Page images
PDF
EPUB

CHAP.
VII.

1258

Pursuit of the kings brothers;

who are forced to leave the country.

lished in English as well as in French and Latin, a noteworthy fact in its reference to the newly-arisen consciousness of nationality.

The humiliation of the king and his party was only too complete. When the flight of the kings brothers became known at Oxford, the barons at once broke up the Parliament, and taking with them the king, now a helpless instrument in their hands, they marched on Winchester. The custody of Winchester Castle was handed over to the Earl of Leicester, who from his military fame and experience probably took to some extent the position of general-in-chief. Resistance on the part of the fugitives was hopeless, and, after some vain attempts at reconciliation and equally useless intervention on the part of the king, it was decided they should leave the country, taking with them money enough for their support. At first

[ocr errors]

embodying the Provisions existed, seems to have misunderstood the words. They merely refer to the fifth article or sentence of the oath taken by Henry, which runs thus, And if any man or woman come there against (sc. against the decrees) we will and command that all our faithful hold them as deadly foes.' There are five such articles or sentences in the oath as given in Fad. i. 378. The words of T. Wykes are 'Et ne posteris lateat forma jusjurandi quod subditi regem emittere compulerunt, quinque tantum articulos continebat. Jurabant quod provisiones Oxoniæ factas. . . observarent . . . Isti quatuor articuli si observati fuissent, liciti plurimum et tolerandi fuerunt. Quintus articulus omnino illicitus fuit, et detestandus præcipue, viz. quod si quis dictis provisionibus contraire præsumeret . . . hostis publicus censeretur . . . Articulus iste totum confudit negotium.' The words refer not to the Provisions but to the kings oath. Had a complete copy of the former ever been issued, it could hardly have failed to be either in Ann. Burt. or Matt. Par. The split in the baronial party was enough to prevent completion, but it is important in judging the character of the revolution to recognise the fact that its authors did not fancy they had completed their work. It is probable that some of the Provisions were made at Winchester, after the expulsion of the aliens, for Ibi (sc. Wintonia) secundum parliamentum celebraverunt.'-Ann. Tewk. 165. W. de Hemingburgh (i. 306) assures us that several statutes were passed there, of a spirit antagonistic to the aliens, but his account is somewhat confused and untrustworthy.

William, as Earl of Pembroke, and Aylmer, as Bishop-
Elect of Winchester, were to be allowed to stay in

[blocks in formation]

1258

banished:

England, but they preferred to go with their brothers. The kings Their property, including a large sum deposited in the brothers Temple, was seized; and the Warden of Dover succeeded later in stopping another treasure which was being sent over to them. On their arrival in France they do not seem to have gained any favour, either from king or people. The feeling against them was very strong, owing chiefly to the insults they had heaped on de Montfort, who was always regarded by the French as one of themselves. They landed at Boul- they land ogne, and were followed at once by Henry, Simons in France. son, who had crossed without his fathers knowledge, or `possibly with his secret connivance, and did his best to stir up the French against them. The feeling against them in England was increased by the report that before their expulsion they had poisoned the Earl of Gloucester and others at a feast at Southwark. It is certain that several of the guests died of poison, though it did not transpire whether those accused of it had been set on by the aliens. The Earl of Gloucester with difficulty recovered.

reform

From Winchester, where the barons continued Work of the session of their Parliament, they removed to continued. London, where the king again confirmed the power

of the twenty-four,3 and they, or at least the council, resumed their work of reform.

But in order

[ocr errors]

præ

''Mirabantur ultramarini quod virum tam nobilem et commendatum audebant viri multo minus nobiles. . . corde dicto seu facto improperando deturbare.'-Matt. Par. 973.

Matt. Par. ib., says that it was against his fathers will, others that

his father sent him.

3 Roy. Letters ii. 129; promise in French, dated 4 Aug., 1258.

CHAP.
VII.

1258 Foreign affairs:

Wales,

Castile,

Scotland,

Sicily,

France.

Four knights to hear

to carry out their intended measures it was necessary that they should be free from anxiety abroad. While still at Oxford the united attitude of the barons and the large army there assembled had alarmed the Welch ; they sent envoys, and a truce was made before the king left the town. A conciliatory letter was also sent to the King of Castile, making excuses for the failure to help him in Africa and for Richards candidature for the empire. Shortly after the return to London, an embassy, consisting of Simon de Montfort, Peter of Savoy, and John Mansel, was appointed to make peace between the discordant parties in Scotland, which would have resulted in a cessation of hostilities on the part of the Scotch barons, who had allied with the Welch against their own king and against the English. A letter was sent to the Pope concerning the Sicilian affair, to prepare him for the plainer speech which was to follow; and he was begged to use his influence to bring about a lasting peace with France, which he was the more likely to do, since it would be indispensable if anything were. to be done with regard to Sicily.2

Thus secured from immediate danger abroad, and freed from the plague of aliens at home, the barons grievances. could begin in earnest the work of reform. The summons to elect four knights to examine into grievances was sent round to the counties immediately on the kings return to London. It was however nearly three months before the kings oath to abide by the Provi

'It is hardly probable that this embassy went to Scotland. In Sept. 1258 three ambassadors, the Earls of Albemarle and Hereford, and John Baliol, met the King of Scotland at Melrose, and settled terms of peace-Chron. Mailros, 183.

2 Fad. i. 372 seq.

VII.

1258

Proclama

barons.

sions was published through the counties. At the same CHAP. time a proclamation was issued, explaining the reasons of the delay that had taken place in the completion of the work, and promising reform as speedily as poss- tion of the ible. All men were invited to make their complaints to the four knights, and were encouraged by the regulations which had been already made as to the conduct of sheriffs and other royal officers. Similar edicts were issued to prevent extortion on the part of these persons, and for some time, we are told, the good effects of these lasted. No little compulsion had however to be used.

of Edward.

Repudia

The reluctance of Prince Resistance Edward to agree to the provisions had been all this time very great. He was therefore put into a kind of honourable arrest, by the appointment of four socalled counsellors, or tutors, who were to attend him, three of them being among the twelve representatives. A reform of his household was also in contemplation, and regulations were to be made as to all foreigners in England, whether Romans, merchants, or others.2 Perhaps the most important step, and one which was absolutely necessary to conciliate the Church, was the final repudiation of the papal projects with regard to Sicily. A long letter was written to the Pope, in which the barons stated that since the king had acted without their advice, they repudiated all thoughts of further movement in the matter. To this they added a general defence of their proceedings. They set forth the evils which the kings brothers had inflicted on the country, declaring that the Bishop-Elect of Win

[blocks in formation]

tion of the

Sicilian

scheme.

CHAP.
VII.

1258

Letter to

chester was the worst of all, and that even if they (the barons) were willing, the people would not allow him to come back: they therefore prayed the Pope to the Pope; remove him, a proceeding which they declared quite justifiable, since he had not yet been consecrated. To all of this the Pope turned a deaf ear, and no answer was sent till two years later. He shortly afterwards excommunicated those who refused to pay his merchants, and threatened to put the kingdom under an interdict if the aid for Sicily were withheld; and, in contempt of the baronial request, he consecrated Aylmer, who would have returned to take possession of his bishopric had not his death, which occurred in 1260, prevented him.

his answer.

Difficulties

of reform.

So far then the barons acted up to their promises, in the way and all went well. The compulsory measures taken, violent as they were, were probably not more violent than necessary. The work the barons had in hand. was no light one. How far the present system of government was intended to be permanent it is very hard to say; but there are no signs that the barons thought of yielding the power they had usurped. They had in fact only just entered upon their greatest difficulty, that of adapting the old administrative system to a parliamentary form of government: and upon this rock more than on any other they were to suffer shipwreck. They set to work however with energy, holding council day by day in the Temple.' For a time the country was heartily with them: but it was rather the measures of administrative reform, the healing of great abuses such as those connected

Lib. de Ant. Leg. 39.

« PreviousContinue »