On the fourteenth of the calends of December [18th November], while the Norman troops were on the march to attack the enemy, a beardless youth, concealed in the bushes by the road-side, shot an arrow, which mortally wounded Richer de Laigle, son of Engenulf, piercing his eye. His followers rode up, burning with rage, and, seizing the youth, would have avenged the noble Richer by putting him to death on the spot, but the dying baron saved his life. For when they were on the point of cutting the youth's throat, the wounded man with a valiant effort cried out: "Spare him, for the love of God; it is for my sins that I am called thus to die." His assassin being dismissed, the lamented lord confessed his sins to his companions in arms, and expired before they could convey him to the city. The corpse was borne to the convent of monks which his father Richer [sic. The Latin has the correct "Engenulf"] had founded on his domains in honour of St. Sulpitius, bishop of Bourges; and he was buried there, with great lamentations of his kinsfolk and connexions, by Gilbert, the venerable bishop of Evreux.
