A.D. 1198. PBOPHECY OP THE PF.IEST PULE. 447 oaths, and to cease to demand from them any further interest. And if any one of their creditors shall compel them to payment of interest, then let him be compelled by you, by means of similar compulsion, all obstacle by appeal removed, to make restitution of the same. Jews also, you princes our sons, we do command to be compelled by you, and by means of the secular power, to forego all interest from such ; and until such remission shall have been made, we do, under sentence of excommunication, order every kind of communication with them to be withheld by all the faithful of Christ, either in matters of trade or in any other matters whatsoever. Also, for the purpose of more expeditiously and more perfectly carrying out these commands in your province, we have thought proper to depute you, our sons, the prior of Thurgarton22 and Master Vaearus, to announce the words of the Lord to the others, and, inviting our venerable brethren, your archbishop and his suffragans, and the others, to the fulfilment of this Apostolic mandate, so to promote the cause of the Lord that you may both be partakers of this remission, and that in this your devoutness may more fully shine forth. Also, fofthe more laudable promotion of the same, you are to associate with yourselves herein one of the brethren of the order of the Temple, as also one of the brethren of the Hospital of Jerusalem, men of character and prudence. Given at Saint Peter's, at Pome, on the ides of August, in the first year of our pontificate." In the same year, there was in Prance a certain priest, named Fulk, whom the Lord magnified in the sight of kings, and gave him power to make the blind to see, to cure the lame, and dumb, and others afflicted with divers maladies, and to drive out devils. Even harlots, escaping from the bonds of unchasteness, he converted unto the Lord, and led usurers, by inviting them to that heavenly treasure, which neither rust nor moth corrupteth, nor thieves steal, to distribute for the use of the poor all that substance which their usury and exactions had devoured. He also foretold to the kings of France and England, that one of them would die an unfortunate death before long, unless they speedily desisted from their hostilities. And, because at this time the harvest was plentiful, and the workmen few, the Lord joined unto him wise men, to preach the words of salvavation, Master Peter and Lord Robert, and Eustace, the lord abbat of Flaye, besides some others, who, being sent throughout 2 2 A house of canons regular in Nottinghamshire'.