376 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

chap. or their new acquisitions s . Robert’s title to theV. dutchy they esteemed incontestibJe ; his claim10S7. to the kingdom plausible; and they al] desiredthat this prince, who alone had any pretensionsto unite these states, should be put in possessionof both. A comparison also of the personalqualities of the two brothers led them to givethe preference to the elder. The duke wasbrave , open , sincere , generous : Even hispredominant faults , his extreme indolence andfacility, were not disagreeable to those haughtybarons , who affected independence, and submit-ted with reluctance to a vigorous administrationin their sovereign. The king, though equallybrave, was violent, haughty, tyrannical; andseemed disposed to govern more by the fearthan by the love of his subjects. Odo , bishopofBaieux, and Robert earl of IMortaigne , mater-nal brothers of the conqueror, envying the great,credit of Lanfranc, which was increased by hislate services , enforced all these motives withtheir partisans , and engaged them in a formalconspiracy to dethrone the king. They com-municated their design to Eustace , count ofBologne, Roger earl of Shrewsbury and Arundel,Robert de Belesme , his eldest son , Williambishop of Durham, Robert de Moubray, RogerBigod , Hugh de Grentmesnil; and they easilyprocured the assent of these potent noblemen.The conspirators, retiring to their castles ,

f Order. Vitalis, p. 666.