in a more private manner. The character of the elder Spencer is, That he was a perfon of great integrity, wife in council, fout in arms. And the barons themselves looked upon the younger Spencer as an able minifter, when they placed him near the King, and yet the retaining thefe two noblemen in the miniftry, was looked upon a fufficient reason for depofing their fovereign.

Jan. The Queen and Prince called a parliament in the King's name, where fix articles are drawn up against him for maleadministration.

The nobility fend thefe articles to the King, and by their deputies renounced all homage and fealty to him.

They judged him unfit to rule, and depofed him; but the Prince refufed to accept the crown, unless his father would refignit; whereupon a formal refignation is extorted from him in the 19th year of his reign, and 43d of his age, and Edward his fon is declared King, 20 Jan.

One of the principal events in this reign was the diffolution of the knight's templars, which Edward complied to, at the earnest folicitation of the Pope and the king of France. Their prodigious riches and infupportable pride rendering them odious. They were poffeffed at their diffolution of above 16,000 lordships, befides other lands. The grand mafter of the order was then in Paris where he was feized, and with fifty-feven others, burnt. Under the accufation of herefy, fodomy, and numberless other crimes. Edward caufed all in England to be feized

1327.

E

DWARD furnamed Windor, eldeft fon of Edward II. and queen Eleanor, being under 14 years of age, fucceeded to the crown, Jan. 20, in his father's life-time, in the manner above related.

Jan. 26. The King was crowned at Weftminster, and a general pardon proclaimed, which was afterward imitated by fucceeding kings at their coronation.

Feb. 2. The King received the order of knighthood from the hands of the earl of Lancaster.

The archbishop, and eleven others of the nobility, are appointed guardians to the young King; but the Queen and Mortimer take upon them the adminiftration of the government.

III.

against the late earl of Lancaster and his adherents, as against those that favoured the defigns of the Queen.

The Stets invade England.

Sir James Murray and Sir James Douglas with 20,000 men, ravaged the borders of England, and on Feb. 2, endeavoured to furprize Norbam caftle, but the governor took several of them prifoners and flew a great number.

The Scots ravaged the borders of the Tyne between Carlisle and Newcastle; they were purfued by the King's army but with little fuccefs. The Scots having kept their inacceffible pofts above a fortnight, retired in the night to their own country, too far for Edward's purfuit.

April 14. The depofed King, who had for fome time been confined at Kenelworth castle, was removed to Berkley castle, to be treated with greater feverity than his late keeper chofe to comply with. In his removal thither, he was carried first to Corfe caftle, and then to Briftol, under the conduct of Sir John Maltravers and Sir Thomas Gurney, both of very brutish tempers.

In the journey they made him fuffer a thousand indignities, even to the crowning him with ftraw, riding all night and not fuffering him to fleep, being fcarcely covered with clothes that he might feel the damps of the night; they caufed him to be fhaved in an open field, with water taken from a ftinking ditch, which made him shed a torrent of tears, and in fpite of them faid he would be shaved with warm water. The goodness of his conftitution prevented him from being poifoned, which his keepers feveral times attempted. Thefe wretches finding their attempts ineffectual, fent for fresh inftructions, and received an equivocal order from Orleton bishop of Hereford, one of the Queen's creatures, wherein he advised them, at the fame time, to murder Edward, and exhorted them to refrain from fuch a crime; and indeed the words afcribed to him, are capable of both thefe fenfes, according to the difference of the pointing:

Edvardum occidere nolite timere, bonum eft. Edvardum occidere nolite, timere bonum eft. Sept. 22. Edward's keepers laid a pillow on his face, and thruft a horn pipe up his body through which they ran a red hot iron, and burnt his bowels. His body was privately buried in the cathedral of Glocefter, where foon after his fon caused a stately tomb to be erected.

1328. John of Eltham, fecond fon of Edward II. created earl of Cornwall, VOL. I.

Jan. 24. King Edward III. folemnizes his marriage with Philippa, the earl of Hainault's youngest daughter, at York.

Charles the Fair, king of France, died Feb. 1, without male idue, leaving his Queen big with child. Edward claimed the regency of the kingdom of France during the Queen's pregnancy, as nephew and nearest relation to the late King; but it was claimed and adjudged to Philip de Valois, coufin german of the late King.

March. A parliament held at York, when feveral of the lords did not attend, through their diffatisfaction of the Queen dowager's conduct.

April. The queen of France was delivered of a daughter, and Philip caufed himself to be crowned king.

Edward reftored Scotland all that Edward I. had taken from them, which occafioned great murmuring in England.

June 17. He renounces all pretenfions of fuperiority over Scotland.

The lady Jean, fifter to king Edward III. is married to David Bruce, the fon of Robert, king of Scotland, being but feven years of age.

The earl of Lancaster is attacked by the Queen-mother, who ftirred up the young King against thim, which induced preparations for his defence against the court; and a manifefto was published, containing complaints against the Queen dowager and Mortimer.

1329, April. Philip regent of France fummoned Edward to appear before him, and do him homage for Guienne and Ponthieu.

Edward privately protefis against the homage.

June 6. Edward failed from Dover for France, (having appointed his brother John of Eltham, regent in his abfence) with a retinue of 100o horfe, and arrived at Amiens, where he did homage to Philip in the prefence of the kings of Navarre, Majorca, and Bobemia, and promifed to ratify the homage under his great feal on his return to England, which he did not comply with, but ufed every delay, fo as to cccafion Philip's demolishing the caftle of Xaintes and plundering the town.

July 9. Robert Bruce king of Scotland died, and was fucceeded by his fon David.

1330, March 19. Edmund earl of Kent, king Edward's uncle, is beheaded at the inftigation of Mortimer, aged 28.

April 29. Queen Philippa crowned with great magnificence.

H

May

May 8. The unexpected refentment of Philip produced a new treaty between the Kings, and Edward fent letters patent under the great feal to confirm the homage.

June 15. This year prince Edward afterwards ftiled the Black Prince, was born at Woodflock.

07. 19. The King being made fenfible of Mortimer's famil arity with his mother, and taking umbrage at his arbitrary proceedings, feized his perfon in Nottingham caftle.

Gunpowder was invented this year by Swarth, a monk of Cologne,

The King diffolved the parliament and called another to meet at Westminster, Nov. 25, when he affumed the reigns of government, though he was not arrived to the age prescribed by law.

The Queen dowager feized, confined, and her dower reduced to 3000l. per annum.

The earl of March was treated with the juft rigour he deferved, and the impeachment brought before the parliament contained feveral heavy charges, viz. that he had affumed the government of the kingdom without authority, contrary to the exprefs regulation of parliament; that he had placed fpies about the King; that he had procured the death of Edward II. by his exprefs order; that by his contrivance the late earl of Kent, the King's uncle, loft his life; that he had appropriated to his own ufe 20,000l. of the King's money; and that he lived in a too familiar manner with the Queen-mother. For all which he was condemned as a traitor, to be hanged and drawn, on the common gallows at Tyburn, Nov. 29, where his body hung two days and nights.

1331. This year the art of weaving cloth was brought from Flanders to England, by John Kemp, to whom the King granted his protection; and at the fame time invited over fullers, dyers, &c.

Sept. 30. A parliament was held this year at Westminster.

King Edward formed the project of conquering Scotland, and made ufe of Baliol to accomplish his end; and at the fame time pretends friendship to David.

of

1332. Baliol embarked with an army 2500 men and landed at Kingborn, March 5, near Perth, and defeated David's troops in four battles, one of which was at Gladefmore [Aug. 11.] near St. John's town. David of Scotland retired to France for protection.

Edward countenanced the fending out

fhips by private perfons in their own name, who gave chace to a fleet provided by David's adherents, and which was his laft refuge. This fleet they deftroyed, and David's hopes vanished.

1333, July 19. Edward defeats the Scots at Halidown, which ended in the entire rout of the Scotch army. Seven Scotch earls were flain on the spot, with gco knights, 4000 gentlemen, befides 15,000 common foldiers; which defeat was followed by the furrender of Berwick, which king Edward annexed for ever to the crown of England.

Edward Baliol fon of John Baliol late king of Scotland, was crowned King thereof at Scone, Sept. 27, 1333.

1334. Baliol held his first parliament at Edinburgh, February 10, to which Edward fent his commiffioners. Balil caufed al he had done in favour of Edward to be ratified and confirmed, and he gave up to Edward feveral places, viz. Gedburgh, Selkirk, Roxburgb, Dumfries, and the caftle of Edinburgh, in reward, as he faid in his letters, for the affistance received from Edward, to whom at the fame time Baliol did volun. tary homage for the kingdom of Scotland, with all the circumftances denoting an entire fubjection.

By this fubmiffion Baliol forfeited the efteem and affection of his fubjects, which induced them to rebel against him.

Dec. 24. Lord Archibald Douglas, with the earl of Mar, improved this difcontent and headed the party of malecontents, who attacked and defeated Baliol, forcing him to efcape on an horfe without a faddle to Carlife, from whence he fent Edward word of his fituation.

Baliol being defeated by the party that adhered to David king of Scotland, king Edroard marched into Scotland to his affiftance, but returned without effecting any thing in favour of Baliol; he ravaged the country and returned to England; in the mean time the Scotch army retook fome of the places from the English.

1335. Edward in the fpring attacked Scotland by fea and land, and advanced as far as the northern ocean, and in the mean time his brother the earl of Cornwall ravaged the western counties of the kingdom. The earl of Murray regent of Scotland taken prisoner by the English.

The Pope and king of France endeavoured to divert Edward from his war in Scotland, but without effect. The Scots fubmit to Edward, and he returned in triumph to England,

1336.

1336. The English troops left in Scotland defeated, and their leader, the earl of Atbol flain, which revived the courage of the Scots.

Two parliaments were held this year, the first at Northampton in May, and the other at Nottingham, on Sept. 25, which granted him large fupplies. It laid a tax on every bag of wool tranfported by English merchants 40s. and by foreigners 31.

O. 5. John of Eltham, the King's brother, died at Perth in Scotland, and was buried at Westminster.

1337, Jan. Edward returned to Scotland, and ravaged the country with great fary; he burnt the town of Aberdeen, and fome o her places of lefs note, and leaving a fmall army with Baliol, returned to England.

His fucceffes in Scotland made him form a design on France, pretending the falic law, in excluding females from the fucceffion to that crown, did not exclude their male iffue, and on that founded his pretenfion to the crown.

Edward formed feveral alliances with foreign princes, viz. the emperor Lewis of Bavaria, the duke of Brabant, the earls of Guilder and Hainault, the archbishop of Cologne, &c. but more particularly the great James d'Arteville, a brewer of Ghent, whom Edward affifted with troops till he could collect all his army together.

The English troops gained great advantages in Flanders.

This year was remarkable for the King's commiffion for feizing the estates of the Lombards or ufurers, who were grown odious on account of their extortions; and for his feizing the revenues of alien priories, efpecially thofe of the Clunic and Ciftertian order; both which proceedings the parliament countenanced, and they produced the King large fupplies for the war.

While Edward was making his preparation for this important war, he fummoned a parliament in the middle of March, wherein it was enacted, that no wool of English growth fhould be for the future transported beyond fea, and that all clothworkers should be received, from whatever foreign parts they came, and encouraged. It was alfo ordained, that none fhould wear any cloaths made beyond sea, except the King, Queen, and their children; also that none fhould wear foreign furs or filks, unless he was worth 100l. per annum. In this parliament the King created prince Edward, his eldest son, duke

of Cornwall, being the firft in England that bore the title of Duke. He was vefted with the dukedom by a wreath on his head, a ring on his finger, and a filver verge in his hand; fince which time the eldest fon of the king of England is born duke of Cornwall. At this folemnity he created fix earls and twenty knights.

Edward wrote to the Pope and cardinals to justify his claim on France, and demanded the crown of Philip, by the duke of Brabant, whom he made his lieutenantgeneral for that kingdom, with orders to the French, whom he called his subjects, to pay him obedience.

Benedict XII. who filled the papal throne, ufed all his influence with the two kings to prevent a war, and for that purpose sent two legates into England to perfuade them to peace, but without any other effect than a fhort truce.

1338, Feb. 3. There was a parliament held, in which the laity granted the King one half of their wool, for the next fummer, and at the fame time he took the whole from the clergy, making them pay nine marks for every fack of the best wool.

July 15. Edward fet fail from Orwell in Suffolk, with a fleet of 500 ships, for Antwerp, where he arrived July 22.

He was made vicar of the empire, and had an interview with the Emperor at Cologne, where two thrones were erected in the public market place for their reception.

Edward vifited Ghent, and granted the principal cities feveral privileges, in order to encourage their trade with England.

1339, May 7. Edward whilst abroad created the duke of Juliers a peer of England, by the title of earl of Cambridge, with a grant of 20% a year, payable out of the iffues of Cambridgeshire, with a penfion of 1000l. per annum, but he never had a fummons to parliament. He was queen Philippa's nephew, and died without iffue.

July 21. Edward gave the duke of Brabant no lefs a fum than 60,000l. to be affured of his affiftance.

Aug. 8. The expence daily encreafing on Edward, it compelled him to borrow money from all the foreign princes that could fupply him, nor did he fcruple the affiftance of private perfons, and took up fuch fums as they were willing to lend, though never fo fmall. He even pawned his crown to the archbishop of Triers for 50,000 florins. His expences may be seen by the following account.

H 2

The

Mafons, carpenters, fmiths, engineers, tent makers, gunners, &c. 314, fome at Is. others 10d. 6d. and 3d. each day, 4470 Welshmen

200 the fame as ferjeants

O 2

O 4

The whole of the men of the army was, befides the lords, 31,294, masters, captains, mariners and boys; for 700 fhips, barges, balingers, and victuallers, 16,coo.

Nov. 29. Queen Philippa was brought to bed at Antwerp of a prince called Lionel. Sept. 21. Edward put himself at the head of 40,000 men, and [08. 22] offered battle to Philip, who retired.

The adherents of David king of Scotland befieged and took Perth.

1340. David took Sterling. Copper money was this year firft used in Scotland and Ireland.

Edward takes on him the title of King of France, and quartered with his own arms the Fleurs de luce of France. He at the fame time ufed the motto, Dieu et mon droit.

Feb. 8. The King published a declaration addreffed to the French, and a manifefto against Philip, whom he only stiled the earl of Valois.

Feb. 21. He embarked for England, when he fummoned a parliament, which met, March 29, and made him large grants.

This year Thomas Blanket, and fome other inhabitants of Bristol, fet up looms in their own houses, for weaving those woollen clothes that yet bear that name.

The Pope exhorted Edward to quit his title and pretenfions to France, which he treated with indifference.

About this year the ifle of Man was conquered by William Montacute, earl of Salisbury, who thereupon was honoured with the title of king of Man. inland was fubject to Scotland before.

This

Edward in perfon obtained a victory over the French at fea. He took and funk all their fhips, being 400 fail, and killed 30,000 men.“

The King entered France with an army of 150,000 men, but a truce for a year was agreed on.

As foon as the truce was figned, Edavard with his queen Philippa, who had lived three years in the low countries, returned to England. She had been delivered there of two princes, the last of whom was John of Gaunt. She landed at the tower, Nov. 30.

John of Gaunt, third fon of Edward III. created earl o. Richmond.

The Emperor and the duke of Brabant withdrew their troops from Edward, and the Emperor revokes the grant of vicar general to Edward.

Edward returned to England, and quarrelled with the archbishop of Canterbury for his misconduct in his abfence.

April 23. A parliament met and granted Edward further fupplies.

1341. The King and the Archbishop were reconciled.

1

The Pope fhewed great partiality to France, and put Flanders under an interdict. 1342. During this year Edward was in Bretagne, affifting the earl of Montfort against the king of France, where he befieged and took Nantes, Rennes, Vannes, and Guingamp, but by the mediation of the Pope a truce was granted for three years, and Edward returned to E-gland, Mar. 2.

1343. The English fleet destined against Scotland was rendered unferviceable by a vio lent ftorm, andö Ed-vard granted a truce.

David, affifted by the French king, marched against England, and penetrated to Durbam, which he took, and put all the inhabitants to the fword.

Edward marched towards Scotland, and relieved Wark caftle, which the Scots had befieged.

He vifited the countess of Salisbury, his coufin germain..

He concluded a truce with David for two years.

1343, June 3. Baliol quitted Scotland, and was reftored after nine years abfence.

1344, April 23.

Edward called a parlia ment for the welfare and tranquility of the kingdom, when feveral good regulations were made; among others was the ftatute of provifions, which excluded foreigners from English ecclefiaftical preferments, and reduced the papal authority in England; which act has fince been frequently renewed and called the ftatute of præmunire. Edward alfo very folemnly renewed the Magna

Charta.

The Madiera islands difcovered.

In this parliament the King created his eldeft fon Edward, prince of Wales, and ́ invefted him with a coronet and a ring of gold. This Prince was then 13 years old.