[1] [2] [3] The day next after this terrible woonder, the king and the patriarch with the bishop of Durham and a great sort of other Noble men of this realme,The king and the patriarch passe ouer in|to France. pas|sed the seas from Douer to Wissand, and so rode foorth towards Normandie, where immediatlie vpon his comming thither he raised a power, and sent word to his sonne Richard earle of Poictou (which had fortified the townes and castels of Poictou a|gainst him,The kings message to his sonne earle Richard. and taken his brother Geffrey prisoner) that except he deliuered vp into his mothers hands the whole countrie of Poictou, he would surelie come to chastise him with an iron rod, and bring him vn|der obedience smallie to his ease. Upon this message earle Richard being somewhat better aduised, obeied his fathers commandements in all points,Erle Richard obeieth his father. rendring vp into his mothers hands the earldome of Poictou, and comming to his father as an obedient sonne, shewed himselfe readie to serue him at commande|ment with a glad and willing mind. Soone after this, and about the seauenth houre of the day, Rog. Houed. the sunne suffered a generall eclipse,Particular and not gene|rall, saith Ger. Dor. so that no part of it appea|red, and therwith followed great thunder with light|ning and sore tempest, with the violence whereof both men and beasts were destroied, and manie hou|ses burned.