at a Folkmote, which was being held at Paul's Cross,
and, before taking leave, he announced that in future the citizens should
be allowed to plead their own cases (without employing legal aid) in all
the courts of the city, excepting in pleas of the crown, pleas of land,
and of wrongful distress. On the same day John Mansel who had been one of
the king's justiciars in 1257, when the city was "taken into the king's
hand," and Fitz-Thedmar had been indicted and deprived of his aldermanry
for upholding the privileges of the citizens(234)--publicly acknowledged on
the king's behalf the injustice of Fitz-Thedmar's indictment, and
announced that Henry not only recalled him to favour, but commanded that
he should be restored to his former position.(235)

(M148)

During the king's absence abroad, the barons' cause was materially
strengthened by the support afforded Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester,
by the king's son. Upon hearing of the defection of his son, Henry hurried
back to England. A consultation took place in the city as to the attitude
which the citizens ought to take up, with the result that when Henry
appeared (April, 1260), both he and the Earl of Gloucester were admitted
into the city, whilst the Earl of Leicester and "Sir Edward," as the
chronicler styles the king's son, had to find accommodation in the
suburbs.(236)

Henry was now master of the situation. The city was his, and he determined
that it should remain so. Strict watch was kept over the gates, which for
the most part, were kept shut night and day in order to prevent surprise.
Every inhabitant of the age of twelve years and upwards was called upon to
take an oath of allegiance before the alderman of his ward, and those of
maturer age were bound to provide themselves with arms. The king, who now
ruled again in his own way, stirred the anger of the barons, by presuming
to appoint Philip Basset, his chief justiciar, without first asking their
assent; and the barons retaliated by removing the king's sheriffs, and
appointing "wardens of the counties" in their stead.(237) In June 1261,
Henry produced a Bull of Alexander IV, annulling the Provisions of Oxford,
and freeing him from his oath.(238)

(M149)

For eighteen months the king reigned supreme. The barons could do nothing,
and the Earl of Leicester, finding their cause hopeless, withdrew in
August (1261) to France, and remained there until the spring of 1263, when
he returned as the unquestioned h