contrary to equity and justice, the same were to be retained in his possession. In consequence of this, Roger of Ripon, a clerk, the bearer of these letters, who also carried poison with him, was found at London, who said that Ralph de Wigetof had delivered them to him. He also said that the poison had been given to him for the purpose of making away with Master Simon, the dean of the church of York, and some other persons, canons of the said church. Accordingly, at the summons of Hubert, archbishop of Canterbury, the king's justiciary, the said dean of York came to London, and the poison was delivered to him, with golden rings, and a very beautiful belt that was drugged for the purpose of burning him ; at the delivery of which an immense multitude of men and women assembled at the place called Totehil63 to witness the burning of them, where they were accordingly committed to the flames, and reduced to ashes : the bearer of them, however, was kept in confinement, and the adversaries of Geoffrey, archbishop of York, cast all the blame of the crime on bim. In the same year, John, earl of Mortaigne, the king's brother, and Marchades, the leader of the infamous tribe of the Brabanters, on the fourteenth day before the calends of June, being the second day of the week, made an excursion before the city of Beauvais ; and while they were intent on the capture of booty, PhUip, bishop of Beauvais, and William de Merle, together with his son and many knights and armed people, came forth from the city, being themselves in arms ; but they were very quickly worsted in the combat, and the said bishop of Beauvais, and William de Merle and his son, and several knights were taken prisoners, and of the common people the greater part was slain. On the same day, after this capture, the earl John and Marchades proceeded to- MilB, the castle ο the said bishop of Beauvais, and took it by assault, and levelle it with the ground : and then, gloriously triumphing, they returned to Normandy, and deBvered to the king of England th bishop of Beauvais, and Walter de Merle and his son, an many others who had been taken prisoners. In the year of grace 1197, being the eighth year of the reign of Richard, king of England, the said Richard was at Burun, in Normandy, on the day of the Nativity of our Lord, which feB on the fourth day of the week, greatly vexed, be 6 3 Tothill, in the vicinity of Westminster Abbey.