encamped eight days at Hespard,* as securely as if he had Veen in his own dominions. Thus he compelled the French king to refuse aid to the count of Flanders. Whilst the army was there, the king asked a certain clerk, who knew a good deal about the French nation, what was the origin and genealogy of king Louis. " Most powerful prince," said the clerk, "the French, like other European nations, derive their origin from the Trojans ;" and when he had told the king the whole genealogy of the French kings, from the story of the two eggs,f he added, "Philip, king of France, was the father of Louis who now reigns ; and if he only imitated the prowess of his ancestors, you would not remain so securely in his kingdom." The king smiled, and returned to Normandy. About the same time a certain duke Theodorie came out of Germany by Henry's invitation, and invaded Flanders, having with him some Flemish nobles ; and William marched to meet him with a small army. Both sides fought bravely, but the count of Flanders supplied the deficiency of his forces by his invincible prowess: for he was fierce in arms, and cleft the ranks of his enemies like lightning, with his sword, so that his enemies, unable to bear the weight of his blows, turned their backs and fled. Thus count William gained the victory ; but whilst he was besieging Eu against king Henry, and expected on the morrow to receive its surrender, for the enemy were almost worn out, the young man died of a slight wound in the hand, leaving behind him an endless name. The same year died Ralph bishop of Durham, and William of Winchester. Master Hugh dc St. Victor brought his Chronicle down to this date. How king Henry held a council concerning the concubines of priests. A.D. 1129. Honorius sat five years and two months in the Roman see. The same year king Henry held a great council at London on the first of August, about forbidding priests to have focariae (concubines). At this council were present, William archbishop of Canterbury, and Thurstan of York, with their suffragans, all of whom Henry deceived through the simplicity of the archbishop of Canterbury; for they gave * Probably Epemorj. Τ The story of Castor and Pollux, known to every school-boy.