MarginaliaEx Fabian. In vita. Step.iury to one Hugh Bigot, steward sometyme with kyng Henry. Who immediatly after the death of the sayd Hēry, came into England: and before the sayd archbishop and other Lordes of the land, tooke wilfully an oth, and sware: that he was present a litle before þ^e kynges death, when kyng Henry admitted for his heyre (to be king after hym) Stephen his nephew: for somuch as Molde hys daughter had discontented hym. Wherunto the archbishop with the other Lordes gaue to hasty credence. But this Hugh (sayth he) escaped not vnpunished: for he dyed miserably in a short tyme after, ex Fabia. Albeit all this may be supposed rather to be wrought not without the practise of Henry byshop of Winchester, and other prelates (by his settyng on) whiche Henry was brother to kyng Stephen. &c.

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MarginaliaAn. 1136
K. Stephen.THus when kyng Stephen contrary to hys othe made before to Molde the Emperice, had taken vpō hym the crowne  

(as is aboue sayd) he sware before the Lordes at Oxford: that he would not holde the benefices that were voyded, and that he would remit the Danegelt, with many other thynges: whiche after he litle performed. Moreouer, because he drad the cōmyng of the Empresse, MarginaliaBuilding of castels in England.he gaue licence to his Lordes, euery one to builde vpon their owne ground, strong castels or forteresses, as them lyked. All the tyme of hys reigne he was vexed with warres, but especially w^t Dauid king of þ^e Scots: with whom he was at length accorded: but yet the Scotish king dyd him no homage, because he was sworne to Maude the Empresse: Notwithstandyng yet Henry the eldest sonne to kyng Dauid, did homage to kyng Stephen. MarginaliaThe crueltie of the Scottes agaynst the Englishmen.But he after repentyng therof, entred into Northumberland with a great host, and brent and slew the people in most cruel wise, neither sparyng man, woman, nor child. Such as were with child they rypte: the children they tost vpon their speare pointes: and laying the priestes vpon the altares, they mangled and cut thē all to peeces after a most terrible maner. But by the manhode of the Englishe Lordes & souldiers, & through the meanes of Thurstine archbishop of Yorke: they wer met withall, and slayne a great number of them, & Dauid their kyng constrained to geue Henry his sonne hostage for suretie of peace. Marginalia1140.In the meane tyme, kyng Steuen was occupyed in the South countreis besieging diuers castels of diuers byshops, and other Lordes: & toke them by force, and fortified them with his knightes and seruaunts to thentent to withstand the Empresse, whose commyng he euer feared.

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MarginaliaMaude the Empresse came into England against Steuē.About the vi. yeare of his reigne, Maude þ^e Empresse came into England out of Normandy, and by the ayde of Robert earle of Gloceter, and Ranulphe of Chester, made strong warre vpon kyng Steuen: MarginaliaKyng Steuen taken prisoner.In the end wherof the kyngs partie was chassed, and him selfe taken prisoner, and sent to Bristow, there to be kept in sure hold. The same day, when king Steuen should ioyne his battaile: it is said in a certaine old chronicle before minded, that he beyng at the Masse (whiche then þ^e bishop of Lincolne sayd, before the kyng) as he went to offer vp his taper, it brake in two peeces. And when þ^e Masse was done, (at what time þ^e king should haue ben houseled) the rope wherby the pyxe did hange, dyd breake, and the pyxe fell downe vpon the altar.

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After this field, the quene (kyng Steuens wife, lyeng then in Kēt) made great labour to the Empresse and her counsaile, to haue the kyng deliuered and put into some house of religion, but could not obtayne. MarginaliaWhat it is for princes to be hard and strait to theyr subiectes.Also the Lōdiners made great sute to the sayd Empresse, to haue and to vse agayne S. Edwardes lawes, & not the lawes of her father, whiche were more straite and straunge to them then thother: whiche when they could not obteyne of her and her counsaile: the citezins of London (beyng therwith discontented) would haue taken the Empresse.But she hauing knowledge therof, sled priuely from Lōdon to Oxford. But then the kētishmen and Londiners takyng the kings part, ioyned battaile agaynst the Empresse: there the foresayd Robert earle of Gloceter, and base brother to the Empresse was taken. MarginaliaK. Steuen, & Robert of Glocester deliuered by exchange.And so by exchaunge, both the kyng, and earle Robert were deliuered out of prison. Thē Steuen (without delay) gathering to hym a strōg army: straitly pursued the foresayd Matilde or Maulde, with her frendes: besiegyng them in the castell of Oxford. In the siege wherof, fell a great snow, and frost, so hard: that a mane well laden might passe ouer þ^e water. MarginaliaEx incerti. autoris chronico.Vpon the occasion wherof the Empresse (bethinkyng her selfe) appoynted with her frendes and retinue: clothed in white shites (and so yssuing out, by a posterne) went vpon the eyse, ouer Thamys, and so escaped to Wallyngford. After this þ^e kyng (the castell being gotten) when he found not the Empresse, was much displeased: and molested the coūtrey about, diuers wayes. In conclusion, he purused the Empresse, and her company so hard: that he caused them, to flee the realme, which was the vi. yeare of his reigne.

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The second yeare after this, which was the viij. yeare of his reigne: there was a Parliament kept at London. Vnto the whiche, all the byshops of the realme resorted, and there denounsed the kyng accursed (and all thē with hym) that dyd any hurt to the church, or to any minister therof. Wherupon the kyng began somewhat to amend hys condicions, for a certayne space: but afterward, as my story sayth, was as euil, as he was before. But what the causes were, mine autor maketh no relation therof. &c. To returne agayne to the story, the Empresse cōpelled (as is sayd, to flee þ^e realme) returned agayn into Normandy to Geffray Plantagenet her husband. MarginaliaThe decease of Geffray PlātagenetWho, after he had valyantly wonne and defended the duchie of Normandy, agaynst the puysance of kyng Steuen of long tyme: ended his life, leauyng Hēry his sonne to succede him in that dukedome. In the meane while: Robert Earle of Gloceter, and the Earle of Chester (who were strong of people) had diuers conflictes with the kyng: in somuch that at a battaile at Wilton betwene them, the king was welnere takē, but yet escaped w^t much paine.

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MarginaliaHēry duke of Normandie.It was not lōg after, but Eustace sonne to kyng Steuen, who had maryed the Frenche kynges sister: made warre vpon duke Henry of Normandy, but preualed not. MarginaliaHenry entreth into England.Soone after, the sayd Henry duke of Normandy (in the quarell of his mother Maude) with a great puysance intred into Englād: & at the first wan the castell of Malmesbery: then the tower of London: and afterward the town of Nottingham: with other holdes and castels, as of Walynford and other mo. Thus, betwene hym and the kyng were foughten many battayles, to the great annoyance of the realme. Duryng which time, Eustace the kyngs sonne departeth. MarginaliaTheobalde archbyshop of Cant.
Peace betwene king Steuen, and duke Hēry concluded.Vpon the occasiō wherof, the kyng caused Theobalde (which succeded next after William aboue mentioned) Archbyshop of Cant. to make meanes to the duke for peace: whiche vpon this conditiō betwene them was concluded, that Steuen duryng hys lyfe tyme should hold the kyngdome. And Henry in the meane tyme to be proclaimed heyre apparant, in þ^e chief cities throughout the realme. These thyngs thys concluded, duke Hēry taketh hys iorney into Normandy (king Steuen and his sonne William, bryngyng hym on the waye) where William the kynges sonne, takyng vp hys horse before hys father, had a fall, and brake hys legge, and so was had to Canterbury. MarginaliaThe death of kyng Steuen.The same yeare king Steuen (about October) as some say for sorow) ended hys lyfe after he had reigned xix. yeares periuredly.

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MarginaliaS. William of Yorke.As Theobalde succeded after William archbishop of Cant. so in Yorke after Thurstine succeded William, whiche was called S. William of Yorke: who was poysoned in hys chalice by hys chaplaines.

In the tyme of this kyng, which was the xvi. yeare of