At length it chanced that the enimies (continuing the said siege) began to wax negligent, and ranged abroad in the countrie, little regarding watch and ward about their campe, wherevpon the English within the citie tooke this oportunitie, being mooued thereto with the comfortable exhortation of bishop Woolstan, and sailing foorth of the towne did set on their enimies with great fiercenes, whome they got at such aduantage, [Sidenote:  They slue fiue hundred, and chased the residue as saith Simon Dunel.] that they slue and tooke that daie aboue fiue M. men (as Henrie of Huntingdon recordeth.) For the English bearing a continuall malice in their hearts against the French and Normans, did now their best to be fullie reuenged of them, vpon so conuenient an occasion offered.  Those that escaped by flight, hid themselues in the next townes, making such shifts for their liues as the present necessitie could minister.

[Sidenote:  The diligence of the archbishop Lanfranke.] Whilest the realme was thus troubled on ech side, archbishop Lanfranke sendeth, writeth, and admonisheth all the kings freends to make themselues readie to defend their prince.  And after he vnderstood that they were assembled togither for that purpose, he counselleth the king to march into the field with them speedilie, to represse his enimies. [Sidenote:  The great curtesie shewed to the Englishmen by Wil.  Rufus. Simon Dun.] The king following his counsell, first appointed his nauie to scowre and keepe the seas, and to withstand (if it were possible) the arriuall of his brother by faire words.  Also he reconcileth Roger de Mountgomerie earle of Shrewsburie vnto him, and therewith maketh large promises to the English, that he would out of hand giue and restore vnto them such fauourable lawes as they would wish or desire.  Moreouer he commanded all vniust imposts, tolles and tallages to be laid downe, and granted free hunting in the woods, chases and forrests.  All which grants and promises he kept not long, though for the time he greatlie contented the people with such a shew of good meaning towards them. [Sidenote:  Wil.  Malm.] This doone, he goeth with a mightie armie into Kent, where the sedition began, and first comming to the castell of Tunbridge, he compelled capteine Gilbert to yeeld vp the fortresse into his hands.  Then went he to Horne castell, where he heard saie Odo was (but the report was vntrue, for he had betaken himselfe to the castell of Pemsey) which when he had ouerthrowne, he hasted forth vnto Pemsey, and besieged the castell there a long season, which the bishop had stronglie fortified.