Baggage and horses and armour were transferred speedily from the shore to shipboard.
Henry himself inspected the vessel which was to convey him and his household across the sea, while the loyal Norman crowd pressed round, eager to bid their liege good speed on his voyage.
The afternoon was advancing, and the order had already been given to embark, when, through the crowd which thronged King Henry, there struggled forward a man dressed in sailor guise, who advanced and fell on one knee before his sovereign.
"My liege," said he, "a boon for me!" "Who art thou ?" inquired the king.
"My lord duke, Stephen, my father, served thy father, William of Normandy, all his life.

He it was who steered the vessel which carried the duke to the conquest of England.

Permit me, my lord, a like honour.
See where my `White Ship' waits to receive her captain's noble sovereign." Henry looked in the direction pointed, and saw the gallant vessel, gleaming like silver with its white poop and oars and sails in the sun; surely as fair a ship as ever crossed the sea.
"Brave son of a brave father," replied the king, "but that my word has been given, and my baggage is already embarked on another's vessel, thy request should not have been in vain.

But, to show that I hold thy father's son worthy of his name, see, I entrust to thee my son William, heir to my throne, in all confidence that thou wilt conduct him safely over.

Let him go with thee, while I myself do set sail in the vessel I had chosen." Fitz-Stephen bowed low, and the young Prince William, a lad of eighteen years, stepped forward gaily towards him, and cried-- "Come, comrade! thou shalt find a king's son as good company as his father.