Ranulph-- Facts versus Legend

Prior to the invasion of the Normans in 1066, the area called Kingsley was populated by peasants who worked the land under the protection of Lord Dunning inhabiting the manor at Kingsley.  This was the typical Middle Age 'Feudalism.'  Under King Robert of England, nobles had power over sections of the kingdom.  Lords ruled over estates, or manors.  Peasants lived on the estate, providing food, services and supplies to the Lord in the manor.  Lords and nobles helped the King keep the kingdom safe and intact.  (Armstrong)

When Duke William of Normandy invaded, the Welsh nobles and lords were unable to defend themselves.  The whole of England fell to William 'the Conquerer.'  He replaced the Lords with his military heroes now holding the title of 'Earl' instead of 'Lord.'  With new Earls in the manors, the Feudalistic society resumed, although the peasants were unhappy with the new Norman leaders.  For one, their ability to hunt for food was gone.  The forest was now off limits to all but the nobles.  Kingsley was 'afforested' at this point, or trees were planted in the effort to make it a forest in order to provide a pleasant hunting ground for the nobility.  Hunting was one of King William's great passions. (Armstrong, Ormerod)

Within a few years, King William ordered a census of the land.  That census, called the 'Domesday' gives a great description of each area, complete with an accounting of value and inhabitants for the year 1086, and a history of the Lords displaced in 1066.  According to Domesday, Kingsley was very sparsely inhabited.  Remarkably, King William allowed Dunning to remain on the estate as Lord, but gave his friend Earl Hugh of Chester (Huge d'Avranches "Lupus" ie: the wolf)  ownership.  He became the tenant in chief.  In other words, Dunning was allowed to stay but he was there only at the pleasure of Earl Hugh D'Avranches.  (Ormerod)

D'Avranches was the Earl of Chester, the first in a long line of Earls that resided in Chester nearby.  He replaced Gherbod the Fleming, who served for a short time before returning to Flanders.  (Deane)  This earldom was the most prestigious because it became known as the one that the heirs in line to the throne inherited.  In the Domesday census, Chester is valued in one section as worth 50 gelds and King William is the Lord and Tenant in Chief.  The other sections of Chester were given to the various churches on the property.  One such section shows that Earl Hugh of Chester replaced King Edward as the Lord.  This shows the strategic and political import of Chester.  (Ormerod)

Over time, Hugh Earl of Chester passed away, leaving the title and his lands to his son Richard D'Avranches.  In 1120, Richard, Second Earl of Chester died in the White Ship Disaster.  This disaster claimed the life of King Henry I's son William as well.  These deaths emboldened the Welsh in Cheshire; they raided Cheshire, burning, looting and killing, eventually setting two castles afire.  King Henry I promptly installed his father's friend's nephew Randle/Randal/Ranulph/Ralph le Meschin as the Third Earl of Chester.  Randle's father Ranulph de Briquessart, had been a close advisor to William the Conquerer, Henry I's father.  Randle had also helped Henry I in several battles, notably as the first line of force as they marched into battle.  Randle led the first line, King Henry I rode in the second.  Henry trusted Randle to settle the villagers down.  Thus King Henry recognized Randle as Richard's successor in the county of Chester. (Wikipedia:  Earl of Chester)

Randle was expected to distribute some land to his followers, now that he was an 'incoming regional magnate.'  In 1112 he distributed some to the church, founding a monastery.  He created two Baronies in the area and tried to create a third.  And in 1123 he gave Kingsley to our ancestor Ranulph de Kingsley.  Randle must have done this prior to his departure by order of Henry to strengthen the garrison at Normandy that year.  Additionally, Randle gave Ranulph the 'Master Forestership' of the forests of Mara and Mondrem, the remnants of which are now called the Forest of Delamere.  (Wikipedia:  Ranulf le Meschin, 3rd Earl of Chester)

The forests of Mara and Mondrom were hard to separate, they existed so closely together.  They probably contained some of the trees that had been planted 60 years earlier following the Norman invasion.  These forests were set aside by William the Conqueror to be used exclusively by the royals and were jealously guarded.  Anyone caught poaching was liable to be whipped, and could even be killed.  (Harrison)  This might be the basis for the spite-filled "Old Brown Forest" ballad decrying the insanity of killing men if they hunt therein for food, making shelter for animals while the poor peasants were unhoused.  A powerless people records their travails in song to pass down the history to their descendants. 

Ranulph de Kingsley was the first to assume responsibility of 'Master Forester' over these forests.  He was given a distinctive horn, which provided a symbol of his authority.  This was originally considered a burden, not an honor, but over time privilege due to the authority and status.  That authority allowed Ranulph to inflict judgement on poachers, as well as hunt freely for smaller animals like foxes, hares, squirrels hawks and eagles.  And they were allowed to keep any downed trees or dead beasts found withing the forest.  They also could 'tithe' the inhabitants of the forest of their goods.  Additionally, when the Royals came to hunt, the Master Forester was required to join the hunting party with two 'white greyhounds whenever the Earl was disposed to honour the forest of Delamere with his presence in the chase.'  Being the first Master Forester, these duties, perks and privileges were invented at the time of his appointment.  (Harrison, Ormerod)




How dies this relate to the Goat Legend?  If King Rufus had been the king who became lost in the forest, Ranulph would have been under 20 years old, although he could have perhaps been married.  Perhaps Rufus had become separated from his party and become lost in the forest, finding shelter in a cabin with a local forester and his wife.  Perhaps they shepherded goats, and seeing his status by his regalia, although not realizing he was the King, they treated him with respect and honor.  Perhaps other inhabitants may have treated him roughly, seeing that he had taken their right to hunt from them.  Perhaps Rufus understood the hard feelings the peasants had for him, providing even more contrast to Ranulph's treatment of him.  
 
Perhaps as a forester living therein, Ranulph not only fed the king but also led him out of the forest, thereby earning the respect of the king as to his understanding and knowledge of the forest environs.  That would be a great reason to make Ranulph the first Master Forester.  Perhaps he was extremely qualified and poaching had become a nuisance to manage.  This assignment gave the job to someone who knew the forest well and could punish those peasant poachers better.

But we still haven't considered the other problems-- that he had already given the land to the Earl of Chester or that the land was given perhaps some twenty years after Rufus had died.

All records agree that it was Randle, the Earl of Chester who gave Ranulph the land and the title, not the king.  He gave much land away between 1120 and 1123 for a variety of reasons.  (Wikipedia:  Ranulf le Meschin, 3rd Earl of Chester)  This could be easily overcome by several explanations.  Perhaps the promise was given just prior to the king's death in 1100.  Perhaps the king assigned someone to make it happen and the process dragged on for some twenty odd years.  Perhaps the king spoke to his friend Hugh First Earl of Chester, who agreed to give the land to Ranulph, then the king died.  The promise was delayed, and not carried out until Randle Third Earl of Chester was expected to give up his lands as mentioned. 

Dates for each event contradict each other.  Ormerod simply says that the land was given to Ranulph 'after a very short period [after the conquest]' and he links the timing with the Master Forestership, later saying simply that they occurred in the 12th century.  Bevan assigns the date of Master Forester to 1123, but doesn't mention the land.  Deane gives the date of the land gift between 1087 and 1100; the Master Forestership 1123. 

Perhaps it was really Randle who became lost, being called King because he was Earl of Chester, the title that is generally given to those in line to the throne (so he was kind of a prince or future king.)  



I haven't even mentioned the part 'Baron' part of the legend.  No record exists that substantiates that Ranulph was made a baron, although it is possible.  Most records refer to him and his heirs with the title 'Sir.'  The coronet on the Coat of Arms is of a Duke, not a Baron.  Clearly an expert is needed to tease the significance of these tidbits to our mystery.

As one who would like to believe that kindness and a good stew were enough to qualify a land owning Saxon farmer for a gift of wealth and honor, I would like to make this legend fit the facts as stated above.  Clearly, Ranulph did SOMETHING to merit the good graces of Randle, Earl of Chester, to merit the gift of the land of Kingsley and the Master Forestership of Mara and Modrem.  Perhaps someday we will know if this legend does correlate with the facts more closely.  

Sources:
Armstrong, Monty; David Daniel; Abby Kanarek, Alexandra Freer.  Cracking the AP World History Exam New York.  2012:142-144, print.
Bevan, R. M. Tarporley & Beeston Country, United Kingdom.  2006:n. pag. web.
Brown, Leroy.  Kingsley Genealogy 1907: St. Paul, Minn.  Preface, print.
Domesday Book.  1086:n. pag. web.
Earl of Chester. Wikipedia. 27 Aug 2012:n. pag. web.
Egerton, Leigh.  Ballads and Legends of Cheshire.  London.  1866:36-40. Print.
Forests of Mara and Mondrem.  Wikipedia.  3 Aug 2012:n. pag. web.
Frank, Katherine.  A Voyager Out:  The Life of Mary Kingsley.  Taurus Publishers.  2005:6-7, print.
Harrison, William.  "Ancient Forests, Chases and Deer Parks in Cheshire."  Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, Liverpool.  Proceedings and Papers.  20:1-28. Print.
Ormerod, George.  The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester.  London. 1819:3, 43, 50, 55. print.
Ranulf le Meschin, 3rd Earl of Chester . Wikipedia. 22 June 2012:n. pag. web.