Hello everyone and welcome back to the mystery of England, episode 72, The Empire Strikes

Back.

So last week we put one foot back on the revolutionary road on the political events.

This week, let's get on with it.

Things had started reasonably well then in 1258 with the reforming movement.

Of the Baroneal Council's three priorities after the Oxford Parliament, the Pope had shown

the parents of the palm of his hand, but the heirs, and the reorganisation of the sheriff

had gone ahead.

The last priority then was to get the peace with France sorted.

So in late 1258, the Council sent a delegation to France to meet with Louis.

Just to recap on where negotiation was, the essential outlines were pretty clear.

Basically, Henry had to wave goodbye to the lands of his father, in Normandy, Men, Toren,

Anjou and Poitou.

In return, he would receive confirmation of Gascini from Louis with some extensions

around Tantange, in the north of Gascini, and the Agine, to the east.

There is a map, by the way, on the website.

All a bit painful for red-blooded Englishmen, but look, Henry had tried, failed miserably

to get anywhere, so probably best to cut and run, and accept the realities of life,

and also quite sure how red-blooded Henry III was anyway.

There was one obstacle though, and the obstacle's name was Eleanor de Montford, formerly Eleanor

sister of Henry.

The last thing Louis wanted was to make a treaty with Henry, and then find some other member

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