. f THE GREAT BRIDGE OF BURTON-ON-TRENT, 
King Edward II. and Thomas Earl of Lancaster on 18th March, 
1321, The bridge is said to have been then of narrow width, and 
at the town end to have had a strongly fortified gateway, which com- 
manded the approach from the West, The long narrow bridge 
would lend itself to the defence from any approach from the East. 
The Earl concentrated 30,000 troops at Tutbury, and with a portion 
of these garrisoned Burton, erecting earthworks at the Derbyshire 
end of the bridge. The King, on arriving at Cauldwell, heard that 
the van of his army had made an attack and been repulsed with con- 
siderable loss by the Earl’s troops, and were much dispirited by this 
disaster. Leaving a portion of his army to continue the attack on 
the bridge, he crossed the Trent by a ford at Walton with the re- 
mainder of his forces, and reached Burton by night unperceived by 
the enemy. The Eari was surprised, and, abandoning the defence of 
the bridge, retired into the town, and was compelled to retreat in dis- 
order to Tutbury. 
1 have taken the above from Molyneux and Sir Oswald Mosley’s 
“ History of Tutbury.” I find he gathered his information from 
Holingshed. 
The following extracts are from the Close Roll 17, Edward IT, 
memb. 32 [Nov. 1323.]:— 
‘To the Keeper of the King’s Peel at Clipston. Order to deliver to 
‘** Joan de Boys and other poor tenants of Edward de Chaundos, oxen, 
“ cows, calves, which were taken from them by certain men who were 
“ pursuing Thomas late Earl of Lancaster on his flight from the BRIDGE 
‘‘or BuRTON, when the said men took many beast in the Co. Derby 
‘‘from those who were believed to be the Earl’s adherents.” 
[1324, March] 17, Edward II, memb, 22 :— 
“To Thomas de Dunstaple. Order to deliver to Richard Tristrem 
‘*his horse, as the King has received complaint from him that whereas 
‘*he was at the BRIDGE OF BurRTON on the King’s service and ought to 
‘‘have returned thence to his own parts by the King’s license, certain 
‘‘malefactors assaulted him at Trentham, and took and carried away 
‘*the said horse.” 
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