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Holinshed's Chronicles, vol. 2 of 6, slice 07 of 12: England, 1199-1217, John

by Raphael Holinshed · English · Gutenberg #45526 · 329,756 chars · public domain (US)

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Holinshed's Chronicles, vol. 2 of 6, slice 07 of 12: England, 1199-1217, John
    
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Title: Holinshed's Chronicles, vol. 2 of 6, slice 07 of 12: England, 1199-1217, John

Author: Raphael Holinshed


        
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOLINSHED'S CHRONICLES, VOL. 2 OF 6, SLICE 07 OF 12: ENGLAND, 1199-1217, JOHN ***

Iohn the yongest sonne of Henrie the second.


[Sidenote: An. Reg. 1.]

[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ Chinon. Robert de Turneham. Sawmer.]

[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._ Thomas de Furnes.]

Iohn the yoongest son of Henrie the second was proclaimed king of
England, beginning his reigne the sixt daie of Aprill, in the yeare
of our Lord 1199, the first of Philip emperour of Rome, and the 20 of
Philip king of France, K. William as yet liuing in gouernement ouer
the Scots. This man so soone as his brother Richard was deceased,
sent Hubert archbishop of Canturburie, and William Marshall earle of
Striguill (otherwise called Chepstow) into England, both to proclaime
him king, and also to sée his peace kept, togither with Geffrey Fitz
Peter lord chéefe justice, and diuerse other barons of the realme,
whilest he himselfe went to Chinon where his brothers treasure laie,
which was foorthwith deliuered vnto him by Robert de Turneham: and
therewith all the castel of Chinon and Sawmer and diuerse other
places, which were in the custodie of the foresaid Robert. But Thomas
de Furnes nephue to the said Robert de Turneham deliuered the citie
and castell of Angiers vnto Arthur duke of Britaine. For by generall
consent of the nobles and péeres of the countries of Aniou, Maine, and
Touraine, Arthur was receiued as the liege and souereigne lord of the
same countries.

[Sidenote: Strife amongst the English subiects on the other side of the
sea.]

For euen at this present, and so soone as it was knowne that king
Richard was deceased, diuerse cities and townes on that side of the
sea belonging to the said Richard whilest he liued, fell at ods among
themselues, some of them indeuouring to preferre king John, other
labouring rather to be vnder the gouernance of Arthur duke of Britaine,
considering that he séemed by most right to be their chéefe lord,
forsomuch as he was sonne to Geffrey elder brother to John. And thus
began the broile in those quarters, whereof in processe of time insued
great inconuenience, and finallie the death of the said Arthur, as
shall be shewed hereafter.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ The states assembled at Northampton.]

Now whilest king John was thus occupied in recouering his brothers
treasure, and traueling with his subiects to reduce them to his
obedience, quéene Elianor his mother by the helpe of Hubert archbishop
of Canturburie and other of the noble men and barons of the land,
trauelled as diligentlie to procure the English people to receiue their
oth of allegiance to be true to king John. For the said archbishop and
William Marshall earle of Striguill, being sent ouer into England (as
before you haue heard) to proclaime him king, and to kéepe the land
in quiet, assembled the estates of the realme at Northampton, where
Geffrey Fitz Peter lord chéefe iustice was present with other of the
Nobles, afore whom those lords whose fidelities were earst suspected,
willinglie tooke their oths of obedience to the new king, and were
assured by the same lords on his behalfe, that they should find him
a liberall, a noble and a righteous prince, and such a one as would
sée that euerie man should inioy his owne, and such as were knowne to
be notorious transgressors, should be sure to receiue their condigne
punishment.

[Sidenote: Eustace Vescie sent into Scotland.]

They sent Eustace de Vescie also vnto William king of Scotland, to
signifie to him, that king John vpon his arriuall in England, would
satisfie him of all such right as he pretended to haue within the
English dominions. And thus was king John accompted and proclaimed
king of England by the generall consent of all the lords and barons of
the same. The names of the chéefe of those péeres that were sworne (as
you haue heard) are as followeth. Dauid earle of Huntington brother
vnto William king of Scots, Richard earle of Clare, Ranulfe earle of
Chester, William earle of Tutberie or rather Darbie, Walran earle of
Warwike, Roger Lacie constable of Chester, and William de Mowbraie,
with diuerse other, whose names I here omit, bicause I would not be
tedious and irksome to the readers.

Now the king of Scotland being informed by the lord Eustace Vescie (who
had maried his daughter) that there was some hope to be had on his
part, for the recouerie of such seigniories as he and his predecessours
somtime held in England, did further dispatch sundrie ambassadours with
full purpose to send them ouer into Normandie vnto king John, there to
require restitution of the countries of Northumberland and Cumberland,
with their appurtenances, and he promised also by his letters, that
if the same might be granted vnto him, in as ample manner as they had
béene in times past to his ancestors, he would gladlie doo his homage
to king John, as to the true & lawfull king of England for the same,
and furthermore yéeld to him his faithfull seruice against all men, so
often as he should be required thervnto. Howbeit when the archbishop
of Canturburie and the rest of the councell, vnderstood that these
ambassadors should passe through England, they would not suffer them
so to doo, but spéedilie sent Dauid earle of Huntington into Scotland
vnto the king his brother, requiring him earnestlie that he would not
send any ambassadours ouer as yet, but rather tarie, and take patience
a while, till the king should come ouer into England: which (as they
said) he purposed to doo verie shortlie.

King John also hauing vnderstanding of his purpose, sent ouer the said
lord Eustace againe vnto him with the like request, who in such wise
persuaded him, that he was contented to abide a time, in hope of the
better successe in his late attempted suit. And all this was doone
chéeflie by the working of the kings mother, whom the nobilitie much
honoured and loued. For she being bent to prefer hir sonne John, left
no stone vnturned to establish him in the throne, comparing oftentimes
the difference of gouernement betwéene a king that is a man, and a king
that is but a child. For as John was 32 yeares old, so Arthur duke
of Britaine was but a babe to speake of. In the end, winning all the
nobilitie wholie vnto hir will, and séeing the coast to be cleare on
euerie side, without any doubt of tempestuous weather likelie to arise,
she signified the whole matter vnto K. John, who foorthwith framed all
his indeuours to the accomplishment of his businesse.

[Sidenote: Quéene Elianors enuie against Arthur.]

[Sidenote: Constance dutchesse of Britaine.]

Surelie quéene Elianor the kings mother was sore against hir nephue
Arthur, rather mooued thereto by enuie conceiued against his mother,
than vpon any iust occasion giuen in the behalfe of the child, for that
she saw if he were king, how his mother Constance would looke to beare
most rule within the realme of England, till hir sonne should come to
lawfull age, to gouerne of himselfe. ¶ So hard it is to bring women to
agrée in one mind, their natures commonlie being so contrarie, their
words so variable, and their déeds so vndiscréet. And therfore it was
well said of one (alluding to their disposition and qualities,

[Sidenote: _Prep. lib. 2._]

    ----nulla diu foemina pondus habet.)

[Sidenote: Quéene Elianor passeth into Normandie.]

[Sidenote: The citie of Mauns take. _Matth._ _Paris._ _R. Houed._]

When this dooing of the quéene was signified vnto the said Constance,
she doubting the suertie of hir sonne, committed him to the trust
of the French king, who receiuing him into his tuition, promised to
defend him from all his enimies, and foorthwith furnished the holds in
Britaine with French souldiers. Quéene Elianor being aduertised hereof,
stood in doubt by and by of hir countrie of Guien, and therefore with
all possible spéed passed ouer the sea, and came to hir sonne John
into Normandie, and shortlie after they went foorth togither into the
countrie of Maine, and there tooke both the citie and castell of Mauns,
throwing downe the wals and turrets therof, with all the fortifications
and stonehouses in and about the same, and kept the citizens as
prisoners, bicause they had aided Arthur against his vncle John.

[Sidenote: K. John inuested duke of Normandie.]

[Sidenote: The citie of Angiers taken.]

After this, king John entring into Aniou, held his Easter at Beaufort
(which feast fell that yeare the 18 day of Aprill) and from thence he
went streight vnto Rouen, where on the sundaie next after Easter being
S. Marks day, he was girded with the sword of the dutchie of Normandie
in the high church there by the hands of Walter archbishop of Rouen.
And so being inuested duke of Normandie, receiued the oth according
to the custome, that he should defend the church, and mainteine the
liberties thereof, sée iustice ministred, good lawes put in execution,
and naughtie lawes and orders abolished. In the meane time his mother
quéene Elianor, togither with capteine Marchades entred into Aniou,
and wasted the same, bicause they of that countrie had receiued Arthur
for their souereigne lord and gouernour. And amongst other townes
and fortresses, they tooke the citie of Angiers, slue manie of the
citizens, and committed the rest to prison.

This enterprise being thus luckilie atchiued, the residue of the people
in those parties were put in such feare, that of their owne accord
they turned to their woonted obedience, séeming as though they would
continue still therein. The French king all this while conceiuing
an other exploit in his head, more commodious vnto him than as yet
to attempt warre against the Englishmen vpon so light an occasion,
dissembled the matter for a time, as though he would know nothing of
all that was doone, till the king should be otherwise occupied in
England about his coronation.

[Sidenote: K. John commeth ouer into England.]

In the meane season king John hauing set some stay in his businesse
on the further side of the sea, he left his mother still in Guien, to
defend that countrie against the enimies, and taking the sea, came ouer
himselfe into England, landing at Shorham, the 25 day of Maie. On the
next day, being Ascension éeue, he came to London there to receiue the
crowne. On the morow after being Ascension daie, when the Nobilitie
and commons were assembled, and the king brought into the church of
S. Peter at Westminster there to receiue his diademe; Hubert the
archbishop of Canturburie being chéefe in authoritie and honour, both
for his age and calling, spake these words or the like in substance
before the whole assemblie, as followeth.


Hubert the archbishop of Canturburies oration to the lords spirituall
and temporall in the presence of the king, &c.

Most honorable lords of the spiritualtie, and most graue and politike
péeres and barons of the temporaltie, you are come hither this day to
choose you a king, and such a one as (if néed should require) may be
able of himselfe to take such a charge vpon him, and (hauing vndertaken
the same) readie to execute that which he shall thinke to be expedient
for the profit of his subiects: we haue therefore one present héere
among vs, vpon whome harts and good willes of high and low, rich and
poore, doo generallie depend: a man I doubt not, but that for his owne
part will applie his whole endeuour, studie, and thought vnto that
onelie end, which he shall perceiue to be most profitable for the
common-wealth, as knowing himselfe to be borne not to serue his owne
turne, but for to profit his countrie, and to séeke for the generall
benefit of vs that are his subiects.

And albeit I am sure that you doo well know, how all these qualities
are most abundantlie planted in the person of John duke of Normandie
(a person of high prowesse and no lesse prudence, for the which yée
ought to iudge him right worthie of the gouernement) yet béeing in
doubt least the common fame should carrie you awaie, or least you
should turne your minds to the fauour of an other, as in respect of
some better right, by title of a more lawfull descent of inheritance
pretended by others than he hath to shew, I require you to giue eare
vnto my words: who bearing the state of two manner of persons, ought to
be profitable to my countrie, not onelie by example and exhortation,
but also by loialtie and good counsell, which hitherto I haue euer
studied to performe, and wherein (God willing) I meane to persist, so
long as I shall continue in this mortall and transitorie tabernacle.

Therefore whereas at this present we haue in hand to conclude vpon such
a weitie matter, which béeing once doone, cannot be vndoone, I commend
vnto you this John, euen with all my verie heart, and iudge that you
ought to accept him for your king, who in all things which he shall
ordeine, purpose, or take in hand, shall not faile so to answer your
opinions with his well dooing, and so satisfie your good expectations
alreadie conceiued of him with his diligent prouidence, that all the
whole realme shall not onelie like of and allow your dooing héerin, but
also with high commendation extoll the same to the verie stars. These
things do I promise vnto you, and so farforth as in me may lie, I dare
take vpon me all chances and perils that may procéed thereof.

       *       *       *       *       *

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: _Reg. Houed._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Additions to _Iohn Pike_.]

When the archbishop had ended his speach, diuerse held their peace,
and manie with great zeale saluted king John, whom the same daie the
said archbishop crowned at Westminster, after the maner then vsed with
great solemnitie, and no lesse reioising of all such as were present.
At the same time also he receiued the homages of the lords and barons
of the realme, and promised with all spéed to haue consideration of
things that apperteined as well to religion as to the due execution of
laws, whereby euerie man might come to inioie that which was his owne,
by right and due course of iustice. We find that there were present at
this solemnitie and coronation of king John, which was celebrated on
the Ascension day the 27 of Maie, archbishops and bishops to the number
of seauentéene, as Hubert archbishop of Canturburie, John archbishop
of Dubline, also the archbishop of Raguse, William bishop of London,
Gilbert bishop of Rochester, John bishop of Norwich, Hugh bishop of
Lincolne, Eustace bishop of Elie, Godfrey bishop of Winchester, Henrie
bishop of Exeter, Sefride bishop of Chichester, Godfrey bishop of
Couentrie, Sauarie bishop of Bath, Herbert bishop of Salisburie, Philip
bishop of Duresme, Roger bishop of saint Andrew in Scotland, and Henrie
bishop of Landaffe in Wales. The bishop of Duresme found himselfe
somewhat gréeued in the matter, making obiections, that the coronation
ought not to be celebrated without the presence of Geffrey archbishop
of Yorke: but it preuailed not.

[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._]

[Sidenote: Willi[=a]m Marshall earle of Striguille.]

[Sidenote: Geffrey Fitz Peter created earle of Essex.]

Besides these bishops, there were of the temporall lords and earles,
Robert of Leicester, Richard of Clare, William of Tutburie, Hamlin of
Warren, William of Salisburie, William of Chepstow otherwise called
Striguille, Walran of Warwike, Roger Bigot, William of Arundell, and
Ranulfe of Chester, with manie other barons, lords, knights, and no
small multitudes of gentlemen and other common people. The same daie of
his coronation also, he inuested William Marshall with the sword of the
earledome of Striguille, and Geffrey Fitz Peter, with the sword of the
earledome of Essex. For although they were called earles, and exercised
the administration of their earledoms; yet were they not till that daie
girded with the sword of those earledoms, and so that day they serued
at the table with their swords girded vnto them.

[Sidenote: The archb. of Canturburie made lord chancellour.]

In like maner, Hubert the archbishop of Canturburie was made lord
chancellour of England; who as he vttered some words vnaduisedlie, that
shewed how he inwardlie reioised at the kings fauour toward him in
the gift of this office, and so gloried in the honour whereto he was
preferred (which he would neuer haue doone, if he had weied of worldlie
pompe as by his profession he ought, and as one asketh the question in
the same case:

    ----dic mini, nunquid
    Corporibus prosunt? certè nil; dic animísue?
    Tantundem, &c.)

[Sidenote: The saieng of the lord Bardolfe.]

[Sidenote: Ambassadors from the king of Scots.]

the lord Hugh Bardolfe said vnto him, yet not so softlie in his
eare, but that some ouerheard it; "My lord, to speake and not offend
you, suerlie if you would well consider the dignitie and honor of
your calling, you would not willinglie yéeld to suffer this yoke of
bondage to be laid vpon your shoulders, for we haue oftentimes heard
of a chancellour made an archbishop, but neuer an archbishop made a
chancellour till now." The coronation being thus ended, it was not
long yer there came ambassadors from the Scotish king, namelie William
the prior of May, William the prior of saint Colmes Ins, and one
William Hay, the which on the behalfe of the said Scotish king required
restitution of Northumberland and Cumberland, with the appurtenances,
promising that if the same were restored to him, he would serue
the king of England with all his power against all men then aliue;
otherwise, that is, if he could not haue those countries, which of
right to him apperteined by law, as he pretended, he would doo the best
he could to recouer them by force.

King John made answer héerevnto, that if his coosen the king of Scots
would come vnto him, he should be assured to receiue at his hands all
that was reason, as well in those demands, as in all other things. He
also sent to him the bishop of Duresme, to require him to come vnto
Notingham, where he would méet with him. Howbeit, king William refused
to come himselfe as then, but sent the bishop of saint Andrew, and
Hugh Malebisse to follow his suit, with promise to absteine from any
forceable inuasion of England, by the space of fortie daies, so that
he might within that terme haue some resolute answer from king John,
wherevnto he might stand either on the one side or the other.

[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]

[Sidenote: The French K. inuadeth Normandie.]

[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._]

Whilest these things were a dooing in England, Philip K. of France
hauing leuied an armie, brake into Normandie, and tooke the citie of
Eureux, the towne of Arques, and diuerse other places from the English.
And passing from thence into Maine, he recouered that countrie latelie
before through feare alienated. In an other part, an armie of Britains
with great diligence wan the townes of Gorney, Buteuant and Gensolin,
and following the victorie, tooke the citie of Angiers, which king John
had woon from duke Arthur, in the last yeare passed. These things being
signified to king John he thought to make prouision for the recouerie
of his losses there, with all spéed possible. And therevpon perceiuing
that the Scotish king meant not to méet with him at Notingham whither
he was come, and where he kept the feast of Whitsuntide, he determined
to passe the seas ouer into Normandie: but first he tooke order for the
gouernement and defense of the realme in his absence.

[Sidenote: L. William de Stuteuille.]

[Sidenote: Roger de Lacie conestable of Chester.]

[Sidenote: King John passeth ouer into Normandie.]

Wherevpon he deliuered the charge of the counties of Northumberland and
Cumberland, vnto the lord William de Stuteuille, with all the castels,
and other the appurtenances, which the lord Hugh Bardolfe before held,
and had in kéeping. He also deliuered vnto Roger de Lacie conestable
of Chester, the castell of Pomfret, hauing first the sonne and heire
of the same Lacie deliuered vnto him as an hostage for his loialtie
and faithfull obedience. This doone, he hasted vnto the sea side, and
sailed ouer into Normandie, landing first at Diep, and from thence went
to Rouen, whither he came vpon the sundaie before Midsummer day, which
was the 26 of June as W. Harison hath noted.

[Sidenote: A truce for fiftie daies.]

[Sidenote: The earle of Flanders.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: The league renewed betwixt England and Flanders.]

Immediatlie vpon his arriuall in those parts, there resorted vnto him
a great number of souldiers both horssemen and footmen, hoping to be
interteined, but by reason of ambassadours riding to and fro betwixt
the two kings, they came to a communication, and tooke truce for fiftie
daies. The earle of Flanders being certified thereof, was sorie in his
hart, and loth that the French king should come to any accord with the
king of England, and therefore to turne the mind of king John from the
purpose of peace, he came to visit him at Rouen, where they renewed
the league betwixt England & Flanders, to be the better able to defend
themselues from the French power: and withall determined fullie, that
immediatlie vpon the expiring of this last truce they would make the
French king warre, to reuenge their late receiued iniuries. The French
king aduertised by espials of their determination, prepared also for
the warres.

[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._]

[Sidenote: The earle of Namure.]

[Sidenote: France interdicted.]

[Sidenote: Normandie interdicted.]

[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._]

In this meane time it chanced, that Henrie earle of Namure, brother
to Philip earle of Flanders, and one Peter of Doway, a right valiant
knight, with his brother that was the elect bishop of Cambrey, were
taken prisoners in a skirmish, and presented to the French king.
Wherevpon the cardinall of Capua (being at the same time the popes
legat in France) interdicted that realme for the taking of the same
elect of Cambrey, & also all Normandie, for the deteining of the bishop
of Beauuois in prison (who had laine there a long time, & was taken
in the field after such manner as is before rehearsed) so that the
French king was glad to restore the elect of Cambrey to his libertie.
And likewise king John deliuered the bishop of Beauuois, who paied
two thousand marks, besides expenses of diet during the time of his
captiuitie, and furthermore tooke an oth, that he should neuer after
beare armour in the war against any christian or christians.

[Sidenote: Arthur duke of Britaine made knight.]

[Sidenote: The French kings demand.]

About the same time, king Philip made Arthur duke of Britaine knight,
and receiued of him his homage for Aniou, Poictiers, Maine, Touraine,
and Britaine. Also somewhat before the time that the truce should
expire; to wit, on the morrow after the feast of the Assumption of
our ladie, and also the day next following, the two kings talked by
commissioners, in a place betwixt the townes of Buteuant and Guleton.
Within thrée daies after, they came togither personallie, and communed
at full of the variance depending betwéene them. But the French king
shewed himselfe stiffe and hard in this treatie, demanding the whole
countrie of Veulquessine to be restored vnto him, as that which had
béene granted by Geffrey earle of Aniou, the father of king Henrie
the second, vnto Lewes le Grosse, to haue his aid then against king
Stephan. Moreouer, he demanded, that Poictiers, Aniou, Maine, and
Touraine, should be deliuered and wholie resigned vnto Arthur duke of
Britaine.

[Sidenote: Balun woon.]

[Sidenote: A peace betwixt king John & his nephue.]

But these, & diuerse other requests which he made, king John would not
in any wise grant vnto, and so they departed without conclusion of any
agréement. Therfore diuerse earls and barons of France, which before
that time had serued king Richard, repaired vnto king John, and tooke
an oth to assist him, and not to agrée with the French king without
his consent: and he likewise sware vnto them, not to make peace with
the French king, except they were therein comprised. In the moneth
of September, Jone king Johns sister, wife to Raimond earle of S.
Giles, and somtime quéene of Sicile, died at Rouen, and was buried at
Fonteuerard. The French king also tooke diuerse townes and castels, but
amongst other the castell of Balun, and raced the wals thereof downe
to the ground, wherewith William de Roches, generall of the armie of
Arthur duke of Britaine, was greatlie offended, and did so much by his
drift, that shortlie after a peace was concluded betwixt king John and
his nephue duke Arthur, though the same serued but to small purpose.

[Sidenote: Lauardin.]

[Sidenote: William de Roches.]

[Sidenote: The vicount of Tours.]

[Sidenote: The mistrust that duke Arthur had in his vncle king John.]

[Sidenote: Philip king Richards bastard son slue the vicount of
Limoges.]

The French king hauing (as I haue said) ouerthrowne the wals of Balun,
besieged a fortresse called Lauardin, but king John comming with an
armie, caused him to raise his siege, and to withdraw himselfe to the
citie of Mauns, whither he followed, and compelled him (mauger his
force) to remooue from thence. All this while was William de Roches
busilie occupied about his practise, to make king John and his nephue
Arthur fréends, which thing at length he brought about, and therevpon
deliuered into king Johns hands the citie of Mauns which he had in
kéeping. Also the vicount of Tours came to the king of England and
surrendred vnto him the castell of Chinon, the kéeping whereof he
betooke vnto Roger de Lacie the conestable of Chester. But in the night
folowing, vpon some mistrust and suspicion gathered in the obseruation
of the couenants on K. Johns behalfe, both the said Arthur, with his
mother Constance, the said vicount of Tours, and diuerse other, fled
awaie secretlie from the king, and got them to the citie of Angiers,
where the mother of the said Arthur refusing hir former husband
the earle of Chester, married hir selfe to the lord Guie de Tours,
brother to the said vicount, by the popes dispensation. The same yere,
Philip bastard sonne to king Richard, to whome his father had giuen
the castell and honor of Coinacke, killed the vicount of Limoges, in
reuenge of his fathers death, who was slaine (as yée haue heard) in
besieging the castell of Chalus Cheuerell.

[Sidenote: Great flouds.]

[Sidenote: Variance betwixt the bishop of Durham and earle Patrike.]

Moreouer, there fell manie great flouds in England, and on the borders
of Scotland, by violence whereof diuerse bridges were borne downe,
and amongst other, the bridge at Barwike. For the building vp againe
whereof, some variance arose betwixt Philip bishop of Durham and earle
Patrike lord chéefe iustice of Scotland, and capiteine at the same time
of the towne of Barwike, who by the Scotish kings commandement would
haue repared againe the same bridge, which could not be doone, but that
the one end thereof must be builded on the bishop of Durhams ground,
which he would not suffer, till by the counsell of the lord William de
Stuteuille, he agréed, so that the conuention accorded and concluded
betwixt the king of Scots and his predecessour bishop Hugh might be
reserued inuiolable.

[Sidenote: A rate of y^e prices of wines.]

Furthermore, king John did set a rate vpon the prices of wines, as
Rochell wine to be sold for twentie shillings the tun, and not aboue.
The wine of Aniou for twentie foure shillings the tun, and no other
French wines aboue fiue and twentie shillings the tun, except it were
of such notable goodnesse as that some peraduenture for their owne
expenses would be contented to giue after twentie six shillings eight
pence for the tun, and not aboue. Moreouer, the galon of Rochell wine
he appointed to be sold at foure pence: and the galon of white wine
at six pence. It was also ordeined, that in euerie citie, towne, and
place where wine was vsed to be sold, there should be twelue honest
men sworne to haue regard that this assise should not be broken:
and that if they found any vintner that should from the pin sell
any wine by small measures contrarie to the same assise, his bodie
should be attached by the shiriffe, and deteined in prison, till other
commandement were giuen for his further punishment, and his goods
seized vnto the kings vse. Furthermore, if any persons were or should
be found to buy and sell by the hogshead or tun, contrarie to this
assise, they should be committed to prison, there to remaine, till
other order were taken for them: neither should there be any regrating
of wines that were brought into England. But this ordinance lasted not
long, for the merchants could not beare it, and so they fell to and
sold white wine for eight pence the gallon, & red or claret for six
pence.

[Sidenote: King John returneth into England.]

[Sidenote: _1200._]

[Sidenote: A subsidie.]

[Sidenote: He saileth againe into Normandie.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 2.]

[Sidenote: A peace concluded with a marriage.]

King John also came ouer from Normandie into England, and there leuied
a subsidie, taking of euerie ploughland thrée shillings. In the Lent
following, he went to Yorke, in hope to haue met the king of Scots
there, but he came not, and so king John returned backe, and sailed
againe into Normandie, bicause the variance still depended betwéene him
and the king of France. Finallie vpon the Ascension day in this second
yeare of his reigne, they came eftsoones to a communication betwixt the
townes of Vernon and Lisle Dandelie, where finallie they concluded an
agréement, with a marriage to be had betwixt Lewes the sonne of king
Philip, and the ladie Blanch, daughter to Alfonso king of Castile the 8
of that name, & néece to K. John by his sister Elianor.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Ra. Niger._]

In consideration whereof, king John, besides the summe of thirtie
thousand markes in siluer, as in respect of dowrie assigned to his said
néece, resigned his title to the citie of Eureux, and also vnto all
those townes which the French king had by warre taken from him, the
citie of Angiers onelie excepted, which citie he receiued againe by
couenants of the same agréement. The French king restored also to king
John (as Rafe Niger writeth) the citie of Tours, and all the castels
and fortresses which he had taken within Touraine: and moreouer,
receiued of king John his homage for all the lands, fées and tenements
which at anie time his brother king Richard, or his father king Henrie
had holden of him, the said king Lewes or any his predecessors, the
quit claims and marriages alwaies excepted. The king of England
likewise did homage vnto the French king for Britaine, and againe (as
after you shall heare) receiued homage for the same countrie, and
for the countie of Richmont of his nephue Arthur. He also gaue the
earledome of Glocester vnto the earle of Eureux, as it were by way of
exchange, for that he resigned to the French king all right, title &
claime that might be pretended to the countie of Eureux.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: The king c[=o]meth backe againe into England.]

By this conclusion of marriage betwixt the said Lewes and Blanch, the
right of king John went awaie, which he lawfullie before pretended vnto
the citie of Eureux, and vnto those townes in the confines of Berrie,
Chateau, Roux or Raoul, Cressie and Isoldune, and likewise vnto the
countrie of Veuxin or Veulquessine, which is a part of the territorie
of Gisors: the right of all which lands, townes and countries was
released to the king of France by K. John, who supposed that by his
affinitie, and resignation of his right to those places, the peace
now made would haue continued for euer. And in consideration thereof,
he procured furthermore, that the foresaid Blanch should be conueied
into France to hir husband with all spéed. That doone he returned into
England.

¶ Certes this peace was displeasant to manie, but namelie to the earle
of Flanders, who herevpon making no accompt of king Johns amitie,
concluded a peace with king Philip shortlie after, and ment to make
warre against the infidels in the east parts, wherby we may sée the
discontented minds of men, and of how differing humors they be, so that
nothing is harder than to satisfie manie with one thing, be the same
neuer so good,

    ----ô cæcis mortalia plena tenebris
    Pectora, & ô mentes caligine circumseptas!

[Sidenote: _Ia. Meirs._]

But by the chronicles of Flanders it appeareth, that the earle of
Flanders concluded a peace with the French king in Februarie last past,
before that king John and the French king fell to any composition.
But such was the malice of writers in times past, which they bare
towards king John, that whatsoeuer was doone in prejudice of him or his
subiects, it was still interpreted to chance through his default, so
as the blame still was imputed to him, in so much that although manie
things he did peraduenture in matters of gouernement: for the which he
might be hardlie excused, yet to thinke that he deserued the tenth part
of the blame wherewith writers charge him, it might séeme a great lacke
of aduised consideration in them that so should take it. But now to
procéed with our purpose.

[Sidenote: _R. Houed._]

[Sidenote: King John is diuorsed.]

[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _R. Houed._]

King John being now in rest from warres with forren enimies, began to
make warre with his subiects pursses at home, emptieng them by taxes
and tallages, to fill his coffers, which alienated the minds of a
great number of them from his loue and obedience. At length also, when
he had got togither a great masse of monie, he went ouer againe into
Normandie, where by Helias archbishop of Burdeaux, and the bishop of
Poictiers and Scone, he was diuorsed from his wife Isabell, that was
the daughter of Robert earle of Glocester, bicause of the néerenesse
of bloud, as touching hir in the third degrée. After that, he married
Isabell the daughter of Amerie earle of Angolesme, by whome he had two
sonnes, Henrie and Richard, and thrée daughters, Isabell, Elianor, and
Jane.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._ Geffrey arch. of Yorke depriued.]

Moreouer, about this time, Geffrey archbishop of Yorke was depriued of
all his manours, lands, and possessions, by the kings commandement,
directed to the shiriffe of Yorkeshire for diuerse causes, for that he
would not permit the same shiriffe to leuie the dutie called Charugage,
that was; thrée shillings of euerie ploughland within his diocesse,
rated and appointed to be leuied to the kings vse, throughout all
parts of the realme. Secondlie, for that the same archbishop refused
to go ouer with the king into Normandie to helpe to make the marriage
betwixt the French kings sonne and his néece. Thirdlie, bicause he
had excommunicated the same shiriffe and all the prouince of Yorke:
wherevpon the king tooke displeasure against him, and not onelie
spoiled him (as I said) of his goods, but also banished him out of
the court, not suffering him to come in his presence for the space of
twelue moneths after.

[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._ A councell called at Westminster by the
archbishop of Canturburie.]

[Sidenote: Arthur duke of Britaine doth homage to the king of England.]

[Sidenote: King John returneth into England.]

[Sidenote: The quéene is crowned.]

In this yeare also, Hubert archbishop of Canturburie held a councell
at Westminster against the prohibition of the lord chéefe iustice,
Geffrey Fitz Peter earle of Essex. In which councell or synod, diuerse
constitutions were made and ordeined for orders and customes to be vsed
touching the seruice and administration of sacraments in the church,
and other articles concerning churchmen and ecclesiasticall matters.
About the same time, king John and Philip king of France met togither
néere the towne of Vernon, where Arthur duke of Britaine (as vassall
to his vncle king John) did his homage vnto him for the duchie of
Britaine, & those other places which he held of him on this side and
beyond the riuer of Loir, and afterward still mistrusting his vncles
curtesie, he returned backe againe with the French king, and would
not commit himselfe to his said vncle, who (as he supposed) did beare
him little good will. These things being thus performed, king John
returned into England, and there caused his new married wife Isabell to
be crowned on the sundaie before the feast of S. Denise, the eight of
October.

At the same time he gaue commandement vnto Hugh Neuill high iustice of
his forrests, that he should award his precepts vnto all forresters
within the realme, to giue warning to all the white moonks, that before
the quindene of S. Michaell they should remooue out of his forrests
all their horsses of Haraz, and other cattell, vnder the penaltie
to forfeit so manie of them, as after that day chanced to be found
within the same forrests. The cause that mooued the king to deale so
hardlie with them was, for that they refused to helpe him with monie,
when before his last going ouer into Normandie, he demanded it of
them towards the paiment of the thirtie thousand pounds which he had
couenanted to pay the French king, to liue in rest and peace, which he
coueted to haue done for reliefe of his people, and his owne suertie,
knowing what enimies he had that laie in wait to destroie him, and
againe, what discommodities had chanced to his father and brethren, by
the often and continuall wars. But now to procéed with other dooings.

[Sidenote: An ambassage sent vnto the K. of Scots.]

[Sidenote: The king of Scots came to the king of England at Lincolne.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._]

[Sidenote: _R. Houed._]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

Immediatlie after the solemnization of the quéens coronation ended, he
sent Philip bishop of Duresme, Roger Bigot earle of Northfolke, and
Henrie de Bohun earle of Hereford, nephue to William king of Scotland,
and Dauid earle of Huntington, brother to the said king, and Roger de
Lacie conestable of Chester, the lord William de Vescie, and the lord
Robert de Ros, which had married two of the daughters of the said king,
& Robert Fitz Roger shiriffe of Northumberland, as ambassadours from
him vnto the foresaid William king of Scotland, with letters patents,
conteining a safe conduct for him to come into England, and to méet
with king John at Lincolne on the morrow after the feast of S. Edmund,
who gladlie granted therevnto, and so according to that appointment,
both the kings met at Lincolne the 21 day of Nouember. And on the
morrow after king John went to the cathedrall church, and offered vpon
the high altar a chalice of gold.

On the same day, vpon a hill without the citie, the king of Scots did
homage vnto king John, in the presence and sight of a great multitude
of people, swearing fealtie of life, limme, and worldlie honour vnto
king John, which oth he made vpon the crosse of Hubert archbishop of
Canturburie. There were present at that time, beside other Noblemen,
thrée archbishops, Canturburie, Yorke, and Raguse, with other bishops,
to the number of thirtéene, as Duresme, London, Rochester, Elie, Bath,
Salisburie, Winchester, Hereford, Norwich, S. Andrews in Scotland,
Landaffe, and Bangor in Wales, and Meth in Ireland, beside a great
multitude of earles, barons, and other Noblemen. When the king of Scots
had thus doone his homage, he required restitution of Northumberland,
Cumberland and Westmerland, which he claimed as his right and lawfull
heritage. Much talke was had touching this matter, but they could not
agrée, and therefore king John asked respit to consider of it till the
feast of Pentecost next insuing, which being granted, the king of Scots
the next morrow being the 23 of Nouember returned homewards, and was
conducted backe againe into his countrie by the same Noble men that
brought him to Lincolne.

The same day that the king of Scots tooke his iournie homewards from
Lincolne, the corps of Hugh bishop of that citie (latelie before,
departed this life at London, after his returne from the parts of
beyond the seas) was brought thither to be buried, the king and all the
bishops, earles and barons went to receiue it, and honoured his buriall
with their presence. On the morrow after being fridaie, he was interred
within the new church which he had builded. This Hugh was a Frenchman
by nation, borne at Granople, a man of a pregnant wit, and skilfull
both in science of holie scripture and humane knowledge. He was first
a regular canon, and after became a Carthusian moonke. King Henrie
the second mooued with the fame of his vertue and godlie life, sent
the bishop of Bath to bring him into England, and after he was come,
made him first abbat of Whithing in the diocesse of Welles, and after
created him bishop of Lincolne.

[Sidenote: A presumptuous part in a bishop.]

He was noted to be of a verie perfect life, namelie, bicause he would
not sticke to reprooue men of their faults plainelie and frankelie,
not regarding the fauour or disfauour of any man, in somuch that he
would not feare to pronounce them accurssed, which being the kings
officers, would take vpon them the punishment of any person within
orders of the church, for hunting and killing of the kings game within
his parkes, forrests and chases, yea (and that which is more) he would
denie paiments of such subsidies and taxes he was assessed to paie
to the vses of king Richard and king John, towards the maintenance
of their wars, and did oftentimes accursse by his ecclesiasticall
authoritie, such shiriffes, collectors, or other officers, as did
distreine vpon his lands and goods for to satisfie these kings of
their demands, alledging openlie, that he would not paie any monie
towards the maintenance of wars, which one Christian prince, vpon
priuate displeasure and grudge, made against another prince of the same
religion. This was his reason.

And when he came before the king to make answer to his disobedience
shewed herein, he would so handle the matter, partlie with gentle
admonishments, partlie with sharpe reproofes, and sometime mixing
merrie and pleasant spéech amongst his serious arguments, that often
times he would so qualifie the kings mood, that being driuen from
anger, he could not but laugh and smile at the bishops pleasant talke
and merrie conceits, so that it might well be said of him,

    Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit vtile dulci.

This maner he vsed, not onelie with the king alone, but with the father
and the two sonnes, that is to say, Henrie the second, Richard and
John, in whose time he ruled and gouerned the sée of Lincolne. He was
after his decesse, for the opinion which men conceiued of his holinesse
and vertues, admitted into the number of the saints.

Yée haue heard how king John had conceiued no small displeasure against
the moonks of the white order, for that they would not part with any
monie, excusing themselues that they might not doo it, without consent
of a generall chapiter of their order. Wherevpon the king had caused
them diuerse waies to be molested, but chéefelie in restreining them of
libertie to haue any horsses or other cattell going to pasture within
his forrests. They therefore taking aduise togither, chose foorth
twelue abbats amongst them of that order, the which in all their names
went to Lincolne, there to make suit to the king (comming thither at
this time to méet the king of Scots) that it would please him to remit
his displeasure conceiued against them, and to take them againe into
his protection.

This suit was so followed, although with some difficultie, that at
length, to wit, the sundaie after that the king of Scots had doone
his homage, through the helpe and furtherance of the archbishop of
Canturburie, they came to the kings spéech, and obteined so much, as
they in reason might desire: for he pardoned them of all his passed
displeasure, receiued them againe into his fauour, tooke them into
his protection, and commanded that all iniuries, gréeuances and
molestations should be reformed, redressed and amended, which in
respect of his indignation had béene offered and doone to them by any
manner of meanes. And to sée the same accomplished, writs were directed
vnto the shiriffes of the counties, bearing date from Lincolne the 27
of Nouember. And thus were those moonks for that time restored to the
kings fauour, to their great commoditie and comfort.

[Sidenote: Fiue moones.]

About the moneth of December, there were séene in the prouince of Yorke
fiue moones, one in the east, the second in the west, the third in the
north, the fourth in the south, and the fift as it were set in the
middest of the other, hauing manie stars about it, and went fiue or
six times incompassing the other, as it were the space of one houre,
and shortlie after vanished awaie. The winter after was extreamelie
cold, more than the naturall course had béene aforetime. And in the
springtime came a great glutting and continuall raine, causing the
riuers to rise with higher flouds than they had béene accustomed.

[Sidenote: _1201._]

[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 3.]

In the yeare 1201 king John held his Christmas at Gilford, and there
gaue to his seruants manie faire liueries and suits of apparell. The
archbishop of Canturburie did also the like at Canturburie, séeming
in déed to striue with the king, which of them should passe the other
in such sumptuous appareling of their men: whereat the king (and not
without good cause) was greatlie mooued to indignation against him,
although for a time he coloured the same, going presentlie into the
north, where he gathered of the countrie there no small summs of monie,
as it were by way of fining them for their transgressions committed in
his forrests.

From thence he returned and came to Canturburie, where he held his
easter, which fell that yeare on the day of the Annunciation of our
ladie, in the which feast he sat crowned, togither with his wife quéene
Isabell, the archbishop of Canturburie bearing the charges of them and
their trains while they remained there. At the feast of the Ascension
next insuing, king John set out a proclamation at Tewkesburie, that
all the earles and barons of the realme, and also all other that held
of him by knights seruice, should be readie in the feast of Pentecost
next insuing, with horsse and armour at Portesmouth, to passe ouer with
him into Normandie, who made their appearance accordinglie. Howbeit, a
great number of them in the end gat licence to tarrie at home, paieng
for euerie knights fée two markes of siluer for a fine, which then was
a great matter.

[Sidenote: _Rog. Houed._]

[Sidenote: The archbish. of Yorke restored.]

But he sent before him into Normandie William Marshall earle of
Striguille with an hundred knights or men of armes, which he had hired,
and Roger de Lacie with an other hundred men of armes to defend the
confines of Normandie against the enimies: and to his chamberleine
Hubert de Burgh he deliuered the like number of knights or men of armes
also, to kéepe the marshes betwixt England and Wales as warden of the
same. This doone, he pardoned his brother the archbishop of Yorke,
and restored him to all his dignities, possessions and liberties,
confirming the same vnto him in as full and large manner, as euer
Roger late archbishop of that sée had enioied the same: for the which
confirmation his said brother vndertooke to paie to the king within the
terme of one yeare the summe of a thousand pounds starling; and for the
assurance thereof, engaged his baronie to the king in pledge.

[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent to Scotland.]

[Sidenote: The king passeth ouer into Normandie.]

[Sidenote: He commeth to talke with the king of France.]

[Sidenote: King John entreth into Paris.]

[Sidenote: The league renewed.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _R. Houed._]

Moreouer, about the same time, the king sent Geffrey bishop of Chester,
and Richard Malebisse, with Henrie de Poisie, vnto William king of
Scotland, requiring him that the time appointed for him to make answer
touching his demand of Northumberland, might be proroged vntill
the feast of saint Michaell the archangell next insuing, which was
obteined, and then the king and quéene (being come to Portsmouth on the
mondaie in Whitsunwéeke) tooke the sea to passe ouer into Normandie,
but not both in one ship, so that the quéene with a prosperous gale
of wind arriued there at hir owne desire. But the king was driuen
by reason of a pirrie, to take land in the Ile of Wight, and so was
staied there for a time: howbeit, within a few daies after, he tooke
ship againe at Portsmouth, and so passed ouer into Normandie, where
shortlie after his arriuall in those parties he came to an enteruiew
with the king of France, néere to Lisle Donelie, where comming a long
time togither alone, they agréed so well, that within thrée daies
after, king John at the French kings request went into France, and was
receiued of him with much honour, first at S. Denise with procession of
the cleargie: and there lodging one night, vpon the morrow the French
king accompanied him vnto Paris, where he was receiued of the citizens
with great reuerence, the prouost presenting vnto him in the name of
the whole citie manie rich gifts for his welcome. K. Philip feasted him
also in his owne palace, & for his part gaue to him, to his lords, and
to his seruants manie great and princelie gifts. Morouer, the league
at this time was renewed betwixt them, and put in writing, with this
caution, that whether of them first brake the couenants; such lords on
his part as were become suerties for performance, should be released of
their allegiance which they owght to him that so should breake, & that
they might therevpon fréelie become subiects to the other prince.

[Sidenote: Walter Lacie meant to haue taken the lord Curcie.]

These things doone, at length when as king John had remained at Paris
with great mirth and solace certeine daies, the French king brought him
foorth of the citie, and tooke leaue of him in verie louing wise. After
this king John went to Chinon, & from thence into Normandie; about
which time there chanced some troubles in Ireland, for where Walter
Lacie vnder pretense of a communication that was appointed betwixt him
and John de Curcie, lord of Vlnester, meant to haue taken the said
Curcie, and for the accomplishment of his purpose set vpon him, slue
manie of his men, and for his safegard constreined Curcie in the end to
take a castell which belonged vnto Hugh Lacie, vpon faire promises made
to him by the same Hugh, to be preserued out of all danger, it came to
passe, that when he was once got in, he might no more be suffered to
depart. For the Lacies thought to haue deliuered him to king John, but
the seruants and fréends of the said Curcie made such cruell war, in
wasting and destroieng the lands and possessions that belonged vnto the
said Walter and Hugh Lacies, that finallie they were constreined to set
him againe at libertie whether they would or no.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: Aid against the Turkes and infidels.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

At the same time also, the kings of France and England gaue large
monie towards the maintenance of the armie, which at this present went
foorth vnder the leading of the earle of Flanders and other, to warre
against the enimies of the christian faith, at the instance of pope
Innocent. There was furthermore granted vnto them the fortith part of
all the reuenues belonging to ecclesiasticall persons, towards the aid
of the christians then being in the holie land, and all such as well of
the Nobilitie as other of the weaker sort, which had taken vpon them
the crosse, and secretlie laid it downe, were compelled eftsoones to
receiue it now againe.

[Sidenote: Vnseasonable weather.]

[Sidenote: _Fabian._]

There chanced this yeare woonderfull tempests of thunder, lightning,
haile, and abundance of raine, in such wise, that mens minds were
greatlie astonied therwith: medowes and marsh grounds were quite
ouerflowne, bridges broken and borne downe, and great quantitie of
corne and haie lost and carried awaie, and diuerse men and women
drowned. Margaret mother of Constance, duches of Britaine, sister to
William king of Scots, and mother to Henrie Bohun earle of Hereford,
deceassed. This yeare also by the counsell and aduice of the burgesses
of London, there were chosen 35 of the most substantiall and wisest
men, which after the report of some writers, were called the councell
of the citie of London, out of which number the Maior and Bailiffes
were yearelie chosen.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _1202._]

[Sidenote: The French K. beginneth to make war against king John.]

In the yeare 1202 king John held his Christmasse at Argenton in
Normandie, and in the Lent following he and the French king met
togither, néere vnto the castell of Gulleton, and there in talke had
betwéene them, he commanded king John with no small arrogancie, and
contrarie to his former promise, to restore vnto his nephue Arthur duke
of Britaine, all those lands now in his possession on that side the
sea, which king John earnestlie denied to doo, wherevpon the French
king immediatlie after, began war against him, and tooke Buteuant,
Augi, and the castell of Linos. Moreouer, he besieged the castell of
Radepont for the space of eight daies, till king John came thither,
and forced him to depart with much dishonor. Howbeit after this, the
French king wan Gourney, and then returning to Paris, he appointed
certeine persons to haue the gouernement of the foresaid Arthur duke of
Britaine, and then sent him foorth with 200 men of armes into Poictou,
that he might bring the countrie also vnder his subiection.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: Hugh earle of March.]

[Sidenote: The Poictouins reuolt from king John.]

[Sidenote: Arthur proclaimeth himselfe earle of Aniou, &c.]

Herevpon Hugh le Brun earle of March (vnto whome quéene Isabell the
wife of king John had béene promised in marriage, before that king John
was motioned vnto hir, and therefore bare an inward displeasure towards
the king of England, for that he had so bereft him of his promised
spouse) being now desirous to procure some trouble also vnto king John,
ioined himselfe with Arthur duke of Britaine, and found meanes to cause
them of Poictou (a people euer subiect to rebellion) to reuolt from
king John, and to take armour against him, so that the yoong Arthur
being incouraged with this new supplie of associats, first went into
Touraine, and after into Aniou, compelling both those countries to
submit themselues vnto him, and proclaimed himselfe earle of those
places, by commission and grant obteined from king Philip.

[Sidenote: Quéene Elianor.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]

Quéene Elianor that was regent in those parties being put in great
feare with the newes of this sudden sturre, got hir into Mirabeau
a strong towne, situat in the countrie of Aniou, and foorthwith
dispatched a messenger with letters vnto king John, requiring him
of spéedie succour in this hir present danger. In the meane time,
Arthur following the victorie, shortlie after followed hir, and woone
Mirabeau, where he tooke his grandmother within the same, whom he
yet intreated verie honorablie, and with great reuerence (as some
haue reported.) ¶ But other write far more trulie, that she was not
taken, but escaped into a tower, within the which she was straitlie
besieged. Thither came also to aid Arthur all the Nobles and men of
armes in Poictou, and namelie the foresaid earle of March according to
appointment betwixt them: so that by this meanes Arthur had a great
armie togither in the field.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: K. John commeth vpon his enimies not looked for.]

King John in the meane time, hauing receiued his mothers letters, and
vnderstanding thereby in what danger she stood, was maruellouslie
troubled with the strangenesse of the newes, and with manie bitter
words accused the French king as an vntrue prince, and a fraudulent
league-breaker: and in all possible hast spéedeth him foorth,
continuing his iournie for the most part both day and night to come
to the succour of his people. To be briefe, he vsed such diligence,
that he was vpon his enimies necks yer they could vnderstand any thing
of his comming, or gesse what the matter meant, when they saw such a
companie of souldiers as he brought with him to approch so néere the
citie. For so negligent were they, that hauing once woone the towne,
they ranged abroad ouer the countrie hither and thither at their
libertie without any care. So that now being put in a sudden feare, as
preuented by the hastie comming of the enimies vpon them, and wanting
leisure to take aduice what was best to be doone, and hauing not time
in manner to get any armour on their backs, they were in a maruellous
trouble, not knowing whether it were best for them to fight or to flée,
to yéeld or to resist.

[Sidenote: Arthur duke of Britaine tak[=e]n prisoner.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

This their feare being apparent to the Englishmen (by their disorder
shewed in running vp and downe from place to place with great noise
and turmoile) they set vpon them with great violence, and compassing
them round about, they either tooke or slue them in a manner at their
pleasure. And hauing thus put them all to flight, they pursued the
chase towards the towne of Mirabeau, into which the enimies made verie
great hast to enter: but such spéed was vsed by the English souldiers
at that present, that they entred and wan the said towne before their
enimies could come néere to get into it. Great slaughter was made
within Mirabeau it selfe, and Arthur with the residue of the armie
that escaped with life from the first bickering was taken, who being
herevpon committed to prison, first at Falais, and after within the
citie of Rouen, liued not long after as you shall heare. The other of
the prisoners were also committed vnto safe kéeping some into castels
within Normandie, and some were sent into England.


King Iohn hauing gotten this victorie, and taken his nephue Arthur, he
wrote the maner of that his successe vnto his barons in England, in
manner as followeth.

[Sidenote: De Castre Erald.]

[Sidenote: 252 knights or men of armes besides demilances.]

Iohn by the grace of God king of England, and lord of Ireland, to all
his barons sendeth gréeting. Know yée that we by Gods fauour are in
sound and perfect health, and through Gods grace that maruellouslie
worketh with vs, on tuesdaie before Lammas daie, we being before
the citie of Mauns, were aduertised that our mother was besieged in
Mirabeau, and therfore we hasted so fast as we possibly might, so that
we came thither on Lammas daie, and there we tooke our nephue Arthur,
Hugh le Brun, Andrew de Chauenie, the vicount of Chateau Erald, Raimond
de Touars, Sauerie de Mauleon, and Hugh Bangi, and all other enimies
of Poictou that were there assembled against vs, to the number of two
hundred knights and aboue, so that not one of them escaped. Giue God
therefore thanks, and reioise at our good successe.

       *       *       *       *       *

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 4.]

The French king at the same time lieng in siege before Arques,
immediatlie vpon the newes of this ouerthrow, raised from thence, and
returned homewards, destroieng all that came in his waie, till he was
entred into his owne countrie. It is said that king John caused his
nephue Arthur to be brought before him at Falais, and there went about
to persuade him all that he could to forsake his fréendship and aliance
with the French king, and to leane and sticke to him being his naturall
vncle. But Arthur like one that wanted good counsell, and abounding
too much in his owne wilfull opinion, made a presumptuous answer, not
onelie denieng so to doo, but also commanding king John to restore vnto
him the realme of England, with all those other lands and possessions
which king Richard had in his hand at the houre of his death. For sith
the same apperteined to him by right of inheritance, he assured him,
except restitution were made the sooner, he should not long continue
quiet. King John being sore mooued with such words thus vttered by his
nephue, appointed (as before is said) that he should be straitlie kept
in prison, as first in Falais, and after at Roan within the new castell
there. Thus by meanes of this good successe, the countries of Poictou,
Touraine, and Aniou were recouered.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: King John eftsoones crowned.]

[Sidenote: _Rafe Cog._]

Shortlie after king John comming ouer into England, caused himselfe to
be crowned againe at Canturburie by the hands of Hubert the archbishop
there, on the fourtéenth day of Aprill, and then went backe againe
into Normandie, where immediatlie vpon his arriuall, a rumour was
spred through all France, of the death of his nephue Arthur. True it
is that great suit was made to haue Arthur set at libertie, as well by
the French king, as by William de Riches a valiant baron of Poictou,
and diuerse other Noble men of the Britains, who when they could not
preuaile in their suit, they banded themselues togither, and ioining
in confederacie with Robert earle of Alanson, the vicount Beaumont,
William de Fulgiers, and other, they began to leuie sharpe wars against
king John in diuerse places, insomuch (as it was thought) that so long
as Arthur liued, there would be no quiet in those parts: wherevpon it
was reported, that king John through persuasion of his councellors,
appointed certeine persons to go vnto Falais, where Arthur was kept in
prison, vnder the charge of Hubert de Burgh, and there to put out the
yoong gentlemans eies.

But through such resistance as he made against one of the tormentors
that came to execute the kings commandement (for the other rather
forsooke their prince and countrie, than they would consent to obeie
the kings authoritie héerein) and such lamentable words as he vttered,
Hubert de Burgh did preserue him from that iniurie, not doubting
but rather to haue thanks than displeasure at the kings hands, for
deliuering him of such infamie as would haue redounded vnto his
highnesse, if the yoong gentleman had béene so cruellie dealt withall.
For he considered, that king John had resolued vpon this point
onelie in his heat and furie (which moueth men to vndertake manie an
inconuenient enterprise, vnbeséeming the person of a common man, much
more reprochfull to a prince, all men in that mood being méere foolish
and furious, and prone to accomplish the peruerse conceits of their ill
possessed heart; as one saith right well,

    --------pronus in iram
    Stultorum est animus, facilè excandescit, & audet
    Omne scelus, quoties conceptabile tumescit)

and that afterwards, vpon better aduisement, he would both repent
himselfe so to haue commanded, and giue them small thanke that should
sée it put in execution. Howbeit to satisfie his mind for the time, and
to staie the rage of the Britains, he caused it to be bruted abroad
through the countrie, that the kings commandement was fulfilled, and
that Arthur also through sorrow and gréefe was departed out of this
life. For the space of fiftéene daies this rumour incessantlie ran
through both the realmes of England and France, and there was ringing
for him through townes and villages, as it had béene for his funerals.
It was also bruted, that his bodie was buried in the monasterie of
saint Andrewes of the Cisteaux order.

But when the Britains were nothing pacified, but rather kindled more
vehementlie to worke all the mischéefe they could deuise, in reuenge
of their souereignes death, there was no remedie but to signifie
abroad againe, that Arthur was as yet liuing and in health. Now when
the king heard the truth of all this matter, he was nothing displeased
for that his commandement was not executed, sith there were diuerse of
his capteins which vttered in plaine words, that he should not find
knights to kéepe his castels, if he dealt so cruellie with his nephue.
For if it chanced any of them to be taken by the king of France or
other their aduersaries, they should be sure to tast of the like cup.
¶ But now touching the maner in verie déed of the end of this Arthur,
writers make sundrie reports. Neuerthelesse certeine it is, that in the
yeare next insuing, he was remooued from Falais vnto the castell or
tower of Rouen, out of the which there was not any that would confesse
that euer he saw him go aliue. Some haue written, that as he assaied
to haue escaped out of prison, and proouing to clime ouer the wals
of the castell, he fell into the riuer of Saine, and so was drowned.
Other write, that through verie gréefe and languor he pined awaie, and
died of naturall sicknesse. But some affirme, that king John secretlie
caused him to be murthered and made awaie, so as it is not throughlie
agréed vpon, in what sort he finished his daies: but verelie king John
was had in great suspicion, whether worthilie or not, the lord knoweth.
Yet how extreamelie soeuer he delt with his nephue, he released and
set at libertie diuerse of those lords that were taken prisoners with
him, namelie Hugh le Brun, and Sauerie de Mauleon, the one to his great
trouble and hinderance, and the other to his gaine: for Hugh le Brun
afterwards leuied and occasioned sore warres against him, but Sauerie
de Mauleon continued euer after his loiall subiect, dooing to him verie
agréeable seruice, as hereafter may appeare.

[Sidenote: Guie sonne to the vicount of Touars.]

[Sidenote: Constance the mother of duke Arthur accuseth king John.]

The Lord Guie, sonne to the vicount of Touars, who had taken Arthurs
mother Constance to wife, after the diuorse made betwixt hir and the
earle of Chester, in right of hir obteined the dukedome of Britaine.
But king Philip after he was aduertised of Arthurs death, tooke the
matter verie gréeuouslie, and vpon occasion therof, cited king John
to appeare before him at a certeine day, to answer such obiections as
Constance the duches of Britaine mother to the said Arthur should lay
to his charge, touching the murther of hir sonne. And bicause king John
appeared not, he was therefore condemned in the action, and adiudged
to forfeit all that he held within the precinct of France, aswell
Normandie as all his other lands and dominions.

[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The ordin[=a]nce for the assise of bread.]

About the same time the king caused a proclamation to be published for
the lawfull assise of bread to be made by the bakers, vpon paine to be
punished by the pillorie: which assise was approoued and assessed by
the baker of Geffrey Fitz Peter, lord chéefe iustice of England, and
by the baker of Robert de Tuinham. So that the baker might sell and
gaine in euerie quarter thrée pence, besides the bran, and two loaues
for the heater of the ouen, and for foure seruants foure halfepence,
for two boies a farthing, for allowance in salt an halfepenie, yest an
halfepenie, for candell a farthing, for fewell thrée pence, and for a
bulter an halfepenie. And this was the rate.

When wheat was sold for six shillings the quarter, then shall euerie
loafe of fiue manchet wey 41 shillings, and euerie loafe of cheat shall
wey 24 shillings. When wheat is sold for fiue shillings and six pence,
then manchet shall wey 20 shillings, and cheat 28 shillings. When wheat
is sold for fiue shillings, then manchet shall wey 24 shillings, and
the cheat bread 32 shillings. When wheat is sold for foure shillings
six pence, manchet shall wey 32 shillings, and cheat 42 shillings. When
wheat is sold for foure shillings, manchet shall wey 36 shillings, and
cheat 46 shillings. When wheat is sold for thrée shillings six pence,
then shall manchet wey 42 shillings, and cheat 54 shillings. When wheat
is sold for thrée shillings, manchet shall wey 48 shillings, and cheat
44 shillings. When wheat is sold for two shillings and six pence,
manchet shall wey 54 shillings, and cheat 72 shillings. When wheat is
sold for two shillings, manchet shall wey sixtie shillings, and cheat
foure pound. When wheat is sold for 18 pence the quarter, manchet
shall wey 77 shillings, & cheat foure pound and eight shillings. This
ordinance was proclaimed throughout the realme, as most necessarie and
profitable for the common-wealth.

[Sidenote: Great tempests.]

This yeare manie woonderfull things happened, for besides the sore
winter, which passed any other that had béene heard of in manie yeares
before, both for continuance in length and extreame coldnesse of
frosts, there followed grifelie tempests, with thunder, lightning, and
stormes of raine, and haile of the bignesse of hens egs, wherewith much
fruit & great store of corne was perished, beside other great hurts
doone vpon houses and yoong cattell. Also spirits (as it was thought)
in likenesse of birds and foules were séene in the aire flieng with
fire in their beaks, wherewith they set diuerse houses on fire: which
did import great troubles yer long to insue, and followed in déed, as
shall appeare hereafter.

[Sidenote: _1203._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

With this entrance of the yeare of our lord 1203, king John held his
Christmasse at Caen, where not hauing (as some writers say) sufficient
regard to the necessarie affaires of his wars, he gaue his mind to
banketting, and passed the time in pleasure with the quéene his
wife, to the great gréefe of his lords, so that they perceiuing his
retchlesse demeanour (or as some write, the doubtfull minds of the
Nobilitie which serued on that side, and were readie dailie to reuolt
from his obedience) withdrew their dutifull hearts from him, and
therefore getting licence, returned home into England.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 5.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: The French king inuadeth Normandie.]

[Sidenote: Roger de Lacie conestable of Chester taken.]

In this meane time the French king, to bring his purpose to full
effect, entred into Normandie, wasted the countries, and wan the townes
of Cowches, le Val de Rueil, and Lisle Dandele. Le Val de Rueil wis
giuen ouer without any great inforcement of assault, by two noble men
that had charge thereof, the one named Robert Fitz Walter, and the
other Saer de Quincie. Howbeit Lisle Dandele was valiantlie for a
certeine time defended by Roger de Lacie the conestable of Chester. But
at length they within were so constreined by famine and long siege,
that the said Lacie and others perceiuing it to be more honourable for
them to die by the sword, than to starue through want of food, brake
out vpon their enimies, and slue a great sort of the Frenchmen, but yet
in the end they were taken prisoners, and so these fortresses came into
the French kings hands.

[Sidenote: The pope sendeth his Nuncij into France.]

[Sidenote: _Gaguinus._]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: Radpont woone.]

The pope hearing of these variances betwixt the two kings, sent the
abbat of Casiner into France, accompanied with the abbat of Troisfons,
to mooue them to a peace. These two abbats tooke such paines in the
matter, that the kings were almost brought to agréement. But the French
king perceiuing himselfe to be aforehand in his businesse, sticked at
one article, which was to repaire all such abbeies as he had destroied
within the dominions of king John: and king John to doo the like by all
those that he had wasted within the French kings countries. The popes
Nuncij would haue excommunicated king Philip, bicause he would not thus
agrée. But king Philip appealing from them, pursued the warre, and
besieged the towne of Radpont. The souldiers within the towne defended
the first assault verie manfullie, and caused the Frenchmen to retire
backe: but king Philip meaning to haue the towne yer he departed, did
so inclose it about, that within ten daies he wan it, and tooke there
twentie men of armes, an hundred demilances, and twentie arcubalisters.

[Sidenote: Castell Galiard.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Hugh de Gourney reuolteth from king John.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: K. John commeth back into England.]

After this, when he had fortified this place, he went to castell
Galiard, which he besieged; and though by the high valiancie of Hugh de
Gourney the capteine there, the Frenchmen were manfullie beaten backe,
and kept out for a moneth and more, yet at length by streict siege
and neare approches hardlie made, the fortresse was deliuered into
the French kings hands. And in the end the said Hugh Gourney reuolted
from his obedience, deliuering also the castell of Mountfort vnto the
French king, which castell with the honor thereto apperteining king
John had giuen to the same Hugh, not verie long before. All this while
king John did lie at Rouen: but forsomuch as he could not well remedie
the matter as then, bicause he wanted such helpe as he dailie looked
for out of England, and durst not trust any of that side, he passed it
ouer with a stout countenance for a while, and would saie oftentimes to
such as stood about him; "What else dooth my coosen the French K. now,
than steale those things from me, which hereafter I shall indeuour my
selfe to cause him to restore with interest?" But when he saw that his
enimies would still procéed, and that no aid came out of England, he
came ouer himselfe, and landed at Portesmouth on S. Nicholas day.

King Philip doubting by vsing the victorie with too much rigor, least
he should bring the Normans into a desperate boldnesse, and so cause
them for safegard of their liues to hazard all vpon resistance, he
staied for a time, and withdrew his souldiers backe againe into France,
hauing not onelie furnished those places in the meane time which he had
wun, with strong garisons of his souldiers, but also appointed certeine
personages to trauell with the people, yet remaining in the English
subiection, to reuolt and turne from king John, to his obeisance and
subiection.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: A parlement at Oxenford.]

[Sidenote: _1204._]

[Sidenote: A subsidie granted.]

King John being returned into England, accused diuerse of his Nobles
for shewing themselues negligent and slothfull in aiding him, according
to his commandement, alledging furthermore, that being destitute of
their due and requisite seruice, he was constreined to lose his time
in Normandie, as not being able for want of their aid to resist his
enimies. Wherefore for this and other matters laid to their charges,
he did put them to gréeuous fines. By meanes whereof, and by leauieng
a subsidie of his people, he got togither an huge summe of monie. This
subsidie was granted him in a parlement holden at Oxenford, and begun
there vpon the second of Januarie 1204, wherein of euerie knights
fée was granted the summe of two markes and an halfe. Neither were
the bishops, abbats, nor any other ecclesiasticall persons exempted,
by meanes whereof he ran first into the hatred of the clergie, and
consequentlie of manie other of his subiects: so that they failed him
at his néed, whereby he often susteined no small damage, which he
might haue preuented and withstood, if he had béene so qualified with
discretion as to haue séene what was conuenient and what inconuenient
for his roiall estate. But

        --------voluntas
    Improba perniciem ingentem mortalibus affert,

as it did to him, which may be gathered by a due obseruation of the
consequence. ¶ This yeare the aire toward the north and east parts
séemed to be on a bright fire for the space of six houres togither. It
began about the first watch of the night, on the first of Aprill.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 6.]

[Sidenote: _Rafe Cog._]

[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent into France.]

[Sidenote: _1204._]

King John about the beginning of this sixt yeare of his reigne, sent in
ambassage to the French king the archbishop of Canturburie, the bishops
of Norwich and Elie, the earles Marshall and Leicester, to treat
with him of peace: but he was so far off from comming néere to any
reasonable motions, bicause he saw the world frame as he wished, that
still by demanding somewhat that might not be granted, he kept off, and
brought in such hard conditions, that it was not possible to conclude
anie agréement. And this he did of purpose, hoping within short time
to conquer all that the king of England possessed as yet on that
side the seas. He was the more vntoward to compound, for that he was
informed how Arthur the duke of Britaine was dispatched of his life,
and therfore not doubting but to haue manie to take part with him in
séeking reuenge of his death, he made that his chéefe quarell, swearing
that he would not ceasse to pursue the warre against king John, till
he had depriued him of his whole kingdome. So the ambassadors departed
without all hope to come to any agréement. ¶ This yeare Easter day fell
so high as it possiblie might, that is to saie, on saint Marks day.

[Sidenote: Towns wun by the French king.]

King Philip vnderstanding that king John remained still in England,
rather occupied in gathering of monie amongst his subiects, than in
making other prouision to bring them into the field (to the great
offense of his said people) thought now for his part to lose no time:
but assembling a mightie armie, he came with the same into Normandie,
and vpon his first comming, he wan the towne of Falaise, and shortlie
after was Dampfront deliuered vnto him by surrender. This doone, he
marched further into the countrie, and with his sudden inuasion so
oppressed the people euerie where, that they could haue no time to
make shift by flight to get into the townes. With this swiftnesse of
spéed, he brought also such a feare into the hearts of most men, that
he wan all the countrie of Normandie euen to Mount S. Michaell. The
inhabitants in euerie place submitted themselues, as those of Baieulx,
Constances, Liseux, and other townes thereabouts.

[Sidenote: Rouen besieged by the French king.]

Finallie, he came before Rouen, the principall citie of all the
countrie, and incamped so in sundrie places about the citie, that all
the issues, entries and waies were closed vp by his armie, being so
diuided into seuerall camps, that the distance was not great from one
to another, making a terrible shew to them within. At length after he
had prouided all things necessarie for his purpose, and taken good
aduise of his capteins how he should best imploie his force for the
winning of this citie (in which exploit he knew the full perfection of
all his passed conquests chéefelie to consist) he did manfullie assault
it, and they within as manfullie defended themselues, so that he got
little by the assaults and approches which he made. Wherevpon he fell
in hand to practise with the citizens to win them with méed, curtesie,
gentle spéech, and great promises. So that in fine, they within were
so mooued with such reasons as he vsed to persuade them withall, that
they made request for a truce to be had for certeine daies, within the
terme whereof if no succour came, they couenanted to yéeld without any
further trouble.

[Sidenote: The great fidelitie of the citizens of Rouen.]

[Sidenote: Rou[=e]n through famine is surrendred to the French king.]

This truce being obteined, ambassadours were sent from them of Rouen
into England, to signifie vnto king John the whole state of the citie,
and of the truce, so that if aid came not within the time appointed,
the citie must néeds be deliuered into the enimies hands. The king
hauing no armie in readinesse to send ouer, nor other shift to make for
the succour of the citie, permitted the ambassadours to depart without
comfort of any aid, who herevpon returning to Rouen, and reporting
what they had hard, séene, and found, brought the citie into great
sorrow. For whereas that citie had euer béene accustomed to glorie for
the great loialtie and faithfull fidelitie which the same had euer
shewed towards their liege lords and naturall princes; now the citizens
perceiued manifestlie, that vnlesse they would cast awaie themselues,
and lose all they had, they must of force yéeld into the hands of their
enimies. Wherefore to make their true allegiance more apparant to the
world, they staied the surrender as long as they had any store of
vittels within the citie to reléeue their fainting bodies withall: and
so in the end being vanquished with hunger, they submitted themselues
to the French king. Their submission being once knowne, caused all
those other townes which had not yéelded, to deliuer vp their keies
vnto the Frenchmen, as Arques, Vernueill, and others.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

Moreouer the townes in Poictou, Touraine, and Aniou, which king John
had recouered latelie before, did now againe (being in no small feare)
yéeld themselues vnto king Philip: so that of all the townes within
those countries, there remained none vnder the English obeisance, saue
onelie Rochell, Tours, Niorth, and a few other. Thus Normandie which
king Rollo had purchased and gotten 316 yeares before that present
time, was then recouered by the French men, to the great reproch
and dishonour of the English, in this yeare 1204. About this time
quéene Elianor the mother of king John departed this life, consumed
rather through sorow and anguish of mind, than of any other naturall
infirmitie.

[Sidenote: By _Rafe Cogheshalls_ report this should séeme to haue
chanced in the daies of K. Henrie the second.]

[Sidenote: A fish like to a man.]

In this sixt yeare of king Johns reigne, at Oreford in Suffolke, as
Fabian saith (although I thinke he be deceiued in the time) a fish was
taken by fishers in their nets as they were at sea, resembling in shape
a wild or sauage man, whome they presented vnto sir Bartholomew de
Glanuille knight, that had then the kéeping of the castell of Oreford
in Suffolke. He was naked, and in all his lims and members resembling
the right proportion of a man; he had haires also in the vsuall parts
of his bodie, albeit that the crowne of his head was bald, his beard
was long and rugged, and his breast hairie. The knight caused him to
be kept certeine daies & nights from the sea, meat set afore him he
gréedilie deuoured, & did eat fish both raw and sod. Those that were
raw he pressed in his hand till he had thrust out all the moisture,
and so then did eat them. He would not or could not vtter any speach,
although to trie him they hung him vp by the héeles, and miserablie
tormented him. He would get him to his couch at the setting of the
sunne, and rise againe at the rising of the same.

One day they brought him to the hauen, and suffered him to go into the
sea, but to be sure he should not escape from them, they set thrée
ranks of mightie strong nets before him, so to catch him againe at
their pleasure (as they imagined) but he streightwaies diuing downe to
the bottome of the water, got past all the nets, and comming vp, shewed
himselfe to them againe that stood waiting for him, and dowking diuerse
times vnder water and comming vp againe he beheld them on the shore
that stood still looking at him, who séemed as it were to mocke them,
for that he had deceiued them, & got past their nets. At length after
he had thus sported himselfe a great while in the water, and that there
was no more hope of his returne, he came to them againe of his owne
accord, swimming through the water, and remained with them two moneths
after. But finallie, when he was negligentlie looked to, and now séemed
not to be regarded, he fled secretlie to the sea, and was neuer after
séene nor heard of.

[Sidenote: _John Stow._]

¶Thus much out of Rafe Cogheshall, who affirmeth that this chanced
in the daies of Henrie the second, about the 33 of his reigne, as
Iohn Stow in his summarie hath also noted. Which report of theirs in
respect to the strangenesse thereof might séeme incredible, speciallie
to such as be hard of beléefe, and refuse to giue faith and credit to
any thing but what their owne eies haue sealed to their consciences,
so that the reading of such woonders as these, is no more beneficiall
to them, than to carrie a candle before a blind man, or to sing a
song to him that is starke deafe. Neuerthelesse, of all vncouth and
rare sights, speciallie of monstruous appearances we ought to be so
farre from hauing little regard; that we should rather in them and by
them obserue the euent and falling out of some future thing, no lesse
miraculous in the issue, than they be woonderfull at the sudden sight.
This was well noted of a philosopher, who to the purpose (among other
matters by him touched) hath spoken no lesse pithilie than crediblie,
saieng;

[Sidenote: _M. Pel. in scorp._]

    Nec fieri aut errore aut casu monstra putandum,
    Cùm certas habeant causas, vt tristia monstrent,
    Vnde illis nomen, quare & portenta vocantur.

The war was mightilie mainteined all this while betwixt them of Poictou
and Aquitaine, and manie sharpe incounters chanced betwixt the parties,
of which the one following the king of Englands lieutenant Robert de
Turneham, valiantlie resisted the other that held with the French king
vnder the conduct of William de Roches, & Hugh le Brun earle of March,
chiefe leaders of that faction. But Robert Turneham, togither with
Sauerie de Mauleon, and Gerard de Atie, bare themselues so manfullie,
that in all conflicts for the most part the victorie remained on their
sides. The Gascoignes also tooke part with king John, and continued in
dutifull obedience towards him, for the which their loialtie he was
readie to consider them with princelie gifts and beneficiall rewards,
in such bountifull wise, that he gaue vnto a Noble man of that countrie
named Moreue, the summe of 28 thousand marks, to leuie & wage thirtie
thousand men to aid him at his comming ouer into those parties. The
archbishop of Burdeaux, that was brother vnto the foresaid Moreue,
became suertie for performance of the couenants, and remained in
England a long time bicause the same couenants were not in all points
accomplished.

[Sidenote: _1205._]

The bishop of London was sent ambassadour from king John vnto the
emperour vpon certeine earnest businesse. The duke of Louaine, and the
earle of Bullongne were made friends by the French kings drift, and
promised to inuade England with an armie, and to make warre against
king John for the withholding of such lands and reuenues as they
claimed to be due vnto them, in right of their wiues. King Philip also
vndertooke to follow them within a moneth after they should be entred
into England, & thus did the French king séeke to make him strong with
fréends, which dailie fell from king John on ech hand. ¶ Godfrey bishop
of Winchester, that was son to the lord Richard de Lucie departed this
life. This yere the king was on Christmasse day at Tukesburie, where he
staied not past one day.

[Sidenote: An extreame frost.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 7.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: Matth. Paris.]

[Sidenote: King John prepareth an armie to go into France.]

The 14 day of Januarie it began to fréeze, and so continued till the
22 of March, with such extremitie, that the husbandmen could not make
their tilth, by reason whereof in the summer following, corne began
to grow to an excessiue price, so that wheat was sold by the quarter
at 12 shillings of monie then currant. This yeare about the feast
of Pentecost, the king (by the aduice of his councell assembled at
Northampton) prepared a nauie of ships, mustered souldiers, and shewed
great tokens that he would renew the war, and séeke to be reuenged
of his enimie the French king. The Nobles of the realme indeuoured
themselues also to match the diligence of the king in this preparation,
vpon an earnest desire to reuenge the iniuries latelie doone to the
common-wealth.

[Sidenote: _Rafe Cog._]

[Sidenote: The archbishop of Canturburie, and the earle of Penbroke
persuade the king to staie at home.]

Now when all things were readie, and the ships fraught with vittels,
armour, and all other prouisions necessarie, the king came to
Porchester, there to take the sea, purposing verelie to passe ouer into
France, in hope of such faire promises as his fréends of Normandie and
Poictou had made, in sending oftentimes to him, to procure him with
spéed to come to their succours. But as the king was readie to enter on
shipboord, Hubert archbishop of Canturburie, and William Marshall earle
of Penbroke came to him, and with manie great reasons went about to
persuade him to staie his iournie. Who although he was verie loath to
follow their counsell, yet they put foorth so manie doubts and dangers
that might follow of his departing the realme at that present, to the
hazarding of the whole state, that in the end (sore to his gréefe) he
was ouercome by their importunate persuasions, and so dismissing the
most part of his armie, appointed his brother the earle of Salisburie
with a certeine number of knights & men of armes to passe ouer into
Rochell, whither the lord Geffrey the kings base sonne was gone before
him, with manie other knights and men of armes.

[Sidenote: The king repenting him goeth backe to the sea side.]

[Sidenote: He goeth to the sea the 15 of Julie, as some authors haue.]

The lords and other that were dismissed, tooke it verie euill,
considering the great preparation that had béene made for that iournie.
But speciallie the mariners were sore offended, cursing the archbishop
and the said earle of Penbroke, that were knowne to be authors of so
naughtie counsell as they tooke this to be. It was thought there was
neuer so manie ships gotten togither at one time before, as were at
that present, to haue attended the king: for (as writers haue recorded)
there were to the number of fourtéene thousand mariners that had
brought their ships thither for that purpose. But as the breaking vp of
this voiage gréeued others, so it pinched the king so néere the heart,
that he being come backe from the sea side to Winchester, repented
so much that he had not gone forward with his iournie, that the next
daie he returned againe to the coast, and at Portesmouth entring the
sea with his ships, on the fiftéenth of Julie he sailed to the Ile of
Wight, and wafted vp and downe for the space of two daies togither,
till by aduice of his fréends he was persuaded not to aduenture to
passe ouer, sith his armie was dismissed and gone home, and so he
returned backe to the shore againe, arriuing at Scotland, néere vnto
Warham, the third daie after his setting foorth: yet such as were
behind, and hasted after him, thought verelie he had béene gone ouer,
and such a brute was spread ouer all, till at length in time the truth
was knowne.

At his comming backe (as some write) he charged certeine of the
Nobilitie with treason, bicause they did not follow him: wherevpon
shortlie after he punished them verie gréeuuouslie, and peraduenture
not without some ground of iust cause. For likelie it is that some
greater matter forced him to breake vp his iournie, than appeareth
in our writers, although Rafe Cogheshall setteth downe some reasons
alledged by the archbishop Hubert, and earle Marshall, to persuade him
not to depart the realme. But peraduenture other causes there were
also of farre more importance that constreined him so greatlie against
his mind & full resolution, both at the first, and now at this second
time to returne. ¶ Verelie to vtter my coniecture, it may be that vpon
his last determination to go ouer, he gaue new commandement to his
lords to follow him, and they peraduenture vsed not such diligence
in accomplishing his pleasure therein, as he looked they should haue
doone: or it may be, when the armie was once discharged, the souldiers
made such hast homewards, ech man towards his countrie, that it was no
easie matter to bring them backe againe in any conuenient time. But
howsoeuer it was, as it had béene vpon a change of purpose, he came
backe againe (as before yée haue heard.)

[Sidenote: The death of the archb. of Canturburie.]

[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

The thirtéenth of Julie Hubert archbishop of Canturburie departed this
life at Tenham, the king not being gratlie sorie for his death (as some
haue written) bicause he gathered some suspicion that he bare too much
good will towards the French king. In verie déed (as some write) the
archbishop repented himselfe of nothing so much, as for that he had
commended king John to the Noblemen and Péers of the realme, sith he
prooued an other manner of man than he looked to haue found him. This
archbishop had gouerned the sée of Canturburie eleuen yeares, eight
moneths, and six daies.

[Sidenote: An archbishop chosen.]

After his deceasse, the moonks of Canturburie without knowledge of
the king, chose one Reignold the subprior of their house to be their
archbishop, who secretlie went to Rome to obteine his confirmation of
the pope. Which thing bred much mischéefe and great discord betwixt
pope Innocent & king John, since the pope would not confirme the
election, bicause he saw some péece of secret practise, till he might
vnderstand and be certified by report of sufficient witnesse (for that
he wanted the letters commendatorie from the king) that the same
election was lawfull and orderlie made. Of this delaie also the moonks
being spéedilie aduertised, and to the end they might now recouer the
kings fauour, whome they had verie sore offended in not making him
priuie to the first election, they made request vnto him, that by his
nomination it might be lawfull for them to choose an other archbishop.

[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]

[Sidenote: John Gray bishop of Norwich president of the councell.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Helias de Brantfield.]

The king gladlie herevnto assented, requiring them to grant their
voices vnto John Gray the bishop of Norwich, being both his chapleine
and president of his councell. The moonks to gratifie the king obeied
his request, and so electing the same bishop of Norwich, they sent
their procurators to Rome in the yeare following, to signifie the
same vnto the pope, and to require him to confirme this their second
election, as vnmindfull of their first, and clearelie adnihilating the
same to all intents and purposes. Amongst other that were sent to Rome
about this businesse, Helias de Brantfield was one, a moonke of great
estimation, and had in good credit with the king, who ministred vnto
them that were thus sent, sufficient allowance wherewith to beare their
charges and expenses.

[Sidenote: The bishops quarell with the moonks of Canturburie about the
election of an archbishop.]

[Sidenote: Gerard de Atie & Robert de Turnham tak[=e]n prisoners.]

Also at the same time the bishops that were suffragans to the sée of
Canturburie, sent their procurators to Rome, about a quarrell which
they had against the moonks there, for that the same moonks presumed
to procéed to the election of an archbishop without their consent,
hauing (as they alledged) a right by ancient decrées and customes to
be associat with them in the said elections. But how this matter was
answered, yée shall sée hereafter. In the meane time these and other
like things procured the pope to reiect both the elections, and of his
owne authoritie to nominate the third person, whereby the trouble begun
was not a little augmented (as you shall heare héereafter.) Now whilest
these procurators were thus occupied in Rome, Philip the French king
minding to conquer all that which king John yet held within France,
assembled an armie, and comming before the towne of Loches, wan it,
and tooke Gerard de Atie prisoner, that had so long time and with such
valiancie defended it. The same time also was Robert de Turnham taken
prisoner, who with great manhood had all this while repressed and
chastised the rebellious Poictouins.

[Sidenote: Hubert de Burgh a valiant capteine.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: Chinon taken by force of assault.]

Moreouer, when the French king had woone Loches, he went to Chinon,
within the which Hubert de Burgh was capteine, a right valiant man of
warre as was any where to be found, who hauing prepared all things
necessarie for defense, manfullie repelled the Frenchmen, who inforced
themselues to win the towne with continuall assaults and alarms,
not suffering them within to rest neither day nor night, who yet
for certeine daies togither, by the valiant incouragement of their
capteine defended the towne, with great slaughter of the Frenchmen.
Neuerthelesse, at length beginning to despaire by reason of their
incessant trauell, certeine of them that were somewhat faintharted
stale ouer the walles in the night, and ran to the Frenchmen, and for
safegard of their liues instructed them of the whole estate of the
towne. The French vnderstanding that they within were in no small feare
of themselues, with such violence came vnto the walles, and renewed
the assault vpon all sides, that streightwaies they entred by force. A
great number of Englishmen were taken, and amongst other their capteine
the foresaid Hubert de Burgh. [This chanced on the vigill of S. John
Baptist.]

After this, king Philip tooke diuerse other townes and castels in that
countrie, of the which some he raced, and some he fortified and stored
with garisons of his souldiers. This doone he passed ouer the riuer
of Loir, and wan a castell situat néere vnto a promontorie or head of
land called Grapelitum, which was woont to be a great succour & aid to
Englishmen arriuing on that coast. The occasion why he made wars thus
vpon the Britains, was (as some write) for that Guie duke of Britaine,
who had married the duches Constance, and succéeded in the duchie after
hir son Arthur, without regard to reuenge the death of the same Arthur,
was ioined in league with king John togither with Sauere de Mauleon,
and Almerike de Lusignian, lords of great honour, power, and stoutnesse
of stomach.

[Sidenote: _1206._]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 8.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: Montalban woone.]

[Sidenote: _Les annales de France._]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: King John wan the citie of Angiers by assault.]

King John also in this meane while, mooued with the increase of these
his new associats, and also with desire to reuenge so manie iniuries
and losses susteined at the French kings hands, preparing an armie
of men, and a nauie of ships, tooke the sea with them and landed at
Rochell the ninth of Julie, where he was receiued with great ioy and
gladnesse of the people; and no small number of gentlemen and others
that inhabited thereabout repaired vnto him, offering to aid him to the
vttermost of their powers. He therefore with assured hope of good spéed
departed from thence, and wan the towne of Montalban, with a great
part of all the countrie thereabouts. Finallie he entred into Aniou,
and comming to the citie of Angiers, appointed certeine bands of his
footmen, & all his light horssemen to compasse the towne about, whilest
he, with the residue of the footmen, & all the men of armes, did go to
assault the gates. Which enterprise with fire and sword he so manfullie
executed, that the gates being in a moment broken open, the citie was
entred and deliuered to the souldiers for a preie. So that of the
citizens some were taken, some killed, and the wals of the citie beaten
flat to the ground. This doone, he went abroad into the countrie, and
put all things that were in his way to the like destruction. Then came
the people of the countries next adioining, of their owne accord to
submit themselues vnto him, promising to aid him with men and vittels
most plentifullie.

[Sidenote: The duke of Britaine and other of the king Johns fri[=e]nds
ouerthrowne.]

King John being verie ioyfull of this good successe, marched towards
Poictou, sending out his troops of horssemen to waste the countrie
on euerie side. In the meane while the French king being hereof
aduertised, came foorth with his armie readie furnished to resist king
John, and by the way encountred with the duke of Britaine, Sauerie de
Mauleon, and Almerike de Lusignian, which had béene abroad to spoile
the French kings countries. But being now ouerset with the kings
puissance, they were taken, and all their companie stripped out of
their armour, to their great confusion. This mishap sore weakened
the power and courage of king John. But the French king proud of the
victorie, kept on his iournie, and approching néere vnto the place
where king John was as then lodged, did cause his tents to be pitched
downe for the first night, and on the morrow after, as one desirous of
battell, brought his armie into the fields, ranged in good order and
readie to fight.

[Sidenote: Matth. West.]

[Sidenote: Matth. Paris.]

[Sidenote: This truce was concluded vpon All hallowes day.]

The like did king John, so that with stout stomachs and eger minds,
they stood there in the field readie to trie the matter with dint
of sword vpon sound of the warning-blast giuen by the trumpets.
Howbeit, by the mediation of certeine graue personages, as well of
the spiritualtie as of the temporaltie, which were in good estimation
with both the princes, a communication was appointed, which tooke
such effect, that a truce was taken betwixt them for the terme of
two yeares, the prisoners on either side being released by waie of
exchange: and thus the wars ceased for that time. Then king Philip
returned into France, and king John into England, where he landed at
Portesmouth the 12 of December.

[Sidenote: John Ferentino the popes legat.]

[Sidenote: The pope giueth sentence with y^e monks against the bishops.]

[Sidenote: Sée _Matt. Paris_ pag. 287 in the printed copie.]

About this time came one John Ferentino (so called peraduenture _A
ferendo_, a common name to all the whelps of that litter, for they
neuer came into the land as legats but they would be sure to carrie
out with them manie large legacies and vsurped duties) a legat from
the pope into England, and passing through the same as it were in
visitation, gathered a great summe of monie; and finallie at Reading
on the morow after saint Lukes day, celebrated a councell, which being
ended, he caused his coffers to be packed vp and sent awaie, hastening
himselfe after to depart the realme, and so taking the sea bad England
farewell. About the same season also pope Innocent confirmed the
authoritie and power which the prior and moonks of Canturburie had to
elect and choose the archbishop of that sée, giuing sentence against
the suffragans which claimed a right to be ioined with the said prior
and moonks in the election, as by a letter directed to the same
suffragans from the said pope it may more plainelie appeare.

[Sidenote: King John repaireth the citie of Angiers.]

After this it chanced that king John remembring himselfe of the
destruction of the citie of Angiers, which (bicause he was descended
from thence) he had before time greatlie loued, began now to repent
him, in that he had destroied it, and therefore with all spéed he tooke
order to haue it againe repaired, which was doone in most beautifull
wise, to his great cost and expenses, which he might haue saued, had
not his foolish rashnesse driuen him to attempt that, whereof vpon
sober aduisement afterwards he was ashamed. But what will not an
ordinarie man doo in the full tide of his furie; much more princes
& great men, whose anger is resembled to the roring of a lion, euen
vpon light occasions oftentimes, to satisfie their vnbrideled and
brainesicke affections, which carrie them with a swift and full streame
into such follies and dotages as are vndecent for their degrées. Hereto
assenteth the poet, saieng,

[Sidenote: _Mal. Pal. in suo cap._]

    ----magni regésque ducésque
    Delirant sæpe, & vitiorum peste laborant,
    Stultitijsque suis sæpe vrbes exitio dant,
    Imperiúmque sibi miserorum cæde lucrantur.

[Sidenote: _1207._]

[Sidenote: A tax leuied.]

[Sidenote: The archbishop of Yorke stealeth out of the realme.]

[Sidenote: A mightie tempest.]

Moreouer, in this yeare about Candlemasse, the K. caused the 13
part of euerie mans goods, as well of the spiritualtie, as of the
temporaltie, to be leuied and gathered to his vse, all men murmuring
at such dooings, but none being so hardie as to gainesaie the kings
pleasure, except onelie Geffrey the archbishop of Yorke, who therevpon
departing secretlie out of the realme, accursed all those that laid any
hands to the collection of that paiment, within his archbishoprike of
Yorke. Also vpon the 17 of Januarie then last past, about the middest
of the night, there rose such a tempest of wind vpon a sudden, that
manie houses were ouerthrowne therewith, and shéepe and other cattell
destroied and buried in the drifts of snow, which as then laie verie
déepe euerie where vpon the ground.

[Sidenote: The emperor Otho c[=o]meth into England.]

[Sidenote: Fiue thousand marks of siluer, as _Matth. West._ and _Matth.
Paruus_ doo write.]

This order of frier Minors began about this time, and increased
maruellouslie within a short season. And the emperour Otho came ouer
into England in this yeare, where he was most roiallie receiued by king
John, who taking councell with the said emperour to renew the warre
against the French king (bicause he was promised great aid at his hands
for the furnishing of the same) gaue vnto him at his departing foorth
of the realme, great summes of monie in hand towards the paiment of
such souldiers as he should leuie for this businesse.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 9.]

[Sidenote: Stephan Langton chosen archbishop of Canturburie by y^e
popes appointment.]

In the meane while, the strife depended still in the court of Rome
betwixt the two elected archbishops of Canturburie, Reginald and
John. But after the pope was fullie informed of the manner of their
elections, he disannulled them both, and procured by his papall
authoritie the moonks of Canturburie (of whome manie were then come to
Rome about that matter) to choose one Stephan Langton the cardinall of
S. Chrysogon an Englishman borne, and of good estimation and learning
in the court of Rome to be their archbishop. The moonks at the first
were loth to consent thereto, alledging that they might not lawfullie
doo it without consent of their king, and of their couent.

But the pope as it were taking the word out of their mouths, said vnto
them, "Doo yée not consider that we haue full authoritie and power in
the church of Canturburie: neither is the assent of kings or princes
to be looked for vpon elections celebrated in the presence of the
apostolike sée. Wherefore I command you by vertue of your obedience,
and vpon paine of curssing, that you being such and so manie here as
are sufficient for the election, to choose him to your archbishop,
whome I shall appoint to you for father and pastor of your soules." The
moonks doubting to offend the pope, consented all of them to gratifie
him, except Helias de Brantfield, who refused. And so the foresaid
Stephan Langton being elected of them, was confirmed of the pope, who
signified by letters the whole state therof to king John, commending
the said Stephan as archbishop vnto him.

[Sidenote: The moonks of Canturburie banished.]

[Sidenote: King John writeth to the pope.]

[Sidenote: How gainfull England was to the court of Rome.]

The king sore offended in his mind that the bishop of Norwich was
thus put beside that dignitie, to the which he had aduanced him,
caused foorthwith all the goods of the moonks of Canturburie to be
confiscate to his vse, and after banished them the relme, as well I
meane those at home, as those that were at Rome, and herewith wrote his
letters vnto the pope, giuing him to vnderstand for answer, "that he
would neuer consent that Stephan which had béene brought vp & alwaies
conuersant with his enimies the Frenchmen, should now enioy the rule
of the bishoprike and dioces of Canturburie. Moreouer, he declared in
the same letters, that he maruelled not a little what the pope ment,
in that he did not consider how necessarie the fréendship of the king
of England was to the sée of Rome, sith there came more gains to the
Romane church out of that kingdome, than out of any other realme on
this side the mountaines. He added hereto, that for the liberties of
his crowne he would stand to the death, if the matter so required.
And as for the election of the bishop of Norwich vnto the sée of
Canturburie, sith it was profitable to him and to his realme, he meant
not to release it.

"Moreouer, he declared that if he might not be heard and haue his
mind, he would suerlie restraine the passages out of this realme, that
none should go to Rome, least his land should be so emptied of monie
and treasure, that he should want sufficient abilitie to beat backe
and expell his enimies that might attempt inuasion against the same.
Lastlie of all he concluded, sith the archbishops, bishops, abbats,
and other ecclesiasticall persons, as well of his realme of England,
as of other his lands and dominions, were sufficientlie furnished with
knowledge, that he would not go for anie néed that should driue him
thereto, to séeke iustice or iudgement at the prescript of any forren
persons."

[Sidenote: The popes answer vnto the king.]

The pope greatlie maruelling hereat, wrote againe to the king,
requiring him to absteine from the spoiling of those men that were
priuileged by the canons of the church, "that he would place the moonks
againe in their house and possessions, and receiue the archbishop
canonicallie elected and confirmed, the which for his learning and
knowledge, as well in the liberall sciences, as in holy scripture,
was thought worthie to be admitted to a prebend in Paris: and what
estimation he himselfe had of him it appeared, in that he had written
to him thrice since he was made cardinall, declaring that although he
was minded to call him to his seruice, yet he was glad that he was
promoted to an higher roome; adding further, how there was good cause
that he should haue consideration of him, bicause he was borne within
his land, of father and mother that were his faithfull subiects, and
for that he had a prebend in the church of Yorke, which was greater
and of more dignitie than that he had in Paris. Whereby not onelie by
reason of flesh and bloud, but also by hauing ecclesiasticall dignitie
and office, it could not be but that he loued him and his realme with
sincere affection."

Manie other reasons the pope alledged in his letters to king John, to
haue persuaded him to the allowing of the election of Stephan Langton.
But king John was so far from giuing care to the popes admonitions,
that he with more crueltie handled all such, not onelie of the
spiritualtie, but also of the temporaltie, which by any manner means
had aided the forenamed Stephan. The pope being hereof aduertised,
thought good not to suffer such contempt of his authoritie, as he
interpreted it; namelie, in a matter that touched the iniurious
handling of men within orders of the church. Which example might
procure hinderance, not to one priuat person alone, but to the whole
estate of the spiritualtie, which he would not suffer in any wise to be
suppressed. Wherefore he decréed with spéed to deuise remedie against
that large increasing mischéefe. And though there was no spéedier waie
to redresse the same, but by excommunication, yet he would not vse it
at the first towards so mightie a prince, but gaue him libertie and
time to consider his offense and trespasse so committed.

[Sidenote: Bailiffes of London discharged and committed to ward.]

¶ These things being brought to this issue, the further narration of
them shall staie for a time, till I haue told you of a little trouble
which about this time happened in London. For vpon the seauenth of
June, the bailiffes of London, Roger Winchester and Edmund Hardell
were discharged, and Serle the mercer and Hugh of saint Albons chosen
in their roomes. The two former bailiffes were discharged and commited
to prison by the kings commandement, vpon displeasure taken against
them bicause they had resisted his purueier of wheat, and would not
suffer him to conueie anie of that kind of graine out of the citie,
till the citie was stored. The thirtie and fiue rulers of the citie,
hauing fulfilled the kings commandement to them directed for the
discharging of those bailiffes, and imprisoning them, did after take
aduice thither, and appointed a certeine number of themselues with
other to ride vnto the king, as then being at Langley, to obteine
pardon for the said bailiffes, and so comming togither, they made such
excuse in the matter, shewing further, that at the same season there
was such scarsitie of wheat in the citie, that the common people were
at point to haue made an insurrection about the same. By which means,
and through fréendship which they had in the court, the king was so
satisfied, that he released them from prison, and pardoned their
offenses.

[Sidenote: The birth of king Henrie the third.]

[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]

[Sidenote: _1208._]

[Sidenote: The pope writeth to the bishops.]

[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

Also vpon the first of October, Henrie the sonne of king John, begotten
of his wife quéene Isabell, was borne at Winchester, who after
succéeded his father in the kingdome. But now againe to our purpose.
The pope perceiuing that king John continued still in his former
mind (which he called obstinacie) sent ouer his bulles into England,
directed to William bishop of London, to Eustace bishop of Elie, and
to Mauger bishop of Worcester, commanding them that vnlesse king John
would suffer peaceablie the archbishop of Canturburie to occupie his
sée, and his moonks their abbie, they should put both him and his
land vnder the sentence of interdiction, denouncing him and his land
plainelie accurssed. And further he wrote expresse letters vnto all the
suffragans of the church of Canturburie, that they should by vertue of
their obedience, which they owght to the apostolike sée, receiue and
obeie the archbishop Stephan for their father and metropolitane.

[Sidenote: Romans, that is such chapleines strangers as belonged to the
pope.]

These bishops with other to them associate, made instant request and
suit to the king for the obseruing of the popes commandement, and to
eschew the censures of the church, but that was in vaine: for the king
in a great rage sware, that if either they or any other presumed to put
his land vnder interdiction, he would incontinentlie therevpon send
all the prelats within the realme out of the same vnto the pope, and
seize all their goods vnto his owne vse. And further he added, that
what Romans soeuer he found within the precinct of any his dominions,
he would put out their eies, and slit their noses, and so send them
packing to Rome, that by such marks they might be knowne from all other
nations of the world. And herewith he commanded the bishops to packe
out of his sight, if they loued their owne health and preseruation.

[Sidenote: The mondaie in the passion wéeke saith _Matth. West._]

[Sidenote: The king and realme put vnder the popes curse.]

Herevpon the said bishops departed, and according to the popes
commission to them sent, vpon the euen of the Annuntiation of our
Ladie, denounced both the king and the realme of England accursed, and
furthermore caused the doores of churches to be closed vp, and all
other places where diuine seruice was accustomed to be vsed, first at
London, and after in all other places where they came. Then perceiuing
that the K. ment not to stoope for all this which they had doone, but
rather sought to be reuenged vpon them, they fled the realme, and got
them ouer vnto Stephan the archbishop of Canturburie, to wit, William
bishop of London, Eustace bishop of Elie, Malger bishop of Worcester,
Joceline bishop of Bath, and Giles bishop of Hereford.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 10.]

[Sidenote: The dealing of the king after the interdiction was
pronounced.]

The king taking this matter in verie great displeasure, seized vpon all
their temporalties, and conuerted the same to his vse, and persecuted
such other of the prelacie as he knew to fauour their dooings,
banishing them the realme, and seizing their goods also into his hands.
Howbeit the most part of the prelats wiselie prouided for themselues
in this point, so that they would not depart out of their houses,
except they were compelled by force, which when the kings officers
perceiued, they suffered them to remaine still in their abbies, and
other habitations, bicause they had no commission to vse any violence
in expelling them. But their goods they did confiscat to the kings vse,
allowing them onelie meat and drinke, and that verie barelie in respect
of their former allowance.

[Sidenote: An heauie time for churchmen.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

¶ It was a miserable time now for préests and churchmen, which were
spoiled on euerie hand, without finding remedie against those that
offered them wrong. It is reported that in the borders of Wales,
the officers of a shiriffe brought before the king a fellow which
had robbed and slaine a préest, desiring to vnderstand his pleasure
what should be doone with that offender: vnto whom the king made this
answer, "He hath slaine mine enimie, and therefore set him at libertie."

[Sidenote: Lord William de Breuse.]

The king also doubting least the pope should procéed further, and
absolue all his subiects of their allegiance which they owght to him,
and that his lords would happilie reuolt and forsake him in this his
trouble, tooke hostages of them whom he most suspected. And as the
messengers, which were sent abroad for that purpose, came vnto the lord
William de Breuse, requiring to haue his sonnes for the said purpose,
his wife (like a quick and hastie dame) taking the word out of hir
husbands mouth, made this round answer, "that she would not deliuer hir
sonnes vnto king John, who alreadie had slaine his owne nephue Arthur,
whome he ought rather honourablie to haue loued and preserued." These
words being signified vnto the king, set him in such an heat against
hir husband (though he rebuked hir sharpelie for the same) that the
said lord was glad togither with his wife and children to flée out of
the realme into Ireland for safegard of their liues.

[Sidenote: Lond[=o]n Bridge repaired.]

Whereas before this time London bridge was made of timber, and was
ruled, guided, & repaired by a fraternitie or colledge of préests; this
yéere by great aid of the citizens of London and others passing that
waie, the same bridge was begun to be made of stone. And in the same
yeare S. Marie Oueries in Southwarke was begun to be repaired. The
same yeare also, the citizens of London made such suit vnto the king,
that he granted vnto them by his letters patents, licence to choose to
themselues a maior, and two shiriffes euerie yeare. After which grant
vnto them confirmed, they chose for their maior Henrie Fitz Alwin, who
was sworne and charged at that present maior of that citie, vpon the
day of saint Michaell the archangell, in the said tenth yeare of king
John his reigne. On the same day and yeare, were Peter Duke & Thomas
Nele sworne for shiriffes. Thus the name of bailiffes from thenceforth
was clearelie extinguished.

[Sidenote: _John Stow._]

But here yée haue to vnderstand, that this Henrie Fitz Alwin had béene
maior of London long before this time, euen from the first yeare of
king Richard (as John Stow hath gathered out of ancient instruments and
records) vnto this present tenth yeare of king John, and now vpon grant
made to the citizens, that it should be lawfull for them to choose
euerie yeare a maior, and two shiriffes, for the better gouernment of
their citie, the said Henrie Fitz Alwin was newlie by them elected, and
likewise afterwards from yeare to yeare, till he departed this life,
which chanced in the yeare 1213, and fiftéenth of king Johns reigne, so
that he continued maior of the same citie of London, by the terme of
twentie and foure yeares.

[Sidenote: The signification of this word Maire.]

[Sidenote: _Wulf. Laz._]

[Sidenote: _Berosus._]

¶ Now therefore bicause it appeareth here how the gouernors of the
citie of London had their names altered for their greater honour, and
the state of gouernment thereby partlie changed, or rather confirmed;
I haue thought good (though verie bréefelie) to touch somewhat the
signification of this word Maire, before I procéed any further with
the rest of this historie. The ancient inhabitants of Franconia,
or Frankenland, from whome the Frenchmen are descended, and their
neighbors the old Saxons, of whom the Englishmen haue their originall,
being people of Germanie, and descended (as Berosus seith) of the old
Hebrues, haue reteined manie Hebrue words, either from the beginning,
or else borowed them abroad in other regions which they conquered,
passing by force of armes through a great part of the world. For no
doubt, by conuersation with those people whom they subdued, they
brought home into their owne countrie and toong manie borowed words, so
that their language hath no small store of them fetched out of sundrie
strange toongs.

Now among other old words remaining in their toong, this word Mar
was one, which in Hebrue signifieth Dominus, (that is to saie, lord)
but pronounced now somewhat corruptlie Maire. So as it is to be
supposed, hereof it came to passe that the head officer and lieutenant
to the prince, as well in London as in other cities and townes of the
realme, are called by that name of maior, though in the cities of
London and Yorke, for an augmentation of honour by an ancient custome
(through ignorance what the title of maire dooth signifie) they haue
an addition, and are intituled by the name of lord maire, where Maire
simplie pronounced of it selfe, signifieth no lesse than lord, without
any such addition. Thus much for the name of Maire. And now to procéed.

[Sidenote: _1209._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The eschequer remoued.]

King John holding his Christmasse this yeare at Bristow, set foorth a
commandement, whereby he restreined the taking of wild foule. About
the same time, Henrie duke of Suaben came into England from the
emperour Otho, and receiving no small portion of monie of the king,
departed backe into his owne countrie againe. In the vigil of the
Epiphanie also, the kings second sonne was borne, and named Richard
after his vncles name. And the court of the eschequer was remoued from
Westminster vnto Northampton. Moreouer in the same yeare, Walter Gray
was made lord chancellour, who in all thing studied to satisfie the
kings will and purpose, for the which he incurred great indignation of
the cleargie, and other that fauoured not the procéedings of the king.

¶ It was suerlie a rufull thing to consider the estate of this realme
at that present, when as the king neither trusted his péeres, neither
the nobilitie fauoured the king; no, there were verie few that trusted
one another, but ech one hid & hourded vp his wealth, looking dailie
when another should come and enter vpon the spoile. The communaltie
also grew into factions, some fauouring, & some cursing the king,
as they bare affection. The cleargie was likewise at dissention, so
that nothing preuailed but malice and spite, which brought foorth and
spred abroad the fruits of disobedience to all good lawes and orders,
greatlie to the disquieting of the whole state. So that herein we haue
a perfect view of the perplexed state of princes, chéeflie when they
are ouerswaied with forren & prophane power, and not able to assure
themselues of their subiects allegiance and loialtie. Whereto this
clause alludeth,

[Sidenote: _M. Pal. in suo Leo._]

    ----cruciat comes improbus ipsos
    Assidui metus atque timor, suspectáque ijsdem
    Omnia sunt: hinc insidias, hinc dira venena
    Concipiunt, soli nec possunt ire nec audent,
    Nec sine fas illis prægustatore comesse.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 11.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: A new oth of allegiance.]

[Sidenote: Alexander K. of Scots.]

King John notwithstanding that the realme was thus wholie interdicted
and vexed, so that no préests could be found to saie seruice in
churches or chapels, made no great account thereof as touching any
offense towards God or the pope: but rather mistrusting the hollow
hearts of his people, he tooke a new oth of them for their faithfull
allegiance, and immediatlie therevpon assembled an armie to go against
Alexander king of Scots, vnto whome (as he had heard) diuerse of the
nobilitie of this realme were fled, which Alexander was the second of
that name that had ruled the Scots, and latelie before was entred into
the rule as lawfull successor to the crowne of Scotland, by the death
of his father K. William.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The white moonks.]

In this meane while also Stephan archbishop of Canturburie lamenting
(as some haue reported) the state of his natiue countrie, and yet not
minding to giue ouer his hold, obteined of pope Innocent, that vpon
certeine dais it might be lawfull for an appointed number of préests
within the realme of England, to celebrate diuine seruice, that is
to say, for those of conuentuall churches once in the wéeke. But the
moonks of the white order were forbidden to vse that priuilege, bicause
in the beginning of the interdiction they had at the appointment of
their principall abbat presumed to celebrate the sacraments without the
popes consent or knowledge.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Alexander K. of Scots compoundeth for peace with king John.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

In like maner on the other side, king John hauing his armie in a
readinesse, hasted foorth towards the borders of Scotland, and comming
to the castell of Norham, prepared to inuade the Scots. But king
Alexander wanting power to giue him battell, sought to come vnto
some fréendlie agréement with him, and so by counsell of his lords,
casting off his armour, he came to the king, and for a great summe of
gold (or 11 thousand marks of siluer as some write) with much adoo he
purchased peace, deliuering two of his daughters in hostage for more
assurance of his dealing. Wherevpon king John, after his returne from
Norham, which was about the 24 of June, shewed himselfe not a little
displeased with those of the nobilitie, which had refused to attend
vpon him in that iournie, hauing receiued streit commandement from him
to attend vpon him at that time. Certes the cause why they refused to
follow him, was euident, as they said, in that they knew him to stand
accursed by the pope. About the same time also, when corne began to
wax ripe, to reuenge himselfe of them that had refused to go with him
in that iournie, he caused the pales of all the parks & forrests which
he had within his realme to be throwne downe, & the diches to be made
plaine, that the déere breaking out and ranging abroad in the corne
fields, might destroie & eat vp the same before it could be ripened,
for which act (if it were so in déed) manie a bitter cursse procéeded
from the mouths of the poore husbandmen towards the kings person, and
not vnworthilie. Moreouer in this season the Welshmen (which thing had
not béene séene afore time) came vnto Woodstoke, and there did homage
vnto the king, although the same was chargeable, aswell to the rich as
the poore so to come out of their countrie.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: A murther at Oxford.]

[Sidenote: Thrée thousand as saith _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Oxford forsaken of the scholers.]

[Sidenote: Hugh archdeacon of Welles made bishop of Lincolne.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

About the same time also, it chanced that a préest slue a woman at
Oxford, and when the kings officers could not find him that had
committed the murther, they apprehended thrée other préests not guiltie
of the fact, and streightway hanged them vp without iudgement. With
which crueltie others of the Vniuersitie being put in feare, departed
thence in great numbers, and came not thither againe of a long time
after, some of them repairing to Cambridge, and some to Reading to
applie their studies in those places, leauing Oxford void. The same
yeare one Hugh archdeacon of Welles, and kéeper of the kings great
seale, was nominated bishop of Lincolne; and herewithall he craued
licence to go ouer into France vnto the archbishop of Rouen, that
he might be consecrated of him. Wherewith the king was contented
and gladlie gaue him leaue, who no sooner got ouer into Normandie,
but he streight tooke the high waie to Rome, and there receiued his
consecration of Stephan archbishop of Canturburie. Now when the king
vnderstood this matter, and saw the dulnesse of the bishop, he was in
a wonderfull chafe toward him, and thervpon made port-sale of all his
goods, and receiued the profit of the reuenues belonging to the sée of
Lincolne for his own vse.

[Sidenote: Cementarius.]

¶ There liued in those daies a diuine named Alexander Cementarius,
surnamed Theologus, who by his preaching incensed the king greatlie
vnto all crueltie (as the moonks and friers saie) against his
subiects, affirming that the generall scourge wherewith the people
were afflicted, chanced not through the princes fault, but for the
wickednesse of his people, for the king was but the rod of the Lords
wrath, and to this end a prince was ordeined, that he might rule the
people with a rod of iron, and breake them as an earthen vessell, to
chaine the mighty in fetters, & the noble men in iron manacles. He
did sée (as it should séeme) the euill disposed humors of the people
concerning their dutifull obedience which they ought to haue borne
to their naturall prince king John, and therefore as a doctrine most
necessarie in that dangerous time, he taught the people how they were
by Gods lawes bound in dutie to obeie their lawfull prince, and not
through any wicked persuasion of busie heads and lewd discoursers, to
be carried away to forget their loiall allegiance, and so to fall into
the damnable sinke of rebellion.

He went about also to prooue with likelie arguments, that it
apperteined not to the pope, to haue to doo concerning the temporall
possessions of any kings or other potentats touching the rule and
gouernment of their subiects, sith no power was granted to Peter (the
speciall and chéefe of the apostles of the Lord) but onlie touching
the church, and matters apperteining therevnto. By such doctrine of
him set foorth, he wan in such wise the kings fauour, that he obteined
manie great preferments at the kings hands, and was abbat of saint
Austines in Canturburie: but at length, when his manners were notified
to the pope, he tooke such order for him, that he was despoiled of all
his goods and benefices, so that afterwards he was driuen in great
miserie to beg his bread from doore to doore, as some write. This did
he procure to himselfe by telling the trueth against that beast, whose
hornes were pricking at euerie christian prince, that he might set
himselfe in a seat of supremasie aboue all principalities: so that we
may saie,

    In audaces non est audacia tuta.

[Sidenote: _1210._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Jewes taxed.]

[Sidenote: A Jew hath his téeth drawne out.]

Furthermore, about the same time the king taxed the Jewes, and
gréeuouslie tormented and emprisoned them, bicause diuers of them would
not willinglie pay the summes that they were taxed at. Amongst other,
there was one of them at Bristow, which would not consent to giue anie
fine for his deliuerance: wherefore by the kings commandement he was
put vnto this penance, that euerie daie, till he would agrée to giue to
the king those ten thousand marks that he was seized at, he should haue
one of his téeth plucked out of his head. By the space of seauen daies
togither he stood stedfast, loosing euerie of those daies a tooth,
but on the eight day, when he should come to haue the eight tooth and
the last (for he had but eight in all) drawne out, he paid the monie
to saue that one, who with more wisedome and lesse paine might haue
doone so before, and haue saued his seauen téeth, which he lost with
such torments, for those homelie toothdrawers vsed no great cunning in
plucking them foorth (as may be coniectured.)

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 12.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: King John passeth ouer into Ireland.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Walter de Lacie.]

[Sidenote: The Ladie de Breuse & hir sonne taken.]

Whilest king John was thus occupied, newes came to him, that the Irish
rebels made foule worke and sore annoied the English subiects. He
therefore assembling a mightie armie, imbarked at Penbroke in Wales,
and so hasting towards Ireland, arriued there the twentie fiue of Maie,
and brought the people in such feare immediatlie vpon his arriuall,
that all those that inhabited vpon the sea coasts in the champaine
countries, came in, and yéelded themselues, receiuing an oth to be
true and faithfull vnto him. There were twentie of the chéefest rulers
within Ireland, which came to the king at his comming to Dublin, and
there did to him homage and fealtie as apperteined. The king at the
same time ordeined also, that the English lawes should be vsed in that
land, and appointed shiriffes and other officers to haue the order of
the countrie, to rule the same according to the English ordinances.
After this, he marched forward into the land, and tooke diuerse
fortresses and strong holds of his enimies, which fled before him, for
feare to be apprehended as Walter de Lacie and manie other. At length,
comming into the countrie of Meth, he besieged a castell, wherein
the wife of William de Breuse, and hir sonne named also William were
inclosed, but they found means to escape before the castell was woone,
though afterward they were taken in the Ile of Man, and sent by the
king into England, where they were so straitlie kept within the castell
of Windsor, that (as the fame went) they were famished to death.

[Sidenote: A present of white kine.]

[Sidenote: He himselfe escapeth.]

¶ We read in an old historie of Flanders, written by one whose name
is not knowne, but printed at Lions by Guillaume Rouille, in the
yeare 1562, that the said ladie, wife to the lord William de Breuse,
presented vpon a time vnto the quéene of England, a gift of foure
hundred kine, and one bull, of colour all white, the eares excepted,
which were red. Although this tale may séeme incredible, yet if we
shall consider that the said Breuse was a lord marcher, and had goodlie
possessions in Wales, and on the marshes, in which countries the most
part of the peoples substance consisteth in cattell, it may carrie with
it the more likelihood of truth. And suerlie the same author writeth
of the iournie made this yeare into Ireland, so sensiblie, and namelie
touching the manners of the Irish, that he séemeth to haue had good
informations, sauing that he misseth in the names of men and places,
which is a fault in maner common to all forreine writers. Touching the
death of the said ladie, he saith, that within eleuen daies after she
was committed to prison héere in England, she was found dead, sitting
betwixt hir sonnes legs, who likewise being dead, sate directlie vp
against a wall of the chamber, wherein they were kept with hard
pitance (as writers doo report.) William the father escaped, and got
away into France.

[Sidenote: The bishop of Norwich lord lieutenant of Ireland.]

[Sidenote: Irish monie reformed.]

[Sidenote: The king returneth into England.]

Thus the more part of the Irish people being brought vnder, he
appointed John Gray the bishop of Norwich, to be his deputie there,
remoouing out of that office Hugh Lacie, which bare great rule in that
quarter before. The bishop then being appointed deputie and chéefe
iustice of Ireland, reformed the coine there, causing the same to be
made of like weight and finenesse to the English coine, so that the
Irish monie was currant, as well in England, as in Ireland, being of
the like weight, forme, and finenesse to the English. Moreouer, those
that inhabited the wood-countries and the mounteine places, though they
would not as then submit themselues, he would not at that time further
pursue, bicause winter was at hand, which in that countrie approcheth
timelie in the yeare. Hauing thus subdued the more part of all Ireland,
and ordred things there at his pleasure, he tooke the sea againe with
much triumph, and landed in England about the thirtith day of August.

[Sidenote: An assemblie of the prelats at London.]

[Sidenote: A tax leuied.]

From hence he made hast to London, and at his comming thither, tooke
counsell how to recouer the great charges and expenses that he had
béene at in this iournie, and by the aduise of William Brewer, Robert
de Turnham, Reignold de Cornhill, and Richard de Marish, he caused
all the chéefe prelats of England to assemble before him at S. Brides
in London. So that thither came all the abbats, abbesses, templers,
hospitallers, kéepers of farmes and possessions of the order of
Clugnie, and other such forreners as had lands within this realme
belonging to their houses. All which were constreined to paie such
a gréeuous tax, that the whole amounted to the summe of an hundred
thousand pounds. The moonks of the Cisteaux order, otherwise called
white moonks, were constreined to paie 40 thousand pounds of siluer
at this time, all their priuileges to the contrarie notwithstanding.
Moreouer, the abbats of that order might not get licence to go their
generall chapter that yéere, which yéerelie was vsed to be holden,
least their complaint should mooue all the world against the king, for
his too hard and seuere handling of them.

[Sidenote: _1211._]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 13.]

[Sidenote: King John goeth into Wales with an armie.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: White church I thinke.]

[Sidenote: Pandulph & Durant the popes legats.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

In the summer following, about the 18 day of Julie, king John with a
mightie armie went into Wales, and passing foorth into the inner parts
of the countrie, he came into Snowdon, beating downe all that came
in his way, so that he subdued all the rulers and princes, without
contradiction. And to be the better assured for their subiection in
time following, he tooke pledges of them, to the number of 28, & so
returned to Album Monasterium on the daie of the Assumption of our
ladie, from whence he first set foorth into the Welsh confines. In
the same yeare also, the pope sent two legats into England, the one
named Pandulph a lawier, and the other Durant a templer, who comming
vnto king John, exhorted him with manie terrible words to leaue his
stubborne disobedience to the church, and to reforme his misdooings.
The king for his part quietlie heard them, and bringing them to
Northampton, being not fare distant from the place where he met them
vpon his returne foorth of Wales had much conference with them; but at
length, when they perceiued that they could not haue their purpose,
neither for restitution of the goods belonging to préests which he
had seized vpon, neither of those that apperteined to certeine other
persons, which the king had gotten also into his hands, by meanes of
the controuersie betwixt him and the pope the legats departed, leauing
him accursed, and the land interdicted, as they found it at their
comming.

[Sidenote: _Fabian._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

¶ Touching the maner of this interdiction there haue béene diuerse
opinions, some haue said, that the land was interdicted throughlie,
and the churches and houses of religion closed vp, that no where was
anie diuine seruice vsed: but it was not so streit, for there were
diuerse places occupied with diuine seruice all that time, by certeine
priuiledges purchased either then or before. Children were also
christened, and men houseled and annoiled through all the land, except
such as were in the bill of excommunication by name expressed. But to
our purpose.

[Sidenote: Reginald erle of Bullongne.]

King John, after that the legats were returned toward Rome againe,
punished diuerse of those persons which had refused to go with him
into Wales, in like maner as he had doone those that refused to go
with him into Scotland: he tooke now of ech of them for euerie knights
fée two marks of siluer, as before is recited. About the same time
also, Reginald earle of Bullongne being accursed in like maner as king
John was, for certeine oppressions doone to poore men, and namelie to
certeine préests, fled ouer into England, bicause the French king had
banished him out of France.

[Sidenote: The like league was made in the same first yeare of king
John betwixt him & Ferdinando earle of Flanders.]

The chéefest cause of the French kings displeasure towards this earle,
may séeme to procéed of the amitie and league which was concluded
betwixt king John, and the said earle, in the first yeare of the said
king's reigne, whereby they bound themselues either to other, not
to make anie peace, or to take anie truce with the king of France,
without either others consent first thereto had, and that if after anie
agréement taken betwixt them and the king of France, he should chance
to make warre against either of them, then should the other aid and
assist him, against whom such ware should be made, to the vttermost of
his power.

This league was accorded to remaine for euer betwixt them and their
heires, with suerties sworne on either part: and for the king of
England, these, whose names insue, William Marshall earle of Penbroke,
Ranulfe earle of Chester, Robert earle of Leicester, Baldwine earle
of Albemarle, William earle of Arundell, Ralfe earle of Augi, Robert
de Mellet, Hugh de Gourney, William de Kaeu, Geffrey de Cella, Roger
conestable of Chester, Ralfe Fitz Water, William de Albanie, Robert de
Ros, Richard de Montfichet, Roger de Thoney, Saer de Quincie, William
de Montchenise, Peter de Pratellis, William de Poole aliàs de Stagno,
Adam de Port, Robert de Turneham, William Mallet, Eustace de Vescie,
Peter de Brus, William de Presennie, Hubert de Burgh, William de
Mansey, and Peter Sauenie. For the earle, these were suerties, Anselme
de Kaeu, Guy Lieschans, Ralfe the said earles brother, &c. But now to
returne.

After that the earle of Bullongne was expelled out of France (as before
ye haue heard) he came ouer to king John, and was of him ioifullie
receiued, hauing thrée hundred pounds of reuenues in land to him
assigned within England, for the which he did homage and fealtie vnto
him. Shortlie after this also, died William de Breuse the elder,
which fled from the face of king John out of Ireland into France, and
departing this life at Corbell, was buried at Paris in the abbeie of S.
Victor.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

In the meane time pope Innocent, after the returne of his legats out
of England, perceiuing that king John would not be ordered by him,
determined with the consent of his cardinals and other councellours,
and also at the instant suit of the English bishops and other prelats
being there with him, to depriue king John of his kinglie state, and so
first absolued all his subiects and vassals of their oths of allegiance
made vnto the same king, and after depriued him by solemne protestation
of his kinglie administration and dignitie, and lastlie signified that
his depriuation vnto the French king and other christian princes,
admonishing them to pursue king John, being thus depriued, forsaken,
and condemned as a common enimie to God and his church. He ordeined
furthermore, that whosoeuer imploied goods or other aid to vanquish and
ouercome that disobedient prince, should remaine in assured peace of
the church, as well as those which went to visit the sepulchre of our
Lord, not onlie in their goods and persons, but also in suffrages for
sauing of their soules.

[Sidenote: P[=a]ndulph sent into France to practise with the fr[=e]nch
king, for king John his destruction.]

But yet that it might appeare to all men, that nothing could be
more ioifull vnto his holinesse, than to haue king John to repent
his trespasses committed, and to aske forgiuenesse for the same, he
appointed Pandulph, which latelie before was returned to Rome, with
a great number of English exiles, to go into France, togither with
Stephan the archbishop of Canturburie, and the other English bishops,
giuing him in commandement, that repairing vnto the French king, he
should communicate with him all that which he had appointed to be doone
against king John, and to exhort the French king to make warre vpon
him, as a person for his wickednesse excommunicated. Moreouer this
Pandulph was commanded by the pope, if he saw cause, to go ouer into
England, and to deliuer vnto king John such letters as the pope had
written for his better instruction, and to séeke by all means possible
to draw him from his naughtie opinion.

In the meane time, when it was bruted through the realme of England,
that the pope had released the people & absolued them of their oth of
fidelitie to the king, and that he was depriued of his gouernement
by the popes sentence, by little and little a great number both of
souldiers, citizens, burgesses, capteins and conestables of castels,
leauing their charges, & bishops with a great multitude of préests
reuolting from him, and auoiding his companie and presence, secretlie
stale awaie, and got ouer into France.

[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]

[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The names of the noble men that c[=o]ntinued true vnto K.
John.]

Notwithstanding that diuerse in respect of the popes cursse, and
other considerations them mouing, vtterlie refused in this manner to
obeie king John, yet there were manie others that did take his part,
and mainteine his quarell verie earnestlie, as his brother William
earle of Salisburie, Alberike de Véere erle of Oxford, Geffrey Fitz
Peter lord chéefe iustice of England, also thrée bishops, Durham,
Winchester, and Norwich, Richard de Marish lord chancellour, Hugh
Neuill chiefe forrester, William de Wrothing lord warden of the
ports, Robert Veipount and his brother Yuan, Brian de Lisle, Geffrey
de Lucie, Hugh Ballioll, and his brother Barnard, William de Cantlow
and his son William Fulke de Cantlow, Reginald de Cornehull shiriffe
of Kent, Robert Braibrooke and his son Harrie, Philip de Louecotes,
John de Bassingborne, Philip March, Chatelaine of Notingham, Peter de
Maulley, Robert de Gaugy, Gerard de Athie and his nephue Ingelrand,
William Brewer, Peter Fitz Hubert, Thomas Basset, and Foulks de
Briant a Norman, with many other, too long here to rehearse, who as
fautors and councellors vnto him, sought to defend him in all causes,
notwithstanding the censures of the church so cruellie pronounced
against him; knowing that they were bound in conscience to sticke to
him, now speciallie in this general apostasie of his péeres and people.
For they were opinioned, that it was

[Sidenote: _Ouid. lib. 2. de Pont._]

    Turpe referre pedem, nec passu stare tenaci,
      Turpe laborantem deseruisse ratem.

[Sidenote: _1212._]

[Sidenote: _Bernewell._]

The same yeare king John held his Christmasse at Windsor, and in the
Lent following, on midlent sundaie being at London, he honoured the
lord Alexander sonne and heire to the king of Scots, with the high
order of knighthood. And (as I find it mentioned by some writers)
wheras he vnderstood how there were diuerse in Scotland, that
contemning their naturall lord and king by reason of his great age,
king John went thither with an armie to represse the rebels, and being
come thither, he sent his men of war into the inner parts of the
country, who scowring the coasts, took Guthred Macwilliam capteine of
them that moued sedition, whom king John caused to be hanged on a paire
of gallowes. This Guthred was descended of the line of the ancient
Scotish kings, and being assisted with the Irishmen and Scots that
fauoured not the race of the kings that presentlie reigned, wrought
them much trouble, as his father (named Donald) had doone before him,
sometime secretlie vnder hand, and sometime againe by way of open
rebellion.

[Sidenote: The Welshmen mooue rebellion.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 14.]

[Sidenote: King John hangeth the Welsh pledges.]

Shortlie after, the Welshmen began to sturre also, who rushing out of
their owne confines, fell vpon their next neighbours within the English
marshes, wasted the countrie, and ouerthrew diuerse castels flat to the
ground. Whereof the king hauing knowledge, assembled a mightie armie
out of hand, and comming to Notingham, he hanged vp the Welsh hostages
which the last yeare he had receiued, to the number of eight and
twentie yoong striplings. And by reason he was now set in a maruellous
chafe, he roughlie procéeded against all those whom he knew not to
fauor his case: some he discharged of their offices, other he depriued
of their capteineships and other roomes, & reuoked certeine priuileges
& immunities granted to moonks, préests, & men of religion.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: King John breaketh vp his armie.]

Furthermore, hauing his armie readie to passe on into Wales, he
receiued letters the same time, both from the king of Scots, and from
his daughter the wife of Leoline prince of Wales, conteining in effect
the aduertisement of one matter, which was to let him know, that if he
procéeded on his iournie, he should either through treason be slaine of
his owne lords, or else be deliuered to be destroied of his enimies.
The king iudging no lesse, but that the tenor of the letters conteined
a truth, brake vp his armie and returned to London. From whence he
sent messengers vnto all such lords as he suspected, commanding them
to send vnto him hostages for more assurance of their fidelities. The
lords durst not disobeie his commandement, but sent their sons, their
nephues, and other their kinsmen, accordinglie as he required, and so
his rancour was appeased for a time. But Eustace de Vescie, Robert Fitz
Walter, and Stephan Ridell, being accused and suspected of the K. for
the said treason, were glad to flée the realme, Vescie departing into
Scotland, and the other two into France.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]

[Sidenote: Saint Marie Oueries burnt.]

[Sidenote: _1213._]

[Sidenote: The deceasse of Geffrey the archbishop of Yorke.]

The same yeare, the church of S. Marie Oueries, and all the building
vpon London bridge on both sides the same, were consumed with fire,
which was iudged to be a signification of some mishap to follow. The
king held his Christmasse this yeare at Westminster, with no great
traine of knights about him. About the same time Geffrey archbishop of
Yorke departed this life, after he had remained in exile about a seauen
yeares. But now to returne againe to the practises of the popes legats.

[Sidenote: The French king prepared to inuade England.]

Ye shall vnderstand, the French king being requested by Pandulph
the popes legat, to take the warre in hand against king John, was
easilie persuaded thereto of an inward hatred that he bare vnto our
king, and therevpon with all diligence made his prouision of men,
ships, munition and vittell, in purpose to passe ouer into England:
and now was his nauie readie rigged at the mouth of Saine, and he in
greatest forwardnesse, to take his iournie. When Pandulph vpon good
considerations thought first to go eftsoones, or at the least wise
to send into England, before the French armie should land there, and
to assaie once againe, if he might induce the king to shew himselfe
reformable vnto the popes pleasure: king John hauing knowledge of the
French kings purpose and ordinance, assembled his people, and lodged
with them alongst by the coast towards France, that he might resist his
enimies, and kéepe them off from landing.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 15.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The great armie which K. John assembled togither.]

[Sidenote: The bishop of Norwich.]

Here writers declare, that he had got togither such an armie of men
out of all the parts of his realme, both of lords, knights, gentlemen,
yeomen, & other of the commons, that notwithstanding all the prouision
of vittels that might possible be recouered, there could not be found
sufficient store to susteine the huge multitude of them that were
gathered alongst the coast, namelie at Douer, Feuersham, Gipsewich, and
other places. Wherevpon the capteins discharged and sent home a great
number of the commons, reteining onelie the men of armes, yeomen, and
fréeholders, with the crossebowes and archers. There came likewise to
the kings aid at the same time, the bishop of Norwich out of Ireland,
bringing with him fiue hundred men of armes, & a great sort of other
horssemen.

To conclude, there was estéemed of able men assembled togither in the
armie on Barhamdowne, what of chosen men of armes, and valient yeomen,
and other armed men, the number of sixtie thousand: so that if they
had béene all of one mind, and well bent towards the seruice of their
king and defense of their countrie, there had not béene a prince in
christendome, but that they might haue béene able to haue defended the
realme of England against him. He had also prouided a nauie of ships
farre stronger than the French kings, readie to fight with them by sea,
if the case had so required.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: Two knights of the temple.]

But as he lay thus readie, néere to the coast, to withstand and beat
backe his enimies, there arriued at Douer two Templers, who comming
before the king, declared vnto him that they were sent from Pandulph
the popes legat, who for his profit coueted to talke with him: for
he had (as they affirmed) meanes to propone, whereby he might be
reconciled, both to God and his church, although he were adiudged in
the court of Rome, to haue forfeited all the right which he had to his
kingdome.

[Sidenote: The legat Pandulph c[=o]meth ouer.]

The king vnderstanding the meaning of the messengers sent them backe
againe to bring ouer the legat, who incontinentlie came ouer to Douer,
of whose arriuall when the king was aduertised, he went thither, and
receiued him with all due honour and reuerence. Now after they had
talked togither a little, and courteouslie saluted each other (as the
course of humanitie required) the legat (as it is reported) vttered
these words following.


The sawcie spéech of proud Pandulph the popes lewd legat, to king Iohn,
in the presumptuous popes behalfe.

I doo not thinke that you are ignorant, how pope Innocent, to do that
which to his dutie apperteineth, hath both absolued your subiects of
that oth which they made vnto you at the beginning, and also taken from
you the gouernance of England, according to your deserts, and finallie
giuen commandement vnto certeine princes of Christendome, to expell you
out of this kingdom and to place an other in your roome; so worthilie
to punish you for your disobedience and contempt of religion: and that
Philip king of France, with the first being readie to accomplish the
popes commandement, hath an armie in a readinesse, and with his nauie
newlie decked, rigged and furnished in all points, lieth at the mouth
of the riuer of Saine, looking for a prosperous wind, that as soone as
it commeth about, he may saile therewith hither into England, trusting
(as he saith) with the helpe of your owne people (which neither name
you, nor will take you for their king) to spoile you of your kingdome
with small adoo, and to conquer it at his pleasure, for he hath (as he
sticketh not to protest openlie to the world) a charter made by all the
chéefest lords of England touching their fealtie and obedience assured
to him. Therfore, sith God for your iust desert is wroth with you, and
that you are as euill spoken of by all men, as they that come against
you be well reported, I would aduise you, that whilest there is a place
for grace and fauour, rather to obeie the popes iust demands, to whose
word other Christian princes are readie to giue eare, than by striuing
in vaine to cast awaie your selfe and all others that take your part,
or are bent to defend your quarell or cause.

       *       *       *       *       *

[Sidenote: K. John deliuereth his crowne vnto Pandulph.]

These words being thus spoken by the legat, king John as then vtterlie
despairing in his matters, when he saw himselfe constreined to obeie,
was in a great perplexitie of mind, and as one full of thought, looked
about him with a frowning countenance, waieng with himselfe what
counsell were best for him to follow. At length, oppressed with the
burthen of the imminent danger and ruine, against his will, and verie
loth so to haue doone, he promised vpon his oth to stand to the popes
order and decrée. Wherefore shortlie after (in like manner as pope
Innocent had commanded) he tooke the crowne from his owne head, and
deliuered the same to Pandulph the legat, neither he, nor his heires
at anie time thereafter to receiue the same, but at the popes hands.
Vpon this, he promised to receiue Stephan the archbishop of Canturburie
into his fauour, with all other the bishops and banished men, making
vnto them sufficient amends for all iniuries to them doone, and so to
pardon them, that they should not run into any danger, for that they
had rebelled against him.

[Sidenote: Pandulph restoreth the crowne again to the king.]

Then Pandulph kéeping the crowne with him for the space of fiue daies
in token of possession thereof, at length (as the popes vicar) gaue it
him againe. By meanes of this act (saith Polydor) the fame went abroad,
that king John willing to continue the memorie hereof, made himselfe
vassall to pope Innocent, with condition, that his successors should
likewise from thencefoorth acknowledge to haue their right to the same
kingdome from the pope. But those kings that succéeded king John,
haue not observed any such lawes of reconciliation, neither doo the
autentike chronicles of the realme make mention of any such surrender,
so that such articles as were appointed to king John to obserue,
perteined vnto him that had offended, and not to his successors. Thus
saith Polydor.

[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._]

[Sidenote: England became tributarie to the pope.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

Howbeit, Ranulph Higden in his booke intituled Polychronicon, saith
indéed, that king John did not onelie bind himselfe, but his heires and
successors, being kings of England, to be feudaries vnto pope Innocent
and his successors popes of Rome, that is to say, that they should hold
their dominions of them in fée, yéelding and paieng yéerelie to the
sée of Rome the summe of seauen hundred marks for England, and thrée
hundred marks for Ireland. Furthermore, by report of the most autentike
and approoued writers, king John, to auoid all dangers, which (as he
doubted) might insue, despairing as it were in himselfe, or rather most
speciallie for lacke of loiall dutie in his subiects, consented to all
the persuasions of Pandulph, and so (not without his great hart-gréefe)
he was contented to take his oth, togither with sixtéene earles and
barons, who laieng their hands vpon the holie euangelists, sware with
him vpon perill of their soules, that he should stand to the iudgement
of the church of Rome, and that if he repented him, and would refuse to
stand to promise, they should then compell him to make satisfaction.
Héervpon, they being all togither at Douer, the king and Pandulph, with
the earls and barons, and a great multitude of other people, agréed and
concluded vpon a finall peace in forme as here insueth.


The charter of king Iohn his submission, as it was conueied to the pope
at Rome.

Iohannes Dei gratia rex Angliæ, omnibus Christi fidelibus hanc chartam
inspecturis, salutem in Domino. Vniuersitati vestræ per hanc chartam
sigillo nostro munitam, volumus esse notum, quod cùm Deum et matrem
nostram sanctam ecclesiam offenderimus in multis, & proinde diuina
misericordia plurimùm indigeamus, nec quid dignè offerre possimus
pro satisfactione Deo & ecclesiæ debita facienda, nisi nosmetipsos
humiliemus & regna nostra, volentes nosipsos humiliare, pro illo qui se
pro nobis humiliauit vsq; ad mortem, gratia sancti spiritus inspirante,
non vi interdicti nec timore coacti, sed nostra bona spontaneáq;
voluntate, ac communi consilio baronum nostrorum conferimus, & liberè
concedimus Deo & sanctis apostolis eius Petro & Paulo, & sanctæ Romanæ
ecclesiæ matri nostræ, ac domino papæ Innocentio, eiúsq; catholicis
successoribus, totum regnum Angliæ, & totum regnum Hyberniæ, cùm omni
iure & pertinentijs suis, pro remissione omnium peccatorum nostrorum,
et totius generis nostri, tam pro viuis quàm pro defunctis, & amodò
illa ab eo & ecclesia Romana tanquam secundarius recipientes &
tenentes, in præsentia prudentis viri Pandulphi domini papæ subdiaconi
& familiaris.

Exindè prædicto domino papæ Innocentio, eiúsque catholicis
successoribus, & ecclesiæ Romanæ, secundùm subscriptam formam fecimus &
iurauimus, et homagium ligium in præsentia Pandulphi; si coram domino
papa esse poterimus, eidem faciemus: successores nostros & hæredes de
vxore nostra in perpetuum obligantes, vt simili modo summo pontifici,
qui pro tempore fuerit, & ecclesiæ Romanæ, sine contradictione debeant
fidelitatem præstare, & homagium recognoscere.

Ad indicium autem huius nostræ perpetuæ obligationis & concessionis,
volumus & stabilimus, vt de proprijs & specialibus redditibus nostris
prædictorum regnorum, pro omni seruitio & consuetudine, quæ pro ipsis
facere debemus, saluis per omnia denarijs beati Petri, ecclesia Romana
mille marcas Esterlingorum percipiat annuatim: in festo scilicet sancti
Michaëlis quingentas marcas, & in Pascha quingentas: septingentas
scilicet pro regno Angliæ, & trecentas pro regno Hyberniæ, saluis nobis
& hæredibus nostris, iustitijs, libertatibus, & regalibus nostris.
Quæ omnia, sicut supra scripta sunt, rata esse volentes atque firma,
obligamus nos & successores nostros contra non venire, & si nos vel
aliquis successorum nostrorum contra hæc attentare præsumpserit,
quicunq; ille fuerit, nisi ritè commonitus resipuerit, cadat à iure
regni.

Et hæc charta obligationis & concessionis nostræ, semper firma
permaneat. Teste meipso, apud domum militum templi iuxta Doueram, coram
H. Dublinensi archiepiscopo, Iohanne Norwicensi episcopo, Galfrido
filio Petri, W. comite Sarisburiæ, Willielmo comite Penbroc, R. comite
Bononiæ, W. comite Warrennæ, S. comite Winton, W. comite Arundel, W.
comite de Ferarijs, W. Briwere, Petro filio Hereberti, Warino filio
Geroldi, 15 die Maij, anno regni nostri decimo quarto.

       *       *       *       *       *

This déed and instrument being written and ingrossed, the king
deliuered it vnto Pandulph, to take with him to Rome, there to make
deliuerie thereof to pope Innocent, and herewith did homage to the same
pope, in forme as followeth.


The words of fealtie made by king Iohn to the pope.

Ego Iohannes Dei gratia rex Angliæ, & dominus Hyberniæ, ab hac hora &
in antea, fidelis ero Deo & beato Petro et ecclesiæ Romanæ, & domino
meo papæ domino Innocentio, eiúsq; successoribus catholicè intrantibus.
Non ero in facto, in dicto, consensu vel consilio, vt vitam perdant vel
membra, vel mala captione capiantur. Eorum damnum si sciuero, impediam,
& remanere faciam si potero: alioquin eis quàm citiùs potero intimabo,
vel tali personæ dicam, quàm eis credam pro certo dicturam. Consilium
quod mihi crediderint, per se vel per nuncios suos seu literas
suas, secretum, tenebo, & ad eorum damnum nulli pandam me sciente.
Patrimonium beati Petri, & specialiter regnum Angliæ, & regnum Hyberniæ
adiutor ero ad tenendum & defendendum, contra omnes homines pro posse
meo. Sic me adiuuet Deus, & hæc sancta euangelia, Amen. Acta autem sunt
hæc, vt prædictum est, in vigilia dominicæ Ascensionis ad Doueram, Anno
1213.


In English thus.

Iohn by the grace of God king of England, and lord of Ireland, from
this houre forward, shall be faithfull to God and to saint Peter,
and to the church of Rome, and to my lord pope Innocentius, and to
his successours lawfully entring. I shall not be in word nor déed,
in consent or counsell, that they should lose life or member, or be
apprehended in euill manner. Their losse if I may know it, I shall
impeach and staie, so far as I shal be able, or else so shortlie as I
can I shall signifie vnto them, or declare to such person the which I
shall beléeue will declare the same vnto them. The counsell which they
shal commit to me by themselues, their messengers, or letters, I shall
kéepe secret, and not vtter to any man to their hurt to my knowledge.
The patrimonie of S. Peter, and speciallie the kingdomes of England
and Ireland, I shall indeuour my selfe to defend against all men to my
power. So helpe me God, and these holie euangelists, Amen. These things
were done on the éeue of the Ascension of our Lord, in the yeare 1213.

       *       *       *       *       *

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Fortie thousand marks of siluer saith _Matth. West._]

[Sidenote: The French K. displeased for the reconciliation of K. John
with the pope.]

Pandulph hauing thus reconciled king John, thought not good to release
the excommunication, till the king had performed all things which he
had promised, and so with all spéed hauing receiued eight thousand
markes sterling in part of restitution to be made to the archbishop,
and the other banished men, he sailed backe into France, & came to
Roan, where he declared to king Philip the effect of his trauell, and
what he had doone in England. But king Philip hauing in this meane
while consumed a great masse of monie, to the summe of sixtie thousand
pounds, as he himselfe alledged, about the furniture of his iournie,
which he intended to haue made into England, vpon hope to haue had
no small aid within the realme, by reason of such bishops and other
banished men as he had in France with him, was much offended for
the reconciliation of king John, and determined not so to breake off
his enterprise, least it might be imputed to him for a great reproch
to haue béene at such charges and great expenses in vaine. Therefore
calling his councell togither, he declared vnto them what he purposed
to doo.

[Sidenote: The French king meaneth to procéed in his iournie against
the realme of England.]

All his Nobles in like manner held with him, and allowed his purpose
to be verie good and requisite, except the earle of Flanders named
Ferdinando who (in hope to recouer againe those townes, which the
French king held from him in Arthois, as Aire, and S. Omers) had ioined
secretlie in league with king John, and with the earle of Bullongne,
and therefore misliked the conclusion of their aduise. Howbeit king
Philip not being yet fullie certified hereof, caused his nauie to draw
alongest the coast towards Flanders, whither he himselfe hasted to go
also by land, that comming thither, he might from thence saile ouer
into England, and take land at a place to him assigned.

[Sidenote: The French K. inuadeth Flanders.]

[Sidenote: Gaunt besieged by the French king.]

Now it came to passe, that at his comming to Graueling, he had perfect
knowledge, that the earle of Flanders was ioined in league with his
enimies, wherfore he determined first to subdue the earle, least
whilest he should be out of his realme, some great trouble or sedition
might rise within his owne dominions. Therfore, leauing the enterprise
which he ment to haue made against England, he turned his power against
the earle of Flanders and first commanded his nauie to saile vnto the
port of Dam, whilest he himselfe kéeping on his iournie still by land,
tooke the town of Cassile, and likewise Ypres. From thence he went to
Bruges, and besieged the towne, but he could not win it at the first,
and therefore leauing a power of men to mainteine the siege before it,
he himselfe went to Gaunt, and thereto also laid his siege.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

In the mean time, the earle of Flanders perceiuing that he was not able
to resist so puissant an enimie as the French king, sent ouer in hast
vnto the king of England for aid. Wherevpon king John vnderstanding
that his aduersarie king Philip had turned all his force against the
earle of Flanders, and that thereby he was deliuered out of the feare
of the Frenchmens comming into England; that same nauie (which as
before is recited) he had put in a readinesse, conteining the number
of fiue hundred saile, he sent streight into Flanders with a strong
armie, both of horssemen and footmen, vnder the guiding of William duke
of Holland, William Longspée earle of Salisburie base brother to king
John, and Reignold earle of Bullongne.

These capteins being now passed foorth with their fléets into the maine
sea, espied anon manie ships lieng without the hauen of Dam (for the
number of ships of the French fléet was so great, that the hauen could
not receiue them all, so that manie of them laie at anchor without the
hauen mouth, and all alongst the coast.) Wherefore they sent foorth
certeine shallops, to espie whether they were fréends or enimies, and
what their number and order was. It chanced, that the same time the
men of warre which were appointed to kéepe the French fléet, were gone
foorth, togither with a great number of the mariners, to spoile and
fetch booties abroad in the countrie.

[Sidenote: The English men assaile the French ships.]

The English espials therefore, making semblance as though they had
béene some fishermen of those parts, came verie néere the French ships
lieng at anchor, and perceiuing them to be vnfurnished of people
necessarie to defend them, came backe to their companie, and declared
what they had séene, certifieng their capteins that the victorie was
in their hands, if they would make spéed. The capteins glad of these
newes, commanded their men to make them readie to giue battell, and
causing their mariners to make saile directlie towards the French
fléet, at their first approch they wanne those tall ships that laie
at anchor abroad before the hauen, without any great resistance, the
mariners onelie making request to haue their liues saued. The other
smaller vessels which (after the tide was gone) remained vpon the sands
(spoiling them first of their tackle and other things that would serue
to vse) they consumed with fire, the mariners escaping by flight.

[Sidenote: The English men wanne the French ships.]

Thus the Englishmen hauing dispatched this businesse with good
successe, did set vpon those ships that laie in harbrough within the
hauen. But here was hard hold for a while, bicause the narrownesse of
the place would not giue any great aduantage to the greater number. And
those Frenchmen that were gone abroad into the countrie, perceiuing
that the enimies were come, by the running awaie of the mariners,
returned with all spéed to their ships to aid their fellowes, and so
made valiant resistance for a time, till the Englishmen getting on
land, and ranging themselues on either side of the hauen, beat the
Frenchmen so on the sides, and the ships grapling togither on front,
that they fought as it had bin in a pitcht field, till that finallie
the Frenchmen were not able to susteine the force of the Englishmen,
but were constreined (after long fight and great slaughter) to yéeld
themselues prisoners.

The English capteins glad of this victorie gotten, contrarie to
expectation, first gaue thanks to God for the same, and then manning
thrée hundred of those French ships, which they had taken fraught with
corne, wine, oile, flesh, and other vittels, and also with armour, they
sent them awaie into England, and afterwards they set fire vpon the
residue that laie on ground, which were aboue an hundred, bicause they
were drawne vp so farre vpon the sands, that they could not easilie get
them out, without their further inconuenience. After this, comming on
land with their power, they marched foorth into the countrie in good
order of battell, to the end that if they should encounter with king
Philip by the way comming to the rescue of his ships, they might be
readie to giue them battell, which thing was not deuised, without good
and great consideration.

For king Philip being certified of the danger wherein his ships stood
by the sudden comming of his enimies, and therewithall being in good
hope to come to their succours in time, and yer the Englishmen had
wrote their full feat, he raised his siege, and made hast toward
the coast: but as he was comming forward towards his nauie, he was
aduertised that the enimies had woone all his whole fléet, and were
now marching foorth to méet him, and to giue him battell. Also it was
told him, how Ferdinando the earle of Flanders, being certified of the
victorie atchiued by his fréends, followed at his backe. Wherefore,
least he should séeme ouer rashlie to commit himselfe into manifest
perill, he staied a little from Bruges, and there incamped for that
day, as if he ment to abide the comming of his enimies.

[Sidenote: The French K. returneth into France.]

The next morrow he raised and returned towards France, the verie same
waie that he came, no man pursuing him. For the Englishmen contented
with that victorie which they had gotten, thought it not necessarie
to follow him with their further hazard. In the meane time, king John
receiuing newes of this prosperous victorie thus gotten by his people,
did woonderfullie reioise for the same, conceiuing an hope, that all
his businesse would now come forward and growe to good successe.

[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: _Iacob. Meir._]

¶ This is the truth of this historie, as some authors haue set it
foorth. But Iames Meir in his discourse of Flanders declareth the
matter somwhat otherwise, as thus: Vpon the thursdaie before the
Pentecost (saith he) the English fléet setting vpon the French nauie,
which laie at anchor in the hauen of Dam, drowned certeine of the
French vessels, and tooke to the number of foure, which they conueied
awaie with them. Ferdinando the earle of Flanders hauing an armie of
men readie by land, was lodged the same time not far off from the coast
and therefore hearing what had chanced, came the next day, and ioined
with the Englishmen.

[Sidenote: The Englishmen and Flemings vanquished by the French force.]

There were yet remaining also diuerse other of the French ships
(besides those which the Englishmen had sunke and taken) which were
drawne vp further into the land ward. The earle of Flanders therefore,
and the English capteins iudged, that it should much hinder the French
kings attempts, if they might win those ships also with the towne of
Dam, wherin the king had laid vp a great part of his prouision for the
furniture of his warres. Héerevpon the Englishmen were set on land,
and ioining with the earls power, they marched strait towards Dam.
This was vpon Whitsun éeuen, on the which day, as they were most busie
in assaulting the towne and ships which laie there in the hauen, the
French king being come awaie from Gaunt, suddenlie set vpon them, and
though in the beginning he found sharpe resistance, yet in the end,
the Englishmen and Flemings ouerset with the great multitude of the
Frenchmen, were put to flight, and chased to their ships, with the
losse of two thousand men, besides those that were taken prisoners,
amongst the which were found to be 22 knights.

[Sidenote: The French king burneth his ships.]

The earle of Flanders with the earles of Bullen and Salisburie,
doubting to lose their ships, and late gotten bootie, sailed strait
into one of the Iles of Zeland called Walkeren. Then the French king
constraining them of Gaunt, Bruges, and Ypres, to deliuer vnto him
pledges, caused the towne of Dam, and his ships lieng there in the
hauen to be burned, doubting least they should come into the hands of
his enimies. This doone, he returned into France, leauing his sonne
Lewes and the earle of S. Paule in garrison at Lisle and Doway, and
for great sums of monie, which by agréement he receiued of the townes
of Gaunt, Bruges, and Ypres, he restored vnto them their pledges. Thus
saith Meire: and Matthew Paris differeth not much from him touching the
successe which chanced to the Englishmen by land. ¶ Héere will I staie
a while in the further narration of this matter, and touch by the way a
thing that happened to king John about this present time.

[Sidenote: An hermit named Peter of Pontfret, or Wakefield as some
writers haue.]

[Sidenote: _Sée M. Fox, tome first, pag. 331._]

There was in this season an heremit, whose name was Peter, dwelling
about Yorke, a man in great reputation with the common people,
bicause that either inspired with some spirit of prophesie as the
people beléeued, or else hauing some notable skill in art magike, he
was accustomed to tell what should follow after. And for so much as
oftentimes his saiengs prooued true, great credit was giuen to him
as to a verie prophet: which was no good consequence that therefore
his predictions comprised vndoubted euents. Naie rather, sith in this
pseudoprophet or false foreteller of afterclaps, these necessarie
concurrents (namelie,

    Si sensus atq; affectus compresserit omnes,
    Si spernens prorsus mortalia gaudia, sese
    Abdicet a curis terrenis, assiduóq;
    Conetur studio ad superos extollere mentem,
    Tunc etenim sapiens fiet, poterítq; futura
    Cernere, vel vigilans vel somno oppressus inerti,
    Hoc pacto cecinêre olim ventura prophetæ)

[Sidenote: The heremit and his sonne hanged.]

were wanting, and that he was contrarilie qualified to that which this
heptastichon comprehendeth, necessarilie it foloweth, that he was not
as he was taken, but rather a deluder of the people, and an instrument
of satan raised vp for the inlargement of his kingdome: as the sequele
of this discourse importeth. This Peter about the first of Januarie
last past, had told the king, that at the feast of the Ascension it
should come to passe, that he should be cast out of his kingdome. And
(whether, to the intent that his words should be the better beléeued,
or whether vpon too much trust of his owne cunning) he offered himselfe
to suffer death for it, if his prophesie prooued not true. Herevpon
being committed to prison within the castell of Corf, when the day by
him prefixed came, without any other notable damage vnto king John, he
was by the kings commandement drawne from the said castell, vnto the
towne of Warham, & there hanged, togither with his sonne.

The people much blamed king John, for this extreame dealing, bicause
that the heremit was supposed to be a man of great vertue, and his
sonne nothing guiltie of the offense committed by his father (if any
were) against the king. Moreouer, some thought, that he had much wrong
to die, bicause the matter fell out euen as he had prophesied: for the
day before the Ascension day, king John had resigned the superioritie
of his kingdome (as they tooke the matter) vnto the pope, and had doone
to him homage, so that he was no absolute king indéed, as authors
affirme. One cause, and that not the least which mooued king John the
sooner to agrée with the pope, rose through the words of the said
heremit, that did put such a feare of some great mishap in his hart,
which should grow through the disloialtie of his people, that it made
him yéeld the sooner. But to the matter againe.

[Sidenote: King John writeth to the archbishop & the other bishops to
returne.]

King John (after his capteins in Flanders had sped so well as before
yée haue heard) prepared to make a voiage into Guien, not much
regarding the matter, in that the realme stood as yet interdicted. But
when he vnderstood by his lords, that they would not go with him except
the interdicting might first be released, and he clearlie absolued of
the popes cursse, to the end that Gods wrath and the popes being fullie
pacified towards him, he might with better spéed mooue and mainteine
the warres, he was constreined to change his purpose, and so comming
to Winchester, dispatched foorth a messenger with letters, signed with
the hands of foure and twentie earles and barons, to the archbishop
of Canturburie, and the bishops of London, Lincolne, and Hereford, as
then soiourning in France, requiring them with all the other banished
men to returne into England, promising them by his letters patents, not
onelie a sure safeconduct for their comming ouer, but that he would
also forget all passed displeasures, and frankelie restore vnto euerie
man all that by his means had béene wrongfullie taken from them, and as
yet by him deteined.

[Sidenote: The bishops doo returne.]

[Sidenote: They came to Winchester y^e 20 of Julie.]

[Sidenote: The K. knéeleth to the archbishop.]

The archbishop and the other bishops receiuing the kings letters, with
all spéed made hast to come into England, and so arriuing at Douer
the sixtéenth day of Julie, with other the banished men, they went to
Winchester, where the king yet remained, who hearing that the bishops
were come, went foorth to receiue them, and at his first méeting with
the archbishop of Canturburie, he knéeled downe at his féet, and
besought him of forgiuenesse, and that it would please him and the
other bishops also to prouide for the reléefe of the miserable state
of the realme. Herewith the water standing in diuerse of their eies on
both sides, they entred into the citie, the people greatlie reioising
to behold the head of the common-wealth agrée at length with the
members. This was in the yeare after the birth of our Sauiour 1213.

[Sidenote: The king praieth to be absolued.]

[Sidenote: He is absolued.]

[Sidenote: A quest of inquirie.]

King John required of the archbishop (hauing as then the popes power
in his hands, bicause he was his legat,) to be absolued, promising
vpon his solemne receiued oth, that he would (afore all things) defend
the church and the order of priesthood from receiuing anie wrongs.
Also, that he would restore the old lawes made by the ancient kings of
England, and namelie those of S. Edward, which were almost extinguished
and forgotten. And further, that he would make recompense to all men
whom he had by anie meanes indamaged. This doone, he was absolued
by the archbishop, & shortly after he sent his oratours to Rome, to
intreat with the bishop to take awaie the interdiction of the land. On
the morrow after also, the king sent his letters vnto all the shiriffes
of the counties within the realme, commanding them to summon foure
lawfull men of euerie towne belonging to the demeans of the crowne, to
make their appearance at S. Albons, vpon the 4 daie of August, that
they and other might make inquisition of the losses which euerie bishop
had susteined, what had béene taken from them, and what ought to be
restored to them as due for the same.

[Sidenote: The archbishop taketh possession of his sée.]

[Sidenote: The lords refuse to follow the king into France.]

The archbishop for that time taking his leaue of the king, went to
Canturburie, where he restored the moonks to their abbie, and then
tooke possession of his sée, being the two and fortith archbishop
that had ruled the same. In the meane time, the king repaired to
Portesmouth, there so take the sea to saile ouer into Poictow,
committing the rule of the realme vnto Geffrey Fitz Peter or Fitz
Péers, lord chéefe iustice, and to the bishop of Winchester, commanding
them to vse the counsell and aduise of the archbishop of Canturburie,
in governing things touching the common-wealth. Herewith there came
also to the king a great multitude of men of warre, alledging, that
they had spent in staieng for him, and his going ouer sea all their
monie, so that he must now néeds giue them wages, if he would haue them
to passe ouer with him into France. The which when he refused to doo,
he was constreined to take the water with his owne seruants, arriuing
about a thrée daies after at the Ile of Jersey: but perceiuing that
none of his lords followed him according to his commandement, as one
disappointed of aid, he returned backe againe into England, there to
take further order for this their misdemeanour.

[Sidenote: King Henrie the first his lawes.]

Whilest these things were thus in dooing, Geffrey Fitz Peter, and
the bishop of Winchester were come to S. Albons, togither with the
archbishop of Canturburie, and other bishops and péeres of the realme,
where the kings peace being proclaimed to all men it was on his behalfe
streitlie commanded, that the lawes of K. Henrie his grandfather should
be obserued vniuersallie within his realme, and that all vniust lawes
and ordinances should be abrogated. It was also commanded, that no
shiriffe, nor forrester, nor other minister of the kings, should vpon
paine of life and limme, take violentlie anie thing of any man by waie
of extortion, nor presume wrong anie man, or to fine anie man, as they
had afore time béene accustomed to doo.

[Sidenote: The archbishop menaceth to excommunicate those y^t assist
the king.]

After this, the king being come backe from his iournie, which he
purposed to haue made into Poictow, assembled an armie, and ment to
haue gone against those lords which had refused to go with him, but
the archbishop of Canturburie comming to him at Northampton, sought to
appease his mood, and to cause him to staie, but yet in his furious
rage he went forward till he came to Notingham, and there with much
adoo, the archbishop following him with threatning to excommunicate all
those that should aid him, procured him to leaue off his enterprise.

Then the archbishop (about the fiue and twentith day of August) came to
London, there to take aduise for the reformation of things touching the
good gouernement of the common-wealth. But here whilest the archbishop,
with other péeres of the realme deuised orders verie necessarie (as was
thought) for the state of the common-wealth, the king doubting least
the same should be a bridle for him to restreine his authoritie roiall
from dooing things to his pleasure, he began to find fault, and séemed
as though he had repented himselfe of his large promises made for his
reconciliation: but the archbishop of Canturburie so asswaged his mood,
and persuaded him, by opening vnto him what danger would insue both to
him and to his realme, if he went from the agréement, that he was glad
to be quiet for feare of further trouble.

[Sidenote: _RCog._]

[Sidenote: The earle of Tholouse.]

In this hurlie burlie also the lords and péeres of the realme (by the
setting on of the archbishop) were earnestlie bent to haue the king to
restore and confirme the grant which his grandfather king Henrie the
first had by his charter granted and confirmed to his subiects, which
to doo, king John thought greatlie preiudiciall to his roiall estate
and dignitie. The earle of Tholouse hauing lost all his possessions,
the citie of Tholouse onelie excepted, came ouer into England, &
rendred the said citie into the hands of king John, and receiued at
his departure, the summe of ten thousand marks as was reported, by the
bountifull gift of king John.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Geffrey Fitz Péers or Fitz Peter departeth this life.]

Vpon the second of October, Geffrey Fitz Peter earle of Essex and lord
chéefe iustice of England departed this life, a man of great power and
autoritie, in whose politike direction and gouernement, the order of
things perteining to the common-wealth chéefelie consisted. He was of
a noble mind, expert in knowledge of the lawes of the land, rich in
possessions, and ioined in blood or affinitie with the more part of
all the Nobles of the realme, so that his death was no small losse to
the commonwelth: for through him and the archbishop Hubert, the king
was oftentimes reuoked from such wilfull purposes, as now and then he
was determined to haue put in practise, in so much that the king, as
was reported (but how trulie I cannot tell) séemed to reioise for his
death, bicause he might now worke his will without anie to controll him.

[Sidenote: A cardinall sent into England.]

[Sidenote: The burgesses of Oxford require absolution.]

The same time, to wit, about the feast of saint Michaell, came Nicholas
the cardinall of Tusculane into England, sent from the pope, to take
awaie the interdiction, if the king would stand to that agréement which
he had made and promised by his oth to performe. King John receiued
this cardinall in most honorable wise, and gladlie heard him in all
things that he had to saie. This legat at his comming to Westminster,
deposed the abbat of that place, named William from his roome, for
that he was accused both of wasting the reuenues of the house, and
also of notable incontinencie. Moreouer the burgesses of the towne of
Oxford came vnto him to obteine absolution of their offense, in that
through their presumption, the thrée schollers (of whom ye haue heard
before) were hanged there, to the great terror of all the residue.
To be short, they were absolued and penance inioined them, that they
should strip them out of their apparell at euerie church in the towne,
and going barefooted with scourges in their hands, they should require
the benefit of absolution of euerie parish préest within their towne,
saieng the psalme of Miserere.

[Sidenote: A c[=o]nuocation called by the cardinall.]

After this, the said cardinall called a councell or conuocation of the
cleargie, to reforme such things touching the state of the church as
should be thought requisite. And though he handled not this matter with
such fauour and vprightnesse as the bishops wished on their behalfes,
yet he caused king John to restore the most part of all those goods
that remained vnspent, and also the value of halfe of those that
were consumed and made awaie, vnto those persons as well spirituall
as temporall, from whom they had béene taken in time of the discord
betwixt him and the pope. But before all things could be thus quieted
and set in order betwixt the king and the bishops, manie méetings were
had, as at London, Reading, Wallingford and in other places.

Now the archbishop and prelates for their parts thought this recompense
to be but small, in respect of the great losses and hinderances which
they had susteined: and to haue the whole restitution delaied, they
tooke it not well. Howbeit the cardinall leaned so to the kings side
(hauing receiued of him to the popes vse the charter of subiection of
the realmes of England and Ireland, now bulled with gold, where at the
first it was deliuered to Pandulph sealed onelie with wax.) But their
suit came to little effect, and in the end it fell out in such wise,
that their complaint was lesse regarded. Moreouer, the rating of the
value which the king should restore vnto the archbishop, and the other
bishops, was by agréement of the king and them togither, appointed vnto
foure barons indifferentlie chosen betwixt them.

[Sidenote: Restitution to be made to the bishops.]

[Sidenote: King John commended to the pope for an humble prince.]

At length notwithstanding that deuise took no place: for it was
otherwise decréed by the pope, that the king should restore to them
the summe of fortie thousand marks, of the which he had paid alreadie
twelue thousand, before the returne of the said archbishop and bishops
into the realme, and fiftéene thousand more at the late méeting had
betwixt them at Reading, so that there remained onelie 13000 behind:
for not onelie the king, but also the cardinall had sent to the pope,
requiring him to take direction in the matter, and to aduertise him,
that there was a great fault in the archbishop and his fellowes. In so
much that Pandulph which was sent to him from the legat, declared in
fauour of the king, that there was not a more humble and modest prince
to be found than king John, and that the archbishop and his fellowes
were too hard, and shewed themselues too couetous in requiring the
restitution that should be made to them for losses susteined in time of
the interdiction.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The presumption of the cardinall.]

[Sidenote: _1214._]

[Sidenote: Burton vpon Trent.]

[Sidenote: Dunstable.]

[Sidenote: A Synod.]

[Sidenote: Discord betwixt the cardinall and the archbishop of
Canturburie.]

Now the cause wherefore the legat and the king did send vnto the pope,
was this. There was some grudge betwixt the legat and the archbishop,
for that where the pope had written to the legat, how he should
(according to the order of the ancient canons of the church) place in
euerie bishops sée and abbeie (that was void) méet and able persons to
rule and guide the same, the legat presuming on that authoritie granted
him by the pope, without the aduise of the archbishop or other bishops,
tooke onelie with him certeine of the kings chapleins, and comming with
them to such churches as were vacant, ordeined in them such persons as
were nothing méet to take such charge vpon them, and that according
to the old abuse of England, as Matthew Paris saith. Wherevpon the
archbishop of Canturburie repining at such dooings, sent to the legat
as then being at Burton vpon Trent, two of his chapleins from Dunstable
(where he and his suffragans held as then a synod, after the feast of
the Epiphanie) commanding him by waie of appeale, in no wise to meddle
with instituting any gouernours to churches, within the precinct of his
iurisdiction, where such institutions belonged onelie to him.

Herevpon therefore the legat dispatched Pandulph to Rome vnto the
pope as is aforesaid, and the king likewise sent ambassadors thither,
as the bishop of Norwich, and the archdeacon of Northumberland, with
others, the which in the end so behaued themselues in their suit,
that notwithstanding Simon Langton the archbishops brother earnestlie
withstood them, as proctor for the bishops, yet at length, the pope
tooke order in the matter, writing vnto his legat, that he should
sée the same fulfilled, and then absolue the realme of the former
interdiction. In this meane time, king John made prouision to go
ouer into France (as after yée shall heare) but at his going ouer he
committed the whole ordering of this matter vnto the legat, and to
William Marshall the earle of Penbroke. The legat therefore vpon the
receipt of the popes bulles, called a councell at London, and there
declaring what was conteined in the same, he tooke bands for paiment of
the residue of the fortie thousand marks which was behind, being 13000
onelie, as before I haue said.

[Sidenote: Walter Gray bishop of Worcester is remooued to the sée of
Yorke.]

[Sidenote: Monie sent into Flanders.]

[Sidenote: _Rafe Cog._]

[Sidenote: The earle of Flanders dooth homage to K. John.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The lands of y^e erle of Guisnes wasted.]

About the same time also, Walter Gray bishop of Worcester was remooued
to the gouernement of the sée of Yorke, which had béene vacant euer
since the death of the archbishop Geffrey. This Walter was the thrée
& thirtith bishop that gouerned that sée. But now to returne and
speake of the kings affaires in the parts beyond the sea. Ye shall
vnderstand, that hauing set his businesse in some good staie at home
with the legat, he applied his studie to the performance of his wars
abroad, and therefore he first sent monie into Flanders to paie the
souldiers wages, which he had sent thither to aid the erle there
against king Philip. Which earle came ouer this yeare into England, and
at Canturburie the king receiued him where he did homage to the king
for the whole earledome of Flanders: and on the other part, the king as
well to the said earle, as to such lords and bishops which came ouer
with him, declared his roiall liberalitie by princelie gifts of gold,
siluer, iewels, and pretious stones. After his returne, such capteins
as remained in his countrie with their bands at the king of Englands
paie, made a iournie into France, and wasted the lands that belonged
to the earle of Guisnes, wanne the castell of Bruncham, and raced it,
taking within it diuerse men of armes and demilances. They also wanne
by siege the towne of Aire, and burnt it. The castell of Liens they
tooke by assault, and slue manie souldiers that defended it, beside
those which they tooke prisoners.

Moreouer, they wasted and destroied the lands which Lewes the French
kings sonne was possessed of in those parts. In the meane time, king
John hauing prepared a mightie nauie, and a strong armie of valiant
soldiers, tooke sea at Portsmouth on Candlemas day, with his wife,
his sonne Richard, & Elianor the sister of Arthur duke of Britaine.
He had not many of his earles or barons with him, but a great number
of knights and gentlemen, with whome he landed at Rochell in safetie,
within a few daies after his setting foorth. He tooke ouer with him
inestimable treasure, as it was reported, in gold, siluer, and iewels.
Immediatlie vpon his arriuall at Rochell, the barons of Poictow
reuolted from the French king, and comming in to king John, did homage
vnto him, as to their king and souereigne lord.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 16.]

[Sidenote: Meireuent.]

[Sidenote: Geffrey de Lucignam.]

[Sidenote: Nouant.]

[Sidenote: Mountcounter.]

[Sidenote: Parthenay.]

[Sidenote: Jane the daughter of king John married to the erle of Marsh.]

But howsoeuer it was, after the truce began to expire which he had
granted vnto the earls of Marsh and Augi, on the friday before
Whitsunday he came with his armie before the castell of Meireuent,
which belonged vnto Geffrey de Lucignam, and on the day next insuing,
being Whitsun éeue, he wanne the same. On Whitsunday he laid siege vnto
Nouant, an other castell belonging to the same Geffrey, who as then was
lodged in the same, and also two of his sonnes: but within thrée daies
after that the siege was laid, the earle of Marsh came to king John,
and did so much preuaile, that through his means, both Geffrey and his
two sonnes were receiued to mercie, and king John put in possession of
the castell. After this, bicause king John was aduertised, that Lewes
the French kings sonne had now besieged Mountcounter, a castell that
was apperteining to the said Geffrey, he hasted thitherwards, and came
to Parthenay, whither came to him, as well the foresaid earle of Marsh,
as also the earle of Augi, and both they togither with the said Geffrey
de Lucignam, did homage to our king, and so became his liege men. The
same time also, the ladie Jane the kings daughter was affianced to
the said earle of Marsh his sonne, whereas the French king made means
to haue hir married to his sonne: but bicause king John doubted least
th

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