Born 1274.—Died 1320.—Edward I.—Edward II.
Who had been educated in King Edward I.’s household, succeeded Wallace as leader of the Scots against Edward I. Having slain his rival claimant the Red Comyn in the Grey Friars Church at Dumfries, Bruce borrowed robes, chain, and gold rim from some saint’s image, and had himself crowned King of Scotland at Scone. After the most romantic escapes and adventures, and retaking all the castles Edward I. had gained, except Stirling, Bruce defeated Edward II. at the great battle of Bannockburn, not far from Stirling, and freed Scotland from the English yoke.
Born 1287.—Died 1330.—Edward I.—Edward II.—Edward III.
Earl of March. The wicked queen of Edward II. (Isabella) having joined with Mortimer, Earl of March, in the murder of her husband at Berkeley Castle, they governed England as they pleased. Mortimer set up a new order of Knights of the Round Table, in imitation of King Arthur. Edward III., still only a boy, surprised the guilty queen’s favourite in Nottingham Castle, and after a trial by his peers, Mortimer was hanged at Tyburn, 1330.
Son of Edward II. First claimed the crown of France. Won the battles of Cressy (1346) and Poitiers (1356), and took Calais. Great part of France made over to the (Black) Prince of Wales. First Speaker of House of Commons (1376), and great development of the Commons’ privileges. Edward III. reigned half a century, and was one of the wisest, ablest, and most useful of the English kings.
Philippa of Hainault, the queen of Edward III., was the sister of the Count of Hainault in Flanders (Belgium). She was a most religious, wise, and able woman, who ruled the country while the king was at war in France as well as he did himself. She went with the army against the Scots, and defeated them at Nevil’s Cross, close to Durham, 1346. After the siege of Calais Queen Philippa begged the lives of Eustace de St. Pierre and five other French gentlemen, whom the king had condemned to death. When Queen Philippa died, Edward fell under the power of a wretched woman, and lost the confidence of his nobles and people.
The Prince of Wales, son of King Edward III., called the Black Prince from the colour of his armour, was knighted on the sands at La Hogue, in the midst of the war between England and France about the succession to Bretagne (Brittany). He distinguished himself with extraordinary valour at the battles of Cressy and Poitiers, and the siege of Calais. He married Joan of Kent, and held his court chiefly at Bordeaux, and having ruined his health by an excessive love of fighting, his last years were spent in a sick room.