Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/113

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MAGNA CHARTA.
67

a while with patience, and as the King ſhal carry and behave himſelf toward us, ſo ſhall he have us obedient to him in all things. Therefore, all was adjourned, and reſpited for a fortnight after midſummer. But in the mean time, our lord the King, whether it proceeded from his own ſpirit, or that of his courtiers, who were unwilling to loſe any thing of their power, was hardened and more exaſperated, and never minded to make the leaſt reparation of theſe abuſes according to his promiſe.

When the day appointed came, the parliament came again to London, with a full belief and truſt in the King’s firm promiſe, that leaving his former errors, by the grace of God beſtowed upon him, he would incline to more wholeſome advice. As ſoon as they were aſſembled, there came this[1] unhandſome anſwer from the King: “All you the principal men of England, you had a mind to bring the lord your King, to the bent of your uncivil will and pleaſure, and to impoſe a very ſervile condition upon him; that what every one of you may do at pleaſure,


  1. Illepidum reſponſum.
ſhould