Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/126

80 poſſeſſions of the Engliſh are devolved upon foreigners, “Which the faint-hearted Engliſh either will not know, or diſſemble their knowledge, whoſe cowardice and ſupine ſimplicity is reproved by the Welch ſtoutneſs.”

the next paſſage, we have an account of the King’s coming to St. Alban’s in the beginning of March, and ſtaying there a week; where, all the while this hiſtorian was continually with him at his table, in-his palace, and bed-chamber; “at which time he very diligently and friendly directed this writers pen:” ſo that it is not to be expected we ſhall hear any more of the Welch. And yet the ſame ſummer, when they baffled the King’s expedition againſt them, he rejoices “That their material buſineſs proſpered in their hands.” For he ſays, that their cauſe ſeemed to be a juſt cauſe even to their enemies. And that which heartened them moſt was this, that they were reſolutely fighting for their antient laws and liberties; like the Trojans from whom they were deſcended, and with an original conſtancy. “Woe to the wretched Engliſh, that are trampled upon by every foreigner, and ſuffer their antient liberties of the realm to be puffed out and extinguiſhed, and are not aſhamed of this, when they