Origin of the constitutional mode of obtaining grievances Origin of fifteenths. Henry III. power, for they often refused to grant him supplies till he had granted them redress of grievances. Hence arose, and in this reign thus began, the constitutional mode of obtaining redress of grievances, which redress of is practised at the present day. When supplies were granted, it was usually in the form of what was called a fifteenth. This was formerly the real fifteenth part of all the movable property belonging to the subject, when such movables or personal estates were a very different and a much less considerable thing than they now are, and originally, at each grant, a fresh assessment of the value of property was made." This was a very oppressive mode of levying revenue, for sometimes it was levied. even on workmen's tools.5 Other sources of revenue. Wars with France were a great source of expense. 55 There were also some other sources of revenue; such as fines on taking possession of landed property at the death of the former tenant, payments in lieu of military duty, and others arising from the feudal system, as explained in my second Lecture. The King had also the right of keeping to himself the temporalities; that is the revenues of lands and tenements belonging to an archbishop's and bishop's see, and of all abbeys and priories of royal foundation, till the successor was appointed.46 This was a source of great abuse, for the King often delayed the appointment of a successor for the sake of the revenues. The wars with France were the most constant source of expense, and one of the earliest causes of Henry's demands of money. He was continually fitting out expeditions to recover the territories which formerly belonged to England, but which had been lost by John. It was provided by the treaty between Henry and Louis, after the "fair of Lincoln," that, when Louis Henry III. succeeded to the throne of France, he should restore to Henry the French possessions which had belonged to his father. This was a promise he was not likely to fulfil. Philip Augustus, the king of France, died on July 14th, A.D. 1223, and his son Louis succeeded A.D. 1223. him as Louis VIII. on his accession refuses to give back provinces. A.D. 1224. mands an Henry de aid to invade Louis, on his accession, not only refused to fulfil Louis 8th his promise, but published the original sentence of forfeiture against John, entered Poitou with a numerous army, and extended his conquests to the right the French bank of the Garonne. In the following summer, A.D. 1224, a parliament was assembled at Northampton, and the King demanded an aid to enable him to invade France. The barons would not grant any ad money without greater security for their liberties; him to for, although the King had, as I have informed you, France. confirmed the Charter on his accession to the throne, The barons its provisions were constantly infringed. The de- refuse unbates were interrupted by the siege of Bedford, but liberties were renewed after its capture; and at the following secured. Christmas, after a stormy discussion, the aid was granted on condition of the King again confirming by siege of the Charter. The King was obliged to yield, and both the Great Charter and the Charter of Forests were solemnly ratified in that form in which they now appear in our Statute Book. The scene is thus described by one of our old historians: less their are better Debates in terrupted Bedford. After the siege, the aid is granted on the two Charters being confirmed. "This year, A.D. 1225, being the 9th of King A.D. 1225. Henry's reign, he kept his Christmas at Westminster, the clergy and people, with the great men of the kingdom, being all there attending. In this assembly Hugh de Burgh, the King's Justiciary, declared the damages and injuries the King sustained in his dominions be Descripdebate at which the tion of the aid was de mauded. Henry III. yond sea, whereby not only he, but also several carls A.D. 1225. and barons, were ousted of their possessions, and see Charters confirmed and copies sealed with the King's over Eng. land. ing many were concerned, the assistance ought to be pounded, the archbishops, and all the bishops, earls, barons, abbots, and priors, after some deliberation, returned the King this answer, that 'they would readily gratify his desires, if he would again confirm their long-desired liberties.' Thereupon, the King agreeing to the request of his great men, many Charseal sent all ters were forthwith written, and sealed with the King's seal, and one of them directed to every county in England, and to the counties were there were forests there were sent two, one concerning their common liberties, the other concerning the liberties of the forests."11 He then goes on to say that, in assessing this tax, "their horses, ploughs, arms, and household utensils, as also their jewels and necessary provisions for housekeeping, were excepted. The clergy also excepted their books and the treasures or ornaments of their churches; but that none of any sex or condition were excepted from payment but only the orders of the Cistercians and Remonstrants, with the Knights Templars and Hospitallers." 12 The archbishops, and bishops excommunicated all those who should commit any fraud in the raising, or hindrance in the payment, of this fifteenth. "Then a day was set, being a month after Easter, for the choice of twelve knights being legal men out of each county (that is, such as were fit to be em- Henry III. panelled on juries), who upon oath should distinguish A.D. 1225. and sever the new forests from the old ones, and whatever forests were found to be made after the first coronation of Henry II. were forthwith to be disforested. The Council being ended, the Great Charters were carried to every county by the King's command, and every one sworn to observe them." Wars with France. " 12 King's Earl of sent to As soon as the King had obtained this grant of The money he lost no time in making use of it; and be brother, fore the following Easter (A.D. 1225), he sent his Richard brother Richard to France to attempt to recover his Cornwall, provinces. After nearly a year's fighting with but little result, an armistice was agreed on, but before its expiration Louis died (on Nov. 8, 1226), and was succeeded by his son, Louis IX., a boy eleven years 8th dies. old, who became known in history as St. Louis. France. A.D. 1226. Louis the takes the ment into begins his The King now (A.D. 1227) resolved to take the A.D. 1227. government into his own hands. He dismissed Peter The King des Roches, who went on a pilgrimage to the Holy governLand; and he was then guided, for a time, entirely his own by the advice of Hubert, the Grand Justiciary. He hands and now began the tyrannous exactions which he con- oppres tinued throughout his reign, and, by the advice of Hubert, he made void all the charters of liberties and forests, which for two years before had been observed throughout the whole kingdom. 13 sions. returns to The year after the death of Louis VIII., Richard, Richard Earl of Cornwall, returned from France; and very England. shortly after his return he had a dispute with the King about the castle of Berkhamsted, which be Henry III. longed to him, but which the King, in his absence, A.D. 1227. had given to a German. A number of barons, who were discontented with the King and with De Burgh, on account of his exactions, supported Richard, and the King was obliged to enter into a compromise with him. A.D. 1228. During the following year (A.D. 1228) the King was occupied in repressing incursions of the Welsh ; MAC France be Shipping. (Royal MSS. E. G. 6. 348. Brit. Mus.) A.D. 1229. but in the year after (A.D. 1229) the war with France War with began again. In the spring of that year, "the gins again. Archbishop of Bordeaux came to him from the nobility of Gascony, Aquitaine, and Poitou, as also messengers from those of Normandy, to solicit him. to come in person to those countries, assuring him that they would all be ready with horse and arms to assist him in recovering his ancient inheritance." 13 a Hubert de Burgh, for some reason which it is dif ficult to assign, advised the King to refuse their offers; but, at the following Michaelmas, Henry made great preparations to invade France. In September, he went with his army to Portsmouth |