rteously acknowledged by the English chroniclers.

This victory was due to Edward's incompetence, as well as to the
excellent dispositions and indomitable courage of Bruce, and to "the
intolerable axes" of his men. No measures had been taken by Edward to
secure a retreat. Only one rally, at "the Bloody Fauld," is reported.
The English fought widely, their measures being laid on the strength of
a confidence which, after the skirmishes of Sunday, June 23d, they no
longer entertained. They suffered what, at Agincourt, Crecy, Poitiers,
and Verneuil, their descendants were to inflict. Horses and banners, gay
armor and chivalric trappings, were set at naught by the sperthes and
spears of infantry acting on favorable ground. From the dust and reek of
that burning day of June, Scotland emerged a people, firm in a glorious
memory. Out of weakness she was made strong, being strangely led through
paths of little promise since the day when Bruce's dagger-stroke at
Dumfries closed from him the path of returning.

EXTINCTION OF THE ORDER OF KNIGHTS TEMPLARS

BURNING OF GRAND MASTER MOLAY

A.D. 1314

F. C. WOODHOUSE H. H. MILMAN

The quarrel between Philip the Fair of France and Pope
Boniface VIII, concerning the taxation of the clergy, and
the right of nomination to vacant bishoprics within the
dominions of Philip, had far-reaching effects. It led, in
1302, to the convocation of the first properly so-called
Parliament in France, to offset the actions of the Pope, who
excommunicated the King; and also to an expedition into
Italy of a small body of French troops which made the Pope
prisoner at Agnani, but were subsequently expelled with
great loss of life. The Pope was reinstated, but died
shortly afterward from brain fever; he was succeeded by
Benedict XI, whom the King of France sought to placate, but
unsuccessfully. Within nine months Benedict died, presumably
from poison, and Philip, by his intrigues, was enabled to
secure the election to the pontificate of Bertrand de Goth,
who became pope as Clement V, and was pledged to the service
of the French King.

Philip, who had obstructed the operations of commerce by
debasing the coin of the realm to meet the exigencies of the
state, was always in want of money. His cupidity was excited
by the wealth of the order of Knights Templars, and,
emboldened by his successes over the spiritual power, he now
entered upon the career