counsellor of the blessed Edmund, archbishop of Canterbury. And it was from the information he received from the accounts given him by this Richard, and by Brother Robert Bacon, of the order of Preachers, that Brother Matthew Paris diligently wrote a history of the life of the aforesaid Saint Edmund, as it had been related to him by credible men. After the retirement of earl Simon from Guienne, the people of Guienne began to war with one another, and to invade one another's castles, to take men prisoners, and to reduce their houses to ashes. And among the first of these warlike leaders was Gaston, lord of Biarde and Perigord, who transferred his allegiance to the king of Spain, that by this means he might more readily attack the king of England. And he encouraged the enemies of the king in Guienne to such a degree, that Bourdeaux, which had used to supply provisions to all Guienne, began to feel want. The lord the king granted a privilege to the church of Waltham, and formally confirmed it, that as often as it should happen that that church was vacant, the convent should have free power of disposing both of the barony and of the possessions -of the church, according to their will ; besides which, he granted them two markets, and conferred other advantages upon them ; and as to these particulars, he renewed the charter which had been obtained from them before. As the church of Rome was a long time deprived of the presence of its shepherd and prelate, the lord the pope was solemnly entreated by the Romans to return to Rome, and to govern his flock as their shepherd. And as he still delayed, he was entreated a second time with great solemnity, with this addition, that he must come now or never. And when the lord the pope heard this, fearing to incur danger by his delay, he withdrew from Perugia, and hastened to Rome. And although the Romans had repayment of the money which they had expended for him against Frederic, withheld as if it had been a fine due from them, nevertheless he was received joyfully and reverently by them all. The day fortnight after Easter, a great parliament being assembled, nearly all the prelates being met together, requested that the king, observing their charters and liberties as he had often promised, would also permit the Holy Church to enjoy its liberties, especially in the matter of the elections of prelates of the cathedral churches, and of the churches of convents : all which the king pro