A chronicle of the Kings of England, from the time of the Romans goverment [sic] unto the raigne of our soveraigne lord, King Charles containing all passages of state or church, with all other observations proper for a chronicle / faithfully collected out of authours ancient and moderne, & digested into a new method ; by Sr. R. Baker, Knight.

Acts done in the c••ntention betweene the King and his Barons.

NOw King Henry very proud to have his younger sonne a King as well as his brother, cals a Parliament, wherein he brings forth his sonne Edmund, clad in Sicilian habit, and ••els the Parli••ment, that for advancing this sonne of his to the

kingdome of Sicilie, he had bound himselfe under covenant of losing his king∣dome in the summe of an hundred and forty thousand Markes, and hoped they would not thinke much to aide him with money for so great an advancement: but the Parliament stood firme to their usuall condition of Margna Charta; so as that might be confirmed, they were content to give two and fifty thousand Marks, but this gave the King no satisfaction. The yeare after, another Parliament is hol∣den at London, wherein upon the Kings pressing them againe for meanes to pay his debts to the Pope; the Lords tell him plainely, they will not yeeld to give him any thing for any such purpose; and give their reasons, and withall repeate their owne grievances, his breach of promise, the insolencie of his brothers, and spe∣cially William de Valence, who had given the lie to the Earle of Leycester, and no right done him in it; and many such things, which the King hearing, and not able to deny, humbles himselfe, and tels them how he had often by ill counsell beene seduced; but promiseth by his Oath which he tooke on the Tombe of Saint Ed∣ward, to reforme all those errours. But the Lords not well knowing how to deale in this businesse, as being divided betweene a desire to satisfie the King, and a desire to be satisfied themselves; and knowing withall the variablenesse of the Kings na∣ture, they get the Parliament to be adjourned to Saint Barnabies day, and then to assemble at Oxford. In which meane time, the Earles Glocester, Leycester, Hereford, the Earle Marshall Bigod, Spenser, and other great men confederate, and provide by Armes to effect their desire: and here is the foundation laid of those bloudy wars that ensued betweene King Henry and his Barons. And now the King being put to his shifts for money, gets the Abbot of Westminster to put his Seale and that of his Covent to a Deed Obligatory, as a surety for two hundred Markes; making ac∣count, that by his example, others would be drawne to doe the like: but his trusty servant Simon Passeleve being imployed to other Monasteries, and telling them a∣mongst other reasons to perswade them, that the King was Lord of all they had, they onely answered; they acknowledged indeed the King to be Lord of all they had, but yet so, as to defend, not to destroy the same: and this was all he could get of them. The Prince also in no lesse want then his Father, is driven to mor∣gage his Towne of Stamford, Brahan, and many other things, to William de Va∣lence, a Poictouin, wherby appeared the disorder of the time, when the Prince was in want, and strangers had such plenty. And now is the Parliament assembled at Ox∣ford, whither the Lords come attended with large traines: and here they beginne with the expostulation of the former Liberties, requiring that the Chiefe Justiciar, the Chancellour and Treasurer may be ordained by publike choyce; and that the twenty foure Conserva••ours of the kingdome may be confirmed, twelve by the election of the Lords, and twelve by the King, with whatsoever else made for their imagined security. The King seeing their strength, and in what manner they required these things; sweares solemnly againe to the confirmation of them, and causeth the Prince to take the same Oath. But the Lords left not here, the Kings brethren, the Poictouins, and other strangers must presently be removed; and this also, though with some little opposition, was at last concluded: and thereupon the Kings brethren and their followers are despoyled of all their fortunes, and ••x∣iled by proscription under the Kings owne hand, directed to the Earles of Hereford and Surrey. But now sicknesse and mortality happening to many great ones, it is imputed to poysons, supposed to have beene prepared by those strangers proscri∣bed; the Earle of Glocester in a sicknesse, suddenly lost his haire, his teeth, his nailes; and his brother hardly escaped death: which made many to suspect their nearest servants, and their Cookes: Walter Scoynie the Earle Steward, is strictly examined, committed to prison, and afterward without confession, is upon pre∣sumptions onely executed at Winchester: Elias a converted Iew, is said to have confessed, that in his house the poyson was confected; but it was when he was a Iew, and not a Christian. Every man that had received any wrong by those stran∣gers, now put up their complaints, and are heard. Guydo de ••••chfort a Poictouin, to whom the King had given the Castle of Rochester, is banished, and all his goods

confiscate. William Bussey, Steward to William de Valence, is committed to the Tower of London, and most reproachfully used. Richard Gray, whom the Lords had made Captaine of Dover Castle, is set to intercept whatsoever the Poictouins convaied that way out of England; and much treasure of theirs, and of the elect of Winche∣ster is by him taken, besides great summes committed to the new Temple are found out, and seised for the King.

And now the new Chiefe Justiciar Hugh Bigod, brother to the Earle Marshall, (chosen this last Parliament by publike voyce) procures that foure knights in every Shire should inquire of the oppressions of the poore, done by great men; and cer∣tifie the same, that redresse might be made. Also order was taken against corrupt∣ing of justice; when yet notwithstanding this pretended care of the publike, it is noted by the Writers and Records of that time, how the Lords were themselves but as ••otidem tyranni, enforcing the services of the Kings tenants that dwelt neare them. But to make their cause the more popular, it was rumored that the King stood upon it, that his necessity must be supplied out of the estates of his people, whether they would or no: which the King hearing, sends forth Proclamation, de∣claring how certaine malitious persons had falsely and seditiously reported, that he meant unlawfully to charge his subjects, and subvert the Lawes and Liberties of the kingdome; and by these false suggestions, averted the hearts of his people from him: and therefore desires them not to give credit to such per••urbers: for that he was ready to defend all Rights and Customes due unto them: and that they might rest of this secured, he caused his Letters to be made Patents. But now Montford Glocester, and Spenser, inforce the King to call a Parliament at London, where they get the authority of the twenty foure to be estated wholly upon themselves, and they alone to dispose of the custody of the Castles, and other businesses of the kingdom: and here they bind the King to lose to them their Legall obedience when∣soever he infringed his Charter. At this time intelligence was given to the Lords, that Richard King of the Rom••ns had a purpose to come into England; and the Lords suspecting he would come with power to aide the King his brother, take or∣der for guarding the Ports, with intent to hinder his landing: but finding his traine to be but small, accompanied onely with his Queene, two German Earles, and eight knights: upon his promise to take their propounded Oath, they admit him to land; but would nether permit the King (who came thither to mee••e him) nor himselfe to enter into Dover Castle. At Canterbury they bring him into the Chapter house, where the Earle of Glocester standing forth in the midst, cals out the Earle, not by the name of King, but Richard Earle of Cornwall; who in reverent manner com∣ming forth, taketh his Oath in these words. Heare all men, that I Richard Earle of Cornwall, doe here sweare upon the holy Evangelists, that I shall be faithfull and diligent to reforme with you the Kingdome of England, and ••e an effectuall Coadju∣tor to expell all Rebels and disturbers of the same; and this Oath will inviolably ob∣serve, under paine of losing all the Land I have in England: so helpe me God. But though this Earle came home but weake and poore, yet upon his returne the King takes heart, and seeks all meanes to vindicate his power: and first sends messen∣gers secretly to Rome, to be Absolved from his enforced Oath; and to have the more assurance from the King of France, he makes an absolute resignation of all his Right to the Dutchy of Normandy, and the Earledomes of Anjou, Poictou, Tourene, and Maine: in regard whereof, the King of France gives him three hun∣dred thousand pounds (some say Crownes) o•• Anjouin money; and gran••s him to enjoy all Guyen, beyond the River Garo••ne, all the Countrey of Xan••oigne to the River of Charente, the Countrey of Limousin and Quercy, for him and his succes∣so••rs, doing their homage to the Crowne of France, as Duke of Aquit••i••e. And now was the King of France made Arbiter of the difference betweene King Henry and his Barons, who gives sentence against the Barons concerning the Provisions at Ox∣ford; but of their side concerning King Iohns Charter: by which nice distin••tion, though he did but leave the matter as he found it: (for those Provisions, as the Lords pretended, were grounded upon that Charter) yet did his sentence draw

many away from the party of the Barons, amongst whom was Henry sonne to the Earle of Cornwall, Roger Clifford, Roger de Leisbourne, Haimo Lestrange, and many others. But the Earle of Leycester, notwithstanding this revolt, recovers the Town and Castle of Glocester; constraines the Citizens to pay a thousand pounds for their redemption; goes with an Army to Worcester, possesseth him of the Castle, thence to Shrewsbery, and so comes about to the Ile of Ely, subdues the same, and growes exceeding powerfull. The King doubting his approach to London, fals to treat of a Peace, and a Peace is concluded upon these conditions; that all the Castles of the King should be delivered to the keeping of the Barons; the Provisions of Ox∣ford should inviolably be kept; all strangers by a certaine time should avoid the kingdome, except onely such as were licensed to stay. The Prince had fortified Windsor Castle; but Leycester comming to besiege it, he treats with him for Peace, which is refused, and the Castle is rendred to him.

The King at this time, to win time, convokes another Parliament at London, wher∣in he won many Lords to take his part; as namely the Prince Richard his brother, Henry his son, William Valence, with the rest of his brothers lately returned, and with them the King marcheth to Oxford, whither divers Lords of Scotland repaire to him; as Iohn Commin, Iohn Baylioll, Lords of Galloway, Robert Bruce, and others: also many Barons of the North; Glifford, Percey, Basset, and others. From Oxford he goes to Northampton, where he tooke prisoners, Simon Montford the younger, with foureteene other principall men; thence to Nottingham, making spoyles of such possessions as pertained to the Barons in those parts. And now the Kings side growes strong, which the Earles of Leycester and Glocester seeing, they write to the King, protesting their loyalty, and how they opposed onely such as were enemies to him and the kingdome, and had belied them. The King returnes answer, that themselves were the perturbers of him and his State, and sought his and the kingdomes destruction; and therefore defies them. The Prince likewise and the Earle of Cornwall send letters of defiance to them. Yet the Barons continue to mediate a Peace, and send the Bishops of London and Worcester, with offer of thir∣ty thousand Markes to the King, for the dammages done in these warres, so as the Statutes of Oxford may be observed; but this offer is not accepted. The Earle seeing no remedy, but it must be put to a day; takes his time to be earlier ready then was expected, and supplies his want of strength with policie, placing on the one side of a hill neare Lewis, where the battell was fought, certaine Ensignes with∣out men, in such sort, as they might seeme a farre off, to be Squadrons of succours to second those he brought to the encounter, whom he caused all to weare white Crosses, both for their owne notice, and the signification of his cause, which he would have to be thought for justice. Here the fortune of the day was his, the King, the Prince, the Earle of Cornwall, and his sonne Henry, the Earles of Arun∣dell and Hereford, with all the Scottish Lords, are taken prisoners; the Eale War∣ren, William de Valence, Guy de Lusignan, the Kings brothers, with Hugh Bigod Earle Marshall, save themselves by flight: five thousand (some say twenty thou∣sand) others are slaine in the battell. A yeare and a halfe is Simon Montford in pos∣session of his prisoners, carrying the King about with him to countenance his acti∣ons, till he had gotten all the strongest Castles in the kingdome.

And now comes Erinnys and sets debabte betweene the two great Earles of Leycester and Glocester, about their Dividend: Leycester is taxed to doe more for his owne particular then the common good; his sonnes also presuming upon his great∣nesse, grew insolent: whereupon Glocester discontented, forsakes that side, and be∣takes him to the Prince; who lately escaping out of the Castle of Hereford, had gotten a power about him to try the fortune of another battell. The revolt of this Earle being great in it selfe, was greater by its example; for now many others revolted likewise: and the Earle of Leycester seeing the improvement of the Prin∣ces forces, who was now with his Army about Worcester, though he ••aw his owne disadvantage, yet imbattels in a Plaine neare Ev••sham to encounter him, and noting the manner of the approach of the Princes Army, said ••o those about him; These

men come bravely on, they learne it not of themselves, but of me; and seeing himselfe likely to be be••et, and overlaid with multitude, he advised his friends, Hugh Spenser, Ralph Basset, and others, to shift for themselves; which when they refused to doe, then (saith he) let us commend our soules to God, for our bodies are theirs: and so undertaking the maine weight of the battell, perished under it•• and with him are slaine, his sonne Henry, eleven Barons, with many thousands of common Souldiers. And thus ended Montford the great Earle of Leycester, highly honoured in his life, and more highly should have beene after his death, if the peo∣ple might have had their will, who talkt of Miracles enough to have made him a Saint.

And now is King Henry by this victory of his sonne, at liberty; who together repaire to Winchester, where a Parliament is convoked, and all who adhered to the Earle Montford are disinherited, and their estates conferred on others, at the Kings pleasure; the Londoners also have their Liberties taken from them. But though the death of Montford gave a great wound to the party of the Barons, yet it was not mortall, at least not mortal presently, for there remained reliques that kept it alive a good while after. Simon and Guy de Montford, sons of the Earle of Leycester, and other of the Barons, take and defend the Ile of Ely: the Castle of Killingworth held out halfe a yeare, till their victuals failed; and then yeelded upon conditions to have their lives and goods saved: and many others there were, resolute and desperate persons, strongly knit and fastned together, though now shortly upon dissolving. For after the Parliament at Westminster, the King with an Army going against them, and being at Northampton, Simon and Guy de Montford submit themselves to him: but when the Earle of Glocester opposed the restoring them to their estates, they were faine to flie the kingdome, and make their fortunes in other Countries, as indeed they did; the younger in Italy, the elder in France, where they were Propa∣tours of two great Families. Their mother was banisht shortly after the battell of Evesham, a Lady of eminent note, as being the daughter and sister of a King; and yet of more note for her patient bearing of adversity, or rather for her making a benefit of adversity; for by this meanes she betooke her selfe to the veile of piety, and died a Nunne at Montarges in France.

Three yeares after this, the disinherited Barons held out, till at length, condi∣tions of render are propounded; but here the Councell are divided in opinion: Mortimer and others stated in the possessions of the disinherited, are against re∣storation; alleadging, it were injustice to take from them the rewards of their ser∣vice. Glocester, and the twelve ordained to deale for the peace of the State, are ear∣nest for restoration; alleadging, it were hard measure to grant them their lives, & not their livelihoods: but not prevailing, in great discontentment Glocester retires from Court, sends messengers to warne the King to remove strangers from his counsell; and observe the Provisions at Oxford, as he promised at Evesham: otherwise that he should not marvell if himselfe did what he thought fit. Hereupon Iohn de War∣ren, Earle of Surrey, and William de Valentia are sent to the Earle of Glocester: who though they could not perswade him to submit to the King; yet thus much they got of him under his hand and seale, that he would never beare Armes against the King or his sonne Edward, but onely defend himselfe, and pursue Roger Mortimer and his other enemies. And now a Parliament is convoked at Bury, wherein many demands are made by the King and the Legat, and all for money from the Clergy; but all denied, that nothing but denials are done in this Parliament. After this, the Legat imployes Solicitours to perswade the disinherited Lords which held the Ile of Ely, to returne to the faith and unity of the Church, and to the peace of the King, according to the forme propounded at Coventry: to which the Lords make answer, that they never opposed the unity of the Church•• but the ••varice of Church-men that were put in authority; and that they never opposed the King, but for the good of the kingdome: and then required that the Provisions of Ox∣ford might be observed, and pledges be given them for their security. Hereupon the yeare after, the King prepares a mighty Army, and Prince Edward with bridges

entring the Ile of Ely, shuts them up so, that he constraines them at last to yeeld; also the Earle of Glocester comming to London with an Army, is by the Legat once againe perswaded to render himselfe to the King, and upon forfeiture of twelve thousand Markes if ever he should raise any commotion againe, is reconciled. Now remaines Lewilin and the Welsh, to be chastened for aiding of Simon Montford; but the King going against them with an Army, they give him two and thirty thou∣sand pounds Sterling, and so make their peace. And here was an end of the first warres betweene the Kings of England and their Barons. The next yeare after the Popes Legat Ottobon signes with the Croysado both the Kings sonnes, Edward and Edmund, the Earle of Glocester, and divers Noble men induced to undertake the Holy warre, by the sollicitation of him and the King of France: who nothwith∣standing his former calamities endured in that action, would once again adventure it: and because Prince Edward wanted meanes to furnish himselfe out, the King of France lends him thirty thousand Markes upon a morgage of Gascoyne. And now whilst this preparation is in hand, King Henry labours to establish the peace of the kingdome, and to reforme the excesses which the warre had bred; and the same yeare assembles his last Parliament at Marleborough, where the Statutes of that title were enacted. Neare two yeeres it seemes to have beene after the under∣taking the Crosse before Prince Edward set forth; but then taking his wife Eleanor with him, though young with childe, he set forward; and in the voyage, when many of his people seemed desirous to leave him•• and returne home, he is said to have strucken his breast, and sworne; that if all his followers forsooke him, he would yet enter Acon, or Ptolemais; though but onely with his horse-keeper Fowin. Shortly after Richard King of the Romans died, and the yeare following King Henry.