n successful,
they began to think of employing sharper and more effectual remedies.
Though there had scarcely been any national ground of complaint,
except some dissipation of the public treasure: though all the acts of
mal-administration objected to the king and his favorite, seemed of a
nature more proper to excite heart-burnings in a ball or assembly, than
commotions in a great kingdom: yet such was the situation of the times,
that the barons were determined, and were able, to make them the reasons
of a total alteration in the constitution and civil government. Having
come to parliament, in defiance of the laws and the king's prohibition,
with a numerous retinue of armed followers, they found themselves
entirely masters; and they presented a petition which was equivalent
to a command, requiring Edward to devolve on a chosen junto the whole
authority, both of the crown and of the parliament. The king was obliged
to sign a commission, empowering the prelates and barons to elect twelve
persons, who should, till the term of Michaelmas in the year following,
have authority to enact ordinances for the government of the kingdom,
and regulation of the king's household; consenting that these ordinances
should, thenceforth and forever have the force of laws; allowing the
ordainers to form associations among themselves and their friends, for
their strict and regular observance; and all this for the greater glory
of God, the security of the church, and the honor and advantage of the
king and kingdom.[**]

* Rymer, vol. iii. p., 167.

** Brady's App. No. 50. Heming. vol. i. p. 247., Walsing. p.
97.,Ryley, p. 526.

The barons, in return signed a declaration, in which they acknowledged
that they owed these concessions merely to the king's free grace;
promised that this commission should never be drawn into precedent;
and engaged that the power of the ordainers should expire at the time
appointed.[*]

{1311.} The chosen junto accordingly framed their ordinances, and
presented them to the king and parliament, for their confirmation in the
ensuing year. Some of these ordinances were laudable, and tended to the
regular execution of justice; such as those requiring sheriffs to be
men of property, abolishing the practice of issuing privy seals for
the suspension of justice, restraining the practice of purveyance,
prohibiting the adulteration and alteration of the coin, excluding
foreigners from the farms of the revenu