A.D Π18. DEATH OF POPE PASCHAL. 207 of August, and came to Normandy to king Henry, bringing letters from the successor of the Apostles, which directed him to act in England on behalf of the Apostolic see. This being soon spread abroad throughout the whole of England, by the advice of the queen and some of the nobles, Ralph, the archbishop of Canterbury, after the nativity of Saint Mary, crossed the sea, and went to the king whom he found staying at Rouen, and after having carefully conferred with him on the business on which he had come, taking each matter in its proper order, by the king's advice set out on his way to Rome. In the year 1117, by the command of king Henry, the new works at Cirencester were begun. In Lombardy, a great earthquake took place, and, according to the testimony of those who knew the fact, lasted for a period of forty days, during which time many buildings fell to the ground ; and, a thing marvellous to be seen and spoken of, a certain town, of very considerable magnitude, was suddenly moved from its original site, and is at the present day to be seen by all at a place far distant. While some men of patrician rank at Milan were discoursing on matters of state, sitting beneath a certain tower, a voice from outside resounded in the ears of all, calling one of them by name, and begging him to come out immediately; on his delaying, a person appeared, and with entreaties, begged the man who had been called, to come forth ; on doing which, the tower was suddenly overthrown, and in its dreadful fall buried all who were there. On the calends of December, there was great thunder and lightning, which was followed by a vast deluge of rain and hail ; on the third day before the ides of the same month, the moon appeared at first of the colour of blood, after which it became overshadowed. Robert, bishop of Chester, died. * In the year 1118, pope Paschal of holy memory departed this Rfe, on the fourteenth day before the calends of February ; and in his place was appointed one John, a native of Gaeta, who, changing his name, was called Gelasius. From his infancy he had been brought up as a monk, at the monastery of Monte Casino, and after he had grown up had assiduously fulfilled the duties of chancellor, during the ministration of the venerable successors of the Apostles, Dcsiderius, Urban, and Paschal. Henry, king of Germany, who was also emperor of Rome,