þei ȝede fro lond to lond, & non ageyn þam stode.
þe better grace þei fond, þe ferrer þat þei ȝode.
Hidere com þat tiþand tille oþer lordes manymo,
How mykelle grace þei fand, þat durst þe Sarazins slo.
þe lordes mot haf schame, whan þei herd it telle,
þat dred for Gode's name, at home þei ȝede to Helle.
IN his sextend ȝere Steuen þat þe lond auht, [De morte Matildis Imperatri|cis, & de forma scri|pti inter Stephanum & Henri|cum filium Imperatri|cis.]
Mald scho died here, hir soule to God betauht.
& hir sonne Henry to lond was he comen,
þe barons & þe clergy tille him alle þe nomen,
& with þe kyng Steuen þei held parlement,
þat Henry & he euen acorded or þei went.
With skrite was set þe pes, & ordeynd þorgh baroun,
þat Steuen tille his dises of Inglond suld bere coroun,
& his gyft certeyn be holden stabilly.
To Normundie ageyn suld turne þe duke Henry,
& Ingland alle holy after Steuen þe kyng
Suld turne to þe same Henry, withouten geynsaiyng.
& if þat Henry die, or Steuen mak his deses,
Henry heyr we seie salle haf þe lond in pes,
Coroun forto bere, as heyr & eldest sonne,
His heritage to were in right, als it was wonne,
So þat Steuen þe kyng, no non of his heyres,
For heritage no þing salle chalange for þeires.
þis dede was enseled bitauht þam of S. Poule's,
þat wrong were not deled for drede of lif & soules.
