[1] Simon Dun. But to our purpose. King Stephan (by what ti|tle soeuer he obteined the crowne) immediatlie after his coronation, went first to Reading to the buri|all of the bodie of his vncle Henrie, the same being now brought ouer from Normandie, Polydor. Simon Dun. Matth. Paris. from whence after the buriall he repaired to Oxenford, and there calling a councell of the lords & other estates of his realme;The faire pro|mises of king Stephan. amongst other things he promised before the whole assemblie (to win the harts of the people) that he would put downe and quite abolish that tri|bute which oftentimes was accustomed to be gathe|red after the rate of their acres of hides of land, com|monlie called Danegilt, which was two shillings of euerie hide of land. Also, that he would so prouide, that no bishops sees nor other benefices should re|maine void, but immediatlie after vpon their first vacation, they should be againe bestowed vpon some conuenient person meet to supplie the roome. Fur|ther he promised not to seize vpon any mans woods as forfeit, though any priuate man had hunted and killed his déere in the same woods, as the maner of his predecessour was. ¶ For a kind of forfeiture was deuised by king Henrie, that those should lose their right inheritance in their woods, that chanced to kill any of the kings déere within the same.