[163] Such are the alternatives presented by Henry of Huntingdon (p. 266). The treacherous counsel alluded to was that of his brother the legate (_Gesta Stephani_, p. 57). According to John of Hexham (_Sym. Dun._ ii. 302), Stephen acted "ex indiscretâ animi simplicitate." [164] _Will. Malms._, p. 725. [165] See Appendix F: "The Defection of Miles of Gloucester." [166] _Will. Malms._, p. 725; _Cont. Flor._, p. 118. Here the Continuator's chronology is irreconcilable with that of our other authorities. He states that the Empress removed to Gloucester on October 15, after a stay of two months at Bristol. This is, of course, consistent, it should be noticed, with the date (August 1) assigned by him for her landing. [167] The text is taken from the transcript in Lansdowne MS. 229, fol. 123, collated with Dugdale's transcript in his MSS. at the Bodleian Library (L. 21). It will be seen that Dugdale transcribed _verbatim_, while the other transcript begins in _narratio obliqua_. [168] "Sciatis quod" (D.). [169] "Mei" (D.). [170] "Me" (D.). [171] These were specially excepted from the grants of royal demesne made by Henry II. to his son, the second earl. [172] _Cont. Flor._, p. 129; _Will. Malms._, p. 712; _Gesta_, p. 72. [173] _Ibid._; _John Hex._, p. 308; _Hen. Hunt._, p. 275. [174] _Gesta_, p. 72. [175] "Ob illiusmodi eventum vehementer exhilarata, utpote regnum sibi juratum, sicut sibi videbatur, jam adepta" (_Cont. Flor._, p. 130). [176] _Cont. Flor._, 130. [177] "Simul et ejusdem civitatis sumens dominium" (_ibid._). [178] "Ut ipsam tanquam regis Henrici filiam et cui omnis Anglia et Normannia jurata esset, incunctanter in ecclesiam et regnum reciperet" (_Will. Malms._, p. 743). Compare the writer's description of the oath (1127) that the magnates "imperatricem _incunctanter_ et sine ullâ retractione dominam susciperent" (p. 690). [179] _Journ. B. A. A._, xxxi. 389. Mr. Howlett asserts that the evidence of William of Malmesbury as to the date (2nd and 3rd of March) "is refuted" by this charter, which places them a fortnight earlier (Introduction to _Gesta Stephani_, p. xxii.). But I do not think the evidence of the charter is sufficiently strong to overthrow the accepted date. [180] "Pluvioso et nebuloso die" (_Will. Malms._, p. 743). [181] _Cont. Flor._, p. 130; _Will. Malms._, p. 743.