À.D. 1174. THE XING OF THE SCOTS BESIEGES CARLISLE. 379 the Divine grace, the obduracy of our lord the pope was so far softened, that, in the presence of all, he solemnly confirmed the election of the lord archbishop elect of Canterbury; and after having so confirmed his election, consecrated him on the Lord's day following. On the third day after his consecration, he gave him the pall, and a short period of time having intervened, conferred on him the dignity of the primacy. In addition to this, it being our desire that he should have full power of inflicting ecclesiastical vengeance upon those men of your realms who have iniquitously and in the treachery of their wickedness, raised their heel against your innocence, we did, after much solicitation, obtain the favour of the bestowal by our lord the pope of the legateship on the same province. As for my own election, and those of the others, they are matters still in suspense ; and our lord the pope has determined to settle and determine nothing with regard to us, until such time as your son shall have been brought to a reconciliation. However, we put our trust in the Lord that the interests of myself, and of all the other bishops elect, may be safely entrusted to the prudent care of my lord the archbishop of Canterbury.' ' In the same year, at the feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, Richard de Lucy laid siege to the castle of Huntingdon, on which the knights of that castle burned the town to the ground. Richard de Lucy then erected a new eastle before the gates of the said castle of Huntingdon, and gave it in charge to earl Simon. In the meanwhile, William, king of the Scots, laid siege to Carlisle, of which Robert de Vais had the safe keeping ; and, leaving a portion of his army to continue the siege, with the remainder of it he passed through Northumberland, ravaging ^the lands of the king and his barons. He took the castle of Liddel, the castle of Burgh, the castle of Appleby, the castle of Mercwrede, and the castle of Lrebothe, which was held by Odonel de Umfraville, after which he returned to the siege of Carlisle. Here he continued the siege, until Robert de Vais, in consequence of provisions failing him and tho other persons there, made a treaty with him on the following terms, namely, that, at the feast of Saint Michael next ensuing, he would surrender to him the castle and town of Carlisle, unless, in the meantime, he should obtain succour from his master the king of England.