John had now set his army on foot, and fortune seemed to promise him new successes, when death surprised him on the 17th of October, 1216. This event was more fatal to Louis than a lost battle could have been. The hatred of the English to their king died with him--they hastened to rally round his young son--a general defection quickly ruined the already tottering cause of the French prince, and after he had continued this useless struggle for a short time, he abandoned a throne for the offer of which he was indebted merely to the accidental distress of the English barons, and which he would never have been able to secure by the mere force of his arms. {319} Lecture VIII. Charters of Henry III. First Charter of Henry III. (November, 1216). Louis of France renounces his title to the Crown, and leaves England. Second Charter of Henry III. (1217). Forest Charter granted by Henry III. (1217). Confirmation of Charters (1225). Revocation of Charters (1227). New confirmation of Charters (1237). Continual violation of Charters. Civil war. Renewal of Charters (1264). New confirmation of Charters (1267). Death of Henry III. (November 16, 1272). Charters Of Henry III. Hitherto we have only seen, in the charters, recognitions of rights more or less open and complete; they are transactions between two rival powers, one of whom gives promises while the other establishes rights; but there is no power to guarantee that these promises shall be faithfully kept and these rights duly regarded. The only curb placed on royalty is the prospect of a civil war that is always threatening to break out--a remedy which is incompatible with order and stability, two elements which are indispensable to a free government. Under the reign of Henry III., the feeling began to be entertained that civil war is an evil guarantee; and other means of preventing the violation of oaths were sought and dimly apprehended. The charters which were obtained in this reign have still as their chief aim the obtaining of new concessions and promises; but efforts towards the formation of guarantees are also apparent, and we may now trace the first attempts after a legal and efficient constitution. This reign must be regarded under the two aspects which have been indicated. Our object at present being only to follow the history of English Charters, we shall examine the facts of this period only under the first point of view: when we come to treat of the formation of the Parliament, we shall search there for the first attempts after an organized constitution. {320} First Charter Of Henry III.