Edward II and the Scots

But the young Edward, the most thriftless king that ever sat on an English throne, had no heart for war, and disregarding his father's word, turned back from Scotland. The Scottish nobility, who had thus far remained loyal to England, resenting the cowardliness of the king, joined in increasing numbers the forces of Bruce. The latter captured one Scottish stronghold after another. Perth, Edinburgh, and Roxburgh fell into his hands, and finally, in 1314, he advanced to the siege of Stirling. Then Edward, who during these years had been displaying his incompetence as king, was shamed into action. Gathering an army of twenty thousand foot and three thousand horse from the northern shires, he advanced to the relief of Stirling. On the field of Bannockburn,' within sight of the walls of Stirling castle, the battle was fought, June 24, 1314, which won for the Scots their independence, and postponed union with England for four hundred years. In the most disgraceful defeat it ever suffered, the English army was driven southward in flight, and Robert Bruce became undisputed king of Scotland.

Misgovernment of Edward II: his Deposition

The reign of Edward II was a long-continued struggle by the barons to check the bad government of the king and his favorites. Edward, too indolent and indifferent to carry the burden of government, gave the control of affairs first into the hands of Pierre Gaveston (or Gabaston), a Gascon knight, whom he created earl of Cornwall, and invested with honors and estates. Affronted by this insult, the barons, in 1310, banded together against the favorite and set up a regency, something like that established in the Provisions of Oxford, the members of which were called the Lords Ordainers." In the conflict that ensued Edward was forced to submit and to banish Gaveston. The regency issued a body of ordinances, redressing grievances and limiting the powers of the king. At first the king assented, but later he revoked his promises and restored his favorite to power. Thereupon the lords, gathering their forces, besieged Scarborough, where Gaveston lay, and seizing the favorite, put him to death. They then reestablished the regency, with Thomas of Lancaster at its head.

Edward, though thoroughly discredited by the defeat of Bannockburn, succeeded once more in regaining his power in 1320, and turned upon Lancaster. The latter, who had totally failed as a ruler, was defeated at Boroughbridge (March, 1322), and being seized by the king, was beheaded with many others of the baronial party. Edward again revoked the ordinances and began his rule of favorites, this time with a certain Hugh Despenser, son of a justiciar who had been slain at Evesham. So insolent was the new favorite, that again the barons rose against the king.

The head of the baronial party was now a certain Roger Mortimer, an exile, who had been driven from England in 1322. He won over the queen, Isabella, and at first fought ostensibly in behalf of the son of Edward, a child of fourteen years. Around him gathered the discontented English barons. The Despensers were seized and hanged; and finally Edward himself, captured in Wales, was deposed and placed in confinement. He died in 1327, probably put to death by his keepers; and his son, Edward III, became king under the regency of Roger Mortimer .

Mortimer and the Young Edward

England never sank lower than during the four years when Isabella and Roger Mortimer governed the kingdom in the name of the young king. Mortimer made a "shameful peace with the Scots, whereby entire independence was granted them, and betrothed the daughter of Edward II to David Bruce, the son of Robert. He put down with bloody cruelty two uprisings in behalf of the deposed Edward (1329-1330). But the rule of the queen-mother and Mortimer was short lived. In 1330 the young Edward, then eighteen years old, asserted his right, and seizing Mortimer, had him honorably tried and executed. Thereupon Edward himself became king.