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tilation the heart of refined cruelty can conceive; and the parts prescribed in the sentence being burnt, his head was sent to London for exposure, according to the usual custom.

The grand error of the life of Edward II. was his strange, infatuated, and perverse friendship for the successive favourites, Gaveston and Speneer. The example of Henry III. was before him, and yet he ventured once more to force the people of England into a tame acquiescence of being governed by deputy. A knowledge of this fact serves, in a great measure, as a description of his character; which must have been weak, courageous, and obstinate: weak, to risk the displeasure of his subjects-courageous, to brave their resentment, — and obstinate, in adopting Spencer, when Gaveston lost his head for being his favourite.

However we may condemn the King who thus acted, and his loquacious passionate disposition, it is evident his follies were more predominant than his vices. But what shall we say for the Queen and Mortimer; and, indeed, the people at large, who seem to have set honour, religion, and humanity at defiance; and render the cruel and detestable murder of Edward, the mere natural consequence of the then state of society?

The courage, address, and military successes of Edward III. the result of ambitious enthu

siasm, have ever been the distinguishing and dazzling features of his character. But he had superior claims to our approbation; for his policy and prudence as a Monarch, the excellent laws enacted under his sanction, his patronage of learning, and the encouragement he granted for the improvement of arts and commerce.

The majestic and graceful Edward excelled in the various feats performed at the tournament; and frequently witnessed those martial amusements. He invariably conquered when he led his armies to battle; and this uninterrupted success was accompanied by the most perfect domestic felicity; which was interrupted, if not terminated, by the death of Edward Prince of Wales, termed the Black Prince; whose virtues had endeared him to all ranks of his father's subjects.

The warlike spirit of the King and the people were exactly similar in this glorious reign; in describing one, we have the character of the other.

Froissart relates many particulars of a serious dissention between the English archers and their allies from Hainault, when united under the banners of Edward III. on their way to Scotland. The King and Queen each entertained large parties of knights and ladies at York, where they resided at the monastery of the Black Friars; and Sir John de Hainault and his suite were particularly honoured at the table of the latter.

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"There," says Mr. Johnes, in his translation of our author, " might be seen a numerous nobility, well se ved with plenty of strange dishes so disguised that it could not be known what they were. There were, also, ladies most superbly dressed, who were expecting with impatience the hour of the ball, or a longer continuance of the feast." At this moment the Grooms of the Allies and the English Archers were assembled at their quarters in the suburbs, where, it was supposed, emissaries of the late Spencer's friends contrived to raise discontent and jealousies against John de Hainault, who advised the death of the favourites, which ended in a serious attack upon the former. And such was the indiscriminating fury of the archers, that they aimed their arrows at the breasts of the Knights who left the royal presence to pacify them.

The animosity thus excited was carried to an excess, which made it necessary for the foreigners to keep guard as if in an enemy's country.

The savage conduct of a royal chief at the same period, affords a shocking criterion for judging of general manners in the higher classes of life. Froissart introduces the circumstances attending this affair by informing us, that the King had his head-quarters at Beverley, where he was surrounded by his courtiers, amongst whom was a Bohemian Knight who had visited England to pay his respects to the Queen his countrywoman,

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and received particular attention from the Sovereign and his lords on that account.

Two of the Squires retained by Sir John Holland earl of Huntingdon, presuming upon the impunity they supposed would attend the act of insulting a stranger, disputed violently which of them should have the lodgings of Sir Meles the German, from which they had agreed in expelling him with insolent abuse. Two archers, part of the vassals brought into the field by Lord Ralph Stafford, having observed this outrageous conduct, reproached the Knights for it in severe terms; and one of them preparing to stab his opponent, the archer drew his bow, and laid him dead at his feet. The surviving Squire fled. Sir Meles returned to his lodgings: and the archers immediately acquainted Lord Ralph with the transaction, who condemned the man for what he had done; but advised him to conceal himself, till he could obtain his pardon from Sir John Holland.

During the time thus occupied, Sir John had been informed of the death of his Esquire by an archer belonging to Lord Ralph Stafford, through the unfortunate Sir Meles. Impetuously conceiving himself insulted, he declared he would take no sustenance till he was revenged: and, mounting his horse, he assembled a party of soldiers, with whom he proceeded towards the lodgings of Sir Meles, although it was then late in the evening. After a fruitless search for the German, Sir John

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entered a narrow lane, and, encountering horsemen, enquired who they were? A voice answered, "I am Stafford." The furious Holland announced his own name; charged him with the death of his Esquire; and at the same moment drew his sword. with which he struck the unhappy Lord Ralph so violent a blow that he fell dead from his horse. The assassin proceeded in his sanguinary pursuit without enquiring the consequences of his brutal rashness. The attendants of the deceased lord, however, soon communicated the intelligence to those of Sir John: who, upon hearing it, said, "be it so ;" and added, his satisfaction was complete. And yet, coward-like, he fled to the next church for sanctuary.

It would be unjust not to mention the generous conduct of the Earl of Stafford, who waited upon the King, with the trains of himself and son, and kneeling before him, with tears, demanded justice: declaring, that in the critical situation of the army he and his followers would forget their injuries. Otherwise, they had resolved to take a severe revenge; although the murderer was the King's own brother. "Be assured," answered the Sovereign," I myself will do justice, and punish the crime more severely than the Barons would venture to do; and never, for any brother, will I act otherwise."

Another circumstance, related by the same author, which occurred about the same time, shews the unsettled state of society.

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