departed this life at Utregt, the 23. of Maie last past. [Sidenote:
1126. An. Reg. 27.] Wherevpon he sent for his daughter the empresse to
come ouer vnto him into Normandie, and hauing set his businesse in order
on that side the sea, and taken hir with him, he returned into England
before the feast of S. Michaell, [Sidenote: _Polydor._ An oth taken by
the lords touching the succession of the crowne.] where calling a
parlement, he caused hir by the authoritie of the same to be established
as his lawfull heire and successor, with an article of intaile vpon hir
issue, if it should please God to send hir any at all. At this parlement
was Dauid K. of Scotland, who succéeded Alexander the fierce. Stephan
earle of Morton and Bullongne, and son of Stephan earle of Blois, nephue
to K. Henrie by his sister Adela; these two princes chéefelie tooke
their oth amongst other, to obey the foresaid empresse, as touching hir
right and lawfull claime to the crowne of England. [Sidenote: Stephan
erle of Bullongne the first that offered to receiue the oth.] But
although Stephan was now the first that was to sweare, he became
shortlie after the first that brake that oth for his owne preferment.
¶ Thus it commeth often to passe, that those which receiue the greatest
benefits, doo oftentimes soonest forget to be thankefull.

This Stephan latelie before by his vncle K. Henries meanes, had
purchased & got in marriage the onelie daughter and heire of Eustace
earle of Bullongne, and so after the decease of his father in lawe,
became earle there: and further, had goodlie possessions in England
giuen him by the king, and yet (as farther shall appeare) he kept not
his oth made with K. Henrie. [Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] Some write that
there rose no small strife betwixt this earle Stephan, & Robert erle of
Glocester, in contending which of them should first receiue this oth:
the one alledging that he was a kings sonne, and the other affirming
that he was a kings nephue.