the tollage of the same surmounteth to the fifte parte of the valuation of the whole land. And because therfore the commons wyshed the honour and preseruation of their king (as they were boūd to doe) they thought it not good for hys grace to saile ouer to Flaunders, vnles he had better assuerance of their fidelitie, especially at this tyme the Scottes being so busie: who if they began to rebell, he being at home in hys land, much more were they lyke to styre, he being abroad out of the land. And that not onely for the Scottes: but also for that the lyke perill was to bee doubted of other foren nations and kingdoms, which as yet were in no firme peace wyth England, &c?

MarginaliaThe kinges aunswer to the petitiōs of the barōs and the commons.To these peticions, the king said that he could as yet make no resolute aunswere, for that hys counsaile, some was gone ouer alreadie to Flaunders, some were yet at London. Notwithstanding, at hys returne agayn from Flaunders (which he trusted shoulde be spedelye) they should then heare hys aunswere and know more of hys minde concerning the same. In the meane tyme, this he requyred of them, to keepe good rule at home whyle he was forth. What answere þ^e kyng had mynded to make them at hys returne, it is vncertayne, which peraduenture had turned to a bloudie answere: but occasion serued otherwyse, & turned all to agreemēt. For the Scots with their captayne William Waleys aboue specified, in the tyme the king being absent, inuaded the realme with such violence: that prince Edward þ^e kings sonne, who was left to rule in hys fathers stead, was forced to assemble a Parliament, MarginaliaHumfrey Bonne. Roger Bigotand to call for þ^e Earle of Hereford, the Earle of Northfolke high Marshall of Englād, Earle of Essex heigh Constable, with other Earles, Barons, knightes and esquiers, to entreate peace and concorde betwene hys father and them. Who comming vp to London with a M. CCCCC. well armed souldioures, and obtayning the gates of the citie with their owne men, fell at length to agrement with the prince, vpon composition to haue the articles of magna Charta, and of Charta de foresta, confirmed, and that by hys meanes and mediation they might be assured of þ^e kings displeasure to be remoued from them. The which foresayd articles of Magna charta with the other articles adioyned with all, here followe vnder written.

MarginaliaThe articles conteyned in Magna charta.First, no tollage or subsidie by the king or his heires to be imposed or leuied hereafter with in the realme of England, without the cōmon assent of the Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, and other prelates, Earles, Borons, knightes, burgeses, and commons of the realme.

Item, no taker or seruiture of the king or of his heires henceforth within this realme, to take grain, wolle, leather, or any goods of any man, without the will and consent of hym which is the owner.

No taking to be hereafter, in name of tribute, for any packe of wolle.

Item, to be graunted by the king and his heires after hym, both to the clergie & laitie of this foresayd realme: to haue and to enioye their lawes, liberties, and all customes, in as ample maner as they were wonte at anye tyme heretofore.

Item, if anye decrees or statutes shall hereafter be made and setforth, contrarye to these foresayd articles: the same to stand voyde and of no effecte for euer.

MarginaliaAgreement concluded and sealed betwene the kinge and his Barons.Besides these articles, also in the same composition was conteyned: þ^t all grudge & displeasure betwene the kyng and the Barons for not going to Flanders, ceasing: the Earles and Barons myght be assured to be receaued agayne into the kings fauour.

MarginaliaThe moderate & good nature of king Edward notedThese thinges thus agreed vpon, and by mediation of the prince also confirmed and sealed with þ^e kinges seale hys father: so was all the variance pacified, to the great comfort of the people, and no lesse strength of the realme agaynst their enemies: And most chieflye to the commēdation of the gentle and wyse nature of the king: Whoas he was gentle in promysing hys reconcilement wyth hys subiectes, so no les constant was he in keeping that which he had promised.

MarginaliaRob. Winchelsey archbish. of Cant.After the death of Iohn Packham archbishop of Cāterbury aboue mencioned, who in the parlament had resisted the king in the right of certayne liberties pertayning to the ccowne, touchyng patronages and suche church matters: succeded Robert Winchelse, with whō also the king had like variance: and accused hym to the pope for breaking of peace, and tooke parte with them that rebelled agaynst the king about vsages and liberties of þ^e realme. Wherfore, þ^e king being cited vp to the court of Rome, was there suspended till he had purchased hys absolution agayne. MarginaliaKyng Edward was troubled with ii archb. of Cant.And as the king was troubled in hys tyme with both the archbishops, Iohn Peckham, and also Robert Winchelsey: so it happened to all other kinges for the most part, from the tyme of Lancfrancus (that is from pope Hildebrand) that euery king in his tyme had some busines or other with that see. MarginaliaThe church of Rome, and Romish prelates set against kings & rulersAs Wylliam Rufus, and Henrye the fyrste were troubled with Anselmus: Henry the seconde with Thomas Becket: King Richard and all England, with William byshop of Ely the popes Legate: King Iohn with Stephen Langhton: King Henry the thyrd with Edmunde archbishop, called S. Edmund. Polic. lib. 7. Lykewyse thys king Edward the first, with Iohn Peckham & Robert Wynchelsey aforesayd. MarginaliaKings of England commonly troubled, with archb. of Cant.And so other kinges after hym, with some prelate or other: whereby ye haue to vnderstand, how and about what tyme the churche of Rome whych before tyme was subiect to kynges and princes, began fyrst to take heade aboue, and agaynst kynges and rulers, and so haue kept it euer since.

MarginaliaPriests to haue but one benefice.By thys Ihon Peckham afore mencioned, was ordayned: that no spirituall minister should haue any mo benefices then one, which also was decreed by the constitutions of Octo and Octobonus, the Popes Legates the same tyme in England.

MarginaliaVariaunce betwene the archbish. of Yorke and the cleargy of Duresme.About the begynning of this kynges reigne, after the decease of Walter archbishop of Yorke: Williā Wycewanger succedyng in that see, mindyng to go on visitation: came to Duresme to visite the church and chapter there. But the cleargy & the people of the citie, shoot the gates agaynst him and kept him out, wherupon rose no small disturbance. The archbishop let flye his curse of excommunication and interdiction agaynst them. The byshop of Duresme againe with his clergie, despised al his cursings grounding thē selues vpō the cōstitution of Innocētius the fourth, De censibus & exactionibus. And so they appealled to Rome, saying: that he ought not to be receaued there, before he had first begon to visit his own chapter and dioces, whiche he had not done. For so say the wordes of the constitution: We ordeyne and decree that euery Archbishop, that will visite his prouince, first must procure to visite his own church, citie, & dioces. &c.

MarginaliaInquisition made agaynste ill rulers and false officers.Among other things in this kyng to be noted, this is not to be passed ouer: that where complaynt was made to him of his officers, as Iustices, Maiors, Shiriffes Baliffes, Excheters, and such other: who in their offices abusing themselues, extortioned and oppressed the kinges liege people, otherwise then was according to right and cōscience: þ^e said kyng not sufferyng such misorder to be vnpunished, did appointe certeine iustices or inquisitors to the number of xii. MarginaliaTrailbastoun.whiche inquisition was called Traibaston, or Trailbastoun: by meane of whiche inquisitiō, diuers false officers were accused, and such as were offēders wer either remoued from their place, or forced to bye agayne their office at the kynges hande: to their no small losse and great gayne to the kyng, and much profite to the common wealth.

MarginaliaEx chron. Rob. Auesb.In the chronicle of Robert Amesburye it is recorded of the sayd king, that he beyng at Amesbery to see his mother (who was thē in that monastery professed) there was a certayne man, that fayned himselfe blind a long