Iohn the yoongest son of Henrie the second was proclaimed king of England, beginninghis reigne the sixt daie of Aprill, in the yeare of our Lord 1199, the first ofPhilip emperour of Rome, and the 20 of Philip king of France, K. William as yet liuingin gouernement ouer the Scots. This man so soone as his brother Richard was deceased,sent Hubert archbishop of Canturburie, and William Marshall earle of Striguill(otherwise called Chepstow) into England, both to proclaime him king, and also to séehis peace kept, togither with Geffrey Fitz Peter lord chéefe justice, and diuerse otherbarons of the realme, whilest he himselfe went to Chinon where his brothers treasure laie,which was foorthwith deliuered vnto him by Robert de Turneham: and therewith all thecastel of Chinon and Sawmer and diuerse other places, which were in the custodie of the[Pg 273]foresaid Robert. But Thomas de Furnes nephue to the said Robert de Turneham deliueredthe citie and castell of Angiers vnto Arthur duke of Britaine. For by generallconsent of the nobles and péeres of the countries of Aniou, Maine, and Touraine, Arthurwas receiued as the liege and souereigne lord of the same countries.
For euen at this present, and so soone as it was knowne that king Richard was deceased,diuerse cities and townes on that side of the sea belonging to the said Richard whilest heliued, fell at ods among themselues, some of them indeuouring to preferre king John,other labouring rather to be vnder the gouernance of Arthur duke of Britaine, consideringthat he séemed by most right to be their chéefe lord, forsomuch as he was sonne to Geffreyelder brother to John. And thus began the broile in those quarters, whereof inprocesse of time insued great inconuenience, and finallie the death of the said Arthur, asshall be shewed hereafter.
Now whilest king John was thus occupied in recouering his brothers treasure, andtraueling with his subiects to reduce them to his obedience, quéene Elianor his mother bythe helpe of Hubert archbishop of Canturburie and other of the noble men and baronsof the land, trauelled as diligentlie to procure the English people to receiue their oth ofallegiance to be true to king John. For the said archbishop and William Marshall earleof Striguill, being sent ouer into England (as before you haue heard) to proclaime himking, and to kéepe the land in quiet, assembled the estates of the realme at Northampton,where Geffrey Fitz Peter lord chéefe iustice was present with other of the Nobles, aforewhom those lords whose fidelities were earst suspected, willinglie tooke their oths of obedienceto the new king, and were assured by the same lords on his behalfe, that theyshould find him a liberall, a noble and a righteous prince, and such a one as would séethat euerie man should inioy his owne, and such as were knowne to be notorious transgressors,should be sure to receiue their condigne punishment.
They sent Eustace de Vescie also vnto William king of Scotland, to signifie to him,that king John vpon his arriuall in England, would satisfie him of all such right as hepretended to haue within the English dominions. And thus w