[Sidenote: An. Reg. 7. 1142.] King Stephan being deliuered in such wise
as you haue heard, comming to London, and there being accompanied with
his brother Henrie bishop of Winchester (then the popes legat) Theobald
archbishop of Canturburie, and others, [Sidenote: _Geruasius
Dorobernensis._ A parlement called.] he called a parlement, wherein the
king declared the present state, how the enimie was brought to this
point, that if it would please the Nobles of the realme to mainteine him
with men & monie, he trusted now so to worke, as they should not need to
feare submission to the yoke of a womans gouernment: which at the first
they seemed much to mislike, and now sithens (to their great gréefe) had
prooued to be intollerable. The summe of his talke tended to this end,
that those which were able of themselues to aid him with their owne
persons, should prepare them out of hand so to doo; and the residue that
were not meet (as bishops, and such like maner of men) should be
contributors to aid him with hired souldiers, armour, and monie.

This was gladlie agréed vpon, with the generall consent of all the
assemblie. And bicause the bishops shewed themselues verie liberall
towards the aduancing of the kings purpose, [Sidenote: A statute
established in fauour of préests.] there was a statute made at the same
parlement, that who so euer did laie any violent hands on a sacred
person, or else tooke vpon him to apprehend any of them, for what fault
soeuer, without the bishops licence, he should be accursed, and not be
assoiled of any maner of person, except of the pope, as by a canon it
was alreadie decréed but not obeied among the Englishmen till that daie.
¶ The cause of making this statute was chéeflie, for that preests during
the time of the ciuill wars, were dailie either slaine, or taken
prisoners, and so put to their ransoms, or charged with great penalties
and gréeuous fines.