[19.] "Edward the Second, cruelly butchered in Berkeley Castle."—Gray. The murder of the king occurred on the night of September 21, 1327. Berkeley Castle stands at the southeast end of the town of Berkeley, about one and one-half miles from the Severn River. It was built before the time of Henry II., and is still inhabited by a descendant of its founders.
[20.] She-wolf of France. Isabel of France, the wife of Edward II. Shakespeare applies this epithet to Margaret, the queen of Henry VI.:
"She-wolf of France, but worse than wolves of France."
—3 Henry VI., Act i, sc. 4.
[21.] Edward III., the son of Queen Isabel, proved indeed to be a scourge to France.
[22.] "Death of that king (Edward III.), abandoned by his children, and even robbed in his last moments by his courtiers and his mistress."—Gray.
[23.] sable warrior. "Edward the Black Prince, dead some time before his father."—Gray.
[24.] The magnificence of the first years of Richard II.'s reign is figured in this and the following lines.
[25.] Thirst and Famine scowl. When Richard II. died in prison, his body was brought to St. Paul's, and "the face was left uncovered, to meet rumors that he had been assassinated by his keeper, Sir Piers Exon." But the older writers assert that he was starved to death.
[26.] din of battle. "Ruinous wars of York and Lancaster."—Gray.