Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland, vol 2 : England | Page 2

him, that his yoonger brother should
possesse the crowne of England, which of right (as he said) belonged
vnto him, by reason of his age; he determined with all expedition to
passe the seas with an armie, and recouer that into his hands, which his
father had giuen from him, partlie (as it is thought) for his wilfulnesse
and disobedience towards him, and partly also bicause he doubted that
if he should leaue it vnto him, he would through his too much
gentlenesse and facilitie, giue occasion to the English to resume
strength, and therby to reuolt. Wherefore he iudged his yoonger brother
the saied William (a man of a rougher nature) the meeter of the twaine
for the gouernement.

As duke Robert was thus mooued by his owne desire to bereue his
brother of the dominion of England, so he was not a little incensed
thervnto by such of the English Nobilitie and Normans, as came dailie
ouer vnto him out of the realme, complaining of the present state of the
world, as those misliked of the whole maner of regiment vsed in the
beginning of the reigne of his brother William. His vncle Odo also
(then bishop of Baieux) furthered the matter all that he might. This Odo
was at first in great estimation with his brother the Conqueror, and bare
great rule vnder him, till at length for enuie that the archbishop
Lanfranke was preferred before him, he conspired against him, who
vnderstanding thereof, committed him foorthwith to prison, where he
remained, till the said prince then lieng on his death-bed, released and
restored him to his former libertie. When the king was dead, William
Rufus tooke him backe into England, supposing no lesse but to haue
had a speciall fréend and a trustie counceller of him in all his affaires.
But yer long after his comming thither, he fell againe into the same
offense of ingratitude, wherof he became culpable in the Conquerors
daies: for perceiuing that Lanfranke was so highlie esteemed with the
king, that he could beare no rule, and partlie suspecting that Lanfranke
had been cheefe causer of his former imprisonment, [Sidenote: Odo the
bishop of Baieux conspireth against his nephue William Rufus.] he
conspired with the rest against his nephue, and therevpon wrote sundrie
letters ouer vnto duke Robert, counselling him to come ouer with an
armie in all hast, to take the rule vpon him, which by his practise
should easilie be compassed.
Duke Robert being thus animated on all sides, and yet wanting
sufficient monie to the furniture of this iournie, engaged a portion of
his duchie of Normandie, as the countie of Constantine to his yoongest
brother Henrie, for a great sum of gold, and therwith returned answer to
the foresaid bishop, that he should prouide and looke for him vpon the
south coast of England, at a certeine time appointed. [Sidenote: The
castell of Rochester.] Herevpon Odo fortified the castell of Rochester,
& began to make sore wars against the kings friends in Kent: he
procured others of the complices also to do the like in other parts of the
realme; [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Wil. Malm._ The bishop of
Constance taketh the town of Bath.] and first on the west part of

England, where Geffrey bishop of Constans with his nephue Robert de
Mowbray earle of Northumberland setting foorth from Bristow, came
toward Bath, which towne they tooke and sacked, and likewise Berkley,
with a great part of Wiltshire, and brought the spoile and booties backe
to Bristow, where they had a castell stronglie fortified for their more
safetie. In like maner Roger de Bygod, departing from Norwich, with
great forraies ouerrode and robbed all the countries about, and conueied
such riches as he had gotten into the said citie. [Sidenote: Hugh
Grandmesnill. _Hen. Hunt._ _Wil. Mal._] In like sort did Hugh de
Grandmesnill at Leiceister, spoiling and wasting all the countries about
him.
[Sidenote: The earle of Shrewsburie.] The earle of Shrewsburie called
Roger de Mountgomerie, with a power of Welshmen set foorth from
Shrewsburie, and with him were William bishop of Durham the kings
houshold chapline, Barnard of Newmerch, Roger Lacie, and Rafe
Mortimer, (all Normans or Frenchmen) who ioyning their powers
togither, inuaded the countrie, and with fire and sword did much hurt
where they came, killing and taking a great number of people.
[Sidenote: Worcester assaulted.] Afterwards comming to Worcester,
they assaulted the citie, ouerran the suburbs, & set the same on fire. But
the citizens shutting fast the gates of their citie (though with the sudden
comming of the enimies they were somewhat afraid) made valiant
resistance; and conueieng their goods, their wiues, and their children
into the castell, got them to the walles and places of defense, to repell
and beat backe the enimies.