[9] A forester who held his office on condition of feudal homage.
[10] Toll for liberty of passage through a forest.
CONCERNING A WRESTLING-MATCH AND DISTURBANCES IN THE CITY OF LONDON (1223).
Source.—Annals of Dunstable, pp. 78-79. (Annales Monastici, vol. iii.—Rolls Series.)
In the one thousand two hundred and twenty-third year after the Incarnation of Christ, there took place at London a wrestling-match between the household of the Abbot of Westminster and certain of the younger citizens of London; but their joy was turned to mourning. For though the household of the abbot had prevailed overnight, several being wounded on either side, on the following morning the Londoners chose to themselves a new Mayor, assembled armed mercenaries under the city standard, and having appointed a commander, set out against the church of Westminster. But some wise man's counsel turned them from this aim, and instead they attacked the houses belonging to the abbot's seneschal, alike within the city and without. And they carried off his possessions—both animals and other chattels. Some days thereafter, while Philip Daubeny, one of the household of our lord the King, was residing in London, the Abbot of Westminster visited him bearing a complaint of the violence to which he had been subjected; and the Londoners, learning this, surrounded the house like bees, seized twelve horses belonging to the abbot, and having beaten his servants and ill-treated the knights who were in his company, attempted to take the abbot himself. But while Philip strove in vain to stay the tumult, the abbot secretly departed by the back of the house and entered a vessel on the Thames; while the boatman rowed it away from the bank, stones were cast after them by the citizens, but the abbot succeeded with difficulty in escaping. When the news of these great disturbances reached the ears of the Justiciar, he summoned the Mayor and chief men of the city, and inquired who were the principal ringleaders in the riot. After the inquiry Constantine Fitz-Athulf and two of his nephews, of noble birth, were hung, because, when accused, they answered with insolence. Thereafter the lord King, because the citizens murmured at this, took from them sixty hostages, whom he sent to be kept in custody in different castles; further, he deposed the Mayor of the city, and appointed in his stead his own keeper. He also ordered a great gibbet to be prepared; finally, the citizens, after severe reprimands from the King and frequent consultations with the Barons, were reconciled with the King, by paying a fine of many thousand marks.
THE COMING OF THE FRIARS (1224).
Source.—Monumenta Franciscana, vol. i., pp. 5 et seqq. (Rolls Series.)
In the year of our Lord 1224, in the time of the lord Pope Honorius, and in the same year in which the Rule of the Blessed Francis was confirmed by him, in the eighth year of the reign of King Henry, son of John, on the third day after the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, which fell that year on a Sunday, the Minorite Brethren first landed in England at Dover; there were four clerks and five laymen. The following were the clerks:—First, Brother Agnellus of Pisa, a deacon of about thirty years old, who had been appointed by the Blessed Francis in the last general chapter, Provincial Minister in England.... The second was Brother Richard of Ingworth, an Englishman, a priest and preacher somewhat more advanced in years, who was the first to preach to the people beyond the mountains.... The third was Brother Richard of Devon, also an Englishman, a young acolyte, who left us divers examples of longsuffering and obedience.... The fourth was Brother William Ashby, a youthful Englishman, still a novice wearing the garb of probation.
The laymen were these:—First, Brother Henry of Ceruise, a Lombard, who, on account of his sanctity and great discretion, was made warden of London, and who, when his period of labour in England was completed, after the numbers of the brethren had been increased, returned to his own country. The second was Brother Laurence, from Beauvais, who was engaged at the beginning in uncompleted work, according to the injunctions of the Rule; afterwards he journeyed to the Blessed Francis, whom he was favoured to see frequently, and by whose conversation he was comforted; finally, the holy Father freely gave him his robe, and with a most pleasant benediction sent him back joyful to England.... The third was Brother W. of Florence, who returned to France, soon after the reception of the brethren (in England). The fourth was Melioratus; the fifth, Brother Jacobus Ultramontanus, still a novice in the garb of probation.
These nine, who had been brought across for charity to England and freely supplied with necessaries by the monks of Fécamp, came to Canterbury and abode at the priory of the Holy Trinity for two days; then four of them, to wit, Brother Richard of Ingworth, Brother Richard of Devon, Brother Henry, and Brother Melioratus, proceeded to London. The five others went to the Hospital of Poor Priests, where they remained until they had prepared a place of residence for themselves; soon after, a small room within the school was given to them, where they remained from day to day, shut up almost constantly. When the scholars returned home in the evening, the brethren entered the house where the scholars had been seated, made themselves a fire, and sat near it; sometimes, when they wished to drink, they placed on a fire a pot with the dregs of beer, and put a dish in the pot, and drank in turn, speaking each some words of pious instruction; and as he bears witness who shared in their real simplicity, and was a participator in their holy poverty, their drink was often so thick that, when the pots came to be heated, they poured in water, and so drank with pleasure....