A.D. 1261. THE KING GOES AGAINST HIS OATH. 391 than ten, escaped by night, taking with them others also of their companions, all of whom, at their departure, were bearing and carried off no small number of fetters. But Roger, with some of them, took sanctuary in a church, and John, with the rest, escaped as secretly as he could out of the city of London. And another strange matter was here unfolded to the hearers. For about the time of the Purification of the blessed Virgin, when there ought to have been fine spring weather, there was a continuance of snow and frost for a fortnight, that no one for many years had seen such a contrariety of seasons and weather. But on the Sunday after the feast of Saint Scholastica, that is to say, on the thirteenth of February, Robert de Stichille, bishop elect of Durham, was consecrated and installed in his bishopric, by the archbishop of York, at Southwell ; and having celebrated a glorious banquet there, he went with all speed to his episcopal see, which he was said never to have visited since his election. About the same time, Margaret, queen of Scotland, brought forth her eldest daughter, in the castle of Windsor, where she had been staying a long time with her mother. And the Scots when they heard this, were very much grieved at their queen having been confined out of her own kingdom, as they were altogether ignorant when ehe departed that she was so near the time of her delivery. For she had carefully concealed this from the people, and from the king, that so she might return to her native country, and there with greater freedom gratify her wish of having her child born there* TJie king goes against his oath. About the same time, in February, the lord the king of England, who, during his whole reign, had been considered extravagantly liberal towards foreigners, having now taken thought with himself secretly, that from being subjected to the provisions made by the barons he had been, contrary to his customs, compelled to stay his hand, was greatly grieved at being forced to adhere to their guardianship and arrangements, however useful they might be, and determined, with a resolute heart, to alter them. Therefore, having convoked bis nobles, he said to them, "All of you laboured perse veringly on behalf of the general advantage and benefit (as you asserted) of the king, and for the sake of increasing my treasures, and diminishing my debts ; and you unanimously