ABOUT one mile outside Warwick lies hidden a wooded hill known as Blacklow Hill. It was here that a king?s favourite met a sudden and violent end with the blow of an axe.

The knight in question was one Piers Gaveston, a companion of Edward II since he was a young man. During their teenage years rumours came to the ear of Edward I, via Walter Langton, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, that his son?s relationship with Gaveston was not ?natural?.

This culminated in the king throwing the prince to the ground by his hair and violently attacking him. Gaveston was banished and Edward showered him with gifts before tearfully waving him goodbye.

Edward I, also known as the hammer of the Scots, died in July 1307 and on his death bed made Edward swear not to bring Gaveston back. The prince swore he wouldn?t, then ordered for Gaveston's return.

On his return Gaveston was created Earl of Cornwall, much to the astonishment and anger of the Barons. The Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, who told the king of his relationship, was imprisoned and all his estates and property handed to Gaveston.

In Scotland Robert the Bruce was leading a rebellion and Edward, who was now king, like his father had to lead an army to take on the Scots. Unlike his father, however, Edward only reached Ayrshire before turning back, it is said, because he wished to get back to Gaveston who was returning from a visit to the continent.

After Gaveston?s arrival, Edward dissolved his father?s government, not only dismissing many who had served his father well, but also stripping many of their estates and throwing some into gaol.

Then, to add insult to injury, he gave a vast treasure, which Edward I had collected to finance a holy crusade, to Gaveston.

Gaveston began to get greedy and made it clear he wanted more, Edward bestowed upon him the title of Lord Chamberlain of England and gave him a large estate in Geienne. Then, to create an image of normality, he married Gaveston to his niece Margaret de Clare.

In June 1308 Edward sailed to France to marry the Princess Isabella (the marriage was contracted many years before). He left Gaveston as Regent of England, giving him absolute power over the nation. Giving this great title to a foreign knight was considered the final insult to the Barons of England.

Gaveston made things worse as the power went to his head. He lorded it over everyone and treated the barons with utter contempt. He gave insulting nicknames to many of the most powerful barons and lords.

Guy Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, he called the Black Dog of Arden because of his dark complexion. The Earl of Lancaster he called Play actor, the Earl of Pembroke Joseph the Jew and the Duke of Gloucester, Whoreson.

Edward?s marriage celebrations were cut short so that he could return to Gaveston and on his return all the nobles lined the quay waiting for the king and queen.

Isabella was said to be one of the most beautiful women in Europe, but on landing Edward ignored everyone including his new queen and rushed into the arms of Gaveston, much to the disdain of all present.

Edward?s coronation took place on February 24, 1308 and Gaveston was allowed to wear the royal purple and carry the crown. He soon began to treat the queen with contempt, insulting her and wearing jewels which were given as part of her dowry.

Enough was enough and the barons threatened civil war and the removal of the king if Gaveston was not banished. Gaveston took an oath on threat of excommunication that he would never return and left the country.

A few weeks later the barons discovered that he had been made Governor of Ireland. During his exile Edward worked on his return and wrote to the Pope to gain a dispensation to remove Gaveston?s oath. He also promised major changes should he be able to return.

Eventually Parliament, impressed by the king?s humility, agreed and within the week Gaveston was back in England. Things, however, did not change and soon the Queen was writing to her father complaining of her treatment and Gaveston?s affections.

Twice Edward called parliament for the barons to air their grievances, but none attended fearing Gaveston?s power. A third parliament, this time without Gaveston?s presence, was agreed and the barons attended, armed.

Edward was completely in their power and agreed to reforms not only to the state but to the royal household. Edward then left London and his queen and spent the following winter, spring and summer at Berwick with Gaveston.

Then he was summoned to attend the barons at parliament where he was made to sign documents stating that the king could not give peerages, leave the country, form an army, choose a regent, could not choose officers of the crown or governors of foreign possessions.

The barons also insisted Gaveston be banished on pain of death. The King signed the documents and soon once again found himself waving a tearful goodbye to his ?beloved Perrot?.

Edward then dissolved parliament and retired to the north where he immediately began to raise an army to oppose the barons. Within two weeks Gaveston was back at the king?s side at York with all his titles and estates returned, but the barons rode north and surprised the royal party at Newcastle.

Edward and Gaveston escaped in a boat leaving the Queen behind. The barons treated her with great respect, obviously sympathetic to her situation.

Then, hearing that Gaveston was at Scarborough Castle, the barons rode further north and prepared to place the stronghold under a state of siege. The castle, however, was in a bad state and could not withstand a prolonged siege so Gaveston was compelled to surrender to the Earl of Pembroke (Joseph the Jew).

He was taken south to Deddington and here spent the night. The following morning he was roughly awoken and forced to dress and brought before the man he styled the Black Dog of Arden, the Earl of Warwick who is said to have grinned and said: ?The Black Dog of Arden is come to keep his oath which he was sworn, that you should one day feel his teeth.?

Now it was Warwick?s turn to treat him with contempt. He had Gaveston placed on a mule and taken to Warwick Castle where a deliberately badly played fanfare hailed his arrival.

He was taken to the Great Hall and dragged before the Earl of Warwick, the Earl of Lancaster (Play actor), Gloucester (Whoreson), Hereford and Arundel, who all declared him guilty of breaking his exile, for which the punishment was death.

Gaveston threw himself at their feet and pleaded for pity, but none was prepared to show any mercy. Gaveston was dragged out into the courtyard and tied onto the mule and a small procession trailed out of the castle to Blacklow Hill just outside the town.

Here, as the earls and lords watched, Gaveston was dragged kicking and screaming up the small hill before having his head removed with an axe. It was then held high for all present to see. (This took place on June 19, not the 1st as stated on the monument).

On hearing the news Edward was inconsolable but unable to do anything for now he feared the power of the barons. Gaveston?s body was buried by the king with great pomp at Langley and the monarch also personally paid for masses to be said all over the land for Gaveston?s soul.

Edward reigned for many more years causing more problems with other favourites such as Hugh le Despenser and his son, two of the other intended victims of the Coventry necromancer, John de Nottingham.

Queen Isabella finally had enough and left him to openly live with her lover Roger Mortimer on the continent and plan his downfall. Edward II abdicated his throne at Kenilworth Castle on January 20, 1327 and within a few months was murdered in Berkley Castle in such a way that no mark would show on his body, ?with a hotte broche putte thro the secret place posteralle.?

In 1821 a monument was erected by Bertie Greatheed, the owner of Guys Cliffe. On it are these words: In the hollow of this rock was beheaded, on the first day of July, 1312, by Barons as lawless as himself, Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, the minion of a pitiful King, in life and death, a memorable instance of misrule.