A.D. 1213.] I'ANDULl'H VISITS TJ1K KING. attention, such as Dover, Feversham, and Ipswich, men of divers conditions and ages, who dreaded nothing mon; than the name of coward ; hut after a few days, on account of their vast numbers, provisions failed them, therefore the commanders of the army sent home a large number of the inexperienced men, retaining only at the coast the soldiers, attendants, and free-men, with the cross-bow men, and archers. Moreover, John bishop of Norwich came to the king from Ireland with five hundred knights, and a body of horse soldiers, and was graciously received by him. When the whole of the forces were assembled at lSarham Down, the army was computed to consist of sixty thousand strong, including chosen knights and their followers, all well armed; and bad thev been of one heart and one disposition towards the king of Kngland, and in defence of their country, there was not a prince under heaven against whom they could not have defended the. kingdom of England. The king de termined to engage his enemies at sea, to drown them before they landed, for he had a more powerful fleet than the French king, and in that he placed his chief means of de fence. l'andulph comes to the king. Whilst the English king was with his army waiting the approach of the king of the French near the sea-coast, two of the brothers of the Temple arrived at Dover, and coming to the king in a friendly manner said to him, " We have been sent to you. most potent king, for the benefit of yourself and your kingdom, by l'andulph the snbdeacon and familiar of our lord the pope, who desires to have an interview with you ; and he will propose to you a form of peace, by which you can be reconciled to God and to the church, although you have by the court of Koine been deposed from your right to the sovereignty of Kngland, and been condemned by decree of that court." The king then, on hearing the speech of the templars, ordered them immediately to cross the sea and fetch l'andulph to him. l'andulph therefore, on this invitation of the king came to him at Dover, and spoke to hiin in these words, " Heboid, the most potent king of the French is at the month of the Seine with a countless fleet, and a large army of horse and foot, waiting till he is strengthened with a larger force, to come upon you and your