H́nh ảnh trang
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

who had now reached his sixteenth year; A. D. and gave the greatest hopes of being one 1149. day a valiant leader, and a consummate

politician. It was usual in those days for young noblemen to receive the honour of knighthood before they were permitted to carry arms; and Henry proposed to receive his admission from his great uncle, king David, of Scotland. With this view, and in hopes of once more inspiring his mother's party, he landed in England with a great retinue of knights and soldiers, accompanied by many noblemen, as well English as foreigners. The ceremony was performed by the Scotch king at Carlisle, amidst a multitude of people assembled on this occasion, who all pleased with the vigour, the address, and still more perhaps with the youth of the prince, secretly began to wish for a revolution in his favour. Soon after his return to Normandy, he was by his mother's consent, invested with that dutchy which had some time before revolted to her. He was also, upon the death of his father Geoffry Plantagenet, secured in the possession of his dominions; and to add still more to his increasing power, he married Eleanor the daughter and heiress of the duke of Guienne and Poitou; and took possession of these extensive territories.

With this great accession of power, young Henry. was now resolved to claim his hereditary kingdom; and to dispute once more Stephen's usurped pretensions. For this purpose, being previously assured of the disposition of the majority of the people in his favour, he made an invasion on Eng A. D land, where he was immediately joined

by almost all the barons of the kingdom. 1153. Though it was now the middle of winter, he advanced to besiege Malmsbury; and took the town, after having worsted a body of the enemy that attempted to oppose his march. Soon after Reading,

and about thirty other fortresses submitted without resistance.

In the mean time Stephen, alarmed at the power and popularity of his young rival, tried every method to anticipate the purpose of his invasion by depriving him of a succession he so earnestly sought after. He had convoked a council in London, where he proposed his own son Eustace, who was but a weak prince, as his associate in government, as well as his successor. He had even expressed a desire of immediately proceeding to the coronation, but was mortified to find, that the archbishop of Canterbury refused to perform the ceremony. It was then no time to prosecute his resentment, when his rival was landed, and making hasty strides to the throne; wherefore finding that Henry was advancing, with a rapid progress, he marched with all possible diligence to oppose him, where he was besieging Wallingford; and coming in sight, he rested his army to prepare for battle. In this situation the two armies remained for some time, within a quarter of a mile of each other, a decisive action being every day expected. While they continued thus in anxious expectation, a treaty was set on foot by the interposition of William, earl of Arundel, for terminating the dispute without blood. The death of Stephen's son, which happened during the course of the treaty, facilitated its conclusion. It was therefore agreed by all parties, that Stephen should reign during life; and that justice should be administered in his name. That Henry should, on Stephen's death, succeed to the kingdom; and William, Stephen's son, should inherit Boulogne and his patrimonial estate. After all the barons had sworn to this treaty, which filled the whole kingdom with joy, Henry evacuated England; and Stephen returned to the peaceable

enjoyment of his throne.

His reign, Oct. 25.

1154.

however, was soon after terminated by his death, which happened about a year after the treaty, at Canterbury, where he was in

terred.

The fortune of many princes gives them, with posterity, the reputation of wisdom and virtue: Stephen wanted success in all his schemes but that of ascending the throne; and consequently his virtues and abilities now remain doubtful. If we estimate them by the happiness of his subjects, they will appear in a very despicable light; for England was never more miserable than during his reign; but if we consider them as they appear in his private conduct, few monarchs can boast more. Active, generous, and brave, his sole aim was to destroy a vile aristocracy, that then oppressed the people; but the abilities of no man, however politic or intrepid, were then sufficient to resist an evil, that was too firmly supported by power. The faults therefore of this monarch's reign are entirely to be imputed to the ungovernable spirit of the people, but his virtues were his own.

[ocr errors]

CHAPTER VII.

HENRY II.

E have hitherto seen the barons and clergy becoming powerful, in proportion to the weakness of the monarch's title to the crown, and enriching themselves with the spoils of enfeebled majesty. Henry Plantagenet had now every right, both from hereditary succession, from universal assent, from power, and personal merit, to make sure of the throne, and to keep its prerogatives unimpaired. He was employed in besieging a

1

castle of one of his mutinous barons upon the continent, when news was brought him of Stephen's death; but sensible of the security of his claims in England, he would not relinquish his enterprize till he had reduced the place. He then set out on his journey, and was received in England with the acclamations of all the people; who harrassed with supporting opposite pretensions, were now rejoiced to see all parties united.

The first act of Henry's government gave the people an happy omen of his future wise, administration. Conscious of his strength, he began to correct those abuses, and to resume those privileges which had been extorted from the weakness or the credulity of his predecessors. He immediately dismissed all those mercenary soldiers, who committed infinite disorders in the nation. He ordered all the castles, which were erected since the death of Henry the first, and were become receptacles of rapine, to be demolished, except a few which he retained in his own hands for the protection of the kingdom. The adulterated coin was cried down, and new money struck of the right value and standard. He resumed many of those benefactions which had been made to churches and monasteries in the former reigns. He gave charters to several towns, by which the citizens claimed their freedom and privileges, independent of any superior but himself. These charters were the groundwork of English liberty. The struggles which had before this time been, whether the king or the barons, or the clergy, should be despotic over the people, now began to assume a new aspect; and a fourth order, namely, that of the more opulent of the people, began to claim a share in administrati

on,

Thus was the feudal government at first impaired; and liberty began to be more equally dif fused throughout the nation.

From this happy commencement, England once more began to respire; agriculture returned with security; and every individual seemed to enjoy the happy effects of the young king's wise administration. Not but that some slight commotions proceeded from many of the depressed barons, who were quickly brought to a sense of their duty; as also from the Weich, who made several incursions; but these were at last obliged to make submission, and to return to their natural fortresses. But to such astate of tranquillity was the whole kingdom brought in a very short time, that Henry thought his presence no longer necessary to preserve order at home, and therefore made an expedition to the continent, where his affairs were in some disorder.

As the transactions of the continent do not properly fall within the limits of this scanty page, it will be sufficient to say, that Henry's valour and prudence seconding his ambition, he soon extended his power in that part of his dominions; and found himself, either by marriage, or hereditary claims, master of a third part of the French monarchy. He became master, in right of his father, of Anjou, Touraine and Maine; in that of his mother, of Normandy; in that that of his wife, of Guienne, Poietou, Xantogne, Auvergne, Perigord, Angumois, and the Limousin; to which he shortly after added Britany, by marrying his son, who was yet a child, to the heiress of that dukedom, who was yet a child also; and thus securing that province, under pretence of being his son's guardian. It was in vain that Lewis, the king of France, opposed his growing power; and several ineffectual engagements served to prove that little was to be acquired by force. A cessation of arms, therefore, was at first concluded between them; and soon after a peace, which was brought about by the pope's médiation.

« TrướcTiếp tục »