fortresse to stop them within from issuing out, and likewise from
receiuing any reliefe or succour by their fréends abroad. The defendants
perceiuing themselues so hardlie laid at, sent to the duke of Normandie
(in whose name they kept that castell) desiring him either to succour
them, or else giue them licence to yéeld vp the castell to the king.
Herevpon duke Henrie hauing dispatched his businesse on the further side
of the sea, began to be kindled with a feruent desire once againe to
attempt his fortune here in England for recouerie of that kingdome, and
so with three thousand footmen, & 7 score horssemen, [Sidenote: Duke
Henrie Fitzempresse returneth into England. _Ger. Dor._] with all spéede
possible sailed ouer into England, where he landed about the 12. daie in
Christmasse. He was no sooner arriued, but a great number of such as
tooke part with his mother came flocking in vnto him: [Sidenote: He
besiegeth the castell of Malmesburie. _Matth. Paris._ _Polydor._]
wherevpon being now furnished with a great and puissant armie, he
marched foorth to Malmesburie, where in the castell was a great garison
of soldiers placed by king Stephan. Duke Henrie planted his siege about
this castell the thirtéenth daie of Januarie, and enforced himselfe to
the vttermost of his power to win it.

Now king Stephan hearing of his enimies arriuall, with all hast possible
got his armie on foot, and comming suddenlie towards the place where is
enimies were pitched, [Sidenote: K. Stephan constreineth him to raise
his siege.] he caused duke Henrie to raise his siege, and following
after, offered him battell. But duke Henrie, knowing that his enimies
were far more in number than he was at that present, and also conceiuing
with himselfe that by prolonging of time his owne power would increase,
absteined from fighting, and kept him within the closure of his campe.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Paru._] ¶ Thus haue some written, but other authors
write, that Henrie kept himselfe indeed within his campe, and refused to