General Notes

Raynwald, escaped the massacre of Wodansfield. By 812 the Council ofTours had ordered the bishops to translate the homilies into commondialects. It is probable that Norsemen accepted baptism and renounced it,equally with little compunction. Raynwald established himself and hispeople in the bourg of Gournay, principal town of a region of rivers,marshes, forests and "workable land" after the laws and usagesScandanavian. In 922 and 925 the Norwegians were assailed on all sides,from Anjou, Vwemandois and Bourgoyne, but were not defeated. The Jarl deRouen had already become for the French, and for all Europe, the Comtedes Normans, and Richard, son of Rolf, was baptized. Raynwald had theaudacity, with his band, to sleep in the ruins of the Abbey of St.Benoist, which had been despoiled. When asleep St. Benoit appeared,brandishing his staff. Awakened in horror, and with loud cries, he andhis men ran into Rouen, where he died in mental torture. He had two sons,Gautier and Hugues.