Odo asks Robert to come. Odo was not satisfied with his garrison. He sent beyond sea to Duke Robert for further help. The prince in whose name Rochester was now held was earnestly prayed to come at once at the head of the full power of his duchy, to take possession of the crown and kingdom which were waiting for his coming.[1]
The news brought to Robert.
He sends over Eustace of Boulogne and Robert of Bellême.
According to the narrative which we are now following,
it would seem that Robert now heard for the
first time of the movement which was going on in his
behalf in England. His heart is lifted up at the unlooked
for news; he tells the tidings to his friends;
certain of victory, he sends some of them over to share
in the spoil; he promises to come himself with all speed,
as soon as he should have gathered a greater force.[2]
At the head of the party which was actually sent were
two men whose names are familiar to us.[3] One of
them, Count Eustace of Boulogne, united the characters
of a land-owner in England and of a sovereign
prince in Gaul. This was the younger Eustace, the
son of the old enemy of England, the brother of the
hero who was within a few years to win back the Holy
- ↑ Flor. Wig. 1088. "Rumore autem percussus insolito, comes exultat, amicis nunciat, quasi jam de victoria securus triumphat, plures ad prædam incitat; Odoni episcopo, patruo suo, auxiliarios in Angliam legat, se quantocius, congregato majori exercitu, secuturum affirmat."
- ↑ Ib. "Prædictus episcopus Baiocensis, munita Roveceastra, misit Normanniam, exhortans comitem Rotbertum cito venire in Angliam, nuntians ei rem gestam, affirmans paratum sibi regnum, et si sibi non desisteret, paratam et coronam."
- ↑ Ib. "Missi a comite Rotberto venerunt in Angliam, ab Odone episcopo ad custodiendum receperunt Roveceastram; et horum ut primates Eustatius junior, comes Bononiæ, et Rotbertus de Beleasmo gerebant curam." Here we have (see Appendix B) the true moment of their coming. From this point we may accept the account in Orderic (667 B); "Prædictum oppidum Odo præsul et Eustachius comes atque Robertus Bellesmensis, cum multis nobilibus viris et mediocribus, tenebant, auxiliumque Roberti ducis, qui desidia mollitieque detinebatur, frustra exspectabant." We meet them again in 765 B.
