Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/112

66 and fooliſhly ſquandering the wealth of the kingdom upon them; marrying them to his wards without their conſent, and ſeveral other of his ſpendthrift and tyrannous practices. And, one and all, they grievouſly reproached him, for not having (as the magnificent Kings his predeceſſors had) a juſticiary, chancellor and treaſurer, by the common council of the realm, and as is fit and expedient, but ſuch as follow his will, let it be what it will, ſo long as it is for their own gain: and who do not ſeek the good of the commonwealth, but their own particular profit, by gathering money, and getting the wards and revenues to themſelves in the firſt place.

our lord the king heard this, being confounded within himſelf, he bluſhed, knowing that all of theſe things were very true. He therefore promiſed moſt faithfully, that he would readily redreſs all theſe things; hoping by this humility, though it were feigned, to incline all their hearts to grant him an aid. To whom the whole parliament, which had been often anſwered with ſuch promiſes, upon advice made anſwer, “That it would ſoon be ſeen whether the King will reform theſe things or no, and will manifeſtly appear in a ſhort time. We will wait a while