John, at his death in 1216, was succeeded by his son, HENRY III, a
weak and worthless prince, who ascended the throne in his boyhood, and
reigned fifty six years, without having performed one worthy act of
sufficient consequence to be detailed. In his reign was held the first
assemblage approaching to the character of a Parliament. It was first
called in 1225, in order to give supplies for carrying on a war
against France. The money was only granted on condition that the Great
Charter should be confirmed; and thus the example was set at the very
first, for rendering supplies a check upon the prerogative of the
king, and gradually reducing that power to its present comparatively
moderate level. Under the earlier Norman kings, and even, it is
believed, under the Saxons, an assembly called the Great Council had
shared with the sovereign the power of framing laws; but it was only
now that the body had any power to balance that of the sovereign, and
it was not till 1265 that representatives from the inhabitants of
towns were introduced.