heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

MORTIMER. 337
with such a valuable
steward, who remonstrated with him for parting
portion of his inheritance " I have laid up my treasure in that field
:
" where thieves cannot steal or dig, or moth corrupt." The piece of land
was known ever after as the
" Treasure of Mortimer."
Roger Mortimer, his grandson, in the time of Henry III., warmly supported
the cause of the King against the barons, and was present at the
battle of Lewes. He commanded the third division of the royal army at the
battle of Evesham, August 6th, 1265 and continued to the end of his days
;
high in favour with Edward I., whom he entertained right royally at a grand
tournament, at Kenilworth, on the occasion of the knighthood of his son.
His grandson, Edmund, son of Sir Edmund, by Margaret, daughter
of Sir William de Fendles, was rector of Hodnet, and treasurer of York
Minster. Possibly the arms in the window on the south side of the choir
are his. We know little of him ;
but his elder brother Roger, however, was
'
the man who made the name of Mortimer famous, or infamous, as the paramour
of Queen Isabella, the queen consort of Edward II. In early days he
was high in favour with Edward I. ;
for it is recorded of him that he was
not only present at the siege of Caerlaverock, but that, with William de
Leyburne, he was "appointed to conduct and guard the King's son." He
also signed the letter to Pope Boniface. On Edward II.'s accession to the
throne, Roger was promoted to many positions of importance, viz., the
King's lieutenant, and justice of Wales, having
all the castles of the
Principality committed to his charge. He was also made (2
Edward II.)
governor of Beaumaris Castle, and (7 Edward of II.) Blaynleveng and
Dinas. Early in 9 Edward II., he was one of the manucaptors for Sir
Hugh le Despencer, who was accused of having assaulted and drawn
blood from Sir John de Roos, in the Cathedral Court of York, in the
presence of the King and the Parliament.
In the next few years he received even further tokens of the favour
of the King; but in the i5th year of Edward II. he sided with the Earl
of Hereford in his quarrel against the Despencers, and having entered and
burnt Bridgenorth, his Majesty declared him and others to have forfeited
their lands. Indeed, although he made his submission to the King, he
was condemned for high treason, and sentenced to imprisonment for life
in the Tower; but he made his escape from thence into France, where
he associated himself with other English fugitives, united in their common
hatred of the Despencers, and was, therefore, easily admitted to pay his
court to Queen Isabella, when, as already mentioned, she arrived in
France on a mission to her brother. Whether they had met before I
cannot say
;
but now " the graces of his person and address advanced him
" quickly in her affections ;
he became her confidant and counsellor in all
" her measures, and gaining ground daily upon her heart, he engaged her