General Notes

REFN: 1765AN
REFN: P1765
The Conqueror and His Companions
by J.R. Planché, Somerset Herald . London: Tinsley Brothers, 1874.
Of this noble Norman we have considerable in formation afforded us by
Orderic, in consequence of his being one of the foun ders of the Abbey of
Ouche, better known as that of St. Evroult, in which the historian was
professed a monk by the venerable Abbot Mainer, in the elevent h year of
his age, by the name of Vitalis (Vital), and in which monastery he lived
fifty-six years.
From him we learn that Hugh De Grentmesnil was one of the sons of a
Robert De Grentmesnil (now known as Grandmesnil, in the arrond issement of
Lisieux) by Hawise De Giroie, which Robert was mortally wounded i n the
battle between Roger De Toeni and Roger De Beaumont, already mentioned,
vol. i., pp. 19, 217.
He fought on the siDe of De Toeni, and being carried off the field,
lingered for three weeks, and then died and was interred witho ut the
Church of St. Mary at Norrei, between Grandmesnil and Falaise. His iss ue
by Hawise De Giroie was two sons, Robert and Hugh, between whom he
divid ed his property.
Robert became a monk in the abbey he had assisted to re-edify . Hugh, who
was "eminent for his skill and courage," was, through the machina tions of
Mabel De Montgomeri, banished by Duke William without any real cause of
offence in 1058, but recalled from exile in 1063, and intrusted with the
custody of the Castle of Neufmarché-en-Lions, from which the Duke, on
equal ly slight grounds, had expelled Geoffrey De Neufmarché, the rightful
heir; an d nobly forgetful of past injustice, did the valiant Hugh justify
the trust r eposed in him, restoring in the course of a year the disturbed
district to pe rfect tranquillity. We next find him amongst the principal
combatants in the great battle, but he surely cannot be the person
described by Wace as "a vass al of Grandmesnil," who was in great peril
during the action in consequence o f his horse becoming masterless through
the breaking of his bridle-rein in le aping over a bush. He was near
falling, and the English perceiving his flight ran towards him with their
long axes, but the horse taking fright, and wheel ing suddenly round, bore
his rider safely back into the ranks of the Normans. Hugh was certainly a
vassal of the Duke of Normandy, but a baron of his repu tation and power
would scarcely be so described by Wace. Mons. Le Prévost, ho wever,
appears by his note on the passage to consider it refers to Hugh himse lf,
and Mr. Taylor follows him without comment. It may perhaps be argued that
there is nothing in the incident itself to give it sufficient importance
t o be recorded by the poet unless the person endangered was some one of
conseq uence. At all events, Hugh De Grentmesnil was certainly present at
Senlac, an d no doubt did his devoir, as he was wont to do; for in 1067 we
find him one of the principal persons joined with William Fitz Osbern and
Bishop Odo in th e government of England, during the King's absence in
Normandy, and besides t he donation of one hundred manors in this country,
sixty-five of which were i n Leicestershire, he was appointed Viscount
(i.e., sheriff) of that county an d Governor of Hampshire.
He was one of the Norman nobles who interceded with t he Conqueror in
favour of Robert Court-heuse, and effected a temporary reconc iliation. On
the accession of Rufus he espoused the cause of the young duke; but like
many others of his rank and country, weary of his vacillations, and
disgusted by his general conduct, he ultimately took part against him.
In 10 90 we find him in Normandy, in his old age, strenuously opposing the
aggressi ons of the detestable Robert De Belesme, who had erected
strongholds at Fourc hes and at La Conebe, on the river Orme, whence he
made inroads on his neighb ours, and harried all the country round.
Hugh De Grentmesnil and Richard De Co urci, whose domains lay nearest to
him, and mo