of several most imprudent steps in his conduct, whereof
many instances have been produced in the history of
his reign; such as, the unlimited permission of building
castles; his raising the siege of a weak place where
the Empress was shut up, and must, in a few days,
have fallen into his hands; his employing the Flemings
in his wars, and favouring them above his own subjects;
and lastly, that abortive project of crowning his son,
which procured him at once the hatred and contempt
of the clergy, by discovering an inclination to violence
and injustice that he durst not pursue: whereas,
it was nothing else but an effect of that hasty and
sudden disposition usually ascribed to those of his
country, and in a peculiar manner charged to this
prince: for authors give it as a part of his
character, to be hot and violent in the beginning of
an enterprise, but to slacken and grow cold in the
prosecution.
He had a just sense of religion, and was frequent
in attending the service of the Church, yet reported
to be no great friend of the clergy; which, however,
is a general imputation upon all the kings of this
realm in that and some succeeding reigns, and by no
means personal to this prince, who deserved it as
little as any.
I do not find any alterations during this reign in
the meetings of general assemblies, further than that
the Commons do not seem to have been represented in
any of them; for which I can assign no other reason
than the will of the King, or the disturbance of the
time.[44] I observed the word Parliament is used promiscuously
among authors, for a general assembly of nobles, and
for a council of bishops, or synod of the clergy;
which renders this matter too perplexed to ascertain
anything about it.
[Footnote 44: The rise and history of Parliaments
had not been cleared up when the Doctor writ in the
beginning of this current century. It is certain,
that the Commons had as yet never been represented.
[D.S.]]
As for affairs of the Church, that deserve particular
mention, I have not met with any; unless it should
be worth relating, that Henry Bishop of Winchester,
the Pope’s legate, who held frequent synods during
this reign, was the first introducer of appeals to
Rome, in this kingdom, for which he is blamed by all
the monkish historians who give us the account.
A FRAGMENT
1154.
The spirit of war and contention, which had for a
long time possessed the nation, became so effectually
laid during the last year of King Stephen’s
reign, that no alteration or disturbance ensued upon
his death, although the new King,[45] after he had
received intelligence of it, was detained six weeks[46]
by contrary winds: besides, the opinion of this
prince’s power and virtues, had already begotten
so great an awe and reverence for him among the people,
that upon his arrival he found the whole kingdom in
a profound peace. He landed at Hostreham,[47]
about the beginning of December, was received at Winchester
by a great number of the nobility, who came there
to attend and swear fealty to him, and three weeks
after was crowned at Westminster, about the twenty-third
year of his age.
