Stephen waited there and he rode with me to the gate. I took off my helmet. The Empress appeared on the ramparts and I shouted, "My Empress, I have permission to escort you and your retinue to your brother, the Earl of Gloucester." Stephen shouted, "You have my word that, until you are safely with your brother then you shall be unmolested." "We will be with you shortly!" As we waited Stephen said, "I have told you before Earl that I only mean the best for England." "Then abdicate and give the crown to your cousin. England suffers with this civil war." "I cannot do that." "And yet you can give away a huge part of England to the barbarians from the north. I am sorry but I do not believe you. You are a bad leader. I have fought alongside you and know that you are no coward but, I am sorry, you are no king." "Then there is no more to be said. We will meet on the field of battle." "I have no doubt about that. And when we do then God will decide who has behaved with the most honour." "Sadly, Earl, we both believe that." The Empress emerged with her knights, her women and Henry fitz Empress. Her young son had grown. The Empress and her women rode horses rather than riding in a litter. I was pleased it would make for a quicker journey. Despite the words of Stephen I did not wish to risk her on the road for too long.
