Elisee DE BRIONNE

Bef 1066 -

• Name	Elisee DE BRIONNE
  Note	Aft 1045  [1]
  Excerpt from "Notices of an English Branch of the Malet Family", by Arthur Malet, published 1885, pp 18-22, appendix B1-B4: ROBERT MALET. Robert Malet was the son of William Malet, by his wife Hesilia Crispin. We hear but little of him during the life of his father, but his names appears as a witness in a charter of William, Count of the Normans, to the Abbey of Jumieges, between September, 1060, and February, 1066,* so that, if he were twenty-one years of age at the latter date (for the Duke would hardly have admitted a child as a witness), he would have been twenty-six years old at the time of his father's death in 1071. When William Malet was sent into Yorkshire as Sheriff, Robert was probably left in charge of the Suffolk possessions; for we know that only two of William's children, presumably Gilbert and Beatrice, were with their father and mother when the castle of York was captured by the united forces of the English and Danes in 1069. Be this as it may, he on the death of William Malet succeeded him in his honours and possessions. William the Conqueror confirmed to him the honour of Eye, with its castle and market, built and established by his father, and he appears in Domesday (I follow Sir Wm. Dugdale) as the owner of the following Lordships: in Yorkshire thirty-two, in Essex three, in Hampshire one, in Nottinghamshire two, in Lincolnshire eight, and in Suffolk two hundred and twenty one , or the greatest part of so many , whereof Eye was chief. Here Robert made a park, and built and amply endowed a monastery of Benedictine Monks; and it is from his charter of endowment,** and from his sister Beatrice's grant in aid of the little village of Radingfield, that we learn so much of the family as to invest the names of its members at its commencement in England with a degree of certainty not very common in matters relating to such a distant period. It is this value, besides the picture that they afford us of the manners of the time, which has induced me to transcribe these charters in the Appendix. There is no doubt that Robert Malet, in common with all the tenants in chief in King William's time , had full occupation in keeping the peace of the country; though I only know of one special notice of his employment, which is contained in Lanfranc's report to the King, then in Normandy, of the capture of Norwich Castle from the rebels and its re-occupation by Bishop Godfrey, William de Warenne, Robert Malet, and a sufficient garrison. The report*** is a pattern for brevity. In the King's grant of the manor of Fracenham to Archbishop Lanfranc,+ Robert Malet is styled Vicecomes, or Sheriff, presumably of Suffolk; in the same deed, Picot, who it is supposed must be Robert's cousin, a son of Alfred of Lincoln, bears a similar title. I find no other mention of him during the Conqueror's reign, nor in that of William Rufus, but he appears at the commencement of the reign of Henry I as Grand Chamberlain of England, and one of the great nobles of the realm.++ For his fall Hume's account will suffice: "The great fame which he [Duke Robert of Normandy, who as elder brother laid claim to the Crown of England] had acquired in the East forwarded his pretensions, and the Norman Barons, sensible of the consequences, expressed the same discontent at the separation of the Duchy and Kingdom which had appeared at the accession of William. Robert de Belesme Earl of Shrewsbury and Arundel, William de Warenne Earl of Surrey, Arnulf de Montgomery, Walter Giffard, Robert de Pontefract, Robert de Malet, Yvo de Grantmesnil, and many others of the principal nobility, invited Robert to make an attempt on England, and promised on his landing to join him with all their forces." The failure of Duke Robert's enterprise, and its bloodless close in the agreement between the brothers at Alresford, was disastrous to his English adherents; for, notwithstanding the stipulation in the treaty that they should not suffer for joining Robert, we find (I again follow Hume) that "Robert de Belesme Earl of Shrewsbury , and his two brothers, Arnulf de Montgomery and Roger Earl of Lancaster, had their estates confiscated and were themselves banished. Soon after followed the prosecution and condemnation of Robert de Pontefract and Robert de Malet, who had distinguished themselves among Robert's adherents. William de Warenne was the next victim; even William Earl of Cornwall, son of the Earl of Mortaigne, the King's uncle, lost all the vast acquisitions of his family in England. . . . Men easily saw that the chief part of their guilt was not the injustice or illegality of their conduct." Some of these banished men made their peace and returned. Not so Robert; we find no hint of his ever again being in England his estates were confiscated to the Crown, and afterwards, "the King, still imagining that he strengthened the interests of his family by the aggrandisement of Stephen, son of the Count de Blois, took pleasure in enriching him by the grant of new possessions, and conferred on him the great estate forfeited by Robert Malet in England." Some writers have supposed that this Robert, the son of William, was the first possessor of the Somerset estates, and that they escaped confiscation, but there was no foundation for this but the similarity of the names of the possessors; there is the certainty+++ that while the King's policy was to treat his Norman Barons mildly, he enforced entire confiscation in England for rebellion, whether on Norman or English soil. All Robert's possessions were confiscated: the Somerset property, which we find afterwards in the possession of his brother Gilbert's sons was never attached. It is probable that Robert Malet was the first Great Chamberlain of England after the Conquest, for on his banishment it was bestowed on Alberic de Vere,# "who, being in high esteem with King Henry I, was by him made Great Chamberlain of all England, to hold the same office in fee to himself and his heirs, with all dignities and liberties thereto belonging , as honourably as Robert Malet, Lord of the honour of Eye in Suffolk, or any other before or after him, held the same, and with such liveries and lodgings of his Court as belonged to that officer." Here no other name is mentioned, and there is no reason to believe that under the Norman dynasty Robert had ever a predecessor. Robert Malet thus vanishes from the English scene, an exile of about sixty years of age, banished by Henry I for his adherence to Robert Curthose, who, whatever his demerits as a ruler when compared with his youngest brother, must, apart from political expediency, have been deemed the more rightful claimant to the Crown of England. It is stated in the Revue Historique de la Noblesse, that "he took refuge on the continent, where he espoused, following the chronicle of Bec, Elisee de Brionne, daughter of the Count de Brionne, and great granddaughter of Richard, first Duke of Normandy, and had a son William." There remains in this record, however, the difficulty that Robert's son , William had, before his father's banishment from England and refuge on the continent, accompanied Robert Curthose in the crusade; so that if this Elisee de Brionne was his mother, she must have been the wife of Robert long antecedent to his banishment. Be this as it may there can be no doubt that the William banished in 1109 was his son, and the French authorities acknowledge him as such. Robert is supposed to have been slain the battle of Tinche braie, on the 23rd September, 1106, after which he is no more heard of. Appendices * D. Gurney, History of the House of Gournay, Vol. I, p. 203, a note concerning Gerard Fleitel; a charter of William Duke of Normandy, containing a grant of certain tithe to the Abbey, under the invocation of St. Peter at Jumieges. The charter has the following signatures attached, with a cross to each:-- +Signum Willelmi Comitis Normannorum + Anschetel + Rodberti Mauretonii +Willelmi filii Osberni + Godchildis + Ricardi Comitis + Balruivii + Walteri Giffard pater + Walteri filius ejus + Johannis Episcopi Abrincatensis + Hugonis Munfort +Mathildis uxoris ejus + Hugonis de Grentevilla + Rogerii de Monte Gomerico + Rodulfi Camararii + Espicopi Willelmi Ebroicensis + Gerardi Pincerne + Rayenulfi Camerarii + Willelmi Mallet + Rodberti filii ejus. ** CHARTER OF THE MONASTERY OF EYE. Carta Roberti Malet, fundatoris Ecclesiae Conventualis de Eya. [Ex registro de Eya penes Thomam Deye generosum. An. 1630. Fol. 58.] 3 CONT Cum pro animarum suarum salute multa bona opera fideles vivi ac Deo devoti operentur; hoc praecipium estimatur quod in constructione et edificatione sanctae matris ecclesiae impenditur. Nam in sancta ecclesia virorum religiosorum precibus illorum peccata qui eam edificant, Dei misericordia dilicuntur, pauperes elemosinis sive aliis beneficiis sustentantur, ceteraque caritatis officia cum tempus exigit humilitate ministrantur: et quia Dei misericordiam per opus simile spero ego Robertus Malet assensu domini mei Willelmi regis Angliae pro anima ipsius et uxoris ejus Matildi reginae pro memet ipso et pro animabus patris mei Willelmi Malet et matris meae Hesiliae, et pro animabus omnium antecessorum et parentum meorum ad usus Monachorum apud Eyam, monasterium construo et monachorumm conventum in eo pono. Et ut ipsi Deo libere et quiete servire possint, eidem monasterio de meis propriis ecclesiis et decimis ad eorum sustentamentum confero, praesentis scripti attestione confirmo. Imprimis ecclesiam Eye quae in honore sancti Petri fundata est concedo cum omnibus terris et decimis eidem pertinentibus. Do eis etiam partem de burgagio meo in Eya cum vivario uno. Do etiam eis decimam fori Eye, et omnes ecclesias de Dunwico quae factae sunt aut faciendae; necnon et decimam totius villae, tam in denariis quam in allecibus, et unam feriam ad festum sancti Leonardi per tres dies, scolas etiam ejusdem villae. Do eis insuper ecclesiam de Laxfeud cum omnibus terris et decimis eidem ecclesiae pertinentibus; et ecclesiasm de Badinham cum terris et decimis et pertinentiis, et in eadem villa do eis unam carucatam terrae; preterea ecclesiam de Benseya do eis eum omnibus terris et decimis sive aliis possessionibus eidem pertinentibus; ecclesiam de Benehale cum terris et decimis et pertinentiis; ecclesiam de Bergebi cum capellis et terris et decimis ad eam pertinentibus sive aliis possessionibus; ecclesiam de Sekebroc cum capellis et decimis et pertinentiis; ecclesiam de Welleburne cum capellis et decimis et pertinentiis; et de terris meis do eis villam, quae dicitur Stoke, cum omni integritate sua, scilicet ecclesiam cum terris et decimis sive aliis possessionibus cum omni tenemento quod Benedictus capellanus meus de meo tenuit. Et petitione Osberti de Cuncteville do eis totam terram quam habebat in Accolte. Do eis etiam ecclesiam de Thorendona cum omnibus terris decimis et pertinentiis. Et assenu Walteri filii Grip do eis totam terram quam habuit in Frasingefeld cum molendino; et decimam de Playforde, et ecclesiam ejusdem villae cum terris decimis et pertinentiis; et Alfricum de Fen cum tota terra sua; et decimam Oyn Campayn de Ilstede. Confirmo eis donum Walteri Arbalesterii qui dedit eis duas partes decimae suae de Halegestowe et de Gosewelde et ecclesiam Sanctae Margaretae cum terra quae ei pertinet. Do eis ecclesiam de Helegleya cum terris et decimis sive aliis possessionibus eis pertinentibus; et ecclesiam de Denetune cum terris et decimis et omnibus pertinentiis Ecclesiam de Burendyo; et ecclesiam de Thatingetune cum terris et decimis et possessionibus, ecclesiam de Suttune cum pertinentiis; ecclesiam de Stradbroc, et ecclesiam de Wyngefeild cum terris et decimis et pertinentiis. Do etiam eis piscarias omnes de Welles et in Elyn; et totam decimam de omnibus silvis meis, de pasnagio tam in denariis quam in porcis, tam in garbis, quam in agris vel vitulis, sive in omnium forestarum decimis et de omnibus essartis in caseis, in velleribus, et in omnibus aliis decimis, et de dominio meo horum maneriorum meorum do eis decimis; totam decimam de dominio Eye et de Stradebur, et de Redelingfeud, et de Dinnenetune, et de Thahtingetune, de Badingham, de Keletune, de Helesteya, de Leestune, de Laxfeud, de Bergebi, de Seckebroc, de Weleburne, de Orburne, de Cava. Quare volo concedo et firmiter praecipio ut teneant libere et quiete omnia sua ab omni exactione; habeantque socam et sacham, et toll et theam, et infangenetheof in Eya, in Donewyco, sive in aliis locis ubicunque terras habuerunt. Habeant que omnes alias libertates quas Dominus meus Willielmus rex Angliae mihi concessit quando Honorem mihi dedit. Do eis etiam ecclesiam de Pelecoth cum terris et pertinentiis suis, Ecclesiam de Thornham et ecclesiam de Melles cum terris et decimis et omnibus pertinentiis suis. Praeteria donationes quas Barones et milites mei, me annuente, eis fecerunt praefato Monasterio concedo et confimo. Quorum nomina haec sunt. Rog. de Huntingfeud dedit eis ij partes decimae suae de dominio de Huntingfeud et de Linestede et de Benges. Ric. Honel dedit eis duas partes decimae suae in Winerdestune. Willielmus Gulafre dedit duas partes decimae suae in Hukenholle. Ogerus dedit duas partes decimae suae de Bedingfeud et de terra sua quae habuit in Framlingham. Ernaldus filius Rogeri dedit duas partes decimae suae de Wytingeham et de Wasketona. Radulphus Grossus dedit eis duas partes decimae suae de Cratinges et ecclesiam sancti Botulphi de Yea cum appendiciis, quam Willielmus de Roville dedit, et duas partes decimae suae de Clakestorpe et de Glemham, et sokemannum quendam in Petlegh. Hugo de Avilers dedit duas partes decimae suae de Brom, et Selfhangre, et hoc quod Alwinus presbyter tenuit de eodem Hugone in Beria et ecclesiam ejusdem villae cum terris et decimis sive allis possessionibus et decimam de triginta acris terrae de feodo Comitis Britaniae. Odo de Charune dedit eis duas partes decimae suae de Giselingham et Reydona. Godardus de Giselingham et uxor ejus dederunt Deo et sancto Petro dimidiam ecclesiam de Giselingham et terram et omnia quae 108. ad eandem pertinent mediatatem. Hubertus de Rikinghale dedit duas partes deimae suae de Rikinghale. Hubertus de Montecaniso dedit Deo et sancto Petro suam terram apud Jakesleiam scilicet hospitium suum cum tenura ejus. Ranulphus de Glanvillis optulit super altare Sancti Petri hospitium quod habuit in Jakesleia. Robertus Malus nepos dedit Deo et sancto Petro decimam suam de Huntingfeud. Joselinus de Heleseia dedit decimam c. acrarum in Huntingfeud ecclesiase sancti Petri. Galfridus de Briseworda dedit Deo et sancto Petro ecclesiam de Briseworda cum libera terra ejus et cum propria decima domus suae. Fulcredus de Pesenhale dedit duas partes decimae suae in eadem villa et decimam Unfridi filii Unney. Do monachis de Eya ecclesiam de Jakesleia cum omnibus pertinentiis suis. Jurdanus dedit eis decimae suae duas partes in Wikebegge, et ecclesiam ejusdem villae cum terris et decimis eidem ecclesiae pertinentibus. Do eis omnes ecclesias et omnes decimas pro- priorum maneriorum castello Eye pertinentium, et aliis viris militibus sokemannis meae jurisdictionis concedo et praecipio ut monasterios meo et conventua de Eya de beneficiis benefaciant pro facultatibus suis. Volo etiam et firmiter praecipio ut quaedam feria quam monachis meis dedi quatuor diebus teneatur Ka: Augusti et ut venientes et redientes in his quatuor diebus pacem meam et protectionem domini mei Regis Willielmi habeant; ne aliquis eos disturbet nec eis injuriam vel malum faciat super forisfacturum decem librarum. Hujus donationis et confirmationis meae testes sunt Hubertus de Montekenesi, Rogerus filius Walteri de Huntingfeud, Willielmus de Rovillis, Willielmus Gulafre, Robertus filius Walteri, Robertus filius Erfredi, Odo de Charimer, Herveus de Glanville, Osbertus de Cunteville, Benedictus Capellanus, Galfridus filius Urselli, Arnulphus de Wydeville, Walterus de Cornoville, Egger praepositus, Fulcredus de Pesen' hale, Hubertus Malus nepos, Robertus Roiator, Godebertus de Witsand, Walterus Arbalesterius. Haec omnia illis concedentibus testimonio Dei et sancti Petri super altare Sancti Petri Eye ego Robertus Malet optuli ecclesiase monachorum meorum; et haec carta mea in perpetuum confirmavi. Carta Beatricis sororis Roberti Malet. [Ex registro de Eya penes Thoma Deye generosum. An. 1630. Fol. 59.] Ego Beatrix soror Roberti Malet concedo Deo et sancto Petro Apostolo de Eya et monachis ejusdem loci villulam quandam Radingefeldiam nominatam quietam et liberam ab omnibus querelis et calumpniis contra omnes homines sicut meum dominium scilicet pro redemptione amimae meae et patris et matris mei, necon et fratrum meorum Roberti Maleth et Gilberti Malet, aliorumque amicorum vivorum et defunctorum. Testibus Francisgenis et Anglis, Roberto Presbitero, Rogero Diacono, Radulpho de Bellicia, Alfredo de Combia, Mayno de Sandeclaro, Edrico, Alfrico coc, Ansgodo de Cantuar, et Gaufrido coco. *** Gloriosissimo domino suo Anglorum Reg Willelmo fidelis suus Lanfrancus, fidele servitium cum orationibus. Gloria in excelsis Deo, cujus misericordia regnum vestrum purgatum est spurcitia Britonum. Castrum Norwich redditum est: et Britones, qui in eo erant et terras in Anglica terra habebant, concessa eis vita cum membris, juraverunt quod intra quadraginta dies de regno vestro exirent, et amplius sine vestra licentia in illud non introirent. Qui vero Rodolfo traditori et sociis ejus sine terra pro solidis servierunt ad hoc faciendum unius mensis spatium multis precibus impetraverunt. In ipso castro remanserunt Episcopus Gaudfridus, Willelmus de Varenna, Robertus Malet, et trecenti loricate cum eis, cum ballistariis et artificibus machinarum multis. Omnis strepitus bellorum miserante Deo in Anglica terra quievit Omnipotens Dominus vos benedicat. + H. Wharton, Angliae Sacra, Vol. I, p. 336. Willelmus gratia Dei Rex Anglorum, Episcopo Erfasti, Baldwino Abbati, Picoto et Rodberto Malet, vicecomitibus, et caeteris fidelibus meis salutem. Sciatis quod ego concessi Archiepiscopo Lanfranco manerium qui vocatur Fracenham sicuti Heroldus tenebat ea die quando mare transivi et sicuti Turbertus et Gotinus ab ipso Heroldo tenebant in omnibus terris, patris, paschuis, sylvis, rusticis, et sochemannis et caeteris omnibus. ++ Dug. Bar. , tom. i, p.110, et seq. +++ Stubbs' Constitutional History of England, vol. i, cap. x, p. 309. # Dug. Bar. , tom. i, p.190.
  Birth	Bef 1066
  Gender	Female
  SW Group	A
  UKC 1881	N
  Alternate Name	Elisee Malet
  Person ID	I7141	Southwest
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2010

  
  

  Family	Robert MALET,   b. Est 1045   d. Abt 1106, Tinchebrae, France (Age ~ 61 years)
  Children	1. William MALET,   b. Est 1070, Eye, Suffolk, England
  Family ID	F2192	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S1780] Arthur Malet, Notices of an English Branch of the Malet Family (St. Martin's Lane, London, England: Harrison & Sons, MDCCCLXXXV (1885).), pp 18-22, appendix B1-B1-B4, M8W994S136.