Should you consider the enclosed Paper to be of sufficient interest, and worthy of the attention of the Society of Antiquaries, you will oblige me by presenting it to them.
Though during the reign of King John several events transpired of sufficient importance to render it highly interesting, our historians have taken but little labour to clear that period from the obscurity in which it is involved. My endeavour in this is to dissipate the clouds which have so long overshadowed this portion of our history:
“Clara—præpandere lumina menti,
Res quibus occultas penitus convisere possis.”
I shall commence by noticing some particulars, which will, I flatter myself, render it alike valuable to the Historian and the Antiquary.