W IL L IA M RUFU S.

377

hastened to put themselves in a military posture; chap.and expecting to be soon supported by a powerful V.army from Normandy, they had already begun >o»7.hostilities in many places.

The king, sensible of his perilous situation,endeavoured to engage the affections of thenative Fngliss. As that people were now sothoroughly subdued that they no longer aspiredto the recovery of their ancient liberties, andwere content with the prospect of some mitiga-tion in the tyranny of the Norman princes , theyzealously embraced William’s cause, upon re-ceiving general promises of good treatment, andof enjoying the licence of hunting in the royalforests. Ti he king was soon in a situation totake the field ; and as he knew the danger ofdelay , he suddenly marched into Kent; wherehis uncles had already seized the fortresses ofPevensey and Rochester. These places he suc-cessively reduced by famine ; and though hewas prevailed on by the earl of Chester, Williamde Warenne, and Robert Fitz Hammon, whohad embraced his cause . to spare the lives of therebels , he confiscated al! their estates , andbanished them the kingdom *. This success gaveauthority to his negociations with Roger earl ofShrewsbury, whom he detached from the con-federates: And as his powerful fleet, joined tothe indolent conduct of Robert, prevented thearrival of the Norman succours, all the other

Chron. Sax. p. 195. Order. Vitalis, p. 668.