greed to postpone the discussion
of their differences till the return of Prince Edward, who was in
France displaying his prowess at a tournament. He returned in haste,
and, to the astonishment of all who were not in the secret, embraced
the interests of the barons.

Henry, however, persevered in his resolution. By repeated desertions
the party of his enemies had been reduced to the two earls of
Leicester and Gloucester, the grand justiciary, the Bishop of
Worcester, and Hugh de Montfort, whose principal dependence was on the
oath which the King and the nation had taken to observe the Provisions
of Oxford. To this argument it was replied that the same authority
which enacted the law was competent to repeal it; and that an oath
which should deprive the parliament of such right was in its own
nature unjust and consequently invalid. For greater security, however,
the King applied to Pope Alexander, who by several bulls released both
him and the nation from their oaths, on the principle that the
Provisions of Oxford were injurious to the State, and therefore
incompatible with their previous obligations. These bulls Henry
published, appointed a new justiciary and chancellor, removed the
officers of his household, revoked to himself the custody of the royal
castles, named new sheriffs in the counties, and by proclamation
announced that he had resumed the exercise of the royal authority.
This was followed by another proclamation to refute the false reports
circulated by the barons.

The King, now finding himself at liberty, was induced to visit Louis
of France; and Leicester embraced the opportunity to return to England
and reorganize the association which had so lately been dissolved. His
hopes of success were founded on the pride and imprudence of Prince
Edward, who, untaught by experience, had called around him a guard of
foreigners, and intrusted to their leaders the custody of his castles.
Such conduct not only awakened the jealousy of the barons, but
alienated the affections of the royalists. 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, and
afterward all freemen throughout the kingdom, 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 Gloucester objected. He
was immediately joined at Oxford by his associates; and in a few days