The fact of this period which bears most importantly upon the subject which we have under consideration, is the substitution of the _escuage_ for the personal service of the vassals. It is under the reign of Henry II. that we find this impost collected for the first time, at least in the form of a general measure. The establishment and limitations of the _escuage_ became soon the principal object of contention between the king and his barons. The use which the kings came to make of the resources derived from this impost was fatal to them, for they employed it in order to keep up armies of foreign mercenaries, especially Brabanters; and by these measures, they gave a new motive to the English barons to coalesce. The expulsion of foreign soldiers became at length one of the continually recurring demands of the barons. Henry II. towards the close of his reign, imposed by his own authority a tax of one sixth on all moveable property. He abandoned the _danegeld_. {307} Reign Of Richard I. The reign of Richard, which was entirely occupied with his brilliant but unfortunate expeditions, offers nothing especially illustrative of the history of institutions. The absence of the king and the weakness of the royal power supplied the feudal aristocracy with opportunities for extending their importance; but they did not at that time take advantage of their superiority to procure a recognition of their rights;--not until the reign of John did the struggle become violent and the victory decisive. {308} Lecture VII. Charter of John, or the Great Charter (1215). Three epochs in John's reign. Formation of a coalition among the barons. Civil war. Conference at Runnymead. Concession of the Great Charter. Analysis of this Charter. Its stipulations refer to national rights as well as to those of the barons. John petitions and obtains from Innocent III. a bull to reverse the Great Charter. Resistance of the English clergy. Recommencement of the civil war (October, 1215). Louis of France, son of Philip Augustus, is appealed to by the barons. Death of John (October, 1216). Reign Of King John.