Moreouer, whereas he stood in great néed of monie, he required by way of a tallage eight thousand marks of the Iewes, charging them on paine of hanging, not to deferre that paiment. The Iewes sore impouerished with gréeuous and often paiments excused themselues by the popes vsurers, and reprooued plainelie the kings excessiue taking of monie, as well of his christian subiects as of them. The king on the other side, to let it be knowne that he taxed not his people without iust occasion, and vpon necessitie that droue him thereto, confessed openlie, that he was indebted by his bonds obligatorie, in thrée hundred thousand marks: and againe, the yearelie reuenues assigned to his sonne prince Edward, arose to the summe of fiftéene thousand marks and aboue, where the reuenues that belonged vnto the crowne were greatlie diminished, in such wise, that without the aid of his subiects, he should neuer be able to come out of debt. To be short, when he had fléeced the Iewes to the quicke, he set them to farme vnto his brother earle Richard, that he might pull off skin and all; but yet considering their pouertie, he spared them, and neuerthelesse, to relieue his brothers necessitie, vpon a pawne he lent him an huge masse of monie. These shifts did the king vse from time to time, not caring with what exactions and impositions he burthened the inhabitants of his land, whereby he procured vnto himselfe the name of an oppressor and couetous scraper. But what woonder is it in a king sith
Hor. lib. 2. serm.
Maxima pars hominum morbo iactatur eodem?
An elephant sent to the K.
An ewer of pearle, peraduenture an agat.
Strange wonders. High tides. A comet.
The decease of Walter archbishop of Yorke.
About the same time, Lewes the French king sent vnto king Henrie for a present an elephant, a beast most strange and woonderfull to the English people, sith most seldome or neuer any of that kind had béene séene in England before that time. The French quéene also sent for a present vnto the king of England an ewer of pearle like to a peacocke in forme and fashion, garnished most richlie with gold, siluer, and saphires to furnish him foorth in all points of fine and cunning workemanship, to the verie resemblance of a liuing peacocke. ¶ Manie woonders chanced about this time. The sea rose with most high tides, riuers were so filled with abundance of water, by reason of the great continuall raine, that maruellous flouds followed therevpon. A comet also appeared, and manie high buildings were striken by force of tempests. The death of Walter archbishop of Yorke followed these prodigious wonders, who had gouerned that sée the space of fortie yeares. After him succéeded one Seuall the 34 archbishop of that citie.
Elianor the wife of prince Edward cōmeth to the citie.
The liberties of the citie restored to the Londoners.