Though Richard had frequently joined the barons in opposing his brother, he could never be induced to invade the just rights of the crown.  He was as much distinguished by his economy as Henry was by his profusion; and the care with which he husbanded his income gave him the reputation of being the most opulent prince of Europe.  Yet he allowed himself to be dazzled with the splendor of royalty, and incautiously sacrificed his fortune to his ambition.  In the beginning of the year 1256 the archbishops of Cologne and Mainz, with the Elector Palatine, chose him at Frankfort king of the Romans; and a few weeks later the Archbishop of Triers, the King of Bohemia, the Duke of Saxony, and the Marquis of Brandenburg, the other four electors, gave their suffrages in favor of Alphonso, King of Castile.  It was, however, in an evil hour for Henry that Richard departed for Germany.  The discontented barons, no longer awed by his presence, associated to reform the State, under the guidance of the Earl of Leicester, high steward, the Earl of Hereford, high constable, the Earl Marshal, and the Earl of Gloucester.  The circumstances of the times were favorable to their views.  An unproductive harvest had been followed by a general scarcity, and the people were willing to attribute their misery, not to the inclemency of the seasons, but to the incapacity of their governors.  Henry called a great council at Westminster, and on the third day the barons assembled in the hall in complete armor.  When the King entered, they put aside their swords; but Henry, alarmed at their unusual appearance, exclaimed, “Am I then your prisoner?” “No, sire,” replied Roger Bigod, “but by your partiality to foreigners, and your own prodigality, the realm is involved in misery.  Wherefore we demand that the powers of government be delegated to a committee of barons and prelates, who may correct abuses and enact salutary laws.”  Some altercation ensued, and high words passed between the Earl of Leicester and William de Valence, one of the King’s brothers.  Henry, however, found it necessary to submit; and it was finally agreed that he should solicit the Pope to send a legate to England and modify the terms on which he had accepted the kingdom of Sicily; that he should give a commission to reform the State to twenty-four prelates and barons, of whom one-half had been already selected from his council, the other half should be named by the barons themselves in a parliament to be held at Oxford; and that, if he faithfully observed these conditions, measures should be taken to pay his debts, and to prosecute the claim of Edmund to the crown of the two Sicilies.