peror of Germany which he has sent to the king of the Franks, relative to the capture of our lord the king of England, folded within this present page. Now, there is need not of your tears but of your promptness, as we must not meet the attacks of fortune with lamentations, but, concealing our sorrow, must endeavour to make trial of our prowess ; perhaps ' Weeping may endure for a night, but joy will come to us in the morning.' 9 5 And inasmuch as, next to the mercy of God, the greatest portion of our hope is reposed in your bosom, with a breast bedewed with tears, and with our entire heart, we do suppliantly, devotedly, and as being most dear to you, entreat you that in this trouble which, thus momentous beyond all conception, has befallen our lord the king, you will with all your energies act the part of diligence and of circumspection, and that, through no consideration of difficulty, no prospect of adversity, no pretext, no consideration of temporal benefits or of your own welfare, you will refuse to us and to our lord, or rather to yourself, your counsel, which with all our bowels we are longing to receive. And whereas the mind is more fully opened to one present than to a person when absent, and in the presence of persons counsel under present difficulties will shine forth with greater effulgence, and the Lord will bestow on the same a more healthful effect, we do consequently beg of you, tearfully and with all the affection before expressed, all excuse as to difficulties laid aside, to meet us and other faithful servants of our lord the king at Oxford, on the Lord's day before ' La&are Jerusalem ' 9 6 is sung. For the present matter requires that degree of prompt attention, that all excuses whatsoever should be laid aside ; and it is our belief that the love which is due to our lord the king, should, in the case of which we speak, be fully made proof of. You must also know that the lord bishop of Bath has already had several interviews with our lord the emperor, on the subject of setting our king at liberty ; for he is using every labour and exertion to show him all due obedience, and to pay that homage which is due from his respect for the crown, acceptable to the king's honor, and as advantageous under present circumstances, as it has also been on other occasions ; this we have learned from those persons who were present at the interview which the lord bishop of Bath had with si» Psalm XXX. 5. 9 6 The introït for the fourth Sunday in Lent, which begins " Rejoice, Jerusalem, and meet together, all you who love her."