he English constitution from that than from any earlier era.

[Sidenote: Confirmation of the Charters.]

The various statutes affecting the law of property and administration of
justice which have caused Edward I. to be named, rather hyperbolically,
the English Justinian, bear no immediate relation to our present
inquiries. In a constitutional point of view the principal object is
that statute entitled the Confirmation of the Charters, which was very
reluctantly conceded by the king in the 25th year of his reign. I do not
know that England has ever produced any patriots to whose memory she
owes more gratitude than Humphrey Bohun, earl of Hereford and Essex, and
Roger Bigod, earl of Norfolk. In the Great Charter the base spirit and
deserted condition of John take off something from the glory of the
triumph, though they enhance the moderation of those who pressed no
further upon an abject tyrant. But to withstand the measures of Edward,
a prince unequalled by any who had reigned in England since the
Conqueror, for prudence, valour, and success, required a far more
intrepid patriotism. Their provocations, if less outrageous than those
received from John, were such as evidently manifested a disposition in
Edward to reign without any control; a constant refusal to confirm the
charters, which in that age were hardly deemed to bind the king without
his actual consent; heavy impositions, especially one on the export of
wool, and other unwarrantable demands. He had acted with such unmeasured
violence towards the clergy, on account of their refusal of further
subsidies, that, although the ill-judged policy of that class kept their
interests too distinct from those of the people, it was natural for all
to be alarmed at the precedent of despotism.[1] These encroachments
made resistance justifiable, and the circumstances of Edward made it
prudent. His ambition, luckily for the people, had involved him in
foreign warfare, from which he could not recede without disappointment
and dishonour. Thus was wrested from him that famous statute,
inadequately denominated the Confirmation of the Charters, because it
added another pillar to our constitution, not less important than the
Great Charter itself.[2]

It was enacted by the 25 Edw. I. that the charter of liberties, and that
of the forest, besides being explicitly confirmed,[3] should be sent to
all sheriffs, justices in eyre, and other magistrates throughout the
realm, in order to thei