ye haue heard) repented him, for that he was inuested by the king, who
after he had bewailed his offense, went to Rome, and did penance for the
same in all points as the pope enioined him. Which being doone, he
returned into England, remoouing yer long his sée from Thetford to
Norwich, where he founded a faire monasterie of his owne charges, and
not of the churches goods (as some say) wherein is a doubt, considering
he was first an abbat, and after a bishop.

[Sidenote: Stephan Harding a moonke. _Ran. Higd._ _Iacobus Philippus
Berigonias._] About this time, by the meanes of Stephan Harding a Monke
of Shireborne, an Englishman, the order of Cisteaux or white moonkes had
his beginning within the countrie of Burgongne, as witnesneth Ranulph
the moonke of Chester: but other writers (as Iacob. Philippus) say that
this Stephan was the second abbat of that place, and that it was founded
by one Robert abbat of Molmense, in the yeare of Grace 1098. This order
was after brought into England by one called Walter Espeke, who founded
the first abbeie of that religion within this relme at Riuall, about the
yeare of Grace 1131.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 13. 1100.] [Sidenote: The kings lauish prodigalitie.
Strange woonders. _Wil. Malm._] But to returne againe to the king, who
still continued in his wilfull couetousnesse, pulling from the rich and
welthie, to waste and spend it out in all excesse, vaine riot, and gifts
bestowed on such as had least deserued the same. And yet he was warned
by manie strange woonders (as the common people did discant) to refraine
from these euill doings: for the Thames did rise with such high springs
and tides, that manie townes were drowned, and much hurt doone in places
about London, and elsewhere. Diuerse rare things happened also at the
same time, which I passe ouer. But the king hearing hereof, did nothing
regard those which were so bold as to tell him that they were euident