History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 75

Knights such as Ralph de Limesi had probably received their lands from the Montforts
at the time of Gilbert and Alice’s marriage as part of the general reconciliation.
Hainaut had ruled Alost itself before the Flemish seizure of Valenciennes.
Gilbert de Ghent accompanied William, Duke of Normandy, on his expedition to
England. Gilbert took an active part in the subjugation of England: the city of York
was placed under his command in 1068 AD, together with William Malet. In 1069 AD,
an invading force captured the city, killed the Norman garrison and only spared Gilbert
and William for their ransom.
Gilbert de Ghent brought the Alost colours (sable, a chief argent) to England in 1066
AD, and he may have had them carried in front of his own troops there. The family
devices were an important part of their Flemish culture and provided a strong sense of
identity in a new country.
An adaptation of the Alost coat-of-arms was used in the great priory at Bridlington,
Yorkshire: per pale, sable and argent with the unusual addition of three Bs for
Bridlington.
He received 172 English manors; most of them in Lincolnshire (Gilbert was the first
Earl of Lincoln) and Nottinghamshire, through the shires of York, Derby, Huntingdon,
Leicester and Cambridge also provided extensive estates.
Gilbert and Alice made their chief home at Folkingham, near Grantham. Their children
include (there were others, unnamed by chroniclers): Gilbert II , Hugh , Walter I ,
Robert I , Ralph III , Henry , Emma and Agnes.
Gilbert died in 1095 AD. (There are many more stories about Gilbert’s activities after
the Conquest. Unfortunately, we do not have the space to include them in this article. Ed )
Gilbert de Ghent II was not well known. He may have been a victim of ill health or he
may have spent most of his time in Flanders, helping to hold the comté of Alost for his
family during the First Crusade and the troubled years, which followed the death in
that campaign of his cousin, Baldwin II. He left no heirs.
Hugh de Ghent, Gilbert’s second son, inherited the Norman lands of Montfort-surRisle from his mother. He became Hugh IV of Montfort-sur-Risle. Hugh married
Adeline de Beaumont.
Walter de Ghent (or de Lindsay), Gilbert de Ghent’s third son, was married twice.
His first wife is virtually unknown; his second wife was Maud of Brittany. Walter
accompanied David, Earl of Huntingdon, brother of Alexander I, to Scotland to claim
his throne. Walter de Lindsay settled at Tweedside, from Earlston to Caddonlea.
Walter de Lindsay had two sons by his first wife: Walter II and William
Walter de Lindsay was a witness to the very important Inquisitio into the See of
Glasgow, around 1116 AD. Other witnesses include Matilda the Countess, Count
David’s nephew, William, Osbert de Arden (a Warwickshire man who lived near Ralph
de Limesi) and Alan de Percy, husband of Emma de Ghent (Walter’s sister).
Count David (future king of Scotland) signed a charter in 1120 AD, founding the Abbey
of Selkirk. The signature of Galterio de Lyndeseia (Walter de Lindsay) also appears
on the Charter – the first to be found in Scotland of the great name of Lindsay.
Walter de Ghent inherited the Lincolnshire estates late in life and somewhat
unexpectedly. Walter married Maud of Brittany around 1120 AD. They had three
sons: Gilbert III– a minor when his father died, Robert and Geoffrey
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