Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II by Paul Doherty Read Free Book Online Page B

had no more intention of joining the royal levies in Scotland than of flying to the moon, but desertion from the royal army was a general accusation and would ensure that the sheriffs and other royal officials would hunt themdown. Isabella and Mortimer were in a quandary. If they, like Walwayn, panicked or instituted special measures, everyone would know what had happened at Berkeley, and Isabella and Mortimer would have to face the consequences. The hunt had to be conducted in secret: members of the Dunheved gang who were arrested disappeared, whilst a leading adherent of Hugh de Spencer, William Aylmer, was offered a pardon and freedom, probably for turning King’s evidence and betraying his comrades.
    Isabella and Mortimer would have had to consider where the escaped King would flee. Edward of Caernarvon’s supporters were not in Dorset or Corfe Castle but in Wales. Isabella would remember how, in 1326, Edward and de Spencer had fled to Wales to raise troops against her, whilst Howel Ap Griffith’s allegations against William of Shalford in 1331 insinuated that the King’s greatest support was to be found in the principality. If the escaped King had reached there, it would take an army to track him down through the woods and mist-filled valleys where he might find shelter and succour amongst his own supporters and those who resented Mortimer. That medieval chatter-box, Walsingham, sums up Welsh loyalty towards Edward of Caernarvon: ‘When Scotland would openly rebel against him and all England wanted rid of him, then the Welsh in a wonderful manner loved and esteemed him. As far as they were able, they stood by him, grieving over his adversities both in life and in his death, composing mournful songs about him in the language of their country. His memory remains to the present day which neither the fear of punishment nor the passage of time can destroy.’ 1
    According to Howel Ap Griffith’s letter, Mortimer had moved his headquarters to Abergavenny just acrossthe Severn from Berkeley. On 4 September 1327, he had been confirmed as Justice of all Wales with power to arrest those breaking the peace in Wales. He did not join the court again until 4 October at Nottingham where again he witnessed charters. Why should Mortimer, the Queen’s lover, this sinister
éminence gris
behind the throne, deliberately absent himself for almost six weeks, not only from his beloved paramour, but from the centre of power? If there were malefactors in Wales, they posed no real threat. Wales was constantly in turmoil and Mortimer had lieutenants like William Shalford to keep an eye on things.
    It is more likely that Mortimer moved to Abergavenny to supervise discreetly the search for the escaped King. A pragmatist, Mortimer realized that Edward of Caernarvon would head directly for Wales. Agents like William Ockle would be used in the search but with little success. It must have been like looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack. Isabella was now faced with a dilemma. Edward II would have been free for almost six weeks. Isabella and Mortimer could not publicize their search so they continued the pretence that the deposed King was still safely housed at Berkeley. The logical next step was to claim that Edward II had died of a ‘
fatalis casus
’, a fatal accident at Berkeley, but a corpse had to be produced, exhibited and buried. This would remove two problems at one stroke. First, if Edward of Caernarvon emerged into the public eye, he could be dismissed as an impostor, a look-alike, and not a focus for treasonable rebellion. Secondly, his death would put an end to all conspiracies and agitation, as well as removing a potential embarrassment, not only to the government but to the Queen. She could now act the role of the grieving widow, free to do anything she liked.
    The two men responsible for this possible deception were probably Gurney and Ockle, with Berkeley as a passive observer. A suitable look-alike had to be found and