1216-1220 Henry III Accedes

On 28th October 1216 King Henry III of England (age 9) was crowned III King of England at Gloucester Cathedral [Map] during the Gloucester Coronation of Henry III at which Cardinal Guala Bicchieri (age 66) presided, Bishop Sylvester and Bishop Simon Apulia anointed the King. The coronation took place in Gloucester since London was at the time held by rebels. John Monmouth (age 34) was present.

Chronicum Anglicanum by Ralph Coggeshall. And his son Henry, a boy of ten years, succeeded him. He was consecrated king at Gloucester on the feast of the apostles Simon and Jude [28th October 1216], in the presence of Gualo the legate, who had come into England that same year. Afterwards he mercilessly despoiled Master Gervase, dean of London, together with the priests of that city and other clerics, of their benefices, as also those who had sided with Louis and celebrated during the interdict; and he distributed their ecclesiastical benefices at his own pleasure to other persons.

Et consecratus est in regem apud Gloecestriam, in die apostolorum Simonis et Judæ, præsente G. legato, qui eodem anno in Angliam applicuerat. Qui postmodum magistrum Gervasium, decanum Londoniæ, ac presbyteros ejusdem urbis ac cæteros clericos, beneficiis suis immisericorditer spoliavit, et cæteros qui Lodowico consenserunt et in interdicto celebraverant ; atque eorum beneficia ecclesiastica aliis personis pro voluntate distribuit.

On 17th May 1220 Henry (age 12) was crowned III King of England at Westminster Abbey [Map] since the Pope didn't consider the earlier Gloucester Coronation of Henry III to have been performed correctly. Archbishop Stephen Langton (age 70) presided.

In 1207 William Cantilupe Baron (age 48) was present at the Siege of Mountsorrel Castle.

On 20th May 1217 William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke (age 71) and Ranulf de Blondeville Gernon 6th Earl Chester 1st Earl Lincoln (age 47) fought at Lincoln, Lincolnshire [Map] during the Second Battle of Lincoln.

Rebels William Mowbray 6th Baron Thirsk (age 44) and William Ros (age 17) were captured. William D'Aubigny (age 66) fought for the rebels. Thomas Chateaudun I Count Perche (age 22) died fighting for the rebels.

Bishop Peter de Roches led a division of the royal army and earned some distinction by his valour.

In 1207 William Cantilupe Baron (age 48) was present at the Second Battle of Lincoln.

Annals of Tewkesbury. [20th May 1217] While barons were besieging Lincoln Castle, the Marshal was sent as a legate with a strong army. They went there and, breaking in, clashed with the barons. The Count of Perche¹ was killed, and about forty barons and Frenchmen were captured, along with about three hundred knights and more. The number of servants is unknown, and the city was given over to plunder² on the feast of St. Athelbert, the Saturday of Pentecost.

Baronibus obsidentibus castrum Lincolniæ, legatus est Marescallus et robur exercitus; iverunt illuc, et irrumpentes congressi sunt cum baronibus; et occiso comite de Pertico, capti sunt barones et Franci, de magnatibus circiter xl., de militibus ccc. et eo amplius; de servientibus ignoratur numerus, et civitas data est in direptionem die Sancti Athelberti, sabbato Pentecostes.

Note 1. Thomas, Count of Perche. Son of Geoffrey III, Count of Perche.

Note 2. Euphemistically known as "Lincoln's Fair".

Chronicum Anglicanum by Ralph Coggeshall. In the year of grace 1217, Louis crossed back from England to seek greater aid; and meanwhile many nobles who had adhered to him were brought back to the king's allegiance through the persuasion of the legate and the bishops. When Louis returned, he again besieged Dover, but in vain. For the barons and knights who favoured him, as they went with a great army to Lincoln, plundering much along the way, were captured at Lincoln¹ on the vigil of the Holy Trinity, which that year fell on the 20th of May, and they were led away captive by the king's men, who remained steadfastly loyal to John, and were heavily ransomed. The Count of Perche too was killed there with many others. This capture was directed by the legate Guala, together with the earls and with Falkes [de Bréauté]. When Louis heard of this misfortune, he abandoned the siege of Dover and came to London, awaiting in vain aid from overseas. At length the chief barons of France, along with a certain Eustace, once a monk, having prepared a great fleet, namely, sixty ships, set out to come to England to aid Louis, with a multitude of armed men. But lord Hubert de Burgh, constable of Dover and justiciar of the king, went out to meet them at sea with a host of armed men and ships from the Cinque Ports, and Eustace, the leader of the rest, was slain, he being the first to join battle with his ship; and all who were in that ship were captured, some drowned. Thus the Lord smote the heads of His enemies who came to scatter the English people; and many others were captured with their ships, and brought back as prisoners; and upon some of those fleeing the Lord brought back the waters of the sea, and they sank like lead in the mighty waters. And so Almighty God, not fighting with numbers, shattered the strength of the enemy, and His right hand was glorified in His people.

Anno gratiæ MCCXVII, Lodowicus transfretavit ab Anglia pro majori succursu; et interim multi nobiles qui ei adhæserant, conversi sunt ad fidelitatem regis per suggestionem legati et episcoporum. Reversus autem Lodowicus, iterum obsedit Dovere, sed frustra. Nam barones et milites qui ei favebant, cum magno exercitu Lincolniam adeuntes, et in itinere multa rapientes, capti sunt apud Lincolniam in vigilia Sanctæ Trinitatis, quæ tunc temporis evenit xiii. kalendas Junii, et ducti sunt captivi a regalibus qui firmiter Johanni adhæserant, ac graviter redempti. Comes etiamn de Pertico ibidem cum pluribus interfectus est. Huic captioni præfuit Guale legatus, cum comitibus et Falcone. Quod infortunium audiens Lodowicus, recessit ab obsidione de Dovere, et venit Londoniam, succursum transmarinum frustra exspectans. Tandem majores Franciæ barones, cum quodam Eustachio quondam monacho, patrato maximo navigio, scilicet LX navibus, iter aggrediuntur veniendi in Angliam in succursum Lodowici, cum multitudine armatorum. Sed dominus Hubertus de Burch, constabularius Dovere et justitiarius regis, cum multitudine armatorum et navium de Quinque-portubus, processit eis obviam in mari, et interfectus est Eustachius ductor cæterorum, qui primus cum sua navi congressus est, atque omnes capti sunt qui in navi illa fuerunt, partim submersi. Atque ita Dominus percussit capita inimicorum suorum venientium ad dispergendum gentem Anglicanam, et capti sunt plures cum cæteris navibus, et captivi adducti; et reduxit Dominus super quosdam eorum diffugientes aquas maris, et submersi sunt quasi plumbum in aquis vehementibus. Et sic Deus Omnipotens, non in multitudine dimicans, hostium contrivit fortitudinem, et dextera sua glorificata est in populo suo.

Note 1. The Second Battle of Lincoln, euphemistically known as "Lincoln's Fair". Annals of Tewkesbury: "While barons were besieging Lincoln Castle, the Marshal was sent as a legate with a strong army. They went there and, breaking in, clashed with the barons. The Count of Perche was killed, and about forty barons and Frenchmen were captured, along with about three hundred knights and more. The number of servants is unknown, and the city was given over to plunder on the feast of St. Athelbert, the Saturday of Pentecost."

On 24th August 1217 Hubert de Burgh Count Mortain 1st Earl Kent (age 47) commanded the King's forces at Sandwich, Kent [Map] during the Battle of Sandwich aka Dover. French re-enforcements had left Calais to join with the future Prince Louis's (age 29) forces who were in short supply following the Second Battle of Lincoln. Hubert Burgh's men routed the French ships. The battle marked the end of Prince Louis's invasion with the Treaty of Kingston aka Lambeth being signed shortly afterwards.

In September 1217 Treaty of Kingston aka Lambeth was agreed by King Louis VIII of France (age 29) in which he renounced his claim to the English throne, gave an amnesty to English rebels and acknowledged the Channel Islands as being part of the Kingdom of England.

On 25th June 1218 Simon "Elder" Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester (age 43) was killed at the Siege of Toulose 1218. His son Amaury (age 23) succeeded 6th Seigneur Montfort. His son Simon (age 10) succeeded 6th Earl of Leicester.

On 17th May 1220 Henry (age 12) was crowned III King of England at Westminster Abbey [Map] since the Pope didn't consider the earlier Gloucester Coronation of Henry III to have been performed correctly. Archbishop Stephen Langton (age 70) presided.

Chronicum Anglicanum by Ralph Coggeshall. In the same year [1220], on the day of Pentecost, namely the sixteenth day before the Kalends of June [17th May 1220], Henry, king of England, the son of King John, was crowned¹ at Westminster by Lord Stephen Langton, archbishop of Canterbury, in the presence of Lord Pandulf the legate, and of bishops and other prelates and earls and magnates of England. By that same archbishop it was there proclaimed that the taking of the cross should be preached, and that the canonization of Saint Hugh the bishop should be celebrated on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of December [17th November 1220].

Eodem anno, die Pentecosten, videlicet XVI kalendarum Junii, coronatur Henricus rex Angliæ, filius regis Johannis, apud Westmonasterium, a domno Stephano de Langetune, Cantuariensi archiepiscopo, præsentibus domno Pandulfo legato, et episcopis et aliis prælatis et comitibus et majoribus Angliæ; a quo archiepiscopo prædicatur ibidem crucis signatio, et Sancti Hugonis episcopi canonizatio celebranda, XV kalendas Decembris.

Note 1. King Henry III's second coronation. His first had taken place at Gloucester in October 1216, officiated by Cardinal Guala Bicchieri (age 70), the papal legate, when London was held by rebels.

Roger of Wendover: "In the year of our Lord 1220, King Henry was at Christmas at Marlborough, still under the guardianship of Peter, Bishop of Winchester. In that same year the same king was crowned at Westminster, on the holy day of Pentecost, by Stephen, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the presence of the clergy and people of the whole realm, on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of June (that is, May 17), in the fifth year of his reign. In testimony and memory of this event there went forth a royal command and proclamation that everyone, except those in holy orders, should wear garlands of flowers."

Flowers of History by Roger of Wendover 1220. In the year of our Lord 1220, King Henry was at Christmas at Marlborough, still under the guardianship of Peter, Bishop of Winchester. In that same year the same king was crowned at Westminster, on the holy day of Pentecost, by Stephen, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the presence of the clergy and people of the whole realm, on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of June (that is, May 17), in the fifth year of his reign. In testimony and memory of this event there went forth a royal command and proclamation that everyone, except those in holy orders, should wear garlands of flowers.

Anno Domini MCCXX. Rex Henricus fuit ad Natale apud Merlebergiam, adhuc sub custodia Petri Wintoniensis episcopi constitutus. Quo etiam anno, coronatus est idem rex apud Westmonasterium, in die sancto Pentecostes, a Stephano Cantuariensi archiepiscopo, præsente clero et populo totius regni, decimo sexto kalendas Junii, anno regni sui quinto. In cujus rei testimonium et memoriam exiit præceptum et regale edictum ut quilibet prseter ordinatos sertis florum uteretur.

On 7th July 1220 the remains of Archbishop Thomas Becket were translated from the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral [Map] to an elaborate shrine in the newly-constructed apse at the east end of the cathedral. King Henry III of England (age 12) was in attendance, together with the political and religious great and good, and a new liturgical office was composed for the occasion.

Chronicum Anglicanum by Ralph Coggeshall. It came to pass that Henry de Braybrooke, one of the itinerant justices, unjustly demanded from Falkes and his men certain exactions and arrears that were owed. Angered by the injustice of these demands, they violently seized¹ the said Henry and imprisoned him in the castle of Bedford. When the king heard of this at Northampton, he immediately marched with his army to Bedford and besieged the castle. To that siege there quickly came the archbishop of Canterbury with a powerful force; also came other bishops, black monks, earls, and barons of nearly all England, preparing various engines of war: stone-throwers, mangonels, a siege-ower with crossbows. Moreover, by a general summons two men from each ploughland throughout the counties of England were called, to pull the cords of the machines, to hurl stones from the stone-throwers, and to carry heavy stones from the quarries. Thus, neither by day nor by night was any rest given to the besieged: they were ceaselessly pressed and assaulted, and terrified at times by the dreadful crash of stones and the battering and shaking of the walls; yet they were not bent to surrender or to yield up the castle, vainly waiting for aid from Falkes. Therefore, the besieged, with foolish daring and stubborn loyalty, defended and protected themselves manfully against the whole army of the king for eight weeks, wounding and killing many outside with arrows and crossbow bolts. There the lord Richard de Argentein was grievously wounded in the belly beneath the navel, though he was armoured, and six other valiant knights were slain, together with more than two hundred of the servants and labourers working at the engines, as some assert.

Accidit autem quod Henricus de Braibroche, unus de errantibus justitiis, improbe exigeret a Falcone et a suis quasdam exactiones et reragia quæ debebant; ex qua exactionum improbitate commoti, violenter ceperunt prædictum Henricum et in castello de Bedford incarceraverunt. Quod rex audiens apud Norhamtune, confestim cum exercitu suo ad Bedefordiam perrexit, atque castellum obsedit. Ad quam obsidionem confestim advenit archiepiscopus Cantuariensis cum potenti virtute; venerunt et alii episcopi, abbates nigri, comites et barones fere totius Angliæ, præparantes diversas machinas, petrarias, mangonillos, berefridum cum balistis. Convocati sunt etiam per generale edictum duo homines de qualibet carruca, ex diversis Angliæ comitatibus, ad trahendas machinarum cordas, ad jaciendos lapides de petrariis, et ad cariendos ponderosos lapides de lapidicinis. Itaque nec per diem, neque per noctem obsessis ulla dabatur requies; sed incessanter impellebantur, impetebantur, et ex terrifico lapidum sonitu, ac murorum conquassatione et impulsu, terrebantur quidam ; sed ad deditionem et castelli redditionem non flectebantur, dum super auxilium Falconis frustra præstolarentur. Unde obessi, stulta audacia et obstinata probitate præstantissimi, viriliter se defensabant et tuebantur diutius contra totum exercitum regis per octo hebdomadas. multos exterius vulnerantes et interficientes cum sagittis et arcubalistis. Ibidem graviter vulneratus est dominus Richardus de Argent in ventre sub umbilico, quamvis armatus, atque alii sex strenui milites sunt occisi, et de servientibus et laborantibus circa machinas plusquam ducenti, ut quidam asserunt.

Note 1. The arrest of Henry de Braybrooke occurred on the 16th June 1224. The siege of Bedford Castle commenced 20th June 1224 and lasted eight weeks and ended on the 15th August 1224. Roger of Wendover: "After this, the besieged seeing that they could hold out no longer, on the eve [14th August 1224] of the assumption of St. Mary, sent some of the garrison from the castle to entreat the king's mercy; but the king ordered them to be kept in close confinement till he reduced the rest to subjection. On the following day all the rest came out of the castle dreadfully bruised and wounded, and were taken before the king, who ordered them all to be hung; of the knights and soldiers of the garrison, twenty-four were hung, who could not obtain mercy from the king on account of the audacity which they had showed to him in the late siege. Henry de Braybrook came to the king safe and sound and returned him his thanks. Falcasius, in his false sense of security, believed that his followers could defend the castle from capture for a whole year; when however he learned for certain that his brothers and the rest of his friends were hung, he came under the conduct of Alexander bishop of Coventry, to the king at Bedford, and, falling at his feet, begged him to show mercy to him in consideration of his great services and expensive undertakings on behalf of him, the king, and his father, in times of war."

Chronicum Anglicanum by Ralph Coggeshall. At length the besiegers, by the continual hurling of heavy stones and by the battering of the walls and towers, with great fighting and conflict, won the outer barbican, and drove the besieged back to another wall as far as the tower. But the barbicans with their towers were so strongly fortified at the tops with huge beams, hewn and armed with iron, that the besieged could safely hide beneath them, and for a while had little to fear from the stones and other missiles, until the miners dug beneath the foundations of the tower and walls, and the timbers placed in the tunnels were set on fire. When these were burned, a great part of the tower and walls collapsed. And so afterwards, while the besieged were feasting in certain hiding places of the same tower and keeping less careful watch, they were suddenly assaulted and taken, and were hanged upon gibbets, both knights and men-at-arms, on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary [15th August 1224], to the number of eighty-three. On that day, the counsel and aid of the lord archbishop of Canterbury, and of the other bishops and abbots, especially shone forth in the siege, for they adhered to the king with the utmost zeal, sparing neither money nor toil for their men in any respect. But the monks of Warden Abbey suffered a great and irreparable loss from this siege, for their tall woods, and especially the trees around the abbey, were cut down to prepare those machines.

Tandem primum exterius antemurale ex assiduo lapidum ponderosorum jactu, et murorum ac turrium conquassatione, cum magno pugnæ conflictu obsidentes obtinuerunt, atque obsessos in alium murum usque ad turrim effugarunt; sed antemuralia cum turribus ita in summitatibus erant munita maximis et dolatis et armatis trabibus et lignis, quod obsessi sub eis securiter delitescerent, jactusque lapidum ponderosorum ac cætera missilia parumper formidarent, donec fossarii minitores fundamenta turris et murorum suffoderent, et ligna supposita in cuniculis igne apposito concremarent; quibus combustis, corruit maxima pars turris et murorum. Sicque postmodum obsessi, dum in quibusdam latebris ejusdem turris epularentur et minus caute se custodirent, subito invaduntur et capiuntur, atque in patibulis suspenduntur, tam milites quam servientes, die Assumptionis beatæ Mariæ virginis, numero octoginta-tres. In hac autem die de obsidione specialiter claruit consilium et auxilium domni Cantuariensis et aliorum episcoporum et abbatum, qui nimis fideliter regi cum toto conamine adhæserunt, qui pecuniis ac laboribus nihil hominibus suis in aliquo pepercerunt. Monachi autem de Wardona magnum et irrecuperabile damnum ex hac obsidione perpessi sunt, quia nemora eorum excelsa, et præcipue arbores circa abbatiam, succisæ sunt ad machinas illas præparandas.

Chronicum Anglicanum by Ralph Coggeshall. But Falkes, who had been the author and instigator of this rising and siege, while riding again through the county of Chester with certain companions, hoping by the aid of some men to lift the king's siege from the aforesaid castle, was at length, by the safe-conduct of the archbishop of Canterbury and of Holy Church, brought to the king's court, his life and limbs being spared, at Northampton, his men already having been hanged, to whom he had promised strong relief within forty days of their siege. Afterwards he was delivered into the custody of the bishop of London, until he should hear the judgment of the lord pope and the will of the king.

Falco autem, qui hujus seditionis et obsidionis exstiterat auctor et incentor, dum per comitatum Cestriæ iterum cum quibusdam sibi sociatis obequitaret, putans per quorumdam auxilium obsidionem regis a castello prædicto removere, tandem per salvum conductum archiepiscopi Cantuariensis et sanctæ ecclesiæ adductus est ad curiam, salva vita et membris suis, de Norhamtune, suis jam suspensis, quibus promiserat validum succursum intra quadraginta dies obsidionis eorum. Post hoc vero traditus in custodia Londoniensis episcopi, quousque audiret judicium domni papæ et voluntatem regis.