for the benefit of peace, eleven thousand marks of silver. And. moreover, for greater security, he gave him his two daughters as hostages, that in this way the peace between them might be rendered firmer. The same year, Henry, duke of Saxony, and brother of the emperor Otho, came into England. Likewise in this same year, Otho, son of the duke of Saxony, and nephew of the king of England, was consecrated emperor of the Romans, by pope Innocent the Third, on the fourth of October. In this year, too, the king, disregarding the respect due to the schools of the University of Oxford, caused two of the scholars to be hung at Oxford, by which proceeding the whole body of scholars was dispersed and thrown into confusion. About the same time king John was excommunicated by name, on account of the illegal oppression which he had now for two years incessantly exercised against both the army and the church. This year, also, Master Alexander, a man of the greatest personal beauty, and most reverend countenance, deeply imbued with the fulness of learning, so as to be accounted a celebrated master and teacher, and reader in theology at Paris, being nevertheless led away by ambition, dared to uphold and support king John in his error, owing to which conduct he was at last precipitated with disgrace from the highest honour to the lowest depth of confusion. About the same time, Hugh, bishop elect of Lincoln, received consecration and institution to his diocese in the countries beyond the sea, at the hands of the archbishop of Rouen. The king's seal was entrusted to Walter de Grey, and he was appointed chancellor. The Jews, too, were this year compelled to pay a very heavy ransom. Otho, the new emperor, is excommunicated. A.D . 1210. King John was at the feast of the Nativity at Windsor ; all the nobles of England being present, and communicating with him, notwithstanding the sentence which had been proclaimed against him. After this, by command of the king, the Jews of both sexes were arrested throughout all England, and thrown into prison, and subjected to the most severe punishment, to compel them to gratify the king's desires with their money. About the same time, pope Innocent excommunicated and denounced the emperor Òtho, and absolved many nobles both