e part which he had
acted against the late king probably inclined him to give credit to
this intelligence, entered into a design of restoring him to liberty, of
reinstating him on the throne, and of making thereby some atonement for
the injuries which he himself had unwarily done him.[*]

{1330.} After this harmless contrivance had been allowed to proceed a
certain length, the earl was seized by Mortimer, was accused before the
parliament, and condemned, by those slavish though turbulent barons, to
lose his life and fortune. The queen and Mortimer, apprehensive of young
Edward's lenity towards his uncle, hurried on the execution, and the
prisoner was beheaded next day: but so general was the affection borne
him, and such pity prevailed for his unhappy fate, that, though peers
had been easily found to condemn him, it was evening before his enemies
could find an executioner to perform the office.[**]

* Avesbury, p. 8. Anon. Hist. p. 395.

** Heming. p. 271. Ypod. Neust. p. 510. Knyghton, p. 2555.

The earl of Lancaster, on pretence of his having assented to this
conspiracy, was soon after thrown into prison: many of the prelates and
nobility were prosecuted: Mortimer employed this engine to crush all his
enemies, and to enrich himself and his family by the forfeitures. The
estate of the earl of Kent was seized for his younger son, Geoffrey:
the immense fortunes of the Spensers and their adherents were mostly
converted to his own use: he affected a state and dignity equal or
superior to the royal: his power became formidable to every one: his
illegal practices were daily complained of: and all parties, forgetting
past animosities, conspired in their hatred of Mortimer.

It was impossible that these abuses could long escape the observation of
a prince endowed with so much spirit and judgment as young Edward,
who, being now in his eighteenth year, and feeling himself capable of
governing, repined at being held in fetters by this insolent minister.
But so much was he surrounded by the emissaries of Mortimer, that it
behoved him to conduct the project for subverting him with the same
secrecy and precaution as if he had been forming a conspiracy against
his sovereign. He communicated his intentions to Lord Mountacute, who
engaged the Lords Molins and Clifford, Sir John Nevil of Hornby, Sir
Edward Bohun, Ufford, and others, to enter into their views; and the
Castle of Nottingham was chosen for the scene of the ent