heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

330 THE HERALDRY OF YORK MINSTER.
but the chronicler confines his notice of him to a pun upon his name :
"Le Valence Aymars li Vaillans." In the following year he was a party
to the barons' letter to the Pope, and in 34 Edward I., besides obtaining
grants of the castles of Selkirk and Traquair, he was constituted guardian
of the Marches of Scotland, and entrusted with the sole command of the
English forces which had been levied against Robert Bruce, whom he
vanquished, pursued into the castle of Kildrummie, and, failing to find
him, put his brother Nigel and all the garrison to death.
"Edward I. on his death-bed," Holinshed says, "charged the Earls
"of Lincolne, Warwike, and Penbroke, to foresee that the foresaid Peers
" Gavestone returned not againe into England, least by his euill example
"he might induce his sonne the prince to lewdness, as before he had
" alreadie donne." Gaveston, however, returned in spite of them, was loaded
with honours by Edward II., and created Earl of Cornwall ; and, to shew
his contempt for Valence, nicknamed him, in derision of his tall stature
and pallid complexion, "Joseph the Jew." But Valence was true to
his charge, and in the 3rd year of Edward II. joined the Earl of Lancaster
against Gaveston, and petitioned the King that he might be rendered
incapable of ever holding any office. Edward, however, conducted his
favourite to Scarborough Castle, and leaving him with sufficient forces for
its defence marched into Warwickshire ; whereupon Valence, supported by
Earl Percy, then constable of York Castle, attacked the castle at Scarborough
so vigorously that Gaveston thought it wise to surrender. This
he did on the promise that his life should be spared, and both Valence
and Percy solemnly pledged themselves to this effect ;
but as soon as the
obnoxious favourite was in their hands he was sent off to Warwick
Castle, and beheaded on Blacklow Hill, about a mile from the town of
Warwick, without any form of trial whatsoever.
The King's wrath was naturally very vehement at the death of his
favourite ;
but, now that the hated Gaveston was dead, the attachment of
the people to the King's royal person was so
loyally manifested, that his
anger was appeased, and he received back into favour even the principal
actors in this summary act. Valence was appointed (in the 7th year of
his reign) Gustos and Lieutenant of Scotland until the arrival of the King.
For the apparent union of all parties in England, after the death of
Gaveston, seemed to restore the kingdom to its native force, and to open a
prospect of reducing Scotland and bringing the war still carried on with
Bruce to a happy conclusion.
Edward roused himself to a great effort, and assembled forces from
all quarters. Vassals from Gascony, mercenaries from Flanders, rude
adventurers from Ireland and Wales, ready to give their services at any
time with the prospect of certain prey. Stowe says
:
" Never afore that