This was suppressed, and the Earl of Kent, the king's uncle, was arrested and executed by Isabella.

This act of severity against his uncle, no doubt, hastened the prince's determination to shake off the authority of his haughty mother and to assume the reins of government himself.

The matter, however, was not easy to accomplish.

Mortimer having the whole of the royal revenue at his disposal, had attached to himself by ties of interest a large number of barons, and had in his pay nearly two hundred knights and a large body of men-at-arms.

Thus it was no easy matter to arrest him.