Notes |
- "This second Hugh commences the epoch of the family's importance and
power in the State. He received the great office of Justice of England in 1259
from the insurgent barons with whom he was in arms ; and after the victory of
Lewes, had the custody of five of the strongest castles in the kingdom : Oxford,
Nottingham, Devizes in Wilts, Orford in Suffolk, and Barnard Castle in the
Bishopric of Durham. He was summoned to parliament as Hugh le Despencer
Justtf Anglice in 1264, and was one of the Council of twenty-four barons
appointed to govern the realm. Though, owing to some grudge or discontent,
he fell off for a time from " the haughty-spirited Montfort," the breach was of
short continuance, and he died loyally by his side at Evesham. When the Earl
saw that the day was lost,
" he bade Hugh Despencer and all the rest of his
comrades fly from the field.
' If he died,' was the noble answer,
'
they had no
will to live.'
"
Green
By his wife, Aliva Basset, the widowed Countess of
Norfolk, he was the father of another Hugh, styled Hugh Senior, to distinguish
him from a son of the same name, who was the celebrated favourite of Edward II
Duchess of Cleveland
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