practised to entice him to leave her party; but he remained faithful, and at last was exchanged for Stephen, Matilda did not lose hope, when she had recovered her champion. She tried to persuade her husband to pass the sea to succour her; he, who had more ambition than activity, wished first to confer with the duke of Glocester, who would not leave England while Matilda was in danger, and perhaps this was what Geoffry wished. But after, by his bravery and good conduct, having a little assured the fate of Matilda, he hastened into Normandy, to shew Plantagenet the necessity of his coming to head the party of his wife; but this indolent prince still alledged excuses, and the earl at last ceased to press it, and only demanded his son, which was granted, and the young Henry from that moment began his career of glory. They found Matilda besieged in the castle of Oxford by Stephen. But whilst they attempted her deliverance by force of arms, they learned she had escaped. Accustomed to disguises and peril, she had imagined a new stratagem, which had succeeded. The river was frozen, the country covered with snow. So rude a season made the assailants relax in their vigilance; Matilda, who had remarked it, went out in the night, dressed in white, with four knights who accompanied her; so that they could not easily be distinguished. She crossed the river, walked to the town of Abingdon, from whence she was transported to Wallingford. She forgot all her perils and fatigues in finding again her brother and her son; but her good fortune became soon again inconstant, and the earl of Glocester dying, she was obliged to quit England; from whence her son was also recalled by his father.
Henry, with whom all seemed to succeed, at length
