Page:The Complete Peerage Ed 2 Vol 4.djvu/288

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270 DESPENSER 24 Nov. 1326.0 His head was set up on London Bridge, 4 Dec, and his quarters in four different places. C") Some years afterwards his bones were collected, and bur. in Tewkesbury Abbey.('=) On his death all his honours were forfeited, the sentence of "Exile" passed on him in 1321 being re-affirmed in Pari., i Edw. III-O The Queen obtained his movables, plate, and jewels, 8 Jan. 1326/7. (") His wife had been committed to the Tower, 17 Nov. 1326. C^) Her lands were restored to her, 22 Apr. 1328, and the King took her homage and fealty therefor, i i May following.^ Before 26 Jan. 1328/9 she was abducted from Hanley CastleQ by Sir William la treshonurable dame la Roigne et entre les autres du Roialme si enserrez debowele et puis lis serront arcz Retraiez traiteours tirant Reneye si ales voz iuiz prendre traitors malueis et attaynt." (Ch. Misc. Rolh^ 1 8, no. 3). (*) " Mais sire Hughe le Despenser le filz puis le houre qil fust pris ne voleit manger ne boiure Car bien sauoit il qil nauereit de y nulle merci Et la Roigne et soun consail auoient enpensee qil auereit soun iuggement a Loundres Mes il fust tant fieble pur labstinence qil soefFri de gree qil pur poi morrust de fableste par quei assentuz fust qil auereit soun iuggement a Hereford' Et a vne liwe de la ville saunz chaperoun ly ert ostee et le chaperoun le pilous mestre Robert de Baldok le faux chaunceller le Roi Et hom mist sur lour testes chapelletz de vrcies poignauntes Et deux esquicrs cornerent en lour orailles de deux grosses boegles la pout hom oir corner sur les deux prisouns plus de mille corns en semble Et vn Simond de Redingg' macer le Roi porta ses armes deuaunt ly reuersee en signe qil serroient desfaitz pur touz iours Et lendemain fust sire Hughe le Despenser le filz iugge a la mort et fust traigne et penduz et decollee desboelee et ses boels ars quartronee et ses quarters maundes a quatre villes Dengleterre et sa teste maundee al pount de Loundres." [Chron. de Brut, f. 219 v). His trial and death took place " viii° kalendas Decembris" [Annalei Pau/ini^p. 319), otherwise described as " le lundi en la veille seinte Katerine " {French Chron. of London, p. 56). Cf. Walsingham, Hist. J vol. i, p. 185. () " Item le ioedi apres manger la surueille de seint Nicholas fut la teste sire Hughe le Despencer le fitz porte oue trumpes par my Chepe tanqe a le pount de Loundres et illoqes fust la teste fichee." {French Chron. of London, p. 57). His quarters were sent to be hung up at Dover, Bristol, York, and Newcastle. (Avesbury, p. 283). (f) "1326. In vigilia sancti Andree Apostoli [29 Nov.] apud Herefordiam Hugo secundus . . . enormiter, perdiciose, et crudeliter, sine judicio vel responsione, suspensus, distractus, et in quatuor partes divisus fuit, et in nostra ecclesia diu postea sepultus." {Chron. of Tewkesbury, f. 226). The permit for his bones to be collected and buried was given on 15 Dec. 1330. {Close Roll, 4 Edw. Ill, m. 9 d). {^) Pari. Rolls, vol. ii, pp. 7, II. H Close Rolls, 20 Edw. II, mm. 4, 2; 2 Edw. Ill, mm. 30, 27. (') On which day John de Grey [of Rotherfield], claiming her as his wife, obtained a commission of oyer and terminer. {Patent Roll, 3 Edw. Ill, ;>. I, ot 38 d). He was still claiming her as late as May 1333, having in the interval pursued her, with little success, through various ecclesiastical courts, the Pope having been appealed to at least three times. {Papal Letters, vol. ii, p. 394). In Jan. 133 1/2 he had hot words with his rival before the King and the Council. " Et apres les chaudes paroles si mist le dit monsire Johan mayn au cotel et treit en partie, mes ne mie tut hors de gayne." {Pari. Rolls, vol. ii, pp. 62, 65). For this he was imprisoned, and his lands