But the barons still stood aloof.

They would serve at home, they said, but they refused to cross the sea.

Those of the north took a more decided attitude of opposition.

From this point indeed the northern barons begin to play their part in our constitutional history.

Lacies, Vescies, Percies, Stutevilles, Bruces, houses such as those of de Ros or de Vaux, all had sprung to greatness on the ruins of the Mowbrays and the great houses of the Conquest, and had done service to the Crown in its strife with the older feudatories.