REX Ballivis suis de Colecestria, salutem. Cum occasione Contentionis &* 1.1 discordiae inter Priorem & Conventum de Norwico, & Burgenses nostros, ac Communitatem villae nostrae de Norwico subortae, capi fecerimus in manum nostram eandem Villam de Norwico donec aliud inde ordinaverimus. Vobis mandamus fir∣miter injungentes, quod si aliquos de Burgensibus ejusdem Villae de Norwico in par∣tibus vestris inveniri contigerit, vel per partes vestras transitum faciant, ipsos ar∣restetis, & eorum bona, Catalla & mercimonia in quorumcunque manibus inventa fuerint, sine dilatione capiatis in manum nostram, & ea una cum corporibus ipsorum salvo custodiatis, donec aliud indè praeceperimus. Diligenter etiam inquiri & scru∣tari faciatis, si aliquis de Balliva vestra praedictos Burgenses, seu eorum mercimonia vel alia bona receptaverit, seu ea penes se detineat, & ea omnia quae in hac parte inveneritis & feceritis, distinctè & apertè conscribi faciatis. Ita quod nos certiora∣re, & nos inde respondere possitis ad mandatum nostrum; ita viriliter & diligenter vos habeatis in hac parte, quod fidelitatem & diligentiam vestram merito commen∣dare debeamus. Et ne pro defectu vestri in hac parte dampnum incurramus, propter quod ad vos & omnia bona vestra graviter capere debeamus. Teste ut supra.
Mr. John * 1.2 Fox Relates, that this controversie between the Monks and Citizens of Norwich, fell out about certain Tallages and Liberties, that after much altercation and wrangling words, the furious rage of the Citizens so much increased and prevailed, that so little was the fear of God before their eyes, that altogether they set upon the Abbey and Priory, and burned both the Church and Bishops palace. When this thing was heard abroade, the people were very sorry to hear of so bold and naughty an enterprise, and much discommended the same. At the last King Henry calling for certain of his Lords and Barons, sent them to the City of Norwich, that they might punish and see Execution done on the chiefest malefactors, insomuch as some of them were condemned and burnt, and some were drawn by the heèls with horses through the Streets of the City, and after in much misery ended their wretched lives.
The * 1.3 Continuer of Matthew Paris, and John Speed inform us, that King Hen∣ry as soon as he could, having in his Company the Bishop of Rochester, and the Earle of Gloucester, followed his Justice Thomas Trivet to Norwich, where beholding the deformed ruines of the burned Church totally consumed, he could hardly refrain from tears. The Bishop having therefore excommunicated all who consented to this wickednesse, and the Judge executed the nocent, Next the King condemned the Town in three thousand Marks of silver, to be paid by a day, towards the repa∣ration of the Church so burnt, and also to pay one hundred pound in silver towards the repair of a Cup arising to twenty pounds in Gold. Cum Rex Henricus condignam ultionem Norwicensibus dedisset sacrilegis, (this publick Act of Zeal to Religion and Justice being the last act which he did as a King,) he returning thence towards London, fell grievously sick at the Abbey of St. Edmunds in Suffolke, where after he had in a religious manner prepared his soul, by acknowledging his fins, he rendred up the same to his Redeemer, when he had reigned almost an old mans age, and more years then ever any King of England reigned either before or since, to wit fifty si•• years and twenty dayes. A Prince (writes Speed) whose devotion was greater then his discretioni, as we see in permitting the depredation of himself and his whole Kingdome by Papal overswayings, the error of whose Government concurring with the tumultuous Treasons of his Nobles, did precipitate him into ma∣ny mischiefes▪ out of which God Almighty did strangely deliver him; for if he had not been divinely protected, there is no cause for a reasonable man to doubt, but that his end had proved as headlong, as some of his own and his Barons actions seem∣ed to threaten.