whome he minded to leaue the kingdome which he so earnestlie sought to
confirme and assure vnto him by warlike endeuor, and that againe the
French kings aid would not be so readie as heretofore it had béene
(wherevpon he much staied, now that the bonds of affinitie were
abolished) he began at length (though not immediatlie vpon his sonnes
deceasse) to withdraw his mind from war, [Sidenote: K. Stephan began to
incline his mind to peace. _Matth. Paris._] and bequeathed it wholie to
peace. Which alteration being perceiued, those Nobles that were glad to
sée the state of their countrie quieted, did their best to further it; &
chéeflie Theobald archbishop of Canturburie trauelled earnestlie to
bring the princes to some agréement, now talking with the king, now
sending to the duke, [Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] and vsing all meanes
possible to set them at vnitie. The bishop of Winchester also, who had
caused all the trouble, vpon consideration of the great calamities
wherewith the land was most miserablie afflicted, began to wish an end
thereof. Wherevpon the lords spirituall and temporall were called
togither at Winchester about the latter end of Nouember, that they with
their consents also might confirme whatsoeuer the king and the duke
should conclude vpon.
[Sidenote: An assemblie of lords at Winchester. A peace concluded
betwixt the king and the duke.] Thus was a publike assemblie made in the
citie of Winchester, whither also duke Henrie came who being ioifullie
receiued of the king in the bishops palace, they were made fréends, the
king admitting the duke for his sonne, and the duke the king for his
father, insomuch that the agreement, which (through the carefull sute of
the archbishop of Canturburie) had beene laboured with such diligence to
good effect, was now confirmed: the cheefe articles whereof were these.
[Sidenote: Some writers haue recorded that duke Henrie should
presentlie by this agréement enioy halfe the realme of England.]
1 That king Stephan, during his naturall life, should remaine king
of England, and Henrie the empresses sonne should enioy the
dukedome of Normandie, and be proclaimed heire apparant to succéed
in and haue the regiment of England, after the deceasse of Stephan.
2 That such noble men, and other, which had held either with the
one partie or the other, during the time of the ciuill warres,
should be in no danger for the same but enioy their lands,
possessions and liuings, according to their ancient rights and
titles.
3 That the king should resume and take into his hands againe, all
such portions and parcels of inheritance belonging to the crowne,
as he had giuen away, or were otherwise vsurped by any maner of
person, and that all those possessions which by any intrusion had
béene violentlie taken from the right owners, since the daies of
king Henrie, should be restored to them that were rightlie
possessed in the same by the daies of the said king.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ Castels to be razed in number. 1115.]
4 That all those castels, which contrarie to all reason and good
order had béene made and builded by any maner of person in the
daies of king Stephan, should be ouerthrowne and cast downe, which
were found to be eleuen hundred and fifteene.
5 That the king should reforme all such disorders as warre had
brought in; to restore farmers to their holdings, to repaire
decaied buildings, to restore pastures and leassues with cattell,
hils with sheepe, &c.
6 That by his meanes the cleargie might enioy their due
quietnesse, and not be oppressed with any vniust exactions.
7 That he should place shirifes where they had béene accustomed
to beare rule, with instructions giuen them to deale vprightlie
in causes, so as offenders might not escape through bribes, or
any other respect of freendship; but that euerie man might
receiue according to right and equitie.
8 That soldiours should conuert their swords (as Esaie saith)
into culters & plough shares, their speares into mattocks, and so
returne from the campe to the plough: and that such as were woont
to keepe watch in the night season, might now sléepe and take
their rest without any danger.
9 That the husbandman might be set frée from all trouble and
vexation, by meanes wherof he might follow his tilth, and plie
his culture.
10 That merchant men and occupiers might enioy their trades and
occupations to their aduancement.
11 That one kind and manner of siluer coine should run through
the land, &c.
12 There was also consideration had of a sonne which king Stephan
had, named William, who though he were verie yoong, was yet
appointed to sweare fealtie vnto duke Henrie as lawfull heire to
the crowne. The same William had the citie of Norwhich, and
diuerse other lands assigned him for the maintenance of his
estate, and that by the consent and agréement of duke Henrie his
adopted brother.
These things being thus concluded at Winchester, and the warre that had
continued, for the space of 17 yeares now ended and fullie pacified: the
king tooke the duke with him to London, dooing to him all the honour he
could deuise. The newes whereof being spred abrode, euerie good man
reioised thereat. Thus through the great mercie of God, peace was
restored vnto the decaied state of this relme of England. Which things
being thus accomplished with great ioy and tokens of loue, king Stephan
and his new adopted sonne duke Henrie tooke leaue either of other,
appointing shortlie after to méet againe at Oxenford, there to perfect
euerie article of their agréement, which was thus accorded a little
before Christmas.
¶ But by the way, for the better vnderstanding of the said agreement, I
haue thought good to set downe the verie tenor of the charter made by
king Stephan, as I haue copied it out, and translated it into English
out of an autentike booke conteining the old lawes of the Saxon and
Danish kings, in the end whereof the same charter is exemplified, which
booke is remaining with the right worshipfull William Fléetwood esquire,
now recorder of London, and sargeant at law.
The charter of king Stephan, of the pacification of the troubles
betwixt him and Henrie duke of Normandie.
Stephan king of England, to all archbishops, bishops, abbats,
earles, iusticers, sherifes, barons and all his faithfull
subiects of England sendeth greeting. Know yee that I king
Stephan, haue ordeined Henrie duke of Normandie after me by right
of inheritance to be my successour, and heire of the kingdome of
England, and so haue I giuen and granted to him and his heires
the kingdome of England. For the which honour, gift, and
confirmation to him by me made, he hath doone homage to me, and
with a corporall oth hath assured me, that he shall be faithfull
and loiall to me, and shall to his power preserue my life and
honour: and I on the other side shall maineteine and preserue him
as my sonne and heire in all things to my power, and so far as by
any waies or meanes I may.
[Sidenote: William sonne to king Stephan.] And William my sonne
hath doone his lawfull homage, and assured his fealtie vnto the
said duke of Normandie, and the duke hath granted to him to hold of
him all those tenements and holdings which I held before I atteined
to the possession of the realme of England, wheresoeuer the same be
in England, Normandie, or elsewhere, [Sidenote: Earle Warren.] and
whatsoeuer he receiued with the daughter of earle Warren, either in
England or Normandie, & likewise whatsoeuer apperteineth to those
honoures. And the duke shall put my sonne William and his men that
are of that honour in full possession and seizine of all the lands,
boroughs and rents, which the duke thereof now hath in his demaine,
and namelie of those that belong to the honour of the earle Warren,
[Sidenote: The castels of Bellencumber and Mortimer.] and namelie
of the castels of Bellencumber and Mortimer, so that Reginald de
Warren shall haue the kéeping of the same castels of Bellencumber,
and of Mortimer, if he will; and therevpon shall giue pledges to
the duke: and if he will not haue the keeping of those castels,
then other liege of men of the said erle Warren, whom it shall
please the duke to appoint, shall be sure pledges and good suertie
keepe the said castels.
Moreouer, the duke shall deliuer vnto him according to my will and
pleasure the other castels, [Sidenote: The erledome of Mortaigne.]
which belong vnto the earledome of Mortaigne by safe custodie and
pledges, so soone as he conuenientlie may, so as all the pledges
are to be restored vnto my sonne free, so soone as the duke shall
haue the realme of England in possession. The augmentation also
which I haue giuen vnto my sonne William, he hath likewise granted
the same to him; [Sidenote: Norwich. ] to wit, the castell and
towne of Norwich, with seauen hundred pounds in lands, so as the
rents of Norwich be accounted as parcell of the same seauen hundred
pounds in lands, and all the countie of Norfolke; the profits and
rents which belong to churches, bishops, abbats & earles excepted;
[Sidenote: Hugh Bigot] and the third pennie whereof Hugh Bigot is
earle, also excepted: sauing also and reseruing the kings roiall
iurisdiction for administration of iustice. Also the more to
strengthen my fauour and loue to himwards, [Sidenote: Richer de
Egle.] the duke hath giuen and granted vnto my said sonne
whatsoeuer Richer de Aquila hath of the honour of Peuensey. And
moreouer the castell and towne of Peuensey, and the seruice of
Faremouth, beside the castell and towne of Douer, and whatsoeuer
apperteineth to the honour of Douer.
[Sidenote: The church of Feuersham.] The duke hath also confirmed
the church of Feuersham with the appurtenances; and all other
things giuen or restored by me vnto other churches, he shall
confirme by the counsell and aduice of holie church and of me. The
earles and barons that belong to the duke, which were neuer my
leeges, for the honour which I haue done to their master, they haue
now doone homage and sworne fealtie to me, the couenants betwixt me
& the said duke alwaies saued. The other which had before doone
homage to me, haue sworne fealtie to me as to their souereigne
lord. And if the duke should breake and go from the premisses, then
are they altogither to ceasse from dooing him any seruice, till he
reforme his misdooings. And my sonne also is to constreine him
thereto, according to the aduice of holie church, if the duke shall
chance to go from the couenants afore mentioned. My earles and
barons also haue doone their leege and homage vnto the duke, sauing
their faith to me so long as I liue, and shall hold the kingdome
with like condition, that if I doo breake and go from the premitted
couenants, that then they may ceasse from dooing me any seruice,
till the time I haue reformed that which I haue doone amisse.
The citizens also of cities, and those persons that dwell in
castels, which I haue in my demaine, by my commandement haue doone
homage, and made assurance to the duke, sauing the fealtie which
they owe to me during my life time, and so long as I shall hold the
kingdome. [Sidenote: Wallingford castell.] They which keep the
castle of Wallingford haue doone their homage to me, and haue giuen
to me pledges for the observing of their fealtie. And I haue made
vnto the duke such assurance of the castels and strengths which I
hold by the counsell and aduice of holie church, that when I shall
depart this life, the duke thereby may not run into any losse or
impeachment, whereby to be debarred from the kingdome. [Sidenote:
The tower of London. Mota de Windsor.] The tower of London, and the
fortresse of Windsor, by the counsell and aduice of holie church
are deliuered vnto the lord Richard de Lucie, [Sidenote: Richard de
Lucie.] safelie to be kept, which Richard hath taken an oth, and
hath deliuered his sonne in pledge to remaine in the hands and
custodie of the archbishop of Canturburie, that after my decease he
shall deliuer the same castels vnto the duke. Likewise by the
counsell and aduise of holie church, [Sidenote: Mota de Oxford.]
Roger de Bussey keepeth the castell of Oxford, and Jordaine de
Bussey the castell of Lincolne, which Roger & Jordaine haue sworne,
and thereof haue deliuered pledges into the hands of the
archbishop, that if I shall chance to leaue this life, they shal
render the same castels to the duke without impeachment. [Sidenote:
The bishop of Winchester.] The bishop of Winchester hath also giuen
his faith in the hands of the archbishop of Canturburie, that if I
chance to depart this life, he shall render vp vnto the duke the
castels of Winchester, and the fortresse of Hampton.
And if any of them, vnto whom the custodie of these fortresses
shall be committed, fortune to die, or otherwise to depart from
his charge, an other shall be appointed to the keeping of the
same fortresse, before he shall depart foorth thereof, by the
counsell and aduice of holie church. And if any of those persons
that haue any castels or fortresses belonging to me in their
custodie shall be found disobedient and rebell, I and the duke
shall constreine him to satisfie our will & pleasure, not leauing
him in rest till he be so constreined. The archbishops and
bishops of the realme of England, and the abbats also, haue by my
commandement sworne fealtie vnto the duke; and the bishops and
abbats that hereafter shall be made and aduanced here within the
realme of England shall likewise sweare fealtie to him. The
archbishops also and bishops on either part, haue vndertaken,
that if either of vs shall go from the foresaid couenants, they
shall so long chastise the partie offending with the
ecclesiastical censures, till he reforme his fault, and returne
to fulfill and obserue the said couenants. The mother also of the
duke, and his wife, and his brethren, & subjects whom he may
procure, shall likewise assure the premisses.
In matters belonging to the state of the realme, I shall worke by
the dukes aduice. And through all the realme of England, as well
in that part which belongeth to the duke, as in that which
belongeth to me, I shall see that roiall iustice be executed.
These beeing witnesses, Theobald archbishop of Canturburie, Hen.
of Winchester, Robert of Excester, Rob. of Bath, Goceline of
Salisburie, Robert of Lincolne, Hilarie of Cicester, William of
Norwich, Richard of London, Migell of Elie, Gilbert of Hereford,
John of Worcester, Walter of Chester, Walter of Rochester,
Geffrey of S. Asaph, Bishops: Robert prior of Bermondsey, Othon
knight of the temple, William earle of Cicester, Robert earle of
Leicester, William earle of Glocester, Renold of Cornewall,
Baldwin de Toning, Roger de Hereford, Hugh Bigot, Patrike de
Salisburie, William de Albemarle, Earle Alberike, Roger Clare,
Richard erle of Pembroke, Richard de Lucie, William Martell,
Richard de Humer, Reginald de Warren, Mahaser Biset, John de
Port, Richard de Cameuille, Henrie de Essex. Geuen at
Westminster.
[Sidenote: 1154. An. Reg. 19.] [Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] Thus far the
Charter: and now to proceed with the historie. Immediatlie after
Christmasse, euen in the Octaues of the Epiphanie, the king and duke
Henrie met againe Oxenford, where all the earls and barons of the land
being assembled, sware fealtie vnto duke Henrie, their allegiance due
vnto king Stephan, as to their souereigne lord and supreme gouernour so
long as he liued, alwaies reserued. The forme of the peace was now also
ingrossed and registered for a perpetuall witnesse of the thing, in this
yeare 1154. after their account that begin the yeare at Christmasse, as
about the feast of S. Hilarie in Januarie commonlie called the twentith
daie. Thus was Henrie the sonne of the empresse made the adopted sonne
of king Stephan, and therevpon the said Henrie saluted him as king, and
named him father. After conclusion of this peace, by the power of
almightie God, all debate ceassed in such wise, that the state of the
realme of England did maruelouslie for a time flourish, concord being
mainteined on ech hand. [Sidenote: _Polydor._] ¶ There be which affirme,
that an other cause bound king Stephan to agrée to this attonement
chiefelie, namelie for that the empresse (as they saie) was rather king
Stephans paramour than his enimie: [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ Egelaw
heath.] and therefore (when she saw the matter growne to this point,
that they were readie to trie battell with their armies readie ranged on
a plaine in the westerne parts called Egelaw heath) she came secretlie
vnto king Stephan, & spake unto him on this wise: [Sidenote: The words
of the empresse to K. Stephan.] "What a mischieuous and vnnaturall thing
go ye about? Is it méet that the father should destroie the sonne? Is it
lawfull for the sonne to kill the father? For the loue of God (man)
refraine thy displeasure, and cast thy weapons out of thy hand, sith
that (as thou thy selfe knowest full well) Henrie is thine owne
sonne." [Sidenote: The empresse confesseth hir selfe to be naught of hir
bodie.] With these and the like words she put him in mind, and couertlie
told him, that he had to doo with hir a little before she was maried
vnto earle Geffrey.
The king by such tokens as the empresse gaue him, tooke hir words to be
true, and therevpon all his malice was streightwaies quenched: so that
calling foorth the archbishop of Canturburie, he vttered to him the
whole matter, and tooke therewith such direction, in sending to his
aduersaries for auoiding battell at that present, that immediatlie the
armies on both sides wrapped vp their ensignes, and euery man was
commanded to kéepe the peace, that a communication might be had about
the conclusion of some pacification, which afterwards ensued in maner
aboue mentioned.
¶ But whether this or some other cause moued the king to this peace, it
is to be thought that God was the worker of it. And surelie a man may
thinke it good reason, that the report of such secret companie-keeping
betwixt the king and the empresse, [Sidenote: Slanders deuised by
malicious heads.] was but a tale made among the common people vpon no
ground of truth, but vpon some slanderous deuice of a malicious head.
And admit that king Stephan had to doo hir; yet is it like that both of
them would doo for best to kéepe it secret, that no such reproch might
be imputed either to Henrie, who was taken to be legitimate; or to his
mother, whose honour thereby should not a little be stained.
[Sidenote: Oxenford. _Ger. Dor._ The King and duke méet at Dunstable.]
But now to the purpose. Shortlie after that the king and duke Henrie had
béene togither at Oxenford, where they ended all things touching the
peace & concord betwixt them concluded, they met againe at Dunstable,
where some cloud of displeasure seemed to darken the bright sunshine of
the late begun loue and amitie betwixt those two mightie princes the
king and the duke. [Sidenote: Articles not performed.] For where it was
accorded (among other articles) that all the castels which had béene
built since the daies of the late king Henrie for euill intents and
purposes, should be razed and throwne downe: contrarie therevnto
(notwithstanding manie of them were ouerthrowne and destroied to the
accomplishment of that article) diuers through the kings permission were
suffered to stand. And when the duke complained to the king thereof, he
could not get at that time any redresse, which somewhat troubled him:
but yet bicause he would not giue occasion of any new trouble, nor
offend the king, to whom (as to his reputed father) he would seeme to
yeeld all honour and due reuerence, he passeth it ouer.
[Sidenote: The king and duke come to Canturburie.] Within a while after,
the king and he came to Canturburie, where they were solemnlie receiued
of the couent of Christes church with procession. After this, in the
Lent season they went to Douer, where they talked with Theodorike earle
of Flanders, and with the countesse his wife who was aunt to duke
Henrie. At their comming towards Canturburie (as it was bruted) the duke
should haue béene murthered, [Sidenote: The enuie of the Flemings.]
through treason of the Flemings that enuied both the dukes person, and
also that peace which he had concluded with the king. But sée the hap.
As this feat should haue béene wrought on Berhamdowne, William earle of
Northfolke king Stephan his sonne, who was one of the chéefe
conspirators, fell beside his horsse, and brake his leg, so that euerie
man by that sudden chance was in a maze, & came woondering about him. ¶
This no doubt came to passe by the prouidence of God, though such
accidents are commonlie imputed to casualtie or chance medlie. For it is
the worke of God either to preuent, or to intercept, or to recompense
the vnnatural conspiracies of traitors and rebels with some notable
plague: according to that of the poet;
[Sidenote: _Hesiod in lib, cui tit. op. & di._]
[Greek: Hoi autô kaka teuchei anês allô kaka teuchôn,
Hê de kakê boulê tô bouleusanti kakistê],
Noxius ipse sibi est alij qui quærit obesse,
Consiliúmq; malum danti fert maxima damna.
Duke Henrie herewith getting knowledge of the treason intended against
him, or at the least suspecting somewhat, got him backe againe to
Canturburie, and so auoided the danger. After this, taking his way to
[Sidenote: Duke Henrie passeth ouer into Normandie.] Rochester, and so
to London, he got him a shipboord, and sailed by long seas into
Normandie, where he arriued in safetie.
After his departure, king Stephan spent the summer season of this yeare,
in going about the most part of the realme; shewing all the courtesie he
could deuise to the people in all places where he came; [Sidenote: _Will
Paru._ Philip de Coleuille. The castell of Drax.] except where he found
any rebellious persons, as in Yorkshire, where Philip de Coleuille (in
trust of his castell which he had stronglie fortified at a certeine
place called Drax) shewed himselfe disobedient to the king, who
assembling a power in the countrie, besieged that castell, and shortlie
wanne it, without any great adoo.
When duke Henrie was departed (as ye haue heard) and gone ouer into
Normandie, now that he had concluded a peace with king Stephan,
[Sidenote: The puissance of duke Hērie.] his puissance was thought to be
such, that he was able to mainteine warres with the mightiest prince
that then reigned. For in right of his wife, he had gotten possession of
the duchie of Aquitaine, and the earledome of Poictou; and further by
his mother, he enioied the duchie of Normandie, and looked to succéed in
the kingdome of England: and in right of his father he was earle of
Aniou, Thouraigne, and Maine. He also reuoked into his hands certeine
parcels of his demeane lands, which his father had giuen away, and
passing from thence into Aquitaine, mightilie subdued certeine lords and
barons there, that had rebelled against him.
[Sidenote: A peace concluded betwixt the French king and duke Henrie.
_Matth. West._] About the same time a peace was concluded betwixt the
French king, and this duke Henrie: the king restoring vnto the duke the
townes of Newmarch and Uernon, which he had before taken from him, and
the duke giuing to the king 20000. markes of siluer, for the harmes
doone by him, within the realme of France.
But now to returne vnto king Stephan. Yee shall vnderstand, that within
a while after he had made his foresaid progresse almost about the whole
realme, he returned vnto London, where he called a parlement as well to
consult of matters touching the state of the commonwealth, as to furnish
the see of Yorke with a sufficient archbishop. [Sidenote: _Wil. Paru._
Roger Archdeacon of Canturburie made archbishop of Yorke.] Wherevpon one
Roger that was before archdeacon of Canturburie, was chosen to that
dignitie, and consecrated the tenth day of October, by archbishop
Theobald, as legat to the pope, and not as archbishop of Canturburie.
[Sidenote: Thomas Becket archdeacon of Canturburie.] Then also was
Thomas Becket made archdeacon of Canturburie by the said Theobald. The
new archbishop Roger first went to his see at Yorke, where after he had
receiued his inthronization, and set his businesse there in order, he
tooke his iournie towards Rome to fetch his pall in his owne person.
[Sidenote: The earle of Flanders.] King Stephan also after the end of
the parlement went to Douer, there to meet the earle of Flanders, who
came thither to talke with him of certeine businesse. The earle was no
sooner returned backe, but the king fell sicke, and was so gréeuouslie
tormented with a paine in his bellie, and with an old disease also,
wherewith (as should appear) he had beene often troubled, namelie, the
emrods, [Sidenote: King Stephan departed this life.] that finallie he
died in the abbey on the fiue and twentith day of October, in the nine
and fortith yeare of his age, and after he had reigned eighteene yeares,
ten moneths, and od daies, in the yeare after the birth of our Sauiour
1154. [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ _N. Triuet._] [Sidenote: 1154.] His
bodie was interred in the abbeie of Feuersham in Kent, which he had
builded, where his wife also, and his sonne Eustace were buried before.
¶ Thus farre of the acts and deeds of Stephan; now a little of other
breefe remembrances, and first touching the prosopographie or
description of his person.