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LANFRANC AT BEC.

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149 light as his could not long be hid under a bushel; his fame was again spread abroad, and with it the fame of the house in which he sojourned. Clerks and scholars, men of noble birth, even sons of princes, flocked to profit by the instructions of the learned Prior, and enriched the Abbey with costly gifts for his sake.1 The society increased so fast that the buildings were found to be too small, and the site not healthy enough for so great a multitude. By the persuasion of Lanfranc, Herlwin was induced to change his abode once more, and to raise a third house, larger and more stately than either of its predecessors, but still within the same valley and upon the banks of the same beck. At last the name of the Prior of Bec reached the ears of Duke William himself. Lanfranc became his trusted counsellor,* and we shall presently find him acting zealously and successfully on his sovereign's behalf, in pursuit of the object which, next to the Crown of England, was nearest to William's heart. The fame of Lanfranc soon spread beyond the bounds of Normandy; he appeared, as we have already seen, at a succession of synods, as the champion of the received doctrine of the Church. The theological position of Lanfranc I leave to be discussed by others; it is enough to say that, summoned before Pope and Council as a suspected heretic, he came away from Rome and Vercelli with the reputation of the most profound and most orthodox doctor of his time."

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The monastery of Ouche or Saint Evroul had, as far as the eleventh century was concerned, an origin of a different kind from that of Bec; but its story is really little more than that of Bec carried back into an earlier age. That is to say, while Bec was altogether a new foundation, Saint Evroul was, like many other religious houses both in England and Normandy, a restoration of an earlier one.

syllabam non capitale noverat crimen; ve-
rum jubenti ex parte Dei non parere culpam
non levem esse sciebat."
1 Will. Gem. vi. 9. "Accurrunt clerici,
Ducum filii [one would like to know their
names], nominatissimi scholarum Latini-
tatis magistri, laici potentes, altâ nobilitate
viri. Multi pro ipsius amore multas eidem
ecclesiæ terras contulere."

2 Ib. "Adunatam etenim illic fratrum multitudinem quia domorum spaciositas jam capere non valebat, et quia situs loci degentium incolumitati contrarius exsistebat.'

3 William of Jumièges (u. s.) describes the work, and says that ". 'post trienni completionem, solâ necdum completâ basilica," Lanfranc became Abbot of Saint Stephen's. This last appointment did not

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both countries the Scandinavian invaders had destroyed or pillaged countless churches and monasteries. Many of these last, sometimes after complete destruction, sometimes after dragging on a feeble existence during the intermediate time, rose again, like Crowland and Jumièges, in more than their former greatness. But the case of Saint Evroul was a peculiar one. Its temporary fall was owing, not to the devastations of heathen Northmen, but to the wars between Christian Normandy and Christian France. The history of its founder, Ebrulf or Evroul, a saint of the sixth century, in many respects forestalls the history of Herlwin of Bec.1 Of noble birth in the city of Bayeux,-perhaps therefore of Saxon, rather than of either Frankish or Gaulish, blood,-high in favour at the court of Hlodhar the son of Hlodwig, he lived, even as a layman, the life of a saint. At last he forsook the world; his wife and himself both took monastic vows; but Ebrulf, as Lanfranc had wished to do, presently forsook his monastery for a deeper seclusion. With three companions only, he sought out a lonely spot by the river Charenton, close by the forest of Ouche, on the borders of the dioceses of Lisieux, Evreux, and Seez. There he lived a hermit's life, adorned, as we are told, by many miracles,3 and his cell, like the cell of Guthlac at Crowland, became the small beginning of a famous monastery. The secluded site of the house saved it from the ravages of the Northmen, and the votaries of Saint Evroul, with almost unique good luck, remained undisturbed, while Hasting and Rolf were overthrowing so many holy places of their brethren elsewhere.* during the troubled minority of Richard the Fearless, when King Lewis of Laôn and Duke Hugh of Paris were invading the defenceless Duchy, the monks of Saint Evroul received two seemingly honourable, but, as it turned out, highly dangerous, guests. These were

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But

bus et oppidis desolatæ sunt; nos, suffragante Deo, in silvestri sterilique rure latuimus, et debacchantium gladios, licet in timore nimio et egestate, sospites evasimus." This must have been forgotten when it is said in Neustria Pia, p. 90, that Saint Evroul was ravaged by the Danes.

5 See vol. i. pp. 210, 211. Orderic gives his version of these events in p. 619. He calls Hugh "Hugo Magnus Aurelianorum Dux," and Lewis receives his surname of "Ultramarinus," which we do not find in contemporary writers. Most names of the kind were doubtless used in common discourse during the lifetime of the princes designated by them, but they did not find their way into written history till later.

ORIGIN OF SAINT EVROUL

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Herlwin, Abbot of Saint Peter's at Orleans, the Chancellor of Hugh the Great, and Ralph of Drangy his Chamberlain.1 Both, we are told, were men of great piety, but they showed their piety in a strange fashion. Soon after their visit, Duke Hugh gave orders for the ravage of that part of Normandy. His devout officers either despised or scrupled at plunder of a more vulgar kind; they remembered the hospitality of the monks of Saint Evroul, and requited it by carrying off all the ornaments of their church, including, what they most valued, the relics of their founder and other saints. The holy spoil was duly shared among various churches of the Duchy of France,3 and a large body of the monks of Saint Evroul followed the objects of their veneration. A few however remained behind, and the brotherhood still dragged on a feeble existence for some time. At last the house of Saint Evroul was utterly forsaken and forgotten, and miracles were needed to point out the spot where it had stood. A pious priest from Beauvais, Restold by name, moved by a divine vision, came and dwelt on the spot, and found benefactors willing to repair the ruined church." At last one special benefactor arose. Geroy, a man of great valour and piety, was lord of Escalfoy by the forest of Ouche, and of Montreuil near the Dive. Of mingled French and Breton extraction, he had been attached to the fortunes of the elder William of Belesme, probably as a vassal of some of the estates held by him under the Crown of France. In a fight against Count Herbert of Maine (c. 1015), when William and all the rest of his followers had fled, Geroy regained the day by his single valour.7 In return for this exploit, William introduced him at the court of Richard the Good, by whom he was allowed to succeed to the lordships already spoken of. They had been the property of Helgo, a

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a mistake for Hugh Capet] et Roberti
Regum Frar.corum nobiliter viguit."
7 Ib. 463 A.

8 Orderic (464 A, B) tells a curious story about these lordships. When they were granted to Geroy, they were, by what accident does not appear, not included in the diocese of any Bishop. Geroy's conscience was troubled at a state of things so contrary to all ecclesiastical rule. He accordingly inquired which of the neighbouring Bishops was the most worthy, and, hearing much of the virtues of Roger, Bishop of Lisieux (990-1024), he annexed his lands to that diocese. He procured however certain privileges for the clergy of his lordships, especially an exemption from the oppressive jurisdiction of the Archdeacons ; "Ut clerici terræ suæ non irent ad placitandum extra potestatem eorum, nec opprime

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Norman noble, to whose daughter Geroy had been betrothed, but the marriage was hindered by the premature death of the bride.1 By another wife he had a numerous family, many of whom were distinguished in Norman history.2 He was himself succeeded by his second son William, who, like his father, was attached to the house of Belesme, and also distinguished himself in the war with Maine. He had however to contend for the possession of his estates against the violence of Count Gilbert of Brionne, a man who, on this as on some other occasions, seems to have failed to carry into his private relations those principles of honourable conduct which in so marked a way distinguished his administration of public affairs. William was a brave soldier and a faithful vassal, ready to undergo any personal loss on behalf of his lord or of his friend. He was also bountiful to the Church, though 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 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. The daughter of Talvas too, the cruel Mabel, pursued the house of Geroy throughout life with unrelenting hatred. 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.10 But presently William's nephews, Hugh and

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1 William of Jumièges (vii. 11) makes him receive these lordships from Duke Richard, "Richardi Ducis, cujus dono in Normanniâ duo municipia obtinuit," but it seems from Orderic (463 B) that the ducal grant was only a confirmation of the will of Helgo; "Liberalis Dux agnitâ virtute ejus honoravit, eique totam terram Helgonis hæreditario jure concessit."

2 Will. Gem. u. s. "Ex his filiorum et nepotum militaris turma propagata est, quæ barbaris in Angliâ vel Apuliâ seu Trachiâ vel Syriâ nimio terrori visa est."

3 Will. Gem. vi. 7.

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6 Ord. Vit. 464 A. 'Episcopales consuetudines Monasterioli et Escalfoii fundo habebat, nec ullus Archidiaconorum ibidem presbyteros ejusdem honoris circumvenire audebat."

7 See above, p. 121.
578 A.

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? 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.

10 Ord. Vit. 461 A; Chron. Becc. i. 195. This is doubtless the grange which Lan

RESTORATION OF SAINT EVROUL.

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Robert of Grantmesnil,' formed the design of founding a monastery near the lordship on the Oudon from which they took their name. Of these two brothers, Robert became a monk of Saint Evroul; of Hugh we shall hear again in the history both of Normandy and of England. Their pious uncle approved of the design, but pointed out that the site which they had chosen was lacking in the two great monastic necessaries of wood and water.2 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. Uncle and nephews joined their energies and their purses; the rights of Bec over the spot 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 the new foundation. But the house seems to have been far less fortunate in its rulers than Bec. 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.5 Robert was chosen to the Abbotship, but, a few years after, he was himself deposed, or driven to resignation, by Duke William, and long controversies followed between him and his successor Osbern."

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I have given a sketch of the origin of these two famous monasteries, partly because their stories bring before us so many members of the leading Norman families, but mainly as illustrating the great religious

His

franc found greatly troubled by rats. biographer (i. 284, 285) cites it as a proof of his humility that he personally carried a cat to make war upon them.

1 They were the sons of Robert of Grantmesnil (see above, p. 197) 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, she remained childless.

2 See above, p. 144.

3 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.”

Ord. Vit. 461 C et seqq., 625 D; Will. Gem. vii. 23. He was the only monk for whom the cruel Mabel had any reverence. Ord. Vit. 470 A.

5 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 psalterdoubtless 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.

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