as they were wont to do in old times, rejoicing in their national laws, and the long-established customs of the land. So he, coming to Saint Alban's, stayed there three weeks, and at last, going to the king, he distinctly laid before him what he had been commanded to, but what answer he received is not known. But at the time when the said bishop was staying at Saint Alban's, the queen came thither on her way to London, to which town she was hastening to the feast of Saint Edward, being attended by the bishop of Brest, in Brittany, and John Man sel, and a great many persons of both sexes. And as she arrived at the hour of refection, the whole convent rose from table, having indeed done dinner, and made a solemn procession to meet her, and also present her with a most noble offering of six cloaks. And although she was detained by a severe attack of sickness, nevertheless, the next day, though there was a violent storm, she hastened to London. And the bishop before mentioned, charitably granting them sixty days of relaxation, departed with her, and the following was said to be the cause of his arrival in England, namely, that by his intervention, the count of Brittany hoped to make his request effectual, that the daughter of the king might be given to his eldest son as a wife ; and it was for the successful transaction of this affair that he determined to send this bishop into England. And he pushing the affair diligently day after day, at one time pursued the king, and at another the queen, till they asked sound advice on the subject, and so he got a positive answer. But the request for this intermarriage is supposed to have arisen from this circumstance, that by means of it the said count expected to acquire the earldom and 'dignity of Richmond for himself and his descendants ; a place in the dominion over which he had rejoiced in old time. But the king, having taken counsel in this matter (as the bishop whom I have so often mentioned having bidden farewell to England), immediately sent ambassadors into Brittany, by whom he transmitted a reply that he Was pleased with the proposal. In those days, the archbishop of Canterbury, being exceedingly angry against the church of Saint Alban's, sequestered the tithes of Ringeldon, which belong to the almshouses of Saint Alban's, and retained the whole proceeds of them for nearly a quarter of a year. In the same month, that is to say, on the sixth of November, William de Westmilun died,