232 AXXALS OF ROGER DE HOVEDEN. A.D. 1138. "Most illustrious nobles of England, Normans by birth, (for when about to enter on the combat, it beiits you to hold in remembrance your names and your birth), consider who you are, and against whom, and where it is, you are waging war; for then no one shall with impunity resist your prowess. Bold France, taught by experience, has quailed beneath your valour, fierce England, led captive, has submitted to you ; rich Apulia, on having you for her masters, has flourished once again ; Jerusalem so famed, and illustrious Antioch, have bowed themselves before you ; and now Scotland, which of right is subject to you, attempts to show resistance, displaying a temerity not warranted by her arms, more fitted indeed for rioting than for battle. These are people, in fact, who have no knowledge of military matters, no skill in fighting, no moderation in ruling. There is no room then left for fear, but rather for shame, that those whom we have always sought on their own soil and overcome, reversing the usual order of things, have, like so many drunkards and madmen, come flocking into our country. This, however, I, a bishop, and the substitute for your archbishop, tell you, has been brought about by Divine Providence ; in order that those who have in this country violated the temples of God, stained the altars with blood, slain his priests, spared neither children nor pregnant women, may on the same spot receive the condign punishment of their crimes ; and this most just resolve of the Divine will, God will this day put in execution by means of your hands. Arouse your spirits then, ye civilized warriors, and, firmly relying on the valour of your country, nay, rather on the presence of God, arise against these most unrighteous foes. And let not their rashness move you, because so manyinsigniaof your valour cause no alarm to them. They know not how to arm96 themselves for battle ; whereas you, during the time of peace, prepare yourselves for war, in order that in battle you may not experience the doubtful contingencies of warfare. Cover your heads then with the helmet, your breasts with the coat of mail, your legs with the greaves, and your bodies with the shield, that so the foeman may not find where to strike at you, on seeing you thus surrounded on every side with iron. Marching then against them thus, unarmed and wavering, why should we hesitate ? On M This is probably said in allusion to the absence of defensive armour, with the half-naked Scotch.