DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6886#0162
130 HISTORY OF
former made an offer of fifteen thousand marks to avert it from himself. Several
others of the offenders were dismembered of their hands and feet.
This severe execution occasioned much ill-will in the city towards the mona-
stery, from Avhose complaints it originated, as well as against the justiciary himself:
nor did the court escape very vehement accusations of injustice and cruelty.
From this time, the government appeared to entertain unfavourable suspicions
of the citizens of London, and to regard them as actuated by a spirit of tumult
and sedition. This consideration seems to have come in aid of the credit of
Abbot de Berking and his successors at court, and is supposed to have influenced
Henry III. to grant, at various times, to the Abbey of Westminster certain
charters of privileges, which the city as often represented to be infringements of
its rights. Indeed, during the assumed power of Simon de Montfort, the abbey
was compelled to surrender them; but after that nobleman's defeat at the battle
of Evesham, the king was pleased to order them to be restored.
This abbot enjoyed, in a distinguished manner, the favour and confidence
of his sovereign; and was, moreover, a considerable person in the state, as
appears from the high and important offices which he was called to fill. He was
a privy counsellor, chief baron of the Exchequer, and at length lord treasurer.
He was also appointed, in the year 1245, one of the lords justices of the
kingdom, during Henry's absence on his hostile expedition into Wales. This
appears from the excuse allowed by the pope, at the intercession of Henry, for
de Berking's non-attendance at a general council then summoned; it being stated
by the letters which passed on the occasion, that the Bishop of Carlisle and the
Abbot of Westminster were the king's deputies or regents while he was absent
from England*. He was likewise a witness to a confirmation of Magna Ckarta in
this reign.
* Matt. Paris, p. G57.
former made an offer of fifteen thousand marks to avert it from himself. Several
others of the offenders were dismembered of their hands and feet.
This severe execution occasioned much ill-will in the city towards the mona-
stery, from Avhose complaints it originated, as well as against the justiciary himself:
nor did the court escape very vehement accusations of injustice and cruelty.
From this time, the government appeared to entertain unfavourable suspicions
of the citizens of London, and to regard them as actuated by a spirit of tumult
and sedition. This consideration seems to have come in aid of the credit of
Abbot de Berking and his successors at court, and is supposed to have influenced
Henry III. to grant, at various times, to the Abbey of Westminster certain
charters of privileges, which the city as often represented to be infringements of
its rights. Indeed, during the assumed power of Simon de Montfort, the abbey
was compelled to surrender them; but after that nobleman's defeat at the battle
of Evesham, the king was pleased to order them to be restored.
This abbot enjoyed, in a distinguished manner, the favour and confidence
of his sovereign; and was, moreover, a considerable person in the state, as
appears from the high and important offices which he was called to fill. He was
a privy counsellor, chief baron of the Exchequer, and at length lord treasurer.
He was also appointed, in the year 1245, one of the lords justices of the
kingdom, during Henry's absence on his hostile expedition into Wales. This
appears from the excuse allowed by the pope, at the intercession of Henry, for
de Berking's non-attendance at a general council then summoned; it being stated
by the letters which passed on the occasion, that the Bishop of Carlisle and the
Abbot of Westminster were the king's deputies or regents while he was absent
from England*. He was likewise a witness to a confirmation of Magna Ckarta in
this reign.
* Matt. Paris, p. G57.