Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/30

16 Ordericus Vitalis in the fourth book of his Ecclesiastical History, has a paragraph enumerating the several earldoms given in England to his followers by William the Conqueror, inclusive of Walter, surnamed Gifard and William de Warren;

As regards both these earldoms, the writer has anticipated their grants by a few years, as the title of earl is not given to either in Domesday Book, and we know from an authentic charter that the latter owed his elevation to King William Rufus. Gorbod, the brother of Gundreda, is mentioned in a preceding paragraph by this writer in these terms:

This hereditary honour in Flanders was situate in Lower Picardy, and attached to it was the office of defender of the monastery of Sithiu, dedicated in honour of St. Peter; but in later times the town of Sithiu acquired another name from St. Audomarus, (St. Omer,) as did also the monastery from its first abbot, St. Bertinus. His father bore the same name as himself, and was witness to a charter of Baldwin, bishop of Therouanne, then the capital of the pagus Tarvanensis, (le Thérouennais ou pays des Morins,) including Picardy, Artois, and Flanders, ratifying an exchange between him and Rodericus, abbot of St. Bertin, of certain lands for three churches