A Museum for Young Gentlemen and Ladies | Page 7

Liberties; the
second the Charter of Forests; which two charters have since been the
foundation of the liberties of this nation. Some time after, having
thrown himself into a fever by eating peaches, he died at Newark
October 28, 1216.

HENRY III. succeeded his father John in 1216, being but nine years
old. He reigned 56 years, during the greatest part of which he was
embroiled in a civil war. He founded the house of converts, and an
hospital, in Oxford, and died at St. Edmundsbury in 1272.
EDWARD I. though in the Holy Land when his father died, yet
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