affairs would permit. He wanted not attention to the redress of grievances; and historians mention in particular the levying of purveyance, which he endeavoured to moderate and restrain. The tenants in the King's demesne lands were at that time obliged to supply gratis the court with provisions, and to furnish carriages on the same hard terms when the King made a progress, as he did frequently, into any of the counties. These exactions were so grievous, and levied in so licentious a manner, that the farmers, when they heard of the approach of the court, often deserted their houses as if an enemy had invaded the country, and sheltered their persons and families in the woods from the insults of the King's retinue. Henry prohibited those enormities, and punished the persons guilty of them by cutting off their hands, legs, or other members. But the prerogative was perpetual; the remedy applied by Henry was temporary; and the violence itself of this remedy, so far from giving security to the people, was only a proof of the ferocity of the Government, and threatened a quick return of like abuses.

As everything in England remained in tranquillity, Henry A. D. took the opportunity of paying a visit to Normandy, to which 1131 he was invited as well by his affection for that country as by his tenderness for his daughter, the Empress Matilda, who was always his favourite. Some time after that princess was de- 1132 livered of a son, who received the name of Henry; and the King, farther to ensure her succession, made all the nobility of England and Normandy renew the oath of fealty which they had already sworn to her. The joy of this event, and the satisfaction which he reaped from his daughter's company, who bore successively two other sons, made his residence in Normandy very agreeable to him, and he seemed determined to pass the remainder of his days in that country, when an incursion of the Welsh obliged him to think of returning into England. He was preparing for the journey, but was seized with a sudden 1135 illness at St. Dennis le Forment, from eating too plentifully of lampreys, a food which always agreed better with his palate. than his constitution. He died in the sixty-seventh year of his age, and the thirty-fifth of his reign, leaving by will his daughter Matilda heir of all his dominions, without making any mention

of her husband Geoffrey, who had given him several causes of displeasure.

This prince was one of the most accomplished that has filled 'the English throne, and possessed all the great qualities both of body and mind, natural and acquired, which could fit him for the high station to which he attained. His person was manly, his countenance engaging, his eyes clear, serene, and penetrating. The affability of his address encouraged those who might be overawed by the sense of his dignity, or of his wisdom; and though he often indulged his facetious humour, he knew how to temper it with discretion, and ever kept at a distance from all indecent familiarities with the courtiers. His superior eloquence and judgment would have given him an ascendant even had he been born in a private station, and his personal bravery would have procured him respect, though it had been less supported by art and policy. By his great progress in literature he acquired the name of Beau-clerc, or the Scholar; but his application to those sedentary pursuits abated nothing of the activity and vigilance of his government; and though the learning of that age was better fitted to corrupt than improve the understanding, his natural good sense preserved itself untainted, both from the pedantry and superstition which were then so prevalent among men of letters. His temper was susceptible of the sentiments as well of friendship as of resentment; and his ambition, though high, might be deemed moderate and reasonable, had not his conduct towards his brother and nephew showed that he was too much disposed to sacrifice to it all the maxims of justice and equity. But the total incapacity of Robert for government afforded his younger brother a reason or pretence for seizing the sceptre both of England and Normandy; and when violence and usurpation are once begun, necessity obliges a prince to continue in the same criminal course, and engages him in measures which his better judgment and sounder principles would otherwise have induced him to reject with warmth and indignation. 1

1 Abridged from chap. vi. vol. i. (ed. 1813).

1

341

REIGN OF STEPHEN.

A. D. 1135-1154.

(From FABYAN's "Chronicles." 1)

STEPHEN, earl of Boloyne (Boulogne), and son of the Earl A. D. of Blesence (Blois), and of the wive's sister of Henry the 1136 First, named Mary, began his reign over the realm of Englonde (England) in the year of our Lord 1136,2 and the first year of Luois VIII. of that name, then king of Fraunce. This was a noble man and hardy; but contrary to his oath, after the affirmance of some writers, that he made to Molde (Maude), the Empress, he took upon him the crown, and was crowned upon Saint Stephen's day, in the Christmas week, at Westminster, of the Archbishop of Canterbury; the which in likewise had made like oath unto the said Empress, in presence of her father, as before is touched. In punishment whereof, as men deemed, the said archbishop died shortly after, and many other lords, which died accordingly, went not quite without punishment. A great causer of this perjury, as rehearseth one author, was this: one Hugh Bygot, steward sometime with Henry the First, immediately after the decease of the said Henry, came unto England, and before the said archbishop and other lords of the land, took wilfully an oath, and sware that he was present a little before the King's death, when King Henry admitted, and chose for his heir to be king after him, Stephen his nephew, for so much as Molde his daughter had. discontented him, whereunto the archbishop with the other lords gave too hasty credence; but this Hugh escaped not unpunished, for he died miserably in a short time after. When King Stephen was crowned, he sware before the lords at Oxen

1 Robert Fabyan was an alderman of London in the fifteenth century. His orthography has been modernized.-E. M. S.

Reckoning his reign as beginning the week after his coronation.-E. M. S.

ford (Oxford), that he would not hold in his hand the benefices that voided (became vacant), and that he would forgive the Danegelt, as King Henry before him had done, with other things which I pass over. And for this Stephen dreaded the coming of the Empress, he therefore gave licence unto his lords that every one of them might build a castle or strong fortress upon his own ground, and soon after he agreed with Davyd (David), king of Scottys (Scotland), and received of him homage, after he had from him won some towns and holds. The town of Exetour (Exeter) rebelled against the King in the second year of his reign; but he in the end subdued them and Wyllyam, archbishop of Canterbury, died the same year, whose A.D. benefice was after given to Thebaude (Theobald), abbot of 1139 Becco (Bec), in Normandy. About the fourth year of his reign,

:

Davyd, king of Scotland, repenting him of his former agreement made with the King, entered of new the bounds of Northumberland, about the river of Theyse (Tees), towards the province of York, and burnt and slew the people in most cruel wise, not sparing man, woman, nor child. Again whom Thurston, by the King's commandment, was sent, the which with his power acquitted him so knightly, that he overthrew the host of Scots, and slew of them great number, and compelled them to withdraw again into Scotland. In the which (pass-time) the King laid siege to the castle of Bedford and won it; and that done, he then made a voyage into Scotland, where he did little to his pleasure or profit. Then in his return homeward he took Alexander, bishop of Lyncolne (Lincoln), and held him in duresse till he had yielded or given to him the castle of Newerke (Newark), and then he chased Nigellus (Nigel), bishop of Ely....

One chronicle saith, that King Stephan obtained these foresaid castles to the intent that he might fortify them with his knights, to withstand the Empress, whose coming he ever feared and the year following he won with strength, the castles of Glowcetour (Gloucester), of Hereforde, of Weobley, (Webley), of Bristowe (Bristol), of Dudley, and of Shrewesbury; for the which cause Robert, earl of Gloucester, began to withdraw his allegiance from King Stephan. This Robert was the bastard son of Henry the First, and for this displeasure sent

A.D.

letters unto Molde the Empress, his sister, promising to her great aid to win her right. In the meanwhile that the Empress made provision for her journey, King Stephan concluded a marriage between Eustace his son, and Constance, the King's sister, of Fraunce, daughter of Lewys (Louis) the Great, the which continued the amity between Englonde and Fraunce (France). Then in the month of Jiulii (July), and sixth year of Stephan, Molde the empress, as testifieth Hery the Canon in his ninth book, entered this land by the port of Portsmouthe, and so kept on her journey till she came to Bristowe, and did great harm by the means of her passage through the country. In which time of her said landing, King Stephan lay at the seige of Walyngforde (Wallingford) Castle; but as soon as he heard of the landing of the Empress, he anon sent out commissions for more strength, and so drew towards his enemies. But in this time and season, Robert, earl of Glowcestour and Ranulfe, earl of Chester, went unto the Empress with all the power that they might make. The Empress hearing of the 1141 great power coming with the King, withdrew to the city of Nicoll, now called Lincoln, and there held her a long season, for all that the King might do ; but lastly the Empress with her people escaped, and the King was possessed of the city, and there bode till Candlemas. After which season Earl Robert, and Ranulf, before named, with a great power of Welshmen, and power of the Empress, came against the King: where as when both hosts were near the joining, earl Ranulf of Chester spake to his knights, and said, "I require you that I, that am cause of your peril, may be the first that shall enter unto the peril." Then answered Earl' Robert, and said, "it is not unworthy to thee that askest the first stroke and dignity of this fight, for to thee it is fitting for nobleness of blood and virtue of strength, in the which thou passest other men; but the King's false oath moveth men to war and to fight, where we must now win the mastery or be overcome: and he that hath none other succour, is constrained to defend him by knightly and strong deeds of arms, and of manhood: and so shall we now against them that be entricked with guile and wickedness, as Robert, carl of Mellent, the earl also of Albemarl, and Simon of Hapton (Hampton), the which is a man of great boast and of small