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DAN JONES: Out of the chaos,
darkness, and violence
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00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:18,400
of the Middle Ages,
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00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,840
one family rose to seize control
of England.
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00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:24,600
[Shouting]
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Generation after generation,
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they ruled the country
for more than 300 years,
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ruthlessly
crushing all competition,
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00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,720
to become the greatest
English dynasty
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of all time.
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The Plantagenets.
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[Shouting]
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What I love about
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00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:51,560
the Plantagenets' story
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00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:53,200
is that it's more shocking,
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00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:54,400
more brutal,
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00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:55,760
and more astonishing
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00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:57,880
than anything you'll find
in fiction.
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I want to show you
the Plantagenets
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00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:00,880
as I see them --
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real living, breathing people,
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driven by ambition, jealousy,
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00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:08,840
hatred, and revenge.
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These kings murdered, betrayed,
and tyrannized their way
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to spectacular success.
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For better and for worse,
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00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,360
the Plantagenets forged England
as a nation.
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This time, Edward II
was the king
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most famous for the story
of his agonizing death.
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But the story of his life is
even more extraordinary,
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00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,440
one of obsession, bloodlust,
political savagery,
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and above all, revenge.
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[Screams]
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July 11, 1307.
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Prince Edward, the 20-year-old
heir to the throne,
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is near London
as word of his father's death
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races south to meet him.
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[Speaking French]
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This is the news
that Prince Edward
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has been waiting for
all his life,
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so the very first thing
you'd expect him to do
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00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,920
is to saddle up, ride north,
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claim his birthright,
and save his country.
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00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:04,600
But he doesn't.
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00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,400
In fact, the first thing he does
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is to issue orders
for the recall
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of the most divisive man
in the kingdom.
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Piers Gaveston,
Edward's best friend
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and one of the finest knights
around.
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But he's been banished to France
by the old king
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for being a bad influence
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on the prince.
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Gaveston's insufferable
arrogance
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and his hold over Edward
mean he is hated
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00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:53,640
by every noble in the land.
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Gaveston doesn't have much time
for them, either.
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00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:02,440
He's famous for making up
rude nicknames for them.
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He calls one "whoreson,"
another "burst-belly,"
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and a third "the black dog."
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00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:11,200
And of course that just makes
them hate him even more.
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00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,560
Gaveston's return will clearly
be nothing but trouble,
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00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,840
but Edward can't see it.
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All he cares about is getting
his mate back.
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Allez.
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00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:27,160
Edward is the sort of guy
who can only see one step ahead.
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He wants what he wants now,
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no matter what the cost.
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00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:34,800
He's utterly incapable of seeing
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00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,200
that all his actions
have consequences --
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most of them bad ones.
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00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,680
This blindness
will ultimately lead
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both Edward and his kingdom
to ruin.
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00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,160
And disaster looms
right from the start.
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Edward marries 12-year-old
Isabella,
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daughter of the king of France,
a match designed
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to shore up relations with
the kingdom's biggest enemy.
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00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:16,440
Their joint coronation should be
a moment of triumph and unity,
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00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,200
but it isn't.
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00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,920
This is the Great Hall
at the Palace of Westminster,
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00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,600
where Edward and Isabella's
coronation feast takes place.
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00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:30,200
There's lavish decorations,
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00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,200
fountains flowing with wine,
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but there's one problem --
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this looks less
like a coronation feast
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for Edward and his queen
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and more like a party
for Edward and Gaveston.
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00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:47,440
Edward and Isabella's coats
of arms should be on the walls.
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Instead, it's
Edward and Gaveston's.
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Worse, Gaveston swans around
in imperial purple,
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a color only kings
should wear.
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00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,480
Worse still, the king
and his friend
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00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,800
talk to no one but each other
throughout.
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00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,240
Isabella is stoic,
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00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,440
but the rest
of the French nobles
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are so incensed
they storm out.
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00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,680
With them goes all the good will
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the marriage was designed
to create.
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00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,760
The English nobles
are hacked off, too,
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not least Edward's cousin,
Thomas of Lancaster,
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the most powerful earl
in England.
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Lancaster hates Gaveston,
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00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:37,440
and to him, the whole event
is an outrage.
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It's proof Edward can't see past
his obsession with his friend
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to the far more important job
of being king.
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And if Edward can't see it,
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then Lancaster is going to make
him see it.
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Just three months later,
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00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,280
at Edward's first parliament,
Lancaster
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and a group of other leading
nobles turn up armed.
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[Speaking French]
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Their message to Edward
is simple --
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Gaveston must go.
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Edward responds by accusing them
of treachery.
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He gets a chilling reply.
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It's an explicit threat.
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"If you don't get rid
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of him,
we'll get rid of you."
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[Speaking French]
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But whatever Lancaster
threatens him with,
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on Gaveston
Edward won't budge.
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00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:54,360
And Lancaster can't make him...
yet.
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But the battle lines
have been drawn.
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The bitter hatred between Edward
and his cousin
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00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:04,680
and this fight over Gaveston
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will define the whole future
of the kingdom.
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00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,000
And bloody murder
will now stalk England
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00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,080
for the rest of Edward's reign.
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00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:45,720
With Gaveston's help,
Edward has very quickly
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00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:47,560
run the country into the ground.
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00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,720
The finances, security,
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00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,680
and political stability
have all gone to the dogs.
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00:08:56,680 --> 00:09:01,000
By 1310, Lancaster's patience
is exhausted.
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He comes up with a plan to tear
Edward and Gaveston apart.
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00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,520
Lancaster has been conducting
a whispering campaign
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00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:16,000
against the king, using
popular hatred of Gaveston
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00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,080
to help sell his case.
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00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,160
He claims that Gaveston has been
lining his pockets
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at the king's expense.
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00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,040
Now, annoying as Gaveston is,
that's probably
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00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:25,920
one of the few things
he hasn't been doing.
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00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:27,880
But the mud sticks.
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00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:32,040
And by February 1310, Lancaster
has a committed group of nobles
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ready to stand up
to the king.
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00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,160
And that allows him to do
something extraordinary.
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00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,840
And the evidence exists here
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in the National Archives.
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He's going to crush Edward
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00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,240
and destroy Gaveston
at the same time.
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00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,040
These are the Ordinances --
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00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,920
41 articles which Lancaster
claims will bring
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stability and reform
to the kingdom.
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00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:58,760
Sounds great,
but taken as a whole,
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00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,520
they actually do something
very different.
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00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:06,000
They strip Edward of pretty much
all his powers as king.
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It's an unprecedented attack.
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00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:12,480
The Ordinances take away
the king's right
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to impose taxation,
raise armies, dispense justice,
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00:10:15,680 --> 00:10:17,480
and make law.
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All these rights will now rest
with the nobles.
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00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:25,280
And Lancaster will be far more
powerful than the king.
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00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,120
But even that's not enough
for Lancaster,
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because this is personal,
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and there's a clause here
that proves it.
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It's nought to do
with rights or laws.
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00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:38,960
It's to do with Gaveston.
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00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:42,760
This is it, clause 20.
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It's even got Gaveston's name
beside it.
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It says he has "malmenez,"
misled,
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and "malconseillez,"
ill-counseled,
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"nostre seigneur le roi,"
our lord the king.
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It orders his immediate exile.
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00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:06,120
It also says
that if Gaveston returns,
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he is to be treated
as a traitor.
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And the penalty for traitors
is death.
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So what does Edward do?
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He should fight Lancaster
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to protect his basic rights
as king,
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but he doesn't.
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00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,560
He seems perfectly happy
to let his enemies
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00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:25,320
strip away his right
to make peace or war,
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00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:27,920
to dispense justice,
to collect taxation,
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00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:32,840
so long as they drop clause 20
and leave his mate alone.
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00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:40,360
But Lancaster has Edward
over a barrel.
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If he doesn't agree
to all the Ordinances,
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00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,360
then Lancaster
and his new allies
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will go to war against him.
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The king has no choice.
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He turns his back
on his friend.
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He accepts the Ordinances,
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and Gaveston is banished
forever,
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on pain of death.
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00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,280
It beggars belief that Edward
would be willing
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00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,080
to give up all his power
just to save his friend.
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That's led people to suspect
that Edward and Gaveston
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00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:14,480
were more than just friends,
that they were lovers
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00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:16,840
and that Edward's desire
for Gaveston
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00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:18,840
outweighed everything else.
197
00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,320
So, is it true?
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00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:24,320
Well, possibly.
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00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,800
I don't think we'll ever really
know what went on
200
00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:29,120
behind the closed doors
of the royal bedchamber,
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00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,880
but frankly,
it didn't really matter.
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00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:35,080
To the people of the time,
Edward could have been bedding
203
00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,400
his priest, his pageboy,
and his horse,
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00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,320
so long as he was governing
the kingdom properly.
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00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:44,120
To the nobles' minds, Gaveston
stopped Edward from doing that.
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00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:46,760
And that's why Gaveston
had to go.
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00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:55,440
Lancaster may think he's finally
got the king under control,
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00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:59,040
but he hasn't, because
when it comes to Gaveston,
209
00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:01,680
Edward is literally
a law unto himself.
210
00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:03,920
Just three months later,
211
00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:07,280
defying Lancaster and all sense,
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00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:12,560
Edward calls Gaveston back...
again.
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00:13:12,560 --> 00:13:15,160
And if that wasn't crazy enough,
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00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:18,320
what Edward does next
is utter insanity.
215
00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:22,920
The king sends letters out
across the country
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00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:24,920
announcing Gaveston's return
217
00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:28,240
and adding that he's overturning
the Ordinances --
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00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:29,920
all of them.
219
00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,880
When Edward's letter is read out
in town squares like this,
220
00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:40,600
it does two things.
221
00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:44,360
First, it brings England
to the brink of civil war.
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00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:48,360
And second, it paints a pretty
big target on Gaveston's back.
223
00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:51,320
So you'd be forgiven for
thinking this is just the start
224
00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,920
of some much bigger plan,
but you'd be wrong,
225
00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,520
because actually
this isthe plan.
226
00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,400
Edward is just going to overturn
the Ordinances
227
00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:00,800
and see what happens.
228
00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:02,800
And that's Edward all over.
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00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,560
He's so fixated
on what he wants today,
230
00:14:05,560 --> 00:14:10,080
he simply can't see what's
obviously going to happen next.
231
00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,920
Lancaster's response
is no surprise to anyone --
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00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,880
except the king.
233
00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,320
Gaveston is hunted down
and brought here
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00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:26,120
to Warwick Castle, home of one
of Lancaster's allies.
235
00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:34,840
The next day, he's hauled up
236
00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:37,560
in front of a court
organized by Lancaster.
237
00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:41,400
It's composed entirely of nobles
who detest him.
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00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:46,320
Gaveston isn't even allowed
to speak in his defense.
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00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:51,120
It's a kangaroo court,
pure and simple.
240
00:14:56,920 --> 00:15:02,560
Make no mistake -- Lancaster is
crossing a line here.
241
00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:05,840
He's trying Gaveston under
article 20 of the Ordinances,
242
00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:07,840
which make it very clear --
243
00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:09,480
if Gaveston comes back
to England,
244
00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:11,480
he dies.
245
00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,760
The problem is, Edward has
overturned the Ordinances,
246
00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:17,360
so this court held here
at Warwick Castle
247
00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:20,560
has about as much authority
as a lynch mob.
248
00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:26,000
Piers Gaveston, best friend
and trusted adviser
249
00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,760
to the king of England,
is convicted of treason
250
00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:31,160
and sentenced to death.
251
00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:33,200
But however they want
to dress it up,
252
00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:34,960
this isn't justice.
253
00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:36,920
It's political murder.
254
00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:47,120
On the 19th of June, 1312,
255
00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,120
Lancaster's men
march Piers Gaveston
256
00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:50,600
out of Warwick Castle
257
00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:52,600
all the way to Blacklow Hill
258
00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,120
for execution.
259
00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:06,520
This monument marks
the lonely spot
260
00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,400
where Gaveston was killed.
261
00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:16,400
He's brought here because,
unlike Warwick Castle,
262
00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:19,320
this land belongs to Lancaster,
263
00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,000
and he wants to send the king
a message.
264
00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,800
He wants him to know
who's doing this to him.
265
00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:26,800
This is personal.
266
00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,120
When Edward hears
about Gaveston's death,
267
00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,120
he goes half crazy with grief.
268
00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:02,280
First he blames Gaveston
for getting caught.
269
00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,880
Then, more reasonably,
he blames Lancaster.
270
00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:08,440
Interestingly, the only person
he doesn't blame is himself.
271
00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:12,520
But he's the one who brought
Gaveston back again and again,
272
00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:14,880
despite being warned
very clearly
273
00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:17,080
what would happen
if he did.
274
00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:20,760
He's the one who put his friend
in danger.
275
00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:24,160
He might not want to admit it,
but the buck stops with him.
276
00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,120
Edward swears revenge
on Lancaster.
277
00:17:31,120 --> 00:17:33,880
But with the Ordinances reissued
278
00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:35,920
and everyone against him,
279
00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,560
the king is in no position
to revenge himself on anyone.
280
00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:44,160
And things are about
to get even worse.
281
00:17:48,360 --> 00:17:52,280
Edward has been neglecting the
never-ending war with Scotland.
282
00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:55,400
By 1314, it's reached
crisis point.
283
00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,920
He has to march an army north
immediately,
284
00:17:57,920 --> 00:17:59,920
or the war will be lost.
285
00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:03,120
Now, for Edward, this is
actually an opportunity.
286
00:18:03,120 --> 00:18:06,840
Winning in Scotland could really
help turn things around for him.
287
00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:10,360
But as ever, disaster is about
to strike,
288
00:18:10,360 --> 00:18:13,320
and as ever,
Edward can't see it coming.
289
00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:24,120
In the crucial battle
that decides the war,
290
00:18:24,120 --> 00:18:26,040
Edward's army is massacred.
291
00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:32,320
And it's all Lancaster's fault.
292
00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:37,920
When Edward led his troops
to Scotland,
293
00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:42,120
Lancaster was legally obliged to
bring his forces to support him.
294
00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:49,400
The last thing Lancaster wants
is to see Edward succeed,
295
00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,440
so when the time came
to march north,
296
00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:56,600
Lancaster and his cronies
simply didn't turn up.
297
00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:00,120
The king suffers
a historic defeat.
298
00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:04,160
Most of his army
are slaughtered.
299
00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,280
Edward is lucky to escape
with his life.
300
00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:10,160
And there is now only one thing
in his mind --
301
00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:12,840
he will do absolutely anything
302
00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,880
to get revenge on Lancaster.
303
00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:26,800
After Bannockburn,
Edward is humiliated,
304
00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:28,840
financially ruined,
and friendless.
305
00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:33,560
He desperately needs strong new
allies to help him.
306
00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,080
And here at Caerphilly Castle
307
00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,800
in the wild west of medieval
Britain
308
00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,480
is where he finds them.
309
00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:46,080
They're called the Despensers.
310
00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,080
This castle tells you everything
311
00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:55,320
you need to know
about the Despensers.
312
00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:57,800
In a place where neighbors
are constantly at war
313
00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,600
over money and power,
314
00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:03,880
the Despensers have the biggest,
baddest castle of them all.
315
00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:11,320
There are two of them,
both called Hugh.
316
00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:14,040
Dad is a longtime supporter
of Edward.
317
00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,720
But it's his son
who's the driving force.
318
00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:18,640
[Speaking French]
319
00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:23,440
Hugh Despenser Jr. is
as ruthless as he is ambitious.
320
00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:26,320
He's not afraid
to take on anyone,
321
00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:28,160
and he's got the brains
and muscle to back it up.
322
00:20:30,120 --> 00:20:31,880
[Speaking French]
323
00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:35,080
The Despensers help Edward drag
himself out of the mire,
324
00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,280
restoring the royal finances
325
00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:40,240
and getting the country
up and running again.
326
00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:46,760
In return, they get to do
whatever the hell they like.
327
00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:50,120
As soon as they've gained
the king's confidence,
328
00:20:50,120 --> 00:20:53,160
the Despensers start snatching
things for themselves.
329
00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:57,880
Over the next three years, they
grab territory after territory
330
00:20:57,880 --> 00:20:59,360
in the Welsh borders,
331
00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:03,000
trampling on anyone
who gets in their way.
332
00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,080
Edward must realize
the Despensers
333
00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:08,520
are massively destabilizing the
balance of power in the kingdom,
334
00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:11,400
and it must be obvious they're
only out for themselves.
335
00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:13,720
But I think
as long as they ultimately
336
00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:15,280
serve up revenge on Lancaster,
337
00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:17,720
he doesn't care who they upset
in the process.
338
00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:22,280
He can't see how the effects of
the Despensers' Welsh power grab
339
00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:25,160
could possibly turn out badly
for him.
340
00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:31,600
But it does, because Edward
backing the Despensers
341
00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,600
creates a new and very dangerous
enemy.
342
00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:41,600
Roger Mortimer, one of the most
powerful barons in the kingdom.
343
00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:44,040
Up to this point,
344
00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:47,520
he's actually been
on Edward's side.
345
00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:49,920
But when the Despensers grab
a chunk of his turf
346
00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:51,320
and the king does nothing,
347
00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:53,760
Mortimer turns on him
348
00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:55,600
and leads a popular uprising
349
00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:58,440
against the Despensers
and the king.
350
00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,080
[Shouting]
351
00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:09,720
Mortimer's men kick
the Despensers out of Wales.
352
00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:14,680
Then they march on London.
353
00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:24,160
[Speaking French]
354
00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:27,800
Mortimer demands that
the Despensers are banished,
355
00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:30,360
and that puts Edward
in a hopeless position.
356
00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:32,640
The king cannot be seen
to back down,
357
00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:33,880
so he has to refuse.
358
00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:35,440
[Speaking French]
359
00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:38,040
But with Mortimer's army ready
to sack London,
360
00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:40,320
his refusal could easily
get him killed.
361
00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,440
Salvation comes
from an unlikely source.
362
00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:55,360
No longer a helpless child,
363
00:22:55,360 --> 00:22:58,120
25-year-old Queen Isabella
falls to her knees
364
00:22:58,120 --> 00:23:00,800
in front of the court
and begs Edward
365
00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:04,440
to reconsider, for her sake.
366
00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:08,200
So, just as Mortimer demanded,
Edward banishes the Despensers,
367
00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:10,240
but crucially,
he's able to claim
368
00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:13,400
he's doing it for his queen.
369
00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,400
She's given her husband
a face-saving
370
00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:17,840
way out of a no-win situation.
371
00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:22,000
And it finally spurs him
into action.
372
00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:37,480
JONES: With Isabella
by his side,
373
00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:40,440
the king is finally
going to take the fight
374
00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:43,120
to his enemies.
375
00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,120
[Shouting]
376
00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:19,640
In October 1321, Queen Isabella
makes a surprise stop
377
00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:22,120
here at Leeds Castle in Kent,
378
00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:25,400
seeking shelter on her way
to Canterbury.
379
00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:30,560
Leeds Castle is the stronghold
of Bartholomew Badlesmere,
380
00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,160
one of Mortimer's
most prominent allies.
381
00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:38,080
Unsurprisingly, when she gets
to these gates,
382
00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,880
Badlesmere's men
refuse to let her in.
383
00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:42,320
Isabella insists.
384
00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:44,080
It turns nasty.
385
00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,000
In the melee that follows,
six of her people are killed.
386
00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,880
Now, clearly, Isabella's
got a core of steel,
387
00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,160
but why would she come
to this castle
388
00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:54,800
owned by one of her husband's
enemies?
389
00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:57,880
Well, in reality,
this is just a pretext.
390
00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,480
Isabella is putting
her life on the line
391
00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:03,760
to give her husband
an excuse to start a fight.
392
00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:10,600
Just days later, Edward turns up
with an army and siege engines,
393
00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:13,480
and Leeds Castle surrenders.
394
00:25:16,120 --> 00:25:18,120
Edward and Isabella look on
395
00:25:18,120 --> 00:25:22,000
as 13 of Badlesmere's defenders
are executed for resisting.
396
00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,760
Watching with them
are the Despensers,
397
00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:35,760
Edward's ruthless enforcers,
brought back from exile
398
00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:37,920
to manage his campaign,
because this
399
00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,040
is just the start.
400
00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:42,920
For the first time
in his entire life,
401
00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:46,040
Edward has a well-thought-out,
strategic plan.
402
00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,320
With the Despensers
secretly recalled
403
00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:49,880
and Isabella by his side,
404
00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,400
he's going to pick off
his enemies one by one.
405
00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:54,640
First Badlesmere, then Mortimer,
406
00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:58,360
and finally the real prize,
Lancaster.
407
00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,600
Edward heads to Wales,
picking off Mortimer's allies
408
00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:07,880
on the way.
409
00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,800
The offensive catches Mortimer
off guard.
410
00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:12,760
Edward quickly captures him
411
00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:15,360
and bangs him up
in the Tower of London.
412
00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:20,560
The momentum
is now with the king.
413
00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,680
But Lancaster has a big army
414
00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:24,960
and powerful allies
in the north.
415
00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:28,840
He will be a much tougher
proposition to take down.
416
00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:32,240
Then something extraordinary
happens
417
00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:34,840
that absolutely no one
saw coming.
418
00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:37,600
One of Edward's supporters,
419
00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:40,280
the Archbishop of York, receives
a series of damning letters,
420
00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:43,720
and they're here, copied into
the government archives.
421
00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:47,040
The letters are between
two Scottish ministers.
422
00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:50,320
Here you can see the name of one
of them -- Sir James Douglas.
423
00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:53,080
And they refer to an agreement
with an English noble
424
00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:57,000
who's named as "King Arthur."
425
00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:59,600
What he's doing is guaranteeing
he won't support
426
00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:01,520
any English invasion
of Scotland.
427
00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:05,520
There's only one person
that "King Arthur" could be --
428
00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:08,320
the king's cousin,
Thomas of Lancaster.
429
00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:15,480
So this is a smoking gun.
430
00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:19,080
It's proof that Lancaster has
been colluding with the enemy.
431
00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:21,280
And that is treason.
432
00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:24,480
Ever since Bannockburn,
Edward has suspected
433
00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:26,680
that Lancaster
is in bed with the Scots.
434
00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:30,040
Now he can prove it.
435
00:27:32,120 --> 00:27:35,760
The king immediately publishes
the Lancaster letters,
436
00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:39,840
then marches his army north.
437
00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:43,720
As Edward approaches,
Lancaster's support melts away.
438
00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:45,840
No one wants to back
a traitor.
439
00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:49,200
The earl is captured,
fleeing for his life.
440
00:27:55,360 --> 00:27:58,280
This is what remains
of Lancaster's favorite castle,
441
00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:00,880
Pontefract, and it's here
442
00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:03,560
that he's brought in chains
to face Edward.
443
00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:08,760
[Bell ringing, man murmuring]
444
00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,600
JONES: In a bitter irony,
Edward locks him up
445
00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,680
in a tower that Lancaster
had himself built
446
00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,800
specifically in anticipation
447
00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:23,280
of imprisoning the king.
448
00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:25,880
The next day, Lancaster is
hauled from his tower
449
00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:27,480
to face the court.
450
00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:29,360
Now, this is the king's
big chance
451
00:28:29,360 --> 00:28:31,520
to restore the rule of law
to England
452
00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:33,480
by giving his cousin
a fair trial.
453
00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:37,080
After all, the evidence
is overwhelming.
454
00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:38,880
Lancaster has committed treason,
455
00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:40,880
and he would be found guilty.
456
00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:43,400
But as ever, this is personal.
457
00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:45,640
Edward is not interested
in justice.
458
00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:47,440
He wants what he's always
wanted --
459
00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:49,120
revenge.
460
00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:56,160
Lancaster is tried
by a jury of his enemies,
461
00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:58,720
no defense, no right to speak,
462
00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:00,560
and sentenced to death.
463
00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:01,640
Amen.
464
00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:04,320
JONES: Judicial murder --
465
00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:09,040
exactly what he did
to Gaveston.
466
00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:16,240
It takes three blows
of the sword to kill Lancaster.
467
00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:18,120
[Sword strikes neck]
468
00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:20,040
As the last blow lands
469
00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:21,760
on Lancaster's neck,
470
00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:23,560
Edward finally has his revenge
471
00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:25,600
on the man
who killed his friend.
472
00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:27,440
But at what price?
473
00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:30,480
The king of England has
committed the political murder
474
00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:33,960
of the country's premier earl,
his first cousin,
475
00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:37,080
a man with Plantagenet
royal blood in his veins.
476
00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:39,360
Pandora's box is open,
477
00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:41,360
and no one is safe.
478
00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:47,360
On the day of Lancaster's
execution,
479
00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:50,560
six of his supporters follow him
to the gallows.
480
00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:55,360
Another three are executed
the next day.
481
00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:58,360
In the months that follow,
the executions continue.
482
00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:01,480
No trial, no evidence,
just the word of the king.
483
00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:04,680
117 rebels have their lands
confiscated,
484
00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:09,000
and at least 15 others join
Roger Mortimer in the Tower.
485
00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,000
It must look
to the whole kingdom
486
00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:13,840
like Edward's bloodlust is
insatiable.
487
00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:15,800
But in reality,
behind the scenes,
488
00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:18,000
the Despensers
are pulling the strings.
489
00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:22,520
It's payback time for
the humiliation of their exile.
490
00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:26,920
Edward makes Hugh Despenser Jr.
491
00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:28,720
Chamberlain
of the Royal Household,
492
00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:31,040
giving the Despensers
complete control
493
00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:32,720
of the machinery of government
494
00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:36,080
and the country's finances.
495
00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:42,720
Soon, all access to Edward
has to go through them.
496
00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:51,760
The Despenser regime
makes them hated
497
00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:53,120
right across the kingdom.
498
00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:55,120
But the Despensers don't care.
499
00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:58,080
The king is now their puppet.
500
00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:01,560
And they're not done yet.
501
00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:04,640
Two years later,
in autumn 1324,
502
00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:07,120
war breaks out with France,
503
00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:09,240
and the Despensers
get an opportunity
504
00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:11,240
to move on the one person
who could still
505
00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:15,440
interfere with their control
of the king -- Queen Isabella.
506
00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:19,440
The king of France is Isabella's
brother.
507
00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:21,520
Technically,
she's an enemy alien.
508
00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:23,360
And that's how the Despensers
treat her.
509
00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:25,040
[Isabella speaking French]
510
00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:27,480
On national security grounds,
511
00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:30,040
they purge her household
of French people,
512
00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:32,440
confiscate her lands...
513
00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:35,560
[Despenser shouting in French]
514
00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:37,880
JONES: And her younger children
are ripped from her,
515
00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:40,120
to be looked after
by Despenser's wife.
516
00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:42,040
-[Children crying]
-Non!
517
00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:47,000
JONES: Edward does nothing
to help her.
518
00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:56,280
Imagine how Isabella must feel.
519
00:31:56,280 --> 00:31:59,080
She's put up with
the humiliation of Gaveston.
520
00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:00,600
When Edward
went after Lancaster,
521
00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:02,080
she was right behind him.
522
00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:03,800
She even put her own life
on the line
523
00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:05,560
at Leeds Castle.
524
00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:08,280
She's done everything Edward
could have asked of a queen
525
00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:10,560
and more,
and this is her reward.
526
00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:18,120
Edward can't know it,
but this is
527
00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:20,880
the beginning of the end
of his rule.
528
00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:28,600
Six months later, Edward
and the Despensers
529
00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:30,440
are here in Dover.
530
00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:33,800
The war with France is going
disastrously wrong.
531
00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:37,840
The king has no choice but
to turn to his wife for help.
532
00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:40,400
He sends Isabella to France
533
00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:44,320
to negotiate a truce
with her brother, King Charles.
534
00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:47,120
When Isabella sails for France,
she does so
535
00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:49,560
knowing the Despensers
have her children.
536
00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:52,320
And that's why they're pretty
confident she'll have to behave.
537
00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:54,720
But they've massively
underestimated her,
538
00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:56,560
because this is a woman
who'll one day
539
00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:58,520
become known as "the She-Wolf,"
540
00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:02,240
and Edward and the Despensers
are about to find out why.
541
00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:11,960
In France, Isabella's influence
with her brother does the trick.
542
00:33:11,960 --> 00:33:14,040
She gets him to agree
to a treaty.
543
00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:16,240
But there's a catch.
544
00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:19,560
The French king demands
that Edward comes to France
545
00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:21,240
to seal the deal.
546
00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:26,680
Edward going to France
is something
547
00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:28,760
the Despensers
simply can't allow.
548
00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:30,280
Their control over the country
549
00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:33,200
depends on having the king
in their clutches.
550
00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:35,680
Without him, the whole thing
could unravel.
551
00:33:35,680 --> 00:33:38,680
In desperation, the Despensers
persuade Edward
552
00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:41,160
to send a message
claiming to be ill.
553
00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:44,080
So they must be delighted
when the reply comes back
554
00:33:44,080 --> 00:33:48,400
expressing sympathy and saying
that, under the circumstances,
555
00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:51,520
the French king would be happy
to accept the homage
556
00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:54,600
of Edward's son, 12-year-old
Prince Edward, instead.
557
00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:56,080
Sounds reasonable.
558
00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:04,800
So Edward sends the heir
to the throne to France
559
00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:08,720
along with a message telling
Isabella to return immediately.
560
00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:15,360
It's a massive miscalculation.
561
00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:22,040
With Prince Edward safely
by her side in Paris
562
00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:24,600
here at the French court
in the Conciergerie,
563
00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:28,120
Isabella makes her move,
and it's extraordinary.
564
00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:55,520
JONES: As far as Isabella
is concerned,
565
00:34:55,520 --> 00:34:58,320
until the Despensers are gone,
566
00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:01,520
her husband is as good as dead.
567
00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:03,720
Neither the king
nor the Despensers
568
00:35:03,720 --> 00:35:06,280
has appreciated the danger
of losing control
569
00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:09,240
of both the queen
and the heir to the throne.
570
00:35:09,240 --> 00:35:11,680
But with Isabella declared
against them,
571
00:35:11,680 --> 00:35:14,280
she quickly becomes the focus
for opposition.
572
00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:16,280
Edward and Hugh
might have thought
573
00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:18,000
that by snatching her children,
574
00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:20,080
they could force her
to toe the line,
575
00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:23,040
but they've no idea
who they're dealing with.
576
00:35:27,720 --> 00:35:32,080
Isabella's opposition
doesn't stop at speeches.
577
00:35:32,080 --> 00:35:36,480
A month later, she's wearing
her black robes of mourning
578
00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:41,920
when she meets a rich, powerful,
and charismatic man
579
00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:46,280
who's just escaped
from the Tower of London.
580
00:35:46,280 --> 00:35:50,720
Roger Mortimer, her husband's
bitterest enemy.
581
00:35:50,720 --> 00:35:53,920
The attraction is immediate.
582
00:35:56,520 --> 00:35:59,120
Within weeks, they're lovers.
583
00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:01,080
Even Paris is shocked.
584
00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:07,200
Isabella, "the She-Wolf,"
585
00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:10,760
and Roger Mortimer, sworn enemy
of the king.
586
00:36:10,760 --> 00:36:16,000
For Edward II, they are a very
dangerous combination.
587
00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:43,240
In the autumn of 1326,
588
00:36:43,240 --> 00:36:46,160
Isabella and Mortimer
head back to England
589
00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:47,760
with one simple aim --
590
00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:50,080
regime change.
591
00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:55,360
D-Day, September 24, 1326.
592
00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:57,440
And even with Mortimer
by her side,
593
00:36:57,440 --> 00:36:59,760
for Isabella this is a hell
of a gamble.
594
00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:01,080
I mean, let's face it.
595
00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:03,000
She's an adulterous
foreign queen
596
00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:05,200
with an escaped-convict lover,
597
00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:07,160
backed by a handful of men
598
00:37:07,160 --> 00:37:09,760
closer in number to a moderate
house party
599
00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:11,800
than a proper invasion force.
600
00:37:11,800 --> 00:37:14,080
This has all the hallmarks
601
00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:16,080
of a suicide mission.
602
00:37:18,920 --> 00:37:23,880
But Isabella and Mortimer
have called it right.
603
00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:29,280
Popular hatred of the Despensers
and the king is so deep
604
00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:32,680
and so widespread that,
as his wife and her lover
605
00:37:32,680 --> 00:37:36,000
ride through the shires,
supporters flock to their side.
606
00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:40,600
In less than a month,
the queen takes the country.
607
00:37:40,600 --> 00:37:42,960
The king is forced to flee
for his life.
608
00:37:46,040 --> 00:37:48,800
Edward is running out of options
fast.
609
00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:51,800
He's supposed to be the anointed
king of England,
610
00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:54,080
but now he's reduced
to a man on the run.
611
00:37:57,640 --> 00:38:00,800
His only remaining supporter
is a man who, if it's possible,
612
00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:03,360
is hated even more than he is.
613
00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:06,440
It's said he tried to get
a message to Isabella --
614
00:38:06,440 --> 00:38:09,320
if only they could talk, maybe
they could smooth things over.
615
00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:13,840
The time for talking
is long gone,
616
00:38:13,840 --> 00:38:16,600
but as usual,
Edward can't see it.
617
00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:22,840
Edward and Hugh are captured,
618
00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:27,320
running scared on a forest path
in the Welsh mountains.
619
00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:32,920
[Shouts]
620
00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:41,560
Isabella bangs Edward up
in Kenilworth Castle.
621
00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:44,720
She hasn't decided what to do
with him yet.
622
00:38:46,880 --> 00:38:50,800
But she's got big plans
for Hugh Despenser.
623
00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:56,480
Despenser Sr. has already been
beheaded and fed to the dogs.
624
00:38:56,480 --> 00:38:58,280
And he's the lucky one.
625
00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:04,280
When Hugh the Younger arrives
here in Hereford
626
00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:06,920
and sees a 50-foot gallows
being erected over the town,
627
00:39:06,920 --> 00:39:08,560
he probably begins to suspect
628
00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:10,560
that the trial
he's about to receive
629
00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:12,080
isn't going to be entirely fair.
630
00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:16,920
And he's right.
631
00:39:16,920 --> 00:39:18,880
Like Gaveston and Lancaster
before him,
632
00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:20,920
he's not allowed to speak
in his own defense,
633
00:39:20,920 --> 00:39:23,680
and he's tried by people
who hate him.
634
00:39:23,680 --> 00:39:25,800
And the sentence he receives
635
00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:28,920
is so spectacularly vicious
and inhuman,
636
00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:31,560
he actually tries
to starve himself to death
637
00:39:31,560 --> 00:39:32,840
just to avoid it.
638
00:39:32,840 --> 00:39:35,320
[Crowd shouting]
639
00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:37,960
[Shouts]
640
00:39:37,960 --> 00:39:40,760
JONES:
In front of a huge crowd,
641
00:39:40,760 --> 00:39:43,400
Despenser is hung
almost to the point of death.
642
00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:48,000
But he's not getting off
that lightly,
643
00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:51,720
because Isabella has a point
to prove.
644
00:39:51,720 --> 00:39:54,640
This is a very personal
execution
645
00:39:54,640 --> 00:39:59,200
and a very public statement.
646
00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:02,200
Isabella has a ringside seat
as Despenser
647
00:40:02,200 --> 00:40:05,560
is strapped to a ladder
for the next part of his ordeal.
648
00:40:05,560 --> 00:40:07,960
[Crowd cheers]
649
00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:10,360
JONES: The queen wants everyone
to know
650
00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:13,560
the Despenser has come
between her and her husband.
651
00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:16,080
He's damaged her marriage,
652
00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:17,720
and this is her revenge.
653
00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:25,480
Despenser's genitals
are cut off...
654
00:40:25,480 --> 00:40:28,040
[Crowd cheering]
655
00:40:31,440 --> 00:40:36,000
...And burned in front of him.
656
00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:39,080
Incredibly, Isabella
657
00:40:39,080 --> 00:40:42,240
is eating as she watches it
happen.
658
00:40:42,240 --> 00:40:44,240
Even more incredibly,
659
00:40:44,240 --> 00:40:46,000
throughout all of this,
660
00:40:46,000 --> 00:40:48,000
Hugh Despenser
never makes a sound.
661
00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:51,960
But Isabella isn't done.
662
00:40:51,960 --> 00:40:54,800
Despenser's entrails
are pulled out
663
00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:56,040
and shown to him.
664
00:40:56,040 --> 00:40:58,440
Then he screams.
665
00:40:58,440 --> 00:41:00,760
[Despenser screaming]
666
00:41:03,680 --> 00:41:06,080
JONES: Finally,
almost mercifully,
667
00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:07,920
he is beheaded.
668
00:41:07,920 --> 00:41:11,520
Murderous personal
vindictiveness has become
669
00:41:11,520 --> 00:41:15,440
the defining characteristic
of Edward II's reign.
670
00:41:15,440 --> 00:41:18,440
The only person who could have
stopped it was Edward.
671
00:41:18,440 --> 00:41:20,640
Instead, he embraced it.
672
00:41:20,640 --> 00:41:23,920
And now it's coming for him.
673
00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:33,880
Edward, who's being held here
at Kenilworth Castle,
674
00:41:33,880 --> 00:41:37,720
is Isabella and Mortimer's
last remaining problem.
675
00:41:39,240 --> 00:41:40,720
He may be a defeated tyrant,
676
00:41:40,720 --> 00:41:43,040
but he's still the rightful
king of England,
677
00:41:43,040 --> 00:41:45,720
anointed by God.
678
00:41:45,720 --> 00:41:49,040
On the other hand, they've been
so blatant about their adultery,
679
00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:51,240
they can hardly just give him
his crown back.
680
00:41:51,240 --> 00:41:53,560
So Edward's wife and her lover
681
00:41:53,560 --> 00:41:56,320
have him declared incorrigible,
and he's deposed
682
00:41:56,320 --> 00:41:59,080
by act of Parliament.
683
00:41:59,080 --> 00:42:02,240
Once king of England,
684
00:42:02,240 --> 00:42:04,560
he's now just plain
Edward of Caernarfon,
685
00:42:04,560 --> 00:42:05,920
the place of his birth.
686
00:42:09,520 --> 00:42:11,520
For the first time
since the Dark Ages,
687
00:42:11,520 --> 00:42:14,040
a reigning monarch has been
forced from the throne.
688
00:42:14,040 --> 00:42:17,240
England has a new king,
Edward III,
689
00:42:17,240 --> 00:42:20,400
but it's Isabella as Regent
who's really snatched the crown.
690
00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:23,000
The She-Wolf
has earned her name.
691
00:42:30,760 --> 00:42:34,880
This is Berkeley Castle in
Gloucestershire, and it's here
692
00:42:34,880 --> 00:42:38,760
the end game is played out.
693
00:42:38,760 --> 00:42:42,200
Whilst he's still alive,
the king remains a threat.
694
00:42:44,560 --> 00:42:46,800
There have already been
three attempts
695
00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:48,480
to spring him from prison
696
00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:52,480
and restore him to power.
697
00:42:52,480 --> 00:42:55,800
In truth, he's been
a dead man walking
698
00:42:55,800 --> 00:42:58,640
since his wife
snatched the throne.
699
00:43:04,960 --> 00:43:07,640
Publicly, it will be claimed
that Edward
700
00:43:07,640 --> 00:43:09,520
has died of natural causes,
701
00:43:09,520 --> 00:43:11,720
but as news of his death
spreads,
702
00:43:11,720 --> 00:43:15,440
suspicion of murder grows.
703
00:43:15,440 --> 00:43:18,120
The story we're told is that
he's tortured and murdered
704
00:43:18,120 --> 00:43:21,040
by having a red-hot poker
inserted
705
00:43:21,040 --> 00:43:23,000
via a trumpet device
placed in rectum.
706
00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:26,880
[Screaming]
707
00:43:29,400 --> 00:43:31,320
Even after everything
Edward had done,
708
00:43:31,320 --> 00:43:33,720
how could a king be tortured
and killed
709
00:43:33,720 --> 00:43:35,520
in such a horrific fashion?
710
00:43:35,520 --> 00:43:38,600
The answer, of course --
he wasn't.
711
00:43:49,240 --> 00:43:51,840
This is the room where Edward II
was murdered.
712
00:43:51,840 --> 00:43:53,440
Not killed with a poker.
713
00:43:53,440 --> 00:43:55,680
Most probably smothered
in his bed.
714
00:43:55,680 --> 00:43:58,560
[Muffled screaming]
715
00:43:58,560 --> 00:44:00,760
The poker story only came about
716
00:44:00,760 --> 00:44:03,560
about 60 years
after Edward was killed.
717
00:44:03,560 --> 00:44:05,280
But it's become
the standard version.
718
00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:08,480
And that's because the idea
of a humiliated,
719
00:44:08,480 --> 00:44:11,640
emasculated, possibly homosexual
king
720
00:44:11,640 --> 00:44:14,560
being buggered to death
is too good a story
721
00:44:14,560 --> 00:44:17,360
to be troubled
by the truth.
722
00:44:17,360 --> 00:44:19,040
Non! Non!
723
00:44:19,040 --> 00:44:20,480
Non!
724
00:44:20,480 --> 00:44:23,160
[Screaming]
725
00:44:23,160 --> 00:44:25,880
JONES: Next time...
726
00:44:25,880 --> 00:44:29,000
the Plantagenet story reaches
its catastrophic climax
727
00:44:29,000 --> 00:44:31,720
as Richard II, the boy king
728
00:44:31,720 --> 00:44:33,480
who crushed
the Peasants' Revolt,
729
00:44:33,480 --> 00:44:35,040
turns monstrous tyrant
730
00:44:35,040 --> 00:44:37,320
and Henry Bolingbroke rises up
731
00:44:37,320 --> 00:44:41,280
to bring the whole dynasty
crashing down.
56369
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