Privy letters

 

23 May 1265. On this day a safe-conduct was issued for Roger Clifford and Roger Leyburn, along with 'three or four' other knights coming with them, to Lord Edward at Hereford. The conduct was at Edward's request, made to his father the king: it was really a plea to Simon de Montfort, the de facto ruler of England. Perhaps surprisingly, Simon waved it on through.

Edward was still in custody, guarded by Simon's son Henry and a troop of Montfortian knights. England hovered on the verge of another civil war. The safe-conduct was issued just thirteen days after Simon was informed of the landing of William de Valence and Earl Warenne, Edward's friends, on the Pembroke coast. In recent days Simon had attempted to sweeten Edward by re-granting certain of lands, such as Stamford and Hungerford. By allowing Clifford and Leyburn to meet with the prince, Simon was possibly trying to win Edward's friendship.

This was unlikely to happen. The chronicle of Melrose describes the form of Edward's captivity after the battle of Lewes, in which he and his father were taken prisoner. Queen Margaret of Scotland, Edward's sister (pictured), sent the abbot of Driburgh with a message for her brother. When Simon was informed of the abbot's arrival, he escorted him into Edward's presence in an upstairs chamber.

While Edward and his visitor talked, Simon remained standing before them:

'...and as he stood, he never once withdrew his eyes from them, but watched them most attentively; for he was apprehensive that some letter would be delivered to Edward, or some dangerous communication made to him on the part of those by whom the messenger had been dispatched'.

When the conversation was over, the abbot rose to leave. Simon insisted on following him outside, in case he 'privily dropped some letter, the import of which might have been dangerous'.

Simon might have done better to watch the Marchers than visiting Scottish clergymen. Clifford and Leyburn, whom he permitted to visit Edward, were almost certainly in on the plan to spring the prince from captivity.