Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/73

Rh were none of the diſturbers of the peace that were there mentioned, who turned the kingdom upſide down, and were worſe than the Saracens, for endeavouring to expel their croſs-bearing King from his realm (which they had never attempted nor intended) who, as he had engaged himſelf, ſo it was to be hoped he would accordingly go and ſuccour the holy land. And therefore the pope was forced to curſe them over again by name; and reciting ſome of the principal of them, he involved all their partakers and adherents in the ſame condemnation; and to make ſure work, he laid the city of London under an interdict. As for their poor charter, that was very ſhort-lived, for it bears date June 14, and was made void and diſannulled by the pope the Bartholemew-day following. The barons, indeed, deſpiſed all theſe ſwaggering proceedings of the pope againſt them, as knowing that the cauſleſs curſe will never come, and alledging, that it was all upon falſe ſuggeſtions, and that he uſurped an authority in matters which did not lie before him. “For who made him a judge, or divider of inheritances?” A power which St. Peter never had, and which his humble maſter declined when it was offered him. But though this pontifical ware was regarded at London as it deſerved, where the