from ecclesiastical persons. And in like manner he addressed consolatory and admonitory language to all his friends, many of whom laboured with all their efforts to give a speedy effect to his injunctions. When thie had become known to the pope and the cardinals, the Roman court was agitated in no small degree. And the pope, in his rage, heaping up anger on anger, and hatred on hatred, excommunicated Frederic himself, on the day of preparation, in such solemn and horrible terms, that he struck all who heard or saw it, not only with fear, but even with vehement horror. Concerning the arrival of brother John, an Englishman, and minister of Provence, in England. About the same time, a certain brother of the order of Minors, by name John, came into England, of which country he was a native, having been sent by the lord the pope, armed with great powers, to collect money with all diligence, for the use of the lord the pope, from all ecclesiastical persons, and especially from the abbots, who had hitherto been exempt. And because the lord the king is well known to have a privilege, by virtue of which no legate can come into England, except upon his invitation, legates were now sent thither in this form, artfully disguised. And he received (because it was right that he should, in respect of his honesty) sufficiently ample contributions ; of which the lord dean of Saint Paul's is an evidence, who liberally gave him twenty shillings as his contribution. And because he was discharging the duties of a legate, he travelled on horseback. And those whom he favoured he spared ; and when he had exempted them according to his will, he affixed a condition to their contribution. But the bishops harassed those who were exempt, in many ways, and extorted money from them by all kinds of arguments, because they were privileged, and because their privileges were always unpopular with them, and, as it were, a thorn in their eyes ; although such letters were manifestly inconsistent. The-letters sent to the lord the pope by the whole body of the clergy. "To the most holy, &c. Brother John, a minister of the order of Minor Brothers in Provence, a religious and discreet man, the nuncio of your holiness, having been sent to the venerable fathers in Christ, the archbishops of Canterbury