Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 ¶ The Scotish chronicles set out the matter in o|ther order, Hec. Boetius. but yet all agrée that Henrie sware feal|tie to king Stephan, as in the said historie of Scot|land you may sée more at large. Now after that king Stephan had concluded a peace with king Da|uid, he returned to London, Simon Dun. Matth. Paris. and there kept his Ea|ster with great ioy and triumphes: who whilest he was yet in the middest of all his pastime, about Ro|gation wéeke, he chanced to fall sicke of a litargie, Simon Dun. King Ste|phan sicke. by reason wherof a rumor was spred ouer all the realme that he was dead. Which though it was but a vaine tale, and of no importance at the first, yet was it af|ter the occasion of much euill.False rumors what hurt they often|times doo. For vpon that report great sedition was raised by the kings enimies a|mongst the people, the minds of his fréends were a|lienated from him, & manie of the Normans (which were well practised in periuries & treasons) thought they might boldlie attempt all mischéefes that came to hand, and hervpon some of them vndertooke to defend one place, and some another.Hugh Bigot. Baldwin Reduers. Robert Quisquere. Hugh Bigot erle of Norfolke a valiant chieftein entred into Nor|wich, Baldwin Reduers tooke Excester, & Robert Quisquere got certeine castels also into his hands.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 King Stephan hearing what his enimies had doone, though he was somewhat mooued with this al|teration of things, yet as one nothing afraid of the matter, he said merilie to those that stood about him:
We are aliue yet God be thanked, and that shall be knowne to our enimies ye [...] it be long.Neither doubted he any thing but some secret practise of treason, and therfore vsing all diligence, he made the more hast to go against his enimies, whose attempts though streightwaies for the more part he repressed, EEBO page image 48 yet could he not recouer the places (without much adoo) that they had gotten, as Excester, and others: which when he had obteined, he contented himselfe for a time, and followed not the victorie any further in pursuing of his enimies. Wherevpon they became more, bold afterward than before; in somuch that soone after they practised diuerse things against him, whereof (God willing) some in places conuenient shall appeare: howbeit they permitted him to re|maine in quiet for a time. But whilest he studied to take order in things at home (perceiuing how no small number of his subiects did dailie shew them|selues to beare him no hartie good will) he began by little and little to take awaie those liberties from the people, Polydor. which in the beginning of his reigne he had granted vnto them, and to denie those promises which he had made, according to the saieng,
That which I haue giuen, I would I had not giuen, and that which remaineth I will kéepe still.This sudden alteration and new kind of rough dealing purcha|sed him great enuie amongst all men in the end. A|bout the same time great commotions were raised in Normandie by meanes of the lord Geffrey earle of Aniou,Geffrey earle of Aniou. husband to Maud the empresse, setting the whole countrie in trouble: but yer any newes there|of came into England, king Stephan went against Baldwin Reduers, who being latelie (though not without great and long siege expelled out of Exce|ster) got him into the Ile of Wight, and there began to deuise a new conspiracie. Howbeit the king com|ming suddenlie into the Ile, Simon Dunel. Wil. [...]aruus. Polydor. tooke it at the first as|sault, and exiled Baldwin out of the realme.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 Hauing thus with good successe finished this en|terprise, Anno Reg. 2. 1137 and being now aduertised of the businesse in Normandie, he sailed thither with a great armie: and being come within two daies iournie of his eni|mie the earle of Aniou,K. Stephan passeth into Normandie. he sent foorth his whole power of horssemen, diuided into three parts, which were not gone past a daies iournie forward, but they en|countred the earle, finding him with no great force about him.The earle of Aniou put to flight. Wherevpon giuing the charge vpon him, they put him to flight, and slue manie of his people. Which enterprise in this maner valiantlie atchiued, euen according to the mind of king Stephan, he ioi|ned in freendship with Lewes the seuenth king of France:Lewes king of France. Eustace son to king Ste|phan. and hauing latelie created his sonne Eu|stace duke of Normandie, he presentlie appointed him to doo his homage vnto the said Lewes for the same.