iately retreated to London, the centre and
life of his party; and he there received intelligence of a new
disaster, which put an end to all his hopes. A French fleet, bringing
over a strong reinforcement, had appeared on the coast of Kent, where
they were attacked by the English, under the command of Philip
d'Albiney, and were routed with considerable loss. D'Albiney employed
a stratagem against them, which is said to have contributed to the
victory. Having gained the wind of the French, he came down upon them
with violence; and throwing in their faces a great quantity of
quicklime, which he purposely carried on board, he so blinded them,
that they were disabled from defending themselves [m].
[FN [m] M. Paris, p. 206. Ann. Waverl. p. 183. W. Heming. p. 563.
Trivet, p. 169. M. West. p. 277. Knyghton, p. 2428.]

After this second misfortune of the French, the English barons
hastened every where to make peace with the protector, and, by an easy
submission, to prevent those attainders to which they were exposed on
account of their rebellion. Lewis, whose cause was now totally
desperate, began to be anxious for the safety of his person, and was
glad, on any honourable conditions, to make his escape from a country
where he found every thing was now become hostile to him. He
concluded a peace with Pembroke, promised to evacuate the kingdom, and
only stipulated, in return, an indemnity to his adherents, and a
restitution of their honours and fortunes, together with the free and
equal enjoyment of those liberties which had been granted to the rest
of the nation [n]. Thus was happily ended a civil war, which seemed
to be founded on the most incurable hatred and jealousy, and had
threatened the kingdom with the most fatal consequences.
[FN [n] Rymer, vol. i. p. 221. M. Paris, p. 207. Chron. Dunst. vol.
i. p. 83. M. West. p. 278. Knyghton, p. 2429.]

[MN 1216. General pacification.]
The precautions which the King of France used in the conduct of this
whole affair are remarkable. He pretended that his son had accepted
of the offer from the English barons without his advice, and contrary
to his inclination: the armies sent to England were levied in Lewis's
name. When that prince came over to France for aid, his father
publicly refused to grant him any assistance, and would not so much as
admit him to his presence. Even after Henry's party acquired the
ascendant, and Lewis was in danger of falling into the hands o