that  nothing  should  be  done  concerning  that  talliage  before
the  return  of  the  messengers  fit)m  the  Eoman  court,  to  which
they  had  been  sent,  as  you  know,  on  special  business  con-
cerning our  whole  kingdom. Wherefore  we  command  you
and  strictly  prohibit  you  from  attempting  anything  contrary
to  the  aforesaid  provision  at  the  command  of  the  said  bishop,
or  of  any  other,  as  you  regard  the  peaceable  possession  of
your  barony,  which  you  hold  of  us ;  since  we  will  not  nor  can
we  endure  any  attempt  of  this  kind. Witness  myself  at
Westminster,  this  first  day  of  April,  in  the  thirtieth  year  of
our  reign."

Pe^al  letters  of  execution  tent  to  the  bishops  ofBnglamh
And  about  the  same  time,  that  the  pitiable  tribulation  of
the  English  might  not  cease,  the  pope  made  a  most  urgent
demand  for  money  in  a  no  slight  sum,  placing  his  confidence
in  gold  and  silver;  treating  with  contempt  the  mournful
complaints  of  the  king  of  England  and  the  whole  community
of  that  kingdom,  who  were  continuaUy  writing  and  com-
plaining; and  paying  no  heed  to  that  wholesome  and  wise
saying,  ''  Blessed  is  the  man  who  has  not  gone  out  of  his
way  after  gold,  nor  placed  his  hopes  in  stores  of  money."
He  appointed  as  agents  to  extort  and  collect  this  talliage,
Walter,  bishop  of  Norwich,  and  some  others,  whom  he  de-
puted as  special  measengers  for  this  purpose. The  bishop  of
Norwich,  therefore,  wrote  to  the  abbat  of  St. Alban's,  as  he


A.D. 1246.]    LETTERS  SENT  TO  THE  BISHOPS  OP  ENGLAND. 