shouldhavegivenhimgreatercreditevenforthat,ifithadbeenstrongenoughtoinducehimtosparetheeyesofacertainpoetheoncetookprisoner,whowasaknightbesides.Butheorderedthepoet\'seyestobetornfromhishead,becausehehadlaughedathiminhisverses;andthepoet,inthepainofthattorture,dashedouthisownbrainsagainsthisprisonwall.KingHenrytheFirstwasavaricious,revengeful,andsofalse,thatIsupposeamanneverlivedwhosewordwaslesstobereliedupon.
CHAPTERXI-ENGLANDUNDERMATILDAANDSTEPHEN
THEKingwasnosoonerdeadthanalltheplansandschemeshehadlabouredatsolong,andliedsomuchfor,crumbledawaylikeahollowheapofsand.STEPHEN,whomhehadnevermistrustedorsuspected,starteduptoclaimthethrone.
StephenwasthesonofADELA,theConqueror\'sdaughter,marriedtotheCountofBlois.ToStephen,andtohisbrotherHENRY,thelateKinghadbeenliberal;makingHenryBishopofWinchester,andfindingagoodmarriageforStephen,andmuchenrichinghim.ThisdidnotpreventStephenfromhastilyproducingafalsewitness,aservantofthelateKing,toswearthattheKinghadnamedhimforhisheiruponhisdeath-bed.OnthisevidencetheArchbishopofCanterburycrownedhim.ThenewKing,sosuddenlymade,lostnotamomentinseizingtheRoyaltreasure,andhiringforeignsoldierswithsomeofittoprotecthisthrone.
IfthedeadKinghadevendoneasthefalsewitnesssaid,hewouldhavehadsmallrighttowillawaytheEnglishpeople,likesomanysheeporoxen,withouttheirconsent.Buthehad,infact,bequeathedallhisterritorytoMatilda;who,supportedbyROBERT,EarlofGloucester,soonbegantodisputethecrown.Someofthepowerfulbaronsandprieststookherside;sometookStephen\'s;allfortifiedtheircastles;andagainthemiserableEnglishpeoplewereinvolvedinwar,fromwhichtheycouldneverderiveadvantagewhosoeverwasvictorious,andinwhichallpartiesplundered,tortured,starved,andruinedthem.