LECTURE THIRD A.D. 1216-72. THE REIGN OF HENRY THE THIRD. - General Character of HENRY THE THIRD, and of his Reign. — Enlarged Summary of Events at the end of John's Reign. Henry's Position on his Accession to the Throne.— Military Operations of the French and the Barons against the King. Contests with the Barons. -The History of Fulke de Bréauté. — History and Origin of Fairs. — Wars with France. Disgrace of De Burgh, the King's Marriage, History of new Favourites, and Opposition of the Barons. - The Pope's Oppression of the English Clergy. Simon de Montfort.- The King's Struggles with the Barons. The Battle of Evesham. - Summary of the Character of Henry the Third. - Remarkable Persons in his Reign. Robin Hood.- The Wife and Issue of Henry the Third. General Character of Henry the Third and of his Reign. Ar the commencement of this, my third, Lecture on Henry II. the History of England, I must remark, that, as we A.D. 1216. have now reached a period, when events left marks, which may be traced even at the present day, I intend, henceforth, to enter more minutely into the history of each succeeding reign. said to be The reign of Henry the Third is said to be un- This reign interesting, and there are, indeed, but few stirring uninterestevents, while in the character of Henry himself, there ing. is nothing to admire. He was by turns in the hands of favourites, who were foreigners, of the cardinals sent over by the Pope, or of barons to whom he was obliged to yield. When in need, he took solemn oaths to reform abuses; when his need was VOL. I. M - Henry's character Henry III. satisfied, he scrupled not to break those oaths. A.D. 1216. Thrice did he solemnly swear to govern according to the Magna Charta, and thrice did he laugh that charter to scorn, when he had escaped from the danger which alone induced him to make the promise. He had no strong will, inciting him to some definite end, and by its bold consistency compelling admiration, in spite of the tyranny by which alone that end could be accomplished. No! he was consistent only in getting, what he could, in granting what he could not help, and in revoking what he had granted so soon as he recovered the power. He had no vices, he was but miserably weak. weak and fickle: but the reign is im tical power was ex tended. And yet his reign is not only important, but, as portant, be- I hope you will find, it is interesting also. The cause poli- struggles to free the realm from French dominion, the resistance of the barons against the King's oppressions, the successful rebellion of Simon de Montfort, and the consequent growth of self-government, are all matters of interest; ay, and of moment too, even at this our present day. But there are interesting matters too, of lighter kind. You will hear of the Life of the merry foresters, of Robin Hood and Little John, "under the greenwood tree;" of strange adventures of the barons; and of the fairs held over all England under peculiar privileges. These matters will, I hope, lighten the graver scenes, of which you must be informed, if you are to listen to the history of your native land. Enlarged Summary of Events at the End of John's Reign. My second Lecture, as you may remember, was devoted to an account of the rise and progress of English Government and of English Laws. I must Henry III. now take up the thread of the History from the time A.D. 1216. at which it was broken off, and, to enable you to understand the events which took place at the beginning of Henry's reign, I must remind you of the chief of those which took place at the close of that of King John, and add a few details to the facts I then related to you. Charta from King The Magna Charta had been wrung from King Magna John by the barons. They had been roused by his wrung oppressions, by his treachery, and by his vices, to an John. assertion of their rights; or rather, one might say, to demand pledges, or securities, that from henceforth, the Kings of England should govern according to settled laws, instead of according to their own caprices. tries to es cape from tions, King John, however, although he had solemnly King John sworn, to rule according to the Magna Charta, had no sooner affixed his seal thereto, than he made its condi. ready to escape from its conditions. Having submitted entirely to the Pope, he felt he might count on his help in the hour of need, and hence he sent and appeals to the to Rome, to beg for absolution from his oath. The Pope for absolution was granted. But John, while securing absolution, spiritual aid, did not forget the need of temporal help; and he sent messengers, to those parts of his French dominions which had not been taken from him, to hire soldiers, at any price, to fight for him and levies against his own deceived subjects. The barons, too, soldiers. on their part, felt the need of help, and of a leader, round whom they and their friends might rally. Therefore, they also applied to France, and offered The barons the English crown to Louis, the son of Philip Au- crown to gustus, afterwards King of France as Louis the Louis, French offer the Henry III. Eighth. Louis pretended he had a rightful claim to A.D. 1216. the English throne, as the son of John's elder sister Eleanor, who married Alphonso the Ninth, called "the" has a right good King of Castile." He treated John as an usurper, who pretends he to it. Henry's reign much with wars with France. who had murdered the rightful claimant. The barons English Possessions in France, and French The reign of Henry the Third began with a strugoccupied gle to free England from French invasion, and was throughout much occupied in wars with France, for the recovery of those provinces that John had lost, and for the keeping of those which still belonged to the Plantagenet Kings of England. It will there. fore be well to remind you how it was that certain parts of France once belonged to England; to state what they were, and what still remained at the death of John; and then to tell you what parts of England were held by the French on Henry's accession. Posses sions in France. The right of English Kings to possessions in France, was derived from a Duke of Normandy who became King of England as William the First. great-grandson, Henry the Second or Henry Planta His |