Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/187

 THE CASTLE OF EXETEE. 131 the Barons was disposed to maintain the claims of the elder brother, and he enumerates amongst them, Robert de Avranches, a grandson of Baldwin de Sap, above mentioned, who had the command of Exeter. Fortunately for the public welfare, an amicable arrangement took place between the brothers : William was to retain the crown for his hfe, and Robert was contented with the Dukedom of Normandy, and an annual pension besides. The death of King Henry I., at St. Denys le Froment, in Normandy, on 2nd Dec. 1135, was the signal for another civil commotion. The Barons were divided between the king's only legitimate daughter, Matilda,* on whom the suc- cession to the crown had been settled nine years before, and Stephen, Earl of Montaigne and Boloigne, the king's nephew. The latter aspirant to the throne had lost no time in securing the royal treasures ; the citizens of London proclaimed him king, and, by his bountiful generosity and liberal promises of freedom to the clergy and people, he succeeded in having his coronation performed by the Primate William, on the feast of his patron, St. Stephen, the Proto-Martyr, the 26th of December, that year. But very soon the new sovereign had to encounter a most formidable opposition ; and Baldwin de Redvers, Earl of Devon, grateful for the favours received from the late king, and mindful of his oaths, was the very first to raise the standard in the cause of Matilda. " Primus quidem omnium Baldewinus de Redvers caput suum levavit in Regem, firmato contra eum Castello Exoniensi." (Chronica Gervasii.) Retiring into the Castle of Exeter, he spared no exertions to render it impregnable, and fully determined to suffer every extremity rather than consent to surrender. In the course of 1136, Stephen invested the city, and for nearly three months pressed the siege with unabated vigour. The garrison offered a desperate defence ; but at length was compelled to capitulate for want of watcr.^ Their protracted resistance, Avhicli had cost the king the immense sum of more than 15,000 marks, might ■• She married the Emperor Henry IV., was buried at Bee. of Germany ; was his wife eleven years, * The present well in the castle is 104 but had no issue by him, except a daugh- feet deep, and affords an abundant supply, ter, Christina. In 1 129 she married again, We have already referred to the Close viz., Geoffrey riantagcnet, and by him Rolls, where King John, on l.')th June had three sons — 1. Henry, suriiamed Fit/.- 120o, orders the treasurer to settle the Empress, afterwards lien. II., King of account of William Briwerc, for maiving England ; 2. Geoffrey ; '3. William. Ma- this well " per preceptum nostrum." tilda died at Rouen 10th Sept., 1167, and