thers quarell. But of thinges vncertain I haue nothing certainly to affirme. Marginalia1260.This is certaine, by truth of history, that the yeare next ensuing, whiche was. 1260. thus writeth Nicho. Triuet, that the kynges Iustices called Itinerarii, being sent thether to execute their office, wer frō thēce repelled: þ^e cause beyng alledged, for that they were against the king, in proceding and enterprising against the forme of the prouisiōs enacted and stablished a litle before at the towne of Oxford.

MarginaliaStrangers hauyng all the wealth of the realm vnder the kyng.It befel moreouer the same yere, aboue other times (as Gualt. Hemingford writeth) that a greate number of aliens comming out of Fraunce and other prouincies, resorted into England: and had here the doing of al principall matters of the realme vnder the king. MarginaliaEx Gualt. GisburnensiVnto whom the rewardes and reliefes, & other emoluments of the land did most chiefely redound, which thing to see did not a lyttle trouble and vexe the nobilitie and baronage of England. In so much, that Simon Montfort Earle of Leycester, offering to stande to death for the liberties and wealth of the realme, conferred together with other Lordes and Barons vpon the matter. Who then comming to the king after an humble sort of petition, MarginaliaThe words of the nobles to the kynge.declared to him how all the doings of his realme and his owne affaires, were all together disposed by the handes and after the wylles of straungers, neither profitable to him, nor to the weale publicke: for so much as his treasures being wasted and consumed, he was in great debt, neither was able to satisfy the prouision of hys owne house, but dryuen to tale for his owne cates, to no small dishonour to his own estate. And now therefore sayd they, pleaseth your highnes to bee informed by our aduise, and to commit your house to the guiding & gouernment of your owne faithful and natural subiectes. And we wyll take vpon vs to discharge your whole debt within one yere, of our owne proper goods and reuenewes, so that we within. v. yeares may cleare our selues againe. Neither will we diminish your family, but rather increase it with a muche greater retinue. Prouiding so for the safety and seing to the custodye of your royall person, as you highnes shall finde and vnderstand our diligence most trustye and faythfull vnto you in the ende.

MarginaliaThe kynge graunteth to his lordsTo these wordes so louingly declared, so humbly pretensed, so hartely and frely offred, the king as wyllingly condescended: assigning to them bothe day and place, where to conferre and to deliberate farther vpon the matter, which should be at Oxford, the. xv. day after Easter. MarginaliaA Sitting of the king and lords at OxfordAt which day & place, all the states and lordes, with the bishops of the realme were summoned to appere at the sayd towne of Oxford, for the behalfe of the kyng, and the realme conuented together. MarginaliaThe prouisions or lawes made at Oxford.Where first of the king hym selfe, then of the Lordes an othe was taken: that what decrees or lawes in the sayd assembly should be prouided to the profyt of the king and of the realme, the same vniuersally should be kept and obserued to the honour of God, and vtilitie of his church, and wealth of the realme. MarginaliaThe kyng sueareth to the prouisions made at Oxford.Besides these lordes and the king, were also ix. bishops, which swearing to the same, did excommunicate all such as should gaynstand the sayd prouisions there made, the king holding a burning taper in his hād, and the Lordes openly protesting, to ryse with all their force, against all them that shal stand against the same.

MarginaliaThe kyngs brethren agaynst the prouisions of oxford.There were at that present in the realme, foure brethren of the kinges (most part of them by the mothers side) which would in no case agree hereunto, but in anger departed away priuely vnto Wint. The nobles hearing thereof, in all speedye wyse pursued them, fearing least they should take the city of Wint. and forceablye keepe the same. Wherfore, the Lordes preuenting theyr purpose, and seing them stiffelye to persist in their stubburne sentence: wrought no other violence against thē, but returning to Oxford againe, prescribed to thē theseconditions, that they departing the realme shoulde repayre to their own landes & possessions, which they had beyond the sea. And þ^t forthwith they should put this iniunction in execution. Notwithstanding that the kyng made for them great intercession, yet it tooke no place. MarginaliaThe prouisions of Oxford.And because this should seeme to proceede of no speciall displeasure against them, they enacted moreouer, that all straungers and aliens of what state or condition soeuer, should foorthwyth auoide the realme in payne of death. Diuers other prouisions the same tyme were ordeined and stablished: that if any did hold of the kyng in whole or in part, and should chaunce him to depart (his heyre being vnder age) the wardshyp of him should belong to the king, as hath partly before bene specified.

MarginaliaEx historia Gualteri. Gisburnensis.Moreouer it was there decreed, that the woolle of England should be wrought onelye within the realme, neyther should it be transported out to straungers.

Item, that no man shoulde weare anye clothe, but which was wrought & made onelye within the realme.MarginaliaGod graūt this law might take place agayne.

Item, that garmentes to sumptuous shoulde, not be brought in nor worne.

Item, that all excessiue and prodigall expenses wasted vpon pleasure and superfluitie, should be eschued of all persons.MarginaliaGod graunt the like law again for the wealth of the realme.

Manye other lawes and decrees (sayth the autor) in this assemble were ordeined, wherin they continued the space of. xv. dais: MarginaliaDyuers in this counsail impoysoned.And many of them were impoisoned, of whom was the abbot of Westminster, a man in that order much commended. Also William brother to the Earle of Gloucester. Also the Earle himselfe being empoysoned hardely escaped with life, his heare and nailes falling of his body, wherof the autor not lōg after was taken, and duly executed at Wint. In the meane tyme, the nobles considering these daungers and ieopardies, were constrayned to breake of for that tyme, apoynting the. xiiij. day of October next following, to conuent together at London with weapon and harnes: to prosecute and finish the residue, that was in the sayd counsaile to be concluded. All which at the tyme and place apoynted was fully accomplished, and the actes therof in order of writing promulged, and so committed to execution.

MarginaliaThe kyng repenteth of hys othe.After the promulgation wherof, many things therein displeased the king, and it began to repent him of his othe. But because he could not at that presēt otherwise chuse, he dissimuled for a season. MarginaliaAn. 1261.Thus tyme passing on, within a yeare following, which was. 1261. the king seing himselfe more and more to grow in debt, and not to be relieued according to the promise made, but especially being egged (as may be thought) by his brethren: MarginaliaThe kyng sueth to the pope to release him of hys othe.taking it to stomache, sent vp to the Pope bothe for hym, and his sōne Edward, to be released of their othe made before at Oxford. MarginaliaThe popes absolution abused.The benefyt of which absolution being easelye obtained (or rather bought at the Popes hande) the king stepping backe from all that was before concluded, calleth an other parliament at Oxford. Where, he before the Lordes and nobles declared: how in the late counsayle of Oxforde they had agreed amōg themselues for the common vtilitye of the realme and of the king (as they pretended) for the encreasyng of hys treasure, and his debt to be diminished. And thereupon bound themselues with an othe, causing also himselfe, & his sonne Edward to be bound to the same. But nowe by experīce prouing and trying the matter to be otherwise then their promise was: and that they, contrary to their couenaunt made, sought not so much the profit of him and of the realme as their own, taking him not as their Lord, but goyng about to bryng hym vnder theyr subiection as an vnderlyng: and for that moreouer hys treasure greatly decreasing, hys debtes encreased, and his princely liberality was cut short & trodē vnderfoote: They should not maruel therfore, if he hēceforth would be no more ruled by theyr counsayl, but would prouide