x PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. 



refpe&ing the independency of the kingdom, as re- 

 flects honour on their memory, and to which Ed- 

 ward readily aflented in every particular that might 

 fcrve to quiet their jealoufy, if any did exift; when, 

 unfortunately, the death of the young princefs put 

 an end to the amicable alliance, and laid the foun- 

 dation of a war, which, in duration and bloodfhed, 

 is fcarcely exceeded in the annals of mankind. 



Edward had been trained up in the rudiments of 

 war, during the civil commotions between his fa- 

 ther, Henry III. and his rebellious barons. The 

 latter being fubdued, and peace reftored to the 

 kingdom, Edward, emulous of military fame, em- 

 barked for the Holy Land, agreeable to the cuf- 

 tom of thofe days, where he diftinguifhed himfelf 

 againft the Saracens, above all the princes of Chrif- 

 tendom, and returned, foon after the death of his 

 father, a complete warrior. 



His next enterprize was againft the Welch, whom, 

 after a faint ftruggle, he completely reduced, put 

 their prince to death, and annexed their country to 

 the Englifh crown. 



Thus, in the zenith of glory, fovereign of Eng- 

 land, Wales, the greateft part of Ireland, and fome 

 extenfive provinces in France, he took off the mafk, 

 and made vigorous preparations for the grand object 

 of his reign, the conqueft of Scotland, which, had 

 he effected, would have united the whole ifland un- 

 der one head -, but that defirable event was referved 

 for a period at the diftance of j centuries. 



The Englifh at this time, had become famous- in 

 the art of war, particularly archery, in which they 

 exceeded all Europe, and being alfo powerfully re- 

 inforced with Welch, Irifh and French auxiliaries, 

 the whole under the command of the mighty Ed- 

 ward, they feemed more than fufficient for the con- 

 queft of a people, now devoted to deftruction, or 

 fubjedtion to a foreign yoke. There is the olive 

 branch, and there is the fword, was the alternative 



propofed 



