Page:A literal translation of the Saxon Chronicle.djvu/261

249 end, be gained the castle and port of St. Valeri by stratagem or bribery, and also Albemarle Castle, and he placed his knights in them, and they did much harm, ravaging and burning the country. After this he got possession of more castles in that land, and in these also he stationed his knights. When Robert Earl of Normandy found that his sworn liege-men revolted and gave up their castles to his great injury, he sent to his Lord Philip King of France, who came into Normandy with a large army; and the King and the Earl with an innumerable force besieged a castle defended by the King of England's soldiers: but King William of England sent to Philip King of France, and he, for love of William or for his great bribes, deserted his vassal Earl Robert and his land, and returned to France, leaving things as they were. During all these transactions, England was greatly oppressed by unlawful taxes, and many other grievances.

1091.

This year King William held his court at Westminster at Christmas, and the following Candlemas he departed from England to Nomandy, bent on his brother's ruin: but whilst he was in that country, peace was made between them, on condition that the Earl should give up