Edward I very arbitrary and contrary to law, created the King A.D. 1294. much ill-will, and discontent among his subjects, to whom it was very grievous." Quarrel with the King of Castile. Disturbances in Wales. At the same time, he issued other writs, summoning a Parliament to meet on the 12th November, to furnish an aid for carrying on the war. But, to the great dissatisfaction of the clergy, he also seized vast sums of money, that were hoarded up in monasteries and cathedrals for ecclesiastical uses. Edward's foreign relations became further complicated by a quarrel with the King of Castile. The vessels of the Cinque Ports, which were always prowling about for mischief, seized 280 Spanish ships, laden with merchandise for France, in consequence of which, the King of Castile declared war against Edward. Edward remained at Portsmouth with his army, ready to embark for France, from Midsummer to the beginning of September, being delayed by contrary winds.24 At length he became weary of waiting, and appointed commanders to go in his stead. His fleet set sail, about Michaelmas, A.D. 1294, but part was driven back by storms, and consequently the forces which were landed in Gascony did not meet with much success. King Edward, having thus provided for the war with France, turned his attention to the disturbances, which had broken out in Wales, and ordered the forces, under Earl Edmund and others, which were on their way to Gascony, to march into North Wales instead. On the 11th November, they were driven back from Denbigh. Edward himself marched into South Wales, about the end of November, where he met with better success, and then marched into North Wales. He crossed the river Conway, with a small part of his army, and took up his quarters in Conway Castle, Edward I. where he was besieged by the Welsh, and reduced to A.D. 1294. great straits; but on the arrival of the rest of his army, the Welsh were put to flight, and the King kept his Christmas in Conway Castle. The following year, the A.D. 1295. war was carried on with great vigour, and Wales was again reduced to subjection. The King built a castle Welsh at Beaumaris, in Angles-ey, garrisoned the sea-coasts subdued. of the mainland, cut down the woods, and thus completely broke the power of the Welsh, who caused no further trouble for many years. Wars with Scotland. entirely Scotland. We must now return to Scotland. Edward having Wars with quelled the Welsh disturbances, turned his attention to the war with France, and sent to Baliol, the King of Scotland, as his vassal, to demand from him the assistance, to which, as his Lord Paramount, he was entitled. He suspected his fidelity; and indeed, he had received information, that Baliol had entered into a treaty with France, by which it was agreed, that his son should marry the niece of the King of France, and that they should help each other in making war on Edward. Baliol refused the assistance which the King of England had demanded, and prepared for He banished the English out of Scotland, war. and seized their estates. Edward now prepared to invade Scotland, and compel the submission of his vassal. At Newcastle the war broke out, without immediate intention on either side. Robert de Ros, an English nobleman, Lord of the Castle of Weark, was in love with a Scotch lady, and revolted to the Scots, leaving his Edward I. brother in possession of the castle. His brother remained faithful to Edward, and, in expectation of an attack from the Scots, sent to Edward for assistance. The King sent him 1000 men, but, on their way, they were surprised at night by the Scots and defeated. Thus began the war between England and Scotland, and Edward expressed his great satisfaction that it was begun by the Scots. A.D. 1296. takes Ber- Baliol renounces his allegiance. Edward at once marched on towards Scotland, and laid siege to Berwick-on-Tweed, which he took by storm, and committed a massacre on the inhabitants. The numbers slain vary, according to different historians, from 7000 to 17,000, and one, Matthew of Westminster, goes so far as 60,000; but all accounts must have been greatly exaggerated. That this slaughter deserved the name of a massacre cannot be disputed; partisan writers attempt to excuse it on the ground of the ferocity of the Scots, and by comparing it with the slaughter which has taken place in many modern sieges. But the fact still remains, that a large number of the inhabitants of Berwick were massacred, and Edward's name must be thereby deeply stained. Baliol now formally renounced his allegiance to Edward; and, after the victory at Berwick, Edward advanced steadily into Scotland. The castle at Dunbar was, at this time, one of the strongest, and by its situation one of the most important, in Scotland.17 Its lord, Patrick, Earl of Dunbar, served in Edward's army; but his wife, the Countess, who held the castle, and hated the English, entered into a secret plot with some of the Scottish leaders, and delivered the castle up to them. As soon as Edward heard of this, he sent the Earl of Surrey, with a large force, to recover the castle. The Edward I. Scots, anxious to keep so important a place, led on A.D. 1296. their whole army, and took up a strong position on the high ground above Dunbar. On the appearance of the Scotch army, Surrey advanced through a valley to attack it. The Scots, misled by a seeming confusion in the English ranks, rushed down from their strong position to attack them. The English received. them in perfect order, and after a short resistance the Defeat of Scots were routed. The next day Edward advanced the Scots with the rest of his army, and the castle was given up to him. The Castles of Roxburgh, Dumbarton, Five Jedburgh, Edinburgh and Stirling, one after another, castles yielded to Edward, and he reached Perth without any to Edward. serious difficulty. While in that city, on the 7th and 10th July, Baliol twice surrendered unconditionally Baliol to Edward, and he and his son were sent prisoners to and is sent the Tower of London. at Dunbar. surrenders, prisoner to London. End of first war with Scot Thus ended Edward's first war with Scotland. The whole of Scotland submitted, and the great stone at Scone Castle, on which the Scotch Kings had been land. crowned for centuries, and which was looked on by the nation as the very symbol of Scotch sovereignty, was carried away to London, where it has since remained as the foundation of the coronation chair of the Kings of England in Westminster Abbey. Edward now took wise measures for the improvement and settlement of his new dominions, of which he appointed John de Warrenne, Earl of Surrey and Sussex, Governor; Ormesby, Chief Justiciary; and Hugh de Cressingham, Treasurer. Nov. 3. Continuation of War with France, and English Affairs arising therefrom. Edward I. On the King's return to England, his first need A.D. 1296. was, to raise money for the war with France, which had not been carried on with any vigour during the war with Scotland, and had been further hindered by the death of Edmund, the King's brother, at Bayonne. A Parliament was held at Bury St. Edmunds, on Nov. 3rd, A.D. 1296, to consider the King's demand The King for supplies. The laity granted an aid, but the clergy refused, alleging that they were forbidden by the Pope, to grant any assistance to the King, without his leave. The King therefore prorogued the ParliaThe clergy ment till the following January; but, in the meantime, in order to frighten the clergy into compliance, he caused all their barns, granaries, and storehouses to be shut up and secured. tries to raise money for the war with France. refuse an aid. A.D. 1297. The laity join in the refusal. waver. Parliament met, as was arranged, on January 14th, A. D. 1297, but the clergy were not disposed to yield, and the laity, encouraged by the resistance of the clergy, also refused to grant an aid. The burthen of carrying on these wars, had become very heavy. The clergy The clergy, however, got frightened at the probable consequences of their refusal, and held a meeting, at which they agreed to ask the Pope's leave to grant an aid to the King. This resolution was communicated to the King, who, naturally, became only so much the more enraged against them, and ordered them to be put out of his protection. The meaning of this was, that they were deprived of the protection of the law. No counsellor, or pleader, was allowed to plead for them before any temporal judge. It was made known, in court, by the Chief Justice of the |