procurement, came into the councell chamber, and with frowning looke
beheld the legat, where by his procurator he defended the cause that
moued him to take vpon him this iournie into England, disprouing not
onelie the right which king John had to the crowne, but also alledging
his owne interest, not onelie by his new election of the barons, but
also in the title of his wife, whose mother the quéene of Castile
remained onelie aliue of all the brethren and sisters of Henrie the
second late king of England (as before ye haue heard.) The legat made
answer herevnto, that "king John had taken vpon him the crosse, as
one appointed to go to warre against Gods enimies in the holie land,
wherefore he ought by decrée of the generall councell to haue peace for
foure yeares to come, and to remaine in suertie vnder protection of
the apostolike sée." But Lewes replied thereto, that king John had by
warre first inuaded his castels and lands in Picardie, and wasted the
same, as Buncham castell and Liens, with the countie of Guisnes which
belonged to the fée of the said Lewes.
[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]
But these reasons notwithstanding, the legat warned the French king
on paine of cursing, not to suffer his sonne to go into England, and
likewise his sonne, that he should not presume to take the iournie in
hand. But Lewes hearing this, declared that his father had nothing to
do to forbid him to prosecute his right in the realme of England, which
was not holden of him, and therefore required his father not to hinder
his purpose in such things as belonged nothing to him, but rather to
licence him to séeke the recouerie of his wiues right, which he meant
to pursue with perill of life, if néed should require.
[Sidenote: The French kings sonne sendeth to the pope.]
[Sidenote: He commeth to Calice.]
The legat perceiuing he could not preuaile in his sute made to king
Philip, thought that he would not spend time longer in vaine, in
further treating with him, but sped him foorth into England, obteining
yet a safeconduct of the French king to passe through his realme. Lewes
in like maner, purposing by all meanes to preuent the legat, first
dispatched foorth ambassadours in all hast vnto the court of Rome
to excuse himselfe to the pope, and to render the reasons that most
speciallie mooued him to procéed forward in his enterprise against
king John, being called by the barons of England to take the crowne
thereof vpon him. This doone, with all conuenient spéed he came downe
to Calice, where he found 680 ships well appointed and trimmed, which
Eustace surnamed the moonke had gathered and prepared there readie
against his comming.
[Sidenote: He taketh the sea.]
[Sidenote: He landeth in Kent.]
[Sidenote: The lords doo homage vnto him.]
Lewes therefore foorthwith imbarking himselfe with his people, and all
necessarie prouisions for such a iournie, tooke the sea, and arriued
at a place called Stanchorre in the Ile of Tenet, vpon the 21 day of
Maie, and shortlie after came to Sandwich, & there landed with all his
people, where he also incamped vpon the shore by the space of thrée
daies. In which meane time there came vnto him a great number of those
lords and gentlemen which had sent for him, and there euerie one apart
and by himselfe sware fealtie and homage vnto him, as if he had béene
their true and naturall prince.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
King John about the same time that Lewes thus arriued, came to Douer,
meaning to fight with his aduersaries by the way as they should come
forward towards London. But yet vpon other aduisement taken, he changed
his purpose, bicause he put some doubt in the Flemings and other
strangers, of whome the most part of his armie consisted, bicause he
knew that they hated the French men no more than they did the English.
Therefore furnishing the castell of Douer, with men, munition, and
vittels, he left it in the kéeping of Hubert de Burgh, a man of notable
prowesse & valiancie, and returned himselfe vnto Canturburie, and from
thence tooke the high waie towards Winchester. Lewes being aduertised
that king John was retired out of Kent, passed through the countrie
without anie incounter, and wan all the castels and holds as he went,
but Douer he could not win.
[Sidenote: Rochester castell woone.]
[Sidenote: Lewes cometh to London.]
At his comming to Rochester, he laid siege to the castell there, and
wan it, causing all the strangers that were found within it to be
hanged. This doone, he came to London, and there receiued the homage
of those lords and gentlemen which had not yet doone their homage to
him at Sandwich. On the other part he tooke an oth to mainteine and
performe the old lawes and customes of the realme, and to restore to
euerie man his rightfull heritage and lands, requiring the barons
furthermore to continue faithfull towards him, assuring them to bring
things so to passe, that the realme of England should recouer the
former dignitie, and they their ancient liberties. Moreouer he vsed
them so courteouslie, gaue them so faire words, and made such large
promises, that they beléeued him with all their harts. But alas! Cur
vincit opinio verum?
[Sidenote: Noblemen reuolting fr[=o]m K. John vnto Lewes.]
[Sidenote: Simon L[=a]ngton chancellor to Lewes.]
The rumour of this pretended outward courtesie being once spred through
the realme, caused great numbers of people to come flocking to him,
among whome were diuerse of those which before had taken part with
king John, as William earle Warren, William earle of Arundell, William
earle of Salisburie, William Marshall the yoonger, and diuerse other,
supposing verelie that the French kings sonne should now obteine the
kingdome, who in the meane time ordeined Simon Langton afore mentioned,
to be his chancellour, by whose preaching and exhortation, as well
the citizens of London as the barons that were excommunicated, caused
diuine seruice to be celebrated in their presence, induced thereto,
bicause Lewes had alreadie sent his procurators to Rome before his
comming into England, there to shew the goodnesse of his cause and
quarell.
[Sidenote: Cardinall Gualo commeth ouer into England.]
But this auailed them not, neither tooke his excuse any such effect
as he did hope it should: for those ambassadors that king John had
sent thither, replied against their assertions, so that there was
hard hold about it in that court, albeit that the pope would decrée
nothing till he hard further from his legat Gualo, who the same time
(being aduertised of the procéedings of Lewes in his iournie) with
all diligence hasted ouer into England, and passing through the middle
of his aduersaries, came vnto king John, then soiourning at Glocester,
of whome he was most ioifullie receiued, for in him king John reposed
all his hope of victorie. This legat immediatlie after his comming
did excommunicate Lewes by name, with all his fautors and complices,
but speciallie Simon de Langton, with bell, booke, and candle, as the
maner was. Howbeit the same Simon, and one Geruase de Hobrug deane of
S. Pauls in London, with other, alledged that for the right and state
of the cause of Lewes, they had alreadie appealed to the court of Rome,
and therefore the sentence published by Gualo they tooke as void.
[Sidenote: The more part of the strangers depart from the seruice of K.
John.]
[Sidenote: Castels woon by Lewes.]
At the same time also, all the knights and men of warre of Flanders
and other parts beyond the seas, which had serued the king, departed
from him, the Poictouins onelie excepted: and part of them that thus
went from him resorted vnto Lewes, and entred into his wages; but the
residue repaired home into their own countries, so that Lewes being
thus increased in power, departed from London, and marching towards
Winchester, he wan the castels of Rigat, Gilford, and Farnham. From
thence he went to Winchester, where the citie was yéelded vnto him,
with all the castels and holds thereabout, as Woluesey, Odiham, and
Beaumere.
[Sidenote: William de Collingham a gentleman of Sussex.]
¶ Whilest the said Lewes was thus occupied in Sussex, about the
subduing of that countrie vnto his obeisance, there was a yoong
gentleman in those parts named William de Collingham, being of a
valorous mind, and loathing forren subiection, who would in no wise
doo fealtie to Lewes, but assembling togither about the number of a
thousand archers, kept himselfe within the woods and desert places,
whereof that countrie is full, and so during all the time of this
warre, shewed himselfe an enimie to the Frenchmen, slaieng no small
numbers of them, as he tooke them at any aduantage. O worthie gentleman
of English bloud! And O
Grandia quæ aggreditur fortis discrimina virtus!
[Sidenote: Castels fortified by king John.]
In like manner, all the fortresses, townes, and castels in the south
parts of the realme were subdued vnto the obeisance of Lewes (the
castels of Douer and Windsore onelie excepted.) Within a little
while after, Will. de Mandeuille, Robert Fitz Walter, and William de
Huntingfield, with a great power of men of warre, did the like vnto the
countries of Essex and Suffolke. In which season, king John fortified
the castels of Wallingford, Corfe, Warham, Bristow, the Vies, and
diuerse others with munition and vittels. About which time letters came
also vnto Lewes from his procurators, whom he had sent to the pope,
by the tenor whereof he was aduertised, that notwithstanding all that
they could doo or say, the pope meant to excommunicate him, and did but
onelie staie till he had receiued some aduertisement from his legat
Gualo.
[Sidenote: The points wherewith king John was charged.]
The chéefest points (as we find) that were laid by Lewes his
procurators against king John were these, that by the murther committed
in the person of his nephue Arthur, he had béene condemned in the
parlement chamber, before the French king, by the péeres of France, and
that being summoned to appeare, he had obstinatelie refused so to doo,
and therefore had by good right forfeited not onelie his lands within
the precinct of France, but also the realme of England, which was now
due vnto the said Lewes as they alledged, in right of the ladie Blanch
his wife, daughter to Elianor quéene of Spaine. But the pope refelled
all such allegations as they produced for proofe hereof, & séemed to
defend king Johns cause verie pithilie: but namelie, in that he was
vnder the protection of him as supreme lord of England: againe, for
that he had taken vpon him the crosse (as before yée haue heard.) But
now to returne where we left.
[Sidenote: The Frenchmen begin to shew themselues in their kind.]
About the feast of saint Margaret, Lewes with the lords came againe
to London, at whose comming, the tower of London was yéelded vp to
him by appointment, after which the French capteins and gentlemen,
thinking themselues assured of the realme, began to shew their inward
dispositions and hatred toward the Englishmen, and forgetting all
former promises (such is the nature of strangers, and men of meane
estate, that are once become lords of their desires, according to the
poets words,
[Sidenote: _Iuuen. sat. 9._]
Asperius nihil est humili cùm surgit in altum)
they did manie excessiue outrages, in spoiling and robbing the people
of the countrie, without pitie or mercie. Moreouer they did not onelie
breake into mens houses, but also into churches, and tooke out of the
same such vessels and ornaments of gold and siluer, as they could
laie hands vpon: for Lewes had not the power now to rule the gréedie
souldiers, being wholie giuen to the spoile.
[Sidenote: The castell of Norwich left for a prey to Lewes.]
[Sidenote: Lin.]
[Sidenote: Thomas de Burgh taken prisoner.]
But most of all their tyrannie did appeare in the east parts of the
realme, when they went through the countries of Essex, Suffolke
and Northfolke, where they miserablie spoiled the townes and
villages, reducing those quarters vnder their subiection, and making
them tributaries, vnto Lewes in most seruile and slauish manner.
Furthermore, at his comming to Norwich, he found the castell void of
defense, and so tooke it, without any resistance, and put into it a
garison of his souldiers. Also he sent a power to the towne of Lin,
which conquered the same, and tooke the citizens prisoners, causing
them to paie great summes of monie for their ransoms. Morouer, Thomas
de Burgh, chateleine of the castell of Norwich, who vpon the approch
of the Frenchmen to the citie, fled out in hope to escape, was taken
prisoner, and put vnder safekéeping. He was brother vnto Hubert de
Burgh capteine of Douer castell.
[Sidenote: Gilbert de Gaunt made earle of Lincolne.]
[Sidenote: Lincolne woone.]
[Sidenote: Holland in Lincolnshire inuaded.]
[Sidenote: Yorkeshire subdued to Lewes.]
Now when Lewes had thus finished his enterprises in those parts, he
returned to London, and shortlie therevpon created Gilbert de Gaunt
earle of Lincolne, appointing him to go thither with all conuenient
spéed, that he might resist the issues made by them which did hold the
castels of Notingham and Newarke, wasting and spoiling the possessions
and lands belonging to the barons néere adioining to the same castels.
This Gilbert de Gaunt then, togither with Robert de Ropeley, comming
into that countrie, tooke the citie of Lincolne, and brought all
the countrie vnder subiection (the castell onlie excepted.) After
that, they inuaded Holland, and spoiling that countrie, made it also
tributarie vnto the French. Likewise, Robert de Roos, Peter de Bruis,
and Richard Percie, subdued Yorke and all Yorkeshire, bringing the
same vnder the obeisance of Lewes. The king of Scots in like sort
subdued vnto the said Lewes all the countrie of Northumberland, except
the castels which Hugh de Balioll, and Philip de Hulcotes valiantlie
defended against all the force of the enimie.
And as these wicked rebels made a prey of their owne countrie, so the
legat Gualo not behind for his part to get something yer all should
be gone, vpon a falkonish or wooluish appetite fléeced the church,
considering that,
®Êd' hôrê parameibetai minêthê de toi ergon,
------ meletê de ti ergon ophellei,®
[Sidenote: The legat Gualo gathereth proxes.]
[Sidenote: Sequestrati[=o]n of benefices.]
and tooke proxies of euerie cathedrall church & house of religion
within England, that is to say, for euerie proxie fiftie shillings.
Moreouer, he sequestred all the benefices of those persons and
religious men, that either aided or counselled Lewes and the barons,
in their attempts and enterprises. All which benefices he spéedilie
conuerted to his owne vse, and to the vse of his chapleins.
[Sidenote: Lewes trauelleth in vaine to take Douer.]
[Sidenote: _Rafe Cog._]
In the meane time, Lewes was brought into some good hope thorough
meanes of Thomas de Burgh, whom he tooke prisoner (as before you haue
heard) to persuade his brother Hubert to yéeld vp the castell of Douer,
the siege whereof was the next enterprise which he attempted. For his
father king Philip, hearing that the same was kept by a garrison, to
the behoofe of king John, wrote to his sonne, blaming him that he left
behind him so strong a fortresss in his enimies hands. But though Lewes
inforced his whole endeuour to win that castell, yet all his trauell
was in vaine. For the said Hubert de Burgh, and Gerard de Sotigam, who
were chéefe capteins within, did their best to defend it against him
and all his power, so that despairing to win it by force, he assaied
to obteine his purpose, by threatening to hange the capteins brother
before his face, if he would not yéeld the sooner. But when that would
not serue, he sought to win him by large offers of gold and siluer.
Howbeit, such was the singular constancie of Hubert, that he would
not giue anie eare vnto those his flatering motions. Then Lewes in a
great furie menaced that he would not once depart from thence, till he
had woon the castell, and put all them within to death, and began to
assaile it with more force than before he had doone.
[Sidenote: Yermouth, Dunwich, & Gipswich ransomed.]
The barons also, which at this season lay at London, making a rode to
Cambridge, tooke the towne, and after went foorth into Northfolke and
Suffolke (as it were to gather vp such scraps as the French had left)
spoiling those countries verie pitifullie, churches and all. They
constreined the townes of Yermouth, Dunwich & Gipswich, to pay to them
great summes of monie by waie of ransoming. And at length returning by
Colchester, they vsed like practises there. From thence they returned
to London, and shortlie after, vnder the conduct of the earle of Neuers
(vpon a sudden) going to Windsore, they laid a strong siege about that
castell; in the which was capteine Ingelard de Athie, with sixtie
valiant knights, & other men of war of their suit, the which manfullie
stood at defense.
[Sidenote: Alexander K. of Scots doth homage to K. Lewes.]
[Sidenote: This Eustace had married the sister of K. Alexander.]
In the moneth of August, Alexander king of Scotland came through the
countrie vnto the siege of Douer, and there did homage vnto Lewes, in
right of his tenure holden of the kings of England, and then returned
home, but in his comming vp, as he came by castell Bernard in the
countrie of Haliwerkfolke (which apperteined vnto Hugh de Balioll) he
lost his brother in law the lord Eustace de Vescie, who was striken in
the forehead with a quarrell, as he rode in companie of the king néere
vnto the same castell, to view if it were possible vpon anie side to
win it by assault.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The vicount of Melune discouereth the purpose of Lewes.]
[Sidenote: The vicount of Melune dieth.]
About the same time, or rather in the yeare last past as some hold,
it fortuned that the vicount of Melune, a French man, fell sicke at
London, and perceiuing that death was at hand, he called vnto him
certeine of the English barons, which remained in the citie, vpon
safegard thereof, and to them made this protestation: "I lament (saith
he) your destruction and desolation at hand, bicause ye are ignorant of
the perils hanging ouer your heads. For this vnderstand, that Lewes,
and with him 16 earles and barons of France, haue secretlie sworne
(if it shall fortune him to conquere this realme of England, & to be
crowned king) that he will kill, banish, and confine all those of the
English nobilitie (which now doo serue vnder him, and persecute their
owne king) as traitours and rebels, and furthermore will dispossesse
all their linage of such inheritances as they now hold in England. And
bicause (saith he) you shall not haue doubt hereof, I which lie here
at the point of death, doo now affirme vnto you, and take it on the
perill of my soule, that I am one of those sixtéen that haue sworne to
performe this thing: wherefore I aduise you to prouide for your owne
safeties, and your realmes which you now destroie, and kéepe this thing
secret which I haue vttered vnto you." After this spéech was vttered he
streightwaies died.
[Sidenote: The English nobilitie beginneth to mislike of the match
which they had made with Lewes.]
When these words of the lord of Melune were opened vnto the barons,
they were, and not without cause, in great doubt of themselues, for
they saw how Lewes had alredie placed and set Frenchmen in most of such
castels and townes as he had gotten, the right whereof indéed belonged
to them. And againe, it gréeued them much to vnderstand, how besides
the hatred of their prince, they were euerie sundaie and holidaie
openlie accursed in euerie church, so that manie of them inwardlie
relented, and could haue bin contented to haue returned to king John,
if they had thought that they should thankfullie haue béene receiued.
[Sidenote: The death of pope Innocent.]
[Sidenote: Honorius the third chosen pope.]
In this yeare, about the 17 of Julie, pope Innocent died, at whose
death (being knowen in England) all they that were enimies to king John
greatlie reioised, for they were in great hope that his successour
would haue rather inclined to their part, than to the kings. But it
fell out otherwise, for Honorius the third that succéeded the same
foresaid Innocent, mainteined the same cause in defense of king John,
as earnestlie or rather more than his predecessour had doone, sending
with all spéed his buls ouer into England to confirme Gualo in his
former authoritie of legat, commanding him with all indeuour to procéed
in his businesse, in mainteining the king against Lewes, and the
disloiall English nobilitie that aided the said Lewes. But now to our
purpose.
[Sidenote: The hauocke which king John made in the possessions of his
aduersaries.]
[Sidenote: Northfolke and Suffolke.]
King John lieng all this while at Winchester, and hauing knowledge
how his aduersaries were dailie occupied in most hard enterprises,
as in besieging sundrie strong and inuincible places, sent forth his
commissioners to assemble men of warre, and to allure vnto his seruice
all such, as in hope of prey, were minded to follow his standard,
of the which there resorted to him no small number. So that hauing
gotten togither a competent armie for his purpose, he brake foorth of
Winchester, as it had béene an hideous tempest of weather, beating
downe all things that stood in his waie, sending foorth his people on
ech side to wast the countries, to burne vp the townes and villages, to
spoile the churches & churchmen. With which successe still increasing
his furie, he turned his whole violence into Cambridgeshire, where he
did excéeding great hurt. Then entring into the countries of Northfolke
and Suffolke, he committed the like rage, wast, and destruction, in
the lands and possessions that belonged vnto the earle of Arundell, to
Roger Bigot, William de Huntingfield, and Roger de Cressey.
[Sidenote: The siege raised from Windsor.]
The barons in the meane time that lay at siege before the castle of
Windsore, hearing that hauocke which king John had made in the east
parts of the realme, secretlie in the night season raised their camps,
and leauing their tents behind them, with all spéed made towards
Cambridge. But king John by faithfull espials, hauing aduertisement
of their intent, which was, to get betwixt him and the places of his
refuge, withdrew him and got to Stamford, yer they might reach to
Cambridge, so that missing their purpose, after they had taken some
spoiles abroad in the countrie, they returned to London. King John from
Stamford, marched toward Lincolne, bicause he heard that the castell
there was besieged.
[Sidenote: Gilbert de Gaunt fléeth from the face of king John.]
[Sidenote: Lin.]
[Sidenote: The abbeies of Peterburgh & Crowland spoiled.]
[Sidenote: _Bernewell._]
But those that had besieged it, as Gilbert de Gaunt, and others,
hearing that king John was comming towards them, durst not abide him,
but fled, and so escaped. The king then turned his iournie towards
the marshes of Wales, and there did much hurt to those places that
belonged to his aduersaries. After this also, and with a verie puissant
armie he went eftsoones eastwards, and passing through the countries,
came againe into the counties of Northfolke and Suffolke, wasting and
afflicting all that came in his waie, and at length comming to Lin, was
there ioifullie receiued. Then kéeping foorth northwards, he spoiled
the townes and abbeies of Peterburgh and Crowland, where a number of
the kings enimies were withdrawne into the church, but Sauerie de
Mauleon, being sent foorth to séeke them, found them in the church
the morrow after S. Michaell, and drew them out by force, spoiled the
house, and getting a great bootie and prey of cattell and other riches,
he with his people conueied the same awaie at his departing, after he
had ransacked euerie corner of the church, and other the houses and
places belonging to that abbeie.
[Sidenote: The losse of the kings carriages.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: King John falleth sicke of an ague.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Laford.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: King John departed this life.]