Page:The Queens of England.djvu/104

86 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. Shortly after, a new and undignified measure for acquiring money suggested itself to him. It was no other than that of borrowing sums from the rich portion of his subjects on pleas known to be so false that they imposed on no one ; and, having condescended to this meanness, he exposed himself to denials and excuses from all to whom he applied. In the early part of 1245 Eleanor gave birth to a second son, named Edmund. This prince entered the world under inaus- picious circumstances ; for the unpopularity of his mother, and the impoverished state of his father had increased ; and such was the mal-administration of the laws, that open defiance was offered to thein by men who fearlessly plundered whenever an occasion offered, and added insult and abuse to robbery- Nor were the persons of the king and queen held more sacred by them than those of their subjects; for when traveling through Hampshire their luggage was stolen, and themselves exposed to the low scurrility of a riotous mob. The impunity hitherto permitted, Henry determined should be put an end to ; for evils that touched the great personally were sure in those days to draw an attention, if not a punishment, too often denied to those which fell on persons of less note. Made aware, by what had occurred to himself, of the supineness and pusil- lanimity of those appointed to carry the laws into effect, Henry resolved on administering justice himself, and presided on the judicial bench in Winchester; and this was perhaps the sole occasion, during his long reign, in which he evinced spirit and determination. That there was great need of such spirit was evident by the refusal of Lord Clifford to appear at the king's summons before him. He not only treated the king's mes- senger with great insolence, but compelled him to eat the royal warrant, seal and all. Henry for once showed a proper feeling, and punished Clifford severely. The appointment of Boniface, uncle to Queen Eleanor, to the see of Canterbury, effected through her influence over her weak husband, and by her letter to the pope, occasioned general discontent in England. Boniface was universally deemed a very unworthy successor to St. Edmund, the late archbishop ; and, as if to justify the prejudices entertained against him, he committed an act that drew down on him condemnation and hatred. He thought fit to make a visitation to the Priory of St. Bartholomew, which, being in the diocese of the Bishop of London, he had no right to interfere with. Here he insulted