Forgiven

English kings were not renowned for their forgiving spirit. If you got in the way of English monarchs they were most likely to bowl you over. So, when you read a report that starts

Pardon to Thomas, earl of Lancaster . . . of all causes of anger, indignation, suits, accusations, &c. . . . The like, word for word, to the under-mentioned persons, Robert de Bouyngton, John le fil Robert de Bouyngton, Edmund de Bouyngton. (Calendar of Patent Rolls, pp. 21-23)

you know you are on to something. And, it turns out, the Boyntons of Boynton were right in the middle of things -- requiring forgiveness -- along with a carefully chosen cast of hundreds [A Boynton Story: Caught in the Middle].

Edward I died in 1308 and his son became king Edward II. His first acts, according to Cobbett (Cobbett, 1806), were declaring his favorite, Pierce Gaveston, earl of Cornwall and calling a parliament.

Anointing Gaveston as earl of Cornwall set everybody's teeth on edge -- the prelates, the earls and barons [according to Cobbett] who were the only ones attending the parliament. The Anonimalle chronicler says Gaveston "had been exiled by the good king his father and by the good peers of the land." (Childs and Taylor, 1991) Cobbett, writing centuries later, reports the accusations against him.

the lords told the king, 'that Gaveston's father was executed for being a traitor to the king of France; that his mother was burned for a witch; and that the said Pierce was banished for consenting to his mother's witchcraft; and that he had now bewitched the king himself. (Cobbett, 1806)

More contemporary historians believe it was the distortion of patronage -- Gaveston was getting much and the earls and barons were getting little -- that did him in.

Edward's love for his first favourite, Piers Gaveston, led to the first great crisis in 1310-11. The relationship was no doubt homosexual, but the real objections to Gaveston were the lavishness of the gifts from the king which clearly distorted the normal pattern of court patronage, and Gaveston's own arrogant flaunting of his position. (Childs and Taylor, p. 30)

That first parliament reaffirmed the coin of the realm and told Edward he had to get rid of Gaveston. After much foot dragging, Gaveston was packed off to be governor of Ireland.

One year later, 1309, the king called another parliament; this one included the commons as well as the lords, and Robert Boynton was knight of the shire for Yorkshire. The king brought Gaveston back, which produced ill will all around, and they began taking steps toward an invasion of Scotland.

Gaveston's return was more than the lords could take. They organized an army, led by Thomas earl of Lancaster, and told the king that either the king would get rid of Gaveston or they would. The king called for help -- ordering Robert and many others to appear at the Stamford Bridge with horse and arms. Robert said, thanks but no thanks, and joined Lancaster.

The army led by Lancaster then chased the king and Gaveston around northern England. From York to Newcastle; on they went to Tinmouth; and finally to Scarborough. The king returned to York leaving Gaveston protected by the strong castle at Scarborough. Lancaster and his troops settled in for a siege. Eventually Gaveston surrendered, and they lopped off his head without so much as a bow toward due process.

Then they turned toward the king.

The king concluded that the best course of action was forgiving his enemies since losing his own head seemed the most likely alternative. The rebels pledged loyalty to Edward, which they did not feel, and Edward forgave them, which he did not feel.

It was a rocky beginning for the new king and his lords and commons.

References

Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward II, vol. II, 1313-1317, For His Majesty's Stationery Office, p. 21-23.

Wendy R. Childs and John Taylor, eds. (1991) The Anonimalle Chronicle 1307 to 1334, From Brotherton Collection ms 29, Yorkshire Archaeological Society Record Series, vol. CXLVII, p. 83.

William Cobbett (1806) Cobbett's Parliamentary History of England. From the Norman Conquest, in 1066 to the Year, 1803, vol. I, London, pp. 56-60.