[1] [2] [3] [4] About the same time a parlement was called, to the which certeine commissioners from the countrie of Flanders came, to treat of certeine agréements betwixt the king and realme, and the states of their countrie: but bicause those that came ouer at this time, seemed not sufficient to conclude such treatie as then was in hand, they were sent backe to fetch other more sufficient,The cõmissio|ners of Flan|ders reiected for want of sufficient au|thoritie. as from euerie towne in Flan|ders some such as might haue full authoritie to go through, and confirme the agréements then in hand. In this parlement, the maior of London, with a great part of the commoners of the citie, vpon sug|gestion by them made against the fishmongers, for vsing great deceit in vttering of their fishes, obtei|ned to haue it inacted,An act against the fishmon|gers within the citie of London. that from thencefoorth, none of that companie, nor anie of the vinteners, butchers, grossers, or other that sold anie prouision of vittels, should be admitted maior of the citie; and so by this shift they sought to cut off all meanes from the fish|mongers to recouer againe their old former degrée. And bicause it was knowne well inough of what au|thoritie sir Iohn Philpot knight was within the citie, and that he fauoured those whome the lord maior the said Iohn de Northampton fauoured not, he was put off from the bench, and might not sit with them that were of the secret councell in the cities affaires, whereas neuerthelesse he had trauelled more for the preseruation of the cities liberties than all the resi|due. Sir Henrie Spenser bishop of Norwich, recei|ued buls a little before this present from pope Ur|bane, to signe all such with the crosse, that would take vpon them to go ouer the seas with him, to warre a|gainst those that held with the antipape Clement, that tooke himselfe for pope,Remission of sins granted to as manie as would fight against Cle|ment the an|tipape. and to such as would re|ceiue the crosse in that quarrell, such like beneficiall pardons were granted by pope Urbane, as were ac|customablie granted vnto such as went to fight a|gainst the Infidels, Turkes, and Saracens, to wit free remission of sinnes, and manie other graces. The bishop of Norwich that had the disposing of the bene|fits granted by those buls, to all such as either would go themselues in person, or else giue anie thing to|ward the furtherance of that voiage, & maintenance of them that went in the same, shewed those buls in open parlement, & caused copies to be written forth, & sent into euerie quarter, that his authoritie & power legantine might be notified to all men, for the better bringing to passe of that he had in charge. And true|lie it should appeare, there wanted no diligence in the man to accomplish the popes purpose: and on the other part yée must note, that the priuileges which he had from the pope, were passing large, so that as the matter was handled, there were diuerse lords, knights, esquires, and other men of warre in good numbers, that offered themselues to go in that voi|age, and to follow the standards of the church with the bishop, and no small summes of monie were leuied and gathered amongst the people, for the furnishing foorth of that armie, as after yée shall heare.