On this Day in History ... 27th June

Chronica Majora by Matthew Paris. Whilst the mutability of time was thus sporting with and deluding the world with its variable occurrences, Earl Gilbert, marshal [aged 44], had, with some other nobles, arranged a sort of tilting-match, called by some 'adventure', but which might rather be called a 'misadventure'; they tried their strength about a crossbow-shot from Hertford [Map]; where he by his skill in knightly tactics, gained for himself the praise of military science, and was declared by all, considering his small size of body, to have justly distinguished himself for his valour. This was what the said earl chiefly aimed at; for he was, in the first place, destined to clerical orders, and was reported to be weak and unskilful in warlike exercises. He was, at this tournament, mounted on a noble horse, an Italian charger, to which he was not accustomed, accoutred in handsome armour, and surrounded by a dense body of soldiers, who soon afterwards, however, left him, and dispersed, intent on gain. Whilst the earl, then, was amusing himself by checking his horse at full speed, and anon goring his sides with his sharp spurs, to urge him to greater speed, and, as the case required, suddenly drew rein, both the reins suddenly broke off at the junction with the bit. By this accident the horse became unmanageable, and tossing up his head, struck his rider a violent blow on the breast. Some there were who unhesitatingly asserted that the bridle had been treacherously cut by some jealous person, in order that, being thus left at the mercy of his horse, he might be dashed to pieces and killed; or, at least, that he might be taken by his adversaries at will. Moreover, he had dined, and was nearly blinded by the heat, dust, and sweat, and his head was oppressed by the weight of his heavy helmet. His horse, too, could not be restrained by him, or any one else; but he, at the same time, fainted away, began to totter in his saddle, and soon after fell, half-dead, from his horse-with one foot, however, fixed in the stirrup; and in this manner he was dragged some distance over the field, by which he suffered some internal injuries, which caused his death. He expired in the evening of the 27th of June, amidst the deep and loudly-expressed sorrow of those who beheld him, at a house [Map] of the monks of Hertford. When he was about to breathe his last, having just received the viaticum, he made a bequest to the church of the blessed Virgin at Hertford, for the redemption of his soul. His body was afterwards opened, when his liver was discovered to be black and broken, from the force of the blows he had received. His entrails were buried in the said church, before the altar of St. Mary, to whom he had committed his spirit when dying. On the following day, his body-preceded by his brother [aged 42], and accompanied by the whole of his family - was carried to London, to be buried [Map] near his father. At this same tournament, also, was killed one of the earl's retinue, named Robert de Saye, and his bowels were buried with those of the earl. Many other knights and men-at-arms were also wounded and seriously injured with maces, at this same tournament, because the jealousy of many of the parties concerned had converted the sport into a battle. The affairs of the cross and the interests of the Holy Land suffered great loss by the death of the said earl, for he had intended to set out for Jerusalem in the next month, without fail, having collected money from all in the country who had assumed the cross; for permission to do which, he had paid two hundred marks to the pope; following the prudent example of Earl Richard [aged 32].

Annals of Six Kings of England by Nicholas Trivet. 1241. The King of England caused a shrine to be prepared in the church of Westminster for the placing of the relics of the most holy king and confessor Edward. A very serious dispute arose at Acre between the Hospitallers and the Templars, which Richard, the king's brother, was not able to settle, although he laboured greatly for this. Alfonso, brother of the King of France, was made Count of Poitou. Gilbert Marshal died¹, shattered by blows in a certain tournament, and was succeeded in the earldom by his brother Walter; and when he in turn died without an heir, his inheritance was divided among the sons of his five sisters, of whom we have made mention above. Eleanor, sister of Arthur, died at Bristol; and when she had lived many years in celibacy, at her death she directed that her body should be buried among the nuns of Amesbury, to whom also, with the king's consent, she gave the manor of Melksham with its appurtenances.

Note 1. Gilbert Marshal was killed in a tournament at Ware, Hertfordshire, on 27th June 1241. Matthew Paris: '... where he [Gilbert] by his skill in knightly tactics, gained for himself the praise of military science, and was declared by all, considering his small size of body, to have justly distinguished himself for his valour. This was what the said earl chiefly aimed at; for he was, in the first place, destined to clerical orders, and was reported to be weak and unskilful in warlike exercises. He was, at this tournament, mounted on a noble horse, an Italian charger, to which he was not accustomed, accoutred in handsome armour, and surrounded by a dense body of soldiers, who soon afterwards, however, left him, and dispersed, intent on gain. Whilst the earl, then, was amusing himself by checking his horse at full speed, and anon goring his sides with his sharp spurs, to urge him to greater speed, and, as the case required, suddenly drew rein, both the reins suddenly broke off at the junction with the bit. By this accident the horse became unmanageable, and tossing up his head, struck his rider a violent blow on the breast. Some there were who unhesitatingly asserted that the bridle had been treacherously cut by some jealous person, in order that, being thus left at the mercy of his horse, he might be dashed to pieces and killed; or, at least, that he might be taken by his adversaries at will. Moreover, he had dined, and was nearly blinded by the heat, dust, and sweat, and his head was oppressed by the weight of his heavy helmet. His horse, too, could not be restrained by him, or any one else; but he, at the same time, fainted away, began to totter in his saddle, and soon after fell, half-dead, from his horse-with one foot, however, fixed in the stirrup; and in this manner he was dragged some distance over the field, by which he suffered some internal injuries, which caused his death. He expired in the evening of the 27th of June, amidst the deep and loudly-expressed sorrow of those who beheld him, at a house of the monks of Hertford.'

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. In the same year, Lord Pope Boniface sent his letters to the Lord King of England on behalf of the Scots concerning the kingdom of Scotland, conceived in these words¹:

Boniface, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to his beloved son in Christ, Edward, illustrious King of England, greeting and apostolic blessing. We know, dear son, and the experience of many years has long taught us, how abundantly the affection of royal devotion flourishes in you toward the Holy Roman Church, your mother, who embraces you in the bosom of charity; how the zeal of reverence burns in you, and how ready you are to obey the wishes of this Apostolic See and comply with its good pleasure. Wherefore we place firm hope and full confidence that your royal highness will kindly receive our words, understand them carefully, and pursue them effectively. Indeed, it may have come to your royal ears, and we do not doubt it is recorded in the book of your memory, how, from ancient times, the kingdom of Scotland has belonged by full right to the aforesaid Holy Church, and still is recognized as belonging to it; and that, as we have learned, it has never been nor is a fief to your predecessors, the kings of England, nor to yourself. Moreover, when a war or conflict arose between your father, the renowned King Henry of England, of blessed memory, and Simon de Montfort and his supporters and allies, he sought help from Alexander, King of Scotland, of reverend memory, who was also his son-in-law. And to ensure that such assistance could not be interpreted as a duty of subjection or obligation, the said King Henry issued his own open letters, firmly acknowledging through them that the said aid was received, or was to be received, solely out of special grace, and not as a feudal obligation. Furthermore, at the time of your coronation, when you desired the presence of the then-living King of Scotland, your brother-in-law, you took care to issue your own letters, assuring him that his presence at that ceremony was not required by any obligation, but invited solely as a matter of grace.

And when that same king [of Scotland], concerning the lands of Tyndale and Penrith, which are located within the Kingdom of England, personally came into your presence to perform the usual oath of fealty, he publicly declared by word of mouth, in the hearing of many who were present, that he rendered such fealty only for those lands situated in England, and not as King of Scotland nor for the Kingdom of Scotland. Indeed, he openly protested that he was in no way bound to render fealty for the kingdom itself, and that you accepted that fealty in the manner thus offered. Nor, we believe, has it slipped from your memory that, after the death of that King of Scotland, when the late Margaret, the Maid of Norway, your niece, still underage at the time, was left as his heir, the custody of the said kingdom did not fall to you as lord of the realm. Instead, certain of the kingdom's own nobles were chosen to hold custody. And when, later on, a dispensation was obtained from the Apostolic See regarding a proposed marriage between your beloved son, the noble Edward, and the said Margaret, while she was still living, provided the nobles of that realm gave or could give their assent, you are known to have given written assurances to those same nobles, before they would agree to such a marriage, that, the kingdom of Scotland would remain entirely free, subject to no one, and in no way subordinate, and that, should no children result from such a marriage, the kingdom would be fully restored to its previous independent status, and that the name and honour of the kingdom would be preserved, just as before, including maintaining its own laws, appointing its own officials; holding its own parliaments; conducting its own legal matters within the realm and that none of its inhabitants would be summoned to judgment outside the kingdom. And all of these provisions, it is known, are fully and explicitly contained in your own open letters prepared on the matter.

Moreover, after the aforesaid Margaret [the Maid of Norway] was taken from this present life, and a dispute arose concerning the succession of the said Kingdom of Scotland, the nobles of the same kingdom, fearing that some prejudice might arise against themselves and the said kingdom on this account, refused to come beyond the borders of the kingdom into your presence, unless you had first provided them with a written assurance stating that they were not doing so out of obligation, but solely out of special grace, and that no harm or loss could arise to the liberties of the said kingdom from such an act. And although, it is said, that regarding the state of the same kingdom of Scotland, and its former liberty, while the kingdom lacked the protection of a defender, some things were introduced by the nobles, who at the time were without a leader, as if headless, and lacking the support of a commander or guide, or by the person to whom you are said to have entrusted the rule of that kingdom, though wrongfully and against custom, nonetheless, those things, being elicited through force and fear, which can affect even the steadfast, ought not in law to stand, nor can they prejudice the rights or liberties of the same kingdom. Furthermore, we have no doubt, indeed we are certain, that when the supreme authority of the Apostolic See entrusts some legation to be executed jointly in the kingdoms of England and Scotland, or imposes the payment of a tithe for any reason deemed reasonable, such apostolic letters do not in any way extend to the aforementioned Kingdom of Scotland, because of a special privilege granted to the Scots by the Apostolic See, which fully prevents such extension. This was clearly demonstrated in the time of our predecessor, Pope Adrian of happy memory, who was himself entrusted with a legation by the Apostolic See in both kingdoms. For although we were personally familiar with him, he did not enter the Kingdom of Scotland at all, until a special commission was granted to him by apostolic letters specifically empowering him to exercise the office of legate within Scotland.

Furthermore, let Your Highness be aware of how that kingdom [Scotland], through the venerable relics of the Apostle Andrew, was acquired by the great gift of divine power and converted to the unity of the Catholic faith. Also, how in ancient times, when a dispute arose concerning metropolitan jurisdiction between the Archbishop of York and the prelates of Scotland, and when the said archbishop is said to have quoted the old saying "Remember that we are yours", yet, let us pass over the rest in silence, he nevertheless could not obtain judgment in his favour. Though many other matters and varied arguments, quite reasonable to raise in this regard, present themselves to us, we will leave them unwritten lest they provoke weariness in your royal mind. Still, these points we have raised, dearest son, ought to be carefully weighed and attentively considered in the innermost chambers of your heart, from which no doubt should remain, that the said kingdom of Scotland belongs to the aforesaid Roman Church, and that it is neither lawful nor has it ever been lawful for you to subjugate it by force or to bring it under your rule, to the prejudice of that Church and of many others. Now, however, as we have been reliably informed and as repeated reports have brought to our ears, you, failing to give due attention to the foregoing, and not weighing these matters with appropriate care, but instead eagerly aspiring to occupy and subject that kingdom, at the time when it was deprived of a king's protection, have exerted the power of your strength to that end. It is said that you have caused to be captured and thrown into prison chains our venerable brothers Robert, Bishop of Glasgow, and Mark, Bishop of the Isles, as well as many clergy and other ecclesiastical persons of the said kingdom, some of whom, as it is reported, perished under the harshness of imprisonment. You are also said to have occupied castles, and, as is claimed, destroyed monasteries and many other religious places, as well as inflicted great harm on the inhabitants of that kingdom. Furthermore, in parts of that kingdom, you have installed royal officials, who are not afraid to trouble the prelates, other clergy, and ecclesiastical and secular persons of the said kingdom with numerous grievances, harassments, and diverse afflictions. All of this has been done to the offense of Divine Majesty, to the contempt of the Holy See, to the harm of your own royal salvation and reputation, a violation of justice, and to the grave scandal of many of the faithful.

Therefore, we earnestly request, exhort, and implore Your Royal Majesty, by Him who is the true salvation of all, that you diligently consider that, by reason of the pastoral office placed upon our shoulders, we are bound to carefully preserve and govern all the rights and possessions of the aforesaid Church. And because we cannot and must not give preference to man over God, we ask that, out of reverence for the Divine Majesty, for the Apostolic See, and for ourselves, you order, without delay or difficulty, the benevolent release and full restoration of liberty to those bishops, clergy, and ecclesiastical persons still held in your royal prisons. We also ask that you recall from the kingdom of Scotland those officials you have appointed there. Thus, by responding in these matters with the prompt and effective attention we hope and desire from you, you will become more pleasing and acceptable to the Heavenly King, who repays great things for small, and will receive not only human praise and renown, but also the abundant favour and grace of the Apostolic See. But if you claim to hold any right in the kingdom of Scotland, or in any part of it, we require that you send your representatives or envoys, specially appointed for this purpose, together with all charters and legal instruments supporting such claims, to appear before us within six months from the date of receiving this letter. We, for our part, are ready to provide full justice to you as our beloved son, and to ensure that any legitimate rights you may possess are fully and inviolably observed. Nevertheless, by this present document, we reserve to the judgment and decision of the Holy See all disputes, controversies, and questions whatsoever, whether already arisen or that might arise in the future, in any way related to you, the kingdom of Scotland, or its prelates, clergy, and secular persons. We declare that anything attempted to the contrary, knowingly or unknowingly, shall be null and void. Given at Anagni, five days before the Kalends of July [27th June 1300], in the fifth year of our pontificate.

Eodem anno dominus papa Bonifacius literas The Pope suas direxit domino regi Angliæ pro Scotis regno Scotorum, conceptas in hæc verba:

Bonifacius episcopus servus servorum Dei, carissimo in Christo filio Edwardo, regi Angliæ illustri, salutem et apostolicam benedictionem. Scimus, fili, et longi jam temporis spatio magistra nos rerum experientia docuit, qualiter erga Romanam matrem ecclesiam, quæ te gerit in visceribus caritatis, regiæ devotionis affectus exuberat, reverentiæ zelus viget, quodque promptus et sedis ejus votis obtemperas, beneplacitis acquiescis. Quamobrem firmam spem gerimus, plenamque fiduciam obtinemus, quod regalis sublimitas verba nostra benigne recipiat, diligenter intelligat, efficaciter prosequatur. Sane ad celsitudinem regiam potuit pervenisse, et in tuæ libro memoriæ nequaquam ambigimus contineri, qualiter ab antiquis temporibus regnum Scotia pleno jure pertinuit, et adhuc pertinere dinoscitur, ad ecclesiam supradictam; quodque illud, sicut accepimus progenitoribus tuis regni Angliæ regibus sive tibi feudale non extitit nec existit. Qualiter etiam claræ memoriæ Henricus, rex Angliæ, pater tuus, tempore discordiæ sive guerræ inter ipsum et quondam Symonem de Monte-forti, suosque fautores et complices suscitatæ, a recolendæ memoriæ Alexandro ejusdem Scotia rege ac ipsius Henrici genero, auxilium sibi petiit exhiberi; et ne hujusmodi auxilium, jure cujuslibet subjectionis aut debiti, petitum seu præstitum vocaretur, præfatus Henricus eidem regi Scotia suas patentes duxit litteras concedendas, per eas firmiter recognoscens prædictum auxilium se recepisse vel se recepturum duntaxat de gratia speciali. Præterea, cum successu temporis, præfati regis Scotiæ, tui sororii, tunc viventis, in tuæ coronationis solenniis habere præsentiam affectares, sibi per tuas patentes cavere literas curavisti, quod in ipsis solenniis ejus habere præsentiam non ex debito sed tantum de gratia intendebas.

Et cum etiam rex ipse, pro Tyndaliæ ac de Peynerre terris in regno Angliæ positis, se ad tuam præsentiam personaliter contulisset, tibi fidelitatem solitam impensurus, idem in præstatione fidelitatis hujusmodi, multis tunc præsentibus, vivæ vocis oraculo publice declaravit, quod pro terris eisdem sitis tantum in Anglia, non ut rex Scotia neque pro Scotiæ regno, fidelitatem exhibebat eandem; quinimmo palam extitit protestatus, quod pro regno ipso tibi fidelitatem præstare seu facere aliquatenus non debebat, utpote tibi penitus tuque sic oblatam fidelitatem hujusmodi admisisti. A tua quoque creditur non excidisse memoria, qualiter, eodem rege Scotia sublato de medio, quondam Margareta puella, nepte tua, layingdom tunc minoris ætatis, hærede sibi relicta, non ad te velut ad dominum regni pervenit custodia memorati, sed certi ejusdem regni proceres ad ejus electi custodiam extiterunt. Quodque postmodum, dispensatione ab apostolica sede obtenta, super matrimonio contrahendo inter dilectum filium nobilem virum Edwardum natum tuum et Margaretam prædictam dum viveret, si ad id procerum dicti regni accederet vel haberetur assensus, tu eisdem proceribus per tua scripta cavisse dinosceris, priusquam vellent hujusmodi matrimonio consentire, quod regnum ipsum penitus liberum, nullique subjectum, seu quovis modo submissum, in perpetuum remaneret; quodque in pristinum, seu talem ipsius, statum restitueretur omnino, si ex hujusmodi matrimonio contrahendo liberos non exstare contingeret; ac nomen et honorem, ut prius" pariter retineret, tam in suis sibi servandis legibus et præficiendis officialibus dicti regni, quam parliamentis tenendis, tractandis causis in ipso, et nullis ejus incolis extra illud ad judicium evocandis; et quod in tuis patentibus literis, inde confectis, hæc plenius et seriosius contineri noscuntur.

Præfata insuper Margareta de præsenti luce subtracta, et tandem super successione dicti regni Scotia suborta dissensionis materia inter partes, ipsius regni proceres, metuentes sibi dictoque regno posse occasione hujusmodi præjudicium generari, non aliter ad tuam præsentiam extra ipsius regni accedere limites voluerunt, nisi per te patenti scripto caveretur eisdem, quod id non fiebat ex debito sed ex gratia speciali, quodque nullum exinde ipsius regni libertatibus posset dispendium imminere. Et licet, ut dicitur, super statu ejusdem regni Scotiæ, ac ejus prius habita libertate, regno ipso tunc carente præsidio defensoris, per ipsius regni proceres tunc velut acephalos et ducis vel aurigæ suffragium non habentes, sive per illum, cui præfati regni regimen licet indebite diceris commisisse, contra morem solitum, aliqua fuerint hactenus innovata, ea tamen, utpote per vim et metum, qui cadere poterant in constantem, elicita, nequaquam debent de jure subsistere, aut in ejusdem regni præjudicium redundare. Cæterum nobis nullatenus venit in dubium, quin potius certi sumus, quod cum apostolicæ sedis præcellens auctoritas per suas litteras in Angliæ ac Scotiæ regnis simul alicui legationis committit officium exequendum, vel pro quavis causa quam rationabilem reputat decimæ solutionem indicit, hujusmodi apostolicæ literæ ad præfatum Scotiæ regnum se aliquatenus non extendunt, speciali prædictæ sedis privilegio Scotis indulto penitus obsistente, prout tempore felicis recordationis Adriani papæ prædecessoris nostri, tunc Sancti Adriani diaconi cardinalis, et per ipsius sedis literas simul in regnis ipsis legati, cum quo familiariter tunc eramus, contigit evidenter; nam legatus ipse ad præfatum regnum Scotia aliquatenus ad missus non extitit, donec per literas speciales apostolicas sibi legationis fuit commissum officium in eodem.

Præterea nosse potest celsitudo, qualiter regnum ipsum per Andrea Apostoli venerandas reliquias, sine superni Numinisgrandi dono acquisitum et conversum extitit ad fidei catholicæ unitatem. Qualiter etiam antiquis temporibus Eboracensis archiepiscopus, qui tunc erat, mota per eum super jure metropolitico adversus prælatos Scotiæ quæstione, in qua dictum antiquitus fuisse commemorat, Memento quod sumus tui, ut cætera quæ inde sequuntur silentio relinquamus, pro se sententiam obtinere nequivit. Quamvis alia plura et varia quæ in hac parte rationabiliter proponenda se offerunt, ex quibus etiam ad hæc tibi scribenda movemur, prætereat calamus ne inde forsitan sensibus regiis tædium generetur. Hæc profecto, fili carissime, infra claustra pectoris sollicite considerare te convenit et attendere diligenter, ex quibus nulli in dubium veniat regnum Scotiæ prælibatum ad præfatam Romanam ecclesiam pertinere, quod tibi nec licet nec licuit, in ipsius ecclesiæ ac multorum præjudicium, per violentiam subjugare tuæque subjicere ditioni. Cum autem, sicut habet fide digna, et nostris jam pluries auribus inculcata relatio, famæque præcurrentis affatibus divulgatur, tu præmissa, ut debueras, non attendens, neque debita consideratione discutiens, et ad occupandum et subjugandum ditioni regiæ regnum ipsum, tunc regis auxilio destitutum, vehementer aspirans, et tandem ad id exercens potentiæ tuæ vires, venerabilibus fratribus nostris, Roberto Glasguensi et Marco Sodorensi episcopis, et nonnullis clericis, et aliis personis ecclesiasticis dicti regni, ut dicitur, captis, et carceralibus vinculis traditis, quorum aliquos, sicut asseritur, squalor carceris violentus extinxit, ac etiam occupatis castris, et, prout fertur, monasteriis, aliisve religiosis locis quampluribus, dirutis seu destructis, ac damnis gravibus ejusdem regni habitatoribus irrogatis, in ejusdem regni partibus officiales regios posuisti, qui prælatos, cæteros clericos, acs ecclesiasticas, ac etiam seculares dicti regni personas multimodis perturbare molestiis, et afflictionibus variis et diversis impetere non verentur, in divinæ majestatis offensam, sedis memoratæ contemptum, regiæ salutis et famæ dispendium, juris injuriam, et grave scandalum fidelium plurimorum.

Regalem itaque magnificentiam rogamus, et hortamur attente, ac obsecramus in Eo qui est omnium vera salus, quatenus solerter attendens, quod, ex debito pastoralis officii nostris humeris incumbentis, ad conservanda et gubernanda sollicite bona juraque omnia ecclesiæ supradictæ tenemur, quodque homini plusquam Deo deferre non possumus nec debemus, prædictos episcopos, clericos et personas ecclesiasticas, quos adhuc carcer regius tenet inclusos, pro divina et apostolicæ sedis ac nostra reverentia, sublato difficultatis et dilationis objectu, benigne restitui facias pristinæ libertati, dictosque officiales de regno Scotiæ revoces memorato. Sic te in hiis, prout speramus et cupimus, promptis et efficacibus studiis habiturus, ut apud cœlestem Regem pro minimis grandia rependentem, non immerito reddaris acceptior gratior, habearis, et, præter laudis humanæ præconium tibi proinde proventurum, apostolicæ sedis favorem et gratiam possis uberius promereri. Si vero in eodem regno Scotia, vel aliqua ejus parte, jus aliquod habere te asseris, volumus quod tuos procuratores et nuncios ad hoc specialiter constitutos, cum omnibus juribus et munimentis tuis hujusmodi negotium contingentibus, infra sex menses a receptione præsentium numerandos, ad nostram præsentiam mittere non omittas; cum parati sumus tibi, tanquam dilecto filio, plene super præmissis exhibere justitia complementum, et jura si qua habes inviolabiliter observare. Nos enim nihilominus ex nunc lites, quæstiones et controversias quaslibet inter te dictumque regnum Scotiæ ac prælatos, clericos, ac personas seculares ejusdem subortas, et quæ possunt in posterum ex quibusvis causis præteritis exoriri, totumque negotium prædicta contingens, aut aliquod eorundem, ad cognitionem et determinationem sedis ejusdem præsentium tenore reducimus et etiam reservamus. Decernentes irritum et inane si secus scienter vel ignoranter a quoquam in hac parte contigerit attemptari. Datum Anagniæ V kalendas Julii, pontificatus nostri anno quinto.

Note 1. This document has been collated with the original in the Treasury of the Court of the Receipt of the Exchequer. The various readings of Guisborough's MSS. are given in foot-notes.

Memoires Jacques du Clercq. At that time a furrier named Jean Pinte died on the 27th day of the month of June in the said year fifty-seven; and the next morning, as Jean Pinte was buried, his wife, who was a young woman of about thirty-four years, became betrothed and married that very same day to one named Willemet de Neuville, also a furrier, about twenty years of age, and the following night she lay with her said second husband. I set this down in writing because, as I believe, few women have ever been seen to remarry so quickly, although in some ways she might be excused; for at that time, throughout all the lands of the Duke of Burgundy, as soon as it happened that any merchants, labourers, and sometimes even burghers of a good town or officials passed from this world, if they were rich and left their wives wealthy, then immediately the said duke, his son, or others of their lands wished to marry those widows to their archers or other servants. And it was necessary that those widows, if they wished to remarry, should marry those whom their lords assigned to them, or else pay out in money, both to those who wanted them and to those who governed the lords, and sometimes to the lords themselves, so that they might be allowed to marry whom they pleased; and even then they were among the most fortunate who, by means of friends and money, could be freed from it. For most often, whether they wished it or not, if they wanted to remarry, they had to take those whom the lords chose to give them. Likewise, when a man was rich and had a daughter to marry, if he did not marry her very young, he was harassed, as has been said above.

En icelluy temps ung pelletier, nommé Jean Pinte, mourut le vingt septiesme jour du mois de juing audit an cinquante sept, et le lendemain matin ainsy que Jean Pinte fust mis en terre, sa femme, laquelle estoit josne femme de trente quatre ans ou environ, fiancha et espousa ce propre jour, ung nommé Willemet de Noeuville, pelletier aussy, de l'age de vingt ans ou environ, et la nuict ensuivant coucha avecq sondit second mari; j^e mets ce par escript, pour tant que comme j^e crois on n'a veu peu de femme soy plutost remarrier, combien que en aulcunes manieres on la pourroit excuser, car en ce temps par tout le pays du duc de Bourgogne, sitost qu'il advenoit que aulcuns marchands, labouriers et aulcune fois bourgeois d'une bonne ville ou officier trespassoit de ce siecle, qui fust riche, et il delaissat sa femme riche, tantost ledit duc, son fils ou aultres de ses pays voulloient marrier lesdites vefves à leurs archiers ou aultres leurs serviteurs, et failloit que lesdites vefves, sy elles se voulloient marrier, qu'elles espousissent ceulx que leurs Srs leur voulloient bailler ou fissent tant par argent, au moins tant a ceulx qui les voulloient avoir, comme à ceulx qui gouvernoient les Srs, et aulcune fois aulx Srs mesmes, que ils souffrissent qu'elles se marriassent à leur gré, et encoires estoient elles les plus heureuses, qui par forche d'amis et d'argent en pouvoient estre deslivrées; car le plus souvent, volsissent ou non, sy elles se voulloient marrier, il falloit qu'elles prinsissent ceulx que les Srs leur voulloient baillier, et pareillement quant ung homme estoit riche et il avoit une fille a marrier, s'il ne la marrioit bien josne, il estoit travallié, comme est dit cy dessus.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 27th June 1552. The xxvij day of Juin the Kyng's [aged 14] mageste removed from Grenwyche [Map] by water unto Pottney [Map], and ther [he] toke ys horsse unto Hamtun [Map] cowrte one ys progres, and ther lyvyng ther x days, and so to Ottland [Map], and to Gy[lford] [Map].

Note. The king took horse on his progress. King Edward's Diary, (May 23, 1551) gives the following enumeration of the bands of men of arms appointed at this time to accompany him on his progress:

Lord Treasure 30 Earl of Rutland 15 Lord Cobham 20

Lord Great Master 25 Earl of Huntingdon 25 Lord Warden 20

Lord Privy Seal 30 Earl of Pembroke 50 Mr. Vice-chamberlain 15

Duke of Suffolk 25 Lord Admiral 15 Mr. Sadler 15

Earl of Warwick 25 Lord Darcy 30 Mr. Sydney 15

Afterwards, on the 22d of June, it was agreed that the bands appointed to Mr. Sidney, Mr. Vice-chamberlain, Mr. Hobby, and Mr. Sadler, should not be furnished, but left off. Again, when the king was in Sussex, on the 24th July, "because the number of bands that went with me this progress made the train great, it was thought good they should be sent home, save only 150 which were picked out of all the bands. This was because the train was thought to be near 4000 horse, which were enough to eat up the country, for there was little meadow or hay all the way as I went."

The London Gazette 25486. St. James's Palace, June 27, 1885.

The Queen [aged 66] has been pleased to appoint George William [aged 61], Viscount Barrington, to be Captain of Her Majesty's Body Guard of Yeomen of the Guard, in the room of!William John [aged 56], Lord Monson, resigned.

W6GBhi0WThe Queen has been pleased to appoint the following to be Lords in Waiting in Ordinary to Her Majesty, viz.:—

Dudley Charles, Lord de Ros, in the room of Frederick Henry Paul, Lord Methuen, resigned.

Algernon Hawkins Thomoud, Earl of Kintore, in the room of John William, Earl of Dalhousie, resigned.

Cornwallis, Viscount Hawarden, in the room of William, Lord Sandhurst, resigned.

John Major, Lord Henniker, in the room of Thomas, Lord Ribblesdale, resigned.

John Adrian Louis [aged 24], Earl of Hopetoun, in the room of Thomas John, Lord Thurlow, resigned.

William, Lord Elphinstone [aged 56], in the room of Arthur, Lord Wrottesley, resigned.