ued the kyng, caused hym anone after to be apprehended as a malefactor, and to be throwē in prison, the king not yet knowyng therof.

Anon after, the fame of this fantasticall prophet went all the realme ouer: and hys name was knowen euery where (as foolishnes is much regarded of people, where wisdome is not in place) specially, because he was then imprisoned for the matter, the rumor was the larger: their wonderinges were the wantonner: their practising the folisher: their busie talkes and other idle occupieng the greater. Continually from thence (as the rude maner of people is) olde gossyps tales went abroad, new tales were inuented, fables were added to fables, & lyes grewe vpon lies. So that euery day, new slaunders wer raysed on the king, & not one of thē true: rumours arose, blasphemies were spred, the enemies reioyced, and treasons by the priestes were maintained: and what likewise was surmised, or other subtiltie practised, all was then fathered vpon this foolish prophet. As, thus sayeth Peter Wakefield: thus hath he prophecied: and this shall come to passe: yea many tymes when he thought nothing lesse. When the Ascension day was come which was prophecied of afore: MarginaliaThe false prophet proued a liar of K. Iohn.kyng Iohn commaunded his regall Tente to be spread abroad in the open field: passing that day w^t his noble counsel and men of honor, in the greatest solemnitie that euer he dyd afore: solacing himselfe wyth musicall instruments, and songes most in sight amōgst his trusty frendes. When that day was past in all prosperitye and mirth: his enemies beyng confused, turned all to an allegorical vnderstāding, to make the prophecie good, and sayd: he is no longer kyng, for the pope raigneth and not he, yet raigned he still and hys sonne after hym, to proue that prophet a lyar. Then was the kyng by hys counsel perswaded, that this false prophet had troubled all the realme: peruerted the harts of the people: and raised the commons agaynst him. For his wordes went ouer the sea by the helpe of his prelates, and came to the French kings eare, and gaue vnto hym a greate encouragement to inuade the land: he had not els done it so sodenly. But he was most fouly deceyued, as all they are & shalbe, þ^t put their trust is such darke drousy dreames of hypocrites. MarginaliaThe false prophet hanged.The kyng therfore commaunded that he should be drawen and hanged lyke a traytor.

After that, the popes, prelates, Monkes, Chanons, priestes, &c. saw this their crafty iugling by theyr fayned prophet would not spede, notwithstādyng they had done no litle harme therby: to help the matter more forward, they began to trauaile and practise with pope Innocent of the one side, and with the Frenche kyng on the other side: beside subtile treasons, which they wrought within the realme and by their confessions in the eare, wherby they both blinded the nobilitie and the commons. MarginaliaKyng Iohn submitteth himselfe to the Pope.The kyng thus compassed about on euery side with enemies, and fearing the sequele therof, knowing the cōspiracies that were in working against him, as well by the Pope (in al that euer he might) as also by Philip the Frenche kyng by his procurement: and moreouer his own people, especially his Lordes and Barons being rebelliouslye incited against him, as by the popes curses and interdictiōs agaynst such as tooke hys part: and by hys absolutions and dispensatiōs with al those that would rebel against him, commaunding them to detaine from him such homage, seruice, duties, debtes, and all other allegiaunce that godly subiectes owe and are bound to yelde & gyue their liege Lord and prince. All which thinges considered, the kyng in the. xiij. yeares of his raygne, for that the French king began to make sharpe inuasion vpon him within his own realme: MarginaliaK. Iohn entreateth for peace with the pope.sent speedye Embassadours to the Pope (as to the fountayne of all this his myschiefe pretensed) to worke and intreate his peace and reconcilation with him, promising to do what so euer the pope should wyll hym and commaund him in the reformatiōof himselfe, and restitution of all wronges done to holy church, and to make due satisfaction therefore vnto all men that coulde complayne.Then sent the pope againe into England his legate Pādulph with other Embassadours: the King also at Canterbury (by letters as it shuld seme certified frō his own embassadors) wayted their cōming. Where, the xiij. day of May the King receaued them, makyng vnto them an othe, that of and for all things wherin he stood accursed he would make ample restitution and satisfaction. Vnto whom also all the Lords and Barons of England (so many as there was with the King attending the legates comming) sware in like maner, & that if the King would not accomplishe in euery thing the othe which he had taken: that then they would cause him to hold and cōfirm the same whether that he would or not (or by strength) to vse the autors wordes.

MarginaliaK. Iohn submitteth himself & resigneth hys crowne.Then submitted the King him selfe vnto the court of Rome and to the pope: And resigning gaue vp his dominions and realmes of England and Ireland from hym and from hys heires for euer more that should come of him. With this condicion, that the Kyng and his heyres should take agayne these two dominions of the pope to ferme: paying yearely therefore to the court of Rome a M. markes of siluer. Then tooke the Kyng the crowne from his head, kneling vpon his knees in the presence of al his Lordes and Barons of England to Pandolph the popes chief Legate, saying in this wise. Here I resigne vp the crowne of the realme of Englande to the Popes handes Innocent the thyrde, and put me holy in his mercy and his ordinaunce. Then tooke Pandolph the crown of Kyng Ihon and kept it v. dayes as a possession & season taking of these two realmes of England & Ireland. Confirmyng also all things promised by his charter obligatory as foloweth.

MarginaliaThe draught or instrument obligatorye wherein King Iohn resigneth his kingdome to the popes hand.TO all christen people throughout the worlde dwellyng, Iohn by the grace of God kyng of England, greetyng. To your vniuersitie knowthyng be it, that for asmuch as we haue greued and offended God and our mother churche of Rome: and for as much as we haue nede of the mercy of our Lord Iesu Christ: and we may nothing so worthy offer and competēt satisfaction make to God and to holy churche (but if it were our owne body) as with our realmes of Englād & of Ireland: MarginaliaChrist was offered a kingdom & would none of it, the Pope doth not refuse it.Then, by the grrace of the holy ghost we desire for to meke vs for the loue of hym, that meketh him to the death vpon the crosse. And through counsel of the nobles Earles and Barons, we offer and frely graunt to God and to the Apostles S. Peter and Paul, and to our mother church of Rome, and to our holy father pope Innocent the third, and to all the popes that come after him, all the realme: patronages of churches of England and of Ireland: w^t al the appurtenaunces: for remission of sinnes, and helpe and health of our kines soules, and of all christen soules So that from this tyme afterward, we will receiue and hold of our mother churche of Rome, as in ferme: doyng fealtie to our holy father the pope Innocēt the third, and to all the popes that come after him in the maner aboue said. And in the presence of the wise man Pandolph the popes Southdeacon, we make liege homage, as it were in the popes presence & we before him were, and that he him self should haue done all maner things aboue sayd: and therto we binde vs, and all that come after vs & our heires for euer more without any gaine saying to þ^e pope and eke the ward of the churche vacant. And in token of this thing euer for to last, we will, confirme, and ordein: that he be our speciall renter of the foresayd realmes (sa-