under hand and ſeal between man and man, to make a ſpecial proviſion, that upon breach of covenants they ſhall ſue one another either at common-law, or in chancery; becauſe this implies that one of them ſhould prove a knave and diſhoneft; but when that comes to paſs I am ſure Weſtminſter-Hall cannot hold them.
In like manner the barons, after they had borne with K. John’s breach of covenant very much too long, ſwore, at laſt, at the high altar at St. Edmondſbury, “That if he refuſed them their liberties, they would make war upon him ſo long as to withdraw themſelves from their fidelity to him, till ſuch time as he confirmed their laws and liberties by his charter[1].” And afterwards, at the demand of them, they ſay, that which is a very good reaſon for their reſolve, “That he had promiſed them thoſe antient laws and liberties, and was already bound to the obſervation of them by his own proper oath.” So that the pope was quite out, when he ſays the barons ſet at nought, and broke their oath of fidelity to K. John, for they only helped him to keep his.
- ↑ Matt. Paris, p. 253.
