Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-03

that sort before he finally set foot on his
native land. Shortly after his return he
published the Statutes of Westminster"
crude arrangement of the laws of the
time and in 1877 was obliged to proceed in
person to quell an insurrection among the
Welsh. The Welsh revolted again In 1880,
and in 1882 Edward added Wales to the
crown. King Edward was always having
trouble in keeping the finances OF his king
dom straight, and in 1888 summoned repre-
sentatives of the shires, boroughs and the
church to sit in council on financial mat
ters. This may be termed the first Parlia-
ment of England, though the first actual
Parliament was not summoned until 1885.
In 1890 Queen Eleanor died, and in 1899
Edward married Margaret, sister OF Philip
" of France. Meanwhile the Scotch had
implanted a sharp sting in Edwards side.
A Whirl In scotland.
After he had assisted Baliol to mount the
Scotch throne the latter had acknowledged
him as lord paramount, but when he was
preparing for his abortive attempt to in
wade France Baliol had refused him any as
sistance. Edward Immediately abandoned
his undertaking against France and invaded
Scotland in 1896 He captured the town of
Berwick. defeated the Scotch at Dunbar and
took half dozen strong castles Baliol was
made prisoner and sent to the tower. After
Edwards return Wallace stirred up more
trouble in Scotland and Edward set out
against him, but was defeated by the Scotch
warrior at Stirling bridge. This only served
to spur Edward on to greater efforts, how
ever, and the following year he invaded
Scotland again and scored victory over
his northern neighbors at Falkirk. Scot
In IN n or l.
fed, however, despite the success of the
English kings armed tours and obstinately
insisted on Edward paying them visits in
1893, 1900 and 1901. In 1904 the English
captured Wallace and he was executed at
the tower. Edward now rested quietly until
1907, when the murder of Comyns by Robert
Bruce compelled him to again take the field
He was suffering from age and intirmities
but insisted on leading his troops In person
The rigors of the march were too much for
him. though, and on the fifth day from Lon
don he expired in his camp. His last re-
quest was that his body be borne before the
army until his enemies were conquered, but
for some reason this was not done.
Edward II was born in 1884 and was
created prince OF Wales by his father, Ed
ward /, in 1901, and was thus the first heir
apparent to the throne of England to wear
this title. He was the direct opposite OF
his father in every respect. lie was weak
indolent and faithless, totally incompetent
to fill the duties of the position that fate
had ordained for him. After his accession
in 1907 he married the daughter of Philip
IL, and during his absence from England
left his fayorite Piers Gaveston, in charge
OF its affairs. This brought down upon him
the ire Of the high officers of state and the
mobiles, who demanded the expulsion OF
Gaveston. Edward clung TO his favorte.
with a few slight interruptions, until 1872,
now became troublesome in Scotland and
Edward marched against him with an army
100, 900 strong, only TO meet with a most
humiliating defeat at Bannockburn, In 1919
he again marched against Scotland and laid
siege to Berwick, but raised the siege, con-
cluded a two years truce with Bruce and
returned to his capital.
After his troubles with the earl of Ian
caster, which terminated in the execution
OF the earl in 1929, he sent his wife, Queen
Isabella, on a mission to France, but when
1t was concluded she refused to return TO
him, alleging illtreatment. While in
France Isabella listened with a willing ear
to the intrigues OF Roger Mortimer, and in
1926 landed in England TO establish her son
king. The whole country focked to her
standard. and Edward II was deposed the
same year by an act OF Parliament. A few