S OF HIS FATHER'S DEATH.]

Wales having been annexed to the crown, Edward's son was vested with its
government, and the heir-apparent has ever since been called the Prince
of Wales. It is a good position, but becomes irksome after fifty or
sixty years, it is said.

[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.