earle of Glocester came backe againe himselfe, and bringing with him
somewhat lesse than foure hundred men of armes (imbarked in 52. ships)
landed with the same at Warrham, and besieged the castell there,
[Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] which his enimies had won out of his hands
whilest he was absent in Normandie. In the end they that were within it
(vnder the gouernment of Herebert de Lucy) fell to agreement by
composition, [Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] that if they were not succoured by
a certeine time, they should deliuer the castell vnto the earle. King
Stephan himselfe the same time held a siege before Oxford, within the
which he had inclosed the empresse, as hereafter shall be shewed: so
that they within the castell of Warrham had no succour sent vnto them,
and therefore (according to the articles of their composition) they
yeelded vp the hold, after erle Robert had lien three wéekes before it.
[Sidenote: The ile of Portland. Circester.] This castell being thus
woone, earle Robert subdued also such as kept the ile of Portland, and
had fensed it after the maner of a fortresse: afterwards he came to
Circester, and there assembled all those that fauoured the part of the
empresse, meaning with all conuenient spéed to go to Oxford, & there to
giue battell to king Stephan, if he would abide it. Who after his
deliuerance from captiuitie, had assembled a great host of men,
[Sidenote: The empresse besieged in Oxford.] and comming to Oxford,
where the empresse then laie, suddenlie besieged hir, before she looked
for him. And to the end also that he might compell the townsmen to
yeeld, or else kéepe them from entring which would come to their
succors, he ranged abroad into the countrie with part of his armie,
wasting all afore him by fire & sword. This siege continued almost two
moneths, in maner from his deliuerie in the beginning of Nouember,
vntill Christmasse immediatlie following: in somuch that through lacke
of vittels they within the towne began to raise mutinies. The empresse
therefore doubting the sequele, and séeing hir prouision to decaie,
deuised a shift how to escape that present danger, which by force she
was vnlikelie to performe.
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._ _Simon Dun._ _Wil. Paru._ _Ran. Higd._ _Matth.
Paris._ The empresse escapeth out of Oxford. _Polydor._ _Wil. Malm._
_Simon Dun._ _Matth. Paris._ Brian sonne to the earle of Glocester.] It
was a verie hard winter that yeare, the Thames and other riuers
thereabouts were frosen, so that both man and horsse might safelie passe
oner vpon the yce, the fields were also couered with a thicke and déepe
snow. Herevpon taking occasion, she clad hir selfe and all hir companie
in white apparell, that a far off they might not be discerned from the
snow; and so by negligence of the watch that kept ward but slenderlie,
by reason of the excéeding cold weather, she and hir partakers secretlie
in the night issued out of the towne, and passing ouer the Thames, came
to Walingford, where she was receiued into the castell by those that had
the same in kéeping to hir vse: of whom Brian the sonne to the erle of
Glocester was the chiefe.
¶ Here we may see the subtiltie of the empresse, whereby she obteined
frée and safe passage out of hir enimies hands, who otherwise had taken
hir in their net. [Sidenote: _Aeneas Syluius._] So that it will be true,
that hath neuer béene false, which Æneas Syluius (and before him many
more driuing vpon the like argument) dooth saie in this distichon:
Non audet stygius Pluto tentare, quod audent
Effrænis monachus plenáque fraudis illa,
Meaning Mulier, a woman. And therefore looke what they want in
magnanimitie, in strength, in courage, the same is supplied by deceit,
by circumuention, by craft, by fraud, by collusion; sometimes applied to
a good intent, but most commonlie directed to an euil meaning and
purpose, as the euents themselues doo manie times declare. But let vs
sée what followed vpon this escape of the empresse.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._ _Simon Dun._ _N. Triuet._] After hir departure
from Oxford, the townesmen yeelded vnto the king, who hauing taken order
for the kéeping of them in obedience, marched toward Walingford, minding
to besiege the castell there: but being encountred in the way by his
enimies, he was driuen backe, and so constreined to turne another waie.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 8. 1143] Earle Robert hearing that his sister was
escaped and gotten to Wallingford, hasted thither with all spéed to
visit hir: [Sidenote: The empress hir sonne lord Henrie.] & (as some
write) brought with him hir sonne the lord Henrie that was come with him
from beyond the seas, to sée his mother: so that the empresse now
beholding both hir sonne and brother, receiued them with all the ioy and
honour that she could or might presentlie make them. Hir son remaining
vnder the gouernement of earle Robert, was then appointed by him to
abide within the citie of Bristow, & there continued for the space of 4.
yéeres, being committed to one Matthew his schoolemaister, to be
instructed in knowledge, and trained vp in ciuill behauiour.
King Stephan (after the spoiling of sundrie churches, the robbing and
burning of manie townes and villages by the hands of his hired
souldiers, who for the more part were Flemings) came at length with his
brother the bishop of Winchester stronglie armed vnto Wilton, [Sidenote:
The king commeth to Wilton.] where he tooke in hand to fortifie the
nunrie in steed of a castell, to resist the incursions and inrodes of
them of Salisburie, who in the behalfe of the empresse had doone manie
displeasures vnto his fréends: but earle Robert vnderstanding of his
dooings, got a power togither with all speed, and the first daie of
Julie about sunne setting came to Wilton, and suddenlie set the towne on
fire.
The king being lodged within the nunrie, and fearing no such matter,
after he heard of the sudden assemblie of his enimies, was put in such
feare, that he tooke himselfe dishonourablie to flight, leaning his men,
his plate, and other riches altogither behind him. [Sidenote: _Wil.
Par._ _Sim. Dun._ _M. Triuet._ _Matt. Paris._] The earles souldiers
egerlie assailed the kings people, killed and spoiled them at their
pleasure, rifled the kings treasurie without resistance, and satisfied
themselues with greedines. In this broile was William Marcell or Martell
taken prisoner by earle Roberts men, & led to the castell of
Wallingford, where Brian the earle of Glocesters sonne hauing charge of
that castell, kept him in close prison, and vsed him hardlie, who by
reason of the opinion which men had conceiued of his valiancie, could
not be deliuered, till he had paid 300. marks for his ransome, and
deliuered the castell of Shirborne into the earles hands. [Sidenote:
Miles earle of Hereford deceased.] Within a few daies after, Miles earle
of Hereford departed this life, whose death was verie gréeuouslie taken
of the empresse, for he was one of hir chéefe fréends and councellers.
His eldest sonne Roger succéeded him, a gentleman though yoong in
yeares, yet valiant and forward in feats of armes. [Sidenote: _Ger.
Dor._ The earle of Essex taken.] William Mandeuile earle of Essex, an
ancient capteine, & an expert warriour (who had serued the empresse, was
taken also at S. Albons) but not without great slaughter of the kings
souldiers: [Sidenote: The earle of Arundell.] in so much that among
other, the erle of Arundell mounted on a couragious palfrie & a verie
valiant man was ouerthrowen the middest of a water called Haliwell, by a
knight named Walkeline de Orcaie, so that same earle was sore bruised in
his bodie, and almost drowned. [Sidenote: _N. Triuet._ _Wil. Paru._] The
king was present himselfe at the taking of the said Mandeuile, whom he
spoiled of all his goods, and constreined by way of redemption of his
libertie, to deliuer into the kings hands the Tower of London, the
castell of Walden, and Pleshey. Here vpon the same earle being released
was driuen through pouertie to seeke some recouerie of his losses by
sundrie spoiles and roberies. [Sidenote: An. Reg. 9. 1144.] First of all
therefore he spoiled the abbeie of S. Albons, and then the abbeie of
Ramsey, which he fortified and defended as a fortresse, [Sidenote: _Hen.
Hunt._] casting the moonks out of doores, and in euerie place where
soeuer he came, he robbed the countrie before him, till at length in the
midst of his reuenge and malicious dooings, he was shot thorough with
an arrow amongst his men by a sillie footman, and so ended his life with
confusion, receiuing worthie punishment for his vngodlie behauiour.
[Sidenote: _Sim. Dunel._ _Iohn Pike._ _Matth. West._ _N. Triuet._] For
he was a man of high stomach & loftie courage, but verie obstinate
against God, of great industrie in worldlie businesse, but passing
negligent towards his maker, as writers report of him.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Wil. Paru._] Likewise Robert Marmion, who had
attempted the semblable robberie & spoile in the abbeie church of
Couentrie, was slain before the same abbeie by a like mischance. For
going foorth to encounter with the earle of Chester (his mortall enimie,
and being approched as then towards the citie) he fell with his horsse
into a ditch, which he caused to be couertlie made for the destruction
of his enimies: and before he could be relieued, a souldier of the
earles part stept to him, and stroke his head from his shoulders in
sight of both armies. Ernulfus the sonne of earle Geffrey Mandeuile that
kept the church of Ramsey as a fortresse, after his fathers death, was
taken at length and banished.
¶ Thus we see how Gods iudgement hunteth and pursueth the wicked, in
somuch that they be ouertaken in their owne imaginations: according to
that of the scripture, "The wicked and bloudthirstie man shall not liue
halfe his daies." And true it is, that as men liue, so commonlie they
die: for, as one saith verie well:
[Sidenote: M. Pal. in suo scor.]
---- bona nulla scelestis
Et iustis mala nulla quidem contingere possunt.
About the same time aduertisement was giuen, that the citie of Lincolne,
which the earle of Chester had in keeping, was but slenderlie manned.
Wherevpon the king conceiuing some hope to win the same, hasted forward:
[Sidenote: Lincolne besieged.] and comming thither in the night, laid
siege therevnto, and began to cast a trench to stop them within frō
making any salies without.
The earle at the first being somewhat amazed with the sudden approch of
the enimie, yet beholding from the walles the maner of them without, he
perceiued the rankes to be verie thin: and thereby gessing their number
to be but small, suddenlie issued foorth at the gates to encounter with
them. [Sidenote: The siege raised.] The king abode not the giuing of the
charge, bicause he was but weake and therefore fled; neither could the
earle follow the chace conuenientlie, for the like cause; [Sidenote: _N.
Triuet._] but setting vpon those that were about to make the trench, he
slue 80. of the workmen, and then retired into the castell.
[Sidenote: A child crucified by the Jewes.] This yeare was an heinous
act committed by the Jewes at Norwich, where they put a child to death,
in crucifieng him vpon a crosse to the reproch of Christian religion.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ _Simon Dun._] [Sidenote: An. Reg. 10. 1145.]
[Sidenote: A castell built at Faringdon. _Hen. Hunt._ The king winneth
it by force.] In the yeare following; namelie, in the 10. yeare of king
Stephans reigne, Robert earle of Glocester and other capteins took in
hand to build a castell at Faringdon. But King Stephan assembling an
armie of Londoners and other, came thither, and besieged them within.
Now whilest earle Robert and others of the empresses capteins remaining
not far off, taried for a greater power to come to their aid, the king
with sharpe assaults (but not without losse of his men) wan the
fortresse: whereby his side began to wax the stronger, and to be more
highlie aduanced. [Sidenote: An. Reg. 11. 1146.] After this he came with
a mightie armie vnto Wallingford, and there builded a strong castell
ouer against the other castell which his aduersaries held against him.
[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ _Matth. Paris._ _N. Triuet._ _Simon Dun._]
Thither also came the earle of Chester with a great traine of knights
and gentlemen vnto the king, and so at length they were not vnfeignedlie
accorded and made freends, but in apperance on the kings behalfe. For
shortlie after, the earle was craftilie taken at a parlement holden at
Northampton, by the practise of K. Stephan, and could not be deliuered
till he had surrendred the citie and castell of Lincolne, with other
fortresses perteining to the crowne into the kings hands. [Sidenote:
_Ran. Higd._ The welshmen waste Cheshire. _Ger. Dor._] About that time
did the Welshmen destroie the prouince of Chester, but at last they were
distressed. This yeare also the loard Geffrey earle of Aniou sent thrée
Noble men into England, accompanied with certeine men of warre, vnto
earle Robert, requesting him to send ouer his sonne Henrie into France,
that he might sée him, and if need required, he promised to send him
backe againe with all conuenient speed. Earle Robert was contented to
satisfie his request: and so with a good power of armed men brought the
lord Henrie vnto Warham, where he tooke leaue of him, neuer after to sée
him in this world. [Sidenote: The earle of Glocester departeth this
life.] For when the child was transported, earle Robert returned
spéedilie to the parties from whence he came, and there falling into an
ague, departed this life about the beginning of Nouember, and was buried
at Bristow. The lord Henrie comming to his father, was ioifully
receiued, and remained in those parties for the space of two yeares and
foure moneths.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 12. 1147.] In the meane season, the vniust
procéedings of K. Stephan against the earle of Chester, purchased him
new hatred of his old aduersaries, and like supicion of such as were his
freends, for it sounded not a little to his dishonor. Euerie man
therefore was in doubt of his dealing, and iudged that it stood them
vpon to take héed to themselues. [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ K. Stephen
entreth into Lincolne with his crowne on his head.] But he (as one that
thought he had atchiued some high exploit) in triumphant wise shortlie
after entred into Lincolne in his roiall robes, and his crowne on his
head, whereas it had not béene heard that any king had doone the like
manie yeares before.
¶ It is reported by some writers, that he did this, to root out of mens
minds a foolish superstitious conceit, which beléeued that no king with
his crowne vpon his head might enter that citie, but some mischance
should light vpon him: wherevpon he seemed by this meanes to mocke their
superstitious imagination.
About the same time manie of the Nobles of the realme (perceiuing the
kings authoritie to represse violent wrongs committed by euill dooers to
be defectiue) builded sundrie strong castels and fortresses vpon their
owne grounds, either to defend themselues, or to make force vpon their
enimies néere adioining. After the departing of the king from Lincolne,
the earle of Chester came thither with an armie, to assaie if he might
recouer that citie. [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] But his lieutenant that had
the leading of his men, was slaine at the entring of the northgate, and
so the erle was beaten backe with the losse of manie of his men: and the
citizens hauing got the vpper hand, reioised not a little for the
victorie.
But here (to staie a litle with temporall affaires) it shall not be
amisse to rehearse the effect of a contention, which fell about this
time betwéene that king and the archbishop of Canturburie. [Sidenote:
_Ger. Dor._] For so it happened (as Geruasius Dorobernensis writeth)
that pope Eugenius came this yere into France, about the middest of
Lent, and afterward held a synod or councell at Rhemes: wherevnto
Theobald archbishop of Canturburie, with others of the English bishops
were summoned. The archbishop therevpon asking licence of the king, &
not obteining it, found meanes to steale awaie in a small bote, not
without danger of his person.
Now therefore the case of this Theobald stood verie hard: for Henrie
bishop of Winchester the kings brother through enuie had so wrought,
that if the archbishop passed ouer without licence, he should be
confined of the king. Againe, he was sure, if he came not to the
councell, that he should be suspended by the pope. Herevpon the
archbishop meaning rather to offend the king than the pope, got ouer, as
it were swimming, rather than sailing; the vessell wherein he passed
ouer being starke naught: for all the ports were kept by the kings
seruants, so that he was glad to take such a bote as came next to hand.
In consideration whereof he was highlie commended by the pope.
In this councell the prebendaries of Yorke, togither with Henrie Mordach
then abbat of Fountney, presented themselues, exhibiting their complaint
against William archbishop of Yorke, for that (as they alledged) he was
neither canonicallie chosen, nor lawfullie consecrated, but intruded by
the kings authoritie. At length archbishop William was conuicted and
deposed, Albert bishop of Hostia pronouncing sentence in this wise: "We
doo decrée by the apostolike authoritie, that William archbishop of
Yorke is to be deposed from his sée, bicause Stephan king of England,
before any canonicall election, named him."
Then, for that pope Eugenius had thus deposed archbishop William,
although not with the consent of the more part of the cardinals, the
chapiter of the church of Yorke, by his commandement comming togither,
part of them chose Hilarie bishop of Chichester, and the other part
elected Henrie Mordach abbat of Fountney. Now pope Eugenius, when both
elections were shewed him at Auxerre, confirmed the election of Henrie
Mordach, and disanulled the other, and then consecrated the foresaid
Henrie with his owne hands. The late nominated archbishop William being
thus deposed, returned into England, and remained at Winchester with
king Henrie till the death of pope Eugenius, following the counsell of
the same bishop in all things.
Now when the councell at Rhemes was ended, archbishop Theobald returned
into England, and comming to Canturburie, was receiued with great honor,
of the couent and citizens there. But the king remaining then at London,
when he heard of it, was sore displeased, and came with great spéede
vnto Canturburie, where much conference being had betwixt him and the
archbishop (although to small purpose) for the bringing of them to an
agréement, at length the king compelled the archbishop to depart the
realme. Wherevpon, after a few daies respit, he went to Douer, where he
tooke ship and sailed into France. But within a while he was called
backe by the quéene and William of Ypres, vnto S. Omers, that they might
the sooner aduertise him of the kings mind and pleasure. Here he
consecrated Gilbert the elect bishop of Hereford, the fift daie of
September, Theodoric bishop of Amiens, and Nicholas bishop of Cambre
assisting him.
After this, when by sending of messengers to and fro, as well bishops,
abbats, and other, both spirituall persons and temporall, there could no
agréement be made, he directed his letter to certeine churches here in
England, pronouncing by a certeine day, namelie the twelfe day of
September, a sentence of interdiction to be obserued through the relme.
The monks of Canturburie sore offended herewith, before the prefixed day
of this sentence to be put in vse, sent two moonkes of their owne house,
Nigell and Absolon, vnto the pope: whose errand when the pope had
vnderstood, he commanded them to returne home, and to obeie their
archbishops sentence in all things.
In the meane time, the archbishops men and tenants were sore oppressed,
and his rents and reuenues seized to the kings vse, yea euen before the
daies of paiment. Which maner of proceeding sore gréeued the archbishop:
in so much that departing from S. Omers, he came to Graueling, and there
taking the sea, crossed ouer to a towne called Goseford that belonged
vnto Hugh Bigot erle of Northfolke: which earle receiued him with great
honor, and sent him all necessarie prouision, so long as he remained in
his countrie. At the terme appointed, he interdicted all the kings
dominions, and would not reuoke the sentence, till Robert bishop, of
London, Hilarie bishop of Chichester, and William bishop of Norwhich,
with manie other Noblemen, came to him vnto Framelingham in Norfolke, a
castell apperteining to the said earle, where at length an attonment was
concluded betwixt him and the king: wherevpon he was brought home vnto
Canturburie with great ioy and honor.
He accused the moonks of Canturburie, for disobeieng the interdiction,
trusting that the pope would not heare those two moonkes whom they had
sent, as he did not indéed. He excommunicated also all those that had
receiued the sacraments amongst them, during the time of the
interdiction. Now these moonkes being at their wits end, dispatched with
all speed other two moonkes to the pope, to obteine an absolution,
before the archbishop should vnderstand it: [Sidenote: _Geruasius._] but
they were sent backe againe with checks and commanded to obeie their
archbishop in all things, as the other were, which had béene there with
him before.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 13. 1148.] The moonks of Canturburie that were sent
to Rome, returning, came from thence to Bullongne, where they found
those that were first sent thither: and so they all foure came to
Canturburie. The pope also had sent a priuie commandement to the
archbishop that he should duelie punish as well them as the other.
Wherevpon the archbishop taking counsell with his fréends, deposed
Syluester the prior, and suspended William the secretarie of the house
from entring the quéere. It was decreed also, that the residue should
cease so long a time from saieng seruice, as they had said it before
vnlawfullie, against the archbishops commandement. For it was thought
reason, that whilest other sang and were merrie, they should keepe
silence, which wilfullie tooke vpon them to sing, whilest other held
their peace and were still. They began therefore to cease from saieng
diuine seruice, and from ringing their bels in the second wéeke of Lent
& so kept silence from the twelfe day of March, vntill the first daie of
August.
The quéene wife to king Stephan in this meane while lay much at S.
Augustines in Canturburie, bicause of hastening forward the building of
Feuersham abbeie, which she and hir husband had begonne from the verie
foundation. And bicause the moonkes of S. Augustine might not celebrate
diuine seruice, she called thither commonlie the moonks of Christes
church to say seruice before hir. Thus much for that purpose: and now to
other matters.
[Sidenote: The L. Henrie returneth into England.] [Sidenote: An. Reg.
14. 1149.] The lord Henrie Fitzempresse after all these businesses
returned into England, in the moneth of May, with a great companie of
men of warre both horssemen and footmen: by reason whereof many reuolted
from king Stephan to take part with him: whereas before they sat still,
and would not attempt any exploit against him. But now incouraged with
the presence of the lord Henrie, they declared themselues freends to
him, and enimies to the king. Immediatlie after his arriuall, he tooke
with him the earles of Chester and Hereford, Ranulfe and Roger, and
diuers other Noble men and knights of great fame, beside those whom he
had brought with him out of Normandie, and went vnto Carleil, where he
found his coosin Dauid king of Scotland, of whome he was most ioifullie
receiued; [Sidenote: He is made knight. _R. Houed._] and vpon Whitsunday
with great solemnitie, being not past sixtéene yeares of age, was by the
same king made knight, with diuerse other yoong gentlemen that were much
about the same age.
¶ Some write, that the king of Scots receiued an oth of him before he
gaue him the honor of knighthood, that if he chanced to atteine vnto the
possession of the realme of England, he should restore to the Scots the
towne of Newcastle, with the countrie of Northumberland, from the riuer
of Twéed, to the riuer of Tine. But whether it were so or not, I am not
able to make warrantize.