have the management of secular business, that they may cause it entirely to tend to the peace and unity of the Church. And, inasmuch as it is certain that kings receive their power from the Church, and not it from them, but (with your leave I say it) from Christ, you ought not to give your commands to bishops to absolve or to excommunicate any person, to bring the clergy before secular courts, to pronounce judgment relative to tithes and churches, to forbid bishops taking cognizance of breaches of faith or vows in such manner as is here set forth in writing among your customs, which you style the laws of your grandfather. For the Lord says, 'Keep my laws ; ' and, again, by the mouth of the prophet, ' Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievous-ness which they have prescribed ; to turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people.'81 Therefore, let my lord, if so it pleases him, listen to the counsels of his liege, the advice of his bishop, and the correction of his father. Let him, for the future, have no intercourse or communication with schismatics. For it is well known to almost all the world how duteously and how honorably you received our lord the pope, how greatly you have cherished and have honored the Church of Kome, how greatly our lord the pope and the Church of Berne have loved and honored your person, and, on whatever occasion, in conformity with the will of God they possibly could, have listened to your requests. Bo not then attempt, my lord, if you wish for the salvation of your soul, in any way to withdraw from that Church what is its own, or in any degree to contravene justice in acting towards it ; but rather allow it to enjoy the same freedom in your kingdom which it is known to enjoy in others. Keep in remembrance also the profession which you made and placed in writing upon the altar at Westminster, to preserve its liberties to the Church of God, at the time when, by my predecessor, you were consecrated and anointed king. Bestore, also, the church of Canterbury, in which you received your promotion and consecration, to that state and dignity which it enjoyed in the days of your predecessors and mine. Bestore, also, the possessions which belong to that church, the towns, the castles, the estates, of which you have made distribution at your will, and replace in fidi all the things which have been taken from either 5i Isaiah χ 1, 2. 272 ANNALS OF ROGER DE HOVEDEK. A.D. 1165.