In 1096 the mania of the Crusade prevailed through Europe, and Robert Duke of Normandy took the Cross. In order to defray the expence of equipping his forces for the expedition, he mortgaged his Dukedom to his brother William. He distinguished himself greatly by his chivalrous feats in the Holy Land. On one occasion he pushed alone into the thickest of the Saracen host^a, mortally wounded their Arniral, or Emir, and greatly contributed to a signal victory over them. On the capture of Jerusalem, he was chosen King of the Holy City by the leaders of the Christian army, but declined the office in consequence of his views of succeeding to the Crown of England, and Godfrey de Bouillon was elected in his stead. On the death of Rufus, and the accession of Henry the First, a second attempt of the friends of Robert to place him on the English Throne proved abortive. Henry in his turn invaded Normandy, overcame his brother at the battle of Tinchebray, made him prisoner, carried him to England, and placed him in confinement. Relying on some unstable promises, and urged chiefly by the Earl of Chester, he openly threatened vengeance, and escaped from his keepers; but his horse in his flight falling into a deep bog, he was retaken, committed to closer custody, and, as is said, to prevent further attempts, barbarously deprived of sight by order of his brother. This was effected by the application of a red-hot brazen basin to his eyes. The fact, however, seems to rest upon questionable authority. In 1134 Robert had grown old in prison, bewailing his sins, and regarding his misfortunes and confinement as the punishment for having refused the kingdom of the Sacred City. King Henry, touched with some compunctious feeling of respect, had been accustomed, whenever he put on a new robe, to send one of the same stuff to his unhappy brother. It chanced, as King Henry was trying on a scarlet vesture, that he rent the hood, it being too small for his head: he ordered it to be taken to his brother, saying that he had a shallower head than himself. The rent was not sewn up by the tailor, and the blind Duke, trying on the garment, felt the rough edges of the aperture, and asked the reason of its being brought him in that state ? The messenger told him at once the circumstances. "Alas!" exclaimed the venerable captive, whose mind had become keenly sensitive by his misfortunes, "Alas! I live too long. See this my traitor brother, my inferior by birth, an idle, petty clerk, the fraudulent possessor of my kingdom, who has imprisoned me, and in helpless captivity deprived me of my sight! Me, whose name was so renowned in arms! He spurns me, treats me with contempt, and sends me, as his pensioner, for an alms-gift, his cast-off, ragged gowns!" Then bursting into a flood of bitter tears, he vowed never more to touch that food and drink which prolonged his miserable existence; and in this resolution died. His body, by command of King Henry the First, was reverently interred in the cathedral of Gloucester [Map], before the high altar. A chest or shrine of oak was some time after erected for him; from the costume of the incumbent figure, probably early in the following century. Sandford says this memorial was very near being destroyed, when the Parliament army possessed themselves of Gloucester and the cathedral against Charles the First. The scattered parts of the monument were bought by a loyal individual of the soldiers, concealed until the Restoration, when they were put together, and replaced in the cathedral. The figure lies with the legs crossed, the attitude of a Crusader, habited in chain-mail, over which is a long surcoat.

Details. Plate 1. Head with the mailed hood.

Note a. Matt. Paris, sub anno 1099.