Chapter III

THE FIRST WARS OF WILLIAM RUFUS.
1090-1092.

Character of the year 1089; natural phænomena 175-176
August 11, The great earthquake 176
1089 Character of the year 1090; beginnings of
foreign adventure and domestic oppression 177
The years 1090-1091; affairs of Normandy,
Scotland, and Cumberland 177
Connexion of English and Norman history; the
same main actors in both 177
Contrast between England and Normandy as to
private war 178
The old and the new generation 179
History of Robert of Bellême 179-181
His character; his engineering skill; his
special and wanton cruelty 181-183
His enmity towards Helias, Abbot Ralph, and
others 183-184
1110 His final imprisonment by Henry 184
History and character of Robert Count of Meulan
and Earl of Leicester 184-187
His fame for wisdom and influence with Rufus
and Henry 185-186
1118 Story of his death-bed 187

§ 1. _Normandy under Robert. 1087-1090._

State of Normandy; interest of those who held
lands in both countries 188-189
Temptations to invasion 188-189
Character of Robert; his weak good-nature and
lack of justice 190-191
Spread of vice and evil fashions 191
Building of castles; garrisons kept by the
Conqueror in the castles of the nobles 192
Robert of Bellême and others drive out the
Duke’s forces 193
Robert’s lavish grants; Ivry; Brionne 194
The Ætheling Henry claims his mother’s lands 195
He buys the Côtentin and Avranchin; his firm
rule 196-197
Summer, Henry goes to England; William
1088 promises him his mother’s lands 197
He seizes them again; and grants them to Robert
Fitz-hamon 198
Autumn, Influence of Odo with Robert 198
1088 Henry comes back to Normandy with Robert of
Bellême; they are seized and imprisoned 199
Earl Roger makes war on the Duke; his
fortresses 199-200
Odo’s exhortation to Robert 200-202
Affairs of Maine; relations with Fulk of Anjou 202-204
Robert acknowledged in Maine 204
Chief men of the county; Bishop Howel, Geoffrey
of Mayenne, Helias of La Flèche 205
April 21, Appointment of Howel to the see of Le Mans;
1085 his loyalty to the Norman dukes 205-208
Temporal relations to the see of Le Mans 207
Robert before Le Mans; general submission of
the county 208-209
Aug.-Sept. Ballon holds out; description of the place;
1088 siege and surrender of the castle 209-211
Robert attacks Saint Cenery; description and
history of the place 211-215
Geroy and his descendants; Saint Cenery seized
by Mabel 214-215
Siege and surrender of Saint Cenery; blinding
of Robert Carrel 215-217
Castle granted to Robert grandson of Geroy 217
Surrender of Alençon, Bellême, and other
castles; Robert disbands his army 218-219
Robert of Bellême set free at his father’s
request 219-220
Henry set free; his good government of
Coutances and Avranches 220-222

§ 2. _The First Successes of William Rufus. 1090._

Easter, Schemes of William Rufus; assembly at
1090 Winchester; the King’s speech; war voted by
the Witan 221-224
William stays in England; his policy; his
advantages in his struggle with Robert 224-226
Power of William’s wealth; mercenaries; bribes 226-227
Submission of Saint Valery; beginning of
English action on the continent 227-228
Submission of various castles; Aumale, Eu,
Gournay, Longueville; description of Gournay
and Longueville 228-231
Ralph of Toesny and Count William of Evreux;
their kindred; enmity of their wives 231-232
Heloise of Evreux and Isabel of Toesny 232-234
War between Ralph and Count William; Ralph
vainly asks help of the Duke; he submits to
King William 234
Helias of Saint-Saens; he marries Robert’s
natural daughter 235
His faithfulness; importance of his castles;
Saint-Saens, Bures, and Arques 236-237
William’s dealings with France; Robert asks
help of Philip; Philip sets out, but is
bribed to go back 237-239
The first English subsidy; first direct
dealings between England and France; results
of Rufus’ dealings with Philip 239-241
Private wars not interrupted by the invasion;
action of Robert of Bellême 241-242
Robert of Meulan imprisoned and set free 243
Duke Robert takes Brionne 244
November, Movement at Rouen; the municipal spirit; influence
1090 of Conan; his treaty with William Rufus 245-247
A day fixed for the surrender to William; Duke
Robert sends for help 248
November 3. Henry and Robert of Bellême come to the help of
Duke Robert 248-249
Rouen in the eleventh century 249-253
Fright of Duke Robert; division in the city;
Henry sends Duke Robert away 253-256
Gilbert of Laigle enters Rouen; slaughter of
the citizens; Conan taken prisoner 256
Conan put to death by Henry 257-260
Robert brought back; treatment of the citizens;
imprisonment of William son of Ansgar 260-261
November Count William of Evreux marches against
Conches 261-266
Siege of Conches; settlement of the county of
Evreux on Roger of Conches 262-268
The three dreams; death of Roger of Conches 268-270
1100-1108 Later history of Ralph and William and their
wives 270-271
Orderic’s picture of Normandy; his English
feelings 271-272

§ 3. _Personal Coming of William Rufus. 1091._

Christmas, Assembly at Westminster 273
1090
Feb. 1091 The King crosses to Normandy 273
January Duke Robert helps Robert of Bellême; siege of
Courcy 273-274
The siege raised at the news of William’s coming 274
Treaty of Caen; cession of Norman territory to
William 275-276
Saint Michael’s Mount passes to William, the
rest of the Côtentin and Maine to Robert;
agreement to despoil Henry 277-279
Settlement of the English and Norman succession;
growth of the doctrine of legitimacy 279-280
Dealings with Henry and Eadgar; Eadgar banished
from Normandy; he goes to Scotland 280-282
Partisans on each side to be restored 282
The treaty sworn to; it stands but a little
while 283
Lent, 1091 Robert and William march against Henry 283
Henry’s preparations; Hugh of Chester and others
surrender their castles 283
Henry defends himself on Saint Michael’s Mount;
he is welcomed by the monks 284-285
Siege of the Mount; its position; character of
the siege 285-287
Personal anecdotes; story of Rufus and the
knight who unhorsed him 287-290
Contrast between William and Robert; Henry
allowed to take water, and William’s answer 291-292
Feb. 1091 Henry surrenders 292-293
Aug. 1091 William returns to England with his brothers 293
Stories of Henry’s adventures; evidence for his
presence in England in 1091 293-295

§ 4. _The Scottish Expedition of William Rufus.
August-October, 1091._

May, 1091 Affairs of Scotland; Malcolm’s invasion of
Northumberland; he is driven back 295-297
Aug. 1091 William and Robert in England; relations
between Robert and Malcolm; stronger side
of Robert and Eadgar 297-298
September 3 William’s march; state of Durham; restoration
of Bishop William; his renewed influence 298-300
Michaelmas Loss of William’s ships 300
The kings by the Scots’ Water; mediation of
Robert and Eadgar; Malcolm does homage to
William 301-304
Questions as to the betrothal of Margaret and
the earldom of Lothian 303-304
Return of William; signatures to the Durham
charters 305-306
December 23 Fresh disputes between William and Robert;
Robert and Eadgar leave England 306-307
October 15 Fall of the tower at Winchcombe 307
October 17 Great wind in London 308
1092 Fire in London 308
March 28 Consecration of the church of Salisbury 308-309
April 10 The tower and roof blown down 309
May 9 Completion of Lincoln minster; the church ready
for consecration; Thomas of York claims the
jurisdiction of Lindesey; the King orders
the consecration 309-312
May 6 Remigius dies before the appointed day; the
church remains unconsecrated 312

§ 5. _The Conquest and Colonization of Carlisle. 1092._

William’s conquest of Carlisle; popular
mistakes as to Cumberland and Westmoreland 313-314
603-685 Early history of Carlisle; it forms part of
the Northumbrian kingdom 314
Scandinavians in Cumberland; destruction of
Carlisle 315
1092 Dolfin lord of Carlisle; he is driven out; the
city restored and the castle built 315
The Saxon colony at Carlisle 316
The earldom of Carlisle; later history of the
city; the castle and the bishopric 317-318
1093 Fortunes of Henry; the men of Domfront
choose him as their lord; description of
Domfront 319-320
Henry’s wars with Robert; he wins back his
county 320-321
The castle of Saint James is granted to Earl
Hugh 321-323