3 6o HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

c h a p. obliged to have recourse to England, whereiv. that species of military government, which he1079. had established, gave him greater authority thanthe ancient feudal institutions permitted him toexercise in Normandy. He called over an armyof English under his ancient captains, who soonexpelled Robert and his adherents from theirretreats, and restored the authority of the sover-eign in all his dominions. The young princewas obliged to take shelter in the castle ofGerberoy in the Beauvoisis, which the king ofFrance, who secretly fomented all these dissensions,had provided for him. In this fortress he was close-ly besieged by his father, against whom, havinga strong garrison, he made an obstinate defence.There passed under the walls of this place manyrencounters, which resembled more the singlecombats of chivalry, than the military actionsof armies ; but one of them was remarkable for itscircumstances and its event. Robert happenedto engage the king , who was concealed by hishelmet; and both of them being valiant, a fiercecombat ensued, till at last the young princewounded his father in the arm, and unhorsedhim. On his calling out for assistance, hisvoice discovered him to his son, who, struckwith remorse for his past guilt, and astonishedwith the apprehensions of one much greater,which he had so nearly incurred , instantly threwhimself at his father’s feet, craved pardon forhis offences, and offered to purchase forgiveness