第16章 A THWARTED PLOT(5)

"So far the king had acquiesced quietly in the authority of his mother, but he now paid a visit to France, and doubtless the barons around him there took advantage of his absence from her tutelage to shake her influence over his mind; and at the same time a rising took place at home against her authority.This was suppressed, and the Earl of Kent, the king's uncle, was arrested and executed by Isabella.This act of severity against his uncle, no doubt, hastened the prince's determination to shake off the authority of his haughty mother and to assume the reins of government himself.The matter, however, was not easy to accomplish.Mortimer having the whole of the royal revenue at his disposal, had attached to himself by ties of interest a large number of barons, and had in his pay nearly two hundred knights and a large body of men-at-arms.Thus it was no easy matter to arrest him.It was determined that the deed should be done at the meeting of the parliament at Nottingham.Here Mortimer appeared with Isabella in royal pomp.They took their abode at the castle, while the king and other members of the royal family were obliged to content themselves with an inferior place of residence.

"The gates of the castle were locked at sunset, and the keys brought by the constable, Sir William Eland, and handed to the queen herself.This knight was a loyal and gallant gentleman, and regarded Mortimer with no affection, and when he received the king's commands to assist the barons charged to arrest him he at once agreed to do so.He was aware of the existence of a subterranean communication leading from the interior of the castle to the outer country, and by this, on the night of the 19th of October, 1330, he led nine resolute knights - the Lords Montague, Suffolk, Stafford, Molins, and Clinton, with three brothers of the name of Bohun, and Sir John Nevil -into the heart of the castle.Mortimer was found surrounded by a number of his friends.On the sudden entry of the knights known to be hostile to Mortimer his friends drew their swords, and a short but desperate fight took place.Many were wounded, and Sir Hugh Turpleton and Richard Monmouth were slain.Mortimer was carried to London, and was tried and condemned by parliament, and executed for felony and treason.Several of his followers were executed, and others were attacked in their strongholds and killed;among these was Sir Roland Somers.

"Queen Isabella was confined in Castle Risings where she still remains a prisoner.Such, Walter, were the troubles which occurred when King Edward first took up the reins of power in this realm; and now, let's to supper, for I can tell you that my walk to Kingston has given me a marvellous appetite.We have three or four hours' work yet before we go to bed, for that Milan harness was promised for the morrow, and the repairs are too delicate for me to entrust it to the men.It is good to assist the law, but this work of attending as a witness makes a grievous break in the time of a busy man.It is a pity, Walter, that your mind is so set on soldiering, for you would have made a marvellous good craftsman.However, I reckon that after you have seen a few years of fighting in France, and have got some of your wild blood let out, you will be glad enough to settle down here with me; as you know, our profits are good, and work plentiful; and did I choose I might hold mine head higher than I do among the citizens; and you, if you join me, may well aspire to a place in the common council, aye, and even to an alderman's gown, in which case I may yet be addressing you the very worshipful my Lord Mayor.""Pooh!" Walter laughed; "a fig for your lord Mayors! I would a thousand times rather be a simple squire in the following of our young prince."