+Source.+--_Report on the Dignity of a Peer_, App. I., p. 67.
The King to the venerable father in Christ, Robert, by the same grace,
Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England, greeting.
Even as that most equable law, established by the farseeing wisdom of
the fathers of the Church, exhorts us to remember and ordains that what
concerns all should be approved by all, so it is evident that common
dangers should be provided against by remedies devised in common. You
know, doubtless, for it is, we believe, generally noised abroad
throughout the world, that the King of France has fraudulently and
deceitfully deprived us of our land of Gascony, and wickedly detains it
from us. And now, not content with the aforesaid fraud and wickedness,
he has collected a great fleet and a warlike body of soldiers, with
which he has made hostile advance against our kingdom and the
inhabitants thereof, with intent, if his power correspond to the
detestable iniquity of his intentions, utterly to drive the English
tongue from out the land. Since, therefore, missiles which are foreseen
do less destruction, and since your personal affairs, like those of your
fellow-subjects in this kingdom, are greatly affected by this matter, we
enjoin you, by the faith and love with which you are bound to us, to be
present in person at Westminster on the Sunday after Martinmas this
approaching winter; and premonish the Prior and chapter of your
cathedral, the Archdeacons, and the whole body of clergy, to send with
you the Prior and Archdeacons in person, and one suitable Proctor from
the chapter and two from the clergy, provided with full and sufficient
authority from the said chapter and clergy, to treat, ordain, and take
all necessary measures, together with ourselves and the other prelates
and inhabitants of our kingdom, to meet the dangers and plots directed
against us as aforesaid.
Witness the King at Wengham on the thirtieth day of September.