248 AsTER History ; PLATEARIO 
Orderic the Norman historian, writing about 1140 A.D., with 
particular reference to the monks of St. Evroult, Normandy, nar- 
rates * of this one, Rodolfus Mala Coronat+ or Ralph Mal-Corona, 
Rodolf Apple-crown or Evil-crown, that ‘he was studious from 
his childhood, and was versed in medicine, and in many deep 
secrets of nature, so that old men even now speak of him with 
wonder to their children and grandchildren. He learned the 
secrets of science with signal success, in the schools of France and 
Italy, being deeply skilled in astronomy as well as in grammar 
and dialectics, and also in music. Het was so complete a master 
of the art of medicine, that at Salerno, where the most ancient 
school of medicine has long flourished, he was unrivalled except 
by one skilful matron.’’ Such were the attainments of the man 
whom the Salernitan matron i tener 
* Ordericus Vitalis, Forester’s tr., 1: 394 ates 423. “ge, 
T Rodolf was one of the e7 sons of the Norman Giroie ( pane. of the a 
Juvenal and of Thomas Aquinas) in eo and was later abbot of St. Euphemia, 
between the two Calabrias, Rodol nieces, the nuns Judith and Anna, followed 
Robert also into Italy; the former, aed Eremberga in secular life, became wife of 
Count Roger the Great of Sicily, 1061, son of Tancred de Hauteville and brother of 
Robert Guiscard. Eremberga, the brave heroine of the siege of Troina in 1061, lived as 
countess of Sicily till her death in 1089. 
ysicae quoque scientiam tam copiose habuit, ut in urbe Psaleritana, 
ubi maximae medicorum scholae ab antiquo tempore habentur, neminem in m i- 
srs arte praeter quandam sapientem matronam sibi parem invenerit,’? O” dericus 
ttalis, 
2 The time of oe s ne. to Salerno seems probably to have ‘followed the 
inordinate devotion tivolities ’’ by which Orderic characterizes a part 
of Rodolf’s younger years; and probably his Salernitan period preceded that ‘long 
residence at his native Place Montreuil ”” when he made the experiments and cures 
come : Born perhaps 1010, 4th son of Giroie ; h son were not of age at his 
father’s death, 1020-1030; was studious at home; and in Paris? or Rheims ; probably 
fought in the Campagna and Apulia, during the struggles intervening between Richar I’s 
ras de Fer’s becomi > Count of Apulia in 10435 
oe rhisiies in 1030 and wil liam Bra 
