EDWARD II. CHAP. IV. 1307. ment of their more early years. The king had occasion frequently to reprehend, sometimes to punish, the excesses of the heir-apparent and about three months before his death, he banished May 29. Gaveston from the kingdoin, and exacted from his son a promise upon oath, that he would never recall his favourite without the royal consent.1 Affairs required the presence of the young prince in London: but before he departed from Carlisle, Edward sent for him to his bedside and after giving him such advice as dying kings have often given to their intended successors, told him that of the money in the treasury he had bequeathed thirty-two thousand marks for the service of seven score knights in Palestine forbade him, under pain of his paternal malediction, to allow Gaveston to return to England without the previous consent of his parliament; and commanded him to prosecute the Scottish war, and to carry his dead bones along with the army to the very extremity of Scotland. Soon afterwards the king died: and 1 Rym. ii. 1043. 2 This command is thus mentioned by Froissart." He called his eldest son, and made him swear in "the presence of all his barons, by the saints, that as soon as he "should be dead, he would have his body boiled in a large caldron "until the flesh should be separated from the bones; that he would "have the flesh buried, and the bones preserved, and that every "time the Scots should rebel against him, he would summon his "people, and carry against them the bones of his father: for he "believed most firmly that, as long as his bones should be carried against the Scots, those Scots would never be victorious." Froissart, i. xxv. Johnes' translation. CHAP. his commands no less than his advice were forIV. gotten. His successor hastened from the capital July 29. to the borders; received at Carlisle the homage of the English, at Dumfries that of the Scottish Aug. 6. barons; and at the head of a gallant army advanced in pursuit of Robert Bruce. But war had few attractions for the young Edward. He Aug. 21. halted at Cumnock in Ayrshire; and, under pretence of making preparations for his marriage and coronation, hastily returned into England. Recall of Gaveston. The first object of the new king had been the recall of his favourite, on whom, during his absence, he had conferred the title of earl of Cornwall, with a grant of the lands which had formerly belonged to Richard king of the Romans. Gaveston joined him before he left Scotland: and his arrival was followed by a total change in the offices of government. The chancellor, the barons of the exchequer, the justices Sep. 20. of the different courts were removed and the treasurer, Langton bishop of Lichfield, who, by refusing to supply money for their pleasures, had formerly incurred the enmity of the prince and his favourite, was stripped of his property, Oct. 27. and thrown into prison. In defiance of his father's prohibition Edward ventured to bury his bones at Westminster, and gave the money destined for the holy war to Gaveston, who was Nov. 1. daily loaded with new honours. He was made lord chamberlain, married Margaret the king's Dec. 6. niece, obtained a valuable grant of lands in IV. Dec. 25. Guienne, and, when Edward prepared to sail to CHAP. France, was appointed regent of the kingdom, with all those powers, which the sovereign on such occasions was accustomed to reserve to himself.3 1308. Jan. 24. Feb. 7. Edward landed at Boulogne, where he found King's marriage. Philip le bel, king of France. He did homage for Guienne and Ponthieu, and the next day in the presence of four kings and three queens married Isabella, the daughter of the French Jan. 25. monarch, who was reputed the most beautiful woman in Europe. A few days were given to feasting and rejoicings: and on his return Edward was accompanied or followed by the two uncles of his bride, and a numerous train of foreign noblemen, whom he had invited to be witnesses of his coronation. On their way they And corowere met by the regent, and the English barons; when to the general astonishment, the king, neglecting the others, rushed into the arms of his favourite, kissed him, and called him his brother. The coronation was performed Feb. 24. with extraordinary magnificence:4 but outward 3 Rym. iii. 1-4. 11. 49. 53. Heming. 244. Walsing. 95. Lel. Coll. i. 248. By several writers the marriage of Gaveston is placed some years later. But the contrary is plain, from the king's grant to Gaveston and Margaret his wife. Rym. iii. 87. 4 The following is the oath taken on the occasion. "Sir, will "you grant, and keep, and confirm by your oath, to the people of "England, the laws and customs granted to them by the ancient "kings of England, your predecessors, righteous and devout to "God: and, namely, the laws, customs, and franchises, granted nation. IV. CHAP. expressions of joy accorded ill with the discontent, which secretly rankled in the breasts of the more powerful nobles. Not only had the offices at this ceremony been distributed without regard to the claims of inheritance, or the precedents of former reigns; but, what was a general grievance, the place of honour, to carry the crown and walk in the procession immediately before the king, had been allotted to Gaveston. This preference awakened every former prejudice against him. Three days later the barons assembled in the refectory of the monks at Westminster, and sent to Edward a petition for the immediate banishment of the favourite. He promised to return an answer in the parliament to be held after Easter: and in the mean time endeavoured, but in vain, to mollify their resentment. Gaveston was still the sole dispenser of the royal favours: in the splendour of his dress and the number of his Feb. 28. Exile of the favourite, "to the clergy and people by the glorious king, St. Edward, your "predecessor?" "I grant them, and promise to keep them." "Sir, will you keep to God, and holy church, and clergy and "people, peace and harmony in God, according to your power?" "I will keep them." "Sir, will you cause to be observed in all your judgments, equal "and right justice and discretion, in mercy and truth, according "to your power." "I will cause it to be observed." "Sir, do "you grant that the laws and right customs, which the common"alty of your shall have chosen, shall be kept and observed: and strengthen them to the honour of God, according to your power?" "I grant it and promise." Rym. iii. 63. 66 and will you IV. retinue he outshone every rival in different CHAP. Ed ward, to console the affliction of his favourite, June 7: the com In Ireland Gaveston displayed the magnifi- Petition of cence of a prince, and distinguished himself in several successful engagements with the na 5 Rym. iii. 63. 80. 87-93. Trokel, 5, 6. Mon. Malm. 99, 110. Moor, 593. Wal. 96. mons. |