ordered them to be put to death. And from that time forth, inviting foreigners into his kingdom, and keeping them about him, he incurred deservedly the implacable hatred of his natural-born subjects. The same year, king John extorted writings from all the religious houses, and from all the secular clergy, in which they were compelled to bear witness that they had of their own accord given him everything which he had forcibly and wickedly extorted from them. But, in the course of those days, sentence was given against king John, that he should be deprived of his kingdom, and the name was verified which was given to him out of insult, when he was called John Lackland. About the same time, a certain simple and upright man, touched with the spirit of prophecy, declared before all men what he knew concerning this same king John. This man was a hermit, and WAS named Peter, and because he had forewarned many persons of what would happen, he was called the Wise. Among other things which this man predicted, he openly asserted that, on the day of the Ascension next ensuing, John would not be king, nor after that time, but that on that day the crown of England would be transferred to another. The hearts of many wavered, but, on the day thus predicted, when the king was declared a tributary to the Roman pontiff, the word of the prophet was proved to be true. Accordingly, in these days, pope Innocent sent as his legate a latere Pandulph, his eubdeacon, into the countries on this side of the Alps, to bring to England mournful conditions of peace, to which, if the king consented, he might find the favour of the Apostolic See, because forfeiture of his kingdom had been pronounced against him, and danger was threatening him on all sides, as his conduct well deserved. For his own bowels were fighting against him, and being spiritless and rebellious against himself, and sleepless and wasting away, he could not contain himself, wretched as he was, but no proper object of pity to any one. The same year died Henry, son of Alwyn, mayor of London. The king of France prepares to invade England. Godfrey, archbishop of York, dies. A.D . 1213. King John held his court at the feast of the Nativity at Westminster, which was attended by only a very small body of knights ; at which season also, Godfrey, archbishop