Late Medieval Books, The Brut

And at þat tyme þe Scottes hade assemblede al her power, and come into Engeland, and quellede & robbede alle þat þai might tak, and brent and destroiede al þe North contre þrouȝ-out, til þai come to þe Parke of Stanhope in Wyredale: and þer þe Scottes helde ham in a busshement. But whe[n] þe Kyng hade herde þrouȝ certeyne aspieȝ wher þe Scottes were, anone right wiþ his host he bisegede þe forsaide park, so þat þe Scottes wiste neuer wher forto gon out, but onliche vnto her armes, and þai abiden in þe parke xv daies; and vitailes ham failede on euery side, so þat þai wer gretly empeyrede of her bodyes. And siþ þat Brut come ferst into Britaigne, vnto þis tyme, was neuer seyne seþenes so fair an host, what of Englisshemen and of Aliens, and of men on foot, whiche ordeyned ham forto feiȝt wiþ þe Scottes, þrouȝ egging of Sire Henry, Erl of Lancastr, and of Sir Iohn of Henaude, þat wolde haue gone ouer þe water of Wythe forto haue fouȝt wiþ þe Scottes; but Sir Roger of Mortymer consentede nouȝt þerto, for he hade priueliche tak mede of þe Scottes, ham forto helpe, þat þai myght wende aȝeyne into hir owen contre. And þe same Mortymer counseilede miche Thomas of Broþerton, þat þe Erl Marchal, þat was Kyng Edwardes vncle, þat the orsaide Thomas shulde nouȝt assemble at þat tyme vnto þe Scottes; and he assentede; but he wiste nouȝt þe doyng bituene þe Scottes and þe forsaide Mortymer. and for enchesoun þat he was Marchal of Engeland, and to him perteynede euer þe vauntward, he sent hastely to þe Erl of Lancastre and to Sire Iohn of Henaude, þat þai shulde nouȝt feiȝt oppon þe Scottes, in preiudice and in harmyng of him and his fee, and if þai dede, þat þai shulde stande to her owen peril. and þe forsaide Erl Marchal was al aredy wiþ his bataile at þe redose of þe Erl of Lancastre forto haue fouȝten wiþ him and wiþ his folc, if he hade meuede forto feiȝt wiþ þe Scottes. and in þis maner he was desceyuede, and wiste no maner þinge of þis tresoun and þus was þe Kyng Principaly desceyuede.

And now let us return again to Sir Edward of Carnarvon, who was once King of England and was deposed from his dignity, alas, for his tribulation! And sorrow befell him through the false counsel that he believed and trusted in too much, which was afterward destroyed through their falseness, as God willed. And this Edward of Carnarvon was in the castle of Berkeley, under the keeping of Sir Maurice of Berkeley and of Sir John of Mautravers, and to them he made his complaint of his sorrow and distress; and oftentimes he asked his wardens what he had trespassed against Lady Isabel his wife, and Sir Edward his son, who had newly been made King, that they would not visit him. [Then one of his wardens answered him] 'My worthy lord, do not be displeased by what I shall tell you; the reason is that they have been made to understand that, if my Lady your wife were to come anywhere near you, you would strangle and kill her, and likewise that you would do the same to my lord your son.' Then he answered with a simple expression and said: 'Alas, alas! Am I not in prison, and entirely at your own will? Now God knows, I never thought of it; and now I wish that I were dead! So would God that I were! For then all my sorrow would be passed.'

And now [go] we aȝeyne vnto Sir Edward of Carnaruan, þat was some-tyme Kyng of Engeland, and was put adoune of his dignite, allas for his tribulacioun! and sorwe him bifelle þrouȝ false consel þat he leuede, & truste oppon ham to miche, þat afterward was destroyede þrouȝ her falsenesse, as God wolde. And þis Edward of Carnaryuan was in þe castel of Berkele, vnder þe kepyng of Sir Morice of Berkeley and of Sire Iohn of Mautrauers and to ham he made his compleynt of his sorwe and of his disese; and oftetymes he axede of his wardeyns what he hade tressepassede aȝeins Dame Isabel his wif, and Sir Edward his sone, þat was new made Kyng, þat þai wolde nouȝt visite him. [þo ansuerede one of his wardenes] "My worþi lord, displese ȝow nouȝt þat y shal ȝow telle; þe enchesoun is, for it is done ham to vnderstonde þat, if my Lady ȝour wif come eny þing neiȝ ȝow, þat þe wolde her strangle and quelle, and al so þat ȝe Wolde do to my Lord ȝor Sone." þo ansuerede he wiþ simple chere, and saide: "allas, allas! am y nouȝt in prisoun, and all at ȝour owen wille? Now God it wote, y þouȝt it neuer; and now y wolde þat y were dede! so wolde God þat y were! for þan were al my sorwe passede.

It was not long after that the King, through the counsel of Mortimer, granted the ward and keeping of Sir Edward his father to Sir Thomas Gourney and to the aforementioned Sir John Mautravers, through the King's letter, and entirely removed the aforementioned Sir Maurice from the ward of the King. And they took him and led him to the castle of Corfe, which the King hated as much as death, and they kept him there safely until it came to St. Matthew's Day in September [21st], in the year of Grace 1327, when the aforementioned Sir Roger Mortimer sent instructions on how and in what manner he should be put to death. And as soon as the aforementioned Thomas and John had seen the letter and the command, they made King Edward of Carnarvon good cheer and good company, as best they could at supper, and the King suspected nothing of their treachery. And when it was time to go to bed, the King went to his bed and lay down and slept deeply. And as the King lay sleeping, the traitors, false and forsworn against their oaths and loyalty, came secretly into the King's chamber with their company. They laid a huge table upon his stomach, and with men pressed and held down the four corners of the table upon his body. With that, the good man awoke and was terribly afraid of being killed there, and turned his body upside down. Then the false tyrants, like mad traitors, took a horn and placed it into his anus as deep as they could, and took a copper rod, burning hot, and put it through the horn into his body, and rolled it around inside him many times, thus killing their lord without leaving a visible mark. Afterward, he was buried at Gloucester.

Hit was nouȝt longe after þat þe Kyng, þrouȝ conseil of þe Mortymer, grantede þe ward and þe kepyng of Sire Edward his fader, to Sire Thomas Toiourneye and to þe forsaide Sir Iohn Mautrauers, þrouȝ þe Kyngus lettre, and put out holliche þe forsaide Sir Morice, of þe warde of þe Kyng. and þai tok and lad him to þe castel of Corf, þe whiche castel þe Kyng hatede as eny deþ and þai kepte him þere safly til þat it come to Seint Matheus day in Septembre [21st], in þe ȝere of Grace M^l CCC xxvij, þat þe forsaide Sir Roger Mortymer sent þe maner of þe deþ, how and in what maner he shulde be done to deþ. And anone as þe forsaide Thomas and Iohn Hade seyne þe lettre and þe commandement, þai maden Kyng Edward of Carnaruan gode chere and gode solace, as þai myght atte þat soper; and noþing þe Kyng wiste of her traitoureȝ. And when tyme was forto gone to bed, þe Kyng went vnto his bed, and laye, and slepte faste. And as þe Kyng lay and slepte, þe traitoures, false forsuorne aȝeins her homage and her feaute, come priueliche into þe Kyngus chaumbre, and her company wiþ Ham, and Laiden an Huge table oppon his Wombe, and wiþ men pressede and helde fast adoune þe iiij corners of þe table oppon his body: wherwiþ þe gode man awoke, and was wonder sore adrade to bene dede þere, and slayn, and turnede his body opsadoun. þe tok þe false tirauntȝ, and as wode traitoures, an horne, and put hit into his fundement as depe as þai might, and toke a spete of Copur brennyng, & put hit & þrouȝ þe horne into his body, and ofte tymes rollede þerwiþ his bowailes; and so þai quellede here Lorde, þat noþing was perceyuede; and after, he was enterede at Gloucestr.

Whan he was taken and broughte to Yorke, meny of the cite were ful glade, and uppon him criede with hie voi: 'A! sire traytour, ye erne wel come, blessid be God, for now shal ye have the rewarde that longe tyme ye have deservede'; and cast uppon him meny snow ballis, and meny other reproves dede him. But the gentil erle that suffred and seide nether one ne other. And in the same tyme the kyng herd of that scomfiture and was ful glad, and in haste come to Pountfret, and sir Hugh the Spencer, and sire Hugh his sone, and sir John erle of Arundelle, and sir Edmunde of Wodestoke, the kyngis brother, erle of Kente, and sire Aymer of Valence, erle of Penbroke, and maister Robert of Baldok, a fals pillede clerk, that was pryve and dwellyng in the kyngis courte; and alle come thider with the kyng. And sire Raufe of Beestone yaf up the castel to the kyng, and the kyng enterede into the castelle. And sire Andrewe of Herkela, a fak tiraunt, thurgh jie kynges comaundement nome with him the gentil erle Thomas to Pountfret; and ther he was prisonede in his owen castelle that he had newe made, that stode ayens the abbay of kyng Edwarde. And sir Hugh the Spencer, the fader, and sir Hugh his sone caste and thoughte how and in what maner the good erle Thomas of Lancastre shulde ben dede, withoute eny iugement of his peris. Wherfor hit was ordeynede thurgh the kynges Justices that the kyng shuld putte uppone him poyntes of tretry. And so hit bifelle that he was lad to the barre bifore the kynges Justices, bare heed, as a these, in a faire halle within his owen castel that he had made therin meny a faire feste bothe to riche and eke to pore. And these were his Justices: sir Hugh the Spencer, the fader, sir Aymer the Valance, erle of Penbroke, sire Edmunde of Wodestoke, erle of Kente, sire John of Britaigne, erle of Richemonde, and sir Robert of Malmethorpe, iustice. And sir Robert him acoupede in this maner: 'Thomas, atte the first oure lorde the kyng and this courte excludeth yow of almaner answer. Thomas, our lorde the kyng putte uppon yow fat ye have in his lande riden with baner displayede, ayens his pees, as a treytour.' And with that worde the gentile erle Thomas with an hie vois sayde: 'Naye, forsothe, lordes, and by seynt Thomas I was never traytour.' The iustice seide ayen tho: 'Thomas, oure lorde the kyng putte uppon the that ye have robbede his folk and mordred his peple, as a thefe. Thomas, the kyng also putte uppon the that he descomfited yow and youre peple with his folke in his owen reame; wherfor ye wente and fley to the wode as an owtelawe, and also ye were taken as an outelawe. And, Thomas, as a treytour ye shulde ben hangede by resonn; but the kyng hath foryeve yow that iewes [punishment] for the love of quene Isabelle. And, Thomas, reson wolde that ye shulde ben honged, but the kyng hath foryeve hit yow for cause and love of your lynage. But, Thomas, for as moche as ye were take fleyng and as an outelawe, the kyng wil that youre hede be smyten of, as ye have wel deservede. Anone done him oute of prees, and anone bring him to his iugemente.' The gentile knyjte, whan he had herde alle these wordes, with an hie voys criede, sore wepyng, and seide: 'Alias, seint Thomas, faire fader, alias, shal I ben dede thus? Graunte me now, blissful Lord God, answer.' But alle hit avayle him noujte, for the cursede Gascoigne putte him hider and thider, and on him criede with an hie voys: 'O kyng Arthure, most dredful, wel knowe now fine opyn traytrye; in evel deth shall thow die, as thou hast wel deservede.' Tho sette thei uppon his hevede, in scorne, an olde chapelet alle torente and torne, that was not worth an halpeny. And, after, thei sette him uppon a lene white palfreye ful unsemeliche and eke al bare, with an olde bridel; and with an horrible noys they drow him oute of the castelle towarde his deth, and caste on him many ballis of snawe. And as the turmentours ladde him oute of the castelle, tho seide he thise petous wordis, and his handis helde up in hie towardes hevene: 'Now the Kyng of hevene yeve us mercie, for the erthely kyng hath us forsake.' And a frere prechoure wente with him oute of the castelle til that he come til the place that he endid his life, and to whome he shrofe him alle his life. And the gentile erle helde him faste bi the clothis, and saide: 'Faire fader, abide with us til that I be dede; for my flessh quaketh for drede of deth.' And soth for to saye the gentil erle sette him uppon his kneys and turnede him in to the est. But a ribaude, that men callede Higon of Mostone, sette hande uppon the gentil erle and seide in despite of him: 'Sir treytour, turne the towarde the Scottis, thine foule deth to underfonge'; and turnede the erle toward the north. The noble erle Thomas answerede tho with a mylde voys and seide: ' Now, faire lordes, I shal done alle youre wille.' And with that worde the frere wente fro him, ful sore wepyng. And anone a rebaude wente to him and smote of his hevede.

And the noble erle, sir Henry of Lancastre, had ofte tymes harde the comon clamour of the Englissh men of the mochel disease that was done in Engelonde, and also for diverse wronges that were done amonge the comon peple, of whiche the kyng bore the blame with wrong, for he was but ful yong and tendre of age; and thoughte, as a good man, for to done awaye and slake the sklander of the kynges persone, if that he myghte in eny maner wise, so as the kyng was therof no thing gilty, wherfore he was in parel of lyfe and of lyme. And so he assemblede alle his retenaunce, and went and spake unto hem of the kynges honour and also for to amend his state. And sir Thomas of Brotherton, erle Marsshal, and sir Edmunde of Wodstoke, that were the kynges uncles, and also men of London maden hire othe him for to mayntene in that same querel. And hire cause was thus: that the kyng shulde holde his housholde and his maynie, as perteynede unto a kyng for to done, and have also his realte; and that the quene Isabelle shulde delyvere oute of hire honde unto the kynges honde almaner lordeshippes, rentes, tounes, and castellis, that perteynede unto the croune of Engelonde, and that she shulde lyve with the thirde parte of the rentes of Engelonde, as ofer quenes had done before hire, and with none other thing. And also, that sir Roger Mortymer shulde dwelle uppon his owen landes, for the whiche landes he had holpen disherete moche peple; so that the comone peple were noughte destroyed thurgh hire wrongful takyng. And also to enquere how and by whom the kyng was bitrayede and falseliche deseyvede atte Stanhope, and thurgh whos counseil that thc Scottis wente away by nyghte fro the kyng. And also, how and thurgh whos counsel the ordenaunce that was made atte the coronacion of kyng Edward were putte adoune, that is to sayn, that the kyng, for amendement and helpyng of the reame and in honour of him, shulde be governede and ruled by xij of the grettest and wiseste lordes of the reame, and withoute hem shulde no thing be grauntede ne done, as bifore is seide; the whiche governaunces maliciously were putte doune fro the kyng. Wherfore meny harmes, shames, and reproves han falle unto the kyng and to his reame. And that is to understonde, for as [moche as] Edward, somtyme kyng of Engelonde, was ordeynede, by assente of the comontee in pleyn parlement, for to ben under the warde and governaunce of Henry erle of Lancastre, his cosyn, for salvacioun of his bodie, he was taken oute of the castel of Kenelworthe ther that he was in warde, and thurgh colour of quene Isabelle and of the Mortymer, withoute consente of eny parlement, thei nome and ladde him ther that never after none of his kynrede myghte with him speke ne see; and, after, traytoursly nome and him mordred; for whoos dethe a foule sklaunder aroos thurgh alle Cristendome, when hit was done. And also, alle the tresoure that sir Edwarde of Carnarvan had lefte in many places in Engelonde and in Walls were wastede and borne away, withoute the wille of the kyng Edwarde his sone, in destruccion of him and of his folk. Also, thurgh whos counsel that the kyng yaf up the kyngdome of Scotlande, for the whiche reame the kynges auncesters had ful sore travayl, and so dede many a noble man for hire right; and was delyverede alle the right unto David, that was Robert le Brus his sone, that no right had unto that reame, as alle the worlde hit wiste. And also, by whom the chartres and the remembraunces that thei had of the right of Scotland were take oute of the tresorie and taken to the Scottes, the kyngis enemyes, to disheriteson of him and of his successours, and to grete harme to his lieges, and to grete reprove unto alle Englisshe men for evermore. Also, wharfor dame Johan of the Toure, the kynges suster Edward, was disparagede and mariede unto David, that was Robert the Brus his sone, that was a traytour and an enemye unto Engelonde; and thurgh whos counsel she was take into our enemyes handis oute of Engelande.

And in the mene tyme, whiles the good erle Henry of Lancastre and his companye nomen counsel how thes poyntes above seide myghte bene amendede, unto the worship of the kyng and to his profile, and to the prophite also of his lieges, the quene Isabelle, thurgh coniectyng and sotelte, and also of the Mortymere, lete ordeyne a parlement at Saylesbury. And atte the same parlement the Mortymer was made erle of the Marche, ayens alle the barouns wille of Engelonde, in prejudice of the kyng and of his corone; and sir John of Eltham, the kynges brother, was gerde with a swerde of Cornewayle, and tho was callede the erle of Cornewayle. And evermore the quene Isabelle so moche procurede ayens hire son the king, that she had the warde of the forsaide sir Edwarde and of his landes.

And atte the parlement the erle of Lancastre wolde noghte come, but ordeynede alle his power ayens the quene Isabelle and the Mortemer; and men of London ordeynede hem for to helpe with vj. hundreth men of armes. When the quene Isabella wiste of the doyng, she swore bi God and by His names ful angrely that in evel tyme he thoughte on tho poyntes. Tho sente the quene Isabelle after hire retenewe, so that thei had ordeynede amonges hem an huge oste; and thei councelede the kyng, so that uppon a nyghte thei riden xxiij mile toward Bedeford, ther that the erle of Lancaster was with his companye, and thiought to have him destroyede; and that nyghte she rode besides the kyng hire sone as a knyghte armede, for drede of deth. And hit was done the kyng Edwarde to understonde that the erle Henry of Lancastre and his companye wolde have destroyede the kyng and his councele for evermore. Wherfor the kyng was somdele towardes him hevy and anoyede. When the erle Marshalle and the erle of Kente, the kynges brother (sic), herde of this thing, thei riden so in message bitwene hem, that the kyng graunted him his pees to the erle of Lancastre for a certeyne raunsome of xj thousand pounde; but that was never payede afterwarde. And these were the lordes that helde with sir Henry of Lancastre: sir Henry Beaumonde, sire Fouk fitz Waryn, sire Thomas Reosely, sir William Trussel, sir Thomas Wither, and aboute an hundreth of knyghtes moo that were to hem consentyng. And alle tho were exilede thurgh counsel of the quene Isabel and of the Mortymer. For the Mortymer coveytede for to have hire landes, if he myght thurgh eny maner coniectyng; for he was so coveytouse and had to moch his wil, and that was grete pitee."

And uppon a tyme bifel hit so that sir Edmunde of Wodestoke, erle of Kente, spake unto the pope, John the xxij, at Avignon, and saide that almyghti God had meny tymes done for Thomas love of Lancastre many grete myracles to meny men and women that were thurgh diverse maladies undone as unto the worlde, and thurgh his prayer thei wer brought unto hire hele. And so sir Edmunde prayeden the pope hertely that he wolde graunte him grace, that the forsaid Thomas myght ben translatede ; but the pope seide nay And when this Edmunde sawe that he myghte noughte spede of his purpos as toching the translacion, he prayed him tho of his councele, as toching sir Edward of Carnarvan, his broker, and said, nought longe gone he was kyng of Engelonde, what thing mythte best be done as toching his delyveraunce, sithen that a comone fame is thurghoute alle Engelonde that he was in life and hool and safe. Whenne the pope herde him telle that sir Edward was alife, he comaundid the erle uppon his benesoun that he shulde helpe with alle his power that he myghte, that he were delyverede oute of prisoun and safe his bodie in all maner that he myghte ; and, for to bring this thing unto an ende, he assoylede him and his companye a pena et culpa, and alle tho that helpyn to his delyveraunce. Tho nome Edmunde of Wodestoke, erle of Kente, his leve of the pope and come ayein into Engelonde. And whenne Edmunde was come, som of the frere prechours comen and seyde that sir Edward, his brother, yit was alife in the castel of Corf, under the kepyng of sir Thomas Gurnaye. Tho sped him the forsaide Edmunde as fast as he myghte til that he came unto the castel of Corf, and aqueyntede and spake so faire with sir John Daverill that was constable of the forsaide castel, and yaf him riche yeftis, for to have aqueyntaunce of him and to knowe of his councele. And thus hit bifelle that the forsaide sir Edmunde preyed specially for to telle him prively of his broker, sir Edwarde, if that he levede or were dede, and, if that he were alife, he preyed of him for to have ones a sight. And this sir John Daverell was an hertid man and ful of corage, and answerde shortely unto sir Edmunde and seide that sir Edward, his brother, was in heel and under his kepyng, and derste shewe him unto no man, sith hit was defendid him in the kyngis half Edward, that was Edwardus sone Carnarvan, and also thurgh the comaundement of quene Isabelle, the kynges moder, and of sir Roger the Mortymer, that he shulde shewe his bodie unto no maner man of the worlde, saf oneliche unto hem, uppon lost of life and lym and to dishereteson of his heires for evermore. But the fals treytour falsly lyede, for he was noughte in his warde, but he was take thennes and ladde unto the castel of Berkelee thurgh sir Thomas Gurnay thurgh commaundement of the Mortymer, til that he was dede, as bifore is seide more plenere. But sir Edmunde of Wodestoke wist no thing that Edward, his brother, was dede. Wher uppon he toke a lettre unto the for'saide sir John, and prayede him hertely that he wolde take hit unto kyng Edwarde, his brother, as to his worthi lorde. And he underfenge the lettre of him, and behight to sir Edmunde for to done his message withoute eny maner fayle. And with that sir Edmunde nome of him his leve, that is to seyn of the forseid John, and wente tho into his owen cuntre and lordeship in Kente that he had ther. And anone, as this same John wiste that sir Edmunde of Wodestoke was gone into Kente his owen lordeship, anone he went in alle the haste that he myghte fro the castelle of Corf and come unto sir Roger the Mortymer, and toke him the lettre that sir Edmunde of Wodstoke, erle of Kente, had taken him, closede and enselede with his owen scale. And when sir Roger had underfenge the lettre, he unclosede the lettre and saw what was conteynede therin, and gan hit for to rede. Wherof the begynnyng was this : 'Worshippis and reverences, with brothers liegeaunce and subieccion, sir knyght, worshipful and dere brother, if hit yow please, I pray hertely that ye ben of good comforte, for I shal so ordeyne for yow that sone ye shul come oute of prison and bene deliverede of that disease that ye beth inne. And understondeth of your greet lordeship that I have unto me assentant almoste alle the grete of Engelonde, with alle hire appariel, that is to seyn, with armure, with tresour, withoute nombre, for to mayntene and helpe youre querelle, so ferforth that ye shul ben kyng ayein as ye were beforne ; and that thei alle have sworne to me uppon a book, and as wel prelatis as erlis and barouns.' When sir Roger of Mortymer sawe and understode the myghte and the strength of the lettre, anone for wrath his hert gan bolne and evel herte bare towarde sir Edmunde of Wodestoke, that was erle of Kente. And so with alle the haste that he myghte he wente unto dame Isabel, the quene, that was the kynges moder, and shewed hire sir Edmundes lettre, erle of Kente, and his wille and his purpose, and how he had coniectede and ordeynede to putte adoune kyng Edwarde of Wyndesore, hir sone, of his realte and of his kyngdome. 'Now certis, sir Roger,' quoth the quene, 'hath Edmunde done so? By my fader soule,' quoth she, 'I wol bene therof avengede, if that God graunte me my life, and that in a shorte tyme.' And anone with that the quene Isabel wente unto kyng Edwarde, hire sone, ther that he was atte the parlement atte Wynchestre, for to have amendede the wronges and trespasses that were done amonge the peple in his reame. And tho nome she and shewid him the lettre that sir Edmunde of Wodestoke, erle of Kente, had made and ensealede with his seel ; and bade him, uppon hire benysoun, that he shulde ben avengede uppon him, as uppon his dedely enemy. Tho was the quene so wroth toward sir Edmunde, erle of Rente, and cessid never to pray unto hire sone that he shulde sende in haste after him. And uppon that the kyng sent by his lettres after sir Edmunde of Wodestoke, that he shulde come and speke with him atte Wynchestre, almaner thinges lefte. And when sir Edmunde sawe that the kyng sente after him with his lettre inseled, he hastid him in alle that he myghte, til that he come unto Wynchestre. But tho the quene wiste that Edmunde was come unto Wynchestre, anone she prayede and so faste wente unto Edwarde, hire sone, that the good erle was arrestede anone and ladde unto the barre bifore Robert of Hamond (sic), that was coroner of the kynges householde ; and he associed unto him sir Roger the Mortymer. And tho spake the forsaide John (sic, i.e. Robert) unto him and seide : 'Sir Edmunde, erle of Kente, ye shal understonde that it is done us to wite, and principalliche unto oure liege lorde sir Edwarde, kyng of Engelonde, that almyghti God save and kepe, that ye beth his dedely enemy and his treytour and also a comune enemy unto the reame ; and that ye have bene aboute many a day for to make priveliche delyveraunce of sir Edwarde, somtyme kyng of Engelonde, your broker, the which was putte adoune of his realte by comone assent of alle the lordes of Engelonde, in pesyng of our lorde the kynges estate and also of his reame.' Tho answerde the good man and seide : 'Forsothe, sir, understondeth wel that I was never assentyng for to enpeyre the state of oure lorde the kyng ne of the corone, and that I putte me to ben demede uppon my peers.' And with that worde sire Roger the Mortymer shewed hem the erles lettres and his seal, and seide tho to sir Edmunde, 'Knowe ye oughte the prynte of this lettre?' that he hadde take unto sir John Daverell. And he sawe the printe of his seal, but he sawe nought what was conteynede in the lettre. And the erle him selfe wende that hit had bene one of his lettres that had ben of no charge. Tho seide the erle to sir Roger Mortymer that he wolde noughte forsake the lettre, and that was the printe of his seal. And anone with that worde the wily and the fals Mortymer began to undone the lettre, and gan hit for to rede in audience of alle the courte. And tho seide sir Robert of Hauuille : 'Sir Edmunde,' quoth he, 'sith that ye have made knowyng opinliche in this courte that fiis is your lettre, enselid with your seal, and the tenor of your lettre seith that ye wolde have bene aboute for to have delyvered the bodie of that worshipful sir Edwarde, somtyme kyng of Engelonde, your broker, and for to have holpyn him that he shulde have bene kyng ayein and governede his peple as he wonede before tymes, in enpeyryng of our liege lorde the kyng state, that is now, whom God kepe from alle disese — and this court wol that ye bene undone of life and lyme, and that your heires ben disheritede for evermore, save the grace of our lorde the kyng.' Tho was the erle, sir Edmunde of Wodestoke, putte ayein into prison under ful save warde til uppon the morue. And tho come the Mortymer unto the kyng, ther that he sate atte his mete, and tolde him how the erle was dampnede by way of lawe and also of lyfe and lyme, and his heyres disheritede for evermore, thurgh opyn knowelegeyng in pleyn courte. Wherfore him thoughte good that the forsaide erle were hastly quelde, withoute wetyng of the kyng, for els the kyng wolde foryeve him his deth, and that shulde turne hem unto moche sorwe so as he was empechede. Anone the quene Isabel, thurgh counsel of the Mortymere and withoute eny other counseile, sente in haste to the baillifes of Wynchestre that thei shulde smyte of sir Edmundes heede of Wodestoke, erle of Kente, without eny maner bidyng or respite, uppon peyne of life and lym. Tho nomen the baillifes sir Edmunde oute of prison and ladde him besides the castel atte Wynchestre, and ther they made a gonge fermer smyten of his hevede, for none other man durste hit done. And so deyde he ther, alias!, the tyme that is to seyn, the x. day of Octobre, the thirde yeer of kyng Edwardus regne. And when the kyng wiste therof, he was wonder sory, and lete entere him atte the frere minores atte Wynchestre.

Of the deth of sir Roger Mortymer, erle of the Marche.

And so hit bifel atte that tyme that sir Roger Mortymer, erle of the Marche, was so proude and so hauten that he helde no lorde of the reame his pere ; and tho bicome he so coveytous that he folwede dame Isabel the quenes courte, that was the kynges moder Edwarde, and biset his penyworthis with the officers of the quenes housholde, in the same maner as the kynges officers dede. And so he made his takynges as touching vitailles and also of cariages ; and alle he dede for encheson of spenses, for to gadere tresour ; and so he dede withoute nombre in alle that he myghte. Tho made he him wonder privee with the quene Isabelle, and so moche lordeship and retenewe had, so that alle the grete lordes of Engelonde of him were adrad. Wherfor the kyng and his counsele towarde him were agrevede, and ordeynede amonges ham for to undone him thurgh pure reson and lawe, for encheson that kyng Edwarde, that was the kynges fader, treytoursly thurgh him was mordred in the castel of Berkela, as bifore is seide more plenerly. And som that were of the kynges courte loveden the Mortymer, and tolde him in privetee how that the kyng and his counsel were aboute fro day to day him for to shende and undone. Wherfor the Mortymer was sore anoyede and angry as the devel ayens hem that were of the kynges councele, and seide that he wolde of hem bene avengede how so ever he toke on. Hit was nought longe afterwarde that kyng Edwarde and dame Philipe, his wife, and dame Isabel, the kynges moder, and sir Roger Mortymer wente unto Notyngham, ther for to sojourne. And so hit fel that quene Isabelle, thurgh counselle of the Mortymer, toke to hire the keyes of the yates of the castel of Notyngham, so that no man myght come nother in ne oute by nyght, but thurgh the comaundement of the Mortymer, ne the kyng ne none of his counsel. And that tyme hit fel so that the Mortymer as a devel for wrath bollede, and also for wrath that he had ayens towarde the kynges men Edwarde, and principally ayens hem that him had accusede to the kyng of the deth of sir Edwardes fader. And prively a councele was taken bitwen the quene Isabelle and the Mortymer and the bisshop of Lincoln and sir Symonde of Bereforde and sir Hugh of Trompetone and other prive of her councele, for to undone hem alle that had accusede the Mortymer unto the kyng of his fadres deth, of tresoun and of felonye. Wherfor al tho that were of the kynges counsel, whan thei wiste of the Mortymeres castyng, prively come to the kyng Edwarde and seiden that the Mortymer wolden hem destroye for cause that thei had accusede him of kyng Edwardus deth his fader, and prayede him that he wolde mayntene hem in here trewe quarelle. And the kyng grauntede hem hire bone, and seide he wolde mayntene hem in hire righte. And these were the lordes to pursewe this quarelle: sir William Mountagu, sir Humfrey de Boungh, sir William his brother, sir Rafe of Stafford, sir Robert of Hufforde, sir William of Clynton, sir John Nevile of Horneby, and meny other of hire consente; and alle these sworen uppon a boke to mayntene the querel in as moche as thei myghte.

And hit bifel so after that sir William Mountagu ne none of the kynges frendes moste noughte bene herburghede in the castel for the Mortymer, but wente and tuke hire herburghe in diverse places in the toune of Notyngham ; and they were thei sore adrad leste the Mortymer shulde hem destroye. And in haste ther come to the kyng Edwarde William Mountagu, ther that he was in his castelle, and prively tolde him that he ne none of his companye shulde nought take the Mortymer withoute councel and helpe of William of Elande, constable of the same castel. 'Now certis,' quoth the kyng, 'I leve yow ful wel, and therfor I councel yow that ye gone to the saide constable, and comaundith him in my name that he be youre frende and helpe for to take the Mortymer, alle thing lefte, uppon perel of life and of lyme.' 'Sir,' quoth Mountague tho, 'Sir, my lorde, graunt mercie.' Tho wente furth the forsaide Mountagu and come to the constable of the castelle and tolde him the kynges wille ; and he answerde and seide the kynges wille shulde be done in as moche as he myghte, and wolde noughte spare for no maner deth, and so he swore and made his othe. Tho saide sir William of Mountagu to the constable, in heryng of alle hem that wer helpyng to the querell: 'Now certis, dere frende, us behoveth for to werche and done by youre queyntyse to take the Mortymer, sith that ye ben keper of the castelle, and haveth the keyes in youre warde.' 'Sire,' quoth the constable, 'wile ye understonde that the gatis of the castel beth lokede with the lokis that dame Isabel sende hider; bi nyghte she hath the keyes therof, and leith hem under the chevisel of hire bedde unto the morue, and so I may noughte come into the castel by the yates in no maner wise. But I knowe an alee that stretcheth oute of the warde under erthe into the castel, that goth into the weste; whiche alee dame Isabel, the quene, ne none of hire men, ne the Mortymer, ne none of his company, knowith hit nought; and so I shal lede yow thurgh that alee and so ye shulle come into the castelle, withoute aspics of eny man that beth youre enemyes.'

And ye shulleth understonde that tho that were in the toune of Berwick, thurgh hire comon councele and hire assente, lete crie uppon the wallis that thei myghte have pees of the Englissh men, and therof thei preyden the kyng and of his grace, and prayed him of trewis for viij dayes, uppon this covenaunt : if thei were noght reskewed in that side of the toune towarde Scotlande of the Scottis within viij dayes, that thei wolde yelde hem unto the kyng and the toun also. And to hold this covenaunte thei proferde to the kyng xij hostages oute of the toune of Berwike. Whan the hostages were delyverede unto the kynge, anone tho of the toune senten unto the Scottis and tolde hem of hire sorwe and meschief. And the Scottis comyn tho priveliche, over the water of Twede, to the bought of the abbay. And sir William Dyket, that tho was stiward of Scotlande, and meny other that comen with him putte hem ther in grete perile of hem self atte that tyme of hire life ; for thei comen over a brugge that was tobroken and the stones away, and meny of hire companye were ther drenchede. But the forsaide William wente over and other of his companye and come by the shippes of Engelonde, and quelde in a barge of Hulle xij men, and, after, thei wente into the toune of Berwike bi the water side. Wherfore the Scottis helde tho the toune rescuede, and axede hire hostages ayein of the kyng of Engelonde. And the kyng sente hem worde ayein that thei askede the hostages with wronge, sith that thei comen into the toune by Engelonde side ; for covenaunt was bitwen hem that the toune shulde ben rescuede by the half of Scotland. And . anone kyng Edwarde comaundede to yelde the toune or he wolde have f« hostages. And the Scottis seiden that the toune was rescuede wel inowe, and therto thei wolde holde hem. When kyng Edwarde sawe the Scottis breke the covenauntes that thei made, he was wonder wroth, and anone lete take sir Thomas Fitz [William] and sir Alexander of Setone, wardeyne of Berwyke, the whiche Thomas was person of Dunbarre, and lete ham be take firste before the other hostages, for encheson that sir Alexandres fader was keper of the toune. And the kyng comaundid evere day for to take ij hostages of the toune, til that thei were alle done unto the deth, but if thei yelden the toune. When thei of the toune herde thes tithinges, thei bicomen wonder sorye, and sente to the kyng of Engelonde that he wolde graunte hem other viij dayes of respite, so that bitwene ijc men of armes and xxtl. men of armes myght by strength gone bitwene hem into the toune of Berwyk, hem for to vitaile, so that the toune moste be holde for rescued. And if hit so were that xxj or xxij or mo were slayne of tho cc bifore seide, that the toune shulde nought bene holde for reskewid. And this covenaunt to ben halden, thei sente to him other xij of the toune in hostage.