The character of this prince has been justly held up to general reprobation, as including almost every vice that was mean and odious in our nature; but while we des pise his cowardice and detest his baseness, we ought to remember, that it was to his weakness and incapacity, more than to the firmness and generosity of the barons, that we are indebted for the foundation of the British constitution.
The death of John was fatal to the cause of Louis. The resentment of the barons against their sovereign was buried with him in the grave ; and the youth of his son Henry, who succeeded him, claimed their pity, rather than enmity. At the head of the oppo party, also, was the Earl of Pembroke, an expe rienced and disinterested statesman, who had main tained, during the whole contest, his fidelity to John unshaken, and who was determined to support, at every hazard, the interests of his son. That nobleman, in a general council of the barons, was chosen protector of the realm; and having crowned the young king at Gloucester, in the presence of Gualo, the legate, he en deavoured to reconcile all ranks to the government of Henry, by new concessions. The Great Charter, with some alterations and additions, was renewed and con firmed, and was brought nearly to its present shape ; and these concessions were so acceptable to the nation, that Louis soon found himself almost without an ad herent. The malcontent barons hastened to make their submission, to prevent those attaindcrs to which they were exposed by their rebellion ; and his cause was rendered still more desperate, by the defeat of his troops near Lincoln, and the destruction of the French fleet, which carried a considerable reinforcement, off' the coast of Kent, by Philip d'Albiney, the English com mande•. He was consequently glad to conclude a peace upon any honourable terms; and stipulated only for his own safety, and an indemnity to his adherents.
The death of the Protector, which happened soon after this accommodation, threw the kingdom into new com motions. It required all the wisdom and valour of that virtuous nobleman, to restrain a licentious and powerful nobility; and though his successor, Hubert de Burgh, possessed both abilities and integrity, he was un able to suppress that spirit of insubordination among the barons, which is the usual attendant of a minority. They held by force the royal castles, and usurped the king's demesnes. They were continually surrounded by a disorderly retinue, whom they encouraged and protected, in all their outrages and depredations ; and the people, as well as the king, suffered by their op pressions. The Lail of Albemarle was particularly distinguished for his violent and illegal proceedings ; and Ilubert, in order to reduce him to obedience, seized upon Rockingham castle, which he had garrisoned with his adherents. This dro‘e him to more open rebellion; but being excommunicated by Pandulph, the legate, he was deserted by his associates, and obliged to sue for mercy, when he was again restored to his possessions.
This restless chief, however, continued for some time to give disturbance to the government. When Henry was declared by the pope to be of full age, and the barons were required to resign into his hands the royal castles and fortresses, Albemarle and some others open ly refused. They even attempted to surprise London, and seize the person of the king; and such was the weakness of the executive, that they were considered too formidable to be punished. They were at last, however, through fear of excommunication, forced to comply.
As Henry advanced to man's estate, he slimed him self totally unfit for the government of the kingdom in its present unsettled state. Ile was gentle and humane, but without activity and vigour ; and so fickle and ir resolute, that men neither valued his friendship nor dreaded his resentment. Had he been steady to the counsels of Hubert de Burgh, he might have moderated and subdued the turbulence of his barons ; but this able and virtuous minister was displaced, in a fit of caprice, and exposed to the persecution of his enemies. His successor, Peter des Roches, bishop of Winchester, was of a very different character, and by his arbitrary and violent conduct, raised new divisions in the state. He was a Poictevin by birth, and advised the king to invite over a number of his countrymen and other foreigners, whom he pretended could more safely be trusted than his English subjects. Upon these men every place of command and preferment was bestowed, to the exclusion of the natives, which occasioned such general discontent, that a combination was formed by the barons to expel the king's minister from his office. They withdrew from parliament ; and when again sum moned to attend, they demanded that Henry should dismiss his foreigners, otherwise they would drive him and them out of the kingdom, and put the crown upon a head more worthy to wear it. Peter des Roches, however, found means of disconcerting their schemes. The more obnoxious barons had their estates confiscat ed, without legal sentence or trial by peers; and their possessions were profusely bestowed upon the Poic tevins. Edmond, the primate, at last interfered, and threatened the king with excommunication, unless he would dismiss his minister and his associates. Henry was obliged to submit; but the barons found it was only a change of masters. The king having married Eleanor, daughter of the Count of Provence, the king dom was again inundated with strangers, who were caressed, enriched, and loaded with preferment. This partiality and imprudent generosity, often reduced him to the greatest straits for want of money ; and as the parliament often refused him supplies, he was some times obliged to have recourse to arbitrary exactions, and to extort loans from his most opulent subjects. All the dignities and wealth of the country seem to have been swallowed up by these hungry foreigners, and Proven cats, Savoyards, and Gascons, were sure to meet with friendship and in preference to his own subjects.