would put tliwu oil'without cud, and their inferiors would write them unwillingly; the. proof of which i.s evident, for even now they prolong business, after receiving presents and taking security; and thus justice would be endangered, and complainants would be obliged to die at the doors of their sovereign masters, the Romans. Also, since it is hardly possible for the fountain of avarice to be dried up, what they now do themselves they would then do by means of others, and would procure much larger gifts lor their agents then than now, for small gifts are of no weight with avaricious rich men. Moreover, great wealth would put the Roman citizens beside themselves, and thus, such great seditions would arise amongst the dilfereut cliencies, that fears would be entertained for the destruction of the whole city, from which it is not altogether free even now. They also said, that although they who were present might pledge themselves to this, they would not bind down their successors, nor would hold the obligation as ratified. Lastly, they thus wound up the matter : " My lord, may the ardent affection of the whole church and of the holy Roman see move you, because, if this general oppression were, to be carried into elfect, we should fear that a general secession would be imminent, which may God avert." The legate, on hearing this, as though he were moved to good-will towards them, replied, that he had never agreed to this demand when at the court of Rome, and that he had received the letters after he had come to France, and that he was very sorry for these things; he also added, that he understood all his orders in this matter to be on the tacit understanding that the empire and other kingdoms should consent to it ; he also said that he would make no further attempts in the matter till the prelates throughout the other kingdom should give their consent, which he did not believe could happen. How master Otho returned unwillingly to Home. In Lent of the same year, Master Otho, the pope's messenger, was on his way to Northumberland to levy the aforesaid procuration-tax, and had reached Northampton, at which place there were brought to him letters from the pope, granted on the application of the archbishop ot'Canterbury ; these letters contained an order for the said Otho inline