em security; allowed them a jury on trials,
consisting half of natives, half of foreigners; and appointed them a
justiciary in London for their protection. But notwithstanding this
seeming attention to foreign merchants, Edward did not free them from
the cruel hardship of making one answerable for the debts, and even for
the crimes of another, that came from the same country.[**]

* Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. i. p. 137.

** Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. i. p. 146.

We read of such practices among the present barbarous nations. The
king also imposed on them a duty of two shillings on each tun of wine
imported, over and above the old duty; and forty pence on each sack of
wool exported besides half a mark, the former duty.[*]

In the year 1303, the exchequer was robbed, and of no less a sum than
one hundred thousand pounds, as is pretended.[**] The abbot and monks of
Westminster were indicted for this robbery, but acquitted. It does
not appear that the king ever discovered the criminals with certainty,
though his indignation fell on the society of Lombard merchants,
particularly the Frescobaldi, very opulent Florentines.

The pope having in 1307 collected much money in England, the king
enjoined the nuncio not to export it in specie but in bills of
exchange;[***] a proof that commerce was but ill understood at that
time.

* Rymer, vol. iv. p. 361. It is the charter of Edward I.
which is there confirmed by Edward III.

** Rymer, vol. ii. p. 930.

*** Rymer, vol. ii. p. 1092.

Edward had by his first wife, Eleanor of Castile, four sons; but Edward,
his heir and successor, was the only one that survived him. She also
bore him eleven daughters, most of whom died in their infancy: of the
surviving, Joan was married first to the earl of Glocester, and after
his death to Ralph de Monthermer: Margaret espoused John, duke of
Brabant: Elizabeth espoused first John, earl of Holland, and afterwards
the earl of Hereford: Mary was a nun at Ambresbury. He had by his second
wife, Margaret of France, two sons and a daughter; Thomas, created earl
of Norfolk and mareschal of England; and Edmund, who was created earl of
Kent by his brother when king. The princess died in her infancy.

CHAPTER XIV.

[Illustration: 1_197_edward2.jpg EDWARD II.]

EDWARD II.

{1307.} The prepossessions entertained in favor of young Edward, kept
the English from being fully sensible of th