IiOGKJt OF WEN DO VER, [Λ . υ. 1017. ilesire to engage with the excommunicated French, and also to tight for their country, joyfully came at the time and place pre-arranged on,and with them also there came the legate himself, and many other prelates of the kingdom, with horses and soldiers, to assail with prayers as well as arms these disobeyers of their king, and rebels against their lord the pope : for it appeared to them they had a just cause of war, especially as he was innocent, and a stranger to sin, whom his enemies were endeavouring in their pride to disinherit. And when they were all assembled together, there were reckoned in that army four hundred knights, nearly two hundred and fifty cross-bow men, and such an innumerable host of followers and horsemen were present, who could on emergency fulfil the duties of soldiers. The chiefs of this army were William Marshall and William his son, Peter bishop of Winchester, a man well skilled in warfare, Ralph earl of Chester, William earl of Salisbury, William earl of Ferrar?, and William earl of Albemarle ; there were also there the barons, William d'Albiney, John Marshall, William de Cantelo,* and William his son, the renowned Falcasius, Thomas Basset, Robert de Vipont, Brian de L'Isle, Geoffrey de Lucy, and l'hilip d'Albiney, with many castellans of experience in war. They made a stay of three days at Newark, to refresh the horses and men, and in the. meantime employed themselves in confession, and strengthened their lxxlies by partaking of the body and blood of our Lord, asking his protection against the attacks of their enemies : and thus all of them were prepared for extremities, and were determined to conquer or die in the cause of right. How, ichen the king's urmg was assembled, the legate encouraged them all to battle. At length, on the sixth day of Whitsun week, after the performance of the holy sacrament, the legate rose and set forth to all of them how unjust was the cause of Louis, and the barons who had joined him, for which they had been excommunicated and alienated from the community of the church ; and in order to animate the army to battle, he put on his white robes, and, in company with the whole clergy there, excommunicated Louis by name, together with all his • Hefore culled Cantclupe.