Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/115

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MAGNA CHARTA.
69

When therefore the parliament had heard this, they underſtood clearer than the light that all this came from his preſent counſellors, whoſe reign would be at an end, and be blown away with a puff, if the baronage of all England might be heard. But feeing themſelves craftily anſwered and oppoſed, they all replied, as if it had been perfectly with one breath, “That they would by no means uſeleſsly impoveriſh themſelves, that aliens might be proud at their coſt, and to ſtrengthen the enemies of the King and kingdom:” of which they gave inſtances in what happened lately in Poitou and Gaſcony; where the King upon an expedition out of his own head, and againſt their advice, loft honour, treaſure, lands, and wholly miſcarried. And ſo the parliament broke up in the utmoſt indignation, every one being diſappointed in the great hopes which they long had from this parliament: and they carried home nothing but, as the uſed to do, contemptuous uſage, with loft labour and expences.

The grievances ſtill increaſe, till we come to a new confirmation of Magna Charta, A. D. 1253. which was upon this occaſion. The pope, for ends of his own, ſollicited the King to un-

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