Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/37

Rh mother, and the long delay between the time of her being sought in marriage by Duke William, when first smitten with her beauty and accomplishments, and the ceremony at Eu, was probably necessary to effect a divorce between Gorbod, her first husband, and his destined bride. In the course of the year 1055, Malger, the archbishop, was deposed from his see in a provincial council at Lisieux; and according to William of Malmesbury, the secret cause of this proceeding was owing to his steadfast opposition to the marriage, rather than to any irregularities of conduct.

Ferunt quidam esse arcanam depositionis causam; Matildem, quam Willelmus acceperat, proximam sibi sanguine fuisse. Id, Christianæ fidei zelo, Malgerium non tulisse, ut consanguineo cubili fruerentur; sed in nepotem et comparem excommunicationis jaculum intentasse. Ita, cum iræ adolescentis uxoriæ querelæ accederent, excogitatas occasiones quibus persecutor peccati sede pelleretur. Sed postmodum provectioribus annis, pro expiatione sceleris, ilium sancto Stephano Cadomis monasterium ædificasse, illam beatæ Trinitati in eodem vico idem fecisse; utroque pro sexu suo personas inhabitantium eligente.

The reconciliation with Rome was deferred to the time of the pontificate of Nicholas the Second, crowned 18th January, 1059, deceased 21st July, 1061.

The writer of the life of Lanfranc imputes to that eminent man a like opposition to the marriage of the Conqueror on the ground of consanguinity, which brought upon him the wrath of his sovereign, who caused the monastery of La Pré de Rouen, a cell to the abbey of Bec, of which he was Prior, to be burnt down, and pronounced against him a sentence of banishment;

Hujus tam improvidæ jussionis causam aiunt, quod idem Lanfrancus contradicebat nuptiis filiæ comitis Flandriæ, quam ipse dux copulaverat in matrimonio, quia proxima carnis consanguinitate jungebatur. Unde auctoritate Romani Papæ, tota Neustria fuerat ab officio Christianitatis suspensa et interdicta.

On his road to exile he encountered the Duke, and the result of the interview was a reconciliation, on condition of his going to Rome to make peace with the Pope;

Ut ageret pro duce Normannorum et uxore ejus apud Apostolicum, pro qua re illuc perrexerat. Igitur locutus cum Papa Nicolao ostendit, quia ejus sententia illos tantum gravabat, qui cos nec coniunxerant, nee separare poterant; nam Dux puellam, quam acceperat, nullo pacto dimittere vellet. Hoc audiens et verum esse advertens summus Pontifex, dispensatione ha-