noGi'.i: WKsnovER. [Λ. υ. 1210. kingdom without the consent of his barons, who wore bound to defend that kingdom; and if the pope was determined to defend that error, it would be a most pernicious example to all kingdoms. The nobles then exclaimed with one voice that they would oppose that point to the death, namelv. that a king or prince could at his pleasure alone give his kingdom away, or make it tributary, whereby the nobles of the kingdom would become slaves. These events took place at Lyons on the fifteenth day after Easter. 1/oir the same legate forbade Louis to go to England. On the following day. at his father's request, Louis came to the conference, and looking on the legate with a scowling brow, took his seat near his father ; the legate then, with nianv entreaties, begged of Louis not to go to England to invaile or seize on the inheritance of the church of Lome, and entreated his father, as he had done before, not to permit him to go. The French king, however, immediately replied to the legate in these words, " I have alwavs been a devoted and faithful ally of our lord the pope and the church of Lome, and in all transactions have till this time effectually promoted their welfare, neither shall iny son Louis now have my advice in attempting anything against the church of Rome ; however, if Louis can prove any claim that he has to the kingdom of litighimi, let him be heard, and let what is right be conceded to him." On this, a certain knight, whom Ixmis bad appointed to plead for him, rose, and in the hearing of all, answered, "M y lord king, it is a fact well known to all that John, called king of Kngland, was. by the decision of his peers in your court, condemned to death for his treachery to his nephew Arthur, whom he murdered with his own hands : and was after that deposed by the barons of Kngland frinii his sovereignty over them, on account of the many murders and other offences he had committed there, and for this reason the said barons had made war against him, to drive him from the throne ot the kingdom. Moreover, the said king, without the consent of his nobles, gave his kingdom of Kngland to our lord the pope and the church of Rome, that hi' might again resume possession of it from them, on the annual payment of a thousand marks. And if he could not give the crown of