Part 7

Moreouer he sent letters to the bishop of Winchester, and to the abbat of saint Edmundsburie, to make the like inquisition, and to accurse all those that should be found culpable within the south parts of England, as he did to the archbishop of Yorke, to the bishop of Durham, and to an Italian named Iohn a canon of Yorke, to doo the like in the north parts, so that the offenders should remaine accursed, till they came to Rome, there to fetch their absolution. Herevpon therefore a generall inquisition was taken, as well by the king as by the bishops, and manie found guiltie, some in fact, and some in consent: amongst which number there were both bishops and chapleins to the king, with archdeacons and deanes, knights, and manie of the laitie.

[Sidenote: The earle of Kent put in blame.]

[Sidenote: Sir Robert de Twing.]

There were some shiriffes and bailiffes also, which by the kings commandement were arrested and put in prison, and diuerse of all sorts did kéepe themselues out of the waie, and would not as yet be found. In like maner, Hubert earle of Kent, lord chéefe iustice, was accused to be chiefe transgressour in this matter, as he that had giuen foorth the kings letters patents to those disguised and masking threshers, who had taken vpon them so to sequester other mens goods, whereto they had no right. There came also to the king one sir Robert de Twing, a knight of the north parts, (which named himselfe William Wetherse, and had led about a companie of the foresaid maskers) protesting that he had doone it vpon iust cause to be reuenged vpon the Romans, which went about by sentence of the pope, and manifest fraud to spoile him of the parsonage of a certeine church which he held, and therefore he said he had rather stand accursed without iust cause for a time, than to lose his benefice without due iudgement. Howbeit the king and the other commissioners counseled him in the end to go to Rome to purchase his absolution, sith he was fallen in danger of excommunication, and there to sue for his pardon in the popes consistorie. And to incourage him the better so to doo, the king wrote also in his fauour to the pope, testifieng the right which he claimed to the church, whereby at length he obteined his suit (as after ye shall heare.)

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: A parlement.]

[Sidenote: A subsidie demanded, and denied.]

[Sidenote: The bishop of Winchesters counsell giuen to the king.]

The king called a parlement at Westminster, wherein declaring what charges he had béene at diuers waies, he required to haue a subsidie granted him, for the reléefe of his want, which was flatlie denied, the Nobles and other estats excusing the pouertie amongst all degrées of men, by manie euident reasons. Herevpon the bishop of Winchester being a verie eloquent and faire-spoken man, openlie counselled the king to fauour his people, whom he had alreadie made poore and bare with continuall tributes and exactions. And if it were so that he stood in such néed as was alledged, that then he should take into his hands againe such possessions and things, which during the time of his yoong yéeres he had bestowed vpon his seruants, without any good aduised consideration, for lacke of ripe iudgement and discretion, and againe to take from certeine couetous persons, who now were become horsseleches and caterpillers in the common-wealth, all such offices as they held, and had verie much abused, causing them to yeald vp their accounts, and to vse them after the manner of sponges, so that where he had in times past made them full of moisture, he might how wring them drie, following herein the example of Vespasian. And by this means it was not to be douted but he should haue inough of his owne, without dooing iniurie to any man.

[Sidenote: The king followeth the bishop of Winchesters counsell.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Ranulfe Briton, Peter de Riuales.]

The king gaue verie good eare to the bishops words, and following his counsell, caused his receiuers, treasurers, and other such as had medled with anie of his receipts to come to a reckoning. And vnderstanding by the auditors appointed to take their accounts, that the most part of them had receiued much more and by other means than they had entered into their reckoning, he compelled them to restore it out of hand with interest. Also he caused the magistrats to be called to a reckoning, and manie of them being conuicted of fraud, were condemned to make restitution. And among other Ranulfe Briton treasurer of his chamber was put beside his office, and fined at a thousand marks, in whose place was set Peter de Riuales, or after some copies de Oruiales, a Poictouin, nephue or rather sonne to the bishop of Winchester, by whose aduice the king tooke a more strait account of his officers, and often remooued such as he iudged guiltie.

[Sidenote: The earle of Kent discharged of his office of chéefe iustice.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The earle of Kent taketh sanctuarie.]

[Sidenote: The citizens of London their good deuotion towards the earle of Kent.]

At the same time also, Hubert earle of Kent was deposed from the office of high iustice, and Stephan Segraue appointed in his roome. The said Hubert (bicause he refused to answer a certeine dutie which was demanded of him to the kings vse) ran so farre into his displeasure, that he durst not abide his sight, but for safegard of himselfe got him to the abbeie of Merton, and there tooke sanctuarie. The king hearing of this his demeanor, was so highlie offended withall, that he sent to the Londoners, willing them to go thither and fetch him to his presence. The Londoners, which in no wise loued him, bicause of the death of their citizen Constantine, were verie readie to accomplish this commandement, insomuch that where the maior ouernight late declared to them the effect of the kings commission, there were twentie thousand of them in armor gotten forward earlie in the morning towards Merton, in full hope now to be reuenged of him, for the small good-will that he had borne, vnto their citie heretofore.

But the king being informed by the earle of Chester and others, that if the Londoners being thus in armor, and in so great a number, should commit any other outrage by the way, the matter might grow to some such inconuenience as would not easilie be staied, he sent to them a countermand to returne backe to the citie againe, which they did, though sorie in their hearts that they might not go through with their desired enterprise. Furthermore (sée héere the mutabilitie of fortune and hir inconstancie, whereof complaint hath béene made by our forefathers time out of mind, saieng,

[Sidenote: _Ouid. lib. 2. de trist. 5._]

Passibus ambiguis fortuna volubilis errat, Et manet in nullo certa tenáxq; loco; Sed modò læta manet, vultus modò sumit acerbos. Et tantùm constans in leuitate sua est.)

now that the erle of Kent was thus out of the kings fauour, there were few or none of those whome he had before béene beneficiall vnto, that shewed themselues as fréends and louers vnto him, but all forsooke & were readie to saie the worst of him, the archbishop of Dubline excepted, who yet obteined of the king respit for him to make answere vnto such things as should lawfullie be obiected against him, both for the debt which should be due to the king, and also vpon points of treason, which were now laid to his charge. ¶ Wherin we may sée what hath béene the course of the world in former ages touching fréends, who in the spring of a mans felicitie like swallowes will flie about him; but when the winter of aduersitie nippeth, like snailes they kéepe within their shels: wherevnto the poet verie well alluding, saith.

[Sidenote: _Hor. lib. car. 1. od. 35._]

----diffugiunt cadis Cum fæce siccatis amici, Ferre iugum pariter dolosi.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

After this, as the said Hubert would haue gone to S. Edmundsburie in Suffolke, where his wife as then remained, he was apprehended at Burntwood in Essex, within a chappell there (as saith Fabian.) But (as Matthew Paris saith) sir Robert de Cranecombe, with thrée hundred armed men was sent to apprehend him by the kings commandement, and so he was taken in a village belonging to the bishop of Norwich in Essex, and by the kings commandement cast into prison, but yet afterwards he was reconciled to the kings fauour, when he had lien foure moneths in prison, and thirtéene moneths banished the court.

[Sidenote: A subsidie granted in a parlement holden at Lambeth.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 17.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Ranulfe earle of Chester departeth this life.]

[Sidenote: Erle Ranulfe thrice maried.]

[Sidenote: This Clemence was daughter to erle Ferrers.]

In this yeare, on the exaltation of the crosse, at Lambeth, in the assemblie of the states there, a subsidie was granted to the K. of the fortith part of euerie mans goods towards the discharge of his debts which he owght to the earle of Britaine. Also in the beginning of the seauentéenth yeare of his reigne, Ranulfe earle of Chester and Lincolne departed this life the six and twentith day of October, whose bodie was buried at Chester, and his bowels at Wallingford where he died. This earle Ranulfe was thrice married, first to Constance daughter and heire to Conan earle of Britaine and Richmund, and so in right of hir was intituled earle of those two places: which Constance had béene first married vnto Geffrey the third son of king Henrie the second, by whom she had issue Arthur (as before yée haue heard.) But by earle Ranulfe she had no issue at all, but was from him diuorced, and afterwards married vnto Guy vicount de Towars. Then after earle Ranulfe was so diuorsed from the said Constance, he married a ladie named Clemence, and after hir deceasse, he married the third time the ladie Margaret, daughter to Humfrey de Bohun earle of Hereford and Essex, constable of England.

[Sidenote: The partition of his lands.]

Howbeit he neuer had issue by any of those his wiues, so that Iohn Scot his nephue by his sister Mawd succéeded him in the earldome of Chester, and William Dalbenie earle of Arundell, nephue to him by his sister Mabell, had the manour of Barrow, and other lands that belonged to the said Ranulfe, of the yerelie value of fiue hundred pounds. Robert Quincie, he that married his sister Hauisa, had the earledome of Lincolne, and so of a baron became an earle who had issue by his wife, Margerie countesse of Lincolne, that was maried to Edmund Lacie earle of Lincolne. William earle Ferrers and of Darbie, that had married Agnes, sister to the said Ranulfe, had the castell and manour of Chartley, togither with other lands for his pourpart.

[Sidenote: This Roger Lacie is surnamed Helle.]

Here is also to be remembred, that the afore mentioned earle Ranulfe (or Randulfe whether ye list to call him) atchieued manie high enterprises in his time, as partlie in this booke ye haue alreadie heard: he held sore warres against the Welshmen, till at length an agréement was concluded betwixt him and Leolin prince of Wales. I remember I haue read in an old record, that vpon a time as this earle passed into Wales with an armie, his chance was to be ouerset by the Welshmen, so that he was driuen to retire into a castell, wherein the Welshmen did besiege him. And as it fortuned at that time, Roger Lacie the constable of Chester was not then with him, but left behind at Chester to sée the citie kept in order (for as it should séeme, their solemne plaies which commonlie are vsed at Whitsuntide were then in hand, or else their faire which is kept at Midsummer.)

Wherefore the earle sent a messenger in all possible hast vnto his constable, praieng him with spéed to come to his succour in that extreame point of necessitie. Lacie made no delaie, but assembling all the forreners, plaiers, musicians, and others which he could find within that citie fit to weare armor, went foorth with them, and in most spéedie maner marched toward the castell, where the Welshmen kept the earle besieged, who now perceiuing such a multitude of men comming towards them, incontinentlie left the siege and fled awaie. The earle then being thus deliuered out of that present danger, came foorth of the castell, returned with his constable vnto Chester, and in recompense of that seruice, gaue vnto his said constable Roger Lacie, the rule, order, and authoritie ouer all the forreners, plaiers, musicians, and other strangers resorting to Chester at the time, when such publike plaies (or else faire) should be kept & holden.

Iohn Lacie the sonne of the said Roger married Alice the daughter of Gilbert de Aquila, and after hir deceasse, he married the ladie Margaret, the daughter of Robert Quincie earle of Lincolne, of whom he begat Edmund Lacie constable of Chester, which Edmund after the deceasse of his father, married Alice the daughter of the marquesse of Saluces in Italie, which ladie was surnamed the quéene, of whom he begat Henrie Lacie earle of Lincolne, which Henrie married the ladie Margaret, daughter to William Long espée earle of Salisburie, by whom he had two sons, Edmund and Iohn, and two daughters, Alice and Ioan, which Alice Thomas earle of Lancaster married, who claimed and had the same rights and priuileges which ancientlie belonged to the said Roger Lacie, and other the constables of Chester, concerning the fines of forreners and others. ¶ This haue I the more willinglie declared, that it may appeare in what estimation and credit the Lacies constables Chester by inheritance liued in their time, of whose high valiancie, and likewise of other of that familie, highlie commended for their noble chiualrie in martiall enterprises ye may read in sundrie histories at large.

[Sidenote: The earle of Kent kept in prison within the castell of Vées.]

But now to returne and speake of other dooings, which chanced about the time in which the said Ranulfe earle of Chester departed this life. The king in the meane while seized into his hands a great portion of the treasure which Hubert de Burgh earle of Kent had committed to the kéeping of the templers. But whereas there were that trauelled to haue had him put to death, the king in respect of the seruice which he had doone to him and to his predecessors king Richard and king Iohn, granted him life, with those lands which he had either by purchase, or by gift of king Iohn, but neuertheless he caused him to be kept in frée prison at the castell of the Vées, vnder the custodie of foure knights belonging to the earles of Cornewall, Warren, Penbroke, and Ferrers, which foure earles were become suerties for him.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: A great thunder.]

[Sidenote: 1233.]

[Sidenote: A wet summer.]

[Sidenote: Foure sunnes beside the accustomed sun.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: A strange woonder.]

This yeare also about the same time, to wit, the morow after S. Martins daie, chanced great thunder and lightning, which continued for the space of 15 daies togither, to the great terrour and feare of the people, and namelie of the Londoners, which haue that kind of weather so familiar to them, that if there be anie abroad in the land, they haue their part thereof. Moreouer on the 23 of March, was heard an other great and terrible tempest of thunder, and after followed a maruellous wet summer with manie flouds. Also on the 8 daie of Aprill, in the parts about Hereford and Worcester, there appeared foure sunnes in the element, beside the naturall sunne, of red colour, and a great circle of christaline colour, the which compassed with his largenesse as it had béene the whole circuit almost of the whole realme of England, from the sides whereof went foorth certeine halfe circles, in whose sections appeared the said four sunnes. The naturall sunne was at the same time in the east part of the firmament, for it was about the first houre of the daie, or betwixt six and seuen in the morning, the aire being the same time verie bright and cleare. The bishop of Hereford, and sir Iohn Monmouth knight, and manie others beheld this woonderfull sight, and testified the same to be most true. And after this there followed the same yeare in those parts cruell warre, slaughter, terrible bloudshed, & a generall trouble through England, Wales, and Ireland. About the same time, to wit, in Iune, in the south parts of England néere to the sea coast, two huge dragons appeared fighting in the aire, and after a long fight the one ouercame the other, and followed him, fléeing into the depth of the sea, & so they were séene no more.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: The king beginneth to fauour strangers.]

[Sidenote: The bishop of Winchester.]

Moreouer in this yeare great variance and strife rose betwixt the king and his barons, for the king tooke great displeasure against all other his officers, & so much the more mistrusted them, for that he found himselfe deceiued in the earle of Kent, to whom he had committed a further credit than to anie other, and had made him high iustice of England, onelie for the good will that he alwaies bare to him. Therefore perceiuing this, he was doubtfull whom he should trust, discharging the most part of those Englishmen that bare any office about him, and in their roomes placed strangers, as Poictouins and Britains, of the which there came ouer vnto him manie knights and other, to the number of 2000, which he placed in garrisons within castels of diuerse places of the land, and committed the order of all things for the most part to the bishop of Winchester, and to his nephue or sonne Peter de Riuales.

[Sidenote: The earle of Penbroke.]

[Sidenote: Strangers alwaies odious to ye home borne.]

Herwith he offended so much the minds of his Nobles, that Richard Marshall earle of Penbroke (chiefe of that familie, & boldest to speake, now that Ranulfe of Chester was gone) as well in his owne name, as in the names of other, tooke upon him openlie to reprooue the kings dooings herein, as pernicious and dangerous to the state of the realme. Herevnto the bishop of Winchester (whose counsell as it séemed he followed) made answer, that the king had doone nothing in that behalfe vnaduisedlie, but vpon good and déepe consideration: for sith he might perceiue how the English nobilitie had first pursued his father with malicious hatred & open war, and now that he found diuerse of them whom he had brought vp and aduanced to high honours, vnfaithfull in the administration of their offices, he did not without iust cause receiue into his fauour strangers, and preferre them before those of his owne nation, which were not so faithfull in his seruice and obedience as they.

[Sidenote: The lords yt withdrew into Wales.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: The king proclaimed them traitors.]

[Sidenote: Strangers sent for.]

This answer of the bishop so pricked and wounded the minds of the English Nobilitie, that manie of them (amongst whome the said earle of Penbroke was the chéefe) began an open rebellion, some of them resorting to one place, and some to an other, to gather people for their purpose. The names of such barons as stirred vpon this occasion were these; Richard Marshall earle of Penbroke afore named, Gilbert Basset and his brethren, men of great honor and right hardie capteins: also Richard Sward a warlike personage, trained vp in feats of armes from his youth, with Walter Clifford a worthie knight, and manie others. The king hauing knowledge of their dooings proclaimed them all traitors, confiscated their goods, and sent for a great power of men out of Flanders to serue him in his warre.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: The earle of Kent escapeth and taketh sanctuarie.]

[Sidenote: He is fetcht out.]

Whilest king Henrie thus prouided himselfe of an armie, the lords with their capteine Richard Marshall ioined themselues to Leolin prince of Wales, & doubting the comming of the king, spoiled all the marshes next adioining to England, leauing no vittels nor cattell any where about in those parts wherby the kings armie might haue reléefe, and further made all things readie for their owne defense so well as they could deuise. The earle of Kent about the same time, by helpe of two yeomen that attended vpon him, escaped out of the castell of Vées. and tooke sanctuarie in the next church: but when those that had the charge of him and the castell in kéeping, missed him, and heard where he was, they fetcht both him, and the two yeomen that holpe him to make the escape out of the church, and bringing them backe to the castell, imprisoned the earle.

[Sidenote: He is restored to sanctuarie.]

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 18.]

[Sidenote: The earle of Kent rescued and conueied into Wales.]

And though the bishop of Salisburie came thither and threatened to accursse them, if they would not deliuer the earle, and restore him to sanctuarie againe: they made answer, that they had rather the earle should hang for himselfe, than they for him. And so bicause they would not deliuer him, the bishop did excommunicate them, and after riding to the court, and taking with him the bishop of London, and other bishops, preuailed so much by complaint exhibited to the K. that the earle was restored to the church againe the eightéenth day of October: but so, as the shiriffe of the shire had commandement to compasse the church about with men, to watch that no reléefe came vnto him, whereby he might be constreined through famishing to submit himselfe. Notwithstanding, shortlie after there came a power of armed men, and fetcht the said earle from thence (setting him on horssebacke in faire complet armour) and so conueied him into Wales, where he ioined with other of the kings enimies, the thirtith day of October.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: The king entreth into Wales with an armie.]

Within a few daies after came the king with his armie, and entring into Wales, for want of vittels was constreined to retire backe to the marshes, betwixt Worcestershire & Salopshire, where staieng certeine daies togither in those parts, his souldiers straied abroad in the countrie vnaduisedlie, and kéeping no watch nor ward about their campe, were surprised in the night by their enimies, and slaine on euerie side. The slaughter had béene greater, but that the residue which laie in campe, brake foorth about midnight, and in a plumpe togither fled into a castell which was néere at hand, called Grossemound, in the which the king himselfe was lodged. There were slaine aboue fiue hundred men, and all the trusse and baggage of the campe lost. Yet Matthew Paris saith there were but two knights slaine, which cast awaie themselues by their owne wilfulnesse, that would néeds stand to it and make resistance, where the residue being spoiled of all that they had with them, got awaie by flight, as the bishops of Winchester and Chichester, the lord chéefe iustice Stephan Segraue, Peter de Riuales treasurer, Hugh Bigot earle of Norfolke, William earle of Salisburie, William lord Beauchampe, and William Dalbenie the yoonger, who were witnesses of this losse amongst the residue.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: The king returneth out of Wales.]