A.I). 1213.] ARRIVAL OF IÌISIIOl' NICHOLAS. And immediately the virtue of tlie- Most High, by the bauds of bis followers, broke through the enemy, crushing them in a moment; for they turned their backs and lied like dust before the wind ; some escaped death altogether by flight, some escaping the sword perished in the water, while otherwere slain on the Held. For the illustrious king of Arragon who fell amongst the slain, much grief is to be felt that he united with the enemies of the faith, and wickedly annoyed the catholic church.* A correct account of the number slain cannot be given by any means; but of the crusaders one knight only besides a few of the soldiers fell. This battle took place on the sixth day of the week after the octaves of the nativity of St. Mary, in the month of September, 1213. The arrivili in England of Nicholas lishop of Tusculum, and legate of the apostolic see. About Michaelmas of the same year, Nicholas bishop of Tnsculum an d legate of the apostolic see, came to England to settle, by the apostolic authority, the disagreements between the throne and the priesthood, and although the country was under an interdict, he was everywhere honourably received with solemn processions, with music, and by the people dressed in holiday clothes ; and on his arrivai at Westminster, he immediately degraded William the abbat, λνΐιυ was accused by his monks of wasteful expenditure and ineontineucy. At that place there came to him seeking absolution the citizens of Oxford, by whose agency and presumption the two clerks, of whom we have made mention above, had been hung; in appointing penance for them he, amongst other things, ordered them to go to each of the churches of the. city, laying aside their garments, and with naked feet, carrying scourges in their hands, and there to chant the fiftieth psalm, and thus obtain absolution from the parochial priests ; and they were only allowed to go to one church on each day, that they and all others might be afraid to show such presumption in future. Thus the legate, * " Karl Simon knew from his scouts that the kins; of Arrapai was ready to sit down to table to take his breakfast, mid on receiving the information he jokingly said, when he wns sullying out, ' Of a truth 1 will wait on him at the lirst diali.' And the said king was the first who was killed, being pierced by a sword before he had swallowed three mouthful of bread. '-- Af. Paris. VOL. II. U