The Battle Abbey Roll. Vol. II.
by
The Duchess of Cleveland.
Prepared by Michael A. Linton
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Fitz Rewes : or Fitz Rou, the Norman equivalent for the Scandinavian Rolffssen. Toustain Fitz Rou—in Norse parlance Tostig Rolfssen—was the standard-bearer at Hastings. When Raoul de Conches, to whom this honour belonged by hereditary right, and old Walter Giffard, to whom it had been offered, both excused themselves, electing rather to fight "in the fore-front of the battle," the Duke looked round for a worthy substitute. "Then he called out a knight, whom he had heard much praised, Tostain Fitz Rou le Blanc by name, whose abode was at Bec-en-Caux. To him he delivered the gonfanon; and Tostain took it right cheerfully, and bowed low to him in thanks, and bore it gallantly and with good heart, high aloft in the breeze, and rode by the Duke, going wherever he went. Wherever the Duke turned, he turned also, and wheresoever he stayed his course, there he rested also. His kindred still have quittance of all service for their inheritance on that account, and their heirs are entitled so to hold their inheritance for ever."—Wace. This privilege must have applied only to their Norman barony. "Toustain afterwards became the name of a noble house in Upper Normandy, who, in memory of the office performed at Hastings, took for supporters of their arms, two angels, each bearing a banner."—Taylor.
Toustain Fitz Rou le Blanc[1] was, says Wace, "a brave and renowned knight, born at Bec near Fescamp." He belonged to the great baronial house of that name, but there are different and conflicting accounts of his genealogy, into which I do not propose to enter. He was richly rewarded for his service, for his barony at Domesday included lands in ten different counties. "In Monmouthshire he had possessions of considerable extent between the Usk and the Wye. These lands were probably wrested from the Welsh rather than granted to him, the Survey stating that part was claimed by the King's Bailiff, saying that Turstin had taken them without gift. He had probably assisted at the subjugation of this district under William Fitz Osbern."—A. S. Ellis. "Besides Thurstin, there is a Robert Fitz Rou in Domesday, possibly his brother."—Taylor.
It is very doubtful whether he left descendants. In any case, "his fief was not transmitted intact to heirs-male. In 1166 it was in the possession of Henry Newmarch, but in what way it came to him is not apparent."—A. S. Ellis.