The Galloway Charge
On Tuesday, August 22, the English forces arrayed on Cowton Moor near Northallerton, with Walter Lespec, founder of Kirkham and Rievaux, standing atop the Standard cart to address…
The King’s Son Charges
The Standard itself was a cart bearing a mast topped by a silver pyx containing the Host, with consecrated banners of St. Peter of York, St. John of Beverley, and St.…
David’s Stand and Retreat
The Scottish host was divided into four divisions: the Galwegians, who claimed the honor of the first charge; the Cumbrians, men of Teviotdale, and Eustace Fitz-John’s followers;…
Henry’s Counterattack
The English formed a single compact mass around the Standard, with barons and their followers in the center, archers mingled in front, shire-levies in the rear, and a small detach…
Casualties and Booty
The wild Galwegians charged headlong against the English front, only to have their spears and javelins glance harmlessly off helmets and shields while their unarmored bodies were…
Victors Return in Solemn Procession
The second Scottish line under Prince Henry charged more effectively, but an Englishman raised a gory head on a pole crying it was David’s, causing the Scottish center to flee wit…
Surrender of Carham
David fought on almost alone until his attendants dragged him from the field, lifted him onto a horse, and compelled his retreat; on sighting the dragon on his standard his scatte…
KAPITEL V.
Chapter V covers the crisis of Stephen’s reign in 1138, beginning with the defeat of the Scottish invasion at the Battle of the Standard (Cowton Moor), the erosion of loyalty among the English barons, and culminating in the general rising led by Earl Robert of Gloucester.…
The Defeat of the Scots and Eustace Fitz-John
The defeat of the Scots at the Battle of the Standard was shared by the English baron Eustace Fitz-John, who had brought them into the land.…
Stephen’s Weakness and Lack of Confidence
Between Stephen and the barons there had always been a total lack of confidence, rooted in the fact that both had broken earlier obligations sworn to Matilda and her son.…
Stephen’s Policy of Makeshift
Stephen’s weakness manifested itself in a policy of makeshift that betrayed his uneasiness and increased his difficulties.…
The Creation of New Earldoms
Stephen’s next expedient was the creation of new earldoms for those he regarded as his especial friends, hoping to build an aristocracy wholly devoted to himself.…
Debasement of the Coinage and Spoliation
With the Crown’s revenues already insufficient for Stephen’s own needs, the next steps were the debasement of the coinage and the arbitrary spoliation of those he mistrusted, the…
Stephen’s Restless Activity
Stephen flew “hither and thither,” but his restless activity accomplished nothing against his enemies while doing great harm to himself.…
Quarrel with Earl Robert of Gloucester
Matters were made worse by Stephen’s relations with Earl Robert of Gloucester, the one man best placed to influence baronial policy.…
Robert’s Formal Renunciation of Allegiance
Soon after Whitsuntide, Robert sent to the king a formal renunciation of his allegiance and to his vassals in England instructions to prepare for war.…
The General Rising of the Barons
Robert’s message proved the signal for a general rising. Geoffrey Talbot had already seized Hereford castle; in the north Eustace Fitz-John, as already noted, had joined hands wit…
Castle Holdings of the Insurgents
The insurgents immediately made ready a wide network of castles for defence or defiance. Bristol was held under Robert’s own son; Harptree under William Fitz-John; Castle Cary und…
Siege of Hereford
The full force of the blow fell on Stephen while he was trying to dislodge Geoffrey Talbot from Hereford.…
The Bishop of Bath Incident
While Stephen was occupied elsewhere, Geoffrey Talbot made an attempt on Bath but was captured and imprisoned by the bishop.…
Survey of Bristol’s Defences
A survey of the environs convinced Stephen he had undertaken a very difficult task. Bristol, encircled by two rivers, was a natural stronghold of no common order, and on the unpro…
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