Λ.υ. 1214.] AIJSOI.UTION OF THE KINO loss, and with difficulty escaped to their ships ; and after they had re-embarked, the French returned to their own quarters. To the. king's inquiries as to what had happened, and whence the strangers had come, the soldiers said that it was the army of the king of England which had been sent to the assistance of the count of Flanders, and they then related the misfortune which had happened and the irreparable damage done to his fleet; on learning which king l'hilip retired in confusion from Flanders with great loss to himself and to his followers. The king of England absolved at Winchester. The English king, on hearing what had taken place in Flanders, was greatly rejoiced, and in the joy of his mind at knowing that the approach of the French king was suspended at least for a time, he ordered the nobles and the whole army which he had collected near the sea-coast, for the defence of their country, to return to their homes; he then sent a large; sum of money to the soldiers in Flanders, and promising them the assistance of the emperor, to invade the French king's territory with fire and sword. The king himself assembled a large army at Portsmouth, intending to cross over into l'oictou, determining to harass the French king and his kingdom in the western parts, as those who were in Flanders did in the cast, and to use all his endeavours to recover the territories he had lost to bis dominion. I5nt things turned out contrary to his expectations, for the English nobles refused to follow him unless he was previously absolved from the. sentence of excommunication. In this difficulty, then, the king sent the warrants of twenty-four carls and barons to the aforesaid archbishop and bishops for greater security, telling them to lay aside all fear, and to come to England, there to receive all their rights, and the indemnity for the property they bad been deprived of according to the terms of the above written peace. l!y the advice of Pandulph, therefore, when all was ready for their return home, Stephen archbishop of Canterbury, and the bishops William of London, Eustace of Ely, Hubert of Lincoln, and Giles of Hereford, embarked in company with others of the clergy and laity who were in exile on account of the interdict, and, landing at Dover on the VOL. it. Τ