 Ranulf was a Norman and the son of Thurstin , a parish priest in the diocese of Bayeux . Ranulf was probably born about 1060 , as he was close to 70 when he died in 1128 . Originally he worked for Odo of Bayeux , but he soon entered the chancery of King William I , Odo 's half @-@ brother . He stood out amongst the other clerks for his intelligence and his good looks . His nickname , Flambard , means torch @-@ bearer , incendiary or devouring flame ; and may have been given to him for his high @-@ spirited personality . Orderic Vitalis , a medieval chronicler , records that Robert <unk> gave the nickname to Ranulf , because Robert resented the fact that Ranulf , though of low birth , ordered the nobility around . Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury told the pope that the nickname came from Ranulf 's cruelty , which Anselm likened to a consuming flame . Orderic went on to claim that Ranulf was " educated from boyhood with base parasites among the hangers @-@ on of the court " . 
