VII. That the said provincial, or his friars, should have full power to absolve

those that were excomnnniicated, who wittingly had done any fraud touching the collection aforesaid, so that the said persons did make due satisfaction to the deputies aforesaid.'
What man, having eyes, is so blind, which sccth not these exe- crable dealings of the pope to be such as would cause any nation in the world to do as the wise Grecians did, and perpetually to ab- renouncc the pope, and well to consider the usurped authority of that see not to be of God ? But such was the rude dulncss then of mise- rable England, for lack of learning and godly knowledge, that they, feeling what burdens were laid upon tlicni, yet would play still the ass of Balaam, or else the horse of ^'Esop, which, receiving the bridle once in its mouth, could afterward neither abide its own misery, nor yet recover liberty. And so it fared with England, under the pope^s thraldom : as partly by these stories above hath been declared, partly by other in like case following is to be seen. Anuiirea- For SO it followctli in the history of Matthew Paris, how the pope taction taking more courage by his former abused boldness, and perceiving what a tame ass he had to ride upon, ceased not thus, but directed a new precept the same year (a.d. 1246) to the prelates of England, commanding by the authority apostolic, that all beneficed men in the realm of England, who were resident upon their benefices, should yield to the pope the third part of their goods, and that they who were not resident should give the one half of their goods, and that for the space of three years together ; with terrible comminations against all them that did resist ; and ever with this clause withal, " non obstante," which was like a key that opened all locks. Which sum Three- cast together was found to amount to sixty thousand marks ; which thou^sand ^^^"^ ^^ uioncy could scarcely be found in all England to pay for King pounds Richard's ransom.^ The execution of this precept was committed to the cierg>' the bisliop of London, who, conferring about the matter with his Xe."' brethren in the church of Paul's, as they were busily consulting toge- ther and bewailing the importable burden of this contribution, which it was impossible for them to sustain, suddenly come in certain messengers from the king, — Sir John Lexinton, Knt., and Lawrence Martin, the king''s chaplain, — straitly, in the king's name, forbidding theni in any case to consent to this contribution, which should be greatly to the prejudice and desolation of the whole realm.^
This being done on the first day of December, in the year aforesaid, shortly after, in the beginning of the next year A pallia- (a.d. 1247), February 3d, the king called a parliament, where by common advice it was agreed that certain ambassadors should be sent to Rome, to make manifest to the court of Rome the exceeding grievances of the realm, delivering, moreover, this letter to
(1) Ex Mallh. t'aiis. fol.205. fEilit. IiHO. p. 710.] (2) See .Appendix, andeupra, p.3ir.— Ed (3) Ibid. fol. 207. [Edit. 1610, pp. 710. 717.]
of the pope
CORRESrONJDKNCE BETWKEN THE POl'E AND THE ENGLISH. 439
tlie pope in the name both of the temporalty and also of the clergy, ih-nry
III.
A.D.
1247.
as here followeth.
Another Letter sent to Pope Innocent IV., in the names of the whole Clergy and Commonalty of England, a. d. 1247.^
To the most holy father in Christ, and lord Innocent, by God's providence chief bishop ; the whole commonalty, both of the clergy and laity within the province of Canterbury, send devout kissings of his blessed feet. Like as the church of England, since she hatli first received the catholic faith, hath always showed herself faithful and devout in adhering to God, and to our holy mother the church of Rome, studying with all kind of service to please and to serve the same, and thinking never otherwise to do, but rather to continue and increase as she hath begun : even so now, the same church, most humbly pro- Moje strate before the feet of your holiness, entirely beseecheth your clemency to foolsyou, accept her petition, in sparing this imposition of money, which so manifold ways J" j^'J '"^ for the subversion of other nations, by the commandment of your holiness, is church so laid upon us; considering that not only it is importable, but also impossible much. which is enjoined us. For although our country sometimes yieldeth forth fruit for the necessary sustentation of the inhabitants, yet it bringeth forth neither gold nor silver, neither were able to bring forth, of long time, so nmcli as now- a-days is requii-ed ; which also being burdened and overcharged of late days with another such like imposition, but not so great as this, is not able any whit to answer imto that which is exacted.
Furthermore, besides this commandment of your holiness, there is required of the clergy a subsidy for our temporal king, whose necessities neither possibly we can, nor honestly we ought, to forsake ; whereby he may both withstand the invasion of the enemy, and maintain the right of his patrimony, and also recover again that which hath been lost; in consideration whereof, we have directed the bearers hereof to the presence of your holiness with our humble supplication, to explain to you the dangers and inconveniences which are like to ensue upon the premises, which by no means we are able to sustain, although notwithstanding we know ourselves by all bonds of charity to be obliged to yoiu* devotion and obedience. And, because our general community hath no seal proper, we have signed therefore these presents with the public seal of the city of London.^
The like letters were sent also unto the cardinals to the same effect. The pope understanding these things, and perceiving that there was no striving against such a general consent, and yet loth to forego his sweet harvest, which he was wont to reap in England, craftily devised to send this answer again unto the king, much like to the same which he sent before, which was, that although the pope in time past, upon The his own will and pleasure, to the importable grievance of the realm of p^p^jJ""' England, hath every where, and without respect, through the whole the kin;; land, made his provisions in giving their benefices unto his Italians, und'.'^ yet now, the Lord be praised, that tempest, said he, is overblown : so that hereafter, if the pope shall grant his provision for any of his nephews or cardinals, they shall come first and make their instant suit unto the king, without all enforcement, so that it shall stand wholly in the king^s free arbitrement to do herein what he thinketh good, &c/
This answer of the pope, albeit it was but a subtle shift for The pope the time, yet neither did he long stand to what he had thus promised h\t\, ° to the king ; for shortly after, and within few days of the same, and
ro- mlBe.
(1) " Sanctissimo patri in Christo ac domino Innoceiitio, Dei providcntia sumnio pontifici, uni- versitas cleri et populi per provinciam Cant, constituti devota pedum oscula beatorum. Cura Anglicanaecclesia," &c.
V2) Ex Matth. Paris, fol. 209. (3) Ibid. b.
!■
in the time also of the snid parliament holden at London, the pope sent two English friars into the realm, whose names were John and Ah xander, with full authority, after the largest sort, for new contrihutions ; who, first pretending lowly submission to tlie king, while they had leave granted to range about the realm, but after- wards eoming to the bishops and rieh abbots, showed themselves forth in their fufl authority, in such sort as they became rather tyrants than extortioners.
Among others, coming to Robert, bishop of Lincoln, who of all others bare special mind to the order of " Observants,"" these two friars, as proud as Lucifer, bringing forth the terrible mandate with the pope's built:, rocpiired and eke commanded, uniler the p()j)e's mighty curse, to have the gathering in his diocese of six thousand marks. Likewise of the abbot of St. AUian's they recjuircd four hundred marks, under great penalty, and that in short time to be paid. The The bishop, although well liking, before, that order of friars, yet
r-TncX°I seeing the impudent behaviour, and more impudent request of those rhefrTars" '"crchauts, thus answered to them again, ' that this exaction, saving,"* saith he, ' the pope"'s authority, was never heard of before, and neither was honest, nor yet possible to be performed ; and, moreover, was such as did not only concern him, but the whole public state of the clergy, and of the whole realm in general ; and therefore it should be absurdly and rashly done of him to give tliem answer herein, before the king and the rest of the council, with others to whom the matter generally did appertain, were made privy thereunto,"' Sec, and so for that time he shook them off.* The abbot Furthermore, as touching the abbot of St. Alban's, when he also bin's '^" :ilh',iJrcd the same causes, he pretended, moreover, that he would maketh a])peal, and so did, to the pope and his cardinals. Whereupon foThe*"' immediately was sent down from pope Linocent as his legate John fhTfour ''"^ English friar before-mentioned ; who, bringing down a new hundred special prcccpt to the aforesaid abbot, cited him either to appear th'Ithe at London the morrow after St. GikVs day, or to disburse to the •houid ygg (jf j^ijg p^jpg ^^g aforesaid four hundred marks. By reason whereof the abbot was driven to send his proctors again, with a new su))plication, to the pope at Lyons ; who in the end, through great instance of monied friends, agreed with the abbot for two hundred marks, besides his other charges borne ; and so was that matter com- pounded, little to the abbot"'s profit.^
To recite all damages and grievances received from the bishop of Rome in this realm of England, neither is any history sufficiently able to comprehend, nor if it were, scarcely is there any that would believe it. Notwithstanding, to those above declared, this one I thought to commit likewise to memory, to the intent that they who now live in this age may behold and wonder, in themselves, to see into what miserable slavery, passing all measure, not only the subjects, but kings also of this realm were brought, under the intoler- able yoke of the pope"'s tyranny, which in those days neither durst any man c;isi ofF, nor yet was able to abide, as by tliis example ensuing, with infinite others like to the same, may appear.
After pope Innocent IV. had taken such order in the realm, that
(1) Ex Matth. Paris, fol. 210. (.2j Ibid. fol. 213.
ITALIANS EXCLUDK THE ENGLISH FROM BENEFIOES. 441
all prelates of the church were suspended from collation of any bene- iimry fice, before the pope's kinsfolks and clerks of Italy had been pro-
vided for; it liappened a. D. 1248, that the abbot of Abingdon had A.D. a commandment from the pope, to bestow some benefice of his ^-^'^- church in all haste on a certain priest of Rome, which the abbot, Ji||w tim as an obedient child unto his father, the pope, was pressed and ready Kniiiana to accomplish acc with such as fell next to hand, would tarry his time, to have such as ""-' i'"i"= Avere the principal and for his own appetite, having a special eye to the benefice of the church of St. Helen in Abingdon, Avhicli Avas then esteemed worth a hundred marks a year, besides other vails' and commodities belonging to the same, the collation whereof the priest required by the authority apostolical to be granted unto him.
As this passed on, the incumbent chanced at last to die and the benefice to be empty ; which eftsoons being knoAvn, the same day Cometh a commandment, with great charge from the king to the abbot, to give the benefice to one Ethelmare, the king's brother by the mother's side, who at the same time was possessed of so many benefices, that the number and value thereof was unknoAvn. The abbot, here, being in great perplexity, and not knoAving Avhat to do, Avhether to gratify his king or to obey the pope, took counsel Avith his friends ; Avho, Avell advising of the matter, gave him counsel to prefer the brother of his prince and patron, so that the king aa^ouUI under- take to stand in his defence against the pope, rather than the Romish priest, Avhom ahvays he should have lying there as a spy and Avatcher of him, and like a thorn ever in his eye ; and so the king assuring the abbot of his undoubted protection and indemnity against all harms, the benefice Avas conferred forthwith on the king's brother.
The Roman priest, not a little aggrieved thereat, speedeth himself in The abbot all haste to the bishop of Rome, certifying him Avhat A\'as done, and doifcon? partly also (as the manner is of men) making it Avorse than it Avas ; demned upon Avhose complaint the pope directly, in great anger, cited up the marks for abbot personally to appear before him, to ansAver to the crime of dis- anEng^ obedience. The abbot trusting to the king's promise and pro- [1^^ uTiho tection (Avho neither could help him in that case, neither durst oppose pipe's himself against the pope), being both aged and sickly, A\\as driven "^^ to travel up to the court of Rome, in great heaviness and bitterness of mind. Where, in conclusion, after much vexation and bitter rebukes, besides great expenses, he Avas fain to satisfy the pope after his own Avill, compounding to give him yearly fifty marks in part of making amends for his trespass of disobedience.'^
To this also may be added another like fact of the pope, as out- a detest- rageous as this, against the house of Binham. For Avhen the foruo'^if nf benefice of Westle, in the diocese of Ely, Avas void by the death [J^p,f"''^ of the incumbent, avIio Avas an Italian, and one of the pope's chamber, a^'aiiist
. . ^ . tlic i>ri(>ry
the donation of Avhich benefice belonged to the priory of Binham ; or uin- another Italian, Avho Avas a bastard and unlearned, born in the city of xortbik. Genoa, called Heriggetto de Malachana de Volta, brought doAvn the pope's letters to I3erardo de Nympha, the pope's agent here in England, Avith strict charge and full authority, commanding him to see the said benefice conferred in any case on Henggctto. Yea,
0) " A'ails," additional pinfits.-ED. (2) Ex Matth. Taris. fol. 222.
442 MISKRIES CAUSKl) 15Y THK POl'E AND CHURril 01- KOME,
iienr,, aiul tliougli tlic bcncficc liail been f^ivcn already, yet, notwithstanding, '" the j)osse.ssor thereof should be displaced, and the said Hcrifrgetto
A.D. preferred : yea, also, "non obstante," that the said pope himself had
^"'*" before given his grant to the king and realm of England, that one
Italian should not succeed another in any benefice there, yet, for all
tliat, the said Heriggetto, upon pain of excommunication, was to be
placed therein.'
Tiic Grc- And thus much hitherto of these matters, through the occasion of
ciaiis ex- tJic cust churclics aud the Grecians, to the intent all men that read
vuscaHiid , . , ii- PI- 1-1
imrt-'eii in tjicsc stoHos, and scc tlic douigs 01 tliis wcstcm bishop, may consider
from'the wliat just causc tlicsc Grcciaus had to seclude themselves from his
Kome*' °*^ subjection and communion ; for what christian communion is to be
joined with liim who, so contrary to Christ and his gospel, seeketh
for worldly dominion, so cruelly pcrsccutcth his brethren, is so given
to avarice, sogi'eedy in geXting, so injurious in oppressing, so insatiable
The mi- in liis cxactions, so malicious in revenging; stirring up wars, depriv-
EngiaMd '"o J^i^oS, dcposiug cuipcrors, playing 'rex' in the church of Christ,
through go erroneous in doctrine, so abominably abusing excommunication, so
tioiitothe false of promise, so corrupt in life, so void of God''s fear ; and, brieflv,
Rome. ° so far fiom all the parts of a true evangelical bishop ? For what
seemeth he to care for the souls of men, who settcth in benefices
boys and outlandish Italians; and furtlicr, one Italian to succeed
another, who neither did know the language of the flock, nor would
once abide to see their flices ? And who can blame the Grecians then
iVir dissevering themselves from such an oppressor and giant against
Christ ?
England Wliosc Avisc cxamplc if tliis realm had then followed, as they might,
byThe** ccrtes our predecessors had been rid of an infinite number of troubles,
w°he^n it ^j^^^''^'^? opprcssions, wars, commotions, gi-eat travails and charges,
needed bcsidcs thc Saving of innumerable thousands of pounds, which the
said bishop full falsely had raked and tiansported out of this realm
ofonrs. ]3ut, not to exceed thc bounds of my history, because my
purpose is not to stand upon declamations, nor to dilate common
places, I will pass this over, leaving thc judgment thereof to the
further examination of the reader. For else, if I listed to prosecute
this argument so far as matter would lead nic, and truth peradvcnture
would require me to say, I durst not only say, but could well prove
thc })ope and court of Rome to be thc only fountain and principal
cause, I say, not only of much misery here in England, but of
all the public calamities and notorious nvischicfs Avhich have happened
these many years throughout all these west parts of Christendom,
Thepopc ^"^ especially of all the lamentable ruin of the church, which not
ami court only wc, but the Grecians also, this day do suffer by the Turks
of Ivome * _ ' »' •
the prin- and Saracens. Whosoever well considcreth by reading of histories cairseof thc course of times, and viewcth Avithal the doings and acts passed by mlbHo ^''^ ^^^^^ bishop of Rome, together with the blind leading of his •.aiami- doctrinc, shall see good cause not onlv to think, but also to witness through- the same. Only one narration touching this argument, and yet not tcudom'' transgressing the office of my history, I mind (thc Lord willing) to
set before the reader's eyes, which happened even about a. d. 1244,
in the time of this king Henry's reign.
(1) Ex MaUh. Talis, ful. 210.
SICKNESS AMD RECOVERY OF THE FUENCII KIN'G.
44,'J
In that year it chanced, that St. Louis, the French king, son to Henry
queen Blanche, fell very sorely sick, lying in a swoon or trance for '. —
certain days, in such sort that few tliought he would have lived, and A. D. some said he was gone already. Among others, there was with him his " '• mother, who, sorrowing bitterly for her son, and given somewhat, as "^^^ ^'jF''- commcnly tlie manner of women is, to superstition, went and brought ^ouis tiie forth a piece of the holy cross, with the crown and the spear ; which king. piece of the holy cross Baldwin, emperor of Constantinople, whom the pe'j.stitToM Grecians had deposed a little before for holding with the bishop of of the Rome, had sold to the French king for a great sum of money, and mother, blessing him with the same, also laid the crown and the spear on his body, making a vow withal in the person of her son, that if the Lord would visit him with health, and release him of that infinnity, he should be croised or marked -svith the cross, to visit his sepulchre, and there solemnly to render thanks in the land which Christ had sanctified with his blood. Thus as she, with the bishop of Paris, and others there present, was praying, behold the king, who was supposed by some to be dead, began with a sigh to pluck to his arms The king and legs, and so stretching himself began to speak, giving thanks to e'ttr^'^ God who, from on high, had visited him, and called him from the danger of death. As the king*'s mother with others there took this to be a great mii-acle wrought by the virtue of the holy cross ; so the king The peo- amending more and more, as soon as he was well recovered, received Fr!ince solemnly the badge of the cross, vowing for a freewill sacrifice unto ^^^^''^ God, that he, if the council of his realm would suffer him, would, in false mi- his own person, visit the Holy Land : forgetting belike the rule The" vain of true Christianity, where Christ teacheth us otherwise in the gospel, ^ui^.'the sayinjT, that "neither in this mount, nor in Samaria, nor at Jerusalem, F^"ch the Lord will be worshipped, but seeketh true worshippers, who shall worsliip 1dm in truth and verity." a. d. 1244.*
After this was great prey)aration and much ado in France toward Great pre- tlie setting forth to the Holy Land. For after the king fii'st began In France to be croised, the most part of the nobles of France, with divers '."'!^.lg \^ archbishops and bishops, with earls, and barons, and gentlemen, to atheHoiy mighty number, received also the cross upon their sleeves. Amongst whom was the earl of Artois, the king''s brother, the duke of Bur- gundy, the duke of Brabant, the countess of Flanders, with her two sons, the carl of Bretagne, with his son, the earl of 15ar-sur-Seine, the earl of Soissons, the earl of St. Pol, the carl of Dreux, the earl of Retel, with many noble persons besides. Neither lacked here what- soever the pope covdd do, to set forward this holy business, in sending his legates and friars into France, to stir the people to follow the king, and to contribute to his journey. Whereupon it was granted to the king to gather of the universal church of France, by the pope's authority, the tenth part of all their goods for three years'" s}>ace together, upon this condition, that the king likewise Avould grant to the pope the twentieth part for so many years after, to be rathercd of the said church of France. This was agreed to a.d. 124d."^
Shortly after this, a.d, 1247, followed a parliament in France, where the king with his nobles being present, there was declared how the king of the Tartars, or Turks, hearing of the voyage of the French
U) Malth. Paris, fol. i82. (2) Ibid. fol. 204, b.
i.aiiu.
Ht FIRM DKTKK.MIXA TION OF THE FRENCH KING.
ii'iiry kin^, liad written :i Utter to liim, requiring that he should become his ■;ul)ject. In tliat parliament the time was })retixed for taking their
■^•I^- journey, wliieli shoulil be after the feast of St. John Baptist, the very ^"^^' next year ensuing. Also they that were croised were sworn to persist
Time of jj^ their purpose, and the sentence of the pope"'s great curse was vcjaKc denoiinccd on all them that went from the same.' Furthermore, for ippoiiit ^j,j,^pj. ^^^^.^.^[ jn liig journey, the king through all his reabn caused it to be proclaimed, that if any merchant or other person had been injured at any time by the king^s exactors, either by oppression, or borrowing of money, let liiin bring forth his bill, showing how or wherein, and he should be recompensed. At this time Williwn Longspath, a worthy wan-ior, with the bishop of Worcester and certain other great men in the realm of England, moved by the example of the Frenchmen, prepared themselves likewise to the sanie journey. Persia- Thc ncxt ycar after, a.d. 1248, the French king yet still remaining ^°"n to '" ^'is purposed journey, lady Blanch, his motlier, also the bishop of '!"= , Paris, his brother, witli the lords of liis council, and other nobles, kiiiB to and his special friends, advertised him with great persuasions to alter vo)"age.' liis mind touching tliat so adventurous and dangerous a journey, foi that his vow, said they, was unadvisedly made, and in time of his sickness, when his mind was not perfectly established : and what jeopardies miglit happen at home it was uncertain ; the king of England being on thc one side, the emperor on the other side, and the Poictcvins in the midst, so fugitive and unstable: and as con- cerning his vow, the pope should friend.ly dispense with him, consider- ing thc necessity of his realm, and the weakness of his body. Besides all this, his mother, upon her blessing required him, and his brethren, of all love, desired him to stay at home, and not in his person to adventure ; others might be sent in his room, with no less furniture to achieve that cnter[irisc, and to discliarge liim of his vow, especially seeing at the making thereof that his senses were feeble, liis body weak, and reason, through sickness and very death, almost decayed. The To whom the king again said, " forasmuch as you say, that for
kind's feebleness of my senses I took this vow upon me : lo, therefore, as
answer to -ii t i i i it i i"> a i
his lords, you here will me, 1 lay down tlic cross that 1 took. And puttmg down'^and liis liaud to his shoulder, he tore off the badge of the cross, saying taking 111) to the bisliop, "■ Here, Sir, I resign to you the cross wherewith 1 was
Illh cross ^ I' '' O •' -ti * * * nni
again. sigucd ;" at thc sight whereof there was no small rejoicing of all that
A.i).i24f
countenance and his speech, thus spake: "My iiicnds,'''' said he,
^ whatsoever I was then in my sickness, now I thank God I am of
perfect sense, and reason sound, and now I retpiire my cross airain to
be restored unto me :" saying, moreover, that no bread shoultt come
into his mouth before he were recognised again with the same cross, as
he was before. At thc hearing of tliis, all there present were astonied,
supposing that God had some great matter to work, and so moved no
more questions unto him.
setteth Upon this drew nigh the feast of .Tolin Ba])tist, which was thc time
m.'h'is fixed for the setting forth. And now being in readiness, the king, in
journey. .^ p^>^^. ^\^y^ alUr, Avas entering his journey ; but yet one thing lacked,
(1) Matlli. Paris, fol. 211.
THE pope's unchristian CONDUCT TO THE EMPEROR, 445
for the king, perceiving the mortal variance between tlie pope and I'enry
good Frederic, the emperor, tliouglit best first, before liis going, to _
have that matter appeased, whereby his way botli might be safer A.J), through tlie emperor's countries, and also less jeopardy at home after J^i. his departure ; and therefore, upon the same, he took first his way to Lyons, where the pope was, partly to take his leave, but most espe- cially to make reconcilement between the emperor and the pope.
Where is to be noted by the way, that as touching the good emperor tliere was no let nor stay ; who rather sought all means how to compass the pope's favour, and never could obtain it ; insomuch that before he should be excommunicated in the council of Lyons, he not only answered sufficiently by Thadeus, his attorney, discharging himself against whatsoever crimes or objections could be brought against him, but so far humbled himself to the pope and the council, that for all detriments, damages, losses, or wrongs done on his part, what amends soever the pope could or would require, he would recompense it to the uttermost. This would not be taken.
Furthermore, if the pope, he said, could not abide his tarrying in his own dominions and empire, he Avould go fight against the Saracens and Turks, never to return into Europe again ; offering there to recover whatsoever lands and kingdoms did, at any time, belong to Christendom, so that the pope only would be contented that Henry, his son, who was nephew to Henry, then king here in England, should be emperor after him. Neither could this be admitted.
Then he offered, for truth of his promise, to put in the French The king and the king of England to be his sureties, or else for trial of ."I'-'reuT his cause, to stand to their award and arbitrement. Neither would 'jl'^^^^^^^ that be granted. At least he desired, that he might come himself kins and and answer before the council ; but the proud pope in no case would Knsiand abide that, saying, that he did not yet find himself so ready and meet ^uf^'e'ties! for martyrdom to have him to come thither to the council ; for if he did, he would depart himself.'
This obstinate rancour and devilish malice of pope Innocent and his predecessor against that valiant emperor and against the Grecians, what disturbance and mischief it wrought to the whole church, what strength it gave to the Saracens and Tartars, how it impaired christian concord, and weakened all christian lands, not only the host of the French king did find shortly after, but Christendom, even to tliis day, may and doth feel and rue. Neither can in stories be found any greater cause, which first made the Turks so strong, to get so much ground over Christendom as they have, than the pestilent working of this pope, in deposing and excommunicating this worthy emperor. For, as there was never no emperor of long time who more Begin- victoriously prevailed in bridling and keeping under these enemies of "heTurk.s Christ, or would have done more against them, than the said Frederic, ^1.^^'°"" if he might have been suffered : so, after the deposing and excommu- [j^^j^j^"'"' nicating of him, when the French king neither would abide at home, as he was counselled, neither was yet able, without the help of others, to withstand the force and multitude of the said Saracens and Tar- tars being now joined together, neither yet could the emperor be suffered by the pope to rescue the king, it followed thereof, that the
(1) Ex Matth. Paris, fol. 187.
44G
CONTESTS BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND SARACKNS.
jienry ^ood king bciiig taken prisoner, and all his army destroyed, tlic Turks
^'' tliereupon got such a hand and such a courage against the Christians,
A.D. that ever since thcv liavc brast in further upon us, and now have pre-
Pope Innocent