And amongest other of his friends, vnto
whome he laboured for aid, his father in law Baldwine earle of
[Sidenote: _Ia. Meir_. Baldwine earle of Flanders aided duke William
to conquere England. _Wil. Geme._]
Flanders was one of the chiefest, who vpon promise of great summes of
monie and other large offers made, did aid him with men, munition,
ships, and victuals, verie freelie. The French king also did as
much for his part as laie in him to helpe forwards this so high an
enterprise. Wherefore when all things were now in a readinesse, he
came to the towne of S. Valerie, where he had assembled togither an
huge nauie of ships, to the number (as some authors affirme) of
[Sidenote: The chronicles of Normandie haue 896 ships.]
three hundred saile; and when he had taried there a long time for a
conuenient wind, at length it came about euen as he himselfe desired.
Then shipping his armie which consisted of Normans, Flemings,
Frenchmen, and Britains, with all expedition he tooke the sea, and
[Sidenote: Duke William landed at Peuensey, now Pemsey.
Pages:
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92