CIVIL JFAR IN THE REIGN OF EDIFJRD II. 411 



who dying in 1297, left it to his son Thomas, the second 

 Earl of Lancaster, when the castle was still more beautified 

 and improved, and made a general residence. In a short 

 time, however, this nobleman embroiled himself with his 

 nephew, Edward II., the next sovereign ; for, becoming dis- 

 gusted with the manner in which that monarch allowed 

 himself to be swayed by his successive favourites, Gaveston 

 and the two Spensers, and pitying the people who were the 

 victims of his rapacity, as well as instigated by his own 

 private wrongs, he, at the head of a number of barons, 

 first remonstrated with his king, and afterwards took up 

 arms in open rebellion. The consequence was a civil 

 war, which for some time was carried on vigorously by 

 both sides. 



The king had advanced into the heart of the king- 

 dom while the earl was in the north, and before the latter 

 could intercept it, the royal army had penetrated nearly 

 to Burton in Staffordshire. Here, by great exertion, the 

 earl had been able to arrive before Edward, and occupied 

 the town, situated on the western bank of the river Trent, 

 which is here very deep. Lancaster determined to make 

 a stand at this place, as it was the key to his castle of 

 Tutbury ; the long, -narrow, and crooked bridge across 

 the river being easy of defence, and so long as success- 

 fully held, preventing any approach, except in a round- 

 about way, to the important stronghold. 



Though deserted by the barons who had at first re- 

 belled with him and had joined his standard, the earl might, 

 nevertheless, have offered good fight, but, unluckily for 

 him, a countryman had shown the king's army a ford 

 about five miles above Burton ; so while one portion 



