ly undermined the
power of the faction. The earls of Leicester and Gloucester pursued
opposite interests and formed two opposite parties. Leicester,
unwilling to behold the ascendency of his rival, retired into France;
and Gloucester discovered an inclination to be reconciled to his
sovereign. But to balance this advantage Prince Edward, who had
formerly displayed so much spirit in vindicating the rights of the
crown, joined the Earl of Leicester, their most dangerous enemy; and
this unexpected connection awakened in the King's mind the suspicion
of a design to depose him and place his son on the throne. In these
dispositions of enmity, jealousy, and distrust the barons assembled in
London to meet Henry in parliament. But each member was attended by a
military guard; his lodgings were fortified to prevent a surprise; the
apprehension of hostilities confined the citizens within their houses;
and the concerns of trade with the usual intercourse of society were
totally suspended. After many attempts, the good offices of the King
of the Romans effected a specious but treacherous pacification; and
the different leaders left the parliament friends in open show, but
with the same feelings of animosity rankling in their breasts, and
with the same projects for their own aggrandizement and the depression
of their opponents.

At length Henry persuaded himself that the time had arrived when he
might resume his authority. He unexpectedly entered the council, and
in a tone of dignity reproached the members with their affected delays
and their breach of trust. They had been established to reform the
State, improve the revenue, and discharge his debts; but they had
neglected these objects, and had labored only to enrich themselves and
to perpetuate their own power. He should, therefore, no longer
consider them as his council, but employ such other remedies as he
thought proper. He immediately repaired to the Tower, which had lately
been fortified; seized on the treasure in the mint; ordered the gates
of London to be closed; compelled all the citizens above twelve years
of age to swear fealty in their respective wardmotes; and by
proclamation commanded the knights of the several counties to attend
the next parliament in arms. The barons immediately assembled their
retainers, and marched to the neighborhood of the capital; but each
party, diffident of its strength, betrayed an unwillingness to begin
hostilities; and it was unanimously a