Stephen had issued on his coronation-day, was amplified into a more detailed and definite charter.[698] Suddenly, a few weeks later, there went forth a rumour that the king was dead, and the barons at once broke into revolt. Baldwin of Redvers threw himself into Exeter; Hugh Bigod, who but a few months ago had been foremost among the supporters of Stephen, seized Norwich castle, and was only dislodged by the king in person.[699] He was apparently forgiven; another rebel, Robert of Bathenton,[700] was caught and hanged, and his castle forced to surrender. The great castle of Exeter, where Baldwin had shut himself up with his family and a picked band of young knights, all sworn never to yield, cost a long and troublesome siege; but the agonies of thirst at length drove the garrison to break their vow and ask for terms. Stephen let them all go out free; Baldwin requited his leniency by hastening to a castle which he possessed in the Isle of Wight, and there setting himself up as a sort of pirate-chief at the head of a band of men as reckless as himself. But when Stephen hurried to Southampton and began to collect a fleet, Baldwin suddenly took fright and surrendered. His lands were confiscated, and he went into exile in Anjou, where he was eagerly welcomed by the count, and added one more to the elements of strife already working in Normandy.[701] In England his defeat put an end to the revolt, and the Christmas court at Dunstable brought the first year of King Stephen to a tranquil close.[702] [692] Ord. Vit. (as above), pp. 901, 902. Hen. Hunt., l. viii. c. 2 (Arnold, pp. 257, 258). Flor. Worc. Contin. (Thorpe), vol. ii. p. 95. Will. Malm. _Hist. Nov._, l. i. c. 13 (Hardy, p. 705). [693] For the details of this Scottish expedition and treaty see Hen. Hunt., l. viii. c. 4 (Arnold, pp. 258, 289), Ric. Hexh. (Raine), p. 72, and Joh. Hexh. (_ibid._), p. 114. [694] Gerv. Cant. (Stubbs), vol. i. p. 96. [695] Hen. Hunt., l. viii. c. 2 (Arnold, p. 259). [696] _Gesta Steph._ (Sewell), pp. 14–16. [697] Will. Malm. _Hist. Nov._, l. i. c. 14 (Hardy, pp. 705–707). Cf. _Gesta Steph._ (Sewell), p. 9. [698] Will. Malm. _Hist. Nov._, l. i. c. 15 (Hardy, pp. 707–709). Stubbs, _Select Charters_, pp. 119–121. [699] Hen. Hunt., l. viii. c. 4 (Arnold, p. 259). [700] Or Bakington. In the _Gesta Steph._ (Sewell), p. 18, the name of the place is _Batthentona_, which Lappenberg and Mr. Freeman render by Bathenton in Devon. (Mr. Sewell, the editor of the _Gesta Steph._, rendered it _Bath_.) But while two MSS. of Hen. Hunt. have “Bathentun,” three others have “Bachentun” or “Bakentun” (Arnold, p. 259, note 6. In the index Mr. Arnold suggests “Bagington? Bathampton?”).