Shrewsbury, Shropshire ~ and Sicily?
Shrewsbury is within the winding course of the Severn, which is crossed by two bridges, called English and Welsh bridges.From Debrett's Peerage, we find that in 1222 Robert I' Enfant was Provost of Shrewsbury.
Also in Shropshire we find William L'enfant as Bailiff of Munslow under William Bagod's Shrievalty (sort of sheriff) but this is later in that century.William is son of John, who was also may also be father to Walter and Adam, knights in Kildare.
What we see here on the Welsh Marches and the wilds of Ireland is a family who were, perhaps, landless in the Midi Pyrenees region of their probable origin. Did they come into the British Isles with the Conquerer or was it actually the rulers of Aquitaine,Gascony a c. Warfare and specifically siege warfare was very sophisticated in the Midi and these fighting men sold their swords and indeed became made men.
A book entitled "Mercenaries and Paid Men" discusses Robert L'Enfant as Justiciar of Sicily about 1272.
So were they "paid men" or " made men" and where was their allegiance prior to this time?