transgressor is hard." For a time the Constitutions were
rigidly enforced, but in the end Henry was forced to renounce them.
Later, however, the principle he had endeavored to set up was fully
established.[2]

[2] Edward I limited the jurisdiction of the Church courts to purely
spiritual cases, such as heresy and the like; but the work which he,
following the example of Henry II, had undertaken was not fully
accomplished until the fifteenth century.

The greatest result springing from Henry's efforts was the training of
the people in public affairs, and the definitive establishment of that
system of Common Law which regards the people as the supreme source of
both law and government, and which is directly and vitally connected
with the principle of representation and of trial by jury.[3]

[3] See Green's "Henry II," in the English Statesmen Series.

9. Rise of Free Towns.

While these important changes were taking place, the towns were
growing in population and wealth (S183). But as these towns occupied
land belonging either directly to the King or to some baron, they were
subject to the authority of one or the other, and so possessed no real
freedom. In the reign of Richard I many towns purchased certain
rights of self-government from the King.[1] This power of controlling
their own affairs greatly increased their prosperity, and in time, as
we shall see, secured them a voice in the management of the affairs of
the nation.

[1] See S183.

10. John's Loss of Normandy; Magna Carta.

Up to John's reign many barons continued to hold large estates in
Normandy, in addition to those they had acquired in England; hence
their interests were divided between the two countries. Through war
John lost his French possessions (S191). Henceforth the barons shut
out from Normandy came to look upon England as their true home. From
Henry II's reign the Normans and the English had been gradually
mingling; from this time they became practically one people. John's
tyranny and cruelty brought their union into sharp, decisive action.
The result of his greed for money, and his defiance of all law, was a
tremendous insurrection. Before this time the people had always taken
the side of the King against the barons; now, with equal reason, they
turned about and rose with the barons against the King.

Under the guidance of Archbishop Langton, barons, clergy, and people
demanded reform. The Archbishop brought out the half-forgotten