"To God and him alone was it owing" Richard owned afterwards, "that I was snatched from death." The captives were not only saved, but set free.

A Parliament had been called at Winchester at the opening of September, and its mere assembly promised an end to the reign of utter lawlessness.

A powerful party, too, was known to exist in the royal camp which, hostile as it had shown itself to Earl Simon, shared his love for English liberties, and the liberation of Richard was sure to aid its efforts.

At the head of this party stood the young Earl of Gloucester, Gilbert of Clare, to whose action above all the Earl's overthrow was due.

And with Gilbert stood Edward himself.