oration.] When he had thus ended, the earle of Glocester answered in
this wise: "It is not against reason that you should require the honor
of the first onset, both for the nobilitie of your house, and also in
respect of the prowesse wherein you excell: but yet if you stand vpon
nobilitie, for my part, being the sonne and nephue of a king, ought not
I to be preferred? If vpon valiance, here are manie verie worthie men,
afore whom there is not one aliue that may chalenge any prerogatiue. But
another reason moueth me most chieflie to be the formost. The king, who
contrarie to his oth made to my sister, hath cruellie vsurped the
kingdoms, and setting all in trouble, hath beene the cause of manie
thousand mens deaths, and distributed lands and liuings to such as haue
no right to the same, which he hath violentlie taken from the rightfull
owners, who are quite disherited. This king (I saie) is first to be
assailed with the assistance of the righteous iudge, who prepareth
punishment for wicked dooers. For almightie God, who iudgeth his people
with equitie, will looke downe from his heauenlie habitation, and will
not leaue vs comfortlesse in this so great a necessitie. One thing there
is, most valiant capteines, and all you right hardie souldiers, which I
would haue you to consider, that through the fennes, which much adoo you
haue passed, there is no waie to escape by flight. [Sidenote: The
necessitie to fight valientlie.] Here must we either vanquish the
enimies, or else die in the field: for no hope of safegard remaineth in
fléeing awaie. This onelie resteth (I saie) that you make waie for you
to enter the citie with force of your weapons. If I be not deceiued in
that which my mind giueth me to coniecture, the lacke of meanes to
escape, otherwise than by shewing your selues valiant men, by Gods helpe
will bring vs the victorie. For he must néeds plaie the man, who hath
not other succor to auoid the danger of destruction The citizens of
Lincolne, who shall fight so néere their houses as you shall sée, will
not staie long to get them thither for their refuge. And herewith
consider and weie (I beseech you) against whom you shall match in this
battell. [Sidenote: Alaine duke of Brittanie.] There is Alane duke of
Britaine, who commeth armed against you, yea rather against God, a
wicked person, and spotted with all kind of filthinesse; who in malice
hath no péere, as one that neuer wanted desire to doo mischéefe and who
to be comparable in crueltie, would iudge it a great reproch. [Sidenote:
The earle of Mellent.] There commeth also the earle of Mellent, a man
full of all guile and deceit, in whose hart iniquitie is rooted, and
nothing sounding in his mouth but vnthankfulnesse; besides this, he is
slothfull in déeds, presumptuous in words, not hastie to fight, but
swift to run awaie. [Sidenote: Earle Hugh.] Then commeth earle Hugh, who
hath not thought it sufficient to breake his oth to my sister the
empresse, but he must commit periurie the second time, in aduouching
(vpon a new oth) that king Henrie granted the kingdome to Stephan, and
disabled his daughter. After him marcheth the earle of Albemarle, a man
of singular constancie in euill, verie readie to attempt and loth to
giue ouer a mischeefe: [Sidenote: The earle of Albermerles wife.] whose
wife, through irkesomnes of his filthie behauiour is gone from him; & he
that keepeth hir, cōmeth with him also against vs, an open adulterer, &
one well esteemed of Bacchus, but nothing acquainted with Mars.
[Sidenote: Simon earle of Hampton.] Then setteth foorth Simon earle of
Hampton, whose déeds consist in words, & whose gifts rest in promises.
For when he hath said, he hath doone; & when he hath promised, ye get no
more. Finallie there come togither a knot of Péeres & Noble men, [Like
maister, like seruants.] like to their king and maister, accustomed to
robberies, enriched with rapines, embrued with manslaughters, & defamed
with periurie. You therefore (most valiant capteins & hardie souldiers)
whom king Henrie hath aduanced, and this man hath brought vnder foot;
whom he made wealthie, and this man hath impouerished; vpon trust of
your worthy valiancie, yea rather vpon trust of Gods iustice seeke your
reuenge thus offered by God vpon these wicked wretches, & with manlie
stomachs vow to go forward, & forswere stepping back." When the earle
had made an end, all the armie (lifting vp their hands to Gods) abiured
all intention to flée, and so made themselues readie to set forward.
King Stephan hauing no pleasant voice of himselfe, appointed earle
Baldwin to giue an exhortation to his armie, wherevpon getting himselfe
to an high place where he might be seene & heard of them, he thus began.
[Sidenote: Earle Baldwin his oration on the behalfe of king Stephan.]
"All such as shall giue battell, ought to foresée thrée things:
[Sidenote: Thrée things to be foreséene by them that shall giue
battell.] first, that their cause be righteous: secondlie, the number of
their men to be equall at the least: and thirdlie, the goodnesse and
sufficiencie of them. The righteousnes of their cause ought to be
regarded, least men runne in danger of the soule; the number of men is
to be respected, least they should be oppressed with multitude of
enimies; and the goodnesse of the soldiers is to be considered, least
trusting in the multitude, they should presume vpon the aid of feeble
persons, & such as are of small valure. In all these points we see our
selues sufficientlie furnished. The iustice of our cause is this: that
obseruing the thing which we vowed to our king before God, we stand to
the same against those that haue falsified their faith, euen to the
perill of death. Our number is not much lesse in horssemen, and in
footmen we excéed them. As for the goodnesse or sufficiencie of our men,
who is able to expresse the noble prowesse of so manie earles, of so
manie lords and soldiers, trained vp euer in warres: The passing
valiancie of our king may stand in place of innumerable souldiers. Sith
then he being the lords annointed, is here amongst you, vnto whom ye
haue vowed allegiance, performe your vow. For the more earnestly and
faithfully ye serue your prince in this battell, which you are readie to
fight against periured persons, the more shall your reward be at the
hands of God and him. Therfore be of good comfort, & haue in remembrance
against whom you doo darraine the battell. [Sidenote: Erle Robert.] The
force of erle Robert is well knowne, his maner is to threaten much, & to
worke little, furious in words, eloquent of speach, but cold or rather
dead harted in déeds. [Sidenote: The earle of Chester.] The earle of
Chester what is he? A man of vnreasonable boldnesse, bent to
conspiracie, inconstant to performe that which he rashlie taketh in
hand, readie to run into batell, vncircumspect in danger, practising
things of great importance, séeking after things vnpossible, bringing
with him few good soldiers, but gathering a vagrant rout of rascals.
There is nothing in him that we ought to be afraid of, for looke
whatsoeuer he attempteth manfullie, the same he giueth ouer womanlie, in
all his dooings vnfortunate, in all encounters either he is ouercome and
fléeth awaie, or if he get the vpper hand (which seldome times chanceth)
he susteineth greater losse than they whom he dooth vanquish.
"The Welshmen, whom he bringeth with him are little estéemed of vs, who
pretend a naked rashnesse without any vse of armor, so that as men
without any knowledge of martiall policie, they fall as brute beasts
vpon the hunters iaueline. The other, as well the nobles as the common
souldiers are but runnagates and vagabounds; of whom I would wish the
number greater than it is: for the more they be, the woorse in effect
their seruice shall prooue in time of need. You therefore (most worthie
cheefetaines) you men of honor, it standeth you vpon to haue in regard
your vertue and dignities. This day aduance your renowme, and follow the
foresteps of your famous ancestors, leaue to your sonnes an euerlasting
commendation. [Sidenote: Continuall good successe a prouocation of
boldnesse.] The continuall successe of victorie ought to be a
prouocation vnto you to doo manfullie: the continuance of euil speed may
be to yonder side an occasion to run away. For euen alreadie (I dare
say) they repent them of their comming hither, and could be contented to
be gone, if the nature of the place would suffer them to depart. Then
sith it is not possible for them either to fight or to flée, what other
thing can they doo, but (as appointed by Gods ordinance) offer
themselues and all they haue about them presentlie vnto vs. Yée sée then
their horsses, their armour, and their bodies readie here at your
pleasure, lift vp your hearts therefore, and reach your hands to take
that with great chearefulnesse of mind, which the Lord hath thus offered
and freelie presented vnto you."
Now yer he had all made an end of his words, the batels were readie to
ioine, they met with great noise of trumpets and other instruments, and
the fight began with a verie sore and cruell slaughter. [Sidenote:
_Matth. Paris._ _Hen. Hunt._] Hard it was in the beginning to gesse who
should haue the better. The wing of the disherited men ouerthrew and
bare downe their aduersaries, which were led by the duke of Britain, and
the forenamed earles. On the contrarie part, the earle of Albemarle and
William de Ypres put the Welshmen to flight, but by the earle of Chester
and his retinue, the same earle and William de Ypres were fiercelie
assailed afresh, and put out of order. [Sidenote: _W. Paru._ _Hen.
Hunt._] Thus was the kings side put to the worse, namelie his horssemen,
who being placed in the forefront, and there ouermatched, fell to
galoping. Which thing when the king beheld, he was not yet any whit
therewith abashed, but like an hardie captein (as he was no lesse
indéed) comforted his footmen whom he had about him, and rushing vpon
his enimies, [Sidenote: _Polydor._] bare them down, and ouerthrew so
manie as stood before him, so that with the point of his weapon he made
himselfe waie. His footmen, who were but a few in number to the
multitude of his enimies, counteruailed in all points the prowes and
manlike dooings of their king and capteine, insomuch that few battels
had beene better fought, nor with greater slaughter on both sides, if
the kings fore ward (which in maner at the first shranke backe and was
disordered, not without some supicion of treason) had staied the brunt
of the enimies a while, as it had béene requisite. At length the king
encountring with the earle of Chester, being ouercharged with multitude,
was taken prisoner by one William de Cahames.
[Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Hen. Hunt._] Earle Baldwine, who had made the
oration in the kings behalfe, was also taken, after he had fought
valiantlie and receiued manie sore wounds: likewise Richard Fitzvrse,
who on that daie had shewed good proofe of his manhood, [Sidenote:
_Matth. Paris._] and had giuen and received manie a sore stripe. To
conclude, all those that abode with the king, [Sidenote: _W. Paru._] and
namelie all the footmen were taken prisoners, those which were slaine in
the place excepted. This battell was fought in the sixt yeare of king
Stephans reigne, vpon Candlemas daie, being sundaie, as Niger saith.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._ The king led to Bristow.] The king being
apprehended and brought to the empresse lieng at Glocester, was
commanded by hir to be conueied in safetie vnto Bristow, where he was
kept as prisoner from that time of his taking, vntill the feast of All
saints next ensuing. [Sidenote: _W. Paru._] Not long after this field
fought, as ye haue heard, Geffrey earle of Aniou husband to the
empresse, receiuing aduertisement of this victorie atchiued in England,
foorthwith inuaded Normandie, inducing all the Nobles of the countrie to
incline vnto him: for by publishing the captiuitie of king Stephan, it
was easie for him to come by the possession of the same.
[Sidenote: The king of Scots taketh Northumberland into his possession.
_Polydor._ The empresse foloweth the victorie.] Moreouer, Dauid king of
Scotland entred into Northumberland, and by commandement of the empresse
tooke the countrie into his hands, whilest she (like a woman of great
wisedome, as she was no lesse indéed) iudging that it stood hir vpon to
vse the victorie which fell to hir lot, slept not hir businesse, but
went forward, and setting from Glocester, she came to Winchester, where
she was honorablie receiued of bishop Henrie, though he was king
Stephans brother, and inwardlie lamented the misfortune of the king.
Then came she backe againe to Wilton, and so to Oxenford, from thence to
Reading, and then to S. Albons, into all which cities and townes she was
receiued with great triumph and honour.
[Sidenote: Shée cōmeth to London.] Hauing thus passed through all the
south parts of the realme on that side, she finallie came to London,
where the citizens welcomed hir in most ioifull and hartie maner. Now
being come to London, and consulting with those of hir councell for the
quieting of the whole state of the realme, [Sidenote: The quéene sueth
to the empresse for the deliuerie of hir husband.] queene Maud wife to
king Stephan (for so she was also called) made humble suit vnto hir to
haue hir husband set at libertie, promising that he should resigne his
whole claime and title into hir hands, and content himselfe with a
priuate life. But hir suit was so farre off from being granted, that she
was reiected and cast off with reprochfull words. Wherevpon she
conceiued a most high displeasure, and vnderstood well inough; that
peace was to be purchased by force of armes onelie, and not by any other
meanes: insomuch that with all diligence she sent to hir sonne Eustace
(then being in Kent) & willed him to prepare an armie, which he did most
spéedilie.
It chanced at the same time that the citizens of London made great and
laborious suit vnto the said empresse, that they might haue the lawes of
king Edward the Confessour restored, and the straight lawes of hir
father king Henrie abolished. But for so much as they could get no grant
of their petition, and perceiued the empresse to be displeased with them
about that importunat request, wherein onelie she ouershot hir selfe,
[Sidenote: The Londoners conspire to take the empresse.] they deuised
how and by what meanes they might take hir prisoner, knowing that all
the Kentishmen would helpe to strengthen[3] them in their enterprise.
But reckoning with hir selfe that
Nil poterit propera tutius esse fuga,
[Sidenote: Shée fled in the night time out of the citie.] And being
warned thereof, she fled by night out of the citie, and went to
Oxenford, determining to be reuenged vpon hir aduersaries when time
should serue hir turne. Herewith she began to wax more displeased both
against those Nobles whom she kept in prison, & other also whom she
troubled, but namelie king Stephan, whom she commanded to be loden with
yrons, and serued with verie slender diet.
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._] Now when she had thus fled out of London, which
was about the feast of the natiuitie of S. John Baptist, the tower of
London was besieged, [Sidenote: Geffrey de Mandeuile.] which Geffrey de
Mandeuile held, and valiantlie defended. The same Geffrey rushing out on
a time, came to Fulham, [Sidenote: The bishop of Londō taken.] where he
tooke the bishop of London then lodging in his manor place, being one of
the contrarie faction.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._] Henrie bishop of Winchester perceiuing the wrath
of the empresse more and more to increase dailie against hir people,
thinking it wisedome to serue the time, manned all the castels which he
had builded within his dioces; [Sidenote: Castells fortified by the
bishop of Winchester.] as at Waltham, Farnham, and other places and
withdrew himselfe into the castell of Winchester, there to remaine, till
he might sée to what end the furie of the woman would grow. This being
knowne, the empresse tooke vnto hir Dauid king of Scotland that was hir
vncle, who immediatlie ioining their armies togither, went to Winchester
and besieged the castell. In the meane time the quéene and hir sonne
Eustace, with the helpe of their freends, as the Kentishmen, the
Londoners and other had assembled a great armie, [Sidenote: William de
Ypresse. _Ia. Meir._] and appointed the gouernement and generall conduct
thereof vnto one William of Ypres a Fleming, who for his valiancie was
by king Stephan created earle of Kent: he was sonne to Philip of
Flanders, begotten of a concubine, his father also was sonne to Robert
earle of Flanders, surnamed Frisius. This William was banished out of
his countrie by Theodorike Elsas earle of Flanders, bicause he attempted
to bereaue him of his earledome.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ In nouella historia. _N. Triuet._ _Sim. Dun._
_Polydor._ The empresse armie put to flight. _Wil. Malm._ Robert earle
of Glocester taken prisoner. _Matth. Paris._] The quéenes armie thus
committed to his guiding, came néere vnto Winchester, and kept the
empresse and hir people in maner besieged: at length perceiuing the
aduantage after the comming of a great supplie of Londoners to their
aid, they set vpon hir armie as the same was departing, with such
violence, that straightwaies hir host was put to flight and discomfited.
The empresse was glad to faine hir selfe dead, and so to be conueied in
a coch as a dead corps vnto Glocester. Hir brother Robert with manie
other of the Nobles that staied behind, till she and other might get out
of danger, were taken prisoners. And bicause the king was kept at
Bristow vnder the custodie of the said Robert, the queene caused him to
be hardlie handled, that he might prooue the words of the gospell true:
"With what measure yée meat vnto other, with the same by other shall it
be remeasured vnto you." He had deserued verie euill of the king
heretofore, and therefore it was now remembred. He was taken (in maner
abouesaid) on the feast day of the exaltation of the crosse.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Paruus._ _N. Triuet._ Dauid king of Scots retired home.
_Simon Dun._ _R. Houe._ Alberike de Uéer slaine. _Wil. Malm._
_Polydor._] Dauid king of Scotland was not at the battell himselfe, but
hearing of the discomfiture, got him out of the countrie, and by helpe
of trustie guides returned into Scotland, whilest Alberike de Uéer was
slaine at London in a seditious tumult raised by the citizens. The
kingdome being thus diuided into two seueral factions, was by all
similitudes like to come to vtter ruine: for the people kindled in
hatred one against another, sought nothing else but reuenge on both
sides, and still the land was spoiled and wasted by the men of warre
which lodged within the castels and fortresses, and would often issue
out to harrie and spoile the countries. But now that the two cheefest
heads were prisoners, there was good hope conceiued that God had so
wrought it, whereby might grow some ouerture of talke, to quiet such
troubles by fréendlie peace and agreement.
Herevpon those lords that wished well to the common-wealth, began to
intreate betwixt them, and articles were propounded for a concord to be
had, and an exchange of prisoners on both sides. But the empresse and
hir brother would not hearken to any agréement, except that the realme
might wholie remaine to the said empresse. [Sidenote: _Geruasius
Dorober._ The king and the earle of Glocester deliuered by exchange.]
Whereby the enimies were rather increased than decreased by his treatie,
so that at length the king and the earle (weried with tedious
yrksomnesse of yrons and hard imprisonment, and putting all their hope
in the chance of war) about the feast of All saints made by deliuering
of the one for the other, without making mention of any peace at all:
and so kindled with new displeasures, they renewed the warre.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 7. 1142.] King Stephan being deliuered in such wise
as you haue heard, comming to London, and there being accompanied with
his brother Henrie bishop of Winchester (then the popes legat) Theobald
archbishop of Canturburie, and others, [Sidenote: _Geruasius
Dorobernensis._ A parlement called.] he called a parlement, wherein the
king declared the present state, how the enimie was brought to this
point, that if it would please the Nobles of the realme to mainteine him
with men & monie, he trusted now so to worke, as they should not need to
feare submission to the yoke of a womans gouernment: which at the first
they seemed much to mislike, and now sithens (to their great gréefe) had
prooued to be intollerable. The summe of his talke tended to this end,
that those which were able of themselues to aid him with their owne
persons, should prepare them out of hand so to doo; and the residue that
were not meet (as bishops, and such like maner of men) should be
contributors to aid him with hired souldiers, armour, and monie.
This was gladlie agréed vpon, with the generall consent of all the
assemblie. And bicause the bishops shewed themselues verie liberall
towards the aduancing of the kings purpose, [Sidenote: A statute
established in fauour of préests.] there was a statute made at the same
parlement, that who so euer did laie any violent hands on a sacred
person, or else tooke vpon him to apprehend any of them, for what fault
soeuer, without the bishops licence, he should be accursed, and not be
assoiled of any maner of person, except of the pope, as by a canon it
was alreadie decréed but not obeied among the Englishmen till that daie.
¶ The cause of making this statute was chéeflie, for that preests during
the time of the ciuill wars, were dailie either slaine, or taken
prisoners, and so put to their ransoms, or charged with great penalties
and gréeuous fines.
The bishop of Winchester at this councell also began an other brall
among the cleargie, for being brother to king Stephan, & armed with the
popes authoritie as his legat in England, by reason of exercising his
authoritie, fell at variance with the bishop of Canturburie, who tooke
himselfe for his superior, bicause he was his primat. This quarell grew
so far in question, that they went both to Rome to haue the controuersie
decided, and so bringing their sutes thither, contented well the eares
of them that had the hearing of the same: for the more weightie the
cause seemed, the better it liked them.
[Sidenote: Paul. Lang. in Chron. citizen. pag. 760.] ¶ A late writer,
noting in clergiemen of his age & countrie not onelie the aspiring vice
of ambition, but other disorders also, and monstrous outrages, after a
complaint made that gold (by which title he calleth those of the
ecclesiasticall order) is turned into drosse, and swéet wine become tart
vineger, concludeth with the illation of the cause hereof comprised in
this metricall accouplement, saieng:
Dum factor rerum priuaret flamine clerum,
Ad satanæ volum successit turba nepotum.
Which he inferred vpon occasion against the preposterous elections of
vnmeet men into episcopall sées, for that they were not so qualified as
the dignitie of the place required; otherwise peraduenture enabled with
competent knowledge and learning. And suerlie, we may note these
inordinate affections from the beginning of this our chronicle in the
best (I meane in respect of their estates) of this liuerie, and may
iustlie impute it to the defection of Gods spirit in them, whose nature
is to plant peace and méekenesse in the harts of his tenants, not
discord, not ambition, not the works of darknesse, which beséeme not the
children of light. But to the purpose.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ Earle Robert passeth ouer into Normandie.] As
the king began (after his libertie obteined) to prouide for warres, so
earle Robert (after he was discharged) sailed ouer into Normandie,
taking with him the sonnes of diuerse Noble men who fauored the
empresse, whome he deliuered to hir husband the earle of Aniou to be
kept as pledges, & earnestlie besought him to passe ouer into England
with an armie to aid the empresse. [Sidenote: Normandie woone by the
earle of Aniou.] Howbeit bicause he was newlie intred into the conquest
of Normandie, and had alreadie won the most part thereof, he thought
good to make first an end of his warres there, hauing somewhat to doo
against certeine rebels of his owne countie of Aniou, which did not a
little molest him. But he recouered (whilest the earle of Glocester was
there with him) Alney, Mortaigne, Tenerchbray, and diuerse other places
perteining chieflie to the earle of Mortaigne: about the same time also
they of Constances submitted themselues vnto him. Thus the earle of
Aniou being occupied in those parties, could not well come into England.