Indolence and attachment to favourites were the great 'blemishes in the character of this monarch and from these sprung all his misfortunes. He was of an agree able figure ; mild, gentle, and inoffensive in his disposi tions; unsuspicious in his confidence, and ardent in his friendship; and was, in every respect, better fitted for enjoying the tranquillity and endearments of domestic life, than for bearing rule over a fierce and turbulent people.
On the deposition of Edward II. the Earl of Lancas ter was appointed by parliament the guardian of the young king's person, with a council of regency, consist ing of five prelates and seven peers; and though Alorti mer's name was not included in the number, yet he pos sessed the chief authority, and every thing was done by his influence or direction. The Scots, taking advantage of the unsettled state of England, broke into the northern counties, and carried desolation and ruin wherever they came. Young Edward, at the head of a numerous army, marched to the frontiers to oppose them. But the enemy were commanded by the celebrated .warriors, the Earl of Murray and Lord Douglas, who knowing their infe riority in numbers, eluded all his pursuits, yet conti nued their depredations. Edward at last found them en camped on the southern banks of the Were; but the position had been chosen with such judgment, that he found it impracticable to attack them with any prospect of success. They afterwards moved farther up the ri ver, still preserving, however, the advantage of the ground. Here Edward followed them, and, burning with a passion for military glory, insisted upon attack ing them at all hazards; but he was over-ruled by Mor timer, who trusted that necessity would oblige the enemy to change their situation, and thus offer them a more easy victory. But this delay had nearly proved fatal to Ed ward. Douglas, with 200 chosen followers, secretly en tered the English camp in the night-time, and penetra ting to the royal tent, would have carried off or killed the young monarch, had not his attendants, suddenly awaking, made such resistance as allowed him time to escape. His chaplain and chamberlain both fell by the hand 'of Douglas, who, disappointed in his object, fought his way back through a host of foes to the Scot tish camp. On the ensuing night the Scots decamped, and before morning had got so far the start of the Eng lish, as rendered all pursuit unavailing. Edward, it is
said, wept bitterly when he heard of the enemy's escape; and returned to London highly incensed against Morti mer for preventing his attack upon the Scottish camp.
This nobleman, having in a manner assumed the sovereign power, treated the regency with the utmost neglect. He never consulted them on any public mea sure ; affected the state and dignity of a sovereign prince ; and was always surtounded with an armed force. He was sensible of the general hatred in which he was held, and endeavoured to confirm his power, by' securing peace abroad, and destroying his enemies at home. He entered into a treaty with the King of Scot land, in which it was stipulated that the princess Jean should be married to David, the son and heir of Robert Bruce, and that, upon Robert's paying 30,000 marks, the English parliament should acknowledge the inde pendence of Scotland. He then procured the execution of the Earl of Kent, and the imprisonment of the Earl of Lancaster, under a pretence of their having been en gaged in a conspiracy to restore the late king, whom they supposed to be alive. The peace with Scotland dis appointed the hopes of the nation, and spread universal discontent ; and the outrages against the princes of the blood opened the eyes of the young king to the danger of his situation. lie felt also the bondage in which he was held by his insolent minister, and longing to be free, he secretly communicated his wishes to Lord Mon tacute, who engaged several other noblemen to join hint in delivering the king and kingdom from the tyranny of Mortimer. The queen-dowager and her lover resi ded in the castle of Nottingham. But as the place was strictly guarded, and the keys of the gates were every evening carried to the queen, the conspirators were ad mitted through a subtel raneous passage by the gover nor. They seized upon 'Mortimer before he thought of his danger; and, hurrying- him before the parliament, which was then sitting, he was condemned to death lor hi, many crimes and misdemeanors, nithout being allowed to plead in his defence. 11e was hanged upon a gibbet at hones near London; and Isabella was timd fur life to the castle of Risings, with a pension 01 4000/. a year.