(2) At Laon in the next generation there was a wilder
and more calamitous rising against the misrule of the bishop. His name was Waldric;
he had been Chancellor to Henry I of England, and was elected by the chapter of
Laon (1106) because of the great wealth which he had accumulated, none too
honestly, in the course of his short official career. Much of his private
fortune was expended in procuring the Pope's approval of his very irregular
election. The remainder was soon squandered in extravagant and riotous living;
and the bishop then began to exploit his seignorial rights in Laon. His
extortions were the more resented since he kept no order; the environs of the
city swarmed with brigands and footpads, and kidnappers were allowed to work
their will inside the city. At length the burgesses seized an opportunity, when
the bishop was away in England, to set up a commune.
On his return he was obliged
to accept the situation and to recognise the commune in return for a
substantial payment. But he further recouped himself by debasing the local
currency, till it was practically worthless; and he gratified his spite against
the citizens by an atrocious crime. Professing to have discovered a conspiracy
against his life, he arrested the Mayor and caused the unhappy man to be
blinded by a black slave, whom he employed as his bodyguard and executioner.
The friends of the Mayor complained to the Pope; but the bishop got before them
with his own version of the story, and by the help of bribery secured an
honourable acquittal. By the same arguments he induced the King to quash the
charter of the commune, and then seemed master of the situation. But the men of
Laon conspired to kill him as he was going in state to the cathedral; he was with
difficulty rescued by his knights, and found it necessary to garrison the
episcopal palace with villeins from his country estates.
