hart at length to desire peace which he had euer before abhorred. The
cause that mooued him chéefelie to change his former purpose, was for
that his sonne Eustace by speedie death was taken out of this world (as
before ye haue heard) which losse séemed great not onelie to the father,
but also to all those lords and others which had alwaies taken his part,
bicause he was a yoong man so well liked of all men, that he was iudged
to be borne to much honour. [Sidenote: The ladie Constance wife to
Eustace sent home.] But his wife Constance tooke his death verie
sorowfullie, and the more indeed for that she had no issue by him,
wherevpon shortlie after she was sent honourablie home to hir father
king Lewes with hir dower, and other rich and princelie gifts.

King Stephan séeing himselfe thus depriued of his onelie sonne, vnto
whome he minded to leaue the kingdome which he so earnestlie sought to
confirme and assure vnto him by warlike endeuor, and that againe the
French kings aid would not be so readie as heretofore it had béene
(wherevpon he much staied, now that the bonds of affinitie were
abolished) he began at length (though not immediatlie vpon his sonnes
deceasse) to withdraw his mind from war, [Sidenote: K. Stephan began to
incline his mind to peace. _Matth. Paris._] and bequeathed it wholie to
peace. Which alteration being perceiued, those Nobles that were glad to
sée the state of their countrie quieted, did their best to further it; &
chéeflie Theobald archbishop of Canturburie trauelled earnestlie to
bring the princes to some agréement, now talking with the king, now
sending to the duke, [Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] and vsing all meanes
possible to set them at vnitie. The bishop of Winchester also, who had
caused all the trouble, vpon consideration of the great calamities
wherewith the land was most miserablie afflicted, began to wish an end
thereof. Wherevpon the lords spirituall and temporall were called
togither at Winchester about the latter end of Nouember, that they with