practices which gave rise to
it, and of aristocratical liberty, or rather licentiousness, in the
expressions employed by the parliament. But a mixture of this kind
is observable in all the ancient feudal governments, and both of them
proved equally hurtful to the people.

As the king, in answer to their remonstrance, gave the parliament only
good words and fair promises, attended with the most humble submissions,
which they had often found deceitful, he obtained at that time no
supply; and therefore, in the year 1253, when he found himself again
under the necessity of applying to parliament, he had provided a new
pretence, which he deemed infallible, and taking the vow of a crusade,
he demanded their assistance in that pious enterprise.[**] The
parliament, however, for some time hesitated to comply, and the
ecclesiastical order sent a deputation consisting of four prelates, the
primate and the bishops of Winchester Salisbury, and Carlisle, in order
to remonstrate with him on his frequent violations of their privileges,
the oppressions with which he had loaded them and all his subjects,[***]
and the uncanonical and forced elections which were made to vacant
dignities.

* M. Paris, p. 498. See further, p. 578. M. West. p. 348.

** M. Paris, p. 518, 558, 568. Chron. Dunst. vol. i. p. 293.

*** M. Paris, p. 568.

"It is true," replied the king, "I have been somewhat faulty in this
particular: I obtruded you, my lord of Canterbury, upon your see; I was
obliged to employ both entreaties and menaces, my lord of Winchester,
to have, you elected; my proceedings, I confess, were very irregular,
my lords of Salisbury and Carlisle, when I raised you from the lowest
stations to your present dignities; I am determined henceforth to
correct these abuses; and it will also become you, in order to make a
thorough reformation, to resign your present benefices; and try to enter
again in a more regular and canonical manner."[*] The bishops, surprised
at these unexpected sarcasms, replied, that the question was not at
present how to correct past errors, but to avoid them for the future.
The king promised redress both of ecclesiastical and civil grievances;
and the parliament in return agreed to grant him a supply, a tenth
of the ecclesiastical benefices, and a scutage of three marks on
each knight's fee: but as they had experienced his frequent breach of
promise, they required that he should ratify the Great Charter in