Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/322

 234 General History oj Europe of itself while he went upon a crusade to the Holy Land (389). When Richard returned, after several years of romantic adventure, he found himself involved in a war with Philip Augustus, in the midst of which he died. 375. John loses the French Possessions of his House. Rich- ard's younger brother John, who bears the reputation of being the most despicable of English kings, speedily gave Philip good excuses for seizing a great part of the Plantagenet lands. Philip Augustus, as John's suzerain, summoned him to appear at the French court to answer certain ugly charges of murder and violence. Upon John's refusal to appear or to do homage for his continental possessions, Philip caused his court to issue a decree confiscating almost all of the Plantagenet lands, leaving to the English king only the southwest corner of France (duchy of Guienne). 376. King John becomes a Vassal of the Pope. John became involved in a controversy with Pope Innocent III, one of the mightiest rulers of the Middle Ages, over the selection of an arch- bishop of Canterbury. In his anger he finally drove the monks of Canterbury out of the country. Innocent replied by placing England under the interdict ; that is to say, he ordered the clergy to close all the churches and suspend all public services a very terrible thing to the people of the time. John was excommunicated, and the Pope threatened that unless the king submitted to his wishes he would depose him and give his crown to Philip Augustus of France. As Philip made haste to collect an army for the conquest of England, John humbly submitted to the Pope in 1213. He went so far as to hand England over to Innocent III and receive it back as a fief, thus becoming the vassal of the Pope. He agreed also to send a yearly tribute to Rome. 377. Granting of the Great Charter (1215). The most perma- nently important event of John's reign was the granting of the Great Charter. When John proposed to lead a new army to France, his vassals refused to go, on the ground that they were not pledged to fight for him outside of England. Finally, a number