realm, and were ambitions to furpafs all the other great barons in England ; for which reafon, after the great defeat at Stirling, the barons and nobles, and even the council of the king, murmured much, particularly againft fir Hugh Spencer, to whom , they imputed their defeat, on account of his partiality to the king of fcotland. The barons had many meetings on this matter, to confult what was to be done ; the chief of them was Thomas earl of Lancafter, uncle to the king. Sir Hugh foon found it would be neceflary for him to check them ; and he was fo well beloved by the king, and fo continually in his prefence, that he was fure of gaining belief, whatever he faid. He foon took an opportunity of informing the king, that thefe lords had entered into an alliance againft him, and that, if he did not take proper meafures, they would drive him out of the kingdom ; and thus operated fo powerfully on the king's mind, that his malicious intentions had their full effed. The king caufed all thefe lords to be arretted on a certain day when they were met together, and, without delay, ordered the heads of twenty-two of the greateft barons to be ftruck off, without afligning any caufe or reafon. Thomas ear) of Lancafter fuffered the firft. He was a difcreet and pious, man ; and fince that time many miracles have been performed at his tomb in Pomfret, where he was beheaded. The hatred againft fir Hugh Spencer was increafed by this deed, particularly that of the queen and of the earl of Kent, brother to the king ; which when he perceived, he fomented fuch a difcord between the king