lord Henrie with the chéefest lords of the west parts of England lay
thus in Carleil, [Sidenote: K. Stephan with an armie commeth to Yorke.]
he raised an armie, and came to the citie of Yorke, where he remained
for the most part of the moneth of August, fearing least his enimies
should attempt the winning of that citie. But after the one part had
remained a time in Carleil, and the other in Yorke, they departed from
both those places without any further exploit for that season, sauing
that Eustachius king Stephans sonne (hauing also latelie receiued the
order of knighthood) did much hurt in the countries which belonged to
those Noble men that were with the lord Henrie.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._. Great raine.] The great raine that fell in
the summer season this yeare did much hurt vnto corne standing on the
ground, so that a great dearth followed. [Sidenote: A sore frost.] In
the winter also after, about the tenth day of December, it began to
fréese extreamelie, and so continued till the nineteenth of Februarie:
whereby the riuer of Thames was so frosen, that men might passe ouer it
both on foot and horssebacke.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 15. 1150.] In the meane while Henrie Duke of
Normandie, after he had returned from the king of the Scots, sailed
backe into Normandie, about the beginning of August, leauing England
full of all those calamities, which ciuill warre is accustomed to bring
with it, as burning of houses, killing, robbing, and spoiling of people,
so that the land was in danger of vtter destruction, by reason of that
pestilent discord.
This yeare the 23. of Februarie, Galfridus Monumetensis, otherwise
called Galfridus Arthurius, who turned the British historie into
Latine, was consecrated bishop of S. Assaph, by Theobald archbishop of
Canturburie, at Lambeth, William bishop of Norwhich and Walter bishop of
Rochester assisting him.
[Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._ The earle of Aniou father to Henry Fitzempress
departeth his life.] Morouer, this yeare (as some writers haue recorded)
Geffrey earle of Aniou, of husband to the empresse Maud, departed this
life, on the seuenth day of September, leauing his sonne Henrie onelie
heire and successor in the estates of the duchie of Normandie and
countie of Aniou. The bodie of the said earle was buried at Mans, with a
great funerall pompe: his three sonnes Henrie, Geffrey, and William
being present.
[Sidenote: Worcester assaulted.] But king Stephan assaulting the faire
citie of Worcester with a great power of men tooke it, and consumed it
with fire, but the castell he could not win. This citie belonged to
earle Waleran de Mellent, at that season: for king Stephan to his owne
hinderance had giuen it vnto him. Now after the men of warre had diuided
the spoile amongst them, they came backe, and passing through the lands
of their enimies, got great booties, which they also tooke away with
them, finding none to resist them in their iournie.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 16. 1151.] [Sidenote: _Ger. Dorober._ A synod at
London. ] In the yeare following Theobald archbishop of Canturburie, and
legat to the sée apostolike, held a generall synod or councell at London
in the Lent season, where king Stephan himselfe with his sonne
Eustachius, and other the peers of the realme were present. This
councell was full of appeales, contrarie to that had beene vsed in this
land, till the time that Henrie bishop of Winchester vnto his owne harme
(whilest he was likewise the Popes legat) had by vniust intrusion
brought them in, and now at this councell he was himselfe thrise
appealed to the hearing of the popes owne consistorie. After this king
Stephan in the same yeare brake into the citie of Worcester, and whereas
he could not the last time win the castell, he now endeauoured with all
his force to take it. But when those within made valiant resistance, he
raised two castels against it, and leauing in the same certeine of his
Nobles to continue the siege, he himselfe returned home. ¶ Thus (as yee
see) the kings propertie was to attempt manie things valiantlie, but he
procéeded in them oftentimes verie slowlie: howbeit, now by the policie
of the earle of Leicester, those two castels which the king had raised
to besiege the other castell, were shortlie after destroied: and so the
besieged were deliuered from danger. [Sidenote: The earle of Leicester
brother to the erle of Mellent.] This earle of Leicester was brother to
the earle of Mellent. Thus the kings purposed intention and painefull
trauell on that behalfe came to none effect.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 17. 1152.] [Sidenote: The duke of Normandie
Fitzempresse marieth the duchesse of Aquitaine.] In the meane while
Henrie duke of Normandie maried Elianor duches of Guien or Aquitaine,
latelie diuorsed from the French king, and so in right of hir he became
duke of Aquitaine, and earle of Poictou; for she was the onelie daughter
to William duke of Guien, and earle of Poictou, and by hir father
created his sole and lawfull heire.
[Sidenote: The French king maketh warre against the duke of Normandie.]
The French king was nothing pleased with this mariage, in somuch that he
made sore warre vpon duke Henrie, ioining himselfe in league with king
Stephan, with his sonne Eustace, and with the lord Geffrey brother to
duke Henrie, so that the said Henrie was constreined to defer his
iournie into England, and applie his power to defend his countries and
subiects on that side of the sea. For whereas he was readie at the mouth
of the riuer of Barbe to passe ouer into England, not long after
midsummer, the French king, with Eustace king Stephans sonne, Robert
erle of Perch, Henrie erle of Champaigne, and Geffrey brother to duke
Henrie, hauing assembled a mightie armie, came and besieged the castell
of Newmarch, and sent foorth the lord Geffrey with a strong power to win
the castell of Angers. Duke Henrie aduertised hereof departing from the
place where he soiourned, hasted foorth to succour his people that were
besieged, [Sidenote: The castell of Newmarch deliuered to the French
king.] but the castell of Newmarch was deliuered to the French king
through treason of those that had it in kéeping, before the duke could
come to their rescue.
Wherevpon the said duke hauing knowledge by the waie that he should come
too late thither, he encamped first vpon the side of the riuer of
Andell, [Sidenote: Ueulquesine or Ueuxin.] and wasted a great part of
the countrie of Ueuxin or Ueulquesine, surnamed Le Normant, which lieth
betwixt the riuer of Epte and Andell. This countrie belonged sometime to
Normandie, but Geffrey earle of Aniou the dukes father had resigned it
to the French king, to the end he should not aid king Stephan. The duke
also burned the castels of Bascheruille, Chitrey, Stripiney, and the
castell of Fort, that belonged to Hugh de Gourney, with diuerse other.
About the end of August he left his townes in Normandie sufficientlie
furnished with garisons of souldiers, and went into Aniou, where he
besieged the castell de mount Sotelli, till he had taken it, and all
those that were within it, amongst whome was the lord thereof named
William. The French king on the other side entring into Normandie, burnt
part of the borough of Rieule, [Sidenote: The towne castell of Uernon.
_Simon Dun._] and either then or shortlie after that duke Henrie was
gone ouer into England, he tooke the towne and castell of Uernon.
Whilest these things were thus a dooing in France, K. Stephan would haue
caused the archbishop of Canturburie & diuerse other bishops, whom for
that purpose he had assembled, to crowne, annoint, and confirme his
sonne Eustace king ouer the realme of England. [Sidenote: The Pope is
against it.] But the archbishops and bishops refused so to doo, bicause
the pope by his letters sent to the archbishop, had commanded to the
contrarie; namelie, that he should in no wise crowne the kings sonne,
bicause his father king Stephan had got the possession of the land
against his oth receiued in behalfe of the empresse. [Sidenote: The
bishops are threatened.] The father and sonne being not a litle offended
herewith, committed most of his bishops to ward séeking by threats and
menacings to bring them to his purpose. The bishops also were in no
small perplexitie: for according to the truth, the king neuer seemed
greatlie to fauor churchmen, bicause of their strength (as in former
times by his rigor vsed against the bishops of Salisburie and Lincolne
it plainelie appeared) and yet would not these men yéeld to his
pleasure: wherevpon although they were set at libertie, they were
neuerthelesse depriued of their temporall possessions, which
notwithstanding afterwards vpon the kings owne motion were restored vnto
them.
[Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] Howbeit the archbishop of Canturburie persisting
still in his oppinion, was forsaken of diuerse of the bishops, who
throgh feare durst not stand against their princes pleasure. [Sidenote:
The Archbishop of Canturburie flieth out of the realme.] But the
archbishop, when he perceiued how the matter went, & that all the blame
was like to light and rest on his shoulders, he got himselfe by a
maruellous hap ouer the Thames, and with, spéed riding to Douer, passed
the sea, to auoid both the fathers and sonnes reuengefull displeasure.
Herevpon the king seized into his hands all the lands & possessions that
belonged to the archbishop.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ _Ger. Dor._] This yeare queene Maud wife to
king Stephan departed this life at Hangey castell, that belonged to
earle Alberike de Uéer, about the third daie of Maie, and was buried in
the abbeie of Feuersham, which she with hir husband king Stephan had
latelie founded.
This yeare through great and immoderate raine that fell in the summer,
the growing of corne was so hindred, that a great death of people
insued[4].
[Sidenote: The battell of Monadmore _Matth. Paris._ The second & also
the first bishops of Man.] This yeare also was the battell of Monadmore
fought in Ireland, where the flower and chiefest personages of Mounster
and Leynister were slaine. Moreouer one John a moonke of Sagium, was
made the second bishop of the Isle of Man: the first bishop that was
there instituted hight Wimond a moonke of Sauinie, who for his
importunate misdemenour in some respects, had his eies put out, and was
displaced.
[Sidenote: _Hen. Marle._] John Papirio a cardinall, being sent from the
pope as legat into Ireland, ordeined foure archbishops there, one at
Dublin, an other at Ardmach, the third at Cassels, and the fourth at
Connach. [Sidenote: The bishop of Dublin made archbishop.] The sée of
Dublin he changed into an archbishops sée, one Gregorie at that time
possessing the same: to whom he gaue the first and chiefe pall, and
appointed the church of the blessed Trinitie to be church metropolitane.
As this cardinall passed through England, he receiued an oth of fealtie
vnto king Stephan.
[Sidenote: The castell of Newburie won.] The same yeare also king
Stephan by siege and force of assault did win the castell of Newberie
not far from Winchester. This doone he went to Wallingford, and
besieging the castell, he builded at the entring of the bridge a
fortresse to stop them within from issuing out, and likewise from
receiuing any reliefe or succour by their fréends abroad. The defendants
perceiuing themselues so hardlie laid at, sent to the duke of Normandie
(in whose name they kept that castell) desiring him either to succour
them, or else giue them licence to yéeld vp the castell to the king.
Herevpon duke Henrie hauing dispatched his businesse on the further side
of the sea, began to be kindled with a feruent desire once againe to
attempt his fortune here in England for recouerie of that kingdome, and
so with three thousand footmen, & 7 score horssemen, [Sidenote: Duke
Henrie Fitzempresse returneth into England. _Ger. Dor._] with all spéede
possible sailed ouer into England, where he landed about the 12. daie in
Christmasse. He was no sooner arriued, but a great number of such as
tooke part with his mother came flocking in vnto him: [Sidenote: He
besiegeth the castell of Malmesburie. _Matth. Paris._ _Polydor._]
wherevpon being now furnished with a great and puissant armie, he
marched foorth to Malmesburie, where in the castell was a great garison
of soldiers placed by king Stephan. Duke Henrie planted his siege about
this castell the thirtéenth daie of Januarie, and enforced himselfe to
the vttermost of his power to win it.
Now king Stephan hearing of his enimies arriuall, with all hast possible
got his armie on foot, and comming suddenlie towards the place where is
enimies were pitched, [Sidenote: K. Stephan constreineth him to raise
his siege.] he caused duke Henrie to raise his siege, and following
after, offered him battell. But duke Henrie, knowing that his enimies
were far more in number than he was at that present, and also conceiuing
with himselfe that by prolonging of time his owne power would increase,
absteined from fighting, and kept him within the closure of his campe.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Paru._] ¶ Thus haue some written, but other authors
write, that Henrie kept himselfe indeed within his campe, and refused to
giue battell, but yet remoued not his siege, till the king departed from
thence, after he saw he could not haue his purpose, and then did duke
Henrie win the castell of Malmesburie, or rather the maister tower or
chéefe dungeon of that castell. [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._ _Ger. Dor._] For
as (Simon of Durham writeth) he had won by assault the other parts and
lims of the castell before king Stephan came to remoue him.
This tower that thus held out, was in the keeping of one capteine
Jordan, who escaping foorth came to the king, informing him in what
state he had left his men within the tower: wherevpon the king (making
all the power that he was able) set forward, and comming to Circiter,
lodged there one night, and in the morning purposing to raise the siege,
or to fight with his enimies (if they would abide battell) marched
foorth towards Malmesburie. [Sidenote: A sore storm.] But vpon his
approch to the dukes campe, the daie following his comming thither,
there rose such a hideous tempest of wind and raine, beating full in the
faces of king Stephans people, that God seemed to fight for the duke,
who in respect of the number of people was thought too weake to deale
with the strong and puissant armie of the king: howbeit the storme being
on his backe, and beating extremelie in king Stephans mens faces, they
were not able to hold their weapons in their hands, in somuch that he
perceiued he could not passe the riuer that ran betwixt the armies:
wherevpon constreined in that sort through the violent rage of that cold
and wet weather, he returned to London full euill appaied, in that he
could not satisfie his expectation at that present.
The tower that duke Henrie had hardlie besieged immediatlie herewith was
surrendred vnto him, & then making prouision for vittels and other
things, [Sidenote: The castell of Wallingford.] to the reliefe of them
that kept the castell of Wallingford, he hasted thither, and finding no
resistance by the way, easily accomplished his enterprise. There were
diuerse castels thereabouts in the countrie furnished with garisons of
the kings souldiers, but they kept themselues close, and durst not come
abroad to stop his passage. [Sidenote: The castell of Cranemers. ]
Shortlie after he besieged the castell of Cranemers, and cast a trench
about it, so as his people within Wallingford castell might haue free
libertie to come foorth at their pleasure: but as for those within the
castell of Cranemers, they were so hardlie holden in, that there was no
waie for them to start out.
The king aduertised hereof, got all his host togither, and marched
forward verie terriblie toward duke Henries campe. But shewing no token
of feare, he caused the trench wherewith he had inclosed his campe
foorthwith to be cast downe, and leauing the siege, came into the fields
with his armie set in order of battell, meaning to trie the matter by
dint of sword, although he had not the like number of men as the king
had: whose armie perceiuing their enimies to come in the face of them,
were stricken with a sudden feare: neuerthelesse, he himselfe being of a
good courage, commanded his people to march forward. But herewith
certeine Noble men, that loued not the aduancement of either part, vnder
a colour of good meaning sought to treat an agréement betwixt them, so
that an intermission or cesing from war was granted, and by composition
the castell which the king had built, and the duke besieged, was razed
to the ground. The king and the duke also came to an interuiew and
communication togither, a riuer running betwixt them. [Sidenote: _Matth.
Paris._ _Ger. Dor._ Eustace king Stephans sonne.] Some write that they
fell to agreement, king Stephan vndertaking to raze the castell of
Cranemers himselfe, and so laieng armour aside for that time, they
parted asunder.
But Eustace K. Stephans son was sore offended herewith, and reprouing
his father for concluding such an agréement, in a great rage departed
from the court, & taking his waie toward Cambridgeshire (which countrie
he meant to ouerrun) he came to the abbeie of Burie, and vpon S.
Laurence daie caused all the corne in the countrie about and namelie
that which belonged to the said abbeie, to be spoiled and brought into a
castell which he had in keeping not far from thence. [Sidenote: Eustace
king Stephans son and Simon earl of Northāpton depart this life both in
one wéeke.] But as he sat downe to meat the same daie vpon receiuing the
first morsell he fell mad (as writers haue reported) and miserablie
ended his life. The same weeke Simon earle of Northampton departed this
world of a like disease, and so two of the cheefest aduersaries which
duke Henrie had, were rid out of the waie. Eustace was buried at
Feuersham in Kent, and earle Simon at Northampton.
[Sidenote: The earle of Chester deceasseth.] About the same time also
that noble and valiant earle of Chester called Ranulfe departed this
life, a man of such stoutnesse of stomach, that death could scarselie
make him to yeeld, or shew any token of feare: he was poisoned (as was
thought) by William Peuerell. After him succeeded his sonne Hugh, a man
likewise of passing strength and vertue. Now although earle Ranulfe
fauoured the part of duke Henrie, yet in these later yeares he did but
little for him: wherefore it was thought that the death of this earle
was not so great a losse to the duke, as the deaths of Eustace, earle
Simon, and other the kings fréends deceasing about the same time seemed
to further him: so that his part became dailie stronger, and the kings
weaker.
About the same time the castels of Reading and Béertwell were deliuered
to duke Henrie, [Sidenote: _Matth. Par._ _Rob. Mont._] and the ladie
Gundreda countesse of Warwike draue out the souldiers that held it for
king Stephan, and deliuered the towne to duke Henrie. In this yeare
duches Elenor, wife to Henrie Fitzempresse, was brought to bed of hir
first borne son, whom they named William, after the maner of the ancient
dukes of Aquitaine.
Thus came things to passe in sundrie places with so good successe as
duke Henrie could wish, wherevpon meaning to follow the steps of
prosperous fortune, he marched foorth to Stamford, [Sidenote: Stamford
was taken. _Simon Dun._ _Ger. Dor._ Gipswich or Ipswich besieged.] and
taking the towne at his first comming laid siege to the castell. Now
they that had it in keeping sent messengers to king Stephan, requiring
rescue, but the same time he had laid siege to the castell of Gipswich,
which Hugh Bigot kept against him: and bicause he wold not depart from
that siege till he had the castell giuen vp into his hands (which came
at last to passe) in the meane time the castell of Stamford was yéelded
vp to duke Henrie, [Sidenote: _N. Triuet._] who immediatelie therevpon
departed from Stamford eastward, meaning to come to the succour of his
fréends besieged at Gipswich or Ipswich (as it is commonlie called) not
vnderstanding as yet that they had surrendred the hold: but hauing
knowledge by the way what was happened, [Sidenote: Notinghàm.] he
returned and marched streight to Notingham, and got the towne easilie;
for they within the castell had set it on fire, therefore he besieged
the castell standing vpon the point of a stéepe craggie rocke, and was
furnished with a strong garison of men, and all things necessarie for
defense, so that it could not easilie be woone.
[Sidenote: Duke Henrie raiseth his siege from Notingham. _Polydor._]
When duke Henrie had assaied all the waies how to take it, and saw that
he could not preuaile, he minded to loose no more time: but raising his
siege from thence, he ranged abroad to get other places into his
possession, and finallie came to his mother, and laie at Wallingford. K.
Stephan in the meane time being strong in the field, sought time and
place to haue Henrie at some aduantage, who in his yoong yeares (as yet
not hauing tasted any misfortune) he thought would rashlie attempt some
vnaduised enterprise. [Sidenote: The miserie of this land in time of the
ciuill warre.] ¶ But whereas the realme of England had béene now manie
yeares miserablie turmoiled with ciuill warre (which the verie heathen
haue so detested, that they haue exclaimed against it with a kind of
irksomnesse; as:
[Sidenote: _Hor. lib. car. 1. ode. 35._]
Eheu cicatricum & sceleris pudet,
Fratrúmque: quid nos dura refugimus
Aetas? quid intactum nefasti
Linquimus? vnde manus iuuentus
[Sidenote: _Idem. lib. car. 2. ode. 1._]
Metu deorum continuit? quibus
Pepercit aris? iam litui strepunt,
Iam fulgor armorum fugaces
Terret equos equitúmque vultus)
Wherein (besides millians of extremities) honest matrones and mens wiues
were violated, maids and virgins rauished, churches spoiled, townes and
villages robbed, whole flocks and heards of shéepe and beasts destroied
(wherein the substance of the realme cheeflie consisted) and men without
number slaine and murthered, it pleased the goodnesse of almightie God
at length to deliuer the land of these miseries, which were notified to
all countries round about that sore lamented the same.
Now whereas king Stephan was the cause of all the troubles, in hauing
vsurped an other mans rightfull inheritance, it pleased God to mooue his
hart at length to desire peace which he had euer before abhorred. The
cause that mooued him chéefelie to change his former purpose, was for
that his sonne Eustace by speedie death was taken out of this world (as
before ye haue heard) which losse séemed great not onelie to the father,
but also to all those lords and others which had alwaies taken his part,
bicause he was a yoong man so well liked of all men, that he was iudged
to be borne to much honour. [Sidenote: The ladie Constance wife to
Eustace sent home.] But his wife Constance tooke his death verie
sorowfullie, and the more indeed for that she had no issue by him,
wherevpon shortlie after she was sent honourablie home to hir father
king Lewes with hir dower, and other rich and princelie gifts.