lates likewiſe did not think fit to publiſh it, yet in that ſuperſtitious age it could not fail to influence weak minds, when all the ſubjects of England were enjoined to be aiding to King John againſt the barons, for the remiſſion of their ſins. For who that had a ſoul to ſave, would not kill a baron if he could? It was King John’s holy war. And it muſt needs ſtrangely heighten and animate his inſolent crew, to ſee themſelves thus backed with divine authority, and would make them play the Devil in God’s name. Thus the ſword helped the ſword, and the ſpiritual one whetted and ſet an edge upon the material.
It was the miſery of the barons to have their country over-run in this manner, and not be in a condition to help it. As for their own loſſes, they did not mind them. When meſſengers came thick with bad tidings, that their caſtles and poſſeſſions were gone and deſtroyed, they only looked upon one another, and ſaid, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away.” When they heard how their wives and daughters were abuſed, they vented themſelves by inveighing bitterly “Againſt the pope and his moſt dearly beloved ſon in Christ, John.” But when they thought of England, England, then they lamented indeed,
