of Cornewall was elected emperour, by one part of the Coruosters: and
diuerse lords of Almaine comming ouer into this land (vpon the daie
of the innocents in Christmasse) presented vnto him letters from the
archbishop of Colen, and other great lords of Almaine, testifieng their
consents in the choosing of him to be emperour, and withall, that it
might stand with his pleasure to accept that honor. Finallie, vpon good
deliberation had in the matter, he consented therevnto: whervpon the
lords that came with the message, being right glad of their answer,
returned with all spéed to signifie the same vnto those from whom
they had béene sent. The treasure of this earle Richard now elected
king of Almaine, was estéemed to amount vnto such a summe, that he
might dispend euerie day a hundred marks, for the terme of ten yeares
togither, not reckoning at all the reuenues which dailie accrewed to
him of his rents in Almaine and England.
[Sidenote: The Welshmen choose them a gouernour, and rebell against the
king.]
In this meane time the vnquiet Welshmen, after the death of their
prince Dauid, chose in his stéed one Leolin, that was son to the same
Griffin that brake his necke as he would haue escaped out of the towre
of London; and herewith they began a new rebellion, either driuing
out such Englishmen as laie there in garisons within the castels and
fortresses, or else entring into the same by some traitorous practise,
they slue those which they found within them, to the great displeasure
of their souereigne lord Edward the kings eldest sonne, who coueting
to be reuenged of their rebellious enterprises, could not bring his
purpose to passe, by reason of the vnseasonable weather and continuall
raine which fell that winter, so raising the waters & setting the
marishes on flouds, that he could not passe with his armie.
[Sidenote: The king wanteth monie.]
[Sidenote: Sir Geffrey de Langlies hard dealing, cause of the Welshmens
rebellion.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The number of the Welsh enemies.]
[Sidenote: The Welshmen diuide their power into two parts.]
Moreouer, his father the king wanted monie and treasure to furnish
him withall, howbeit prince Edward borrowed of his vncle erle Richard
four thousand marks towards the maintenance of that war. The rebellion
of the Welshmen speciallie rose by the hard dealing of sir Geffrey de
Langlie knight, the kings collector amongst them, who handled them so
streightlie, that in defense of their countrie, lawes, and liberties
(as they pretended) they put on armour. They tooke and destroied the
lands and possessions which were great and large, of Griffin Brunet,
being fled for safegard of his life vnto the king of England. There
were of those Welsh rebels at the point of twentie thousand men, and
of them ten thousand were horssemen, the which perceiuing the season
to make for their purpose, defended themselues so manfullie, that they
droue backe prince Edward and his armie, & so continuing the wars, did
much hurt to the English marishes. Their power so increased, that at
length they diuided the same in two equall parts, the better to recouer
vittels, and in either armie there were estéemed thirtie thousand armed
men, after the maner of their countrie, of the which there were fiue
hundred men of armes in either host, with barded horsses all couered
in iron. Thus being of such puissance, they did much mischéefe to
the Englishmen that inhabited on the marshes, neither were the lords
marchers able to resist them, although the earle of Glocester aided the
same lords all that he might.
[Sidenote: _Nic. Treuet._]
[Sidenote: Stephan Bauzan, aliàs Baucan.]
[Sidenote: Englishmen ouerthrowne.]
[Sidenote: Northwales and Southwales ioined togither in league.]
King Henrie being hereof aduertised, sent with all spéed Stephan
Bauzan, a man skilful in feats of warre, with a great number of
soldiers into Wales, against the rebels who comming into that countrie,
and entring into the lands of a Welsh lord named Rise Vaughan, was
intrapt by such ambushments as his enimies laid for him, and thereby
was slaine with the more part of his armie. This ouerthrowe chanced by
the treason of Griffin de Brunet, who at that present reuolting from
the English side to his countrimen, instructed them in all things,
how they might vanquish their enimies. At that time, Northwales and
Southwales ioined in league and fréendlie amitie togither, which
commonlie was not séene in those daies, they being for the more part at
variance, the one rather séeking still how to indamage the other: but
now in defense of their liberties (as they pretended) they agréed in
one.
[Sidenote: The king passeth himselfe in person into Wales.]
[Sidenote: The lord Mortimer the kings lieutenant in Wales.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
The king sore mooued herewith, determined to go himselfe into Wales,
that he might take worthie punishment of those his aduersaries, that
could neuer be sufficientlie chastised. Wherevpon raising a great
power, he hasted foorth, and comming into Wales, put the rebels in such
feare, that they withdrew to their accustomed places of refuge, I meane
the woods and mareshes. The king would faine haue had them foorth, that
he might haue punished them according to their deserts, and therefore
to bring his purpose the better to passe, he sent for an armie of
soldiers into Ireland, and tarried for their comming at the castell
of Brecknoke, but the yeare was farre spent yer his people could be
gathered, so that by the aduise of his lords he strengthened certeine
castels, and so returned for that yeare into England, leauing the lord
Roger Mortimer his lieutenant in Wales, to resist the rebels. But now
let vs speake of other dooings which chanced in the meane while that
the warres thus continued and lasted betwixt England and Wales.
[Sidenote: A legat from Rome.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: A new order of Friers.]
Yée shall vnderstand, that in the Lent season, the archbishop of
Messina came as legat from the pope hither into England, with letters
of procuration, to demand and receiue, and also with power, to punish
such as should denie and séeme to resist, and so being here arriued
with a great traine of seruants and horses, he sent foorth his
commandements in writing to euerie prelat, to prouide him monie by
way of proxie so that of the house of S. Albons, and of the celles
that belonged therevnto, he had one and twentie marks, and when the
moonks of S. Albons came to visit him in his house, they could not
be permitted to depart, but were kept as prisoners, till they had
satisfied his couetous demand: for whereas they alledged that they had
not brought any monie with them, he asked them whie they were such
beggers, and further said, "Send yée then to some merchant, that will
lend you monie," and so it was doone: for otherwise they might not haue
libertie to depart. This archbishop was of the order of the Friers
preachers, in whome (saith Matthew Paris) we had hoped to haue found
more abundant humilitie. About the same time, there appeared at London
a new order of Friers, not knowen till those daies, hauing yet the
popes autentike bulles, which they openlie shewed, so that there séemed
a confusion of manie orders, as the same Matthew Paris recordeth, and
bicause they were apparelled in sackecloth, they were called sacked
Friers.
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
About the middest of Lent, there was a great parlement holden, to the
which the maisters of the Vniuersitie of Oxford were summoned, that
peace might be concluded betwixt them and the bishop of Lincolne,
which had them in suit about their liberties. There came to the same
parlement, the earle of Glocester, and sir Iohn Mansell, latelie
returned out of Almaine, where they had béene on ambassage from Richard
the elect king of Almaine. Thither came also the same elect king of
Almaine, and almost all the Nobilitie of the realme, so that scarse
might the citie of London receiue the number that repaired to that
parlement. The king of Almaine meant to take his leaue at that time
of the lords and péeres of the realme, purposing shortlie after, to
take his iournie towards Almaine, and to ordeine the bishop of London
gouernor of all his lands and possessions within England.
[Sidenote: The lord Edmund the kings sonne.]
[Sidenote: A subsidie demanded.]
[Sidenote: The offer of ye spiritualtie.]
In this parlement, the lord Edmund the kings yoonger sonne was shewed
as king of Naples and Sicill, for the obteining of the possession
of which dominions and kingdoms, his father king Henrie demanded no
small subsidie and aid of monie, both of the temporaltie and also
of the spiritualtie, but namlie, he required to haue the tenths of
spirituall mens liuings for the terme of fiue yeares, according to the
new taxations without any deductions to be allowed except necessarie
expenses: also, the fruits for one yeare of benefices that chanced
to fall void within the said terme of fiue yeare. Moreouer, sundrie
other duties he required to haue of the spirituall men, sore to their
gréeuance, and speciallie, bicause they knew that such tyrannie first
tooke beginning from the pope. In the end (though loth they were to
consent) yet conditionallie that the king would confirme the liberties
conteined in the great charter, and obserue the same throughlie, now
after it had béene so manie times brought out and redéemed, they
offered to giue him towards his instant necessitie two and fiftie
thousand marks, to the irrecouerable danger of impouerishing the
church. And yet, as it is said, the king refused the gift, as that
which he thought not to be sufficient.
¶ Truelie it should séeme, that there was a great vntowardlie
disposition in the subiects of that time, for the helping of their
king with necessarie aid of monie, towards such great charges as he
had béene diuers waies occasioned to be at, since his first comming
to the crowne. But bicause it was perceiued that he bestowed no
small quantitie of his treasure to the aduancing of his kinsfolke
and aliance, namelie strangers, and againe defraied great summes in
vaine hope to obteine the kingdoms of both the Sicils which the pope
offered to him fréelie inough in words, as before yée haue heard, the
English subiects conceiued a great misliking of the whole gouernement,
and namelie, for that he séemed to be led and ruled by the aduise
and counsell of those strangers, who being not throughlie acquainted
with the nature of the English people, nor fullie instructed in the
lawes and customes of the realme, caused him to doo manie things, that
procured both to him and them much ill will as well of the hie states
as of the commons, which as occasion serued, they were readie inough
to discouer, and therefore they were verie inquisitiue, both to learne
what he receiued, and also in what sort he bestowed that which he did
receiue and take.
It was therefore knowne, that since he first began to waste his
treasure, his charges amounted vnto the summe of 950000 marks, as
the bookes of accompts remaining in the hands of the clearks of his
closet plainelie witnessed, and yet of all those vaine expenses no
great aduantage was growne thereby to the king or realme, but rather
disaduantage, as the most part of men then tooke it, and no maruell:
for there was such hartburning amongst the nobilitie, one enuieng an
others aduancement, & repining at each others dooings, that it was not
possible to bring any good drift forward amongst men so far at ods
togither. But we will let this passe as a thing manifest inough to them
that shall well consider the course of that time, and will returne to
the parlement aboue mentioned.
[Sidenote: The archbish. of Cullen and other ambassadors of Almaine.]
Before the end of this solemne assemblie of states, the archbishop of
Cullen with a duke, & an other bishop came ouer out of Almaine, vnto
their elect king Richard, to whome they did fealtie and homage, as to
their souereigne liege lord and gouernor, which thing once doone, he
gaue to the said archbishop fiue hundred marks to beare his charges,
with a rich miter set with stones, & furnished with plates of beaten
gold; which miter when the archbishop had set it vpon his head; "He
hath (saith he) giuen a rich gift to me and to my church, and verelie,
euen as I haue put this miter on my head, so will I set on his head
the crowne of the kingdome of Almaine; he hath mitered me, and I will
crowne him." The other lords of Almaine, which at the same time did
homage vnto earle Richard, were also presented with great and rich
gifts.
[Sidenote: Six archbish. present at London in time of the parlement.]
[Sidenote: The elect K. of Almaine taketh his leaue of the king his
brother.]
[Sidenote: He landeth at Dordreigh.]
Héere is further to be noted, that there were present at this parlement
six archbishops, Canturburie, Yorke, Dubline, Messina, Tarento and
Cullen. The archbishop of Messina was come to the king to set him on
dotage for the businesse about the conquest of Naples and Sicill. At
the feast of Ester next following, the archbishop of Cullen returned
into his countrie, and the third day after Easter, the elect king of
Almaine tooke his leaue and departed toward Yarmouth, where he purposed
to take the sea, to saile ouer into Almaine, but by reason of contrarie
winds he was driuen to remaine there a long time, to his great gréefe
and inestimable charges before he could passe ouer; yet finallie, about
the latter end of Aprill, he got foorth to the sea, and landed at
Dordreigh the first of Maie next insuing.
[Sidenote: A synod.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
About the same time, the archbishop of Canturburie called a synod of
the bishops and abbats inhabiting within his prouince, that inuocating
the grace of the Holie-ghost, they might foresée some redresse for
reléefe of the English church, now in these late yeares sore disquieted
by new oppressions, more gréeuous than had béene accustomed: for the
king by counsell, or rather by the whispering of some flatterers and
enimies to the realme, was so induced, that he permitted certeine euill
customs, as thornie brembles to increase in the fruitfull garden of
pleasure, and to choke vp the trées that brought foorth fruit in great
plentie. Moreouer in this yeare, king Henrie caused the walles of the
citie of London, which were sore decaied and destitute of turrets, to
be repared in more séemelie wise than before they had béene, at the
common charges of the citie.
[Sidenote: A decrée made by the pope.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The moonks of Durham that were exc[=o]municated are now
absolued.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
There was an ordinance made at Rome by the pope and his cardinals
(which verie diligentlie foresaw to aduance their temporall
commodities, not much passing for other mens aduantages) that euerie
one which should be chosen an exempt abbat, should come to the court of
Rome to be there confirmed, and receiue the popes blessing, by which
heinous ordinance, religion was laid open to great danger, and the
church depriued of temporall prosperitie (as saith Matthew Paris) for
by this means (saith he) it was néedfull for religious men, to choose
to their gouernour a man not religious, but rather halfe temporall,
and such a one as to whome rather Iustinians lawes than Christes
which conuerteth soules should be familiar. The moonks of Durham, who
onlie with the canons of Gisborne resisted the wicked procéedings of
the popes exactors, and stood therefore interdicted a long time, at
length, after manie altercations, were absolued. Oh (saith Matth.
Paris) if in that their tribulation they might haue had fellows, and in
their constant doings aidors, how happilie had the church of England
triumphed ouer hir tormentors and oppressors!
You haue heard how Richard earle of Cornewall being elected king of
Almaine, sailed thither, where on the Ascension day last, he was
crowned king by the archbishop of Cullen, of whom, and diuerse other
great princes of Germanie he was holden for their lawfull king and
gouernour (as in the Dutch histories you may find more largelie
expressed) though other of them had chosen Alfonse king of Castile,
the which Alfonse wrote to the king of England, as his confederate and
alie, requiring aid of him against the said Richard that was his owne
brother, to the which vnreasonable request the king would in no wise
consent.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: An information against the lord maior of London.]
[Sidenote: The lord maior and shiriffes of London discharged.]
[Sidenote: The lord maior and shiriffes fined.]
Moreouer, in this fortie one yeare of king Henries reigne, by reason of
a roll closed in gréene wax and found in the kings Wardrobe at Windsor,
conteining as it were an information against the maior and shiriffes
of London, for oppression and wrongs doone to the communaltie of the
citie, the king tooke great displeasure, and caused streit inquisition
to be made, as well by Fouke Moots, as Ward Moots, & diuerse other
means. At length, the maior and shiriffes, with the chamberlaine of
the citie, were discharged by Iohn Mansell, one of the kings iustices,
afore whom and other the kings councell, the inquisition was taken,
and then was the custodie of the citie assigned vnto the constable
of the tower, and in place of the shiriffes were appointed Michaell
Tonie, and Iohn Audrian. At length, the maior, shiriffes and Aldermen
that were accused, perceiuing the kings displeasure towards them,
submitted themselues wholie to his mercie, sauing to them and to all
other the citizens their liberties & franchises, and so in the excheker
chamber at Westminster afore the king, there sitting in iudgement
vpon the matter, they were condemned to paie their fines for their
offenses committed, and further, euerie of them discharged of his
ward and office. Shortlie after was William Fitz Richard by the kings
commandement made maior, and Thomas Fitz Thomas, and William Grapisgate
shiriffes.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The archbish. of Yorke accursed.]
[Sidenote: The constancie of the archbishop of Yorke.]
The archbishop of Yorke was accurssed by the popes commandement
through all England, with booke, bell and candle, that by such terror
his constancie might be weakened. But the archbishop (saith Matthew
Paris) informed by the example of Thomas Becket, and by the example
and doctrine of saint Edmund sometime his instructor, and also taught
by the faithfulnesse of blessed Robert, late bishop of Lincolne,
despaired not of comfort from heauen, in bearing patientlie the popes
tyrannie; neither would he bestow the wealthie reuenues of his church
vpon Italians, being vnworthie persons and strangers; neither would
he obeie and incline to the popes will like a faint-harted person, by
leauing and setting apart the rigor of the law, least thereby he might
séeme to result from his pastorlike office, and animate the woolfe of
Rome to breake into the shéepfold of the church, whose purpose was to
sucke the verie bloud quite and cleane out of euerie veine, yea to bite
out bowels and all. Which qualitie to rest in him, wofull experience
hath taught, and the testimonie of written verities hath shewed, among
which this one for the truth thereof is worthie to be reported euen to
the praise of the deuiser for his prettie deuise therein comprised, and
here set downe as fit for the purpose:
Non pontifex sed potifex,
Non potifex sed panifex,
Non panifex sed carnifex,
Est papa pater pontifex.
[Sidenote: The lord Audelie warreth vpon the Welshmen.]
[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent into France.]
[Sidenote: The marshes of Wales some impouerished.]
About the beginning of the two and fortith yeare of king Henries
reigne, the lord Iames Audelie that had béene ouer with the king of
Almaine, and was latelie returned home in companie of the lord Henrie,
sonne to the said king (who came backe from his father about the feast
of saint Michaell last past) vnderstanding how the Welshmen in his
absence had burnt, wasted, and destroied his lands, possessions, and
castels, which belonged vnto him in the confines of Wales, he meant
to be reuenged of those injuries, and inuading them, he slue a great
number of them, so reuenging the death of those his fréends, seruants
and tenants, whome they before had murthered. The Welshmen were not
so discouraged herewith, but that they brake vpon him out of their
starting-holes and places of refuge through the marishes, and slaieng
their enimies horsses, put them backe to their power, & ceassed not
to doo what mischéefe they could, by spoiling, killing, and burning
houses and castels where they might come vnto them, and so the realme
of England was dailie put to losses & hinderances. For out of Wales,
England was accustomed to be furnished with horsses, cattell, and other
things, to the great profit of both the countries. About the same time
there was an ambassage sent from the king of England to the French
king by the bishop of Worcester, the elect of Winchester, the abbat of
Westminster, the earle of Leicester, & Hugh Bigod earle Marshall, with
Peter de Sauoy, and Robert Walcron. The effect of their message was to
require restitution of those countries, lands, cities, and townes which
had bene euicted out of the hands of king Iohn and others, apperteining
by right of inheritance to the king of England. These lords did their
message, but as was thought, they had no towardlie answer, but rather
were put off with trifling words & scornefull tawnts, so that they
returned shortlie again all of them, the abbat of Westminster onelie
excepted, who remained there behind for a fuller answer, not onelie to
those requests exhibited on the part of the king of England, but also
on the behalfe of the king of Almaine. The marshes towards Wales in
this season were brought almost desert, by reason of the continuall
wars with the Welshmen, for what with fire & sword, neither building
nor liuing creature, nor any other thing was spared, that fire & sword
might bring to ruine.
[Sidenote: A great dearth.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: 1258.]
[Sidenote: The gréedie dealing of the Londoners to the hurt of the
c[=o]mon-welth.]
In this yeare was an excéeding great dearth, in so much that a quarter
of wheat was sold at London for foure and twentie shillings, whereas
within two or thrée yeares before, a quarter was sold at two shillings.
It had béene more déerer, if great store had not come out of Almaine,
for in France and in Normandie it likewise failed. But there came
fiftie great ships fraught with wheat and barlie, with meale and bread
out of Dutchland, by the procurement of Richard king of Almaine, which
greatlie reléeued the poore; for proclamation was made, and order taken
by the king, that none of the citizens of London should buy any of that
graine to laie it vp in store, whereby it might be sold at an higher
price vnto the néedie. But though this prouision did much ease, yet the
want was great ouer all the realme. For it was certeinelie affirmed,
that in thrée shires within the realme, there was not found so much
graine of that yeares growth, as came ouer in those fiftie ships. The
proclamation was set foorth, to restreine the Londoners from ingrossing
vp that graine, and not without cause: for the wealthie citizens were
euill spoken of in that season, bicause in time of scarsitie they would
either staie such ships as fraught with vittels were comming towards
the citie, and send them some other way foorth; or else buy the whole,
that they might sell it by retaile at their plesure to the néedie.
By means of this great dearth and scarsitie, the common people were
constreined to live vpon hearbs & roots, and a great number of the
poore people died through famine, which is the most miserable calamitie
that can betide mortall men, and was well marked euen of the heathen,
but notablie by Ouid, who making a description of famine, setteth
hir foorth in most ouglie and irkesome sort, intending thereby the
dreadfulnes of that heauie plague, saieng:
[Sidenote: _Ouid. lib. 8. Meta. fab. 11._]