Twenty shillings were therefore levied on each knight's fee
throughout England; but as this money came in slowly, and was not
sufficient for the intended purpose, the voluntary zeal of the people
readily supplied the deficiency.
The churches and monasteries melted down their plate to the amount of
30,000 marks; the bishops, abbots, and nobles paid a fourth of their
yearly rent; the parochial clergy contributed a tenth of their tithes;
and the requisite sum being thus collected, the queen-mother and Walter,
Archbishop of Rouen, set out with it to Germany, paid the money to the
emperor and the Duke of Austria at Mentz, delivered to them hostages for
the remainder, and freed Richard from captivity.[52]
During these important negotiations two messengers arrived at Clitheroe,
who in consequence of the deputy's absence for a season, held a secret
conference with the Dean of Whalley ere they departed. An order was left
that the castle should be forthwith in readiness for the reception of
some distinguished guest. In those days tidings travelled slowly in such
thinly-populated districts; like the heath-fire, which extends rapidly
where the fuel is thickly strewn, but is tardy in spreading where it is
less abundant.
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