(Vol. v., pp. 126. 204. 261.)
The seeming difficulty regarded in these communications arises from
Hooker's unauthorised translation of "Comes Strigulensis" into "Earl of
Chepsto_ne_," and in a phrase of ancient parlance appearing a Title of
Dignity. The error does not exist in the original work, as Giraldus
wrote "Dermutius Morchardi filius, Lagenensium Princeps, _Ricardo Comiti
Strigulensi, Gilleberti Comitis filio_, S."--Camden's _Anglica_, &c., p.
767.
The town, called in later times _Chepstow_ by the English, and sometimes
_Cas Gwent_, or _Castell Gwent_, by the Welsh, is clearly _Strigul_ (as
shown in Lhwyd's _Commentariolum_, p. 102. edit. 1731, and
_Archæologia_, vol. xxix. p. 31.); but these names are not precisely
equivalent. In early documents the Town, Vill, or Burgh is thus
variously named, and the style of the present Court Baron is, "the
Honour of Chepstow, _alias_ Striguil;" but in old charters and
chronicles the Lordship Marcher, the castle, and the honorary
description of its lords, are usually designated by the word "Strigul"
(variously written) only; and of this "Hooker _alias_ Vowell" was
perhaps ignorant. Giraldus himself is correct, as shown above.
As to the style of "Earl of Strigul," Dugdale admits the use of it by
Richard Fitz-Gilbert, who occurs as "Comes Strigulensis" above, and as
"Ricardus Comes de Striguil Dermuciigener," in Ralph de Diceto (p.
590.). His descendant Gilbert Marescall is also termed "Counte de
Strogoile" in the petition of Margaret, daughter of Thomas de
Brotherton, at the coronation of Richard II. (Vincent's _Corrections_,
p. 345.) There is a stronger instance in Selden's _Titles of Honour_ (p.
617. edit. 1631), correctly cited from Hoveden, and mentioning the fact
of William Marshall and Geoffrey Fitz-Peter being severally girded
"_gladio Comitatus de Striguil_ et gladio Comitatus de Essex," at the
coronation of King John, with remarks on their previous rank as earls,
their administration of earldoms, but their non-investiture, and their
sitting at the royal table in consequence of this investiture.
Nevertheless, it is laid down in the third _Report on the Dignity of a
Peer_, p. 146., that such expressions are to be considered vague. It
refers, for instance, any description of Roger de Montegomeri, as Earl
of Arundel (if such exists), to _residence_; adding, "that is, he was an
earl, and from his _residence_ was denominated Earl of Arundel, _as the
Earls of Pembroke were denominated Earls of Strigul_, a castle which
appears to have been built by William Fitz-Osborn, Earl of Hereford, and
which had _no connexion_ with the county of Pembroke."
As to the immediate parentage of Earl Richard Fitz-Gilbert, proof will
be readily found in the Foundation Charters of St. Neot's Priory and
Tintern Abbey, in Gorham's _St. Neot's_, p. cv.; _Monasticon_, vol. v.
p. 267.