It  may  Ikem  ftrange,  that  the  pope  (hould
interfere  in  this  matter :  for  Richard  had  not
been  joined  to  this  lady  by  any  folemn  efpou-
£dU  with  the  confent  of  both  parties :  but  the
treaty  of  Montmirail,  in  which  it  was  cove-
nanted, while  he  and  (he  were  both  infants,
that  he  (hould  be  her  hufband,  had  been
iWcK-n  to  by  Henry :  and  the  fee  of  Rome  in
tho(e  days  had  arrogated  to  itfelf  a  fpirituail
jurifdi<ftion  in  all  contrafis  upon  oath.  Never-
thelefs  this  was  certainly  an  extraordinary
exertion  of  that  ufurped  power,  and  muft
have  been  owing  to  fome  extraordinary  caufe.
The  king,  alarmed  by  it,  had  recourfe  to  a
6  method


ot  Kino  HENRY  11.  79

method  which  only  fcrved  to  gain  time,  pr^^BOOK  ^•^
dering  his  bifliops  to  appeal  to  .^exander  him- a.  D/1177.
felf  from  what  might  he  done  by  the  legate  ;B«^*.
but  he  hoped  by  negociatin^  perfonally  with  ^  J^^^  ^  *•
this  minifter,  and  through  him  with  the  pope,
to  bring  the  latter   to  ad  more  favourably
towards  hlm>  and,  by  carrying  over  to  France
a  powerful  army,   to  intimidate  Louis.    His  ^^*^«n«
refidence  for  fome  time  had  been  on  the  fea  ^*  *^**
coafi:  at  the  caftleof  Stanfted  near  Portfmouth;
but  a  wound  in  his  leg,  which,  during  the
late  civil  war,  he  had  got  by  an  accidental  kick
from  a  horfe,  breaking  out   afrefh  there,  be
removed  tso  Winchefter,  where  he  waited  till
the  better  air  of  that  city  had  healed  it  again :
after  which  he  embarked,  with  all  his  forces,
at  Portfmouth,  on  the  18th  of  Auguft,  and
landed  in  Normandy  on  the  following  day.
