Page:History of Norfolk 1.djvu/402

 Albenio, who came into England with him, together with Wymondham, Snetesham, and Kenningkall,  to be held by the service of being butler to the Kings of England on the day of their coronation,  for which reason he was always styled Pincerna Regis, or the King's Butler; he founded Wymondham abbey, where he was buried, before the high altar, by Maud his wife, daughter of Roger Bygot Earl of Norfolk, with whom he had 10 knights fees in Norfolk, of Earl Roger's gift; he was son of Roger de Albini, by Amy de Molbray his wife, and brother to that famous Nigell de Albini, whose posterity assumed the name of Mowbray, or Molbray'', from that of his mother.

William, his eldest son, succeeded him; he was called William with the strong hand, because among other valiant exploits, he slew a fierce lion; the occasion was thus, as Mr. Dugdale relates it: " It happened that the Queen of France, being then a widow, and a very beautiful woman, became much in love with a knight of that country, who was a comely person, and in the flower of his youth; and because she thought that no man excelled him in valour, she caused a tournament to be proclaimed throughout her dominions, promising to reward those who should exercise themselves therein, according to their respective merits; and concluding, that if the person whom she so well affected, should act his part better than others, in those military exercises, she might marry him without any dishonour to herself.

Hereupon divers gallant men, from foreign parts, hasting to Paris, among others came this our William de Albini, bravely accoutred, and in the tournament excelled all others, overcoming many, and wounding one mortally with his launce; which being observed by the Queen, she became exceedingly enamoured of him, and forthwith invited him to a costly banquet, and afterwards bestowing certain jewels upon him, offered him marriage. But having plighted his troth to the Queen of England, then a widow, refused her: whereat she grew so discontented, that she consulted with her maids, how she might take away his life; and in pursuance of that design, enticed him into a garden, where there was a secret cave, and in it a fierce lion, into which she descended by divers steps, under colour of shewing him the beast. And when she told him of his fierceness, he answered, that it was a womanish and not manly quality, to be afraid thereof, but having him there, by the advantage of a folding door, thrust him in to the lion. Being therefore in this danger, he rolled his mantle about his arm, and putting his hand into the mouth of the beast, pulled out his tongue by the root; which done he followed the Queen to her palace, and gave it to one of her maids, to present to her.

Returning therefore into England, with the fame of this glorious exploit, he was forthwith advanced to the Earldom of Arundell, and for