5Q6 ENG] 
tions, in which the government, for the lucre of gain, 
renounced all further title to the fovereignty over the 
filler kingdom ; and the Scots, in return, agreed to pay 
thirty thoufand marks as a compenfation. The next 
wretched Hep that Mortimer thought neceffary for his 
fecurity, was to feize the inoffenfive earl of Kerrt, bro¬ 
ther to the late king ; who, under a perfuafion that his 
brother was dill alive, and concealed in fome fecret pri- 
fon, entered into a defign of reftoring him to liberty, and 
of re-inftating.him in his former power. Him, therefore, 
Mortimer refolvcd to deftroy; and had him accufed, con¬ 
demned, and executed, even before the young king had 
time to interpofe in his behalf. In proportion too as 
Mortimer got rid of his enemies, he was careful to enrich 
himfelf with their fpoils. The eftate of the unfortunate 
earl was feized upon for the ufe of the favourite’s youngell 
fon ; and the immenfe fortunes of the Spenfers were in 
like manner converted to his own ufe. 
In this /late of public affairs, Edward refolved to (hake 
off that authority which had long become derogatory to 
the nation, and a fcandal to himfelf. But fuch was the 
power of the favourite, that it required as much precau¬ 
tion to overturn the ufurper as to eftablilli the throne. 
The queen and Mortimer had for fome time chofen the 
caftle of Nottingham for the place of their voluptuous 
embraces : it was ftriftly guarded, the gates locked every 
evening, and the keys laid under the queen’s pillow. It 
was therefore agreed between the king, and fome of his 
barons, who fecretly entered into his'deligns, to feize 
upon them in this fortrefs; and, for that purpofe, fir 
William Eland, the governor, was induced to admit them 
by a fubterraneous way, which bad been formerly con¬ 
trived for a fecret outlet. By this paflage the noblemen 
in the king’s interefts entered the caftle in the night; 
and Mortimer, without having it in his power to make 
the fmalleft refiftance, was feized and fecured. It was in 
vain that the queen endeavoured to protect him ; in vain 
fhe implored the king to fpare her “ gentle Mortimer.” 
Deaf to her entreaties, the barons and the parliament 
proceeded to his condemnation. He was hanged on a 
gibbet at Elmes, near London, November 29, 1330, and 
his body was exhibited to the people for two days after. 
A fimilar fentence was meditated againft Gournay and 
Montravers, the murderers of the late king; but they 
contrived to elude puniftiment, by efcaping to the conti¬ 
nent. The queen, who, was by far the moft culpable, 
was Aiiclded by the dignity of her fituation ; fhe was, 
however, deprived of all lliare of power, and confined for 
life to the caftle of Rifings, with a penfion of three thou¬ 
fand pounds a-year. From this confinement fhe was never 
fet free; and, though the king annually paid her a vifit 
of filial ceremony, yet fhe found herfelf abandoned to 
univerfal contempt and aeteftation ; and continued, for 
above twenty-five years after, a miferable monument of 
blafted virtue. 
Edward, thus freed from the controul of a bafe and un¬ 
natural confederacy, refolved to make himfelf popular 
by an expedient, which feldom failed to fecure the affec¬ 
tions of the Englifti. He knew that a conquering’mo¬ 
narch was the fitted to pleafe a warlike people. The 
weaknefs of the Scottilli government, which was at that 
time under a minority, gave him a favourable opportu¬ 
nity of renewing hoftilities; and the turbulent fpirit of 
the nobles of that country contributed to promote his 
views. Edward Baliol, whofe father John had been 
crowned king of Scotland, alfo now laid claim to the 
crown ; and Edward refolved to fupport his pretenfions. 
He therefore gave him permiffion to levy what forces he 
was able in England ; and, with not above three thou¬ 
fand adventurers thus fortuitoufty united, Baliol gained 
a conliderable victory over his countrymen, in which 
twelve thoufand of them were (lain. This victory, which 
was followed by fome others, fo intimidated the Scots, 
that Baliol found no difficulty in getting himfelf crowned 
king at Scone ; and all this difaffecled and conquered dif. 
.AND. 
trift fubmitted to his authority. But he did not long 
enjoy his fuperiority ; he was unexpedtedly attacked and 
defeated by fir Archibald Douglas, and obliged to take 
. refuge in England. The bad fuccefs of Baliol only ferved 
to inflame the ardour of Edward; and he now claimed 
fealty and homage from Baliol, for the-kingdom of Scot¬ 
land. This the fugitive king complied with ; and Ed¬ 
ward forthwith prepared, with all his forces, to re-inftate 
Baliol in the fovereignty of that government, which he 
fondly hoped would ever after be fubordinate to his own. 
He immediately laid liege to Berwick, which capitulated 
after a vigorous defence. In attempting to relieve this 
city, a general engagement enfued between the Scots and 
the Englilli, at Halidown-hill, near Berwick, on the 1.9th 
July, 1333. The fortune of Edward prevailed. Doug¬ 
las, the Scottilli general was flain, and the whole army 
put to the rout. This victory was in a great meafure 
obtained by the expertnefs of the Englifli archers. Al- 
moft all the Scottiih nobles in the interdft of Bruce were 
either killed or taken; near thirty thoufand of their men 
fell in the action, while the lofs of the Englifti is faid to 
have only amounted to fifteen men ; an inequality incre¬ 
dible. This victory decided the fate of Scotland; Ba¬ 
liol was put in pofteffion of the country ; and Edward 
retained many of the principal towns in Scotland, which 
were declared to be annexed to the Englifti ‘monarchv. 
Tliefe victories, however, were more fplendid than ad¬ 
vantageous; for, the Scots having conceived an infur- 
mountable averfion to the Englilli government, Edward’s 
forces were no fooner withdrawn, than they revolted 
againft -Baliol, and determined to expel him fhe king¬ 
dom. Edward’s appearance a fecond-time brought them 
to fubjeclion ; but they quickly renewed their animolities 
upon his retiring. It was in vain that lie employed the 
arts of diffimulation, and the terrors of war, to induce 
them to fubmiffion ; this invincible people ftill perlifted 
in their obftinacy, which was kept alive by promifes of 
fuccour from France. 
That kingdom, which had fora long time difeontinued 
its animolities againft England, began to be an objedb of 
Eldvvard’s ambition. A new feene began to be opened in 
France, pregnant with mifehief and misfortune ; and the 
king ffiared in tiie general calamity. The three Tons of 
Philip the Fair accufed their wives before the parlia¬ 
ment of adultery; and, in confequence of this accufation 
being fubftantiated, they were condemned and imprifoned 
for life. Lewis Hutin, his fucceflor, alfo caufed his wife 
to be .ftrangled, and her paramours to be flayed alive. 
After bis death, as he left only a daughter, his next bro¬ 
ther, Philip the Tall, aflumed the crown in prejudice of 
the daughter; and vindicated his title by the Salic law, 
which enadted, that no female (hould fucceed to the 
crown. This law, however, was not univerfally acknow¬ 
ledged, nor fufficiently confirmed by precedents, to de¬ 
cide the fadt. Charles the F'air, therefore, jealous of his 
elder brother’s aggrandifement, oppofed his pretenfions, 
and aflerted the claim of the late king’s daughter. The 
caufe, thus warmly contefted between the two brothers, 
was at laft carried before the parliament of France; and 
they decided, upon the Salic law, in favour‘of Philip the 
elder. This monarch enjoyed the crown but a ftiort 
time ; and dying, left only daughters to fucceed him. 
Charles, therefore, without a male opponent, feized up¬ 
on the crown, and enjoyed it for fome time ; but he alfo 
dying, left his wife pregnant. As there was now no ap¬ 
parent heir, the regency was contefted by tvvo illuftrious 
perfons, who laid claim to the fovereignty upon this oc- 
cafion. Edward the Third of England urged his preten¬ 
fions, as being by his mother Ifabella, who was daughter 
to Philip the Fair, and filler to the three laft kings of 
France, rightful heir to the crown. Philip Valois, on 
the other hand, put himfelf in attual polfeflion of the 
government, as being next of kin by the male fucceflion. 
He was, for this reafon, conftituted regent of France; 
and the queen-ejowager being unfortunately, fome time 
1 after. 
