A.D. 123:).] CONFERENCE WITH THE ΕΛΙΠ. MARSHAL. 579 his merry than at any other time, and as he still has the same design as lie had then, and still relies on the counsels of those men, hy whose advice I know it is that all these injuries have been brought on me and mine, we ought not and cannot submit to his mercy. And it would not be any credit to the king if 1 were to yield to his pleasure when it is not supported by reason, I should then be rather offering an insult to hitn and to justice, which is a king's duty to exercise and to observe towards his subjects. And I should set a bad example to every one, namely, that of abandoning the cause of justice and the prosecution of my rights on account of an error in judgment, contrary to all justice, and to the injury of his subjects ; for in such a ease it would seem that we - loved our worldly possessions more than justice.' Again, the king's advisers stated against the marshal that he was allied with the king's principal enemies, the French, the Scotch, and the Welsh, and it seemed to them that he had done this to the annoyance and injury of the king and kingdom. To this the marshal replied, "As regards the Kronen, this is clearly false : the statement as regards the Scotch and Welsh is also false, except as regards the king of Scotland and Llewellyn the Welsh prince ; they were not enemies, but faithful lieges of his, until, by the injuries inflicted on them by the king and his counsellors, they were unwillingly obliged, like myself, to withdraw from their allegiance to him ; and it is for this purpose that I have formed an alliance with these princes, namely, that we can better when united, than divided, contend for and defend those rights of which we have been unjustly deprived, and in a great measure robbed." The said counsellors of the king again stated, that the marshal need not put confidence in these allies of his, for the king could, without any damage to his territories, estrange them from him whenever he chose To this the marshal replied, that " he had nu doubt of that, and," says he, '* this circumstance clearly shows the wickedness of his advisers, for they would make the king elidine any kind of injury from those whom they call his chief enemies, in order to injure ine, who have always been a faithful subject of his, as long as he allowed me, and 1 would still be so if be would restore to me and my friends our proper rights." The next argument of the king's advisers was, that the pope and the Roman church had a particular regard for the king and kingdom, and would excommunicate all his enemies; and this seemed now to he at hand, because they had already sent for the legate. To this the marshal replied, " I am glad to hear what they say respecting the pope and the Roman church, for the more regard they innν have for the king and kingdom, the more they will wish him to govern bis kingdom and bis subjects according to the laws of justice. And I am also pleased to hear that the pope will excommunicato the enemies of I he kingdom ; for they are those who advise the king contrary to ji-t'cc. as their acts prove them to be ; for justice ι· ν 'J