Geffrey earle of Aniou, of husband to the empresse Maud, departed this
life, on the seuenth day of September, leauing his sonne Henrie onelie
heire and successor in the estates of the duchie of Normandie and
countie of Aniou. The bodie of the said earle was buried at Mans, with a
great funerall pompe: his three sonnes Henrie, Geffrey, and William
being present.

[Sidenote: Worcester assaulted.] But king Stephan assaulting the faire
citie of Worcester with a great power of men tooke it, and consumed it
with fire, but the castell he could not win. This citie belonged to
earle Waleran de Mellent, at that season: for king Stephan to his owne
hinderance had giuen it vnto him. Now after the men of warre had diuided
the spoile amongst them, they came backe, and passing through the lands
of their enimies, got great booties, which they also tooke away with
them, finding none to resist them in their iournie.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 16. 1151.] [Sidenote: _Ger. Dorober._ A synod at
London. ] In the yeare following Theobald archbishop of Canturburie, and
legat to the sée apostolike, held a generall synod or councell at London
in the Lent season, where king Stephan himselfe with his sonne
Eustachius, and other the peers of the realme were present. This
councell was full of appeales, contrarie to that had beene vsed in this
land, till the time that Henrie bishop of Winchester vnto his owne harme
(whilest he was likewise the Popes legat) had by vniust intrusion
brought them in, and now at this councell he was himselfe thrise
appealed to the hearing of the popes owne consistorie. After this king
Stephan in the same yeare brake into the citie of Worcester, and whereas
he could not the last time win the castell, he now endeauoured with all
his force to take it. But when those within made valiant resistance, he
raised two castels against it, and leauing in the same certeine of his