But when his partizans in England rose in the south and the west and the King of Scots, whose friendship Stephen had bought in the opening of his reign by the cession of Carlisle, poured over the northern border, the nation stood firmly by the king.

Stephen himself marched on the western rebels and soon left them few strongholds save Bristol.

His people fought for him in the north.

The pillage and cruelties of the wild tribes of Galloway and the Highlands roused the spirit of the Yorkshiremen.

Baron and freeman gathered at York round Archbishop Thurstan and marched to the field of Northallerton to await the foe.