count of Blois attempted to surprise Amboise, in company with the young King Henry, Robert’s son and recently crowned colleague. The attack failed;[358] it was Odo’s last effort to stem the tide of Angevin progress. Fulk had done more than beat his rival in the battle-field; he had out-generalled him in every way, and won a triumph which made the final issue of their rivalry a foregone conclusion. That issue he never sought to hasten, for with all his fiery vehemence Fulk knew how to wait; unlike Odo, he could look beyond the immediate future, beyond the horizon of his own life, and having sown and watered his seed he could be content to leave others to gather its fruit, rather than risk the frustration of his labours by plucking at it before the time. [344] Stephen seems to have died in 1019; _Art de vérifier les dates_, vol. xi. p. 347. [345] Chron. Rain. Andeg. a. 1026 (Marchegay, _Eglises_, p. 10); Chron. Vindoc. a. 1025 (_ib._ p. 165). This last is probably the right date, as the Angevin capture of Saumur, which follows, is dated in 1026 by the Chronn. S. Albin. and S. Serg. (_ib._ pp. 22, 134), and in 1025 by the Chronn. S. Flor. Salm. and S. Maxent. (_ib._ pp. 187, 388). [346] “Totis nisibus adorsus est.” Chronn. Rain. Andeg. and Vindoc. as above. [347] “Cum _Francis_,” says the _Hist. S. Flor. Salm._ (Marchegay, _Eglises_, p. 276). This writer afterwards speaks of Odo’s whole host as “Franci.” He has already done the same at Pontlevoy (_ib._ p. 274); but surely there cannot have been any royal vassals fighting under Odo there. What can be the writer’s real meaning? [348] _Gesta Cons._ (Marchegay, _Comtes_), p. 108. _Gesta Amb. Domin._ (_ibid._), p. 165. See, for dates, Chron. Rain. Andeg. a. 1026 (Marchegay, _Eglises_, p. 10). [349] The _Gesta Amb. Domin._ (as above), p. 165, say that Fulk was accompanied by Herbert of Maine. But, on calculating dates, it seems that Herbert must have been by this time in prison. It is however highly probable that Cenomannian troops would be supplied to Fulk by Bishop Avesgaud. [350] _Hist. S. Flor. Salm._ (Marchegay, _Eglises_), p. 276. [351] _Ib._ p. 275. [352] _Hist. S. Flor. Salm._ (Marchegay, _Eglises_), p. 276.--“Ligerique _ac Vigennâ_ transvadatis.” The writer, living close to the spot, can hardly have mistaken its topography; but unless he has done so, the confluence of the Vienne and the Loire must at that time have been considerably farther west than at present; it is now at Candes, some distance to the east of Saumur and Brain. [353] _Hist. S. Flor. Salm._ (Marchegay, _Eglises_), pp. 276–278. [354] _Gesta Cons._ (Marchegay, _Comtes_), p. 109. _Gesta Amb. Domin._ (_ibid._), p. 165.