d at Runnymede (S198).
Standing in St. Catherine's Chapel within the partially finished
church of Westminster Abbey (S207), Henry, holding a lighted taper in
his hand, in company with the chief men of the realm, swore to observe
the provisions of the covenant.

At the close he exclaimed, as he dashed the taper on the pavement,
while all present repeated the words and the action, "So go out with
smoke and stench the accursed souls of those who break or pervert this
charter."

There is no evidence that the King was insincere in his oath; but
unfortunately his piety was that of impulse, not of principle. The
compact was soon broken, and the lnd was again compelled to bear the
burden of exorbitant taxes. These were extorted by violence, partly
to cover Henry's own extravagance, but also to swell the coffers of
the Pope, who had promised to make Henry's son, Prince Edward, ruler
over Sicily.

211. Growing Feeling of Discontent.

During this time the barons were daily growing more mutinous and
defiant, saying that they would rather die than be ruined by the
"Romans," as they called the papal power. To a fresh demand for money
Earl Bigod (S209) gave a flat refusal. "Then I will send reapers and
reap your field for you," cried the King to him. "And I will send you
back the heads of your reapers," retorted the angry Earl.

It was evident that the nobles would make no concession. The same
spirit was abroad which, at an earlier date (1236), made the
Parliament of Merton declare, when asked to alter the customs or laws
of the country to suit the ordinances of the Church of Rome, "We will
not change the laws of England." So now the were equally resolved not
to pay the Pope money in bahalf of the King's son.

212. Civil War; Battle of Lewes (1264).

The crisis was soon reached. War broke out between the King and his
brother-in-law, Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester (S209), better
known by his popular name of Sir Simon the Righteous.

With fifteen thousand Londoners and a number of the barons, he met
Henry, who had a stronger force, on the heights above the town of
Lewes, in Sussex. (See map facing p. 436.) The result of the great
battle fought there was as decisive as that fought two centuries
before by William the Conqueror (S74), not many miles distant on the
same coast.

213. De Montfort's Parliament; the House of Commons, 1265.

Bracton, the foremost jurist of that day, said in his comments on the
dange