countess Beatrice, with many nohle persons of England and Provence, of both sexes, when the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord drew near, hastened to London, and there he solemnised the festival of Saint Edward, with wonderful sumptuousness, at Westminster, in the presence and sight of the strangers of Provence, and especially displayed the magnificence of his own palace. And when this festival was over, the countess before mentioned, directing her course towards the sea-coast, returned to her native country, the king, with a numerous retinue of his subjects, attending her slowly, as far as the sea-shore. But before she re-embarked on board ship at Dover, that mortals may never find the joys of this world unmixed, she was met by the bearers of doleful news, who told her that Raymond, count of Provence, her husband, had been stricken by an incurable disease, and was looking for nothing but death, a man who, in all its distresses, had afforded effectual protection to the church of Rome, and done much injury to the emperors. And when the lord the king Henry heard this, he grieved inconsolably, and (which was all that he could do), with prayers and alms, besought the mercy of God for him. About the same time, the pope, relying too much on the king's simplicity and patience, sent into England a new extorter of money, not invested with the insignia of a legate, but fortified with unheard-of powers, by name Martin, who immediately betook himself to the usual abode of all the papal legates, and nuncios, and secular clergy ; that is to say, to the New Temple in London, and without delay displayed his power of receiving revenues, and extorting money in all kinds of ways, and practised it diligently, to the great distress of many hearts, and to the wounding of men's consciences. For he had the power of prohibiting all collation to benefices, until satisfaction should bemade to him according to his wish. And, despising all scanty revenues as so many husks, he laid rapacious hands on all rich booty. He had also power of excommunicating, suspending, and punishing in various waye, and just as he pleased, all who resisted his will, though it might have been a mere hasty action ; just as if on that very day he had, according to established custom, produced authentic bulls, drawn up in the papal chancery. On which account it was said by some people, and not without reason, that he had brought over a great many papers sealed with a