William Talvas. 1 CHAP. VIII. his friend. He was also bountiful to the Church, though he strictly maintained the ecclesiastical privileges of his own lordships.2 Twice he made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, once during the height of his prosperity, and once after the great misfortune which clouded his later days. For Blinded by he it was whom the fierce Talvas, in defiance of every tie of gratitude, of hospitality, and of feudal honour, blinded and mutilated when he came as a guest to his bridal.3 The daughter of Talvas too, the cruel Mabel, pursued the house of Geroy throughout life with unrelenting hatred.4 He grants In his old age he became a monk at Bec, a house to which he had already been a benefactor. win and his monks the lands of church lately restored by Restold. to the Abbey, inhabited by a with Lanfranc at their head. But presently William's nephews, Hugh and Robert of Grantmesnil,' were designing the foundation of a monastery near the lordship on the Oudon from which they took their name. Saint Evroul to Bec. He had given to HerlSaint Evroul and the It now became a cell small body of monks 1 He held lands of Count Geoffrey of Mantes, who was taken prisoner by William Talvas, who required the destruction of the castle of Montacute as his ransom. This castle belonged to William the son of Geroy, who at once destroyed it to bring about the liberation of his lord. Ord. Vit. 464 C. * Ord. Vit. 464 A. "Episcopales consuetudines Monasterioli et Escalfoii fundo habebat, nec ullus Archidiaconorum ibidem presbyteros ejusdem honoris circumvenire audebat." 3 See above, p. 185. 4 578 A. According to William of Jumièges (vii. 23), he died at Gaeta on his return from a mission of some sort (pro quibusdam rationalibus caussis) to Apulia. Ord. Vit. 461 A. Chron. Becc. i. 195. This is doubtless the grange which Lanfranc found greatly troubled by rats. His biographer (i. 284, 285) cites it as a proof of his humility that he personally carried a cat to make war upon them. 7 They were the sons of Robert of Grantmesnil (see above, p. 199) and Hadwisa, daughter of Geroy (Orderic, 465 B). After Robert's death Hadwisa married William, son of Archbishop Robert. Their daughter Judith, having taken the veil, afterwards married Roger, Count of Sicily (484 B), but, as a punishment for her sacrilege, remained childless. RESTORATION OF SAINT EVROUL. 233 Of these two brothers, Robert became a monk of Saint CHAP. VIII, Evroul; of Hugh we shall hear again in the history both tion of 1050. of Normandy and of England. Their pious uncle ap- Restoraproved of the design, but pointed out that the site which Saint they had chosen was lacking in the two great monastic Evroul. necessaries of wood and water.1 Let them rather join with him in restoring to its ancient splendour the fallen house of Saint Evroul, placed on a spot suited for every monastic want.2 Uncle and nephews joined their energies and their purses; the rights of Bec over the church and lands were exchanged for another estate, and the new Saint Evroul arose with the full licence of Duke William, of Archbishop Malger, and of the other Prelates of Normandy. Monks were brought from Jumièges, and a brother of that house, Theodoric by name, became the first Abbot of 1050. the new foundation.3 But the house seems to have been far less fortunate than Bec in its rulers. Theodoric after a while laid aside his office, driven to resignation, it is said, by the cabals of the co-founder Robert of Grantmesnil, who, having made his profession in the house, had obtained the rank of Prior.4 Robert was chosen to the Abbotship, but, a few years after, he was himself deposed, 1063. 1 See above, p. 220. 2 William of Jumièges (vii. 23) puts into his mouth a long historical discourse, in which, I am sorry to say, he speaks of Charles the Simple as "filius Ludovici cognomine Nihil-fecit." Will. Gem. vii. 23. He was 3 Ord. Vit. 461 C et seqq., 625 D. the only monk for whom the cruel Mabel had any reverence. 470 A. * See his character, Ord. Vit. 467 D; his intrigues, 474 C et seqq.; his election, 477 A. He began a new church, but did not finish it, 480 C. He also gave to the house (468 B) an illuminated psalter-doubtless of English work-which the Lady Emma had given to her brother Archbishop Robert. His son William seemingly stole it from his father, and gave it to his wife Hadwisa, mother of Robert of Grantmesnil; "de camerâ patris sui familiariter sustulerat, dilectæque suæ conjugi Hadwise omnimodis placere volens detulerat." On Abbot Robert see also Will. Gem. vii. 26. 1058. 1059. CHAP. VIII. his friend. He was also bountiful to the Church, though William Talvas. he strictly maintained the ecclesiastical privileges of his own lordships. Twice he made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, once during the height of his prosperity, and once after the great misfortune which clouded his later days. For Blinded by he it was whom the fierce Talvas, in defiance of every tie of gratitude, of hospitality, and of feudal honour, blinded and mutilated when he came as a guest to his bridal.3 The daughter of Talvas too, the cruel Mabel, pursued the house of Geroy throughout life with unrelenting hatred.4 In his old age he became a monk at Bec, a house to which he had already been a benefactor. He had given to Herlwin and his monks the lands of Saint Evroul and the church lately restored by Restold. It now became a cell to the Abbey, inhabited by a small body of monks with Lanfranc at their head. But presently William's nephews, Hugh and Robert of Grantmesnil," were designing the foundation of a monastery near the lordship on the Oudon from which they took their name. He grants Saint Evroul to Bec. 6 1 He held lands of Count Geoffrey of Mantes, who was taken prisoner by William Talvas, who required the destruction of the castle of Montacute as his ransom. This castle belonged to William the son of Geroy, who at once destroyed it to bring about the liberation of his lord. Ord. Vit. 464 C. * Ord. Vit. 464 A. "Episcopales consuetudines Monasterioli et Escalfoii fundo habebat, nec ullus Archidiaconorum ibidem presbyteros ejusdem honoris circumvenire audebat." 3 See above, p. 185. * 578 A. 5 According to William of Jumièges (vii. 23), he died at Gaeta on his return from a mission of some sort (pro quibusdam rationalibus caussis) to Apulia. Ord. Vit. 461 A. Chron. Becc. i. 195. This is doubtless the grange which Lanfranc found greatly troubled by rats. His biographer (i. 284, 285) cites it as a proof of his humility that he personally carried a cat to make war upon them. 7 They were the sons of Robert of Grantmesnil (see above, p. 199) and Hadwisa, daughter of Geroy (Orderic, 465 B). After Robert's death Hadwisa married William, son of Archbishop Robert. Their daughter Judith, having taken the veil, afterwards married Roger, Count of Sicily (484 B), but, as a punishment for her sacrilege, remained childless. RESTORATION OF SAINT EVROUL. tion of Saint 1050. 233 Of these two brothers, Robert became a monk of Saint CHAP. VIII. Evroul; of Hugh we shall hear again in the history both of Normandy and of England. Their pious uncle ap- Restoraproved of the design, but pointed out that the site which they had chosen was lacking in the two great monastic Evroul. necessaries of wood and water. Let them rather join with him in restoring to its ancient splendour the fallen house of Saint Evroul, placed on a spot suited for every monastic want.2 Uncle and nephews joined their energies and their purses; the rights of Bec over the church and lands were exchanged for another estate, and the new Saint Evroul arose with the full licence of Duke William, of Archbishop Malger, and of the other Prelates of Normandy. Monks were brought from Jumièges, and a brother of that house, Theodoric by name, became the first Abbot of 1050. the new foundation.3 But the house seems to have been far less fortunate than Bec in its rulers. Theodoric after a while laid aside his office, driven to resignation, it is said, by the cabals of the co-founder Robert of Grantmesnil, who, having made his profession in the house, had obtained the rank of Prior.4 Robert was chosen to the Abbotship, but, a few years after, he was himself deposed, 1063. 1 See above, p. 220. 2 William of Jumièges (vii. 23) puts into his mouth a long historical discourse, in which, I am sorry to say, he speaks of Charles the Simple as "filius Ludovici cognomine Nihil-fecit." 3 Ord. Vit. 461 C et seqq., 625 D. Will. Gem. vii. 23. the only monk for whom the cruel Mabel had any reverence. 470 A. He was Ord. Vit. * See his character, Ord. Vit. 467 D; his intrigues, 474 C et seqq.; his election, 477 A. He began a new church, but did not finish it, 480 C. He also gave to the house (468 B) an illuminated psalter-doubtless of English work—which the Lady Emma had given to her brother Archbishop Robert. His son William seemingly stole it from his father, and gave it to his wife Hadwisa, mother of Robert of Grantmesnil; "de camerâ patris sui familiariter sustulerat, dilectæque suæ conjugi Hadwisæ omnimodis placere volens detulerat." On Abbot Robert see also Will. Gem. vii. 26. 1058. 1059. CHAP. VIII. his friend. He was also bountiful to the Church, though William Talvas. he strictly maintained the ecclesiastical privileges of his own lordships.2 Twice he made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, once during the height of his prosperity, and once after the great misfortune which clouded his later days. For Blinded by he it was whom the fierce Talvas, in defiance of every tie of gratitude, of hospitality, and of feudal honour, blinded and mutilated when he came as a guest to his bridal.3 The daughter of Talvas too, the cruel Mabel, pursued the house of Geroy throughout life with unrelenting hatred.4 In his old age he became a monk at Bec, a house to which he had already been a benefactor. He had given to Herlwin and his monks the lands of Saint Evroul and the church lately restored by Restold. It now became a cell to the Abbey, inhabited by a small body of monks with Lanfranc at their head. But presently William's nephews, Hugh and Robert of Grantmesnil,' were designing the foundation of a monastery near the lordship on the Oudon from which they took their name. He grants Saint Evroul to Bec. 5 1 He held lands of Count Geoffrey of Mantes, who was taken prisoner by William Talvas, who required the destruction of the castle of Montacute as his ransom. This castle belonged to William the son of Geroy, who at once destroyed it to bring about the liberation of his lord. Ord. Vit. 464 C. * Ord. Vit. 464 A. “ Episcopales consuetudines Monasterioli et Escalfoii fundo habebat, nec ullus Archidiaconorum ibidem presbyteros ejusdem honoris circumvenire audebat." 3 See above, p. 185. 4 578 A. 5 According to William of Jumièges (vii. 23), he died at Gaeta on his return from a mission of some sort (pro quibusdam rationalibus caussis) to Apulia. Ord. Vit. 461 A. Chron. Becc. i. 195. This is doubtless the grange which Lanfranc found greatly troubled by rats. His biographer (i. 284, 285) cites it as a proof of his humility that he personally carried a cat to make war upon them. 7 They were the sons of Robert of Grantmesnil (see above, p. 199) and Hadwisa, daughter of Geroy (Orderic, 465 B). After Robert's death Hadwisa married William, son of Archbishop Robert. Their daughter Judith, having taken the veil, afterwards married Roger, Count of Sicily (484 B), but, as a punishment for her sacrilege, remained childless. |