that Stephen landed there, was, what is contrary to nature in winter, a terrible thunderstorm, accompanied with dreadful lightning, which was heard all over England, so that the whole world was thought to be come to an end. The king's body was brought from Normandy to Beading, and embalmed with apices, and at the end of three months, buried with great reverence in the same church, which he himself had built from its foundations, and during his lifetime had laid the first stone in the presence of king Stephen and many of the nobles. CH. IV.—-FROM A.D. 1136 το A.D. 1154. Louis the Gross dies—The emperor Lothaire dies—The Scots invade England—The empress Matilda comes to England— London is surrendered to her—War between her and Stephen —Conrad, the emperor, and Louis, king of France, go to Jerusalem—Geoffrey of Anjou gives up Normandy to his' son Henry—Henry marries Eleanor—Peace is made be . tween Stephen and Matilda and Henry—Stephen dies, and Henry comes to England. William, archbishop of Canterbury, died. A.D. 1136. William, archbishop of Canterbury, died. Bishop Henry carried off the hand of Saint James from Beading. The same year, after Easter, Robert, earl of Gloucester, came into England, a man whose prudence and power king Stephen held in especial respect. After his arrival, the bishops swore fealty to the king, and the king swore inviolably to maintain the liberties of the Church and all good laws ; and then he composed his charter : and, in like manner, count Robert did him an homage, that is to say, on condition that he was to preserve all his dignity unimpaired. Louis, king of France, died. King Stephen crossed the sea. A.D. 1137. Louis the Gross, king of France, died, and was succeeded by Louis, his son, who received in marriage Eleanor, the daughter of William, duke of Aquitaine, a woman richer in the endowments of her person than in those of her mind. At the beginning of Lent, king Stephen crossed the sea ; and on the following Easter-day, the count also crossed the sea, whose voyage was more prosperous than his landing, for the king laid a plot against him, and contrived that he should be taken prisoner ; but he was forewarned by those who were the