self went to the court of Rome, as he knew that he could by means of money easily win that oyer to his side, whatever his cause might be. But his designs were not permitted by God or by the saints, on whom he had inflicted so many injuries, to arrive at a happy consummation. This Falcas was the cause of miserable nun, that is to say, of death, poverty, and infamy to many of the. nobles of England. One of whom I may name more especially, a man of illustrious nobility, John Gisford, a man of illustrious family, and great beauty of person, who fell at the siege of Bedford castle by a bolt from an arbalist, while fighting manfully for the king his lord. The same year, master Alexander Savenesby was consecrated bishop of Chester, at Rome, by the lord pope Honorius, on Easter day. William, nephew of William de Bruere the elder, was consecrated bishop of Exeter; and Radulph de Neville was consecrated bishop of Chichester, by the lord Stephen, archbishop of Canterbury, on the Sunday after Easter. This year also, a tax of two shillings on every hide of land was granted to the lord king, both by the prelates and laity throughout all England, for his great labours and expenses. In the mean time, the king caused the castle of Bedford, of which we have spoken, to be levelled with the ground. A fifteenth is extortedfrom the Anglican church. Baldwin, emperor of Constantinople, is hanged by his daughter. A.D . 1225. King Henry, at the Nativity of our Lord, held his court at Westminster, in the presence of the clergy and laity, and nobles of his kingdom. The same year, a general exaction of one-fifteenth part of all moveables and chattels was levied throughout the whole of England on all ecclesiastical persons, whether belonging to religious orders or the secular clergy. The general liberties, both of the forests and of all other liberties, were proclaimed, although they had as yet nothing stable or solid about them. Richard, the brother of the king, having been knighted, and made earl of Cornwall, put to sea on Palm Sunday, with William, earl of Salisbury, his uncle, and Philip de Albiney, and some other nobles, and sailed for Gascony, and after a prosperous voyage landed at Bourdeaux. The same year, John, bishop of Ely, who had formerly been abbot of Fountain Abbey, died, and was succeeded by Godfrey de Bulgo, arch