[Illustration:  CONQUEST OF WALES.]

CHAPTER XIII.

FURTHER DISAGREEMENTS RECORDED:  ILLUSTRATING THE AMIABILITY OF THE JEW AND THE PERVERSITY OF THE SCOT.

In 1278 the Jews, to the number of two hundred and eighty, were hanged for having in their possession clipped coins.  Shortly afterwards all the Jews in England were imprisoned.  Whenever times were hard the Jews were imprisoned, and on one job lot alone twelve thousand pounds were realized in ransom.  And still the Jews are not yet considered as among the redeemed.  In 1290 they were all banished from the kingdom and their property seized by the crown.  This seizure of real estate turned the attention of the Jews to the use of diamonds as an investment.  For four hundred years the Jews were not permitted to return to England.

Scotch wars were kept up during the rest of Edward’s reign; but in 1291, with great reluctance, Scotland submitted, and Baliol, whose trouble with Bruce had been settled in favor of the former, was placed upon the throne.  But the king was overbearing to Baliol, insomuch that the Scotch joined with the Normans in war with England, which resulted, in 1293, in the destruction of the Norman navy.

Philip then subpoenaed Edward, as Duke of Guienne, to show cause why he should not pay damages for the loss of the navy, which could not be replaced for less than twenty pounds, and finally wheedled Edward out of the duchy.

Philip maintained a secret understanding with Baliol, however, and Edward called a parliament, founded upon the great principle that “what concerns all should be approved by all.”  This was in 1295; and on this declaration, so far as successful government is concerned, hang all the law and the profits.

The following year Edward marched into Scotland, where he captured Baliol and sent him to France, where he died, in boundless obscurity, in 1297.  Baliol was succeeded by the brave William Wallace, who won a great battle at Stirling, but was afterwards defeated entirely at Falkirk, and in 1305 was executed in London by request.

But the Scotch called to their aid Robert Bruce, the grandson of Baliol’s competitor, and he was solemnly crowned at the Abbey of Scone.

During a successful campaign against these people Edward fell sick, and died in 1307.  He left orders for the Scottish war to be continued till that restless and courageous people were subdued.

[Illustration:  THE FRENCH KING ENTERS INTO A SECRET ALLIANCE WITH BALIOL.]

Edward was called the English Justinian; yet those acts for which he is most famous were reluctantly done because of the demands made by a determined people.

During his reign gunpowder was discovered by Roger Bacon, whereby Guy Fawkes was made possible.  Without him England would still be a slumbering fog-bank upon the shores of Time.

[Illustration:  ROGER BACON DISCOVERS GUNPOWDER.]