The Death of a King

at the horselines.
    We left Gloucestershire late in the afternoon and made our way to the fringes of the Forest of Dean. Before I entered, I looked up at the windswept, rain-hanging sky and realized that now, on a wet September afternoon in the year 1327, I was about to become an outlaw. I felt no regrets, only a determination to see the matter through, to release some of the violence pent up during my long monastic career. No sooner had we entered the forest than a guide, who had been expecting us appeared and began to lead us through tortuous ways and tracks to where the Dunheved group had assembled under Sunyat Rocks. These cliffs tower high above the forest and provided us with a view stretching across the trees to the north and the Wye valley to the south. The gang Dunheved had assembled there was a motley collection of outlaws. Scum of both city and forest as well as those few loyal aherents of Edward II, who had either escaped execution or had not fled abroad. They included one or two knights of the shire, a number of Dominicans, and a few members of the household of Edward II or the Despens-ers. They were determined ruthless men. Many had grievances against Mortimer because of the way he had extended his power in South Wales and along the Welsh March. Most were men from that part who knew the forest well and were totally determined to attack Berkeley and rescue their former king. They did not welcome me and, at first, regarded me with suspicion. However, once they saw the high regard in which I was held by the Dunheved brothers, then they came to accept me as one of the group.
    The ballads we often sing about life in the greenwood forest may sound pleasant, but even in the early autumn the reality is very different. We lived in rough shelters, constantly moved camp and attempted to keep fires to a minimum. We depended for supplies on sympathisers from local villages and in the city of Gloucester. We were under no illusion that Mortimer had despatched search parties all along the Welsh March, as well as into the Forest of Dean, hunting out potential sympathizers of the late king. Moreover, there was always danger of traitors in our midst. Of spies who would sell us for a bag of gold or a promise of a free pardon. In fact, one of our group, Matthew Taylor, was tried and hanged by the Dunheveds after it was established that he was in communication with the sheriff of Gloucester and royal officials in the city. I was shocked at Stephen Dunheved’s ruthlessness. The proof he produced was not convincing; letters found on Taylor’s person which proclaimed throughout Gloucestershire and the rest of the countryside that Dunheved and his gang were traitors. I noticed with a silent shiver that my name too appeared in this proclamation. Taylor attempted to protest but the Dunheveds simply had a rope tied round his neck and three of our company were detailed to take him a few yards to an overhanging oak tree and hang him.
    The Dunheveds hardly bothered to wait for his body to stop twitching before they ordered an assembly of all the company and detailed their plans. They pointed out that Isabella and Mortimer were going to be in the north for their projected campaign against the Scots. This would mean that Mortimer would take as many troops as possible north with him. Stephen Dunheved also pointed out that Edward II had been some time in Berkeley Castle and that it was only a matter of time before the former king’s death was arranged. He announced that we would be leaving the Forest of Dean in small groups and assemble at the village of Bardby, only a few miles from Berkeley. There we would be joined by other volunteers, who would bring us all the necessary arms and provisions. I remember questioning him on how we were expected to attack a fortified castle, but Stephen simply smiled and said that difficulty had already been overcome.
    I was detailed to accompany the Dunheved brothers and, as we travelled north to our assembled point, I tried to question both of them regarding what we should do if we were successful in our venture. I then realized that these two hot-headed fanatics really accepted that Edward, who had been deposed without a blow, would be able to rally tremendous support behind him once he had been freed. I also realized that they had not thought of the political implications of what they were doing. I tried to point out to Stephen that Edward II’s son was now crowned king—a beautiful young man