Part 1

Transcriber's Note.

Apparent typographical errors have been corrected. The use of hyphens has been rationalised.

Notices of other books in the series have been moved to the end of the text.

Small capitals have been replaced by full capitals, italics are indicated by _underscores_, and bold font is indicated by +plus signs+.

Superscripts have been removed.

BELL'S ENGLISH HISTORY SOURCE BOOKS

_General Editors_: S. E. WINBOLT, M.A., and KENNETH BELL, M.A.

THE GROWTH OF PARLIAMENT AND THE WAR WITH SCOTLAND (1216-1307)

BY W. D. ROBIESON, M.A. ASSISTANT TO THE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW

LONDON G. BELL AND SONS, LTD. 1914

INTRODUCTION

This series of English History Source Books is intended for use with any ordinary textbook of English History. Experience has conclusively shown that such apparatus is a valuable--nay, an indispensable--adjunct to the history lesson. It is capable of two main uses: either by way of lively illustration at the close of a lesson, or by way of inference-drawing, before the textbook is read, at the beginning of the lesson. The kind of problems and exercises that may be based on the documents are legion, and are admirably illustrated in a _History of England for Schools_, Part I., by Keatinge and Frazer, pp. 377-381. However, we have no wish to prescribe for the teacher the manner in which he shall exercise his craft, but simply to provide him and his pupils with materials hitherto not readily accessible for school purposes. The very moderate price of the books in this series should bring them within the reach of every secondary school. Source books enable the pupil to take a more active part than hitherto in the history lesson. Here is the apparatus, the raw material: its use we leave to teacher and taught.

Our belief is that the books may profitably be used by all grades of historical students between the standards of fourth-form boys in secondary schools and undergraduates at Universities. What differentiates students at one extreme from those at the other is not so much the kind of subject-matter dealt with, as the amount they can read into or extract from it.

In regard to choice of subject-matter, while trying to satisfy the natural demand for certain "stock" documents of vital importance, we hope to introduce much fresh and novel matter. It is our intention that the majority of the extracts should be lively in style--that is, personal, or descriptive, or rhetorical, or even strongly partisan--and should not so much profess to give the truth as supply data for inference. We aim at the greatest possible variety, and lay under contribution letters, biographies, ballads and poems, diaries, debates, and newspaper accounts. Economics, London, municipal, and social life generally, and local history, are represented in these pages.

The order of the extracts is strictly chronological, each being numbered, titled, and dated, and its authority given. The text is modernised, where necessary, to the extent of leaving no difficulties in reading.

We shall be most grateful to teachers and students who may send us suggestions for improvement.

S. E. WINBOLT. KENNETH BELL.

NOTE TO THIS VOLUME

I am indebted to Messrs. MacLehose and Co. for permission to reprint two passages from Sir Herbert Maxwell's translation of the "Chronicle of Lanercost," which appeared in the _Scottish Historical Review_.

W. D. R.

GLASGOW, _January, 1914_

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTION v

DATE

1216. CORONATION OF HENRY III. _Roger of Wendover_ 1

1217. THE FAIR OF LINCOLN _Annals of Dunstable_ 2

1217. THE BATTLE OF SANDWICH _Histoire des Ducs_ 4

1217. WHY LOUIS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN ENGLAND _Canon of Barnwell_ 5

1217. CHARTER OF THE FOREST _Statutes of the Realm_ 5

1223. A WRESTLING-MATCH AND DISTURBANCES IN LONDON _Annals of Dunstable_ 9

1224. THE COMING OF THE FRIARS _Monumenta Franciscana_ 10

1224. THE RULE OF ST. FRANCIS _Monumenta Franciscana_ 13

1226. PAPAL DEMANDS FOR PREBENDS _Roger of Wendover_ 16

1227. HENRY ANNULS THE GRANTS MADE DURING HIS MINORITY _Roger of Wendover_ 18

1232. ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HUBERT DE BURGH _State Trials_ 19

1233. THE POITEVIN INVASION _Roger of Wendover_ 21

1238. THE PAPAL LEGATE AT OXFORD _Matthew Paris_ 23

1240-44. PAPAL EXACTIONS _Matthew of Westminster_ 25

1242. THE ENGLISH IN FRANCE _Matthew of Westminster_ 27

1248. THE KING VEXES HIS SUBJECTS _Matthew Paris_ 32

1249. A CHANGE OF RULER IN SCOTLAND _John of Fordun_ 34

1253. THE MISDEEDS OF THE SENESCHAL CHRONICON OF GASCONY _Thomæ Wykes_ 35

1254. IRELAND GRANTED TO EDWARD _Historical Documents (Ireland)_ 37

1254-57. THE SICILIAN CROWN _Matthew Paris_ 37

1258. EXPULSION OF THE POITEVINS _Annals of Waverley_ 40

1258. KING CONSENTS TO ELECTION OF TWENTY-FOUR _Rymer's Fœdera_ 41

1258. PROVISIONS OF OXFORD _Annals of Burton_ 42

1261. HENRY REPUDIATES THE PROVISIONS _Matthew of Westminster_ 48

1263. QUEEN INSULTED BY THE LONDONERS _William Rishanger_ 50

1263. THE BATTLE OF LARGS _Androw of Wyntoun_ 50

1264. THE MISE OF AMIENS _Rymer's Fœdera_ 52

1264. THE BATTLE OF LEWES _Continuation of Paris_ 53

1264. VIEWS OF THE KING AND BARONS CONCERNING THE GOVERNMENT OF ENGLAND _The Song of Lewes_ 56

1264. THE MISERIES OF CIVIL WAR _Chronicon Thomæ Wykes_ 59

1264. DE MONTFORT'S SCHEME OF GOVERNMENT _Rymer's Fœdera_ 60

1265. THE EVESHAM CAMPAIGN _Continuation of Paris_ 62

1265. CHARACTER OF DE MONTFORT _Continuation of Paris_ 64

1266-67. THE DISINHERITED IN ELY _Chronicon Thomæ Wykes_ 65

1270-72. EDWARD IN THE EAST _Continuation of Paris and Matthew of Westminster_ 68

1272. PARLIAMENT ARRANGES FOR THE INTERREGNUM _Annals of Winchester_ 71

1272. CHARACTER OF EDWARD I. _Nicholas Trivet's Annals_ 72

1277. ACQUISITION OF WALES _Matthew of Westminster_ 73

1278. DISTRAINT OF KNIGHTHOOD _Parliamentary Writs_ 74

1278. EARL OF WARRENNE'S TITLE TO HIS LANDS _Walter of Hemingburgh_ 75

1279. STATUTE OF MORTMAIN _Statutes of the Realm_ 75

1281-82. REBELLION IN WALES _Annals of Dunstable and Oseney_ 77

1285. STATUTE OF WINCHESTER _Statutes of the Realm_ 80

1286. GOOD GOVERNMENT OF ALEXANDER III. _Book of Pluscarden_ 84

1286. POPULAR SONG ON THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER III. _Androw of Wyntoun_ 86

1290. EXPULSION OF THE JEWS _Walter of Hemingburgh_ 86

1292. BALLIOL DOES HOMAGE TO EDWARD _Nicholas Trivet's Annals_ 88

1293. OUTBREAK OF WAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE _Walter of Hemingburgh_ 89

1295. WRITS OF SUMMONS TO PARLIAMENT _Report on Dignity of a Peer_ 92

1295. EVIL PRIESTS CAUSE THE PEOPLE'S RUIN _Chronicle of Lanercost_ 94

1296. THE VOYAGE OF KYNGE EDWARDE _Archæologia_ 95

1296. THE SIEGE OF BERWICK _Chronicle of Lanercost_ 99

1296. OPPRESSION OF SCOTLAND BY THE ENGLISH _Barbour's Bruce_ 100

1296-97. POPE FORBIDS THE TAXATION OF THE CLERGY _Walter of Hemingburgh_ 101

1297. NOBLES REFUSE TO GO TO GASCONY WITHOUT THE KING _Walter of Hemingburgh_ 105

1297. WILLIAM WALLACE _Book of Pluscarden_ 107

1297. CONFIRMATION OF THE CHARTERS _Walter of Hemingburgh_ 110

1298. BATTLE OF FALKIRK _Walter of Hemingburgh_ 113

1299-1303. SCOTLAND AFTER FALKIRK _Book of Pluscarden_ 116

1306. BRUCE CROWNED KING OF SCOTLAND _Nicholas Trivet's Annals_ 119

1307. DEATH OF EDWARD I. _Walter of Hemingburgh_ 119

1307. EPITAPH OF EDWARD I. 120

THE GROWTH OF PARLIAMENT AND THE WAR WITH SCOTLAND (1216-1307)

THE CORONATION OF KING HENRY III. (1216).

+Source.+--_Roger of Wendover_, vol. ii., pp. 379-380. (Bohn's Libraries.)

After the death of King John, on the eve of the day of the Apostles Simon and Jude, an assembly was convened at Gloucester in the presence of Gualo, the legate of the Apostolic See, at which there were present Peter, Bishop of Winchester, Silvester, Bishop of Worcester, Ralph, Earl of Chester, William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, William, Earl of Ferrers, John Marshal, and Philip d'Albiney, with abbots, priors, and a great number of others, to arrange for the coronation of Henry, the eldest son of King John. On the day following, all preparations for the coronation having been made, the legate, in company with the Bishops and nobles aforesaid, conducted the King in solemn procession to the conventual church to be crowned; and there, standing before the great altar, in the presence of the clergy and people, he swore on the Holy Gospels and other reliques of the saints that he would observe honour, peace, and reverence towards God and Holy Church and its ordained ministers all the days of his life; he also swore that he would show strict justice to the people entrusted to his care, and would abolish all bad laws and customs, if there were any in the kingdom, and would observe those that were good, and cause them to be observed by all. He then did homage to the Holy Church of Rome and to Pope Innocent for the kingdoms of England and Ireland, and swore that, as long as he held these kingdoms, he would faithfully pay the thousand marks which his father had given to the Roman Church. After this, Peter, Bishop of Winchester, placed the crown on his head, and anointed him King with the usual ceremonies of prayer and chanting observed at coronations. After mass had been performed, the Bishops and knights above-mentioned clothed the King in royal robes, and conducted him to table, where they all took their seats according to their rank, and feasted amidst mirth and rejoicing. On the following day, the King received the homage and fealty of all the Bishops, Earls, and others present, and they all promised faithful allegiance to him. Henry was crowned in the tenth year of his age, on the day of the Apostles Simon and Jude, which was the 28th day of the month of October.

THE FAIR OF LINCOLN (1217).

+Source.+--_Annals of Dunstable_, pp. 49-50. (_Annales Monastici_, vol. iii.--Rolls Series.)

Meanwhile the Earl of Chester laid siege to the Castle of Mount Sorel with the King's army; but the Barons, who had been delaying in London, set out with the Count of Perche, the Marshal of France, and a thousand men, granted to them by Louis, and proceeded innocently enough as far as Dunstable, but thereafter devastated everything, sparing not even widows and churches. They forced the Earl to raise the siege of the above-mentioned castle, and then, after changing its garrison, and renewing its stock of provisions, they continued on their way to Lincoln, where, joining Gilbert de Gaunt and other Barons there present, they besieged the Castle of Lincoln, which was gallantly defended by a noble lady, Nicola by name. But some days afterwards, the legate, with William Marshal and the Bishops, Earls, and other partisans of the King, wearing white crosses on the breasts of their tunics reached Newark in pursuit; the legate advanced no further, but delegated to the Bishop of Winchester his duties of absolving the loyal subjects of the King from their sins, and of encouraging them to make a bold stand. When the King's party approached Lincoln from the west, the Barons who were within drew up their line of battle and placed their scaling-ladders outside the city on the west side; but when they perceived the Royalists coming on with a powerful force, they adopted some coward's base counsel, and began to retreat within the city, being pursued by the royal army up to the gate and walls which give on the north. A brave knight, Fawkes de Breauté, who had been admitted by a guard into the castle through the postern gate, assaulted the Barons in the rear; whereupon they, seeing themselves attacked from both sides, left the walls, and descending towards Wigford, turned their weapons against Fawkes. But Simon de Peschi, with Henry Braybrook and eighty thousand Frenchmen, fled, and proceeded to London by way of Lynn and St. Edmunds.

Meanwhile the royal troops entered the city from every side, and, coming up with the Count of Perche defending himself gallantly in a churchyard, killed him, having first put his horse to death. Then the citizens, seized with panic, took to flight and perished in great numbers in the rivers. All the Barons were taken prisoners, one after another, and the city was given over to plunder, the victors even despoiling the churches, heedless of the divine favours bestowed on them. Many foot soldiers, also--Frenchmen especially--were seized here and there as they fled towards London and put to death by the peasants. Those who were taken became the prisoners of their captors; of these, all, except a few who delayed paying any penalty until peace was signed, ransomed themselves. Louis, when he heard what had happened to his men at Lincoln, burned his huts and gave up the siege (of Dover); then he came to London, and sent to France for reinforcements.

THE BATTLE OF SANDWICH (1217).

+Source.+--_Histoire des ducs de Normandie et des rois d'Angleterre_, pp. 200-202. (Société de l'Histoire de France.)

On S. Bartholomew's Day there set out from Calais my Lady Blanche's folk; and they went sailing towards the mouth of the Thames. Twenty-four ships had she begged, both great and small; of the ten great ones, all of which were fully manned, four were filled with knights, and six with sergeants; in the other smaller ships were the armour and the stores. Into Eustace the Monk's vessel entered Robert de Courtenay, and Eustace the Monk with him, and Raoul de la Tournelle, the good knight, who afterwards was killed in the service of God before the city of Toulouse, and William des Barres, the young son of William des Barres, the good knight and the well-disposed, and Neville de Canle, the son of the Bailiff of Arras, and other knights, so that their number was thirty-six in all. In the second of the ships filled with knights was Michus de Harnes, and in the third the Castellan of St. Omer; the fourth was that of the Mayor of Brittany, and into it many knights entered. The six ships for the sergeants were well manned and fit for battle. When they came nigh unto the Isle of Thanet, the Royalists who were assembled at Sandwich saw them, and entering straightway into eighteen great ships which they had ready, and several boats, came against them. Hubert de Burgh himself put out to sea, and Richard, the King's son, and several other knights; but the Earl of Warrenne did not embark; nevertheless, he kept watch over one ship of knights and men-at-arms, in which was his standard. The English so sailed as to attack the French rear. The ship wherein were the men of the Earl Marshal attacked firstly Eustace the Monk's ship, where was Robert de Courtenay, and very stoutly they fought. So fierce was the contest that four other ships came to aid the Earl's men; then was Eustace the Monk's vessel surrounded on all sides. Boldly the English assailed them, casting stones and lime, so that they blinded them all. So severely they attacked that they took them by force. Then there was captured Robert de Courtenay, who was uncle of the Queen.... William des Barres was taken with him, and Raoul de la Tournelle, and Neville d'Arras, and all the knights who were in that vessel. Eustace the Monk had his head cut off by one of the sailors called Stephen Trabe, who had long held him in great hate. None of the other great ships were taken, for they saved themselves by flight; but many of the smaller vessels were destroyed and great slaughter made of them who were captured. What more need I say? Great discomfiture the French had; long were they chased by the English, who then retired to Sandwich with their booty, which was very great. The knights were thrown into deep prisons, and Eustace the Monk's head was fixed on a lance, and carried in procession to Canterbury and through the countryside. This battle took place on Thursday, S. Bartholomew's Day, and the news was brought to London on the Saturday, very late in the evening, to Louis, who was exceeding wroth thereat, as was but natural.

WHY LOUIS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN ENGLAND.

+Source.+--_The Canon of Barnwell's Continuation of Hoveden_, p. 239. (Rolls Series.)

It was a miracle that the heir of the King of France, after having come to England with so great a number of armed men, and having obtained possession of so large a part of the kingdom, departed, or, I should rather say, was expelled, so speedily with all his men, and without hope of recovery. The reason is clear--that the hand of God was not with him, since he came in defiance of the prohibition of the Roman Church, and remained here under the ban of its anathema.

THE CHARTER OF THE FOREST (1217).

+Source.+--_Statutes of the Realm-Charters of Liberties_, pp. 20-21.

Henry, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, and Earl of Anjou, to the archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, justiciars, foresters, sheriffs, reeves, officers, and all his bailiffs and loyal subjects, greeting.

Know that, looking to God and for the salvation of our soul, and the souls of our ancestors and successors, for the good of Holy Church, and the betterment of our kingdom, we have granted and by this our present charter confirmed ... the under-mentioned liberties to be observed in our kingdom of England for ever:

(1) First, all the forests created by King Henry our grandfather are to be inspected by good and lawful men, and if he shall be found to have made into a forest any woods other than those of his own demesne, to the detriment of the owner thereof, they shall be disforested. And if he has made his own demesne into a forest, let it remain so, saving common of herbage[1] and other rights in such a forest to those accustomed to enjoy them.

(2) Men dwelling outside a forest shall not for the future appear before our forest justiciars on a common summons, except they be impleaded, or be pledges for someone attached for forest offences.

(3) All woods made into forest by King Richard our uncle or King John our father up to the day of our first coronation, are to be immediately disforested, except our demesne woods.

(4) Archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, knights, and freeholders, who have woods in our forests shall hold them as they held them at the time of the first coronation of King Henry our grandfather, so that they shall be quit for ever of purprestures,[2] wastes, and assarts,[3] made in these woods from that date up to the beginning of the second year after our coronation. And those who for the future shall make purprestures, wastes, and assarts, shall answer to us for them.

(5) Our reguardors shall perambulate the forests to make the reguard[4] as they were accustomed to do in the time of the aforesaid King Henry our grandfather and not otherwise.

(6) An inquisition or view of the expeditation of dogs in the forests shall for the future take place at the same time as the reguard--_i.e._, every third year; and then the inquisition shall be made by view and testimony of lawful men and not otherwise. And he whose dog shall be found without the claws cut shall pay as a penalty three shillings; and for the future no oxen shall be taken as a fine. And the expeditation shall be such that three toes shall be removed from the forefeet without injuring the ball of the foot; nor shall dogs have their claws cut except in those places where it was customary at the time of the first coronation of King Henry our grandfather.

(7) No forester or bailiff shall for the future make a forced contribution, or seize any corn or hay, or lambs or pigs, or make any levy; and by the view and oath of the twelve reguardors when they make the reguard, a reasonable number of foresters shall be appointed to keep the forests.

(8) No swanimote shall be held for the future in our kingdom save three times in the year--viz., a fortnight before Michaelmas when the agistors meet to agist[5] our demesne woods; at Martinmas when our agistors receive our pannage; and to these two swanimotes shall come foresters, verderers,[6] and agistors, and no others by distraint; and the third swanimote shall be held a fortnight before the feast of S. John the Baptist, before the period of the fawning of the deer, and to that swanimote shall come foresters and verderers and no others by distraint. Further, the verderers and foresters shall meet every forty days throughout the whole year to review the forest attachments, both of venison and of vert,[7] on the presentation of the foresters themselves and in the presence of those attached. And the aforesaid swanimotes shall not be held except in the accustomed counties.

(9) Every freeman may agist his own woods in the forest and have his own pannage.[8] We grant further that every freeman may take his own swine through our demesne woods, freely and without hindrance, to agist them in his own woods or where else he will. And if the swine of any freeman remain one night in our forest, the freeman shall not be accused thereof to his detriment.

(10) No one for the future shall lose life or limb on account of our hunting, but if any one be arrested and convicted of the taking of venison he shall pay heavily therefor, if he have whence he may pay; if he have not whence he may pay, let him lie in our prison for a year and a day; and if after a year and a day he can find pledges, let him depart from prison; but if not, let him abjure the kingdom of England.

(11) Any archbishop, bishop, earl, or baron passing through our forest, may take one or two beasts, in presence of the forester, if he should be at hand; if not, let a horn be blown, lest he should seem to take the beasts by stealth.

(12) Every freeman for the future may freely make in his own woods or in any land he has in the forest, mills, places for live stock, ponds, limepits, ditches, or ploughland outside the covert on the arable land, provided it be not to the hurt of any neighbour.

(13) Every person may have in his woods eyries for hawks, sparrows, falcons, and eagles, and heronries; he may likewise have any honey he finds in his woods.