Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6): England (07 of 12): Iohn the Yongest Sonne of Henrie the SecondHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6): England (07 of 12): Iohn the Yongest Sonne of Henrie the Second
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- John, 1199-1216; Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
Immediatlie also vpon the confirmation now made by the king, diuerse
lords came to him, and required restitution of such possessions,
lands, and houses, as he had in his hands, the right whereof (as they
alledged) apperteined to them: but he excused the matter, and shifted
them off, till by inquest taken, it might appeare what right euerie man
had to those things which they then claimed: and furthermore assigned
them a daie to be holden at Westminster, which was the sixtéenth day
of Julie. But yer he restored at that time the castell of Rochester
vnto the archbishop of Canturburie, the barons hauing obteined a great
péece of their purpose (as they thought) returned to London with their
charter sealed, the date whereof was this: Giuen by our owne hand, in
the medow called Kuningsmede or Rimemede, betwixt Stanes and Windsore,
the fiftéenth of Iune, in the eightéenth yeare of our reigne.
[Sidenote: _Matt. Paris._]
[Sidenote: The kings impatiencie to sée himselfe brideled by his
subiects.]
Great reioising was made for this conclusion of peace betwixt the king
and his barons, the people iudging that God had touched the kings
heart, and mollified it, whereby happie daies were come for the realme
of England, as though it had béene deliuered out of the bondage of
Aegypt: but they were much deceiued, for the king hauing condescended
to make such grant of liberties, farre contrarie to his mind, was right
sorowfull in his heart, curssed his mother that bare him, the houre
that he was borne, and the paps that gaue him sucke, wishing that he
had receiued death by violence of sword or knife, in stéed of naturall
norishment: he whetted his téeth, he did bite now on one staffe, and
now on an other as he walked, and oft brake the same in péeces when
he had doone, and with such disordered behauiour and furious gestures
he vttered his gréefe, in such sort that the Noble men verie well
perceiued the inclination of his inward affection concerning these
things, before the breaking vp of the councell, and therefore sore
lamented the state of the realme, gessing what would follow of his
impatiencie and displesant taking of the matter.
Herevpon they said among themselues, "Wo be to vs, yea rather to the
whole realme that wanteth a sufficient king, and is gouerned by a
tyrant that séeketh the subuersion therof. Now hath our souereigne
lord made vs subiect to Rome, and to the Romish court, so that we must
hencefoorth obteine our protection from thence. It is verie much to be
feared, least we doo féele hereafter some further péece of mischéefe
to light vpon vs suddenlie. We neuer heard of any king that would not
gladlie indeuor to withdraw his necke from bondage & captiuitie, but
ours of his owne accord voluntarilie submitteth himselfe to become
vassall to euerie stranger." And thus the lords lamenting the case,
left the king, and returned to London (as before yée haue heard.)
[Sidenote: The king departeth into the Ile of Wight.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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