and set that town in surety as he then might, he returned with small honour into England, and came secretly to Westminster upon the day of Saint Magne, or the nineteen day of August.

"Then [1317-18] was nothing done without the advices and counsels of Sir Hugh the Spensers, the father and the son. By whose enticement many things were done in England, to the great grudge, as well of the noblemen of the realm as of the commons of the same; so that they were had in as great hatred and indignation as beforetimes was Piers Gauestone. And many evil reports and great extortions were of them reported, as lightly men shall do that ben out of the favour of the common people.

"In this twelfth year [1318-19] the king held his great council at York, where, contrary the mind of the lords, Sir Hugh Spenser, the son, was made High Chamberlain of England. By reason whereof he bare him so hautely and so proud, that no lord of this land might gainsay him, whereof grew the occasion of the Barons' war.

[1318-19.] When the more party of the barons of England beheld this misery of the people, they in secret manner assembled them together at a town called Shyrborne, and there condescended for a reformation of this mischief to remove from the king the said Spensers, both the father and the son. And this to bring about, Sir Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, Sir John Moubray, baron, Sir Roger Mortymer, with divers others, sware each of them to stand by other till they had amended the state [of] the realm. The lords and barons before named ressembled them a more stronger power, and upon that sent a messenger unto the king, beseeching him humbly to return from his person the counsel of the Spensers, which daily did unto him great dishonour, and to the common weale of the realm great hinderance.

[1319-20.] The barons, considering well that the Spencers should in process bring the land to great ruin and the king to great dishonour, intending to reform the mischief that thereof might ensue, gathered unto them great power. And while Sir Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, was gathering of his people, the two Mortimers, that is to say, Sir Roger Mortimer of Werke, and Sir Roger of Wygmoore, with other, yode unto the marche of Wales, and took by strength certain cities and towns belonging to the Spensers, and pursued also some of the king's servants. Wherefore the king, hearing of the rebellion of his lords, made hasty speed, and with a great

host came about by Shrowesburye, and was near unto them or they were ware, so that for fear, the said Mortimers yielded them unto the king's grace and mercy, the which forthwith were conveyed as prisoners unto the Tower of London.

'In this fourteenth year [1320-21], when the king had thus ordered the country of the marches foresaid after his mind, and had to him gathered more strength, about St Chad's Day or beginning of March, the king with his people came down to Glouceter, where with him met the Spensers with their people. And from thence they yode unto Lichefelde, at which season the Earls of Lancaster and of Herforde were at and the remnant of their host at Burton-uponTrent, and fortified the bridge, that the king might not win over the said river. Then the king was brought unto a ford, and began to set over his knights, whereof hearing, the said earls forsook the said town of and yode toward the town or city of But or they might pass far upon their journey, they were encountered of Sir Aymer de Valance, Earl of Penbrooke, with the Spensers and other of the king's host, upon the 12 day of March, and of them overset, and constrained to flee, and so yode in process of time to Pountfret. In this mean season, the Earl Thomas had sent a knight of his, named Roberte Holande, into Lancashire for to arrear his tenants. But when the said Sir Robert heard of that skirmish, and how his master was fled, he then drew to the king, and presented him with such company as he had then gathered. And thus the king's power daily increased, and the barons discreased. Then the barons came in process of time to a town called Burgh Bridge, where they were encountered of Sir Andrew of Harkeley, knight, with other that were comen out of the north, with a strong company; the which then near unto the said town, set upon the barons, and in the end discomfited them, and chased their people. In the which fight was slain the Earl of Herforde, and other; and there was taken the Earl of Lancaster, with divers other, and led unto York. And this field was foughten (as witnesseth Polychronicon) the fifteen day of March in the end of the year of our Lord 1320 [1321]. And Sir Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, was brought again to his own town of Pountfret, where he was brought in judgment before Sir Aymer de Valaunce, Earl of Penbroke, Sir Jhon Britayne, Earl of Richmonde, Sir Edmunde of Woodstocke, Earl of Kente, Sir Hugh Spenser, the father, and Sir Robert of Malmestrope, justice, with other, and before them

Whereof

finally adjudged to have his head stricken off. execution was done the twelfe day of April, in the beginning of the year of grace, after the reckoning of the Church of England, a thousand three hundred and 21.

From this time forward by the term of five years ensuing, the fortune of the Spensers hugely increased. And as fast the queen's discreased, till she was relieved by the King of France, then Charles, the fift of that name, and brother unto her.

'When the king had thus subdued his barons, he soon after, about the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord, kept his Parlement at York. During which Parlement, Sir Hugh Spenser, the father, was made Earl of Winchester.

'There was also ordain soon after that Master Robert Baldock, a man of evil fame, should be chancellor of England.

[1623-4] About midlent the king-having knowledge of this war in Guyan, and how the French king intended to seize all Gascoygne and Guyan for breaking of certain covenants between them made, and not by King Edward performed, sent over the queen his wife, the French king's sister, to entreat a concord and peace between them. And in the beginning of August following, Sir Roger Mortimer of Wygmore, by mean of a sleeping potion or drink that he gave unto his keepers, as the common fame went, escaped out of the Tower of London, and went unto the queen in France. And about the Feast of the Na[tivity of our Lady, the king sent over Sir Edward, his son, into France for to do homage unto the French king for the duchy of Guyan. Whom the French king, Philippe le Beawe, received joyously, and caused him to tarry with the queen his mother in the country of Pontyer lenger than King Edward was pleased.

'In this 18 year [1324-5] King Edward, being enformed that the French king had given unto Sir Edward, his son, the duchy of Guyan, contrary his mind and pleasure, and that also the queen his wife nor the said Sir Edward made no speed into England, notwithstanding his often sending for them, was with his said wife and son grievously displeased, insomuch that a proclamation was made at London in the month of December, that if the queen and her son entered not the land by the Octaves of the Epiphany of our Lord next following in peaceable wise, that they should be taken for enemies to his realm of England. But for the queen feared the treachery of the Spencers and other that were near unto the king, she abode still in France, wherefor King

Edward, after the expiration of the foresaid day, caused to be seized all such lands as to his said wife and son belonged, and the profits of these took to his own use. When this rumour was known through the more part of England, divers men of name as Sir William Trussell, Sir Jhon Cromewell, with divers other, departed secretly out of England, and sailed unto the queen.

'When King Edward was ware of this, he sent unto the French king so sharp and sore letters that he admonished the queen out of his land, and would nother aid her nor her company; but (as sayeth Jhon Frozarde that made a compendious work in French of the whole life or story of the third Edward, and therewith expresseth many other stories and chronicles of France. ) at this time when the queen was thus admonished to avoid out of France, Sir Jhon de Henawde, brother to the Earl of Henawde, a man of great fame, was then in the French king's court. The which having compassion on the queen and of her young son, required her to go with him unto his brother's court foresaid. Whereof the queen being fain granted unto his request, and sped her thither shortly after, where she with her company was joyously and honourably received. In the time and season that the queen with her son lay thus in the court or country of the Earl of Henawde, by means of such as were about her, a marriage was concluded between Sir Edward, her son, and Philip, the said earl's daughter, upon certain conditions. Whereof one was, that the said earl should at his proper costs set over into England the said Edward with a crew of 400 men-at-arms. For the which provision was made with all diligence. In this season and pastime, the queen, with Sir Edward her son, with a small company of Englishmen and a crew of Henawders, of the which Sir Jhon Henawde, the earl's brother, was captain, took shipping in those parts, and had the wind so favourable unto them that they landed in England at a port called Orwell, beside Harwiche in Suff., the 25 day of September, without any resistance of men-of-war against her made. To whom, after her landing, the people of the country drew by great companies, and so sped her toward London. At this time of the queen's landing, the king was at the city of London. But when he heard of the great people that drew to her out of all countries, he feared. Wherefor in safeguarding of himself he fled with a small company toward Wales. The queen easily and a footpace followed the king, which by this season was comen to Bristow, having with him the

Spensers and his diffamed chancellor, Master Robert Baldocke, and Sir Jhon, Earl of Arundel, and other. Where by their counsels it was agreed that Sir Hugh Spenser, the father, should remain there, and have the rule of the town and castle, while the king with the other took shipping, and sailed from thence into Wales to raise the Welshmen.

'And so the king with Sir Hugh Spenser, the son, and the other, took shipping at Bristow, and sailed into Wales. When certainty thereof came unto the queen, anon she sent to Bristow the Earl of Kent, the king's brother, Sir Jhon of Henawde, with divers other, for to take Sir Hugh Spenser, the father. The which put them in such devour [devoir], that they took the said Sir Hugh, and left a certain to hold the town and castle till the queen with her power came thither. In the which time they sped them into Wales, and in process took the king, his chancellor, the Earl of Arundel, and Sir Hugh Spenser, the son, and brought them all to the town of Herforde.

'In this 19 year [1325-6],

upon the morrow folat Bristowe

lowing the Feast of Simon and Jude, was Sir Hugh Spenser, the father, put to death, and after buried at Winchester. And upon St Hugh's Day following, on the eighteen day of November was Sir Hugh, his son, drawn, hanged, and quartered at Hereforde, and his head sent to London, and set among other upon the bridge.

"In this mean time and season, the king was conveyed unto the castle of Knelworth, and there kept under the guard of Sir Henry of Lancaster, or brother unto the Earl Thomas of Lancaster, that was beheaded at Pountfret; and Maister Robert Baldoke, the king's chancellor, was sent unto London, and put into prison of Newgate, where after he died miserably. The Earl Jhon of Arundel was also put to death at Herford, within four days of Sir Hugh, the younger Spenser. Then the queen, with Sir Edward, her son, and with a good company of lords and gentlemen, returned unto London, and there, of the citizens, with great honour and joy, was received upon the 4 day of December, and so conveyed unto Westminster, where, in the Octaves of the Epiphany of our Lord, a Parlement was holden, during the which, certain solemn messengers were sent unto the king, to the castle of Kenelworth, that is to say, three bishops, three earls, two abbots, two barons, and two justices, with the Procurator of that Parlement, Sir Wyllyam Trussel, to depose him of all kingly dignity as before was agreed by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons of the said Parlement, and they to