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The situation around 10am when the army of
Robert of Gloucester was sighted approaching Lincoln from the southwest. King
Stephen was in the cathedral hearing mass when the news was brought to him.
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Just after dawn on Sunday 2 February Stephen
was attending mass in the cathedral to celebrate the Feast of the Purification
of the Virgin. As was the custom he, as the senior lay person present, was
holding a ceremonial wax taper while Bishop Alexander began the service. As
Stephen passed the taper to the bishop it snapped in half and went out. The
event caused Alexander to fumble the pyx containing the holy wafer, causing it
to fall sideways on to the altar. Such minor incidents had a greater importance
to the medieval mind than they do today. They were not just omens or portents,
but signs sent direct from the saints or even from God. Interpreting such signs
could be difficult, but nevertheless everyone agreed they were important. A
rustle ran around the church as men and women glanced at each other.
As the service continued a knight came
hurrying to the king with word that an army had come in sight. It was coming
from the southwest, up the old Roman road from Nottingham and Newark. The
banners soon showed that Earl Ranulf was there, but so was Robert of Gloucester
and a host of other noblemen. Realising the importance of the news, Stephen
began a muttered conversation with one or two noblemen who were in cathedral
with him, apparently including William of Ypres. This again raised eyebrows. As
a particpant in the service, Stephen should have been paying attention to God,
not to secular events. It was an action that would be seen as tempting fate and
would not have been popular. As soon as the service was over, Stephen summoned
a council of the leading nobles who were with him to discuss what should be
done.
Basically Stephen could either stand and
fight, or he could retreat north and leave Lincoln to his enemies. There were a
few voices urging retreat, but most favoured fighting. Stephen therefore
mustered his men out to war. The city sent its militia as well. The royal army
drew itself up to the west of the city. Exactly where Stephen put his army is
not now known. Given the layout of the land he would most likely have put his men
on the slope of Carholme, perhaps near what is now Long Leys Road.
from The Battle of Lincoln by Rupert Matthews
Buy your copy HERE
Book Description
A book dedicated to the Siege of Lincoln that marked a
turning point in the Wars of Anarchy during the reign of King Stephen. A
civil war between King Stephen and his rival Empress Matilda broke out
in 1136. By 1141 England had fallen in to near anarchy with nobles using
the unrest to pursue local feuds, slaughter rivals and pillage each
other's land. In 1141 Stephen moved to capture Lincoln Castle and put
down one such recalcitrant nobleman. While there he was surprised and
attacked by a larger army led by Matilda. The ensuing battle was complex
and confused, but it ended with Stephen utterly defeated - for now.
This book follows the standard pattern set by others in the Bretwalda
Battles series. The reasons for and course of the war in question are
outlined, then detailed analyses of weapons, tactics and strategies are
given with particular reference to this battle. The course of the
battleis then followed, with comment on what there is to see at the site
today. Short biographies of the commanders are also given. The
aftermath of the battle, its effects and importance to the progress of
the war are then described. The "Bretwalda Battles" series has been
running with increasing success as ebooks for some time. Now the first
books in the series are being published in print format.
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