Ranulph Flambard, bishop of Durham, was the chief instigator of this mad enterprise [giving the duchy of Normandy to the king of England]. He was a man of low origin, who, by his flatteries and crafty policy, had so crept into the favor of William Rufus, that he was raised by that king above all nobles of the realm. Being made lord high treasurer and justiciary, he brought on himself the hatred and fear of numbers of the king’s subjects, by the cruel severities with which he performed his functions. Amassing wealth and enlarging his property in all quarters, he became enormously rich, and was advanced to the episcopacy, although he was illiterate, not for his piety, but for his worldly power. But as all earthly prosperity is of short duration, on the death of his patron, King William, the bishop was thrown into prison by the new king as an inveterate robber of his country. For the many injuries he had inflicted on Henry [Henry I] himself and the other children of the soil, both rich and poor, by which he had in various ways heaped constant troubles upon them, he was, thanks to divine providence which changed the current of affairs, hurled from his proud elevation, and committed to the custody of William de Magnaville, to be confined in fetters in the tower of London. . . .
. . . [T]he crafty prelate contrived his release from prison, effecting his liberation by the adroit use of his friend’s assistance. Indeed, he had great ability and fluency of speech, and although he was cruel and passionate, such was his generosity and constant good humour, that he rendered himself a general favorite, and was even beloved. By the king’s command, he was allowed every day two shillings for his diet 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 [in February 1101] a cord was brought to the bishop in a flagon of wine, and, causing a plentiful banquet to be served, the guards having partaken of it in his company, washed it down with Falernian cups in the highest spirits. Having intoxicated them to such a degree that they slept soundly, the bishop secured a cord to the mullion in the center 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, his hands were excoriated to the bone by rough cord, and as it did not reach the ground, the portly bishop fell, and being much bruised, groaned piteously. 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, they 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.
Source: Ordericus Vitalis. The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy. Bk. X, Ch. XVIII, pp. 279-81.
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