Nobles to continue the siege, he himselfe returned home. ¶ Thus (as yee
see) the kings propertie was to attempt manie things valiantlie, but he
procéeded in them oftentimes verie slowlie: howbeit, now by the policie
of the earle of Leicester, those two castels which the king had raised
to besiege the other castell, were shortlie after destroied: and so the
besieged were deliuered from danger. [Sidenote: The earle of Leicester
brother to the erle of Mellent.] This earle of Leicester was brother to
the earle of Mellent. Thus the kings purposed intention and painefull
trauell on that behalfe came to none effect.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 17. 1152.] [Sidenote: The duke of Normandie
Fitzempresse marieth the duchesse of Aquitaine.] In the meane while
Henrie duke of Normandie maried Elianor duches of Guien or Aquitaine,
latelie diuorsed from the French king, and so in right of hir he became
duke of Aquitaine, and earle of Poictou; for she was the onelie daughter
to William duke of Guien, and earle of Poictou, and by hir father
created his sole and lawfull heire.

[Sidenote: The French king maketh warre against the duke of Normandie.]
The French king was nothing pleased with this mariage, in somuch that he
made sore warre vpon duke Henrie, ioining himselfe in league with king
Stephan, with his sonne Eustace, and with the lord Geffrey brother to
duke Henrie, so that the said Henrie was constreined to defer his
iournie into England, and applie his power to defend his countries and
subiects on that side of the sea. For whereas he was readie at the mouth
of the riuer of Barbe to passe ouer into England, not long after
midsummer, the French king, with Eustace king Stephans sonne, Robert
erle of Perch, Henrie erle of Champaigne, and Geffrey brother to duke
Henrie, hauing assembled a mightie armie, came and besieged the castell
of Newmarch, and sent foorth the lord Geffrey with a strong power to win