Of the French army one division had been surprised and cut to pieces, the other had left Normandy without striking a blow.  The war was not yet quite over; the French still kept Tillieres; William accordingly fortified the stronghold of Breteuil as a cheek upon it.  And he entrusted the command to a man who will soon be memorable, his personal friend William, son of his old guardian Osbern.  King Henry was now glad to conclude a peace on somewhat remarkable terms.  William had the king’s leave to take what he could from Count Geoffrey of Anjou.  He now annexed Cenomannian—­ that is just now Angevin—­territory at more points than one, but chiefly on the line of his earlier advances to Domfront and Ambrieres.  Ambrieres had perhaps been lost; for William now sent Geoffrey a challenge to come on the fortieth day.  He came on the fortieth day, and found Ambrieres strongly fortified and occupied by a Norman garrison.  With Geoffrey came the Breton prince Ode, and William or Peter Duke of Aquitaine.  They besieged the castle; but Norman accounts add that they all fled on William’s approach to relieve it.

Three years of peace now followed, but in 1058 King Henry, this time in partnership with Geoffrey of Anjou, ventured another invasion of Normandy.  He might say that he had never been fairly beaten in his former campaign, but that he had been simply cheated out of the land by Norman wiles.  This time he had a second experience of Norman wiles and of Norman strength too.  King and Count entered the land and ravaged far and wide.  William, as before, allowed the enemy to waste the land.  He watched and followed them till he found a favourable moment for attack.  The people in general zealously helped the Duke’s schemes, but some traitors of rank were still leagued with the Count of Anjou.  While William bided his time, the invaders burned Caen.  This place, so famous in Norman history, was not one of the ancient cities of the land.  It was now merely growing into importance, and it was as yet undefended by walls or castle.  But when the ravagers turned eastward, William found the opportunity that he had waited for.  As the French were crossing the ford of Varaville on the Dive, near the mouth of that river, he came suddenly on them, and slaughtered a large part of the army under the eyes of the king who had already crossed.  The remnant marched out of Normandy.

Henry now made peace, and restored Tillieres.  Not long after, in 1060, the King died, leaving his young son Philip, who had been already crowned, as his successor, under the guardianship of William’s father-in-law Baldwin.  Geoffrey of Anjou and William of Aquitaine also died, and the Angevin power was weakened by the division of Geoffrey’s dominions between his nephews.  William’s position was greatly strengthened, now that France, under the new regent, had become friendly, while Anjou was no longer able to do mischief.  William had now nothing to fear from his neighbours, and the way was