Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden maonachi Cestrensis; together with the English translations of John Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century.

Capitulum quartum.

In the fyftyest yere of kynge Edwardes regne, on Trynyte Sondaye, that yere the eyghte daye of Juyn, deyde the noble Prynce Edward at Kenyngton, and brought to Westmestre, wher he had his obsequye, and fro thens caryed to Caunterburye and there worshipfully beryed besyde saynt Thomas shryne. Aboute this tyme, Bartholus & Baldus, greete doctours of lawe, were in her floures. After the deth of pope Gregory the xj., began the worst scysme that ever was in the chirche, whiche dured xl. yere. For at Rome was Urban the syxthe, chosen by force & strength of the Romaynes. And this dyde the Cardynals for drede, ageynste theyr entente and wyll, therfore they fledde to the cyte Fundorum, saynge hym not to be pope, And chose in his place Robertum de Gebennis the same yere, which was named the seventh Clement. And thus beganne the scysme. In the fyfthe yere the mayre of London Adam Stable was discharged the xxj. day of Marche, and Nicholas Brembre chosen by vertu of a lettre that cam from the kyng. The same yere was a grete parlemente at Westmynstre, in whiche the kynge axyd a grete subsydye, but the Commynes answerd that they myght no lenger bere suche charges, and sayde they knewe wel that the kynge had good ynowgh for hymself and for savyng of his royame yf the royamme were well governed, but it hadde be longe evyl ruled by evyl offycers, that the londe myght not be plentiuous of chaffare, marchaun|dyse ne ryches, & shewyd many complayntes of dyvers officers of the royamme. And namely on the lord Latemer the kynges chamberlayn, and on dame Alyce Pyers, for grete wronges that mysgovernaunce that were done by theyr coun|seylle, desyrynge that they sholde be remevyd, and other putte in theyr stede, suche as were wyse, true, wel proved, and of good governaunce. And soo amonge all other they chees Syre Pyers Delamare, a wyse knyght and eloquent, for to be speker for the commynes. And bycause the same Syre Pyers tolde and publysshed the trouthe, rehersynge the wronges don by dyverse personnes of the kynges hous, anone after the deth of the good prynce Edward he was putte in to perpetuel prysonne. The same yere anone after Candelmasse, durynge the sayd parlement, a subsydye was graunted to the kynge bothe of the clergye and of the temporalyte, that is to saye, of the temporalyte of every persone passynge fourten yere of age he shold have four pens, except poure beggers; And of every man of hooly Chirche benefyced or promoted twelve pens, and vnpromoted foure pens, excepte the four ordres of Freres. The same Rychard, Prynce Edwardys sonne, was made prynce of Wales; And to hym the kynge gafe the Ducherye of Corne|wayle

and the Erldome of Chestre. In the lij. yere of kynge Edwardes regne, the xj. kalendys of Iuyn, the sayd kynge Edward deyde in his maner at Shene, and from thens brought to Westmynstre, and there buryed worshipfully atte southe syde of saynt Edwardes shryne. On whoos soule God have mercy. Amen.