A.D. 1255. SOME CHURCHES ABE EMBABBA88ED. 349 this, then that .traitor marquis secretly went to Manfred, and told him that all this had been done by his means, inasmuch as, he was a most faithful friend to Frederic. Therefore, Manfred and his army marched out, and when they came near the pope's army, they took them all in their toils like birds, Octavian himself scarcely escaping, and slew them all except the household of the marquis. That Magna Charta be observed. Proclamation was made in all the counties, and announcement was made in all the churches, that the great charter should be inviolably maintained which king John had granted, and which he had also in person repeatedly confirmed, and sentence was formally pronounced against all its violators, though the king himself was far from observing it, since he cruelly seized upon the possessions of the church of York in the vacancy of that see, and said, " Why do not the bishops and nobles themselves observe towards their own subjects that charter which they so much cry out to have observed by me?" To this it was replied, " My lord, it would become you to set the example of observing the law, and others would follow it." Robert de Ros and John of Baliol are accused of having conducted themselves unfaithfully and dishonestly towards the kingdom of Scotland, and the king and queen, the guardianship of whom had been entrusted to them. But this accusation originated with Master Reginald of Bath, a physician, who having been sent into Scotland, in order to devote his attention to the king and queen, perceived what was the matter with them, and informed the king of England of the whole matter. On which account, the said master impeached their guardians, on account of their state, and not long afterwards was poisoned in that country, as it is said, and so took to his bed and died after a.short illness. Some noble churches in England were embarrassed with heavy debts in great numbers ; for instance, the church of Canterbury had a debt of four thousand marks. On which account, they gave up six of their manors to John de Gatesden, a knight, to release them from their debts, and to retain the manors under fair conditions till the debts were paid. In the same manner, the priory of Rochester, being involved in debts of incalculable amount, gave itself into the power of the aforesaid John and their other creditors. Also, the noble priory of Winchester, having been