A.D. 1247. A MTOMUB ARISES AMONG THE CLERGY. 283 and York, and their suffragane, has brought us some apostolic letters of credence ; delivering to us at the same time, by the same authority, a verbal injunction that we should each of us, both on our own account, and on that of the ecclesiastical persons subject to us, issue obligatory letters concerning a certain sum of money required for the assistance of the Apostolic See. But we, having deliberated carefully on this subject, and considering likewise that if we were to do any such thing without consulting those under our authority, they would make a great disturbance, looking upon us perhaps as their betrayers, and thus be rather provoked to rebellion and scandal than to the promotion of the aforesaid business, have not found ourselves able to aid its progress without their counsel and good will. On which account, as we are very anxious with all reverence to obey the apostolical mandates as far as we are able, as it becomes us to do, and to consult the peace and tranquillity of the clergy and kingdom, having deliberated together on this matter, how the amount of eleven thousand marks for the subsidy before mentioned (the three ranks of clergy being exempted and excepted) may be generally contributed, both by the aforesaid archbishops and their suffragans, and the people committed to their charge ; we will, as far as we are able, mduce our people committed to us to agree to it. But if perchance (which God forbid) we are not able to persuade them to this, then each of us will for himself contribute his share of the money, as far as the extremity of our ability shall reach. In truth, with the exception of the three orders of clergy exempt, our clergy will be in no small degree distressed by a contribution of such an amount. We fear that if any one in future be except from the contribution before mentioned, the clergy will not be able at all to be persuaded to agree to it. Farewell." A murmur arises among the clergy, and complaints in the kingdom. From these grievances and others of a similar kind, a murmur arose among the clergy and the people in general, so that whatever they brought they contributed unwillingly, and (that I may not suppress the truth) with cauees and maledictions ; enumerating afresh to the lord the pope their grievances, with complaints from the bottom of their hearts, and representing the intolerable oppressions to which they were subjected.