XIII. 1307. CHAP. the Merchant Adventurers, had its firft origin: It was inftituted for the improvement of the woollen manufacture, and the vending of the cloth abroad, particularly at Antwerp ". For the English at this time fcarcely thought of any more diftant commerce. 184 THIS king granted a charter or declaration of protection and privileges to foreign merchants, and alfo afcertained the customs or duties which those merchants were in return to pay on merchandize imported and exported. He promifed them fecurity; allowed them a jury on trials, confifting half of natives, half of foreigners; and appointed them a jufticiary in London for their protection. But notwithstanding this feeming attention to foreign merchants, Edward did not free them from the cruel hardship, of making one answerable for the debts, and even for the crimes. of another, that came from the fame country We read of fuch practices among the prefent barbarous nations. The king alfo impofed on them a duty of two fhillings on each tun of wine imported, over and above the old duty; and forty pence on each fack of wool exported, be fides half a mark, the former duty 186 185 IN the year 1303, the Exchequer was robbed, and of no lefs a fum than 100,000 pounds, as is 184 Anderfon's hiftory of commerce, vol. i. p. 137. 15 lbid. p. 145. 136 Kymer, vol. iv. p. 361. It is the charter of Edw. I. which is there confirmed by Edw. III. XIII. 1307. pretended". The abbot and monks of Weftmin- CHA P. fter were indicted for this robbery, but acquitted. It does not appear, that the king ever difcovered the criminals with certainty; though his indignation fell on the fociety of Lombard merchants, particularly the Frescobaldi, very opulent Floren tines. THE pope having in 1307 collected much money in England, the king enjoined the nuncio not to export it in fpecie but in bills of exchange A proof that commerce was but ill understood at that time. 188 EDWARD had by his firft wife, Eleanor of Caftile, four fons; but Edward, his heir and fucceffor, was the only one that furvived him. She alfo bore him eleven daughters, most of whom died in their infancy: Of the furviving, Joan was married first to the earl of Glocefter, and after his death, to Ralph de Monthermer: Margaret efpoufed John duke of Brabant: Elizabeth efpoused firft John earl of Holland; and afterwards the earl of Hereford: Mary was a nun at Ambrefbury. He had by his fecond wife, Margaret of France, two fons and a daughter; Thomas created earl of Norfolk, and Marefchal of England; and Edmond who was created earl of Kent by his brother when king. The princess died in her infancy. CHAP. XIV. С Н А Р. XIV. 1357. EDWARD II. -- Piers Weakness of the king — His paffion for favorites the king -- THE prepoffeffions, entertained in favor of young Edward, kept the English from being fully fenfible of the extreme lofs, which they had fuftained by the death of the great monarch, who filled the throne, and all men haftened with alacrity to take the oath of allegiance to his fon and fucceffor. This prince was in the twentythird year of his age, was of an agreeable figure, of a mild and gentle difpofition, and having never discovered a propenfity to any dangerous vice, it was natural to prognofticate tranquillity and happiness from his government. But the of the king. first act of his reign blafted all these hopes, and fhowed him to be totally unqualified for that perilous fituation, in which every English mon Weakness XIV. X397. arch, during thofe ages, had, from the unftable CHA P. form of the conftitution, and the turbulent difpofitions of the people, derived from it, the misfortune to be placed. The indefatigable Robert Bruce, though his army had been dispersed and he himself had been obliged to take fhelter in the ́western ifles, remained not long unactive; but before the death of the late king, had fallied from his retreat, had again collected his followers, had appeared in the field, and had obtained by furprise an important advantage over Aymer de Valence, who commanded the English forces'. He was now become fo confiderable as to have, afforded the king of England fufficient glory in fubduing him, without incurring any danger of feeing all thofe mighty preparations, made by his father, fail in the enterprife. But Edward, instead of pursuing his advantages, marched but a little way into Scotland; and having an utter incapacity, and equal averfion, for all application or ferious bufinefs, he immediately returned upon his footsteps, and difbanded his army. His grandees perceived from this conduct, that the authority of the crown, fallen into fuch feeble hands, was no longer to be dreaded, and that every infolence might be practifed by them with impunity. for favor THE next measure, taken by Edward, gave His paflion. them an inclination to attack those prerogatives, ites. which no longer kept them in awe. There was XIV. 1307. Piers Ga vaftom HA P. one Piers Gavafton, fon of a Gafcon knight of fome diftinction, who had honorably ferved the late king, and who, in reward of his merits, had obtained an establishment for his fon in the family of the prince of Wales. This young man foon infinuated himself into the affections of his master, by his agreeable behaviour, and by supplying him with all thofe innocent, though frivolous amusements, which fuited his capacity and his inclinations. He was endowed with the utmost elegance of fhape and perfon, was noted for a fine mien and eafy carriage, diftinguished himself in all warlike and genteel exercifes, and was celebrated for thofe quick fallies of wit, in which his countrymen ufually excel. By all these accomplishments he gained fo entire an afcendant over young Edward, whofe heart was ftrongly difpofed to friendship and confidence, that the late king, apprehenfive of the confequences, had banished him the kingdom, and had, before he died made his fon promise never to recal him. But no fooner did he find himself mafter, as he vainly imagined, than he fent for Gavafton; and even before his arrival at court, endowed him with the whole earldom of Cornwal, which had efcheated to the crown, by the death of Edmond, fon of Richard king of the Romans 2. content with conferring on him thofe poffeffions, which had fufficed as an appanage for a prince 2 Not Rymer, vol. iii. p. 1. Heming. vol. i. p. 243. Walfing. ་ |