ABSTRACT
The first causes of weakness may be described generally as personal. It has been suggested1 that the causes which precipitated the crisis under Edward II were in part personal. In the household system the king was no mere figurehead; he was the centre whence radiated all the functions of government. His was the brain that had to conceive a plan ; and his was the arm that was to execute it. The system was likely to run with perfect smoothness as long as the hand behind it was strong, and the mind which controlled it was powerful. Unfortunately an hereditary monarchy cannot provide a continuous succession of men of above the average ability ; and to rule the household system more than average ability was required. In all systems of government the personal factor is important ; in the household system the personal factor was supreme. The system was becoming increasingly organised, but there was still a good deal of an indefinite character about it. This rendered its efficiency all the more dependent upon the king. The extent to which the household system of government was dependent upon one person was a potential source of considerable weakness, a source of weakness which realised itself in the reign of Edward II.
