The following is an excerpt from Richard Thomson: An Historical Essay on the Magna Charta of King John, London, 1829; Pages 279 – 280:
"Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, was the son of Hugh, Steward to the Kings Henry I. and II., who was descended from Roger Bigod, or Bigot, who in the time of William I. held several Manors in Norfolk; 6 Lordships in Essex; and and 117 in Sufolk. Camden, in his Remains, Lond. 1636, 4to. page 123, states the name to be Norman, signifying Superstitious, or a Bigot; a word of which the Etymology remains yet uncertain, though it is allowed to have been adopted from that language.
"Camden adds, that the people of France used to call the Normans Bigods, because at every other word they would swear by God; and hence the family of Bigod coming from Normandy,was known by this national characteristic name.
"In 1189, the 1st of Richard I., a charter was issued, dated Westminster, Nov. 97th by which Roger Bigod was constituted Earl of Norfolk the office of Steward was also confirmed to him, to gether with several Lordships, for all which he gave the King the sum of 1000 marks or £660 13s. 4d.
"In the 15th year of the same King, he attended him into Poictou; in 1215 he was one of the Baronial party which exacted from him the Great Charter; and was appointed one of the 25 Securities of that instrument, for which he was excommunicated by Pope Innocent III." Roger Bigod, 2nd Earl of Norfolk, built Framlingham circa 1190 - 1210. This revolutionary new castle without a keep reflected crusader experience; and is reminiscent of Byzantine fortresses. Its vast curtain-wall laced with strong towers enabled a large force including cavalry to be kept in the area of maximum defensibility (Bigod genealogy - http://www3.sympatico.ca/robert.sewell/bigod.html)
Lady Isabella was Roger's first wife (Browning, Charles H. Americans of royal descent, 7th ed. Baltimore : Genealogical Pub. Co., 1986, pg. 11).
Created Earl of Norfolk 1189, Lord High Steward of England, a surety for the Magna Carta. (Browning, Charles. Americans of royal descent, 7th ed. Baltimore : Genealogical Pub. Co., 1969, pg. 11 & 67). Stewart of the royal household under Richard I. Ambassador to Philip of France to arrange crusade. Justicar after Richard's return. Justice itinerant in Norfolk. Enjoyed John's favor until 1213, when he was imprisoned. Released and restored to favor. Joined barons against John, 1215 (The concise dictionary of national biography. Part 1 : from the beginnings till 1900. London : Oxford University Press, 1969, pg. 102).
One of the 25 sureties of the Magna Carta. Steward of the Houshold of
Richard I and one of the four earls who carried the silken canopy over the
monarch's head at his second coronation (WWW site : Directory of royal genealogical data).
Family aka "Le Bigod" (Browning, Charles H. Americans of royal descent. 7th ed. Baltimore : Genealogical Pub. Co., 1986, pg. 354).
2nd Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk, born before 1150, hereditary Steward of the Household for King Richard I. He was made one of the ambassador from the English monarch to Philip of France, for obtaining aid toward the recovery of the Holy Land. Upon the return of King Richard from his captivity, the Earl of Norfolk assisted at the great council held by the king at Nottingham; and at his second coronation, he was one of the four earls that carried the silken canopy over the monarch's head. He was summoned to parliament in 1177. In 1191, he was keeper of Hereford Castle. He was Chief Justice in the King's Court from 1195 to 1202. In 1200 he was sent by King John as one of his messengers to summon William the Lion, King of Scotland, to do homage to him in the parliament which was held in Lincoln, and subsequently attended King John into Poitou, but on his return he was won over to the cause by the rebel Barons and became one of the strongest advocates of the Charter of Liberty, for which he was excommunicated by Pope Innocent III. He was a Surety of the Magna Charta.
(WWW site Paul B.McBrides's genalogypage(http://www.tiac.net/users/pmcbride/james/f024.htm).
There is substantial debate over the identity of Roger's wife. Some sources have Isabella Plantagenet de Warren (person 834 in this database) while others claim Ida, perhaps Ida de Tosny. Browning and The Royal Genealogical Database both clima Isabella, however due to the dispute I have severed the relationship between her and Roger and have left the identity of Roger's wife blank. I have also removed Isabella as the mother of Roger's children. (EAD)