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 more easily recognise that his cause was one which the sober judgement of Englishmen was bound to uphold. Innocent III, who never let an opportunity pass, saw his way to make the election of the primate of all England a matter to be settled between the pope and the monks of Canterbury. To the English people this was intolerable. The great justiciar, Geoffrey fitz Peter, who diligently sought peace, rose nevertheless at a critical moment and carried all the barons with him in refusing to counsel the king to forgo the proviso 'saving the royal rights and liberties'. Under any other king the nation must have won. But Innocent was doubtless wise, in dealing with so faithless a prince, to insist that complete restitution must be made before there was talk of privilege. The archbishop and the bishops promised to plead (as well they might) for the traditional rights of the English sovereign, if John would first obey and restore; and they assured the king that the pope would be willing to allow the privilege when justice had been done. But we may doubt, as all England doubted, whether they spoke the pope's mind; and indeed the issue showed that Innocent knew not moderation or mercy.

But however we judge the situation, the fact is now ascertained—and it is a contribution to the study of this perplexing period—hat two solid Somerset men, whose names are not merely beyond reproach, but are an honour to the churches which they ruled—men of business habits perhaps, rather than of political imagination—remained at the king's side, as the best hope they had of making peace, and refused to undertake what was called 'the thankless pilgrimage', until the king's personal excommunication made it impossible for them to serve him any more.



It will be of service to put together here some facts relating to Jocelin of Wells and members of his family which have not received proper attention. His father was Edward of Wells; his brother, Hugh of Wells, afterwards bishop of Lincoln; and his son (apparently), Nicholas of Wells: there was also a younger Hugh of Wells, who became archdeacon of Bath.

1. Jocelin of Wells is frequently called by modern writers Jocelin Trotman. The only evidence for such a designation appears to come from the Margam Annals, and it is absurd to speak of him to-day otherwise than by his usual name Jocelin of Wells. Yet the Margam annalist, however he