Note 706 — Chapter V · GEOFFREY PLANTAGENET AND STEPHEN OF BLOIS. 1128–1139.

Gerv. Cant. (Stubbs), vol. i. p. 105. William of Ypres was son of Philip of Flanders, second son of Count Robert the Frisian. Although he had no legal place in the house of Flanders, he was one of the claimants of the county after the death of Charles of Denmark, against William the Clito and Theodoric of Alsace. After being the torment of his own country for nearly ten years, he was compelled to fly, and took service in England under Stephen. See Walter of Térouanne, Vita B. Caroli Com., in Rer. Gall. Scriptt., vol. xiii. pp. 336, 342–347; Galbert of Bruges, Vita B. Car. (ibid.), pp. 354, 355, 359 et seq.; Geneal. Com. Flandr. (ibid.), pp. 412, 413; Joh. Ypr. Chron. Sith. (ibid.), 466, 468. The people’s hatred of William was justifiable enough; but it ill became the barons to cast stones at him. His evil-doings were not a whit greater than theirs, and the changeless devotion with which he—a mere hireling, bound to Stephen by no tie but that of a bargain which Stephen certainly cannot long have had means to fulfil—stuck to the king in adversity as firmly as in prosperity, might have put them all to shame.