Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/54

8 among them. After which they all went to the high altar, and there ſwore in order, beginning at the greateſt, “That, if the King ſhould refuſe to confirm by his charter the ſaid laws and liberties (being the rights of the kingdom) they would make war upon him till he did.” And likewiſe at laſt by common conſent they came to this reſolution, “That they would go together to the King after Chriſtmas, and deſire him to confirm the ſaid libertie. And, in the mean time, that they would make ſuch proviſion of horſes and arms; that, in caſe the king ſhould ſtart from his late oath, wherein he promiſed it (which they had too much reaſon to believe, becauſe of his doubleneſs) they might then compel him to performance by ſeizing his caſtles.”

, after Chriſtmas they came to the King in a gay military habit, and deſired the confirmation of their antient liberties, as they were contained in writing in the charter of I. and the laws of K. . They affirmed likewiſe, that by his oath at Wincheſter, he had promiſed thoſe laws and liberties, and that he was already bound to keep them by his own oath. The king ſeeing the conſtancy and