Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/87

King for calling in aliens in contempt of them: upon this, it was judicially decreed, that they ſhould be ſummoned twice and thrice, to try whether they would come or no. Here at this aſſembly at Oxford, Roger Bacon, while he was preaching the word of God before the King and the biſhops, told him roundly, That he would never enjoy any ſettled peace, unleſs he removed the biſhop of Wincheſter and Peter Rivallis from his councils. And when others who were preſent proteſted the ſame thing, the King began a little to recollect himſelf, and incline to reaſon, and ſignified to the aſſociated barons that they ſhould come to a parliament July 11, at Weſtminſter, and there, by their advice, he would rectify what was fit to be amended. But when the barons had heard that many free-booters were called in by the King with horſes and arms, and that they had arrived by degrees, and but a few at a time, and could ſee no foot-ſteps of peace, but likewiſe ſuſpected the innate treachery of the Poitovins, they let alone going to the parliament, but they ſent him word by ſolemn meſſengers, That ſetting aſide all delay, he ſhould remove the biſhop of Wincheſter and all the Poitovins from his court: But, in caſe he would not, they all by the common council of

the