Flanders, vncle to the quéene, arriued at Douer, and was receiued of
the king with great ioy and gladnesse, who rode thitherward to méet
him, and so brought him to London, where the citizens came foorth also,
and méeting him in the waie, brought him into the citie with all honour
that might be deuised. He did homage to the king (as authors write)
and at his departure had in reward fiue hundred marks, and a pension
assured him of as much yearelie out of the escheker of the kings frée
gift. This earle Thomas was sonne to the earle of Sauoy, and a little
before his comming into England, he had married Ione countesse of
Flanders, which had first béene coupled in marriage with Ferdinando, as
in the life of king Iohn may further appeare.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 24. 1240.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: Baldwin de Riuers earle of the Ile of Wight.]
[Sidenote: The woods about Leicester féeld.]
In the 24 yeare of his reigne, king Henrie held his Christmasse at
Winchester, where he made Baldwine de Riuers knight, and inuested him
with the right of the earledome of the Ile of Wight, in the presence of
the earle of Cornewall, who procured him this honour, bicause he had
the wardship of him, and married him to his daughter in law the ladie
Amicia, that was daughter to his wife the countesse of Glocester by hir
former husband. The earle of Leicester also, meaning to go into the
holie land, returned out of France, where he had remained a certeine
time as an exile, but was now receiued honorablie of the king and other
péeres of the realme, and after that he had séene the king and doone
his dutie as apperteined, he went to his possessions to make monie for
his furniture necessarie to be had in that iournie, for the which he
sold at that time his woods about Leicester, vnto the knights of the
Hospitall, and to the canons of Leicester, receiuing of them for the
same about the summe of a thousand pounds.
[Sidenote: Leolin prince of Wales departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: Griffin ap Maddocke.]
About the same time, to wit, the 14 of Aprill, died Leolin prince of
Wales, and then followed contention betwixt his sons Griffin and Dauid
for the principalitie, which at length Dauid obteined through king
Henries support (though he were the yoonger brother) bicause he was
begot in lawful bed on the sister of king Henrie. The whole countrie
of Wales was maruellouslie in trouble about their quarels. At length,
a daie of méeting was appointed betwixt them, to grow by waie of talke
vnto some quiet end; and Griffin meaning no deceit, came in peaceable
wise with Richard bishop of Bangor and others to the place assigned,
where they should haue met. But Dauid by a traine tooke Griffin, and
committed him to prison, wherevpon afterwards, the yeare insuing, by
continuall plaint and earnest sute of the bishop of Bangor, king Henrie
entred Wales with an armie, and constreined Dauid to submit himselfe,
and to deliuer the said Griffin into his hands, and further also to put
in suerties to appeare at London, there to receiue such order in the
kings courts, as to him by law should be orderlie awarded. Griffin ap
Maddocke and diuerse other great lords of Wales ioined with the king in
this iournie against Dauid, as in the next yeare ye shall further heare.
[Sidenote: King Henrie aided the pope with monie against the emperour.]
About the same time, there was great strife and contention still
remaining betwixt the emperour Frederike and pope Innocent the fourth
that succéeded Celestine the fourth, in somuch that sore and mortall
warre followed. But king Henrie by the procurement of the legat Otho,
aided the pope with monie, though he was somewhat loth to doo it,
bicause the said emperour had married his sister. Indéed, the emperour
wrote to the king to staie his hand, but the diligence of that legat
was such in furthering his masters businesse, that the monie was gone
ouer yer the emperours letters came. At this time also, Edmund the
archbishop of Canturburie greatlie disalowed the often exactions and
subsidies which the legat caused dailie to be leuied of the English
clergie. Howbeit, in hope to haue his purpose the rather against the
moonks of Canturburie, with whom he was at variance, he first granted
to the legats request made on the popes behalfe in a synod holden at
Reading, for the hauing of the fift part of spirituall mens reuenues,
and so by his example others were inforced to doo the like.
[Sidenote: Complaint to the king of the collections made for the pope.]
[Sidenote: The answer of the king.]
Furthermore he gaue eight hundred marks to the pope, but whether of
his owne frée will, or by constreint, I cannot saie; but now vtterlie
misliking all things doone by the legat contrarie to his mind, after
he had doone and said what he could for redresse, and when he saw no
hope at hand for anie reformation either in the king or legat, who
estéemed not his words, as a man not longer able to sée his countrie
so spoiled, he went ouer into France, and got him vnto Pontney, there
to remaine in voluntarie exile, after the example of his predecessour
Thomas Becket, whose dooings he did follow in verie manie things.
Verelie the collections of monie, which the pope in these daies by his
legats gathered here in this realme, were great and sundrie, so that
(as it appeareth by historiographers of this time) the cleargie and
other found themselues sore grieued, and repined not a little against
such couetous dealings and vnmeasurable exactions, in so much that
they spake to the king of it, and said; "Right famous prince, whie
suffer you England to be made a prey and desolation to all the passers
by, as a vineyard without an hedge, common to the waifaring man, and
to be destroied of the bores of the field, sith you haue a sufficient
priuilege that no such exactions should be made in this kingdome. And
suerlie he is not worthie of a priuilege which abuseth the same being
granted." The king answered those that went thus about to persuade him,
that "he neither would nor durst gainsaie the pope in any thing:" and
so the people were brought into miserable despaire.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: The causes that mooued archbishop Edmund to depart the
realme.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
There be that write how that there were other occasions of the
archbishops departure out of the relme of the which this should be one;
when he saw religion not to be regarded, and that préests were had in
no honor, neither that it laie in his power to reforme the matter,
sith the king gaue no eare to his admonitions, he determined to absent
himselfe till the king (warned by some mishap) should repent him of his
errours, and amend his misdooings. Other ioine an other cause herevnto,
which was this; whereas the king by the insample of other kings (begun
by William Rufus) vsed to kéepe bishops sées, and other such spirituall
possessions in his hands, during the vacation, till a conuenient person
were to the same preferred, the archbishop Edmund, for that he saw
long delaies made oftentimes yer any could be admitted to the roome of
those that were deceassed, or by any other means depriued, he was in
hand with the king, that the archbishop of Canturburie might haue power
onlie to prouide for successors in such roomes as chanced to be vacant,
aboue the tearme of six moneths, which thing the king for a certeine
summe of monie granted: but afterward perceiuing what hinderance he
susteined thereby, he reuoked that grant, so much to the displeasure
of the archbishop, that he thought good no longer to continue in the
realme.
[Sidenote: The death of Edmund archbishop of Canturburie surnamed of
Pontney.]
At his comming to Pontney, he so séemed to despise all worldlie pompe
and honor, giuing himselfe wholie to diuine contemplation, to fasting
and praier, that the former opinion, which men had conceiued of his
vertues, was maruellouslie confirmed. At length being sore vexed with
sicknesse, supposing that he might recouer helth by changing of aire
and place, he caused himselfe to be conueied into an other house of
religion, named Soisie, two daies iournie from Pontney, where finallie
he died the sixtéenth of Nouember, and his bodie was brought againe to
Pontney, and there buried, where also through sundrie miracles shewed
(as they say) at his graue, he was reputed a saint, and at length
canonized by pope Innocent the fourth. He was borne at Abingdon, beside
Oxenford, and thereby some named him saint Edmund of Abingdon, and some
of S. Edmund of Pontney, after the place where he was inshrined. The
sée of Canturburie was void more than thrée yeares after his decease,
till at length by the kings commandement, the moonks of Canturburie
elected one Boniface of Sauoie vncle to quéene Elianor, being the 45
archbishop which ruled that church.
[Sidenote: A Charterhouse moonke apprehended.]
¶ There was this yeare a certeine person of honest conuersation, and
sober, representing in habit one of the Carthusian moonks, taken at
Cambridge, being accused for that he refused to come to the church to
heare diuine seruice, and vpon his examination, bicause he answered
otherwise than was thought conuenient, he was committed to secret
prison, and shortlie after sent vp to the legat to be of him examined.
This man openlie protested, that Gregorie was not the true pope, nor
head of the church, but that there was another head of the church,
and that the church was defiled, so that no seruice ought to be said
therein, except the same were newlie dedicated, and the vessels and
vestments againe hallowed and consecrated; The diuell (said he) is
losed, & the pope is an heretike, for Gregorie, which nameth himselfe
pope, hath polluted the church.
Herevpon (in the presence and audience of the abbat of Euesham, maister
Nic. de Fernham, and diuerse other worshipfull personages) the legat
said vnto him being thus out of the waie; "Is not power granted to our
souereigne lord the pope from aboue, both to lose and bind soules, sith
he executeth the roome of S. Peter vpon earth:" Now when all men looked
to heare what answer he would make, beléeuing his iudgement to depend
vpon the same, he said by waie of interrogation, and not by way of
assertion; "How can I beléeue, that vnto a person spotted with simonie
and vsurie, and happlie wrapt in more gréeuous sins, such power should
be granted as was granted vnto holie Peter, who immediatlie followed
the lord, as soone as he was made his apostle, and followed him not
onelie in bodilie footsteps, but in cléerenesse of vertues." At which
word the legat blushed, & said to some of the standers by; "A man ought
not to chide with a foole, nor gape ouer an ouen."
[Sidenote: Iustices itinerants. William de Yorke, Robert Lexinton
iustices.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Cornewall goeth into the holy land.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Leicester goeth thither also.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Albemarle.]
In this season the king sent his iustices itinerants in circuit about
the land, the which vnder pretext of iustice punished manie persons,
and so leuied great summes of monie to the kings vse. Sir William of
Yorke prouost of Beuerley was assigned to visit the south parts, and
sir Robert de Lexinton the north parts. Also Richard earle of Cornewall
the kings brother, with a nauie of ships sailed into Syria, where in
the warres against the Saracens, he greatlie aduanced the part of the
christians. There went ouer with him the earle of Salisburie William
Long espée, and William Basset, Iohn Beauchampe, Geffrey de Lucie, Iohn
Neuill, Geffrey Beauchampe, Peter de Breuse, and William Furniuall.
The erle of Montford also went ouer the same time: but where the earle
of Cornewall tooke the sea at Marsiles, the earle of Leicester passed
through Italie, and tooke the water at Brandize, and with him went
these persons of name, Thomas de Furniuall, with his brother Gerard de
Furniuall, Hugh Wake, Almerike de S. Aumond, Wischard Ledet, Punchard
de Dewin, and William de Dewin that were brethren, Gerard Pesmes, Fouke
de Baugie, and Peter de Chauntenaie. Shortlie after also, Iohn earle
of Albemarle, William Fortis, and Peter de Mallow a Poictouin, men for
their valiancie greatlie renowned, went thither, leading with them a
great number of christian souldiors.
[Sidenote: The dedication of the church of S. Paule in London.]
[Sidenote: The death of Isabell the countesse of Cornewall.]
[Sidenote: The lord Iohn Fitz Robert.]
[Sidenote: A comet. A battell betwixt fishes.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The kings manour at Mortlake.]
[Sidenote: A great wind.]
In this yeare and vpon the day of S. Remigius, was the church of S.
Paule in the citie of London dedicated by Roger bishop of that citie,
the king and a great number of bishops and other Noble men being
present, which were feasted the same day by the said bishop Roger and
the canons. Moreouer, there died the same yeare the countesse Isabell,
wife to Richard earle of Cornewall, and two earles, William earle
Warren, and Iohn earle of Lincolne, also the lord Iohn Fitz Robert, one
of the chéefe barons in all the north parts of the realme. ¶ Also in
Februarie there appeared a comet or blasing starre verie dreadfull to
behold, for the space of thirtie daies togither. Moreouer, on the coast
of England there was a great battell amongst the fishes of the sea, so
that there were eleauen whales or thirlepooles cast on land, beside
other huge and monstruous fishes, which appeared to be dead of some
hurts; and one of those mightie fishes, comming into the Thames aliue,
was pursued by the fishers, and could scarse passe through the arches
of London bridge. At length with darts and other such weapons, they
slue him before the kings manour at Mortlake, whither they followed
him. There was also a great sound heard this yeare in sundrie parts of
England at one selfe time, as if it had béene the noise of some mightie
mountaine that had fallen into the sea. And vpon the seuenth of Maie
there chanced a great boisterous wind that sore troubled the skie.
[Sidenote: An oth receiued.]
[Sidenote: The seneshall of Aquitaine.]
This yeare the king caused the citizens of London, and the gardians
of the cinque ports, and manie other to receiue an oth to be true
and faithfull to his sonne prince Edward. The friers preachers and
minors, and other men of the church that were diuines, absolued such
as had taken on them the crosse, receiuing of them so much monie as
would suffice to haue borne their charges in that iournie, and this
not without slander redounding to the church. The same meanes to get
monie was practised also by the legat Otho, hauing authoritie therto of
the pope. The same yeare the seneshall of Aquitaine came ouer to the
king, and let him know, that if timelie prouision were not had, all
those countries on the further side of the sea wold be lost. No other
incident chanced the same yeare neither in warre abroad, nor in the
state of gouernement of the common-wealth at home, whereof any great
accompt is to be made, but that the legat Otho got great summes of
monie diuerse waies, of religious men to the popes behoofe: wherevpon
certeine abbats made complaints to the king, but in place of comfort
they receiued discomfort, & after knowledge thereof giuen to the legat,
he was more extreame with them than he was before.
[Sidenote: Peter Rosso.]
[Sidenote: Peter de Supino got a vintiesme, that is the 20 part of
préests benefices.]
Shortlie after one of the popes familiars and kinsman named master
Peter Rosso came from Rome, taking England in his waie to go into
Scotland, and vsed in both such diligence in the popes cause, that he
got a fiftéenth granted here, which he spéedilie gathered. About the
same time one Peter de Supino was sent into Ireland, and there likewise
he got a vintiesme, bringing from these the summe of 115 marks, and
aboue. But the collection which Peter Rosso got out of the Scotish
confines doubled that summe, as was thought. In his returne also from
thence, visiting the houses of religion, and searching the consciences
of religious persons, by new shifts he craftilie got yet more monie to
the popes vse, causing them to sweare to kéepe this mysterie secret, as
it were some priuitie of confession for the space of one halfe yeare,
whereby he turned the harts of manie men from the loue of the church of
Rome, wounding them with great gréefe and remorse of conscience to sée
this pillage.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 25. 1241.]
[Sidenote: Boniface de Sauoie elected archb. of Canturburie.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
In the 25 yeare of his reigne, king Henrie kept his Christmasse at
Westminster, at which time the legat was sent for to returne vnto Rome,
and after he had béene honorablie feasted of the king, on the 4 daie of
Christmasse he departed from London towards the sea side, after he had
remained here aboue thrée yeares. Peter of Sauoie that was uncle to the
quéene came into England, and was honorablie receiued and interteined
of king Henrie, who had giuen to him the earledome of Richmont. His
sonne Boniface was this yeare also elected archbishop of Canturburie, a
tall gentleman and of a goodlie personage, but neither so learned nor
otherwise méet for that roome. But such was the kings pleasure, who in
fauour of the quéene, to whom he was coosen germane sought to aduance
him, and getting the popes fauour in that behalfe, procured the monks
& bishops to grant their consents, although much against their minds,
if they might haue had their owne wils.
[Sidenote: The earle of Cornewall an intercessor for a peace to be had
betwixt the pope and the emperour.]
[Sidenote: He returneth into England.]
The earle of Cornewall returning out of the holie land in safetie,
after he had settled things there, by concluding an abstinence of
warre betwixt the Saracens and christians about the octaues of S. Iohn
Baptist, he arriued in Sicill, and hearing there in what place the
emperour as then soiourned, he repaired vnto him, of whom and of his
sister the empresse he was most ioifullie receiued. Within a few daies
after, he went to the court of Rome, to trie if he might driue some
agréement betwixt the emperour and the pope, but finding the pope too
hard, and nothing conformable, except he might haue had all his owne
will (which was, that the emperour should haue submitted himselfe to
the popes pleasure, and stand vnto what soeuer order the church should
appoint) he returned backe to the emperour without concluding any
thing with the pope, declaring vnto him as he had found. After this he
remained two moneths with the emperour, & then taking his leaue was
honoured with great gifts at his departure, and so returning towards
England, at length arriued at the towne of Douer on the morrow after
the feast of the Epiphanie in the yeare following.
[Sidenote: Warres betwéene the Welshmen.]
About the same time that the earle of Cornewall was in his returne
foorth of the holie land, new wars suddenlie arose in Wales, which
happened well for king Henrie. There were diuerse of the Welshmen that
could not well like of the gouernement of Dauid, and therefore sore
lamenting the captiuitie of his brother Griffin, whom before (as ye
haue heard) he had by a traine taken and kept still as prisoner, began
to make warre vpon the said Dauid, and those that tooke his part, the
which on the other side sought to oppresse their aduersaries, so that
there insued much bloudshed and slaughter betwéene the parties. The
wife also of the said Griffin, and such other noble men as were become
enimies vnto Dauid, sent and writ vnto king Henrie, requiring his aid,
that Griffin might be deliuered out of his brothers hands, promising
him great helpe and furtherance, with large conditions of submission,
and assurance furthermore to be at his commandement, and to receiue him
for their true and souereigne lord.
[Sidenote: King Henrie goeth into Wales with an armie.]
King Henrie vnderstanding all their dooings and intents, thought that
this contention betwéene the two brethren for the title of Wales would
serue verie well for his purpose, and therefore he hasted foorth with
a spéedie armie of men in that countrie, purposing to reduce the same
vnder his obeisance. Herewith Senena or Guenhera, the wife of Griffin
(and other of the Welsh Nobilitie, that tooke part with hir) concluded
a league with king Henrie, vpon certeine conditions as the same are
conteined in an instrument or charter, the tenour whereof beginneth as
followeth.
* * * * *
Conuenit inter dominum Henricum tertium regem Anglorum illustrem
ex vna parte, & Senenam vxorem Griffini, filij Leolini, quondàm
principis Northwalliæ, quem Dauid frater eius tenet carceri
mancipatum, cum Owino filio suo, nomine eiusdem Griff. ex altera,
&c.
Articles of agréement betwéene Henrie the third of that name, king
of England of the one partie, and Senena the wife of Griffin,
the sonne of Leolin, sometimes prince of Northwales, whom Dauid
his brother deteineth in prison, with Owen his sonne, in the name
of the said Griffin of the other partie.
In primis, the said Senena vndertaketh, that the said Griffin hir
husband will giue vnto the king six hundred markes, vpon condition that
the king doo cause the said Griffin and Owen his sonne to be deliuered
from the prison wherein they are kept, and will stand to the iudgement
of the kings court, whether by law he ought to be imprisoned or no.
2 Item the said Griffin and his heires will stand to the iudgement of
the kings court, for and concerning that portion of the inheritance of
the said Leolin his father, which of right ought to apperteine vnto him.
3 Item the said Senena vndertaketh for the said Griffin and his heires,
that the said Griffin and his heires shall yéeld and paie yearelie to
the king for the same lands, the summe of thrée hundred markes. Whereof
the first third part to be paid in monie, the second in kine, and the
third in horsses, by the estimation of indifferent men, and the same to
be paid yearlie at Michaelmas and Easter by euen portions, by the hands
of the shiriffe of the countie of Salop for the time being.
4 Item the said Senena vndertaketh further for the said Griffin and his
heires, that they and euerie of them shall obserue the peace against
the said Dauid, and suffer him quietlie to inioy such portion of his
fathers inheritance as to him shall be found to be due.
5 Item the said Senena dooth further vndertake for the said Griffin
hir husband and his heires, that in case anie Welshman hereafter shall
happen to rebell against the king, they at their owne costs and charges
shall compell the said offender to make satisfaction to the king for
his disobedience.
6 Item for the performance of the premisses, the said Senena will
deliuer vnto the lord the king, Dauid and Roderike hir sonnes for
pledges, with prouiso that if the said Griffin and Owen or either of
them shall happen to die before their deliuerie out of the said prison,
it shall be lawfull for the said Senena to haue one of hir sonnes
released, the other remaining with the king for pledge.
7 Item the said Senena hath sworne vpon the holie Euangelist, that
the said Griffin hir husband and his heires, and euerie of them shall
accomplish and performe all the premisses on their behalfe, and further
vndertaketh that the said Griffin hir husband, vpon his deliuerie out
of prison, shall take the same oth.
8 Item the said Senena in the name of the said Griffin hir husband,
submitteth hir selfe concerning the obseruation of the premisses vnto
the iurisdiction of the reuerend fathers the bishops of Hereford and
Lichfield, so that the said bishops or either of them at the kings
request shall compell the said Griffin and his heires to obserue
all and singular the premisses on their behalfe, by sentence of
excommunication vpon their persons, and interdiction vpon their lands.
9 Lastlie, the said Senena dooth vndertake and promise (Bona fide) to
sée and procure the full performance of all the premisses, and that
the said Griffin hir husband and his heires shall allow and performe
the same, and thereof shall deliuer his instrument in writing to the
king in forme aforesaid. To this charter both parties put their seales,
Griffin and Senena to that part which remained with the king, and the
K. to that part which remained with Senena.