and abrogate: whereby an infinite number in England be greuously afflicted and oppressed.

MarginaliaThe sixte.6. The sayd Realme is also greued in generall tallages, collections, and assises, made withoute the kynges consent, the appellation and contradiction of the kinges Proctors to the contrary notwithstanding.

MarginaliaThe seuenth.7. Seuenthly, the foresayd Realme complayneth and is greeued: that in the benefices geuen to Italians, neither the old ordinances, nor release of the poore, nor hospitalitie, nor any preaching of Gods woord, nor care of mens soules, nor seruice in the church, nor yet the wals of the churches be kept vp and mayntained, as the maner and custome of the same realme requireth. MarginaliaThe Babilonicall captiuitie and slauerye of England vnder the pope.Ouer & aboue these foresayd greuances, there came moreouer from the Pope other freshe letters, charging and commaūding þ^e prelates of England to fynde of their proper costes and charges, for one whole yeare, some. x. armed soldiours, some fiue, some. xv. to be readye at the Popes commaundement there, where he should appoynt.

After these and other greuances and enormities of Rome, the states of England cōsulting together, direct their letters to the Pope, for reformation thereof: first the Abbots and Priors, then the Bishops and Suffraganes, after the Nobles and Barons, last of all the king himselfe. But as the prouerbe is, venter non habet aures so the Popes purse had no eares to heare. And as our common saying goeth, as good neuer a whyt as neuer the better, so went it with the Pope. Who not long after the same, sent yet for newe tallage and exactions to be collected: which thing when it came to the kings eare, he being moued and disturbed vehemently withall, writeth in this wyse to the bishops, seuerally to euerye one in hys dioces.

MarginaliaThe letter of K. Henry the. 3 to the bishops.
1246.HEnricus tertius dei gratia, &c. Venerabili in Christo N. Episcopo Sal. Licet alias vobis. &c. In English thus:

Marginaliak. Henry the 3 cōmaūdeth no taxe nor talage to be sent to the pope.Henry the third by the grace of God, to the reuerend in Christ bishop of N. Where as we haue hreretofore written vnto you once, twyse, thrise, as well by our priuy seales, as also by our letters patentes, that you shuld not exact or collect for the Popes behalfe, anye tallage or other helpe of our subiectes, either of the clergy or of the laitie, for that no such tallage nor helpe, either can or is vsed to be exacted in our realme, without the great preiudice of our princely dignitie, which we nether wyl nor can suffer or sustayne: yet you contemning and vilipending our commaundement, and contrarye to the prouision made in our last councel at London (graunted and agreed vpon by our prelates, Earles, and Barons) haue that notwithstanding, proceeded in collecting the sayde your taxes and tallages. Wherupon, wee do greatlye maruell and are moued (especially seing you are not ashamed to do contrary vnto your own decrees) where as you and other prelates in the sayd councel in this did all agree and graunt, that no such exactions shoulde bee hereafter, vntyll the returne of our and your Ambassadours from the court of Rome, sent thether purposelye of vs, and in the name of the whole realme for the same, for to prouide redresse against these oppressions. Wherfore, we straitly wil and commaund you, that frō henceforth you do not proceede any more in collecting and exacting such tallages or helpes, as you will enioy our fauour, and such possessions of yours, as within thys our kingdome you haue and holde. And if you haue already procured or gathered any such thing: yet that you suffer not the same to be transported out of our realm, but cause it to be kept in salfe custody, tyll the returne of the sayd Ambassadours, vnder the payne of our displeasure in doing of the contrarye: and also of prouoking vs to extende our hand vpon your possessions, farther thē you wyll thinke or beleue. Moreouer, willing and chargyng you, that you participate and make common this our inhibition, with your Archdeacons and Officials,which we here haue set forth for the liberties of the clergy and of the people, as knoweth God. &c.

At length, the Ambassadours which were at Rome, came home about the latter ende of December, bringing word, that the Pope hearing what was done in the councel of Winchester and of the king, was greatly displeased with him, and with the realme, saying: MarginaliaThe popes saying against king Henry.ewHHRex Anglorum qui iam recalcitrat et frederisat suum habet consilium, ego vero et meum habeo, quod et sequar. &c. Wherupon, when the Ambassadours began to speake in the kinges behalfe: from that tyme, they were halfe counted for schismatickes, and coulde no more be heard in the court of Rome. The king hearing this, was maruelously incensed therewith, commaunding by general proclamacion through all his realme: MarginaliaK. Henry again restrayneth the popes taxes.that no mā should hereafter consent to anye taxe or subsidie of monye for the court of Rome. When this came to the popes eare, vpon a cruell rage, he directed his letters to the Prelates of England, MarginaliaThe pope rageth agaynst the king.charging that vnder payne of suspēse or interdiction, they shoulde prouide the same summe of mony to be collected agaynst the feast of the Assumptiō, the charge being geuen to the bishop of Worcester to be executer of the sayd cursse. The king, that latelye intended to stand to the liberties of the churche: MarginaliaThe kyng cōpelled for feare to geue ouer to the popenowe for feare of the Pope, and partlye for perswasions of the sayd bishop of Worcester and other prelates, durst not stand to it, but gaue ouer. Moreouer, the gredy gulfe of the Romish auarice waxt so vnmesurable: MarginaliaThe pope asketh the thyrd aprt of the churche goodsthat at lēgth the Pope shamed not vpon the sensure of his cursse, to aske the third parte of þ^e chuch goods, & the yerely fruit of all vacant benefices. The chiefe doers and Legates in England, were Otho, Stephanus Capellanus, Petrus Rubeus nuncius, Mag. Martin. & Mag. Marinus, Ioannes Anglicus Episcopus Sabinensis. Of whom to speake further (for that I haue matter much more to write) for this present tiime I think best to surcease: least in opening all the detestable doinges and pestilent workings of those men, I might perhaps not onely molest good eares: but also infecte the ayre. Yet on thing cōcerning the sayd Otho, I can not well ouerpasse.

MarginaliaA storye of Cardinal Otho at Oxford.This Otho, as he left no place vnsought, where anye vauntage might be got: so amongest all other he came to Oxford. Where, lying in the house of Osney, he was receiued with great honour: the scholars presenting him honorably with such dishes and rewardes as they had , thinking to gratefie the Cardinal after the best maner. This being done before diner, and the diner ended, they came reuerently to see and welcom him, supposing that they also should with like curtesy againe of him be entertained. As they came to the gate, the porter (being an Italian) with a loude voyce asketh what they woulde haue. They sayd they came to see the Lord Legate. But Cerberus the porter holding the doore halfe open, with proud and contumelous language thrust them out, and wold not suffer them to enter. MarginaliaA skyrmish betwene the scholers of Oxford & the Cardinals men.The scholars seing that, by force thrust open the gate, and came in: whom, when the Romaines which were within would haue repelled with their fistes, and suche staues as they had in their hands, they fell to alarme & by the eares together, wyth much houing and shouing, and manye blowes on both sides. In the meane time, whyle some of the scholars ran home for their weapons, there chaunced a poore scholer (an Irishman) to stād at the gate wayting for his almes Whom when the maister Cooke saw at the gate, he taking hot skalding water out of the plan, where the meat was sodden: did cast it in his face. One of the scholers a welchman, that came with his bowe and shaftes, seyng that: letteth driue an arrow, and shooteth this Nabuzardan (that is maister of cookes) cleane through the body, & sleaeth him out of hand. The Cooke falling dead: there was a mightye broyle, and a great clamor throughout all the house. The Cardinall hearing the tumult & great