[1] [2] About the feast of saint Michaell, the bishop of Bangor was sent from Leolin prince of Wales vn|to the king of England,The bishop of Bangor sent frõ the prince of Wales to king Henrie. The welsh|men offer to resort vnto Chester. to make offer on the behalfe of the said Leolin and other the lords of Wales, of sixtéene thousand pounds of siluer for a peace to be had betwixt the king and them, and that they might come to Chester, and there haue their matters heard and determined, as in time past they had béene accu|stomed. But what answer at his returne was giuen to this bishop by the king and his nobles, it is vncer|teine. [page 262] In the fortie and fourth yeare of king Henries reigne, Anno Reg. 44. I parlement. the fridaie following the feast of Simon and Iude, in a parlement holden at Westminster, were read in presence of all the lords and commons, the acts and ordinances made in the parlement holden at Oxenford,The statutes of Oxenford read, and the breakers of the same de|nounced ac|curssed. with certeine other articles by the go|uernours therevnto added and annexed. After the reading whereof the archbishop of Canturburie be|ing reuested with his suffragans to the number of nine bishops, besides abbats and others, denounced all them accurssed that attempted in word or déed to breake the said statutes, or anie of them. In the same parlement was granted to the king a talke called scutagium,Escuage granted. or escuage, that is to saie, fortie shillings of euerie knights fée throughtout England, the which extended to a great summe of monie. For as diuerse writers do agree,Knights feés how manie were then in England. there were in England at that time in possession of the spiritualtie and temporaltie be|yond fortie thousand knights fees, but almost halfe of them were in spirituall mens hands.