Part 14

When all things were throughlie concluded, and order taken in what sort the assurances of this accord should passe, the king of Scots returned into the inner parts of his realme, and the king of England likewise returned to London. At the same time also the Welshmen were verie busie: for hearing that the kings of England and Scotland were agréed, they doubted least all the burthen of the warre would be turned against them. Wherefore (as it were to preuent the matter) they began to wast the English confines. The king aduertised thereof, sent Hubert Fitz Matthew with thrée hundreth knights or men of armes to defend the English marshes against the Welshmen, that made dailie war against those that dwelled on the marshes, and namelie against the erle of Herford, which chéeflie occasioned this warre, by deteining the land which apperteined vnto the wife of prince Dauid, as in the right of hir purpartie.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The deceasse of the bishop of Cicester.]

Wherevpon when the Welshmen vnderstood that the king had broken vp his armie and was returned to London, they inuaded their enimies, namelie the said earle of Herfords men and the Mortimers, sleaing and cutting in péeces two valiant and noble knights, and maiming the third, they slue and ouerthrew of the footbands about an hundred, so that all the English armie was disordered, and the Welshmen with victorie returned to their places of refuge. Which when the foresaid Hubert Fitz Matthew vnderstood, the morrow after he made foorth with his thrée hundred waged men of armes, in hope to hem in and take the Welshmen at aduantage: but he was preuented and by them distressed, in so much that he was constreined with losse of men and horsses to returne to his holds, and scarse could be suffered to remaine there in safetie. This yeare Rafe Neuill bishop of Cicester and chancellour of England departed this life.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 29. P. V.]

[Sidenote: A subsidie of the richer sort.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The citizens of London.]

[Sidenote: The seneshall of Gascoine vanquished the king of Nauarre.]

[Sidenote: Anno, 1242.]

[Sidenote: as _Matt. West._ saith, & _Matth. Paris._]

In the 29 yeare of his reigne, king Henrie hauing spent much treasure with the great preparation of wars which he had taken in hand against the Scots, and also bicause he was constreined to be at further charges for the Welsh wars, he called a parlement to begin on the third daie of Nouember, in the which he demanded a great reliefe of monie, but the same being generallie denied of all men, he exacted it in particular of the richer sort of his subiects, & amongst other he caused the citizens of London to giue vnto him 15 hundred marks for a fine, bicause they had receiued a banished man, one Walter Bukerell into their citie, contrarie to the law and order: but this they denied, affirming that his brother had got his pardon, as by the kings owne letters patents they could prooue, but they were answered, that the king was vnder age when these letters were purchased, and therefore were of none effect. About the same time, sir Nicholas de Molis or Mules seneshall of Gascoigne, hauing warres against the king of Nauarre, got the victorie in battell. ¶ About the midst of Nouember, great thunder and lightning chanced, with a maruellous vntemperat season for the space of 15 daies togither, as a signe of some misfortune to succéed.

[Sidenote: 1245.]

On S. Hughs daie died Margaret countesse of Penbroke the widow of Gilbert Marshall late earle of Penbroke, & sister to the king of Scots, and shortlie after the bishop of Excester William de Brewer likewise deceased, as yet being in his florishing age, a man in manners, parentage, and knowledge right honorable, and highlie commended. ¶ On the daie of S. Marcellus was the quéene deliuered of a man child, which at the font was named Edmund.

[Sidenote: Dauid king or prince of Wales.]

In Lent following néere to the castell of Mountgomerie in Wales, thrée hundred Welshmen were slaine by them that lay in garrison there by a policie of the capteine, which faining a counterfeited flight, drew the Welshmen within danger of an ambush, which he had laid to surprise them vnawares as it came euen to passe according to his deuise. Dauid that tooke himselfe for king of Wales, coueting to be reuenged of this displeasure, ceassed not daie nor night to make incursions and to exploit enterprises to the damage of the marchers, the which valiantlie resisted the enimies, and droue them oftentimes into the mounteines, woods, bogs, and other places of refuge, and oftentimes the enimies hauing the aduantage of place, did much displeasure to the Englishmen.

[Sidenote: Sir Hubert Fitz Matthew slaine.]

[Sidenote: The castell of Monthault taken by the Welshmen.]

[Sidenote: A generall councell.]

Vpon a time as they (being got to the heigth of an hill, to cast downe stones and throw darts vpon the Englishmen that assailed them beneath) chanced amongst other to slea with a mightie stone (which they threw downe by the side of the hill) sir Hubert Fitz Matthew a right valiant knight, and a man of great accompt for his knowledge and seruice in warres. Thus the wars continued betwéene the parties, and oftentimes the Welshmen by the sudden inuasions got the better: their prince Dauid comming to the castell of Monthault besieged it, and within a short time wan it, slaieng or taking all those whome he found within it. The owner thereof the lord Roger de Monthault by chance was not at home, which happened well for him, where otherwise he had béene in great danger: but néere to the castell of Mountgomerie the Welshmen yet were eftsoons ouerthrowne and 200 of them slaine by an ambush that brake forth vpon their backs. About the middest of Lent the prelats of England were summoned to come to a generall councell, the which pope Innocent had appointed to be holden at the feast of S. Iohn Baptist next following.

[Sidenote: The popes letters staied.]

It chanced that about this time, a post comming from the pope with letters to his Nuncio maister Martin, conteining instructions how he should procéed for the gathering of monie, was staied at Douer, by the practise of such noble men as were gréeued to sée anie such summes of monie to be conueied out of the realme in sort as was vsed. He was had into the castell and his letters taken from him, wherein such secrets were conteined for the getting of monie, as ought not to haue béene reuealed. Maister Martin hearing that the post was thus staied and imprisoned, made a gréeuous complaint vnto the king, so that the post was set at libertie, had his letters to him restored, & so came vnto master Martin, and deliuered them vnto him that he might vnderstand the popes pleasure, which others to his griefe vnderstood now as well as himselfe.

[Sidenote: The valuati[=o] of benefices taken, that perteined to strangers.]

[Sidenote: This Gilbert was erle of Glocester, Hereford & lord of Clare.]

[Sidenote: Ambassadors sent to the generall councell.]

[Sidenote: These were barons.]

The king this yeare caused inquisition to be made through euerie countie within the realme, to vnderstand the true valuation of all such benefices and spirituall promotions as were in the hands of anie incumbents that were strangers borne, and such as had béene preferred by the court of Rome, and the whole summe of all their reuenues was found to be sixtie thousand marks. On Whitsundaie the king made the earle of Glocester, Gilbert de Clare knight, and 40 other yoong gentlemen that attended vpon him. And perceiuing by the late inquisition what great reuenues the beneficed strangers had and possessed within the realme, and againe considering the excéeding great summes of monie which the court of Rome had recouered of his subiects, he began to detest such couetous dealing. And herevpon a letter was deuised by the whole bodie of the realme, wherein were conteined, the sundrie extortions and manifold exactions of the popes legats, and other of his chapleines, which vnder colour of his authoritie they had vsed. There were appointed also to go with these letters vnto the generall councell, certeine honorable and discréet personages, as Roger Bigod earle of Northfolke, Iohn Fitz Geffrey, William de Cantlow, Philip Basset, and Ralfe Fitz Nicholas, with other, the which presenting the same letters vnto the said assemblie, should declare the gréefe of the whole realme, and require some redresse and easement therein.

[Sidenote: A iusts and tornie appointed, and by the kings commandement disappointed.]

[Sidenote: Fouke Fitz Warren commandeth the popes Nuncio to auoid the realme.]

Moreouer, it chanced that there was a great number of lords, knights, and gentlemen assembled togither at Dunstable and Luiton, to haue kept a martiall iusts, and triumphant tornie, but they had a countercommandement from the king, not to go forward with the same: wherevpon, when they were disappointed of their purpose héerin. Vpon occasion of their being altogither, on the morrow after the feast of Peter & Paule, they sent from them Fouke Fitz Warren, to declare vnto maister Martine the popes Nuncio, as then lodging at the temple in London, in name as it were of all the whole bodie of the realme, that he should immediatlie depart out of the land. Fouke dooing the message somewhat after a rough manner, maister Martine asked him what he was that gaue foorth the said commandement, or whether he spake it of himselfe or from some other? This commandment (saith Fouke) is sent to thée, from all those knights and men of armes which latelie were assembled togither at Dunstable and Luiton.

[Sidenote: The kings answer vnto the popes Nuncio.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]

[Sidenote: The popes Nuncio sent out of the realme.]

Maister Martine hearing this, got him to the court, and declaring to the king what message he had receiued, required to vnderstand whether he was priuie to the matter, or that his people tooke it vpon them so rashlie without his authoritie or no? To whome the king answered, that he had not giuen them any authoritie so to command him out of the realme: but indéed (saith he) my barons doo scarselie forbeare to rise against me, bicause I haue mainteined and suffered thy pilling and iniurious polling within this my realme, and I haue had much adoo to staie them from running vpon thée to pull thée in péeces. Maister Martine hearing these words, with a fearefull voice besought the king that he might for the loue of God, and reuerence of the pope, haue frée passage out of the realme: to whome the king in great displeasure answered, The diuell that brought thée in carrie thée out, euen to the pit of hell for me. Howbeit at length, when those that were about the king had pacified him, he appointed one of the marshals of his house, called Robert North or Nores, to conduct him to the sea side, and so he did, but not without great feare, sithens he was afraid of euerie bush, least men should haue risen vpon him and murthered him. Wherevpon, when he came to the pope, he made a gréeuous complaint, both against the king and others.

[Sidenote: S. Peters church at Westminster.]

[Sidenote: The English ambassadors come to the counsell.]

[Sidenote: The English ambassadors threaten the pope, that he should not haue any tribute out of England.]

The church of saint Peter at Westminster was inlarged, and newlie repared by the king, speciallie all the east part of it, the old wals being pulled down, and builded vp in more comelie forme. ¶ The generall councell, according to the summons giuen, was holden this yeare at Lions, where it began about midsummer, in which the English ambassadors being arriued, presented to the pope their leters, directed from the whole bodie of the realme of England, requiring a redresse in such things, wherewith (as by the same letters it appeared) the realme found it selfe sore annoied. The pope promised to take aduise therein, but sith the matter was weightie, it required respit. Finallie, when they were earnest in requiring a determinate answer, it was giuen them to vnderstand, that they should not obteine their desires, wherevpon in great displeasure they came awaie, threatening and binding their words with oths, that from thencefoorth they would neuer paie, nor suffer to be paid, anie tribute to the court of Rome, nor permit the reuenues of those churches, whereof they were patrones, to be pulled awaie, by anie prouision of the same court.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

The pope hearing of these things, passed them ouer patientlie, but he procured the English bishops to set their seales vnto that charter, which king Iohn had made concerning the tribute, against the mind of the archbishop of Canturburie Stephan Langton, who at that time, when king Iohn should seale it, spake sore against it. When king Henrie was informed hereof, he was gréeuouslie offended; and sware in a great chafe, that although the bishops had doone otherwise than they ought, yet would he stand in defense of the liberties of his realme, and would not so long as he had a day to liue, paie anie dutie to the court of Rome, vnder the name of a tribute. In this meane while, the king with a puissant armie inuaded the Welsh rebels, to reduce them to some quiet, whereas with their continuall incursions and other exploits, they had sore harried, vexed, and wasted the lands of the kings subiects.

[Sidenote: The king inuades Wales. He buildeth a castell at Gannoke.]

Herevpon the king being entred the countrie, inuaded the same, vnto the confines of Snowdon, and there he began to build a strong castell at a place called Gannoke, remaining there about the space of ten wéeks, during the which, the armie suffered great miserie through want of vittels and other prouisions namelie apparell, and other helps to defend themselues from cold, which sore afflicted the souldiers and men of warre, bicause they laie in the field, and winter as then began to approch. Moreouer, they were driuen to kéepe watch and ward verie stronglie, for doubt to be surprised by sudden assaults of the enimies, the which watched vpon occasion euer to doo some mischéefe.

[Sidenote: The deceasse of the countesse of Oxford, and of the earle of Deuonshire. Geffrey de March deceaseth.]

[Sidenote: The decease of Raimond earle of Prouance.]

[Sidenote: The decease of the lord Humfreuile.]

The morrow after the Purification of our ladie, Isabell de Boulbec countesse of Oxenford departed this life, and likewise the morrow after saint Valentines day died Baldwine de Riuers earle of Deuonshire and of the Wight. Moreouer, Geffrey de March, a man sometime of great honour and possessions in Ireland, after he had remained long in exile, and suffered great miserie, ended the same by naturall death. Also Raimond earle of Prouance, father to the quéenes of England and France deceassed this yeare, for whome was kept in England a most solemne obsequie. Also in the wéeke after Palmesundaie, died a right noble baron, and warden of the north parts of England, the lord Gilbert Humfreuile, leauing behind him a yoong sonne, the custodie of whome the king forthwith committed to the earle of Leicester, not without the indignation of the earle of Cornewall, who desired the same.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 30.]

[Sidenote: The king returneth foorth of Wales.]

[Sidenote: Irishmen destroied Anglesey.]

[Sidenote: A dearth.]

Finallie, after that the king had lien at Gannoke about the fortifieng of the castell there, the space of ten wéekes, and saw the worke now fullie finished, he appointed foorth such as should lie there in garison, and therewith, on the morrow after the feast of Simon and Iude, he raised his field, and returned towards England, leauing the Welshmen in great miserie, and like to starue for want of necessarie food. For the Ile of Anglesey, which is as a nursse to the Welshmen, those Irishmen that came to the kings aid, had vtterlie wasted and destroied. Againe, the king of purpose had consumed all the prouision of corne and vittels which remained in the marshes, so that in Cheshire, and other the parts adioining, there was such dearth, that the people scarse could get sufficient vittels to susteine themselues withall.

[Sidenote: Brine pits destroied in Wales.]

[Sidenote: The lord Maurice chéefe iustice of Ireland.]

[Sidenote: Iohn Fitz Geffrey lord iustice of Ireland.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The decease of Walter erle Marshall.]

The king also gaue foorth commandement, that no prouision of corne or vittels should be conueied vnto the Welshmen, out of any parts, either of England or Ireland, on paine of forfeiting life, lands & goods. Moreouer, he caused the brine pits in Wales to be stopped vp and destroied. The king hauing thus ordered his businesse, returned into England, and shortlie after, taking displeasure with the lord Maurice, chéefe iustice of Ireland, bicause he had not made such spéed as had béene conuenient in bringing the Irishmen to his aid, he discharged him of the office of chéefe iustice, and placed in his roome Iohn Fitz Geffrey. In this thirtith yeare of king Henries reigne, Walter earle Marshall and of Penbroke departed this life: and shortlie after, to wit, thrée daies before Christmasse, his brother Anselme that succéeded him in the inheritance, deceassed also without issue: and so all the fiue sonnes of the great earle William Marshall, being departed this world without heires of their bodies begotten, the whole heritage descended to the sisters, and so was diuided amongst them as coparteners.

[Sidenote: 1246.]

The king this yeare held his Christmas at London, and had there with him a great number of the nobilitie of his realme, which had béene with him in Wales, that they might be partakers of pastime, mirth and pleasure, as they had béene participants with him in suffering the diseases of heat, cold, and other paines abroad in the fields and high mounteines of Wales, considering with himselfe (as the truth is) that

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

----vita est quàm proxima letho, Quàm meritò spernenda animum si nulla voluptas Mulceat, atq; leuent solatia nulla laborem.

[Sidenote: The pope requireth the French king to make war against England.]

[Sidenote: The French king refuseth to gratifie the pope therein.]

But that no plesure shuld passe without some staine of gréefe, there was a rumor spred abroad, that the pope conceiued fresh rankor in his stomach against the king and realme of England, for the complaints which had béene exhibited in the councell at Lion by the English orator, for the oppression doone to the church of England: that therevpon, minding now to be reuenged, as was said, he earnestlie mooued the French king to make warre against the Englishmen and to subdue them vnder his dominion: which enterprise the French king vtterlie refused, both for that he and the king of England were coosens, and againe, bicause the king of France had no iust title or right to make claime to England.

[Sidenote: The countesse of Prouance dealeth vniustlie with the king of England hir sonne in law.]

Further, there was as then a truce betwixt England and France, and before that England could be subdued, much giltlesse bloud should be spilt. Also, the christians in the holie land were sore oppressed, and looked dailie for the arriuall of the king of France, and therefore he would be loth to attempt any new enterprise to hinder his iornie thither. But about the feast of the Epiphanie, other news came out of Prouance, that troubled the king of England worse than the other before, as thus, That the countesse Beatrice his wiues mother had deliuered vp the countie of Prouance into the French kings hands, togither with sixtéene castels, which in right of the quéene ought to haue remained vnto the king of England. For the safe kéeping wherof to his vse, the said countesse Beatrice had receiued yéerelie for the terme of fiue yeares last past, the summe of foure thousand marks of the king of England, and yet now in the deliuering of them, with the residue of the countrie vnto the French king, she neuer made any mention of his right.

[Sidenote: Charles the French kings brother is made earle of Prouance.]

[Sidenote: The archb. of Canturburie purchaseth grant of the pope to leuie monie.]

Shortlie after also, Charles the French kings brother maried the ladie Beatrice, yoongest daughter of earle Raimond, and had with hir the same countie of Prouance, and so was intituled earle thereof, as in the French historie appeareth. Moreouer, the archbishop of Canturburie procured a grant from the pope to recouer for one yeare the first fruits of all cures that chanced to be void within the citie, diocesse, and prouance of Canturburie, by and during the tearme of seauen yeares then next following, till the summe of ten thousand marks were leuied, towards the discharge of the said archbishops debts. The collection of the which ten thousand marks was assigned by the popes bulles vnto the bishop of Hereford, who should also leauie two thousand marks of the reuenues belonging to the church of Canturburie, to be conuerted to the same vse. The king at the first was sore offended herewith, but shortlie after, he was pacified and so the archbishop had his will.

[Sidenote: Dauid prince of Wales departeth this life.]

[Sidenote: Ap Griffin chosen prince of Wales.]

[Sidenote: Iews robbed in Oxenford.]

[Sidenote: The Londoners paie a talage.]

After this, about the beginning of the next spring, Dauid prince of Wales departed this life, after great pensifenesse of mind, for the destruction and miserie into the which his countrie had béene brought through the present warres with the Englishmen. After his deceasse, the Welshmen elected to succéed in his place, the sonne of Griffin, whom king Henrie had reteined in seruice, and honourablie vsed, euen of a child: but now that he heard that the Welshmen had elected him to their prince, he stale away, and fled into Wales. ¶ On the day of the purification of our ladie, a robberie was committed vpon certeine Iewes at Oxenford, for the which fact, fiue and fortie of the offenders were put in prison, but at the suit of Robert bishop of Lincolne, they were deliuered by the kings commandement, bicause no man impeached them of anie breach of peace, or other crime. The citizens of London also about the beginning of the spring, were compelled to paie a talage, wherewith they found themselues sore aggréeued.

[Sidenote: A parlement.]

[Sidenote: A statute against hunters.]