II. 1263. March 10. June 4. CHAP. nobleman, and placed at his disposal the powerful influence of the family of Clare. Henry, at his return, aware of the designs of his enemies, ordered the citizens of London, the inhabitants of the cinque ports, and the principal barons, to swear fealty not only to himself, but in the event of his death, to his eldest son the prince Edward. To the second oath the earl of Glocester objected: he was immediately joined at Oxford by his associates; and in a few days the earl of April 25. Leicester appeared at their head. With the royal banner displayed before them, they took Glocester, Worcester, and Bridgenorth: ravaged without mercy the lands of the royalists, the foreigners, and the natives who refused to join their ranks; and augmenting their numbers as they advanced, directed their march towards London. In London the aldermen and principal citizens were devoted to the king: the mayor and the populace openly declared for the barons. Henry was in possession of the tower: and Edward after taking by force one thousand marks out of the Temple, hastened to throw himself into the castle of Windsor, the most magnificent palace, if we may believe a contemporary, then existing in Europe. The queen attempted to follow her son by water; but the populace insulted her with the most opprobrious epithets, discharged volleys of filth into the royal barge, and prepared to sink it with large stones, as it should pass beneath the bridge. The mayor at length July 14. took her under his protection, and placed her in CHAP. safety in the episcopal palace near St. Paul's.86 The king of the Romans now appeared again on the scene in quality of mediator. The negotiation lasted three weeks: but Henry was compelled to yield to the increasing power of his adversaries; and it was agreed that the royal castles should once more be intrusted to the custody of the barons, the foreigners be again banished, and the provisions of Oxford be confirmed, subject to such alterations as should be deemed proper by a committee appointed for that purpose. Henry returned to his palace at Westminster; new officers of state were selected; and the king's concessions were notified to the conservators of the peace in the several counties. II. There was one article in the treaty which proved favourable to the interests of Henry: that the assent of the parliament should be obtained. So many objections were raised, so many claims of indemnification were brought against the barons for the ravages committed by them in the late expedition, that two succes- Sep. 9. sive parliaments assembled, and yet no final arrangement could be made. But the time thus Oct. 14. obtained was usefully employed to attach several of the associates to the royal cause. Some were 86 Chron. Dunst. 356, 357. Rym. i. 768. 772. Wikes, 56, 57. Trivet, 212. Windesores, quo non erat ad id tempus splendidius infra fines Europæ. West. 383. II. CHAP. dissatisfied with the arrogance and ambition of Leicester, who proposed that the powers of the new commissioners should last during the lives of both Henry and Edward; and others were brought over by grants of lands, and by promises of rewards. The king found himself sufficiently strong to take the field. He was disappointed in an attempt to obtain possession of Dover : but nearly succeeded in surprising the earl of Leicester, who with a small body of forces had marched from Kenilworth to Southwark. Henry appeared on one side of the town, the prince, on the other: and the royalists had previously closed the gates of the city. So imminent was the danger, that the earl, who had determined not to yield, advised his companions to assume the cross, and to prepare themselves for death by the offices of religion. But the opportunity was lost by a strict adherence to the custom of the times. A herald was sent to require him to surrender: and in the mean while the populace, acquainted with the danger of their favourite, burst open the gates, and introduced him into the city,87 Award of the king of France. The power of the two parties was now more equally balanced: and their mutual apprehenDec. 14. sions inclined them to listen to the pacific exhortations of the bishops. It was agreed to refer 87 Chron. Dunst. 358-360. Rym. i. 773. 775. Wikes, 57. West. 383, 384. II. 1264. Jan. 23. every subject of dispute to the arbitration of the CHAP. king of France: an expedient which had been proposed the last year by Henry, but rejected by Leicester. Louis accepted the honourable office, and summoned the parties to appear before him at Amiens. The king attended in person: the earl, who was detained at home in consequence of a real or pretended fall from his horse, had sent his attorneys. Both parties solemnly swore to abide by the decision of the French monarch. Louis heard the allegations and arguments of each, consulted his court, and pronounced judgment in favour of Henry. He annulled the provisions of Oxford as destructive of the rights of the crown, and injurious to the interests of the nation ordered the royal castles to be restored gave to the king the authority to appoint all the officers of state and of his household, and to call to his council whomsoever he thought proper, whether native or foreigner; reinstated him in the same condition in which he was before the meeting of the "mad parliament;" and ordered that all offences committed by either party should be buried in oblivion. This award was soon afterwards confirmed by the pope; and the archbishop of Canterbury received an order to excommunicate all, who in violation of their oaths, should refuse to submit to it,88 : 88 Rymer, i. 776–778, 780–784. CHAP. II. It is re The barons had already taken their resolution. The moment the decision was announced to them, they declared that it was, on the face of it, jected by Leicester. contrary to truth and justice, and had been procured by the undue influence, which the queen of Louis, the sister-in-law to Henry, possessed over the mind of her husband.89 Hostilities immediately recommenced: and, as every man of property was compelled to adhere to one of the two parties, the flames of civil war were lighted up in almost every part of the kingdom. In the north, and in Cornwall and Devon, the decided superiority of the royalists forced the friends of the barons to dissemble their real sentiments: the midland counties and the marches of Wales were pretty equally divided: but in the cinque ports, the metropolis, and the neighbouring districts, Montfort governed without opposition. His partisan, Thomas Fitz-Thomas, had been inMarch 31. truded into the office of mayor of London; and a convention for their mutual security had been signed by that officer and the commonalty of the city on the one part, and the earls of Leicester, Glocester, and Derby, Hugh le Despenser the grand justiciary, and twelve barons on the other. In the different wardmotes every male inhabitant above twelve years of age was sworn a member of the association: a constable and marshal of the city were appointed: and orders were given Riots in London. $9 Annal. Wigorn. 495. Dunst. 363. |