Polydor.
Englishmen sent to Spain against the Saracens.
Matth. Paris.
Escuage demanded.
In the meane time king Henrie hauing spent a great deale of treasure in his iournie made into France, there was granted vnto him a fiftéenth of the temporaltie, with a disme and a halfe of the spiritualtie, towards the furnishing out of a new power of men to be sent into Spaine against the Saracens, which made sore warres vpon the christians in that countrie, wherevpon king Henrie being required of the K. of Aragon to aid him with some number of souldiers, he sent a great power thither with all spéed, and so likewise did the French king. By means whereof the Spaniards, being ioined with Englishmen and Frenchmen, obteined a noble victorie, in vanquishing those their enimies. Thus saith Polydor. But other write that the king on the seauen and twentith of Ianuarie, holding a parlement at Westminster (where the Nobles both spirituall and temporall were assembled) demanded escuage of all those that held any baronies of him, that is to saie, forren knights fée, fortie shillings, or thrée marks.
The archb. of Canturburie standeth against the K. in defense of his cleargie.
Contention betwixt the archb. and the earle of Kent.
Moreouer, the archbishop of Canturburie (as they say) stood against the king in this demand, mainteining that the cleargie ought not to be subiect vnto the iudgment of laie men, sith this escuage was granted in the parts beyond the seas without their consent. Wherevpon the matter as touching the bishops was deferred till the quindene of Easter, albeit that all the laitie, and other of the spiritualtie consented to the kings will. ¶ About this time also there chanced to rise a great strife and contention betwixt Richard the archbishop of Canturburie, and Hubert the earle of Kent, who as gardian to the yoong erle of Glocester had got into his hands the castell of Tunbridge, with the towne, and certeine other possessions which belonged to the archbishops sée, and therefore did the archbishop complaine to the king of the iniurie which he susteined.
Matth. Paris.