The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part B.: From Henry III. to Richard III. — David Hume — John Shaqi
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part B.: From Henry III. to Richard III.
David Hume · en
{1308.} Thomas, earl of Lancaster, cousin-german to the king, and first
prince of the blood, was by far the most opulent and powerful subject in
England, and possessed in his own right, and soon after in that of his
wife, heiress of the family of Lincoln, no less than six earldoms, with
a proportionable estate in land, attended with all the jurisdictions and
power which commonly in that age were annexed to landed property. He was
turbulent and factious in his disposition; mortally hated the favorite,
whose influence over the king exceeded his own; and he soon became the
head of that party among the barons who desired the depression of this
insolent stranger. The confederated nobles bound themselves by oath to
expel Gavaston: both sides began already to put themselves in a warlike
posture: the licentiousness of the age broke out in robberies and other
disorders, the usual prelude of civil war, and the royal authority,
despised in the king’s own hands, and hated in those of Gavaston, became
insufficient for the execution of the laws and the maintenance of peace
in the kingdom. A parliament being summoned at Westminster, Lancaster
and his party came thither with an armed retinue; and were there enabled
to impose their own terms on the sovereign. They required the banishment
of Gavaston, imposed an oath on him never to return, and engaged
the bishops, who never failed to interpose in all civil concerns,
to pronounce him excommunicated if he remained any longer in the
kingdom.[*] Edward was obliged to submit;[**] but even in his compliance
gave proofs of his fond attachment to his favorite. Instead of removing
all umbrage by sending him to his own country, as was expected, he
appointed him lord lieutenant of Ireland[***], attended him to Bristol
on his journey thither, and before his departure conferred on him new
lands and riches both in Gascony and England.[****] Gavaston, who did
not want bravery, and possessed talents for war,[*****] acted, during
his government, with vigor against some Irish rebels, whom he subdued.
* Trivet, Cont. p. 5.
** Rymer, vol. iii. p. 80.
*** Rymer, vol. iii. p. 92. Murimuth, p. 39.
**** Rymer, vol. iii. p. 87.
***** Heming. vol. i. p. 248. T. de la More, p. 593.