[1] During this time, and about the fiftieth daie after the beginning of the siege, word was brought to the king, that his brother duke Robert was landed at Southampton, and minded with all possible spéed to come to the succour of the bishop, and of other his fréends, whom he and his power had not a little af|flicted. ¶ Here authors varie: H. Hunt. Simon Dun. for some report that duke Robert came not ouer himselfe at the first at all, but sent a part of his armie, with a certeine num|ber of ships, which encountring with the kings fleet, were discomfited. Others write that duke Robert hearing of the losse of his men, came after himselfe, and landed with a mightie armie as before, which is most likelie. And certeinlie (as Gemeticen. affir|meth) he might easilie as then haue recouered Eng|land from his brother, if he had not lingred the time, Gemeticensis. Eustace earle of Bullongne. considering that Eustace earle of Bullongne, Odo bishop of Bai [...]ux, and the earle of Mortaigne, with other lords of Normandie that were passed to Eng|land, had alreadie taken Rochester, and diuers other castels in the prouince of Canturburie, keeping the same a certeine time, still looking that he should haue come ouer to their aid, which he deferred to doo, till they were constreined by siege and lacke of necessa|rie succor to returne into Normandie, leauing those places which they had won vnto the king, and that to [page 18] their great dishonor. But howsoeuer it was, the king still continued the siege before Pemsey castell, till Odo (through want of victuals) was glad to submit himselfe, and promised to cause the castell of Roche|ster to be deliuered: Simon Dun. but at his comming thither, they within the citie suffered him to enter, and streight|waies laid him fast in prison. Some iudge that it was doone vnder a colour by his owne consent.