nobles, who were vassals or neighbours of France, and that he might largely subsidize these allies, obtained, by a vote in parliament, one-eighth of the moveables of the cities and boroughs, and a tenth of tbe rest of the laity. From the clergy he demanded a fifth, which they refused, under the plea that in the previous year Pope Boniface the Eighth published a bull, forbidding the clergy to grant the revenues of their benefices to laymen, without the consent of the Holy See. Annoyed at this refusal, and finding the clergy resolute, he promptly outlawed them, and seized upon all their lay fees, goods, and chattels. This bold step, such as no previous King had dared to take, speedily induced them to seek the favour of their sovereign, by granting him, as fines and fees, more than he had previously asked. Finding these sums, considerable as they were, insufficient for his purpose, Edward resorted toloans, fees,fines, seizures, and every conceivable device to obtain his end. This stretch of tho royal prerogatives so exasperated the nation, that meetings were held, and preparations made for resistance. And when, at length, he had raised two armies, one to be commanded by himself in Flanders and the other to make a powerful diversion in Guienne, the nobles objected to serve in the latter, because it would not be headed by the King in person. This so annoyed Edward, that ho threatened to deprive them of their lands ; but they declared their lands were not at the disposal of the crown, and Bigod, Ear] of Norfolk and Marshal of England, told Edward to his face, he would only serve as his office obliged him, by leading the vanguard under the King. This so enraged Edward, that addressing Bigod, he passionately exclaimed, "By the eternal God! sir Earl! you shall either go or be hanged !" " By the eternal God! sir King!" retorted the Earl, "I will neither go nor be hanged !" Bigod immediately withdrew from court in disgust, and in the absence of the King raised a commotion against the extortions of the crown, effected a league with the leading earls, barons, and citizens, and ultimately compelled the reluctant Edward to invest in the people the sole right of raising^ the supplies, one of the greatest concessions hitherto obtained from the crown. Edward at length embarked for Flanders, with an army fifteen thousand strong. His plan was to concentrate the forces of his allies in Flanders, and march at once against the capital of France ; but in this he was frustrated by the lateness of the season, the coolness of bis allies, the opposition of their subjects, and the non-appearance of forces for which he had paid largely to the King of the Romans and others. Philip's position was critical : true he had invaded 1·landers with considerable success, but on Edward's arrival he found it expedient to precipitately retreat into France, where he awaited the result in great anxiety : thus both monarchs being disposed to a temporary peace, they agreed to a short truce, and consented to refer their differences to the equity of the Pope, not as a pontiff, but as a private arbitrator, selected by themselves. This agreement ratified, Edward hastily returned to lead his army against the Scotch patriots, who, during his absence, had again broke out in insurrection. Tins insurrection was headed by William Wallace, an individual who had risen from the ranks of obscurity, and whose name, in conjunction with that of Robert Bruce, grandson of him who competed with Baliol, has been rendered familiar to the most unlearned by the poet Burns, in his immortal lines commencing " Scots wlta ha'e wi* Wallace bled." This Wallace, it appears, although an unflinching patriot, was a great scoundrel, After committing murder he fled from justice to the mountain fastness, where, joined by a set of lawless desperadoes, he lived by nocturnal pillage, till a fortunate encounter, in which William Ileslop, the Sheriff of Lanarkshire, and several others were slain, gave celebrity to his name, when he concentrated his forces with those of other outlaws and robbers, raised the standard of national independence, and after taking several castles, won the battle of Stirling, drove the