The Great Charter and the Charter of the Forests were solemnly confirmed by him at Ghent in November; and formal pardon was issued to the Earls of Hereford and Norfolk.
[Sidenote: Revolt of Scotland] The confirmation of the Charter, the renunciation of any right to the exactions by which the people were aggrieved, the pledge that the king would no more take "such aids, tasks, and prizes but by common assent of the realm," the promise not to impose on wool any heavy customs or "maltote" without the same assent, was the close of the great struggle which had begun at Runnymede.

The clauses so soon removed from the Great Charter were now restored; and, evade them as they might, the kings were never able to free themselves from the obligation to seek aid solely from the general consent of their subjects.

It was Scotland which had won this victory for English freedom.

At the moment when Edward and the earls stood face to face the king saw his work in the north suddenly undone.

Both the justice and injustice of the new rule proved fatal to it.