262 The Period of Constitution Making
with no specific points of correction. * A few months later,
he found it necessary to gain the support of the church
by a charter which made very sweeping concessions.2
The church included a class necessarily in close, but often
Hi-defined, relations with the king. Stephen limited his
power by allowing the church a greater independence
than it had ever had; two rather vague clauses were
probably intended to concede the investiture rights
reserved by Henry I. in his compromise with Anselm and
the trial of criminous clerks. Stephen was a great prom-
Iser but a bad fulfiller of promises. He purchased the
support of individuals and of all sorts of groups with
promises. The contract idea was common as in no reign
before, but it was abused and made commonplace. The
barons steadily gained power from the crown, his reign
was one long feudal revolt, and they built castles, coined
money, and waged private war—things anathema in the
reigns before* For the first time—and the last—there
was thorough-going feudal license in England.
Henry II., at his coronation, ignoring what had hap-
pened in the intervening reign, confirmed the laws and
liberties of his grandfather in a general but emphatic
charter, and mentioned Henry L's having granted these
in charter form.3 The rapid progress of centralisation
tinder this king, especially in the foundation of the king's
x A. and S., document 10. 2 Ibid., document n.
a The text of this charter reads: "Henry by the grace of God King of the
English, duke of Normandy and of Aquitaine, and count of Anjou, to all
earls, barons, and his faithful French and English greeting. Know that I to
the honour of God and of holy church and for the general betterment of my
whole kingdom have granted and restored and by my present charter con-
firmed to God and holy church and to all earls and barons and to all my
men all the concessions, grants, liberties, and free customs which King
Henry my grandfather gave and conceded. Likewise also all the evil cus-
toms which he removed and gave up, I give up^ and grant shall be removed
for myself and my heirs. Wherefore I will, and firmly command that
holy church and al! ^rls and barons and all my men have and hold all
those customs, grants, liberties, and free customs, freely and quietly, well,
in peace, and fully, from me and my heirs for them and their heirs, as
freely, quietly, and fully in all respects as King Henry my grandfather gave
and conceded and by his charter confirmed to them. Witness Richard de
Luci at Westminster." See Latin original in Stubbs, Select Charterst p.
158.