EDWARD JI

King of England, born at Carnarvon Castle in 1284, and the first English Prince of Wales, succeeded his father, Edward I, in 1307. He was of an agreeable figure and mild disposition, but indolent and fond of pleasure. After marching as far as Cumnock, in Ayrshire, with the army collected by his father, he returned, dismi ed his troops, and abandoned himself entirely to amusements. His weakne for a clever but di olute young Gascon, Piers Gaveston, on whom he heaped honours, without limit, roused the nobles to rebellion. Gaveston was captured in Scar borough Castle, and executed as a public enemy on 19th June, 1312. Two years after this, Edward a embled an immense army to check the progre of Robert Bruce, but was completely defeated at Bannock burn. In 1322 he made another expedition against Scotland, but without achieving anything important. The king’s fondne for another favourite, Hugh le Despenser, had made a number of malcontents, and Queen Isabella, making a visit te France, entered into a correspondence with the exiles there, and formed an a ociation of all hostile to the king. Aided by a force from the Count of Hainault, she landed in Suffolk in 1326. Her army was completely succe ful. The Despensers, father and son, were captured and executed, and the king was taken prisoner and confined in Kenilworth, and ultimately tn Berkeley Castle, where he was murdered 21st Sept., 1327.