had ouerthrowne, he hasted forth vnto Pemsey, and besieged the castell
there a long season, which the bishop had stronglie fortified.

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 afflicted. [Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ _Simon
Dun._] ¶ Here authors varie: for some report that duke Robert came not
ouer himselfe the first at all, but sent a part of his armie, with a
certeine number 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. [Sidenote: _Gemeticensis._ Eustace earle of
Bullongne.] And certeinlie (as Gemeticen. affirmeth) he might easilie
as then haue recouered England from his brother, if he had not lingred
the time, considering that Eustace earle of Bullongne, Odo bishop of
Baieux, and the earle of Mortaigne, with other lords of Normandie that
were passed to England, 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
necessarie succor to returne into Normandie, leauing those places
which they had won vnto the king, and that to their great dishonor.
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] 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 Rochester to be deliuered: but at his comming thither, they
within the citie suffered him to enter, and streightwaies laid him
fast in prison. Some iudge that it was doone vnder a colour by his