Edward III: A Great Reign Comes To A Sad End

The end of Edward's reign was mulled by a number of events that were entirely not of his doing. For one the horrible black death resumed it's terror in 1362. Edward would lose 2 earls, ninteen barons and six bishops as well as Henry of Lancaster. The once popular Black Prince would lose the respect of his people after the Battle of Najera which left him in utter debt. Edward's son, Lionel would die in 1368 of a mysterious fever. During the 1360's it is known Edward began to retire from public life and spent more time in secluded places like Elthan and Sheen than at Westminster.

Edward made one final attempt to savage what was possible from his previous gain. A large garrison was sent in command of his son, Lancaster with the intention of not only regaining Aquitaine but also over throwing Henry of Castile and placing Lancaster, who had married his daughter, Constance, on the throne. The army was led through Champagne and Burgundy as an enticment for King Charles to fight, but the expedition was to prove fruitless. There was nothing left to do but sign a truce in June 1375 until 1377. But peace was far from reached. Edward refused to give up his rightful claim to the French throne and Charles would settle for nothing less.

England enjoyed a quite sense of contentment in the 1360's due to the large amounts of money extracted from France for ransoms of royal prisoners and the export of wool to Flanders from Calais. He agreed not to levy taxes on merchants without the consent of the Commons. Edward also argued that the trials in the courts of law should be done in English not Norman French as it had been done for so long.

In August 1369 Queen Philippa died and Edward began to devote more and more time to his mistress, Alice Perrers who was responsible for much corruption. It is known that Edward was much grieved by his Queen's death and found himself lost without her wise advice. He was to suffer from senile dementia and suffered numerous strokes. His clever mistress would take advantage of his waning mind to do her own bidding.

During the 1370's things began to worsen, the money from the French ransoms was gone and Aquitaine had been all but lost to the English. Scotland, which had been subdued by the English had made an alliance with France and had it's first Stuart King. With no real advisors there to help him much of the royal power passed to William of Wykeham. In the meantime, John of Gaunt was becoming more and more power hungry leaving the ailing Black prince to worry for the future of his son and heir. Next in line in case of the death of the young heir was Philippa, only daughter of Lionel who had died in 1368. Philippa was married to Edmund Mortimer, Marshal of England. Mortimer began to prepare himself in the case of the death of the young heir, his death was place him on the throne. He distance himself from the corrupted court and against Lancaster. The scene was set for a battle.

Serious allegations were made against several key administrators who were accused of corruption and foul play. Lancaster himself was accused of prolonging the negotiation at Bruges so that the princes and lords could indulge in drinking and festivities. Edward's chamberlain, Lord Latimer was accused of robbing the revenue by exporting wool directly to the continent instead of through Calais where it would be taxed.

A Parliament, which was dubbed The good parliament, was held in April 1376, where the Black Prince arrived in his litter to ensure the throne for his son and heir, Richard. Sir Peter de la Mare was given the role of speaker. Mare would proceed to inform the Lords present no more fiananical assitance would be granted until the goverments corruption were righted, four bishops would be selected for the task. Edward's mistress, Alice, along with Latimer would be charged for their crimes. Lyons and his partner in Crime Latimer were inprisioned and Alice was removed from court.

However, as soon as parliament dissembled and went off to their country estates all the good they had done was undone. Lancaster soon went out winning the ear of the now very ill King, he pleased him by bringing him back his Alice, who he deeply wanted by his side. He inprisoned de la mare, set Latimer free, and set out to punish William of Wyeham. He warned Commons that Charles was planning a seaborne invasion and that money was urgently needed to repel the attack. A poll tax was introduced by Lancaster which led to his unpopularity with the people.

His association and support of John Wyclif would however lead to his demise. John Wyclif was a speaker for a new doctrine which placed the authority of state over church. He vowed that all church property be returnd to its secular owners, it was in this man that Lancaster saw a way to get his hands on the much needed money against France. During a gathering in St. Pauls in London where Wyclif was to be interrogated by Archbishop Sudbury and Archbishop Courtenay of London. Lancaster arrived with armed retainers including his new Marshal, Sir Henry Percy. The people of London were outraged that he would arrive in such a manner.

Lancaster seems to have thought he could intimdate the bishops from silencing Wyclif and rouse popular feelings against them but the plan worked in the opposite manner. An arguement supposedly broke out when Lancaster demanded that Wyclif be allowed to sit during the proceedings and Courtney accused him of taking sides against the church. Tempers flared and Courtney announced any attempts to arrest the people present would result in excommunication for those involved, this tactic seems to have worked and Lancaster and his men departed. But it was too late, riots soon broke out in London and a mob was out to get Lancaster and Percy, Lancaster having to seek refuge with his sister in law, Joan of Kent. Lancaster's intention seems to have been to intimidate the Bishops with his armed men not the bloodshed that resulted. A critic of Peter de la Mare was beaten to death during the riots where the mobs flaunted the badge of Lancaster. Now on his death bed King Edward attempted the quell the displeasure in London by dismissing Mare from prison and dismissing the mayor of London for not keeping the city in peace.

Lancaster would continue to raise trouble after his father's death, he would raise taxes ultimately leading to the Peasant's revolt of 1381. Edward can be credited to creating this new sense of dignity and honor among the common men which ultimatly led them to protest against Lancaster's mismanagement during Richard II's early reign. His military dream had not been realized but he had instead created something new altogether, a sense of nationalism, not only for the nobles but for the common man as well. Therefore, Edward's dream to create a nation of England and France had not been realized but instead he had created a nation out of England, something that had not been felt among the people since the times before the Normans came to England in 1066.