562 MATTHEW OE WESTMDTSTEB. A.D. 1303. important affaire could not be satisfactorily discussed unless twelve peers were assembled with full powers, which was not practicable at that moment, as the peers were now occupied in various places on account of the unexpected emergencies of the new war, but that they might expect that it could be done in a fortnight. And after this period had elapsed, the mayors of France assembled and answered the English ambassadors that they were not inclined to give a definite answer on the above-mentioned subject, without the presence of the Scottish confederates. Having received this answer, the ambassadors returned to England. On this, the king held his parliament at Westminster, on the first of J uly. And when they had had recounted to them the disappointing and evasive delays and procrastinating manœuvres to which the ambassadors had been exposed, they determined to send the same persons back again, as news of the triumphant victory which the Flemings had gained over the French, had arrived ; and the ambassadors now received for answer that the king of England ought to come in his own person, and that then an agreement about peace might well be come to between the two kings, so that the powerful nobles and superiors of each kingdom might applaud it as advantageous to them, and the middle and lower classes might not be grieved at it. Therefore the king of England held his parliament at Westminster, on the feast of the Translation of Saint Edward the King, where this answer was recited, and gave great offence. But it was decided positively by the council of the whole kingdom that the king should remain in his own dominions, and he was not permitted to leave England at the command or suggestion of the king of France. Pope Boniface dies. Benedict follows. · A.D . 1303, which is the thirty-first of the reign of king Edward, Edward, king of England, the glorious triumpher over the aggressions of his enemies, marched towards Scotland, about the time of Pentecost, with a military army, to check the insolence ^of the Scots (who were wickedly prevaricating with their oath of fealty, having slain his faithful subjects who had been sent into that country for the preservation of peace, had wounded others, dismissed others half dead after great violence), and to take vengeance for their crimes, and to" succour his own nation. For after the with