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MARRIAGE OF THE EMPEROR. 607 How the emperor demanded the xi.*/er of the king of England in marriage. In the month of February of this year two templars, with some knights and other special messengers, came to the king at West minster, charged with letters, sealed with gold, from the emperor Frederic, demanding the hand of the Knglish king's sister, Isabel, in marriage. They reached the king on the 23rd of February, and begged for an answer to the letters and the demand, that they might announce the king's decision to their lord with all haste. The king then held a careful deliberation with the bishops and nobles of his kingdom for three days, when they all, after duly considering the mutter, unanimously agreed that the lady should be given to the emperor, and on the 27th of February the king gave his answer agreeing to the demanded alliance. The messen gers then asked permission to see the lady, and the king sent some trustworthy messengers to fetch his sistor from the tower of London where she was carefully guarded ; tho messengers con serving man, ami others, set out for the court of Rome, in the octaves of Easter on the 1.5th of April, carrying with them the procuratomi letters of the ('(invent, and attended hy the prayers of the whole brotherhood,'* Ac. He then gives the form (if these procuratoria! letter*, together with the rescript of pope Gregory addressed to the bishops of London and Kly, the return of the messengers with the pope'a warrant, and proceeds to give the following account of the benediction of the abbat of St, Alban's. The bishop of London therefore, the other bishop making some excuse for not attending, proceeded to fulfil the orders of the apostolic see, and after making a due examination of the about elect he found nothing incorrect in his character, and therefore, on the day after the nativity of the blessed Virgin, he solemnly conferred the benediction on him in the church of St. Albau's, where the letters enclosed in the pope's warrant were opened, and, as was the custom, were read by the elect, who was to receive the benediction, in the presence of the bishop, the conventual assembly, the clergy, and people, and which contained the following declaration; "1, John, abbat of the monastery of St. Alban's, will from this hour lie faithful and obedient to St. I'eter, to the holy npostolie church of Rome, to my lord pope lircgory, and to Iiia successors eaminieally appointed to that see. 1 will not by advice, consent, or deed, eause loss of life or limb to them, or caption of body . , . And the advice which they shall entrust to me themselves or by their messengers or letters I will not, to my knowledge, disclose to any one to their injury. The Roman papacy and the royalties of St. I'eter I will aid both In holding and defending against all men, saving my order. The legate of the apostolic see I will treat with honour both as he comes and returns, and will assist him in lus necessities. When summoned to the M nod 1 will come, unless prevented by nny canonical impediment. I will visit the threshold of the apostles every three years, either m person or by mv messenger, unless permission from the apostolic see shall release me from so doing. The possessions belonging to my monastery 1 wiil not sell, give away, pledge, nor un fee nuew, n.»r will 1 alienate them in any way without the advice of the Roman polititi*. So help me God and the holy gospel."

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