26Ό KOI. Kit 01'' WEXD0VE1C [A.D. 121e. ent countries, ordering them to assume the sign of the cross, and to follow the king of the French as their leader, to dethrone the English king, and thus to revenge the. insult which had been east on the universal church : he also ordered that all those who afforded money or personal assistance in overthrowing that contumacious king, should, like those who went to visit the Lord's sepulchre, remain secure under the protection of the church, as regarded their property, persons, and spiritual interests. After this the pope, on his part, sent Pandulph, a sub-deacon, with the archbishop and bisliops above-named, into the French provinces, that in his own presence all his commands above ridateti might be fulfilled; Pandulph, however, on leaving the pope when all others were away from him, secretly inquired of his holiness what it was his pleasure should be done, if by chance he should find any of the fruits of repentance in John, so that he would give satisfaction to the Lord and the church of Koine tor all matters in regard of this business. The pope then dictated a simple form of peace, and said that if John determined to agree to it, be might limi favour with the. apostolic see. A description of the terms of this is hereafter contained.* * " About the same time the king ordered fieoffrcy of Norwich, η faithful clerk of his, a prudent and skilful man, to he seized and imprisoned in the castle of Nottingham, where he was put 11 death with the most exquisite tortures. Un learning this, master William Neccot, a companion of the said Geoffrey, and a man of great courage, Med into France, and secreted himself at Corbe!!, that he might not be put to death without cause like deolFrcy. About the same time too, king John sent for Fnulkes, whom he had appointed to take charge of some place in the marshes of Wales, that he migfit join him in venting his rage on the barons, knowing that he did not fear to commit any crime. This wicked freebooter was a Norman by birth, and illegitimate. He even acted much more cruelly against the barons than he had been ordered to, as will he related hereafter; and on that account the kin^. becoming favourable to him, gave him in marriage a noble lady named .Margaret de luparia, with all the lands belonging to her. In this unie year, on the night of the translation of St. Benedict, the church of St. Mary at Southwnrk, in Loudon, was burned, and also the bridge of London between three pillars, as well as a chape] on the bridge, hctiidce a great portion of the city, and part of the town of Soulhwark, the fire making its way across the bridge, l'y tins calamitv about a thousand people were killed, including many women and children."—At. I'uris.