1121. “Anno ab incarnatione Domini millesimo centesimo vicesimo primo Willelmus Malet dedit Deo et Sancte Marie Becci Contevillam, ita quietam et integram sicuti eam tenuerunt ipse et antecessors ejus, et hoc pro salute anime sue et omnium parentum suorum. Et ego Henricus Dei gratia Rex Anglorum hoc donum concedo pro salute anime mee et uxoris mee et omnium antecessorum meorum, et signo sigilloque meo confirmo, Henricus Rex. Adelicia Regina. Willelmus episcopus Wintonie. Rogerus episcopus Sarisburie. Ranulfus cancellarius. Drogo de Monceio. Walterus filius Ricardi. Hugo de Gornaco. Comes Mellenti Gualeranus. Rodbertus Comes Lecestre. (Gallia Christiana, vol. xi. p. 301).

Contevillam – Conteville-sur-Risle, which gave its name to vicomte Herluin, the Conqueror’s stepfather.

J. R. Planche: “How came he possessed of Conteville? We know that Herluin had been previously married, and had by his first wife a son named Ralf. Was that first wife an Englishwoman, and had she a second son named William, heir eventually to Conteville? Glover, in his invaluable collections, has jotted down the subscribing witnesses to a charter by a Gilbert Malet, who styles himself “Dapifer Regis,” and we find amongst them William Malet, his heir “hærede meo,” Robert, and Ralph, brothers of William, and another William, grandson or nephew of the grantor (“nepote meo”).

There followed much speculation as to William Malet’s Saxon antecedant. Mr. Freeman proposed that is mother was a sister of Godgifu (Godiva); another common suggestion made her a sister of Ælfgifu; both, as follow.

It may have been more peripheral than such grander schemes, as suggested here:

1.
1.1. Godgifu (Godiva), m. Leofric, Earl of Mercia, d. 1057. There is no evidence connecting the legend with the historical Godiva.
1.1.1. Ælfgar of Mercia, d. 1062, m. Ælfgifu.
1.1.1.1. Aldgyth, m. King Harald.
1.2. Thoroldus de Buckenhuld, sheriff of Lincolnshire.
1.3. Wulfgifu. Her holdings temp. Domeday were mostly in Hartismere Hundred, wherein was Eye, the caput of the Malet family. She was associated in holdings with a Leofric, and, in this regard, Wulfgifu and a son (un-named) held Coldacote (unlocated), see D.B. Sf. 6/212. Leofric held estates in his own right, which became those of (1) Hesilia Crispin; (2) her son, Robert Malet, as did Wulfgifu’s. Some of Wulfgifu’s estates had been given to her by Queen Aldgyth. (D.B. 6. Sf. 6/ 229/30).
1.3.1. A dau. m. Herluin de Conteville?
1.3.1.1. William Malet, m. Hesilia Crispin (Monasticon 3. 405), sister of William Crispin I, and Gilbert Crispin (Colavilla). Herluin de Conteville, m. (2), Herleve, mother of the Conqueror, having issue: Odo, bishop of Bayeux, Robert comte de Mortain.

In this construction, William Malet is the second-cousin of King Harald’s wife.

1.3.1.1.1. Robert Malet, held the fief of Collavilla, near Harfleur, Seine-Inf. Domesday shows “Gilbert de Colavilla” as a considerable undertenant of Robert Malet at Rendlesham; he also held under Robert Malet’s mother, Hesilia Crispin (DB/Sf 6/19-21, 29-30, 34-37, etc.).
1.3.1.1.1.1. William Malet, perhaps Robert’s son, or his nephew; he of the charter of 1121.
1.3.1.1.2. Gilbert Malet.
1.3.1.2. Robert.
1.3.1.3. Ralph.
1.3.2. Leofric.

“In the name of God, I, Wulfgifu, give to all this notice of what I wish to grant to Almighty God for my soul at the end of my days, that is to say, I give the vill of Brancaster to God and St Benedict of Ramsey; I wish this to endure immutably and to be changed by no man. This document was divided into three parts: one of which remains in the hands of Bishop Athelstan; the second I have kept for myself; the third I have presented to Ramsey. May Almighty God watch over all those who are willing to watch over this document, and if anyone attempts to alter it may God call him to justice and correction. Amen”. (Ramsay Abbey Cart.).

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