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Annals of Dunstable is in Late Medieval Books.
1260. In the year of grace 1260. Henry King of England (age 52), son of King John, after establishing peace with the king of France, remained there for a long time, and did not concern himself with returning to England until the bishops and magnates of England sent him a formal letter, urging him to hasten back; stating that if he did not return, he would not be allowed to return at his own pleasure. Upon hearing this, the king came to his senses and returned to England. But some malicious individuals, through false rumors, sowed discord between the king and his son Edward, claiming that Edward and his advisors were attempting to wage war against the lord king. As a result, the king became exceedingly angry and brought with him many knights from overseas as far as London. Leaving them beyond the bridge in the parts of Surrey, he himself entered the city of London and remained there for some time. The gates of the city were secured and locked, and he appointed guards so that no one could enter unless granted permission by him.
However, the Earl of Gloucester, John Maunsel, and certain others who were of the king’s council were allowed to come and go as they pleased. But the king forbade his son Edward and anyone from his council from appearing before him, saying, ‘Let not my son Edward appear before me, for if I see him, I will not be able to restrain myself from kissing him.’
At last, moved by fatherly love and overcome by the pleas of the magnates, he received Edward with the kiss of peace, and likewise the queen, his mother, who, it was said, had been the cause of all the trouble.
While all this was taking place, the honors and great expenditures that Lord Edward lavished on all who wished to attend can scarcely be described in words.
Anno gratiæ MCCLX. Henricus rex Angliæ, filius regis Johannis, pace firmata cum rege Franciæ, ibidem per longum tempus moram traxit; nec in Angliam redire curavit, donec episcopi et magnates Angliae ei literatorie mandaverunt quod reverti in Angliam properaret; quod si non faceret, ad placitum suum in Anglia non rediret. Quo audito, rex in se reversus, in Angliam rediit; sed quidam malitiosi falsis rumoribus inter patrem et filium suum Edwardum discordiam seminavervmt, asserentes quod dictus Edwardus et consiliarii sui guerram domino regi movere procurarunt; propter quod dominus rex supra modum iratus, multos milites de partibus transmarinis usque Londoniam secum adduxit; et eis ultra pontem dimissis in partibus Sureiae, ipse civitatem Londonise ingressus est, et ibi aliquandiu moram fecit, portis civitatis firmatis et seratis, apposuit custodes, ut nullus nisi ab eo licentiatus ingrederetur.
Comes vero Gloverni, et Johannes Maunsel, et quidam alii qui de concilio regis fuerunt, ad placitum suum ingressum et egressum habuerunt.
Rex vero proliibuit, ne filius suus Edwardus, nec aliquis qui de consilio suo extiterat, coram ipso venirent, dicens, "Coram me non appareat filius mens Edwardus, quia si eum videro, quin ipsum osculer me non cohibebo.".
Tandem, amore paterno commotus, et magnatum precibus devictus, ipsum ad osculum pacis recepit, et regina mater sua similiter, quae, ut dicebatur, causa totius malitis extiterat.
Dum ista aguntur, quantos honores et quantas expensas, omnibus qui interesse voluerint, dominus Edwardus fecerit, lingua vix potest explicare.
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[4th August 1265] In the same year, on the following Tuesday, when the lord king and Simon, Earl of Leicester, had returned from the Marches and crossed the Severn, they came to Evesham. There, when Lord Edward and the Earl of Gloucester came up behind them, although they could have fled, they chose not to. A battle full of sorrow was begun between the parties; but the side of Lord Edward, with an innumerable multitude, prevailed. And there were killed Simon, Earl of Leicester, Hugh Despenser, and many other nobles and distinguished men. The lord king, however, once the battle had begun, immediately turned to the other side; and after the battle, he gave general permission for the victors to invade and occupy the lands and possessions of the defeated, driving out their wives and children, and so it was done. These lands, by common counsel, were all surrendered into the hands of the lord king, so that he might grant them to individuals, according to their merits, in fee.
Eodem anno, die Martis proximo sequenti, cum dominus rex et Simon comes redissent de Marchia et Saberniam transissent, venerunt apud Evesham. Quo cum dominus Edwardus et comes Glovernisæ post terga eorum venissent, cum affugere possent et nollent, bellum dolore plenum inter partes initum est : sed pars domini Edwardi cum innumera multitudine prævaluit; et occisi sunt ibidem Simon comes Leicestriæ, Hugo Dispensator, et alii multi et nobiles. Dominus vero rex, bello inito, statim se convertit ad partem alteram; et post bellum dedit licentiam communem ut victores terras et res victorum, ejectis uxoribus et liberis, invaderent et occuparent; quod et factum est. Quas terras, per commune consilium, omnes in manus domini regis resignaverunt, ut ipse singulos, secundum sua merita, de eisdem terris feofaret.
27th November 1290. In the same year, on the 5th day before the Kalends of December [27 Nov 1290], Eleanor (age 49), Queen of England and consort of the king, of Spanish descent, died, who had acquired many and excellent estates. Her body passed through us [Dunstable Priory [Map]], and she rested for one night. And two precious cloths, namely baudekins, were given to us. We received twenty-four pounds and more of wax.
Eodem anno, quinto kalendas Decembris, obit Elianora regina Angliæ et consors regis, Hyspana genere, quæ plura et optima maneria adquisivit. Corpus ipsius per nos transiit, et una nocte quievit. Et dati sunt nobis duo panni pretiosi, scilicet baudekyns. De cera habuimus quater-viginti libras et amplius.
17th December 1290. Finally, her body was buried on the 16th day before the Kalends of January [17 Jan 1290] at Westminster in the tomb of King Henry. And when the body of the said queen passed through Dunstable, the bier stopped in the middle of the marketplace until the king's chancellor and the magnates, who were present there at the time, designated a suitable place, where later, at the king's expense, a cross of remarkable size was erected, with our prior present and sprinkling holy water.
Tandem corpus ejus decimo-sexto kalendas Januarii apud Westmonasterium in sepulero Henrici regis est humatum. Et cum corpus dictæ reginæ transiret per Dunstaple, in medio fori substitit feretrum donec cancellarius regis et magnates, qui tunc aderant ibidem, locum congruum designassent, ubi postea, sumptibus regiis, crucem erigerent magnitudinis admirandee, priore nostro tunc præsente, et aquam benedictam aspergente.