3d. K.Edw. with them, and they proceeded with such Success, that in a little time, they 'crown'd Baliol King of that Realm. He was scarce returned from this Expidition, before he was accused to the King of being privy to the design of Edmund Woodstock, Earl of Kent; and Uncle to King Edward. This unfortunate Prince was by Marriage Brother to our Lord Thomas: and being either really perswaded or pretending so to be, that his Brother King Edward the 2d. was still living, he took up Arms against his Nephew, to restore his Brother to his right, and lost his Head by it. Upon this the King seized his Estate: but being in a little while convinc'd of his Innocence, his Lands were again restored to Him. Nor did the Kings favour stop here, but in farther Testimony of the Satisfaction he had of his Innocency, He, the next Year, made him Governour of the little Isles lying in the Channel on the french Coast. viz! Garnsey, Jersey, Serke and Aureney, 1 Knygton Col: 2560. 2 Baronag: To: 1: p. 541. Edw: Being thus honour'd by the King, He fail'd An: not to lay hold on all Opportunities of expressing 9: 11. his Duty to Him. And therefore the War of Scotland continueing, and the King being resolved to go in Person thither; Our Thomas fail'd not among others to attend upon Him. And when, not long after, a War with France broke out, and was carried on with a more than ordinary Vigour, He was appointed by the King to be Guardian of the Coast of Lincoln- An: shire, and to secure that Country, from any 13. Invasion that should be attempted to be made upon it. He was also, the same Year, by Order of Parliament appointed to be one of the Commissioners of array, for the County of York ;* which was again renew'd the next Year, with very large Power, relating to the Peace of those parts. .4 And here. I must take Notice of an odd Accident, which happen'd about this time, and in which our Lord Wake was concern'd. The King was absent upon his Affairs abroad, and had in testimony both of his right to the Crown of France, aud of his Resolution to pursue it, joyn'd the Arms of ffrance to those of England. 4 Cotton Abrig: Records P. 23: 25. Edw: K.Edw. He had committed the Care of this Realm to 3d. his Ministers of State, and to the Duke of Cornwall as Guardian of it; and was himself at Antwerp with the Queen, who had newly layn in of her Third Son there. "His Children were kept in the Tower of London; the Care of which was comitted to Mathew de la Beche, as Constable of it. In this State of Affairs, the King alone returns, upon a sudden, about the beginning of February, into England, and, at Midnight, unexpected by any Body, lands in the River, at the Tower. It was a very sad Condition, that by this means, he found the Tower in. There were only his own Children, and 3 Servants in it. Upon this He presently Sends away for the Lord Mayor of London to come to Him; shews him the negligent posture in which he found all things and commands him to seize upon his Ministers whom he had intrusted with his Affairs, in his Absence; and upon Thomas Lord Wake among the rest. Being brought before him, he committed them to safe Custody, in several places: "Only Thomas was presently set at Liberty, and that, says my Author in a very honourable Manner. 5 Walsing: Hist: p. 146. 6 Wals: ib: p. 147. 7 Wals: ib: P. 147. 3d. Being thus set at Liberty at home, and the K.Edw. War continuing abroad, he the next time went over with the King, in his French Expidition. But he tarried not long there, for the same Years we find him appointed, as one of the Commissioners, to judge in the Great Controversy, then depending between the King and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury. But this matter being, by the Intercession of the Parliament, composed not long after, they never sat upon it; and the Arch-Bishop was intirely acquitted by the King, and intrusted with his Affairs, as he had been before. And thus have we seen what part this great Man had both in the Civil and Military Affairs of his time. 'as for his Works of Piety they are largeably recorded in the Historys of our Religious Houses: one of which he entirely founded and endow'd at his own Cost; as may be seen at large in the Charters still remaining of the Revenews of it. Thus lived this noble Lord, in great Honour 8 Baronag: To: 1. p. 541. 9 An. Edw. 16. Vid: M. Parker Antiq: ex Steph: Birchington p. 236. 1 Monasti: To: ii. P: 347. 348. 898. 2 Cotyngham fundat 1322, Seal published by the Society of Antiquaries. E. B. 3d. Marg. tess of Kent. K.Edw. and Interest, till about the Year 1349. in which I find his Death placed. May 31st. I cannot learn that he left any Child behind him: And Coun- so his Estate fell to Margaret his Sister; who was then 40 Years old, and Widow of two Husbands; Vizt. John Comyn of Badenagh, her first; And then of Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent, and second Son of King Edward the 1st. by Philippa his Wife, daughter of Philip the Hardy King of ffrance. This was that Earl of Kent, who for Sedition against his Nephew, King Edward the 3d. and for pretending that his Brother King Edward the 2d. was still living, as I have before said lost his Head. By this Earl of Kent, Margaret had Issue two Sons, Edmund and John, and as many Daughters, Margaret marryed to Amaneus. Eldest Son of Bernard, Lord de la Brette. who dyed without Issue, and Joan, to whome by the failure of all the rest, the Honour and Estate, both of her Father, and Mother descended. For thô both her Brothers outlived their Baron: T: 11: p. 93. a. 4 Baron: To. ii. p. 94. a. |