Young Edward; who had been invested with the sove reignty of the conquered provinces, under the title of the principality of Aquitaine, had involved himself in debt, by an expedition which he undertook for the restoration of Peter the Cruel to the throne of Castile, and was tin der the necessity of imposing a heavy tax upon his new subjects. This measure excited general discontent, and some of the nobles even carried their complaints to the King of France. Charles considering this a favourable opportunity of reviving his claim of lord paramount in these provinces, cited the Prince of Wales to appear at Paris, to justify his conduct towards his vassals. The Prince answered that he would come to Paris, but it should be at the head of 60,000 warriors. Hostilities im mediately commenced, and the French, aided by the fa vourable disposition of the inhabitants, and no longer op posed by the abilities of the Black Prince, who was oblig ed, on account of his infirm state of health, to return to England, made such progress in their conquests, that they soon regained almost all they had lost by the treaty of Bretigni. Calais, with Bourdeaux and Bayonne, alone remained to Edward of all his vast possessions on the continent.
The Prince of Wales, after a lingering consumption, died at Westminster in the 46th year of his age ; and his father survived him only about a twelvemonth. He died at Kew in Sunny, in the 65th year of his age, and 51 st of his reign. The reign of Edward Ili. is one of the longest and most glot ious in the annals of England. The discontents and dissensions occasioned by the weakness of his predecessor, were forgotten in the domestic tran quillity which succeeded. He curbed the licentious spirits of the nobles, by the prudence and vigour of his administration ; and gained their affections by his affabi lity and munificence. He drained the kingdom, how ever, of its wealth and population, by his foreign wars, which, though they added to his own fame and aggran dizement, were of no real utility to his people. His va lour and military talents were only outshone by those of his son, whose name, while it spread terror among his enemies, was hailed among his countrymen with the warmest feelings of enthusiasm and affection. The war like achievements of young Edward were the least of his praise. He had won all hearts by his affability, kind ness, and moderation; and the many eminent virtues for he was distinguished, would have rendered him an ornament. to human nature in any country or age. England had long to regret her loss, in the distur bances and insurrections which distracted the succeed ing reigns.
Richard II. the son of the Black Prince, ascended the throne of his grandfather, when only eleven years of age. The administration of the government, which had been in a great measure intrusted by Edward, du ring his old age, to his second son the Duke of Lan caster, was still retained by that prince, who was sup ported by the authority of his two brothers, the Dukes of York and Gloucester. As Edward had fixed upon no plan of government during the minority of his grand son, a council of nine peers was appointed by parlia ment, with full powers to conduct the business of the state for one year. The administration was carried on in the king's name ; but the sovereign authority virtu ally resided in his uncles. These princes kept in obe dience the turbulent barons, who were always ready to take advantage of any change in the government, and their opposite characters also served as a check upon each other. Lancaster was reserved and unambitious ; York was weak and indolent ; but Gloucester possessed considerable abilities, Was bold and enterprising, and had besides gained the favour of the people. Richard himself was of a violent temper, and, though young and inexperienced, could not brook the subjection in which he was kept. lie was immoderate in his expellees and
pleasures; and often neglected the most important af fairs, that he might indulge in indolence or amusement. The wars which his grandfather had left him to finish, had exhausted the treasury, and impoverished his peo ple; 'and the parliament, in order to relieve his exigen cies, had recourse to a poll•tax, which was the cause of much dis(!:ontent. They imposed three groats a head upon every male and female above fifteen years of age. This new and oppressive measure Met with universal opposition among the lower classes; and their murmurs and complaints were heightened by the harangues of a seditious preacher Called Ball, who inculcated the doc trine of liberty and equality, and inveighed, against the insolence and injustice of their rulers. Their minds were thus prepared for resistance, and it required only a spark to kindle them into a flame.
This tax was farmed out to tax-gatherers, and was le vied with great rigour. One of these men, having de manded payment for a blacksmith's daughter, whom her father asserted to be below the age, was proceeding to indecent familiarities in order to ascertain the fact, when the father, enraged at his insolence, dashed out his brains with his hammer. This resolute action gave courage to his neighbours, and they immediately flew to arms. The spirit of sedition spread rapidly through the kingdom ; and, before the government were aware, 100,000 •insurgents were assembled upon Blackheath, demanding a redress of grievances. Their leaders had assumed the feigned names of Wat Tyler, Jack Straw, ST.e. and entering the city, burned the Duke of Lancas ter's palace, murdered all the gentry or nobility that fell into their hands, particularly lawyers and attornies, and pillaged the warehouses of the rich merchants. At length the king invited them to a conference, that he might know their demands. They required a gene ref pardon; the abolition of slavery ; freedom of com merce in market towns, without toll or impost ; a fixed rent on lands, instead of the services due by vd lenage. These reasonable requests were complied with, and charters to that purpose were immediately granted. But while the rebels were thus satisfied in one quarter, another party of them under \Vat Tyler had entered the Tower, and murdered the Primate, Sir Robert Hales the treasurer, and some others of the nobility. The king met this tumultuous band in Smithfield, and en tered into a conference with their leader. But who had grown hold with success, behaved with such insolence towards his Majesty, that Walworth, the mayor of London, enraged at his presumption, felled him to the ground with his mace, when he was instantly dis patched by others of the king's attendants. The mob seeing their leader fall, were about to sacrifice the king and all his retinue to their resentment, when Richard advanced to them with an intrepid counte nance, and asked them, " What, my good people, is the meaning of this disorder ? Are you concerned at the loss of your leader? I am your king. Follow me, and I will be your leader." The populace, overawed by his manner, followed him as if mechanically. He led them out of the city into the fields, and there peaceably dis missed them with the same charters that had been grant ed to their friends. The barons, hearing of the king's danger, soon after joined him with all their retainers, when he found himself at the head of an army that de fied all opposition. The concessions that had been made to his people were then revoked by parliament ; and several of the ringleaders of the mob were seized, and severely punished.