was one, which in Hebrue signifieth Dominus, (that is to saie, lord)
but pronounced now somewhat corruptlie Maire. So as it is to be
supposed, hereof it came to passe that the head officer and lieutenant
to the prince, as well in London as in other cities and townes of the
realme, are called by that name of maior, though in the cities of
London and Yorke, for an augmentation of honour by an ancient custome
(through ignorance what the title of maire dooth signifie) they haue
an addition, and are intituled by the name of lord maire, where Maire
simplie pronounced of it selfe, signifieth no lesse than lord, without
any such addition. Thus much for the name of Maire. And now to procéed.
[Sidenote: _1209._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The eschequer remoued.]
King John holding his Christmasse this yeare at Bristow, set foorth a
commandement, whereby he restreined the taking of wild foule. About
the same time, Henrie duke of Suaben came into England from the
emperour Otho, and receiving no small portion of monie of the king,
departed backe into his owne countrie againe. In the vigil of the
Epiphanie also, the kings second sonne was borne, and named Richard
after his vncles name. And the court of the eschequer was remoued from
Westminster vnto Northampton. Moreouer in the same yeare, Walter Gray
was made lord chancellour, who in all thing studied to satisfie the
kings will and purpose, for the which he incurred great indignation of
the cleargie, and other that fauoured not the procéedings of the king.
¶ It was suerlie a rufull thing to consider the estate of this realme
at that present, when as the king neither trusted his péeres, neither
the nobilitie fauoured the king; no, there were verie few that trusted
one another, but ech one hid & hourded vp his wealth, looking dailie
when another should come and enter vpon the spoile. The communaltie
also grew into factions, some fauouring, & some cursing the king,
as they bare affection. The cleargie was likewise at dissention, so
that nothing preuailed but malice and spite, which brought foorth and
spred abroad the fruits of disobedience to all good lawes and orders,
greatlie to the disquieting of the whole state. So that herein we haue
a perfect view of the perplexed state of princes, chéeflie when they
are ouerswaied with forren & prophane power, and not able to assure
themselues of their subiects allegiance and loialtie. Whereto this
clause alludeth,
[Sidenote: _M. Pal. in suo Leo._]
----cruciat comes improbus ipsos
Assidui metus atque timor, suspectáque ijsdem
Omnia sunt: hinc insidias, hinc dira venena
Concipiunt, soli nec possunt ire nec audent,
Nec sine fas illis prægustatore comesse.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 11.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: A new oth of allegiance.]
[Sidenote: Alexander K. of Scots.]
King John notwithstanding that the realme was thus wholie interdicted
and vexed, so that no préests could be found to saie seruice in
churches or chapels, made no great account thereof as touching any
offense towards God or the pope: but rather mistrusting the hollow
hearts of his people, he tooke a new oth of them for their faithfull
allegiance, and immediatlie therevpon assembled an armie to go against
Alexander king of Scots, vnto whome (as he had heard) diuerse of the
nobilitie of this realme were fled, which Alexander was the second of
that name that had ruled the Scots, and latelie before was entred into
the rule as lawfull successor to the crowne of Scotland, by the death
of his father K. William.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The white moonks.]
In this meane while also Stephan archbishop of Canturburie lamenting
(as some haue reported) the state of his natiue countrie, and yet not
minding to giue ouer his hold, obteined of pope Innocent, that vpon
certeine dais it might be lawfull for an appointed number of préests
within the realme of England, to celebrate diuine seruice, that is
to say, for those of conuentuall churches once in the wéeke. But the
moonks of the white order were forbidden to vse that priuilege, bicause
in the beginning of the interdiction they had at the appointment of
their principall abbat presumed to celebrate the sacraments without the
popes consent or knowledge.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Alexander K. of Scots compoundeth for peace with king John.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
In like maner on the other side, king John hauing his armie in a
readinesse, hasted foorth towards the borders of Scotland, and comming
to the castell of Norham, prepared to inuade the Scots. But king
Alexander wanting power to giue him battell, sought to come vnto
some fréendlie agréement with him, and so by counsell of his lords,
casting off his armour, he came to the king, and for a great summe of
gold (or 11 thousand marks of siluer as some write) with much adoo he
purchased peace, deliuering two of his daughters in hostage for more
assurance of his dealing. Wherevpon king John, after his returne from
Norham, which was about the 24 of June, shewed himselfe not a little
displeased with those of the nobilitie, which had refused to attend
vpon him in that iournie, hauing receiued streit commandement from him
to attend vpon him at that time. Certes the cause why they refused to
follow him, was euident, as they said, in that they knew him to stand
accursed by the pope. About the same time also, when corne began to
wax ripe, to reuenge himselfe of them that had refused to go with him
in that iournie, he caused the pales of all the parks & forrests which
he had within his realme to be throwne downe, & the diches to be made
plaine, that the déere breaking out and ranging abroad in the corne
fields, might destroie & eat vp the same before it could be ripened,
for which act (if it were so in déed) manie a bitter cursse procéeded
from the mouths of the poore husbandmen towards the kings person, and
not vnworthilie. Moreouer in this season the Welshmen (which thing had
not béene séene afore time) came vnto Woodstoke, and there did homage
vnto the king, although the same was chargeable, aswell to the rich as
the poore so to come out of their countrie.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: A murther at Oxford.]
[Sidenote: Thrée thousand as saith _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Oxford forsaken of the scholers.]
[Sidenote: Hugh archdeacon of Welles made bishop of Lincolne.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
About the same time also, it chanced that a préest slue a woman at
Oxford, and when the kings officers could not find him that had
committed the murther, they apprehended thrée other préests not guiltie
of the fact, and streightway hanged them vp without iudgement. With
which crueltie others of the Vniuersitie being put in feare, departed
thence in great numbers, and came not thither againe of a long time
after, some of them repairing to Cambridge, and some to Reading to
applie their studies in those places, leauing Oxford void. The same
yeare one Hugh archdeacon of Welles, and kéeper of the kings great
seale, was nominated bishop of Lincolne; and herewithall he craued
licence to go ouer into France vnto the archbishop of Rouen, that
he might be consecrated of him. Wherewith the king was contented
and gladlie gaue him leaue, who no sooner got ouer into Normandie,
but he streight tooke the high waie to Rome, and there receiued his
consecration of Stephan archbishop of Canturburie. Now when the king
vnderstood this matter, and saw the dulnesse of the bishop, he was in
a wonderfull chafe toward him, and thervpon made port-sale of all his
goods, and receiued the profit of the reuenues belonging to the sée of
Lincolne for his own vse.
[Sidenote: Cementarius.]
¶ There liued in those daies a diuine named Alexander Cementarius,
surnamed Theologus, who by his preaching incensed the king greatlie
vnto all crueltie (as the moonks and friers saie) against his
subiects, affirming that the generall scourge wherewith the people
were afflicted, chanced not through the princes fault, but for the
wickednesse of his people, for the king was but the rod of the Lords
wrath, and to this end a prince was ordeined, that he might rule the
people with a rod of iron, and breake them as an earthen vessell, to
chaine the mighty in fetters, & the noble men in iron manacles. He
did sée (as it should séeme) the euill disposed humors of the people
concerning their dutifull obedience which they ought to haue borne
to their naturall prince king John, and therefore as a doctrine most
necessarie in that dangerous time, he taught the people how they were
by Gods lawes bound in dutie to obeie their lawfull prince, and not
through any wicked persuasion of busie heads and lewd discoursers, to
be carried away to forget their loiall allegiance, and so to fall into
the damnable sinke of rebellion.
He went about also to prooue with likelie arguments, that it
apperteined not to the pope, to haue to doo concerning the temporall
possessions of any kings or other potentats touching the rule and
gouernment of their subiects, sith no power was granted to Peter (the
speciall and chéefe of the apostles of the Lord) but onlie touching
the church, and matters apperteining therevnto. By such doctrine of
him set foorth, he wan in such wise the kings fauour, that he obteined
manie great preferments at the kings hands, and was abbat of saint
Austines in Canturburie: but at length, when his manners were notified
to the pope, he tooke such order for him, that he was despoiled of all
his goods and benefices, so that afterwards he was driuen in great
miserie to beg his bread from doore to doore, as some write. This did
he procure to himselfe by telling the trueth against that beast, whose
hornes were pricking at euerie christian prince, that he might set
himselfe in a seat of supremasie aboue all principalities: so that we
may saie,
In audaces non est audacia tuta.
[Sidenote: _1210._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Jewes taxed.]
[Sidenote: A Jew hath his téeth drawne out.]
Furthermore, about the same time the king taxed the Jewes, and
gréeuouslie tormented and emprisoned them, bicause diuers of them would
not willinglie pay the summes that they were taxed at. Amongst other,
there was one of them at Bristow, which would not consent to giue anie
fine for his deliuerance: wherefore by the kings commandement he was
put vnto this penance, that euerie daie, till he would agrée to giue to
the king those ten thousand marks that he was seized at, he should haue
one of his téeth plucked out of his head. By the space of seauen daies
togither he stood stedfast, loosing euerie of those daies a tooth,
but on the eight day, when he should come to haue the eight tooth and
the last (for he had but eight in all) drawne out, he paid the monie
to saue that one, who with more wisedome and lesse paine might haue
doone so before, and haue saued his seauen téeth, which he lost with
such torments, for those homelie toothdrawers vsed no great cunning in
plucking them foorth (as may be coniectured.)
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 12.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: King John passeth ouer into Ireland.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Walter de Lacie.]
[Sidenote: The Ladie de Breuse & hir sonne taken.]
Whilest king John was thus occupied, newes came to him, that the Irish
rebels made foule worke and sore annoied the English subiects. He
therefore assembling a mightie armie, imbarked at Penbroke in Wales,
and so hasting towards Ireland, arriued there the twentie fiue of Maie,
and brought the people in such feare immediatlie vpon his arriuall,
that all those that inhabited vpon the sea coasts in the champaine
countries, came in, and yéelded themselues, receiuing an oth to be
true and faithfull vnto him. There were twentie of the chéefest rulers
within Ireland, which came to the king at his comming to Dublin, and
there did to him homage and fealtie as apperteined. The king at the
same time ordeined also, that the English lawes should be vsed in that
land, and appointed shiriffes and other officers to haue the order of
the countrie, to rule the same according to the English ordinances.
After this, he marched forward into the land, and tooke diuerse
fortresses and strong holds of his enimies, which fled before him, for
feare to be apprehended as Walter de Lacie and manie other. At length,
comming into the countrie of Meth, he besieged a castell, wherein
the wife of William de Breuse, and hir sonne named also William were
inclosed, but they found means to escape before the castell was woone,
though afterward they were taken in the Ile of Man, and sent by the
king into England, where they were so straitlie kept within the castell
of Windsor, that (as the fame went) they were famished to death.
[Sidenote: A present of white kine.]
[Sidenote: He himselfe escapeth.]
¶ We read in an old historie of Flanders, written by one whose name
is not knowne, but printed at Lions by Guillaume Rouille, in the
yeare 1562, that the said ladie, wife to the lord William de Breuse,
presented vpon a time vnto the quéene of England, a gift of foure
hundred kine, and one bull, of colour all white, the eares excepted,
which were red. Although this tale may séeme incredible, yet if we
shall consider that the said Breuse was a lord marcher, and had goodlie
possessions in Wales, and on the marshes, in which countries the most
part of the peoples substance consisteth in cattell, it may carrie with
it the more likelihood of truth. And suerlie the same author writeth
of the iournie made this yeare into Ireland, so sensiblie, and namelie
touching the manners of the Irish, that he séemeth to haue had good
informations, sauing that he misseth in the names of men and places,
which is a fault in maner common to all forreine writers. Touching the
death of the said ladie, he saith, that within eleuen daies after she
was committed to prison héere in England, she was found dead, sitting
betwixt hir sonnes legs, who likewise being dead, sate directlie vp
against a wall of the chamber, wherein they were kept with hard
pitance (as writers doo report.) William the father escaped, and got
away into France.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Norwich lord lieutenant of Ireland.]
[Sidenote: Irish monie reformed.]
[Sidenote: The king returneth into England.]
Thus the more part of the Irish people being brought vnder, he
appointed John Gray the bishop of Norwich, to be his deputie there,
remoouing out of that office Hugh Lacie, which bare great rule in that
quarter before. The bishop then being appointed deputie and chéefe
iustice of Ireland, reformed the coine there, causing the same to be
made of like weight and finenesse to the English coine, so that the
Irish monie was currant, as well in England, as in Ireland, being of
the like weight, forme, and finenesse to the English. Moreouer, those
that inhabited the wood-countries and the mounteine places, though they
would not as then submit themselues, he would not at that time further
pursue, bicause winter was at hand, which in that countrie approcheth
timelie in the yeare. Hauing thus subdued the more part of all Ireland,
and ordred things there at his pleasure, he tooke the sea againe with
much triumph, and landed in England about the thirtith day of August.
[Sidenote: An assemblie of the prelats at London.]
[Sidenote: A tax leuied.]
From hence he made hast to London, and at his comming thither, tooke
counsell how to recouer the great charges and expenses that he had
béene at in this iournie, and by the aduise of William Brewer, Robert
de Turnham, Reignold de Cornhill, and Richard de Marish, he caused
all the chéefe prelats of England to assemble before him at S. Brides
in London. So that thither came all the abbats, abbesses, templers,
hospitallers, kéepers of farmes and possessions of the order of
Clugnie, and other such forreners as had lands within this realme
belonging to their houses. All which were constreined to paie such
a gréeuous tax, that the whole amounted to the summe of an hundred
thousand pounds. The moonks of the Cisteaux order, otherwise called
white moonks, were constreined to paie 40 thousand pounds of siluer
at this time, all their priuileges to the contrarie notwithstanding.
Moreouer, the abbats of that order might not get licence to go their
generall chapter that yéere, which yéerelie was vsed to be holden,
least their complaint should mooue all the world against the king, for
his too hard and seuere handling of them.
[Sidenote: _1211._]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 13.]
[Sidenote: King John goeth into Wales with an armie.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: White church I thinke.]
[Sidenote: Pandulph & Durant the popes legats.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
In the summer following, about the 18 day of Julie, king John with a
mightie armie went into Wales, and passing foorth into the inner parts
of the countrie, he came into Snowdon, beating downe all that came
in his way, so that he subdued all the rulers and princes, without
contradiction. And to be the better assured for their subiection in
time following, he tooke pledges of them, to the number of 28, & so
returned to Album Monasterium on the daie of the Assumption of our
ladie, from whence he first set foorth into the Welsh confines. In
the same yeare also, the pope sent two legats into England, the one
named Pandulph a lawier, and the other Durant a templer, who comming
vnto king John, exhorted him with manie terrible words to leaue his
stubborne disobedience to the church, and to reforme his misdooings.
The king for his part quietlie heard them, and bringing them to
Northampton, being not fare distant from the place where he met them
vpon his returne foorth of Wales had much conference with them; but at
length, when they perceiued that they could not haue their purpose,
neither for restitution of the goods belonging to préests which he
had seized vpon, neither of those that apperteined to certeine other
persons, which the king had gotten also into his hands, by meanes of
the controuersie betwixt him and the pope the legats departed, leauing
him accursed, and the land interdicted, as they found it at their
comming.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
¶ Touching the maner of this interdiction there haue béene diuerse
opinions, some haue said, that the land was interdicted throughlie,
and the churches and houses of religion closed vp, that no where was
anie diuine seruice vsed: but it was not so streit, for there were
diuerse places occupied with diuine seruice all that time, by certeine
priuiledges purchased either then or before. Children were also
christened, and men houseled and annoiled through all the land, except
such as were in the bill of excommunication by name expressed. But to
our purpose.
[Sidenote: Reginald erle of Bullongne.]
King John, after that the legats were returned toward Rome againe,
punished diuerse of those persons which had refused to go with him
into Wales, in like maner as he had doone those that refused to go
with him into Scotland: he tooke now of ech of them for euerie knights
fée two marks of siluer, as before is recited. About the same time
also, Reginald earle of Bullongne being accursed in like maner as king
John was, for certeine oppressions doone to poore men, and namelie to
certeine préests, fled ouer into England, bicause the French king had
banished him out of France.
[Sidenote: The like league was made in the same first yeare of king
John betwixt him & Ferdinando earle of Flanders.]
The chéefest cause of the French kings displeasure towards this earle,
may séeme to procéed of the amitie and league which was concluded
betwixt king John, and the said earle, in the first yeare of the said
king's reigne, whereby they bound themselues either to other, not
to make anie peace, or to take anie truce with the king of France,
without either others consent first thereto had, and that if after anie
agréement taken betwixt them and the king of France, he should chance
to make warre against either of them, then should the other aid and
assist him, against whom such ware should be made, to the vttermost of
his power.
This league was accorded to remaine for euer betwixt them and their
heires, with suerties sworne on either part: and for the king of
England, these, whose names insue, William Marshall earle of Penbroke,
Ranulfe earle of Chester, Robert earle of Leicester, Baldwine earle
of Albemarle, William earle of Arundell, Ralfe earle of Augi, Robert
de Mellet, Hugh de Gourney, William de Kaeu, Geffrey de Cella, Roger
conestable of Chester, Ralfe Fitz Water, William de Albanie, Robert de
Ros, Richard de Montfichet, Roger de Thoney, Saer de Quincie, William
de Montchenise, Peter de Pratellis, William de Poole aliàs de Stagno,
Adam de Port, Robert de Turneham, William Mallet, Eustace de Vescie,
Peter de Brus, William de Presennie, Hubert de Burgh, William de
Mansey, and Peter Sauenie. For the earle, these were suerties, Anselme
de Kaeu, Guy Lieschans, Ralfe the said earles brother, &c. But now to
returne.
After that the earle of Bullongne was expelled out of France (as before
ye haue heard) he came ouer to king John, and was of him ioifullie
receiued, hauing thrée hundred pounds of reuenues in land to him
assigned within England, for the which he did homage and fealtie vnto
him. Shortlie after this also, died William de Breuse the elder,
which fled from the face of king John out of Ireland into France, and
departing this life at Corbell, was buried at Paris in the abbeie of S.
Victor.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
In the meane time pope Innocent, after the returne of his legats out
of England, perceiuing that king John would not be ordered by him,
determined with the consent of his cardinals and other councellours,
and also at the instant suit of the English bishops and other prelats
being there with him, to depriue king John of his kinglie state, and so
first absolued all his subiects and vassals of their oths of allegiance
made vnto the same king, and after depriued him by solemne protestation
of his kinglie administration and dignitie, and lastlie signified that
his depriuation vnto the French king and other christian princes,
admonishing them to pursue king John, being thus depriued, forsaken,
and condemned as a common enimie to God and his church. He ordeined
furthermore, that whosoeuer imploied goods or other aid to vanquish and
ouercome that disobedient prince, should remaine in assured peace of
the church, as well as those which went to visit the sepulchre of our
Lord, not onlie in their goods and persons, but also in suffrages for
sauing of their soules.
[Sidenote: P[=a]ndulph sent into France to practise with the fr[=e]nch
king, for king John his destruction.]
But yet that it might appeare to all men, that nothing could be
more ioifull vnto his holinesse, than to haue king John to repent
his trespasses committed, and to aske forgiuenesse for the same, he
appointed Pandulph, which latelie before was returned to Rome, with
a great number of English exiles, to go into France, togither with
Stephan the archbishop of Canturburie, and the other English bishops,
giuing him in commandement, that repairing vnto the French king, he
should communicate with him all that which he had appointed to be doone
against king John, and to exhort the French king to make warre vpon
him, as a person for his wickednesse excommunicated. Moreouer this
Pandulph was commanded by the pope, if he saw cause, to go ouer into
England, and to deliuer vnto king John such letters as the pope had
written for his better instruction, and to séeke by all means possible
to draw him from his naughtie opinion.
In the meane time, when it was bruted through the realme of England,
that the pope had released the people & absolued them of their oth of
fidelitie to the king, and that he was depriued of his gouernement
by the popes sentence, by little and little a great number both of
souldiers, citizens, burgesses, capteins and conestables of castels,
leauing their charges, & bishops with a great multitude of préests
reuolting from him, and auoiding his companie and presence, secretlie
stale awaie, and got ouer into France.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The names of the noble men that c[=o]ntinued true vnto K.
John.]