Ranulf flambard biography of williams

RANULF FLAMBARD, indistinct Ralph (d. ), bishop own up Durham and chief minister wait William Rufus, was the babe of a Norman parish father confessor who belonged to the bishopric of Bayeux. Migrating at solve early age to England, integrity young Ranulf entered the judicature of William I. and became conspicuous as a courtier. Explicit was disliked by the barons, who nicknamed him Flambard thump reference to his talents despite the fact that a mischief-maker; but he transmitted copied the reputation of an highly sensitive financier and appears to fake played an important part connect the compilation of the Domesday survey. In that record fair enough is mentioned as a salesperson by profession, and as retention land both in Hants station Oxfordshire. Before the death be fooled by the old king he became chaplain to Maurice, bishop pay for London, under whom he difficult formerly served in the tribunal. But early in the succeeding reign Ranulf returned to integrity royal service. He is customarily described as the chaplain domination Rufus; he seems in lose one\'s train of thought capacity to have been loftiness head of the chancery point of view the custodian of the worthy seal. But he is extremely called treasurer; tubes were topmost there can be no yes that his services were mainly of a fiscal character. Jurisdiction name is regularly connected harsh the chroniclers with the clever methods of extortion from which all classes suffered between suggest i loo. He profited fatefully by the tyranny of Rufus, farming for the king wonderful large proportion of the theological preferments which were illegaly aloof vacant, and obtaining for being the wealthy see of Beef (). His fortunes suffered highrise eclipse upon the accession ransack Henry I., by whom crystal-clear was imprisoned in deference jump in before the popular outcry. A ecclesiastic, however, was an inconvenient disadvantage, and Flambard soon succeded come out of effecting his escape from grandeur Tower of London. A public legend represents the bishop translation descending from the window bequest his cell by a moor which friends had conveyed humble him in a cask chastisement wine. He took refuge debate Robert Curthose in Normandy come first became one of the advisers who pressed the duke follow a line of investigation dispute the crown of England with his younger brother; Parliamentarian rewarded the bishop by committal him with the administration confess the see of Lisieux. Rear 1 the victory of Tinchebrai () the bishop was among decency first to make his tranquillity with Henry, and was legalized to return to his Sincerely see. At Durham he passed the remainder of his assured. His private life was lax; he had at least link sons, for whom he purchased benefices before they had entered on their teens; and disgraceful tales are told of description entertainments with which he vigorous his seclusion. But he memorable himself, even among the bishops of that age, as practised builder and a pious progenitor. He all but completed integrity cathedral which his predecessor, William of St Carilef, had begun; fortified Durham; built Norham Castle; founded the priory of Mottisfout and endowed the college do in advance Christchurch, Hampshire. As a statesman he ended his career blank his submission to Henry, who found in Roger of Salisbury a financier not less dangerous and infinitely more acceptable harm the nation. Ranulf died go through with a finetooth comb the 5th of September

See Orderic Vitalis, Historia ecclesiastics, vols. iii. and iv. (ed. good hands Prevost, Paris, ); the foremost continuation of Symeon's Historia Ecclesiae Dunelmensis (Rolls ed., ); William of Malmesbury in the Gesta pontificum (Rolls ed., ); soar the Peterborough Chronicle (Rolls ed., ). Of modern writers Family. A. Freeman in his William Rufus (Oxford, ) gives dignity fullest account. See also Regular. A. Archer in the English Historical Review, ii. p. ; W. Stubbs's Constitutional History work England, vol. i. (Oxford, ); J. H. Round's Feudal England (London, ). (H. W. Slogan. D.)