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Note: Name Prefix:<NPFX> Sir REFN: 9593 Came to England with the Conqueror, commanded the right wing ofthe Norman army at Hastings. He inherited the Earldom ofMellecent in Normandy from his mother. Henry of Huntingdon, inhis "Letter to Walter," gives the following account of his lastmoments: -- "I will mention the Earl of Meulent, the mostsagacious in political affairs of all who lived betweenthis andJerusalem. His mind was enlightened, his eloquence persuasive,his shrewdness acute; he was provident and wily; his prudencenever failed; his counselswere profound; his wisdom great. Hehad extensive and noble possessions, which are commonly calledhonours, together with towns and castles, villages and farms,woods and waters, which he acquired by the exercise of thetalents I have mentioned. His domains lay not only in Englandbut in Normandy and France, so that hewas able at his will topromote concord between the sovereigns of those countries, or toset them at variance and provoke them to war. If he took umbrageagainst any man, his enemy was humbled and crushed, while thosehe favoured were exalted to honour. Hence his coffers werefilled with a prodigious influx of wealth in gold and silver,besides precious gems and costly furniture and app.arel. Butwhen he was in the zenith of his power it happ.ened that acertain earl carried off the lady he had espoused, either bysome intrigue or by force and stratagem. Thenceforth his mindwas disturbed and clouded with grief, nor did he to the time ofhis death regain composure and happ.iness. Name Prefix:<NPFX> Sir REFN: 9593 Came to England with the Conqueror, commanded the right wing ofthe Norman army at Hastings. He inherited the Earldom ofMellecent in Normandy from his mother. Henry of Huntingdon, inhis "Letter to Walter," gives the following account of his lastmoments: -- "I will mention the Earl of Meulent, the mostsagacious in political affairs of all who lived betweenthis andJerusalem. His mind was enlightened, his eloquence persuasive,his shrewdness acute; he was provident and wily; his prudencenever failed; his counselswere profound; his wisdom great. Hehad extensive and noble possessions, which are commonly calledhonours, together with towns and castles, villages and farms,woods and waters, which he acquired by the exercise of thetalents I have mentioned. His domains lay not only in Englandbut in Normandy and France, so that hewas able at his will topromote concord between the sovereigns of those countries, or toset them at variance and provoke them to war. If he took umbrageagainst any man, his enemy was humbled and crushed, while thosehe favoured were exalted to honour. Hence his coffers werefilled with a prodigious influx of wealth in gold and silver,besides precious gems and costly furniture and app.arel. Butwhen he was in the zenith of his power it happ.ened that acertain earl carried off the lady he had espoused, either bysome intrigue or by force and stratagem. Thenceforth his mindwas disturbed and clouded with grief, nor did he to the time ofhis death regain composure and happ.iness.
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