ab excubiis fatigati, in communi laetitia respirabunt. Relevabitur rusticitas otio innocens et quieta: negotiatores commercium ditabit celebrius; et publica moneta una et eadem erit in regno ex argento percussa. Werra igitur quae septemdecim annis saevierat, hoc fine quievit.

THE FIRST CHARTER OF STEPHEN.

This is probably the charter issued by Stephen at his coronation, and is of the most formal description, specifying nothing; and although of great import had it been the act of a strong or resolutely just sovereign, meaning very little under the hand of one too weak to enforce it.

STEPHANUS Dei gratia rex Anglorum, Justitiis, Vicecomitibus, Baronibus et omnibus ministris et fidelibus suis Francis et Anglicis salutem.

Sciatis me concessisse et praesenti carta mea confirmasse omnibus baronibus et hominibus meis de Anglia omnes libertates et bonas leges quas Henricus rex Anglorum avunculus meus eis dedit et concessit, et omnes bonas leges et bonas consuetudines eis concedo quas habuerunt tempore Regis Edwardi.

Quare volo et firmiter praecipio quod habeant et teneant omnes illas bonas leges et libertates de me et haeredibus meis ipsi et haeredes sui libere quiete et plenarie, et prohibeo ne quis eis super hiis molestiam vel impedimentum, vel diminutionem faciat super forisfacturam meam.

Teste Willelmo Martel apud Londonias.—(Statutes of the Realm -Charters of Liberties, p. 4.)

THE SECOND CHARTER OF STEPHEN.

This document, which is of a character far more definite and more binding than the preceding, was issued by Stephen at the first great council of his reign, at the moment when all parties seemed to acquiesce in his accession. His rehearsal of his title is curious and important; it is worth while to compare it with that of Henry I, but it need not necessarily be interpreted as

showing a consciousness of weakness. The provisions are based on those of Henry's charter. Neither of the charters of Stephen will be found to agree with the account given by Henry of Huntingdon of his promises to the people of the abolition of Danegeld, or to the clergy of entire freedom of election.

Carta Stephani Regis de libertatibus Ecclesiae Anglicanae et regni.

Ego Stephanus Dei gratia assensu cleri et populi in regem Anglorum electus, et a Willelmo Cantuariensi archiepiscopo et sanctae Romanae ecclesiae legato consecratus, et ab Innocentio sanctae Romanae sedis pontifice confirmatus, respectu et amore Dei sanctam ecclesiam liberam esse concedo et debitam reverentiam illi confirmo.

Nihil me in ecclesia vel rebus ecclesiasticis Simoniace acturum vel permissurum esse promitto. Ecclesiasticarum personarum et omnium clericorum et rerum eorum justitiam et potestatem et distributionem bonerum ecclesiasticorum in manu episcoporum esse perhibeo et confirmo. Dignitates ecclesiarum privilegiis earum confirmatas, et consuetudines earum antiquo tenore habitas, inviolate manere statuo et concedo. Omnes ecclesiarum possessiones et tenuras quas die illa habuerunt qua Willelmus rex avus meus fuit vivus et mortuus, sine omni calumniantium reclamatione, eis liberas et absolutas esse concedo. Si quid vero de habitis vel possessis ante mortem ejusdem regis, quibus modo careat ecclesia, deinceps repetierit, indulgentiae et dispensationi meae, vel restituendi vel discutiendi, reservo. Quaecunque vero post mortem ipsius regis liberalitate regum vel largitione principum, oblatione vel comparatione, vel qualibet transmutatione fidelium eis collata sunt, confirmo. Pacem et justitiam me in omnibus facturum, et pro posse meo conservaturum eis promitto.

Forestas quas Willelmus avus meus et Willelmus avunculus meus instituerunt et habuerunt, mihi reservo. Ceteras omnes quas rex Henricus superaddidit ecclesiis et regno quietas reddo et concedo.

Si quis episcopus vel abbas vel alia ecclesiastica persona ante mortem suam rationabiliter sua distribuerit vel distribuenda statuerit, firmum manere concedo. Si vero morte praeoccupatus fuerit, pro salute animae ejus ecclesiae consilio eadem fiat distributio. Dum vero sedes propriis pastoribus vacuae fuerint,

ipsas et earum possessiones omnes in manu et custodia clericorum vel proborum hominum ejusdem ecclesiae committam, donec pastor canonice substituatur.

Omnes exactiones et injustitias et mescheningas, sive per vicecomites vel per alios quoslibet male inductas, funditus exstirpo.

Bonas leges et antiquas et justas consuetudines, in murdris et placitis et aliis causis, observabo, et observari praecipio, et constituo. Haec omnia concedo et confirmo salva regia et justa dignitate mea.

Testibus W. Cantuariensi archiepiscopo, et Hugone Rothomagensi archiepiscopo, et Henrico Wintoniensi episcopo, et Rogero Sarisbiriensi episcopo, et A. Lincolniensi episcopo, et Nigello Eliensi episcopo, et Evrardo Norwicensi episcopo, et Simone Wigornensi episcopo, et Bernardo episcopo de Sancto David, et Audoeno Ebroicensi episcopo, et Ricardo Abrincensi episcopo, et Roberto Herefordensi episcopo, et Johanne Rouecestrensi episcopo, et Athelulfo Carlolensi episcopo; et Rogero cancellario; et Henrico nepote regis; et Roberto comite Gloecestriae, et Willelmo comite de Warenna, et Rannulfo comite Cestriae, et Roberto comite de Warewic; et Roberto de Ver, et Milone de Gloecestria, et Brientio filio Comitis, et Roberto de Oilli, conestabulis; et Willelmo Martel, et Hugone Bigot, et Hunfrido de Buhun, et Simone de Belcamp, dapiferis; et Willelmo de Albiniaco, et Eudone Martel pincernis; et Roberto de Ferreriis, et Willelmo Peverel de Notingeham; et Simone de Saintliz; et Willelmo de Albamarla, et Pagano filio Johannis, et Hamone de Sancto Claro, et Ilberto de Laceio.

Apud Oxeneforde, anno ab Incarnatione Domini MoCoXXX VIo, sed regni mei primo.-(Statutes of the RealmCharters of Liberties, p. 3. Will. Malmesb., Hist. Nov. i.)

PART IV.

SELECT CHARTERS AND EXCERPTS; Henry II.

A.D. 1154-1189.

Archbishops of Canterbury. Theobald, 1139-1161; Thomas Becket, 1162-1170; Richard, 1174-1184; Baldwin, 1185-1190.

Chief Justices. Robert, Earl of Leicester, 1154-1167; Richard de Lucy, 1154-1179; Ranulf Glanvill, 1180-1189.

Chancellors. Thomas Becket, 1154-1162; Ralph de Warneville, 11731181; Geoffrey, the king's son, 1181-1189.

THE reign of Henry II was the period of amalgamation of the English and Normans so far as concerned their legal and constitutional status. All vestiges of distinction between the two races before the law disappear, and although further changes are required before a perfect union of interest and ideas is completed by a perfect fusion of blood, they are now on an equality, and even the nominal distinction is sunk in the common name of English. Henry himself ascended the throne without any shadow of opposition to his title, and free from any obligations to the factions which had struggled for their own ends under the pretence of supporting Stephen and Matilda. He was fitted for the position of a national sovereign, not only by this freedom. from party connexion, but by the training of his earlier years, which had been so changeful and unsettled as to prevent him, although he was heir of Normandy and Anjou, and by his marriage lord of all the south-west of France, from being moulded into the prevalent type of any of the races which he represented. He was not a Norman nor an Angevin nor a Poitevin by policy any more than by character, and came to England unfettered

by any prepossessions that would make him anti-English. His position in this respect was strengthened by the development of his personal character, which, although in many points exceptionable, was singularly well suited to the condition and age of the nation that received him. His great sagacity enabled him to see the true interest of England, and his ability for business to keep in hand the strings of an intricate policy without falling under the sway of any minister whose designs might be more warped by national or party inclinations than his own; even that clearsighted selfishness, which kept him during the whole of his life free from complicity in the struggles of foreign nations, and intent on the security and completeness of his own dominion, was a characteristic which brought much good to the reviving spirit of England. His policy was to govern England as an English king, to utilise and train all the elements of life by new organisation, and, by asserting his royal rights and those of his people, to keep the feudal system in its proper subordination to the national interests.

His reign falls naturally into four epochs: the first, extending from his accession to his quarrel with Thomas Becket; the second, from that point to the death of the archbishop; the third, until the death of the younger Henry in 1183; and the fourth, to his own death in 1189.

I. The first ten years of the reign were singularly happy and prosperous. Henry's first ministers were the men whose exertions had secured his succession: Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury; Thomas, the Chancellor; and the Earl of Leicester, whose support he had obtained whilst he was Duke of Normandy. With their co-operation he proceeded at once to carry out the plan of reform dictated by the Peace of Wallingford, recalled the Bishop of Ely to the Exchequer, and resumed, after consultation with his assembled barons, the estates of the Crown, which had been alienated by Stephen and Matilda. He then ordered the demolition of the illegal castles which had been the strongholds of baronial tyranny, and enforced by arms the entire submission of the few who, like Roger of Gloucester, Hugh Mortimer, William of Aumâle, and Hugh Bigot, attempted to