resistance by the way, easily accomplished his enterprise. There were
diuerse castels thereabouts in the countrie furnished with garisons of
the kings souldiers, but they kept themselues close, and durst not come
abroad to stop his passage. [Sidenote: The castell of Cranemers. ]
Shortlie after he besieged the castell of Cranemers, and cast a trench
about it, so as his people within Wallingford castell might haue free
libertie to come foorth at their pleasure: but as for those within the
castell of Cranemers, they were so hardlie holden in, that there was no
waie for them to start out.

The king aduertised hereof, got all his host togither, and marched
forward verie terriblie toward duke Henries campe. But shewing no token
of feare, he caused the trench wherewith he had inclosed his campe
foorthwith to be cast downe, and leauing the siege, came into the fields
with his armie set in order of battell, meaning to trie the matter by
dint of sword, although he had not the like number of men as the king
had: whose armie perceiuing their enimies to come in the face of them,
were stricken with a sudden feare: neuerthelesse, he himselfe being of a
good courage, commanded his people to march forward. But herewith
certeine Noble men, that loued not the aduancement of either part, vnder
a colour of good meaning sought to treat an agréement betwixt them, so
that an intermission or cesing from war was granted, and by composition
the castell which the king had built, and the duke besieged, was razed
to the ground. The king and the duke also came to an interuiew and
communication togither, a riuer running betwixt them. [Sidenote: _Matth.
Paris._ _Ger. Dor._ Eustace king Stephans sonne.] Some write that they
fell to agreement, king Stephan vndertaking to raze the castell of
Cranemers himselfe, and so laieng armour aside for that time, they
parted asunder.