ROBERT BLOET.
(Vol. ix., p. 105.)
Robert, Earl of Moreton, and Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, the Conquerors uterine brothers, both accompanied William, acting conspicuous parts on his invasion of England in 1066. The former died about 1090. Odo had been elected Bishop as far back as 1049. In 1088 he headed a conspiracy against William II.; but being defeated at Rochester, retired to Normandy. The time of his death is uncertain, but is supposed to have occurred in 1096.
The first notice of Robert Bloet's name, is as a witness to one of the charters of William II. to the monastery of Durham, granted in 1088 or 1089. He was appointed Chancellor in 1090, consecrated Bishop of Lincoln in 1093, and died in 1123.
These dates plainly prove that he was not "identical" with Robert, Earl of Moreton; and scarcely could be called cotemporary with him.
His supposed relationship to Odo is affirmed by Richardson, in his notes to Goodwin de Præsulibus, from an expression in his grant of the manor of Charleton to the priory of Bermondsey (Claud. A. 8., f. 118., MSS. Hutton); in which he says, "quod pro salute animæ Dom. mei Willelmi Regis, et fratris mei Bajocens. Episcopi." If Odo be the Bishop here intended, the meaning of "fratris mei" may be translated, not in the natural, but in the episcopal sense, as brother of his order. But the grant is probably a forgery, or its date of 1093 incorrect, for at that time Odo was in exile; and Bloet would have scarcely ventured to insult the king, from whom he had just received rewards and advancement, by coupling with his the name of one who had been banished as a traitor.
For farther particulars, allow me to refer your correspondent Mr. Sansom to The Judges of England, vol. i. p. 103.
Edward Foss.