Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][merged small]

SIMON DE MONTFORT, EARL OF LEICESTER.

[graphic]

HENRY III. SWEARING TO MAGNA CHARTA

SIMON de Montfort, was second son of the famous Earl of Montfort, general of the crusade against the Albigenses. This young foreigner came early in life to England, and enjoyed so great a degree of the favour of Henry III. that he ventured to pay his addresses to the king's sister, Eleanora, Countess-dowager of Pembroke, whom he married with the King's consent, and was, on the occasion, created Earl of Leicester, February 2, 1239.

The province of Gascony, in France, belonged at this time to the crown of England; but several barons in that province had revolted against the English government, and Henry sent his brother-in-law, Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, with an army to quell these rebellious barons. Montfort succeeded in his design, and reduced the revolted barons; but exercised such severity in his government, that all the inhabitants of Gascony were exasperated against him, and sent commissioners over to England, who accused him of many acts of oppression. Henry received those commissioners very favourably, and plainly discovered that Montford might be found guilty. This obliged the earl to have recourse to the discontented barons; among whom he made so powerful a party, that when he came to his trial, he was acquitted by his peers, in spite of all the Gascon commissioners, and the king himself,

D

could urge against him. Henry was so much enraged at this, that, forgetting the dignity of his character, he loaded the earl with opprobrious language, calling him a villain and a traitor;. and Montford, proud and passionate, starting up in a violent rage, told the king he lied.

Henry finding that all the violent, illegal, and disgraceful methods of raising money, which he had used, were quite insufficient to supply his wants, resolved to make trial of a parliament; and one was summoned to meet at Westminster, on the 5th of April, 1253. The king laid an account of his necessities before this assembly; and further informed them, that he designed to set out as soon as possible for the Holy Land, and earnestly entreated them to grant him such supplies as would enable him to accomplish that pious design. In order to obviate their usual remonstrances, and gain their consent, he made acknowledgements of his former errors, and gave them the strongest assurances, that he would govern for the future according to their wishes, and would confirm the charter of their liberties in any manner they pleased. According to this agreement, the king, with the whole parliament, met, on the 4th of May, in the great hall at Westminster, the prelates and clergy in their robes, each with a lighted taper in his hand. The Great Charter, and Charter of the Forests, were read aloud to this august assembly; and then a sentence of excommunication, containing the most tremendous curses and denunciations of the divine wrath against all who should violate, or consent to the violation of these charters, in any particulars, was pronounced; at the conclusion of which, the prelates and clergy threw their tapers on the ground, crying with one voice," So may every one be extinguished, and stink in hell, who shall incur this sentence." On which the king, laying his right hand upon his heart, replied, "So help me God, as I am a man, as I am a Christian, as I am a knight, and as I am a crowned, anointed king."

Henry entertaining afterwards the design of conquering Sieily, called a parliament, and demanded supplies for the purpose. Never was any project more imprudent or unseasonable, for it furnished the Earl of Leicester, and other discontented barons, with the fairest occasion of reproaching Henry with all the errors and abuses of his government; which they did in the strongest terms, concluding with a solemn declaration, that they were determined no longer to rely on his oaths and promises, which had been so often violated, but were resolved to drive all foreigners from his court and presence, and to have the administration put into such hands as they could depend upon. In fine, they proposed, that twenty-four persons should be chosen, twelve from the king's council, and twelve from their own number, to whom full powers should be given to reform ali ihe abuses in the government, and to make such regulations as should effectually prevent the return of such abuses. The king, intimidated by the

determined air and martial appearance of the barons, who came into the parliament-hall in complete armour, consented to every thing proposed; and another meeting was appointed to bring to perfection this new model of government.

Accordingly, on the 11th of June, 1258, that famous assembly, afterwards called the mad parliament, met at Oxford. The barons came attended with such an armed force as rendered any opposition from the court impracticable. According to agreement, twelve barons were chosen by the king's council, and twelve by the parliament; to whom was given absolute authority, unlimited both as to time and power, to reform the state, and make what regulations they thought fit, for the future government of the kingdom. In a word, into their hands was committed the whole legislative and executive power: and the king himself, his eldest son, Prince Edward, and persons, in all stations, took a solemn oath to observe and obey the regulations which should be made by these twenty-four barons. As the Earl of Leicester was the most considerable person in this junto, for riches, power, eloquence, boldness, and popularity, they acted chiefly by his direction and advice. Their first transactions bore the appearance of patriotic regard to the public welfare. They ordained, That three ses sions of parliament should be held every year, in the months of February, June, and October:- That four knights should be chosen in each county, to enquire into the peculiar grievances of that county, and lay the same before each meeting of parliament; and that the expenses of these knights in the performance of that service should be borne by that county:-That a new high sheriff should be elected every year, by the votes of the freeholders in each county:-That none of the royal wards should be committed to the custody of foreigners :-That no new forests or warrens should be created:―and, That the revenues of counties should be let to farm.

The council got into their possession all the royal castles, which they either kept in their own hands, or committed to the custody of their creatures. They turned out all the great officers of state, and of the king's household, to make room for themselves and their dependents. They enriched themselves and their families, by the royal escheats and wardships. In a word, these twenty-four barons engrossed the whole power, and a great part of the revenues of the crown; the king was a mere pageant of state, without the least shadow of authority, and the English constitution was entirely changed from a monarchy to an aristocracy,or rather an oligarchy.

The king bore with great impatience the state of insignificancy to which he was reduced, and beginning to entertain hopes of recovering his former authority, formed a scheme for that purpose. Having taken his resolution, he came unexpectedly into the parliament, which was held

« AnteriorContinuar »