John, having so far succeeded in retarding operations, secured his castles, and added even Windsor to their number; he gave out that Richard would never return; and although he professed to collect money for the ransom, collected all that he could in his own treasury. Eleanor, however, and the justices, were too strong for him. Hubert Walter too had returned from Palestine; he, in company with the Chancellor, had visited Richard in his prison, and had by his recommendation been chosen archbishop of Canterbury. He undertook to raise the ransom, and to manage John. The whole nation behaved nobly. Enormous contributions were raised; the knights paid a scutage in aid to ransom their lord; the Cistercians surrendered their wool; the whole people paid a fourth of their movable goods, clergy as well as lay. Whether all the money that was raised reached the Emperor’s coffers may fairly be doubted, but the nation paid it, and at last by February 1194 the ransom was ready. [Sidenote: Release; 1194. ] But before Richard was set free it was found necessary to buy the help of the lords of the Low Countries, and compel Henry to fulfil his promise by threats that they would renounce their allegiance. He had defied the Pope, and indeed died excommunicate, but he could not stand against this pressure. Richard was released, and landed in England on the 13th of March. [Sidenote: Return.] England the returning hero found at war. Archbishop Hubert, who had succeeded to the justiciarship at Christmas, had been obliged to look John’s treason in the face. As archbishop he excommunicated him; as justice he condemned him to forfeiture; as lieutenant-general of the king he led an army against him. One by one John’s castles had been taken, and at the time of Richard’s landing only Tickhill and Nottingham held out. Tickhill surrendered on hearing the news, Nottingham at the arrival of the king. John’s party at once broke up, and Richard had but to show himself to be supreme. [Sidenote: Richard’s second visit to England. ]