The English, however, notwithstanding all these un generous efforts, continued faithful to their king ; and, when the emperor was at last compelled, by the remon strances of the German princes, and the threatenings of the pope, to agree to his release for a large ransom, the sum was cheerfully raised by his subjects. One hundred thousand marks were immediately paid, and sixty-seven hostages were delivered for the payment of 50,000 more. Richard's arrival in England was hailed with the utmost exultation ; and never did a nation testify such joy at the appearance of its monarch. His splendid victories, the dangers which he had passed, and the sufferings which he had undergone, endeared him to a martial and high spirited people ; and he found all ranks ready to assist him in taking vengeance on the authors of his misfor tunes. As soon as he had settled his affairs in England, he hastened to oppose the invasion of Philip in Norman dy; but no exploit worth recording was the conse quence of this war. John deserted the cause of Philip, and implored the forgiveness of his brother. At the intercession of Queen Eleanor, the king forgot the base ness of his conduct, and generously received him into favour. The war with France was several times con cluded and renewed, without any advantage being gain ed on either side. A treaty of peace was at last about to he concluded, by the mediation of the Pope's legate, when the death of Richard put an end to the negocia tion. This prince, after a reign of ten years, passed al most in continual hostilities, received his death-wound when besieging one of his vassals in the castle of Cha lus, near Limoges, in the 42d year of his age.
Richard possessed the highest military talents ; and his intrepidity and personal bravery had acquired him the appellation of Cur de Lion. With a disposition open, generous, and sincere, he was at the same time ambitious, haughty, and cruel, and had his reign been lengthened, the restlessness of his character would have involved him in constant war with .his neighbours, or would have led him, as he threatened, to undertake an other expedition against the Infidels.
The accession of John to the throne was immediately followed by the revolt of the provinces of Anjou, Maine, and Touraine. They declared in favour of Arthur, the son of Prince Geoffrey, John's elder brother, though on Jy a youth of twelve years of age ; and were readily sup ported by the king or France, who embraced every op portunity of raising coMmotions in the rival kingdom. John, however, had Richard's will in his favour, and had been acknowledged by the barons of England and Normandy. He therefore prepared to maintain his claim by force of arms ; and passing over into France, was enabled, by the assistance of the Earl of Flanders, to defend himself against all the efforts of his enemy. Constantia, the mother of Arthur, in the mean time, becoming jealous of the intriguing character of Philip, and suspecting that he intended to usurp the dominion of the revolted provinces, rather than preserve them for her son, secretly withdrew Arthur from his court, and put him into the hands of John, to whom he did homage for the duchy of Brittany, which he pos sessed in right of his father. This defection obliged
Philip to give up the contest, and a treaty was soon af ter agreed upon, in which the limits of their territories were properly adjusted, and the interests of their vas sals mutually secured. As a token of sincere reconci liation, John gave his niece Blanche of Castile in mar riage to Louis, Philip's eldest son, and with her the ba ronies of Issoudun and Gracai, and other fiefs in Berri.
John being now undisputed master of the 'kingdom, and thinking himself secure on the side of France, began to give reins to his passions, and to expose himself, by his tyranny and weakness, to the hatred and contempt of his subjects. Being deeply enamoured with Isabella, the daughter and heir of the Count of Angouleme, he was determined to possess her at every hazard. She was betrothed to the Count de la Marche, and had been consigned to the care of that nobleman ; but John per suaded her father to carry her off from her husband ; and having divorced his queen, he married her in spite of the menaces of the Pope, who exclaimed against such conduct. The Count de la Marche, and his bro ther the Count d'Eu, immediately took up arms, and excited to insurrection the malcontents of Poictou and Normandy. The king demanded from his English ba rons a sufficient force to quell the rebels. But these chiefs had begun to feel the influence which they had in the kingdom, when under the government of a weak prince, and unanimously refused, unless he would pro mise to restore to them their ancient privileges This was the first symptom of a regular association among the nobles, for curbing the power of the crown. But their plan was not sufficiently matured, and they were obliged to yield to the menaces of their sovereign. John at first overawed the insurgents by his superior army, but he soon raised up new enemies by his arbi trary and imprudent conduct. It was the custom of those times, that the causes in the Lords Court were chiefly decided by duel ; and he carried with him a set of bravoes or hired ruffians, whom he intended should fight with his barons, when any controversy was to be decided between him and them. This gave offence to all, and discontent and insurrection became general throughout his continental dominions. took ad vantage of this spirit, and being called to interpose in behalf of the French barons, he prevailed upon John to 'I promise them satisfaction, and to redress tInAr grievan ces. promise, however, with •..veral others, was remenibered only till he had an unit) of violating them ; when Philip at last, seniink. of his weakness and want of faith, openly so pp dttd OIL malcontents. The Duke of Brittany, who had now arrived at man's estate, had also become distrustful of his uncle ; and passing over into France, joined the army of Philip, by whom he was treated with great distinction, and receiv ed the hand of his daughter Mary.