RANULF du Bessin "le Meschin", son of RANULF Vicomte du Bessin [Bayeux] & his wife Marguerite [Matilda] d'Avranches (-17 or 27 Jan 1129, bur Chester, Abbey of St Werburgh). Orderic Vitalis names him and his mother[53]. "…Rannulfus filius Rannulfi vicecomitis…Rannulfus vicecomes" witnessed the charter dated 24 Apr 1089 under which Robert III Duke of Normandy donated property to Bayeux cathedral[54]. A charter of King Henry II records donations to York St Mary, including the donation of "ecclesias de Apelby…sancti Michaelis et sancti Laurentii" by "Radulfus Meschin"[55]. The Liber Vitæ of Durham names "Rannulfus Mahald uxor eius Ricardus Rannulfus de Mesc filii eorum Lucia uxor Rann"[56]. He succeeded his father as Vicomte du Bessin [Bayeux]. "Ranulfus Meschinus Richerio Vicecomiti Karlioli" donated property for the foundation of Wetherhal priory, Cumberland, for the souls of "Domini mei Regis Willelmi…et Richard fratris mei…mea et uxoris meæ Luciæ…", by undated charter, witnessed by "Osberto vicecomite, Waldievo filio Gospatricii comitis, et Forna Sigulfi filio et Ketello Eldredi filio et Herveio Morini filio et Eliphe de Penrith"[57]. "Ranulfus Meschines" donated property to Wetherall priory, Cumberland, by undated charter, witnessed by "uxore mea Lucia, Willielmo fratre meo…"[58]. He was appointed Vicomte d'Avranches in 1120 after the death of his first cousin Richard d'Avranches, and also obtained the grant of the county palatine of Chester thereby becoming Earl of Chester (upon which he surrendered the lordship of Carlisle). He was commander of the royal forces in Normandy in 1124[59]. A manuscript narrating the descent of Hugh Earl of Chester to Alice Ctss of Lincoln records the death "VI Kal Feb" of "Ranulfus de Meschines" and his burial at St Werburgh´s, Chester[60].
m ([1098]) as her third husband, LUCY, widow firstly of IVO Taillebois Lord of Kendal and secondly of ROGER FitzGerold, daughter of --- & his wife [--- Malet] (-1138[61]). Ingulph's Chronicle of the Abbey of Croyland records that William I King of England arranged the marriage of "Ivo Taillebois" and "Lucia sister of Edwin and Morcar", her dowry consisting of their land at Hoyland[62], but this parentage appears impossible from a chronological point of view. Peter of Blois's Continuation of the Chronicle of the Abbey of Croyland records the death of Ivo and his burial at the priory of Spalding, and the remarriage of his widow "hardly had one month elapsed after his death" with "Roger de Romar the son Gerald de Romar"[63]. A manuscript recording the foundation of Spalding monastery records that "Yvo Talboys" married "Thoroldo…hærede Lucia" who, after the death of Ivo, married (in turn) "Rogerum filium Geroldi" and "comitem Cestriæ Ranulphum"[64]. She is named as wife of Ranulf by Orderic Vitalis, who also names her first husband, but does not state her origin[65]. The Liber Vitæ of Durham names "Rannulfus Mahald uxor eius Ricardus Rannulfus de Mesc filii eorum Lucia uxor Rann"[66]. "Ranulfus Meschinus Richerio Vicecomiti Karlioli" donated property for the foundation of Wetherhal priory, Cumberland, for the souls of "…mea et uxoris meæ Luciæ…", by undated charter[67]. "Ranulfus Meschinus" donated property to Wetherhal priory, Cumberland by undated charter, witnessed by "uxore mea Lucia et Willelmo fratre meo…"[68]. The 1130 Pipe Roll records "Lucia comitissa Cestr…tra patis sui" in Lincolnshire[69]. According to a charter of Henri Duke of Normandy (later Henry II King of England) issued in favour of her son Ranulf Earl of Chester dated 1153, Ctss Lucy was the niece of Robert Malet of Eye and of Alan of Lincoln, as well as kinswoman of Thorold "the Sheriff"[70].
Earl Ranulf & his wife had three children