1.

CHAP and Bruges were reduced: and the French army encamped under the walls of the strong city of Ghent.

It was fortunate for Ferrand that the English navy lay at this moment in the harbour of Portsmouth, and was ready to put to sea. Seven hundred knights with a numerous body of infantry embarked on board of five hundred ships, and steered for the harbour of Swyne. The French fleet, which, according to the testimony of Rigord, the chaplain of Philip, amounted to more than thrice that number, had already arrived: but a part only could be admitted within the port of Damme; and the remainder had been left without any protection by the troops, who were employed in plundering the neighbouring villages. This unexpected meeting was most fortunate for the English. The French mariners opposed but a feeble resistance: three hundred sail, laden with military stores and provisions, were captured: more than one hundred were burnt: and the others maintained a doubtful combat within the port, against their assailants and the inhabitants. The whole fleet might have been destroyed, had not the temerity of the English commander, William the Longsword, earl of Salisbury, and the king's illegitimate brother, induced him to divide his forces; and by sending a part in pursuit of the plunderers, to prolong the contest till the French army arrived from Ghent. The English were

I.

now driven to their ships with the loss of two CHAP. thousand men: an advantage which, however, did not indemnify Philip for the former disaster. He had lost the means of supporting his army in Flanders, or of conveying it to England. He burnt Damme and the remains of his fleet: and June. after a short and inglorious campaign returned in sullen discontent to his own frontiers. Ferrand recovered his territory as far as St. Omer.49

laws.

The consequences of the transaction at Dover Return of now began to unfold themselves. John had the outconsented that the outlaws, both laity and clergy, should return to their native country: but, as little reliance could be placed on the word of the king, it had been stipulated that twenty-four barons should engage to protect them from insult or injury. Instruments to this effect had been executed and delivered to John: but, instead of transmitting, he retained them in his possession. He still cherished a lingering hope that some fortunate accident might enable him to break his engagements, and throw off the shackles with which he felt himself galled. The success of his fleet encouraged that hope. He forgot the conditions of the late pacification; and, to carry the war into France, summoned all his retainers to meet him at Portsmouth. But when he ordered them to embark, the barons refused to obey, and insisted that he

49 Paris, 199, 200. Chron. Dunst. 61. Rigord, 54.

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CHAP. should previously recall the exiles. The king was compelled to acquiesce: and at his invitaJuly 16. tion Langton, the bishops of London, Ely, Hereford, Lincoln, and Bath, the prior and monks of Christchurch, and their companions, returned. They met at Winchester: John and the cardinal embraced and the sentence of excommunicaJuly 20. tion was publicly revoked at the entrance of the cathedral. But the archbishop had previously required him to repeat his oath of fealty to the pontiff, and to swear that he would abolish all illegal customs, restore to every man his rights, and revive the laws of the good king Edward : words of vague and uncertain import to the multitude, but sufficiently understood by the few, who had been initiated in the secret.50

Council of

St. Al

The king now hastened again to Portsmouth, ordered the troops to embark, and with a faAug. 4. vourable wind set sail for the French coast. He

ban's.

reached the island of Jersey with a few ships: but found that none of the barons had followed him. They, under the plea that the time of their service was expired, had repaired to a council at St. Alban's, in which Fitz-Peter, the justiciary, presided. Their resolves were issued in the form of royal proclamations, which ordered the laws granted by Henry I. to be universally observed; and denounced capital punishment against the sheriffs, foresters, or offi

50 Paris, 201. Rym. i. 171, 172. Annal. Waver. 178,

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cers of the king, who should exceed the strict CHAP. line of their duty. If it be asked why the laws of Henry I. were substituted for those of Edward, the answer is easy. The latter could be collected only from the doubtful testimony of tradition: but it was assumed that they had been embodied in the charter, which Henry had granted at his accession.51

restrains

In the mean time John had landed, breathing Langton revenge against the traitors, who had abandoned the king. their sovereign. He determined to punish their disobedience by military execution: and had advanced as far as Northampton, when he was overtaken by the primate, who reminded him that it was the right of the accused to be tried

and judged by their peers. "Rule you the "church," replied the king, " and leave me to 66 govern the state." He continued his march to Nottingham, and at Nottingham he was again assailed by Langton. That prelate repeated his former observations; asserted that the barons were ready to answer in the king's court; and concluded by declaring, that if John persisted to refuse them the justice of a trial, he should deem it his duty to excommunicate every person, with the exception of the king himself, who should engage in so impious a warfare. John yielded with reluctance, and for the sake

CHAP. of form summoned the accused to appear on a certain day before him or his justices.52

I.

Council at

St. Paul's.

Three weeks had scarcely elapsed since the Aug. 25. meeting at St. Alban's, when a second meeting was convened at St. Paul's in London. Its ostensible object was to ascertain the damages sustained by the outlaws during the late quarrel. But Langton called the barons aside, read to them the charter of Henry, and commented on its provisions. They answered by loud acclamations; and the archbishop, taking advantage of their enthusiasm, administered to them an oath, by which they bound themselves to each other, to conquer or die in the defence of their liberties.53

Interdict removed

Sep. 29.

Oct. 3.

We shall now witness an important change in the politics of the pontiff. Hitherto he had supported the cause of the primate and barons : henceforth he will espouse the interests of the king. The cardinal Nicholas, bishop of Tusculum, arrived with the title of legate, and with instructions to settle the amount of the restitution to be made to the outlaws, and, when that was done, to take off the interdict. It was soon discovered that with much seeming impartiality, he inclined to the side of the king, who had again taken the oath of fealty to Innocent, and in addition, had done homage to the legate, as

52 Paris, 201.

53 Ibid. 202. Annal. Waver. 178.