Chronicle of the Grey friars of London/Johannes Rex

by John Gough Nichols

JOHANNES REX

Kynge Johan, brothar unto Rychard, was crownyd upon the Assencion daye, the yere of our Lord God M^lclxxxxix.

Pi.^o. In this furst yere he lost Normandy and Angeoy, and every ploughe lond tasked at iij^s for to gete it a gayne.

ij^o. A^o. Thys yere was chosyn by the wyse men of the citte of London xxxv. men, and sworne to mayntayne the assies in London.

iiij^o. A^o. Thys yere felle gret raynes, and gret thunder, lytenyng, and hayle-stones as grete as eggys, that dystroyd cornes [and] fruttes; and fowlles seying^[1] flyeng in the eyer berynge burnynge coles, and brent many huses (sic). And that yere the londe was enterdyted.

vj^o. A^o. Thys yere began the order of Freer Prechars. And then was a grete wynter of frost and colde that lastyd from new-yeres daye unto our lady day the Annunciacion.

vij^o. A^o. This yere alle pleys longynge un to the crowne ware pletyd at the tower of London.

ix^o. A^o. Thys yere the londe was interdytyd. And this same yere was borne Henry the [eldest] sonne to kynge John. And this yere beganne the names of mayeres and shreffys in the citte of London.

xj^o. A^o. Thys yere the londe was reconciled, and the interdyction relesyd.

xiij^o. A^o. Thys yere was grete dyscencione betwene the kynge and hys lordes; and Lewys the kynges sonne of France dyd moch harme in Ynglond. Southewarke the bregge with moch of the citte was brent.

xv^o. A^o. Thys yere at Candelmas the kynge sheppyd at Porthesmothe, and sayled to Peytoe.^[2]

xvj^o. A^o. Thys yere beganne the Freer Minors in Ynglond.

1. This word should be seen. Compare a similar passage in Nicolas's Chronicle of London.
2. Poictou.