ved the king to take a journey to France, both in order to do
homage for the duchy of Guienne, and to espouse the Princess Isabella,
to whom he had long been affianced, though unexpected accidents had
hitherto retarded the completion of the marriage.[**] Edward left
Gavaston guardian of the realm,[***] with more ample powers than had
usually been conferred;[****] and, on his return with his young queen,
renewed all the proofs of that fond attachment to the favorite of which
every one so loudly complained. This princess was of an imperious and
intriguing spirit; and finding that her husband's capacity required,
as his temper inclined, him to be governed, she thought herself best
entitled, on every account, to perform the office, and she contracted
a mortal hatred against the person who had disappointed her in these
expectations. She was well pleased, therefore, to see a combination of
the nobility forming against Gavaston, who, sensible of her hatred, had
wantonly provoked her by new insults and injuries.

* T. de la More, p. 593; Walsing. p. 97.

** T. de la More, p. 593. Trivet, Cont. p. 3.

*** Rymer vol. iii. p. 47. Ypod. Neust. p. 499.

**** Brady's App. No. 49.

{1308.} Thomas, earl of Lancaster, cousin-german to the king, and first
prince of the blood, was by far the most opulent and powerful subject in
England, and possessed in his own right, and soon after in that of his
wife, heiress of the family of Lincoln, no less than six earldoms, with
a proportionable estate in land, attended with all the jurisdictions and
power which commonly in that age were annexed to landed property. He was
turbulent and factious in his disposition; mortally hated the favorite,
whose influence over the king exceeded his own; and he soon became the
head of that party among the barons who desired the depression of this
insolent stranger. The confederated nobles bound themselves by oath to
expel Gavaston: both sides began already to put themselves in a warlike
posture: the licentiousness of the age broke out in robberies and other
disorders, the usual prelude of civil war, and the royal authority,
despised in the king's own hands, and hated in those of Gavaston, became
insufficient for the execution of the laws and the maintenance of peace
in the kingdom. A parliament being summoned at Westminster, Lancaster
and his party came thither with an armed retinue; and were there enabled
to impose their own terms on the s