temporaltie bare with often paiments, and calling them foorth to serue
personallie in the warres, they thought best now to fetch a fleece from
the spiritualtie and churchmen, considering also that they had béene by
reason of their immunitie more gentlie dealt with, and not appointed to
serue themselues in anie maner of wise. [Sidenote: The colour pretended
in leuieng of monie.] To colour this exaction which they knew would be
euill taken of manie, they bruted abroad, that they leuied this monie
vpon purpose, to send it into the holie land, towards the paiment of the
christian souldiers, which remained there vpon defense of those townes,
which yet the Saracens had not conquered. King Richard therfore comming
to Towrs in Touraine, required a great summe of monie of the cleargie in
those parts, and the like request he made throughout all those his
dominions, on that further side of the sea. King Philip for his part
demanded likewise intollerable tithes and duties of all the churchmen in
his territories, and those that had the gathering of that monie serued
their owne turne, in dealing most streightlie with sillie préests,
making them to paie what they thought good, though sometime beyond the
bounds of equitie and reason.
[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._ Inquisitions taken by a iurie of sundrie
matters.] In September, the iustices itinerants made their circuits
thorough euerie shire and countie of this realme, causing inquisitions
to be taken by substantiall iuries of plées of the crowne both old and
new, of recognisances, of escheats, of wards, of mariages, of all maner
of offendors against the lawes and ordinances of the relme, and of all
other transgressors, falsifiers, and murtherers of Jewes; of the
pledges, goods, lands, debts, and writings of Jewes that were slaine,
and of other circumstances touching that matter. Likewise of the
accompts of shiriffes, as to vnderstand what had béene giuen towards the
kings ransome, how much had béene receiued, and what remained behind to
receiue. Also of the lands that belonged to erle John, and what goods he
had, and what he held in demaine, in wards, escheats, and in gifts, and
for what cause they were giuen. Furthermore, of his fautors and
partakers, which had made fines with the king, and which not, with manie
other articles touching the same earle. [Sidenote: Vsurers.] Also of
vsurers, and of their goods being seized, of wines sold contrarie to the
assise, of false measures, and of such as hauing receiued the crosse to
go into the holie land, died before they set forward. Also of grand
assises that were of an hundred shillings land or vnder, and of
defaults, and of diuerse other things, the iurats were charged to
inquire, and present the same.
The iustices also were appointed to cause the manours, farmes and lands
which the king held in demaine, or by wards and escheats, to be surueied
by a substantiall iurie, and to take order for the conuerting of them to
such vse, as the king might be answered of the gaines rising by the same
at the farmers hands. [Sidenote: Iewes.] Also, the Iewes were appointed
to inroll all their debts, pledges, lands, houses, rents and
possessions. [Sidenote: Iustices, shiriffes and other officers.]
Moreouer, inquisition was taken of iustices, shiriffes, bailiffes,
conestables, foresters and other officers belonging to the king, to
vnderstand in what maner they had behaued themselues in taking and
seizing of things into their hands, and of all such goods, gifts and
promises had and receiued by occasion of leasure made of the lands of
earle John and his fautors, and who receiued the same, [Sidenote: Hubert
archbishop of Canturburie lord chéefe iustice.] and what delaie was
granted by commandement of Hubert archbishop of Canturburie, then lord
chéefe iustice.
In this meane time, whilest these inquisitions were thus taken in
England, king Richard comming foorth of Poictou into Aniou, [Sidenote:
Officers driuen to fine for their offices.] caused all the bailiffes and
officers of that countrie, and also of Maine, to fine with him for their
offices. [Sidenote: The king offended with the lord chauncellor.] After
this, when he came downe into Normandie, he séemed in shew to be
offended with his chancellour the bishop of Elie, about concluding of
the truce with the French king (where as ye haue heard he was cheefe
commissioner) misliking greatlie all that was doone therein, and
therefore he tooke the seale from him, and caused a new seale to be
made, commanding to be proclaimed thorough all his dominions, that
whatsoeuer had béene sealed with the old seale, should stand in no
force, both for that his chancellor had wrought more vndiscreetlie than
was conuenient; [Sidenote: A new seale.] and againe, bicause the same
seale was lost, when Roger Malus Catulus his vicechancellour was
drowned, who perished, among other by shipracke, néere to the Ile of
Cypres, before the king arriued there, being as then on his iournie into
the holie land. Therefore all men had commandement to come to this new
seale, that they might haue their charters and writings confirmed.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ The king returneth into England. He granteth
the English men licence to tournie.] Furthermore, whilest the truce yet
lasted, king Richard sailed ouer into England, where he caused turnies
to be exercised in diuerse places, for the better training vp of
souldiers in feats of warre, that they might growe more skilfull and
perfect in the same, when they should come to the triall of their
forces, whereby he raised no small summes of monie for granting license
to his subiects so to tournie. [Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._ Fines paid for
licence to exercise turnements.] Euerie earle that would tournie, paid
to him for his licence twentie marks, euerie baron ten marks, and euerie
knight hauing lands, did giue foure marks, and those that had no lands
two marks, to the great damnifieng of the people; hauing learned the
common lesson, and receiued the ordinarie rule followed of all, and
neglected of none; namelie,
[Sidenote: _Mal. Pal. in suo sap._]
---- opus est nummis vel morte relictis,
Vel sorte inuentis, vel quauis arte paratis,
Quippe inopem mala multa pati contingit vbíq;,
Nec sine diuitijs fas cuiquam ducere vitam
Fœlicem, &c.
The charter of this grant was deliuered by the king vnto William earle
of Salisburie, to haue the kéeping thereof: but Hubert Walter the
archbishop of Canturburie, and lord chéefe iustice, bade his brother
Theobald Walter collector of the monie, for the scraping and raking
togither whereof, in huge sums, he put the former shifts of extortion
and exaction in practise.
The tenour of the charter concerning the turnements before
remembred.
Richard by the grace of God king of England, duke of Normandie
and Aquitaine, and earle of Aniou, to the reuerend father in
Christ, Hubert archbishop of Canturburie, and primat of all
England, sendeth greeting. Know ye that we haue granted
turnaments to be kept in England in fiue steeds, to wit, betwixt
Sarisburie and Wilton, betwixt Warwike and Kenelworth, betwixt
Stanford and Warmeford, betwixt Brackley and Nixburgh, betwixt
Blie & Tickhill, so that the peace of our land be not broken, nor
yet our iustices authoritie diminished, nor any damage doone to
our forrests. Prouided that what earle soeuer will turney there,
shall giue to vs twentie markes, a baron ten marks, a knight
that hath lands foure marks and he that hath no lands shall giue
two marks.
Moreouer, no stranger shall be admitted to turney there, wherevpon
we command you, that at the daie of the turnieng, ye haue there two
clarkes, and two of our knights to receiue the oth of the earles
and barons, which shall satisfie vs of the said summes of monie,
before the turnieng begin, and that they suffer none to turnie,
till (before) they haue made paiment, and haue caused to be entred
how much & of whom they haue receiued: and ye shall take ten marks
for this charter to our vse, whereof the earle of Salisburie, and
the earle of Clare, and the earle of Warren are pledges. [Sidenote:
Bishops towne.] Witnesse myselfe, at Ville Leuesche, the two and
twentith of August.
Furthermore, ordinances were made and set foorth for the safe keeping of
the peace, so that such as would turney, neither by the waie in comming
or going, or whilest the turnieng lasted, should violentlie take any
thing to serue their necessarie vses, without paieng therefore to the
owner according to the woorth, nor should doo iniurie to any man in any
manner of wise. But now to the other dooings of king Richard, [Sidenote:
I thinke he came not ouer at all into England at this time, but rather
sent his mind vnto the archbishop.] who made no long abode in England at
this time, but shortlie returned into Normandie, bicause he heard that
king Philip had an armie readie leuied. Wherefore meaning to buckle with
him vpon occasion offered, he made the more hast, and being landed
there, approched vnto the borders of the French dominions, incamping
himselfe with his armie in the field, to wait for the time that the
truce should be expired, least the enimie should in any exploit preuent
him. In like manner king Philip hauing with him earle John king Richards
brother, kept his souldiers and men of warre in a readines with him, to
worke any feat that should be thought expedient assoone as the truce
should end.
[Sidenote: 1195.] Whilest both these kings were thus bent to powre out
their malice, and to ease their stomachs with dint of sword, [Sidenote:
Messengers from the pope.] there came messengers from the pope,
exhorting him vnto peace and quietnesse, but his exhortation little
auailed. For they regarding it little or nothing, immediatlie as the
truce was expired, got them abroad into the field, [Sidenote: Isoldune.]
& king Richard drew towards Isoldune, a towne situat in the confines of
Berrie, whither it was reported that the French king meant to come: and
there staid for him a whole day togither. But the French king hearing
that king Richard was there to looke for him, thought it best not to
come there at all. Wherefore king Richard went the next daie vnto a
castell called Brison, and tooke it vpon his first approch. Then went he
to a towne called Nouencourt and perceiuing the same to be strong and
well manned, tooke not in hand to assaile it till the third daie after
his comming thither, at what time he so inclosed the same round about
with diligent watch and ward, that a cat could not haue escaped out of
the place, neither by daie nor night, but that she should haue béene
espied. [Sidenote: Nouencourt yéeldeth to K. Richard. Albermarle
besieged. _Matt. West._ _Polydor._] They within being put in feare
herewith, yeelded vp the towne the daie next following, in which meane
time the French king besieged Albemarle.
Herevpon king Richard, hauing left a garrison of souldiers in
Nouencourt, came to raise the enimie from his siege, & setting vpon the
Frenchmen, there began a sharpe fight: but the Englishmen being wearie
with trauell of their passed iournie, and hauing rashlie entred into the
battell, were not able to indure the Frenchmens violence, so that (not
without great losse) they were constreined to retire with swift flight,
or (to saie the truth) to run awaie a maine pase. The French king hauing
thus chased his enimies, returned to assault Albemarle, woone the
castell by force, and the towne by composition, permitting the garrison
there to depart with all their armour. This doone, he ruinated the
[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._ The earle of Leicesters offer for his ransome.]
castell flat to the ground. Robert earle of Leicester offered to the
French king a thousand marks sterling for his ransome, and to quite
claime to him and his heires for euer all the right which he had to the
castell of Pascie, with the appurtenances, and to get a confirmation
thereof for him both of the pope, and of the king of England: but for
that the warre still lasted, the French king tooke a respite in
answering this offer, neuerthelesse afterwards in the yeare next
insuing, he tooke it, and so the earle was set at libertie.
Not long after this foresaid repulse, the king of England hauing
refreshed his souldiers with some rest after their great trauell, went
to Million, [Sidenote: Million won and rased.] and giuing assault to the
towne wan it at the first brunt, and made it plaine with the earth.
[Sidenote: A motion for peace.] Then was a motion made for peace betwixt
the two kings, being now wearied with long wars: whereof when earle John
was aduertised, who (as it should séeme by some writers) hauing tarried
with the French king till this present, began now to doubt least if any
agréement were made, he might happilie be betraied of the French king by
couenants that should passe betwixt them: he determined therefore with
himselfe to commit his whole safetie to his naturall brother, and to no
man else, perceiuing that the French king made not so great accompt of
him after the losse of his castels in England, as he had doone before.
Herevpon comming to his brother king Richard, "he besought him to pardon
his offense, and though he had not dealt brotherlie towards him, yet
that he would brotherlie forgiue him his rebellious trespasse, adding
furthermore, that whereas he had not heretofore beene thankefull for his
manifold benefits which he had receiued at his hands, yet he was now
most sorie therefore, and was willing to make amends: wherewith he
acknowledged the safegard of his life to rest in him, for the which he
was bound to giue him thanks, if he would grant thereto." The king
mooued with his words, made this answer (as it is said) that he pardoned
him indéed, but yet wished that he might forget such iniuries as he had
receiued at his hands, which he doubted least he should not easilie doo.
[Sidenote: Earle John returneth to the king his brother, and is
pardoned.] Herewith erle John being yet put in good hope of
forgiuenesse, sware to be true euer after vnto him, and that he would
endeuour himselfe to make amends for his misdeeds past, [Sidenote: _Wil.
Paruus._ _R. Houed._ _Matth. Paris._] and so was shortlie after restored
vnto his former degree, honour and estimation in all respects.
But by some writers it should appeare, that earle John, immediatlie vpon
conclusion of the first truce, came from the French king, and submitted
himselfe to his brother, and by mediation of the quéene their mother was
pardoned, receiued againe into fauour, and serued euer after against the
[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._] French king verie dutifullie, séeking by new
atchiued enterprises brought about (to the contentation of his brother)
to make a recompense for his former misdemeanor, reputing it meere
madnesse to make means to further mischeefe; for
---- stultum est hostem iritare potentem,
Atq; malum maius tumidis sibi quærere verbis.
[Sidenote: _R. Houed._] But at what time soeuer he returned thus to his
brother, this yeare (as Roger Houeden saith) he was restored to the
earledoms of Mortaigne in Normandie, and Glocester in England, with the
honour of Eie (the castels onelie excepted) and in recompense of the
residue of the earledoms which he had before inioied, togither with
certeine other lands, his brother king Richard gaue vnto him a yeerelie
pension amounting to the summe of eight thousand pound of Aniouin monie.
[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._ _Wil. Paruus._ _Matth. Paris._ _Polychron._] ¶
Now here to staie a while at matters chancing here about home, I will
speake somewhat of the dooings of Leopold duke of Austrich, who as one
nothing mooued with the pestilence and famine that oppressed his
countrie in this season, but rather hauing his hart hardened, began to
threaten the English hostages that they shuld loose their liues, if king
Richard kept not the couenants which he had vndertaken to performe by a
day appointed. [Sidenote: Baldwin de Betun.] Wherevpon Baldwin Betun one
of the hostages was sent by common agréement of the residue vnto king
Richard, to signifie to him their estate. King Richard willing to
deliuer them out of further danger, sent with the same Baldwin his
coosen, the sister of Arthur duke of Britaine, and the daughter of the
emperour of Cypres, to be conueied vnto the said duke of Austrich, the
one, namelie the sister of Arthur to be ioined in marriage with the
dukes sonne, and the other to continue in the dukes hands to bestow at
his pleasure.
[Sidenote: Duke Leopold catcheth a fall beside his horsse and dieth of
the hurt.] But in the meane time, on saint Stephans day, duke Leopold
chanced to haue a fall beside his horsse, and hurt his leg in such wise,
that all the surgions in the countrie could not helpe him, wherevpon in
extreame anguish he ended his life. And whereas before his death he
required to be absolued of the sentence of excommunication pronounced
against him by the pope (for apprehending of king Richard in his
returning from his iournie made into the holie land) he was answered by
the cleargie, that except he would receiue an oth to stand to the
iudgement of the church for the iniurie doone to king Richard, and that
vnlesse other of the Nobilitie would receiue the like oth with him if he
chanced to die (whereby he might not fulfill that which the church
héerein should decrée) that yet they should see the same performed, he
might not otherwise be absolued.
Wherefore he tooke the oth, and the Nobles of his countrie with him, and
therewithall released the English pledges, remitted the monie that yet
remained behind of his portion aforesaid, and immediatlie therewith
died. After his deceasse, bicause certeine péeres of the countrie
withstood the performance of the premisses, his bodie laie eight daies
longer aboue ground than otherwise it should haue doone, for till such
time as all the pledges were perfectlie released, it might not be
buried. Also Baldwin de Betun approching neere to the confines of
Austrich, when he heard that the duke was dead, returned with the two
ladies vnto his souereigne lord king Richard. Thus (as ye haue heard)
for feare of the censures of the church were the pledges restored, and
the residue of the monie behind released.
¶ All this was both pleasant and profitable for king Richards soules
helth (as may be thought) bicause he tooke occasion therof to amend his
owne former life, by considering how much he might be reprehended for
his sundrie faults committed both against God and man. A maruellous
matter to heare, how much frō that time forward he reformed his former
trade of liuing into a better forme & order. [Sidenote: White moonks.]
Moreouer, the emperour gaue to the Cisteaux moonks 3000 marks of siluer,
parcell of king Richards ransome, to make siluer censers in euerie
church throughout where they had any houses: but the abbats of the same
order refused the gift, being a portion of so wrongfull and vngodlie a
gaine. At which thing, when it came to the knowledge of K. Richard, he
greatlie maruelled at the first, but after commended the abbats in their
dooings, and cheeflie for shewing that they were void of the accustomed
gréedinesse of hauing, which most men supposed them to be much infected
withall.
[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._ Hugh Nouāt bishop of Couentrie restored to his
sée.] King Richard this yeare pardoned Hugh Nouant bishop of Couentrie
of all his wrath and displeasure conceiued toward him, and restored to
him his bishoprike for fiue thousand marks of siluer. But Robert Nouant
the same bishops brother died in the kings prison at Douer. [Sidenote:
The archbishop of Yorke.] Also whereas the archbishop of Yorke had
offended king Richard, he pardoned him, and receiued him againe into
fauour, with the kisse of peace. Wherevpon the archbishop waxed so
proud, that vsing the king reprochfullie, he lost his archbishoprike,
the rule of Yorkeshire which he had in gouernment as shiriffe, the
fauour of his souereigne, and (which was the greatest losse of all) the
loue of God. For
[Sidenote: _M. Pal. in suo sag._]
Nemo superbus amat superos, nec amator ab illis,
Vult humiles Deus ac mites, habitatq; libenter
Mansuetos animos procul ambitione remotos,
Inflatos verò ac ventosos deprimit idem,
Nec patitur secum puro consistere olympo.
[Sidenote: Pope Celestine. The archbish. of Canturburie is made y^e
popes legat.] Moreouer, through the kings request, pope Celestine this
yeare made the archbishop of Canturburie legat of all England by his
buls directed to him, bearing date at his palace in Rome called Lateran
the fifteenth kalends of Aprill, in the fourth yeare of his papasie.
Furthermore, the pope wrote to the English cleargie, giuing them to
vnderstand that he had created the said archbishop of Canturburie his
legat, commanding them so to accept him: [Sidenote: A trinitie of
officers in vnitie of person.] by vertue of which letters, the
archbishop Hubert being now both archbishop of Canturburie, legat of the
apostolike sée, and lord chéefe iustice of England, appointed to hold a
councell at Yorke, and therefore gaue knowledge by the abbat of Binham
in Northfolke, and one maister Geruise, vnto the canons of Yorke, and to
the archbishops officials of his purposed intention.
The said canons and officials well considering of the popes letters,
which were deliuered vnto them by the messengers, signified for answer,
that they would gladlie receiue him as legat of the apostolike sée, but
not as archbishop of Canturburie, nor as their primat. Herewith he came
to Yorke vpon saint Barnabies daie being sundaie, and was receiued with
procession. On the morrow after, he held a court of plees of the crowne,
of assises, and such other matters touching the king. On the next day
being Tuesday, he entred into the monasterie of saint Maries in Yorke,
and deposed the abbat, bicause of his infirmitie of bodie, at the
request of the moonks, but the abbat appealed to the popes consistorie.
[Sidenote: A synod holden at Yorke.] Then he assembled the cleargie in
the church of Saint Peter in Yorke, and there held a synod for
reformation of things amisse in the church, and amendment of manners in
the cleargie, so that diuerse decrées were made, the which for
bréefenesse we omit to speake of in particular. This yeare also, the
said archbishop Hubert caused all men throughout the realme of England
to receiue an oth of obseruing the kings peace, and to sweare that they
should not be robbers, nor abbettors of robbers, nor in any wise
consenting vnto them, but should doo what in them might lie to apprehend
all such offendors, and to discouer them to the kings officers to be
apprehended, and to pursue them vpon hew and crie to the vttermost of
their powers, and those that withdrew themselues from such pursuit,
should be apprehended as partakers with the offendors.
[Sidenote: The emperor sendeth to the king.] About this time the
emperour sent to king Richard, requiring him in no wise to conclude any
peace with the French king, but rather to inuade his dominions,
promising to aid him all that he might. [Sidenote: An. Reg. 7.] But king
Richard, to vnderstand further of the emperours mind herein, [Sidenote:
The bishop of Elie is sent to the emperour.] sent ouer his chancellour
the bishop of Elie vnto him in ambassage. In the meane time the warre
was still continued betwixt him and the French, by the which they were
commonlie put to the worse, and king Richard inuading their borders, did
much hurt in wasting the countries on each side. The French king was at
one time so narrowlie chased, that as he would haue passed a bridge that
laie ouer the water of Saine, he was in danger of drowning by the fall
of the same vnder him, but yet at the length he escaped, and got to the
further side.