Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 59.djvu/376

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Close Rolls, 1313–18, p. 113). Of all the king's friends, Warenne and Hugh le Despenser alone now refused to crave Lancaster's forgiveness (Monk of Malmesbury, p. 235). Finding, however, that obstinacy involved the loss of his remaining estates, Warenne was reconciled to his enemy on condition of an ‘exchange of lands’ (ib. p. 240) that was altogether in Lancaster's favour. Lancaster's conquests both in the West Riding and in the march remained his possessions for the rest of his life (Cal. Close Rolls, 1318–23 pp. 531, 658, 1323–7 pp. 120, 479). In May 1319 Warenne also surrendered a large estate in Norfolk to the victor (ib. 1318–23, p. 68). The Countess Alice was, however, able to grant to her deliverer the life tenancy of several manors of her father's earldom of Salisbury.

In July 1319 Warenne attended the muster at Newcastle against the Scots, but little was effected against Bruce. Warenne's subjection to Lancaster was now complete. So late as July he joined with Lancaster in banishing the Despensers, and received formal pardon before parliament separated. However, when Edward II went to war against the Lancastrians, Warenne plucked up courage to join the king during his progress through the Welsh march. He was one of the four earls who lured the two Roger Mortimers into captivity (Murimuth, p. 35). On 22 March 1322 he took part in the condemnation of Lancaster at Pontefract (Walsingham, i. 165; Canon of Bridlington, p. 77). He attended the York parliament that revoked the ordinances. However, his position was by no means secure. He had to surrender the manor of Aldbourne to the elder Despenser to save himself from destruction (Cal. Patent Rolls, 1327–30, p. 21), but he was at once allowed to resume possession of Bromfield and Yale (ib. p. 561), though Sandal and Conisborough were treated as royal escheats.

On 2 March 1325 Warenne was reluctantly sent with a hundred men-at-arms as captain of the king's army in Aquitaine (Fœdera, ii. 594; Monk of Malmesbury, p. 280). On 25 Aug. he sailed from Portsmouth, accompanied by Edmund, earl of Kent [q. v.] He effected nothing of importance, and next year, 1326, was back in England.

The quarrel between Edward II and Isabella made Warenne's support more necessary to the Despensers, and he at last received his reward. He had the custody of the isle of Axholme, forfeited to the crown by the treason of John de Mowbray [see Mowbray, John, eighth Baron]. On 10 May 1326 he was appointed chief commissioner of array in the north. Already, on 7 May 1326, the West Riding estate, with Sandal and Conisborough, was restored for life, though he surrendered the reversion to the king. On 14 May he did the same for his Surrey, Sussex, and Welsh lands (Cal. Close Rolls, 1323–7, pp. 479, 573). He threw over the claims of his mistress and her children, though Matilda de Nerford's legal right to the reversion of the West Riding estate was so strong that on 19 May Warenne's brother-in-law, Edmund Fitzalan, earl of Arundel [q. v.], pledged himself that in the event of her obtaining legal possession after Warenne's death he would give the king an equivalent (ib. pp. 573–4). Warenne and Arundel were the two last earls to remain faithful to Edward II. Warenne, however, escaped the tragic fate of his brother-in-law, and on giving in his adhesion to the queen and Mortimer he was put forward prominently as their supporter, like Henry of Lancaster. He was one of the deputation of estates sent in January 1327 to urge abdication on Edward II. On 10 March he was at Edward III's coronation, and he was one of the standing council of regency, though his position was still by no means secure. He had to resign the Isle of Axholme to the young John de Mowbray [see Mowbray, John de, II, ninth Baron] (Cal. Close Rolls, 1327–30, p. 358, cf. p. 154). Henry of Lancaster claimed the Warenne West Riding estate as part of Thomas's possessions, and for some time it remained by mutual consent in the king's possession (ib. 1327–30, p. 79), though ultimately Warenne's prior rights were recognised. In February 1327 he was going beyond sea on the king's service, and in April was about to proceed to the marches of Scotland (ib. pp. 24, 70). On 29 March he was appointed supervisor of the commissioners of the peace for Oxfordshire (ib. p. 90). On 1 Sept. he received a new grant for life of Grantham and Stamford (ib. p. 160), and a little later some Despensers' property, already granted for life, was given to him in fee simple (ib. p. 271), as were some Essex manors forfeited by Edmund of Arundel (ib. p. 336). He entertained the king, who on 15 March 1329 paid him sixteen hundred marks by way of recognition (Cal. Close Rolls, 1327–30, p. 491). On 16 Sept. 1329 he received a grant of two thousand marks from the exchequer (ib. p. 441), and on 4 May 1330 the manor of Swanscombe and other lands and rent to a large amount were bestowed on him ‘on consideration of his agreement to remain always with the king’ (ib. p. 517); while in June he had the custody of a large part of