A.I). 121J.] H.WAflKS COMMITTED BY JOHN'. lie set out on his march towards Northamjiton, and, spreading his troops abroad, burnt the bouses and buildings of the barons, robbing them of their goods and cattle, and thus destroying everything that came in his way, he gave a miserable spectacle to all who beheld it. And if the day did not satisfy the malice of the king for the destruction of property, he ordered his incendiaries to set lire to tin; hedges and towns on his march, that he might refresh his sight with the. damage, done to his enemies, and by robbery might support the wicked agents of his iniquity. All the inhabitants of every condition and rank who did not take refuge in a church-yard, were made prisoners, and, after being tortured, were, compelled to pay a heavy ransom. The cbastelains, who were in charge of the fortresses of the barons, when they heard of the king's approach, left their castles untenanted and fled to places of secrecy, leaving their provisions and various stores as booty for their approaching enemies; the king placed his own followers in these empty castles, and in this manner marched with his wicked followers to Nottingham. Of the ravages committed by his army in the southern part of England. In the meantime. William earl of Salisbury, and Falkasius with the troops before mentioned, whom the king had left at St. Alban's, ordered the castellans of Windsor, Hertford, and Berkhnmpstead with a strong body of troops to pass and repass to and from the. city of London, to watch and harass the barons and to endeavour to cut off their supplies, after which they themselves roved through the counties of Essex, Hertford, .Middlesex, Cambridge, and Huntingdon, collecting booty and indulging in rapine; they levied impositions on the towns, made prisoners of the inhabitants, burnt the buildings of the barons, destroyed the parks and warrens, cut down the. trees in the orchards, and having spread lire as far as the suburbs of London, they took away an immense booty with them ; and when messengers came from various places reporting all this to the barons they looked at one another and said, "The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away,"* &c. On the 28th of November in this year, * " The Lord hath given, ntnl the Lord hath tnken Μην;" tin*.- thine are U) be borne with a firm mind. And when they heard that, amongst other