bound "to proceed to the sentence of excommunication against the earl of March and others, according to the Apostolic commands," if by the feast of St. Andrew their peace had not been made with the king.

In the same way, and almost at the same time, King Henry had invoked the pope's assistance in dealing with Llewellyn of Wales. The English king complained that although Llewellyn was his liege, that prince had been in constant rebellion against him ever since his accession to the throne.

For a time, indeed, through the influence and authority of the legate Gualo, he had been brought to obedience, and during that period, trusting to his fidelity, certain castles had been committed to his charge. Constant difficulties had, however, occurred, till once more, and "for the fifth time," the prince was brought to reason by the legate Pandulph, acting on behalf of the pope. On that occasion, in the legate's presence, and in that of nearly all the nobles and prelates, Llewellyn had sworn obedience, the pope being asked to confirm the terms of the agreement. Matters, however, were not really greatly improved; and in October, 1223, in spite of the admonition of Archbishop Langton, Wales was once again in a state of rebellion. For this reason, writes Pope Honorius in his letter, "the king has himself humbly requested us that we would deign to put an end to such insolence against him and his kingdom, and according to the tenor of the petition shown to us in his behalf, deal with one who, in accordance with our orders to the archbishop and bishops of England to prevent by every means, spiritual and temporal, any disturbances of king and kingdom, had been excommunicated by them, and had had his lands placed under an interdict. Unwilling, therefore, to allow his supreme authority to be set at

defiance any longer, the pope, on 5th October, directed the archbishop of York to have the sentence of excommunication published in all churches, and to see that every ecclesiastical function was prohibited throughout the principality. By the same document, all prelates or clerics who had aided him, or who continued to do so, were declared suspended, and would have to apply personally to Rome for their absolution. After the lapse of six months, if Llewellyn did not come to reason and make satisfaction, he was to be warned that he could only obtain release from his excommunication by presenting himself personally to the pope.'

In the course of the year 1223, fresh difficulties arose as to the holding of royal castles against the king's wish. Henry had applied to the pope to compel all who held them to surrender their charges into his hands. Honorius had complied with this request, and a curious point was now proposed for the papal decision. Could even the king, after the pope's order as to the surrender of the castles, permit some of them to be held by his former guardians? Honorius was approached to obtain a solution of this doubt, and on 20th November, 1223, replied: "We have been humbly asked on your behalf (the following difficulty): Certain letters have been received from us, by which we ordered our venerable brother, the bishop of Winchester, and our beloved sons, Ralph, earl of Chester, Hubert de Burgh, justiciar, and Falkes de Breauté to surrender their charges and their care of the royal castles into your hands; but because occasion of discord may arise from this command, since, like faithful subjects, they are ready, on a proper occasion, to give an account of their stewardship, and since there are no hands to which these charges may Rymer, i. 180.

1

be more safely committed, will we allow this order in their regard to remain void? Now, seeing that the said letters were issued for your benefit, and asked for and granted for that end, you should not be compelled to act upon them. But, lest it should seem that they were issued without consideration, we conclude not to withdraw them further than to declare that they need not be acted upon against your will."

The same messengers, who returned with the above reply to the king's question, brought letters from the pope to the archbishops and bishops. These, according to the chroniclers, contained the declaration of Honorius, that King Henry "must now be accounted of full age, and be looked on henceforth as the chief ruler of his kingdom, which he would govern with the advice of his subjects." By these same letters the pope bade the bishops convey to the barons his "Apostolic orders" about the surrender of the royal castles already referred to. Those that refused to comply with this command on receipt of the royal letters were to be compelled to obedience by means of the spiritual sword.2

The pope's orders were received by many of the nobles with open expressions of disapprobation. Some met together secretly and determined to disobey the command and take the consequences. The rumour of resistance, and especially the mention of the word "schism," which had been whispered at the meeting, alarmed the bishops, and strengthened them in their resolution to support the king and obey the pope to the letter. The barons persevered in their intention. Their discontent showed itself first against the justiciar de Burgh, whom they regarded as chiefly re

1 Royal Letters, i. 539.

2 Matthew Paris, iii. 79.

sponsible for procuring from Rome the orders of which they disapproved.'

On 18th December, 1223, King Henry wrote to the pope on the situation. "By means of the many benefits conferred by your great affection," he writes, "we have come out of the cloud into the sunshine, and by your help have been established in the rule of our kingdom. This we rightly regard as your work." But, over and above other benefits we have received from you, we account this the greatest, that by your Apostolic letters your Holiness has declared your wish that we should have the free administration of our castles and of our other affairs. For this we render you our best thanks, and believe that, with the cordial help of the archbishop of Canterbury, the bishop of Winchester, and the other English bishops, and by the powerful assistance of Hubert de Burgh, and other faithful nobles, the country will experience peace and prosperity. Henry then goes on to say that some of the barons are endeavouring to stir up dissensions, and that he fears they may have already written to him. For this reason he sends his envoys, and hopes Honorius will listen to their account of the real state of parties in the country. They will also tell him of the diligent care with which the archbishop of Canterbury is carrying out the pope's orders, and finally the king begs that the pope will write at once to the nobles who are faithful to him, to encourage them. At the same time Henry wrote to Gualo, the former legate, asking his help for his messengers to obtain speech with the pope, in order that the true situation in England might be understood.2

The royal agents also carried with them to Rome letters from Hubert de Burgh and other nobles on the king's side addressed to Pope Honorius. They first thank him

1 Roger de Wendover, ii. 273.

2

Rymer, i. 171.

for his watchful care and defence, and for that of his legate Pandulph, over "your most devoted son and our lord, Henry the illustrious king of England." "For indeed," they write, "your Holiness has been pleased to exercise your authority in promoting his every good, and in furthering his every interest in a way beyond all praise. But seeing that you have never refused nor feared to undertake the greatest burdens and labours, and have never spared yourself to make sure his rule over us, we do not hesitate to beg your Holiness, with loving insistence, to continue your efforts, and to prevent what has been brought thus far safely, from being trodden under foot by the enemy of mankind." They then go on to inform the pope that they understand that many who are against both himself and their king are endeavouring to get the weight of his supreme authority on their side. They consequently desire to warn him, and they not only hope that he will refuse to countenance their opponents, but also prevent the return of such disturbers of the public peace to England. "In order that our meaning on this matter be fully made known to your Holiness," they say in conclusion, "we would have your Holiness to know for certain that under no stress of necessity will we draw back ever so little from our devotion to the Apostolic See and our fidelity to the king."

1

The Christmas of 1223 was spent by the king at Northampton with Langton and the other English bishops. Here, after celebrating the Mass of St. Stephen, the archbishop and his suffragans, vested in albs and carrying lighted candles, solemnly published the papal excommunication against all disturbers of the peace of the kingdom, and against all who attacked the rights of the Church. The earl of Chester and his followers, who headed the revolt against the papal 1 Rymer, i. 171.