OXFORD, PROVISIONS OF, the articles constituting a preliminary scheme of reform enacted by a parliament which met at Oxford on June 11, 1258. King Henry III. had promised on May 2 that the state of his realm should be rectified and re formed by 24 counsellors who were to meet at Oxford for this purpose five weeks later. Twelve of these counsellors were chosen by the king, and 12 by the earls and barons. When the parliament met the 24 drew up a provisional scheme of reform, known as the Provisions of Oxford. By this it was arranged that a council of 15, chosen by four of the 24, should be appointed to advise the king in all matters. The new council was to meet three times a year in parliaments to which 12 commissioners were to be summoned to discuss the affairs of the realm on behalf of the whole community. Another body of 24 was appointed to treat of an aid. Desiring to limit the power of the king and his household officers, the barons determined to revive the justiciarship, in abeyance since 1234. But they did not want over-powerful great officials. It was therefore decided that one or two justiciars should be appointed for one year who should be paid, but should be accountable at the end of the year. The chancellor and treasurer similarly had to account ; the sheriffs, too, were appointed for one year only. Enquiries into abuses were begun and further reforms were to be reported on by Christmas.
The king declared his adhesion to the Provisions on Oct. 18.
Disputes broke out in the baronial party. Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, supported by Edward, the king's son, demanded the logical extension of the reforms in local government to include the baronial franchises. The earl of Gloucester opposed this. Forced by Edward, a second series of Provisions, known as the Provisions of Westminster, was issued in Oct. '259. The quarrels among the barons encouraged Henry to break free. On April 13, 1261, a papal bull absolved him from his oath to observe the Provisions. After three years on the verge of civil war, both parties agreed to refer the question to the arbitration of Louis IX. of France, who formally annulled them on Jan. 23, 1264, but expressly declared that his decision was not to invalidate the privileges, liberties and laudable customs of the realm of Eng land, which had existed before the time of the provisions.
See the Annales monastici, vol. i. (Burton) , Rolls series ; Foedera (Record Commission edition) ; W. Stubbs, Constitutional History (1873) , and Select Charters (1870, several later editions) ; Charles Bemont, Simon de Montfort (1884) ; T. F. Tout, Chapters in the Administrative History of Mediaeval England (1920) ; and E. F. Jacob, Studies in the Period of Baronial Reform and Rebellion (1925) .