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