306 liOGKU OF WENDOVER. [Λ . η. 1-216. Maurice de Gant, R. de Brackcle, R. le Munttieliet, W. de Lanvalei, G. de Mandeville earl of Essex, William liis brother, William de Ilnntingefeld, Robert de Greslei, G. constable of Meautun, Alexander de Fuinter, Peter Fitz-John, Alexander de Slittine, Osbert de Bobi, John constable of Chester, Thomas de Mulutune, and many others; all of these being united by oath, were supported by the concurrence of Stephen archbishop of Canterbury, who was at their head. The king at this time was awaiting the arrival of his nobles at Oxford. On the Monday next after the octaves of Easter, the said barons assembled in the town of Brackley ; and when the king learned this, he sent the archbishop of Canterbury, and William Marshal carl of Pembroke, with some other prudent men, to them to inquire what the laws and liberties were which they demanded. The barons then delivered to the messengers a paper, containing in great measure the laws ami ancient customs of the kingdom, and declared that, unless the king immediately granted them and confirmed them under his own seal, they would, by taking possession of his fortresses, torce htm to give them sufficient satisfaction as to their before-named demands. The archbishop with his fellow messengers then carried the paper to the king, and read to him the heads of the paper one by one throughout. The king when he heard the purport of these heads, derisively said, with the greatest indignation, " Why, amongst these unjust demands, did not the barons ask for my kingdom also ? Their demands are vain and visionary, and are unsupported by any plea of reason whatever." And at length be angrily declared with an oath, that he would never grant them such liberties as would render him their slave. The principal of these laws and liberties, which the nobles required to be confirmed to them, are partly described above in the charter of king Henry, and partly are extracted from the old laws of king Edward, as the following history will show in due time. The castle of Northampton besieijeil by the barons. As the archbishop and William Marshall could not by anv persuasions induce the king to agree to their demands, they returned by the king's order to the barons, and duly reported all they had heard from the king to them ; and when the