The Holinshed Project

Holinshed Project Home

The Texts
1587

Previous | Next

Compare 1577 edition: 1 After this, considering with himselfe how disho|norable a thing it was for him, that his yoonger bro|ther 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 m [...]ter of the twaine for the gouernement.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 As duke Robert was thus mooued by his owne desire to bereue his brother of the dominion of Eng|land, EEBO page image 17 so he was not a little incensed ther [...]nto 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 that misli|ked of the whole maner of regiment vsed in the be|ginning 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 en|uie that the archbishop Lanfranke was preferred before him, he conspired against him, who vnder|standing thereof, committed him foorthwith to pri|son, where he remained, till the said prince then lieng on his death-bed, released and restored him to his for|mer 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 culp|able in the Conquerors daies:Odo the bi|shop of Bai| [...]x conspireth against his n [...]phue Wil|liam Rufus. for perceiuing that Lanfranke was so highlie esteemed with the king, that he could beare no rule, and partlie suspecting that Lanfranke had beene cheefe causer ofhis former imprisonment, 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.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 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 Nor|mandie, as the countie of Constantine to his yoon|gest brother Henrie, for a great sum of gold, and ther|with 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. Herevp|on Odo fortified the castell of Rochester, & began to make sore wars against the kings friends in Kent:The castell of Rochester. he procured others of the complices also to do the like in other parts of the realme; and first on the west part of England, where Geffrey bishop of Constans wi [...]h his nephue Robert de Mowbray earle of Nor|thumberland setting foorth from Bristow, Simon Dun. Wil. Malm. The bishop of Constance ta|keth the town of Bath. came to|ward 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 Byg [...]d, de|parting from Norwich, with great forraies ouer|rode and robbed all the countries about,Hugh Grand|mesnill. Hen. Hunt. Wil. Mal. The earle of Shrewsburie and conuei|ed such riches as he had gotten into the said citie. In like sort did Hugh de Grandmesnill at Leiceister, spoiling and wasting all the countries about him.

Previous | Next