Opening
London
HENRY FROWDE
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE
7 PATERNOSTER ROW
THE
REIGN OF WILLIAM RUFUS
AND THE
ACCESSION OF HENRY THE FIRST.
BY
EDWARD A. FREEMAN, M.A., HON. D.C.L., LL.D.
HONORARY FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOLUME II.
Oxford:
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS.
1882.
[All rights reserved.]
Chapter V
THE WARS OF SCOTLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND, AND WALES. 1093-1098.
A. D. PAGE
Events of the year 1093; relations between England and Scotland; results of the war of 1093 3-4
Growth of the English power and of the English nation under Rufus; the Scottish kingdom becomes English 4-5
1093 Death of Malcolm; first reign of Donald 5
1094 Reign of Duncan; second reign of Donald 5
1097 Establishment of Eadgar 5
1095 Revolt of Robert of Mowbray 5-5
Affairs of Wales; comparison between Wales and Scotland 6
Effects of the reign on the union of Britain; comparison with Ireland and Normandy 6-8
§ 1. The last year of Malcolm. 1093.
Complaints of Malcolm against William Rufus; effects on Scotland of the restoration of Carlisle; other grounds of offence 8-9
March, 1093 Scottish embassy at Gloucester; Malcolm summoned to Gloucester; Eadgar sent to bring him 9-10
Present favour of Eadgar with William 9-10
August Malcolm sets forth; he stops at Durham 11
August 11 He lays a foundation stone of the abbey; import of the ceremony 11-12
August 24 Malcolm at Gloucester; William refuses to see him; questions between the kings; William observes his safe-conduct 13-14
Malcolm’s last invasion of England; he draws near to Alnwick; history of the place 15-16
English feeling about Malcolm 16
Nov. 13 Malcolm slain by Morel 16-17
Burial of Malcolm at Tynemouth; history of Tynemouth; his translation to Dunfermline 18-19
Local estimate of Malcolm’s death 19
Character of Margaret; Malcolm’s devotion to her; her children and their education 20-22
Margaret’s reforms; Scottish feeling towards them 22-26
Her religious reforms 22-23
She increases the pomp of the court 23-24
English influence in Scotland; English and Norman settlers 24-26
Nov. 27 Death of Margaret; different versions; her burial at Dunfermline; Scottish feeling towards her 26-28
Donald elected king; he drives out the English; meaning of the words 29-30
Margaret’s children driven out; action of the elder Eadgar 30
Eadgyth and Mary brought up at Romsey; Malcolm at Romsey; story of Eadgyth and William Rufus 31-32
Events of 1094; order of Scottish events 32-33
Christmas, Assembly at Gloucester; Duncan claims the Scottish 1093-1094 crown; his Norman education 33-34
1094 He receives the crown from William, and wins the kingdom by the help of Norman and English volunteers 34-35
May, 1094 Revolution in Scotland; the foreigners driven out 35
November Duncan slain and Donald restored 36
1094-1097 Second reign of Donald 36
§ 2. The revolt of Robert of Mowbray. 1095-1096.
Conspiracy against William Rufus; no general support for the plot 37-40
Robert of Mowbray marries Matilda of Laigle 38
His dealings with Earl Hugh and Bishop William; other conspirators; William of Eu 38-39
Designs on behalf of Stephen of Aumale 39-40
Earl Robert plunders the Norwegian ships; the merchants complain to the King; Robert refuses redress 40-41
March 25, Easter assembly at Winchester; Robert summoned, 1095 but refuses to come 41
April 4 Falling stars 41-42
Messages between the King and Robert 42
May 13 Whitsun assembly at Windsor; Robert again refuses to come 42
The King marches against Robert; his rebellion 42-43
The rebels expect help from Normandy 44
The King marches to Nottingham; Anselm’s command in Kent 44-45
Robert’s fortresses; the New Castle, Tynemouth, Bamburgh; taking of the New Castle 46-47
July Siege of Tynemouth; description of the site; taking of Tynemouth 47-48
The castle of Bamburgh; Robert defends it against the King 49-50
Failure of direct attacks; making of the Malvoisin; the King goes away 51-52
Robert entrapped by a false message; he flees to Tynemouth; he is besieged in the monastery, taken, and imprisoned 52-53
Bamburgh defended by Matilda of Laigle 54
November She yields to save her husband’s eyes 54
Later history of Robert and Matilda 54-55
Morel turns King’s evidence 55
1095-1096 Christmas assembly at Windsor; all tenants-in-chief summoned; constitutional importance of the meeting 56-59
January 13 The meeting adjourned to Salisbury; action of the assembly; no general sympathy with the accused 56-59
Bishop William charged with treason and summoned to take his trial; portents foretelling his death 59-61
Dec. 25, His sickness and death 61 1095- Jan. 1, 1096 Debate as to his burial-place; he is buried in the chapter-house 61-62
Sentences of the assembly; Earl Hugh buys his pardon 62-63
January 13 William of Eu appealed by Geoffrey of Baynard, and convicted by battle 63
He is blinded and mutilated; action of Earl Hugh 64-65
Story of Arnulf of Hesdin; his innocence proved by battle 65
He goes to the crusade and dies 66
William of Alderi sentenced to death; the King refuses to spare him 66-67
His pious end 67-68
Last days of William of Eu and of Morel 68-69
§ 3. The Conquest and Revolt of Wales. 1093-1097.
Relations with Wales; character of the Welsh wars of Rufus; effect of the building of castles 69-71
Welsh campaigns of Harold and William Rufus compared 71-72
Immediate failure and lasting success 71
Comparison of the conquest of Wales with the English and Norman conquests; difference of geographical conditions 72-74
Extension of England by conquest and settlement 74
Various elements in Wales; the Flemish settlements; endurance of the Welsh language 74-75
The local nomenclature of Wales contrasted with that of England 75-76
The Welsh castles; contrast with England; the Welsh towns 76-77
Conquests before the accession of Rufus; Robert of Rhuddlan; reigns of Rhys ap Tewdwr and Cedivor 77-78
1091 Saint David’s robbed by pirates 78
1093 Beginning of the conquest of South Wales; legend of the conquest of Glamorgan 79-81
Story of Jestin and Einion; settlement of Robert Fitz-hamon and his knights 80-81
Estimate of the story; elements of truth 81-82
History of Robert Fitz-hamon; his lands, marriage, and settlement at Cardiff 82-83
His works at Gloucester and Tewkesbury; his grants of Welsh churches to English monasteries 84
Distinction between Morganwg and Glamorgan; extent of Glamorgan 85
The lords and their castles 86-87
The South-Welsh churches and monasteries 88-89
Saxon and Flemish settlements in South Wales; foundation of boroughs 88
Conquest of Brecknock; Bernard of Newmarch and his wife Nest 89-91
Easter, Defeat and death of Rhys at Brecknock; effects of 1093 his death 91-92
April 30 Cadwgan harries Dyfed 92
July 1 Norman conquest of Ceredigion and Dyfed 92-93
Tale of Rufus’s threats against Ireland 92-93
Acquisition of Saint David’s; Bishop Wilfrith 94
The Pembrokeshire castles 95
Pembroke castle begun by Arnulf of Montgomery; second building by Gerald of Windsor; his wife Nest 96-97
Earl Hugh in Anglesey; castle of Aberlleiniog 97
Advance of Earl Roger in Powys; castle of Rhyd-y-gors 97
Seeming conquest of Wales; Gower and Caermarthen unsubdued 98
Effect of William’s absence; general revolt under Cadwgan son of Bleddyn 98-100
Invasion of England 100
Deliverance of Anglesey; Aberlleiniog castle broken down 101
Character of the war; action of Cadwgan in Dyfed; Pembroke castle holds out 101-102
Question of a winter campaign; conquest of Kidwelly, Gower, and Caermarthen 102
1099 Alleged West-Saxon settlement in Gower; the Gower castles 103
Pagan of Turberville helps the Welsh 104
North Wales holds out; the Welsh take Montgomery 104-105
Michaelmas, William’s invasion of Wales 105 1095
November 1 He reaches Snowdon; ill-success of the campaign 105
1096 The Welsh take Rhyd-y-gors; revolt of Gwent and Brecknock 106
English feeling towards the war 106-107
Vain attempts to recover Gwent 107
Importance of the castles; the Welsh attack Pembroke; defence of Gerald of Windsor 108-109
1097 Gerald takes the offensive against the Welsh 110
Easter, William’s second campaign; seeming conquest; fresh 1097 revolt under Cadwgan 110-111
June-Aug. 1097 William’s third campaign; his ill-success 111-112
October He determines to build castles 112-113
§ 4. The Establishment of Eadgar in Scotland. 1097-1098.
August, Decree for action in Scotland; the elder Eadgar 1097 commissioned to restore the younger 114
Story of Godwine and Ordgar; the Ætheling Eadgar cleared by battle 114-118
Estimate and importance of the story 117-118
September The two Eadgars march to Scotland; exploits of Robert son of Godwine; defeat and blinding of Donald; later life of Eadmund 118-120
1097-1107 Reign of Eadgar in Scotland 120-123
Eadgar’s gifts to Robert son of Godwine 121
1099-1100 Eadgar and Robert go to the Crusade 121-122
1103 Exploits and martyrdom of Robert son of Godwine; parallels and contrasts 122-123
1107-1124 Reign of Alexander in Scotland; friendship of the Scottish kings for England; Turgot and Eadmer 124
1124-1153 Reign of David in Scotland; English influence in Scotland; the Scottish kings of the second series 125-126
§ 5. The Expedition of Magnus. 1098.
Events of the year 1098; their wide geographical range; Anglesey the centre of the story 126-127
Winter, Schemes of Cadwgan and Gruffydd; they take 1097-1098 wikings from Ireland into pay 127-128
The two Earls Hugh of Chester and Shrewsbury 129
The Earls enter Anglesey; they rebuild the castle of Aberlleiniog 129-130
The Earls bribe the wikings; Cadwgan and Gruffydd flee to Ireland 130-131
Cruelties of the Earls; mutilation and restoration of Cenred 131-132
1093-1103 Reign of Magnus Barefoot in Norway; his surnames 133
He professes friendship for England; his treasure at Lincoln 133-134
Harold son of Harold in his fleet 134-136
Designs of Magnus on Ireland; Irish marriage of his son Sigurd; his voyage among the islands 136
1075-1095 Reign of Godred Crouan in Man and the Sudereys 136-137
1078-1094 His Irish dominion 136-137
His sons Lagman and Harold 137
Rulers of Man sent from Ireland and Norway; civil war in Man 137-138
Legend of Magnus and Saint Olaf 138-140
Magnus seizes the Orkney earls and gives the earldom to his son Sigurd 140
Further voyage of Magnus; he occupies Man; his designs 140-142
He approaches Anglesey; preparations of the earls; the fleet off Aberlleiniog 142-143
Death of Hugh of Shrewsbury; different versions 143-144
Peace between Magnus and Hugh of Chester 145
Anglesey and North Wales subdued by Hugh 145-146
Sigurd’s kingdom in the islands; dealings of Magnus with Scotland 145-146
§ 6. The Establishment of Robert of Bellême in England. 1098.
1098 Effects of the death of Hugh of Shrewsbury; Robert of Bellême buys his earldom and his other possessions; doubtful policy of the grant 147-149
Unique position of Robert in England; effects of his coming; his cruelty and spoliations 149-151
His skill in castle-building; his defences in Shropshire; early history of the Shropshire fortresses 151-152
896-912 First works at the Bridge 152-153
Quatford; Earl Roger’s house and chapel 153-154
Robert of Bellême removes to Bridgenorth and Oldbury 155-158
The group of fortresses 158
Robert builds the castle of Careghova 158
Roger of Bully; his Yorkshire and Nottingham estates 159-160
The castle of Tickhill; use of the names Tickhill and Blyth 160-162
1088 The priory of Blyth founded by Roger of Bully 161
Death of Roger of Bully; his lands granted to Robert of Bellême 162-164
VI. THE LAST WARS OF WILLIAM RUFUS. 1097-1099
1097-1100 Character of the last years of William Rufus; his designs on France 165-167
1097-1098 Beginning of the wars between France and Maine 167
Nov. 1097 William crosses the sea 167
Comparison of France and Maine; Philip and Helias; advantage of the kingly dignity 168-170
Lewis son of Philip 170
Jan. 1098 Beginning of the war of Maine 170
§ 1. The Beginning of the French War. 1097-1098.
1092 King Philip; his adulterous marriage with Bertrada of Montfort 171-172
Opposition of Ivo and Hugh of Lyons; excommunication of Philip and Bertrada 173-174
Sons of Philip and Bertrada; she schemes against Lewis 174
Philip invests Lewis with the Vexin 175
1097 William’s grounds of offence; he demands the cession of the Vexin; his demand is refused 175-176
November William crosses to Normandy; excesses of his 11-30 followers in England 176-177
William and Lewis; difficulties of Lewis; fate of the captives on each side 178-179
French traitors; Guy of the Rock; description of Roche Guyon 179-182
Policy of Robert of Meulan; he receives William’s troops; importance and description of Meulan 182-184
Prospects of William; failure of his plans 184-185
The castle of Chaumont-en-Vexin 185-186
1096 The castle of Gisors; its first defences strengthened by Robert of Bellême 186-188
Castles of Trye and Boury 188-189
National feeling in the French Vexin 189-190
Prisoners on both sides; Gilbert of Laigle; Simon of Montfort 190
§ 2. The First War of Maine. 1098.
November, Dates of the French war 191 1097-1098
Jan.-Aug. War of Maine 191 1098
1089 Robert suspects the loyalty of Maine; he asks help of Fulk of Anjou; marriage of Fulk and Bertrada 191-194
1090 Movements in Maine; Hugh son of Azo sent for 194-195
Character of Helias of La Flèche; his descent; his castles; he accepts the succession of Hugh 195-197
1090 Revolt of Maine; Hugh received at Le Mans 197-200
Bishop Howel imprisoned by Helias 197-199
Release of Howel; his dealings with Robert 199-200
Disputes between Hugh and Howel; disputes of Howel with his chapter; he goes to England 201
June 28, 1090 Return of Howel; unpopularity of Hugh 202
February, Helias buys the county of Hugh 202-203 1091
1091-1098 First reign of Helias; peace of the land 203-204
October 17, Translation of Saint Julian 204 1093
November, Visit of Pope Urban to Le Mans 205 1095
1095-1097 Sickness of Howel 205
1095-1096 Helias takes the cross; estimate of his conduct 205-207
Aug. 1096 William in Normandy; danger to Maine; negotiations of Helias with Robert 207
Interview of William and Helias; mutual challenge and defiance 208-210
1096-1097 William delays his attack 210
July 29, Death of Howel; disputed election to the bishopric 210-211 1097
1097-1126 Hildebert Bishop of Le Mans 211-212
Claims of the Norman dukes over the bishopric; anger of Rufus at the election of Hildebert 211-213
Nov. 1097 William in Normandy; his designs on Maine 213
Robert of Bellême attacks Maine; Helias strengthens Dangeul; geographical character of the war 213-214
Jan. 1098 Robert of Bellême invites the King; guerrilla warfare of Helias 214-215
William leaves Maine; Robert of Bellême continues the war; castles held by him 216-219
Nature of the country and of the war; comparison of Maine and England 219-221
Helias defeats Robert at Saônes; cruelty of Robert 221-223
April 28, 1098 Second victory of Helias; he is taken prisoner near Danguel 223-224
Helias surrendered to the king; contrast between William Rufus and Robert of Bellême 224-225
Hildebert and the council at Le Mans 225-226
William at Rouen; a great levy ordered; numbers of the army 226-228
June, The army meets at Alençon; invasion of Maine; 1098 truce with Ralph of Fresnay 228-230
Dealings with the nobles of Maine 230-231
May 5 Fulk of Anjou at Le Mans; he leaves Geoffrey in command 231-232
March of William Rufus; he approaches Le Mans by Coulaines; he ravages Coulaines 232-234
Sally from the city; Rufus goes away; the siege of Le Mans raised 234-236
Ballon betrayed to Rufus; occupied by Robert of Bellême, and besieged by Fulk 235-236
July 20 William relieves Ballon; his treatment of the captive knights 236-237
August Fulk goes back to Le Mans; convention between William and Fulk; Le Mans to be surrendered and Helias set free 237-238
Submission of Le Mans; William’s entry 238-241
William leaves Le Mans; general submission of Maine 241
Meeting of William and Helias at Rouen; the offers of Helias rejected; his defiance 242-243
Helias set free; illustration of the King’s character 244-245
§ 3. The End of the French War. September-December, 1098.
1097-1099 William on the Continent; extent of his conquest in Maine; he begins, but does not finish 245
September He sets forth against France; the sign in the sky 27, 1098 246
He marches to Pontoise; position of the town and castle; Pontoise his furthest point 247-248
Siege of Chaumont; castle not taken 248-249
Alliance between Normandy and Aquitaine; coming of Duke William of Poitiers 249-250
Campaign to the west of Paris; valley of the Maudre; the two Williams march against the Montfort castles 250-252
The castles resist singly; Peter of Maule 252-253
The two Simons of Montfort; the castle of Montfort; successful defence of the younger Simon 253-255
Christmas, William keeps Christmas in Normandy; truce with 1098-1099 France 255
Ill-success of the French war; illustrations of William’s character 256
§ 4. The Gemót of 1099.
April 10, Easter assembly 256 1099
May 19 Whitsun assembly in the new hall at Westminster 257
Buildings of William Rufus; they are reckoned among the national grievances; probable abuses of the law 257-260
Various grievances and natural phænomena 258
The wall round the tower, the bridge, and the hall; growth of the greatness of London; relations of London and Winchester 259-261
Westminster Hall; its two founders; its history 262-263
Object of the hall; personal pride of Rufus; the Whitsun feast; the sword borne by the King of Scots 263-264
Deaths of bishops and abbots; character and acts of Walkelin of Winchester 265-266
April 8, The monks take possession of the new church of 1093 Winchester 266
1097-1098 Walkelin joint regent with Flambard; the King’s demand for money 266-267
Jan. 3, Death of Walkelin 267 1098 Death of Turold of Peterborough and Robert of New Minster 267
Abbot Baldwin of Saint Eadmund’s; rebuilding of the church; the King forbids the dedication 267-269
April 30, Various details of Abbot Baldwin; translation of 1095 Saint Eadmund 268-270
Dec. 29, Death of Abbot Baldwin 270 1097 The bishopric of Durham granted to Randolf Flambard 271
June 5, Consecration of Flambard 271 1099
1099- Character of the appointment; Flambard’s episcopate 271-274 1128 His works at Durham and Norham 272
Later events of the year 1099 274
§ 5. The Second War of Maine. April-September, 1099.
Aug. 1098- Helias withdraws to La Flèche; he strengthens the April, 1099 castles on the Loir 274-276
April, 1099 He attacks the castle held by the King 277
June He marches against Le Mans; battle at Pontlieue; he recovers Le Mans 277-278
The castles still held for the King; the Normans set fire to the city; comparison of Le Mans and York 279-281
Vain operations against the castles; use of the church towers; Robert of Bêlleme strengthens Ballon 281-282
The news brought to William in the New Forest; his ride to the coast 282-284
He crosses to Touques and rides to Bonneville; the castle of Bonneville 284-287
His levy; he marches to Le Mans; Helias flees to Château-du-Loir 287
William passes through Le Mans; he harries southern Maine; Helias burns the castles 288-289
William besieges Mayet; observance of the Truce of God; details of the siege; the siege raised 289-294
The land ravaged, but the campaign left unfinished 294-295
William at Le Mans; his good treatment of the city; he drives out the canons 295-296
Sept. 1099 He goes back to England 296
Hildebert reconciled to the King; the King bids him pull down the towers of Saint Julian’s; question whether the order was carried out 297-300
1099 Revolt in Anglesey; return of Cadwgan and Gruffydd; recovery of Anglesey and Ceredigion by the Welsh 300-301
Nov. 3, The great tide in the Thames 302 1099
December 3 Death of Bishop Osmund of Salisbury 302
Chapter VII
THE LAST DAYS OF WILLIAM RUFUS AND THE ACCESSION OF HENRY. 1100-1102.
1000-1100 End of the eleventh century; changes in Britain and in the world 303-307
Change from Æthelred to William Rufus; contradiction in William’s position; his defeats not counted defeats 307-308
The year 1100; lack of events in its earlier months; comparison with the year 1000; vague expectations, portents, and prophecies 308-310
§ 1. The Last days of William Rufus. January-August, 1100.
The three assemblies of 1099-1100; no record of these assemblies; continental schemes of Rufus 310-311
Return of Robert from the crusade; his marriage with Sibyl of Conversana 311-313
William of Aquitaine; his crusade; he proposes to pledge his duchy to Rufus; preparations for the occupation of Aquitaine 313-314
Alleged designs of Rufus on the Empire 314
May, 1100 Portents; death of Richard son of Robert 315-316
June, July Warlike preparations 317
July 15 Consecration of Gloucester abbey 317
August 1 Visions and prophecies; Abbot Fulchered’s sermon at Gloucester 317-321
August 1 William at Brockenhurst; his companions; Walter Tirel; his history; his gab with the King; illustrative value of the story 321-325
August 2 Last day of William Rufus; various versions of his death; estimate of the received tale 325-327
Versions of Orderic and William of Malmesbury 327-331
Versions which assert a repentance for Rufus 331-332
Version charging Ralph of Aix 333-335
Impression made at the time by the death of Rufus; its abiding memory; local traditions; end and character of Rufus 335-337
Accounts of William’s burial; the genuine story; his popular excommunication; he is buried in the Old Minster without religious rites 338-341
July 31 Portents at William’s death; dream of Abbot Hugh of Clugny 341
August 1 Vision of Anselm’s doorkeeper 341
August 2 News brought to Anselm’s clerk; vision of Count William of Mortain 341-343
§ 2. The First Days of Henry. August 2-November 11, 1100.
Vacancy of the throne; claims of Robert by the treaty of 1091; choice between Robert and Henry; claims of Henry; his speedy election 343-345
August 2 Story of Henry on the day of the King’s death; he hastens to Winchester 345-346
He demands the treasure and is resisted by William of Breteuil; popular feeling for Henry 346-347
August 3 Meeting for the election; division in the assembly; influence of Henry Earl of Warwick; Henry chosen King 347-348
Henry grants the bishopric of Winchester to William Giffard 349
August 5 Henry crowned at Westminster; form of his oath; joy at his accession 349-351
He puts forth his charter; its provisions 352-357
Privilege of the knights and its effects 355-356
Renewal of the Law of Eadward 357
Witnesses to the charter 358
August 5 Appointments to abbeys; Robert of Saint Eadmund’s and Richard of Ely; their later history 359-360
1100-1120 Herlwin Abbot of Glastonbury 360
1100-1117 Faricius Abbot of Abingdon 360
Imprisonment of Flambard 361-362
The King’s inner council 362-363
The news of the King’s death brought to Anselm; his grief 363
Letters to him from his monks and from the King; popular language of Henry’s letter 363-366
Intrigues of the Norman nobles with Robert; renewed anarchy in Normandy 366-367
Sept. Return of Robert to Normandy; his renewed 1100 no-government 367-368
Henry keeps his own fief; war between Henry and Robert 368
Sept. 23. Return of Anselm 368
Helias returns to Le Mans; the King’s garrison holds out in the royal tower 370
Helias calls in Fulk; siege of the tower 370
Courtesies between Helias and the garrison; messages sent to Robert and Henry; surrender of the castle 370-373
1100-1110 Just reign of Helias; his friendship for Henry 373
1109 His second marriage; later history of Maine; descent of the later English kings from Helias 374
Meeting of Anselm and Henry; comparison of the dispute between Anselm and William Rufus and that between Anselm and Henry 374-375
Henry calls on Anselm to do homage; Anselm refuses; change in his views 375-377
Truce till Easter; the Pope to be asked to allow the homage; the spiritual power strengthened through Rufus’ abuse of the temporal power 375-378
The temporalities of the archbishopric provisionally restored 378
Reformation of the court; personal character of Henry; his mistresses and children; story of Ansfrida and her son Richard 379-382
Henry is exhorted to marry; he seeks for Eadgyth daughter of Malcolm; policy of the marriage 382-383
Objections to the marriage; Eadgyth said to have taken the veil 384
Anselm holds an assembly to settle the question; Eadgyth declared free to marry; other versions of the story 384-387
November Marriage of Henry and Eadgyth; she changes her 11, 1100 name to Matilda 387-388
Anselm’s speech at the wedding; objections not wholly silenced 388
1100-1118 Matilda as Queen; her children and character; “Godric and Godgifu” 388-391
Guy of Vienne comes as Legate; his claims not acknowledged 391
Nov. 18 Death of Thomas Archbishop of York 391
1100-1108 Gerard of Hereford Archbishop of York 392
§ 3. Invasion of Robert. January-August, 1101.
Likeness of the years 1088 and 1101; plots to give the crown to Robert; a party in Normandy to give the crown to Henry 392-393
Character of Robert and Eadgar; Robert as crusader; his relapse on his return to Normandy 394
Parties in England and Normandy; Henry’s strict rule distasteful to the nobles 394-395
Plots of Robert of Bellême and others; Duke Robert’s grants to Robert of Bellême 395-396
Christmas Assembly at Westminster 396 1100-1101 Flambard escapes to Normandy; his influence with Robert 396-398
April 21 Easter assembly at Winchester; the questions between Henry and Anselm adjourned; growth of the conspiracy 399
June 9 Whitsun assembly; its popular character; mediation of Anselm; renewed promise of good laws 399-400
The Church and the people for Henry; England united against invasion 401
Importance of the campaign of 1101; last opposition of Normans and English; their fusion under Henry 401-402
July, 1101 Robert and his fleet at Tréport 401-403
Henry’s levée; Anselm and his contingent; the English at Pevensey 403-404
The English fleet sent out; some of the crews desert to Robert 404
July 20 Robert lands at Portchester; comparison with former invasions 405-406
Robert marches on Winchester; Matilda in child-bed in the city; he declines to attack Winchester 406
Estimate of his conduct; personal character of the chivalrous feeling 406-408
Robert marches towards London; the armies meet near Maldon 408-409
Desertion of Robert of Bellême and William of Warren 408-409
July 26 Death of Earl Hugh 410
Anselm’s energy on the King’s side; zeal of the English; exhortations of the King 410-411
Negotiations between Henry and Robert; their personal meeting; they agree on terms 412-413
Treaty of 1101; Robert resigns his claim to England; Henry gives up his Norman possessions, but keeps Domfront; other stipulations 413-414
Michaelmas, Robert goes back; mischief done by his army 415 1101
§ 4. Revolt of Robert of Bellême. 1102.
Continued disloyalty of the Norman nobles; Henry’s plans for breaking their power 415
Flambard in Normandy; his dealings with the see of Lisieux 415-416
Banishment and restoration of Earl William of Warren 416
Other banishments; trial of Ivo of Grantmesnil; his bargain with Robert of Meulan 417-418
1102-1118 Robert of Meulan Earl of Leicester; his death; his ecclesiastical foundations 418-421
Christmas, Assembly at Westminster; danger from Robert of 1101-1102 Bellême; the King watches him 420-421
April 6, Easter assembly at Winchester; Robert of Bellême 1102 summoned, but does not come 421-422
Second summons to Robert; the war begins 422
Robert and his brothers Arnulf and Roger; his acquisition of Ponthieu; his dealings with Wales, Ireland, and Norway 423-424
Condition of Wales; return of Gruffydd and Cadwgan 424
Alliance of Robert of Bellême with the Welsh 425
Arnulf’s dealings with Murtagh; the Irish king’s daughter promised to him 425-426
Henry’s negotiations with Duke Robert; the Duke attacks Robert of Bellême’s fortress of Vignats 426
Treason of Robert of Montfort; defeat of the besiegers; general ravages 427-428
Robert of Bellême strengthens his castles; his works at Bridgenorth 428
The King besieges Arundel; truce with the besieged 428-429
Robert and Arnulf harry Staffordshire 429
Surrender of Arundel 430
Surrender of Tickhill; its later history 431-432
Autumn, Henry’s Shropshire campaign; Robert of Bellême at 1102 Shrewsbury; the three captains at Bridgenorth 432-433
Story of William Pantulf; he joins the King; his services 434-435
Siege of Bridgenorth; division between the nobles and the mass of the army 435-437
Gathering of the mass of the army; they stand by the King 437-438
William Pantulf wins over Jorwerth to the King 439-440
The captains at Bridgenorth agree to surrender 440-441
Arnulf goes to Ireland; Robert asks help of Magnus in vain 442-443
The mercenaries at Bridgenorth refuse to surrender; they are overpowered by the captains and the townsmen 443-444
Surrender of Bridgenorth; the mercenaries march out with the honours of war 444-445
Robert still holds Shrewsbury; his despair 445-446
The King’s march to Shrewsbury; zeal of the English; clearing of the road 446-447
The King refuses terms to Robert; he submits at discretion, and is banished from England 448-449
Joy at Robert’s overthrow; banishment of his brothers; later history of Robert of Bellême 449-450
1103 Death of Magnus 451
1103 Later history of Jorwerth; his trial at Shrewsbury and imprisonment 451-453
Assemblies held in various places under Henry 452
1104-1106 Establishment of Henry’s power; banishment of William of Mortain; his imprisonment and alleged blinding 453
1102-1135 Peace of Henry’s reign; its character; Henry the refounder of the English nation 454-455
1107 The compromise with Anselm 455
1106 Battle of Tinchebrai 456
General character and results of the reigns of William Rufus and Henry 456-457
Appendix
NOTE A. The Accession of William Rufus 459
B. The Beginning of the Rebellion of 1088 465
C. The Share of Bishop William of Saint-Calais in the Rebellion of 1088 469
D. The Deliverance of Worcester in 1088 475
E. The Attempted Landing of the Normans at Pevensey 481
F. The Bishopric of Somerset and the Abbey of Bath 483
G. The Character of William Rufus 490
H. The Ecclesiastical Benefactions of William Rufus 504
I. Chivalry 508
K. The Purchase of the Côtentin by the Ætheling Henry 510
L. The Death of Conan 516
M. The Siege of Courcy 519
N. The Treaty of 1091 522
O. The Siege of Saint Michael’s Mount 528
P. The Adventures of Henry after the Surrender of Saint Michael’s Mount 535
Q. The Homage of Malcolm in 1091 540
R. The Earldom of Carlisle 545
S. The Early Life of Randolf Flambard 551
T. The Official Position of Randolf Flambard 557
U. The alleged Domesday of Randolf Flambard 562
W. The Dealings of William Rufus with vacant Bishoprics and Abbeys 564
X. The Appointment of Herbert Losinga to the See of Thetford 568
Y. The Letters of Anselm 570
Z. Robert Bloet 584
AA. The Mission of Abbot Geronto 588
BB. The Embassies between William Rufus and Malcolm in 1093 590
CC. The Death of Malcolm 592
DD. The Burial of Margaret 596
EE. Eadgyth-Matilda 598
FF. Tynemouth and Bamburgh 603
GG. The Conquest of Glamorgan 613
HH. Godwine of Winchester and his son Robert 615
II. The Expedition of Magnus 618
KK. The Relations between Hildebert and Helias 624
LL. The Surrender of Le Mans to William Rufus 628
MM. The Fortresses of Le Mans 631
NN. The Dates of the Building of Le Mans Cathedral 632
OO. The Interview between William Rufus and Helias 640
PP. The Voyage of William Rufus to Touques 645
QQ. The Siege of Mayet 652
RR. William Rufus and the Towers of Le Mans Cathedral 654
SS. The Death of William Rufus 657
TT. The Burial of William Rufus 676
UU. The Election of Henry the First 680
WW. The Objections to the Marriage of Henry and Matilda 682
XX. The Treaty of 1101 688
ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.
VOL. II.
p. 19, note 3. This picture of the two natives, most likely churls, carrying the King’s body on the cart, is singularly like the story of Rufus’ own end to which we shall come presently.
p. 27, l. 5. I should not have said “a relic,” as I find that the black cross of Scotland is a relic of great fame, as indeed is almost implied in the story.
p. 27, note 5. See vol. i. p. 167.
p. 28, note 5. Munch (Det Norske Folks Historie, ii. 471-475, for an introduction to which I have to thank Professor Fiske of Cornell University) connects this entry with the account of Magnus’ dealings with Man, spoken of in p. 138, and with every likelihood supposes an earlier expedition of Magnus in 1093, in which he appeared in both Scotland and Man, and which the writers of the Sagas have confounded with his expedition in 1098. We can thus understand the mention of Godred, who was certainly alive in 1093, and certainly dead in 1098. See also Anderson, Preface to Orkneyinga Saga, pp. xxxiii-xxxiv.
p. 31, l. 14. Not “the Breton Count Alan,” at least not the Count of the Bretons, but Alan of Richmond. See p. 602.
p. 49, l. 22, for “south-western” read “north-western.”
p. 62, note 5. Mr. Fowler writes to me that “what is left of William of Saint-Calais is under the floor in the part of the chapter-house still used. W. G. has one of his shoes. They began at the west end in burying the bishops in the chapter-house, and gradually worked eastward, ending with Kellow before the bishop’s seat at the east end. Rites of Durham (Surtees Society ed. p. 47) gives the names as they were ‘ingraven upon stone with the figure of the crosse + annexed to every of their said names,’ i.e. on the chapter-house floor, and between ‘Walcherus’ and ‘Ranulphus comes’.
‘Willielmus Episcopus.’
We found further east ‘Will. Secundus Episcopus’ [that is William of Saint Barbara, bishop from 1143-1152]. Wyatt smashed them all more or less.”
p. 81, note 1. See p. 614.
p. 88, l. 17. See below, p. 103.
p. 93, note 2. I presume this is the same king of whom we shall hear a great deal from p. 137 onwards.
p. 97, l. 2 from bottom. I have been unable to fix the exact site of Rhyd-y-gors; but I believe it is to be looked for in Caermarthenshire.
p. 101, l. 13. I am also unable to fix the exact site of Yspwys.
p. 134, l. 7 from bottom, for “Ulf” read “Wulf,” as in vol. i. p. 14. The English spelling is the better, but I suppose I was carried away by Scandinavian associations.
p. 134, l. 11. Munch (Det Norske Folks Historie, ii. 511) oddly refers to William of Malmesbury as making the companion of Magnus Barefoot, not a younger Harold, but the Magnus whom we have already heard of as our Harold’s son, as I suppose, by Eadgyth Swanneshals. But William of Malmesbury distinctly says Harold, and I can see nothing about it in the places in the Saga of Magnus and the Orkneyinga Saga to which he refers.
p. 136, l. 4 from bottom, for “Cronan” read “Crouan.”
p. 138, note 1. This is placed in the year 1098.
p. 144, l. 1. I know not by what carelessness I contrived, after referring (see p. 131) to Giraldus’ account of the earlier doings of the two Earls in Anglesey, to leave out all mention of his account of Hugh of Shrewsbury’s death, which follows immediately (It. Kamb. ii. 7, vol. vi. p. 129) on the story of the desecration of the church of Llantryfrydog. It agrees on most points very minutely with the narrative of Orderic; but it does not seem to be borrowed from it;
“Accesserant ad insulæ portum ab Orchadum insulis piratæ in navibus longis; quorum adventum ubi comes audivit, statim eis usque in ipsum mare, forti residens equo, animose nimis occurrit. Et ecce navium princeps, cui nomen Magnus, primæ navis in prora cum arcu prostans sagittam direxit. Et quanquam comes a vertice capitis usque ad talum pedis, præter oculos solum, ferro fideliter esset indutus, tamen dextro percussus in lumine, perforato cerebro, in mare corruit moribundus. Quem cum sic corruentem victor ab alto despiceret, superbe in victum et insolenter invectus, dixisse memoratur lingua Danica, ‘Leit loupe,’ quod Latine sonat Sine salire. Et ab hac in posterum hora potestas Anglorum in Monia cessavit.”
The only difference between this story and Orderic’s is that, while Orderic makes Magnus mourn when he learns whom he has slain, Giraldus puts into his mouth two good Teutonic words of triumph, which sound a great deal more natural. On the other hand we cannot accept Giraldus’ account of the immediate result of the encounter as regards Anglesey, which quite contradicts the witness of the Welsh writers. His statement however is true in the long run, as Anglesey was delivered again the next year. See p. 146.
In the Orkneyinga Saga, c. xxix. (p. 55, Anderson), Magnus “takes a psalter and sings during the battle.” Then, by his order, he and the man from Hálogoland shoot at the same time, and hit “Hugh the Proud,” much as in the other versions. He and “Hugh the Proud” are oddly spoken of as “British chiefs.”
p. 146, l. 17. See below, pp. 442, 623; but the words “and of other parts of North Wales” had better be left out.
p. 153, note 1, for “muentione” read “inuentione.”
p. 174, l. 4, for “from” read “for.”
p. 175, l. 3. I think we must accept this distinct statement as more trustworthy than the flourish of Orderic a few pages later, which I have quoted in p. 178, note 1. The present passage, besides its more distinct character, has the force of a correction.
p. 178, note 3. Suger is a discreet writer, or one might suspect him of exaggeration in his figures both ways. If we take “milites” in the strict sense of knights, the French numbers seem strangely small, and the English strangely large. But any other sense of “miles” would make the French numbers quite incredible.
p. 181, note 1. And by the Loir too; see below, p. 276.
p. 190, l. 9 from bottom, “superinducta” is the favourite epithet for her.
p. 201, note 2. “Fraterculus” is an odd word; but it most likely points to Geoffrey as being one of the “canonici pueri” of whom we hear sometimes (see below, p. 521). “Frater” did not get its special meaning till the rise of the Friars, and we have seen the word “fratres” applied to the canons of Waltham. One might for a moment think that Geoffrey was a brother of the Bishop’s own, but this is forbidden by the account of his kindred which directly follows.
p. 207, note 1. This time, when William and Robert were together at Rouen, can only have been about September, 1096, just after the conference between the brothers spoken of in vol. i. p. 559, and just before Robert set forth on the crusade.
p. 230, last line, for “he” read “we.”
p. 243, note 1. It is rather odd that exactly this same phrase of “callidus senex,” here applied to Robert of Meulan, should be also applied to the old Roger of Beaumont in the story told in vol. i. p. 194. We must remember that our present “callidus senex” had been married, seemingly for the first time, only two years before (see vol. i. p. 551), and that he lived till 1118.
p. 250, l. 8. This is doubtless true, but the specially strange guise, described in the passage of William of Malmesbury referred to in the note, was not put on till William of Aquitaine had come back from the crusade. See above, p. 113.
p. 252, note 2. See above, p. 178, and the correction just above, p. 175.
p. 260, note 3. See at the end of the chapter, p. 302, and note 1.
p. 290, l. 2 from bottom. Yet see the piece of Angevin scandal quoted in p. 609.
p. 312, l. 10, for “both Rogers, the Duke of Apulia and the young Count of Sicily, to be one day the first and all but the most famous of Sicilian kings,” read “both Rogers, the Duke of Apulia and the Count of Sicily, now drawing near to the end of his stirring life.” The elder Roger was still alive, though he did not live long after.
p. 343, l. 1. The abbey of Saint Alban’s was not vacant at this time, see p. 666; and for “thirteen” and “twelve” read “twelve” and “eleven,” see note.
p. 347, note 2. Orderic is rather full on the circumstances of the election than on the election itself; see p. 680.
p. 359, l. 11, for “thirteen” read “eleven.”
p. 360, note 1. It must have been at the same time that Abbot Odo of Chertsey was restored to his abbey. See vol. i. p. 350.
p. 380, note 4. We have had one or two other cases of a church tenant like this Eadric or Godric, giving back his lease by way of a benefaction.
p. 389, l. 18. The imperial dignity of Matilda is greatly enlarged on by the poet of Draco Normannicus, i. 4. Two lines are,
“Suscipit Henricus sponsam, statimque coronat, Hoc insigne decus maxima Roma dedit.”
p. 396, l. 4. See vol. i. p. 184.
p. 413, l. 6 from bottom, for “in a neighbour” read “a neighbour in.”
p. 416, l. 1. I cannot admit the statement of Flambard’s Durham biographer, who puts his restoration at this point. It is not so much that he had no claim to restoration by the general terms of the treaty, for he might have been specially included in it. But his restoration at this time is quite inconsistent with Orderic’s account of his dealings with the bishopric of Lisieux, which cannot be mere confusion or invention.
p. 450, l. 3. After the words “give thanks to the Lord God,” insert “for thou hast now begun to be a free king.”
p. 454, l. 13 from bottom, for “his” read “the King’s.”
p. 472, l. 1. This grant of Northallerton must be the same as the grant mentioned in the charter which I have quoted in p. 535; cf. pp. 299, 508.
p. 487, ll. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. It does not appear that any of the regular assemblies of the year 1101 was held at Windsor. The Whitsun assembly (see p. 399) may have been held there, but it is hardly likely. But the mere confirmation of an earlier grant need not have been made in a regular gemót.
p. 503, l. 13. For “hanc terram” read “hac terra.”
p. 508. Several gifts of Rufus to the Abbey of Gloucester are recorded in the Gloucester Cartulary, i. 68, i. 102, i. 115. This last, which appears again in ii. 293, is a grant to the abbey of the right of catching sturgeons. This cannot have been one of the grants made during his sickness at Gloucester (see vol. i. p. 395), as it is dated from Huntingdon; but in the grant in i. 102, it is expressly said that it was made when the King was “apud Gloucestriam morbo gravi vexatus.” In i. 238, 239, 240, Henry and Stephen confirm gifts of their brother and uncle. The document in ii. 107, which in the index is referred to William Rufus, clearly belongs to the Conqueror, and to the earlier part of his reign, before the death of William Fitz-Osbern in 1071; it refers to the lands of the church of Gloucester which were held by Archbishop Thomas. See N. C. vol. ii. p. 690.
In the Register of Malmesbury (p. 330) there is a singular charter in favour of the Abbey of Malmesbury granted during his stay at Hastings in 1094. It brings in several familiar names great and small, and illustrates the relations between landowners of any kind and the King and his huntsmen;
“Willelmus rex Angliæ O. episcopo et W. Hosato, et C. venatori, et A. falconario, salutem. Sciatis me abbati Godefrido silvas suas ad custodiendum commendasse. Nolo ergo ut aliquis forestarius meus de eis se intromittat. Et Croco venatori præcipio ut de ix. sol. quos super homines suos placitaverat eum et suos clamet quietos. Teste Willelmo episcopo, et F. filio Hamonis, R. capellano, apud Hastinge.”
p. 569, heading, for “Losinga” read “Herbert.”
p. 585, l. 1. It is odd that William of Malmesbury should speak of the all-powerful Roger of Salisbury as “alius quidam episcopus;” for we see from the Chronicle (see p. 587) that it was no other.
p. 592, l. 10, for “þaes” read “þæs.”
p. 600, l. 6 from bottom. I seem in p. 30 to have taken “puellæ nostræ” to mean the nuns; but it would rather seem, both here and in the next page, to mean, other girls sent merely for education, like Eadgyth herself.
p. 605, l. 8 from bottom. I cannot get rid of a lurking notion that this “Aldredi” should be “Alberici.” But I do not know how Alberic could appear with the title of earl in the time of Waltheof.
p. 611, l. 9 from bottom. See M. Paris, ed. Wats, Additamenta, p. 199.
THE REIGN OF WILLIAM RUFUS.