of prohibition, to restreine the authoritie of spirituall persons,
as that no ecclesiasticall iudge should determine in causes of anie
temporall man, except touching causes of matrimonie and testaments.
They were also prohibited to sue anie actions touching tithes, before
anie spirituall iudge, and the writ whereby they were prohibited, was
called an Indicauit. Sundrie other such ordinances were deuised, which
for bréefenesse we omit. What spéed or answer so euer the messengers
had that were sent to Rome with the letters deuised in the late
parlement, truth it is, that the pope sent ouer into England such of
his agents as gathered no small sums of monie amongst the cleargie, as
one Marinus, and an other named Iohannes Anglicus a frier minor, the
which were not intituled by the name of legats, to saue the priuileges
which the king had, that no legat might come into the realme without
his licence. The comming ouer of these men, bicause it was to gather
monie, contented not manie mens minds, as well appeared in a parlement
called at Oxford about reformation thereof, but yet notwithstanding it
was there agréed, that the pope should haue eleuen thousand marks to
be leuied amongst them of the spiritualtie, exempt persons and places
reserued.
[Sidenote: The emperor of Constantinople commeth into England.]
[Sidenote: A cardinall c[=o]meth into England, receiuing an oth not to
preiudice ye realme.]
[Sidenote: The kings halfe brethren came to sée the king.]
[Sidenote: The cardinall maketh shift for monie.]
About the same time, Baldwine naming himselfe emperour of
Constantinople, came againe into England, to procure some new aid of
the king, towards the recouerie of his empire, out of the which he was
expelled by the Gréekes. ¶ Also, there arriued in England a cardinall
that was bishop of Sabine, hauing first receiued an oth, that he came
not for anie hurt to the king or his realme, for otherwise being a
legat he might not be suffered to enter the land: he came this waie
to passe ouer into Norwaie, whither he went to crowne and annoint
Hacon king of that realme. There arriued here with him the thrée
halfe brethren to the king, Guy de Lucignan, William de Valence, &
Athelmare a préest, with their sister Alice. All these were begotten
by Hugh Brun earle of March, of quéene Isabell the kings mother, and
were therefore ioifullie receiued of the king, with faithfull promise,
that he would be to them a beneficiall good brother, which his saiengs
with effectuall déeds he after fullie performed. The cardinall hauing
saluted the king, tooke leaue of him and came to Lin, where he staied
at the point of thrée moneths, making such purchase amongst religious
men, that what by procuracies and other shifts, he got as was thought,
a foure thousand marks towards his charges, and so departed. Edmund
Lacie earle of Lincolne, and Richard de Burgh, as then wards to the
king, were married vnto two of those yoong ladies of Prouance, which
Peter de Sauoy earle of Richmond brought ouer with him, whereat manie
of the English nobilitie grudged.
[Sidenote: William de Valence marrieth lord Montch[=e]cies daughter.]
[Sidenote: Gaston de Bierne maketh war against the kings lieutenant.]
[Sidenote: Préests of the prouince of Canturburie suspended.]
[Sidenote: Sir Fouke de Newcastell the kings coosen by his mother
departeth this life.]
Also, about the thirtéenth of August, the ladie Ione daughter to the
lord Guarine de Montchencie, was married vnto William de Valence the
kings halfe brother. The same ladie was heire to hir fathers lands,
by the death of hir brother the sonne of the said lord Guarine.
Sir William de Bueles knight a Norman borne, was made seneshall of
Gascoigne about this season, and was sore vexed with wars by Gaston
the sonne of the countesse of Bierne and others, which Gaston shewed
himselfe verie vnthankefull, for the king had giuen both to him and to
his mother (a woman of a monstrous stature) verie large interteinement
to serue him in his wars at his last being in that countrie (as before
ye haue heard.) The archbishop of Canturburie suspended the préests of
his prouince, bicause they would not consent (according to the grant
which he had purchased of the pope) that he should haue the first
fruits for one yeare, of euerie benefice that chanced to be vacant
within the same prouince. The earles of Cornewall and Penbroke got much
monie by waie of a collection, towards the reliefe of the warres in the
holie land, hauing purchased of the pope certeine buls of indulgence
for the same. Sir Fouke de Newcastell a valiant knight, and coosen
germane to the king on the mothers side died at London, during the time
of the parlement.
[Sidenote: Pardon granted by bishops.]
On the thirtéenth of October was a portion of the holie bloud of Christ
(as it was then supposed) shewed in most reuerent wise in a solemne
procession, for the king comming to the church of S. Paule in London,
receiued there the same bloud conteined in a christalline glasse, the
which he bare vnder a canopie supported with four staues, through the
stréets, vnto the abbeie church of Westminster. His armes were also
supported by two lords as aids to him all the waie as he went. The
masters of the Templers and Hospitallers had sent this relike to the
king. To describe the whole course and order of the procession and
feast kept that daie, would require a speciall treatise. But this is
not to be forgotten, that the same daie the bishop of Norwich preached
before the king in commendation of that relike, pronouncing six years
and one hundred and sixtéene daies of pardon, granted by the bishops
there present, to all that came to reuerence it.
[Sidenote: Knights made.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 32.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Winchester besieged in Galloway by his owne
tenants.]
Also the same daie and in the same church, the king made his halfe
brother William de Valence, and diuerse other yoong bachelors, knights.
Vnto the said William de Valence, for his further aduancement and
maintenance, he gaue the castell of Hertford, and the honor therto
belonging, with great treasure: & to the elder brother Guy de Lucignan,
which about the same time returned into France, he gaue verie great
and honorable gifts, lading his sumpters with plate and treasure of
sterling monie, which in those daies in all countries was verie much
estéemed. The earle of Winchester remaining in Gallowaie, where he
had faire possessions in right of his wife, was besieged of his owne
tenants, within a castell wherein he lodged, and being in danger either
to die through famine, or else at the discretion of the enimies, he
burst forth, and making way with his sword, escaped, and comming to the
king of Scots, complained of the iniurie doone to him by his people,
wherevpon the king tooke such order, that the rebels were punished, and
the earle set in quiet possession of his lands againe.
[Sidenote: William earle Ferrers departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: 1248.]
[Sidenote: The countesse of Prouance commeth into England.]
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
Toward the latter end of Nouember, William earle Ferrers & of Derbie
departed this life, a man of great yeares and long troubled with
the gout, a iust man and a peaceable. The same moneth the countesse
his wife died also, a woman of yeares, vertue and fame like to hir
husband: Thomas Becket the archbishop of Canturburie did minister the
priests office at their marriage. Their eldest sonne William succéeded
his father in the earledome, a good man and a discréet, but vexed
with the gout verie pitifullie, hauing that disease also as it were,
by inheritance from his father. There died likewise other of the
nobilitie, as Richard de Burgh, and William Fitz Ham. Beatrice the
countesse of Prouance mother to the quéene and Thomas de Sauoy late
earle of Flanders, came into England to visit the king and quéene and
were honorablie receiued, and at their departure backe towards home,
richlie rewarded. This yeare in the octaues of the Purification, a
parlement was holden at London, where all the nobilitie of the realme
in manner was present. There were nine bishops, as the archbishop of
Yorke, with the bishops of Winchester, Lincolne, Norwich, Worcester,
Chichester, Elie, Rochester and Carlell, with the earles of Cornewall,
Leicester, Winchester, Hereford, Northfolke, Oxford, Lincolne, Ferrers,
and Warwike, with Peter de Sauoy earle of Richmond, besides lords and
barons. The archbishop of Canturburie was at the court of Rome, & the
bishop of Duresme was letted by sicknesse.
[Sidenote: A subsidie demanded.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The king charged for his immoderate inriching of strangers.]
[Sidenote: The parlem[=e]t proroged.]
In this parlement king Henrie earnestlie required a subsidie, in
reliefe of the great charges which he had diuerse waies susteined,
wherevpon he was streightwaies by the péeres of the realme noted both
of couetousnesse, vnthankfulnesse, and breach of promise, bicause he
neuer ceassed gathering of monie, without regard had to his people: and
where he had promised manie things, as that he would not be burdenous
vnto them, and such like; he had performed verie little of those his
gaie promises. Manie misdemeanors, and wrongfull dooings, to the
gréeuance of his people were opened and laid before him, as cherishing
and inriching of strangers, & vsing his prerogatiues too largelie, to
the great decaie & hinderance of the common-wealth. The king abashed
herewith, and supposing that the confession of his fault should
make amends, & aswage the displesure which his Nobles and other had
conceiued at his misgouernance, to content them all with one answer,
he promised that he would reforme all that was amisse, and so quieting
the minds of his barons, the parlement was proroged till the quindene
of the natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist. Wherein his prudence and wisedome
was to be commended, but his patience deserueth excéeding great
praise, whereby he shewed himselfe princelike-minded, in that he could
tollerate the exprobation and casting of his faults in his face, euen
by such as should rather haue concealed than disclosed them: wheras
it had stood with his roialtie to haue giuen them the counterchecke,
and in angrie mood to haue tamed their malapertnese: but that he
prouidentlie considered that
----parit ira furorem,
Turpia verba furor, verbis ex turpibus exit
Rixa, ex hac oritur vulnus, de vulnere lethum:
----patientia virtus,
Qua quicúnq; caret, careat probitate necesse est.
Qui nil ferre potest, hominum commercia vitet.
[Sidenote: An ordinance for monie.]
[Sidenote: Inquirie made for washers & clippers of monie.]
About the same time, by reason that the sterling monie was generallie
so clipped, that the inscription was cut off for the most part euen
to the inner circle, a proclamation was set foorth, that no péeces
thereof should passe from one to an other, nor be receiued as currant
and lawfull monie, except the same were of iust weight and fashion.
Herewith also inquirie was made for those that had so defaced it, and
sundrie Iewes bankers, and cloth-merchants of Flanders were found
giltie. Also, the French king caused serch to be made within his realme
for the same offendors, and such as were found giltie, were hanged, so
that he was more seuere in punishing those falsifiers of the king of
Englands coine, than the king of England was himselfe.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The parlem[=e]t dissolued.]
[Sidenote: The king driuen to sell his plate.]
The parlement began againe at the day appointed, but nothing to accompt
of was then concluded, but rather a displeasure kindled betwixt the
king and his barons, for that they looked for a reformation in his
dooings, and he for monie out of their coffers, which would not be
granted, and so that parlement brake vp. The king herevpon for want
of monie, was driuen to so hard a shift, that he was constreined to
sell his plate and iewels (which the Londoners bought) so much to his
hinderance, that diuers péeces (the workemanship whereof was more
woorth than the value of the stuffe) were sold notwithstanding after
the rate as they weied.
[Sidenote: S. Edwards faire at Westminster.]
This yeare, the king caused a faire to be kept at Westminster at saint
Edwards tide, to indure for fiftéene daies, and to the end that the
same should be the more haunted with all manner of people, he commanded
by proclamation, that all other faires, as Elie, and such like holden
in that season, should not be kept, nor that any wares should be shewed
within the citie of London, either in shop or without, but that such
as would sell, should come for that time vnto Westminster: which was
doone, not without great trouble and paines to the citizens, which had
not roome there, but in booths and tents, to their great disquieting
and disease, for want of necessarie prouision, being turmoiled too
pitifullie in mire and dirt, through occasion of raine that fell in
that vnseasonable time of the yeare. The bishop of Elie complained sore
of the wrong doone to him by suspending his faire at Elie aforesaid.
[Sidenote: Sir Richard Sward deceasseth.]
[Sidenote: Death of bishops.]
[Sidenote: An eclipse.]
[Sidenote: Newcastell burnt by casuall fire.]
[Sidenote: The archb. of Cant. curseth.]
Sir Richard Sward died this yeare, after he had laien a long time vexed
with the palsie, which sir Richard had in his daies béene a right
worthie and famous knight. There died also the bishops of Bath and
saint Dauids. In the first day of Iune, the moone immediatlie vpon the
setting of the sunne, was almost wholie eclipsed, so that little of hir
might appeare. The towne of Newcastell vpon Tine was almost whollie
consumed with fire, togither with the bridge there. The archbishop of
Canturburie remaining still with the pope by his procurator the deane
of Beauueis, denounced all them accurssed which went about to impeach
him of receiuing the first fruits of benefices that voided, which he
had by the popes grant, the king and quéene, with their children, and
the kings brother the earle of Cornewall onelie excepted out of that
cursse.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 33.]
[Sidenote: An erthquake.]
[Sidenote: 1249.]
There chanced another earthquake foure daies before Christmasse,
namelie in the west countrie about Bath and Welles, which shooke and
ouerthrew some buildings, speciallie the tops and summets of stéeples,
turrets and chimnies were shaken therewith, and not the bases or lower
parts. ¶ In Christmasse following, the earle of Leicester returned out
of Gascoigne, where he had béene as generall against Gaston de Bierne,
whom he had so afflicted and put to the worse, that the same Gaston was
glad to sue for an abstinence of warre, where before he had doone much
hurt to the kings subiects. The said earle had also with the aid of the
kings subiects apprehended an other rebell, one William Berthram de
Egremont who had doone much hurt in the parts of Gascoigne, and in the
confines there, whome he had left in prison within the castell of the
Rioll.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Durham resigneth his bishoprike.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The king practiseth to get monie.]
[Sidenote: A nest of théeues brok[=e].]
This yeare a little before Candlemas, the bishop of Durham being a
man of great yeares, by licence obteined of the pope, resigned his
miter, reseruing to himselfe onelie thrée manors, Houeden with the
appurtenances, Stocton and Euerington. The king hauing the last yeare
receiued of his subiects a deniall of a generall subsidie to be granted
him, practised this yeare to get some reléefe at their hands, in
calling each of them apart: but first he got two thousand marks of the
citie of London, and after fell in hand with the abbats and priors, of
whome he got somewhat, though sore against their willes. By occasion of
two merchant strangers of Brabant, which chanced to be robbed about the
parts of Winchester, whilest the king was there, vpon their importunate
suit and complaint, there was a great nest of théeues broken, amongst
the which were manie wealthie persons and fréeholders, such as vsed
to passe on life and death of their owne companions, to whom they
were fauourable inough you may be sure: also, there were some of the
kings seruants amongst them. About thirtie of those offendors were
apprehended, and put to execution, besides those that escaped, some
into sanctuarie, and some into voluntarie exile, running out of and
vtterlie forsaking the countrie.
[Sidenote: The archbish. of Rone.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Great raine.]
About Easter, the archbishop of Rone came ouer into England, and
dooing homage for such reuenues as belonged to his church here within
this realme, had the same restored vnto him. In Iune there fell such
abundance of raine, speciallie about Abington, that the willow trées,
milles, and other houses standing néere to the water side, were borne
downe and ouerturned, with one chapell also: and the corne in the field
was so beaten to the ground, that bread made thereof after it was ripe,
séemed as it had béene made of bran.
[Sidenote: The earle of Salisburie & other go into the holie land.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The spite of the French towards the Englishmen.]
About the same time, William de Longespée earle of Salisburie, and
Robert de Véer, with other Englishmen, to the number of two hundred
knights, hauing taken on them the crosse, went into the holie land, the
said earle being their chéefe capteine, and had so prosperous spéed
in their iornie, that they arriued safe and sound in the christian
armie, where (the French king being chéefe thereof) they were receiued
ioifullie. But yet (as Matthew Paris writeth) the pride and disdaine
of the Frenchmen was so great, that vpon spite and enuie conceiued at
the Englishmens glorie, which bare themselues right worthilie, the
Frenchmen vsed the Englishmen nothing fréendlie; & namelie the earle of
Arras sticked not to speake manie reprochfull words against the said
William de Longespée and his people, whereat they could not but take
great indignation.
[Sidenote: Peter de Geneure.]
[Sidenote: The decease of Roger Fitz Iohn.]
[Sidenote: The death of Hugh le Brun.]
Also the same season, the earle of Leicester, who had likewise
receiued the crosse, deferred his iournie for a time, and sailing
into Gascoigne, mightilie there subdued the kings enimies, as Gaston
de Bierne, also one Rusteine, and William de Solares. This yeare died
Peter de Geneure, a Prouancois borne, whome the king had preferred in
marriage vnto the ladie Maud, daughter and heire of Walter Lacie a man
of faire possessions in Ireland. Of which marriage there came issue
a sonne and a daughter. Also about Whitsuntide died a noble baron of
the north parts, named the lord Roger Fitz Iohn, whose sonne and heire
being yoong, was giuen in wardship to William de Valence the kings
halfe brother. Also this yeare Hugh earle of March, father to the same
William de Valence died in Cipres, whilest the French armie wintered
there, as then going into the holie land.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 34.]
[Sidenote: The archb. of Canturburie inthronized.]
[Sidenote: A tornie holden at Brackley, or (as some copies haue) at
Barkley.]
[Sidenote: 1250.]
[Sidenote: Edmond son to Richard earle of Cornwall borne.]
[Sidenote: An ambassage sent to the pope.]
In the feast of All saints, the archbishop Bonifacius was inthronized
at Canturburie, and kept a solemne feast, at the which the king and
quéene, with the more part of all the prelats of the land were present.
About this season was a great tornie and iusts holden at Brackley,
where the earle of Glocester (contrarie to his accustomed maner)
fauoured the part of the strangers, whereby they preuailed. In somuch
that William de Valence handled one sir William de Odingesselles verie
roughlie, the same sir William being a right woorthie knight. About the
same time, the countesse of Cornewall at Berkehamstéed was deliuered
of a sonne named Edmund. This yeare about the beginning of the spring,
the kings brother the earle of Cornewall with other Noble men of the
realme, as the earle of Glocester, Henrie Hastings baron, & Roger
Thurkebie, went ouer into France in princelie arraie and furniture to
visit the pope, who held his court still at the citie of Lions. The
bishop of Lincolne also and the bishop of Worcester went thither. For
what cause the other went, it was not openlie knowne. But the bishop of
Lincolne went thither about such businesse as he had in hand against
the Templers, Hospitalers, and such other which had appealed from him
to the court of Rome, where he could not bring his purposse to passe,
for his aduersaries with monie had purchased the iudges fauour. And so
the bishop returned, hauing spent his trauell and monie in vaine.
[Sidenote: The king taketh on him the crosse.]
[Sidenote: The lord Roger de Monthault.]
On the 6 of March being sundaie, the king tooke vpon him the crosse,
with his brother de Valence, and a great number of other Noble men, and
amongst other the abbat of Burie, to the preiudice (as was thought)
of his order. Roger de Monthault, a baron of great honour, meaning
verelie to go in that iournie, to recouer monie towards his necessarie
furniture, set and sold the most part of his liuings. His woods and
possessions, which he had about Couentrie, he sold and let to fée farme
vnto the couent there. The like chieuance was made by sundrie noble
men, which prepared themselues to go in that iournie.
[Sidenote: Gaston de Bierne submiteth himself to the king.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Leicester his seruice in Gascoigne.]
Vpon the 27 day of Aprill those that had taken on them the crosse,
assembled at Bermondsey besides London, to treat of their setting
forward, determining that the same should be at Midsummer next: but
by the popes letters which the king procured, they were commanded to
staie till the king himselfe went. Thus their iournie for that time
was disappointed. There was of them and their retinues that meant thus
to haue gone, fiue hundreth knights, besides yeomen or demilances and
other common souldiers in great numbers. Gaston de Bierne was so driuen
to his shifts by the high prowesse of the earle of Leicester, that
in the end he was constreined to come ouer into England, and submit
himselfe to the king, whom he found at Clarendon, where he gat such
mercie at the kings hands, that he was pardoned and restored to his
lands. But the earle of Leicester put the king in possession of the
castels of Fronsacke, Egremount, and others, and banished Rustein, and
William de Solares, with diuerse other stubborne and disloiall rebels,
depriuing them of their lands and inheritance in that countrie.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Lincolne.]
[Sidenote: An inhibition procured by the king of the pope.]
The bishop of Lincolne did excommunicat a préest within his diocesse,
that was accused of incontinencie. And bicause the same préest
continued fortie daies without séeking to be reconciled, the bishop
sent to the shiriffe of Rutland, within whose bailiwike the same préest
dwelled, to apprehend him as a disobedient and rebellious person: but
the shiriffe winked at the matter, and would not execute the bishops
commandement, wherevpon the bishop did also excommunicat the shiriffe:
whereof the king being informed, tooke displeasure, and sending to the
pope, procured an inhibition, that no archbishop nor bishop should
compell anie officer belonging to the king, to follow anie suit afore
them, for those things that apperteined to the kings iurisdiction, or
giue sentence against them for the same.
[Sidenote: The earle of Cornwall returneth from the pope.]
[Sidenote: The king spareth to bring himselfe out of debt.]
The mondaie before the Rogation wéeke, Richard the kings brother earle
of Cornewall, returned from the court of Rome, where he had béene about
certeine businesse unknown to most men: but whatsoeuer the same was,
the pope gaue him most courteous and honorable interteinement for his
welcome, and made him great cheare during his abode at Lions, where the
popes court as then laie. ¶ About this season, the K. to rid himselfe
out of debt, wherein he was indangered to certeine merchants, lessened
the charges of his houshold, and kept but a meane port, diminishing
euen the accustomed almesse of the poore, and also the great number
of tapers and lights in his chappell, so that he was noted with the
blame of too much niggardlie sparing and pinching: but in that he
discharged his debt to the merchants, he was thought to doo wiselie and
charitablie, for that he would not sée them hindered to whom he was so
indebted; besides the opinion that he had concerning himselfe, namelie
that
Profectum faciunt rarum quos debita stringunt.
[Sidenote: The Iewes constreined to helpe the king with monie.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: A generall chapter of ye friers preachers.]