A.D. 1180. LETTER O F POP E ALEXANDER. 535 security that he would keep the same. The said pope also, strictly, and in virtue of the obedience he owed, forbade John, bishop of Saint Andrew's, either moved by love or fear of any person, or by any one's suggestion or command, to presume and dare with rashness to desert the ehurch of Saint Andrew's, to which he had been consecrated and confirmed with the Apostolic authority, or to receive another ; adding, that if he should attempt so to do, ho would deprive him of both.5 9 And with reference thereto, the Supreme Pontiff wrote to the following effect— The Letter of pope Alexander to William, Mng of the Scots, on the same matter. "Alexander, the bishop, servant of the servants of God, to William, the illustrious king of the Scots, health and the Apostolic benediction. W e bear it in mind that we have anxiously laboured for your peace and liberty, hoping that thereby you would be more strongly confirmed, and increase apace in dutifulness to the Apostolic See, and would more willingly preserve the liberties of the Church ; but when we give our attention to what you have done relative to our venerable brother John, bishop of Saint Andrew's, in Scotland, and what disposition you have hitherto shewn with regard to him, we find ourselves compelled to entertain apprehensions at variance with the hopes which we did entertain, as to the warmth of your royal dutifulness. Wishing, nevertheless, to make trial if our forbearance can bring your royal feelings to true repentance, we do by these Apostolic writings strenuously admonish and enjoin your mightiness, that, -within twenty days after the receipt hereof, you make peace with the said bishop, anil give security for the same, so that he may have no room to fear your royal indignation. Otherwise, you are to know that we have given orders to our venerable brother Roger, the archbishop of York and legate of the Apostolic See, in Scotland, to lay your kingdom under an interdict, no appeal whatever withstanding, and to pronounce sentence of excommunication against your person, R you shall be unwilling to desist from this course. And further, be assured of this for certain, that if you shall think fit to persist in your violent measures, in the same way, that we have laboured that your 5 9 His present see and the one he should accept.