EDWARD II., son of the preceding, was b. at Caernarvon, in 'Wales, 25th April, 1284, and in 1301, was created prince of Wales, being the first heir-apparent of the English throne who bore that title. He accompanied his father on his various expe ditions into Scotland, and on the death of the latter at Burgh-on-Sands, he led the Eng lish army as far n. as Cumnock, in Ayrshire, after which he returned to his own country. At home, E.'s conduct was contemptible. While still a youth, he had con ceived an extraordinary admiration and fondness for a Witty, clever, but dissolute creature called Piers Gaveston, the son of a Gascon knight. After he became king, there was no limit to the honors heaped on the favorite. When he went to France, in the beginning of 1308, to conclude a marriage with Isabella, daughter of Philippe V., king of France, Gaveston was left guardian of the kingdom. The nobles were indig nant, and demanded his banishment. Twice was Gaveston forced to leave England, but as often was he recalled by the weak monarch, whose love for him was sheer infat uation. At last the nobles rose in arms, besieged Gaveston in 'Scarborough castle, and having forced him to surrender, hanged him at Warwick, 19th June, 1312. Two years after this, E. invaded Scotland at the head of the greatest army ever collected in England—amounting, according to some historians, to 100,000 men. At Bannockburn, on the 24th June, 1314, he was encountered by Robert Bruce (q.v.), and defeated with immense slaughter. This victory put Scotland and England on equal terms for all time coming, and. made the notion of a military subjugation of the former country by the latter be given up. Finally, in 1319, after numerous petty successes on the part of the Scotch, E. concluded a truce with them for two years. He now exhibited again his imbecile passion for favorites. The person selected on this occasion was Hugh le Despencer. Once more the nobles rebelled, and both Hugh le Despencer and his father
were banished in July, 1321, but some months after, were recalled by E., and many of the nobles, among others, the earl of Lancaster, were beheaded in the following year Immediately after, E. invaded Scotland for the last time, and penetrated as far as Cul ross, in Fife; but having achieved no particular success, lie concluded a truce with that nation for thirteen years, and returned to England. A dispute now arose between him and Charles IV. of France, brother of his wife Isabella, in regard to the territories which he held in that country. Charles seized them, whereupon E. sent over Isabella to remonstrate, and, if possible, to effect an amicable arrangement between them. Isa bella, it would appear, despised her husband, and disliked the Despencers. Meeting at the French court many English nobles who, entertaining similar feelings, had left their country to avoid the enmity of the favorites, she was easily induced to make common cause with them against her husband and the Despencers. At the same time, she formed a connection of a criminal kind with Roger de ,Mortimer, one of the most powerful of the exiles. This of course more thoroughly involved her in the plot against Edward ; and having obtained possession of the young prince of Wales, afterwards Edward III., she embarked from Dort, in Holland, with a large body of malcontents, and landed at Orwell in Suffolk, 22d Sept., 1326. The queen and the banished nobles were soon joined by all the influential persons in England. E. fled, but was taken prisoner at Neath abbey, in Glamorganshire; the Despencers, father and son, were exe cuted; and the monarch himself, after being formally deposed, 25th Jan., 1327, was murdered in Berkeley castle, 20th Sept. of the same year. He left two sons and two daughters.