Part 23
In the octaues of the said Purification, the parlement began at London, to the which came the earle of Leicester from the parts of beyond the sea, where he had for a certeine time remained. There came also an ambassador from the French king, one that was deane of Burges, and so there was an earnest treatie had touching a peace to be concluded betwixt the two kings of England and France, which on the day of saint Valentine was accorded and put in articles, with condition that the same should remaine firme and stable, if the kings would assent to that which had béene talked of and agréed vpon by their speciall and solemne agents. For the further perfecting of this agréement and finall peace betwixt the kings of England and France, about the begining of Aprill, the earls of Glocester and Leicester, Iohn Mansell, Peter de Sauoy, and Robert Valerane were sent ouer into France, hauing also with them letters of credence, to conclude in all matters as had béene talked of by their agents. But when the countesse of Leicester would not consent to quite claime and release hir right in such parcels of Normandie as belonged to hir, which king Henrie had couenanted with the residue to resigne vnto the French king. The earle of Glocester fell at words with the earle of Leicester, about the stubborne demeanor which his wife shewed in that matter, and so by reason that either of them stood at defiance with the other (although by meane of fréends they staied from further inconuenience) they returned backe without concluding any thing in that whereabout they were sent.
[Sidenote: The friers preachers begin to inhabit at Dunstable.]
[Sidenote: The moonks hindred by the comming of the friers.]
About the same time there was a certeine mansion house by waie of deuotion giuen vnto the friers that are called preachers within the towne of Dunstable, so that certeine of them thrusting themselues in there, began to inhabit in that place, to the great annoiance of the prior and conuent of Dunstable, & as it were by the example of the other order called minors (which in the last precéeding yeare, at saint Edmundsburie in Suffolke had practised the like matter against the willes of the abbat and conuent there) they began to build verie sumptuous houses, so that in the eies of the beholders such chargeable workes of building, so suddenlie aduanced by them that professed voluntarie pouertie, caused no small woonder. The said friers building them a church with all spéed, and setting vp an altar, immediatlie began to celebrate diuine seruice, not once staieng for the purchase of anie licence. And so building from day to day, they obteined great aid of such as inhabited néere vnto them, of whome the prior and conuent ought to haue receiued the reuenues that were now conuerted to be imploied on the said friers towards their maintenance. Thus by how much more their house increased, by so much more did the prior and conuent decrease in substance and possessions: for the rents which they were accustomed to receiue of the messuages and houses giuen to the friers, were lost, and likewise the offerings (which were woont to come to their hands) now these friers being newlie entred by occasion of their preachings, vsurped to themselues.
[Sidenote: Richard Gray discharged of his office of lord warden.]
[Sidenote: Walascho a frier sent from the pope.]
Richard Graie constable of the castell of Douer, and lord warden of the cinque ports was this yeare remooued by the lord chéefe iustice Hugh Bigod, who tooke into his owne hands the custodie of the said castell and ports. The cause whie the said Richard Graie was discharged, we find to haue fallen out by this means. He suffered a frier minor called Walascho, comming from the pope (bicause he had the kings letters vnder the great seale) to enter the land, not staieng him, nor warning the lords of his comming, contrarie (as it was interpreted) vnto the articles of their prouisions enacted at Oxenford. This frier indéed was sent from the pope to haue restored Athilmarus or Odomarus (as some write him) the kings halfe brother, vnto the possessions of the bishoprike of Winchester, to the which he had béene long before elected. But the lords were so bent against him, that vpon such suggestions as they laid foorth, Walascho refrained from dooing that which he had in commandement, and returned to make report what he vnderstood, so that Odomarus was now as farre from his purpose as before.
[Sidenote: The bishop of Bangor sent fr[=o] the prince of Wales to king Henrie.]
[Sidenote: The Welshmen offer to resort vnto Chester.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 44.]
[Sidenote: A parlement.]
[Sidenote: The statutes of Oxenford read, and the breakers of the same denounced accurssed.]
[Sidenote: Escuage granted.]
[Sidenote: Knights fées how manie were then in England.]
About the feast of saint Michaell, the bishop of Bangor was sent from Leolin prince of Wales vnto the king of England, to make offer on the behalfe of the said Leolin and other the lords of Wales, of sixtéene thousand pounds of siluer for a peace to be had betwixt the king and them, and that they might come to Chester, and there haue their matters heard and determined, as in time past they had béene accustomed. But what answer at his returne was giuen to this bishop by the king and his nobles, it is vncerteine. In the fortie and fourth yeare of king Henries reigne, the fridaie following the feast of Simon and Iude, in a parlement holden at Westminster, were read in presence of all the lords and commons, the acts and ordinances made in the parlement holden at Oxenford, with certeine other articles by the gouernours therevnto added and annexed. After the reading whereof the archbishop of Canturburie being reuested with his suffragans to the number of nine bishops, besides abbats and others, denounced all them accurssed that attempted in word or déed to breake the said statutes, or anie of them. In the same parlement was granted to the king a taske called scutagium, or escuage, that is to saie, forty shillings of euerie knights fée throughout England, the which extended to a great summe of monie. For as diuerse writers do agrée, there were in England at that time in possession of the spiritualtie and temporaltie beyond fortie thousand knights fées, but almost halfe of them were in spirituall mens hands.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: A folkemote.]
[Sidenote: The king asketh licence to passe the seas.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: The king saileth ouer into France.]
[Sidenote: 1260.]
[Sidenote: He compoundeth all differences with the French K.]
Vpon the sixt day of Nouember the king came vnto Paules, where by his commandement was the folkemote court assembled, and the king (according to the former ordinances made) asked licence of the communaltie of the citie to passe the sea, and promised there in the presence of a great multitude of people, by the mouth of Hugh Bigod his chéefe iustice, to be good and gratious lord vnto the citie, and to mainteine the liberties thereof vnhurt. Herewith the people for ioy made a great shout. The eight day of Nouember he rode through the citie towards the sea side, and vpon the thirtéenth daie of Nouember, he tooke the sea at Douer and arriued at Whitsand, and so from thence he rode vnto Paris, where, of the French king he was most honorablie receiued. The cause of his going ouer was chéefelie to conclude some assured peace with the French king, that he should not néed to doubt any forren enimies, if he should come to haue warre with his owne people, whereof he saw great likelihoods, and therefore he made such agréement with king Lewes (as in the French historie more at large appeareth) which (to be short) I here omit.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: _N. Triuet._]
[Sidenote: _Wil. Risang._]
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
This one thing is here to be noted, that besides the monie which king Henrie had in hand, amounting to the summe of an hundred and fiftie thousand crownes for his resignation then made vnto Normandie, Aniou and Maine, it was accorded, that he should receiue yearelie in name of a tribute the sum of ten thousand crownes. ¶ Others write that he had thrée hundred thousand pounds of small Turon monie, which he receiued in readie paiment, and was promised restitution of lands to the value of twentie thousand pounds of yearelie rent: and that after the decease of the French king, that then was, the countrie of Poictou should returne vnto the English dominion. Some write that immediatlie after king Henrie had concluded his agréement, he began to repent himselfe thereof, and would neuer receiue penie of the monie, nor leaue out of his stile the title of duke of Normandie. But it is rather to be thought that such an agréement was at point to haue béene concluded, or at the leastwise was had in talke, but yet neuer concluded nor confirmed with hands and seales, as it ought to haue béene, if they had gone through with it.
[Sidenote: Dissention betwixt prince Edward and the earle of Glocester.]
[Sidenote: Prince Edward and the earle of Glocester are not suffered to come within the citie of London.]
In the meane time that king Henrie was thus occupied in France, dissention fell in England betwéene prince Edward and Richard earle of Glocester, for the appeasing whereof a parlement was called at Westminster, to the which the lords came with great companies, and speciallie the said prince and earle. They intended to haue lodged within the citie: but the maior going vnto the bishop of Worcester, to sir Hugh Bigod, and to sir Philip Basset (vnto whome, and to the archbishop of Canturburie, the K. had committed the rule of the land in his absence) required to know their pleasure herein. Wherevpon they thought it good to haue the aduise of Richard the king of Almaine, and therevpon went to him, where they concluded, that neither the said prince nor earle nor anie of their partakers should come within the citie, the gates whereof were by the maiors appointment closed and kept with watch and ward both day and night. Soone after also, for the more safegard of the citie, the gates were by the maiors appointment closed and kept with diligent watch and ward both day and night. Soone after also for the more safegard of the said citie, and sure kéeping of the peace, the king of Almaine with the said sir Hugh and sir Philip came and lodged in the citie with their companies, and such other as they would assigne, to strengthen the citie if néed required. Wherin their prouident consent to withstand so foule a mischéefe as sedition might haue bred in the citie, deserueth high commendation, for it was the next waie to preserue the state thereof against all occasions of ruine, to vnite harts and hands in so swéet an harmonie, which the law of nature teacheth men to doo, and as by this sage sentence is insinuated and giuen to vnderstand,
Manus manum lauat & digitus digitum, Vir virum & ciuitas seruat ciuitatem.
[Sidenote: The king returneth into England.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Glocester confederateth himselfe with the earle of Leicester.]
Shortlie after, the king returned out of France, and about the feast of S. Marke came to London, and lodged in the bishops palace. And bicause of certeine rumors that were spred abroad sounding to some euill meaning, which prince Edward should haue against his father, the king brought ouer with him a great power of men in armes being strangers, howbeit he brought them not into the citie, but left them beyond the bridge in the parts of Surrie, notwithstanding being entred the citie, he so kept the gates and entries, that none was permitted to enter, but such as came in by his sufferance. The earle of Glocester by his appointment also was lodged within the citie, and the prince in the palace at Westminster. Shortlie after by the kings commandement he remooued to S. Iohns, & all the other lords were lodged without the citie, and the king of Almaine remooued againe to Westminster. In which time a direction was taken betwéene the said parties, and a new assemblie and parlement assigned to be kept in the quindene of S. Iohn Baptist, and after deferred or proroged till the feast of saint Edward, at the which time all things were pacified a while, but so as the earle of Glocester was put beside the roome which he had amongst other the péeres, and so then he ioined in fréendship with the earle of Leicester, as it were by way of confederacie against the residue, and yet in this last contention, the said earle of Leicester tooke part with the prince against the earle of Glocester.
[Sidenote: _Chr. Dunstab._]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: A Iew at Teukesburie falleth into a iakes.]
This yeare the lord William de Beauchampe the elder deceassed. ¶ The lord Edward the kings sonne, with a faire companie of knights and other men of armes, passed the seas to exercise himselfe in iusts, but he himselfe and his men were euill intreated in manie places, so that they lost horsse, armour, and all other things to his great griefe and disliking (as may be estéemed) yet (as some write) he returned home with victorie in the iusts. This yeare at Teukesburie, a Iew falling by chance into a iakes vpon the saturdaie, in reuerence of his sabboth would not suffer any man to plucke him foorth, wherof the earle of Glocester being aduertised, thought the Christians should doo as much reuerence to their sabboth which is sundaie, and therefore would suffer no man to go about to take him foorth that day, and so lieng still till mondaie, he was there found dead.
[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._]
[Sidenote: Death of Noble men.]
[Sidenote: Bach rather.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 45.]
[Sidenote: The king of Scots commeth to London.]
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
Diuers Noble men departed this life in this yeare, as the earle of Albemarle, the lord William Beauchampe, Stephan de Longespée lord chéefe iustice of Ireland, and Roger de Turkeby one of the kings chéefe councellors and iustices of the land, William de Kirkham bishop of Durham, and Iohn de Crakehale treasurer of England, a spirituall man, but rich beyond measure: also Henrie de Ba another of the kings iustices of the bench. In the 45 yeare of king Henries reigne, Alexander king of Scotland came to London anon after the feast of St. Edward, with a faire companie of Scotishmen, and shortlie after his wife the quéene of Scots came thither also. Moreouer king Henrie kept a roiall feast at Westminster, where he made to the number of foure score knights, amongst whome, Iohn sonne to the earle of Britaine, who had maried the ladie Beatrice, one of the kings daughters was there made knight. Shortlie after was sir Hugh Spenser made lord chéefe iustice.
[Sidenote: 1261.]
[Sidenote: _Chro. Dun._]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: A folkemote holden at Pauls crosse.]
[Sidenote: An oth to be true to the king.]
After Christmasse the K. comming into the towre of London, fortified it greatlie, & caused the gates of the citie to be warded, sending forth commandement to his lords that they should come to the towre, there to hold a parlement; but they denied flatlie so to doo, sending him word that if it pleased him, they would come to Westminster, where vsuallie the parlement had béene kept, and not to anie other place, whervpon there rose dissention betwixt him and the barons. After the feast of the Purification, at a folkemote holden at Paules crosse (where the king was present in person, with the king of Almaine, the archbishop of Canturburie, and diuerse other of the Nobles) commandement was giuen to the maior, that euerie stripling of the age of 12 yeares and aboue, should before his alderman be sworne to be true to the king and his heires kings of England, and that the gates of the citie should be kept with armed men, as before by the king of Romans was deuised.
[Sidenote: The lord Spenser discharged of his office.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 46.]
[Sidenote: The presumptuous procéedings of the bar[=o]s against the king.]
[Sidenote: 1262.]
[Sidenote: A bull read at Pauls crosse.]
About Easter the barons of the land with consent of the péeres, discharged sir Hugh Spenser of his office of chéefe iustice, and placed in his roome sir Philip Basset without the kings assent, he being not made priuie therevnto. Wherevpon a new occasion of displeasure was ministered to kindle debate betwixt the king and his lords, but by the policie of the king of Almaine and some prelats, the matter was quieted for a time, till after at Hallowentide next insuing, which was the 46 yeare of K. Henries reigne. At that time the barons tooke vpon them to discharge such shiriffes as the king had elected & named gardians of the countries and shires, and in their places put other shiriffes, and besides that would not suffer the iustice which the king had admitted, to doo his office in kéeping his circuit, but appointed such to doo it, as it pleased them to assigne, wherwith the king was so much offended, that he laboured by all means to him possible about the disanulling of the ordinances made at Oxford, and vpon the second sundaie in Lent, he caused to be read at Paules crosse a bull, obteined of pope Vrbane the fourth, as a confirmation of an other bull before purchased of his predecessour pope Alexander, for the absoluing of the king, and all other that were sworne to the maintenance of the articles agréed vpon at Oxford. This absolution he caused to be shewed through the realmes of England, Wales & Ireland, giuing streight charge that if any person were found that would disobeie this absolution, the same should be committed to prison, there to remaine till the kings pleasure were further knowne.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: Many gouernors pernicious to a common-wealth.]
Suerlie the most part of those péeres which had the rule of the king and kingdome thus in their hand, perceiuing the enormitie that dailie grew of so manifold heads and gouernours, were minded of themselues to dissolue those prouisions and ordinances so made at Oxford, in somuch that there were but fiue which stiffelie stood in defense of the same, that is to saie, the bishop of Worcester, and the earles of Leicester and Glocester, with Henrie Spenser, and Peter de Montfort, the which by no meanes could be brought to confesse that they might with a safe conscience go contrarie to those ordinances which they had confirmed with their solemne oth, notwithstanding the popes dispensation; whereas the same oth was rather a bond of iniquitie (as saith Matth. Westminster) deuised to conspire against Christ and his annointed, that is to saie, their naturall liege lord and lawfull king, than any godlie oth aduisedlie taken, or necessarie to be receiued of good meaning subiects, yea and of such a friuolous oth it is said, that
In aqua scribitur & in puluere exaratur.
[Sidenote: The king of Almaine goeth ouer into Germanie.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: The king hauing licence passeth ouer into France.]
[Sidenote: He falleth sick of a feuer quartane.]
[Sidenote: _Chro. Dun._]
[Sidenote: Death of noble men.]
In Iune the king of Almaine tooke shipping and sailed ouer into Dutchland, and king Henrie at a folkemote holden at Paules crosse the sundaie after S. Peters day, had licence to saile into France and the morrow after he departed from London towards the sea side, with the quéene and other lords, his two sonnes prince Edward and the earle of Lancaster being at that present in Guien. When he had béene a season in France, he went vnto Burdeaux, and there fell sicke of a feuer quartane, by occasion whereof he taried in those parties till S. Nicholas tide next following. There were few that went ouer with him that escaped frée without the same disease, so that in maner all his companie were taken and sore handled therewith. Manie died thereof to the number of thréescore, and amongst them as chéefe were these, Baldwine de Lisle earle of Deuonshire, Ingram de Percie, and William de Beauchampe.
[Sidenote: The earle of Glocester departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 47.]
[Sidenote: Iewes slaine.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]
[Sidenote: The Welshmen warre against ye lord Mortimers tenants.]
[Sidenote: He séeketh his reuenge against them.]
In this yeare died Richard the Clare earle of Glocester, and his sonne sir Gilbert de Clare was earle after him, vnto whome his father gaue great charge that he should mainteine the ordinances of Oxford. In the 47 yeare of king Henries reigne, by reason that a Iew had wounded a christian man at London within Colechurch, in the ward of cheap, not onelie the said Iew was slaine by other christians that followed him home to his house, but also manie other Iewes were robbed and slaine in that furie and rage of the people. The Welshmen with their prince Leolin made wars against the men and tenants of Roger de Mortimer; and tooke two of his castels (the one called Kenet) and raced them both to the ground. The said Roger being sore gréeued herwith, got such assistance as he could of other lords there in the marches, and watching the Welshmen at aduantage, distressed diuerse companies of them, sometime thrée hundred, sometime foure hundred, and other whiles fiue hundred. But at one time he lost thrée hundred of his footmen that were entred the countrie, and so inclosed that they could make no shift to escape.
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: 1263.]
[Sidenote: Thames frosen.]
[Sidenote: Variance betwixt the citizens of London and the constable of the towre.]
Vpon the euen of S. Thomas the apostle, the king landed at Douer, and came to London the Wednesdaie before the twelfe day in Christmasse. In this yeare the frost began about S. Nicholas daie, and continued for the space of a moneth and more, so extreamelie, that the Thames was frosen, so that men passed ouer on horssebacke. ¶ The same winter the kings little hall at Westminster, with manie other houses therevnto adioining, was consumed with fire, by negligence of one of the kings seruants. Variance rose betwixt the citizens of London, and the constable of the towre, for that contrarie to the liberties of the citie he tooke certeine ships passing by the towre with wheat and other vittels into the towre, making the price thereof himselfe. The matter was had before sir Philip Basset lord chéefe iustice and others, who vpon the sight and hearing of all such euidences and priuiledges as could be brought foorth for the aduantage of both the parties, tooke order that the constable should (when he lacked prouision of graine or vittels) come into the market holden within the citie, and there to haue wheat two pence in a quarter within the maiors price, and other vittels after the same rate.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]
[Sidenote: Prince Edward goeth against the Welshmen.]
[Sidenote: The archb. of Canturburie goeth to Rome.]
[Sidenote: _Fabian._]
[Sidenote: The lord maior of London sworne to be true to the king.]