whom he had sent to Rome to oppose the chancellor, wrote to him to the following effect :— The Letter sent hy his clerks to Walter, archMshop of Rouen. "T o Walter, by the grace of God archbishop of Rouen, their most dear lord and father, his clerks, greeting. We will omit the perils and labours which in our journey we have oftentimes been obliged to endure, and how, after having frequently escaped from dangers by the way, we at length fell into the hands of robbers, and, being despoiled of all our property, except a few horses and our letters, arrived destitute of all provision whatever in this magnificent city, on the third day before the ides of February, the court then staying at the church of Saint Peter. Here we found the clerks sent by the chancellor, uttering many boasts, and, as it appeared to us, exulting in complete success. For the office in full of legate having been granted to him, our lord the pope and certain of the cardinals had sent letters to the bishop of Ely addressed therein as legate, but the principal letters conferring the legateship under the authority of the bull not having been yet delivered, the deputies before-mentioned were preparing for their speedy departure. Moreover, we foundthepope fully inclined to take the part of the chancellor ; while those who, as his familiar friends, are much in the society of our lord the pope, and are constantly at his side, were promoting his interests as though they were their own. However, by the grace of God, in consequence of our arrival, those letters were detained, some persons who zealously attend to our interests, often and repeatedly remarking that the presence of your deputies had hitherto been much needed. After this, as soon as we had obtained permission, having gained an audience, in the presence of our lord the pope and the whole of the cardinals, we presented the letters sent by you, and by the bishops, prelates, and justiciaries of England, with due care adding thereto all other things that we believed were consistent with your intentions. After the deputies of the bishop of Ely had made an attempt to raise objections both to our answers and our assertions, our lord the pope made many remarks militating against your interests, with indignation and bitterness, inculcating in many words, and affirming as follows :—We know that the illustri