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ISSN 1479-5884 September 2006 New series, issue number 28 224 is the newsletter of the Deddington & District History Society. During our season we meet at 7.30 on the second Wednesday of the month, normally at Deddington’s Windmill Centre. Membership is £9/16 pa singles/ couples or £2.50 at the door for visitors, who are equally welcome. The editor actively encourages contributions to be sent to 1 South Newington Road, Barford St Michael OX15 0RJ. Email [email protected] Piers Gaveston From the Chair Who was Piers Gaveston? He was a man whose life intersected with the life of Deddington Welcome to a new issue of 224 probably for about 12 or 15 hours on the night of Friday 9 June and and to our new season. early morning of Saturday 10 June 1312. Gaveston was the notorious Members have asked if they royal favourite of Edward II, possibly the king’s lover, murdered by might read the talk that John Edward’s baronial enemies after his capture at Deddington. Maddicott gave on Piers Gave- Piers Gaveston was a younger son of Arnaud de Gabaston (in Béarn, ston. Dr Maddicott generously bordering the Pyrenees and the English province of Gascony). Ar- handed over his notes, which I naud was a loyal servant and vassal of Edward I for 20 years, 1282- have turned into a short article. 1302. Piers Gaveston first appears in England in 1297 as a member of Enjoy reading it, but blame me the king’s household, where he must have been introduced by his for any errors! father. By 1300 he had transferred to the household of the heir to the At the back of this issue read throne, young Edward, Prince of Wales. This was the beginning of a Colin Cohen’s outline of an ex- relationship that had enormous consequences. Piers was almost citing project involving the certainly put into the prince’s household by the old king, possibly as Deddington school records. It some kind of role model (though a very bad role model he proved to promises to be of immense be!). It is likely that he was about 20 years old, four years the prin- value to the school and to the ce’s senior. whole community. Background Rightly distrusted by his father, Chris Day Dominating the whole political he was never given much inde- scene in 1307 was war with pendence. He was notably lack- Scotland. It began in 1295 and ing in political wisdom. In many 2006-07 programme would culminate at Bannock- ways he was a very odd man, 13 September John Wilson, ‘Har- burn in 1314. One of Edward II’s notable for instance for dis- vest Home’ misfortunes was to inherit an tinctly un-regal hobbies like 11 October Mallams Auctioneers, unfinished war in Scotland, a ditching and rowing. Below the Oxford, An ‘Antiques Roadshow’ war that was also unpopular king in the political hierarchy (only items that can be easily carried since it brought with it heavy was the baronage, headed by ten please, and no stamps) Guests £3 taxation and burdensome de- great earls. The senior of these, 8 November Jan Warner, ’Survival mands for military service with Henry Lacy, earl of Lincoln, had of the fittest’, A history of child- little prospect of gain. been a loyal servant of Edward I. rearing from the 17th century Others we need to keep in mind 13 December A Victorian Christ- Within England the political are Thomas of Lancaster, Ed- mas evening with dinner world had at its at apex King ward II’s cousin; Guy Beau– 10 January Adrienne Rosen, Recent Edward II, a man of very limited champ, earl of Warwick; Aymer discoveries about Chipping Norton political or military experience. de Valence, earl of Pembroke. a period of growing baronial again, he gave the earls insulting They were the crown’s natural discontent, culminating in a de- nicknames. The earls were men supporters. There was no neces- mand for the general reform of of high dignity and standing, sary antipathy between the king the kingdom, rather like the very conscious of their social and those great men, though all movement that had led to position. Gaveston’s behaviour that would soon change. Magna Carta in 1215. In March was incredibly foolish. What 1310 a group of magnates and made it possible was that he churchmen known as the Or- basked in the king’s favour and Politics, 1307-12 dainers was appointed to reform protection. Gaveston was brought back to the realm. Gaveston was sent 2 Control of patronage Patron- England on Edward I’s death north by Edward, ostensibly to age was essential in the Middle and immediately given the earl- campaign against the Scots, but Ages. Who should get it? The dom of Cornwall, ie he was in- actually to keep him out of the deserving, determined by office, truded into the top group of way of the Ordainers. Then, in ancestry, and service to the powerful men, the earls. More- August 1311, they published a Crown. Gaveston had none of over, the earldom of Cornwall thoroughgoing plan of reform. those qualifications, yet he mo- had traditionally been reserved Many of the king’s actions, in- nopolised the king’s patronage for members of the royal family; cluding royal grants, were for himself and his dependents. it was almost deliberately pro- henceforth to be subject to baro- Others had access to royal pa- vocative to give it to Gaveston. nial consent. Most significantly tronage only through Gaveston, Then Gaveston was married to from our viewpoint, Gaveston who controlled access to the Margaret de Clare, sister of Gil- was exiled once more, possibly king and funnelled royal pa- bert de Clare, earl of Glouces- to Flanders. tronage towards his own ter—an immediate social pro- friends, thereby ensuring that he motion. Opposition to Gaveston always had a large following. grew very rapidly. Why was Gaveston so hated? 3 Gaveston’s relationship with In December 1307, at a tourna- Edward Was it homosexual? ment at Wallingford Castle, We need to look back at Gave- Certainly emotionally, possibly Gaveston and his men defeated ston’s character and relationship physically. There is no doubt an earls’ team. In the same with Edward to see why he was that Edward was besotted with month he was appointed regent so detested. There are four Gaveston. All the chronicles of the kingdom while Edward points to bear in mind: comment on it: Edward loved was in France for his marriage to 1 Gaveston’s manner He was Gaveston ‘beyond measure’, Isabella, daughter of Philip IV of haughty, arrogant, and con- ‘beyond reason and measure’, ‘I France. At Edward’s coronation ceited. For one thing, he was a do not remember that one man in February 1308, Gaveston was very flashy dresser. Before his so loved another’. One chroni- given the position of greatest first exile, Prince Edward sent cler, albeit later, speaks more honour, carrying the crown it- him two outfits, one of green plainly: Edward indulged exces- self, immediately preceding the velvet embroidered with pearls sively in the ‘vice of sodomy’ (I king. The upshot was the de- and gold and silver piping. At particularly like that ‘exces- mand from the earls for Gave- the coronation banquet in 1308 sively’, as though a modicum of ston’s exile. Edward had alien- Gaveston wore purple, a regal sodomy would have been all ated their initial support by colour, trimmed with pearls. The right!). It is difficult to know making Gaveston in effect the other nobles were content with what to make of all this. The first person in the kingdom after simple cloth of gold! Worse still, tastes of neither man can have himself. In June 1308 Gaveston Gaveston had no respect for his been exclusively homosexual. was sent to Ireland. elders and betters: any earl Edward had four legitimate wanting to do business with the Gaveston was brought back by children and one bastard, Gave- the spring of 1309, having been king had to kneel before Gave- ston had one, possibly two, ston with his request. Worse still away for less than a year. It was daughters. It certainly seems to have been assumed by contem- view was that money that might dington, one imagines quite late poraries that the relationship have been spent on defeating the in the day. Pembroke left to visit was homosexual. That was Scots was being lavished on his wife, who was at Pembroke’s highly dangerous to Edward - a Gaveston. There seemed to be a castle at Bampton, south-west of relationship deeply repugnant to direct connection between pa- Witney. Gaveston, meanwhile, magnates and churchmen, and tronage of Gaveston and failure was put up in the rectory morally offensive. in Scotland. (known as Castle House today), The relationship had powerful not in Deddington castle, which was then in a state of decay, de- political repercussions. Edward The Final months was commonly accused of fa- scribed in 1277 as ‘an old de- Gaveston’s exile in November molished castle’ and in 1310 as vouring Gaveston over Queen 1311 was soon over and he re- Isabella in the early days of their ‘a broken-down castle contain- joined Edward at Knaresbor- ing a chamber and a dovecote’. marriage. Again, it is difficult to ough in Yorkshire in January know what to make of this since Gaveston was left with only a 1312. When this became known small guard at the unfortified Isabella was only about twelve it precipitated something close at the time of her marriage.