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Ranulf De Gernons, Earl of Chester, 1129–1153

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2009

Extract

It is with the greatest diffidence that I venture to present a paper upon a subject which has attracted the attention of a line of eminent historians and genealogists, but still remains one of the most obscure in twelfth-century history. No subject could be more tantalising for an historian than the career of Ranulf de Gernons, fourth earl of Chester. Its importance is manifest in the history of the palatine earldom; in the history of a great Welsh resurgence; in the history of Stephen's England, where the extent of the earl's hereditary possessions and his policy of self-aggrandisement and consistent inconstancy made him a dominating factor in the political and military situation; and above all it is of absorbing interest to the student of feudalism.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1937

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References

page 103 note 1 See F. M. Stenton, The First Century of English Feudalism, passim.

page 103 note 2 E.g. an agreement made by a tenant of the earl of Warwick with Reading Abbey “anno quo Randulfus comes Cestrie me venantem cepit.” Stenton, , op. cit., p. 243.Google Scholar

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Lucy's mother was a daughter of William Malet. See B.M. Cotton, ch. xvii. 2.

page 105 note 1 Foster, , Reg. Antiquissimum of Line. Cathedral, i. p. 60Google Scholar; Stenton, , op. cit., p. 225 n. 1.Google Scholar

page 105 note 2 Farrer, , Early Yorks. Charters, ii. p. 195.Google Scholar

page 105 note 3 See Matthew Paris, Chron. Maj. (ed. Luard), ii. p. 8 n.

page 106 note 1 Ordericus Vitalis, Hist. Eccl., bk. xii, ch. xxxiv.

page 106 note 2 See W. Farrer, Hons. and Kts'. Fees, ii.

page 106 note 3 Round, , Feudal England, p. 254 n.Google Scholar

page 107 note 1 See Davis, H. W. C., The Beaumonts and the Leicester Earldom, in Essays Presented to R. L. Poole, p. 176.Google Scholar

page 109 note 1 “Omnibus Regibus, Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Abbatibus, clericis et omnibus filiis sancte eccelsie tocius Anglie, Willelmus de Romara, Comes Lincolnie, salutem et honorem. Sciatis pro vero quod testis sum donacionis quam comes Ranulphus cestrie, frater meus, consilio meo fecit monachis sancti Benedicti et sancti Jacobi apud Minting’, de omni dominio suo quod habuit in Minting’, scilicet in terris et gardino, pratis, pasturis, et in bosco, nominatim sicut carta quam de Comite Rannulpho habent eis testatur. Testibus: Rogero de Tailbol [sic] et Gilberto bolonie, Matheo Bemgelwade, Willelmo et Rogero capellanis et Radulpho filio Herberti, apud Minting’.” Reg. of Spalding, B.M. Add. MS. 35296, fo. 411.

page 109 note 2 Jeayes, , Derbyshire Charters, no. 1943.Google Scholar

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page 110 note 2 See Sir Lawrie, A. C., Early Scottish Charters, nos. cxxiiiGoogle Scholar. and cxxvi.

page 110 note 3 Charter to Winchester. See Round, , Geoffrey de Mandeville, p. 262.Google Scholar

page 111 note 1 John of Hexham (R.S.), p. 287.

page 111 note 2 Richard of Hexham (R.S.), p. 176.

page 111 note 3 See Tait, J., Medieval Manchester and the Beginnings of Lancashire, p. 166Google Scholar; Cronne, H. A., The Honour of Lancaster in Stephen's Reign, E.H.R., 1. pp. 670 ff.Google Scholar

page 111 note 4 V.C.H., Cumberland, ii. p. 242; Notes and Queries, 8th S., viii. pp. 521–3. See also M. F. Moore, Lands of the Scottish Kings in England.

page 112 note 1 See White, G. H., ante, 4th Ser., xvii. p. 30.Google Scholar

page 112 note page 111 note 2 See Davis, loc. cit.

page 112 note page 111 note 3 White, , ante, 4th Ser., xiii. p. 72.Google Scholar

page 112 note page 111 note 4 Davis, loc. cit.; White, loc. cit. The latter grant closely resembles the grant to Ranulf, earl of Chester, of Stafford and Staffordshire by Henry, Duke of Normandy, in 1153.

page 112 note page 111 note 5 White, , ante, 4th Ser., xiii. pp. 7782.Google Scholar

page 112 note 6 Joh. Hexh., p. 306.

page 112 note 7 See Round, G. de M., pp. 324–5; Feud. Eng., pp. 185–7; White, , ante, 4th Ser., xiii. pp. 52–4;Google ScholarComplete Peerage (ed. Gibbs) under “Lincoln.”

page 113 note 1 Davis, , Normans and Angevins, p. 168.Google Scholar

page 114 note 1 See note 7, p. 112. Round tentatively suggested in Ancient Charters, no. 23 n., that he might have received it before September, 1139; but the William of this charter may be William de Albini; and the suggestion is scarcely consonant with the views he expresses elsewhere.

page 114 note 2 Malmesb., W., Hist. Nov. (R.S.), ii. p. 569.Google Scholar

page 114 note 3 Hen. Hunt (R.S.), p. 268.

page 114 note 4 Malmesb, W.. (R.S.), ii. p. 571Google Scholar. Most of them had distinguished themselves at the Battle of the Standard. Stephen's supporters had not come to Lincoln prepared for a campaign, and they tried to persuade him to decline battle and withdraw to collect his forces. John of Hexham, P.307.

page 115 note 1 Malmesb, W.. (R.S.), ii. p. 569.Google Scholar

page 116 note 1 This is the view which is taken, though without explanation, in V.C.H., Lines., ii. p. 252.

page 117 note 1 Pipe Roll, 31 Hen. i. (1929 ed.), p. 114, under “Nova Placita et Nove Conventiones.”

page 117 note 2 See note 1, p. 105.

page 117 note 3 Gesta, pp. 64, 72.

page 117 note 4 He was not made earl of Cornwall—see Farrer's, Early Yorks. Ch. (ed. Clay), iv. pp. 1516Google Scholar. On the question of his titles, see Round, , G. de M., p. 290, n. 2.Google Scholar

page 117 note 5 Job. Hexh, p. 306.

page 118 note 1 Eng. Place–Names Soc, Northants, p. 120.

page 118 note 2 Joh. Hexh, p. 306.

page 118 note 3 For the pedigree of Todeni and Albini Brito, lords of Belvoir, see Round, , Hist. MSS. Comm., D, of Rutland's MSS., iv. p. 106.Google Scholar

page 118 note 4 Dugdale, , Baronage, p. III.Google Scholar

page 118 note 5 Joh. Hexh, p.306.

page 118 note 6 Gesta, p. 72.

page 118 note 7 Joh. Hexh, p. 308.

page 119 note 1 He attests Stephen's second charter to Geoffrey de Mandeville at Canterbury at Christmas, 1141. Round, , G. de M., p. 143.Google Scholar

page 119 note 2 P.R.O., Duchy of Lane. Misc. Ptf. i. no. 36; printed in Farrer, , Lanes. Ch., p. 367.Google Scholar For the date, see Round, , E.H.R., x. pp. 8791.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

page 119 note 3 Chartulary of Pipewell, B.M. MS. Cott. Calig., A. xii. fo. 10 vo; Add. MS. 37022. The superior limit of date is given by the address to R., bishop of Lincoln. Robert was consecrated on 16 Dec, 1148.

page 119 note 4 Hist. MSS. Comm., D. of Rutland's MSS., iv. p. 147.Google Scholar

page 119 note 5 These are Geoffrey Maleb' (who may be either Malebisse or Male-banc: probably the former, who was a Lincolnshire tenant of the earl), and Richard Bac' (perhaps Richard Bacun, the earl's nephew).

page 120 note 1 Henry, of Huntingdon, , Ep. de Cont. Mund. (R.S.), pp. 297–8Google Scholar, n. The Walter of the Epistle died between 1135 and 1145.

page 120 note 2 That it was so regarded by contemporaries is emphasised in a charter of one of the earl's tenants dated “in anno quo commissum est prelium inter regem Stephanum et comitem Cestrie Ranulphum,”—Stenton, , English Feudalism, p. 242.Google Scholar

page 121 note 1 Joh. Hexh, p. 310; W. Malmesb., ii. p. 580.

page 121 note 2 Davis, , The Anarchy of Stephen's Reign, E.H.R., xviii. pp. 630 ff.Google Scholar, says that Stephen “commanded the support of a powerful party in Yorkshire,” and although he does not examine it in detail, there is a good deal of evidence to support the contention.

page 121 note 3 See Round, , G. de M., ch. vii.Google Scholar

page 121 note 4 Round, , op. cit., p. 159Google Scholar, and E.H.R., x, p, 88.Google Scholar

page 122 note 1 E.H.R., x., p. 89.Google Scholar

page 122 note 2 Gilbert de Gant was captured by Ranulf in the battle of Lincoln. He is said to have been forced to marry Ranulf's niece, Rohese, dau. of his sister Adeliz by Richard fitz Gilbert de Clare. It is alleged that he appears as earl of Lincoln about 1147, although there is no evidence that William de Roumare lost that earldom. He held the “Honor Constabu-larie” at one time under Stephen, and alienated nearly a third of it.—Round, , G. de M., p. 327.Google Scholar

page 122 note 3 He placed the death of archbishop Thurstan in 1141 instead of 1140, and thereafter post-dated events by a year. In some instances he is even more seriously at fault, as, e.g., when he places Stephen's seizure of the earl of Chester in 1149 instead of 1146.

page 122 note 4 A Robert Marmion attests a number of Ranulf's charters. Round suggests (G. de M., p. 313) that the Marmions and Beauchamps took sides in the struggle because of their rivalry over Tamworth.

page 123 note 1 Round, , G. de M., ch. viii; particularly pp. 177 and 195–200.Google Scholar

page 124 note 1 Hewlett, , Chronicles of Stephen, etc. (R,S.) iii, p. 105 n.Google Scholar; Round, , op. cit., pp. 209–10.Google Scholar

page 124 note 2 Gesta, p. 107.

page 124 note 3 H. Hunt,, p. 277.

page 125 note 1 Gesta, p. 107.

page 126 note 1 Farrer, , Lanes. Ch., pp. 277–8Google Scholar; Tait, , Medieval Manchester, p. 169Google Scholar; Cronne, , The Honour of Lancaster in Stephen's Reign, E.H.R., 1. pp. 674–80.Google Scholar

page 126 note 2 Ranulf attests a charter of Stephen in favour of the hospital of St. Peter, York, dated “apud obsidionem de Walingford.”—Cal, Chart. R., ii. p. 438. He takes precedence of the other two witnesses, Baldwin fitz Gilbert and Richard de Lucy.

page 126 note 3 See Round, , Family Origins, pp. 214–16.Google Scholar

page 127 note 1 Annates Cestrenses, sub ann. 1146.

page 127 note 2 Gesta, p. 125.

page 127 note 3 These included Ranulf's nephew, Gilbert de Clare.

page 127 note 4 Gesta, p. 126.

page 128 note 1 B.M. MS. Harl. 2037, fo. 194. This charter is prior to n 49—see Farrer, , Lanes. Ch., pp. 319–20.Google Scholar

page 128 note 2 Cal. Chart. R., v. 102.Google Scholar

page 128 note 3 Cal. Chart. R., ii. 88Google Scholar; Farrer, , Hons. andd Kts'. Fees, ii. 280Google Scholar. See also note 1, p. 117.

page 128 note 4 Round, G. de M., App. Y.

page 128 note 5 E.H.R., xlvii. 447.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

page 129 note 1 E.H.R., x. 87 ff.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

page 129 note 2 Joh. Hexh. (R.S.), p. 323. See also Cronne, H. A., E.H.R., 1. pp. 670 ff.Google Scholar

page 129 note 3 Collingwood and Myres, , Roman Britain and the English Settlements, pp. 109–10.Google Scholar

page 129 note 4 Publ. Rec. Off., Duchy of Lancaster, Misc. ptf. i, no. 36. Farrer, , Lanes. Ch., pp. 367–8.Google ScholarFoster, , Reg. Antiq. of Line. Cathedral, pp. 287–8.Google Scholar

page 129 note 5 Round, , E.H.R., x. pp. 87ff.CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Stenton, , Eng. Feud., pp. 240 ff.Google Scholar

page 130 note 1 See, e.g., Stenton, , Eng. Feud., p. 244Google Scholar; and Danelaw, Charters, P. 375.Google Scholar

page 130 note 2 Foster, , Reg. Antiq. of Line. Cathedral, i, pp. 94, 96–7Google Scholar; ii, p. 7.

page 130 note 3 Tait, , Chartulary of Chester Abbey, i, p. 23.Google Scholar

page 130 note 4 MSS. of J. H. Round at the Institute of Historical Research, no. 823; Foster, op. cit., ii, p. 16.Google Scholar

page 130 note 5 See Davis, H. W. C., The Anarchy of Stephen's Reign, E.H.R., xviii. pp. 639fi.Google Scholar

page 131 note 1 In the Brit. Mus. under ref. Cotton, Nero, C. iii. fo. 178 (the MS. is now on exhibition); New Palœog. Soc, Facs. ii. pi. 40; Stenton, , Eng. Feud., pp. 249–55, 285.Google Scholar

page 131 note 2 The superior limit is determined by the pledge which each earl gave to Robert, bishop of Lincoln, who was consecrated on 16 Dec, 1148.

page 131 note 3 The MS. reads “et agris …,” which may be a mistake either for “et aliis” or “in agris.” The latter reading seems the more probable. The limits of date are provided by the attestation of William, earl of Lincoln; and Roger, bishop of Chester, who went on crusade in May, 1147, and died at Antioch on 16 April, 1148.

page 131 note 4 Hist. MSS. Comm., Hastings MSS., i. pp. 66–7.Google Scholar

page 131 note 5 Ormerod, , History of Cheshire (ed. Helsby), i. pp. 24–5.Google Scholar

page 131 note 6 The date is that given by Stenton, , Eng. Feud., p. 285, q.v. for the text of the charter.Google Scholar

page 131 note 7 These charters raise questions of the feudal relationship between the earls of Chester and Leicester which cannot be discussed here.

page 132 note 1 Mon. Angl., VI, i. pp. 466–7.

page 132 note 2 Stenton, , Eng. Feud., pp. 248–55.Google Scholar

page 133 note 1 See Eyton, R. W., William Salt Archæol. Soc, Staffs. Hist. Collections, II, pp. 220ff.Google Scholar; Round, , E.H.R., x. pp. 87ff.CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Stenton, , Eng. Feud., pp. 241–2Google Scholar; Farrer, , Lanes. Ch., pp. 370 ff.Google Scholar

page 133 note 2 Cotton Charter, xvii. 2Google Scholar; New Pa. Soc., ii. pl. 40Google Scholar; Printed by Farrer, , loc. cit.Google Scholar

page 134 note 1 Tait, , Chartulary of Chester Abbey, I, p. 231.Google Scholar

page 134 note 2 Reg. of Spalding, B.M. MS. Add. 35296, fo. 410 vo.

page 134 note 3 Staffs. Historical Collections, XI.