A.l). 1172. POPE ALEXANDER TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF BOURGES. 353 palace for bis own use, constructed, with wonderful skill, of peeled osiers, according to the custom of that country. Here with the kings and principal men of Ireland, he held the usual festivities on the day of the Nativity of our Lord. In the meantime, Gilbert, bishop of London, and Jocelyn, bishop of Salisbury, sent to Rome and received letters of absolution, the tenor of which was as follows :— The Letter of Pope Alexander to the Archbishop of Bourges. " Alexander the bishop, servant of the servants of God, to his venerable brethren, the archbishop of Bourges and the bishop of Nivernois, health, and the ApostoUc benediction. We believe that it is not unknown to your brotherhood how Thomas of blessed memory, formerly archbishop of Canterbury, in obedience to our mandate, pronounced sentence of excommunication upon the bishops of London and Salisbury : which we took due care to have ratified and confirmed by the authority of the Apostolic See. Now, inasmuch as the aforesaid bishops, being worn out with old age and infirmity of body, and, one of them labouring under a malady, are not able to come to our presence : to you, in whose prudence and fidelity we have fall confidence, we have thought proper to entrust their absolution, for which, envoys from Henry, the king of England, and the said bishops have made the most urgent application. Therefore, we do command your brotherhood, by these Apostolic writings, within one month from the time when the said messengers shall have returned home—(as to the approach of the legates whom Ave have thought proper to send into those parts to take cognizance of this atrocious crime and misdeed which has been perpetrated and of the forgiveness of the king,—that they have passed the Alps you * e not unaware), that, after having publicly received their oaths according to the custom of the Church, that they are ready to pay obedience to our mandate, you will absolve them from the ban of excommunication by pronouncing sentence of suspension for the same cause for which they were recently sentenced to excommunication, the said cause being still valid and of fuH effect. But if you shall be satisfied that the bishop of Salisbury, from labouring under the effects of disease, cannot come to you, then it is our pleasure that you shaB attend upon him personally. Or if you shaB be VOL. I. A A