knights, and gentlemen assembled togither at Dunstable and Luiton,
to haue kept a martiall iusts, and triumphant tornie, but they had a
countercommandement from the king, not to go forward with the same:
wherevpon, when they were disappointed of their purpose héerin. Vpon
occasion of their being altogither, on the morrow after the feast
of Peter & Paule, they sent from them Fouke Fitz Warren, to declare
vnto maister Martine the popes Nuncio, as then lodging at the temple
in London, in name as it were of all the whole bodie of the realme,
that he should immediatlie depart out of the land. Fouke dooing the
message somewhat after a rough manner, maister Martine asked him what
he was that gaue foorth the said commandement, or whether he spake it
of himselfe or from some other? This commandment (saith Fouke) is sent
to thée, from all those knights and men of armes which latelie were
assembled togither at Dunstable and Luiton.
[Sidenote: The kings answer vnto the popes Nuncio.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: The popes Nuncio sent out of the realme.]
Maister Martine hearing this, got him to the court, and declaring to
the king what message he had receiued, required to vnderstand whether
he was priuie to the matter, or that his people tooke it vpon them
so rashlie without his authoritie or no? To whome the king answered,
that he had not giuen them any authoritie so to command him out of
the realme: but indéed (saith he) my barons doo scarselie forbeare to
rise against me, bicause I haue mainteined and suffered thy pilling
and iniurious polling within this my realme, and I haue had much adoo
to staie them from running vpon thée to pull thée in péeces. Maister
Martine hearing these words, with a fearefull voice besought the king
that he might for the loue of God, and reuerence of the pope, haue
frée passage out of the realme: to whome the king in great displeasure
answered, The diuell that brought thée in carrie thée out, euen to the
pit of hell for me. Howbeit at length, when those that were about the
king had pacified him, he appointed one of the marshals of his house,
called Robert North or Nores, to conduct him to the sea side, and so he
did, but not without great feare, sithens he was afraid of euerie bush,
least men should haue risen vpon him and murthered him. Wherevpon, when
he came to the pope, he made a gréeuous complaint, both against the
king and others.
[Sidenote: S. Peters church at Westminster.]
[Sidenote: The English ambassadors come to the counsell.]
[Sidenote: The English ambassadors threaten the pope, that he should
not haue any tribute out of England.]
The church of saint Peter at Westminster was inlarged, and newlie
repared by the king, speciallie all the east part of it, the old wals
being pulled down, and builded vp in more comelie forme. ¶ The generall
councell, according to the summons giuen, was holden this yeare at
Lions, where it began about midsummer, in which the English ambassadors
being arriued, presented to the pope their leters, directed from the
whole bodie of the realme of England, requiring a redresse in such
things, wherewith (as by the same letters it appeared) the realme found
it selfe sore annoied. The pope promised to take aduise therein, but
sith the matter was weightie, it required respit. Finallie, when they
were earnest in requiring a determinate answer, it was giuen them to
vnderstand, that they should not obteine their desires, wherevpon in
great displeasure they came awaie, threatening and binding their words
with oths, that from thencefoorth they would neuer paie, nor suffer to
be paid, anie tribute to the court of Rome, nor permit the reuenues of
those churches, whereof they were patrones, to be pulled awaie, by anie
prouision of the same court.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
The pope hearing of these things, passed them ouer patientlie, but he
procured the English bishops to set their seales vnto that charter,
which king Iohn had made concerning the tribute, against the mind of
the archbishop of Canturburie Stephan Langton, who at that time, when
king Iohn should seale it, spake sore against it. When king Henrie was
informed hereof, he was gréeuouslie offended; and sware in a great
chafe, that although the bishops had doone otherwise than they ought,
yet would he stand in defense of the liberties of his realme, and would
not so long as he had a day to liue, paie anie dutie to the court of
Rome, vnder the name of a tribute. In this meane while, the king with a
puissant armie inuaded the Welsh rebels, to reduce them to some quiet,
whereas with their continuall incursions and other exploits, they had
sore harried, vexed, and wasted the lands of the kings subiects.
[Sidenote: The king inuades Wales. He buildeth a castell at Gannoke.]
Herevpon the king being entred the countrie, inuaded the same, vnto
the confines of Snowdon, and there he began to build a strong castell
at a place called Gannoke, remaining there about the space of ten
wéeks, during the which, the armie suffered great miserie through want
of vittels and other prouisions namelie apparell, and other helps to
defend themselues from cold, which sore afflicted the souldiers and
men of warre, bicause they laie in the field, and winter as then began
to approch. Moreouer, they were driuen to kéepe watch and ward verie
stronglie, for doubt to be surprised by sudden assaults of the enimies,
the which watched vpon occasion euer to doo some mischéefe.
[Sidenote: The deceasse of the countesse of Oxford, and of the earle of
Deuonshire. Geffrey de March deceaseth.]
[Sidenote: The decease of Raimond earle of Prouance.]
[Sidenote: The decease of the lord Humfreuile.]
The morrow after the Purification of our ladie, Isabell de Boulbec
countesse of Oxenford departed this life, and likewise the morrow
after saint Valentines day died Baldwine de Riuers earle of Deuonshire
and of the Wight. Moreouer, Geffrey de March, a man sometime of great
honour and possessions in Ireland, after he had remained long in exile,
and suffered great miserie, ended the same by naturall death. Also
Raimond earle of Prouance, father to the quéenes of England and France
deceassed this yeare, for whome was kept in England a most solemne
obsequie. Also in the wéeke after Palmesundaie, died a right noble
baron, and warden of the north parts of England, the lord Gilbert
Humfreuile, leauing behind him a yoong sonne, the custodie of whome the
king forthwith committed to the earle of Leicester, not without the
indignation of the earle of Cornewall, who desired the same.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 30.]
[Sidenote: The king returneth foorth of Wales.]
[Sidenote: Irishmen destroied Anglesey.]
[Sidenote: A dearth.]
Finallie, after that the king had lien at Gannoke about the fortifieng
of the castell there, the space of ten wéekes, and saw the worke now
fullie finished, he appointed foorth such as should lie there in
garison, and therewith, on the morrow after the feast of Simon and
Iude, he raised his field, and returned towards England, leauing the
Welshmen in great miserie, and like to starue for want of necessarie
food. For the Ile of Anglesey, which is as a nursse to the Welshmen,
those Irishmen that came to the kings aid, had vtterlie wasted and
destroied. Againe, the king of purpose had consumed all the prouision
of corne and vittels which remained in the marshes, so that in
Cheshire, and other the parts adioining, there was such dearth, that
the people scarse could get sufficient vittels to susteine themselues
withall.
[Sidenote: Brine pits destroied in Wales.]
[Sidenote: The lord Maurice chéefe iustice of Ireland.]
[Sidenote: Iohn Fitz Geffrey lord iustice of Ireland.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The decease of Walter erle Marshall.]
The king also gaue foorth commandement, that no prouision of corne
or vittels should be conueied vnto the Welshmen, out of any parts,
either of England or Ireland, on paine of forfeiting life, lands &
goods. Moreouer, he caused the brine pits in Wales to be stopped vp
and destroied. The king hauing thus ordered his businesse, returned
into England, and shortlie after, taking displeasure with the lord
Maurice, chéefe iustice of Ireland, bicause he had not made such
spéed as had béene conuenient in bringing the Irishmen to his aid,
he discharged him of the office of chéefe iustice, and placed in his
roome Iohn Fitz Geffrey. In this thirtith yeare of king Henries reigne,
Walter earle Marshall and of Penbroke departed this life: and shortlie
after, to wit, thrée daies before Christmasse, his brother Anselme
that succéeded him in the inheritance, deceassed also without issue:
and so all the fiue sonnes of the great earle William Marshall, being
departed this world without heires of their bodies begotten, the whole
heritage descended to the sisters, and so was diuided amongst them as
coparteners.
[Sidenote: 1246.]
The king this yeare held his Christmas at London, and had there with
him a great number of the nobilitie of his realme, which had béene
with him in Wales, that they might be partakers of pastime, mirth and
pleasure, as they had béene participants with him in suffering the
diseases of heat, cold, and other paines abroad in the fields and high
mounteines of Wales, considering with himselfe (as the truth is) that
[Sidenote: _Mal. Pal. in suo Cap._]
----vita est quàm proxima letho,
Quàm meritò spernenda animum si nulla voluptas
Mulceat, atq; leuent solatia nulla laborem.
[Sidenote: The pope requireth the French king to make war against
England.]
[Sidenote: The French king refuseth to gratifie the pope therein.]
But that no plesure shuld passe without some staine of gréefe, there
was a rumor spred abroad, that the pope conceiued fresh rankor in his
stomach against the king and realme of England, for the complaints
which had béene exhibited in the councell at Lion by the English
orator, for the oppression doone to the church of England: that
therevpon, minding now to be reuenged, as was said, he earnestlie
mooued the French king to make warre against the Englishmen and to
subdue them vnder his dominion: which enterprise the French king
vtterlie refused, both for that he and the king of England were
coosens, and againe, bicause the king of France had no iust title or
right to make claime to England.
[Sidenote: The countesse of Prouance dealeth vniustlie with the king of
England hir sonne in law.]
Further, there was as then a truce betwixt England and France, and
before that England could be subdued, much giltlesse bloud should be
spilt. Also, the christians in the holie land were sore oppressed, and
looked dailie for the arriuall of the king of France, and therefore
he would be loth to attempt any new enterprise to hinder his iornie
thither. But about the feast of the Epiphanie, other news came out
of Prouance, that troubled the king of England worse than the other
before, as thus, That the countesse Beatrice his wiues mother had
deliuered vp the countie of Prouance into the French kings hands,
togither with sixtéene castels, which in right of the quéene ought to
haue remained vnto the king of England. For the safe kéeping wherof
to his vse, the said countesse Beatrice had receiued yéerelie for the
terme of fiue yeares last past, the summe of foure thousand marks
of the king of England, and yet now in the deliuering of them, with
the residue of the countrie vnto the French king, she neuer made any
mention of his right.
[Sidenote: Charles the French kings brother is made earle of Prouance.]
[Sidenote: The archb. of Canturburie purchaseth grant of the pope to
leuie monie.]
Shortlie after also, Charles the French kings brother maried the ladie
Beatrice, yoongest daughter of earle Raimond, and had with hir the
same countie of Prouance, and so was intituled earle thereof, as in
the French historie appeareth. Moreouer, the archbishop of Canturburie
procured a grant from the pope to recouer for one yeare the first
fruits of all cures that chanced to be void within the citie, diocesse,
and prouance of Canturburie, by and during the tearme of seauen yeares
then next following, till the summe of ten thousand marks were leuied,
towards the discharge of the said archbishops debts. The collection
of the which ten thousand marks was assigned by the popes bulles vnto
the bishop of Hereford, who should also leauie two thousand marks of
the reuenues belonging to the church of Canturburie, to be conuerted
to the same vse. The king at the first was sore offended herewith, but
shortlie after, he was pacified and so the archbishop had his will.
[Sidenote: Dauid prince of Wales departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: Ap Griffin chosen prince of Wales.]
[Sidenote: Iews robbed in Oxenford.]
[Sidenote: The Londoners paie a talage.]
After this, about the beginning of the next spring, Dauid prince of
Wales departed this life, after great pensifenesse of mind, for the
destruction and miserie into the which his countrie had béene brought
through the present warres with the Englishmen. After his deceasse,
the Welshmen elected to succéed in his place, the sonne of Griffin,
whom king Henrie had reteined in seruice, and honourablie vsed, euen
of a child: but now that he heard that the Welshmen had elected him to
their prince, he stale away, and fled into Wales. ¶ On the day of the
purification of our ladie, a robberie was committed vpon certeine Iewes
at Oxenford, for the which fact, fiue and fortie of the offenders were
put in prison, but at the suit of Robert bishop of Lincolne, they were
deliuered by the kings commandement, bicause no man impeached them of
anie breach of peace, or other crime. The citizens of London also about
the beginning of the spring, were compelled to paie a talage, wherewith
they found themselues sore aggréeued.
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: A statute against hunters.]
About the middest of Lent, there was a parlement holden at London,
wherein diuerse statutes and ordinances were deuised, as penalties
for those that offended in other mens parks and warrens: but the
chéefest occasion of assembling this parlement, was to take aduise in
matters touching the gréefes wherewith the church of England séemed
to be oppressed by the pope and the court of Rome. The pope indéed
to quiet the English ambassadors, and to put the king and realme in
some good hope of reléefe and deliuerance out of such oppressions, as
were opened vnto him in the face of the whole councell, did not onelie
promise largelie, but also caused diuerse priuileges to be made and
deliuered vnto the said ambassadors verie fauorablie, in the behalfe
of their request. But yet the same notwithstanding, sith the breaking
vp of the said generall councell, and return to the ambassadors, manie
things were doone, to the increasing and continuation of the former
gréefes, so that they stood in doubt of further oppressions to follow,
rather than in hope of the promised redresse. Herevpon they concluded
eftsoones to write vnto the pope, and to the cardinals, both in name of
the king, of the bishops and prelats, of the earles, barons, and other
estates of the temporaltie, and of the abbats and priors. In the meane
time, the pope for a while somewhat relented in the point of bestowing
benefices here in England, for when any of his fréends or kinsmen was
to be preferred to any benefice within this realme, he would sue to the
king for his grant and good will, that such a one might be admitted,
and not séeme of himselfe to grant it without the kings consent.
[Sidenote: The earle of Sauoy dooth homage to the K. of England.]
[Sidenote: Roger Bigod intitled to the office of earle Marshall.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Harold king of Man.]
[Sidenote: Welshmen receiued to the kings peace, vpon their submission.]
The earle of Sauoy in the presence of the archbishop of Canturburie,
and the bishop of Hereford and others, did homage to the king of
England, acknowledging to hold of him certeine fées, as those of Suse,
Auillian, S. Maurice de Chablais, and the castell of Bard, which he
might well doo, not preiudicing the right of the empire, sith he held
nothing of the same empire, except Aigues and the passages. This yeare,
the office of the earle Marshall was giuen to Roger Bigod, earle
of Northfolke, in right of his wife the countesse, that was eldest
daughter vnto the great earle William Marshall. ¶ Moreouer, in this
yeare the king holding his Easter at London, honored Harold king of Man
with the order of knighthood. About the same time, diuerse noble men of
Wales submitted themselues, and were receiued vnto the kings peace. ¶
On saint Markes day was a great frost and snow, which nipped the leaues
of trées and hearbes in such extreame wise, that for the more part they
withered and faded awaie.
[Sidenote: A decrée of the pope.]
Furthermore, bicause the pope vnderstood, that diuerse rich beneficed
men were of late dead in England intestate, as Robert Hailes the
archdeacon of Lincolne, Almerike the archdeacon of Bedford, and Iohn
Hotospe archdeacon of Northhampton, he ordeined a decrée, that all
such spirituall persons as died intestate, their goods should remaine
to the pope. The execution of which decrée he commanded to the friers
preachers and minors: but the king would not suffer it to take place,
bicause he saw that it should redound to the preiudice of him and
his kingdome. Wherein the popes oppression and wrong offered to the
dead (by whose deceasse their suruiuing fréends should be benefited)
and his cruell couetousnes extending to the verie senseles corpse
dooth manifestlie appeare, so that it was verified of him, by waie of
comparison,
Carniuorax tumidis vt gaudet hyæna sepulchris,
Sic instat putidis ille cadaueribus.
Also, where the pope required a talage of the clergie, the king flatlie
forbad it by his letters inhibitorie.
[Sidenote: A proclamation inhibiting monie to be sent to the pope.]
In this meane while, William Powis chapleine, and sir Henrie de Lamere
knight, which were sent with the second letters, deuised in the
late parlement (as ye haue heard) to be preferred vnto the pope and
cardinals, returned againe without obteining anie towardlie answer,
but rather (as they declared) they found the pope sharp and rough in
spéech, saieng, "The king of England which now kicketh against the
church, & beginneth to plaie Frederikes part, hath his counsell, & so
likewise haue I, which I intend to follow." Other answer they cold
not obteine. Againe, the Englishmen that were sutors in the court
of Rome, were strangelie vsed, and could not get anie dispatch in
their businesse, but were rather put backe as schismatikes, and with
rebukes reuiled. Herevpon the king called a parlement at Winchester,
to haue the aduise of his lords in this matter, where how soeuer they
agréed, proclamation was immediatlie set forth, and published in euerie
shire & countie through the realme, that no man should consent to the
popes contribution, nor send anie monie out of the realme to his aid.
When the pope heard of this, he wrote verie sharplie to the bishops,
commanding them on paine of excommunication and suspension, to satisfie
his Nuncio remaining at the new temple in London, before the feast of
the Assumption of our ladie. And whereas the king minded to haue stood
in the matter through threats of his brother the earle of Cornewall,
and of certeine prelats, namelie, the bishop of Worcester (who had
authoritie as was said to interdict the land) he yéelded and suffered
the pope to haue his will, to the great griefe and discomfort of manie.
[Sidenote: A sore tempest of haile.]
[Sidenote: Isabell the kings mother departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: Roger de Quincie earle of Winchester. Iohn lord Neuill
departed this life with diuers other.]
On S. Margarets daie, there fortuned a maruellous sore tempest of
haile, raine, thunder and lightning, which being vniuersall through
the realme, did much hurt, & continued the space of 16 houres togither
without ceassing. This yéere, sundrie noble personages departed this
world, as Isabell the kings mother, wife to the earle of March in
Poictou. Also, the countesse of Albemarle, the daughter of Alaine
of Galloway, and sister to the countesse of Winchester: wherevpon,
a great part of Gallowaie that belonged to hir (for that she died
without issue) remained to Roger de Quincie earle of Winchester, that
married the eldest sister. Moreouer, Iohn lord Neuill died this yeare,
which had béene chiefe forrester of England: but he was not onelie put
out of that office for certeine transgressions, but also out of the
kings fauor before he died, where (at first) none was more estéemed
in the court than he. The bishop of Salisburie, named master Robert
de Bingham, died also this yeare, and sir Richard de Argenton knight,
a right noble personage, which in the holie land had shewed good
proofe of his high valiancie, manhood, & prowesse: likewise sir Henrie
Bailioll of the north, and diuerse other.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 31.]
[Sidenote: 1247.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Intollerable exactions.]
[Sidenote: Peter de Sauoy earle of Richmond.]
In the beginning of the one and thirtith yeare of king Henries reigne,
the pope sent into England to haue the third part of one yeares
profit of euerie beneficed man that was resident, and of euerie one
not resident the one halfe. The bishop of London should haue séene
this aid and collection leuied, but it would not be granted. And in a
parlement called this yeare on the morrow after the Purification of our
ladie, it was ordenied, that new letters sealed with the common seale
of the citie of London should be sent by sufficient messengers, from
all the estates of the realme, vnto the pope and cardinals, requiring
a moderation to be had in such exactions as were intollerable for the
realme to beare. Whilest this parlement yet lasted, there came ouer the
lord Peter of Sauoy earle of Richmond, bringing with him certein yoong
ladies and damsels, to be bestowed in marriage on such yoong lords and
gentlemen as were wards to the king.
[Sidenote: An earthquake.]
[Sidenote: A strange woonder.]
[Sidenote: Continuall raine.]
On S. Valentines euen, a great earthquake happened here in England,
and namelie about London, on the Thames side, with the which manie
buildings were ouerthrowen. These earthquakes, the seldomer they
chance in England, the more dreadfull the same are, and thought to
signifie some great alteration. A litle before this earthquake, the
sea had ceassed from ebbing and flowing for the space of thrée moneths
togither, by a long tract néere to the English shore, to the great
maruell of many, for either it flowed not at all, or else so little
that it might not be perceiued. And after the earthquake, there
followed such a season of foule weather, that the spring séemed to be
changed into winter for scarse was there anie daie without raine, till
the feast of the translation of S. Benet.
[Sidenote: Acts made to restraine presumptuous authoritie of the
spiritualtie.]
[Sidenote: The popes collectors.]
[Sidenote: A shift by forbearing the name of legat.]