had þ^e more hate vnto him, for that he had brought him vp of nought, & did finde him at that tyme so stubburne: MarginaliaWalter Gray Archb. of Yorke.wherfore he placed in his brothers place Walter Gray, the Byshop of Winchester.

MarginaliaGualo the popes Legate.In the same yeare, Gualo the Popes legate renued his great curse vpon Lewes the French kynges sonne, for vsurping vpon king Iohn. Likewise vpon Symon Langton and Geruais Hobruge, for prouoking him to the same, and that with a wonderfull solemnitie: for in that doing he made all the belles to be rong, the candels to be light, the doores to be opened, and the booke of excommunications and interdictions publikely to be read: cōmitting thē wholy to the deuill, for their contumacy and contempt. He also commaunded the Byshops and Curates, to publishe it abroad ouer all the whole realme, to the terror of all his subiectes. MarginaliaRadul. Niger cap. 43 44.The sayd Symō and Geruais laughed him to scorne, and derided much his doinges in that behalfe, saying: that for the iust title of Ludowicke, they had appealed to the generall councell at Rome.

MarginaliaThe popes curse laught to scorne.The Magistrates of London and citezins of the same, did likewise vylipende and disdaynously mocke all that the Pope had there commaunded and done. And in spight both of him and his Legate, they kept company with them that were excommunicated, both at table and at Church: shewyng themselues thereby, as open contemnners, both of him & his lawes. Ludowicke at Londō taking himself for king, constituted Symon Langton for his high Chauncellor, & Geruais Hobruge for his chiefe preacher. By whose dayly preachinges, as well the Barons as the Citezins themselues, beyng both excommunicated, caused all the church doores to be opened, and the seruice to be song, and the said Ludowicke was in all pointes fit for their handes. MarginaliaPandulphus the popes collector made bish. of Norwich.About this time, was Pandulphus (then Cardinall) collectyng the Peter pence, an olde pillage of the Pope: taking great paynes therin. And for his great labours in those affaires of holy church, and for other great miracles besides: he was then made Byshop of Norwich, to the augmentyng of his dignitie and expenses.

MarginaliaMat Paris
Radul. Niger. ca. 47It chaunced about this tyme, that the Vicoūt of Melun (a very noble man of the realme of Fraūce, which came thether wyth the Prince Ludowicke) to fall deadly sicke at London: and also moued of conscience to call certaine of the English Barons vnto hym (such as were there appointed to the custody of that citie) sayd vnto them. I lament your sorowfull case, and pitie with my hart the destructiō that is comming towardes you and your countrey. MarginaliaThe great prouidence of God for the helpe of England.The daungerous snares which are prepared for your vtter confusion, are hidden from you: ye do not beholde them, but take ye heede of them in tyme. Prince Ludowick hath sworne a great oth, and xvi. of his Earles and noble mē are of counsell wyth him, that if he obtaine the crown of England, he will banishe all them from seruice, and depriue thē of landes and goods, as many as he findeth now to goe agaynst their liege kyng, and are traitours to hys noble person. And because ye shal not take this tale for a fable, I assure you on my fayth (lying now at the mercy of God) that I was one of them, which was sworn to the same. I haue great conscience therof, and therfore I geue you this warning. I pitie poore England, which hath bene so noble a region, that now it is come to so extreme misery. And when he with teares had lamented it a space, he turned agayne vnto them, and sayd: my frendes, I counsell you earnestly, to looke to your selues, and to prouide þ^e remedy in time, least it come vpō you vnwares. Your kyng for a seasō hath kept you vnder: but if Ludowick preuaile, he will put you frō all. Of two extreme euils, choose the more easie, & keepe that secret which I haue tolde you of good will: with that he gaue ouer and departed this life.

When this was once noysed among the Barons, they were in great heauines: for they saw themselues betrapped euery way, and to be in exceding great daunger. And this dayly augmented that feare which then came vpō the Barons. They were extremely hated of the Pope & his Legates, and euery weeke came vpon them new execommunications. Daily detriments they had besides: in their possessions and goods: in their landes and houses: corne and cattell, wiues and children: so that some of them were driuen to such neede, that theiy were enforced to seek prayes and booties for sustayning their miserable liues. For looke what soeuer prince Ludowicke obtayned by his warres, eyther territories or castels: he gaue them all to his French men (in spight of their heads) and said that they wer but traitors, like as they had warning afore, which greued thē worst of all. At the last, they perceiuing that in seeking to auoyd one mischiefe, they were redy to fall into an other, much worse: they began to lay their heds together, consenting to submit themselues wholy with all humilitie to the mercy of their late soueraigne, and naturall liege Lord, K. Ihon. And for that they were somewhat in doubte of their lyues for þ^e treason afore cōmitted: many of þ^e friends of thē which were of most credite with hym, made suit for thē. So were a great number of them pardoned, after instaunt great suite made for them. I here omit hys recouery of Rochester castle and citie, with many other daungerous aduentures agaynst the foresayde Ludowicke, both at London, Yorke, Lincolne, Winchester, Norwiche and other places els, as thinges not pertainyng to my purpose. And now I returne to my matter agayne.

Into Suffolke and Norffolke he consequently iourneyed, with a very strong army of men: and there, wyth great mischiefe he afflicted them, because they had geuen place & were sworne to his enemies. After that, he destroyed the Abbeyes of Peterborough & Crowland, for þ^e great treasons which they also had wrought against him, and so he departed from thence into Lincolneshire.

MarginaliaPope Innocent the iii. dyeth.In this yeare, about the xvij. day of Iuly, dyed Pope Innocent the third, and was buried in a citie called Perusium in Italy: where as he had trauailed to make a peace betwene the Genouayes and the Pyses, for his owne commoditie and aduauntage. After him anone to succeded one Cintius otherwise called Honorius Tertius, a man of very great age: yet liued he in the papacie x. yeares and an halfe, and more. When this was once knowē in England: greatly reioyced all they which were king Iohns enemies, specially the priestes: yet had they small cause, as will appeare hereafter. They noysed it all the realme ouer, that this new Pope would set a new order, and not rule things as the other Pope did: thinking therby that he would haue done all thinges to their commoditie: but they found it otherwise. For he made all them which were excommunicate, to pay double and treble, ere they could be restored agayne to their former liuinges.

MarginaliaK. Iohn poysoned by a Monke.And in the selfe same yeare, as king Iohn was come to Swinestead Abbey, not farre from Lincolne: he rested there two dayes: where (as most writers testifie) he was most trayterously poysoned by a monke of that abbey, of the sect of the Cistercians or S. Bernardes brethren called Simon of Swinsted. As concerning the noble personage of this prince: this witnes geueth Roger Houeden therin: Princeps quidહ magnus erat sed minus felix: atque vt Marius vtramque fortunam expertus. MarginaliaEx chronico cui titulus Eulogium.Doubtles (sayth he) kyng Iohn was a mighty prince, but not so fortunate as many were. Not altogether vnlike to Marius the noble Romaine: he tasted of fortune both wayes: bountifull in mercy: in warres sometyme he wanne, sometyme agayne he lost. Munificus ac liberalis in exteros fuit, sed proditionis causa suorum depredator, plus aduenis quam suis confidens. He was also very bounteous & liberall vnto straūgers but of his owne people (for their dayly treasons sake) he was a great oppressour, so that he trusted more to foreiners then to them.

Among other diuers and sundry conditions belongyng to this king, one there was which is not in him to be reprehended, but commended rather: for that being farre from the superstition which kinges at that time were commonly subiect vnto: regarded not the popishe masse, as in certayne Chronicles writing of hym may be collected: for so I finde testified of him by Mat. Parisiensis.MarginaliaEx Math. Paris.that the king vpō a time in hys hunting, comming where a very fat stag was cut vp and opened (or how the hunters terme it I cannot tell) the king beholding the fatnes and the liking of the stagge: MarginaliaThe saying of K. Iohn deridyng the Masse.see sayth he, how easily and happely he hath lyued, and yet for all that he neuer heard any masse.

It is recorded and found in the Chronicle of Wylliam Caxton, called fructus temporum, and in the, 7. booke. MarginaliaEx Caxtono Lib. 7.The foresayd monke Simon being much offēded with certaine talke that the king had at his table, concerning Ludouicke the French kinges sonne (which then had entred and vsurped vpon him) did cast in his wicked hart how he most spedely might bring him to his end. And first of all he counseled with his Abbot, shewing him the whole matter, and what he was mynded to doe. He alledged for hymselfe the prophecy of Cayphas, Iohn. xi. saying: It is better that one man die, then all the people should perish. I am well contented (sayth he) to loose my life, and so become a martyr, that I may vtterly destroy this tyraunt. With that þ^e Abbot did weepe for gladnes, and much commended hys feruent zeale, as he tooke it. MarginaliaWoe be to you that call good euill & euill good.
Simon Monke absolued of hys Abbot for poysoning his kyng.The Monke then being absolued of his Abbot for doing thys act (aforehand) went secretly into a garden vpon the backe side, and finding there a most venemous Toad, he so pricked him, and pressed him with his penknife: that he made him vomit all the poyson