haue thought good to set downe the verie tenor of the charter made by
king Stephan, as I haue copied it out, and translated it into English
out of an autentike booke conteining the old lawes of the Saxon and
Danish kings, in the end whereof the same charter is exemplified, which
booke is remaining with the right worshipfull William Fléetwood esquire,
now recorder of London, and sargeant at law.

The charter of king Stephan, of the pacification of the troubles
betwixt him and Henrie duke of Normandie.

Stephan king of England, to all archbishops, bishops, abbats,
earles, iusticers, sherifes, barons and all his faithfull
subiects of England sendeth greeting. Know yee that I king
Stephan, haue ordeined Henrie duke of Normandie after me by right
of inheritance to be my successour, and heire of the kingdome of
England, and so haue I giuen and granted to him and his heires
the kingdome of England. For the which honour, gift, and
confirmation to him by me made, he hath doone homage to me, and
with a corporall oth hath assured me, that he shall be faithfull
and loiall to me, and shall to his power preserue my life and
honour: and I on the other side shall maineteine and preserue him
as my sonne and heire in all things to my power, and so far as by
any waies or meanes I may.

[Sidenote: William sonne to king Stephan.] And William my sonne
hath doone his lawfull homage, and assured his fealtie vnto the
said duke of Normandie, and the duke hath granted to him to hold of
him all those tenements and holdings which I held before I atteined
to the possession of the realme of England, wheresoeuer the same be
in England, Normandie, or elsewhere, [Sidenote: Earle Warren.] and