Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 1.djvu/36

 on the vigil of St. Nicholas (5th December), 1261. By this treaty it was provided that three persons should be chosen on either side to arbitrate between them, of whom John Maunsell was one of those named on the King's side. If they could not agree, Richard, Earl of Cornwall, was to be added as a seventh arbitrator; if they still disagreed the King of France was to be added as an eighth; and to him the matter seems to have been eventually referred.

On the 1st of January, 1262, letters patent were issued by the council charging John Maunsell with stirring up strife between the King and his nobles. Letters to that effect were also sent to Rome; and the King thought it necessary to clear his faithful servant in the eyes of the Pontifical Court Writing from Westminster on the 1st of January (the same day on which the letters patent were issued in his name) to the College of Cardinals, he says "We have been informed that certain persons, forgetful of their proper honesty, have falsely and maliciously represented to the supreme Pontiff, that our beloved and faithful John Maunsell, Treasurer of York, has been endeavouring to stir up strife and dissension between us and our nobles, to the detriment of our nation and public disturbance of our kingdom; whereat we are much moved and disturbed, especially because he never at any time endeavoured to set us against any notable person of our realm, or would have had dissension or a scruple of discord between us on any account, except that he has effectually and constantly stood by us (as he was bound by his fealty to do) in upholding and preserving our rights and dignity, and found the means of hindering the accomplishment of those things which seemed to be undertaken to cause trouble. And forasmuch as we know the said John (who was brought up under our tutelage, and whose disposition, morals and merits, we have known from his youth up) to have been ever diligent and faithful in our affairs and those of the realm, we are bound to shew him our royal