The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy, Volume 3

In the year of our Lord 1092, the fifteenth indiction, Henry, son of King “William, by God’s help and the support of his friends, obtained possession of the castle of Domfront, and began from thence to urge strong claims to his hereditary rights. This prince, being the youngest, did not receive fraternal treatment from his brothers, but was compelled to seek the aid of foreigners, such as the Erench and Bretons, as if he had been himself an alien, and was harassed by many vicissitudes of fortune during five years. At length, by God’s providence, the inhabitants of Domfront, pitying the misfortunes of the illustrious exile, sent one Harecher to invite him out of Erance, and, giving him an honourable reception, threw off the yoke of Eobert de Belesme, by whom they had been long grievously oppressed, and declared Henry their lord. The prince forthwith took arms against Hobert, count of Normandy, and made reprisals for his own banishment by pillaging and burning the country; taking many captives, and throwing them into prison. Among these was a man named Eualed from the territories of St. Evroult, who was lodged in the ca&tle of Domfront. The prisoner, sitting by the fireside, for it was in the winter, began to invoke St. Evroult in his tribulation, thus addressing him: “I beseech thee, holy Evroult, the friend of God, to deliver me from this captivity. Thou knowest that I have always served thee faithfully.” Having said this, he suddenly fell asleep, when, lo! he felt some one take his hand and begin to pull him. Upon his waking, he found himself entirely free from pain, for he was so feeble that he could not walk without some one’s help, having received injury by falling from the horse on which he was bound. He began now to consider what he could do to escape from his prison. He had noticed that the knight who brought him there had firmly closed the gate which led to the garden with a bolt. But faith giving him courage, he approaclied the gate and seized the bar which fastened it, when, strange to say, the bolt, which was so strongly fixed, fell to the ground. Having opened the gate, he proceeded to the end of the little garden, but on arriving there he saw a number of soldiers standing in the courtyard. However, he stretched out his hand, saying, “St. Evroult, be my guide,” and so, -wdth bare feet and having only his shirt and cloak on, passed through the crowd of soldiers, as if they had lost their sight. None of them asked who he was, or whither he was goiugi think that they were prevented seeing him by the power of the most blessed saint. About six o’clock, the fugitive, looking back, perceived the knight who had made him prisoner galloping after him; whereupon, being much terrified, he concealed himself in a thicket of underwood, which happened to be in sight. The knight riding up to the spot, inquired of some husbandmen who were ploughing a neighbouring field, if they had seen any one running that way, but they, fear putting them on their guard, denied having noticed any one, although they had seen him well enough. The knight having left the spot, the captive rose from his lurking place, and, with the help of God and St. Evroult, reached his home in safety, where ho lived till my time. I heard what I have related from his own mouth, and as he was an honest and worthy man, I have no scruple in crediting it.