been of vast advantage. [Struggle with the barons over service in Gascony] The Scots had been put down during the year 1296 and Baliol removed forever from Scotch territory. The momentary peace on the borders made Edward feverish to avenge himself upon Philip of France, who was making free with Gascony. The trouble with the church had served to delay preparations which might speedily have reached completion upon the granting of money at the November Parliament, and Edward was in no temper to brook further interference. He had formulated a plan of campaign against the French which provided not only for an expedition into Gascony in reinforcement of the army already there, but for the landing of a powerful force in Flanders. The latter he intended to lead in person, but the conduct of the Gascon army he hoped to delegate to his barons. With the intention of securing their consent he called a meeting of the baronage at Salisbury for the 24th February. Neither the clergy nor the knights and burgesses were present. The barons held freshly in mind the recent opposition of the clergy and they were in no mood to forego any tightening of the royal bonds upon themselves. Edward urged them to go into Gascony, and straightway one by one they began to make excuses. To the king, burning to defend the English possessions abroad and already overwrought by the long struggle with the churchmen, the refusal savored of disloyalty, and in requital he threatened them with forfeiture of their lands. The two great earls Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England, and Humfrey Bohun of Hereford, the Constable, were quite as backward in meeting the king’s wishes and no more favorably received. “With you, O King,” said Earl Roger, “I will gladly go: as belongs to me by hereditary right, I will go in the front of the host before your face.” “But without me,” Edward assured, “you will go with the rest.” “Without you, O King,” Earl Roger declared, “I am neither bound to go, nor will I.” “By God, Earl,” swore the king, “You shall either go or hang!” “By the same oath, O King, I will neither go nor hang!”[166] [Seizure of wool]