Λ.η. 1214.] K!.\'G JOHN AT rOICTOU. 293 legate however paid no attention to tins appeal, but, by tin king's consent, despatched the before-named I'andulph to the court of Pome to counteract the intentions of the arch bishop and bishops; on his arrival there he, in presence of the supreme pontili', vilified the character of the archbishop in no slight degree, but he extolled the king of Kngland with so much praise, declaring that he bad never before -ecu such a humble and moderate king, that John gained great favour in the eyes of the pope. One person at that court however opposed Pandulph, which was master Simon de Langton, brother of the archbishop of Canterbury ; but, as the gold-sealed charter of the subjection and tribute of the king doms of England and Ireland bad been lately brought t" our lord the pope by Pandulph, master Simon could not obtain a hearing for his opposing arguments. Moreover the said Pandulph declared in the presence of the pope, that the archbishop and bishops were too strict and covetous in their exactions, and about the restitution of the property confiscated at the time of the interdict, and that they oppressed the king himself and the rights of the kingdom in an unjust manner. And thus the purpose of the archbishop and bishops was delayed for a time. How king John crossed sea to Poictou. In the same year king John sent a large sum of money to the chiefs of his army in Flanders, to enable them to harass the king of the French, and to ravage his territory, ami destroy his castles in their hostile incursions; they therefore, in obedience to the king's commands, laid waste the territory of the count de (ìuisne with fire and sword ; thev laid siege to the castle of Brunchain and destroyed it, taking awav in chains a number of knights and their attendants who had been obliged to surrender themselves; they also besieged Arria, and, after subduing it, destroyed it by tire. Thev took the eastle of Liens by assault, slaying a great inanv, and imprisoning those who were taken: thev also ravaged the territory of Louis son of the French king, in that district. King John himself after having sent messengers to Koine for the withdrawal of the interdict, embarked on the day of the Purification of St. Mary at Portsmouth, accompanied bv his queen, and in a few days landed with a large army at