of, he fet fail for Sicily, where he arrived in safety, and there first heard the news of the king his father's death, as well as that of his own fon John, a boy of fix years of age. He bore the last with refignation, but appeared extremely afflicted at the death of his father; at which, when the king of Sicily expreffed his furprize, he obferved that the death of a fon was a lofs which he might hope to repair, but that of a father was a lofs irreparable.

Though the death of the king happened while the fucceffor was fo far from home, yet measures had been fo well taken, that the crown was transferred with the greatest tranquility. The high character acquired by the prince, during the late commotions, had procured him the esteem and affection of all ranks of men; and, instead of attempting to oppose, their whole wifh was to fee him once more returning in triumph. But the prince, fenfible of the quiet state of the kingdom, did not feem in much haste to take poffeffion of the throne; and he spent near a year in France, before he made his appearance in England. The honours he, received from the great upon the continent; and the acclamations, with which he was every where attended by the people, were too alluring

B 3

luring to a young mind to be fuddenly relinquifhed he was even tempted to exhibit proofs of his bravery in a tournament, to which he was invited by the count de Chalons, who defied him to a trial of his fkill. Impreffed with high ideas of the chivalry of the times, he accepted the challenge; and propofed, with his knights, to hold the field against all that would enter the lifts. His ufual good fortune attended him; and his fuccefs had like to have converted a trial of fkill into a matter of bloody contention. The count de Chalons, being enraged at being foiled, made a ferious attack upon the English, in which fome blood was idly fpilt; but Edward and his knights ftill maintained the fuperiority. From Chalons Edward proceeded to Paris, where he was magnificently entertained by Philip, king of France, to whom he did homage for the territories the kings of England had poffeffed in that kingdom. From Paris he fet out for Gafcony, to curb the infolence of Gafton, count Bearne, who had rebelled in his abfence. From thence he paffed through Montreuil, where he accommodated fome differences between the English and Flemings. At length, after various battles, dangers, and fatigues, he arrived in his native dominions,

amidst the loud acclamations of his people, and was folemnly crowned at Westminster by the archbishop of Canterbury. The joy of all ranks upon this occafion was inexpreffible; the feasting continued a whole fortnight, at the king's expence; five hundred horfes were turned loofe, as the property of those who could catch them. The king of Scotland, with feveral other princes, graced the folemnity; and did homage for those territories. they held under the English crown. Nothing, therefore, remained to complete the felicity of the people but the continuance of such profperity; and this they had every reason to expect from the king's juftice, his ceconomy, and his prudence.

As Edward was now come to an undisputed throne, the oppofite interests were proportionably feeble. The barons were exhausted by long mutual diffenfions: the clergy were divided in their interefts, and agreed only in one point, to hate the pope, who had for fome time drained them, with impunity: the people, by fome infurrections against the convents, appear to have hated the clergy with equal animofity. Thefe difagreeing orders only. concurred in one point, that of esteeming and reverencing the king. In fuch a conjuncture,

ceived was the more dangerous, as having been inflicted with a poifoned dagger; and it foon began to exhibit fome symptoms that appeared fatal. He therefore expected his fate with great intrepidity, and made his will, contented to die in a caufe which he was affured would procure him endless felicity. But his ufual good fortune prevailed; an English furgeon of extraordinary skill, by making deep incifions, and cutting away the mortified parts, completed the cure, and reftored him to health in little more than a fortnight. A recovery fo unexpected, was confidered by the fuperftitious army as miraculous; nor were there wanting fome, who alledged that he owed his fafety to the piety of Eleanora his wife, who fucked the poison from the wound to fave his life, at the hazard of her own. However this be, it is probable that the perfonal danger he incurred by continuing the war in Palestine, might induce him more readily to listen to terms of accommodation, which were proposed foon after by the foldan of Babylon. He received that monarch's ambaffadors in a very honourable manner, and concluded a truce with him for ten years, ten weeks, and ten days. Having thus fettled the affairs of Paleftine, in the best manner they would admit

of,

of, he fet fail for Sicily, where he arrived in safety, and there first heard the news of the king his father's death, as well as that of his own fon John, a boy of fix years of age. He bore the last with refignation, but appeared extremely afflicted at the death of his father; at which, when the king of Sicily expreffed his furprize, he obferved that the death of a fon was a lofs which he might hope to repair, but that of a father was a lofs irreparable.

Though the death of the king happened while the fucceffor was fo far from home, yet measures had been fo well taken, that the crown was transferred with the greatest tranquility. The high character acquired by the prince, during the late commotions, had procured him the esteem and affection of all ranks of men; and, instead of attempting to oppose, their whole wifh was to fee him once more returning in triumph. But the prince, fenfible of the quiet ftate of the kingdom, did not feem in much hafte to take poffeffion of the throne; and he spent near a year in France, before he made his appearance in England. The honours he received from the great upon the continent; and the acclamations, with which he was every where attended by the people, were too alB 3 luring