Α.Τ. 1250. VISION 07 THE ABBESS OF LATCOCK. 309 great severity against numbers who were rebelling against him, and for a time crushed many, and put them to death, according to the saying, " His heart shall be exalted before his fall." About the same time, when earl Richard had arrived at Lyons, as has been said before, the pope received him with the highest honour, entreating him to dine with him ; and the pope and earl Richard took refreshment at one table, sitting side by side ; and this took place before Rogation Sunday. And on the very same day, when the soldan of Babylon had offered an extremely favourable peace, to which, however, the pride of the French could by no means be brought to agree, though it was voluntarily offered, a battle was fought between the Saracens and the Christians, most disastrous to the latter, and the king of France was taken prisoner by the infidels, a thing which never happened before. And many nobles of France surrendered themselves to the Saracens without a struggle, and without receiving a wound, as if they were accursed of God. And many of those who were taken prisoners, voluntarily apostatised, to the great disgrace of the Christian faith, and the everlasting reproach of the whole universal church. And the brother of the king, the comte d'Artois, fled, and was drowned in a certain river, and so perished, and the whole Christian army was scattered and routed. But William Longsword fought to the death, and so did several other nobles of the English nation, being animated by the example of the aforesaid William, and having a faithful confidence in the Lord ; namely, Robert de Vere and others, whose names are indelibly recorded in the book of life. But what I think worthy of being handed down to everlasting recollection is this. In the night preceding this battle the aforesaid William appeared to his mother, the abbess of Laycock, formerly countess of Salisbury, raised up fully armed, towards heaven, which was open to receive him; and she completely recognised his army, and he was seen to enter heaven, where the angels received him gladly ; and when he entered, his mother fancied that she said, "Who is this ?" And she was answered, " Do you not recognise your son William and his armour ?" And his mother replied, " I certainly do ; that is he whom you contemplate as his mother." But the abbess with maternal care noted down the time and details òf the vision* But when half of the following year had elapsed,