fleet, but rather seemed subserviently to further their passage, like that most beautiful appearance at sea when the wave gradually approaching gently breaks upon the shore. Thus making the port of Wareham, these favoured vessels restored the earl and all his companions to the wishes of their friends. He had at first thought of landing at Southampton, at once to wreak his vengeance both on its inhabitants and on their lord: but this resolution was changed through the repeated entreaties of the Vituli, who were fearful that their dearest connexions, who resided at Southampton, would be involved in the general calamity. These are a kind of mariners, who are known by the name of Vituli; and as they are his faithful adherents he thought fit to listen to their petitions, and desist from his design. Again, it appeared more dignified to return to the place whence he had departed, and to recover by force what he had lost by a similar mode. Reducing, therefore, immediately the port and town, he laid siege to the castle, which by its strength stimulated the spirit, not to call it obstinacy, of those of the king's choicest troops who defended it. Yet, nevertheless, soon after, the garrison, shaken in their resolution by the engines of the earl, and greatly alarmed, begged a truce, that, as is the custom of the military, they might demand assistance from the king, consenting to deliver up the castle if he refused to come by a certain day. This, though he was possessed with the utmost impatience to become master of the fortress, was very agreeable to the earl, as it led him to suppose it might draw off Stephen from besieging his sister. We may imagine what firmness of mind this man possessed who, with little more than three hundred horsemen, and as yet joined by no succours in England, could undauntedly await the king, who was reported to have more than a thousand; for many persons had joined the siege, not so much through dislike to the empress as through the hope of plunder. However, when it was certified that the king, from that resolution which I have before mentioned, refused assistance to the besieged at Wareham, the earl obtained the castle, and with the same attack subdued the island of Portland, which they had fortified, as well as a third castle, called Lullewarden, which belonged to a certain chamberlain, called William of Glastonbury, who had lately revolted from the empress. Robert then, at the beginning of Advent, summoned the whole of Matilda's partisans to Cirencester: where all resolving to afford their sovereign every possible assistance, they meditated a march to Oxford; courageously determining to give the king battle, unless he retreated. But as they were on their route, the pleasing account reached them, that the empress had escaped from the blockaded castle at Oxford, and was now at Wallingford in security. Turning aside thither, then, at the suggestion of their sovereign, since the soldiers who had remained at her departure, after delivering up the castle, had gone away without molestation, and the holidays admonished them to repose awhile, they resolved to abstain from battle, and retired to their homes. I would very willingly subjoin the manner of the empress's liberation, did I know it to a certainty; for it is undoubtedly one of God's manifest miracles. This, however, is sufficiently notorious, that, through fear of the earl's approach, many of the besiegers at Oxford stole away wherever they were able, and the rest remitted their vigilance, and kept not so good a look out as before; more anxious for their own safety, in case it came to a battle, than bent on the destruction of others.* This circumstance being remarked by the townsmen, the empress, with only four soldiers, made her escape through a small postern, and passed the river. Afterwards, as necessity sometimes, and indeed, almost always, discovers means and ministers courage, she went to Abingdon on foot, and thence reached Wallingford on horse-back. But this I purpose describing more fully, if, by God's permission, I shall ever learn the truth of it from those who were present. One of the MSS. omits from, "This circumstance," to the end, and substitutes, "but these matters, with God's permission, shall be more largely treated in the following volume." INDEX. ADULTERY, punished in Old Saxony, 74. Aldred, abp. of York, crowns William I, 281. Angles and Saxons invited from Germany, Anschetil, a Norman nobleman, 144. Arthur assists Ambrosius, 11; his sepul- Asia Minor, its ancient fruitfulness, 377. Babylon in Egypt, formerly Taphnis, 390. Ballads, ancient historical, 138, 148, 315. Benedict Biscop, founder of Wearmouth, 54. Berengar of Tours, account of 311. Bethlehem, church of St. Mary, at 383. Bishops, seven, story of, 127, 128. 118. Briget, St. 25. Britons, avarice and rapine of, 67. Britons, western, or Cornwallish, 134. Brithwin, bishop of Wilton, 247. Clerks, two, at Nantes, story of, 268. Cologne, abp. of, his exemplary conduct, 183. Burgundy, Stephen earl of, 408. Killed at Comet, appearance of, 251, 343. Ramula, 410. Burhred, king of Mercia, 88. Cadwalla, king of the Britons, 46. Cadwalla, king of Wessex, 16. Baptized, Cæsar, Julius, subdues Britain, 5. Calne, remarkable accident at, 163. Canterbury, see of, attempt to remove it to Canterbury, city of, burnt, 16. Dreadful Caradoc of Lancarvon, his Life of Gildas, Ceawlin, king of Wessex, his character, 18. Centuries, or hundreds, instituted, 117. Chartres, siege of, 125. Church of, 204. Chester, reduced by Edward the elder, Chorges, bishop of, account of, 414, 417. Cissa, king of Sussex, 92, note. Clergy, vanity of their dress condemned, 76. Complines, what, 350, note. Constantine the Great, exhausts Britain, 6 163, 191, 311, 356, 462, 499, 501, 617, 525. 411. Crucifix, said to have spoken, 163. brated one at Lucca, 332. At Winches- Crusaders, march of, 364. Their extreme Cuichelm, king of Wessex, 19, 20. Cuthburga, abbess of Wimborne, 35. Dancers and profane singers punished, 182. of, 69, 112, 167. Butchered by Ethelred, David, tower of, at Jerusalem described, 387. Den, a monastery so called, 466. Denmark, succession of its kings, 292. Dunstan, abp. of Canterbury, 141, 167, 245. Eadbert, king of Northumbria, 61–67. Eadburga, queen of Wessex, 106. |