INTRODUCTION. 



11 



extremely severe^ and became the most com- 

 mon sources of dispute between the king and 

 his nobles ; for they were as fond of hunting as 

 he was. Charters were forced from several of 

 his successors, to prevent maiming and death 

 for such trespasses ; and Magna Charta^ at 

 lengthy settled the laws on a better plan than 

 before. Pray, my young friends, will you tell 

 me something about Magna ChartaV 



They readily replied, that it was obtained 

 at Runnimede, where King J ohn was forced to 

 sign it. 



I am always pleased when I find in the 

 young not only these principal points of know- 

 ledge, but also a facility in communicating 

 what they know. It is true, indeed, that no- 

 thing is more offensive than that self-suffi- 

 cient ostentation, by which some youngsters 

 push themselves into every question, to give 



