238 AXXALS OF BOGEIi DE HOVEDEX. A.D. 1141. William, treasurer of the church of York, who was accordingly consecrated by Henry, bishop of Winchester, legate of the Church of Rome. But the other canons chose as their archbishop Henry Murdac, who prevailed, and retained the archbishopric as long as he lived, while archbishop William remained with Henry, bishop of Winchester, who had consecrated him, until the decease of Henry Murdac. In the year of grace 1141, being the sixth year of the reign of king Stephen, that king, before the Nativity, laid siege to the city of Lincoln, the castle of which, Ranulph, earl of Chester, had treacherously seized ; and there the king took up his quarters until the Purification of Saint Mary ; when earl Ranulph brought with him Robert, the son of king Henry, his own son-in-law, and some other valiant nobles, in order to raise the siege by the king ; and the most valiant earl, having with difficulty crossed a marsh, which was almost impassable, on the same day, drawing out his troops in battle array, offered the king battle. He himself, with his own men, formed the first line ; those whom king Stephen had deprived of their inheritance, the second ; and the great earl Robert, with his men, the third ; on the flank there was a multitude of \Velck-men, better provided with daring than with arms. After this, the earl of Chester, a consummate warrior, glittering with conspicuous arms, thus addressed earl Robert and the other nobles :— "With the greatest sincerity, to you, most invincible chieftain, and to you, nobles and fellow-soldiers, do I return many thanks, who have magnanimously shewn your goodwill towards me at the hazard of your lives. Since then, I am the occasion of your peril, it is only fair that I should be the first to expose myself to peril, and be the first to pierce the ranks of this most faithless king, who, after making a treaty, has broken the peace. Wherefore, trusting both in the king's injustice and in my own valour, I will straightway cleave asunder the royal ranks, and with my sword make way through the midst of the foe. It shall be the part of your prowess to follow mo while I, lead the way, and to imitate my example as I strike. I already seem to myself, in my presaging mind, to be passing through the royal ranks, trampling the nobles beneath my feet, and piercing the king himself with my sword." Thus he spoke ; on which earl Robert addressed the 3'outh,