Robert of Mowbray driven back from Ilchester. burgesses, with their market held in the old forum at the meeting-place of the roads, held no inconsiderable place among the smaller boroughs of Western England.[1] What the men of Ilchester had they knew how to defend; the attack and the defence were vigorously carried on on either side. Our one historian of the leaguer—he becomes almost its minstrel—tells us how the besiegers fought for greed of booty and love of victory, while the besieged fought with a good heart for their own safety and that of their friends and kinsfolk. The stronger and worthier motive had the better luck. The dark and gloomy Robert of Mowbray, darker and gloomier than ever, turned away, a defeated man, from the unconquered walls of Ilchester.[2]
William of Eu plunders in Gloucestershire.
He harries Berkeley.
This utter failure of a man who stands forth in a
marked way as one of the skilful captains of the age
was a good omen for success at points which were still
more important in the struggle. Meanwhile the work
of destruction was going steadily on in the lands on
the other side of Bristol, among the flock of the holy
Wulfstan. Gloucestershire was assigned as the province
of William of Eu, and he did his work with a will along
the rich valley of the Severn, still the land of pasture,
then also the land of vines.[3] The district called Berkeley
Harness was laid waste with fire and sword, and the
town of Berkeley itself was plundered.[4] Berkeley, once
- ↑ Domesday, 86 a. "In Givelcestre sunt 107 burgenses, reddentes xx. solidos. Mercatum cum suis appendiciis reddit xi. libras."
- ↑ Flor. Wig. 1088. "Pugnant exterius spe capti prædæ et amore victoriæ, repugnant intrinsecus acriter pro se suorumque salute. Tandem inter utrumque necessitatis vicit causa; repulsus et tristis recedit Rotbertus privatus victoria." The Chronicle and William of Malmesbury do not speak of Ilchester. William thus sums up the campaign; 'Gaufridus episcopus, cum nepote, Bathoniam et Bercheleiam partemque pagi Wiltensis depopulans, manubias apud Bristou collocabat."
- ↑ See N. C. vol. ii. p. 144.
- ↑ Chron. Petrib. 1088. "And eall Beorclea hyrnesse hi awæston."
