Α.η. 1210.] SIEGE OF 'HERTFORD CASTI.E. 3S 1 llow Louis, on. hearing of John s death, departed from Dover. When Louis and the barons who were besieging Dover castle received news of the death of king John, tiiey were, ail greatly pleased, as they confidently expected that they now had the kingdom of England in their own power. Louis then summoned Hubert de Iîurgh, constable of Dover castle, to a conference, and said to him, " Your lord king John is dead, and you cannot hold this castle against me for long, as you have no protector; therefore give up the castle, and become faithful to me, and I will enrich you with honours, and you shall hold a high post amongst my advisers." To this oiler Hubert is said to have replied, "Although my lord is dead, he has sons and daughters, who ought to succeed him; and, as to surrendering the castle, I will deliberate with my fellow knights." lie then returned to the castle and told his friends what l^mis had said, but they were all unanimous in refusing to surrender it to him, lest they might be branded with treachery for a cowardly submission. When this wits announced to Louis and the barons, they determined to reduce the smaller eastles throughout the country, that, after the lesser fortresses were in their power, they might attack the larger ones ; they then raised the siege, and returned to the city of London. Directly after tlieir retreat, the knights wdio had defended the castle sallied out and burnt the houses and buildings which Louis had erected in front of the. castle, and then ravaging the country, they pro cured a plentiful supply of necessaries for the garrison. Of the siege and capture of the castle of Hertford. After this, Louis marched on the morrow of St. Martin's day with a large army to the town of Hertford, and laid siege to it, arranging his engines of war round the castle to batter the walls; but Walter de Godardville, a brave knight of the retinue of Faleasius, defended it with his soldiers, and caused a great slaughter amongst the French. However, after the latter had, at great expense, protracted the siege from Martinmas till the feast of St. Nicholas, the town was surrendered to Louis, saving the garrison, their property, horses, and arms. The town being thus given up. Robert Fitz-Walter made a demand of it, saying that the charge of