ROCHESTER CASTLE. tions, he, determining to recede from his oath, which he asserted had been forced from him, retired to the Isle of Wight, obtained the pope's interdict, and assistance from the French. The prelacy in vain endeavoured to accommodate matters between the ill-advised monarch and the exasperated barons, who, feeling indignant at their sovereign's perjury, prepared to appeal to arms; and having seized on the Castle of Rochester, entrusted its defence to William de Albine, a brave and skilful soldier. The king, convinced of the importance of this fortress, besieged it in a regular manner. The barons deputed Robert Fitz-Walter to its relief; but John had taken such measures for security, by breaking down hedges and fortifying the passes, that Fitz-Walter, with nearly double the number of the king's army, was compelled to leave the besieged to his mercy. Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, the chief of the associated barons, soon after the king obtained possession of Rochester Castle, laid siege to it; but, being called off by a feint which the king made upon the city of London, the few troops he left to continue the siege were soon discomfited and put to flight. But little more occurs in the history of this Castle, excepting the names of those to whom its custody has been entrusted. The situation of Rochester Castle was extremely favourable for defence, standing at the south-west angle of the city, on an eminence, rising abruptly from the Medway that river preserved it from attack on the |