. The library of historic characters and famous events of all nations and all ages;. al king, a typicalrepresentative in bodyand mind of the racehe ruled, and he was,therefore, to his sub-jects an object of in-tense admiration. Hewas the eldest son ofHenry IH., and wasborn at Winchester in1239. The contestsbetween his fatherand the discontentedbarons of his kingdomearly called him forthto active life, and his military and political talents proved thechief support of the tottering throne. In 1270 Edward was led by the persuasions of Louis France to make an expedition against the Saracens
. The library of historic characters and famous events of all nations and all ages;. al king, a typicalrepresentative in bodyand mind of the racehe ruled, and he was,therefore, to his sub-jects an object of in-tense admiration. Hewas the eldest son ofHenry IH., and wasborn at Winchester in1239. The contestsbetween his fatherand the discontentedbarons of his kingdomearly called him forthto active life, and his military and political talents proved thechief support of the tottering throne. In 1270 Edward was led by the persuasions of Louis France to make an expedition against the Saracens inAfrica. On his arrival at Tunis he found the French kingdead; but he himself proceeded with his forces to the HolyLand, where he signalized his valor in several actions. Suchwas the terror he excited that an assassin was employed tomurder him, who gave him a wound in the arm. A doubtfultradition relates that, upon suspicion of its being poisoned, itwas sucked by his faithful spouse Eleanor of Castile; but thosewho were present mention no such devotion. He left Pales-VI—18 273. 274 HISTORIC CHARACTERS AND FAMOUS EVENTS. tine after a stay of eighteen montlis, and was in Sicily whenhe heard of his fathers death; but his homeward journey wasdelayed by a disturbance in Guienne. Here a tournament,between Edward and the Count of Chalons, ended in a seriousaffray, in which the English knights were victors. Two yearselapsed before he reached England, when he and his queenwere crowned at Westminster in 1272. Edwards first cares, after assuming the reins of govern-ment, were to restore order and justice throughout the king-dom, to repress the violences of the great, and punish thecorruption of the judges. He prosecuted these objects withvigor, but with somewhat of an arbitrary spirit. It seemedno small part of his purpose to fill his coffers with the finesof culprits. His conduct towards the Jews was cruel in theextreme. A large number of these people had resorted toEngland after his
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjecthistory, bookyear1902
