47. Who was the first great English poet?
49. Why did Edward the Third invade France?
53. When did the death of Edward take place?
54. How did Edward the Third raise money for the wars?
CHAPTER XI.
FROM THE ACCESSION OF RICHARD THE SECOND TO THE WAR OF THE ROSES.— 1377 TO 1422.
ABDICATION OF RICHARD.
1. Richard the Second, the son of Edward, the Black Prince, was but eleven years old when, by the death of his grandfather, he became king of England. His uncles governed the country till he was old enough to act for himself; but they did not teach him to be a wise, nor a just man, and this injustice was the cause of all his misfortunes.
2. One of the first things he did on his own account, was to break a promise he made to the people; and this was how it happened. A new tax had caused great discontent among the labouring classes, and their unwillingness to pay it was increased by the insolence of the collectors, who, one day, in the house of a man called Walter, or Wat Tiler, behaved so ill to his daughter, that he gave one of them a blow on the head with his hammer, which unluckily killed him.