superius honore equis impenso quo ad
tumulacionem eorum in locis honestis nonne
indignacio erat videre abscisorem
virilium sancti viri sepultum in campo pulcherrimo cum
pocius sepeliri debuisset
iuxta furcas ubi solent habere sepulturas suas latrocinantes
& alii
malefactores si inpenitens erat contra Simonem
Obiit Iohannes Maunsel in partibus transmarinis in paupertate &
dolore maximo hic
miser tot obtentus1s ecclesiasticos habuit ut annuatim ex illis xviii milia
mar
carum poterat expendere, vnde maiores episcopatus Anglie recusauit, tum quia in
pluralitate permultarum praeditissimarum ecclesiarum habundauit, tum quia lubricus
erat. Hic
ait de una ecclesia mo⊗ci2 census scilicet xxti librarum ad canes nostros valet illa modica
ecclesia innuens per hoc
quod furfures & farina & alia canibus suis neces
saria ex prouentu illius
ecclesie deberent comparari. Hic etiam cum esset Simonis ad
uersarius &
consilarius regis precipuus suasit ei ut iuramentum quod fece
rat cum baronibus pro
fidelitate Anglie seruanda omnino dimitteret factumque
est ita. Mittitur igitur
ad curiam summi pontificis pro absolucione petenda ne
rex teneretur prestito
baronibus iuramento optinuitque mox regia supplicacio
absolucionem petitam, vnde
bellum primum de quo dictum est accepit contra illos post il
lius absolucionis
obtentum. Sed ue regie infidelitati iurauerat enim rex quod
staret prouidencie
baronum in omnibus iurauerunt etiam et barones regi quod
ipsi starent eidem
prouidencie pro rege & regno eius fideliter facte sed quia rex iura
mentum
suum suum non tenuit ideo credebatur a pluribus quod propter hoc barones
victoriam optinuerunt de illo quia fidele prestiterunt iusiurandum pro
salua
cione regni cui iuriiurando assensum nunquam prebuit Edwardus qui cum
postea esset in custodia ⊗ reuerentur ministrantis illi dapes regias
solebat ei dicere domine edwarde ⊗ obis obsequium
nostrum
cui Edwardus respondere consueuit ⊗ ignorans omnino quod
Simon
cogitaret de morte quam accepturus erat sub gladio eius. In diebus
illis mittitur
uir uenerandus Oliuerus abbas de Driburco ad Edwardum ex parte &
regine Scocie
sororis Edwardi cuius aduentum cum comperisset Simon ductus est
(above) the honour bestowed upon horses, at their burial in places of honour, was it not an
occasion for indignation to see the one who cut off the genitals of a holy man buried in
such a beautiful field, when he ought rather to have been buried next to the gallows
where robbers and other evil-doers are accustomed to have their graves, if he was
unrepentant towards Simon?
John Mansel died overseas, in great
poverty and distress. This wretch had amassed such large ecclesiastical revenues that he
could expend 18 thousand marks out of them every year. Hence he turned down the greater
bishoprics of England, partly because he held an abundance of many of the richest
churches in plurality, and partly because he was lecherous. He said of one church with a
mo⊗dest revenue, that is, 20 pounds, ‘That little church will do for our hounds,’ meaning
by this that the bran and meal and other things his dogs needed ought to be procured
from the income of that church. This person, as Simon’s opponent and the king’s chief
advisor, persuaded the king entirely to dismiss the oath he had made with the barons for
the preservation of England’s fealty; and that is how it came about. He was therefore
sent to the court of the supreme pontiff to petition for a dissolution so the king
should not be held to the oath sworn with the barons; and the royal entreaty quickly
gained the requested dissolution. For this reason the first war (which we have already
written about) was taken up against them after he had gained this dissolution. But alas
for the royal breach of faith! For the king had sworn that he would abide by the barons’
provisions in every respect, and the barons had also sworn to the king that they would
stand by the same provisions, made in faith for the king and his realm; but since the
king did not maintain his his oath, it was believed by many that on this
account the barons gained the victory over him, because they swore the faithful oath for
the salvation of the kingdom. Edward never granted his assent to this oath; and when he
was later in custody ⊗ [Earl Simon] respectfully waiting on him at royal
banquets, used to say to him, ‘My lord Edward ⊗ our service to you,’ to which
Edward was accustomed to respond ⊗ being entirely ignorant that Simon was
thinking about the death to which he was going to submit beneath his sword. In those
days, a venerable man, Oliver, abbot of Dryburgh, was sent to Edward on behalf of the
queen of Scotland, Edward’s sister. When Simon learned of his arrival, he was led