Bribes.
He conquers without leaving England. few of them were so strong that, in the words of King Philip—Philip of Macedon, not Philip of France—an ass laden with gold could not find its way into them.[1] Armed at all points, master alike of gold and steel, able to work himself and to command the services of others alike with the head and with the hand, William Rufus could, at least in contending with Robert, conquer when he chose and how he chose. And for a while he chose, like the Persian king of old, to win towns and castles without stirring from his hearth.[2]
Submission of Saint Valery. The first point of the mainland which the Red King won was one which lay beyond the strict bounds of the Norman duchy; but no spot, either in Normandy or in England, was more closely connected with the fortunes of his house. And it was one which had a certain fitness as the beginning of such a campaign. The first spot of continental ground which was added to the dominion of one who called himself King of the English, and who at least was truly King of England, was the spot from which his father had set forth for the conquest of England. He won it by the means which were specially his own. "By his cunning or by his treasures he gat him the castle at Saint Valery and the havens."[3] Englishmen had fought for the elder William</poem>
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- ↑ Plutarch, Reg. et Imp. Apoph. Philip. 15.
- ↑ Æsch. Pers. 861; <poem> [Greek: hossas d' eile poleis, poron ou diabas Alyos potamoio, oud' aph' hestias sytheis.
- ↑ Chron. Petrib. 1090. "Ðeah þurh his geapscipe, oððe þurh gærsuma he begeat þone castel aet Sc̃e Waleri and þa hæfenan, and swa he begeat þone æt Albemare." This is followed by William of Malmesbury, iv. 307, who translates the passage, "Castrum Sancti Walerici, et portum vicinum. et oppidum quod Albamarla vocatur, sollertia sua acquisivit, pecunia custodes corrumpens." Florence however calls it "castellum Walteri de Sancto Walarico." This might be understood of any castle belonging to Walter of Saint Valery; and the change might be taken either as having
