A history of all nations from the earliest times; being a universal historical library . n Bury , and took counsel how they could bring about a reform instate and church. They even addressed a complaint to the popeas the kings feudal superior. John attempted subterfuges; but atChristmas, 1214, the heads of the nobles appeared before him inLondon, and demanded an end of the war witli France, dismissal KING JOHN AT RUNNTMEDE. 237 of his foreign mercenaries, and a new ratification of the laws ofKing Edward. The king declared he could give no answer tillEaster, and employed the interval
A history of all nations from the earliest times; being a universal historical library . n Bury , and took counsel how they could bring about a reform instate and church. They even addressed a complaint to the popeas the kings feudal superior. John attempted subterfuges; but atChristmas, 1214, the heads of the nobles appeared before him inLondon, and demanded an end of the war witli France, dismissal KING JOHN AT RUNNTMEDE. 237 of his foreign mercenaries, and a new ratification of the laws ofKing Edward. The king declared he could give no answer tillEaster, and employed the interval in preparing for the struggle, pre-vailing on the pope to command the dissolution of the barons con-federacy and the pa3Tnent of their scutage. In Easter-week thebarons assembled at Stamford, 2000 in number, with a great follow-ing of horsemen and foot-soldiers. Even the church, which Johnhad thought to win by conceding it the right of free election, withStephen of Canterbury at its head, renounced its allegiance, in spiteof the admonitions of the pope. As its leader, the army of God. Fig. 10:3. — Seal of Robert Fitzwalter. .size of original. (Berlin.) and the Holy Church chose Robert Fitzwalter (Fig. 103). Asthe king hesitated, the barons, re-enforced by new accessions, pre-pared to attack his castles. On May 5 the canons of DurhamCathedral absolved them from their oath of fealty to him. London,wild with excitement, declared for them. John now thought it timeto give way. On June 15 a congress was opened on the meadowof Runnymede, between Staines and Windsor, at which the Earl ofPembroke acted as mediator, on the basis of a memorial embodyingthe barons grievances, drawn up in forty-nine articles by StephenLangton. John acknowledged the complaints as well-founded, con-sented to the measures proposed for their redress, and to the embodi- 238 FRAXCE FROM 1154 TO 127a. ment of these in a document, — the Magna Charta,— the greatCharter of the liberties of the est
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