JL.D. 1251. DAMIETTÀ LETELLES TO THE GBOUND. 319 Saracene dwell, and which the emperor had built, was not destroyed, but was protected by Manfred. Guy, the brother of the king, having been invited, as it is said, came into England, with his other brothers, who had already been enriched. The English were treated with contempt and impoverished, especially the citizens of London. Many prelates and men of religious orders were thrust down into the lowest estate of elavery by command of the pope, and in consequence of the spoliations of the king, the pope came to Perugia. Simon, earl of Leicester, returned for a short time from Guienne, but having recruited his forces, returned back again. The detestable addition of the words, " Notwithstanding, any," &c., weakened the writings and actions of holy men. Nicholas, bishop of Durham, resigned, and had a sufficient provision assigned to him, to wit, Stockton, Hovedon, and Essington. Henry de Bath, a knight, and the justiciary of the lord the king, was accused and impeached before the king of grave offences, and scarcely escaped with his life. The countess of Arundel founded a church for nuns at Len, which is called Marchan. A report prevailed throughout the countries of the west, that the emperor Frederic had died on the day of Saint Lucia. The archbishop of Canterbury at last, though with great moderation, visited the canons of London, as he had long intended to do, designing at first to confound them with great severity and a rigorous exercise of his power. This year, William de Cantilupe, the king's counsellor, died, and was succeeded by William, his son. Wales was overrun by the armies of England. The bishops elect of Winchester and Rochester were confirmed. The pope quitted Lyons, and with some difficulty reached Milan. Paulinos Piper, the steward and counsellor of the king, died—Geoffrey the steward died, too, a very gallant knight. A wonderful nuisance arose in France, of a band of rogues, namely, shepherds, who increased to the number of thirty thousand ; but they were all destroyed. The city of Damietta was levelled to the ground by the Saracens. The pope composed some new decretals. At the time of the equinox, the sea overran its natural boundaries by a very great distance. The queen of Scotland, the widow of king Alexander, returned to her native country. Some tournaments took place, in which hatred and envy broke out between the foreigners and the English, and grew