war was not yet quite over; the French still kept Tillieres;
William accordingly fortified the stronghold of Breteuil as a cheek
upon it. And he entrusted the command to a man who will soon be
memorable, his personal friend William, son of his old guardian
Osbern. King Henry was now glad to conclude a peace on somewhat
remarkable terms. William had the king's leave to take what he
could from Count Geoffrey of Anjou. He now annexed Cenomannian--
that is just now Angevin--territory at more points than one, but
chiefly on the line of his earlier advances to Domfront and
Ambrieres. Ambrieres had perhaps been lost; for William now sent
Geoffrey a challenge to come on the fortieth day. He came on the
fortieth day, and found Ambrieres strongly fortified and occupied
by a Norman garrison. With Geoffrey came the Breton prince Ode,
and William or Peter Duke of Aquitaine. They besieged the castle;
but Norman accounts add that they all fled on William's approach to
relieve it.

Three years of peace now followed, but in 1058 King Henry, this
time in partnership with Geoffrey of Anjou, ventured another
invasion of Normandy. He might say that he had never been fairly
beaten in his former campaign, but that he had been simply cheated
out of the land by Norman wiles. This time he had a second
experience of Norman wiles and of Norman strength too. King and
Count entered the land and ravaged far and wide. William, as
before, allowed the enemy to waste the land. He watched and
followed them till he found a favourable moment for attack. The
people in general zealously helped the Duke's schemes, but some
traitors of rank were still leagued with the Count of Anjou. While
William bided his time, the invaders burned Caen. This place, so
famous in Norman history, was not one of the ancient cities of the