Part 27

On the sixt of Februarie being sundaie, the king came to S. Edmundsburie, and staieng there till the two and twentith of the same moneth, set foreward that day towards Cambridge, where he laie with his armie, the better to bridle them that kept the Ile of Elie against him. He laie there all the Lent season. And in the meane time the earle of Glocester taking great displeasure, for that he might not haue his will, as well for the banishing of strangers, as for restitution to be made vnto the disherited men of their lands, he began a new sturre, and assembling a great power in the marshes of Wales came néere vnto London, pretending at the first as though he had come to aid the king, at length he got licence of the maior and citizens to passe through the citie into Southwarke, where he lodged with his people, and thither came to him shortlie sir Iohn d'Euille, by Southerie side, bringing with him a great companie.

[Sidenote: The legat admonisheth the earle of Glocester to obeie the king.]

The maior caused the bridge and water side to be kept and watched both day and night with armed men, and euerie night was the drawbridge drawne vp: but within a while the earle vsed the matter so, that he was permitted to lodge within the citie with certeine of his men, by reason whereof, he drew more and more of his people into the citie, so that in the end he was maister of the citie, and in Easter wéeke tooke the keies of the bridge into his hands. The legat comming foorth of the towre, repaired to the church of S. Paule, vnder a colour to preach the croisey, but in the end of that his exhortation, he turned his words to the earle of Glocester, admonishing him to obeie the king as he was bound by his allegiance. And further, whereas the earle had giuen commandement that no victuals should be suffered to be brought into the tower where the popes legat was lodged, he thought himselfe euill vsed in that behalfe, sith he was a mediator for peace, and no partaker. But when the earle séemed to giue small regard to his words, he got him secretlie againe into the tower, with certeine noble men the kings fréends, meaning to defend it vnto the vttermost of their powers.

[Sidenote: The legat & other meane to defend the tower against the earle of Glocester.]

[Sidenote: The citizens of London in vprore chose new officers.]

[Sidenote: Prisoners set at libertie.]

There entred also into the tower a great number of Iewes with their wiues and children, vnto whome one ward of the tower was committed to defend, which they did in that necessitie verie stoutlie. Manie of the citizens fearing a new insurrection, auoided out of the citie, whose goods the earle seized into his owne vse, or suffered his men to spoile the same at their pleasures. The most part of all the commons of the citie tooke part with the earle, and in a tumult got them to the Guildhall, and there chose for their maior or custos of the citie, Richard de Colworth knight, and for bailiffes, Robert de Linton and Roger Marshall, discharging the old maior and shiriffes of their roomes. Diuerse aldermen were committed to prison, and their goods sequestred, and much part thereof spoiled. Also all such persons as were prisoners in Newgate, Ludgate, Creplegate, or in any other prison about the citie, for the quarrell of the barons warre, were set at libertie.

[Sidenote: The legat accurseth ye troublers of the kings peace.]

[Sidenote: The king laie at Cambridge.]

[Sidenote: Ramsey.]

The legat perceiuing such disorder, accurssed generallie all such as thus troubled the kings peace, shewing themselues enimies to the king and the realme. He also interdicted all the churches within the citie and about it, licencing onlie diuine seruice to be said in houses of religion, and without ringing of any bell or singing: and whilest seruice was in hand, he appointed the church doores to be shut, bicause none of them that stood accurssed, should enter and be present. The king in the meane time laie at Cambridge to defend the countries about from iniuries, which were dailie attempted by them that held the Ile of Elie against him, of whome at one time he distressed a certeine number at Ramsey. And bicause now after that the earle was thus come to London, another companie of them brake out to rob and spoile, and were stopped by the kings power from entring into the Ile againe, they repaired streight to London, dooing mischéefe inough by the waie.

[Sidenote: The king maketh hard shift for monie to hire soldiers & men of war to assist him.]

[Sidenote: The K. remooueth towards Windsore.]

[Sidenote: The king commeth to Stratford.]

[Sidenote: _Fabian._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Westm._]

The earle of Glocester greatlie incouraged by their assistance, fell in hand to assaile the tower, within the which the popes legat Othobone, and diuerse other were inclosed, taking vpon them to defend it against the earle and all his puissance. The king vpon the first newes of the earle of Glocester his commotion, ingaged the shrines of saints, and other iewels and relikes of the church of Westminster vnto certeine merchants for great summes of monie, with the which sending into France and Scotland, he reteined men of warre to come to his aid. Herevpon his sonne prince Edward came to his succour vnto Cambridge, bringing thither with him thirtie thousand able men out of the north parts, Scots and other. The king then leauing a conuenient number to defend Cambridge, marched from thence toward Windsore. After his comming thither, his armie dailie increased. The earle of Glocester and his complices began to feare the matter, and sent to him for peace, which could not be granted: wherevpon they appointed to giue him batell vpon Houndslow heath. The king comming thither in the morning, found no man there to resist him, and therefore, after he had staied there a certeine space, he marched foorth and came to Stratford, where he was lodged in the abbeie: his host incamped and laie at Ham and therabouts.

[Sidenote: Westminster spoiled.]

[Sidenote: Soldiers sacked and throwen into the Thames.]

This chanced about thrée wéekes after Easter. The souldiers which laie in London and in Southwarke, did much hurt about in the countrie of Southerie, & else-where. They also spoiled the towne of Westminster, and the parish-church there: but the moonks and the goods belonging to the abbeie they touched not, but made hauocke in the kings palace, drinking vp & destroieng his wine, breaking the glasse windowes, and defacing the buildings most disorderlie, yea scarse forbearing to set the house on fire. Also there were of them that brake vp & robbed certeine houses in London, of the which misgouerned persons there were foure taken, that ware the cognisance of the earle of Darbie, whome the earle of Glocester caused to be put in sackes, and so throwne into the Thames.

[Sidenote: The earles of Bullongne & S. Paule.]

[Sidenote: A fléet of Gascoins come to the kings aid.]

[Sidenote: _Abington._]

[Sidenote: A peace concluded.]

[Sidenote: The Londoners pardoned.]

As the king thus laie at Stratford, there came vnto him from the parts of beyond the sea, the earle of Bullongne, and S. Paule, with two hundred men of armes, and their suit of other souldiers. Also there ariued in the Thames a fléet of great vessels fraught with Gascoins, and laie afore the tower, abiding the kings pleasure. ¶ The earle of Glocester had caused bulworks and barbicans to be made betwixt the tower and the citie; and also in sundrie places where néed required ditches and trenches were cast, so that the citie was stronglie fortified. Howbeit now that the said erle and his complices perceiued themselues in manner as besieged, they sought for peace. And by mediation of the king of Almaine, the lord Philip Basset and the legat Othobone, the same was granted, the ordinance of Killingworth in euerie condition obserued. The Londoners were pardoned of their trespasse for receiuing the earle, though they were constreined to paie a thousand marks to the king of Romans, in recompense of the hurts doone to him in burning of his house at Thistleworth.

[Sidenote: _Chron. Dun._]

[Sidenote: Buderesch.]

[Sidenote: The lord Graie.]

Whilest the earle of Glocester kept the citie of London against the king, one Henrie de Guderesch, steward to the said earle, departing from London, came to the manour house of Geffrey saint Leger at Offeld, which he burnt, and turning from thence came to Brickhill. The lord Reignold Graie that held of the knights part, aduertised hereof, followed him with his retinue of men of warre, and comming vpon his enimie at vnwares, tooke the said Henrie, and slue thirtie of the chéefest of his companie, some he tooke, howbeit manie escaped. But now to our purpose. By this agréement concluded betwixt the king & the earle of Glocester, he also accepted to his grace the lord Iohn Eineley, the lord Nicholas de Segraue, the lord William Marmion, the lord Richard de Graie, the lord Iohn Fitz Iohn, and the lord Gilbert de Lucie, with others: so that all parts of the realme were quieted, sauing that those in the Isle of Elie would not submit themselues: yet at length by mediation of prince Edward they were reconciled to the king, and all the fortresses and defenses within that Isle by them made, were plucked downe and destroied.

[Sidenote: _Euersden._]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 52.]

But it appeareth by other writers, that immediatlie after the agréement concluded betwixt the earle of Glocester, prince Edward the kings sonne, by setting workemen in hand to make a caussie through the fens with boords and hurdels, entred vpon them that kept the Ile of Elie, so that manie of them got out, and fled to London vnto the said earle of Glocester, and other their complices. The residue submitted themselues, as the lord Wake, Simon Montfort the yoonger, the Pechées and other, vpon condition to be pardoned of life and member: and further, that prince Edward should be a meane to his father to receiue them into fauour. But by other it may rather séeme, that some of them kept and defended themselues within that Ile, till after the agréement made betwixt the king and the earle of Glocester. By order of which agréement there were foure bishops and eight lords chosen foorth, which had béene first nominated at Couentrie, to order and prescribe betwixt the king and the disherited men a forme of peace and redemption of their lands. And so in the feast of All saints, proclamation was made of a full accord and agréement, and what euerie man should paie for his ransome for redéeming his offense against the king.

[Sidenote: A parlement at Marleborough.]

[Sidenote: 1268.]

[Sidenote: The legat Othobone returneth to Rome. Othobone chosen as pope.]

[Sidenote: _Abington._]

In the octaues of S. Martine, the king held a parlement at Marleborough, where the liberties conteined in the booke called Magna charta were c[=o]firmed, and also diuerse other good and wholesome ordinances concerning the state of the common-wealth were established and enacted. ¶ In the moneth of Aprill there chanced great thunder, tempestuous raine, and flouds, occasioned by the same, verie sore & horrible, continuing for the space of fiftéene daies togither. The legat Othobone, after he had in the synods holden at Northampton and London, deuised and made manie orders and rules for churchmen, and leuied amongst them great summes of monie, finallie in the moneth of Iulie, he tooke leaue of the king and returned to Rome, where after the deceasse of Innocent the fift, about the yeare of our Lord 1276 he was chosen pope, and named Adrian the fift, liuing not past 5 daies after. He went so néere hand to search out things at his going awaie, that he had inrolled the true value of all the churches and benefices in England, and tooke the note with him to Rome.

[Sidenote: Prince Edward receiueth the crosse.]

[Sidenote: _Fabian._]

[Sidenote: A fraie in L[=o]don betwéene the goldsmiths and tailors.]

Prince Edward the kings sonne, and diuerse other great lords of England before this legats departure out of the realme, receiued the crosse at his hands in Northampton on Midsummer day, meaning shortlie after according to promise there made, to go into the holie hand to warre against Gods enimies. In this yeare fell great variance betwéene the corporations or fellowships of the goldsmiths and tailors within the citie of London, wherevnto euill words flowing from the toong gaue originall, for

Pondus valde graue verbosum vas sine claue,

so that one euening there were assembled to the number of fiue hundred in the stréets in armour, and running togither made a fowle fraie, so that manie were wounded and some slaine. But the shiriffes hearing thereof, came & parted them, with assistance of other trades, and sent diuerse of them being taken vnto prison, of the which there were arreigned to the number of thirtie, and thirtéene of them condemned and hanged.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 53.]

[Sidenote: Thames frosen.]

[Sidenote: 1269.]

In the fiftie & third yeare of king Henries reigne, there was such an excéeding great frost, beginning at saint Andrewes tide, and continuing till it was néere candlemasse, that the Thames from the bridge vpwards was so hard frosen, that men and beasts passed ouer on féet from Lambeth to Westminster, and so westward in diuerse places vp to Kingston. Also merchandize was brought from Sandwich and other places vnto London by land. For the ships by reason of the yce could not enter the Thames. ¶ And about the feast of S. Vedast, which falleth on the 6 of Februarie, fell so great abundance of raine, that the Thames rose so high, as it had not doone at any time before, to remembrance of men then liuing: so that the cellars and vaults in London by the water side were drowned, and much merchandize marred & lost.

[Sidenote: _Abington._]

[Sidenote: A parlement holden at London.]

[Sidenote: Prince Edward appointeth the maior and shiriffes of London.]

About S. Georges day there was a parlement holden at London, for the appeasing of a controuersie depending betwixt prince Edward the kings son and the earle of Glocester: at the which parlement were present almost all the prelats and péeres of the realme. At length they put the matter in compromise, into the hands of the king of Almaine, vndertaking to be ordered by him high and low touching all controuersies: and likewise for the iournie to be made into the holie land, but the king of Almaine did little in the matter to any great effect. ¶ In the beginning of Lent the king gaue to his sonne prince Edward the rule of the citie of London, with all the reuenues and profits thereto belonging. After which gift, the said prince made sir Hugh Fitz Othon constable of the towre and custos of the citie of London. ¶ Vpon the ninth day of Aprill, Edmund the kings sonne, surnamed Crouchbacke, married at Westminster Auelina the daughter of the earle of Aumarle. Prince Edward commanded the citizens of London to present vnto him six citizens, of the which number he might nominate two shiriffes, and so appointed William de Hadstocke and Anketill de Alberne, which were sworne to be accomptants as their predecessours had béene.

[Sidenote: An aid granted to the king.]

[Sidenote: The liberties of the citie confirmed.]

[Sidenote: The rent of the farme of the shiriffes of London increased.]

[Sidenote: _Chron. Dunst._]

In those daies a new custome or toll was vsed to be paid, which prince Edward let to farme vnto certeine strangers, for the summe of twentie marks by yeare. Wherefore the citizens being gréeued therewith, bought it of him for two hundred marks. Also this yeare there was granted to the king towards his iournie by him purposed into the holie land, the twentith penie of euerie mans mooueable goods thoroughout the realme of the laie fée, and of the spiritualtie was granted by the assent of pope Gregorie the tenth, thrée dismes to be gathered within the terme of thrée yeares. This yeare the kings sonne the lord Edward obteined a confirmation for the citie of London of the charter of the ancient liberties, so that the citizens did then choose vnto them a maior and two shiriffes, which shiriffes by vertue of the same charter, had their office to farme, in maner as before time was accustomed: sauing that where they paid afore but thrée hundred and fiftie pounds, they paid now foure hundred and fiftie pounds. After which confirmation granted and passed vnder the kings broad seale, they chose for their maior Iohn Adrian, and for shiriffes Walter Potter and Iohn Tailor, the which were presented the 16 day of Iulie vnto the king at Westminster by his sonne prince Edward, and there admitted and sworne. Then was sir Hugh Fitz Othon discharged of the rule of the citie. The citizens of their owne fréewill gaue vnto the king an hundred marks, and to his sonne prince Edward fiue hundred markes. There was no great disorder attempted this yeare to the disquieting of the realme, sauing that certeine of the disherited gentlemen that belonged to the earle of Darbie, withdrew vnto the forrest of the Peake in Darbishire, and there making their abode, spoiled and wasted the countries next adioining.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 54.]

[Sidenote: 1270.]

[Sidenote: _Wil. Risham._]

[Sidenote: Prince Edward setteth forward towards the holie land.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. West._]

[Sidenote: The king sick.]

In the moneth of Maie, prince Edward the kings sonne set forward on his iournie towards the holie land, and taking the sea at Douer, passed ouer into France, and came to Burdeaux, where he staied a while, and after went to Agues Mortes, and there tooke shipping, first sailing (as some write) vnto Thunis, where the christian armie, which Lewes the French king as then deceassed had brought thither, was readie to depart, and so prince Edward, with the new French king Lewes and other princes passed ouer into Sicill, where he soiourned for the winter time. In this yeare the king was vexed with a gréeuous sicknesse: and the Irishmen in rebellion slue a great sort of Englishmen, as well magistrats as others in that countrie.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 55.]

[Sidenote: 1271.]

[Sidenote: Prince Edward arriueth at Acres.]

[Sidenote: _Abington._]

[Sidenote: Arsacide, of some named Assassini. Prince Edw. is traitorouslie wounded.]

When the spring of the yeare began to approach, prince Edward eftsoones tooke the sea, and finallie arriued at Acres with a thousand chosen men of warre, though there be writers that affirme, how there arriued with him of sundrie countries fiue thousand horsemen, and double the same number of footmen. But amongst those that went out of England with him, these we find as principall, Iohn de Britaine, Iohn de Vescie, Otes de Grantson, and Robert de Bruse, besides other. Of his noble chiualrie there atchiued, yée shall find a bréefe note in the description of the holie land, and therefore here we omit the same. Howbeit this is to be remembred, that whilest the lord Edward soiorned there in the citie of Acres, he was in great danger to haue béene slaine by treason: for a traitorous Saracen of that generation which are called Arsacidæ, and latelie reteined by the same lord Edward, and become verie familiar with him, found means one day as he sat in his chamber, to giue him thrée wounds, which suerlie had cost him his life, but that one of the princes chamberleins staied the traitors hand, and somewhat brake the strokes, till other seruants came to the rescue, and slue him there in the place.

[Sidenote: Part Iapha.]

[Sidenote: The generation of the Arsacide, or Assassins.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 56]

¶ There be that write, how prince Edward himselfe, perceiuing the traitor to strike at his bellie, warded the blowe with his arme: and as the Saracen offered to haue striken againe, he thrust him backe to the ground with his foot, and catching him by the hand, wrested the knife from him, and thrusting him into the bellie, so killed him, though in strugling with him, he was hurt againe a little in the forhead: and his seruants withall comming to helpe him, one of them that was his musician, got vp a trestill and stroke out the braines of the traitor, as he laie dead on the ground, and was blamed of his master for striking him, after he saw him once dead before his face, as he might perceiue him to be. Some write, that this traitor was sent from the great admerall of Iapha, on message to the prince Edward, and had béene with him diuerse times before, & now making countenance to take forth letters, got foorth his knife, and attempted so to haue wrought his feat. Whatsoeuer the man was, the prince was in great danger, by reason of the enuenimed knife wherewith he was wounded, so that it was long yer he could be perfectlie whole. These Saracens called Arsacidæ, are a wicked generation of men, infected with such a superstitious opinion, that they beléeue heauenlie blisse is purchased of them, if they can by anie means slea one of the enimies of their religion, & suffer themselues for that fact the most cruell death that may be deuised. ¶ Prince Edward, after he was whole and recouered of his wounds, perceiuing that no such aid came into these parts out of christendome, as was looked for, tooke a truce with the enimies of our faith, and returned towards England, as hereafter shall be shewed.

[Sidenote: 1272.]

[Sidenote: _Nic. Triuet._]

[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]

[Sidenote: The decease of the king of Almaine.]

[Sidenote: His issue.]

[Sidenote: Edmund, erle of Cornewall.]

On the fourth nones of Aprill (as some saie) or in the moneth of Februarie (as other write) in the six and fiftith yeare of K. Henries reigne at Berkhamstéed, died Richard king of Almaine and earle of Cornewall, and was buried in the abbeie of Hailes which he himselfe had founded: he was a worthie prince, and stood his brother king Henrie in great stead; in handling matters both in peace and warre. He left behind him issue begotten of his wife Sanctla two sonnes, Edmund and Henrie. This Edmund was he that brought the blood of Hailes out of Germanie: for as he was there vpon a time with his father, it chanced that as he was beholding the relikes, and other pretious monuments of the ancient emperors, he espied a box of gold: by the inscription whereof he perceiued (as the opinion of men then gaue) that therein was conteined a portion of the bloud of our sauiour.

[Sidenote: The blood of Hailes.]

[Sidenote: Ashrug abbeie built.]

[Sidenote: Bonhommes.]

He therefore, being desirous to haue some part thereof, so intreated him that had the kéeping of it, that he obteined his desire, and brought it ouer with him into England, bestowing a third part thereof after his fathers deceasse in the abbeie of Hailes, as it were to adorne and inrich the same, bicause that therein both his father and mother were buried; and the other two parts he did reserue in his owne custodie, till at length mooued vpon such deuotion as was then vsed; he founded an abbeie a little from his manour of Berkhamstéed: which abbeie was named Ashrug, in the which he placed moonks of the order of Bonhommes, being the first that euer had béene séene of that order here in England. And herewith he also assigned the two other parts of that bloud to the same abbeie. Wherevpon followed great resort of people to those two places, induced therevnto by a certeine blind deuotion.

[Sidenote: The L. Henrie sonne to the K. of Almaine murdered in Italie.]

[Sidenote: Robert Kilwarbie archbh. of C[=a]turburie.]