lence, cruelty, etc. were exhibited against the king, and he was deposed; but as the queen burst into loud lamentations and affected great scruples as to the legality of such a proceeding, to satisfy these pretended doubts, a deputation was sent to Kenilworth, with directions, by promises and threats, to extort what should be styled a voluntary resignation from the king. It is needless to say they succeeded, and on the day after their return (24th) the accession of the new king was proclaimed by the heralds.

The deposed monarch was still left in the custody of Leicester, now earl of Lancaster, but as that nobleman treated him with attention and kindness, he was taken from him and committed to sir John Maltravers, by whom he was carried to Corfe, to Bristol, and finally to Berkeley ; and it is said that gross insults and indignities were offered to him in the hope of finally disturbing his reason*. The cause of this last removal was that lord Berkeley had been joined in commission with Maltravers. Berkeley however being ill and away from home the charge of guarding the king had devolved upon two of his officers, Thomas Gournay and William Ogle. One night (Sept. 21) shrieks were heard to ring through the castle, and in the morning the neighbouring gentry and the citizens of Bristol were invited to behold the dead body of the deposed king. No marks of violence appeared, but the features were distorted, and it was reported that death had been caused by introducing a red-hot iron through a tube into the intestines. He was buried privately at the abbey-church of Gloucester, and no inquiry whatever was made at the time t.

Such was the fate of this most unhappy prince. Too simple and innocent for the time in which his fortune was cast, he perished the victim of his own weakness of character and of the crimes of those who should have guided and protected him.

It was in the reign of Edward II. that the potent and wealthy order of the Knights-Templars was suppressed throughout Europe. The principal agents in the affair were Philip king of France and his creature the pope Clement V.; the charges made against the knights were in general monstrous and absurd, the real ground of their persecution being their wealth; the tortures to which they were put were dreadful. The suppression of the Templars ranks among those high crimes which stand forth prominently on the canvas of history. Proceedings were taken against the order in England as elsewhere, but as the court was not hostile to them none were put to death*.

267

CHAPTER VII.

EDWARD III. (OF WINDSOR)*.

1327-1377.

Peace with Scotland.-Tyranny of Mortimer ;-his seizure and execution.

Affairs of Scotland.-Battle of Halidon Hill.-Edward claims the crown of France.- Invasion of France. The Countess of Montfort.- Invasion of France.-Battle of Creci.—Siege of Calais.--Battle of Poitiers.-State of France.-Peace of Bretigni.—The Black Prince in Spain ;-his death. Death of the king.–State of the constitution.-Windsor Castle and the order of the Garter.

a

The reversal of attainders and the confiscation of the estates of the Spensers and their adherents were the first acts of the new government. Of these estates the larger portion went to Mortimer, now earl of March, and a sum of 20,0001. a year was assigned to the queen. A council of regency was appointed, the members of which were entirely under the control of the queen and Mortimer.

Though the truce with Scotland was not expired, Bruce seized the occasion of invading England, and poured a body of twenty-four thousand men into the northern counties, where they committed fearful ravages. The young king of England having assembled forty thousand men marched to Durham, and then crossed the Tyne with the design of intercepting the Scots on their return. Having waited seven days to no purpose, he repassed the river, and at length found the Scots posted on a hill on the right bank of the Wear. The two armies remained for some

. days opposite each other, separated by the river. At length the Scots decamped in the night, and the English army

* Authorities : Hemingford, Walsingham, Knighton, Avesbury, Murimath, Fordun and Froissart.

finding pursuit hopeless returned to Durham. It was disbanded a few days after at York. The following year (1328) a peace was concluded with Scotland, whose absolute independence was acknowledged in the most ample manner, and Edward's sister Jane was betrothed to David the son and heir of Robert Bruce.

The odium of this peace, at which the people were highly displeased, fell chiefly on Mortimer. This aspiring man, heedless of the fate of Gaveston and Spenser, far outwent them in insolence, and the haughty barons, especially the princes of the blood, could ill brook to see him in effect the ruler of the realm. They took arms, but Lancaster being deserted by the earls of Kent and Norfolk was forced to submit and sue for pardon. Mortimer being determined to strike terror into the princes, selected the earl of Kent as his victim. His agents persuaded this weak but wellmeaning man that his brother the late king was still alive, and he was led to form projects for restoring him to his throne. When Mortimer thought he had sufficient evidence against him he caused him to be seized and arraigned. The earl acknowledged his own letters which were produced; he was found guilty, and sentenced to die as a traitor, and he was beheaded the following day (Mar. 21, 1330). His estates were given to Mortimer's youngest son Geoffrey.

Mortimer probably now deemed his power secure, but in reality he had only reached the edge of the precipice. The young king had attained his eighteenth year ; his spirit was high, and he could ill bear the restraint to which he was subject. He secretly confided his thoughts to lord Montacute, who advised him to seize Mortimer at the parliament which was to be held at Nottingham. The king assented, and some persons who could be depended on were engaged in the design.

When the time for the meeting of parliament was arrived, the queen with her son and Mortimer took up their abode

in the castle of Nottingham. For Mortimer's security, a strong guard lay in it; the locks on the gates were changed, and the keys were placed every night under the queen's pillow. Montacute informed sir Thomas Eland, the governor, of the king's pleasure, previously swearing him to secrecy; and Eland then told him of a subterraneous passage, which was unknown to Mortimer, and through which he would admit the king's friends. Montacute rode with his friends into the country, and Mortimer, who had received some hints of their design, attributed their departure to their fear of discovery. Before midnight Eland admitted them through the passage; on the stairs leading to the principal tower they were joined by the king; they ascended in silence till they heard the sound of voices in an apartment adjoining that of the queen, where Mortimer was in consultation with the bishop of Lincoln and some other friends. They burst open the door, slaying two knights who defended it. The queen in alarm cried from her bed, “Sweet son, fair son, spare my gentle [noble] Mortimer.” She then rushed into the room, but in spite of her efforts Mortimer was made a prisoner. Next morning (Oct. 20) the king announced that he had assumed the reins of government, and summoned a parliament to meet him at Westminster.

When the parliament met (Nov. 26) Mortimer was accused of having set enmity between the late king and his queen; of having caused the death of the king and of the earl of Kent, and of various other offences. He was condemned without hesitation, and hanged three days after (29th) at the Elms at Tyburn, with his associate sir Simon Bereford. The queen was confined to her manor of Risings near London, and her income reduced to 30001. a year, which the king afterwards increased to 40001. He paid her an annual visit of ceremony, but never allowed her to meddle in affairs of state. In this retirement she passed the remaining twenty-seven years of her life.