•was fighting with the greatest valour in another part of the field, was alarmed and took to flight. Next, the king's troop, which king David had formed of several clans, as soon as it perceived this, began to drop off, at first ; man by man, and afterwards in bodies, the king standing firm, and being at last left almost alone. The king's friends seeing this, forced him to mount his horse and take to flight ; but Henry, his valiant son, not heeding what he saw being done by his men, but solely intent on glory and valour, while the rest were taking to flight, most bravely charged the enemy's line, and shook it by the wondrous vigour of his onset. For his troop was the only one mounted on horseback, and consisted of English and Normans, who formed a part of his father's household. His horsemen, however, were not able long to continue their attacks against soldiers on foot, cased in mail, and standing immoveable in close and dense ranks ; but, with their lances broken and their horses wounded, were compelled to take to flight. Rumour says, that many thousands98 of the Scots were slain on that field, be» sides those who, on being taken in the woods and standing corn, were put to death. Accordingly, the English and Normans happily gained the victory, and with a very small effusion of blood. In this battle the eommanders were the above-named Ralph, bishop of the Orkneys, the illustrious William, earl of Albemarle, of the blood royal, and famed for his military prowess, Walter Espec, a celebrated nobleman, William Piperei of Nottingham, and Gilbert de Lacy, whose brother was the only knight there slain. On hearing of the result of this engagement, king Stephen and all who were with him gave hearty thanks to God. This battle was fought in the month of August. At the Advent of our Lord, Alberie, legate of the Roman ehurch and bishop of Ostia, held a eouneil at London, on which occasion, with the consent of king Stephen, Theobald, abbat of Bee, was made archbishop of Canterbury. In the year of grace 1139, being the fourth year of the reign of king Stephen, after the Nativity, the said king took the castle of Slede 1 by siege ; and afterwards proceeded to Scotland, where he laid waste the country on aU sides with fire and sword, on which the king was obliged to make terms 98 Roger of Wendover says, eleven thousand. 1 Leeds. 234 ANNALS OF BOGER DE HOVEDEN. A.D. 1139.