peace betwene the Genouayes and the Pyses, for hys owne commoditie and aduauntage. Him anone to succede one Cintius otherwyse called Honorius Tertius, a mā of very great age: yet liued he in þ^e papacie x. yeares and an halfe, and more. When this was once knowen in England: greatlye reioyced all they which were Kyng Ihons enemies, specially the priestes: yet had they small cause, as will appeare hereafter. They noysed it all the realme ouer, that this new pope would set a new order, and not rule thinges as the other pope did: thinking therby that he would haue done all thinges to their commoditie: but they found it otherwise. For he made all them whiche were excommunicate, to pay double and treble, ere they could be restored again to their former liuings.

MarginaliaK. Iohn poysoned by a monke.And in the selfe same yere, as kyng Iohn was come to Swinestead Abbey, not farre from Lincolne: he rested there two dayes: where as moste writers testifie, he was most traiterouslye poysoned by a monke of þ^e abbey, of þ^e sect of þ^e Cicistercians or S. Bernards brethrē called Simō of Swinsted. As cōcerning þ^e noble personage of this prince: this witnes geueth Roger Houeden therin: princeps quidem magnus erat sed minus felix: atque vt Marius vtramque fortunam expertus. MarginaliaEx chronico cui titulus Eulogium.Doubtles (saith he) kyng Iohn was a mighty prince, but not so fortunate as many were. Not altogether vnlike to Marius the noble Romaine: he tasted of fortune both wayes: bountiful in mercy: in warres sometyme he wanne, sometyme againe he lost. Munificus ac liberalis in exteros fuit, sed proditionis causa suorum depredator, plus aduenis quam suis confidēs. He was also verye bounteous and liberall vnto straungers but of hys owne people (for theyr dailye treasons sake) he was a great oppressour, so that he trusted more to foreiners thē to them.

Among other diuers and sundry conditions belongyng to this king, one there was which is not in him to be reprehended, but commended rather: for that beyng farre from the superstition which kinges at that tyme were commonly subiect vnto: regarded not the popishe masse, as in certain Chronicles writing of hym may bee collected: for so I finde testified of him by Mat. Parisiēsis.MarginaliaEx Math. Paris. that the kyng vpon a tyme in his hūting, cōming where a very fat stag was cut vppe & opened (or how þ^e hunters terme it I cannot tell) the kyng beholding the fatnes & the liking of the stagge: MarginaliaThe sayeng of K. Iohn deridyng the masse.see sayth he, how easily and happely he hath liued, and yet for all that he neuer heard anye masse.

It is recorded and found in the chronicle of William Caxtō, called fructus temporum, and in the, 7. booke. MarginaliaEx Caxtono Lib. 7.The foresaid monke Simon beyng much offended wyth certaine talke that the kyng had at hys table, concernyng Ludouicke the French kyngs sonne (which then had entred and vsurped vpon him) dyd cast in hys wycked hart how he most spedily might bryng him to his ende. And first of all he counseled with his Abbot, shewing him the whole matter, and what he was minded to do. He alledged for himselfe the prophecy of Cayphas, Iohn. xi. saying: It is better that one man dye, then all the people should perish. I am well contented (sayth he) to loose my lyfe, and so become a Martyr, that I may vtterly destroi this tyraunt. Wyth that the Abbot did weepe for gladnes, and much commended his feruent zeale, as he tooke it. MarginaliaWoe be to you that cal good erill & euill good.
Simō mōke absolueded of hys Abbot for poysoning hys king.The Monke then beyng absolued of hys Abbot for doing this act (aforehand) went secretely into a garden vpon the backe side, and finding there a most venemous Toade, he so pricked him, and pressed him with his penknife: that he made him vomit all the poyson that was wythin hym. Thys done, he conueyed it into a cuppe of wyne, and wyth a smiling and flattering countenance, he sayd thus to the kyng: If it shall lyke your princelye maiesty, here is such a cup of wyne, as ye neuer dronke a better before in all your lyfe tyme. I trust this Wassall shall make all England glad. And with that he drāka great draught thereof, the kyng pledging hym. MarginaliaThe monke dyeth of hys own poyson.The Monke anon after went to the farmery, and there dyed (his guts gushing out of his belly) and had continuallye from thenceforth three Monkes to sing Masses for hys soule, confirmed by their generall chapter. What becam after that of kyng Iohn, ye shall know right well in the proces following. I would ye did marke wel the wholesome proceedinges of these holy votaries, how vertuouslye they obey their kinges, whom God hath appoynted: and how religiously they bestow their confessions, absolutions and Masses.

The king within a shorte space after (feeling great griefe in hys body) asked for Simon the Monke: and answer was made, that he was departed this lyfe. Then God haue mercy vpon me (sayd he) I suspected as much, after he had sayd, that al Englād should therof be glad: he mēt now I perceaue thē of his own generatiō. With that he commaunded his chariot to be prepared, for he was not able to ryde. So went hee from thence to Slaforde Castel, and from thence to Newerke vpon Trent: and there within lesse then three dayes he dyed. MarginaliaThe death of kyng Iohn.Vpon his deathbed he much repented his former lyfe, and forgaue all them with a pitifull hart, that had done him iniury: desiring that hys elder sonne Henrye might be admonished by hys example, and to learne by hys mysfortunes, MarginaliaA prince to be louing to hys subiectes.to be naturall, fauourable, gentle, and louyng to his natiue people. When his bodye was enbawmed and spiced (as the maner is of kings) his bowels or entrailes were buryed at Cropton Abbey, whiche was of the sect of Premonstratenses or Chanons of S. Norbert. Hys hired soldiours, both Englishmen and straungers were styll about him, and followed hys corps triumphantlye in theyr armour, MarginaliaK. Iohn Buried atg Worceter.tyl they came to the Cathedral church of Worcester: and there honorablye was he buryed by Siluester the bishop, betwixte saynt Oswalde and saint Wolstane, two bishops of that church. MarginaliaAn. 1216.He dyed in the yeare of our Lord. 1216. the. 19. daye of October, after he had raygned in such calamitye, by the subtle conueyaunce of his Clergy, xviij. yeares, vj. monethes, and odde dayes. So soone as king Iohn was dead and buried (as is sayd afore) the princes, Lordes and Barons, so many as were of hys part (as well of Straungers as of them that were borne here) by counsayle of the Legate Gnalo: gathered themselues together, and all with one consent proclaymed Henrye his sonne for their kyng. Of whome more shal folow (the lord willing) hereafter.

MarginaliaThe death of kyng Iohn.Many opinions are among the chroniclers of þ^e death of king Iohn. Some of them doe write that he dyed of sorrow and heauines of heart, as Polidorus: some of surfeting in the night, as Radulphus Niger: some of a bloudy flixe, as Rog. Houeden: some of a burning ague, some of a cold sweat, some of eatyng appels, some of eatyng peares, some plummes, &c.

Thus you see what varietie is among the wryters concerning the death of thys king Iohn. Of which writers, although the most agree in this that he was poysoned by the Monke aboued named: yet Math. Parisiensis. (somthing differing from the other) writeth thus concerning his death. MarginaliaMath. Parisi. in vita Ioannis Regis.That he going from Linne to Lincolneshire, and there hearing of the losse of his cariage, and of his treasures vpon the washes, fell in great heauines of minde: in so much that he fell therby into a feruent feuer being at the Abbey of Swinested. This ague he also encreased through euil surfettyng & noughty diet, by eatīg Peaches and drinkyng of new Ciser, or as we call it Sidar. Thus being sicke, he was caried frō thēce to the castel of Laford, and frō thence to the castell of Newerke: where callyng for Henry his sonne, gaue to him the succession of his crowne and kingdome, writing to all hys Lordes & nobles to receiue him for their kyng. And shortly after vpon saint Lucies euen, departed this life, being buried at Worcester, &c.