240 ANNALS OF ROGER BE HOVEDEN A.n. 1141. chief knows not his equal, who has never wanted the desire to do injury, and who would consider it his only and extreme reproach not to be incomparable to any one in cruelty. There is also come out against us the earl of Mellent, crafty in his deceitfulness ; a planner of treachery ; in whose heart iniquity-is rooted, and. guile in his mouth ; slothful in deeds ; presumptuous in heart ; magnanimous in words ; pusillanimous in acting ; the last to attack, the first to run away ; tardy in battle, swift in flight. There is also come out against us earl Hugh, to whom it seems a trifle to have broken his oath to the empress, but he must commit perjury a second time in the most glaring manner, by affirming that king Henry gave the kingdom to Stephen and deprived his own daughter thereof. There is also come out the earl of Albemarle, a man of singular constancy in crime, ready for daring evil, and slow to relinquish it ; whom his wife, taking to flight, has abandoned by reason of his intolerable filthiness. There is also come out the earl, who has taken away his wife from the last named earl, a most avowed adulterer ; of singular impurity, a devotee of Bacchus ; a stranger to Mars ; wreaking with wine, and unacquainted with warfare. There is also come out, Simon, earl of Hampton,8* whose deeds consist of words alone ; whose only gifts are promises ; who when he has said a thing, has done it; when he has promised, has given. There are also come out, other nobles just like their king, accustomed to robberies ; enriched with rapines ; fattened upon murders ; all, in fact, defiled by perjury. You, therefore, most valiant men, whom the great king Henry has advanced, and man has humbled, whom he has raised, this man has depressed, arouse your courage, and trusting in your valour, nay, rather, in the justice of God, take the vengeance thus offered to you by God upon these wicked persons, and confer imperishable glory upon your posterity. If then it is now your determination to be the instruments of this judgment of God, vow that you will press onward, abjure all thoughts of flight, and with one consent raise your right hands towards heaven." Hardly had he concluded, when all, raising their hands towards heaven, with a thrilling shout abjured flight, and getting their arms in readiness for the attack, moved onward against the enemy in splendid array. '* Southampton.