London and the Kingdom - Volume 1: A History Derived Mainly from the Archives at Guildhall in the Custody of the Corporation of the City of London.Sharpe, Reginald R. (Reginald Robinson)
History
London and the Kingdom - Volume 1: A History Derived Mainly from the Archives at Guildhall in the Custody of the Corporation of the City of London.
Sharpe, Reginald R. (Reginald Robinson)
London (England) -- History
Henry, on his part, swore to preserve to the barons and the rest of the
kingdom, all those liberties which they had succeeded in obtaining from
John. Everything being thus amicably settled, Louis went to London, and,
after borrowing a large sum of money from his former trusty supporters,
betook himself back to his native country.(208) The general pardon which
was granted by the young king extended to the Londoners, who became
reconciled and received back their lands,(209) but did not extend to the
clergy, who were left to the tender mercy of the papal legate.
(M137)
For some years to come there remained a party in the city who cherished
the memory of Louis, and the cry of "Mountjoy!" the war-cry of the French
king—was sufficient to cause a riot as late as 1222, when Constantine
Fitz-Athulf or Olaf, an ex-sheriff of London, raised the cry at a
tournament, in order to test the feeling of the populace towards Louis.
Any serious results that might have arisen were promptly prevented by
Hubert de Burgh, the justiciar, who very quickly sought out the
ringleader, and incontinently caused him and two of his followers to be
hanged at the Elms in Smithfield. Whilst the halter was round his neck,
Fitz-Athulf offered 15,000 marks of silver for his life. The offer was
declined. He was not to be allowed another chance of stirring up sedition
in the city.(210)
A more circumstantial account of this event is given us by another
chronicler,(211) who relates that the wrestling match which took place on
the festival of Saint James (25th July),—the same as that mentioned by
Matthew Paris—was held at Queen Matilda’s hospital in the suburbs,(212)
and was a match between the citizens of London and those outside; that
victory declared itself in favour of the Londoners, and that their
opponents, and among them the steward of the Abbot of Westminster,
thereupon left in high dudgeon. With thoughts of revenge in their hearts,
the latter caused invitations to be issued for another match to be held at
Westminster, on the following feast of Saint Peter ad Vincula (1st
August).
It was at this second and later match that the trouble began. The steward
was not content with collecting the most powerful athletes he could find,
but caused them to seize weapons and to attack the defenceless citizens
who had come to take part in the games. The Londoners hurried home,
bleeding with wounds, and immediately took counsel as to what was best to
be done. Serlo, the mercer, who had held the office of mayor of the city
for the past five years, and was of a peaceable disposition, suggested
referring the matter to the abbot; and it was then that Constantine, who
had a large following, advocated an attack upon the houses of the abbot
and of his steward. No sooner said than done, and many houses had already
suffered before the justiciar appeared upon the scene with a large force.
As to the seizure of Constantine and his subsequent execution, the
chroniclers agree.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account