1259-60
A.D. 1259. Sheriffs.: Adam Bruning,; Henry de Coventre,
This year, within the quinzaine of Saint Michael there was a very
great wind, and a most dreadful tempest both by land and sea, so that
numberless vessels, going forth from the port of (fn. 1) Gernemue to fish,
were lost, together with their men.
In the same year, on the Friday before the Feast of Simon and
Jude [28 October], there was held a great and long Parliament; and his
lordship the King, being in the Great Hall at Westminster, where many
Earls and Barons, and a countless multitude of people, had met, caused
the Composition to be openly and distinctly read, that had been made by
the Barons, as noticed in the (fn. 2) other book, as to amending the usages and
laws of the realm. The Archbishop of Canterbury, and many other
Bishops, arrayed in pontificals, pronounced sentence of excommunication
against all those who should make any attempt upon the said Composition. And then, his lordship the King took leave to cross over into France,
for the purpose of making peace with the King of France; and delivered
his kingdom into the safe keeping of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the
Bishop of Worcester, [and] the Lords Roger Bigot, Hugh Bigot, and
Philip Basset.
In this year William Fitz-Richard was made Mayor.
In the same year, on the day before the Feast of Saint Leonard [6
November], his lordship the King came to the Cross of Saint Paul's, a
countless multitude of the City being there assembled in Folkmote, and
took leave of the people to cross over, just as he had done before at
Westminster; and promised them that he would preserve all their liberties
unimpaired, and, for the amendment of the City, granted them certain
new statutes which he commanded to be inviolably observed; to the effect,
that in future it should not be necessary to have a pleader in any plea
moved in the City, either in the Hustings or in any Courts in the City,
save only, in pleas pertaining to the crown, or else pleas of land or of
distresses unjustly taken. But every one was to set forth his complaint
with his own lips, and the other side in like manner, without hindrance,
so that the Court, in its prudence, being certified as to the truth of the
matter, might render equal and righteous judgment unto the
parties. Also, that if with any pleader there should be an agreement made for him to have part of the tenement for which he was pleading, in respect of his pay, and he should be convicted thereof, he should
lose such share, and be suspended from his calling. The same too was to
be done as to the others, who, upon being convicted of such an. offence,
were to lose, their own portion, acquired, and be heavily punished as
well.
On the same day, John Maunsel said, on behalf of his lordship the
King, that he had been certified that Arnulf Fitz-Thedmar, of whom
mention has been made above, had committed no offence, and had been
unjustly indicted; wherefore he recalled him to his peace and favour, and
commanded that he should be reinstated in his [former] position.
This year, upon the morrow of the Feast of Saint Leonard [6 November] his lordship the King took his departure from London for the seacoast; and on the Monday following, in the Hustings, the said Arnulf was
replaced in seisin of his Ward, from which he had before been deposed.
Afterwards, on the Feast of Saint Brice [13 November], which at,
that time fell on a Friday, his lordship the King crossed over; having
first recalled to his grace and favour Nicholas Fitz-Joce, John le Minur,
and Matthew Bukerel, of whom mention has been made above. Ralph
Hardel, Nicholas Bat, and John Tulesan, were dead.
This year, just before Our Lord's Nativity, the seal of his lordship
the King was changed, he being still beyond sea; the (fn. 3) superscription
being to the following effect—"Henricus Dei Gratia Rex Anglie,
"Dominus Hibernie et Dux Aquitannie"—"Henry by the Grace of God
"King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Acquitaine."
At this time also, a lasting peace was made between him and the
King of France, in form under-written ; that is to say, he quitted claim
unto the King of France as to all right and title which he had to
Normandy, Poitou, and Anjou, retaining unto himself only Gascoigne
and certain other parts of Acquitaine, for which he did homage to the
King of France. At the same time, the King of England gave his
daughter Beatrice in marriage to the son of the Earl of Bretagne.
This year, on the morrow of Saint Valentine [14 February], which
then fell on a Sunday, Henry de Wengham was consecrated Bishop of
London by Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury, in the Church of (fn. 4) Saint
Mary of Suwerk.
In the same year, when it had been arranged by Sir Edward, the
King's son, and the Earl of Gloucester, who were then at variance, that they should hold a general Parliament at West
minster, three weeks after Easter Day, and it was also proposed that they,
and many other Earls, and Barons, and knights, should, with their horses
and arms, take up their abode within the City ; seeing that very great
loss and peril might have accrued therefrom to the citizens and to the
City, Sir Richard, King of the Romans, came to Westminster in Easter
week, and summoning the Mayor and certain discreet men of the City in
presence of himself and the Chief Justiciar, and Sir Philip Basset,
held conference with them as to avoiding this peril. Wherefore, it was
then provided, that neither Sir Edward, nor the said Earl, nor any one
else, as to whom any suspicion might be entertained, should be harboured
within the walls of the City; which was accordingly done. It was also
provided, that all persons of fifteen years and upwards, each to the best
of his ability, should be well provided with arms; and that all the City
Gates should be closed at night and watched by armed men, and should
not be opened in the daytime; with the exception of Bridge Gate, Ludgate, and (fn. 5) Alegate, which also were to be well fortified with armed men.
Also, that the King before-mentioned, the Justiciars aforesaid, and Philip,
as well as those whom they might think proper to bring with them, and
against whom no suspicion existed, might be harboured within the City,
and, together with the citizens, protect the City if necessary.
Afterwards, on the second day before the Feast of Saint Mark the
Evangelist [25 April] his lordship the King, coming from the parts beyond sea, landed at Dover; and on the fifth day after the said Feast,
came to London and took up his abode in the hostel of the Bishop of London, causing the Earl of Gloucester, and many others, at his will, to be
harboured within the City, the Gates in the meantime being well fortified
with armed men, by day and night. Sir Edward however and the
Earl of Leicester, and their followers, were lodged without the City,
both (fn. 6) at the Hospital of Jerusalem, and in all the other houses which lay
between the City and Westminster. The King of Almaine however took
up his abode in his own house at Westminster, as it was not necessary
for him to be in the City, while his lordship the King was making stay
there. Afterwards, the King having made a stay in the City of fifteen
days and more, returned from thence to Westminster on the 17th of the
Calends of June [16 May], and a day was named for holding another
Parliament, the (fn. 7) quinzaine of Saint John the Baptist [24 June].
After this, the King of Almaine took his departure from London for
the sea-coast, on the Feast of Saint Botolph [17 June], that is to say;
and, on the third day after the said Feast, put to sea at Dover.
In the said Parliament, as varying and different opinions existed between his lordship the King and the Barons of England, a day was named
for holding a Parliament, the Feast of Saint Edward [5 January] namely.