From the moment of his landing in England Stephen Langton had taken up the constitutional position of the Primate in upholding the old customs and rights of the realm against the personal despotism of the kings.

As Anselm had withstood William the Red, as Theobald had withstood Stephen, so Langton prepared to withstand and rescue his country from the tyranny of John.

He had already forced him to swear to observe the laws of Edward the Confessor, in other words the traditional liberties of the realm.

When the baronage refused to sail for Poitou he compelled the king to deal with them not by arms but by process of law.

But the work which he now undertook was far greater and weightier than this.