John

The firste [laste] volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande conteyning the description and chronicles of England, from the first inhabiting vnto the conquest : the description and chronicles of Scotland, from the first original of the Scottes nation till the yeare of our Lorde 1571 : the description and chronicles of Yrelande, likewise from the first originall of that nation untill the yeare 1571 / faithfully gathered and set forth by Raphaell Holinshed.

King Iohn.

King Iohn.

K. Iohn IOHN, the yongeſt ſonne of Henrye the ſecond, was proclaimed King of Englande, beginning his raigne the .vj. day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord .1199. An. Reg. 1. the firſte of Philip Emperor of Rome, and the .xx. of Philip king of France, King Williā as yet liuing in gouernement ouer the Scots.

Rog. Houed.So ſoone as his brother Richard was deceaſſed, hee ſendeth Hubert Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and William Marſhall Earle of Stregill (otherwiſe called Chepſtow) into Englande, both to proclaime him king, and alſo to ſee his peace kepte, togither with Geffrey Fitz Peter Lorde chiefe iuſtice, and diuers other Barons of the Realme, whileſt be himſelfe went to Chinon where his brothers traſure laye, whiche was forthwith deliuered to hym by Robert de Turnham: and therewithal at the Caſtel of Chinon and Sawmer and diuerſe other places,

Mat. Paris.

Chinon. Robert de Turnham. Saumur.

Rog. Houeden

Thomas de Furnes.

whiche were in the cuſtody of the foreſaide Robert. But Thomas de Nurnes nephue to the ſaide Robert de Turnham deliuered the Citie and Caſtell of Angiers vnto Arthur Duke of Britaine. For by generall conſent of the nobles and peeres of the countries of Anion, Maine, and Touraine, Arthur was receiued as the liege and ſoueraine Lorde of the ſame countreys. For euen at this preſent, and ſo ſoone as it was knowen that king Richard was deceaſſed, diuers cities and townes on that ſide of the ſea belonging to the ſaide Richarde whileſt hee liued, fell at oddes among themſelues, ſome of them endeuouring to preferre King Iohn, other labouring rather to bee vnder the gouernaunce of Arthur Duke of Britaine, conſidering that he ſeemed by moſte righte to be their chiefe Lorde, foraſmuche as hee was ſonne to Geffrey elder brother to Iohn. And thus began the broyle in thoſe quarters, whereof in proceſſe of time enſued great inconuenience and finally the death of the ſaide Arthur, as ſhall be ſhewed hereafter.

Now whileſt king Iohn was thus occupied in recouering hys brothers treaſure, and trauelling with his ſubiectes to reduce them to his obedience, Queene Eleanor his mother by the helpe of Hubert archebiſhoppe of Canterburye and other of the noble menne and barons of the lande trauayled as diligentlye to procure the engliſhe people to receiue their othe of allegiance to be true to King Iohn: for the ſayde archbiſhoppe and William Marſhall Earle of Striguill being ſente ouer into Englande, as before you haue hearde, to proclaime him king, and to kepe the lande in quite, aſſembled the eſtates of the Realme at Northampton,

Mat. P •…

The •… ſembled 〈◊〉 Northamp •…

where Geffrey Fitz Peter Lorde chiefe Iuſtice was preſente with other of the nobles, afore whome thoſe lordes whoſe fidelities were earſt ſuſpected, wyllingly toke their othes of obedience to the newe King, and were aſſured by the ſame Lordes on his behalfe, that they ſhoulde finde him a liberal, a noble and a righteous Prince, and ſuche •… o •… as woulde ſee that euery man ſhoulde •… y hys owne, and ſuche as were knowen to bee notorious tranſgreſſors, ſhould be ſure to receiue their condigne puniſhment. They ſent alſo Euſtace de Veſcye vnto William King of Scotlande, to ſignifie to him, that king Iohn vppon his arriuall into Englande, woulde ſatiſfie him of all ſuche right as hee pretended to haue within the Engliſh dominions. And thus was King Iohn accompted and proclaimed King of Englande by the generall conſente of all the Lordes and barons of the ſame. The names of the chiefe of thoſe peeres that were ſworne (as you haue hearde) are as foloweth. Dauid Earle of Huntingdon, brother vnto William king of Scots, Richarde Earle of Clare, Ranulph Earle of Cheſter, William Earle of Tutebury, or rather Ferrers. W •… lran Erle of Warwik, Roger Lacye conſtable of Cheſter, and Williā de Mombray, with diuers other whoſe names I heere omit, bicauſe I wold not be tedious & irkeſome to the readers. Nowe the king of Scotlande being enformed by the Lord Euſtace Veſcy (who had maried his daughter) that there was ſome hope to bee bad on his parte, for the recouerie of ſuch ſeignories as hee and his predeceſſors ſometime helde in Englande, doth forth w^t riſpatche ſundrie Ambaſſadours with ful purpoſe to ſende them ouer into Normandie vnto Kyng Iohn, there to require reſtitution of the countryes of Northumberlande, and Cumberlande, wyth their appurtinaunces, and he promiſed alſo by hys letters, that if the ſame might be graunted vnto him in as ample manner as they had beene in time paſt vnto his ancetors, hee woulde gladly do his homage to King Iohn, as to the true and lawefull king of Englande, and furthermore yeelde to him his faithefull ſeruice againſt all men, ſo often as he ſhuld be required therevnto. Howbeit when the archebiſhoppe of Canterburie and the reſt of the counſell, vnderſtood that theſe ambaſſadors ſhuld paſſe thorow England, they would not ſuffer them ſo to do, but ſpeedyly ſent Dauid Earle of Huntington into Scotland vnto the king his brother, requiring him earneſtly y^t he wold not ſend any ambaſſadors ouer as yet, but rather tarie, and take pacience a while, til the king ſhould come ouer into England: which (as they ſayd) he purpoſed to doe very ſhortly.

King Iohn alſo hauing vnderſtanding of his purpoſe, ſent ouer the ſaide Lorde Euſtace againe vnto him with the like requeſt, who in ſuche wiſe perſwaded him, that he was contented to abide a time, in hope of the better ſucceſſe in his late attempted ſute. And all this was don chiefly by the woorking of the kyngs mother, whome the nobilitie much honored and loued: for ſhe being bent to preferre hir ſon Iohn, left no ſtone vnturned to eſtabliſh him in the throne comparing oftentimes the differēce of gouernment betwene a king that is a man, and a king that is but a childe. For as Iohn was .xxxij. yeres olde, ſo Arthur Duke of Britain was but a babe to ſpeake of.) In the end winning al the nobilitie wholye vnto hir will, and ſeeing the coaſte to be cleare on euery ſide, without any doubt of tempeſtuous wether likely to ariſe, ſhe ſignified the whole matter vnto Kyng Iohn, who forthwith framed all his endeuours to the accompliſhment of his buſines.Queene Eleanors enuie agaynſt Arthur. Surely Quene Elianor the Kyngs mother was ſore agaynſt hir nephew Arthur, rather moued therto by enuye conceyued agaynſte his mother, than vpon any luſte occaſion giuen in the behalfe of the childe,Conſtance ducheſſe of Britayne. for that ſhe ſawe if he were King, howe his mother Conſtance would looke to beare the moſt rule within the realme of Englande, till hir ſonne ſhuld come to lawful age, to gouerne of himſelfe. So hard a thing it is to bring women to agree in one minde, their natures commonly being ſo contarie. When this doyng of the Queene was ſignified vnto the ſaide Conſtance, ſhe doubting the ſuretie of hir ſon, committed him to the truſte of the Frenche King, who receiuing him into his tuition, promiſed to defend him from all his enimies, and forthwith furniſhed the holdes in Britayne with French ſouldiours Queene Elynor being aduertiſed hereof,Queene Eleanor paſſeth in to Normand •… ſtode in doubt by and by of hir countrey of Guyenne, & therfore with all poſſible ſpeede paſſed the ſea, and came to hir ſonne Iohn into Normandie, and ſhortly after they wente foorth togither into the countrey of Mayne, and there toke both the citie and caſtell of Manne,The citie of Mauns take •… throwing down the walles and turrets therof, with all the fortifications and ſtonehouſes in & about the ſame,Mat. Paris. Rog. Houe •… and kept the Citizens as priſoners, bicauſe they had ayded Arthur againſt his vncle Iohn. After this, king Iohn entring into Anion, held his Eſter at Beaufort (which feaſt fell that yere the .xviij. day of April,) and from thence he went ſtreyght vnto Rouen, where on the Sunday next after Eaſter, being Sainct Markes day, he was girded with the ſword of the duchie of Normandie in the high Churche there by the handes of Walter Archbiſhop of Rouen.King Iohn inueſted Duke 〈◊〉 Normandie. And ſo being inueſted duke of Normandie, hee receiued the othe according to the cuſtome, that he ſhould defend the Church, and maynteyn the liberties therof, ſee Iuſtice miniſtred, good lawes put in execution, and naughtie lawes and orders aboliſhed. In the meane tyme his mother Quene Elenor, togither with Captaine Marchades entred into Anion, and waſted the ſame, bicauſe they of that countrey had receyued Arthur for their ſoueraigne Lord and gouernor. And amongſt other townes and fortreſſes, they toke the citie of Anglers,The Citie of Angiers take •… ſlewe manie of the Citezins, and committed the reſt to priſon. This enterpriſe beeing thus luckily atchieued, the reſidue of the people in thoſe parties were put in ſuche feare, that of their owne accord, they turned to their woonted obedience, ſeeming as though they woulde continue ſtill therin. The Frenche king all this while conceyuing an other exployte in his heade more commodious vnto him than as yet to attempt warre againſte the Engliſhmen vpon ſo lighte an occaſion, diſſembled the matter for a tyme, as thoughe he would know nothing of all that was done, til the king ſhould be otherwyſe occupied in England about his coronation.

In the meane ſeaſon king Iohn hauing ſette ſome ſtay in his buſineſſe on the further ſide of the ſea, he left his mother ſtil in Guienne to defend that countrey againſt the enimies, and taking the ſea, •… g Iohn cō •… th ouer into •… glande. came ouer himſelf into England, landing at Shorehā, the .xxv. day of May. On the next day, being y^e Aſcention euen, he cant to London, there to receyue the crowne. On the morow after, being the Aſcention day, whē the nobilitie and cōmons were aſſembled, and the king broughte into the Churche of S. Peter at Weſtmin. there to receiue his diademe. Hubert Archebiſhop of Canterbury being chief in authoritie and honor, both for his age and calling, ſpake theſe words or the like in ſubſtance before the whole aſſemblie:

•… e Archbi •… p of Can •… buries ora •… n.Moſt honorable Lordes of the ſpiritualtie, and moſt graue and politike peeres and barons of the temporaltie, you are come hither this day to chooſe you a king, and ſuche a one as (if need ſhould require) may be able of himſelfe to take ſuche a charge vpon him, and hauing taken it vpon him, to execute that which he ſhal think to be expediēt for the profit of his ſubiects: we haue therfore one preſent here amōg vs, vpon whom the hartes and good willes of high & lowe, riche and poore, do generally depend: a man I doubt not, but that for his owne parte, will applye all his whole endeuour, ſtudie, and thoughte vnto that only ende, whiche he ſhall perceyue to bee moſt profitable for the common wealth, as knowing himſelf to be borne not to ſerue his owne turne, but for to profite his countreye, and to ſeeke for the generall benefite of vs that are his ſubiectes. And albeit I am ſure that you doe well knowe how all theſe qualities are moſt abundantly plāted in the perſon of Iohn duke of Normandie (a perſon of hygh prowes and no leſſe prudencie) for the which ye ought to iudge hym ryghte worthye of the gouernement: yet beeyng in doubte leaſte the common fame ſhould carrie you awaye, or leaſt you ſhoulde turne your myndes to the fauour of an other, as in reſpect of ſome better ryght, by title of a more lawfull deſcente of inheritaunce pretended by others than he hath to ſhewe, I require you to giue eare vnto my wordes: who bearyng the ſtate of two mauer of perſones, ought to be profitable to my countrey, not only by example and exhortation, but alſo by loyaltie and good counſell, whyche hytherto I haue euer ſtudyed to perfourme, and wherein (God willing) I meane to perſiſte, ſo long as I ſhall continue in this mortall & tranſitorie tabernacle. Therfore wheras at this preſent wee haue in hande to conclude vppon ſuche a weyghtie matter, which being once done, can not be vndone, I cōmend vnto you this Iohn, euen with all my very hart, and iudge that you ought to accept him for your King, who in all things which he ſhall ordein, purpoſe or take in hand, ſhal not fayle ſo to anſwere your opinions, with his well doyng, and to ſatiſfie youre good expectations alredy cōceiued of him with his diligent prouidence, that al the whole realm ſhall not only like of, and allowe your doings herein, but alſo with highe cōmendation extoll the ſame to the very ſtarres. Theſe things do I promiſe vnto you, and ſo farforth as in me may lye, I dare take vpon me all chances & perils y^t may procede therof. Whē the Archb. had ended, diuers held their peace, & many with great zele ſaluted king Iohn, whom the ſame day the ſaid Archebiſhoppe crowned at Weſtmynſter, after the manner, with great ſolemnitie, & no leſſe reioycing of all ſuch as were preſent.

Page: 545
•… . Paris.At the ſame time alſo, he receyued the homages of the Lords and Barons of the Realm, and promiſed with all ſpeede, to haue conſideration of things that apperteyned as well to Religion, •… dor. as to the due execution of lawes, whereby euery mā myght come to enioy that which was his owne, by right and due courſe of iuſtice. We fynde, that there were preſent at this ſolemnitie and Coronation of King Iohn, whiche was celebrate on the Aſcention day the .27. 〈◊〉 Houed. of May, Archbyſhoppes and Byſhoppes to the number of ſeuenteene, as Hubert Archbyſhop of Caunterbury, Iohn Archbiſhop of Dublin, alſo y^e Archbyſhop of Raguſe, William Biſhop of London, Gilbert Byſhoppe of Rocheſter, Iohn Biſhop of Norwich, Hugh Byſhop of Lincolne, Euſtace Byſhop of Elye, Godfrey Byſhop of Wincheſter, Henry Byſhop of Exetor, Sefride Biſhop of Chicheſter, Godfrey Byſhop of Couentry, Sauarie Byſhoppe of Bath, Herbert Biſhoppe of Sareſbury, Phillip Biſhop of Dureſme, Roger Biſhoppe of S. Andrew in Scotland, and Henry Biſhoppe of Landaffe in Wales.

〈◊〉 . Par.

•… itions to 〈◊〉 Pike.

The Biſhop of Dureſme found himſelfe ſomewhat greeued in the matter, making obiections, that the Coronation ought not to bee celebrate withoute the preſence of Geffrey Archbyſhop of Yorke: but it preuayled not. Beſides theſe Biſhops, there were of the temporall Lords, theſe Erles, Robert of Leceſter, Richard of Clare, Willi. of Tutbury, Hamlin of Warren, William of Saleſbury, William of Chepſtow, otherwiſe called Strighuile, Walranne of Warwike, Roger Bigot, William of Arondell, & Ranulfe of Cheſter, with many other Barōs, Lordes, Knightes, and no ſmall multitude of Gentlemen and other common people. The ſame day of his Coronatiō alſo, he inueſted Wi. Marſhal, w^t the ſword of y^e Erledome of Strighuile, & Geffrey Fitz Peter, with y^e ſword of y^e Earledom of Eſſex: for althogh they wer called Erles, & exerciſed y^e adminiſtration of their Earledoms, yet were they not till that daye girded with the ſword of thoſe Earledomes, and ſo that day, they ſerued at the table with theyr ſwords girded vnto them. In like manner, Hubert the Archbiſhop of Caunterbury, was made Lord Chauncellour of England, who as he vttered ſome words vnaduiſedly, that ſhewed, how he inwardly reioiced of the Kings fauoure towarde him in the gifte of this office, the Lorde Hugh Bardolph ſaide vnto him, yet not ſo ſoftly in his eare, but y^t ſome ouer heard it, my Lorde, to ſpeake and not offend you, ſurely if you would wel conſider the dignitie and honor of youre calling, you would not willingly yeelde to ſuffer this yoke of bondage to bee layde vppon youre ſhoulders, for wee haue oftentimes heard of a Chancellor made an Archbyſhop, but neuer an Archb. made a Chauncelloure till now.

The Coronation beeing thus ended,Ambaſſadors from the king of Scottes. it was not long ere there came Ambaſſadors from the Scottiſhe Kyng, namely William the Prior of May, William the Prior of Sainte Colmes Ins, and one William Hay, the whiche on the behalfe of the ſaid Scottiſh Kyng, required reſtitution of Northumberlande and Cumberlande, with the appurtenaunces, promiſing, that if the ſame were reſtored to him, he would ſerue the K. of England with all his whole power agaynſt al men then aliue, otherwiſe, that is, if hee coulde not haue thoſe countreys, whiche of right to hym apperteyned by law, as he pretended, he would do the beſt he could, to recouer thē by force. K. Iohn made aunſwere heerevnto, that if his couſin the K. of Scottes would come vnto him, he ſhoulde bee aſſured to receyue at his hands all that was reaſon, as well in thoſe demaunds, as in all other things. Hee alſo ſente to him the Byſhop of Dureſme, to require him to come vnto Nottingham, where he would meete with him. Howbeit, K. William refuſed to come himſelf as then, but he ſent the B. of S. Andrewe, and Hugh Malebiſſe to follow his ſute, with promiſe to abſteyne from any forcible inuaſiō of England, by y^e ſpace of fortie days, ſo that he might within y^e tearme haue ſome reſolute aunſwere frō K. Iohn, whervnto he might ſtād eyther on the one ſide or on y^e other.

Nic. Triuet.

The French K. inuadeth Normandye

Whileſt theſe things wer a doing in England, Phillip King of Fraunce hauing leuyed an army, brake into Normandy, and tooke the Citie of Eureux, the Town of Arques, and diuerſe other places from the Engliſh. And paſſing from thence forthe into Mayme, recouered that countrey lately before through feare alienated. In an other part, an army of Britaines with great diligence wanne the Townes of Gorney, Butenant and Genſolin, and following the victory, tooke the Citie of Anglers, which King Iohn had wonne from Duke Arthur, in the laſt yeare paſſed. Theſe things being ſignified to King Iohn, he thought to make prouiſion for the recouery of
Page: 546
his loſſes there, with all ſpeede poſſible. And thervpon perceyuing that the Scottiſh Kyng meant not to meete with him at Nottingham whyther he was come, and where hee kepte the feaſt of Whitſontide, he determined to paſſe y^e Seas ouer into Normandy: but firſte hee tooke order for the gouernemēt & defence of y^e Realm in his abſence. And therevpon, he deliuered y^e charge of y^e Counties of Northumberlād & Cumberland, vnto the Lord Wil. de Stuteuile, with all y^e Caſtels, & other y^e appurtenances which y^e L. Hugh Bardolfe before held, & had in keeping. He alſo deliuered vnto Roger de Lacy Conneſtable of Cheſter, y^e Caſtel of Pomfret, hauing firſt y^e ſonne and heire of the ſame Lacy deliuered vnto him as an hoſtage for his loyaltie & faithful obedience. This done, he haſted vnto y^e ſea ſide, and ſayled ouer into Normandy, landing firſt at Diepe, and from thence went to Rouen, whether hee came vpon y^e Sunday before Midſommer day, whiche was the .26. of Iune as Harriſon hath noted. Immediately vpo his arriual in thoſe parties, there reſorted vnto him a greate number of Souldiers both horſemen & footemen, hoping to be enterteined, but by reaſon of Ambaſſadors riding too and fro betwixt the two Kings, they came to a communication, and tooke truce for fiftie dayes. The Earle of Flanders being certified thereof, was ſory in hys hart, and loth that y^e French K. ſhuld come to any accord with the K. of England, and therefore to turne y^e minde of K. Iohn from the purpoſe of peace, he came to viſit him at Rouen, where they renew the league betwixt England and Flaunders, to be the better able to defend themſelues frō the French power: and withall determine fully, y^e immediately vppon the expiring of this laſt truce they would make the French King warre, to reuenge their late receyued iniuries. The Frenche K. aduertiſed by eſpials of their determination, prepareth alſo for the warres. And in this meane time in chaunced, that Henry Erle of Namure, brother to Phillip Earle of Flaunders, and one Peeter of Doway, a right valiant Knight, with his brother that was the elect Biſhop of Cambrey, w •… re taken Priſoners in a ſkirmiſhe, and preſented to the French K. Whervpon, the Cardinal of Capua, (being at the ſame time y^e Popes Legate in Fraunce) enterdited that Realme for the taking of the ſame elect of Cambrey, and alſo all Normandy, for the deteyning of the Biſhop of Beauuoys in priſon, (who had laine there long time, and was taken in the fielde after ſuche maner as is before reherſed) ſo that the French K. was glad to reſtore the elect of Cambrey to his libertie. And likewiſe, K. Iohn deliuered the Biſhoppe of Beauuoys, who payed two thouſande markes, beſide expenſes of diet during the time of his captiuitie, and furthermore tooke an oth, that hee ſhoulde neuer after beare armour in the warre againſt any Chriſtian or Chriſtians. About the ſame time alſo, K. Phillip made Arthur Duke of Britaine Knighte, and receiued of him his homage for Anion, Poicters, Maine, Touraine, & Brytayne. Alſo ſomewhat before the time that y^e truce ſhould expire, to witte, on the morrow after the feaſt of the Aſſumption of our Lady, and alſo the day next following, the two Kings talked by commiſſioners, in a place betwixte the Townes of Buteuant and Guletō. And within three days after, they came togither perſonally, and commoned at full of the variance depēding betwene thē. But the Frēch K. ſhewed himſelf •… iffe and hard in this treaty, demanding all y^e whole coūtrey of Veulqueſſm to be reſtored vnto him, as that whiche had bin granted by Geffrey Earle of Anion, the father of K. Henry the ſecond, vnto Lewes le Groſſe, to haue his aide then againſt K. Stephē. Moreouer, hee demanded, that Poicters, Anion, Maine, & Touraine, ſhould be deliuered & wholly reſigned vnto Arthur Duke of Britaine. But theſe, & diuers other requeſts which he made, King Iohn would not in any wiſe graunt vnto, and ſo they departed without concluſion of any agreement. Therefore dyuers Earles and Barons
Page: 547
of Fraunce which before that time had ſerued Kyng Richard, repayred vnto King Iohn, and tooke an othe to aſſiſt him, and not to agree with the French King without his conſent: and hee likewiſe ſware vnto them, not to make peace with the French King, except they were therein compriſed. In the moneth of September, Ioan King Iohns ſiſter, wife to Raymonde Earle of S. Giles, and ſometime Quene of Cicil, dyed at Rouen, and was buried at Fonteuerard. The French K. alſo tooke diuers Townes and Caſtels, but amongſt other, the Caſtell of Balun, & raced y^e walles therof downe to the ground, wherwith William des Roches, generall of the army of Arthur Duke of Britaine, was greatly offended, and did ſo much by his drift, that ſhortly after, a peace was concluded betwixt Kyng Iohn, and his nephewe Duke Arthur, though the ſame ſerued but to ſmall purpoſe. The Frenche K. hauing (as I haue ſaid) ouerthrowen the walles of Balun, beſieged a fortreſſe called Lauardin, but K. Iohn comming with an army, cauſed him to raiſe his ſiege, and to withdrawe himſelfe to the Citie of Mauns, whither he followed, and compelled him mauger his force, to remoue frō thēce. All this while, was William des Roches buſily occupyed about his practiſe, to make K. Iohn & his Nephewe Arthur friendes, whiche thyng at length he brought about, and therevpon delyuered into King Iohns hands the Citie of Mauns which he had in keping. Alſo y^e Vicont of Tours came to the K. of England, and ſurrendred vnto him the Caſtel of Chinon, the keeping whereof, he betooke vnto Roger de Lacy the Conneſtable of Cheſter: but in the night followyng, vpō ſome miſtruſt and ſuſpition gathered in the obſeruatiō of the couenants on K. Iohns behalfe, both y^e ſaid Arthur, with his mother Cōſtance the ſayd Vicont of Tours, and diuers other, fledde away ſecretly frō the K. and gote them to y^e Citie of Angiers, where the mother of the ſaide Arthur refuſing hir former huſbande the Earle of Cheſter, married hirſelfe to the Lord Guy de Tours, brother to the ſaid Vicont, by the Popes diſpenſatiō. The ſame yeare alſo Philip baſtard ſonne to K. Richarde, to whome his father hadde giuen the caſtel and honor of Coynack, killed y^e vicount of Lymoges, in reuenge of his fathers death, who was ſlayne (as yee haue heard) in beſieging the caſtel of Chalus Cheuerell. Moreouer, there fell many great flouds in Englande, and on the borders of Scotland, by violence wherof, diuers bridges wer borne down, & amongſt other, the bridge at Barwike. For the buylding vp againe wherof, ſome variance roſe betwixt Philippe Biſhop of Dureſme & erle Patrike Lord chief Iuſtice of Scotland, and capitain at that time of the town of Berwike, who by the Scottiſh kings cōmandemēt wold haue repared again the ſame bridge, which coulde not bee done, but that the one ende thereof, muſt be buylded on the biſhop of Durhās ground, which he wold not ſuffer, til by the councell of the Lorde Williā de Stutevile, he agreed, ſo that the conuention accorded and concluded betwixt the king of Scottes and his predeceſſour Biſhop Hugh might be reſerued inuiolate.

Furthermore, king Iohn did ſet a rate vpō the prices of Wine, as Rochel wine to be ſold for .xx. ſs. the tonne, and not aboue. The wine of Aniou for .xxiiij.ſs. the tonne, and no other French wynes aboue .xxv. ſs. except it were of ſuche notable goodneſſe, as that ſome peraduēture for their own expences, wold he contented to giue after .xxvj.ſs. viij. d for the tonne, and not aboue. Moreouer;A rate of the prices of Wines. the galon of Rochel wyne he appoynted to be ſold at foure pens: And the galon of white wine at .vj. pens. It was alſo ordeined, y^e in euery citie, town & place wher wine was vſed to be fold, there ſhuld be .xij. honeſt mē ſworn to haue regard y^t this aſſiſe ſhuld not be brokē. And that if they found any
Page: 548
Vintnor that ſhould from the pinne ſel any wine by ſmall meaſures contrary to the ſame aſſiſe, his body ſhoulde bee attached by the Sherife, and deteyned in priſon, till other commaundemente were giuen for his further puniſhmente, and hys goodes ſeaſed vnto the Kings vſe. Furthermore, if any perſons were or ſhuld be found to buy and ſell by the hogſhead or tunne, contrary to this aſſiſe, they ſhould be committed to priſon, there to remaine, till other order were taken for thē: neyther ſhould there be any regrating of wines, that were brought into England. But this ordinance laſted not long, for the marchāts could not beare it, & ſo they fell too, & ſold white wine for eight d the galon,

King Iohn returneth into Englande.

1200

A ſubſedie.

& red or claret for ſixe d K. Iohn alſo came ouer frō Normādy into England, and ther leuied a ſubſedy, taking of euery plough land thre ſs. And in the Lent ſeaſon following, he wente to Yorke, in hope to haue met y^e K. of Scots there, but he came not, & ſo K. Iohn returned back and ſayled again into Normādy, bycauſe the variāce ſtil depended betwene him & the king of Fraunce. And finally vpon y^e Aſcention day in this ſecond yere of his raigne, they came eftſones to a cōmunication betwixte the Townes of Vernon and Liſle Dandely, where finally they concluded an agreement, with a marriage to be hadde betwixt Lewis y^e ſon of K. Phillip, & the Lady Blanch, daughter to Alfonſo K. of Caſtell the eyght of y^e name, and neece to K. Iohn by his ſiſter Eleanor. In conſideration whereof, K. Iohn, beſides y^e ſumme of thirtie thouſand markes in ſiluer, as in reſpect of dower aſſigned to his ſayd neece, reſigned his title to y^e Citie of Eureux, & alſo vnto all thoſe Townes, which y^e French K. had by warre taken from him, the Citie of Angiers only excepted, which Citie he receiued againe by couenants of the ſame agreement. The Frenche K. reſtored alſo to Kyng Iohn (as Raufe Niger writeth) the Citie of Tours, and all the Caſtels and fortreſſes which he had takē within Touraine. And moreouer, receiued of King Iohn his homage for al the lands, fees & tenements which at any tyme his brother K. Richarde, or his father K. Henry had holden of him, the ſaid K. Lewis or any hys predeceſſors, y^e quite claymes and marriages always excepted. The K. of England likewiſe dyd homage vnto y^e French King for Britayne, and againe (as after ye ſhal heare) he receyued homage for the ſame countrey, & for the countie of Richmont of his nephewe Arthur. Hee alſo gaue the Erledome of Glowceſter, vnto the Earle of Eureux, as it were by way of exchange, for that hee reſigned to the Frenche King all right, title and clayme that might be pretended vnto the countie of Eureux. And thus by this concluſion of marriage betwixt the ſaide Lewis and Blanche, the right of K. Iohn went away, which he lawfully before pretended vnto the Citie of Eureux, and vnto thoſe Townes in the confynes of Berry, Chateau Roux or Raoul, Creſſy, & Iſoldune, & likewiſe vnto the countrey of Veuxin or Veulqueſſine, whiche is a parte of the territory of Giſours: the right of all whych lands Townes and countreys was releaſſed to the Kyng of Fraunce by Kyng Iohn, who ſuppoſed, that by this affinitie and reſignation of hys ryghte to thoſe places, the peace nowe made, woulde haue continued for euer. And in conſideration thereof, hee procured furthermore, that the foreſayd Blanche ſhoulde be conueyed into Fraunce to hir huſband with all ſpeede. And that done, he returned again into Englande.

Certes this peace was diſpleaſant to many, but namely to the Erle of Flanders, who herevpō making no accompt of K. Iohns amitie, cōcluded a peace with K. Philip ſhortly after, & ment to make war againſt the infidels in the eaſt parties. But by the chronicles of Flaunders it appereth,Iaco. Me •… . that the Erle of Flanders cō cluded a peace with the Frenche King in Februarie laſt paſt, before that king Iohn and the French king fell to any compoſition. But ſuch was the malice of writers in times paſt, which they bare towards K. Iohn, that whatſoeuer was done in preiudice of him, or his ſubiects, it was ſtil interpreted to chāce through his defalt, ſo as the blame ſtill was imputed to him, in ſo much that although many things he did peraduenture in matters of gouernemēt, for y^e which he may be hardly excuſed, yet to thinke that he deſerueth the .x. parte of the blame wherewith writers charge him, it might ſeme a great lack of aduiſed conſideration in them that ſo ſhuld take it. But now to proceed with our purpoſe.

King Iohn being now in reſt from warres with foreyn enimies, began to make war with his ſubiects purſſes at home, emptying them by ſubſidies, taxes, and tallages, to fill his coffers, which alienated the mindes of a great number of them from his loue & obedience. At length alſo when he had got togither a great maſſe of money, he went ouer again into Normandie, where by Helias, Archbiſhop of Burdeaux, & the biſhop of Poictiers and Scone,

Rog. Ho •…

K. Iohn is deuoted.

Mat. VV •… Mat. Pa •… Rogl. Ho •…

he was diuorſed from his wife Iſabel, y^t was the daughter of Robert erle of Glouceſter, bicauſe of the nereneſſe of bloud, as touching hir in the third degree. And after he maried Iſabel the daughter of Amery Earle of Angoleſme, by whome he had two ſonnes, Henry and Richard, & .iij. daughters, Iſabell, Eleanor and Iane.

Moreouer, about this time,

Mat. Pa •…

Geffrey 〈◊〉 of Yorke •… priued.

Geffrey Archbyſhoppe of Yorke was depriued of al his manors, lands, and poſſeſſions, by the kings commandemēt, directed to y^e Sherife of Yorkſhire
Page: 549
for diuers cauſes, for that he would not permitte y^e ſame ſherife to leuie y^e duty called Charugage, that was, three Shillings of euery plough lande within his dioceſſe, rated & appointed to be leuied to the Kyngs vſe, throughout all parties of the Realme. Againe for that the ſame Archbyſhoppe refuſed to goe ouer with the Kyng into Normā dy to helpe to make the marriage betwixte the Frenche Kyngs ſonne and hys neece. Thyrdly, bycauſe hee had excommunicated the ſame Sherife and al the prouince of Yorke: wherevpon, the Kyng tooke diſpleaſure againſt hym, and not only ſpoyled him (as I ſayde of his goodes, but alſo baniſhed him out of the Court, not ſuffering hym to come in his preſence for the ſpace of twelue monethes after.

In this yeare alſo, Huberte Archbiſhoppe of Caunterbury helde a Counſell at Weſtminſter agaynſte the prohibition of the Lorde chiefe Iuſtice, Geffrey Fitz Peter Earle of Eſſex. In the which Counſell or Synode, dyuers conſtitutiōs were made and ordeyned for order and cuſtomes to be vſed touching the ſeruice and adminiſtration of Sacraments in the Churche, and other articles concerning Churchmen and eccleſiaſticall matters.

•… thur Duke •… rytayne, •… n homage •… ne king of •… glande.About the ſame time, King Iohn and Phillip King of France met togither neere to the towne of Vernon, where Arthur Duke of Brytayne (as vaſſall to his vncle Kyng Iohn) did his homage vnto him for the Duchie of Brytayne, and thoſe other places whiche he helde of him on thys ſyde, and beyonde the riuer of Loyr, and afterwarde ſtill miſtruſting his Vncles curteſie, he returned backe againe with the French Kyng, and would not committe hymſelfe to hys ſaide Vncle, who as he ſuppoſed, did beare him litle good wil. Theſe things being thus performed, •… g Iohn re •… eth into •… lande. 〈◊〉 Queene is •… wned. King Iohn returned into Englande, and there cauſed his newe married wife Iſabell to be Crowned on y^e Sunday before the feaſt of Sainte Dioniſe, the eyght of October.

The ſame time, hee gaue commaundemente vnto Hugh Neuill hygh Iuſtice of his forreſts, that hee ſhould awarde his preceptes vnto al forreſters within the Realme, to giue warning to al the white Monkes, that before the Quindene of Saint Michaell, they ſhoulde remoue out of hys forreſtes all their horſes of Haraz, and other cattel, vnder the penaltie to forfeit ſo many of them, as after that daye chaunced to be founde within the ſame forreſtes. The cauſe that moued the K. to deale ſo hardly with them was, for that they refuſed to help him with money, when before hys laſt going ouer into Normandy, he demaunded it of them towardes the paymente of the thirtie thouſande pounde whiche hee hadde couenaunted to pay to the Frenche Kyng, to liue in reſt and peace, which he coueted to haue done for reliefe of hys people, and hys owne ſuretie, knowing what enimies he had that lay in waite to deſtroy him, and agayne, what diſcommodities had chaunced to his father and brethren, by the often and continuall warres. But nowe to proceede with other doings.

Immediately after the ſolemnization of the Queenes Coronation ended,An ambaſſade ſent vnto the K. of Scottes. hee ſente Phillippe Biſhoppe of Dureſme, Roger Bigot Earle of Northfolke, and Henry de Bolmn Earle of Hereford, Nephew to William King of Scotland, and Dauid Earle of Huntington, brother to the ſame King, and Roger de Lacy Coneſtable of Cheſter, the Lorde William de Veſcy, and the Lord Robert de Ros, which had married two of the daughters of y^e ſayd K. and Robert Fitz Roger Sherife of Northumberlād, as Ambaſſador •… from him vnto y^e foreſaid William K. of Scotland, with letters patents, conteining a ſafe conduit
Page: 550
for him to come into England,

The King of Scottes came to the Kyng of Englande at Lincolne.

Math. Paris. Ran. Higd. Rog. Houed. Polidor.

and to meete with K. Iohn at Lincolne on the morrowe after the feaſt of S. Edmunde, who gladly graunted therevnto, and ſo according to that appoyntmēt, both y^e kings met at Lincolne the .21. day of Nouember. And on the morrow after, K. Iohn wēt to the Cathedrall Church, and offered there vppon the high Alter a chalice of golde. And y^e ſame day, vppon a hill without the Citie, the Kyng of Scottes did homage vnto K. Iohn, in y^e preſence and ſight of a great multitude of people, ſwearing fealtie of life, limme, and worldly honor vnto K. Iohn, whiche othe hee made vppon the Croſſe of Hubert Archb. of Caunterbury. There were preſent at that time, beſide other noble menne, three Archbyſhops, Caunterbury, Yorke, and Raguſe, with other Biſhops, to the number of thirtene, as Dureſme, London, Rocheſter, Elie, Bath, Saliſbury, Wincheſter, Hereford, Norwich, Saint Andrews in Scotland, Landafe, and Bangor in Wales, and Meth in Irelād, beſide a great multitude of Earles, Barons, and other noble men. When the K. of Scottes had thus done his homage, hee required reſtitution of Northumberland, Cumberland and Weſtmerland, whych he claymed as his right and lawfull heritage. Much talke was hadde touching this matter, but they coulde not agree, and therefore King Iohn aſked reſpite to conſider of it till the feaſt of Pentecoſt next enſuing, which being graunted, the Kyng of Scottes the nexte morrow being the .23. of Nouember returned homewardes, and was conducted backe agayne into his countrey by the ſame noble men that brought him to Lincolne.

The ſame day that the Kyng of Scots tooke his iourney homewardes from Lincolne, y^e corps of Hugh, Biſhop of that Citie (lately before, departed this life at London, after his returne from the parties of beyonde the Seas,) was brought thither to be buried, the King, and al y^e Byſhops, Earles and Barons went to receyue it, and honored his buriall with their preſence. On y^e morrow after being Friday, hee was enterred within the new Church which he had builded.

This Hugh was a French man by nation, borne at Granople, a man of a pregnant witte, and ſkilfull both in ſcience of holy Scripture, and humane knowledge. He was firſt a regular Chanon, and after became a Cartuſian Monke. K. Henry the ſeconde moued with the fame of hys vertue and godly lyfe, ſent the Byſhop of Bath to bryng hym into Englande, and after he was come, made hym fyrſte Abbot of Whithing in the dioceſſe of Welles, and after created hym Byſhoppe of Lincolne. Hee was noted to bee of a very perfit and ſound lyfe, namely, bycauſe hee woulde not ſticke to reprooue menne of theyr faultes playnely and frankely, not regardyng the fauoure or diſfauoure of anye manne, in ſo muche, that hee woulde not feare to pronounce them accurſed which being the Kynges officers, woulde take vpon them the puniſhmente of any perſon within orders of the Churche, for huntyng, and kylling of the Kynges game within hys Parkes, Forreſtes, and chaſes, yea, and that which is more,A preſen •… ous part 〈◊〉 Biſhop. hee woulde denye paymentes of ſuche ſubſedies and taxes as hee was aſſeſſed to pay to the vſes of Kyng Rycharde and Kyng Iohn, towardes the mayntenaunce of theyr warres, and dyd oftentymes accurſe by hys eccleſiaſticall authoritie, ſuch Sherifes, Collectors, or other officers, as dyd diſtrayne vppon hys landes and goodes for to ſatiſfye theſe Kyngs of their demands, alledging openly, that hee woulde not pay any money towards the maintenance of wars, whiche one Chriſtian Prince, vpō priuate
Page: 551
diſpleaſure and grudge made againſte another Prince of the ſame Religion. This was his reaſon, and when he came before the King to make aunſwere to his diſobedience ſhewed heerein, hee woulde ſo handle the matter, partly with gentle admoniſhments, partly with ſharp reproofes, and ſometyme mixing merie and pleaſant ſpeeche amongſt his ſerious arguments, that ofttimes hee would ſo qualifie y^e kings moode, that beyng driuen from anger, he could not but laugh and ſmile at the Biſhops pleaſaunte talke, and merie conceytes. And this manner hee vſed, not only with the King alone, but with the father and the two ſonnes. That is to ſay, Henry the ſecōd, Richard and Iohn, in whoſe tyme he liued, and gouerned the See of Lincolne. He was after his deceſſe for the opinion which men conceyued of his holynes and vertues, admitted into the number of the Saintes.

Yee haue heard howe K. Iohn had conceyued no ſmall diſpleaſure againſte the Monkes of the white order, for that they would not depart with any money, excuſing themſelues, that they might not do it, without conſente of a generall chapiter of their order. Wherevpon the King had cauſed them diuers wayes to be moleſted, but chiefly in reſtreyning them of libertie to haue any Horſes, or other cattell goyng to paſture within his forreſts. They therefore takyng aduice togyther, choſe foorthe twelue Abbots amongſt them of that order, the which in all their names went to Lincolne, there to make ſute to the King (comming thither at this time to meete the King of Scottes) that it would pleaſe him to remitte hys diſpleaſure conceyued agaynſt them, and to take them agayne into his protection.

This ſute was ſo followed, although with ſome difficultie, that at length, to witte, the ſunday after that the King of Scottes had done his homage, through the help and furtherance of the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, they came to y^e kings ſpeeche, and obteyned ſo much, as they in reaſon might deſire: for he pardoned them of all his paſſed diſpleaſure, receyued them againe into his fauoure, tooke them into his protection, and commaunded that all iniuries, greeuaunces and moleſtations ſhoulde bee reformed, redreſſed and amended, whiche in reſpect of his indignation had bin offered and done to them by any manner of meanes, and to ſee the ſame accompliſhed, writtes were directed vnto the Sherifes of the counties, bearing date from Lincolne the .27. of Nouember. And thus were thoſe Monkes for y^e time reſtored to the Kings fauour, to their great commoditie and comfort.

〈◊〉 Moones.Aboute the moneth of December, there were ſeene in the prouince of Yorke fyue Moones, one in the Eaſt, the ſeconde in the Weſt, the thyrde in the North, the fourth in the South, and the fifthe as it were ſet in the middes of the other, hauing many Starres aboute it, and went fiue or ſixe tymes in compaſſing the other, as it were the ſpace of one houre, and ſhortly after vaniſhed away.

The Winter after was extreamely colde, more than the naturall courſe had bin aforetime. And in the Spring time came a great glutting, and continuall rayne, cauſing the Riuers to riſe with hygher flouds, than they hadde bene accuſtomed.

In the yere .1201. 1201 Kyng Iohn held his Chriſtmas at Guildforde, and there gaue to his ſeruauntes many faire lyueries,Mat. Par. An. reg. 3. and ſutes of apparell. The Archbyſhoppe of Caunterbury dyd alſo the lyke at Caunterbury, ſeemyng in deede to ſtriue with the Kyng, whyche of them ſhoulde paſſe the other in ſuche ſumptuous apparrellyng of their men: whereat the Kyng (and not without good cauſe) was greatly moued to indignation agaynſte hym, although for a time hee couloured the ſame, going preſently into the North, where he gathered of the countrey there no ſmall ſummes of money, as it were by way of fyning them for theyr tranſgreſſions committed in hys forreſtes.

From thence he returned and came to Canterbury, where he held his Eaſter, which fell that yeare on the day of the Annunciation of our Lady, in the which feaſt, he ſate Crowned, togyther with hys wife Queene Iſabell, the Archbyſhop of Caunterbury bearing the charges of them and their traynes whileſt they remayned there.

At the feaſt of the Aſcention nexte enſuing, Kyng Iohn ſet out a proclamation at Tewkeſbury, that all the Earles and Barons of the Realme, and alſo all other that helde of him by Knightes ſeruice, ſhoulde be ready in the feaſt of Pentecoſt nexte enſuyng, with Horſe and armour, at Porteſmouth, to paſſe ouer with him into Normandy, who made their apperance accordingly. Howbeeit, a great number of them in the ende gate licence to tarry at home, paying for euery Knightes fee two markes of ſiluer for a fyne, which then was a great matter. But he ſent before him into Normandy William Marſhall Earle of Striguill with an hundred Knights,Rog. Houed. or men of armes, which he had hired, and Roger de Lacye, with an other hundred men of armes to defende the confynes of Normandy againſte the enimies: and to his Chāberlain Hubert de Burgh hee delyuered the like number of Knyghtes or men of armes alſo, to keepe the marches betwixt England & Wales as Warden of y^e ſame. This done, he pardoned his brother y^e Archb. of York,The Archb. of York reſtored. & reſtored him to al his dignities, poſſeſſiōs & liberties, cōfirming y^e ſame vnto him in as ful & large
Page: 552
manner, as euer Roger late Archbiſhop of y^e See had and enioyed the ſame: for the whiche confirmation his ſayd brother vndertooke to pay to the King within the tearme of one yeare the ſumme of a thouſand pounds ſterling: and for the aſſurance thereof, engaged his barony to the King in pledge. Moreouer, about the ſame time, the Kyng ſent Geffrey Biſhoppe of Cheſter,Ambaſſadors ſent into Scotlande. and Richarde Malebiſſe, with Henry de Poyſy, vnto William King of Scotlande, requiring him, that the tyme appoynted for him to make aunſwere touchyng his demaund of Northumberland, might be proroged vntill the feaſt of Saint Michael the Archangell next enſuing, whiche was obteyned, and then the King and Quene (being come to Portſmouth on the Monday in Whitſon weeke) tooke the Sea to paſſe ouer into Normandy,The King paſſeth ouer into Normandy. but not both in one Ship, ſo that the Queene with a proſperous gale of winde, arriued there at hir owne deſire: but the Kyng was driuen by reaſon of a pirry, to take lād in y^e Iſle of Wight, and ſo was ſlayed ther for a time, howbeit, within a few days after, he tooke ſhip again at Portſmouth, & ſo paſſed ouer into Normandy, wher ſhortly after hys arriuall in thoſe parties he came to an enteruewe with y^e K. of Frāce,He commeth to talke with the Kyng of Fraunce. nere to Liſle Donely, where comming a lōg time togither alone, they agreede ſo wel y^t within three days after, K. Iohn at the Frēch kings requeſt went into France, and was receiued of him with much honor, firſt at S. Diniſe with Proceſſiō of y^e Cleargie, and there lodging one night,King Iohn entreth into Paris. vpon y^e morrow the Frēch K. accompanied him vnto Paris, where he was receyued of y^e Citizēs with great reuerēce, the Prouoſt preſenting vnto him in y^e name of y^e whole Citie many riche giftes to his welcome. K. Phillip feaſted him alſo in his owne Palace, and for his part gaue vnto him to his Lords and ſeruantes many great & princely giftes. Moreouer, the league at this time was renued betwixt them,

The league renued.

Mat. P •… . Rog. Houed.

& put in writing, with this caution, that whether of them firſt brake the couenaunts, ſuch Lords on his parte as were become ſureties for performāce, ſhuld be releaſed of their allegiance which they ought to him y^t ſo ſhuld breake, & that they might therevpō frely become ſubiects to y^e other prince. Theſe things done, at length after that K. Iohn had remayned at Paris with greate mirth and ſolace certayne days, y^e French K. brought him forth of the Citie & toke leane of him in very louing wiſe. After this K. Iohn went to Chinon, & frō thence into Normandy. About whiche time, there chanced ſome troubles in Ireland, for where Walter Lacy vnder pretence of a communication that was appoynted betwixt him and Iohn de Curcy, Lorde of Vlneſter, meante to haue taken the ſayd Curcy, and for the accompliſhment of his purpoſe ſet vppon him, ſlew many of his menne, and for hys ſafegard conſtreyned Curcy in the end to take a Caſtell which belonged vnto Hugh Lacy, vppon fayre promiſes made to him by the ſame Hugh, to be preſerued out of all danger, it came to paſſe, that when he was once gote in, he might no more be ſuffred to depart. For y^e Lacies thought to haue deliuered him to K. Iohn, but the ſeruaunts and friends of the ſayd Curcy, made ſuch cruell warre in waſting and deſtroying the lands & poſſeſſiōs that belonged vnto the ſaid Walter & Hugh Lacyes, that finally they were conſtreined to ſet him againe at libertie whether they woulde or no. At the ſame time alſo, the kings of Fraunce & England gaue large money towards the maintenāce of y^e army, which at this preſent went forth vnder the leading of the Earle of Flanders and other, to war againſt the enimies of y^e Chriſtian faith, at y^e inſtance of Pope Innocent. There was furthermore graunted vnto thē the fortith part of all the reuenewes belonging to eccleſiaſtical perſons, towards y^e ayde of y^e Chriſtiās then being in y^e holy land, & al ſuch as wel of y^e nobilitie as other of the meaner ſort, which had taken vpō them y^e croſſe, & ſecretly laide it downe, were compelled eftſones to receyue it now again. There chanced alſo this yeare wonderfull tempeſts of thunder, lightning, hayle, & abundance of rayne, in ſuch wiſe, y^e mens minds were greatly aſtonied therwith: meddows and marſh grounds were quite ouerflowen, bridges broken and borne downe, and greate quantitie of corne and hay loſt and carried away, & dyuers men and women drowned. Margaret mother of Conſtance, Duches of Britayne, ſiſter to William King of Scottes, and mother to Henry Boun Erle of Hereford, deceaſſed. This yere alſo by the councell and aduice of the Burgeſſes of London, there were choſen fiue and thirtie of the moſt ſubſtanciall and wiſeſt men, which after the report of ſome writers, were called the councel of the Citie of London, out of whiche number, the Maior and Bailifes were yerely choſen. In the yere .1202. K. Iohn held his Chriſtmas at Argē ton in Normādy, and in the Lent following, he and the French K. met togither, nere vnto y^e Caſtell of Gulleton, and there in talke had betweene them, he commanded K. Iohn with no ſmall arrogancie, & contrary to his former promiſe, to reſtore vnto his nephew Arthur Duke of Britaine, all thoſe landes now in his poſſeſſion on that ſide the Sea, which K. Iohn earneſtly denied to doe, wherevpon the French K. immediately after, began war againſt him, & tooke Buteuaunt Angi, and the Caſtel of Linos. Moreouer, he beſieged y^e Caſtel of Radepont for y^e ſpace of eight days, till K. Iohn came thither, & forced him to repart with much diſhonor. Howbeit after this, the Frēch K. wan Gourney, & then returning to Paris, he appointed certaine perſons to haue y^e gouernāce of y^e
Page: 553
foreſaid Arthur Duke of Britain, & then ſent him forth with two C. men of armes into Poictou, y^t he might bring y^e countrey alſo vnder his ſubiection. Hereupon Hugh le Brun Erle of Marche (vnto whom Queene Iſabell the wife of King Iohn had beene promiſed in mariage before that king Iohn was motioned vnto hir, and therefore bare an inwarde diſpleaſure towards the king of England, for that he had ſo bereft him of his promiſed ſpouſe) being now deſirous to procure ſome trouble alſo vnto king Iohn, ioineth himſelf with Arthure Duke of Britaine, and findeth meanes to cauſe them of Poictou (a people euer ſubiect to rebellion) to reuolt from king Iohn, and to take armor agaynſt him, ſo that the yong Arthur being encouraged with this newe ſupplie of aſſociates, firſt goeth into Touraine, and after into Aniou, compelling both thoſe countreyes to ſubmit themſelues vnto him, and proclaymed hymſelf Erle of thoſe places, by commiſſion & graunt obteyned from king Philip.

Queene Elenor.Queene Elenor that was Regent in thoſe parties being put in great feare with the newes of this ſodaine ſturre, getteth hir into Miradeau a ſtrong towne, ſituate in the Countrey of Aniou, and forthwith diſpatcheth a meſſenger with letters vnto king Iohn, requiring him of ſpeedy ſuccor in this hir preſent daunger. In the meane time, Arthur ſtil following the victory, ſhortly after followeth hir, and winneth Mirabean, where he taketh his grandmother within the ſame, whō he yet intreateth verie honorably, and with great reuerence (as ſome haue reported.) But other write farre more truly,Mat. Par. Mat. VVeſt. that ſhee was not taken, but eſcaped into a Tower, within the which ſhee was ſtraytly beſieged. Thither came to ayd Arthur alſo, all the Nobles and men of armes in Poictou, & namely the foreſayd Earle of Marche according to appoyntment betwixt them. And ſo by this meanes Arthur had a great army togither in the field. King Iohn in the meane time hauing receyued his mothers letters, and vnderſtanding thereby in what daunger ſhe ſtoode, was maruellouſly troubled with y^e ſtrangeneſſe of the newes,Polidor. and with many bitter words accuſeth the French K. as an vntrue prince, & a fraudulēt league breaker: and in al haſt poſſible ſpeedeth him forth, continuing his iourney for the moſte part both daye and night to come to the ſuccours of his people. To be briefe, he vſed ſuch diligence that hee was vpon his enimies neeks ere they could vnderſtand any thing of his cōming,King Iohn cō meth vpon his enimies not looked for. or geſſe what the matter ment, when they ſaw ſuch a companie of ſouldiers as he brought with him to approche ſo neare the Citie. For ſo negligent were they, that hauing once woonne the towne, they raunged abrode ouer the countrey hither and thither at their libertie without any care. So that now being put in a ſodaine feare, as preuented by the haſty comming of the enimies vppon them, and wanting leyſure to take aduice what was beſt to be done, and hauing not time in maner to get any armor on theyr backes, they were in a maruellous trouble, not knowing whether it were beſt for them to fight or to flee, to yeeld or to reſiſt. This their fear being apparant to the Engliſh men (by their diſorder ſhewed in running vp and downe frō place to place with great noyſe and turmoyle) they ſet vpon them with great violence, and compaſſing them round about, they either take or ſlea them in a maner at their pleaſure. And hauing thus put them all to flight, they purſue the chaſe towards the towne of Mirabeau, into which the enimies made verie great haſt to enter, but ſuch ſpeede was vſed by the Engliſh ſouldiers at that preſent, that they entred and wanne the ſayde towne before their enimies coulde come neare to get into it. Great ſlaughter was made within
Page: 554
Mirabeau it ſelfe, and Arthure with the reſidue of the army that eſcaped with life from the firſt bickering,Arthure duke of Brytaine taken priſoner. was taken, who being hereupon committed to priſon, firſt at Faleyſe, and after within the Citie of Rouen,Mat. Par. liued not long after as you ſhall heare. The other of the pryſoners were alſo committed vnto ſafe keeping, ſome into caſtels within Normādie, and ſome were ſent into Englād.

King Iohn hauing got this victorie, and taken his nephew Arthure, he wrote the maner of that his ſucceſſe vnto his Barons in England, in forme as followeth.

Iohn by the grace of God king of England, and Lorde of Irelande, to all his Barons ſendeth greeting.

Knowe ye that we by Gods good fauour are in ſounde and perfect health, and thorowe Gods grace that maruellouſlye worketh with vs, on Tueſday before Lammaſſe day, wee being before the Citie of Mauns, were aduertiſed that our mother was beſieged in Mirabeau, and therefore we haſted ſo faſt as we poſſible might, ſo that wee came thither on Lammaſſe daye, and there wee tooke our nephew Arthure, Hugh le Brun,De Caſtre Eralde. Andrewe de Chauenye, the Vicont of Chateau Eralde, Reymonde de Tovars, Sauary de Mauleon, and Hugh Bangi, and all other enimies of Poictou that were there aſſembled agaynſt vs,252. knightes or men of a •… mes beſide demelances. to the number of two hundred knightes and aboue, ſo that not one of them eſcaped. Giue God therefore thankes, and reioyce at our good ſucceſſe.

The Frenche king at the ſame time lying at ſiege before Arques, immediately vpon the newes of this ouerthrowe rayſed from thence, and returned homewardes, deſtroyed all that came in his waye, till hee was entred into his owne Countrey.

It is ſayde that king Iohn cauſed his nephew Arthure to be brought before him at Falaiſe,An. Ro •… and there went aboute to perſwade him all that hee coulde to forſake his friendſhip and alliance with the French king, and to leane and ſticke to him being his naturall vncle: but Arthur like one that wanted good counſel, and abounding too much in his owne wilfull opinion, made a preſumptuous anſwere, not onely denying ſo to do, but alſo cō maunded King Iohn to reſtore vnto him the realme of Englande, with all thoſe other landes and poſſeſſions which king Richarde had in hys hand at the houre of his death. For ſith the ſame apperteyned to him by right of inheritance, he aſſured him except reſtitutiō were made the ſooner, hee ſhoulde not long continue in reſt and quiet. King Iohn being ſore amoued with ſuch words thus vttred by his nephew, appointed (as before is ſayde) that he ſhoulde be ſtraytely kept in priſon, as firſt in Falais, and after at Roan within the new Caſtell there.

Thus by meanes of this good ſucceſſe, the Countreyes of Poictou, Touraine, and Anion were recouered. And ſhortly after king Iohn comming ouer into Englande,

Mat. Pa •…

King Iohn o •… ſoones •… ned.

cauſed himſelfe to bee crowned agayne at Canterburie by the handes of Hubert the Archbiſhop there on the fourtenth day of Aprill, and then went backe againe into Normandie, where immediately vpon his arriuall there, a rumour was ſpredde through all Fraunce, of the death of his nephew Arthure. True it is that great ſute was made to haue Arthur ſet at libertie, as well by the Frenche king, as by William de Riches a valiant Baron of Poictou, and diuerſe other Noble men of the Brytains, who when they could not preuayle in their ſute, they handed themſelues togither, and ioyning in confederacie with Robert Erle of Alenſon, the vicont Beaumont, William de Fulgiers, and other, they began to leuie ſharp warres agaynſt King Iohn in dyuerſe places inſomuch
Page: 555
as it was thought that ſo long as Arthur liued, there woulde be no quiet in thoſe parties: wherevpon it was reported, that king Iohn through perſwaſion of his Counſellers appoynted certaine perſons to go vnto Falays where Arthure was kept in priſon vnder the charge of Hubert de Burgh, and there to put out the yong Gentlemans eyes. But through ſuch reſiſtance as he made agaynſt one of the tormenters that came to execute the kings commaundement (for the other rather forſooke their Prince and Countrey, than they would conſent to obey the kings commaundement herein) and ſuch lamentable wordes as he vttered, Hubert de Bourgh did preſerue hym from that iniurie, not doubting but rather to haue thankes than diſpleaſure at the Kinges handes, for delyuering hym of ſuch infamie as woulde haue redounded vnto his highneſſe, if the yong Gentleman had beene ſo cruellye dealt with. For he conſidered king Iohn had reſolued vpon this poynt onely in ſome furie, and that afterwardes vppon better aduiſement, hee woulde both repente himſelfe ſo to haue commaunded, and conne them ſmall thanke that ſhoulde ſee it put in execution: but yet to ſatiſfie hys mynde for the tyme, and to ſtaye the rage of the Brytains, he cauſed it to bee bruted abrode throughe the Countrey, that the kings commaundement was fulfilled, and that Arthure alſo through ſorrow and griefe was departed out of this life. For the ſpace of fifteene dayes, thys rumour inceſſauntly ranne through both the Realmes of Englande and Fraunce, and there was rynging for hym through Townes and Villages, as it had bene for his funerals.

It was alſo bruyted, that his bodie was buryed in the Monaſterie of Saint Androwes of the Ciſteaux order. But when the Brytaines were nothing pacifyed, but rather kindled more vehemently to worke all the miſchiefe they could deuiſe in reuenge of their Soueraignes death: there was no remedie but to ſignifie abroade againe that Arthure was as yet lyuing and in health. And when the king heard the truth of all thys matter, he was nothing diſpleaſed for that his commaundement was not executed, ſithe there were diuerſe of hys Captaynes which vttered in plaine wordes, that he ſhoulde not finde knightes to keepe his Caſtelles, if he dealt ſo cruelly with his nephew. For if it chaunced any of them to bee taken by the king of Fraunce or other their aduerſaryes, they ſhoulde be ſure to taſt of the like cup.

But nowe touching the maner in very deede of the ende of this Arthur, wryters make ſundrie reportes: But certaine it is, that in the yeare next enſuyng, hee was remoued from Falais vnto the Caſtell or Tower of Rouen, oute of the which there was not •… ye that woulde confeſſe that euer he ſaw him aliue.

Some haue written, that as hee aſſayed to haue eſcaped •… ut of priſon, and prouing to climbe ouer the walles of the Caſtell, hee fell into the Ryuer of Sayne, and ſo was drowned. Other write, that through verie griefe and languor hee pyned away, and died of naturall ſickneſſe. But ſome affyrme, that King Iohn ſecretely cauſed him to be murthered and made away, ſo as it is not throughly as yet agreed vpon, in what for •… hee finiſhed hys dayes: but verily King Iohn was had in great ſuſpition, whether worthily or not, the Lorde knoweth. Yet howe ext •… emelye ſoeuer he dealt with his nephew, diuerſe of thoſe Lordes that were taken priſoners with him he releaſed and ſet at libertie, namely Hugh le Brun, and Sauerye de Mauleon, the one to his greate trouble and hynderaunce, and the other to his gayne: For Hugh le Brun afterwardes leuyed and occaſioned fore warres agaynſt hym, but Sauerie de Mauleon continued euer after hys faythfull and loyall ſubiect, doyng to him right agreeable ſeruice, as partly hereafter it maye appeare.

The Lord Guie,Guy ſonne to the vicont of Touars. ſonne to the vicount of Touars, who had taken Arthurs mother Conſtance to wife, after the deuorce made betwixt hir & the Erle of Cheſter, in right of hir obteyned the dukedome of Britain. But king Philip after he was aduertiſed of Arthurs death, tooke the matter very grieuouſly. And vpō occaſiō therof, cited K. Iohn to appeare before him at a certain day,Conſtance the mother of duke Arthure accuſeth king Iohn. to anſwer ſuch obiections as Conſtance the duches of Brytain, mother to the ſaid Arthur, ſhould lay to hys charge touching the murther of hir ſon. And for bycauſe K. Iohn appeared not, he was therefore cōdemned in the Action, & adiudged to forfeite all that he held within the precinct of France, aſwell Normādy as all his other lands and dominions.

About the ſame time the king cauſed a proclamation to bee publiſhed for the lawfull aſſiſe of breade to bee made by the Bakers,

Mat. Par.

The ordinance for the aſsiſe of breade.

vpon payne to be puniſhed by the Pillorie. The which aſſiſe was approued and aſſeſſed by the Baker of Geffrey Fitz Peter, Lord chiefe Iuſtice of England, and by the Baker of Robert de Tvinhaur. So that the Baker might ſell and gayne in euerye quarter three pence, beſide the bran, and two loues for the heater of the ouen, & for foure ſeruants foure halfpens, for two boyes a farthing, for allowance for ſalt an halfpeny, yeſt an halfpeny, for candell a farthing, for fewell three pens, and for a bulter an halfpeny. And this was the rate. When wheate was ſolde for .vj. ſhillings the quarter, then ſhall euery loafe of fine manchet wey .xlj.ſs. and euery loafe of cheate ſhall wey .xxiiij.ſs. Whē wheate is ſolde for .v.ſs. vj. pens, then manchet
Page: 556
ſhal wey .xx. ſhillings, and cheat .xxviij. ſhillings. When wheate is ſold. for fiue ſhillings, thē manchet ſhall wey .xxiiij. ſhillings, and cheate breade xxxij. ſhillings. When wheate is ſold for foure ſs. vj. d Manchet ſhal wey .xxxij.ſs. and cheate. xlij. ſhillings. When wheate is ſolde for foure ſhillings, manchet ſhall wey .xxxvj.ſs. & cheate .xlvj. ſhillings. When wheate is ſolde for three .ſs. ſixe pence, then ſhall manchet wey .xlij. ſhillings, and cheate .liiij. ſhillings. When wheate is ſolde for three ſhillings, manchet ſhall wey .xlviij. ſs. and cheate .lxiiij.ſs. When wheate is ſolde for two. ſs. ſixe pence, manchet ſhall wey .liiij.ſs. and cheate lxxij.ſs. When wheat is ſold for two .ſs. manchet ſhall wey .lx. ſhillings, and cheate foure pound. When wheate is ſold for .xviij. pence the quarter, Manchet ſhall wey .lxxviij. ſhillings, and cheate foure .lb. viij.ſs. This ordinance was proclamed throughout the Realme, as moſt neceſſarie and profitable for the common wealth.

This yeare many wonderfull things happened, for beſides the ſore winter which paſſed any other that had beene heard of in many yeares before, both for continuance in length, and extreme coldneſſe of froſtes,Great tēpeſts. there followed griſely tempeſtes, with thunder, lightning, and ſtormes of raine, and haile of the bigneſſe of hennes egges, wherewith much fruttes, and much corne was periſhed, beſides other great hurt done vpō houſes and yong caſtel. Alſo ſpirites (as it was thought) in likeneſſe of byrdes and foules were ſeene in the ayre fleeing with fire in their beakes, wherewith they ſet diuerſe houſes on fire whiche did import great troubles ere long to enſue, and followed in •… eed, as ſhal appere hereafter.

With this entrance of the yeare of our Lorde. 120 •… . King Iohn helde his Chriſtmaſſe at Caen,

1203

Mat. Pa •…

where not hauing (as ſome wryters ſay) ſufficient regarde to the neceſſarie affayres of hys warres, he gaue his mynde to banquetting, and paſſed the tyme in pleaſure wyth the Queene his wife, to the great griefe of his Lordes, ſo that they perceyuing his rerchleſſe demeanour (or as ſome write, the doubtfull myndes of the Nobilitie whiche ſerued on that ſyde, and were readie dayly to reuolt from his obedience) wythdrew theyr dutifull heartes from him, and therefore gettyng licence, they returned home into Englande.

In which meane tyme the French King,An. reg. 5 •… to bring his purpoſe to full effect, entred into Normandie, waſted the Countreys, and wanne the townes of Cowches,

Mat. Par. Polidor.

The French k. Inuadeth Normandie.

le Val de Rueil, and Liſle Dandele. Le Val de Rueil, was giuen ouer without any great enforcement of aſſault, by two Noble men that had charge thereof, the one named Robert Fitz Walter, and the other Saer de Quincy. Howbeit Liſle Dandeley was valiātly for a certaine tyme defended by Roger de Lacie the Coneſtable of Cheſter. But at length they within were ſo conſtrayned by famin and long ſiege, that the ſayd Lacie and other perceyuing it to be more honourable for thē to die by the ſword than to ſtarue through want of foode, brake out vpon theyr enimies, and ſlue a great ſorte of the French men, but yet in the ende they were taken priſoners, and ſo theſe Fortreſſes came into the French kings hands.

The Pope hearing of theſe variances betwixt the two Kings,The Pope ſ •… deth his 〈◊〉 into France. ſent the Abbot of Caſner into France, accompanied with the Abbot of Troysfons to moue them to a peace.

Theſe two Abbottes tooke ſuche paynes in the matter, that the Kings were almoſt brought to agrement. But the Frenche King perceyuing himſelf to haue a forehand in his buſineſſe,
Page: 557
ſticked at one article, which was, to repayre agayne all ſuch Abbays as he had deſtroyed within the dominions of King Iohn: And King Iohn to doe the lyke by all thoſe thad hee hadde waſted within the French kings Countreys.

•… guinus.The Popes Nuncij woulde haue excomunicated king Philip, bycauſe he woulde not thus agree. But king Philip appealing from them, purſued the warre, and beſieged the Towne of Radpont. •… lidor. The Souldiers within the towne defended the firſt aſſault verie manfully, and cauſed the Frenchmen to retyre backe: but king Philip meaning to haue the towne ere hee departed, did ſo incluſe it about, that within tenne dayes he wanne it,Radpont won. and tooke there twentie menne of armes, an hundred demilances, and twentie Archaleſters.

After this, when hee had fortifyed this place,Caſtel Galiard he went to Caſtel Galiard, which he beſieged (and though by the high valiancie of Hugh de Gourney the Captayne there, the French men were manfully beaten backe, and kept out for a month and more, yet at length by ſtrayſt ſiege and neare approches hardily made,Mat. Paris. the fortreſſe was deliuered into the French kings handes.Hugh de Gourney reuolteth from king Iohn. And in the ende the ſayde Hugh Gourney reuolted from his obedience, deliuering alſo the Caſtell of Mountforte vnto the Frenche King & whiche Caſtell with the honour thereto apperteyning king Iohn had giuē to the ſame Hugh, not very long before. And all this while king Iohn did lie at Rouen: •… lidor. but foraſmuch as he coulde not well remedie the matter as then, bycauſe he wanted ſuch helpe as he dayly looked for out of England, and durſt not truſt any of that ſide, hee paſſed it ouerwith a ſtoute countenance for a while, and woulde ſaye oftentymes to ſuch as ſtoode about him, what elſe doth my couſin the French king nowe, than ſteale thoſe things from me, whiche hereafter I ſhall indeuour my ſelfe to cauſe him to reſtore with intereſt? But when hee ſawe that his enimies would ſtill proceede, and that no ayde came out of Englande, •… ng Iohn •… meth backe •… o England. he came ouer himſelfe, and landed at Porteſmouth on Saint Nicholas day.

King Philip doubting by vſing the victorie with too much rygour leaſt he ſhoulde bring the Normans into a deſperate boldneſſe, and ſo to cauſe them for ſafegarde of theyr lyues to hazarde all vpon reſiſtance, he ſtayed for a tyme, & withdrewe his ſouldiers backe agayne into Fraunce, hauing not onely furniſhed thoſe places in the meane tyme whiche he had woonne, with ſtrong garniſons of his ſouldiers, but alſo appointed certain perſonages to trauaile with the people, yet remaining in the Engliſh ſubiection, to reuolt & turne frō K. Iohn, to his obeyſance & ſubiection.

King Iohn being returned into England, accuſed diuerſe of his nobles for ſhewing thēſelues negligent and ſlouthful in ayding him, according to his commaundement, alledging furthermore, that being deſtitute of their due and requiſite ſeruice, he was cōſtrayned to loſe his tyme in Normandie, as not being able for want of their ayde to reſiſt his enimies. Wherfore for this and other matters layd to their charges, he did put them to grieuous fines. By meane whereof, and by leuying of a ſubſedie of his people,

Math. Paris.

A Parliament at Oxforde.

1204

A ſubſedie graunted.

he got togither an huge ſumme of money. This ſubſedie was granted to him in Parliament holden at Oxford, and begon there vpon the ſeconde of Ianuarie .1204. wherein of euery knightes fee was graunted the ſumme of two Markes and an halfe. Neyther were the Biſhops, nor the Abbots, nor any other eccleſiaſticall perſons exempt, by meanes wherof he ranne firſt into the hatred of the Cleargie, and conſequently of many other of his ſubiects: ſo that they failed him at his neede, whereby he often ſuſteined no ſmal damage, as after it may appeare.

Page: 558
This yere the ayre toward the north and eaſt parties ſeemed to be on a bright fire for the ſpace of .vj. houres togither. It beganne about the firſt watch of the night, the firſt of Aprill.

An. Reg. 6. King Iohn about the beginning of thys ſixt yere of his raigne, ſent in Ambaſſage to the Frēch King the Archbiſhop of Canterburie, Raufe Cog. Ambaſſadors ſent into Frāce the Biſhoppes of Norwich and Elie, the Earles Marſhall and Leyceſter, to treate wyth him of peace: but he was ſo farre off from comming neare to any reaſonable motions, bycauſe he ſawe the worlde frame as hee wiſhed, that ſtill by demaunding ſomewhat that might not be graunted, he kept off, and brought in ſuche hard conditions, that it was not poſſible to conclude anye agreement. And this hee dyd of purpoſe, hoping within ſhort tyme to conquer all that the king of Englande poſſeſſed as yet on that ſyde the Seas.

He was the more vntowarde to compounde, for that he was informed how Arthure the Duke of Brytayne was diſpatched out of hys lyfe, and therefore not doubting but to haue many to take part with him in ſeeking reuenge of his death, he made that his chiefe quarell, ſwearing that he woulde not ceaſſe to purſue the warre agaynſte King Iohn, till hee had depriued him of hys whole Kingdome. So the Ambaſſadors departed wythoute all hope to come to anye agreement.

Thys yeare Eaſter day fell ſo high as it poſſibly might, that is to witte, on Saint Markes day.

King Philip vnderſtanding that king Iohn remayned ſtill in Englande, rather occupyed in gathering of money amongſt his ſubiects, than in making other prouiſion to bring them into the fielde (to the greate offence of hys ſayde people) thought nowe for his parte to loſe no tyme: but aſſembling a mightie armie,Townes 〈◊〉 by the F •… king. hee came with the ſame into Normandie, and vpon his firſt comming, hee wanne the Towne of Falayſe, and ſhortly after was Dampfront deliuered vnto him by ſurrender. This done, he marched further into the Countrey, and with his ſodaine inuaſion ſo oppreſſed the people euery where, that they coulde haue no time to make ſhift by flight to get into the townes. With this ſwiftneſſe of ſpeede, hee brought alſo ſuche a feare into the heartes of moſte menne, that hee wanne all the Countrey of Normandie euen vnto Mounte Saint Michaell. The inhabitants in euery place ſubmitting themſelues, as thoſe of Bayeulx, Cō ſtances, Liſeux, and other townes there aboutes. Finally, he came before Rouen,Rouen b •… ged by the French king •… the principal Citie of all the Countrey, and incamped ſo in ſundrie places about the Citie, that all the iſſues, entryes and wayes, were cloſed vp by his armie, being ſo deuided into ſeuerall campes, that the diſtance was not great from one to another, making a terrible ſhew to them within. At length after he had prouided all things neceſſarie for his purpoſe, and taken good aduice of his captaynes how he ſhoulde beſt imploy his force for the winning of this Citie, (in which exployte he knewe the full perfection of al his paſſed conqueſts, chiefly to conſiſt) he did manfully aſſault it, and they within as manfully defended themſelues, ſo that he got little by the aſſaultes and approches which he made. Wherevpon he fell in hande to
Page: 559
practiſe with the Citizens to winne them wyth meede, curteſie, gentle ſpeeche, and great promiſes. At length they within were ſo moued with ſuch reaſons as he vſed to perſwade them withall, that they made requeſt for a truce to bee had for certaine dayes, wythin the tearme whereof if no ſuccor came, they couenanted to yeeld without any further trouble.

This truce being obteyned. Ambaſſadours were ſent from them of Rouen into England, to ſignifie vnto king Iohn the whole ſtate of the citie, and of the truce, ſo that if ayd came not within the tyme appoynted, the Citie muſt needes be deliuered into the enimyes handes. The king hauing no armie in readyneſſe to ſende ouer, nor other ſhyft to make for the ſuccour of the Citie, permytted the Ambaſſadours to depart wythout comfort of any ayde, who hereupon returning to Rouen, and reporting what they hadde hearde, ſeene, and founde, brought the Citie into great ſorrowe.The great fi •… elitie of the Citizens of Rouen. For whereas that Citie had euer beene accuſtomed to glorie for the greate loyaltie and faythfull fidelitie whiche the ſame had euer ſhewed towardes theyr liege Lordes and naturall Princes, nowe the Citizens perceyued manifeſtly, that vnleſſe they woulde caſt awaye themſelues, and loſe all they had, they muſt of force yeelde into the handes of theyr enimyes. Wherefore yet to make theyr true allegiance more apparant to the worlde, they ſtayed the ſurrender as long as they had anye ſtore of vittayles wythin the Citie to relieue theyr fainting bodies withall. •… oue through •… amin is ſurrendred to the French king. And ſo in the ende vanquiſhed with hunger, they ſubmitted themſelues to the French king. Theyr ſubmiſſion being once knowne, cauſed all thoſe other townes whiche had not yeelded, to delyuer vp theyr Keyes vnto the Frenche men, as Arques, Vernueill, and other.

Moreouer the townes in Poictou, Tourain, & Aniou, which lately before king Iohn had recouered, do now again (being in no ſmal feare) yeeld themſelues vnto king Philip: ſo that of all the townes within thoſe Countreys there remayned none vnder the Engliſh obeiſance,Mat. Par. ſaue only Rochelle, Tours, Niorth, and a few other. And thus Normādy which king Rollo had purchaſed and gotten .316. yeares before that preſent time, was then recouered by the Frenchmen, to the great reproche and diſhonour of the Engliſhe, in this yeare .1204.

About this time, Queene Elenor the mother of king Iohn departed this life, conſumed rather through ſorow and anguiſh of minde than of any other naturall infirmitie.

In this ſixt yeare of king Iohns raigne,By Raufe Cogheſhals report this ſhould ſeeme to haue chanced in the dayes of king Henrie the ſeconde. A fiſh like to a man. at Oreford in Suffolke, as Fabian hath (although I thinke he be deceiued in the time) a fiſh was taken by fiſhers in their nettes as they were at ſea, reſembling in ſhape a wilde or ſauage man, whō they preſented vnto Sir Bartholmew de Glanuille knight, that had then the keeping of the Caſtell of Oreford in Suffolk. Naked he was, and in all his limmes and members reſembling the right proportion of a man. He had heares alſo in the vſual parts of his body, albeit that on y^e crown of his head he was balde: his beard was ſide and rugged, and his breaſt verie hearie. The knight cauſed him to be kept certaine dayes and nightes from the ſea. Meate ſet afore him he greedily deuoured, and eate fiſhe both raw and ſodde. Thoſe that were rawe he preſſed in his hande tyll he had thruſt out all the moyſture, and ſo then he did eate them. Hee woulde not, or coulde not vtter any ſpeeche, although to trye him they hung hym vppe by the heeles, and myſerably tormented him. He woulde get him to his Couche at the ſetting of the Sunne, and ryſe agayne when it roſe.

One day they brought him to the hauen, and ſuffered him to go into the ſea, but to be ſure hee ſhould not eſcape from them, they ſet three ranks of mightie ſtrong nettes before him, ſo to catche him againe at their pleaſure (as they ymagined) but he ſtreyght wayes dyuing downe to the bottome of the water, gotte paſt all the Nettes, and comming vppe ſhewed himſelfe to them againe, that ſtoode wayting for him, and dowking dyuerſe tymes vnder water and comming vp agayne, hee behelde them on the Shore that ſtoode ſtill looking at him, who ſeemed as it were to mocke them, for that he had deceyued them, and gotte paſt theyr Nettes. At length after hee had thus played him a great while in the water, and that there was no more hope of hys returne, he came to them againe of his owne accorde, ſwimming through the water, and remayned wyth them two Monethes after. But finally, when hee was negligently looked to, and howe ſeemed not to bee regarded, hee fledde ſecretelye to
Page: 560
the ſea, and was neuer after ſeene nor heard of.

This much out of Raufe Cogheſhall, who affyrmeth that this chaunced in the dayes of Henrie the ſeconde,Iohn Stow. aboute the .xxxiij. of hys raigne, as Iohn Stowe in his Summarie hath alſo noted.

The warre was mightily mainteyned all this while betwixt them of Poictou and Aquitayne, and many ſharpe encounters chaunced betwyxt the partyes, of which the one following the king of Englandes Litutenaunt Robert de Turnham, valiantly reſiſted the other that helde wyth the French king vnder the conduct of William des Roches, and Hugh le Brun erle of Marche, chiefe leaders of that faction. But Robert de Turnham, togyther with Sauarie de Maulcon, and Gerarde de Atie, bare themſelues ſo manfully, that in all conflictes for the moſt part, the victorie remayned on their ſides.

The Gaſcoignes alſo tooke part with king Iohn, and continued in dutifull obedience towardes him, for the which theyr loyaltie, he was readie to conſider them with princely gyftes, and beneficiall rewardes, in ſuch bountifull wiſe, that hee gaue vnto a Noble man of that Countrey named Moreue, the ſumme of .xxviij. thouſande Markes to leuie and wage thirtie thouſande men to ayde hym at his comming ouer into thoſe partyes.

The Archbiſhop of Burdeaux, that was brother vnto the foreſaid Moreue, became ſuretie for performance of the couenants, and remayned in England a long time, bycauſe the ſame couenāts were not in all poynts accompliſhed.

The Biſhop of London was ſent Ambaſſadour from king Iohn vnto the Emperour vpon certaine earneſt buſineſſe. The Duke of Louayne, and the Earle of Bollongne were made friendes by the French Kings drift, and promiſed to inuade Englande wyth an armye, and to make warre agaynſt King Iohn for the withholding of ſuche landes and reuenues as they claymed to be due vnto them, in right of theyr wyues.

King Philip alſo vndertooke to follow them within a Month after they ſhould be entred into Englande, and thus did the French king ſeeke to make him ſtrong with friends, which dayly fell from king Iohn on eche hande. Godfrey biſhop of Wincheſter, that was ſonne to the Lorde Richard de Lucy departed this life.

This yeare the King was on Chriſtmaſſe day at Teukeſburie,1205 where hee ſtayed not paſt one day.

An extreeme froſt.The .xiiij. day of Ianuarie it began to freeſe, and ſo continued tyll the .xxij. of Marche, wyth ſuch extreemitie, that the huſbande men coulde not make their tilth, by reaſon whereof in the Sommer following corne began to grow to an exceſſiue price, ſo that wheate was ſolde by the quarter at .xij.ſs. of money then currant.

This yeare about the feaſt of Pentecoſt,

An. Re •… Polidor. Mat. Pa •…

King Iohn prepare •… 〈◊〉 armie to 〈◊〉 into Fr •…

the king by the aduice of his Counſell aſſembled at Northampton, prepared a nauie of ſhippes, muſtred ſouldiers, and ſhewed great tokens that hee woulde renue the warre, and ſeeke to be reuenged of his enimie the French king.

The Nobles of the realme endeuoured themſelues alſo to matche the diligence of the king in this preparation, vpon an erneſt deſire to reuenge the iniuries lately done to the common wealth. And when all things were readie, and the ſhippes fraught with vittayles, armour, and al other proviſions neceſſarie, the King came to Porcheſter, there to take the Sea, purpoſing verily to paſſe ouer into Fraunce, in hope of ſuche fayre promiſes as his friendes of Normandie and Poictou had made, in ſending oftentymes to him, to procure him wyth ſpeede to come to theyr ſuccours. But nowe euen as the king was readie to enter a Shipbourde,

Raufe Co •…

The Arch •… ſhop of C •… terburie, 〈◊〉 the Earle of Pembroke •… ſwade the 〈◊〉 to ſtay at home.

Hubert Archbyſhop of Canterburie, and William Marſhall Earle of Pembrooke came to hym, and with many greate reaſons went aboute to perſwade him to ſtaye hys iourney. And although he was very loath to follow theyr counſaile, yet they put forth ſo manye doubtes and daungers that myght follow of his departing the Realme at that preſent, to the hazarding of the whole ſtate, that in the ende (ſore to his griefe) hee was ouercome by theyr importunate perſwaſions, and ſo diſmiſſing the moſte part of his armie, he appoynted his brother the Earle of Saliſburie with a certaine number of knights and men of armes to paſſe ouer into Rochell, whither was gone before hym the Lorde Geffrey the Kings baſe Sonne, wyth many other Knightes alſo and men of armes.

The Lordes and other that were diſmiſſed, tooke it verie euill, conſidering the great preparation that had bin made for that iourney. But ſpecially the Mariners were ſore offended, curſing the Archbiſhop, and the ſayde Earle of Pembrooke, that were knowne to bee Authours of ſo naughtie counſayle as they tooke this to be.

It was thought there was neuer ſo many ſhippes got togither at one tyme before, as were at that preſent, to haue attended the King: for (as wryters haue recorded) there were to the number of fourteene thouſande Mariners that had brought theyr Shippes thyther for that purpoſe. But as the breaking vp of this voyage grieued others, ſo it pynched the King ſo neare the heart,The king •… penting 〈◊〉 goeth back to the 〈◊〉 that hee beeing come backe from the Sea ſide to Wincheſter, repented ſo muche that he had not gone forwarde with his iourney, that the next day he returned again to the coaſt, and at
Page: 561
Porteſmouth, entring the ſea with his ſhips, on the .xv. of Iuly he ſailed to the Ile of Wight, and wafted vp and downe for the ſpace of two dayes togither, •… e goeth to •… e ſea the .xv. •… uly, as ſom •… thors haue. till by aduice of his friendes, he was perſwaded not to aduenture to paſſe ouer, ſithe his armie was diſmiſſed and gone home, and ſo hee returned backe to the Shore againe, arriuing at Stodlande, neare vnto Warham the thirde day after his ſetting forth: yet ſuch as were behynde, and haſted after him, thought verily he had beene gone ouer, and ſuche a bruyte was ſpredde ouer all, tyll at length in tyme the truthe was knowne.

At his comming backe (as ſome write) hee charged certaine of the Nobilitie wyth treaſon, bycauſe they did not follow him: wherevppon ſhortly after he puniſhed them ryght grieuouſly, and peraduenture not withoute ſome grounde of iuſt cauſe. For likelye it is, that ſome greater matter there was, that forced him to breake vp his iourney, than appeareth in our wryters, although Raufe Cogheſhall ſetteth downe ſome reaſons alledged by the Archbiſhoppe Hubert, and Earle Marſhall, to perſwade him not to depart the Realme: But peraduenture other cauſes there were alſo of farre more importaunce that conſtreyned hym ſo greatly agaynſte hys mynde and full reſolution, both at the firſt, and nowe at thys ſeconde tyme to returne. Verily to vtter my coniecture, it maye bee that vppon hys laſte determination to goe ouer, hee gaue newe commaundement to hys Lordes to followe hym, and they peraduenture vſed not ſuche diligence in accompliſhing hys pleaſure therein, as hee looked they ſhoulde haue done: or it may be, when the armie was once diſcharged, the Souldiers made ſuche haſte homewardes, eche man towardes hys Countrey, that it was no eaſie matter to bryng them backe againe in anye conuenient time. But howſoeuer it was, as it had beene vppon a chaunge of purpoſe, hee came backe agayne (as before yee haue hearde.)

The .xiij. of Iuly Hubert Archbiſhoppe of Canterburie, departed this life at Tenham,

The death of the archbiſhop of Canterbury

Mat. Par. Polidore.

the king not beeing greatlye ſorie for his death (as ſome haue wrytten) bycauſe hee gathered ſome ſuſpition that hee bare too muche good will towardes the French king.

In verye deede (as ſome wryte) the Archebiſhop repented himſelfe of nothing ſo muche, as for that he hadde commended King Iohn vnto the Noble menne and Peeres of the Realme, ſith hee prooued an other manner manne than hee looked to haue founde hym. Thys Archebiſhoppe hadde gouerned the See of Canterburie eleuen yeares, right monethes, and ſixe dayes.

After his deceaſe, the Monkes of Canterburie without knowledge of the King,An Archb. cholen. choſe one Reginalde the Subprior of theyr houſe to bee theyr Archbiſhoppe, who ſecretely wente vnto Rome to obteyne his confirmation of the Pope, which thing bred much miſchiefe and great diſcorde betwixt Pope Innocent, and king Iohn, ſince the Pope woulde not confirme the election, bycauſe he ſawe ſome peece of ſecrete practiſe, till he might vnderſtand and be certified by report of ſufficient witneſſe (for that he wanted the letters commendatorie from the king) that the ſame election was lawfull and orderly made. Of thys delay alſo the Monkes being ſpeedily aduertiſed, and to the end they might now recouer the kings fauor whom they had verye ſore offended in not making him priuie to the firſt election, they make requeſt vnto him, that by his nominatiō it might be lawful for them to chooſe an other Archbiſhop. The king gladly hereunto aſſented,

Mat. VVeſt.

Iohn Gray Biſhop of Norwich preſident of the counſel.

requiring thē to graunt their voyces vnto Iohn Gray the Biſhop of Norwich, being both his Chaplaine and preſident of his Counſaile. The Monkes to gratifie the king, obeyed his requeſt, and ſo electing the ſame Biſhop of Norwiche, they ſent theyr procurators to Rome in the yeare following, to ſignifie the ſame vnto the Pope, and to requyre him to confirme this their ſecond election, as vnmindfull of their firſt, and clearly adnihillating the ſame to all intents and purpoſes. Amongſt other that were ſent to Rome about this buſineſſe, Helias de Brantfield was one, a Monk of great eſtimation, and had in good credite with the king, who miniſtred vnto thē that were thus ſent, ſufficient allowance wherwith to beare theyr charges. Alſo at the ſame time the Biſhops that were Suffragans to the Sea of Canterburie, ſent their procurators vnto Rome aboute a quarell whiche they had againſt the Monkes there, for that the ſame Monkes preſumed to proceede to the electiō of an Archbiſhop without their conſent, hauing (as they alledged) a right by ancient decrees and
Page: 562
cuſtomes to bee aſſociate with them in the ſayde electios. But how this matter was anſwered, ye ſhall ſee hereafter. In the meane time, theſe and other like things procured the Pope to reiect both the elections, and of his owne authoritie to nominate the thirde perſon, whereby the trouble begon was not a little augmēted (as you ſhal heare hereafter) nowe whileſt theſe procurators were thus occupied in Rome, Philip the French king mynding to cōquer all that which king Iohn yet held within France, aſſembled an army, and cōming before the towne of Loches, wanne it, and tooke Gerarde de Atie priſoner, that had ſo long time, and with ſuch valiancie defended it. The ſame time alſo, was Robert de Turnham taken priſoner, who with great manhoode had all this while reppreſſed and chaſtiſed the rebellious Poictonins.

Moreouer after that the French king had won Loches,Hubert de Burgh a valiant Captaine he went to Chiuon, within the whiche Hubert de Burgh was Captaine, a right valiant mā of war as was any wher to be foūd, who hauing prepared all things neceſſarie for defence, manfully repulſed y^e Frenchmen, which inforced thēſelues to win y^e town with cōtinuall aſſaults & alarmes, not ſuffring them within to reſt neyther day nor night, who yet for certaine dayes togyther, by the valiant encouragement of theyr captain defended the towne, with greate ſlaughter of the Frenchmen. But neuertheleſſe, at length beginning to deſpayre by reaſon of their inceſſant trauaile, certaine of thē that were ſomwhat faint hearted ſtale ouer the walles in the night, & ranne to the French men, and for ſafegard of theyr liues inſtructed them of the whole eſtate of the towne. The Frenche vnderſtanding, that they wythin were in no ſmall feare of themſelues, with ſuche violence came vnto the walles, and renued the aſſault vpon all ſides,

Polidor.

Chinon taken by force of aſſault.

that ſtreight wayes they entred by force. A great number of Engliſhmen were taken, and amongſt other their Captain the foreſayd Hubert de Burgh. [This chaunced on the vig •… ll of S. Iohn Baptiſt.]

After this, King Philip tooke diuerſe other townes & Caſtels in that Country, of the which ſome hee razed, and ſome he fortified and ſtuffed with garniſons of his ſouldiers. This done hee paſſed ouer the Riuer of Loyr, and wan a caſtell ſituate neare vnto a promontorie or heade of land called Grapelitū, which was wont to bee a great ſuccor to the Engliſhmen arriuing on that coaſt.

The occaſion why he made warres thus to the Brytaines, was as ſome write for that Guy Duke of Brytayne, who had maried the Duches Conſtance, and ſucceeded in the Duchie after hir ſonne Arthure, without regarde to reuenge the death of the ſame Arthure, was ioyned in league with K. Iohn togither, with Sauare de Manleon, and Almerick de Luſignian, Lords of great honor, power, and ſtoutneſſe of ſtomacke.

King Iohn alſo in this meane while,

120 •…

An. Re •…

moued with the increaſe of theſe his newe aſſociates, and alſo with deſire to reuenge ſo many iniuries and loſſes ſuſteyned at the French kings handes, preparing an armie of men, and a nauie of ſhippes, tooke the ſea with them and landed at Rochel the ninth of Iuly, where he was receyued with great ioy and gladneſſe of the people, and no ſmall
Page: 563
number of Gentlemen, and others that inhabited thereaboute repayred vnto him, offering to ayde hym to the vttermoſte of theyr powers. He therefore wyth aſſured hope of good ſpeede departed from thence, and wanne the Towne of Montalban, wyth a great part of all the Countrey thereaboutes.

•… es Annales de •… rance. •… olidor. Finally, he entred into Aniou, and comming to the Citie of Angiers, appoynted certain bands of his footmen, and al his light horſemen to compaſſe the towne about, whyleſt he, with the reſidue of the footemen, and all the men of armes, did goe to aſſaulte the gates. Which enterpriſe with fyre and ſworde he ſo manfully executed, that the Gates being in a moment broken open,King Iohn •… anne the city •… f Angiers by •… ault. the Citie was entred and delyuered to the Souldiers for a pray.

The Citizens were ſome taken, and ſome killed, and the walles of the Citie beaten flatte to the grounde. This done, he went abrode into the Countrey, and put all things that came in his way to the like deſtruction. So that the people of the Countreyes next adioyning, came of their owne accorde to ſubmit themſelues vnto him, promiſing to ayde hym with men and vittayles moſt plentifully.

King Iohn beeing verie ioyfull of this good ſucceſſe, marched towardes Poictou, ſending forth his troupes of horſemen to waſt the Country on euery ſide. In the meane while the French K. being hereof aduertiſed, came forth with his army redy furniſhed to reſiſt K. Iohn, and by the way encoūtred with y^e duke of Britain,The duke of Britaine and other of king Iohns •… ilends ouerthrowne. Sauary de Mauleon, & Almerick de Luſignian, which had bin abrode to ſpoyle the French kings countries. But being now ouerſet with the kings puiſſāce, they were taken, and all their company ſtripped out of their armor, to their great confuſion.

This miſhap ſore weakened the power and courage of King Iohn. But the French King prowde of the victorie, kept on his iourney, and approching neare vnto the place where King Iohn was as then lodged, did cauſe his tentes to be pitched downe for the firſt night.

And on the morrowe after, as one deſirous of battaile, brought his army forth into the fieldes, raunged in good order, and readie to fight.

The like did King Iohn, ſo that wyth ſtoute ſtomackes and egre myndes, they ſtoode there in the fielde readie to trye the matter with dynt of ſworde vpon ſounde of the warning blaſt gyuen by the Trumpettes. When by the mediation of certaine graue perſonages, as well of the ſpiritualtie as of the temporaltie, which were in good eſtimation with both the Princes, a communication was appoynted,

•… at. VVest. •… at. Par.

•… his truce •… s concluded •… on Alhallo •… en day.

which tooke ſuch effect, that a truce was taken betwixt them for the terme of two yeares, the pryſoners on eyther ſide being releaſed by way of exchaunge: and thus the warre ceaſed for that time. King Philip returning into Fraunce, and King Iohn into Englande, where he landed at Porteſmouth the xij. of December.

About this time,Iohn Ferent •… the Popes Legate. came one Iohn Ferentin •… a Legate from the Pope into England, and paſſing through the ſame as it were in viſitatiō, gathered a great ſumme of money. And finally at Reading on the morow after Saint Lukes day, celebrated a Councel, which being ended, he cauſed his Coffers to bee packed vp and ſent away, haſting himſelfe after to depart the realme, and ſo taking the ſea had England farewell.

About the ſame ſeaſon alſo,The Pope giueth ſentence with the Monkes agaynſt the Biſhops. Pope Innocent confirmed the authoritie and power whiche the Prior and Monkes of Canterburie had to elect & chooſe the Archbiſhop of that ſea, gyuing ſentence agaynſt the Suffraganes which claymed a right to be ioyned with the ſayde Prior and Monkes,
Page: 564
in the election,See Mat. Paris Page. 287. in the printed copie. as by a letter directed to the ſame Suffraganes from the ſayde Pope it may more plainly appeare.

After this it chaunced that king Iohn remembring himſelfe of the deſtruction of the Citie of Angiers, which bycauſe he was deſcended from thence, he had before tyme greatly loued, beganne nowe to repent him,King Iohn repareth the city of Angiers. in that hee had deſtroyed it, and therfore with all ſpeede he tooke order to haue it againe repayred, whiche was done in moſte beautifull wife.

1207

A taxe leuyed.

Moreouer in this yeare about Candlemaſſe, be cauſed the .xiij. part of euery mans goodes, as well of the ſpiritualtie, as of the temporaltie, to be leuied and gathered to his vſe, all men murmuring at ſuche doings, but none being ſo hardie as to gainſay the kings pleaſure, except onely Geffrey the Archbiſhop of Yorke, who thereupon departing ſecretly out of the realm, accurſed al thoſe that layd any hands to the collection of that payment, within his Archbiſhoprike of Yorke.

A mightie tempeſt.Alſo vpon the .xvij. of Ianuarie then laſt paſt, about the middeſt of the night, there roſe ſuche a tempeſt of wind vpon a ſodaine, that many houſes were ouerthrowne therewith, and ſheepe and other cattell deſtroyed, and buried in the driftes of ſnowe, whiche as then laye verye deepe euerie where vpon the grounde.

In like maner, the order of Frier Minors beganne about this time,The Emperor Otho cōmeth into England. and increaſed maruellouſly within a ſhort ſeaſon. And the Emperor Otho came ouer into England in this yeare, where he was moſt royally receiued by king Iohn, who taking counſell with the ſayde Emperor to renue the warre againſt the French K. (bycauſe he was promiſed great ayde at his handes for the furniſhing of the ſame) gaue vnto him at his departing forth of the realme,

Fiue thouſand markes of ſiluer, as Math. Weſt. & Mat. Par. do write.

An. Reg. 9.

greate ſummes of money in hand towards the payment of ſuche ſouldiers as he ſhould leuie for this buſineſſe.

In this meane while, the ſtrife depended ſtill in the Court of Rome betwixt the two elected Archbiſhops of Cāterburie, Reginald and Iohn, but after the Pope was fully informed of the maner of their elections, he diſanulled them both, and procured by his Papall authoritie the Monkes of Canterburie of whom many were then come to Rome about that matter) to chooſe one Stephen Langton the Cardinall of Saint Chriſogon an Engliſhman borne,Stephen Langton choſen Archb. of Canterburie by the Popes appoyntment. & of good eſtimation and lerning in the court of Rome, to be their Archbiſhop. The Monks at the firſt werloth to conſent therto, alledging that they might not lawfully do it without conſent of their king, and of their couent. But the Pope as it were taking the worde oute of theyr mouthes, ſayde vnto them: doe yee not conſider that we haue full authoritie and power in the Churche of Canterburie: Neyther is the aſſent of kings or Princes to be looked for vpon elections celebrate in the preſence of the Apoſtolike Sea. Wherefore I commaunde you by vertue of your obedience, and vpon paine of curſing, that you being ſuch and ſo many here as are ſufficient for the election, to chooſe him to your archbiſhop whom I ſhall appoynt to you for father and paſtor of your ſoules. The Monkes doubting to offende the Pope, conſent all of them to gratifie him, except Helias de Brantfield, who refuſed. And ſo the foreſayde Stephen Langton being of them elected, the Pope confirmed him, and ſignified by letters the whole ſtate thereof to king Iohn, commending the ſayde Stephen as Archbiſhop vnto him.

The king fore offended in his minde that the Biſhoppe of Norwich was thus put beſide that dignitie, to the which he had aduaunced him,The Monk •… of Canter •… baniſhed. cauſed forthwith all the goodes of the Monkes of Canterburie to be confiſcate to his vſe, and after baniſhed them the realme, as well I meane thoſe at home, as thoſe that were at Rome, and herewith wrote his letters vnto the pope, giuing him to vnderſtand for anſwere,King Iohn wryteth to the Pope. that he would neuer conſent that Stephen which had bin brought vp and alwayes conuerſaunt with his enimies the French men, ſhould now enioy the rule of the Biſhoprike and dioces of Canterburie.

Moreouer he declared in the ſame letters, how he maruelled not a little what the Pope ment, in that he did not conſider how neceſſarie the friendſhip of the king of Englande was to the Sea of Rome, ſith there came more gaynes to the Romaine Church out of that kingdome,Howe 〈◊〉 England 〈◊〉 to the C •… of Rome. than out of any other realme on this ſyde the Mountaynes. Hee added hereto, that for the liberties of hys Crowne he would ſtand vnto death if the matter ſo required. And as for the electiō of the Biſhop of Norwich vnto the Sea of Canterburie, ſithe it was profitable to him and to his realme, he ment not to releaſe it.

Moreouer, he declared that if he might not be
Page: 565
heard and haue his minde, he woulde ſurely reſtraine the paſſages out of this realme, that none ſhould go to Rome, leaſt his lande ſhould bee ſo ſo emptied of money and treaſure, that he ſhould want ſufficient abilitie to beate backe and expell his enimies that might attempt inuaſion againſt the ſame. Laſtly of all he cōcluded, ſith the Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Abbots, and other eccleſiaſtical perſons, as well of his Realme of Englande, as of other his landes and dominions, were ſufficiently furniſhed with knowledge, that he he would not goe for anye neede that ſhoulde driue hym thereto, to ſeeke iuſtice or iudgement at the preſcript of any forraine perſons.

The Popes an •… were vnto •… e king.The Pope greatly maruelling hereat, wrote again to the king, requiring him to abſtaine from the ſpoyling of thoſe men that were priuiledged by the Canons of the Church, y^t he would reſtore the Monkes again to their houſe and poſſeſſions, and receyue the Archbiſhop canonically elected and cōfirmed, the which for his learning & knowledge, aſwell in the liberall ſciences, as in holye ſcripture, was thought worthy to be admitted to a prebend in Paris: and what eſtimation he himſelfe had of him it appeared, in that he had writtē to him thrice ſince he was made Cardinal, declaring although he was minded to call him to hys ſeruice, yet he was glad that he was promoted to an higher roumth, adding further, how there was good cauſe that hee ſhoulde haue conſideration of him, bycauſe he was borne within his land of father and mother, that were his faythfull ſubiects, and for that he had a Prebende in the Church of Yorke, which was greater and of more dignitie than that he had in Paris. Wherby not onely by reaſon of fleſh and bloud, but alſo by hauing eccleſiaſticall dignitie and office, it could not be but that he loued him and his realme with ſincere affection. Many other reaſons the Pope alledged in his letters to King Iohn, to haue perſwaded him to the allowing of the election of Stephen Langton. But king Iohn was ſo farre from giuing care to the popes admonitions, that he with more crueltie handled all ſuch, not only of the ſpiritualtie, but alſo of the temporalty, which by any maner meanes had aided the forenamed Stephē. The Pope being hereof aduertiſed, thought good not to ſuffer ſuch contempt of his authoritie, as he interpreted it, namely in a matter that touched the iniurious handling of men within orders of the church. Which enſample might procure hinderance, not to one priuate perſon alone, but to the whole ſtate of the ſpiritualtie, which he would not ſuffer in any wiſe to be ſuppreſſed: therefore hee decreed with ſpeede to deuiſe remedie againſt that large encreaſing miſchief. And though there was no ſpeedier way to redreſſe the ſame, but by excō municatiō, yet he would not vſe it at the firſt towards ſo mightie a Prince, but gaue him libertie and time to conſider of his offence and treſpaſſe ſo cōmitted. Theſe things being come to this point, the farther narration of them ſhal ſtay for a time, tyll I haue tolde you of a little trouble which about this tyme happened in London. For vpon the ſeuenth of Iune, the Baylifes of London, Roger Wincheſter, and Edmond Hardell, were diſcharged, and Serle the Mercer, and Hugh of Saint Albons choſen in their roomes.

The two former Baylifes were diſcharged and committed to priſon by the kings cōmaundement, vpon diſpleaſure taken againſt them,Baylifes of Lō don diſcharged and committed to warde. bycauſe they had reſiſted his pur •… yer of wheat, and woulde not ſuffer him to conuey any of that kind of grayne out of the Citie, till the Citie was ſtored. The .xxxv. rulers of the Citie, hauing fulfilled the kings commaundement to them directed for the diſcharging of thoſe Baylifes, and impriſoning them, did after take aduiſe togither, and appoynted a certaine number of themſelues with other to ryde vnto the king, as then beeing at Langley, to obteyne pardon for the ſayde Baylifes, and ſo comming thither, they made ſuch excuſe in the matter, ſhewing further, that at the ſame ſeaſon there was ſuch ſcarcitie of wheate in the Citie, that the common people were at point to haue made an inſurrection about the ſame. By which meanes, and through friēdſhip which they had in the Court, the king was ſo ſatiſfied, that he releaſed them from priſon, and pardoned theyr offences.

Alſo vpon the firſt of October,

The birth of king Henrie the thirde.

Nic. Triuet:

Henrie the ſon of king Iohn, begotten of his wife Queene Iſabell, was borne [at Wincheſter] who after ſucceeded his father in the kingdome.

But now againe to our purpoſe.1208 The Pope perceyuing that king Iohn continued ſtill in his former minde, (which he called obſtinacie) ſent ouer his Bulles into England,

The Pope writeth to the Biſhops.

Mat. Par. Nic. Triuet.

directed to William Biſhop of London, to Euſtace Biſhop of Elie, and to Mauger biſhop of Worceſter, commaunding them, that vnleſſe king Iohn woulde ſuffer peaceably the Archbiſhop of Canterburie to occupie his ſea, and his Monkes theyr Abbey, they ſhould put both him and his lande vnder the ſentence of interdiction, denouncing him and hys lande plainly accurſed. And further he wrote expreſſe letters vnto all the Suffragants of the church of Canterburie, that they ſhould by vertue of theyr obedience, which they ought to the Apoſtolique ſea, receyue and obey the Archebiſhoppe Stephen for their father and Metropolitane.

Theſe Biſhops with other to them aſſociate, made inſtant requeſt and ſute to the king for the obſeruing of the Popes commaundement, and to eſchew the cenſures of the Church: but that was in vain: for the king in a great rage ſware, that if
Page: 566
eyther they or anye other preſumed to put his lande vnder interdiction, he would incontinently therevpon ſende all the Prelates wythin the Realme out of the ſame vnto the Pope, and ſeaſe all theyr goodes vnto his owne vſe.Romaines, that is ſuch chaplaynes, ſtraungers, as belonged to the Pope. And further he added, that what Romaines ſoeuer he founde within the precinct of anye his dominions, he would put out their eyes, and ſlit their noſes, and ſo ſende them packing to Rome, that by ſuche markes they might be knowne from al other nations of the world. And herewith he commaunded the Biſhoppes out of his ſight, if they loued theyr owne health and preſeruation. Herevpon therefore the ſayde Biſhops departed, and according to the Popes commiſſion to them ſent,

The Munday in the paſsion weeke hath Mat. VVeſt.

The king and realme put vnder the Popes curſe.

vpon the euen of our Lady day the Annunciation, denounced both the king and the Realme of England accurſed, and furthermore cauſed the doores of churches to be cloſed vp, and of all other places where diuine ſeruice was accuſtomed to be vſed, firſt at London, and after in al other places where they came. Then perceyuing that the king ment not to ſtoupe for all this which they had done, but rather ſought to be reuenged vpon them, they fled the Realme, and got them ouer vnto Stephen the Archbiſhop of Canterburie, to wit, William Biſhop of London, Euſtace Biſhop of Elye, Malger Biſhoppe of Worceſter, Ioceline Byſhoppe of Bathe, and Gyles Biſhop of Hereforde.

An. Reg. 10.

The dealing of the king after the interdiction was pronounced.

The king taking this matter verie diſpleaſantly, ſeaſed vpon all their temporalites, and conuerted the ſame to his vſe, and perſecuted ſuch other of the Prelacie as hee knewe to fauor theyr doings, baniſhing them the realme, and ſeaſing their goodes alſo into his handes.

The moſte parte of the Prelates yet wiſely prouided for themſelues in this poynt, that they would not depart out of their houſes, except they were compelled by force, whiche when the kings officers perceyued, they ſuffred them to remaine ſtill in theyr Abbayes, and other habitations, bycauſe they had no Commiſſion to vſe any violence in expelling them. But theyr goodes they did confiſcate to the kings vſe, allowing them onely meate and drinke, and that verie barely in reſpect of their former allowance.

•… n heauie time for churchmen.It was a miſerable time nowe for Prieſtes and Churchmen whiche were ſpoyled on euery hand without finding remedie agaynſt thoſe that offred them wrong. It is reported that in the borders of Wales, the officers of a Sherife brought before the king a fellowe whiche had robbed and ſlaine a prieſt, deſiring to vnderſtande his pleaſure what ſhould be done with that offender: Vnto whō the king made this anſwere, he hath ſlain mine enimy,Mat. Par. and therfore ſet him at libertie.

The king alſo doubting leaſt the Pope ſhould proceede further, and aſſoyle all his ſubiectes of their allegiance which they ought to him, and that his Lordes woulde happely reuolt and forſake him in this his trouble, he tooke hoſtages of them whom he moſt ſuſpected. And as the Meſſengers which were ſent abrode for that purpoſe,Lord Wil •… de Breuſe. came vnto the Lorde William de Breuſe, requiring to haue his ſonnes for the ſayde purpoſe, hys wife (like a quicke and haſtie dame) taking the worde out of hir huſbandes mouth, made thys rounde anſwere, that ſhe woulde not deliuer hir ſonnes vnto king Iohn, that alreadie had ſlaine his owne nephew Arthur, whom he ought rather honourably to haue loued and preſerued. Theſe wordes being ſignified vnto the king, ſet him in ſuch an heat againſt hir huſband (though he rebuked hir ſharpely for the ſame) that the ſayd Lorde was glad togither with his wife and children to flee out of the realme into Irelande for ſafegarde of theyr lyues.

Where as before this time the Bridge ouer Thames at London was made of tymber,Londō l •… repayred. and was ruled, guided and repayred by a fraternitie or Colledge of Prieſts: this yeare by great ayde of the Citizens of London and other paſſing that way, the ſame bridge was begonne to be made of ſtone. And the ſame yeare S. Marie Queries in Southwarke was begonne to be repayred.

The ſame yeare alſo, the Citizens of London made ſuch ſuyte vnto the King, that they had graunted to them by his letters patens, licence to chooſe to themſelues a Maior, and two Sherifes euery yeare. After which graunt vnto them confirmed, they choſe for theyr Maior Henrie Fitz Alwyn, who was ſworne and charged at that preſent Maior of that Citie, vpon the day of S. Michaell the Archangell, in the the ſayde tenth yeare of king Iohn his raigne. And the ſame day and yeare, were Peter Duke, and Thomas Nele ſworne for Sherifes. And the name of Baylifes from thenceforth was clearely extinguiſhed.

But here ye haue to vnderſtand, that this Henrie Fitz Alwin had bene Maior of London long before this time,Iohn St •… euen from the firſt yeare of king Richard (as Iohn Stow hath truly gathered out of auncient inſtrumentes and records) vnto thys preſent tenth yeare of king Iohn, and now vpon graunt made to the Citizens, that it ſhoulde bee lawfull for them to chooſe euery yeare a Maior, and two Sherifes, for the better gouernment of their citie, the ſayd Henrie Fitz Alwin was newly by them elected, and likewiſe afterwardes from yeare to yeare, till hee departed this life, whiche chaunced in the yeare .1213. and .xv. of king Iohns raigne, ſo that he continued Maior of the ſame Citie of London, by the terme of .xxiiij. yeares.

Nowe therfore bycauſe it appeareth here how the gouernors of the Citie of London had theyr
Page: 567
names altered for their greater honour. And the ſtate of gouernment thereby partly chaunged, or rather confirmed. I haue thought good (though very briefly) to touch ſomewhat the ſignification of this worde Mayre, before I proceede any further with the reſt of this hiſtorie.

The auncient inhabitants of Frāconia or Frā kenland,

•… he ſignifica •… on of this •… orde Mayre.

•… ulfg. Laz. •… roſus.

from whom the Frenchmen are deſcended, and their neighbors the olde Saxons, of whō the Engliſhmen haue their original, being people of Germanie, and deſcended (as Beroſus ſayth) of the old Hebrues, haue reteyned manye Hebrue wordes, either frō the beginning, or elſe borowed them abrode in other Regions which they conquered, paſſing by force of armes through a great part of the worlde. For no doubt by conuerſation with thoſe people whō they ſubdued, they broght home into their own country & tongue many borowed words, ſo that their lāguage hath no ſmal ſtore of thē, fetched out of ſundry ſtrange tongs. And amongſt other olde wordes yet remayning in their tong, this worde Mar was one, which in the Hebrue ſignifieth dominus, (that is to ſay lord) but pronounced now ſomwhat corruptly Mayr. So as it is to be ſuppoſed, hereof it came to paſſe that the head officer & Lieutenant to the Prince, aſwell in London as in other Cities and townes of the realme, are called by that name of Mayre, though in the Cities of London, and Yorke, for an augmentation of honor by an ancient cuſtom (through ignorance what the title of Mayr doth ſignifie) they haue an addition, and are intituled by the name of Lord Mayre, where Mayre ſimply pronounced of it ſelfe, ſignifieth no leſſe than Lord, without any ſuch addition. Thus much for the name of Mayre. And nowe to proceede.

1209

Mat. Par.

King Iohn holding his Chriſtmaſſe this yere at Briſtow, ſet forth a cōmaundement, whereby he reſtrayned the taking of wilde foule.

About the ſame time, Henrie Duke of Suaben came into Englande from the Emperour Otho, and receyuing no ſmall portion of money of the king, departed backe into his owne Countrey againe.

In the vigill of the Epiphanie alſo, the kings ſecond ſonne was borne, and named Richard,The Eſchequer remoued. after his vncle king Richarde. And the Court of the Eſchequer was remoued from Weſtminſter vnto Northampton.

Moreouer, in the ſame yeare, Walter Gray was made Lorde Chancellor, who in all things ſtudied to ſatiſfie the kings will and purpoſes, for the which hee incurred greate indignation of the Clergie, & other that fauored not the proceedings of the king. It was ſurely a ruful thing to cōſider the eſtate of this realme at y^e preſent, when as the king neyther truſted his Peeres, neither the nobilitie fauored the king, no there were very few that truſted one another, but eche one hid and hourded vp his welth, looking dayly when another woulde come and enter vpon the ſpoyle. The comunaltie alſo grew into factions, ſome fauoring, ſome curſing the king, as they bare affection. The Cleargie was likewiſe at deſſention, ſo that nothing preuayled but malice & ſpite, which brought forth & ſpred abrode the fruits of diſobedience to al good lawes and orders, greatly to the diſquieting of the whole ſtate. King Iohn notwithſtanding that the realme was thus wholy interdyted & vexed,An. Reg. tis Polidor. ſo that no Prieſtes coulde be founde to ſay any ſeruice in Churches or Chapels, made yet no great account thereof as touching any offence towarde God or the Pope. But rather miſtruſting the hollow heartes of his people,A new othe of allegiance. hee taketh a newe othe of them for their faythfull allegiance, & immediatly thervpō aſſēbled an army to go againſt Alexāder K. of Scots,Alexander K. of Scots. vnto whō (as he had herd) diuerſe of the nobilitie of this realme were fled,
Page: 568
which Alexander was the ſeconde of that name that had ruled the Scots, and lately before was entred into the rule as lawfull ſucceſſour to the Crowne of Scotlande, by the death of his father king William.

In this meane while alſo Stephē Archbiſhop of Canterburie lamēting (as ſome haue reported) the ſtate of his natiue country, and yet not minding to giue ouer his hold, obteyned of Pope Innocent, that vpon certain dayes it might be lawful to an appoynted number of prieſts within the realme of Englād, to celebrate diuine ſeruice, that is to wit, vnto thoſe of conuentuall Churches once in the weeke.

Mat. Par.

The white Monkes.

But the Monkes of the white order were forbidden to vſe that priuiledge, bycauſe in the beginning of the interdictiō they had at the appoyntment of their principall Abbot preſumed to celebrate the Sacraments without the Popes conſent or knowledge.

Polidor. Math. Paris.In like maner, on the other ſide, king Iohn hauing his armie in a readineſſe, haſted forth towards the borders of Scotland, and comming to the Caſtell of Norham, he prepared to inuade the Scots. But king Alexander wanting power to giue him battaile, ſought to come vnto ſome friendly agreement with him,Alexander K. of Scots compoundeth for peace with king Iohn. and ſo by counſell of his Lords, caſting off his armor, he came to the king, and for a great ſumme of golde (or .xj.M. Markes of ſiluer as ſome write) with much adoe he purchaſed peace, deliuering .ij. of his daughters in hoſtage for more aſſuraunce of his dealing. Wherevpon King Iohn after his returne from Norham, which was about the .xxiiij. of Iune,Polidor. ſhewed himſelfe not a litle diſpleaſed with thoſe of the nobilitie which had refuſed to attende vpon him in that iourney, hauing receyued ſtrayt commaundement frō him to wayte vpon him at that time. Certes the cauſe why they refuſed to follow him, was euident, as they ſayd, in that they knew him to ſtand accurſed by the Pope.

About the ſame time alſo, when corne began to waxe ripe, to reuenge himſelfe of them that had refuſed to go with him in that iourney, hee cauſed the pales of all the Parkes and Foreſts which he had within his realme to be throwne downe,Mat. Pa •… and the ditches to be made plain, that the Deere breaking out and raunging abrode in the corne fields, might deſtroye and eate vp the ſame before it could be ryped, for which act (if it were ſo in deed) many a bitter curſſe proceeded from the mouthes of the poore huſbandmen towardes the kings perſon, and not vnworthily.

Moreouer in this ſeaſon the Welchmen (which thing had not beene ſeene afore time) came vnto Woodſtock, and there did homage vnto the king, although the ſame was chargeable, aſwell to the rich as the poore ſo to come out of theyr country.

About the ſame time alſo, it chaunced, Mat. Par •… A murther •… Oxford. that a Prieſt ſlue a woman at Oxforde, and when the kings officers could not finde him that had committed the murther, they apprehended three other Prieſtes not guiltie to the fact, and ſtreight way hanged them vp without iudgemēt. With which crueltie,Three thouſand as ſayth Mat. Paris. others of the Vniuerſitie beeing put in feare, departed thence in great numbers, and came not thither again of a long time after, ſome of thē repayring to Cambridge,Oxford forſaken of the ſcholers. and ſome to Reading to apply their ſtudies in thoſe places, leauing Oxford voyde.

The ſame yeare, one Hugh Archdeacon of Welles, and keeper of the kings great ſeale, was nominated Biſhop of Lincolne.

Hugh Arch •… •… con of We •… made Biſhop of Lincolne.

Polidore. Math. Pa •… .

And herewithall he craued licence to go ouer into France vnto the Archbiſhop of Rouen, that he might be conſecrated of him. The king was contented herewith, and gladly gaue him leaue, who no ſooner got ouer into Normandie, but that hee ſtreyght tooke the high way to Rome, and there receyued hys
Page: 569
conſecration of Stephen the Archbyſhop of Canterbury. Now when the Kyng vnderſtoode toys matter, and ſaw the dulneſſe of the Byſhoppe, hee was in a wonderfull chafe towarde him, & therevpon made port ſale of all his goodes, and receyued the profit of the reuenewes belonging to the See of Lincolne to his owne vſe. There lyued moreouer in theſe dayes a Deuine named Alexander Cementarius, and ſurnamed Theologus, who by his Preaching incenſed the King greatly vnto all cruelty (as the Monks and Friers ſay) againſt his ſubiectes, affirming, that the generall ſcourge wherewith the people were afflicted, chā ced not through the Princes fault, but for y^e wickedneſſe of his people, for the King was but the rodde of the Lordes wrathe, and to thys ende a Prince was ordeined, that he might rule the people with a rodde of iron, and breake them as an iron veſſell, to chayne the mighty in fetters, and the noble men in iron manacles. Hee did ſee as ſhould ſeeme, the euil diſpoſed humors of the people concerning their dutiful obedience which they ought to haue borne to their naturall Prince K. Iohn, and therefore as a doctrine moſt neceſſary in that daungerous time, hee taughte the people how they were by Gods lawes bound in duety to obey their lawfull Prince, and not through any wicked perſwaſion of buſie heads and lewde diſcourſers, to be carried away, to forget their loyall allegiance, and ſo to fall into the damnable ſinke of Rebellion.

He wente about alſo to prooue with likely arguments, that it apperteyned not to the Pope, to haue to do, concerning the temporall poſſeſſions of Kings or other potentates touching the rule and gouernement of their ſubiectes, ſith no power was graunted to Peter (eſpecially the chiefe of the Apoſtles of y^e Lord) but only touching y^e church, & matters apperteyning thervnto. By ſuch doctrine by him ſet foorth, hee wanne in ſuch wiſe the Kings fauour, that he obteyned many great prefermentes at the Kyngs handes, and was Abbot of S. Auſtines in Caunterbury: but at length, when his manners were notifyed to the Pope, he tooke ſuch order for him, that hee was deſpoyled of all his goodes and benefices, ſo that afterwards he was driuen in great miſerie to begge his bread from dore to dore, as ſome write.

Furthermore, about the ſame time, the Kyng taxed the Iewes,1210 and greeuouſly tormented and empriſoned them, bycauſe diuers of them woulde not willingly pay the ſummes that they wer taxed at. Amongſt other, Math. Paris. Iue •… taxed. there was one of them at Briſtow, which woulde not conſent to giue any fiue for his deliuerance: wherefore by the Kyngs commaundement he was put to this penaunce, that euery daye till he would agree to giue to the King thoſe tenne thouſand markes that hee was ſeaſed at, he ſhoulde haue one of his teeth plucked out of his head. By the ſpace of ſeuen dayes togither he ſtood ſtedfaſt, loſing euery of thoſe dayes a tooth, but on the eight day, whē he ſhould come to haue the eight tooth and the laſt (for he had but eight in all) drawen out,A Iew hath his teeth drawen forth. hee paide the money to ſaue that one, who with more wiſedome and leſſe paine, might haue done ſo before, and haue ſaued his ſeuen teeth, which he loſt with ſuch tormēts, for thoſe homely tothdrawers vſed no great cunning in plucking them foorth (as may be coniectured) Whilſt K. Iohn was thus occupied,An. reg. 12. news came to him, that the Iriſhe Rebels made foule worke, & ſore annoyed the Engliſh ſubiectes. He therefore aſſembling a mighty army,

Mat Par.

King Iohn paſſeth ouer into Irelande.

Polidor. Mat. Paris.

embarqued at Pembroke in Wales, and ſo haſting towards Ireland, arriued there the .25. of May, & broughte the people in ſuch feare immediately vpon his arriuall, that all thoſe that inhabited vpon the Sea coaſtes in the champaigne countreys, came in, & yeelded themſelues, receyuing an oth to be true and faithfull vnto him.

Page: 570
There were twentie of the chiefeſt Rulers within Ireland, whiche came to the King at hys comming to Dublin, and there did to hym homage and fealtie as apperteyned. The King at the ſame time ordeyned alſo, that the Engliſhe lawes ſhould be vſed in that land, and appoynted Sherifes and other officers to haue the order of the countrey, to rule the ſame according to the Engliſh ordinances. After this, hee marched forward into the land, and toke diuers fortreſſes and ſtrōg holds of his enimies which fled before him, for feare to be apprehended, as Walter de Lacy,Walter d •… Lacy. and many other. At length, comming into the Countrey of Meth, he beſieged a Caſtell, wherein the wife of William de Breuſe, and hir ſonne named alſo Williā were incloſed, but they found meanes to eſcape before the Caſtell was wonne, although afterwarde they were taken in the Iſle of Man,The Lady de Breuſe and hir ſonne taken. and ſente by the King into Englande, where they were ſo ſtraightly kept within y^e Caſtell of Windſor, that as the fame wente, they were famiſhed to death.

Wee reade in an olde hiſtory of Flaunders, written by one whoſe name is not knowen, but Printed at Lions by Guillaume Rouille, in the yeare .1562. that the ſaid Lady, wife to the Lorde William de Breuſe, preſented vpon a time vnto the Queene of Englande a gift of four hundred Kine,A preſent of white Kyne. and one Bulle, of colour all white, the eares excepted, which were redde. Although thys tale may ſeeme incredible, yet if we ſhall conſider that y^e ſaid Breuſe was a Lord marcher, and had goodly poſſeſſiōs in Wales, and on the marches, in which countreys the moſt parte of the peoples ſubſtance cōſiſteth in Cattell, it may carrie with it the more likelyhoode of troth. And ſurely the ſame author writeth of y^e iourney made this yere into Ireland, ſo ſenſibly, and namely, touchyng the manners of the Iriſh, that he ſeemeth to haue had good informations, ſauing that he miſſeth in the names of men and places, which is a fault in maner commō to al foreigne writers. Touching the death of the ſaid Lady, he ſaith, that within a eleuen dayes after ſhee was committed to priſon heere in England, ſhe was found dead, ſitting betwixte hir ſons legges, who likewiſe being dead, ſate directly vp agaynſte a wall of the chamber wherein they were kept,He himſelfe eſcapeth. with harde pittance (as writers do report.) William the father eſcaped, & gote away into Fraunce. Thus the more part of the Iriſh people being brought vnder, he appointed Iohn Gray the Biſhop of Norwiche,The Biſ •… Norwic •… Lord li •… nant of I •… to bee his deputie there, remouing out of that office Hugh Lacy, whiche bare great rule in that quarter before.

The Biſhoppe then beeing appoynted deputy and chiefe iuſtice of Irelande, reformed,Iriſh m •… reformed the coine there, cauſing the ſame to be made of lyke weight and f •… neneſſe to the Engliſh come, ſo that the Iriſh money was currance, as well in England, as in Ireland, being of like weight, forme, and fineneſſe to the Engliſh.

Moreouer, thoſe that inhabited the wood coū treys and the Mountayne places, though they would not as then ſubmit themſelues, he woulde not al that tyme further purſue, bycauſe Winter was at hande, whiche in that countrey approcheth timely in the yeare.

Page: 571
And ſo hauing thus ſubdued the more parte of all Ireland, and ordred things there at hys pleaſure, •… e King re •… neth into •… glande. he tooke the Sea again with much triumph, and landed in Englande about the thirtith day of Auguſt. From hence, he made haſt likewiſe to Londō, and at his comming thither, he tooke coū cell how to recouer the greate charges and expenſes that he had bin at in this iourney, and ſo by y^e aduice of William Brewer, Roberte de Turnham, Reignold de Cornhull, & Richarde de Mariſh,An aſſemble of the Prelates at London. he cauſed all the chiefe Prelates of England to aſſemble before him at S. Brides in London. So that thither came all the Abbottes, Abbeſſes, Templers, Hoſpitallers, keepers of fermes and poſſeſſions of the order of Clugny, and other ſuch forreyners as had lands within this Realme belōging to their houſes. Al whiche were cōſtreined to pay ſuche a greeuous taxe, •… taxe leuied. that the whole amounted to the ſumme of an hundred thouſande pounde.

The Monkes of the Ciſteaux order, otherwiſe called white Monkes, were conſtreyned to paye fortie thouſande pounde of ſyluer at this time all their priuiledges to the contrary notwithſtandyng.

Moreouer, the Abbots of that order might not get licence to goe to theyr generall Chapter that yeare, which yeerely was vſed to bee holden, leaſt theyr complaynte ſhoulde moue all the worlde agaynſte the Kyng, for hys harde handlyng of them.

1211

An. reg. 13.

•… ing Iohn •… peth in •… o Wales with 〈◊〉 army.

In the Sommer following, about the eyghte day of Iuly, Kyng Iohn with a mighty army went into Wales, and paſſing foorth into the inner partes of the countrey, he came into Snowdon, beating downe all that came in his way, ſo that hee ſubdued all the Rulers and Princes, withoute contradiction. And to bee the better aſſured of their ſubiection in time followyng, hee tooke of them pledges to the number of eyght and twentie, and ſo returned vnto Album Monaſterium on oure Lady daye the Aſſumption, from whence hee firſt ſet foorthe into the Welſhe confynes.

In the ſame yeare alſo, the Pope ſente two Legates into Englande,

Pandulfe and Durant the Popes Legates

Polidor.

the one named Pandulph a Lawyer, and the other Durant a Templer. They comming vnto King Iohn, exhorted him with many terrible words, to leaue his ſtubborne diſobedience to the Church, and to reforme his miſdoings.

The King for his part quietly heard them, and bringing them to Northampton, being not farre diſtant from the place where he met them vppon his returne foorth of Wales, had much conference with them, but at length, when they perceyued that they coulde not haue their purpoſe, neyther for reſtitution of the goodes belonging to Prieſts which hee had ſeafed vppon, neyther of theſe that apperteyned to certayne other perſons, whyche the K. had gotten alſo into his hands by meanes of the controuerſie betwixte hym and the Popes
Page: 572
the Legates departed, leauing him accurſed, and the land interdited, as they found it at their comming.Fabian. Of the maner of this interdiction haue bin diuers opinions, ſome haue ſaide, that the lande was interdited throughly, and the Churches and houſes of Religion cloſed vp, that no where was any deuine ſeruice vſed:Mat. Paris. but it was not ſo ſtraite, for there were diuers places occupied with deuine ſeruice all that time by certayne Priuiledges purchaſed, either then or before. Alſo children were Chriſtned, and men houſeled and annoyled thorough all the land, except ſuch as were in the bill of excommunication by name expreſſed. But to our purpoſe, Kyng Iohn, after that the Legates were returned toward Rome againe, puniſhed diuers of thoſe perſons whiche had refuſed to goe with him into Wales in like maner as he had done thoſe that refuſed to goe with him into Scotland: he tooke now of each of them for euery Knightes fee two markes of ſyluer, as before is recited.Reginald Erle of Bullongne. About the ſame time alſo, Reginald Erle of Bullongne being accurſed in like maner as K. Iohn was, for certayne oppreſſions done to pore men, and namely to certayn Prieſtes, he fled ouer into England, bycauſe the Frēch K. had baniſhed him out of Fraunce.The like leage was made in the ſame firſte yeare of Kyng Iohn betwixte him and Ferdinando Earle of Flaunders. The chiefeſt cauſe of the Frenche Kings diſpleaſure towards this Earle, may ſeeme to proceede of the amitie and league whiche was concluded betwixt King Iohn, and the ſaid Earle, in the firſt yeare of the ſaid Kings raigne, whereby they bound themſelues either to other, not to make any peace, or to take any truce with the King of Fraunce, without either others conſent firſte thereto had, and that if after any agreemente taken betwixte them and the King of Fraunce, hee ſhoulde chaunce to make warre againſt eyther of them, then ſhoulde the other ayde and aſſiſt hym againſt whome ſuche war ſhould be made to the vttermoſt of his power. And this league was accorded, to remayn for euer betwixt them and theyr heyres, with ſureties ſworne on either parte: as for the Kyng of Englande, theſe, whoſe names enſue, William Marſhall Earle of Pembroke, Ranulfe Earle of Cheſter, Roberte Earle of Leiceſter, Baldwine Earle of Albemarle, William Earle of Arundell, Raulfe Erle of Augi, Robert de Mellet, Hugh de Gourney, William de Kaeu, Geffrey de Cella, Roger Conneſtable of Cheſter, Raufe Fitz Water, William de Albeny, Roberte de Ros, Richarde de Mōtfichet, Roger de Thoney, Saer de Quincy, Williā de Montcheniſe, Peter de Pratellis, William de Poole, alias de Stagno, Adam de Port, Roberte de Turnham, William Mallet, Euſtace de Veſcy, Peter de Brus, William de Preſenny, Hubert de Burgh, William de Manſey, and Peter Sauenye. For the Earle, theſe were ſureties, Anſelme de Kaeu, Guy Lieſchās, Raufe the ſaid Erles brother. &c. But now to returne: after that the Earle of Bullongne was expulſed out of Fraunce (as before ye haue heard) he came ouer vnto K. Iohn, and was of him ioyfully receiued, hauing three C. lb. of reuenewes in land to him aſſigned within Englād, for y^e which he did homage and fealtie vnto him alſo. Shortly after this alſo, died William de Breuſe the elder, which fledde from the face of K. Iohn out of Irelande into Fraunce, and departing this lyfe at Corbell, was buried at Paris in the Abey of S. Victor.

Polidor.In y^e meane time Pope Innocent, after y^e returne of his Legates out of England, perceyuing y^e K. Iohn would not be ordred by him, determined with the conſent of his Cardinals and other coūſellors & alſo at the inſtant ſute of y^e Engliſh Biſhops & other Prelates being ther with him, to depriue Kyng Iohn of his kingly eſtate, and ſo firſte aſſoyled all his ſubiects and vaſſals of theyr
Page: 573
othes of allegiāce made vnto the ſame King, and after depriued him by ſolomne proteſtation, of his Kingly adminiſtration and dignitie, and laſtly, ſignifieth vnto the French King and other Chriſtian Princes, of that his depriuation, admoniſhing them to purſue King Iohn, being thus depriued, forſaken, and condemned as a common enimie to God and his Church. Hee ordeyned furthermore, that whoſoeuer employed goodes or other ayde to vanquiſh and ouercome that diſobedient Prince, ſhould remaine aſſured in peace of the Church, as well as thoſe whiche wente to viſit the Sepulchre of our Lord, not only in their goodes and perſons, but alſo in ſuffrages for ſauing of their ſoules. But yet that it might appere to al men, that nothing could be more ioyfull vnto his holineſſe, than to haue K. Iohn to repente his treſpaſſes committed, and to aſke forgiuenes for the ſame, •… dulfe ſent •… o Fraunce •… ractiſe •… h the Frēch •… or K. Iohn deſtructiō. hee appointed Pandulph, whiche lately before was returned to Rome, with a great number of Engliſh exiles, to goe into Fraunce, togither with Stephen the Archbiſhop of Caunterbury, and the other Engliſh Biſhops, giuing him in commandement, that repayring vnto the French K. he ſhoulde communicate with him all that which he had appoynted to be done agaynſt K. Iohn, and to exhorte the Frenche K. to make war vpon him, as a perſon for his wickednes excommunicate. Moreouer, this Pandulph was commaunded by the Pope, if he ſaw cauſe, to goe ouer into England, and to deliuer vnto K. Iohn ſuche letters, as the Pope had written for his better inſtruction, and to ſeeke by al meanes poſſible to draw him from his naughty opinion. In the meane time, when it was bruted through the Realme of England, that the Pope had releaſſed the people and aſſoyled them of their oth of fidelitie to the K. and that he was depriued of his gouernement by the Popes ſentence, by little and little a great number both of Souldiers, Citizēs, Burgeſſes, Captaines, and Cōneſtables of Caſtels, leauing their charges and Biſhops with a great multitude of Prieſts reuolting from him, and auoiding his company and preſence, ſecretely ſtale away, •… ath. VVeſt. •… at. Paris. and gote ouer into Fraunce. Notwithſtanding that, diuers in reſpect of the Popes curſe, and other cōſiderations them mouing, vtterly refuſed in this maner to obey K. Iohn, yet there were many others that did take his parte, and maynteyne his quarrell right earneſtly, •… e names of 〈◊〉 noble men •… t continued •… e vnto king •… n. as his brother William Earle of Saliſbury, Albericke de Veer Earle of Oxforde, Geffrey Fitz Peter Lord chiefe Iuſtice of England, alſo three Biſhops, Durham, Wincheſter, and Norwich, Richarde Mariſh Lord Chācellor, Hugh Deuill chiefe forreſter, William de Wrothing Lord Warden of the portes, Roberte Veipount, and his brother Yuan, Brian de Liſle, Geffrey de Lucy, Hugh Balliole, and his brother Barnard, William de Cantlow, and his ſonne William, Foulke de Cantlow, Reginalde de Cornehull Sherife of Kent, Robert Braybrooke, and his ſon Harry, Phillip de Louecotes, Iohn de Baſſingborne, Phillippe March, Chatelaine of Nottingham, Peter de Maulley, Robert de Gangy, Gerard de Athie, and his Nephewe Ingelrand, William Brewer, Peter Fitz Hubert, Thomas Baſſet, and Foulks de Breant a Norman, with many other, too long here to reherſe, who as fautors and counſellers vnto him, ſought to defende him in all cauſes, notwithſtanding the cenſures of the Churche ſo cruelly pronounced agaynſte hym.

The ſame yeare, King Iohn held his Chriſtmas at Windſor, and in the Lent following,1212 on midlent Sunday beeing at London, hee honored the Lorde Alexander ſonne and heire to the Kyng of Scottes, with y^e high order of Knighthoode.

And as I fynde it mentioned by ſome writers,Bernewell. whereas he vnderſtoode how there were dyuers in Scotlande, that conteinning their naturall Lorde and Kyng by reaſon of his great age, King Iohn wente thither with an army to repreſſe the Rebels, and being come thither, hee ſendeth his men of warre into the inner parts of the Countrey, who ſcouring the coaſtes, tooke Guthred Macwilliam Capitaine of them that moued the ſedition, whome Kyng Iohn cauſed to be hanged on a paire of Gallowes.

This Guthred was diſcended of the line of the auncient Scottiſhe Kynges, and beeing aſſiſted with the Iriſhmen and Scottes that fauoured not y^e race of the Kyngs that preſently raigned, wrought thē muche trouble, as his father (named Donald) hadde done before him, ſometime ſecretly vnder hande, and ſometime agayne by way of open Rebellion.

Shortly after, the Welchmen began to ſturre alſo and ruſhing foorthe of their owne confynes,

The Welſhmen moue Rebellion.

Mat. Par.

fell vppon their next neigbours within the Engliſhe marches, waſted the countrey, and ouerthrew diuers Caſtels flatte to the groūd. Whervpon the King hauing knowledge therof, aſſembled a mighty army out of hande, and commyng to Nottingham, he hanged vp the Welſh hoſtages whiche the laſt yeare hee had receyued) to the number of eight and twētie yong ſtriplings, and by reaſon he was now ſet in a maruellous chafe, he roughly proceded againſt all thoſe whome hee knew not to fauour his cauſe ſome he diſchargeth of their offices, other hee depriueth of their Captayneſhippes and other roomes, and reuoketh certaine priuiledges and immunities graunted to Monkes, Prieſts, and mē of Religion. And now hauing his army redy to haue gone into Wales,
Page: 574
hee receyued letters the ſame time, both from the K. of Scottes, and from his daughter the wife of Leoline Prince of Wales, conteyning in effecte the aduertiſement of one ſelfe matter, which was, to let him vnderſtand, that if he went forward on his iourney, he ſhould eyther through treaſon bee ſlayne of his owne Lords, or elſe bee deliuered to be deſtroyed of his enimies. The K. iudging no leſſe, but that the tenor of the letters conteyned a truth, brake vp his army, and returned to Londō. From whence he ſente meſſengers vnto all ſuche Lordes as hee ſuſpected, commaunding them to ſend vnto him hoſtages for more aſſuraunce of their fidelities. The Lords durſt not diſobey hys commaundemente, but ſente their ſonnes, theyr nephewes, and other their kinſmen, accordingly as he required, and ſo hys rancor was appeaſed for a time. But Euſtace de Veſcy, Roberte Fitz Walter, and Stephen Ridell, being accuſed and ſuſpected of the K. for the ſaide treaſon, were glad to flee the Realm, Veſcy departing into Scotland, and the other two into Fraunce.

Mat. Par. Math VVeſt.

Saint Mary Ouerys brent.

The ſame yeare, the Church of S. Mary Ouerys, & all the buildings vpon London bridge on both ſydes the ſame, were conſumed with fyre, whiche was iudged to be a ſignification of ſome miſhap to follow. The K. helde his Chriſtmas this yere at Weſtminſter, with no great traine of knightes about him. And much what about the ſame time, Geffrey Archb. of Yorke departed this life, after he had remained in exile about a ſeauen yeres. But now to returne again to the practiſes of the Popes Legates. Yee ſhall vnderſtande, the French K. being requeſted by Pandulfe y^e Popes Legate, to take the war in hād againſt K. Iohn, was eaſily perſwaded thereto of an inwarde hatred that he bare vnto our K. and therevpon with all diligence made his prouiſion of men, ſhippes, munition and victuall, in purpoſe to paſſe ouer into Englād: and now was his nauy ready rigged at the mouth of Saine, and he in greteſt forwardneſſe, to take his iourney. When Pandulfe vpon good conſiderations thought firſt to goe eftſoones, or at the leaſt wife, to ſend into England, before the French army ſhould land there, and to aſſay once agayne, if he might enduce the Kyng to ſhew himſelf reformable vnto the Popes pleaſure. King Iohn hauing knowledge of the Frēch kings purpoſe and ordinance, aſſembled his people, and lodged with them alongſt by the coaſt towards France, that he might reſiſt his enimies and keepe them off from landing. Heere writers declare, that he had gote togither ſuch an army of men out of all the parties of his Realme, both of Lords, Knightes, gentlemen, yeomen, and other of the commons, that notwithſtāding al the prouiſion of vittayles that might poſſible be recouered, there could not be found ſufficient ſtore to ſuſteyne the huge multitude of them that were gathered alongſt the coaſt, namely at Douer, Feuerſham, Gipeſwich, and other places. Wherevpon the Captaynes diſcharged and ſente home a great number of the commōs, reteining only y^e men of armes, yeomen, and free holders, with the Croſſebowes and Archers. There came likewiſe to y^e kings aide at y^e ſame time, y^e B. of Norwich out of Ireland, bringing with him fiue C. mē of armes, and a great ſort of other horſemē. To cō clude, there was eſteemed of able men aſſembled togither in the army on Barreham downe, what of choſen mē of armes, & valiant yeomen, & other armed men the number of ſixty thouſand: ſo that if they had bin all of one mind, and well bente towards the ſeruice of their K. and defence of theyr countrey, there had not bin that Prince in Chriſtendome, but that they mighte haue bin able to haue defended the Realme of England agaynſte him. He had alſo prouided a nauie of Shippes farre ſtronger than the Frenche Kyngs, ready to fyghte with them by Sea, if the caſe hadde ſo required. But as hee lay thus ready, neere to the coaſt, to withſtande and beate backe hys enimyes, there arriued at Douer two Templers, the whyche commyng before the Kyng,
Page: 575
declared vnto him, that they were ſente from the Popes Legate Pandulfe, who for his profite coueted to talke with him: for hee had as they affirmed, meanes to propone, whereby he might be reconciled, both to God, and to hys Churche, although he were adiudged in the court of Rome, to haue forfeted all the right which he had to hys Kingdome.

The Kyng vnderſtanding the meaning of the meſſengers, ſent them backe againe to bring ouer the Legate,Legate •… ulph •… meth ouer who incontinently tranſported ouer vnto Douer, of whoſe arriuall when the K. was aduertiſed, he went thither, & receyued hym with al due honor & reuerence, and after they had talked togither a little, and courteouſly ſaluted eache other, as the courſe of humanitie required, the Legate as it is reported, vttered his tale vnto the Kyng in this manner: 〈◊〉 Legates •… s to the •… g. I doe not thinke that you are ignorant, how Pope Innocēt, to do that which to his duety apperteyneth, hath both aſſoiled youre ſubiectes of that oth whiche they made vnto you at the beginning, and alſo taken from you the gouernaunce of England, accordyng to youre deſertes, and finally giuen commaundement vnto certayne Princes of Chriſtendome, to expulſe you out of thys Kingdome, and to place an other in your roomth ſo worthely to puniſh you for your diſobedience and contempte of Religion, and that Phillippe King of Fraunce with the firſt being ready to accompliſh y^e Popes commaundement, hath an army in a readineſſe, and with his nauie newly decked, rigged and furniſhed in all poyntes, lyeth at the mouth of the Riuer of Sayne, looking for a proſperous winde, that as ſoone as it commeth about, hee may ſayle therewith hither into Englande, truſting (as hee ſaith with the help of your owne people (whyche neyther name you, nor will take you for theyr Kyng) to ſpoyle you of youre Kyngdome with ſmall adoe, and to conquere it at his pleaſure, for he hath as he ſticketh not to proteſt openly to the world, a charter made by all the chiefeſt Lordes of England touching their fealtie and obedience aſſured to him. Therefore, ſith God for your iuſt deſert is wroth with you, and that you are as euill ſpoken of by all menne, as they that come againſt you be well reported, I would aduiſe you, that whileſt there is place for grace and fauour, rather to obey the Popes iuſt demaundes, to whoſe worde other Chriſtian Princes are ready to giue eare, than by ſtriuing in vayne to caſt away youre ſelfe and all others that take youre parte, or are bente to defende your quarrell or cauſe.

Theſe wordes beeing thus ſpoken by the Legate, Kyng Iohn as then vtterly deſpayring in his matters, when hee ſaw hymſelfe conſtreyned to obey, hee was in a greate perplexitie of minde, and as one full of thoughte, looked aboute him with a frowning countenaunce, waying with himſelfe, what counſell were beſt for him to follow. At length, oppreſſed with the burthen of the imminent daunger and ruine, agaynſt hys will and very loth ſo to haue done, hee promiſed vpon hys oth to ſtande to the Popes order and decree. And therefore ſhortly after (in lyke manner as Pope Innocent hadde commaunded) hee taketh the Crowne beſydes his owne head,K. Iohn deliuereth his crowne vnto Pandulph. and deliuereth the ſame to Pandulph the Legate, neyther hee, nor hys heires at any tyme thereafter to receyue the ſame, but at the Popes handes.

After thys, hee promiſed to receyue Stephen the Archbyſhoppe of Caunterbury into hys fauour, with all other the Byſhoppes and baniſhed menne, makyng vnto them ſufficiente amendes for all iniuries to them done, and ſo to pardon them, that they ſhoulde not runne into any daunger, for that they hadde rebelled agaynſte hym.

Then Pandulph keepyng the Crowne with hym by the ſpace of fyue dayes in token of poſſeſſion thereof, at length as the Popes Vicar,Pandulph reſtoreth the Crowne again to the Kyng. hee reſtored it to hym againe. By meanes of thys acte (ſayth Polidore) the fame went abroade, that Kyng Iohn willing to continue the memorie heereof, made himſelfe vaſſall to Pope Innocente, with condition, that hys ſucceſſors ſhould lykewiſe from thencefoorth acknowledge to haue theyr righte to the ſame Kyngdome from the Pope.

But thoſe Kynges that ſucceeded Kyng Iohn, haue not obſerued any ſuche lawes of reconciliation, neyther doe the autentique Chronicles of the Realme make mention of any ſuche ſurrender, ſo that ſuche Articles as were appointed to Kyng Iohn to obſerue, perteyned vnto hym that hadde offended, and not to hys ſucceſſors. Thus ſaith Polidor, howbeit,Ran. Higd. Ranulf Higden in hys Booke entituled Polichronicon, ſayth indeede, that Kyng Iohn dyd not onely bynde hymſelfe, but hys heires and ſucceſſors, beeyng Kynges of Englande,England became tributarie to the Pope to bee feodaries vnto Pope Innocente and hys ſucceſſors Popes of Rome, that is to ſaye, that they ſhoulde holde theyr dominions of them in fee, yeeldyng and paying yeerely to the See of Rome the ſumme of ſeuen hundred markes for England,Mat. VVeſt. and three hundred markes for Irelande.

Furthermore, by reporte of the moſt autentique and approoued Writers, Kyng Iohn,Mat. Paris. for to auoyde all daungers whyche (as he doubted) myghte enſue, deſpairing as it were in hymſelfe, or rather moſt ſpecially, for lacke of loyall duetie in hys Subiectes, condiſcended to all the perſwaſions of Pandulph, and ſo not withoute hys greate hartes greeuaunce, he was contented to take hys othe, togyther
Page: 576
with ſixteene Earles and Barons, who laying their hands vppon the holy Euangeliſtes, ſware with him vpon perill of ſoule, that hee ſhoulde ſtand to the iudgement of the Church of Rome, and that if hee repented him, and would refuſe to ſtand to promiſe, they ſhould then compell him to make ſatiſfaction. Heerevpon, they being altogither at Douer, the King and Pandulfe, with the Earles and Barons, and a greate multitude of other people, agree and conclude vpon a final peace in forme as here enſueth:

Johannes Dei gratia Rex Angliae, Omnibus Chriſti fidelibus hanc chartam inſpecturis, ſalutem in domino.

Vniuerſitati veſtrae per hanc chartam ſigi •… o noſtro munitam, volumus eſſe notum, quod cum Deum & matrem noſtram ſanctam Eccleſi •… m offenderimus in multis, & proi •… dè diuina miſericordia plurimum indigeamu •… , nec qu •… d dignè offerre poſsimus pro ſatisfactione Deo & eccleſiae debita facienda, niſi n •… ſinetipſos humiliemus & regna noſtra, volentes noſipſos humiliare, pro illo qui ſe pro nobu humiliauit vſ que ad mortem, gratia ſancti Spiritus inſpirante, •… on vi interdicti, nec timore coacti, ſed nostra bona ſpontanea que voluntate, ac cō muni conſilio Baronum nostrorum conferimus, & libere concedimus Deo & ſanctis Apoſtolis eius Petro & Paulo & ſanctae Romanae eccleſiae matrae noſtrae, ac domino P •… p •… Inno •… entio, eiuſ que catholicis ſucceſſoribus, totum regnum Angliae & totū regnum Haberniae, cum omni iure & pertinenti •… s ſais, pro remiſsione omnium peccatorum noſtrorum, & totius generis noſtri, tā pro viuis quàm pro defunctis, & amodo illa ab eo & eccleſia Romana tanquā ſecundarius recipientes & tenentes, in praeſentia pruden •… vici Pandulphi domini Papae ſubdiaconi & familiaris. E •… inde praedicto domino Papae Innocentio, ciuſ que catholicis ſucceſſoribus, & eccleſiae Romanae, ſecundùm ſubſcriptam formam fecimus & iurauimu •… , & homagium ligium in praeſentia Pā dulphi •… ſi coram domino Papa eſſe poterimus, eidem faciemus: ſucceſſores noſtros & haeredes de vxore noſtra in perpetu •… m obligātes, vt ſimili modo ſummo Pontifici qui pro tempore fuerit, & eccleſiae Romanae, ſine contradictione debeant ſidelitatem praeſtare, & homagium recognoſcere. Ad indicium autem huius noſtrae perpetuae obligationis & conceſsionis, volumus & ſtabilimus, vt de proprijs & ſpecialibus redditibus noſtris praedictorum regnorum, pro omni ſeruitio & conſuetudine, quae pro ipſis facere debemus, ſaluis per omnia denarijs beati Petra, eccleſia Romana mille marchas Eſterlingorum percipiat annuatim: in feſto ſcilicet ſancti Michaelis quingē tas marcas, & in Paſcha quingentas: Septingentas ſcilicet pro regno Angliae, & trecentas pro regno Hyberniae, ſaluis nobis & haeredibus noſtris, iuſtitijs, libertatibus, & regalibus noſtris. Quae omnia, ſicut ſupra ſcripta ſunt, rata eſſe volentes atque firma, obligamus nos & ſucceſſores noſtros contra non venire, & ſi nos vel aliquis ſucceſſorum noſtrorum contra haec attentare praeſumpſerit, quicunque tile fuerit, niſi ritè commonitus reſipuerit, cadat à •… re regni. Et haec charta obligationis & conceſsionis noſtrae, ſemper firma permaneat.

Teſte meipſo, apud domum militum templi iuxta Doueram, coram H. Dublinenſi Archiepiſcopo, Iohanni Norwicenfi epiſcopo; Galfrido filio Petri, VV. comite Sareſberiae, VVillielmo comite Penbroc, R. comite Binonia, VV. comite VVarennae, S. comite VVinton. VV. comite Arundel VV. comite de Ferarijs, VV. Briwere, Peiro f •… ito Hereberti, VVarin •… filio Gerold •… , xv die Ma •… anno regni noſtri decimo quarto.

This deede and inſtrument being written and ingroſſed, the King deliuered it vnto Pandulfe, to take with him co •… ome, there to •… ake •… rie thereof to Pope Innocente, and herewith dyd homage to y^e ſame Pope, in forme as followeth.

Ego Iohannes dei gratia Rex Angliae, & dominus Hyberniae, ab hac hora & in antea, fidelis ero Deo & beato Petro & eccleſiae Romanae, & domino meo Papae domino Innocentio, eiuſ que ſucceſſoribus catholicè intrantibus. Non ero in facto, in dicto, conſenſis vel conſilio, vt vitam perdant vel membra, vel mala captione capiantur. Eorum damnum ſi ſciuero, impediam, & remanere faciam ſi potero: alio quineis quam citius potero intimabo, vel tali perſonae dicam, quam eis credam pro certo dicturā. Conſilium quod mihi crediderint, per ſe vel per nū cios ſuos ſeuliteras ſuas, ſecretum tenebo, & ad corum damnum nulli pandam me ſciente. Patrimonium beati Petri, & ſpecialitor regnum Angliae, & regnum Hyberniae adiutor ero ad tenendum & defendendum, contra omnes homines pro poſſe mes. Sic me adiuicet Deus, & haec ſancta Euangelia, Amen.

Acta autem ſunt haec, vt praedictum eſt, in vigilia dominicae Aſcētionis ad Doueram. Anno .1213.

The engliſh whereof is as followeth.

I Iohn by the grace of God K of Englande,The w •… fealtie 〈◊〉 by King 〈◊〉 to the Po •… and Lord of Ireland, from this houre forward,
Page: 577
ſhall be faithfull to God and to Saint Peter, and to the Church of Rome, and to my Lorde Pope Innocentius, and to his ſucceſſors lawfully entring. I ſhal not be in word nor deede, in conſent or counſell, that they ſhoulde loſe life or member, or be apprehended in euill manner. Their loſſe if I may know it, I ſhal impeach and ſtay, ſo farre as I ſhall be able, or elſe ſo ſhortly as I can, I ſhall ſignifie vnto them, or declare to ſuch perſon the whiche I ſhall beleeue will declare the ſame vnto them. The councell which they ſhall committe to me by themſelues, then meſſengers, or letters, I ſhall keepe ſecrete, and not vtter to any man to their hurt to my knowledge. The patrimony of Saint Peter, and ſpecially the Kyngdomes of England and Ireland, I ſhall endeuor my ſelfe to defend againſt all men to my power, So help me God, and theſe holy Euangeliſts. &c.

Theſe things were done on the euen of the Aſcē tion of our Lord, in the yere .1213.

Pandulph hauing thus recōciled King Iohn, thought not good to releaſſe the excommunication, •… at. Paris. till the Kyng hadde performed all thinges whiche hee had promiſed, and ſo with all ſpeede hauing receyued eyghte thouſande markes ſterling in part of reſtitution to be made to the Archbyſhop, and the other baniſhed menne, hee ſayled backe into Fraunce, and came to Roan, where he declared to King Philip the effect of his trauaile, and what he had done in England. But Kyng Phillip hauing in this meane while conſumed a great maſſe of money, •… tie thou •… d markes 〈◊〉 ſiluer ſayth •… th. Weſt. to y^e ſumme of ſixtie thouſande pounde, as he himſelfe alledged, about the furniture of his iourney which he intēded to haue made into Englande, vpon hope to haue had no ſmall ayde within the Realme,The French K. diſpleaſed for the reconciliation of K. Iohn with the Pope. by reaſon of ſuche Byſhops and other baniſhed men as he hadde in France with him, was much offended for the reconciliation of Kyng Iohn, and determined not ſo to breake off his enterprice, leaſt it mighte bee imputed to him for a great reproch to haue bin at ſuch charges and great expences in vayne. Therfore calling his councell togither, he declared vnto them what he purpoſed to do. All his nobles in like manner held with him, and allowed his purpoſe to be very good and requiſite, except the Erle of Flanders named Ferdinando, who in hope to recouer againe thoſe Townes which the French King helde from hym in Arthois, as Ayre, and Saint Omers, hadde ioyned ſecretely in league with Kyng Iohn,The French K. meaneth to proceede in his iourney againſt the Realme of Englande. and with the Earle of Bullongne, and therefore miſliked the concluſion of their aduice. Howbeit, King Phillip not being yet fully certified hereof, cauſed his nauie to draw alongſt the coaſt towardes Flaunders, whyther he himſelfe haſted to goe alſo by land, that comming thither, he might from thence ſayle ouer into England, and take lande at a place to him aſſigned. Now it came to paſſe, that at his comming to Graueline, he hadde perfect knowledge, that the Erle of Flaunders was ioyned in league with his enimies, wherefore he determined fyrſte to ſubdue the Earle, leaſt whileſt hee ſhoulde bee out of his Realme, ſome great trouble or ſedition might riſe within his owne dominions. Therefore, leauing the enterpriſe whiche hee meante to haue made againſt Englande, he turned his power againſt the Earle of Flaunders,The French K. inuadeth Flanders. and firſt cō maunded his nauie to ſayle vnto the Porte of Damme, whileſt he himſelf keeping on his iourney ſtill by lande, tooke the Towne of Caſſyle, and likewiſe Ypres. Frō thence, he went to Bruges, and beſieged the Towne, but hee coulde not winne it at the firſte, and therefore leauing a power of men to maynteyne the ſiege before it,Gaunt beſieged by the French king. hee himſelfe went to Gaunte, and thereto alſo layde his ſiege.

In the meane time, the Earle of Flaunders
Page: 578
perceyuing that he was not able to reſiſt ſo puiſſant an enemie as the French King, ſent ouer in haſt vnto the King of England for ayde: wherevpon King Iohn vnderſtanding that his aduerſarie Kyng Phillip hadde turned all his force againſt the Earle of Flaunders, and that thereby he was deliuered out of the feare of the Frenchmens comming into England. That ſame nauy (which as before is recited,) he had put in a readineſſe, conteyning the number of fyue hundred ſayle, hee ſente ſtraighte into Flaunders with a ſtrong army,Mat. Paris. both of Horſemen and footemenne, vnder the guiding of William Duke of Hollande, William Longſpee Earle of Saliſbury, baſe brother to King Iohn, and Reginald Earle of Bullongne.

Theſe Captaynes being nowe paſſed foorthe with their fleetes into the mayne Sea, eſpied anone many Shippes lying without the hauen of Dam for the number of Shippes of the Frenche fleete was ſo greate, that the hauen could not receyue them all, ſo that many of them lay at ancre withoute the hauen mouth, and all alongſt the coaſt.) Wherefore, they ſente foorthe certayne Shallops, to eſpie whether they were friendes or enimies, and what theyr number and order was.

It chanced, that the ſame time, the menne of Warre which were appoynted to keepe y^e French fleete, were gone foorthe, togither with a greate number of the Marriners to ſpoyle and fetche bootles abroade in the Countrey.

The Engliſhe eſpials therefore, makyng ſemblance as though they had bin ſome fiſhermen of thoſe parties, came very neere the Frenche Shippes lying at ancre, and perceyuing them to be vnfurniſhed of people neceſſary to defend them, came backe to their company, and declared what they hadde ſeene, certifying theyr Captaynes that the victory was in theyr handes, if they woulde make ſpeede.

The Captaynes glad of theſe newes, commaunded theyr men to make them ready to giue battayle, and cauſing theyr marriners to make ſayle directly towards the Frenche fleete,The F •… men a •… the French Shippes. at theyr firſt approch they wanne thoſe tall Shippes that lay at ancre abroade afore the Hauen, withoute any great reſiſtance the Marriners only making requeſt to haue their lyues ſaued.

The other ſmaller veſſels whyche (after the tyde was gone) remayned vppon the ſandes (ſpoiling them fyrſte of theyr tacle and other thyngs that would ſerue to vſe) they conſumed with fire, the Marriners eſcaping by flight.

Thus the Engliſhmenne hauyng diſpatched thys buſineſſe with good ſucceſſe, they ſet vppon thoſe Shippes that lay in harbrough within the Hauen. But heere was hard holde for a whyle, bycauſe the narrowneſſe of the place woulde not gyue any great aduauntage to the greater number.

And thoſe Frenchmenne that were gone abroade into the Countrey, perceyuyng that the enimies were come, by the running away of the Marriners, returned with all ſpeede to theyr Shippes to ayde theyr fellowes, and ſo made valiant reſiſtance for a time, till the Engliſhmen getting on lande, and raunging themſelues on eyther ſyde of the Hauen, beate the Frenchmen ſo on the ſydes, and the Shippes crapolling togyther on fronte,The Engliſh •… n wan •… e the Frenche Shippes. that they foughte as it had byn in a pight field, till that finally the Frenchmenne were not able to ſuſteyne the force of the Engliſhmen, but were conſtreyned after long fyghte and greate ſlaughter, to yeelde themſelues Priſoners.

The Engliſh Captaynes glad of this victory gotten contrary to expectation, fyrſte gaue
Page: 579
thankes to God for the ſame, and then manning three C. of thoſe Frēch Shippes which they had taken fraught with corne, wine, oyle, fleſhe, and other vittayles, and alſo with armour, they ſente them away into England, and afterwards they ſet fire on the reſidue that lay on ground, whyche were aboue an hundred, bycauſe they were drawen vp ſo farre vpon the ſandes, that they coulde not eaſily get them out, without their farther inconuenience.

After this, comming on lande with their power, they marche foorthe into the Countrey in good order of battayle, to the ende, that if they ſhould encounter with Kyng Phillip by the way comming to the reſkewe of hys Shippes, they myghte bee ready to giue him battayle, whyche thyng was not deuiſed, without good and greate conſideration. For Kyng Phillip being certified of the daunger wherein hys Shippes ſtoode by the ſuddayne commyng of his enimies, and therwithall beeing in good hope to come to their ſuccours in tyme, and ere the Engliſhmenne hadde wrought their full feate, hee raiſed his ſiege, and made haſt toward the coaſt: but as he was comming forward towards his nauie, he was aduertiſed, that the enimies had wonne all his whole fleete, and were nowe marching foorth to meete him, and to giue him battayle. Alſo it was tolde him, howe Ferdinando the Earle of Flaunders, beeing certified of the victory atchieued by hys friendes, followed at his backe. Wherefore, leaſt he ſhould ſeeme ouerraſhly to committe himſelfe into manifeſt perrill, he ſtayed a little from Bruges, and there encamped for that day, as if hee meant to abide the comming of his enimies. The nexte morrowe,The French 〈◊〉 returneth •… to France. he raiſed, and returned towardes Fraunce, the very ſame way that hee came, no man purſuing him. For the Engliſhmen contē ted with that victory whiche they hadde gotten, thought it not neceſſary to follow him with their farther hazard. In the meane time, Kyng Iohn receyuing newes of this proſperous victory thus gotten by his people, did wonderfully reioyce for the ſame, conceyuing an hope, that all his buſineſſe woulde now come forwarde, and growe to good ſucceſſe. This is the troth of this hiſtory,Mat. Paris. Polidor. Ia, Meir, as ſome authors haue ſet foorth, but Iames Maier in his diſcourſe of Flaunders, declareth the matter ſomewhat otherwiſe, as thus: Vpon y^e Thurſday before y^e feaſt of Pentecoſt (ſaith he the Engliſh fleete ſetting vpon the French nauie whyche lay at ancre in the Hauen of Dam, drowned certayne of the Frenche Veſſels, and tooke to the number of four, which they conueyed away with them. Ferdinando the Erle of Flaunders hauing an army of men ready by lande, was lodged the ſame time not farre off from the coaſt, and therefore hearing what had chaunced, came the nexte day, and ioyned with the Engliſhmen.

There were yet remayning alſo diuers other of the Frenche Shippes, (beſydes thoſe whiche the Engliſhmen hadde ſonke and taken,) whiche were drawen vp further into the land warde.

The Earle of Flaunders therefore, and the Engliſh Captaynes iudged, that it ſhould much hinder the Frenche Kinges attemptes, if they myghte winne thoſe Shippes alſo with the Towne of Dam, wherein the Kyng hadde layde vp a greate parte of hys prouiſion for the furniture of hys warres.

Heerevppon the Engliſhmenne were ſette on lande, and ioyning with the Earles power, they marche ſtrayte towardes Dam. Thys was vppon Whitſon euen, vppon the whyche daye, as they were moſt buſie in aſſaulting the Towne and Shippes whyche laye there in the Hauen, the Frenche Kyng beeyng come away from Gaunt, ſuddaynely ſet vpon them, and
Page: 580
though in the beginning he found ſharp reſiſtāce, yet in the ende, the Engliſhmen and Flemmings ouerſet with the great multitude of the Frenchmen, were putte to flighte, and chaſed to theyr Shippes,The Engliſhmen and Flemings vanquiſhed by the French power. with the loſſe of two thouſand men, beſydes thoſe that were taken Priſoners, amongſt the which Priſoners were founde to be two and twentie Knightes.

The Earle of Flaunders with the Earles of Bulleyne and Saliſbury, doubting to loſe theyr Shippes, and late gotten bootie, ſailed ſtraite into one of the Iles of Selande called Walkeren, then the Frenche Kyng conſtreyning them of Gaunt, Bruges, and Hipres, to deliuer vnto him pledges, cauſed the Towne of Damme, and hys Shippes lying there in the Hauen to be brenned,The French K. brenneth his Shippes. doubting leaſt they ſhuld come into y^e hands of his enimies. And this done, hee returned into Fraunce, leauing his ſonne Lewis and the Erle of Saint Paule in garriſon at Liſle and Doway, and for great ſummes of money which by agreement he receiued of the Townes of Gaunt, Bruges, and Hipres, he reſtored vnto them their pledges. Thus hathe Meire: and Mathew Paris differeth not muche from him touching the ſucceſſe which chaunced to the Engliſhmenne by land. Heere will I ſtaye a while in the farther narration of this matter, and touche by the way a thing that hapned to Kyng Iohn about thys preſent time.

An Hermite named Peter of Pontfret, or Wakefield as ſome Writers haue.

See maſter Fox tome firſt page. and .331.

There was in this ſeaſon an Hermite, whoſe name was Peter, dwelling about Yorke, a man in great reputation with the common people, bycauſe that eyther inſpired with ſome ſpirite of prophecie as the people beleeued, or elſe hauyng ſome notable ſkill in arte magike, he was accuſtomed to tell what ſhoulde followe after. And for ſo muche as oftentimes his ſayings prooued true, greate credite was giuen to him as to a very Prophet.

This Peter about the fyrſte of Ianuary laſt paſt, had tolde the King, that at the feaſt of the Aſcention it ſhoulde come to paſſe, that he ſhould bee caſt out of hys Kingdome, and whether, to the intente that hys wordes ſhoulde be the better beleeued, or whether hee hadde too muche truſt of hys owne cunning, hee offered hymſelfe to ſuffer deathe for it, if hys Prophecy prooued not true. Heerevppon hee beeyng committed to priſon within the Caſtell of Corf, when the daye by him prefixed came, without any other notable domage vnto Kyng Iohn,The He •… and his 〈◊〉 hanged. hee was by the Kynges commaundemente drawen from the ſayde Caſtell, vnto the Towne of Warham, and there hanged, togither with hys ſonne.

The people muche blamed Kyng Iohn, for thys extreame dealing, bycauſe that the Hermite was ſuppoſed to be a man of greate vertue, and his ſonne nothing gilty to the offence committed by hys father (if any were) againſte the Kyng.

Moreouer, ſome thought, that he had muche wrong to dye, bycauſe the matter fell out euen as hee hadde prophecyed: for the daye before the Aſcention daye, Kyng Iohn hadde reſigned the ſuperioritie of hys Kyngdome (as they tooke the matter) vnto the Pope, and had done to hym homage, ſo that he was no abſolute Kyng indeede as Authors affirme. One cauſe, and that not the leaſt which moued King Iohn the ſooner to agree with the Pope, roſe through the wordes of the ſayde Hermite, y^t did put ſuche a feare of ſome greate miſhappe in hys hart, which ſhould grow through the diſloyaltie of his people, that it made hym yeelde the ſooner. But to the matter agayne.

King Iohn after hys Captaines in Flaunders hadde ſpedde ſo well (as before yee haue hearde,) hee prepareth to make a voyage into
Page: 581
Guye •… ne, not regarding much the maſter, in that the Realme ſtoode as yet interdicted. But when hee vnderſtoode by hys Lordes, that they woulde not goe with hym excepte the interdicting might fyrſte be releaſſed, and hee cleerely aſſoyled of the Popes curſſe, to the ende that Goddes wrathe and the Popes beeyng fully pacifyed towardes hym, hee myghte with better ſpeede mooue and mainteyne the warres, hee was conſtreyned to change hys purpoſe, and ſo commyng to Wincheſter, diſpatched foorthe a meſſenger with letters, ſigned with the hands of foure and twentie Ear •… s and Barons,King Iohn •… rneth to the •… rchb. and o •… er the By •… ops to re •… ne. vnto the Archbyſhoppe of Caunterbury and Byſhoppes of London, Lincolne, and Hereforde, as then ſoiourning in Fraunce, requiring them with all the other baniſhed menne, to returne into England, promiſing them by hys letters patentes, not onely a ſure ſaufeconduit for their comming ouer, out that hee woulde alſo forget all paſſed diſpleaſures, and frankely reſtore vnto euery manne all that by hys meanes hadde bene wrongfully taken from them, and as yet by hym deteyned.

The Archbyſhoppe and the other Byſhoppes receyuing the Kynges letters, with all ſpeede made haſt to come into Englande,The Biſhops 〈◊〉 returne. and ſo arriuing at Douer the ſixteenth daye of Iuly, with other the baniſhed menne, they goe to Wincheſter, where the Kyng yet remayned, who hearing that the Byſhoppes were come, went foorthe to receyue them,

They came to Wincheſter •… e twentith 〈◊〉 Iuly.

The King •… neeleth to •… e Archb.

and at his fyrſte meetyng with the Archbyſhoppe of Caunterbury, hee kneeled downe at hys feete, and beſoughte hym of forgiueneſſe, and that it woulde pleaſe hym and the other Byſhoppes alſo to prouide for the reliefe of the miſerable ſtate of the Realme. Heerewith the water ſhooting in dyuerſe of theyr eyes on bothe ſydes, they enter into the Citie, the people greatly reioycing to beholde the head of the common wealthe to agree at length with the members.

This was in the yeare after the birth of oure Sauioure .1213.

Kyng Iohn required of the Archbyſhoppe (hauing as then the Popes power in his handes, bycauſe hee was hys Legate) to be aſſoyled,The K. prayeth to be aſſoyled. promiſing vppon hys ſolemne re •… led o •… , that hee woulde (afore all thyngs) defende the Churche and the order of Prieſthoode from receyuing any wrongs.

Alſo, that hee woulde reſtore the olde lawes made by the aunciente Kings of Englande, and namely thoſe of Saint Edward, which were almoſt extinguiſhed and forgotten. And ſu •… ; that hee woulde make recompence to all menne whome he had by any meanes indomaged. This done, he was aſſoyled by the Archbiſhop,He is aſſoiled. & ſhortly after he ſent his Orators to Rome, to intreate with the Byſhoppe to take away the interdiction of the land. On the morrow after alſo, the Kyng ſente hys letters to all the Sherifes of the Counties within the Realme, commaunding them to ſummon foure lawfull men of euery towne belonging to the demeane of the Crowne, to make their appearance at Sainte Aldons,A queſt of inquirie. vppon the fourth day of Auguſt, that they and other might make inquiſition of the loſſes whiche euery Byſhoppe hadde ſuſteyned, what had bin taken from them, and what ought to bee reſtored to them as due for the ſame.

The Archbyſhoppe for that time takyng hys leaue of the Kyng, went to Caunterbury, where he reſtored the Monkes to theyr Abbey,The Archb. taketh poſſeſſion of his Sec. and then tooke poſſeſſion of hys See, beeing the two and fortith Archbyſhoppe that hande ruled the ſame.

In the meane tyme, the Kyng repayred to Porteſmouth, there to take the Sea to ſayle ouer into Poictowe, committing the rule of the Realme vnto Geffrey Fitz Peter or Fitz Peers, Lorde chiefe Iuſtice, and to the Byſhoppe of Wincheſter, commaunding them to vſe the councell and aduice of the Archbyſhoppe of Canterbury, in gouerning thyngs touching the common wealthe.

Herewith, there came alſo to the Kyng a great multitude of men of warre; alledging, that they had ſpent in ſtaying for him, and his going ouer ſea, all their money,The Lorde refuſe to follow the King into Fraunce. ſo that hee muſt now needes giue them wages, if he would haue them to paſſe ouer with him into Fraunce. The whiche when hee refuſed to do, hee was conſtreyned to take the water with his owne ſeruauntes, arriuing about a three dayes after at the Iſle of Ierſey: but perceyuing that none of his Lordes followed hym according to his commaundement, as one diſappoynted of ayde, hee returned backe againe into Englande, there to take further order for thys theyr miſdemeanor. Whyleſt theſe thynges were thus in doyng, Geffrey Fitz Peeter, and the Byſhoppe of Wincheſter were come
Page: 582
to S. Albons, togither with the Archbiſhoppe of Caunterbury, and other Biſhops and peerer of the Realme, where the Kyngs peace being proclaymed to all men, it was on his behalfe ſtraitly commaunded,King Hēry the firſt his lawes. that the lawes of Kyng Henry his Grandfather ſhoulde be obſerued vniuerſally within his Realme and that all vniuſt lawes and ordinances ſhould be abrogated.

It was alſo commaunded, that no Sherife, no forreſter, nor other miniſter of the Kynges, ſhould vpon paine of life and limme, take violētly any thing of any man by way of extortion, nor preſume to wrong any man, or to fyne any man, as they had afore time bin accuſtomed to doe.

After this, the King beeing come backe from his iourney which he purpoſed to haue made into Poictow, hee aſſembled an army, and meante to haue gone againſt thoſe Lordes which had refuſed to goe with him, but the Archbiſhop of Canterbury coming to him at Northamptō, ſought to appeaſe his moode, and to cauſe him to ſtay, but yet in his furious rage he went forwarde till he came to Nottingham, and there with muche adde,The Archb. menaceth to excommunicate thoſe that aſsiſt the king the Archbiſhop following him with threatning to excommunicate all thoſe that ſhould aid him, procured him to leaue off his enterprice.

After thys, the Archbyſhoppe aboute the fyue and twentith day of Auguſt, came to London, there to take aduice for the reformation of things touching the good gouernemente of the common wealthe. But heere, whyleſt the Archbyſhoppe, with other peeres of y^e Realm deuiſed orders very neceſſary (as was thought) for the ſtate of the cō mon wealthe, the King doubting leaſt the ſame ſhould be a bridle for him to reſtrayne his authoritie royall from doyng thyngs to his pleaſure, he beganne to fynde fault, and ſeemed, as though hee hadde repented hymſelfe of his large promiſes made for his reconciliation: but the Archbyſhoppe of Caunterbury ſo aſſuaged his moode, and perſwaded him by opening vnto him what daunger woulde enſue both to him and to hys Realme, if hee wente from the agreemente, that he was glad to be quiet for feare of further trouble. In thys hurly burly alſo, the Lordes and peeres of the Realme (by the ſetting on of the Archbyſhoppe) were earneſtly bente to haue the Kyng to reſtore and confirme the graunt which hys Graundfather Kyng Henry the firſte hadde by his charter graunted and confirmed to his ſubiectes, whiche to doe, Kyng Iohn thoughte greatly preiudiciall to hys royall eſtate and dignitie.

•… ufe Cog.

•… arle of •… uze.

The Earle of Tholouze hauing loſt all hys poſſeſſions, the Citie of Tholouze onely excep •… or me ouer into Englande, and rendred the ſayde Citie into the handes of King Iohn, and receyued at his departure, the ſumme of tenne thouſande markes as was reported, by the bountifull gifte of Kyng Iohn.

The ſecond of October, Geffrey Fitz Peter,

Mat. P •…

Geffrey F •… Peere or 〈◊〉 Peter dep •… teth this 〈◊〉

Erle of Eſſex, and Lord chiefe Iuſtice of England, departed this life, a man of great power and authoritie, in whoſe politique direction and gouernemente, the order of things perteining to the common wealth chiefly conſiſted. Hee was of a noble mind, experte in knowledge of the lawes of the land, riche in poſſeſſions, and ioyned in bloud or affinitie with the more parte of all the Nobles of the Realme, ſo that his deathe was no ſmall loſſe to the common wealthe: for through hym and the Archbiſhop Hubert, the King was oftentimes •… oked frō ſuch wilfull purpoſes, as nowe and their he was determined to haue put in practiſe, in ſo much, that the King, as was reported, but how truely I cannot tell, ſeemed to reioyce for his death, bycauſe hee might now worke hys will without any to comptroll him.

The ſame time, to witte, aboute the feaſt of Saint Michaell, came Nicholas,A C •… ſent 〈◊〉 lande. the Cardinall of Tuſculane into Englande, ſente from the Pope, to take away the interdiction, if the King woulde ſtande to that agreemente whyche hee hadde made and promiſed by his oth to performe. Kyng Iohn receyued this Cardinall in moſt honorable wiſe, and gladly heard him in all things that he had to ſay.

Thys Legate at his comming to Weſtminſter, repoſed the Abbot of that place, named William, from hys roome, for that hee was accuſed both of waſting the reuenewes of the houſe, and alſo of not able incontinencie.

Moreouer,The b •… of Oxfo •… quire a •… tion. the Burgeſſes of the Towne of Oxforde came vnto hym to obteyne abſolution of their offence, in that through their preſumption, the three ſcollers (of whome ye haue heard before) were hanged there, to the greate terror of all the reſidue. To be ſhorte, they were aſſoyled, and pennance enioyned them, that they ſhould ſtripe them out of their apparell at euery Churche in the Towne, and going barefooted with ſcourges in their handes, they ſhoulde require the benefite of abſolution of euery the Pariſh Prieſte within their Towne, ſaying the Pſalme of Miſerere.

After this,A co •… called b •… Cardina •… the ſaide Cardinall called a counſell or conuocation of the Cleargie, to reforme ſuch things touching the ſtate of the Churche as ſhould be thought requiſite. And though he handled not thys matter with ſuche fauour and vprightneſſe as the Biſhoppes wiſhed on their behalfes, yet hee cauſed King Iohn to reſtore the moſt parte of all thoſe goodes that remayned vnſpente, and alſo the valewe of halfe of thoſe that were conſumed and made away, vnto thoſe perſons as well ſpiritual as temporal, from whome
Page: 583
they had bin taken in time of the diſcord betwixt him and the Pope.

But before all things coulde bee thus quieted and ſet in order betwixte the King, and the Byſhops, many meetings were had, as at London, Reading, and Wallingford, and in other places. Nowe the Archbiſhoppe and Prelates for theyr partes thought this recompence to be but ſmall in reſpect of the great loſſes and hinderances whiche they had ſuſteyned: and to haue the whole reſtitution delayed, they tooke it not well. But the Cardinall leaned ſo to the Kyngs ſyde (hauyng receyued of hym to the Popes vſe the charter of ſubiection of the Realmes of England and Irelande, nowe bulled with golde, where at the firſte it was deliuered to Pandulph, ſealed only with waxe. But their ſute came to little effect, and in y^e end it fell out in ſuch wiſe, that their complaynte was leſſe regarded. The rating moreouer of the valew which the Kyng ſhoulde reſtore vnto the Archbyſhoppe, and to the other Byſhops, was by agreemente of the Kyng and them togither, appoynted vnto four Barons, indifferently choſen betwixt them. Yet at length that deuiſe tooke no place: but it was otherwiſe decreede by the Pope, •… tution to •… e to 〈◊〉 Byſhops. that the Kyng ſhoulde reſtore to them the ſumme of fortie thouſande markes, of the whych he had payde already twelue thouſand, before the returne of the ſayde Archbiſhoppe and Byſhops into the Realme, and fifteene thouſande more at the late meeting had betwixt them at Readyng, ſo that there remayned only .13000. behynde: for not only the Kyng, but alſo the Cardinall hadde ſent to the Pope, requiring him to take direction in the matter, and to aduertiſe hym, that there was a great fault in the Archbyſhop and his fellowes. In ſo muche, that Pandulph whiche was ſente to him from the Legate, declared in fauoure of the King, •… ng Iohn •… mended the Pope 〈◊〉 an humble •… nce. that there was not a more humble and modeſt Prince to be found thā Kyng Iohn, and that the Archbyſhop and hys fellowes were too hard, and ſhewed themſelues too couetous in requiring the reſtitution that ſhoulde bee made to them for loſſes ſuſteyned in time of the interdiction. Now the cauſe wherefore the Legate and the Kyng dyd ſende vnto the Pope, was this: there was ſome grudge betwixte the Legate and the Archbiſhoppe, for that where the Pope had written to the Legate, how he ſhoulde accordyng to the order of the aunſient Cannos of the Church, place in euery Byſhoppes See and Abbey (that was vacant) meete, and able perſons to rule and guyde the ſame,

•… t. Paris.

•… e preſump •… of the •… all.

the Legate preſuming vppon that authoritie graunted him by the Pope, without the aduice of the Archbyſhoppe or other Byſhops, tooke onely with him certayne of y^e kings Chaplaynes, and commyng with them to ſuche Churches as were vacant, ordeined in them ſuch perſons, as wer nothing mete to take ſuch charge vpon them, and that according to the olde abuſe of England, as ſaith Mathew Paris. Wherevppon the Archbyſhoppe of Caunterbury repinyng at ſuche doyngs, ſente to the Legate as then beeing at Burton vppon Trente, two of his Chaplaynes from Dunſtable (where he and his ſuffraganes helde as then a Synode, after the feaſt of the Epiphany) commaundyng hym by way of appeale, in no wiſe to meddle with inſtituting any gouernours to Churches, within the precinct of his iuriſdiction, where ſuch inſtitutions belonged only to him.

Heerevppon therefore the Legate diſpatched Pandulph to Rome vnto the Pope as is aforeſaide, and the Kyng likewiſe ſente Ambaſſadors thither as the Byſhop of Norwich, and y^e Archdeacon of Northumberland, with other, the whiche in the ende ſo behaued thēſelues in their ſute, that notwithſtanding Simon Langhton the Archbyſhops brother earneſtly withſtoode them, as Proctor for the Byſhoppes, yet at length, the Pope tooke order in the matter, writing vnto hys Legate, that hee ſhoulde ſee the ſame fulfilled, and then aſſoyle the Realme of the former interdiction.

In this meane tyme, Kyng Iohn made prouiſion to goe ouer into Fraunce (as after ye ſhall heare) but at hys going ouer, hee committed the whole ordering of this matter vnto the Legate, and to William Marſhall the Earle of Pembroke. The Legate therefore vppon the recept of the Popes Bulles, called a Counſell at London, & there declaring what was conteyned in y^e ſame, he tooke handes for paymente of the reſidue of the fortie thouſande markes which was behinde, being .13000. only as before I haue ſaide.

About y^e ſame time alſo,Walter Gray Biſhop of Worcetor, is remoued to the See of Yorke. Walter Gray B. of y^t Worcetor, was remoued to y^e gouernemente of y^e See of Yorke, which had bin vacant, euer ſith the death of the Archbyſhop Geffrey. This Walter was y^e three and thirtith Archbiſhop that gouerned that See. But nowe to returne and ſpeake of the kings affayres in the parties of beyonde the Sea.

Yee ſhall vnderſtande, that hauing ſet hys buſineſſe in ſome good ſtay at home with the Legate, hee applyed his ſtudy to the performance of his warres abroade. And therefore hee firſte ſent money into Flaunders to pay the Souldiers wages,Mony ſent into Flaunders. whyche hee had ſente thither to ayde y^e Erle there agaynſte Kyng Phillippe. Whiche Earle came ouer thys yeare into Englande, and at Caunterbury the Kyng receyued hym,

Raufe Cog.

The Earle of Flanders doth homage to K. Iohn.

where he dyd homage to the Kyng for the whole Earledome of Flanders: and on the other parte, the K. as well to the ſayde Earle, as to ſuche Lordes & Biſhops which came ouer with hym, declared
Page: 584
his royall liberalitie by princely giftes of golde ſiluer, iewels, and precious ſtones.

Mat. Paris.After his returne, ſuch captaines as remayned in his countrey with their handes at the Kyng of Englandes pay,The lands of the Earle of Guiſnes waſted made a iourney into Fraunce, and waſted the landes that belonged to the Erle of Guiſnes, wanne the Caſtell of Bruncham, and raſed it, taking within it diuers mē of armes and demilances.

They alſo wanne by ſiege the Towne of Ayre, and brent it.

The Caſtell of Liens they tooke by aſſaulte, and ſlewe many Souldiers that defended it, beſide thoſe which they tooke priſoners.

Moreouer, they waſted and deſtroyed the landes whiche Lewes the Frenche Kings ſonne was poſſeſſed of in thoſe parties. In the meane tyme, Kyng Iohn hauing prepared a mighty nauie, and a ſtrong army of valiant Souldiers, tooke the Sea at Portſmouth on Candlemaſſe day, togither with his wife, hys ſonne Richarde, and Eleanor the ſyſter of Arthur Duke of Brytayne. Hee hadde not many of hys Earles or Barōs with him, but a great number of knights, and Gentlemenne, with whome hee landed at Rochell in ſafetie, within a fewe dayes after hys ſetting foorth.

Hee tooke ouer with him ineſtimable treaſure as it was reported, in golde, ſyluer, and iewels.

Immediately vppon hys arriuall at Rochell, the Barons of Poictow reuolted from y^e French King, and comming in to Kyng Iohn, did homage vnto him, as to their King and ſoueraigne Lord.

An. reg. 16. But howſoeuer it was, after the truce began to expire which he had graunted vnto the Earles of March and Augi, on the Friday before Whitſonday he came with his army before the Caſtell of Meireuēt,Meireuent. Geffrey de Lucignan. which belōged vnto Geffrey de Lucignam, and on y^e day next enſuing being Whitſon eue, he wanne the ſame. And on Whitſonday he layde ſiege vnto Nouant,Nouant. an other Caſtel belonging to the ſame Geffrey, who as then was lodged in the ſame, and alſo two of hys ſonnes: but within three dayes after that the ſiege was layde, the Earle of March came to King Iohn, and did ſo much, that through his meanes, both Geffrey, and his two ſonnes were receyued to mercy, and Kyng Iohn put in poſſeſſion of the Caſtell.

After this, bycauſe King Iohn was aduertiſed that Lewis the Frenche Kings ſonne hadde beſieged Mountcounter,Mountcounter a Caſtell that was apperteyning to the ſaid Geffrey, he haſted thitherwards, and came to Parthenay, whither came to hym as well the foreſayd Earle of Marche,Parthenay. as alſo the Earle of Angy, and both they togyther with the ſayde Geffrey de Lucignam dyd homage to oure Kyng, and ſo became hys liege men.

The ſame time alſo,Iane the daughter o •… King Iohn, married 〈◊〉 erle of M •… the Lady Iane the kings daughter was affianced to the ſayde Earle of Marche hys ſonne, whereas the Frenche Kyng made meanes to haue hir married to hys ſonne: but for that Kyng Iohn doubted leaſt that ſute was attempted but vnder ſome cloked pretext, he would giue no care thereto, but rather made thys matche with the Earle of Marche, in hope ſo to aſſure himſelfe of the ſaid Earle, that might ſtand him in no ſmall ſteede to defend his cauſe againſt his aduerſaries of Fraunce. But now to the doings in Englande.

Ye haue heard before how Pope Innocēt, according to that whiche King Iohn had required of hym by ſolemne meſſengers, directed hys
Page: 585
Bulles vnto his legate Nicholas, declaring vpon what conditions his pleaſure was to haue the ſentence of interdiction releaſed. Wherein firſt he commaunded that the king ſhoulde ſatiſfie and pay ſo much money vnto the Archbiſhop of Cā terburie, and to the Biſhop of London, and Ely, as ſhould fully amount to the ſumme of .xl. M. Markes (with that which alreadie he had payed, which was .xxvij. thouſand Markes, at two ſeueral payments, as vpon his accounts appeared.) For true contentation and payment to bee made of the reſidue, he ordeyned that the king ſhould be ſworne, and alſo ſeale to an obligation (and certaine ſureties with him, as the Biſhops of Norwich, and Wincheſter, with the Earles of Cheſter, Wincheſter, and Marſhall) all which things were performed at this preſent, ſo that after the aſſurance ſo taken for payment of the odde .xiij. thouſande Markes behinde, reſidue of the .xl. M. Markes, the interdiction was takē vtterly away, and the lande ſolemnly releaſed by the Legate, •… e interdic •… releaſed. ſitting within the Cathedrall Church of S. Paule at London, vpon the .xxix. of Iune. in the yeare 1214. after the terme of .vj. yeares, three monethes, and .xiiij. dayes, that the realme had bene ſtryken with that dreadfull darte of correction, as it was then eſteemed.

King Iohn in this meane while remayning ſtill in France, and finding at the beginning fortune fauourable ynough vnto him, by reaſon his power was muche encreaſed by the ayde of the Poictouins, he determined to attempt the wynning of Brytaine, for this cauſe ſpecially, that he might by ſo doing weaken the French kings power, and partly alſo to withdraw him frō the warres of Flanders, on which ſide he had procured likewiſe the Frenche borders to bee inuaded with great force, and that not onely by the Earle and ſuch captaynes as he had ſent thither,The Emperor Otho. and reteyned in wages, but alſo by the Emperour Otho, who in proper perſon came downe into that Countrey himſelfe.

Herevpon king Iohn went forth with all his power of horſemen, and entring into Brytaine,King Iohn inuadeth Brytaine. maketh rodes through the Countrey, waſting the ſame euen to the walles of Nauntes: But ſhortly after the Brytaines aſſembled togither, vnder the leading of Peter, the ſonne of Robert Earle of Drieux (the French kings vncle, who had maried the Ladie Adela, daughter to Duke Guy of Brytaine) and marching forth into the fielde to defend their Countrey from the enimies, came to ioyne with them in battaile. At the firſt there was a right ſharpe encounter, but at length the Britains being vanquiſhed and put to flight, •… e Britaines 〈◊〉 to flight. a greate number of them were taken priſoners, and amongſt other their Captaines, the foreſayde Peter was one, •… r the earle D •… ux his •… ne taken •… ſoner. whome king Iohn ſent away with all the reſt vnto Angiers, to be kept in ſafegarde vntill he ſhould returne.

After this, hee beſieged a Caſtell that ſtoode vpon the banke of the Riuer of Loyer called La Roch a •… Moyne, enforcing his whole endeuour to haue woonne it. •… e French •… gs ſonne •… e to fight •… h K. Iohn. But ere hee coulde attaine his purpoſe, he was aduertiſed that Lewes the ſonne of King Philip was comming towardes him with a great power to rayſe his ſiege, wherefore hauing no greate confidence in the Poictanins, and vnderſtanding that Lewes brought wyth him a verie ſtrong armie, hee tooke aduice of hys Counſell, who iudged that it ſhoulde bee beſt for him to breake vp his ſiege, and to depart, whiche hee did and went ſtraight way to Angiers.

Lewes (after king Iohn was thus retyred,

King Iohn remoueth to Angiers.

The Poictanins ſubdued by the French.

) brought the Poictanins againe to ſubiection, and put the chiefe authours of the rebellion to death.

In the meane time alſo his father king Philip with like ſucceſſe, but in a foughten field vanquiſhed
Page: 586
the Emperour Otho at the Bridge of Bouins on the .xxviij. day of Iuly,The battaile at the bridg of Bouins. as in the hyſtorie of Fraunce maye more at large appeare. There were takē amōg other priſoners, the three Erles of Flanders, Saliſburie and Bollongne. Now king Iohn being aduertiſed of that ouerthrow, was maruellouſly ſadde and ſorrowfull of the chaunce, inſomuch that he woulde not receyue any meate in a whole day after the newes thereof was brought vnto him. At length turning his ſorrow into a rage,The ſaying of king Iohn. he openly ſayde, that ſith the tyme that he made himſelf and his kingdome ſubiect to the Churche of Rome, nothing that he did had proſpered well with him. In deed he did condiſcende to agreement with the Pope (as may be thought) more by force than of deuotion, and therefore rather diſſembled with the Pope (ſithe he coulde not otherwiſe chooſe) than agreed to the couenauntes wyth any heartie affection.

But to the purpoſe. Perceyuing himſelfe now deſtitute of his beſt friendes, of whom diuerſe remayned priſoners with the French king (beeing taken at the battaile of Bouins) he thought good to agree with king Philip for this preſent, by way of taking ſome truce, which by mediation of Ambaſſadors riding to and fro betwixt them,A truce taken betwixt the two kings of England and France. was at length accorded to endure for fiue yeares, & to begin at Eaſter, in the yere of our lord .1215.

Then after this about the .xix. day of October he returned into Englande to appeaſe certain tumultes which beganne alreadie to ſhewe foorth buddes of ſome newe ciuill diſſention, and ſurely the ſame ſpredde abrode theyr bloſſomes ſo freſhly, that the fruite was knitte before the growth by any tymely prouiſion coulde be hyndered. For the people being ſet on by diuerſe of the ſupreiors of both ſortes, fynding themſelues agreeued that the King kept not promiſe in reſtoring the auncient lawes of Saint Edwarde, determined from thenceforth to vſe force, ſince by requeſt he might not preuayle.

The Nobles alſo ſuppoſing that longer delay therin was not to be ſuffred, aſſembled themſelues togyther at the Abbey of Burie (vnder colour of going thither to doe their deuotions to the bodie of Saint Edmond which lay there enſhrined) where they vtter their complaynt of the kings tyrannicall maners,A cloked 〈◊〉 grymage. alledging howe they were oftētimes called forth to ſerue in the warres and to fight in defence of the Realme, and yet notwithſtanding were at home ſtill oppreſſed by the kings officers, who (vppon confidence of the lawes) attempted al things whatſoeuer they conceyued. And if any man complayned, and alledged that he receyued wrong at theyr handes, they would anſwere by and by, that they had law on theyr ſide, to do as they had done, ſo that it was no wrong but right which they did, and therefore if they that were the Lordes and Peeres of the Realm were men, it ſtood them vpon to prouide that ſuch inconuenience might bee auoyded, and better lawes brought in vſe, by the which theyr aunceſtors lyued in a more quiet and happy ſtate.

The Ch •… of king H •… the firſt.

A fireb •… diſ ••

There was brought forth and alſo read an ancient Charter made ſomtime by Henry the firſt, (which Charter Stephē the Archbiſhop of Canterburie had deliuered vnto them before in the Citie of London) conteyning the grant of certain liberties according to the lawes of king Edwarde the Confeſſor, profitable to the Church and Barons of the Realme, which they purpoſed to haue vniuerſallye executed ouer all the lande. And therefore beeyng thus aſſembled in the Queere of the Church of Saint Edmond,The Ba •… receiue 〈◊〉 to main •… their qua •… they receyue a ſolemne othe vpon the Aulter there, that if the king would not grant to the ſame liberties, with others which he of his own accord had promiſed
Page: 587
to confirme vnto them, they would from thenceforth make warre vpon him, till they had obteyned theyr purpoſe, and enforced him to graunt, not onely to al theſe their petitions, but alſo yeeld to the confirmation of them vnder his ſeale, for euer to remaine moſt ſtedfaſt and inuiolate.

•… ewell.The chiefe cauſe that moued the Lordes to this conſpiracie, roſe by reaſon the king demaunded Eſcuag •… of them that refuſed to go with him into Poictou: and they on the other part mainteyned, that they were not bounde to pay it, for any warres whiche the king made in the parties of beyonde the Seas. But hee to proue that hee ought to haue it, declared howe in his fathers and brothers tyme it was payed, and therefore hee ought to haue it. Much adoe there was aboute this matter at the firſt broching thereof, and more adoe there had beene, if the Legates preſence had not ſomewhat ſtayed the parties. But after they had gotten the charter of K. Henrie the firſt at the handes of the brew bate the Archb. of Cant. they made ſuch an interpretation thereof, that ſuppoſing it to ſerue their turnes, they proceeded in their wilfull opinions (as aboue is mentioned.)

And finally it was determined amongſt them, that ſhortly after Chriſtmaſſe, they ſhoulde go to the king, and require of him that they might haue thoſe lawes reſtored, which hee had promiſed to them as is aforeſayde:) But foraſmuch as they knew well that their requeſt would not be thankfully accepted, in the meane time they prouided themſelues of horſe, armour, and other furniture for the warre, thereby to be in the better readineſſe and ſafegarde, if in exhibiting their requeſt, the matter did grow to any ſuch enforcement. They appoynted alſo diuerſe of the moſt auncient lords to moue the ſayde matter to the king, in all their names, who was as then at Worceſter, and being aduertiſed of this conſpiracie, as ſoone as the feaſt of Chriſtmaſſe was paſt he went ſtreight to London:

1215

•… at. Par. •… lidore.

thither came the Lordes alſo wyth like ſpeede, leauing their men in the townes and villages abrode, to be readie vpon any ſodaine warning, to come vnto them if neede ſhoulde ſo require. Being come into his preſence, they require of him that it might pleaſe him, firſt, to appoynt the exerciſe and vſe of thoſe auncient lawes vnto them, by the which the kings of Englād in times paſt ruled their ſubiects: ſecondly, that according to his promiſe, he woulde abrogate thoſe newer lawes, which euerie man might with good cauſe name mere wrongs, rather than lawes: and thirdly, they require of him the performance of al other things, whiche hee had moſt faythfully of late vndertaken to obſerue.

The king though ſomwhat contrarie to his nature hauing heard their requeſt, gaue them a very gentle anſwere. For perceyuing them ready with force to conſtrayne him, if by gentleneſſe they might not preuayle, he thought it ſhould be more ſafe and eaſie for him to turne their vnquiet mindes with ſoft remedies, than to goe about to breake them of their willes by ſtrong hand, which is a thing verie daungerous, eſpecially where both parties are of like force.The king promiſeth to conſider of their requeſts. Therefore he promiſed them within a few dayes, to haue conſideration of their requeſt.

And to the intent they might giue the more credite to his wordes, he cauſed the Archbiſhop of Canterburie, and the Biſhop of Eke, with William Marſhall Earle of Pembrooke (vnto whom he had giuen his daughter Elenor in maryage) to vndertake for him, and as it were to become his ſureties: which willingly they did. Herewith the myndes of the nobilitie being ſomewhat pacified, they returned home to theyr houſes.

The king ſoone after alſo,Math. Paris. to aſſure hymſelfe the more effectually of the allegeance of his people in tyme to come,The king demaundeth a new othe of allegeance of his ſubiects. cauſed euery man to renne his homage, and to take a newe othe to be faythfull to him agaynſt all other perſons. And to prouide the more ſurely for himſelf, on Candlemaſſe day next enſuing, he tooke vpon him the Croſſe to goe into the holye lande,The king taketh on him the croſſe. whiche I thinke he did rather for feare than any deuotion, as was alſo thought by other, to the ende that he might vnder the protection thereof remaine the more out of daunger of ſuch as were his foes.

Some ſay that a great part of this variance that chaunced betwene king Iohn and his Barons,

The cauſes of the diſcorde betwixt the king and his Barons.

Fabian. Caxton.

The Earle of Cheſter.

was bycauſe the king would without ſkilfull doome haue exiled the Earle of Cheſter, and for none other occaſion, than for that he had often tymes aduiſed him to leaue his cruel dealing, and alſo his accuſtomed adulterie with his brothers wife and others.

Other write, that the ſame diſſention roſe by reaſon of the great crueltie,

Hec. Boetius.

The kings couetouſneſſe.

and vnreaſonable auarice, which the king vſed towardes all the eſtates and degrees of his ſubiects, as wel towards them of the ſpiritualtie, as of the temporaltie.

The Prelates therefore of the realme ſore repining at his doings,The repining of the Cleargy agaynſt the king. for that they could not paciently ſuffer ſuch exaction to be leuied of their liuings (contrarie as they tooke it to the libertie of the Church) founde meanes through practiſe, to perſwade both the kings of Scotland & Fraunce to ayde and ſupport them againſt him, by linking themſelues togither with ſundrie Noble men of England. But theſe ſeeme to bee coniectures of ſuch wryters, as were euill affected towardes the kings cauſe.

Nowe therefore to the ſequele of the matter.Polidor. The king hauing ſent away the Barons with a gentle anſwere, though he minded nothing leſſe than to ſatiſfie them in that they did demaunde,
Page: 588
bycauſe it made much agaynſt his royall prerogatiue: and therewith forſeeing that the matter woulde be like to growe at length to bee tried by force, he beganne to doubt his owne eſtate, and therefore he prepared an army, and fortefied dyuerſe Caſtelles and places with men, munition, and vitayles, into the which he myght retyre for his ſafetie in anye tyme of neede. The Barons which vnderſtoode the kings diligence herein, and confecturing thereof his whole intent, made readie alſo their power, appoynting for theyr generall one Robert Fitz Walter,Robert Fitz Walter. a man both excellent in councell, and valiant in warre. And herewith they come to the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, preſenting vnto him a booke, wherein was conteyned a note of all the Articles of their petitions, and require him to vnderſtande the Kings minde touching the ſame.The Archbi. of Canterbury moueth the K. to ſatiſfie the requeſts of the Baron. The Archbiſhop coueting to extinguiſh the ſedition (wherof he himſelf had beene no ſmall kyndler) and which was lyke to growe, if the Nobilitie were not pacifyed the ſooner, talked with the king, and exhorted hys grace verie inſtantly to ſatiſfie the requeſtes of his Barons, and herewith doth ſhew the booke of the Articles which they had delyuered vnto him.

The king when he ſaw what they demaunded, whiche in effect was a newe order in things touching the whole ſtate of the cōmon wealth, ſware in a great furie,The king refu •… eth to grāt their petitions that he would neuer condiſcende vnto thoſe petitions: Wherof when the Barons had knowledge, they gat them ſtreyght vnto armour,Math. Paris. making their aſſemble at Stamforde in the Eaſter weeke, whether they had drawne vnto them almoſt the whole Nobilitie, and gathered an exceding great army. For the Commons flocked vnto them from euerie part, bycauſe the King was generally hated of the more parte of his ſubiects.

It was eſteemed that there was in that armie, the number of two thouſande knightes, beſyde yeomen on Horſebacke, or Demilaunces (as I may call them) and footemen apparelled in dyuerſe ſortes of Armor.

The names of the Lords that banded themſelues againſt the king.The chiefe ringleaders of this power, were theſe whoſe names enſue: Robert Fitz Water, Euſtace Veſey, Richarde Percie, Robert Roos, Peter de Breuſe, Nicholas de Stouteuile, Saer Earle of Wincheſter, Robert Earle of Clare, Henrie Earle of Clare, Richarde Earle Bygot, William de Mombray, William de Creſſey, Raufe Fitz Robert, Robert de Vere, Foulk Fitz warren, William Mallet, William de Montacute, William de Beauchampe, Simō de Kime, W. Marſhal the yonger, Wil. Mauduyt, Rob. de Montibigonis, Iohn Fitz Roberte, Iohn Fitz Alane, G. Lauale, O. Fitz Alain W. de Hobrug. O. de Vales, G. de Gaunt, Maurice de Gaunte, Robert de Brakeſley, Robert de Moūfichet, W. de Lanvalley, G. de Maundeuile Erle of Eſſex, W. his brother, W. de Hūtinfield, R. de Greffey, G. Coneſtable of Menton, Alexander de Pāron, P. Fitz Iohn, Alexander de Sutton, Oſbe •… de Body, Iohn coneſtable of Cheſter, Thomas de Muleton, Conane Fitz Hely, & many other: they had alſo of counſel with them as chief, the Archb. of Canterburie. 〈…〉 The king as then was at Oxford, and hearing of the aſſemble which the Barons made, & that they were come to Brakeſley,Mat. 〈◊〉 on the Monday next after the octaues of Eaſter, he ſent vnto thē the Archb. of Canterbury,The •… deth 〈◊〉 L •… . in whō he repoſed great confidence, & William Marſhall Earle of Pembrooke, to vnderſtande what they ment by that their aſſembling thus togither. Whervpon they deliuered to the ſame meſſengers a roll conteyning the auncient liberties, priuiledges, and cuſtomes of the realme, ſignifying that if the K. would not confirme the ſame, they would not ceaſe to make him warre, til he ſhoulde ſatiſfie their requeſts in that behalfe.

The Archbiſhop and the Earle returning to the king, ſhewed him the whole circumſtance of that which the Barons demaunded, who tooke great indignation thereat, and ſcornefully ſayde, why do they not aſke to haue the kingdome alſo? Finally, he affirmed with an othe, that he woulde neuer graunt any ſuch liberties, wherby he ſhould become a ſlaue. Hereupon the Archb. and the erle of Pembrooke returned to the Barons, and declared the kings deniall to confirme their Articles.The 〈◊〉 giue: •… ble 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 And then the Barons naming their hoaſt the army of God, and of the holy Church, they ſet forwarde, and firſt came vnto Northampton, and beſieging the towne,No •… beſieg •… when they coulde not preuaile, bycauſe the ſame was wel prouided for defence aforehande, they depart from thence, & come towards Bedford to beſiege the caſtel there,

They 〈◊〉 towne 〈◊〉 the C •…

Mat. 〈◊〉

B •… deliue •… the 〈◊〉

in the which ſir William Beauchampe was captaine, who being ſecretly confederate with them, delyuered the place incontinently into theyr handes.

Whileſt they remayne here a certaine time to
Page: 589
fortifie & furniſh the caſtell with neceſſarie prouiſion, there came letters to thē from London, gyuing them to vnderſtande that if they woulde ſende a conuenient crew of Souldiers to defende the Citie, the ſame ſhoulde be receyued therinto at ſome meete and conuenient tyme in the nyght ſeaſon by the Citizens, who woulde ioyne wyth them in that quarell againſt the king to the vttermoſt of theyr powers. The Lordes were glad of theſe newes, to haue the chiefe Citie of the realme to take part with them. And therfore they ſent foure handes of ſouldiers ſtreyght way thyther, the which were brought into the Citie in the night ſeaſon, (according to order aforehande taken.) But as Mathew Paris hath, they were receyued into the citie by Algate, the .xxiiij. of May being ſunday, whileſt the citizens were at Maſſe. The next day they made open rebellion, toke ſuch as they knewe fauoured the king, brake into the houſes of the Iewes, and ſpoyled them of that they had.

〈◊〉 Par.The Barons hauing thus gotten poſſeſſion of the Citie of London, wrote letters vnto all thoſe Lordes which as yet had not ioyned with them in this confederacie, •… arons •… o other •… nobility •… e with againſt •… og. threatning that if they refuſed to ayde them nowe in this neceſſitie, they would deſtroy their Caſtels, Manours, Parkes, and other poſſeſſions, making open warre vpon them as the enimies of God, and rebelles to the Church. Theſe were the names of thoſe Lordes which yet had not ſworne to mainteyne the foreſayd liberties, William Marſhall Erle of Pembrooke, Reynulfe Earle of Cheſter, N. Earle of Saleſburie, W. Earle Warren, W. Erle of Albemarle, H. Earle of Cornewall, W. de Albeny, Robert de Veyount, Peter Fitz Herbert, Brian de Liſley, G. de Lucy, G. de Furniuall, Thomas Baſſet, H. de Braybroke, I. de Baſſingborne, W. de Cantlow, H. de Cornewall, Iohn Fitz Hugh, Hugh de Neuill, Philip de Albeny, Iohn Marſhall, and William Brewer. All theſe vppon the receipt of the Barons letters, or the more part of them came to London, and ioyned themſelues with the Barone, vtterly renouncing to ayde king Iohn.

Alſo the pleyes in the Eſchequer ceaſed, and the Sherifes ſtayed from executing their office.The king left deſolate of fuendes. For there was none that would pay any money to the kings vſe, nor any that did obey him, inſomuch that there remayned with him, but onelye vij. horſemen of all his trayne at one time, as ſome write) though ſoone after hee had a greate power,Polider. which came to him to the caſtell of Winſore, where he then lay) and ment to haue adde the ſame agaynſt the Lordes with all ſpeede: but hearing now of this newe rebellion of the Londoners, he changed his purpoſe and durſt not depart from Windſore, being brought into greate doubt leaſt al the other cities of the realme would follow their example. Hereupon he thought good to aſſay if he might come to ſome agreement by way of communication, and incontinently ſent his Ambaſſadors to the Barons, promiſing them that he would ſatiſfie their requeſts, if they would come vnto Windſore to talke with him.The Lordes encamped betwixt Stanes and Windſore The Lords hauing no confidence in his promiſe came yet with their army within three myles of Winſore and there night downe their t •… utes in Meadow betwixt Stanes and Windſore, whither king Iohn alſo commeth the .xv. day of Iune, 〈◊〉 Iohn cō •… to them •… k of ſome •… cation. 〈◊〉 Paris. & ſheweth ſuch friendly coūtenance towards euery one of them, that they were put in good hope he ment no deceipt. Being thus mette, they fell in conſultation aboute an agreement to vs hadde. On the kings part (as it were) ſate the Archbiſhops of Canterburie and Dublin, the biſhops of London, Wincheſter, Lincoln, Bath, Worceter, Couentrie, Rocheſter, and •… dulph the Popes
Page: 590
nuncio, with Almerick maſter of the knights templers: the Erles of Pēbrooke, Saliſburie, Warren, Arundell, Alane de Galoway, W. Fitz Geralde, Peter Fitz Herbert, Alane Baſſet, Hugh de Neuile, Hubert de Burgh Seneſchal of Poictou, Robert de Ropeley, Iohn Marſhall, and Philip de Albeney. On the Barons part, there were innumerable, for al the nobilitie of England was in a maner aſſembled there togither.

Finally, when the king meaſuring his owne ſtrength with the Barons, perceyued that he was not able to reſiſt them, he conſented to ſubſcribe and ſeale ſuche articles concerning the libertyes demaunded, in forme for the moſt part as is cō teyned in the two Charters Magna Charta, and Charta de Foreſta, Magna Carea, and Carta de Foreſta. beginning Iohannes dei gratia &c. And he did not onely graunt vnto thē their petitions touching the foreſayde liberties, but alſo to winne him further credite, was contented that they ſhoulde chooſe foorth certaine graue and honourable perſonages, which ſhoulde haue authoritie and power to ſee thoſe things perfourmed which he then graunted vnto them.

There were .xxv. of thoſe that were ſo elected, by name theſe. The Earles of Clare, Albemarle, Glouceſter, Wincheſter, and Hereforde: alſo Earle Roger, Earle Robert, the Erle Marſhall the yonger, Robert Fitz Water the yonger, Gilbert de Clare, Enſtace de Veſcy, Hugh Bygot, William de Moumbray, the Maior of London, Gilbert de la Vale, Robert de Roos, Iohn Coneſtable of Cheſter, Richard de Percey, Iohn Fitz Robert, William Mallet, Geffrey de Saye, Roger de Mounbray, William de Huntingfield, Richardē de Mounte •… cher, and William de Albeney.

Theſe .xxv. were ſworne to ſee the liberties graunted and confirmed by the king, to be in euery poynt obſerued, but if hee went agaynſt the ſame, then they ſhoulde haue authoritie to compell him to the obſeruance of euery of them.

Moreouer, there were other that were ſworne to be obedient, and as it were aſſiſtent vnto theſe xxv. Peeres in ſuch things as they ſhoulde appoynt, which were theſe: The Erle of Arundel, the Erle Warren by his attorney, Henry Doyly, Hubert de Burgh, Mathew Fitz Herbert, Robert de Pynkney, Roger Huſcarle, Robert de Newburgh, Henry de Pont Audoin, Raufe de la Hay, Henrie de Brentfielde, Waryn Fitz Geralde, Thomas Baſſet, William de Buckland, William de S. Iohn, Alane Baſſet, Richard de Riuers, Hugh de Boneuale, Iurdain de Saukvile, Raufe Muſgraue, Richard Siflewaſt, Robert de Ropeley, Andrew de Beauchampe, Walter de Dunſtable, Walter Folioth, Fonkes de Brent, Iohn Marſhal, Philip Daubney, Wil. de Perea, Raufe de Normanvile, Wil. de Percy, William Agoilum, Engerand de Pratellis, William de Cirentō, Roger de Zuche, Roger Fitz Bernerd, and Godfrey de Grancombe. It was further ordred,Th •… la •… Ca •… that the Chatelaynes or Coneſtables (as I may call them) of the foure caſtels of Northampton, Killingworth, Notingham, and Scarborow, ſhould be ſworne to the .xxv. Peeres, to gouerne thoſe Caſtels in ſuch wiſe as they ſhoulde haue in commaundement from the ſayde .xxv. Peeres, or from the greater part of them: and that ſuch ſhould be placed as Chatelaines in the ſame, as were thought to be moſt true and faythful vnto the Barons and the realme.

It was alſo decreed, that certaine ſtraungers, as Flemings and other, ſhoulde be baniſhed out of Englande.

The king herevpon ſent his letters patentes vnto the Sherifes of all the Counties of hys Realme, commaunding them to ſee the ordinances and liberties which hee graunted and confyrmed, to be diligently obſerued. And for the more ſtrengthning of this his graunt, he had gotten the Pope to confirme a like charter graunted the yere before. For the Pope (ſith king Iohn was become hys obedient vaſſall, & the Apoſtolike king) eaſily graunted to gratifie both him and his Lordes herein, and ſo was the graunt of the libertyes corroborate and made good wyth a double confyrmation, and ſo ſealed, that it was impoſſible for them to bee ſeparate in ſunder, the Kings graunt being annexed to the Popes Bull.

Immediately alſo vpon the confyrmation nowe made by the king, dyuerſe Lordes came to him and required reſtitution of ſuche poſſeſſions, landes, and houſes, as he had in his handes, the ryght whereof (as they alledged) apperteyned to them: but he excuſed the matter, and ſhifted them off, tyll by enqueſt taken, it might appeare what right euery man had to thoſe things whiche they then claymed: and furthermore aſſigned them a day to be holden at Weſtminſter, which was the xvj. day of Iuly.Roc •… •… ſtell 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 of Ca •… But yet he reſtored at that time the Caſtell of Rocheſter vnto the Archbiſhop of Canterburie.

The Barons hauing obteyned a great peece of theyr purpoſe as they thought, returne to London with theyr Charter ſealed, the date whereof was this. Yeuen by our owne hande, in the Medow called Kuningſmede or Rimemede, betwixt Stanes and Windſore, the .xv. of Iune, in the xvij. yeare of our raigne.

Great reioyſing was made for this concluſion of peace betwixt the King and his Barons,Math. 〈◊〉 the people iudging that God had touched the kings heart, & mollified it, whereby happy dayes were come for the Realme of Englande, as though it had beene deliuered oute of the bondage of Egypt: but they were much deceyued,
Page: 591
for the king hauing condiſcended to make ſuche graunt of liberties, •… e kings im •… iency to ſee •… elt brid •… by his ſ •… o •… es. farre contrary to hys mynde, was right ſorrowfull in his heart, and curſed hys mother that bare him, the houre that hee was borne, the pappes that gaue him ſucke, wiſhing that he had receyued death by violence of ſworde or knife, in ſteede of naturall nouriſhment: hee whetred his teeth, hee bote nowe on one ſtaffe, and nowe on another as he walked, and oft brake the ſame in peeces when hee had done, and with ſuche diſordered behauiour and furious geſtures he vttered his griefe, in ſuche ſort that the Noble men right well perceyued the inclynation of his inwarde affection concerning theſe things before the breaking vp of the Councell, and therefore ſore lamented the ſtate of the Realme, geſſing what woulde followe of his impaciencie and diſpleaſant taking of the matter. And therefore they ſayde among themſelues, wo be to vs, yea rather to the whole Realme that wanteth a ſufficient king, and is gouerned by a tyrant that ſeeketh the ſubuerſion thereof. Nowe hath our ſoueraigne Lorde made vs ſubiect to Rome, and to the Romiſh Court, ſo that wee muſt henceforth obteyne our protection from thence. It is verie much to be feared, leaſt we doe feele hereafter ſome further peece of miſchiefe to light vpon vs ſodenly. We neuer heard of any king that woulde not gladly endeuor to withdraw his neck from bondage and captiuitie, but ours of his owne accorde voluntarily ſubmitteth himſelfe to become vaſſall vnto euery ſtraunger. And thus the Lords lamenting the caſe, left the king, & returned to Lōdon (as before ye haue heard.) But the king diſquieted not a litle for that he was thus driuen to yeeld ſo farre vnto the Barons, notwithſtanding as muche as was poſſible he kept his purpoſe ſecret, deuiſed by what meanes hee might diſappoynt all that had bin done and promiſed on his part, at this aſſemble betwixt him and the Lords for a pacification, (as ye haue heard) and hereupon the next day very late in the euening, •… e king de •… eth into 〈◊〉 Ile of •… ght. he ſecretly departed to Southhampton, & ſo ouer into the Ile of Wight, where he tooke aduice with his councell what remedy he might find to quiet the mindes of his Lords and Barons, and to bring them vnto his purpoſe. At length after much debating of the matter, it was concluded by the aduice of the more part, that the king ſhould require the Popes ayde therein. And ſo Walter the Biſhop of Worceſter, & Iohn the Biſhop of Norwich, •… endeth •… baſſadors •… he Pope. with one Richard Mariſhe his Chancellor, with all ſpeed were ſent as Ambaſſadors from the king vnto Pope Innocent, to inſtruct him of the rebellion of the Engliſh nobilitie, & how that he cōſtrayned by force had granted vnto them certain lawes & priuileges, hurtfull to the realme, and preiudiciall to his crowne. And fith that all this was done by the authoritie of the Pope, the king beſought him to make the ſame voyde, & to cōmaund the Barons to obey him being their king, as reaſon required thē to do. There were alſo ſent by him other meſſengers,Hugh de Boues. as Hugh de Boues & others, into diuerſe partes beyond the ſea, to bring from thence great numbers of mē of warre and ſouldiers, appoynting them to meete him at Douer, at the feaſt of S. Michael next enſuing.Mat. Paris. He ſent alſo vnto al his Chatelaines & Coneſtables of Caſtels within the realme, requiring them to prouide themſelues of all things neceſſarie for defence of their holdes committed to theyr charge, if they ſhuld chance to be beſieged, though it were on the next morow.

His Ambaſſadors and other meſſengers being thus diſpatched, and hauing but few perſons left about him, or i •… ner none, except ſuche of the Biſhop of No •… h his ſeruaunts, as hee had borowed of him, he calleth •… ake priſes as any ſhips came by ſuſpected not to be his friendes, ſo ſeeking to winne the fau •… 〈◊〉 Mariners that belonged to the cinque p •… tes, and ſo lyeth cloſe in the Ile of Wight, and there aboute the Sea coaſts, for the ſpace of there Monethes togither. In which meane time, many things were reported of him, ſome calling him a fiſher, ſome a merchant, and ſome a pyrate and rouer. And many, (for that no certain newes could be heard of him) iudged that he was either drowned, or dead by ſome other meanes. But hee ſtyll looking for ſome power to come ouer to hys ayde, kept himſelfe out of the way, tyll the ſame ſhoulde be arryued.

The Lords all this while, lie at London,Polidor. and beganne to doubt the matter, bycauſe they coulde heare no certaine newes where the king was become: for hee doubting (as I ſayde) the ſuretie of his perſon, conueyed himſelfe ſecretely from one place to another, lodging and taking his diet oftentymes more meanely than was decent for his eſtate: and ſtyl he longed to heare howe his Ambaſſadours ſpedde with the Pope, who in the meane tyme comming vnto Rome,The Ambaſſadors comming to the Popes preſence declare their meſſage. and there declaring theyr meſſage at ful, tooke it vpon their ſolemne othe, that the right was on the Kings ſyde, and that the fault reſted onely on the Lords, touching the whole controuerſie betweene them and him, who ſought with great rigour and agaynſte reaſon to brydle him at theyr pleaſures. They ſhewed alſo a note of certayne Articles conteyned in the Charter,Mat. Par. which ſeemed to make moſ •… for the kings purpoſe, and withall declared that the King in open aſſemblie where hee and the Barons mette to talke of ſuch matters, had proteſted that the kingdome of Englande ſpecially apperteyned (as tou •… the ſoueraigntie) vnto the Church of R •… , wherevpon hee neyther coulde nor ought without knowledge of
Page: 592
the Pope ordeyne any thing of newe, or chaunge ought within that kingdome in preiudice therof. Wherefore where as he put himſelfe and all the rights of his kingdome by way of appealing vnder the protection of the Apoſtolike ſea: the Barons yet without regard had to the ſame appeale, did •• aze into their poſſeſſion the citie of London, and getting them to armor, enforced the king to confirm ſuch vnreaſonable articles, as there appeared for him to conſider of.

The Popes anſwere vnto the kings Ambaſſadors.The Pope hauing heard their tale, and conſidered of the articles, with bending browes (in witneſſe of his indignation) made forthwith this ſhort anſwere: And is it ſo, that the Barons of England quoth he) do go about to expell theyr king, which hath taken vpon him the Croſſe, and is remayning vnder the protection of the Apoſtolike ſea? and doe they meane w^t deede to tranſlate the dominiō that belogeth to the church of Rome vnto an other? By S. Peter wee cannot ſuffer this •… urie to paſſe vnpuniſhed. Herevpō therfore (crediting the Ambaſſadors wordes) by the aduice of his Cardinals, he decreed that al thoſe priuiledges, which the king had graunted vnto the Lords & Barons of this realme, as inforced therto by their rebellious attempt, ſhould be accoūted voyd and of none effect. Alſo he wrote vnto the Lords, admoniſhing thē by his letters, that they ſhould obey their K. vpō paine of his curſe, if they ſhould attempt any thing that ſounded to the cō trary.Hec. Portius. At the ſame time likewiſe there was in the court of Rome (as Hector Boctius hath) a Cardinal named Gnald or Wallo,Cardinall Gu •… o. a moſt auaritious perſon, and ſuch one (as in that place ſome are neuer wanting) whiche for money paſſed not what he did to further any mans ſuyte, without regarde either to right or wrong, by whoſe chiefe trauaile and meanes the Pope was greatly induced to fauor king Iohns cauſe, and to iudge with him in preiudice of the Lordes purpoſes, as before is expreſſed.

P •… lidor.But to proceed. The Ambaſſadors being diſpatched, and hauing the popes preſcript,The 〈◊〉 do •… •… f •… th 〈◊〉 and ſuch other his letters with them as they had obteyned of him, returne with all ſpeed into England vnto the K. (who was come a litle before vnto Windſore caſtell) and there declare vnto him how they had ſpedde. Who being ioyfull in that they had brought the matter ſo well about for his purpoſe,The Pope •… •… cree is •… red to the Lordes. cauſed the Popes decree to bee declared vnto the Barons, commaunding them ſtraitly for to obey the ſame. The Barons taking the matter grieuouſly to be thus mocked, with great indignation both blame king Iohns vniuſt dealing, and the Popes wrongfull iudgement, in that he had pronounced agaynſt them, without hearing what they had of right to alledge for themſelues. And therefore out of hand (notwithſtanding the popes prohibition and preſcript to the contrarie) they determin to trie their cauſe by dint of ſworde,The 〈◊〉 will tri •… quarell 〈◊〉 of ſw •… and with al ſpeed aſſemble their powers, which for the more part they had lately diſmiſſed & ſent home. They furniſh the caſtel of Rocheſter with a ſtrōg garriſon of men, and place therein for captaine, one William Albeney, a very ſkilfull warriour.

King Iohn after he vnderſtood that the Barons (contēning the popes decree and inhibition,) were more offended and bent againſt him than before,The king •… deth c •… to the 〈◊〉 ſendeth once againe to the Pope, to aduertiſe him of their diſobedience and great cōtumacie ſhewed in refuſing to ſtand vnto his preſcript.The king turneth 〈◊〉 the Ile of Wight. This done he returned into the Ile of wight, and ſailed from thence vnto Douer, where diuerſe of thoſe his cō miſſaries which hee had ſent to hyre ſouldiers in forraine partes returne to him, bringing with thē out of diuerſe countreys ſuch a multitude of ſouldiers and armed men,Mat. P •… Polid •… . that the only ſight of them ſtroke the hearts of all the beholders with great feare & terror. For out of the parties of Poictou,

The a •… •… orain ſ •… to the k •… ayde.

Sauarie 〈◊〉 Mi •…

and Gaſcome, their came men of great nobilitie, and right worthy warriors, as Sauery de Mauleon, Geffrey and Oliuer de Buteuile, two brethren, hauing vnder them great numbers of good ſouldiers and tal men of warre. Alſo out of Brabant, there came Walter. But, Gerarde de Sotignie, and one Godeſtall, with three legions of armed men and Croſſebowes. Likewiſe there came out of Flaunders other Captaynes, wyth diuerſe bandes of ſouldiers, whiche Ferdinando Earle of Flaunders (lately returned oute of the French captiuitie) for olde friendſhippes ſake furniſhed and ſent ouer to ayde hym agaynſte hys ſubiectes, according as he had requeſted.

King Iohn then hauing recouered ſtrength about hym.Wil. de •… ney ca •… Roche •… Caſtell. And beeing aduertiſed that William de Albeney was entred into the Caſtell of Rocheſter with a greate number of Knightes, men of Armes and other Souldiers, haſted thither with his whole armie, and beſieged them within, enforcing himſelfe by all wayes poſſible
Page: 593
to winne the Caſtell as well by battering the walles with Engines, 〈◊〉 Iohn be •… th the •… ll of Ro •… r. as by giuing thereto many aſſaultes: but the garniſon wythin (conſiſting of .94. knightes beſide Demilaunces, and other Souldiers) defended the place verie manfully, in hope of reſcue from the barons, which lay as them at London: but they cōming forward one dayes iourney vnto Dartforde, when they heard that the King was comming forwarde in good array of battayle to meete them, vpon conſideration had of theyr owne forces, for that they were not able to match him with footemen, they returned backe againe to the Citie, breaking that aſſured promiſe which they had made and alſo confirmed by theyr ſolemne othes, •… ell. which was that if the Caſtell ſhoulde chaunce to be beſieged, they woulde not fayle but to rayſe the ſiege. At length they within for want of vitayles were conſtrayned to yeelde it vp vnto the king, •… eſter Ca •… yeelded •… e king. after it had bene beſieged the ſpace of three ſcore dayes: duryng which time they had beaten backe theyr enimyes at ſundrie aſſaultes, with great ſlaughter and loſſe. But the king hauing now got the poſſeſſion of that holde, vpon a griefe conceyued for the loſſe of ſo many men, and alſo bicauſe he had lic •… ſo long about it ere hee coulde wynne it, to his ineſtimable coſtes and charges, was determined to haue put them al to death that had kept it. But Sauarie de Mauleō aduiſed him otherwiſe,The counſaile of Sauarie de Mauleon. leaſt by ſuche crueltie, the Barons in any lyke caſe ſhoulde bee occaſioned to vſe the ſame extremitie towardes ſuche of his people, as by chaunce might fall into theyr handes. And ſo the king ſpared the nobles and gentlemen, ſending Wil. de Albeney, William de Lancaſter, William de Emeford, Thomas de Muletō, Oſbert Gifford, Oſbert de Bobye, Odynell de Albeney, and dyuerſe other to the Caſtell of Corfe, there to bee kepte as pryſoners. And Robert Charney, Richarde Gifforde, and Thomas de Lyncolne were ſent to Notingham, and ſo other were ſent to other places.Arbaleſtiers, thoſe that bear Croſtebowes. But all the Demilaunces or yeomen (if I ſhall ſo call them) and the Arbaleſtiers whiche hadde ſlayne manye of his men during the ſiege (as Mathew Paris hath) the King cauſed to bee hanged, to putte other in feare that ſhoulde ſo obſtinatelye reſyſte hym.

But as the booke that belonged to Bernwell Abbay hath, there was not any of them hanged, ſauing one onely Arbaleſtier, whome the King had brought vp of a childe. But howſoeuer the king dealt with them after they were yeelded, •… el. true it is (as by the ſame booke it appeareth) there had beene no ſiege in thoſe dayes more earneſtly enforced, nor more obſtinately defended: for after that all the lymmes of the Caſtell had beene reuerſed and throwne downe, they kept the maiſter Tower, tyll halfe thereof was alſo ouerthrowne, and after kept the other halfe, tyll throught famine they were conſtrained to yeelde, hauing nothing but horſefleſh and water to ſuſteyne theyr lyues withall.

Here is to bee remembred, that why •… the ſiege lay thus at Rocheſter, Hugh de Bo •… a valiant knight, but full of pryde and arrogan •… e, a Frenchman borne, but •… aniſhed out of his co •… trey, came downe to Cali •… e with an huge number of men of warre and ſouldiers to come to the ayde of king Iohn. But as he was vpon the •… a with all his people, meaning to lande at Douer, by a ſoden tempeſt which roſe at that inſtant,Hugh de Boues drowned. the ſayde H •… gh with all his com̄panie was drowned by ſhipwracke. And ſoone after the bodie of the ſame Hugh with the carkaſſes of other innumerable, as well of menne, women, and children, were founde not farre from Yermouth, and all alongſt that coaſt. There were of them in all
Page: 594
xl. thouſand as hath Mat. Paris, for of all thoſe which he brought with him, there was (as it is ſayd) not one man left aliue. The king (as the fame went, but how true I know not) had giuen by charter vnto the ſayde Hugh de Boues, the whole Countrey of Norffolke, ſo that he ment to haue expulſed the old inhabitants, and to haue peopled it with ſtrangers. But whether this was ſo or not ſure it is that he was verie ſorowful for the loſſe of this ſuccor and ayde which thus periſhed in the ſeas, though it happened very well for his ſubiects of England, that ſhould haue bin ſore oppreſſed by ſuch multitude of ſtraungers, which for the moſt part muſt needes haue liued vpon the Country, to the vtter vndoing of the inhabitants whereſoeuer they ſhould haue come.

Raufe Cog.Here is to be noted, that during the ſiege of Rocheſter (as ſome write) ther came out of Frāce to the number neare hande of ſeuen thouſand men ſent from the Frenche king vnto the ayde of the Barons, at the ſute of Saer de Quineie. Erle of Wincheſter and other Ambaſſadours that were ſent from the Barons, during the time of thys ſiege, although it ſhoulde ſeeme by Mathewe Paris, that the ſayd Earle was not ſent till after the Pope had excommunicated the Barons (as after yee ſhall heare.) Theſe Frenche menne that came ouer at thys fyrſt tyme landed at Orwell, and at other Hauens there neare adioyning.

About this ſeaſon alſo, the Canons of Yorke (bycauſe the Archbiſhops ſea there had remayned voyde a long time) obteyning licence of the king, aſſembled togither about the election of an Archbiſhop. And though the king had once againe erneſtly moued them to preferre Walter Gray Biſhop of Worceſter, yet they refuſed ſo to do, and therfore choſe Simon de Langton, brother to the Archbiſhop of Canterburie, which election was afterwarde made voyde by the earneſt trauaile of the king to the Pope, bycauſe his brother the ſayd Archbiſhop of Canterburie was knowne to fauor the part of the Barons againſt him, ſo that the ſayd Walter Gray was then elected and promoted to the guiding of the ſea of Yorke,Walter •… elected 〈◊〉 of Yo •… according to the kings eſpeciall deſire in that behalfe.

About the ſame time alſo, Pope Innocent being certified, how the Barons of England would not obey his preſcript, iudged them enimies to the Church, and gaue commaundement to Peter the Biſhop of Wincheſter, to the Abbot of Reading, and to the ſubdeacon Pādulph, to pronounce the ſentence of excommunication againſt them. But they coulde not at the firſt execute the Popes cō maundement herein,The 〈◊〉 C •… fa •… Baron •… by reaſon that the Archb. of Cant. who fauored the Barons cauſe, would not permit them. Wherfore the ſame Archb. was interdited out of the church, & frō ſaying diuine ſeruice, & alſo being cited to appeare at Rome, was in danger to be depriued of his miter, had not certaine Cardinals intreated for him, and obteyned his pardon. The Archb. being gone to Rome, as well to excuſe himſelf in this matter, as to be preſent at the generall Councel there holden at that time (for he was readie to goe take the ſea thitherwardes when the Biſhop of Wincheſter & Pandulph came to him with the popes letters) the ſaid Biſhop of Wincheſter and Pandulph proceed to the pronouncing of the excomunication againſt the Barons renuing the ſame euery ſunday and holyday.

Math. Paris.

The Barons deuounced accurſed by the Popes commaundement.

Although the Barons bycauſe that in the Popes letters there were none of them expreſly named) made none account of the cenſure, reputing it as voyde, and not to concerne them in any maner of poynt.

But now to returne to king Iohn. After he had wonne the caſtel of Rocheſter (as before you haue heard) he haſted to S. Albons, and there hee
Page: 593
deuided his army into two partes, •… ng Iohn de •… eth his ar •… into two •… es. appoynting the one to remaine in the parties about London, whileſt he himſelfe with the other might goe into the north parties to waſt and deſtroy the poſſeſſions of certaine Lordes there, which (as he was informed) went about to rayſe an armie agaynſt him. •… lidore. •… at. Paris. He made Captaines of that armie which he left behinde him, his brother William, Earle of Saleſburie, Sauarie de Mauleon, William Brewer, Walter Buc, and others. He himſelfe departed frō S. Albons about the .xxj. day of December, leading his ſayd army northwardes. In which were chiefe captaines theſe that followe, Wil. Erle of Albemarle, Philip de Albeney, and Iohn Marſhal. Alſo of ſtraūgers, Gerard de Sotigam, & Godſtall with the Flemings, the Croſbows,

•… ng Iohn go 〈◊〉 northward

Mat. Par.

and others. The firſt night he lay at Dunſtable, & from thence paſſing forwardes towardes Northampton, he deſtroyed by the way all the manours, places, and houſes, which belonged to the aduerſaries, and ſo kept on his iourney till hee came to Notingham, where he lay in the Caſtell on Chriſtmaſſe day, and in the morning being S. Stephens day he went to Langar, and lodged there that night, ſending his ſūmons in the morning to the Caſtell of Beauer, willing thē within to yeeld. This caſtell apperteyned to Wil. Albeney, who had cōmitted the cuſtodie therof vnto his ſon Nicholas de Albeney prieſt, to ſir Wil. de Stodham, and to ſir Hugh Charnelles knights: the which came to the king with the keyes of the Caſtell, and ſurrendered the ſame vnto him, with condition that he ſhoulde be good to their maſter the ſayd William de Albeney, and graunt to thē their horſes and armor, with which they woulde remain with him vnder his peace and protection.

On the next morow being S. Iohns day,The Caſtell of Beauoit rendred to the king. the king went to the caſtell, and receyuing the •… me, deliuered it to the keeping of Geffrey But •… vile, and his brother Oliuer.

After this,Dunnington Caſtell taken and razed. was the Caſtell of Iohn La •… e at Dunnington taken, and razed •… t to the ground, by commaundement of the king, who hauing accompliſhed his will in thoſe parties, drew •… towardes Yorkeſhire, and at his comming thither, deſtroyed the houſes, townes, and manours of thoſe Lords and Gentlemen which were againſt him. It is horrible to heare,Mat. Par. and lothſome to reherſe the crueltie which was practiſed by the ſouldiers and men of war, in places where they came, to ſpoyle and ranſacke the houſes of the people without pitie or compaſſion, and beſides the robberies, ſpoyles and great outrage vſed by the ſoldiers generally agaynſt the common people, fewe there were in that Countrey of great lynage or wealth, whom the king for theyr aſſembling thē ſelues wyth the Barons, eyther ſpoyled not, or put not to execution. And thus with his armye (to the great deſolation of the Countrey) he paſſed forth to the borders of Scotland, •… ng Iohn ta •… h the caſtel Barwike. and entring that Realme, tooke the Caſtell of Barwike, and other places of ſtrength in thoſe parties, meaning to haue wonne more from the Scottes, if other vrgent buſineſſe had not called him backe again. The Countrey therefore which lieth betwixt the riuer of Theſe, and the confines of Scotlande, he committed to the keping of Hugh de Baliol,Hugh de Ballol, and Philip de Hulcotes. and to Philip de Hulcotes, aſſigning to them ſuch cō uenient number of men of warre as was thought expedient, and the cuſtodie of the caſtels in Yorkſhire he deliuered to Robert de Vepount,Robert de Vepont, Brian de Liſle, Geffrey de Lucie. to Brian de Liſle, and to Geffrey de Lucie.

Finally, when he had ſo ordred things in the North parties as ſtoode with his pleaſure, ſo that there remayned no mo but two Caſtelles, that is to witte,Montſorel betwixt Leiceſter and Lughborough. Mountſorrell and another in Yorkſhire, that apperteyned to Robert de Roos in poſſeſſion of the Barons, he returned by the borders
Page: 596
of Wales into the ſouth parts: and by all the way as he paſſed he ſhewed great crueltie agaynſt hys aduerſaries, beſieging and taking their Caſtelles and ſtrong houſes of the which ſome he cauſed to be fortified with garniſons of ſoldiers to his own vſe, and ſome hee razed. The •… ke feates were wrought by the other army in he partyes aboute London. For William E •… e of Saliſburie, and Foukes de Brent, with 〈◊〉 other captains which the King had left •… hinde him there, perceyuing that the Citie would not eaſily be wonne by any ſiege, firſt furniſhed the Caſtell of Windſore, Hertford and Barkhamſ •… ed, with ſuche ſtrong garniſons of ſouldiers as might watch, vpon occaſion giuen to aſſaile thoſe that ſhould eyther go into the Citie, or come from thence: they marched forth with the reſidue of the armie, and paſſing through the Counties of Eſſex, and Hartford,The Ea •… Sali-berrie with his 〈◊〉 inuadeth 〈◊〉 Countreys •… bout Lo •… Middleſex, Cambridge, and Huntington, waſted the Countreys, and brought the townes to become tributaries to them. And as for the houſes, manor places, parkes, and other poſſeſſions of the Barons, they waſted, ſpoiled and deſtroyed them, running euen hard to the citie of London, and ſetting fire in the Suburbes. In this meane time, whileſt the king goeth forwarde on his iourney northwardes, vpon the .xviij. of December laſt paſt,The Caſtell of Hanſlap. the Caſtel of Hanſlap was taken by Foukes de Brent, whiche apperteyned vnto William Mauduit, and the ſame day was the Caſtell of Tunbridge alſo taken by the garniſon of Rocheſter,Tunbridge Caſtell. which Caſtel of Tunbridge belonged vnto the Earle of Clare. Moreouer, the foreſayde Foukes de Brent cōming vnto Bedford wanne both the towne and Caſtell:Bedford taken by Foukes de Brent. for they that had the Caſtell in keeping, after .vij. dayes reſpite (which they obteined at the hands of the ſaid Fouks) whē reſcue came not frō the Lord Wil. Beauchampe their maſter,William Beauchame. they deliuered it vnto y^e ſaid Foukes. Vnto whō K. Iohn gaue not only that Caſtell, but alſo committed to his keeping the Caſtels of Northamtō,Caſtels deliuered to the keeping of Fouks de Brent. Oxford & Cambridge. The K. had this Foukes in great eſtimation, and amongſt other wayes to aduaunce him, he gaue to him in mariage Margaret de Riuers,

Foukes de Brent aduaunced by mariage.

Rockinghem, Sawey, and Biham.

a Lady of high nobilitie, with all the landes and poſſeſſions that to hir belonged. Moreouer, to Wil. Erle of Albema •… the king deliuered the cuſtodie of the caſtels of Ro •… ingham, Sawey, & Biham. To one Ranulte Teutonieus, the Caſtell of Barkehamſted, and to Water Goderuile ſeruant to Foukes de Brent, he betooke the keping of the caſtel of Hertford. And thus what on the one part, and on the other, the Barons loſt in maner all their poſſeſſions from the ſouth ſea vnto the borders of Scotlande, the king ſeazing the ſame into his handes, and committing them to the keeping of ſtraungers, and ſuch other as he thought more truſtie and conuenient. And in all this meane tyme, the barons lay at London banquetting and making merry, without attempting any exployte prayſeworthie. But yet when they heard by certaine aduertiſement, what hauock and deſtruction was made of their houſes and poſſeſſions abrode, they could not but lament their miſeries, and amongſt other their complaints which they vttered one to another, they ſore blamed the Pope, as a chiefe cauſe of all theſe euils, for that he mainteyned and defended the king againſt them.

In deede about the ſame time Pope Innocent, who before at the inſtant ſute of king Iohn had excommunicate the Barons in generall,The Baro •… accuſed 〈◊〉 name. doth now excommunicate them by name, and in perticular, as theſe. Firſt all the Citizens of London which were authors of the miſchief that had happened by the rebellion of the ſaide Barons. Alſo Robert Fitz Water, Saer de Quiney Earle of Wincheſter, R. his ſon, G. de Mandeuile, & W.
Page: 597
his brother the Erle of Clare, & G. his ſonne, H. Earle of Hereford. R. de Percy, G. de Veſcy, I. Coneſtable of Cheſter, W. de Mountbray, Wil. de Albeny, W. his ſon, R. de Roos, & W. his ſon, P. de. Brenſe, R. de Creſſey, I. his ſon, Ranulfe Fitz Robert, R. Erle Bygot, H. his ſon, Robert de Vere, Foulke Fitz Warren, W. Mallet, W. de Moūtacute, W. Fitz Marſhall, W. de Beauchampe, S. de Kime, R. de Montbygons, and Nicholas de Stutvile, with diuerſe other.

The army which king Iohn had left behinde him in the South partes, vnder the leading of the Earle of Saliſburie and other, lay not ydle, but ſcouring the Countreys abroade (as partly yee haue heard) came to Saint Edmondſburie, •… e Cog. and hauing intelligence there, that dyuerſe knightes, Ladyes, and Gentlewomen that were there before theyr comming, were fled out of that towne, and for theyr more ſafetye were withdrawne into the Iſle of Elye, they followed them, beſieged the Ile, and aſſayled it on eche ſyde, ſo that (although they within had fortified the paſſages, and appoynted menne of warre to remayne vpon the garde of the ſame in places where it was thought moſte needefull yet at length they entered vpon them by force, Walter Bucke wyth hys Brabanders beeyng the fyrſt that got ſoote wythin the Iſle towardes Herbey: For by reaſon that the waters in the Fenues and Dytches were harde frozen, ſo that menne myghte paſſe by the ſame into the ſayde Iſle, they founde meanes to enter,

The Ile of Ely ſpoyled.

Polidor. Bernwel.

and ſpoyled it from ſyde to ſyde, togyther wyth the Cathedrall Churche, carying from thruce at theyr departure, a marueylous great pray of goodes and Caſtell.

The Barons of the Realme being thus afflicted with ſo many miſchiefes all at one tyme, as both by the ſharpe and cruel warres which the king made agaynſt them on the one ſyde, and by the enmitie of the Pope on the other, ſyde, they knewe not whiche way to turne them, nor how to ſeeke for reliefe. For by the loſſe of theyr complices taken in the Caſtell of Rocheſter, they ſawe not how it ſhoulde any thing auayle them to ioyne in battaile with the king. Therfore conſidering that they were in ſuch extremitie of diſpayre, they reſolue with themſelues to ſeeke for ayde at the enimies handes, and therevpon Saer Earle of Wincheſter, •… ordes •… o the 〈◊〉 kings 〈◊〉 offring •… n the •… e. and Robert Fitz Water, with letters vnder theyr ſeales were ſent vnto Lewes the ſonne of Philip the French king, offering him the Crowne of England, and ſufficient pledges for performaunce of the ſame and other couenāts to be agreed betwixt thē, requiring him with al ſpeede to come vnto their ſuccors. This Lewes had maried (as before is ſaide) Blanche daughter to Alfonſe king of Caſtile, nece to king Iohn by his ſiſter Elenore. Now king Philip the father of this Lewes, being glad to haue ſuch an occaſion to inuade the Realme of Englande which he neuer loued, promiſed willingly that his ſonne ſhould come vnto the ayde of the ſaid Barons with all conuenient ſpeed (but firſt he receyueth .xxiiij. hoſtages which he placeth at Compaigne for further aſſurance of the couenants accorded.) And herewith he prepared an army, and diuerſe ſhippes to tranſport his ſonne and hys armie ouer into Englande: alſo in the meane time, and to put the Barons in comfort, he ſent ouer a certaine number of men of warre,French men ſent ouer to the ayde of the Barons. vnder the leading of the Chatelayne of Saint Omers, the Chatelayne of Arras, Hugh Thacon, Euſtace de Neuile, Baldwin Brecell, William de Wimes, Giles de Melun, W. de Beamōt, Giles de Herſie, Biſet de Ferſie, and others,The Saterday after the Epiphanie, ſayth Raufe Cogheſhall. the whiche taking the ſea, arryued with .xlj. ſhippes in the Thames, & ſo came to Lōdon the .xxvij. of Febr.
Page: 598
where they were receyued of the Barons with great ioy and gladneſſe.

Moreouer the ſayde Lewes wrote to the Barons how that he purpoſed by Gods aſſiſtance to be at Calice by a day appoynted with an armye redy to paſſe ouer w^t all ſpeed vnto their ſuccors.

Raufe Cog.The Fryday before Candlemaſſe day, Sauarie de Mauleon, and other Captaines of the kings ſide, layde ſiege to the Caſtell of Colcheſter, but hauing intelligence that the Barons which lay at London made forward with all ſpeede to come to ſuccor that Caſtell, on the Wedneſday after Candlemaſſe day, being the thirde of Februarie, they •… ayſ •… d their ſiege, & went backe towards S. Edmondſburie.

In this meane time, the king being gone (as ye haue hearde) vnto the borders of Scotlande, a bruyte was rayſed that hee was deade, and ſecretely buryed at Reding. But this rumour had not tyme to worke any great alteration, for after he had diſpatched his buſineſſe in the north, as hee thought expedient, he returned, and comming into the Eaſt parts about the midſt of lent, himſelfe in perſon beſieged the Caſtell of Colcheſter, and wythin a fewe dayes after hys comming thyther it was delyuered vnto hym by the Frenche men that kept it, wyth condition that they myght depart with all their goodes and armour, vnto theyr fellowes at London, and that the Engliſhmen that were there in their companie within that Caſtel, might likewiſe depart vpon reaſonable raunſome. But although that couenant was kept with the French men, the Engliſhmen were ſtayed and committed to priſon. Wherevpon when the Frenchmen came to London, they were apprehended and charged with treaſon for making ſuch cōpoſition, wherby thoſe Engliſhmen that were fellowes with them in armes were ſecluded from ſo beneficiall conditions as they had made for themſelues. They were in daunger to haue beene put to death for theyr euill dealing herein, albeit at length it was concluded that they ſhoulde remayne in pryſon till the comming of Lewes, vnto whoſe pleaſure theyr cauſe ſhoulde be referred.

After this was the Caſtell of Hydingham woonne, whiche belonged vnto Earle Robert de Vere. And then the King prepared to beſiege London. But the Londoners were of ſuch courage, that they ſet open theyr gates, and hearing of the kings approch, made readie to iſſue forth to giue him battaile: whereof the king being aduertiſed, he withdrewe backe, but Sauarie de Mauleon was ſodenly ſette vppon by the Londoners, loſt many of his men, and was ſore wounded himſelfe.

The King therefore perceyuing it woulde not preuaile him to attempt the wynning of the Citie at that tyme, drewe alongeſt the coaſte, fortifyed hys Caſtelles, and prepared a greate Nauie, meaning to encounter his enimy Lewes by Sea: But through tempeſt the ſhippes which hee hadde got togyther from Yermouth, Dunwiche, Lynne, and other Hauens, were diſperſed in ſunder, and many of them caſt awaye, by rage and violence of the outrageous windes.

Somewhat before this tyme alſo when hee heard of the compact made betwixt the Barons and his aduerſaries the French men,King 〈◊〉 once 〈◊〉 ſet •… the Po •… hee diſpatched a Meſſenger in all haſt to the Pope, ſignifying to him what was in hande and practiſed agaynſt him, requiring furthermore the ſaid pope by his authoritie to cauſe Lewes to ſtay his iorney, and not to ſuccor thoſe rebels in Englande which he had alreadie excommunicated.

The Pope deſirous to helpe king Iohn in all that he might, bycauſe he was now his Vaſſall,

An. 〈…〉

Cardi •… Gu •… lo.

Ma •…

ſent his Legate Gualo into Fraunce to diſſwade king Philip from taking any enterpriſe in hande againſt the king of England. But king Philip though he was content to heare what the Legate coulde ſay, yet by no meanes he coulde be turned from the execution of his purpoſe, alledging that king Iohn was not the lawful king of England, hauing firſt vſurped & taken it away from his nephew Arthur the lawful inheritor. And that now
Page: 599
ſithence as an enimie to his owne royall dignity he had giuen the right of his ſayde kingdome away to the Pope (which he could not do without conſent of his nobles.) And therefore thorow his owne fault he was worthily depriued of all hys kingly honour. For the kingdome of Englande (ſaith he) neuer belonged to the patrimonie of S. Peter, nor at any tyme ſhall for admit that hee were rightfull king, yet neyther he nor any other Prince may giue away his kingdome withoute the aſſent of his Barons, which are bounde to defende the ſame, and the prerogatiue royall, to the vttermoſt of their powers. Furthermore (ſaith he) if the Pope do meane to maintaine this error, he ſhall giue a perilous example to al kingdome of the worlde. Herewithall the nobles of France 〈◊〉 preſent, proteſted alſo with one voyce, that in defence of this article they would ſtand vnto death, which is, that no king or prince at his will and pleaſure might giue away his kingdom, or make it tributarie to any other po •… tate, whereby the Nobles ſhoulde become thrall or ſubiect to a forrain gouernor. Theſe things were done at Lions in the quindene after Eaſter.

On the morrow following being the .xxvj. of Aprill, by his fathers procuremēt, Lewes came into the Councell Chamber, and with frowning looke behelde the Legate, •… es the •… ch kings •… e maintei •… his pre •… ed title to •… rowne of •… ande. where by his procurator he defended the cauſe that moued him to take vppon him this iourney into Englande, diſprouing not onely the right which king Iohn had to the crowne but alſo alledging his owne intereſt, not only by his new election of the barons, but alſo in the title of his wife, whoſe mother the Queene of Caſtile remayned only in life of all the brethren & ſiſters of Henry the ſecond late king of England, (as ye before haue heard.) The Legate made anſwere herevnto, that king Iohn had taken vpon him the Croſſe, as one appoynted to goe to warre agaynſt Gods enimies in the holy land, 〈◊〉 priuilege •… oſe that •… e vpon the croſſe. wherfore he ought by decree of the general Coūcell to haue peace for foure yeares to come, and to remaine in ſuretie vnder protection of the Apoſtolike Sea. But Lewes replied thereto, that king Iohn had firſt inuaded by warre his Caſtels and landes in Picardy, and waſted the ſame, as Buncham caſtell & Liens, with the countie of Guiſnes which belonged to the fee of the ſayd Lewes. But theſe reaſons notwithſtanding, 〈◊〉 . Paris. the Legate warned the French king on paine of curſing, not to ſuffer his ſonne to goe into Englande: and likewiſe hys ſonne, that he ſhould not preſume to take the iorney in hand. But Lewes hearing this, declared that his father had nothing to do to forbid him to proſecute his right in y^e realm of England, which was not holden of him. And therefore he required his father not to hinder his purpoſe in ſuch things which belonged nothing to him, but rather to lycence him to ſeake the recouery of his wines right which he •… ent to purſue with per •… ll of life if 〈◊〉 ſhould require. The Legate perceyuing he coulde not preuaile in his ſute made to k. Philip thought that he would not ſpend time longer in vaine, in further treating with him, but ſped him forth into England, obteining yet a ſafecōduct of the french king to paſſe through his realme▪ The French kings ſonne ſendeth to the Pope. Lewes in like maner purpoſing by all meanes to preuēt the Legate firſt diſpatched forth Ambaſſadors in a •… aſt vnto the Court of Rome to excuſe himſelfe to the Pope, and to render the reaſons that moſt ſpecially moued him to proceede forwarde in his a •… erpriſe againſt king Iohn, being called by the Barons of England to take the crowne thereof vpon him. And this done, with all co •… hie •… e ſpeed he came downe to Calice,He commeth to Calice. where be found 〈◊〉 ſhips wel appointed and trimmed, which Enſtate •… urnamed the Monke had gathered and prepared there readie agaynſt his comming.

Lewes therefore forthwith embarking himſelfe with his people, and all neceſſarie prouiſions for ſuch a iourney, tooke the Sea,He taketh the ſea. and arriued at a place called Stanehorre in the Ile of Tenet,He landeth in Kent. vpō the .xxj. day of May, and ſhortly after came to Sandwiche and there landed with all his people. Here hee alſo encamped vppon the ſhore by the ſpace of three dayes. In which meane time there came vnto him a greate number of thoſe Lordes and Gentlemen which had ſent for him,The Lordes do homagee vnto him. & there euery one apart and by himſelfe ſware fealtie and homage vnto him, as if he had bene their true and naturall Prince.

King Iohn about the ſame time that Lewes thus arriued, came to Douer, meaning to fight with his aduerſa •… yes by the way as they ſhoulde come forwarde towardes London. But yet vpon other aduiſement taken, he chaunged his purpoſe,Mat. Par. bycauſe hee putte ſome doubt in the Flemings and other ſtraungers, of whome the moſt part of his armye conſiſted, bycauſe hee knewe that they hated the Frenche men no more than
Page: 600
they did the Engliſh. Therefore furniſhing the Caſtell of Douer, with men, munition, and vittails; he left it in the keeping of Hubert or Burgh, a man of notable prowes and valiancie, and returned himſelfe vnto Canterburie, and frō thence tooke the high way towardes Wincheſter.

Lewes being aduertiſed that king Iohn was retyred out of Kent, paſſed through the countrey without any encounter, and wanne al the caſtels and holdes as he went, but Douer he coulde not wynne.

At his comming to Rocheſter, he layde ſiege to the caſtel there, & wan it,Rocheſter •… ſtell w •… cauſing at the ſtraungers that were found within it to be hanged.

Lewes commeth to London.This done, he came to London, and there receyued the homage of thoſe Lordes and gentlemen whiche had not yet done theyr homage to him at Sandwich. And he on the other part toke an othe to mainteyn and performe the old lawes and cuſtomes of the realme, and to reſtore to euerie man his rightfull heritage and landes, requyring the Barons furthermore to continue faythfull towardes him, aſſuring them to bring things ſo to paſſe, that the realme of Englande ſhoulde recouer the former dignitie, and they their auncient liberties. Moreouer hee vſed them ſo courteouſly, gaue them ſo fayre wordes, and made ſuch large promiſes, that they beleeued him with all theyr heartes. And the rumor of this his outward courteſie being once ſpred through the Realme, cauſed great numbers of people to come flocking to him, amongſt whō there were diuerſe of thoſe which before had taken part with king Iohn, as William Erle Warren,Noble men reuolting frō king Iohn vnto Lewes. William erle of Arundell, William Earle of Saliſburie, William Marſhall the yonger, and diuerſe other, ſuppoſing verily that the Frenche kings ſonne ſhoulde nowe obteine the kingdome,Simon Langton Chancellor to Lewes. who in the meane time ordeyned Simon Langton afore mentioned, to bee his Chancellor, by whoſe preaching and exhortation, aſwel the Citizens of London as the Barons that were excōmunicate, cauſed diuine ſeruice to be celebrated in their preſēce, induced therto bycauſe Lewes had alreadie ſent his procurators to Rome before his coming into Englande, there to ſhewe the goodneſſe of his cauſe and quarell. But this auayled them not, neyther tooke his excuſe any ſuch effect as he did hope it ſhould: for thoſe Ambaſſadors that king Iohn had ſent thither, replied againſt theyr aſſertions, ſo that there was hard hold about it in that Court, albeit that the Pope would decree nothing till he heard further from his Legate Gualo,Car •… lo c •… ouer i •… lande. who the ſame time (being aduertiſed of the procedings of Lewes in his iorney w^t all diligence haſted ouer into England, & paſſing through the middle of his aduerſaries, came vnto King Iohn, as then ſoiorning at Gloceſter, of whō he was moſt ioyfully receiued, for in him king Iohn repoſed all his hope of victorie. This Legate immediatly after his cōming did excōmunicate Lewes by name, with all hys fautors & cōplices, but ſpecially Simon de Langton, with booke, bel, & cādel, as y^e maner was. But the ſame Simon, & one Geruaſe de Hobrug dean of S. Pauls in Lōdon, with other, alledged that for the right and ſtate of the cauſe of Lewes, they had alredy appealed to the court of Rome, & therfore the ſentence publiſhed by Gualo they tooke as voyd. The ſame time alſo, all the knights & men of warre of Flanders and other parties of beyond the ſea, which had ſerued the king,The 〈◊〉 part of th •… ſtraung •… par •… 〈◊〉 ſeruice o •… Iohn. departed from him, except onely the Poictouins. And part of them that thus went from him, reſorted vnto Lewes, and entred into his wages: but the reſidue repayred home into their owne countries, ſo y^t Lewes being thus encreaſed in power, departed frō London, & marching towards Wincheſter, he wan y^e caſtels of Rigate, Guildford, & Farnham.Caſtel 〈◊〉 by Ie •…

Page: 601
From thence he went to Wincheſter where y^e Citie was yeelded vnto him, with all the Caſtels and holdes thereabout, as Woluefey, Odyham, and Beamnere. Whileſt the ſayde Lewes was thus occupyed in Suſſex, about the ſubduing of that countrey vnto his obeyſance, there was a yong Gentleman in thoſe parties named William de Collingham, •… am de •… ingham •… tleman •… ſſex. who in no wiſe would doe fealtie to Lewes, but aſſembling togither aboute the number of a thouſande archers, kept himſelfe within the wooddes and deſerte places, whereof that countrey is full, and ſo during all the tyme of this warre, ſhewed himſelfe an enimie to the French men, ſlaying no ſmall numbers of them, as he tooke them at any aduantage.

In like manner, all the Fortreſſes, Townes, and Caſtels in the South parties of the Realme were ſubdued vnto the obeyſance of Lewes, (the Caſtels of Douer and Windeſor onely excepted.)

Within a little while after, Wil. te Mandeuile, Robert Fitz Walter, and William de Huntingfield, •… els forti •… by Kyng •… n. with a greate power of men of warre, dyd the like vnto the Countreys of Eſſex and Suffolke. In whyche ſeaſon, Kyng Iohn fortified the Caſtels of Wallingforde, Corfe, Warham, Briſtow, the Vies, and diuerſe others, with munition and vittailes. About whych time, letters came alſo vnto Lewis from his procurators, which he had ſent to the Pope, by the tenor whereof he was aduertiſed, that notwithſtanding all that they coulde doe or ſay, the Pope meante to excommunicate him, and did but onely ſtay till he had receyued ſome aduertiſement from his Legate Gual •… .

The chiefeſt poyntes (as we fynde) that were layde by Lewes his procurators againſte King Iohn were theſe,The poyntes wherewith King Iohn was charged. that by the murther committed in the perſon of his nephew Arthur, hee had bene condemned in the Parliamente chamber, before the Frenche Kyng, by the peeres of Fraunce, and that beeing ſummoned to appeare, he had obſtinately refuſed ſo to doe, and therefore had by good right forfeyted not only his lands within the precinct of Fraunce, but alſo the Realme of England which was now due vnto the ſayde Lewes as they alledged, in righte of the Lady Blanche his wife, daughter to Eleanor Quene of Spaine. But the Pope refelled all ſuche allegations as they produced for proofe heereof, and ſeemed to defende King Iohns cauſe very pithyly, but namely, in that hee was vnder the protection of him as ſupreme Lord of Englande. And againe, for that hee had taken vppon him the Croſſe (as before ye haue heard.) But now to returne where we left.

About the feaſt of Saint Margaret, Lewes with the Lordes came agayne to London, at whoſe comming, the Tower of London was yeelded vp to him by appoyntmente, after whiche, the Frenche Captaynes and Gentlemen, thinking themſelues aſſured of the Realme, beganne to ſhewe their inwarde diſpoſitions and hatred towarde the Engliſhmen, and forgetting all former promiſes (ſuch is the nature of ſtraungers,The French men begin to ſhewe themſelues in their kinde. that are once become Lordes of theyr deſires,) they did many exceſſiue outrages, in ſpoyling and robbing the people of the coūtrey, without pitie or mereye. And not onely brake into mens houſes, but alſo into Churches, and tooke out of the ſame ſuche veſſels and ornamentes of golde and ſyluer, as they dyd lay handes vppon: for Lewes coulde not now rule the greedy Souldiers, being giuen wholy to the ſpoyle. But moſt of all, theyr tyrannie did appeare in the Eaſt partes of the Realme, when they wente through the Countreys of Eſſex, Suffolke and Northfolke, where they miſerably ſpoyled the Townes
Page: 602
and villages, reducing thoſe quarters vnder their ſubiection, and making them tributaries vnto Lewes in moſt ſeruile and flauiſh manner.

The Caſtell of Norwich left for a pray to Lewes.Moreouer, at his comming to Norwiche, hee found the Caſtell voyde of defence, and ſo tooke it, without any reſiſtaunce, and put into it a garriſon of his Souldiers. Alſo hee ſente a power to the Towne of Linne,Linne. whiche conquered y^e ſame, and tooke the Citizens priſoners, cauſing them to pay greate ſummes of money for theyr raunſomes.

Thomas de Burgh taken priſoner.Moreouer, Thomas de Burgh, Chatelayne of the Caſtel of Norwich, who vpon the approch of the Frenchmenne to the Citie, fiedde out, in hope to eſcape, was taken Priſoner, and put vnder-ſafekeeping. He was brother vnto Hubert de Brughe Captayne of Douer Caſtell.

Now when Lewes had thus finiſhed his enterpriſes in thoſe parties, he returned to London,Gilbert 〈◊〉 G •… Earle of •… •… o •… and ſhortly therevpon created Gilbert de Gaunte Earle of Lincolne, appoynting hym to got thither with all conueniente ſpeede, that he myghte reſiſt the iſſues made by them whyche helde the Caſtels of Nottingham and Newarke, waſting and ſpoyling the poſſeſſions and landes belonging to the Barons neere adioyning to the ſame Caſtels. Thys Gilbert de Gaunt then, togyther with Roberte de Ropeley, comming into that countrey,Lincolne won. tooke y^e Citie of Lincolne, and brought all the countrey vnder ſubiection (the Caſtell only excepted.Holland in Lincolnſhire inuaded.) After that, they inuaded Holland, and ſpoyling that Countrey, made it alſo tributary vnto the Frenche. Lykewiſe, Roberte de Roos, Peter de Bruys, and Richarde Percy, ſubdued Yorke,Yorkſhire ſubdued to Lewes. and all Yorkſhire, bringing the ſame vnder the obeyſance of Lewes. The K. of Scottes in lyke ſorte, ſubdued vnto the ſayde Lewes, all the countrey of Northumberlande, excepte the Caſtels whyche Hugh de Baliole, and Phillippe de Hulcotes valiantly defended againſte all force of enimies. And as theſe wicked Rebels made a pray of their own countrey, ſo the Legate Guallo not behynde for his parte to get ſomethyng ere all ſhould be gone, tooke proxies of euery Cathedrall Church and houſe of Religiō within England,The Legate Gualo gathereth prox •… s. Sequ •… ation of benefices. that is to witte, for euery proxie fiftie Shillings.

Moreouer, hee ſequeſtred all the benefices of thoſe perſons and religious men, that eyther ayded or councelled Lewes, and the Barons, in their attemptes and enterpriſes. All whiche benefices he ſpeedily conuerted to his owne vſe, and to the vſe of his Chaplaynes. In the meane time, Lewes was broughte into ſome good hope thorough meanes of Thomas de Burgh, whome he had taken Priſoner, (as before you haue heard,) to perſwade his brother Hubert to yeld vp y^e Caſtel of Douer, the ſiege where of was the next enterpriſe which he attempted. For his father king Phillippe, hearing that the ſame was kepte by a garriſon, to the behoofe of Kyng Iohn, wrote to his ſonne, in blaming him, that hee left behynde hym ſo ſtrong a fortreſſe in hys enimies handes.

Lewes reuelleth i •… vayne 〈◊〉 the Caſtell of Douet.

Raufe C •…

But though Lewes enforced hys whole endeuour to winne that Caſtell, yet all his trauayle was in vayne. For the ſayde Hubert de Burgh, and Gerard de Sotigam, that were chiefe Captaynes within, dyd theyr beſt to defende it agaynſte hym and all hys power, ſo that deſpayring to winne it by force, hee aſſayed to obteyne his purpoſe, by threatning to hang the Captaynes brother before hys face, if he woulde not yelds the ſooner. But when that would not ſerue, he ſoughte to winne him by large offers of golde and ſyluer Howbeit, ſuch was the ſingular conſtancie of Huberte, that hee woulde gyue no
Page: 603
care to thoſe his flattering motions. Then Lewes in a great furie menaced that he would not depart from thence, till he had wonne the Caſtel, and put all them within to death, and began to aſſayle it with more force than before he hadde done.

The Barons alſo, which at this ſeaſon lay at London, made a rode vnto Cambridge, and toke the Towne, and after wente foorth into Northfolke and Suffolke (as it were, to gather vp ſuch ſcrappes as the Frenche had left) ſpoyling thoſe countreys very pitifully, with Churches and all. They canſtreyned the Townes of Yermouth, •… mouth •… wich and •… peſwich •… nſomed. Dunwiche and Gippeſwiche, to pay to them great ſummes of money by way of raunſoming. And at length returning by Colcheſter, they vſed the lyke practiſe there. From thence, they returned to London, and ſhortly after, vnder the conduit of the Earle of Neuers (vpon a ſodayne) they wente vnto Windeſor, and layde a ſtrong ſiege about that Caſtel. In the which was Captayne Ingelarde de Athie, with ſixtie valiaunte Knightes, and other men of warre of their ſuite, the which manfully ſtoode at defence. In the moneth of Auguſt, Alexander K. of Scotland came through the countrey vnto the ſiege of Douer, & there did homage vnto Lewes, •… xander K. Scottes. 〈◊〉 homage K. Lewes. as in right of hys tenure holden of the kings of England, and then returned home, but in his comming vp, as hee came by Caſtell Bernarde, in the Countrey of Halywerkfolke (whiche apperteyned vnto Hugh de Baliole) hee loſt his brother in law the Lorde Euſtace de Veſey, •… is Euſtace 〈◊〉 married ſiſter of Alexander. who was ſtriken in the forehead with a quarrell, as he rode in company of the King, neere vnto the ſame Caſtell, to viewe if it were poſſible vpon any ſide to winne it by aſſault.

About the ſame tyme, or rather in the yeare laſt paſt as ſome holde, it fortuned the Vicount of Melune a French man, to fall ſicke at London,Mat. Paris. and perceyuing that death was at hand, hee called vnto hym certayne of the Engliſhe Barons, whyche remayned in the Citie,The Vicount of M •… lune diſcouereth the purpoſe of Lewes. vpon ſafegard thereof, and to them made thys proteſtation: I lament (ſayth he) for your deſtruction, and deſolation at hand, bycauſe ye are ignorant of the perils hanging ouer youre heads. For this vnderſtande, that Lewes, and with him ſixteene Earles and Barons of Fraunce, haue ſecretely ſworne (if it ſhall fortune him to conquere thys Realme of England, and to be Crowned king) to kyll, or baniſhe, and confyne all thoſe of the Engliſhe nobilitie, whyche nowe doe ſerue vnder hym, and perſecute theyr owne Kyng as Traitors and Rebels, and furthermore, diſpoſſeſſe all theyr linage, of ſuche inheritances as they nowe holde in Englande. And bycauſe (ſayth hee) you ſhall not haue doubt heereof, I which lye heere in the poynte of death, doe now affirme vnto you, and take it on the perill of my ſoule, that I am one of thoſe ſixteene that haue ſworne to performe thys thyng: and therefore I aduiſe you, to prouide for youre owne ſafeties, and alſo of your Realme which you nowe deſtroy, and that you keepe this thyng ſecrete whych I haue vttered vnto you. After thys,The Vicount of Melune dyeth. he ſtraight wayes dyed. When theſe wordes of the Lord of Melune were opened vnto the Barons, they were, and not without cauſe, in greate doubt of themſelues, for they ſawe howe Lewes had already placed, and ſet Frenchmenne in moſt of ſuche Caſtels and Townes as he hadde gotten, the right wherof indeede belonged to them. And againe,The Engliſh nobilitie beginneth to miſlike with the marche which they had made with Lewes. it greeued them much to vnderſtande, how beſides the hatred of theyr Prince, they were euery Sunday and holyday openly accurſed in euery Churche, ſo that many of them inwardly relented, and coulde haue bin contented to haue returned to
Page: 604
King Iohn, if they had thought that they ſhould thankfully haue bin receyued.

The death of Pope Innocēt.In this yeare, about the ſeuententh of Iuly, dyed Pope Innocente, whoſe deathe being knowen in England, all they greatly reioyced thereof, that were enimies to Kyng Iohn, for they were in great hope, that his ſucceſſor would haue rather enclined to their parte, than to the Kings: but it fell out otherwiſe,Honorius the third choſen Pope. for Honorius the thirde that ſucceeded the ſame foreſayde Innocente, maynteyned the ſame cauſe in defence of Kyng Iohn, as earneſtly, or rather more, than his predeceſſor hadde done, ſending with all ſpeede hys Bulles ouer into Englande to confirme Gualo in hys former authoritie of Legate, commaunding him with all endeuour, to proceede in hys buſineſſe, in maynteyning the Kyng agaynſte Lewes, and the diſloyall Engliſh nobilitie that ayded the ſayde Lewes. But nowe to our purpoſe.

Kyng Iohn lying all this while at Wincheſter, and hauing knowledge how his aduerſaries were dayly occupied in moſt hard enterpriſes, as in beſieging ſundry ſtrong and inuincible places, ſent foorth hys Commiſſioners to aſſemble men of warre, and to allure vnto his ſeruice all ſuche, as in hope of pray, were minded to followe hys Standerde, of the whiche, there reſorted to hym no ſmall number. So that hauing gotten togyther a competent army for his purpoſe, hee breaketh foorth of Wincheſter,The i •… which K •… Iohn 〈◊〉 the po •… of his a •… ſaries. as it had bin an hideous tempeſt of weather, beating downe al things that ſtoode in hys way, ſending foorthe his people on eache ſyde to waſt the Countreys, to brenne vp the Townes and Villages, and to ſpoyle the Churches and Churchmen. With whiche ſucceſſe, and ſtill encreaſing his fury, hee turned hys whole violence into Cambridge ſhire, where hee dyd hurte ynough.Northfolke and Suffolke. And after entring into the Countreys of Northfolke and Suffolke, hee committed the lyke rage, waſt, and deſtruction, in the landes and poſſeſſions that belonged vnto the Earle of Arundell, vnto Roger Bygot, William de Huntingfield, and Roger de Creſſey.

The ſiege rei •… d from Windſor.The Barons in the meane time that lay at ſiege before the Caſtell of Windeſor, hearing of that hauocke whych Kyng Iohn had made in y^e Eaſt partes of the Realme, ſecretly in the nyght ſeaſon rayſed their Campes and leauing theyr tentes behinde them, with all ſpeede made towards Cambridge. But King Iohn by faythfull eſpials, hauing aduertiſement of their intent, which was, to get betwixt him and the places of his refuge, he withdrewe, and was got to Stanford, ere they mighte reach to Cambridge, ſo that miſſing their purpoſe, after they had taken ſome ſpoyles abroade in the Countrey, they returned to London. King Iohn from Stanforde, marcheth towarde Lincolne, bycauſe hee hearde that the Caſtell there was beſieged,Gilbert de Gaunt 〈◊〉 from the 〈◊〉 of K. Iohn. but thoſe that had beſieged it as Gilbert de Gaunt, and others, hearing that K. Iohn was comming towards thē, durſt not abide him, but fled, and ſo eſcaped. The K. then turned his iourney towards the marches of Wales, & there did much hurt to thoſe places y^t belōged to his aduerſaries. After this alſo, & with a great puiſſant army, he wente eftſoones Eaſtwards, & paſſing through the Countreys, came again into the Counties of Northfolke & Suff. waſting & afflicting al that came in his way, and at length comming to Linne,

Lynne.

The Abbe •… of Pete •… and Cro •… ſpoyled.

Bernewe.

was there ioyfully receiued. Then keeping forth Northwards, hee ſpoiled the townes & Albeyes of Peterburgh, and Crowland. Here at Crowland, a number of the kings enimies were withdrawen into y^e Church, but Sauary de Mauleon, being ſent forth to ſeke them, found them there in the Church y^t morrow after S. Michael, & drew thē out by force, ſpoiled
Page: 605
the houſe, and getting a greate bootie and pray of Cattell and other riches, hee with his people conueyed the ſame away at his departyng, after he hadde ranſacked euery corner of the Churche, and other the houſes and places belongyng to that Abbey.

Thus the Countrey beeyng waſted on eache hande, the Kyng paſſeth forwarde tyll he came to Welleſtreme ſandes, where in paſſing the waſhes, •… e loſſe of 〈◊〉 Kyngs •… ages. hee loſt a great parte of his army, wyth Horſes and Carriages, ſo that it was iudged to bee a puniſhmente appoynted by God, that the ſpoyle whyche hadde bene gotten and taken out of Churches, Abbeys, and other Religious houſes, ſhoulde periſhe, and be loſt by ſuche meanes, togither with the ſpoylers. Yet the Kyng hymſelfe, •… t. Paris. •… t. VVeſt. and a fewe other, eſcaped the violence of the waters, by following a good guide. But as ſome haue written, hee tooke ſuche griefe for the loſſe ſuſteyned at thys paſſage, that immediately therevppon hee fell into an agewe,

•… g Iohn •… eth ficke of •… gewe.

Mat. Paris.

the force and heate whereof, togither with his immoderately feeding of rawe Peaches, and drinking of newe Syder, ſo increaſed his ſickneſſe, that he was not able to ryde, but was fayne to be carried in a litter preſently made of twigges, with a couche of Strawe vnder him, without anye bedde or pillow, thynking to haue gone to Lincolne, but the diſeaſe ſtill ſo raged and grew vpon him, that hee was inforced to ſtay one nyght at the Caſtell of Laford, and on the next day with great payne, he cauſed hymſelfe to bee carried vnto Newarke, where in the Caſtell through anguiſhe of mynd, rather than through force of ſickneſſe, he departed thys lyfe the nyghte before the nineteenth day of October, in the yeare of his age fiftie and one, and after hee had raigned ſeauen yeares, ſixe monethes, and ſeuen and twentie dayes.

There be whiche haue written, that after hee had loſt hys army, hee ſhoulde come vnto the Abbey of Swyneſhead in Lincolneſhire, and there vnderſtanding the cheapeneſſe and plentie of corne, ſhewed hymſelfe greatly diſpleaſed therewith, as he that for the hatred whiche he bare to the Engliſhe people, that had ſo trayterouſly reuolted from hym vnto his aduerſarie Lewes, wiſhed all miſerie to lighte vppon them, and therevpon ſayde in hys anger, that hee woulde cauſe all manner grayne to be at a farre higher price, ere many dayes ſhoulde paſſe. Wherevppon, a Monke that heard hym ſpeake ſuche wordes, being moued with zeale for the oppreſſion of hys Countrey, •… ns Cro. gaue the Kyng poyſon in a cuppe of Ale. whereof hee fyrſte tooke the aſſaye, to cauſe the Kyng not to ſuſpect the matter, and ſo they both dyed in manner at one time.

•… n &There are that write, howe one of hys owne ſeruauntes dyd conſpire with a conuert of that Abbey, and that they prepared a diſhe of peares, whyche they poyſoned, three if the whole number excepted, whyche diſhe, 〈◊〉 ſayde conuerte preſented vnto hym: and then the Kyng ſuſpected them to be poyſons indeede, by reaſon that ſuch precious ſtones as he hadde about, caſt ſoorth a certayne ſweate, as it were, bewraying the poiſon, hee compelled the ſayde conuerte to faſt and eate ſome of them, who •… nowing the three peares whych were not poyſond, tooke and eate thoſe three, whych when the Kyng had ſeene, he coulde no longer abſteyne, bu •… •… ell too, and eate greedily of the reſt, and ſo •… d the ſame nyghte, neyther any hurte chaunced •… o the conuert, who thorough helpe of ſuche as •… e no good will to the Kyng, founde ſhift to eſcape, and conueyed himſelfe away from daunger of rece •… ing due puniſhmente for ſo wicked a deede.

But verily, touching the manner of his dea •… there is great diuerſitie among Writers.The variable re •… ortes of w •… ers, concerning the death of King Iohn. For beſyde theſe reportes whyche ye haue hearde, there are other that write, howe hee dyed of ſurfeting in the nyghte, as Raufe Niger: ſome of a bloudy flixe, as one hathe, that writeth an addition vnto Roger Houeden. And Raufe Cogheſhall ſayeth, that comming to Lynne, (where he appoynted Sauary de Mauleon to be Captayne, and to take order for y^e fortifying of that towne) hee tooke a ſurfet there of immoderate dyet, and withall fell into a laſke, and after hys laſke had left hym, at hys commyng to Laford in Linſey, hee was let bloud, and to increaſe hys other griefes and ſorrowes for the loſſe of his carriage, iewels & men, in paſſing ouer the waſhes, whych troubled hym ſore: there came vnto him meſſengers from Hubert de Burgh, and Gerard de Sotegam Captaynes of Douer Caſtell, aduertiſing him, that they were not able to reſiſt the forcible aſſaultes and engines of the enimies, if ſpeedy ſuccoures came not to them in tyme.

Hereof his greefe of mynde beyng doubled, ſo as hee myghte ſeeme euen oppreſſed with ſorrow, the ſame increaſſed hys diſeaſe ſo vehemently, that within a ſmall tyme it made an ende of hys lyfe (as before yee haue hearde.)

The menne of warre that ſerued vnder hys enſignes, beeyng for the more parte hyred Souldiers and ſtraungers, came togyther, and marching foorthe with his body, eache man with hys armour on hys backe, in warlike order, conueyed it vnto Worcetor, where hee pompouſly was buryed in the Cathedrall Churche before the hygh Aulter, not for that hee had ſo appointed, (as ſome write,Bernewell.) but bycauſe it was thought to be a place of moſt ſuretie for the Lordes and other of hys friendes there to aſſemble and to take order in their buſineſſe nowe after hys deceaſſe.

Page: 606
Bycauſe he was ſomewhat fatte and corpulente, his bowels vere taken foorth of his body, and buried at Cr •… ton Abbey, a houſe of Mōks, of the order called Premonſtratenſis, in Staffordſhire. The Abbot of which houſe was his Phiſition.

He had iſſue by his wife Queene Iſabell two ſonnes, Henry who ſucceeded him in the Kyngdome, and Richard, with three daughters, Ioane married to Alexander Kyng of Scotlande, Iſabell coupled in matrimony with the Emperoure Fredericke the ſeconde, and Eleanor whome William Earle of Glowceſter had to wife. Hee had alſo another daughter (as ſome haue lefte in writing) called alſo Eleanor.

Hee was comely of ſtature, but of lookes and countenaunce diſpleaſant and angry, ſomewhat cruell of nature, as by the writers of hys time he is noted, and not ſo hardy as doubtfull in time of perill and daunger.

But this ſeemeth to be an enuious report vttered by thoſe that were giuen to ſpeake no good of hym whome they inwardly hated. But yet there be that giue this witneſſe of him, as the author of the booke of Bernewell Abbey and other, that he was a great and mighty Prince, but yet not very fortunate, not vnlike altogither to Marius the noble Romayne, taſting of fortune both wayes: bountifull and liberall vnto Strangers, but of his owne people (for their dayly treaſons practiſed towardes hym) he was a great oppreſſour, ſo that hee truſted more to forreyners than to them, and therefore in the ende he was of them vtterly forſaken.

Verely, who ſoeuer ſhall conſider the courſe of the hiſtory written of thys Prince, hee ſhall fynde, that he hath bin little beholden to y^e Writers of that time in which he liued: for vnneth cā they aford him a good word, except whē y^e trueth enforceth them to come out with it as it were againſt their willes.

And the occaſion (as ſome think) was, for that he was no great friende to the Cleargie. And yet vndoubtedly his deedes ſhew, he hadde a zeale to Religiō as it was then accompted: for he foūded the Abbey of Beaulean in the new forreſt, as it were, in recompence of certayne Pariſhe Churches, which to enlarge the ſame forreſt, he cauſed to be throwen downe and demoliſhed.

Hee alſo buylded the Monaſterie of Farendon, and the Abbey of Hales in Shropſhire. Alſo he repared Godſtow where his fathers concubine Roſamond lay enterred. Likewiſe, he was no ſmall benefactor to the Minſter of Liechfielde in Staffordſhire. Likewiſe, to the Abbey of Crokeſden in the ſame ſhire, and to the Chappell at Knateſburgh in Yorkſhire. So that to ſay what I thinke, hee was not ſo voyde of deuotion towards the Churche, as dyuers of his enimies haue reported, who of meere purpoſe, conceale all his vertues, and hide none of his vices, but are plentifull ynough in ſetting foorthe the ſame to the vttermoſt, and interprete all hys doyngs and ſayings to the worſt, as may appeare to thoſe that aduiſedly reade the workes of them that write the order of hys lyfe,Mat. P •… Polidor, & alii. whych may ſeeme rather an inuectiue than a true hiſtory. Albeeit, ſyth we cannot come by the trueth of things through the malice of Writers, wee muſt contente oure ſelues with this vnfriēdly deſcription of his time. Certaynely it ſhoulde ſeeme the man hadde a princely heart in him, and wanted nothing but faithful ſubiectes to haue wroken himſelfe of ſuch wrongs as were done and offered to him by the French Kyng and others.

Moreouer, the pride and pretenced authoritie of the Cleargie he could not well abide, whē they went about to wraſt out of his hands the prerogatiue
Page: 607
of his princely rule and gouernemente. True it is, that to maynteyne his warres whych he was forced to take in hand, as wel in Fraunce as elſe where, he was conſtreyned to make all the ſhift hee coulde deuiſe to recouer money, and bycauſe he pinched at theyr purſes, they conceyued no ſmall hatred againſt him, which when he perceyued, and wanted peraduenture diſcretion to paſſe it ouer, hee diſcouered now and then in hys rages hys immoderate diſpleaſure, as one not able to bridle his affections, a thing very hard in a ſtout ſtomacke, and thereby he miſſed nowe and then to compaſſe that which otherwiſe he might very well haue broughte to paſſe. 〈◊〉 Paris. It is written, that he meant to haue become feodarſe (for maintenaunce ſake agaynſte hys owne diſloyall ſubiectes, and other his aduerſaries) vnto Miramumeline the great Kyng of the Sarazens: but for the trueth of this reporte, I haue little to ſay, and therefore I leaue the credite thereof to the Authors.

It is reported lykewiſe, that in time when the Realme ſtoode interdited, as he was abroade to hunt one day, it chaunced, that there was a great Stagge or Hart killed, whiche when he came to be broken vp, prooued to be very fatte and thycke of fleſh, oh (ſayth hee) what a pleaſant lyfe thys Deare hathe ledde, and yet in all hys dayes hee neuer hearde Maſſe. To conclude, it may ſeeme, that in ſome reſpectes hee was not greatly ſuperſtitious, and yet not voyde of a religious zeale towardes the mayntenaunce of the Cleargie, as by his bountifull liberalitie beſtowed in buyldyng of Abbeyes and Churches (as before yee haue hearde) it may partly appeare.

There lyued in hys dayes many learned men, as Geffrey Vineſaufe, Simon Fraxinus alias Aſch, Adamus Dorenſis, Gualter de Conſtantijs, firſt Biſhop of Lincolne, and after Archbyſhop of Rouen, Iohn de Oxeford, Colman ſurnamed Sapiens, Richard Canonicus, William Peregrine, Ilane Teukeſbury, Simon Thuruaye, who beeing an excellente Philoſopher, but ſtanding too much in his owne conceyt, vppon a ſuddayne dyd ſo forget all his knowledge in learning, that he became the moſt ignorant of all other, a puniſhment (as was thought) appoynted to hym of God, for ſuche blaſphemies as he hadde wickedly vttered, both againſt Moiſes & Chriſt. Geruaſius Dorobernenſis, Iohn Hanwill,Bale. Nigel Woreker, Gilbert de Hoyland, Benet de Peterburgh, William Parbus a Monke of Newburgh, Roger Houeden, Huberte Walter, firſte Biſhop of Saleſbury, and after Archbyſhoppe of Caunterbury, Alexander Theologus, of whome ye haue heard before, Geruaſius Tilberienſis, Silueſter Giraldus Cambrenſis, who wrote many treatiſes. Ioſeph Deuonius, Walter Mapis, Radulfus de Diceto, Gilbert Legley, Mauritius Morganius, Walter Morganius, Iohn de Fordeham, William Leiceſter, Ioceline Brakeland, Roger of Crowland; Hugh White alias Candidus, that wrote an hiſtory entituled Hiſtoria Petroburgenſis, Iohn de Saint Omer, Adam Barking, Iohn Gray, an Hiſtoriographer and Byſhop of Norwich, Walter of Couentrie, Radulphus Niger. &c. See Bale Scriptorum Britannia Centuria tertia.

Download

Object Type

XML document

Off

HTML output method

https://gitlab.com/calincs/cwrc/leaf/turning-engine/-/raw/main/src/xslts/TEI2HTML_v4.xsl?ref_type=heads

Table of Contents

King Iohn.