WIGMORE CASTLE, HEREP6RDSHIRE. 5 



ill-humour, they formed alliances with the Welsh, the Scotch, and 

 the Danes. It was, probably, on this occasion, that *' Ralph, or 

 Ranulph de Mortimer, who came over with the Conqueror, was 

 sent into the marches of Wales, to encounter with Edrich, Earl of 

 Shrewsbury, who was also Lord of Wigmore and Melenithe,* in 

 regard he would not submit to the Norman yoke, whom after great 

 toil and a long siege in Wigmore castle, he at length subdued and 

 delivered captive to the king."t This Edrich was the son of Alfricke, 

 Earl of Mercia, who, having induced Bleddyn and Rhywallon, 

 princes of Wales, to assist him with their forces, had ravaged the 

 country as far as the bridge of Hereford. 



England being completely subdued, in about three years from 

 this time, William proceeded to distribute the spoils among his 

 adherents. To William Fitz Osborne, he gave the county of Here- 

 ford, with instructions to watch and repress the Welsh ; J and Dug- 

 dale says, '^ he built the castle of Estbrighoyel,|| in Gloucestershire, 

 and the castles of Clifford, Wigmore, and Ewias in Herefordshire ; 

 but in regard he died before the general survey, there is no memo- 

 rial at all left of him."§ The Rev. Mr. Duncumb, though it does 

 not appear on w^hat authority, asserts that those in Herefordshire 

 he only repaired. 



This heroic warrior was slain by Robert de Frison, w^hilst fight- 

 ing in support of the claims of Ernulph, Earl of Hainhalt, to the 

 earldom of Flanders. He had, during his lifetime, been a steadfast 

 adherent to the Conqueror, to whom, indeed, he was nearly related, 

 and, possessing great merit, amply justified his appointments of 

 regius vicarius, Normanniae dapifer et magister militum bellicosus.** 

 He was of the king's council, governor of the Isle of Wight and 

 Winchester Castle, and chief administrator of justice throughout 

 the North of England.tt He married Adeline, daughter of Roger 

 de Toney, a powerful baron, and had by her three sons and three 

 daughters. To William, the eldest, he left his ample possessions in 

 Normandy ; Ralph, the second, entered the Abbey of Cormeiles, 

 and was shorn a monk ; and Roger, the youngest, named De Bre- 



* Maeleny th was on the western side of Wigmore, being part of Radnor- 

 shire. 



•f Dugdale's Baronage^ vol. i., p. 139. 



+ Orderic Vit., 521. 



II Now called Strigul castle, not in Gloucestershire, but Monmouthshire, 

 Coxe, however, declares it to be Chepstow. 



§ Baron.y voL i. p. 67. 



** Grd. Vit, 536. 



ft HarL MS., 4046. 



