Eth%ard having now taken the sceptre into his own hands, began his reign by correcting the disorders and supores,ing the numerous gangs of robbers, which had increased to an alarming degree during the convulsions of the former reign, and the lawless administration of :\lortimer. He then directed his attention to Scotland, which was again involved in a civil war by the death of Robert 1. and the pretensions of Edward Ballot to the croi‘n. David Bruce was only seven years of age whLii his father died; and he was soon after deprived of his able guardian, Randolph, Earl of Murray. The loss of oils great warrior and statesman would have been felt in the proudest days of the Scottish monarchy ; but in the present distracted state of the kingdom, it was a death-blow to the cause which he supported; and Ballot, by the assistance of Edward, was raised to the throne. His reign, however, was hut of short continu ance. His tame subjection to England excited the ge neral indignation of the Scots; and Edward, with all his power, found himself unable to subdue the spirit of that warlike people. But his attention was soon drawn off to more important conquests.
Philip the Fair left three sons, Louis Hutin, Philip the Long, and Charles the Fair, who were all succes sively kings of France, but who all died without leav ing any male heirs; and one daughter, Isabella Queen of England. On the death of Charles, the male succes sion to the throne devolved upon Philip de Valois, Charles's cousin-german. Edward, however, whose ambitious mind was always alive to every prospect of aggrandisement, laid claim to the crown of that king dom in right of his mother; but, as the title of Philip had been universally acknowledged by the French na tion, he did not think proper to insist in his pretensions at present, and probably would never have farther thought of them, had not some circumstances occurred which kindled a quarrel between the two sovereigns.
Robert d'Artois, who was descended from the blood royal of France, and was married to Philip's sister, had been deprived of the county of Artois by Philip the Fair, and in attempting to recover it by forgery, was detected, and obliged to fly the kingdom. He found refuge and protection in the court of England, and, being a man of abilities, was soon admitted into the councils and confidence of the king. This excited the resentment of the French monarch, who had also given serious cause of complaint to Edward, by protecting the exiled David Bruce, and encouraging the Scots in all their struggles for independence. Mutual threatenings and recriminations soon led to open hostility. Ed ward, at an immense expeuce, had formed alliances in the Low Cnuntries, and on the frontiers of Germany; but it was difficult to bring so many petty sovereigns to act with union and determination. Ile was at last, however, enabled to cppear in France with an army of 50.1.00 men. Philip opposed 111111 with a force double its strength; but instead of coming to any decisive ac tion, they merely encamped in face of each other, and, after sumo mutual bravados, Edward was compelled by his exhausted finances to retire into Flanders, and dis band his army.
The debts which he incurred in this fruitless expe dition, and his preparations for another campaign, obli ged him to have recourse to parliament for an extraor dinary supply. This was granted upon condition of his confirming the two charters, and the privileges of boroughs, and of remedying some lesser abuses. But as Edward had now assumed the title of King of France, and had quartered the arms of France with those of England in his seals and ensigns, the parliament thought it necessary also to declare that they owed him no obe dience as King of France ; and that, whatever be the issue of his present enterprize, the two kingdoms must for ever remain distinct and independent. Ha ving equipped a fleet of 250 sail, the king again em barked for the continent ; but was met off the Flemish coast by the French fleet, consisting of 400 ships, man ned with 40,000 seamen. The action was begun by the English, who had gained the wind of the enemy. It was long and fiercely contested; but the Flemings, having descried the battle from their shores, issued from their harbours with a considerable force, and decided the day in favour of Edward. The French in this en gagement lost 230 ships and 30,000 men. But this success was followed by no event of importance on shore. Edward took the field with 100,000 men, but was foil ed in an attempt upon Tournay ; and the only conse quence of all his mighty preparations was a truce for twelve months. Disappointed at the unsuccessful issue of his plans, and harassed and affronted by his nume rous creditors, Edward returned to England discontent ed with himself and with all around him. He nnw vented his ill-humour upon his own subjects. Finding, on his arrival, the Tower of London negligently guard ed, he imprisoned the constable and all his officers.. He then dismissed and punished the officers of the revenue. He displaced and imprisoned the bishops of Chichester and Lichfield, his chancellor and treasurer ; as also the keeper of the privy seal, the chief justice, and the may or of London. Stratford, Archbishop of Canterbury, who had been entrusted with collecting the taxes, fell also under his displeasure; but that prelate being abroad, escaped the immediate effects of his resentment. He was no sooner, however, informed of the king's indignation, than he resolved to maintain the pi ivileges of his charac ter. He issued a general sentence of excommunication against all who should exercise any violence on the per sons or the goods of clergymen, and even wrote to Ed ward that the royal authority was subordinate to the apostolic dignity. The king sought to humble the pri. mate, and, as a mark of disrespect and resentment, sent him no summons to attend the next parliament. Strat ford was not discouraged, but repaired to the parlia ment-house, arrayed in his pontifical robes, and de manded admittance as the first peer of the realm. He was refused for two days, but was at last allowed to take his scat, and was reconciled to the king.