Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 39.djvu/145

 of Glamorgan, was alarmed at the extension of the Bohun influence, and, on the pretext that Mowbray had taken possession of Gower without royal license, attacked him both in the law courts and in the field. A regular war now broke out for the possession of Gower, and a confederacy of barons was formed to back up the claims of Mowbray and Hereford. The two Mortimers threw themselves eagerly on to Hereford's side. [, p. 111, describes them as 'quasi totius discordige incentores prsecipui.'] Hereditary feuds heightened personal animosities. Hugh le Despenser proposed to avenge on the Mortimers the death of his grandfather slain in the barons' wars (, p. 256). The younger Mortimer had a special grievance, inasmuch as a castle in South Wales, bestowed formerly on him through the royal favour, had been violently seized by the younger Hugh le Despenser (ib. p. 224).

By Lent 1321 the war spread to Despenser's palatinate of Glamorgan. Mortimer and his friends carried all before them. In April 1321 Edward summoned Hereford to appear before him ; but Mortimer of Wigmore joined with the earl in refusing to attend. On 1 May the king ordered them not to attack the Despensers. But on 4 May Mortimer and his confederates took Newport. Four days later, Cardiff, with its castle, the head of the lordship of Glamorgan, also fell into their hands (Flor. Hist. iii. 345 ;, p. 33 ; Monasticon, vi. 352 ; Ann. Paul., p. 293, which also speaks of the capture of Caerphilly). On 28 June both Mortimers appeared at the great baronial convention at Sherburn in Elmet (Flor. Hist. iii. 197). The current ran strongly against the favourites. In July a parliament assembled in London, to which Mortimer came up with his followers, 'all clothed in green, with their right hands yellow,' and took up his quarters at the priory of St. John's in Clerkenwell (Ann. Paul. p. 294). The Despensers were now attacked in parliament and banished. Mortimer took a conspicuous part against them. On 20 Aug. he was formally pardoned, with many others, before the conclusion of the session (Parl. Writs, II. ii. 168). Mortimer now ret ired to his strongholds in the marches. But Edward, profiting by the unexpected forces which gathered round him for the siege of Leeds in Kent, annulled the proceedings against the Despensers, and marched to the west, at the head of a large army, to take vengeance on the marcher confederacy. Mortimer, with his uncle and Hereford, had marched as far as Kingston-on-Thames {''Ann. Paul. pp. 299-310) ; but they made no serious effort to relieve Leeds, and were forced to retreat to the west, whither Edward followed them. The Mortimers still took a leading part in resisting the progress of the king. They captured the town and castle of Gloucester. But they failed to withstand Edward's advance at Worcester, and, though they made a better show at Bridgnorth, Edward captured the castle and burnt the town. The king failed to effect his passage over the Severn, but continued his victorious career northwards to Shrewsbury. But the marcher lords were bitterly disappointed that neither the Earl of Lancaster nor the other great English earls who had encouraged them to resistance had come to their help against Edward. The Mortimers refused to resist Edward any longer, and, on the mediation of the earls of Arundel and Richmond, negotiated the conditions of a compromise (, p. 264; Ann. Paul. p. 301). On 17 Jan. 1322 Mortimer received a safe-conduct to treat (Fœdera'', ii. 472). Five days later both he and his uncle made their submission to Edward at Shrewsbury (''Parl. Writs'', ii. ii. 176 ;, p. 35). They were both sent forthwith to the Tower of London to await their trial (ib.), while Edward marched northwards to complete his triumph. Before the end of March Lancaster and Hereford had been slain, and Edward and the Despensers ruled the land without further opposition. The commons of Wales, who hated the severity of the Mortimers' rule, petitioned the king to show no grace either to uncle or nephew for their treasons (''Rot. Parl.'' i. 400 ), and on 13 June a commission was issued for their trial (Parl. Writs,n.u.l93). On 14 July justices were appointed to pass sentence upon them ; but on 22 July the penalty of death was commuted for one of perpetual imprisonment (ib. pp. 213, 216). Both remained in the Tower for more than two years under strict custody in a lofty and narrow chamber ('minus civiliter quam decuit,' apud, p. 145). But they still had powerful friends outside. Adam of Orleton [q. v.], bishop of Hereford, who took his name from one of Mortimer's manors, and had closely co-operated with him in the attack on the Despensers, made preparations for his escape. Gerard de Alspaye, the sub-lieutenant of the Tower, was won over to procure the escape of the younger Mortimer (, p. v. ; ''Chron. de London, pp. 45-46 ; Flor. Hist''. iii. 217 ;, pp. 145-146, which gives the most circumstantial account. , p. 40, puts the escape a year too early). The night chosen was that of the feast of St. Peter ad Vincula, 1 Aug. 1324. The guards, who had celebrated the