CHAPTER III. Isabella'sfirststep in the downward pathway—Lady Badlesmere quarrels with her —Denies her admittance into the Castle of Leeds—-Her servants slain—She resolves to be revenged—Persuades Edward to take up arms—lie successfully besieges Leeds Castle—Recalls the Spencers—Unexpectedly attacks the Barons— They request Isabella to intercede for them—She refuses—They submit, orflee the country—Lancaster assembles his faction in the north—He is attacked by the King, beaten, taken, tried, and beheaded—Many of the other revolters executed^ banished, or imprisoned—-Isabella gives birth to the Princess Joanna in the Tower—The Mortimers ialcen and confined in that fortress—Mortimer the elder dies—Isabella entertains a tender penchant towards the younger—Their amour discovered by the gaoler—Sudden death of the gaoler—Mortimer pardoned— The Earl of Leicester viewed as a martyr—Mortimer escapes to France—Isabellas income curtailed—She appeals to the King of France—He invades Gutenne—She goes to France—And Prince Edward. (gj ^yj ||g^.ITHERTO- we have age, was belated in the neighbourhood rJ ^TT ^^ Isabella only of this same castle, whither she resolved ^0 "m VI1, uc a s a ne&lect '^ Ç l'.iii'LiudLu-'ttf-odt'l tues died away, her vices expanded and ripened, and she became successively a vengeful, political agitator, an adultress, a traitoress, and a murderess. lier first step in the downward pathway appears to have originated in a quarrel between herself and the proud, tyrannic Lady Badlesmere. About the year 1317, and whilst Lord Badlesmere held the high office of steward to the royal household, Lady Badlesmere requested the Queen's influence to obtain an appointment for one of her friends in the exchequer office ; but for some reason, not recorded, the Queen refused, when remonstrances ensued, harsh words were spoken, and an offence taken on both BLdes, that was never afterwards forgiven. Shortly after this unpleasant occurrence, the King appointed Lord Badlesmere governor of the castle of Leeds, in Kent. This castle, being part of the dower settled by Edward the First on Margaret, his second Queen, had, on her death, reverted to Isabella. In October, 1321, Isabella, returning to London from a Canterbury pilgrim to pass the night, and sent before her her marshal and several domestics to announce her intention, and make the needful preparations for her reception. But Lord Badlesmere was absent, and as he had joined the confederate barons, his wife, doubting the intentions of the Queen, and moreover deeming the present a favourable opportunity to revenge the insult she had formerly received, told the royal messenger that her lord had charged her not to admit any one within the castle during his absence, and therefore the Queen must seek a lodging- elsewhere. .During the dispute, Isabella arrived at the castle ; but she had scarcely reached the gate, when the garrison fired a volley of arrows at the royal train with such effect, that two of the purveyors, and four more menial attendants, were shot dead on the spot, and the Queen and her escort forced to fly for their lives, and procure shelter for the night as they best could. On reaching London, the exasperated Queen loudly complained to Edward of the outrage and indignity she had received, and urged him to avenge thu murder of her servants, and the insulta heaped upon her by the traitorous virago who had dared to exclude her from her own castle. Accordingly, a message,