The confirmation of the charters, vnder the kings acknowledgement and subscription of witnesses.

Nvnc autem concessimus, & hac præsenti charta confirmauimus omnibus prædictis de regno nostro, omnes libertates & liberas consuetudines contentas in chartis nostris, quas eis fidelibus nostris fieri fecimus cùm in minori essemus ætate, scilicet in Magna charta nostra, quàm in charta de Foresta. Et volumus pro nobis, & hæredibus nostris, quòd præfati fideles nostri, & successores, & hæredes eorum habeant, & teneant in perpetuum omnes libertates & liberas consuetudines prædictas, non obstante quòd prædictæ chartæ confectæ fuerint cùm minoris essemus ætatis, vt prædictum est, hijs testibus, Edmundo Cant. archiepiscopo, & omnibus alijs in Magna charta nominatis. Dat. per manum venerabilis patris Cicestriensis episcopi, cancellarij nostri 28 die Ianuarij, Anno Regni nostri 21.

Matth. Paris.

Beside the confirmation of these charters, the king further to win the fauour of his people, was contented to remooue and sequester from him diuerse of his councellours that were thought not to be well minded towards the aduancement of the common-wealth, and in their places to admit the earle of Waren, William de Ferrers, and Iohn Fitz Geffrey, who were sworne to giue to the king faithfull counsell, and in no wise to go out of the right waie for any respect that might otherwise mooue them. ¶ About the first daie of March, there began sore raine and tempestuous weather, whereof insued great flouds, as before in the beginning of the yeare passed, had chanced, though not dooing so much hurt as before.

Iohn Scot earle of Chester departed this life.

Ran. Higd.

His sisters.

Iohn Scot also earle of Chester and Huntington died at Deren hall the seuenth daie of Iune, without issue, and was buried at Chester. He was poisoned by the diuelish practise of his wife daughter to Leolin prince of Wales (as Matt. Paris saith.) He had foure sisters, of whom the first named Margaret was married to Allen of Gallowaie, by whom she had issue a daughter named Deuorgoill; which Deuorgoill was married to Iohn Balioll, by whom she had issue Iohn Balioll that was afterward king of Scotland. The second named Isabell, was married to Robert le Bruis. The third named Mawd, died without issue. And the fourth called Alda, was married to Henrie Hastings. But bicause the land perteining to the earledome of Chester, should not go amongst rocks and distaues, hauing such roiall prerogatiues belonging thereto, the king seized them into his owne hands, and in recompense assigned other lands to the forsaid sisters, as it had béene by way of exchange.

Now sith the earles of Chester (I meane those of the line of Hugh Lupus) tooke end in this Iohn Scot; I haue thought it not impertinent for the honor of so noble a linage, to set downe the descent of the same earles, beginning at the foresaid Hugh the first that gouerned after the conquest, as I haue séen the same collected out of ancient records, according to their true succession in seauen descents one after another, as here followeth.