sir Adam Gurdon one of the disherited men, with whome he coped and
tooke him prisoner with his owne hand, yet sauing him, and pardoning
the offence of rebellion, in respect of the valiancie which he tried
by proofe to rest in him: but his soldiers and complices being there
taken, he caused to be hanged vpon trées within the same forrest.
Robert earle Ferrers contrarie to his oth of late receiued, accompanied
with the lord d'Euille and others, did much hurt by way of open war
against the kings fréends in the north parts. Against whom the lord
Henrie, sonne to the king of Almaine was sent with a great power: the
which comming to Chesterfield fell vpon his enimies in such wise on
the sudden, that they had not time to arme themselues, and so were
distressed and ouercome.
[Sidenote: _Euersden._]
Yet the lord Iohn d'Euille brake out, and incountring with sir Gilbert
Hansard, ouerthrew him, and escaped out of danger. Great slaughter
was made on ech hand, and in the meane while the Nobles and gentlemen
sought to get out of perill by flight. The earle of Darbie got into a
church, but he was descried by a woman, and so was taken. There were
manie other also taken: & amongst them the lord Baldwine Wake, and sir
Iohn de la Haie with much paine escaped. This battell was foughten
about the midst of Maie, or vpon Whitsun éeue, as the Chronicle of
Dunstable saith. Those that escaped, as the lord d'Euille and others,
gaue not ouer yet, but assembling themselues togither in companies,
kéeping within woods and other desert places, brake out oftentimes, and
did much mischéefe. On the ninth of August they tooke the Ile of Elie,
and so strengthned it, that they held it a long time after, spoiling
and robbing the countries round about them, as Norffolke, Suffolke, and
Cambridgeshire.
[Sidenote: Norwich sacked.]
[Sidenote: _Chron. Dunst._]
[Sidenote: The siege of Killingworth castell beginneth.]
[Sidenote: The lord Hastings.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 51.]
[Sidenote: Killingworth castell deliuered to the K.]
The bishop of Elie had vndertaken to kéepe the Ile to the kings vse,
but being now dispossessed thereof, he got him awaie, and fell to
cursing them that were thus entred against his will, but they séemed
to passe litle vpon his thundering excommunications. On the 16 of
December, they came to the citie of Norwich; and spoiling it, tooke
manie of the wealthie citizens, and ransomed them at great summes of
monie. The lord Henrie Hastings and Simon de Pateshull, with diuerse
others, got them into the castell of Killingworth, and dailie went
forth at their pleasures, spoiling and wasting the townes about them,
or causing them to fine with them to be spared. And this they forced
not to doo, although the lord Edmund the kings sonne laie in Warwike,
to cut them short of such their licentious doings. The king therfore
mening to haue the said castels of Killingworth by force, began his
siege about the same vpon the éeuen of S. Iohn Baptist. But the lord
Henrie Hastings, the capteine of that castell, and other his complices
defended it so stronglie, that though the king inforced his power to
the vttermost to win it of them, yet could he not anie thing preuaile,
till at length vittels began to faile them within, and then vpon
the éeuen of saint Thomas the apostle before Christmasse, the lord
Henrie Hastings deliuered the said castell into the kings hands, vpon
condition that he and all other should haue life and limme, horsse
and armour, with all things within the place to them belonging. And
thus this siege had continued from the 26 of Iune vnto the 20 day of
December.
[Sidenote: Dictum de Killingworth.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
[Sidenote: 1267.]
[Sidenote: A parlement at Westminster.]
[Sidenote: Earle Ferrers disherited.]
¶ Here is to be remembred, that at the beginning of the siege, there
were within the castell a thousand and seuen hundred armed men, and
eight score women, beside lackies and coisterels. Here is also to be
remembred, that whilest the siege laie before Killingworth, by the
aduise of the kings councell, and of the legat Othobone, there were
twelue péeres appointed and chosen foorth, which should deuise and
make ordinances touching the state of the realme, and the disherited
persons, who according to their commission, ordeined certeine
prouisions, the which are conteined within the statute intitled Dictum
de Killingworth. The king after that the castell of Killingworth
was deliuered to his hand, left therein his sonne Edmund, and went
himselfe to Couentrie or (as other haue) to Oxford, and there held his
Christmasse. Shortlie after comming to Westminster he held a parlement
there, studieng to set a quietnesse in all matters and controuersies
depending betwixt him and the barons. In this parlement sentence was
giuen against earle Ferrers for the forfeiture of his earledome: then
was Edmund the kings yoonger sonne put in possession both of the
earledome of Darbie and Leicester.
[Sidenote: The earle of Glocester with an armie commeth to London.]
On the sixt of Februarie being sundaie, the king came to S.
Edmundsburie, and staieng there till the two and twentith of the same
moneth, set foreward that day towards Cambridge, where he laie with
his armie, the better to bridle them that kept the Ile of Elie against
him. He laie there all the Lent season. And in the meane time the earle
of Glocester taking great displeasure, for that he might not haue his
will, as well for the banishing of strangers, as for restitution to be
made vnto the disherited men of their lands, he began a new sturre,
and assembling a great power in the marshes of Wales came néere vnto
London, pretending at the first as though he had come to aid the king,
at length he got licence of the maior and citizens to passe through the
citie into Southwarke, where he lodged with his people, and thither
came to him shortlie sir Iohn d'Euille, by Southerie side, bringing
with him a great companie.
[Sidenote: The legat admonisheth the earle of Glocester to obeie the
king.]
The maior caused the bridge and water side to be kept and watched both
day and night with armed men, and euerie night was the drawbridge
drawne vp: but within a while the earle vsed the matter so, that he
was permitted to lodge within the citie with certeine of his men, by
reason whereof, he drew more and more of his people into the citie, so
that in the end he was maister of the citie, and in Easter wéeke tooke
the keies of the bridge into his hands. The legat comming foorth of the
towre, repaired to the church of S. Paule, vnder a colour to preach the
croisey, but in the end of that his exhortation, he turned his words
to the earle of Glocester, admonishing him to obeie the king as he
was bound by his allegiance. And further, whereas the earle had giuen
commandement that no victuals should be suffered to be brought into the
tower where the popes legat was lodged, he thought himselfe euill vsed
in that behalfe, sith he was a mediator for peace, and no partaker.
But when the earle séemed to giue small regard to his words, he got
him secretlie againe into the tower, with certeine noble men the kings
fréends, meaning to defend it vnto the vttermost of their powers.
[Sidenote: The legat & other meane to defend the tower against the
earle of Glocester.]
[Sidenote: The citizens of London in vprore chose new officers.]
[Sidenote: Prisoners set at libertie.]
There entred also into the tower a great number of Iewes with their
wiues and children, vnto whome one ward of the tower was committed to
defend, which they did in that necessitie verie stoutlie. Manie of
the citizens fearing a new insurrection, auoided out of the citie,
whose goods the earle seized into his owne vse, or suffered his men to
spoile the same at their pleasures. The most part of all the commons
of the citie tooke part with the earle, and in a tumult got them to
the Guildhall, and there chose for their maior or custos of the citie,
Richard de Colworth knight, and for bailiffes, Robert de Linton and
Roger Marshall, discharging the old maior and shiriffes of their
roomes. Diuerse aldermen were committed to prison, and their goods
sequestred, and much part thereof spoiled. Also all such persons as
were prisoners in Newgate, Ludgate, Creplegate, or in any other prison
about the citie, for the quarrell of the barons warre, were set at
libertie.
[Sidenote: The legat accurseth ye troublers of the kings peace.]
[Sidenote: The king laie at Cambridge.]
[Sidenote: Ramsey.]
The legat perceiuing such disorder, accurssed generallie all such as
thus troubled the kings peace, shewing themselues enimies to the king
and the realme. He also interdicted all the churches within the citie
and about it, licencing onlie diuine seruice to be said in houses of
religion, and without ringing of any bell or singing: and whilest
seruice was in hand, he appointed the church doores to be shut, bicause
none of them that stood accurssed, should enter and be present. The
king in the meane time laie at Cambridge to defend the countries about
from iniuries, which were dailie attempted by them that held the Ile
of Elie against him, of whome at one time he distressed a certeine
number at Ramsey. And bicause now after that the earle was thus come
to London, another companie of them brake out to rob and spoile, and
were stopped by the kings power from entring into the Ile againe, they
repaired streight to London, dooing mischéefe inough by the waie.
[Sidenote: The king maketh hard shift for monie to hire soldiers & men
of war to assist him.]
[Sidenote: The K. remooueth towards Windsore.]
[Sidenote: The king commeth to Stratford.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
The earle of Glocester greatlie incouraged by their assistance, fell in
hand to assaile the tower, within the which the popes legat Othobone,
and diuerse other were inclosed, taking vpon them to defend it against
the earle and all his puissance. The king vpon the first newes of the
earle of Glocester his commotion, ingaged the shrines of saints, and
other iewels and relikes of the church of Westminster vnto certeine
merchants for great summes of monie, with the which sending into France
and Scotland, he reteined men of warre to come to his aid. Herevpon
his sonne prince Edward came to his succour vnto Cambridge, bringing
thither with him thirtie thousand able men out of the north parts,
Scots and other. The king then leauing a conuenient number to defend
Cambridge, marched from thence toward Windsore. After his comming
thither, his armie dailie increased. The earle of Glocester and his
complices began to feare the matter, and sent to him for peace, which
could not be granted: wherevpon they appointed to giue him batell vpon
Houndslow heath. The king comming thither in the morning, found no
man there to resist him, and therefore, after he had staied there a
certeine space, he marched foorth and came to Stratford, where he was
lodged in the abbeie: his host incamped and laie at Ham and therabouts.
[Sidenote: Westminster spoiled.]
[Sidenote: Soldiers sacked and throwen into the Thames.]
This chanced about thrée wéekes after Easter. The souldiers which laie
in London and in Southwarke, did much hurt about in the countrie of
Southerie, & else-where. They also spoiled the towne of Westminster,
and the parish-church there: but the moonks and the goods belonging
to the abbeie they touched not, but made hauocke in the kings palace,
drinking vp & destroieng his wine, breaking the glasse windowes, and
defacing the buildings most disorderlie, yea scarse forbearing to set
the house on fire. Also there were of them that brake vp & robbed
certeine houses in London, of the which misgouerned persons there were
foure taken, that ware the cognisance of the earle of Darbie, whome the
earle of Glocester caused to be put in sackes, and so throwne into the
Thames.
[Sidenote: The earles of Bullongne & S. Paule.]
[Sidenote: A fléet of Gascoins come to the kings aid.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: A peace concluded.]
[Sidenote: The Londoners pardoned.]
As the king thus laie at Stratford, there came vnto him from the parts
of beyond the sea, the earle of Bullongne, and S. Paule, with two
hundred men of armes, and their suit of other souldiers. Also there
ariued in the Thames a fléet of great vessels fraught with Gascoins,
and laie afore the tower, abiding the kings pleasure. ¶ The earle of
Glocester had caused bulworks and barbicans to be made betwixt the
tower and the citie; and also in sundrie places where néed required
ditches and trenches were cast, so that the citie was stronglie
fortified. Howbeit now that the said erle and his complices perceiued
themselues in manner as besieged, they sought for peace. And by
mediation of the king of Almaine, the lord Philip Basset and the legat
Othobone, the same was granted, the ordinance of Killingworth in euerie
condition obserued. The Londoners were pardoned of their trespasse for
receiuing the earle, though they were constreined to paie a thousand
marks to the king of Romans, in recompense of the hurts doone to him in
burning of his house at Thistleworth.
[Sidenote: _Chron. Dun._]
[Sidenote: Buderesch.]
[Sidenote: The lord Graie.]
Whilest the earle of Glocester kept the citie of London against the
king, one Henrie de Guderesch, steward to the said earle, departing
from London, came to the manour house of Geffrey saint Leger at Offeld,
which he burnt, and turning from thence came to Brickhill. The lord
Reignold Graie that held of the knights part, aduertised hereof,
followed him with his retinue of men of warre, and comming vpon his
enimie at vnwares, tooke the said Henrie, and slue thirtie of the
chéefest of his companie, some he tooke, howbeit manie escaped. But
now to our purpose. By this agréement concluded betwixt the king &
the earle of Glocester, he also accepted to his grace the lord Iohn
Eineley, the lord Nicholas de Segraue, the lord William Marmion, the
lord Richard de Graie, the lord Iohn Fitz Iohn, and the lord Gilbert
de Lucie, with others: so that all parts of the realme were quieted,
sauing that those in the Isle of Elie would not submit themselues: yet
at length by mediation of prince Edward they were reconciled to the
king, and all the fortresses and defenses within that Isle by them
made, were plucked downe and destroied.
[Sidenote: _Euersden._]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 52.]
But it appeareth by other writers, that immediatlie after the agréement
concluded betwixt the earle of Glocester, prince Edward the kings
sonne, by setting workemen in hand to make a caussie through the
fens with boords and hurdels, entred vpon them that kept the Ile of
Elie, so that manie of them got out, and fled to London vnto the said
earle of Glocester, and other their complices. The residue submitted
themselues, as the lord Wake, Simon Montfort the yoonger, the Pechées
and other, vpon condition to be pardoned of life and member: and
further, that prince Edward should be a meane to his father to receiue
them into fauour. But by other it may rather séeme, that some of them
kept and defended themselues within that Ile, till after the agréement
made betwixt the king and the earle of Glocester. By order of which
agréement there were foure bishops and eight lords chosen foorth, which
had béene first nominated at Couentrie, to order and prescribe betwixt
the king and the disherited men a forme of peace and redemption of
their lands. And so in the feast of All saints, proclamation was made
of a full accord and agréement, and what euerie man should paie for his
ransome for redéeming his offense against the king.
[Sidenote: A parlement at Marleborough.]
[Sidenote: 1268.]
[Sidenote: The legat Othobone returneth to Rome. Othobone chosen as
pope.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
In the octaues of S. Martine, the king held a parlement at
Marleborough, where the liberties conteined in the booke called Magna
charta were c[=o]firmed, and also diuerse other good and wholesome
ordinances concerning the state of the common-wealth were established
and enacted. ¶ In the moneth of Aprill there chanced great thunder,
tempestuous raine, and flouds, occasioned by the same, verie sore &
horrible, continuing for the space of fiftéene daies togither. The
legat Othobone, after he had in the synods holden at Northampton and
London, deuised and made manie orders and rules for churchmen, and
leuied amongst them great summes of monie, finallie in the moneth of
Iulie, he tooke leaue of the king and returned to Rome, where after the
deceasse of Innocent the fift, about the yeare of our Lord 1276 he was
chosen pope, and named Adrian the fift, liuing not past 5 daies after.
He went so néere hand to search out things at his going awaie, that
he had inrolled the true value of all the churches and benefices in
England, and tooke the note with him to Rome.
[Sidenote: Prince Edward receiueth the crosse.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: A fraie in L[=o]don betwéene the goldsmiths and tailors.]
Prince Edward the kings sonne, and diuerse other great lords of England
before this legats departure out of the realme, receiued the crosse
at his hands in Northampton on Midsummer day, meaning shortlie after
according to promise there made, to go into the holie hand to warre
against Gods enimies. In this yeare fell great variance betwéene the
corporations or fellowships of the goldsmiths and tailors within the
citie of London, wherevnto euill words flowing from the toong gaue
originall, for
Pondus valde graue verbosum vas sine claue,
so that one euening there were assembled to the number of fiue hundred
in the stréets in armour, and running togither made a fowle fraie, so
that manie were wounded and some slaine. But the shiriffes hearing
thereof, came & parted them, with assistance of other trades, and
sent diuerse of them being taken vnto prison, of the which there were
arreigned to the number of thirtie, and thirtéene of them condemned and
hanged.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 53.]
[Sidenote: Thames frosen.]
[Sidenote: 1269.]
In the fiftie & third yeare of king Henries reigne, there was such an
excéeding great frost, beginning at saint Andrewes tide, and continuing
till it was néere candlemasse, that the Thames from the bridge
vpwards was so hard frosen, that men and beasts passed ouer on féet
from Lambeth to Westminster, and so westward in diuerse places vp to
Kingston. Also merchandize was brought from Sandwich and other places
vnto London by land. For the ships by reason of the yce could not enter
the Thames. ¶ And about the feast of S. Vedast, which falleth on the 6
of Februarie, fell so great abundance of raine, that the Thames rose
so high, as it had not doone at any time before, to remembrance of men
then liuing: so that the cellars and vaults in London by the water side
were drowned, and much merchandize marred & lost.
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: A parlement holden at London.]
[Sidenote: Prince Edward appointeth the maior and shiriffes of London.]
About S. Georges day there was a parlement holden at London, for
the appeasing of a controuersie depending betwixt prince Edward the
kings son and the earle of Glocester: at the which parlement were
present almost all the prelats and péeres of the realme. At length
they put the matter in compromise, into the hands of the king of
Almaine, vndertaking to be ordered by him high and low touching all
controuersies: and likewise for the iournie to be made into the holie
land, but the king of Almaine did little in the matter to any great
effect. ¶ In the beginning of Lent the king gaue to his sonne prince
Edward the rule of the citie of London, with all the reuenues and
profits thereto belonging. After which gift, the said prince made
sir Hugh Fitz Othon constable of the towre and custos of the citie
of London. ¶ Vpon the ninth day of Aprill, Edmund the kings sonne,
surnamed Crouchbacke, married at Westminster Auelina the daughter of
the earle of Aumarle. Prince Edward commanded the citizens of London to
present vnto him six citizens, of the which number he might nominate
two shiriffes, and so appointed William de Hadstocke and Anketill de
Alberne, which were sworne to be accomptants as their predecessours had
béene.
[Sidenote: An aid granted to the king.]
[Sidenote: The liberties of the citie confirmed.]
[Sidenote: The rent of the farme of the shiriffes of London increased.]
[Sidenote: _Chron. Dunst._]
In those daies a new custome or toll was vsed to be paid, which prince
Edward let to farme vnto certeine strangers, for the summe of twentie
marks by yeare. Wherefore the citizens being gréeued therewith, bought
it of him for two hundred marks. Also this yeare there was granted to
the king towards his iournie by him purposed into the holie land, the
twentith penie of euerie mans mooueable goods thoroughout the realme
of the laie fée, and of the spiritualtie was granted by the assent of
pope Gregorie the tenth, thrée dismes to be gathered within the terme
of thrée yeares. This yeare the kings sonne the lord Edward obteined
a confirmation for the citie of London of the charter of the ancient
liberties, so that the citizens did then choose vnto them a maior and
two shiriffes, which shiriffes by vertue of the same charter, had their
office to farme, in maner as before time was accustomed: sauing that
where they paid afore but thrée hundred and fiftie pounds, they paid
now foure hundred and fiftie pounds. After which confirmation granted
and passed vnder the kings broad seale, they chose for their maior Iohn
Adrian, and for shiriffes Walter Potter and Iohn Tailor, the which were
presented the 16 day of Iulie vnto the king at Westminster by his sonne
prince Edward, and there admitted and sworne. Then was sir Hugh Fitz
Othon discharged of the rule of the citie. The citizens of their owne
fréewill gaue vnto the king an hundred marks, and to his sonne prince
Edward fiue hundred markes. There was no great disorder attempted this
yeare to the disquieting of the realme, sauing that certeine of the
disherited gentlemen that belonged to the earle of Darbie, withdrew
vnto the forrest of the Peake in Darbishire, and there making their
abode, spoiled and wasted the countries next adioining.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 54.]
[Sidenote: 1270.]
[Sidenote: _Wil. Risham._]
[Sidenote: Prince Edward setteth forward towards the holie land.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: The king sick.]
In the moneth of Maie, prince Edward the kings sonne set forward on his
iournie towards the holie land, and taking the sea at Douer, passed
ouer into France, and came to Burdeaux, where he staied a while, and
after went to Agues Mortes, and there tooke shipping, first sailing
(as some write) vnto Thunis, where the christian armie, which Lewes
the French king as then deceassed had brought thither, was readie to
depart, and so prince Edward, with the new French king Lewes and other
princes passed ouer into Sicill, where he soiourned for the winter
time. In this yeare the king was vexed with a gréeuous sicknesse: and
the Irishmen in rebellion slue a great sort of Englishmen, as well
magistrats as others in that countrie.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 55.]
[Sidenote: 1271.]
[Sidenote: Prince Edward arriueth at Acres.]
[Sidenote: _Abington._]
[Sidenote: Arsacide, of some named Assassini. Prince Edw. is
traitorouslie wounded.]
When the spring of the yeare began to approach, prince Edward eftsoones
tooke the sea, and finallie arriued at Acres with a thousand chosen men
of warre, though there be writers that affirme, how there arriued with
him of sundrie countries fiue thousand horsemen, and double the same
number of footmen. But amongst those that went out of England with him,
these we find as principall, Iohn de Britaine, Iohn de Vescie, Otes de
Grantson, and Robert de Bruse, besides other. Of his noble chiualrie
there atchiued, yée shall find a bréefe note in the description of the
holie land, and therefore here we omit the same. Howbeit this is to be
remembred, that whilest the lord Edward soiorned there in the citie of
Acres, he was in great danger to haue béene slaine by treason: for a
traitorous Saracen of that generation which are called Arsacidæ, and
latelie reteined by the same lord Edward, and become verie familiar
with him, found means one day as he sat in his chamber, to giue him
thrée wounds, which suerlie had cost him his life, but that one of the
princes chamberleins staied the traitors hand, and somewhat brake the
strokes, till other seruants came to the rescue, and slue him there in
the place.
[Sidenote: Part Iapha.]
[Sidenote: The generation of the Arsacide, or Assassins.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 56]