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Much of the evidence below is taken from the records of St Bertin's Abbey in St Omer, of which the family of Gundred and Gerbod were advocates. The relevant material is all in print, but sadly the way in which it was published could scarcely be bettered as a recipe for confusion.
The original records of St Bertin were lost in the aftermath of the French Revolution. Fortunately the material survived in a number of copies. Unfortunately, the copies were published in inverse order of value. The first edition was M. Guérard's Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Bertin (Paris, 1841), which was based on a surviving cartulary dating from about 1500. (Guérard's edition must have been the source of the St Bertin's material printed by Stapleton in his paper on Gundred and the Warennes, in the Archaeological Journal, vol.3 (1846), although he does not appear to state this.) Subsequently, F. Morand published Appendice au Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Bertin (Paris, 1867), which contained corrections to Guérard's work, as well as some additional material, based on a mid-12th-century cartulary. Finally, D. Haigneré published Les Chartes de Saint-Bertin (Saint-Omer, 1886), taken from a copy of the abbey's records made by Dom Charles-Joseph Dewitte in the late 18th century. This copy is not flawless, as its author was not an expert in medieval palaeography, but was carefully made, and had the virtue of being based in many cases on the original charters, and in others on Abbot Simon's cartulary, older than those edited by Guérard and Morand, but since lost. Unfortunately, as so much had already been published, for most of the early charters Haigneré did not publish the entire text, but only corrections and additions to Guérard's edition.
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[Grant by Richilde, of her property of Herbelles, to St Bertin's abbey,
dated 975, attested by Everard the advocate and (among others) Gerbod.]
Domino magnifico in XPO patri Waltero, abbati de
monasterio Sithiu ... Ego Richildis vidua ... Ego dono
omnem rem mee proprietatis in loco noncupante
Hardbere, scilicet ecclesiam cum ipsius ville adjacentiis,
... vel quicquid ibidem aspectum vel subjectum esse
videtur, et mihi legitime in dotis titulo ab Everwino,
seniore meo, fuit traditum, ad integrum hec omnia ad
praefatum monasterium per hanc paginam tradicionis dono,
trado atque transfirmo perpetualiter ad possidendum; in
ea vero ratione ut ipsas res ego et filii mei, dum
advimus, pro vestro beneficio ad usum fructum excolere
debeamus; unde quoque pro eodem usu annis singulis
ad sollempnitatem sancti Bertini, nonis septembris, duos
solidos transsolvere debeamus; et non habeamus pontificium
ipsas res alienare, nisi tantum pro beneficio vestro
ad usum fructum excolere debeamus; et post nostrum
omnium obitum predictas res rectores monasterii vestri
presentalites perpetua portione potiantur.
Actum Bruhaio pupplice, anno Domini DCCCC LXXV, indictione III, regnante Hlothario anno XXII,
coram his testibus. + Signum Evorhardi advocati.
+ Sign. Rodulfi. Rorici. Gerbodonis. Gerhardi. Adelelmi. Wibezonis.
Dedi etiam duo monilia aurea pro loco sepulture mee.
[Printed by Haigneré, no 64,
from an 18th-century copy of the original.
The item below,
dated 986, is part of the same document.]
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[Grant by Gerard to St Bertin's abbey, dated 986,
attested by Gerbod the advocate.]
... Anno post hec incarnationis Domini DCCCC. LXXXVI, defuncta
matre mea, ego Gerhardus ipsam hereditatem cum ecclesia et
munilibus eidem loco sancto contuli, sepulta ibidem eadem
matre mea, imprecans Dei offensam contradicentibus, coram
his testibus. + Sign. Gerhardi. + Sign. Gerbodonis advocati.
Balduini. Waldberti. Rumoldi. Regeneri.
[Printed by Haigneré, no 64, from an 18th-century copy of the original.
This is part of the same document as the item above,
dated 975.]
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[Confirmation by Abbot Odbert of St Bertin,
of a grant by his predecessors Walter and Trutgaude,
to Lotmar, son and heir of Canon Atzo,
dated about 994, attested by Gerbod (probably as advocate).]
... Quod et actum est in presentia fratrum et advocati ejusdem loci.
x Signum Walteri abbatis. x Signum Trudgaudi abbatis. x Signum Odberti abbatis. x Signum Gerbodonis.
x signum Rumoldi. x signum Eremboldi. x signum Wagonis.
[Printed by Haigneré, no 66,
from an 18th-century copy of the original.
As the confirmation is said to have been made in the
presence of "the brothers and the advocate", Gerbod is probably attesting as advocate here,
as he does in 986.]
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[Gift by a certain Gerbod,
of land in Laethem-St-Martin,
to St Peter's Abbey at Ghent, dated 1001.]
Cupiens adipisci aliquam portiunculam beatudinis sempiterne
quidam Gerbodo tradidit sancto Petro VIII bunaria terre
in Lathim et mancipia hec: Ava, Bava et Athalkin et ejus filios, IIII kal. aprilis [1001]
[Printed in Liber Traditionum Sancti Petri Blandiniensis, ed. A. Fayen, p.99 (Ghent, 1906).
This Gerbod may or may not be one of the family associated with St Bertin's Abbey. In 989,
a Gerbod had been among the witnesses of a gift by a certain Adalwif to the same abbey (ibid., p.93).]
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[Confirmation of an exchange between Baldwin,
bishop of Therouanne and Abbot Roderick of St Bertin,
dated 1026, attested by Gerbod as advocate.]
... Hujus rei testes sunt tot
et tanti, quot et quanti in nostra tunc fuerunt sinodo,
de quibus pauca nomina subscripsimus.
Signum Huberti, archidiaconi. Signum Johannis,
archidiaconi. Signum ipsius Roderici, abbatis. Signum
Germani, abbatis sancti Winnoci. Signum Alfridi,
abbatis sancti Vulmari. Signum Rumoldi, monaci.
Signum Rameri, monaci. Signum Gerbodonis, advocati.
Signum Ernulfi, advocati.
Acta sunt hec in basilica sancte Dei genitricis Marie, Taruanne,
anno dominice incarnationis millesimo vigesimo sexto,
regnante Francorum rege Roberto Balduino vero marchionatum
agente tricesimo nono...
[Printed by Guérard, p.175,
from a cartulary of c.1500. Guérard notes that
Count Baldwin's 39th year fell in 1028.
Haigneré notes that the same charter (no 68)
occurs in an 18th-century copy of Abbot's Simon's cartulary
(now lost).]
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[Exchange between Abbot Roderick of St Bertin and Baldwin
prévôt of St Omer, dated 1042,
attested by Gerbod as advocate (and also by Gerbod, a monk).]
... Ego Rodericus, gratia Dei abbas, hanc commutationem feci
et cartam hanc scribere jussi, et signum meum subposui +.
+ Leduini decani et monachi. x Bovonis monac. + Suanini mon.
+ Raineri mon. x Winradi mon. x Vulfardi monachi. x Wazonis
mon. x Gerbodonis monach. + Domni Drogonis Episcopi. x
Hucberti archidiaconi. x Balduini prepositi. + Gunfridi canonici.
x Sechardi clerici. + Alberti canon. x Waldonis canon. x Goteri
cano. x Nordberti canon. x Odberti canon. + Gerbodonis advocati.
x Landberti castellani. + Balduifi. x Gozelini. + Hezelini. x
Regenmari telonearii. + Landberti qui suis sumptibus
prefatam ecclesiam construxit. x Adelelmi tatan.
Actum est autem hoc puplice in claustro patris Bertini,
anno incarnati Verbi Mo XLIIo, indictione X, kalendis martii,
feria IIa primae ebdomadae XL, anno quoque regni Henrici,
regis Francorum XII, et dominicatus Balduini marchionis VII.
[Printed by Haigneré, no 72, from an 18th-century copy of the original.]
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[Grant by Gerard of Oudenaarde,
of two mansos in the vill of Oosterzele,
to St Peter's Abbey at Ghent,
for the soul of his wife Gundred, dated 1042.]
Eodem denique anno [1042], quidam Gerardus de Oldenarde
tradidit sancto Petro pro anima uxoris suae Gundradae
duos mansos sitos in villa Ostresele et sex mancipia, quorum
ista sunt nomina: Erudo ["Frudo" in Fayen] et uxor ejus Reingard et filii
eorum, Udo, Helgodus, Stenburch, item Reingard, ea lege
interposita ut singulis annis duos in censu solvant
denarios, in matrimonii vero copulatione sex et post
praesentem vitam de propria facultate XII solvant denarios.
[Printed in Chartes et Documents de
l'Abbaye de Saint Pierre au Mont Blandin a Gand,
ed. A. van Lokeren, vol.1, p.87, no 123 (Ghent, 1868). The same entry is printed
in Liber Traditionum Sancti Petri Blandiniensis,
ed. A. Fayen, p.113 (Ghent, 1906).
In The Flemish Nobility Before 1300, by E. Warlop, part 2, vol.2, p.1035 (English translation by
J.B. Ross and H. Vandermoere; Kortrijk, 1976), this grant is cited, together with a charter
for St Peter's Abbey, dated 1038, printed in Histoire genealogique des Maisons de Guines, d'Ardres, de Gand, et de Coucy ...
by A. du Chesne, Preuves, p.53 (Paris, 1631),
which is attested by "Hugo de Aldernarde, Gerardus frater eius".
Warlop places Hugh of Oudenaarde as a son of Ingelbert of Petegem, and a probable descendant
of an earlier Ingelbert, who was advocate of St Peter's Abbey in the mid- to late-10th century.]
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[Gift by Gerbod and Ada, his wife, of his allodium,
a third of the vill of Oosterzele, which he had previously given
his wife in dower, to St Bertin's Abbey, attested by his knights.]
In nomine sancte et individue Trinitatis. Nos seculares homines semper
huic mundo dediti, nimium illecebris inservimus hujus seculi. His eciam
morbidis, caducis et transitoriis commodis toti inheremus; eterna vero et
magis desideranda, proh dolor! bona nichil pendimus. Unde, dum cotidie
hinc exire cogimur nudi, et nichil preter peccata portantes, terribili Dei
nostri juditio discutiendi representamur. Tunc queque terris habita non
solum prodesse, sed obesse prevalent, elemosinarum vero bona, si qua sunt,
familiariter arrident. Quod ego Gerbodo et Ada, conjux mea, considerantes,
atque vite perhennis sollicitudinem gerentes, nobis quod in eternum
expediat providere, et aliquantulum Deum nobis debitorem cupimus efficere.
Credimus enim et certum tenemus quod quitquid ecclesie servis, scilicet Dei,
pro ejus amore deliberatur, non hominibus sed ipsi Deo donatur. Sic enim
dictum audivimus in ewangelio: Quamdiu fecistis ex his minimis
michi fecistis. Quod autem Deo nostro datur, nequaquam dando
amittitur, sed denuo recipiendum sapienter ei creditur. De quo apostolus:
Scio cui credidi, et certus sum quia potens est depositum meum
servare in illum diem. Tunc nulla erit sollicitudo eriginis, aut tinee vel
furum; nec tantumdem recipietur, sed centuplum, ut Dominus in ewangelio;
Omnis qui reliquerit agros in nomine meo centuplum accipiet, et
vitam eternam possidebit. Hec ego omnia sciens, et omnia credens, alodium
meum, hoc est, terciam partem tocius ville Ostreseld, quod prius conjugi
mee in dotalitium dederam, ea ipsa consenciente et rogante, Deo et sancto
Petro sanctoque Bertino, firma do traditione; ea scilicet ratione, ut abbas
ipsius loci, in omni meo anniversario, meeque conjugis, refectionem ibidem
Deo famulantibus fratribus faciat, ut eo libentius ipsi fratres pro redemptione
nostra ad Dei aures pulsent. Pro qua scilicet anime mee redemptione
hanc traditionem facio, meorumque militum subsignatione firmo.
Signum Elnardi*. Signum Huberti. Signum Raineri* Haketh*. Signum Odgrimi*.
[*These are Haigneré's corrections; Guérard's version is
"Elvardi ... Rameri Halreth... Odgrini"]
[Printed by Guérard, p.201, from a cartulary compiled c.1500; this charter is not included in the earlier cartulary used by Morand.
Haigneré (no 75) corrects the names of the witnesses, from an 18th-century copy of the original.
Haigneré dates this gift to about 1054, noting that the suggestion of c.1084 given
by Guérard is impossible,
in view of the agreement between Abbot Bovo and
Gerbod's brother Arnold in or before 1063 (below).
Possibly this grant was also made around the time of the dispute over Arques in 1056; note the attestations of
Elnardi and Hubert both in this and in Count Baldwin's charter of 1056.]
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[Note of the violent dispute between Abbot Bovo and Gerbod, the advocate,
over Gerbod's exactions in the abbey's vill of Arques.]
His ita dispositis, non multo post tempore, inter dominum Bovonem,
abbatem, et advocatum hujus loci, Gerbodonem, lis
gravissima exoritur. Siquidem advocati interest officii res ecclesiasticas et bona
exteriora ab ingruentibus pravonum hominum defensare periculis,
cum, versa vice, sicuti tunc contigit, cupiditate avaritie, defensandam
ecclesiam perturbare, magisque soleant oneri esse, quam
utilitate ecclesiastice prodesse. Unde actum est, ut idem Gerbodo, in
villa sancti Bertini, Arkas dicta, quasdam indiceret injustas exactiones
persolvendas. Super famulos quoque sancti Bertini et submanentes
jus indebitum sibi usurpans, hoste gravius inquietebat omnia.
Cujus rei gratia abbas Bovo Balduinum marchionem expostulat,
quatinus, investigata diligentius hujus litis controversia, finem
sua auctoritate altercationi imponat. Cujus petitioni benigne annuens,
venerabilis princeps, re juste discussa, ambobus pacificatis, pari
utriusque assensu et consilio, quid unicuique debeatur suo suorumque
procerum decernit juditio. Quod decretum ne infringeret aliqua
hominum oblivio, sua corroboravit litteratum apicibus, ut
subjectum est, astipulatio.
[Printed by Guérard, p.183 (undated), from a cartulary of c.1500,
with a correction from Morand.]
[Charter of Baldwin, Count of Flanders, settling the dispute and
fixing the payments due to Gerbod, dated [?]1056.]
... Ego Balduinus, Dei gratia, Flandrensium comes ...
... Unde notum facio omnibus presentibus et futuris, me in villa
sancti Bertini, que dicitur Arkas, pravas et nimis injustas
quasdam exactiones, que violentia et oppressione malorum
quorumdam advocatorum videbantur surrexisse, humili et
obnixa postulatione abbatis Bovonis, penitus extirpasse.
Quidam enim, advocati nomen usurpantes, et ecclesiam,
quam tueri et defendere omnino deberent, quantum in ipsis
erat, versa vice, opprimere volentes, dicebant se in
prenominata villa Arakas, semel vel bis in anno, debere
hospitari, et quecunque sibi suisque necessaria essent
ab ejusdem ville hominibus procurari. Insuper vero ibidem volebant
petitionem annuatim, quasi ex debito, facere, et adhuc
quedam alia, que nulla ratione poterant vera comprobare.
Unde inter advocatos et abbates ecclesie sancti Bertini
graves dissensiones, frequentes altercationes orte sunt.
Cum vero tante injurie abbates nullatenus vellent
adquiescere, novissime, tempore predicti
abbatis Bovonis et Gerbodonis advocati, eo usque, hac
de causa, scandalum processit, ut, dum homines illius,
in vindictam ac gratiam domini sui, quemdam ipsius
abbatis monacum, nomine Albricum, ex injuncta ei
obedientia, Arkas venientem, nimis crudeliter apprehensum,
precisis genitalibus, deturpare cogitarent, satis inhumane
penitus ei vitam auferrent. Quocirca, ut omnis controversia
et querela inter abbatem et advocatum, que de prefata villa
orta est, imperpetuum sopiatur, me mediante et utriusque
assensu super hoc concordante, predicti videlicet abbatis et advocati,
statui, cum optimatum meorum consilio, ut quicunque advocatus fuerit in regalem
expeditionem iturus, unum baconem, et unam pensam
caseorum, et unum equum ad summarium, vel, pro his,
unam marcham argenti ab abbate accipiat, et, singulis
annis, de unaquoque terra ipsius ville, dimidiam
firtalam avene, sine omni contradictione habeat;...
... Pascuum quoque porcorum vel pecorum, que inter
burgenses sancti Audomari et villam Arkas, vulgo dictam
Suinard, jacet, palustrem etiam terram ex integro, que
inter arabilem terram de Arkas et vetus monasterium, et, in
oriente, inter vetus fossatum in silva et in Hindringeld et
vetustam Mere, atque, in occidente, inter Esled et Kesgale,
necnon Morlaka, et Simonis Led, jacere dinoscitur,
predicto Gerbodone advocato concedente, quia sancto
Bertino viventi in corpore tradita fuerat, et, usque ad
hec tempora, ecclesia ipsius sancti, absque contradictione
qualibet, libere et inconcusse possedit; ...
... His ita statutis, concessis et confirmatis, illud quoque
hic subscribi vel determinari placuit, quomodo, interveniente
Drogone, Taruanensium episcopo et jam dicto abbate Bovone et
Gerbodone, advocato, assensum prebente,
spatium mensure atrii atrii sive curtis cenobii sancti Bertini ita
divisimus ...
... Acta est hec confirmatio a me Balduino, Flandrensium, Dei gratia, marchione,
anno dominice incarnationis millesimo quinquagesimo sexto, indictione
nona, regnante Henrico Francorum rege, in villa sancti Audomari
in basilica sancti Petri, die sancto Epiphanie, astantibus hujus rei testibus
strenuis viris, quorum nomina subter tenentur inserta:
Signum Balduini,
incliti marchionis. Signum Drogonis, episcopi Taruannensis. Signum
Gerardi, Cameracensis episcopi. Signum Bovonis, abbatis. Signum Leduini
abbatis. Signum Eustatii comitis. Signum Rogeri, comitis. Signum
Ingelramni comitis. Signum Roberti de Bethunia. Signum Rodulfi Gandensis.
Signum Elgoti Attrebatensis. Signum Gerbodonis advocati.
Signum Anselmi. Signum Alolfi de Hesdin. Signum Elvardi militis.
Signum Huberti, militis. Signum Walteri militis. Signum Christiani,
scriptoris hujus privilegii.
[This document appears, bewilderingly, in three different versions among the abbey's records.
It was printed by Guérard, p.183, from a cartulary of c.1500, and dated 6 January 1056.
A significantly different version was printed by Morand, from a 12th-century cartulary.
Haigneré refers to three versions in the 18th-century collection made by Dom Charles-Joseph
Dewitte: one dated 6 January 1042, from Abbot Simon's cartulary (no 71),
and two dated 6 January 1056 - one from a sealed original (no 76)
and another from an original with an additional clause (no 77).
The extracts given above are from Guérard (with minor corrections from Morand),
and all three form part of both
Haigneré's 1056 versions. The extract beginning "Pascuum"
is absent from
Haigneré's 1042 version, and also from the 12th-century cartulary used by Morand,
but it is referred to in Count Robert's confirmation of 1093 (below).
The 1042 version is worded identically with parts of the other versions.
The dating clause is almost identical, except that the year is different
and that the king's name is given as Robert (although it should be Henry for
both 1042 and 1056).
The witness list is also very similar - the first ten names are the same (except that
Abbot Roderick is substituted for Abbot Bovo), and are followed by Gerbod the advocate alone.
(Morand's version includes only the first eight witnesses.)
Haigneré describes the second of these as a renewal of the first, and the third
as a completion of the second; he says further that the version used by Morand appears to be
an "eclectic copy" of all three.
But the texts, and particularly the dating clauses and witness lists
are so similar that these seem to be different versions of the same document.
Unless the "sealed original" seen by Dewitte was an out-and-out
forgery, it seems likely that there was a single charter dated 1056, and that
the date has been miscopied in Abbot Simon's cartulary, and some changes made to
the text there and elsewhere - for example, the names of the abbot and the king
seem to have been changed.
Perhaps a close examination of the remaining witnesses would confirm the 1056
date, although the most prominent of them seem to be consistent with either date.]
[Robert Frison, Count of Flanders (in a charter dated 1093)
recites the confirmation to St Bertin by his father, Count Baldwin,
of land near Arques, made with the consent of Gerbod the advocate,
who had given it.]
... Palustrem eciam terram, que inter arabilem
terram de Arkes et Elst, ultra vetus
monasterium; et, in oriente, vetus fossatum
in silva; ac inter Hindringeled et vetustam
Mere, atque, in occidente novum fossatum,
interjacet; quam pater meus Balduinus,
comes, Gerbodone advocato concedente,
sancto Bertino, quia ei in corpore viventi
tradita fuerat, liberam possidendam confirmavit ...
[Printed by Guérard, p.204, from a cartulary compiled c.1500.
Haigneré mentions 18th-century copies of two "sealed originals" (nos 90 and 91)
of this charter, with the same date,
and identifies the second with the text printed by Guérard.]
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[Agreement between Abbot Bovo and Arnold, that the latter should have
for life a third of the vill of Oosterzele, the inheritance of his
brother Gerbod, who gave it to St Bertin's in his lifetime.
Note of the appeal of Abbot Bovo to Count Baldwin and King Philip,
in a dispute with Gerbod concerning two thirds of the vill, dated 1063.
Both are attested by Robert the advocate, and the first also by
"Gilbodonis" (?Gerbodonis).]
In nomine sanctae et individuae Trinitatis, Patris et Filii et
Spiritus Sancti. Pax et dilectio omnibus [lacuna] Cum
humanum ingenium simulandi et dissimulandi artificiosum in
omne se tergiversationis et calliditatis vertat argumentum, utile
valde ac necessarium est litterale testamen[tum] [lacuna] [con]ventionis
solidum servetur monimentum, ut nil corrigi, nil mutari, nil addi,
nil minui possit post bipertitum utriusque partis cirographum.
Complacitum et confirmatum est inter me ["et" suppressed] sancti
caenobii, nomine non merito, abbatem Bovonem, et inter
Arnulfum virum illustrem, ut tertiam partem villae
Ostreselae, hereditariam scilicet fratris sui portionem
Gerbodonis, quam is vivens Deo et sancto Bertino contulerat
in aeternam videlicet et propriam sibi mercedem, ut hanc
ipsam sibi, quamdiu in vita superesset, ea lege et ratione
prestarem quatinus post ejus mortem omnem suae hereditatis
partem una cum nostra ad integrum reciperemus; hac,
inquam, grata complacitum est vicissitudine ut, sicut ipse
nunc utramque possidet portionem vivens, ita nobis, cum
omni copia rerum et fructu cuncti generis, tam animantium
quam frugum, relinquat moriens; ut et hic habeat
necessitatis suffragium, et apud Deum, pro sua parte,
mercedem in perpetuum. Hinc plurimi testes adsunt, qui
interfuerunt, utriusque partis viri clarissimi, quroum hic
placuit nomina cum signis adnotari.
S. Balduini marchionis, in cujus praesentia haec acta sunt.
S. Balduini filii ejus. S. Rodberti filii ejusdem
marchionis. S. Johannis. S. Anselmis. S. Rodberti advocati.
S. Gilbodonis. S. Clareboldi. S. Raingoti. S. Raingeri. S. Arnoldi.
S. Walteri Lotharingi. S. Walonis. S. Eustachii comitis. S. Lanberti
castellani. S. Vulfrici filii ejus.
In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti, Pax et veritas.
Suprascriptam traditionem, quia, post tantam
commendationem, necessitas erat rationando defendere,
fuit quoque consilium ejus defensionis fidem subjunctis
reconsignare litteris, quae eo nunc artius postulat
religari quo violentius pridem timuit dissolvi; nam et
avi traditionem et patris confirmationem Gerbodo, junior
et aetate et consilio, cum temptaret occasione temerariae
sibi vendicare, pene anathematis jugulandus mucrone;
ego sancti hujus conventus, licet indignus, abbas
nomine Bovo, coram inclito marchione Balduino et rege
adhuc puero Philippo, in plena procerum curia causam nostram
exposui, atque ipsas duas partes totius villae cum omnibus
appenditiis suis, ita quidem integre ut prescriptum
est, nonnullis primatum testibus evici, et sic demum sine
alicujus reclamatione nostrae cessit ditioni. Inde ego,
annuente tam rege quam comite, hanc secundam cartam
primae supponere feci, ut certo indicio veritas semper possit
defendi, et ut sciat cui perditioni obnoxius erit, si quis
ultra haec aliquid praesumpserit. Ego Philippus, gratia
Regis aeterni, rex, huic confirmationi subscripsi. Ego
Balduinus comes subscripsi, meoque jussu hi proceres mei
testimonio hujus confirmationis testes sunt apellati, in quorum
presentia, una cum domino rege, hanc auctorizavi.
S. Balduini juvenis comitis. S. Johannis. S. Anselmi. S. Rodberti advocati.
S. Raingoti. S. Arnoldi.
Actum apud Islam, coram rege et marchione Balduino, anno Domini millesimo LXIII.
[Printed by Haigneré, no 80, from an 18th-century copy of the original.
C.T. Clay, in Early Yorkshire Charters, vol.8, pp.46 (1949) mentions this as
referring to Gerbod as "Gerbodo junior", but
the sense seems to be
"younger in both age and counsel". Note the occurrence of "Robert the advocate" as a witness.
Although there are apparently two later occurrences of a Gerbod as advocate, in 1067 and 1075,
Robert the advocate is mentioned in 1093 and twice in 1102.]
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... Actum est hoc Bergis in solemni curia Pentecostes anno
Dominice Incarnationis millesimo sexagesimo septimo, indictione
quarta*, adstante Drogone Teruanensi episcopo ...
Signum Balduini gloriosi comitis. Signum
Adelae Comitissae. Signa Balduini atque Roberti, filiorum ejus.
Signum Eustachii comitis Boloniae. S. Rogeri de Sancto
Paulo. S. Anselmi de Hesdin. S. Joannis Attrebatensis.
S. Hugonis Anet. Signum Gerbodonis Advocati de Sancto
Bertino. Signum Raingoti de Gant. Signum Balduini de
Gant. S. Alardi Ernes. S. Cononis filii ejus. Signum
Erembaldi Castellani de Brugis. Signa Erkenberti Praepositi
et aliorum multorum.
[The dating clause and attestations are transcribed
by Stapleton, pp.17-18.
*The same charter is printed in Opera Diplomatica et Historica,
Auberti Miræi, vol.1, p.513 (2nd edn; Brussels, 1723),
who gives the indiction as "quinta".]
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[Narrative of the seizure by Arnold of Oosterzele
("a rich and noble man") of the land of St Bavo's Abbey [c.1067],
and its restoration after his death by his relations,
counsel having been undertaken by Baldwin of Ghent and
Arnold and Gerbod his nephews.]
[margin: 1067] Arnoldus de Ostersele, vir dives et nobilis, sed sicut Ahab pro vinea
Naboth mente corruptus in imis, adiacentem sibi invasit terram
sancti Bavonis ... Is super hoc facto monitus semel atque
secundo, induratus ut Pharao, non destitit ab incepto. Tum
arguitur in publico, canonice proclamatur coram ecclesia in
Sancti Bavonis cenobio. Ille tamen non dans honorem Deo,
sed spem suam ponens in homine, subiacere maluit maledictioni
legitime. Quid multa? Natalis aderat apostolorum dies festus [margin: Iun.29],
exportatur ad Holthem9 sanctus Dei martyr Livinus10,
quem comitatur multus exundique populus, fontem ibi
misericordie frequenter expertus. Ubi sicut ab initio coram sancti
presentia Arnoldus ipse monetur, monitus iterum arguitur,
argutus obsecratur, ut desinat iam amplius malignari, et
ne differat, ne diffidat veniam deprecari, ne pro contemptu
mereatur per maledictum exterminari. Sevit illus gravius,
utpote, proh dolor! in reprobum sensum traditus et in desideria
sui cordis derelicta. Statuto autem die decernendi fines terre,
quam rapuit, presens esse noluit. Tunc fratres qui aderant
terram sancti Bavonis perlustravere, veluti potentes patrie
et nobiles docuere, sancto Livino ductore. Terminum autem eius
multorum iudicio diffinitum statuere, cuius transgressorem
gladio Spiritus sancti constrixere. Quo facto, sanctus Livinus
Gandavum reportatur, reportatus honorifice ab omni clero simul
et populo suscipitur, susceptus digna cum reverentia intra
sanctorum collocatur. Arnoldus vero in malo residens, terram
prius invasam sibi detinuit ... Interea sollempnis erat dies
elevationis sancti Macharii [margin: Maii 9]
et dedicate ecclesie sancti
Bavonis [margin: Maii 10]
Christo et omnium sanctorum honori. Ad has igitur
sollempnitates quasi ad regales nuptias diversi confluunt
populi ... Inter quos ille miser accessit ... Arnulfus itaque
mortuus ab ecclesia, quam incaute vivens intravit,
exponitur, donec a propinquis eius, inito consilio per
Balduinum de Ganda11 et Arnulfum et Gerbodum, nepotes
eius12, terra Sancto Bavoni ablata restitueretur. Tunc demum
illis de cetero emendationem pollicentibus, ab abbate et
fratribus absolvitur, absolutus autem, quia iuxta Salomonem
deneganda non est mortuo gracia, fidelium more sepelitur.
9. St Lievens Houthem, Francogallice Hautem-St-Liévin (arr. Alost). Cf Transl. S. Livini (infra).
10. Hunc morem a Folperto abbate (a.1039-1066) institutum esse, tradit Transl. S. Livini c.5 (infra).
11. Idem, ut videtur, qui in charta a.1047 occurrit ap. Van Lokeren, 'Chartes et documents de l'abbaye de
St. Pierre au mont Blandin', p.91, nr 125.
12. Gerbodo et Arnulfus fratres de Ostersela occurrunt in chartis a.1084.1087, ap. Guérard,
'Cartul. de St. Bertin' p.201 sq. Cf F. de Potter et J. Broeckaert, 'Geschiedenis
van de Gemeenden der Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen' I, VI, Oosterzele p.7 sq.
[From Ex Miraculis et Translationibus S. Bavonis,
printed in Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptorum vol.15, part 2, pp.598-599 (Hanover, 1888).
The omissions indicated by "..." above
are also given thus in the printed version.
The numbering, and the Latin text, of the footnotes have been retained.]
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... Designantur in ordine testes idonei qui huic assertioni
interfuere: S. Balduini juvenis comitis. S. Frederici. S.
Baldrici. S. Rodulfi. S. Roriconis. S. Anscheri, etc.
[Extract printed by L.C. Loyd, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, vol.31, p.113 (1934),
citing Recueil des Actes des Comtes de Pontieu ..., ed. M. Brunel (Paris, 1930).
According to Loyd, Brunel dates the charter 24 September-31 December 1067.]
Alius quoque extitit, genere quidam infimus, sed
animo et viribus precipuus, vocabulo Herewardus, qui
temptans rebellare, conducta undique valida manu mediterranea
Angliæ loca, in quorum paludibus delitescebat,
die et nocte cæde et rapina complebat. Inter
cætera autem scelera sua Fredericum germanum Comitis
Willelmi de Warennia, genere et possessionibus
insignitum, nocte quadam in domo propria fraudibus
circumventum occidit. Pro cujus nece tantæ inter ipsum
et prædictum Willelmum ortæ sunt discordiæ, ut nulla
satisfactione nulla regia potuerint quiescere ...
[Liber Monasterii de Hyda, p.295 (Rolls Series 45; London, 1866).
C.T. Clay, in Early Yorkshire Charters, vol.8, pp.44-45
(1949)
dates Frederick's murder to c.1070.]
[Lands of William of Warenne:]
In Tru[m]pinton ten[et] Will[elmu]s IIII hid[as] & dim[idiam] ...
Hanc t[er]ra[m] tenuit Tochi de æccl[esi]a
de Ely die q[uo] rex E[dwardus] fuit uiu[us] & mortuus ...
Hanc t[er]ra[m] postea habuit Frederi f[rate]r Will[elm]i
[Domesday Book, Cambridgeshire, 28[18], 7 (Phillimore edition).
Stapleton (p.3) comments that all the lands held by Toche under
Edward the Confessor are described in Domesday as "of the fee of Frederick".]
[Lands of William of Warenne:]
In pagraua ten[et] S[an]c[tu]s ricarius I car[ucatam] terre
[insertion: de fedo Fedrici]
qua[m] tenuit q[ui]da[m] lib[er] ho[mo] t[empore] r[egis] e[dwardi] ...
[Domesday Book, Norfolk, 8, 94 (Phillimore edition).]
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[[William I] gave Surrey to William of Warenne,
who married Gundred the sister of Gerbod.]
Gualterio quoque cognomento Gifardo comitatum Buchingeham; et Guillelmo
de Guarenna qui Gundredam sororem Gherbodi coniugem habebat dedit Suthregiam.
[The Ecclesiastical History of Orderic Vitalis,
ed. M. Chibnall, vol.2, p.264 (Oxford, 1990).
The consensus of modern historians is that William was not made Earl of Surrey until the reign
of William II, so that this is an error if it implies the grant of an earldom.]
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[The king [William I] gave Gerbod the Fleming was given Chester and
its county ... at the request of those to whom he had entrusted
his hereditary honor he returned to Flanders, but was captured
by his enemies and imprisoned for a long time. Meanwhile the king gave
the earldom of Chester to Hugh of Avranches.]
Cestram et comitatum eius Gherbodo Flandrensi iamdudum rex dederat;
qui magna ibi et difficilia tam ab Anglis quam a Gualis aduersantibus pertulerat.
Deinde legatione coactus suorum quos in Flandria dimiserat, et
quibus hæreditarium honorem suum commiserat; eundi citoque redeundi
licentiam a rege acceperat, sed ibi aduersa illaqueatus fortuna in manus
inimicorum inciderat, et in uinculis cohercitus mundanaque felicitate priuatus,
longæ miseriae trenos depromere didicerat.
Interea rex Cestrensem consulatum Hugoni de Abrincis filio Ricardi
cognomento Goz concessit...
[The Ecclesiastical History of Orderic Vitalis,
ed. M. Chibnall, vol.2, p.260 (Oxford, 1990).
Complete Peerage, vol.3, p.164, states that Gerbod was made Earl of Chester "early in 1070".
Unfortunately, CP does not cite evidence for any of its statements about Gerbod.
The date given may depend on this passage from Orderic. Note, though, that Orderic was wrong about
the timing of at least one other earldom: he says that William fitz Osbern was made Earl of Hereford
in 1070, but this is known to have taken place at least 2 years earlier.]
[Hugh of Avranches was given the county of Chester after
Gerbod the Fleming returned to his own people.]
Ex his Hugo Abrincatensis Ricardi cognomine Goz filius inter
ceteros magnates effulsit, cui postquam Gherbodus Flandrensis
ad suos recessit; rex comitatum Cestrensem consilio prudentum
concessit.
[Ibid., vol.3, p.216.
R.H. George, in Revue Belge de Philologie et d'Histoire, vol.5, p.87 (1926), cites a notification
of William I addressed to Peter, Bishop of Chester, Earl William Fitz Osbern and Hugh, earl of Chester
(printed in H.W.C. Davis, Regesta, 57), and points out that as Earl William was killed at the
Battle of Cassel, 22 February 1071, Hugh must have been given the earldom of Chester before this date.
If we accept that Gerbod was made Earl of Chester in 1070, it seems difficult to find time for
the long imprisonment described by Orderic,
before Gerbod's reappearance at the Battle of Cassel,
described below.]
[At this time Gerbod the Earl of Chester died,
the brother of the Countess Gundred; coming into Flanders
he was ambushed by his enemies and perished miserably.]
Quo tempore Comes Cistrensis decessit Gerbodo,
frater Gondradæ Comitissæ, Flandriamque veniens,
inimicorum præventus insidiis miserabiliter periit.
[Liber Monasterii de Hyda, p.296 (Rolls Series 45; London, 1866).
This statement immediately follows the accounts of Frederick's murder by Hereward (which Clay dates to c.1070)
and of the plot of Ralph, Earl of Norfolk, against William I (in 1075).
The statement suggests that Gerbod was killed on his return to Flanders,
which conflicts with the
other accounts above. Note also that Gundred was never a countess, as her husband was not
made an earl until after her death (Complete Peerage, vol.12, part 1, p.494).]
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[Arnold of Flanders was killed by his uncle Robert Frison, by the
hand of a certain Gerbod ("Gerbado"), who in penitence went to Pope
Gregory VII in Rome. He was sentenced to have his hands cut off,
but pardoned because of his steadfastness, and sent instead to
Hugh, the abbot of Cluny, under whom he became a monk.]
24.(34.) Erat non longe a maiori ecclesia fiscus Caviniacus96
ex patrimonio Richeldis Montensis comitissae, quae
viduata Balduino iuvene Flandrensium comite, Flandras
amiserat, occiso filio suo Arnulfo a patruo eius Roberto
Frisone, per manus cuiusdam Gerbadonis. Qui Gerbaldo
non multo post confusus conscientia tantae iniustitiae et
temeritatis Romam petiit, et manus quibus dominum suum
interfecerat domno papae Gregorio VII. pro poenitentia eiusdem
criminis detruncandas obtulit. Gregorius executionem huius
detruncationis magistro coquorum suorum publice commisit.
Educto Gerbodone ad poenam quam decreverat pati, praedictum
ministrum papa revocari praecepit, eique secreto edixit,
ut si elevato ferro aliquo modo manibus motis titubaret continuo
eas incideret; si vero constanter persisteret, patientiae
persistentis statim retento ictu parceret. Gerbodo ad ictum
persistit, statimque incolumem deputatus percussor papae
repraesentavit. Laetatus papa sic provenisse paenitentiam
Gerbodonis, manus quas de truncandas obtulerat iam non suas
sed Domini esse iudicavit, praecepitque ei ut per dominum
Hugonem Cluniensem abbatem revertens, referret ei omnem
rei ordinem, seque eius consilio crederet. Ille ad abbatem
veniens, eius exhortationibus credidit, et postea eximius
sub eo monachus claruit.97
96. Chévigny.
97. Arnulfum a Gerbodone interfectum esse, et totam de hoc narrationem eisdem fere verbis
refert Gislebertus in Chron. Hannoniae, ed Du Chasteler p.6,7.
[From Chronicon S. Huberti Andaginensis,
printed in Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptorum vol.8, p.582 (Hanover, 1868).
The numbering, and the Latin text, of the footnotes have been retained.]
[Arnold of Flanders was killed by
Gerbod, with his own hands, who in penitence went to the Pope
in Rome. He was sentenced to have his hands cut off,
but pardoned because of his steadfastness, and sent instead to
the abbot of Cluny, who made him a monk, and afterwards he was
distinguished by good works and religion in the church of Cluny.]
Cecidit eciam Arnulphus, justus Flandrie heres, et a quodam
homine suo ligio, Gerbodone nomine, interfectus fuit ...
... De Gerbodone, qui dominum suum Arnulphum manibus
propriis interfecit, preter mittendum non est quod ille
penitentia ductus, Romam adiens pedibus summi pontificis
se prostravit confitens tanti sceleris peccatum. Ad hec
dominus papa cuidam coquo suo manifeste indixit et eum
foras induceret, eique manus quibus dominum
suum interfecerat, abscinderet. Injunxit autem ei
secretius ut si ad extensionem ictus manus illius trepidarent,
illas ei abscinderet continuo; si non trepidarent, illum
ad se sanum reduceret. Ductus vero Gerbodo ad supplicium,
stetit manibus immotis et nequaquam trepidantibus. Quod
videns coquus illum ad dominum papam reduxit. Dominus
papa illi injunxit titulo penitentie ut ad abbatem
Cluniacensem reverteretur, et ejus preceptis obediret.
Cujus intentionem bonam ipse abbas percipiens, illum in
monachum ordinavit; qui postea operibus bonis et
religione in Cluniacensi ecclesia claruit.
[Printed in La chronicque de Gislebert de Mons, ed. L. Vanderkindere, p.8 (Brussels, [1904]).
The editor comments that the whole of this passage seems to be inspired by the Chronicle of St Hubert,
and asks whether this Gerbod is connected with those who were advocates of St Bertin's (apparently
he accepts Stapleton's theory that one of these had married Matilda of Flanders before she
became the wife of William the Conqueror - although this theory had been demolished some years earlier).]
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[Confirmation of Drogo, bishop of Morins,
to Abbot Herbert of St Bertin, dated 1075,
with the consent of Gerbod the advocate.]
... Actum hoc Verbi incarnati millesimo septuagesimo quinto anno, indictione
tercia decima, regnante Philippo Francorum rege, episcopii
mei anno quadragesimo sexto, in ecclesia sancte Dei genetricis
Marie, coram universali sinodo, decimo sexto kalendas novembris,
astantibus bonis et ydoneis testimonio viris. Nomina testium:
Signum Drogonis, episcopi, qui hanc traditionis cartam fieri jussit et recenseri
fecit. Signum Arnulfi et Humberti, archidiaconorum. Signum Ermengeri,
abbatis sancti Winnoci. Signum Balduini, prepositi sancti Audomari.
Signum Geroldi, decani. Signum Grimelandi, cantoris.
In a vidimus of 1372 appears the clause:
Preterea vero, ad petitionem memorati abbatis et fratrum,
una cum voluntate et assensu Gerbodonis advocati,
sacravimus principalis ecclesie sancti Bertini
atrium, ubi idem sanctus corpore quiescit, ab ipsa videlicet
ecclesia circumquaque usque ad medium fluminis Agnione,
quo ejusdem cenobii insula cingitur. Si quis vero etc.
[The confirmation was printed by Guérard, p.192, from a cartulary of c.1500.
The additional clause, mentioning Gerbod, was printed by Haigneré, no 83,
from an 18th-century copy of a vidimus of 1372.
Guérard's version is dated 1075; Haigneré accepts this
date, but notes that the vidimus has 1070 instead of 1075,
and the 8th indiction instead of the 13th, although the episcopal year
is the 46th, as in Guérard's version.]
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[William of Warenne and Gundred his wife, with the consent of William
I, give to Cluny specified property, including the vill of Falmer
as Gundred held it.]
Notum sit omnibus fidelibus quod ego Willelmus de Warenna .
et Gundreda uxor mea pro redemptione animarum nostrarum consilio
et assensu domini nostri regis Anglorum Guillelmi . donamus Deo
et sanctis apostolis eius Petro et Paulo . ad locum Cluniacum ubi preest
domnus Hugo abbas in eadem Anglorum terra ecclesiam sancti Pancracii
cum his que ad eam pertinent . et terram duarum carrucarum in
proprio in Suamberga . cum uillanis ad eam pertinentibus . et unius
in terra que nuncupatur . et uillam Falemelam . ubi sunt tres carruce
proprie . cum his omnibus que ad eam pertinent . sicut tenebat eam
supradicta uxor mea.
In nomine Domini nostri Ihesu Christi ego Guillelmus Dei
gratia rex Anglorum inspiratione diuina compunctus pro incolomitate
regni mei et salute anime mee . rogantibus etiam et obnixe postulantibus
Willelmo de Warenna et uxore eius Gundreda hanc inscriptam
donationem quam faciunt sanctis apostolis Dei . P[etro] et P[aulo] ad
locum Cluniacum sigillo nostro signatam confirmo . et regali auctoritate
corroboro . ut in perpetuum firma et inconcussa permaneat. Hanc
donationem ita concedo ut habeam eandem dominationem in ea . quam
habeo in ceteris elemosinis quas mei proceres faciunt meo nutu . et hoc
in ista elemosina habeam . quod habeam in aliis.
+ signum Willelmi regis Anglorum + signum M[athildis]
regine Anglorum + s[ignum] Willelmi comitis filii regis . + signum
Willelmi de Warenna . + s[ignum] Gundrede uxoris W[illelmi] de
Warenna . + s[ignum] Rotberti de Bellomonte . + sig[num] Henrici
de Bellomonte . + s[ignum] Rotberti de Gifardi . + s[ignum] Rogeri de
Mortuomari . + s[ignum] Goisfridi de Caluomonte . + s[ignum]
Radulfi dapiferi . + s[ignum] Mauricii cancellarii.
[Printed in Clay, op. cit., vol.8, p.54, from the original charter in the
Bibliothèque Nationale. Clay dates this charter to c.1078-1082.]
Wuillelmus rex Anglorum Lanfranco archiepiscopo et Ottoni
Bajocensi salutem. Sciatis quia concedo ut sanctus Petrus de Cluniaco
habeat illam terram quam Willelmus de Warenna suaque femina ei
tribuunt, scilicet Falemelam, et super hoc tantum unde habeant vj
carrucas in dominium cum hominibus qui ad vj carrucatas terre pertinent,
tali pacto ut abbas predicti loci Willelmo sueque femine faciat
hoc quod eis propter hoc pepigit, et ego inde habeam quod ad me
pertinet, scilicet meum wergeldum, nisi indulsero.
[Printed in Clay, op. cit., vol.8, p.55, from the Cluny cartulary.]
[Confirmation by William I to the monastery of St Pancras at Lewes,
for the souls of Edward the Confessor and others, including
William of Warenne and his wife Gundred, of the manor of [West] Walton
in Norfolk.]
Notum sit presentibus et futuris quod ego Willelmus g[?racia Dei] rex
Anglorum concedo monasterio sancti Pancratii quod situm est apud Leuuas
. pro anima domini et antecessoris mei regis Euuardi . et pro anima patris mei
comitis Rotberti . et pro mea ipsius anima et uxoris mee Matildis regine . et
filiorum atque successorum meorum . et pro anima Guillelmi de Uuarenna et
uxoris sue Gun[dre]de ...* quandam mansionem in Norfolc
nomine Waltona cum omnibus que ad eandem mansionem pertinent .
que Willelmus ad illam mansionem tenet de me. Concedo etiam
ut monachi in eodem monasterio conversantes et conuersaturi ea libertate
possideant . qua ecclesie quas barones mei me concedente construunt
possident elemosinas quas ego eis concessi. Et ita quod ego in ista elemosina
habeam . quicquid in illis habeo. Et ut donatio hec firma et inconcussa perpetuo
maneat . signo sancte crucis manu propria confirmaui . et manibus fidelium
meorum testificandum liberaui
S. Willelmi regis ... S. Willelmi filii
regis. S. Hainrici filii regis. S. Willelmi de Warenna S. Thome
archiepiscopi S. Osmundi episcopi S. Wauchelini episcopi S.
Remigii episcopi S. Willelmi episcopi Dunelmensis S. Hainrici
S. Richardi de Ton... S. Milonis Crispini S. Walteri
Giffardi S. Eduuardi uicecomitis.
[Printed in Clay, op. cit., vol.8, p.56, from Cotton MS Vespasian F. iii, no 1.
Two of the witnesses names are now illegible.
*Above part of this illegible phrase is written, in a much later hand, "filie mee" -
implying that Gundred was the daughter of William the Conqueror.]
[William, the first Earl, with the consent of his son the second Earl,
gave us, for the soul of Gundred his wife, [West] Walton and its [named]
appurtenances.]
Willelmus comes primus, concedente filio suo secundo Comite,
dedit nobis pro anima Gundrade uxoris sue Waltuna cum pertinentiis suis,
scilicet,
dimidiam Walpolam et terram de Chenewica et terram Brunsuen ...
[Printed by Stapleton, p.2, from Cotton MS, Vespasian E.11,
"an early fragment of a register of Lewes".]
[Carlton, which Queen Matilda the mother of King Henry and*
the Countess Gundred gave, and the same Gundred gave to us.]
Karletuna quam dedit Matildis regina mater Henrici regis et*
Gundredæ comitissæ et ipsa Gundreda dedit nobis: locata fuit pro x.
libris.
[Printed by Clay, op. cit., p.44, citing Dugdale,
Monasticon Anglicanum vol.5, p.14;
R.E. Chester Waters, Gundrada de Warenne ...,
p.13 (Exeter, 1884) gives the same extract,
from Cotton MS Vespasian F iii, fo.1.
*Waters suggests that the word "et" has been inserted,
to give the reading "which Queen Matilda,
the mother of King Henry and the Countess Gundred gave",
and that it originally read "which Queen Matilda the mother
of King Henry gave to the Countess Gundred". Clay (p.44)
regards this argument as convincing, pointing out that the same gift
is also referred to in two spurious Lewes charters -
(vi) and (vii) below - and that
there is no reason to doubt
that Matilda did give Gundred the manor of Carlton.
Even if this is the case, the entry above is inaccurate
in referring to Gundred as a countess,
as she died before her husband was made an earl
(Complete Peerage, vol.12, part 1, p.494).]
[William of Warenne and his wife Gundred, wishing to make a pilgrimage
to St Peter's in Rome ... coming into Burgundy, were told that they could
not safely cross on account of the war between the pope and the
emperor, and turned aside to the monastery of Cluny.]
In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritu Sancti. Amen, Ego
Willelmus de Warenna et Gundrada, uxor mea,
volentes peregrinationem facere ad Sanctum Petrum in Roma, pereximus
per plura monasteria que sunt in Francia et Burgundia,
causa orationis; et cum venissemus in Burgundiam,
didicimus quod non potuimus secure transire propter guerram
que fuit tunc inter papam et imperatorem, et tunc
divertimus ad Cluniacum monasterium ...
[This extract is from a copy made in 1417,
printed in Recueil des chartes de l'Abbaye de Cluny, ed A. Bruel, vol.4, p.689 (no 3561)
(Paris, 1888). (Another version is in the Lewes cartulary, compiled in 1444.)
A footnote says that the conflict that caused the pilgrims' detour
was that between the Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII,
which had started up again after the submission of the emperor at Canossa in 1077.
Clay, op. cit., vol.8, pp.59-62, discusses this charter at length,
and supports the earlier conclusion that the charter is spurious, both on
stylistic grounds
and because some of its statements - including the reference to
Queen Matilda as the mother of Gundred - are contradicted by other evidence.
Clay concludes that the charter was written almost certainly later than 1201,
and possibly as late as the start of the 15th century.]
[William, Earl of Surrey, confirms to the monastery of St Pancras,
which his father and his mother Gundred founded beneath the castle
of Lewes, all the gifts that his father made in his lifetime,
his mother being willing and he and his brother Reynold consenting.]
Sciant omnes qui sunt et qui futuri sunt quod ego Willelmus
de Warenna comes Surregie cum primum post mortem patris mei
comitis Willelmi venissem in Angliam et intrassem in capitulum
monasterii sancti Pancratii quod fundaverunt pater meus et mater mea
Gundrada sub castro Lewiarum, requisitus a domino Lanzone priore ...
libens laudavi, concessi, donavi et confirmavi ... omnes donaciones
et concessiones et confirmaciones quas eis fecerat et omnia
que eis donaverat pater meus vivente et volente matre mea et
concencientibus
me et Rainaldo fratre meo in terris et in ecclesiis et
decimis ...
[Printed by Clay, op. cit., vol.8, p.63.
Clay notes that the form of the charter is suspicious, and identifies six separate anachronisms
in the text. He concludes that the charter is a forgery, made before c.1306.]
[Translation from the Latin:]
William the first Earl Warenne took to wife Gundrada
daughter of William the conqueror of England; of whom
issued William the second Earl Warenne.
William the First de Warenne first Earl of Surrey and
founder of the church of Lewes died 24 June in the year of
grace 1088, and of the foundation of the church in the 11th, and
from the conquest the 23rd. He at first was only called simply
William de Warenne. But afterwards in the course of time
by William the King and Conqueror of England, whose
daughter he married, he was much honoured and was made
and called Earl of Surrey. He lies in the Chapterhouse of
Lewes beside Lady Gundrada his Countess daughter of the
said King, the Conqueror. This Earl continued through the
whole time of William the Conqueror, for 20 years, and for
one year in the time of King William II Rufus.
[Translation from the French:]
William de Garenne first Earl of Surrey had to wife Gundrade
daughter of the Conqueror and begot by her two sons William
the second and Reinaud. This William the first Earl came
to England with the said Conqueror and founded this Priory
the twelfth year after the Conquest which was the year of our Lord 1078.
[Printed in translation, Sussex Record Society, vol.40, p.14, 15, 19 (1934),
from a Lewes cartulary compiled in 1444.
Another version, relating Gundred's death, in 1085 is given
below.
Of course, these narratives are so late that they have little authority.]
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[Translation from the Latin:]
Lady Gundrade Countess of Surrey, daughter of the Conqueror and wife of William the first [Earl of Surrey],
died in the pangs of childbirth (vi partus cruciata) at Castelacre 27 May 1085 and the 3rd year before her husband.
She lies buried in the Chapterhouse of Lewes with her husband.
[Printed in translation, Sussex Record Society, vol.40, p.18 (1934),
from a Lewes cartulary compiled in 1444.
The statement about Gundred's death seems to have been universally accepted,
although it occurs in a document written three
and a half centuries after the event,
and immediately follows the statements that
Gundred was William I's daughter (which everyone agrees she was not),
and that she was Countess of Surrey (which she could not have been
if she died in 1085). Evidently it was part of the tradition at Lewes
that Gundred had died before William, being stated or implied also in
the spurious Warenne charters, and in the later reference
to the gift of West Walton by William of Warenne
(Lewes documents, (iv)).
On the other hand, Orderic (below)
implies that she survived her husband.
That Earl William did have a wife who
survived him is proved by a reference to his widow sending alms to
the monks of Ely shortly after his death
(Chester Waters, op. cit., p.21).
But an entry in another 15th century cartulary, that of Bermondsey,
describes Richard Guet, a benefactor in 1098, as
frater comitissæ Warennæ
(Rolls Series 36, vol.3, p.429).
As there is no hint elsewhere of a Richard
Guet being connected with Gundred's and Gerbod's
family, this does suggest that William's
widow was a subsequent wife. On the other hand,
it's interesting to note that K.S.B. Keats-Rohan,
in her entry for Richard Guet (Domesday People I..., p.365 (1999)),
leaves open the question of whether he
was the brother of Gundred or a subsequent wife -
but does identify him as a member of the Goz family,
one of whom succeeded Gerbod as Earl of Chester.
(In her entry for William of Warenne, however,
she sees Richard Guet's sister as a subsequent wife.)]
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[Abbot John makes it known that St Bertin claims an allodium in
the vill of Oosterzele; it is agreed that Arnold and Gerbod his
brother should each receive four silver marks a year.]
In nomine Patris
et Filii et Spiritus Sancti,
vita et salus omnibus
sancte Dei ecclesie
defensoribus. Quoniam
apud veteres laudabiliter
quidem consuetudo inolevit,
ut, si quid in ecclesiasticis
dignum memoria fieret,
id litterali attestatione
firmaretur; nobis quoque
visum est eorum statutis
nequaquam contraire, immo,
exempli gratia, in similibus
similia agere.
Quapropter ego Johannes, Sithiensium
abbas, notum facio sanctum Bertinum in villam, Ostrasele nuncupatum,
delatum, quatinus altiori consilio mei et fratrum ibidem sui juris allodium
sine aliqua contradictione sibi vendicaret, sicque ab omni controversia liberum
quidem ac quietum imperpetuum permaneret; ubi, inter reliqua,
Arnulfus atque Gerbodo, frater suus, ex conventione utrinque facta et concessa,
homines nostri manibus effecti quatuor marchas argenti, unusquisque
videlicet duas, et hoc constituto tempore, id est in festivitate sancti Micaelis,
in benefitium singulis annis recipiunt; eo scilicet pacto atque conditione,
ut nullo ingenio, nulla ratione, in predictum sancti allodium, causa aliquid
usurpandi seu eciam placitandi, se aliquatenus ingerant, nec postremo quicquam
quod ad dampnum ecclesie respiciat umquam inibi agere presumant;
insuper vero omnes suos liberos ac servos, quemadmodum seipsos, a simili
injuria compescant. Si quando autem, placito aliquo adgravato, ministerialis
et custos ejusdem boni, rem suis juribus in effectum ducere nequiverit,
tunc tandem, si sibi id utile visum fuerit, ab eo vocati et moniti veniant,
simulque consilio et auxilio in quantum prevalent, una cum eo, salva fidelitate
ecclesie, omnia tractent atque disponant; terciumque nummum ex eodem
placito provenientem, tunc tantum, ejus rei gratia, habeant, ultra hoc nil
umquam, ut dictum est, de cetero se intromittentes. Facta est igitur hec
talis conventio in presentia nostra, cunctis super hoc assensum unanimiter
prebentibus, anno ab incarnatione Domini millesimo octogesimo septimo,
indictione decima, regnante Francorum rege Philippo, presente Lamberto
Heiamensi abbate, multis quoque aliorum spectabilium personis. Quos
videlicet in presentium subscriptione, ad corroborandum hujus rei testimonium,
attitulari placuit ex nomine, hoc modo; Balduinus de Ganda. Razo de
Gavera. Razo et Asricus frater suus de Monela. Rothardus de Sotthigehem,
et Rotnedh frater suus, et Sigerus de Westernehem, et Rothulfus de
Hervethingehem. Gerardus de Cymbresaca et Godeverhd de Lahthem ...
Quibus expletis, astante ibidem sacrosancto corpore beati Bertini, cum
aliis reliquiis, decretum est et exclamatum, ut, quicumque supramemoratoram
conventionem aliquando violare presumeret, eterno anathemati subjaceret,
nisi digna penitencia reconciliatus, a tanto errato cito resipisceret. Fiat,
fiat.
[Printed by Guérard, p.202, from a cartulary of c.1500, with corrections printed by
Morand, from a mid-12th-century cartulary, and from Haigneré, no 85,
from an 18th-century copy of the original. There are some variations of
the names of witnesses in the cartulary versions.]
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[William of Warenne, when dying, made his two sons
his heirs by the king's decree,
William in England and Reynold in Flanders.]
Willemus autem de Warennia apud obsidionem
Peveneselli sagitta in crure valde vulneratus, Leuwias
cum omnium mœrore deportatus est. Cumque sibi
mortem imminere videret, duos filios suos juxta regis
decretum hæredes fecit, Willelmum videlicet in Anglia
et Reginaldum in Flandria, et sic in pace quievit in
Domino, cujus corpus a beato patre Lanzone et tota
congregatione Sancti Pancratii debito honore est susceptum,
et infra claustra monasterii juxta conjugem
ante annos defunctam tumulatum.
[Liber Monasterii de Hyda, p.299 (Rolls Series 45; London, 1866).
Clay summarises Reginald's subsequent career as follows: in 1090 he led the assault on Rouen in support of William II;
in 1105 he supported Duke Robert of Normandy against Henry I; he was captured by the latter the following year,
but freed shortly before the Battle of Tinchebrai, 28 September 1106 (citing Orderic Vitalis;
according to Chibnall, op. cit., the Hyde Chronicle also refers to his capture and pardon,
but implies that the capture was at Tinchebrai).
He was dead by the time of a charter made by his brother William of Warenne, between 1107 and 1118 (Clay, no 15).]
[The earl [William] was succeeded by his sons William and Reynold,
with Gundred their mother.]
Prefati consulis filii Guillelmus et Rainaldus cum Gundreda
matre sua successerunt; et sub Guillelmo atque Henrico
Angliæ regibus probitate et potentia diu claruerunt.
[The Ecclesiastical History of Orderic Vitalis,
ed. M. Chibnall, vol.4, p.180 (Oxford, 1983).
Despite the implication here that she survived William,
Gundred is usually said to have died before him, in 1085, on the strength of a fifteenth-century
narrative in a Lewes cartulary (see discussion above).]
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"Gerbodone de Wenti" is among the attestations of the nobles (proceres)
of the land, of an act of Robert, son of Robert I, Count of Flanders,
dated 1093 ("Fecimus autem hanc donationis nostre confirmationem Bruggis,
in plena curia, in Epiphania,
anno incarnationis Domini MLXXXXIII, indictione prima")
[Printed in Actes des Comtes de Flandre: 1071-1128, ed.
F. Vercauteren, no 12 (Brussels, 1938).]
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[Arnold grants to St Bertin's Abbey,
Abbot Lambert having paid him fourteen marks,
the allodium that Arnold and his brother Gerbod
had in the vill of Roquetoire in inheritance from their ancestors,
with the consent of Gerbod, for the well-being of
the souls of Arnold and his wife Adelaide.]
... Unde ego Arnulfus notifico tam futuris quam presentibus
quod, inter me et abbatem Sancti Bertini Lantbertum
facta conventione, et reconsignatis michi quatuordecim
marc argenti ab eodem abbate, allodium illud quod
ego et frater meus Gerbodo in villa Rokostorn ab antecessoribus
nostris habuimus hereditarium, predicto fratre meo partem
suam michi annuente, Deo et sancto Bertino, pro salute
anime mee et uxoris mee Athelaidis, ex integro ut ego possederam
tradidi possidendum ...
...
Actum anno Domini MoXCVI, indictione IIII.
[Printed by Haigneré, no 96, from an 18th-century copy of
the original.]
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"Gerbodo de Winti" is among the attestations of an act of Manasses,
Bishop of Cambrésis, dated 1096 ("Hoc autem factum est anno
Dominice Incarnationis MoXCoVIo, indictione
quinta, praedicti vero pontificis anno primo")
[Printed in De zoogenaamde stadskeure van Geerardsbergen van tusschen 1067 en 1070,
ed. Fr. Blockmans, pp.65-69 (Brussels, 1941).]
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[Archbishop Anselm writes to Henry to prohibit the marriage
of his daughter and William of Warenne, because they are
cousins in the fourth generation on the one part and
in the sixth on the other.]
Henrico charissimo suo domino, Dei gratia regi Anglorum, Anselmus
Archiepiscopus, fidele servitium cum orationibus.
Gratias ago Deo pro bona voluntate, quam vobis dedit, et vobis qui
eam servare studetis. Quaerit consilium celsitudo vestra quid sibi
faciendum sit de hoc quia pacta est filiam suam dare Guillelmo de
Vuarenne: cum ipse et filia vestra ex una parte sint cognati in quarta
generatione, et ex altera in sexta. Scitote absque dubio quia nullum
pactum servari debet contra legem Christianitatis. Illi autem, si ita
propinqui sunt, nullo modo legitime copulari possunt, neque sine
damnatione animarum suarum neque sine magno peccato eorum qui hoc
ut fiat procurabant. Precor igitim et consulo vobis ex parte Dei sicut
charissimo domino, ut nullatenus vos hinc peccato misceatis, neque filiam
vestram eidem Guillelmo contra legem et voluntatem Dei tradatis.
Omnipotens Deus dirigat vos et omnes actus vestros in bene placito suo.
[Printed by Chester Waters, p.10, from Migne's Patrologia, vol.159,
Epistolæ S. Anselmi Cantuar book 4, letter 84.
I haven't seen a specific date suggested for this letter,
but as Henry was king and Anselm archbishop,
it must at least have been written between 1100 and 1109.
This letter was used by R.E. Chester Waters
as strong circumstantial evidence
against the old belief that Gundred was the
daughter of Queen Matilda. If this had been
the case, the parties referred to in the letter would have been first
cousins, and he argued that, if this were so,
it would be absurd for Anselm to have prohibited
the marriage on the grounds of a far
more distant relationship. The relationship specified
has always been understood to
refer to the parties' common descent from the parents
of Gunnora, Duchess of Normandy.
The descent of the Warennes from a niece of Gunnora
has been accepted since at least c.1140.
However, it has recently been questioned by Keats-Rohan
(Nottingham Medieval Studies, vol.37, p.21 (1993)),
and this raises the possibility that the parties may instead
have been related through some Flemish connection between
Queen Matilda and Gundred instead.
An alternative explanation is that the traditional Warenne
descent - even if mistaken - may have been
believed early enough to account for Anselm's statement.]
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Plurimis deinde diebus evolutis et conventu Christianorum de die
in diem comminuto, aliis redeuntibus navigio, aliis per diversas
regiones in reditu suo dispersis [a list of names, including]
Gerbodo de castello Winthinc1
...
Rodulfus de Alos, Gerbodo de Winthinc2
[a list of names] et ceteri omnes mediis hostibus interierunt.
1. Other manuscripts read Wintinc or Wintine.
2. Other manuscripts read Wintinch, Wihtinc or Wintinc.
[Albert of Aachen, Historia Hierosolymitana, printed in Receuil des Historiens des Croisades,
Occidentaux, vol.4, pp.591, 593 (Paris, 1879).
Albert's account is cited by A.V. Murray
(Mediterranean Historical Review, vol.4, part 2, p.286),
who suggests that this Gerbod can be
identified with Warlop's Gerbod III, lord of Scheldewindeke,
and that the sale of the allodium in
Roquetoire in 1096 (above) "was probably intended
to raise funds for the crusade".]
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[Charter of Pope Pascal II, dated 25 May 1107.]
... Confirmamus eciam vobis [list of possessions]
villam de Aldenvorh*, et de
Ostresela, et de Rukestorb*, cum terra quam emisti ab Arnoldo
de Wenti, et aliis terris adjacentibus ...
[*These are Haigneré's corrections; Guérard's version is
"Aldenfort ... Rokestor"]
[Printed by Guérard, p.217, from a cartulary compiled c.1500.
The clause "cum terra ... adjacentibus" is absent from the
copy in the mid-12th-century
cartulary used by Morand. Haigneré (no 109), working
from an 18th-century copy,
does not mention the absence of this clause, but corrects
the spelling of some of the place names.
Note that none of these possessions are mentioned in an
earlier papal confirmation,
dated 1093, printed by Guérard, p.215.
This sequence would fit with Arnold's grant to the abbey of the allodium
in Roquetoire in 1096 (above),
although that in Oosterzele would seem
to have been held by the abbey much earlier than 1093.]
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+ STIRPS . GVNDRADA . DVCV' . DEC[VS] . EVI . NOBILE . GERMEN :
INTVLIT . ECCLESIIS . ANGLORV' . BALSAMA . MORV' . MARTIR ...
[F]VIT . MISERIS . FVIT . EX . PIETATE . MARIA . PARS .
OBIIT . MARTHE . SVP'EST . PARS . MAGNA . MARIE . O. PIE .
PANCRATI . TES[TIS . PIE]TATIS . ET . EQ[VI] . TE . FACIT .
HEREDE' . TV . CLEMENS . SVSCIPE . MATREM . SEXTA .
KALENDARV' . IVNII . LVX . OBVIA . CARNIS . I'FREGIT .
ALABASTRV' ...
[Victoria County History, Sussex, vol.7, p.49;
the gravestone is now in Southover Church in Lewes.
Various more or less speculative
attempts have been made to explain the reference
to Gundred as "the stock of dukes", but there is no
definite evidence to explain the statement.]
Photographs of the gravestone can be seen on the website of the Lewes Priory Trust.
A report of the discovery of the remains of Gundred and her husband in 1845 can be found here:
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[Grant by Hamelin, Earl of Warenne and advocate of the church of St Bertin,
at the request of Abbot Simon, to St Bertin's Abbey,
of three measures of land in the parish of Roquetoire,
dated c.1182.]
... inde est quod ego Hamelin, Dei gratia, comes de Waringe et
ecclesie beati Bertini advocatus, ad preces domni Symonis
abbatis et fratrum ejusdem ecclesie, Deo et beato Bertino
tres mensuras terre cum toto comitatu earum, in parochia
de Rokesthorn, juxta domum suam, versus occidentem, in
longum scilicet prope rivulum quem Beca vocant, pro mea,
uxoris mee filiique mei Willelmi et omnium tam successorum
quam antecessorum meorum salute, in elemosinam perpetuo
possidendas concedo ...
[Printed in Haigneré, no 325.
Clay (p.45) says this may tend to show that the representation
of the family of advocates of St Bertin's
had passed to Gundred's heir
(Hamelin was the husband of Isabel, daughter and heir of Gundred's
grandson William of Warenne.)
Clay mentions also the confirmation
in 1189 of a gift by Earl Hamelin to the abbey,
and other references in its cartulary to lands near St Omer held
by the same earl and his son, Earl William.
For an earlier grant to the abbey of land in Roquetoire,
by Arnold the brother of Gerbod in 1096, see
above.]
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