Christmas Gemót at Westminster. 1090.
The King crosses to Normandy. February, 1091.
Duke Robert helps Robert of Bellême.
Hugh of Grantmesnil and Richard of Courcy. than he could gain by any successes of his Norman allies at Conches. The attempt of the Count of Evreux on the castle of his new vassal had been baffled; but his own far greater scheme, the scheme by which he had hoped to win the capital of Normandy, had been baffled also. It may have been this failure which led the King to see that his own presence was needed beyond the sea. The Christmas Gemót of the year was held, not, as usual, at Gloucester, but at Westminster. At Candlemas the King crossed to Normandy with a great fleet.[1] The two things are mentioned together, as if to imply that a further sanction of the assembled Witan was given to this new stage of the war. War indeed between William and Robert there was none. It does not seem that a single blow was struck to withstand the invader. But blows were given and taken in Normandy throughout the winter with as much zeal as ever. And this time Duke Robert himself was helping to give and take them. Stranger than all, he was giving and taking them in the character of an ally of Robert of Bellême against men who seem to have done nothing but defend themselves against the attacks of the last-named common enemy of mankind. Old Hugh of Grantmesnil, once the Conqueror's lieutenant at Winchester and afterwards his Sheriff of Leicestershire,[2] was connected by family ties with Richard of Courcy,[3] and the spots from which they
- ↑ The Chronicle (1091) says expressly, "On þisum geare se cyng Willelm heold his hired to Xp̃es messan on Wæstmynstre, and þæræfter to Candelmæssan he ferde for his broðer unþearfe ut of Englalande into Normandige." So Florence; "Mense Februario rex Willelmus junior Normanniam petiit." Orderic (696 D) seems to place his voyage a little earlier; "Mense Januario Guillelmus Rufus rex Anglorum cum magna classe in Normanniam transfretavit." But he places it late in the month; for in 693 B, having recorded the death of Bishop Gerard on January 23, he adds that the King's voyage happened "eadem septimana."
- ↑ See N. C. vol. iv. pp. 234.
- ↑ Richard of Courcy's son Robert married Rohesia, one of the many daughters of Hugh of Grantmesnil. Ord. Vit. 692 A.
