AD. 1191. THE CHANCELLOB PHOCEEDS TO LONDON. 229 at the altar, these sinister satellites effected an entrance into the church, and laid violent hands upon him, and dragged him forth from the church. After dragging him out, or rather tearing him away therefrom, they vilely and ignominiously led him through the mud of the streets, and along the lanes, while the people stood shouting after them : " Ο cowards ! why do you take him in this manner ? What harm has he done ? He is an archhishop, the brother of a king, and the son of a king ! " However, not attending to the words of the people, they took him to Dover castle, and delivered him into the custody of Matthew de Clare, the constable thereof. When this was told to earl John, the brother of the said archbishop, he enquired of the chancellor if this had been done by his order, on which be admitted that it was, and did not deny it ; whereupon the earl gave orders that the archbishop should be set at liberty, which was done accordingly. On his arrival at London, he made complaint .to earl John, and the bishops, and other nobles of the kingdom, respecting the injuries done to him and his people by the chancellor and his men; and the earl gave orders that the chancellor should take his trial in the king's court for the injury which he had done to bis brother the archbishop of York, and to Hugh, bishop of Durham. On the chancellor delaying to do this from day to day, the earl John, and the archbishop of Eouen, and the bishops and principal men of the kingdom, named a peremptory day for his appearance at Reading : on which day there came thither the earl of Mortaigne, and nearly all the bishops, earls, and barons of the kingdom ; but though they waited there after the peremptory day, expecting the arrival of the chancellor, he declined to come, or even to send a message. Upon this, earl John, and the bishops who were with him, prepared to set out for London, that being there met by a more considerable number of persons, they might enjoy the benefit of the advice of the citizens of London, what to do as to their chancellor, who had created this confusion in the kingdom, and refused to take his trial. On the chancellor hearing this, he left Windsor and hastened to London, and, while on the road, it so happened that his household and knights met the knights of earl John, on which a sharp engagement took place between them. In this affair one of the knights of earl John, by name Roger de Plani s, lost his life ; however, the earl prevailed, and the chancellor and