about the feast of Christmasse last past, and so returned from thence
home to his cure. There was an ordinance made about this time, for
punishment to be had of the extortion of shiriffes, so that as well the
receiuer as the giuer of bribes was punishable. Which law if it were
now executed vpon all officers & occupiers whatsoeuer, there would not
be so much wealth and substance, so great riches and treasure raked
vp togither in the possession of some few men, as the old sage saieng
importeth,
Quisquis ditatur rapidos miluos imitatur.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 43.]
[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent to the councell at Cambrey.]
The bishops of Worcester and Lincolne, with the earles of Norfolke
and Leicester, were sent ouer in ambassage vnto a councell holden at
Cambrey, for a league and peace to be concluded betwixt the kingdoms of
England and France, and also the empire: but bicause the French king
looked to haue the king of England there, when he heard that the same
king came not, he also staied at home, and so no conclusion followed at
that assemblie.
[Sidenote: Ione countesse of Penbroke.]
[Sidenote: A great tempest of lightning and thunder.]
[Sidenote: Guy de Rochford banished.]
[Sidenote: Variance and debat betwixt the stud[=e]ts of Oxford.]
[Sidenote: The Welshmen séeke to agrée with the king.]
[Sidenote: Henrie de Wingham elected bishop of Winchester.]
Ione countesse of Penbroke, the wife of William de Valence the kings
halfe brother, demanded hir right of dower, in such lands as belonged
to hir by title of inheritance. At length she had to the value of
fiue hundred marks assigned hir of the same lands, notwithstanding
hir heritage amounted to the sum of a thousand marks and aboue of
yearelie reuenues, but for that she should not aid hir husband with
part thereof, the one halfe was thought sufficient for hir maintenance.
About Aduent next insuing, she went ouer vnto hir husband, either for
the desire she had to inioy his personall presence, or for that she
thought hirselfe not well dealt with, to be abridged of those reuenues,
which by right of inheritance were hir owne. In the first night of
December, there chanced a maruellous sore tempest of lightning and
thunder, with mightie winds and raine, as a token and signe of the
troubles that after followed, the more noted, for that thunder in the
winter season is not commonlie heard of. Guy de Rochford a Poictouin,
to whom about two yeares before the king had giuen the castell of
Rochester, was now banished the realme, and depriued of all that he
held in this land. About this season there rose great variance amongst
the scholers of Oxford being of sundrie countries, as Scotishmen,
Welshmen, Northern men, and Southern men: who fell so farre at square,
that they raised baners one against an other, and fought togither, in
somuch that diuerse were slaine, and manie hurt on both parties. ¶ The
Welshmen this yeare, notwithstanding their good successe had in these
late wars, considered with themselues, that if the barons of England
did once ioine in one knot of fréendship, they would with maine force
easilie subdue them, wherefore to preuent that which might chance vnto
them by stubborne resistance, they made suit to be receiued into the
kings peace, offering to giue vnto him the summe of foure thousand
markes, and to his sonne the lord Edward thrée hundred marks, and to
the quéene two hundred marks. Yet the king would not accept those
offers, and so the matter depended in doubtfull balance a certeine
time. The Welshmen in the meane season attempted not any exploit,
but rather sate still in hope to come at length to some reasonable
agréement. ¶ The moonks of Winchester meaning to prouide themselues
of a bishop, now that Athelmare aliàs Odomare the kings halfe brother
was banished the realme, elected one Henrie de Wingham the kings
chancellor, in hope that the K. would be contented with his election,
and so he was, but yet conditionallie, that if the pope would allow his
said halfe brother for bishop, then should the other giue place.
[Sidenote: 1259.]
[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent to the K. of Almaine.]
[Sidenote: His protestation to their demand.]
About the feast of S. Hilarie, when knowledge was giuen that king
Richard of Almaine meant to returne into England, there were sent ouer
vnto him the bishop of Worcester, the abbat of saint Edmundsburie,
Peter de Sauoy, and Iohn Mansell, as ambassadours from the baronage
and communaltie of the realme, to require of him an oth, to stand vnto
and obeie the ordinances of the late parlement holden at Oxenford.
When the said ambassadors came before his presence, and declared to
him the effect of their message, he beheld them with a sterne looke,
and frowning countenance, saieng (and binding it with an oth) that he
would neither be sworne, nor kéepe any such ordinances as had béene
made without his consent; neither would he make them of counsell how
long his purpose was to staie within the realme, which the ambassadours
required also to vnderstand. Herevnto he further added, that he had
no péere in England, for he was the sonne of the deceased king, and
brother of the king that now reigned, and also earle of Cornewall, and
therefore if the barons of England ment to reforme the state of the
kingdome, their duetie had béene first to haue sent for him, and not
to haue procéeded so presumptuouslie in such a weightie cause, without
his presence or consent. When one of the ambassadours was about to haue
made answer somewhat roundlie, and also nippinglie vnto this spéech
vttered by the king of Almaine, he was staied by one of his associats.
And so the ambassadours vnderstanding his mind, returned with all
conuenient spéed.
[Sidenote: He changeth his purpose and commeth ouer into England.]
[Sidenote: He receiueth an oth not to infringe the statutes of Oxford.]
The king of Almaine had assembled a great host of men on the further
side the sea, meaning with all expedition to haue passed hither into
England: but when he had aduertisement giuen that there was a power
raised in England, and bestowed both by sea and land to resist him,
he changed his purpose by aduise of his fréends, so that he consented
to receiue such manner of oth as the barons required, and herewith
taking the sea, he arriued at Douer on saint Iulians daie with his owne
houshold seruants, bringing with him no traine of strangers, except
onelie two earles of Almaine, which brought with them but onelie thrée
knights, and he himselfe had but eight knights: his brother king Henrie
was readie to receiue him, and brought him from Douer vnto Canturburie,
for neither of them was suffered to enter into the castell of Douer,
the lords hauing them in a gelousie, least they should be about to
breake the ordinances which were concluded. On the morow after, the
king of Almaine receiued the oth in the presence of Richard earle of
Glocester and others, within the chapter house of Canturburie. And on
the day of the Purification of our ladie, the two kings with their
quéenes and a great number of noble personages made their entrie and
passage into the citie of London.
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: A peace concluded vpon betwixt the kings of England &
France.]
[Sidenote: The countesse of Leicester.]
[Sidenote: Contention betwixt the earles of Glocester and Leicester.]
In the octaues of the said Purification, the parlement began at London,
to the which came the earle of Leicester from the parts of beyond the
sea, where he had for a certeine time remained. There came also an
ambassador from the French king, one that was deane of Burges, and
so there was an earnest treatie had touching a peace to be concluded
betwixt the two kings of England and France, which on the day of saint
Valentine was accorded and put in articles, with condition that the
same should remaine firme and stable, if the kings would assent to that
which had béene talked of and agréed vpon by their speciall and solemne
agents. For the further perfecting of this agréement and finall peace
betwixt the kings of England and France, about the begining of Aprill,
the earls of Glocester and Leicester, Iohn Mansell, Peter de Sauoy,
and Robert Valerane were sent ouer into France, hauing also with them
letters of credence, to conclude in all matters as had béene talked of
by their agents. But when the countesse of Leicester would not consent
to quite claime and release hir right in such parcels of Normandie as
belonged to hir, which king Henrie had couenanted with the residue to
resigne vnto the French king. The earle of Glocester fell at words with
the earle of Leicester, about the stubborne demeanor which his wife
shewed in that matter, and so by reason that either of them stood at
defiance with the other (although by meane of fréends they staied from
further inconuenience) they returned backe without concluding any thing
in that whereabout they were sent.
[Sidenote: The friers preachers begin to inhabit at Dunstable.]
[Sidenote: The moonks hindred by the comming of the friers.]
About the same time there was a certeine mansion house by waie of
deuotion giuen vnto the friers that are called preachers within the
towne of Dunstable, so that certeine of them thrusting themselues in
there, began to inhabit in that place, to the great annoiance of the
prior and conuent of Dunstable, & as it were by the example of the
other order called minors (which in the last precéeding yeare, at
saint Edmundsburie in Suffolke had practised the like matter against
the willes of the abbat and conuent there) they began to build verie
sumptuous houses, so that in the eies of the beholders such chargeable
workes of building, so suddenlie aduanced by them that professed
voluntarie pouertie, caused no small woonder. The said friers building
them a church with all spéed, and setting vp an altar, immediatlie
began to celebrate diuine seruice, not once staieng for the purchase of
anie licence. And so building from day to day, they obteined great aid
of such as inhabited néere vnto them, of whome the prior and conuent
ought to haue receiued the reuenues that were now conuerted to be
imploied on the said friers towards their maintenance. Thus by how much
more their house increased, by so much more did the prior and conuent
decrease in substance and possessions: for the rents which they were
accustomed to receiue of the messuages and houses giuen to the friers,
were lost, and likewise the offerings (which were woont to come to
their hands) now these friers being newlie entred by occasion of their
preachings, vsurped to themselues.
[Sidenote: Richard Gray discharged of his office of lord warden.]
[Sidenote: Walascho a frier sent from the pope.]
Richard Graie constable of the castell of Douer, and lord warden of the
cinque ports was this yeare remooued by the lord chéefe iustice Hugh
Bigod, who tooke into his owne hands the custodie of the said castell
and ports. The cause whie the said Richard Graie was discharged, we
find to haue fallen out by this means. He suffered a frier minor
called Walascho, comming from the pope (bicause he had the kings
letters vnder the great seale) to enter the land, not staieng him, nor
warning the lords of his comming, contrarie (as it was interpreted)
vnto the articles of their prouisions enacted at Oxenford. This frier
indéed was sent from the pope to haue restored Athilmarus or Odomarus
(as some write him) the kings halfe brother, vnto the possessions of
the bishoprike of Winchester, to the which he had béene long before
elected. But the lords were so bent against him, that vpon such
suggestions as they laid foorth, Walascho refrained from dooing that
which he had in commandement, and returned to make report what he
vnderstood, so that Odomarus was now as farre from his purpose as
before.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Bangor sent fr[=o] the prince of Wales to king
Henrie.]
[Sidenote: The Welshmen offer to resort vnto Chester.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 44.]
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: The statutes of Oxenford read, and the breakers of the same
denounced accurssed.]
[Sidenote: Escuage granted.]
[Sidenote: Knights fées how manie were then in England.]
About the feast of saint Michaell, the bishop of Bangor was sent from
Leolin prince of Wales vnto the king of England, to make offer on the
behalfe of the said Leolin and other the lords of Wales, of sixtéene
thousand pounds of siluer for a peace to be had betwixt the king and
them, and that they might come to Chester, and there haue their matters
heard and determined, as in time past they had béene accustomed. But
what answer at his returne was giuen to this bishop by the king and
his nobles, it is vncerteine. In the fortie and fourth yeare of king
Henries reigne, the fridaie following the feast of Simon and Iude,
in a parlement holden at Westminster, were read in presence of all
the lords and commons, the acts and ordinances made in the parlement
holden at Oxenford, with certeine other articles by the gouernours
therevnto added and annexed. After the reading whereof the archbishop
of Canturburie being reuested with his suffragans to the number of nine
bishops, besides abbats and others, denounced all them accurssed that
attempted in word or déed to breake the said statutes, or anie of them.
In the same parlement was granted to the king a taske called scutagium,
or escuage, that is to saie, forty shillings of euerie knights fée
throughout England, the which extended to a great summe of monie. For
as diuerse writers do agrée, there were in England at that time in
possession of the spiritualtie and temporaltie beyond fortie thousand
knights fées, but almost halfe of them were in spirituall mens hands.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: A folkemote.]
[Sidenote: The king asketh licence to passe the seas.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: The king saileth ouer into France.]
[Sidenote: 1260.]
[Sidenote: He compoundeth all differences with the French K.]
Vpon the sixt day of Nouember the king came vnto Paules, where by his
commandement was the folkemote court assembled, and the king (according
to the former ordinances made) asked licence of the communaltie of the
citie to passe the sea, and promised there in the presence of a great
multitude of people, by the mouth of Hugh Bigod his chéefe iustice,
to be good and gratious lord vnto the citie, and to mainteine the
liberties thereof vnhurt. Herewith the people for ioy made a great
shout. The eight day of Nouember he rode through the citie towards the
sea side, and vpon the thirtéenth daie of Nouember, he tooke the sea at
Douer and arriued at Whitsand, and so from thence he rode vnto Paris,
where, of the French king he was most honorablie receiued. The cause of
his going ouer was chéefelie to conclude some assured peace with the
French king, that he should not néed to doubt any forren enimies, if he
should come to haue warre with his owne people, whereof he saw great
likelihoods, and therefore he made such agréement with king Lewes (as
in the French historie more at large appeareth) which (to be short) I
here omit.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: _Wil. Risang._]
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
This one thing is here to be noted, that besides the monie which king
Henrie had in hand, amounting to the summe of an hundred and fiftie
thousand crownes for his resignation then made vnto Normandie, Aniou
and Maine, it was accorded, that he should receiue yearelie in name of
a tribute the sum of ten thousand crownes. ¶ Others write that he had
thrée hundred thousand pounds of small Turon monie, which he receiued
in readie paiment, and was promised restitution of lands to the value
of twentie thousand pounds of yearelie rent: and that after the decease
of the French king, that then was, the countrie of Poictou should
returne vnto the English dominion. Some write that immediatlie after
king Henrie had concluded his agréement, he began to repent himselfe
thereof, and would neuer receiue penie of the monie, nor leaue out
of his stile the title of duke of Normandie. But it is rather to be
thought that such an agréement was at point to haue béene concluded,
or at the leastwise was had in talke, but yet neuer concluded nor
confirmed with hands and seales, as it ought to haue béene, if they had
gone through with it.
[Sidenote: Dissention betwixt prince Edward and the earle of Glocester.]
[Sidenote: Prince Edward and the earle of Glocester are not suffered to
come within the citie of London.]
In the meane time that king Henrie was thus occupied in France,
dissention fell in England betwéene prince Edward and Richard earle
of Glocester, for the appeasing whereof a parlement was called at
Westminster, to the which the lords came with great companies, and
speciallie the said prince and earle. They intended to haue lodged
within the citie: but the maior going vnto the bishop of Worcester,
to sir Hugh Bigod, and to sir Philip Basset (vnto whome, and to the
archbishop of Canturburie, the K. had committed the rule of the land
in his absence) required to know their pleasure herein. Wherevpon they
thought it good to haue the aduise of Richard the king of Almaine, and
therevpon went to him, where they concluded, that neither the said
prince nor earle nor anie of their partakers should come within the
citie, the gates whereof were by the maiors appointment closed and kept
with watch and ward both day and night. Soone after also, for the more
safegard of the citie, the gates were by the maiors appointment closed
and kept with diligent watch and ward both day and night. Soone after
also for the more safegard of the said citie, and sure kéeping of the
peace, the king of Almaine with the said sir Hugh and sir Philip came
and lodged in the citie with their companies, and such other as they
would assigne, to strengthen the citie if néed required. Wherin their
prouident consent to withstand so foule a mischéefe as sedition might
haue bred in the citie, deserueth high commendation, for it was the
next waie to preserue the state thereof against all occasions of ruine,
to vnite harts and hands in so swéet an harmonie, which the law of
nature teacheth men to doo, and as by this sage sentence is insinuated
and giuen to vnderstand,
Manus manum lauat & digitus digitum,
Vir virum & ciuitas seruat ciuitatem.
[Sidenote: The king returneth into England.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Glocester confederateth himselfe with the earle
of Leicester.]
Shortlie after, the king returned out of France, and about the feast
of S. Marke came to London, and lodged in the bishops palace. And
bicause of certeine rumors that were spred abroad sounding to some
euill meaning, which prince Edward should haue against his father,
the king brought ouer with him a great power of men in armes being
strangers, howbeit he brought them not into the citie, but left them
beyond the bridge in the parts of Surrie, notwithstanding being entred
the citie, he so kept the gates and entries, that none was permitted to
enter, but such as came in by his sufferance. The earle of Glocester
by his appointment also was lodged within the citie, and the prince in
the palace at Westminster. Shortlie after by the kings commandement
he remooued to S. Iohns, & all the other lords were lodged without
the citie, and the king of Almaine remooued againe to Westminster.
In which time a direction was taken betwéene the said parties, and a
new assemblie and parlement assigned to be kept in the quindene of S.
Iohn Baptist, and after deferred or proroged till the feast of saint
Edward, at the which time all things were pacified a while, but so as
the earle of Glocester was put beside the roome which he had amongst
other the péeres, and so then he ioined in fréendship with the earle
of Leicester, as it were by way of confederacie against the residue,
and yet in this last contention, the said earle of Leicester tooke part
with the prince against the earle of Glocester.
[Sidenote: _Chr. Dunstab._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: A Iew at Teukesburie falleth into a iakes.]
This yeare the lord William de Beauchampe the elder deceassed. ¶ The
lord Edward the kings sonne, with a faire companie of knights and other
men of armes, passed the seas to exercise himselfe in iusts, but he
himselfe and his men were euill intreated in manie places, so that
they lost horsse, armour, and all other things to his great griefe and
disliking (as may be estéemed) yet (as some write) he returned home
with victorie in the iusts. This yeare at Teukesburie, a Iew falling by
chance into a iakes vpon the saturdaie, in reuerence of his sabboth
would not suffer any man to plucke him foorth, wherof the earle of
Glocester being aduertised, thought the Christians should doo as much
reuerence to their sabboth which is sundaie, and therefore would suffer
no man to go about to take him foorth that day, and so lieng still till
mondaie, he was there found dead.
[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._]
[Sidenote: Death of Noble men.]
[Sidenote: Bach rather.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 45.]
[Sidenote: The king of Scots commeth to London.]
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
Diuers Noble men departed this life in this yeare, as the earle of
Albemarle, the lord William Beauchampe, Stephan de Longespée lord
chéefe iustice of Ireland, and Roger de Turkeby one of the kings
chéefe councellors and iustices of the land, William de Kirkham bishop
of Durham, and Iohn de Crakehale treasurer of England, a spirituall
man, but rich beyond measure: also Henrie de Ba another of the kings
iustices of the bench. In the 45 yeare of king Henries reigne,
Alexander king of Scotland came to London anon after the feast of St.
Edward, with a faire companie of Scotishmen, and shortlie after his
wife the quéene of Scots came thither also. Moreouer king Henrie kept a
roiall feast at Westminster, where he made to the number of foure score
knights, amongst whome, Iohn sonne to the earle of Britaine, who had
maried the ladie Beatrice, one of the kings daughters was there made
knight. Shortlie after was sir Hugh Spenser made lord chéefe iustice.
[Sidenote: 1261.]
[Sidenote: _Chro. Dun._]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: A folkemote holden at Pauls crosse.]
[Sidenote: An oth to be true to the king.]
After Christmasse the K. comming into the towre of London, fortified it
greatlie, & caused the gates of the citie to be warded, sending forth
commandement to his lords that they should come to the towre, there to
hold a parlement; but they denied flatlie so to doo, sending him word
that if it pleased him, they would come to Westminster, where vsuallie
the parlement had béene kept, and not to anie other place, whervpon
there rose dissention betwixt him and the barons. After the feast of
the Purification, at a folkemote holden at Paules crosse (where the
king was present in person, with the king of Almaine, the archbishop of
Canturburie, and diuerse other of the Nobles) commandement was giuen
to the maior, that euerie stripling of the age of 12 yeares and aboue,
should before his alderman be sworne to be true to the king and his
heires kings of England, and that the gates of the citie should be kept
with armed men, as before by the king of Romans was deuised.
[Sidenote: The lord Spenser discharged of his office.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 46.]
[Sidenote: The presumptuous procéedings of the bar[=o]s against the
king.]
[Sidenote: 1262.]
[Sidenote: A bull read at Pauls crosse.]