A Museum for Young Gentlemen and Ladies | Page 7

succeeded him, and proved a warlike and successful Prince. He made France fear him, and forced the King of Scotland to pay him homage. He created his eldest son Prince of Wales, which title has been enjoyed by the eldest son of all the Kings of England ever since.
In his last moments he exhorted his son to continue the war with Scotland, and added, "Let my bones be carried before you, for I am sure the rebels will never dare to stand the sight of them." He died of a bloody flux at Burgh on the sands [sic], a small town in Cumberland, July 7, 1337, having reigned 34 years, and lived 68.
EDWARD II. succeeded his father, but proved an unfortunate Prince, being hated by his nobles, and slighted by the commons: he was first debauched by Gaveston his favourite, and afterwards by the two Spencers, father and son, whose oppressions he countenanced to the hazard of his crown. But the Barons taking up arms against the King, Gaveston was beheaded, the two Spencers hanged, and he himself forced to to resign the crown to Prince Edward his son. Soon after which he was barbarously murdered at Berkeley Castle, by means of Mortimer, the Queen's favourite. He reigned twenty years, and was buried at Gloucester.
EDWARD III. who succeeded his father on his resignation, claimed the crown of France, and backed his claim by embarking a powerful army for that country, where he made rapid conquests: the Scots favouring the French, invaded Cumberland, but were defeated by Edward's Queen Philippa, who took David Bruce, their King, prisoner. Edward's eldest son, sirnamed the Black Prince, gained two surprizing [sic] victories, one at Cressi, the other at Poitiers, in which he took King John, with his youngest son Philip, prisoners. Thus England had the glory to make two Kings prisoners in one year. This reign is also memorable for the institution of the most noble Order of the Garter, and for the title of Duke of Cornwall being first conferred upon the Black Prince, and continued as a birthright to the Prince Royal of England.
In this reign lived John Wickliff, who strenuously opposed the errors of the Romish Church. Peter's Pence were now also denied to the church of Rome; and the manufacture of cloth was first brought into England.
Edward the Black Prince died in 1336, and his untimely end hastened that of his father, who died soon after at Shene, in Surry, having reigned thirty years, and was buried at Westminster.
RICHARD II. son to Edward the Black Prince, succeeded his grandfather; but he had neither his wisdom nor good fortune. He was born at Bourdeaux in France: his conduct in England made his reign very uneasy to his subjects, and at last deprived him of his crown. He raised a tax of 5d. per head, which caused an insurrection by the influence of Wat Tyler, who being stabbed by William Walworth, Mayor of London, the storm was quelled. The smothering of the Duke of Gloucester, and the unjust seizure of the Duke of Lancaster's effects, with an intent to banish his son, were the two circumstances which completed the King's ruin.
For after this tyranny and cruelty, being forced to resign the crown, he was confined in Pomfret Castle, in Yorkshire, where being barbarously murdered, he was buried at Langley, having reigned twenty-two years. In his time lived Chaucer, the famous poet.
The House of Lancaster, called the RED ROSE.
HENRY IV. who succeeded his cousin Richard on his resignation in 1399, was the son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, who was fourth son of Edward III. In his turbulent reign, which lasted thirteen years and a half, we find little remarkable, except the act then passed for burning the Lollards or Wickliffites, who separated from the church of Rome.
HENRY V. succeeded his father, and, though a loose Prince in his youth, proved a wise, virtuous and magnificent King. He banished all his lewd companions from court, and claimed the English title to the crown of France in so heroic and effectual a manner, that with 14,000 men he beat the French at Agincourt, though 140,000 strong. Hereupon Queen Katherine prevailed upon her husband Charles VI. then King of France, to disinherit the Dauphin, and to give Katherine his daughter to Henry, so that he was declared heir to the crown of France, and regent during the King's life, which measures were ratified and confirmed by the states of that kingdom, though he did not live to sit on the throne. He reigned but ten years, died at Vincennes, a royal palace near Paris, and was buried at Westminster, in 1422, in the 39th year of his age.
HENRY VI. when only eight years old, succeeded his father, but was no less unfortunate at