without further ceremony to levy war upon the King, They besieged the
castle of Northampton during fifteen days, though without success; the
gates of Bedford castle were willingly opened to them by William
Beauchamp, its owner; they advanced to Ware on their way to London,
where they held a correspondence with the principal citizens; they
were received without opposition into the capital; and finding now the
great superiority of their force, they issued proclamations, requiring
the other barons to join them, and menacing them, in case of refusal
or delay, with committing devastation on their houses and estates. In
order to show what might be expected from their prosperous arms, they
made incursions from London, and laid waste the King's parks and
palaces; and all the barons, who had hitherto carried the semblance of
supporting the royal party, were glad of this pretence for openly
joining a cause which they always had secretly favored. The King was
left at Odiham, in Hampshire, with a poor retinue of only seven
knights, and after trying several expedients to elude the blow, after
offering to refer all differences to the Pope alone, or to eight
barons, four to be chosen by himself, and four by the confederates, he
found himself at last obliged to submit at discretion.

A conference between the King and the barons was appointed at
Runnymede, between Windsor and Staines; a place which has ever since
been extremely celebrated, on account of this great event. The two
parties encamped apart, like open enemies; and after a debate of a few
days, the King, with a facility somewhat suspicious, signed and sealed
the charter which was required of him. This famous deed, commonly
called the "Great Charter," either granted or secured very important
liberties and privileges to every order of men in the kingdom: to the
clergy, to the barons, and to the people. The freedom of elections was
secured to the clergy; the former charter of the King was confirmed,