[1] [2] King Iohn being returned into England accused diuerse of his Nobles for shewing themselues neg|ligent and slouthfull in aiding him, according to his commandement, alledging furthermore, that being destitute of their due and requisite seruice, he was constreined to lose his time in Normandie, as not being able for want of their aid to resist his enimies. Wherefore for this and other matters laid to their charges, he did put them to greeuous [...]ines. By meanes whereof, and by leauieng a subsidie of his people, he got togither an huge summe of monie. This subsidie was granted him in a parlement hol|den at Oxenford, Matth. Paris. A parlement at Oxenford. and begun there vpon the second of Ianuarie 1204, wherein of euerie knights fée was granted the summe of two markes and an halfe. Neither were the bishops,A subsidie granted. abbats, nor any other ec|clesiasticall persons exempted, by meanes whereof he ran first into the hatred of the clergie, and conse|quentlie of manie other of his subiects: so that they failed him at his néed, whereby he often susteined no small damage, which he might haue preuented and withstood, if he had beene so qualified with discretion as to haue séene what was conuenient and what in|conuenient for his roiall estate. But

—voluntas

Improba perniciem ingentem mortalibus affert,

as it did to him, which may be gathered by a due ob|seruation of the consequence. ¶This yeare the aire toward the north and east parts séemed to be on a bright fire for the space of six houres togither. It be|gan about the first watch of the night, on the first of Aprill.