restored to the whole gouernement. [Sidenote: An. Reg. 6. 1141.] The
king followed hir verie earnestlie, and comming vnto Lincolne besieged
it, assaieng on euerie side which waie he might best find meanes to win
it, & enter into the same. [Sidenote: K. Stephen winneth Lincolne, _Ran.
Higd._ _Simon Dun._ _Polydor._ _N. Triuet._] At length the empresse
found shift to escape from thence, and within a little while the king
got possession of the citie. But shortlie after, Robert earle of
Glocester, and Ranulph earle of Chester, Hugh Bigot, and Robert of
Morley assembling their power, aswell of Welshmen as others, to come to
the succour of those that were thus besieged, came to Lincolne, &
pitching downe their tents néere to the enimies, they rested the first
night without making any great attempt.

[Sidenote: The ordering of the kings armie readie to giue battell.
_Simon Dun._ _Matt. Paris._] In the morning being the second daie of
Februarie, so soone as it was daie, they set their men in order of
battell, and brought them foorth in sight of the king and his host: who
were on the other side, not meaning to refuse the conflict, ordered his
men readie to encounter them, whome he diuided into 3. seuerall battels.
The chiefest part of his armed men he appointed to remaine on foot,
amongst whom he placed himselfe, with certeine noble men, as earle
Baldwin, and others. The residue being horssemen, he disposed into two
seuerall wings, [Sidenote: The earles of Norfolke, Hampton, Mellent, &
Waren.] in one of which were Alaine duke of Britaine, Hugh Bigot earle
of Norfolke, Simon earle of Hampton, and two other earles, Mellent and
Waren: Howbeit they were not furnished with such number of men as had
béene requisit; for as it fell out, they brought no great retinues with
them. [Sidenote: The earle of Albermarle, William de Ypres.] The other
wing was gouerned by the earle of Albemarle, and William de Ypres.