to the last1. Roger of Lacy was declared to have forfeited his large estates to the benefit of his brother Hugh, and banished. The king's uncle, the aged Odo of Champagne, and Philip, son of Roger earl of Shrewsbury, were thrown into prison3. Even Hugh earl of Shrewsbury could not clear himself of the charge of complicity; but, like others whom William, on account of their connections in Normandy, deemed it prudent to treat with lenity, was permitted to redeem himself with a large sum of money. With greater moderation than we are accustomed to find in William, he confirmed the donations made by Robert of Molbray to pious foundations". An unlooked-for and, we may be allowed to say, unmerited, turn of fortune brought William from the brink of ruin to the consummation of the wish for which he had, during the whole term of his rule, striven with every exertion, every injustice, every prodigality to attain. With every year duke Robert found himself deprived of a portion of his paternal inheritance. Domfront, his strongest town, was in the possession of prince Henry, who from that fortress had extended his territory by dint of arms, and gained many adherents among Robert's followers. King William also held more than twenty castles in Normandy, and the most influential nobles were bound to him, partly by reason of possessions held by them in England, partly by other obligations. Robert was, in fact, deprived of all power, of the greater part of his revenues, and, in consequence of the weakness of his character, of all means and prospect of ever recovering them. At this juncture the trump of the holy war resounded on a sudden from Clermont, and among the many whom unpropitious circumstances impelled to obey the inspiring call was duke Robert. What still remained to him of Normandy he 1 Flor. Wigorn. a. 1096. 3 Flor. Wigorn. a. 1096. 2 Ord. Vital. p. 704. 5 Monast. Anglic. iii. p. 313. transferred, for five years, to his brother William, in consideration of a loan of ten thousand marks of silver'. The raising of this money was in all haste recommended to the chief persons of England. Bishops and other Church dignitaries were compelled to break up the church plate, and melt it for coining money. Barons plundered their vassals and peasantry, to take gold and silver to the king. In September William embarked for Normandy, made peace with his brother, and paid him the sum required of 66663 pounds of silver, in consideration of a pledge of tenfold greater value 2. This possession was employed by William in several attempts to secure and extend the acquisitions of his house in France. In the following years we find him occupied with the French and Bretons, and also with the Flemings3, though of these disputes and transactions few accounts or traces are extant. The count of Flanders, Robert II., in the year 1093, came to a conference with William at Dover, the object of which was probably the restoration of the old feudal relations, according to which the counts of Flanders received for military service a yearly revenue from England of three hundred marks of silver, which settlement having been revoked, in consequence of the hostilities of count Robert the Frisian, was renewed with his son by king William, in consideration of their relationship. The Bretons, under count Alan Fergant, who was related to duke Robert, probably assisted the king, as they previously had his brother 5, in his war with the county of Le Maine. Duke Robert had laid claim to Le Maine, though founded merely on his betrothal to the second daughter of count Hugh, but who died before marriage. This frivolous pretension was opposed by Hélie, the son of John of la Flèche, 1 Ord. Vital. pp. 723, 724. 2 Sax. Chron. Flor. Wigorn. a. 1096. Ord. Vital. pp. 713, 764. W. Malm. p. 500. Al. Bev. p. 142. W. Hemingb. p. 30. ed. E. H. S. 4 Eadmer, p. 19. W. Malm. p. 573. 6 See page 55. 3 Ord. Vital. p. 769. 5 Daru, Histoire de la Bretagne, T. i. : who had married Paula, the third or youngest daughter of Hugh, and sister of Heribert, the last count, and who, subsequently to the year 1090, had bought from the son of the eldest, by Azo marquis of Liguria, his claims on Le Maine for ten thousand shillings'. Notwithstanding the support of Fulk count of Anjou, Robert had never been able to keep possession of Le Maine; and William either would not or could not proceed more vigorously, yet he for some months harboured Hoel, the bishop of Le Mans, who had fled to England, in consequence of some dissensions at home. But when Hélie, previously to the departure of duke Robert, came to William, for the purpose of obtaining from him an assurance of peace during his intended absence on the crusade, he refused it scornfully, saying: Hélie might go whithersoever he would he would not fight against crusaders, but would recover the province taken from his father with a hundred thousand lances, swords, and innumerable engines; and would soon settle matters with the cowherds of Le Maine. Notwithstanding these and similar vaunts, and although the Manceaux had recently put to flight Robert of Belesme, from his grandfather likewise surnamed Talevas, who had erected castles in their territory, and had captured other Normans of consideration, William was unable immediately to take the field against Le Maine3. Not until February 1098, at the instigation of Robert of Belesme, was he induced to proceed against Hélie, who at Dangeuil had erected a castle against him. But the severity of the season came to the aid of the Manceaux, and the king was compelled to retire to Rouen, and for the moment content himself with reinforcing his vassals and soldiers and other means for the security of his castles. Hélie, however, fell shortly after into his hands. He 1 Acta Episcoporum Cenom. ap. Mabillon. Vet. Anal. iii. pp. 290–299. 2 Ord. Vital. p. 769. 3Differens per biennium." Ord. Vital. p. 770. Only under the suc cessor of bishop Hoel, who died in July 1097. had entered a wood accompanied by only seven knights, and was there made prisoner by Robert Talevas. He was conducted to Rouen, where the king commanded that he should be treated as a knight, but detained him as a prisoner. William then convoked and deliberated with the barons of Normandy, and as the proposed undertaking met with their approval, he proceeded with a numerous force against Le Mans. But that city was so stoutly defended by the inhabitants under the command of Fulk IV. surnamed Rechin (Morose), count of Anjou, and his valiant son, Geoffrey, surnamed Martel, that William returned to Rouen, but through the mediation of Hildebert, the bishop of Le Mans, obtained the surrender of the city, in consideration of the liberation of Hélie, who was apprehensive lest Fulk might enter into some compact with William to his detriment. Hélie now endeavoured by pliancy to the conqueror to recover a portion of what he had lost, and offered to become his vassal. The king was inclined to grant his request, but Robert count of Meulan, who ever appears as a far-sighted counsellor of his sovereign', dissuaded him from so hazardous a step. Thereupon Hélie could not refrain from declaring that, as he was so despised, he would strive in every way to recover his inheritance. "Go now," answered William, "do what thou canst; if thou overcomest me, thou shalt not be punished for it." Le Mans was then committed to a very strong garrison, under the command of William count of Evreux, Gilbert of L'Aigle, and other warriors, who soon, by their oppressions and severity caused the citizens doubly to regret the loss of their 1 Ord. Vital. p.773. Comp. Eadmer, pp. 20-40. See also p. 218. 2 Ord. Vital. p. 773. [What Malmesbury (p. 503) reports as William's words is at least highly characteristic: on Hélie saying: "Fortuitu me cepisti, sed si possem evadere, novi quid facerem," he answered: “Tu, nebulo tu, quid faceres? Discede, abi, fuge! concedo tibi ut facias quicquid poteris: et, per vultum de Luca! nihil, si me viceris, pro hac venia tecum paciscar.”—T.] former lords. In the following year (1099) Hélie succeeded in raising a considerable force, in defeating his enemies in Le Maine, and in driving them into the fortress of Le Mans, the inhabitants of which town had joyfully joined his followers. But the Normans one evening, taking advantage of a strong gale, set fire to the houses lying nearest to them, which communicating itself to others, the greater part of the city was soon a prey to the flames. The besieging engines raised by Hélie produced no effect, and the inhabitants, who had already sustained great damage and were threatened with still greater calamity, lost all courage. Soon, too, intelligence was brought, that William, while hunting in the New Forest, had, on receiving information by a messenger of what had taken place at Le Mans, instantly ridden to the sea-shore, and in a presumptuous vaunt that a king could not be drowned, cast himself into a miserable vessel he found lying there, crossed over, and, notwithstanding the tempestuous weather, arrived safe at Touques, and was the first to announce his arrival to the astonished Normans'. Hélie now deemed it advisable to abandon the unfortunate city, and not expose himself and people to the anger of the king. The inhabitants had been so cruelly oppressed, that only the king's arrival could check the most unbridled licentiousness and prevent their total destruction. The tower of the cathedral, which had been used to good purpose by the citizens during the struggle, he ordered to be demolished, and took with him to England the refractory bishop Hildebert, whom he even required to clear himself from the suspicion of treason by the ordeal of hot iron3. Of the warfare of this time some idea may be formed from the J Ord. Vital. p. 775. W. Malm. p. 502. 2 Acta Episcop. Cenom. Sax. Chron. a. 1099, the Rom. de Rou is very circumstantial though inaccurate on this war with Le Maine; Wace, and Malmesbury, who often agrees with him, make the capture of Hélie only after the conquest of Le Mans. 3 Ivonis Carnot. Ep. 74. Hildebert, Ep. lib. ii. 8. |