the nūber of xl But by the waye howe it happened I cannot saye As Austen with his company were passing in theyr iourney such a sodaine feare entred in their harts that as Antonius saith they returned all Other write that Austen was sent backe to Gregory againe to release them of that viage so daungerous and vncertaine amongst such a barberous people whose language neither they knewe nor whose rudenes they were able to resist Thē Gregory with pithy perswasions confirming and comforting him sent him againe with letters both to the Bishop of Arelalensis willing him to helpe and aide the said Austen and his company in all whatsoeuer his neede required Also other letters he directed by the foresaid Austine vnto his fellowes exhorting them to go foreward boldly in the Lords work as by the tenour of the said Epistle here followyng maye appeare Gregorius seruus seruorum Dei seruis Domini nostri Quia melius fuerat bona non incipere quam ab ijs quae coepta sunt cogitatione retrorsum redire c. In Englishe Gregory the seruaunt of Gods seruaunts to the seruaunts of the Lord. Forasmuch as it is better not to take good things in hande then after they be begon to thinke to reuolt backe from the same againe therefore now you may not nor cannot deare children but with all feruent study and labor must needes go forward in that good busines which through the helpe of God you haue wel begunne Neither let the labor of your iourney nor the slanderous tounges of men appalle you but that with all instaunce and feruency yee proceede and accomplish the thing which the Lorde hath ordeyned you to take in hande knowing that your great trauell shal be recompensed with rewarde of greater glorye hereafter to come Therefore as we sende here Austen to you againe whom also we haue ordeined to be your gouernour so doe you humblye obey him in all thinges knowing that it shall be profitable so for your soules whatsoeuer at his admonition yee shall doe Almighty God with his grace defend you and graunt me to see in the eternall country the fruite of your labour that although I can not labour as I woulde wyth you yet I may be found pertaker of your retribution for that my will is good to labour in the same felowship with you together The Lord God keepe you safe most deare and welbeloued children Dated the x before the Calendes of August in the raigne of our soueraigne Lord Mauritius most vertuous Emperour the .xiiij. of his Empire Thus they emboldened comforted through the good wordes of Gregory sped foorth their iourney till they came at length to the I le of Thene◠lying vpon the East side of Kent Neare to the which landing place was then the Manory or palace of the king not farre from Sandwiche Eastward from Caunterbury which the inhabitauntes of the Isle then called Richbourgh whereof some part of the ruinous walles is yet to be sene The king then raigning in Kent was Ethelbert as aboue appeareth the fifte King of that prouince who at that time had Maried to wyfe a French woman beyng Chrystened named Berda whom he had receiued of her parents vpon this conditiō that he shoulde permitte her with her Bishop committed vnto her called Lebardus to enioye the freedome of her fayth and Religion by the meanes whereof he was more flexible and sooner induced to embrace the preachyng and doctrine of Christ. Thus Austen beyng arryued sent foorth certayne messengers and interpreters to the Kyng sygnifying that such a one was come from Rome brynging with hym glad tydinges to him and all his people of lyfe and saluation eternally to reygne in heauen with the onely true and lyuing God for euer if he would so willingly harken to the same as he was gladly come to preache and teach it vnto him The King who had heard of this Religion before by meanes of his wife within a few daies after commeth to the place where Austen was to speake with him but that shoulde be without the house after the maner of his lawe Austen against his cōming as stories affirme erected vp a banner of the crucifixe such was then the grosenes of that tyme and preached to him the word of God The Kyng aunswering againe saith in effect as followeth the words be very faire that you preach and promise Neuerthelesse because it is to me vncoth and new I can not soone starte away from my country law wherwith I haue bene so lōg inured and assent to you Albeit yet notwithstanding for the ye are come as ye saye so farre for my sake ye shall not be molested by me but shall be rightwell intreated hauing al thinges to you ministred necessarye for your supportatiō Besydes this neither doe we debarre you but to haue fre leaue to preach to our people and subiects to conuert whō ye may to the faith of your Religion When they had receaued this comfort of the king they went with procession to the Citie of Dorobernia or Caunterbury singyng Alleluya with the Letanie which then by Gregory had beene vsed at Rome in the time of the great plague reigning thē at Rome mentioned in old histories The wordes of the Letany were these Deprecamur te Domine in omni misericordia tua vt auferatur furor tuus ira tua a ciuitate ista de domo sancta tua quoniam peccauimus Alleluya That is We beseech thee O Lorde in all thy mercyes that thy fury and anger maye cease from this Citie from thy holy house for we haue sinned Alleluya Thus they entryng in the Citie of Dorobernia the head Citie of all that dominion at that time where the king had gyuen them a mansion for there abode there they contynued preaching and baptising such as they had conuerted in the east side of the Citty in the old church of S. Martine where the Queene was woont to resorte vnto the time that the kyng was conuerted himselfe to Christ. At length when the king had wel cōsidered the honest conuersation of their life and moued with the myracles wrought through gods hand by thē he heard them more gladly and lastly by their wholsome exhortations and example of godly life he was by them conuerted and christened in the yeare aboue specified 586. and the 36. yeare of his reigne After the King was thus conuerted innumerable other daily came in were adioyned to the Church of Christ whom the King did specially embrace but cōpelled none for so he had learned that the faith and seruice of Christ ought to be voluntary and not coacted Then he gaue to Austen a place for hys Byshops sea at Christes Church in Dorobernia builded the Abbey of Saint Peter and Paule in the East side of the sayde Citie where after Austen and all the Kinges of Kent were buried and that place is now called S. Austen In this
in the desert of Scythia who sent ij of hys Nouices with figs vnto one that was sicke in the wildernes 18. miles off from the Church It chaunced these two yong Nouices missing the way wandered so long in the wild forest or wildernes and could not find the Celie that for emptines and wearines they waxed faint tired And yet rather would they die then tast the figs committed to them to cary and so dyd for shortly after they were found dead their figges lying whole by them An other story he also reciteth of two Monasticall brethren who making their progresse in the desert of Thebaide purposed with theÌ„selues to take no sustenance but such as the Lord should minister himselfe vnto them It happened as they were wandering desolate in the desert and faynting almost for penury certayne Mazices a kinde of people by nature fearce and cruel notwithstanding being sodenly altered into a new nature of humanitye came forth and of their owne accord offered bread vnto them Which bread the one thankfully receaued as sent of God The other as counting it sent of man and not of God refused it and so for lacke perished Hereunto might I also annexe the story of Mucius who to declare his obedience did not sticke at the commaundement of his Abbot to cast his sonne into the water not knowing whether any were appointed there ready to rescue him from drouning so far were the Monkes in those dayes drouned in superstition What is this but for mans traditions and commaundements to transgresse the commaundement of God which saith Thou shalt do no murther Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God What man is so blynd that seeth not by these infinite examples mo what pernitious superstition hath begun by reason of this Monkery almost from the beginnyng to creepe into the Church Wherfore I cannot maruell inough seeyng that age of the Church had in it so many learned and famous Doctors who not onely did approue and allow these monasticall sectes of life but also certaine themselues were the authors and institutors of the same yea and of mens traditions made the seruice of God In number of whome may be reckoned Basilius Magnus Nazianzenus who with immoderate austeritie did so plucke downe themselues that when they were called to the office of Bishops they were not able to sustaine the labour therof After these foresayd monkes of that time aboue recited followed other Monkes of the middle age of the Church who as in multitude so also in superstition increasing began by little and little from their desolate dens in the vaste wildernes to approch more neare to great towns where they had solemne Monasteries founded by Kinges and Queenes and kings daughters and other rich Consuls as is partly before touched And the causes also touched withall for the which they were first founded as these pro remedio animae meae pro remissione peccatorum meorum pro redemptione peccatoruÌ„ meorum pro salute regnorum quique meo subiacent regimini populorum In honorem glorlosae virginis c. For all these impious and erroneous titles and causes we finde alleaged in storyes as in Malmes beriensis Iornalensis Henricus and other moe In which histories I also note that the most part of these foresayd monasteries were erected first vpon some great murther either by war in the field or priuately committed at home as shall well appeare to them which read the bookes whom I haue alledged But to returne to our Monks agayn who as is sayd first began to creepe from the cold field into warme townes and cloysters from townes then into citties and at length from their close cellors and citties vnto Cathedrall Churches as here appeareth by this storye of King Edgar where not onely they did abound in wealth and riches especially these Monkes of our latter tyme but much more did swimme in superstition and Pharisaicall hipocrisie beyng yoked and tied in all their doings to certaine prescript rules and formal obseruances in watching in sleeping in eating in rising in praying in walkyng in talking in looking in tasting in touching in handling in their gestures in their vestures euery maÌ„ apparailed not as the proper condition of other would require nor as the season of the yeare did serue but as the coacted rules order of euery sect did inforce them The number of which sectes was infinitely diuers some after Basilius rule went in white some after Benets rule in blacke some CluniaceÌ„sis first set vp by Otho in the tyme of this king Edgar wearing after the rule of Benets order some after Hieroms rule leather girdled and coped aboue their white coate some Gregorians copper coloureâ— Some de valle vmbrosa graye Monkes Some Grandâ—montenses wearing a coate of mailes vpon theyr bare bodyes with a black cloake therevpon Some Cistercianes who had white rochets on a blacke coate Some Celestines all in blew both cloake coule and cap Some Charter Monkes wearing hearecloth next their bodyes Some Flagellants going barefoot in long white linnen shirtes with an open place in the backe where they beat themselues with scourges on the bare skinne euery day before the peoples eyes till the bloud ranne downe saying that it was reuealed to them by an Angell that in so scourging themselues within 30. dayes and 12. houres they should bee made so pure from sinne as they were wheÌ„ they first receiued baptisme some starred Monkes Some Iesuites with a white girdle a russet coule Briefely who can recken vp the innumerable sectes and disguised orders of their fraternities Some holding of S. Benet some of S. Hierome Some of S. Basill Some of S. Barnard Some of S. Bridget Some of S. Bruno Some of S. Lewes as though it were not enough for Christen men to holde of Christ onely so subiect were they to seruile rules that no part of Christen liberty remayned among them So drowned and sunck in superstition that not onely they had lost Christes religion but also almost the sense and nature of men For where men naturally are and ought to be ruled by the descrete gouernment of reasoÌ„ in all outward doynges wherein no one rule can serue for all men the circumstaunce of tyme place person and busines being so sundry and diuers Contrary among these not reason but onely the knock of a bell ruled all their doinges their rising their sleeping theyr praying their eating their comming in their going out their talking their sileÌ„ce altogether like insensible people either not hauing reason to rule themselues or els as persons vngrateful to God neyther enioyning the benefite of reason created in them nor yet vsing the grace of Christes libertie wherunto he redemed them Thus thou seest gentle Reader sufficiently declared what the monkes were in the primitiue time of the Church what were the Monkes of the middle age and of these our latter dayes of the church Wherunto ioyne
vnto him an army and so landed at Hampton to the intent to haue expulsed his brother from the kyngdom But William Rufus hearing thereof sent to him sayre and gentle wordes promising him deditiō and subiection as to the more worthy and elder brother this thing onely requiring that seeyng he was now in place and possession he might enioy it during his life paying to him yerely iii. thousand markes with condition that which of them ouerlyued the other should enioy the kingdome The occasion of this variance betwene these brethren wrought a great dissentiō among the Normaine Lordes and Bishops both in England in Normandy In so much that all the Normain bishops within the realm almost rebelled against the king takyng part with Duke Robert except onely Lanfrancus and Wolstane Bishop of Worcester aboue mentioned an English man who for his vertue and constancie was so wel liked and fauoured of his citizens that emboldned wyth his presence prayer they stoutly maintained the City of Worcester agaynst the siege of their enemies at last vanquished them wyth vtter ruine But Duke Robert at length by the aduise of his counsaile hearing the wordes sent vnto him and wagging his dead thereat as one conceiuing some matter of doubt or doublenes was yet content to assent to all that was desired so returned shortly after into Normandy leauing the bishops and such other in the briers which were in England taking his part against the kyng This Rufus was so ill liked of the Normaines that betwene him and his Lords was oft dissention Wherfore well nere all the Normains tooke part agaynst him so that he was forced of necessitie to drawe to hym the Englishe men Agayne so couetous he was and so unmeasurable in his taskes and takings in selling benefites Abbeys and Bishoprickes that he was hated of all English men In the third yere of this king died Lancfrancus Archbishop of Cant. from whose commendation and worthines as I list not to detract any thing being so greatly magnified of Polidorus his countreyman so neyther doe I see any great cause why to adde any thing therunto This I thinke vnlesse that man had brought with him lesse superstition and more sincere science into Christes Church he might haue kept him in his countrey still haue confuted Berengarius at home After the decease of Lanfranke the sea of Cant. stoode emptie iiii yeares After the counsaile of Lancfrancus aboue mentioned wherin was concluded for translating of Bishops seas from villages into head cities Remigius bishop of Dorchester who as ye heard accompanied Lancfrancus vnto Rome remooued his Bishops sea from Dorchester vnto Lincolne where he builded the minster there situate vpon an hill within the sayd citie of Lincoln The dedication of which church Robert Archbishop of Yorke did resist saying that it was builded within the ground of his precinct But after it had his Romish dedication by Robert Blocet next bishop that followed By the same Remigius also was sounded the cloister or monastery of Stow c. In the iiii yeare of this king great tempest fell in sondry places of England specially at Winchcombe where the steeple was burned with lightning the Church walle brast through the head and right leg of the Crucifixe with the Image of our Lady on the right side of the Crucifixe throwen downe and such a stench left in the Church that none might abide it At London the force of the weather tempest ouerturned vi hundreth houses In which tempest the roofe of Bowe church was whurled vp in the wind and by the vehemence thereof was pitched downe a great deepenes into the ground King William as ye heard an exceding piller or rauener rather of Church goods after he had geuen the Bishoprike of Lincolne to his Chauncellor Robert Bleuet aboue minded began to cauil auouching the sea of Lincoln to belong to the sea of Yorke till the Bishop of Lincolne had pleased him with a great summe of money of v. thousand markes c. And as nothing could come in those dayes without mony from the king so Herbert Lolinga paying to the kyng a peece of money was made bishop of Thetford as he had payd a little before to be Abbot of Ramesey who likewise the same time remouing his sea from Thetford to the Citie of Norwich there erected the Cathedrall Church with the cloister in the said citie of Norwith where he furnished the Monkes with sufficient liuing and rentes of his owne charges besides the Bishops landes Afterward repentyng of his open and manifest simonie he went to Rome where he resigned vnto the Popes hands his bishoprike but so that incontinēt he receiued it againe This Herbert was the sonne of an Abbot called Robert for whō he purchased of the king to be bishop of Winchester wherof runneth these verses Filius est praeful pater Abba Simon vterque Quid non speremus si nummos possideamus Omnia nummus habet quod vultfacit addit aufert Res nimis iniusta nummus fit praeful Abba c. Ye heard a little before of the death of Pope Hildebrād after the tyme of which Hildebrand the Germain Emperors began to loose their authoritie and right in the Popes electiō and in geuing of benefices For next after this Hildebrand came Pope Victor by the setting vp of Matilda and the Duke of Normandy with the faction and retinue of Hildebrand who likewise shewed himselfe stout against the emperor But God gaue the shrewd Low short hornes For Victor beyng poysoned as some say in his chalice late but one yeare and a halfe Notwithstanding the same imitation and example of Hildebrand continued still in thē that followed after And like as the kings of Israel folowed most part the steps of Ieroboam till the tyme of theyr desolation so for the greatest sort all Popes followed the steps and proceedings of this Hildebrand their spirituall Ieroboam in maintaining fals worship and chiefly in vpholding the dignitie of the sea against all rightfull authoritie and the lawful kingdom of Sion In the time of this Victor began the order of the Monkes of Charterhouse through the meanes of one Hugo bishop of Gracionople and of Bruno bishop of Colen Next to Victor sate Urbanus the ii by whom the acts of Hildebrand were confirmed also new decrees enacted against Henricus the Emperour In this time were two Popes at Rome Urbanus and Clemens iii. whome the Emperor set vp Under Pope Urbane came in the white Monkes of Cistercian order by one Stephen Harding a monke of Shireborne an Englishman by whom this order had his beginning in the wildernes of Cistery within the prouince of Burgoyne as witnesseth Cestrensis Other write that this Harding was the ij Abbot of that place that it was first founded by the meanes of one Robert Abbot of Molisine in Cistercium a Forest in Burgundy an 1098.
the other side vpon occasion as followeth Gaufridus or Geffray sonne to King Henry 2. and brother to King Richard whom the King had elected a little before to the Archbyshoprick of Yorke vpon the euen of the Epiphany which we call Twelfe day was disposed to heare Euēsong with all solemnity in the Cathedrall church hauing with him Hamon the Chaunter with diuers other Canons of the church Who tarying something long belike in adourning and attyring himselfe in the mean while Henry the Deane and Bucardus the treasurer disdayning to tary his comming with a bolde courage lustilye began theyr holy Euensong with singing theyr Psalmes ruffling of descant and mery piping of Organs Thus this Catholicke Euensōg with as much deuotion begon as to gods high seruice proceeding was now almost halfe complete when as at lenth they being in the midst of theyr myrth commeth in the new elect with his trayne and gardeuiaunce all full of wrath and indignatiō for that they durst be so bolde not wating for him to begin gods seruice and so estsoones commaunded the Duyre to stay holde theyr peace The Chaunter likewise by vertue of his office cōmaūdeth the same But the Deane and Treasurer on the other side willed them to proceed and so the song on and would not stint Thus the one halfe crying agaynst the other the whole Duyre was in a roare theyr singing was turned to scolding theyr chaunting to chiding and if in stead of the Organes they had had a Drumme I doubt they would haue solsede by the eares together At last through the authority of the Archb. and of the Chaunter the Queare began to surcease and geue silence Then the newe elect not contented with that had bene song before with certayne of the Quire beganne the Euensong new agayne The Treasurer vpō the same caused by vertue of his office the candles to be put out Wherby the euensong hauing no power further to proceede was stopped forthwith For like as without the light and beames of the sun there is nothing but darcknes in all the world euen so you must vnderstand the Popes church can see to do nothing without candle light albeit the sun do shine neuer so cleare and bright This being so the archb thus disapointed on euery side of his purpose made a greeuous plaint declaring to the clergy and to the people what the Deane and Treasurer had done and so vpon the same suspended both them and the church from all diuine seruice till they should make to him due satisfaction for their trespasse The next day which was the day of Epiphany when all the people of the City were assembled in the Cathedrall church as theyr maner was namely in such feasts deuoutly to heare diuine seruice as they call it of the church there was also present the Archb. and the Chaunter with the residue of the Clergy loking when the Deane and Treasurer would come and submit themselues making satisfaction for theyr crime But they still cōtinuing in their stoutnes refused so to do exclaiming vttering contemptuous wordes agaynst the Archb. his partakers Which when the people heard they in a great rage would haue fallē vpon them but the Archb. would not suffer that The Deane thē his fellowes perceiuing the stirr of the people for feare like prety men were fayne to flye some to the tombe of S. William of Yorke some ran to the Deanes house there shrowded themselues whom the Archb. then accursed And so for that day the people returned home without any seruice Ex veteri Chronico manu scripto cui initium Anno gratiae Milles. c. After this King Richard preparing to set all thinges in an order before his going committed the whole gouernement of the realme principally to William Bishoppe of Ely his Chauncellor to Hugh B. of Durhā whom he ordayned to be the chiefe Iustice of all England in his absence the one to haue the custody of the tower with the ouersight of all other parts of the land on this side of Number the other which was the B. of Durham to haue charge vpon all other his dominions beyond Number Sending moreouer to Pope Clement in the behalfe of the foresayd William B. of Ely to be made the Popes Legate through all England and Scotland which also was obtayned Thus the B. being aduaunced in high authority to furnish the king toward his setting forth prouideth out of euery city in England ij Palfreys and ij sumpters out of euery Abbey one palfrey and one sumpter These thinges and other thus set in a stay the king according to his former appointment about the time of Easter sailed to Fraunce where the French king and he conferring together because they could not make redy at that time of Easter concluded to take a longer day proroging their voyage till after midsommer In which meane time the king occupying himselfe in redressing stablishing such things as further were to be ordred there determined that Baufridus Iohn his brethrē shuld not enter into England in 3. yeres after his departure Neuertheles he released that band afterward to his brother Iohn Thēn he appoynted the Captaynes Constables ouer his nauy set lawes to be obserued in his iourney vpon the seas But especially his care was to make vnity and concord betwene parties that were at variaunce and to set them together at one At which time the long contētion began also to be appeased which so many yeres had continued betwene Bald winus Archb. of Cant. and his monkes of Christs church The discourse whereof although it be some what tedious to be set forth at large being enough to make a whole tragedy yet to the intent the age now present may see what great conflictes and disquietnes vpō what litle trifles hath bene stirred vp what litle peace vnity hath bene not onely in this church but commōly in all other churches vnder the popes catholicke regiment I thought it labour not ill bestowed somewhat to intermeddle in opening to that eyes of the Reader the consideration of this matter Wherein first is to be vnderstood that the Archbishops of Cant. cōmonly being set vp by the pope especially since the time of the conquest haue put the Kinges of this land to much sorrow trouble as appeared by William Rufus Lanfrāck and also Anselme By Henry 1. and Anselme King Stephen Theobald Henry 2. Becket c For which the Kinges of this land haue vsed the more care circumspectiō to haue such Archbishops placed in that sea as either should stand with them or at least should not be agaynst them Now to the purpose of our matter entended First after Laufrancus who was Archb. xx yeares the sea standing vacant v. yeares succeded Anseimus sat 17. yeares After whom the sea stāding vacant 4. yeres succeded Radulphus and continued 9. yeares Then followed
prospered with me but all hath gone against me In the next yeare after 1216. was Symon Langton chosen Archbishop of Yorke but that election anon arter was dissolued for informatioÌ„ was geuen to the pope that the said Simon was brother to SteueÌ„ Langton the archbishop of Cant. which had bene the occasion of all the tumults which were that time in England And the Pope had the more hate vnto him for that he had brought hym vp of nought and did finde him at that time so stuvburne wherefore he placed in hys brothers place Walter Graie the bishop of Winchester In the same yere Gualo the popes legate renued hys great curse vppon Lewes the French kings sonne for vsurping vpon king Iohn Likewise vpon Simon Langton and Gernais Hobruge for prouoking him to yâ— same and that wyth a wonderfull solemnitie for in that doing hee made all the belles to be rong the candles to be lyght the doores to be opened and the boke of excommunicatioÌ„s and interdictions publikely to be read committing them wholy to the deuil for their contumacie and contempt He also commanded the Bishops and Curates to publishe it abroad ouer at the whole realm to the terror of ad his subiects The said Simon Geruais laughed hym to scorne and derided much his doings in that behalfe saying that for the iust title of Ludowick they had appealed to the generall councell at Rome The magistrates of London and citizens of the same did likewise vilipende and disdainously mocke all that the Pope had there commanded and done And in spight both of him and hys legate they kept company with them that were excommunicated both at table and at church shewing themselues thereby as open contemners both of him and his lawes Ludowicke at London taking himselfe for king constituted Simon Langton for hys high Chancellor Geruais Hobruge for his chiefe preacher By whose daily preachings as well the Barons and the Citizens themselues being both excommunicated caused all the church dores to be opened and the seruice to be song the said Ludowicke was in all poynts fit for their handes About this time was Pandulphus then Cardinal collecting the Peter pence an olde pillage of the Pope taking great paines therin And for his great labours in those affaires of holy Church for other great myracles besides he was then made bishop of Norwich to the augmenting of his dignitie and expenses It chaunced about this time that the Uicount of Melun a very noble maÌ„ of the realme of France which came thether wyth the Prince Ludowicke to fall deadly sicke at London and also moued of conscience to cal certaine of the English Barons vnto hym such as were there appoynted to the custodie of that citie sayd vnto them I lament your sorrowful case and pitie with my heart the destruction that is comming towards you and your countrey The daungerous snares which are prepared for your vtter coÌ„fusion are hidden from you ye do not behold them but take ye hede of them in time Prince Ludowicke hath sworne a great oth 16. of his Earles and noble men are of counsel with him that if he obtaine the crowne of England he will banish all them from seruice depriue them of lands and goods as many as he findeth nowe to goe against their liege king and are traitours to his noble person And because yee shall not take thys tale for a fable I assure you on my faith lying nowe at the mercy of God that I was one of them which was sworn to the same I haue great conscience therof and therfore I geue you this warning I pittie poore England which hath bene so noble a region that now it is come to so extreme misery And when he with teares had lamented it a space hee returned againe vnto them and said my frends I counsel you earnestly to looke to your selues and to prouide the remeady in time least it come vpon you vnwares Your king for a season hath kept you vnder but if Ludowicke preuaile he will put you from all Of two extreeme euilles chose the more easy and keepe that secret which I haue tolde you of good will with that he gaue ouer and departed this life When this was once noysed among the Barons they were in great heauinesse for they saw themselues betrapped euery way and to be in exceeding great daunger And this daily augmented that feare which then came vpoÌ„ the Barons They were extremely hated of the Pope and his Legates and euery weeke came vpon them newe excommunications Daily detriments they had besides in theyr possessions and goodes in their lands houses corne and cattell wines and children so that some of them were driuen to such neede that they were enforced to seeke prayes and booties for sustaining theyr miserable liues For looke whatsouer prince Ludowick obtained by his warres either territories or castels he gaue them all to his French men in spight of their heads and said that they were but traitours like as they had warning afore whych greeued them worst of all At the last they perceiuing that they in seeking to auoid one mischief were ready to fall into an other much worse they began to lay their heads together consenting to submit themselues wholy with al humility to the mercy of their late soueraigne natural liege Lord king Iohn And for that they were somewhat in doubt of their liues for the treason afore committed many of the friendes of them which were of most credite with him made sute for them So were a great number of them pardoned after instant great suit made for them I heere omit his recouery of Rochester castle and citie with many other dangerous aduentures against the foresayd Ludowicke both at London Yorke Lincolne Winchester Norwiche other places els as things not pertaâ—ning to my purpose And now I returne to my matter againe Into Suffolke and Norffolke hee consequently iourneyed with a very strong armie of men and there wyth great mischiefe hee afflicted them because they had geuen place were sworne to his enemies After that he destroied the Abbeis of Peterborough Crowland for the great treasons which they also had wrought against him and so he departed from thence into Lincolneshire In this yeare about the 17. day of Iuly died Pope Innocent the 3. and was buried in a citie called Perusium in Italie where as hee had trauailed to make a peace betweene the Genouaies and the Pyses for his owne commoditie and aduauntage After hym anone succeeded one Ciatius otherwise called Honorius Tertius a man of very great age yet liued he in the papacy 10. yeres and an halfe more When this was once known in England greatly reioyced all they which were king Iohns enemies specially the priests yet had they small cause as will appeare hereafter They noised it al the realme ouer that this new Pope would set a new order and
Basset which before was appoynted to worke that feat wyth mattockes and other instruments of yron and men prepared for the nonce neare to the monasterie of S. Andrewe did vndermine the wall of the Citie And by this meanes the wal fel downe lightly and there was made a great plaine so that in one forefront there might haue gone together on a row 40. horsemen And of this subteltie the alian Monkes that were there were thought to be the workers because they made way and entraunce for them that came in But when they that passed by saw this the kings banners were erected ready to enter in There was a great howling made the noise of the people came to the eares of the Barons they made speede to resist them but it was all in vaine because they were already preuēted of a great cōpany of their enemies But Simon Mountfort the yōger after he had valiantly fought a while in the middest of his enemies wyth Peter Mountfort and a fewe that were with him when Edward the kings sonne came was by his commaundement taken and led away prisoner But the clearks of the vniuersitie of Oxforde which vniuersitie by the Barons commandement was trāslated thether did worke against the kings men more hurte then the other Barons wyth their slings long bowes and crossebowes for they had a banner by themselues and that was set vp a hie against the king Where withall the king being greatly moued sware at his entring in that they should al be hanged Which when they hard many of them shaued their crownes they that were able ran away as fast as they coulde And when the king entred the Citie many fled in their armour into the Castell other left their horse and harnesse and ranne into churches and a few were slain and those were of the common people But there was not much bloudshed because all things were done as vppon a sodaine When the Citie was at the length set in a quiet the king commaunded his othe to be executed vpon the Clarkes But his counsellers said vnto him This be farre from thee O king for the sonnes of thy Nobles and of other great men of thy kingdome were there gathered together into the Vniuersitie whome if thou wouldest cause to be hanged or slaine euen they that nowe take thy parte would rise vp against thee not suffering to the vttermost of their powers the bloud of their sonnes and kinsfolkes to be shed And so the king was pacified and his wrath against the Clerks was stayed In the same day after little more then an houre the kings host assaulted the Castell and the new hold keepers were afraide for that they had not victuals other things necessary for their resistance therfore they sent immediatly messengers vnto the King and yeelded themselues to the kings mercy There were taken that day these Knights Barons vnder wrytten Lord William de Ferrers Lorde Peter Mountfort cōpanion of the sayd Simon de Moūtforte the yonger Lord Baldwyn de wake Lorde Adam de Newmarche Lord Roger Bertram Lord Simon the sonne of Simon a valiaunt warriour which first erected hys banner against the king Lorde Berengarius de waterwile Lord Hugo Bubiam Lord Thomas Maunsell Lord Roger Botemlam Nicolas wake Lord Robert de Newton Lord Philip de Driby Brimbald de Pauncefoote All these afore hand did the king take prisonners and many more of whom he committed some to the Lord Nicolas of Hauersam to be kept in the same Castle well defēsed some he led away with him and some he sent to diuers Castels and appointed Simon Mountfort to be cast into windfore Castell And all these things as touching the taking of Northampton were done on the Sabboth day in passion weeke being the thyrd of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord. 1264. And the king went forward euen to Notingham burning and wasting the manners of the Lords and others his enemies and there he gathered together his nobles and greatly increased hys number When this ill lucke was tolde of them that there were run away to the Earle Simon whiche was comming towardes Northampton with a great hoste he was in a great rage yet was not discouraged But immediatly going to London caused a chariot to be made him after the maner of lytters or couches wherein he might ride as though he were sicke for he fayned himselfe to be feeble and weake whereas he was in deede a stout and valiaunt warriour And there gathered to him other noble men that were cōfederate with him Earles and Barōs euery one bringing with them their seuerall armies And preparing their ingynes of woode they went to besiege Rochester for the Earle of Worcester in the kynges behalfe kept both the towne and castell When they had gotten the first gate and the bridge they were partly wounded and compelled to retire and there that valiant knight Roger de la Bourne was wounded and very il handled And whilest they continued siege there a while it was told them that the kyng was comming toward London with a mighty host And they sayd one to an other if the king at hys cōming should take London we shall be shut in as it were in a straight corner Let vs therefore returne to London that we may keep in safety both the place and the people Therefore appointing certaine persons to keepe the siege they returned to London At the length when the king came they went forth with the Citizens to meere him not with floures and palmes in their handes but swordes and speares The K. shunned them and after he had the Castell of Kingston which was the Erle of Glocesters he went from thence to Rochester where after he had killed a few he brake that siege and from thence the king went to Tunbridge And the towne and Castell now being geuen vp to him he tooke there the Countesse of Glocester put her into an Abbey not to be kept in hold but to goe at libertye whether she would And he left for the custody of the Castell and City a great part of his hoast to the number of aboue xx picked out ensignes for that it was commonly said that the Earle of Glocester would come out of hād to assault them Which being done he continued on his iourney to Winchester where he receiued to peace the seamen of the hauē townes And three dayes alter vpon the sonday following he came to the towne of Lewes and was receaued into the Abbey and his sonne Edward into the Castell Then the Barons sent letters to the king the 12. day of May the tenor wherof followeth TO theyr most excellent Lord Henry by the grace of God king of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitania hys Barons and other his faythfull subiectes being willing to keep their othe and fidelitie to God and him send greeting and due obedidience with honour and reuerence Whereas by many
while Austen sailed into Fraunce to the Byshop Arelatensis called Ethereus by him to bee consecrated Archbishop by the commaundement of Gregory so was Also the said Austen sent to Rome Laurentius one of his coÌ„pany to declare to Gregory how they had sped and what they had done in Englande sending with all to haue the counsaile and aduise of Gregory concerning ix or x. questions whereof some are partly touched before The tenour of his questions or interrogations wyth the aunsweres of Gregory to the same here follow in English briefly translated The questions of Austen Archbyshop of Caunterbury sent to Gregory with the aunswere againe of Gregory to the same The first interrogation MY first question reuerende father is concerning Byshops how they ought to behaue themselues towarde their clerks Or of such oblations as the faithfull offer vpon the altar what portions or diuidentes ought to be made thereof The aunswere How a Bishop ought to behaue himselfe in the Congregation the holy scripture testifieth which I doubt not but you know right well especiallye in the Epistles of S Paule to Timothie wherein he laboureth to informe the sayd Timothe how to behaue his conuersation in the house of the Lord. The maner is of the sea Apostolike to warne and charge all such as be ordeined Bishops of all their stipend or that which giuen to make foure pertitioÌ„s One to the Bishop for hospitalitie and receauing commers in An other to the Clergy The third to the pore The fourth to the repairing of Churches But because your brotherhode instructed with rules of Monasticall discipline caÌ„not liue separated from your clerkes about you therfore in the English Church which nowe through the prouidence of God is brought to the faith of Christ you muste obserue this institution concerning your conuersation which was in the first Fathers in the begynning of the prymitiue Church among whom there was not one which counted any thing to be his owne proper of all that he did possesse but all was common among them The seconde interrogation I desire to know and to be instructed whether Clerkes that cannot containe may marry And if they do mary whether then they ought to returne to the secular state againe or no The aunswere If there be any Clerkes out of holy orders which can not conteine let them haue their wiues and take their stipends or wages without For we read it so written of the foresayd fathers that they deuided to euery person according as their worke was Therfore as concerning the stipend of such it must be prouided and thought vpon And they must be also holden vnder Ecclesiasticall discipline to liue a godly coÌ„uersation to employ themselues in singing Psalmes to refraine their tongue hart and body by the grace of God from all things vnseemely and vnlawfull As for the vulgar and common sort which lyue after the common condition of men to describe what partitions to make what hospitalitie to keepe or what works of mercy to exhibite to such I haue nothing to saye but to giue as our maister teacheth in all our deedes of mercy of that which aboundeth Of that saith he whiche aboundeth or is ouerplus gyue almes and beholde all thinges bee cleane vnto you The thyrd interrogation Seing there is but one faith how happeneth it then the ceremonies and customes of Churches to bee so diuers As in the Church of Rome there is one custome and maner of Masse and the French Church hath an other The aunswere The custome of the Church of Rome what it is you know wherin ye remeÌ„ber that you 〈◊〉 bene brought vp froÌ„ your youth but rather it pleaseth me better that whether it be in the church of Rome or in any FreÌ„ch Church where ye finde any thing that seemeth better to the seruice and pleasing of God that ye chuse the same and so inferre bring into the English Church which is yet new in the faith the best pikedst thinges chosen out of many Churches for things are not to be beloued for the place sake but the place is to be beloued for the things that be good wherfore such thinges as be good godly and religious thâ—â—â— chose out of all Churches and induce to your people that they may take roote in the mindes of Englishmen The fourth interrogation I praye you what punishment iudge you for him that shall steale or pylfer any thing out of the Church The aunswere This your brotherhood may soone discerne by the person of a theefe how it ought to be corrected For some there be which hauing sufficient to liue vpon yet doe steale Other there be which steale of meere necessity Wherfore considering the qualitye difference of the crime necessarye it is that some be corrected by losse of goodes some by stripes some other more sharply and some more easly yea wheÌ„ sharpee correction is to be executed yet that must be done with charity and with no fury for in punishing offenders this is the cause and ende wherefore they are punished bicause they should be saued not perish in hell fire And so ought discipline to proceede in correcting the faithfull as doe good Fathers in punishing their children whom both they chasten for their euill and yet being chastened they looke to haue them their heires and thinke to leaue them all they haue notwithstanding they correct them sometimes in anger Therefore this charitie must be kepte in mind And in the correction there is a measure to be had so that the mind neuer do any thing without the rule of reason Ye adde moreouer with what recompence of measure those things ought to be required againe which be stollen out of Churches But God forbid that the Church should euer require againe with increase that which is lost in outwarde thinges and to seeke her gaine by endamaging other The fift interrogation Item whether two brethen may mary two sisters beyng far of from any part of kindred The aunswere This in no part of scripture is forbidden but it may well and lawfully be done The sixt interrogation Item to what degree of kyndred may the matâ—â—mony of the faythfull extende with their kindred or whethâ—◠〈◊〉 it lawfull to marry with the stepmother and her kinsfolkes The aunswere A certaine terrene law amongst the old Romaines doth permit that either brother or sister or the sonne daughter of two brethren may marry together But by experyence we learne that the issue of such mariage doth neuer thryue nor come forewarde Also the holye law of God forbiddeth to reueale the turpitude of thy bloude or kindred Wherefore necessary it is that in the third or fourth degree the faithfull may lawfully marry for in the seconde as being vnlawfull they must needes refraine To be copled with the stepmother is vtterly abhominable for it is written in the law Thou shalt not reueale the turpitude