Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/63

Rh two ſwords. He ſends to the pope, whom he bribes with a large ſum of money, beſides his former ſurrender of the kingdom, to cancel and annul Magna Charta, and to confound it with his apoſtolical authority; and withal, to excommunicate the barons for it: and at the ſame time he ſends the biſhop of Worceſter lord chancellor of England, the biſhop of Norwich, and ſeveral other perſons, to all the neighbouring countries, to gather together all the foreign forces they could, by promiſes of lands and poſſeſſions; and if need were, to make them grants under the great ſeal, and to bring them all to Dover by Michaelmas.

three months he ſpent incognito, in and about the Iſle of Wight, coaſting and ſkulking about, and ſome times exerciſing piracy out at ſea; ſo that it was not then known where he was, nor what was become of him; but thus he whiled away the time, contemplating his treaſon, and waiting for the incomprehenſible enemy-friends he had ſent for. I know not whether this deſertion, and not providing for the government in his abſence, and ſending the great ſeal of England, upon ſuch an errand, out of the realm, may not, with ſome men, amount to a modern abdication; but I am ſure that this, which ,