J. H. ROUND. PAU, _Christmas_, 1891. [1] Preface to my _Ancient Charters_ (Pipe-Roll Society). [2] _Staffordshire Survey_, p. 277. CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I. THE ACCESSION OF STEPHEN 1 CHAPTER II. THE FIRST CHARTER OF THE KING 37 CHAPTER III. TRIUMPH OF THE EMPRESS 55 CHAPTER IV. THE FIRST CHARTER OF THE EMPRESS 81 CHAPTER V. THE LOST CHARTER OF THE QUEEN 114 CHAPTER VI. THE ROUT OF WINCHESTER 123 CHAPTER VII. THE SECOND CHARTER OF THE KING 136 CHAPTER VIII. THE SECOND CHARTER OF THE EMPRESS 163 CHAPTER IX. FALL AND DEATH OF GEOFFREY 201 CHAPTER X. THE EARLDOM OF ESSEX 227 APPENDICES. A. STEPHEN'S TREATY WITH THE LONDONERS 247 B. THE APPEAL TO ROME IN 1136 250 C. THE EASTER COURT OF 1136 262 D. THE "FISCAL" EARLS 267 E. THE ARRIVAL OF THE EMPRESS 278 F. THE DEFECTION OF MILES OF GLOUCESTER 284 G. CHARTER OF THE EMPRESS TO ROGER DE VALOINES 286 H. THE "TERTIUS DENARIUS" 287 I. "VICECOMITES" AND "CUSTODES" 297 J. THE GREAT SEAL OF THE EMPRESS 299 K. GERVASE DE CORNHILL 304 L. CHARTER OF THE EMPRESS TO WILLIAM DE BEAUCHAMP 313 M. THE EARLDOM OF ARUNDEL 316 N. ROBERT DE VERE 326 O. "TOWER" AND "CASTLE" 328 P. THE EARLY ADMINISTRATION OF LONDON 347 Q. OSBERTUS OCTODENARII 374 R. THE FOREST OF ESSEX 376 S. THE TREATY OF ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE EARLS OF HEREFORD AND GLOUCESTER 379 T. "AFFIDATIO IN MANU" 384 U. THE FAMILIES OF MANDEVILLE AND DE VERE 388 V. WILLIAM OF ARQUES 397 X. ROGER "DE RAMIS" 399 Y. THE FIRST AND SECOND VISITS OF HENRY II. TO ENGLAND 405