170 ANNALS OF ROGER DE HOVEDEN. A.D. 1088. and precious stones, to be distributed among the most deserving churches and the monasteries. His brother Robert, also, on his return to Normandy, bounteously divided among the monasteries, churches, and the poor the treasures which he found, in behalf of the soul of his father; and, after having knighted them, allowed Dunecald/9 the son of Malcolm, king of the Scots, and Ulph, the son of Harold, the former king of the English, whom he had released from confinement, to depart. In the year 1088, a great dissension arose among the nobles of England. For a portion of the Norman nobility was in favour of king William ; but the other, and larger part espoused the cause of Robert duke of Normandy, and desired to invite him to govern the kingdom, and either deliver up William alive to his brother, or, putting him to death, deprive him of his kingdom. The chiefs in this execrable affair were Odo, bishop of Bayeux, who was also earl of Kent, Geoffrey, bishop of Constance, Robert, earl of Mortaigne,80 Roger, earl of Shrewsbury, and the chief men of eminence throughout the whole kingdom, with the exception of archbishop Lanfranc. This abominable deed they privately discussed during Lent, and, immediately after Easter, began to ravage the country each in his own neighbourhood, and plunder and pillage it, at the same time providing their castles with fortifications and provisions. Geoffrey, bishop of Constance, and Robert de Mowbray repaired to Bristol, where .they had a very strong castle, and laid waste all the country as far as the place which is called Bathan.81 ' The nobles also of Hereford and Shrewsbury, with a multitude of people from Wales, proceeded as far as Worcester, laying waste and destroying with fire everything before them. They intended, also, to have taken the church and the eastle, which latter was at that period entrusted to the charge of the venerable bishop Wulstan. When the bishop heard of this he was greatly distressed, and, considering what plan he should adopt, had recourse to his God, and entreated Him to look down upon His church and His people, thus oppressed by their enemies. While he was meditating upon these things, his household sallied forth from the castle, and took and slew five hundred of them, and put the rest to flight. * V. r. Duncan. 80 Half-brother of William the First. 81 Bath.