poore préest, seruing a cure in a village néere the citie of Caen in
Normandie. Now it chanced, that the lord Henrie the kings brother came
thither on a time, and called for a préest to say masse before him.
Whervpon this Roger comming to the altar, was by and by readie and
quicke at it, and therewithall had so speedilie made an end thereof,
that the men of warre then attendant on the said lord Henrie, affirmed
that this préest aboue all other, was a chapleine meet to say masse
before men of warre, bicause he had made an end when manie thought he
had but newlie begun. Herevpon the kings brother commanded the preest to
follow him, insomuch that when oportunitie serued, for his diligent
seruice, and readie dispatch of matters, when Henrie had atteined the
crowne, he was by him aduanced to great promotions: [Sidenote: The
bishop of Salisburie made lord chancelour.] as first to be Chancelour of
England, & after bishop of Salisburie, growing still into such
estimation, that he might doo more with the king than any other of the
councell.

But to returne to king Stephan, who after he had thus imprisoned the
aforesaid bishops, manned those castles which he tooke from them with
his owne soldiers, in like maner as he had doone all the rest which he
had taken from the rebels, that he might the better withstand the
empresse and hir sonne, whose comming he euer feared. He began also to
shew himselfe cruell towards all men, and namelie against those that had
chieflie furthered his title to the obteining of the crowne. ¶ This (as
manie tooke it) came to passe by the prouidence of almightie God, that
those should suffer for their periuries, which contrarie to law and
right had consented to crowne him king.

[Sidenote: K. Stephan doubts whom to trust.] In déed he wist not well
whom he might trust, for he stood in doubt of all men, bicause he was