Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/267

 England in the Middle Ages 231 Certainly in his time men had great hardship and very many injuries. Castles he caused to be made, and poor men to be greatly oppressed. The king was very rigid, and took from his subjects many a mark of gold, and more hundred pounds of silver, all which he took, by right and with great unright, from his people, for little need. He had fallen into covetousness, and altogether loved greediness. He planted a great preserve for deer, and he laid down laws therewith, that whosoever should slay hart or hind should be blinded. He forbade the harts and also the boars to be killed. As greatly did he love the tall deer as if he were their father. He also ordained concerning the hares that they should go free. His great men bewailed it, and the poor men murmured thereat ; but he was so obdu- rate that he recked not of the hatred of them all ; but they must wholly follow the king's will if they would live, or have land, or property, or even his peace. Alas that any man should be so proud, so raise himself up, and account himself above all men ! May the Almighty God show mercy to his soul, and grant him forgiveness of his sins 1 IV. How THE GREAT CHARTER WAS WON In the year of our Lord 1215, which was the seventeenth year of the reign of King John, he held his court at Win- chester at Christmas for one day, after which he hurried to London, and took up his abode at the New Temple ; and at that place the above-mentioned nobles came to him in gay military array, and demanded the confirmation of the liberties and laws of King Edward [the Confessor], with such other liberties granted to them and to the kingdom and church of England as were contained in the charter and the above- mentioned laws of Henry the First. They also asserted that at the time of his absolution at Winchester he had promised to restore those laws and ancient liberties, and was bound by his own oath to observe them. The king, hearing the bold tone of the barons in making this demand, much feared 99. The barons demand that King John should confirm theti ancient rights. (Prom the Chronicle of Roger of Wendouer.)