The 261
coronation—other in other had come
to the throne when such a set of might
have been good for them—but was in the his-
tory just preceding, the working out of the promise into
the written charter; when the emergency at Henry's
sudden succession the developed there, ready to
be seized upon and used. And so Henry I.'s charter of
liberties was conceived and brought forth—a charter,
as it was sometimes called, until a greater took the name.1
In the multiplication of originals of charter and in
the provisions made for their safe-keeping there is evi-
dence of the high value set upon it a purpose that
knowledge of it should not be lost.2
This charter made very definite to correct
specifically mentioned feudal abuses of William. In the
reaction bound to follow his brother's reign, Henry thus
emphasised, either through necessity or policy, his con-
tractual relation to Ms tenants-in-chief. But throughout
Ms reign, he was strong enough to break his promises
freely, and there was no revolt except the inevitable
exploratory one at the beginning of his reign which
resulted so disastrously to his enemies. Yet the very
regularity of his tyranny, while rather extending the
powers of the crown, tended also to strengthen the con-
tract idea; he was not capricious; with respect to a portion
of his population, he was acting upon a recognised set of
principles.3
When Stephen came to the throne, he felt it necessary
to strengthen his doubtful claim by a brief confirming
charter. He merely confirmed '"the liberties and good
laws/* with no mention of their having been abused and
* A. and S., document 7; W. and N.f pp. 367-370.
2 See Poole, The Publication of Great Charters by English Kin^s, English
Historical Review, xxviii, 444-453. On the origin of Henryfs charter, see
H. L. Cannon, The Character and Antecedents of the Charter of Liberties of
Henry I., American Historical Review, xv., 37~46-
s Much, more was this the case if we accept the statement of Stubbs that
the coronation charter was "probably reissued from time to time as be
found it necessary to appeal to the sympathies of the people against their
common enemies.1*—Select Charters* p. 116.