A.D. 1244.--About the same time, the Pope, relying too much on the King's simplicity and patience, sent into England a new extorter of money, not invested with the insignia of a legate, but fortified with unheard-of powers, by name Martin, who immediately betook himself to the usual abode of all the Papal legates, and nuncios, and secular clergy, that is to say, to the New Temple in London; and without delay displayed his power of receiving revenues, and extorting money in all kinds of ways, and practised it diligently, to the great distress of many hearts, and to the wounding of men's consciences. For he had the power of prohibiting all collation to benefices, until satisfaction should be made to him according to his wish. And, despising all scanty revenues as so many husks, he laid rapacious hands on all rich booty. He had also power of excommunicating, suspending, and punishing in various ways, and just as he pleased, all who resisted his will, though it might have been a mere hasty action; just as if on that very day he had, according to established custom, produced authentic Bulls, drawn up in the Papal chancery. On which account it was said by some people, and not without reason, that he had brought over a great many papers sealed with a Bull,[15] but not filled up, for him to fill up himself as he pleased; but I would hope that this was not the case. Accordingly, the aforesaid Master Martin began to exact presents on all sides from the prelates in an imperious manner, such as desirable palfreys and precious vessels, and to extort them even by force (especially from those who belonged to any religious Orders) for his own use (for that man prays foolishly who forgets himself); and for the use of the Pope he extorted sums of money and prebends to which men had been already elected, using this odious additional form of words: "notwithstanding any privilege to the contrary," etc. And as a certain rich prebend at Salisbury was vacant, the aforesaid Master Martin, a diligent searcher out of such things, laid his greedy and hooked hands upon it, and without consulting, or, I may rather say, against the express wish of the Bishop of that See, he conferred it on a young man, a nephew of the lord the Pope. And in a similar manner the unwearied Master Martin, before-mentioned, conferred other benefices on the kinsmen of the Pope, of whom there was an astonishing number, not without causing great astonishment to many persons of experience. For many people believed, and because they believed, hoped that the Roman Court, having been so repeatedly chastised by God, would, in some degree, at least, check its accustomed avarice by the bridle of moderation. [15] Technically, the Bull was the leaden seal affixed to a Papal document. THE ENGLISH IN FRANCE (1242). +Source.+--_Matthew of Westminster_, vol. ii., pp. 206 _et seqq._ (Bohn's Libraries.)