A.D. 1141, EARX ROBERT ADDRESSES HIS TROOPS. 239 and standing upon an elevated spot, delivered a speech to this effect :— "It is not -without reason that you demand the honor of the first blow, both on the ground of your noble descent, and the valour wherein you excel. But still, if you stand upon noble descent, I am not surpassed by you, being the son of a most noble king, and the grandson of a most mighty monarch : if upon valour, here are many men of most consummate bravery, before whom not a man living can be preferred for prowess. But it is a far different reason that influences me. Por, contrary to the oaths which he made to my sister, the king has cruelly usurped the kingdom, and, causing confusion on every side, has been the occasion of death to many thousands,8 and after his own example, has distributed lands among those who have no right thereto, violently taking them away from those who rightfully possessed them. By those who have been thus wickedly disinherited, with the aid of God, the Supreme Judge, who prepares vengeance, must he be first attacked. He who judges His people in equity, will look down from His habitation on high in the heavens, and will never desert us in this our great necessity, who with justice seek what is just. There is one thing, however, most valiant chieftains, and all you fellow-soldiers, which I desire firmly to impress upon your minds, namely, that by the marshes through which with difficulty you have passed, there can be no way of escape by flight. Here, therefore, we must either conquer or die ; in flight, hope of escape there is none. This alone remains for you, to make a way into the city with your swords. But if my mind presages aught of truth, the fact that you have no possible means of escape is the very thing which, this day, with the help of God, will gain for us the victory. For he must needs have recourse to prowess, who has not any possible means of escape. On the other hand, the citizens of Lincoln, who stand close to their city, with minds quailing beneath the vigour of your onset, you, proving victorious, will see flying for refuge to their homes. Besides, consider who it is against whom you are waging war. Alan, duke of the Bretons, comes forth in arms against us, nay, rather, against God ; an infamous man and one polluted with all kinds of crimes ; who in mis- 8 The text has *'multibus," "soldiers;" but "millibus," "thousands," seems preferable, and is the reading in Ranulph Highden's narrative.