Note 3.3

Calendar of Documents Preserved in France, Illustrative of the History of Great Britain and Ireland (edited by J H Round, London 1899), page 399, number 1115, follows the story of Lonlay Abbey's case against William de Braose in 1080 with a narrative of events in 1093: Long afterwards, when the church was built, and Serlo bishop of Sées was about to dedicate it, at William's request, in the presence of the abbot of St. Florent, Ranulf abbot of Lonlay renewed the claim to the church. Thereupon the bishop, at the bidding of William and with the approval of the abbot of St. Florent, gave abbot Ranulf and his monks permission to plead (placitum) in the court of count Robert [of Normandy]. William de Braiosa, therefore, who wished to protect his endowment from wrongful claimants, set out for Bonneville (Bonavilla), where the plea was to be [held], at the appointed term, with Goscelm monk of St. Florent, who had raised the said church by great toil. On the other hand, abbot Ranulf went to Bonneville, where the council was to be, to pursue his claim. So count Robert bade his bishops and nobles who were present do right between the abbot of Lonlay and William de Braiosa. On the morrow therefore, which was Thursday, those who were to do right took their seats at the plea, at the bidding of count Robert, and William de Braiosa was present. Meanwhile abbot Ranulf and his monks William and Walter - who had lost part of his nose - were devising flight. Not knowing what to plead, they deserted, in their confusion, the plea, without informing the count, the abbot, or the nobles present. The count, therefore, greatly wroth, commanded the bishop of Sées, under his seal, to uphold the monks of St. Florent, and defend them from all their enemies, and bade abbot Ranulf, through the bishop, do them right for impleading them in his court and abandoning the plea. Of the abbot's default witnesses, all who were present, among whom may be named: Odo episcopus Baiocarum; Gislebertus Maminot episcopus; Rogerius cardinalis Romanus; Gislebertus abbas Cadumi; Arnulfus abbas Troarcensis (sic); [Wido] comes de Pontehio; Robertus de Belesma gener ejus; Guillermus comes Ebroicarum; Radulfus de Gauder; Engelramus filius Hilberti; Heunnus Audup; ex parte abbatis Lonliacensis, Radulfus de Curto Landono; de hominibus Guillermi Braiosensis, Odo Rufus; Robertus de Punctello; Radulfus filius Odonis; Robertus Canceliso; Goffredus de Molle Cavata; Guillermus de la Chernilla; Rotgerius Boterel.

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