Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/137

Rh of ſome perſons, the buſineſs was brought to this iſſue, That the King ſhould chuſe one perſon, and the barons another; which two ſhould chuſe a third, who having heard the complaints on both ſides, ſhould eſtabliſh a laſting peace and agreement betwixt them. But this treaty was allowed to be put off till the return of prince, who was then beyond ſea.

prince hearing this, made haſte home, that the peace might not be delayed by his abſence; who, when he came, and found what vain counſels the King had taken, was very angry, and abſented himſelf from his father’s preſence, adhering to the barons in this behalf, as he had ſworn" and they entered into a confederacy with one another, “That they would ſeize the King’s evil counſellors, and their abettors, and to the utmoſt of their power remove them from the King.” Which, when the King underſtood, he betook himſelf, with his counfellors, into the Tower, his ſon and the great men abiding till without.

next Chriſtmas we find him ſtill in the Tower, with the Queen and his counſellors, that were neither profitable to him, nor faithful. Which