Audelie, Roger de Clifford, Roger de Leiborne, Haimon le Strange, Hugh
Turberuile, and other that had escaped from the battell at Lewes,
began to make against them that had thus vsurped the rule of the land,
vnder colour of hauing the king in their hands. The earle of Leicester
aduertised hereof, ioined in league with Leolin prince of Wales, and
comming with the king into those parts, entered into the castell of
Hereford, into the which he remooued the lord Edward from Douer, where
he was first kept in ward, after he had yéelded himselfe at Lewes.
After this, the earle of Leicester recouered the castell of Haie, and
wasting the lands and manours of the lord Mortimer, constreined Hugh
Mortimer to yéeld himselfe, so that his castell called Richar, and
other his possessions, were committed to the kéeping of the lord Iohn
Fitz Iohn. Robert de Ferrers earle of Darbie, with a great puissance
of horssemen and footmen came to Chester, in fauour of the earle of
Leicester, against whome although William de Cousche, and Dauid brother
to the prince of Wales, taking the contrarie part with the lord Iames
Audelie and other, came to incounter, yet they durst not abide him, but
fled, and lost an hundred of their men.
[Sidenote: The lords Mortimer and Audelie banished.]
[Sidenote: An armie lodged on Barham-downe.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: 1265.]
[Sidenote: _Chr. Dunstab._]
In the meane time, the earle of Leicester procéeding in his businesse,
wan the castell of Ludlow, and after marching towards Montgomerie,
whither the lords Roger de Mortimer, and Iames Audelie were withdrawne,
he constreined them at length to a feigned agréement, so that they gaue
hostages, promising to come to the next parlement that was appointed
to be holden, where they were banished the land for a twelue moneths,
and all the castels on the marshes, in manner from Bristow to Chester,
were deliuered to the earle. After this (as by Nicholas Triuet it
appeareth) there was a great assemblie of men of warre made out of all
parts of the realme, to resist such strangers as the quéene (remaining
in the parts beyond the seas) had got togither, meaning to send them
into England to aid the king against the barons, and for that purpose
had caused a great number of ships to be brought into the hauen of
Dam. But now that the king was in the barons hands, and that such a
multitude of horssemen and footmen were assembled on Barham-downe (as
a man would not haue thought had béene possible to haue found within
the whole relme) to resist the landing of those strangers, the said
strangers were sent home againe, without hauing doone anie pleasure to
the quéene, other than spent hir monie. The king held his Christmas
at Woodstoke; and the earle of Leicester, who séemed then to rule the
whole realme, kept his Christmasse at Killingworth.
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
After this a parlement was holden at London in the octaues of saint
Hilarie, and manie things were concluded, couenants accorded, and oths
taken for performance by the K. and his sonne prince Edward, which
shortlie after came to little effect. Yet prince Edward, and Henrie
the sonne and heire of the king of Almaine, which had béene kept as
pledges about the tearme of nine moneths and od daies, were in the Lent
following set at libertie, vpon assurance made, that the said prince
Edward should remaine in the kings court, and not depart from thence
without licence of the king and certeine of the barons. He was also
constreined to giue vnto the earle of Leicester the countie Palantine
of Chester before he might obteine to haue so much libertie. Betwéene
Easter and Whitsuntide, the earles of Leicester and Glocester fell at
variance, through the presumptuous demeanour of the earle of Leicesters
sonnes, and also bicause the earle of Leicester would not deliuer
the king of Almaine and other prisoners vnto the earle of Glocester,
requiring to haue the custodie of them, bicause he had taken them in
the battell at Lewes.
[Sidenote: Prince Edward escapeth awaie.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
The earle of Glocester, perceiuing himselfe not well vsed, secretlie
entred into confederacie with the lord Mortimer, and other of the
marshes: wherevpon the earle of Leicester hauing thereof some inkeling,
came to Hereford, in purpose to haue taken the earle of Glocester, and
to haue put him in safe kéeping, as latelie before he had serued the
earle of Darbie. But by the practise of the lord Mortimer, shortlie
after the lord Edward or prince Edward (whether yée list to call him)
assaieng abroad in the fields an horsse or two, such as he should vse
at iusts and tornies, which were appointed to be holden, he mounted at
length vpon a light courser, which the said lord Mortimer had sent to
him; and bidding the lord Robert Roos and other (that were appointed
to attend on him, as his kéepers) farewell, he galloped from them, and
could not be ouertaken of them that pursued him, till at length he came
to the lord Mortimer, who with a great troope of men was come foorth
of his castell of Wigmore to receiue him. This was on the thursdaie in
Whitsunwéeke.
[Sidenote: The earle of Leicesters sonne raiseth an armie. He wan
Winchester.]
About the same time, the earle of Warren, with William de Valence
earle of Penbroke, the kings halfe brother, and others, who (as yée
haue heard) fled from the battell at Lewes, were now returned into
the realme, landing first in Southwales with a power of crossebowes
and other men of warre, the which hearing that the lord Edward was
thus escaped out of captiuitie, came to Ludlow, and there ioined with
him, and so likewise did the earle of Glocester. Now after they had
communed togither, and were made fréends and confederats, they caused
all the bridges to be broken, that the enimies should not come to
oppresse them, till they had assembled all their forces, and passing
forward towards Glocester, wan the citie, and still came people vnto
them from all sides, namelie those lords and capteins, which all the
time sincce the battell of Lewes had laine in Bristow. After this they
came to Worcester, and entred there also. When the earle of Leicester
was hereof aduertised (who in all this meane time by order taken, was
about the king, and ruled all things in the court) he sent in all hast
vnto his sonne Simon de Montfort to raise a power of men, the which
accordinglie assembled to him much people, and comming with the same
vnto Winchester, wan the citie by surrender, spoiled it, and slue the
more part of the Iewes that inhabited there. Then he laid siege to the
castell, but hearing a feigned rumor that prince Edward was comming
thither with his power, he departed from thence with his companie, and
went to Killingworth.
[Sidenote: The armie of the earle of Leicesters sonne is discomfited.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: The castell of Monmouth taken.]
[Sidenote: The battell of Euesham.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
On the last day of Iulie, prince Edward with his host came to
Killingwoorth aforesaid, and there fighting with the said Simon de
Montfort and his armie, with little slaughter discomfited the same, and
tooke prisoners the erle of Oxford, the lords William de Montchensie,
Adam de Newmarch, Baldwine Wake, and Hugh Neuill, with diuers others:
the lord Simon himselfe fled into the castell, and so escaped. In this
meane while the earle of Leicester hauing raised his power, came to the
castell of Monmouth, which the earle of Glocester had latelie taken
and fortified: but they that were within it being driuen to yéeld, it
was now raced downe to the ground. This doone, the earle of Leicester
entring into Glamorganshire, and ioining his power with the prince of
Wales, wasted and burned the lands of the said earle of Glocester: but
hearing what his aduersaries went about in other places, he returned
from thence, and came forward towards the said prince Edward, who
likewise made towards him, and at Euesham they met on the sixt day of
August, where was fought a verie fierce and cruell battell betwixt the
parties.
[Sidenote: The Welshmen fled.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Leicester slaine.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
¶ Some write that the earle of Leicester placed king Henrie in the
front of his battell, whom he had there with him as captiue, and had
arraied him in his owne cote-armour, that if fortune went against him,
whilest the enimies should be earnest to take the king bearing the
semblance of the chéefe capteine, he might himselfe escape: but king
Henrie, when they came to ioine, fought not, but called to his people,
and declared who he was, whereby he escaped the danger of death, for
being knowne of them he was saued. The Welshmen which in great numbers
the earle of Leicester had there on his side, at the first onset fled
and run awaie; which their demeanor, when the earle saw, he exhorted
those that were about him to plaie the men, and so rushing foorth into
the prease of his enimies, he was inclosed about and slaine, togither
with his sonne Henrie. Herevpon, his death being knowne, his people
tooke them to flight as men vtterlie discomfited. There died in that
battell about 4000 men (as Polydor saith.) But Richard Southwell saith,
there were killed of knights or rather men of armes 180, and of yeomen
or rather demilances 220, of Welshmen 5000, and of such footmen as were
of the earle of Leicesters owne retinue 2000, so that there died in all
to the number of ten thousand men, as the same Southwell affirmeth.
Among whom of noblemen, these are reckoned, Hugh Spenser lord chéefe
iustice, the lord Rafe Basset, the lord Peter de Montfort, the lord
Iohn Beauchampe, sir William Yorke, the lord Thomas de Esterlie, the
lord Walter de Creppings, Guie de Balioll a Frenchman, the lord William
de Mandeuill, the lord Roger S. Iohn, the lord Robert Tregoz, and
others.
[Sidenote: The pride of the earle of Leicesters sons bringeth the
barons to confusions.]
This ruine fell to the barons by the discord which was sproong latelie
before, betwixt the earles of Leicester and Glocester, through the
insolencie and pride of the earle of Leicesters sonnes, who (as I said
before) despising other of the nobilitie, and forgetting in the meane
time the nature of true and vnstained noblenesse, wherof it is said and
truelie remembred, that
Nobilitas morum plus ornat quàm genitorum,
spake manie reprochfull words by the said earle of Glocester, and vsed
him in such euill sort, that he vpon displeasure thereof, had not
onelie procured the scape of prince Edward, but ioined with him in aid,
against the said earle of Leicester, and other of the barons, to the
vtter confusion, both of them and of their cause. The bodie of the same
earle was shamefullie abused & cut in péeces, his head and his priuie
members were cut off, and fastened on either side of his nose, and
presented vnto the wife of the lord Roger Mortimer.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
The people conceiued an opinion, that this earle being thus slaine,
fighting in defense of the liberties of the realme, & performance of
his oth, as they tooke it, died a martyr: which by the bruted holinesse
of his passed life and miracles ascribed to him after his death,
was greatlie confirmed in the next age. But the feare of the kings
displeasure staied the people from hastie honouring him as a saint
at this time, where otherwise, they were inclined greatlie thereto,
reputing him for no lesse in their conscience, as in secret talke they
would not sticke to vtter. There were wounded & taken, besides the
other that were slaine at that battell of Euesham, Guie de Montfort,
the earle of Leicesters sonne, the lords Iohn Fitz Iohn, Henrie de
Hastings, Humfrie de Bohun the yoonger, Iohn de Vescie, Peter de
Montfort the yoonger, and Nicholas de Segraue with others. The king
being deliuered out of his aduersaries hands, and likewise the king of
Romans, went vnto Warwike, and there increasing his power, determined
to pursue his enimies.
[Sidenote: A parlement at Winchester.]
But first, about the Natiuitie of our ladie was a parlement holden
at Winchester, where the statuts of Oxford were cléerelie repealed.
Also, all such as had fauoured the barons, and were as then either
in prison or abroad, should be disherited. It was also ordeined at
this parlement, that the wealthiest citizens of London should be cast
into prison, and that the citie should be depriued of hir liberties.
Also, that the stulps and cheins, wherewith the stréets were fensed,
should be had awaie, bicause that the citizens had aided the earle of
Leicester against the king and his realme. All this was doone, for the
chéefe citizens were committed to ward within the castle of Windsore,
till they had paid no small summes of monie for their fines. The
liberties of the citie were suspended, and the towre of London was made
stronger by the stulps and cheins which were brought into it out of the
citie. Moreouer, bicause Simon de Montfort might not agrée with the
king, being come to this parlement vpon assurance, he was restored to
the castell of Killingworth.
[Sidenote: A parlement at Westminster.]
[Sidenote: Erle Ferrers.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 50.]
[Sidenote: The citie of London submitteth hirselfe to the K.]
[Sidenote: The Londoners put to their fine.]
After this, in the feast of the translation of S. Edward, a parlement
was holden at Westminster, and the sentence of disheriting the kings
aduersaries was pronounced against them, whose lands the king forthwith
gaue vnto his trustie subiects, where he thought good. Some of the
disherited men redéemed their possessions, with a portion of monie,
in name of a fine. Other of them flocking togither, got them into the
woods and desart places, where kéeping them out of sight as outlawes,
they liued by spoiles and robberies. The chéefest of them was Robert
erle of Ferrers, who neuerthelesse was restored to his lands, but yet
with condition, that if afterwards he fell into the like crime, he
should forfeit his earldome for euer. The Londoners with much adoo,
at length, obteined pardon of the king. The maior and aldermen of the
citie were glad to submit themselues, though the commons, without
consideration of the great perill which they were in, would haue stood
still at defiance with the king, and defended the citie against him.
It was no maruell though they were of diuerse and contrarie opinions,
for in those daies, the citie was inhabited with manie and sundrie
nations which then were admitted for citizens. At length, vpon their
submission, the king tooke them to mercie, vpon their fine, which was
seized at twentie thousand marks.
[Sidenote: Cardinal Othobone the popes legat.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian_.]
[Sidenote: One Othon made gardian of the citie of London.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
About Alhallowentide, cardinall Othobone came from the pope into
England as his legat; to helpe towards some agréement to be had betwixt
the king and his barons. He was committed to prison (as some write)
by the Londoners, for that he spake against their dooings, when they
shut their gates against the king; but he was shortlie released as
should appeare. On the sixt day of Nouember in the fiftith yeare of his
reigne, king Henrie came to Westminster, and shortlie after, he gaue
awaie the number of thréescore houses, with the household stuffe in
the same conteined, so that the owners were compelled to redéeme them
againe of those his seruants, to whome he had giuen the said houses,
togither with all such lands, goods and cattels, as the same citizens
had within any part of England. Then was one called sir Othon made
custos or gardian of the citie, who was also conestable of the tower,
he chose to be bailiffes, and to be accomptable to the kings vse, Iohn
Adrian, and Walter Henrie, citizens of the same citie. The king also
tooke pledges of the best mens sonnes of the citie, which pledges he
caused to be put in the tower, and there kept at the costs of their
parents. ¶The king by aduise of his councell ordeined, that within
euerie shire of the relme, there should be a capteine or lieutenant
appointed with necessarie allowance of the king for his charges, the
which, with the assistance of the shiriffe, should punish and kéepe
downe the wicked outrage of théeues and robbers, which in time of
the late ciuill warres were sproong vp in great numbers, and growen
to excéeding great boldnesse; but now, through feare of deserued
punishment, they began to ceasse from their accustomed rapine, and the
kings power came againe in estimation, so that peace after a manner
tooke new root and increase.
[Sidenote: _Nic. Treuet._]
[Sidenote: The legat holdeth a synod at Northampton.]
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
[Sidenote: This suspension was pronounced in a councell holden by the
said cardinall at Paules as _Fabian_ saith.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
Vpon S. Nicholas euen, the king departed from Westminster, towards
Northampton, where the cardinall Othobone held a synod, and according
to that he had in commandement, pronounced all the kings aduersaries
accurssed, and namelie all the bishops which had aided the barons
against the king, in time of the late warres, of whome afterward he
absolued the most part. But Iohn bishop of Winchester, Henrie bishop of
London, and Stephan bishop of Chichester were sent to Rome, to purchase
their absolution of pope Clement the fourth, as well for other points
of disobedience, as chéeflie for that, where the quéene had procured a
cursse of pope Vrbane the fourth, that was predecessor to this Clement,
to accursse all the barons and their supporters, which warred against
the king hir husband: the said bishops (to whome the commission was
sent to denounce that cursse) for feare of the barons deferred the
execution. Walter bishop of Worcester, chancing to fall sicke at that
time, died about the beginning of Februarie, confessing first, that he
had gréeuouslie erred, in mainteining the side of the erle of Leicester
against the king, and therefore directed his letters to the popes
legat, requiring to be absolued, which his petition the legat granted.
Moreouer, in this councell at Northampton, there was published by the
cardinall a grant, made to the king by the pope, of the dismes of the
english church for one whole yeare then next insuing.
[Sidenote: The Londoners pard[=o]ed.]
[Sidenote: 1266.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
A little before the kings departure from London now in this last time,
he ordeined sir Iohn Linde knight, and maister Iohn Waldren clearke,
to be gardians of the citie and tower, by the names of seneshals or
stewards: but such earnest suit was made to the king, to obteine a
perfect pardon for the Londoners, that at length after the aforesaid
seneshals had taken suerties for the paiment of their fine, the K.
caused his charter of pardon to be made vnder his broad seale, and
sent it vnto them, wherein all former trespasses committed by them in
the last warres was cléerelie pardoned; certeine persons, whose bodies
and goods were giuen vnto his eldest sonne Edward, excepted out of the
same pardon. This charter was dated at Northampton, the tenth day of
Ianuarie, in the fiftith yere of king Henries reigne. Then also were
discharged the foresaid seneshals, and the citizens of themselues chose
for maior, William Fitz Richard; and for shiriffs, Thomas de la Fourd,
and Gregorie de Rockesleg.
[Sidenote: Simon de Montfort.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
Whilest the king laie at Northampton, the lord Simon de Montfort put
himselfe vpon the doome and order of the legat Othobone, and was
therefore permitted to be at large in the kings court: but at the kings
comming to London, he suddenlie departed out of the court, and rode
to Winchelsie, where he associated himselfe with rouers, and after
some prices taken, departed from them, and went into France, where he
offered his seruice to the French king, and was receiued. Thus saith
Matthew Westminster, and other. But Polydor saith, that by Othobons
means, he was reconciled to the kings fauour; and therevpon to auoid
occasion of further displeasure, he commanded, that the castell of
Killingworth should be restored vnto the king, which the capteine
refused to deliuer, hauing fortified it with all manner of prouision,
and things necessarie to defend a siege.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: The wardens of the fiue ports reconciled to the king.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: Douer castell deliuered to the king.]
[Sidenote: Winchelsie won by force.]
The wardens of the cinque ports, which (during the time of the barons
warre) had doone manie roberies on the sea, as well against the
Englishmen as other, were at length reconciled to the king, who was
faine to agrée with them vpon such conditions as they thought good,
bicause at that time (as the c[=o]mon fame went) they had the dominion
of the sea in their owne hands. But in some writers we find it thus
recorded, that when certeine prisoners which were kept by the barons
of the cinque ports in the castell of Douer, heard how all things
prospered on the kings side, they got possession of a tower within
the same castell, and tooke vpon them to defend it against their
kéepers; whereof when aduertisement was giuen to the king and to his
sonne the lord Edward, they hasted forth to come & succour their
fréends. The kéepers of the castell, perceiuing themselues beset with
their enimies, sent to the king for peace, who granting them pardon
of life and limme, with horsse, armour, and other such necessaries,
the castell was yéelded vnto his hands. From thence, prince Edward
departing, visited the sea coasts, punishing diuerse of the inhabitants
within the precinct of the cinque ports, and putting them in feare,
receiued diuerse to the king his fathers peace. The inhabitants of
Winchelsie onelie made countenance to resist him, but prince Edward
with valiant assaults entred the towne, in which entrie much guiltie
bloud was spilt, but yet the multitude by commandement of prince Edward
was spared. And thus hauing woone the towne, he commanded that from
thencefoorth they should absteine from piracies, which they had before
time greatlie vsed. Thus were the seas made quiet, and those of the
cinque ports brought to the kings peace, and throughlie reconciled.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
[Sidenote: The Ile of Oxholme.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: Lincolne taken.]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: Killingworth castell fortified against the king.]
[Sidenote: The kings purseuant had his hand cut off.]
In this meane while diuerse of the disherited gentlemen, sore repining
at the sentence and order giuen against them, had taken the Ile of
Oxholme in Lincolneshire, whither a great number of euill dooers
immediatlie resorted, and began to doo mischéefe in all the countries
next adioining. They tooke and sacked the citie of Lincolne, spoiled
the Iewes, and slue manie of them, entred their synagog, and burnt
the booke of their law. At length prince Edward, or (as other saie)
his brother earle Edmund, was sent against them, who compelled them
by force to come to the kings peace, which to obserue, they receiued
an oth shortlie after at London, but neuerthelesse were as soone
readie to breake and renounce the same, and began a new broile in
sundrie parts of the realme. Diuerse of them fortified the castell of
Killingworth, prouiding themselues of all things necessarie for defense
out of the countries adioining. The king aduertised hereof, sent vnto
them a purseuant, commanding them to cease fr[=o] such rebellious
attempts, but the messenger had one of his hands cut off, and so with a
contemptuous answer was sent backe againe.
[Sidenote: Adam Gurdon.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
[Sidenote: The battell of Chesterfield.]