Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/51

Rh grey beard, for it was in being in his great grandfather’s reign.

, thirdly, That very charter of his great grandfather I. was the ground and reaſon of the parliament’s inſiſting upon having the like confirmation of their liberties by K., and was the copy by which they went. For though K., at his abſolution at Wincheſter from the pope’s ſentence and excommunication, had ſolemnly ſwore to reſtore the good laws of his predeceſſors, and particularly thoſe of K. ; and though preſently after, at a parliament at St. Alban’s, the laws of K. I. were ordained to be obſerved throughout all England, and all bad laws to be aboliſhed: yet, contrary to both theſe late engagements, he was marching an army in all haſte to fall upon ſeveral of his barons, who had lately failed in following him in an intended expedition into France. But the archbiſhop ſtopped him in his career, by following him to Northampton, and there telling him that it would be a breach of his oath at his late abſolution, to make war upon his ſubjects without