The bishop of Durham resigneth his bishoprike.
Matth. Paris.
The king practiseth to get monie.
A nest of théeues brokē.
This yeare a little before Candlemas, the bishop of Durham being a man of great yeares, by licence obteined of the pope, resigned his miter, reseruing to himselfe onelie thrée manors, Houeden with the appurtenances, Stocton and Euerington. The king hauing the last yeare receiued of his subiects a deniall of a generall subsidie to be granted him, practised this yeare to get some reléefe at their hands, in calling each of them apart: but first he got two thousand marks of the citie of London, and after fell in hand with the abbats and priors, of whome he got somewhat, though sore against their willes. By occasion of two merchant strangers of Brabant, which chanced to be robbed about the parts of Winchester, whilest the king was there, vpon their importunate suit and complaint, there was a great nest of théeues broken, amongst the which were manie wealthie persons and fréeholders, such as vsed to passe on life and death of their owne companions, to whom they were fauourable inough you may be sure: also, there were some of the kings seruants amongst them. About thirtie of those offendors were apprehended, and put to execution, besides those that escaped, some into sanctuarie, and some into voluntarie exile, running out of and vtterlie forsaking the countrie.
The archbish. of Rone.
Matth. Paris.
Great raine.
About Easter, the archbishop of Rone came ouer into England, and dooing homage for such reuenues as belonged to his church here within this realme, had the same restored vnto him. In Iune there fell such abundance of raine, speciallie about Abington, that the willow trées, milles, and other houses standing néere to the water side, were borne downe and ouerturned, with one chapell also: and the corne in the field was so beaten to the ground, that bread made thereof after it was ripe, séemed as it had béene made of bran.
The earle of Salisburie & other go into the holie land.