[433] Duchesne, _Hist. Norm. Scriptt._ p. 1059. [434] “Rege vero Johanne nullum praesidium ferre obsessis volente, eo quod suorum proditionem semper timeret, infra hyemem, mense Decembri, in Angliam transfretavit, omnes Normannos in magna timoris perturbatione relinquens,” R. Coggeshall, p. 144. It seems probable that “volente” may be a clerical error for “valente.” [435] R. Wendover, vol. iii. pp. 173, 174. [436] Rigord, c. 141. [437] Gerv. Cant. (vol. ii. p. 95) says the council was held “in London”; R. Coggeshall (p. 144) describes its result, the embassy to France, as taking place “after Mid-Lent,” _i.e._ after April 1. The only date about this time when John was in London was March 22–29; _Itin._ a. 5. [438] Cf. R. Coggeshall, pp. 144, 145; Gerv. Cant. vol. ii. pp. 95, 96, and _Hist. de G. le Mar._ vv. 12854–68. [439] _Hist. de G. le Mar._ vv. 12869–98. Cf. the Marshal’s charter to Philip (dated May 1204) in _Cal. Doc. France_, vol. i. p. 475. [440] _Hist. de G. le Mar._ vv. 12934–66. [441] _Ib._ vv. 12905–20. [442] R. Wendover, vol. iii. pp. 173, 175. [443] _Hist. de G. le Mar._ vv. 12921–6. John was at Portsmouth on May 5, and at Porchester on May 5–7, 1204. The story may, however, be a mere confusion with what happened in June 1205. [444] R. Coggeshall, p. 145, dates Philip’s siege of Falaise Easter (April 25); but Rigord, a better authority on the point, places it in the May campaign (c. 142). [445] Cf. R. Coggeshall, p. 145; Rigord, c. 142; W. Armor. _Gesta P. A._ c. 131, and _Philipp._ l. viii. vv. 9–39. [446] W. Armor. _Gesta P. A._ c. 131. [447] Duchesne, _Hist. Norm. Scriptt._ pp. 1057–9. [448] R. Wendover, vol. iii. p. 181. That John was penniless may be inferred from the desertion of his mercenaries. [449] Rigord, c. 142. Cf. R. Coggeshall, p. 146, and _Hist. des Ducs de Normandie_, p. 98. [450] R. Coggeshall, p. 146. [451] _Ann. Waverley_, a. 1204. [452] R. Coggeshall, p. 146. [453] _Ib._; R. Wendover, vol. iii. p. 181. [454] R. Coggeshall, p. 147. [455] John was in London January 16–21, 1205 (_Itin._ a. 6). This is evidently the date of the council. [456] Gerv. Cant. vol. ii. pp. 96, 97. [457] _Rot. Pat._ vol. i. p. 50. [458] _Ib._ pp. 51, 52. [459] Gerv. Cant. vol. ii. pp. 97, 98. For date see _Itin._ a. 6. [460] _Rot. Pat._ vol. i. p. 55. [461] Chinon, Loches, Thouars, Niort and La Rochelle. [462] _Hist. de G. le Mar._ vv. 12934–66. [463] Gerv. Cant. vol. ii. p. 96. [464] As a reason for Anet being chosen by Philip as the place of meeting, the Marshal’s biographer says: “Quer s’ost out semonse por veir Por aler Caem aseeir” (vv. 12977–8). But this is an anachronism: Caen had been surrendered to Philip in May or June 1204 (see above, p. 102), and we are now in spring 1205. [465] _Hist. de G. le Mar._ vv. 12967–13087. See the Marshal’s charter to Philip in _Cal. Doc. France_, vol. i. p. 475. [466] R. Wendover, vol. iii. p. 182. [467] _Rot. Pat._ vol. i. p. 54. [468] _Itin._ a. 7.