Edward II: November 1322

1322 November

Introduction November 1322

York

14 November - 29 November

For the writs of summons see PW, II, ii, 261-80

(There is no surviving roll for this parliament)

Edward's one remaining enemy after March 1322 was Robert Bruce of Scotland, whose forces had caused great destruction and suffering in the northern counties of England in the years since Bannockburn, as well as depriving the English government of revenue and providing a constantly renewed reminder of the humiliation of that defeat. In the summer of 1315, for example, a vast area in the north of England, equivalent to a fifth of the entire kingdom, was paying tribute to Robert Bruce, with the tacit acceptance of Edward II, while the Scottish siege of Carlisle in July 1315 and their capture of Berwick in April 1318 threatened to deprive England of the military bases essential for its own defence and for any future counter-attack against Scotland. Lack of resources and internal political divisions had hitherto hindered any coherent and consistent English response. Now that Lancaster was dead, the temptation for Edward to turn against Scotland and to avenge the long humiliation was irresistible. A Scottish campaign was therefore ordered on 25 March, within days of Lancaster's defeat. Edward's army finally invaded Scotland on 12 August but Bruce avoided battle by withdrawing northwards and destroying all food supplies in the path of the English army. Edward reached the vicinity of Edinburgh in late August but was then forced to withdraw with heavy losses of men through starvation and sickness, including his own illegitimate son Adam. Edward was back at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 10 September, having dissipated much of the military reputation he had gained through the defeat of Lancaster and his adherents. Worse was to follow. Bruce crossed into England on 30 September with the apparent intention of capturing Edward. Although Edward knew of his approach and tried to take precautions, the Scots surprised the English forces on Blackhowmoor in Yorkshire on 14 October. The earl of Richmond and a leading French nobleman, Henry de Sully, were taken prisoner. Edward who was nearby at Byland was forced to flee for safety to Rievaulx and Bridlington, and on to York where he arrived on about 18 October, still pursued by the Scots. Meanwhile queen Isabella, who had been left at Tynemouth priory, now found herself cut off behind enemy lines and had to make a difficult escape by sea. (fn. N1322int-1)

The writs of summons were issued at Newcastle on 18 September 1322 for a parliament to meet at Ripon on 14 November 1322. On 30 October further writs were issued at York changing the venue to York. The writs say that the king 'has ordained' to have a 'colloquium and tractatum' with those attending. The writ does not refer to the assembly as a parliament. However a marginal note on the Close Roll describes the intended meeting as a parliament.

Writs of summons were issued on 18 September 1322 to the two archbishops, nineteen bishops (including the four Welsh bishops), twenty-eight abbots, and four priors; ten earls (Chester, Norfolk, Kent, Atholl (from Scotland), Richmond, Pembroke, Arundel, Angus (from Scotland), and the newly created earls of Winchester (Hugh Despenser the Elder) and Carlisle (Andrew Harclay). The earl of Lancaster had been executed and the earl of Hereford killed in battle in March 1322), fifty-two barons (the list of barons was headed by Hugh Despenser the Younger and Henry of Lancaster, the brother of the executed earl of Lancaster); twenty-three royal judges and clerks; and for the election of representatives of the knights of the shire and burgesses. The lower clergy were not summoned but on 27 November the archbishops of Canterbury and York were ordered to summon the clergy to of their provinces to Lincoln on 14 January 1323 to discuss a subsidy in aid of the Scottish war; forty-five abbots and three priors were also summoned to this assembly: PW, II,ii, 280-1.

The writs of summons issued on 18 September state that the king has returned from Scotland and is staying with a strong force during the winter season in the area of Newcastle to restrain the attacks of the Scots; the king proposes to go to Scotland during the coming summer finally to defeat the Scots, with God's aid. The king wishes to discuss these and other arduous affairs touching the king and the state of the realm, and especially the said land of Scotland.

The writs of summons were not even clear as to whether the proposed assembly was to be a parliament at all, although all the elements of a parliament were present, with the exception of the clergy. When the parliament met on 14 November the chief topics were probably recriminations and money. The campaign in Scotland had been a costly and humiliating failure both financially and in manpower. It has been observed that men who had taken part in the 1322 campaign were to be prominent in the 1327 parliament during which Edward II was deposed. It is to be expected that they were vocal in November 1322 in condemning the government's failure. (fn. N1322int-2) On 27 November, two days before the end of the parliament, it was decided that the king and the leading should remain in the north over the winter and on 2 December a fresh muster was ordered at York on 2 February 1323. (fn. N1322int-3) In order to finance this new campaign a tenth and a sixth on the value of moveable goods were granted to the king during the parliament. These were to be payable in two parts, on 3 April and 1 July 1323. The levy of this tax, believed to be the heaviest of Edward II's reign, yielded over £42,000': This was to be the last tax levied under Edward II. In the event, the truce with Scotland in May 1323 meant that the king could retain most of the money for his own use, and in September 1323 he openly declared his intention of amassing a great deal of wealth. The diocesan clergy did not attend the parliament but on 27 November the archbishops of Canterbury and York were ordered to summon the clergy to Lincoln on 14 January 1323 to discuss a subsidy in aid of Scottish war. Forty-four abbots and three priors were also summoned to this assembly. (fn. N1322int-4)

There is no evidence that petitions were either received or answered during this parliament. No Parliament Roll exists for this parliament and may never have existed. There is evidence from the Patent Rolls that petitions were received and answered by the council during the parliament. There are however some surviving petitions for 1322-23, some of which may belong to this parliament. (fn. N1322int-5)