Family Lessons 144: Repeated Rebellion

My 25x great-grandfather, Gilbert de Walton, rebelled against the King, Henry II, in 1174, for which he was duly outlawed. Mustering the enormous sum of £400, he obtained a pardon and evaded further prosecution. Bizarrely, he rebelled again in 1192 against that king’s successor, Richard I, popularly known as Richard the Lionheart for his crusading prowess.

Upon returning from the Third Crusade, Richard had been captured by Leopold of Austria and held for ransom. His disreputable younger brother and heir, Prince John, attempted to seize the throne. He sought to ditch his wife and marry the French King’s sister to cement foreign support, while fighting those knights and barons in England still loyal to the captive monarch. Those familiar with the Robin Hood tales, including the various films and cartoons, will know the period, as well as our local links to John’s henchmen. Richard the Lionheart returned in 1194, and Prince John submitted to his brother’s rightful reign. John lost his English lands but was otherwise unpunished on the grounds that he was "a child who has had evil counsellors”, despite being aged 27. Whether Gilbert de Walton was an evil counsellor or a faithful, though foolish, follower, I cannot tell. For his part, he was fined forty shillings – a large sum, but nowhere near the four hundred pounds his earlier rebellion had cost him.

Whether Gilbert was a naturally rebellious, peevish and discontented man, or whether he owed some personal loyalty to John, above, for which his actions might be more understandable, one cannot say. Certainly, John had treated the family well and they may have felt a greater allegiance to him than the older brother who wore the crown.

We humans are natural rebels. Although born into this state, we regularly affirm and endorse our enmity towards God by denying Him and gleefully breaking His laws. Graciously, the Lord Jesus came and died the rebel’s death that the rebels themselves might be forgiven, reformed and welcomed back into the fold, costing them neither four hundred quid nor forty bob. Gilbert, it would seem, did not learn from his errors of judgement; those who reject Jesus Christ and continue their mutiny against heaven's Prince shall discover for themselves the judicial righteousness of a holy Sovereign. Thank God for Jesus!

Such dire offences to forgive,
such guilty rebel souls to spare;
this is thy grand prerogative,
and none shall in the honour share:

Who is a pardoning God like thee,
or who has grace so rich and free?

-Samuel Davies