our ladie, and then went to Burdeaux to visit the quéene, who in this
meane while was brought to bed about midsummer of a yoong ladie, whom
they named Beatrice after the quéenes mother. Now whilest king Henrie
was thus occupied in Poictou and Gascoine, William Marisch the sonne of
Geffrie Marisch (by commandement sent from the king) was put to death
at London, with sixtéene of his complices on the euen of S. Iames the
apostle. This William Marisch falling in to the kings displeasure, got
him to the sea, and plaied the rouer, kéeping the Ile of Lundaie in the
west countrie, till finallie he was taken and brought prisoner vnto the
towre, where he was charged with sundrie articles of treason, as that
he should hire that counterfeit mad man which sought to haue murthered
the king at Woodstoke, as before ye haue heard. Howbeit when he should
die, he vtterlie denied that euer he was priuie to anie such thing.
He was first had from Westminster to the towre, & from thence drawne
to the gibet, and there hanged till he was dead, and after being cut
downe, had his bowels ripped out and burned, and when his head was cut
off, the bodie was diuided into foure quarters, and sent vnto foure
of the principal cities of the realme. His complices were also drawne
through the citie of London vnto the same gibet, and there hanged.
[Sidenote: The seas trobled with men of warre.]
[Sidenote: Escuage gathered 20. shillings of euerie knights fée.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: Death of noble men.]
In the time of this warre also betwixt England and France, there
was much hurt doone on the sea betwixt them of the cinque ports and
the Frenchmen of Normandie, and other: as the Caleis men and the
Britons, which did make themselues as strong as they could against the
Englishmen by sea. Wherevpon diuerse incounters chanced betwixt them,
but more to the losse of the Englishmen, than of the Frenchmen: in
somuch that they of the ports were constreined to require aid of the
archb. of Yorke the lord gouernour of the realme. About which time, and
after the king was withdrawen to Burdeaux, diuerse noble men, as the
earles of Norffolke and Winchester, with others, got licence to returne
into England. Soone after whose arriuall, escuage was gathered through
the realme towards the bearing of the kings charges. Moreouer, in this
yeare of the king there died sundrie noble men of naturall infirmities,
as the earle of Warwike, Gilbert de Gaunt, Baldwine Wake, Philip de
Kime, and Roger Berthram of the north, with diuerse other. Howbeit
the king himselfe returned not home, but laie all the winter time at
Burdeaux, meaning to attempt manie enterprises, but he brought none to
passe, sauing that in protracting the time, he spent much monie, and to
little purpose.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 27.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Cornwal and other returne home.]
About the beginning of the seuen and twentith yeare of his reigne, his
brother the earle of Cornewall, misliking the order of things which he
saw dailie in the king his brothers procéedings, would néeds returne
backe into England, but chieflie when he perceiued that his councell
& aduise could not be heard. The king was sore offended herewith, but
he could not well remedie the matter, nor persuade him to tarie. And
so the said earle of Cornewall, togither with the earles of Penbroke
and Hereford, and diuerse other noble men tooke the sea, and after
manie dangers escaped in their course, at length on S. Lucies daie
they arriued in Cornewall, though some of the vessels that were in the
companie were driuen by force of the tempestuous weather vpon other
contrarie coasts. ¶ About this season also, that is to saie, on the day
of S. Edmund the king, there happened a maruellous tempest of thunder
and lightening, and therwith followed such an excéeding raine (which
continued manie daies togither) that riuers rose on maruellous heigth,
and the Thames it selfe, which sildome riseth or is increased by land
flouds, passing ouer the banks, drowned all the countrie for the space
of six miles about Lambeth, so that none might get into Westminster
hall, except they were set on horssebacke.
[Sidenote: Prouision of graine and victuals taken vp and sent to the
king.]
[Sidenote: 1243.]
[Sidenote: The king led by strangers.]
[Sidenote: He is euill spoken of.]
About the same time the king sent ouer into England to the archbishop
of Yorke lord gouernour of the realme, to cause prouision of graine
and bakon, to be conueied ouer vnto him, which he appointed to be
taken out of the possessions of the archbishoprike of Canturburie,
and other bishoprikes that were vacant, and out of other such places
as séemed to him good to appoint. Herevpon were sent ouer to him ten
thousand quarters of wheat, fiue thousand quarters of otes, with as
manie bakons. Also there was sent vnto him great prouision of other
things, as cloth for apparell and liueries, but much of it perished in
the sea by one meane or other, that little thereof came to his vse, who
remained still at Burdeaux to his great cost and charges, and small
gaine, sauing that he recouered certeine townes and holds there in
Gascoigne that were kept by certeine rebels. At which time, bicause
he was inclined rather to follow the counsell of the Gascoignes and
other strangers than of his owne subiects, and gaue vnto them larger
enterteinment, not regarding the seruice of his owne naturall people:
he was maruellouslie euill spoken of here in England, and the more
in déed, bicause his iournie had no better successe, and was yet so
chargeable vnto him and all his subiects. The Noble men that remained
with him, as the earles of Leicester and Salisburie, with other, were
constreined to borrow no small summes of monie to beare out their
charges: and so likewise the king himselfe ran greatlie in debt, by
taking vp monie towards the discharging of his importable expenses.
[Sidenote: A truce taken for fiue years.]
[Sidenote: Nicholas de Mueles his lieutenant in Gascoigne.]
At length by mediation of such as were commissioners a truce was
concluded betwixt him and the French king for fiue yeares, and then he
returned toward England, but he arriued not there till the ninth of
October, although the truce was concluded in March vpon S. Gregories
day; for beside other occasions of his staie, one chanced by such
strife and debate as rose amongst the Gascoignes, which caused him to
returne to land, that he might pacifie the same when he was alreadie
imbarked, and had hoised his saile immediatlie to set forward. He left
in Guien for his lieutenant one Nicholas de Mueles or Moles, to defend
those townes, which yet remained vnder his obeisance, for he put no
great confidence in the people of that countrie, the which of custome
being vexed with continuall warre, were constreined not by will, but by
the change of times, one while to hold on the French side, and an other
while on the English. Indéed the townes, namelie those that had their
situation vpon the sea coastes, were so destroied and decaied in their
walles and fortifications, that they could not long be any great aid to
either part, and therefore being not of force to hold out, they were
compelled to obeie one or other, where by their willes they would haue
doone otherwise.
This was the cause that the K. of England, oftentimes vpon trust of
these townes, which for the most part were readie to receiue him, was
brought into some hope to recouer his losses, and chéefelie for that
he was so manie times procured to attempt his fortune there, at the
request of the fickle-minded Poictouins, who whilest they did séeke
still to purge their offenses to the one king or to the other, they
dailie by new treasons defamed their credit, and so by such means the
king of England oftentimes with small aduantage or none at all, made
warre against the French king, in trust of their aid, that could, or
(vpon the least occasion conceiued) quickelie would doo little to his
furtherance. And so thereby king Henrie as well as his father king
Iohn, was oftentimes deceiued of his vaine conceiued hope.
[Sidenote: Death of Noble men.]
[Sidenote: Hugh Lacie.]
In this seauen and twentith yeare of king Henries reigne, diuerse
noble personages departed this life, and first about the beginning of
Ianuarie, deceassed the lord Richard de Burgh, a man of great honour
and estimation in Ireland, where he held manie faire possessions,
by conquest of that noble gentleman his worthie father. Also that
valiant warriour Hugh Lacie, who had conquered in his time a great
part of Ireland. Also the same yere on the seauenth of Maie, Hugh de
Albenie earle of Arundell departed this life, in the middest of his
youthfull yeares, and was buried in the priorie of Wimundham, which his
ancestours had founded. After his deceasse, that noble heritage was
diuided by partition amongst foure sisters.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Stars fallen after a strange manner.]
About the same time, to wit, on the twelfth day of Maie, Hubert de
Burgh earle of Kent departed this life at his manor of Banstude, and
his bodie was conueied to London, and there buried in the church
of the Friers preachers, vnto the which Friers he had béene verie
beneficiall. Amongst other things, he gaue vnto them his goodlie palace
at Westminster adioining néere to the palace of the earle of Cornewall,
which the archbishop of Yorke afterwards purchased. The moonks of the
Cisteaux were this yeare somewhat vexed by the king, bicause they had
refused to aid him with monie towards his iournie made into Gascoigne.
Also the plées of the crowne were kept and holden in the towre of
London. And in the night of the six and twentith day of Iulie, starres
were séene fall from the skie after a maruellous sort, not after the
common manner, but thirtie or fortie at once, so fast one after another
and glansing to and fro, that if there had fallen so manie verie
starres in déed, there would none haue béene left in the firmament.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 28.]
[Sidenote: The countesse of Prouance mother to the quéene commeth ouer
into England.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Cornewall maried to the ladie Sanctia.]
In the eight and twentith yeare of king Henries reigne, the quéenes
mother the ladie Beatrice countesse of Prouance arriued at Douer on
the fouretéenth day of Nouember, bringing with hir the ladie Sanctia
hir daughter, and in the octaues of S. Martine they were receiued
into London in most solemne wise, the stréets being hanged with rich
clothes, as the maner is at the coronations of princes. On S. Clements
day, Richard earle of Cornewall the kings brother married the said
ladie Sanctia, which marriage was solemnized in most roiall wise, and
with such sumptuous feasts and banketings, as greater could not be
deuised. Finallie, the quéens mother the countesse of Prouance, being
a right notable and worthie ladie, was honored in euerie degrée of hir
sonne in law king Henrie in most courteous and sumptuous manner, and at
hir departure out of the realme, which was after Christmasse, shée was
with most rich and princelie gifts honourablie rewarded.
[Sidenote: William Ralegh bishop of Norwich.]
[Sidenote: He is consecrated bish. of Winchester by the pope.]
About the same time also, whereas William de Ralegh was requested
to remooue from the sée of Norwich vnto Winchester, and consenting
therevnto, without the kings licence, obteined his confirmation of the
pope: the king was highly displeased therewith, bicause he ment it to
another. Wherevpon when the said William Ralegh was returned from Rome
to be installed, the king sent commandement to the maior and citizens
of Winchester, that they should not suffer him to enter the citie.
Wherevpon he being so kept out, accurssed both the citie and cathedrall
church with all the moonks and others that fauoured the prior, which
had intruded himselfe onelie by the kings authoritie, and not by
lawfull election and means, as was supposed.
[Sidenote: 1244.]
[Sidenote: He steleth out of the realme.]
[Sidenote: He giueth to the pope 6000 marks.]
At length the said bishop vpon gréefe conceiued that the king should
be so heauie lord vnto him, got into a ship at London, and stale
awaie into France, where he was well receiued of the French king, and
greatlie cherished. Also he found such means that the pope in fauour
of his cause wrote letters both to the king and to the quéene, naming
hir his coosen, but which waie that kindered should come about, as
yet it was neuer knowen. The bishop to shew himselfe thankefull for
such fréendship, gaue the pope aboue six thousand marks (as is said)
and the pope bicause he would not be accompted a disdainefull person,
turned not backe one pennie of that which was so gentlie offered him.
At length partlie at contemplation of the popes letters, and partlie
by reason the bishop humbled himselfe in answering the articles which
the king had obiected against him in cause of the controuersie betwixt
them, he granted him his peace, and receiued him into the land,
restoring to him all that had béene taken and deteined from him.
[Sidenote: Martine the popes collectour.]
Moreouer, in this meane while the pope trusting more than inough vpon
the kings simplicitie and patience, who indéed durst not in any case
séeme to displease him, had sent an other collector of monie into
England named Martine, not adorned with power legantine, but furnished
with such authorities and faculties as had not béene heard of. He
was lodged in the temple, where he shewed what commission he had to
gather vp the popes reuenues, and to exact monie by sundrie maner
of meanes, and so fell in hand therewith, vsing no small diligence
therein, vnto the great gréefe and hurt of conscience of manie: he
had power to staie the bestowing of benefices, till he was satisfied
to the full contentation of his mind. Benefices of small value he
regarded not greatlie, but such as were good liuings in déed felt his
heauie and rauenous hands extended towards them. He had power also to
excommunicate, to suspend, and to punish all such as should resist his
will, although neuer so wilfullie bent, in so much that it was said, he
had sundrie blankes vnder the popes bulled seale, bicause that vpon the
sudden he brought foorth such as séemed best to serue for his purpose.
He vsed this his vnmeasurable authoritie to the vttermost, and therein
did not forget his owne profit, but tooke palfries and other presents
of religious men.
¶ But to declare all the practises of this the popes agent, as it would
be too long and tedious a processe, so it is nothing strange that
these his landloping legats and Nuncios haue their manifold collusions
to cousen christian kingdoms of their reuenues. For if they were not
furnished with foxlike fraud and wooluish rauine, they were no fit
factors for him; sith it is required that like maister haue like man.
And therefore he is aptlie described in the likenesse of a man, his
head and face excepted, wherein he resembleth a woolfe; besides that,
he is set foorth with a crosiers staffe in his hand, at the hooke
whereof hangeth his Iudas pursse, wherein are powched vp his pilfered
Peter pence, and I wot not what extorted paiments and pretended duties.
As for his deceits and crafts, he hath more varietie of them, than the
cat of the mounteine hath spots in his skin, or the pecocke hath eies
in his taile. Wherevpon it is trulie said of a late poet,
[Sidenote: _Antithesis de Christi & papæ facinorb. sub authore
anonymo._]
Sydera nemo potest quot sunt numerare polorum,
Quot neq; vere nouo gramina campus habet,
Sic quoq; nemo potest vafri ludibria papæ
Eius & innumeros commemorare dolos:
Huic scopus immensum seducere fraudibus orbem,
Huic scopus humanum ludificare genus.
[Sidenote: The nobles complaine to the king of the popes collector.]
[Sidenote: The king writeth to the pope.]
But to procéed, when men saw such vnreasonable couetousnes and polling,
by the popes procurement; some of the nobility of the realme, not
able longer to beare it, came to the king, and exhibited to him their
complaint hereof, namelie for that the popes procurator bestowed
diuers rich prebends and other rooms in churches vpon strangers knowne
to be infamed for vsurie, simonie, and other heinous vices, which
had no respect to preaching, nor to kéeping of any hospitalitie, for
maintenance whereof their ancestors had giuen foorth their lands to the
inriching of the church, not meaning to haue the same bestowed on such
maner of persons. The king vnderstood that truth it was which was told
him, and therefore writ to the pope in humble wise, beséeching him of
his fatherlie care to take order for some redresse therein.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: The king asketh counsell how to procéed in his warres
against the French king.]
[Sidenote: The possessions of the Normans confiscated.]
About this time the king began to renew his imagination for the
following of the warres against the French king, and therefore asked
the aduise of his councell how he might best attempt the recouerie of
those lands in France which were wrongfullie deteined from him. The
most part of all his ancient councellors were of this opinion, that to
make warre againe in trust of others aid, as had béene attempted so
often before without any profit, should be no wisdome, and therefore
he ought either to forbeare, or els so to prouide himselfe of power
sufficient, without trusting to the support of strangers, as he might
be able with his owne puissance and force to atchiue his enterprise,
for otherwise his trauell should prooue but vaine and to verie small
effect. The king persuaded with these sound reasons, thought not good
to attempt any thing more touching the said warre vnaduisedlie: and
to the end it should not be said how he trusted in vaine vpon the aid
of strangers, he caused all such possessions as the Normans held in
England to be confiscated, to the intent that as well the Normans as
Britons and Poictouins might well vnderstand, that he minded not from
thencefoorth to credit the false promises of rebels, as he that would
now vse onelie the seruice of his owne people the Englishmen, which in
respect of others painted promises he had before contemned.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The occasion why the Normans were disherited.]
The occasion that mooued the king so to disherit the Normans, did
chéefelie rise of the French kings dealing, who about the same time
calling to him all those that had lands in England, required them
either to sticke vnto him inseparablie, either else to the king of
England, sith no man might serue two maisters. Wherevpon some forsaking
their lands in England, liued on those which they had in France, and
other forsooke those liuings which they had in France, and came ouer
into England to liue on those possessions which they had here. But in
the French kings dooings was no inforcing of men, either to forsake
the one or the other: wherfore the procéedings of the king of England
séemed somewhat more iniurious, and partlie sounded to the breach of
the truce. Howbeit all was passed ouer without apparant trouble.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
[Sidenote: Dauid prince of Wales meaneth to submit himselfe to the
pope.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ pag. 880.]
Whilest all things were thus in quiet, and the king himselfe not
troubled with any outward wars, the Welshmen (who though they were
subdued, yet could not rest in quiet) receiued againe the fornamed
Dauid to their prince, the which for a policie determined himselfe to
make offer to the pope to hold his land of him, yéelding therefore
yearelie vnto him the summe of fiue hundred marks (as is said) to
the end that vnder the wings of the popes protection he might shadow
himselfe, and be defended against all men. At length by large gifts
of no small summes of monie he purchased letters of the pope in his
fauour, to the preiudice of the crowne of England, as touching the
right which the king of England had to the dominion of Wales, as by the
tenour thereof it may appeare, beginning as here insueth. Illustri viro
domino Henrico Dei gratia regi Angliæ, &c.
[Sidenote: The Welshmen discomfited.]
[Sidenote: Dauid fled into Scotland.]
[Sidenote: He prouoketh the king of Scots to make warre against
England.]
Thus Dauid being incouraged herewith and such other of the Welshmen
as tooke his part, at time appointed did set vpon the kings capteins
as they stragled abroad, whom at the first brunt they put to flight,
and slue manie of them here and there as they tooke them at aduenture.
The Englishmen when night was come, and that the Welshmen withdrew to
rest, assembled themselues againe togither, and in the morning with
new recouered force both of mind and bodie, came vpon the Welshmen,
and began with them a new battell, which continued the space of thrée
houres togither, till at length the Welshmen, which rashlie had entred
the fight, began to shrinke backe, and fled to their woonted places
of refuge, the woods and mareshes. Their chiefe capteine Dauid fled
into Scotland, hauing lost in that battell the most part of all his
souldiers which he had there with him. At his comming into Scotland,
and whilest he there remained, he incensed king Alexander against king
Henrie to his vttermost power, putting into his head how reprochfullie
the Englishmen did speake of the Scots, reprouing them of cowardnes &
lacke of stomach; also that they liued according to the prescript of
the English nation, as subiects to the same: and manie other things
he forged, which had béene able to haue mooued a most patient man vnto
indignation and displeasure.
[Sidenote: The king of Scots inuadeth Engl[=a]d.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: King Henrie requireth an aid of monie of his subiects.]
Finallie, either by the prouoking of this Dauid, or by some other
occasion, king Alexander meant to make warres vpon king Henrie indéed,
and in raising an armie made a rode into England, and did some hurt by
incursions, and further signified to king Henrie, as some write, that
he neither ought nor would hold anie part or portion of Scotland of the
king of England. King Henrie sore offended herewith, purposed in time
to be reuenged, and shortlie after called a parlement at Westminster,
in the which he earnestlie mooued the lords and other states to aid him
with monie towards the furnishing of his coffers, being emptied (as
they knew) by his excéeding charges in his last iournie into Gascoigne.
He would not open his meaning which he had to make warre to the Scots,
bicause he would haue his enterprise secretlie kept, till he should be
readie to set forward.
[Sidenote: New orders deuised by the lords.]
But although the king had got the pope to write in his fauour vnto the
lords both spirituall and temporall, to aid him in that his demand of
monie, there was much adoo, and plaine deniall made at the first, to
grant at that time to anie such paiment as was demanded: and eftsoones
they fell in hand with deuising new orders, and namelie to renew againe
their suit for the confirmation of the ancient liberties of the realme,
so as the same might be obserued, according to the grant thereof before
made by the kings letters patents, without all fraud or contradiction.
They also appointed, that there should be foure lords chosen of the
most puissant and discréetest of all other within the realme, which
should be sworne of the kings councell, to order his businesse iustlie
and trulie, and to sée that euerie man had right without respecting of
persons. And these foure chiefe councellors should be euer attending
about the king, or at the least thrée or two of them: also that by
the view, knowledge and witnesse of them, the kings treasure should
be spent and laid foorth, and that if one of them chanced to fall
awaie, an other should be placed in his roome by the appointment of the
residue.
[Sidenote: Vnreasonable requests.]