to the regency; but the young prince being married to Isabella, of Hainault, niece to the earl of Flanders, the authority was balanced between them, and produced frequent disputes. Philip, at last having sided with the earl, Alice and her brothers were obliged to leave the court. She had recourse to Henry II. of England, who scrupled not to take part with the mother of one that was continually spiriting his sons to acts of rebellion against him. Philip marched against his mother, his uncles, and their protector; but Henry was unwilling to give him battle, and negotiations began, in which the two kings mutually menaced and persuaded. Henry, at last, notwithstanding the advice of the earl of Flanders, reconciled Philip to his mother and her brothers. He also agreed to pay her sept-livres Parisis, (five shillings and tenpence English) per day, for her maintenance; and to give up her dower, with the exception only of the fortified places.
This intelligence being established between them, Alice began again to take an active part in the government; and her son was so well satisfied with her conduct, that, in 1190, on going to the Holy Land, he confided, by the advice of his barons, the education of his son, and the regency of the kingdom, to Alice and her brother, the cardinal archbishop of Rheims.
During the absence of the king, some ecclesiastical disturbances happened, which were carried before the pope. The prerogative of Philip was concerned; and the letters of Alice to Rome concerning it, were full of force and grandeur. She remonstrated upon the enormity of taking advantage of an absence caused by such a motive; and demanded, that things should at least be left in the same situation, till the return of her son. By this firmness she obtained her point.
