A.D. 1137. STEPHEN CROSSES INTO ΝΟΕΜΑΝΒΓ. 229 on oath to the empress, the daughter of king Henry and his own niece, to maintain her in possession of England after the death of king Henry. However, the son of king David, Henry by name, did homage to king Stephen ; on whieh, the latter presented him with the borough which is called Huntingdon, by way of gift. After this, the king returned at Lent, and held his court at London during the festival of Easter, amid such dazzling splendour, that there was never one in England more brilliant than it in its multitudes, magnificence, gold, silver, jewels, garments, and luxuries of every description. At the time of the Rogation Days, the king was seized with a lethargy, and it was currently reported that he was dead. On hearing of this, Hugh Bigod secretly effected an entrance into Norwich eastle, and would not restore it to any person except to the king himself on his repairing thither, and then very reluctantly. It was now that the frenzied conduct of the Normans, which has been previously mentioned, began to produce its effects in perjury and treason. The king, therefore, took Bading-ton, the owner of whieh was one Bobert, a traitor, who had rebelled against the king; after whieh, he laid siege to the city of Exeter, whieh Baldwin de Redwers85 held against him ; and being long detained there, and constructing many engines of war, eonsumed a large portion of his treasures in so doing. At length, however, the eastle was surrendered to him, and the king, following the most pernicious advice, did not exercise vengeance upon the traitors. But if he had exercised it on this occasion, so many castles would not have afterwards held out against him. The king proceeded thence to the Isle of "Wight, and took it from Baldwin de Bedwers, previously mentioned, whom he banished from England. The king, elated at these successes, went to hunt at Bramton, whieh is one mile distant from Huntingdon, and there he held pleas as to the forests of his nobles, that is to say, with reference to their woods and hunting, and thereby broke the vow and promise which he had made before God and the people. In the year of grace 1137, being the second year of the reign of king Stephen, the king, at the season of Lent, crossed over into Normandy. Alexander, bishop of Lincoln, and 85 Or Rivers.