Trussell was born the son of William Trussell of Billesley, Warwickshire.
Trussell was Sheriff of Warwickshire and Leicestershire for 1314–15 and represented Leicestershire in Parliament in 1314 and Northamptonshire in 1319.[2] He was an ardent supporter of the House of Lancaster but was pardoned for his role in the death of Piers Gaveston in 1318.
Opposition to Edward II
As Edward II slowly regained power from the Ordainers he rewarded Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester with land confiscated from the barons, leading to a baronial revolt, which Trussell joined. On 12 March 1322 a warrant for Trussell's arrest was issued describing him as "the King's enemy".[3][non-primary source needed] Four days later both Trussell and his son fought on the rebels' side at the Battle of Boroughbridge. Edward and Dispenser won, beheading the rebels' leader Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster (Edward's cousin) and forcing others into exile. As the injustices continued, and the effects of the Great Famine of 1315–22 lingered, discontent remained. Despenser was rewarded with lands that had belonged to Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, including those in Leicestershire.[4][non-primary source needed]
Trussell fled to France and was not named as an accomplice of Zouch and the Folville Gang when they murdered/executed de Beler in January 1326, presumably in revenge for his enforcement on behalf of Despenser.[4][non-primary source needed] Willoughby was later kidnapped and ransomed by them in 1332.
Support of Edward III
Trussell then joined up with Queen Isabella and Mortimer in Paris before moving to Flanders where he was allegedly tasked with helping to build an invasion army by William I, Count of Hainaut.[6] Trussell accompanied Isabella and Mortimer when they landed in England on 24 September 1326 at the start of their invasion of England. Their forces consisted of approximately 1500 soldiers, many of whom were Flemish mercenaries and others exiled Contrariants. Opposition was almost non-existent and so many barons, sheriffs and knights joined the rebellion that control of the country was secured within two months. Adam, Abbot of Glastonbury hid Despenser and the Lord Chancellor, Robert Baldock in Glastonbury Abbey, and in December 1326 Trussell was ordered to bring the abbot before the next Parliament.[5][non-primary source needed] Both Despenser and his son Hugh Despenser the Younger were captured and Trussell oversaw the trial of the elder Despenser where he was denounced and sentenced to death.[7][full citation needed] Both Despensers were gruesomely executed.
^both Despensers were viewed as corrupt and used blackmail and extortion to extract wealth from people so many of the accusations they made about their rivals may have been fabricated
