The Survival of Edward II?

 In 1330, rumours began to circulate across England that the former king Edward II had not been killed in 13+27 following his deposition after all. Supposedly, these rumours had been not only encouraged by Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer, the people behind Edward’s downfall, but had, in fact, been started by them. The rumour went that Edward was in fact living, perfectly happily at Corfe Castle. After his deposition in 1327, Edward had indeed spent time at Corfe Castle before he was moved on to Berkeley Castle where, it’s generally believed, he met his end. Elaborate steps were taken to make the rumours seem believable ;entertainment, dancing and feasts were staged in the castle as though a king was truly staying there. The former king’s brother Edmund believed the rumours and would ultimately be executed for apparently conspiring to free Edward II; another victim of the tyranny of Mortimer and Isabella.

What the 17 year old Edward III thought of these rumours is an interesting matter to ponder but what is clear is that he had now had just about enough of Mortimer. Mortimer had, instead of being a regent acting in the best interests of the country, acted like he was the king and it was said that he would enter Parliament and received a louder ovation then Edward himself. Repeatedly, Mortimer would be in the presence of the king and would show a remarkable level of arrogance. Very often, he would, defying convention, walk in front of the king, instead of just behind or, at the least, to the side. Edward's mother Isabella was little better and she would be exiled in disgrace. When Edward's patience with the pair finally ran out, he cornered them, on one dramatic night at Nottingham Castle. Despite Isabella's pleas, Mortimer could expect no mercy. He was arrested and hanged. Thus, Edward III's reign truly began. As for his father, despite the rumours, there is no real plausible reason to believe Edward II was not murdered at Berkeley Castle in 1327. Mortimer and Isabella had shown how thirsty for power they were and, to keep hold of it, the old king had to be out of the way.