giue battell with princelie stomachs. [Sidenote: They ioine in battell.]
The king surmounting the duke his brother in number, first bringeth
foorth his men in order of battell, and streightwaies the duke likewise,
both being readie to trie the matter by dint of sword. Then the one
prouoking the other, and the trumpets sounding aloft, the conflict
began. The kings souldiers trusting too much in their owne force, by
reason of their great multitude, brake their arraie, and assailed their
enimies on ech side verie disorderlie: but the Normans being wiselie
ordered and instructed by their duke, kept themselues close togither: so
that the kings battell, which had without order stept foorth to assaile
them, finding sturdie resistance, began now to result or giue backe: for
not onelie duke Robert but also William earle of Mortaigne preased
foreward amongst their men, and fought valiantlie with their owne hands.
Whervpon the king, when he perceiued how his men began to shrinke, cried
vpon them to staie, and withall commanded his horssemen to breake vppon
the flanks of his enimies battell: which they did, with such violence
that they disparkled the same, and caused the enimies to scatter.
Herewith also the kings footmen, togither with the horssemen inuaded the
Normans afresh, who neuerthelesse resisted a while, till being compassed
about in maner on euerie side, they began to flee: [Sidenote: The
Normans vanquished.] as oftentimes it chanceth, when a few driuen in
sunder by a multitude, are assailed on all sides. The king then hauing
vanquished his aduersaries, followeth the chase, and maketh great
slaughter of them, though not without some losse of his owne: for the
Normans despairing of safetie, turned oftentimes againe vpon their
pursuers.

[Sidenote: The earle of Mortaigne. _Eadmerus._ W. Crispine. W. Ferreis.
Robert de Estoutuille. The number slaine.] Duke Robert and the earle of
Mortaigne fighting most manfullie in the verie prease of enimies, were