had by his first wife a sonne named William, drowned (as ye haue heard)
in the sea: also a daughter named Maud, whome with hir sonnes he
appointed to inherit his crowne and other dominions. He had issue also
by one of his concubins, euen a sonne named Richard, and a daughter
named Marie, who were both drowned with their brother William. By an
other concubine he had a sonne named Robert, who was created duke of
Glocester.

[Sidenote: His stature.] He was strong of bodie, flehise, and of an
indifferent stature, blacke of haire, and in maner bald before, with
great and large eies, of face comelie, well countenanced, and pleasant
to the beholders, speciallie when he was disposed to mirth.

[Sidenote: His vertues.] He excelled in three vertues, wisedome,
eloquence, and valiancie, which notwithstanding were somewhat blemished
with the like number of vices that reigned in him; [Sidenote: His
vices.] as couetousnesse, crueltie, and fleshlie lust of bodie. His
couetousnesse appeared, in that he sore oppressed his subiects with
tributes and impositions. His crueltie, in that he kept his brother
Robert Curtehose in perpetuall prison, and likewise in the hard vsing of
his cousine Robert earle of Mortaigne, whome he not onelie deteined in
prison, but also caused his eies to be put out: which act was kept
secret till the kings death reuealed it. And his fleshlie lust was
manifest, by kéeping of sundrie women.

[Sidenote: His wisdome.] But in his other affaires he was circumspect,
in defending his owne verie earnest and diligent. Such wars as might be
auoided, with honourable peace he euer sought to appease; [Sidenote: His
manlie courage.] but when such iniuries were offered as he thought not
meet to suffer, he was an impatient reuenger of the same, ouercomming