there in a certayne towne belonging to the bishop of Norwich. Wherof when the kyng was certified, fearing lest he would raise vp some commotion in the Realme: sendeth in hasty anger after hym, Sir Godfred Cranecumbe knyght, with 300. men: commaunding vnder payne of hanging, that they should apprehend hym, as bryng hym to þ^e tower of London. Which commaundement to accomplish, there lacked no hast. MarginaliaHubert flyeth to the Church for hys refuge.Hubert hauyng intelligence of their commyng (risyng out of hys bed, naked as he was) ranne to the chapell stāding nere to þ^e Inne, where he holdeth with the one hande the crosse, with the other hand the Sacrament of the Lordes body. Then Godfride with his foresaid armed souldiours entryng into the Chappell, willed him to come out. MarginaliaHubert violently drawen out of the church. Hubert cast into the tower of Londō.Which when he would not: with violent handes he drew hym out of the Chappell, and takyng the Crosse and Sacrament out of hys handes fast bounde hym with fetters and giues vnder the horse belly, and brought hym as they were commaunded, to the Tower. And so certifiyng the Kyng what they had done (who then taryed vp wakyng for them) he reioysed not a little therat, and went mery to hys bed.

MarginaliaThe kyng blamed for breaking the peace of holy Church.The next morrow followyng after, Roger Byshop of London had knowledge, how and in what order he was taken violently out of the Chappell: he commeth to þ^e king blamyng him boldly for violating the peace of holy church, and protested that vnlesse the partie were loosed agayne, and sent to the Chappell from whence he was drawen, he would enter sentence of excommunication agaynst all the dede doers.

MarginaliaThe kyng compelled to send Hubert. againe to his sanctuary.The kyng as he did not deny his transgression herein, so sendeth hym, albeit agaynst his will, out of the Tower, to the sayd Chappell agayne and by the same souldiors, which brought hym out before. Which done, he geueth in straight charge and commaundement vnder payne of hangyng, to the Sheriffes of Herforde and of Essex, that they in their owne persons with the strength of both the Shires, should watch and compasse about the Chappell, and see that the sayd Hubert no wayes might escape. Which commaundement of the king was accomplished with all diligence. But Hubert tooke all this paciently, and continued in the Chappell praying both night and day, and commending his cause vnto the Lord, whome he desired so to deliuer hym from that instant daunger, as he alwayes sought the kinges honour by his faithfull and trusty seruice. And as he continued in his prayer so the kyng continuyng in hys rage, commaunded that no man should intreat for hym, or make any mention of hym in hys presence. MarginaliaExample of a constant frend in the time of nede.Notwithstandyng, yet Lucas Archbyshop of Dubline, hys true and almost onely friende, ceased not to pray and weepe to the kyng for hym, desiryng the kyng at least to intimate to hym, what he purposed should be done wyth Hubert. Whereunto the kyng aunsweryng, sayd, that of three things one he should chuse: MarginaliaThree thinges put to Hubert to chuse.whether he woulde abiure the Realme of England for euer, or be condemned to perpetuall pryson, or els confesse hymselfe openly to be a Traytour. But Hubert hereunto sayde, that he woulde chuse none of these Articles, as who knewe hymselfe neyther giltie, nor worthye of any suche confusion: but to satisfie somewhat the mynde of the kyng, he would bee content to departe the Realme for a season, but to abiure the Realme, he would not so doe.

In this meane tyme it befell that Ranulphus Earle of Chester and of Lincoln, one of his sorest enemies dyed. Hubertus all this whyle remayned in the Chappell inclosed & garded about with the power, as is sayd of two Shires, & so continued til at length by the cōmaundement of the king, his two seruitoures which ministred to hym within the Chappell, were take from hym. MarginaliaHubert yeldeth himselfe to the Sheriffes.Then Hubert seeyng no other remedy but there to starue for famine, offered hymselfe of his owne accorde to the Sheriffes, saying, that he would put hymselfe rather in the kynges mercy, then there desperatly to perish for hunger. MarginaliaHubert reduced againe to the Tower.And so was he taken, and beyng fast bounde in fetters was brought agayne & clapped by the kinges commaundement, in the Tower of London.

Not long after this, worde was brought to the king by certaine, that the sayd Hubert had much treasure lying in the house of the new Templaries in London. Whereupon the kyng to try out the truth therof, sendeth for the Priour or maister of þ^e house. Who not daring to deny, cōfessed that there was in deede treasure brought into the house, but the quantitie and number therof he could not tell. The king desirous to season vpon the treasure, required and charged the Maister with his brethren, with threatnyng wordes, to bryng forth the treasure to hym, saying that it was taken and stolne out of hys treasurie. But they aunswered againMarginaliaFaithfull depositaries.that the treasure was committed with trust and faith vnto their handes: and therfore they would nor ought to let it go out of their handes, beyng trusted withall, without the assent of hym which committed the same vnto them. When the kyng could get no other answer at their handes, neither durst shew any further violence agaynst them, he sendeth to Hubert in þ^e the Tower, requiring of hym the foresaid treasures. To whome he aunswering agayne mildely, yelded both himselfe, hys treasures, & all that euer he had vnto the kings will & pleasure, & so sendyng worde to the Maister & brethren of the Temple, MarginaliaHubert bereft of all his treasure.willeth them to take all the keyes, and deliuer the goods, with all that there was to the kyng. Who receauyng the same, and taking an Inuentorie of that which was receaued, caused it to be brought to his treasure, wherof the number both of the plate, of coyne, and of the Iuels was of price vnknowne. MarginaliaAn. 1232.The enemies of Hubert supposing therby to take aduauntage against hym to bring hym to his ende, come with open complaint to the king, crying out against Hubert, that he was a thiefe, a traytor, and a robber of the kings treasure, and therefore by right was worthy to be hanged: and thus cried his accusers daily in the kinges eare. MarginaliaGod ruleth the harts of kynges.But the hartes of kinges (saith the wise man) are in the handes of the Lorde, to be ruled not after mans will, but as it pleaseth God to direct them. And so this king, hauyng now his will and fill vpon poore Hubert, and somewhat cōmyng more vnto hymself, answered againe in this wise: MarginaliaThe kinges answere in defense of Hubert.that there was no such neede to deale so straitly with him, who from the tyme of his yougth first serued myne vncle king Richard, then my father king Iohn, in whose seruice, (as I heard say) beyond the Seas he was driuen to eate his horse, Parisiens. pag. 81. and in my tyme hath stand so constantly in defence of the Realme against foreine nations, who kept the Castle of Douer agaynst king Lewes, and vanquished the Frenchmen> vpon the Seas, also at Bedforde, and at Lincolne hath done suche seruice. And though against me he hath delt any thing vntruely, which yet is not euidently proued, yet he shall neuer be put by me to so vilanous death. I had rather be counted a kyng foolish and simple, then to be iudged a tyraunt or a seeker of bloude, especially of such as haue serued me and myne aunciters in many perils so daungerously, weying more the fewe euils which yet be not proued, then so many good desertes of his euident and manifest seruice done both to me and to the whole realme. &c. And thus the kyng somewhat relentyng to poore Hubert his olde seruaunt, graunted vnto hym all such landes as he had geuen by K. Iohn hys father, and what so euer els he had by hys owne purchase.

MarginaliaThe kinges minde relenteth toward Hubert.Thus Hubert after long trouble, a litle chered wyth some peece of comfort, set Laurence hys trusty frende that neuer left hym, one that belonged to S. Albons, to be hys Stuard and ouerseer of those possessions graunted to hym by the king. And shortly vpon the same, after the kynges mynde was seene thus something to relent, the enuy also of the nobles beyng now partly satisifed: began to turne to mercy: MarginaliaFoure Earles sureties for Hubert.In so much that iiij. Earles, to witte: Earle Richard the kynges brother, William Earle of Warenne, Richard Earle Marschal, and William Earle of Ferrys, became sureties to the kyng for hym. MarginaliaHubert put in the Castle of Castle of Deuisis.Vppon whose surety he was transferred to the Castle of Diuisis: where he was vnder the keeping of iiij. souldiours by them appoynted, hauing the libertie of the Castle. MarginaliaAn. 1233.But the Byshop of Winchester, who alwayes hunted after the life of Hubert, craftely commeth to the kyng, and desireth the custody of that Castle, making no mention of Hubert, to the entent that by the keeping therof, he myght the sooner dispatch hym. Hubert hauing therof some inklyng, breaketh the matter to two of hys seruitours, who with compassion tenderyng his misery, MarginaliaHubert conueyed out of the Castle into the Parishe Church.watched their tyme, (the keepers being a sleep) and conueyed him by night vpon their backes, fettered as he was into the Parish Church of the Towne, and there remayned with him. The keepers when they miste theyr prisoner, were in great perplexitie, and after diligent search finding hym at length, where he was in the Church, with violent force drew hym from thence into the Castle againe. For the which iniurie done to the Church, the Byshop of Sarum, vnderstandyng the order of the matter, commeth to the Castle where the keepers were, and required that Hubert should be brought agayne into the Church, from whence he was taken. MarginaliaHubert agayne taken out of the Church, and brought back to the castel.Which when the keepers denyed to do, saying that they would rather that he should hang then they: then the Byshop gaue sentence agaynst them of excommunication. Which done, he wyth the Byshop of London and other Byshops, goeth immediatly to the kyng, complayning of the iniury done to Hubert, and especially of the contumely agaynst holy Church: neither would they