A.D. 1261. THE KING CELE BEATES THE FEAST OF PENTECOST. 397 to pass to their prejudice, hut that they would exert themselves to oppose the men of the religious orders, and particularly those who had exemptions. On which account, those who claimed such exemptions, when every one else gave in certain answers, answered with one voice in the following manner :— " Ye are sending deputies to the court of Rome for yourselves* alone and against us, and you are compelling us to contribute for this purpose. Now, if you are willing to send general ambassadors for the common advantage of us all, in that case we will cheerfully contribute with you ; but otherwise we will not consent to do so." And when this had been heard, the bishops immediately drew an excuse from it, writing to the pope that they could not give a positive answer, because of the separation of those who had exemptions. Therefore, those who had exemptions being alarmed, sent special messengers without delay after the others, who should act in opposition to the deputies before mentioned, or should procure the revocation of any decisions which had been come to m their favour by contradicting them. At this time, the king wishing (as being released by absolution from the observance of it) to break the oath which he had formerly taken, boldly went round the cities and castles of his kingdom, wishing to make himself absolute master of them and of the whole kingdom ; animated by the fact, that the king of France, and all the nobles of that kingdom, had lately promised' to assist him with all his might. On which account, the count of Saint Pol and Gerard de Rodes came to his assistance with a numerous body of followers. This count, as it was said, took the oaths of fealty to the king as far as military service went, and for this he received every week ten marks from the treasury ; and the aforesaid Gerard did the same ; but all the rest before their arrival had received their full pay for forty days. Therefore, the aforesaid king, coming to Winchester, entered his castle there without any opposition, as he did in other places, and there he celebrated the feast of Pentecost with his followers. And having summoned his jus ticiary and his chancellor, who had been lately appointed to their offices by the whole body of barons, to meet him at that place, he commanded his seal to be restored to him, and the oaths of the justiciary's office to be given up to him. But as they replied, that they could not by any means do this without the consent and sanction of the barons assembled in council