Agnes Strickland's Queens of England, Vol. 1. (of 3) / Abridged and Fully Illustrated

by Agnes Strickland; Elisabeth Strickland

The common people were blinded by excitement, and flocked to meet her without stopping to inquire whether her cause were just or not. All the tales of her guilty conduct that had reached them from time to time they now believed to have been pure inventions of her enemies, the Despencers. No voice was raised against her though she came with her son, the Prince of Wales, attended by an outlawed traitor and a band of foreigners to raise a revolt against her own husband. It seems strange that such a wicked woman should have met with such success; but every Plantagenet in England was on her side, and she had many French relations there who always had thought her of more importance than the king.

Instead of taking measures to defend himself, Edward wrote pathetic letters to the Pope and to the King of France asking for aid, and issued a proclamation offering £1,000 for the head of the arch traitor, Roger Mortimer. The queen then offered a reward of double that sum for the head of the younger Despencer, and declared that her only motive in coming home was to deliver England from the king's bad advisers.

When Isabella attended church at Oxford in company with her son, Mortimer, and all her followers, the Bishop of Hereford preached the sermon and explained the queen's motive for taking up arms, concluding with this sentence: "When the head of a kingdom becometh sick and diseased, it must be taken off without useless attempts to administer any other remedy." It is shocking to think of the wife and son of a man so devoted to both, as King Edward certainly was, listening to such a murderous speech without expressing their horror and indignation. But the only effect of it was to increase the madness of the populace against the unhappy king, who, attended by the two Despencers and a few other friends, fled to Bristol, intending to seek refuge in Ireland.

His departure was the signal for a general uprising of the Londoners, who mobbed the Tower, and set all the prisoners free in the queen's name. Then Isabella pursued her husband with her army, which had largely increased, and laid siege to Bristol. The king shut himself up with the younger Despencer in the castle, much grieved to see how all his subjects had turned against him. The older Despencer was seized and brought before Isabella, who declared "that she should see that law and justice were executed on him according to his deeds."

"Ah, madam," he replied; "God grant me an upright judge and a just sentence! and that if I cannot find it in this world, I may find it in another."

The knight was ninety years of age when he made this reply, but that was of no consequence to Isabella; she had him in her power at last, and was determined to punish him. He was sentenced, and his execution took place within sight of his son and the king, who were still shut up in the castle. So alarmed were they at the old man's tragic fate that they endeavored to escape to Wales in a little boat. After tossing about for some days they were driven back by contrary winds to within a mile of the castle they had fled from. A knight, observing the efforts of the boatmen, rowed out in his own barge with a strong force to see what was the matter, and soon succeeded in capturing the king and his favorite, both of whom were delivered over to the queen as her prisoners.

Now Isabella's evil nature blazed out and showed her real character. She started with all her army for London, having caused Sir Hugh Despencer to be bound to the smallest and meanest horse that could be found, and dressed in his mantle of state, on which was embroidered his coat-of-arms. Thus was he led in mockery through all the towns they passed, his approach being announced by trumpets and cymbals. When they reached Hereford the royal party were received with great rejoicing, and stopped there to celebrate the feast of All Saints.

The unfortunate Hugh Despencer, who had eaten not a mouthful since the moment of his arrest, now became faint, and Isabella feared that he might succumb before reaching London. He was, therefore, brought to trial without further delay, and most cruelly put to death.

Several other gentlemen who had in one way or another offended either the queen or her friend, Mortimer, were executed in the same place.

When the army, which had been increased to an enormous size by volunteers by the way, arrived in London, great crowds flocked to welcome them, presenting costly gifts to Isabella and some of her followers.