Page:The reign of William Rufus and the accession of Henry the First.djvu/532

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did not choose to meet the King face to face. Instead of sailing to Eu or its port, they made for Southampton, where they landed and seemingly stayed—with what objects we are not told—for some weeks. Thence they went to London, and kept Christmas there. King William was not this year wearing his crown either at Westminster or at Gloucester. But it is clear that the movements of his youngest brother had an effect upon his own. For the first three days of the holy twelve he stayed at Whitsand. On the fourth day, the feast of the Innocents, the anniversary of the dedication of the West Minster, he crossed the sea and landed at Dover. Thence he seemingly came to London, where Henry was. Whatever quarrels or suspicions had sprung up between the King and the Ætheling were now made up. Henry was received into his brother's fullest confidence. He stayed in England till Lent began, when he went to spend the penitential season in Normandy. But it was not to be an idle season; in the month between Epiphany and Lent, the Red King had made his preparations for a campaign in which Henry was to take his place. The Count of Coutances then went again beyond sea with great treasures to be used on the King's behalf against his brother—Earl Robert, as English lips called him. "And ofttimes upon the Earl he won, and to him mickle harm either on land and on men did." Here ends our story. We get no further

eorl of Ceastre."]mæssan wæron on Lunden.']mæssan þa feower forewarde dagas on Hwitsand; and æfter þam feorðan dæge hider to lande fór, and úpp com æt Doferan."]*
 * [Footnote: friðe þurh Normandig faran ne mihte, he him sende scipon æfter, and Hugo