A.D. Ììi7. STEPHEN CROWNED AT LINCOLN. 249 His mind was always kindly disposed, his discretion always to be relied on, his countenance always not only cheerful but even joyous. The bishop, returning the second year after this to Lincoln, with wonderful taste repaired the church there so skilfully, that it appeared more beautiful than when it was first built. In the year of grace 1146, being the eleventh year of the reign of king Stephen, that king, having assembled a large army, built an impregnable castle, situate opposite to Walling-ford, where ltanulph, earl of Chester, who was now on friendly terms with the king, was staying with a large number of his followers. But, shortly after, as the earl was coming in a peaceful manner to the king's court, the king seized him at Northampton, whUe apprehending no such attack, and thrust him into prison until he had restored to him the most famous castle of Lincoln, which he had taken from him by stratagem, and aB the rest of the castles which had belonged to himself ; upon which, the earl was released from prison and restored to liberty. In the same year, the noble city of Edessa, in Syria, which is now called Boaise, was taken through treachery by the Saracens, on the night of the Nativity of our Lord, while the bishop and Baymond, earl of Saint Gilles, and innumerable troops collected from the whole kingdom, and the people of the city were engaged in their rehgious duties ; who, on the capture of the city, were put to death by the pagans. In this city the remains of Saint Thomas the Apostle, which were formerly transferred from India, are said to rest. In the year of grace 1147, being the tweBth year of the reign of king Stephen, that king, at the festival of the Nativity »of our Lord, was crowned at the city of Lincoln, which no king had dared to enter, in consequence of certain supersti-tions20 preventing them. After the king's departure thence, the earl of Chester came to Lincoln with his troops, for the pur-pose of assaulting it ; upon which occasion, the commander of his troops, a man of invincible bravery, was slain at the en-trance of the north gate, and, after losing many of his men, the earl was forced to take to flight. On this, the citizens of Lincoln, being victorious, were fifled with extreme joy, and, 20 It was believed that misfortune and a speedy death would befall the king so doing.