The Holinshed Texts (1587, Volume 6, p. 53)

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Moreouer, Dauid king of Scotland entred into Northumberland,

The king of Scots taketh Northumber|land into his possession. Polydor.

The empresse foloweth the victorie.

and by commandement of the em|presse tooke the countrie into his hands, whilest she (like a woman of great wisedome, as she was no lesse indéed) iudging that it stood hir vpon to vse the victorie which fell to hir lot, slept not hir businesse, but went forward, and setting from Glocester, she came to Winchester, where she was honorablie receiued of bishop Henrie, though he was king Stephans brother, and inwardlie lamented the misfortune of the king. Then came she backe againe to Wilton, and so to Oxenford, from thence to Reading, and then to S. Albons, into all which cities and townes she was receiued with great triumph and honour.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Hauing thus passed through all the south parts of the realme on that side,Shée cõmeth to London. she finallie came to London, where the citizens welcomed hir in most ioifull and hartie maner. Now being come to London, and con|sulting with those of hir councell for the quieting of the whole state of the realme, queene Maud wife to king Stephan (for so she was also called) made humble suit vnto hir to haue hir husband set at li|bertie,The quéene sueth to the empresse for the deliuerie of hir husband promising that he should resigne his whole claime and title into hir hands, and content himselfe with a priuate life. But hir suit was so farre off from being granted, that she was reiected and cast off with reprochfull words. Wherevpon she conceiued a most high displeasure, and vnderstood well inough; that peace was to be purchased by force of armes onelie, and not by any other meanes: insomuch that with all diligence she sent to hir sonne Eustace (then be|ing in Kent) & willed him to prepare an armie, which he did most spéedilie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 It chanced at the same time that the citizens of London made great and laborious suit vnto the said empresse, that they might haue the lawes of king Edward the Confessour restored, and the straight lawes of hir father king Henrie abolished. But for so much as they could get no grant of their petition, and perceiued the empresse to be displeased with them about that importunat request,The Londo|ners conspire to take the empresse. wherein onelie she ouershot hir selfe, they deuised how and by what meanes they might take hir prisoner, knowing that EEBO page image 54 all the Kentishmen would helpe to strengthen them in their enterprise. But reckoning with hir selfe that

Nil p [...]terit propera tutius esse fuga,

And being warned thereof, she fled by night out of the citie,Shée fled in the night time out of the citie. and went to Oxenford, determining to be reuenged vpon hir aduersaries when time should serue hir turne. Herewith she began to wax more displeased both against those Nobles whom she kept in prison, & other also whom she troubled, but name|lie king Stephan, whom she commanded to be loden with yrons, and serued with verie slender diet.