in the earliest ages of that monarchy, the Franks were fo rude and barbarous a people, that they were incapable of fubmitting to a female reign. Since that time thé crown has always been worn by the neareft male heir; and from Hugh Capet to Lewis Hutin, it had regularly defcended without interruption from father to fon for eleven generations: fo that the kingdom of France had, during the courfe of nine hundred years, been governed by males, and the fucceffion undisputed.

Philip the Fair, father of Lewis Hutin, left three fons, Lewis, Philip the Long, and Charles the Fair; with one daughter, Isabella Queen of England, mother of King Edward. Lewis Hutin the eldest having married Margaret fifter to the Duke of Burgundy, at his death left one daughter; but according to the ef tablished cuftom, Philip the fecond brother was proclaimed King. This however was not done without the Duke of Burgundy's making great oppofition in behalf of his niece, which fhews that King Edward's pretensions

pretenfions were not unparalleled and romantic. However Philip kept poffeffion

crown.

of the throne; and the States, by a folemn decree, excluded the young Princess, and declared all females for ever incapable of fucceeding to the crown of France. Philip died after a fhort reign, leaving three daughters; and his brother Charles without difpute or controverfy then fucceeded to the The reign of Charles was alfo fhort; he left one daughter, and was fucceeded by Philip de Valois, coufin-german to the three laft Kings, being fon of Philip de Valois, brother of Philip the Fair. This fucceffion, as it was not fo immediate as thofe had been for cleven generations back, gave King Edward room to found his pretenfions in right of his mother. He afferted, that though Queen Ifabella as a female could not mount the throne of her ancestors, yet he himself, who inherited through her, was liable to no fuch objection, and might claim by nearness of blood. The King of Navarre had undoubtedly a prior right to the crown, as defcended from the daughter of Lewis

Hutin; but if he chofe to fuffer his claim 'to lie dormant, fuch a precedent was not fufficient to deter Edward from afferting pretenfions which at that time appeared to him well founded, and which the fupinenefs of any competitor could not invalidate. Some allowance ought certainly to be made for the fanguine expectations of a youthful Monarch, naturally fond from the temper of the times of extending his dominions; and much praise is due to the fpirit with which he afterwards supported them.

Well founded as King Edward fuppofed his claims to be, he did not however think proper as yet to infist on them; as it must have immediately involved him, on very unequal terms, in a dangerous war with a powerful Potentate; King Philip being a Prince mature in years and experience, and firmly established on his throne. He was even obliged to fubmit fo far as to go over to France, to do homage to that King for the province of Guienne, which he held

under

under him. The forfeiture of fo rich an inheritance would otherwife, agreeable to the feudal law, have been the immediate confequence of his declining to perform the duty of a vaffal. Edward therefore yielding to neceffity went to Amiens, and performed the disagreeable task; but found his refentment against his competitor, as he then efteemed him, fo augmented, that a few incidents, which foon after happened, rendered it ungovernable.

Robert d'Artois, defcended from the blood royal of France, was a man of great character and authority; he had efpoufed King Philip's fifter, and by his birth, talents, and credit was entitled to fill the highest stations under his Sovereign. This Prince had loft the county of Artois, which he claimed as his birth-right, by a fentence of Philip the Fair. The determination being generally deemed unjuft, he was feduced to attempt the recovery of his poffeffions, by an act fo unworthy of his rank and character

as a forgery. The detection of this crime covered him with fhame and confufion; his brother-in-law not only abandoned, but perfecuted him with violence; and this unhappy Prince was obliged to feek refuge in England. He was here favourably received by King Edward, and foon admitted into his councils and confidence. Excited by revenge against the French Monarch, and impelled by rage and defpair, he endeavoured to increase the prepoffeffions entertained by Edward in favour of his title to the crown of France.

The English King needed but few excitations on this point; his refentment against Philip had already taken deep root: it was also greatly augmented by fome recent complaints from Guienne, and the protection and affiftance he afforded to David Bruce the exiled King of Scotland. He therefore formed the refolution of feeking redrefs; and to this purpofe endeavoured to make alliances with fome of the neighbour

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