Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/103

peace, and diſturbance of the land; that his counſellors might grow rich by the troubles of the nation and the diſheriſon of others, which in peace they could not compaſs. Amongſt the items of their preſent grievances, which it would be too long here to recite, this is one, “That theſe counſellors confound and pervert “the law of the land,” which has been ſworn and corroborated by excommunication; ſo that it is very much to be feared that they ſtand excommunicated, and you for intercommuning with them.” And they conclude, “Theſe things we faithfully tell you, and before God we deſire, adviſe and admoniſh you, that you remove this counſel from you; and as the cuſtom is in other realms, that you manage your kingdom by your own faithful ſworn ſubjects, that are of your own kingdom. For we aſſure you, that unleſs you ſpeedily redreſs and reform theſe grievances, we will proceed to excommunication, both againſt you and all other gainſayers, ſtaying no longer than for the conſecration of the archbiſhop elect.” And when they had thus ſaid, the King humbly demanded a ſhort truce, ſaying, that he could not ſo ſuddenly remove his council, till he had audited an account of his treaſure committed to them. And ſo the parliament broke

up,