the prime change by naturall course should not haue béene till the
sixtéenth day following; and for the space of fiftéene daies that
then next insued, the sunne, the moone, and starres appeared of a red
colour. And herewith the whole face of the earth séemed as it had
béene shadowed with a thicke mist or smoke, the wind notwithstanding
remaining north and northeast. Then began a sore drought, continuing
a long time, the which togither with morning frosts, and northerlie
winds, destroied the fruits and other growing things, which were
blasted in such wise, that although at the first it was a verie forward
yeare, and great plentie towards of corne and fruit, yet by the means
aforesaid, the same was greatlie hindered and speciallie in the summer
season, when the sunnes heat increased, and the drought still continued.
[Sidenote: Manie diseases reigned.]
[Sidenote: A murren of cattell.]
The residue of such fruits as then remained, withered awaie, so that
scarse a tenth part was left, and yet there was indifferent store. For
if the abundance which the blossomes promised had come forward, the
trées had not béene able to haue borne the same. The grasse was so
burned vp in pastures and medowes, that if a man tooke vp some of it
in his hands, and rubbed the same neuer so little, it streight fell
to poulder, and so cattell were readie to starue for lacke of meat.
And bicause of the excéeding hot nights, there was such abundance of
fleas, flies, and gnats, that people were vexed and brought in case
to be wearie of their liues. And herewith chanced manie diseases, as
sweats, agues, and other. In the haruest time fell there a great death
and murren amongst cattell, and speciallie in Northfolke, in the fens
and other parts of the south. This infection was such, that dogs and
rauens féeding on the dead carrens, swelled streightwaies and died, so
that the people durst eat no béefe, least the flesh happilie might be
infected.
[Sidenote: The cause of the death of cattell.]
Also this was noted not without great woonder, that yoong heifers and
bullockes followed the milchkine, & as it had béene calues sucked
the same kine. Also appletrées and pearetrées, now after the time of
yéelding their ripe fruit, began againe to blossome, as if it had
béene in Aprill. The cause of the death of cattell was thought to come
hereof. After so great a drought (which had continued by all the space
of the moneths of Aprill, Maie, Iune, and Iulie) when there folowed
good plentie of raine, the earth began to yéeld hir increase most
plentiouslie of all growing things, though not so wholesome nor of such
kindlie substance, as in due time and season she is accustomed to bring
foorth, and so the cattell which before were hungerstarued, fed now so
gréedilie of this new grasse sproong vp in vndue season, that they were
suddenlie puffed vp with flesh, and such vnnaturall humors, as bred
infections amongst them, whereof they died.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Lincolne.]
[Sidenote: The Gascoigns meane to complaine of the earle of Leicester.]
[Sidenote: The earle disproueth the allegations of his accusers.]
The bishop of Lincolne would haue inforced all the beneficed men within
his diocesse to be préests, but they purchased a licence from Rome,
to remaine at the Vniuersities for certeine yeares, without taking
the order of préesthood vpon them. ¶ The king meaning to go (as he
pretended) into the holie land, had grant of the pope to leuie a tenth
of his subiects both spirituall and temporall. The Gascoignes sore
repining at the earle of Leicester his streict gouernance (who handled
them more roughlie than they had béene accustomed) sent the archbishop
of Burdeaux ouer into England to exhibit a complaint against him in
all their names. The earle of Leicester aduertised thereof, followed
him, and comming to the court, found the archbishop readie to aduouch
the information which he had made against the said earle, chéefelie
in that he had sought the destruction of those to whom the earle of
Cornewall when he was ruler there, had granted life and peace, and
whom sir Henrie Trubleuile, and Waleran the Dutchman, late stewards of
Gascoigne, vnder the king, had cherished and mainteined. With manie
other things the archbishop charged him, the which the earle wittilie
refelled and disprooued, so as he was allowed in his iustification by
those that stood by, as the earle of Cornewall and others.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Lincolns authoritie to institute vicars in
churches impropriate.]
The bishop of Lincolne got authoritie of the pope to institute
vicarages in churches impropriat to religious men, where no vicars
were; and where such were as séemed too slenderlie prouided of
sufficient allowance, to augment the same as he thought expedient:
which his authoritie he vsed more largelie than stood with the pleasure
of religious persons, bicause he shewed great fauour to the vicars.
The copie of the letters which the bishop had procured of the pope,
authorising him herein, followeth as we find the same in the chronicles
of Matthew Paris.
The tenor of the Popes grant.
Innocentius episcopus, &c. Cùm sicut accepimus in tua ciuitate &
diocoesi, nonnulli religiosi & alij collegiati ecclesias perochiales
in proprios vsus obtineant, in quibus nimis exiles aut nullæ taxatæ
sunt vicariæ; fraternitati tuæ per authoritatem summam mandamus,
quòd in ijsdem ecclesijs de ipsarum prouentibus vicarias instituas,
& institutas exiles adaugeas vice nostra: prout iuxta consuetudinem
patriæ secund[=u] Deum videtur expedire, non obstantibus si prædicti
exempti sint, aut aliàs muniti apostolicis priuilegijs siue
indulgentijs, per quæ id impediri vel differri possit; & de quibus
speciale oporteat in præsentibus fieri mentionem: contradictores per
censuras ecclesiasticas apostolica potestate compescendo. Datum Lugduni
7 Octob. pontificatus nostri, An. 8.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: The earle of Leicester sent eftsoones into Gascoigne.]
[Sidenote: Rusteine taken.]
[Sidenote: The kings eldest son Edward created duke of Aquitaine.]
[Sidenote: Sir Arnold de Monteinie slaine.]
The earle of Leicester was eftsoones sent into Gascoigne by the king,
who had not cared if he had fallen into his enimies hands, as should
appeare. But the earle hired souldiers in France, and comming into
Gascoigne, preuailed against his enimies, though in one conflict he
was in danger of loosing both life and the honour of the field. But
yet through his good hap, Gods fauour, and the valiancie of himselfe
and some of his retinue, he got the vpper hand, and put his enimies to
flight, taking Rusteine, one of the chéefe ringleaders, whom he caused
to be presented to the king. At the same time had the king inuested his
son Edward with the duchie of Aquitaine to the offense of the earle of
Cornewall, to whom by charter he had before giuen and confirmed the
same. In a iusts holden at Walden, sir Arnold de Monteinie a right
valiant knight was slaine by sir Roger de Lemborne, for which mischance
all the Nobles there assembled made great lamentation, and namelie
the said sir Roger: but yet he was suspected to be in blame, bicause
the socket of his staffe was polished, & not abated. Hereby it should
appeare, that in qualitie of weapon, and not in maner of their running
togither, these iusts and tornies in those daies practised differed
from the verie order of warre.
[Sidenote: The church of Elie dedicated.]
[Sidenote: A parlement. The king demandeth the tenths of the
spiritualtie.]
The 17 of September the cathedrall church of Elie was dedicated, which
the bishop of that sée named Hugh had builded of his owne proper
costs and charges, togither with the palace there. The king and a
great number of the péeres & nobles of the realme both spirituall and
temporall were present at this solemne feast, which was kept in most
plentifull manner. The 13 day of October, the king held a great feast
at London, and had called the states of the realme, then and there to
assemble in parlement, wherein he opened to them the popes grant, which
he had obteined of the tenths due to the church, to be receiued by him
for thrée yeares, towards his charges in his iournie which he meant to
make into the holie land. The bishops, and namelie Lincolne, vtterlie
refused to be contributarie to his grant.
[Sidenote: The bishops refuse to yéeld to the popes grant.]
[Sidenote: The king highlie offended with the bishops.]
They alledged sundrie reasons for their excuse, as the pouertie of the
English church being alreadie made bare, with continuall exactions and
oppressions; but chéeflie they excused themselues by the absence of the
archbishops of Canturburie and Yorke, of whom the one was beyond the
sea, and the other at home in the north parts. All th'other English
bishops were there, except Hereford & Chester, which Chester was
sicke, and therefore without the consent of those that were absent,
and namelie their primat the archbishop of Canturburie, they could
not conclude vpon any generall point touching the kings demand. And
although the king fretted and stormed against them, yet could he not
bring them to his purpose, so that the parlement for that time was
dissolued. Yet before their departure from London, he communed with
the bishops apart, to sée if he might persuade them to giue him some
portion of monie towards his charges: but they had tuned their strings
all after one note, discording all from his tenor, so that not a penie
could be got of them: wherefore he tooke high displeasure against them,
reuiling them in most reprochfull maner, and amongst other he vpbraided
his halfe brother (the elect of Winchester) of great vnthankefulnesse,
who also amongst the residue stood against him.
[Sidenote: The king assaieth to get monie of the lords temporall.]
[Sidenote: The Londoners helpe at a pinch.]
The king hauing this repulse at the bishops hands, began to fall in
talke with the lords of the temporaltie touching the troubles in
Gascoigne, where things were in broile by the hard dooings or the earle
of Leicester, against whom the Gascoignes ceassed not to make warre
still, and of late hauing besieged him in the castell of Mountalbon,
droue him to such shift, that to escape the present danger he was glad
to set at libertie certeine rebels, which he had before taken captiues.
Therefore to reduce that countrie vnto quietnesse, the king determined
to go thither himselfe, and to remooue the earle of Leicester out of
his office: but when he came to the pith of the matter, which was to
desire their aid both of men and monie, the lords would not agrée to
grant him anie. And where he sought to burthen the erle of Leicester
with misgouerning things against his honour, they excused the same
earle, and so the lords also departed in displeasure of the king as
well as the bishops. Howbeit the king got of the Londoners by way of
princelie praier twentie thousand marks of gold at that time. And to
their further gréefe for better meane to be reuenged against the bishop
of Elie, he caused the said Londoners to kéepe saint Edwards faire for
fiftéene daies togither at Westminster, and in the meane time to kéepe
their shops shut through all the citie. Which thing (by reason of the
foule weather chancing at that time) was verie gréeuous vnto them,
albeit there was such repaire of people thither, that London had not
béene fuller to the iudgement of old ancient men neuer at anie time in
their daies to their remembrance.
[Sidenote: The death of sir Nicholas Samf]
[Sidenote: The countesse of Hereford departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The deceasse of the countesse de Lisle de Wincht.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 37.]
[Sidenote: The pope offereth the kingdome of Sicill vnto the earle of
Cornewall.]
This yeare died sir Nicholas Samford knight, a man of great reputation
and valiancie. Also on the twentith day of October, the countesse
of Winchester daughter to the earle of Hereford departed this life
at Grobie, a manour place belonging to hir husband the earle of
Winchester, a little besides Leicester, and was buried at Braklie. The
said earle shortlie after married an other wife in hope of issue. For
neither by this his last wife, neither by his first that was daughter
to the lord Alane de Galowaie had he any children. Also the same yeare,
that noble ladie Margaret countesse of Lisle surnamed Riuers, somtime
wife to Fouks de Brent, departed out of this world, about the second
day of October. In the seauen and thirtith yeare of king Henries
reigne, one of the popes notaries called Albert came into England to
offer vnto Richard earle of Cornewall the kings brother, the kingdoms
of Naples and Sicill. But the earle supposing it not to stand with his
honour, to depriue his nephue Henrie, sonne to the emperor Frederike
the second, by his wife the empresse Isabell that was sister to the
said erle, refused to take that honour vpon him.
About the same time, that is to say, on the octaues of saint Martin,
Boniface the archbishop of Canturburie arriued in England, comming
from the court of Rome, where he had béene long resident. ¶ At the
same time there chanced a great occasion of strife betwixt the said
archbishop, and the bishop of Winchester. For where maister Eustace
de Lin, officiall to the said archbishop had first excommunicated,
and after for his contumacie caused to be attached a préest which by
authoritie of the elect of Winchester as diocesane there, was entred
into possession of an hospitall in Southwarke, as gouernour thereof,
by the name of prior, without consent of the officiall: who pretended
title as patrone in his maisters name. The said elect of Winchester
caused a riotous sort of persons after the maner of warre to séeke
reuenge hereof, the which after manie outrages doone, came to Lambeth,
and there by violence tooke the said Eustace out of his owne house, and
led him to Farnham, where he was kept as prisoner.
The archbishop thus serued at his first comming ouer, and taking the
same but for a homlie welcome, was maruellouslie offended, and comming
to London accompanied with the bishops of Chichester and Hereford,
in the church of saint Marie bowe, being reuested in pontificalibus,
pronounced all those accurssed, which were authours or fauourers of
such a rash and presumptuous déed, and further commanded all the
bishops within his prouince, by vertue of their obedience, to denounce
the same in their churches euerie sundaie and holie day. The bishop
of Winchester on the other part, sent commandement to the deane of
Southwarke, to resist the archbishop to his face, and to denounce his
cursse to be void, vaine, and of no force, but deuised of a craftie
purpose and wicked meaning. The archbishop continuing in his conceiued
displeasure, went to Oxenford, and there on the morrow after saint
Nicholas day, renewed the same cursse in solemne wise before all the
learned men, students, and scholers of the Vniuersitie.
[Sidenote: 1253.]
[Sidenote: The archb. of Canturburie and the bishop of Winchester made
fréends.]
[Sidenote: William de Valence, and Iohn de Warren.]
[Sidenote: The value of spirituall liuings in strangers hands.]
Howbeit, at length the matter was taken vp betwixt them, for the king
in his brothers cause, and the quéene for hir vncle the archbishop,
tooke some paine to agrée them: and so in the octaues of the Epiphanie
they were made fréends, and those absolued that were excommunicated, in
which number William de Valence, and Iohn de Warren were thought to be
conteined, as those that should be present in vsing the force against
the officiall (as before ye haue heard.) By inquirie taken about this
time by the diligence of the bishop of Lincolne, it was found that
the yéerlie profits and reuenues of spirituall promotions and liuings
resting in strangers hands preferred by the popes prouisions, amounted
to the summe of thréescore and ten thousand marks, which was more by
two third parts, than the kings reuenues belonging to his crowne.
[Sidenote: The new moone appeared before hir time.]
The earle of Glocester and the lord William de Valence went ouer into
France in most triumphant manner, to conclude a marriage betwixt
the sonne of the said earle of Glocester, and the daughter of the
lord Guie of Engolesme. Which marriage the king had motioned for the
affection which he bare towards the aduancement of his linage, by
the mothers side. Whereat bicause they were strangers, the English
nobilitie somewhat repined. And whereas like lustie yoong gentlemen
they attempted a iusts and tornie to shew some proofe of their valiant
stomachs, they were well beaten by the Frenchmen, that disdained to sée
yoong men so presumptuous, to prouoke old accustomed warriours to the
triall of such martiall enterprises. About the beginning of Lent, the
new moone was séene foure daies before shée ought to haue appeared by
hir due and common course.
[Sidenote: Running at the quintine.]
[Sidenote: The Londoners called Barons.]
The king by a shift got of the Londoners 1000 marks. For as it happened
about the same time the youthfull citizens (for an exercise and triall
of their actiuitie) had set foorth a game to run at the quintine, and
whosoeuer did best, should haue a peacocke which they had prepared for
a prise. Certeine of the kings seruants, bicause the court laie then at
Westminster, came (as it were in spite of the citizens) to the game,
and giuing reprochfull names to the Londoners (which for the dignitie
of the citie and ancient priuileges which they ought to haue inioied
were called barons) the said Londoners not able to beare so to be
misused, fell vpon the kings seruants, and bet them shrewdlie, so that
vpon complaint, the king caused the citizens to fine for their rash
dooings. Wherein the Londoners followed the counsell of him that in a
case of strife, said
Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito,
Audaces fortuna iuuat.
[Sidenote: The earle of Leicester resigneth his gouernment of
Gascoigne.]
[Sidenote: The Rioll, S. Million, townes in Gascoignes.]
[Sidenote: Knights to be made.]
Moreouer, about the same time, the king vpon displeasure conceiued
against the earle of Leicester, had caused him to resigne his office of
the wardenship of Gascoigne: and bicause the earle had it by patent,
the king not able to find any iust cause of forfeiture, agréed to paie
vnto him for the resignation no small portion of monie. And whereas
the Gascoignes had charged the earle with too much streict handling of
them, whereby they were occasioned to raise tumults, the matter was
now nothing at all amended. For after the earle had resigned, they
continued still in rebellion, so that the Rioll with S. Millions and
other places were taken by the aduersaries out of the kings hands,
and great slaughter of people made in those parts: wherefore the king
minding to go thither, caused musters to be taken, and men put in a
redinesse according to the custome, that he might vnderstand what
number of able men furnished for the warre were to be had. He also
tooke order that euerie man that might dispend yéerlie fiftéene pounds
in lands should be made knight.
[Sidenote: An ordinance against robbers.]
[Sidenote: The cause yt mooued the Gascoignes to rebellion.]
Moreouer, for the better preseruation of peace and quietnesse amongst
his people, he appointed watch to be kept by night in cities and
borough townes. And further by the aduise of the Sauoisines, which were
about him, he ordeined that if any man chanced to be robbed, or by
any meanes damnified by any théefe or robber, he to whom the kéeping
of that countrie chéefelie apperteined where the robberie was doone,
should competentlie restore the losse: and this was after the usage of
Sauoy, but was thought more hard to be obserued here, than in those
parts, where are not so manie bypaths and starting corners to shift out
of the waie. ¶ The Gascoignes continued in their seditious dooings, and
namelie Gaston de Bierne, who renouncing his dutie and obedience to
the king of England ioined himselfe to the king of Spaine, through his
helpe to be the stronger & more able to annoie the English subiects.
The euill intreating vsed towards the Gascoignes which brought hither
wines, in that the same were oftentimes taken from them by the kings
officers, and other, without readie monie allowed for the sale, gaue
occasion to them to grudge and repine against the king.
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: A tenth granted of the spiritualtie. Escuage granted.]
[Sidenote: _Magna charta._]
In the quindene of Easter a parlement began at London, in which all
the states being assembled, the matter was mooued for aiding the king
with some reléefe of monie towards the iournie which he ment to make
into the holie land: and so at length it was agréed that a tenth part
of all the reuenues belonging to the church was granted to him for
thrée yeares space, and that escuage should be leuied for that yeare,
after thrée markes of euerie knights fée, and the king on the other
part promised faithfullie to obserue and mainteine the grant of the
great charter, and all the articles conteined within the same. For
further assurance whereof, on the third day of Maie, in the great hall
at Westminster, in the presence and by the assent of the king and the
earles of Norfolke, Hereford, Oxford, Warwike, and other Noble men, by
the archbishop of Canturburie as primate, and by the bishops of London,
Elie, Lincolne, Worcester, Norwich, Hereford, Salisburie, Durham,
Excester, Carliell, Bath, Rochester, and S. Dauies, reuested and
apparelled in pontificalibus, with tapers, according to the maner, the
sentence of excommunication was pronounced against all transgressors of
the liberties of the church, and of the ancient liberties and customes
of the realme of England, and namelie those which are conteined in the
great charter, and in the charter of forrest.
[Sidenote: Godlie counsell no doubt.]
Whilest the sentence was in reading the king held his hand vpon his
breast with glad and chéerefull countenance, and when in the end they
threw awaie their extinct and smoking tapers, saieng, "So let them be
extinguished and sinke into the pit of hell which run into the dangers
of this sentence;" the king said, "So helpe me God, as I shall obserue
and kéepe all these things, euen as I am a christian man, as I am a
knight, and as I am a king crowned and annointed." But afterward when
he through other counsell brake his promise therein, he was aduised by
some to giue a portion of that monie which he got at this time, to the
Pope, that he might of him be absolued.
[Sidenote: The king purposeth to go himselfe into Gascoigne.]
Immediatlie after the breaking vp of the parlement, that is to saie,
about the first of Iune, the king being earnestlie called vpon by
messengers sent from the Gascoignes to prouide in time for the defense
and safegard of that countrie, sith otherwise he stood in danger to
loose it, with all spéed he resolued to go thither; and therevpon
caused summons to be giuen to all those that held of him by knights
seruice, to prepare to be at Portesmouth, with horsse and armour in the
octaues of the Trinitie. Herewith he made great prouision of ships, the
which being assembled, and the armie likewise come togither, through
lacke of conuenient wind he was inforced to stay a long time, to his
great gréefe and no lesse charges.
[Sidenote: He taketh the sea.]
[Sidenote: He arriueth at Burdeaux.]
[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent into Spaine.]