 Gerard was the nephew of <unk> , Bishop of Winchester , and Simon , Abbot of Ely . His parents were <unk> and Anna , and his brother Peter was also a royal clerk . Where he was born and raised is unknown ; he is documented as cantor of Rouen Cathedral , and precentor of the same cathedral , although the date of his appointment to either office is unrecorded . By <unk> he had become archdeacon of Rouen . He served in the royal <unk> under successive kings of England , William I and William II . 
