Stephen, king of the English, after endless toil and sieges of castles, which he endured for five years and six weeks for the preservation of the kingdom, was at length by the just judgement of God surrounded and captured at the siege of Lincoln castle, by Robert, earl of Gloucester, his uncle's son, and by Earl Ranulf of Chester on the feast of the Purification of St Mary [2 February] which fell on Sexagesima Sunday. He was taken and placed under guard first to Gloucester on Quinquagesima Sunday [9 February] and later to Bristol. Many of his followers were captured with him and thrown into prison.