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great intereſt in their mother in law; and through her, a reaſonable check upon their father’s temper. For beſides that he could do nothing material reſpecting his children without her approbation, ſhe was ſole miſtreſs of the purſe ſtrings; and gave him out, from time to time, ſuch ſums of money as ſhe thought neceſſary for the expences of his family.
Being one day in a very extraordinary good humour, he gave his children a writing under his hand and ſeal, by which he releaſed them from many badges of dependance, and confirmed to them ſeveral very important privileges. The chief were the two following, viz. That none of his children ſhould be puniſhed for any offence, or ſuppoſed offence, until his brethren[1] had firſt declared him worthy of ſuch puniſhment; and ſecondly, he gave freſh aſſurances that he would impoſe no hardſhips upon them without the conſent of their mother in law.
This writing, on account of its ſingular importance, was called the great paper.[2] After it was executed with the utmoſt ſolemnity, he cauſed his Chaplain to publiſh a dire Anathema againſt all who ſhould attempt to violate the articles of the Great Paper, in the words following.
“In
- ↑ a Jury
- ↑ Magna Charta
