Part 9

[Sidenote: 1237.]

[Sidenote: A subsidie.]

In a parlement holden at Westminster about the octaues of the Epiphanie, the king required a subsidie of his subiects, which request was not verie well taken, but yet at length, vpon promise that he would be good lord vnto them, and not séeke to infringe and disanull the grants which he had made by pretense of want of the popes confirmation (as it was thought he meant to doo) they agréed to giue him the thirtith part of all moueable goods, as well of the spiritualtie as the temporaltie, reseruing yet to euerie man his readie coine, with horsse and armour, to be imploied for the profit of the common-wealth. In consideration of which grant, the king being of perfect age, and in his owne rule and full gouernance, of his frée and méere good will, at the request, and by counsell of the lords of his realme, eftsoones granted and confirmed the liberties and customes conteined in the two charters, the one called Magna charta, and the other Charta de foresta, with this addition following added in the end.

The confirmation of the charters, vnder the kings acknowledgement and subscription of witnesses.

Nvnc autem concessimus, & hac præsenti charta confirmauimus omnibus prædictis de regno nostro, omnes libertates & liberas consuetudines contentas in chartis nostris, quas eis fidelibus nostris fieri fecimus cùm in minori essemus ætate, scilicet in Magna charta nostra, quàm in charta de Foresta. Et volumus pro nobis, & hæredibus nostris, quòd præfati fideles nostri, & successores, & hæredes eorum habeant, & teneant in perpetuum omnes libertates & liberas consuetudines prædictas, non obstante quòd prædictæ chartæ confectæ fuerint cùm minoris essemus ætatis, vt prædictum est, hijs testibus, Edmundo Cant. archiepiscopo, & omnibus alijs in Magna charta nominatis. Dat. per manum venerabilis patris Cicestriensis episcopi, cancellarij nostri 28 die Ianuarij, Anno Regni nostri 21.

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[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

Beside the confirmation of these charters, the king further to win the fauour of his people, was contented to remooue and sequester from him diuerse of his councellours that were thought not to be well minded towards the aduancement of the common-wealth, and in their places to admit the earle of Waren, William de Ferrers, and Iohn Fitz Geffrey, who were sworne to giue to the king faithfull counsell, and in no wise to go out of the right waie for any respect that might otherwise mooue them. ¶ About the first daie of March, there began sore raine and tempestuous weather, whereof insued great flouds, as before in the beginning of the yeare passed, had chanced, though not dooing so much hurt as before.

[Sidenote: Iohn Scot earle of Chester departed this life.]

[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._]

[Sidenote: His sisters.]

Iohn Scot also earle of Chester and Huntington died at Deren hall the seuenth daie of Iune, without issue, and was buried at Chester. He was poisoned by the diuelish practise of his wife daughter to Leolin prince of Wales (as Matt. Paris saith.) He had foure sisters, of whom the first named Margaret was married to Allen of Gallowaie, by whom she had issue a daughter named Deuorgoill; which Deuorgoill was married to Iohn Balioll, by whom she had issue Iohn Balioll that was afterward king of Scotland. The second named Isabell, was married to Robert le Bruis. The third named Mawd, died without issue. And the fourth called Alda, was married to Henrie Hastings. But bicause the land perteining to the earledome of Chester, should not go amongst rocks and distaues, hauing such roiall prerogatiues belonging thereto, the king seized them into his owne hands, and in recompense assigned other lands to the forsaid sisters, as it had béene by way of exchange.

Now sith the earles of Chester (I meane those of the line of Hugh Lupus) tooke end in this Iohn Scot; I haue thought it not impertinent for the honor of so noble a linage, to set downe the descent of the same earles, beginning at the foresaid Hugh the first that gouerned after the conquest, as I haue séen the same collected out of ancient records, according to their true succession in seauen descents one after another, as here followeth.

The true genealogie of the famous and most honourable earles of Chester.

Hugh Lou or Lupus, first earle of Chester after the conquest, nephue to William Conquerour by his sister Margaret, wife to Richard Vicount of Auranches, married a noble ladie named Armetruda, by whom he had issue Richard that succéeded him in the earledome, Robert abbat of saint Edmundsburie, and Otuell. He departed this life about the yéere of our Lord 1102, when he had béene earle about 40 yéeres.

2 Richard Lupus eldest son to Hugh Lupus, and second earle of Chester, married Maud the daughter of Stephan erle of Blois, Charters and Champaigne, and sister to K. Stephan. This Richard with his brother Otuell was drowned in the seas, in the yéere of our Lord 1120, as before hath béene shewed, after he had béene earle about nintéene yeares.

3 Ranulfe or Randulfe the first of that name called Bohun, and otherwise Mestheins, the sonne of John de Bohun, and of Margaret, sister to Hugh Lupus, succéeded Richard, as cousin and heire to him in the earldome of Chester, and was the third earle in number after the conquest. He married Maud the daughter of Auberie de Vere earle of Gisney and Oxenford, by whome he had issue Ranulfe surnamed Geruous the fourth earle of Chester. He died about the yere of our Lord 1130, after he had continued earle eight yeares.

4 Ranulfe or Randulfe Bohun, the second of that name, and fourth erle in number after the conquest, surnamed Geruous, succéeded his father, and married Alice, daughter to Robert erle of Glocester, base sonne to king Henrie the first by whome he had issue Hugh Keuelocke, the fift earle of Chester. He deceassed about the yeare of our Lord 1153, when he had béene earle 29 yeares.

5 Hugh Bohun otherwise Keuelocke, the sonne of the said Ranulfe, was the first earle of Chester after the conquest, and second of that name. He married Beatrice, daughter to Richard Lucie lord chéefe iustice of England, by whom he had issue Ranulfe the third of that name, and foure daughters, Mawd married to Dauid that was earle of Angus and Huntington and lord of Galloway, Mabell maried to William Dalbegnie earle of Arundell, Agnes maried to William Ferers earle of Derbie, and Hauisa ioined in marriage with Robert Quincie, a baron of great honour. This Hugh died about the yeare 1181, when he had béene earle eight and twentie yeares.

6 Ranulfe Bohun the third of that name, otherwise called Blundeuille, the sonne of Hugh Keuelocke, was the sixt earle of Chester after the conquest. He was also earle of Lincolne as next cousine and heire to William Romare earle of Lincolne. He had thrée wiues (as before yée haue heard) but yet died without issue, about the yeare of our Lord 1232, after he had béene earle 51 yeares.

7 Iohn Scot the sonne of Dauid earle of Angus & Huntington, was in the right of his mother the seuenth earle of Chester after the conquest. He died without issue (as before yée haue heard) by reason whereof, the erldome came into the kings hands in the yeare 1237. Thus much may suffice (with that which is said before) touching the descent of the earles of Chester. And now to procéed.

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[Sidenote: Cardinall Otho or Othobon.]

[Sidenote: The lords grudge at the king for receiuing the cardinall without their knowledge.]

The same yeare that Iohn Scot died, cardinall Otho (by some writers named Othobon) about the feast of S. Peter and Paule came into England from pope Gregorie. He was receiued with all honour and solemne reuerence as was decent, yea and more than was decent, the king méeting him at the sea side. His comming was not signified afore to the nobles of the realme, which caused them to mislike the matter, and to grudge against the king, séeing that he did all things contrarie to order, breaking law, faith, and promise in all things. He hath coupled himselfe (said they) in mariage with a stranger, without consent of his fréends and naturall subiects, and now he bringeth in a legat secretlie, who will take upon him to make an alteration in the whole state of the realme.

[Sidenote: The legat praised for his sober behauiour.]

But this legat shewed himselfe a verie sober and discréet person, not so couetous as his predecessors, in so much that he refused diuerse gifts which were offered vnto him, though some he receiued, and indéed commanded the other to be reserued for him. He also distributed liberallie the vacant rents vnto such as he brought with him, as well persons worthie as vnworthie, and pacified such controuersies as were sproong betwixt the nobles and péeres of the realme, so that he made them fréends. ¶ An act memorable & to be kept in record, that the instrument and seruant of so bad a maister as he serued, namelie the pope, should be the procurer of so good a worke: considering that from the sée of Rome full tides and violent streames of seditions haue flowed, and verie seldome any occasion or means made to plant peace among men, which is the daughter of loue, and the worthiest thing that is, as one saith verie well in these words:

Gignit amor pacem, pax est dignissima rerum.

[Sidenote: A tournie at Blie.]

[Sidenote: Earle Bigot.]

The bishop of Winchester, the earle of Kent, Gilbert Basset, Stephan Siward & others were by him accorded, who had borne secret grudge ech to other a long time, which hatred was at point to haue broken foorth, and shewed it selfe in perilous wise at a tornie holden at Blie in the beginning of Lent, where the Southernmen stroue against the Northerne men, and in the end the Southerne men preuailed, and tooke diuerse of their aduersaries, so that it séemed not to be a triumphant iustes, but rather a sharpe challenge and incounter betwixt enimies. But amongst all others, earle Bigot bare himselfe verie stoutlie.

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 22.]

[Sidenote: The legat holdeth a synod at London.]

[Sidenote: 1238.]

[Sidenote: The legat commeth to Oxford.]

[Sidenote: A fraie betwixt the legats men, and the scholers of Oxford.]

After that the legat had thus agréed the noblemen, he assembled a synod at London, the morrow after the octaues of S. Martin, wherein manie ordinances were newlie constituted for the state of the cleargie, but not altogither verie acceptable to diuerse yoong préests and scholers (as some write) in somuch that the legat afterwards comming to Oxford, and lodging in the abbie of Osnie, it chanced as certeine scholers pressed to the gates thinking to come in and doo their dutie (as they tooke the matter) vnto the legat, the porter kept them backe, and gaue them ouerthwart words, wherevpon they rushed in vpon him, & so began a fraie betwixt them and the legats men, who would haue beaten them backe.

[Sidenote: A cookes almes.]

[Sidenote: The legats cooke slaine.]

It fortuned in this hurlie burlie, that a poore Irish scholer being got in néere to the kitchin dresser, besought the cooke for Gods sake to giue him some reliefe: but the cooke (as manie of that calling are cholerike fellowes) in a great furie tooke yp a ladle full of hot broath out of a kettell wherein flesh had béene sodden, and threw it right vpon the Irishmans face, which thing when another Welsh scholer that stood by beheld, he cried out; "What meane we to suffer this villanie," and therewithall tooke an arrow, and set it in his bow, which he had caught vp in his hand at the beginning of the fraie, and drawing it vp to the head let flie at the cooke, and so slue him there outright.

[Sidenote: The legat complaineth to the king.]

[Sidenote: The earle Waren sent to apprehend the offendors.]

Herevpon againe noise and tumult rose round about the house, the legat for feare got him into the belfraie of the abbeie, where he kept himselfe close till the darke of the night had staied the vprore, and then stale foorth, and taking his horsse escaped as secretlie as he could ouer the Thames, and rode with all spéed to the court, which laie not farre off at Abington, and there made his complaint to the king, in such lamentable wise, that he foorthwith sent the earle Waren with a power of armed men, to fetch awaie the residue of the legats seruants which remained behind in the abbeie, and to apprehend the chiefe offenders.

[Sidenote: The legat curseth.]

[Sidenote: The regents of ye Vniuersitie absolued.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor_.]

The earle comming thither, tooke thirtie scholars, with one master Odo a lawier, and brought them to Wallingford castell, and there committed them to prison. The legat also in reuenge of the iniurie in this wise to him doone, pronounced the cursse against the misdooers, and handled the matter in such wise, that the regents and masters of the Vniuersitie were at length constreined to come vnto London, & there to go bare-footed through Cheapeside, vnto the church of S. Paule, in such wise to aske him forgiuenesse, and so with much adoo they obteined absolution. This legat among other things demanded soone after the tenth part of all spirituall mens yearelie reuenues, towards the maintenance of the wars against the Saracens in Asia.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris_. The emperor of Constantinople c[=o]meth into England.]

[Sidenote: The countesse of Penbroke, sister to the king married to Simon de Montford.]

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

Moreouer, the emperour of Constantinople, namelie, Baldwine sonne to Peter earle of Ausserre, being expelled out of his empire, came this yeare into England, to sue for aid: but at his first arriuall at Douer, he was told, that he had not doone well to come so presumptuouslie into the land of another prince, without his safe conduct. But when the said emperour séemed to be sorie for his offense, and to excuse his innocencie and sincere meaning, the king was pacified, & willed him to come to London, where at his comming thither, being the 22 daie of Aprill, he was honorablie receiued, and at his departure with rich gifts highlie honored, so that he had awaie with him to the value of about seuen hundred marks as was reported. About this time also, Elianor the kings sister (that was sometime wife vnto William Marshall earle of Penbroke) was now by the kings meanes married the second time to Simon Montford, a man of high parentage and noble prowesse.

This Simon was indowed with such vertue, good counsell, courteous discretion, and other amiable qualities, that he was highly fauoured as was supposed, both of God and man: in somuch that he might right well, as for birth, so also for education and good demeanour be counted (as he deserued) a notable Noble man, for he was so qualified as standeth with the nature of true nobilitie, according to that of the poet,

----non census, nec clarum nomen auorum, Sed probitas magnos ingeniúmque facit.

[Sidenote: The archbishop of Canturburie displeased with the marriage.]

Notwithstanding all which noble indowments concurring in him, he was banished out of France, vpon displeasure, which Blanch the quéene mother conceiued against him. But now comming into England, he was ioifullie receiued of king Henrie, who not onelie gaue vnto him (as aboue is mentioned) his sister in mariage with the earledome of Leicester in name of a dowrie, but also aduanced him vnto offices of greatest honour within the realme of England. Howbeit, this marriage was verie displesant vnto Edmund the archbishop of Canturburie bicause that the foresaid Elianor, after the death of hir first husband, had vowed perpetuall chastitie, and betaken hir (as was said) to the mantell and the ring.

[Sidenote: He goeth to Rome to c[=o]plaine of the king.]

[Sidenote: The earle of Cornewall is also offended for the same marriage.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

As the prelat was not pleased with this match, so the king was as highlie offended with the archbishop for not fauouring the cause, in somuch that the archbishop went soone after to Rome, where he not onlie complained of certeine iniuries receiued latelie at the kings hands, but also signified the estate of this marriage, to procure a diuorce. In like manner, Richard the kings brother found great fault with the king for the same matter, but chieflie, that he stroke it vp without making him and other of the Nobles of councell therein. To be short, it was not long yer this grudge grew so far, that ciuill war was verie likelie to haue followed thervpon. But when the king saw that all the lords leaned to his brother, he sought to pacifie the matter by courteous means, and so by mediation of the legat, the king and his brother were reconciled, to the great griefe of the lords, which had brought the matter now to that point, that the king could not haue so resisted their force, but that they were in good hope to haue deliuered the realme out of bondage from all manner of strangers, as well of those Romans that were beneficed men, as of anie other.

[Sidenote: The earle of Leicester gathereth monie.]

[Sidenote: He goeth to Rome to get a dispensation or rather confirmation of his marriage.]

Simon the earle of Leicester also perceiuing how the matter went, made shift another waie to get all the monie he could in prest or otherwise (insomuch that he had of one burges of Leicester, named Simon Curleuath, fiue hundred markes) and leauing his wife in the castell of Kelingworth, he secretlie departed out of the realme, and got him to Rome, to purchase a confirmation of his marriage which he easilie obteined, notwithstanding the archbishop of Canturburies former and verie vehement information against him, and so hauing brought his purpose about, in the latter end of this yéere, he returned into England, and was ioifullie receiued, first of the king and after of his wife, whome he found at Kelingworth, néere to the time of hir trauell, and shortlie after deliuered of a yoong sonne, whom they called Simon after the name of his father.

[Sidenote: Aid sent foorth of England to the emperour.]

[Sidenote: Henrie Trubleuille. Iohn Mansell.]

[Sidenote: Wil. Hardell.]

At the same time, Frederike the emperour going into Italie, had a great number of English souldiers with him, which king Henrie furnished for his aid, vnder the leading of a right valiant warriour, named Henrie de Trubleuille, with whome went also Iohn Mansell, whose valiancie in that iournie well appeared, and William Hardell a citizen of London was treasurer and paimaister to the souldiers. Herewith the pope was sore offended, and wrote his mind thereof to the king, who foorthwith returned an eloquent answer, requiring him to be more fauourable to the emperour, considering his cause was such as could not iustlie offend his holinesse. About the same time, or rather (as by some writers it should appeare) somwhat before, the kings sister Ioane quéene of Scotland, comming into England to sée hir brother, fell into a sicknesse, and died.

[Sidenote: The bishop of Winchester departeth this life.]

Moreouer, the archbishop of Canturburie returned into England, who at his comming to Rome, obteined little or nothing touching the suit which he had before the pope, for (as some haue written) the legat Otho being his heauie fréend, had so stopped the popes eares from hearing any of his complaints, that all his whole trauell did come to none effect. In like manner, Peter des Roches bishop of Winchester died this yeare in his manor at Farnham, about the ninth of Iune, which prelat had gouerned that sée about 32 yeares. He was a man of great wisedome and dexteritie in ordering of weightie affaires touching the state of temporall regiment. He builded manie goodlie monasteries, as the abbeies of Hales, Tikborne and Seleborne with the hospitall at Portesmouth. He made also a notable testament, and besides his bequests which were great, he left his bishoprike so stored and throughlie furnished, that there was not so much diminished of that which he found at his comming in value, as the cattell that serued to draw the verie ploughs.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: A naughtie wretch meant to haue destroied the K.]

About this time, a learned esquire, or rather a clearke of the vniuersitie of Oxenford, bearing some malice toward the king, fained himselfe mad, and espieng thereby the secret places of his house at Woodstoke where he then laie, vpon a night by a window he got into the kings bedchamber, and comming to the beds side, threw off the couerings, and with a dagger strake diuerse times into a pillow, supposing that the king had béene there, but as GOD would, that night the king laie in another chamber with the quéene. In the meane time, one of the quéenes chambermaids named Margaret Biset, hauing espied the traitor, made an outcrie, so that the K. seruants which came to vnderstand what the matter meant, presentlie apprehended the said clearke, who being conueied to Couentrie, was there arreigned, and by lawfull proofe had of his malicious intent, was condemned, and executed as a traitor. At his death he confessed, that he was sent from [3] William de Marisch the sonne of Geffrie de Marisch to murther the king by such manner of means, not caring what had become of himselfe so he might haue dispatched his purpose.

[3] Sée his end in pag. 393.

¶ These practises of treason In summo gradu, which cannot be committed without irrecouerable detriment to the whole estate (speciallie where succession is vncerteine) are of an old brewing, though they be neuer so newlie broched. And truelie if the curssed miscreant which vndertaketh an enterprise of this qualitie, had the grace to consider how manie murthers he commiteth by implication in giuing the roiall person of the prince a deadlie wound; I doubt not, if he were a man and not a ranke diuell, he would be weaned from that outragious villanie. For, in wounding and killing the prince, he is guiltie of homicide, of parricide, of christicide, nay of deicide. And therefore a thousand woes light on his hart that shall stretch out his hand, naie that shall once conceiue in thought a murther so heinous, as both God and nature dooth abhorre; speciallie if it be commensed against a christian prince, and such a one as to whome true and vndefiled religion is no lesse pretious and déere than life itselfe. Princes therefore had néed to sée to the safegard of their persons, sithens the safetie of many millians dependeth therevpon. For certeine it is, that the state of a poore priuat man is lesse perillous by manie degrées than the state of a potentat, which is ment by this true allegorie following.

[Sidenote: _Seneca in Octa. & Hippol._]

Quatiunt altas sæpè procellæ, Aut euertit fortuna domos; Minùs in paruis fortuna furit,

[Sidenote: An. Reg. 23. 1239.]

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._]

[Sidenote: Variance betwixt the king and the earle of Penbroke.]

[Sidenote: Simon earle of Leicester fled ouer into France.]