after, Richard earle of Cornewall returned foorth of Gascoigne into
England, and shortlie after, bicause he heard and was crediblie
informed, that a certeine manour place which Walerane the Duchman,
capteine of Berkhamstéed castell held, by the gift and assignement
of king Iohn, apperteined to his earledome of Cornewall, he seized
the castell into his hands. So that Walerane being thus dispossessed,
exhibited his bill of complaint to the king, who incontinentlie sent
to the earle, commanding him to make restitution, which he vtterlie
refused to doo. But foorthwith, comming to the king, and without
reteining any aduocate, he declared his right which he offered
to auerre in open presence, & in any of the kings courts, before
whatsoeuer péeres of the realme should be there assembled.
[Sidenote: He departeth from the court secretlie.]
[Sidenote: He ioineth himselfe with the earles of Chester and Penbroke
and others.]
[Sidenote: They méet at Stamford with an armie.]
This addition [the péeres of the realme] nothing pleased the king and
his councell, namelie the lord chéefe iustice, by whose aduice the
king meant to haue apprehended the earle the same night, after he was
withdrawne to his lodging. But the earle warned thereof, secretlie
departed, accompanied onelie with one man, and neuer drew bridle out
of his horsses mouth, vntill he came to Reading (whither his seruants
resorted to him) and from thence he rode straight to Marlebridge,
where he found his deare fréend William earle Marshall, to whome he
did impart the danger likelie to haue befallen him. Then they drew to
the earle of Chester, & taking order with him for the raising of an
armie, there met shortlie after at Stamford the persons whose names
hereafter insue; Ranulfe earle of Chester, William Marshall earle of
Penbroke, Richard earle of Cornewall the kings brother, Gilbert earle
of Glocester, William earle Warren, Henrie earle of Hereford, William
earle Ferrers, William earle of Warwike, and diuerse barons, lords and
knights, hauing there with them a great puissance of warlike personages.
[Sidenote: A day appointed to méet at Northampt[=o], for a treatie of
pacification.]
[Sidenote: The kings grant to his brother.]
The king hauing vnderstanding as well of their demeanor, as also
what they required by their letters and messengers to him dailie
sent, thought good for a time to pacifie their furie, and therevpon
appointed a day at Northampton, where he would méet, and minister such
iustice vnto them, as should be thought reasonable, and to stand with
their good willes and contentation. Wherevpon, the parties comming to
Northampton at the day assigned, he granted to the earle his brother
(at the instant desire of the lords) all his mothers dowrie, with all
those lands which belonged to the earle of Britaine within England, and
withall, those lands also that apperteined to the earle of Bullongne
deceassed. Thus the matter being pacified, euerie man departed to
his home, whereas if the king had béene froward (as he was mild and
patient, knowing that
[Sidenote: _Val. Flac. lib. 4._]
----non solis viribus æquum
Credere, sæpè acri potior prudentia dextra)
warres had immediatlie béene raised betwixt them, namelie, bicause
manie of the lords bare a secret grudge towards the king, for that he
had reuoked certeine liberties which in the begining of his reigne he
had granted to be holden, though now to take awaie the enuie which
might be conceiued towards him for his dooing, he alledged, that he
did not infringe any thing that he had then granted, but such things
as his gouernours had suffered to passe whilest he was vnder age, and
not ruler of himselfe: he caused them therefore to redéeme manie of the
same priuileges, whereby he gained great finance for the setting to of
his new seale (as before yée haue heard declared.)
[Sidenote: The pope exhorteth the christians to make a iournie against
the Saracens.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ sixtie thous[=a]d.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
Moreouer, in this yeare there were sent certeine persons from pope
Gregorie the ninth (that succéeded Honorius) into all the parts of
Europe, to mooue by preaching the christian people to make a iournie
into the holie land against the Saracens. Such a multitude by means
hereof did assemble togither from all parts, and that within a short
time, as the like had sildome times béene heard of. It is said,
that amongst them there should be to the number of fortie thousand
Englishmen, of whome Peter bishop of Winchester, and William bishop
of Excester were the chéefe. Capteins also of that great multitude of
crossed souldiers that went foorth of sundrie countries were these,
Theobald earle of Champaigne, and Philip de Albenie, through whose
negligence the sequele of this noble enterprise came but to small
effect. But to procéed.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 12. 1228.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Weights and measures.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: Hubert de Burgh created earle of Kent.]
About this time the king minding the benefit of the common-wealth,
caused the weights and measures generallie within the land to be
reformed after one standard. Furthermore, he created Hubert de Burgh
earle of Kent, the which Hubert how much praise so euer he got at the
beginning for his valiancie shewed in the defending of Douer castell,
and in vanquishing the French fléet that was comming to the succour
of Lewes by battell on the sea, it is certeine, that now he purchased
himselfe double as much hatred and euill will, bicause that being of
secret councell with the king, and thereby after a sort sequestred from
the lords, he was knowne to dissuade the said prince from restoring of
the ancient lawes and customes vnto the people, which the barons oft
required: whereby it came to passe, that the more he grew in fauour
with the prince, the further he came into the enuie of the Nobilitie,
and hatred of the people, which is a common reward to such as in
respect of their maister doo little regard the profit of others, as the
prouerbe saith,
Plus quis honoratur hostis tum multiplicatur.
[Sidenote: Stephan archbishop of Canterburie departed this life.
Richard Wethersheid elected in his place.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Walter Helmesham.]
Furthermore, vpon the ninth of Iulie Stephan the archbishop of
Canturburie died, after he had gouerned that sée the terme of 21
yeares, after whome succéeded Richard Wethersheid deane of Paules,
who was the thrée and fortith archbishop of that sée. The moonks of
Canturburie had first elected one of their owne conuent, named Walter
Helmesham: which election was made by the same moonks the third daie
of August next insuing the death of their said archbishop Stephan, but
the king would not consent that he should haue the place for diuerse
causes, which he obiected: as first, for that he knew him to be such
a man as should be vnprofitable, both to him and to his kingdome.
Secondlie, bicause his father was a théefe, and thereof being conuict,
suffered death vpon the gallowes. Thirdlie, for that he himselfe had
stood against king Iohn in time of the interdiction.
[Sidenote: A new trouble about the election of the archbishop of
Canturburie.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
On the other side, the bishops suffragans to the church of Canturburie
obiected also against him, that he had vsed the familiar companie of
a nunne, and begot of hir certeine children. Moreouer they alledged,
that no election without their consent, could be good, nor ought to
take place. But the moonke making his appeale, stood in it, and taking
with him certeine of his fellow moonks of Canturburie, went to Rome,
and there made supplication to the pope, that his election by his
authoritie might be ratified and confirmed. Whereof the king and the
other bishops being aduertised, did put their objections in writing
vnder their seales, & sent the same to Rome to be exhibited to the pope
by the bishops of Westchester and Rochester, and Iohn the archdeacon of
Bedford, who vsed such means, that his election was iudged void, & then
the said Richard Wethersheid was out of hand elected & confirmed. In
that yeare also, a grant was made to the citizens of London, that they
should haue and vse a common seale.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: The earle of March worketh to induce the Normans &
Poictouins to fauour the king of England.]
[Sidenote: The Normans write to the king of England.]
In this meane while, Hugh the earle of March so laboured with the
Normans and Poictouins in the behalfe of the king of England, that
they began to incline to his purpose: wherevpon he sent his letters by
secret meanes vnto king Henrie, signifieng to him, that if it would
please him to come ouer with an armie to make warre against the French
king, they would be readie to turne vnto his side, and receiue him as
their souereigne. King Henrie taking aduise what to answer and doo
herein, with his welbeloued councellour Hubert of Burgh, thought it not
good to attempt anie thing rashlie in this matter, bicause the dealings
of the Normans were neuer without some fraud: but yet to satisfie the
request of his fréends, he promised to come ouer shortlie vnto them,
if in the meane time he might perceiue that they remained stedfast in
their purpose, giuing them furthermore manie great and hartie thanks
for their good meaning and singular kindnesse towards him.
[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The Welshm[=e] besiege the castell of Montgomerie.]
Now things beyond the sea standing in this order, it happened in the
moneth of August, that the soldiers which laie in garrison within the
castell of Mountgomerie, tooke in hand to stocke vp a wood not farre
from the said castell, through which lay an highwaie, where oftentimes
manie fellonious robberies and murders were committed by the Welsh.
As the souldiers were busie at worke in stocking vp the wood, there
came vpon them an ambushment of Welshmen, which not onlie draue them
awaie from their worke, but also tooke and slue diuerse of them,
constreining the residue to flée into the castell, which immediatlie
the Welshmen inuironed also about with a strong siege, thinking to find
the defendants vnprouided.
[Sidenote: The king with an armie commeth to the succour of them within
the castell.]
They within aduertised Hugh de Burgh, the lord chéefe iustice (to
whome the castell belonged by the kings late gift) of the exploit
and enterprise attempted by their enimies, with all possible hast:
wherevpon the king at request of the said Hubert leuied a power, and
came to raise the siege. But the Welshmen hearing of the kings approch,
fled awaie like shéepe, so that comming to the castell, he found no
resistance: howbeit, for so much as he saw the foresaid wood to be
troublesome and an annoiance to the said castell, he willed it to be
destroied. True it is, that the same wood was verie thicke and rough,
and further it conteined also fiue leagues or fiftéene miles in length:
yet by such diligence as was vsed, the same was wasted, stocked vp,
and quickelie rid out of the waie by fire and other means, so that the
countrie was made plaine a great waie about.
[Sidenote: The abbeie of Cride burnt.]
[Sidenote: The king beginneth to build a castell.]
[Sidenote: He is c[=o]streined to agrée with the Welshmen.]
After this, the king departed foorth into the Welsh confines, and
comming to an abbeie of the white moonks called Cride, caused it to
be burnt, bicause it serued as a refuge for his enimies. Then by the
aduise of the lord chiefe iustice Hubert de Burgh, he set in hand
to build a castell there, bicause the place séemed verie fit for
fortification. But after the king with his armie had laine there
thrée months, through lacke of vittels (the Welshmen still cutting
the Englishmen off as they went abroad to fetch in forrage and other
prouision) he was constreined to fall to agréement with Leolin their
prince, and receiuing of the said prince the summe of thrée thousand
marks, he was contented that so much of the castell as was alreadie
builded, should be raced and made flat againe with the ground, before
his departure from thence. Herevpon, manie men tooke occasion to iest
at the lord chiefe iustice and his dooings about this castell, who at
the beginning named it Huberts follie.
[Sidenote: The lord Willi[=a] de Breuse taken prisoner.]
[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Strange sights in the aire.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
Amongst other also that were taken prisoners by the Welshmen, whilest
the king thus vainelie spent his time about the building of that fort,
William de Breuse a right valiant man of warre was one, who being taken
by Leolin prince of Wales, was by him cruellie put to death (as after
shall appear) for the which act, and other such iniuries receiued at
the same Leolins hands, king Henrie at length gréeuouslie punished him.
¶ For the most part of this summer season, great thunders happened
in England: the element also séemed as though it had burned with
continuall flames: stéeples, churches, and other hie buildings were
striken with lightning, and the haruest was sore hindered by continuall
raine. Also in the middest of the day there came a woonderfull
darknesse vpon the earth, that the brightnesse of the aire séemed to be
couered and taken awaie.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 13. 1229.]
[Sidenote: A parlement or a counsell holden.]
[Sidenote: The temporal lords refuse to aid the pope with monie.]
In the thirtéenth yeare of this king, Stephan the popes chapleine and
his Nuncio came ouer vnto king Henrie, requiring to haue towards the
maintenance of the popes warres against the emperour Frederike, a
tenth part of all the mooueable goods within the realmes & countries
of England, Wales, and Ireland, as well of spirituall persons as
temporall. Wherevpon, a parlement or assemblie of the lords was called
at Westminster, on the second sundaie after Easter, which was the 29
of Aprill. At which parlement, when the popes buls were read, and the
matter therein conteined plainelie opened and examined, to the end it
might appeare vpon what necessarie causes the pope was constreined
to pursue the said wars, and to aske reléefe of faithfull christian
people, being members of the holie church: the king, bicause he had
by his procurators at Rome aforehand promised & bound himselfe to
such paiment of tenths, sate still, and answered not to the contrarie
(whereas the hope of a great number was reposed in him, that by his
deniall the popes request shuld haue béene frustrat) so that when by
his silence he was adiudged to consent, yet the temporall lords & laie
men vtterlie denied to agrée vnto such paiment, not willing in any wise
to bind their baronies and temporall possessions vnto the church of
Rome.
[Sidenote: Stephan de Segraue. The tenths of the spiritualtie granted
to the pope.]
Howbeit, the bishops, abbats, priors, and other ecclesiasticall
persons, after they had shewed themselues to rest doubtfull (not
without great grudging and murmuring in the meane time, for the
space of thrée or foure daies togither) at length, for feare of
excommunication, consented to be contributorie, but in such sort,
as they had escaped for a farre more reasonable summe, if Stephan
Segraue one of the kings councell had not by compact (as was thought)
made with the Nuncio, wrought so in the matter, that the tenths were
finallie granted, to the great impouerishment and inestimable damage
of the church and realme of England. After this, the Nuncio shewed the
procuratorie letters, whereby he was authorised to gather those tenths,
and that not after a common manner, but by a verie straight and hard
valuation.
[Sidenote: Vsurers.]
And for the more sure waie of procéeding herein, he had letters of
authoritie from the pope, to excommunicate all such as should withstand
him or his deputies in procéeding with those affaires. He shewed
himself moreouer verie extreame in collecting of this monie, and
namelie towards the prelats of the church, insomuch that appointing him
a certeine day in the which vnder paine of excommunication they should
make paiment, diuers for want of readie monie, were compelled to make
shift with the chalices, and other vessels and ornaments belonging to
their churches, and other were glad to take vp monie vpon interest,
and for that shift there were come ouer with the Nuncio diuerse wicked
vsurers vnder the name of merchants, which when they saw those that
stood in néed like to be excommunicate for want of readie monie, they
would offer themselues to lend vnto any that would borow, after the
rate of one noble for the loane of twentie by the moneth, so bringing
the néedie into their snares, to their irrecouerable losses and
vndooing. Hereby the land was filled with bitter cursings (though in
secret) by those that wished such vnreasonable exactors neuer to sée
good end of the vse of that monie.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The earle of Chester wold not permit the tenths to be
gathered within his land.]
From that day forward there wanted not in England certeine vsurers
called Caursini, which sought nothing else but the wealth of such
persons as they might get into their snares, namelie those whome the
church of Rome dooth vex and put to trouble with hir exactions and
paiments. The earle of Chester onlie stood manfullie against the
paiment of those tenths, insomuch that he would not suffer his lands
to be brought vnder bondage, neither wold he permit the religious
men and préests that held of his fée to pay the same, although the
rest of England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland were compelled to be
contributorie thereto, hauing onelie this comfort, that not they
alone, but also other forren regions were driuen to doo the like. Thus
did the locusts of Rome from time to time sucke the swéetnesse of the
land, and all to mainteine the pompe and pride of the same, wherein
what other practises did they vse, than as one truelie testifieth:
Cuncti luxuriæ atq; gulæ, furtísq; dolísq;
Certatim incumbunt, &c.
[Sidenote: King Henrie prepareth to passe ouer into France.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Kent fallen into the kings displeasure.]
But to let this passe: king Henrie purposing to saile ouer into
Britaine and inuade France, came to Portsmouth about Michaelmasse, with
such an armie assembled out of England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland,
as the like for number of people had not béene knowne to haue passed
ouer with any of his ancesters: howbeit when he should come to the
verie point of imbarking his people, with vittels, armor, and other
prouision, there were not ships sufficient to passe ouer the one halfe
of the armie: wherefore when the king saw this default, he was sore
offended, but chéefelie with Hubert the earle of Kent, lord chéefe
iustice, insomuch that he openlie called him old traitor, and laid
to his charge how he had thus vsed the matter of purpose, onelie to
pleasure the quéene of France, of whome (as he said) he had receiued
fiue thousand marks to hinder his procéedings. In this heat if the
earle of Chester and other had not béene at hand, he had suerlie slaine
the chéefe iustice euen there with his drawne sword, who was glad to
auoid his presence, till his angrie mood was somwhat ouerpassed.
[Sidenote: Henrie earle of Britaine.]
[Sidenote: The kings iournie deferred.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 14. 1230.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The king of Scots kept Christmasse with the king of England
at Yorke.]
In the meane time there arriued Henrie earle of Britaine on the ninth
of October, which should haue conducted the king in his countrie. But
sith winter was come vpon them, he aduised him to stay till the next
spring, and so he did. Then euerie man was licensed to depart home, and
the earle of Kent reconciled againe into fauour. The erle of Britaine
in like maner did homage to the king for Britaine, and the king
restored him to all his rights in England, and further giuing him fiue
thousand marks to defend his countrie against the enimies, sent him
home againe in most courteous and louing maner. In this yeare of our
Lord 1230 king Henrie held his Christmasse at Yorke, togither with the
king of Scots, whome he had desired to come thither at that time, that
they might make merrie: and so for the space of thrée daies togither,
there was great banketting and sport betwéene them. On the fourth day
they tooke leaue either of other, the king of Scots with rich gifts
returning towards his countrie, and the king of England towards London.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: A strange tempest at London. Sée Iohn Stow. pag. 261. of his
large collecti[=o] printed 1580.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
Vpon the fiue and twentith day of Ianuarie also, while the bishop of
London was at high masse within the church of S. Paule in London, a
sudden darknesse ouershadowed the quiere, and therewith such a tempest
of thunder and lightning, that the people there assembled thought
verelie the church and stéeple had come downe vpon their heads. There
came moreouer such a filthie sauour and stinke withall, that partlie
for feare, and partlie for that they might not abide the sauour, they
voided the church, falling on heapes one vpon another, as they sought
to get out of the same. The vicars and canons forsooke their deskes,
so that the bishop remained there onelie with one deacon that serued
him at masse. Afterward, when the aire began to cleare vp, the people
returned into the church, and the bishop went forward and finished the
masse.
[Sidenote: The king gathereth monie towards his iournie into France.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The Lord W. de Breuse hanged.]
[Sidenote: The king saileth ouer into France.]
In the meane time the king leuied a great summe of monie of the prelats
of his land towards his iournie into France: he had also a great
reléefe of the citizens of London. And the Iewes were constreined to
giue to him the third part of all their moueable goods. In the moneth
of Aprill, Leolin prince of Wales caused William de Breuse, whom he had
taken prisoner long before (as aboue is mentioned) to be hanged on a
paire of gallowes, for that he was taken (as was reported) in adulterie
with the wife of the said prince. And on the last day of Aprill, the
king with a puissant armie tooke the sea at Portesmouth, and landed at
saint Malos in Britaine on the third day of May, where he was right
ioifullie receiued of Henrie earle of that countrie. After he was thus
arriued in Britaine, he entered into the French dominions, with the
said earle, and the earle of Marsh his father in law, dooing much hurt
within the same. His armie dailie increasing by the great numbers of
Normans and other, which at the fame of the king of Englands arriuall
in those parts, came flocking from diuerse places to aid him.
[Sidenote: Two brethr[=e] of the Paganels or Painelles.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The earle of Kent beginneth now to beare ye blame for
euerie thing amisse.]
Amongst other, there were two brethren that were Normans, Fouke and
William, of the familie and surname of the Paganelles or Painelles,
being men of great birth and estimation in their countrie, which
brought with them thréescore knights or men of armes, right worthie and
valiant in feats of war. These Noble men would faine haue persuaded
the king to haue entred into Normandie, for that (as they affirmed) it
should be an easie matter for him to subdue the whole countrie: whereto
the king would gladlie haue consented, if the earle of Kent had not
aduised him otherwise. After this, they besought him at the leastwise
to grant them two hundred knights or men of armes of his armie, with
whose aid they doubted not to be able (as they said) to expell all the
Frenchmen out of Normandie, but neither would this be obteined, so that
those Norman lords remained without comfort, whilest the French king
caused their castels and manours to be seized vnto his vse.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: He tooke the towne and castell of Angiers, saint Jame,
Bonneroy, & Belesme. The annales of Aquitaine.]
[Sidenote: Poictou and Xantonge.]
[Sidenote: The French get the vpper hand.]