Walter of Guisborough

"In the year of our Lord 1278, a fortnight after the feast of St. John the Baptist, the king held his parliament at Gloucester and issued what is called the statute of Gloucester, containing fifteen clauses. In August he made the statute of quo warranto. Soon after he disquieted some of the magnates of the land by means of his justices, who sought to know by what warrant they held their lands. If they had no good warrant, he took possession of their lands. Among the rest earl Warenne was summoned before the king's justices and asked by what warrant he held. He produced an ancient and rusty sword, and cried, "Here, my lords, here is my warrant! My ancestors came over with William the bastard and conquered their lands by the sword, and I will defend those same lands by the sword against any, whosoever he may be, who seeks to occupy them. For the king did not conquer and subdue the land by himself, but my ancestors were his partners and helpers." Other magnates adhered to him and his argument, and went off angry and in disorder. When the king heard of this he feared for himself, and ceased from his mistaken policy. Besides, soon after the Welsh rose in rebellion, and the king had great need of his magnates. So when the king was holding a certain parliament, and the sons of the magnates were standing in his presence at vespers, he said to them, "What were you talking about while I was in consultation with your fathers?" And one answered, "You will not be angry if we tell you the truth?" "No," said the king. "Sire, we were saying this: Le Roy cuvayte nos deneres E la Rayne nos beau maneres E le Quo Waranto Sal mak wus al to do." [The king desires our money, The queen our manors too, The writ of "By what warrant" Will make a sad to-do.]"

"The common folk of the land followed him as their leader and ruler; the retainers of the great lords adhered to him; and even though the lords themselves were present with the English king in body, at heart they were on the opposite side."

"And so, he who had terrified many with the sword of his tongue was himself slain with the sword: and the Scots flayed him, and divided his skin into little bits, non quidem ad reliquias, sed ad contumelias."