A permanent union of the knighthood and the baronage on the other hand would have converted Parliament into the mere representative of an aristocratic caste, and would have robbed it of the strength which it has drawn from its connexion with the great body of the commercial classes.

The new attitude of the knighthood, their social connexion as landed gentry with the baronage, their political union with the burgesses, really welded the three orders into one, and gave that unity of feeling and action to our Parliament on which its power has ever since mainly depended.
[Sidenote: Scotch War] The weight of the two Houses was seen in their settlement of the new government by the nomination of a Council with Earl Henry of Lancaster at its head.

The Council had at once to meet fresh difficulties in the North.
The truce so recently made ceased legally with Edward's deposition; and the withdrawal of his royal title in further offers of peace warned Bruce of the new temper of the English rulers.

Troops gathered on either side, and the English Council sought to pave the way for an attack by dividing Scotland against itself.

Edward Balliol, a son of the former king John, was solemnly received as a vassal-king of Scotland at the English court.