encouraging those about him, fell with undaunted valour upon the enemy; and being for some time bravely seconded by his foot, did great execution.  At length overpowered by numbers, his men began to disperse, and Stephen was left almost alone with his sword in his hand, wherewith he opposed his person against a whole victorious army, nor durst any be so hardy to approach him; the sword breaking, a citizen of Lincoln put into his hands a Danish battle-axe,[33] with which he struck to the ground the Earl of Chester,[34] who presumed to come within his reach.  But this weapon likewise flying in pieces with the force of those furious blows he dealt on all sides, a bold knight of the Empress’s party, named William de Keynes, laid hold on his helmet, and immediately cried out to his fellows, “I have got the King.”  Then the rest ran in, and he was taken prisoner.[35]

[Footnote 33:  Sim.  Dunelmensis. [D.S.]]

[Footnote 34:  The Earl of Chester lived nevertheless to fight other battles, and died twelve years afterwards by poison. [D.S.]]

[Footnote 35:  Gervase. [D.S.]]

The King being thus secured, was presented to the Empress, then at Gloucester, and by her orders conveyed to Bristol, where he continued in strict custody nine months, although with honourable treatment for some time, until either upon endeavouring to make his escape, or in malice to the Londoners, who had a great affection for their King, he was, by express command from the Empress, laid in irons, and used with other circumstances of severity.

This victory was followed by a general defection of almost the whole kingdom; and the Earl of Anjou, husband to the Empress, upon the fame of the King’s defeat and imprisonment, reduced without any difficulty the whole Duchy of Normandy to his obedience.

The legate himself, although brother to King Stephen, received her at Winchester with great solemnity, accepted her oath for governing with justice, redressing grievances, and supporting the rights of the Church, and took the old conditional one of fealty to her; then in an assembly of bishops and clergy convoked for the purpose, he displayed the miscarriages of his brother, and declared his approbation of the Empress to be Queen; to which they unanimously agreed.  To complete all, he prevailed by his credit with the Londoners, who stood out the last of any, to acknowledge and receive her into the city, where she arrived at length in great pomp, and with general satisfaction.

But it was the misfortune of this Princess to possess many weaknesses that are charged to the sex, and very few of its commendable qualities:  she was now in peaceable possession of the whole kingdom, except the county of Kent, where William d’Ypres pretended to keep up a small party for the King; when by her pride, wilfulness, indiscretion, and a disobliging behaviour, she soon turned the hearts of all men against her, and in a short time lost the fruits of that victory