This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 Excerpt: ...long he was force 1(11 Oct.) to retreat to London, and allow the royalists to occupy the town and besiege the castle (coogeshall, pp. 174-5). John now tried to deceive him by forged letters (ib. p. 176). Fitzwalter, conscious of the weakness of his position, sought to negotiate. On 9 Nov. he received with the Earl of Hertford and the citizens of London a safe-conduct for a conference; kut nothing came of it. In vain the beleaguered garrison of Rochester bitterly reproached him for deserting them (matt. Paris, ii. 624). On 16 Nov. they were forced to surrender. On 16 Dec. the barons, including Fitzwalter, were excommunicated by name (Fcedera, i. 139). French help was now their only refuge. Fitzwalter went over to France with the Earl of Winchester and offered the throne to Louis,...