The History of England, from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution of 1688 (Volume 2) (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1825. Excerpt: ... liberties; and government approached a little nearer to that end for which it was originally instituted, the distribution of justice, and the equal protection of the citizens. Acts of violence and iniquity in the crown, which before were only deemed injurious to individuals, and were hazardous chiefly in proportion to the number, power, and dignity, of the persons affected by them, were now-regarded, in some degree, as public injuries, and as infringements of a charter calculated for general security. And thus the establishment of the Great Charter, without seeming anywise to innovate in the distribution of political power, became a kind of epoch in the constitution. CHAP. XII. HENRY III. Settlement of the government--General pacification--Death of the protector--Some commotions--Hubert de Burgh displaced--The bishop of Winchester minister--King.s partiality to foreigners-- Grievances--Ecclesiastical grievances--Earl of Cornwall elected kingof the Romans--Discontent of the barons--Simon de Mountfort earl of Leicester--Provisions for Oxford--Usurpation of the, barons--Prince Edward--Civil wars of the barons--Reference to the king of France-- Renewal of the civil wars--Battle of Lewes--House of commons--Battle of Evesham and death of Leicester--Settlement of the government--Death--and character of the king--Miscellaneous transactions of this reign. Most sciences, in proportion as they increase and improve, invent methods by which they facilitate their reasonings; and employing general theorems, are enabled to comprehend, in a few propositions, a great number of inferences and conclusions. History also, being a collection of facts which are multiplying without end, is obliged to adopt such arts of abridgment, to retain the more material events, and to drop all the minute circumstances, ...