But we are not to lay all the blame of what followed on John. It is true that within a few weeks after the crisis, he had thrown off all semblance of compliance, but the barons were elated with their success, and showed very little moderation. They trusted him no more than he trusted them. They divided the country among their chiefs, some with the idea of enforcing the Charter, many no doubt with the desire of humiliating the king. Langton’s departure for Rome, left them without the prudent, sincere, and honest English counsel that was needed for the successful vindication of the national cause, and gave the chief place amongst them to men who had personal wrongs to avenge and personal objects to attain. Hence the great body that had united to produce the Charter broke up into its former elements; some returned to the king’s side, the more violent intrigued with France and Scotland. [Sidenote: The Crown offered to Lewis. ] [Sidenote: John’s successes.] John showed himself incapable of using his opportunity. The Earl of Essex, the husband of his first wife, took the lead on the baronial side; but Robert Fitz Walter and Eustace de Vesey, two of the second rank, were leagued with Philip, and under their influence John was declared to have forfeited his crown. Lewis, the heir of France, was selected to be the king of the English. War could be delayed no longer. The barons began by besieging the castles of Northampton and Oxford. John brought up his mercenaries to besiege Rochester, a castle which the confederates held in the name of the absent archbishop. He had the first measure of success, and, in spite of the attempt of the barons to relieve Rochester, captured it, showed a politic mercy to its defenders, and then traversed the South of England, securing the population as he went. He kept Christmas at Nottingham, then marched north and seized Berwick, striking consternation into the Scots. The Earl of Salisbury, his half-brother, commanded in the Midland district, and London became the last and almost the only refuge of the malcontents. Colchester was taken by the king in March, 1216; and up to this point he exhibited military skill and energy that shows him to have been not entirely devoid of the qualities of his father and brother. [Sidenote: Success of Lewis. ] [Sidenote: Death of John. ]