Battle of Boroughbridge

On 22nd March 1322 Thomas Plantagenet 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Earl Lancaster, Earl of Salisbury and Lincoln (age 44) was beheaded at Pontefract Castle [Map] following his capture six days before at the Battle of Boroughbridge. He was buried at Pontefract Priory [Map].

On 23rd March 1322 at York [Map] ...

Roger Clifford 2nd Baron Clifford (age 22) was hanged. His brother Robert (age 16) succeeded 3rd Baron de Clifford.

John Mowbray 2nd Baron Mowbray (age 35) was hanged. He was buried at Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire [Map]. His son John (age 11) succeeded 3rd Baron Mowbray.

Lanercost Chronicle. 16th March 1322. On Tuesday, then, after the third Sunday in Lent, being the seventeenth of the kalends of April, the aforesaid earls arrived in force, and perceiving that Sir Andrew had anticipated them by occupying the north end of the bridge, they arranged that the Earl of Hereford and Sir Roger de Clifford (a man of great strength who had married his daughter) should advance with their company and seize the bridge from the pikemen stationed there, while the Earl of Lancaster with the rest of the cavalry should attack the ford and seize the water and the ford from the pikemen, putting them to flight and killing all who resisted; but matters took a different turn. For when the Earl of Hereford (with his standard-bearer leading the advance, to wit, Sir Ralf de Applinsdene) and Sir Roger de Clifford and some other knights, had entered upon the bridge before the others as bold as lions, charging fiercely upon the enemy, pikes were thrust at the earl from all sides; he fell immediately and was killed with his standard-bearer and the knights aforesaid, to wit, Sir W. de Sule and Sir Roger de Berefield; but Sir Roger de Clifford, though grievously wounded with pikes and arrows, and driven back, escaped with difficulty along with the others.

Life of Edward II by a Monk of Malmesbury. 16th March 1322. The Earl of Hereford, along with his armed men, crossed the bridge, but none of them mounted their horses. For the bridge was narrow, and it could not provide a passage for knights to advance into battle. The Earl of Lancaster, along with his knights, took a route toward a ford in the river. But Andrew de Harclay, as a prudent knight, wisely stationed a wedge of armed men at both exits. The Earl of Hereford was the first to attack the opposing side, but after a fierce struggle, he was gravely wounded and eventually killed. Three or four knights perished alongside him in the battle.

Comes Herfordiæ cum suis armatis per pontem transivit, sed nullus eorum equum ascendit. Erat enim pons strictus, nec viam cquitibus ad bellum procedentibus præbere potuit. Comes Lancastriæ cum suis militibus ad vadum fluminis viam arripuit. Sed Andreas de Herkeleye, tanquam miles providus, ad utrumque exitum cuneum armatorum sapienter statuit. Comes Herfordiæ partem adversam primitus aggreditur; decertando male vulneratus tandem occiditur. Tres vel quatuor milites in ipso certamine cum comite perierunt.

Life and Death of King Edward II of England. 16th March 1322. Finally, on the seventh¹ day of March, the armies clashed again at Burrowbridge, where the pious Earl Humphrey was pierced through the groin by a lance thrown through the openings of the bridge by a certain Welshman who had positioned himself beneath it. This was a place where knights were not usually armored, as they did not expect to find enemies beneath their feet. In the battle, the Earl of Lancaster was captured, along with barons, baronets, and about ninety-five of his knights and comrades, while the rest saved themselves by fleeing. These men were severely punished as an example to others, following the judgment of Andrew de Harckeley and the king's justices.

Tandem septimo die Martii iterum congrediuntur acies apud Burrowbrugge, ubi piissimus comes Humfridus a quodam Wallo, qui sub ponte constitit, lancea per foramina pontis emissa, per ingunina trajectus interiit; quo in loco milites armari non solent, quippe cum sub pedibus hostes se inventuros minime credant.

Note 1. "septimo die Martii". The Latin text reads the 7th of March whereas most accounts agree the battle took place on the 16th of March.

Adam Murimuth Continuation Introduction. 16th March 1322. And at Boroughbridge, many from the regions of Northumberland confronted them, whose leader was Lord Andrew de Harclay. In the fierce battle, the Earl of Hereford was killed on the 16th of March, while the Earl of Lancaster and sixteen barons were captured.

et apud Boroubrig obviaverunt eis multi de partibus Humberlandiæ, quorum dux fuit dominus Andreas de Arkeleye, ubi in conflictu gravi comes Herefordiæ fuit occisus, xvj. die Martii, comes Lancastriæ et xvj. barones capti.

Chronicle of the Monastery of Melsa. 16th March 1322. After this, Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, along with Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, and twenty knights in armor, departed from Pontefract Castle. When they arrived at the town called Boroughbridge, Andrew de Harclay, along with his northern allies, who had come to support the king, intercepted them. Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, began to resist them. However, Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, while fighting on the bridge, was fatally struck by a lance from a soldier who was hiding beneath the bridge. The lance pierced through the wooden planks and struck him through the groin and into his internal organs, killing him. Also falling with him were Sir William de Sully, Roger de Brunfeld, and Ralph de Elpyngdona, along with many others. Seeing this, those who had been on Lancaster's side began to flee—at first individually, then in groups—until eventually, all except a small number who remained with the Earl of Lancaster had fled. Those who remained were all captured and taken to York on the 17th day before the Kalends of April.

Post hæc recessit comes Lancastriæ cum comite Herfordiæ et monies viginti armatis de castro Pontisfracti, et venientibus ad villam quæ Pons Burgi dicitur occurrit Andreas de Harkelay, cum complicibus suis borealibus venientibus in auxilium regis. Quibus Thomas comes Lancastriæ resistere cœpit. Porro comes Herfordiæ Humfredus de Bown, super pontem pugnans, a quodam qui sub ponte latuit percussus est lancea inter celanda per foramen pontis, usque in viscera, et mortuus est. Corruerunt etiam cum eo domini Willelmus de Sully, Rogerus de Brunfeld, et Radulphus de Elpyngdona, et alii plures. Quod videntes qui partis suæ fuerant, cœperunt, primo singillatim, postea catervatim, omnes fugere, præter paucos qui cum comite Lancastriæ remanebant; et illi omnes capti sunt et ducti Eboracum 17 kalendas Aprilis.

Chronicle of Henry Knighton. 16th March 1322. The Earls of Lancaster and Hereford therefore advanced with the barons and others to Boroughbridge, where they were met by Sir Andrew de Harclay, and a fierce battle began at the bridge. While the Earl of Hereford was standing and fighting on the bridge, someone went beneath it and struck the earl with a lance, and he immediately fell dead there, as mentioned before, on the 17th day before the Kalends of April (March 16). There also perished two valiant knights: Sir Roger de Clifford and Sir William de Sully, along with many others; likewise, many more were seriously wounded. The Earl of Lancaster withdrew with his men into the town of Boroughbridge under a truce until the following day.

Perrexerunt igitur comites Lancastriæ et Herfordiæ cum baronibus et aliis apud Borowebrigge, ubi occurrit eis dominus Andreas de Harkeleye, et pugnare cœperunt fortiter ad pontem. Et cum comes Herfordiæ staret pugnans super pontem, quidam perrexit sub ponte et lancea comitem Herfordiæ percussit, statimque ibidem occubuit ut supradictum xvij. kalendarum Aprilis. Ibique interfecti sunt duo strenui milites, dominus Rogerus de Berfelde et dominus Willelmus de Sutheleye, et plures alii, similiterque multi alii graviter vulnerati. Comes Lancastriæ rediit cum suis in villam de Borowebrigge sub treuga usque in crastinum.

The Brut. 16th March 1322. Though might men seen Archers drawn ham in that on side and in that other; and Knights also fight together wonder sore; and among other, Sir Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford (age 46), a worthy knight of renown throughout all Christendom, stood and fought with his enemies upon the bridge. And as the noble lord stood and fought upon the bridge, a serf, a ribald, sculked under the bridge, and fiercely with a spear smote the noble knight into the fundement, so that his bowels come out there.

Chronicle of Henry Knighton. 20th March 1322. And when they had come to York, justices were immediately appointed to sit in judgment over them, greatly at the urging of the Despensers. Thus, they were all condemned first to be drawn and then hanged, except for the Earl of Lancaster, who, out of reverence for his royal blood, was beheaded at Pontefract, where the king himself was present at that time, namely on the day after the feast of Saint Benedict, that is, the 11th day before the Kalends of April (March 20th), in the year of our Lord 1321 [1322]. He was buried in the priory of the same town. He [the Earl of Lancaster] was beheaded on a certain plain outside the town, where now, in honor of God and in memory of the said earl, a church of wondrous design has been built near York. Before the earl's death, the following were drawn and hanged: Lord John Mowbray, Lord Roger Clifford, and Lord Gosselin Deyville.

Cumque venissent apud Eboracum, statim justiciarii assignati sunt qui sederent super eos, et hoc multum per excitationem Dispensatorum. Sicque adjudicati sunt omnes primo trahi et sic suspendi, excepto comite Lancastriæ qui ob reverentiam regii sanguinis decollatus est apud Pontefractum ubi rex interfuit eodem tempore scilicet in crastino sancti Benedicti, videlicet xj. kalendarum Aprilis anno domini MCCCXXI. sepultusque est in prioratu ejusdem villæ. Decollatus est in quadam planitie extra villam ubi nunc in dei honore et dicti comitis memoria fabricata est ecclesia mira structura apud Eboracum. Ante mortem comitis tracti sunt et suspensi videlicet dominus Johannes Moubray, dominus Rogerus de Clifforde, dominus Gosellinus Deyvile;

Life and Death of King Edward II of England. 22nd March 1322. First and foremost, Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, whose nobility, power, and immense wealth had inspired others, was sentenced to death by hanging six days later. However, the king's clemency mitigated the severity and disgrace of the punishment, especially considering that Lancaster was his own cousin. Instead, he was ordered to be beheaded. About eighteen others were hanged and drawn in various parts of England. Five were exiled, while the rest were imprisoned in harsh conditions, but were eventually released after paying a ransom.

Capitur in campo comes Lancastriæ, barones et baronetti, commilitones ejus et milites circa nonaginta quinque, reliquis fuga servatis. Hii in exemplum aliorum graviter puniuntur, sententin Andrew de Harckeley, et justitiariornm regis. Imprimis Thomas Lancastriæ comes, cujus nobilitas, potentia et divitiaram splendor reliquos animaverat, sexto post die surpendio condemnatus est: tametsi regis clementia gravitatem pœnæ et turpitudinem præsertim consanguineo mitigavit. Capite itaque truncari jussit, et circa octodecim reliquorum in diversis Angliæ partibus suspensi et tracti sunt; quinque in exilium acti; reliqni carceris squalori mancipati, tandem pretio redimuntur.

Life of Edward II by a Monk of Malmesbury. [22nd March 1322] O what a spectacle! To see the Earl of Lancaster, who was recently the terror of the whole country, receiving judgment in his own castle and home. Then the earl was led out of the castle, and mounting a certain wretched beast of burden, he was conducted to the place of execution. Then the earl, as if in prayer, stretched out his head, and the executioner, striking two or three times, cut off his head. And these things took place in the month of March in the fifteenth year of the reign.

O spectaculum! videre comitem Lancastriæ, qui nuper erat terror totius patriæ, in castro proprio et domo judicium recipere. Deinde educitur comes extra castrum, et ascendens quoddam vile jumentum conductus est ad capitolium. Tunc comes quasi orando caput extendit, et spiculator bis vel ter percutiens caput amputavit. Et hæc acta sunt mense Martii anno regni quintodecimo.

Adam Murimuth Continuation Introduction. 22nd March 1322. And on Monday, the 22nd day before Passion Sunday, the Earl of Lancaster was beheaded on his own estate at Pontefract, and six barons were drawn and hanged. Also, at York, Roger de Clifford and John de Mowbray, along with certain others, were drawn and hanged. Likewise, in London, Lord Henry Tyes; and at Canterbury, Bartholomew de Badlesmere; at Gloucester, John Giffard; at Bristol, Henry de Wylynton and certain others.

Et die Lunæ, xxij. die ante Passionem Lancastriæ decollatus in dominio suo apud Pontem fractum, et vj. barones tracti et suspensi. ltem, apud Eboracum tracti et suspensi fuerunt R[ogerus] de Cliffard et J[ohannes] de Moubray et quidam alii. Item, Londoniis dominus H[enricus] Tyes; et apud Cantuariam, B. de Badelesmere; apud Gloucestriam, J[ohannes] Giffard; apud Bristolliam, H[enricus] de Wylyntone et quidam alii.

Chronicle of Henry Knighton. 23rd March 1322. And, to add to the noble earl's torment, they caused six of his noblest and closest knights to be drawn and hanged, namely: Lord Warin of Isle, Lord William Touchet, Lord Thomas Mauduit, Lord William, son of William, Lord William Charnells, Lord Henry Bradbourne, and one of the earl's valets. They were all left hanging for a long time on the gallows for greater disgrace. These executions took place at Pontefract, and others at York, and neither the king nor the Despensers would allow their bodies to be taken down or buried for a long time afterward.

... et pro majori tormento nobilis comitis fecerunt trahere et suspendere sex mnobiliores et secretiores milites, scilicet dominum Warinum de Yle, dominum Willelmum Tochet, dominum Thomam Manduth, dominum Willelmum filium Willelmi, dominum Willelmum Charnell dominum Henricum Wradburne et unum valettum comitis qui omnes penderunt longo tempore super furcas pro majori opprobrio. Hii apud Pontefractum et alii apud Eboracum, nec sinebat eos rex et Dispensatores evelli aut sepeliri usque in longo tempore postea.

Life of Edward of Carnarvan by a Monk of Bridlington. 23rd March 1322. Furthermore, on the following day, at York, the lords John de Mowbray (age 35), Roger de Clifford (age 22), and Jocelin Deyville were, by the aforementioned record and process, drawn and hanged with iron chains.

Item in crastino, apud Eboracum, domini Johannes de Moubray, Rogerus de Clifforde, et Gocelinus Deyvylle, per recordum et processum prædictos trahuntur et cum cathenis ferreis suspenduntur.

Chronicle of Henry Knighton. 25th March 1322. After these events, Sir Andrew de Harclay was made Earl of Carlisle for his role in these proceedings, and appointed warden of the northern march against the Scots. It is noteworthy that all these men were complicit in the death of the Earl of Lancaster, and every one of them later died a shameful death. First, the king himself, and his two brothers, Thomas, Earl Marshal, and Edmund, Earl of Kent—all of whom had been elevated by the favor and urging of the Earl of Lancaster. Also included were the Earl of Warenne, the Earl of Arundel, Lord Hugh le Despenser the Elder, and Lord Hugh le Despenser the Younger, the Earl of Richmond, the Earl of Pembroke, and Lord Aymer de Valence. Among all of these, not one died a praiseworthy death, nor any of their adherents, as shall be shown further on.

Post hæc factus est dominus Andreas de Harkeleye comes Carliellensis pro isto negotio sic prosecuto, factusque est gardianus borialis marchie contra Scotos. Notandum quod isti fuerunt consentientes neci comitis, qui omnes postea morte turpi perierunt. Primo ipse rex, duo fratres ejus, scilicet Thomas comes marescallus et Edmundus comes Cantiæ; isti promoti et erecti per excitationem et instantiam dicti comitis Lancastrise; comes Warenns, comes Arundell, dominus Hugo Dispensator pater et dominus Hugo filius comes Rychemundize, comes de Penbroke, dominus Omerus de Valencia, sed inter eos non extitit quisquam qui fine laudabili vitam finivit, neque quisquam eis adberentium, ut infra patebit in suo processu.

On 25th March 1322 Andrew Harclay 1st Earl Carlisle (age 52) was created 1st Earl Carlisle in reward for his capture of Thomas Plantagenet 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Earl Lancaster, Earl of Salisbury and Lincoln (deceased) at the Battle of Boroughbridge.

In or before May 1322 John Giffard 2nd Baron Giffard Brimpsfield (age 34) was executed by King Edward II of England (age 38). Baron Giffard Brimpsfield forfeit.