206 ROGER OF VTEXDOVER. [A.D . 1:203. there an opinion about the death of Arthur gained ground throughout the French kingdom and the continent in general, by which it seemed that John was suspected by all of having slain him with his own hand ; for which reason many turned their affections from the king from that time forward wherccver they dared, and entertained the deepest enmity against him.* How the nobles of England deserted king John in Xormandg. A. n. 1203. King John spent Christmas at Caen in Normandy, where, laying aside all thoughts of war, he feasted sumptuously with his queen daily, and prolonged his sleep in the morning till breakfast time. JJut after the solemnities of Faster had been observed, the French king, having collected a large army, took several castles belonging to the king of England, some of which he levelled to the * " The same year, the king caused proclamation to lie made that the legal assize of bread should be ohserved, under severe penalty. The oi*ir.e was proved by the baker of Geoffrey ί-'itz-Peter, justiciary of England, and the baker of It. de Thurnam ; so that the bakers might make a profit of threepence on the sale of every quarter, besides the bran, and two loaves for the oven, four oboli for four servants, a farthing for two boys, an obolus for salt, an obolus for yeast, a farthing for the candie, three pence sor the wood (fuel), and an obelus for the refuse. When corn is sold for six shillings, then the bread from the quartern, white and wellbaked, sball weigh sixteen shillings of twenty (/ora) ; and the bread from the whole corn shall be good and well-baked, so that nothing shall be deducted, and it shall weigh twenty-four shillings. When com is sold for five shillings and sixpence, the white bread shall weigh twenty shillings, and from all the corn twenty-eight shillings. When corn is sold for five shillings, the white bread shall weigh twenty-four shillings, and the bread from the whole com, thirty-two shillings. When coni is so d for four shillings and sixpence, the white bread shall he at thirty-two shillings, and from all the coni, forty-two shillings. When corn is sold at four shillings, the white bread shall weigh thirty-six shillings, and from ail the corn, fortysix shillings. When corn is sold at three shillings and sixpence, the white bread shall weigh forty-two shillings, and from all the corn, forty-four shillings. When com is sold for three shillings, the white loaf shall weigh forty-eight shillings, and from the whole com sixty-four shillings. Whe n corn is sold for tw-o shillings and sixpence, the white bread shall weigh fifty-four shillings, nnd from all the com, seventv-two shillings. When com is sold for two shillings, the white bread shall he at si χ tv shillings, and from all the corn at four pounds. When corn is sold at eighteen pence, the white loaf shall weigh seventy-seven shillings, ami from all the curn at four pounds eight shillings. This proclamation was made throughout the whole kingdom."—M. Paris.