Page:History of Norfolk 1.djvu/29

 Barons, because of Matilda, sirnamed the Fair, daughter of Robert Fitz-Walter, whom the King unlawfully loved, but could not obtain her nor her father's consent thereunto; Whereupon (and for divers other like causes) ensued war throughout the whole realm; the King banished the said Fitz-Walter, among others, and caused his castle called Baynard, and other his houses, to be spoiled, which being done, he sent a messenger unto Matilda the Fair, about his old suit in love, and because she would not agree to his wicked motion, the messenger poisoned a boiled or potched egg, against she was hungry, and gave it unto her, whereof she died in 1213." Her tomb was standing between two pillars in the priory church of Little Dunmow, when Mr. Weaver published his book.

In the year following her banished father was restored to the King's favour upon this occasion. "King John being then in France with a great army, it happened that a truce was taken between the two Kings of England and France, for the term of five years; and a river or arm of the sea being betwixt either host, there was a knight in the English host that cried to them of the other side, willing some one of their knights to come and just a course or two with him; whereupon, without stay, Robert Fitz-Walter, being on the French part, made himself ready, ferried over, and got on horseback, and shewed himself ready to the face of his challenger, whom, at the first course, he stroke so hard with his great spear, that horse and man fell to the ground, and when his spear was broken, he went back again to the King of France, which King John seeing, By God's tooth, quoth he, (for such was his usual oath,) he were a King indeed that had such a knight. The friends of Robert hearing these words, kneeled down and said, O King, he is your knight, it is Robert Fitz-Walter; whereupon the next day he was sent for, and restored to the King's favour, by which means peace was concluded, and he received his livings, and had licence to repair his castle of Baynard, and all his other castles." Notwithstanding this, he afterwards joined the Barons that stood against the same King for their liberties, during his whole reign; and, at the King's death, by his advice there was an agreement made between them and the succeeding King, from which time he was always in great favour, both in court and country. Holinshed,  that faithful historian, gives him this character, that he was "both excellent in counsel, and valiant in war." He went with Ralph Earl of Chester's army, to aid the Christians against the Infidels, who had besieged the city of Damieta in Egypt, where he performed noble achievements: "After which, this strenuous knight, this Mars of men, this marshal of God's army and holy church, (for so he was stiled by the common multitude,) lived in all affluence of riches and honour, till 1234, when he died, and was buried by his daughter in the said church. Holinshed says,  anno 1235, in Advent, died the noble Baron the Lord Fitz-Walter."

Robert Fitz-Walter, his son, often called Walter FitzRobert, succeeded; he was a man of renown in those days, and in great favour