ant epoch in the annals of London. Thenceforth the city assumes a
pre-eminent position and exercises a predominant influence in the public
affairs of the kingdom.(110)

(M73)

From London Stephen went down to Winchester, where he was heartily
welcomed by his brother Henry, recently appointed papal legate. Next to
London, it was important that Stephen should secure Winchester, and now
that London had spoken, the citizens of Winchester no longer hesitated to
throw in their lot with the king. Winchester secured, and Stephen put in
possession of the royal castle and treasury, he returned to London, where
all doubts as to the validity or invalidity of his election were set at
rest by the ceremony of coronation (Dec. 1135).

(M74)

In the spring of the following year (April 1136), a brilliant council of
the clergy and magnates of the realm was held in London,(111) reminding
one of the Easter courts of the days of the Conqueror which latterly had
been shorn of much of their splendour. The occasion was one for
introducing the new king to his subjects as well as for confirming the
liberties of the church, and Stephen may have taken special care to
surround it with exceptional splendour as a set off against the meagreness
which had characterised the recent ceremony of his coronation.(112)

(M75)

In the meanwhile the injured Matilda appealed to Rome, but only with the
result that her rival received formal recognition from the Pope. Three
years later (1139) she landed in England accompanied by her brother, the
Earl of Gloucester. She soon obtained a following, more especially in the
west; and Winchester--the seat of the royal residence of the queens of
England since the time when Ethelred presented the city as a "morning
gift" to his consort at their marriage--became her headquarters and
rallying point for her supporters, whilst London served in the same way
for Stephen.

(M76)

After nine months of sieges and counter sieges, marches and counter
marches, in which neither party could claim any decided success, Stephen,
as was his wont, withdrew to London and shut himself up in the Tower, with
only a single bishop, and he a foreigner, in his train. Whilst safe behind
the walls of that stronghold, negotiations were opened between him and the
empress for a peaceful settlement of their respective claims (May, 1140),
Henry of Winchester acting as intermediary between the rival parties.(113)
The negotiations ended without effec