PREFACE. Xli charap, earl of Warwick, he says " ubi olera crescei-e " quondam vidi." His sentiments on the great events or questions which he describes or speaks of are rarely expressed. Of the barons' war he says absolutely nothing, contenting himself with transcribing his autho- rity ; he however calls the provisions of Oxford " bon?e " leges " (p. 445). There is a remarkable instance of praise given to Edward I., where after mentioning his confir- mation of his concessions to the barons in 1298, "non " timore territus, sed mera voluntate et sine pretio," he adds " ideo in prsesenti meruit amari et futuris tempo- " ribus benedici " (p. 536). This is especially marked in coming from a convent which had frequently suffered much from the king's exactions, and just before this (in 1297) had paid a heavy price — a fifth part of their property — in order to have the king's protection (p. 531). Edward I. however had been a very considerable bene- factor to the cathedral.. frequentl3' visiting it, and leaving handsome offerings at the chief shrines. There are some instances where the author lets his private feelings appear; thus in 1296, in speaking of the king's anger against the clergy for not bringing their treasures to him by a certain day, he adds " Sed caveat " unusquisque ne Papalis dignitas offendatur " (p. 529). Another curious example occurs in his account of the chapter of Benedictines held at Oxford in 1300 (p. 547), where after mentioning the decree of the president (Walter de Weulock, abbat of Westminster) respecting the omission of prolix prayers hitherto used, he says " dubito quod futuris temporibus superfluum videbitur " Pater Noster." So of an individual, Richard de Estone, prior of Malvern, who died in 1300, he says (p. 548) " cujus bonitatem plures sentient non habendo," ' The ' He calls him " dictus prior," as i who had been deposed by the bishop, if doubting his right to the title. ' with whom the i)riory of Worcester He succeeded William of Ledbury, ' were on anything but good terms.
