WIGMORE CASTLE, HEREFORDSHIRE. 17 



SO that it was remarked that England had three kings, instead of 

 one.* The favourites ventured to abridge the luxuries of the queen, 

 and, finding the king's preference given to them, she at once felt 

 hatred and contempt for her husband, as well as for them. She 

 was advised, by Orleton, to seek occasion of going to France, 

 and plan the destruction of the Despensers. In 1325 Mortimer 

 escaped from the Tower, according to Henry de Blandford,t in the 

 following manner. In the middle of a stormy night, having lulled 

 his keepers by a banquet in which a soporific was administered, 

 finding the chamber door secured by many fastenings, he broke 

 through the wall into the kitchen ; he got out at the top of that, 

 and, by cords, so arranged as to answer the purpose of a ladder, 

 previously provided by his friends, he descended, reached the 

 Thames, obtained a boat, and, sailing boldly out to sea, landed on 

 the continent. Having proceeded to the queen in France, he joined 

 her councils, and so ingratiated himself as to be suspected of an im- 

 proper intimacy. Be that as it may, for the future one destiny 

 seemed to guide both. She levied an army of Hainaulters and 

 Germans, placing the count of Hainault and Lord Mortimer at 

 their head, and, sailing adventurously to England, she landed, about 

 Michaelmas, at Orwell, in Suffolk, The clergy and the barons 

 eagerly joined her forces in all parts, and followed the retreating 

 ministers. The elder Despenser flew to Bristol Castle, and the 

 younger took Edward with him to Chepstow and thence embarked,^ 

 in the hopes of reaching Lundy isle. But adverse winds drove the 

 latter to the coast of Glamorganshire, and they were forced to take 

 shelter in the Abbey of Neath. The queen's pursuit was uninter- 

 rupted. She advanced to Gloucester, and thence to Bristol, where 

 the elder Despenser surrendered on her summons. He was first 

 tortured, — such was the barbarity of the age,- — and then put to 

 death. Thence she marched to Hereford. For better security, the 

 king and his favourite had quitted the doubtful sanctuary of Neath 

 Abbey for the strength afforded by Llanstephan Castle, at the 

 mouth of the Towy, in Caermarthenshire. She despatched the 

 Earl of Leicester, some Welsh nobles, and a body of marchers, in 

 pursuit of them. Here they were taken, and conveyed to Here- 

 ford, J where the younger Despenser was executed " with the loath- 

 some ceremonies," says Mr. Turner, "which then accompanied 



* Moor, 597. 

 t p. 84. 



:|: So Duncumb, Hist. Hereford, p. 83 ; but Sharon Turner, in his Hiit. of 

 England^ vol. ii., p. 122, says at Neath Abbey. 



VOL. IV.— NO. XV. B 



