e n a 
own'undifpnted acceffion. But lie very narrowly efcaped 
aflaftination while in Palelline. Richard Coeur de Lion 
having, in a former croifade, dealt deash and deva(hition 
among tlie affrighted Modems; and prince Edward en¬ 
deavouring to tread heroically in his uncle’s fleps, a Ma- 
homedan ruffi m undertook to murder him. In order to 
gain admittance to Edward’s prefence, he pretended to 
have letters to deliver from the governor of Joppa, now 
Jaffa. He found Edward fitting alone, in a loofe gar¬ 
ment ; when looking round, to fee that no help was near, 
he drew a dagger, and attempted to plunge it into the 
prince’s bofom. Edward, perceiving the murderer’s in¬ 
tention, with great prefence of mind received the blow 
upon his arm; and wrelting the weapon from the ruf¬ 
fian’s hand, plunged it inftantly in his heart. The wound 
the prince had received was the more dangerous, as hav¬ 
ing been infliCted with a poifoned dagger; but the fur- 
geon, by making deep incifions, and cutting away the 
mortified parts, completed the cure in little more than a 
fortnight. The prince being a (Tit red of the perfect tran¬ 
quillity of his dominions, made no hade to take poffef- 
fion of the crown. After fpending fonie time at Rome, 
and other parts of Italy, he vifited the court of France, 
and performed his homage for the territories which he 
held of that crown. Having fuppreffed an infurreCfion 
in Gafcony, and fettled fome commercial difputes with 
the earl of Flanders, he embarked for England, landed 
at Dover, Auguft 2, 1274, and was crowned at Weftmin- 
fler on the 19th of the lame month, together with his 
queen Eleanora, the amiable and affectionate companion 
of his travels. 
As England at this time enjoyed a profound peace, 
Edward very wifely feized that favourable opportunity 
of enquiring into the ftate of the lands and revenues of 
the crown ; and into the conduCt of the Iherilfs and other 
officers, who had both defrauded the king and opprelfed 
the people in the late reign. He was at no lefs pains to 
reftore the internal police of the kingdom, and the vigo¬ 
rous execution of the laws, which the late troubles and 
the feeble adminiliration of Henry had rendered con¬ 
temptible. The jews were the only part of his fubjeCts 
who were refuted that equal juftice which the king now 
made a boaff of diftributing. As Edward had been bred 
up in prejudices againft them, he feemed to have no com¬ 
panion upon their (offerings. Many were the arbitrary 
taxes levied upon them ; two hundred and eighty of them 
were hanged at once, upon a charge of adulterating the 
coin of the kingdom ; the goods of the reft were confif- 
cated, and all of that religion utterly banilhed the king¬ 
dom. By the advice of his parliament, which met at 
Weftminfter in May, 1275, many' good and wholefome 
Jaws were enaCted, which have been ever lince diftin- 
guifned by the name of the Statutes of Wcjlminjler. But it 
was not long before Edward was interrupted in thefe fa- 
lutary works of peace, and involved in defolating feenes 
of war. 
The only vaftal of the crowm of England who had 
made- any fcruple of paying homage and fealty to Ed¬ 
ward, was Lewellyn prince of Wales. This prince had 
been feveral times fummoned to-come to court, and per¬ 
form his homage ; but, without cl ire 611 y refuting, he (till 
delayed to do this, under various pretences. At length 
Edward determined to bring this powerful and refractory 
vaftal to obedience; and he therefore marched into Wales 
with a cOnliderable army. Upon the approach of Ed¬ 
ward, A. D. 1277, the Welfh prince took refuge among 
the inaccetlihle mountains of Snowdon, and there refclved 
to maintain his ground, without trufting to the chance of 
a battle. Thefe were the (teep retreats that had for many 
ages defended his ancetiors againft all the attempts of 
the Norman and Saxon conquerors. But Edward, equally 
vigorous and cautious, having explored every part of his 
way, pierced into the very centre of Lewellyn’s territo¬ 
ries, and approached the Wellh army in its laft retreat. 
Lewellyn at firft little regarded the progrefs of an enemy 
LANE). as 7 
that he fuppofed would make only a tranfient invafion ; 
hut his contempt was turned into confternation, when he 
favv Edward d raw up 1 i forces at the foot of the moun¬ 
tains, and furround his army, in order to fubdue it by 
famine. Deftitute ofevery means of relief, tbeWellh prince 
was obliged to fubmit, and on fncli terms as the victor was 
pleated to impofe. Lewellyn contented to pay fifty thou- 
fand pounds, as a fatisfaCtion for the expences of the 
war ; 10 do homage to the crown of England for the ter¬ 
ritory of Wales; to permit all other barons, except four 
near Snowdon, to fwear fealty in the fame manner; and 
to relinquith the whole country between Chelhire and the 
river Conway. 
But this compulfive treaty was of fliort duration ; the 
oppreffion of the conqueror, and the indignant pride of 
the conquered nation, could not long remain without 
producing new ditfentions. The lords of the Marches 
committed all kinds of depredation on their Welfh neigh¬ 
bours; and, although Edward generoufly remitted the 
fine of fifty-thoufand pounds, yet he laid other reftric- 
tions upon Lewellyn, which that prince confidered as 
more injurious. He particularly exaCted a promife from 
him at Worcefter, that he would retain no perfon in his 
principality that tliould be difapproved by the Englith 
monarch. Thefe were indignities not.to be endured, and 
therefore the Welfti again flew to arms. A body of their 
forces took the field under the command of David, bro¬ 
ther of Lewellyn, who ravaged the plain country, took 
the cattle of Harwardin, made fir Roger Clifford prifoner, 
and toon after laid fiege to the cattle of Rhudlan. When 
the account of thefe hoftilities reached Edward, he af- 
fembled a numerous army, and let out with a firm refo- 
lution to exterminate Lewellyn and his whole family. 
At firft, however, the king’s endeavours were not at¬ 
tended with (uccefs ; having caufed a bridge of boats to 
be laid over the river Menay, a body of forces, com¬ 
manded by Latimer and De Thonis, pafied over before it 
was completely finilhed. The Wellh remained in their 
faftneires till they faw the tide flowing in beyond the end 
of the bridge, at which inftant they poured down from 
the mountains with incredible fury, and put the whole 
body that had got over to the fword. This fuccefs re¬ 
vived the drooping fpirits of the Welfli, and they felt fuf- 
ficientlv bold to hazard a decilive battle againft the Eng¬ 
lith. With this view he marched into Radnortliire; and, 
palling the river Wey, his troops were furprited and de¬ 
feated by Edward Mortimer, while he himfelf was ab- 
fent, upon a conference with fome of the barons of that 
county. Upon his return, feeing that all was loft, he ran 
defperately into the niidft of the enemy, and fought for 
that death which alone could put an end to his perplexity 
and difgrace. One of the Englith captains, recognizing 
his countenance, fevered his head from his body, and it 
was Tent to London, where it was expofed on the walls 
of the Tower; and his quarters were fent with the fame 
intention to York, Briftol, Northampton, and Winchef- 
ter. In this cruel and relentlcfs manner did Edward tiled 
the blood of the laft of the ancient Cimbric fovereigns of 
Wales, noneofwhom hadeverbeforebeenconquered. Da¬ 
vid, the brother of this unfortunate prince, foon after thared 
the fame fate ; being totally abandoned, he was obliged 
to hide himfelf in one of the obfeure caverns of the coun¬ 
try ; till his retreat being foon after difcovered, he was 
taken, tried, and condemned, as a traitor. His fenter.ee 
was executed with the molt rigorous feverity ; he was 
hanged, drawn, and quartered, only for having bravely 
defended the expiring liberties of his native country. 
With him expired the government and independence of 
Wales. It was foon after united to the kingdom of Eng¬ 
land, and made a principality, by giving title to the eldeft 
fon of the crown. Foreign conqueft might add to the 
glory, but this added to the felicity, of the kingdom. 
The Welfh were now blended with the conquerors; and, 
in the.revolution of a few ages, all national animofity was 
entirely forgotten. 
At 
