Note 3.2

Calendar of Documents Preserved in France, Illustrative of the History of Great Britain and Ireland (edited by J H Round, London 1899), pages 397-399, numbers 1114 and 1115, translates the notification of King William's judgement against Lonlay Abbey, dating it January 7, 1080 and dating the confirmation signed at Boscherville in the same month: 1114 Notification that when William de Braiosa had made a gift of the church of St. Gervase and other churches, tithes, etc, named in his charter, to St. Florent and his monks, Hugh abbot of Lonlay (Longiledi) and the monks, hearing this, laid claim to what had been given, and made their claim to William king of the English, saying that William de Braiosa had previously given them to themselves, and could not now give them to others. On which account the king was at first unwilling to allow that gift to the monks of St. Florent and to confirm their charter, until it should be decided (decerneretur) in his court whether the abbot and monks of Lonlay had a just ground of complaint (querelam). When therefore, on a certain occasion, the abbot and monks heard and William de Braiosa also, that the king had come to Caen, and was staying there, each [side] came there with their followers to discuss the case. The king, therefore, commanded the bishops and abbots who were present to hear the arguments of both sides and decide what was just. [And] they, withdrawing into [a] chamber, heard and diligently examined the arguments, and pronounced that the gift of William de Braiosa to the monks of St. Florent was justly and lawfully made, and that the abbot and monks of Lonlay had brought an unjust claim. On this, the king asked for the charter, and said he would confirm it by his mark (signo). And because Albald monk of St. Florent, who was present, had it not with him, he hastened back to Braiosa, fetched the charter, and found the king, now on his way back from Caen at Boscherville (Baucharii Villa). On his presenting the charter, the king marked (signavit) it and so did the queen and their sons. Those who made this judgment were these: William archbishop of Rouen, Gilbert bishop of Evreux, Anselm abbot of Bec, Gilbert abbot of Caen, Durand abbot of Troarn, Robert abbot of Sées. And with William were these: Herbert son of Gundoin, Odo Rufus, Robert Silvaticus, Robert Tailebois, Robert de Cancereis, William son of Godelin, Gosbert de Braiosa. Actum apud Cadomi (sic) in Crastino Epyphanias. 1115 Notification that William de Braiosa gave St. Florent and his monks the church of the most blessed Gervase and Prothase with its land and much else. Receiving this gift the monks began to build, according to their power, and dwell there. But the monks of Lonlay, moved by this to envy, endeavoured to claim that church by complaint to the great king of the English. On Hugh abbot of Lonlay making this claim, the king believing what he said, summoned William de Braiosa to do right in his court to the monks of Lonlay. Wherefore William went to the court at Caen, to do right (rectum tenere) to the monks in the king's presence. He showed, therefore, in the hearing of all the king's court that was present that he had not given (donasse) but commended (commendasse) to them what they claimed, the condition being that, as the place increased, an abbey should be made there by their counsel and with the approval of the chapter. He proved also that, on this ground, they had abandoned (dereliquisse) that church to him because he had not given, but commended it, and because they were unwilling to make an abbey there, when the endowments should admit of it, but [wished] to have it as a cell, which the lord William would not allow; and therefore they had demised to him all that they now claimed. He marvelled, further, that while the church, with its appurtenances, was held by his mother, to whom he had given it, after the monks had demised it, not during the long time it was held by clerks, to whom he had afterwards commended it - but had taken it from them because they lived sordidly - had they made any claim; but when he had given it to the monks of St. Florent, even with the approval of abbot Hugh, they raised this wily claim. All this he shewed and related at Caen in the presence of the most noble king William, and in the hearing of all those who were present when abbot Hugh had unjustly claimed William's endowment because he had [already] demised it as related in the plea. On this decision, the abashed abbot and his monks obtained nothing . . . . William king of the English [therefore] and queen Maud and their sons confirmed to St. Florent the endowment . . . . in the church of St. George de Baucheri villa, in the sight and hearing of the following: Odo consul etc.

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