few men, and fought against them, and put the king to flight at the Standard, and slew very many of his followers.
An. mc.xxxix.
An. [1] mc.xl. In this year king Stephen would take Robert earl of Gloucester, the son of king Henry; but he could not, for he was aware of it. Afterwards in Lent, the sun and the day darkened about the noontide of day, when men were eating, and they lighted candles to eat by; and that was on the xiiith of the Kal. of April (Mar. 20th). Men were greatly wonder-stricken. After that died William, archbishop of Canterbury; and the king made Theobald archbishop, who was abbot of Bec. After this waxed a very great war betwixt the king and Randolf earl of Chester; not because that he gave him not all that he could ask from him, as he did to all others; but ever the more he gave them, the worse they were to him. The earl held Lincoln against the king, and took from him all that he ought to have. And the king went thither and besieged him and his brother William de Roumare in the castle. And the earl stole out, and went after Robert earl of Gloucester, and brought him thither with a great force; and they fought obstinately on Candlemas day (Feb. 2nd) against their lord, and took him; for his men deserted him and fled. And they led him to Bristol, and there put him into prison, and . . . . . Then was all England stirred more that it ere was, and all evil was in the land. After that came king Henry's daughter, who had been empress of Almaine, and was now countess of Anjou, and came to London; and the London folk would take her, and she fled and [2] lost thus much. Afterwards the bishop of Winchester, Henry, the brother of king Stephen, spoke with earl Robert and with the empress, and swore oaths to them that he never more would hold with the king his brother, and cursed all the men who held with him; and said to them, that he would give Winchester up to them, and made them come thither. When they were therein, then came the king's queen with all her strength and besieged
