rgh;[*] a man who had been steady to the crown in the most
difficult and dangerous times, and who yet showed no disposition, in
the height of his power, to enslave or oppress the people. The only
exceptionable part of his conduct is that which is mentioned by Matthew
Paris,[**] if the fact be really true, and proceeded from Hubert's
advice, namely, the recalling publicly and the annulling of the charter
of forests, a concession so reasonable in itself, and so passionately
claimed both by the nobility and people: but it must be confessed that
this measure is so unlikely, both from the circumstances of the times
and character of the minister, that there is reason to doubt of its
reality, especially as it is mentioned by no other historian. Hubert,
while he enjoyed his authority, had an entire ascendant over Henry, and
was loaded with honors and favors beyond any other subject.

{1231.} Besides acquiring the property of many castles and manors, he
married the eldest sister of the king of Scots, was created earl of
Kent, and, by an unusual concession, was made chief justiciary of
England for life; yet Henry, in a sudden caprice, threw off his faithful
minister, and exposed him to the violent persecutions of his enemies.
Among other frivolous crimes objected to him, he was accused of gaining
the king's affections by enchantment, and of purloining from the royal
treasury a gem which had the virtue to render the wearer invulnerable,
and of sending this valuable curiosity to the prince of Wales.[***] The
nobility, who hated Hubert on account of his zeal in resuming the rights
and possessions of the crown, no sooner saw the opportunity favorable,
than they inflamed the king's animosity against him, and pushed him to
seek the total ruin of his minister. Hubert took sanctuary in a church:
the king ordered him to be dragged from thence: he recalled those
orders: he afterwards renewed them: he was obliged by the clergy to
restore him to the sanctuary: he constrained him soon after to surrender
himself prisoner, and he confined him in the castle of the Devizes.
Hubert made his escape, was expelled the kingdom, was again received
into favor, recovered a great share of the king's confidence, but
never showed any inclination to reinstate himself in power and
authority.[****]

* Ypod. Neust. p. 464.

** Page 232. M. West (p. 216) ascribes this counsel to
Peter, bishop of Winchester.

*** M. Paris, p. 259.