Page:VCH Lancaster 1.djvu/467

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FEUDAL BARONAGE spared, was committed with his companions to Corfe Castle.^ A few days later the king sent a messenger to confer with Gilbert touching his sub- mission and his son's redemption, and on 4 January, 12 16, Gilbert had letters of safe-conduct, the king being then in the north parts." On 22 January he obtained the king's pardon for his confederacy with the rebel barons, and secured the redemption of his son and his knights, Ralph de Aincurt and Lambert de Bussey, by finding ten hostages from among the young sons and daughters representing the heirs of his principal vassals, by delivering up his castles of MorhuU in Warton and Kirkby Kendal, and by consenting to pay a fine of 12,000 marks,* binding himself to observe these conditions by a remarkable charter in which he also pledged himself to faithfully serve the king and his heirs by Queen Isabella all the days of his life." The following June he had letters of safe-conduct to negotiate about his son's pardon and release, similar letters being granted to his bailiffs to gather the money required for this purpose,* his son's release being shortly afterwards effected at the instance of the earl of Chester^ by a ransom of ^^ 1,8 50.' Upon Henry's accession' he made his peace with the young sovereign and was com- missioned in 1 2 17 to escort the king of Man to do homage to Henry at Solway, Carlisle, or Lancaster;" a commission which was renewed the year following." He died early in 1220, when his son William de Lancaster IIL,^" giving j^ioo for relief of his barony, had livery of his possessions on 16 June.^* Gilbert's debts to the crown at his death included 12,000 marks for his pardon, and £,^2>^ arrears of old accounts belonging to the time when he was sheriff or receiver of the king's moneys." Immediately after suc- ceeding to his barony, William paid j^ 1,9 50 to Peter de Mauley in payment of the sum due for his redemption and towards his father's debts." During his lifetime these debts were only reduced to ^6,228, the repayment being made by agreement at the rate of only ^^40 per annum." He appears to have been engaged in the king's service early in life, having attended John in his expedition to Picardy in 12 14." On 3 February, 1221, he was sum- moned to the siege of Cockermouth Castle with other north county magnates." In 1225 he received a peremptory command to observe the terms of the forest charter by disafforesting the lands which his predecessors had put into the forest since the coronation of Henry II., and so to act towards his "^Matth. Paris (Rolls Ser.), ii. 165-6 ; Tlores Historiarum (Rolls Ser.), iii. 335 ; Dugdale, Baronage, i. 422. 2 Pat. R. (Rec. Com.), i. 160^. » Ibid. 162^. ' * Rot. de Finibus (Rec. Com.), 570-1. ^ Chart. R. (Rec. Com.), 221b. « Pat. R. (Rec. Com.), i. 187,^. 7 Close R. (Rec. Com.), i. 335^ ; Rymer, Foedera, N. Ed. i. (i), 146. 8 Close R. (Rec. Com.), i. 481 3. On 19 May, 1222, three of Gilbert's hostages — Norman son of Henry de Redman, Richard son of Roger de Kirkby, and the son of William de Windsore — were still detained by Philip Mark in Nottingham Castle, who had wrongfully seized them whilst on their way home. Ibid. 4973. 9 Close R. (Rec. Com.), i. 373^. 10 Close iJ. 1216-25, 150. " Ibid. 166. 18 William de Lancaster's arms were : ' D'argent a deux barre de goules ung quartier de goules, et ung leopard en la quartier d'or.' Armytage, Glover's Rolle of Armes, No. 49. 13 Pipe. R. 5 Hen. III. Lane. m. 4 d. Excerpta e Rot. Fin. (Rec. Com.), i. 47-8. His relief as a knight would have amounted to no more than ^15, as a baron he made the best terms he could. See Hist, of English Lata, i. 260. 1* Pipe R. 6 Hen. III. Lane. m. 5 d. 1^ Pipe R. 5 Hen. III. Somers. and Dors. See Dugdale, Baronage, i. 422^. i« Pipe R. 20 Hen. IIL Lane. m. J d. 17 Close R. 1227-31, 175. 18 Close R. (Rec Com.), i. 474^. He was with the king at Bedford, 18 Aug. 1224. Pat. R. 1216-25, 465.