His Acts and Troubles after his returning from the Holy Land.

AT his comming home from the Holy Land, the first thing he did; was to give his Lords and people thankes for their faithfulnesse to him in his absence, and then for their readinesse in supplying him for his Ransome. But as for his brother Iohn in whom ungratefulnesse seemed to strive with ambition, which should be the greater in him; he depriveth him of all those great possessions he had given him: some adoe he had to make sound certaine peeces which he had corrupted, as the Castles of Marleborough, Lancaster, and a Fortresse at Saint Michaels Mount in Cornwall; but chiefely the Castles of Nottingham and Tichill, which stood so firm∣ly for Duke Iohn, that they were not reduced to obedience without some bloud, and much expense. But h•s greatest trouble was with Philip King of France, in whom was so ingraffed a spleene against King Richard, that he seemed to be never well but when he was working him some ill. Now therefore King Richard to make it appeare he had not left the Holy War for nothing (having first obtained in Parlia∣ment a Subsidy towards his charges, & caused himselfe to be new Crowned at Win∣chester, lest the people through his long absence might have forgotten they had a King) he departs with a hundred Ships into Normandy; but it was withall, upon this occasion: sitting one day at dinner, in his lit•le Hal (as it was called) news was brought him, that King Philip had besieged Vernoull, with which he was somoved, that he swore a great oath, he would not turne his face till he were revenged: whereupon he caused the wall right before him to be presently beaten downe, that so he might passe forward without turning his face; and thus in haste he goes to Vernoull, whither he was no sooner come, but the King of France made as great haste to be gone, not without some losse, and more disgrace. Here his brother Iohn submits himselfe to him, and with great shew of penitence intreats his pardon, which he readily gran∣ted; saying onely, I wish you may as well remember your fault, as I shall forget it. The King of France having left Vernoull, enters Turonia, and neare to Vindoci∣num pitcheth his Tents; thither King Richard followes him, and with his comming so affrighted him, that leaving bagge and baggage, Munition, Tents, and Treasure to a marvellous valew, he gets him gone, and glad hee was so rid of King Richard. After this a Truce was agreed upon for a yeare, which each of them longed till it were expired, as having no pleasure but in troubling one another. In this time there was a trouble at home, though not to the King, yet to the kingdome: for Ro∣bin Hood accompanied with one little Iohn, and a hundred stout fellowes more, molested all passengers upon the High-way; of whom it is said, that he was of Noble bloud, at least made Noble, no lesse then an Earle, for some deserving ser∣vices: but having wasted his estate in riotous courses, very penury forced him to take this course; in which yet it may be said he was honestly dishonest, for he sel∣dome hurt any man, never any woman, spared the poore, and onely made prey of the rich: till the King setting forth a Proclamation to have him apprehended, it hapned he fell sicke at a certaine Nunnery in Yorkshire, called Birckleys; and desi∣ring there to be let bloud, was betraid, and made bleed to death. Such another trouble, though not to the King, yet to the kingdome, fell out by reason of the Jewes: and first at the Towne of Linne in Norfolke, upon this occasion: A Jew being turned Christian, was persecuted by those of his Nation, and assaulted in the streete; who thereupon flying to a Church hard by, was thither also followed, and the Church assaulted; which the people of the Towne seeing, in succour of the new Christian they fell upon the Jewes, of whom they slew a great number, and after pillaged their houses. By this example the like assaults were made upon the Jews at Stamford; and after that at Lincolne; and lastly at Yorke, where infi∣nite numbers of Jewes were massacred; and some of them blocked up in the Ca∣stle, cut the throats of their wives and children, and cast them over the wals upon the Christians heads, and then burnt both the Castle and themselves: neither could this sedition be staied, till the King sent his Chancellour, the Bishop of Ely, with Page  90 force of Armes, to punish the offenders. His last trouble was a punishment of co∣vetousnesse, for one Guydomer having found a great treasure in the Kings Domini∣ons, and •or feare of King Richard, flying to a Towne of the King of France for his safegard; was pursued by the King, but the Towne denying him entrance, and he thereupon going about the wals to finde the fittest place for assaulting it, one Bertram de Gurdon, or as others call him, Peter Basile, shot at him with a Crosse∣bow, and hit him on the arme, of which wound he died within fo•re dayes after, and so ended all his troubles.