Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/66

in this thought by the private intelligence they had, that he had given orders to his foreigners, in whom his ſoul truſted, to fortify and furniſh his caſtles with men and provision and to ſtore them with all manner of artillery; but to do it ſo warily, that it might not come to the knowledge of the barons. This boded no good; for here was Magna Charta concerning the expulſion of foreigners broken already: and therefore, ſome of the barons went to the King at Windſor, to know more of this matter, and to try, by gentle and wholeſome advice, to bring him to a better mind. He received them with a blithe countenance, and thereby palliated the inward venom; and ſwearing by God’s feet, he aſſured them, that he had no ill purpoſe, and bantered and laughed them out of their ſtory. Nevertheleſs, before they left him, they gathered ſuch marks of his averſion to them, and that all was not well, that they went back to London lamenting, and ſaying, “Woe to us and to all England, which wants a King that will ſpeak truth, and is oppreſſed by a falſe underhand tyrant, that uſes his utmoſt endeavours to ſubvert a miſerable kingdom.”

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