the duke of Britaine the townes of Ardone, Campanell, and Belesme)
being now certified by his espials, of the landing and inuasion made
by the king of England, hasted foorth with his armie into the countrie
of Aniou, and there by the side of the Loire, incamped, to staie the
king of England, that he should not passe ouer the same riuer into
Poictou, suspecting least the Poictouins (whom he had alwaie in some
gelousie) would revolt vnto him. But the king of England aduertised of
his approch, passed that riuer sooner than anie man would haue iudged,
and incamped first in the countrie of Poictou, and after drew into the
confines of Xantonge, the French king still following, and by the waie
destroieng the townes of Fountney, and Villars, perteining to one Guie
de Rochfort, a capteine belonging to the earle of March. Afterward
also he passed the riuer of Charent, and wasted all the countrie of
Xantonge. Where (if we may belieue some writers) the two kings ioined
battell, which continued a long time right fierce & cruell: but at
length the Englishmen giuing backe, the victorie remained on the French
side, a great number of their aduersaries being slaine and taken.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Mirabeau.]
After this battell, they saie also that a peace was concluded betwixt
them. But other writers haue recorded, that the matter was first taken
vp by a truce without anie battell, bicause both the kings being yoong
men, and as yet not verie skilfull in martiall affaires, were content
to giue eare vnto quéene Blanch, to Philip erle of Bollongne, and to
Ranulfe earle of Chester, which thrée tooke vpon them to intreat a
peace, and prescribe the couenants of agréement, by which meanes they
were at the last accorded. Amongst other things which were concluded at
this present time, the duke of Britaine, and the earle of March were
made fréends againe with the French king, and receiued eftsoones into
his fauour. Thus ceassed the warres for that time betwixt the kings
of England and France, as some haue witnessed. ¶ Howbeit if we shall
beléeue other, which wrote and liued in those daies, there was no peace
at that time concluded: but after that king Henrie had passed through
Aniou and Poictou without battell, he came into Gascoigne, where he
receiued the homages and fealties of manie noble men in those parties,
and returning into Poictou, not onelie had the like also of sundrie
lords and men of honour in that countrie, but also tooke the castell
of Mirabeau by assault, thorough the manhood of the Englishmen, who
chose rather with desperat aduentures to make entrance to honour, than
by timorousnesse or want of courage to purchase reproch; for they knew
verie well, that
Qui cupiunt fortes fieri, discrimina oportet
Multa pati, & multos coguntur ferre labores,
and therefore they made triall of their valiantnesse euen with
obteinement of victorie to the discomfiture of the enimie, who gaped
after the conquest.
[Sidenote: King Henrie returneth into Britaine.]
[Sidenote: He saileth home into England.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Chester left the kings lieutenant in Britaine.]
[Sidenote: What feats he wrought.]
[Sidenote: Pontorson burnt.]
This doone, and order taken for the safe kéeping of those quarters,
he returned into Britaine, & comming to the citie of Naunts, remained
a while there, spending the time vainlie in pleasure and banketting.
Finallie in the moneth of October he tooke the sea, and returning into
England after manie perils, landed at Portesmouth, the 27 of October,
leauing behind him in Britaine 500 knights or men of armes, a thousand
yeomen or stipendarie souldiers, for defense of the countrie against
the Frenchmen, and appointed for their capteine the earle of Chester,
the earle Marshall, and the earle of Albemarle, with certeine other
valiant and approued warriours, who after the departure of the king,
made two rodes into the French countries, but first into Aniou, where
they remained 15 daies without battell, taking and destroieng the
castell of Gonner, also Newchatell vpon the riuer of Sart, and finallie
laden with plentie of rich spoiles, they returned into Britaine, from
whence they set foorth. Shortlie after they entred into Normandie,
destroieng the castell of Pontorson, & burning the towne: which
enterprise when they had accomplished at their wils, they returned
eftsoones into Britaine, where they were ioifullie receiued.
[Sidenote: S. James de Bewmeron.]
[Sidenote: A strange eclipse.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 15.]
The erle of Chester in this meane while strengthened & fortified the
castell of S. Iames de Bewmer[=o], which (bicause it belonged to the
right of his wife) the earle of Britaine had (sith the kings comming
ouer) restored vnto him. ¶ In this yeare vpon the 14 of Maie, a
maruellous eclipse of the sunne chanced immediatlie after the rising
thereof, so that the earth séemed as it had béene couered againe with
shade of night. On the 22 daie of Nouember the moone was likewise
eclipsed, being as then 13 daies old.
[Sidenote: The duke of Saxonie c[=o]meth into England.]
[Sidenote: The king of Connagh.]
[Sidenote: Geffrey de Maurish lord chiefe iustice of Ireland.]
[Sidenote: Walter de Lacie, Richard de Burgh.]
Furthermore, whilest the king was in France, there came ouer into
England the duke of Saxonie coosen to the king, and of the citizens of
London was honourablie receiued. He was a man of such high and tall
stature, that men tooke great pleasure to behold him. In the same
yeare also in the moneth of Iulie, an Irish king that was gouernour of
Connagh, vnderstanding that both the king of England, and the earle
Marshall were gone ouer into France, and so Ireland left without anie
great aid of men of warre on the English part, raised a mightie armie,
and with the same entered into the marshes of the English dominion,
spoiling and burning the countrie before him. Whereof when Geffrey de
Maurish lord chiefe iustice of Ireland was aduertised, he called to him
Walter de Lacie and Richard de Burgh, assembling therewithall a mightie
armie, which he diuided into thrée parts, appointing the said Walter de
Lacie, and Richard de Burgh, with the two first parts, to lie in ambush
within certeine woods, thorough the which he purposed to draw the
enimies, and marching foorth with the third, which he reserued to his
owne gouernement, he profered battell to the Irishmen, the which when
they saw but one battell of the Englishmen boldlie assaied the same.
[Sidenote: The Irishm[=e] vanquished by ye Englishmen in battell.]
The Englishmen according to the order appointed, feigned as though they
had fled, and so retired still backer and backer, till they had trained
the Irish within danger of their other two battels, which comming
foorth vpon them, did set on them egerlie, whilest the other which
séemed before to flée returned backe againe, and set vpon them in like
maner, by meanes whereof the Irishmen being in the midst, were beaten
downe on all parts, and vtterlie vanquished, with losse of 20 thousand
men (as it was crediblie reported.) The king of Connagh was also taken
and committed to prison.
[Sidenote: 1231.]
[Sidenote: A fiftéenth and tenth granted to the king.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: Englishmen sent to Spain against the Saracens.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Escuage demanded.]
In the meane time king Henrie hauing spent a great deale of treasure in
his iournie made into France, there was granted vnto him a fiftéenth
of the temporaltie, with a disme and a halfe of the spiritualtie,
towards the furnishing out of a new power of men to be sent into Spaine
against the Saracens, which made sore warres vpon the christians in
that countrie, wherevpon king Henrie being required of the K. of Aragon
to aid him with some number of souldiers, he sent a great power thither
with all spéed, and so likewise did the French king. By means whereof
the Spaniards, being ioined with Englishmen and Frenchmen, obteined a
noble victorie, in vanquishing those their enimies. Thus saith Polydor.
But other write that the king on the seauen and twentith of Ianuarie,
holding a parlement at Westminster (where the Nobles both spirituall
and temporall were assembled) demanded escuage of all those that held
any baronies of him, that is to saie, forren knights fée, fortie
shillings, or thrée marks.
[Sidenote: The archb. of Canturburie standeth against the K. in defense
of his cleargie.]
[Sidenote: Contention betwixt the archb. and the earle of Kent.]
Moreouer, the archbishop of Canturburie (as they say) stood against
the king in this demand, mainteining that the cleargie ought not to be
subiect vnto the iudgment of laie men, sith this escuage was granted in
the parts beyond the seas without their consent. Wherevpon the matter
as touching the bishops was deferred till the quindene of Easter,
albeit that all the laitie, and other of the spiritualtie consented to
the kings will. ¶ About this time also there chanced to rise a great
strife and contention betwixt Richard the archbishop of Canturburie,
and Hubert the earle of Kent, who as gardian to the yoong erle of
Glocester had got into his hands the castell of Tunbridge, with the
towne, and certeine other possessions which belonged to the archbishops
sée, and therefore did the archbishop complaine to the king of the
iniurie which he susteined.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
Now when he perceiued no hope likelie to come for any redresse at
the kings hands, he tooke an other way: and first by his pontificall
authoritie accursed all those that withheld the same possessions, and
all their mainteiners (the king excepted) and therewith appealing to
the pope, he went to prosecute his appeale at Rome, whither the king
and the earle sent also their procurators, and made the pope their
arbitratour to iudge of the matter. In the end pope Gregorie hauing
heard the whole processe of the controuersie, iudged the right to
remaine with the archbishop, who hauing then obteined his desire,
hasted toward England: but as he was returning homewards, he died by
the way, not farre from Rome, whereby the popes iudgement tooke no
place: for whilest the sée was void, there was none that would follow
the suit: and such was the end of this controuersie for this time.
[Sidenote: Ralfe Neuill elected arch. of Canturburie.]
After the deceasse of this archbishop Richard, the moonks elected Ralfe
Neuill bishop of Chichester the kings chancellor, an vpright man, and
of iust dealing in all his dooings. In whome also it is to be noted,
he would not giue one halfepenie to the moonks towards the bearing of
their charges in their iournie to Rome, which they should take vpon
them from thence to fetch his confirmation, according to the manner,
least he should burthen his conscience with the crime of simonie which
he greatlie abhorred, although some imputed this to procéed rather of
a cloked spice of couetousnesse. Which practise of his maketh greatlie
to the confounding of the indirect means now vsed to aspire vnto
promotions, for the obteinment whereof no remedie is forborne; no,
though the same be repugnant to reason, and vtterlie against conscience
and honestie. But this is the temptation of auarice and ambition, which
poison the minds of men in such sort, that rather than they will want
their wished aduancement, they will vse these meanes that may further
them most, namelie, fréendship, monie, and mightie mens countenance;
which one noteth verie well in a distichon of neat deuise, saieng,
Artis, honestatis, recti, præcepta, decus, vim,
Conculcat, superant, spernunt, fauor, æra, potentes,
[Sidenote: Sim[=o] Langtons report of the conditions of Ralfe Neuill.]
But to the purpose from whence we are digressed. When the moonks came
to the popes presence, vpon inquirie made, and chéefelie by report
of Simon Langton, who (as some thinke) gaped for the dignitie, he
vnderstood that the said Ralfe Neuill should be a man vnlearned, a
courtier, hastie and short of word, and that which most displeased
the pope, it was to be feared, that if he should be preferred to that
roome, he would go about to deliuer the realme of England from the
thraldome of the pope, and the court of Rome (into the which being
made tributorie by king Iohn it had latelie béene brought) that (as
he should alledge) it might serue God and holie church in the old
accustomed libertie.
[Sidenote: Sée before in pag. 307.]
[Sidenote: The Pope maketh void the election.]
To bring this to passe (hauing the king thereto greatlie inclined, and
all the realme readie to assist him in the same) he would not sticke
to put his life in ieopardie, namelie vpon confidence of the right and
appeales of Stephan the late archbishop of Canturburie, made in solemn
wise before the altar of S. Paule in the cathedrall church of London,
when king Iohn resigning his crowne into the hands of the legat, made
that writing obligatorie most execrable to the whole world. When the
pope had heard this tale told, he streit disanulled the election
and request of the confirmation of the said Ralfe Neuill, granting
libertie to the moonks to chose some other which might proue a wholsome
shéepheard for the soule of man, profitable to the church of England,
and a faithfull sonne to the sée of Rome, and so the moonks returning
home, made relation to the couent how they had sped. After this,
the moonks elected the prior of their house named Iohn to be their
archbishop, who going to Rome for his confirmation, was persuaded in
the end to renounce his election: so that at length one Edmund that was
treasurer of the colledge of Salisburie, was elected, confirmed, and
consecrated, a man of great zeale, being the foure & fortith archbishop
that had gouerned that sée.
[Sidenote: The earle of Cornewall marrieth the countesse of Glocester.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Penbroke departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: Leolin prince of Wales inuadeth the English borders.]
This yeare the kings brother the earle of Cornewall married the
countesse of Glocester, widow to the late earle Gilbert, and sister to
William Marshall earle of Penbroke, the which erle of Penbroke shortlie
after the same marriage departed this life, and was buried on the
fiftéenth day of Aprill, in the new temple at London, néere vnto his
father. Moreouer, Leolin prince of Wales about this season enterprising
to inuade the English confines, burned and wasted the countrie in
most cruell wise. Whereof the king being aduertised, hasted foorth by
great iournies, with purpose to reuenge such iniuries. But the enimies
hearing of his comming (according to the custome of their countrie)
withdrew into the mounteins, bogs, and marishes. Wherefore the king
(séeing that he could not haue them at his pleasure, and least he
should be thought to spend time in vaine) came backe, and left behind
him a small troope of souldiers to resist their attempts, if they
should happen to rise vp any more.
[Sidenote: The Welshmen put to flight.]
[Sidenote: The king goeth against the Welshmen.]
The Welshmen hauing intelligence that the king was returned home, brake
foorth againe as before into the English marshes, and not onelie tooke
preies and booties, but went about to destroie with fire and sword all
that stood in their way. Howbeit in their returne, and as they ranged
abroad somewhat vnaduisedlie, they were intrapped by the souldiers
which the king had left there for the defense of the countrie, and put
to flight néere the castell of Mountgomerie, with great slaughter &
losse of their people. But Leolin nothing dismaied therwith, assembled
a greater power than he had before, and began foorthwith to rob and
spoile within the English marshes with paganish extremitie. Which
thing when it came to the vnderstanding of the king, he was verie sore
displeased, that so meane a man as Leolin was, should put him to so
much trouble, therefore he raised a farre greater armie than he had
doone at anie time before, and with the same came to the citie of
Hereford.
[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The Englishmen distressed.]
[Sidenote: Mawds castell repaired.]
In the meane time Leolin comming néere vnto the said castell of
Mountgomerie, by the practise of a traitorous moonke, trained foorth
the English souldiers which laie in garrison there, and counterfeiting
to flée, till he had laid them vp in bogs and mires with their horsses,
so as they could not helpe themselues, he fell vpon them, and so slue
and tooke a great number of them euen as he could haue wished. The king
aduertised hereof, hasted the faster forward, and comming into those
parts, as he passed by an abbeie of the Cisteaux order (of which house
the moonke was that had betraied the Englishmen of Mountgomerie) he
burned a grange that belonged to the same abbeie, and further spoiling
the same abbeie it selfe, he had set it on a light fire also, if the
abbat therof had not redéemed it with the summe of thrée hundred marks
of siluer. After this, he caused Mawds castell to be repaired and
fortified, which the Welshmen in times past had ouerthrowne, and when
the worke was finished, he left there a strong garrison of souldiers to
kéepe backe the Welshmen from making their accustomed incursions.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Henrie earle of Britaine, and the earle of Chester distresse
the French kings cariages.]
[Sidenote: A truce taken.]
Whilest the king was thus occupied in Wales, there was some busines
in France: for in the moneth of Iune, the French king with an armie
came to inuade the countrie of Britaine, but earle Henrie with the
earle of Chester and the other English capteins found meanes to take
and destroie all the cariages and wagons which came with vittels and
other prouision to serue the French armie. When the Frenchmen perceiued
they could not haue their purpose, by mediation of the archbishop of
Reimes, and the earle of Bollongne on the French part, and by consent
of the earles of Britaine and Chester on the English part, a peace was
concluded, or rather a truce to indure for thrée yeares betwixt the
two kings of England and France. This agréement was made the fift daie
of Iulie, and then the earles of Britaine and Chester, with Richard
Marshall, came ouer into England, and rode to the king, whom they found
at Mawds castell, where he remained till the worke was finished, and
then in the moneth of October returned into England.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 16. 1232.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: An vnorderlie & presumptuous attempt.]
In this meane time no small grudge arose among the people, by reason
that their churches were occupied by incumbents that were strangers,
promoted by the popes and their legats, who neither instructed the
people, nor could well speake anie more English than that which serued
for the collection of their tithes, in somuch that for the insolencie
of such imcumbents as well the Noble men and those of good reputation,
as other of the meaner sort, by an vndiscréet presumption attempted a
disorderlie redresse, confederating themselues togither, and taking
vpon them to write and direct their letters vnto bishops and chapters,
commanding them by waie of inhibition, not to séeme to interrupt those
that should seize vpon the beneficed strangers, or vpon their reuenues.
[Sidenote: The superscription of their letters.]
They also tooke vpon them to write vnto such religious men and others,
which were farmers vnto anie of those strangers, forbidding them to
stand accountable vnto the said strangers, but to reteine the rents
and profits in their hands to answer the same vnto such as they should
appoint for the receipt thereof. The superscription of their letters
was this. ¶ "Tali episcopo, & tali capitulo, vniuersitas eorum, qui
magis volunt mori quàm à Romanis confundi, salutem." That is to say,
"To such a bishop and chapter, all those which had rather die than be
confounded by the Romans, send gréeting." In the seale wherewith the
said letters were sealed, were two swords ingrauen.
[Sidenote: Masking threshers.]
[Sidenote: The pope complaineth to the K. in blaming him.]
This matter went so farre foorth, that there were sundrie persons
armed and disguised like mummers, which enterprised not onelie to take
diuerse of those strangers that were beneficed men, but also came to
their barnes, threshed vp their graine, and either made sale therof,
or gaue it awaie for God his sake, shewing counterfeited letters vnder
the kings seale, which they had procured for their warrant, as they
did pretend. At length the pope vpon complaint made vnto him of such
violent doings, wrote to king Henrie, blaming him not a little for
suffering such disorders to be committed within his realme, commanding
him vpon paine of excommunication to cause a diligent inquirie to
be had of the offenders, and to sée them sharpelie punished, to the
example of others.
[Sidenote: The pope c[=o]mandeth the offenders to be accursed.]
[Sidenote: Inquisitions taken.]
Moreouer he sent letters to the bishop of Winchester, and to the abbat
of saint Edmundsburie, to make the like inquisition, and to accurse all
those that should be found culpable within the south parts of England,
as he did to the archbishop of Yorke, to the bishop of Durham, and to
an Italian named Iohn a canon of Yorke, to doo the like in the north
parts, so that the offenders should remaine accursed, till they came to
Rome, there to fetch their absolution. Herevpon therefore a generall
inquisition was taken, as well by the king as by the bishops, and manie
found guiltie, some in fact, and some in consent: amongst which number
there were both bishops and chapleins to the king, with archdeacons and
deanes, knights, and manie of the laitie.
[Sidenote: The earle of Kent put in blame.]
[Sidenote: Sir Robert de Twing.]
There were some shiriffes and bailiffes also, which by the kings
commandement were arrested and put in prison, and diuerse of all sorts
did kéepe themselues out of the waie, and would not as yet be found.
In like maner, Hubert earle of Kent, lord chéefe iustice, was accused
to be chiefe transgressour in this matter, as he that had giuen foorth
the kings letters patents to those disguised and masking threshers, who
had taken vpon them so to sequester other mens goods, whereto they had
no right. There came also to the king one sir Robert de Twing, a knight
of the north parts, (which named himselfe William Wetherse, and had led
about a companie of the foresaid maskers) protesting that he had doone
it vpon iust cause to be reuenged vpon the Romans, which went about by
sentence of the pope, and manifest fraud to spoile him of the parsonage
of a certeine church which he held, and therefore he said he had rather
stand accursed without iust cause for a time, than to lose his benefice
without due iudgement. Howbeit the king and the other commissioners
counseled him in the end to go to Rome to purchase his absolution, sith
he was fallen in danger of excommunication, and there to sue for his
pardon in the popes consistorie. And to incourage him the better so
to doo, the king wrote also in his fauour to the pope, testifieng the
right which he claimed to the church, whereby at length he obteined his
suit (as after ye shall heare.)
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: A subsidie demanded, and denied.]
[Sidenote: The bishop of Winchesters counsell giuen to the king.]
The king called a parlement at Westminster, wherein declaring what
charges he had béene at diuers waies, he required to haue a subsidie
granted him, for the reléefe of his want, which was flatlie denied,
the Nobles and other estats excusing the pouertie amongst all degrées
of men, by manie euident reasons. Herevpon the bishop of Winchester
being a verie eloquent and faire-spoken man, openlie counselled the
king to fauour his people, whom he had alreadie made poore and bare
with continuall tributes and exactions. And if it were so that he
stood in such néed as was alledged, that then he should take into his
hands againe such possessions and things, which during the time of
his yoong yéeres he had bestowed vpon his seruants, without any good
aduised consideration, for lacke of ripe iudgement and discretion, and
againe to take from certeine couetous persons, who now were become
horsseleches and caterpillers in the common-wealth, all such offices as
they held, and had verie much abused, causing them to yeald vp their
accounts, and to vse them after the manner of sponges, so that where he
had in times past made them full of moisture, he might how wring them
drie, following herein the example of Vespasian. And by this means it
was not to be douted but he should haue inough of his owne, without
dooing iniurie to any man.
[Sidenote: The king followeth the bishop of Winchesters counsell.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]