A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1218. 



tione Damiatae ^gypti urbis, sub Joanne Brenno Hiero- 

 solymorum rege, fuit cum Pelagio Albanensi Magister 

 Robertus de Curson, Anglus, Clericus celeberrimus, 

 genere nobilis, ac Romanae Ecclesias Cardinalis, &c. 

 [II. i. 32.] Bostonus Buriensis in suo Catalogo Cursonum aliquos 

 libros composuisse narrat. Claruit anno superius num- 

 erato per praedictos testes in Anglia regnante Henrico 

 tertio Joannis regis filio : fuitque hie diebus Honorii 

 tertii Romani pontificis in Angliam, Bostono teste, 

 legatus. 



The same in English. 



Robert Curson descended of a noble family of 

 England, used great diligence aswell in prophane 

 as in divine studies in the famous University of Oxford 

 (as I conjecture.) He had there the best scholemasters 

 that were to be gotten, and was most industrious in the 

 arts and continual exercises of learning : by meanes 

 whereof he grew to be of great renowne where he lived. 

 Afterward thinking of greater matters he went to Paris, 

 and thence to Rome it selfe, and at Paris he proceeded 

 doctor of Divinity, at Rome he was made cardinall : 

 whereupon both Matthew Paris & Matthew of West- 

 minster produce this testimony of him, the one in his 

 second booke, the other in his eight booke of Chronicles. 

 In the yere of our Lord (say they) 12 18, at the taking 

 of Damiata a city of Egypt under John Brenne king of 

 Jerusalem, M. Robert Curson an English man, a most 

 famous clearke of noble parentage, and cardinall of the 

 church of Rome, was there with Pelagius Albanensis, &c. 

 Boston of Burie in Suffolke in his catalogue reporteth, 

 that he wrote divers books. He flourished in the yeere 

 aforesayd by the witnesses aforesayd. Henry the third 

 Sonne of king John being then king of England : and by 

 the further testimony of Boston, this Curson was legate 

 into England in the dayes of Honorious the third, 

 bishop of Rome. 



348 



