dared, on any pretence, to depart from the original spirit and meaning
of the grant. We may now, from the tenor of this charter, conjecture
what those laws were of King Edward, which the English nation, during
so many generations, still desired, with such an obstinate
perseverance, to have recalled and established. They were chiefly
these latter articles of Magna Charta; and the barons who, at the
beginning of these commotions, demanded the revival of the Saxon laws,
undoubtedly thought that they had sufficiently satisfied the people by
procuring them this concession, which comprehended the principal
objects to which they had so long aspired.

But what we are most to admire is the prudence and moderation of those
haughty nobles themselves who were enraged by injuries, inflamed by
opposition, and elated by a total victory over their sovereign. They
were content, even in this plenitude of power, to depart from some
articles of Henry I's charter, which they made the foundation of their
demands, particularly from the abolition of wardships, a matter of the
greatest importance; and they seem to have been sufficiently careful
not to diminish too far the power and revenue of the crown. If they
appear, therefore, to have carried other demands to too great a
height, it can be ascribed only to the faithless and tyrannical
character of the King himself, of which they had long had experience,
and which they foresaw would, if they provided no further security,
lead him soon to infringe their new liberties, and revoke his own
concessions. This alone gave birth to those other articles, seemingly
exorbitant, which were added as a rampart for the safeguard of the
Great Charter.

The barons obliged the King to agree that London should remain in
their hands, and the Tower be consigned to the custody of the Primate