a 
” 
Osmund, 1078—1099. 165 
Osmunp, 1078—1099. 
The successor of Herman was the well-known and illustrious 
Osmund. He was consecrated by Archbishop Lanfrane, in 1078. 
Malmesbury rightly calls him, vir probatissimus. It is so natural 
to us—it is part of that hero-worship the power of which few ean 
resist—to concentrate our homage on the few that stand out as con- 
spieuous for great or holy deeds, that we are in danger of being a 
little unjust to the memory of others. And so we have all been 
_ wont to speak exelusively of Osmund as our first founder at Old 
Sarum. But Herman had begun the work which Osmund carried 
out ; just as Herbert Poore, and afterwards Robert Bingham, were 
no mean helpers in the work of building the Cathedral at New Sarum, 
for which Richard Poore has too often the exclusive credit. Of 
course in such undertakings as these there must be many willing 
workers. Cathedrals are not built—certainly they are not restored 
—inaday. The motto of our Society applies just as much to them, 
as to the vast pre-historie works at Avebury or Stonehenge :— 
*¢ Multorum manibus grande levatur onus.” 
Osmund was the son of Henry, Count of Seez, by Isabella, 
daughter of Robert, Duke of Normandy, the father of William the 
Conqueror. He was, therefore, nearly connected with the Conqueror 
—in faet, in blood, he was his nephew.' He is popularly supposed 
to have been Earl of Wiltshire, and by Camden, who, it is alleged, 
quotes a MS. life of Osmund as his authority, he is designated also 
1See Hatcher and Benson’s ‘‘ Salisbury,” p. 8, note, where extracts are given 
from one of the bishop’s records to this effect. The following table will explain 
the relationship at a glance :— 
ea Duke of Normandy 
St 
William rsa =trenty, Count of Seez 
*« The Conqueror ” i 
OsmunD, 
