On his mother's side Henry was a descendent of Alfred the Great (S51);
for this reason he was hailed with enthusiasm by the native English.
He at once began a system of reforms worthy of his illustrious
ancestor. His first act was to issue a charter confirming the Charter
of Liberties or pledges of good government which his grandfather,
Henry I, had made (S135). His next was to begin leveling to the
ground the castles unlawfully built in Stephen's reign, which had
caused such widespread misery to the country[3] (S141). He continued
the work of demolition until it is said he destroyed no less than
eleven hundred of these strongholds of oppression.
[3] Under William the Conqueror and his immediate successors no one
was allowed to erect a castle without a royal license. During
Stephen's time the great barons constantly violated this salutory
regulation.
The King next turned his attention to the coinage. During the civil
war (S141) the barons had issued money debased in quality and
deficient in weight. Henry abolished this dishonest currency and
issued silver pieces of full weight and value.