Part 16
There chanced another earthquake foure daies before Christmasse, namelie in the west countrie about Bath and Welles, which shooke and ouerthrew some buildings, speciallie the tops and summets of stéeples, turrets and chimnies were shaken therewith, and not the bases or lower parts. ¶ In Christmasse following, the earle of Leicester returned out of Gascoigne, where he had béene as generall against Gaston de Bierne, whom he had so afflicted and put to the worse, that the same Gaston was glad to sue for an abstinence of warre, where before he had doone much hurt to the kings subiects. The said earle had also with the aid of the kings subiects apprehended an other rebell, one William Berthram de Egremont who had doone much hurt in the parts of Gascoigne, and in the confines there, whome he had left in prison within the castell of the Rioll.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Durham resigneth his bishoprike.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The king practiseth to get monie.]
[Sidenote: A nest of théeues brok[=e].]
This yeare a little before Candlemas, the bishop of Durham being a man of great yeares, by licence obteined of the pope, resigned his miter, reseruing to himselfe onelie thrée manors, Houeden with the appurtenances, Stocton and Euerington. The king hauing the last yeare receiued of his subiects a deniall of a generall subsidie to be granted him, practised this yeare to get some reléefe at their hands, in calling each of them apart: but first he got two thousand marks of the citie of London, and after fell in hand with the abbats and priors, of whome he got somewhat, though sore against their willes. By occasion of two merchant strangers of Brabant, which chanced to be robbed about the parts of Winchester, whilest the king was there, vpon their importunate suit and complaint, there was a great nest of théeues broken, amongst the which were manie wealthie persons and fréeholders, such as vsed to passe on life and death of their owne companions, to whom they were fauourable inough you may be sure: also, there were some of the kings seruants amongst them. About thirtie of those offendors were apprehended, and put to execution, besides those that escaped, some into sanctuarie, and some into voluntarie exile, running out of and vtterlie forsaking the countrie.
[Sidenote: The archbish. of Rone.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Great raine.]
About Easter, the archbishop of Rone came ouer into England, and dooing homage for such reuenues as belonged to his church here within this realme, had the same restored vnto him. In Iune there fell such abundance of raine, speciallie about Abington, that the willow trées, milles, and other houses standing néere to the water side, were borne downe and ouerturned, with one chapell also: and the corne in the field was so beaten to the ground, that bread made thereof after it was ripe, séemed as it had béene made of bran.
[Sidenote: The earle of Salisburie & other go into the holie land.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The spite of the French towards the Englishmen.]
About the same time, William de Longespée earle of Salisburie, and Robert de Véer, with other Englishmen, to the number of two hundred knights, hauing taken on them the crosse, went into the holie land, the said earle being their chéefe capteine, and had so prosperous spéed in their iornie, that they arriued safe and sound in the christian armie, where (the French king being chéefe thereof) they were receiued ioifullie. But yet (as Matthew Paris writeth) the pride and disdaine of the Frenchmen was so great, that vpon spite and enuie conceiued at the Englishmens glorie, which bare themselues right worthilie, the Frenchmen vsed the Englishmen nothing fréendlie; & namelie the earle of Arras sticked not to speake manie reprochfull words against the said William de Longespée and his people, whereat they could not but take great indignation.
[Sidenote: Peter de Geneure.]
[Sidenote: The decease of Roger Fitz Iohn.]
[Sidenote: The death of Hugh le Brun.]
Also the same season, the earle of Leicester, who had likewise receiued the crosse, deferred his iournie for a time, and sailing into Gascoigne, mightilie there subdued the kings enimies, as Gaston de Bierne, also one Rusteine, and William de Solares. This yeare died Peter de Geneure, a Prouancois borne, whome the king had preferred in marriage vnto the ladie Maud, daughter and heire of Walter Lacie a man of faire possessions in Ireland. Of which marriage there came issue a sonne and a daughter. Also about Whitsuntide died a noble baron of the north parts, named the lord Roger Fitz Iohn, whose sonne and heire being yoong, was giuen in wardship to William de Valence the kings halfe brother. Also this yeare Hugh earle of March, father to the same William de Valence died in Cipres, whilest the French armie wintered there, as then going into the holie land.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 34.]
[Sidenote: The archb. of Canturburie inthronized.]
[Sidenote: A tornie holden at Brackley, or (as some copies haue) at Barkley.]
[Sidenote: 1250.]
[Sidenote: Edmond son to Richard earle of Cornwall borne.]
[Sidenote: An ambassage sent to the pope.]
In the feast of All saints, the archbishop Bonifacius was inthronized at Canturburie, and kept a solemne feast, at the which the king and quéene, with the more part of all the prelats of the land were present. About this season was a great tornie and iusts holden at Brackley, where the earle of Glocester (contrarie to his accustomed maner) fauoured the part of the strangers, whereby they preuailed. In somuch that William de Valence handled one sir William de Odingesselles verie roughlie, the same sir William being a right woorthie knight. About the same time, the countesse of Cornewall at Berkehamstéed was deliuered of a sonne named Edmund. This yeare about the beginning of the spring, the kings brother the earle of Cornewall with other Noble men of the realme, as the earle of Glocester, Henrie Hastings baron, & Roger Thurkebie, went ouer into France in princelie arraie and furniture to visit the pope, who held his court still at the citie of Lions. The bishop of Lincolne also and the bishop of Worcester went thither. For what cause the other went, it was not openlie knowne. But the bishop of Lincolne went thither about such businesse as he had in hand against the Templers, Hospitalers, and such other which had appealed from him to the court of Rome, where he could not bring his purposse to passe, for his aduersaries with monie had purchased the iudges fauour. And so the bishop returned, hauing spent his trauell and monie in vaine.
[Sidenote: The king taketh on him the crosse.]
[Sidenote: The lord Roger de Monthault.]
On the 6 of March being sundaie, the king tooke vpon him the crosse, with his brother de Valence, and a great number of other Noble men, and amongst other the abbat of Burie, to the preiudice (as was thought) of his order. Roger de Monthault, a baron of great honour, meaning verelie to go in that iournie, to recouer monie towards his necessarie furniture, set and sold the most part of his liuings. His woods and possessions, which he had about Couentrie, he sold and let to fée farme vnto the couent there. The like chieuance was made by sundrie noble men, which prepared themselues to go in that iournie.
[Sidenote: Gaston de Bierne submiteth himself to the king.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Leicester his seruice in Gascoigne.]
Vpon the 27 day of Aprill those that had taken on them the crosse, assembled at Bermondsey besides London, to treat of their setting forward, determining that the same should be at Midsummer next: but by the popes letters which the king procured, they were commanded to staie till the king himselfe went. Thus their iournie for that time was disappointed. There was of them and their retinues that meant thus to haue gone, fiue hundreth knights, besides yeomen or demilances and other common souldiers in great numbers. Gaston de Bierne was so driuen to his shifts by the high prowesse of the earle of Leicester, that in the end he was constreined to come ouer into England, and submit himselfe to the king, whom he found at Clarendon, where he gat such mercie at the kings hands, that he was pardoned and restored to his lands. But the earle of Leicester put the king in possession of the castels of Fronsacke, Egremount, and others, and banished Rustein, and William de Solares, with diuerse other stubborne and disloiall rebels, depriuing them of their lands and inheritance in that countrie.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Lincolne.]
[Sidenote: An inhibition procured by the king of the pope.]
The bishop of Lincolne did excommunicat a préest within his diocesse, that was accused of incontinencie. And bicause the same préest continued fortie daies without séeking to be reconciled, the bishop sent to the shiriffe of Rutland, within whose bailiwike the same préest dwelled, to apprehend him as a disobedient and rebellious person: but the shiriffe winked at the matter, and would not execute the bishops commandement, wherevpon the bishop did also excommunicat the shiriffe: whereof the king being informed, tooke displeasure, and sending to the pope, procured an inhibition, that no archbishop nor bishop should compell anie officer belonging to the king, to follow anie suit afore them, for those things that apperteined to the kings iurisdiction, or giue sentence against them for the same.
[Sidenote: The earle of Cornwall returneth from the pope.]
[Sidenote: The king spareth to bring himselfe out of debt.]
The mondaie before the Rogation wéeke, Richard the kings brother earle of Cornewall, returned from the court of Rome, where he had béene about certeine businesse unknown to most men: but whatsoeuer the same was, the pope gaue him most courteous and honorable interteinement for his welcome, and made him great cheare during his abode at Lions, where the popes court as then laie. ¶ About this season, the K. to rid himselfe out of debt, wherein he was indangered to certeine merchants, lessened the charges of his houshold, and kept but a meane port, diminishing euen the accustomed almesse of the poore, and also the great number of tapers and lights in his chappell, so that he was noted with the blame of too much niggardlie sparing and pinching: but in that he discharged his debt to the merchants, he was thought to doo wiselie and charitablie, for that he would not sée them hindered to whom he was so indebted; besides the opinion that he had concerning himselfe, namelie that
Profectum faciunt rarum quos debita stringunt.
[Sidenote: The Iewes constreined to helpe the king with monie.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: A generall chapter of ye friers preachers.]
About the same time also, he caused the Iewes to giue vnto him a great portion of their goods, so that they were greatlie impouerished. There was one of them named Aaron borne in Yorke, the which since the kings last returne out of Gascoigne, had paied to the king the summe of thirtie thousand markes, ouer and besides two hundred marks which he had giuen to the quéene, as the same Aaron protested to Matthew Paris, vpon his faith and truth which he bare to his law. In the Whitsunwéeke was a generall chapter holden of the friers preachers at London in Holborne, where out of sundrie parts of the world were assembled aboue foure hundred of them, and they had meat and drinke found them of almesse, bicause they possessed nothing of their owne. On the first daie the king came into their chapter, that he might be partaker of their praiers, and found them meat and drinke that day, and dined there with them, to doo them the more honour. Another day the quéene likewise fed them, and afterwards the bishop of London, the abbats of Westminster, S. Albon, and Waltham, with others.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Strife betwixt the L[=o]doners and the abbat of Westminster.]
[Sidenote: William de Kilkennie kéeper of the great seale.]
About the same season the citizens of London found themselues gréeued verie sore, for such liberties as the king granted to the abbat of Westminster, to the great hinderance and decaie of the franchises of their citie. The maior and communaltie resisted all that they might against those liberties, and finallie by the good helpe and fauour of the lords, as the earles of Cornewall and Leicester, they obteined their purpose. This yeare maister William de Kilkennie, a sober, faithfull and learned man, was made kéeper of the great seale. ¶ The same yeare vpon inquisition made by Geffrey de Langley, one of the kings councell of transgressors in forrestes and chases, manie that had offended were presented, and most gréeuouslie punished by imprisonment, fines, and excéeding great amercements, and namelie in the north countrie.
[Sidenote: Robert de Lexinton departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: The lord Henrie Hastings deceaseth.]
[Sidenote: Robert Muschampe.]
[Sidenote: Athelmarle the kings half brother made bishop of Winchester.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Salisburie slaine by the Saracens.]
On the ninetéenth of Maie died Robert de Lexinton clearke, the which hauing continued a long time in the office of a iudge, purchased to himselfe great fame, and also most large possessions. But certeine yéeres before his death, bicause he was diseased with the palsie, he gaue ouer that office, and drew himself into a quiet trade of life, so ending his daies in praiers and dooing of almesdéeds. About the feast of S. Margaret died Henrie Hastings a noble baron, and one Robert de Muschampe a man of great renowne in the north parts. Also Walter bishop of Winchester departed this life, about the feast of S. Matthew, in whose place (through the kings earnest suit) his halfe brother Athelmare was promoted to succéed. Moreouer, in the east parts, that valiant erle of Salisburie William de Longespée, with Robert de Véer, and others, was slaine in that vnfortunate battell in the which the Saracens vanquished the christian armie, and tooke Lewes the French king prisoner.
[Sidenote: A mightie wind.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The sea séemeth to burne.]
[Sidenote: Ships lost. Hertburne. Winchelsey.]
On the first day of October, the moone vpon hir change, appearing excéeding red and swelled, began to shew tokens of the great tempest of wind that followed, which was so huge and mightie, both by land & sea, that the like had not bene lightlie knowne, and sildome or rather neuer heard of by men then aliue. The sea forced contrarie to hir naturall course, flowed twice without ebbing, yéelding such a roring noise, that the same was heard (not without great woonder) a farre distance from the shore. Moreouer, the same sea appeared in the darke of the night to burne, as it had béen on fire, and the waues to striue and fight togither after a maruellous sort, so that the mariners could not deuise how to saue their ships where they laie at anchor, by no cunning nor shift which they could deuise. At Hertburne thrée tall ships perished without recouerie, besides other smaller vessels. At Winchelsey, besides other hurt that was doone in bridges, milles, breakes and banks, there were thrée hundred houses, and some churches drowned with the high rising of the water course. The countrie of Holland beyond the sea, and the marish land in Flanders, susteined inestimable damage, and in manie other places; by reason that riuers beaten backe and repelled (by the rising of the sea) swelled so high that they ouerflowed their chanels, and much hurt was doone in meadowes, bridges, milles, and houses.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 35.]
[Sidenote: The practise of the bishops to disappoint the archbi. of Canturburie of his purpose.]
About the beginning of the fiue and thirtith yeare of king Henries reigne, the bishops of England, vnderstanding that the archbishop of Canturburie was about to purchase of the pope a grant to gather monie through his whole prouince of the cleargie and people for synods and procuracies, they thought to preuent him, and therefore made a collection euerie one through his owne diocesse, of two pence in euerie marke which any beneficed man might dispend, which money so collected, they ment to imploie about charges in the popes court, for the staie of the archbishops suit, that the grant should not passe.
[Sidenote: An erthquake at S. Albons.]
[Sidenote: The pope sueth for licence to soiorne at Burdeaux.]
[Sidenote: The popes presence more like to impaire than amend things.]
About, the same time, to wit, vpon saint Lucies day, there was a great earthquake at S. Albons, and in the parts thereabouts with a noise vnder the ground, as though it had thundred. This was strange and maruellous, bicause the ground there is chalkie and sound, not hollow nor loose, as those places be where earthquakes for the most part happen. Doues, rookes, and other birds that sat vpon houses, and in boughes of trées fearing this strange wonder, flickred vp, and flue to and fro, shewing a token of feare as if a goshauke had béene ouer their heads. The pope required by solemne messengers sent to the king of England, that he might come to the citie of Burdeaux in Gascoigne, & there for a time remaine. The king wist not well what answer to make, for loth he was to denie anie thing that the pope should require and againe he was not willing for sundrie respects, that the pope should come so néere vnto him. Indéed, manie were in doubt, least if he came to Burdeaux, he would also come into England, and rather impaire the state thereof than amend it by his presence, sith by such vsurers and licentious liuers as belonged to him, the realme had alreadie béene sore corrupted. Howsoeuer the matter went there was delaie and such meanes deuised and made, that the pope came not there at that time.
[Sidenote: 1251.]
[Sidenote: Thunder and lightening.]
[Sidenote: Guy de Lusignan brother to the king.]
On Christmasse day in the night, great thunder and lightning chanced in Northfolke and Suffolke past measure, in token as was thought of some euill to follow. ¶ The king kept his Christmasse at Winchester, but without any great port or liberalitie, for hospitalitie with him was greatlie laid aside. About this time, Guy de Lusignan the kings halfe brother came ouer into England, after his returne out of the holie land, and was of the king ioifullie receiued. Towards the reléefe of his expenses made in that iournie, the king gaue him fiue hundred pounds which he got of the Iewes. Moreouer, he gaue to his brother Geffrey the custodie of the baron Hastings lands, and so by such liberall and bounteous gifts as he bestowed on them and other strangers, he greatlie incurred the hatred of his naturall people the Englishmen.
[Sidenote: The earle of Leicester returneth.]
[Sidenote: He had of the king 3000 marks.]
[Sidenote: Rutters.]
On the day of the Epiphanie, the earle of Leicester came to the king in great hast out of Gascoigne giuing him to vnderstand, that the Gascoignes were reuolted in such number, that, if spéedie succour were not prouided, the whole countrie would fall from the English subiection. Héerevpon the king furnished him with monie, and the earle himselfe got all that he could make of his owne reuenues, and likewise of the Vmfreuilles lands, the heire whereof he had in custodie. He made no long abode, but with all spéed returned, and reteined two hundred Rutters out of the duke of Brabants countries, and with them certeine crosbowes. These were eger souldiers, and bloudie, but yet the Gascoignes prepared themselues to resist them all that they might: howbeit the earle put them still to the worse. Before his last returne from thence, he had raced the castell of Fronsacke flat with the ground, and likewise left desolate the castell of Egremount.
[Sidenote: A iustice accused for taking bribes.]
About this season, one of the kings iustices named Henrie de Bath fell in the kings displeasure, bicause he was accused that he had not exercised his office vprightlie, but to his owne priuat gaine, and peruerted iustice through bribes, vpon occasion, of a suit mooued betwixt him and one Euerard de Trumpington: he was appealed of falsehood and treason by sir Philip Darcie knight. His wife was of kin to the Bassets and Samfords, the which procured him great fréendship at the hands of the earle of Cornewall, and of Iohn Mansell, and other of the kings councell. But for all that they could doo, he was in great danger to haue lost his life at the parlement holden that yeare, and begun on the sixtéenth day of Februarie. For the king was so sore mooued against him, that he caused proclamation to be made, that if any man had any thing to laie against the said Henrie de Bath, they should come foorth, and their information should be heard. Herevpon diuerse came and presented their complaints, and amongst other, one of his owne fellowes, that was a iustice also, declared that he had suffered an offendor conuict, to escape vnpunished, for a bribe, which he receiued to the preiudice of the king, and the danger of his associats the other iustices, whereas it is required of one put in trust with the administration of lawes, to be vncorrupt and sound in iudgement, according to this true position,
Iudicis est recti nec munere nec prece flecti.
[Sidenote: Henrie de Bath put to his fine.]
The king herewith rose vp in a great fume, and said openlie: "If any man will slea Henrie of Bath, he shall not be impeached for his death: for I doo here planelie declare him acquit and guiltlesse for the same." Herewith diuerse would haue run vpon him to haue murdered him, but that Iohn Mansell staied their outrage, shewing them that the king might well herafter repent the words which he spake thus in his furie, and those that should doo any violence vnto the man, were not like to escape punishment: for both the bishop of London would suerlie accurse them, and other of his fréends would not faile to séeke reuenge by temporall force: and thus was Henrie of Bath in the kings high displeasure for the time. Howbeit at length, through intercession of the earle of Cornewall, and the bishop of London, he was put to his fine, and pardoned.
[Sidenote: Athelmare or Odomare bishop of Winchester confirmed.]
[Sidenote: A conuocati[=o] of the bishops.]
[Sidenote: Six thousand marks giuen to the pope.]
About the same time, Athelmare the kings halfe brother was confirmed bishop of Winchester by the pope, although he was thought scarselie sufficient to haue the place, for lacke of learning and ripe yeares. About this time also, the bishops assembling at Dunstable, tooke aduise togither, how to preuent the archbishop of Canturburie, that he should not visit: and in the end they concluded to send their procurator vnto the court of Rome, to trie what purchase might be made there for monie to staie the licence, and not to sticke for the disbursing of foure thousand marks, if néed required. Their procurator did so much in the matter, that he found the pope fauourable vnto his cause, though no determinate answer was giuen of a long time, till at length, to gratifie the archbishop and his kin, as the duke of Sauoy and other, the pope granted him licence to visit, but not generallie: for he might not visit anie parish church, except the person required him thereto. And whereas he had libertie to visit conuentuall churches, yet might he not receiue for procuracies aboue foure marks. For this moderation to be had, the procurator for the bishops gave vnto the pope six thousand marks.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Lincolne visiteth abbeies.]
[Sidenote: The bishop of Lincolne suspended by the pope.]
[Sidenote: Wales subiect to the English lawes.]
[Sidenote: Alain lord Zouch.]
[Sidenote: Vsurers called Caorsini.]