A.D. 1165. KING HEXBY'S EDICT AGAINST THE POPE. 269 the north. A comet is a star which does not appear at all times, but in especial at the death of a king, or upon the rain of a nation. When it appears refulgent with a hairy crown, it foretells a royal death ; but, if it has long locks of hair 44 which, as it scintillates, it spreads abroad, it betokens the ruin of a nation. In the same year, pope Alexander returned to Rome, and was honorably received by the people of that city. In this year died Malcolm, king of the Scots, and was succeeded by his brother William. In this year, also, Henry, king of the English, crossed over from England into Normandy, having issued a shocking and execrable edict against pope Alexander and Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury ; the words of which were to the following effect :— " If any person shall be found carrying letters or a mandate of our lord the pope, or of the archbishop of Canterbury, containing an interdict of Christian offices in England, let him be arrested and without delay let justice be done upon him, as a traitor to the king and the realm. Moreover, let no clerk, monk, or lay brother of any orders, be permitted to cross the sea, or to return to England, unless he has a letter from the justiciaries permitting him to cross over, or a letter from the king allowing his return. And if any such person shall be found, let him be arrested and detained. It is also forbidden that any person shall bring any mandate whatsoever of our lord the pope, or of the archbishop of Canterbury. And, if any such person shall be found, let him be arrested and detained. It is also universally forbidden that any person shall appeal to our lord the pope, or to the archbishop of Canterbury, and that, in future, any mandate of theirs shall be received in England ; and it is ordered that no pleas whatsoever shall be held at their mandate. And if any persoli shall do anything against this prohibition, let him be arrested and detained. And further, if any bishop, priest, abbat, monk, clerk, or layman, shall observe any sentence of interdict, without delay let him be banished the kingdom, and all his kindred, but they are to take away none of their chattels with them, but let their chattels and possessions be seized into the king's hand. Also, let all clerks, who have benefices in England, be admonished 44 What we call the tail of a comet, the ancients more poetically styled its " hair."