39(J OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL. 



had therewithal tedious wars in Wales ; and was 

 not without some other seditions and troubles ; as 

 namely the great contestation of his prelates. King 

 Henry II. his happiness was much deformed by the 

 revolt of his son Henry, after he had associated him, 

 and of his other sons. King Henry III. besides his 

 continual wars in Wales, was after forty-four years 

 reign unquieted with intricate commotions of his 

 barons ; as may appear by the mad parliament held 

 at Oxford, and the acts thereupon ensuing. His son 

 Edward I. had a more flourishing time than any of 

 the other ; came to his kingdom at ripe years, and 

 with great reputation, after his voyage into the Holy 

 Land, and was much loved and obeyed, contrived his 

 wars with great judgment : first having reclaimed 

 Wales to a settled allegiance, and being upon the 

 point of uniting Scotland. But yet I suppose it was 

 more honour for her majesty to have so important a 

 piece of Scotland in her hand, and the same with 

 such justice to render up, than it was for that worthy 

 king to have advanced in such forwardness the con 

 quest of that nation. And for king Edward III. his 

 reign was visited with much sickness and mortality, 

 so as they reckoned in his days three several mor 

 talities ; one in the twenty-second year, another in 

 the thirty-fifth year, and the last in the forty-third 

 year of his reign ; and being otherwise victorious 

 and in prosperity, was by that only cross more 

 afflicted, than he was by the other prosperities com 

 forted. Besides, he entered hardly ; and again, ac 

 cording to the verse, &quot; cedebant ultima primis,&quot; his 



