The passion for law, the instinct of good government, which were to make his reign so memorable in our history, had declared themselves from the first.

He had sided with the barons at the outset of their struggle with Henry; he had striven to keep his father true to the Provisions of Oxford.

It was only when the figure of Earl Simon seemed to tower above that of Henry himself, when the Crown seemed falling into bondage, that Edward passed to the royal side; and now that the danger which he dreaded was over he returned to his older attitude.

In the first flush of victory, while the doom of Simon was as yet unknown, Edward had stood alone in desiring his captivity against the cry of the Marcher Lords for his blood.

When all was done he wept over the corpse of his cousin and playfellow, Henry de Montfort, and followed the Earl's body to the tomb.