Hello and welcome to the History of England episode 102, highs and lows.

Last week saw Edward buying his freedom by leaving his friends in the hands of his

creditors. He absolutely had to get back home, because in the January 1340 Parliament,

the commons had finally decided to bear its teeth. Over the last few years, Edward's

good political sense had deserted him. All the Parliament had seen of their leader when

nasty and increasingly high-handed letters demanding more money and, while he was at it,

sacking perfectly good men who'd worked hard to get him what he needed.

After on the continent, Edward had without doubt allowed himself to become cut off and

obsessed. Every day he faced the humiliation of constant money-warrows and demands from

his so-called allies. He was surrounded by a small group of courtyers, the likes of William

Montague, the Earl of Salisbury and Robert Hufford, the Earl of Suffolk.

He's a man who'd been in the tunnel beneath Nottingham Castle, men constantly with him,

and men now in danger of making many other magnets, on whom the monarchy relied for its

health, feel cut off from a relationship with their king.

So in January 1340, the commons of Parliament had finally put their foot down and said no.

They would not simply give Edward what he wanted, things had to change around here.

The significance of this Parliament is far wider than simply a spat between king and Parliament.

Here we have the commons of Parliament objecting. Despite their own misgivings, the magnets had

agreed to allow Edward to levy attacks on their own personal lands. But they'd agreed

they could not grant a general tax on everyone. That required the wider agreement of the commons.

Now look, I don't want to go overboard on a sort of all-gy of constitutional history.

But from this simple decision comes the root of the power of the commons of Parliament.

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