ANN AXS OF ROGER DE HOVEDEN. A.D. 1200. others, fully explaining the miseries and necessities of that land, and asking for the aid that was so long looked fori for that there, strong hopes were entertained, the Lord so disposing, that at the present time a few would be of more avail, in consequence of the dissensions among the Saracens, than hitherto a numerous army had been. It was also added, that, as arrangements were being made among the Saracens for the establishment of peace, if a full reconciliation should be effected among them before assistance should be given to the province of Jerusalem, inasmuch as it is almost entirely destitute of men and resources, unless God alone should interpose, there would be no one able to withstand their violent attacks. "Wherefore we, with our brethren, summoning also the bishops and other religious men who were then staying at the Apostolic See, after considering the mode of succouring that land, in order that we might not seem to be laying heavy burdens on the shoulders of those who bore them, and not to be willing to touch the same even with our finger, talking only, and, as the saying is, doing little or nothing, in order that an example might be set by ourselves to you, and then by you to the laity, in doing good, after the example of Him who began to do and to teach [at the same time], made it our care to set aside the tenth part of all our revenues, and of all our receipts, for the assistance of the Eastern lands, withdrawing not the slightest portion therefrom for our necessities, to which indeed, inasmuch as they are more pressing than usual, and on that account demand a more heavy expenditure, our present means do not suffice; to the end that, although we were giving nothing of our own, we might, at least, repay to Him a small portion of what is His, who, in His mercy, has bestowed all things upon us. And not only in resources, but also in personal attendance, did we make it our anxious endeavour to provide the requisite aid for the Holy Land ; for we determined to dispatch thither our dearly beloved sons, Stephen, cardinal priest and titular of Saint Praxedes, and Peter, cardinal deacon and titular of Saint Mary in Via Lata, as legates of the Apostolic See, on whom we had already placed the sign of the Cross, in order that they might act in our behalf in preceding the army of the Lord, and that, to them, as to a single head, all might resort. But, inasmuch as we look upon this as slight, aye, slight indeed, and as by no means sufficing to the necessities so numerous of that land, we do, by these Apostolic writings, command the whole of you, and I, in be