The Chronicle of the Norman Conquest Part 18

[Footnote 12: HOMMET, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of St. Lo; see M. de Gerville's _Recherches_, No. 10 and elsewhere, as to this powerful family, and as to the castle, No. 125. In the Red book, 'Jorda.n.u.s de Humeto 3 mil. de fdo de Cl...? et ad servitium suum 13 mil.' 'Richardus de Humeto 3 mil. et dim. de honore de Humeto, et ad serv. suum 18 mil. Idem servitium corporis sui de honore de Bellomonte.' Wilmus de Humeto is among the list of defaulters.]

[Footnote 13: SAINT SEVER, (in the arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Vire), may be here used to represent Hugh Lupus, as AVRANCHES has perhaps been for Richard his father. But the true reading of the text is doubtful. In the British Museum it is Saint Seg, written on an erasure, and followed by a mark of abbreviation; another MS. reads St. Sen,--which would probably be St.

Saens; and another reads St. Saire (near Neufchatel),--St. Salvius, where was an ancient abbey.]

[Footnote 14: CAILLY, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Rouen; referring either to Osbern de Cailly; or to his son Roger, who in 1080 made a donation to St. Ouen. William de Cailgi in _Domesday_ might be a brother. A junior branch of the family was established in England; but was not of much account, till Thomas de Cailly married Emma, one of the coheirs of Sir Robert de Tateshall, and succeeded through her to the barony of Buckenham. See note below on Preaux. In the Red book, 'Osbertus de Caillio 12 mil. de honore de Caillio;' and afterwards 'in ballia de Oxm,'--'Osbertus de Calleio 2 mil.; scilicet 1 mil. ad s. custam. et alt. ad cust. dni.']

[Footnote 15: SEMILLY, near St. Lo. William de Semilly appears in two charters about 1082. The family becoming extinct in the twelfth century, Semilly pa.s.sed to the line of Hommet. A.L.P. The castle was an important one; see M. de Gerville, _Mem. Ant. Norm_. v. 232. The name of Semilly, however, occurs very frequently, at a much later period than the twelfth century, in the charters in vol. vii. of those _memoires_.]

[Footnote 16: BACQUEVILLE, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Dieppe. The head of this family, in the maternal line, was Nicholas de Bacqueville, one of the six sons of Baudry-le-Teuton. His daughter, it would seem, married Hugh Fitz-Grip, or Hugh of Wareham; whose son, grandson, or perhaps nephew, was William Martel, butler to king Stephen, and brother of Walter of St.

Martin; see his fief in Hearne's _Liber Niger_. See also _d.u.c.h.esne,_ 313; and a charter to Montivilliers, in _Gallia Christ_, xi. app. c.

329. Hugh's wife appears in Domesday, _Introd_. i. 502. 499. There is a Jeffery or Goisfrid Martel, one of the undertenants, Domesday, _Introd_.

ii. 352. In the Red book, 'Gaufridus Martell 2 mil. et ad serv. suum 8 et tert. part,' 'Rogerus Martel' also appears there.]

[Footnote 17: PREAUX. There are several communes of the name in Normandy, and it might be safest to refer this to one in Wace's neighbourhood. There are also two communes of the name near Pont-Audemer, where were two monastic foundations. Wace may, however, refer to the more distinguished fief in the arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Rouen, which was about 1070 held by the Eudo dapifer of _Domesday_, son of Hubert de Rie. The lords of Preaux were afterwards of much account in French history. They formed a branch of the house of Cailly, commencing about the time Wace wrote. 'Ego Osbernus de Pratellis filius...o...b..rni de Calleio' ... appears in a charter in _L'Histoire de l'Abbaie de la Trinite de Mont St. Catharine_, p. 77. In the Red book Osbertus de Pratellis is among the defaulters.]

[Footnote 18: Gouvix, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Falaise. The early history of the lords of Gouvix is not known; but Ralf de Goviz appears, in 1181, in the charter of foundation of the abbey of Barbery; he is also witness to a charter of arrangement with Fontenay; _Mem. Ant. Norm_. vii. 363; and see the same work, iv. 406. The castle stood on a rock, on the banks of the river Laise, where its ruins are still visible.]

[Footnote 19: CINTHEAUX, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Falaise. The early lords of Cintheaux also are unknown. In 1181 the church is mentioned as given to Barbery. A.L.P. Richard and Ralf de Cintheaux--de Sanctellis--appear in the charter of arrangement mentioned in the last note.]

[Footnote 20: See note below, on MOLEI.]

[Footnote 21: There are many communes called MONCEAUX. The one meant is probably that near Bayeux.]

[Footnote 22: PACY SUR L'EURE, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Evreux. Pacy seems at the conquest to have belonged to William Fitz-Osbern. But there certainly was a William de Pacy in 1080, who possibly held under him.

_Ord. Vit._ 527--576.]

[Footnote 23: COURCY has occurred before. The lords of Courcy known to have held the office of seneschal were Robert, under the empress Matilda, and William, under Hen. II.; and there is no other authority than Wace's for its belonging to earlier members of the family. It is possible that one of the Courcys of Wace stands for Courceilles. In the Bayeux inquest, 'Gosellinus de Corcella feodum v mil. in Corcella et in Berneriis.' In the Red book is a similar entry, subst.i.tuting Rogerus for Goscellinus. He appears among the jurors, and is there called Gangelinus. Roger de Corcelles is a landholder in Domesday, _Introd_. i.

401.]

[Footnote 24: LACIE also has occurred before. Here the expression is peculiar, 'un chevalier de Lacie,'--which was intended perhaps to distinguish him from the superior lord, before mentioned.]

[Footnote 25: GACe, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Argentan. Robert de Gace, grandson of archbishop Robert, and son of Ralf 'caput Asini,'--who was concerned in the murder of Gilbert count of Brionne--died without children before the conquest, and the duke seized his lands. _Orderic. Vit_. 488 and 681. Who held Gace afterwards under the duke does not appear.]

[Footnote 26: The cradle of the n.o.ble family of D'OILEY is, on the authority of M. Le Prevost and M. Galeron, to be sought at Ouilly-le-Ba.s.set, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Falaise. Robert d'Oily was the one at the conquest. His daughter Maud married Milo Crespin, who had with her Wallingford castle. _Introd. Domesday_, i. 458; ii. 361.]

[Footnote 27: Sa.s.sY, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Avranches, near Pontorson.

Jourdain de Sacey appears in a charter of Richard de Subligny, bishop of Avranches, about the middle of the twelfth century; and see M. de Gerville's _Recherches_, No. 93. A.L.P.]

[Footnote 28: Va.s.sY, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Vire. Robert and Ivo de Va.s.sy--Vesci in English orthography--were in William's expedition, and settled in England. A.L.P. In the Bayeux inquest, 'Enguerandus de Vaceyo, vava.s.sor, sed servit pro dimidio mil.' In the Red book is 'Juliana de Vaacio 4 mil.' In the _Mem. Ant. Norm_. viii. 28, William Va.s.sy and Robert his brother appear in a charter, which is afterwards quoted p. 143, giving their names as Waace,--apparently the same name as the poet's.]

[Footnote 29: LE TOURNEUR, near Vire. A.L.P.]

[Footnote 30: PRESLES, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Vire. In the Red book, 'In ballia de castro de Vira,' are 'Joannes de Praeriis dim. mil.' and 'Mattheus de Praeriis 4 partem.']

[Footnote 31: COLUMBIERES and ASNIERES are in the arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Bayeux. The lords of both are found in a charter of 1082, in favour of the Abbaye-aux-dames, of Caen. The lord of Asnieres was then Ralf, who possibly had succeeded 'Gilbert le viel.' A.L.P. Ralf de Columbels, or Columbers, in Domesday held lands in Kent. In the Bayeux inquest, 'feodum Malevrier in Asinieres debet servitium dim. mil,' The Malevriers were well known in England.]

[Footnote 32: CAHAGNES, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Vire. The lords of Cahagnes are among the benefactors of Grestein and Lewes. William de Cahagnes appears to have been in the expedition, and is found in Domesday, _Introd. i_. 390; ii. 360. In the Red book, 'In ballia de Tenechebraio,'

is 'Radus de Chaineis [Chaagnes in _d.u.c.h.esne_] 1 mil.' TOURNIERES is in the arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Bayeux. Richard de Turneriis is, under Hen. I., mentioned in the foundation charter of Kenilworth. In the Bayeux inquest, 'feodum Ricardi de Tourneriis, ibidem et apud Hayam vava.s.soria.']

[Footnote 33: BOLBEC, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Havre. The printed text is '_Luce_.' The MS. of d.u.c.h.esne reads 'le filz Hue de Bolbec;' but the British Mus. MS. reads 'vielz Hue,' which we presume is correct. Hugh was in William's service. He held under Walter Giffard, lord of Bolbec and Longueville, and had joined, in 1061, in the donation of the church of Bolbec to the abbey of Bernay. See _Introd. Domesday,_ i. 383. He had two sons, another Hugh and Walter. According to Dugdale's _Baronage_, i.

451, there were two cotemporary Hughs in England at the beginning of the twelfth century.]

[Footnote 34: RICHARD DE BIENFAITE, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Lisieux. He was Fitz-Gilbert, as son of Gilbert earl of Brionne, elder brother of Baldwin de Meules above mentioned. He received Bienfaite and Orbec from the duke, as an indemnity for his share of the patrimony alienated during his minority. He became lord of Clare and Tonbridge; see _Introd.

Domesday_, i. 477, 494; ii. 395.]

[Footnote 35: BONNEBOSQ, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Pont-l'Evesque. Ralf de Bonnebosq appears among the benefactors of St. Stephen at Caen. Under Hen. I. Gilbert de Bonnebosq was son-in-law of Morin du Pin, dapifer of the earl of Mortain. A.L.P. Red book roll, (de Baiocasino) 'Robtus de Bonesboz 1 mil. regi de 3 mil. quos habet in Algia.' Robert's ancestors are mentioned in a charter to Jumieges, _Neustria Pia_, 324.]

[Footnote 36: SAP and GLOZ, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Argentan. Sap was before the conquest given, with Meules, to Baldwin; of whom it was therefore held by whoever occupied at the conquest. Gloz belonged to William de Breteuil, Barnon de Gloz having been in the service of his father Osbern about 1035. William de Gloz, son of Barnon, was dapifer to William de Breteuil, and probably a.s.sisted at the conquest. A.L.P. In the Red book, 'In ballia de Tenechebraio,'--'de honore de Sap 1 mil.']

[Footnote 37: TREGOZ, or Trois-Gots, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of St. Lo. The ruins of the castle are visible at the confluence of the Vire and the brook Marquelan. In Brampton's list is TrayG.o.d. His successors were benefactors of Hambye, and one of them signed the foundation charter of 1145. Ledyard-Tregoze in Wilts.h.i.+re bears the family name. Jeffery de Tregoz would according to Dugdale, _Bar_. i. 615, be the probable cotemporary of the conquest. See De Gerville, _Mem. Ant. Norm_. v. 215.

In the Red book, 'Willmus de Tresgoz 1 mil. et dim.']

[Footnote 38: MONTFIQUET, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Bayeux, where the ruins of the old castle are visible. William de Montfichet was benefactor of Cerisy during the conqueror's reign; he was probably the son of Gilbert de Montfichet, one of the most authentic personages concerned in the conquest. A.L.P. But see Dugdale's _Baronage,_ i. 438.]

[Footnote 39: BIGOT. This ill.u.s.trious family is traced no higher than Robert le Bigot, who was a relation of Richard d'Avranches, and quitted the service of Werlene comte of Mortain, to attach himself to the duke; see _William of Jumieges_, vii. c. 19. In England, it would seem from the Chester charters, that some at least of the Bigots continued attached to Hugh d'Avranches (Lupus), though Roger was one of William's privy councillors, and treasurer of his house. His son Hugh became earl of Norfolk about 1140. The leading branch of the family became extinct, and the earldom ceased 35 Edw. I. Wace's a.s.sertion that Roger was seneschal to William is not supported by any other authority, of which we are aware; though from the grant to his son, _Dugdale_, i. 132, it appears that Roger occupied the office under Hen. I. Wace may be in error, confounding it with the high office Roger undoubtedly held in William's household. MALTOT is in the arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Caen; LOGES is near Aulnay; CANON is in the arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Lisieux. The earl of Chester's charter to St. Werberg--about 1094--in the _Monasticon_, is witnessed by, among others of 'his barons,' two Bigots, namely Roger BiG.o.d, and BiG.o.d de Loges. A subsequent charter of earl Ranulf Meschines has a Robert fil. Bigoti. Bigot de Loges appears also separately in Domesday, _Introd_. ii. 350. Lords of Maltot, and also lords of Loges, appear in charters in vol. vii of the _Mem. Ant. Norm_. In the Bayeux inquest, 'feodum Hugonis Bigoti in Loges et Savenaye vava.s.soria, sed serviunt pro mil. dim.' In the Red book Hugh is one of the defaulters.

The history of this family, their name and origin, seems worthy of more consideration than has. .h.i.therto been given. The usually a.s.signed origin of the name appears doubtful. An important branch of the stock remained in Normandy. Jean le Bigot or le Bihot was a leading baron at the meeting of the states in 1350. We find Bigot, Bihot, Vigot, Wigot, (_Domesday_), Wihot, Wigelot, all forms perhaps of the same name, which is generally used with _le_, or adjectively. On one of their Norfolk estates was lately found a signet ring of one of the family, exhibiting in the rebus--'by-goat'--a new variety of the name; (see engraving) [Ill.u.s.tration: Signet ring].]

[Footnote 40: HAIE-DU-PUITS, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Coutances; near the abbey of Lessay, which was founded by Richard, commonly called Turstain Haldup, Halduc, or Haralduc, head of the family before the conquest; see pedigree in Wiffen's _History of Russell_. Turstain's son Eudo c.u.m capello, or Eudo dapifer (though not the Eudo dapifer of _Domesday_) was, as we have seen above, page 102, called into counsel by William. We know not whether it was Eudo, or, as seems more probable, either Ralf de Haia, seneschal of the count of Mortain, or Ralf's son Robert, who was at the conquest. The latter, as lord of Halnac in Suss.e.x, founded Boxgrave; and had three children,--Cecily, who is stated in the genealogy in _Dugdale_ to have married Roger Saint-Jean, and two sons, Richard and Ralf. Richard was taken by pirates, and his estates went to daughters. Ralf married a daughter of William de Albini, pincerna, and either by her or another wife left descendants. The notes to M.

Pluquet's _Wace_ seem erroneous as to this family; as will be seen by the Lessay charters in _Dugdale, Gallia Christiana_, and _Neustria pia_; also by those of Blanchelande. A pa.s.sage in one charter in _Gallia Christ._ thus supplies many particulars; 'Robertus de Haya, filius Radulfi, senescalli scilicet Roberti comitis Moritonii, nepos Hudonis, dapiferi Willelmi Regis.' There is, however, much obscurity hanging over the pedigree, which we have no s.p.a.ce for discussing. In what precise way the Haies succeeded to Eudo c.u.m capello is one of the princ.i.p.al difficulties. As to the remains of their castle, see M. de Gerville, _Recherches_, No. 41. In the Red book, 'Radus de Haia 2 mil. et dim. de honore de Plaiseis, et 1 mil. de honore de Mort. de feodo de Criensiis, et ad servit. suum 6 mil. et dim. in Constant.' The honor of Haye is afterwards mentioned as 'Honor de Haia de Puteo de com. Mort. i. mil.

regi.']

[Footnote 41: See the last chapter, note 43.]

[Footnote 42: ORIGNY. There are two of the name, one near Bellesme, the other near Mamers.]

[Footnote 43: ROGER DE MOUBRAY, see note 2, page 157.]

[Footnote 44: SAY, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Argentan. The lords of Say took the name or surname of PICOT, by which, as in _Domesday_, they are often called without the Say. In the Red book, 'Alexander de Piccot 4 partem in Piccot,' In the Bayeux inquest is 'feodum Guillmi Picoth feodum 3 mil. in Culeyo, in Traceyo et Leon, et Franca-Villula supra Rothom. et Montberton,' Robert Picot de Say with his sons Robert and Henry, were benefactors in 1060 to the church of St. Martin de Say. Picot de Say is found as witness to a charter in 1080 between Jumieges and St. Maximin d'Orleans. See also the foundation charter of Shrewsbury in 1085.

A.L.P.]

[Footnote 45: FERTe MACe--(Feritas Matthaei)--arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Dunfront.

A sister of Odo bishop of Bayeux, and of Muriel, the wife of Eudo c.u.m Capello mentioned before, married the lord of Ferte Mace, as we learn from Mr. Stapleton, and probably a.s.sisted at the conquest. His son is called in a charter quoted in a 'vidimus' of an archbishop of Tours, temp. St. Louis, as 'Guills de Feritate castro diius, nepos dni Odonis Baiocensis episc.' _Ordericus Vitalis_, mentions a William de la Ferte as leading troops in Maine in 1073. In the Red book, 'In ballia de Pa.s.seis'--'Matheus de Feritate 2 mil. et sibi 15 mil.']

[Footnote 46: The lord of BOUTTEVILLE, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Valognes, was at the conquest; see M. de Gerville, _Recherches_, No. 24. Whether Boutevile in the Battle Abbey roll be meant for the same name as the Boutevilain of Brampton and Wace, is not clear. See the foundation of Pipewell in 1143. _Monasticon_, v. 431. There appear to have been Bouttevilles in Somerset and Bedford, and Bouttevilains in Northamptons.h.i.+re. A.L.P.]

[Footnote 47: The name of Trossebot--afterwards TRUSSBUT in England--occurs both in the Battle Abbey roll, and in Brampton. From _Ordericus Vitalis_ it appears that William Trossebot was one of the new men, raised by Hen. I. from comparative obscurity. In 1132 Jeffery Trusbut, or Fitz Payne, founded the priory of Wartre, in Yorks.h.i.+re. In the Red book, 'Gaufridus Trossebot 1 mil. de serjanteria foresteriae.']

[Footnote 48: WILLIAM PATRY, lord of LA LANDE-PATRY, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Domfront. See La Roque, _Histoire de la maison d'Harcourt_, and _La Chesnaye des Bois. William of Poitiers_ makes William receive Harold at Eu; and the Bayeux tapestry, in bringing the count of Ponthieu with his captive, seems to vouch for the same account. Again, he says, 'sec.u.m in Britanniam _duxit_,' which may appear to clash with the literal purport of Wace's narrative; but probably these statements will not be thought very difficult of reconciliation. In the Red book roll, 'Willus Patric de honore de Loanda 1 mil. et ad servitium suum 3 mil.']

[Footnote 49: The pays de Caux.]

[Footnote 50: See note to next chapter, as to the use of the s.h.i.+eld, and the enarmes, and guige.]

[Footnote 51: RALF DE MORTEMER, not Hugh his son, appears to have been with the expedition. An instance of Wace's imperfect knowledge of this family has been noticed at the battle of Mortemer; where he omits all reference to Roger de Mortemer, Ralf's father. Roger lost his estates on that occasion; and though he was soon after restored, the fief of Mortemer remained with William Warren. Ralf, however, afterwards recovered this also, and made donations in favour of St. Victor-en-Caux, which in 1074 had been raised by Roger to the rank of an abbey. Ralf received large possessions in England: he was living in 1104, and then took part with Hen. I. In the Red book, 'Hugo de Mortuo-Mari 5 mil. et ad serv. suum 13 et dim.' See _Introd. Dom_., i. 455.]

[Footnote 52: Most probably AUVILLARS, arrondiss.e.m.e.nt of Pont-l'Evesque.

In the Red book, (de Baiocasino) 'Robertus de Alviler 1 mil. de 2 mil.

et 4 part. mil. quos habet.']