discharged sir Hugh Spenser of his office of chéefe iustice, and placed
in his roome sir Philip Basset without the kings assent, he being not
made priuie therevnto. Wherevpon a new occasion of displeasure was
ministered to kindle debate betwixt the king and his lords, but by the
policie of the king of Almaine and some prelats, the matter was quieted
for a time, till after at Hallowentide next insuing, which was the 46
yeare of K. Henries reigne. At that time the barons tooke vpon them to
discharge such shiriffes as the king had elected & named gardians of
the countries and shires, and in their places put other shiriffes, and
besides that would not suffer the iustice which the king had admitted,
to doo his office in kéeping his circuit, but appointed such to doo it,
as it pleased them to assigne, wherwith the king was so much offended,
that he laboured by all means to him possible about the disanulling of
the ordinances made at Oxford, and vpon the second sundaie in Lent,
he caused to be read at Paules crosse a bull, obteined of pope Vrbane
the fourth, as a confirmation of an other bull before purchased of his
predecessour pope Alexander, for the absoluing of the king, and all
other that were sworne to the maintenance of the articles agréed vpon
at Oxford. This absolution he caused to be shewed through the realmes
of England, Wales & Ireland, giuing streight charge that if any person
were found that would disobeie this absolution, the same should be
committed to prison, there to remaine till the kings pleasure were
further knowne.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: Many gouernors pernicious to a common-wealth.]
Suerlie the most part of those péeres which had the rule of the king
and kingdome thus in their hand, perceiuing the enormitie that dailie
grew of so manifold heads and gouernours, were minded of themselues to
dissolue those prouisions and ordinances so made at Oxford, in somuch
that there were but fiue which stiffelie stood in defense of the same,
that is to saie, the bishop of Worcester, and the earles of Leicester
and Glocester, with Henrie Spenser, and Peter de Montfort, the which
by no meanes could be brought to confesse that they might with a safe
conscience go contrarie to those ordinances which they had confirmed
with their solemne oth, notwithstanding the popes dispensation;
whereas the same oth was rather a bond of iniquitie (as saith Matth.
Westminster) deuised to conspire against Christ and his annointed, that
is to saie, their naturall liege lord and lawfull king, than any godlie
oth aduisedlie taken, or necessarie to be receiued of good meaning
subiects, yea and of such a friuolous oth it is said, that
In aqua scribitur & in puluere exaratur.
[Sidenote: The king of Almaine goeth ouer into Germanie.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: The king hauing licence passeth ouer into France.]
[Sidenote: He falleth sick of a feuer quartane.]
[Sidenote: _Chro. Dun._]
[Sidenote: Death of noble men.]
In Iune the king of Almaine tooke shipping and sailed ouer into
Dutchland, and king Henrie at a folkemote holden at Paules crosse
the sundaie after S. Peters day, had licence to saile into France
and the morrow after he departed from London towards the sea side,
with the quéene and other lords, his two sonnes prince Edward and the
earle of Lancaster being at that present in Guien. When he had béene
a season in France, he went vnto Burdeaux, and there fell sicke of a
feuer quartane, by occasion whereof he taried in those parties till
S. Nicholas tide next following. There were few that went ouer with
him that escaped frée without the same disease, so that in maner all
his companie were taken and sore handled therewith. Manie died thereof
to the number of thréescore, and amongst them as chéefe were these,
Baldwine de Lisle earle of Deuonshire, Ingram de Percie, and William de
Beauchampe.
[Sidenote: The earle of Glocester departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 47.]
[Sidenote: Iewes slaine.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
[Sidenote: The Welshmen warre against ye lord Mortimers tenants.]
[Sidenote: He séeketh his reuenge against them.]
In this yeare died Richard the Clare earle of Glocester, and his sonne
sir Gilbert de Clare was earle after him, vnto whome his father gaue
great charge that he should mainteine the ordinances of Oxford. In the
47 yeare of king Henries reigne, by reason that a Iew had wounded a
christian man at London within Colechurch, in the ward of cheap, not
onelie the said Iew was slaine by other christians that followed him
home to his house, but also manie other Iewes were robbed and slaine
in that furie and rage of the people. The Welshmen with their prince
Leolin made wars against the men and tenants of Roger de Mortimer;
and tooke two of his castels (the one called Kenet) and raced them
both to the ground. The said Roger being sore gréeued herwith, got
such assistance as he could of other lords there in the marches, and
watching the Welshmen at aduantage, distressed diuerse companies of
them, sometime thrée hundred, sometime foure hundred, and other whiles
fiue hundred. But at one time he lost thrée hundred of his footmen that
were entred the countrie, and so inclosed that they could make no shift
to escape.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: 1263.]
[Sidenote: Thames frosen.]
[Sidenote: Variance betwixt the citizens of London and the constable of
the towre.]
Vpon the euen of S. Thomas the apostle, the king landed at Douer, and
came to London the Wednesdaie before the twelfe day in Christmasse. In
this yeare the frost began about S. Nicholas daie, and continued for
the space of a moneth and more, so extreamelie, that the Thames was
frosen, so that men passed ouer on horssebacke. ¶ The same winter the
kings little hall at Westminster, with manie other houses therevnto
adioining, was consumed with fire, by negligence of one of the kings
seruants. Variance rose betwixt the citizens of London, and the
constable of the towre, for that contrarie to the liberties of the
citie he tooke certeine ships passing by the towre with wheat and other
vittels into the towre, making the price thereof himselfe. The matter
was had before sir Philip Basset lord chéefe iustice and others, who
vpon the sight and hearing of all such euidences and priuiledges as
could be brought foorth for the aduantage of both the parties, tooke
order that the constable should (when he lacked prouision of graine or
vittels) come into the market holden within the citie, and there to
haue wheat two pence in a quarter within the maiors price, and other
vittels after the same rate.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: Prince Edward goeth against the Welshmen.]
[Sidenote: The archb. of Canturburie goeth to Rome.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: The lord maior of London sworne to be true to the king.]
Prince Edward the kings sonne returning from the parts beyond the
sea, went with a great power (as well of Englishmen as strangers)
against the Welshmen towards Snowdon hils: but the enimies withdrawing
themselues to their strengths within the woods and mounteines, he could
not much indamage them, wherevpon after he had fortified certeine
castels in those parts, with men, munition, and vittels, he returned
being sent for backe of his father. The archbishop of Canturburie
foreséeing the trouble that was like to insue betwixt the king and his
barons, got licence of the king to go vnto Rome, about such businesse
as he fained to haue to doo with the pope, and so departed the land,
and kept him awaie till the trouble was appeased. Vpon midlent sundaie,
at a folkemote holden at Paules crosse, before sir Philip Basset and
other of the kings councell, the maior of London was sworne to be true
to the king, and to his heires kings of England, and vpon the morrow
at the Guildhall euerie alderman in presence of the maior tooke the
same oth. And vpon the sundaie following, euerie inhabitant within the
citie, of the age of 12 yeares and aboue, before his alderman in his
ward was newlie charged with the like oth.
[Sidenote: Cloked malice bursteth out.]
[Sidenote: The barons raise people. The lord Clifford.]
[Sidenote: _Chron. Dun._]
Then began the displeasure betwéene the king and his barons to appeare,
which had béene long kept secret, diuers of whom assembling togither
in the marches of Wales, gathered vnto them a power of men, and sent a
letter vnto the king, vnder the seale of sir Roger Clifford, beséeching
him to haue in remembrance his oth and manifold promises made for the
obseruing of the statutes ordeined at Oxford. But although this letter
was indited and written verie effectuallie, yet receiued they no answer
from the king, who minded in no wise to obserue the same statutes, as
by euident tokens it was most apparant. Wherevpon they determined to
attempt by force to bring their purpose to passe. The king and the
quéene for their more safegard got them into the towre of London, and
prince Edward laie at Clerkenwell, but in such necessitie and discredit
for monie, that neither had they anie store to furnish their wants,
neither was there anie man that would trust them with a groat.
[Sidenote: Prince Edward taketh monie out of ye treasurie of the
temple.]
Prince Edward not able to abide such dishonor, in the feast of the
apostle Peter and Paule, taking with him Robert Waleran, and certeine
others, went to the new temple, and there calling for the kéeper of
the treasure-house, as if he meant to sée his mothers iewels, that
were laid vp there, to be safelie kept, he entred into the house, and
breaking the coffers of certeine persons that had likewise brought
their monie thither, to haue it in more safetie, he tooke away from
thence the value of 1000 pounds.
[Sidenote: _Mart. lib. 11. Hor. lib. car. 3. ode 24._]
----ô quantum cogit egestas!
Magnum pauperies opprobrium iubet
Quiduis & facere & pati,
Virtutísque viam deserit arduæ.
[Sidenote: The Londoners rob the house of the lord Gray.]
The citizens of London were so offended herewith that they rose in
armour against him and other of the kings councell, in somuch that they
assailed the lodging of the lord Iohn Gray without Ludgate, and tooke
out of his stables 32 horsses, and such other things as they might laie
hold vpon, kéeping such stur that the lord Gray himselfe was forced to
flie beyond Fléetbridge. The like rule they kept at the house of Iohn
de Passelew.
[Sidenote: Iohn M[=a]sell fléeth into France.]
Iohn Mansell departing foorth of the towre to the Thames, with the
countesse de Lisle, and other ladies that were strangers borne, sailed
into France, and landed at Whitsand, where the said Mansell hearing
that the lord Henrie, sonne to the king of Almaine, that then held with
the barons was in those parts, he caused the lord Ingram de Fines to
staie him as prisoner, and so he remained, till king Henrie vpon the
agréement betwixt him and the barons, found meanes to get him released,
and so then he returned into England.
[Sidenote: The barons that rose against the king.]
[Sidenote: Their chéefe capteins.]
[Sidenote: The barons that tooke part with the king.]
But now touching the barons, they procéeded in their businesse which
they had in hand with all earnest diligence of whom these were the
chéefe that vndertooke this matter: yoong Humfrie de Boun, the lord
Henrie son to the king of Almaine, Henrie Montford, Hugh Spenser,
Baldwin Wake, Gilbert Gifford, Richard Gray, Iohn Ross, William
Marmion, Henrie Hastings, Haimon le Strange, Iohn Fitz Iohn, Godfrey
Lucie, Nicholas Segraue, Roger de Leiborne, Iohn Vesie, Roger de
Clifford, Iohn de Vaus, Gilbert de Clare, Gilbert de Lacie, and
Robert Vepont, the which with one generall consent elected for their
chéefe capteins and generall gouernours, Simon de Mountfort earle of
Leicester, Gilbert of Clare earle of Glocester, and Robert Ferries
earle of Darbie, and Iohn earle of Warren. On the kings part these
persons are named to stand with him against the other. First, Roger
Bigod erle of Norffolke and Suffolke, Humfrie de Boun earle of
Hereford, Hugh Bigod lord chéefe iustice, Philip Basset, William de
Valence, Geffrey de Lucignan, Peter de Sauoy, Robert Walrand, Iohn
Mansell, Geffrey Langley, Iohn Gray, William Latimer, Henrie Percie,
and manie other. The barons notwithstanding hauing assembled their
powers, resolued to go through with their purpose.
[Sidenote: _Risanger_ noteth this to be 1264.]
[Sidenote: The barons make hauoch]
The first enterprise they made was at Hereford, where they tooke the
bishop of that sée named Iohn Breton, and as manie of his canons as
were strangers borne. After this they tooke sir Matthew de Bezilles
shiriffe of Glocester, a stranger borne; and kéeping on their waie
towards London with baners displaied, so manie as came within their
reach, whom they knew to be against the maintenance of the statutes
of Oxford, they spoiled them of their houses, robbed them of their
goods, and imprisoned their bodies, hauing no regard whether they were
spirituall men or temporall. In diuerse of the kings castels they
placed such capteins and soldiers as they thought conuenient, and
displaced others whom they either knew or suspected to be aduersaries
to their purpose.
[Sidenote: The diligence of the lord maior of London.]
About Midsummer when they drew néere to London, they sent a letter
to the maior and aldermen vnder the seale of the earle of Leicester,
willing to vnderstand whether they would obserue the acts and statutes
established at Oxford, or else aid and assist such persons as meant the
breach of the same. And herewith they sent vnto them a copie of those
articles, with a prouiso, that if any of them were preiudiciall, or in
any wise hurtfull to the realme and common-wealth, that then the same
by the aduise of discréet persons should be amended and reformed. The
maior bare this letter and the copie of the articles vnto the king,
who in this meane time remained in the towre of London, togither with
the quéene and the king of Almaine, latelie returned out of Almaine;
also his sonne prince Edward, and manie other of his councell. The king
asked of the maior what he thought of those articles? Who made such
answer as the king séemed well pleased therewith, and so permitted the
maior to returne againe into the citie, who toke much paine in kéeping
the citie in good quiet now in that dangerous time.
[Sidenote: The misdemeanor of lewd persons toward the quéene.]
[Sidenote: _Chron. Dunst._]
All such the inhabitants as were strangers borne, and suspected to
fauour either of the parties, were banished the citie, but within
a while after, prince Edward set them or the most part of them in
offices within the castell of Windsore. On the saturdaie next after the
translation of saint Benet, as the quéene would haue passed by water
from the tower vnto Windsore, a sort of lewd naughtipacks got them to
the bridge, making a noise at hir, and crieng; Drowne the witch, threw
downe stones, cudgels, dirt, and other things at hir, so that she
escaped in great danger of hir person, fled to Lambeth, and through
feare to be further pursued, landed there, and so she staied till
the maior of London with much adoo appesing the furie of the people,
repaired to the quéene and brought hir backe againe in safetie vnto the
tower. And (as some write) bicause the king would not suffer hir to
enter againe into the tower, the maior conueied hir vnto the bishop of
Londons house by Paules and there lodged hir.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: _Chron. Dunst._]
[Sidenote: Bishops trauell to make peace.]
The barons in this meane time hauing got the citie of Worcester and
Bridgenorth, with other places, were come into the south parts, to
the end that they might win the castell of Douer, and find some
meanes to set the lord Henrie (sonne to the king of Almaine that was
prisoner beyond the seas) at libertie. In the meane time the bishops
of Lincolne, London and Chester, trauelled betwixt the king and barons
for a peace; but the barons would not agrée, except that the king and
quéene would first cause the lord Henrie to be set at libertie, and
deliuer into their hands the castels of Windsore, Douer, and other
fortresses, and send awaie all the strangers, and take such order that
the prouisions of Oxenford might be obserued, as well by the king as
others.
[Sidenote: Strangers kéepe the castell of Windsore.]
The king although these conditions séemed verie hard and displeasant
to his mind, yet was he driuen to such an extremitie that he granted
to accept them, and so an agréement was made and had betwixt him and
the lords. But now all the difficultie was to appease the lord Edward,
and to remooue the strangers which he had placed in the castell of
Windsore, which they had not onelie fortified, but also in manner
destroied the towne, and doone much hurt in the countrie round about
them. There were to the number of an hundred knights or men of armes
(as I may call them) beside a great number of other men of warre. But
now after that the king had agréed to the peace, the barons entred the
citie on the sundaie before S. Margarets daie; and shortlie after the
king came to Westminster with the quéene, and those of his councell.
And immediatlie herevpon, by consent of the king and the barons, sir
Hugh Spenser was made chéefe iustice and kéeper of the tower. During
the time that the lords remained in London, manie robberies and riots
were doone within the citie, and small redresse had in correcting the
offendors, they were so borne out and mainteined by their maisters and
others.
[Sidenote: The great disorder in the citie of London.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: _Nic. Treuet._]
The commons of the citie were farre out of order, for in the assemblies
and courts, as well at Guildhall as in other places, the matters and
iudgement of things went by the voices of the simple and vndiscréet
multitude, so that the substantiall and worshipfull citizens were not
regarded. The barons on the morrow following the feast of saint Iames,
departed from London toward Windsore, in which meane while prince
Edward was gone to Bristow, & there thinking himselfe to be out of
danger, by mishap there rose variance betwixt the citizens & his men,
so that the whole citie reuolted from him, and prepared to besiege
him in the castell, not doubting but easilie to win it. When he saw
how the world went, he sent to the bishop of Worcester that was of
the barons side, promising that he would agrée with the barons, if he
would helpe to deliuer him out of the Bristow mens hands. The bishop
taking his promise conueied him foorth in safetie toward the court;
but when he came néere vnto Windsore, he turned thither, greatlie to
the misliking of the bishop: yet neuerthelesse when the barons came
forward to besiege that castle, the lord Edward met them not farre
from Kingston, offering them conditions of peace. Some write that he
was staied and not suffered to returne againe to Windsore, after he
had ended his talke with the barons: but howsoeuer it was, the castell
was surrendred, with condition that those that were within it should
safelie depart, and so they did, and were conducted to the sea by
Humphrey de Bohun the yoonger. ¶ About the same time, Leolin prince
of Wales destroied the lands of prince Edward in Cheshire, and the
marshes thereabouts. The two castels of Disard and Gannoc he tooke and
destroied, being two verie faire fortresses.
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: The kings protestation against the articles at Oxenford.]
About the feast of the Natiuitie of our ladie, there was a parlement
holden at London, at the which all the nobles of the realme both
spirituall and temporall were present; and then the citie of London,
and the cinque ports ioined in league as confederats with the barons:
but the king plainly protested before all the assemblie, that by the
statutes and prouisions (as they termed them) made at Oxenford, he was
much deceiued. For contrarie to that which the barons had promised, he
felt himselfe rather charged with more debt than anie thing reléeued:
and therefore sith he had obteined of the pope an absolution of the
oth both for himselfe and his people, his request was to be restored
vnto his former estate of all such prerogatiues as in time past he had
inioied. The barons on the other side stiffelie mainteined, that they
could not with safe consciences go against their oth, and therefore
they meant to stand in defense of the articles aforesaid euen so long
as they had a daie to liue.
[Sidenote: The matter put to the French king.]
[Sidenote: The French king giueth sentence against the barons.]
Thus whilest both parts kept so farre from all hope of agréement, and
were now in point to haue departed in sunder, through mediation of
some bishops that were present a peace was concluded, and the parties
so agréed, that all matters in controuersie touching the articles,
prouisions, and statutes made at Oxenford should be ordered and iudged
by the French king, whom they chose as arbitrator betwixt them.
Herevpon, on the thirtéenth of September, both the king and quéene,
with their sonnes, and diuerse other of the nobles of this land, tooke
shipping, and sailed ouer to Bullongne, where the French king as then
was at a parlement, with a great number of the nobles and péeres of
France. The earle of Leicester also with diuerse of his complices went
thither, and there the matter was opened, argued, and debated before
the French king, who in the end vpon due examination, and orderlie
hearing of the whole processe of all their controuersies, gaue express
sentence, that all and euerie of the said statutes and ordinances
deuised at Oxford, should be from thencefoorth vtterlie void, and all
bonds and promises made by king Henrie, or anie other for performance
of them, should likewise be adnihilated, fordoone, and clearelie
cancelled.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 48.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
The barons highlie displeased herewith, refused to stand to the French
kings award herein, bicause he had iudged altogither on the kings
side. Wherevpon after they were returned into the realme, either
partie prepared for warre: but yet about the feast of S. Edward, the
king and the barons eftsoones met at London, holding a new parlement
at Westminster, but no good could be doone. Then when the king of
Almaine and prince Edward, with others of the kings councell saw that
by rapine, oppression, and extortion practised by the barons against
the kings subiects, as well spirituall as temporall, the state of the
realme and the kings honour was much decaied, and brought in manner
vnto vtter ruine, they procured the king to withdraw secretlie from
Westminster vnto Windsore castell, of which his sonne prince Edward had
gotten the possession by a traine. From Windsore he went to Reading,
and from thence to Wallingford, and so to Oxford, hauing a great power
with him.
[Sidenote: The lords that reuolted to the king.]
At his being at Oxford there came vnto him the lord Henrie, son to the
king of Almaine, Iohn earle Warren, Roger Clifford, Roger Leiborne,
Haimond le Strange, and Iohn de Vaux, which had reuolted from the
barons to the kings side, Iohn Gifford also did the like: but he
shortlie after returned to the barons part againe. The kings sonne the
lord Edward had procured them thus to reuolt, promising to euerie of
them in reward by his charter of grant fiftie pounds lands to aid the
king his father and him against the barons.
[Sidenote: _Chron. Dun._]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: 1264.]
[Sidenote: The king goeth again ouer to the French king.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
After this the king went to Winchester, and from thence came backe vnto
Reading, and then he marched foorth with his armie vnto Douer, where
he could not be suffered to come into the castell, being kept out by
the lord Richard Gray that was capteine there. Herevpon he returned
to London, where the barons againe were entred, through fauour of the
commoners, against the will of the chéefe citizens, and here they fell
eftsoones to treat of agréement, but their talke profited nothing. And
so in the Christmasse wéeke the king, with his sonne prince Edward
and diuerse other of the councell sailed ouer againe into France, and
went to Amiens, where they found the French king, and a great number
of his nobles. Also for the barons, Peter de Montford, and other were
sent thither as commissioners, and as some write, at that present, to
wit on the 24 daie of Ianuarie, the French king sitting in iudgement,
pronounced his definitiue sentence on the behalfe of king Henrie
against the barons: but whether he gaue that sentence now, or the yeare
before, the barons iudged him verie parciall, and therefore meant not
to stand vnto his arbitrement therein.
[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: Castels gotten by prince Edward.]