people came to the eares of the Barons, and they made speede to resist them, but it was all in vayne, because they were alreadye preuented of a great companye of their enemies. MarginaliaSimon Mountfort the yonger taken prisoner.But Simon Mountforte the younger, after he had valiantly fought a whyle in the middest of his enemies with Peter Mountforte, and a fewe that wer with him: when Edward the kings sonne came, was by his commaundemēt taken and led away prisoner. MarginaliaThe scholers of Oxforde stout agaynst the king.But the Clarkes of the vniuersity of Oxfore (which vniuersity by the Barons cōmaundement was translated thether) did worke agaynste the kings men, more hurte then the other Barons, with the slyngs, long bowes, and crossebowes: for they had a banner by them selues, and that was set vp a hye against the king. Wherwithall the king being gretly moued, sware at his entring in, that they should all be hāged. Which when they herd many of them shaued their crownes, & they that were able ran away as fast as thei could. And when the king entred the city, manye fled in their armour into the castell: other left their horse and harnes and ran into churches, and a few were slayne, and those were of the common people. But ther was not much bloudshed, because all thinges were done as vpon a sodayne. When the city was at the length set in a quiet, the king commaunded his othe to be executed vpon the Clarkes. MarginaliaThe studentes of Oxford spared.But hys counsellers sayde vnto him: thys be farre from thee O king, for the sonnes of thy Nobles, and of other great men of thy kingdome were there gathered together into the vniuersitie: whom if thou wouldest cause to bee hanged or slaine, euen they that now take thy part wold ryse vp agaynst thee, not suffering to the vttermost of their powers the blood of their sonnes and kinsfolks to be shed. And so þ^e king was pacified, & his wrath agaynst the Clarkes was stayed.

In the same day, after litle more then an houre, the kinges host assaulted the Castel, and the new hold keepers were afrayd, for that they had not victuals & other thinges necessary for their resistaunce: therfore they sēt immediately messengers vnto the king, and yelded thēselues to the kings mercy. There were taken that daye these knightes and Barons vnder written: MarginaliaThe lordes taken at North hampton.Lord Wylliam de Ferrers, Lorde Peter Mountforte, companion of the sayd Simō de monte forti the yonger, Lord Baldwin de Wake, Lord Adam de Newmarche, Lord Roger Bertram, Lord Simon the sonne of Simon a valiant warriour, which first erected his banner against the king, Lorde Berengarius de Waterwyle, Lord Hugo Gubiam, Lord Thomas Mawnsell, Lorde Roger Botemlam, Nicholas Wake, Lorde Robert de Neuton, Lord Philip de Driby & Grimbald de Pauncefote. All these aforehand did the king take prisoners and many more, of whom he committed some to the Lord Nicholas of Hauersam to be kept in the same castel wel defenced: some he led away with him, and some he sent to diuers castels, and appointed Simon Mountforte to bee cast into Winsor castel. And al these things, as touching the taking of Northamton, were done on the Sabboth day in passion weke, being the third of Aprill, in the yere of our Lord. 1264. And the king went forward euen to Notingham, burnyng and wasting the maners of the Lordes and other his enemies, and there hee gathered together his nobles, and greatly increased his number.

When this ill lucke was tolde of them that were run awaye to the Earle Simon, which was comming towardes Northampton with a great hoste: he was in a great rage, and yet was not discouraged. MarginaliaEarle Symon Mountfort, fayneth himselfe sicke.But immediatlye going to London, caused a chariotte to bee made him after the mnaner of lytters or cotches, wherein he mighte ride as though he were sicke: for he fayned himselfe to be feable and weake, whereas hee was in dede a stoute and valiaunt warrior. And ther gathered to him other noble men that wer cōfederat withhim, Earles and Barons, euerye one bringing with thē their seuerall armies. MarginaliaRochester besieged of the Barons.And preparing their ingynnes of woode, they went to besiege Rochester, of the Earle of Worcester in the kinges behalfe, kept both the towne & castel. When thei had gotten the first gate & the bridge, they were partly wounded and compelled to retire, and there that valiant knight Roger de la Bourn was woūded and verye ill handled: And whylest they continued siege there awhyle, it was tolde them that the king was comming towarde London with a mightye hoast. And they sayde one to an other: if the king at his commyng should take London, we shall bee shut in as it were in a straight corner. Let vs therfore returne to London that we maye keepe in safetye both the place and the people. Therefore, appointing certayne personnes to keepe the siege, they returned to London. At the length when the kyng came, they wente foorth wyth the Citizens to meete him, not with floures and palmes in their hands, but swords and speares. MarginaliaThe kyng shunneth London.The king shunned them, and after he had the castell of Kingston, whych was the Earle of Glocesters, he went from thence to Rochester: where after he had killed a fewe, he brake that siege, and from thence the king went to Tunbridge. And the towne and castel now being geuen vp to him, he toke there þ^e Countesse of Glocester, and put her into an Abbey, not to bee kept in hold, but to go at libertye whether she woulde: And he left for the custody of the castel and city a great part of his hoast to the number of aboue. xx. picked out ensignes, for that it was commonly sayd that the earle of Glocester woulde come out of hand to assault them. Which being done, he cōtinued on his iourney to Winchelsee, where he receiued to peace, the seamen of the hauen townes. And three dayes after vpon the sonday following he came to the towne of Lewes, and was receiued into the Abbey, and his sonne Edward into the castell. Then the Barons sent letters to the king the. xij. day of May, the tenor wherof followeth.

MarginaliaThe letter of the lordss to the kingTo their most excellent Lord Henry by the grace of God king of England, Lord of Irelande, and Duke of Aquitania: his Barons and other his faithful subiectes, being willing to keepe their othe and fidelitye to God & him, send greting and due obedience with honor and reuerence. Whereas by many experimēts it is manifest, that some of your graces assistauntes haue reported to your maiesty many lyes of vs, woorking mischiefe, as much as in thē lyeth, not onely against vs, but against you also and your whole realme: Be it knowen to your highnes, that we haue bene alwayes willing to defende the health and safegard of your person with all our power and fealty due to your grace: purposing to vexe to the vttermost of our power and estate, not onely our yll willers, but also your enemies, and the enemies of your whole realme. If it be your good pleasure geue no credite to them, we shall be alwayes found your faythfull. And we the Earle of Leycester and Gilbert of Clare at the request of the other for vs and them, haue put to our seales.

These letters being read and heard, there was a coūsell called, and the king writ backe to them, and specially to the two Earles of Leycester and Glocester, in maner and forme folowing.

MarginaliaThe aunswer of the king to the lordes.Henry by the grace of God king of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquitanie. &c. To Simon Mountforte, and Gilbert de Clare, and their confederates. For as much as by the warre and generall disquietnes by your meanes raysed vp in our whole realme, and also the burnings and other hurtfull enormities: it appeareth manifestly, that you keepe not your fidelitye to vs ward, nor care any thing for our health or safetye. And for that ye haue inorderly greued our nobles, and other our faythfull subiectes, sticking faithfully and constantly to vs (as you haue certified vs) we accounting theyr