there was an old cavern, the mouth of a fubterraneous paffage which led into the caftle, and through this he engaged to con-, duct them to Mortimer's apartment. The following day the Governor, with Lord Montacute and feveral other valiant knights, took horse and precipitately left Nottingham. Mortimer concluded they had fled to avoid being feized by his adherents; but they returned about midnight, and, entering the fubterranean paffage (which is ftill known by the name of Mortimer's Hole) they were conducted by Sir William into the chief tower of the castle: from thence they advanced into the chamber adjoining to the Queen's apartment, where Mortimer was fitting with a few of his chief dependents; and, notwithstanding resistance was made on the first alarm by fome of his knights, he was foon taken prifoner. The Queen, startled at the noise and fufpecting the caufe, called aloud in the French language to her fon, whom she imagined to be at the head of the party," Bel Fitz! Bel Fitz! ayez pitie

“ du

No

"du gentile Mortimer." Fair Son! Fair Son! have pity on the noble Mortimer. anfwer being returned to her intreaties fhe rufhed into the room among the confpirators, and earnestly befought them to do no injury to his perfon, for he was a worthy knight, her dear friend, and well-beloved coufin. She had however the mortification to find that her supplications were ineffectual. This tranfaction was conducted with fo much fecrefy and dispatch, that the people in the town knew nothing of it till the next morning; when two of Mortimer's fons and several of his partizans being likewife apprehended, they were all fent to the Tower of London. The Parliament proceeded immediately to the trial of this proud peer, before whom he was accused of many crimes and mifdemeanors; and, as from the fuppofed notoriety of the facts evidence was thought unneceffary, he was condemned, and executed without delay on a gibbet near London. The Queen was confined to her own palace, and her revenue greatly decreased; and, though

the King paid her a ceremonious vifit once or twice a year, she was never able to regain his good opinion, or to reinftate herself in any credit or authority. Such are the fure effects which flow from a vicious and irregular conduct; nor can the most elevated fituation, the blaze of pomp, or any human precaution fecure the offender from the flow but no less certain inflictions of justice.

The reign of Edward the Third might be faid to commence from this time; for though he had been feated on the throne more than three years, yet his youth served as a pretext for the Queen and Mortimer to ufurp the regal power, and leave him only the title. He now, like the rifing fun, which had for a while been obfcured by the lagging clouds of night, broke out with unusual splendour; and, till he became again clouded near the verge of the horizon in his defcent, continued to fhed with unremitted ardour his enlivening beams on the kingdom over which he prefided, raifing it to a pitch of glory unknown

"James Croping

known before.

He begun by applying himself with induftry and judgment to redrefs all thofe grievances which had either proceeded from want of authority in the crown, or from the abuse of it.

No period of their history is read by the English with more fondness or greater exultation than the reign of this great Monarch. The afcendency which this Nation then began to acquire over the French, makes them caft their eyes on this æra with great fatisfaction, and purifies every measure Edward embraced for that end. Nor was the domestic government of this King lefs worthy of their admiration, than his foreign victories; as England enjoyed by the prudence and vigour of his administration a longer interval of domestic peace and tranquillity, than fhe had been bleft with in any former period, or than the experienced for many ages after. He curbed the licentioufnefs of the Barons by his refolution, whilft, by his affable and obliging behaviour, his munificence and generofity,

he

he gained their affections, and made them fubmit with pleasure to his dominion. To this, his foreign wars contributed not a little; as they ferved to employ thofe unquiet fpirits against the public enemy, which otherwise would have been engaged in difturbances at home.

The first exertion of King Edward's mili tary abilities was against the Scots, who were perpetually making inroads into England. His grandfather Edward the First had by his valour reduced them to a very low ebb; and, had he lived, would probably have annexed their dominions to his own; but during the reign of Edward the Second, through his want of warlike talents and the conftant employment he found from his enraged fubjects, Scotland had greatly recovered herself, and was again become formidable. In the early part of the present King's reign, whilft he was yet under the dominion of Mortimer, he had repulfed Murray and Douglas, two celebrated warriors, in an atC 2 tempt