writing conteined, the said ladie in name of hir husband procured
diuerse Noble men to become suerties or pledges, that is to saie,
Ralfe de Mortimer, Walter de Clifford, Roger de Monthualt seneshall of
Chester, Mailgun ap Mailgun, Meredoc ap Robert, Griffin ap Maddoc of
Bromefield, Houwell and Meredoc brethren, Griffin ap Wenuwen: which
persons undertooke for the said ladie, that the couenants on hir part
should be performed, and thervpon they also bound themselues by their
writings obligatorie vnto the said king, in forme following.
Omnibus hoc scriptum visuris Rogerus de monte alto senescallus Cestriæ
salutem. Sciatis quòd ego me constitui plegium, &c.
To all and singular, to whome this writing shall come, Roger de
monte alto the steward of Chester sendeth gréeting. Know yée
that I haue constituted my selfe pledge for Senena the wife of
Griffin the sonne of Leolin, sometimes prince of Northwales,
and haue vndertaken for hir to our souereigne lord Henrie king
of England, that the said Senena shall accomplish and performe
all and singular those couenants and articles, agréed vpon
betwéene our said souereigne lord and the said Senena, for and
concerning the deliuerance of the said Griffin hir husband and
Owen his sonne out of the prison of Dauid his brother, and the
portion of inheritance due vnto the said Griffin, which the
said Dauid kéepeth from him by force. In witnesse whereof to
this present writing I haue put my seale. Dated at Salop, the
mondaie before the feast of the Ascension of the blessed virgin
Marie, in the 15 yeare of his reigne.
[Sidenote: Dauid driuen to his wits end.]
But now to our purpose. When Dauid vnderstood of the kings approach
with so puissant an armie, he was brought into great perplexitie, and
the more in déed, not onelie bicause there chanced the same yeare
for the space of foure moneths togither a great drouth, so that the
marishes and bogges were dried vp and made passable for the kings
people, but also for that manie of the Welsh Nobilitie, as chéefelie
Griffin Maddoc and others, sought his destruction in fauour of his
brother Griffin (whose deliuerance they earnestlie wished) and for that
he stood excommunicate by the pope. All which things well considered,
caused him to doubt of a further mischéefe to hang ouer his head:
wherevpon he sent to the king, signifieng that he would deliuer his
brother Griffin fréelie into his hands, but letting him withall to wit
by manie good reasons, that if he did set him at libertie, he should
minister manie new occasions of continuall warres.
[Sidenote: Dauid deliuereth his brother to the K.]
Moreouer, this couenant Dauid required at the kings hands, that the
king should reserue him so to his peace vnder the bond of fidelitie
and hostages, that he should not disherit him: which when as the
king courteouslie granted, Dauid sent vnto him his brother Griffin,
to dispose of him as he should thinke requisite. The king receiuing
him, sent him to London, vnder the conduct of sir Iohn de Lexinton,
togither with other men (whome he had receiued as hostages both of
Dauid and others the Nobles of Wales) appointing them to be kept in
safetie within the tower there. There was also a charter or déed made
by the same Dauid vnto king Henrie, conteining the articles, couenants,
and grants made betwixt the said prince and the foresaid Dauid, as
followeth.
The charter of the articles of Dauids submission to the king.
Omnibus Christi fidelibus, ad quos præsentes literæ peruenerint, Dauid
filius Leolini salutem. Sciatis quòd concessi domino meo Henrico regi
Angliæ illustri, &c.
1 To all christian people, to whom these present letters shall come,
Dauid the sonne of Leolin sendeth gréeting. Know ye that I haue granted
and promised to deliuer vnto the lord Henrie the noble king of England,
Griffin my brother with his sonne and heire whom I kéepe in prison,
and all other prisoners, who by occasion of the said Griffin lie in
durance.
2 Item I shall stand to the iudgement of the kings court, as well in
that case, whether the said Griffin ought to be deteined prisoner or
no, as also for and concerning the part of the inheritance of the said
Leolin my father, claimed by the said Griffin according to the customes
of Wales: so that the peace be mainteined betwéene me and the said
Griffin.
3 Item I and the said Griffin, and either of vs shall hold our portions
of land, of our said souereigne the king in Capite, acknowledging him
chiefe lord therof.
4 Item I shall restore vnto Roger de monte alto steward of Chester, his
land of Montalt or Mould, with the appurtenances.
5 Item I shall likewise restore to all other barons, all such lands,
lordships and castels, as were taken from them since the beginning of
the warres betwéene the lord Iohn king of England, and the said Leolin
prince of Wales my father, sauing the right of all couenants and grants
by writing, to be reserued vnto the iudgment and determination of the
kings courts.
6 Item I shall giue and restore vnto our souereigne lord the king all
his charges in this present voiage laid out.
7 Item I shall make satisfaction for all damages & iniuries doone by
me, or anie of my subiects vnto the king or his, according to the
consideration of the kings court, and shall deliuer such as shal be
malefactours in that behalfe.
8 Item I shall restore vnto the said lord the king all the homages,
which the late king Iohn his father had, & which the said lord the king
of right ought to haue, especiallie of all the noble men of Wales: and
if the king shall set at libertie anie of his captiues, the possessions
of that man shall remaine to the king.
9 Item the land of Elsmer with the appurtenances shall remaine to the
lord the king and his heires for euer.
10 Item I shall not receiue or suffer to be receiued within my countrie
of Wales, any of the subiects of England, outlawed or banished by the
said lord the king, or his barons of Mercia.
11 Item for confirmation and performance of all and singular the
premisses on my behalfe, I shall prouide by bonds and pledges, and by
all other waies and means as the said lord the king shall award, and
will accomplish the commandement of the said king, and will obeie his
lawes.
In witnesse whereof to this present writing I haue put my seale:
dated at Alnet by the riuer of Elwey, in the feast of the decollation
of S. Iohn Baptist, in the fiue and twentith yéere of the reigne of
the said king. For the obseruation of these 11 articles, the said
prince Dauid and Edniuet Vachan were sworne. Also the said prince
Dauid submitted himselfe to the iurisdiction of the archbishop of
Canturburie, and of the bishops of London, Hereford, and Couentrie,
for the time being. That all, or one of them, whom the king shall
appoint, may excommunicate him, and interdict his land vpon breach of
anie of the said articles. And therevpon he procured the bishops of
S. Bangor, and S. Asaph to make their charters to the lord the king,
whereby they granted to execute and denounce all sentences, as well of
excommunication as of interdiction sent from the foresaid archbishop,
bishops, or anie of them.
The said Dauid also sent priuilie to the king, to desire him that he
would suffer him being his nephue, and the lawfull heire of Leolin his
father, to inioy the principalitie of Wales rather than Griffin, which
was but a bastard, and no kin vnto the king. Giuing him withall to
vnderstand, that in case he did set Griffin at libertie, he should be
sure to haue the war renewed. Whervpon the king knowing these things to
be true, and vnderstanding also that Griffin was a valiant stout man,
and had manie fréends and fauorours of his cause, inclined rather to
assent vnto Dauids request than otherwise to be in danger of further
troubles, & therfore willinglie granted the same.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ page, 765.]
Shortlie after Dauid did send his brother Griffin vnto the king, and
other pledges for himselfe, for performance of the said articles, whom
the king sent foorthwith to the towre of London, there to be safelie
kept, allowing to Griffin a noble a daie for his finding. And within
few dais after Michaelmas, prince Dauid comming to the kings court did
his homage, and swore fealtie, who for so dooing, and in that he was
the kings nephue, was sent home againe in peace. When Griffin saw how
all things went, and that he was not like to be set at libertie, he
began to deuise waies and meanes to escape out of prison.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ page, 830.]
Wherefore deceiuing the watch one night, he made a long line of
hangings, couerings, and shéets, and hauing gotten out at a window, let
downe himselfe by the same from the top of the towre: but by reason
that he was a mightie personage and full of flesh, the line brake with
the weight of his bodie, and so falling downe headlong of a great
height, his necke and head was driuen into his bodie with the fall:
whose miserable carcasse being found the morow after, was a pitifull
sight to the beholders. The king being certified thereof, commanded
Griffins sonne to be better looked vnto, and punished the officers for
their negligence.
[Sidenote: Iohn Mansell.]
About the same time there chanced a controuersie to rise betwixt the
king and the bishop of Lincolne, for the bestowing of the benefice
of Thame, the which Iohn Mansell the kings chapleine had gotten in
possession by the kings fauour through prouision granted of the pope,
where the bishop alleging priuileges to the contrarie, had granted it
to an other. At length the king hauing his fathers trouble before his
eies, and doubting the bishops words, threatning some euill mishap to
follow, if he should stand long in the matter against the said bishop,
gaue ouer his tenour: and therewithall prouided Iohn Mansell of a farre
more rich benefice, that is to saie, of the personage of Maidstone,
whereinto the bishop spéedilie inuested him.
[Sidenote: Death of noble men.]
[Sidenote: Lacie left no issue male behind him, so yt his daughters
inherited his lands.]
This yeare manie noble men ended their liues, as well such as were
gone with the earles of Cornewall and Leicester into the holie land,
and others remaining still at home. Amongst which number were these:
William Fortz earle of Albemarle, Walter Lacie, one of the chiefest
nobles in all Ireland, Stephan de Segraue, Gilbert de Basset and his
sonne and heire named also Gilbert. Moreouer, Iohn Biset high iustice
of the forrests, and Peter de Mallow, Hugh Wake, Robert Marmion, Peter
de Bruis, Guischarde Laider, Eustace Stoutuill, Eudo Hamon surnamed
Peccham, Baldwin de Betun, Iohn Fitz Iohn steward in household to
earle Richard, Iohn de Beaulieu, Gerard de Furniuall. There died also
the ladie Elianor the countesse of Britaine, wife vnto Geffrey, that
was sometime earle of Britaine (which countesse had béene long kept
prisoner at Bristow) with diuerse other.
[Sidenote: Cardinall Somercote an Englishman.]
[Sidenote: An eclipse.]
[Sidenote: The death of the empresse Isabell.]
Moreouer, there died this yeare Roger bishop of London, and Hugh bishop
of Chester. Also Gilbert Marshall earle of Penbroke in a torneie which
he had attempted at Hereford against the kings licence, was by an
vnrulie horsse cast, and so hurt that immediatlie he died thereof.
Neither was this yeare onelie mournefull to England for the losse of
such high estates, but also in other places manie notable personages
departed out of this transitorie life. As two popes, Gregorie the ninth
and his successour Celestine the fourth, besides cardinals: amongst the
which, Robert Somercote an English man was one. ¶ About the later end
of this 25 yeare, the sixt daie of October, there appeared a right sore
eclipse of the sunne, verie strange to the beholders. ¶ In the 26 yeare
died the empresse Isabell, wife vnto Frederike the emperour.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 26.]
[Sidenote: 1242.]
[Sidenote: Wars renued betwixt the kings of England & France.]
[Sidenote: The earle of March.]
[Sidenote: _Gaguinus._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
In this yeare also began the wars againe betwixt king Henrie and Lewes
the king of France for the quarell of Hugh earle of March, who refused
to doo homage vnto Alfonse the brother of king Lewes, which Alfonse had
married the onelie daughter and heire of Raimund earle of Tholouse, and
therefore should succéed the same earle in his estate and inheritance.
His brother king Lewes had also giuen vnto him the earledome of
Poictou, with all the lands of Aluergne: and bicause the earle of March
would not doo homage vnto him, king Lewes made warre vpon the earle of
March, who thervpon sought to procure king Henrie (whose mother he had
married) to come ouer with an armie vnto his aid.
[Sidenote: Sundrie opinions in the kings councellers.]
King Henrie being sollicited with letters, not onelie from his
father in law, but also from diuerse other noble men of Poictou, who
willinglie would haue béene vnder his gouernement, asked aduise of his
councell what he ought to doo in the matter. Some were of opinion,
that sith there had béene a truce taken betwixt the kings, it were not
reason in anie wise to breake the same: but some other thought, that
sith the Frenchmen in times past had taken from king Iohn his lawfull
heritage in Normandie and Poictou, and wrongfullie deteined the same
still in their possession without restitution, it could not be at anie
time vnlawfull vpon occasion giuen to recouer the same out of their
hands. This opinion was allowed for good, and the best that might be
both of the king & also of the earle of Cornewall, who was latelie
returned from his iournie which he had made into the holie land.
[Sidenote: Charugage a certeine dutie for euerie plowland.]
But now all the staie rested in gathering of monie, which being
earnestlie demanded in a parlement begun at Westminster the tuesdaie
before Candlemasse, was as stifflie denied, alledging in excuse their
often paiments of subsidies and reléefes, which had béene gathered sith
the comming of the king to his crowne, as the thirtéenth, fiftéenth,
sixtéenth and fortieth parts of all their moueable goods, besides
charugage, hidage, and sundrie escuages, namelie the great escuage
granted for the marriage of his sister the empresse: and also beside
the thirtieth within foure yeares last past, or thereabouts, granted
to him, which they thought remained vnspent, bicause it could not be
vnderstood about what necessarie affaires for the common-wealth it
should be laid foorth and imploied, whereas the same was leuied vpon
condition, that it should remaine in certeine castels, and not to be
expended but by the aduise of foure péeres of the realme, as the earle
of Warren, and others. Moreouer, they alledged, that the escheats and
amercements which had béene gathered of late were such as must néeds
fill the kings coffers: & so to conclude, they would not consent to
grant any subsidie.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Durham sent into Scotland.]
[Sidenote: The king of Scots warden of the English marshes.]
[Sidenote: The archbishop of Yorke gouernor of the realme.]
Howbeit the king so handled the matter with the richer sort, and
namelie those of the spiritualtie, that partlie by gift and partlie by
borrowing, he got togither a great masse of treasure and so prepared an
armie and ships to passe ouer into Gascoine with all conuenient spéed.
In the meane time bicause he would leaue things in more suertie at
home, he sent the bishop of Durham into Scotland, by whose diligence a
marriage was concluded betwixt the lord Alexander eldest sonne to the
king of Scots, and the ladie Margaret daughter to king Henrie. Moreouer
the marshes of England adioining to Scotland were committed to the king
of Scots as warden of the same, to kéepe and defend whilest king Henrie
should abide in the parts beyond the seas. The archbishop of Yorke, in
the kings absence, was also appointed chéefe gouernour of the realme.
[Sidenote: Thirtie barrels of English coine.]
When this prouision was once readie, about the middest of Maie, the
king tooke the sea, togither with the quéene his wife, his brother
Richard earle of Cornewall, and seauen other earles, and about thrée
hundred knights or men of armes. The Poictouins had written to him that
he néeded not bring ouer with him any great armie of men, but rather
plentie of monie to reteine such as he should find there readie to
serue him at his comming. Wherevpon he tooke with him thirtie barrels
of sterling coine: and at length (but not without contrarie winds) he
arriued on the coast of Gascoine, in the mouth of the riuer of Garon,
and taking land, was ioifullie receiued of the people, and namelie of
Reignold lord of Pons.
[Sidenote: The king passeth ouer into France.]
[Sidenote: The French king inuadeth the earle of Marches land.]
[Sidenote: The number of the English armie.]
The French king aduertised that the king of England was come ouer
into France, to the aid of the earle of March, and other his subiects
against him, prepared a mightie armie, in the which were reckoned to be
to the number of foure thousand men of armes, well prouided and armed
at all points, besides twentie thousand esquires, gentlemen, yeomen
and crossebowes: and with the same immediatlie he entred the dominions
of the earle of March, and tooke from him diuerse townes and castels,
as Fountney, wherein he tooke one of the earls sonnes: also Meruant
with diuers other. In the meane while the king of England was aduanced
forward and come néere vnto Tailborge, lieng with his armie in the
faire medow by the riuer side of Charent fast by the castell of Thonay:
& he had there with him in campe sixtéene hundred knights, or rather
men of armes, and twentie thousand footmen, with seauen hundred that
bare crossebows. He made there his two halfe brethren, the sonnes of
the earle of March knights, and gaue to the one of them fiue hundred
marks, and to the other six hundred marks yearelie, to be paid out of
his escheker, till he had otherwise prouided for them in lands and
reuenues equall to that pension.
[Sidenote: Tailborge.]
[Sidenote: Xainctes. An encounter betwixt the English and the French.]
Now the French king being aduertised that king Henrie laie thus néere
to Tailborge, marched thitherwards with all his puissance latelie
réenforced with new supplies, and approching to Tailborge, had the
towne deliuered vnto him. This chanced about the latter end of Iulie.
Then after the French king had gotten possession of Tailborge, he ment
to passe the water, and if by mediation of a truce politikelie procured
by the earle of Cornewall (and as it were at a narrow pinch) the king
of England had not found means to remooue in the night season, he had
béene in great danger to haue béene taken, through want of such aid
as he looked to haue had at the hands of the Poictouins and other his
confederats. But yet he got awaie (though with some staine of honour)
and withdrew to Xainctes, whither also the French king folowed, and
comming néere to the towne, there was a sharpe incounter begun betwixt
the French and the English, wherein the Englishmen were victors, and
in which by the Frenchmens owne confession, if the English power had
béene like to theirs in number, they had fullie atchiued the honour of
a foughten field, and for a light skirmish a sound and perfect victorie.
[Sidenote: The valiancy of the earle of Leicester and others.]
[Sidenote: Iohn Mansell.]
[Sidenote: Sir Iohn Barris. Wil. de Sey. Gilbert de Clare slaine.]
The high prowesse and valiancie of the earles of Leicester, Salisburie,
Norfolke, with other Noble men, as Iohn de Burgh, Warren de Mount
Chenill or Cheincie, Hubert Fitz Matthew, and Ralfe Fitz Nicholas did
in this fight right well appeare: and likewise other of the English
nation bare themselues so manfullie, that they deserued no small
commendation. Amongst other also sir Iohn Mansell the kings chapleine,
and one of his priuie councell did right worthilie, taking prisoner
with his owne hands one Peter Orige a gentleman in good place. There
was moreouer taken on the French part sir Iohn de Barris a man of good
accompt, by William de Sey, beside sundrie others. On the English part
was slaine Gilbert de Clare, and Henrie Hasting taken prisoner, with
other, to the number of twentie knights, or men of armes, if I may so
call them.
[Sidenote: The earle of March is reconciled to the French king.]
After this incounter, by reason the French armie increased by new
bands still resorting to their king, the earle of March secretlie
sought meanes to be reconciled vnto him: and finallie by the helpe of
the duke of Britaine, his old acquaintance and fréend at néed, his
peace was purchased, so that he had his lands againe to him restored,
except certeine castels; which for further assurance the French king
reteined in his hands by the space of thrée yeares. The king of
England, perceiuing himselfe too much deceiued in that he had put such
confidence in the earle of March and others of that countrie, which
should haue aided him at this present, and againe aduertised, that the
French king meant to besiege him within the citie of Xainctes, departed
with all spéed from thence, and came to Blaie, a towne in Gascoigne,
situat néere to the riuer of Garon, & distant seuen leagues from
Burdeaux.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The countesse of Bierne.]
[Sidenote: Sée Vol. I. pag. 495, 496, 497, 498, & pag. 681, of the
historie of England.]
Now whilest he laie here at Blaie, there came vnto him the countesse
of Bierne (a woman monstruous big of bodie) bringing with hir to
serue the king, hir sonne, and thrée score knights, in hope to get
some of his sterling monie, whereof she knew him to haue plentie: and
so couenanting for hir interteinment, remained still with him, and
receiued euerie daie 13 pounds sterling, and yet she neuer pleasured
him the woorth of a groat, but rather hindered him, in making him bare
of monie, which she receiued, purssed vp and tooke awaie with hir when
she departed from him. But if to hir making and stature she had bin
indued with the courage of Voadicia, whom she excéeded (as it should
seeme) in proportion, or with the prowesse of Elfleda, hir seruice
had béene no lesse beneficiall to the K. than anie skilfull capteins
marching vnder his banner. So that we sée in this woman a desire rather
to satisfie hir hydropicall humour of couetousnesse, than anie true
affection to set forward the kings affaires; therefore it may well be
said of hir in respect of hir gréedinesse to get from the king for hir
owne commodities sake, that she was
Vt mare, quod das deuorat, nunquam abundat,
Nunquam rependit.
[Sidenote: The reuolting of other French lords.]
[Sidenote: Death in the French camp.]
[Sidenote: Truce renued betwixt the two kings.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
In the meane time the lords de Pons, Mirabeau and Mortaigne suddenlie
reuolted, & submitted themselues to the French king, with the vicount
of Towars, and all other the lords and knights of Poictou, and the
marches therabouts, that not long before had procured king Henrie to
come ouer to their aid. The citie of Xainctes was likewise rendred
to him immediatlie vpon king Henries departure from thence. At which
season the French king meant to haue followed him to Blaie, but by
reason of a great death which chanced in his armie, he was constreined
to alter his purpose. Suerlie, as authors haue recorded, what through
pestilence and vnwholesomnesse of the aire, a great manie of Frenchmen
died at that time, and dailie more fell sicke. The number of them
that died (as Matth. Paris, & Matth. Westminster affirme) amounted to
twentie thousand persons, beside fourescore of the Nobilitie that bare
banners or penons. King Lewes himselfe also began to waxe diseased and
crasie, so that he was constreined to renew the truce with king Henrie
& therewith departed home.
[Sidenote: The quéene of England deliuered of a daughter.]
[Sidenote: William Marisch executed.]
[Sidenote: Sée pag. 385.]