guide the car of empire; left, like an unkilful Phaeton, by keeping too near the fiery tract of defpotifm on the one hand, or the equally deftructive path of timid relaxation on the other, he wanders like the fon of Phoebus far from the beaten way, and fhares his fate. This eafinefs of temper in Edward threw him into the hands of favou

rites, to whom he implicitly gave up his will, and on whom he bestowed honours and riches with an unbounded profusion.

The first of these was Piers Gavafton, the son of a Gafcon knight of some distinction, who had honourably ferved the late King; and who, as a reward for his merits, had obtained an establishment for his fon in the family of the Prince of Wales. This young Cavalier foon infinuated himself into the affections of his mafter by his agreeable behaviour, and by fupplying him with all thofe innocent though frivolous amufements which fuited his capacity and inclinations. Endowed with the utmoft elegance of fhape

and

and perfon, confpicuous for a fine mien and eafy carriage, expert in all warlike and genteel exercises, and celebrated for his wit, it is not much to be wondered at, if Edward gave up a heart, naturally disposed to friendhip and confidence, to this accomplished young gentleman. His difcerning father, Edward the First, apprehensive of the confequences, banished Gavaston the kingdom; and on his death-bed made the Prince promife never to recall him. Unmindful of this folemn protestation, no fooner did Edward find himself his own master, than he fent for his favourite; and fo great was his impatience to testify to the world his regard for him, that before his arrival at court he created him Earl of Cornwall: he foon after bestowed on him immenfe poffeffions, and married him to his own niece.

However unapprehenfive perfons, even of the highest rank, determined on the gratification of their favourite paffions may be, yet the fpeculative reader of history cannot avoid

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avoid remarking, that fuch breaches of folemn compacts, though only verbal ones, are ever attended with fatal confequences. Thus Edward, by indulging the friendly effufions of his heart to an unwarrantable extreme, on a rapacious favourite, in defpite of his father's dying injunctions and his own repeated affeverations, roused the dormant fpirit of the haughty and reftlefs Barons, and involved himfelf in contefts which rendered his whole reign unquiet, and at length brought him to a tragical end.

This partiality to Gavaston served only to excite the jealoufy of the Barons, and after many contests ended in his deftruction. But no fooner was he made prifoner, and, according to the favage manners of the age, immediately executed, than the King, accuftomed to controul, looked around him for a proper person to fupply his place. Hugh Le Defpencer, a young Englishman of a noble family, who likewife poffeffed all thofe external accomplishments of person and

addrefs

addrefs fitted to engage the weak mind of Edward, attracted his notice, and was received into the fame degree of confidence and favour. A fimilar train of incidents to those which had attended the attachment of Edward to Gavafton now took place; and by the fame unavoidable progreffion led, after fome years, to as fatal a conclufion. The King was addicted to no vice, but having a distaste to all serious business, and, confcious of his inability to hold the reins of government, he gave this minion alfo unlimited power, and fet no bounds to his favours. Le Defpencer, equally haughty and rapacious with his predeceffor, drew on himself the animofity of the Barons: they confequently had recourse to arms, and procured by force from Edward a sentence of perpetual exile against him. But a reverse of fortune enabled the King to recall his favourite, and fix him in the fame plenitude of power, till the following incident brought about the ruin of both.

A difpute arifing between Edward and Charles the Fair, king of France, concern

ing

ing fome affairs relating to the province of Guienne, his queen Ifabella was fent over to endeavour to fettle it with her brother. While fhe was making fome progrefs in the negociation, Charles, increafing his demands, started a new proposition; he infifted, that king Edward should appear at his court, to do homage for the territories he held under him. No method appeared to evade this demand, yet many difficulties occurred to prevent a compliance with it. Le Defpencer, by whom the King was implicitly governed, had been engaged in many quarrels with the Queen, who afpired to the fame authority, and on that account continually oppofed all his meafures. Though this artful Princefs on her leaving England had taken care to diffemble her animofity, yet Le Despencer, perfectly acquainted with her fentiments, was unwilling to attend the King to Paris, as he was apprehenfive of being expofed to infults in a kingdom, where it was natural to conclude Ifabella would meet with credit and fupport. Nor was he lefs alarmed by

his