About the feast of S. Martine, was a parlement holden at Northampton
to the more trouble of them that came to it, bicause in that season of
the yeare they were constreined to come where there was no store of
fewell to make them fiers: and beside that, lodgings were verie streict
for so great a multitude. But the cause that mooued the councell to
appoint this parlement there, was to the end that they might the more
fréelie procéed to the triall of Iohn Kirkbie a citizen of London, that
had murthered the Genowais (as before ye haue hard) which Kirkbie was
condemned at this parlement, and drawne and hanged in the sight of the
Londoners that were come thither, which execution if it should haue
beene doone at London, the lords doubted least some tumult might haue
béene raised by the citizens, who were reckoned in those daies verie
rash and presumptuous in their dooings.
[Sidenote: A gréeuous subsidie.
Twelue pēce as some haue.
1381.
_Thom. Wals._]
But now to the effect of this parlement. There was a new and strange
subsidie or taske granted to be leuied for the kings vse, and towards
the charges of this armie that went ouer into France with the earle of
Buckingham; to wit, of euerie préest secular or regular six shillings
eight pence, and as much of euerie nunne, and of euerie man & woman
married or not married being 16 yeares of age (beggers certenlie
knowne onlie excepted) foure pence for euerie one. Great grudging &
manie a bitter cursse followed about the leuieng of this monie, & much
mischéefe rose thereof, as after it appeared. ¶ In this fourth yeare of
king Richards reigne, immediatlie after Christmasse, Thomas Brantingham
bishop of Exeter and lord treasuror, was discharged of his office of
treasurorship, and sir Robert Hales lord of S. Iohns was aduanced in
his place, a right noble and manlie knight, but not beloued of the
commons.
[Sidenote: Wicliffes opinion.
The cardinall of Praxed.
Triennals.