328 κουκί: οκ WKNDOVF.K. [A.D. 1-21Ò. some he was said to have become an apostate ; and after lie had been, on account of his protracted absence, sought for Inseverai without success, they believed that he was drowned, or had perished in some other way. The king however bore, all these reports with equanimity, awaiting the expected arrival of bis messengers, some of whom he had sent to the court of Rome, and others to raise troops to assist him. //ori* the barons of England prepared for tournaments. The, barons meanwhile, who were staying in the city of London as if the whole matter was at an end, agreed amongst themselves to assemble at Stamford, there to enjoy the sports of the tournament ; they therefore sent letters to the noble William d'Albiney to the following effect:—" Robert Fitz-Walter, marshal of the army of God and the holy church, and the other nobles of the same army to the noble William d'Albiney, greeting. You well know of how great importance it is to you and to us all, to keep possession of the city of London, which is a place of refuge for us, and what a disgrace it would be if, through any fault of ours, we were to lose it. Bo-it known to you as a fact, that we have been forewarned that there are some who are only waiting for our departure from the aforesaid city, to take possession of it on a sudden ; then fore, by the general advice of all, we have put off the tournament, which was commenced at Stamford on the Monday next after the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul, to the Monday next after the octaves aforesaid. Hut there will be a tournament near London, in Staines Wood, and at the town of I lotinslow ; and this we have done for our safety and for the safety of the. aforesaid city. And we therefore enjoin, and earnestly beseech you to come, to the tournament aforesaid well provided with horses and arms, that you may there obtain honour. Whoever performs well there will receive a bear, which a lady will send to the tournament. Farewell." In the same year pope Innocent convoked a general council of the prelates of the, church universal, namely, patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, primates, archdeacons, deacons of cathedral churches, abbats, priors, templars, and hospitallers, who were all ordered, as they wished to avoid the