The barons formed an association, bound by oath to drive Gaveston into exile and deprive him of his earldom.  All over the country there were secret meetings and eager preparations for war.  The outlook became still more alarming when the Earl of Lincoln at last changed his policy.  Convinced of the unworthiness of Gaveston, he turned against him, and the whole baronage followed his lead.  Only Hugh Despenser and a few lawyers adhered to the favourite.  Gloucester did not like to take an active part against his brother-in-law, but his stepfather, Monthermer, was conspicuous among the enemies of the Gascon.  Winchelsea, too, came to England and threw his powerful influence on the side of the opposition.

In April, 1308, a parliament of nobles met and insisted upon the exile of the favourite.  The magnates took up a high line.  “Homage and the oath of allegiance,” they declared, “are due to the crown rather than to the person of the king.  If the king behave unreasonably, his lieges are bound to bring him back to the ways of righteousness.”  On May 18 letters patent were issued promising that Gaveston should be banished before June 25.  Gaveston, bending before the storm, surrendered his earldom and prepared for departure, while Winchelsea and the bishops declared him excommunicate if he tarried in England beyond the appointed day.  The king did his best to lighten his friend’s misfortune.  Fresh grants of land and castles compensated for the loss of Cornwall and gave him means for armed resistance.  The grant of Gascon counties, jurisdictions, cities and castles to the value of 3,000 marks a year provided him with a dignified refuge.  The pope and cardinals were besought to relieve him from the sentence hung over his head by the archbishop.  It is significant of Edward’s early intention to violate his promise, that in his letters to the curia he still describes Gaveston as Earl of Cornwall.  Peter was soon appointed the king’s lieutenant in Ireland.  This time he was called Earl of Cornwall in a document meant for English use.  As midsummer approached, Edward accompanied him to Bristol and bade him a sorrowful farewell.  Attended by a numerous and splendid household, Gaveston crossed over to Ireland and took up the government of that country, where his energy and liberality won him considerable popularity.

Edward was inconsolable at the loss of his friend.  For the first time in his reign he threw himself into politics with interest, and intrigued with rare perseverance to bring about his recall.  Meanwhile the business of the state fell into deplorable confusion.  No supplies were raised; no laws were passed; no effort was made to stay the progress of Robert Bruce.  The magnates refused to help the king, and in April, 1309, Edward was forced to meet a parliament of the three estates at Westminster.  There he received a much-needed supply, but the barons and commons drew up a long schedule of grievances, in which they complained of the abuses of purveyance, the weakness of the government, the tyranny of the royal officials, and the delays in obtaining justice.  The estates refused point blank the king’s request for the recall of Gaveston and demanded an answer to their petitions in the next parliament.