In a short time Leicester was alarmed by the approach of a dangerous visitor, Richard, King of the Romans.  That Prince had squandered away an immense mass of treasure in Germany, and was returning to replenish his coffers by raising money on his English estates.  At St. Omer, to his surprise, he received a prohibition to land before he had taken an oath to observe the provisions of reform, and not to bring the King’s brothers in his suite.  His pride deemed the message an insult; but his necessities required the prosecution of his journey, and he gave a reluctant promise to comply as soon as he should receive the King’s permission.  At Canterbury Henry signified his commands, and Richard took the oath.

Henry had been for two years the mere shadow of a king.  The acts of government, indeed, ran in his name; but the sovereign authority was exercised without control by the lords of the council; and obedience to the royal orders—­when the King ventured to issue any orders—­was severely punished as a crime against the safety of the State.  But if he were a silent, he was not an inattentive, observer of the passing events.  The discontent of the people did not escape his notice; and he saw with pleasure the intestine dissensions which daily undermined the power of the faction.  The earls of Leicester and Gloucester pursued opposite interests and formed two opposite parties.  Leicester, unwilling to behold the ascendency of his rival, retired into France; and Gloucester discovered an inclination to be reconciled to his sovereign.  But to balance this advantage Prince Edward, who had formerly displayed so much spirit in vindicating the rights of the crown, joined the Earl of Leicester, their most dangerous enemy; and this unexpected connection awakened in the King’s mind the suspicion of a design to depose him and place his son on the throne.  In these dispositions of enmity, jealousy, and distrust the barons assembled in London to meet Henry in parliament.  But each member was attended by a military guard; his lodgings were fortified to prevent a surprise; the apprehension of hostilities confined the citizens within their houses; and the concerns of trade with the usual intercourse of society were totally suspended.  After many attempts, the good offices of the King of the Romans effected a specious but treacherous pacification; and the different leaders left the parliament friends in open show, but with the same feelings of animosity rankling in their breasts, and with the same projects for their own aggrandizement and the depression of their opponents.

At length Henry persuaded himself that the time had arrived when he might resume his authority.  He unexpectedly entered the council, and in a tone of dignity reproached the members with their affected delays and their breach of trust.  They had been established to reform the State, improve the revenue, and discharge his debts; but they had neglected these objects, and had labored only to enrich themselves