children of light. But to the purpose.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ Earle Robert passeth ouer into Normandie.] As
the king began (after his libertie obteined) to prouide for warres, so
earle Robert (after he was discharged) sailed ouer into Normandie,
taking with him the sonnes of diuerse Noble men who fauored the
empresse, whome he deliuered to hir husband the earle of Aniou to be
kept as pledges, & earnestlie besought him to passe ouer into England
with an armie to aid the empresse. [Sidenote: Normandie woone by the
earle of Aniou.] Howbeit bicause he was newlie intred into the conquest
of Normandie, and had alreadie won the most part thereof, he thought
good to make first an end of his warres there, hauing somewhat to doo
against certeine rebels of his owne countie of Aniou, which did not a
little molest him. But he recouered (whilest the earle of Glocester was
there with him) Alney, Mortaigne, Tenerchbray, and diuerse other places
perteining chieflie to the earle of Mortaigne: about the same time also
they of Constances submitted themselues vnto him. Thus the earle of
Aniou being occupied in those parties, could not well come into England.

[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Earle of Glocester returneth.] Wherevpon the
earle of Glocester came backe againe himselfe, and bringing with him
somewhat lesse than foure hundred men of armes (imbarked in 52. ships)
landed with the same at Warrham, and besieged the castell there,
[Sidenote: _Ger. Dor._] which his enimies had won out of his hands
whilest he was absent in Normandie. In the end they that were within it
(vnder the gouernment of Herebert de Lucy) fell to agreement by
composition, [Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] that if they were not succoured by
a certeine time, they should deliuer the castell vnto the earle. King
Stephan himselfe the same time held a siege before Oxford, within the
which he had inclosed the empresse, as hereafter shall be shewed: so