Edward II, his father,
was a weak prince, governed wholly by favourites, and unable to hold in
check the turbulent barons. His queen, Isabella of France, sister of
the French king, a haughty and ambitious woman, determined to snatch the
reins of power from the indolent hands of her husband, and after a
visit to her brother she returned with an army from Hainault in order to
dethrone him. She was accompanied by her eldest son, and after a short
struggle the king was dethroned. He had but few friends, and men thought
that under the young Edward, who had already given promise of virtue and
wisdom, some order might be introduced into the realm. He was crowned
Edward III, thus, at the early age of fifteen, usurping the throne of
his father. The real power, however, remained with Isabella, who was
president of the council of regency, and who, in her turn, was governed
by her favourite Mortimer. England soon found that the change which had
been made was far from beneficial. The government was by turns weak
and oppressive. The employment of foreign troops was regarded with
the greatest hostility by the people, and the insolence of Mortimer
alienated the great barons. Finally, the murder of the dethroned king
excited throughout the kingdom a feeling of horror and loathing against
the queen.

"All this feeling, however, was confined to her, Edward, who was but a
puppet in her hands, being regarded with affection and pity. Soon after
his succession the young king was married to our queen, Philippa of
Hainault, who is as good as she is beautiful, and who is loved from one
end of the kingdom to the other. I can tell you, the city was a sight
to see when she entered with the king. Such pageants and rejoicing
were never known. They were so young, he not yet sixteen, and she but
fourteen, and yet to bear on their shoulders the weight of the state. A
braver looking lad and a fairer girl mine eyes never looked on. It was
soon after this that the events arose which led to the war with France,
but this is too long a tale for me to tell you now. The Prince of Wales
was born on the 15th of June, 1330, two years after the royal marriage.

"So far the king had acquiesced quietly in the authority of his mother,
but he now paid a visit to France, and doubtless the barons around
him there took advantage of his absence from her tutelage to shake her
influence over his mind; and at the same time a rising took place at
home against her authority.