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Mortimer (ROGER EARL OF MARCH an English)

ROGER, EARL OF MARCH, an English politician; born about 1287. On the death of his father, in the Welsh wars in 1303, he was made the ward of Piers Gaveston. He served under Edward I. in the Scotch war, in 1306-1307, and during the first 14 years of the reign of Edward II. was employed in Scotland, Ireland, and France, and was appointed lieutenant in Ireland 1317. Three years later he joined the barons in revolt to banish the king's favorites, the Spensers, but was taken and imprisoned in the Tower. Having escaped to France, he allied himself with Isabella, Queen of Edward II., and the barons who shared her discontent. The queen accepted him as her paramour, and having obtained aid from the Count of Hainault, they came to England in 1326, deposed and imprisoned the king, and governed the kingdom at their will. The young prince was proclaimed (Edward III.); Mortimer was created Earl of March, and took a large share of the estates of the Spensers; the deposed king was shamefully murdered by his orders; and at last Edward, weary of subjection to this insolent usurper, and backed by the public hatred of him, assumed the government. Mortimer was seized at the government. castle of Nottingham, and hung at Tyburn, Nov. 29, 1330.