Α.η.1017.] SIKUK OF MXCOLN CASTLE. delivered the eros», and related all the wonderful events eonneeteil with it to the prior and brethren. The raising of the siege of the eastle of Montsoret ami of the siet/e of y Lincoln, castle. The army of Louis and the barons of England arrived at Dunstable, and there passed the night. In the morning it took its march northward, hastening to the relief of the before-mentioned eastle of Montsorcl ; earl Ralph of Chester and the others wdio wen; with him besieging it, being informed of this by their scouts, raised the siege, and retreated to the castle of Nottingham, where they determined to watch the progress of tlieir approaching enemies. When the barons then arrived at the castle of Montsorel, after pillaging in their usual custom all the cemeteries and churches on their march, it was determined unanimously to inarch to Lincoln, where (lilbert de Cant and other barons above-mentioned bad carried on a long siege without success. They therefore marched through the valley of Del voir, and there everything fell into the bands of these robbers, because the soldiers of the French kingdom being as it were the refuse and senni of that countrv, left nothing at all untouched, and tlieir poverty and wretchedness was so great, that they had not enough bodily clothing to cover their nakedness. At length they arrived at Lincoln, and the barons then made fierce assaults on the castle, whilst the besieged returned their showers ot' stones and missiles with stones and deadly weapons with great courage. flow the king of England assembled an army to raise the siepe of the castle of Lincoln. Whilst these events were passing at this place, William Mar-hall, the guardian of the king and kingdom, by the advice of Walo the legate. Peter bishop of Winchester, and others bv whose counsels the business of the kingdom was arranged, convoked all tin1 castellans belonging to the king, and the knights who were in charge ol castles in tlill'erent parts of the kingdom, ordering then, on the command of the king, to assemble at Newark on the second (lav in Whitsun week, to proceed together with them to raise the siege of Lincoln castle. They, having an ardent