** Leland's Coll. vol. i. p. 668.

Thus perished Thomas, earl of Lancaster, prince of the blood, and one of
the most potent barons that had ever been in England. His public conduct
sufficiently discovers the violence and turbulence of his character:
his private deportment appears not to have been more innocent: and his
hypocritical devotion, by which he gained the favor of the monks and
populace, will rather be regarded as an aggravation than an alleviation
of his guilt. Badlesmere, Giffard, Barret, Cheyney, Fleming, and about
eighteen of the most notorious offenders, were afterwards condemned by
a legal trial, and were executed. Many were thrown into prison: others
made their escape beyond sea: some of the king's servants were rewarded
from the forfeitures: Harcla received for his services the earldom of
Carlisle, and a large estate, which he soon after forfeited with his
life, for a treasonable correspondence with the king of Scotland. But
the greater part of those vast escheats were seized by young Spenser,
whose rapacity was insatiable. Many of the barons of the king's party
were disgusted with this partial division of the spoils: the envy
against Spenser rose higher than ever: the usual insolence of his
temper, inflamed by success, impelled him to commit many acts of
violence: the people, who always hated him, made him still more the
object of aversion: all the relations of the attainted barons and
gentlemen secretly vowed revenge: and though tranquillity was in
appearance restored to the kingdom, the general contempt of the king,
and odium against Spenser, bred dangerous humors, the source of future
revolutions and convulsions.

In this situation, no success could be expected from foreign wars; and
Edward, after making one more fruitless attempt against Scotland, whence
he retreated with dishonor, found it necessary to terminate hostilities
with that kingdom, by a truce of thirteen years.[*] Robert, though his
title to the crown was not acknowledged in the treaty, was satisfied
with insuring his possession of it during so long a time. He had
repelled with gallantry all the attacks of England: he had carried war
both into that kingdom and into Ireland: he had rejected with disdain
the pope's authority, who pretended to impose his commands upon him,
and oblige him to make peace with his enemies: his throne was firmly
established, as well in the affections of his subjects, as by force of
arms: yet there nat