pope as is aforesaid, and the king likewise sent ambassadors thither,
as the bishop of Norwich, and the archdeacon of Northumberland, with
others, the which in the end so behaued themselues in their suit,
that notwithstanding Simon Langton the archbishops brother earnestlie
withstood them, as proctor for the bishops, yet at length, the pope
tooke order in the matter, writing vnto his legat, that he should
sée the same fulfilled, and then absolue the realme of the former
interdiction. In this meane time, king John made prouision to go
ouer into France (as after yée shall heare) but at his going ouer he
committed the whole ordering of this matter vnto the legat, and to
William Marshall the earle of Penbroke. The legat therefore vpon the
receipt of the popes bulles, called a councell at London, and there
declaring what was conteined in the same, he tooke bands for paiment of
the residue of the fortie thousand marks which was behind, being 13000
onelie, as before I haue said.
[Sidenote: Walter Gray bishop of Worcester is remooued to the sée of
Yorke.]
[Sidenote: Monie sent into Flanders.]
[Sidenote: _Rafe Cog._]
[Sidenote: The earle of Flanders dooth homage to K. John.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The lands of y^e erle of Guisnes wasted.]
About the same time also, Walter Gray bishop of Worcester was remooued
to the gouernement of the sée of Yorke, which had béene vacant euer
since the death of the archbishop Geffrey. This Walter was the thrée
& thirtith bishop that gouerned that sée. But now to returne and
speake of the kings affaires in the parts beyond the sea. Ye shall
vnderstand, that hauing set his businesse in some good staie at home
with the legat, he applied his studie to the performance of his wars
abroad, and therefore he first sent monie into Flanders to paie the
souldiers wages, which he had sent thither to aid the erle there
against king Philip. Which earle came ouer this yeare into England, and
at Canturburie the king receiued him where he did homage to the king
for the whole earledome of Flanders: and on the other part, the king as
well to the said earle, as to such lords and bishops which came ouer
with him, declared his roiall liberalitie by princelie gifts of gold,
siluer, iewels, and pretious stones. After his returne, such capteins
as remained in his countrie with their bands at the king of Englands
paie, made a iournie into France, and wasted the lands that belonged
to the earle of Guisnes, wanne the castell of Bruncham, and raced it,
taking within it diuerse men of armes and demilances. They also wanne
by siege the towne of Aire, and burnt it. The castell of Liens they
tooke by assault, and slue manie souldiers that defended it, beside
those which they tooke prisoners.
Moreouer, they wasted and destroied the lands which Lewes the French
kings sonne was possessed of in those parts. In the meane time, king
John hauing prepared a mightie nauie, and a strong armie of valiant
soldiers, tooke sea at Portsmouth on Candlemas day, with his wife,
his sonne Richard, & Elianor the sister of Arthur duke of Britaine.
He had not many of his earles or barons with him, but a great number
of knights and gentlemen, with whome he landed at Rochell in safetie,
within a few daies after his setting foorth. He tooke ouer with him
inestimable treasure, as it was reported, in gold, siluer, and iewels.
Immediatlie vpon his arriuall at Rochell, the barons of Poictow
reuolted from the French king, and comming in to king John, did homage
vnto him, as to their king and souereigne lord.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 16.]
[Sidenote: Meireuent.]
[Sidenote: Geffrey de Lucignam.]
[Sidenote: Nouant.]
[Sidenote: Mountcounter.]
[Sidenote: Parthenay.]
[Sidenote: Jane the daughter of king John married to the erle of Marsh.]
But howsoeuer it was, after the truce began to expire which he had
granted vnto the earls of Marsh and Augi, on the friday before
Whitsunday he came with his armie before the castell of Meireuent,
which belonged vnto Geffrey de Lucignam, and on the day next insuing,
being Whitsun éeue, he wanne the same. On Whitsunday he laid siege vnto
Nouant, an other castell belonging to the same Geffrey, who as then was
lodged in the same, and also two of his sonnes: but within thrée daies
after that the siege was laid, the earle of Marsh came to king John,
and did so much preuaile, that through his means, both Geffrey and his
two sonnes were receiued to mercie, and king John put in possession of
the castell. After this, bicause king John was aduertised, that Lewes
the French kings sonne had now besieged Mountcounter, a castell that
was apperteining to the said Geffrey, he hasted thitherwards, and came
to Parthenay, whither came to him, as well the foresaid earle of Marsh,
as also the earle of Augi, and both they togither with the said Geffrey
de Lucignam, did homage to our king, and so became his liege men. The
same time also, the ladie Jane the kings daughter was affianced to
the said earle of Marsh his sonne, whereas the French king made means
to haue hir married to his sonne: but bicause king John doubted least
that suit was attempted but vnder some cloked pretense, he would giue
no eare thereto, but rather made this match with the earle of Marsh,
in hope so to assure himselfe of the said earle, that he might stand
him in no small stéed to defend his cause against his aduersaries of
France. But now to the doings in England.
[Sidenote: The interdiction released.]
¶ Ye haue heard before how pope Innocent (or rather Nocent, who was
the root of much mischiefe and trouble, which qualities are nothing
consonant to his name) according to that king John had required of him
by solemne messengers, directed his bulles vnto his legat Nicholas,
declaring vpon what conditions his pleasure was to haue the sentence of
interdiction released. Wherein first he commanded that the king should
satisfie and pay so much monie vnto the archbishop of Canturburie, and
to the bishop of London and Elie, as should fullie amount to the summe
of 40 thousand markes (with that which alreadie he had paied, which
was 27 thousand markes, at two seueral paiments, as vpon his accounts
appeared.) For true contentation and paiment to be made of the residue,
he ordeined that the king should be sworne, and also seale to an
obligation, and certeine suerties 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 paiment of the od 13 thousand marks behind,
residue of the 40 thousand marks, the interdiction was taken vtterlie
awaie, and the land solemnelie released by the legat, sitting within
the cathedrall church of S. Paule at London, vpon the 29 of June, in
the yeare 1214, after the terme of six yeares, thrée moneths, and 14
daies, that the realme had béene striken with that dreadfull dart of
correction, as it was then estéemed.
[Sidenote: The emperor Otho.]
King John in the meane time remaining still in France, and finding at
the beginning fortune fauourable inough vnto him, by reason his power
was much increased by the aid of the Poictouins, determined to attempt
the winning of Britaine, for this cause specialie, that he might by so
dooing weaken the French kings power, and partlie also to withdraw him
from the wars of Flanders, on which side he had procured likewise the
French borders to be inuaded with great force, and that not onelie by
the earle and such capteins as he had sent thither, and reteined in
wages, but also by the emperour Otho, who in proper person came downe
into that countrie himselfe.
[Sidenote: K. John inuadeth Britaine.]
[Sidenote: The Britaines put to flight.]
[Sidenote: Peter the erle of Drieux his sonne taken prisoner.]
Herevpon king John went foorth with all his power of horssemen, and
entering into Britaine, made rodes through the countrie, wasting the
same euen to the walles of Naunts: but shortlie after the Britaines
assembled togither, vnder the leading of Peter, the son of Robert earle
of Drieux (the French kings vncle, who had maried the ladie Adela,
daughter to duke Guie of Britaine) and marching foorth into the field
to defend their countrie from the enimies, came to ioine with them in
battell. At the first there was a verie sharp incounter, but at length
the Britains being vanquished and put to flight, a great number of them
were taken prisoners, and amongst other their capteins, the foresaid
Peter was one, whom king John sent awaie with all the rest vnto
Angiers, to be kept in safegard vntill he should returne.
[Sidenote: The French kings sonne came to fight with king John.]
[Sidenote: K. John remoueth to Angiers.]
[Sidenote: The Poictouins subdued by the Fr[=e]nch.]
[Sidenote: The battell at the bridge of Bouins.]
After this, he besieged a castell that stood vpon the banke of the
riuer of Loir, called La Roch au moyne, inforcing his whole indeuour to
haue woone it. But yer he could atteine his purpose, he was aduertised
that Lewes the sonne of king Philip was comming towards him with a
great power to raise his siege. Wherefore hauing no great confidence
in the Poictouins, and vnderstanding that Lewes brought with him a
verie strong armie, he tooke aduise of his councell, who iudged that
it should be best for him to breake vp his siege and to depart, which
he did, and went streight waies to Angiers. Lewes (after king John was
thus retired) brought the Poictouins againe to subiection, and put
the chief authours of the rebellion to death. In the meane time also
his father king Philip with like successe, but in a foughten field,
vanquished the emperour Otho at the bridge of Bouins on the 28 day of
Julie, as in the historie of France more at large appeare. There among
other prisoners, the thrée earles of Flanders, Salisburie, and Bullogne
were taken.
[Sidenote: The saieng of king John.]
Now king John being aduertised of that ouerthrow, was maruellouslie sad
and sorrowfull for the chance, in so much that he would not receiue
any meat in a whole daie after the newes thereof was brought vnto him.
At length turning his sorrow into rage, he openlie said, that "since
the time that he made himselfe & his kingdom subiect to the church
of Rome, nothing that he did had prospered well with him." Indéed he
condescended to an agréement with the pope (as may be thought) more by
force than of deuotion, and therefore rather dissembled with the pope
(sith he could not otherwise choose) than agréed to the couenants with
any hartie affection.
[Sidenote: A truce taken betwixt the two kings of England & France.]
But to the purpose. Perceiuing himself now destitute of his best
fréends, of whom diuerse remained prisoners with the French king
(being taken at the battell of Bouins) he thought good to agrée with
king Philip for this present, by way of taking some truce, which by
mediation of ambassadours riding to and fro betwixt them, was at length
accorded to endure for fiue yeares, and to begin at Easter in the
yeare of our Lord, 1215. After this, about the 19 daie of October he
returned into England, to appease certeine tumults which began alreadie
to shoot out buds of some new ciuill dissention. And suerlie the same
spred abroad their blossoms so freshlie, that the fruit was knit before
the growth by anie timelie prouision could be hindered. For the people
being set on by diuerse of the superiours of both sorts, finding
themselues gréeued that the king kept not promise in restoring the
ancient lawes of S. Edward, determined from thencefoorth to vse force,
since by request he might not preuaile. To appease this furie of the
people, not onelie policie but power also was required, for the people
vndertaking an euill enterprise, speciallie raising a tumult or ioining
in a conspiracie are as hardlie suppressed and vanquished as Hydra the
monster hauing manie heads: and therefore it is well said, that
------comes est discordia vulgi,
Námque à turbando nomen sibi turba recepit.
[Sidenote: A cloked pilgrimage.]
The Nobles supposing that longer delaie therein was not to be suffered,
assembled themselues togither at the abbeie of Burie (vnder colour of
going thither to doo their deuotions to the bodie of S. Edmund which
laie there inshrined) where they vttered their complaint of the kings
tyrannicall maners, alledging how they were oftentimes called foorth
to serue in the wars & to fight in defense of the realme, and yet
notwithstanding were still oppressed at home by the kings officers, who
(vpon confidence of the lawes) attempted all things whatsoeuer they
conceiued. And if anie man complained, or alledged that he receiued
wrong at their hands, they would answer by and by, that they had law
on their side to doo as they had doone, so that it was no wrong but
right which they did, and therfore if they that were the lords and
péeres of the realme were men, it stood them vpon to prouide that such
inconueniencies might be auoided, and better lawes brought in vse, by
the which their ancestours liued in a more quiet and happie state.
[Sidenote: The charter of K. Henrie the first.]
[Sidenote: A firebrand of dissention.]
There was brought foorth and also read an ancient charter made
sometime by Henrie the first (which charter Stephan the archbishop of
Canturburie had deliuered vnto them before in the citie of London)
conteining the grant of certeine liberties according to the lawes of
king Edward the confessor, profitable to the church and barons of the
realme, which they purposed to haue vniuersallie executed ouer all the
land. And therefore being thus assembled in the quéers of the church of
S. Edmund, they receiued a solemne oth vpon the alter there, that if
the king would not grant to the same liberties, with others which he
of his owne accord had promised to confirme to them, they would from
thencefoorth make warre vpon him, till they had obteined their purpose,
and inforced him to grant, not onelie to all these their petitions, but
also yéeld to the confirmation of them vnder his seale, for euer to
remaine most stedfast and inuiolable.
[Sidenote: _Bernewell._]
The chéefe cause that mooued the lords to this conspiracie, rose by
reason the king demanded escuage of them that refused to go with him
into Poictow: and they on the other part mainteined, that they were
not bound to paie it, for any warres which the king made in the parts
beyond the seas. But he to prooue that he ought to haue it declared how
in his fathers and brothers time it was paied, and therefore he ought
to haue it. Much adoo there was about this matter at the first broching
thereof, and more adoo there had béene, if the legats presence had not
somewhat staied the parties. But after they had gotten the charter of
king Henrie the first at the hands of the archbishop of Canturburie,
they made such a sinister interpretation thereof, that supposing it to
serue their turnes, they procéeded in their wilfull opinions (as aboue
is mentioned.)
[Sidenote: _1215._]
[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
Finallie it was determined amongst them, that shortlie after
Christmasse, they should go to the king, and require of him that they
might haue those laws restored, which he had promised to them (as is
aforesaid.) But forasmuch as they knew well that their sute would not
be thankfullie accepted, in the meane time they prouided themselues of
horsse, armour, and other furniture for the warre, thereby to be in the
better readinesse and safegard, if in exhibiting their request, the
matter did grow to any such inforcement. They appointed also diuerse
of the most ancient lords to mooue the said 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: thither came the lords also with like spéed,
leauing their men in the townes and villages abroad, to be readie vpon
any sudden warning to come vnto them, if néed should so require.
[Sidenote: The lords present their request to the king.]
[Sidenote: The K. promiseth to consider of their requests.]
Being come into his presence, they required of him that it might
please him, first, to appoint the exercise and vse of those ancient
lawes vnto them, by the which the kings of England in times past ruled
their subiects: secondlie, that according to his promise, he would
abrogate those newer lawes, which euerie man might with good cause
name méere wrongs, rather than lawes: and thirdlie they required of
him the performance of all other things, which he had most faithfullie
of late vndertaken to obserue. The king (though somewhat contrarie
to his nature) hauing heard their request, gaue them a verie gentle
answer. For perceiuing them readie with force to constreine him, if by
gentlenesse they might not preuaile, he thought it should be more safe
and easie for him to turne their vnquiet minds with soft remedies than
to go about to breake them of their willes by strong hand, which is a
thing verie dangerous, especiallie where both parts are of like force.
Therefore he promised them within a few daies, to haue consideration of
their request.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The king demandeth a new oth of allegiance of his subiects.]
[Sidenote: The king taketh on him the crosse.]
And to the intent they might giue the more credit to his words, he
caused the archbishop of Canturburie, and the bishop of Elie, with
William Marshall earle of Penbroke (vnto whom he had giuen his daughter
Elianor in marriage) to vndertake for him, and as it were to become
his suerties: which willinglie they did. Herewith the minds of the
Nobilitie being somewhat pacified, returned home to their houses. The
king soon after also, to assure himselfe the more effectuallie of the
allegiance of his people in time to come caused euerie man to renew his
homage, and to take a new oth to be faithfull to him against all other
persons. And to prouide the more suerlie for himselfe, on Candlemasse
day next insuing, he tooke vpon him the crosse to go into the holie
land, which I thinke he did rather for feare than any deuotion, as was
also thought by other, to the end that he might (vnder the protection
thereof) remaine the more out of danger of such as were his foes. In
which point of dissimulation he shewed himselfe prudent, observing the
counsell of the wiseman,
----inclusum corde dolorem
Dissimula atq; tace, ne deteriora subinde
Damna feras.
[Sidenote: The causes of the discord betwixt the king and his barons.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: _Caxton._]
[Sidenote: The earle of Chester.]
[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._]
[Sidenote: The kings couetousnesse.]
[Sidenote: The repining of the cleargie against the K.]
¶ Some say that a great part of this variance that chanced betwéene
king John and his barons, was bicause the king would without skilfull
aduise haue exiled the erle of Chester, and for none other occasion
than for that he had oftentimes aduised him to leaue his cruell
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, and vnreasonable auarice, which the king vsed towards
all the states and degrées of his subiects, as well towards them of
the spiritualtie, as of the temporaltie. The prelats therefore of the
realme sore repining at his dooings, for that they could not patientlie
suffer such exaction to be leuied of their liuings (contrarie as they
toke it to the libertie of the church) found means through practise,
to persuade both the kings of Scotland and France to aid and support
them against him, by linking themselues togither with sundrie noblemen
of England. But these séeme to be coniectures of such writers as were
euill affected towards the kings cause.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: Robert Fitz Walter.]
[Sidenote: The archb. of Canturburie mooueth the K. to satisfie the
requests of the barons.]
Now therefore to the sequele of the matter. The king hauing sent awaie
the barons with a gentle answer, though he minded nothing less than to
satisfie them in that they did demand, bicause it made much against his
roiall prerogatiue: and therewith foreséeing that the matter would be
like to grow at length to be tried by force, he began to dout his owne
estate, and therefore prepared an armie, and fortified diuerse castels
and places with men, munition, and vittels, into the which he might
retire for his safetie in any time of néed. The barons which vnderstood
the kings diligence herein, and coniecturing thereof his whole intent,
made readie also their power, appointing for their generall one Robert
Fitz Walter, a man both excellent in counsell, and valiant in warre.
Herewith they came vnto the archbishop of Canturburie, presenting
vnto him a booke, wherein was conteined a note of all the articles of
their petitions, & required him to vnderstand the kings mind touching
the same. The archbishop coueting to extinguish the sedition (whereof
he himselfe had béene no small kindler) which was like to grow, if
the Nobilitie were not pacified the sooner, talked with the king, and
exhorted his grace verie instantlie to satisfie the requests of his
barons, and herewith did shew the booke of the articles which they had
deliuered vnto him.
[Sidenote: The king refuseth to gr[=a]nt their petitions.]
[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]
The king, when he saw what they demanded (which in effect was a new
order in things touching the whole state of the common-wealth) sware
in a great furie, that he would neuer condescend vnto those petitions.
Whereof when the barons had knowledge, they gat them strait vnto
armour, making their assemblie at Stamford in the Easter wéeke, whither
they had drawne vnto them almost the whole Nobilitie, and gathered an
excéeding great armie. For the commons flocked vnto them from euerie
part, bicause the king was generallie hated of the more part of his
subiects.
[Sidenote: The names of the lords that banded themselues against the
king.]
It was coniectured that there were in that armie the number of two
thousand knights, besides yeomen on horssebacke or demilances (as I
may call them) and footemen apparelled in diuerse sorts of armour. The
chéefe ringleaders of this power were these, whose names insue: Robert
Fitz Walter, Eustace Vescie, Richard Percie, Robert Roos, Peter de
Breuse, Nicholas de Stuteuill, Saer earle of Winchester, Robert erle
of Clare, Henrie earle of Clare, Richard earle de Bigot, William de
Mowbray, William de Cressey, Ralfe Fitz Robert, Robert de Vere, Foulke
Fitz Warren, Will. Mallet, William de Montacute, William de Beauchampe,
Simon de Kime, William Marshall the yoonger, William Manduit, Robert
de Montibigonis, John Fitz Robert, John Fitz Alane, G. Lauale, O.
Fitz Alane, W. de Hobrug, O. de Uales, G. de Gaunt, Maurice de Gaunt,
Robert de Brakesley, Robert de Mountfichet, Will. de Lanualley,
G. de Maundeuile earle of Essex, William his brother, William de
Huntingfield, Robert de Gresley, G. constable of Menton, Alexander de
Panton, Peter Fitz John, Alexander de Sutton, Osbert de Bodie, John
constable of Chester, Thomas de Muleton, Conan Fitz Helie, and manie
other; they had also of councell with them as chiefe the archbishop of
Canturburie.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 17.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The king sendeth to the lords.]
The king as then was at Oxford, who hearing of the assemblie which
the barons made, and that they were come to Brakesley, on the mondaie
next after the octaues of Easter, he sent vnto them the archbishop
of Canturburie, in whom he reposed great confidence, and William
Marshall earle of Penbroke, to vnderstand what they meant by that
their assembling thus togither. Wherevpon they deliuered to the same
messengers a roll conteining the ancient liberties, priuiledges and
customs of the realme, signifieng that if the king would not confirme
the same, they would not cease to make him warre, till he should
satisfie their requests in that behalfe.
[Sidenote: The barons giue a plausible name to their armie.]
[Sidenote: Northampton besieged.]
[Sidenote: They wan the towne but not the castell.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]