All seem rather to have regarded it as a complete settlement of the difficulties in which king and kingdom were involved.

As a political measure its success was immediate and complete.

The French army at once broke up in impotent rage, and when Philip turned on the enemy John had raised up for him in Flanders, five hundred English ships under the Earl of Salisbury fell upon the fleet which accompanied the French army along the coast and utterly destroyed it.

The league which John had so long matured at once disclosed itself.
Otto, reinforcing his German army by the knighthood of Flanders and Boulogne as well as by a body of mercenaries in the pay of the English king, invaded France from the north.

John called on his baronage to follow him over sea for an attack on Philip from the south.
[Sidenote: Geoffry Fitz-Peter] Their plea that he remained excommunicate was set aside by the arrival of Langton and his formal absolution of the king on a renewal of his coronation oath and a pledge to put away all evil customs.