λ. I). 1234.] PETER DI'. RIVAULX. 595 and not even at the summons of the king did they dare to cross the threshold of the church, for they suspected that their enemies, who had burned their villages, buildings, and barns stored with the crops, and every thing else of value to them, would not spare their lives if they had an opportunity of injuring them. /low the king demanded an account from Peter de Rivauir. Edmund archbishop of Canterbury, who was the mediator between the twocontending parties,at length obtained from the king permission for these parties to appear before him, under the safe conduct of himself and the bishops, on a certain day, to answer his demands, in order to set all these dissensions in the kingdom at rest. The king therefore appointed the 14th of July for them to appear at Westminster, on which day they were hronght before the king under charge of the said archbishop and bishops. The first who appeared before the king to answer the charge was Peter de Rivaulx, who came in a clerical dress with his head shaved and wearing a broad chaplet, and reverently greeted the king who was sitting on the bench with the justiciaries. The king eyeing him with a scowling look thus addressed him, "Traitor," said he, " by your evil advice I unknowingly affixed my seal to letters containing treacherous designs against the marshal ; it was also by your evil counsel that I banished him and others of my natural subjects from my kingdom, and thus estranged their affections and regard from me ; and by your ill advice was it, that I made war against them, and have wasted my own money as well as that of my subjects." He also demanded of him an account of his treasury, and of the wardship of youths of noble families entrusted to his care, as also of escheats and several other revenues incident to the crown. When the king had thus accused him of these and many other offences and charged hiin with treachery, he did not deny any of the charges against him, but prostrating himself on the ground before the king, implored his mercy, " My lord king," he said, " 1 was brought up and enriched in worldly property by you, therefore do not destroy the man you have made, rather give me time for deliberation that 1 may he able to give you a due account respecting the things demanded of me." To this the king replied, " f will send you to the tower of London, there to consider on the matter, in order to give me a proper account." Peter replied, " My lord, I am a priest and ought not to be imprisoned, or consigned to the custody of laymen." The king then said. " The archbishop is here, and if he will become security for you, I will give yon into his charge, in ordir that you may give in a proper answer t o my demands."' To speak briefly, tho king sent him to the tower and took eha'gc of all his lay possessions, for under his clerical habit, he was armed \i ith a coat of mail, which nfruiil to ο,. '.• their appearance, suspecting that li.eir enemies, who had burned their vile. es. Iniildnif.s, and crops, would not spare their jiersons uf tliey hail an i.pp itunity ol injuring them. ο ο S