that same Frederic, the emperor, was at that moment invading, in a hostile manner, the possessione of the church, and, with wicked daring, making himself master of them, like an avowed enemy of the church. This same year, those who had assumed the cross assembled together, at Lyons especially, a numerous army from the kingdom of France, consisting of the noblest men of the realm, to consider what road it was most desirable to take to reach the Holy Land. And when they had consulted on the subject, some thought it the safest and shortest way to go across the sea, sailing from Marseilles towards the east. And when the lord the emperor heard this, he wrote to them to persuade them, in a friendly manner, not to feel annoyed at having to wait for him till he had put an end to the quarrel and discord which had arisen between him and his father, the lord the pope, and had chastised the rebels in Italy. He also proposed, and firmly promised, to be their general and captain, and to provide them with effectual comfort and help. But they being, as is the manner of Frenchmen, impetuous and boastful, were unwilling to adopt the advice of the emperor, or to withdraw from the design which they had now begun to put in execution, because they had collected provisions, hired ships, and hade farewell to their friends. And when the emperor ascertained this, he was vexed at the unchangeable determination of the French ; however, he ordered all the ports and roads of passage throughout his dominions to be freely open to them, and forbade any hindrance to be offered to them. In those days also, Hubert de Burgh, earl of Kent, was violently accused before the king and the whole court of London, where, after a long discussion, in order that the anger of the king, which had been very violent against him, might be appeased, it was decided that he should surrender his four most important castles to the lord the king, and then be allowed, with the king's goodwill, to retain possession of the rest. The names of the castles which he resigned were these—:Black Castle, Grosmund, Scenefritz, and Hatfield. About the same time, the king thrust a prior into the priory of Winchester, who was a Breton by birth, and unwelcome to the convent, in order by his means, as he had appointed him, to incline the hearts of the monks to comply with his wishes in the matter of the election of their bishop ; but he only exasperated them all the more by this proceeding.