Gender and Authority of Oral Witnesses in Europe (800–1300)
Elisabeth van Houts
Between 1068 and 1070 an extraordinary dispute was settled at Bonneville-sur-Touques in Normandy. Duke William, who had recently become king of England, his wife Matilda, heard the story a contested property Bayeux which centred on identity rented child. The goes as follows. A man called Stephen married widow Oringa by whom he small son ( puerulus ) lived only short while. When boy died, substituted for him, without her husband's knowledge, woman Ulburga Martragny (Calvados, c. Creully), to she paid annual sum 100 solidi . made heir left him property. first then boy's natural mother emerged demanded rent from couple's surprised relatives. family refused pay Ulberga turned William Matilda. Having die case consultation with Archbishop John Rouen, Roger Beaumont others, decided that ordeal hot iron would be most appropriate way establish truth. Matilda sent their chaplain Rainald organise ordeal, took place monastery Saint-Vigor presence himself, two named archdeacons, Robert Insule Albereda, Euremarus many otfier good men meliores homines Bayeux. unscathed fire therefore returned her.
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