=Source.=--Henry of Huntingdon, _Historia Anglorum_, ed. Arnold, p.
289. (Rolls Series.)
Meanwhile archbishop Theobald urgently treated with the king, to induce
him to come to terms with the duke, speaking often with the king in
person and with the duke by messenger.
His efforts were seconded by Henry bishop of Winchester, who before had
woefully disturbed the realm by conferring the crown upon Stephen his
brother; now, stirred to repentance and seeing the whole country ruined
by plunder, fire and slaughter, he shared in the negotiations for
peace, to put an end to the awful evils. Above all, the providence of
God, which makes peace and permits evil, purposing to stay the scourge
that smote England according to her deserts, prospered their work until
their efforts were blessed by the calm of peace and a treaty confirmed
by oaths. Oh! priceless joy, oh! blessed day! when the illustrious
prince, led by the king himself, was received with honour in the city
of Winchester at the head of a splendid procession of bishops and
warriors, amid the acclamation of a numberless throng of the people.
For the king received him as his adopted son and acknowledged him heir
to the throne. Thence the king brought the duke with him to London,
where he was received with equal joy by a numberless multitude of
people and magnificent processions, as so great a man deserved. So did
the mercy of God shed a halo of peace and lighten the darkness of the
ruined realm of England.
This accomplished, king Stephen and his new son parted in joy and
affection, to meet again, for this treaty was confirmed before
Christmas. But on the octave of the Epiphany they met once more at
Oxford, after the duke had spent almost a year in the conquest, or
rather the resurrection of England. There then the chief men of the
English, by the king’s command, did to the duke the homage and fealty
due to a lord saving to the king due honour and fealty during his life.
From this brilliant gathering they joyfully departed to their own
homes, blessed by a new peace. Again after a short interval of time
they met at Dunstable. There a brilliant day was somewhat clouded. The
duke was displeased that the castles, which had been everywhere built
after the death of king Henry and put to the worst uses, were not
destroyed, as had been determined and confirmed by the solemn treaty of
peace between them; a great part had now been razed, but the castles
of some had been spared either by the clemency or the connivance of
the king, whereby their mutual adherence to the compact seemed to
be impaired. The duke, on complaining hereon to the king, suffered
a repulse, but, deferring to his new father, reluctantly postponed
the question, that the light of their harmony might not seem to be
extinguished by him; they parted peaceably, and not long after, by the
king’s licence, the victorious duke returned to Normandy.