3-12 ROCF.n OF WENDOVF.H. [Α.η. 1210. these and other similar disadvantages, they induced the pope to agree with them, whereupon he wrote to the chapter of York as follows :— " Innocent, bishop, fee. When master Simon Langton lately appeared before us with some other canons of York, we verbally forbade him to endeavour to obtain the archbishopric of York, because for certain reasons we could not permit it, and he, as far as words went, with all reverence, promised obedience to this command : therefore we are astonished and annoyed, if his ambition has so blinded him that, although he knew he could not, after our prohibition and bis express promise, be lawfully elected, he should give his consent to such an election, which, even if no one else opposed it, we should consider null and void. Hut that this may not be the occasion of a new error in Kngland, worse thaD the former, and that the church of York may not any longer be without a pastor, we. by the general advice of our brethren, by these our apostolic letters, order and strictly enjoin yon by virtue of your obedience, notwithstanding this election, as we do not choose and ought not to endure insolence and machinations of this sort, without any pretext or irresolution, to send some of your brotherhood with full powers in common to our approaching council, and that they appear before us by the Ist of November, there with our advice to elect or demand a fitting person as a pastor for you, or else from that time we will ourselves provide a suitable prelate for yon. and will seriously punish all gainsayers or opposcrs. if any there be, by canonical censure. And if the aforesaid Simon has given his consent to this election, we. as a punishment for his presumption, decree, that he be henceforth ineligible, without the dispensation of the apostolic see, for the election to the pontifical dignity. Given on the thirteenth of September, in the eighteenth year of our pontificate." Stephen archbishop of Canterbury suspended. Soon after this, Peter bishop of Winchester, and Master Pandulph, the familiar of onr lord the pope, went in person to the archbishop of Canterbury, anil on behalf of the said pipe, ordered him to charge his suffragan bishops of the Canterbury church to publish the s mtenec of the apostoli'see which was issued at Home against the barons of I.ughiud