Lady Despenser's Scribery - Introduction
- This small corner of the web concentrates mainly on the life and times of Hugh Despenser the younger, as well as the reign of Edward II and the fourteenth century in general. It contains snippets of some (though certainly not all) of the research I have done in order to write a novel about him (and hopefully, later, a biography as well). Oh yes, some 21st century stuff sneaks its way in too, from time to time!
Well, I was hoping to have another Medieval post for you today, but events have conspired against me, so I'm afraid you're stuck with another plum boring info-lite excuse for a piece of writing!
First of all, apologies for not having done the summarising of the Despenser War yet - it is on the way... promise! Also, I apologise to all my fellow bloggers for not being as conscientious as normal for looking at their posts - it's not that I don't want to, honestly.
Let me explain what's been going on in my life and what is planned for the next few months. At the beginning of this month I learned that I was no longer required in my lecturing job due to the economic cutbacks. I had seen it coming so at least it wasn't a shock. Even so, it has still created rather a large dent in my finances. Which is why I've been working all the hours I can looking into setting up my own online business (actually, more than one) in order that I can still earn money as well as staying at home and (hopefully) still find time to write!
Phase One is now completed, and at present I have nearly 200 books (surplus from my own collection) for sale at Amazon under the name of Stroppy Dog Books (don't ask). Sales have been amazingly brisk: today I had an unprecedented number to pack and post, hence not getting around to the post. It won't be like that every day though, thank goodness! (although I'm not complaining about the income!)
My next venture is another online store selling unusual but beautiful gifts - the sort of treats you buy yourself when you need a little lift. I have just about finished researching wholesalers and am now about to embark (actually, teach myself) to build a website. In a strangely masochistic way I am rather looking forward to this.
So, for the next couple of months you'll have to forgive me if now and again there are a few days longer between posts than normal, or if I don't visit your site as often as usual. Hopefully, when things are up and running, I should have a little more time again.
But, just to add a little Medieval flavour (sort of), I have put together a few great ideas for your next holiday - all of course with a Medieval theme!
King Richard's Medieval Family Fun Park, Naples, Florida
http://kingrichardspark.net/
Where, of course, King Richard goes every year when he isn't on Crusade! And check out the really, really annoying music (!) on the home page - it'll probably stay with you for the next 24 hours!
King Edward II Inn and Suites, San Francisco
http://www.smartstays.com/edward-ii-inn-and-suites-san-francisco-united-states/
I'll bet you never knew that dear old Ed had a sideline in the hospitality business! One enthusiastic reviewer claimed "King Edward is the best!". Yes, we knew that, love.
And here's one especially for Alianore:
The Dunheved Hotel in London
http://www.travelstay.com/pages/DunhevedHotel.htm
So now you know what happened to him post 1330 - he went and opened up a hotel in Croydon. Hang on though, I've just scrolled to the end of the site above and it says that "this hotel is no longer available". So it looks like he's vanished again!
As I am currently in the middle of tax return week, I thought I'd lighten the mood with a little frivolity!
I would like you to meet three new friends of mine who appeared over Christmas and have since formed a guard of honour around my desk: here they are - in a suitably romantically blurred (Ok, I had a bit of camera shake!) photo:
Yes, three handsome, dashing and fully armoured knights - what a shame they're only 9cm high! They tell me that their names are Edward, Hubert and Thomas and that they'd really like a feature on the blog showing off just how well they can pose with their weapons erect!
This is Edward :
No connection of course to Edward II - just thought I'd better point that out! He reckons that he's the most handsome of all the lads, hence he likes to show his face (plus his moustache used to get caught up in his full face helm!). He's a cheeky little blighter - always ready with some sarcastic quip or other when I'm trying to work. Now and again he 'accidentally' gets pushed off the desk - I do need some peace after all!
Next is Hubert:
He's the strong, silent type - and he's got a very nice helmet too! I haven't seen his face yet, but I'm pretty sure he hasn't got a huge moustache! He also has the alarming tendency to wander off. This post would have been done yesterday but he'd gone AWOL. I later found him inexplicably laying siege to my waste paper basket!
And finally, here's Thomas:
Thomas has got a very big sword! And he knows just how to hold it! He also talks alot, but all I can hear through his visor is mmmph, mmmmph, mmmmmphffff! For some strange reason the dog has taken a fancy to Thomas.
Three different knights but they all share one odd trait. Look at this pic and see if you can see what it is:
No, it's not that they all like to take part in a Medieval conga line (although I did catch them at it the other morning!). Look at those feet: they're huge! Compared to the rest of them anyway. I think the honours go to Hubert (on the left) for the most outsized hoofers! And you know what they say about men with big feet...
And, absolutely finally, before you tell me I need to get out more - I took this one last photo to prove a point: that the pen truly is mightier than the sword!
After the near civil war caused by the actions of the rebel Marcher barons against the Despensers (know as the Despenser Wars), Edward II was finally forced into a corner. On the 14th August 1321, the earls and barons gathered in the great hall at Westminster, while the prelates met separately in the great chamber. There, the earl of Hereford, Humphrey de Bohun, read out a list of accusations directed towards the younger Despenser and his father (neither of whom, as far as I’m aware, were present at the time).
These charges were – more or less - as follows:
1. By virtue of his position as chamberlain, Hugh the younger had brought his father in to advise the king, even though he wasn’t one of those agreed upon in the parliament of 1318 to stay near the king.
(My verdict: Yup, that one’s true. However, I think it’s fair to say that the only person among the opposition who truly had any real grudge against Despenser Snr was Lancaster. So I see his hand at work in this charge – he was probably still seething about not being able to counsel the king himself!)
2. Both of them had usurped royal power which they exercised over the king, his officials and the control of the kingdom. Actually, according to the charges, they did rather a lot of usurping – usually to the detriment of the baronial party.
(My verdict: guilty as charged. Although Hugh the younger was the greatest usurper; his father just tended to benefit from his son’s influence.)
3. They decided who could see the king and who could not on any given day. In any case, one of them had to be present at any meeting between the king and any of his barons or earls. It was also alleged that any decisions given were of Despenser and not of the king.
(My verdict: Again, guilty. As chamberlain it seems that Hugh liked to control everything – probably because he feared he might not last long otherwise!)
4. The Despensers had removed officials and ministers agreed upon by common assent and replaced them with their own and, it goes without saying, unsuitable, men.
(My verdict: True – to a point. Approved officials were removed and replaced with Despenser adherents – mostly from Hugh the elder’s retinue, but it was by no means widespread policy.)
5. They had used false jurors to falsely indict such magnates as Hereford and John Gifford because they wanted their lands.
(My verdict: I can’t really comment on this as I’m not sure what indictments these refer to. Unless of course it refers to the men being indicted as rebels during the Despenser war – in which case the accusations were hardly false.)
6. They had ‘falsely and wickedly’ counselled Edward to travel towards Gloucester with horses and men at arms, in support of their own grievances and against Magna Carta and the award of the peers of the land, thereby promoting civil war.
(My verdict: Edward certainly supported his favourite by riding with an army to Gloucester to face down the rebels, however whether Hugh asked him to do so or whether it was his own wish may never be known. As for promoting civil war, the marcher rebels could be considered just as guilty: Hugh may have been the motive, but there was no justification for the acts of terror and vandalism they enacted on the people of Wales on their journey south.
By the way, as well as usurping, there were also many charges concerned with ‘evil counsel’ - the ‘falsely and wickedly’ seen above being just a variation on a theme!)
7. Accroaching royal power by removing Llewelyn Bren from the king’s custody and taking him to Cardiff where he was executed. By doing so, they had acted in disheritance of the crown and to the dishonour of the king and also the earl of Hereford and de Mortimer who had promised him a pardon.
(My verdict: OK, most definitely guilty on this one! Maybe Hugh felt he had some justification as I discussed in this post – but he still should not have taken and executed Bren without royal permission.)
8. Counselling the king (again, evilly!) to disinherit other barons, namely Audley and Damory by taking their lands into his hands with the intention of them being passed on to Hugh the younger. In this way, Hugh was accused of intending to gather for himself all of the lands of the earldom of Gloucester.
(My verdict: oh dear, guilty again *yawn*. Hugh definitely had his eyes on the lands of his brothers in law and managed to disinherit them by rather ingenious and underhand means – with, of course, some collusion from Edward. I wonder- if things had gone his way, would he have been satisfied with the Gloucester lands and maybe an earldom – or would he still want for more?)
9. Hugh the elder managed to obtain the wardship of the lands of the late earl of Warwick until his son came of age, despite a grant (agreed to by Edward) to Guy de Beauchamp’s executors to the same. Hugh the younger was accused of causing the king to repeal this grant so that the lands could be given instead to his father, to be used for his profit.
(My verdict: Guilty. Oh dear, this really isn’t looking good now…)
10. Causing impediments to those wishing to pay reasonable fines owed to the king, such as in the case of John de Mowbray with Gower, with the intention that lands then could be forfeited. Again, this was due to the Despensers coveting the said lands and not only was to the ‘damage and dishonour’ of the king but also ‘against the law of the land, in disinheritance of the great men and others of the realm’.
(My verdict… Guess what?)
11. Misappropriating confiscated Templar properties for their own gain.
(My verdict: I haven’t looked into the details surrounding this accusation, but we are talking Despensers and land again – so, most probably guilty.)
12. Hugh the younger used his office as chamberlain in order to extort fines from bishops, abbots and priors in order that they could then approach the king and seek his grace.
(My verdict: Probably true, given his avaricious nature. However I remember reading somewhere (and annoyingly I cannot for the life of me now find it!) that it had always been the custom for newly appointed clergy to pay a little sweetener before seeing the king.
13. Interfering with justice by releasing prisoners before trial, specifically one John Latchley (Lachelegh).
(My verdict: Yes, this definitely happened. Latchley had committed what amounted to armed robbery against Lady Jacomina de Merk at her manor at Lyndesle (Lindsell, Essex) in 1319 and was imprisoned in Colchester jail until he could compensate her for her losses. Despenser released him – before Jacomina got her money – but it was not, it seems, out of any affection for the man. After Latchley had handed over his lands to Despenser and paid a fine, Hugh then passed him, and his lands onto Badlesmere – quite interesting when you consider that Badlesmere was one of Hugh’s accusers!)
There was also another accusation in the list that, according to the Rochester Chronicler, was brought by Badlesmere. Badlesmere presented a document he claimed had been authored by Despenser and witnessed by John Giffard and Richard de Grey, which amounted to a conspiracy against the crown. The document basically stated that the oath of allegiance was owed to the crown rather than the actual person of the king. The trouble was, this document contained, almost word for word, the position of the barons in 1308 and 1311 when Gaveston was causing problems. The only difference was that Gaveston’s name had been left out. It was obvious, especially to bishop Hethe of Rochester (who the Rochester chronicler, William de Dene, was close to) that the whole thing was a set up, and from that point on he detested the Marchers for what they had done.
Once the charges had been delivered, Hereford then declared both of the Despensers henceforth exiled, with no hope of return – and their heirs to be disinherited forever. The ‘statute’ (although it was never formally entered in the Statute rolls) was, by this time, a done deed. Even though the prelates had not given their consent, Edward was forced to concede that the rebellious marchers had won. In the words of the Historia Roffensis, Edward retired ‘anxius et tristus’ to his chamber.
It was certainly a harsh punishment – but the Despensers had brought it upon themselves. In particular, Hugh the younger had let power go to his head in a way that was bound to enrage those around him. Maybe he thought he was invincible, having Edward as his protector; maybe he didn’t care. Either way, he had more than once overstepped the mark thanks to his overwhelming desire for land, power and wealth. You would have thought that Gaveston’s fate would have served as a warning that the feelings of the other barons could not be ignored or stepped upon – obviously it did not.
Upon hearing the news of his banishment, Hugh the elder, who was at the time in Canterbury, is said to have cursed his son for bringing about their downfall (according to the Anonimalle Chronicle). He then hastened to Dover where he crossed the sea, bound for France.
As for the younger Hugh – he did not follow his father meekly into exile – although he certainly took to the sea. Edward, still not wanting to let Hugh go too far from him, committed him to the care of the barons of the Cinque Ports (still faithful to their king) and it was with these men that Hugh, for a short time, transferred his skills into another money-making venture – that of piracy. This section of his life is covered in this post.
Sources
Calendar of Close Rolls
Calendar of Patent Rolls
'The Despenser War in Glamorgan', J. Conway Davies in Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, Third Series, Vol. 9, (1915)
Vita Edwardi Secundi, edited and translated by Wendy R. Childs
The Tyranny and Fall of Edward II, 1321-1326, Natalie Fryde
King Edward II, Roy Martin Haines
The Baronial Opposition to Edward II, J.C. Davies
'Bishops and politics in the reign of Edward II: Hamo de Hethe, Henry Wharton, and the "Historia Roffensis."', Roy Martin Haines, The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, Oct 93
I have just realised that it is a year ago today that I launched this blog. So Happy Birthday to the Scribery!
Writing this blog has taught me so much – not only about the subject matter – but also the basics of web pages, design and so much more. Sometimes it has been a struggle to get posts out – mainly due to time constraints on research and so forth, but I so love writing this blog that I have never regretted starting it for one moment.
Big thanks and hugs to all my supporters – readers and fellow bloggers who help make this such a great thing to do! Especial thanks and really huge (hugh!) hugs though to Alianore, who never ceases to amaze me with her knowledge and who has become a very dear friend.
Anyway, the posts about Hugh Despenser will resume very, very soon. In the meantime, I have found some fascinating entries in the Assize of Nuisance 1301-1431 (16 Nov 1319 – 5 Aug 1328) online at: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=35974.
Often, historians concentrate so much on the great events and people that they forget all about the lowlier sorts who made up the vast majority of the population. Granted, there are fewer records about who they were and what they did – but where they exist, they can provide a fascinating glimpse into the everyday lives of normal people.
The Assizes of Nuisance dealt mainly with neighbourly disputes about property and boundaries, proving that such things are most certainly not a modern phenomena. Below are three cases against different neighbours, all brought by the same man. Either he was the ‘smug self-righteous git’ of the area, or else he was a man imposed upon by neighbours from hell – you decide!
Fri. 14 June 1325.
Hugh de Waltham and Juliana his wife, pls.*, appear against Robert Mustrel of Tonebregg, def.**, who makes default. They complain that the cess-pit of his privy and a pit called 'swelugh' receiving the water from his cistern and from a well not walled in stone adjoin their land too closely. On viewing the premises the mayor and aldermen find that the cess-pit and the 'swelugh' receiving the water from the well and from a great vessel called a 'Thityngtunne', are not walled in stone, and are too near the pls.' foundations. Judgment that within 40 days etc. the defs. remove them to a distance of 2½ ft. at least or 3½ ft. if they are not walled in stone.
The same Hugh complains that his paling of wattle and daub (palicium de ligno et daubicio) is on the verge of ruin, and broken down in divers places because of the earth thrown up against it by Thomas de la Marche, whose land it adjoins; and he asks that it be replaced by a suitable fence (claustura) in accordance with the custom of the City. The def. agrees to abide by the judgment of the mayor and aldermen and others sworn to the assize, who, after viewing the premises, adjudge that within 40 days either both parties provide 1½ ft. of land and share the cost of building thereon a stone wall, or the one provide 3 ft. of land and the other bear the whole cost of building: under a penalty of 40s. to be levied from the land and chattels of the defaulter by the sheriffs, who, in addition, are to cause the work to be done at his expense.
Fri. 19 July 1325.
The same Hugh complains that Katherine relict of Adam de Rothyng has likewise piled earth up against the wattle and daub paling (palicium de ligne et daubicio), 40 ft. long between their tenements so that it is on the verge of ruin, and it is further broken down in many places by the water falling from a worthless tree (arbore nugario)*** belonging to her. He declares his readiness to build a new wall of stone, earth or wattle and daub, in accordance with the assize. The def. says she holds her tenement jointly with Joan, daughter of Clement le Settere, without whom she cannot answer. Joan comes, and together they affirm that they cannot afford to build a wall. Asked whether they can show any cause why they should not be compelled to do so, they say no. Judgment that, in accordance with the custom of the City, they provide within 40 days etc. 3 ft. of land upon which the pl. can build.****
Mandate of the mayor and aldermen to the sheriffs ordering them to inspect the tenor of the above judgment, and cause it to be put in execution without delay, 18 Apr. 1326.
* Plaintiff(s)
** Defendant
*** I wonder what was considered to be a worthless tree? A dead one perhaps? In which case I can’t see much water falling from it. Or else an ornamental one (perhaps Katherine liked to have a pretty garden!) with lots of leaves which collected the water and then dripped – a lot!
**** I hope Hugh liked building walls, because it seems that, after these cases, he had a lot to build!
Happy New Year everyone - and I hope you all had a good holiday season!
Mine was busier than I expected due to looking into a new business venture (more details when it gets closer to happening) - so I didn't get to play in Blogland as much as I wanted.
Anyway, just before Christmas I was lucky enough to go and see the Mediaeval Baebes live at Gloucester Cathedral on their 'Illumination' Tour. For those who have never heard of them, they are, in their own words: 'Six talented, attractive women [who] breathe renewed life into the rich texts of medieval songs and poetry.' If you haven't heard their CDs you may have heard their music featured in the BBC's Virgin Queen, starring Anne-Marie Duff.
I have followed their music for about five years now - and have seen them twice before - both times at the Berkeley Joust event (at Berkeley Castle). And so, when I heard they were going to perform in one of my favourite buildings - Gloucester Cathedral, I jumped at the chance to get some tickets. It was just as well I was quick off the mark, for the concert soon sold out.
I arrived at the cathedral on the evening of the concert (20th December) nearly an hour early, planning on getting a good parking space and then retiring to a pub for a while to stay warm. But the queue outside the cathedral doors was already growing, so I decided - in the hope of getting a good seat - to go and join them. As it was a freezing cold evening (although luckily not raining), this meant a 40 minute wait with knees knocking and teeth chattering. But it was worth it! I managed to get a seat a quarter of the way from the stage and on the end of a row - so I could see the stage (well, most of it) fairly well.
The whole event was also being filmed for an upcoming TV special and DVD; it was quite odd seeing a big camera on a boom sweeping backwards and forwards, up and down, as well as the roving camera-men getting close up shots. Also the lighting was very bright (making it hard to get good photos, as you can see from the pics). But to be honest, none of it detracted from the actual performance.
The Baebes were, as usual, fantastic. Their voices are wonderful to listen to, whether as a solo or as a group. And they are also a feast for the eyes - dressed in Gothic 'medieval' gear, with oodles of ivy wrapped around microphones, stands... everything! The songs they performed were a mixture - from their previous work and from their new album: Ilumination. I can truthfully say that the combination of their haunting voices and the atmosphere within the ancient building sent shivers down my spine more than once. Other songs made me want to get up and dance ('The Blacksmiths', 'Misere Nomine', 'On Yonder Lea', 'I Sing of a Maiden'), and it was a shame that we were all confined to our seats.
One other performance that I just have to mention (although it's not on the album) was an instrumental piece played by their accompanying musicians while the girls went off for a dress change. At first I thought 'oh no, this is going to be boring' (I'm not a fan of instrumentals!), but it was superb - and once again made me wish I could get up and dance. It was just nice that these guys (and one girl) got the chance of a bit of limelight for once. The crowd certainly appreciated it, going by the amount of applause. And talking of applause - at the end of the concert, the Baebes got a couple of standing ovations which were most definitely well-deserved.
Their new album seems to be a bit of a departure from their traditional songs. Although it still has an overall 'medieval' sound, a bit of middle-eastern influence creeps in now and again (such as in 'Desert Rose' and 'Miracle'). There is also a song which features words from the Sanskrit of the Mahabarata - 'The Undivided', although I must admit this was not one of my favourites because I didn't feel it matched with the Baebes' usual style. Illumination also has a large number of songs adapted from the Romantic poets - Keats, Blake and Longfellow, as well as Robert Burns. Overall, these worked really well, my favourite being 'My Lady Sleeps' which sounds as though it would be a perfect accompaniment to a Shakespeare play.
But for the traditionalists, there are still songs adapted from Medieval sources, in particular the Medieval Latin of the Benedictbeuern manuscript: 'Suscipe Flos Florem' and 'Ecce Chorus Virginum' both have a softness and atmospheric quality and you could imagine them being played at a 14th or 15th century court, the first one as a ballad and the second as a pavane.
If I am being truthful, I wouldn't label this as my favourite album of theirs (The Rose and Virgin Queen still tussle for that title) - well not yet anyway; I suspect that the more I listen the more it will grow on me. Maybe I am a bit of a stickler for their past work and am a bit wary of this new experimentation stuff - but I suppose most bands have to do this if they are to evolve and move forward.
One treat for the audience was that during the interval (and another dress change for the girls), the audience could wander around the cathedral. The smoke effects for the performance had, by this stage, filled the building and made it look quite evocative, especially with the lighting behind it. I managed to take some great photos of this - as well as some of Edward II's tomb - and I shall put these up in the next post.
More information on the Mediaeval Baebes (and some samples of their music) can be found on their website.
Thanks to mum for taking the photos - and managing to do it without using a flash! 
