Λ .ι) . 1·21,",.] τι ι: ΓΟ:·Ι ANNULS TUE CHAKTEI;. 329 punishiiKml of tin; church, to appear in the presence of our lord the pope at the city of Koine on the 1st of November. Of the statements matte Ig the messengers if the king of England tu the pope. At the same time the king of England's messengers appeared bel ore our lord the pope at Kome, setting forth the rebellion and injuries which the barons of England had perpetrated against the said king, in extorting from him certain unjust laws and liberties, which it did not become his royal dignity to confirm; anil when, after much discord between them, the said king and barons had met several times to treat about peace, the king openly declared before them all that the kingdom of England by right of dominion belonged to the church of Koine, and therefore he could not and ought rot, without the knowledge, of our lord the pope, make any new arrangements, or alter any thing in the kingdom to the detriment of that pontili'. On which, although he. had made an appeal, and had placed himself and all the rights of his kingdom under the protection of the apostolic see, the said barons, paying no regard to his appeal, had taken possession of the city of London, the capital of' his kingdom, which had been treacherously given up to them, and even now retained possession of it ; and after this they llew to arms, mounted their horses, and demanded from the king that the aforesaid laws and liberties should be confirmed to them, and the king, through fear of an attack from them, did not dare to refuse what they required. The said messengers then gave the pope a written paper containing some of the articles of the said charter which seemed most to help the cause of the king. The pope, after reading them carefully, exclaimed in astonishment, "Ar c the barons of England endeavouring to drive from the. throne of his kingdom a king who has taken the cross, and who is under the protection of the apostolic see, and to transfer to another the dominion of the, Roman church? 15y St. Peter we canuta pass o\cr this insult without punishing it!" Then, alter taking counsel with his cardinals, he, by a dclinilUo sentence condemned and for ever annulled the said charier of grants of the liberties of the kingdom of England ; and in