learned  that  the  Normans  were 
at  variance,  they  thought  it  a  convenient  opportunity  for 
throwing  off  their  insolent  yoke,  an  attempt  they  had  often 
made  in  the  time  of  William  the  Great,  king  of  England. 
Duke  Robert  discovering  this,  sent  ambassadors  with  pre- 
sents to  Fulk,  count  of  Anjou,1  earnestly  entreating  him  to 
deter  the  Manceaux  from  their  bold  enterprise,  and  to  join 
him  in  Normandy,  where  he  was  suffering  from  severe  ill- 
ness. Fulk  readily  accepted  the  invitation,  and  found  the 
duke  already  convalescent.  They  had  many  friendly  con- 
ferences, in  the  course  of  which  the  count  said  to  the  duke  : 
"  There  is  one  thing  which  I  have  much  at  heart,  and  if  you 
will  bring  it  to  pass  I  will  undertake  to  reduce  the  Manceaux 
to  submission,  and  will  become  from  henceforth  your  faithful 
ally.  I  have  formed  an  attachment  for  Bertrade,  daughter  of 
Simon  de  Montfort,  and  niece  to  William,  count  of  Evreux, 
who  is  brought  up  by  her  guardian,  the  countess  Heloise.*  I 
pray  you  to  accomplish  my  marriage  with  her,  and  I  will  per- 
form all  I  have  promised  you."  The  duke  immediately  sent 
for  the  couut  of  Evreux  to  speak  with  him  on  the  subject. 
The  count  then  consulted  with  his  most  intimate  friends  and 
anxiously  inquired  what  course  he  ought  to  take.  At  last, 
having  fully  weighed  the  proposal,  he  returned  to  the  duke's 
court,  and,  among  other  conversation,  addressed  him  thus  : 
"  My  lord  duke,  you  ask  what  is  very  contrary  to  my  wishes 
when  you  demand  that  I  should  give  my  niece,  who  is  now  a 
mere  girl,  and  whose  guardianship  was  entrusted  to  me  by 
my  brother-in-law,  in  marriage  to  a  man  who  has  been 
already  twice  married.3  You  look  well  to  your  own  interests 

1  Fulk-le-Rechin.  *  Eloise  de  Nevers,  countess  of  Anjou. 

*  The  count  of  Anjou  had  been  already  married,  not  twice,  but  thrice. 
1.  To  Hildegarde  de  Beaugenci;  2.  To  Hermengarde  de  Bourbon;  and,  3, 
to  Arengarde  de  Chatillon.  He  had  divorced  the  two  last,  who  were 
living  at  the  time  of  his  fourth  marringe,  which  we  shall  find  in  ch.  xx.  did 
not  turn  out  better  than  the  others. 


476  OEDERICUS   VITALIS.  [B.TIII.  CH.X. 

and  disregard  mine.  Tou  wish  through  rny  niece  to  get  the 
county  of  Maine  into  your  power,  but  you  deprive  me  of  my 
own  inheritance.  Is  what  you  propose  reasonable  ?  I  shall 
not  comply  with  your  wishes,  unless  you  restore  me  Bavent, 
Noyon,1  Gace,  Graven£on  and  Ecouche,2  with  the  other  fief's 
of  my  uncle  Ralph,  who,  on  account  of  the  extraordinary  size 
of  his  head  and  his  shaggy  hair  was  humorously  surnamed 
Tete  d'Ane  (Ass's-head).3  I  also  require  that  my  nephew, 
William  de  Breteuil,  shall  be  re-instated  in  Pont-St.-Pierre, 
and  other  estates  which  we  can  prove  to  be  legally  and 
reasonably  ours  by  right  of  inheritance.  I  have  lawful  and 
credible  witnesses  that  Robert  de  Gace,  the  son  of  my  uncle 
Ralph,  whom  I  named  before,  left  me  heir  of  all  his  domains. 
But  King  William,  who  was  our  cousin,  being  more  powerful 
than  we  were,  appropriated  to  himself  all  the  portions  of  our 
inheritance,  as  a  lion  would  in  sharing  a  stag.  When,  my 
lord  duke,  you  have  well  considered  all  this,  do  what  is  right 
towards  us,  and  we  will  obey  your  commands." 

The  duke,  having  heard  this  reply,  determined,  on  con- 
sultation with  his  council,  to  concede  the  lesser  objects,  that 
he  might  not  lose  what  was  more  important.  At  that  time, 
Edgar  Atheling,4  Robert  de  Belesme,  and  William  d'Arques, 
a  monk  of  Moleme,5  were  his  principal  councillors.  The 
duke  therefore  granted  the  demands  of  William  d'Evreux, 
and  his  nephew  William  de  Breteuil,  and  ceded  to  them  the 
places  before  named,  with  the  lands,  appertaining  to  them, 
except  Ecouche,  which  was  held  by  Gerard  de  Gournai,  who 
was  of  the  same  family,  being  the  son  of  Basile,  daughter  of 

1  Bavent,  near  Troarn,  and  Noyon-sur-Audelle,  now  Charleval. 

2  Gravencon,  near  Lillebonne,  and  Ecouch6,  near  Argenton. 

3  Ralph  Tele-d'An,  second  son  of  Archbishop  Robert,  count  d'Evreux. 
See  vol.  i.  p.  449. 

*  This  unfortunate  prince,  the  heir  of  the  Saxon  line  of  kings,  who 
appears  to  have  been  of  no  great  capacity,  had  always  th«  misfortune  to  be 
on  the  losing  side.  This  was  not  the  only  time  he  attached  himself  to  the 
fortunes  of  Robert  Curthose.  He  was  afterwards  with  him  and  Robert  de 
Belesme  at  the  battle  of  Tinchebraie,  "  having  gone  over  from  the  king  a 
short  time  before."  Being  taken  prisoner,  King  Henry  exhibited  his 
compassion,  or  his  contempt,  by  "  letting  him  depart  unhurt." 

5  This  monk  of  Moleme  (in  Burgundy)  was  now  one  of  the  duke's 
confidential  advisers;  in  a  subsequent  chapter  (xviii.)  of  this  book  we  shall 
lind  the  duke  resorting  to  him  in  very  critical  circumstances. 


ABOUT  1090.]         NEW  TASHIOKS   IN   DEESS.  477 

Gerard  Flaitel,  and  so  powerful,  that  no  one  dared  to  offer 
him  violence.  Upon  this,  the  count  of  Anjou,  to  his  great  joy, 
secured  the  prize  he  so  much  desired — marrying  a  third  wife 
while  he  had  two  already  living.  Bertrade  bore  him  a  son 
who  was  named  Fulk.  Faithful  to  hia  engagements,  Fulk 
then  went  among  the  people  of  Maine,  and  endeavouring  to 
keep  them  quiet,  more  by  entreaties  and  promises,  than  by 
force  of  arms,  succeeded  at  last  in  deferring  the  threatened 
revolt  for  a  year.  This  count  was  very  blameable,  and  even 
infamous  in  many  parts  of  his  conduct,  and  abandoned  him- 
self to  all  sorts  of  vices.  His  feet  being  deformed,  he  had 
shoes  made  of  an  unusual  length,  and  very  sharp  at  the  toes, 
so  that  they  might  conceal  the  excrescences,  commonly 
called  bunnions,  which  caused  his  feet  to  be  so  ill-shaped. 
This  new  fashion  became  common  throughout  the  west,  and 
wonderfully  pleased  light-minded  persons,  and  the  lovers  of 
novelty.  In  consequence,  the  shoemakers,  in  making  shoes, 
shape  them  like  scorpions'  tails,  vulgarly  called  pigaces,1  a 
fashion  which  almost  all  the  world,  both  rich  and  poor,  are 
wonderfully  taken  with,  while  in  former  times,  shoes  with 
round  toes,  fitted  to  the  form,  were  in  common  use  both 
by  rich  and  poor,  clergy  and  laity.  But  now  men  of  the 
\\  orld  sought  in  their  pride  fashions  of  dress  which  accorded 
with  their  perverse  habits ;  and  what  formerly  honourable 
persons  thought  a  mark  of  disgrace,  and  rejected  as  in- 
famous, the  men  of  this  age  find  to  be  sweet  as  honey  to 
their  taste,  and  parade  on  their  persons  as  a  special  dis- 
tinction. 

A  debauched  fellow  named  Eobert,  was  the  first  about  the 
court  of  William  Rufus  who  introduced  the  practice  of 
filling  the  long  points  of  the  shoes  with  tow,  and  of  turning 
them  up  like  a  ram's  horn.  Hence  he  got  the  surname  of 
Cornard ;  and  this  absurd  fashion  was  speedily  adopted  by 
great  numbers  of  the  nobility  as  a  proud  distinction,  and  sign 

1  Pigaceas;  Ordericus  appears  to  have  Latinized  a  Norman- French 
term  of  the  day,  not  now  to  be  found  in  any  vocabulary.  The  curious 
account  of  the  fashions  of  the  age  supplied  by  our  author  shows  that 
nothing  escaped  his  observation,  recluse  as  he  was.  That  of  the  long- 
peaked  shoes,  with  the  toes  trussed  and  fastened  upwards,  soulifri  a  la 
poulaine,  pulley  shoes,  as  the  French  called  them,  flourished  for  three 
centuries,  and  was  not  given  up  till  it  was  severely  denounced  by  kings 
and  popes. 


478  OUDEBICTJS   TITALTS.  [s.TIIT.  CII.X. 

of  merit.  At  this  time  effeminacy  was  the  prevailing  vice 
throughout  the  world.  Men  revelled  in  vice  without  re- 
morse, and  odious  wretches,  who  ought  to  have  been  food  for 
the  flames,  shamefully  abandoned  themselves  to  the  foulest 
Sodomitical  practices.  The  habits  of  illustrious  men  were 
disregarded ;  the  admonitions  of  priests  derided  ;  and  the  cus- 
toms of  barbarians  adopted  in  dress  and  in  the  mode  of  life. 
They  parted  their  hair  from  the  crown  of  the  head  on  each  side 
of  the  forehead,  and  let  their  locks  grow  long  like  women,  and 
wore  long  shirts,  and  tunics,  closely  tied  with  points.  They 
wasted  their  time,  spending  it  according  to  their  own  fancy, 
and  without  regard  to  the  law  of  God,  or  the  customs  of  their 
fathers.  The  night  was  devoted  to  banqueting  and  drunk- 
enness, to  silly  talk,  dice,  tables,  and  other  games.  Thus,  after 
the  death  of  Pope  Gregory,  and  "William  the  Bastard,  and 
other  religious  princes,  the  simple  habits,  of  our  fathers 
were  abandoned  in  almost  all  the  west  of  Europe.  They 
used  a  modest  dress,  well  fitted  to  the  proportions  of  their 
bodies,  which  was  convenient  for  riding  and  walking,  and 
for  all  active  employments  as  common  sense  dictated. 
But  in  our  days,  ancient  customs  are  almost  all  changed  for 
new  fashions.  Our  wanton  youths  are  sunk  in  effeminacy, 
and  the  courtiers  study  to  make  themselves  agreeable  to  the 
women  by  every  sort  of  lasciviousness.  They  insert  their 
toes,  the  extremities  of  their  bodies,  in  things  like  serpents' 
tails,  which  present  to  view  the  shape  of  scorpions.  Sweep- 
ing the  dusty  ground  with  the  prodigious  trains  of  their 
robes  and  mantles ;  they  cover  their  hands  with  gloves  too 
long  and  wide  for  doing  anything  useful,  and,  encumbered 
with  these  superfluities,  lose  the  free  use  of  their  limbs  for 
active  employment.  The  fore-part  of  their  heads  is  bare 
after  the  manner  of  thieves,  while  on  the  back,  they  nourish 
long  hair  like  harlots.  In  former  times,  penitents,  captives, 
and  pilgrims  usually  went  unshaved,  and  wore  long  beards, 
as  an  outward  mark  of  their  penance,  or  captivity,  or  pil- 
grimage. Now,  almost  all  the  world  wear  crisped  hair  and 
beards,  carrying  on  their  faces  the  tokens  of  their  filthy  lust, 
like  stinking  goats.  Their  locks  are  curled  with  hot  irons, 
and,  instead  of  wearing  caps,  they  bind  their  heads  with 
fillets.  A  knight  seldom  appears  in  public  with  his  head 
uncovered,  and  properly  shaved  according  to  the  apostolic 


A.D.  1090.]  TICES    OF   TUB   AGE.  479 

precept.1  Their  exterior  appearance  and  dress  thus  exhibit 
what  are  their  inward  thoughts,  and  how  little  reverence 
they  have  for  God. 

In  consequence,  the  Almighty  Judge  who  sits  on  his  throne 
in  the  heavens,  perceiving  the  heart  of  man  a  prey  to 
iniquity,  visits  the  people  lost  in  ignorance,  and  the  unbridled 
populace,  with  a  variety  of  inflictions.  He  permits  men  to 
be  worn  down  with  sickness  and  disquieted  by  wars ;  and 
gives  up  to  hypocritical  rulers  those  whom  he  finds  to  be 
opposed  to  his  will,  and  the  ready  transgressors  of  his  law. 
Meanwhile,  the  elect,  inflamed  with  the  zeal  of  Phineas,  are 
often  incensed  at  these  evil  ways,  and  cry  to  the  Lord  with 
the  prophet,  "  I  beheld  the  transgressors  and  was  grieved, 
because  they  kept  not  thy  word."2  In  consequence,  holy  doc- 
tors rebuke,  entreat,  and  threaten  them,  with  patience  and 
wisdom.  But  their  efforts  are  set  at  nought  by  the  hardness 
of  their  depraved  hearts,  which  foster  and  harbour  all  the 
pollutions  of  sin.  If  Persius  and  Plautus,  and  other  bitter 
satirists  were  now  living,  and  keenly  observed  the  manner  in 
which  people  in  our  times  give  the  run  to  their  passions,  in 
public  and  private,  they  would  easily  find  abundant  opportu- 
nities for  exercising  their  talents  in  sarcasm  and  ridicule. 

Remarking  the  countless  scandals,  which  disgraced  the 
world,  Giroie  Grossive,  in  a  letter  which  he  addressed  to 
Gilbert  Maminot,  bishop  of  Lisieux,  says  among  other 
things  :•*— 

fnce  Virtue's  flame  had  bathed  the  earth  in  light, 
But  new  to  brighter  worlds  has  sped  its  flight ; 
While  manly  worth  is  buried  with  the  dead. 
Nor  from  the  shades  shall  lift  again  its  head. 
Who  to  be  honest,  good,  and  virtuous  dares ! 
Who  for  the  prize  of  honour,  virtue  cares  1 

The  zealous  scholar  has  spoken  hyperbolically  of  the 
enormous  wickedness  which  he  saw  generally  prevalent.  So 

1  The  apostolical  admonitions  alluded  to  by  our  author  are  in  1  Cor.  xii. 
vcre.  7  and  14. 

Ver.  7.  For  a  man,  indeed,  ought  not  to  cover  his  food,  forasmuch  as 
lie  is  the  image  and  glory  of  God. 

Ver.  14.  Dolh  not  even  nature  itielf  teach  you,  that,  if  a  man  have  long 
hair,  it  is  a  shame  unto  him  1 

»  Psalm  cxix.  158. 


480  OB-DEBICTTS   YITALIS.  [B.TIII.  CH.XI. 

also  Blitero  the  Fleming,1  has  finely  painted  in  his  elegies, 
the  revolutions  of  the  world,  and  human  miseries.  Many 
other  learned  philosophers  have  also  uttered  loud  complaints 
of  the  flagitiousness  and  calamities  of  the  present  age.  Fol- 
lowing in  their  steps,  I  have  briefly  noticed  in  this  chapter 
the  era  of  the  introduction  among  the  Cisalpine  nations'of 
the  absurd  fashions  of  long-toed  shoes,  and  of  a  superfluity  of 
hair,  as  well  as  of  trains  sweeping  the  dust  to  no  purpose. 

It  would  be  far  pleasanter  to  write  about  the  holiness 
and  miracles  of  the  saints,  than  on  the  follies  and  frivolous 
extravagancies  of  silly  men,  if  our '  princes  and  prelates 
were  deeply  imbued  with  divine  graces,  and  prodigies 
abounded,  which  are  the  heralds  of  sanctity.  But  it  is  out 
of  my  power  to  compel  them  to  walk  in  the  ways  of  righteous- 
ness. This  being  the  case,  I  can  only  give  a  faithful  account 
of  things  as  they  are,  and  I  now  return  to  the  regular  course 
of  my  history. 

CH.  XI.  Revolt  of  the  Manceaux — Hugh,  son  of  Azo,  mar- 
quis of  Tuscany,  made  Count — Resigns  in  favour  of  his 
cousin  Elias. 

IN  the  year  of  our  Lord  1090,  the  thirteenth  indiction,  the 
people  of  Maine  revolted  against  the  Normans,  and  expelling 
their  garrisons  from  the  fortresses,  set  up  a  new  prince  of 
their  own  choice.  During  King  William's  life,  they  had 
made  frequent  attempts  to  rise  in  arms  against  him,  and  the 
instant  he  was  dead,  they  took  measures  for  throwing  off 
their  yoke.  They  sent  envoys  to  the  sons  of  Azo,  marquis 
of  Liguria,1  and  intimated  their  wishes  to  them.  "  Why  are 
you  so  cowardly  and  inert,  as  not  to  claim  your  inheritance 
which  we  voluntarily  defend  for  you  ?  All  the  direct  heirs 

1  This  poet  is  very  little  known.     The  authors  of  the  Histoire  Littiraire 
de  la  France,  who  had  not  discovered  any  other  notice  of  it  than  that 
given  by  Ordericus,  attribute  to  him  an  elegy  on  the  death  of  Charles  the 
Good,  count  of  Flanders.     M.  Le  Gay,  in  his  Notes  on  Balderic,  has 
quoted  him  in  reference  to  another  poem  on  the  same  subject.     It  is  very 
probable  that  Blitero  was  the  canon  of  the  church  of  Utrecht  named  by 
Albert  Le  Mire  (Diplom.  Belg.  1,  174)  among  the  members  of  the  chapter 
who  in  1134  subscribed  the  charter  of  foundation  of  the  abbey  of  Berna, 
near  Bois-le-Duc. 

2  Azo,   marquis   of  Liguria    (Tuscany),   was  the   second   husband   of 
Gersende,  eldest  daughter  of  Herbert  ]£veille-cb.ien,  count  of  Maine. 


A.D.  1090.]         REVOLT  IN  MAINE.  481 

to  the  county  of  Maine  have  failed,  and  there  is  none  now 
left  who  is  nearer  than  yourself.  William,  himself,  the  un- 
just usurper  of  so  many  states,  is  now  dead,  having  too  long 
enslaved  us  by  means  of  Margaret,  Herbert's  daughter,  whom 
he  wished  to  marry  to  his  son  Robert.1  His  sons,  one  of 
whom  is  king  of  England,  and  the  other  duke  of  Normandy, 
are  mutually  waging  a  murderous  war,  burning  and  pillaging 
their  respective  territories,  and,  in  their  fury,  are  ready  to 
cut  each  other's  throats.  Meanwhile  we  the  people  of 
Maine  hold  our  city  and  towns  in  peace,  and  we  invite  you 
in  all  sincerity  to  come  among  us  and  take  the  government 
which  is  yours  by  right  of  inheritance."  The  people  of 
Maine  sent  this  message  to  the  Ligurian  chiefs,  not  for  the 
love  they  bore  them  but  to  find  some  reasonable  excuse  for 
shaking  off  the  Norman  yoke,  which  for  nearly  thirty  years* 
had  sharply  galled  their  stubborn  necks. 

The  two  sons  of  Azo,  who  received  this  proposal  in  Liguria, 
were  greatly  delighted  with  it,  and  took  counsel  with  their 
intimate  friends  what  was  to  be  done.  It  was  at  length  de- 
termined that  Fulk,  the  eldest,  should  retain  their  father's 
fiefs  in  Italy,  while  his  brother,  Hugh,  should  assert  his  pre- 
tensions to  the  state  of  Maine,  in  right  of  his  mother.  In 
short,  Geoffrey  of  Mayenne,  Elias,3  and  other  citizens  and 
lords  of  castles,  received  Hugh  on  his  arrival,  and  for  some 
time  lent  him  aid  in  recovering  his  mother's  inheritance. 

Notwithstanding,  the  venerable  Hoel,  who  had  been  made 
bishop  by  the  choice  of  King  William,4  always  remained  faith- 
ful to  him  and  his  sons.  As  far  as  was  in  his  power,  he  now 
opposed  a  revolt  which  must  be  attended  with  bloodshed, 
launching  an  interdict  against  those  who  were  most  obsti- 
nate, and  excommunicating  them  by  his  episcopal  authority, 
he  cut  them  off  from  the  communion  of  holy  mother  church. 
This  roused  against  him  the  anger  of  the  promoters  of  the 
rebellion,  who  threatened  to  wreak  their  vengeance  upon 

1  See  vol.  i.  p.  448. 

'  Twenty-eight  years,  their  submission  having  been  yielded  in  the  year 
1063. 

3  Eli-is  was  both  nephew,  according  to  the  custom  of  Brittany,  of  Hugh, 
by  his  aunt  Paula,  daughter  of  Herbert  iSveille-chien,  and  his  grandson  bj 
the  same  lady,  according  to  nil  the  genealogies. 

4  See  the  singular  details  of  King  William's  nomination  of  the  good 
Bishop  Hoel,  book  iv.  c.  12,  p.  7",  of  the  present  volume. 

VOL.  II.  I   I 


482  OBDERICUS   YITALI3.  [u.  VIII.  CH.XI. 

him.  While,  therefore,  he  was  riding  through  his  diocese, 
attended  by  his  clerks,  and  duly  performing  his  episcopal 
functions,  Elias  de  la  Fleche  seized  him,  and  throwing  him 
into  prison,  detained  him  there  till  such  time  as  Hugh  should 
have  obtained  possession  of  the  city  of  Mans.  Meanwhile, 
the  church  shared  her  bishop's  sorrows  ;  the  holy  images  of 
the  Lord,  with  the  crucifixes,  and  the  shrines  containing  the 
relics  of  saints  were  laid  prostrate  on  the  floor,  the  clnirch- 
doors  were  hedged  with  thorns,  the  bells  ceased  to  ring,  the 
chants  were  hushed,  all  the  usual  solemn  offices  were  sus- 
pended, and  thus  the  widowed  church  abandoned  herself  to 
grief. 

The  people  of  Maine,  finding  their  new  count  destitute  of 
sense  as  well  as  of  wealth  and  courage,  began  to  repent 
of  their  imprudent  act,  and  despised  and  detested  him,  as 
the  Shechemites  did  Abimelech.1  He  was,  indeed,  an  im- 
becile, a  coward,  and  an  idler,  and  totally  unfit  to  hold  the 
reins  of  government  in  so  high  a  station.  He  had  married 
the  daughter  of  Robert  G-uiscard,2  but  such  a  poltroon  could 
not  brook  the  spirit  of  a  high-minded  woman,  and  he  there- 
fore repudiated  her ;  for  which  he  was  excommunicated  by 
Pope  Urban.  The  Allobroges3  detested  him  and  were  glad 
of  an  opportunity  of  turning  him  over  to  the  fierce  Cisalpinea. 
Ignorant  among  the  well  informed,  a  coward  among  gallant 
knights,  he  was  considered  a  craven  count ;  for  such  were  his 
alarms,  that  he  frequently  fainted,  and  only  thought  of  flight 
as  his  best  remedy.  The  people  of  Maine  discovering  this, 
were  filled  with  joy  and  endeavoured,  through  the  elders*  of 
the  land,  to  increase  his  terrors. 

At  last  Elias,  his  cousin,  came  to  him,  and  conversing  on 
the  pressure  of  circumstances,  said :  "  My  lord,  I  hear  it 
whispered  among  the  people  that  you  are  thinking  of  return- 
ing to  your  own  country  and  abandoning  this  land  of  an  in- 

1  Judges  ix.,  in  which  the  fine  apologue  of  the  nobler  species  of  trees 
refusing  the  pre-eminence  offered  them,  and  the  highest  rank  at  last 
devolving  on  the  bramble,  is  applied  to  the  choice  of  unworthy  rulers. 

*  This  marriage  took  place  in  1077- 

8  The  pre>ent  Dauphiny  and  Savoy,  not  Tuscany,  were  the  proper 
country  of  the  Allobrogt'S. 

*  Sempecias.     The  word  is  borrowed  from  the  rule  of  the  order  of  St. 
Benedict,  in   which  it  signifies  the  veteran  monks,  who  alter  fifty  yeari' 
profession,  were  no  longer  subjected  to  any  severe  duties. 


A.D.  1090.]       ELTAS  BUYS  THE  COUXTY  OF  MAINE.  483 

dependent  race  and  fierce  habits.  In  truth,  your  friends 
should  not  dissuade  you  from  this  purpose.  For  while  your 
disposition  is  gentle,  and  you  are  a  lover  of  peace  and  tran- 
quillity, the  people  of  this  country  are  always  ready  for  war 
and  impatient  of  repose.  Moreover,  the  implacable  Normans 
lay  claim  to  Maine  and  most  ferociously  threaten  to  inflict 
the  greatest  severities  on  its  inhabitants.  The  sons  of  King 
William,  who  were  at  variance,  have  been  reconciled,  and  are 
now  assembling  a  vast  army  in  N&rmandy,  with  which  they 
intend  to  make  a  sudden  irruption  into  our  territories,  and 
to  attack  and  pursue  without  mercy  us  who  have  revolted 
against  them.  You  may  fully  believe  that  it  is  for  this  pur- 
pose King  William  has  crossed  over  to  Normandy  with  so 
much  pomp,  and  I  have  no  doubt  his  arrival  will  cause  us 
great  alarm  and  find  us  much  to  do."  On  hearing  this, 
Hugh  plainly  told  Elias  that  it  was  his  wish  to  sell  his  rights 
in  the  county  of  Maine  and  return  to  his  own  country.  Elias 
replied :  "  My  lord,  I  am  your  cousin,  and  it  was  by  my 
support  you  were  made  count,  an  honour  which  you  can  give 
or  sell  to  no  one  but  myself.  For  the  daughter  of  count 
Herbert  married  Lancelin  de  Beaugenci,  and  bore  him 
Lavicelin,  father  of  Ealph,1  and  John,  who  was  my  father.  I 
have  thus  plainly  shown  that  I,  as  well  as  you,  am  descended 
from  count  Herbert.  Now,  then,  receive  from  me  what 
shall  be  agreed  on  between  us,  and  resign  in  my  favour  the 
dignity  of  count,  as  in  truth  it  ought  to  be  mine  from  near- 
ness of  kin.  The  object  of  my  ambition  is  attended  with 
serious  difficulties,  and  I  shall  scarcely  ever  possess  it  in 
peace  so  long  as  either  of  the  three  sons  of  King  William 
are  alive.  It  appears  to  be  disgraceful  to  such  powerful 
princes,  who  can  surround  us  with  a  hundred  thousand 
troops,  that  they  should  patiently  suffer  an  affront  from  a 
kindred  race  who  live  on  their  frontier,  or  lose  in  any  man- 
ner without  a  fearful  struggle  any  rights  which  their  father 
gained  by  some  sort  of  treaty.  Nevertheless,  I  am  inspired 
by  this  love  of  independence,  and  rightfully  contending  for 
mv  grandmother's  heritage,  I  shall  be  animated  by  trust  in 
God." 

1  1-iilph,  lord  of  Heau<rcnci,  was  son-in-law  of  Hugh,  count  de  Verman- 
dois,  becoming  by  that  alliimcc,  which  took  place  in  the  summer  of  thia 
same  year  (1090),  nephew  of  King  Philip. 

I  I  2 


484  OBDEBICTJS   TTTALIS.  [B.TTII.  CH.XII. 

The  cowardly  Allobrogan  consented  to  the  proposal,  and 
sold  the  county  of  Maine  for  ten  thousand  shillings  of  Mans 
currency.  On  the  retirement  of  Hugh,  Elias  became  count 
of  Maine,  which  he  held  bravely  twenty  years.1  He  suc- 
ceeded also  to  the  domains  of  his  father-in-law,  G-ervase  de 
Chateau-du- Loire,  whose  daughter  he  married.2  He  had  by 
her  a  daughter,  named  Eremburge,  who  was  married  to  the 
son  of  Fulk,  count  of  Anjou,  his  suzerain.  On  attaining 
power,  he  greatly  mended*  his  conduct  and  became  eminent 
for  his  virtues,  worthily  honouring  the  clergy  and  church  of 
God,  and  attending  daily  at  mass  and  divine  service.  He 
governed  his  people  with  equity,  and,  as  far  as  was  in  his 
power,  protected  the  poor  in  peace. 

CH.  XII.  Feuds  and  hostilities  between  tlie  Norman  lords — 
Surprise  of  the  castle  of  Exmes,  and  surrender  of  Ivri — 
Gilbert,  lord  of  Laigle,  assassinated — William  de  Breteuil 
taken  prisoner. 

AT  this  period  the  most  outrageous  iniquity  prevailed  in 
Normandy;  it  abounded  in  all  quarters  and  grievously 
harassed  the  wretched  inhabitants.  The  clang  of  arms  gave 
token  of  frequent  conflicts,  and  the  soil  was  watered  with 
the  blood  of  the  slain. 

The  second  year  after  king  William's  death,3  Ascelin,  sur- 
named  Goel,4  took  by  surprise  the  castle  of  Ivri  from  Wil- 
liam de  Breteuil,  his  lord,  and  traitorously  delivered  it  to 
Duke  Eobert.  William,  however,  unwilling  to  lose  it,  re- 
deemed it  from  the  duke  for  fifteen  hundred  livres.  Having 
recovered  his  castle,  to  punish  Goel,  he  deprived  him  of  its 
custody,  and  stripped  him  of  everything  he  held  in  his 

1  It  will  be  found  in  the  sequel  that  Elias  did  not  retain  his  rights  as  count 
of  Maine  without  encountering  serious  difficulties  from  the  opposition  of 
the  dukes  of  Normandy. 

*  Elias  married  Matilda,  the  only  daughter  of  Gervase,  who  died  before 
Easter,  1099.     Their  daughter,  Eremburge,  conveyed  the  county  of  Maine 
to  Fulk,  count  of  Anjou,  whom  she  married  in  1 100. 

*  A.D.  1089. 

1  This  person  and  his  family,  with  the  surprise  of  the  castle  of  Ivri,  are 
mentioned  before.  See  p.  237.  Robert,  father  of  Ascelin  ile  Goel,  was 
lord  of  Breval,  but  not  of  Ivri,  though  he  may  have  had  the  custody  of  it 
for  the  duke  of  Normandy  or  William  de  Breteuil.  Breval  is  situated 
between  Paci  and  Septeuil. 


A.D.  1089 — 1091.]   B AEONS'  WARS  IN  NOEMANDY  485 

lordship.  Hence  arose  hostilities  between  them  which 
lasted  a  long  time,  so  that  the  neighbourhood  was  exposed 
to  rapine  and  fire,  with  loss  of  life.  Amauri  de  Montfort, 
who  had  his  surname  of  Le  Fort,  on  account  of  his  valour, 
became  formidable  by  his  daring  and  cruel  acts  to  all  his 
neighbours  within  his  reach.  But  making  an  inroad  on  the 
lands  of  William  de  Breteuil,  like  a  raging  lion,  and  en- 
gaging, singly,  in  combat  with  two  men-at-arms,  he  was 
pierced  in  the  side  by  the  lance  of  one  of  them,  so  that  he 
died  the  same  day.  On  his  decease,  his  brother  Bichard 
succeeded  to  the  domains  of  his  father,  and  zealously  devoted 
himself  to  take  vengeance  on  William  de  Breteuil  for  his 
brother's  death. 

Duke  Eobert  frequently  employed  in  his  wars  Gilbert, 
son  of  Ingenulf  de  Laigle,  on  account  of  his  great  bravery, 
and  gave  him  the  castle  of  Exmes  as  his  recompense,  and 
for  the  defence  of  the  country.  This  gave  great  offence  to 
Robert  de  Belesme,  whose  rage  and  jealousy  were  so  roused, 
that  he  assembled  troops,  and  in  the  first  week  of  January 
beset  the  castle  for  four  days,  assaulting  it  with  great 
vigour,  notwithstanding  the  winter's  frost  and  snow.  Gil- 
bert had  but  a  small  number  of  followers  within  the  fortress, 
but  they  were  brave,  and  made  a  stout  resistance.  Hurling 
spears  and  stones  on  the  assailants,  they  precipitated  them 
into  the  ditch,  wounding  some  and  killing  others ;  mean- 
while, the  young  Gilbert,  lord  of  Laigle,  came  to  his  aid  with 
eighty  soldiers,  and,  getting  into  the  castle  by  night,  this 
addition  to  the  garrison  with  provisions  and  arms  enabled 
his  uncle  to  maintain  the  defence.  Upon  this,  the  tyrant 
Belesme,  finding  how  strongly  the  place  was  fortified,  and 
the  stout  resistance  made  by  its  defenders,  did  not  venture 
to  prolong  the  siege,  and  drew  off  his  troops  with  rage  and 
mortification,  having  gained  nothing  but  his  followers' 
wounds.  The  year  following,  as  Gilbert,  the  knight  just 
named,  was  returning  from  the  Su-  Scholasse,  he  halted  at 

1  De  L'Aigle,  or  De  Aquela.  Gilbert  was  fourth  son  of  Engenulf,  lord 
of  Laigle.  The  eldest  brother's  (Roger)  death  is  mentioned  in  book  iv.  c. 
5,  vol.  i.  p.  427  ;  and  the  assassination  of  the  second  brother,  Richer,  lord 
of  Laigle,  p.  379  of  the  present  volume.  Gilbert,  his  eldest  son,  succeeded 
him. 

*  Sainte-  Scholasse  sur-Sarthe. 


486  ORDERICTJS   VITALIS.  [B. VIII.  CH.  XII. 

Moulins,  to  converse  with  Puda,  the  lady  of  that  castle. 
After  their  conference,  he  chanced  to  leave  his  armour  there 
with  one  Anthony,  surnamed  Haren,  and  towards  evening, 
thus  unarmed,  departed  in  haste,  attended  by  his  squires. 
He  was  instantly  pursued  by  Gerard  Chevreuil,  and  .Roger 
de  Ferrers,1  with  some  men-at-arms  of  the  Corbonnais2  to 
the  number  of  near  thirteen,  who  endeavoured  to  take  him 
alive.  He  spurred  his  horse  to  a  gallop,  but  while  endea- 
vouring by  his  speed  to  get  away  from  his  enemies,  he 
was  struck  in  the  side  by  one  of  their  spears,  and  the  noble 
knight  died  the  same  day,  to  the  great  grief  of  those  by 
whose  hands  he  fell.  On  the  morrow,  which  was  the  bissextile 
day,3  his  corpse  was  carried  to  St.  Sulpice,4  and  there  amid 
universal  sorrow  buried  by  the  side  of  his  parents  ;  Gilbert, 
bishop  of  Evreux,  and  Serlo,  abbot  of  St.  Evroult,  officiating. 

Geoffrey,  count  de  Mortagne,  reflecting  that  his  vassals 
who  had  perpetrated  this  foul  deed  had  sown  the  seeds  of 
infinite  mischief  to  his  territories  by  the  murder  of  the  brave 
baron,  accommodated  matters  with  his  nephew  Gilbert  de 
Laigle,  giving  him  his  daughter  Juliana  in  marriage ;  by 
whom  he  had  three  sons,  Richer,  Geoffrey,  and  Gilbert.  The 
prudent  count  did  well  for  his  people  and  his  heirs,  in 
smothering  the  growth  of  evil  from  this  flagrant  offence  by 
the  endearments  of  conjugal  affection,  lest  multiplied  dis- 
asters should  spring  from  the  root,  and  gaining  fresh  vigour 
in  after  times,  should  grow  from  worse  to  worse.  The  peace 
between  the  kindred  heirs  of  the  two  families  has  been  in- 
dissolubly  preserved  to  the  present  day,  and  the  connection 
has  established  a  cheerful  and  agreeable  concord  between 
them.5 

The  same  week,  in  which,  as  we  have  just  seen,  Gilbert 

1  See  before,  p.  192. 

*  La  Ferriere-aut-Doyers,  near  Moulins.     Our  author  is  mistaken  in 
placing  it  in  the  Corbonnois,  to  which,  however,  it  is  very  near.     Gurard 
Caper  (Capreolus)  is  mentioned  in  the  chartulary  of  Chartres  under  the 
year  10?7. 

3  Wednesday,  the  29th  of  February,  1092. 

4  St.  Sulpice-sur-R;sle,  a  priory  at  Tiron,  near  Laigle.     See  before,  p. 
380. 

*  Recollecting  that  this  paragraph  was  written  about  1133,  a  period  of 
forty  years  had  then  elapsed,  during  which  there  h;id  been  continued  peace 
between  the  counts  of  Perch  and  the  lore's  of  Laigle.     An  alliance  of  such 


1091,  1092.]      THE    CASTLE   OP   ITRI   STJBBENDERED.  487 

perished  on  the  road  from  Moulins  to  Laigle,  (Joel  attacked 
his  Lord  William  de  Breteuil  in  the  open  field,  and  being 
supported  by  Richard  de  Montfort,  and  a  large  body  of 
Frenchmen,  defeated  his  enemy's  troops.  William  himself 
was  taken  prisoner,  with  many  others,  and,  thrown  into  a 
noisome  dungeon,  suffered  much  during  the  ensuing1  Lent, 
BO  that  for  his  sins  he  was  compelled  to  endure  the  rigours 
of  that  penitential  season.  At  last,  the  matter  brought  to- 
gether Richard  de  Montfort,  Hugh  de  Montgomery,* 
Gervase  de  Neufchatel,8  and  many 'others,  both  French  and 
Normans,  who  made  peace  between  William  and  Groel,  at 
Breval,*  after  which,  William,  according  to  the  terms  of  the 
treaty,  gave  his  daughter  Isabel  in  marriage  to  Goel,  and 
ransomed  himself  at  the  expense  of  a  thousand  livres  of 
Dreux,  besides  the  delivery  of  horses,  arms,  and  many  other 
things.  With  great  sorrow  and  regret  he  added  also  the 
rastle  of  Ivri.  The  infamous  freebooter  enriched  with  these 
fruits  of  enterprise  grew  intolerably  insolent,  and  enclosed 
his  castle,  which  was  in  very  deed  a  den  of  thieves,  with  deep 
ditches  and  stout  pallisades,  spending  his  existence  there  in 
continual  rapine  and  bloodshed,  to  the  ruin  of  many.  He 
had  seven  sons5  by  his  wife  Isabel,  who,  as  they  grew  in  years, 
increased  in  wickedness,  so  that  the  cries  of  the  widow  and 
poor  followed  their  evil  deeds. 

On.  XIII.  Claims  of  the  family  of  Beaumont  to  tlie  castle  of 
Ivri — Roger  de  Beaumont  takes  Brionne. 

AT  the  same  time,  another  disturbance  broke  out  in  Nor- 
mandy. Robert,  earl  of  Mellent  came  over  from  England, 
and,  swelling  with  arrogance  in  consequence  of  gifts  and 

long  duration  was  rare  at  that  time  between  the  Norman  lords,  who  were 
ulways  ready  for  mutual  hostilities. 

1  Sequenli.  But  Lent  had  already  commenced,  on  Wednesday  the  1 1th 
of  February. 

1   Hugh  de  Montgomery,  earl  of  Shrewsbury. 

*  He  was  son-in-law  of  Hugh,  lord  of  Chateau-Neuf,  in  Thimerai,  men- 
tioned before,  p.  109.     Hujjh  married  Mabel,  third  daughter  of  Roger  de 
Montgomery,  by  Mabel  de  Belestne. 

4  Breval,  a  strong  castle  on  the  confines  of  Normandy  and  Maine.  See 
bt'bre.  p.  237. 

*  Of  these,  we  only  know  Robert,  lord  of  Ivri,  William  Louvel,  and 
Roger- Ie-Be0'ue. 


488  OEDEBICUS   TITALIS.          [B.VTII.  CH.XI1I. 

promises  made  him  by  King  "William,  went  to  the  duke  at 
Rouen,  and  insolently  demanded  the  restoration  of  the 
castle  of  Ivri.  The  duke  replied,  "  I  gave  Brionne,  a  noble 
castle,  to  your  father  in  exchange  for  that  of  Ivri."  But  the 
earl  of  Mellent  said,  "  I  do  not  agree  to  that  exchange,  and 
I  choose  to  have  what  your  father  gave  to  mine,1  otherwise, 
by  St.  Nicaise  ,2  I  shall  do  what  will  be  very  disagreeable  to 
you."  The  duke  was  greatly  incensed,  and  caused  Eobert 
to  be  arrested,  and  thrown  into  prison  in  the  castle  of  Bri- 
onne, under  the  custody  of  Eobert,  son  of  Baldwin.3  The 
crafty  old  Roger  de  Beaumont,  hearing  that  his  son  was  a 
prisoner,  applied  himself  for  some  days  to  other  affairs,  just 
as  if  he  had  received  no  intelligence  of  his  son's  misfortune, 
hiding  his  grief  under  a  smiling  face.  At  last,  when  he 
thought  the  duke's  wrath  was  somewhat  abated,  he  sent  him 
presents,  and  then  went  to  his  court.  Having  offered  his 
respects  to  the  duke,  and  being  saluted  in  return,  he  thus 
addressed  him :  "  My  lord  duke,  1  return  your  highness 
thanks  for  having  chastised  the  arrogance  of  my  son  with 
princely  severity.  Had  I  sufficient  spirit  at  my  advanced 
age,  I  should  have  long  ago  done  it  myself,  for  his  insolence 
and  disregard  of  my  admonitions  have  often  pained  me.  It 
is  therefore  high  time  that  he  should  be  rebuked,  and  taught 
to  know  how  to  conduct  himself  when  addressing  his  supe- 
riors and  seniors." 

With  language  of  this  sort,  Eoger  contrived  to  conciliate 
the  duke,  who,  not  knowing  what  was  to  follow,  eagerly 
swallowed  the  flattery.  Roger  was  now  familiarly  admitted 
to  the  duke's  councils,  and  it  afterwards  appeared  that  these 
steps  were  all  leading  to  his  son's  liberation.  He  was  one 
of  the  old  and  honoured  nobles  of  Duke  Robert,  and  King 

1  See  before,  p.  428.     It  was  not  the  ownership,  but  only  the  custody  of 
the  castle  of  Ivri,  of  which  the  duke  deprived  Roger  de  Beaumont;  and 
he   received   an    ample   indemnification   in    Brionne,  which  stood  in  the 
heart  of  the  country  and  of  his  own  domain   of  Beaumont  and  Pont- 
Audemer. 

2  Robert  de  Meulan  or  Mellent  appears  to  have  had  a  particular  vene- 
ration for  St.  Nicaise,  patron  of  the  city  of  Menlan,  by  whom  he  swears. 
He  founded  a  priory  to  the  saint's  honour  in  1101. 

3  Robert,  son  of  Baldwin  de  Meules,  and  grandson  of  Gilbert,  count  de 
Brionne.     In  some  MSS.,  instead  of  Robert,  we  read  Roger  de  Bienfaite, 
which  we  shall  presently  see  is  incorrect. 


A.D.  1090.]      BOBEBT,  EABL   OF   MELLENT,  BELEASED.         489 

William ;  son-in-law  of  Waleran,  count  de  Mellent,  and 
brother-in-law  of  Hugh  j1  of  approved  faithfulness  and  loy- 
alty, supported  by  powerful  connections,  both  friends  and 
relations ;  and  in  possession  of  ample  wealth,  lordships,  and 
domains,  with  strong  castles  and  brave  vassals.  He  had 
besides  valiant  and  noble  sons,  one  being  count  of  Mellent, 
in  France,  and  the  other  earl  of  "Warwick  in  England. 
Thus  strong  in  good  sense,  wealth,  and  supporters,  he  one 
day  came  to  the  duke,  and  said,  "  You  ought  to  deal 
graciously  with  me,  my  lord  duke,  recollecting  that  I  have 
always  been  loyal  to  the  princes  of  Normandy.  I  never 
broke  my  fealty  to  iny  liege  lord,  but  on  the  contrary,  have 
done  and  suffered  much  in  his  cause.  You  have  been  your- 
self witness  of  this  in  the  battle  when  I  fought  against  the 
rebels  under  your  father's  eyes,2  where  Roger  of  Spain,  with 
his  sons  Albert  and  Elinance  fell,  besides  many  others.  I 
learnt  from  childhood  the  duty  of  firm  perseverance  in  loy- 
alty. I  received  it  as  the  heritage  of  my  father,  Thorold, 
and  my  grandfather  TJmfrid,  and  I  have  zealously  performed 
it  all  my  life,  both  in  prosperity  and  adversity.  Far  be  it 
from  me  in  my  old  age  to  commit  a  breach  of  faith,  which  I 
have  always  detested,  and  from  my  youth  upwards  used 
every  effort  to  avoid.  Your  father,  therefore  finding  me  ever 
at  his  side,  and  firmly  maintaining  my  allegiance,  as  well 
as  manfully  sustaining  the  evils  to  which  my  fealty  to  him 
exposed  me,  always  admitted  me  to  his  most  secret  coun- 
cils in  preference  to  his  other  nobles."  The  duke  replied 
as  follows,  "  I  know  well,  Sir  Roger,  from  many  witnesses, 
your  great  fidelity  to  my  predecessors,  and  therefore,  aa  they 
highly  esteemed  you,  and  adopted  your  judicious  advice,  I 
also,  taking  advantage  of  your  wisdom,  embrace  your  sugges- 
tions. If  I  have  imprisoned  your  sou,  I  did  it  from  no  ill-will 
to  you,  but  in  consequence  of  his  own  folly  and  insolence,  in 
importuning  and  threatening  me."  Roger  then  said,  "  I 
thank  your  highness  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  for  the 
chastisement  you  inflicted  on  the  rash  youth.  But  now  if 
it  please  your  highness,  I  pray  you  to  pardon  him.  Release 

1  Waleran  II.,  de  Meulan,  1015?— October  8,  1069  or  1070.  Hugh 
II.,  his  son  and  successor,  became  a  monk  at  Bee  in  1077. 

1  For  an  account  of  this  battle,  see  vol.  i.  pp.  150  and  401.  See  also 
William  de  Jumieges,  book  vii.  c.  3. 


490  OKDEEICTJS   YITA.LIS.          [B.VIII.  CH.XIII. 

him  now  that  he  has  been  punished,  and  he  will  be  your 
faithful  servant."  The  duke,  won  by  this  sort  of  language, 
set  at  liberty  the  count  of  Mellent,  and  permitted  him  to 
depart  with  his  father. 

Not  long  afterwards  Eoger  and  his  son  begged  the  duke 
to  restore  Brionne  to  them,  accompanying  the  request  with 
an  offer  of  a  large  sum ;  whereupon  the  duke,  who  was  in 
want  of  money,  lent  a  ready  ear  to  their  proposals,  and 
ordered  Robert,  who  had  the  custody  of  the  castle,  to  give 
it  up  to  Eoger.  His  answer  to  the  duke  was  this  :  "  If  it 
be  your  desire  to  have  Brionne  in  your  own  hands,  as  your 
father  held  it,  I  will  make  no  difficulty  in  delivering  it  to 
you  ;  but  otherwise  I  will  keep  what  is  my  own  inheritance, 
and  yield  it  to  no  man  while  I  live.  It  is  well  known  to  all 
the  inhabitants  of  this  province  that  Eichard  the  elder,  duke 
of  Normandy,  granted  Brionne  with  the  county  belonging 
to  it,  in  full  right  to  his  son  Godfrey,  and  that  on  his  death 
he  left  it  to  his  son  Gilbert.  "When  Count  Gilbert  was 
cruelly  murdered  by  infamous  assassins,  his  sons,  under  the 
care  of  their  guardians,  fled  for  safety  from  his  enemies  to 
the  court  of  Baldwin,  count  of  Flanders,  whereupon  your 
father  attached  part  of  the  domains  to  the  fief  of  my  grand- 
father, distributing  the  rest  among  strangers.  A  long  time 
afterwards,  having  married  the  daughter  of  this  Baldwin  of 
Flanders,  the  duke,  at  his  request,  restored  to  my  father 
Baldwin,  Meules  and  Le  Sap,1  and  gave  him  his  aunt's 
daughter  in  marriage.  At  the  same  time,  he  restored 
Bienfaite  and  Orbec  to  his  brother  Eichard.  At  length,  by 
your  favour,  my  lord,  whom  it  is  my  desire  to  obey  in  all 
things,  I  am  now  in  possession  of  Brionne,  the  principal 
seat  of  my  grandfather,  and,  God  supporting  my  right,  I 
will  keep  it  to  the  end." 

When  Eoger  heard  this,  he  earnestly  encouraged  the 
duke  not  .to  give  way,  but  instantly  collecting  a  body  of 
troops  to  crush  his  refractory  vassal,  and  laying  siege  to  the 
strong  fortress,  which  lay  in  the  very  heart  of  his  dominions, 
compel  its  surrender.  Accordingly  in  Whitsun-week  Duke 
Eobert  sat  down  before  Brionne,  where  Eobert,  son  of 

1  Baldwin,  like  his  father,  bore  a  variety  of  names;  we  find  him 
successively  called  Baldwin  Fitz-Gilbert,  Baldwin  de  Meules,  Baldwin  du 
Sap,  Baldwin  the  Viscount,  and  Baldwin  of  Exeter. 


A.D.  1090.]       CASTLE  OF  BBIONNE  SET  ON  FIBE.  491 

Baldwin,  had  only  six  knights1  to  defend  it  against  an  army. 
The  lord  of  Beaumont  and  the  count  of  Mellent  had  col- 
lected large  bodies  of  soldiers  and  closely  invested  the 
fortress  on  all  sides  to  prevent  any  succour  or  supplies  of 
victuals  being  thrown  in ;  and,  pressing  their  advantage, 
after  the  ninth  day  made  a  vigorous  assault.  It  being  the 
commencement  of  summer,  the  weather  was  very  warm,  and 
there  was  a  great  drought,  of  which  the  besiegers  took 
advantage ;  for  they*  adroitly  heated  the  iron  points  of  their 
missile  weapons  in  a  furnace  which  was  built  for  the  oc- 
casion, and  all  of  a  sudden  hurled  them  on  the  roof  of  the 
great  hall  of  the  castle,  where  the  red-hot  steel  of  the  arrows 
and  javelins,  driven  with  great  force  into  the  shingles,2  set  fire 
to  the  dry  moss  which  in  course  of  time  had  overspread  the 
roof,  so  that  the  whole  was  quickly  in  a  blaze.  Meanwhile 
the  garrison  were  fighting  stoutly  on  the  fortifications,  and 
not  expecting  any  such  manoeuvre,  were  in  great  spirits 
until  they  found  the  flames  rising  over  their  heads.  When 
however  they  discovered  that  the  whole  building  above  them 
was  falling  to  ruins,  the  flames  within  spreading  through 
every  part,  they  surrendered  at  discretion.  Thus  Duke 
Robert,  by  an  assault  which  only  lasted  from  nine  o'clock 
till  sunset,  gained  possession  of  Brionne,  which  it  took  his 
lather,  William,  with  the  aid  of  Henry,  king  of  France, 
three  years  to  reduce,  when  Guy,  son  of  Reynold  of  Bur- 
gundy, shut  himself  up  in  it  after  the  battle  of  Val-des- 
Dunes. 

1  Militibits.  The  chroniclers  using  this  word  for  knights  as  well  as 
common  soldiers,  there  is  often  difficulty  in  giving  the  right  yereion,  unless 
the  context  is  clear.  In  the  present  case,  six  soldiers  would,  indeed,  be  a 
small  garrison  for  such  a  fortress  as  Brionne,  but  that  number  of  knights, 
with  their  retainers,  might  possibly  have  made  a  stout  resistance  against  H 
considerable  force.  M.  Le  Prevost  suggests,  however,  that  the  reading 
may  have  been,  not  sex,  but  sexaginta,  sixty. 

*  It  appears  that  the  roof  of  the  castle  was  covered  with  shingles  of 
wood,  instead  of  slates  or  tiles.  This  is  still  the  case  with  respect  to  many 
of  the  towers  of  the  country  churches  in  the  Lieuvin  and  the  Roumois,  and 
if  the  shingles  were  not  painted,  they  might  be  overgrown  with  mosses  and 
lichens. 

This  castle  is  not  the  same  of  which  some  ruins,  the  keep,  still  exist, 
built,  it  is  supposed,  by  the  lords  of  Harcourt.  It  did  not  stand  on  the 
same  site,  hut  on  an  island  in  the  river  Kisle,  as  William  de  Poitiers  clearly 
points  out.  The  island  was  probably  that  which  lies  between  the  two 
biiilges,  near  an  oil-mill. 


492  ORDERICUS   VITAHS.          [B.VIII.  CH.XIII. 

Gilbert  de  Pin1  commanded  the  troops  employed  in  the 
present  attack  of  the  castle  of  Brionne,  making  a  skilful  dis- 
position of  the  force  from  Pont-Audemer  and  Beaumont,2 
and  leading  them  with  great  daring  iu  their  irresistible 
assault.  But  while  BO  doing  he  was  mortally  wounded  in 
the  head  by  a  dart  hurled  from  above,  and  immediately  car- 
ried, in  a  fainting  state,  by  his  sorrowful  comrades  from  the 
throng  of  battle.  Recovering  shortly  from  his  faintness, 
the  wounded  man  began  shouting  to  the  by-standers  with 
piercing  cries :  "  Wretched,  wretched  men !  what  are  you 
doing  ?  For  what  are  you  spending  your  lives  ?  Why  do 
you  covet  worldly  vanities,  forgetting  the  things  which  are 
really  for  your  good  and  are  eternal  ?  If  you  only  knew 
the  misery  and  torments  which  await  you  as  evil-doers,  and 
could  only  see  for  one  hour  the  horrors  which  I  have  just 
witnessed,  you  would  thenceforth  hold  cheap  all  the  pleasures 
of  this  fleeting  world."  He  tried  to  add  more,  but  his 
speech  failed,  and  thus  the  renowned  soldier  gave  up  the 
ghost. 

The  siege  being  ended,  the  duke  granted  Brionne  to 
Roger,  and  taking  compassion  on  Bobert,  who  had  the 
custody  of  it,  promised  to  restore  him  his  paternal  fief:3  for 

1  There  are  three   communes  of  this  name  in  Normandy:  this  was 
probably  Pin-au-Haras,  near  Exmes,  of  which  Robert  de  Meulan  was  lord. 
Or  Gilbert  might  have  been  a  native  of  Pin  in  the  Lieuvin,  between  Lisieux 
and  Cormeilles,  which  is  at  no  great  distance  from  the  vast  domains  of 
Roger  de  Beaumont  about, Pont-Audemer. 

2  The  two  chief  seats  of  Roger  de  Beaumont's  possessions. 

*  We  have  seen  before,  p.  428,  that  Robert  Curthose  had  deprived 
Roger  de  Beaumont  of  the  custody  of  the  castle  of  Ivri  to  confer  it  on 
William  de  Breteuil,  who  received  Brionne  as  an  indemnity.  It  was 
against  this  exchange  that  the  count  de  Meulan,  Roger's  son,  protested. 
The  office  of  keeper  of  the  castle  of  Ivri  must  not  be  confounded  with 
the  subaltern  appointment  of  provost  of  Ivri,  which  Ascelin  Goe'l  held 
hereditarily  before  the  castle  was  given  up  to  him  by  William  de  Breteuil, 
as  we  find  in  the  sequel. 

According  to  the  continuator  of  William  de  Jumieges,  it  was  Roger  de 
Bienfaite,  and  not  Robert  de  Meules,  who  claimed  Brionne ;  but  Roger 
de  Bienfaite  was  already  indemnified  by  the  lands  of  Hommet  in  Nor- 
mandy, and  Tuubridge  in  England,  while  Baldwin  de  Meules  and  his 
descendants  had  hitherto  received  no  equivalent  for  their  share  of  the 
succession.  The  duke  Robert  could  not  have  entrusted  the  custody  of 
Brionne  to  any  one  more  interested  in  defending  it  against  the  lords  of 
Beaumont  than  Robert  de  Meules,  grandson  of  the  first  proprietor,  Count 


A.D.  1090."]          GILBERT    COUNT   OF   BBIOIWE.  493 

he  was  strongly  supported  by  his  friends  and  kinsmen,  and 
had  many  partisans  in  the  duke's  court.  It  has  been 
already  stated  that  King  William  had  an  especial  regard  for 
Richard  and  Baldwin,  the  sons  of  Count  Gilbert,  and  ad- 
vanced them  in  the  world,  both  on  account  of  their  nearness 
of  blood  and  their  own  valour ;  enriching  them  with  many 
fiefs,  manors,  and  lordships,  both  in  England  and  Nor- 
mandy. Both  the  brothers  also  made  excellent  marriages 
with  wives  of  noble  families.  Richard  married  Rohais, 
daughter  of  Walter  Giffard,1  who  bore  him  several  sons  as 
well  as  daughters.  The  sons  were  Roger,  Gilbert,  Walter, 
Robert,  and  Richard  a  monk  of  Bee,  who  has  been  made 
abbot  of  Ely  by  King  Henry.  Baldwin's  sons  were,  Robert, 
William,  Richard,  and  Viger,  a  bastard.  All  these  distin- 
guished themselves  in  the  stirring  times  of  King  William 
and  his  sons,  floating  on  the  waves  of  this  troublesome 
world  as  they  were  driven  by  the  changeable  gales  of  un- 
stable fortune.  Viger  the  youngest  voluntarily  retired  from 
secular  conflicts,  and  receiving  the  tonsure  in  the  abbey  of 
Bee,  lived  there  as  a  monk  nearly  forty  years,  under  the 
venerable  abbots,  William  and  Boso.2 

CH.  XIV.  Hostilities  between  the  count  of  Evreux  and  the 
lord  of  Conches,  fomented  by  their  wives'  quarrels — The 
castle  of  Conches  besieged — Peace  restored — Dreams  of 
young  Roger  de  Conches,  and  Baldwin,  afterwards  king  of 
Jerusalem. 

WHILE  the  storm  of  battle  was  raging  in  all  parts  ot 
Normandy,  the  province  of  Evreux  could  enjoy  no  tranquil- 
Gilbert.  Emma,  mother  of  Robert  de  Meules,  was  daughter  of  an  aunt  of 
King  William,  perhaps  Adelaide,  wife  of  Reynold  of  Burgundy.  In  that 
case  Robert  would  have  an  additional  title  to  Brionne,  as  nephew  of  Guy 
of  Burgundy. 

With  respect  to  the  castle  of  Tunbridge,  which  was  given  to  Richard  de 
Bienfiiite  in  exchange  for  Brionne,  the  continuator  of  William  de  Jumieges 
gives  the  following  story :  "  A  league  was  measured  with  a  rope  round 
Brionne,  and  the  same  rope  was  carried  over  to  England,  and  employed  in 
measuring  a  league  round  Tunbridge,  so  that  in  the  measurement  as  many 
miles  were  allotted  to  Tunbridge  as  Brionne  was  proved  to  contain." 

1   Walter  Giffard,  son  of  Osbern  de  Bolbec. 

*  William  de  Montfort,  October,  1093— April  16  1124.  Boso,  1124— 
June  24,  1136. 


491  OttDERICTTS   VITALIS.         [B.YIII.  dl.XTV.  . 

lity ;  for  there  a  worse  than  civil  war  was  waged  between 
two  powerful  brothers,  and  the  mischief  was  fomented  bv 
the  spiteful  jealousy  of  their  haughty  wives.  The  Countess 
Havise1  took  offence  at  some  taunts  uttered  by  Isabel  de 
Conches,2  and  used  all  her  influence  with  Count  William3 
and  his  barons  to  induce  them  to  have  recourse  to  arms. 
Thus,  through  women's  slights  and  quarrels  the  hearts  of 
brave  men  were  stirred  to  rage,  and  their  hands  speedily 
imbrued  in  the  blood  of  their  fellow  mortals,  while  burning 
farms  and  villages  completed  the  horrors.  Both  the  ladies 
who  stirred  up  these  fierce  hostilities  were  great  talkers, 
and  spirited  as  well  as  handsome ;  they  ruled  their  hus- 
bands, oppressed  their  vassals,  and  inspired  terror  in  va- 
rious ways.  But  still  their  characters  were  very  different ; 
Havise  had  wit  and  eloquence,  but  she  was  cruel  and 
avaricious.  On  the  contrary,  Isabel  was  generous,  enter- 
prising and  gay,  so  that  she  was  beloved  and  esteemed  by 
those  about  her.  She  rode  in  knightly  armour  when  the 
vassals  took  the  field,  and  exhibited  as  much  daring  among 
belted  knights  and  men-at-arms  as  Camilla,  the  renowned 
virgin  of  Italy  among  the  squadrons  of  Turnus.  Nor  was 
she  inferior  to  Lampedona  and  Marseppa,  Hyppolyta,  and 
Penthesilia,  and  the  other  warrior-queens  of  the  Amazons, 
spoken  of  by  Pompeius  Trogus4  and  Virgil,  and  other  writers 
of  history,  with  whom  the  kings  of  Asia  formed  connexions, 
and  who,  for  fifteen  years,  ruled  the  Asiatic  nations.  The 
people  of  Evreux  had  many  allies,  so  that  they  harassed 
those  of  Conches  by  continually  burning  their  property, 
and  carried  off  much  booty.  But  there  was  no  great  dis- 
parity, and  the  others,  in  turn,  took  their  revenge.  Mean- 
while Ealph5  went  to  the  court  of  Duke  Robert,  and  laying 

1  Havise,  daughter  of  William,  count  de  Nevers,  and  wife  of  William, 
count  d'Evreux,  died  in  1114. 

*  Isabel,  or  Elizabeth,  de  Montfort  L'Amauri,  was  daughter  of  Simon, 
lord  of  Montfort,  and  wife  of  Ralph,  lord  of  Conches  and  Toeni.    Conches 
stands  about  four  leagues  to  the  south-west  of  Evreux. 

3  Her  husband,  the  count  of  Evreux. 

4  This    is   no   place  for   commenting   on  the  fabulous   history  of  the 
Amazons,  but  we  may  be  permitted  to  take  the  opportunity  of  expressing 
our  regrets  for  the  loss  of  the  great  historical  work  of  Trogus  Pompeius, 
which  is  the  more  singular  as  the  cotemporaries  of  Ordericus  possessed  it. 

*  Ralph  II.,  lord  of  Conches,  Elizabeth's  husband. 


A.D.  1090.]  FAMILY   FEUDS.  495 

before  him  an  account  of  the  losses  to  which  he  was  exposed 
by  the  aggressions  of  his  neighbours,  demanded  the  aid 
which  he  had  a  right  to  expect  from  his  liege  lord ;  but  his 
complaints  were  fruitless  and  he  obtained  no  redress.  Upon 
this  he  turned  his  attention  to  another  quarter,  being  com- 
pelled to  seek  a  protector  where  he  could.  He  therefore 
made  application  by  his  envoys  to  the  king  of  England,  and 
laying  his  distressed  circumstances  before  him,  promised 
him  the  fealty  of  all  his  estates  if  he  would  afford  him  suc- 
cour. The  king  was  highly  pleased  at  the  proposal,  and 
promised  efficacious  aid  to  the  suppliant  who  so  much 
needed  it.  In  consequence  he  gave  orders  to  Count  Ste- 
phen1 and  Gerard  de  Gournai,  with  the  other  officers  who 
were  in  command  of  his  retainers  in  Normandy,  that  they 
should  render  every  assistance  to  .Ralph,  and  throw  supplies 
of  all  kinds  into  his  castles.  Accordingly  they  obeyed  with 
alacrity  the  royal  commands  and  gave  their  support  to 
Kalph,  striving  earnestly  to  do  the  king's  pleasure. 

In  the  month  of  November  Count  William  assembled  a 
large  body  of  troops-  and  laid  siege  to  Conches.  His  two 
nephews,  William  de  Breteuil  and  Richard  de  Montfort, 
with  their  vassals,  joined  him  in  the  attack  upon  the  people 
of  Conches.  Then  Richard  de  Montfort,  while  taking  pos- 
session of  the  abbey  of  St.  Peter  de  Chatillon,2  regardless  of 
the  respect  due  to  the  monks,  who  cried  to  the  Lord  with 
bitter  lamentations,  died  the  same  day  to  the  great  grief  of 
both  parties ;  for  he  was  Isabel's  twin-brother  as  well  as 
nephew  of  Count  William  by  his  sister.  Both  parties  there- 
fore deplored  the  death  of  the  brave  marcher,  who  perished 
while  persisting  in  an  evil  deed,  urged  on  by  his  pride  and 
rashness.  His  followers  bore  their  lord's  body  to  his  native 
place,  and  he  was  buried  in  the  churchyard  of  St.  Thomas 
the  Apostle,  at  Epernon.3  There  the  monks  of  Marmoutier 
regularly  serve  God,4  and  there  also  the  old  Simon,  son  of 
Amauri,  and  his  sons,  are  buried. 

Not  long  afterwards  the  people  of  Evreux  assembled 
again,  and  made  an  irruption  into  the  territory  of  Con- 

1  Stephen,  count  d'Aumale. 

*  At  Conches,  by  which  name  it  was  afterwards  generally  known. 

s  Epernon  is  four  leagues  from  Montfort-Amauri. 

4  This  priory  i-t.mdn  in  the  suburb  called  the  bourg  St.  Thomas. 


496  OKDERTCUS   TITALIS.  [B.VIII.  CII.XIV 

ches  to  avenge  their  discomfiture.  At  this  time  Ralph 
had  in  the  castle  a  very  strong  body  of  his'  own  and  the 
king's  adherents ;  but  when  the  young  knights  were  eager 
to  sally  forth,  he  said  to  them  :  "  Arm  yourselves  and  stand 
ready,  but  do  not  leave  the  fortress  until  I  give  the  order. 
Permit  the  enemy  to  encumber  himself  with  booty,  and  we 
will  fall  upon  him  as  he  is  retiring."  The  youthful  soldiers 
were  ready  to  obey  the  'commands  of  so  brave  and  ex- 
perienced a  commander,  and  pursuing  the  people  of  Evreux 
when  they  were  loaded  with  booty,  charged  them  with  great 
fury,  and  putting  them  to  flight,  recovered  the  spoil.  William 
de  Breteuil  and  many  others  were  taken  prisoners  ;  and,  in 
consequence,  peace  was  proposed.  The  count  of  Evreux 
and  his  party  were  ashamed  that,  having  commenced  hostili- 
ties through  their  arrogance,  they  had  suffered  the  greatest 
losses,  and  therefore  after  the  war  had  been  carried  on  three 
years,  they  consented  to  an  accommodation,  and  a  meeting 
being  held,  the  following  terms  were  agreed  on:  "William1 
paid  his  uncle  three  thousand  livres  for  his  ransom,  and 
made  his  cousin  Roger,  Ralph's  son,  heir  to  the  whole  of  his 
fief.  The  count  of  Evreux  appointed  the  same  Roger,2  who 
was  his  own  nephew,  his  successor  in  the  county.  But 
Divine  Providence,  which  is  not  ruled  by  the  will  of  man, 
provided  otherwise.  The  young  Roger  was  of  an  excellent 
disposition  and  much  beloved  by  his  companions  and  the 
vassals  and  neighbours.  He  had  a  great  regard  for  the 
clergy  and  monks,  paying  them  due  reverence.  Rejecting 
the  pomp  of  dress,  in  which  the  nobility  too  much  gloried, 
his  whole  demeanour  was  simple  and  modest.  Upon  one 
occasion,  when  the  knights  were  amusing  themselves  in  the 
hall  at  Conches3  with  various  games,  and  talking  on  different 
subjects,  as  the  custom  is,  the  Lady  Elizabeth 4  being  present, 
one  of  them  said:  "I  had  a  dream  lately,  which  much 
alarmed  me :  I  saw  the  Lord  on  the  cross,  his  whole  body 
livid  and  writhing  with  torture,  while  I  fixed  my  eyes  upon 
him  in  great  terror."  At  this  account  his  companions 
remarked :  "  This  dream  of  yours  was  solemn  and  fearful, 

1  William  de  Breteuil. 

3  Roger  de  Toeni,  second  son  of  Ralph  de  Conches. 

8  Some  ruins  of  the  castle,  of  which  this  hall  was  pnrt,  are  still  standing. 

4  Elizabeth,  his  mother,  lady  of  Conches,  before  called  Isabel. 


A.D.  1090.]  A  VISION  AT   CONCHES.  497 

and  seems  to  forebode  some  terrible  judgment  of  God  upon 
you."  Baldwin,  son  of  Eustace,  count  of  Boulogne,  then 
said  :  "  I  too,  lately  saw  in  a  dream  the  Lord  Jesus  hanging 
on  the  cross  ;  but  in  my  vision  he  was  bright  and  glorious, 
and  smiled  benignantly  upon  me,  graciously  making  the  sign 
of  the  cross  on  my  head."  Upon  this  the  by-standers 
observed ;  "  This  vision  seems  to  promise  you  some  singular 
grace  and  favour." 

The  young  Eoger  having  heard  what  passed  said  to  his 
mother,  "  I  know  a  person,  not  far  off,  who  lately  had  a 
vision  of  the  same  kind."  His  mother's  curiosity  was  ex- 
cited, and  she  pressed  him  to  tell  who  it  was,  and  what  was 
seen  ;  but  the  youth  blushed,  and  was  unwilling  to  make  it 
public.  At  length,  however,  he  yielded  to  her  repeated 
entreaties,  in  which  his  friends  present  joined,  and  thus 
replied  :  "  A  certain  person  lately  saw  in  a  vision  the  Lord 
Jesus  laying  his  hand  on  his  head,  who  graciously  blessed 
him,  calling  him  in  these  words :  '  Come  quickly  to  me, 
beloved,  and  I  will  give  thee  the  joys  of  life.'  I  therefore 
affirm  most  assuredly  that  one  who  I  know  has  been  called 
by  the  Lord,  will  not  live  long." 

Soon  afterwards,  the  three  young  men  experienced  differ- 
ent fates,  corresponding  with  what  each  had  related.  The 
first  was  severely  wounded  while  engaged  in  a  hostile  inroad, 
and  died  without  having  confessed  and  received  the  viati- 
cum. Baldwin,  Ralph  de  Conches'  son-in-law,  took  the  sign 
of  the  cross  on  his  left  shoulder,1  and,  on  the  summons  of 
Pope  Urban,  joined  the  pilgrimage  against  the  infidels.  In 
that  expedition  he  distinguished  himself  beyond  all  his 
compeers,  being  gloriously  sustained  by  the  Divine  cross- 
bearer  he  had  seen  in  his  dream.  First,  he  was  made  duke 
of  Rages,  that  is  of  Edessa,  a  most  flourishing  city,  and  some 
years  afterwards,  on  the  death  of  his  brother,  he  was  elected 
king  of  Jerusalem,  where  he  long  reigned.  He  was  con- 
stantly engaged  in  wars  with  the  infidels,  in  which,  by 
God's  help,  he  nobly  triumphed.  As  to  Roger,  he  took  to 
his  bed  the  same  year  the  visions  were  seen,  and  having  de- 

1  Every  one  knows  that  this  was  the  badge  of  the  Crusaders.     Baldwin, 

who  was  afterwards  count  of  Edessa  and  king  of  Jerusalem,  married  God- 

childe,  daughter  of  Ralph  de  Conches,  and  widow  of  Robert  de  Neubourg. 

In  the  next  book  there  is  an  account  of  her  death  during  the  first  crusade. 

VOL.  II.  K  K 


498  OBDERICTJS   TITALIS.  [s.VIII.  CH.XV. 

voutly  performed  all  that  becomes  a  Christian,  departed  on 
the  ides  [15th]  of  May,  and  was  buried,  amidst  general 
grief,  with  his  ancestors  at  Chatillon,  where  he  rests. 

CH.  XV.  Insurrection  at  Houen — Fomented  by  William 
Rufus — Quelled  by  Prince  Henry — Traffic  end  of  Conan, 
its  leader. 

AT  the  same  time,  Prince  Henry  ably  governed  the  Coten- 
tin,  and  stood  on  his  guard  with  great  firmness  against  his 
brothers.  He  was  exasperated  with  the  duke  for  the  cap- 
tivity he  had  recently  undergone  at  his  hands.  He  was  no 
less  at  variance  with  King  William  in  regard  to  his  mother's 
lands  in  England,  of  which  his  brother  had  disseised  him, 
and  then  granted  them  to  Robert  Fitz  Hamon.1  In  this 
state  of  affairs,  he  kept  his  fortresses  always  prepared  for 
war,  and  wisely  conciliated  the  favour  of  several  of  his 
father's  barons,  who  became  his  adherents.  Among  his 
principal  castles  were  Avranches,  Cherbourg,  Coutances, 
and  Gavrai :  while  Count  Hugh,2  Eichard  de  Eeviers,3  and 
the  other  lords  of  the  Cotentin,  except  Eobert  de  Mowbray,4 
joined  him,  and  gathering  aid  on  all  sides,  either  by  fair 
words  or  rewards,  his  strength  was  daily  on  the  increase. 
Normandy  was  therefore  a  prey  to  unceasing  calamities,  and 
the  infernal  furies  made  human  beings,  villages,  and  houses, 
the  victims  of  fire  and  slaughter. 

The  influence  of  the  English   king  extended  through 

1  See  before,  p.  250. 

*  Hugh,  viscount  d' Avranches,  earl  of  Chester. 

*  Richard  de  Reviers,  near  Creuilli,  son  of  Baldwin,  whose  name  appears 
as  subscribing  the  charter  of  the  Abbaye-aux  Dames  in  1082,  was  descended, 
it  is  said,  from  Osmond  de  Centevilles,  viscount  de  Vernon,  and  a  niece  of 
the  duchess  Gonnor  ;  but  this  descent  is  very  doubtful,  as  far  as  the  male 
line  is  concerned.     The  castellans  of  Vernon  were  not  called  Osmund,  but 
Hugh  and  William,  and  the  latter  survived  to  the  conquest.     As  to  the 
female  line,  there  is  more  probability,  and  our  author's  account  of  the 
descent  is  confirmed  by  a  document  in  the  chartulary  of  Carisbrook,  which 
calls  Richard  de  Reviers  nephew  of  William  Fitz-Osberne,  who  was  him- 
self nephew  of  the  duchess  Gonnor.     Perhaps  it  was  Adeliza,  wife  of 
Richard  de  Reviers,  who  was  daughter  and  heiress  of  the  lords  of  Vernon. 
It  was  in  right  of  the  castle  of  Vernon  that  Ordericus  reckons  Richard 
among  the  inhabitants  of  the  Cotentin. 

*  Robert  de  Mowbray,  oftened  mentioned  before,  nephew  of  Geoffrey, 
bishop  of  Coutances. 


A.D.  1090.]  INSUEEECTIOK  AT   BOTJEN.  499 

almost  every  part  of  Normandy,  and  having  gained  over  the 
barons  by  means  of  his  wealth,  the  province,  in  which  its 
own  prince  had  lost  all  power,  lay  at  his  feet.  Even  the 
citizens  of  Rouen,  allured  by  the  royal  promises  and  bribes, 
began  to  talk  of  deposing  Robert,  and  consulted  the  means 
of  giving  up  the  capital  of  Normandy,  with  their  drowsy  duke, 
to  the  king.  Conan,  son  of  Gilbert  Pilet,was  at  the  head  of  the 
conspirators ;  a  person  of  great  influence,  as  he  was  the  rich- 
est man  in  Rouen.  Having  made  a  league  with  the  king  for 
putting  him  in  possession  of  the  place,  his  immense  wealth 
made  him  very  powerful,  and  enabled  him  proudly  to  main- 
tain in  his  household  a  crowd  of  soldiers  and  retainers  in 
opposition  to  the  duke.  The  greatest  part  of  the  townsmen 
were  of  his  faction ;  some  however  were  for  maintaining 
their  allegiance  to  the.  duke,  and  resisted  and  hindered  by  all 
the  obstacles  in  their  power  his  traitorous  design.  But 
Conan,  relying  on  the  concurrence  of  his  fellow  citizens, 
fixed  a  time,  and  on  the  appointed  day  summoned  the 
king's  troops  from  G-ournai,  and  the  other  fortified  places 
which  were  in  their  possession,  directing  them  to  march  on 
Rouen  without  loss  of  time.  Meanwhile,  the  duke,  discover- 
ing the  serious  conspiracy  on  foot  against  him,  called  to  his 
councils  his  most  trusted  friends.  In  this  juncture  he  made 
alliances  with  his  brother  Henry  and  some  others  with 
whom  he  had  been  at  variance,  and  despatched  hasty  mes- 
sengers to  William,  count  of  Evreux,  Robert  de  Belesme, 
William  de  Breteuil,  Gilbert  de  Laigle,  and  his  other 
adherents,  to  inform  them  of  his  danger.  Henry  was  the 
first  to  come  to  his  succour,  bringing  a  reinforcement  which 
enabled  him  to  inflict  condign  punishment  on  the  traitor 
Conan. 

On  the  3rd  of  November  Gilbert  de  Laigle  arrived  with 
a  troop  of  horse  for  the  duke's  service,  and  crossing  the 
bridge  over  the  Seine  reached  Rouen  on  the  southern  side1 
at  the  same  time  that  Reynold  de  Warrenne,2  at  the  head  of 

1  Gilbert's  cavalry  approached  Rouen  on  the  south  side,  by  the  bridge 
over  the  Seine,  which  then  stood  on  the  same  spot  as  that  afterwards 
erected  by  the  Empress  Matilda  in  1167,  where  the  suspension  bridge  now 
stands.  Not  only  the  bridge,  but  great  part  of  what  is  now  the  rue  Grand- 
Font,  was  then  outside  the  city. 

3  Reynold  de  Warrenne,  second  son  of  William  de  Warrenne,  earl  of 
Surrey,  was  on  the  king's  side. 

K  K  2 


500  OllDEBICUS   YITALIS.  [B.VIII.  CH.IT. 

three  hundred  men-at-arms,  galloped  up  to  the  gate  of 
Chaux.1  Upon  this  Gilbert  shouted  to  his  followers :  "  Be 
on  the  alert,  and  get  your  arms  in  order,  there  is  no  time 
for  delay ;  see,  the  enemy  is  approaching  from  the  south  to 
attack  us,  and  our  gallant  comrades  are  rapidly  advancing 
from  the  west  to  our  support;  be  ready  then  to  receive 
both  our  allies  and  our  enemies  as  we  ought ;  open  your 
ranks  to  admit  our  friends,  and  close  them  firmly  against 
our  foes."  One  body  of  the  townsmen  fled  to  arms  to  resist 
Gilbert  and  his  troop,  while  others  flocked  to  the  western 
gate,  and  set  to  work  to  force  it  open  and  give  admission  to 
Reynold  and  his  followers.  Besides  this,  some  of  the  king's 
adherents  had  already  contrived  to  find  their  way  into  the 
place,  and  having  watched  secretly  for  the  moment  of 
action,  were  quite  ready  to  support  the  rebellion,  waiting 
with  impatience  the  delay  of  the  outbreak. 

At  last  the  tumult  began  to  rage  both  among  the  troops 
and  the  citizens,  whose  shouts  were  heard  on  all  sides,  the 
whole  place  being  thrown  into  confusion,  and  venting  its 
fury  in  mutual  attacks ;  for  many  of  the  townsmen  fought  at 
both  the  gates  against  their  relations  and  neighbours,  one 
part  rallying  for  the  duke,  the  other  for  the  king.  The 
duke  perceiving  the  struggle  that  was  taking  place  in  the 
city  issued  forth  from  the  castle,2  with  his  brother  Henry 
and  his  troops,  and  hastened  to  the  sliccour  of  his  party  in 
the  town.  But  while  all  was  in  the  confusion  of  this  wild 
tumult,  and  the  citizens  hardly  knew  which  side  to  take, 
the  duke  was  persuaded  by  his  friends  to  make  his  escape 
with  a  few  followers,  from  apprehension  that  he  was  fool- 
ishly exposing  himself  to  perils  which  could  bring  him  no 

1  "  We  suppose  that  the  gate  of  Chaux  stood  at  that  time  on  the  site  or 
the  present  great  clock-tower  (Grosse  Horloge).  A  few  lines  further,  our 
author  calls  this  the  west  gate.  It  is  probable  that  the  circuit  of  the  walls 
of  Rouen  had  then  only  four  gates  at  the  four  cardinal  points."  M.  Le 
Privost.  We  do  not  understand,  however,  how  Gilbert  could  point  his 
men  to  support  coming  from  the  west,  if  Reynold  de  Warrenne  and  the 
troops  of  William  Rufus  were  just  making  their  appearance  at  that  gate. 
Nor  does  it  appear  who  were  the  enemy  on  their  own  track  from  the 
south,  but  they  were  probably  the  auxiliary  forces  of  William  de  Breteuil, 
the  count  de  Belesme,  and  the  lord  of  Laigle,  as  we  presently  find  them 
in  the  city. 

a  The  castle  of  Rouen  stood  at  the  south-east  angle  of  the  square 
mentioned  in  a  preceding  note.  It  is  now  railed  the  Old  Tower. 


A.D.  1090.]          THE   IKSUEBECTION   QUELLED.  501 

honour,  and  to  the  eternal  ridicule  of  all  the  Normans.  He 
therefore  went  out  at  the  east  gate,1  and  was  dutifully  re- 
ceived as  their  lawful  sovereign  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
suburban  village,  called  Mal-Palu.a  A  boat  was  then  got 
ready,  and  embarking  on  the  Seine  he  left  the  storm  of  bat- 
tle behind,  and  proceeded  by  water,  in  great  alarm,  to  the 
village  of  Emendreville.3  He  was  received  on  his  landing 
by  William  d'Arques,  a  monk  of  Moleme,4  and  waited  there, 
in  the  church  of  Notre-Dame-du-Pre,4  the  issue  of  the 
insurrection. 

Gilbert  de  Laigle,  having  forced  an  entrance  through  the 
southern  gate  by  the  intrepidity  of  his  followers,  aided  by 
the  exertions  of  the  citizens  who  had  not  taken  the  side  of 
the  traitors,  he  joined  Prince  Henry  and  the  duke's  other 
auxiliaries,  and  charged  the  rebels  who  had  possession  of 
the  city.  These  presumptuous  and  guilty  traitors,  failing 
in  their  wicked  enterprise,  the  party  of  the  duke  now  took 
courage,  and  Gilbert  furiously  assaulted  and  crushed  the 
enemy.  There  was  great  slaughter  of  the  townsmen,  and 
Conan,  the  leader  of  the  insurgents,  was  taken  prisoner 
with  many  others.  The  city  resounded  with  cries  of  grief 
and  terror,  the  women  making  loud  lamentations,  while  the 
men  were  fighting,  falling,  and  fleeing.  The  innocent  and 
guilty  alike  were  everywhere  butchered,  or  captured  or 
driven  to  flight.  When  it  appeared  that  the  citizens  were 
divided  among  themselves,  and  that  severe  misfortunes  were 
impending,  the  royal  troops  withdrew  in  confusion,  and 
hastily  gaining  the  shelter  of  the  neighbouring  woods,  con- 
cealed themselves  there  until  under  cover  of  night,  they, 
with  some  difficulty,  escaped  the  risk  of  death  or  captivity. 

Meanwhile,  Conan  was  conveyed  by  the  victors  into  the 
castle,  and  Prince  Henry  having  taken  him  to  the  summit  of 
the  tower  said  to  him  ironically :  "  See,  Conan,  what  a  beauti- 
ful country  you  have  tried  to  become  master  of.  There,  to  the 

1  This  gate  stood  at  the  end  of  the  rue  St.  Remain. 

*  Being  now  included  in  the  city,  it  has  left  its  name  to  a  street  so 
called. 

*  Now  the  faubourg  of  St.  Sever. 

*  This  monk  is  mentioned  before  as  one  of  the  counsellors  of  Robert 
Curthose. 

4  The  priory  of  Notre-Dame-du-Pre",  now  Bonne-Nouvelle,  a  dependency 
on  the  abbey  of  Bee,  which  was  founded  by  William  and  Matilda. 


502  OBDERICUS   VITALIS.  [B.TIII.  CH.XT. 

south,  a  delightful  park l  is  spread  before  your  eyes :  see  its 
wooded  glades,  well  stocked  with  beasts  of  chace.  There 
flows  the  Seine,  abounding  in  fish,  washing  the  city  walls, 
and  bearing  daily  on  its  bosom  ships  loaded  with  rich 
cargoes  of  merchandise  to  the  port  of  .Rouen.  See,  on  the 
other  side,  that  populous  city,  with  its  strong  walls,  and 
churches,  and  stately  houses,  the  capital  of  Normandy  from 
the  earliest  times."  Conan,  trembling  at  the  prince's  ironi- 
cal insult,  groaned  aloud,  and  imploring  his  clemency,  said : 
"  I  confess  my  guilt,  which  has  justly  subjected  me  to  con- 
demnation, but  I  beg  for  mercy,  in  the  name  of  God,  the 
Creator  of  all  things.  I  will  give,  my  lord,  for  my  ransom, 
all  the  gold  and  silver  which  can  be  found  in  my  own  coffers 
and  in  those  of  my  friends,  and  I  will  efface  the  crime  of 
my  disloyalty  by  dutiful  allegiance  to  the  end  of  my  days." 
Henry,  however,  replied :  "  By  the  soul  of  my  mother,2  I 
will  take  no  ransom  for  a  traitor ;  the  death  he  has  deserved 
shall  be  instant."  Then  Conan  cried  aloud  with  a  lament- 
able voice :  "  For  the  love  of  God,  allow  me  first  to  have  a 
confessor."  But  Henry,  impatient  to  avenge  his  brother's 
wrongs,  in  the  fury  of  his  passion  paid  no  regard  to  the 
prayers  of  the  wretched  man,s  and  seizing  him  with  both 
hands,  dashed  him  backward  from  the  tower  window.  The 
wretch's  limbs  were  broken  by  the  fearful  fall,  but  he  had 
ceased  to  live  before  he  reached  the  ground.  The  corpse 
was  fastened  to  the  tail  of  a  horse,  and  dragged  with  dis- 
grace through  all  the  streets  of  Rouen,  to  strike  terror  into 
the  rebels.  The*  place  where  the  deed  of  vengeance  was 
wrought  is  called  to  this  day  "  Conan's  leap." 

Duke  Eobert  returning  from  the  church  of  Notre- 
Dame-du-Pre  to  the  castle,  and  learning  what  had  hap- 
pened, was  touched  with  compassion  and  deeply  lamented 
the  miseries  of  the  citizens ;  but  the  sterner  coun- 
sels of  the  nobles  prevailed,  and  he  was  not  allowed  to 
pardon  the  guilty.  Eobert  de  Belesme  and  William  de 

1  The  park  of  the  dukes  of  Normandy,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Seine, 
included  the  lands  of  Sotteyille,  Grammont,  St.  Etienne-du-Rouvrai,  the 
forest  of  Kouvrai,  Le  Petit  Couronne,  and  the  priory  of  St.  Julien. 

*  Henry's  respect  for  his  mother,  Queen  Matilda's,  memory,  did  not, 
however,  prevent  his  pillaging  the  domains  which  she  gave  to  the  Abbaye- 
aux-Dames,  as  we  shall  shortly  see. 


A.D.  1090.]  CALAMITIES    OF   irOKMAlTDT.  503 

Breteuil  bad  arrived,  and  they  treated  the  inhabitants  of 
Rouen  as  if  they  had  been  aliens  and  robbers,  carrying  them 
off  and  throwing  them  into  loathsome  dungeons.  Wil- 
liam, son  of  Ansger,  one  of  the  richest  of  the  citizens,  was 
led  away  captive  by  "William  de  Breteuil,  and  after  long 
undergoing  the  horrors  of  a  prison,  was  permitted  to  ran- 
som himself  for  three  thousand  livres.1  Thus  the  people  of 
Belesme  and  Laigle,  and  the  duke's  other  auxiliaries,  exer- 
cised the  greatest  cruelties  against  their  own  fellow  country- 
men, and  evil-entreated  the  citizens  of  the  capital  of 
Normandy,  dragging  them  away  captives,  and  stripped  of 
everything  as  if  they  had  been  barbarian  enemies. 

To  what  calamities  was  now  reduced  that  proud  Nor- 
mandy which  so  lately  triumphed  in  the  conquest  of  Eng- 
land, and  destroying  or  expelling  her  native  sons,  usurped 
their  lands  and  their  government !  The  prodigious  wealth 
which  was  wrung  from  others,  and  enriched  by  which  she 
exalted  herself  to  her  own  destruction,  has  now,  so  far  from 
turning  to  her  advantage,  become  the  source  of  the  severest 
torments.  Now,  like  Babylon,  she  drinks  herself  of  the  cup 
of  tribulation,  which  she  gave  to  others.  At  the  sight  of  so 
many  evils  the  impoverished  clergy  weeps,  the  convents  of 
monks  lament,  and  the  helpless  people  are  everywhere  deso- 
late and  sorrowful.  They  only  rejoice,  and  their  triumph 
will  be  of  short  duration,  who  can  rob  and  thieve  without 
restraint.  Alas !  the  respect  for  the  priesthood,  to  which 
once  all  did  reverence,  is  nearly  extinct  in  the  flood  of 
calamities  which  so  violently  rages.  Why  have  the  furies 
such  unbounded  licence  to  revel  in  Normandy,  crushing  its 
inhabitants  and  overwhelming  them  in  its  ruins  ?  In  the 
days  when  there  was  no  king  or  ruler  in  Jerusalem,  the  re- 
bellious people  sacrificed  to  the  golden  calves  of  Jeroboam 
in  Dan  and  Bethel.2  Therefore  it  was  that  Joel  wept  for 
and  exhorted  the  transgressors  of  the  law,  harassed  by  the 
palmer-worm,  the  canker-worm,  the  locust,  and  caterpillar. 
By  the  four  plagues  mentioned  by  the  prophet3  are  sig- 
nified, fear,  desire,  grief,  and  joy.  Fear  and  desire  stimu- 

1  Exactly  the  snmc  ransom  which  we  have  eeen  William  de  Bretueil 
pay  to  his  uncle,  Ralph  de  Conches. 
1  1  Kings  xii.  28. 
»  Uoel  i.  4. 


504  OEDEBICUS   VITALIS.  [B.TIII.  CH.XTI. 

late  and  corrode  the  hearts  of  men,  and  overwhelm  and 
destroy  them  with  fatal  joy  or  grief.  Joys  minister  to 
lust,  sorrows  lead  to  cruelty.  Virgil  speaks  of  them  thus 
in  his  poem  :l 

Desire  and  fear  by  turns  possess  their  hearts, 
And  grief  and  joy  :  nor  can  the  grovelling  mind 
In  the  dark  dungeon  of  the  limbs  confined, 
Assert  its  native  skies,  or  own  its  heavenly  kind. 

Those  who  are  plunged  in  the  gloom  of  the  world's  troubles 
can  neither  enjoy  the  light  of  true  wisdom  nor  extricate 
themselves  from  the  snares  of  vice.  I  see  many  passages  in 
the  sacred  writings  which  are  so  adapted  to  the  circum- 
stances of  the  present  times,  that  they  seem  parallel.  But 
I  leave  to  studious  persons  the  task  of  inquiry  into  these 
allegorical  quotations  and  the  interpretations  applicable  to 
the  state  of  mankind,  and  will  endeavour  to  continue  the 
history  of  Norman  affairs  a  little  further  in  all  simplicity. 

CH.  XVI.  Robert  de  Belesme  erects  castles,  and  commences 
hostilities  with  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil  and  his  kindred — 
Lays  siege  to  Gourd — Even  ts  of  the  siege — The  pacification — 
William  Itufus  crosses  over  to  Normandy,  and  is  reconciled 
with  the  duke,  Robert  Curthose. 

HAVING  now  described  the  reverses  of  the  people  of  Evreus, 
and  the  revolt  and  sufferings  of  the  citizens  of  Rouen,  I 
purpose  to  relate  the  contests  and  calamities  of  the  people 
of  Oxmes.2  Robert  de  Belesme  built  a  castle  on  an  elevated 
spot  which  is  commonly  called  Fourches,  and,  transferring 
there  the  inhabitants  of  Vignats,  sought  to  reduce  all  the 
neighbours  under  his  tyranny.  He  erected  another  fortress 
called  Chateau  Groutier,3  at  La  Courbe,*  on  the  river  Orne, 
by  which  he  would  be  enabled  to  impose  his  yoke,  however 
unjustly,  on  all  the  district  of  the  Houlme.5  Thus  aggran- 
dized far  beyond  his  parentage  and  ancestors,  he  attacked  his 

1  H'vnc  mctuunt,  cupiuntque  ;  dolent,  gaudentque ;  neque  auras 
'Respiciunt,  clauses  tenebris  et  careers  cesco. — ^En.  vi.  734,  735. 
3  The  inhabitants  of  the  Hiemois. 

8  Chateau  Goutier,  on  the  neck^of a  peninsula  formed  by  the  Orne. 
*  La  Courbe,  in  the  canton  of  Ecouche. 
5  The  Houlme  formed  the  western  part  of  the  diocese  of  S4ez. 


A.D.  1090.]  FAMILY   OF   GBANTMESNIL.  503 

equals  almost  every  where  in  Normandy,  where  a  protector  of 
just  rights  was  not  to  be  found,  and  began  to  harass  his  im- 
mediate neighbours.  Finding  this,  the  Norman  nobles  were 
much  disturbed,  and  their  disquietudes  grew  to  such  a  pitch 
that  they  had  long  and  frequent  consultations  on  the  subject 
of  resisting  these  inroads.  The  first  to  take  arms,  because  they 
were  the  nearest  to  the  tyrant's  borders  and  most  exposed 
to  his  nefarious  attempts,  were  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil1  and 
Eichard  de  Courci,2  who  drew  supplies  of  arms  and  pro- 
visions to  their  castles  and  strengthened  the  garrisons. 
These  knights  were  now  grey-headed,  but  their  spirit  was 
high  and  noble,  and  their  intimate  connection  increased 
their  power;  for  Robert,  Hugh's  son,  had  married  Hugh's 
daughter,8  and  she  had  borne  her  husband  five  sons. 

The  noble  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil  was  in  his  youth  distin- 
guished for  his  valour,  and  married  a  very  beautiful  lady, 
Adeliza,4  daughter  of  Ivo,  count  de  Beaumont,  by  whom  he 
had  Eobert,  William,  Hugh,  Ivo,  and  Aubrey  ;  Adeline, 
Havise,  Eohais,  Matilda,  and  Agnes.  This  large  and 
promising  family  was  a  prey  to  various  misfortunes,  so  that 
none  of  them  except  Eobert  lived  to  old  age.  He  was  the 
eldest,  and,  surviving  all  his  brothers  and  sisters,  was  thrice 
married  before  he  was  advanced  in  years.  His  first  wife 
was  Agnes,  daughter  of  Eanulf  of  Bayeux,8  the  second, 
Emma,  daughter  of  Eobert  D'Estoteville,4  and  he  married 
lastly  Lucy,  daughter  of  Savaric  Fitz-Cane.7  William  and 

1  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil,  viscount  or  sheriff  of  Leicestershire,  and 
governor  of  Winchester. 

a  Richard,  lord  of  Courci-sur-Dive. 

3  Rohais,  or  Rohesia,  third  daughter  of  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil. 

*  Adeliza,  daughter  of  Ivo  II.,  count  de  Beaumont-sur-Oise,  founder  of 
the  priory  of  Conflans,  by  Judith,  his  first  wife. 

5  Ranulf  de  Briquesart,  viscount  de  Bayeux,  nephew  and  heir  of  Hugh, 
earl  of  Chester. 

8  Robert  D'Estoteville,  surnamed  Grand-Bois,  lord  of  Estoteville-sur- 
mer,  canton  of  Yerville,  is  the  first  person  on  record  of  this  illustrious 
family. 

7  She  was  married  to  Ralph,  viscount  of  Maine.  Their  son,  Saveric, 
was  half-brother  of  Hubert  de  Sainte  Suzanne,  of  whom  we  have  heard 
before  (p.  3?8).  He  was  still  a  minor  in  1060,  when  he  was  a  consenting 
party  to  a  donation  in  favour  of  t^.e  monks  of  Vivoin.  His  sons  were 
Ralph,  Savaric  Fitz-Savaric,  and  Godwin.  A  charter  of  King  Richard, 
dated  at  Gorron,  March  31,  1190,  confirms  to  Francis  de  Bohun  several 


506  OBDEEICTJS   YITALIS.  [B.YIII.  CH.XYI. 

Ivo  were  also  married.  The  first  took  to  wife,  in  Apulia, 
Mabel,  daughter  of  Bobert  Guiscard ; l  and  the  other,  in 
England,  a  daughter  of  Gilbert  de  Gand.2  Adeline  married 
Roger  d'lvri,8  and  Rohais,  Robert  de  Courci ;  Matilda, 
Hugh  de  Mont-Pin9on  ;*  Agnes,  William  de  Say  ;5  and 
Havise  died  just  as  she  became  marriageable. 

Hugh  de  Grantmesnil  therefore,  thus  surrounded  by  sons 

fiefs  in  Normandy,  and,  among  others,  Bohun,  as  fully  as  Savaric  Fitz- 
Savaiic  held  the  same  at  the  time  of  his  death ;  and  moreover,  Midhurst 
and  other  lordships  in  England,  as  Savaric,  son  of  Cane,  held  the  same 
under  Henry  I.  and  Henry  II.  Ralph  and  Savaric,  the  second  of  that 
name,  having  died  without  issue,  their  possessions,  together  with  one 
moiety  of  the  fief  of  Bohun,  which  they  inherited  from  Engelger  de 
Bohun,  passed  to  this  Francis,  who  was  son  of  their  brother  Godwin,  and 
became  the  ancestor  of  the  barons  of  Bohun  and  Midhurst 

1  Mabel,  who  had  the  surname  of  Courte-Louve,  fifth  daughter  of  Robert 
Guiscard  and  Sichelgade. 

2  Our  English  genealogists  consider  this  person  to  have  been  the  son  of 
Baldwin  de  Mons,  brother  of  Queen  Matilda,  of  whom  we  know  no  other 
descendants  but  Arnulf  and   Baldwin.     The  truth  is,  that  Gilbert  was 
brother  of  Baldwin  de  Gand,  lord  of  Alost,  and  son  of  Ralph.     His  name 
appears  as  witness  to  a  document  at  Alost,  on  his  return  from  England, 
the  25th  of  May,  1075.     By  his  wife,  Alicia  de  Montfort,  he  had  a  son 
named  Hugh,  founder  of  the  family  of  the  lords  of  Montfort,  barons  of 
Cocquanilliers.     He  survived  his  eldest  son,  named  also   Gilbert.     His 
third  son,  Walter,  inherited  all  his  estates  in  England.     He  had,  besides, 
two  daughters,  married,  the  one  to  William,  constable  of  Chester,  the 
other,  Emma,  to  Alan  de  Percy.     He  received  a  vast  number  of  manors 
in  capite  by  grant  from  William  the  Conqueror.     He  was  the  restorer  of 
Bardney  Abbey  in  Lincolnshire ;  and  he  was  one  of  the  small  number  of 
Normans  who  escaped  the  massacre  by  the  Danes  at  York  in  1069.     He 
is  supposed  to  have  died  about  1094. 

1  See  before,  pp.  109  and  212.  Roger  d'lvri  held  of  Bishop  Odo  two 
manors  in  England  (Domesday-book).  A  singular  act  of  fraternity  was 
made  between  this  Roger  and  Robert  D'Oyley:  Memorandum  that  Robert 
ifOyley  and  Roger  d'lvri  came  to  the  conquest  of  England  with  William  the 
Bastard,  as  sworn  brothers  and  confederates,  pledged  to  each  other  by 
their  mutual  solemn  oaths.  The  following  passage  in  the  Scriptum  de 
servitiis  militaribus  qua  debentur  duci  Normania,  concerns  one  of  his 
descendants,  and  not  his  father,  as  Kennett  supposes.  .  . .  Waleran  d'lvri 
one  man-at-arms  Jor  his  butlership,  and  three  and  a  half  for  himself ;  the 
same  has  from  fvri  eight  men-at-arms  and  a  half,  and  to  render  to  the 
king  at  the  king's  pleasure.  His  wife,  Adeline,  appears  in  Domesday- 
book  as  tenant  in  capite  on  her  own  account. 

*  Hugh  de  Mont  Pincon.     See  before,  p.  212. 

5  William  de  Say;  this  person  subscribed  the  charter  of  Henry  I.  in 
favour  of  St.  Evroult,  in  1128.  Concerning  the  family  of  Say,  near 
Argentan,  and  in  England,  see  before,  p.  201. 


A.D.  1091.]  BEyCOTTSTEES    OF  KNIGHTS.  507 

and  sons-in-law,  as  well  as  many  friends,  took  the  lead 
actively  in  hostilities  against  Eobert  de  Belesme,  and  by  the 
aid  of  his  distinguished  allies,  made  a  bold  resistance  to  his 
tyranny.  Eobert,  however,  relying  on  the  support  of  his 
brothers  Roger  and  Arnulph,1  and  his  numerous  vassals,  put 
his  neighbours  to  defiance,  and  set  himself  to  injure  them 
by  frequent  inroads  and  devastations  on  their  territories. 
Matthew,  count  de  Beaumont,8  William  de  Warrenne,3  and 
many  other  knights,  flocked  to  these  encounters  to  exhibit 
their  prowess  in  such  lists.  There,  however,  Theobald,  son 
of  W alter  de  Breteuil,4  and  Guy  the  Red,  were  slain. 
Theobald,  whose  steed  and  all  his  appointments  were  white, 
was  called  the  white  knight,  and  Guy  was  called  the  red, 
because  his  were  of  that  colour.5  Robert  de  Belesme,  find- 
ing that  he  was  unable  alone  to  cope  with  his  illustrious 
neighbours,  who  were  so  eminent  for  their  noble  bearing, 
and  the  intrepidity  and  prowess  they  exhibited,  both  in  sus- 
taining and  daring  the  shock  of  arms,  won  to  his  side  the 
duke  of  Normandy  by  his  humble  supplications  and  specious 
promises,  so  that  he  prevailed  with  him  by  his  earnest 
entreaties  to  march  to  his  aid. 

In  the  year,  therefore,  of  our  Lord  1091,  the  thirteenth 
indiction,  in  the  month  of  January,  the  duke  laid  siege  to 
Courci,6  but  unwilling  to  come  to  extremities  with  his  great 
nobles,  he  took  no  measures  for  closely  investing  the  be- 
sieged. Robert,  however,  used  every  resource  of  open  attack 
and  stratagem  against  the  enemy  for  three  weeks,  employing 
various  engines  of  war  in  his  assaults  on  the  fortress ;  but 
the  garrison  being  numerous  and  making  a  resolute  defence, 
he  was  repulsed  with  shame.  He  caused  a  vast  machine, 

1  Roger  and  Arnulph  de  Montgomery,  improperly  called  earls  by  the 
French  editor  of  Ordericus  and  some  English  genealogists.  See  the  note, 
p.  203. 

*  Matthew,   count   of  Beaumont-sur-Oise,  brother-in-law  of  Hugh  de 
Grantmesnil,  and  chamberlain  of  France  in  1139,  died  in  1151  or  1152. 

3  William  de  Warrenne,  the  second  earl  of  Surrey. 

4  This  Waleran  did  not  belong  to  the  family  of  the  lords  of  Breteuil, 
but  was  one  of  their  vassals. 

8  The  reader  who  is  conversant  with  the  chronicles  and  romances  of  the 
middle  ages,  or  even  with  some  modern  works  of  fiction,  will  here  recognize 
a  well  known  practice. 

*  Courci-sur-Dive. 


508  OBDEBICirS   VITALIS.  [B.YIII.  CH.XVT. 

called  a  belfry,1  to  be  erected  over  against  the  castle  walls, 
and  filled  it  with  all  kinds  of  warlike  instruments,  but  even 
this  failed  of  compelling  the  garrison  to  submit;  for  as 
often  as  he  began  an  assault  on  Courci,  the  powerful  force 
from  Grantmesnil  hastened  to  the  rescue,  and  charging  the 
assailants  with  fury  drew  them  off  from  their  intended 
attack.  Meanwhile  the  garrison  took  prisoners  William  de 
Ferrers2  and  William  de  Hupiere,3  whose  ransoms  were  a 
great  assistance  to  the  besieged.  But  the  lot  of  war  is 
uncertain,  and  the  victors  often  have  to  yield  to  those  they 
have  defeated.  Thus  Ivo,  Hugh's  son,4  and  Richard,  Gil- 
bert's son,5  and  several  others,  were  made  prisoners  by  the 
besiegers,  and  had  some  experience  of  the  horrors  of  Robert 
de  Belesme's  dungeons.  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil  did  not 
bear  arms  himself,  on  account  of  his  advanced  age,  but  in 
council  his  shrewdness  and  wisdom  enabled  him  to  take  the 
lead.  The  long  continuance  of  the  siege  caused  him  ex- 
treme pain,  and  in  consequence  he  sent  the  following 
message  to  the  duke  who  was  engaged  in  it :  "I  long 
served  your  father  and  grandfather,  and  suffered  much  in 
their  service.  I  have  also  been  always  loyal  to  you.  What 
have  I  done  ?  in  what  have  I  given  you  offence  ?  how  have 
I  merited  at  your  hands  this  hostile  attack  ?  I  openly 
acknowledge  the  fealty  I  owe  you  as  my  liege-lord,  and  on 
that  account  I  will  not  appear  in  arms  against  you ;  but  I 
offer  you  two  hundred  livres  to  withdraw  where  it  may  suit 
your  pleasure  for  one  single  day,  that  I  may  take  that 
opportunity  of  fighting  Eobert  de  Belesme:  it  is  clear 
enough,  that  his  principal  reliance  is  upon  your  protection, 
and  that  the  besieged  are  more  restrained  by  their  loyalty 
to  you  than  by  any  fear  they  have  of  their  enemies." 

1  Berfredum ;  a  wooden  tower  on  four  wheels,  with  a  great  number  of 
stages  or  floors,  employed  in  sieges  to  assault  and  command  the  fortifica- 
tions. 

2  William,  lord  of  Ferricres   St.  Hilaire,    near   Bernai,  and   son  of 
Henry,  who  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Hastings. 

3  This  lord  gave  the  church  of  Frenouville  to  the  abbey  of  Troam,  and 
in  1099  added  the  tithe  to  his  former  grant. 

*  Ivo,  fourth  son  of  Hugh  de  Grantmesnil. 

8  Richard  de  Clare,  or  de  Bienfaite,  son  of  Gilbert,  count  of  Brionne. 
It  will  appear  afterwards  that  he  did  not  long  survive  the  sufferings  he 
endured  during  his  captivity. 


A.D.  1090.]       SIEGE  OF  THE  CASTLE  OF  COTJECI.  509 

An  oven  had  been  built  outside  the  fortifications  between 
the  castle  gate  and  the  assailants'  belfry,  and  there  the  baker 
baked  the  bread  required  for  the  use  of  the  garrison,  because 
the  siege  was  begun  in  such  haste  that  they  had  no  time  to 
construct  an  oven  within  their  new  defences.  It  followed 
therefore  that  the  thickest  of  the  fight  often  raged  around 
this  oven,  much  blood  was  shed  there,  and  many  spirits 
departed  by  violence  from  the  prison  of  the  flesh.  For  the 
people  of  Courci  stood  in  arms  to  defend  their  bread,  while 
Belesme's  followers  tried  to  carry  it  off,  so  that  many 
desperate  conflicts  occurred.  It  happened  that  one  day 
while  the  loaves  were  being  baked  in  the  oven,  and  the  two 
hostile  parties  were  engaged  in  a  violent  quarrel,  the  troops 
on  both  sides  came  up,  and  a  desperate  conflict  ensued,  in 
which  twenty  men  were  killed  and  more  wounded,  who 
never  tasted  the  bread  their  blood  had  purchased.  Mean- 
while, the  friends  of  the  besieged  daily  entered  the  castle 
in  sight  of  the  besiegers,  and  the  duke  taking  no  care  to 
prevent  it,  conveyed  to  their  comrades  fresh  supplies  of 
arms  and  provisions  to  give  them  courage  and  support. 

On  one  occasion,  Robert  and  his  troops  having  been 
repulsed  from  an  assault,  those  who  pursued  them  made  a 
squire  mount  into  the  belfry  and  set  fire  to  it  on  the  north 
side.  The  machine  was  therefore  burnt  by  the  righteous 
judgment  of  G-od,  it  having  been  irreligiously  constructed 
by  a  tyrannical  order  during  the  days  when  the  feast  of  ou  * 
Lord's  Nativity  is  observed.1 

Gerard,2  the  politic  bishop  of  Seez,  came  during  the  pro> 
gress  of  the  siege  to  use  his  efforts  to  restore  peace  betweer 
the  contending  parties  in  his  diocese,  and  took  up  his  abod* 
at  the  convent  of  Dive.*  He  proposed  terms  of  accommoda- 

1  The  Frem-h  editor  of  Ordericus  remarks  that  the  machine  must  have 
been  constructed  in  anticipation  of  the  siege,  if  it  did  not  begin  till  the 
month  of  January,  as  our  author  states,  and  therefore  conjectures  that 
Ordericus  counted  the  calends  of'  January  as  belonging  to  that  month. 
That  would  carry  back  the  date  of  the  commencement  of  the  siege  to  the 
fourteenth  of  December;  but  perhaps  the  true  solution  is  that,  as  every  one 
knows,  the  feast  of  Christmas  does  not  terminate  till  Twelfthday,  the  sixth 
of  January,  or  even  its  octave  the  13th.  The  machine,  if  brought  to  the 
spot  ready  framed,  might  be  put  together  in  a  few  days. 

*  Gerard,  bishop  of  Seez,  1082 — 1091. 

9  The  abbey  of  Notre-Dame-de-St.-Pierre-8ur-Dive,  at  a  short  distance 
from  Courci. 


610  OKDEEICUS   YITALIS.  [B.TIII.  CH.3TI. 

tion,  but  was  grieved  to  find  that  the  spirit  of  discord  -was 
too  powerful  and  caused  them  to  be  rejected.  He  was  also 
much  distressed  at  a  gross  insult  offered  him  by  Robert  de 
Belesme.  A  certain  youth  who  was  in  the  bishop's  service 
was  one  day  riding  through  the  camp  amusing  himself  in  a 
boyish  way,  when  Robert  caused  him  to  be  pulled  off  the 
horse  and  thrown  into  prison,  retaining  also  the  horse  for 
his  own  service.  The  boy  was  called  Richard  de  Gapree,  he 
was  son  of  Sevald,  and  his  relations  had  long  struggled  with 
all  their  might  to  defend  themselves  from  Robert's  encroach- 
ments. When  the  bishop  heard  that  his  clerk  was  arrested 
by  Robert  without  any  cause  of  offence,  he  commanded  him. 
to  release  him  instantly,  or  otherwise  he  would  lay  the 
whole  army  under  an  interdict.  After  some  days  the  young 
clerk  was  set  at  liberty,  and  the  bishop  was  carried  back  in 
a  languishing  disorder  to  his  own  see  at  Seez.  He  then 
received  the  holy  sacraments  and  died  surrounded  by  his 
disciples  on  the  tenth  of  the  calends  of  February  [23rd  Jan- 
uary].1 His  body  was  interred  in  the  church  of  St.  Gervase 
the  martyr. 

The  same  week,2  William  Rufus,  king  of  England,  crossed 
over  to  Normandy  with  a  great  fleet.  The  duke  was  alarmed 
at  his  arrival,  and  with  Robert  de  Belesme  and  the  other 
besiegers  retired  from  Conches,  and  every  one  went  to  his 
own  home.  Almost  all  the  Norman  lords  presently  paid 
their  court  to  William  with  great  zeal,  offering  him  presents 
in  the  expectation  of  receiving  still  greater  in  return.  The 
French  also,  and  the  Bretons  and  Flemings,  as  well  as  many 
from  the  neighbouring  provinces,  when  they  heard  that 
William  was  residing  at  Eu  in  Normandy,  resorted  to  him. 
.They  admired  his  great  magnificence,  and,  on  their  return 
home,  exalted  him  above  all  their  own  princes  for  his 
wealth  and  generosity.  At  last,  the  two  brothers  met 
amicably  at  Rouen  and  were  reconciled,  their  former 
quarrels  being  buried  in  oblivion.  At  this  interview  the 
duke  received  presents  of  great  value  from  the  king,  and 
ceded  to  him  the  counties  of  Eu  and  Aumale  and  the  entire 
fiefs  of  Gerard  de  Gournai  and  Ralph  de  Conches  with  all 

1  A.D.  1091. 

3  This  week  extended  from  Sunday,  the  19th,  to  Saturday,  the  2ith  of 
January. 


A.D.  1091.]  A  YISIOST   OF   PUfiGATOBY.  511 

the  castles  in  their  hands  or  held  of  them  by  their  depend- 
ants. The  king  and  his  court  resided  at  Rouen  from  Jan- 
uary to  the  calends  [the  1st]  of  August  in  all  the  splendour 
of  regal  magnificence.1 

CH.  XVII.  Narrative  of  a  vision  of  departed  and  reprobate 
spirits  seen,  at  the  time  of  the  siege  of  Gourd,  by  a  priest 
who  related  it  to  the  author. 

1  CONSIDER  that  I  ought  not  to  suppress  and  pass  over  in 
silence  what  happened  to  a  certain  priest  of  the  diocese  of 
Liseux  in  the  begining  of  January.2  In  a  village  called 
Bonneval  there  was  a  priest  named  Walkelin  who  served 
the  church  of  St.  Aubin  of  Anjou,  who  from  a  monk  became 
bishop  and  confessor.3  At  the  commencement  of  the  month 
of  January,  1091,  this  priest  was  summoned  in  the  night 
time,  as  the  occasion  required,  to  visit  a  sick  man  who  lived 
at  the  furthest  extremity  of  his  parish.  As  he  was  pursu- 
ing his  solitary  road  homewards,  far  from  any  habitation  of 
man,  he  heard  a  great  noise  like  the  tramp  of  a  numerous 
body  of  troops,  and  thought  within  himself  that  the  sounds 
proceeded  from  the  army  of  Eobert  de  Belesme  on  their 
march  to  lay  seige  to  the  castle  of  Courci.*  The  moon, 

1  From  the  last  day  of  January,  1091,  to  the  1st  of  August  in  the 
game  year. 

Florence  of  Worcester  gives  with  more  precision  than  our  author  the 
terms  of  the  arrangement  made  between  the  two  brothers.  It  was  agreed, 

1.  That  the  duke  should  cede  to  William  the  county  of  Eu,  the  abbevs 
of  Fecamp  and  Mount  St.  Michael,  Cherbourg,  and  all  the  castles  which 
had  been  given  up  to  him. 

2.  That  the  king  should  reconquer  for  his  brother  Maine,  and  the  castles 
which  had  refused  to  submit  to  his  authority. 

3.  That  the  king  should  restore  to  the  Normans  in  England  the  estates 
they  may  have  forfeited  for  having  taken  the  side  of  Robert ;  and  should 
also  grant  to  Robert  the  domains  which  he  had  promised  him  before  their 
differences. 

4.  That  the  survivor  should  inherit  the  dominions  of  the  other.    This 
convention  was  confirmed  by  the  oaths  of  twelve  barons  on  each  side. 

4  The  1st  of  January. 

3  St.  Aubin  de  Bonneval,  between  Orbec  and  Sap,  and  not  far  from  St. 
Evroult  St.  Aubin,  bishop  of  Angers,  March  1 ,  550. 

'  The  siege,  then,  described  in  the  preceding  chapter  had  commenced,  or 
was  on  the  point  of  commencing,  on  the  1st  of  January,  which  confirms 
our  conjecture  that  the  great  machine  used  in  it  was  put  together  in  the 


512  OIlDEillCUS   VITALIS.         [B.TIII.  CH.XVII. 

being  in  her  eighth  day  in  the  constellation  of  the  Earn,  shed  a 
clear  light,  so  that  it  was  easy  to  find  the  way.  Now  the  priest 
was  young,  undaunted,  and  bold,  and  of  a  powerful  and 
active  frame  of  body.  However,  he  hesitated  when  the 
sounds,  which  seemed  to  proceed  from  troops  on  the  march 
first  reached  his  ears,  and  began  to  consider  whether  he 
should  take  to  flight  to  avoid  being  laid  hold  of  and  discour- 
teously stripped  by  the  worthless  camp  followers,  or  man- 
fully stand  on  his  defence  if  any  one  molested  him.  Just 
then  he  espied  four  medlar-trees'  in  a  field  at  a  good  distance 
from  the  path,  and  determined  to  seek  shelter  behind  them, 
as  fast  as  he  could,  until  the  cavalry  had  passed.  But  as  he 
was  running  he  was  stopped  by  a  man  ofr  enormous  stature, 
armed  with  a  massive  club,  who,  raising  his  weapon  above 
his  head,  shouted  to  him,  "  Stand !  Take  not  a  step  further !" 
The  priest,  frozen  with  terror,  stood  motionless,  leaning  on 
his  staff.  The  gigantic  club-bearer  also  stood  close  to  him, 
and,  without  offering  to  do  him  any  injury,  quietly  waited 
for  the  passage  of  the  troop.2  And  now,  behold,  a  great 
crowd  of  people  came  by  on  foot,  carrying  on  their  heads 
and  shoulders,  sheep,  clothes,  furniture,  and  moveables  of  all 
descriptions,  such  as  robbers  are  in  the  habit  of  pillaging. 
All  were  making  great  lamentations  and  urging  one  another 
to  hasten  their  steps.  Among  them  the  priest  recognized  a 
number  of  his  neighbours  who  had  lately  died,  and  heard  them 
bewailing  the  excruciating  sufferings  with  which  they  were 
tormented  for  their  evil  deeds.  They  were  followed  by  a 

course  of  the  week  before  Twelfthday.  This  was  not  Robert  de  Belesme's 
road  to  Courci,  but  terror  seems  to  have  already  turned  the  head  of  the 
worthy  curate. 

1  Normandy  was  famed  for  its  orchards  from  very  early  times. 

3  The  memory  of  this  vision,  and  of  the  spot  where  :t  occurred,  still 
lingers  in  the  neighbourhood.  The  story  is  thus  told : 

"  At  a  very  remote  period,  the  cure"  of  Bonneval  returning  in  the  night- 
time from  administering  the  sacrament  to  a  rich  parishioner  in  the  village 
of  Bosc,  had  reached  the  foot  of  a  field  called  Olivet,  at  the  cross-roads 
called  Fosses-Malades  (on  account  of  the  adjoining  graves  in  which  the 
dead  were  buried  during  a  pestilence  which  ravaged  the  parish),  when  he 
fell  in  with  some  thirty  men,  dressed  in  red,  some  of  whom  were  on  foot 
and  the  rest  on  horseback.  These  men  led  the  cure  to  the  top  of  the  field, 
and  solicited  him  to  abjure  his  religion  and  deny  God.  Their  instances 
proving  fruitless,  they  departed,  leaving  the  good  priest  to  return  safe  to 
his  dwelling." 


A.D.  1091.]  A   VISION   OP   PURGATORY.  513 

troop  of  corpse-bearers,  who  were  joined  by  the  giant 
already  mentioned.  These  carried  as  many  as  fifty  biers, 
each  of  which  was  borne  by  two  bearers.  On  these  were 
seated  a  number  of  men  of  the  size  of  dwarfs,  but  whose 
heads  were  as  large  as  barrels.  Two  Ethiopians  also  carried 
an  immense  trunk  of  a  tree,  to  which  a  poor  wretch  was 
rudely  bound,  who,  in  his  tortures  filled  the  air  with  fearful 
cries  of  anguish;  for  a  horrible  demon  sat  on  the  same 
trunk  and  goaded  his  loins  and  back  with  red-hot  spurs 
until  the  blood  streamed  from  them.  "Walkelin  distinctly 
recognized  in  this  wretch  the  assassin  of  Stephen  the  priest, 
and  was  witness  to  the  intolerable  tortures  he  suffered  for 
the  innocent  blood  he  shed  two  years  before,  since  which  he 
had  died  without  penance  for  so  foul  a  crime. 

Then  followed  a  crowd  of  women  who  seemed  to  the 
priest  to  be  innumerable.  They  were  mounted  on  horseback, 
riding  in  female  fashion,  with  women's  saddles  which  were 
stuck  with  red-hot  nails.  The  wind  often  lifted  them  a 
cubit  from  their  saddles,  and  then  let  them  drop  again  on 
the  sharp  points.  Their  haunches  thus  punctured  with  the 
burning  nails,  and  suffering  horrible  torments  from  the 
wounds  and  the  scorching  heat,  the  women  pitiably  ejacu- 
lated, woe !  woe !  and  made  open  confession  of  the  sins  for 
which  they  were  punished,  undergoing  in  this  manner  fire 
and  stench  and  unutterable  tortures  for  the  obscene  allure- 
ments and  filthy  delights  to  which  they  had  abandoned  them- 
selves when  living  among  men.  In  this  company  the  priest 
recognized  several  noble  ladies,  and  beheld  the  palfreys  and 
mules  with  the  women's  litters  of  others  who  were  still  alive. 

The  priest  stood  fixed  to  the  spot  at  this  spectacle,  his 
thoughts  deeply  engaged  in  the  reflections  it  suggested. 
Presently,  however,  he  saw  pass  before  him  a  numerous  com- 
pany of  clergy  and  monks,  with  their  rulers  and  judges,  the 
bishops  and  abbots  carrying  croziers  in  their  hands.  The 
clergy  and  bishops  wore  black  copes,  and  the  abbots  and 
monks  cowls  of  the  same  hue.  They  all  groaned  and  wailed, 
and  some  of  them  called  to  Walkelin,  and  implored  him,  iu 
the  name  of  their  former  friendship,  to  pray  for  them.  The 
priest  reported  that  he  saw  among  them  many  who  were 
highly  esteemed,  and  who,  in  human  estimation,  were  now 
associated  with  the  saints  in  heaven.  He  recognised  in  the 

VOL.  II.  L  L 


514  OBDEBICUS   VITALIS.        [B.VIII.  CH.XVII. 

number  Hugh,  bishop  of  Lisieux,1  and  those  eminent  abbots 
Manier  of  Evroult  and  Q-erbert  of  Fontenelles,  with  many- 
others  whose  names  I  either  forget,  or  have  no  desire  to 
publish.  Human  judgment  is  often  fallible,  but  the  eye  of 
God  seeeth  the  inmost  thoughts  ;  for  man  looks  only  to  out- 
ward appearances,  God  searcheth  the  heart.  In  the  realms 
of  eternal  bliss  the  clear  light  of  an  endless  day  is  shed  on  all 
around,  and  the  children  of  the  kingdom  triumph  in  the  joys 
•which  attend  perfect  holiness.  Nothing  that  is  unrighteous 
is  done  there ;  nothing  that  is  polluted  can  enter  there ;  no 
uncleanness,  no  impurity,  is  there  found.  All  the  dross  of 
carnal  desires  is  therefore  consumed  in  the  fires  of  purga- 
tory, and  purified  by  sufferings  of  various  degrees  as  the 
Judge  eternal  ordains.  So  that  as  a  vessel  cleansed  from 
rust  and  thoroughly  polished  is  laid  up  in  a  treasury,  so  the 
soul,  purified  from  all  taint  of  sin,  is  admitted  into  Paradise, 
where  it  enjoys  perfect  happiness  unalloyed  by  fear  or 
care. 

The  priest,  trembling  at  these  appalling  scenes,  still 
rested  on  his  staff,  expecting  apparitions  still  more  terrible. 
And  now  there  followed  an  immense  army  in  which  no 
colour  was  visible,  but  only  blackness  and  fiery  flames.  All 
were  mounted  on  great  war-horses,  and  fully  armed  as  if 
they  were  prepared  for  immediate  battle,  and  they  carried 
black  banners.  There  were  seen  Kichard  and  Baldwin,  the 

1  Dante  did  not  scruple  to  assign  a  special  place  of  torment  not  only  iu 
purgatory,  but  in  hell  itself,  to  popes  even  who  had  been  guilty  of  simony 
and  other  scandalous  crimes.^ 

Chi  e  colui,  maestro,  che  si  cruccia, 
Guizznndo  piu  che  gli  altri  suoi  consorti, 
Diss*  io,  e  cui  piu  rossa  fiamma  succia  ? 
......     Bonifazio. 

V Inferno,  Cant.  xix.  31,  53. 

But  it  could  scarcely  have  been  expected  that,  in  our  author's  age, 
either  the  worthy  priest  of  Bonneval,  or  the  monk  who  has  supplied  us 
with  so  vivid  a  description  of  his  vision,  would  have  included  a  goodly 
number  of  "  bishops,  abbots,  clergy,  and  monks  "  among  the  tormented. 
At  any  rate,  we  may  be  surprised  to  find  Hugh,  bishop  of  Lisieux,  and 
Marnier,  abbot  of  St.  Evroult,  among  the  motley  company  of  rapacious 
freebooters,  grasping  lawyers,  and  debauched  women,  as  our  author  has 
given  high  characters  to  both  those  prelates,  and  a  particularly  interesting 
account  of  the  bishop'*  happy  end.  See  before,  pp.  1 19— 123,  and  1 U4. 


A.D.  1091.]  A    VISION   OF   PURGA.TOBY.  515 

sons  of  Count  Gilbert,1  who  were  lately  dead,  with  so  manv 
others  that  I  cannot  enumerate  them.  Among  the  rest, 
was  Landri  of  Orbec,  who  was  killed  the  same  year,  and 
who  accosted  the  priest,  and  uttering  horrible  cries,  charged 
him  with  his  commissions,  urgently  begging  him  to  carry  :i 
message  to  his  wife.  Upon  this  the  troops  who  marched 
before  and  after  him  interrupted  his  cries,  and  said  to  the 
priest:  "Believe  not  Landri,  for  he  is  a  deceiver."  This 
man  had  been  a  viscount  and  a  lawyer,  and  had  raised  him- 
self from  a  very  low  origin  by  his  talents  and  merit.  He 
decided  causes  and  affairs  according  to  his  own  pleasure, 
and  perverted  judgment  for  bribes,  actuated  more  by  avarice 
and  duplicity  than  by  a  sense  of  what  was  right.  He  was 
therefore  justly  devoted  to  flagrant  punishment,  and  publicly 
denounced  by  his  associates  as  a  liar.  In  this  company  no 
one  flattered  him,  and  no  one  had  recourse  to  his  cunning 
loquacity.  He,  who  while  it  was  in  his  power  had  shut  his 
ears  to  the  cries  of  the  poor,  was  now  in  his  torments, 
treated  as  an  execrable  wretch  who  was  unfit  to  be  heard. 

Walkelin  having  seen  these  countless  troops  of  soldiers 
pass,  on  reflection,  said  within  himself:  "Doubtless  these 
are  Harlequin's  people  ;f  I  have  often  heard  of  their  being 
seen,  but  I  laughed  at  the  stories,  having  never  had  any 
certain  proofs  of  such  things.  Now,  indeed,  I  assuredly 
behold  the  ghosts  of  the  departed,  but  no  one  will  belit-vr 
me  when  I  tell  the  tale  unless  I  can  exhibit  to  mortal  eyes 
some  tangible  proof  of  what  I  have  seen.  I  will  therefore 
mount  one  of  the  horses  which  are  following  the  troop  with- 
out any  riders,  and  will  take  it  home  and  show  it  my  neigh- 
bours to  convince  them  that  I  speak  the  truth."  Accordingly 
he  forthwith  snatched  the  reins  of  a  black  steed,  but  the 

1  Richard  de  Bienfaite  and  Baldwin  de  Meules,  son  of  Gilbert,  count  de 
Brionne. 

8  1 fer /echini.  M.  Le  Prevost  says  in  a  note  on  this  passage,  "  It  is 
what  is  still  called  in  our  country  -places  Henneqttins  hunt.  This  Hen- 
nekin,  as  the  tradition  run*,  was  a  great  hunter  who,  having  sold  himself 
to  the  devil,  is  compelled  to  return  every  year  during  the  storms  in  tin- 
night  which  occur  in  Advent,  attended  by  his  huntsmen  and  dogs,  whose 
bowlings  many  persons  have  declared  to  me  they  have  distinctly  heard. 
It  is  curious  to  remark  the  identity  of  the  primitive  name  of  this  vi«ion»ry 
hunter  (Herlechinus)  with  that  of  the  comic  character  in  a  parti- coloured 
dress,  which  originated  at  Bergamo." 

L   L   2 


516  OBDEEICTTS   TITALIS.         [B.TIII.  CH.XTII. 

animal  burst  violently  from  his  hold  and  galloped  away 
among  the  troops  of  Ethiopians.  The  priest  was  disap- 
pointed at  the  failure  of  his  enterprise  ;  but  he  was  young, 
bold,  and  light-hearted,  as  well  as  agile  and  strong.  He 
therefore  stationed  himself  in  the  middle  of  the  path,  pre- 
pared for  action,  and  the  moment  a  horse  came  up,  laid  his 
hand  upon  it.  The  horse  stopped,  ready  for  him  to  mount 
without  difficulty,  at  the  same  time  snorting  from  his  nos- 
trils a  cloud  of  vapour  as  large  as  a  full-grown  oak.  The 
priest  then  placed  his  left  foot  in  the  stirrup,  and,  seizing 
the  reins,  laid  his  hand  on  the  saddle,  but  he  instantly  felt 
that  his  foot  rested  on  red-hot  iron,  and  the  hand  with 
which  he  held  the  bridle  was  frozen  with  insupportable 
cold  which  penetrated  to  his  vitals. 

While  this  was  passing,  four  terrific  knights  came  up  and 
littering  horrible  cries,  shouted  to  him  :  "  What  do  you  want 
with  our  horses  ?  You  shall  come  with  us.  No  one  of 
our  company  had  injured  you,  when  you  began  laying  your 
hands  on  what  belongs  to  us."  The  priest,  in  great  alarm, 
let  go  the  horse,  and  three  of  the  knights  attempting  to  seize 
him,  the  fourth  said  to  them  :  "  Let  him  go,  and  allow  me  to 
speak  with  him,  for  I  wish  to  make  him  the  bearer  of  a  mes- 
sage to  my  wife  and  children."  He  then  said  to  the  priest, 
who  stood  trembling  with  fright :  "  Listen  to  me,  I  beseech 
you,  and  tell  my  wife  what  I  say."  The  priest  replied  :  "  I 
know  not  who  you  are,  or  who  is  your  wife."  The  knight 
then  said  :  "  I  am  William  de  Glos,1  son  of  Barno,  and  was 
once  the  renowned  steward  of  William  de  Breteuil  and  his 
father  William,  earl  of  Hereford.2  While  in  the  world  I 
abandoned  myself  to  evil  deeds  and  plunder,  and  was  guilty 
of  more  crimes  than  can  be  recounted.  But,  above  all,  I 
am  tormented  for  my  usuries.  I  once  lent  money  to  a  poor 
man,  and  received  as  security  a  mill  which  belonged  to  him, 
and  as  he  was  not  able  to  discharge  the  debt  I  kept  the 
mortgage  property  and  left  it  to  my  heirs,  disinheriting  my 
debtor's  family.  You  see  that  I  have  in  my  mouth  a  bar 
of  hot  iron  from  the  mill,  the  weight  of  which  1  feel  to  be 
more  oppressive  than  the  tower  of  Rouen.  Tell,  therefore, 

1  Glos-la-Ferridre,  now  Glos-sous-Laigle,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  St. 
Evroult. 
»  William  Fitz-Osbern. 


A.D.  1091.]  A   VISION    OF    PUKOATOBT.  517 

my  wife  Beatrice,  and  my  son  Roger,  to  afford  me  relief,  by 
speedily  restoring  to  the  right  heir  the  pledge  from  which 
they  have  received  more  than  I  advanced."  The  priest 
replied  :  "William  de  Glos  died  long  ago,  and  this  is  acorn- 
mission  which  no  Christian  man  can  undertake.  I  know 
neither  who  you  are,  or  who  are  your  heirs.  If  I  should 
venture  to  tell  such  a  tale  to  Roger  de  Glos,  or  his  brothers, 
or  to  their  mother,  they  would  laugh  me  to  scorn  as  one  out 
of  his  wits."  However,  William  continued  still  to  persist 
in  his  earnest  entreaties,  and  furnished  him  with  many  sure 
and  well-known  tokens  of  his  identity.  The  priest  under- 
stood very  well  all  he  heard,  but  pretended  not  to  compre- 
hend it.  At  length,  overcome  by  importunities,  he  consented 
to  what  the  knight  requested,  and  engaged  to  do  what  was 
required.  Upon  this,  William  repeated  again  all  he  had 
said,  and  impressed  it  on  his  companion  during  a  long  conver- 
sation. The  priest,  however,  began  to  consider  that  he  durst 
not  convey  to  any  one  the  execrable  message  of  a  dammed 
spirit.1  "  It  is  not  right,"  he  said ;  "  to  publish  such  things  ; 
I  will,  on  no  account,  tell  to  any  one  what  you  require  of 
me."  Upon  this,  the  knight  was  filled  with  rage,  and  seizing 
him  by  the  throat  dragged  him  along  on  the  ground,  utter- 
ing terrible  imprecations.  The  prisoner  felt  the  hand  which 
grasped  him  burning  like  fire,  and  in  this  deep  extremity  cried 
aloud  :  "  Help  me,  0  holy  Mary,  the  glorious  mother  of 
Christ."  No  sooner  had  he  invoked  the  compassionate 
mother  than  the  aid  of  the  Son  of  God  was  afforded  him, 
according  to  the  Almighty's  disposing  will.  For  a  horseman 
immediately  rode  up,  with  a  sword  in  his  right  hand,  and 
brandishing  it  over  Roger's  head,  exclaimed :  "  Will  ye  kill 
my  brother,  ye  accursed  ones  ?  Loose  him  and  begone  ! ' 
The  knights  instantly  fled  and  followed  the  black  troops. 

When  they  had  all  passed  by,  the  horseman,  remaining 
alone  in  the  road  with  Walkelin,  said  to  him,  "  Do  you 
not  know  me?"  the  priest  answered  "No."  The  other 
said :  "  I  am  Robert,  son  of  Ralph  le  Blond,*  and  your 

1  Hiothanatl;  this  word,  which  in  its  original  signification  wa«  applied 
to  those  who  put  an  end  to  their  own  lives,  means  here  the  damned,  the 
reprobate,  the  suicide  of  his  soul. 

a  Several  persons  of  the  name  of  Le  Blond  are  mentioned  in  Domesday- 
book,  among  others  Gilbert  Le  Blond,  who  about  the  year  1100  founded 


518  OBDERICU8   YITALIS.          [B.VIII.  CH.XYII. 

brother."  The  priest  was  much  astonished  at  this  unex- 
pected occurrence,  and  much  troubled  at  what  he  had  seen 
and  heard,  as  we  have  just  related,  when  the  knight  began 
to  remind  him  of  a  number  of  things  which  happened  in 
their  youth,  and  to  give  him  many  well-known  tokens.  The 
priest  had  a  clear  recollection  of  all  that  was  told  him,  but 
not  daring  to  confess  it,  he  stoutly  denied  all  knowledge  of 
the  circumstances.  At  length  the  knight  said  to  him :  "  I 
am  astonished  at  your  hardness  of  heart  and  stupidity ;  it 
was  I  who  brought  you  up  on  our  parents'  death,  and  loved 
you  more  than  any  one  living.  I  sent  you  to  school  in 
France,1  supplied  you  plentifully  with  clothes  and  money, 
and  did  all  in  my  power  to  benefit  you  in  every  way.  You 
seem  now  to  have  forgotten  all  this,  and  will  not  even  con- 
descend to  recognise  me.  At  length  the  priest,  after  being 
abundantly  furnished  with  exact  particulars,  became  con- 
vinced by  such  certain  proofs,  and  bursting  into  tears, 
openly  admitted  the  truth  of  what  he  had  heard.  His 
brother  then  said :  "  You  deserve  to  die,  and  to  be  dragged 
with  us  to  partake  of  the  torments  we  suffer,  because  you 
have  rashly  laid  hands  on  things  which  belong  to  our  repro- 
bate crew ;  no  other  living  man  ever  dared  to  make  such  an 
attempt.  But  the  mass  you  sang  to-day  has  saved  you 
from  perishing.  It  is  also  permitted  me  thus  to  appear  to 
you,  and  unfold  to  you  my  wretched  condition.  After  I 
had  conferred  with  you  in  Normandy,  I  took  leave  of  you 
and  crossed  over  to  England,  where,  by  the  Creator's  order, 
my  life  ended,  and  I  have  undergone  intense  suffering  for 
the  grievous  sins  with  which  I  was  burdened.  It  is  naming 
armour  which  you  see  us  bear,  it  poisons  us  with  an  in- 
fernal stench,  weighs  us  down  with  its  intolerable  weight, 
and  scorches  us  with  heat  which  is  inextinguishable ! 
Hitherto  I  have  been  tormented  with  unutterable  suffer- 

the  priory  of  Ixworth  in  Suffolk.  There  is  also  a  Robert  Le  Blond,  but 
we  are  told  that  he  was  in  possession  of  his  manors  in  the  time  of  Edward 
the  Confessor,  and  therefore  he  could  not  be  the  brother  of  the  young  and 
vigorous  priest  of  Bonneval,  without  a  great  difference  in  their  ages. 

1  This  curious  passage  proves  that,  notwithstanding  the  high  reputation 
in  which  the  school  of  Bee  was  held  at  this  time,  some,  at  least,  of  the 
Normans  destined  to  ecclesiastical  functions  resorted  to  France  (and 
probably  to  Paris)  to  complete  their  studies.  It  was  the  same  at  the 
period  when  Wace  was  engaged  in  his. 


A.D.  1091.]  A   VISION    OF    PUBGATOEY.  519 

ings,  but  when  you  were  ordained  in  England,  and  sang 
your  first  mass  for  the  faithful  departed,  your  father  Ralph 
was  released  from  purgatory,  and  my  shield,  which  was  a 
great  torment  to  me,  fell  from  my  arm.  I  still,  as  you  see, 
carry  a  sword,  but  I  confidently  expect  to  be  relieved  of 
that  burden  in  the  course  of  a  year." 

While  the  knight  was  thus  talking,  the  priest  attentively 
listening  to  him  espied  a  mass  of  clotted  gore,  in  the 
shape  of  a  man's  head,  at  the  other's  heels,  round  his  spurs, 
and  in  great  amazement  said  to  him :  "  Whose  is  this  clotted 
blood  which  clings  to  your  spurs  ?  "  The  knight  replied  : 
"  It  is  not  blood  but  fire  ;  and  it  weighs  me  down  more  than 
if  I  had  Mount  St.  Michael  to  carry.  Once  I  used  sharp 
and  bright  spurs  when  I  was  hurrying  to  shed  blood,  and 
now  I  justly  carry  this  enormous  weight  at  my  heels,  which 
is  so  intolerably  burdensome,  that  I  am  unable  to  express 
the  severity  of  my  sufferings.  Men  ought  to  reflect  on  these 
things  without  ceasing,  and  to  dread  and  beware  lest  they, 
for  their  sins,  should  undergo  such  chastisements.  I  am 
not  permitted,  my  brother,  to  converse  longer  with  you,  for 
I  must  hasten  to  follow  this  unhappy  troop.  Remember 
me,  I  pray  you,  and  give  me  the  succour  of  your  prayers  and 
alms-.  In  one  year  after  Palm  Sunday  I  trust  to  be  saved ; 
and  by  the  mercy  of  the  Creator  released  from  all  my  tor- 
ments. And  you,  consider  well  your  own  state,  and  pru- 
dently mend  your  life  which  is  blemished  by  many  vices,  for 
know,  it  will  not  be  very  long.  Now  be  silent,  bury  in  your 
own  bosom  the  things  you  have  so  unexpectedly  seen  and 
heard,  and  do  not  venture  to  tell  them  to  any  one  for  three 
days." 

With  these  words  the  knight  hastened  away.  The  priest 
was  seriously  ill  for  a  whole  week ;  as  soon  as  he  began  to 
recover  his  strength,  he  went  to  Lisieux  and  related  all  that  had 
happened  to  Bishop  Gilbert,'  in  regular  order,  and  obtained, 
on  his  petition,  the  salutary  remedies  he  needed.  He  after- 
wards lived  in  good  health  almost  fifteen  years,  and  I  heard 
what  I  have  written,  and  more  which  has  escaped  my 
memory,  from  his  own  mouth,  and  saw  the  mark  on  his  face 
left  by  the  hand  of  the  terrible  knight.  I  have  committed 
the  account  to  writing  for  the  edification  of  my  readers,  that 
1  Gilbert  Maminot,  bishop  of  Lisieux. 


520  OEDERICUS    VITALIS.        [B.VTII.  CH. XVIII. 

the  righteous  may  be  confirmed  in  their  good  resolutions, 
and  the  wicked  repent  of  their  evil  deeds.  I  now  return  to 
the  history  I  have  commenced. 

CH.  XVIII.  Prince  Henry  prepares  for  war  in  Normandy — 
he  is  besieged  at  Mount  St.  Michael  by  his  brothers  William 
Rufus  and  Robert  Curthose — retires  into  exile  in  France 
— Serlo,  abbot  of  JSvroult,  made  bishop  of  Seez. 

IN  the  year  of  our  Lord  1091,  the  thirteenth  indiction,  in 
the  month  of  January,  William  Eufus,  king  of  England, 
crossed  over  to  Normandy  with  a  large  fleet,  and  upon  hear- 
ing of  his  arrival  Duke  Robert  abandoned  the  siege  of 
Courci,  and  Robert  de  Belesme  and  his  associates  retreated. 
The  king  remained  in  Normandy  till  August,  and  used  his 
royal  authority  in  tranquillizing  such  of  the  insurgents  as 
were  willing  to  listen  to  his  advice.  Meanwhile,  Prince 
Henry,  who  had  serious  causes  of  complaint  against  both  his 
brothers,  and  claimed  some  part  of  the  ample  territories  of 
his  glorious  father,  but  could  obtain  nothing  from  their 
obstinate  tenacity,  collected  troops  in  Brittany  and  Nor- 
mandy, and  putting  Coutances,  Avranches,  and  his  other 
fortresses  into  a  state  of  defence,  prepared  for  war  with  all 
his  might.  But  Hugh,  earl  of  Chester,  and  his  other 
adherents  reflecting  on  his  small  means,  and  dreading  the 
vast  wealth  and  mighty  power  of  William  Rufus,  deserted 
the  illustrious  prince  while  he  was  embarked  in  the  war,  and 
surrendered  their  castles  into  the  king's  hands.  In  conse- 
quence, about  the  middle  of  Lent,1  King  William  and  Duke 
Robert  laid  siege  to  Mount  St.  Michael,  where  they  block- 
aded their  brother,  and  reduced  him  and  his  troops  for  nearly 
fifteen  days  to  great  straits  for  want  of  water.  The  prudent 
young  prince,  seeing  himself  thus  pressed  by  his  brothers 
and  deserted  on  all  sides  by  his  relations  and  friends,  as  well 
as  by  the  neighbours  with  whom  he  was  leagued,  and  also 
finding  himself  in  want  of  almost  all  the  necessaries  of  life, 
weighed  well  in  his  own  mind  the  state  of  affairs,  and  reflect- 
ing on  the  variety  of  human  mischances,  determined  on 
abandoning  his  rash  enterprise  and  reserving  himself  for 
better  times.  At  length,  therefore,  he  demanded  from  the 

1  Lent  commenced  in  the  year  1091,  the  26th  of  February,  and  ended 
the  13th  of  April. 


A..D.  1091.]      PBINCE    HENRY    RETIRES    TO    FRANCE.  521 

besiegers  free  egress  for  himself  and  his  allies  from  the 
Mount,  which  they  willingly  granted,  permitting  him  to 
march  out  honourably  with  all  his  equipments.1  Henry, 
having  surrendered  his  fortresses,  passed  through  Brittany, 
returning  thanks  to  the  Bretons,  who  alone  had  rendered 
him  aid,  and  then  crossed  the  borders  of  France.  The  illus- 
trious exile  spent  not  quite  two  full  years  in  the  Vexin, 
seeking  an  asylum  in  different  places.  Living  in  obscurity, 
he  was  contented  with  a  suite  consisting  of  only  one  knight, 
a  clerk,  aud  three  squires.  Thus  a  king's  son  learnt  in 
exile  how  to  endure  poverty,  that  when  he  became  king  him- 
self he  might  know  how  to  compassionate  the  wretched  and 
the  poor,  succouring  them  in  their  distress  or  penury,  by  his 
royal  power  or  munificence,  and,  having  himself  experienced 
the  lot  of  the  humble,  might  kindly  sympathize  with  them. 

At  this  time  Duke  Robert  ceded  great  part  of  Normandy 
to  King  William,  and  for  nearly  two  years  the  country  was 
free  from  hostilities.  After  the  feast  of  Pentecost,*  William 
the  archbishop  assembled  at  Rouen  a  synod  of  the  bishops 
and  abbots,  and  consulted  with  his  suffragans  respecting  the 
bishopric  of  Seez.  By  the  result  of  their  deliberations, 
Serlo,  abbot  of  St.  Evroult,  was  chosen  bishop  and  the  see  of 
Seez  committed  to  him ;  much  against  his  wishes.  At  length, 
on  the  tenth  of  the  calends  of  July  [22ud  June]  the  archbishop 
summoned  the  monk  just  named  to  Rouen  and  gave  him 
canonical  consecration  in  the  church  of  St.  Mary,  mother  of 
God.  The  venerable  Serlo  bore  worthily  the  burden  of  the 
episcopacy  thirty-two  years  and  four  months,3  and  laboured 
with  zeal  and  ability  for  the  benefit  of  the  church  of  God 
both  in  prosperity  and  adversity.  But  he  had  some  hard- 

1  Our  author's  account  of  the  siege  of  Mount  St.  Michael  by  the  king 
and  the  duke  is  very  imperfect  To  complete  it,  reference  must  be  made 
to  Wace,  and  more  especially  to  Florence  of  Worcester  and  William  of 
Malmesbury.  The  first  furnishes  us  with  the  positions  taken  by  the  two 
divisions  of  the  army;  the  second  mentions  William's  departure,  wearied 
by  the  length  of  the  siege ;  the  third  supplies  us  with  some  traits  of 
intrepidity  and  magnanimity  in  the  king  after  he  had  been  thrown  from  his 
horse  in  the  melee,  and  his  severity  towards  his  young  brother  whom  he 
was  besieging,  contrasted  with  the  goodness  and  affectionate  language  of 
Robert 

*  Whitsuntide  fell  that  year  on  the  1st  of  June. 

3  June  22,  1091— October  27,  1118. 


522  OBDEBICUS   VTTALIS.        [B. VIII.  CH. XVIII. 

ened  and  insolent  men  in  his  diocese,  such  as  Robert  de 
Belesme,  Eotro  de  Mortagne  and  their  fellows,  who  had 
cruel  feuds  with  each  other,  frequently  viokted  the  peace  of 
the  church,  dispersed  by  their  hostile  inroads  the  Lord's  flock 
who  were  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  oppressed 
and  made  havoc  of  them  by  their  various  enterprises. 
Serlo  boldly  bared  the  sword  of  the  word  of  God  against 
these  evil  men,  several  times  excommunicating  them  when 
they  persisted  in  their  iniquities,  but  he  seldom  or  ever  was 
able  to  teach  wisdom  or  preserve  in  peace  his  rebellious 
subjects,  so  that  during  the  whole  period  he  held  the  see  he 
was  perpetually  involved  in  tumults  and  disturbances,  and 
on  several  occasions,  when  Robert's  fury  was  highest,  was 
compelled  to  become  an  exile  in  England  or  Italy,  such  was 
the  state  of  alarm  and  distress  in  which  he  lived. 

The  abbey  of  St.  Evroult,  when  their  late  ruler  was  raised 
to  the  bishopric  of  Seez  being  anxious  about  a  successor, 
invited  their  former  pastor  to  Ouche  on  the  twelfth  of  the 
calends  of  August  [the  21st  July],  and  having  observed  a 
fast  for  three  days,  began  to  treat  of  the  election  of  an  abbot. 
There  were  present  also  three  abbots,  Fulk  of  Dive, 
Arnulf  of  Troarn,  and  Ralph  of  Seez.1  Having  read  the 
lesson  concerning  the  apointment  of  an  abbot  in  the  rule  of 
St.  Benedict,  the  lord  Roger  de  Sap,  was  chosen  abbot  of 
St.  Evroult.  He  was  a  monk  of  the  same  house,  simple 
minded,  eminent  for  his  learning,  his  great  worth,  and  gentle 
manners.  Then  Herman  the  prior,  with  Arnold  de  Tilleul, 
and  several  others  conducted  him  to  the  duke's  court,  but 
were  disappointed  in  their  hope  of  finding  him  in  Normandy. 
Secret  conspiracies  had  been  formed  by  the  islanders  against 
the  peace  and  security  of  the  realm,  on  receiving  sudden 
information  of  which,  both  the  brothers  very  unexpectedly 
passed  over  to  England,2  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  world. 
In  consequence  Herman  returned  to  conduct  affairs  at  St. 

1  Fulk,  abbot  of  Notre-Dame  de  St.  Pierre-sur-Dive. 
Arnulph,  abbot  of  Troarn,  1088 — 1 1 12. 

Ralph  d'Escures,  abbot  of  Seez,  1089—1110. 

2  The  two  brothers  went  to  England  in  the  early  part  of  August,  in 
consequence  of  the  invasion  of  Northumberland  by  Malcolm,  king  of  Scots. 
The  irruption  took  place  in  the  month  of  May;  and  before  the  arrival  of 
William  Rufus,  Malcolm,  finding  a  more  determined  resistance  than  he 
expected,  had  already  retired  to  his  own  country  with  very  little  booty. 


A.D.  1091.]   ROGER  DE  SAP  ABBOT  OF  ST.  EVROULT.   523 

Evroult,  while  Arnold  with  the  abbot  elect  followed  the 
princes  across  the  sea.  On  their  arrival  at  the  royal  vill, 
called  Windsor,  they  exhibited  to  duke  Robert  the  act  con- 
taining the  election  by  the  monks,  confirmed  by  the  autho- 
rity of  the  bishop  of  Seez  and  the  three  abbots.  The  duke 
gave  his  willing  consent  to  the  appointment  aud  committed 
to  Roger  before  named,  by  delivery  of  the  pastoral  statf,  as 
the  custom  then  was,  the  monastic  cure  in  exterior  affairs. 
He  also  issued  his  mandate  to  the  bishop  of  Lisieux,  requir- 
ing him  to  perform  all  that  was  canonically  necessary  in  the 
business.  King  William  also  at  the  same  time  received  the 
monk  and  abbot  elect  with  great  courtesy  and  confirmed  the 
grants  of  all  that  his  father  and  his  barons  had  formerly 
given  to  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult,  ratifying  them  of  his  royal 
authority  by  a  fresh  charter.1 

Having  accomplished  the  object  of  their  journey,  Roger 
returned  to  Ouche  on  the  fifteenth  of  the  calends  of  January 
[18th  December],  and  being  received  by  the  brethren  with 
due  solemnity,  governed  the  abbey  thirty -four  years.2  He 
admitted  a  hundred  and  fifteen  postulants  to  be  monks  of 
that  house.  The  changes  of  fortune  were  exhibited  in  their 
various  lives;  for  some  of  them,  being  eminent  for  their 
virtues,  with  God's  help,  obtained  the  reward  of  their 
heavenly  vocation,  while  others  through  the  snares  of  Satan 
relapsed  into  the  foul  depths  of  sin  to  receive  their  deserts 
from  the  righteous  Judge. 

Six  of  the  monks  admitted  by  the  venerable  Roger  we 
have  seen  become  abbots,  namely,  Warin  des  Essarts, 
Geoffrey  of  Orleans,  Gilbert  de  Glos,  Robert  de  Pruniers,s 
William  de  Bas,  and  Lewis.  Of  these,  Warin  succeeded  his 
master,  and  governed  the  abbey  of  St.  Evroult  many  years  ; 
Robert  de  Pruniers  ruled  well  Thorney  abbey  in  England,4 

1  This  charter  has  not  been  preserved. 

r-*  This  is  not  quite  correct.  It  is  very  true  that  Abbot  Roger  survived 
till  the  year  1 126  or  1127 ;  but  at  his  own  request  his  successor  was  nomi- 
nated on  Ascension  day,  May  24,  1123. 

3  "  De  Pruniers,  or  de  Pruni&res,  is  a  very  common  name  of  places  in 
Burgundy,  Languedoc,  Dauphiny,  La  Touraine,  Orleans,  and  Bern." — 
Dubois.  "  We  think  that  this  person  WJIB  a  native  of  Moutiere-en-Aujte, 
one  of  the  two  churches  of  which  belonged  at  this  pcviod  to  St.  Evroult, 
and  was  called  Slits.  Gervasius  de  P>  uneleio." — Le  Prtvnst. 

*  Robert  was  appointed  abbot  of  Thorney  (in  Cambridgeshire),  August 
15,1113. 


524  ORDEEICUS   YITALIS.       [B.VIII.  CH. XVIII. 

Geoffrey  of  Orleans  was  abbot  of  Croyland1  for  nearly  fifteen 
years  ;  William  Basset  long  governed  the  monastery  of  St. 
Benedict  at  Hulm  •?  and  Lewis,3  when  by  a  decree  of  their 
•superiors,  the  canons  were  expelled  from  Bocherville,  first 
established  the  monastic  rule  with  five  monks  in  the 
church  of  St.  George  the  martyr.  As  for  Gilbert  de  Glos, 
a  man  of  noble  birth  and  great  eloquence,  he  was  abbot  of 
Lire  for  nearly  ten  years,  much  to  its  benefit.  The  monks 
of  St.  Evroult  were  thus  drawn  forth  from  the  recesses  of 
.  their  monastery  and  raised  to  the  ranks  of  the  prelacy  for 
the  general  good,  that  they  might  shine  as  lights  set  in  a 
candlestick,  and  show  the  way  of  salvation  to  those  who 
strove  to  enter  the  house  of  the  Lord  by  the  way  of  righte- 
ousness. But  unfortunately,  the  disturbances  in  worldly 
affairs  which  take  place  from  the  negligence  or  misconduct 
of  earthly  princes  often  interfere  with  ecclesiastical  order  and 
monastic  discipline,  as  was  found  by  all  who  wished  to  devote 
themselves  to  a  religious  life  in  Normandy  and  on  its  confines 
in  the  time  of  Duke  Robert  and  Philip  king  of  France. 

1  Eulandensi,  an  error  in  the  text  for  Crulnndens,  there  being  no 
abbey  of  the  former  name  in  England.  On  the  subject  of  Croyland  Abbey, 
see  before,  pp.  95 — 98.  Geoffrey  of  Orleans,  after  assuming  the  monastic 
habit  at  St.  Evroult,  under  Abbot  Mainier,  was  made  abbot  of  Croyland  in 
1109.  We  have  learnt  before  (p.  86)  that  Ordericus,  on  a  kind  invitation 
received  from  Abbot  Geoffrey  spent  five  weeks  at  Croyland,  where  he 
wrote,  at  the  request  of  the  monks,  his  abridgment  of  the  life  of  St. 
Guthlac,  together  with  an  epitaph  on  Earl  Waltheof  (pp.  86,  103).  This 
visit  was  quite  recent  when  our  author  composed  the  fourth  book  of  his 
History.  He  speaks  of  Wulfin,  the  prior,  and  Ansgot,  the  sub-prior,  and 
itjhas  been  remarked  by  Mr.  Stapleton,  that  the  anonymous  continuator  of 
Ingulph,  who  conceals  himself  under  the  name  of  Peter  dd  Blois,  and 
wrote  in  the  thirteenth  century,  treats  them  as  his  cotemporaries  by  a  gross 
anachronism,  in  a  letter  written  to  Henry  de  Longchamps,  abbot  of  Croy- 
land, 1190—1196. 

*  Hulm,  or  Holm,  an  abbey  at  Horning,  in  the  hundred  of  Tunstead, 
Norfolk,  founded  by  Canute.     William  Basset  (Bassus),  or  le-Bas,  suc- 
ceeded Conrad  in.  1127,  and  died  in  1137.     He  gave  to  Richard  Basset 
his  relation  (son  of  Ralph  Basset,  who  succeeded  his  father  aa  justiciary  of 
England),  the  manor  of  Higham  during  his  life. 

*  Lewis,  abbot  of  St.  Georges  de  Bocherville,  1114— October  12,  1137. 

END   OF   VOL.    II. 


J.    HAiiD.jN    ANJ  SON,    PIU.VrKltb,   CAill.K   STREKT,    FINSbLP.V. 


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8.  SOPHOCLES.    The  Oxford  Translation,  revised. 

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2  19.  LIVY'S  HISTORY  OF  ROME.    Vol.  IV.  (which  completes  the  work). 

3  20.  C/tSAR  AND  HIRTIUS.    With  Index. 

•;3    21.  HOMERS  ILIAD,  in  prose,  literally  translated.    Fronlispiect. 

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fa    24,  25,  &  32.    OVID.    By  II.  T.  RILKY,  B.A.   Complete  in  3  Vols.    Frontispieces. 

2  26.  LUCRETIUS.    By  the  REV.  J.S.  WATSON.  With  the  Metrical  Version  of  J.M.Cioou. 

I    27,  30,  31,  &  34.  CICERO'S  ORATIONS.    By  C.  I).  >'ONQE.     Complete  in  4  Vote. 
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§    35.  JUVENAL,  PERSIUS,  Ac.     By  the  REV.  L.  EVANS,  M.A.     With  the  Metrical  g 

rj(  Version  of  GIFFUKU.    frontispiece.  g 

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^< 


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graphical  Notices,  and  Index,  by  the  Rev.  J.  S.  WATSON,  M.A. 

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41.  THEOCRITUS,  BION,  MOSCHUS  and  TYRT/EUS,  by  the  Rev.  J.  BANKS,  M.A.    » 

With  the  Metrical  Versions  of  CHAPMAN.    Frontispiece. 

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C.  D.  YUNGK,  B  A.    With  Sketch  of  the  Greek  Philosophy. 

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45.  TERENCE    and    PH/EDRUS,   by  H.  T.  RILET.    To  which  is  added  SMART'S    " 

Metrical  Version  of  Phtedrus.     frontispiece. 

46  &  47.  ARISTOTLE'S  ORGANON,  or,  Logical  Treatises,  and  the  Introduction  (tt 
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51.  APULEIUS.  [The  Golden  Ass,  Death  of  Socrates,  Florida,  and  Defence  or  Discourse    ^ 

on  Magic].    To  which  is  added  a  Metrical  Version  of  Cupid  and  Psyche;   and    jp 
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Index,  by  the  Rev.  J.  S.  WATSON,  M.A. 

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on  Virtue,  on  Justice,  Sisyphus,  I)emodocus,  and  Definitions;   the  Tivai! 
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on  Plato's  Writings  by  the  Poet  Gray.     Edited,  with  Notes,  by  G.  BCKGES,  M.A., 
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Trin.  Coll.,  C;>mb. 


ex  to  the  6  Volumes. 


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lated  by  C.  I).   YONGF.,  B.A.,  witli  an  Appendix  of  Poetical  Fragments  rendered  £ 

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COM:;,  M.A. ,  and  H.  C.  HAMILTON,  Esq.     In  3  Vols.     Vol  I.  ^ 

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Memoirs  ol  Six-rates,  translated  by  the  Rev.  J.  S.  WATSON,  with  a  Geographical  SS 
Commentary  by  W.  F.  AINSWORTU.     Frontispiece. 

o^ 

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38.  —  —  SCARLET  LETTER. 

39.  EMERSON'S  ORATIONS  AND  LECTURES. 

40.  UNCLE  TOM'S  CABIN  ;  or,  Life  among  the  Lowly:  with  Introductory  Remarks 

bv  the  REV.  J.  SHERMAN. 


A  new  picture  of  American  Slave  Life. 


42.  DAYS  OF  BATTLE;  or,  Quatre  Bras  and  Waterloo.    By  an  ENGLISHWOMAN, 

resident  at  Brussels  in  June,  1810,  (author  of  Rome  in  th'e  Nineteenth  Centurv). 


43. 

• 

q&iV,y*xi 

•'''V'i  ' 
*>;•") 


GERVINUS'  INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  NINETEENTH 
CENTURY,  translated  from  the  German  (Kith  n  Mnnoiror  tht  Author). 

CARPENTER'S  (DR.  W.  B.)  PHYSIOLOGY  OF  TEMPERANCE  AND  TOTAL 
ABSTINENCE,  licin^  »n  Examination  of  the  KflVcts  of  the  excessive,  modi-rate, 
and  occasional  use  of  Alcoholic  Liquors  ou  the  Human  System  (or  «i  Jiite  fafei, 
bound  in  cloth,  :2i.  tjd.) 


VICTORIA  uNr- 

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