244 ROGER OF WENDOVER. [A .D . 1207. we have yielded deference more than we ought, endeavour to pay proper deference to our dignity, that you may he rewarded more abundantly with the grace of God and our favour; but perhaps, should yon act otherwise, you may bring yourself into difficulties from which yon will not easily bo extricated ; for it must be that lit; is supreme to whom every knee is bent, of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and whose functions on earth we, although undeserving, are appointed to perforin. Do not therefore acquiesce in the plans of those who arc always longing to disquiet you, that they may fish better in the troubled water, but commit yourself to our good pleasure, which will surely tend to 3-our praise, glory, and honour; because it would not be safe for you in this matter to show resistance to God and the church, for which the blessed martyr and glorious high priest Thomas recently shed his blood ; especially, too, since your father and your brother of illustrious memory, at the time they were kings of England, abjured this wicked custom before the legates of the apostolic, see. And we, if you with proper humility acquiesce in our wishes, will take, care that no injury shall happen to you in this matter- Given at the Latcran in the; tenth year of our pontificate."* In this same year, on the feast of St. Kemigius, Isabel, queen of the English, bore to king John her first-born son, and he was named Henry, after his grandfather. An eclipse of the moon. A. l). 1208. King John kept Christmas at Windsor, where he distributed festive dresses amongst bis knights; and on the day after the purification of St. Mary, an eclipse of the moon took place, which first appeared of a blood red and afterwards of a dingy colour. About the saine time I'hilip bishop of Durham, and Geoffrey bishop of Chester, paid the debt of nature. In this year, too, queen Isabel bore a legitimate son to king John, which she named Richard. • " About that time died .Simon, bishop of Chichester. All the property of the monks of Canterbury was eon fisca I ed on the day of the translation of St. Swithun ; but Geoffrey, nrehhishop of York, secretly fled across the sea, not choosing to agree to the exaction of the thirteenth part. A n eclipse of the eun took place, which lasted from the sixth to the ninth hour, and one of the moon too on the same day."—Λ/. Paris,