yield; he went back to his outlaw's life, and for seven years lived free amongst the Scottish hills. At last his own servant betrayed him, and he was taken prisoner and sent to London. He was brought to trial in Westminster Hall, and was crowned in mockery with a green garland, because he was said to have been a king of outlaws. The English were enraged against him, not only for his rebellion, but for his cruelties. There was no chance that Edward I. would again offer him the pardon which he had before refused. Wallace answered their charges by saying that it was true that he had killed very many Englishmen, but it was because they had come to oppress his native country of Scotland; and far from repenting what he had done, he was only sorry that he had not put to death more of them. He was hanged as a traitor, and his body was divided after death, that his head might be stuck on London Bridge, and his limbs sent to Newcastle, Berwick, Stirling, and Perth. Wallace was a brave man; but he fought more as an outlaw than as a true and wise lover of his country. Still he helped to make the work of Edward I. impossible by giving new courage to the Scots to resist their foes. After his death another Scottish patriot, Robert Bruce, after going through still greater dangers and hardships than Wallace had suffered, set up again the independence of Scotland; and Edward I.'s dream of a united kingdom was not fulfilled for many years.

XX.

EDWARD II. AND HIS QUEEN.

A. D. 1321-1330.

He

EDWARD II. was the son of one of the greatest of English kings, but he was a very different man from his father. was idle and gay; he loved pleasure and his own way, and he did not care either to win the love of his people or to work for their good. With the help of a few favourites whom he passionately loved, he wished to govern the land without heeding either his people or his barons. His favourites in the later part of his reign were a father and son, the Despensers, who were both clever men; but they were so greedy and proud that every one hated them and wished their ruin. The King, however, showered favours upon them, and left the government of the land in their hands. The chief barons were so discontented that at last they took up arms against the King. But a battle was fought in which the barons were defeated. Their leader, the Earl of Lancaster, and many more were put to death; 'some others escaped to France, and for a time the Despensers triumphed. Soon new troubles arose for Edward II. There seemed danger of a war breaking out betweeen him and Charles IV., King of France. Edward II.'s Queen, Isabella, was sister of the King of France, and it was

decided that she should go to Paris with her son, and try to settle the quarrel peacefully.

Charles IV. was very pleased to have a visit from his sister. When he heard that she was near Paris, he sent out some of the chief of his lords to meet her, and they brought her to Paris to the palace of the King. When she came into the room where he was, Charles rose to meet her, and taking her in his arms kissed her, saying, "You are welcome, my fair sister, with my fine nephew your son." When they had talked together a little, he led her into an apartment which had been richly furnished for her and her son, and every care was taken that she should be made happy and comfortable.

The Queen soon settled the business which had brought her to Paris, but she was in no haste to go back to England. Whilst she was in Paris she saw a great deal of the English barons who had fled there to escape from the Despensers. She grew very fond of one of them, Roger Mortimer. They were a great deal together, and began to make a plan for driving the Despensers out of England. Edward wrote letters to her and to his son, begging that they would come back, but Isabella paid no heed to them, and Prince Edward was too young to do anything but what his mother bade him.

All that Isabella and Mortimer now needed to make their plan succeed was some soldiers to fight for them. So they went to Hainault, a part of the Netherlands, which lies to the north of France. The Count of Hainault had four daughters, and Isabella promised that young Edward should marry Philippa, one of them, if the Count would give her some men