DESPENSER 267 II. 1314 I /?is. Sir Hugh LE Despenser, 1st s. of the above. He to was knighted by the Prince of Wales, 22 May 1306, at 1326. Westm. Having gone to parts beyond seas without licence, contrary to the King's inhibition, in Jan. 1309/10 his lands and goods were taken into the King's hand for a time.C) He accompanied the King to Pontoise, 23 May I3I3,C') and was appointed Chamberlain towards the end of this year,(") he being then an adherent of the Earl of Lancaster. Appointed Constable of Odiham Castle, i Nov. 13 17: this he had to resign next year.C") Appointed Keeper of the castle and town of Dryslwyn, and Cantref Mawr, co. Carmarthen, 18 Nov. 1317-0 this he had to resign, 14 Sep. 13 18, but it was regranted to him, with the assent of the Pari, of York, 21 Nov. foUowing-C*) At this Pari, he was re-appointed Chamberlain. (') He was appointed a commissioner to treat with the Scots concerning peace, i Dec. i3i9-() Constable of Odiham Castle, 22 Feb. 1319/20 to 21 June (or 9 July) I32i.('^) He accompanied the King to France in June 1320.0 Keeper of the castle and town of Porchester, 22 Aug. 1320 to 17 July 1324.0 Keeper of the castle, town, and barton of Bristol, i Oct. 1320 to 10 May 1321.O On 19 Aug. 1321 he was disinherited and exiled, as mentioned above, his lands being taken into the King's hand, 15 Sep. 1 321.0 He took refuge in the Cinque Ports, and, engaging in piracy, with the King's connivance, did considerable damage. (') He had letters of safe conduct for a year, 8 Dec. 132 1, and of protection, 9 Jan. 132 1/2.0 ^" Mar. following he accompanied the King against the con- trariants, and is said to have urged him, when at Burton-on-Trent (10 Mar.), not to prosecute the war.(^) After the battle of Boroughbridge, he received (^) Fine Roll, 3 Edw. II, m. 9; Close Roll, m. lO: Patent Roll, 6 Edw. II, p. 2, m. 9: Baker, p. 6. C) Patent Rolls, II Edw. 11, p. I, mm. 17, 13; 12 Edw. II, p. 1, mm. II, 8: Fine Roll, 12 Edw. II, mm. 14, 8. {«) Close Roll, I 5 Edw. II, m. 30 d. {^) Patent Roll, 13 Edw. II, m. 21: Bridlington, p. 60. (») Fine Rolls, 13 Edw. II, m. b; 14 Edw. II, mm. 15, 4; 15 Edw. II, p. i, mm. 25, 23; 18 Edw. II, m. 26: Patent Rolls, 1 3 Edw. II, m. 5; 14 Edw. II, p. 2, m. 5. Annales Paulini, p. 300: Malmesber., p. 261: Patent Rolls, 10 Edw. Ill, p. 2,m. 19: Pari. Rolls, vol. ii, p. 413. The barons and men of the Cinque Ports had a letter of thanks from the King, 27 Nov. 1 321, for preserving Hugh the younger among them, by the King's order, from the many snares prepared for him because of his services to the King. [Close Roll, 15 Edw. Il, m. 22 d). (e) Patent Roll, 15 Edw. II, />. I, mm. 4, 3. (•') " Dicens, ' Parce, domine, parce populo tuo, et propter dei misericordiam non potencia sed Regis clemencia dirigat actus vestros. Domine mi Rex, quos niteris debellare regni nobiles et ligii tui sunt, non sano ducti consilio sed fervore juvenili stimulante, manus ad forcia et indebita extenderunt, et si vexillum tuum, domine mi Rex, fuerit explicatum, universalis guerra totam terram undique perturbabit, quam tuis temporibus vix poteris temporare.'" (Bridlington, p. 75).
