These proceedings opened the eyes of the nation to their selfish intentions; and as they had prolonged the; authority from time to time, under the pretence that their task was hot yet brought to a conclusion, the people be came apprehensive that they wished to establish their own power upon the ruins of the royal prerogative, and called loudly for a termination to their intended regulations. The knights of the shires, who seem to have assembled in a separate house; also remonstrated against the slow ness of their proceedings; and appealed to Prince Ed ward to interpose in behalf of the nation. Edward sent a message to the barons, requiring them to hasten the conclusion of their undertaking, as he was determined to resist their usurpations at the hazard of his life. The popular voice was now on the side of the king. The barons had enjoyed the sovereign power nearly three years; but, instead of employing it for the good of the nation, they had openly abused it to the promotion of their own interests. Jealousies '.nd animosities had al so crept into the council; and ',Ix defection of the Earl of Gloucester, whose moder;•"„it ill suited with Leices ter's ambitious projects, rcvive'J 1 euvy's hopes of regain ing his lost power. Leicester, tneaged at the opposition lie met with even from his own party, had retired to France in disgust.
The barons being thus in a manner disunited and de prived of their leader, the king t•,ok. advantage of their quarrels; and having received fro i the Pope absolution from his oaths and engagemen' • , e resumed his autho rity. He removed all the officers appointed by the ba rons; placed new governors .n the castles; summoned a new parliament ; and offered to refer all the differences between him and the Earl of Leicester to the mediation of Margaret, Queen of France. That bold and turbu lent nobleman, however, rejected all interference of a foreign court ; and trusting to his influence over the ba rons, and the unsettled state of Henry's government, meditated an. insurrection for the recovery of his power. He had even enticed over to his party Gilbert, the young Earl of Gloucester, and Henry d'Allmaine, the son of the King of the Romans; and having entereei into a con federacy with the Welsh, who had made an irruption in to England with 30,000 men, he secretly came over from France, and commenced an open rebellion. He was favoured and supported by the Londoners, who broke out into open sedition, and committed the most horrible excesses. He had also seized the person of Prince Edward, who was the very soul of the royal cause; and had assumed such an imposing attitude, that the king was glad to submit to an accommodation. By this treaty, the barons were again reinstated in the so vereignty of the kingdom; and, at a parliament held at Westminster, they insisted that their authority should continue during the lives both of Henry and Edward.
These ignominious terms were submitted to by the king, but were rejected by his son, who exerted himself with such success in the defence of his rights, that he pre vailed upon many, who had adhered to the barons, to join the royal cause.
Hostilities were again renewed ; but the universal clamour of the people for peace was so strong, that both sides agreed to submit the dispute to the of Louis IX. This prince, instead of availing himself of the distractions of a rival state, to advance his own autho rity, or to extend his dominions, had, during the whole struggle, acted with the greatest moderation and inte grity. Whenever he interposed in the affairs of Eng land, it was with the sincere intention of composing the differences between the king and his nobility, and he always recommended to both parties every peaceable and conciliatory measure. When appealed to by both parties, he declared the impartial and honourable dic tates of his mind. He annulled the provisions of Ox ford, and re-established the royal authority as it stood before the meeting of the mad parliament; he confirmed the people in all the privileges and liberties which they enjoyed by any former concessions or charters of the crown; and ordered a general amnesty to be granted for all past offences. Though Leicester and his asso ciates had sworn to abide by the award of the French monarch, yet they determined to reject this equitable sentence, and to procure by arms more advantageous terms. The country again became the theatre of a ci vil war. The king and prince assembled their vassals, and prepared for defence. They were reinforced by some of the bravest baronS of the north; and the first ad s antages were in „their favour. Northampton was car ried by assault; and Leicester and Nottingham opened their gates at their approach. The rebels, however, were in possession of London, and had laid siege to Ro chester. The royalists hastened to its relief, and Leices ter fell back upon the capital. But being strongly re inforced, he determined to give battle to the king. The armies met near Lewes, in the county of Sussex. The battle was begun by Prince Edward, by attacking with great fury the Londoners, who composed the van of the rebel army. He drove them off the field with great slaughter; but while he was eagerly pursuing the ad vantage which he had gained, his father and uncle were defeated by Leicester, and taken prisoners. The prince attempted to retrieve the fortune of the day ; but his lollowers were intimidated, and he was obliged to sub mit to Leicester's terms. The rebel demanded that the mince and Henry d'Ahlmaine should surrender them selves as pledges in place of the two kings; that all the other prisoners should be set at liberty; and that the final agreement should be settled under the direction of the King of France.