Part 6
[Sidenote: The king gathereth monie towards his iournie into France.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The Lord W. de Breuse hanged.]
[Sidenote: The king saileth ouer into France.]
In the meane time the king leuied a great summe of monie of the prelats of his land towards his iournie into France: he had also a great reléefe of the citizens of London. And the Iewes were constreined to giue to him the third part of all their moueable goods. In the moneth of Aprill, Leolin prince of Wales caused William de Breuse, whom he had taken prisoner long before (as aboue is mentioned) to be hanged on a paire of gallowes, for that he was taken (as was reported) in adulterie with the wife of the said prince. And on the last day of Aprill, the king with a puissant armie tooke the sea at Portesmouth, and landed at saint Malos in Britaine on the third day of May, where he was right ioifullie receiued of Henrie earle of that countrie. After he was thus arriued in Britaine, he entered into the French dominions, with the said earle, and the earle of Marsh his father in law, dooing much hurt within the same. His armie dailie increasing by the great numbers of Normans and other, which at the fame of the king of Englands arriuall in those parts, came flocking from diuerse places to aid him.
[Sidenote: Two brethr[=e] of the Paganels or Painelles.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The earle of Kent beginneth now to beare ye blame for euerie thing amisse.]
Amongst other, there were two brethren that were Normans, Fouke and William, of the familie and surname of the Paganelles or Painelles, being men of great birth and estimation in their countrie, which brought with them thréescore knights or men of armes, right worthie and valiant in feats of war. These Noble men would faine haue persuaded the king to haue entred into Normandie, for that (as they affirmed) it should be an easie matter for him to subdue the whole countrie: whereto the king would gladlie haue consented, if the earle of Kent had not aduised him otherwise. After this, they besought him at the leastwise to grant them two hundred knights or men of armes of his armie, with whose aid they doubted not to be able (as they said) to expell all the Frenchmen out of Normandie, but neither would this be obteined, so that those Norman lords remained without comfort, whilest the French king caused their castels and manours to be seized vnto his vse.
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: He tooke the towne and castell of Angiers, saint Jame, Bonneroy, & Belesme. The annales of Aquitaine.]
[Sidenote: Poictou and Xantonge.]
[Sidenote: The French get the vpper hand.]
During this time, king Lewes (who a few daies afore had taken from the duke of Britaine the townes of Ardone, Campanell, and Belesme) being now certified by his espials, of the landing and inuasion made by the king of England, hasted foorth with his armie into the countrie of Aniou, and there by the side of the Loire, incamped, to staie the king of England, that he should not passe ouer the same riuer into Poictou, suspecting least the Poictouins (whom he had alwaie in some gelousie) would revolt vnto him. But the king of England aduertised of his approch, passed that riuer sooner than anie man would haue iudged, and incamped first in the countrie of Poictou, and after drew into the confines of Xantonge, the French king still following, and by the waie destroieng the townes of Fountney, and Villars, perteining to one Guie de Rochfort, a capteine belonging to the earle of March. Afterward also he passed the riuer of Charent, and wasted all the countrie of Xantonge. Where (if we may belieue some writers) the two kings ioined battell, which continued a long time right fierce & cruell: but at length the Englishmen giuing backe, the victorie remained on the French side, a great number of their aduersaries being slaine and taken.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Mirabeau.]
After this battell, they saie also that a peace was concluded betwixt them. But other writers haue recorded, that the matter was first taken vp by a truce without anie battell, bicause both the kings being yoong men, and as yet not verie skilfull in martiall affaires, were content to giue eare vnto quéene Blanch, to Philip erle of Bollongne, and to Ranulfe earle of Chester, which thrée tooke vpon them to intreat a peace, and prescribe the couenants of agréement, by which meanes they were at the last accorded. Amongst other things which were concluded at this present time, the duke of Britaine, and the earle of March were made fréends againe with the French king, and receiued eftsoones into his fauour. Thus ceassed the warres for that time betwixt the kings of England and France, as some haue witnessed. ¶ Howbeit if we shall beléeue other, which wrote and liued in those daies, there was no peace at that time concluded: but after that king Henrie had passed through Aniou and Poictou without battell, he came into Gascoigne, where he receiued the homages and fealties of manie noble men in those parties, and returning into Poictou, not onelie had the like also of sundrie lords and men of honour in that countrie, but also tooke the castell of Mirabeau by assault, thorough the manhood of the Englishmen, who chose rather with desperat aduentures to make entrance to honour, than by timorousnesse or want of courage to purchase reproch; for they knew verie well, that
Qui cupiunt fortes fieri, discrimina oportet Multa pati, & multos coguntur ferre labores,
and therefore they made triall of their valiantnesse euen with obteinement of victorie to the discomfiture of the enimie, who gaped after the conquest.
[Sidenote: King Henrie returneth into Britaine.]
[Sidenote: He saileth home into England.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Chester left the kings lieutenant in Britaine.]
[Sidenote: What feats he wrought.]
[Sidenote: Pontorson burnt.]
This doone, and order taken for the safe kéeping of those quarters, he returned into Britaine, & comming to the citie of Naunts, remained a while there, spending the time vainlie in pleasure and banketting. Finallie in the moneth of October he tooke the sea, and returning into England after manie perils, landed at Portesmouth, the 27 of October, leauing behind him in Britaine 500 knights or men of armes, a thousand yeomen or stipendarie souldiers, for defense of the countrie against the Frenchmen, and appointed for their capteine the earle of Chester, the earle Marshall, and the earle of Albemarle, with certeine other valiant and approued warriours, who after the departure of the king, made two rodes into the French countries, but first into Aniou, where they remained 15 daies without battell, taking and destroieng the castell of Gonner, also Newchatell vpon the riuer of Sart, and finallie laden with plentie of rich spoiles, they returned into Britaine, from whence they set foorth. Shortlie after they entred into Normandie, destroieng the castell of Pontorson, & burning the towne: which enterprise when they had accomplished at their wils, they returned eftsoones into Britaine, where they were ioifullie receiued.
[Sidenote: S. James de Bewmeron.]
[Sidenote: A strange eclipse.]
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 15.]
The erle of Chester in this meane while strengthened & fortified the castell of S. Iames de Bewmer[=o], which (bicause it belonged to the right of his wife) the earle of Britaine had (sith the kings comming ouer) restored vnto him. ¶ In this yeare vpon the 14 of Maie, a maruellous eclipse of the sunne chanced immediatlie after the rising thereof, so that the earth séemed as it had béene couered againe with shade of night. On the 22 daie of Nouember the moone was likewise eclipsed, being as then 13 daies old.
[Sidenote: The duke of Saxonie c[=o]meth into England.]
[Sidenote: The king of Connagh.]
[Sidenote: Geffrey de Maurish lord chiefe iustice of Ireland.]
[Sidenote: Walter de Lacie, Richard de Burgh.]
Furthermore, whilest the king was in France, there came ouer into England the duke of Saxonie coosen to the king, and of the citizens of London was honourablie receiued. He was a man of such high and tall stature, that men tooke great pleasure to behold him. In the same yeare also in the moneth of Iulie, an Irish king that was gouernour of Connagh, vnderstanding that both the king of England, and the earle Marshall were gone ouer into France, and so Ireland left without anie great aid of men of warre on the English part, raised a mightie armie, and with the same entered into the marshes of the English dominion, spoiling and burning the countrie before him. Whereof when Geffrey de Maurish lord chiefe iustice of Ireland was aduertised, he called to him Walter de Lacie and Richard de Burgh, assembling therewithall a mightie armie, which he diuided into thrée parts, appointing the said Walter de Lacie, and Richard de Burgh, with the two first parts, to lie in ambush within certeine woods, thorough the which he purposed to draw the enimies, and marching foorth with the third, which he reserued to his owne gouernement, he profered battell to the Irishmen, the which when they saw but one battell of the Englishmen boldlie assaied the same.
[Sidenote: The Irishm[=e] vanquished by ye Englishmen in battell.]
The Englishmen according to the order appointed, feigned as though they had fled, and so retired still backer and backer, till they had trained the Irish within danger of their other two battels, which comming foorth vpon them, did set on them egerlie, whilest the other which séemed before to flée returned backe againe, and set vpon them in like maner, by meanes whereof the Irishmen being in the midst, were beaten downe on all parts, and vtterlie vanquished, with losse of 20 thousand men (as it was crediblie reported.) The king of Connagh was also taken and committed to prison.
[Sidenote: 1231.]
[Sidenote: A fiftéenth and tenth granted to the king.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: Englishmen sent to Spain against the Saracens.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Escuage demanded.]
In the meane time king Henrie hauing spent a great deale of treasure in his iournie made into France, there was granted vnto him a fiftéenth of the temporaltie, with a disme and a halfe of the spiritualtie, towards the furnishing out of a new power of men to be sent into Spaine against the Saracens, which made sore warres vpon the christians in that countrie, wherevpon king Henrie being required of the K. of Aragon to aid him with some number of souldiers, he sent a great power thither with all spéed, and so likewise did the French king. By means whereof the Spaniards, being ioined with Englishmen and Frenchmen, obteined a noble victorie, in vanquishing those their enimies. Thus saith Polydor. But other write that the king on the seauen and twentith of Ianuarie, holding a parlement at Westminster (where the Nobles both spirituall and temporall were assembled) demanded escuage of all those that held any baronies of him, that is to saie, forren knights fée, fortie shillings, or thrée marks.
[Sidenote: The archb. of Canturburie standeth against the K. in defense of his cleargie.]
[Sidenote: Contention betwixt the archb. and the earle of Kent.]
Moreouer, the archbishop of Canturburie (as they say) stood against the king in this demand, mainteining that the cleargie ought not to be subiect vnto the iudgment of laie men, sith this escuage was granted in the parts beyond the seas without their consent. Wherevpon the matter as touching the bishops was deferred till the quindene of Easter, albeit that all the laitie, and other of the spiritualtie consented to the kings will. ¶ About this time also there chanced to rise a great strife and contention betwixt Richard the archbishop of Canturburie, and Hubert the earle of Kent, who as gardian to the yoong erle of Glocester had got into his hands the castell of Tunbridge, with the towne, and certeine other possessions which belonged to the archbishops sée, and therefore did the archbishop complaine to the king of the iniurie which he susteined.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
Now when he perceiued no hope likelie to come for any redresse at the kings hands, he tooke an other way: and first by his pontificall authoritie accursed all those that withheld the same possessions, and all their mainteiners (the king excepted) and therewith appealing to the pope, he went to prosecute his appeale at Rome, whither the king and the earle sent also their procurators, and made the pope their arbitratour to iudge of the matter. In the end pope Gregorie hauing heard the whole processe of the controuersie, iudged the right to remaine with the archbishop, who hauing then obteined his desire, hasted toward England: but as he was returning homewards, he died by the way, not farre from Rome, whereby the popes iudgement tooke no place: for whilest the sée was void, there was none that would follow the suit: and such was the end of this controuersie for this time.
[Sidenote: Ralfe Neuill elected arch. of Canturburie.]
After the deceasse of this archbishop Richard, the moonks elected Ralfe Neuill bishop of Chichester the kings chancellor, an vpright man, and of iust dealing in all his dooings. In whome also it is to be noted, he would not giue one halfepenie to the moonks towards the bearing of their charges in their iournie to Rome, which they should take vpon them from thence to fetch his confirmation, according to the manner, least he should burthen his conscience with the crime of simonie which he greatlie abhorred, although some imputed this to procéed rather of a cloked spice of couetousnesse. Which practise of his maketh greatlie to the confounding of the indirect means now vsed to aspire vnto promotions, for the obteinment whereof no remedie is forborne; no, though the same be repugnant to reason, and vtterlie against conscience and honestie. But this is the temptation of auarice and ambition, which poison the minds of men in such sort, that rather than they will want their wished aduancement, they will vse these meanes that may further them most, namelie, fréendship, monie, and mightie mens countenance; which one noteth verie well in a distichon of neat deuise, saieng,
Artis, honestatis, recti, præcepta, decus, vim, Conculcat, superant, spernunt, fauor, æra, potentes,
[Sidenote: Sim[=o] Langtons report of the conditions of Ralfe Neuill.]
But to the purpose from whence we are digressed. When the moonks came to the popes presence, vpon inquirie made, and chéefelie by report of Simon Langton, who (as some thinke) gaped for the dignitie, he vnderstood that the said Ralfe Neuill should be a man vnlearned, a courtier, hastie and short of word, and that which most displeased the pope, it was to be feared, that if he should be preferred to that roome, he would go about to deliuer the realme of England from the thraldome of the pope, and the court of Rome (into the which being made tributorie by king Iohn it had latelie béene brought) that (as he should alledge) it might serue God and holie church in the old accustomed libertie.
[Sidenote: Sée before in pag. 307.]
[Sidenote: The Pope maketh void the election.]
To bring this to passe (hauing the king thereto greatlie inclined, and all the realme readie to assist him in the same) he would not sticke to put his life in ieopardie, namelie vpon confidence of the right and appeales of Stephan the late archbishop of Canturburie, made in solemn wise before the altar of S. Paule in the cathedrall church of London, when king Iohn resigning his crowne into the hands of the legat, made that writing obligatorie most execrable to the whole world. When the pope had heard this tale told, he streit disanulled the election and request of the confirmation of the said Ralfe Neuill, granting libertie to the moonks to chose some other which might proue a wholsome shéepheard for the soule of man, profitable to the church of England, and a faithfull sonne to the sée of Rome, and so the moonks returning home, made relation to the couent how they had sped. After this, the moonks elected the prior of their house named Iohn to be their archbishop, who going to Rome for his confirmation, was persuaded in the end to renounce his election: so that at length one Edmund that was treasurer of the colledge of Salisburie, was elected, confirmed, and consecrated, a man of great zeale, being the foure & fortith archbishop that had gouerned that sée.
[Sidenote: The earle of Cornewall marrieth the countesse of Glocester.]
[Sidenote: The earle of Penbroke departeth this life.]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
[Sidenote: Leolin prince of Wales inuadeth the English borders.]
This yeare the kings brother the earle of Cornewall married the countesse of Glocester, widow to the late earle Gilbert, and sister to William Marshall earle of Penbroke, the which erle of Penbroke shortlie after the same marriage departed this life, and was buried on the fiftéenth day of Aprill, in the new temple at London, néere vnto his father. Moreouer, Leolin prince of Wales about this season enterprising to inuade the English confines, burned and wasted the countrie in most cruell wise. Whereof the king being aduertised, hasted foorth by great iournies, with purpose to reuenge such iniuries. But the enimies hearing of his comming (according to the custome of their countrie) withdrew into the mounteins, bogs, and marishes. Wherefore the king (séeing that he could not haue them at his pleasure, and least he should be thought to spend time in vaine) came backe, and left behind him a small troope of souldiers to resist their attempts, if they should happen to rise vp any more.
[Sidenote: The Welshmen put to flight.]
[Sidenote: The king goeth against the Welshmen.]
The Welshmen hauing intelligence that the king was returned home, brake foorth againe as before into the English marshes, and not onelie tooke preies and booties, but went about to destroie with fire and sword all that stood in their way. Howbeit in their returne, and as they ranged abroad somewhat vnaduisedlie, they were intrapped by the souldiers which the king had left there for the defense of the countrie, and put to flight néere the castell of Mountgomerie, with great slaughter & losse of their people. But Leolin nothing dismaied therwith, assembled a greater power than he had before, and began foorthwith to rob and spoile within the English marshes with paganish extremitie. Which thing when it came to the vnderstanding of the king, he was verie sore displeased, that so meane a man as Leolin was, should put him to so much trouble, therefore he raised a farre greater armie than he had doone at anie time before, and with the same came to the citie of Hereford.
[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The Englishmen distressed.]
[Sidenote: Mawds castell repaired.]
In the meane time Leolin comming néere vnto the said castell of Mountgomerie, by the practise of a traitorous moonke, trained foorth the English souldiers which laie in garrison there, and counterfeiting to flée, till he had laid them vp in bogs and mires with their horsses, so as they could not helpe themselues, he fell vpon them, and so slue and tooke a great number of them euen as he could haue wished. The king aduertised hereof, hasted the faster forward, and comming into those parts, as he passed by an abbeie of the Cisteaux order (of which house the moonke was that had betraied the Englishmen of Mountgomerie) he burned a grange that belonged to the same abbeie, and further spoiling the same abbeie it selfe, he had set it on a light fire also, if the abbat therof had not redéemed it with the summe of thrée hundred marks of siluer. After this, he caused Mawds castell to be repaired and fortified, which the Welshmen in times past had ouerthrowne, and when the worke was finished, he left there a strong garrison of souldiers to kéepe backe the Welshmen from making their accustomed incursions.
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: Henrie earle of Britaine, and the earle of Chester distresse the French kings cariages.]
[Sidenote: A truce taken.]
Whilest the king was thus occupied in Wales, there was some busines in France: for in the moneth of Iune, the French king with an armie came to inuade the countrie of Britaine, but earle Henrie with the earle of Chester and the other English capteins found meanes to take and destroie all the cariages and wagons which came with vittels and other prouision to serue the French armie. When the Frenchmen perceiued they could not haue their purpose, by mediation of the archbishop of Reimes, and the earle of Bollongne on the French part, and by consent of the earles of Britaine and Chester on the English part, a peace was concluded, or rather a truce to indure for thrée yeares betwixt the two kings of England and France. This agréement was made the fift daie of Iulie, and then the earles of Britaine and Chester, with Richard Marshall, came ouer into England, and rode to the king, whom they found at Mawds castell, where he remained till the worke was finished, and then in the moneth of October returned into England.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 16. 1232.]
[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]
[Sidenote: An vnorderlie & presumptuous attempt.]
In this meane time no small grudge arose among the people, by reason that their churches were occupied by incumbents that were strangers, promoted by the popes and their legats, who neither instructed the people, nor could well speake anie more English than that which serued for the collection of their tithes, in somuch that for the insolencie of such imcumbents as well the Noble men and those of good reputation, as other of the meaner sort, by an vndiscréet presumption attempted a disorderlie redresse, confederating themselues togither, and taking vpon them to write and direct their letters vnto bishops and chapters, commanding them by waie of inhibition, not to séeme to interrupt those that should seize vpon the beneficed strangers, or vpon their reuenues.
[Sidenote: The superscription of their letters.]
They also tooke vpon them to write vnto such religious men and others, which were farmers vnto anie of those strangers, forbidding them to stand accountable vnto the said strangers, but to reteine the rents and profits in their hands to answer the same vnto such as they should appoint for the receipt thereof. The superscription of their letters was this. ¶ "Tali episcopo, & tali capitulo, vniuersitas eorum, qui magis volunt mori quàm à Romanis confundi, salutem." That is to say, "To such a bishop and chapter, all those which had rather die than be confounded by the Romans, send gréeting." In the seale wherewith the said letters were sealed, were two swords ingrauen.
[Sidenote: Masking threshers.]
[Sidenote: The pope complaineth to the K. in blaming him.]
This matter went so farre foorth, that there were sundrie persons armed and disguised like mummers, which enterprised not onelie to take diuerse of those strangers that were beneficed men, but also came to their barnes, threshed vp their graine, and either made sale therof, or gaue it awaie for God his sake, shewing counterfeited letters vnder the kings seale, which they had procured for their warrant, as they did pretend. At length the pope vpon complaint made vnto him of such violent doings, wrote to king Henrie, blaming him not a little for suffering such disorders to be committed within his realme, commanding him vpon paine of excommunication to cause a diligent inquirie to be had of the offenders, and to sée them sharpelie punished, to the example of others.
[Sidenote: The pope c[=o]mandeth the offenders to be accursed.]
[Sidenote: Inquisitions taken.]