A.D. 1247. THE LETTER SENT TO THE POPE. 277 enriched by our pauperization, to whom God has chosen to display profane contentions on account of their pride, may be reduced to the condition of the primitive church, and living in contemplation may shew miracles such as have long since deserted the world, to us who are living an active life, as be comes us." But the tenor of this letter perplexed many persons, who believed that there was a mutual understanding between Frederic and the French, especially considering the last epistle of Frederic, the final sentence of which is this : " It was always the intention of our will to bring the clergy of every order to this point ; and especially the principal ones, in order that such men might persevere in the faith which existed in the primitive church, leading an Apostolic life, and imitating the humility of the Lord. And such clergy were accustomed to look upon the angels, to be eminent for miracles, to heal the sick, to raise the dead, and to subdue tings and princes by sanctity, and not by arms," &c. This year also, the clergy, or rather the whole body of the Anglican church, brought forward a complaint before the pope and cardinal respecting the oppressions and intolerable grievances with which the church and the kingdom was continually being harassed ; and because after the letter had been sent to the lord the pope on this subject, on the part of the whole body of the Anglican church, proceeding from the hearts of all the prelates, which were greatly distressed, and provoked to bitterness of spirit, lest a mournful schism should ensue, as is not a little dreaded, we have considered it well to annex it to this chapter. The Letter sent to the pope. " To the lord Innocent, the most holy father in Christ, by the providence of God, supreme pontiff, the whole body of the clergy and people assembled in the province of Canterbury, sendeth devout kisses of his holy feet. Since the Anglican church, from the time when the Catholic faith was fi ret recommended to it, has always studied to please, and has adhered to, and devoutly obeyed God and the Holy Roman Church, our mother," &c. And because, among other grievances, an unendurable and insupportable one was, that the lord the pope chose to demand from every resident beneficed clerk a third part of his