1 10 2F!je tfit*9m of Mogamonti'g (Srabe. 



some fine horses, and other costly gifts. He next 

 invited the earl to dine with him, who went accordingly 

 on the day appointed, but being taken ill immediately 

 after dinner, he was obliged to return home. Rumours 

 went abroad that poison had been administered, but the 

 character of De Burgh does not warrant any suspicion of 

 the kind.* The hardships which the earl sustained 

 while abroad, with his subsequent agitation, occasioned by 

 the insult offered to his countess, were sufficient to account 

 for his sudden illness. Finding himself dying, he sent 

 for the Bishop of Salisbury, that he might receive in the 

 confession and viaticum, such blessings as were needful 

 to one in his condition. The bishop came immediately, 

 and, when he entered the apartment, bearing with him 

 the sacred elements, the earl sprung from his bed, and 

 hastily tying a rough noose about his neck, he threw him- 

 self weeping upon the floor. He was, he said, a traitor 

 to the Most High, and could not rise till he had con- 

 fessed his past sins, and received the communion of the 

 life-giving sacrament, that he might testify himself to be 

 the servant of his Creator. He afterwards continued for 

 some days in prayer, and such acts of penitence as his 

 faith enjoined, and he then peaceably yielded up his 

 soul to his Redeemer ; f to Him " who willeth not the 

 death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his 

 wickedness and live." 



The earl died on the seventh of March, 1226, and 

 * History of Lacock Abbey. f Matt - of Westminster. 



