The Tower of London complex today, with the White Tower at the centre, photographed from the Sky Garden. The fortress was commissioned by King William I (r. 1066-1087) in 1078. Ranulf Flambard, the son of a parish priest from Bayeux and a protégé of William’s half-brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, was involved in its construction. He subsequently entered the history books, early in the reign of William’s son Henry I (r. 1100-1135), as both the first man to be kept there as a prisoner, and the first to escape.
Part 1 of 2
BY the king’s command, he was allowed every day two shillings for his diet while in confinement,* so that, with the assistance of his friends, he fared sumptuously for a prisoner, and kept daily a splendid table for himself and his keepers.*
One day a cord was brought to the bishop in a flagon of wine,* and he caused a plentiful banquet to be served which the guards (having partaken of it in his company) washed down with Falernian cups in the highest spirits.* Having intoxicated them to such a degree that they slept soundly, the bishop secured the cord to a mullion in the centre of the tower window, and, catching up his pastoral staff, began to lower himself by means of the cord.
But, now, having forgotten to put on gloves, he found his hands excoriated to the bone by the rough cord, and as it did not reach the ground, the portly bishop fell, and being much bruised, groaned piteously.*
Two shillings was indeed generous: Warren Hollister in Page Name notes that common knights were paid threepence a day, with 12 pence to the shilling.
The Constable of the Tower was William de Mandeville, whose complicity or carelessness cost him his job and a third of his estates. His son Geoffrey de Mandeville recovered both the land and the position of Constable in the reign of King Stephen (r. 1135-1154).
Ranulf was imprisoned on August 15th, 1100, the Feast of the Dormition of Mary; the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle dates his escape to February 2nd 1101, Candlemas, though others give the date as the following day, suggesting a time in the small hours.
Falernian wine was a prized white (or rather amber) wine of the Roman Republic, grown in Italy, and also exported to Britain; as a rule, Greek wine was the more expensive but Falernian was among the exceptions and particularly strong — Horace watered it down. By the time of Pliny the Elder (23-79) its quality was in decline, ‘growers being more solicitous about quantity than quality’. Galen (129-?200/216) was of the opinion that much so-called Falernian wine was spurious (no appellation d’origine contrôlée in those days), and by Orderic’s time it was a name from history only.
‘Whether he hurt his arms, or grazed the skin off his hands,’ sniffed William of Malmesbury, aware of details in Orderic’s account that might encourage sympathy for the absconding cleric, ‘is a matter of no importance.’
Part Two
The north wall and door of the nave, Durham Cathedral. After his escape, Ranulf made his way to Normandy and took up the cause of Robert II, Duke of Normandy, Henry I’s eldest brother, whom their father William I had passed over as heir. Robert’s rebellion failed, yet Ranulf regained sufficient standing in King Henry’s eyes to be restored to Durham, the See he had acquired — according to William of Malmesbury, for £1000 — in 1099. Ranulf’s lifestyle scandalised the monks but he also enlarged the Cathedral, building much of the nave, and initiated a number of civic improvements.
FAITHFUL friends and tried followers were waiting at the foot of the tower, where they had swift horses in readiness for him, though they were in great terror. Having mounted on horseback with them, he fled with the utmost speed; and escorted by his trusty companions, who had charge of his treasure,* he lost no time in hastening on shipboard, and, crossing over to Normandy, presented himself to Duke Robert.*
The fugitive bishop, being received with welcome, was entrusted with the government of the duchy; and, as far as his indolence permitted, Robert availed himself of his counsels. His principal object was to rouse the duke to engage in hostilities with his brother, using all his efforts to exasperate him against the king. He pointed out the best mode of securing the crown of England, and promised him his aid under all circumstances.
Ranulf’s treasure went in a separate ship with his mother. During the crossing, the ship was ambushed by Channel pirates, and the treasure plundered. Ranulf’s mother was dumped ‘half-naked’ on a Normandy beach, along with the ship’s crew.
Robert II Curthose, Duke of Normandy, eldest son of William the Conqueror. William named Robert’s younger brother William Rufus as successor, and Robert failed to dislodge him. After another brother, Henry, succeeded William Rufus in 1100, Robert tried again but was defeated once more despite the assistance of Ranulf Flambard, who undoubtedly added bite. Captured in 1106, Robert died in captivity in 1134, a year before the death of his brother Henry I.
