A.D. 1301. LETTER OP POPE B03OTACE. to any person, either for the sake of the payment of the tenth, or for any other reasonable cause ; and when this officer's legateship is not extended over the aforesaid kingdom of Scotland by letters, and an especial decree of the Apostolic See, the Scots have a right to resist and oppose such a legateship, as notoriously happened in the time of Adrian of blessed memory. For the legate himself was for some time not admitted to the aforesaid kingdom of Scotland, until the office of legate to that country was included in his commission by special letters from the Apostolic See. He also added, that the same kingdom had been converted to the unity of the Catholic faith by the venerable relics of the blessed apostle Peter, but without the especial interposition of the Deity. And that in former days, the archbishop of York, who was in office at the time, having raised the question of hie rights as metropolitan over the prelates of Scotland before the pope, could not obtain sentence in his favour. By these arguments contained in his letters, the lord the pope endeavoured to persuade the king to permit the bishops and abbots elect, and all the other citizens of the kingdom of Scotland whom he was detaining in prison, to depart in freedom, and to recall his officers from the above-mentioned kingdom of Scotland, whom he had appointed and placed there, to the prejudice, injury, and grave scandal of the faithful people, so that he might become more acceptable and pleasing to God, and might by his conduct in this respect more fully obtain the favour of the Apostolic See. And if he should assert that he had any rights over the aforesaid kingdom of Scotland, or over any part of it, the pope desired him to send procurators and ambassadors specially appointed for this very purpose, and furnished with all the laws and documents which related to the subject, to the Apostolic See ; where he should receive the full complement of justice touching the matter. The pope commande the archbishop of Canterbury to present to the king of England the letters which he addresses to him on behalf of the Scots. " Boniface, bishop, and servant of the servants of God, to the venerable brother, the archbishop of Canterbury, health and our apostolic benediction. " The freqnent and often-repeated assertions of men worthy of credit, and also the voice of common report has brought to