new archbishop Roger first went to his see at Yorke, where after he had
receiued his inthronization, and set his businesse there in order, he
tooke his iournie towards Rome to fetch his pall in his owne person.

[Sidenote: The earle of Flanders.] King Stephan also after the end of
the parlement went to Douer, there to meet the earle of Flanders, who
came thither to talke with him of certeine businesse. The earle was no
sooner returned backe, but the king fell sicke, and was so gréeuouslie
tormented with a paine in his bellie, and with an old disease also,
wherewith (as should appear) he had beene often troubled, namelie, the
emrods, [Sidenote: King Stephan departed this life.] that finallie he
died in the abbey on the fiue and twentith day of October, in the nine
and fortith yeare of his age, and after he had reigned eighteene yeares,
ten moneths, and od daies, in the yeare after the birth of our Sauiour
1154. [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ _N. Triuet._] [Sidenote: 1154.] His
bodie was interred in the abbeie of Feuersham in Kent, which he had
builded, where his wife also, and his sonne Eustace were buried before.
¶ Thus farre of the acts and deeds of Stephan; now a little of other
breefe remembrances, and first touching the prosopographie or
description of his person.

[Sidenote: His stature.] He was comelie of stature, of a verie good
complexion and disposition, of great strength, in qualities of mind
verie excellent, expert in warre, gentle, curteous, and verie liberall.
For though he continued all his time in a maner in the maintenance of
wars, yet he leuied but few tributs, or almost none at all. Indéed he
put diuers bishops to greeuous fines, and that not without the iust
Judgement of Almightie God, that they might so be punished duelie for
their periurie committed in helping him to the crowne. Vices wherewith
he should be noted I find none, but that vpon an ambitious desire to