were diuerse which desiring innouations, deliting in alterations, and
being wearie of the quiet gouernment of king Henrie, wrote letters into
England to the duke, signifieng to him, that if he would make hast, and
come to recouer the realme out of his brothers hands (who vsurped it by
an vniust title) they would be readie to aid him with all their power.
Herewithall the duke being readie of his owne accord to this enterprise,
was not a little inflamed, and grew more earnest to make hast about this
businesse: in so much as, where he would not séeme at the first to
estéeme greatlie of the offer made to him by the Englishmen, who had
thus written ouer vnto him (blaming generallie all the English
Nobilitie, for that while he was abroad in the seruice of the christian
common-wealth against the infidels, they would suffer him to be in such
wise defrauded of his fathers inheritance, by his brother, through their
vntruth and negligence) yet although he meant to delaie the matter,
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Simon Dun._] and thought it rather better to
dissemble with them for a time, than to commit the successe of his
affaires and person to their inconstancie; shortlie after being set on
fire, and still incouraged by the persuasion of Rafe bishop of Durham
(who by a woonderfull wilie shift, about the first of Februarie had
broken out of prison) [Sidenote: In the Kal. of Februarie. _R. Houe._
_Hen. Hunt._ _Polydor._] with all speed possible he gathered an armie,
purposing out of hand to passe ouer with the same into England, and to
hazard his right by dent of sword, which was thus by plaine iniurie most
wickedlie deteined from him.

King Henrie in the meane time vnderstanding his meaning, assembled
likewise his power, and rigged foorth a great number of ships,
appointing them to lie in a readinesse to stop his brothers comming to
land if it might be. He himselfe, also lodged with his maine armie neere
the towne of Hastings, to giue him battell if he landed thereabouts.