134.  Summary.

Notwithstanding William’s oppression of both Church and people, his reign checked the revolt of the baronage and prevented the kingdom from falling into anarchy like that existing in France.

Henry I—­1100-1135

135.  Henry’s Charter of Liberties.

Henry, third son of William the Conqueror, was the first of the Norman kings who was born and educated in England.  Foreseeing a renewal of the contest with the barons (S130), he issued a Charter of Liberties on his accession, by which he bound himself to reform the abuses which had been practiced by his brother William Rufus.  The charter guaranteed:  (1) The rights of the Church (which William Rufus had constantly violated); (2) the rights of the nobles and landholders against extortionate demands by the Crown; (3) the right of all classes to protection of the old English customs or laws.

The King sent a hundred copies of this important document to the leading abbots and bishops for preservation in their respective monasteries and cathedrals (S45).

As this charter was the earliest written and formal guarantee of good government ever given by the Crown to the nation, it marks an important epoch in English history.  It may be compared to the statements of principles and pledges issued by our modern political parties.  It was a virtual admission that the time had come when even a Norman sovereign could not dispense with the support of the country.  It was therefore an admission of the truth that while a people can exist without a king, no king can exist without a people.

Furthermore, this charter established a precedent for those which were to follow, and which reached a final development in the Great Charter wrested from the unwilling hand of King John somewhat more than a century later (S198).  Henry further strengthened his position with his English subjects by his marriage with Maud, nice of the Saxon Edgar, a direct descendant of King Alfred (S51).

136.  The Appointment of Bishops settled.

King Henry also recalled Anselm (S132) and reinstated him in his office.  But the peace was of short duration.  The Archbishop insisted, as did the Pope, that the power of appointment of bishops should be vested wholly in Rome.  The King was equally determined that such appointments should spring from himself.  Like William the Conqueror (S118), he declared:  “No one shall remain in my land who will not do me homage” (S86).

The quarrel was eventually settled by compromise.  The Pope was to invest the bishop with ring and crosier, or pastoral staff of office, as emblems of the spiritual power; the King, on the other hand, was to grant the lands from which he bishop drew his revenues, and in return was to receive his homage or oath of allegiance.

This acknowledgement of royal authority by the Church was of great importance, since it gave the King power as feudal lord to demand from each bishop his quota of fully equipped knights or cavalry soldiers (SS150, 152).  This armed force would usually be commanded by the bishop in person (S140).