Chapter II: Part 2

Ralfe Coghshall sheweth this matter otherwise, and saith, that there were two men and two women brought before the archbishop at this councell, of the which one of the men being a deacon, was accused to be an apostata, & for the loue of a woman that was a Iew, he had circumcised himselfe: & being herof conuicted & disgraded, he was committed to the secular power, & so burnt by the seruants of Fouks de Brent. The other being a yoong man, was accused of contemning the sacraments of the church, & that he suffered himselfe to be crucified, hauing the prints of the fiue wounds appearing in his bodie, and counterfeiting himselfe to be Christ, reioised to haue the two women giue out and spread the rumour abroad, that he was Christ in déed, one of the which women being verie aged, was also accused of witcherie, hauing with hir sorcerie and witchcraft brought that yoong man vnto such wicked follie and madnesse. They two being hereof conuicted, were closed vp betwixt two walles, where they remained till they died, the other woman being sister to the yoong man, was pardoned and let go, bicause she had reuealed the diuelish practise of the other.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]

[Sidenote: A bell-wedder some saie.]

This yeare also was the building of the stéeple belonging to the church of S. Paule in London finished. And this yeare also vpon saint James day the citizens of London kept a plaie of defense and wrestling at the hospitall of saint James, against other their neighbours of the suburbes, and the quarters next adioining. In the end whereof it so fortuned, that the Londoners had the vpper hand: and amongst other that were put to the foile, the steward of the abbat of Westminster with his folkes went awaie with the worst, to their great gréefe. Wherevpon the same steward deuised an other game of wrestling to be holden at Westminster on Lammas day next following, and that whosoeuer could get the vpper hand there, should haue a ram for the price, which the steward had prepared.

[Sidenote: A riot committed vnder pretense of wrestling.]

[Sidenote: Robert Serle maior of London.]

[Sidenote: Constantine, a citizen of London procureth the citizens to reuenge their cause by waie of rebellion.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

At the day appointed, there was a great assemblie, and the steward had got togither out of all parts the best wrestlers that might be heard of, so that there was hard hold betwixt them and the Londoners. But finallie, the steward vpon desire of reuenge, procured them to fall togither by the eares without any iust cause, so that the Londoners were beaten and wounded, and constreined to flée backe to the citie in great disorder. The citizens sore offended to sée their people so misused, rose in tumult, and rang the common bell to gather the more companie to them. Robert Serle maior of the citie would haue pacified the matter, persuading them to let the iniurie passe, till by orderlie plaint they might get redresse, as law and iustice should assigne. But a certeine stout man of the citie named Constantine Fitz Arnulfe, of good authoritie amongst them, aduised the multitude not to harken vnto peace, but to séeke reuenge out of hand (wherein he shewed himselfe so farre from true manhood, that he bewraied himselfe rather to haue had a womans heart,

----quòd vindicta
Nemo magis gaudet quàm foemina)

still prosecuting the strife with tooth and naile, and blowing the coles of contention as it were with full bellowes, that the houses belonging to the abbat of Westminster, and namelie the house of his steward might be ouerthrowne and beaten downe flat with the ground.

[Sidenote: The lord chéefe iustice taketh inquisition of the riot.]

[Sidenote: Constantine apprehended.]

[Sidenote: He is executed.]

This lewd counsell was soone receiued and executed by the outragious people, & Constantine himselfe being chéefe leader of them, cried with a lowd voice, Mount ioy mount ioy, God be our aid and our souereigne Lewes. This outragious part comming to the notice of Hubert de Burgh lord chéefe iustice, he gat togither a power of armed men, and came to the citie with the same, and taking inquisition of the chéefe offendors, found Constantine as constant in affirming the déed to be his, as he had before constantlie put it in practise, wherevpon he was apprehended and two other citizens with him. On the next day in the morning Fouks de Brent was appointed to haue them to execution: and so by the Thames he quietlie led them to the place where they should suffer. Now when Constantine had the halter about his necke, he offered fiftéene thousand marks of siluer to haue béene pardoned, but it would not be. There was hanged with him his nephue named also Constantine, and one Geffrey, who made the proclamation deuised by the said Constantine. The crie also which Constantine vsed to the setting forward of his vnlawfull enterprise in the name of Lewes most of all offended the kings fréends, as the lord chéefe iustice and others, who not satisfied with the death of the thrée before remembred persons, but also entring the citie againe with their bands of armed men, apprehended diuerse of those whome they tooke to be culpable, not onelie putting manie of them into prison, but also punishing other of them, as some with losse of a foot, some of an hand, and other of their eie-sight. The king furthermore to reuenge this matter, deposed all the magistrats of the citie, and ordeined new in their roomes. Which caused great hartburning against diuerse of the Nobilitie but chéefelie the lord Hubert and Fouks de Brent, on whome in time they hoped to haue reuenge.

[Sidenote: Great tempest.]

[Sidenote: A generall thunder.]

[Sidenote: Great dearth of corne.]

[Sidenote: An other tempest of thunder.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: A comet or blasing star.]

[Sidenote: The losse of the citie of Damieta.]

[Sidenote: William de Albenie earle of Arundell departed this life.]

As this broile vexed the citie of London, so in this yeare there chanced great tempest of thunder, lightning and raine, whereby much hurt was doone in diuerse parts of the realme, and at sundrie times, as by throwing downe of stéeples, churches, and other buildings, with the rootwalting of trées, as well in woods as orchards, verie strange to consider, chéefelie on the eight day of Februarie at Grantham in Lincolneshire, where there chanced (beside the thunder) such a stinke and filthie sauour to follow in the church, that the people fled out, for that they were not able to abide it. Likewise in the day of the exaltation of the crosse, a generall thunder happened throughout the realme, and thervpon followed a continuall season of foule weather and wet, till Candelmas next after, which caused a dearth of corne, so as wheat was sold at twelue shillings the quarter. Likewise on the day of saint Andrew an other terrible tempest of thunder happened through the realme, throwing downe and shaking buildings in manie places, in so much that at Pillerdeston in Warwikeshire, in a knights house, the ladie thereof and six other persons were destroied by the same. And a turbarie thereby compassed about with water and marresse was so dried vp, that neither grasse nor mire remained, after which insued an earthquake. Moreouer on the euen of saint Lucie, a mightie wind raged, which did much hurt in sundrie places of the realme. Furthermore, about this time there appeared in England a woonderfull comet or blasing starre. The sea also rose with higher tides and springs than it had béene accustomed to doo. All which woonders were afterward iudged to betoken and signifie the losse which the christians susteined the same yeare in Aegypt, when they were constreined to surrender the citie of Damieta into the Saracens hands, which latelie before (as yée haue heard) they had woone with long and chargeable siege. After the yéelding vp of Damieta, William de Albenie earle of Arundell (whome Ranulfe earle of Chester left behind him in the holie land) with manie souldiers and men of warre (when he returned from thence) came now homewards towards England, and died by the waie.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 7.]

[Sidenote: Iohn Scot marrieth the daughter of Leolin prince of Wales.]

[Sidenote: 1223.]

[Sidenote: A councell at London.]

[Sidenote: Note the redinesse of this bish. to broch new contention.]

About the same time Iohn the sonne of Dauid earle of Anguish in Scotland, sisters sonne vnto Ranulfe earle of Chester, married the daughter of Leolin prince of Wales, as it were to procure a finall accord betwéene the said Leolin and Ranulfe. After which marriage, king Henrie held his Christmasse at Oxenford, and shortlie after the twelftide came to London: where assembling a councell of his barons, he was earnestlie required by the bishop of Canturburie and other péeres, to confirme the liberties, franchises, and frée customes of the realme, for which the warres in his fathers time had béene mooued: which to denie (as the archbishop séemed to alledge, & shuld haue béene ashamed so to open his mouth, to the disaduantage of his souereigne, but that it is likelie he forgat the old posie, namelie that,

Imago rex est animata Dei.)

he might not with anie reason, sith he had couenanted (and all the baronage with him) to sée the same obserued, by the articles of the peace concluded with Lewes, when the same Lewes departed the realme.

[Sidenote: The answer of William Brewer to the archbishops demand.]

[Sidenote: Ahab accuseth Helias.]

[Sidenote: An inquisition.]

Herevpon William Brewer one of the kings councell, hearing the archbishop so earnest in these matters, told him, that sith these liberties were procured & extorted rather by force than otherwise, of the king being vnder age, they were not to be obserued. Wherevnto the archbishop replied, that if he loued the king, he would be loth to séeke to trouble the quiet state of the realme. The king perceiuing the archbishop to be chafed, & taking the tale himselfe, made a courteous answer, and further aduise had in the matter, sent foorth writs to the shiriffe of euerie countie, commanding them by inquirie of a sufficient iurie impanelled, to make certificat within the quindene of Ester, what were the liberties in times past of his grandfather K. Henrie, vsed within the realme of England.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The earle of Penbroke recouereth his castels taken by the prince of Wales.]

[Sidenote: The prince of Wales discomfited.]

[Sidenote: A conspiracie against the lord chiefe iustice.]

The same yeare, whiles William Marshall earle of Penbroke was busie in Ireland in war against Hugh Lacie, Leolin prince (or king) of Wales, as some haue intitled him, tooke by force two castels that belonged to the same earle: whereof when he was aduertised, with all spéed he returned out of Ireland, raised an armie, and recouered the said castels, putting to death all such as he found in the same, to requite Leolin with the like damage as he had shewed him before in his absence. This doone he entered into the land of Leolin, wasting and spoiling the same, whereof when the said Leolin was informed, he assembled an host of Welshmen, and comming into the field gaue battell, but the victorie rested on the earle of Penbroks side: so that there were taken and slaine in this bickering to the number of 9000 Welshmen. There was in this yeare a conspiracie also begun by the earle of Chester, and other Noble men, against Hubert de Burgh lord chiefe iustice of England, by whose counsell (as it was thought) the king was more streict towards the nobilitie and other his subiects, in staieng his grant to confirme the charter of liberties, than otherwise he would haue béene, if the same Hubert and other had not aduised him to the contrarie.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The king of Ierusalem commeth into England.]

In this season also Iohn de Bren king of Ierusalem, and the lord great maister of the knights hospitallers came into England, where they were honorablie receiued of king Henrie, and liberally rewarded. The cause of their comming was to require aid of the king for the recouerie of the holie land out of the possession of the Saracens. In like maner about the same time Leolin prince of Northwals, with certeine English lords, as Hugh Lacie and others, vpon an hatred which they bare towards king Henrie for his fathers sake, supposing that so euill a stocke as they tooke him to be, could not bring foorth anie good branch, sought by open warres to bring William Marshall earle of Penbroke and other barons that were faithfull friends to the king vnto their purpose: but the whole countrie rising against them, they were disappointed to their owne confusion, and so they could neuer bring that to passe which they so earnestlie intended.

[Sidenote: The death of the French king.]

[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent into France.]

In this yeare Philip the French king departed this life, and after him succéeded Lewes his sonne, vnto whom king Henrie sent in ambassage the archbishop of Canturburie with thrée other bishops, to require, that (according to his oth made and receiued at his returne out of England) he would restore and deliuer vp to him the dukedome of Normandie, with other such lands and possessions as his father in times past had taken from king Iohn, and still did wrongfullie withhold. K. Lewes answered herevnto, that he held Normandie & the other lands by good right and iust title, as he could well prooue and iustifie, if king Henrie would come to the parlement in France to hear it. And as touching the oth which he had sworne in England, he affirmed that the same was first broken by king Henrie, both in that his men which had béene taken at Lincolne were put to gréeuous ransoms, and also for that their liberties for which the warre first began, were not obserued, but denied to the English subiects, contrarie to that which was concluded at the agréement betwixt them at the same time made.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 8]

Moreouer, king Henrie sent other ambassadours to Rome, who purchased a bull of the pope, whereby he was adiudged to be of age sufficient to receiue the gouernement of the kingdome of England into his owne hands, thereby to order and dispose all things at his pleasure, & by the aduise of such councellours as he should elect and choose to be about him. Wherevpon after the said ambassadours were returned, all those earles, barons and nobles, which held anie castels, honors, manors or places apperteining to the king, were commanded to deliuer and resigne the same to his vse, which caused much trouble, as after shall appeare. For diuerse Noble men, whose harts were filled with couetousnesse, would not obeie the popes order herein, but sore repined; yet not so much against the king as against the lord Hubert de Burgh, by whose councell the king was most led and ruled. And therefore they did put him in all the blame, as one that should set the king against them, and staie him from suffering them to inioy those liberties, which they from time to time so much laboured to haue had to them granted and confirmed.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: The king giueth a gentle answer to his lords.]

Vpon this occasion therfore, they sued to the king for the restitution of the ancient lawes according to his promise, who to pacifie them for the time, gaue them a gentle answer, assuring them, that he would perfourme all that he had promised, so soone as opportunitie would permit and suffer him so to doo. Howbeit, afterwards by the aduise of certeine old councellours, which had béene of the priuie councell with king Iohn his father, he found a shift to disappoint them of their demands, by requiring them on the other side, to restore vnto him those things which they had in times past receiued of his ancestors. Furthermore, bicause he would the more easilie obteine his purpose, and make the residue afraid to follow a suit so displeasant and irkesome, he thought best to begin with the chiefe authors and first procurers of the said petitions, and to take from them whatsoeuer they held belonging to his crowne.

[Sidenote: 1224.]

[Sidenote: The king demanded restitution of parcels of inheritance belonging to the crowne.]

Herevpon therefore assembling a great power about him, he demanded of Ranulph earle of Chester the restitution of certeine lordships which ancientlie apperteined to the crowne of the realme, which earle not being as then able to resist, readilie obeied the kings pleasure, and resigned them all. By this entrance of the king into the execution of his purpose, diuerse of the rest of the barons were brought into such feare, that they were contented also to doo the like, so that by this meanes the lords being cut short and weakened in power, surceased as then from molesting the king anie further with the demand of other lands or liberties.

The archbishop of Canturburie also threatened them with the dart of excommunication, if they went about to disquiet the realme with anie ciuill commotions, though no man was more desirous to haue that matter go forward than he, as appéered by his diligent trauell therein (hoping as now in short processe of time, and that by courteous meanes, to persuade the king to his purpose) but the king droue him off with faire words, and minded nothing lesse than to alter anie one of the lawes which he knew to be profitable to himselfe and his successours after him. Wherevpon diuerse misliking his dealing herein, withdrew themselues secretlie, some into one place, and some into an other, to the intent they might auoid the dailie sight of such abuses, as they for the most part could not well abide to beare.

[Sidenote: Discord betwixt Sauerie de Mauleon and the earle of Salisburie.]

Whilest king Henrie thus politikelie prouided for his affaires at home, Sauerie de Mauleon made prouision in Guien to withstand such perils and dangers as he saw most likelie to issue by the practises of the Frenchmen. But as he was most busilie occupied about the purueiance of such things as should be verie necessarie for his dooings, there sprang a great dissention betwixt him and William the earle of Salisburie, who was sent ouer into that countrie with commission to surueie the state thereof, and by colour of the same commission, tooke vpon him to order all things at his owne pleasure. Whereas the foresaid Sauerie de Mauleon (being a man of high parentage in those parts where he was borne) iudged it to be a matter nothing standing with his honour, that another man should order things at his will and commandement within the countrie, whereof he himselfe had the chiefe charge, as the kings lieutenant; and therefore determined not to suffer it anie longer.

[Sidenote: Sauerie de Mauleon reuolteth to the French king.]

Herevpon verelie arose the contention betwixt them, which the English souldiers that were there, did greatlie increase, fauouring the earle as the kings vncle, and contemning the lieutenant as a stranger borne, by meanes whereof the foresaid Sauerie doubting least if he should fight with his enimies, and through such discord as was now amongst them, be put to the worse, the fault should be laid wholie on his necke: he secretlie departed and fled to Lewes the French king, who was latelie come to the crowne of France by the death of his father king Philip, as you before haue heard: wherein he dwelt wiselie in respect of safetie. For

Quid poterit iusta tutius esse fuga?

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._]

[Sidenote: Fouks de Brent an enimie to rest and quietnesse.]

About the same time Fouks de Brent, being a man of an vnquiet mind, readie to mischiefe and loth to liue in peace (as some saie) conspired against the king of England, and aduertised the king of France that if he would boldlie begin the warres against king Henrie in France, he would not faile but raise warre against him here in the middest of his realme of England, hauing diuerse noble men in a readinesse, that would willinglie take his part. But howsoeuer it fell out, certeine it is that this Fouks hauing fortified his castell of Bedford, attempted manie enterprises greatlie to the preiudice of the kings peace, as well in robbing and spoiling the countrie about him, as otherwise.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Henrie Braibroke taken by Fouks de Brent, and imprisoned.]

And now fearing to be punished therefore by order of law, he shewed his malice against such as had the execution of the same lawes chieflie in their hands. Herevpon he tooke prisoner Henrie Braibroke, one of the kings iustices of his bench, and led him to his castell of Bedford, and there shut him vp close as his lawfull prisoner. Indéed the said Henrie de Braibroke, with Martine de Pateshull, Thomas de Multon, and other of the kings iustices were come to kéepe their circuit at Dunstable. Where, vpon information giuen and presented before them, Fouks de Brent was condemned to the king in great summes of monie. Wherewithall this Fouks tooke such indignation and displeasure, that he commanded his men of warre which laie in the castell of Bedford, to ride vnto Dunstable, and there to apprehend the said iustices, and to bring them vnto Bedford, where (as he said) he meant to commen further with them. But they hauing knowledge of his purpose, fled quicklie out of the towne, séeking to escape euerie man which waie he might best deuise. Howbeit, the souldiers vsed such diligence, that Henrie de Braibroke fell into their hands, & and so was brought captiue to Bedford as their maister had commanded them.

[Sidenote: Bedford castell besieged.]

The king aduertised hereof by the gréeuous complaints of his subiects, was as then at Northampton (where he had assembled his parlement) and thervpon hauing gathered spéedilie a power, with all expedition he hasted towards Bedford. At his comming thither, he besieged the castell on ech side, and at length after two moneths, though not without much adoo, he wan it, and hanged them all which taken within, being in number 80 or aboue: and amongst other William de Brent, the brother of the said Fouks was one. There were but thrée that escaped with life, who were pardoned, vpon condition they should passe into the holie land, there to serue among the Templers. The siege began on the Ascension éeuen, and continued till the 15 daie of August, being the feast daie of the assumption of our ladie.

[Sidenote: He was in the borders of Wales, where the earle of Chester was lord.]

Fouks himselfe, whilest the siege continued, laie aloofe in Cheshire, and on the borders of Wales, as one watching to doo some mischiefe: but after the castell was woone, he got him to Couentrie, and there was yer long apprehended, and brought to the king, of whom he obteined pardon of life, but yet by the whole consent of the nobles and péeres of the realme, he was exiled the land for euermore, and then went to Rome, where he knew to purchase his pardon easilie inough for mony, of crime whatsoeuer he should be iudged culpable. His wife, bicause she neuer consented to his dooings, nor yet willinglie to the marriage had betwixt hir and him, was acquited of all blame, and so likewise was his sonne Thomas.

[Sidenote: The end of Fouks de Brent.]

Howbeit at length the foresaid Fouks, hauing obteined his purpose at Rome (by meanes of his chapleine Robert Paslew an Englishman, who was his sollicitor there) as he returned towards England in the yeare insuing, was poisoned and died by the waie, making so an end of his inconstant life, which from the time that he came to yeares of discretion was neuer bent to quietnes. Which may be reported of him not to his honour or renowme (for alas what fame is gotten by giuing occasions of euill) but to his euerlasting shame and infamie, for the same shall neuer die, but remaine in perpetuall memorie, as one saith right well,

[Sidenote: _Plaut. in Persa._]

Hominum immortalis est infamia,
Etiam tunc viuit cùm esse credas mortuam.

But now to leaue these things and returne to the dooings in France where we left. Ye shall vnderstand, that after Sauerie de Mauleon was reuolted to the French king, the said king with all spéed determined to make warre vpon king Henrie, and to win from him certeine townes and fortresses within the countrie of Poictou.

[Sidenote: _Dunstable._]

The French writers affirme, that king Lewes recouered out of the Englishmens hands the townes of Niort, S. Iohns d'Angeli, & Rochell, before Sauerie de Mauleon reuolted from the French part. In déed, the chronicle of Dunstable saith, that after the truce tooke end, this yeare the French king raised an armie, and tooke Niort, and after they of S. Iohn d'Angeli submitted themselues vnto him. From whence he went to Rochell, within the which at that present was the said Sauerie de Mauleon with seuentie knights, and Richard Graie, with Geffrey Neuill, who had in their retinue sixtie knights. These with the forces of the towne sallied foorth, & encountring with the French armie, slue manie of their aduersaries, and lost some of their owne people. Yet after this, the French K. besieged the towne, and in the end wan it, whilest the king of England being occupied about the besieging of Bedford castell, neglected to send them within Rochell necessarie succours.

[Sidenote: The Poictouins send to king Henrie.]

[Sidenote: Rochel woon.]

But Polydor Virgil writeth, that now after that Sauerie de Mauleon was become the French king his man, the Poictouins sent vnto king Henrie, signifieng, that they were readie to reuolt from the French kings subiection, and yéeld themselues vnto him, if he would send vnto them a power of men to defend their countrie from the French men. Now king Henrie hauing receiued these letters, interteined them that brought this message verie courteouslie, and promising them to send ouer aid with all expedition, he caused his nauie to be made readie for that voiage. In the meane time the French king sent foorth an armie vnder the leading of Sauerie de Mauleon, who then tooke Niort and Rochell, placing in the same sundrie garrisons of souldiers, but chéefelie he fortified Rochell, which had béene long in the Englishmens hands, and alwaies serued them to verie good purpose, for the handsome landing of their people, when any occasion required. The French king therefore hauing got it, fortified it, and meant to kéepe it, to the intent the Englishmen should not haue hereafter in time of warre, so necessarie a place for their arriuall in those coasts.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 9.]

[Sidenote: A parlement.]

[Sidenote: 1225.]

[Sidenote: A fiftéenth granted to the king.]

[Sidenote: Magna Charta and Charta de Forresta confirmed.]

King Henrie holding his Christmasse at Westminster, called his high court of parlement there the same time, and demanded a reléefe of monie, toward the maintenance of his warres in France, and had granted to him the fiftéenth penie in value of all the mooueable goods to be found within the realme, as well belonging to the spiritualtie as temporaltie, but vnder condition that he should confirme vnto his subiects their often demanded liberties. The king vpon desire to haue the monie, was contented to condescend vnto their requests, and so the two charters were made, and by the king confirmed, the one intituled Magna Charta, & the other Chart de Forresta. Thus at this parlement were made and confirmed these good lawes and laudable ordinances, which haue béene from time to time by the kings and princes of this realme confirmed, so that a great part of the law now in vse dependeth of the same. The same charters also were directed and sent foorth into euerie countie within the realme to be proclaimed.

[Sidenote: Forrests.]

It was moreouer decréed, that at a certeine daie after Easter, there should be an inquisition taken by the inquest of a substantiall iurie, for the seuering of forrests, the new from the old, so as all those grounds which had béene made forrests, since the daies of king Henrie the grandfather of this Henrie the third, should be disforrested. And therevpon after Easter, Hugh de Neuill, and Brian de Lisle, were sent foorth as commissioners, to take that inquisition. By force whereof, manie woods were asserted and improoued to arable land by the owners, and so not onelie men, but also dogs, which for safegard of the game were accustomed to lose their clawes, had good cause to reioise for these confirmed liberties.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: Thrée hundred saith Gaguin.]

[Sidenote: Townes woon by the Englishmen.]

[Sidenote: The earle of Marsh, saith _Matth. Paris._]

In the meane time, and about the feast of the purification, king Henrie (hauing iust occasion to pursue the warre, for recouerie of those townes taken, as before you haue heard by the Frenchmen) sent ouer his brother Richard, whom he had made earle of Cornewall and Poictou, with a mightie nauie of ships vnto Gascoigne. This earle, hauing in his companie the earle of Salisburie, Philip de Albenie, and others, with prosperous wind and weather arriued at Burdeaux with foure hundred sailes, and there landing his men, went straight vnto the towne of saint Machaire, situated vpon the banke of Garon, where, vpon his first comming, he gat the castell, and sacked the towne, and then passing further, wan diuerse other townes, as Longuile, Bergerat, and other, and after went with great diligence to besiege and recouer Rochell, or rather Rioll. The French king aduertised of the earls arriuall, and of these his atchiued enterprises, sent foorth by and by the earle of Champaigne with a mightie armie into Guien to aid his people there.

[Sidenote: The Frenchmen taken at aduantage.]

[Sidenote: The earle of Cornewall raiseth his siege from the Rioll.]

[Sidenote: The death of the earle of Salisburie.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

The earle of Cornewall vnderstanding of the comming of that French armie, tooke a part of his host, and therewithall went to méet his enimies, and lieng in ambush for them by the way, had them at a good aduantage, and slue great numbers of them. After this, the earle of Champaigne kéeping his men within their trenches and campe, without attempting anie other exploit, the earle of Cornewall thought it sufficient, if he might kéepe the Gascoignes in obedience, which had alreadie practised a rebellion, by sending letters and messengers for the same intent vnto the French king, and therefore breaking vp his siege before the Rioll, he staied a while from exploiting any further enterprise. About the same time, the earle of Salisburie returning homwards out of Gascoigne, was so tossed and turmoiled on the seas by tempests of weather, that he fell sicke therof, and within a few daies after his arriuall died.

[Sidenote: Préests concubines forbidden christian buriall.]

¶ This yeare also, there came foorth a decrée from the archbishop of Canturburie, and his suffragans, that the concubines of préests and clearkes within orders (for so were their wiues then called in contempt of their wedlocke) should be denied of christian buriall, except they repented whilest they were aliue in perfect health, or else shewed manifest tokens of repentance at the time of their deaths. The same decrée also prohibited them from the receiuing of the pax at masse time, & also of holie bread after masse, so long as the préests kept them in their houses, or vsed their companie publikelie out of their houses. Moreouer, that they should not be purified when they should be deliuered of child, as other good women were, vnlesse they found sufficient suertie to the archdeacon, or his officiall, to make satisfaction at the next chapter or court to be holden, after they should be purified. And the préests should be suspended, which did not present all such their concubines as were resident within their parishes. Also, all such women as were conuict to haue dealt carnallie with a préest were appointed by the same decrée to doo open penance. Where the question may be asked, whether this decrée was extended to préests wiues or no? Wherevnto answer may be made, that as a quadrangle in geometrie compriseth in it a triangle, and a quaternion in arithmetike conteineth a ternion; so in logike a vniuersall proposition comprehendeth a particular. But it is said here, that all such women as had carnal knowledge with a préest, were to be punished, therefore some, and consequentlie all préests wiues. But yet this séemeth not to be the meaning of that decrée, for préests were allowed no wiues, naie Sericius the pope iudged that all such of the cleargie as had wiues could not please God, bicause they were in carne, which words he and the residue of that litter restreined to marriage, admitting in no case that churchmen should inioy the rights of matrimonie. Wherin they offer God great iniurie, in séeking to limit that large institution of wedlocke, wherein all estates are interressed; and they séeme likewise to bridle nature, and to compell hir within certeine precincts, wherein they offer intollerable iniurie to all mankind, considering that

----ad venerem compellimur exercendam
Non modò nos, verùm omne animal, terræq; marísq;
Naturæ imperio: facias peiora necesse est,
Si non foeminei sorberis ab ore barathri.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 10.]

[Sidenote: A legat from the pope.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

This yeare, or (as some saie) in the next, the king granted to the citizens of London frée warren, that is to saie, libertie to hunt within a certeine circuit about London, & that all weires in the Thames should be plucked vp and destroied. Also in this tenth yeare of his reigne, king Henrie granted to the citizens of London, that they might haue and vse a common seale. About the time of the making of which ordinances, Otho the cardinall of S. Nicholas in Carcere Tulliano came as legat from pope Honorius into England to king Henrie, presenting him with letters from the pope. The tenour whereof when the king had well considered, he declared to the legat, that without the whole assent of the estates of his realme, he could doo little in that which the pope as then required.

[Sidenote: A parlement called.]

Herevpon therefore he caused a parlement to be summoned at Westminster, there to be holden in the octaues of the Epiphanie: this legat also mooued the king in the behalfe of Fouks de Brent, that he might be restored to his possessions, and inioy his wife as before time he had doone: but the king declared that for his manifest treason committed he was iustlie exiled, and not onlie by his, but by the sentence of the nobles and other estates of the whole realme: which answer when the legat had heard, he left off to solicit the king for Fouks, and from thencefoorth talked no more of that matter. Shortlie after by waie of proxie, the said legat gathered a dutie which he claimed of the spiritualtie, that was of euerie conuentuall church within the realme two markes of siluer.

[Sidenote: 1226.]

[Sidenote: The king is sicke.]

In this yeare the king held his Christmasse at Winchester, and after comming to Marlebridge, chanced there to fall sicke, so that he laie in despaire of life for certeine daies togither. In the meane time also came the daie appointed for the parlement to begin at Westminster, where the legat and other of the spiritualtie and temporaltie being assembled, the said Otho shewed the popes letters, and according to the tenour and purport of the same, was earnestlie in hand to haue the priests to grant the yearlie paiment of a certeine pension or tribute to the pope, towards the maintenance of his estate, which they generallie denied. When he saw that this bait would not take, he onelie demanded a tenth part of all their spirituall liuings for maintenance of the wars against the Saracens, which was easilie granted, as more reasonable than the first.

[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The cardinals request.]

¶ Here by diuerse credible writers of good credit, it should appeare, that the pope demanded to haue assigned vnto him out of euerie cathedrall church two prebends, one out of the portion belonging to the bishop, & an other out of the portion belonging to the deane and chapiter: and likewise of the abbeies, where there were seuerall portions, that is to saie, so much of the conuent as belonged to the finding of one moonke, and as much also of euerie abbats liuing as should counteruaile the same. The cardinall vsed iollie persuasions to induce the prelats to assent to this grant, alledging that the church of Rome was run in great slander for taking of monie in dispatch of suiters causes, which arose by meanes there was no maintenance of liuing sufficient for the churchmen there: and therefore he added, how it was the parts of naturall children to reléeue the necessitie of their louing mother, and that except the charitable deuotion of them and other good and well disposed persons were shortlie extended, they should want necessarie maintenance for the sustentation of their liues, which shuld be altogither an vnséemlie thing for the dignitie of the Romane church.

[Sidenote: The answer of Iohn the archdeacon of Bedford.]

The clergie resorting togither to take aduise what answer they should make, at length vpon their resolute determination, Iohn the archdeacon of Bedford was appointed to tell the tale for them all: who comming before the cardinall, declared boldlie vnto him, that the demand which he had proponed, touched the king especiallie, and generallie all the nobilitie of the realme, which were patrons of anie churches. He added furthermore, how the archbishops and bishops, and manie other of the prelats of England (sithens the king by reason of his sicknesse could not be there) were also absent, so that they which were there present, being but as it were the inferiour part of the house, neither might nor ought to make anie resolute answer as then in this matter. Immediatlie herewith also came the lord Iohn Marshall, and other messengers from the king vnto all the prelats that held anie baronies of the king, streightlie commanding them, that they should in no wise bind and indanger his lai fée vnto the church of Rome, whereby he might be depriued of his due and accustomed seruices, and so euerie man herevpon departed and went home.

[Sidenote: _Fabian._]

[Sidenote: A grant to the citizens of London.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

This yeare, the plées of the crowne were pleaded in the tower of London. And on the sixtéenth daie of March in this tenth yeare of his reigne, the king granted by his charter insealed, that the citizens of London should passe toll frée through all England, and if anie of them were constreined in anie citie, borough or towne within the realme, to paie toll, that then the shiriffes of London might attach anie man of the said citie, borough or towne, where such toll was exacted, being found within the liberties of London, and him reteine with his goods and cattels, till the citizens that paid such toll were satisfied, by restitution of the same, with all costs and charges susteined in the suit. Howbeit, about the same time, the king constreined the Londoners to giue vnto him the summe of fiue thousand marks as a fine, for that they had aided and succoured his aduersarie Lewes against him, and lent to the said Lewes at his departure out of the realme a like summe. But it may rather be thought they gaue vnto the king the said fiue thousand marks for his fauour shewed in granting vnto them the aboue mentioned fréedome and liberties. At the same time, he had also twelue hundred pounds of the burgesses of Northampton, besides the fiftéenth, which not onelie they, but also the Londoners, and all other generallie through the realme, paid accordinglie as it was granted.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 11. 1227.]

[Sidenote: A parlement at Oxford. The king of lawfull age.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: The charters cancelled.]

In Februarie, the king called a parlement at Oxford, in the which he made open declaration vnto all the assemblie, that he was now of lawfull age to gouerne of himselfe, without anie to haue rule ouer him, and so whereas before he was gouerned first by the earle of Penbroke lord protectour, whilest he liued, & after by the bishop of Winchester and others, he now remooued them from him by the counsell of the lord chéefe iustice, taking the regiment wholie to himselfe, & to such as should please him from thencefoorth to appoint. Also in the same parlement, he did cancell and disanull the two charters before mentioned, after that the same had béene vsed through the realme for the space of two yeares, pretending them to be of no value sith they were sealed and signed whilest he was vnder age. This déed of the king was gréeuouslie taken, and all the blame put in the lord chiefe iustice. Herewith all such also as claimed anie manner charters of liberties, were appointed to remooue the same (a practise onelie to get monie) and to get them confirmed with the kings new seale, the old being made void and pronounced of none effect.

[Sidenote: The death of Lewes the French king.]

[Sidenote: The earle of Marsh commeth ouer to the king and offereth him his seruice.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

In this yeare died the French king Lewes the eighth, and his son Lewes the ninth sucéeded him, a child of twelue yeares of age, by reason of whose infancie diuerse péeres of the realme began to withdraw their obedience from him, as Theobald earle of Champaigne, Hugh earle of Marsh, and Peter duke of Britaine. Howbeit, the earle of Champaigne was easilie reduced againe to his former obedience, by the high wisedome and policie of the quéene mother, who had the gouernement of hir sonne the yoong king and his realme committed vnto hir. But the earle of Marsh constant in his purpose, came ouer to king Henrie, whose mother he had married, and declared vnto him, that now was the time for him to recouer those places, which king Philip had vniustlie taken from his father king Iohn: and to bring the same to passe, he offered himselfe and all that he could make, in the furthering of this voiage. The K. being thus pricked forward with the earle of Marsh his words, determined without delaie to take in hand the warre.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent into France.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

¶ Here authors varie, for some write, that king Henrie sent ouer certeine persons, as the archbishop of Yorke, the bishop of Careleill, and the Lord Philip Dalbenie, to vnderstand the minds of the Normans, the Britains and Poictouins. And for that those that were sent, brought word againe that the said people were not greatlie minded to forsake the French gouernment, he surceassed from attempting any exploit at that time. Others write, that gathering a great summe of monie of his subiects, towards the maintenance of his charges, he prepared a nauie of ships, and sailed ouer with the said earle of Marsh into Britaine, and there wasted the confines of the French dominions, and that when the French king was readie with an armie to succour his subiects, he suddenlie retired to his ships, and returned into England, without atchiuing anie enterprise worthie of remembrance, so that whether he went himselfe or sent, it forceth not: for certeine it is that he profited nothing at that seson, either by sending messengers to procure him fréendship, or by going ouer himselfe to make an entrie to the warres.

[Sidenote: The earle of Cornewall returneth home.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The earle of Cornewall.]

When the French affaires were thus at a staie, within a few moneths after, Richard earle of Cornewall returned foorth of Gascoigne into England, and shortlie after, bicause he heard and was crediblie informed, that a certeine manour place which Walerane the Duchman, capteine of Berkhamstéed castell held, by the gift and assignement of king Iohn, apperteined to his earledome of Cornewall, he seized the castell into his hands. So that Walerane being thus dispossessed, exhibited his bill of complaint to the king, who incontinentlie sent to the earle, commanding him to make restitution, which he vtterlie refused to doo. But foorthwith, comming to the king, and without reteining any aduocate, he declared his right which he offered to auerre in open presence, & in any of the kings courts, before whatsoeuer péeres of the realme should be there assembled.

[Sidenote: He departeth from the court secretlie.]

[Sidenote: He ioineth himselfe with the earles of Chester and Penbroke and others.]

[Sidenote: They méet at Stamford with an armie.]

This addition [the péeres of the realme] nothing pleased the king and his councell, namelie the lord chéefe iustice, by whose aduice the king meant to haue apprehended the earle the same night, after he was withdrawne to his lodging. But the earle warned thereof, secretlie departed, accompanied onelie with one man, and neuer drew bridle out of his horsses mouth, vntill he came to Reading (whither his seruants resorted to him) and from thence he rode straight to Marlebridge, where he found his deare fréend William earle Marshall, to whome he did impart the danger likelie to haue befallen him. Then they drew to the earle of Chester, & taking order with him for the raising of an armie, there met shortlie after at Stamford the persons whose names hereafter insue; Ranulfe earle of Chester, William Marshall earle of Penbroke, Richard earle of Cornewall the kings brother, Gilbert earle of Glocester, William earle Warren, Henrie earle of Hereford, William earle Ferrers, William earle of Warwike, and diuerse barons, lords and knights, hauing there with them a great puissance of warlike personages.

[Sidenote: A day appointed to méet at Northampt[=o], for a treatie of pacification.]

[Sidenote: The kings grant to his brother.]

The king hauing vnderstanding as well of their demeanor, as also what they required by their letters and messengers to him dailie sent, thought good for a time to pacifie their furie, and therevpon appointed a day at Northampton, where he would méet, and minister such iustice vnto them, as should be thought reasonable, and to stand with their good willes and contentation. Wherevpon, the parties comming to Northampton at the day assigned, he granted to the earle his brother (at the instant desire of the lords) all his mothers dowrie, with all those lands which belonged to the earle of Britaine within England, and withall, those lands also that apperteined to the earle of Bullongne deceassed. Thus the matter being pacified, euerie man departed to his home, whereas if the king had béene froward (as he was mild and patient, knowing that

[Sidenote: _Val. Flac. lib. 4._]

----non solis viribus æquum
Credere, sæpè acri potior prudentia dextra)

warres had immediatlie béene raised betwixt them, namelie, bicause manie of the lords bare a secret grudge towards the king, for that he had reuoked certeine liberties which in the begining of his reigne he had granted to be holden, though now to take awaie the enuie which might be conceiued towards him for his dooing, he alledged, that he did not infringe any thing that he had then granted, but such things as his gouernours had suffered to passe whilest he was vnder age, and not ruler of himselfe: he caused them therefore to redéeme manie of the same priuileges, whereby he gained great finance for the setting to of his new seale (as before yée haue heard declared.)

[Sidenote: The pope exhorteth the christians to make a iournie against the Saracens.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ sixtie thous[=a]d.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

Moreouer, in this yeare there were sent certeine persons from pope Gregorie the ninth (that succéeded Honorius) into all the parts of Europe, to mooue by preaching the christian people to make a iournie into the holie land against the Saracens. Such a multitude by means hereof did assemble togither from all parts, and that within a short time, as the like had sildome times béene heard of. It is said, that amongst them there should be to the number of fortie thousand Englishmen, of whome Peter bishop of Winchester, and William bishop of Excester were the chéefe. Capteins also of that great multitude of crossed souldiers that went foorth of sundrie countries were these, Theobald earle of Champaigne, and Philip de Albenie, through whose negligence the sequele of this noble enterprise came but to small effect. But to procéed.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 12. 1228.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Weights and measures.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: Hubert de Burgh created earle of Kent.]

About this time the king minding the benefit of the common-wealth, caused the weights and measures generallie within the land to be reformed after one standard. Furthermore, he created Hubert de Burgh earle of Kent, the which Hubert how much praise so euer he got at the beginning for his valiancie shewed in the defending of Douer castell, and in vanquishing the French fléet that was comming to the succour of Lewes by battell on the sea, it is certeine, that now he purchased himselfe double as much hatred and euill will, bicause that being of secret councell with the king, and thereby after a sort sequestred from the lords, he was knowne to dissuade the said prince from restoring of the ancient lawes and customes vnto the people, which the barons oft required: whereby it came to passe, that the more he grew in fauour with the prince, the further he came into the enuie of the Nobilitie, and hatred of the people, which is a common reward to such as in respect of their maister doo little regard the profit of others, as the prouerbe saith,

Plus quis honoratur hostis tum multiplicatur.

[Sidenote: Stephan archbishop of Canterburie departed this life. Richard Wethersheid elected in his place.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Walter Helmesham.]

Furthermore, vpon the ninth of Iulie Stephan the archbishop of Canturburie died, after he had gouerned that sée the terme of 21 yeares, after whome succéeded Richard Wethersheid deane of Paules, who was the thrée and fortith archbishop of that sée. The moonks of Canturburie had first elected one of their owne conuent, named Walter Helmesham: which election was made by the same moonks the third daie of August next insuing the death of their said archbishop Stephan, but the king would not consent that he should haue the place for diuerse causes, which he obiected: as first, for that he knew him to be such a man as should be vnprofitable, both to him and to his kingdome. Secondlie, bicause his father was a théefe, and thereof being conuict, suffered death vpon the gallowes. Thirdlie, for that he himselfe had stood against king Iohn in time of the interdiction.

[Sidenote: A new trouble about the election of the archbishop of Canturburie.]

[Sidenote: _Fabian._]

On the other side, the bishops suffragans to the church of Canturburie obiected also against him, that he had vsed the familiar companie of a nunne, and begot of hir certeine children. Moreouer they alledged, that no election without their consent, could be good, nor ought to take place. But the moonke making his appeale, stood in it, and taking with him certeine of his fellow moonks of Canturburie, went to Rome, and there made supplication to the pope, that his election by his authoritie might be ratified and confirmed. Whereof the king and the other bishops being aduertised, did put their objections in writing vnder their seales, & sent the same to Rome to be exhibited to the pope by the bishops of Westchester and Rochester, and Iohn the archdeacon of Bedford, who vsed such means, that his election was iudged void, & then the said Richard Wethersheid was out of hand elected & confirmed. In that yeare also, a grant was made to the citizens of London, that they should haue and vse a common seale.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: The earle of March worketh to induce the Normans & Poictouins to fauour the king of England.]

[Sidenote: The Normans write to the king of England.]