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EDWARD THE SECOND,

the sonne of Edward the first.


[Sidenote: 1307.]

[Sidenote: Continuation of _Matt. West_.]

Edward, the second of that name, the sonne of Edward the first, borne
at Carnaruan in Wales, began his reigne ouer England the seauenth day
of Iulie, in the yeare of our Lord 1307, of the world, 5273, of the
comming of the Saxons 847, after the conquest 241, about the tenth
yeare of Albert emperour of Rome, and the two and twentith of the
fourth Philip, surnamed Le Beau, as then king of France, and in the
third yeare after that Robert le Bruce had taken vpon him the crowne
and gouernement of Scotland. His fathers corpse was conueied from Burgh
vpon Sands, vnto the abbie of Waltham, there to remaine, till things
were readie for the buriall, which was appointed at Westminster.

[Sidenote: The bishop of Couentrie committed to prison.]

[Sidenote: Officers remooued.]

Within three daies after, when the lord treasurer Walter de Langton
bishop of Couentrie and Lichfield (thorough whose complaint Peers de
Gaueston had beene banished the land) was going towards Westminster, to
make preparation for the same buriall, he was vpon commandement from
the new king arrested, committed to prison, and after deliuered to the
hands of the said Peers, being then returned againe into the realme,
who sent him from castell to castell as a prisoner. His lands and
tenements were seized to the kings vse, but his mooueables were giuen
to the foresaid Peers. Walter Reignold that had beene the kings tutor
in his childhood, was then made lord treasurer, and after when the see
of Worcester was void, at the kings instance he was by the pope to that
bishoprike preferred. Also Rafe bishop of London was deposed from the
office of lord Chancellour, and Iohn Langton bishop of Chichester was
thereto restored. Likewise, the barons of the excheker were remooued,
and other put in their places. And Amerie de Valence earle of Penbroke
was discharged of the wardenship of Scotland, and Iohn de Britaine
placed in that office, whom he also made earle of Richmond.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._]

[Sidenote: Peers de Gaueston.]

[Sidenote: The yeare next insuing, the Ile of Man was taken by Robert
Bruce.]

But now concerning the demeanour of this new king, whose disordered
maners brought himselfe and manie others vnto destruction; we find that
in the beginning of his gouernement, though he was of nature giuen
to lightnesse, yet being restreined with the prudent aduertisements
of certeine of his councellors, to the end that he might shew some
likelihood of good proofe, he counterfeited a kind of grauitie, vertue
and modestie; but yet he could not throughlie be so bridled, but that
foorthwith he began to plaie diuers wanton and light parts, at the
first indeed not outragiouslie, but by little and little, and that
couertlie. For hauing reuoked againe into England his old mate the said
Peers de Gaueston, he receiued him into most high fauour, creating him
earle of Cornewall, and lord of Man, his principall secretarie, and
lord chamberlaine of the realme, through whose companie and societie he
was suddenlie so corrupted, that he burst out into most heinous vices;
for then vsing the said Peers as a procurer of his disordred dooings,
he began to haue his nobles in no regard, to set nothing by their
instructions, and to take small heed vnto the good gouernement of the
common-wealth, so that within a while, he gaue himselfe to wantonnes,
passing his time in voluptuous pleasure, and riotous excesse: and to
helpe them forward in that kind of life, the foresaid Peers, who (as
it may be thought, he had sworne to make the king to forget himselfe,
and the state, to the which he was called) furnished his court with
companies of iesters, ruffians, flattering parasites, musicians, and
other vile and naughtie ribalds, that the king might spend both daies
and nights in iesting, plaieng, blanketing, and in such other filthie
and dishonorable exercises: and moreouer, desirous to aduance those
that were like to him selfe, he procured for them honorable offices,
all which notable preferments and dignities, sith they were ill
bestowed, were rather to be accounted dishonorable than otherwise, both
to the giuer and the receiuer, sith

    Sufficiens honor est homini, cum dignus honore est,
    Qui datur indigno non est honor, est onus, imo
    Ludibrium, veluti in scena cum ludius est rex,
    Quippe honor est soli virtuti debita merces.

[Sidenote: A parlement at Northampton.]

[Sidenote: Peers de Gaueston maried.]

About the thirteenth day of October, a parlement was holden at
Northampton, in the which it was ordeined by the kings appointment,
that the coine of his father king Edward should be still currant,
notwithstanding the basenesse thereof, as some reputed it, and
therefore it was mooued in the parlement to haue it disanulled. [pilcrow]
Also, order was taken for the buriall of his fathers corpse, which
was solemnelie conueied from Waltham, and brought to Westminster the
seauen and twentith day of October following, where with all funerall
pompe it was interred. Moreouer, at the same parlement, a marriage was
concluded betwixt the earle of Cornewall Peers de Gaueston, and the
daughter of Gilbert de Clare earle of Glocester, which he had by his
wife the countesse Ioane de Acres the kings sister, which marriage was
solemnized on All hallowes day next insuing.

[Sidenote: The K. passeth ouer into France.]

[Sidenote: 1308.]

[Sidenote: He was married the 28 of Februarie, as _Tho. de la More_
writeth.]

[Sidenote: The king and queene crowned.]

[Sidenote: _Tho. Walsin._]

[Sidenote: Sir Iohn Blackwell smoothered and thrust to death.
Continuation of _N. Triuet._]

About the two and twentith of Ianuarie, the king sailed ouer