In 1254 it was offered to the king's second son, Edmund.

With imbecile pride Henry accepted the offer, prepared to send an army across the Alps, and pledged England to repay the sums which the Pope was borrowing for the purposes of his war.

In a Parliament at the opening of 1257 he demanded an aid and a tenth from the clergy.

A fresh demand was made in 1258.

But the patience of the realm was at last exhausted.