publicly proclaimed throughout England. Then the ambassa dors of the king, namely, his treasurer of the exchequer and severalother nobles, are sent back with the Flemish ambassadors to bring over hostages for the security of these engagements, fifteen thousand pounds of silver being given to the count for the fortification of his castles. On Saint Hilary's day, the archbishop held his council with his fellow bishops and suffragans at London, in the church of Saint Paul. And after they had held a discussion for eight days on the king's demands, they could not find out any proper way or pretext for an exclusive sentence, which, through the discovery of any colourable title of any kind, any persons might contribute anything, even though many clerks and courtiers and officers of the court came, who gave their countenance to and advice in favour of the demands. All which was reported to the king by the bishops or other messengers. And the king being at once changed into a cruel tyrant, perverting all royal justice, having given bis servants permission to seize for themselves all the best appointed equipages of any of the clergy, or members of religious orders whom they might meet, as if they were enemies, and having also prohibited all advocates skilled in his law, to plead before the barons of the exchequer, or any other secular judge, on behalf of any ecclesiastical person, thus decided that all ecclesiastics were unworthy of his peace. He also commanded every one who had received ordination, voluntarily to offer him a fifth part of their revenues, or else they would strip them, against their will, of all their property. Some of those who had received the tonsure, at once complied with this command, (being prelates in the king's court, but as to the care of souls manifest Pilâtes,) hoping by that conduct to bring over the minds of the rest. After which, at once, the sheriffs laid hands upon and seized all the property of the clergy, whether moveable or immoveable, which were found on any lay fee, and confiscated them for the use of the king's treasury, all those liberties being all taken away, to their superabundant annoyance, which the predecessors of the king, the protectors of Christianity and authors of all good, had conferred upon the churches. And, what is more wicked and intolerable, their very estates were appraised, in order to be offered to purchasers with all due expedition ; nor could the clergy ride out in safety, except in large companies, on account of the violence of the soldiery towards them, in consequence of the leave