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St. George for England by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty
page 42 of 311 (13%)
mean that it is curious because Bertha Fletcher was for years a dependant
on the family of Sir Roland Somers, who was killed in the troubles when the
king took the reins of government in his hands, and his lands, being
forfeit, were given to Sir Jasper Vernon, who aided the king in that
affair."

"I wish you would tell me about that," Walter said. "How was it that there
was any trouble as to King Edward having kingly authority?"

"It happened in this way," Geoffrey said. "King 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
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