Introduction
Throughout his calamitous reign, Edward II relied on others to do his thinking for him. First there was Piers Gaveston, who thought seriously about very little. Then there was Hugh Despenser (here named Spencer) and his father, more intelligent but just as ambitious. As for entrusting the affairs of State to his beautiful, neglected wife Isabella, that never occurred to him; but it did occur to Isabella.
IN 1324, King Charles IV of France summoned Edward to Paris, to do homage, according to the feudal law, for the province of Guienne, which he held in France as a vassal of the French king. The Spencers were very unwilling to let the king depart out of the country; and at last it was arranged that the Queen Isabella* and her son the young Prince of Wales* should go in Edward’s place.
In Paris Isabella saw Roger Mortimer, a nobleman who had been banished by Edward.* This Mortimer became a great favourite of the queen, who was wicked enough to form a plot with him, that they might dethrone the king her husband. The assistance of the Count of Hainault was procured, through the promise of the queen that her son Edward should marry Philippa the count’s daughter;* and with a band of armed men, supplied chiefly by the count, she landed in England. Here she asserted that her object was to relieve her husband from the cares of government; and as she was known to be an open enemy of the hated Spencers, she found many followers.
* Isabella of France (1293-1358), daughter of King Philip IV of France, and brother of Charles IV. Isabella married Edward II in 1308, and they made a handsome couple: Edward was ‘fair of body and great of strength’, and Isabella was one of the most beautiful women of her day. They were ill-matched in other ways, however, and for four humiliating years Edward preferred the company of Piers Gaveston to hers: see Fatal Distraction. Isabella and Edward’s barons contrived to have Gaveston executed in 1312.
* After Gaveston’s death in 1312, Edward spent enough time with Isabella for her to bear him four children, the eldest of them a son named Edward, born on November 13th, 1312, at Windsor Castle. As heir to the throne, Edward was titled Prince of Wales.
* Roger Mortimer (1287-1330), 1st Earl of March, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1317-1318 and again in 1319-1320. Mortimer was among the leaders of a revolt against Hugh Despenser in 1321, for which he was imprisoned, but he escaped from the Tower in 1324 and took refuge at the French court.
* William (1307-1345), Count of Holland and Hainault. William’s daughter Philippa married young Edward two years later at York Minster on January 24th, 1328. By this time, the Prince had succeeded to the crown as King Edward III on January 25th, 1327, aged just over fourteen.
Précis
In 1324, Queen Isabella went to France on a diplomatic mission. It was Hugh Despenser, Edward’s favourite courtier, who wanted Isabella to go, so he could keep his eye on King Edward II. But while in Paris, Isabella met and befriended Roger Mortimer, and the two conspired with the Count of Hainault to force Edward off the throne. (58 / 60 words)
In 1324, Queen Isabella went to France on a diplomatic mission. It was Hugh Despenser, Edward’s favourite courtier, who wanted Isabella to go, so he could keep his eye on King Edward II. But while in Paris, Isabella met and befriended Roger Mortimer, and the two conspired with the Count of Hainault to force Edward off the throne.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, if, may, or, ought, until, whereas, whether.
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