The year 1297 saw the contest decided. In February, the king had summoned the barons to meet at Salisbury. When they were assembled the two earls refused to perform their offices as marshal and constable; the clergy were in a state of outlawry, and the king did not venture to summon the representatives of the commons. The assembly broke up in wrath. Edward again laid hands on the wool, summoned the armed force, and put in execution the sentence against the clergy; the barons assembled in arms, the bishops threatened excommunication. In spite of this, the king, in July, collected the military strength of the nation at London and tried to bring matters to a decision. As the earls would not yield he determined to submit to the demands of the clergy, and to use his influence with the commons so as to get, even informally, a vote of more money. Winchelsey saw his opportunity. If the king would confirm the charters, the Great Charter and the charter of the forests, he would do his best to obtain money from the clergy; the Pope had already declared that his prohibition did not affect voluntary grants for national defence. The chief men of the commons, who although not summoned as to parliament were present in arms, agreed to vote a tax of a fifth; and the people were moved to tears by seeing the public reconciliation of the archbishop with the king, who commended his son Edward to his care whilst he himself went to war. [Sidenote: Confirmation of the charter establishing the right of the people to determine taxation. ]