IV. REIGN OF The reign of Edward III. not only closed in disaster, but in per- CHAP sonal disgrace; for it was degradation, that at the age of sixtyfour, an age younger than that at which Edward I. had died, his EDWARD III. parliament should find it necessary to treat him like an infant His domestic king. Yet so it was, that in 1376, the house of commons stated, mortificathat considering the mischiefs of the land, it would be to his honour and to the profit of the realm, aggrieved in various ways, for him to perceive that the officers who were accustomed to be at his side (his ministers) were not sufficient for so great a government, without other aid. The commons therefore prayed, that the royal council might be strengthened by the addition of a permanent council of ten or twelve other prelates and lords; that no important business might be done without the assent and advice of all these, and no minor business without the concurrence of at least six or four of them, and that these six or four should be continually resident with the king. This was so like the council of regency nominated on his accession, that it must have pained the royal mind to find its age accompanied with the guardian measure of its boyhood. But the king was obliged to declare, that, understanding the request to be honourable, and very profitable to him and his kingdom, he assented to it 147. His grandson Richard, a child, was soon afterwards brought into parliament. The archbishop, more courteously than wisely, complimented him on the beauty of his 148 and he was made prince of Wales. Strong parliamentary remonstrances were made against the pope and cardinals 149. A jubilee was in the next year proclaimed, because the king entered into the fiftieth year of his reign 150; and a poll-tax was granted, to supply the necessities of the exchequer 151. VOL. II. person Edward Ꮲ Ꭺ Ꭱ Ꭲ REIGN OF Edward continued gradually to waste in disease, and publicly disgraced himself by a mistress, Alice Peers, who even presumed EDWARD III. to counteract official orders 152, to sit on the bench, and to dictate to the judges 153. Her follies increased his unpopularity, and she was compelled to leave the king; but with an unroyal weakness he recalled her 154; and her unfeeling selfishness was manifested by her behaviour in his last moments, which occurred at Sheene on 21 June 1877 155. He degrades himself with Alice Peers. The character of Edward has been displayed in the preceding incidents of his reign, which took their shape and colour from him and his son. They carried the chivalric temper to the highest improvement which it was capable of receiving; but were more useful in drawing the nation out of the ferocious habits of the mere warrior to the attempt at something better, than for having presented any useful standard of moral excellence to the practice of his people. For the evils of war they had no sympathy; of its justice they took no account; its pomp and glorious circumstances were their passion, and the excitement and applause of its great exertions were their highest gratifications. But they improved the knightly character by the addition of qualities which would not suffer it to be stationary; the gallantry, courtesy, and generosity, which they combined with war, soon separated from their fierce companion, and sought a more intellectual alliance. In every succeeding reign the warlike disposition became less and less a gentlemanly accomplishment; society began to feel that the character 152 See the accusations in Parl. Plac. vol. 3. p. 12. 153 Wals. 186.-She caused the Speaker of the house of commons to be imprisoned for his censures on her. Ib. 154 Wals. 187. 155 She permitted him to have no religious attentions, chusing to believe that his health would be re-established. When she observed his voice to fail, his eyes to become glazed, and his limbs to be chilling, she pulled his rings from his fingers, and went away. A priest found him still sensible, but speechless. But he kissed the cross, and wept, before he expired. Wals. 189. IV. REIGN OF character which was useful as the occasional protector, ought not СНАР. to be its daily humour. The soldier became gradually set apart from the nobleman, the courtier, the gentleman, and the citizen. The EDWARD III. blessings of peace, and the arts of acquiring them, were in time more generally understood, and more truly appreciated and sincerely pursued. Not indeed that this happy change could be instantaneous or complete; the evils of civil wars were first experienced, before the nation subsided into the popular love of social tranquillity; but the close of the reign of Edward III. may be dated as the period when this moral regeneration began. That he had reigned with much nobleness and valour, and deserved to be placed among the ancient heroes, was the generous confession of the king of France, his political antagonist 156; the offer of the imperial crown, was the testimony of Germany to his personal merits and renown 157; and the general feeling of Englishmen, that few sovereigns have combined so many public and private virtues, is that consummation of his celebrity from those who are the best qualified to award it, which no criticism can destroy, nor any rhetorical panegyric satisfactorily enhance. 156 Charles V. This king, who delighted in the society of men of science, having heard that there was a great philosopher and alchemist at Avignon, sent for him to court. The retired and contented student answered, That he was happier in his poverty, eating cabbages and radishes, and speculating on 157 Scala Chron. 562.-That he instituted HISTORY OF ENGLAND. PART III. CHA P. V. HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF RICHARD THE SECOND, THE SURNAMED RICHARD OF BOURDEAUX. 1377-1399. 'HE reign of Richard II. began with all the splendour and rejoicings of a prosperous and delighted people. His age, eleven, was interesting; his countenance handsome; his boyish manners engaging; and he was the son of the beloved Black Prince. With such claims to popularity, it will surprise us to find that few princes have been pursued with greater maledictions from their people, or ended their scene of dignity more calamitously. Part of his misfortunes arose from the period in which he lived, and from the measures of his predecessor, whose consequences his government had to bear. But these might have been surmounted by a fair exertion of intelligence and integrity in his ministers, and by steady decorum in his personal conduct. His worst adversities sprang from himself, from the defects of his unfolding character; from allowing young favourites to be his directing counsellors; from obstinacy in error; from a proud and passionate spirit, imperious imperious and vindictive; from the wilful commission of wrong, and from the national belief that he had become unprincipled and incorrigible. a fine CHAP REIGN OF RICHARD II. London. His first entrance into London from Sheene was a day of mag- His splendid nificence, gratulation, and festivity. His bishops, knights, and entrance into nobles, attended him in solemn procession. Seated on courser royally apparelled, its bridle guided by one knight on foot, and preceded by another, bearing on high his sword, Richard moved on, with his young friends and courtiers immediately behind him, happy, honoured, and applauded. Every portion of the train was led by its clarions and trumpets continually sounding. The citizens filled the public aqueducts with wine, which was allowed to flow profusely through their pipes for three hours and a half, the time of the cavalcade. The populace crowded with loud and eager shouts, hailing their young king, and revelling in their indulgencies. In the market at Cheapside, a castle was displayed with four towers, two of which also poured around gratuitously its vinous streams. On the towers stood four beautiful maidens of elegant stature, clothed in white, wafting leaves of gold into the king's face as he approached, and showering down light golden coins upon him and his horse, as he came nearer. All the clarions and trumpets sounded at that moment together, in every part enrapturing the stout and warlike ears of the boisterous and bustling population. As the king stood before the triumphal castle, the lovely virgins, descending to greet him, filled their golden cups from its flowing canals, and offered them to their sovereign and his lords. On the summit of the castle appeared an angel shining in gold, and holding out a golden crown in his hand when the king came under him, the mechanism moved, and the loyal seraph bent respectfully down, and placed the crown upon his head. Every street vied with each other in its decorations |