W ILLIAM RUFUS.' 379

T n E king even thought himself enabled todisturb his brother m the possestion of Normandy.The loose and negligent administration of thatprince had emboldened the Norman barons toaffect a great independency ; and their mutualquarrels and devastations had rendered that wholeterritory a scene of violence and outrage. Twoof them , Walter and Odo , were bribed byWilliam to deliver the fortresses of St. Valori andAlbemarle into his hands : Others soon afterimitated the example of revolt ; while Philip,king of France , who ought to have protectedhis vassal in the polleffion of his fief, was , aftermaking some efforts in his savour , engaged bylarge presents to remain neuter. The duke hadalso reason to apprehend danger from the in-trigues of his brother Henry. This young prince,who had inherited nothing of his father’s greatpossessions but some of his money, had furnishedRobert, while he was making his preparationsagainst England , with the sum of three thousandmarks ; and in return for so slender a supply,had been put in possession of the Cotentin, whichcomprehended near a third of the dutchy ofNormandy. Robert afterwards upon some sus-picion threw him into prison ; but finding him-self exposed to invasion from the king of England,and dreading the conjunction of the two brothersagainst him, he now gave Henry his liberty,and even made use of his assistance in suppressingthe insurrections of his rebellious subjects. Conan,a rich burgess of Rouen , had entered into a

c II A P.

v.

1090 .

Invasion ofNormandy.