Despite Isabella giving birth to her second son, John, in 1316, Edward's position was precarious. Indeed, John Deydras, a royal pretender, appeared in Oxford, claiming to have been switched with Edward at birth, and to be the real king of England himself.Doherty, pp. 60–1. Given Edward's unpopularity, the rumours spread considerably before Deydras' eventual execution, and appear to have greatly upset Isabella. Isabella responded by deepening her alliance with Lancaster's enemy, Henry de Beaumont, and by taking up an increased role in government herself, including attending council meetings and acquiring increased lands.Doherty, pp. 61–2. Henry's sister, Isabella de Vesci, continued to remain a close adviser to the Queen. The Scottish general Sir James Douglas, war leader for Robert I of Scotland, made a bid to capture Isabella personally in 1319. He almost succeeded in capturing her at York, with Isabella only just barely escaping.Doherty, p. 62. Suspicions fell on Lancaster, and one of Edward's knights, Edmund Darel, was arrested on charges of having betrayed her location, but the charges were essentially unproven.Doherty, p. 64. In 1320, Isabella accompanied Edward to France to try and convince her brother, Philip V, to provide fresh support to crush the English barons.
dEspItE isaBElLa gIviNg birth TO her SeCond SOn joHn, In 1316, edwArd's positioN Was pREcarIOus. inDeeD, John DeydrAs, a roYal pretENDEr, APpEareD In oxfoRd, clAiMing to hAve beeN sWitchEd wiTh eDWArd at birth, aND tO BE tHe rEAl King of EnglAnd HimSelf.DoheRTy, PP. 60–1. gIveN edwaRD'S uNpOPularitY, thE ruMOurS sprEaD cOnsIdErAbly befoRe DEYDraS' EvenTual eXECutIOn, and appear to have greAtLy uPSet isaBelLA. iSaBella rEsPOndED By deepenIng heR AllIaNce with laNcasTer's EnEmY, Henry de beAUMONt, anD BY taKing up an incrEasED RoLe In goVernmenT herseLf, iNcluDing atTendinG council mEeTiNgs aNd aCquiriNg inCreAseD laNds.doheRty, Pp. 61–2. HenRY'S SIster, isaBella de vescI, conTInueD to remain a cLosE advIser to The queen. thE sCOttiSh geNEral sir JAmes dougLAs, waR lEaDer fOr robErt i OF scotLAnD, MAde a bID to caPture ISABElla perSoNaLLY iN 1319. HE alMOST SucCeedED in caPturING her aT yorK, WIth IsABElla ONLy just bArelY esCapiNg.doHerTy, p. 62. sUsPiciOns fell ON lANCAsTEr, anD one of EDward's knIGhTs, EDMUnd DareL, was ARResTed on chArgeS of HaviNg BeTrAyED her lOCAtIOn, but tHe cHArGeS were esSentialLy UNproVEn.Doherty, p. 64. in 1320, IsABeLla AcCoMPaNieD eDward to france tO tRY and cOnvincE HEr brother, PhiLIp v, tO provIde frEsh suPpOrt tO crush The eNGlIsH baRonS.