* * * * *

About this season, one Owin (whome some name prince of Wales) was
slaine, [Sidenote: _Simon Dun._] as Simon Dunelmen. writeth, but by
whom, or in what sort, he sheweth not. In this eightéenth yeare of king
Henries reigne, on All hallowes daie, or first of Nouember, great
lightning, thunder, and such a storme of haile fell, that the people
were maruellouslie amazed therwith. Also on the thirtéenth of December,
there happened a great earthquake, and the moone was turned into a
bloodie colour: which strange accidents fell about the middest of the
night. At the same time quéene Maud, wife to king Henrie departed this
life. But now to returne to other dooings.

It chanced vpon a small occasion, that verie sore and dangerous warres
followed out of hand, betwixt king Henrie and Lewes surnamed the grosse
king of France: the beginning whereof grew herevpon. [Sidenote: Theobald
erle of Champaigne. _Polydor._] Theobald earle of Champaigne, descended
of the earles of Blois, was linked in amitie with king Henrie, by reason
of affinitie that was betwixt them (for Stephan the earle of Blois
married ladie Adila the sister of king Henrie.) Now it happened, that
the foresaid Theobald had by chance offended the said Lewes, who in
reuenge made sharpe warres vpon him. But earle Theobald hoping for aid
to be sent from his fréends in the meane time valiantlie resisted him,
[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] and at length (by reason of a power of men
which came to him from king Henrie) in such sort vexed and annoied the
French king, that he consulted with Baldwine earle of Flanders,
[Sidenote: Foulke earle of Aniou.] and Foulke earle of Aniou, by what
means he might best depriue king Henrie of his duchie of Normandie, and
restore the same vnto William the sonne of duke Robert, vnto whom of