![]() ![]() How suddenly political fortunes changed! It was only four years since Edward II had been swept from power by Mortimer and Queen Isabella, his mistress. Mortimer had already given the order that the guards were to ignore the king's commands, and only to obey his own. He knew it would only be a short time before Mortimer would arrest him and his friends. Mortimer had let him go, but not with good humour. ![]() He had replied evasively that he would give a short answer to anyone who accused him of being part of a plot inconsistent with his duty. The only man who had dared to answer back was their leader, Sir William Montagu. ![]() He had questioned each of them in turn all but one had refused to speak. Several of the riders had already been summoned that day to see the brooding dictator. Somewhere within those walls, high on the massive outcrop, was Roger Mortimer, the earl of March, who kept the young king, Edward III, within his power and ruled in his place. The reason for their gathering lay within the fortress which overlooked the town. Beneath their riding cloaks they were all heavily armed. But unlike merchants or pilgrims assembling to set out together, these men were silent and unsmiling. They were mostly in their twenties, and all on horseback, ready to ride out of the town. On 19 October 1330, at dusk, two dozen men gathered in the centre of Nottingham. ![]()
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