Sir Hugh Spencer

Also known as: the younger Spencer · Family: England · Role: king's adviser · First appears: Book 1, Chapter 2

In Book 1, Chapter 2, King Edward the Second governed “by the advice of Sir Hugh Spencer,” who had been brought up with him from youth. After the king’s treatment of the assembled lords, hatred of Hugh grew, particularly among Queen Isabella and the Earl of Kent; Hugh fomented discord between the king and queen, and the king would not see her.

In Chapter 3, Queen Isabella told King Charles of the injuries Hugh had done her and sought his advice and assistance. In Chapter 4, Hugh sent messengers carrying riches to Charles and his ministers, after which they grew cold toward Isabella’s cause; Hugh also tried to bring the queen into his and the king’s power.

At Bristol in Chapter 7, Hugh and the king shut themselves in the castle as the queen’s forces besieged it. In Chapter 8, Sir Henry Beaumont brought Hugh back to Bristol as a prisoner, and Hugh was delivered to Sir Thomas Wager. At Hereford, he was sentenced to be drawn through the streets and displayed on a scaffold; he was executed, and his head was sent to London.