PART 1

from anno 820 until the end of the XVII^th century.

“…Aussi nous n'avons part à la gloire de nos ancêtres qu'autant que nous nous efforçons de leur ressembler ; et cet éclat de leurs actions qu'ils répandent sur nous, nous impose un engagement de leur faire le même honneur, de suivre les pas qu'ils nous tracent, et de ne point dégénérer de leurs vertus, si nous voulons être estimés leurs véritables descendants…”.

Pierre Bayle (1647-1706)

in a letter dated 31 January 1673, to Mr Vincent Minutoli.

"...Therefore, we share in the glory of our ancestors only as much as we strive to resemble them; and this glory of their actions, which they spread over us, imposes upon us a commitment to do them the same honour, to follow the steps they trace out for us, and not to degenerate from their virtues, if we wish to be esteemed their true descendants…”.

We found a trace about anno 810 of the baronobis Hrvotland (Roland) Bels! This dynast undersigned, either as a lawman, witness or scribe, the text relative to the Treaty of Verdun, on 11 August, anno 843, (Assemblée de Coulaines). Source: Prof. Dr Timothy Alan Reuter (1947-2002). The Treaty split the vast empire of the Emperor Karolus Magnus (Charlemagne), into three parts:

• His son Lothairius Ist (843-855) received the Lotharingy that started from Friesland down to Rome. (Bourgogne and Lombardy) encompassing the part of Belgium that was east of the River Schelde.
• His son Karolus II the Bald (843-877), received the part of Belgium that was west of the river Schelde (Flanders) until Barcelona (Neustria, Aquitaine).
• His son Lodewik II the German (843-876), received the states from the Danish border until south of Bavaria (Sachsen, Austrasia, Alémania, Bavaria).

Another isolated record of the patronymic “Bels” was found in anno 1014, some 30 km northwest of Barcelona. As we know, the patronymic “Bels” appeared officially and well documented in 1180, in Bruges (Flanders), where it was linked with absolute certainty to the Lineage of the Balliol (van Belle).

And quite recently, I found the following quotation:

 “The Bels, with spelling variations such as Bell, Belle, in Dumfriesshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times, long before the Battle of Hastings in 1066.”.

See the blazon Nr 5 reported to be the one of the Bell from Provosthaugh (Dumfries) Scotland.

Dumfriesshire is the area called today Dumfries and Galloway. It is located at Scotland’s southwest border. Please note the following coincidences:

• The border between Scotland and England was close to Barnard Castle (100 km North of it) !
• The “Bels” or “Belle” families that settled and lived close to the border were officially referred as “the Bels from the border”.
• The spouse of the Regent of Scotland, John Ist of Balliol, was the Princess of Scotland, Lady Devorguilla of Galloway (see in 1233).
• The Sweetheart Abbey, built on order of Devorguilla, is located only 15 km South from the City of Dumfries.

And the quotation: “long before 1066”. What means long before 1066? Certainly not 10 of 20 years. Fifty maybe or one hundred? Let we not overdo it and consider 50 years a valid working hypothesis. The year 1066 minus 50 brings us to anno 1016. This approximate time the Bels-Belle family had her seat in Dumfriesshire is thus also prior to the “official“ reappearance of the Bels in Flanders in 1180 (Walter in Bruges). Remember they were already active in anno 843 (Treaty of Verdun (Thionville, Diedenhofen or Yutz) and in Northern Spain (anno 1014)!

How these very remote Bels got their patronymic is unknown. Considering the very remote time of the appearances, we realise that the chances to find other documents that could help us to solve the mystery are almost non-existent. However, the Knight Bels discovered in Spain, might have had something to do with the Bels that were active in the south of France, in Albi and Ambels (Tarn) and around Rennes-le-Château (Aude).

The same is true for the Bels installed on the border of Scotland and England. They also may have something to do with the fact that the Balliols choose Barnard Castle, and not another area, for the building of their castle and main residence.

And like in Flanders, Dynasts from several Flemish Dynasties such as the Balliol, Bruce, Comyn, Douglas, Fleming, Hay, Lindsay, Graham, and many others, all have their heraldic origins in Flanders (Laurence Gardner in “Bloodline of the Holy Grail”) and lived, for centuries, in exactly the same area in North England. For instance, the Comyn Family (from Comen, in Flanders), Earls of Buchan and of Monteith, Lords of Lochaber, Badenoch and Tynedale, were considered the most powerful baronial family in Scotland.

Our Dynasts Joseph F. Bailey (on picture) and Thomas Baillieul (Californian anthropologist, nearby Monterey) met, discussed, and compared notes on their research to prove that the Bailey and Baillieul were one and the same family originating in Flanders. They took an «yDNA» test and the results indicated that they had the same Haplogroup R1b1c9b, and the common ancestor about anno 620.

“…Their mutual origin was an area called «old Frisia» which, in older times, ranged from the southern corner of the North Sea (the Netherlands) and close to the coastal regions, all the way down to the most southern part of ancient Flanders (Belgium). The gravity centre of this area was Flanders, the core of the Western European History !...” Source: Author´s private correspondence dated 21 Oct. 2007, with Joseph F. Bailey.

Our Dynast Fra. Joseph Bailey, Postulant of the Ordo Balliolensis, obtained “post mortem” and by decision of the Magistrial Convent (Televote 1078-2024), the title of Member of Honour of our Order.

The Romans, who in their writings separated the celts, gave them either a Gallic or Germanic origin. Their observations, although quite evidently empirical, were nevertheless surprisingly accurate. We know today that the Germanic Celts carried the R1b1c10 Haplogroup, while the Gallic carried the R1b1c8 and the R1b1c9 ones. The later marker, also found in southern England, with Flanders on the other side of the Channel, is continental and arrived, in England, with the Anglo - Saxons as soon as the 5th Century.

In 621, the small city of Belgis (Belle and later Balliol) was also called Belsch. “…Lederwyck de Buck wordt eersten forestier in vlaenderen, onder de regering van Daogobert koning van vrankryk in´t jaer 621. … Die om zyn kloeke deugd dien titel heeft gekregen… ook maer vyf ueren weegs, was zyn casteel gelegen van onze Belsche stad…”. Source: Fransiscus Despringher (anno 623).

Above text translated in English: In 621, the small city of Belgis (Belle and later Balliol) was also called Belsch. “…Lederwyck de Buck becomes, under the government of Dagobert, king of the Franks in the year 621, the first Grand Forester in Flanders… Who became the title for his brave deeds… also only five travel hours away was his castle located from our Belsche city…”.

Between 834 and 836, the Vikings (the Normans) launched three barbarian invasions on the deltas of the Meuse, Rhine and Escaut (Schelde). Finding no armed forces to counter their murderous assaults, they became increasingly more aggressive.

In 843, we see the birth of the Kingdom of France. It is the result of the Treaty of Verdun (Yutz) dividing the Kingdom of Louis le Pieux (the Pious, 778-840). The country is divided in Duchies and Counties whose Lords behaved as independent princes.

In 879, the Marquis of Flanders Boudewijn Ist “Iron Arm” (840-879) who had married Judith, former Queen of England, and daughter of the French King Charles le Chauve (the Bald) marries his daughter Lady Winidilde van Vlaanderen (*860) with the Count of Barcelona Wilfredo “el Velloso” (*Abt 845 +897). After the festivities, the “just married” took the long way back to Barcelona (if we suppose the wedding to have taken place in Flanders, which is almost certain).

The Marquis of Flanders ordered an escort to protect the travellers. He requested and assigned a few knights from Flemish “vassi” Families to stay, for a while, with his daughter in her new land. Some important people from the immediate environment of the Count of Barcelona, also remained at the court of Flanders! (See development subsequently and in Volume II).

In 880, Belgis, Belsch also Belle, is fortified by the Count Balduinus II of Flanders to counter the Norman invasions. Source: E. Vanneufville.

In 881, the Vikings launched a big new invasion. However, this time they did not only take the liberty to cross the Rhine but also audaciously humiliated, outraged and offended the epicentre of the Carolingian Empire itself, by damaging its Palace of Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle)!

In 882. The Vikings sacked the city of Belgis/Belsch/Belle. Source: Francis Bayley.

After leaving Aachen, the Vikings quartered in 884 in the city of Leuven (Louvain-Flanders) that was an important place strategically well situated on the ancient Roman road linking Bruges to Köln (Germany). The King of Germany, Arnulf of Carinthia, attacked them but could not gain the city back. However, as wining a battle is far away from winning a war, the same King headed a new army and defeated the Vikings, in Leuven, on September 1 of the same year 884. From then on, the Vikings concentrated their “efforts” (sic) and sac the Lower-Seine region. In anno 911, the king of France Charles le Simple (the Simple) conceded them what would soon become the Duchy of Normandy!

In anno 948, the city of Belgis, also Belle (later Balliol), named after people who lived there, known for their resistance against the army of occupation from Caesar, is fortified by the Count of Flanders Arnulf the first. Source: Franciscus Despringher in “De Belle Brand”.

From anno 956 to 960, Richard Ist Duke of Normandy (°933 in Fécamp, Normandy) was Regent of France. He was son of Guillaume Ist (William Longsword), Duke of Normandy and Sprote de Bretagne. Richard governed in relative peace and in 965, swore allegiance to the Carolingian King Lothar.

In anno 960, the long before quoted city of Belgis (Belle-Balliol) becomes a ship belonging to Arnoldius Grameninis and his wife Gertrui van Valkenberghe, fa. of Eripand, Lord of Valkenberg (Fauquenberg). Arnoldius was an officer appointed by the Count of Flanders to “take charge of the fortress erected and to defend the city against the invasion of the Normans”.

Actually, and as usual, this order came much too late. It was a good wild guess because the Vikings constituted no longer a threat for Flanders. They were happy in their own Duchy of Normandy, keeping themselves busy with their imported Norman’s cows!

The castellany of Balliol being hereditary, Arnuldius decided to have his descendants (Hubertus, Simon, and some others, not named) to bear its name “Balliol”. The new patronymic is therefore a toponym with a connotation of a charge and a function.

Simon of Balliol is said to be the ancestor of the Balliol of Ypres (via his son Wido de Besle and his Grandson Simon de Besle) and Hubertus of Balliol, who totally disappeared from the archives of Flanders, is supposed to be the ancestor of the Balliol of Normandy (probably via Hervé and Roussel Ist of Balliol). See anno 1025.

However, this Balliol family, issued from Arnoldus Gameninis, poses historians and genealogists, a huge identification problem. The only fact that the toponym patronymic “Belle” is the Flemish pendant and the synonym of the old Latin “Balliol” toponym put us facing the evidence of its anteriority by several centuries. So was the “Balliol” toponym patronymic already in use, long before it was taken over by the Grameninis! Not only that, but it was also in use by a very old and important family!

The “Bels” were already named as such in the Treaty of Verdun, in 843. We have already seen that “Bels” is the product of an archaic German grammatical form called “der Genitiv”, transforming people named “van Belle” into “Belles-Bels” (De mensen van Belle or de Belles-Bels [Bailes-Bayles-Bellis, etc.]).

Conclusion: the real “Balliol” family of Flanders must have pre-existed Arnould Grameninis´ monopolization by centuries! The old “Balliol” family was the real “Balliol”, the ancestors of the Balliols of Normandy, Scotland, etc. They were not the heirs of the “Balliol” created (sic) by the Lord Arnould Grameninis!

In addition to this, modern historians put forward the hypothesis that the de Gramininis Balliols did not last long. The taking over of the patronymic from such an old family, must have caused reactions among other ancient families of Flanders and the case must have reached the Count of Flanders. The Count puts Arnoldus Grameninis in the defence of the City of Balliol, against the Normans waves of destruction. However, this affectation would not authorise the “defender” to substitute the patronymic of another family, moreover a very ancient family.

In this case, seeing the ties these ancient families had between each other, the Count would have, with absolute certainty, decided in favour of the real Balliols. The Gramininis Balliols would not have survived one generation and the patronymic “de Gramininis” itself seems to have suffered from this adventure. It was not to be found in any subsequent historical events, after this episode! Modern DNA tests on the Balliols, may give historians the definitive answer!

As we have seen previously, the results of a «yDNA» test for our Dynasts Joseph F. Bailey and Thomas Baillieul indicated that they had the same Haplogroup R1b1c9b, and a common ancestor, in Flanders, at about anno 620.

Another “yDNA” test was done for our Dynast David, Erwin Bell (Clan Bell USA). It has the following conclusions:

“… Upon commercial ancestral Y-DNA STR and SNP testing, the test subject was a close genetic match to many other individuals named Bell. This indicates that the test subject is directly descended from a Bell-Adam; literally, the first male (‘Adam’) to take that surname who lived approximately 1,000 years ago when paternally inherited surnames became common. Bell is a very common surname associated with both Scotland and England. However, the dominance of either exclusively Scottish or Scottish-associated surnames among the test subject’s closest genetically recurring surname matches indicates that he is directly descended from a Scottish-Bell Adam…”.

According to this report, the Bell families “of the Border” (from the South of Scotland and the North of England) had the same origin (Adam) some 1.000 years ago, that is approximately around the year 1015!

“…It is Mr David Bell’s closest genetic surname matches revealed by his Y-DNA test results as a snapshot of his Scottish medieval male ancestors’ neighbours which identify where his paternal Bell ancestors once lived, or rather which of the 7 Scottish Bell Clans he is related to. This is because those surnames (revealed upon Y-DNA testing) will have arisen among a group of related males living in a very specific location, plot where those surnames occur in early census data, and one will reveal an area within Scotland that is common to all…”. Source: David Erwin Bell’s correspondence dated January 2019. Out of “A Scottish Case Study” by Dr. Tyrone Bowes.

Unfortunately, the yDNA report does not mention the origin of these first Bell “of the Border”. In the case of our Dynasts Joseph F. Bailey and Thomas Baillieul, the Haplogroup R1B1c9b, clearly gives their common ancestor in Flanders, at about anno 620.

Did the ancestors of the so-called Bell Adam (one should read Adams, a plural because they were seven) originate from Flanders as well? Were their ancestors the Belle from Flanders we could trace back until the year 750? Whatever the origin years 620 (Bailey and Baillieul) and 750 (Bell) are very close to each other and seem to point to a common origin in Flanders!

In 1014, on a judicial hearing held in Vacarisses (some 30 km northwest of Barcelona, close to the foothills of the Pyrenean Mountain Range that separates France from Spain) by Count Guillem of Montcada (heir of a Medieval Catalan noble family [1000-1230] whose members had served Catalonia's ninth and tenth century Counts as Viscounts and Vicars) to settle the claim of the vicar of Olesa de Monserrat, a document was signed by several Knights. Among them was the seal of a Knight Bels.

Here follows an excerpt of the Latin text out of: The Library of Iberian Resources Online. “A Medieval Catalan Noble Family: The Montcadas, 1000-1230”. Part 2. by John C. Shideler.

"…Sig+num Sanfredus levita qui et iudex, sig+num Bels, sig+num Borrellus gratia Dei episcopus ac si indignus, Salla sig+num, sig+num Raimundus archilevita, sig+num Roderandus sacerdos, sig+num Gaucerfredus presbiter, sig+num Oliva Sajo, Guislara presbiter epanavit die et anno quo supra…".

This text appears to be a signature section from a medieval Latin charter or legal document, from medieval Catalonia or southern France, likely from the 10th-11th century, based on the names (particularly Borrellus, which could refer to one of the Borrell counts of Barcelona). It lists various witnesses and officials who were authenticating the document. Here's what the different parts mean:

• "Sig+num" refers to a signature mark = often a cross or symbol preceding a name.
• "Sanfredus levita qui et iudex"  =  Sanfredus, a deacon who is also a judge.
• "sig+num Bels" = the signature mark of Bels (possibly a legal official).
• "sig+num Borrellus gratia Dei episcopus ac si indignus" = the signature of Borrellus, by the grace of God bishop, though unworthy (a common expression of humility).
• "Salla sig+num"  =  the signature mark of Salla (possibly a legal official).
• "sig+num Raimundus archilevita" =  the signature of Raimundus, an archdeacon.
• "sig+num Roderandus sacerdos" =  the signature of Roderandus, a priest.
• "sig+num Gaucerfredus presbiter”  =  the signature of Gaucerfredus, a presbyter (priest).
• "sig+num Oliva Sajo" =  the signature of Oliva Sajo (possibly a legal official).
• "Guislara presbiter epanavit die et anno quo supra" = Guislara, a priest, wrote/issued (this document) on the day and year as stated above.

“…Documents of the tenth and early eleventh centuries attest to the existence of persons with titles such as “centenaries, tribunus” and “ministerialis”, but their role in the comital administration is difficult to deternine”. Source: John C. Shideler.

Wido de Besle is born about 1020. His patronymic «de Besle» however, appears only in 1046, in Ypres. The mention «alias of Balliol» is added. The name of his spouse is unknown. Since his branch left the Seigneurie of Belle (France, Flanders) (*) for the region of Ypres, where its members were lords for centuries to come, Wido may have been the person who deposed the new Coats of Arms for his family (who will become later the Belle (van) and Bels, from Flanders).

(*) France Flanders is called today : Département du Nord-Pas de Calais. It encompasses the regions of Picardie (annexed to France in 1477), Artois, Flandres and Cambrésis. I will detail this region subsequently.

About 1025, Roussel Ist of Balliol is referred in documents as a “Norman adventurer”. The theory that Roussel Ist of Balliol is son of Arnuldius is very unlikely. Arnuldius is born about anno 930 and Roussel Ist died in 1076. If he lived 60 years old, which was a long life in those times, it would bring his birth year around anno 1016. In such a case, Arnouldius should have procreated him at an age of 86 years!

Even if Roussel I^st died at an age of 70 (what was he hanging around at 70 years old on a battlefield, because he died in combat?) that does not change the situation. Arnuldius should have procreated him at the age of 76 years. None of these elements seem to fit reality.

Another theory wants Roussel Ist to be the son of one of the unmentioned sons of Arnuldius. These sons are not found in old records of French-Flanders and Flanders because they left the county for Normandy where they spend their life. Roussel Ist may also very well be the son of Hubertus of Balliol.

PART 2

In 1035, Hervé of Balliol is also a probable son of Hubertus of Balliol. He was a Norman army chief, who played a very important role in events of the Byzantine Empire, in the XIth century, after having fought in Sicily next to Georgius Maniaces. The first mention of him, in the Orient, dates from 1049.

In 1036, some Balliol are mentioned in the village of Bailleul-en-Vimeu (modern French name) County of Hallencourt (France, Somme).

In 1040, the probable year of birth of Rainald (also Rainard) of Balliol, in Balliol (Flandres-Picardie). He married Aimera de Montgomery about 1064, in France.

In 1046, we find in documents from Ypres and from Belle (Flanders), the heirs of Wido de Besle called: Balduinus de Besle, Gérard van Belle, Jourdain de Belle and later, in 1450, Danckaert Belle, Lord of Grand-Schachtelweghe, whose heirs are known as "van Belle" and this, until today. So, we have for this branch of the family at least 5 different names: de Besle, van Belle, de Belle, Belle and later back to van Belle!

The blazon of the families Belle (van) and Bels, from Flanders, is anterior to 1056! Wido de Besle, in Ypres, may have created it sometime around anno 1046.

In 1049, William the Conqueror negotiated with Balduinus V, of Flanders for the hand of his daughter, Mathilda. They married in 1053.

In 1049, Hervé of Balliol (the Francopoule) commanded the military contingent of his nation that was part of the army led by the rector Nicéphore. This army was defeated in Diocène where Hervé and “his” French soldiers assured the left flank.

In 1050, in Normandy, the lords of Balliol were privileged friends of the ducal court of Normandy. These very close ties may be due, among other things, to the fact that the wife of William the Conqueror was Mathilda of Flanders. Remembering the very close ties that also existed between the Counts of Flanders and the Balliol, one thing may explain the other!

In 1052, Simon II of Balliol (x the daughter of Geoffrey, Lord of Mervalle) is Châtelain of Belle. By his marriage, he received in heritage the lands of Wiersem and Flammertinghem (Flanders).

On the 18th of May 2019, during an Investiture of the Ordo Balliolensis, in Ludwigslust (Germany), the Knight Ordinis Balliolensis, Frater Andreas Bausemer, was allowed to bring the estate of Wiersem back to life.

“La Relève du Fief” or “Feudal Homage” is a hand-over feudal ritual of a Fief. Fra. Robert A. Bels, acting as overlord, gives a piece of wood to the receiver (symbol for the estate) who holds it with the palm of his hands. At that moment, both parties make agreements, conventions, and engagements. The Title and the Lordship are not hereditary and revert to the Dynasty after the Knight’s Last Crusade!

On the big picture left, is Fra. Robert A. Bels and right, Fra. Andreas Bausemer. In the background is left Fra. Herbert Class. Knight of the Order St. Stanislas and General Consul Honorary of the Ordo Balliolensis in Belgium, acting as Protocol Officer and right, Fra. Jacob W. Manning, Baron of Feudal Nobility, Sire of Buittle Castle.

On March 27, 2023, Fra. Andreas requested to be relieved of his Feudal Oath, due to family constraints preventing him from managing his fief as he wished. The request was accepted and recorded in our archives under "Communication Magistrale” Nr.1037 and 1038, dated 16 and 17 August 2023.

During the same Investiture in Ludwigslust (Germany), the Knight Ordinis Balliolensis, Sorores Alexandra Kilchling, was allowed to bring the estate of Flammertinghem back to life.

In 1055, Balduinus VI Count of Flanders and Margrave of Antwerp becomes the first Count of Hainaut. He married Richilde, heiress of Hainaut, fa. of the Count von Eguisheim (ca. 7 km SSW from Colmar, Alsace, France). Some eight years earlier, another fa. of the Count von Eguisheim, Hildegarde, Duchesse of Alsace, married Frederic von Buren (+1094). This marriage started another important Dynasty, the one of the Hohenstaufen. One of their best-known heirs was the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.

The lineage of the Counts of Eguisheim must have been very influential in those times. As we have seen, it gave birth to the Dynasty of the Hohenstaufen and was linked to the Count of Flanders and of Hainaut. However, what was quite unexpected to me is the following quote by Monsignor Cardinal Karl Lehmann from Mainz (Germany) a few days after the election of Pope Benedict XVI (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger from Bavaria, Germany) in April 2005.

“...In the German-language Catholic Church they celebrated today, on the day of the election of Benedict XVI., the feast of the sacred Pope Léon IX., originally Bruno Count of Eguisheim who lived from 1002-1054 and who reigned from 1049-1054. He is considered as an extraordinarily blessed, yes - like some thinks - as the most successful Pope of German origin...”.

The Pope Léon IX belonged therefore to the lineage of the Counts of Eguisheim. Archives tell us also that the Count Eberhardt of Eguisheim was his ancestor and nephew of Saint Odile, protection-saint of Alsace. The lineage of the Eguisheim can be traced back until the VIIIth century when a Count called Eberhardt, grandson of the third Alsatian Duke, started the building of the first castle of Eguisheim.

In another document, we can read: In 1006 the castle of „Hoch-Eguisheim", probably the oldest castle in Alsace, belonged to the Count Hughes of Eguisheim x Heilwige. The castle was seriously damaged in 1026 by the Duke of Schwaben and the castle chapel “Saint Pancrace”, was later consecrated by Pope Léon IX.

In 1074, Gerhard, the nephew of the Pope Léon IX, lived in the castle. After the death of Ulrich of Eguisheim, in 1150, the Count Ludwig Ist of Ferrette, his nephew, managed to get back all their Alsatian properties. In 1225, after the dead of Gertrud von Dabo the family of Ferrette raises claim on the inheritance. To avoid dispute, the Bishop of Strasbourg buys the inheritance-right from the Marquis of Baden (does the sentence mean that the Ferrette was a Marquis or is my interpretation wrong?).

More about this overview… We should not forget that some Counts of Flanders belonged to the Alsatian lineage (Thierry of Alsace 1128-1168, Philippe of Alsace 1165-1191). Therefore, Alsace and Flanders were very closely linked. So were they very close to the lineage of the dukes of Lotharingia, the House of Godefroid de Bouillon.

The Balliols of Flanders were not only linked to the Counts of Hainaut via the Counts of Flanders but also by a direct link, the one created by the wedding of Balduinus II of Balliol with Agnès of Wavrin who was fa. of Roger III de Wavrin and Richilde de Hainaut. (See 1177).

Later, in 1332, when Edouard I^st of Balliol recruited a small army of about 600 men to invade Scotland, he received an additional 6000 men from King Edward III of England (who married Philippine de Hainaut in 1327). He was the head of a group of English "disinherited barons" whose lands, in Scotland, had been seized by King Robert Ist the Bruce (De Brus), father of David II.

In 1057, Hervé of Balliol, as many other partisans of Michel Stratiotique saw his promised favours refused. Hervé under pretext of returning to France left the scene. He never went back to France but to his estates is Asia, in Dabarama of Armenia where a whole colony of his compatriots had settled. He made a short life alliance with the Turk Samuk who later attacked him by surprise. The Turk attracted Hervé and his men to Chliat under pretext of negotiations. They were kept prisoner and eventually killed! Hervé, the Francopoule, also called the “Francabol”, is supposed to have been the founder of the late Byzantine Phrangopoulos family.

In 1059, Gaufridus of Balliol (de Bailoil), signs as "one of the rare witnesses" the foundation charter of the St. Michel church of the city Tréport (France), wanted by the Count Robert of Eu (France, Normandy). There is also a “Bailoil” reported on the “Scriven Alias Fox Sirnames of the Cheife Noblemen & Gentlemen, which came into England, with William the Conquerour”. Source: Falaise Roll.

Anno 1060, Philippe Ist, son of Henry II King of France, was eight years old when his father died.  The Count of Flanders, Balduinus V (of Lille), was one of the most influential figures of the XIth century Europe. He was so powerful that from 1060 until 1067, on the decease of King Henri II of France, he was appointed regent of France during the minority of Philip Ist (1060-1067) who came under his tutorage. The Count was praised as a prudent administrator and feared as the leader of the Flemish military power.

Balduinus V of Flanders eldest granddaughter, Mathilda (fa. Henricus), shared the English throne with William the Conqueror. Here may be one of the reasons behind the important roles the Balliol/Belle played at the court of the duke William and later King of England. This had, as we have seen, a precedence with our Knight Bels, in Vacarisses (North of Spain) whose ancestors most probably travelled down to Spain and settled there, also accompanying a Flemish Heiress Lady Winidilde van Vlaanderen (*860) who married the Count of Barcelona Wilfredo “el Velloso” (+845 +897). Winidilde was a daughter of one of the first Counts of Flanders.

Balduinus V of Flanders eldest son, Balduinus of Mons, became in possession of Hainaut (Belgium) in right of his wife Richilde, heiress of Regnier V and his second son, Robert the Frisian, became regent of the county of Holland.

Before 1070, William de Warenne x Gundreda, daughter of William the Conqueror. There is a pew at Saint John church, Southover, Lewes and the following inscription:

"Within this pew stands the tombstone of Gundrada, daughter of William the Conqueror and wife of William 1 de Warenne, which, having been deposited over her remains in the Chapter House of Lewes Priory and lately discovered in Iffield´s church, was removed to this place at the expense of William Burrel, Esquire in 1775 CE ". Info from the Chaffey family, transmitted by Lady Elizabeth Abbott. (Canada).

This is very important information because it establishes a link between the Balliol and William the Conqueror´s family since:

“…In 1278/79, John II of Balliol married in 1281, Isabelle de Warenne, fa. of John de Warenne, 7Pth^P Earl of Surrey (1231-1304) and Alice de Lusignan. Her maternal grandparents were Hugh x of Lusignan and Isabelle of Angoulême, widow of John Ist of England...”.

William de Warenne married before anno 1070. He must have been something like 20 years old around 1065. Born in 1045, according to our extrapolation, he might have had children as soon as 1065 (second generation). The 3d generation will start around 1095, the 4th around 1115, the 5th around 1145, the 6th around 1175, the 7th around 1205, the 8th around 1235. The 9th around 1255.

Therefore, Lady Isabelle de Warenne might have belonged to the 9th generation of William de Warenne who married Gundrara. If there was a link between the Balliol and the Conqueror´s family, it must have been a very old one. But the link was definitively there!

In 1063, Roussel de Balliol is mentioned as having been in command of a division under the army supreme commander Roger de Hauteville. What is certain, is that Roussel will be later, a Byzantine general. According to the text hereunder, I think the historians made an amalgam.

“…Early in 1063, Roger de Hauteville broke the siege of Troina and resumed his harrying of the Sicilian interior. Unbeknown to him, however, Ibn al-Hawas had signed an alliance with the North African, Zirid Emir Tamin and had received substantial reinforcements of Zirid soldiers led by his sons, princes Ayyub and 'Ali. Ibn al-Hawas struck eastwards at the head of this large army towards Roger's position at Troina with a single-minded ambition, to destroy the Norman presence on the Island.

Roger's army, if it could be called that, consisted of 136 mounted Norman knights who were highly disciplined and well versed in the Frankish tactic of the heavy cavalry charge. The Norman force would also have contained an infantry element but, owing to the Roger's chronic shortage of manpower, this almost certainly did not exceed approximately 150 troops and would have consisted of Norman as well as Calabrian Lombard sergeants and dismounted knights and squires.

Norman notables at the battle included Roger Ist of Sicily, Serlo II of Hauteville, Roussel de Bailleul and Arisgot du Pucheuil. Roger de Hauteville, although the supreme commander of the army, would also have led a personal retinue of several dozen knights and their entourages. His nephew Serlo also commanded a cadre of around 30 knights, as would have other lords, and to a lesser extent other knights, such as Roussel de Bailleul and Arisgot du Pucheuil…”. Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Battle_of_Cerami.

A division is quite evidently much more than 30 knights and a few hangers-on! A Roman legion counted 5.240 soldiers not including Officers and other non-combatant personal. Under the emperor Lucius Septimius Severus (146-211), the roman army counted no less than 33 Legions or 198.000 men! What is however certain is that Roussel de Balliol will be later known as a redoubtable Byzantine general (See in 1074).

In September 1066, William the Conqueror (° in Falaise, Normandy, around 1027), the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy Robert Ist and of Arlette, fa. of a skin dresser of Falaise, mobilise his troops in St. Valery (Somme, near Abbeville) and set sail with 8.000 men, for the southeast coast of England. Lords of Balliol accompanied him, as did numerous other Knights from Normandy, France and Flanders.

On 17 August 1862 an international academic sitting engraved the names (ca. 480) of William the Conqueror’s companions on the occidental wall of the nave of the roman church (XIth century) of Dives-sur-Mer, in Normandy. The surface of the writings covers more than 24 square meters. Two more engravings were done: One on the stones of the Abbey of Hastings (England) and one in the chapel of the Castle of Falaise (Calvados, France). This was the place of birth of the Duke of Normandy.

In October 1066, Lords of Balliol (Guy, Renaud (Rainald or Renard), Petrus (Knight of Balliol and Fécamp, North Normandy] and probably other family members, not quoted) participated at the battle of Hastings on William (Guillaume) the Conqueror’s side. They pursued with him the conquest of England. The Normans lost in the battle some 15.000 men. The number of the English causalities is unknown!

Here is the alphabetical list of the principal lords and the lands, fiefs, ships, counties as well as manors, castles, and other titles they received from the Duke of Normandy x Queen Mathilde:

• Alain Ier, le Roux, becomes Count (Earl) of Richmond. In anno 1075 he was in possession of 226 manors and 606 localities.
• Baudouin de Meules, brother of Richard de Bienfaite, became Sheriff du Devon and received the castle of Exeter.
• Eustache II, Count de Boulogne, (father of Godefroid de Bouillon, Godefroid was the leader of the First Crusade) x Mahaut de Louvain (Belgium), received 120 fiefs.
• Gauthier Giffard, became Count of Buckingham.
• Geoffroy de Montbray, Bishop of Coutances, received 265 manors.
• Geoffroy de Manneville, received vast lands …
• Guillaume de Varenne, became fiefs in Northumberland and in Durham.
• Guillaume FizOsbern, became Palatine Count of Herefordshire.
• Guy Balliol, ancestor of the Balliol, Kings of Scotland, became Count of Durham (on the march of Scotland).
• * Hugues Goz, became Count of Chester.
• Hugues II de Montfort-dur-Risle, Constable of Normandy became Constable of England, hereditary guardian of the castle of Dover. He received 114 manors.
• Odo de Conteville, Bishop of Bayeux, half-brother of the King, became Count of Kent and vice-King of England.
• Patry de la Lande, received 15 fiefs.
• Richard de Bienfaite.
• Robert de Conteville, Count de Mortain, also a half-brother of the King, received 792 fiefs.
• Robert de Montbray, nephew of Geoffroy de Montbray, became count of Northumberland.
• Robert Hamon, became Sheriff of Kent and Seneschal.
• Robert Picot de Sai, (ancestor of the Peacock) received 29 manors in Shropshire.
• * Roger de Beaumont, viscount du Roumois, received lands in the county of Winchester, Arundel and Shrewsbury and became Count of Warvick.
• * Roger II de Montgomery became Palatine Count of Shrewsbury and titular Count of Arundel and of Chichester.

Note: Under the asterisk (*) are named lords who did not participate at the battle of Hastings. They remained in Normandy to insure its defence and protection during the conquest of England.

Note: There were of course plenty other Barons and Knights who also received their part of the big cake (sic). Peter le Bel, for instance, received for his services some lands in Northumberland in the north of England. He was later established as a Baron. James E. Bell, Knight Ordinis Balliolensis, note that the name was later anglicised to Bell and that the family seat was called Bellasis. Part or most of the family seems to have crossed the Border, into southwestern Scotland.

Peter le Bel had sons: Walter and Robert. Peter was not a Norman but a Flemish Knight of the noble class! His name alone proves his origin. If he were French, his name would have been Pierre! Like William is English for Guillaume, Andrew for André and John for Jean! Peter is a typical Flemish name as is Walter and Robert. Even his patronymic must have been Flemish. It should have been “De Bel” or more precisely “De Belle” instead of the “Le Bel”. The latest means nothing, even not in French, unless we take this word as an adjective as in the name of Philippe le Bel.

So did the Count of Flanders Baudouin V, who remained in Flanders and did not participate in the battle although the Duke of Normandy specifically requested his help. The Count of Flanders Baudouin V was the duke´s father-in-Law. The writer of the text hereunder, Robert Wace, made a mistake when referring to the Baudouin in question as being the duke’s brother-in-Law “serorge”.

The Count of Flanders agreed to send some troops but would not participate himself. In the following text, the Count asked what he would get in return, from the English territory, on what the duke answered that he would have to consult his Barons first.

« … Li Conte de Flandre requist, k´en sa busuigne à li venist cum od serorge et od ami, E cil de Flandre respondi k´il voldreit bien anceis saveir, s´il s´aïe voldreit aveir et asséur estre en voldreit, d´Engleterre combien areit et k´ele partie s´en fereit. E li Dus dist k´il s´en ireit, à sez Barunz en parlereit et à els s´en cunseillereit, e ço ke l´en li loerreit par son bref li remandereit...». Source: Roman de Rou et des Ducs de Normandie. Tome II, page 138. By Robert Wace, Normand poet of the XIIth century.

Guy or Guido of Balliol was a Flemish baron who kept his fiefs in Flanders (Balliol and Dampierre) and received new ones in Normandy (Harcourt and Vinoy). He is seen as the founder of the Balliol Family in England. The ships he received (Stokesley and Bywell) were close to the Duke’s Royal Castle in the county of York, England. Some sources mentioned another Royal Castle in the County of Durham, 30 miles west from Stokesley, which brings us less than 15 km south of Barnard Castle. Were there two different Royal Castles?

”…One was just north of the River Tees, which separates Durham and York…”.

It is significant that Guy called one of his known sons, William Ist Rufus and that William the Conqueror’s son was also called William Rufus (Redhead or William II of England). This may not be a proof of a close family link but makes it highly probable. Some historians pretend: William the Conqueror’s son may have been the Godfather of Guy’s of Balliol son. Research is in process to find out any evidence of this allegation.

Since 1066, England has been completely, economically, and culturally, linked to France. The aristocracy spoke old French while Latin was the language of the church, Abbeys, and administration. Written English hardly reappeared until the 13thth century and was forever marked by the Latin and French language.

PART 3

In 1067, on Sep 1, Balduinus V, Count of Flanders, died. His elder son, Balduinus VI became the new Count of Flanders and Count of Hainaut by his marriage (ab.1050) with Richildis, widow of the Count of Hainaut (Belgium). Being vassal of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (of the German Nation), he became, by the succession of his father, also vassal of the King of France.

About 1070, Roussel II of Balliol (probably the son of Roussel Ist) had “a period of activity, in south of Italy”, is found as a mercenary fighting for the Byzantine Empire.

In 1070, Balduinus VI Count of Flanders dies in his castle in Bruges (Flanders). His son Arnoulf III succeeded him. Arnoulf III being pro French, was killed at the battle of Cassel in 1071, by the Flemish troops of his uncle Robert the Frison, the real Count of Flanders.

In 1073. Roussel of Balliol, chief of the Norman mercenaries of Byzance and lieutenant of Roman Diogène, at the time of the battle of Malâzgerd (Manzikert) in 1071, wants to benefit from the war between Turks and Greeks to carve himself an independent state in the heart of Anatolia. Roussel rebels while accompanying Isaac Comnène and undertook the conquest of the Lycaonie and the Galatia for his own account. Isaac Comnène, taken between two fires, is undone by the Seldjûkideses near Qaisariya (Aksaray).

Michel VII Doukas sent then to Anatolia, a new army ordered by his uncle, the Caesar Jean Doukas. The opposite armies clashed near Amorium (Ammuriye). Both Caesar Doukas and Michel VII were defeated and captured by the Norman French.

Roussel of Balliol pursued his assaults and sac Chrystopolis (Scutari) in front of Constantinople. To justify his acts with a pretext of legitimacy, he proclaimed his prisoner, Jean Doukas emperor against his nephew Michel VII.

When in 1074, Roussel II of Balliol, rebelled and tempted to create an independent state (some speak about a Kingdom) in Asia Minor, the now Byzantine Emperor, Michael VII Ducas, called the Turks for assistance. Michel VII allied himself with the forces of the Seldjûkideses of Sulaimân Qutulmish ibn, a lieutenant of Malik Shâh to counter the installation of Norman in Anatolia. A policy that had its price: it facilitated the Turkish conquest of Asia Minor and the establishment of the Sultanate of Rum.

In 1076, an army was sent against Roussel II of Balliol but had to retreat. Alexius Comnene, who allied with the Seljuq Turks, defeated the revolt. Some texts specify that it was during this battle that Roussel II lost his life.

In March 2000, I met Mr Mustafa Balliol, son of Feyzi Balliol, carriers of this today almost vanished original Balliol patronymic. Mustafa lived in Erfenbach (Kaiserslautern, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany).

Mustafa told me that his grandparents emphatically argued that their family history make them originated from the north of France. In other words, from Flanders!

Mr Feyzi Balliol informed me that his Turkish family was still living, in and around the village of Aktaşkurtlar, in Turkey. This place is situated some 350 km east of Istanbul but only 30 km off the road from Gerede, the place where the Crusaders, coming from Constantinople (Istanbul), turned south towards Ankara, en route to Adana and Aleppo (Syria). From here, Jerusalem was for the crusaders, « only » some 500 km away!

Imagine now a small early Middle Age-like Turkish community, living in total autarky, in far remote and almost inaccessible mountainous regions, and far away from any contact with modern civilisation. Having this picture in mind, try now to explain how these simple, more than likely ignorant of the historical past of the region, going back to the time of the Crusades, came to know such relevant and unique information. Even historians, unless directly involved in the subject, are very unaware of this aspect of our Dynastic’s historical past.

Ibrahim Balliol, Mustafa’s son, has light blue eyes, which are rather atypical for Turkish people, but quite typical for Flemish people. The Flemish people have them all, at least for people of Flemish origine such as the Morini, the Menapii, the Nervii, and later the Salian Franks, and before the long periods of occupation of Flanders, by the Spaniards.

Flanders has always been, in its very long history, an object of strong covetousness. Business, wealth, culture, arts, and expertise made, of this small county, one of the most important and permanent ethnic and cultural melting pot in Europe.

Flanders lived from 1556 to 1714, under the Spanish yoke (House od the Habsburg) ! My maternal grandfather, who was a Flemish descendant of purebred, from the Middle Age Valcke Lineage, was as dark as a Spaniard could be. My mother and her two brothers inherited these southern traits; black hair, dark brown eyes and an envious, beautiful and ever-tanned brown "Siena earth" (terra di Siena) coloured skin!

Nordic and Southern types of people melted. We are not interested here in the Nordic people’s invasions (Vikings and C^o) contribution, but in the more “Brown skinned, black hair and dark eyes” occupants such as the Italians (Romans), the Spanish and Austro-Hungarians, only to quote three of many potential “actors” in the Flemish people’s genetic enrichment.

The Crusade explanation for the Balliols settlement, in Turkey, seems to be at hand. It is however not entirely conclusive, when it comes to determining the crusade with which they settled, in this region of Turkey.

I found out, on ancient documents, that no crusader’s armies passed through Gerede or near it ! The only crusade that marched in Turkey, not too far away from Gerede, is the one under the banner of Godefroid de Bouillon, the leader of the first Crusade (1096-1099). It was under his banner that most of the knights of our lineage rode.

His army marched quite normally, from Konstantinople (Istamboul) to Komedia, and then down to Nicäa (Iznick). From there, it descended to Philomenion (Akşehir), and Ikonion (Konya). Still en route to Antiochia, his army split in two parts: The first corps went up to Heraclea, then down to Tarsus and Antiochia. The second, with the duke Godefroid, went even higher, to Caesarea (Kayseri), then down to Maras (Kahramanmaras), with an incursion on Edessa, to rejoin Aleppo and Antiochia.

So did the troups started, as soon as Nikodemia (Izmit), to march south, and not east, what would have brought them to Gerede. The latest, and Aktaşkurtlar are, therefore, some 300 km off the crusade route, as reported to us.

Other Crusades took quite different routes, but none went through the northern part of Turkey. Five of them went through the sea, they were the crusades of Konrad III, Friederik II, Richard the Lionhearted, Phillip II Augustus and Louis IX.

The presence of the Balliol’s in these remote regions of Europe may be explained by knights who had left one of the crusades, due to illness or injury, preventing them from continuing their adventure towards Jerusalem. Another reason, often encountered in our part of the world, is that our valiant knights simply fell into the traps and ambushes set by the beautiful women of these lands who, we should not forget, were at the origin of the greatest civilizations of the Fertile Crescent.

Even the Elohims and Annunakis couldn't resist them. Is it not to prevent the ensuing planetary catastrophe from happening again, that the women of these lands wear the veil? In so doing, they conceal a large part of their beauty, for the sole purpose of escaping the envious glances of these forniquers of other calibers, other times, and other skies. In doing so, they prevent them to grab them by the hair. Ah! the veil. If only these women knew the real reasons for rearing it, and not the dogmatic ones imposed by clever manipulators.

However, these Balliols may also very well have been descendants of the Knights, who constituted the army of Roussel II of Balliol, in his conquest of Anatolia. Both events happened to the same regions at about the same time.

Whatever, the discovery of people bearing the primitive form of the patronymic Balliol, precisely in Turkey, is not mere chance but the proof of their settlements. This is exactly what happened to the Bels of Limburg (Belgium) and of northern Netherlands as well as the Bels and Beile (Baille-Bayle) of the south of France and northern Spain and for the Bel (Bels, Bell) and later the Balliols, of northern England and Scotland.

The Balliols, for ages loyal to the Dukes of Normandy, helped Duke William to subdue English unrests that reached their peak in 1069. To secure England’s frontiers, the duke invaded Scotland in 1072 and Wales in 1081. The Balliols were, once more, at his side. It is then not surprising to see them put in charge of some defensive “marcher” counties along the Scottish border. It is along this border that they will inherit, in 1095, from William the Redhead, son of William the Conqueror, big domains in the north of England and Scotland (the Northumberland, the Gainforshire and in the region of Durham).

Guy of Balliol is reported as Earl of Huntingdon, Earl of Bywell, in Northumberland and Earl of Northampton.

In 1079, Robert the Frisian (le Frison, French), Count of Flanders (x Gertrui of Saxony), has the city of Balliol (Belle) fortified to guard it for some possible invasions.

In 1081, excommunication of Lambert van Belle, (alias of Balliol), Bishop of Terwaan (S.-O. of Belle, France Flanders, also called Thérouanne in French). One of his predecessors, St. Folquin, who died, in 895, in Esquelbecq (Flanders, some 25 km from Belle and 35 km from Ypres) was a nephew of Charlemagne. Terwaan remained a bishopric until 1559 before losing it for the nearby city of Saint-Omer. Note that in Flanders two villages were called after St. Folquin. One is called “Saint Folquin”, in French, and is some 30 km northwest of Saint-Omer; the other one is called in Diets (old Flemish) “Volckerinckhove” or "Folkin's hof" and is some 13 km north of Saint-Omer.

In 1082, a “Balliol” accompanies Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy, to the Holy Land.

In the "Doomsday Book of 1086", an Ailuuardus Bell is reported in the county of Suffolk (England). His blazon, engraved in the walls of the castle of Edinburgh (Scotland) is identical as the one of the Belle (de-van) and Bels from Bruges (Flanders). Only the colours are reversed. His French motto was “J´aime avec ferveur” or "I love with fervour” and the helmet is also surmounted by the crown of Baron of feudal nobility. Since the same blazon means the same family, we have here elements that accredit the allegation and underline the theory linking the Bell of England (and Scotland) to those of Flanders!

Since Ailluardus must have been at least 21 years old to carry his Arms, that gives a rough indication of the upper part of the age fork, that is: 1065 for 1086-21. If Ailuuardus took them later, let us say at the age of 40, we then get to the down part of the age fork that is: 1046 for 1086-40.

As Ailluuardus, in 1086, carries the full Arms, without any Cadency marks (in heraldry, a systematic way of distinguishing similar Coats of Arms belonging to members of the same family), we must conclude that, at that time, his father had already died. What seems to be confirmed by the absence of any mention of him in the Doomsday Book of 1086. If his father died from a natural death (and not on a battlefield), he may have died at the average age of 50. That will then bring us to the downiest part of the age fork, that is: 1036 for 1086-50.

So, we end with a fork of about 30 years (1065 down to 1036). The time span being, in any case, anterior to the Battle of Hastings (1066), we have an indirect but very precise indication that family members wore this blazon “before” they went over to England. In addition, if they did, they had to be either from a Belle family that settled in Normandy coming from Flanders or from a Belle family that was still at home in the flat plains of Flanders. Whatever, these two families belonged to the same Lineage.

As we have seen earlier, a usurpation of a blazon was almost impossible at a time when all big families knew each other very well. Consequently, the facts force us to conclude that Ailuuardus Bell and his father were entitled to wear their Arms and if so, they had to belong to the same Lineage as the Bels and Belle (of) from Bruges (Flanders).

Between 1072-1093, Ypres becomes the centre of a draper industry that will skyrocket with the beginning of the Crusades.

From 1085 until 1091, Robert the Frisian (le Frison, French), Count of Flanders, went with some two hundred knights of Flanders and some other companions, on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This pilgrimage had nothing to do with the subsequent Crusades that were preached by Pope Urbanus II, at the Concilum of Clermont (France) held on Nov 27, 1095.

There is, still in the "Doomsday Book of 1086", mention of a Renard of Balliol, Lord of Balliol, who was Sheriff of Shropshire under Earl Roger (Roger de Montgomery II). Renard, who also participated in the battle of Hastings, was married to Amiera de Montgomery, Earl Roger’s niece. Renard’s descendants also included several Bishops of Lincoln. He might be the brother of Pierre (Petrus), Lord of Fécamp, who contributed 1 ship and 25 men-at-arms at Hastings. He is also reported as being Knight of Balliol and of Fécamp.

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In 1093, October 13, Robert the Frisian, Count of Flanders, dies in the castle of Cassel (Flanders). The crypt where he is buried is still there.

In 1095, at William the Conqueror’s death in Rouen (Normandy), his son William the Redhead (also called Rufus or William II of England), inherits England. His brother Henri, future “Beau Clair”, inherits 5000 pounds of silver and his other brother, Robertus of Courteheuse (Curthose), inherits the Normandy and Maine.

As soon as William Redhead is in possession of his inheritance, he summons Guy I^st of Balliol to grant him important Seigneuries and big domains in the north of England and Scotland (the Northumberland, the Gainforshire and in the region of Durham). William the Conqueror, dying for five weeks in a suburb of Rouen, finally passed out at daybreak on Sept 9 in his 60thth year. He was buried in the St. Stephen’s church, which he had built at Caen (Normandy).

In 1095, Guy Ist of Balliol gets the Barony of Biwell (Bywell), (ca. 25 km west of Newcastle) in Northumberland (including the forest of Teesdale and Marwood, and the ship of Middleton in Teesdale and Gainford, part of the wapentake of Sadberge) from William Rufus (Red King or Redhead), the son of William the Conqueror.

In 1095, Bernardus Ist of Balliol (Rainald’s son and Guy’s Ist [Guido] nephew) starts, not far away from Durham (England) the construction of a strong castle that will become Barnard Castle, one of the most imposing fortified castles of Northern England (length 290 m x width max 142, min 96 m). The ruins of the castle and estates were said to extend an area of 24 km2 or six acres! One English acre being equal to 4.046,856 m2. In the Middle Ages, an acre was defined as the amount of land that could be ploughed in one day, by a yoke of oxen.

 Reconstruction tentative. Model by Col. John Festraets (BEAF).

Oil painting by the author Robert  Adelsohn . Bels, in November 2009. Size: 80cmx60cm.

Kept by the family David Kuhn, in Tholey (Saarland, Germany).

The castle is perched on a rocky promontory high above the "Tees" River. This huge fortress was only completed 114 years later, in 1209, under Hugues of Balliol. Its imposing ruins are still visible today. Barnard Castle was the principal fortress and residence of the Balliol family throughout the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Mid of the fourteenth century, the castle passed to the Family Beauchamp, probably to William de Beauchamp, the 9th Earl of Warwick (1238-1298). This family always supported the King of England, Edward Ist. Later, in the XIVth century, the Earl of Salisbury, Richard de Neville (1428-1471), became by his marriage with Anne Beauchamp, the 16th Earl of Warwick and inherited Barnard Castle.

PART 4

The family "de Commines" remained through the centuries, such as the Bels, Belle and Balliol (Bailleul), a very important family of Flanders. The Knight Jean de Commines had the title and the function of High Bailiff of Flanders when he was reported, in 1429, as a Knight of the Golden Fleece. Source: Grand Armorial Equestre de la Toison d´Or.

In 1616, were published the memoirs on the deeds of Louis XI and Charles VIII, his son, kings of France, written by the Knight Philippe de Commines, Lord of Argenton. The Knight Philippe´s father was Lord Colard van de Clyte x1 Catherine van Haverskerke et x2 Marguerite van Armuyden (Philippe´s mother). Lord Colard became bailiff of Flanders for the Duke of Burgundy in 1436.

Due to the link of the Bailiff of Flanders, we may cautiously conclude that both knights, Jean, and Philippe, were brothers and issued from Lord Colard (what is a certainty for Philippe).

If the Knight Jean is textually reported as Bailif of Flanders, Lord Philippe is not!  However, since Philippe´s father was Lord Colard van de Clyte, Baillif of Flanders. There is no doubt that they belonged to the same family. There were not 36 Bailiffs of Flanders hanging around at that time!

And once again, it is the blazon of the two Knights that will give us the missing piece of the puzzle. The heraldic elements of both Knights are identical and the animal´s head (a wolf) placed on top of the crest is identical as well. Conclusion, these three knights belonged to the same lineage.  Note the proximity of the elements of the blazons to those of the Bels and Belle (de-van).

The name “Jean or Colard van de Clyte” x1 Pasquette de Mortagne x2 Jeanne de Waziers, became de Commines by a decision in 1407.

What is very interesting to note right here is that there is a mention that Philippe de Commines participated at the Battle of Montlhéry in 1465 and at the Battle of Brustem, fought on 28 October 1467, that opposed the Burgundian State and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. The last battle, known as the Second Liège War, was the answer of Charles of Flanders, Son of Philippe “the good” (+1466), to put down a revolt by the people of Liège.

These “de Commines” Knights of Flanders involved in these events supports my working hypothesis that some Bels Knights, who settled in Limburg, also came from Flanders. It may be after these wars, but most probably after the Battle of Brustem, that some Bels Knights did not come back to Flanders but got stuck in Brustem and the immediate area, establishing so the Bels of Limburg Branch of our Lineages that, later, will spread to the north into the Netherlands and to the east into Germany.

The city of “Comines”, was written in several variations such as Comyn, Comijn, Comes, Komen, Koomen, Commines, Cummings, etc. Even today, we can read on the road N531, the bi-lingual road panel “Comines-centre/Komen-centrum”. As on the road N375, another road panel indicates “Belle-Bailleul (Balliol) 5 km”. See the French Chapters of this Essay.

In 1096, Balduinus II of Balliol was one of the 300 Knights that participated in the tournament of Anchin. The tournaments were a French invention. Godefricus of Preilly dictated their first rules, in 1050.

In August or September 1096, Balduinus Ist Balliol, Lord of Belle, (x Plectrude d’Arquenghien), fs of Simon Lord of Ypres and Albrecht of Balliol, Lord of Belle “baro, optimas et princes”, leaves, with Bels, Belle, and other Flemish Knights, for the Crusade of the Barons, the first official Crusade.

They accompanied Sire Godefroid de Bouillon (Godfried van Bonen) and among them was also Hugues de Payens, also called Hugues Ier de Champagne and Henri de St. Clair. Note that another Henri de St. Clair, his descendant two centuries later, was a commander of the Knights Templars at the Battle of Bannockburn!

Please note that I mention the participation of our Dynasts (members of several lineages constituting our Dynasty) in all the Crusades, as historical happenings and not for pride or vanity reasons. The prestige of a Dynasty cannot be measured by such atrocious undertakings. I personally condemn vigorously these murderous expeditions under the Motto “Deus vult” (God wills it). The only reason behind these criminal undertakings, without forgetting the Inquisitions, was to increase the Church’s power in the world!

We know that, in Jerusalem, Hugues de Payens went, together with some other Knights, to the King of Jerusalem, Balduinus II, to ask for his authorisation to create the Knight Order of the Templars. Who was behind this unique operation? Why unknown Crusaders?

Why were the famous Lethalde and his brother Englebert, not part of the delegation? Were they not the first two Crusaders, from Tournai (Flanders) and member of the Lothringian army, who entered the City of Jerusalem, immediately followed by their leader, Godefroid de Bouillon and his brother Eustache de Boulogne?

Why no one Knight from our lineage accompanied Hugues de Payens (or even went without him), to the King, has never received any satisfactory answer. This fact is, for some modern historians, a historical inconsistency (sic). The reason for this “non movere” attitude has never received any satisfactory answers. Some suggest a still undiscovered Dynastic reason! (See subsequent development in the text).

Were the Knights from our Lineage, from all the Knights who went to the King Balduinus II, not the closest to him, to his cousin Godefroid, to his father, to his lineage and this for centuries, than any other of these? They may even have been of the same family. Read more about it in Chapter III.

Here are the names of the nine Knights who created the Order: Hugues de Payens, Geoffroy de Saint-Omer, André de Montbard, Nivard (Payen) de Montdidier, Archambault de Saint-Amand, Geoffroy Bisol, Hugues de Champagne, Rossal and Gondemare.

Count Godefricus of Bouillon, of Flemish origin, spoke Diets. So did his father, Count Eustachius of Bonen (Boulogne-sur-Mer, in France) a habile diplomat. Robert the Frison, Count of Flanders, send him, together with some Flemish knights, to negotiate a peace treaty with Philippe Ist King of France after the debacle of Bavinkhove (Feb 22, 1071) and his counterattack on St. Omer (French-Flanders).

King Philippe Ist having enough problems with Normandy signed the treaty promptly. Count Eustachius was also present at the battle of Hastings. Every major Lineage of Flanders had one or more of its Knights involved in this memorable historical date as they had during the several Crusades to Palestine.

In 1097 or 1098, Albertus of Balliol, brother of Balduinus Ist, died in Palestine.

By 1099, despite internal dissensions, the Norman Bohemond (a Hateville from Sicily), Godefroid of Bouillon, Hugh of Vermandois, Raymond IV (Count of Flanders), Robert Curthose (Duke of Normandy) and Robert II (Count of Flanders) succeeded in capturing Antioch and Jerusalem, having routed their Seljuk and Fatimid adversaries. They then established four Latin states in Outremer (overseas).

In 1099, an important number of Flemish and some French tradesmen, mostly constituted of weavers, settled in English cities. The main constructors of their castles, their churches and their Abbeys were Flemish of pure stump! It may be around that time that some weavers from our family went down to the South of France and settled, for some, around Rennes-les-Bains. I will develop this later in the Essay.

In 1100, Johanus Belle is Lord of Tronquoy (Cambraisis). The patronymic Belle (de-van) (alias of Balliol) is definitively implanted.

Born ca. 1100, Anselmus and Balduinus II of Balliol (x Agnès of Wavrin), are Viscounts of Ypres. Anselmus had already received from Diederik of Alsace (x Sibyl, fa. of Fulco of Anjou), King of Jerusalem (1131-1143) and Count of Flanders (1128-1168), the title and the function of Baron, Knight and Lord of Ypres, in 1124 and a second time in 1127!

In 1106, Hughes of Balliol and Guillelmus of Saint-Omer are to Arrouaise at the time of the blessing of the abbatial church.

In 1108, Gautier of Balliol, nephew of Rainald, and Basilie, his mother, gave to the Abbey of Troarn everything they possessed, in the church of St. Pierre of Trun, not far away from the city of Belle (Balliol).

In 1116, in a charter from Baudouin VII (also called “à la Hache”), Count of Flanders (1111-1119), abolishing, in favoured the Burgesses of Ypres, the God’s judgment (trial by battle and the ordeals by fire and water) there is mentioned, among the witnesses who undersigned the decree, the name of the Office holder (Baron) Lord Balduinus de Belle (S. Baldeum de bella). The letter “S” (stands for Seigneur) Baldeum de bella.  Source: Fra. Hans Belles, Knight Ordinis Balliolensis.

Interesting to note is that, in England, the ordeals by Fire and Water were not abolished until a hundred years later and the Trial by Battle not until 1819!

About 1120, Bernardus I^st of Balliol has, next to the main castle wall, a new church built. The church of St. Mary. This church became the parish church of Barnard Castle and is still there today.

After 1124, when David I^st, King of Scotland (r. 1124-1153), invited Robert de Brues (Bruce) into Scotland, some “Bels” (le) were among those who followed. This may be where some of the Bels of Northumbria settled, in southwestern Scotland. (Bell Roots).

“…Indeed, throughout the XIIth century, certain ties had been deliberately forged between Scotland and Flanders. During the reigns of David I (1121-53) and Malcolm IV (1153-65), there obtained systematic policy of settling Flemish immigrants in Scotland. The newcomers were installed in large, organised enclaves in upper Lanarkshire, upper Clydesdale, West Lothian and the north of Moray. …The Flemish settlement seems a systematic attempt to implant in upper Clydesdale and Moray, at the expense of local aristocracy and church, a new aristocracy…”. Source: Mr Baigent and R. Lincoln.

On another text we can read:

“… King David I (1124-1153), fs. of King Malcom III (1058-1093) and of Margaret of Wessex (1045-1093), transformed Scotland into a feudal kingdom. He too had lived in England where he saw the vast superiority of the Norman knight fighting on horseback over the wild rush of the Celts as they flung themselves with spear and claymore upon their foes. He therefore invited English and Norman*¹ barons, including the families of Balliol and Bruce, to come to Scotland and to accept fiefs from him as his feudal vassals. The Normans built castles in Scotland and enforced servile obligations upon peasantry, but as they had done in England, they also built churches and monasteries. David introduced into Scotland many England and Norman institutions of law and government.

This era of Anglo-Scottish amity came to end in the reign of Edward I. In 1286 the Scottish King, Alexander III, was killed when his horse fell over a cliff. His only heir was his little granddaughter. Margaret, a child of about there who was living in Norway…She died on the voyage from Norway to Scotland, leaving the Scottish throne in dispute…”.  Source: David Harris Willson & Stuart E. Prall.

*¹ Today, thanks to my Essay, we know that the most powerful barons in Scotland came from Flanders, not from Normandy.

About 1125, Alix or Agnes of Balliol, fa. of Balduinus II x Euphemie de Saint-Omer, married Balduinus, Lord of Comines (called Cummings or Comyn in England and Scotland).

In 1127, Gerard of Belle (van Belle) x N***, is lawyer of the city of Ypres. His parents are unknown. He may be a cousin of Albrecht, Balduinus I^st and of Lambrecht of Balliol.

A Gerard of Balliol is said to have married Helduine, fa. of the Lord of Bergues Saint Winox. According to other sources such as the “Chronique de Guines”, she was fa. of the Châtelain of Ghent. This Gerard was son of Balduinus x Euphémie de Saint-Omer. He had five sons: Hugues, Balduinus III, Gerard, Henry and Anselme. Henri was the ancestor of the Balliols of Doulieu.

In 1130, Bernardus Ist of Balliol pursues the construction of the Barnard Castle copying some architectural traits from the castle of Richmond, in Yorkshire, constructed 60 years earlier. Bernardus Ist was a military commander of some reputation.

In 1130, appear the first traces of Sire (Lord) Bellen (de-van) with Balduinus de Bellen and Pieter van Bellen.

In 1132, Anselmus of Balliol (Anselmus Yprensis Castellanus) (x not discovered yet) becomes the first Châtelain of Ypres from our Lineage. He was also called Anselmus de Bellul in 1128. Is he the same Anselmus of Balliol (de Besle) as the one reported as son of Balduinus of Balliol (de Besle) and who married Plectrude d´Arcquemberghes? In other sources we can read: Anselm of Belle appointed castellan of Ypres in 1132 by Thierry of Alsace, replaced the exiled William of Ypres. Anselm participated in the Second Crusade but did not return, leading his brother Baldwin II to assume the role in 1157.

In 1133, in the Bordon Book, the Balliol fees were not included in the Bishopric. This was the prelude to a long dispute over whether the lands were held by the Bishops of Durham and could be taxed by them!

In 1138, Bernardus Ist of Balliol participates to the Battle of the Standard (near Northallerton) against King David Ist of Scotland, who wanted to put his son in the County of Northumberland.

About 1140 Sir Jean le Bel was High Steward to Henry, Earl of Huntingdon/Northampton, who died 1152, during the Second Crusade. Jean le Bel was a follower of David Ist. The Earl of Huntingdon was one of the ten Earls who dominated the English aristocracy; their stewards (i.e. Jean le Bel) protected each Lord’s interests and dominated in county court, as an Office holder, when summoned to discuss local issues. This Jean le Bel appears to be an early Normand who spent time in Scotland but was now living in Huntingdon, England. Please note the simultaneity of “le Bels-le Bel” in Scotland and England. Probably all descending from Normans brought over by succeeding English Kings Edward and William the Conqueror and his son William II Rufus. (Bell Roots).

I would like to modify the above text by changing the words: Normand and Normans into “Flemish” because they were not Normans at all … but Flemish Lords and Knights!

Around 1140 the Temple Order received the Leffinge parish (with associated rights, land and buildings) from the Flemish noble family de Fauquemberghes, who helped found the Order of the Temple in 1118. The Fauquemberghes, as we have seen earlier, were linked to the Balliol by the wedding of Arnoldus de Gramines with Plectrude de Fauquemberghes (abt 960). Some of the Fauquemberghes estates belonged, in 1140, to the Balliol.

“...The first centre of the Templars is the Ten Dike house, located at an old tidal channel in the north of Leffinge. The temple order continues to acquire possessions and leaves its mark on the social, economic, and religious topography of the medieval landscape. The Templars even set up a completely new parish, the Villeneuve Mannekensvere. In order to manage the assets (in total more than 400 ha on land) and organize the collection of tribute (cijns), a Commanderij is being built in Slijpe. The domain (5 hectares) is surrounded by a wall and a moat. After the turbulent elimination of the Temple Order, the Commandery, together with the other possessions of the Templars, was taken over in 1312 by the hospital knights (Order of Saint John of Jerusalem) ...”. Source: Barbara Daveloose.

In 1141, on February 2, Bernardus Ist of Balliol is taken prisoner at the battle of Lincoln.

In 1142, Anselmus of Balliol was present at the making of the treaty between the Pope and the Count of Flanders Thierry of Alsace who agreed, that in the future, no fortress or castle should be constructed on the territory of the city of Terwaan (Thérouanne in French).

In 1142, Balduinus III Balliol (x Agnes, fa. Anselme, Castelani of Ypres) was witness to a decree of Thierry of Alsace, made at the instance of Milo, Bishop of Thérouanne, by which it was ordered, that a castle, built by Arnoulph, Avoué of Thérouanne, should be destroyed.

In 1147, May-June, Balduinus II of Balliol (x Agnès de Wavrin °June 1145 +1219) Lord of Ypres, baron and his brother Anselmus, Lord of Ypres, participate to the Second Crusade placed under the direction of Diederik (Thierry) of Alsace, Count of Flanders from 1128-1168. Anselmus never came back! Agnes de Wavrin is a descendant of Karoloman (°748) via the Lineages of the de Wavrin, de Tournai, de Hainaut and the de Flanders. This Count of Flanders went four times (pilgrimages and crusades) to the Holy Land!

Between April 1147 and October 1154, Barnard Balliol, Lord of Barnard Castle, gives to the Templar Order “15 Livrées de ses terres en Angleterres” (15 Liveries of his estates in England) and a donation at “Dynnestey”. Etienne (Stephen), King of England, in London, confirmed these donations on the 27th April 1147 and on the 10th of August 1153.

King Etienne became King of England in 1135. He was fs. from Etienne-Henri, Count de Blois (of Chartres, Châteaudun, Meaux, Lord of Sancerre and of Amboise) and from Adèle of England fa. of Willem the Conqueror.

King Etienne’s uncle, Hugues Ierde Champagne, gave him the title of count of Champagne and of Troyes. He became one of the principal’s vassals of the French crown, Palatine Count and Pair of France.

In 1147, Robert le Bel, fs. Jean Jr. le Bel, lives in London.

In 1153, Bernardus Ist of Balliol makes grant of a "fishery", installed on the River Tweed to Wudehorn, to the Abbey of Kelso "in presence of all sons of the Saint Church". The exact date of his death is unknown. Some advance the year of 1155.

Before 1154, in England, there is a Flemish man called Senulf de Lyn. His patronymic is Flemish and comes from “de Lijn” (the line).

The North Sea is said to have “invaded” Flanders several times. Here on the map, the probable situation between 1154 until 1184. We clearly see the change of the coastal line.

The small city of Gravelines was at the west end of a 55 km long sandbank that ended west of Bruges. Some 23 km water separated Gravelines from Saint-Omer, which became temporarily a North Sea port. Right of Gravelines was another big Seaport of the County of Flanders: The port of Duinkerke (Dunkerke in French).

Only a few kilometers north of Ypres, land was completely under water. Furnes (Vurnes) was on the coast, south of the sandbank. As sandbanks permanently move, the topological aspect of Flanders coast changed permanently also. However, no significant changes occurred the last 800 hundred years.

In 1155, Bernard II of Balliol (*1135 in Bywell, Northumberland, England), married Agnes de Picquigny, in England.

In 1157, a document writes: “Anselmus of Balliol, squire of the Count of Flanders Diederik (Thierri) of Alsace, accompanied him to the Holy Land, followed by 500 men of Ypres, who had taken the cross and wore a uniform of scarlet cloth”. Was he another one than the one who left in 1147 and never came back?

In 1159, Balduinus II of Belle (van Belle), is Viscount and second Châtelain of Ypres from our Lineage. He married Agnes de Wavrin, a descendant of Karoloman (*748). Other sources mention that Balduinus II was married to Euphémie de Saint Omer. (Source: Familie-herlyn.de). While the marriage to Agnes de Wavrin is widely accepted, some uncertainty remains due to differing historical records who, in addition, are scarce or conflicting.

In 1159, Balduinus III Balliol signed the letters of Thierry of Alsace by which the annual fair at Messines was extended by four days, and together with Wautier of Ypres and other officers of the Count, those given by Philippe son of Thierry of Alsace, in the house of the Templars near Ypres in 1180, relative to the restitution of the tithes made by Bommaire at Boidin.

PART 5 

About 1161, Guy II of Balliol (x Dionesia?), fs. Bernardus Ist, who held the ship after the death of his father, dies. Bernardus II of Balliol succeeded to the estates and held them until the end of the century.

Born in 1166, Gerardinus II (Gerardus) of Balliol (x Verginia N), is, Viscount and Châtelain of Oudenbourg (Flanders close to Oostende). Oudenbourg had the statute of city since 1127 and had important commercial activities. Gerardinus II was son of Balduinus Ist of Balliol x 2 Euphemia of Saint-Omer.

In 1167, Bernardus II of Balliol pursues the construction of Barnard Castle in North England. He was a munificent benefactor to the church, bestowing lands upon the Abbey of St. Mary at York and upon the monks at Riebault.

In 1170, Walterus of Belle, or Belle, is also called “de Bella”.

About 1170, is born Ingelram (Enguerrand) of Balliol (fs. Barnard II and Agnes de Pickigny). He married Ada (also Agnes) de Berkeley, in 1195. Ingelram was born in Tours-en-Vimeu, Picardy. Remember, Picardy belonged to the County of Flanders before it was taken over by the French, in 1477. Ada was fa. Walter de Berkeley, the royal chamberlain of William the Lion. Walter de Berkeley died ca. 1194 and his estates passed, via his daughter, to the Balliol who built the first stone castle on the site: Red Castle. Ingelram may have died in 1244.

“...In the Templar Order, there was a tight hierarchy with different functions and from 1171, Flanders had its own praeceptor. The following Commanders are known for Flanders: Boudewijn van Ledegem (1171) - Theobald van Veurne (1181-1182) - Bernardo Vulpis (1199-1200) - Heldebaldus (1205) – Soibert (1220-1228) - Willem van Lambesart (1230) - Jan ...(1235-1236)- Jacob ...(1241) - Walter van Villers (1250-1273) - Pieter uten Zak (1280-13..) - Gozwin van Brugge (1309)...”. Source: Stefaan De Groote.

In 1173, William of Scotland (*ab.1142 +1214), called “the Lion” invaded England. He was reinforced by a Flemish contingent sent to him by Philippe of Alsace. No single, comprehensive contemporary list of its participants has survived. While we know the contingent existed, there isn’t, as is the case of the Battle of Hastings, a summary of the most important knights, an extant, complete roster of all its members. There is no doubt that there were Bels, Belle and Balliol knights in the contingent.

In 1174, Bernardus II of Balliol took up arms and, joining Robert de Stuteville, proceeded to the relief of Alnwick Castle. During this forced march to Alnwick, a very dense fog came up and a halt was recommended. Balliol is said to have responded:

“Quand vous vous en retourneriez tous, je n´en irais pas moins en avant.

On ne reprochera jamais à Baliol une lâcheté”. Source: John Lingard.

“When you all return, I'll nonetheless go further.

Baliol will never be blamed for cowardice”.

In consequence, they all advanced, and the returning light enabled them to decry the battlements of Alnwick Castle. William I^st, the Scottish King, was then in the fields with some 60 horsemen. Bernardus II of Balliol commanding his troops instantly charged the newcomers, whose force was much larger. Being overpowered and unhorsed, William Ist was made prisoner by Bernardus II of Balliol and sent to the castle of Richmond and later to Falaise in Normandy.

Born in 1176, Balduinus III of Balliol (van Belle), (x Mabille of Bourbourg), is Viscount (Burggraaf) of Ypres and Belle. Mabille is daughter of Henri, Châtelain of Bourbourg and of Béatrix of Ghent. This Balduinus III is fs. of Balduinus II x Agnes de Wavrin.

In 1177, Balduinus II Balliol has a belfry, with bells, built in Ypres. The city of Tournai got its belfry only 11 years later!

In June 1177, Balduinus II of Balliol (x Agnes of Wavrin) accompanies the Count of Flanders, Philippe of Alsace (fs. of Diederik), at the time of his first journey in Orient. He may not return from this journey since we lost all traces from him after anno 1177. Agnes de Wavrin was fa. of Roger III de Wavrin and Richilde de Hainaut.

Balduinus II had: Balduinus III x Mabilia of Bourbourg - Hendrik “justiciarius” of Ypres - Gerard - Mabilia x1 Adam of Wallincourt x2 Hugo, Count of Rethel (35 km northeast of Reims. France) and Margareta, Dame of Beselare x Balduinus III of Aire (France, some 30 km north-northeast of Reims and 10 km southwest of Rethel).

Record in 1180, in Bruges, of the patronymic Bels, with Walter Bels who owned estates. (Terra Walteri Bels). His patronymic is still followed by the mention Belle (van) and his blazon is identical to the one of the Belle (van) of Flanders.

Walter is, therefore, the first member of our Lineage we found with the name Bels that could be explained by a grammatical variant of the patronymic Balliol via the Belle (de-van). Please read the Part XIII of this Essay called: Essay on the origin of the Patronymic (in French).

As seen earlier, the presence in History of Hrvotland Bels in anno 843 is therefore far anterior to the year 1180 and to our Walter. The case, isolated in time and its precedence to the “classical” apparition of the name, is not yet explained. I thought there might have been a transcription mistake of the patronymic of Hrvotland. I still cannot find out how this baron Hrvotland could bear the name Bels, at least some 337 years prior to its “explained” appearance in Flanders. But, how big this isolation “in Time” may have been, there was no isolation “in Space” at all. Both came from Flanders and were active in the same region!

Then I discovered in other documents that there was another Bels hanging around in between the years 843 and 1180. A certain Knight Bels was mentioned in documents dated anno 1014. The mention of this Knight, at least some 166 years prior to the Walter, ordered me to reconsider the case of Hrvotland Bels. He was no longer an isolated case because another case followed some 180 years later!

The only stumbling stone was that the Knight Bels did not match the Flanders “in Space” factor. He is reported to be active in northern Spain. Therefore, I began to suspect a link between this Knight Bels and the Bels (Bayle, Baille) who later were active in the regions of Albi (South of France) and in the Pyrenean Mountain range. Deepening my research in that direction, I discovered that one of the Knight Bels ancestors went down to northern Spain coming from… Flanders! Read more about this in Part II of this Essay, Chapter XVI.

The isolation “in Time” of the Bels was no longer true and the “in Space” factor confirmed. In other words, these two Bels did not only come from Flanders, but they took part in its socio-political life as high-ranking officials and this long before (at least IV centuries) the “classical” apparition of their patronymic as a variant of the Belle (van-de) and Balliol patronymics.

This is also emphasized by the “Bell of the Borders” who had, as we have seen earlier, their seat at the border between Scotland and England … “Long before 1066”.

There is only one way to explain this anachronism: The toponym “Belle”, in Diets, must have been more widely used than the “Balliol” one. If this was the case, the application of the genitive form that explained the shift from Belle to “van Belle” and “Bels”, may have happened much earlier than the year 1180 when the same process reappeared or was quoted for the first time with the mentioning of Walter Bels.

Whatever the explanations it is quite evident that these Bels were from Flanders, that they were very active in Flanders internal and external politics and that, as far as Hrvotland is concerned, his father must have been a baron (a high-ranking official) attached to the court of the emperor Charlemagne because he was himself a Baron. As nothing comes from nothing, Hrvotland and the Knight Bels must have been parents. Did they have as common ancestor the Baron that seated at the court of Charlemagne, sometime between anno 760 and 814?

If the Baron N. was attached to the court of Charlemagne, he certainly did not gain this high and trustworthy position on his own, just in a few years. As seen earlier in this Essay, only the passing of Time can prove the attachment a Lineage has to another. The emperor Charlemagne must have known our Lineage very well to have one of its members to seat at his court. Exactly the same process happened centuries later with our lineage in Flanders, Normandy, England, etc. This seems to be a constant of History as far as our lineage is concerned. More on it in subsequent chapters!

In 1180, the King of France Philippe II Auguste married Isabelle fa. of Balduinus VIII Count of Flanders.

In 1180, Gerardinus II of Balliol (van Belle) is Lord of Oudenbourg or Ardenbourg. He signed different treaties and charters for the Counts of Flanders Philippe of Alsace and Baulduinus IX. He is also called Gérardus II de Belle. One of his descendants is called Jourdain de Belle. Gerardinus was son of Baron and Knight Baudouin de Besle. See also “in 1192”.

In 1183, Henri of Balliol is "Kasteer Judiciaris van Ypres". He is also called “Henri de Balleolo", Lord of Kaaster and Justiciarius of Ypres. His heirs will become the lords of Doulieu, near Veurne, in Flanders. The earlier trace we found of this branch is the one that brought us to Balduinus V, of Balliol (+ before 1265), Lord of Douxlieu in 1230, x1 with Marie N. and x2 with Agnes N.

In 1187, twenty-six Knights receive from Balduinus IX, (x Marie of Champagne), Count of Flanders, the authorisation to raise a banner. Henri Ist of Balliol was one of them. The Historia Normanorum lists names of “Knights bearing banners as well in Normandy as in other provinces of France under the time of King Philippe II of France.” The Balliol carried the title of Viscount, Baron, and Knight. A Banner Knight (Banneret) had sufficient possessions to take care of about 50 Knights who may fight under his Banner.

In 1187, Balduinus III Belle van (alias of Balliol), Lord and Viscount of Ypres (x Mathilda of Bourbourg), rejoins the Holy Land where reign the debacle of the siege of Saint Jean d'Acre. On 4 July, the Christian undergo, in Hattin, a fatal defeat that will allow the troops of Saladin, three months later, on 2 October, to take over Jerusalem. Saladin died in 1193. Hattin is considered as the 8th^P greatest battle in history as to its influence on history.

In 1187, Balduinus III of Balliol, Lord, and Châtelain of Ypres, (x Agnes, fa. of Anselm, Châtelain of Ypres), is reported to have gone to the Holy Land with the Philippe d´Alsace, Count of Flanders from 1169 until 1191. Both, Philippe and Balduinus III died in the Holy Land. It is reported that he took the cross in 1187, with the Count Philippe, in the quality of Captain of his bodyguard. Source: The Bailleuls of Flanders, page 14.

Is this Balduinus III Balliol, the same as the preceding one? The name of his wife is different! Were the “Belle” and the “of Balliol”, Lords of Ypres at the same time? Possible if they were one and the same family! Is it possible that Balduinus III of Balliol did marry the daughter of his brother, Anselmus of Balliol, the one that never came back from the Holy Land?

In 1187, appears the form Bellis with "Castellano de Bellis", in Flanders.

About 1190, Gilles of Balliol gives, for the salute of his soul, two acres of earth, to the Abbey of St. André-in-Gouffern.

In 1190, a Serlo Belle is mentioned in the "Pipe Rolls" of Yorkshire.

In 1192, Gérard II de Balliolo (see “in 1180”) was witness to a charter by which Baudouin, Count of Flanders, afterwards Emperor of the East, founded two chapels at Courtrai (Kortrijk).

In 1192, (some, advancing anno 1199, come into conflict with other dates) Bernard IId of Balliol dies. He had no male heir. Some historians mention Marguerite (Margaret) of Balliol (*1167 in Bywell) as another of his daughters. She married Richard de Umfreville (France).

One mystery in the Balliols of Barnard Castle history is why a certain Eustace Ist de Hélicourt succeeds Bernard II. He was a member of a local family that was tenant of the Balliols.

Eustace Ist, took de patronymic “de Balliol” on succession. He must have been not only known but also fully accepted, as the legal successor of Barnard IId, by the powerful Balliol families settled in England and at large. Were also aware of this happening: the omnipresent Church, with no less than the Pope himself via his Cardinals and Bishops, together with all the rulers of the time. (Kings, Dukes, Counts being they in Flanders, France, England, or Scotland).

Never a single mention of any objection of any kind to this succession has been found. Was it part of a plan to ensure the Balliols family continuity at Barnard Castle? Was this Eustace Ist, the providential “illegitimate child” or better said “the natural child” of Barnard IId and the only one who could ensure the continuity of the Lineage?

It is known that the Balliols were also Lords of Hélicourt. John IId of Balliol is said to have visited, in 1299, his French estates in Bailleul and Hélicourt. Edward of Balliol, in 1332 becoming the second King of Scotland from the Lineage, was Lord of Bailleul-in-Vimeu, of Héliscourt-in-Ponthieu, of Dompierre-sur-Authie and of Hornoy). The succession of Eustace de Hélicourt had something to do with the future inheritance by the Balliols of the ship of Hélicourt.

In 1192, Eustache Ist de Hélicourt, from now on “Eustache Ist of Balliol”, succeeded to his “father” (sic) Bernardus IId of Balliol, and pursued the construction of Barnard Castle. The succession happened the same year that King John of England made peace with his barons at Runymeade.

Eustache Ist, married the widow of Robert Fitzpiers, Petronelle Fitz Piers. Historians have a second wife in Eustache´s life, Agnes de Percy. One thing is sure, Agnes was the mother of Hugues of Balliol (x Cecilia or Mathilde de Fontaines). Eustache had 3 sons: Hugh, Henry Ist and Eustache II.

Other sources report: Eustace de Balliol (or Eustace de Helicourt) (+1209) was the cousin and successor of Bernard II de Balliol, lord of Balliol and Barnard Castle. He was the lord of Helicourt in Picardy (Flanders). After his cousin died childless, in 1190, Eustace de Helicourt took over those estates and remarried.

In 1194, a Joscelin of Balliol is reported as being a cousin of Eustache Ist of Balliol. He is the son of a certain Guy II of Balliol (x Dionesia) that may be a son of Barnard Ist of Balliol or a cousin of Barnard II. Whatever, this Jocelin deals the destiny of the Balliols, side by side with Eustache Ist of Balliol (Hélicourt) and Eustache II of Balliol.

In 1195, Jeanne of Balliol (Isabeau) (*Abt. 1175) fa. of Balduinus II of Balliol x Agnès de Wavrin, married Arnould II (*Abt. 1160 +1218), Lord of Morialmé and of Ham-sur-Heure (Belgium). This proves that the Balliol of Scotland kept, through space and time, very close links with Flanders and Hainaut (Belgium).

In 1197, the Balliols were Lords of Belle (Balliol) when Philippe-Augustus, King of France, signed, in the city of Belle, a treaty of peace with the Count of Flanders Balduinus IX. They were implicated in this Treaty.

The Balliols were also Lords of Haillicourt, some 40 km south of the Seigniory of Belle (Balliol). This was the source of an amalgam between Hélicourt (at the extreme southern part of Picardy, some 150 km from Belle (Balliol) and Haillicourt. Both belonging to the Balliol Dynasty.

In 1197, in London, the Flemish, Robert Le Bel (Le Bels, Belle, Van Belle), who probably came over with Wilhelm the Conqueror was, together with Constantine Fitz-Athelhulf (Athulf), elected as tenth sheriffs of London. They were elected, such as the mayor of London, for one-year terms that started in 1188. The mayor’s popularity was so big that he served for twenty-five years while Sheriff Robert Le Bel, is unrecorded after 1197. Little else is known about him. (Adapted from Source 1).

Robert le Bel carried in his blazon the motto in French: "Je beir le bel" which is a bad French/English translation of the Flemish “Ik draag de Bel”. It should have been in correct French “Je porte la cloche” and in old English “I beir the Bell”. His blazon was probably the one numbered 18, at Chapter I.a. Short Patronymic History of our Lineage.

In 1199, Henricus Ist of Balliol, Branch of Dulcis Locus (Douxlieu in Flanders) is called as witness to a treaty between King John of England (John Lackland or Sans Terre) and the Count of Flanders Balduinus IX.

In January 1200, Gérard de Balliol was witness to the Treaty of Péronne, between Philip August, King of France, and Baudouin IX, Count of Flanders.

In 1203, Jourdain of Belle (or Balliol), son of Baudouin III (x Marguerite N…), is Lord of Ardenbourg (or Oudenbourg). He left April 4, 1202, Valencienne, with the Count of Flanders, Baudouin IX, for the Fourth Crusade and participated, in 1203 and in 1204, to the siege of Constantinople.

In 1203, the Count of Flanders modified the status of the municipal aldermen (council members). From then on, they will no longer be elected for life but early.

On 25 June 1203, King John (of England) confirmed to the Templars the gift of Guy de Bonaincourt, which Hugue Balliol had confirmed, of the vill (village) of Westerdale (less than 100 km southeast of Barnard Castle). This was one of the estates for which free warren (rabbit) was granted to the Templars in 1248.

In 1204, March 31, Barnard’s II daughter, Annabel, died. She was a concubine to Henry II King of England (Plantagenet). She had a son, William Longespee (from the French “Longue épée” or long sward), Earl of Salisbury, who married Ela (Fitzpatrick) Countess of Salisbury.

In 1204, the Duchy of Normandy ceases to exist! It is henceforth reattached to the Kingdom of France!

In 1206, the Count Henry of Hainaut (lineage of the Count of Flanders) (*1174 in Valenciennes) was, until anno 1216, Emperor of Constantinople. Habile diplomat and enlightened ruler, he consolidated the power and ensured the security of the new Latin Empire. After he served as regent, he was made emperor of Romania in August 1206. Henry defeated the Bulgars in Europe and, between 1209 and 1211, held the forces of Theodore Lascaris at bay.

Born ca. anno 1206, in Red Castle (rubeum castrum), Angushire (Scotland) is Eleanor Balliol, fa. Ingelram (himself fs. Barnard II Balliol). She married ca. 1233, William de Percy (°1193 in Alnwick, Northumberland shire (England). William was fs. Henry de Percy x Isabelle de Brus. William and Eleanor had a son named Henry de Percy (°1228 +1272) who married in 1268 Eleanor de Warenne. Was she a sister of Isabelle de Warenne, the wife of King John II of Balliol?

The Red Castle, today a ruin, loomed over the waters and sands at Lunan upon a hill overlooking the Lunan Bay, in Angus, not that far south of Montrose, northern Scotland.

On the 27th of May 2017, during an Investiture of the Ordo Balliolensis, in Ludwigslust (Germany), the Knight Ordinis Balliolensis, Frater Gerard Dettmer, was allowed to bring the estate of Red Castle back to life.

On the next picture left, is Fra. Robert A. Bels and right, Fra. Gerald Dettmer. In the background is Sor. Marita Welinski-Schüssler, acting Protocol Officer and Templar Knight of the Grand Priory of Germany, OMSTH (Porto).

“La Relève du Fief” or “Feudal Homage” is a hand-over feudal ritual of a Fief. Fra. Robert A. Bels, acting as overlord, gives a piece of wood to the receiver (symbol for the estate) who holds it with the palm of his hands. At that moment, both parties make agreements, conventions, and engagements. Remember, the Title and the Lordship are not hereditary and revert to the Dynasty after the Knight’s Last Crusade! From 1208 to 1244, several Knights Bels participated in the Crusade of the Feudal against the Cathars (Albigensians) preached by Pope Innocent III.

One of them was a Templar Knight. The Templar Knight OSMTH, Frater Georges Boudart, from Laeken (Brussels), found a similar reference of a Bels being a Templar Knight, but not in connection with this Crusade. He met the Bels Knight in one of the books of the French historian Gérard de Sède.

The author wrote more than 40 hard to read books on alternative history, also called pseudohistory or parallel history. I read only one! So could I not verify Frater Georges´ assertion yet but find it worth mentioning it.

PART 6

It is speculated that during that Crusade or a short time after it, some Bels settled in the city of Albi (France, Tarn) and near Ambialet (some 20 km east of Albi) in a place called Ambels. If they constructed strong castles, there or took some over is not known. Neither have we known if their castle in Albi was the one that was in the city, close to the cathedral Sainte Cécile or the one that Bernard of Cumburt revised in 1265. More about it under “in 1312”.

It is proved that there were already some Bels Knights in the region, long before this Crusade. See my development on the Knight Bels, in anno 1014, in Vacarisses, 30 km northwest of Barcelona Spain and in Belcastel-et-Buc, Villardebelle and Baillessats.

Born in 1209, Mabillia of Balliol (x1 Adam of Walincourt, x2 Hugo, Count of Rethel) is Viscountess of Ypres and Belle.

Born between 1210 and 1240, Henricus (x Maria N…) and Bernardus of Balliol (x Aelidis N…) are Knights and Lords of Ekselbeke (Esquelbecq or Ekelsbeke) and Ledegem.

Born in 1211, Margareta Ist of Balliol (x Balduinus III van Are), is Viscountess of Ypres, Belle and Beselare. The ship of Beselare will stand until the XIVth century. It then passed to the “Hauweel” family and passed subsequently, in 1418, to the family Van der Woestijne.

In 1213, the ship of Pont d´Estaires (14 km South of Belle) spread out to “sous” Estaires and Steenwerck and belonged to some extent, to the ship of the Balliols. Hugues Balliol for instance was in charge (commis à la défense) of the defence of Pont d´Estaire. I think that Pont d´Estaires does not only refers to a Bridge, that would cross the river “de Leie” or “la Lys” in French, in the village of Estaires (Stegers) but to a named area that encompassed some villages such as Stegerbrugghe and Robermetz, today disappeared. All were Fiefs of “La Chambre Légale de Flandre” and sold, between 1562 and 1572, by the Prince of Orange.

The ship of Pont d´Estaires had 71 Fiefs, a lot of them spread to Steenwerck. In the description of the 12th Fief, we can read: “Une pêcherie dans la Lys, depuis les poteries appartenant au château d´Estaires, jusqu´au Pont d´Estaires, sauf que le roy y peut mettre une fois l´an à traineller». The text clearly describes a Fishery on the Lys River that goes from the castle of Estaires until the bridge of Estaires. The denomination of Pont d´Estaires refers therefore to a bridge but also to a region, an area.

In 1214, the Count Henry of Hainaut forced Theodore to sign a treaty at Nymphaeum, defining the borders of their two realms and ceding the north-western portions of Asia Minor to him. He made an alliance with the Bulgarians through his marriage with the daughter of the Bulgarian tsar Boril. He died June 11, 1216, in Thessalonica, Macedonia, possibly poisoned, in the 10th year of his reign.

In 1214, Henri of Balliol is among those who lost the battle of Bouvines against the King of France, Philippe Auguste, who, wanting to castigate the Count Ferrand for his alliance with Jean sans Terre, wrecked Flanders and destroyed the city of Belle. The Bels, Belle and Balliol Knights participated at the battle of Bouvines.

In 1216 (in some sources 1205), Hugh of Balliol, first son of Eustache Ist succeeded as head of the family, inherited the family estates, and pursued the construction of Barnard Castle. He held the barony of Bywell (paying five knights’ fees). He was required to find 30 soldiers for the guard of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as his ancestors had done since the time of William Rufus. Hugh, as a gift from Henry II was made Lord of Hiche in Essex.

Later from King John of England he obtained the lands of Richard Unfronville and of Robert de Meisnell in County of York for having supported the King in the baronial war, a revolt of Northumbrian barons aided by Alexander Ist, King of the Scots. King Alexander besieged Barnard Castle in July of 1216 with no success.

Back to Flanders.

I will give an example of the links that tied the Balliol Lineage to the Counts of Flanders. After the death of Baudouin IX, also known as Baudouin Ist Emperor of Constantinople, his two daughters: Jeanne (1200-1244) and Marguerite (1202-1280) of Constantinople (to be precise, they were from Flanders, but Marguerite issued from the House of Alsace) tried to hold the power of the County of Flanders for some 70 years.

Count Baudouin was among the first leaders to take the cross following the call of Pope Innocent III.  A Flemish fleet arrived at Acre end 1202 under the command of another Flemish Knight Jean de Nesle, Lord and Castellan of Bruges. After the army of the Fourth Crusade took control of Constantinople 13 Apr 1204, a council of six Venetians and six Franks met to elect a new Latin emperor, as agreed in the “Acti Partitio Imperii Romanae” the previous March between the Crusaders and Venice. 

The votes of the Venetian block of electors ensured the success of Count Baudouin. At the same time, in accordance with the terms of the March treaty, Tomaso Morosini (from Venice) was installed as first Latin patriarch of Constantinople, his first task was to crown Baudouin as Baudouin Ist, Emperor of Constantinople at St. Sophia on 16 May 1204.

However, the adopted constitution gave little power to the emperor whose decisions were subject to review by a council of tenants-in-chief, who also directed military operations. The new patriarch declared the union of the Catholic and Orthodox churches, but the Greek aristocracy, in Thrace, rebelled.

Kalojan, the Tsar of Bulgaria, intervened. He defeated Baudouin Ist of Constantinople, near Adrianople (Edirne, a Turkey’s enclave which should belong to Bulgaria), April 14, 1205, captured and transported him as a prisoner to Velico Tarnovo, Bulgaria (some 225 km North of Edirne) where he died in prison soon after.

Some sources of the data relative to the Balliols in Bulgaria come from the Lawyer Ms Svetla Huston and from H.E. Frater Asen Asenov, Grand Prior of Bulgaria of the Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani (OSMTH). Magistropolis in Porto (P).

When news of Count Baudouin's death reached Flanders in Feb 1206, Philippe II King of France assumed his right as feudal overlord to the wardship of his two daughters.

The defeat of Count Ferrant of Portugal, the unhappy first husband of Jeanne de Constantinople, at the battle of Bouvines (27 July 1214), domestic struggles between children of the two beds of Marguerite (Avesnes and Dampierres Lineages), had reduced the strength of Flanders central power and had especially brought back its very precarious finances. Count Ferrant was prisoner by King Philippe le Bel, in the Louvres, in Paris, until begin 1227.

Left His Excellency Frater Asen Asenov, Grand Prior of Bulgaria, and the author. Paris (F) anno 2013.

 “…In “Velico Tarnovo”, the medieval capital of Bulgaria, the palace is restored. One of his towers is called “Baldwin’s tower”. There is also a popular legend about the first Latin Empire…”.

Note: Portugal became an independent kingdom (although Alfonso Ist had been using the title of King since 1139), through the papal bull Manifestis Probatum, issued on 23 May 1179, by Pope Alexander III. It recognized the right of Alfonso Ist (Afonso) to proclaim himself King of Portugal.

The Countess Marguerite of Flanders (also Marguerite of Alsace) succeeded after her sister Jeanne and became, in 1244, Countess Marguerite II of Flanders and of Hainaut, both her husband’s having died. She abdicated 29 Dec 1278 in favour of her son Guy de Dampierre.

The countess Marguerite had to call continually for help to rich patricians of her townships who received in return some privileges that gave them effective power in their own city. Their strength essentially rested on their very important financial means. They claimed that “…Wealth comes from trading and not from working…” (sic) ! The Bels-Belle Lineages, with their “astonishing wealth and power”, played here a crucial role, if not the most important of all. They helped via finances and diplomatic relations, to stabilise the situation of the County of Flanders and to insure its power for the future.

Our loyalty to the Counts of Flanders has not only prevented the Kings of France of more territorial expansions but has also aborted the opportunist pretensions of some other rulers. Don’t we see, in 1247, another member of our Lineage, the magistrate Balduinus V, of Balliol (Doulieu), arbitrating a case opposing the Countess Marguerite of Flanders to the Bishop of Terwaan (details under 1247)?

These testimonies of loyalty of our Dynasty, across the centuries, may be the reason why Boudewyn van Belle (Balduinus V) got from the countess Marguerite II, the dignity of hereditary Marshal of Flanders.

This loyalty was remembered at each opportunity by the House of the Count of Flanders. Here a few lines out of a document dated Mai 1262, written in old French and its translation:

“…Nous, Margherite, contesse de Flandre et de Haynnau, faisons savoir à tous, ke Sohiers, ainsnés fils de nostre chier foiable Bauduin de Balluel, chevalier, maréchal de Flandre … ».

«...We, Daisy, Countess of Flanders and Hainaut, let all know that Sohier, eldest son of our dear and reliable Bauduin of Balluel, Knight, Marshal of Flanders...”.

In 1216, Hugh of Balliol (*Abt. 1190 +1228), joined Philip de Hulcotes in the defence of the northern border with Scotland against a revolt of Northumbrian barons, supported by Alexander Ist, King of Scotland.

When the Scottish King subjugated the whole of Northumberland for Louis de France, the Balliol and the Hulcotes firmly held all the fortresses on the line of the Tee River. Barnard Castle was particularly notable in this defence. Hugh received King John of England at Barnard Castle at this time, and for a short while was besieged there by Alexander II of Scotland who wished to “espie whether it was assailable at any side”. The castle at that time was apparently too strong to afford an easy conquest.

Hugh was married (x 1210) to Cecilia (or Mathilde) de Fontaines (*Abt. 1190) fa. of Alleaume de Fontaines and of Laure de Saint-Valéry. They had: Bernard III (priest) - Eustache III - Ada (got the fief of Stokesley as gift from her father) x John de Clavering (some historians mention John Fitzrobert, Warkworth) - John Ist x Devorguillia of Galloway.

In 1218, in Flanders, second trace after Walter Bels from Bruges, of the patronymic Bels (de-De) standing alone. Therefore, not any longer as pseudonym of the patronymic Belle (de-van).

Probably after 1218, Amory Bels is known as being a Knight of the Order of the Temple of Jerusalem.

In 1223, Henry II of Balliol, fs. of Ingelram of Balliol x Ada (or Lora) de Berkeley, is chamberlain of Scotland. He died in 1246 and is buried in the church of Melrose. He had a daughter: Constance. Henry II Balliol may belong to the branch of Guy Ist of Balliol (nephew of Renaud) via his grandfather Guy II of Balliol. Henry II Balliol, succeeded to his motherlands of Red Castle.

About 1205, Katarina of Balliol (van Belle) is fa Gerardinus II of Balliol (van Belle) x1 Balduinus of Grammene (Grameninis or “de Gramines” in French), x2 Gillis Ist Bertout van Mechelen, Lord of Hombeek (+1235) and Teutonic Knight in anno 1228. Gillis was Lord of Keerbergen, of Berlaar and was Chambelan of the Count of Flanders. Katarina had a sister, Maria, and a brother Balduinus. Some historians think that this Balduinus might be a illegitimate child of Gerardinus II, since there are no references about him in the register of “the nobility of Oudenbourg before anno 1330“.

We think that, as countless before him did, he might have simply left the County of Flanders. We found out that this was a very frequent reason for the silence surrounding several people that would otherwise, because of the importance of their Lineage, have been reported in the archives.

In 1225, Hendricus and Bernardus of Balliol are lords and Châtelains of Ekselbeke and of Le­de­gem.

In 1227, Boudewyn van Belle (of Balliol) is recorded as Lord of Zoeterstede (Dulci Locus) and Marshal of Flanders. He received from the Countess Marguerita of Flanders, the hereditary dignity of Marshal of Flanders. Doulieu is already recorded as a moving fief (Fief mouvant) of the court of Belle (Balliol).

In 1228, Hugh of Balliol died and was succeeded, as head of the family, by his son John Ist who, having been born at Barnard Castle ca. 1212, would have been a mere adolescent at the time.

From 1229 to 1313, The Flemish Family (Clan Comyn) held the lordship of Badenoch.

In 1229, John Balliol founded the hospital of St John the Baptist, in the town of Barnard Castle. This was four years before he married Dervorguilla of Galloway.

In 1230, the Knight Balduinus V of Balliol (x Agnes N…), Marshal of Flanders, Lord of Douxlieu, Bailiff of Bruges and of Veurne (Flanders), was appointed as arbitrator to settle the disputes which had arisen between the Knight William of Maldeghem and the Count of Flanders, relative to the Wood of Alscod. Note that other sources give the year 1240!

In 1230, Hendrik de Besle (fs. Henry) x Maria N. was Lord of Ekelsbeke and of Ledergem.

Around anno 1230, in Barnard Castle, the Balliols had a small hospital build on New gate Street. The hospital had its own chapel, as did the Belle Hospital (huis) in Ypres (Flanders).

In 1233, Lord John Ist of Balliol (°ab 1212-+1269), 5th Baron of Balliol and later Regent of Scotland, married in Wigtownshire (Scotland), Lady Devorguillia of Galloway {+28 January 1290 in Barnard Castle}, Princess of Scotland. Devorguillia (Dervergulde or Dervigilde) was the eldest daughter and heiress of Alan, Lord of Galloway, a great baron, and Constable of Scotland who died the same year.

Her mother, Margaret, was the sister of John le Scot and eldest daughter and heiress of David, Earl of Huntingdon and brother to William the Lion, King of Scotland. It was from this alliance that the Balliol claim to the throne of Scotland arose. Through the marriage of Devorguilla, the Balliol acquired the Scottish barony of Galloway and became Lord of Galloway.

Devorguilla came to the union with Balliol as an equal partner, and her family arms were joined with his. Even more, John Ist authorised Devorguilla`s arms (Azure, a lion rampant argent) to be placed, on his blazon, on the senior position.

Devorgilla descended from the Royal House of Dunkeld who counted 11 Kings of Scotland, and a Queen called Marguerite. She was a very educated, intelligent, and political active woman. It has been reported that she spoke Gaelic, English, French and Latin.

Due to this wedding, the Balliols became the richest and the greatest landowners of their time in Europe, with lands in Scotland, England and France.

Their children were: Alianore (Mary in some sources) x John Ist Comyn - Cecilia x John de Burgh - Ada x William de Lindsay of Lamberton (Limésy, Seine-Maritime, France) - Margaret x N. Moulton - William x ? - Marjory x Gilbert de Gand - Hugh x N. - John II x Isabelle de Warenne - Alexander Ia (+1279) x Adelaide? and Alan.

According to some sources John Ist Balliol x Devorguilla had indeed four sons but one of them was called William Baliol and nicknamed “Le Scot”. This William is reported as being a “younger brother of John II Balliol”. William is said to be born in Gainsford, was Chamberlain of Scotland and died in Canterbury. He was the Balliol who changed his patronymics from Balliol to Scott. (Source: Out of Scott Genealogy made simple by Elain Scott, anno 2007).

In 1234, Henry of Balliol, second son of Eustache Ist, inherited part of the rich English fiefs of the Valoines family. Henry married Lora co-heiresses of Christian, wife of William de Mandeville, Earl of Essex and heirs of Peter, Lord of the barony of Valoines (Valsques) and Lord of Panmure. He died in 1245-46. His widow retained livery of all the lands in Essex, Hertford, and Norfolk that Henry had held of her inheritance. They had two sons Alexander (who lived only one year) and Guy III of Balliol. According to James, He had Sir Alexander Ist x Isabelle de Chilham and Thomas.

About 1235, Marguerite Ist of Balliol (*1211) married Renaud II d´Iré (*Abt. 1205). (France).

From 1235 until 1296. Thomas, the illegitimate son of Alan or Alain (father of Devorguilla x John Ist of Balliol) of Galloway, is kept imprisoned at Barnard Castle. This was a ruthless protective and securing measure taken by the Balliols to keep their hold on the Scottish estates. Nothing is known about the conditions of his imprisonment.

In 1237, Nikolaus van Belle (1232-1253) is Abbot of the “Dune Abbey" in Koksijde (Flanders). He is charged by the Pope of the fund collection that must constitute the ransom required for the liberation of the Crusaders in the Holy Land.

In 1237, Robert Le Bele is mayor of Bristol.

“… John I Balliol's landed wealth and money-lending provides useful insight to his power and authority in the thirteenth century. At a very rough estimate, his English lands alone brought £1,000 annually, which represented a third of his total landed fortune.

Although his English lands were worth less than those of the contemporary earl of Gloucester (3,700 in 1263), the earldom of Richmond (valued at between £1,500 and £1,700) or William, earl of Ferrers (d. 1254) whose income was £1,333, Balliol's wealth, as a baron and not an earl, was still substantial.

Of course, this does not include his wife's Scottish lands, with a more likely estimate of c. £1,097 p.a., or his French estates, which were worth approximately £1,000 according to the 1295 treaty between Scotland and France.

In total, this puts the Balliols' yearly worth at just over £3,000 before 1268. John I Balliol, then, seems to be one of the richest landholders in the British Isles at the time, despite not holding an earldom…”. Source: Amanda Beam. P.28.

In 1237, Alexander Ist of Balliol (x Isabelle, widow of David de Strathbogie, Earl of Athole) made a distinguished appearance among the great men of Scotland on a peace concluded between Henry III of England and Alexander II. King of the Scots. They had: Alexander of Balliol who was married with Isabelle de Chilham (fa. Richard de Douvres x Maud, countess of Angus) and William II of Balliol (Penton) who married Miss Braidfoot (breed voet, in Flemish).

Alexander Ist of Balliol (of Cavers), is also said to be son of Hugh Ist of Balliol of Barnard Castle? This might be Hugh Ist of Balliol, fs. of Eustache Ist. In that case, Alexander Ist, must have married twice, because he is also reported to have married Adelaide? Or are they all identical names for different heirs of one and the same branch in and around Barnard Castle at about the same time?

Whatever, Alexander Ist Balliol, fs. John Ist Balliol, shared prison with King John II of Balliol (his brother), in the Tower of London. Note that Edward Balliol, fs. John II Balliol remained after the release of King John II Balliol, in English captivity as a guarantee for his father’s good behaviour!

About 1240, is the fourth reappearance of the patronymic Bels with Lambert le Bels of Paskendale (Flanders). The third was in 1180, with Walter Bels in Bruges. The second one was in 1014 with the Knight Bels of Vacarisses and the first, the oldest, with the baronobis Bels co-signatory of the Treaty of Verdun (Yutz), anno 843.

PART 7

In 1244, John Ist of Balliol is reported to have paid 30 pounds for thirty knight’s fees which he held towards the levy (sic) in aid for marrying the King’s daughter. Afterwards, he served as sheriff of Cumberland and governor of Carlisle Castle (1248) for six years.

In 1246, Baudouin V of Balliol sealed with a cross vair, in chief two stars (supposed in Silver because his parent King Edouard Balliol, in Scotland, had the two stars in Gold). “…the promise of several Knights of Flanders to recognise, as their lord, the son of the countess Marguerite (of Flanders) that the King of France would have designated…”.

Marguerite Countess of Flanders married Bouchard d´Avesnes, by whom she had two sons Jean and Baudouin d´Avesnes. This marriage was dissolved, and then she married Guillaume de Dampierre, by whom she had three sons (one was Gui, see hereunder) and three daughters. The children of the second marriage disputed the legitimacy of those of the first and the quarrel was referred to Saint Louis (King of France) and to the Papal Legate, Odo, who awarded that after the death of Marguerite, Hainaut should belong to the Avesnes and Flanders to the Dampierre.

In 1246, Gui, the Avoué of Arras, Seigneur of Béthune and Dendermonde, as an arbitrator, chose Baudouin V of Balliol to terminate all difficulties between the Avoué and the Abbot and Convent of Saint Vaast, in respect of the property which they held in common.

In 1247, Balduinus V of Balliol (Doulieu) was an arbitrator between the Countess Marguerite II of Flanders and the Bishop of Terwaan to terminate disputes about their respective rights in the town of Herzelles. The Diocese of Terwaan (Thérouanne in French) went from the Somme valley (France) until the region of Nieuwpoort (Flanders) encompassing the cities of Belle, Ypres and Merkem. Around anno 1559, Flanders was divided into three bishoprics: Terwaan, Tournai and Arras (south of Tournai).

In 1248, there is a John Bell, notary, in St. Andrews, Fifeshire. Scotland. In Dumfriesshire, we find the Bells of Kirkconnel who claimed to be of French origin and to descend from the De Belle who crossed the English Channel in the XIth century.

In 1248, the Templars were granted free warren (rabbit) on their inherited estates from Guy de Bonaincourt, with agreement of Lord Hugue Balliol and confirmed in June 1203 by King John.

In 1249, Gui, son of Marguerite, Countess of Flanders, and Avoué of Arras approved of the redemption by the Lord Baudouin V of Balliol, Knight, of all the services that he was bound to render to his immediate lord, Pierre of Balliol.

In the same month Baudouin of Balliol, for the health of his soul, granted and assigned to the church of Saint Bertin at Saint Omer, all his tithes of the parish of Balliol and the fee which he held from Pierre of Balliol, and which Pierre of Balliol held of “noble Homme” Gui, son of the illustrious Lady Marguerite, Countess of Flanders, and Hainaut.

In 1249, In Ypres, Arnulf Belle’s children sell estate in the Poterne Street (Ypres).

In 1250, Baudouin V of Balliol was witness to a treaty between the Countess of Flanders and the Count of Hainaut, about the rights of the Count of Flanders in the islands of Zealand between the Scheldt (river) and Hadineze (?).

In 1250, as in 1254 and 1267 we have records of Salomon Belle (+1272) fs. of Jourdain Belle (not to confound with Jourdain of Belle, see in 1203, although they belong to the same Lineage) showing him as a municipal magistrate of the city of Ypres that was a drapery industry power of the first importance in Middle Age Europe.

This industry provided Salomon and his family an astonishing fortune: "The gathered notes on Salomon prove us his wealth and his strength". His father Jourdain married Marguerite...?

Salomon Belle is reported having as second wife Christine de Guines, Ghyme or Ghines (Gizene in Diets), fa. of Baudouin III de Guines (1205-+1244) himself fs. from the Count Arnould II de Guines (Lord of Ardres) x Beatrice de Bourbourg (Lady of Bredenarde).

Christine de Guines founded the Belle Almshouse after the death of her husband Salomon Belle, on 13 September 1272. Christine died on 8 November 1294. Salomon is considered as the ancestor of the Belle from Ypres!

The Judiciary in the city of Ypres counted two mayors (Hoofdman), seven aldermen (Schepenen), four conciliators (Paysierders), one treasurer and one assistant.

We read out of our archives on the document to the left, on the right column:

“…2* Christine fille de Gauthier de Ghines et Daphn… : elle fonda l´hopital dit Belle à Ypre ou elle se retira étant veuve et vivait en 1274 (88 ?) et mourut 1297, le 8 novembre et gît audit hospital. Il mourut le 13 septembre 1272…”.

In the document, the mother of Christine is hard to read. It looks like “Dagb.. or Daph ..” but certainly not “Beatrice”…” Unless we make “Beaptrice” out of it!

In 1250 Lady Devorguillia who was married to John Balliol I, came into possession of the lands of Fotheringhay, Buittle and their castles.

“…Fotheringhay Castle (also Fotheringay Castle) that was built in the village of Fotheringhay (275 km south of Barnard castle) west of Peterborough. It was probably founded around 1100 by Simon de Senlis, Earl of Northampton. In 1113, possession passed to Prince David of Scotland when he married Simon's widow. The castle then descended with the Scottish princes until the early 13th century when it was confiscated by King John of England….” Source: Mackenzie, J.D.

Interesting to note is that a Notable former resident of the castle, Walter de Foderingey became, in 1282, thanks to his upper lord John II Balliol (founder of the Balliol College), the first Principal of the Balliol College in Oxford.

Lady Devorguillia moved in the Buittle Castle in the 1250's and made it her residence. She enlarged the castle to out of norm scales and had even a bailey built that could be accesses by a drawbridge. Buittle was one of the three castles in Scotland to have a hard floor inside. The castle was, at those times, one of the strongest places in Galloway mainly due to its position at the Urr River who, being tidal (as almost all Rivers closed to the Sea were/are in Scotland), permitted to access the castle from the sea. The mouth of the River to the Irish Sea is only some 8,5 km south of the castle.

As I already mentioned earlier, the fragmentary ruins of the old Buittle Castle, also called Balliols Castle and/or Botel, can be seen upon the west bank of the river Urr, some 2.5 km by road west of Dalbeattie.

The castle was a stronghold of the Lords of Galloway, and figures prominently in the early history of the province, particularly during the Wars of Independence in the 13th-14th centuries, during which period it is said to have been the chief residence of the Balliol, who succeeded through Dervorgilla, daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway, and wife of John Balliol I.

Buittle was some 180 km north-west away from Balliols main castle in Barnard Castle but only 19 km to the Sweetheart Abbey by the road. By horses, through the fields, it was less than 8 km away. The closeness of the Buittle castle may be one of the reasons why Lady Devorguilia had the Sweetheart Abbey built in the area. The Balliol held the whole area. This is confirmed by a writ (issued by Edward III. in 1348 to secure Edward Balliol in his possessions) that describes the lands as belonging to Balliols ancestors from the days of King Alexander, no memory exists of any other owners.

On the death of Dervorgilla in 1290, her son John II Balliol, King of Scotland, inherited the lands of Buittle and Fotheringhay. In the civil war that ensued, the Bruces attacked the castle that played a prominent part in it. The lands of Buittle were bestowed in 1325 by King Robert Bruce on Sir James Douglas (surnamed the Good), and in 1535 they passed to Robert, fifth Maxwell, and Agnes Stewart, his wife.

Here is what Wikipedia tells us as 23rd May 2015:

“ …Buittle Castle, also known historically as Botle or Botel Castle, is a ruined castle in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. It is located in the valley of the river Urr, 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) west of Dalbeattie. The castle is within the parish of Buittle, in the traditional county of Kirkcudbrightshire.

A motte and bailey castle were built by Roland, Lord of Galloway, in the 12th century, half a mile upstream from the later Norman castle. The castle passed by marriage to John de Balliol through the heiress Devorguilla of Galloway, who built the Norman castle. Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale, captured the castle in 1286. The castle was in English hands in 1296. King Robert de Bruce captured the castle in 1313, and it was given to Sir James Douglas, Lord of Douglas. The castle came into Edward Ist Balliol´s hands in 1332, before being given to Archibald the Grim, 3rd Earl of Douglas, in 1372. The castle remained in the hands of the Douglasses until 1456, when it reverted to the Crown. It was later in the hands of the Maxwells and later the Gordons. The castle was slighted in 1595, and the castle became ruinous…”.

After having read what the Knight Ordinis Balliolensis, Fra. James Elton Bell writes about the ancestor of Sir James Douglas, we do better understand why King Robert Bruce bestowed the above-mentioned lands to Sir James:

“…at this time, Balliol also called action against the infamous Sir William Douglas, a [rough and reckless man] who had caused trouble from the time of the guardians and before, and who had refused homage to Balliol and his Comyn government. His [monstrous behaviour] undoubtedly caused the new regime many grievances and was another hardship faced by Balliol from the outset of this reign...”.

The Bruce could also rely on several powerful families such as the Douglas and the Randolph.

The site of Buittle castle, as the one of Ambels, in South of France, must have been of considerable natural strength, well defended by the river to the north-east and by a broad trench and rampart to landward. The Castle, of the Edwardian type, with curtain walls enclosing a space of about 45 x 30 meters, had massive round towers projecting at the angles. It had walls some 2 meters thick except for the arched entrance to the north-east tower, the main entrance. There is a fragment of masonry that led us to conclude that the wall must have been around 2,70 meters thick.

According to Mr Grose writings, dated 1789, the fortress was already a ruin, in 1789.

"...The mount, some scattered fragments of walls and the surrounding foss, all overgrown with trees, shrubs, and bushes, are the sole remains of this fortress…".

“...There was also a Buittle church whose ruins are located some 3 km south-west of Dalbeattie. The church may have been the one of St. Colmanel mentioned in charter anno 1381, written by Bishop Thomas of Galloway, bestowing it on the monks of Sweetheart Abbey. The church had something to do with Barnard Castle...” Source: James Elton Bell. Baron, Knight Ordinis Balliolensis. Anno 2006. Also read Chapter XI.

In 1251, John Ist of Balliol was summoned to attend the King at Chester to oppose the Welsh. He was also sheriff of Nottingham and Derby Counties for three years.

From 1251 until 1255, John Ist of Balliol was the guardian of the young Scottish King Alexander III.

In 1251, Sohier Ist of Bailleul (also called Zegher van Belle, Sigerus, Sicherus, Sohyers, Sygerus or Segerus de Bella or de Balliolo) (x1 Marie de Croix) and (x2 Isabeau of Ghistelles), Dame of Westende and fa. of Jean, Lord of Voormezele, Flanders) is Lord of Douxlieu. He is the son of Balduinus IV, Belle, Lord of Doulieu.

On the 27th of May 2017, during an Investiture of the Ordo Balliolensis, in Ludwigslust (Germany), the Knight Ordinis Balliolensis, Frater Jacob W. Manning, was allowed to bring the estate of Buittle Castle back to life.

In 1251, Baudouin V of Balliol, Knight, Bailiff of Flanders, sealed an ordinance concerning the excavation of the canal from Ypres to Nieuport (Nieuwpoort).

In the same year, Baudouin V of Balliol sealed a declaration that Chrétien, Bailiff of Furnes, Brother Thomas, a monk of the abbey of the Dunes and Egide, Châtelain of Dixmuide, had acknowledged in his presence having received from the échevins of Ypres, six thousand livres, money of Flanders, to be employed in the excavation of the canal between Ypres and Le Brouck. “Le Brouck” was the name of some meadows in the neighbourhood of Dixmuide, between Ypres and Nieuport.

In 1251, there is an ordinance of the Knight Balduinus V of Balliol, Bailiff of Flanders, prescribing the width and depth of the Channel “Schepleet” between Nieuwpoort and Ypres. This Channel was built at the time the city of Ypres got the monopoly of the woollen manufactories and was a unique drapery industry power. Funds came from the city’s treasure backed up by the rich local patriarchal families, all involved in the woollen business that made them and Flanders so immensely rich. Among the most influencing families were of course the Bels-Belle and Balliol lineages.

Mgr. Fra. Robert A. Bels, performing the “Feudal Homage” with Fra. Jacob W. Manning, and the hand-over of the Official Charta. The Knight Jacob became the honour, the title of Baron of the feudal nobility and the Lordship of Buittle Castle (Scotland). As a knight and baron of exceptional merit, the said Frater Jacob was promoted, on April 15, 2023, and by Magistral Order Nr. 58, Officer Grand-Cross and called to sit on the Magistral Council of the Ordo Ballionisis.

The channel was intended to facilitate immensely the transportation of wool from England to Ypres and the finished products from Ypres to the North Sea and to avoid the taxes imposed on the other fluvial route, from Bruges to the North Sea that was controlled by the Templars.

“…The natural bed of the Ypreslee River was deviated and straightened to flow along the west side of the “Laakenhalle” of Ypres, from where the goods could be very easily loaded and unloaded. The Channel ran up north to join the Ijzer River, some 2,5 km south of Nieuwkapelle. From thereon, the Ijzer was well navigable…” Source Mr Fernand Rambour. Secretary of the Gidsenkring Ypres - Poperinge. Anno 2011.

The terminus of the canal (called Ieperlee kanaal), that joined the Yser river, was an underground port that lay beneath the Halles of Yper, the commercial center of this wealthy Flanders town, along with Bruges and Ghent.

In 1253, 17th June, Gui, Son of Marguerite of Flanders is mentioned as Count of Flanders!

In 1254, there was an important Treaty signed between the Archbishop of Cologne (Germany), the Countess of Flanders, and Charles, Count of Anjou (France). Balduinus of Balliol was one of the four witnesses of the countess.

“…Comitissa etiam Flandrie similiter jurare fecit quatuor hominess de consilio suo, que nos eligimus, videlicet: Dominum Ingerramum de Fienles, Dominum Arnulfum de Cysonio, Dominum Balduinum de Balliolo et  Dominum Stephanum, cancelarium suum …” or:

“…The Countess of Flanders also swore to the Treaty in presence of four Members of her Council which we choose to say(sic): Lord, Ingerramum de Fienles, Lord Arnulfum de Cysonio, Lord Balduinum de Balliolo and Lord Stephanum, her Chancelor….”.

In April 1254, the royal army celebrated a victory when English King Henry and his “most illustrious knights”, including Prince Edward, John Ist Balliol, Henry Percy, John Comyn and Robert Bruce, captured the castle of Northampton and its defenders, Peters de Monfort (Montfort) and Simon the Younger. (Bell Roots).

The Templar Order in England possessed, by the middle of the XIIIth century, more than 26.000 of acres!

In 1255, John Ist Balliol became, together with another powerful Scot, Baron Robert de Ross, Regent of Scotland in Edinburgh Castle.

Around 1255, the Bishop of Durham excommunicated and, in due course, imprisoned some of the Balliols men. In retaliation, Eustache II of Balliol (John’s uncle) and Joscelin of Balliol (his cousin), waylaid the bishop and threw four of his servants into the dungeon. Henry III (x in 1254, Princess Eléonore de Castille ou de Provence), intervened and concluded an exchange of prisoners.

ca.1258. “…Herveus Bele devenit hominem prioris reddendo annuatim pro capite suo unum caponem ad Natale Domini..”. Extract from Horsham St. Faiths Manor Rolls (Bell Roots).

Ca. 1258 and 1260, Baudouin V of Balliol was Bailiff of Flanders and by arrangement with the countess Marguerite, he exchanged his office for that of hereditary Marshal of Flanders. Count Guy ratified this exchange in 1282.

In 1259, Jean III de Bailleul (also reported in official documents as “van Belle”), is hereditary Marshal of Flanders, Knight, and Lord of Doulieu, of Blancques (Plankes) and Loeterste, (x1, Marie de Croix. x2. Isabelle de Ghistelles. x3, Catherine van Belle {fa. François van Belle}). Loeterste was a moving fief (Fief mouvant) of the court of the Belle (Balliol).

In 1259, Other sources mentioned Balduinus de Bailleul, Knight, as Marshal of Flanders! He is the one, who endowed in 1250, the Chapel of Doulieu, built-in 1226 by Michel de Harnes, Fief of the Abbaye of Choques.

About 1259, Regent of Scotland John Ist of Balliol, the powerful Lord of Barnard Castle, was involved in territorial disputes with Walter Kirkham, Bishop of Durham. John Ist insulted the bishop who imposed a penance on him.

In 1260, the Balliols become the tax collectors of Flanders.

In 1260, records show Eustache II of Balliol as being sheriff of Cumberland and governor of Carlisle Castle. He was married to Hawise (Helenwise of Levyngton), daughter and heiress of Ralph de Boyville de Levyngton, a baron of Northumberland.

In 1260, beside John Balliol, the chief of the House, there were other branches of the same family settled in Cunninghame. In a record of a cause made at Erwin, betwixt Dominus Godfrey de Ross and the burgh of Irvine, there appear four barons named “de Ball”, an evident contraction of “de Balliol”. Here a short extract:

“In the year of Grace one thousand two hundred and sixty, on the Saturday before the feast of St. John the Baptist, before:

• Dominus John         de Ball,
• Dominus William,    Earl of Marr,
• Dominus Hugh        de Ball (fs. of John),
• Dominus Hugh        de Ball, (Brother of John),
• Dominus Jocyl        de Ball,
• Dominus Thomas    Gray,
• Dominus Stephen   le Fleming (the Flemish)
• Dominus Odinel      (the son of Radolphus?)”

Interesting to note are the first names of these people. The use of recurrent similar first names is a constant proper to the Lineage (John, Hugh, William, Jocelyn, Eustache, etc.). Exactly the same constant is encountered, for the Balliol Lineage, in Flanders. Why were the “de Ball” judges not called: Adam, Amfroi, Alain, Alan, Anchetil, Ascelin, Ansold, Auvrai, Bagod, David, Donald, Eudes, Fergus, Fitz, Godfrey, Honfroi, Michel, Née, Odon, Randolph, Raoul, Richard, Robert, Roger, Tirant, Vital, Walter, etc.?

In 1260, with the guidance of the Bishop of Durham, Regent John Ist of Balliol decided to carry out a substantial act of charity. He rented a house near Oxford and maintained in it some poor students.

In 1261, Ingram of Balliol (or Ingleram) x Ada de Berkeley, heiress of William de Berkely, Lord of Red Castle, in Forfarshire (in Lunan, Angushire) and Great Chamberlain of Scotland. Ingram is fs. of Joscelin of Balliol. Ingram was born in Tours-en-Vimeu (Flanders-Picardy). See also “in 1206”.

In 1262, Ingelram of Balliol (Vice-comes [Sheriff] of Berwick) and Henricus of Balliol, is witness to a charter in the 13th year of the reign of Alexander III.

PART 8

In 1263, David Bell is reported as canon of the church of Dunkeld, in Perthshire and “… the family surname Bell seems to have been hereditary associated with the church of Dunkeld…” (Bell Roots).

In 1263, John I of Balliol (1246-1315), 7th Baron of Balliol, decided to build the Balliol College in Oxford. The little society was in existence by June 1266, when its dependence on him is mentioned in a royal writ. This college is one of the oldest, biggest, richest, and more prestigious of all the colleges of today's Oxford University. The very high academic reputation of the Balliol College is known for ages. No other college has procured so many statesmen and political leaders. They were characterised by their "Effortless Superiority" !

The University of Oxford is subdivided into several Colleges. I listed them by the time of their foundation.

• XIIIth century: St. Edmund Hall (c.1225) - University College (1249) - Balliol College (1263) - Merton College (1264).
• XIVth century: Exeter College (1314) - Oriel College (1326) - The Queen's College (1341) - New College (1379).
• XVth century: Lincoln College (1427) - All Souls College (1438) - Magdalen College (1458)
• XVIth century: Brasenose College (1509) - Corpus Christi College (1517) - Christ Church College (1546) - Trinity College (1554) - St. John’s College (1555) - Jesus College (1571).
• XVIIth century: Wadham College (1610) - Pembroke College (1624)
• XVIIIth century: Worcester College (1714) - Hertford College (1740)
• XIXth century: Keble College (1870) - Lady Margaret Hall (1878) - St. Anne's College (1879) - Somerville College (1879) - Mansfield College (1886) - St. Hugh's College (1886) - Harris Manchester College (1889) - St. Hilda's College (1893).
• XXth century: St. Antony's College (1953) - Nuffield College (1958) - St. Peter's College (1961) Linacre College (1962) - St. Catherine's College (1963) - St. Cross College (1965) - Templeton College (1965) - Wolfson College (1966) - Green College (1979) - Kellogg College (1990).

Please note that on the 11 November 2022, Fra. Robert Adelsohn Bels proposed the creation of a “Bels College”. His Communication Magistrale Nr 963 had the following text:

“… On this day of November 11, 2022, I propose the creation in May 2023, on the 760th anniversary of the Balliol College, our Dynasty’s second college, to be known as the "Bels College". The purpose of the College is to provide our members with direct, personalized, and even private interactions with prominent representatives of the scientific community without having to go through established institutions, whether state or religious.

The purpose of science is to advance humanity. And if the motors of science are the questions that we ask ourselves, we must recognize that today, much more than yesterday, the need to be correctly informed about the things that affect us daily is, much more than ever, topical. This is the direction that the "Bels College" wishes to take.

It is an idea that renews a deep tendency of Humanity to understand and to be able to learn from reliable sources. The active participation of scholars will be able to illuminate the dark corners of our gaps and ignorance. Without their help, a certain knowledge would remain locked in the vaults of silence, purposely huddled in the darkness to keep "Knowledge and Knowledge" from the world.

It is possible that the Bels College is the pioneer of this new kind of education of the people. A new highway of knowledge, parallel to those we know. The College is in line with the "Signs of the Times". Just as the Balliol College was, in the middle of the 13th century…“.

Left : Baronobis, H.E. Fra. Heiko Bels. High Baron d’Ambels (F), Sire de La Croix, and right, H.E. Fra. Herbert Class. Knight OStS, Knight of Honor Ordinis Balliolensis and General Consul in Belgium of the Ordo Balliolensis, by signing the Constitutive Charter of the BELS COLLEGE, in Gotha (Thüringen. Germany).

PART 9

The creation of the Bels College was accepted by a Convent Magistral and acted by a Priory Communication (CP) Nr. 6, issued from the Grand Priory of Germany of the Ordo Balliolensis, dated 4 December 2022, and undersigned by Frater Heiko Bels GCOB. Magnam thesaurarius Ordinis Balliolensis. Ht Bon Noblesse féodale, Sire d’Ambels, Sgr. de La Croix.

The Idea of the creation of the Bels College immediately received the support and advice of HE Fra. Herbert Class, Consul General of the Ordo Balliolensis in Belgium, Knight of Honor of the said Order and Knight of the Order of St. Stanislas and from Fra. Prof. Dr. Reinhard Latza. Templar Knight Prior OSMTH (D) and Knight of Honor Ordinis Balliolensis.

Founder of the BELS College and its Constitutive Charter, in German, in the hall of mirrors of the College, in St Ingbert (Saarland. Germany) on 28th April 2024.

Around 1260, on the advice of the Bishop of Durham, John I of Balliol of Barnard Castle (the Regent of Scotland) decided to perform an important act of charity. He did so by renting a house on the outskirts of Oxford and keeping some poor students there. The founding date of the resulting college is traditionally set at 1263. At the very least, the little society founded by John Balliol was already in existence in June 1266, when its dependence on him is mentioned in a royal writ.

After John I's death, 1268/69, his wife Devorguilla of Galloway (the daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway, and Margaret of Huntingdon), who survived him by 22 years, made his arrangements for Balliol College permanent and was honoured as a co-founder. The union of Devorguilla and John is commemorated in the coat of arms of Balliol College, Oxford.

In 1282, Devorguilla signed the charter for Balliol College (Oxford University). She provided a financial endowment, formulated statutes, and gave the college its first seal, which it still possesses.

In 1272, she financed the construction of a Cistercian abbey in red sandstone called "Sweetheart Abbey" in memory of her husband. In 1282, she wrote at Buittle Castle (a lordship now raised by Sir Fra. Jacob Manning. Baron & Miles ordinis balliolensis) the charter, statutes, and grants for the foundation of Baliol College for the poor of Oxford University. In the same year Oxford chartered this charity under the name of Balliol College.

The first known person in our lineage to have graduated from Balliol College was Sir John Bell (+1556), around 1502. He was Bishop of Worcester (1539-1543) during the reign of Henry VII of England. He attended Balliol College, Oxford, where he received his LL.B (Bachelor of Laws or Legum baccalaureus) degree.

Between 1264 and 1267, Regent John Ist of Balliols loyalty to King Henry III of England in the Baron’s War against rebellious nobles, led by Simon de Montfort, cost him the temporary loss of his lands and a period of imprisonment (along with King John II of Balliol) after his capture by the Earl of Leicester, at the Battle of Lewes (14 May 1264). John Ist escaped and joined other loyal barons. They raised fresh troops and rescued the monarch.

In August 1265, Sohier Ist of Balliol made an agreement with the Abbot of Marchiennes (Hainaut). In this document, he mentions himself as son of the late Balduinus of Balliol: “Ego Sygerus de Balliolo, miles, filius quondam domini Balduini de Balliolo, militis” or “I, Sygerus of Balliolo, Knight, son of the Balduini of Balliolo, Knight”. Sohier´s father Balduinus died before anno 1265.

About 1265, François Ist Belle, of Ypres (x Clare van Maldeghem and not, as some historians pretended, Clare van Thourout), is sentenced, by the Countess Marguerite II of Flanders, to execute an expiatory pilgrimage to St. Jacques of Compostelle, in Spain. This to be forgiven for a night offence committed against the children and parents of Robert of Colemiers. Francois Ist Belle was Municipal magistrate of Ypres for 20 years (1278-1295). The Belle, Lords of Vormizele (Voormezele), descend from him.

There is no doubt that Marguerite II of Flander´s sentence preceded, by more than a century, the royal ordinance of anno 1371 that decrees: “…We will that our said échevins shall be able to enforce and commit those who by them shall be condemned for their offences to make any journeys of pilgrimages by penalty of fixes sums of money...”.

Punishments were sometime and in certain circumstances, also imposed on a community through its representatives. So is the probability extremely high, that the Count of Flanders and his court were the initiators, the real moral forces behind the royal treaty of 1371.

The following fact tends to confirm this hypothesis: A treaty between the King of France, the Count of Flanders, Louis, and the Flemish cities, ordered 300 men of Bruges and Cambrai (Flemish cities) to undertake a pilgrimage. One hundred men should go to St. Jacques de Compostelle (Spain), one hundred men to Saint Gilles (Provence, France) and 100 men to Rocamadour (France). The Treaty was signed… in Flanders, at Arques, 5 km of Saint-Omer (a Seigneurie of the Balliols), on 24 December 1356.

In 1266, Alexander Ist Balliol, known as “the Rebel” (1246-1309), made peace with the English King. He acquires new estates and extensive lands in Kent, Hertfordshire, and Essex by virtue of his mother’s Valogne holdings and his wife’s inheritance of the barony of Chilham. In addition to the English estates, he had widespread holdings in southern Scotland, Cavers in Roxburgh, and other estates, which were further enhanced upon his marriage. Isabel was the widow of David Strathbogie, earl of Atholl.

In 1268/69, after the death of Regent John Ist of Balliol of Barnard Castle, his wife Devorguilla of Galloway (who survived him 22 years), put his arrangements for the Balliol College on a permanent basis and is honoured as co-founder with him. Devorguilla and John’s union is commemorated in the arms of the Balliol College, Oxford.

Although he was for a short time imprisoned in London, John Ist spent the last decade of years of his life in Barnard Castle as records tell us (problems with the Bishop of Durham, etc.). It is very strange that there is absolutely no trace of the place of his burial. There is not a single mention of it in the Balliol college documents nor at the Sweetheart Abbey nor at Barnard Castle. No one member of his family ever mentioned it not even his wife who loved him very much. No traces were found in Church´s Archives (via the bishop of Durham and other clergies) nor in the high nobility records (being them issued by the Kings of England or from other contemporary Dynastic Houses). Very strange indeed if we consider that Devorguilla was issued from the Highest Nobility:

“…She was the younger daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway, and a great baron of Scotland. Galloway's wife, Margaret, was the sister of John le Scot and one of the heirs of King David. It was from this alliance that the Balliol claim to the throne of Scotland arose. Also, through the marriage to Devorguilla, Balliol acquired the Scottish barony of Galloway. Devorguilla, came to the union with Balliol an equal partner, and her family arms were joined with his…”.

Is this strange silence not very similar to the one that fell upon the whereabouts of his son King John II Balliol?

According to the legend (that has to be accepted as true according to some indices) that says that his wife, Lady Devorguilla was very in love with him, I feel that if such was the case, she would have used all her power and relations to get from whatever corner of England or from Scotland, her beloved husband back in the castle of his ancestors and next to her. Nothing could have prevented this to happen. John Ist had to be buried in Barnard Castle either in the castle itself, in the castle domain (the lands laid in the inner walls of the castle) or in the castle church or chapel. I cannot imagine any other options. However, as I said, this is my feeling, my logical deduction, and my conclusion.

A theory wanting John Ist Balliol to be buried in Normandy or in Flanders is an absolute nonsense and not even worth spending time on it. Devorguilla would never have tolerated that. Was he buried in Barnard Castle and later, on precise orders from Lady Devorguilla, buried together with her, in Sweetheart Abbey?

I received Feb 2007, correspondence on this subject from Prof. Mark Scott who has a PhD in history and is professor at Pepperdine University in California.

“…Your own essay on the (Ballliol) family was extremely informative. I totally agree with you concerning the possibilities of various burial sites. I cannot imagine that Devorguilla would allow the body of her husband buried outside the British Isles. I cannot imagine that the body would have been buried in a churchyard... I am with you in suspecting that in view of the passion she retained for her husband, Devorguilla may have had his body transferred to the Sweetheart Abbey sometime after the Abbey was completed. It would seem to fit her personality that she would be buried not only with his heart but with his body somewhere nearby. A Public Works brochure on the Sweetheart Abbey published in 1951 stated that John was buried with Devorguilla at the Abbey, but all other sources report that she was buried with only his heart…”.

In 1269, Eustache II of Balliol accompanied Prince Edward to the Holy Land.

In 1270, Enguerrand of Balliol participated in the 8th Crusade headed by the French King Louis IX (also called Saint Louis), together with the Count of Flanders, Guy of Dampierre and Guy of Montmorency. Interesting data as far as the Balliol-Montmorency connection, via the Templars, is concerned. I will develop this connection subsequently.

In 1270, Alexander Ist of Balliol appears as Dominus de Cavers and in 1277, as Lord of Cavers.

About 1270, Belle Elisabeth (+1274) married Philippe II de Maldeghem (+1279). They both died very young.  Elisabeth was 19 and Philippe 29. The reason is unknown. Interesting here, are the links between both families.

In 1271, Hugh of Balliol, eldest son of Regent John Ist Balliol, who inherited all the family properties, died without issue.

In 1271, Alexander Ia, of Balliol, second son of Regent John Ist Balliol, succeeded his brother Hugh. He married Eleanor of Genoure and inherited a barony of more than 25 extensive ships. He also died without issue before 13 November 1278.

In 1271, William Bel, Vicar of Lamberton, witnessed a charter to Coldingham Prior, Berwickshire. (Bell Roots).

In 1272, the spouse of Salomon Belle of Ypres, Christine de Guines, has, in memory of her husband, the “Belle Huis” almshouse built in the city: "For the care of the sick, poor and old men of both sexes". On 8 August 1276, the hospice became so important that a Chaplain was permanently assigned to its chapel. Either in 1276 or in 1277, Christine had the Chapel placed under the spiritual authority of the Bishop of Terwaan (France, Flanders) and under the temporal authority of the Municipal magistrate of Ypres (Flanders).

"...De familie Belle zal steeds de leiding hebben in het Godshuis. De uitzondering is ech­ter alleen "de jure", gezien de familie Belle tot de belangrijkste leden van het patriar­chaat behoort en patriarchaat en magis­traat, kerk en kapitaal gaan hand in hand op sociaal gebied en zullen van nu af aan ieder op zijn eigen terrein, elkaar ondersteu­nen..." (Bladzijde 26 van het Inventaris van de Archief der Commissie van openbare onderstand. Ypres).

“...The family Belle will still have the leading in de Almshouse. The exception is only "de jure", (rightly, deservedly, for good reasons) since the family Belle belongs to the most important members of the Patriarchate and Patriarchate and magistracy, church and capital go hand in hand in the social field and will, from now on, each in its own field, support each other…." (Page 26. Inventory of the Archives of the Commission of Public Assistance. Ypres or Ieper).

The Chapel of the Belle Almshouse served as a family cemetery for the Belle Family. These kinds of cemeteries are called: “intra muros ecclesiae”. From the 29 tombs present in the Chapel, 19 belong to this Family. The Belle family had the privilege of having its own Chapel and the legal rights to bury their members in their own estate.

Other important families of Ypres were buried in the main church of Ypres, the parish church of St. Martin´s (St. Maartenskerk), located a few hundred meters further, just behind the Grand Marked and the Halles, or in the common cemetery. No less than 97 tombs, most of them dual, were localised in this church.

As we have seen, the Belle Godshuis Museum was originally founded as an asylum. This institution later became a museum housing valuable old paintings and artifacts, reflecting the rich history of Ypres. But since 2018, the “Belle Godshuis Museum” has been definitively closed.

All art objects were transferred to the "Iepere Stedelijke Museum" located in the Lakenhalle of the city of Ieper. It is to be hoped that the origin of the art objects that belonged to the Belle Museum, will be indicated as such. Otherwise, all the interactions of the objects of this museum, with the ancient history of our lineage and the "highly strange" coincidences noted in this Essay will disappear in the abyss with time.

In Ypres, a total of 249 tombs was spread over churches, monasteries, or abbey chapels. In the St. Jacob´s church, we count 25 tombs, 22 in the Predikheren´s, 20 in the St. Pieter´s, 15 in the Franciscan’s, 14 in the Onze Lieve Vrouw church and the rest is spread over nine other intra muros cemeteries.

In 1273, the spouse of Regent John Ist of Balliol of Barnard Castle, Devorguilla of Galloway has, in memory of her husband, the Cistercian Sweetheart Abbey (Dulce Cor) built, South of the town of Dumfries and near the coast of the Solway Firth.

On her husband’s death, she let his heart be embalmed and kept it preciously in an ivory shrine, as a relic for the rest of her life. This shrine was placed before her at meals, and she shared every dish to the poor. After she died, on 25 January 1289/90 in Barnard Castle, she was buried in the Abbatial church of the Cistercian Sweetheart Abbey (see picture), in front of the high altar, with the casket containing John’s heart in her arms.

The tomb is still visible in the Abbey’s ruins. Note that Buittle Castle, which belonged to the Balliol who made it their main residence, was only 19 km away from Sweetheart Abbey. The Cistercian monks paid their own tribute by naming theAbbey "Dulce Cor" or Sweetheart, in her memory.

The Princess was a very beautiful woman that benefited, at the court of her parents, from a very good education, remember “…She was the younger daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway, and a great baron of Scotland. Galloway's wife, Margaret, was sister of John le Scot and one of the heirs of King David...”.

Records prove that she “could speak elegantly, read and write”. The inner nobility she possessed excluded her, with absolute certainty, from those women concerned by the text of Urbain le Courtois (XIIIth century) when he warned:

«…Si femme volez esposer, pensez de tei, mon fils chier. Pernez nule por sa beauté, Ni ki soit en livre lettrié, car sovent sunt decevables…».

“… If you wish to marry a wife, dear son, consider your own good; take none for her beauty, nor any that have book learning, for they are often deceitful…”.

Once more, the exception confirms the law!  Regent John I^st Balliol must have been very lucky to have encountered such an exceptional woman!

Lady Devorguilla also founded a priory for Black Friars at Wigtown and to help the pilgrims to cross the Nith River, en route to the Christian shrine at Whithorn, she had a bridge built in Durham. In Dumfries, she gave some lands to the Grey Friars who used it to build their monastery. Stroke of fate, it was in the church of this monastery that her grandson, John III “the Red” Comyn, was killed, in 1306, by Robert the Bruce.

PART 10

From 1273 to 1275, some Bailleul, Belle and Bels Knights participated in the war of the Cow in the country of Liège (region of Namur). Thierinus Belle, for example, is one of them. He is recorded in 1276, in “Les Tablettes des Flandres”, Tome 9. Idem for Salomon Belle.

In 1275, on the 16th March, died Jehan (Jean) Belle. He was married with a lady van Maldeghem. They are buried in the Belle Almshouse’ Chapel, in Ypres.

In 1276, there is an extremely high probability that Knights from our Lineage participated to the campaign headed by the King of France, Philippe III and the Count of Flanders, Guy (Gwijde) de Dampierre, to Spain.

In 1277, Hugo of Balliol is Viscount of Ypres and Balliol. Knight and Lord of “la Comté”.

From 1278 until 1295.  François I Belle, is Municipal magistrate of Ypres. He could stand 20 years at the head of the city despite the great social troubles that shook the city and the region, such as the riots of 1280. There may be more than a simple coincidence behind the time of his nomination as High Magistrate and the accession to power of Guy de Dampierre, Count of Flanders. Guy de Dampierre was Count of Namur since anno 1262.

In 1278/79, John II of Balliol (the younger son of John I) succeeded to his brother Alexander Ia of Balliol (+1278). He married in 1281, Isabelle de Warenne (de Varennes), daughter of John of Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey (1231-1304) and Alice de Lusignan. Her maternal grandparents were Hugh x of Lusignan and Isabelle of Angoulême, widow of John Ist of England (had two sons: Edward Ist born in 1313 and Henry born before 1315 and killed in battle at Moffat in 1332. Other sources mention that he died on 16 December 1332 at the Battle of Annan!).

John II of Balliol possessed vast lands: Largs, Noddesdale, Southanan, Dalry, Giffin, Armsheugh, Dreghorn, the great barony of Kilmarnock, together with Bondinton and Hartshaw (some £9,900 Scots valued rent).

In 1280, in Flanders, Pierre de Bailleul married Blanche of Harcourt (of Normandy).

In June 1280, Bailleul, Belle and Bels Knights participated with the Count Guy of Dampierre, in the battle of Worringen that opposed the latest to Jean I^st Duke of Brabant (1268-1294).

In 1281 we find more variants of the patronymics with, in January, Jacobus de Belle, in April, Henricus de Belliolo and in October, Boidinus de Belle.

In 1281, Siger of Balliol, Marshal of Flanders, is also reported as being the tax collector of Flanders.

In 1282, September. Count Guy of Flanders ratified the exchange of Office from Huissier (usher) of Flanders (Process-server) to Marshal of Flanders for Baudouin V of Balliol. See also “In 1258”.

In 1282, Alexander IV, (*1264 +28 Jan 1283 or 1284), Prince of Scotland married Marguerite (+1330) the daughter of Guy, the Count of Flanders. Alexander IV was fs of Alexander III (1241-1286) x Marguerite (1240-1275) Queen of England and fa of Henry III of England.

The ancestor of King Alexander IIId was Alexander IId, King of Scotland (sic) x Marie de Coucy. King Alexander II was a cousin of Marguerite of Huntingdon. She was the head of the line that went down to Devorguillia and John Balliol I. Their fathers (from Alexander II and Marguerite) were brothers:

• Guillaume Ist (1143-1214), called The Lion, x Ermengarde, was King of Scotland and the father of Alexander II.
• David, Count of Huntingdon (1144-1219) x Maud of Kyvelioc (+bef. 1231), was Countess Marguerite’s father.

Another proof of these interconnections between old families of Western Europe and the close family links of the Balliols with the Counts of Flanders.

In 1282, Devorguilla of Galloway signed the charter of the Balliol College (Oxford University). She provided a capital endowment, formulated Statutes, and gave the College its first seal, which it still has.

In 1283, Christine of Balliol (*1270 +1320) probable fa. of John Balliol I x Devorguilla of Galloway, x Enguerrand V, de Coucy (*1255 + after 1321), Lord of Coucy, of Montmirail and of Oisy (France). Enguerrand was educated at the court of the King of Scotland, Alexander III his first cousin.

In 1283, Enguerrand of Balliol, Admiral of France, takes part in the campaign of Aragon (Spain).

In 1285, Jean II of Bailleul is jailed in Paris by Philippe-le-Bel, King of France, with the unfortunate Count of Flanders, Guy of Dampierre (*1225 +1305) and his son Robert III of Bethune.

In 1285, Jean III de Bailleul (still recorded in some documents as “van Belle”), hereditary Marshal of Flanders, Knight, Lord of Doulieu, of Blancques (Plankes) and of other places, attends the coronation of the King of France, Philippe le Bel.

In 1286, Sohier of Balliol, Knight, Marshal, and Collector of Flanders, signs a receipt for 25,206 Livres parisis (sic).

In 1287, Gui de Dampierre, Count of Flanders is said to have bought the Seigniory of Balliol (Bailleul) belonging to Baudouin V de Balliol (Bailleul) and to his wife Agnès N***. The Count gave then this Seigniory to his son Jean Ist of Namur. Source: Fra. Patrick Duez. Herald of Arms Ordinis Balliolensis.  See also at: In 1295 subsequently.

In 1287, in Normandy, Jean of Balliol (+ anno 1316), Lord of Bailleul-sur-Eaulne, Baron d´Escotigny and of Bosc-Geffroy, Chamberlain of Philippe le Bel, King of France, married Jeanne of Harcourt (sister of Jean II Lord of Harcourt, field-marshal and admiral of France). This marriage confirms the Lineage links that existed between the Balliol of Flanders and those, wrongly called: the "Balliol from Normandy". (See above "In 1280" and story “In 1315”). He is the person who had built the church of Bailleul-sur-Eaulne and whose tomb is to be seen in that church.

Similar marriages happened frequently. Example: Mr Adelson Valcke married Rolande Compernolle and Mr Armand Valcke (brother of Adelson and brothers of Suzanne x Robert IV Bels) married Nicole Compernolle, (sister of Rolande). They lived in small villages distant from each other for less than 10 km and were sons of Alfonse Valcke x Anna Veys. What if Adelson was living in Flanders and Armand in Normandy, some 300 km apart at a time when covering such a distance required about a week of horse riding?

Would careful extrapolation, in such cases, not be another of these providential tools at hand, to establish the links that existed between different families and Lineages, rather than the hazardous “tool” offered by the Russian roulette?

In 1287, Alexander Ist Lord of Balliol, of Cavers in Roxburghshire, (said to be fs. Hugh of Balliol, of Harcourt and of Barnard Castle. Other sources such as Knight James Bell, make him fs. Henry de Balliol x Lora de Vainges!?).  He is mentioned as Great Chamberlain of Scotland, a role that he had been inherited from his mother’s family and that had also been held by his father.

Alexander Ist, is also mentioned as Lord of Cavers in Teviotdale! He shared in the negotiations between the Scottish nobles and Edward Ist of England, which ruled in the treaty of Salisbury in 1289 and the treaty of Brigham in 1290. Alexander Ist Balliol married Isabelle de Chilham also Chillan (fa. Richard de Douvres), from whom he inherited for life the Castle and manor of Chillan (County Kent). He died ca. 1309 leaving Thomas of Balliol as unique heir.

Whilst Alexander Ist Balliol worked for Eward Ist, he was never entirely trusted, as is shown by the sequestration of his Scottish and English estates in 1296 (which were restored after military service under Edward in Flanders in 1297). (Bell Roots).

In May 1288, a Marshal of Flanders, Sohier Ist or Sohier II (also Soyer) of Balloel (Balliol) together with the Count of Nevers, later Count of Flanders, and four other lords: de Gaevre, de Ghistele, Nicole de Condé, Guillaume de Mortagne, signs as witness the Marriage contract of Enguerran, Lord of Coucy and Jeanne of Flanders, fa. of the Count of Flanders. In that contract, there is mention of 35,000 Livres parisis the Count of Flanders has to pay in six instalments to Enguerran.

In 1290, January 28, Devorguillia of Galloway (x John Ist of Balliol) dies in her Castle at Barnard Castle. In accordance with her expressed wish her remains were brought home (Buittle castle) and buried in Sweetheart Abbey, the ebony and silver casket, containing her husband's heart, being placed upon her bosom. The epitaph of her written by old Wyntoun read:

“ A better ladye than scho was nane.  In all the yle of mare Britane”.

In 1290, September, Margaret, the “Maid of Norway” and the only surviving (since the dead of her brother Alexander) direct heir of King Alexander III of Scotland, was drowned in the North Sea. The succession to the throne of Scotland is now open.

In 1290, the official role for the succession to the Scottish throne is sealed. There were thirteen “competitors”. Seven had withdrawn and three had been dismissed. Only three had serious chances to get it:

1. John II of Balliol,
2. Robert Bruce, (de Bruce or de Brus), Lord of Annandale. Is linked to the Balliols of Scotland via Eleanor of Balliol (°Tours, Flanders-Picardy) x 1233, William de Percy, fs. Henry de Percy x Isabelle de Brus.
3. John Hastings, Lord of Abergavenny.

The others were:

4. John Ist Comyn, (de Comines, van Comen). Lord of Badenoch, Constable of Scotland, is linked to the Balliols of Scotland via his wedding with Alianore of Balliol. John II of Balliol was his brother-in-law.
5. Florence, Earl of Holland.
6. Patrick Dunbar, Earl of March.
7. William de Vescey.
8. Robert de Pynkeni, (Ex.Lib : vice Domini de Pinkinio filia. Pinciniae or Pequigny, is linked to the Balliols of Flanders via, Melissande de Pequigny x Willelm de Saint-Omer [Castellan and Sire of Valkenberghe] whose daughter, Euphémie de Saint-Omer, married Balduinus I^st of Balliol in 1096).
9. Nicholas de Soules.
10. Patrick Galythly.
11. Roger de Mandeville is linked, anno 1234, to the Balliols of Scotland via, Henry of Balliol, second son of Eustache Ist x Agnes de Fontaines. Henry x Lora, co-heiresses of Christian, wife of William de Mandeville, Earl of Essex and heirs of Peter, Lord of the barony of Valoines (Valsques) (Vainges, in Bell Roots) and Lord of Panmure.
12. Robert de Ross.
13. Eric II King of Norway (through Margaret).

In 1290, in the Northam (Norham) church, on the River Tweed, Edward Ist opened the fateful convention to weigh the contesting claims of Bruce and Balliol to the Scottish crown.

In 1291, Sohier Ist or II de Bailleul (Balliol), is Bailiff of Ghent (Gent). There were two Sohier de Bailleul, the one we know and one who “was a younger son” according to the engrailed border of his seal. Some authors make Sohier II the son of Sohier Ist Some documents, such as those of anno 1317 and 1336, are ascribed to Sohier II. Sohier Ist presumably died shortly after the last mention of him in the charter No 176 of the Archives of the City of Bruges, dated 29th  August 1302.

In 1291, there is a Malcolm Belle of St. John de Perth, mentioned in the “Ragman Roll”.

“…On 1st November 1282, King Edward Ist of England returned North to Berwick upon Tweed, he ordained that 50 distinguished Scotsmen who were experts in the law should be appointed as arbiters. These men new appointed, and the king added to their number 50 Englishmen whom he had chosen. He made them swear to consider the claims of all the candidates and to bring the business of the Scottish succession to a satisfactory conclusion.

They awarded the right to succeed to the Scottish throne to John Balliol since he claimed it by descent from the eldest daughter [of David Ist, earl of Huntingdon].

The king of England approved this decision and handed over to John Balliol the kingdom of Scotland with complete power, saving the homage and fealty due to him…” Source: Elizabeth Hallam.

In 1292, November 17, John II Balliol (x Isabelle of Warenne also Varennes) is chosen, by a commission charged to examine the rights of each competitor: “after more than one year of deliberations and after careful consideration”.

In 1292, November 19, King Edward I^st of England, on opinion of his parliament (containing 104 constables, 40 selected by Bruce, 40 by Balliol and twenty-four by Edward) confirmed John II Balliol to access the throne of Scotland:

"…The King’s official judgements were read aloud. Of the thirteen competitors, seven had withdrawn and three had been dismissed. Of the remaining three, Edward proclaimed that a senior branch held precedence, and that John Balliol was heir to the throne. A decision which most historians considered to be fair and just…".

Barrow wrote “…the judgement in favour of Balliol was surely the triumph of law, common sense and respect for orderly procedure in the mist important public act in which a medieval nation could join…”.

This judgement, however, doesn't seem to make the unanimity of the chroniclers. The authors of the following text, on the Baliols, seem not willing to accept it:

“…Marguerite of Norway, heir to the Scottish throne, died in 1290, and the succession was disputed between several contenders, including Jean de Baliol and Robert Bruce. Arbitration was sought from Edward I of England, who, judging Baliol to be the weaker of the two, named him legitimate heir in 1292. In 1295, King John was drawn into the revolt of his subjects against English guardianship and allied himself with France. But by 1296, Edward I, had struck back, sweeping away the Scottish forces and deposing Baliol. Baliol was taken captive, leaving Scotland virtually annexed to England for several years…”. Source: Le Grand Larousse Encyclopédique. Paris 1960.

The "weaker of the two" assertion is obviously false. So, too, is the assertion that the people revolted. As for the third, if the Baliols lost the battle that would have changed the course of Scottish history, it's simply because the other powerfull family, the Bruces, upended and offended by the decision of King Edouad I of England, didn't join forces with the Baliols to save Scotland. Voilà, in a few sentences, the true assertions that should be published in works of universal appeal.

How can one expect other encyclopedias, and sources of historical information, to question the authenticity of such claims, made by the most important encyclopedia in the French-speaking world; an authority among authorities on a par with the English-language Encyclopaedia Britannica? What author would take the risk of opposing these giants who claim to be the repositories of universal knowledge?

We must, however, pay tribute to the Encyclopaedia Britanica which, in its "2003 Britannica Concise Encyclopdia" version, has deftly avoided, through appropriate dialectics, falling into the negative trend towards the Balliols. We'll read its description some four pages further on.

Please find the genealogy of David’s branch (x to Maude of Chester) to show the precedence of John Ist Balliol upon Robert Ist Bruce. David was Earl of Huntingdon and son of Henry, grandson of David I, great-grandson of Malcolm III and great, great, grandson of Duncan Ist. Not all heirs are listed here!

David, Earl of Huntingdon x Maude (Mathilda) of Chester:

1. John of Chester +1237.

2. Margaret x Alan of Galloway:

       b1. Devorguilla x John I^st de Balliol (Balliol). Regent of Scotland:

             b2. John II de Balliol x Isabelle de Warenne. King of Scotland.

             b2a. Edouard I de Balliol. King of Scotland. Bethroated (1295)                       to Joan de Valois.

Sources want him to have married Marion, the illegitimate daughter of William Wallace (Braveheart) x Marian Braidfute. Still other sources have him married Margareta de Sicile Tarent (of Tarentum).

c.    Isabelle 1x Henri de Percy. 2x Robert I^st de Brus (Bruce), 4^th lord of Annandale:

       c1. Robert II de Brus (Bruce), 5th lord of Annandale:

             c2. Robert III de Brus (Bruce) x Majorie of Carrick :

                   c2a. Robert IV de Bruce 1x Isabelle de Mar. 2x Elisabeth de                                   Burgh. King of Scotland.

I open here a parenthesis:

PART 11

Please note the pertinence, the congruence of the drawer of the two pictures, page 124. From all evidence, he made a clear difference between the diplomat and the warrior, the nobleman and the soldier. Two worlds apart, two conceptions of life and on how to rule. These details turned out to be of big interest for future generations’ historians’ scrutiny.

An evidence for every historian: if the Bruces had cooperated with the Balliol, as did John Comyn (all three Flemish men) against the King of England, the issue of Scotland’s history would have been very different! Although John Comyn´s family is known to have a hereditary aversion to England but being well aware of the historical background that led King John II Balliol to the throne, he decided to respect him and to support him as his lawful King!

In 1292, November 20, in Notham, John II Balliol swore allegiance to the King Edouard Ist and was crowned in Scone, in the Cistercian Abbey, on the "Stone of Destiny", later called "Stone of Scone", (to the north of Perth) on 30 November 1292, the feast of St. Andrew.

I seize the opportunity of the context to make a little historical-genealogical disgression. The following text will show how some patronymics “Balliol” became “Baillie”. “…Wanting to distance themselves from the Scottish throne when Robert the Bruce was crowned King, in 1306, some Balliol changed their name to Baillie..:”. Source: Magnus Magnusson. That is one more proof that the Baillies are Balliols.

The Bishop of Durham carried out the ceremony but John St. John, using ancient tradition rites, made the crowning himself. John St. John acted as deputy for the infant Earl of Fife whose family held the hereditary right to enthrone the new Kings of Scotland.

Above right, some coins (Scottish pennies, halfpennies, and farthings) bearing the effigy of King John II Balliol.

King John II Balliol will be the latest Scottish monarch to be crowned on that Stone… but not the last at Scone, because King Edouard Ist Balliol was crowned at this location also. See “In 1332, September 24, Edouard Ist of Balliol (+1363)”.

King Edward Ist of England played false by having unexpectedly John II Balliol to swear fealty and to admit that, through his allegiance, he would have Scotland to supply men, money, and arms for his planned war against France.

King John II Balliol humiliated, could not react on the spot. Back in his estates, he tried to convince the Scottish Nobles that he never and would never; sell out Scotland to the English. Few were ready to believe him. John II of Balliol will take his personal revenge by signing the “The Auld Alliance” (Vieille Alliance) between Scotland and France, which would last until 1746. See the main text of this treaty, in French, at the end of this document.

Amongst the best historians of the XXth century, Mr Baigent and Mr Leigh, wrote in their book originally written in English and translated into German und the title “The Temple and the Lodge” :

“…King Edward judged the succession to devolve upon John Baliol, who had a legitimate claim, and was duly crowned at Scone. Edward immediately reneged on his promises to respect Scottish independence, demanding a humiliating obedience and fealty from the man he had placed on the throne. By 1294, the English King's demands had goaded the Scots into rebellion. An alliance was formed with France, and Baliol, in 1296, repudiated his allegiance to Edward. By then, however, it was too late - Edward had already sacked Berwick and advanced with his army into Scotland. The Scots were defeated; Baliol, having surrendered, was publicly humiliated and eventually went into exile...”.

In another source, I found this passage:

“…In 1292, Balliol was chosen and declared King of Scotland. Edward's goal was to install a Scottish monarchy that he could manipulate easily. This last underestimated the sovereignty of Scotland and Balliol did not let influence himself by the King of England. He assured to his people that he would only answer for them, refusing all military or other demands coming from England. After the signing of a first treaty of peace with France, Edward Ist brought up an army and attacked Balliol at Dunbar. Balliol had refused to give up three castles on the Scottish border and had refused all demand coming from the English. King Edward Ist, jailed Balliol and declared himself sovereign of Scotland. He placed the government between hands of 3 English governors that would govern under his name; John of Warrenne (Flanders, 100 km from Belle), William Ormsby and Hugh Cressingham (Cressignan, unknown place in France)..”.

In again another Source:

“…Balliol took an oath of fealty, paid homage to Edward, and was accepted in Scotland. However, Edward Ist´s motives had not really been to help the Scots as an arbitrator. He saw himself as the feudal superior of the Scottish crown and wished to install a Scottish monarch whom he could manipulate. Edward underestimated the Scots belief in their own sovereignty.

When he sought to exert his suzerainty by taking law cases on appeal from Scottish courts to his own court in England, and by summoning Balliol to do military service for him against France, he turned the Scottish throne against him. In 1295, a treaty was negotiated between Edward Ist and the French that provided for the marriage of John de Balliols son Edouard to the French King’s niece. King Edward demanded the surrender of three castles on the Scottish border and, on John’s refusal, summoned him to his court. John Balliol did not obey, and war was inevitable...”.

Sources: www. scotlinks.com/scotland-articles/William-Wallace-5.htmI

And in again another Source:

“…The price, to Balliol, was that he had to offer allegiance to Edward, which seemed all right to Balliol. But Edward set out to make it plain that Balliol was under his orders… When Balliol rebelled at being treated as a lackey, Edward marched on Scotland, right to the north, and took over the country as an English colony… During the ups and downs of these campaigns, there was one Robert de Brus (Bruce), grandson of one of Balliols rivals, who could not quite decide what was best for him. He sometimes put himself forward as a passionate Scot; at other times spoke up for King Edward, waiting to see how the dice would fall. One man whose mind was totally made up was William Wallace…”. Source: History of Scotland by Cliff Hanley.

Another source comes from the Knight James Elton Bell, out of his Bell Roots, anno 2011:

“…Matters came to a head when King Edward demanded Scottish troops to support his war against France. Under pressure from his council, King Balliol not only refused, but also formalized a mutual defence agreement with Philip IV of France against England. Edward’s response, on 30 March 1296, was to sack Berwick-upon-Tweed. The Scottish army was defeated at the Battle of Dunbar on 27 April 1296. John Balliol l was captured by Edward’s troops in July, in the churchyard of Stracath in Angus...”.

And: “…John Balliols career, has largely been ignored in history much like the political career of his son John (II), and his grandson, Edward. The extent of the Balliols estates, their place within the Anglo-Scottish aristocratic society and the impact of the Kingship of John II and Edward have been continually overlooked by historians.

Their land holdings give the first indication that this was a powerful Northern English baronial family with ties to both Scotland and France. During the XIIIth and XIVth centuries, the Balliols could be associated with lands in twenty-one English counties alone, in addition to lands in Galloway and Scotland, and the four lordships in Picardy (Flanders).

At the time of John Ist´s death in 1268, he was in possession of two major baronies*, six lordships, seven castles and about twenty manors, as well as numerous townships and villages scattered throughout three realms. He had acquired a bulk of his possessions by the 1240´s, and the extent of the lands passed its zenith at the time of his death...”.

(*) Note: Being in possession of “two major baronies”, made John I^st Balliol a heavy weighted Lord. A modest barony is reported having some 45 Knights (ref: the Beauchamp family). Two major baronies may have counted at least 200-250 knights. This was already a small army on its own!

And to end these enumerations, let we read André Maurois in: An Illustrated History of England. Anno 1963.

“…Edward was chosen as arbitrator, and awarded the Kingdom to Baliol, who was crowned at Scone. But the English King carried along by this appeal to his authority, insisted that the new King and the Scottish nobles should acknowledge his status as suzerain. The Scots had supposed that such suzerainty would remain nominal. When Edward declared that a litigant losing his case in a Scots court could henceforth appeal to the English tribunals, Balliol made alliance with the King of France, then opposing Edward in Gascony, sent his defiance to the King of England, and refused to obey a summons from his suzerain, Edward thereupon marched into Scotland, made Baliol prisoner, carried off the Stone of Destiny from Scone - traditionally the pillow of Jacob - and fashioned it into part of a sumptuous chair which ever since has been used at coronations of the Kings of England…”.

“… John the Balliol was one of the 13 claimants to the throne (of Scotland) but won by progenitor John. Paid homage to Edward I of England but soon refused his request for military aid in Gascony and instead signed a treaty with the French. When Edward invaded Gascony in 1296, the Scots raided northern England. Within months, Edwards’ army had captured strategic castles in Scotland and John was forced to resign his Kingdom to Edward. He was held in the Tower of London until 1299…” Source: The ultimate Desk Reference. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia by the Encyclopedia Britannica.

These versions of the facts are very different from the versions of some authors, wanting to make of King John II Balliol a “Toom Tabard”, (Empty Tunic), a black sheep without character, a puppet obeying blindly to King Edward’s orders, quite pro England, and contra Scotland! See also under “in 1296”.

The sense of unfairness toward the role played by King John II Balliol is really widespread. Here is an example of such an expression:

"...Everything I found seemed to be dismissive for King John II Balliol. Everyone seemed to be pro Robert the Bruce. In other words, there seemed to be a big propaganda campaign. As time went on, I discovered one or two writers who showed that King John II Balliol was not given fair coverage. He needed a new press agent... I feel your Essay may be the answer! ...“. Letter to the author, dated 10 March 2008, from Miss Elisabeth Abbott.

Another author goes even further. He wrote:

“….The argument has been advanced that Balliol was chosen because he was the weaker man, the man who would bend the more easily to Edward's will. In fact, it was Robert Bruce the competitor, not John Balliol, who was the first to accept Edward's claim to overlordship of Scotland and who did so at every opportunity thereafter…”.

“… The delegation was given three weeks to make up its mind. It is interesting to note that it took only a few days before the first leading competitor, Robert Bruce, accepted Edwards overlordship and his right to sasine of the kingdom. John Balliol was the last of the competitors to accept the inevitable…”. Source: Magnus Magnusson.

It was not some of Balliol's heirs who publicly betrayed Scotland by marrying into the family of the King of England and other actions:

1. Robert the Bruce (*1274-1329) married, in second noce, Elizabeth de Burgh (1289-1327) in 1302. Elizabeth was the daughter of Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster and Connaught and his wife, Margaret, Goddaughter of English King Edward I. Elizabeth was about 13 years old, and Robert 28. Together they had four children.
2. On July 17, 1328, in accordance with the Anglo-Scottish peace treaty of Northampton, the four-year-old David II Bruce (*1324) was married to Joanna, sister of King Edward III of England. The boy succeeded his father, Robert the Bruce, as king of Scots on June 7, 1329. As a rival claimant to the Scottish throne held by Edward Ist de Balliol, Robert, to escape the pursuits by his adversary, fled to France in 1332, where he was welcomed by King Philippe VI de Valois, they were brought to the Castle of Château-Gaillard and, soon after, to the court of France where David II stayed until his return to Scotland, in 1342.
3. As we have seen earlier under “The weaker of the two assertion”, when King Edward of England joinded his army near the village of Brunton, north of Alnwick, and celebrated Easter Day (25 March) at Wark Castle, he received renewed pledges of fealty from the Bruces (father and sons) and other Scottish barons for their lands in Scotland.

It was the opportunism, even the treachery of the "Bruces", and their refusal to join King John Balliol's policy and Scottish troops, mainly supported by the Comyn family and several other great lineages of the time, in the defense of Scotland, that led to Scotland's ruin.

“… I think John Balliol's reputation is due for serious revision - He certainly deserves much more attention and much more understanding; but that devastating nickname, “ Toom Tabard ”, is difficult to get round, and it is even more difficult to reach the real John Balliol through the propaganda and vilification engendered by the man who usurped his throne - Robert the Bruce…”.

“… There is evidence that King John tried to carry out the functions expected of a king, despite the implacable enmity of the Bruice. But Edward Ist was clearly intent on humiliating him at every turn. He usurped the right to hear appeals from Scottish judgments, and King John was even ordered by the Sheriff of Northumberland to appear before a court in London to account for a wine-bill left unpaid by Alexander III. John never had the chance...”.  Sources: Fiona Watson.

The blazon of King John II Balliol was: “Or an escutcheon Gules, voided of the field”. This blazon was neither his personal one nor the one of his Lineage. However, he left a very clear message to whoever will decipher the heraldic language.

• He took the same basic colour as the blazon of the Balliol of French-Flanders that was “de gueules”,
• He added a smaller shield inside the big one (escutcheon), with identical form and colour as that of the blazon of Marguerite of Flanders (1032-1083), fa. of Baudouin VI, Count of Flanders. She was the wife of Guillaume the Conqueror and was crowned Queen of England on 11 May 1068, either at the Westminster Abbey or in the Winchester Cathedral. She acted also as regent in Normandy during her absence from England.

By this masterpiece of diplomacy:

• He honoured his own Lineage and signalled his own origin by having the basic colour of his blazon as the blazons from the Balliol of Flanders.
• He honoured the Counts of Flanders by taking a piece out of Balduinus I^st Iron Arm’s blazon carried by Countess Marguerite of Flanders.
• He honoured the Duke of Normandy by having a piece out of the blazon of his wife.
• His new shield chosen symbolically will become the blazon of the Balliol, Kings of Scots.

It is highly interesting to note that the Kings´ house of the Stewart (Stuart from Dol in Bretagne, France) did the same. They did not bear the “fesse checque” of the Stewart Arms, though the chief of the name, but the royal Arms of Scotland namely: “Or, within a double tressure, Gules, a lion rampant of the last”.

This is a new proof of the strong links that existed between those ancient Lineages, put in evidence via the “Internal coherence” of their Arms. These subtleties, I agree, are almost only detectable by a well-trained heraldist!

In 1292, in New-Castle-upon-Tyne, King John II Balliol gave pro forma, homage to Edouard Ist for the Kingdom of Scotland. He held his first plenary court in Scone, on 10 February 1293.

In 1292, Robert the Bruce first appeared in a position of prominence when he became Earl of Carrick. His prestige was first shadowed by William Wallace (1270-1305), who took over for John II of Balliol, and then rose to attain its climax with the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. This success he could only achieve with the aid of the Templars Knights. And they left an indelible message to historians of the future. They somehow organised the main engagement of that battle to occur on the 24th June 1314, a very special day for the Templar because it is the S^t. John´s Day!

Pope Innocent III charged Simon de Montfort, viscount of Béziers (F) and of Carcassonne (F), to conduct the Albigensian Crusade. This Crusade, considered as the first European genocide, marched off on the 24th June (John the Baptist’s Day). Question: Why starting the criminal Crusade on John the Baptist’s day and what was the hidden mobile behind this decision?

Interesting to note is that the four previous-established Masonic Lodges in London decided to merge to constitute the Grand Lodge of England. This unique moment in the history of Freemasonry happened also on a 24th June (1717). This could have been a deliberate and clever act tending to indicate, discreetly, a filiation between the Freemasonry and the Order of the Temple.

This theory is not more defensible than that of the Freemasonry´s origin to be in the Rosicrucian Order (first reference in 1614, with the publication of the Fama Fraternitatis). The historical record does not support these two theories. However, this does not prevent Freemasonry from having drawn from the traditions, teachings, habits, and customs of the two Orders. This ultimately is a good thing in itself!

In 1294, the Count of Flanders Guy of Dampierre (from the Bourbon Lineage) is jailed, with his two sons Jean and Guy. The King of France set them free after having obtained that Philipine (Guy of Dampierre’s daughter Philippa, who was promised to the Prince of Wales in 1294 but died in 1304 or 1306) was handed over as a hostage in the Louvre (Paris). A Lord of Bailleul (was it Balduinus V ?) accompanied the Count of Flanders. Guy de Dampierre was married with 1x Mahaut de Béthune and 2x Isabelle de Luxembourg fa. de Henry II (castle of Vianden, G-D of Luxembourg) x Marguerite de Bar.

In 1294, May. King Edward Ist asks King John II Balliol to close scrupulously, for all ships, the ports of Scotland and to send him a military contingent in order to help him to recover Gascony from the King of France. John II manifesting increasingly his independence, refused the requested military aid.

PART 12

In 1295, the Count of Flanders, Guy of Dampierre (+1305), the Bailiff of Ghent, Weenan Stullaert and Sohier Ist or II of Bailleul went to the Parliament of Paris and to the King of France, Philippe-le-Bel.

In 1295, there are still some «Belle» called «de Bailleul» and vice versa! Example: Jacquemon of Bailleul, Magistrate of the city of Ypres from 1295 until 1301 and then from 1304 until 1306, is also called in official documents, Jacques van Belle! That the patronymics were not definitively settled in that period, can be seen with another example: Jacquomons´ confrere is either called Nicolas le Pelletier (French) or Clais de Vellemakere (in Flemish!

In 1295, Balduinus IV (should be Balliol V. See 3§ later), of Balliol (also de Besle), fs. of Hugo de Besle, Viscount of Ypres, and Belle (x Agnes N…) sells the ship of Belle with all lands, revenues, homage, and other rights appertaining thereto, as also all that they possessed in fief, in the territories of Cassel and Belle, to the Count of Flanders, Guy of Dampierre (1224-1305). Question: Was the Seigniory not already sold in 1287 ? See: In 1287.

In fact, agreements to sell the city of Belle were already taken on 11 April 1288 by Jean of Dampierre, nephew of Guy, the Count of Flanders. The exact reason for the selling is unknown. It may have something to do with the crowning of John II of Balliol, in Scotland. Then, how explain the fact that agreements to sell the city were already taken in 1288, two years before the Maid of Scotland drowned in the North Sea? How could the Balliol of Flanders and of Scotland have anticipated the events that happened in Sept 1290?

There is another interesting historical problem here: Balduinus IV of Balliol, we just met, could not have been a Balliol nor a “van-de Besle” nor “a Belle” since he was son of Hugo de Besle (Balliol), Viscount of Ypres en of Belle, Lord of “la Comté”, himself son of Margareta of Aire (France), Viscountess of Ypres en of Belle, and of Jan of Aubigny. In other words, the name of Balduinus IV should have been “de Aubigny”.

Balduinus IV grandmother, Margareta of Aire, could with certainty have not been a Balliol neither because her parents were Margareta of Balliol, Viscountess of Ypres and of Belle, Lady of Beselare who married Balduinus III of Aire (France). She was therefore a real “of Aire”. The only explanation for this abnormality is the application of “The Dynastic Reason”. So were the husbands’ patronymics suppressed to ensure the “Balliol” continuity in a particular area.

Indeed, no male heirs were found to assure the line from Margareta Balliol x Balduinus III of Aire.

Their only child being a daughter, Margareta, she had to keep the name Balliol alive. Later, when she married Jan of Aubigny, the same rule was applied again since her only son, Hugo, also kept the name Balliol and not the name of Aubigny. Hugo having a son Balduinus IV Balliol and a daughter N. x  Petrus van Witteke, “normality” (sic) was re-established.

The Dynastic Reason commands such happenings. As we have today “The State Reason” and “The Royal Reason” that “authorise” (sic) institutions to take some exceptional measures they do not have to justify.

We found, in our Lineage, at least two more examples of such derogation.

• The blazon of the Regent John Ist Balliol x Devorguilla of Galloway.

On this blazon Devorguilla´s Lion of Galloway is placed in the senior position what is a heraldic exception.  John Ist Balliol wanted to have it that way because he considered his wife being of a higher rank as himself. The same arrangement is found on her counterseal.

• The Barnard Castle succession problem.

When Bernard Balliol died in 1199, he had no male heir. His patronymic went over to Eustache of Héliscourt (a member of a local family that was tenant of the Balliol) who became Eustache Balliol. This Eustache may have been an illegitimate son of Bernard. In that case he was biologically spoken a Balliol whatever his legal father’s name may have been. This illegitimate son hypothesis may explain the total absence of reaction from the Dynasty, Nobility, Church, and Royalties, which else would have seized the opportunity to counter the matter in their own advantage.

One example of non-observance of the Dynastic Reason:

• By lack of male offspring the ship of the de Bels was lost in anno 1677 when Antoinette Claire de Bels married Jean-Baptiste François Lievens, eldest son of Jean-Baptiste Lievens (Bailiff of Mouscron). Due to this marriage and to the non-observance of the Dynastic Reason, the estates of these ships of the Bels were lost for ever.

In 1295, King John II Balliol, fed up with being Edward’s puppet but also due to disagreements raised from matters of principles. King Edward Ist thwarted any of John’s II attempt to establish himself as King by continuously interfering into his authority over Scotland. One example: Scottish justice was controlled by London.

“…King John II might be regarded as a provincial governor or else a privileged feudatory enjoying ancient rights and revenues but possessing only the shadow of real power…”. Source: Barrow G.W.S.

The ways King Edward Ist conducts business (home and international politics), brought King John II to send secretly in July, with consent of some influential Scottish barons, some ambassadors to the King of France, Philippe le Bel, to conclude a treaty of alliance.

The alliance known as "Auld Alliance" was signed on October 23. Among other things, it engaged France, in case of an attack on Scotland by King Edward Ist to attack English positions in England. On his part, King John II engaged himself to assault the northern part of England in case King Edward Ist attacked France. With such an alliance, King John II would strongly assure his power but would unavoidably come into conflict with King Edward Ist. However, this move became strategically mandatory after his refusal to provide military aid to England.

“… On 23 October 1295, the “Treaty of Paris” guaranteed that Scotland would maintain hostile pressure on England in return for military aid from France should Scotland be invaded. It was to be cemented by a future marriage between John Balliol’s son and heir, Edward Balliol, and Jeanne de Valois, niece of Philippe IV (they were engaged, but the marriage never took place). The treaty was ratified by the full Community of the Realm at Dumfermline in February 1296…”. Source: Magnus Magnusson.

In 1296, King John II Balliol, in Fettercairn, (in the Kincardine (*) Castle, his county town and royal residence, some 430 km north of Barnard Castle) renounced to his oath of allegiance and loyalty to King Edward Ist. This was also the advice he received from his parliament.

King John II Balliol wrote to King Edward: “…We cannot any longer endure these injuries, insults and grievous wrongs, nor these hostile attacks, nor can we remain in your fealty and homage, and we desire to assert ourselves against you, for our own defence and that of our realm…”. Source Booklet ME 2002.

(*) The town of Kincardine, that ceased to exist during the Middle Ages, was situated between the County of Aberdeen and Angus. The few traces of ruins of the castle are the only witnesses of its existence and of the former town Kincardine.

In 1296, King John II Balliol still unaware of the far-reaching political changes invaded Northumberland. He was defeated and captured at Dunbar. The English sent him to prison, together with some other Scottish noblemen and the Stone of Scone, into the Tower of London where he became one of the earliest residents of the “Salt Tower” also known as the Balliol Tower (located at the Southeast corner of the Tower complex’s inner ward, on the Tower Bridge’s side).

Here follows what Mr Kenney Hickman wrote on the Battle of Dunbar:

“…Learning of the English approach, the defenders requested aid from John who was encamped with the main Scottish army at nearby Haddington. Unwilling to personally lead the army, John placed the Red Comyn in command. Marching east to Dunbar, Comyn occupied a strong position on high ground just west of the town on April 27.

Arriving on the field, Surrey began advancing against the Scottish position. As they approached, they were forced to cross a gully and a small stream known as the Spot Burn. In doing so, the English ranks began to break up. Witnessing this, Comyn misinterpreted the situation and ordered his men forward under the belief that the English were retreating. Surging forward in a disorganized charge, the Scots were surprised to find Surrey's lines reorganized. Leading a disciplined attack, Surrey's cavalry drove off their Scottish counterparts before routing the enemy foot soldiers and forcing them from the field.

Casualties for the Battle of Dunbar are not known with certainty; however, the engagement effectively ended the campaign of 1296. Among those captured was the Red Comyn, as well as the earls of Atholl, Mentieth, and Ross. Dunbar Castle surrendered the next day, and with the Scottish army effectively destroyed, Edward soon controlled the castles at Roxburgh, Edinburgh, Stirling, and Perth. Out of options, John surrendered on July 2 and was forced to resign his Kingdom six days later at Montrose…”. Source. Military History.com

King John II Balliol endured a severe humiliating ceremony during which his royal arms were torn from his surcoat. From there comes the nickname Toom Tabard (empty coat) given by the pro-Bruce supporters. This adjective is therefore far away from any objectivity!

It may be true, as some historians point out, that King John II was the wrong man for the job, which at the time required a strong leader. He should indeed have resolved his problems by brutal force rather than by diplomacy. One of the first steps he should have undertaken, as a strong leader, was to eliminate once and for all, the Bruce family (as the Bruce tried to do by murdering another competitor, the Comyn, in a church). The Comyn Dynasty, linked by marriages to the Balliols, was one of the key families in Scotland. They totally supported the Balliol, for centuries.

King John II could not have followed the advice of Niccolo Machiavelli (1429-1527) since he lived three centuries earlier: “…For it must be noted, that men must either be caressed or else annihilated. They will revenge themselves for small injuries, but cannot do so for great ones, the injury therefore that we do to a man must be such that we need not fear his vengeance…”.

But King John II could neither have benefited from the advice of the Indian Philosopher Kautilya (third century) : “…The remnants of an enemy can become active like those of a disease or fire. Hence, these should be exterminated completely…”.

It is evident for any strategist that the Bruce, by counteracting every single action of King John II, did not help the Scottish cause at all. It helped instead the one of King Edward Ist of England. These permanent problems, that sapped a lot of energy and destabilized Scotland, were for Edward’s policy, real blessings. He had to undertake nothing to undermine the Scottish resistance... It undermined itself from the inside. Like a rampant cancer!

Therefore, could King Edward not find a better “ally” than the unfortunate Bruce! The rebellious and unnameable to law attitude of the Bruce weakened so much Scotland that it became evident that it would take not long before the English would take it over. The Balliol had only the Comyn, as main supporter, to stand up against the permanent attacks of the Bruce. We all know the saying:

“…When two dogs fight for a bone, comes a third one and takes it away…”. The third one was here evidently King Edward Ith of England.

If the Scots had been united, the outcome would have been very different for Scotland. The French would have taken King John II Balliol seriously and the Auld Alliance implemented. King Edward Ist, who had also other enemies around him and abroad, would have been forced to become “more cooperative” to say the least. That, in turn, would have been all to the benefit of the Scottish people.

With the Balliol as King, his people would have had good times. The Balliol as the Bels and Belle are known in History to have been habile diplomats and humanists. The Bruce and Consorts had, as history tells us, quite other reputations!

If King John II Balliol unavoidable surrender to the King of England is seen by Scottish hardliners as an act of treason, they should remember that the Bruce did much worse six years later for a lesser noble cause! Where was his patriotism to Scotland when, in 1302, he submitted to Edward I^st, only to ensure that he would not lose his lands by marrying Elizabeth de Burgh (de Burcht, Flemish for castle, fortress), fa. of the Earl of Ulster, a loyal supporter of the English king!

Did the pro Bruce chroniclers negatively mention this act of treason on behalf of his “private and love affairs”?

Did they, therefore, call the Bruce: the “Toom Tabard” - “The meek lamb” - “The simple and stupid almost mute and speechless” - The one who dwelt among them for a whole year, as a lamb among wolves” ? Source: Rishanger or “The single devil of Balliol..” Source: Ronald McNair Scott.

An unidentified author wrote in “Chronicle of the Age of Chivalry” :

“…Most Scottish barons had made their peace with Edward by this time. Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, the grandson of the 1290 claimant, was one of them; he submitted to the king of England in the hope that his claim might be reviewed. But his adherence was short-lived. Bruce decided to prosecute his own claim to the throne. The support of John Comyn, head of a family with a long tradition of opposition to England, was essential to Bruce´s plans, and the two men met in Greyfriars Church, Dumfries, in February 1306. However, to Comyn, as too many Scots, John Balliol was still the lawful king, and Bruce failed to win him over. Bruce and his supporters murdered Comyn and mobilized support with a rapidity which suggests advance planning. On March 1306 Bruce was crowned king in the abbey church at Scone....”

And what about the secret pact between King Edward Ist and Bruce’s father promising ”…the Scottish throne would be his when Balliol was deposed?…”. What of course never happened! The Scottish throne was incorporated in that of England. End of the story! And why did Bruce’s father retire into his English estates instead of in Scotland?

And what about the argument that Bruce was a better patriot to Scotland than the Balliol? Was he really? I remember the words of Cliff Hanley, quoted earlier: “... Robert the Brus … he sometimes put himself forward as a passionate Scot; at other times spoke up for King Edward, waiting to see how the dice would fall…”. Source: History of Scotland by Cliff Hanley.

Is it not also an ineptitude and a paradox to pretend to be a “better” Scottish patriot when we know that both families originated from Flanders? As was the other main competitor for the Scottish crown, the Comyn and many other nobles hanging around up North of England.

“… In that sense, Balliol was caught in a unique situation: because of the nature of the competition for the throne, he had already acknowleged Edward specifically as the overlord of Scotland. He was dealing with a very powerful adversary, and his own support within Scotland was limited by the disaffection of the Bruces and their supporters. He was simply unable to cope with that combination of circumstances. But that does not mean that when he came to the throne, he intended to be any less of a king than any of his predecessors had been; he was, quite simply, hopelessly outgunned…”. Source: Magnus Magnusson.

In London, King John II Balliol preserved in his captivity, many liberties of movement and action that permitted him to hunt, to circulate in a radius of eighty kilometres, and to enjoy a regal lifestyle (royal privileges). At a time when law and order was breaking down in France. King John could even take care of the management of his possessions in France. His son Edouard shared his captivity. King John II was called “The unhappy King of Scots“.

“…Also imprisoned in the Tower of London at about the same time were the Master of the Knights Templars and all the English Knights of the Order who had been falsely accused…”.

Edward Ist Balliol was the eldest son of King John II x Isabel, daughter of John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey. Edward shared his father's captivity in London 1296. Later, on the death of his father, Edward succeeded to his estates in France where he resided, privately, for several years. In 1324 he was invited to England by Edward II to be brought forward as a rival to Robert the Bruce, and in 1327, at the request of Edward III, he again visited England with the same object.

Other sources tell us that: “…After being taken to the Tower of London, King John Ist Balliol was moved to a manor house in Hertfordshire where he was allowed a huntsman, a page and ten hounds with permission to hunt in any of the King Edward Ist forest south of the Trent. Here he remained until he was handed over to the Pope in July 1299...”. Source: Stevenson, 121, 163.

In 1296, October, Wallace invaded northern England (Northumberland and Cumberland). In December, he returned to Scotland and was proclaimed guardian of the Kingdom. He ruled the country in Balliols name.

In 1296, October. The Scots ordered all beneficed persons of English birth, to depart Scotland. They declared all partisans of England as well as all neutral people to be traitors, who also had to quit the country!

Sir William Wallace (*1272 in Eldersile, Scotland in Paisley Parish. was second of three sons (James, Malcom) of Sir Malcom and Jean Crawford. King of Scotland, Robert Ist Bruce, knighted him on September 11, 1279. He married, in 1297, Marian Bradfute (church of St. Kentigern in Lanark, Scotland) who was executed (May 1297) by the Sheriff of Lanark: William Hezelrig.

In 1296, under the reign of King Edward Ist of England, is born John, fs. of Gilbert de Beaupré x Christiane de Saint-Omer, heiress of her family. The Beaupré kept his possessions in Upwell marsh for more than 200 years. Please note the links with the Balliol, the Beaupré and the Saint-Omer, all originating from Flanders!

In 1296, Adam Belle and Richard Belle of Berwickshire rendered homage to Edward Ist of England as Overlord of Scotland (Bell Roots). In the same document, Adam, Richard and Aleyn are recorded as Bells, when they spread to Edinburgh, St. Andrew’s, and Dundee.

In 1297, while John II Balliol was in prison, Anthony Bek, the opportunist Bishop of Durham, seized Barnard Castle.

In May 1297, William Wallace, loyal supporters of John II of Balliol, gave the signal for a general rising by assassinating William de Heselrig, the English Sheriff of Lanark. Together with William le Hardy, Lord of Douglas, he launched the “Raid of Scone”.

In 1297, Alexander Ist of Balliol, Lord of Cavers, was the second son of Henri de Balliol, Lord of Cavers and of Lora de Valognes of Panmure and Chamberlain of Scotland. His father had as first son Guy who was killed on August 4, 1265, at the Battle of Evesham, William “Le Scot” (Abt. 1251-1313), the progenitor of the Scot/Scott family in Kent and a daughter Constance who married a member of the Fishburn family of the County of Durham.

Another, more fanciful reconstruction tentative of the Barnard Castle.

Oil and Acrylic dramatic painting by the author R.A. Bels,

in October 2018. Size: 70cmx50cm.

Kept by the family David Kuhn, in Tholey (Saarland, Germany).

Alexander de Balliol Iost his office as Great Chamberlain of Scotland and may have shared the imprisonment of his kinsman and cousin, King John II of Balliol, in anno 1296. Later, he fought in Scotland for King Edward and was summoned to several English parliaments. He died before June 1311.

In 1297, William II of Balliol, Lord of Penston, Haddingtonshire and Carnbrue, Lanarkshire, (barony of Bothwell), was the youngest son of Alexander I.b, of Balliol. He married Marion Braidfute, the illegitimate daughter of Sir William (Bravehaert) and of Marian Braidfute (from the Flemish Breedvoet), of Lamington and acquired that property. He accompanied Wallace in his expedition to the relief of Scotland and was fined in consequence four years’ rent of his estates in 1297, by King Edward Ist of England.

There seems to be another confusion in the historical record since we have two different versions as who married the daughter of Wiliam Wallace:

PART 13

1. The wife of Edouard Ist Balliol is said to have been the illegitimate daughter of William Wallace (Braveheart) x Marian Braidfute. Edouard I^st is also said to have been bethroated to Joan de Valois and even been married to Margareta de Sicile Tarent (of Tarentum). Magareta was fa. from Philip Ist Prince of Taranto, Prince of Achaea, King of Albania, titular Emperor of Constantinople, and Lord of Durazzo. Philip Ist 1x Thamar Angelina Komnene. 2x Catherine II of Valois. These three assumptions are historically founded!

2. William II (?) of Balliol married Marion Braidfute, the illegitimate daughter of Sir William (Bravehaert) and of Marian Braidfute, in Flemish: “Breedvoet” or in English “Broad foot”.

In 1297, the Count of Flanders Guy de Dampierre made a bilateral alliance with Edward Ist King of England against Philippe le Bel, King of France. King Edward Ist was in war with France since 1294 because of King Philippe’s pretensions to monopolize the English possessions in France. By the end of 1297, King Edward Ist and his soldiers landed in Sluis (Flanders) to help the Count of Flanders who also had serious problems with King Philippe. The French troops were driven back, and the King of France had to sign a cease-fire treaty for three years.

Meanwhile King Edward Ist of England’s barons, increasingly defying his orders to invade Gascony, tried to compel the regents to confirm the charters of liberties, with important additions forbidding arbitrary taxation. This all, forced King Edward Ist to soften its Flanders-France political approach and eventually to find a way to make peace with France.

The new diplomatic course with France would have many unexpected effects on the Balliol of Scotland. So did King Edward Ist not only sign an agreement with France, but he went much farther by having his son marrying King Philippe le Bel’s sister, Marguerite of France (known as the “Pearl of France” by her English subjects).

With a political wind blowing now strongly from another direction, King Edward Ist may have been told about the secret Auld Alliance. In any case, King Edward Ist did not take a long time to realise, the super opportunity offered to him to trap King John II Balliol who was now, in Scotland, politically, militarily, and geographically isolated. King John II lost his most precious ally to help him, eventually, against the English.

In 1297, Domenico Padoani (Venice, Italy) drew the map above. He still has, as many other maps of the end of the XVIIth century, the city of Belle called Belle and not Bailleul. Interesting also is to compare the size of the city of Ypres to the one of Belle!

In June 1298, François Ist Belle of Ypres, assists to the publication of a request from the Count of Flanders to the Holy Seat (Pope Bonifacius VIII) to protest an interdiction made by the Bishop of Terwaan (French, Flanders) on the baillage of Cassel (Flanders).

This interdiction resulted in steps undertaken by Philippe le Bel, King of France, to the Pope to condemn the politic of the Count of Flanders, which opposed the King’s ascendancy. Sire François Ist Belle stood definitively behind the Count of Flanders. Sire François died on 3 Sept. 1299.

In 1298, July 22, after their defeat at the Battle of Falkirk, the Scots sent a letter to Pope Boniface VIII, complaining about King Edward’s policy. They told him that, according to the law, King Edouard had no right of superiority over the Scottish King. Almost a year later, on 27 June 1299, from Agnani, the Pope replied diplomatically that he had “feudal superiority of Scotland” (sic). The letter, entrusted to Monsignor Robert Winchelsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, was handed over personally to King Edward at Sweetheart Abbey, shortly after the siege of Caerlaverock, ca. the 26th of August 1300.

However, King Edward Ist of England had “wind” of the Pope’s vision on the matter long before receiving this letter because the Pope had sent, late 1298, a representative to London.

After the defeat at Falkirk, William Wallace had to resign as Guardian of Scotland (in the absence of John II of Balliol, imprisoned in the Tower of London). In autumn 1298, John Comyn and Robert the Bruce (two Flemish Lords) were appointed as joint Guardians of Scotland.

Shortly before the Pope wrote his letter on 27 June 1299, the peace Treaty of Montreuil, 19 June 1299, was concluded between Edouard Ist and Philippe le Bel, King of France. On the 18 July 1299, King Edward Ist set (or was forced to set) King John II Balliol at liberty and had him conveyed into France. A few days later, John II crossed the Channel. Other sources mention his release from the Tower, sometime around the summer of 1301!

Another heavy pressure on King Edward Ist (x Eleanor of Castille) came when his son, the crown Prince Edward II of England, also called Edward of Carnavon, who was engaged, since the 31st August 1294, to Filipina, a fa. of Guy of Dampierre, Count of Flanders, now became the fiancé of Isabelle fa. of Philippe le Bel, King of France. Edward II married on 25 January 1305, Isabelle de France. In 1327, Isabelle will have her husband jailed and killed.

We have seen earlier that Edward Balliol, fs. John II Balliol, and later the next King of Scotland from our Lineage, remained after the release of King John II Balliol, in English captivity as a guarantee for his father’s good behaviour. What we do not know how long he was detained in the Tower of London. Was he detained just for the “guarantee” or did he share the captivity of his father, from the very first days of his arrest?

Remember that in 1301, two other Balliols were also detained, this time by King Edward III of England. It was Alexander I.b fs. Alexander Ist Balliol x Isabelle de Douvres (or de Chilham). Alexander I.b was taken hostage as a surety against his father’s good behaviour. And with the surrender of his other son, Thomas Balliol, as a hostage to loyalty, Alexander I.b Balliol was released.

King John II Balliol kept his King's titles: "Sire, Jehan, King of Scotland, Lord of Bailleul-in-Vimeu...” and was still regarded by many Scotsmen, including William Wallace, as the sovereign of Scotland.

Note: After King John II Balliol was released from the Tower, he arrived at the port of Dover where his baggage was examined. It is reported that: “...King John II Balliol arrived with many vessels of gold and silver, a considerable sum of money was found in his chests, and he was in possession of the Royal Golden Crown and the Seal of the Kingdom of Scotland. King Edward Ist of England ordered that the Crown be offered to St. Thomas the Martyr, the Seal he kept for himself, but the money was returned to King John II, for the expenses of his journey...”. Partial source (for the Seal) : Foedera, vol I, part 2, p 909.

The allegation wanting King John II Balliol to arrive at Dover, is interesting for analysing his escape route across the Channel. However, the statement: “...with many vessels of gold and silver...”, is an extremely questionable statement. Not a single ruler indeed and a fortiori King Edward Ist of England, would ever release a prisoner together with “many” of his vessels filled with gold and silver. Not even with the “...considerable sum of money he carried...” ! These lines sound more like a fairy tale! I will analyse, subsequently in Chapter II, King John II´s probable escape route.

William fought for Scotland in King John II Balliol ´s name! Even Robert the Bruce was, at one time, vice-regent of King John II Balliol and guardians were elected to rule in his name while he was in captivity.

As we have seen earlier, William Wallace took over the resistance of King John II Balliol against the English. Robert Bruce and Sir John III Comyn “the Red” will follow him, as guardian of the Kingdom, in December 1298. Robert Bruce defeated the English at the battle of Bannockburn (1314), one of the greatest dates in Scottish history. He will become King of Scotland, Robert the first, in 1306. The Auld Alliance is restored and remains until 1746.

King John II Balliol is said to have retired in Château-Gonthier (Les Andelys) or in Bailleul-en-Vimeu and Hélicourt. Even the Knight James E. Bell, in Bell Roots, writes: “… John II Balliol was allowed to return to his family states at Bailleu, France, where he lived until his death, in April 1313, at the age of 63...”.

Modern historians however strongly reject this theory and want to have him settled either in Flanders or in another place in Belgium but in no case in France (see anno 1315).

Going back home (to Flanders) when things were going very wrong across the Channel was a common trait among the Flemish adventurers. Such was the case of the high standing “Dreu de la Beuvrière”, who fled ca. 1086, back to his estates in Flanders, being accused to have killed his wife (whether by accident or intent) who was a kinswoman of the duke William.

I quote here a small sentence out of the publication of the English Heritage (seen previously):

“...Ultimately, he (King John II Balliol) was released to end his days on the Picardy (Flanders) estates, which were all that remained to the Balliol family after almost two hundred years...”.

The statement about the Balliol Family possessions is very doubtful. But this statement is not the one that interests us right now. Our attention is more focalised on very meaningful recurrent mentions, in several texts, wanting to have King John II Balliol fled to his family estates in Flanders.

Lady Ingrid Schröck-Heil gave me an interesting hint concerning King John II Balliol whereabouts, on the continent. It is reported at Chapter II: The “Van Bonen” (de Boulogne) Lineage Connection.

On 26th August 1300, at Sweetheart Abbey, Monsignor Robert Winchelsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, handed over personally to King Edward Ist of England the letter from Pope Boniface VII, dated 27th June 1299, relative to his feudal superiority over Scotland.

In 1300, after the conquest of Flanders by the French King, Philippe le Bel, Guy of Dampierre, with his sons and the leading Flemish nobles were taken as prisoners to Paris. The Flemish rose in rebellion and a French garrison at Bruges was massacred in May 1302. In July, a French army invasion was crushed near Kortrijk (Flanders) at the Battle called “the Golden Spurs”. The aged Count of Flanders, Guy, died in captivity before the French recognised the independence of Flanders, in the treaty of Athis-sur-Orge in 1305.

William Wallace (*1270 +1305) took over from John II Balliol, as leader (Guardian) of the Scots and became a Scottish national hero. He was followed by Robert Ist the Bruce (+1328).

Some “ancienne école” historians told us that the Bruce (Burs, Bruis, Brix) family came from Brix (South of Cherbourg, France). This is historically wrong although it seems right at first glance: They did come from France at the time of the battle of Hastings, as did the Balliol of Normandy, but as for the Balliol they did not originate from France but from Flanders.

The Bruce was an important Flemish family from Bruges (Flanders). They most probably went to Normandy, the year (1053) in which Lady Mathilde of Flanders married William, the Duke of Normandy, because it is precisely during that year that Robert de Bruges (later Bruce), the wealthy castellan of the city of Bruges (Flanders), disappeared from that city… and from Flanders records!

«…Ex hinc Odo rex, adunato exercitu, iter arripuit quasi Atrebatis venturus, re autem vera Flandras petiturus. Balduinus vero, Atrebatis iter arripiens, per aliam viam antecessit regem, venitque in Bruociam (1) ; atque ita rex sine aliquo effectu rediit ad loca sua, Nam antea Walkerus, ejus consobrinus, castrum Laudunensium, quod a rege perceperat, per tyrannidem obtinuit ; sed rex castellum obsedit, ipsamque civitatem mox cepit…». Excerpt of the Annales Vedastini 344.

Note (1) … in Bruociam, means “in Bruges”, “around Bruges”.

These annals, also called “Annals of St. Vaast”, are a set of annals written in the early tenth century at the monastery of St. Vaast in Arras (Flanders). They cover the period from 874 to 900 reporting major happenings of the Lotharingian and West Frankish Kingdoms. Combined with the “Reichsannalen” they constitute the “Chronicon Vedastinum”, a general chronicle that covers the history of the Carolingian Empire until the year 899.

In the “Annales Vedastini” (of St. Vaast), the city of Bruges is called in Flemish “Brugge” and in Latin “Brugae, Bruggiae, Bruzziae” but also “Bruocia or Bruccia”, for the last variants the copyists confounding very often the letters o and c. So was the name of Robert the “Bruce” issued from the Latin version “Bruocia” or “Bruccia” we encountered in old documents.

The reason why I choose “Bruocia” and not “Brugae” for the toponym that gave birth to the patronymic “Bruce” is its significant recurrence. The city of Brussels (Belgium), for example, was called in Latin “Bruocsella”. In this toponym we find, as in Bruges, the same kind of prefix “Bruoc” that is a Celtic word meaning a swampy area and scrubland. “Cella” is a Latin word meaning a Temple, a Chapel.

Bruce’s patronymic, as in the case of the Balliol, of the Comyn (Comines) and numerous others, was therefore a toponym. Another possibility is the one that made from “Bruge” - “Bruce” where the letter G was simply confounded with the letter C ! So was King Robert the Bruce, as many other Scottish and English Lords, of Flemish origin.

There is however another approach, which wants, as for the Balliols, to have the Bruce origins in Normandy. Very wrong of course, nevertheless the text is very interesting and rich in details:

“…The castle of Brix belonged to the ducal desmesne in 1026, when it formed part of the dowry granted to Adèle, consort of duke Richard III. Robert de Brutz, or Brusce, was counsellor to duke Robert the Magnificient, and his son Robert de Brus, accompanied by his two sons William and Adam, attended the conquest of England. The latter, Robert, died shortly after, when William received the castle of Bramber in Sussex, whose descendants for several generations were barons of the realm.

Adam, or Adelm de Brus, the younger brother of William, came to England in 1050, attending Queen Emma. Shortly after which he went to Scotland but joined his father and brother later at the conquest. He was rewarded with 94 lordships in Yorkshire, and died in 1079, in consequence of which his son Robert received these possessions and is entered in Domesday. The latter built the castle of Guisborough in 1119; was at the battle of the Standard 1135 and died in 1141. He had issue, Adam and Robert, who was the grandfather of Robert de Bruce, Lord of Annandale who married the heiress of David, brother and heir of William, king of Scotland, and whose great-grandson was Robert the Bruce of Bannockburn fame, the most illustrious monarch of Scotland. Hence also the earls Elgin, barons Burleigh, baronets Bruce, etc…”. Source: The Falaise Roll, page 88-89.

The Knight Laurence Gardner, from sources out of “The Scottish Hazard”, by Beryl Platts. (London 1985-90) writes in his book: “Bloodline of the Holy Grail”, page 293. Element Books Limited. Sorset (UK):

“…Many of the Scottish families so often credited with Norman descent are actually of Flemish origin. Their ancestors were actively encouraged to emigrate to Scotland during the 12th and 13th^P-century reigns of David Ist, Malcolm IV and William the Lion. A policy of purposeful settlement was implemented because the Flemings were very experienced in trade, agriculture, and urban development. Such families as Bels, Belle, Balliol, Bruce, Comyn, Douglas, Fleming, Graham, Hay, Lindsay, Murray, and many others all have their heraldic origin in Flanders. In recent years some excellent in-depth research has been conducted in this field by the heraldic historian Beryl Platts...”.

Robert de Bruges is said to have accompanied Lady Mathlide to Normandy, as did some Bels knights some two centuries earlier (around anno 879) with another daughter of a Count of Flanders, Lady Winidilde (*860), when she married the Count of Barcelona, Wilfredo “el Velloso” (*845 +897). There seems to be some precedents to this “moduss operandi”.

Later the Bruce will also participate, together with the Balliols, to the Battle of Hastings.

“…As we have seen, Bruce’s own family is now believed to have been of Flemish, not Norman, descent. A similar origin has been traced for such other prominent Scottish families as Balliol, Cameron, Campbell, Comyn, Douglas, Graham, Hamilton, Lindsay, Montgomery, Seton, and Stewart. … Flemish settlers were thus actively encouraged to come to the country and establish metropolitan centres on the Flemish pattern. They were welcome too for their expertise in agriculture, in weaving and in the wool trade. …The Flemish contingent, send to William, in 1173, by the Count of Flanders Philippe d´Alsace, helped the Scots in military matters. The Scots learned from Flanders…”. Source: Mr Baigent and R. Lincoln.

In the XIVth century, the Balliols, and the powerful Comyns Family (van Comen, in Flemish [Flanders] or de Comines, in French) were chieftains’ families of Galloway, Lords of Badenoch and Earls of Buchan. They were followed by the Douglas until 1458 and by the Stewart until 1623. So did root families, that came from Flanders and who were related to each other since the most remote times, (Alix [Adèle] Balliol married Baudouin, Sire de Comines), managed Galloway for centuries.

Note that the city of Comines is some 30 km east from Belle and some 14 km from Ypres. William Comyn, Earl of Buchan, had his castle called “Balvenie Castle” built in the XIIIth century. The castle was overlooking the location of Dufftown (in between Aberdeen and Inverse).

In 1301, King Edward, probably as surety against his fathers’ “good behaviour”, took hostage the eldest son of Alexander Ist Balliol, Alexander I.a. Sometime later, when William Wallace attacked and captured Selkirk, King Edward arrested Alexander Ist Balliol. He was only released by the surrender of another son, Thomas, as a hostage to loyalty." (Bell Roots).

In 1302, Guillaume of Bailleul, Lord of Condé (probably Condé-sur-l’Escaut, France, Nord), de Morialmez, (probably Morialmé 10 km North of Philippeville. Belgium, Hainaut) and de Ham-sur-Heure, is High Attorney-at-law of the city of Fossé (probably Fossé. France, Ardennes). Guillaume died the day after the battle of Courtray (Kortrijk, Flanders, 11 July 1302). He married Beatrix of Thoroute (Flanders), Lady of Ronsoit (probably “Ronssoy” in the department of the Somme, France, some 70 km S.E of Belle).

In 1302, Bruges becomes a seaport of first importance where merchandises from the world stapled along its docks. Wood of the Nordic states, fur of Russia, wine from the Rhine, leather and wool from Spain, honey, wax and oil from Portugal, leather from Morocco, spices from Palestine and Egypt, silk from Mongolia, etc. Bruges, the principal centre of the Hanseatic League, lost its commercial pre-eminence only in the late XVth century as the estuary of the Zwin silted up.

The Zwin (called Tswin in Middle Ages), an arm of the North Sea, was created overnight, by a very severe storm during the spring tide of 4 October 1134. The storm was so strong that the dunes next to Monster and Naaldwijk disappeared. Thanks to the Zwin, some cities gained direct access to the sea and profited economically from this new situation. Such were the cities of Bruges of course, but also of Damme (which later became the port of Bruges), Sluis (that still later connected Bruges to the sea via the Channel Bruges - Damme - Sluis) and Aardenburg. Two lighthouses, one in Wetkappel and one in Knokke, guided the ships into the Zwin.

If the sea can change the geography of an area, it can also alter the course of its history. During the XVth century, as consequence of erosion and sandbanks drifting, more and more sea ships heading for Bruges got stuck even before reaching Damme, the advanced harbour of Bruges. The only place left they could safely reach, in the Zwin area, was Sluis (in Flanders, because there is another one in the Netherlands).

Of course, there were before 1134 some other very strong storms and flooding in History that constantly modified the topography of the coastal area. Such one has been recorded in the Vth century. It made the small city of Bruges to become what we today call the Venetia of the North. When the sea retreated, it left deep gully’s that would eventually form the pre-Zwin area.

In 1302, Sohier II of Bailleul, and his son Pierron (Pierre), together with Belle and Bels Knights took part, in Kortrijk (Flanders), in the battle of the Golden Spurs.

In 1302, Zeger and Pieter van Belle were knighted in the defence of Flanders, probably in Bruges since this information was found in a charter (Nr 155) of the “Archives de la ville de Bruges”.

In 1303, Alexander I.b Balliol, sold Benington and other estates in Hertfordshire and Essex to John de Benstede, King Edward’s Controller of the Wardrobe. That was the time he started petitioning for the restoration of confiscated estates and lands in Scotland. (Bell Roots).

In 1304, there is mention of a Thomas Bell who served on an investigation. (Bell Roots).

In 1304, François II Belle, Châtelain of Ypres, Lord of Boesinghe (This ship had the rank of banner of Flanders) and of Moerkerke, enters the Judiciary of Ypres and will remain « in place » for 18 years (1304-1322). Married with Béatrix van Loo (see anno 1159), he is referred as belonging to the «Urban nobility» and to the «Urban aristocracy». He is charged with a multitude of important diplomatic missions at a time when Flanders was in armed conflict with the King of France.

PART 14

He represented the City of Ypres at the funeral of Philippe le Bel, King of France, in Paris in November 1314. One of his last official acts was on the funeral of Robert de Béthune, Count of Flanders (who died in his castle, in Ypres) on 17 September 1322. Robert’s grandson, Louis de Nevers, became the new Count of Flanders.

In 1305, Belle and Bels Knights participated in the battle of Mons-en Pévèle. Some of them were present at the signing of the treaty of Athis-sur-Orge.

In 1305, King Edward Ist of England, fines William of Balliol (is it William II of Balliol?), in 4 years rent of his lands.

In 1305, 23th August, William Wallace was executed in Smithfield, England. He was charged with murder on the Sheriff of Lanark and treason to the King although he had never sworn allegiance to King Edouard Ist.

In 1305, Robert Bell and Thomas Bell (unk. ancestors) were compromised as commanders of garrisons at Durisdeer and Tibeers castles. Lowther Hills in Dumfries. (Bell Roots).

In 1306, February 10, Robert the Bruce in the church of Dumfries slays John II Comyn. He was the son of John Ist Comyn (x Alianore of Balliol), who was the brother-in-law from King John II of Balliol. John II Comyn had the right to pretend to the throne of Scotland after King John II Balliol left it. He was married to Joanne de Valence, fa. William de Valence. We know about two children: Elisabeth and John. Interesting to note is another Lineage link: Hugh of Balliol, a brother of King John II of Balliol, married Agnes de Valence also a daughter of William de Valence.

After King John II Balliol lost control of Scotland, several claimants jostled for the crown. Only two competitors had serious chances to get it: Robert the Bruce and John Comyn (both Flemish lords). Bruce asked Comyn to meet him in the Greyfriars´ church (Dumfries). A violent discussion followed and Bruce, heated up, lost control of himself and struck Comyn with his sword.

On continental Europe, such an act would have Bruce excommunicated. But in Scotland, he could count on the legendary opportunistic and corruptibility characteristics of Church politics.

“…When Bruce hurried from Dumfries to Bishop Wishart in Glasgow and kneeling before him, made confession of his violence, the little bishop shrived him of all his sins and gave him absolution for the sacrilege he had committed. The clergy throughout the country were so informed and adjured in the name of their bishops to rally to Bruce as to a sacred cause. Bruce in return swore a solemn oath to preserve and defend the liberties of the Scottish Church…”. Sources: Stones and Palgrave.

That was on February 10, 1306. A month later, Bruce was crowned King of Scotland!  As they say in French “Le malheur des uns fait le bonheur des autres“. In English something like: «The misfortune of the one made the happiness of the other”.

In retaliation, King Edward Ist of England imprisoned, at Berwick Castle from 1306 until 1313, Isabelle, Countess of Buchan, because she participated in Bruce’s coronation. It was Isabelle’s prerogative because she belonged to the family of the Earls of Fife. They had the hereditary right to crown the Scottish Kings!

In 1306, Sir Hugo (Hugh) Bell (*1275), fs. Henri is Knighted by King Edward Ist of England (r.1272-1307). Chief of the longbowmen he introduced new warfare tactics to the English Army. The same year, Hugo was awarded the manor (*) of Belne Broughton in Kingsnorton, England. His Bell blazon is the oldest known in British Bell existence (Bell Roots).

(*) “…Immediately following the Norman Conquest all land in England was claimed by the King as his absolute title by allodial right, being the commencement of the royal demesne. The King made immediate grants of very large parcels of land under feudal tenure from this demesne, generally in the form of feudal baronies. The land not so enfeoffed thus remained within the royal demesne, for example royal manors administered by royal stewards and royal hunting forests. It was from the income produced by these manors retained in the royal demesne that the King financed his administration, until the advent of taxation. Manors in the royal demesne were let out at "farm" to the sheriff of each shire in which they were located. Thus, in return for an annual fixed payment made into the Exchequer, the sheriff was free to extract and retain whatever additional revenue he was able from the land "farmed", which amount was by design considerably greater than the "farm"…”. Source. Demesne, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia.

In 1307 appears on a list the first 140 Templar Knights who were arrested in Paris by the coup of the French King Philippe le Bel. Among them were Frater Jacques de Molay (Nr.26), Fra. Gautier de Bailleul (Nr. 73) and Fra. Pierre de Boulogne (van Boonen) (Nr.75). In the margin of this list is mentioned a certain Eustache de Fauquemberch, licentiate in Canon Law. They are reported by Pierre Dupuy.

Another historian reports on another list of 540 Templar Knights arrested and in subsequent texts, the names of Gossoin de Gand (Nr.148), Clocarius d´Amiens (Nr. 208). Nicolas d´Amiens (Nr. 272), Gossoin de Bruges (Nr. 287) Prior of Flanders, Pierre de Boulogne (van Boonen) (Nr.348) Attorney General of the Order. Source: Philippe Grouvelle’s book. Page 357. 

This is an additional proof that these old Flemish families were still linked together and engaged in the same causes, two centuries after Messire Godefroid de Bouillon (van Boonen) took the city of Jerusalem on 15 July 1099. In brackets are the numbers of the order of proceedings that were taken against them. The author P. Dupuy notes adroitly:

“…It is right to leave the names of the one hundred and forty Templars who were arrested in Paris. This will give us the names of the great houses of France of this century, and those who still exist must not be ashamed of them. They cannot have better titles of their seniority. There were few illustrious families who did not have Knights of the Temple... Those who were of that name (140) do not cast a shadow on the nobility which bears their name, and which comes from the same stock; suppose that they were guilty, it is a personal matter, but the obscurity and uncertainty of their crimes suffice to erase their shame and allow the glory of their race to endure...”. P.57-58.

“…all these knights were in different prisons in Paris but especially in Melun, where most of the prisoners were…”:

In 1308, in Yorkshire, we know that Templar properties produced an income of £1130. At that time, a modest castle could be built for £500. A knight and a squire could be employed for a year for £55, a crossbowman for £7. A horse cost £9. Source: Knowles and Hadcock, op.cit.

In 1309, after the death of his brother Alexander I.b, Thomas of Balliol becomes the unique heir of his father, Alexander Ist of Balliol. Thomas, by lack of heirs, will transfer all his estates to his brother-in-law, William Douglas, the Earl and Lord of Galloway.

Around 1310, Edward Balliol, fs. of King John II Balliol, became a member of the English royal household at birth (ca, 1282) :

“…when King Edward Ist duly lifted him from the holy font and named him, thus becoming his godfather…”. (Late XIVth century Chronicle of Melsa).

The intimate personal connection with the English King, now shared with the Balliol heir, was reflected throughout Edward Balliol´s life and his relationship with the crown. (Bell Roots).

Around 1310, Jean van Belle x Catherine van Belle (fa. Francois Belle) probably died. Were they the same people as those described above under “In 1259, Jean III de Bailleul“?

Here follows an excerpt translated from Flemish, out of the Birthdays Register. Birthdays that were celebrated in the Hospital called « Belle » in Ypres (Flanders).

“…Birthday of Jean van Belle. In the year of our MCCC and …, the day before the St. Martin (11th^P November), died Jean van Belle, for which the noble Lady Catherine, his wife, who was daughter of Francois Belle, bequeathed the Hospice of Belle 15 yearly escalins, “arrentés” on two houses located in Ypres in the Woodcutter Street (Cliefstrate also rue des Bucherons). By this Legacy the Hospice obliged itself to celebrate each year his Birthday, with the obligation to sing the Vigils with solemnity and to celebrate, the same day, the Mass with Recommendation (for his Soul).

For this, the three officiating Priests will be paid 12 deniers and the Sacristan 6 deniers. In case that one or the other officiating would be absent at the Vigils, the Legacies will be diminished by 6 deniers toward the officiating and 3 deniers toward the Sacristan. And if one or the other from above would be absent at the Recommendation of his Soul, they would endure the same diminution as above; and with the sum in excess of the Legacy, there will be distributed a ration of wine to the sick of the Hospital…”. Source: Appendix No. XIX out of the Ballieuls of Flanders, by Francis Bayley. Anno 1881 London.

Please note that the Flemish (and Continental West Europe) monetary system was the one set up during the Carolingian time. In anno 781, the emperor Charlemagne united his Empire and decided to replace the Roman monetary system by a new one. He based the money of his empire upon its counter value in Silver. One pound Silver was, in those times, equal to 0,322kg. Later, however, the pound Sterling, as standard, changed to 0,245 kg. This Carolingian system was used until the modern time.

Until the middle of the XIIIth century the only money circulating were the “deniers”. The value of a denier was based upon one pound in Silver. One pound was equal to 20 Sous and 1 Sou equaled 12 deniers. In other words, 1 denier was worth 0,68 €.

During the reign of Philippe le Bel, King of France, the prices of Gold and Silver went up drastically. In anno 1299, the price for one pound in Silver was 67,7% higher than it was before the re-evaluation. So passed the value of one denier from 0,68 € to some 1,15 €. The 12 deniers the Priest received for officiating would correspond to some 14 € today!

In 1308, Edward II, King of England, and fs. of Edward I, crossed the Channel to France, in January, to marry on the 25th of the same month, in Boulogne, Isabelle de France. Isabelle (1295-1358), fa. of King of France Philippe IV (le Bel) (1268-1314) x Jeanne de Navarre, was only 13 years old at the time of her wedding, Edward, and Isabelle's first son, Edward III, was born in 1312.

In 1312, Philippe IV, le Bel, King of France gives Renault de Picquigny real estates and land properties belonging to the Templar Knights in the canton of Hornoy and St. Maulvis. Their Commandery of Nesle Hospital was given to the Hospital Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The Picquigny Lineage, linked to the Balliol, was still very powerful and active in those times.

In 1312, the castle of the Bels, in Albi (France), was taken by assault by the people:

“Vox Exitatoria Apud Albienses. Charta anno 1312.

Cum dictis armis et magna vociferatione more hostili clamando a Bels, a Bels, a foc, dictum castrum sive bastidam expugnaverunt. Vide supra. Allot et mox.”.

“Exiting voices among the Albigians. Charter of the year 1312.

With the aforementioned weapons and with loud vociferous cries, at Bels, at Bels, at the stake, they stormed the aforementioned castle or bastion. See above. (Allot = ?) and soon ».

It is still unknown what happened to the Lords Bels and to their castle (see also from 1208 to 1244).

In Sept 2005, I contacted the Archives Départementales du Tarn, in Albi, and sent them a copy of the above Latin text, asking if they knew something more about this event and the location of the castle. Their answer down rocketed my hopes to become any help from their side:

“Would it be possible for you to indicate us where you got this Latin citation from?”

In other words, they had absolutely no clue! See more about the Bels from Albi and the region under “The Bels from Albi, Ambels and Ambialet”.

In 1314, François Il, Belle is part of the official delegation of the city of Ypres to the city of Paris at the time of Philippe le Bel’s death.

In 1315. There is still today some strong disagreement among historians and genealogists as to the exact place of death and burial of King John II of Balliol. However, according to the most recent theories, King John II died somewhere in his family estates in Flanders, there where he really was at home and out of reach of the unforeseeable political turns-over of the Kings of France.

It is very clear that the mediation of the Pope Bonifacius VIII and Philippe le Bel, King of France, to release him from captivity in London, does not mean at all that King John II Balliol was welcome into France. Would he have accepted to settle down in France and to become a loyal subject of a King who betrayed him when they were dealing from equal to equal?

In Flanders, the situation was, of course, quite different. There, he was always welcome and could not only count on his very influent Lineage but also on the powerful Counts of Flanders (who were known as the most feared military power of West Europe) and on other major lineages such as the “van Bonen” (de Boulogne). Lineages were having for centuries very close ties to another.

The version that King John II´s place of death was Bailleul (Nord, France) and that his burial place was the St. Waast church in Bailleul (Nord, France) is under close verification but extremely unlikely. St. Waast (St. Vast, in French) is the name of the Saint patron of Bailleul’s main church. The old church was destroyed, together with the entire city, during the World War 1914-1918.

However, the probability for the version wanting King John II Balliol to have been buried in the old St. Waast church of Bailleul, is extremely small since, being for years in close contact with the city officials, they would have told us. For info: The Ordo Balliolensis (created anno 1988 under the name Ordre de Bailleul) got its official constitution (anno 1991) in that City’s Town Hall, in the presence of the mayor of the city, Mr Delobel, invited as honoured guest.

The mayor’s Delobel´s ancestors came probably also from Ypres. One of them was recorded as Philippe de Lobeel (+1525), he was a vicar of the Church court (geestelijk hof) of Ypres. Source: Stijn Bossuyt, in “De Leeuwse grafinscripties te Ieper” (1118-1566).

I found in other document that a certain Pierre de Lobel de Hallewin, was involved in a court case, dated 1674, concerning Hunting Rights. Halluin is located between Ieper and Mouscron (10 km away)!

A Delobel is also mentioned, in 1870, in the Flemish city of Mouscron. This person appears in a selling act of a small estate to “… Monsieur Carette-Delobel…. Sources: Coulon, p.292.

Sixteen Constitutive Staff of the Order, all belonging to the Lineage (Belle, Bellis, Bels, Beyls, Debailleul, Debels, Monballieu) officialized the statutes dated July 1988, by Fra. Robert Adelsohn Bels and some new articles, enacted jointly by Fra. Robert and Fra. Jean-Marc Belle. In other words, if there was a King John II Balliol buried in the City’s church, as pretended in the afore mentioned version, we should have been told long ago!

Other hypotheses have been put forward and believed true for centuries:

1. One wants that King John Ist Balliol died in the Château-Gaillard (Les Andelys, SW of Rouen, on the Seine River). This is an extremely controversial and doubtful theory that is, together with the one of Bailleul-en-Vimeu and Hélicourt, abandoned by modern historians. This castle was erected by Richard Lionheart who started its construction in 1195 despite a treaty signed with the King of France who stipulated not to fortify the border between France and Normandy. At his death, in 1199, the King of France Philippe Auguste besieged the fortress. In 1204, he took it over and soon after, France annexed the Normandy.

However, the castle of Château-Gaillard was, in 1315, property of the King of France Louis X. He jailed in it his wife, Marguerite de Bourgogne, and later assassinated her. A year before, the previous King of France Philippe le Bel, jailed in the same castle, two of his granddaughters charged for adultery. They were under the watch of a French garrison.

It is extremely doubtful that King John Ist Balliol decided to end his royal life in such a place. It is also most improbable that Philippe le Bel would have King John II taken his “residence” in a state prison and a place of highest conspiracy! Château-Gaillard was not fitted as residence for such a noble and powerful man as King John II. Even “in exile”! Moreover, not a single record or mention concerning the passage, journey, residence, or death, of King John II Balliol, has ever been found in that otherwise very well documented place! The only chronic concerning English or Scottish visitors date from 1332 when David II Bruce took refuge from Scotland (see anno 1332).

2. One wants King John Ist Balliol retired in his castle of Hélicourt (Normandy) where he died at his family’s castle at around 25 November 1314. John de Fordun (+1384), a secular priest, probable Chaplain of the Aberdeen Cathedral and Scottish chronicler (Fordoun, some 40 km South of Aberdeen. Scotland) is said to have written this sentence in his Annals: 95.

3. One wants on January 4, 1315, King Edward II of England, writing to King Louis X of France, saying that “…he had heard of the death of Sir John de Balliol and that he requests the fealty and homage of Edward Balliol to be given by proxy…”.  (Sir Archibald H. Dunbar in Scottish Kings. A Revised Chronology of Scottish History 1005-1625, Edinburgh, 1899: p. 117). Was it not the same Sir Archibald H. Dunbar who wanted John II Balliol interred in the church of St. Waast at Bailleul-sur-Eaune?  Allegation that turned out today as totally irrelevant!

The John de Fordoun´s and the Sir Archibald H. Dunbar’s allegations being extremely doubtful, as were the ones of the French historian Mr Vosgier (18th century French writer) blindly taken over by Mr Blanchard, by Mr René de Belleval (1866) and by subsequent writers and historians, I will give them not a single credit until I have verified these texts myself. From there on then, I will pursue my quest for the truth.

4. One wants King John Ist Balliol to be buried in the church of Bailleul-Neuville (Normandy). Scottish historians said to have deciphered the words “King Edward” (in French) on a recumbent figure. Several historians of the 19th century such as Toussaint Duplessis, Moreri, Guilmeth, Duranville (1846), Tougard (1875) as well as the priest Decorde and Cochet confirmed the inscription.

The first doubt arose when the Marquis Lever mentioned that, according to nobility rules, the title of King is indelible. Why then is it not found on the tomb? In addition, why is the name of the wife of Jean de Bailleul, Jeanne and not Isabelle (de Warenne) as was John II of Balliol´s wife? Hopes changed side ones more when, in 1865, Mr Mathon, the conservator of the Neufchâtel Museum, declared after a laborious tracing of the tomb, that there was indeed such an inscription as “King Edward”.

Such were the state of things in 1878. That year Mr Estainot announced that he found in the library of Rouen (Normandy), several papers pertaining to a collection of charters belonging to late Masquerel, who became Lord of Bailleul and Baron of Bosc-Geffroy (Manuscript Bigot). One document, reporting the original and integral text of the recumbent, permitted to reconstitute the engraving of the tomb. According to it, the family name of the Lady was d´Harcourt and the engraving had not a single allusion to a King.

“Cy gist Monseigneur Jean, jadis seigneur de Bailleul (Le Preudhomme qui a faict bastir ceste église) qui trespassa, l´an de grace 1316, le Samedi 15 avril. Priez (Dieu) pour làme de luy. + Cy gitst Madame Jeane (de Harcourt) seur du bon chevalier, femme de Monseigneur Jean, seigneur de Bailleul, qui trespassa l´an de grace mil CCC et III le Iie jour devant la Chandeleur”.

The Lord in the tomb was Jean de Bailleul, reported under “In 1287”. From John II of Balliol, King of Scotland and from a King Edward, there was absolutely no traces.

Anno 1315 is also advanced as the year of death for Isabelle de Warenne. Her burial place remains as for her husband, King John II Balliol, unknown.

In 1315, William III Baillie (of Balliol) of Hoprig, (fs. William II of Balliol x Marion Braidfute), is first recorded as a witness to a charter by John de Graham, Lord of Albecorn.

In 1316, Jean de Bailleul (alias de Condé), Chevalier and Lord of Morialmez (Fief of the bishopric of Liege). This bishopric was almost twice the size of the three bishoprics of Flanders) seals the peace treaty of Fexhe, on Friday before the Saint-Baptist. This very noteworthy act became the basis of the constitution of Liège, the civil liberty palladium, and policies of this ancient principality. For the first time one has in Liège a complete representation of the three orders of the nation:

PART 15

• The Primary-estate, represented by the clergy of the Cathedral.
• The Noble estate, represented by fifty-two knights and a squire, to which had joined the Counts of Looz and of Chiny, as belligerent and
• The Third estate represented by deputies, Taldermen and jurors of several cities of the principality such as: Huy, Dinant, Saint-Trond, Tongres, Maastricht, Fosses, Thuins and Couvins, and all the "common country" of the bishopric.

These deputies of the various classes of inhabitant constituted the “Sens du Pays” because it was by them that the will of the nation expressed itself. This new constitution was agreed by Arnould, Count of Looz, by his son Louis, Count of Chiny, by the nobles such as: TJean de Bailleul, Sire de Morialmé, Jean, Sire d'Agimont, Jean, Avoué de Thuin and by no less than 49 knights.

In 1316, Lambert Belle, (fs. Belle Francois x Claire de Maldeghem), is Magistrate, Counsellor, and Treasurer of the city of Ypres. He was between Nov 1315 and Oct 1316 one hundred and eighty days away in France on diplomatic missions for the city of Ypres. He participated, in April 1318, with the constables of Ypres, for 110 days, in the journey "to the Pope" John XXII, in Avignon which resided in the palace from 1309 until 1377. Lambert was x1 with Avezoete S’Bruns and x2 with Marguerite Baerdonc, daughter of Jacques. Lambert died on 14 December 1349 and is buried in the Belle Almshouse Chapel, in Ypres.

Pope John XXII, the successor of Pope Clement V after the interregnum of 1314 to 1316, is the second and last pope who added (in 1316) a crown to the Papal Tiara. It is suggested that the Merovingian Clovis gave, in anno 498, the first crown to Pope Anastasius II (+19 Nov 498) while Pope Boniface VIII gave the second one, in 1294.

In 1319, Michel Belle, (x Marguerite N), law counsellor of the City of Ypres, sails for a mission to England. He should obtain, for the Count of Flanders, an extension of the truce between the Count and Edward II King of England that was fixed for August 1, 1319. He met the King in Westminster on November 1, 1319, and succeeded in his mission.  Michel was a very active diplomat. He will be under way for the City of Ypres for more than 300 days in 2 years!

About 1320, reading the Beaupré x Saint-Omer marriage and the Dorothy Beaupré´s pedigree, we find the following English patronymics issued from Flemish: (Bell Roots).

• Senulf de Lyn (before 1154) comes from “de Lijn”.
• Marguaret Meers, is one of the two genitive forms of “Meer” (Lake). “Meers” or “van Meer”.
• John de Vere, comes from “Verre” (Far away).
• Margery Wiseman, comes from “Wijse man” (A wise Man).
• Coggeshall, comes from “Koogelshal” (A hall of bullets).
• Margaret Ashfield, comes from “Asseveld”.

Even the patronymic “Beaupré” comes from the Flemish word “Schooneweyde”. The ancestor of the Balliol, in Flanders: Arnoldus de Gramines, was in Flemish “Van de Graan of Van de Koren”. His wife’s patronymic Plectrude de Fauquenberg came from “Valckenburg”. Even later in history, we find the same changes in the patronymics. The French painter known as “De la Pasture” was in fact a Flemish painter! His name was “Van der Weyde”. A very common name in Flanders!

In 1320, the Declaration of Arbroath (Scottish Declaration of Independence).

In 1322, a Siger of Balliol signed an act of alliance between the “Franc de Bruges et de Gand”. Is he a homonym of Siger of Balliol, the Marshal of Flanders? He had an equestrian seal with “Le contre-sceau porte un sautoir de vair” (Balliol).

In 1323, people of Flanders rebel against the edict of the Count of Flanders, Louis de Nevers, who forced them to pay the taxes due to the King of France by the treaties of 1320. In danger of death, the pro-French Count of Flanders fled to Paris to request the help of the King Philippe VI de Valois.

In 1328, the French King Philippe VI de Valois invaded Flanders and defeated the army of Zannekin at the battle of Cassel (Kasselberg). François II Belle is killed during the troubles that made Zannequin a hero. After the battle of Cassel, Jean III de Bailleul becomes Governor of the City of Ypres.

In 1328, the Northampton Treaty on the Scottish Independence.

In 1329, after the death of King Robert the Bruce, William Bell, (unk. ancestors), is reported to have travelled to France to take part in negotiations? (Bell Roots).

About 1330 is born a certain Antoine Balliol x Catharine, father of Catharine Balliol (de Balillioeul) x ? Waiere. Daughter Catharine and her husband were buried in the Notre-Dame church in Bruges (Flanders). See also about 1400.

In 1332, Persuaded by Lord Henri Beaumont, Edouard Ist of Balliol was placed at the head of an invasion-force of about 600 men and received an additional 6000 men from King Edward III of England (x Philippine de Hainaut in 1327) to invade Scotland from France. They landed at Fife (Burntisland, across the estuary of Edinburgh). Edouard Ist Balliol was the head of a group of English "disinherited barons" whose lands, in Scotland, had been seized by King Robert Ist the Bruce (De Brus), father of David II.

Among them were the earls: Beaumont, Moubray, Fife, March, Carrick, Ross, Moray, Atholl, Strahearn, Menteith, Sutherland, Angus, Caithness, Lennox, Mar, and many other influential supporters.

Lord Henri Beaumont was, most probably, an heir of Roger de Beaumont, viscount du Roumois, who received lands in the county of Winchester, Arundel and Shrewsbury and became Count of Warwick although he did not participate at the battle of Hastings. He had to remain in Normandy, with some other Lords, to ensure its defence and protection, during the conquest of England.

Southeast of Perth, Perthshire, a stone cross marks the site of the battle of Dupplin Moore (on August 12) in which Edouard Ist Balliol and his small army defeated with great slaughter Donald, the other Earl of Mar, regent for the young King David II Bruce (some 12 years old at the time).

“…Greatly outnumbered, Balliol adop­ted tactics later copied by Edward III at the Battles of Halidon Hill (Jul 19, 1333) and Crécy (1346) ; most of his men at arms dismounted, while archers were posted at either flank. When the first Scottish division charged, flights of arrows drove its flanks in upon its centre. Balliol´s men entered Perth. He was later crowned King at Scone. Although King David temporarily left the country, Balliol never received widespread recognition... “.

In 1332, the King of France Philippe VI de Valois, welcomed the very young David II Bruce, fs. of Robert II Bruce of Scotland and his wife (the daughter of the King of England) in order to subtract them to pursuits by their adversary Edouard Ist of Balliol. They were quickly brought to the Castle of Château-Gaillard. Soon after, they were brought to the court of France where David II stayed until his return to Scotland, in 1342.

In 1332, September 24, Edouard Ist of Balliol (+1364), Lord of Bailleul-en-Vimeu, of Héliscourt-en-Ponthieu, of Dompierre and of Hornoy, (x Margareta of Sicily-Tarent [Anjou-Capet]) becomes the second King of Scotland of our Lineage. He was crowned at Scone by King Edouard III (of Windsor). Edouard was the son of King John II of Bailleul x Isabelle de Varennes (also Warennes).

Supporters of David II Bruce deposed King Edouard Ist of Balliol in December 1332. Edouard Ist will be deposed and restored several times during his reign. Restored in 1333, deposed again in 1334 and restored in 1335. He finally abdicated in 1356.

In December 2007, Sotheby has sold an important manuscript. The manuscript contains two extremely important collections of coat-of-arms. It contains the only surviving copy of the Balliol Roll, the earliest roll of arms for Scotland. It shows 35 blazons of Scottish noblemen arranged beneath the arms of Sir Edward Balliol, King of Scots, and was almost certainly composed for him.

The document must date to the period 1332-40 and the original was perhaps made on the coronation of Edward Balliol in 1332 or on his formal act of homage to Edward Ist of England, in June 1334. No Scottish copy survives. It has been edited by Sir Anthony Wagner and is the subject of a dedicated publication by B.A. McAndrew, The Balliol Roll, 2002. (Bell Roots).

In 1332, Michel Belle and his brother Lambert, municipal magistrates of Ypres, went to Paris for 31 days. They were designated by the municipal magistrates of the City of Ypres to accomplish a very important diplomatic mission: To expose and to defend, to the Parliament of the King of France, the reasons the City of Ypres does not want to pay the requested fees for the liberation of the pilgrims, as ratified in the peace treaty of Athis (treaty that put an end to the conflicts between the Count of Flanders and the King of France in 1305).

In 1333, 19th July, King Edouard Balliol besieges Berwick, with the support of King Edouard III of England.

In 1334, the Count of Flanders Louis de Nevers and of Réthel, made Sohier de Bailluel, Warden of Bornheem and of all estates “above” (sic) Tenremonde until Ruplemonde. He had to defend the cities, the dependencies, and the borders of the estates under his jurisdisction.

In 1335, John and William Bell are deprived of lands in the county of Dumfries due to their adherence to King David II, Bruce’s successor. (Bain´s Calendar of Papers Scotland II.).

In 1335, Sohier II of Balliol is made Lord of Lidekerke in the presence of the Lords of Uffalise, of Dikemue (Diksmuide) and of Rogier Tanin, Josse Demisserode, Jehan of Cayant and myself (sic). He was made Bailiff of Alost (near Brussels) in 1337.

In 1336, Sohier II and Jean III de Balliol sealed the treaty of alliance, concluded at Dendermonde (Flanders) between Jean III Duke of Lorraine and Brabant, Louis de Nevers Count of Flanders and William Count of Hainaut (Hainaut, Belgium).

In 1336, the Castle of Edinburgh, dismantled by King Bruce (1306-1329), was given back to the English by King Edouard of Balliol. King Edward III re-fortified it in 1337. He will be the first King of England who will speak English! Since Hastings (anno 1066), the entire nobility and aristocracy spoke only French.

In 1337, Messire Sohier of Bailleul is appointed Bailli of the county of Alost (Aalst, some 20 km west of Brussels). The document was sealed on the 9th May 1337, in Bruges.

In 1337, starts the one-hundred-year war between France and England. The pro-French Count of Flanders, Louis de Nevers (x Marguerite de France, fa. of the King of France Philippe VI de Valois) taking the side of his French Suzerain, cancelled the trade agreements Flanders had with England and ordered a total blockade on English importations to Flanders. King Edward III of England reacted by blocking all exportation of wool. Flanders industry mainly based on wool-manufactured goods was brought to a full stop. An unprecedented economic crisis ensued with all its socio-economic consequences. Entire families immigrated to other parts of Belgium, to England and later to Germany.

A rich citizen of Ghent (Flanders) Sir Jacob van Artevelde reacted in December 1337 by persuading Flanders nobles and members of very wealthy and influential patriarchal families, to sign an agreement with England. The Count of Flanders, Louis de Nevers, by-passed by the agreement and no longer supported by his Peers, lost all influence in Flanders. Ghent directed Flanders, for its national and international relations. The embargo was lifted, and the Flemish people proclaimed King Edward III of England King of France.

In September 1339, King Edward III of England aided by Flemish troops, laid siege to Cambrai (old Flemish city) that was hold by the French. King Edward III made at that time an Alliance with King Ludwig IV von Bayern (of Bavaria). This King and Emperor was the son of the Duke Ludwig II von Oberbayern und Rheinpfalz.

In 1339, Jean de Bailleul, Knight Banneret, Lord of de Condé, of Bailleul, of Morialmez, High Attorney-at-law of the city of Fossé, died on his return from the Holy Sepulchre and was buried at Venice (Italy).

In 1340, King Edward III of England, visited Flanders and signed in Ghent (Flanders) the agreement with Sir Jacques van Artevelde in the presence of the Duke of Brabant (Belgium). Some of our Knights, Lawmen of the City of Ypres, witnessed the event.

In 1340, Gauvin (also Gauvinet) de Bailleul is linked to the Balliols of Artois (Flanders). Gauvin had four squires and six Knights under his orders "when he made his appearance at the camp of Bouvines".

About 1340, Thomas Bell is canon of Dunkeld (Perthshire).

In 1341, Jean III de Bailleul died and was deposed in the church of Beauprez-les-la-Gorgue, 14 km South of Belle (Balliol-Balliol).

In 1342, David II Bruce which after the siege of Newcastle, he could not take, temporarily deposed Edouard Ist of Balliol and marched upon Durham (which belonged to the Balliol). It took him a siege of a whole week to seize ithe place. Bruce then went back to Scotland. There is no report informing us if he also besieged Barnard Castle, the huge Balliols home Fortress on the Tees River.

In 1346, the ancient Count of Flanders, Louis de Nevers, dies at the battle of Crécy. His son, Louis de Male is replacing him. Excellent diplomat, he succeeded in keeping a well-balanced foreign policy that insured Flanders neutrality. Nevertheless, in 1382, Louis de Male (+1382 Battle of West-Rozebeke) underwent almost the same fate as his father. He had to flee Flanders for Paris and was replaced by Sir Philippe van Artevelde, son of Sir Jacques van Artevelde! Some Bels, Belle and Balliol Knights also participated at the battle of Rozebeeke.

In 1348 and in 1349, Gauvin de Bailleul takes part in the attack of Calais (Flanders) and to the fight of Bourg-la-Reine.

In 1350, George Ist Belle, Lord of Boesinghe, (x Béatrix de Waghenaere) is “Hoofdman” (first municipal magistrate) of the city of Ypres. As treasurer of the city, he goes anno 1357 with the Count of Flanders to Paris.

About 1350, Louis de Chambray, Lord of Saint Denis de Behelan, married Marie de Bailleul. They had one daughter named Jeanne de Chambray. She married Jean de Mezières.  Louis was fs. of Simon de Chambray x Agnes de Bigars. The patronymic appeared for the first time with Simon Ist de Chambray x Isabelle de Granvillers. Lord Simon Ist died before anno 1210 and was the second son of Richard II de la Ferté Fresnel x Emeline de Laigle. The blazon was of “hermines à trois tourteaux de gueules”.

About 1350, according to some historians, John II Balliols grandchild, the Knight Jean de Baillou, joined the court of King Jean II le Bon, of France (1319-1364), House of the Valois, fs. of King Philippe VI and of Jeanne de Bourgogne. Later, under King Charles V le Sage, of France (1338-1380), Baillou being noticed for his bravery, received several distinctions.

Mysteriously, although mainly active in Flanders, Normandy, England, Scotland, and France we find a baronial Family “de Baillou” in Hustopetsch (Hustopeče or Auspitz in German) some 30 km South of the city of Brno, both in the Czech Republic’s Province called South Moravia. Note the distances: from Paris or from Flanders to Hustopetsch ca. 1290 km. Why and how the “Balliol” got there is unknown for the moment. One thing is sure, they settled in that region for centuries.

It has been reported (I will try to identify the source) that it was more than a tradition, a sort of family law, that imposed its members, in memory of King John II Balliol, to have at each generation, at least one son called John. Some sources mentioned also that the Baillou family was in the possession of a ring that belonged to King John II Balliol and has been passed from father to son, for centuries. The ring was still in Family possession in 1885. At the end of the Second World War (1945), some family members “may” have brought King John’s II ring over to the West.

A called Johann de Baillou (1684-1758), said to be an heir of King John II Balliol, founded in Vienna (Wien, Austria), a nature-historical museum. Vienna is less than 100 km south of Hustopetsch, the Baillou family settlement location. This fact alone tends to tell us that the family remained in the same geographical region for centuries.

About 1350, Thomas and Alan Bell were witness at the confirmation of Snawdoun at the Abbey of Dryburgh (St. Boswells), some 65 km south of Edinburgh!

In 1354, Pierre de Bailleul (fs. of Jean de Bailleul x Jeanne of Harcourt) married Mahaut d´Estouteville. They are represented on a leaded glass window in the church of Bailleul-Neuville. See anno 1447, for Trans-generational links between both families. Their son, Jean II de Bailleul (x Gilette Carroy) was Lord of Bailleul-sur-Eaulne, Fréauville (Seigneurie hold until anno 1502), Ecotigny (Grandcourt), Smermesnil, les Isles (fief of Smermesnil) and Bosc-Geffroy. Jean II de Bailleul saw his line stopped by lack of male heirs. He had two daughters: Jeanne and Mahaut de Bailleul.

TAnother mention about a wedding between both families: Bailleul and an Estouteville, is not so easy to locate in time. The mention uses only a vague phraseology … “During the XIVth century”. Whatever! By this new mention, we learned that the Barony of Mesnières went over to the Bailleul by the wedding of Henri de Bailleul and Jeanne d'Estouteville. Henri de Bailleul is reported as being a cousin of Edouard Ist Balliol, King of Scotland. Henri founded the church of Mesnières.

About 1355, Alexander Ist, of Balliols “grandson”, Thomas of Balliol, is the last of the Balliols mentioned in the Scottish records. There seem to be confusion here because Thomas Balliol should have been the son of Alexander Ist of Balliol and not his grandson! (…with the surrender of another son (the first one was Alexander I), Thomas, as a hostage to loyalty, Alexander Ist Balliol was released by King Edward Ist…”.

In 1356, January 1. There is a N. Bels registered in Brussels. Source: OCMW-Brussel.

In 1356, January 20. At Roxburgh, King Edward Ist Balliol abdicates the throne of Scotland in favour of King Edouard III of Windsor.

“…In a dramatic gesture, he handed his crown and a handful of Scottish earth to the King Edward III of England. Thus making him his heir, declaring to all : “Most excellent prince, I do here before all your chivalry... resign, yield and relinquish to you all my right which I have, claim or may hereafter have to the throne of Scotland, to the end that you may avenge me of mine enemies, the infamous Scots, who ruthlessly cast me off that I should not reign over them…”.  (Bell Roots).

The Balliols of Galloway gave full support to King Edward Ist Balliol decision while the nearby Bells of Dumfries did not. This had for consequences that some Bell´s “…lost lands and manors…” to King Edward III who is known to have supported the Balliol family for many years.

King Edward Ist Balliol sold his claim to the sovereignty and his family estates in Galloway in return for 5000 marks Sterling, a yearly pension of 2000 pounds Sterling and the liquidation of all his debts. The sale of his estates for 5.000 marks Sterling may be considered as a fortune for those times. It would represent today (Jan 2008) some 555.500 Euros.

His yearly pension of 2000 pounds Sterling would equal today some 330.000 Euros (value of 1kg Silver Bullion Bar, in Jan 2008) what gave him a pension of some 27.500 Euros monthly. In those times, one could build a modest castle for 500 pounds Sterling!

Please note that the above-mentioned conversions are not 100% exact because the money coins were not made of pure silver, etc. The conversion has however, the advantage to give us an idea of the values they would represent in today’s currencies. The Mark was a unit of weight equal to one-half of a pound on the Continent and two-third of a pound in England. The pound Sterling was equal to 0,245 Kg.

PART 16

The exact place where King Edward Ist Balliol retired is unknown. Some historians speculate him to have retired in his ship of Haytefeld (County of York) where he spent most of his time hunting and fishing. Other wants him to have retired on his estates near Knaresborough and some other want him at Wheatley Hills!

If it is hard to pinpoint King Edward Balliols last place, all seem to agree to localize his stay in a kind of triangle formed, from north to east, from Knaresborough to Hyatefeld (some 27 km away) and from north to south, from Knaresborough to Wheatly (some 60 km away).

As we have seen, some historians tend to believe that King Edward Ist Balliol was not married and that he died childless at Wheatley Hills, (where he was fishing) near Doncaster, about end of 1363, but in any case, before 1365 September 6, the date when Robert de Coucy, his nephew, claimed for his heritage. Other sources make him marry Marguerite, the eldest daughter of the Count of Valois and of Anjou. He should have returned to his domains in France where he died in 1364, without issue.

Should the theory of King Edward Balliols dead in Wheatley Hills be probable, then we should have a closer look at it. Doing so, we find another place called "Wheatly Hill", located only 44km away from Barnard Castle and 12km from the City of Durham, the head of a County that belonged, for centuries, to the Balliols! I am very tempted to say that it seems more logic, for Edward Balliol, to have retired close to his estates, than 143km further south! The "Wheatley Hills", situated near Doncaster, is much too far away from home!

Other Wheatl(e)y´s are even farther and do not seem to enter into consideration. Another confusion? Was Edward, in "Wheatley Hills" or in "Wheatly Hill"? One thing is sure, if he really was, as pretended and as history depict him, a “crazy on fishing” man, then without doubt, the best area for him must have been the Wheatly Hill, close to his secular family castle!

It is unknown why and from whom, some years after his death, the monks of the Beauvale Charterhouse (Nottinghamshire), received a grant to pray for his soul… ad vitam eternam!

In any case, the reign of King Edward Ist Balliol ends the three centuries long involvement of our lineage in the tumultuous mainstream of English and Scottish´ history. In subsequent generations, the Balliols of Scotland, via their daughter’s judicious and thoughtful marriages, ranked among the highest crowned and noble heads of Europe such as the:

d'Albret, d'Alencon, d'Angleterre, d'Aubigne, d'Autriche, de Bavière, de Bar, Beckred, de Bethune, de Bourbon, of Broad Henbury, de Burgh, de Chatillon St. Paul, de Coucy, Drowe, d'Espagne, de Grosley, Guldeford, St. John, de Luxembourg, de Leszczynska de Pologne, de Lindsay, de Lorraine, de Medicis, de Molines, Moore of Larden, de Morlay, Mortimer, de Moubray, de Naples, de la Pole, of Portmore, de Parme, de Roos, de Saxe et de Pologne, de St. Paul, de Savoie, de Valois, de la Warre, etc.

“The minor Balliol families in Scotland seem to have acted throughout the succession war, with spirit and to have fallen with honour. Thus perished the Balliols who were highly respected for their birth and connections, for their vast possessions and their extensive liberalities:” See Appendix II : Heirs of the Royal House of Balliol.

In 1356, George Ist Belle was an “official” of the city of Ypres at the wedding of the daughter of the Count of Flanders, Marguerite de Male with Philippe, Duke of Rouvre. After the Duke died at a young age, Marguerite married in 1366, Philippe le Hardi, Duke of Bourgogne (Burgundy), fourth son of the King of France, Jean le Bon.

In 1358, William III Baillie (of Balliol), of Hoprig, Penston and Carnbrue (fs. William of Balliol II Lord of Penston x Marion Braidfute) was taken prisoner together with King David II of Scotland at Nevill’s Cross, near Durham. King David II knighted him on 27 Jan 1358. He was also granted a royal charter of confirmation for the lands and barony of Lamington in Lanarkshire (sometimes called Lambiston) and, in 1359, for the lands of Hyndshaw and Watson. According to many historians William III was the first Baillie whose name appears in known records. His first appearance was as a juror in a 1311 (or 1312) inquest regarding forfeited lands in Lothian. In 1315, he was a witness to a charter by John de Graham, Lord of Albecorn.

In 1359, August 16th, in Ypres, during the night revolt of 1359, George Ist Belle is taken prisoner and jailed in the Belfry. During the night of the 28th August, assassins scaled the tower and entered the dungeon, seized George, tortured him and killed him by slicing his body.

As I said in one of my precepts: “…L´humain n´a d´humain que l´adjectif…”. Or “…The Human has from the human only the adjective…”.  Dixit after the Charlie Hebdo Muslim terrorist killings in Paris, on January the 7th, 2015.

1362, from 14 until 15 January, Flanders coast was devastated by heavy storm winds and submerged by over 3 meters high tidal waves. The storm raged over all North Sea area and caused some islands to disappear forever under the sea level.

In 1367, April. Gauvin de Bailleul gets involved in the battle of Najara (Spain) :

"Seeing the fight lost, Gauvin retired with some Knights against a defensive wall. The Prince of Galle, touched by their courage, invited them to surrender, telling them to keep their valour (bravery) for another opportunity ".

In 1367, June. The King of France Charles V sends Gauvin de Bailleul, to Saragosse (Spain) on a delicate diplomatic mission but with neither precise instructions nor sufficient mandated power to handle the negotiations. The King of France wanted Pierre le Cérémonieux, King of Aragon, to declare war to Pedro the Cruel and to the English. Nothing more is known about this matter.

In 1368, Thomas of Balliol having no issue, line extinct, surrendered his estates to his brother-in-law, William Earl of Douglas. Thomas death signalled the end of this branch of the Balliol, Kings of Scotland.

From 1368 until 1377, François III Belle, (x1. Marie de Moerslede, x2 Catherine de Heule), Lord of Boesinghe, is Magistrate of Ypres (counsellor and municipal magistrate). He is the only one called “Feudal ”.

In 1369, the King of France Philippe II (le Hardi) married Marguerite fa. Louis III (?) Count of Flanders.

In 1369, on 6 April, Pierre de Bailleul, Seigneur of Douchlieu and of Poulre, hereditary Marshall of Flanders, married Jehane de Créquy, fa. Ernoul (Arnould) de Créquy, Sire of Sains, Rainboval and Bavinchove. Ernoul agreed, for the “giving of his daughter”, to pay the sum of 5.300 francs-or (Francs-gold) as wedding rights to Pierre de Bailleul. As the sum was considerable (80.000 €), the contract contained all the payment guarantees and the payment of the debt was spread over several years and payable annually, at Christmas and St. John's. Source: Arch. Dépt. du Nord. Inventaire Godefroy. 10413 et des Mariages, 68, in Francis Bayley.

Lady Jehane de Créquy was in possession of the Lordships of Ecke and of Bavinkove (since 1296) as written on a document dated 1405 wherein is also mentioned “ (she was) the widow of the noble, powerful and feared lord Pierre de Ballioeul…”. Source: Idem as above. See also in 1410.

In 1370, first encounter with the variant Bellens in Limbourg with Lambertus Bellens of Tongeren (Limburg) and Joannes of Lier (Antwerp).

In 1370, Peers van Belle is Lord of Verlinghem.

In 1371, first encounter with the variant Beelz, in Flanders.

In 1371, a David Bell was a Clerk of the Wardrobe to the new King Robert II (r.1371-1390), first of the Stewart (Stuart) sovereigns on Scotland. He was most probably another David Bell as the one reported, in 1263, as canon at the church of Dunkeld, in Perthshire. Note that the appellation King Robert II is historically wrong. It tends to indicate that Robert II, the grandson of King Robert the Bruce x1 Isabelle of Mar (x2 Elizabeth de Burgh), is a “Bruce”. He is not! This Robert II was the son of Walter “The Seward” x Marjorie Bruce. In consequence, he should have entered History under Robert Ist Stewart because he is the first king of the House of the Stewart (Stuart), which originated in France.

In 1371, Pierre II de Bailleul (still recorded in some documents as “van Belle”), (x Jeanne de Créquy or Krequy, fa. Arnolf, Lord of Sains), hereditary Marshal of Flanders, comes to help the Brabant (Belgium) at the time of the battle of Baesweiler. He died in 1384.

“Pierre de Ballioeul, Homme puissant et redoubté Seigneur de Douxlieu, Chevalier”.

In English: “Peter de Ballioeul, powerful man and feared Lord of Douxlieu, Knight”.

Some sources such as (Le Doulieu, dulcis locus Beatae Maria. Dépendances et Seigneuries) mentioned that Pierre married Jeanne de Creguy (Dame du Doulieu) in 1384 !

In 1374, a stonemason named Eliot Baliol, is recorded on an inventory drawn up on the 2nd August 1374 by the Bailiff, the royal court and the Jurats of Guernsey. Specialized French stonemasons were needed to work on: “La géant toure rounde” or “The giant round Tower” of the castle Cornet built on the Island Cornet Rock in the Parish of Saint Peter Port. The Rock was taken over from the French in 1338. Source: Fra. Heiko Bels. High Baron of Ambels. Sire de la Croix.

In 1375, first encounter with the variant Beils (den), in Flanders.

In 1375 and in 1377 Gauvin de Bailleul is found at the side of the Count of St. Pol and at the siege of Ardres (France, Pas-de-Calais).

In 1376, Nicolas Belle, Attorney-at-law of the Belle Hospital, in Ypres, x Catherine de Bonin, fa. of Jean.

In 1376, there is a mention of another Baillie bearing Henry as his first name. The “Tabard Inn”, in Southwark (North of London), became renowned after Geoffrey Chaucer’s pilgrims set off on their journey in his “The Canterbury Tales”. When Chaucer wrote his tales, about 1378, the Tabard Inn, which was already about 70 years old, had a host named Henry Baillie. This man was a member of the Parliament for Southwark. Geoffrey Chaucer became Controller of Customs and Justice of Peace, in 1386.

In 1377, Belle and Bels Knights joined the battle of Baesweiler.

In 1378, first encounter with the variant Beil (de), in Flanders.

In 1380, The Count of Flanders, Louis de Male, is “at the doors of Ypres” to mate a political revolt and social revolt. Notables went to the Count and offered him the City of Ypres.

In 1380, Pierre III de Bailleul, fs. of Pierre II, becomes the ancestor of the Bailleuls of Eecke (Oostover). He was Deputy-Mayor of the Franc de Bruges from 1405 until 1425 and twice burgomaster of the Franc, during that period. There is no mention of his wife. He was father of Arnould de Bailleul.

About 1380, is born Janne Den Bels. She is mentioned in the Financial Roll of city of Tielt (Flanders). The entry date is 23 Dec. 1402. To be eligible to pay taxes of bills to the city, she must have been at the time of the record, at least 21 years old. This may bring her birth date close to abt. 1380. Source: Stadsrekening Tielt.

In 1380, François III Belle regained his position as Magistrate of the city and was sent, in the name of the City of Ypres, together with other 42 notables, to the Count of Flanders, Louis de Male in Bruges. They carried with them sumptuous presents and the official delegation displayed a luxury never seen before. This mission, of 4 days, served one purpose: maintaining the peace in the region by calming down the angry Count of Flanders. This diplomatic move cost the city of Ypres the enormous amount of 442-pound Sterling!

In 1380, Georges II Belle (fs. Georges Ist x Béatrix de Waghenaere) is knighted in 1383. As his brother, François Belle, he was 37 years Magistrate of Ypres (from 1380 until 1417). He was married x1 with Catherine de Douwai (Douai) and x2 with Marie van Ogierlande (unknown place. Maybe in Flanders or in Holland).

In 1381, François III Belle becomes “Hoofdman” of Ypres. Participates at the siege of Ypres in 1382 and is Knighted (the title was not hereditary), in 1383, together with three other members of his family: Jacques, Georges and Jean (the title was not hereditary since there is no mention of the quality of Knight for the sons of Jean: Jean, Tristram, Monfrand and Walrave).

The title was not hereditary since there is no mention of the quality of Knight for the sons of Jean: Jean, Tristram, Monfrand and Walrave.  Note that the title of Knight is by essence not hereditary because it goes along with a quality and deeds that must be recognised and rewarded by an authority allowed to transmit the knighthood (an Emperor, a King, Grand Vassals such as the Counts of Flanders, the Counts of Barcelona, the Counts of Toulouse and of course, via a Traditional Knight Order).

In another source I read that an additional Belle family, or lineage member, was knighted during the same siege of Ypres. His name was Nicolas Belle. He was the father of Christine Belle who married Nicolas de Beer.

“…Ce Nicolas de Beer avait épousé Christine Belle, fille de Nicolas Belle créé chevalier sur les remparts de la ville, lors du siège de 1382… » (Guide descriptif et historique de van Renynghe de Voxvrie, Conservateur de l´Hotel-Musée Merghelynck, Ypres. Académie Royale de Belgique. Anno 1958).

It is interesting to see how the Judiciary of Ypres was “dominated” by the Belle and relatives (Lichtervelde, van Loo). In certain years, the Belle even counted eight family members as magistrates of the city of Ypres!

“…All major families of the city (of Ypres) had multiple common alliances, and Jean de Dixmude was the son of Michel x Catherine Belle +1421…”. Op cit. Mr van Renynghe out of the above-mentioned Guide descriptif.

The Belle magistrates of Ypres were the only ones called “Mher” (Mijn Heer or My Lord). Later a few other will receive this title: Segers de Vroede (1385), Corneille van den Eechoutte (1390), Zegers de Vroede and in 1393 Olivier (belongs to the family of Béatrix van Loo {x François II Belle}, ca. 1304 and in 1403, Victor de Lichtervelde (x Christine or Chrétienne Belle, sister of Jean Belle).

In 1381, John Ball, “The Mad Preacher of Kent”, having great disdain for royalty while preaching “equality among men”, and believing no man had the right to declare himself as master of others, was beheaded by Richard II, King of England.

From 1384 until 1389 and in 1401 is Jean Belle, Attorney-at-Law of the Belle Hospital in Ypres, Lord of Boesinghe, Attorney-at-Law and First municipal magistrate of Ypres. He was married with Denise van Dixmude, fa. of Jean and of Marie de la Vichte.

The van Dixmude was one of the main families of Ypres, certainly in the XIVth and first half of the XVth century. They were especially active in trade and industry. As businessmen, they came up against the Count of Flanders in the defence of the urban rights, a position that brought them also against the Belle family members who were, in addition, also magistrates, politicians, and big landowners. The Belle family belonging to the nobility, they faithfully supported the Count’s political ambitions.

On March 25, 1378, a Charta mentions a Henry Bele of Dodford, who inherits houses and lands for a 3-generation lease from William de Horwode, Prior of the Convent of Luffeld. Later, in a Westminster document dated July 13, 1388, we find a John Bele. Henry is reported as being the son of John Muleward (sic), Source: Amanda Beam. Text from charters -Dodford- 319 and 543.  Whatever, the name “Mileward” is also a Flemish modified name. It originates from “Muilewaard” or “Muilevaard”.

PART 17

In 1389, first encounter with the variant Beyls (de) in Flanders.

Around1395, Lodewiyk (Louis) van Belle, Lord of Doulieu (Zoeterstede), Marshal of Flanders, married Isabelle van Vlaandre, or of Flanders, also called: van Drinkhem.

In 1395, George II Belle is sent to Saint-Omer together with deputies from Ghent and Bruges to meet the King of France, Charles VI. They will bring him the news that they recognise him as sovereign of Flanders.

About 1395, is born Clais Bels, probably in Westkappel (Flanders). He had three sons: Pieter, Loy and Boudin. They were the ancestors of the Bels from Kortrijk, Aalbeke, Deerlijk, Marke, Temse, and Mouscron. The author of this Essay belongs to this line at Nr 113 of the “Genealogies Agnatiques des Bels”, from the same author.

In 1396, George (Joris) II Belle, is first municipal magistrate and lieutenant of the Attorney-at-Law and in charge of the diplomatic mission concerning the liberation of Louis Ist Count de Nevers and of Créci, Count of Flanders. Something is wrong with this data since the Count de Nevers (grandson of Robert de Bethune x Yolande of Burgundy) is reported to have been Count of Flanders from anno 1322 until the day he died at the battle of Crécy, in 1346!

About 1396, the patronymic Bels is still referred as Belle (de-van). In the orphans registers of the city of Wervick (Flanders), from the end of the XIV until the XVth century, we find for the region of Wervick and Warnneton (Flanders), Jan, Jan, Symoen, Symoen, Symoen, Catherine, Lijsbete, Rugger, Willem, Maes, Ketelijne, Peroenkin, Mijnkin, Mayekin, Roeland, Stevin, Meuwel, Pietre, Abel, Gijlis, Joes, Maertin, Wouter, Boudain, Jacop, Jacop, etc., all mentioned as Bels still followed by the mention “see Bels [Belle, de-van]“.

In 1397, George II Belle was sent to Lille, Paris and Arras on diplomatic missions. One of them, before the Parliament of Paris, was to obtain the reconnaissance of the privileges of the city of Ypres.

From 1397 to 1404, Jacob Belle (+1424) was Grand-Bailli of Ypres, Bailli of l’Ecluse and from 1404 to 1407, Forester of Houthulst. Jacob was knighted by the Châtelain of Ypres, Viscount Jean d'Oultre, on the last day of the English and Ghent siege of Ypres. On his tombstone in Ypres, there is the mention:

« Chi gist Jaqueme Belle, chlr fius Nicholes Belle, trepassa 1424 le VI jour en avril. Chi gist Marie le Blonde fille de Jehan le Blonde, veuve de feu messire Henri de Medon Sr de Be(au)rewart et encore femme de Jacqueme Belle, qui trepassa lan mille CCCC & vint le XXIII jour d'avril ». Source: p 96 St. Bossuyt.

Jacob was fs. of Nicolas Belle (+1376) x Catherine Bonin, himself fs. of Lambert Belle (+1349) x Marguerite Bardonc, himself fs. of François Belle x Claire van Maldeghem.

In 1398, François III Belle took part as Counsellor of the City of Ypres, together with his cousin George II Belle, Attorney-at-law of Ypres and his cousins Nicolas and Jean, in the diner offered by Philippe le Hardi to the Magistrates of the city during his visit to the city of Ypres from 9 until 11 April. François III died the same year.

In 1400, first encounter with the variant Bel (vanden, vander), in Flanders.

Born abt. 1400 is Albine Bels X Jacob Voet. Catharina Voet is mentioned as the daughter of this union; she was born in 1430. Source: West-Europeese Adel.

At about 1400, there is a mention of Luyken Bels X Beatrix Paulusse. They had a daughter Beatrix Bels x Johan van Lith with whom they had a son Roelof van Lith. No dates are mentioned! However, since these people are mentioned in the same “West-Europeese Adel” document as the above mentioned Albine Bels, we may deduce that the mention refers to the same period.

In 1400, is born a Georges Belle (+1457), fs. Francois Belle and of Marie de Vroede (probably the brother of Georges II Belle). Georges married Denise Paeldynck (Paeldinc), fa. of André (Magistrate of Ypres). Georges was knighted in 1448 and remained Magistrate of the City of Ypres for 32 years.

About 1400, is dated the Tombstone of Catharine de Balliol´s (Baillioeul) in the Notre-Dame church in Bruges (Flanders). She is mentioned as being the wife of … Waiere and the daughter of Antoine de Balliol x Catherina ... ?

Hier light begraven Vrau Catharine de Baillioeul Vrau

van Waiere etc  E (Fa) Antone by Vrau Ca(tharine)...

ldi.de ….. MVI  XX  VIII

The Text in old Flemish means:

“…Here is buried Lady Catharine de Baillioeul wife from Waiere ETC F.. Antone (Antoine) de Ballioeul married with Catharine…?”.

I never heard of these people, and I never encountered a patronymic such as “Waiere” in Medieval Flanders. There is some Antoine Balliol, but he entered the historical scene much later. The here above-described Antoine must have been born around the year 1330 because his daughter Catharine was buried in 1400, that she was married and probably died at the age of 50 years. As she may have been born around 1350, this date gives an approximation for her father´s birthdate that is about 1330.

I contacted the Museum in Bruges to get some more information on the buried people. Soon after, on 19 June 2019, I received an email from the religious consultant of the city of Bruges confirming that the eroded text is indeed unreadable and that historians have no idea what the disappeared text may be.

The consultant added “…Under the text are represented two bodies wrapped in a shroud. Compared to other tombstones with similar engravings, we can confirm that the tombstone dates end of the XIVth and begin XVth century (about the year 1400). Today, the tombstone stands in the wall of a side chapel of the northern side aisle of the church. Therefore, the stone was once removed from the church floor, perhaps to avoid further deterioration by walking on it…”. Source: Benoit Kervyn de Volkaersbeke, religious consultant of the city of Bruges.

In 1405, Jean Belle (x Marie Medonc, fa. of Thierry, Knight, and Lord of Beaurewaert) is named Commissar of Flanders in order to handle with England on sensitive political and economic matters.

On the 28th of May 2022, during an Investiture of the Ordo Balliolensis, in the 757 years old “Deutschherrenkapelle” or “Chapel of the Teutonic Knights”, in Saarbrücken (Germany), Frater Normen Feniger-Bels was knighted in the Ordinis Balliolensis.

Mgr. Fra. Robert Adelsohn Bels performed subsequently the ritual of the feudal homage. The Knight was allowed to bring back to life the feudal lordship of Beaurewaert and became the qualificative title of Baron of feudal nobility. The Herold of Arms was H.E Frater Reichsfreiherr Joseph von Ritter zu Groenesteyn, Knight of the Order of St. Stanislas, from Austria.

In 1407, Jean Belle married x1, Marie de Reilly and x2, Marie van Ogierlande.

In 1410, George Valcke (see 1430), most probably the one in question, municipal magistrate of the city of Ypres, sealed his documents with a falcon (Valck). His blazon was “of Gules with chevron in Argent”. This Lineage had three more blazons. Lord George may or may not be the ancestor of Charles-Alfonse Valcke (*1885 +1974, Helchin) x Anna Veys (*1889 +1974, Helchin, Helkijn (Flemish), in Flanders.

Alfonse had two sons Adelson (lived and died in Leers-Nord. Belgium), Armand (lived in Herseaux and died in Adelaide. Australia) and a daughter Suzanne (*1922, Helchin, lived in Molenbeek St. Jean and died 1986, in Mouscron. Belgium). Right: the blazon of Charles-Alfonse Valcke.

Lady who Suzanne married Robert IV Bels (*1922, Mouscron +2005, Hasselt. Limburg), on the 19th October 1945, is the mother of Robert V (*1946 in Leers-Nord), the author of this Essay.

The name “Valcke” is the core of the name “Valckenburg” or “Valckenberg”, Plectrude´s Flemish name for “Fauquemberg”. And once more, it is the blazon that will ascertain us that “Valcke” is a synonym for “Valckenberg” because the falcon is literally resting upon a hill (Falconhill). Source : J.B van Rietstap (Valcke Flandre - De gueules à un faucon d'or chaperonné du même posé sur un mont de sinople Cimier le faucon).

In 1410, another marriage was done between the Family de Créquy and the Bailleul-Douxlieu. It was the marriage of Jacques de Bailleul, fs. Pierre de Bailleul x Jeannes de Créquy, with Agnès de Créquy, fa. of Mathieu himself fs. of Jean de Créquy, Lord of Heilly. The Marshal de Heilly, brother of Agnès, having been killed at the battle of Azincourt, Agnès had, for an only son, whom she had (sic), to take the name and arms of the Heilly; but he died single in 1431. Agnes became a widow and remarried in 1431 to Messire Bjoye d'Inchy, the Châtelain of Douai.

It is around this time that other old families were linked to the Balliols through the Créquy family. They were the d´Haverskerke, de Béthune, de Lalaing, de Roye, de la Trémouille, de Brunes, de la Motte, etc.

In 1410, Jean Belle is sent to Arras (Flanders) to approve the privileges given by Philippe de Bourgogne (future Philippe le Bon) to the people of Ypres.

About 1410, first encounter with the variant Beels with Thierry Beels, called “le Grand” x Catherine van Bambeke.

I received from a friend of mine, the late Messire Kurt Koster, Knight profès and Bailiff for Germany of the Ordre Equestre du Saint Sauveur du Mont-Réal, a very rare document where there is a mention, in 1412, of a Flemish Knight called Gilles van Ryssel who was a Commander of the Order of Mont-Réal.

According to the document, the Knight Gilles was entrusted with the defence of the “Castillo de Bello”. The names of two of other Knights are also on the document: Remy de Saint-Waast, who was responsible for the “commun trésor” and Emeri de Groslais, who is reported as being a kind of medical man. The Knight Gilles inherited an important fief located in Flanders, not far away from Lille.

Let us analyse the document:

The Latin appellation “Castillo de Bello” means “Castle of Belle”. That confirms the presence of a castle in Belle (Balliol) in anno 1412. But why was a Flemish Knight of the Order of the Mont-Réal ordered to defend the castle of Belle and where was that castle located? Zeroing on the text, we realize that:

• The Knight Gilles van Ryssel was a Flemish Knight, from the region of Belle. Ryssel (Lille in French) is only 27km from Belle and was a Flemish city.
• The Knight Remy de Saint-Waast was also a Flemish Knight from the same region. In French, his name would have been “Rémy de Saint-Vast”, the name of the Saint patron of Balliols main church.

So we encountered, in only a few sentences, two references to the city of Balliol: Castillo de Bello and Saint-Waast.

Is the actual (2015) General Master of the Ordre du Saint Sauveur du Mont-Réal, Monseigneur Frater André Marquis Girond de Saint-Waast, an heir of this Knight Remy de Saint-Waast? See development on the Girond-Flandres and the Bels dynasties in Volume II!

But there is a third reference that tells us about the inheritance of “… a heritage of an important fief located in Flanders, not far away from Lille…”.

If the city of Belle (Balliol) is only 27km from Lille (Ryssel), there were other fiefs closer to Lille that may be of some interest for my Essay. They were the fiefs of Gonthière, of La Croix, of Lormier and of Oosthove belonging to François de Bels in 1565. His heirs were the Lords of Clorbus, an area enclaved between the Flemish cities of Mouscron (21km of Lille), Tourcoing, Wattrelos and Herseaux, near a place, South-East of a place called “Petit-Courtrai“, where we can find today a street called “rue de Clorbus”.

In the “Onze Lieve Vrouw Church”, in Ypres, there is the tomb of the Lord Hendricx de Vicq (+1527). This family had a seat in the XVth and XVIth century in the City Council of Ypres. Hendricx was Lord of Bertolf, near Belle, Oosthove and Wade. He was also a high bailiff of Armentières and d'Arquinghen. According to this new data, we are now informed that the fief of Oosthove went from the Balliols (van Belle) of Doulieu (Marshal of Flanders) to François de Bels, in 1565, through Hendricx de Vicq (* abt.1487 +1527), probably around 1500.

Charta of Knight of Honour of the Dynastic Order of the St. Sauveur de Mont-Réal, presented to Mgr. Robert Adelsohn Bels by SAS Mgr the Marquis André Girond de Saint-Waast, 65th Maitre Général of the Order.

Could it be that the “important fief”, inherited by the Knight Gilles van Ryssel, belonged to our Dynasty? Did he inherit it from us for services rendered in the defense of the Belle castle? And could it be possible that, some 150 years later, the fief went back to our Lineage as one of the above mentioned (of Gonthière, of La Croix, of Lormier, of Oosthove) which are located “not far away from Lille”?

The castle of Bailleul, in the village of Condé-sur-l´Escaut, was built before the year 1411 by Jean de la Hamaide. Jean´s blazon was engraved on the facade of the castle. The engraving was removed in 1469, after the infamous decapitation of Arnould, bastard of la Hamaide!

Since the phraseology of the French text, on the Official Condé-sur-l´Escaut Website, is unclear, I contacted Miss Céline Legrand, at the Condé-sur-l´Escaut´s Multimedia Library, and we decided that the text should read as follows:

“This castle was one of the seats of the seigniroy of Bailleul which belonged, before the XVth century, successively to the de Condé, the Balliol and the Moriamez lineages. Later it went to lineages of the de la Hamaide until 1485, d´Ötttingen, de Roggendorf, de Lalaing until 1606 and, until the French Revolution, to the de Croÿ-Solre. In the big room, on the second floor, we can admire the big chimney with a cast iron plate at the Arms of Emmanuel de Croÿ (*1718+1784), Marchal of France and seventh Duke de Croÿ”.

The German Grand Priory of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Savior of Mount Réal has created a museum dedicated to the Orders of Chivalry in the German city of Querfurt (Saxony-Anhalt). Our Knight, Fra. Thomas Block, who, according to our tradition, had to do some work before being knighted, chose to do manual work instead of a thesis on the Middle Ages (abbeys, orders of chivalry, crusades, etc.).

He thus created three large display cases. The photo mentions that the showcases were donated by the Ordo Balliolensis and manufactured by "Block Ladenbau GmbH & Co".  The design was created by Fra. Enrico Paust, Baron of Liebstadt, and Fra. Gerald Dettmer, Baron of Red Castle and Chevalier Ordinis Balliolensis.

In 1413, first encounter with the variant Belles. Also in: “Hier vooren light begraven Yolente Belle dochtere Mer. Jan Belles, Ruddere, here van Boesinghe, Joos Bryds wijf was die starf den eersten dag van Sporkel 1420.” Jan Belles is reported as Knight and Lord of Boesinghe.

In 1414, Jean Belle received, in the palace of Arras, from the Duke Philippe de Bourgogne, the official reconnaissance charter for his ship of Boesinghe confirming his 185 measures of land, his Viscountal justice rights, the authorisation to keep a Bailiff, seven Knights and other officers to make justice and for his hunting and other rights and privileges.

On 22 October 1415, Jehan de Bailleul (of Bailleul), Lord of Doulieu, Knight and Chamberlain of Mgr the Duke of Burgundy and Captain of his castle in Neufport (Nieuwpoort), declared having received from Jehan Uttenhove, General Tax Collector of Flanders and of Artois, the sum of 100 livres parisis.

In 1415, Jean of Bailleul dies at the battle of Azincourt (Arras).

In 1418, Robert Bailleul is audit in “la Chambre des Comptes” in Paris.

In 1419, Jacques Belle, Knight since 1383, is commissar of the Duke of Burgundy. He is Attorney-at-law and counsellor of the city of Ypres since 1380.

In 1419, first encounter with the variant Belx, in Flanders.

In 1420, Yolente Belle died. She was the wife of Josse (Joris) Bryde (fs. Jacques), also called “de Oude” or “the Old”, Knight and Lord of Boesinghe. The painting below is from the Museum Almshouse Belle (Chapel Treasure) in Ypres (Flanders), a painting (memorial) that hung above the tomb of Yolante BelleBelle Huis . This painting, part of the rich collection of the Ypres´s OCMW (Department of Public Welfare), is considered as one of the oldest in Belgium.

Presented by angels: to the left, the blazon of the Bryde family, to the right, the blazon of the Bride family and of the Belle Family, from Ypres. The painter must have been at least 20 years old at the time he painted the work. We may speculate realistically (sic) that the date of his birth turned around 1390 and his death around 1450.

Joris Bryde was alderman (Council member) of the city of Ypres in 1431-1433-1434-1436 and 1438. The family had seven children: 4 boys and 3 girls. The date of death and burial place of Joris is unknown!

About 1420, Sanders Belle is mentioned acting together with Lodewijk Paeldinc (x Christine Vos), as a tutor for Karel van Dixmude, an orphan child of Denis van Dixmude. Lodewijk seems to have been the illegitimate son of Michiel Paeldinc. Lodewijk´s daughter was married to Louis van Dixmude. Here we see again the close links between three very important families of Ypres: The Belle, the Paeldinc and the van Dixmude.

In 1421, Jean Belle is Lord of Boesinghe.

PART 18

In 1421, the French King, Philippe le Bon, Duke of Burgundy, buys the ship of Belle.

“…One of the most important pieces in the collection is a painting from 1420, one of the oldest paintings in Belgium. It depicts the Holy Virgin with next to her Yolente Belle, Joos Bryde and their children, the donors of the work…”. (Source: Wikkipedia).

In 1421, Members of the family Belle, attorneys-at-law of the city of Ypres, accompany King Philippe le Bon to revenge the death of Jean-sans-Peur.

In 1424, 6th April, died, Jacob Belle. He is buried in the Belle Almshouse Chapel, in Ypres. He was married to Marie le Blonde.

In 1425, 28 August, Laurijns Belle has been buried next to his spouse Marie van Pettem (Pittem) (+1399). That his second spouse Alleene Rycke (1422), also rests in the same tomb, is iconographically not confirmed. Laurijns was a younger son of Jan van Belle. This is certain because he carried the Arms of the van Belle that is broken with "een uitgetande zoom van keel” or in English “bordure of Gules” ! Laurijns had a long career behind him. During several years he was an alderman (Council member) of the city of Ypres and fulfilled several other important functions.

In 1426, King James Ist of England, confirmed a charter granted by Archibald, the Earl of Douglas, Lord of Galloway and Annandale (who was already dead at that moment), to William Bell : "Pro ejus servitio et benemeritis dicto comiti impensis". The lands of Kircconveth (?) are also called: "The Fleminglandis in the ship of Annandale".

Why the mention "The Flemingslandis" that means literally: Lands of the Flemish (in the ship of Annandale)? Someone must have known that the ”Bell” were of Flemish origin. Where did J.A Rennie get his data from?

In 1427, One hundred and nineteen Knights devoted themselves to the defence of the Mont Saint Michel (Normandy, France) besieged by the English. The Knight R. de Bailleul (de Balliol) is among them and is recorded on the number 81st of the list called “Liste des Chevaliers défenseurs du Mont St. Michel” or “List of the defenders of the St. Michael mount”.

The captain in charge of the Mont was Louys d´Estouteville. As we have seen in anno 1354, the Lineage of the Estouteville is several times linked to the Balliol via weddings. In addition, some 20 years later, in 1447, we will again encounter the close link between both lineages with Guillaune Bailleul and Robert d´Estouteville.

In 1430, on 11 September, died Jean Belle, Lord of Boesinghe. He is buried in the Belle Almshouse Chapel, in Ypres, together with his wife Marie s’Medoms, Lady of Beaurewart and his sister-in-law.

In 1430, Tristram Belle, fs. Jean Belle inherited the estates of Boesinghe and of Beaurewaert. Later will Tristam’s brother, Walrave Belle (+31 May 1439), take over the Lordships. Walrave was married to Marie Valx (+ 8 Sept.1429). They are buried in the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Hospital, in Ypres.

At about 1430, Albine Bels (fa. of Thierry Beels, called “le Grand” and from Catherine van Bambeke) married Jacques Voet, Lord of St… (unreadable), and municipal magistrate of Bergues St. Winnoc in 1440. Her mother, Catherine, was fa. of Jean van Bambeke (well-known family of feudal nobility) and of Marguerite, illegal but natural daughter of Walerand of Luxembourg, Count of Saint Pol, High Constable of France.

In 1430, William III Baillie of Lamington (grandson of William II of Balliol, Lord of Penston x Marion Braidfoot), married Marion (fa. of John Seaton, of Seaton). He had four sons and one daughter. The three eldest sons maimed their tutor, a clergyman (who died from his injury), because of a grievous offence and, fearing the power of the church, fled the country. See genealogy of the Baillie.

In 1430, Walricus (Walrave) Belle, Lord of Beaurewaert, married Marie Valck (Valcke) (+1437) (fa. of George (Jooris) Valck (Valcke, as written on epitaph). Walrave having no male heir his ship went to his brother Monfrand. George Valck (x Christine de Bourleke) had another son, Martin Valcke. As seen earlier, the Valcke family had the blazon.

In 1432, at the death of Pierre IV, de Bailleul, Marshal of Flanders, buried in Nieuwpoort (Flanders), his brother, Louis de Bailleul x Isabelle de Flandre, became on 18 September 1414, Feudal Lord of Doulieu and Oudenem (dependent of the court of Dendermonde also called Tenremonde). A certain Henri de Vich, a bourgeois of Ypres, possessed a fief named Oosthove, in the parish of Niepkerke (Flemish) or Nieppe (French), dependent on the Seigneurie of Dampierre, held by the Bailleul of Doulieu. Accused of murder, the Bailiff of the Seigneurie of Dampierre seized and confiscated the Fief of Oosthove. It was returned by an order of the Council of Flanders, dated 19th January 1453.

Did the Fief return to Henri de Vich, to the Bailleul of Doulieu or to another branch of our Lineage namely the Bels since we have around anno 1565, François de Bels, Squire and Bailiff of Wervicq mentioned as Lord of Gonthière, of La Croix, of Lormier and of Oosthove?

About 1440, a Bels is born probably in Bruges. He had a son who married N. Voet.

About 1440, is born Stas Bels (also called Bellens) most probably in Brustem (Limburg). His is the ancestor of the Bels branch that moved from Flanders to Limburg in: Brustem, Horpmal, Veulen and from which several branches spred out during the XVIIIth century to Holland: to Zandvliet, Den Helder, Brielle and later Antwerpen.

Around 1441, Guillaume Bailleul, Pierre le Forestier and Yvon Prieur are charged with the fortification works of the Mont Saint-Michel. (Normandy, France):

“ ... Around 1441, Guillaume Bailleul, Pierre le Forestier and Yvon Prieur, bourgeois of this city, were entrusted with the fortification of Mont-Saint-Michel (Normandy, France), begun two years ago, consisting mainly of doubling the wall and tower joining the Hotel Boucan to the Tour Chollet, in the construction of a wall five feet thick at its base and four feet thick at its top running from the Chollet tower to the Béatrix tower, in the doubling of the Neuve tower, and in the opening of machicolations in the thickness of these two towers”.

" …Vers 1441, Guillaume Bailleul, Pierre le Forestier et Yvon Prieur, bourgeois d'icelle ville, sont chargés des travaux de fortification du Mont-Saint-Michel (Normandie, France), commencés depuis deux ans, consistant principalement dans le doublement du mur et de la tour joignant l'Hotel Boucan à la tour Chollet, dans la construction d'un mur de cinq pieds d'épaisseur à sa base et de quatre pieds à son sommet allant de la tour Chollet à la tour Béatrix, dans le doublement de cette dernière tour et de la Tour-Neuve et dans l'ouverture de mâchicoulis pratiqués dans l'épaisseur de ces deux tours ". Source: Chronique du Mont-Saint-Michel. CCXVII. Page 131 -136.

The fortification works were carried out when the future cardinal Guillaume d'Estouteville (abt. 1412-1483) was simultaneously abbot commendatory of the abbeys of Mont Saint-Michel (1444-1483), Saint-Ouen in Rouen and Montebourg. A French aristocrat of royal blood, he became a leading bishop and cardinal.

His father, Jean d'Estouteville, Sieur de Vallemont and Grand Chamberlain of France, had fought at Agincourt, was captured, and spent twenty years as a prisoner of war. His mother was Marguerite d'Harcourt, the daughter of Catherine de Bourbon, the sister of Jeanne de Bourbon who was the wife of King Charles V of France. Guillaume had an elder brother Louis, who became Grand Bouteiller of France. As the custom was, the younger brother was destined for a career in the Church.

The following document (original phraseology and orthography unchanged) mentions that the three protagonists will pay for the construction works from their own finances. In contrast, they will benefit from the taxes perceived on imported wines, by sea or road, for a period of ten years, starting on the day of the feast of Saint-Jean-Paptist and ending on the same date, ten years later.

“… Messires Guillaume Bailleul, Yvon Prieur et Pierres le Forestier, bourgeois d’icelle ville, remoustrans que ilz estoient et sont desirans que icelle operacion, fortiffication et emparement fust et soit fait et parfaicte, se fussent traiz devers nous disans que, si la charge leur en voullons baillier, ilz s’y emploiroient en toute dilligence possible, requerans et demandans pour icelle chose faire et accomplir à leurs dépens, les choses cy après desclairées, c’est assavoir que ilz en aient, lievent, recepvent, cuillent, facent cuillir et recepvoir, par leur main par qui qu’il leur plaira, l’aide et revenue des vins qui vendront et arriveront en la dicte ville, soit par mer ou par terre, pour estre venduz en gros ou en detail, sur chascune pippe de vin dix solz tournoi, pour le terme et temps de dix ans commençant à la Saint Jehan Baptiste prochaine venante et fenissant iceulx dix ans revolus et acomplis … » . Source: Chronique du Mont-Saint-Michel. CCXVII. Page 133.  

Around 1440, Pierre Baille was Receiver General of Normandy. We see here, clearly, the share of influence between the two lineages of our Dynasty, the Ballieul and the Baille. Pierre Baille is also cited in a document relating to a retention for the safeguard of the said place of Grantville, "scellé de nostre seel le quinziesme jour d'octobre l'an mil cccc et quarante ung". Source: Titres et scellés de Clairambault.

In 1447, Guillaume Bailleul is Lieutenant General of Robert d`Estouteville. He was in the jury during the sittings of Avranches to listen to the defence of the Abbot and monks of the Mont Saint-Michel, accused of having illegally seized cattle that transited from Bretagne to Normandy, via one of their officers, Gardin de Montcaucin.

In 1448, In Portugal, Guillaume Belles gets the title of “Mestre das vitraças de el Rey”.

In 1448, The Knight James E. Bell, found the earlier reference in Ireland of a Bell. A certain Rev. Thomas Bell was chaplain at that time in Tullallen, Co Armagh. Later, in 1493, another Rev. John Bell, was Bishop of Mayo.

In 1449, Monfrand Belle (x Marguerite de la Clyte) is Lord of Boesinghe, of Beaurewaert, Hamme, etc. He sells the ship of Beaurewaert to Victor II de Lichtervelde (+1483), (younger son of Victor I de Lichtervelde x Christine Belle). He took over the ship from his brother, Walrave Belle (+May 1439), who had no male descendant. He was 32 years Magistrate and counsellor of the city of Ypres.

in 1450, Oudenhove and Steenwerck benefited from the Right of Confiscation that was a prerogative of the Balliols, Lords of Doulieu.

In 1450, Danckaert Belle is Attorney-at-law of the Belle Hospital in Ypres and Lord of Grand-Schachtelweghe. He married x1 Isabelle de Moerslede (fa. Jean) and x2 Marguerite van Schotten (fa. Olivier) and granddaughter of Michel de Schotten, Knight, and Attorney-at-law of Ypres x N… Belle (fa. of Lambert Belle).

In 1452, Judoc or Josse (van Belle) de Bailleul, (*1422 +1476) Knight, is Lord of Doulieu (also Zouterstee as well as countless other variants) and of Steenwerck. He was counsellor and Chamberlain of Emperor Maximilien, under-Bailiff in 1467 and Bailiff of Ghent “the following year”… He married Adrienne de Halewin *1422. (See under 1468).

Josse Pierre de Bailleul, Lord of Doulieu and Leke (?), the second son of Josse (van Belle) de Bailleul, married Nicole de Ghistelles. Henri, his brother x Jeanne de le Walle. Their sisters: Marie x Jean de Bonnières. Jossine, Lady of Borre, x Jean de Vier and Marguerite became canoness.

Josse Pierre de Bailleul x Nicole de Ghistelles had two daughters: Jeanne x Charles de Saint-Omer and Catherine de Bailleul, also known as Catherine van Belle-Bousinghe. Catherine married Josse van den Berghe (+1448), Lord of Wantreliet and had three sons (Josse, Giselain & Robert) and two daughters (Jeanne x Jacques de Douvrin & Catherine x Hugues VI de Maulde).

In 1461, Georges Belle, the last of the oldest branch of the Feudal Lord of Boesinghe, enters in the Judiciary of Ypres at the death of his father Georges! He married in 1460 Marguerite van Vlaenderen (of Flanders) fa. of Charles. Georges was, in 1464, attorney-at-law of the Hospice Belle in Ypres. Line extinct by lack of male descendants. Research is conducted to find out who this Charles van Vlaenderen was.

In 1465, an inhabitant of the locality of Baillessats (Corbières, South of France) engraved that date on a stone and hided it at the bottom of the wall of a house. Baillessats was one of our places in the south of France.

In 1468, Judokus van Belle, Lord of Doulieu and Marschalk of Flanders, married Adriana van Halewyn, Lady of Borre (see 1452).

In 1470, Colaert van Belle (x Marguerite de Jonghe), fs. of Danckaert Belle and of Marguerite van Schoten, Lord of Grand-Schachtelweghe, Attorney-at-law of the Hospital Belle in Ypres, sells the ship.

About 1470, Alexander Ist, Baillie, Lord of Dunain, the eldest son of William III Baillie (Lord of Lamington), served as a volunteer, under the first Earl of Huntly, his first cousin, at the battle of Brechin. He was rewarded for his services by the grant of Dunain, Dochfour, Leys and Torbreck. The Earl of Huntly also appointed him Constable of the Castle of Inverness. He married Catherine, daughter of William Grant, of Treucky.

In 1470, dies Isabelle Belle. She is buried with her husband Jacop Brievere (+1465). He is recorded as a bastard son of Joris. Jacop is found only once on the list dated 8 February 1462, of the aldermen of Ypres.

In 1476, the people kill Judoc or Josse (van Belle) de Bailleul, Knight, Lord of Doulieu and of Steenwerck. According to Sal(o)mon, it was his brother Jean, the general of the kitchen of the duke, who was killed. Judoc is said to have become Great Bailiff, in 1478!

In 1477, Gillis de Bels (of Wetteren, Flanders) is told to have given housing to Mr Heindric van den Oorde, his wife and his children.

Abt. 1485 is born Nicolas Ist Bailleul.

In 1487, Stas Bellens (alias Bels) was living in the village of Brustem (East Belgium). Thanks to his blazon: "De gueule, à navette de Tisserand d'azur, au fil attaché, formant un noeud, en pointe, posée en Fasce sur lentille d'Or“, we know that he belonged to a weaver family that came either from the city of Kortrijk, Ypres, Ghent or Bruges. They may have left Flanders as soon as anno 1323 due to socio-economic problems that would find their paroxysms in anno 1337 with the wool blockade in England. See also page 35.

“…The people from Kortrijk and surroundings (Flanders) knew the flax culture, treatment, and processing very well, while this was totally unknown to Haspengouw (Limburg). Hence my arguments as to why Stas Bels, among others, settled at that place in Brustem.

Another argument is that to make wool, one obviously needs many sheep. Nowhere have I heard, at least so far, about sheep farming on a large scale in the second half of the 15th century in Brustem. It was Stas (Eustachius) Bels, in Brustem, who started working undoubtedly as a weaver.

His settlement must have been at the origin of the name of the street “Weverstraat” or “Weaver Street”. There was, of course, for Stas, virtually no competition in his trade because this very specialised weaver´s trade, as well as all collateral professions, such as fullers and dyers, was totally foreign to this part of Belgium in the second half of the 15th century. 

Still today, there is in Brustem a large plot of land owned by the Bels family and located along this weaver street. On that street, there is today the entrance to the large fruit sheds of the Bels family.

Even the main house "Bels" is still situated on this plot and is inhabited by the Bels family (Marc and Luc Bels) ”. Source: Dynast Willy Bels of Leopoldsburg (Belgium), Correspondance dated 2d. June 2020.

This text sustains very strongly my Hypothesis wanting the Bels from Brustem and area, originating from Flanders.

“…The Flemish drapery industry took off at the end of the 11th century. Thanks to their impeccable technique, Ghent and Ypres produced drapes that were renowned abroad for their strength, colour and fineness. These beautiful Flemish fabrics were made from English wool, which the guilds of wealthy merchants bought on favourable terms.

The admirable prosperity of Flanders culminated in the flourishing port of Bruges, which was connected to the Zwin estuary and, via canals, to the cities of Ghent, Damme and L'Ecluse. Thanks to its location, Bruges became the great warehouse of European trade and was nicknamed the 'Venice of the North'. Markets were held in the city itself; goods were unloaded, exchanged and shipped as return freight, especially in the outer harbours of Damme and L'Ecluse…”. Source : Histoire des Belges au fil du temps: Les villes Flamandes.

Since virtually all the wool needed in Flanders was imported from England, we can easily realize how important the seaports of Bruges, Ghent, Ypres, Damme and l´Ecluse were for the Flanders drapery industry. The only other port of importance in Belgium was the port of Antwerpen but this one played no part in the transport of the wool from England. Any other place in Belgium, far from these ports, would never have had a chance to develop a wool or drapery industry. Brustem was too far away from them: 120 km from Ghent and 160 km from Bruges, and also too far away from the wool industrial and commercial centres such as Kortrijk (155 km), Bruges (160km) and Ypres (180 km).

In 1487, November 2, is buried in the Belle Almshouse Chapel, in Ypres, Jan van Lichtervelde x Marie van den Hove (the widow of Enguerrand van Dixmude). He was buried there because of the family alliance. He was the youngest son of Victor van Lichtervelde and of a lady Belle, from Ypres. Jan was Counsellor of the Court of Auditors, Great Bailiff of the city and of the Castellan domain of Ypres, from 1467 until 1472.

In 1489, Guillaume van Belle, fs. of Colaert, x Marguerite van Droogenbroeck, in the Cathedral St. Gudule in Brussels.

In 1491, Master Andrew Bell is treasurer of the Cathedral church of Aberdeen.

In 1492, William Baillie of Lamington, fourth son of Sir William Baillie, of Lamington, married Marion, fa. of Sir Patrick Hume, of Polwarth, and had:

1. Richard, from whom the Baillies of Bagbie.
2. William.
3. Andrew is said to have been killed at Flodden.
4. Cuthbert, from who descended the Baillies of St. John’s Kirk, Jervis Wood, Mellerstein, Walston and Mannerhall.

In 1493, Christine Bels, born in Dranoutre (Flanders), some 4km from the city of Bailleul, married Georges de Brune, bourgeois of Ypres. Having only one daughter, Jeanne de Brune, the line is thus also extinct. The Bels estates went to the family of Nicolas de Caestickere.

In 1496, William Bell is reported as Master of the Balliol College, in Oxford (UK).

About 1500, we find a Karolus (Charles) van Belle, Lord of Doulieu, who was married to Joanna van Kleef.

About 1500 is born, in Flanders, Pasquier de Bailleul. He was the father of Beltremieu de Bailleul (see about 1540).

About 1500, John Bell (+1556), the Bishop of Worcester (1539-1543) serving during the reign of Henry VII of England, attended the Balliol College in Oxford. He got his LL.B (Bachelor of Laws or Legum baccalaureus in Latin) degree at Cambridge, in 1504.

In 1502, the patronymic Bels is still referred as Belle (de-van). In the orphans’ registers from Kortrijk ranging from 1478-1502, we find for the region of Kortrijk and Waregem (Flanders), Gyllis, Jan, Jan, Joes, Maertin, Wouter mentioned as Bels still followed by the mention “see Bels [Belle, de-van] “.

In 1503, Françoise de Bailleul (fa. Wallerand de Bailleul x Péronne de Noyelles) x Adrien de Mailly (Lord of Raversberg). We are trying to locate this place. The toponym “Mailly”, which probably gave birth to the patronymic “de Mailly”, comes from a place situated some 100km northwest of the City of Lyon (France). The only place in Europe phonetically close to Raversberg is “Ravensberg” that is located between Wismar and Rostock (Mecklembourg-Poméranie, Germany).

PAGE 19

In 1510, by an act before the magistrates of Ypres, Charles de Bailleul, Knight and Lord of Doulieu (Flanders) and of Steenkerke (Flanders), Marshal of Flanders, Attorney-at-law and Deputy-Mayor of the town of Bailleul (France Flanders) and Ypres (Flanders) decided to quit the Bourgeoisie of Ypres!

In 1512, November 26, the Emperor Maximilian and the Archduke Charles allowed the city of Bailleul to donate 120 “livres” to Charles de Bailleul-Doulieu to cover his wedding costs. He married Jeanne de Clèves-Ravenstein.  Charles was Grosvenor of Steenwerck and of Nieppe. Jeanne, his sister, married Charles de Saint-Omer, Lord of Morbèque, Governor of la Motte-au-Bois.

In 1512, Nicolas Ist Bailleul is ennobled in Paris.

1519, Charles de Bailleul, fs. of Henri III de Bailleul, died without having male heirs. He left two daughters, Jeanne, and Anne. At the death of her sister Jeanne (1564), Anne de Bailleul became Dame de Doulieu and of Steenkerke. She married Jean d´Estourmel, Feudal Lord of Vendeville and the hereditary office of Marshal of Flanders passed from the Bailleul family of Doulieu to the Estourmel family. The Bailleul of Doulieu came to a full stop.

Charles de Bailloeul (Bailleul) Sgr (Seigneur) de Doulieu Marischal hereditaire de Flandres …

The picture below of an old book, showing the page related to the history and the blazon of Robert de Montmorency x Jeanne de BailleuI. From left to right: Mr Cesar Leroy, Mr Michel Calvé (both the Cercle d´Histoire et d´Archéologie de BailleuI, Monts de Flandre, France-Nord) and me. Ms Brigitte Hugues, Secretary of the Cercle, took the picture. Anno 2006.

In 1520 a Lord Thomas Bele is Bishop in London (Bell Roots). Died in Clerkenwell anno 1556.

On 3 March 1521 is born Andrew II Baillie, of Lamington, fs Andrew, heir of his grandfather William. He married Elizabeth, daughter of David, Earl of Crawford x Elizabeth, daughter of James Hamilton.

In 1525, Jeanne de BailleuI (heiress of the Balliol of Doulieu, Flanders) x 1. Jean de Hercelles, Lord of Lillers subsequently x 2. Robert de Montmorency (*ab 1505,+1554), Lord of Wismes. Robert added to his blazon, the Arms of his wife, underlining by this act the importance of the Balliol family in those times. Lady Jeanne de Bailleul x 3. Philippe d´Everstein. Her sister Anne married Jean d´Estourmel, Knight, Lord of Vandeville, of Doulieu and of Steenkerk and is quotted as Marshal of Flanders.

Robert de Montmorency belonged to a prestigious Dynasty that started in anno 975 (first record of the patronymic) with Bouchard de Montmorency (x Emengarde or Hildegarde de Blois). The Lineage, one of the most prestigious of France, is called "Premier Baron de France" or "First baron of France".

Links must have existed between the Balliols and this lineage:

• From the expeditionary side: It is known for instance that Mathieu Ist de Marly (at the origin of the house of Marly) also known as Mathieu II of Montmorency, Lord of Ecouen, Conflans and Montmorency, participated at the 3rd and at the 4th Crusade from which he never came back. He died in Constantinople in 1204.
• From the diplomatic side: A certain Henri Ist de Montmorency is born in anno 1160, as fs. of Mathieu, Baron of Montmorency and Constable of France. His father’s very high position on the court of France commanded him frequent contacts with the Counts of Flanders and, in turn, with the Balliol.
• From the nobility side: Both lineages belonged to the feudal nobility. The Balliol from anno 960 and the Montmorency from anno 975.

Nothing has ever been found yet concerning the Montmorency participation at the battle of Hastings where they could have been fighting next to the Balliol and other such as the Bruce (Brix) and the Comines (Comen, Comyn).

They do not appear on the bronze memorial erected on 21 June 1931 in the chapel of the castle of Falaise (Normandy) nor in the church of Dives-sur-Mer where the names, graved inside the church (above the door) use a wall surface of more than 24 square meter. The list containing 315 names was set up on August 17, 1862, during an international academic sitting by the French Society of Archaeology. I quote here from the Falaise Roll book by Jackson Crispin:

“…These 315 names inscribed upon the tablet were the companions of the Duke, chosen from the thousands who fought by the side of William, because a sum of well-grounded probability had been gathered which permitted the acceptance of their presence at the battle of Hastings as most likely …”.

In 1530, first encounter with the variant Pels.

In 1532, Marie van Belle is widow of Romain van Clearhout, Lord of Aardooie.

In 1532, Sir William II Baillie, of Lamington, married Janet, the second wife of James V of Scotland. Janet was the natural daughter of James, third Hamilton, and first Earl of Arran, afterwards Regent of Scotland.

In 1534, a William Baillie, of Dunain, is Sheriff of Inverness and Constable of the Castle of Inverness. He married a daughter of Ross of Balnagown.

About 1535 is born in Beveren Leie (Flanders) a Beyls that was the father of Jacobus Beyls *1557 himself father of Johannes and Laurentinus. They are the ancestors of the Beyls from Deerlijk, Zweveghem, Kortrijk and Charleroi.

In 1536, Thomas II Bell, M.P is mayor of Gloucester. He is knighted in 1546. He was a merchant tailor and prominent clothier and the largest employer, together with his half-brother Thomas the Sheriff of Gloucester. (Bell Roots).

In 1537, Robert van Belle died. He was Lord of Eecke (Oostover) and of Plancques (Flanders). His daughter, Judoca, married Karel van Briaerde, Grand Bailiff of Cassel.

In 1537, first record of the patronymic Bals, in Flanders, in “Het Cijnsboek van het hof van Laar te Schelle”.

In 1538, Jean van Belle (fs. Guillaume), x1 Marguerite Leemans in the Cathedral St. Gudule in Brussels. x2 Lisebeth van Nieuwenhoven.

In 1538, is born in Paris, Dr Guillaume de Baillou (Ballonius) (+1616 Paris). He was the French Doctor who posed the fundaments of the modern Epidemiology, student of Dr Jean Fernel (1497-1558), the personal doctor of Heinrich II, King of France. Dr Baillou, as Dean of the University of Paris, became later the personal doctor of King Henry IV. He wrote the “Liber de Rheumatismo et Pleuritide dorsali “.

About 1540, Alexander Baillie (of Balliol) Lord of Dunraget (fs. David Baillie, Lord of Lamington, the 2nd son of Sir William Baillie x Marion) is born. He became an officer in the English Army. He purchased the lands of Innishargie, county Down. He altered the spelling of his surname. He had a son: Alexander Bailie, (°1587 +1682, leaving issue) Lord of Innishargie and Ringdufferin.

About 1540 is born in Wambrechin, Beltremieu de Bailleul, fs. Pasquier de Bailleul (*ab 1510).  Beltremieu was recorded as a Bourgeois of the city of Lille (today in France but a Flemish city called Rijssel) on 17 august 1565. He married, in 1565, Lady Marguerite Delebecque. The place Wambrechin cannot be found. There is however a place called “Wambrechies” less than 7km from the city of Lille (Rijssel).

For Beltremieu being recorded as a Bourgeois of Lille, he must imperatively have been active in the political life of this City. What means also that he must have lived in it or in its direct vicinity. There are no other alternatives since no other place, in Europe, comes close to it, being it phonetically or orthographically. The place of birth from his son, Jean de Bailleul, being born in Marcq-en-Bareul, a place located less than 3km from Wambrechies, tends to confirm that the place Wambrechin is indeed Wambrechies!

In 1542, at the Sollom Moss Battle, William Bell captures the Scots Lord Sinclair (Bell Roots).

Born about 1543, François de Bels, Squire, and Bailiff of Wervicq, is Lord of Gonthière, of la Croix, of Lormier and of Oosthove (in the parish of Niepkerke, dependant on the Seigneurie of Dampierre that belonged to the Bailleul family of Doulieu, Marshal of Flanders. See also in 1432). He married Dame Claire de Croonenbourg. His heirs are the Lords of Clorbus, an area enclosed between the Flemish cities of Mouscron, Luigne and Wattrelos.

The ships of Gonthière, of la Croix and of L’Ormier (Lormier) are though, by historians, to have been part of the big ships of Mouscron (Flanders). The division of this ship, in three main parts (depending on the feudal court of Harelbeke, of Warcoing and of Saint Pierre-de-Lille), makes it hazardous to locate them. Not even the archives of the Feudal Lords of Mouscron such as the Lineages of van Audenarde, de Louvain and de Liedekerke, could help to solve the problem.

No wonder the ships cannot be find when on the map, dated 1567, the ship of Mouscron is not even mentioned! The city of Mouscron should have been mentioned at the place of the small red spot on the map west of the village Herseaux (Herecaus). The village of Leers is located on an ancient road to the city of Tournai (Tornay). We can also see the cities of Kortijk (Cortryk), Ypres (Iypre) and Belle (Balliol).

A recent data analysis gives the location of a site called “La Croix” some 26km east from the County of Flanders. Was this the centre of the ship of “La Croix” ? Or was it the location called “La Croix”, an area that is part of the city of Roubaix (Flanders, today France, North) ? Roubaix is located some 5km left from Leers and Herseaux (both highlighted in blue).

Wherever these ships were, one was in Flanders, right in the middle of the Seigneurie of Mouscron and the other was very close to Flanders eastern border. Both locations constitute an acceptable and a valid option. Please read subsequent developments on this location of “La Croix” at “About 1670”. By lack of male descendants, the ship will be extinct in 1677 when Dame Antoinette Claire de Bels married on 22 May, Jean-Baptiste François Lievens, eldest son of Jean-Baptiste Lievens (Bailiff of Mouscron from 1654 until 1684).

The ship of Clorbus has been “brought back to life” - (Seigneurie relevée or Relève de Fief) - in anno 1776, by Louis Ignace Lanneau x (1773) Dame Antoinette Claire Lievens (fa. Jean-Baptiste Francois Lievens x2 Marie Anne Catherine Remeaut and grandchild of Dame Antoinette Claire de Bels x Jean-Baptiste Lievens, fs. of Jean-Baptiste, Bailiff of Mouscron x Marie le Mettre). Louis Ignace was lawyer at the Council of Flanders. He sold the ship to his brother-in-law, Messire Jean-Baptiste Lefebvre on July 25, 1781.

Each Seigneurie and fiefs were very well described. I will pass under the magnifier the details relative to the Fief of Clorbus, known as the fourth Fief of the Lordship of Mouscron.

“…Le quatrième fief était la seigneurie de Clorbus, enclave dans les communes de Mouscron, Luigne et Wattrelos. Elle consistait en rentes annuelles de 29 rasières et 2 havots d´avoine et de 9 sous et 10 deniers. Le possesseur de ce fief pouvait établir un bailli et quand il devait faire loi, il pouvait emprunter les échevins et le semonceur au seigneur de Mouscron ; il avait les biens trouvés et des étrangers ; il avait aussi le quinzième denier de la vente des terres tenues de lui et les amendes de 60 sous, mais il ne pouvait recevoir que les deux parts de ces quinze deniers et de ces amendes, la troisième part était réservée au maieur de Mouscron. Ce fief devait plein relief à la mort et 29 deniers et une obole par an pour prouvos deniers.

«…Le fief de Clorbus fut relevé le 15 Août 1409 par Hanekin de Crois, dit de Drumes, qui succédait à son père Baudart de Drumes. En 1504 Jehan Blammaton, du chef de Marie de Bassevelde sa femme, releva ce fief qui lui était échu par le trépas de Jehan de Cois dit de Drumes. Ils vendirent ce fief en 1512 à Henri de Voldre, pour le prix de 196 livres et à la charge de deux philippes de sousrente au rachat de 80 livres.

« …A la mort de celui-ci, ce fief fut relevé par Josse Carpentier pour et au nom de Catherine de Voldre sa femme; il passa plus tard à Nicolas de Vlieghere et Catherine Carpentier sa femme, et puis à leur fille Catherine, et à la mort de celle-ci, à son fils Pierre Schouteten, fils de Jacques, qui le releva le 2 Octobre 1601, et le vendit le 11 Décembre 1612, à Michel de Bels, fils de François, pour la somme de 150 livres de gros flandre, vers la fin de ce siècle il échut à Jean-Baptiste-François Lievens qui avait épousé Antoinette-Claire de Bels.

« …Le 10 Février 1776, par suite de la mort de Jean-Baptiste-François Lievens, ce fief fut relevé par Ignace-Louis Lanneau, avocat du conseil de Flandre et négociant à Mouscron, qui en avait épousé la fille Antoinette-Claire. Celui-ci le vendit le 25 juillet 1781 à son beau-frère Jean-Baptiste Lefebvre, bailli de Wattrelos, négociant à Tourcoing, qui avait épousé Anne-Catherine Lievens…”. Source: Coulon Alphonse Marie. Chap. XIV.  Good that we do not have to detail every one of our old estates!

Left on the next picture, taken during an Investiture of the Ordo Balliolensis, are its new Knights: H.E. Georg Götzelmann (ex-Ambassador Ordinis Balliolensis) (D), the Feudataire de La Croix : Sire Heiko Bels, (Treasurer Ordinis Balliolensis) (D), the Feudataire of Oosthove: Sire Jürgen Bels (D) and Lady Ingrid Schröck-Heil (D).

Right of the picture are Mgr Fra. Robert Adelsohn Bels, Sire of the Seigneurie of L´Ormier and of Belcastel-et-Buc (Magister Supremus Ordinis Balliolensis) (D) and Mgr Fra. Roland Jean Maroteaux, Grand Commandeur des Chevaliers de France (F), noble successor of the Baron André-Louis Saumier d´Albis. This noble Knight is, according to our tradition, the Grand Master of Honor of the solemn Investitures of the Ordo Balliolensis of which he officially opens and closes the works. See picture below.

In the background, from left to right, we have the Knight Thomas Weschbach from the Ritter Orden der Greiff (D), the Knight Abbot Geert van de Walle *1 from the Order of Saint Stanislas (B), the Roman Catholic Priest Rev. Helmut Pflanz (D), the Knight Patrick Duez Commandeur de Vaillampont of the Grand Prieuré des Chevaliers Templiers de Belgique (B) OSMTH and the Knight Jörg Noppens (D) from the Orden der Schwertritter von Livland (D). Note that the Knight Patrick Duez became, in 2018, Knight Ordinis Balliolensis.

*1. The family of the Abbot Van de Walle was linked to our Dynasty by the wedding of his ancestor Barbe Van de Walle (+1433) who married Sohier de Bailleul (+1 Jan. 1428). Both were buried in the church of Nieuport. So we came together again after 580 years (in 2008).

Monsignor Fra. Roland Maroteaux, Commander General of the Knights of France, is the worthy successor of Mgr. André Louis Saumier d'Albis. The Ordo Balliolensis has excellent relations with the Order of the Knights of France. In the photo of the small delegation of our Order during the General Chapter of the Knights of France, held on October 22, 2022, in Wanze (B), one can distinguish from left to right: Fra. Yves Senden, Fra. Thomas Block GCOB, Mgr. Roland Maroteaux, Mgr. Robert A. Bels GCOB and His Excellency Fra. Heiko Bels GCOB.

A note to show the unique relationships that the Ordo Balliolensis maintains with the great Orders of Traditional Chivalry. Mgr. Fra. Robert A. Bels introduced Mr. Hugo Gielen to Mgr. Fra. Hans-Günter Kornbichler, Grand Master of the Schwertritter von Livland. Fra. Hugo entered officially this Order, as a Squire, on 7th May 2006, in the Castel of Nideggen (D). He was knighted on the 21st October 2006. Less than a decade later, Mgr. Fra. Hans-Günter, having ceased all its activities due to health problems, passed his Grand Mastership to Mgr. Fra. Hugo Gielen.

“…Am Sonntag dem 7. Wonnemond der Jahrung 2006 versammeln wir uns um 16.00 Uhr auf der Burg Nideggen. Unser Pilgrim Herr Wolfram Schönewald und unser Pilgrim Herr Hugo Gielen sowie unser Pilgrim aus England Herr Emile Erhalten dann in einer feierlichen Zeremonie die Knappenweihe….“.

“…On the Sunday of the 7th of January 2006, we gather at 4 pm at Nideggen Castle. Our Pilgrim Mr. Wolfram Schönewald and our Pilgrim Mr. Hugo Gielen as well as our Pilgrim from England Mr. Emile will then receive their Squireship during a solemn ceremony…”.

PART 20

Back to the Investiture of Diepenbeek.

The ship of Lormier (l’Ormier) has been “brought back to life” - (La Relève du Fief) - in anno 1995, by the Knight, Robert V, Adelsohn Bels of Leers-Nord (° 19.07.1946) Flanders, Belgium, Magister Supremus and founder of the Knight Order “Ordo Balliolensis”.

Two ships were “brought back to life” in anno 2008. They are the ship of Oosthoven, by the Knight Jürgen Bels of Ludwigslust (Germany) and the ship of La Croix, by the Knight S.E. Heiko Bels from Perleberg (Germany).

Both passed the ritual of the Feudal Homage (Homage Féodal) in the church of Diepenbeek during an Investiture of the Ordo Balliolensis.

Mgr Fra. Robert A. Bels, performing the “Feudal Homage” with Fra. Jürgen Bels and the hand-over of the Official Charta. The Knight Jürgen, Baron of feudal nobility, took over the baronial title and the Lordship of Oosthoven (Flanders).

On the next picture, S.A.S Prince Alexis Sachnowsy Grusinsky+ (from Georgia), not present at the castle of Schnellenberg (D) is seen here undersigning a Charter, in December 2004, in the castle of Horst (B).

The prince, Knight OSMTH (Porto), was Knight of Honour of the Ordo Balliolensis since anno 2000 and President of Honour of the Russian Nobility in Belgium. The prince was born in November 1903 and died in March 2005. On the picture, he was 99 years and one month old!

In 1543, Lord Bertrand Bailleul buys the estates surrounding the village of Angerville (Normandie) and adds his patronymic to this toponym. It became Angerville-Bailleul. Bertrand is reported as being issued from one of the oldest families of Normandy.

He built the family castle in Renaissance style. However, some historians have these Bailleul not originated from Flanders! They may have had as ancestor François “de Neuville” and taken over the name of their Lordship, which was “Bailleul” ! (See under 1596).

About 1545, birth of Thomas II Balliou, I identify him as Thomas II. He was the father, among others, of Abigail Balliou (*ab 1600 + after 1668 in Plymouth, Mass. USA) x Deacon John Dunham in Leyden on 22 October 1622. See also under... ca. 1595).

In 1548, David Baillie, of Dunain, Shuglie and Glen-Urquhart was Constable of the Castle of Inverness. He married Margaret, daughter of Rose, of Kilravock. He died in 1558.

About 1550, in the archives of Bruchmühlbach-Miesau (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany), there is a mention saying that the Belz of Landsthul (Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany) originated from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Some members of the Bels family may have settled there due to the religious unrests, coming either from Flanders or from Limburg!

The patronymic Bels became in German, which is a language ruder: Pels, Belz or Pelz.

Other Belz in Germany appeared during the survey. There is mention of a Dynast Roland Belz (*1950+2011) x2 Irmgard N., who acquired the Castle Frankenberg, in 2008, for about 10 million euros and who renovated it completely. The mayor of Weigenheim, Reinhard Kloha, welcomed the new Sire Roland Belz, with Bread and Salt, according to an old tradition.

The castle Frankenberg was bought from the Bon Carl von Lerchenfeld, nephew from Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg. The castle first stone was deposited in 1254. The brothers von Hutten started to build the new castle in 1526. The castle was resold in 2012, after the death of Roland.

This castle seems to have a bad reputation, it went in the course of its history, to no less than eleven families: von Nürnberg, von Seinsheim, von Hohenlohe, Bömische Krone, von Seckendorff, von Hessberg, von Absberg, von Hutten, von Pöllnitz, von Lerchenfeld und Belz. The Dynast Roland Belz (also Pelz) used to live, since 1934, in his Castle of Kühlenfels. The castle is situated some 50km south of Würzburg (Germany).

The Castle of Bailleul, in Angerville-Bailleul (Normandy).

Built in 1543, by Bertrand Bailleul (Balliol), on lands inherited from his family.

Ca. 1550, a Bishop Bele is clerk of the Council under Edward VI of England (Bell Roots).

In 1556, there is mention of the death of a Bishop John Bele, of Worcester (Bell Roots).

About 1560, Jacques Ist of Bailleul who saw, due to the religious instabilities in the Low Countries all his possessions confiscated, withdrew from Flanders to Burgundy. He returned to Bruges, but the confiscation was not revoked. He died in Sep. 1566. We can read in his state of goods, fiefs, heritages, rents, houses, trees, and other profits that he paid an annual rent to the Reverend Pierre de Vriendt, priest, and canon at Thourout (Torhout, Flanders), for the performance in the parish church of Thourout of an anniversary service in memory of his ancestors, with distribution of bread to the poor.

About 1562, in Wicres, Flanders, is born N. Balliou x Unkn (Abt. 1585, in Wicres) and had children. One of them was Thomas (the first), also called Bilyeu. The Baillou are said to be heirs of the Balliol of Scotland.

According to some historians, the Baillou agnatic genealogy starts with King John II Balliol, and goes on via his second son Henry Balliol (brother of later King Edouard Balliol).

The Castle of Frankenberg is situated some 8km south of Pottenstein

and 70km south of the city of Bamberg (Germany). It was rebuilt in 1526.

The castle was only shortly the property of Roland Belz who died a few years after its acquisition.

Please note the patronymic modifications, in time and space, encountered in the old documents became, on the new continent, even more than in Flanders! Balliol became Baillou, Balliou, Ballou, Balles, Billiou, Bilyeu. Ballow may also be the result of such modifications.

In 1563, Jean de Bailleul, Feudal Lord of Renouard, is mentioned as one of the defenders of the castle of Caen (Normandy).

In 1566, Hector de Bailleul was Lord of Eecke (Oostover) and Steenvoorde. He did not join the Calvinist movement and remained in possession of his estates. However, his son, Jacques was inclined to the new religion.

In 1566, Robert de Bailleul took part in the disturbances caused by the Calvinists at Ypres.

In 1568, the Duke of Alva pronounced sentence of perpetual banishment with confiscation against Robert of Bailleul, Lord of Schoonwalle (fs. Pierre V, of Bailleul x Philippotte de la Bricque, Lord of Eecke and brother of Hector of Bailleul), for having gone, with accomplices, from house to house to gain people to the new religion.  Robert of Bailleul will be executed in September 1568.

In 1568, Nicolas II de Bailleul (x Catherine Balue) gives homage to the King for the fiefs of Donjon and of Villemesnil.

In 1569, Jean van Belle, lawyer and district Attorney in the Sovereign Council of Brabant, x Claire de Jonghe.

In 1569, Peeter van Bell, is mentioned in: “De Schutters en Ambachtslieden van Diest”.

Toward 1570 (see picture), the Bels family made important grants to the church St. Barthélémy of Mouscron (Flanders). There is, in this church, a tombstone (epitaph) of our Lineage discovered on Friday 17 September 1956, during the displacement of the Dean's very old confessional. This tombstone is sealed in alleviates under the window of the facade of the false north transept, called “Chapelle Notre Dame du Rosaire” and more precisely under the stained-glass window representing the miracle of the Child of Jean Descamps (1527).

Follows here the text of the tombstone:

“…C´est ici la chapelle et sépulture De la famille de Bels, où gisent Le Sr Michel, Fs Sr François, et Damoiselle Clare de Croonenbuerg sa femme, Fa d´Estienne, Escuier, vivant Gavernier de Cambray et Cambresis, Les Srs Charles, Michel, Ferdinand Philippe et Marie-Louise de Bels Leurs enfants damoiselle Anthonette Clare de Bels, Fa Sr Josse François, Escuier, Grand Bailly de la ville de Vervy, et de dame Anthonette Sabena Vuystaert, heritiere unicque de Ladite Famile, Espouse de Jean Baptiste François Lievens, Licencie es loix, Sr de Clorbuys, mort le 10 Juillet 1712, Ensemble Arnould et Leopold Lievens leurs enfans. Requiescant in pace, amen…”. Source: Coulon. P. 217.

As the text, on the tombstone, is hard to read, I proposed our Dynastic Knight Order would pay a professional to render the letters more readable. Of course, I first needed the authorisation of the „Fabrique d´Eglise”(*). To this end, I wrote a letter, dated 31 August 2002, to the “Paroisse St-Barthélemy, in Mouscron” (B). The answer came on October 2002. The terms were:

“...Nous avons bien reçu votre lettre au sujet de la Dalle funéraire de la famille Bels. Les responsables de la Fabrique d´Eglise ont examiné avec attention la dalle funéraire et ont constaté que les inscriptions sont parfaitement lisibles. Apres concertations, nous estimons qu’il n´est pas nécessaire de procéder aux „retouches“ dont vous parlez...“.

The tombstone of the Bels (on the wall) comes from the chapel of the old cemetery. It has been placed in the church in recognition of the Bels family's liberalities in favour of the church of Mouscron. See 1570.

“...We well received your letter concerning the Tombstone of the Bels Family. The people responsible for the Fabrique d´Eglise carefully examined the Tombstone and have found the inscriptions perfectly (sic) readable. After consultation, we think it is not necessary to proceed with the touching up you are speaking about...“.  Signed: Daniel Procureur, Curé-Doyen (Priest-Dean).

(*) Usualy, the “Fabrique d´Eglise” is an assembly composed by the mayor, the Priest and 9 parishioners. They are charged with the administration of the common goods of the parish community.

Now, look at the Tombstone picture and decide for yourself if the text is really “perfectly readable” !

Born in 1570, in Marcq-en-Bareul (Flanders), is Jean de Bailleul who married Antoinette Six. Jean was fs. of Beltremieu. He is reported as “Censier” what means, according to the Dictionnaire du Moyen Français (1330-1500), “…the one that detains an authority to collect impositions, in return for loyalties…”.

Born in 1571, in Wakken (West-Vlaanderen), is Willemina Bels. Source: Parochieregisters-Doopakten. Blz. 14.

In 1571, Esquire Robert Bell is elected English Speaker of House of Commons and becomes in 1577, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. He is also a Knight, a Speaker, a Judge, a Serjeant (sic) of Law (Bell Roots).

The Duke Henri Ist de Montmorency, Marechal of France, is reported as Grand Master of the Order of the Temple from Jerusalem between anno 1574 and 1615. Remember the link with the Balliol described at “About 1525”.

Henri II de Montmorency (* April 30, 1595 at Chantilly Castle; † October 30, 1632 at Toulouse) was Duke of Montmorency and held the posts of Grand Admiral of France, Marshal of France, Viceroy of New France, and Governor of Languedoc. With him the direct line of the noble family Montmorency became extinct

About 1575, there is a Charles Bels, probably from Hazebrouck (Flanders) x Jacquemine Vrammout. He is the ancestor of the Bels from Hazebrouck.

In 1578, a certain Jean Grandin was ennobled and permitted to take the name of Bailleul! ? His son, Jean “du” Bailleul, had a son called Julien “du” Bailleul. This Julien had also a son called, Julien “du” Bailleul, who was, in 1635, “des Bailleuls” of the parish of St, Cir (Unknown). They have nothing to do with the Lineage of the Balliol (Belle).

Of course, we do not know how this patronymic will evolve in the future. Will it also mutate from “du Bailleul” to “de Bailleul” ? In that case, we will have a third identification problem. How to know, when reported in texts, from which Balliols the texts are refering to ? To the real ancient Balliol family (from Belle), to the heirs of Arnoldus Grameninis who took over, in 960, the toponym “Balliol” (Belle), or to the heirs of this newcomer, Jean Grandin?

In 1580, first encounter with the variant Belis, in Flanders.

In 1580, Maximilien de Bailleul fs. Antoine de Bailleul x Marguerite de Merode, becomes Baron de Lesdain. Maximilien x Jeanne Christine de Lalaing (in 1580).

In 1584, in Leyden, is born the Dutch painter David Bailly (+1657).

In 1585, Christopher Bayley x Elizabeth Berie (Barry, Berry). Christopher was born ca. 1560 in York Shire (probably West Riding portion), England, and died in 1620.

In 1585, forty Bells of Dumfries participated at the Siege of Stirling (James VI falls) (Bell Roots).

In 1586, the Bells are against the Grahams, in Border Reiver skirmishes. Each clan filed counter lawsuits (Bell Roots).

In 1586, Birth year of Nicolas III Bailleul (+1654) x in 1608 Lady Louise de Fortia, fa. of Bernard, Lord of du Plessis-Fromentières and of Cléreau and in 1621, Elisabeth-Marie Mallier, fa. of Claude, Lord of Houssay. She was dowager of Château-Gonthier from 1652-1656. Nicolas III was a magistrate, diplomat, administrator, and French minister of the first half of the XVIIth century. He was a Knight Counsellor of the King in his state council, President in his Parliament, Minister of Finances and Chancellor of the Queen.

Nicolas III was the grandson of Nicolas Ist Bailleul, ennobled in 1512 and son of Nicolas II Bailleul (+1610) who rendered services to the King Henry IV. Nicolas II was the eldest son of Charles Bailleul who was Grand Louvetier de France. In “La Maison de France”, the Grand Louvetier was the Office holder responsible for the organisation of the hunting on wolves and wild boars. This function was already in use as soon as the year 1308.

In 1587, the list of unruly clans in the West Marches, proves that the name Bell was common on the Scottish Border for centuries.

In 1587 is born Alexander Bailie, of Innishargie and Ringdufferin. He died in 1682. He had John, Edward of Ringdufferin, Margaret and Jane.

In 1590, Godfrey Bailey (fs. Christopher Bayley x Elisabeth) is born. Spouse N***. He lived in Bradford, West Riding York Shire. Children: Ann, John, James (of Rowley, Massachusettes), Richard (of Rowley), Mary, William and Martha. James and Richard Bailey of Rowley were the founders of two of the four major Bailey family groups in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The others being "John Bayley of Salisbury", in Massachusettes and Thomas Bailey of Weymouth, MA. Richard was part owner of what is believed to be the first cloth mill, in New England.

The connection of Christopher Bayley and Godfrey Bailey to James and Richard Bailey of Rowley is not proven but only surmised given that they have been proved to be brothers and that person from Yorkshire settled Rowley. Some serious Genealogy researchers including Mr Chris Bailey and a Richard of Rowley researcher who holds a master’s degree in Genealogy, feel that both James and Richard would have named sons after their father and grandfather. Richard had only one child, Joseph before his death and the sons of James of Rowley were John, Jonathan, and James Jr. It was customary to name a first-born son after the paternal grandfather, the first-born daughter after the maternal grandmother.

In 1593, Jock Bell of Albie in a fight against Lord Maxwell. Both are killed in Dryfe Sands Battle (Bell Roots).

In 1595, first encounter with the variant Beelens in Flanders.

About 1595, in Labasse (Flanders) some 27km from Belle and 7km south of Wicres, is born Thomas I^st Billiou (also Bilyeu), he died in 1650. He was fs. of N. Balliou x Unkn and married before anno 1632, Aimée N… with whom he had Pierre I^st Billiou (also Bilyeu).

As seen earlier (ca. 1545) there was another Thomas Balliou, born around 1545. This Thomas settled in Leyden (zuid Holland, the Netherlands), decennia before Pierre Ist Billiou, fs. of Thomas Ist Billiou. There were thus two Thomas Balliou/Billiou at about the same time: Both were from Flanders, both immigrated to Holland, both lived in Leyden, both immigrated to the USA and both settled in the State of Massachusetts. They must belong to the same family.

There is even more: Far away, cousins, the Baillies, settled also in the State of Massachusetts at about the same time. So were, after centuries, “cousin’s” reunited across the Atlantic Ocean! These people were all members of the Belle-Balliol Dynasty of Flanders, wherever they lived before their journey to the USA. The main driving power behind their immigration was the religious intolerance in Europe.

In 1596, Maximilien de Bailleul is knighted. He is Sire de St. Martin and will become Count of Bailleul in 1614. Maximilien was fs. from Antoine de Bailleul (*1550), Baron de Lesdain x Marguerite de Mérode. Antoine being himself fs. of François de Bailleul (+1562), Lord of St. Martin and of Aleyde (Madeleine) van Culemborg (Gelderland, The Netherlands).

François was fs. of Gaspard II de Culemborg x Jeanne de Bourgogne (*1511-+1455 in Antwerpen, Belgium but buried in Culemborg). This Jeanne de Bourgogne was also linked to the powerful “de Bourgogne” lineage as did:

• Jeanne Ist de Bourgogne (1191-1205), Countess of Bourgogne.
• Jeanne IId de Bourgogne (1291-1330), Countess of Bourgogne and of Artois. Queen of France by her marriage with Philippe V le Long, King of France. She was fa. of Othon IV de Bourgogne x Mahaut d´Artois.
• Jeanne de Bourgogne (1293-1349). Queen of France by her marriage to Philippe IV de Valois, King of France. She was fa. of Robert II de Bourgogne, Duke de Bourgogne.
• Jeanne III de Bourgogne (1308-1347). She was fa. of Philippe V le Long x Jeanne II de Bourgogne. Became Duchess of Bourgogne by her marriage to Eudes IV de Bourgogne.

Jeanne´s father was Antoine de Bourgogne (1421-1504). He was known as: ”Le Bâtard de Bourgogne” or “Le grand bâtard”. He was the second natural son of Philipp III. Duke de Bourgogne and one of his mistresses, Jeanne de Presle! Antoine was Seigneur (Count) of La Roche en Ardennes, de Guines, de Grandpré, de Tournehem (Calais), de Beveren, de Vlissingen de Crevecoeur, de Sainte-Menehould and Knight of the Golden Fleece. Antoine married Jeanne Bonne Marie de la Viefville, Viscountess d´Aire and Lady of Viefville (abt. 1430-1500).

Another genealogy records Antoine de Bailleul as a fs. of François “de Noyelles” (+1562), Viscount de Calonne-Ricouart ? This François was the same person as the François de Bailleul mentioned here above, also fs. of Ghislain II de Noyelles. His grandfather was Ghislain I de Noyelles x Isabeau de Lichtervelde.

The “de Noyelles” family already interacted with the Bailleul as soon as in 1503 when Françoise de Bailleul (fa. Wallerand de Bailleul x Péronne de Noyelles) x Adrien de Mailly (Lord of Raversberg). See under « in 1503 ».

Maximilien de Bailleul had a daughter called Marie-Claude (in other sources Marie Madeleine) de Bailleul (1610-1639) who married Philippe François de Croÿ-Solre (1609-1650), Count de Solre-le-Château, Viscount de Langle and Baron (Seigneur) de Tourcoing (Turconium in Latin and Tourcoing in French). Philippe, also Governor and Grand-Bailli of Tournai, was f. of Philippe de Croÿ-Chimay (+1612) x Guillemette de Coucy (1567-1630).

Tourcoing is a place, situated some 6km from Mouscron (Moeskroen, in Flemish), that is known since anno 1080 due to a document written by Saswalus de Turconium, relative to a donation to the Abbey of Harelbecque (Harelbeeke, in Flemish), some 5km north of Kortrijk, in Flanders.

PART 21

Maximilien de Bailleul had also another daughter, Marie Marguerite de Bailleul (1612-1650), Lady de Lesdaing x (23 July 1630) Ambroise de Hornes (1609-1656), Count de Hornes et de Baucignies, Baron de Boxtel, Lord d´Issche et de Boxtel, Governor de Namur et de l´Artois.

The “de Croÿ” was a Flemish family of the XIIth century, in Picardy. At that time, they were small local Seigneurs, without influence or money. However, the situation changed with Antoine the first (1385-1475).

So was Tourcoing a Fief in the ship of Lille (in French, Rijssel in Flemish) that belonged also to the County of Flanders. The Fief went from the Flemish barons, the Count of Aalst to the Counts de Guines who held it until anno 1294, when it was sold to the Lords de Mortagne.

Was the buyer Guillaume de Mortagne? The one who was recorded 6 years earlier, together with the Marshal of Flanders, Sohier Ist or II of Balliol, the Count of Nevers (later Count of Flanders), and three other lords: de Gaevre, de Ghistele, Nicole de Condé, as witness of the Marriage contracted between Enguerran, Lord of Coucy and Jeanne of Flanders, fa. of the Count of Flanders?

Thanks to such documents, we clearly see how some members of the Flemish medieval nobility over flew centuries, side by side. They were never far away from each other and were practically all involved in everything important that happened in those times. Beeing it in Flanders, France, England, or Scotland.

In 1597, James Bell of Glasgow is member of the Scots Parliament (also 1612,1643) (Bell Roots).

In 1598, first encounter with the variant “Beileis” in Flanders.

About 1598, Jacques II of Bailleul, fs. of Hector, took first refuge to France where King Henry IV, had revoked, in 1591, the sanguinary edicts of 1585 and 1588 and revived the ancient edicts of toleration towards the Huguenots. In 1598, he published the Edict of Nantes. The ship of Eecke, being at that time in Flanders, was therefore subject to Philip II, King of Spain and suffered the Spanish Inquisition that started in 1566 and went on uninterruptedly until 1609.

Jacques II, together with Antoine de Bailleul, will later leave France for England where they are known as the “Bayley”. Thus, the Bayley of England originated from Flanders and belongs to the Lineage of the Balliol of Flanders. (See also about 1654).

French Protestants had been driven from their homes. Some 2.000.000 Huguenots lived in France by 1562. They were concentrated in the southern and western parts of France. In 1598, the Edict of Nantes had granted them liberty of conscience and the right to worship in public but, in 1685, a new Edict of Fontainebleau, enacted by King Louis XIV of France, ended any legal recognition of Protestantism in France and, as the Muslims did, forced the Huguenots to convert, to flee or to be killed. The persecutions finally stopped by a new Edict of Versailles by Louis XVI, in 1787. Two years later, Protestants gained equal rights as citizens by the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

In 1599, Beaupré Bell is appointed Constable of the Tower of London (Bell Roots).

In 1602, Antoine de Bailleul, brother of Jacques II de Bailleul (see 1598) and fs. of Hector (see 1566) also disappears from Flanders for France and subsequently for England.

In 1602, A Robert Bell is co-founder (with 23 others) of the East India CP^oP. Ship builder (Bell Roots).

In 1604, Nov 13, the Viscount Cranbourne awarded Richard Bell, English West March Warden Clerk, for Services to the Crown. Robert’s motto placed under his blazon is: “Quod Adsumus Meliore Est”.

In 1604, the estates of Eecke and Steenvoorde were sold to don Pedro de Valencia (x Marie de Bailleul), now Lord of Ecke and first consul of Spain in Bruges.

In 1608 the first known Bell, Henry, arrives in Virginia (USA) (Bell Roots).

In 1610, Gilles de Bailleul (Branch of Normandy), Feudal Lord of Montreuil and of Ammeville, married Madeleine of Harcourt. Interesting to note is that:

• In 1280, in Flanders, Pierre de Bailleul married Blanche of Harcourt.
• In 1287, Yves de Bailleul, (Norman Branch), Feudal Lord of Ammeville and of Quatre-Faverils married Marguerite of Harcourt.
• In 1287, Jean of Balliol, (Norman Branch), Lord of Bailleul-sur-Eaulne, Baron d´Escotigny and of Bosc-Geffroy, married Jeanne of Harcourt.
• In 1632, in Flanders, Robert de Bailleul, Feudal Lord of Bailleul and of Beauvais married Charlotte of Harcourt.

The Harcourt woman must have had something special that charmed particularly the Balliol!  The Harcourt is the second oldest Lineage of France. They are preceded by the Capétiens (anno 852) and followed by the Les Rochechouart-Mortemart (anno 980).

Born in 1610, in Marcq-en-Bareul, is Gilles de Bailleul x Marguerite Lehoucq. He followed the steps of his father Jean, as Censier des Escalus (Linselles). There is a place “Escales” some 10km from Calais (Medieval Flanders), called “Kalles” in Flemish. The historian added, in brackets, the name of another place called « Linselles ». Why?

Did they want to tell us that Gilles lived in Linselles and had his official function in Escales (Escalus) ? Both places are distant from each other by 113km. The only other place in Europe called “Escalus”, with exactly the same spelling, is located in SW of France, no less than 900km from Linselles! This great distance forces it out of consideration. It is indeed totally unrealistic to be “Censier” in a place that is at such a distance from one’s residence.

In 1612, Michel de Bels (fs. of Francois de Bels x Claire de Croonenbourg) buys from Pierre Schouteten, the ship of Clorbus (Region of Mouscron, Flanders).

In 1617, Nicolas III de Bailleul (1586-1654) was the first Marquis de Château-Gontier, on order of King Louis XIII. Nicolas III, who added the nobiliary particle “de” to his name, is recorded as:

“…Nicolas de Bailleul Knight, Baron of Chasteaugontier, Lord of Vattetot sur la Mer, Soisy, Estiolles and le Tremblay sur Seine, Counsellor of the King in his Private and State Councils, President in the Kings Parliament court in Paris, Chancellor of the Queen, and Superintendent of the Finances of France.

He added to the advantage of his illustrious high birth an uncommon knowledge of liberal sciences even of Jurisprudence, of History and of Politic, to serve with dignity our Kings and the people as well as the big Offices (duties, responsibilities) of the State and as he was capable of them all he served with integrity and reputation those (Offices) of Counsellor in the Parliament, of Master of the Request of the Hostel (sic), of President in the court of Parliament in Paris, of Chancellor of the Queen, of Superintendent of the Finances of France and of State Minister...”. Source: Pierre Daret (1610-1675).

In 1617, “...The first authentic record of the Bayless, or Bayles, family was the appearance of a refugee named Bayles at Colchester, England. He is said to have come from the Low Countries [Flanders] ; family tradition says that he was a Huguenot and migrated from northern France to escape the death, which overtook so many thousands of Huguenots at the massacre of St. Bartholomew on August 24, 1572. - ...The earliest documented ancestor is John Bayles (or Bayley, or Baylie), born in 1617 in the Parish of St. Peters of Mancrofts in Norwich, Norfolk, England. Source: Howard Green Bayless. See also in 1635, 1682 and 1683.

John Bayles sailed from London to America on June 10, 1635, aboard the "Truelove". He married Rebecca Stillwell in 1641, fathered the American Bayless line of descent and died on 18 October 1682. He left an unsigned Will (read under “in 1682”) in which he names his wife, Rebecca, who was later killed by Indians, and his children.. “John Bayles was a Justice of the Peace, fence inspector, a delegate to the Governor and tax assessor.”.  Source: Thomas Newkirk.

In 1619, Sir Robert Bell lends money to Prince Charles Ist (Bell Roots).

About 1620, Dorothy Bell (Dame Hobart) is ancestor of the Earls of Buckingham (Bell Roots).

In 1622 is born Louis-Dominique de Bailleul, Marquis of Château-Gonthier, Lord of Soisy, of Vatelot, d´Estiolles, President of the Parliament in Paris x Marie de Rageois (in 1647) fa. Claude, Lord of Bretonvillers. He was son of Nicolas III Bailleul (see in 1586). The Castle and estates went over to his wife by the transaction of December 3rd, 1675. She kept the estates until her dead ca.1680. On July 4th, 1656, Louis-Dominique recovered the estates and the Castle, which were elevated to Marquisate. He quitted, in 1689, his office of president of the Parliament of France in favour of his son. He retired in the Abbey of St. Victor where he died in July 1701.

In 1623 is born John Bailie of Innishargie, the eldest son of Alexander Bailie of Innishargie and Ringdufferin. He married Catherine Cary, and died in 1687, leaving with other issue, an eldest son called James Bailie, of Innishargie House.

In 1625, first encounter with the variant Billis, in Flanders.

In 1625, Pierre I^st Billiou (also Bilyeu), fs. Thomas Ist Billiou, is born in Wicres, Flanders, some 27km southeast of the city of Belle (Bailleul). Persecuted as French speaking (Walloon) Huguenot, Pierre Ist left Flanders for Zuid Holland. He married Aimée N. in the so-called “Walloon church” (church of the Walloons, the French speaking people) on 20 Apr 1649, in Leyden, to Françoise Du Bois (*17 Jul 1632 in Reims, Marne, France). He had a son called Isaac Balliou (also Billiou and Bilyeu).

In 1625, the Bells were associated with the Skinners Hall CP^oP, London, makers of fine clothing for the exalted rank.

Ca. 1625. Frances Bell (Lady Dering) ancestor of many peers; Frances II Bell (Lady Finch) was the mother of the Earl of Winchilsea and Grandmother of the Earl of Nottingham; also 9x`s great-grandmother of Queen Elisabeth (Bell Roots).

From 1625-30, Philip II Bell is mentioned as Captain and Governor of Bermuda. He was the follower of the Earl of Warwick. (Bell Roots).

About 1628, another William Bell, of Blackethouse, died. Linked to the William Bell, in 1426, he was the Chief of Surname and is believed to have used the family’s main blazon which was: “Azure, three bells, the crest, a hand holding a dagger, paleways proper”. The motto was: "I bear the Bell". William's blazon is identical to the one of Ailuuardus Bell (anno 1086) that is in turn identical to the one of the Belle (de-van) and Bels of Flanders.

On 30 July 1630, in Mons (County of Hainaut, some 47km east of old Flanders oriental border), Lady Marie-Marguerite de Bailleul x Ambroise de Hornes, Count of Baucignies, Governor of Namur and Artois (+ Brussels 26 Sept 1656).

Ambroise was the fourth Grandson of Philippe de Horne, Lord of Gaesbeek (Gaasbeek in Flemish, County of Jette, some 20km of Flanders oriental border) (+August 1488). Marguerite was fa. of Maximilien, Knight and Count of Bailleul x Christine de Lalaing. Christine was the second fa. of Philippe de Lalaing, Count of Lalaing (*1545 +1582) x in 1567 to Marguerite de Ligne, fa. of Jean de Ligne, Count of Aremberg. Issue linked to the de Croÿ and the d´Ursel. The first daughter of Philippe de Lalaing, Lady Marguerite de Lalaing (*1574), x Count Floris de Berlaymont. Issue linked to the d´Egmont, de Croÿ, d´Aremberg. All were, or are still, Princely families in Belgium.

From 1630-39, Philip II Bell is mentioned as Captain and Governor of Providence Island, near Venezuela (Bell Roots).

In 1631, a certain Antoine de Bels is mentioned in Wervick (Flanders). In 1645, we find another Anthonis fs. François, who had, in 1691, two daughters Suzanne and Maiceken de Bels and probably Josse-Frans de Bels in 1693.

In 1631, is born William Ball (Balle. 1631-1690). He was an English astronomer and one of the founding Fellows of the Royal Society. He was the eldest son of Sir Peter Ball x Anne Cooke, fa. William Cooke.

In 1632, Robert de Bailleul, Feudal Lord of Bailleul and of Beauvais (Flanders) married Charlotte of Harcourt. (See also in 1610 and 1287).

In 1633, first encounter with the variant Baels. That year Catherine Baels married Jacques Tuerloot. Note that “Baels” is the phonetic transcription of “Bels” in a dialect of a certain area of Flanders (Kortrijk). There where the “De mensen van Belleghem” become phonetically “De maensen van Baelleghaem”, the “Bels” became “Baels”.

Almost all the variants of the patronymic “Bels” were created by the phonetic transcription of the way to speak Dutch in certain areas of Flanders. In Limburg, where the “De koeien melken in de bergen” become “De koeien melleken in de beregen”, the “Bels” became “Belles” or “Bellis”. In Germany, the patronymic was adapted to the more rudeness of the Germanic language and became “Belz” and “Pelz”. In Poland, it became “Belski”, and so on!

About 1634, is born Jacques Ist Bailly, French miniaturist (+1679, Paris).

In 1635, three brothers, William, John, and Samuel Bayles came from England to America together on an English ship named "Truelove".

In 1636, George Baillie of St. John’s Kirk (a branch of the Lamington Ballie’s - Baillie’s) buys the lands of Jerviswood (Lanark, Scotland) and Lanarkshire.

In 1636, William Bell Family immigrates to Bermuda (Bell Roots).

From 1640-1648, George and Robert Bell of Linlithgow are members of Scottish Parliament (Bell Roots).

In 1643, the same George Baillie, as in 1636, buys the estates of Mellerstain (East of Melrose) and Berwickshire (Berwick-upon-Tweed). The Baillie’s were strong Protestant supporters.

In 1643, Nicolas III de Bailleul (see in 1586) engaged himself to take over the barony of the Château-Gonthier from the heirs of the Princess de Conti, in counterpart of a loan of 500.000 “livres”. The acquisition of the castle became definitive on January 6 1647.

Between 1643 and 1647, Nicolas III de Bailleul (from Angerville-Bailleul) was the Superintendent of Finances of the King of France, Louis XIII, at the time of the regency of Anne d´Autriche. Nicolas was also Ambassador in Savoy. The Marquis Nicolas Fouquet (1615-1680) occupied the same function of Superintendent of Finances, six years later (1653), under King Louis XIV. This is an extremely important piece of information, supporting the theories of the Bels-Belle-Balliol lineage's links with the Rennes-le-Château affair. These will be analysed later in this Essay and in greater depth in Volume II.

In 1647, Pierre Bayle (+1706) is born in Carla (South of France), today called Carla-Bayle. Mr Bayle, who spoke Latin and Greek, wrote several books and an extraordinary dictionary called: « Dictionnaire historique et critique ». This dictionary “…constitutes the supreme achievement of one the most eminent Man of Letters of the XVIIth century...”.

The “Freie Universität Berlin” (Free University of Berlin) wrote:

“...Pierre Bayle became one of the most significant heads of the European scholar's republic. He stood intensive in written and personal contact with scientists of all disciplines in France, England, Holland, and Germany...”.

Bayle ranked also among the greatest philosophers, the most known man of letters and the most universally admired of his century. His main work had an enormous European success and constituted a very rich source of inspiration for philosophers of the age of the Enlightenment. It included some 20 volumes and more than 1600 letters, plenty of them unpublished. Prof. Pierre Bayle became a famous professor at the Puylaurens Academy, between 1675 and 1681.

 Goethe wrote about Pierre Bayle: “…however, I was lost into an even bigger labyrinth as I found Bayle in my father's library…” (Goethe, Dichtung und Wahrheit, II, 6).

As said before, Pierre Bayle was born in the Ariège (South of France), which is in the Pyrenean Mountains. His village is less than 100km from… Rennes-le-Château and other places in the area that are in relation with our Dynasty such as Belle (Villardebelle)-(Belcastel-et-Buc), Baille (Baillessats), Belle (Bayle) (Ax-les-Thermes), Bels (Castel Bel i el Vilar) and more up north with the Bels (Ambels-Albi). See development at chapter “The Bels from Albi and Ambels”.

The Puylaurens Academy, where he had one of his Academic Chair, is situated at equidistance of Toulouse, Carcassonne, and Albi... The Cathars and Reformists wasps’ nest per excellence! Strange coincidences that hit our Dynasts across the Centuries!

Pierre had some other Academic Chairs such as the one in the “Ecole Illustre” (professorship of philosophy and history although he was a Theologian) in Rotterdam (Netherlands).

It is extremely interesting to note that the blazon of the village of Carla-Bayle is exactly the same as the one of… Flanders: « d´or à un lion rampant de sable” but with other colours: “de gueules à un lion rampant d’or” and is the same as the primitive Lion of Scotland: “d'or au lion rampant de gueules” taken by William Ist, King of Scotland in anno 1165. Pure coincidences?

From 1650 until circa 1710, many Scots move to Northern Ireland. A James Bell is reported being Surgeon General of Ireland (Bell Roots).

In 1650, arrived in Virginia, William Ball (1615-1680), the first member of the Ball family to come to America. His wife Hannah Atherold (+1694), two of their four children and several servants were brought over later. William was George Washington’s great-grandfather. Their children were Richard Ball (+ in Maryland, 1677), William Ball (II) of Virginia, Hannah Ball x Colonel David Fox, and Joseph Ball (1649-1711). William Ball was fs. of William Ball of Lincoln's Inn, England, who was one of four attorneys in the Office of Pleas and Exchequer.

William (1645-1680) served as a major in the militia of Lancaster County, Virginia, and as a member of the House of Burgesses, had dealings with John Washington, George Washington's paternal great-grandfather.

“…His son, Joseph Ball (1649-1711) was born in England and came to Virginia sometime before his father's death, making his home at a plantation called Epping Forest. He served as a justice of the county court, a vestryman for his church parish, as a Burgess (in 1698, 1700, and 1702), and as a lieutenant colonel in the county militia. Ball was married twice. From his first marriage to Elizabeth Rogers (or Romney), who died by the early 1700's, he had five children: Anne Ball (later the wife of Colonel Edwin Conway), Elizabeth Ball (later the wife of the Reverend Joseph Carnegie), Esther or Easter Ball (later the wife of Rawleigh Chinn), Hannah Ball (later the wife of Rawleigh Travers, II, and afterwards the wife of Simon Pearson), and Joseph Ball (died 1760)…”. Source: Ball Family at Mountvermon.

In 1650, Damoiselle Claire of Croonenbourg wrote in "Oratio pro domo" that her husband, François de Bels, Lord of Gonthière, thwarted a threat of the Duke of Albe against the people of Ghent (Flanders).

"...ce qui fut empesché par l'extrême soin et travail de feu François de Bels, Sei­gneur de Gonthière... par l'entremise du Seigneur Michel Hayns, son parent, con­seiller de Flandre, favory du prince d'Orange, depuis Monseigneur de Mouscron, qui mourut en prison pour la foy et service de son prince, après une fidélité ines­branlable et fermeté dans le parti du Roy... Et, comme il estoit parent du prince d'Orange, il fut fortement sollicité pour se joindre à lui pour fortifier les lignes…“.

According to the text, François de Bels is parent to the Prince William II of Orange (+1642) (x Mary, fa. of Charles Ist of England) whose son, William III will become, after 1689, William III King of England. If this sentence does not refer to him but to Michel Hayns, the outcome remains exactly the same since François is parent to Michel who in turn is parent to the Prince William Ist of Orange.

The Orange-Nassau is a French Dynasty. According to the saga, the city of Orange (Vaucluse, South of France department) is taken, about the year 800, by a certain Wilhelm (Guilhelm d'Orange) who took the name of the city as patronymic, as did our Lineage in Belle (Balliol).

PART 22

After the Jews helped the Franks to get rid of the Moors (by opening, in 759, the city´s doors of Narbonne), the new King of France, Pepin of Herstal, created in 768, an independent Jewish kingdom in Septimania, and installed Theodoric (Thierry) as king of the Jews. Theodoric was the father of Guillem de Gellone, the Count of Barcelona, of Toulouse, of Auvergne and of Razes (the area that encompassed Rennes-le-Château).

“…In the ninth century, the bloodline of Guillem de Gellone had culminated in the first dukes of Aquitaine. It also became aligned with the ducal house of Brittany. And in the tenth century, a certain Hughes de Plantard, nicknamed “Long Nose” and a lineal descendant of both Dagobert and Guillem de Gellone, became the father of Eustache, the first Count of Boulogne. Eustache´s grandson was Godefroid of Bouillon, Duke of Lorraine…”. Source: Lincoln, Baigent and Leigh.

Theodoric was of Merovingian descent, a Jew from the “seed of the royal house of David”. He is said to have been nicknamed “Hook-Nose”, the Jewish nose, and had on his blazon, the Lion of Judah, the symbol of the Hebrew tribe to which the House of David, and subsequently Jesus, belonged.

Wilhelm (Guilhem) of Orange was a big vassal of the emperor Karoloman and is seen as the ancestors of the counts and princes of Orange. This Guillaume d´Orange is said to have been the same person as Guilhem de Toulouse, Wilhelm of Aquitaine and Saint-Guilhem. Much later, in anno 1163, the Emperor Friedrich I^st of Barbarossa made the county become a principality.

Probably around 1650, is born Nicolas-Louis de Bailleul (+1714). Marquis of Château-Gonthier. President to the Parliament in Paris. He married 1x Louise, fa. Louis Girard (+1688), Lord of Cour-des-Bois and 2x Charlotte fa. Firmin du Fresne, Secretary to the King. According to the custom of Anjou, the estates of Château-Gonthier were, after the death of Marie le Rageois (?), shared between her sons and daughters, with “réserve du préciput” (*) of the eldest. Source: L. Maître, 1870.

(*) Advantage given, above others, by the testator or by the Law to one of the co-heirs. The eldest received by preciput and before any sharing, the Main House with the “vol du chapon”. The term “Vol du chapon” describes certain lands, which surrounded the castle.

In 1651, death of Charles de Bailleul, Lord of Bailleul, d’Anserville et de Croixmare. (fs. de Charles et de Marie Martel de Montpinson). He was Maréchal de camp (Field Marshal).

In 1653 is born James Bailie, of Innishargie House who married Jane, daughter. of Sir Francis Annesley, of Castle Willan, co Down. He died in 1710, leaving with other issue, a son called John Bailie, of Innishargie House.

About 1654, a colony of French Protestant refugees settled at Thorney Abbey, in Cambridgeshire. Among them were four well-to-do gentlemen, Jacques, Abraham, Philippe and Jean de Bailleul who were gentlemen with money!

Jacques and Abraham appear as sponsors in the baptismal register of Thorney. Philippe de Bailleul appears the following month and Jean, a few years later. No further trace is to be found of Jacques.

These de Bailleul(s) soon acquired the name of Bayley, though the original names were always retained in the register. We can be sure that these Bailleuls were from Flanders because:

“...The disappearance of the de Bailleul of Eecke under the remarkable circumstances which we have narrated and the appearance at Thorney of the Huguenot family of that name, taken in connection with the fact that no other family of the name can be found to which the refugees could have belonged, and with other facts, which are stated elsewhere (the Bayleys of Willow Hall) justify the conclusion that the Bailleuls of Eecke (Flanders) survive in the family of Bayley...”. Source: The Bailleuls of Flanders by F. Bayley. Anno 1881.

Francis Bayley, the historian who wrote, in 1886, 'The Bailleuls of Flanders', is or far Flemish origin. His surname is also a variant of the surname Bailleul. Francis´ study starts, like mine, from a simple question: Where do the Bayley from Willow Hall (near Peterborough) come from?

If he followed the same path as any other researcher, namely one that goes through the careful study of ancient texts, he had also the flexibility of mind to pay particular attention to the oral tradition as well as to patronymic and heraldic variations, and mutations (transformation).

Francis Bayley has, as an ancestor, a denominated Philippe de Bailleul. Tradition, in England, has it that his family came from France as a Protestant refugee. The family is said to have settled near Thorney (Peterborough).

The baptism registers of Thorney, from 1655 to 1727, records 75 members of the family. Their patronymics were recorded as: 19 de Bailleu (1655-1672), 11 de Bailleux (1681-1692), 7 Balieux (1681-1692), 2 de Balieux (1681), 3 Bailleux (1684-1687). 30 Bailleul (1690-1723), 1 Bayly (1710) and 2 Balieux (1720-1727). Source: The Bayleys of Willow Hall.

As the very first information that Mr Bayley obtained, during research on the origin of the Balliol of Scotland and England, mentioned that they came from Normandy (which is denied once we deepen the matter), Mr Bayley began his research in this French province.

This search that will occupy most of his life, at a time when there was no E-mail, Fax, or even the phone. At a time when there were no planes, no hydrofoils, no TGV, no cars and no Channel Tunnel!

Francis Bayley got in touch with all the Historical Societies, archivists, and other organizations that could help him. He went many times to France and met an impressive number of authorities in history and other competent people in the local history. Result Nil! There was not a single trace of a Philippe de Bailleul, in Normandy.

In desperation, our man changed his tune, and went to the country of origin of Bailleul, French Flanders. He writes:

"There was a strong probability that the refugees came from the

North-west of France, that is, from the Flemish border."

He then discovered two Philippe de Bailleul, in Flanders. Both were directly involved in the religious troubles that began in 1566.

• The first was at the time, Lord of Bailleul Cornailles. By a sentence pronounced against him in August 1568, he was banished from the lands and his property confiscated.
• The second, from the same family, was executed the same year for heresy and treason. Source: Coussemaker «Troubles in Maritime Flanders» p.40.

This was the only information Mr Bayley could find on the continent, about these Philippe de Bailleul. No more traces until the appearance of the mysterious Philippe de Bailleul, in England. We know that Philippe (+1706) and his brother Jean, were young men in 1655.

The same phenomenon happened with other Dynasts being they Bailleul, Belle, Bels, etc., such as some Bels immigrated to Eastern Belgium, to the Netherlands, to France and to East Germany. See: about 1560.

It turns out that some members of a branch of the Bailleul lineage were, first refugees from Flanders, in France (1595), before to become refugees from France... in England (1655).

A long detective work convinced our historian, Francis Bayley that the mysterious Philippe de Bailleul was the grandson of the son of Hector de Bailleul (+ before 1592), Lord of Eecke and Cassel, in Flanders. Eecke was a Castellani riding on that of Bailleul and that of Cassel.

The comparative study of the blazon, of this family, brought him the water that was missing for the mill. Isaac Bayley, Philippe's son had, for blazon, a mixture of the furniture of the blazon of the Bailleul-aux-Cornailles and of the town of Bailleul (France, Nord).

Whoever took this blazon must, therefore, know his ancestry, linking him to the lineage of the Bailleuls of Flanders! The irony of History is that the Bailleul of Flanders took the same path, a few five centuries earlier, when they travelled from Bailleul (France-Nord) to Normandy. Source: Translated from my French Version of the Essay.

On 13 May 1658, a Sir William Baillie III of Lamington fought on the side of Mary, Queen of Scots against the Regent Murray. He married Margaret, daughter of Robert, Maxwell, and left an only daughter and heiress, Margaret of Lamington who married Edward Maxwell of Dundrennan. William III might not be the son of William II because the dates do not correspond. See in 1532.

In 1659, starting with the Treaty of the Pyrenees, Ypres was the Chief town of six Castellanies composing the West side! (Bourbourg, Bergues, Cassel, Bailleul, Furnes and Ypres).

Between 1659 and 1697, several international treaties reduced by half the size of the County of Flanders to the benefit of the Kingdom of France. This lost region, situated in its southern part, is now called “l´Artois” and its northern part is called “Les Flandres Françaises” !

In 1660, Guillaume de Bailleul, Lord of Valderis, married Françoise de Royville.

In 1660, Charles II restored. Margaret Bell’s grandson, Sir Roger Le Strange, was active in the restoration (Bell Roots).

On 9 May 1661, Pierre I^st Billiou x Aimée N. emigrated with his family from Leyden to New Amsterdam (USA). Ship records tell us that he boarded in Amsterdam (the Netherlands) the St. Jean Baptist ship with his wife and four children. Their youngest child, Isaac, was born on the ship, somewhere in the Atlantic.

Pierre I^st Billiou became an important person in the Staten Island. He is the one who founded the Staten’s first town. He was appointed judicial officer of the first court, established in 28 Jan 1664, delegate to the General Assembly in Manhattan on 10 April 1664 and was in 1673 elected Sheriff and Magistrate (Schout and Schepen) during the Dutch reoccupation.

Pierre I^st Billiou who died in Richmond, NY (USA) on 6 Jan 1707 or 1708 had with Françoise had five daughters: Maria, Martha, Catherine, Françoise, and Christina and four sons, Isaac, Jacob, Peter II (Pierre) and John.

On 10 Aug 1661 is born, at sea, Isaac Balliol. He died 01 Sept 1708 in Staten Island. NY (USA). He married Ida Seabring Sueberingh (*1864 in Bergen, NJ. USA) with whom he had: Peter III (Pierre) Billiou also Bilyeu, born anno 1700 in Staten Island, Richmond. NY. Peter III married Margrita N***.

In 1661, 1662 and later in 1681-82, John Bell of Glasgow is member of the Scottish Parliament (Bell Roots).

In 1666, there was a N. Bailleul, Knight, Lord of Bellengreville, in the “généralité d'Alencon”. Nobility and the blazon are maintained. Another N. Bailleul was Lord of Canteleu, généralité of Canteleu and of Alencon.

In 1666 ends, with Philippe IV (King of Spain), the reign of the Counts of Flanders who, as we have seen, belonged to different lineages. These very powerful lords were feared and respected over all of West Europe since anno 862. Therefore, we can state that the title of “Count of Flanders” has been extinguished since 1666.

In 1667, there was a N. Bailleul, in the “généralité de Rouen” (Normandy). Election de Montevilliers. Nobility and the blazon are maintained.

In 1668, there was a N.. Bailleul, Knight, de la Régellerie, in the “généralité d'Alencon” (Normandy) who "was maintained in his nobility".

In 1669, David Baillie, of Dochfour, Easter and Wester Dochairn, married Margaret, daughter of Hugh, 8th Lovat. The Presbyterian excommunicated David as a papist on 28 May 1673.

About 1670 is born Lady Catherine de Bailleul. She was fa. from Gilles de Bailleul from Marc-en-Bareul. She married Jacques Des Tombes (*1667), à Croix.

Remember our ship of “La Croix” held by the Balliol and the Bels? Trying to locate it, I wrote:

“…A recent data analysis gives the location of a village called “La Croix” some 26km east from the County of Flanders. Was this the centre of the ship of “La Croix” ? Or was it the location called “La Croix”, an area that is 2km south of the City of Roubaix (Flanders, today in northern France) ? Roubaix is located some 5km left from Leers and Herseaux (both highlighted in blue on the Map). Wherever these ships were, one was in Flanders, right in the middle of the Seigneurie of Mouscron and the other was very close to Flanders eastern border. Both locations constitute an acceptable and a valid option...”.

The information on Lady Catherine de Bailleul´s place of wedding allows me to reconsider the location of the old ship of “La Croix” we could not find (see born ca. 1543). We know that Gilles de Bailleul is born in Marcq-en-Bareul and that his family was living there. As it was the custom, in Flander, a young couple married at the spouse’s house and village. Since we know that Gilles´ daughter married in Croix (La Croix), we may deduct that her family lived in “Croix”.

If we consider the historian’s hint “Linselles” as an indication of the living place of Gilles, it remains extremely likely that the “Croix” in question was indeed the one near Roubaix. The place called “Linselles” being only 10km away from “La Croix”.

This new information permits me to advance, with more certainty, that the ship of “La Croix”, that belonged to François de Bels, was effectively the one near Roubaix rather than the one situated some 75km eastwards.

In 1670, Messire Michel de Bels is reported to have given „also“, by his last will dated 1st October 1670, a „Table d´Autel“ to the chapel Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs.  “...Michel de Bels, dans son testament en date du Ier Octobre 1670, donna aussi un Tableau(?) d'Autel à la chapelle de Notre-Dame des sept douleurs...“.

An old text (below) specififies: one Table d´Autel to the chapel Notre-Dame and one to the (chapel) St. Barthélimi !

“…Item je veux estre basties et érigées dans ladite église de Mouscron, deux tables d'autels, une à la chapelle Notre Dame et l'autre à celle de S. Barthélemi, de la valeur-de cinquante pistoles, les deux pour la plus grande gloire de Dieu et édification des paroissiens dudit lieu…”. Source: Coulon. p.251.

This Michel de Bels also installed a Chaplain, in Mouscron, and seriously improved his situation, on conditions that he celebrates two masses a week, that visits the sick people and help dying people. This function will start as soon as Michel died and will last forever. It includes also the masses ordered by Michel’s family :

“...Item j'ordonne, légue et fonde pour un chapelain qui serat establis par mon plus proche héritier comme collateur patronatus laici la somme de cent florins par an de rente héritiere a la charge qu'icelluy chapellain sera tenu de célébrer touttes les sepmaines de l'an deux messes pour les âmes de purgatoire, en oultre, le chapelain serat tenus de visiter les malades et adsister les agonisans au secours des pasteurs et leur aggéation, laquelle fondation commencera sitost après mon trespas et continuera à perpétuite auquel chapelain pour surcrois de bénéfice et subsistence suivront et par luy se déchargeront toutes les autres fondations et messes fondées par mes ancestres et famille pour le tout estre accumulé en bénéfice par l'aucthorité de Monseigneur Révérendissime Evesque de Tournay ouvicaires généraulx; sera aussi compris la messe fondée par la famille d'Acre comme Monseigneur le Baron d'Acre l'at ordonné et fait comprendre dans ceste fondation, et les jours assignez pour décharger lesdites messes en nombre de six par chaque sepmaine seront déclaré plus amplement par l'acte formel qui serat expedié sur le subject..“. Source: Coulon, p. 296.

In 1674, François de Bailleul (fs. of Charles and Marie Martel, fa. of the Lords of Montpinson) who married Françoise Sécart, fa. of the Lords of Ausouville, is head of the nobility for the region of Caux (France).

In 1674, is born Alexis, Simon Belle. Painter (+1734 Paris).

In 1677, first encounter with the variant Bils.

Probably born around 1670, Nicolas II-Louis de Bailleul, Marquis de Château-Gonthier inherited, in survival of his father, the presidency of the Parliament on June 18, 1714. In 1737, together with his aunts and cousins (female ones), he did homage to the King for his marquisate. Later following a “Licitation”(*), the land of Chateau-Gonthier passed to his nephew Félix Aubry, Marquis de Vastan, heir of Madeleine-Louise de Bailleul, his mother, who, for this acquisition, paid 300.000 livres. Source: L. Maître.

(*) Licitation is a term defining a sell by auction between co-owners of real estates with or without admission of strangers.

In 1677, Ferdinand-Philippe de Bels, is mentioned as owner of the “ Le fief des Prés, est un fief tenu de la Seigneurie de Heule en Aelbeke”. This fief had a manor, 2 bonniers et 4 cents de terre ! Source: Coulon. §VI. P.75. This Ferdinand-Philippe de Bels is also mentioned on the tombstone of the Bels family, described at “Toward 1570”.

In 1678, Condé-sur-l´Escaut, a Flemish village (under the Counts of Flanders and Hainaut, same family), is annexed to France by the Treaty of Nimègue. Note that C-s-E has the same Heraldic Arms as Haverskerque, another old Flemish village some 100km away. These arms are very close to those of the Bels of Flanders!

In 1683, Jan 15 : "The probate of the will of John Bayles Deceased and Admicon Granted to rebecca Bayles his widdow and Relict therin named Anthony Brockholls Esqr Commander in Cheife and the Councell of the Province of New York To all to whom this Shall come or may Concerne Greeting.

Whereas John Bayles Lateof Jameca on Long Island Deceased Did in his lifetime make and Declare and Cause to be put in writing his Last Will and Testamt Intending to signe Seale and Publish and the Same in Usuall forme of Law butt before the Same was Effected Departed this Life Now Know Yee That att a Court of Sessions held a Jameca aforesaid for the North rideing of Yorkshire on Long Island the 13th 14th and 15th Days of December Last Past the said Will hereunto Annexed being produced by Mr Peter Smith the person who wrott the Same Declaring upon his Corporall Oath that the Same was According to the order and Directions Declared the Same to be his Last Will and Testamt.

Itt was Approve Admitted and Allowed of according And the Said John Bayles ahving while he lived and att the time of his Death Goods nad Chattles within the said Towne of Jameca and Province and Rebecca Bayles his widow and Relict being therinn appointed his whole and Sole Executrix the Admisson of all & singular the Said Goods and Chattles and the said Will administer upon the Same Accordingly to make a full and just inventory unto the next court of Sessions Ensuing the Date and Render a True and Perfect Account of her Admisson in the time by law required. Givenunder my Hand and Seale in New York the 15th Day of January in the thirty fourth yeare of his Maties Reigne Annoque Dom 1683. ". Source: World Family Tree. See also in 1617.

In 1684, Robert Baillie of Jerviswood (fs. of George Baillie of St. John’s Kirk), was hung for treason. Strong Protestant activist, it is more likely that he was killed for his religious beliefs because his persecutors even pursued his family that was forced to flee in Holland (the Netherlands).

In 1687, the oldest trace of the patronymic Beltz (Bels) in Germany is found in the Brandenburg Church´s Archives (Domstiftarchiv) with Joachim Beltz, in Buschow, ancestor of Sire Heiko Bels from Perleberg (D). Prior to Fra. Heiko Bels discovery, the oldest trace of a Bels in Germany goes back to anno 1737, in Losheim (Saarland), some 10km northeast of Merzig. In Germany, the Bels are mainly found in two areas. The first one is centred on the city of Düsseldorf, some 80km from the Belgian border. The second one is centred on Berlin. A very few mavericks are located all over the place.

In 1690, John Bailey (fs. Godfrey Bailey) (°1642) died while returning from the "expedition to Canada", an attack on the French by British-American forces during the French and Indian War. He married Mary Mighill (fa. Deacon Thomas x2 Mary Parrot), in Rowley.

PART 23

In 1691, Georges Baillie of Jerviswood and Mellerstain (*1664 +1738), fs. of Robert Baillie that was executed in 1684, married Lady Grisell Hume (*1665 +1746). He did not remain long in Holland (where he and the rest of his family fled for religion reasons) because, soon after his wedding, he started the building of the Mellerstain House. With his wife, they will become the ancestors of the today’s earls (Counts) of Haddington.

In 1693, Claude-Alexis de Bailleul, Earl of Bailleul, (fs. of Louis, Marquis de Château-Gontier and of Marie le Ragois de Bretonvilliers) (1653-1699) was Lt Col of an Infantry Regiment. He achieved the rank of Brigade General. He was in command at the battle of Fleurus and at the siege of Mons, Namur and Charleroi (all Belgium towns).

In 1694, Count Claude-Alexis de Bailleul, is Knight of the “Ordre Royal et Militaire de Saint-Louis” (France). Ref: Receuil Vol I-II. I-163 de J.F.L d´Hozier. Paris 1817, I-163.

In 1695, Pierre de Bailleul who was living in Arien (?) is mentioned as “de la Franceur et de Colombier”. He married the sister of Missis van Boccabella (sic)!

TSometime around that time, may be a little bit later, Richard-François Piercot de Bailleul (1670-1753), served as Navy Officer in Canada and drew the first maps of the Mississippi and of the Saint-Laurent River.

In December 1696, Louis Ferdinand of Bailleul, and other royal notaries of the county of Artois (France) must examine the case of the Squire, Lord of Bailleul and Viscount of Ypres, Louis François of Bailleul, Lieutenant in the regiment of Zurlanden in garrison in Saint-Omer.

François, born in 1674 in Visé (B) had, as eldest son, Pierre of Bailleul who gave to his brothers, all rights to have the same blazon as the cadet. François of Bailleul’s family, probably for centuries out of the county of Flanders, was unknown to the officials in Saint-Omer and had to prove, under oath, his allegation that he belonged to the Lineage of the Bailleul of Flanders.

According to a Lineage genealogy dated 1109 in possession of the Lineage archives, the notary Louis Ferdinand of Bailleul, officially recognised him has a «cousin issu de germain» before the Notaries of the County of Artois (Flanders) and closed the case.

These documents, undersigned by Louis Ferdinand de Bailleul, Royal solicitor of Artois and living in the city of Saint-Omer, arrived at my home sometime between 1987-1990, I do not remember who sent them! The fact remains that they were passed on to somebody (?) on 18.8.1981, by the Genealogist, Benoît de Diesbach, Castle of Hendecourt. Boisleux. (France). The discovery of the documents returns in fact to mister Roederer, an antique dealer and inhabitant of Versailles (France). He would have discovered them, among other objects, in one of the drawers of an old piece of furniture in decomposition.

In any event, these documents are extremely interesting because they prove that there was, in 1696, a genealogy of the Balliol (Bailleul) of France, going as far back as to the year 1109, that was kept in the archives of the lineage. The year 1109 is really very close to the genealogies of the Balliol in our possession. Regrettably! For the year 1109, our genealogies do not mention any birth!

Would it not be the date of birth of a child of an unknown branch, maybe stemming from the famous Roussel Balliol, born ca. 1025 and son of Arnould? Roussel, whose tracks are lost in Flanders, but appears in Normandy, beside Hervé Balliol (in 1038), the Norman Army leader! This Roussel is suspected of being one of ancestors, if not the ancestor, of the Norman Balliols! See also the French Chapter under: Les Belles, Bellis, Bellens sont... des Bels).

The above-mentioned branch of the Bailleul probably left Flanders for the region of Visé (B) and settled there either:

• During or after the siege of Huy (Belgium) in 1053 in company of the Count of Flanders, Baudouin V.
• During or after the war of the Cow (1273-1275).
• During or after the battle of Worringen, June 1288, in company of the Count of Flanders Guy of Dampierre against Jean Ist Duke of Brabant.
• During or after the severe religious troubles where some Bailleul of Flanders were expelled out of the county and had their belongings and estates confiscated.
• On tournaments and/or other big festivities.

Four barons of feudal nobility.

Fra. Jürgen Bels d´Oosthove, Sor. Rose-Marie Bels d´Oosthove,

Fra. Jacob Manning of Buittle Castle (GCOB) and

Mgr. Fra. Robert Adelsohn Bels de L’Ormier, Belcastel & Buc (GCOB).

Ludwigslust (Germany). 2019.

Being 200km away from the city of Bailleul (Flanders) and gone for centuries, they eventually lost tracks with the Bailleul who remained in Flanders. An official identification was therefore required to allow François of Bailleul and his sons, to bear the Bailleul family’s blazon. This branch of the Bailleul must have been in Visé, a small city in Belgium near the Meuse River, as early as the parents of Isaac of Bailleul. That is 1580 or much earlier! The same happened with the Bels who settled in Brustem (Limburg) and other places in Limburg (Eastern Belgium), long before 1487.

The reasons for the remote settlements of members of our Lineage met in the previous text are various. They range from the results of visiting families, relatives and befriended to official visits at coronations, weddings, funerals, diplomatic missions, show-tournaments, campaigns, and wars via the socio-economic and religious problems pertaining to the region they lived.

However, the main reasons for our Knights, once out there, not to come back are to find in the attractive woman they met during their trip. Is it not strange that the most beautiful woman is always to be found next town?

Hereunder an extract out of the Chronicles of Hainaut (Belgium), written in 1196, in Latin, by Gislebert of Mons (Hainaut, Belgium). This will give you an idea on how far sometimes a great number of Knights left their region or country to meet each other on international levels.

“…In Mainz (Germany) for the „Hoftag“, held by the Emperor of the Roman Empire, Friederich Barbarossa, from Mai 20 until 23, 1184, gathered the whole empire from this side of the Alps: Princes, Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Dukes, Marquis, Palatinate-counts, Counts, Barons, noble-men and Ministerial. After a truthful estimation, there were some 70.000 Knights attending this fest without considering the great number of ministers and people of other stands.

On Monday and Tuesday (21 and 22.5.) after diner, the emperor-sons organized a show-tournament. Roughly, 20.000 Knights or more took part in it as well as the emperor himself. It was a tournament without sharp arms; the Knights proudly carried their blazons, lances and banners without push or blow...”.

In 1697 is born John Bailie, of Innishargie House. High Sheriff, in 1725, he married Jane, fa. of Mathew Forde, of Seaforde, and died in 1759, leaving with other issue, a son James Bailie, of Innishargie House, born 1724 and x Anne, daughter of Francis Hall, of Strangford. He was High Sheriff 1767.

About 1700 is born in Paris, the painter Jacques II, Bailly (+1768 Paris).

The blazon of the Bell of Kirkconnel (Dumfries) Scotland can be seen in the living room of Ludwig II King of Bavaria (+1886 Lake Starnberg), in his castle of Neuschwanstein (Germany, Bavaria). Research is under way to find out the reason for this blazon to be in such an honourable place and what the links were between the Lineage of the Wittelsbacher and ours. This Lineage started anno 1260 with Ludwig II Duke of Upper Bavaria x Mathilda fa. of Rudolf Ist of Habsburg.