Ranulf is the anti-Becket, a loyal and highly capable minor noble who rose to become Henry’s chief justiciar (1180-1189). He was also an administrator and a military man, he was the one who captured William the Lion just as Henry did his penance for Becket, turning the tide of Henry’s luck (at least in Henry’s thinking).  He engaged in fighting in Wales, acted as a diplomat on the continent and ultimately acted on Henry’s behalf in making peace in Wales.

He either authored or oversaw the production of Tractatus de legibus et consuetudinibus regni Angliae (c. 1188; “Treatise on the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom of England”) He oversaw the Curia Regis bat Westminster.  There exists scholarly debate on the issue of who actually wrote the treatise, some arguing that it was either may have been either of two later justiciars: Ranulf’s nephew Hubert Walter (chief justiciar from 1193–1198) who was Archbishop of Canterbury and a papal legate and later chancellor under King John or Geoffrey Fitzpeter (chief justiciar 1198-1213).

After Henry dies in 1189, Richard takes the throne and Ranulf goes off to the Third Crusade with Richard and dies.