Biography of John Giffard 2nd Baron Giffard Brimpsfield 1287-1322

On 16th March 1322 the rebel army led by Thomas Plantagenet 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Earl Lancaster, Earl of Salisbury and Lincoln (age 44) attempted to cross the bridge over the River Ure (between Ripon and York) at Boroughbridge Bridge [Map]. Their path was blocked by forces loyal to the King led by Andrew Harclay 1st Earl Carlisle (age 52). Bartholomew Badlesmere 1st Baron Badlesmere (age 46), Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March (age 34), John Botetort 1st Baron Botetort (age 57) and John Maltravers 1st Baron Maltravers (age 32) fought for the rebels. Roger Clifford 2nd Baron Clifford (age 22), Nicholas Longford (age 37), Thomas Plantagenet 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Earl Lancaster, Earl of Salisbury and Lincoln, John Mowbray 2nd Baron Mowbray (age 35) were captured.

Warin Lisle (age 51) was hanged after the battle at Pontefract [Map].

Following the battle Hugh Audley 1st Earl Gloucester (age 31) and his wife Margaret Clare Countess Gloucester were both imprisoned. He in Nottingham Castle [Map] and she in Sempringham Priory [Map].

John Clinton 2nd Baron Clinton (age 22), Ralph Greystoke 1st Baron Greystoke (age 22), William Latimer 2nd Baron Latimer of Corby (age 46), Robert Lisle 1st Baron Lisle (age 34), Domhnall Mar II Earl of Mar (age 29) and Peter Saltmarsh (age 42) fought for the King.

Adam Everingham 1st Baron Everingham of Laxton (age 43) was captured.

Humphrey Bohun 4th Earl Hereford 3rd Earl Essex (age 46) was killed. His son John (age 15) succeeded 5th Earl Hereford, 4th Earl Essex.

Piers Grandison 2nd Baron Grandison (age 31) fough for the rebels, and was captured.

Hugh Audley 1st Baron Audley of Stratton Audley (age 55) surrendered before the battle and was imprisoned in Wallingford Castle [Map] for the rest of his life

John Giffard 2nd Baron Giffard Brimpsfield (age 34) was captured.

Life of Edward of Carnarvan by a Monk of Bridlington. April 1322. Likewise, at Gloucester, Lord John Giffard (age 34), because he had, against his oath of fealty, homage, and allegiance, treacherously seized the town and castle of Gloucester, as well as burned the town of Bridgnorth and destroyed its bridge, committing plunder, murder, and felonies, and then, leading an armed force, marched hostilely against the royal castle of Tickhill, which he besieged along with many others, and later at Burton and Pontefract resisted the lord king, fighting with his own vassals under unfurled banners—for these offenses, by the royal record, as stated above, he, along with Lord Roger Elmbridge, was drawn and hanged, as his crimes demanded. Whoever wishes to read or hear the full record and process pronounced against the aforementioned lords, may find it in another book among the chronicles, where it is entirely contained, as presented above in the trial; in which the names of the lords and other knights captured for the aforementioned rebellion are listed, as well as the places where they suffered the penalty of death. There is also recorded the testimony of a certain John de Denome, within the aforementioned process, concerning what he declared on behalf of the said earls to Robert the Bruce and the Scots, regarding a proposed confederation and alliance with them. This last part I do not affirm as true, nor do I know whether it is or not. God knows.

Item apud Gloucestriam dominus Johannes Giffarde, quia contra fidelitatem, homagium et ligiantiam suam, per proditionem cepit villam et castrum domini regis Gloucestriæ, nec non villam de Briggenorth succendit et pontem fregit, ibique fecit prædationes, homicidium, et felonias, et exinde patrias spoliando vi et armis usque castrumn domini regis de Tykhille hostiliter processit, quod cum aliis pluribus obsedit, et postea apud Birtone et Pontemburgi domino regi restitit, et cum suis ligiis, vexillis explicatis, dimicavit, per regis recordum, ut prædicitur, una cum domino Rogero Elmorigge trahitur et suspenditur, exigentibus demeritis supradictis. Qui vero voluerit totum recordum et processum, contra prædictos dominos factum et pronuntiatum, legere vel audire, in alio libro inter incidentia chronicorum totaliter poterit invenire, sicut in judicio superius est ostensum; in quo nomina dominorum et aliorum militum, qui propter præfatam rebellionem capiebantur, reperiet, et loca in quibus mortis supplicium sunt perpessi. Ibidemque continetur credentia cujusdamn Johannis de Denome infra prædictum processum scripta, ex parte predictorum comitum Roberto de Bruys et Scotis exponenda, super confœderatione et alligatione facienda cum eisdem. Istud ultimum non affirmo, sed an sit verum nec ne nescio. Deus novit.