The Isle of Ely in the fenlands of Cambridgeshire is famous as the stronghold of Hereward the Wake, a folk-hero of English resistance to William the Conqueror. Hereward was real enough, even if his deeds were exaggerated, and the remains of his fortress were still visible in the thirteenth century.
The isle continued to be used as a haven for political rebels. It was occupied by the barons during the Anarchy of King Stephen’s reign, and again during the Monftortian civil wars at the end of Henry III’s reign. In the summer of 1267 the garrison was burnt out by local militia led by the Lord Edward, and scattered in all directions. One of them escaped to Paris, only to be hanged on the public gallows.
In July 1272, between the deaths of Richard of Cornwall and Henry III, sinister reports reached Westminster of a fresh attempt to occupy the isle. Orders hurriedly went out to the bishop of Ely, as well as all abbots and priors and tenants, to keep guard ‘night and day’ over the isle, since it was ‘one of the stronger refuges of the realm’ and could not be allowed to fall into rebel hands again.
Two years later, with the realm still in a nervous and uncertain state, there was yet another attempt to occupy Ely. This one seems to have been more determined, and it would be interesting to know who was attempting to re-establish a rebel headquarters on the isle at such a late stage. The regents were sufficiently concerned to order all boats to be sunk and for ‘watches and ambushes’ to be kept night and day against ‘malefactors and suspected persons’.
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