Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 11.djvu/77

Clifford Castle; and in February 1301 signed the Lincoln letter to the pope as 'castellan of Appleby' (ib., Carlaverock, 186), denying the claim that Scotland was a fief of the papacy. In 1299 he was deputed with Antony Bek [see ] to superintend the castle garrisons on the marches ; and in the same year received his first summons to parliament (29 Dec.) His last summons is dated 26 Nov. 1313 (Siege of Carlaverock, 186; Hist. Peerage, 111). In the intervening years he had been distinguishing himself by his military achievements, which seem to have opened with a brilliant raid into Scotland, immediately before Christmas 1297 (, 183); though, according to a much later chronicler, he had been present at the battle of Dunbar on 27 April 1296 (, 2480). From this date he seems to have been actively employed on the Scotch marches in almost every year till his death. His exertions brought about the fall of the fortress of Carlaverock in July 1300, which the king in return entrusted to his guardianship (Siege of Carlav. pp. 27, 28, 76, 86). In 2 Edward II he was again warden of the Scotch marches, and on 20 Aug. 1308 was appointed captain and chief guardian of all Scotland on either side of the Firths in company with the Earl of Angus. He was reappointed to the same office on 15 Dec. 1309, having in the previous October been despatched against Scotland with the Earl of Hereford and Henry de Beaumont. On 4 April 1311 he was nominated guardian south of the firths, and on 18 June was a commissioner of array for Westmoreland and Cumberland (, 338; Parl. Writs, 687-8). In return for these services he received many grants and lucrative posts. On 15 Oct. 1306 he was enfeoffed in Robert Bruce's forfeited manor of Hert and Hertlepool, a grant which in later years embroiled the Cliffords with the bishops of Durham, who claimed that these estates, being situated within their county palatine, should revert to them on the treason of the original holder (Reg. Pal. Dun. iii. 58, 59, iv. 261). Skelton, in Cumberland, he received on the forfeiture of Christopher de Seton (, 338; Escheat Rolls, i. 260, cf. 106). Skipton Castle was given him in exchange for his claims in the vale of Monmouth on 7 Sept, 1310 (Hist. of Westmoreland, i. 274; cf., Kalendar, 34); and Edward I is said to have granted him the Scotch lands of William Douglas in satisfaction of a claim for 500l. a year. According to Barbour it was this grant that made Sir James Douglas side with Bruce; and the Scotch rhyme has more than one story of the vengeance taken by the 'good Lord Douglas' on his English rival 'the Clifford.' Nor were the gifts of Edward II less munificent. To those already mentioned may be added the marshalry of England (3 Sept. 1307), and the several grants of 3 & 4 Ed. II of which Sir Harris Nicolas makes mention (, iii. 9; Siege of Carlav. 186). By a special clause in the ordinances of 1311 the royal grants to Clifford were exempt from the general restoration decreed (Chron. of Ed. I and II, i. 199). He was also appointed guardian of Norham Castle on the eve of the Assumption 1314. Clifford, who in 1302, 1303, and 1305 was acting as 'custos' for the Bishop of Durham, was deputed to inquire into the question of the forfeiture of Balliol's manors of Gaynesford and Castle Bernard (11 Dec. 1305). He was summoned to the great parliament of Carlisle (January 1307), and is said to have been present at Edward I's death-bed, where he received that monarch's dying instructions relative to the banishment of Gaveston (Reg. Pal. Dun. iv. 795-7; Parl. Writs, i. 536;, Carlav. 186). In 1307-8 he was invited to be present at Edward II's coronation, was reappointed governor of Nottingham Castle, and in the early half of the latter year entered into a league with Antony Bek, bishop of Durham [q. v.], to preserve the king's rights (Parl. Writs, 617-18 ;, 338). He seems to have been a favourite with Edward II. He signed the Stamford letter of the barons to the pope on 6 Aug. 1309 (Chron. of Ed. I and II, i. 162). His name occurs in one list among those of the ordainers (ib. 172 ; but cf., ii. 327-8). That he had as yet hardly thrown himself definitely into the opposition is shown by his declaration of 17 March 1310 that the king's concessions should not be construed into a precedent (Chron. 171); while the ordinance alluded to in the last paragraph seems to show that towards the end of 1311 (28 Oct.) he was not viewed with distrust by the barons. Next year, however, he is found occupying a more decided position. On the rumour of Gaveston's return he was assigned to guard the northern counties against any collusion between the favourite and Robert Bruce (c. January 1312). On 4 May he entered Newcastle with an armed force, in company with the Earl of Lancaster; and a fortnight later he was besieging Gaveston in Scarborough Castle (Chron. of Ed. I and II, i. 204; Parl. Writs, 688;, ii. 328). After Gaveston's death he was appointed one of the representatives of the baronial party, and as such had a safe-conduct for an interview with the papal legates before Christmas 1312.