letters, we haue diuers tymes presented to our kyng, & will shortly shew them vnto you all. In the which letters, the Lord Pope hath promised the sayd priuiledgies, either to be vtterly abrogate, or els to be mitigated with some more playne interpretation, of the which we trust shortly to haue the publique Bulle or writ from the Pope.

At last, the sayd Byshop required and desired of all there, of what Dioces or countrey so euer they were: that they would copy out the foresayd priuiledgies, and send them abroad into their coūtreys, that all men might see what they were, and how farre they did extend. MarginaliaThe friers priuileges confuted in disputation at Paris.In fine, the matter cōmyng into open disputation, it was cōcluded by maister Giles one of the Augustine friers (who was thought to be most reasonable of all þ^e other friers, in this wise) that after his sentēce, the Prelates were in the truer part. &c. Hæc ex Godfrido de Fontanis.

¶ Concernyng this wranglyng contention betwene the Vniuersitie and friers of Fraunce heretofore mentioned, wherof partly the originall cause there may be vnderstand by that which hath bene sayd to rise vpon certaine priuilegies graūted by popes to the friers, to intermedle in matters of Parish Churches: As to heare cōfessions, to preach and teach, with power thereto annexed to gather for their labour, to bury within their houses, and to receaue impropriations. &c: because it were long here to describe the full circumstances therof, also because the sayd contention dyd endure a lōg time not onely in Fraūce but also came ouer to England: The whole discourse therof more amply (Christ willyng) shalbe declared in the begynnyng of the next booke folowyng, when we come to the story of Armachanus.

MarginaliaA seditious commotion betwene the townes men and the scholers in the vniuersitie of Oxford.About what tyme & yeare, this brawle was in the Vniuersitie of Paris betwene the friers and Prelates there, as hath bene declared: the like contention happened also in the vniuersitie of Oxford in the yeare aboue prefixed. 1354. saue onely that the strife among the maisters of Paris as it rose vpon Frierly ceremonies, so it went no farther, then brawling wordes and matter of excommunication: but this tumulte rising of a dronken cause, proceded further vnto bloudy stripes. The first originall whereof began in a tauerne, betwene a scholer and the good mā of the house. Who fallyng together in altercatiō, grew to such heate of wordes, that the student (contra ius hospitij) poured the wine vpon the head of the host and brake his head with the quarte pot. Vpon this occasion geuen, eftsoones partes began to be taken betwene townes men and the scholers. In somuch that a greuous sedition & conflict folowed vpon the same: wherin many of the townes men were woūded, and to the number of xx. slayne. Diuers also of the scholers were greuously hurt. The space of two dayes, this hurly burly continued. MarginaliaProcession for peace. The holy procession would bring no peace.Vpon the second day, certaine religious and deuout persons ordeined a solemne procession generall, to pray for peace. Yet notwithstandyng, all that processiō as holy as it was, it would not bryng peace. In the which procession (the skirmish still waxyng hoate) one of the studentes beyng hardly pursued by the townesmen, for succour in his flight, came runnyng to the Priest or frier which caried about (as the maner was) the pixe: thinking to finde refuge at the presence of the transubstātiated God of the aulter there caried and inboxed. MarginaliaTransubstātiation wyll not helpe in time of neede.Notwithstandyng, the God there not present, or els not seyng him, or els peraduenture beyng a slepe: the scholer foūd there small helpe. For the Townesmen in the heate of the chase, forgettyng belike the vertue of the popes transubstātiation, folowed him so hard, that in the presence of the pyxe they brake his head, & wounded him greuously. This done, at length some peace or truce for that day was taken. The next morow folowyng, other townesmen in the villagies about, ioyning with the townesmen of Oxford: confederated together in great force and power to set vpon the Students there, and so did, hauyng a blacke flag borne before thē, and so inuaded the Vniuersitie men. MarginaliaA conquest of the scholers of Oxford.Wherupon, the scholars being ouermatched and compelled to flee into their haules and hostles, were so pursued by their enemies: that. xx. of the doores of their haules and chambers were broke open, and many of them wounded, and (as it is sayd) slayne and throwen into priuies: their bookes with kniues and byls cut all in peeces, and much of their goodes caryed away. MarginaliaThe vniuersitie of Oxford dissolued for a tyme.And thus the Studentes of that Vniuersitie beyng conquered by the townesmen of Oxford, and of the countrey about, departed and left þ^e vniuersitie. So that for a tyme, the scholes there, and all schole actes did vtterly cease from all exercise of study, except onely Merton Colledge haule, with a few other remainyng behinde.

This beyng done the. xij. day of February, the Queene at the same tyme being at Woodstocke, was brought to bed, and purified on the first Sonday in Lent with great solemnitie of Iustyng: About which tyme, the Byshop of Lyn-MarginaliaThe towne of Oxford interdicted.colne their Diocesane hearing of this excessiue outrage, sendeth his inhibition to all Persons and Priestes, forbiddyng them throughout all Oxford, none to celebrate Masse or any diuine seruice in the presence of any lay person within the sayd Towne of Oxford, interdictyng withall the whole Towne. Which interdiction endured the space of a whole yeare and more.

The kyng also sent thether his Iustices to examine and enquire of the matter. Before whom diuers lay men and of the Clergy were indicted. Also foure of the chief burgeses of the sayd towne were indicted, and by the kynges commaūdement sent to the Tower of London, were there imprisoned. At length through much labour of the nobles, the kyng so tooke vp the matter, that sendyng his writinges vnto all Shriues in England, offered pardon to all & singuler Studentes of that Vniuersity, (wheresoeuer dispersed) for that transgression. Wherby, the Vniuersitie in short tyme was replenished agayne as before. MarginaliaGraunted to the commissary of Oxford to haue the assiese of breade & ale and other priueliges aboue the Minor of the Towne.Moreouer was graunted to the Vicechancelour or Commissary (as they terme hym) of the towne and Vniuersitie of Oxford, to haue the assise of bread, ale, wyne, and all other victuals, the Maior of the sayd town beyng excluded. Also was graunted and decreed, that the commons of Oxford should geue to the vniuersitie of Oxford CC. pound sterlyng in part of satisfaction for their excesses: reserued notwithstandyng to euery one of the studentes his seuerall action agaynst any seuerall person of the townesmen &c.

About the yeare of our Lord. 1354. The kyng with the consent of his counsaile, reuoked home agayne out of Flaūders the Staple of Wolle, withall thinges thereunto appertayning, & stablished the same in sondry places within the Realme, namely in Westminster, Canterbury, Chichester, Bristow, Lyncolne, and in Hulle. Which Staple after. an. 1362. was translated ouer into Calyce.

MarginaliaAn holsome decree of a good Archb. not to abstaine from bodely labour vpō certayne holydayes.Of Simon Islyp Archbishop of Canterb. mentioned a litle before, pag. 395. I read in the said author aboue specified, that he by his letters patēt directed to all persons and vicares within his prouince: straitly charged them & their Parishioners vnder payne of excommunication, not to abstaine frō bodely labour, vpō certaine Saintes dayes, which before were wont to be hallowed and cōsecrated to vnthrifty idlenes. Item, that to Priestes should be geuen no more for their yearely stipend, but iij. pound vj. s. viij. pence. which made diuers of them to robbe and steale. &c. an. 1362. MarginaliaA Parliament.The next yeare followyng, which was. 1363. the foresayd kyng Edward kept his Parliament at London in the moneth of October: wherein was prohibited, no gold nor siluer to bee worne in kniues, gyrdles, brouches, rynges, or in any other ornament belongyng to the body, except the wearer might dispend x. pound by yeare. Item, that none should weare either silkes or costly furres, except such as might dispend C. pound by yeare. Also that Marchaunt venterers should not export ouer any marchaundise out of the realme, or seeke for wynes in other countrey: wherby other nations should be constrayned rather to seeke to vs. &c. But none of this did take any great effect.

MarginaliaSimon Sudbury Archb. of Cant.After this Simon Iselyp as is aboue recorded, folowed Symon Langham, then W. Wyttelesey, after whom next in the place succeded Symon Sudbury.

MarginaliaThe Nuns of S. Bridgets order.Much about the same tyme, the Nunnes of S. Brigittes order began first. About which tyme also was builded the Queenes college in Oxford, by Queene Phillip of England, wife to king Edward the third. circa an. Domini. 1360.

Moreouer in the tyme of thys Pope Innocent, Frier Iohn Lyle Byshop of Ely, moued with certaine iniuries (as he thought) done to him by the Lady Blanche, MarginaliaThis Lady Blanche was Duchesse of Lancaster.made his complainte to the Pope. Who sendyng downe his curse to the Byshop of Lyncolne, and other Prelates to be executed vpon the aduersaries of the Byshop of Ely: commaunded them, MarginaliaDead men excommunicated by the pope.that if they dyd know any of the sayd aduersaries dead and buryed (that notwithstandyng) they should cause the same to be taken vp: which also they performed accordyngly, of whom some had bene of the kynges counsaile. Wherfore the kyng beyng displeased and not vnworthely, did trouble and molest agayne the sayd Prelates. This commyng to the Popes hearyng, certaine were directed down from the Court of Rome, in the behalfe of the foresayd Byshop of Ely: who meetyng, with the Byshop of Rochester the kynges treasurer, deliuered vnto hym beyng armed, letters from the Byshop of Rome, the tenour whereof was not knowen. Whych done, they incontinent auoyded away. But certaine of the kynges seruauntes pursuyng, dyd ouertake them: MarginaliaThe popes messengers hanged.of whom some they imprisoned, some they brought to the Iustices, and so were condemned to be hanged. Wherein may appeare what reuerence the