the church of Saint Mary of Southwark, in the presence of the bishops of Worcester, Chester, and Salisbury, Richard, king of Germany, and an infinite number of other persons both clergy and laity ; and when he was, according to custom, making his profession with an oath, he, with great emphasis, pronounced these words of exception, in the hearing of every one : " I swear and promise this, saving the rights and liberties of the church of London, which I will defend and uphold to the utmost of my power, in every particular." On which account, although the archbishop was indignant, and almost inclined to stop the office of consecration, these words were imputed to him as an instance of great fidelity to the church, and as a proof that he would be a sure defence to it. And it is said that this was done before he actually entered on his bishopric, lest, if it were done afterwards, the archbishop might seem, in consequence, to have a right of entering on that bishopric, and a question might arise like that which was still under dispute and undetermined between the archbishop and the chapter of Saint Paul's, in London, respecting the jurisdiction to which the archbishop was or was not entitled in such cases. But when the consecrator had, though with great indignation, completed the office, all the people present remained with the newly consecrated bishop at the table, namely, the king of Germany before mentioned, the archbishops, and the bishops who have been named, with an infinite number of other persons, so that the noble presents which were offered from every quarter could not be calculated. On the day after the feast of Saint Matthias the Apostle, a detestable murder was committed in London, being especially such as gave no slight grounds of fear to all the English, both on account of the violation of the holy season of Lent which was involved in it, as on account of the amazing revenge of the Roman see, and the censure and severity of the church. And having given due consideration to the circumstances, I proceed to set forth the deed in detail, with all truth, just as I have been informed of it. The lord Fulk of pious memory, formerly bishop of London, had (which, indeed, was now some time ago) conferred a certain prebend in the church of Saint Paul's of London, on a certain Master Rustand, the pope's nuncio, who was at that time abiding in England ; and as Rustand after this, and after he had taken upon himself the habit of the Minor Brothers, was taken ill, his sickness in