MarginaliaIohn archbishop of Cant. elected & refused of the popeAfter the repulse of this Radulphe, the Canterbury monkes entryng a new election, agreed vpon Ihon there prior, to be their metropolitane. Who going vp to Rome to haue his election confirmed by the pope, was iij. dayes together examined of the Cardinals. And when they could find no insufficiēcie in him, touching those things, wherin they tryed hym: yet notwithstandyng, the Pope findyng a fault with hys age (he peraduenture beyng more aged him selfe) repealed hym, for that he sayd, he was to old and simple, to susteine that dignitie. Ex Paris. ¶ What was the age of this person I finde it not in the autor expressed: yet it is to be supposed, þ^t he which was able to take that iorney to Rome, and home agayn: was not so greatly to be complayned of for his age, but that he was able sufficiently to take paynes in kepyng the chayre of Canterbury.

In the former partes of this story procedyng, partly before hath bene declared, partly hereafter more shal appeare (Christ willing) how the churche of England and commons of the same was greued and miserably afflicted, by þ^e intolerable oppressiōs of the pope: MarginaliaThe popes intollerable exactions vpon England.who through hys violent extortion had procured the best benefices to be geuen to hys Romanes and the chief fruites of them to be reserued to his owne cofers. And what cōplaintes therof haue bene made, ye hard before, pag. 348. But yet no redresse could be had. Such was the insatiable auarice of these Romane rake hels, proylyng and pollyng where soeuer they came, with their prouisions and exactions out of measure, and neuer satisfied. In somuch, þ^t here in England who soeuer lackte: their barnes were alwayes full of corne: and what penurie so euer pinshed the people, they were sure to haue ynoughe. And these importunate exactions and contributions of these Italiane harpyes: beside the Peter pens, beside the common tribute, dayly more and more increased, to the great greuance of the realme: in somuch þ^t the wealth of this land was almost cleane suckte vp, and translated to the court of Rome. Neither was the kyng ignoraunt hereof, but could not helpe the matter. Wherfore it was deuised by some of the nobles (as appeareth in the story of Parisiensis) MarginaliaEx Math. Paris. Pag. 79.this foresayd yeare. an. 1231. that certaine letters vnder the pretensed colour of the kynges authoritie, should be sent abroad: willing and commaunding, þ^t such corne & graine, and other reuenewes, as were taken vp for þ^e Pope, should be stayd & forth cōmyng, by a certain day in þ^e sayd letters appoynted, MarginaliaHubert L. chief iustice a worker agaynst the pope.þ^e which letters are thought to procede chiefly by þ^e meanes of Hubert L. chief Iustice of England, who then next vnder the king, ruled the most affaires of the realme. The wordes and contentes of the letters be these.

MarginaliaThe copie of the letter written vnder the kings authoritie to restrayne the benefyces of the Romanes, within the realme.AFter diuers & sondry griefes and oppressions whiche this realme, as you know, hath sustained by the Romanistes & yet doth: as well to the preiudice of the kyng him selfe as also of the nobilitie of the same, concernyng the aduowsōs of theyr churches and about theyr tythes: who also go about to take from the clerkes and spirituall men theyr benefices, and to bestowe them vpon theyr owne nation and countreymen, to the spoyle and confusion both of vs and our realme: we therfore by our common consentes haue thought good (although very late) now yet rather, then any lenger to suffer their intolerable oppressions and extortions, to resiste and withstande the same. And by the takyng from them their benefyces through all England, in like maner to cut shorte & bridle them, as they had thought to haue kepte vnder and bridled others: wherby they may desist any lēger to molest the realme. Wherfore, we straitly charge and commaund you, that as touchyng the fermyng of theyr churches or els the rētes belongyng to them, whiche either you haue presently in your hāds or els do owe vnto the sayd Romanists: that from hence forth you be no more acoumptable vnto them or els pay vnto them from hence foorth the same. But that you haue the sayd your rentes and reuenewes redy, by such a day, to pay and deliuer vnto our procuratours therunto by our letters assigned. Andthat all Abbates and priors haue the same in a redynes at the day appointed, in theyr owne monasteries: and all other priests, clerkes, and laymen, at the churches of the Romanistes theare readye to pay. And farther know ye for certeynty that if ye refuse thus to do: that all that you haue besides shalbe by vs brēt and spoyled. And besides looke what daunger we purpose shall fall vpon them, the same shall lyght vpon your neckes, if you refuse thus to do. Farewell.

Whē this was done, they sent these letters abroad by certein souldiers therunto appoynted: to þ^e which letters they had deuised a newe seale with two swordes ingraued, and betwene the swordes was written. Ecce gladij duo, &c. Behold these two swordes ready to take vengeance of all those that shal withstand the forme and order in these letters contained.Marginalia1232.At that tyme the 16. day before the Kalendes of Ianuary, about the begynnyng of the yeare. 1232. there was kept at S. Albons a great consistory of Abbotes, priors archdeacons, with diuers other both of the nobilitie and clergie by the Popes commaundement: for the celebration of a diuorse betwene the Countes of Essex and her husband. At the breaking vp of which Consistory, when euery man was about to depart thēce. MarginaliaA Romaine priest, chanon of Paules takē & robbed by souldiours.There was a certaine clerke whose name was Cinci⁹ a Romane, & was also a Chanon of Paules in Londō: takē by some of the sayd vniuersitie not farre of from Saint Albons, & was caried away from his companie by the souldiers. But master Ihon archdeacō of Norwich a Florentine hardly escapyng from that company gat to London, where he hyd him self and durst not be sene. Cintius after fyue weekes, when they had well emptied his bagges, was safly sent agayne without any more hurt to London.

MarginaliaThe barnes of a Romane person of Winghā broke vp & the corne distributed to the poore.Not long after this, about the begyynyng of Ianuary: the barnes of a certaine beneficed man, a Romane, and person of Winghā, beyng full of corne: were broke vp by a like companie of armed souldiers. And the corne brought out to be sold and geuē away to the poore people. The fermer seyng this and not able to resiste, complayneth to the shyrife of the shyre, of this iniurie done to his master, and of breakyng the kynges peace: wherupon, the shyrife sent certayne of his men to see what was done. Who comming to the emptie barnes, & there findyng the foresayd souldiours to them vnknowē, who had sold away the most part of þ^e corne vpon easy price, and some for charitie had geuē to the pouertie of þ^e countrey about: required of them what they were, that so durst presume to breake the kinges peace. Whom the other then called secretly a parte, and shewed them the kynges letters patents (pretendyng at least the kynges name and seale) wherin was forbidden, þ^t no man should presume to stoppe or let them in that purpose. Wherof the shyriffes seruauntes beyng certified, quietly returned from whence they came.

This commyng to the knowledge of Roger Byshop of London, he (with the assistance of other bishops) procedeth in solemne excommunication, first agaynst thē þ^t robbed Cintius the Romane: then of them whiche spoyled the barnes of the person of Wingham, an other Romane. Thirdly he excōmunicated them that forged the letters and seale of the kyng aboue specified.

MarginaliaThe Romaines and Italian persons in Englād robbed of their rentes and corne.Neither yet for all that, this did so cease, but the same yeare, about Easter next folowyng, all the barnes in England, whiche were in the handes of anay Romane or Italian, were lykewise wasted: and the corne solde to the best commoditie of the poore commons. Of the which, great almose was distributed: and many times, money also with corne together was sparsed, for the nedye people to gather vp. Neither was there any, that would or durst stād agaynst them. MarginaliaA generall spoyle of the Romaine persons in England.As for the Romanes and Italians them selues, were stricken in such feare: þ^t they hyd them selues in monasteries and selles, not da-