Conspiracy of the Norman Barons inst n'illiain the Bastard, Duke of Normandy. Ahbe Le. Cointe of California 1 Regional r Facility ; ' -^ LOS ANGELES \ ^^ MbUoti^tca Curtoea. THE COKsTlt^S^CY OF Zbc Bonnan Batons ACAtNST WILLIAM THE BASTARD, DC/A'E OF NOKMANDW MXLVII. — ^*^^^*»— Translated from the French OF THE ABBE LE COINTE, MY EDMUND GOLDSMID,F.R.H.S., F.S.A.(Scot.) — »d**!«— PRIVATELY PRINTED, EDINBURGH 1887. T!^-e Consplfa-cy <^f t!^-c -*L miUiot\)tu CuriQga. or ^be Bonnan Barons AGAINST WILLIAM THE BASTARD, DC/A^E OF NORMANDY. MXLVII. — ^>"3^S-<« — Translated from the French OF THE ABBE LE^^OINTE, ' BY EDMUND GOLDSMID,F.R.H.S., F.S.A.(Scot.) fZ-O^o — PRIVATELY PRINTED, EDINBURGH, 1887. f « 'tit t t tit > > t I t*S *'-i * * *.'» > t t » t i t > > This edition is limited to 27^ small-paper copies, and y^ large-paper copies. t. t t « t t *. t t €«. * C *^ *■ t c t t *■ *• ■«■ <■, t CO 3 CM ^^50 Sf»^'tS- THE CONSPIRACY OF THE NORMAN BARONS. — >H^^^d<' — CHAPTER I. fWELVE years had passed since the death of Robert the I., surnamed the Liberal, sixth duke of Normandy, and William the Bastard, his son and successor, had just entered his 27th year, when a conspiracy amongst the barons of Lower Normandy, instigated by Guy of Burgundy, nearly robbed him of his duchy and his life. This Guy, second son of Reginald, Duke of Burgundy, and of Adela or Adelisa, daughter of the Duke of Normandy, Richard II., and sister of Robert I. was therefore cousin to 6 THE CONSPIRACY OF William. He had been brought in infancy to the court of the young Duke, and treated by him as his brother, William had always shown him the greatest affection. W'hen Guy grew up, William knighted him and gave him the lordships of Vernon and of Brionne* and the surrounding territory. For so many benefits he was repaid only with the blackest ingratitude. Puffed up by his recent elevation, he dreamt of a greater one yet. He fortified his castles, and awaited the day when he might overturn the Duke, his liege lord, and place himself on his throne. At the same time, two of the most powerful barons of Lower Normandy, Nee), Viscount of Cotentin, and Renulf, Viscount of Bessin, were waging war against one another, notwithstanding the duke's orders to lay down their arms. This resistance which was represented to Guy as a j)roof of his cousin's want of authority, encouraged him in his pretensions. He at once traversed Normandy, and sought to excite the principal barons against William. He had soon opened *In the department of the Eure. THE NORMAN BARONS, ^ relations with four powerful nobles who were only too ready to rebel ; Grimoult Du Plessis ; Hammond with the teeth, Baron of Creully and of Thorigny, descended through his father from Rollo, the conqueror of Normandy; Neel de Saint Sauveur, his half brother, Viscount of Cotentin ; Renulf, Viscount of Bessin. He com- municated to them his plans, and easily convinced them of the necessity of getting rid of the young Duke. " What legitimate claims could William have to the duchy of Normandy ? Was he not a bastard and therefore without rights? the true heir of Robert was himself, the son of Adelisa, the noble daughter of good Duke Richard. His mother was a wife ; William's mother was a con- cubine, daughter of a furrier of Falaise,* Such was the man so many proud barons recognised as their master ! Ought they not to cast ofiFso humiliating a yoke? The duchy of Normandy was his legiti- mate inheritance ; if they would aid him and do him justice, he would repay their services by distributing to them rich domains." In a word, he » Harlotta. 8 THE CONSPIRACY OK said so much to them, he promised them so much, that they swore to take part with him and make war on William, to dispossess him by force, and if need be by treachery. Without further delay, they prepared for the struggle, fortified their castles, filled their moats, and planted stockades, awailing a favorable occasion to attack the proud bastard, whose dethronement and death they had sworn. Meanwhile William, ignorant of the conspiracy against him, went to his castle of Valognes to settle certain matters and enjoy the pleasures of the chase. He came into the centre of his enemies' lands, without troops, and accompanied only by his suite : he was placing himself in their hands. The opportunity, indeed, was too favour- able for the conspirators ; they resolved to take advantage of it. Neel, Renulf, Hammond, Grimoult, hastened towards Volognes to carry out the plot formed at Bayeux.* One evening, then, when visitors had left the court and the Duke remained alone with his household, the traitor * The castle of Bayeux had been built by Richard the Fearless about the year 960. THE NORMAN IJARONS. 9 barons, and the knights who had joined in their enterprise, put on their hauberks * and buckled on their swords under their hoquetouns.t Pre- parations being complete, they were about to mount their horses and hasten to the ducal castle. "They will easily surprise William without alarming him, and put him to death forthwith. "J "The Duke is lost, if the Holy Spirit defend him not."^ By chance a fool from Bayeux, named Gallet or Golet, who had just returned from the Duke's court, was sleeping that night in the stables of the house where the barons, traitors and felons to God and their lord, were preparing to carry out their infamous plot. This fool had a great affec- tion for William ; he amused him by his witty remarks, and the Duke "gave him of his cloth- ing. "i| Already the fool had fallen asleep, when * Coats of mail. tA species of cape. I MS. Chronicles of Normandy. ir Benoit de Saint Maurc, Chronicles of the Dukes of Normandy. II MS. Chronicles. 10 THE CONSPIRACY OF suddenly he was awakened by a noise of horses and men in the yard. lie glances out ; nothing but arms around him. Full of fear, and suspecting some great event, he listens : they are talking of surprising and killing William. Trembling for the life of his good Duke, he hastily dresses, and, armed with a pike which he bears on his shoulders,* he hastens to the castle, which he reaches at midnight. f Everything was silent; the familiars of the court had left ; the servants had withdrawn; William was in bed, "but (as Wace naively observes) I know not whether he slept." Gallet knocks loudly at the gates. "Open! open!" cries he vehemently, "the enemies come to kill you ; fly ! " Once inside the castle, he rushes about uttering loud cries. " Rise, caitiffs ; rise, wretches, you will all be murdered; fly!" Already he has climbed the stairs ; he is at the Duke's door. With his pike he strikes the wall, crying in fearful accents— * Un pel el col (Wace, Roman de Rou). — Un pel tint en son col mult grant (Benoit, Chrctikles.) t Al prime some (Wage). — Ung petit devant minuit {MS. Chrcnkks). THE NORMAN BARONS. II "Where sleepest thou, AVilliam? Why sleepest thou ? Thine enemies are arming ; if they reach thee thou wilt not see the morn ! Ah ! poor William, what dost thou there? Thou art dis- piembered, thou art dead, if thou fliest not ! Doubt me not ; I have seen them arming their bodies. Rise, bel ami, fly at once, lest thou be taken." The Duke, terrified, springs from his bed, signs himself with the Cross, and barefooted, in hose and shirt, he throws in haste over his shoulders a short mantle suitable for riding ; then, buckling on his trusty sword, he leaps on a strong and spirited horse which a trembling chamberlain brings him, and disappears. Hardly had he left the castle * when he hears a loud noise of approaching cavalry. It is the band of traitors who come to murder him. "Ainsi," adds the trouvereBenoit, "dam-le-Deustsait prendresoussa garde ceux qu'il aime et qu'il lui plait defendre." J * N'estait mais de la salle ussuz (Wage). + Lc Seigneur Dicu. X Thus God knows how to take in his keeping those whom he loves and whom it pleases him to defend. 12 THE CONSPIRACY OF The conspirators had entered the castle. At the sight of the drawn swords every one trembled with fear; the fool alone, now become daring, defied these traitors who had come feloniously to kill his bel ami, his good Duke William, He tore about, he gesticulated, he gave himself up to frantic rage, and with an ironical sneer he cried — " Too late ! too late ! You have lost your prey ; you have failed; the Duke is off!" Then, threatening them, "William flies; but wait, he will prepare a business for you which shall turn to your shame and hurt. If you cause him to spend a bad night, he will make you spend a bad day."* Whilst the fool jeered and prophesied thus, the traitor barons undertook a minute search, and examined even the most secret recesses of the castle. What a disappointment 1 Gallet had told the truth : their prey had escaped. It was a dangerous situation; the Duke had become for ever an irreconcilable enemy, and would wage an implacable war against them. If they were *Benoit. THE NORMAX BARONS. I3 conquered, they would cease to possess an inch of land in Normandy ; if they were made prisoners, they could only expect the punishment of traitors and felons to their lord, an ignominious gibbet. Scarlet with anger, and quite reckless, "To horse! to horse!" they cried furiously; "death to the bastard ! Let all valiant men hasten in pursuit and try to overtake him. Let us show our strength and courage." And, mounting their horses and setting spurs to them, they again started in pursuit of the Duke. '* May the Lord God preserve him from death."* Meanwhile, William fled alone, as fast as his horse could carry him, towards the fords of the river Vire. The night was a fine one, the air calm, and the bright moon shone in the sky.-f- Before daylight appeared, the fugitive crossed the Vire at low water, at the ford of St. Clement, near Isigny. On passing by the church, he recommended himself to God, praying him with all his heart to take him in his holy keeping, and to save him from his enemies.J \Yhen he had *BeNOIT. fWACE. X Wage. 14 THE CONSPIRACY OF successfully crossed the Vire where the rising tide might have presented an insurmountable obstacle, he began to breathe freely. He began to reflect on his sad fate, and gave vent to the grief which oppressed his soul. Since he had lost his father, fortune had ever been against him. No peace : he had always spent horribly wretched days, ever suffering persecution and anguish ! Hardly has he escaped one danger, than new, greater, more formidable dangers close around him on every side. Will he soon see the end of his misfortunes ? Will God at length take pity on his fate ? * Whilst thus venting his grief, the Duke was considering what road he should follow. Unable to depend on Bayeux, he avoided it and followed the coast by the road which still bears his name, ^^ La-voie-le-duc," Morning was already far advanced when he reached the village of Ryes. The Lord of Ryes was named Hubert, and was a brave knight, a worthy vassal, and a man of honour. He was just starting to attend mass,t * Benoit. t Idem. THE XORMAN BAKONS. I5 when William, unable to avoid the meeting, stood before him. He recognised the duke and remained astounded, hardly believing his eyes. William was without shoes or stockings, alone, sad, ex- hausted, and hardly able to maintain his seat on a horse reeking with perspiration, and from whose sides dripped two streams of blood.* Pale and trembling with alarm, he raised his hands to heaven, "Sire, said he, with respectful pity, "hide nothing trom me; what is the matter? Why do you wander thus ? Have you any follow- ing ? What do you need ? Your horse is covered with foam ? Hide nothing from mc ; confide your secret to me. Did ever one see such a sight ? A prince going about in this state ! What a horrible adventure ! Tell me everything with confidence ; fear nothing ; I will save you as I would save myself."-j- Thc Duke replied, " Noble knight, be truthful, loyal and honest. I will hide nothing from thee. Didst thou not swear to be faithful to me as well * In the eleventh century the spur was fixed to the stirrup, not to the boot. + M.S. Chronicles. l6 THE CONSPIRACY OF as to God? I will therefore tell thee the sad story, but in few words, for I cannot go into much detail." And then he told him in a few words how the previous evening, as he was just falling asleep, he had been aroused by cries of Fly ! fly ! and how to escape from his perfidious vassals, Neel, Hammond with the teeth, Renulf, the traitor, Grimoult and all these new imitators of Judas* who were coming to murder him, he had been forced to fly half naked, without shoes and stockings, and alone. " I have not yet escaped," added he, " my enemies are following, I know it well. If they reach me, I am a dead man. I have therefore much need of thine aid." " Good God ! Holy Mary !" replied Hubert ; "who ever heard of such perfidiousness, of such disloyalty ? Whom can one trust hence- forth ? " But time pressed. Pointing to the gate of his castle, "Enter, my Lord," said he; "I will give you a guard for your journey." " A thousand thanks," exclaimed William, who felt his energies revive on seeing the enthusiasm of * Benoit. THE NORMAN BARONS. I7 his vassal. Hubert made him dismount from hi» exhausted steed, lavished cares and attentions on him, and then brought him his own good horse, holding out to him its bridle. " Fear not, my ,Ix)rd,'' said he; "he is good and strong, and will not fail you." The knight had three sons, themselves good and hardy knights. He called them at once, and ordered them to get ready to start and to buckle on their good swords. Then, pointing to the Duke, *' Behold," said he, " your lord, whom traitors and perjurors wish to murder. See to his safety ; let no harm reach his body through your fault. If any great danger threatens him, sacrifice yourselves to save him ; if need be, give your lives for his. Defend him while you have life, and let him not be murdered whilst in your charge. Remember that God gives honour and glory to him who dies for his lord." * " Sir," they replied, bowing, " we will do as you wish with pleasure. He shall suffer no hurt so long as we can defend him; we swear it." Hubert then directed the knights as to the road to follow. • Benoit. B l8 THE CONSI'XRACY OK They were to avoid the high roads, the great centres of population ; they were to choose bye- ways. Then, seeing the horses ready, " My sons," said he, "mount: straight to Falaise !" The gate of the castle of Ryes was thrown open, and the four spirited steeds, feeling the spur, •dashed across country. Without meeting with any obstacle, they reached the banks of the Orne, which they crossed at the ford of Foupendant, below Ilarcourt, between Croisilles and Thies- meniJ, at the place now called Moulin de Brix, and soon, to their great delight, reached Falaise. At the news of the danger which the Duke had incurred, grief pervaded the town ; sorrow was depicted on the countenance of every member of *'la bonne gent Falaisienne" to such a degree that, according to the trouvere Benoit, " Yout cine cenz faces moilliees." * After the departure of William, Hubert de Ryes awaited in great anxiety the end of the adventure. .Standing on the drawbridge of his castle, he was ■examining the surrounding country, when all of a * Five hundred faces were bathed in tears (Benoit). IIIK NORMAN IJARONS. I9 sudden he perceived a band of horsemen, whose horses appeared exhausted with fatigue. It was the band of traitors who had ridden all nij^ht in pursuit of the Duke : Hubert recognised ihcm at once. When they came up with him, they called to him eagerly, '-Tell us, by your faith, have you seen William pass here? Do not hide anything from us; beware you tell no lie?" "What William are you talking of?" "The Bastard, the haughty Duke." "Oh, he is not far. What is the matter?' "Come with us, we will tell you. Meanwhile, do as we do." "Willingly; I xlesire nothing more than to break the pride of the insolent Bastard. Believe me, he will have from me neither truce nor mercy. If it only depends on me, before I return we will have another master. He disgraced Normandy too much the day he became its Duke. Wait a minute, I will lead you ; if we overtake him, on my faith you shall sec that I will give him the first blow if 1 can."* Mounting his horse, he placed himself at their head, and led thcni in a * BtNOlT, Wacr. '20 THE CONSl'IRACY OF direction contrary to that followed by William, He led them farther and farther away, made them wander about, until, seeing their horses dead beat, he declared to them, with apparent vexation, that the Bastard must undoubtedly have fled by some other road. They then took leave of Hubert, not however, without thanking him for the zeal which he had shown, and retraced their steps towards Bayeux. It was mid-day vhen the faithful vassal re-entered his castle.* The news of the attempt against the Duke had already spread through the districts of Bessin and Cotentin, and had caused general consternation. From Valognes to Isigny, and from Isigny to Bayeux, the roads were covered with poor peas- ants, sad and with tears in their eyes, asking in all directions for news of their lord, cursing in their hearts the traitors, and especially perfidious Grimoult du Plessis, whom they strongly suspected of being the principal author of the conspiracy. The most contrary reports were abroad, and made them pass every minute from hope to fear and * Bkn'oit. THE NORMAN BARONS, 21 ■despair. Some said that the Duke was a prisoner, others that he had succeeded in escaping ; others af;ain asserted on the contrary that he had been slain, and tears fell afresh, and fear filled all hearts. What was to become of all these poor villains deprived of their lord Duke? In him, at any rate, they had found a protector, when the exactions of all those proud and greedy barons became too intolerable. Now that the conspirators were masters, and saw themselves free from all vassalage, the poor people would be given up to their rapacity and caprices, and exposed to all kinds of vexation and plundering, without being able to rely on any help. Sad forebodings which were only too soon realised ! All this portion of Normandy, we are told by the Chroniclers whom we are following, was given up to anarchy and violence of all kinds. " Whosoever had strength and power, could at his will pillage and rob.""* "Never, for sixty years, says Benoit, had the people of Normandy been so cruelly ill treated." The barons and their followers seized all that * Benoit. 2e THE CONSl'IRACY OF belonged to William, and, from Valognes to Caen, the unfortunate Duke did not possess one single fenny. The rebel barons pronounced his dethrone- ment, his deseriteisnn, as Wace expresses it. CHArXER II. 'ILLIAM understood that, alone, he would be unable to suppress so formidable a ^ rebellion, directed by courageous, enter- prising and pugnacious men. He resolved to implore the aid of the very man he might have thought favorable to the projects of his enemies. After having put the town and castle of Falaise in a state of defence, he entrusted it to Jehan Bellin, lord of Blainville,* and, accompanied by his uncle Mauger, Archbishop of Rouen, he went to Poissyl and threw himself at the feet of Henry r., King of France. Without trying to hide from him the critical and desperate position he was in :. **Sire," said he, " I no longer trust in aught but God and you. All my vassals are in rebellion * M.S. chronicles. •fCrdericus Vitalis I., i. THE NOKMAN liAKONS. SJ against me ; they no longer do me homage, they have taken my lands, they ravage and burn all my domains ; soon I shall have nothing left. Sire, it is your duty not to abandon me. My father made me your vassal, when he went to Holy Land ; your vassal am I of Normandy, and you should defend me well. My father formerly restored France to you. When your mother Constance tried to disinherit you, you came to Normandy with but a small company.* He recognised you as his lord, received you with great honors, helped you in your need, and gave you back all the land of France. Give me then, I beg and require you, for this service, a just reward. Come to Normandy with me and avenge me on the disloyal traitors who have sworn my death. If you do this, full well will you act, ant} I will be your vassal all my life."f Henry was moved by tlie misfortune of this young son of Robert's, whom, twelve years before, he had sworn to protect as a guardian and a father. He promised to help him, and, having • Twelve Knightj, ■ j-Bknoit. 24 THE CONSl'lRACY OF assembled all the great armies of trance^* he entered Normandy at the head ol three thousand knightSjf the pick of his warriors. J Three thousand knights and their followers would number at least ten thousand men, which explains the admiration of the trouvere Benoit, who always speaks of the great French army as " Les granz 4>sz de France f dont les torbesW ftirent rmtlt <^anz.^' Henry, at the head of these forces, took up a position, in the beginning of August 1047, on the little river of Laizon es prez Herbuz,% says Benoit, between Argences and Mezidon, according to Robert Wace, who determines the position of the French lines with the most exact and minute precision in the following verses of the Kmnan de Rm : '* Entre Argence e Mezodon Sur ]a riviere de Lizoa Sc Hcbcrgerent cil de France." The French army probably occupied the position where is now situated the hamlet of Forges, at Ouezy. • Idem. +Chron. de St. Denis. \ Ord. Vit. |] Batallions. ^ In green pastures. THE NORMAN BARONS. 25 William, who, since the interview at I'oissy, had gone through such part of Lower Normandy as had remained faithful, soon appeared at the head of the troops he had collected in the districts of Auge, Lisieux, Evreux, Caux, Roumois, Falaise, •Seez, Hyesmois, to whom the Chronicle of Nor- mandy of Mesgissier adds the contingent of the good town of Caen. With this army he encamped at Argence, on the river Muance, about two leagues from the army of the King of France.* On their part the revolted Barons had not remained inactive. Since they had known of the help promised by Henry to the Duke, they had understood that their only hope of safety lay in a daring and desperate defence. Leaving their castles unprotectetl, they armed all the men they eould dispose of, young and o]d,t and convoked all the vassals who owed them service in time of war. All their united troops, with a contingent • E juste I'ewe (eau) de Meance Ki par Argences vait corant Se hcbergcrent li Normant K.i od Wi'lame «c teneient, (Wace). ■)■ Benoit. 26 THKCONSriKACY OF . of Angeviiis and Manceaux,* and followed by- bands of vileins armed with clubs and iron-pointed sticks, f (for the latter had not the right. of fight- ing with swords) crossed the Orne, probably at the ford of Bully, between the villages of May and Laize, to the number of thirty thousand:}: and advanced proudly against the armies of the King and of the Duke to Val des Dunes, one league from Argence. Established in a strong position, the insurgents awaited, lance in hand, the hour »f the combat, or as Benoit says : La atendent le bruil (forestj des lances E I'aventure des chaances. Before ourselves descriijing the \'al des Dunes, the scene of one of the most memorable battles- ever fought in Normandy, we subjoin the very exact description given seven hundred years ago * MS. Chronicles ■f- Benoit. JChron. of St. Denis : "La trou-va les enemh U due qui estoient ■^0,000 parnombre." The Chronicle of Nor- mandy says 20,000 men of arms. " The King of France arrfved at t^al des Dunes, and found there an innumer- able multitude of men in arms." William or JuMiecES.) "Most of the Normans followed the banner of iniquity." (William of Poitiers.) THE NORMAN UARONS. 27 by the two Anglo-Norman trouveres, Robert Wace and Benoit de St. Maure '. — wage's DESCRIITION. Valedunes est en Oismeiz (Hyesmois), Entre Argences e Cingueleiz ; De Caem i peut Ten cunter {one can there count) Treis leugs el mien kuider [three leagues to my mind) Li plaines sunt lunges et lees [long and wide) Ni a granz monz, ne granz vallces, Asez prouf du ve Berangier {fetty near) Ni a boscage, ne rochier, Maiz cncuntre soleil levant Se funt la terrc en avalant {the landfalls away in a slope) L'ne riviere I'avirone Deverz midi e devers none. BkNOIT de ST MAURE's DESCRIl'TION. Valesdines sunt unes plaignes Avironees de montaignes Basses. N'est li lius trop sauvages, Ne n'i a rochers ne boscages. Dure est la terre, senz mareis, Entre Argences e Cingeleis, Dreit vers midi ; en teu {such) maniere La clot e ceint uae riviere. To the south-east of Caen, lietween the two roads which, leaving the suburb of Vaucelles, lead, the one to Paris, the other to Falaise, extends a 28 THE CONSl'IUACY OF triangular plain, bounded south and east by the river Muance. About the centre of this wide level plain there is, nevertheless, a small hillock, seeming from afar like an elongated dome. This is called the "Cote St. Laurent," and is twelve kilometres from Caen.* This slight rise commences near the village of Bellengreville, attains its highest point by a number of undulations about Secqueville, forming a kind of horse shoe from north to west ; then, gradually sloping downwards, it joins to the south the plateau of St. Aignan-de-Cramesnil. The hollow formed by this long curve has obtained from the stony and sandy nature of the soil, and especially from its formation and sterility about the Cote St. Laurent, the characteristic name of "Dunes."t At each end of the plain runs a local road, joining the Paris * The historian de Bras, who places the Val-des- Dunes " within two leagues of this town of Caen," somewhat shortens the actual distance. There is another " Cote St. Laurent " between Crevecceur and La Boissiere. t Dunes [doivns), from the Celtic dun, elevation. Deceived by the name, Monsieur Liccuit, in the map accompanying his " Histoire de NormanJie," has placed the Val-des-Dunes on the sea coast. THE NORMAN BARONS. 29 and Falaise roads : — the first, leaving the Falaise road eleven kilometres from Caen, at a place called Lorguichon, passes Garcelles-Secqueville, runs along the crest of the Cote St. Laurent, whence it descends to Bellengreville ; — the other beginning at St. Aignan, descends to Conteville, whence it again rises, somewhat steeply, to the station of Moult-Argences. The old road of Jort crosses the Cote St. Laurent about its centre, and, cutting the valley diagonally, passes between Fierville and Saint Sylvain. The Val-des-Dunes is about five kilometres in length, by three in breadth. Better known now in the locality under the name of Vallee de Chicheboville, it is tounded : on the north by I'ellengrcville ; south, by Conte- ville ; west, by Secqueville ; and east, by Billy and Chicheboville. Seen from the heights of Secqueville and St. Laurent, it looks somewhat like the hull of an extremely broad-beamed ship. Benoit is right in his description : niontaignes basses, gradually falling towards Chicheboville and BellengreviHe ; and \Vacc also is correct : N't .... rockier, maiz encuntre sokil leraiit, se J mil la terre en avalant." Less than half a 30 THE CO.NSl'IRACY OK century ago, the aspect of the valley was as in the days of Wace and Benoit. Now, thanks to the cultivation of Scotch fir which has been succes- fully introduced into the district, the heights of Secqueville are crowned with green. But for these few plantations, one might still say, "yV/ a boscage. Dure est la terre, senz mareis.'" It is a genuine description, provided one does not go too near Bellengreville and Chicheboville, the marshes of which abut on the valley from north to east. The finance, rising at Laugannerie, flows cast, passes Valmeray and Moult, bathes the foot of the hills of Argences, and empties itself into the Dives at Bure, a little below Troarn. The river which, according to \Yace, bounds this plain towards the west, is more difficult to find. In this direction there is no river, nor was there one in the Xllth cent\iry, as the soil proves. The only water-course in the valley is a brook, the Semillon, which flows from east to north of the Wood of Navarre in the hamlet of Billy, rising at Yimont to flow into the Muance. Perhaps, in the dnys of Wace, the Semillon described in its course some curve to the west ; perhaps, again, the want of correctness IHK NORMAN liARONS. 3I on the i>art of the poet-historiaii may have arisen from the necessity of finding a rhyme.* Such is the scene of the memorable battle of Val-des-Dunes. The position taken up by the insurgent barons was strong and well chosen. With the Cote St. Laurent in their rear, their left flank protected by the marshes of Bellengreville and Chicheboville, their right flank guarded by the heights of Secqueville, they certainly had a great advantage over the Franco-Norman army, whose squadrons could only debouch by the valley, towards Billy and Navarre, and wlio had to carry * Barthclemy Pont, in his " Histoire de la ville de Caen," says : — ''The army of the confederates had in its rear the little river Scmillon." If Pont had journeyed to the almost unknown banks of the Semillon, he would have said : — " The army of the <;onfederates had the little river Scmillon on its left flank." It has been pointed out to me that, the battle having extended from Billy to the Val de la Laizc, a distance of four or five leagues, the second river mentioned by Wace' might very well be the Laize, which in fact does bound the held of battle thus understood towards the west. Without absolutely rejecting this interpretation, I will only point out that Wace and Bcnoit are not describing the field of battle, but the valley called Val-dcs- Dunes, which is tight kilometres distant from the Laize. 32 THK CONSPIRACY OK in succession all these strong positions, occupied by a brave and warlike enemy. In our days, an army established on these heights and protected by modern artillery, would not be dislodged with- out great efforts by troops who would "attack in front instead of attempting to turn the position, as was done by the Franco-Norman knights eight centuries ago. Even at a time when fire-arms were unknown, the position was well chosen. It had, however, the great fault of making a .victory indispensable for the Barons' army. This was a mistake. In war one must, while striving for the victory, ever insure the means of retreat. If conquered, the barons could not retire on Caen, which was held for the Duke, and which, without means, it is true, of resisting them if they were conquerors, could nevertheless, in case of defeat, stop their march and give the King and Duke time to crush them. A retreat would therefore have to be made more to the South»West ; but in that direction even greater difficulties would be met. Two leagues away they had the Orne in their rear, with only the ford of Bully to cross its wide and deep stream. The Roman road called the Chemin TlIK NORMAN HARONS. 33 Ilaussc, which led to the village of Vieux, I'eocir, I'edioca, the ancient capital of the Viclucassi, On the morning of the loth of August 1047, the French army advanced, passed Airan and occupied Valmeray ( Gaumerei, I'aumeray), a little village situated on the Muance, where the modern road from Langannerie to Saint-Silvin crosses the road from Argences to Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives. A few hundred yards from the road, on the left bank of the river, towards Lilly, stood the parish church, dedicated to St. Bryce. * While the French knights were preparing for the conflict, putting on their helmets and hauberks and arming their steeds, Henry entered the little church of Valmeray and assisted at the celebration of mass which was held for his special benefit. The holy clerks, according to Wace, trembled with fear, imagining that the hostile army which, they knew, was close at hand, was about to pounce on them • St. Bryce and not St. Rcson .ns the Chronicle or Normandy states : A Saint Bricun de Valmcrci Fu la mcsse chantce el Rci Li jor kc la bat.iillc fu j Grant poor i unt li clerc eu. (Wace.) C 34 i'l'li CONSl'lKACV OK every instant. When the king of France, kneeling liefore the humble altar, had committed himself to the God who calls himself the God of armies, and had renewed his courage in the pure spring of religion, mounting his horse, he gave the signal to start, and marched towards Val-des-Dunes, resolved to dare and do in the fierce struggle that was to ensue. Having reached Benauville, he drew up his troops on the left bank of the little river Semillon, and there awaited the Duke's army.* At the same time, "William, encamped at Argences, was preparing to effect his junction with the French army. At an early hour, he was giving his orders in the midst of his troops. When all was ready, his arms were brought to him. Wace thus describes him : Home niez {Jamais) si bel arme ne vit, Ke si gentement chevalchast, Ne ki si bel arme portast N'a ki haubert si avenist, Ne ki lance si bien brandist, Ni en cheval si bien seist, Ki se tornast ne si tenist. Soz ciel tel chevalier n'en a. Tel seit honi ki li faldra. * Tutes pr.ipristent la riviere. (Wace.) THE NORMAN HAUONS. 35 Such was the Duke of Normandy, at 20 years of age, on the loth of August 1047. The two armies effected their junction at Benauville. "The two armies then turned to the West, for in that direction was the enemy massed."* At the entrance of Val des-Dunes, whilst Henry and William " were disposing their troops in order, of a sudden they saw a magnificent squadron of about one hundred and forty knights, headed by a splendidly dressed commander, advancing towards them."t The King and Duke hastened to complete their preparations, and make ready to charge this advance guard. Henry watched with anxiety and admiration the progress of this fine squadron, not knowing whether it were friendly or hostile. Struck with their appearance, he turned to the Duke. " Who are these? " said he. "They are all finely clothed, and well do they bear themselves. One thing seems clear to me. Ii is that victory will be with the side they assist with their good swords. Such as these will • Wace. f Wace says 140; Bcnoit, 100; the MS. Chronicle, 160. 36 THE CONSPIRACY OF not 1)6 conquered. Do you know aught of their intentions?" " Sire," said William, "I believe they all hold Avith me. Raoul Taisson is the name of their leader. Never in my life have I had dis- pute with him or done him harm or injury. He is a valiant man, and will be of much use to us if he joins us. God grant he may do so."* RaoulTaisson was Lord of Cinglais. The rebel barons had drawn him to Bayeux, and there, by dint of promises, had induced him to join them. But when he saw the standard bearing the golden leopards and the cross of Normandy, he remem- bered the oath he had taken to the Duke.t Perhaps, also, on seeing the long lines of the Franco-Norman army, it may have struck him that the enterprise he had joined might not be successful. However that may be, when he saw the troops of the king of France and of the Duke approach, he advanced towards them. When within a short distance of the two armies, he stopped his men, explained to them his positions, and asked them for their opinion. They strongly * Benoit and Wace. t W.^clL. IHK -NORMAN )iAKONS. yj pressed him to do liis duty to his liege lord. " Your advice pleases me," said Raoul, "you say well, thus will I act." Then, le.iving his men who await him motionless and with lances erect, he spurs his horse, and, brandishing his lance ami uttering his war-cry, Thtiry!* rides up to the Duke, strikes him twice with his glove on the shoulder, and says, laughing: "Sire, what I have sworn, I am doing. I swore I would strike you as soon as I saw you ; to accomplish my vow (for I will be no perjurer), I have struck you. Be not angry, sire ; I will commit no further felony. If I have struck you with my glove, with my good sharp sword will I pierce a hundred of your enemies," William, reassured and joyful, laugh- ingly replied to this faithful vassal and excellent Norman; " Vostre Merci," and Raoul Taisson, spurring his horse, returned to his men.t * Thury-Harcourt was the chief town in the domains of Taisson. tThe theological argument of the Lord of Cinglais recalls the story of that warhke bishop ot the middlc- .iges, who, unwilling to strike his enemies with the sword, for fear of disobeying the canons of the Church, was content to fell them w ith a battle-axe. 38 TIIF- CONSI'IKAf Y OK The opposing armies were now face to face, and ready to charge. The Duke left the King of France and placed himself at the head of his troops. The French formed the left wing, and consequently their squadrons were deployed partly on the territory of Condeville, partly on that of Secqueville, facing the men of Cotentin, to whom was joined the small contingent furnished by Guy of Burgundy. The latter were under Neel the Viscount, and the Baron de Creully, Ilamon with iTie Teeth. William and the Normans formed the right wing and reached towards Chicheboville to the Semillon. They were confronted by the troops of Bessin, led by Viscount Renouf and Crimoult du Plessis. * As for Raoul Taisson, he remained prudently out of the way, till a favorable opportunity should offer to charge whichever side he might resolve to take part against. It was about nine o'clock when the armies met. The weather was fine, so that each side could easily count up the other, t Suddenly battle-cries filled the air. Mojifjoie ! Mcjiljoie ! cried the * Wage. "f Bknoit. THE NOUMAN BARONS. 39 French, "delighted to hear their own voices.'" Dex aie! Dcx aie! replied the soldiers of William. Saini Sauveur! Saint Sever! Saint Aniaiidl cried the troops of Neel, of Renouf, and of Ilamou with lie teeth. It was the prelude to battle. Suddenly, thousands of lances bend forward ; the riders lowering their heads protected by their steel helmets, spur their horses, which rear and dash forward. The earth shakes and seems about to give way under this enormous mass of heavy calvalry. * Soon, a terrible struggle has begun. Duke William, le genlil, ie preux, surpasses all others in courage ; he knows that, a conqueror, he gains power and riches ; conquered, he is utterly undone. Surrounded by 300 picked knights, he utters his cry, Dex aie ! and, putting spurs to his horse, penetrates the thickest of the hostile squadrons. " Never had such audacity been seen in one so young." f But he has to deal with valiant knights who biavely withstand the shock and vigorously charge his troops. On all sides, bodies strew the ground. • Wage and Benoit. + Benoit. 40 THE CONSPIRACY OF On the left wing, the l^ing of France was en:'a£;e(l with the men of Cotentin. He had caused his standard to be unfurled, over which glittered the golden eagle.* " The French knights did mar- vels. J/(?;;(;'<7/V.' they cried, showing the men of Cotentin their skill in arms.t But Neel the brave, Hamon the daring rallied their men, and brought them to the charge, amidst the cries of Saint Sauveur ! Saint Amand ! Hamon, a true type of the middle age Baron, "a perfect anti- christ," according to the curious expression of Benoit, had with him "a great chivalry, proud, courageous, daring" who followed him, crying: Saint Amand I Saint Amand! lie made deep furrows in the French army, spreading death around. Still, though not yet beaten, the men of Cotentin had lost ground, and were driven back towards the Cote St. Laurent. The French, encouraged by their success, were attacking them with fury when nn accident, happening in their ranks, nearly robbed them of their dearly lx)ught advantage. * A reminiscence of the Roman Eagle, j- Benoit. THE NORMAN BARONS. 4I A daring knight of Cotentin, who ioidd not be identified * fiercely charged the king, struck him with his lance full on the breast, and dismounted him. Such was the violence of the blow that Henry would have been pierced through and through had his hauberk been less strongly lined. One hundred years later, the memory of this feat still lived in the Cotentin and the peasants sang: , Ne Sai qui fu le chevalier, Mais de Costeiitln vint la lance yui abati le Rei de France. + The knight had hardly turned his horse, when another knight charged him and brought him to the ground. He rose, and had his hand on the pommel of the saddle, when he was surrounded by the French knights. He was beaten down, crushed under the horses feet, and left for dead. All hastened to raise the king; he was unwounded. Having remounted, and full of anger, he rushed into the thick of the enemy, notwithstanding the efforts of his knights. Henry, without listening to them, continues to strike, and the sound of his sword striking helmet and shield is heard afar. •* Wace. -|- Benoit. 42 THE CONSPIRACY OK Never was he more valiant.* The spot where the king fell, near the Cote St. Laureut, in the direc- tion of Secqueville, still bears the characteristic name of Mal-couronne.\ During this furious combat, the men of Cotentin lost one of their most valiant chieftains. Hamon with the teeth, seeing the king of France spreading terror amongst his enemies, attacked him furiously, tiappily a Frenchman, standing a little apart, saw him as, with lowered lance, he daslied against the king and his knights. He watched all the movements of the daring Norman, and, when the Baron de Creully forgot for a moment to cover himself with his shield, he rushed upon him. Hamon fell. They raised him : he was dead. With him perished the best knights of his train. " Many people," says Wace, "thought that Hamon had struck and dismounted the king, and that the French killed him to avenge t!ieir prince." William of Malmesbury states positively that Hamon had dismounted Henry. This death damped the spirit of the Cotentin troops, and the insurgent army began to give way in this quarter. * Wacb. t V. DE Caumomt. THE NORMAN BARONS. 43 About this time a very important event was passing on the right wing, where William fought with irresistible energy and rage. Raoul Taisson^ who, standing apart, had anxiously watched the phases of this fierce battle, noticing, no doubt , that victory was already inclining to the Duke's party, at length decided to take part in the action. With a shout of Thitry 1 he rushes on the army of (he barons, already fatigued with a long combat. Wace has painted in an expressive verse the ravages he and his good knights caused — Assez parut oii il passa. Nevertheless, it was the young Duke of Normandy who was destined to strike the decisive blow. Since the battle had begun, he had been seek- ing, but in vain, some of their principal leaders, when he suddenly perceived Renouf, Count of Bessin. Settling himself firmly on his saddle, he lowers his lance and rushes on him. The Count was a dead man, had it not been for the devotion of a knight of Bayeux, named HardrO, celebrated for his strength and courage. Ilardre saw the danger of Renouf, and valiantly attacked William with his lance. The lance was shattered into a 44 JllE CONSPIRACY OK thousand pieces. \l\.\\. t/ie ^ooJ Diikes lance had pierced his throat. William left the iron head in the wound, being; only enabled to withdraw the wood. Without stopping, he drew his sword and cut down many an enemy. Renouf, horrified with the death of brave Hardre, who had, so to speak, expired at his feet, and seeing his best knights massacred around him, and the field of battle running with blood, stood motionless and undecided. He heard on all sides the groans of the wounded, the clash of arms, and the furious cries of the conquerors. What was passing on his right ? He knew not. If Neel had fled . . . li he were left alone to face an enemy thirsting for vengeance ! In such a position, to fight on was to get killed ; to hesitate to flee was to be taken, and, if the Duke took him, he would have him hanged at the gallows.* At this thought his blood froze in his veins ; and for all the treasures in the world he could not have moved a step forward. f Leaving his men to make a last and vain resistance, he *WaCE. fJBENOIT. THE NORMAN liARONS. 45 throws away his arms, and, bending over his horse, he flies, cursing the day on whicli he entered on this unfortunate adventure. Meanwhile, Neel and Guy of Burgundy, on the right wing, continue their struggle against the French. The latter, encouraged by their first success, performed prodigies of valour. But the valiant Neel fought like a lion, and endeavoured by his example to encourage his men. " Had all his companions shown the same courage," says Wace, "the French would have suffered much; they must have been defeated." But the moment had come when heroism itself must yield to numbers. lie suddenly learnt that Renouf and his troops had taken flight. Seeing himself out- flanked by the victorious army of the Duke, he understood that a longer resistance was impossible; that, if he delayed, retreat would be cut off, and he made up his mind to fly. This was the signal for a general rcnit. Henceforward, noone though' of resistance. Everywhere disorder and confusion reigned, chieftains and soldiers joined in a general saiive qui pent. The beaten arniy made for the ford of Bully. This was courting disaster. At ^^MBMiM^Mflia 46 THE CONSl'IRACY OK this point the banks of the river were steep ; men and horses lost their footing and sank in twenty feet of water. The fugitives had only a choice of deaths. Some were killed fighting, others were drowned in the river, a few were made prisoners. Such was the number of corpses carried down by the stream, and so great the massacre on the banks of the river that the mills of Bourbillon w^ere, so to speak, dammed, and, according to Benoit, who lived about one hundred years after the battle, "the people of Caen saw its waters reddened." Neel, Renouf, Grimoult du Plessis, and Guy of Burgundy were amongst those who succeeded in escaping. When, according to Benoit, the killing and strange drowning had come to an end, the King and the Duke, full of joy, returned to Val des Dunes, and divided the immense booty they found there. They caused the wounded to be attended to, and the dead to be buried ; after which, Henry returned to I' ranee %\ ith his army, and the l^uke went back to Rouen. The insurrection was crushed. Neel fled to Brittany and all his domains were confiscated. He regained the Duke's favor some years after. In THE NORMAN BARONS. 4? 1054 he had certainly recovered his paternal inheritance. Guy shut himself uj) in his castle of Brionne, where William besieged him. Forced to capitulate, he obtained his life and withdrew into Burgundy. Grimoult du Plessis, falling into the hands of the conqueror, was thrown into prison at Rouen. He was accused by a knight of having been the prime author of the conspiracy, and was found strangled in prison on the very day in which he was to meet his accuser in judical combat. He was buried in chains. His castle was demolished by order of the Uuke, and the Barony of Plessis was given to the Cathedral of Bayeux, and not, as Benoit states, to St. Mary of Rouen. According to Robert du ]Mont, the Duke exiled or put to death some of the rebel lords and had their castles razed ; other obtained their pardon. Amongst the latter was Renouf de Briquesart. In concluding the truly epic recital of this great battle of Val-des-Dunes, Benoit de Sainte-Maure, following the example of the Norman historians, Guillaume de Jumieges and Guillaume de Poictiers, proclaims his patriotism in a hymn of rejoicing to the glory of Normandy. And first he launches a 48 CONSPIRACY OF IIIF. NORMAN liAKONS. last anathema at the heads of the felons and traitors — " Thus does the devil reward those who rely on him ... if they (the insurgents) are disgraced, they deserve it. . . . As the book of the Latins * says, Blessed is the day when so great a pride was cast down. Glorious, one may well say, was the battle where such great felony was defeated, a felony which would have iiibured the ruin of Normandy ; a battle which caused the overthrow of so many embattled tower?, of so many fortresses, of so many castles, the homes of malice ; a battle which gave to the Duchy of Normandy the joys of peace." *GuH.LAUME DK JuMIEGES AND GuiLLAUME DE PoICTIERS. TBEE E;ITI>. SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. ■ i- REC'D VRL AUG 1 1 'Ol) rm 1-1/41C1122) ^ iiiiniii A A 000 253 690 ^m V. DEMCO )•■ amSwW \\ii Univer Soul Lil