. A short history of England and the British Empire. eral contestedelections in the thirteenth century, and the pope was usuallyfound on the kings side, for the Roman see could not alwaysafford to insist on the freedom that it claimed for the church. 4. The machinery of government is left practically un-touched. The reforms of Henry II are recognized; but thereseems to be an effort to limit their operation Reforms of and to prevent further extension of the kings Henry II , 1 st ?. ni. * recogmzed. power. In a sense, therefore, the Great Charter is a reactionary document: it looks back to the t
. A short history of England and the British Empire. eral contestedelections in the thirteenth century, and the pope was usuallyfound on the kings side, for the Roman see could not alwaysafford to insist on the freedom that it claimed for the church. 4. The machinery of government is left practically un-touched. The reforms of Henry II are recognized; but thereseems to be an effort to limit their operation Reforms of and to prevent further extension of the kings Henry II , 1 st ?. ni. * recogmzed. power. In a sense, therefore, the Great Charter is a reactionary document: it looks back to the times beforethe king had begun to interfere with feudal rights. It is im-portant to note that the king promises to collect only the cus-tomary dues from the baronage, unless the barons themselvesshall consent to the new demands in a formal great this we have at least a recognition of the principle that theking ought not to change the laws without the consent of theclasses that were affected by the change. io6 THE CHURCH AND THE BARONAGE. THE GREAT CHARTER 107 The term freeman, which is used repeatedly in the GreatCharter, is used in a feudal sense, and was practically limitedto lords and knights. Liberties in those days meant privi-leges ; and it was the liberties of the aristocratic classes that theCharter was intended to secure. There were men 0f slightin England who were neither nobles, churchmen, interest tonor tradesmen, but were still ranked among thefreemen; but they formed neither a large nor an importantclass; the vast mass of the nation was composed of unfree
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