glory of all his actions. Walfingham, an old hiftorian of credit, .thus emphatically writes of him ; "The good fortune of

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England, as if it had been inherent in "his perfon, flourished in his health, languished in his fickness, and expired at his "death; with whom died all the hope of "Englishmen. During his life they feared "no invafion of the enemy, nor encounter "in battle; for he affailed no nation but "he overcame, and befieged no city that he "did not take."

The Prince's body, after being embalmed, lay feveral days in ftate; an infinite number of all ranks flocked to pay their laft fad homage to their beloved Prince, whilst every eye or tongue proclaimed the affectionate emotions of their hearts, and the greatness of that merit which called forth fuch univerfal encomiums. It was then carried in a stately herfe drawn by twelve horfes (the whole court and both houfes of Parliament attending in mourning)

through

through the city to Canterbury, where it was interred with great funeral pomp in the cathedral.

Charles, the French King, in the true fpirit of noble gallantry which adorned that age, though an enemy, diftinguished alfo the Prince's exalted merit, by performing his obfequies with great folemnity, attended by all the principal Peers and Prelates of his realm.

A magnificent monument of grey marble was shortly after erected over his grave, on which lies his portraiture made of copper gilt the tomb is decorated with efcutcheons of copper enamelled, with his arms and devices'; on an iron bar over it are placed a helmet, a coat of mail, and gauntlets; and on a pillar adjoining is a fhield richly diapered with gold: the real armour he is faid to have used in battle.

But

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But this fumptuous monument has no other epitaph than the following lines in old French, and fome monkifh verfes in the fame language, which ferve only to put the reader in remembrance of the common fate of human greatnefs, without enumerating any of the virtues or glorious deeds of this great Prince, which the occafion fo particularly demanded: "Cy gift le noble Prince "Monfieur Edward, aifnez Filz du tres no"ble Roy Edward Tiers, jadis Prince d'Aquitain & de Galles, Duc de Cornwaille, & Compte de Ceftre; qi moruft en la fefte "de la trinité, queftoit le viii jour de Juin, "l'an. de grace mil trois cenz feptante fifine. "l'Alme de qui Dieu eit mercie, Amen." Thus tranflated: "Here lieth the noble "Prince the Lord Edward, eldest Son of "the most noble King Edward the Third, "late Prince of Aquitain and of Wales, "Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chefter; "who died on the feaft of Trinity, which was on the eighth day of June, in the "of grace one thoufand three hundred and

year

1

"feventy-fix. On whofe foul God have "mercy, Amen." The verfes are too contemptible for insertion *.

King Edward furvived his beloved Son about ten months, expiring in the fixtyfifth year of his age, and the fifty-first of his reign. His grand with had ever been to leave the poffeffion of a throne he had filled fo long, and with fo much dignity, to fo worthy a fucceffor; but being difappointed, he seemed to live without any comfort, or the least enjoyment of life. England was thus deprived at once of two Princes, its chief ornaments and fupport; and the people were now fenfible of the irreparable loss they had sustained.

*This fhews the low ebb of learning at that period: it was not till the fifteenth century, when the art of printing was firft brought into England, that literature began to flourish, or that the English language was reduced to any degree of purity: before that time a barbarous French or Latin were made use of in all records and public deeds.

The

The reign of Edward was not only one of the longest, but also the most glorious which occurs in the annals of this nation :

his victories over the French place his name foremost among the English heroes, and cause it to defcend with renown to pofterity. The domeftic government of this Prince is no lefs worthy of commemoration, and proves that he was poffeffed of all those eminent talents which are neceffary both for a legiflator and a warrior. The turbulence of the great Barons being curbed, the Parliament during his reign rofe into greater confideration, and acquired a more regular authority, than in any former times; and King Edward took no steps of moment without confulting them, and obtaining their approbation. A Prince of fo much fenfe and fpirit as Edward, and who had humbled the fuperior power of France, could not fubmit to the tyranny of the court of Rome; he confequently much abridged the papal ufurpation over his kingdom, notwithstanding it had been fo long established