Page:The child's pictorial history of England; (IA childspictorialh00corn).pdf/97

 39. When only two knights fought, it was called a tilt; but if there were several on each side, it was a tournament; and, although these combats were held for sport, the combatants were often dangerously wounded, and sometimes killed.

40. When John had signed Magna Charta, the Barons went home to their castles, to enjoy their usual pleasures; but the king had no intention of behaving any better than before, and secretly sent agents to Flanders, to raise troops of foreigners, promising that they should be allowed to plunder the estates of the Barons, if they would enlist in his service.

41. Thus he soon appeared at the head of an army, and went to war with the nobles, who, in revenge, did a very wrong and foolish thing, which was, to offer the crown to Louis, the son of the king of France.

42. Louis soon came over with a French army, and, after having in vain tried to take Dover Castle, he entered London in triumph, whilst John was obiged to retreat; but the Barons began to think they had done wrong, and, as John died suddenly, in the midst of this confusion, they turned their arms against Louis, and forced him to leave the country.