complaining of the gross misconduct of his wife, was dispatched to Lord Jiadlesmere, who, instead of endeavouring to bring about a conciliation, had the boldness and indiscretion to write a very insolent letter to the Queen, expressing his hearty approval of all what his lady had done. This second insult increased the indignation of Isabella : she felt that Lord Badlesmere dared not have offered it, but for his being one of the confederated barons, and as neither Earl Lancaster, nor any of his party, offered her either condolence or apology, she resolved to be revenged upon them all. With this view she told Edward that now was the time for him to free himself from the power of the barons. The King hesitated, and declared the attempt would be futile. "Then you know not your power," answered the Queen. " But the whole nation is against me," said Edward. "True," replied Isabella; "but the people, almost to a man, would rise to avenge the wrong offered to their Queen." " ι or that purpose, I doubtless could raise powerful forces," rejoined Edward. " And," interrupted the Queen, " after besieging Leeds Castle, turn these same forces against Lancaster, and bow the confederate barons to the dust. Do this with promptitude and energy, and you ensure victory." " l!y the ) lessed Virgin ! the scheme is an excellent one," exclaimed Edward. " But still it might, perhaps, be well to afford the barons an opportunity to compromise before putting it in execution." "No temporising," urged the Queen, who was burning to be revenged, "No delays, or you fail in your purpose." This advice so well pleased Edward, that he immediately issued orders for levying troope ; and to strengthen his cause, announced by public proclamation, that he took up arms, not against his subjects, but to chastise Lord and Lady Hadlesmere, the latter for grossly insulting his beloved consort, Isabella, Queen of England, and denying her admittance, on a cold rainy night, into her own castle of Leeds ; and the former, for having written an offensive letter to the Queen, approving of his wife's unjustifiable conduct. This appeal aroused the chivalrous feelings of the nation ; in fact, at this period, the Queen was so generally beloved, that to avenge the indignity offered to her royal personage, earls, barons, and others, flocked to the royal standard from all parts of the kingdom, and especially from London. Edward was thus soon in a position to demand and enforce redress. But when he appeared with a powerful army under the walls of the castle of Leeds, Walter Colepepper, the commander of the garrison, bid him defiance, and Lady Badlesmere treated his threats with contempt, as she fully expected the confederate barons would come to her assistance. However, in this she was mistaken : Earl Lancaster and the lords of the marches viewed the quarrel as a private one, quite disapproved of the conduct of Lady Badlesmere, and moreover, were so anxious not to offend the Queen, that they prevented Lord Badlcsmcro from hastening to his wife's assistance. Consequently, after a short and sharp siege, Edward took the castle, hanged t olepepper and eleven of hia knights before the castle gates, sent the other prisoners to various gaols, and committed Lady liadlesmere and her female attendants to confinement in the Tower of London. Thus far successful, Edward communicated with his friends in all parts of the kingdom ; recalled the two Spencers from banishment, and as their counsel completely accorded with the advice previously given by the Queen, to effect the ruin of the confederate barons, by the army ostensibly raised for the sole object of reducing the castle of Leeds, struck Lancaster and his friends with consternation, by suddenly besieging their strongholds with such unexpected promptitude and energy, as to overcome all resistance. In this emergency, the confederate barons implored Isabella to use her influence with the King in their favour ; but as Eadlesmere was one of their association, she gave them a disdainful