themselves in a posture of defence, would enlist men and purchase
arms, and would supply their castles with the necessary provisions.

The barons appeared in London on the day appointed, and demanded of
the King, that, in consequence of his own oath before the primate, as
well as in deference to their just rights, he should grant them a
renewal of Henry's charter, and a confirmation of the laws of St.
Edward. The King, alarmed with their zeal and unanimity, as well as
with their power, required a delay; promised that, at the festival of
Easter, he would give them a positive answer to their petition; and
offered them the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Ely, and the
Earl of Pembroke as sureties for his fulfilling this engagement. The
barons accepted of the terms, and peaceably returned to their castles.

During this interval, John, in order to break or subdue the league of
his barons, endeavored to avail himself of the ecclesiastical power,
of whose influence he had, from his own recent misfortunes, had such
fatal experience. He granted to the clergy a charter, relinquishing
forever that important prerogative for which his father and all his
ancestors had zealously contended; yielding to them the free election
on all vacancies; reserving only the power to issue a _conge d'elire_,
and to subjoin a confirmation of the election; and declaring that, if
either of these were withheld, the choice should nevertheless be
deemed just and valid.

He made a vow to lead an army into Palestine against the infidels, and
he took on him the cross, in hopes that he should receive from the
Church that protection which she tendered to everyone that had entered
into this sacred and meritorious engagement. And he sent to Rome his
agent, William de Mauclerc, in order to appeal to the Pope against the
violence of his barons, and procure him a favorable sentence from that
powerful tribunal. The barons, also, were not negligent on their part
in endeavoring to engage the Pope in their interests. They despatched
Eustace de Vescie to Rome; laid their case before Innocent as their
feudal lord, and petitioned him to interpose his authority with the
King, and oblige him to restore and confirm all their just and
undoubted privileges.

Innocent beheld with regret the disturbances which had arisen in
England, and was much inclined to favor John in his pretensions. He
had no hopes of retaining and extending his newly acquired superiority
over th