Chapter XXIII: John and the Great Charter

Accession of John--His Position--Arthur of Brittany--Peace
between John and Philip of France--John's Marriage with
Isabella of La Marche--Rupture with France--The Struggle
Begins--Capture of Arthur--The Stories of his Death--The Loss
of Normandy--Peace with Philip--Quarrel with the Pope--The
Kingdom Laid under an Interdict, and Excommunication of
John--John's Desperate Measures--Expedition to Ireland--John
is deposed--Arrival of Pandulph in England--Surrender of the
Kingdom to the Pope--Successes of John--Langton Arrives in
England--He Becomes Leader of the Baronial Party--The Battle of
Bouvines--Insurrection in England--The Barons Confront John--His
Intrigues--Meeting at Brackley--Occupation of London--The
Meeting at Runnymede--Greatness of the Occasion--Provisions of
the Charter--Duplicity of John--Siege of Rochester--John in the
North--His Cause Supported by the Church--The Crown offered
to Louis of France--He Enters London--Sieges of Dover and
Windsor--Reported Conspiracy--John's Disaster at the Wash--His
Death and Character 251

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE REIGN OF HENRY III.

Accession of the King--Renewal of the Great Charter--Messages
of Conciliation--Battle of Lincoln--Destruction of the French
Fleet--Departure of Louis--Reduction of Albemarle--Resumption
of the Royal Castles--War with France--Characters of Richard
of Cornwall and Henry III.--Fall of Hubert de Burgh--Peter des
Roches--Henry is his own Minister--The House of Provence--The
King's Marriage Articles--The Marriage and Entry into
London--Influx of Foreigners--Papal Aggressions--Persecution of
the Jews--Oppression of the Londoners--A Religious Ceremony 277