POLITICAL HISTORY 



the rights of the citizens in the county of Middlesex. 58 The king had 

 rcourse to his usual expedient, and took the City into his hand, and 

 the dispute lasted for fifteen years, at the end of which the Exchequer 

 Court decided in favour of the Londoners.' 9 



The later struggle between Henry and the barons came to a crisis 

 in the summer of 1263, when the king refused to confirm the Provisions 

 of Oxford, and Simon de Montfort raised the banner of revolt. The 

 king's brother Richard, earl of Cornwall and king of the Romans, took 

 upon himself the post of arbitrator. Henry had granted him the large 

 manor of Isleworth, 60 and during the negotiations held from 29 June to 

 1 5 July, Simon de Montfort lay at Isleworth, probably Richard's palace, 

 while his adherents pitched their tents in Isleworth or * Thistleworthe ' 

 Park." A temporary peace was concluded on 1 5 July, 62 by which the 

 barons gained their demands, Hugh le Despenser being confirmed in the 

 office of justiciar, and the Tower of London being given into his custody, 

 while Henry returned to Westminster. Simon de Montfort was prac- 

 tically ruler of the kingdom, and throughout July and August 63 he 

 remained at Isleworth conducting negotiations with the Welsh. The 

 following February the king of the Romans was at Windsor, organiz- 

 ing resistance to the barons with Prince Edward. 64 London declared 

 energetically for de Montfort, and was greatly incensed with Richard 

 for his espousal of the king's cause, for which he was denounced by the 

 patriotic song writers of the day. 65 On 31 March 1264 the Londoners, 

 led by Hugh Despenser, Thomas Piwelsdon, and Stephen Bukerelle, set out 

 for Isleworth, 86 and there laid waste the whole manor, set fire to the 

 manor-place and destroyed the ' water-mills and other commodities ' 

 belonging to the king of the Romans. 67 After this act of violence 

 Richard threw himself vigorously into the campaign on the king's side, 65 

 and was present shortly afterwards with Henry at the taking of North- 

 ampton. 69 The citizens were punished for the outrage when Henry had 

 regained the upper hand, and were forced to pay 1,000 marks for 

 Richard's losses at Isleworth. 70 Richard was indeed loaded with debt 

 before the war ended, for he supplied Henry with money and provisions 

 for the campaign against the ' Disinherited ' in the Isle of Ely. 71 



While this campaign was still in progress the earl of Gloucester, 

 who had retired to his estates to mark his dissatisfaction with the terms 

 of the Dictum of Kenilworth, 78 marched suddenly upon London, and 



69 Matt. Paris, Chron. Maj. (Rolls Ser.), Hi, 62, 80-1. 



69 Fitz Thedmar, Chron. of the Mayors and Sheriffs (Camd. Soc.), 16, 17, 61. 



* Lysons, Environs of London (1795), iii, 94. 



N T. Wykes, Chron. (Rolls Ser.), 135; Prothero, Simon de Montfort, 250 ; Stow, Annals, 193. 



64 Rymer, Foed. (Rec. Com.) i, 427. " T. Wykes, Chron. (Rolls Ser.), 135. 



61 Royal Letters, ii, 247-9. " Rishanger, De Bellis (Rolls Ser.), 140. 



* Chron. of the Mayors and Sheriff's of London, 65. 



67 T. Wyke, Chron. (Rolls Ser.), 140 ; Ann. Dtuist. (Rolls Ser.), 221 ; Holinshed, Chron. iii, 460. 



118 Holinshed, Chron. iii, 460. ' Some think that this was the cause of the war which followed, 

 because till this time the king of Almaine, through alliance with the earl of Gloucester, had been con- 

 tinually treating for peace ; but after this time he was a bitter enemy of the barons.' 



69 T. Wykes, Chron. (Rolls Ser.), 145 ; Prothero, Simon de Montfort, 268. 



70 Liber de Ant. Leg. 94-5. " Rymer, Foed. (Rec. Com.), i, 466. " 31 Oct. 1266. 



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