was then governor of Bristol. He endea voured to preserve that place for the King; but his garrifon mutinied against him, and he was delivered into the hands of his enemies. This nobleman, who had nearly reached his ninetieth year, and who had been respected through all his paft life for wisdom, valour, and integrity, was inftantly condemned to death by the rebellious Barons. His fentence was executed with the greatest degree of ignominy; for after hanging on a gibbet his body was cut in pieces, and thrown to the dogs; and his head, being fent to Winchester, was expofed on a pole to the infults of the populace.

King Edward, difappointed in his expec« tations of fuccours from the Welsh, took fhipping for Ireland; but, being driven back by contrary winds, he ftrove to conceal himfelf in the mountains of Wales; where, being discovered, he was taken prisoner, and fent to the castle of Kenilworth. The young Le Defpencer, the cause of these commo

tions, who had accompanied the King in his flight, and was taken at the same time, experienced the fame rigour as his father, being put to death with every token of ignominy : a charge was drawn up against King Edward, and his depofition voted by Parliament: fome lords were then fent to him at Kenilworth, to require his refignation, which menaces and terror foon extorted from him; and at the time he furrendered up the enfigns of royalty, he acknowledged with grief, that his degradation was the natural confequence of his imprudent conduct. The Prince of Wales was now placed on the throne in his ftead, and crowned in the prefence of the principal nobility on the 24th day of January 1327.

But it was impoffible that the people, however corrupted by the barbarity of the times, or influenced by faction, should for ever remain infenfible to the voice of nature. The irregularities of the Queen could not escape the cenfure they deserved; and the became in her turn the object of public hatred.

The fituation of the dethroned Monarch excited the compaffion of the People, and feveral of the Barons began to intereft themselves in his favour. The new Earl of Lancafter, to whofe care he was committed, was foon touched with these generous fentiments, and they bid fair to be productive of favourable confequences to Edward; but, as the humanity and gentleness with which he treated his prifoner did not coincide with the defigns of his directors, he was removed from his employ the King was then delivered into the hands of Lord Berkeley, Sir John Mautravers, and Sir Thomas Gournay, who were intrusted alternately with the charge of guarding him.

Whilst he was in Lord Berkeley's cuftody he was used with the gentleness due to his rank and misfortunes; but when the others had the command, every fpecies of indignity was practifed against him; probably with a defign to break his fpirits, and by that means put an end to his life, without having recourfe

courfe to more desperate measures. An instance of their disgraceful ufage is left on record, and ferves as a specimen of his fufferings. One day when the King was to be shaved, they ordered cold and dirty water to brought from the ditch for that purpose; and when, on defiring it might be changed, he found his requeft denied, tears plenteoufly bedewed his royal cheeks. These methods however being too flow for the impatient Mortimer, he fecretly fent orders to the keepers, who were at his devotion, to make use of others more conclufive and expeditious. Accordingly, taking advantage of Lord Berkeley's illness, in whose custody he happened to be, they came to Berkeley castle and got poffeffion of the King's perfon. The inhuman wretches then threw him on a bed, and, keeping him down with a table, put an end to his life by a moft cruel and inhuman method. Though the device made use of prevented any external marks of violence, yet the horrid deed was discovered to all the guards and attendants, by the fcreams with which

B 2

which the agonizing King filled the castle whilft his bowels were confuming.

Humanity, thou peerless virtue! divine effulgence in thofe rude ages whither wert thou fled in what clime couldft thou then hide thy dejected head, whilft Cruelty, thy infatiate foe, reigned uncontrouled? Happy, thrice happy thofe, who, born in a more civilized æra, fail gently down the stream of life, protected by invaluable laws from the affaffin's fecret dagger, or the more open attacks of oppreffive power.

1

The perpetrators of this horrid deed were held in deteftation by all mankind; and, when by another revolution their employers could no longer afford them protection, they found it neceffary to fly the kingdom. Gournay after fome time was feized at Marfeilles; but was prevented from receiving a punishment adequate to his crime in the fight of an offended People, by being beheaded during his voyage. This hafty execution,