Rochester (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ...devolving on Hamo as a peer. We refer to them for the sake of the light they throw on the state of the country. The reign of Edward II. was a time of mis-government and consequent trouble. In the autumn of 1326 the archbishop called a meeting with the view of bringing about, if possible, a reconciliation between Edward and his queen Isabella, " the she-wolf of France." Hamo went to London as invited, and thereby nearly involved himself in very serious consequences. With a clear insight into the popular feeling, he advised the archbishop not to venture into the city nor to cross the Thames, since the hearts of the people were alienated from the bishops, to whose sloth, folly, and ignorance they ascribed all the evils of the land. " All men," said he, " hate the king and love the queen." For himself, he positively refused to be one of the proposed deputation. The event too soon and too tragically proved the soundness of his judgment. On the Tuesday before St. Luke's Day (October 18) a great assembly of Londoners at the Guildhall were planning how to seize the bishops of London and Exeter and the rest of the king's justiciars then in the house of the Friars Preachers. They wished also to plunder the merchants, on the pretext that every one who did not belong to the queen's party was a traitor to the realm. The Bishop of Exeter fell into their hands. He was dragged badly wounded from St. Paul's to Cheapside and beheaded. The noise of the tumult reached Hamo sitting at table in his chamber at La Place. He sent to.-his neighbour the archbishop to ask what it meant; but the archbishop and his attendants were already on the road to Kent. Hamo was in an awkward plight. It was not safe to remain, for the mob might cross the river at any moment. It was...