Α.Γ*. 1253. THE ΧΧϋΓΟ SENDS AMBA8SAD0BS TO 8ΡΑΙΝ. 329 bishop of Chichester, too, although they have not been canonized at Rome, we, without any hesitation, believe to have been associated in the company of Saint Edmund. These three blessed men, then, Edmund, Richard, and Thomas, England produced in this age we are speaking of, as glorious confessors o f God. One of the picked knights of the king of France, who was at this time in the Holy Land, being angry in no slight degree because of his son, a most gallant knight, whom the said king, without his knowing it, had caused to be hanged for some offence, for which deed, also, the aforesaid king faithfully promised his father to make him amends, abandoned the Christians, and went over to the soldan, and from having been a friend to the Christians, became their enemy, and having joined the pagans, proved a very formidable apostate. When the lord the pope had by an apostolic writing enjoined Robert, bishop of Lincoln (as he had done repeatedly to many other persons), to do something which to that prelate appeared to be unjust and inconsistent, the said bishop wrote an answer to the lord the pope in these words :— Robert, bishop of Lincoln, writes an answer to the lord the pope. " Health, &c. May your discretion know, that with the affection of a son, I devoutly and reverently obey the apostolic mandates," &c. When this letter had reached the pope, the lord the pope being exceedingly indignant at it, proposed to confound the bishop, and to plunge him into such distress, that he should be a wonder and an example of terror to the whole world. But at last, being softened by wiser counsels, he dissembled his anger, and allowed the matter to pass over, that he might not appear tó stir up too great a tumult on the subject. On the vigil of the Assumption, the venerable man, Ranulph, abbot of Ramsey, died, leaving his house and his flock abounding in all spiritual as well as temporal riches. The king sent formal ambassadors from himself to the king of Spain, namely, the bishop of Bath, aud John Mansel, his own especial chaplain, to demand the king's sister in lawful marriage for his eldest son Edward, the heir of his kingdom of England, and promising himself to invest the aforesaid Edward with the belt of a knight. Robert, bishop of Lincoln, being detained on the bed of sickness, and knowing that