[HENRY III.]
1216–1272.

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Born 1207 = Eleanor of Provence. | +-------------------+---+-------------------+ | | | Edward I. Edmund, Earl of Lancaster. Margaret = Alexander III. CONTEMPORARY PRINCES. _Scotland._ | _France._ | _Germany._ | _Spain._ | | | Alexander II., | Philip Augustus, | Philip, 1197. | Henry I., 1214. 1214. | 1180. | Otho IV., 1208. | Ferdinand III., Alexander III., | Louis VIII., 1223. | Frederick II., | 1217. 1249. | Louis IX., 1226. | 1218. | Alphonso X., | Philip III., 1270. | Interregnum, | 1252. | | 1250. | POPES.--Honorius III., 1216. Gregory IX., 1227. Celestine IV., 1241 (vacancy 1241). Innocent IV., 1243. Alexander IV., 1254. Urban IV., 1261. Clement IV., 1265 (vacancy 1268). Gregory X., 1271. _Archbishops._ | _Chief-Justices._ | _Chancellors._ | | Stephen Langton, | Hubert de Burgh, | Richard de Marisco, 1207–1228. | 1215–1232. | 1214–1226. Richard le Grand, | Stephen Segrave, | Ralph Neville, 1229–1231. | 1232–1234. | 1226–1244. Edmund Rich, | Hugh Bigot, | Walter de Merton, 1261. 1234–1240. | 1258–1260. | Nicholas de Ely, 1263. Boniface of Savoy, | Hugh le Despencer, | Thomas Cantilupe, 1265. 1245–1270. | 1260. | Walter Giffard, 1265. | Philip Basset, 1261. | Godfrey Giffard, 1267. | Richard Middleton, | 1269–1272.

Difficulties at Henry’s accession.
Pembroke’s conciliatory measures.
Fair of Lincoln.
Louis leaves England.

Immediately upon the death of John, William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, and Gualo, the Papal Legate, the leaders of John’s faithful followers, declared Prince Henry king. It was a moment of extreme danger. The Scotch had advanced as far as Carlisle, the Welsh were harassing the Marches, the East and South of England were in the hands of Louis and the revolted barons, the court could with difficulty uphold its influence in the West. But Marshall was a man of tried experience, of trustworthy character, and, though a firm adherent of the crown, no friend to tyranny. The presence of the French prince in England shocked all national prejudices. Pembroke set on foot a policy of conciliation, and attempted to unite all parties against the foreigner. He at once separated the cause of the young Henry from that of his father by accepting the Charter. He wrote friendly letters to the leaders of the revolted barons, and found assistance in the ecclesiastical weapons wielded by Gualo. One by one the insurgents, feeling themselves sure of constitutional treatment at the hands of Pembroke, joined the royal party. Pembroke found himself strong enough to risk a battle. Louis had received reinforcements, and with the insurgent nobles who still upheld his cause marched to Lincoln, where, though the town was in his possession, the castle still held out for the English king. Thither Pembroke betook himself, determined to bring on a decisive engagement. Gaining access to the town through the castle, his troops fell upon the French in the streets, and completely routed them, capturing nearly all the English leaders. London and its neighbourhood alone remained to Louis, and when a great French fleet, under Eustace the Monk, which was bringing him assistance, was completely defeated by Hubert de Burgh and D’Albiney, Louis felt that his cause was lost, and consented to treat. The English, who only wanted to get rid of him, granted easy terms, including the freedom of most of their prisoners. They even advanced 10,000 marks towards defraying the heavy fine which Gualo on the part of the Church demanded as an expiation for disobedience to the Roman See, and Louis was escorted with all honour to the sea coast, and retired.

With Louis the great obstacle to the settlement of the country was gone. Pembroke continued to act in a conciliatory spirit. A pardon was issued, including all political offenders; peace with Scotland was secured; and the Charter, together with the charter of the forests, was again signed. It underwent, however, some changes. The King was no longer acting under coercion; restrictions which Pembroke considered inexpedient were therefore removed. His object appears to have been to reproduce as far as possible the state of things existing in the reign of Henry II. The destruction of castles erected during the late reign was therefore ordered, and the clause of the Charter forbidding the levy of scutage without the consent of the barons omitted. The reconciliation thus effected was in fact the triumph of the crown; the offices were filled with adherents of John. But in the hands of Pembroke the regained power of the crown would have been constitutionally employed.

Papal attempt to govern by legates.

Pandulf’s government.