The king gaue verie good eare to the bishops words, and following
his counsell, caused his receiuers, treasurers, and other such as
had medled with anie of his receipts to come to a reckoning. And
vnderstanding by the auditors appointed to take their accounts, that
the most part of them had receiued much more and by other means than
they had entered into their reckoning, he compelled them to restore
it out of hand with interest. Also he caused the magistrats to be
called to a reckoning, and manie of them being conuicted of fraud,
were condemned to make restitution. And among other Ranulfe Briton
treasurer of his chamber was put beside his office, and fined at a
thousand marks, in whose place was set Peter de Riuales, or after some
copies de Oruiales, a Poictouin, nephue or rather sonne to the bishop
of Winchester, by whose aduice the king tooke a more strait account of
his officers, and often remooued such as he iudged guiltie.
[Sidenote: The earle of Kent discharged of his office of chéefe
iustice.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The earle of Kent taketh sanctuarie.]
[Sidenote: The citizens of London their good deuotion towards the earle
of Kent.]
At the same time also, Hubert earle of Kent was deposed from the office
of high iustice, and Stephan Segraue appointed in his roome. The
said Hubert (bicause he refused to answer a certeine dutie which was
demanded of him to the kings vse) ran so farre into his displeasure,
that he durst not abide his sight, but for safegard of himselfe got
him to the abbeie of Merton, and there tooke sanctuarie. The king
hearing of this his demeanor, was so highlie offended withall, that he
sent to the Londoners, willing them to go thither and fetch him to his
presence. The Londoners, which in no wise loued him, bicause of the
death of their citizen Constantine, were verie readie to accomplish
this commandement, insomuch that where the maior ouernight late
declared to them the effect of the kings commission, there were twentie
thousand of them in armor gotten forward earlie in the morning towards
Merton, in full hope now to be reuenged of him, for the small good-will
that he had borne, vnto their citie heretofore.
But the king being informed by the earle of Chester and others, that
if the Londoners being thus in armor, and in so great a number, should
commit any other outrage by the way, the matter might grow to some
such inconuenience as would not easilie be staied, he sent to them
a countermand to returne backe to the citie againe, which they did,
though sorie in their hearts that they might not go through with
their desired enterprise. Furthermore (sée héere the mutabilitie of
fortune and hir inconstancie, whereof complaint hath béene made by our
forefathers time out of mind, saieng,
[Sidenote: _Ouid. lib. 2. de trist. 5._]
Passibus ambiguis fortuna volubilis errat,
Et manet in nullo certa tenáxq; loco;
Sed modò læta manet, vultus modò sumit acerbos.
Et tantùm constans in leuitate sua est.)
now that the erle of Kent was thus out of the kings fauour, there were
few or none of those whome he had before béene beneficiall vnto, that
shewed themselues as fréends and louers vnto him, but all forsooke
& were readie to saie the worst of him, the archbishop of Dubline
excepted, who yet obteined of the king respit for him to make answere
vnto such things as should lawfullie be obiected against him, both
for the debt which should be due to the king, and also vpon points of
treason, which were now laid to his charge. ¶ Wherin we may sée what
hath béene the course of the world in former ages touching fréends,
who in the spring of a mans felicitie like swallowes will flie about
him; but when the winter of aduersitie nippeth, like snailes they kéepe
within their shels: wherevnto the poet verie well alluding, saith.
[Sidenote: _Hor. lib. car. 1. od. 35._]
----diffugiunt cadis
Cum fæce siccatis amici,
Ferre iugum pariter dolosi.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
After this, as the said Hubert would haue gone to S. Edmundsburie
in Suffolke, where his wife as then remained, he was apprehended at
Burntwood in Essex, within a chappell there (as saith Fabian.) But
(as Matthew Paris saith) sir Robert de Cranecombe, with thrée hundred
armed men was sent to apprehend him by the kings commandement, and so
he was taken in a village belonging to the bishop of Norwich in Essex,
and by the kings commandement cast into prison, but yet afterwards he
was reconciled to the kings fauour, when he had lien foure moneths in
prison, and thirtéene moneths banished the court.
[Sidenote: A subsidie granted in a parlement holden at Lambeth.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 17.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Ranulfe earle of Chester departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: Erle Ranulfe thrice maried.]
[Sidenote: This Clemence was daughter to erle Ferrers.]
In this yeare, on the exaltation of the crosse, at Lambeth, in the
assemblie of the states there, a subsidie was granted to the K. of the
fortith part of euerie mans goods towards the discharge of his debts
which he owght to the earle of Britaine. Also in the beginning of the
seauentéenth yeare of his reigne, Ranulfe earle of Chester and Lincolne
departed this life the six and twentith day of October, whose bodie was
buried at Chester, and his bowels at Wallingford where he died. This
earle Ranulfe was thrice married, first to Constance daughter and heire
to Conan earle of Britaine and Richmund, and so in right of hir was
intituled earle of those two places: which Constance had béene first
married vnto Geffrey the third son of king Henrie the second, by whom
she had issue Arthur (as before yée haue heard.) But by earle Ranulfe
she had no issue at all, but was from him diuorced, and afterwards
married vnto Guy vicount de Towars. Then after earle Ranulfe was so
diuorsed from the said Constance, he married a ladie named Clemence,
and after hir deceasse, he married the third time the ladie Margaret,
daughter to Humfrey de Bohun earle of Hereford and Essex, constable of
England.
[Sidenote: The partition of his lands.]
Howbeit he neuer had issue by any of those his wiues, so that Iohn
Scot his nephue by his sister Mawd succéeded him in the earldome of
Chester, and William Dalbenie earle of Arundell, nephue to him by his
sister Mabell, had the manour of Barrow, and other lands that belonged
to the said Ranulfe, of the yerelie value of fiue hundred pounds.
Robert Quincie, he that married his sister Hauisa, had the earledome of
Lincolne, and so of a baron became an earle who had issue by his wife,
Margerie countesse of Lincolne, that was maried to Edmund Lacie earle
of Lincolne. William earle Ferrers and of Darbie, that had married
Agnes, sister to the said Ranulfe, had the castell and manour of
Chartley, togither with other lands for his pourpart.
[Sidenote: This Roger Lacie is surnamed Helle.]
Here is also to be remembred, that the afore mentioned earle Ranulfe
(or Randulfe whether ye list to call him) atchieued manie high
enterprises in his time, as partlie in this booke ye haue alreadie
heard: he held sore warres against the Welshmen, till at length an
agréement was concluded betwixt him and Leolin prince of Wales. I
remember I haue read in an old record, that vpon a time as this earle
passed into Wales with an armie, his chance was to be ouerset by the
Welshmen, so that he was driuen to retire into a castell, wherein the
Welshmen did besiege him. And as it fortuned at that time, Roger Lacie
the constable of Chester was not then with him, but left behind at
Chester to sée the citie kept in order (for as it should séeme, their
solemne plaies which commonlie are vsed at Whitsuntide were then in
hand, or else their faire which is kept at Midsummer.)
Wherefore the earle sent a messenger in all possible hast vnto his
constable, praieng him with spéed to come to his succour in that
extreame point of necessitie. Lacie made no delaie, but assembling
all the forreners, plaiers, musicians, and others which he could find
within that citie fit to weare armor, went foorth with them, and in
most spéedie maner marched toward the castell, where the Welshmen
kept the earle besieged, who now perceiuing such a multitude of men
comming towards them, incontinentlie left the siege and fled awaie.
The earle then being thus deliuered out of that present danger, came
foorth of the castell, returned with his constable vnto Chester, and
in recompense of that seruice, gaue vnto his said constable Roger
Lacie, the rule, order, and authoritie ouer all the forreners, plaiers,
musicians, and other strangers resorting to Chester at the time, when
such publike plaies (or else faire) should be kept & holden.
Iohn Lacie the sonne of the said Roger married Alice the daughter
of Gilbert de Aquila, and after hir deceasse, he married the ladie
Margaret, the daughter of Robert Quincie earle of Lincolne, of whom
he begat Edmund Lacie constable of Chester, which Edmund after the
deceasse of his father, married Alice the daughter of the marquesse
of Saluces in Italie, which ladie was surnamed the quéene, of whom
he begat Henrie Lacie earle of Lincolne, which Henrie married the
ladie Margaret, daughter to William Long espée earle of Salisburie,
by whom he had two sons, Edmund and Iohn, and two daughters, Alice
and Ioan, which Alice Thomas earle of Lancaster married, who claimed
and had the same rights and priuileges which ancientlie belonged to
the said Roger Lacie, and other the constables of Chester, concerning
the fines of forreners and others. ¶ This haue I the more willinglie
declared, that it may appeare in what estimation and credit the Lacies
constables Chester by inheritance liued in their time, of whose high
valiancie, and likewise of other of that familie, highlie commended for
their noble chiualrie in martiall enterprises ye may read in sundrie
histories at large.
[Sidenote: The earle of Kent kept in prison within the castell of Vées.]
But now to returne and speake of other dooings, which chanced about the
time in which the said Ranulfe earle of Chester departed this life.
The king in the meane while seized into his hands a great portion of
the treasure which Hubert de Burgh earle of Kent had committed to the
kéeping of the templers. But whereas there were that trauelled to haue
had him put to death, the king in respect of the seruice which he
had doone to him and to his predecessors king Richard and king Iohn,
granted him life, with those lands which he had either by purchase, or
by gift of king Iohn, but neuertheless he caused him to be kept in frée
prison at the castell of the Vées, vnder the custodie of foure knights
belonging to the earles of Cornewall, Warren, Penbroke, and Ferrers,
which foure earles were become suerties for him.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: A great thunder.]
[Sidenote: 1233.]
[Sidenote: A wet summer.]
[Sidenote: Foure sunnes beside the accustomed sun.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: A strange woonder.]
This yeare also about the same time, to wit, the morow after S. Martins
daie, chanced great thunder and lightning, which continued for the
space of 15 daies togither, to the great terrour and feare of the
people, and namelie of the Londoners, which haue that kind of weather
so familiar to them, that if there be anie abroad in the land, they
haue their part thereof. Moreouer on the 23 of March, was heard an
other great and terrible tempest of thunder, and after followed a
maruellous wet summer with manie flouds. Also on the 8 daie of Aprill,
in the parts about Hereford and Worcester, there appeared foure sunnes
in the element, beside the naturall sunne, of red colour, and a great
circle of christaline colour, the which compassed with his largenesse
as it had béene the whole circuit almost of the whole realme of
England, from the sides whereof went foorth certeine halfe circles, in
whose sections appeared the said four sunnes. The naturall sunne was
at the same time in the east part of the firmament, for it was about
the first houre of the daie, or betwixt six and seuen in the morning,
the aire being the same time verie bright and cleare. The bishop
of Hereford, and sir Iohn Monmouth knight, and manie others beheld
this woonderfull sight, and testified the same to be most true. And
after this there followed the same yeare in those parts cruell warre,
slaughter, terrible bloudshed, & a generall trouble through England,
Wales, and Ireland. About the same time, to wit, in Iune, in the south
parts of England néere to the sea coast, two huge dragons appeared
fighting in the aire, and after a long fight the one ouercame the
other, and followed him, fléeing into the depth of the sea, & so they
were séene no more.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: The king beginneth to fauour strangers.]
[Sidenote: The bishop of Winchester.]
Moreouer in this yeare great variance and strife rose betwixt the
king and his barons, for the king tooke great displeasure against all
other his officers, & so much the more mistrusted them, for that he
found himselfe deceiued in the earle of Kent, to whom he had committed
a further credit than to anie other, and had made him high iustice
of England, onelie for the good will that he alwaies bare to him.
Therefore perceiuing this, he was doubtfull whom he should trust,
discharging the most part of those Englishmen that bare any office
about him, and in their roomes placed strangers, as Poictouins and
Britains, of the which there came ouer vnto him manie knights and
other, to the number of 2000, which he placed in garrisons within
castels of diuerse places of the land, and committed the order of all
things for the most part to the bishop of Winchester, and to his nephue
or sonne Peter de Riuales.
[Sidenote: The earle of Penbroke.]
[Sidenote: Strangers alwaies odious to ye home borne.]
Herwith he offended so much the minds of his Nobles, that Richard
Marshall earle of Penbroke (chiefe of that familie, & boldest to
speake, now that Ranulfe of Chester was gone) as well in his owne name,
as in the names of other, tooke upon him openlie to reprooue the kings
dooings herein, as pernicious and dangerous to the state of the realme.
Herevnto the bishop of Winchester (whose counsell as it séemed he
followed) made answer, that the king had doone nothing in that behalfe
vnaduisedlie, but vpon good and déepe consideration: for sith he might
perceiue how the English nobilitie had first pursued his father with
malicious hatred & open war, and now that he found diuerse of them whom
he had brought vp and aduanced to high honours, vnfaithfull in the
administration of their offices, he did not without iust cause receiue
into his fauour strangers, and preferre them before those of his owne
nation, which were not so faithfull in his seruice and obedience as
they.
[Sidenote: The lords yt withdrew into Wales.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: The king proclaimed them traitors.]
[Sidenote: Strangers sent for.]
This answer of the bishop so pricked and wounded the minds of the
English Nobilitie, that manie of them (amongst whome the said earle
of Penbroke was the chéefe) began an open rebellion, some of them
resorting to one place, and some to an other, to gather people for
their purpose. The names of such barons as stirred vpon this occasion
were these; Richard Marshall earle of Penbroke afore named, Gilbert
Basset and his brethren, men of great honor and right hardie capteins:
also Richard Sward a warlike personage, trained vp in feats of armes
from his youth, with Walter Clifford a worthie knight, and manie
others. The king hauing knowledge of their dooings proclaimed them all
traitors, confiscated their goods, and sent for a great power of men
out of Flanders to serue him in his warre.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The earle of Kent escapeth and taketh sanctuarie.]
[Sidenote: He is fetcht out.]
Whilest king Henrie thus prouided himselfe of an armie, the lords with
their capteine Richard Marshall ioined themselues to Leolin prince of
Wales, & doubting the comming of the king, spoiled all the marshes
next adioining to England, leauing no vittels nor cattell any where
about in those parts wherby the kings armie might haue reléefe, and
further made all things readie for their owne defense so well as they
could deuise. The earle of Kent about the same time, by helpe of two
yeomen that attended vpon him, escaped out of the castell of Vées.
and tooke sanctuarie in the next church: but when those that had the
charge of him and the castell in kéeping, missed him, and heard where
he was, they fetcht both him, and the two yeomen that holpe him to make
the escape out of the church, and bringing them backe to the castell,
imprisoned the earle.
[Sidenote: He is restored to sanctuarie.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 18.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Kent rescued and conueied into Wales.]
And though the bishop of Salisburie came thither and threatened to
accursse them, if they would not deliuer the earle, and restore him to
sanctuarie againe: they made answer, that they had rather the earle
should hang for himselfe, than they for him. And so bicause they would
not deliuer him, the bishop did excommunicate them, and after riding to
the court, and taking with him the bishop of London, and other bishops,
preuailed so much by complaint exhibited to the K. that the earle was
restored to the church againe the eightéenth day of October: but so, as
the shiriffe of the shire had commandement to compasse the church about
with men, to watch that no reléefe came vnto him, whereby he might be
constreined through famishing to submit himselfe. Notwithstanding,
shortlie after there came a power of armed men, and fetcht the said
earle from thence (setting him on horssebacke in faire complet armour)
and so conueied him into Wales, where he ioined with other of the kings
enimies, the thirtith day of October.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: The king entreth into Wales with an armie.]
Within a few daies after came the king with his armie, and entring
into Wales, for want of vittels was constreined to retire backe to the
marshes, betwixt Worcestershire & Salopshire, where staieng certeine
daies togither in those parts, his souldiers straied abroad in the
countrie vnaduisedlie, and kéeping no watch nor ward about their campe,
were surprised in the night by their enimies, and slaine on euerie
side. The slaughter had béene greater, but that the residue which
laie in campe, brake foorth about midnight, and in a plumpe togither
fled into a castell which was néere at hand, called Grossemound, in
the which the king himselfe was lodged. There were slaine aboue fiue
hundred men, and all the trusse and baggage of the campe lost. Yet
Matthew Paris saith there were but two knights slaine, which cast awaie
themselues by their owne wilfulnesse, that would néeds stand to it
and make resistance, where the residue being spoiled of all that they
had with them, got awaie by flight, as the bishops of Winchester and
Chichester, the lord chéefe iustice Stephan Segraue, Peter de Riuales
treasurer, Hugh Bigot earle of Norfolke, William earle of Salisburie,
William lord Beauchampe, and William Dalbenie the yoonger, who were
witnesses of this losse amongst the residue.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: The king returneth out of Wales.]
Hereof, it came to passe, that manie of the kings armie (speciallie
those which had lost their horsses, armour, monie, and other furniture,
with their vittels) returned into their countrie, to their great
confusion. For the Welshmen and other outlawes, hauing spoiled the
campe, returned with the cariages and sumpters which they had taken,
into places of safe refuge. The king hauing receiued this losse, and
oftentimes tried fortune nothing fauourable vnto him in those parts, by
reason of the streits and disaduantage of the places, thought good to
reserue the reuenge of his receiued iniuries vntill a more conuenient
time, and therevpon returned to Glocester, and furnished diuers castels
and fortresses in the borders of Wales, with garrisons of souldiers,
namelie Poictouins and other strangers to defend the same against
William Marshall, and the other his complices, who vpon occasions
dailie sought to suppresse and distresse the said strangers.
[Sidenote: The earle of Penbroke in danger.]
[Sidenote: He is rescued.]
[Sidenote: The Poictouins discomfited.]
And beside other encounters, in the which manie of those Poictouins and
other strangers were slaine and oppressed by the said William Marshall
and his adherents, it chanced that vpon saint Katherins day, the said
William Marshall comming néere to the castell of Monmouth to view the
same, was in danger to haue remained prisoner in the enimies hands,
through an issue made by sir Baldwine de Guines, capiteine of that
castell, with his Poictouins and Flemings. But by such rescue as came
to his aid, he was deliuered out of their hands, and the Poictouins
and other of the garrison discomfited. At this skirmish sir Baldwine
himselfe being sore wounded, was borne out of the field into the
castell, losing fiftéene knights of his part, and a great sort of other
which were taken prisoners, besides no small number that were slaine in
the place.
[Sidenote: Dearth.]
[Sidenote: Tempests. An earthquake.]
[Sidenote: A death.]
The same yeare chanced a great dearth, by reason that the growth of all
things was much hindered with the extreame cold weather. Also there
happened about the beginning of Nouember great thunder and lightning,
and therewith folowed an earthquake to the great feare of the
inhabitants of the towne of Huntington and other places thereabouts.
After this, came a great death amongst the people, being commonlie a
néere companion to great famine and dearth.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Iohn Monmouth receiueth an ouerthrow.]
[Sidenote: 1234.]
Richard Marshall erle of Penbroke in this meane time ceassed not to
waste the marshes of England next adioining to Wales, and dailie
diuerse of the English Nobilitie repaired to him, so that the king was
sore troubled in his mind. It chanced at the same time, that one Iohn
of Monmouth a right valiant capteine, who led the kings armie, receiued
a great ouerthrow at the hands of Richard Marshall. For whereas the
foresaid Iohn, hauing assembled a mightie host, made great hast towards
his enimies, in hope to haue come vpon them at vnawares, and therefore
marching by night, that he might be readie to assaile them somewhat
afore the breake of the day, which in the summer season is the most
silent time of all the night, it chanced farre otherwise than he looked
it should haue doone. For the earle of Penbroke, hauing knowledge by
his spies of his aduersaries intent, laie himselfe with his people
within a wood in ambush by the way, where the said Iohn should passe,
and setting vpon him as he approched, put his people in such feare by
the sudden incounter, that they knew not what capteine or ensigne they
might follow, and so immediatlie fell to running awaie. The slaughter
was great on euerie side, both of Poictouins and others. Diuerse of
them fléeing also into the next woods, were receiued by such as were
laid there to cut them off, and so slaine or taken out of hand. Howbeit
their chiefe capteine the forenamed Iohn of Monmouth escaped, with a
few other in his companie. This ouerthrow chanced the morrow after
Christmasse daie.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]