ENGLAND. 



Edward II. 



Recals his 

 favourite, 

 Gaveston. 



History. Edward II. came to the throne with the preposses- 

 sions of all ranks in his favour; and, had he possessed 

 but a moderate share of prudence and abilities, he 

 A. D. 1309. might have preserved inviolate the prerogatives of his 

 crown, and have maintained a respectable rank among 

 the sovereigns of his time. But the weakness of his 

 understanding, and the indolence and mildness of his 

 disposition, rendered him totally incapable of wielding 

 the sceptre over a turbulent and high-spirited people. 

 Regardless of the dying commands of his father, he 

 discontinued the war in Scotland, disbanded his army, 

 and gave himself up to pleasure and amusement. He 

 recalled from exile his favourite Gaveston, who had 

 formerly ministered to his youthful extravagancies. This 

 Gaveston was the son of a Gascon knight, and had 

 early insinuated himself into the affections of young 

 Edward. He possessed an elegant person, and agree- 

 able manners ; but he was vicious and effeminate ; and 

 the late king, apprehensive of the ascendency which he 

 had gained over his son, banished him the kingdom, 

 and made the young prince promise never to recal him. 

 But young F.dward no sooner found himself in posses- 

 sion of the throne, than he sent for his favourite, and 

 immediately distinguished him with the highest marks 

 of confidence and friendship. He endowed him with 

 the whole earldom of C'ornwall ; gave him his own 

 niece in marriage : and seemed happy only as he was 

 enabled to load him with new honours and possessions. 

 But the mind of Gaveston was ill fitted to bear with 

 equanimity the full sunshine of royal favour. Natu- 

 rally vain-glorious, his pride rose with his fortunes ; 

 and he took pleasure in displaying his power and in- 

 fluence, to the mortification of Ins rivals. 



Marriage of While Edward was in France, espousing the princess 

 the king. Isabella, Gaveston was left guardian of the realm, with 

 more amplr powers than had usually been conferred ; 

 but, instead of gaining a party in his favour to support 

 his .sudden exaltation, lie disgusted all ranks by his pro- 

 digality and pomp. The haughty nobles could ill brook 

 the neglect of a weak monarch, and the dominion of 

 an insolent stranger ; nnd a combination was accord- 

 ingly formed to expel Gaveston from the kingdom. 

 At the head of this combination was the Earl of Lan- 

 caster, a prince of the blood, and one of the most po- 

 tent barons in England ; and it was also encouraged 

 by the queen, who hated the favourite on account of 

 his ascendency over her husband. The barons, when 

 united, were irresistible. They came to the parlia- 

 ment with an armed retinue, and demanded the banish- 

 ment of the favourite. Edward was obliged to sub- 

 mit, and immediately dispatched Gaveston to be lord- 

 lieutenant of Ireland. 



Unhappy in the absence of his favourite, whose com- 

 pany alone seemed to give him pleasure, the king tried 

 every- method of procuring his recal. He softened the 

 opposition of Lancaster, and some of the principal no- 

 bility, by raising them to high offices in the govern- 

 ment, or by loading them with civilities and promises, 

 and then invited Gaveston to return. The favourite, 

 however, instead of profiting by his past misfortunes, 

 and henceforth enjoying his honours with modesty 

 and moderation, heightened the general discontent, by 

 new insults and injuries. The barons again took up 

 arms, and compelled the timid Edward to devolve the 

 whole authority of the kingdom on twelve commission- 

 ers. Their power was to continue only for one year ; 

 but whatever ordinances they should "think proper to 

 enact, were for ever to have the force of laws. Among 

 other useful regulations, they banished Gaveston for 



Discontents 

 of theba- 



Commis- 

 ap- 



Gareston 

 P uttotl 



Invasion o 

 Scotlancl - 



oofaf. 



ever from the kingdom, under the penalty of being de- History. 

 clared a public enemy, in case of disobedience. The S -""Y"~"' 

 favourite retired to Flanders, but Edward was inconso- 

 lable for his loss ; and removing to York, where he 

 thought himself secure from his enemies, he again re- 

 called him. The barons now saw that the death of 

 Gaveston was the only safeguard against their own 

 ruin. Lancaster hastened to York ; but the king had 

 fled with his favourite to Scarborough, and having left 

 him there, with a strong garrison, returned to oppose 

 Lancaster. Scarborough, however, soon after surren- J"ly 1- 

 dered to the rebels, and the unhappy favourite was put 

 to death without even the form of a trial. The news 

 of Gaveston's murder filled Edward with grief and in- 

 dignation ; and he threatened his utmost vengeance 

 against all who had been concerned in that bloody trans- 

 action. But forgetting his feelings in his fears for his 

 own safety, he agreed to an accommodation ; and, as 

 the barons were sufficiently satisfied with their revenge, 

 they offered to ask his pardon publicly on their knees, 

 when a general amnesty was immediately subscribed. 



Tranquillity and union being again restored, the at- 

 tention of Edward was called to the progress of the 

 Scottish patriots. Ashamed of his former inactivity, 

 and of having allowed the favourable moment to escape, 

 he now determined to execute his father's dying com- 

 mand. He collected, from all quarters, his most war- 

 like vassals, and marched, with an immense army, to 

 the frontiers of Scotland, with the certain hope of fi- 

 nishing, at one blow, the important enterprise which 

 the first Edward had so successfully begun. But the de- June 25. 

 cisive battle of Bannockburn drove him with disgrace 1314. 

 from his expected conquest, secured the independence 

 of Scotland, and fixed Robert Bruce upon the throne of 

 that kingdom. 



The Scots now retaliated upon their oppressors, and 

 made many successful inroads into England. These dis- 

 asters, with Edward's infatuated attachment to favour- 

 igain excited discontents among the barons, and 

 kindled a civil war in the kingdom. Hugh Spencer, The new fa- 

 the new favourite, was of a noble family, and possessed vouritc. 

 all those exterior accomplishments which were fitted to 

 make a favourable impression on the weak mind of the 

 king. But he was equally destitute, with Gaveston, of 

 prudence and moderation. He exceeded -him in ava- 

 rice, injustice, and prodigality, and soon became an ob- 

 ject of greater hatred than even that unfortunate stran- 

 ger. The turbulent Lancaster, at the head of the mal- 

 contents, entered London with an armed force, and 

 compelled the parliament to pass a sentence of attainder 

 against Spencer and his father. In this, Edward was 

 obliged to acquiesce ; but it was only with the intention 

 of reversing it as soon as lie had an opportunity ; and 

 this opportunity soon arrived. 



The queen, who had all along joined the barons in 

 their hatred against the favourites, while on a pilgrim- 

 age to Canterbury, had been denied a nighfs lodging, 

 by Badlesmere, governor of the castle of Leeds.. Irri- 

 tated by this affront, she persuaded her husband to take 

 vengeance on his insolent vassal. Edward immediate- 

 ly raised an army, and having taken the castle of Leeds, 

 put the governor to death. Being now emboldened 

 with success, he resolved to take advantage of his situa- 

 tion, and to re-establish and confirm his authority, by 

 the destruction of his enemies. He recalled the two 

 Spencers from exile ; and marched with his army to 

 the marches of Wales, where the discontented barons 

 chiefly resided. The Earls of Hereford and Lancaster 

 endeavoured to oppose his passage of the Trent ; but 



. D. 1322, 



