Extract from the French Chronicle of London: Edward I
1282
In this year was Llewelyn, Prince of Wales, was taken and beheaded by King Edward, and his head
sent to the Tower of London.
1283
In this year was Dafydd, the brother of Llewelyn, drawn, hanged, and beheaded, and his head sent to
the Tower of London.
1292
In this year, the discord began between the King of England and Sir John le Baillol, who was then
made King of Scotland.
1295
At this time a war began between Sir John Baillol, King of Scotland, and the King of England. In the
same year the King conquered the land of Wales and the land of Scotland; and there were taken Sir
John Baillol, King of Scotland, and John Cornyn the Younger, and other barons and knights of
Scotland, who were all sent to the Tower of London.
I believe that this series of events from another chronicle shows that Edward is indeed a great and terrible king – great to his own people and terrible to his enemies. But his wars are expensive. The castles and fortified towns such as Conwy and Caernarfon which Edward has built in Wales cost an enormous amount and the king is constantly struggling to pay for them. He cannot pay from his own personal wealth, he has to ask the barons and Parliament for taxes to help pay the costs. In this way, a reasonable working relationship has developed between the king and his subjects, since his accession to the throne in 1272.
Extract from the French Chronicle of London: Edward I
French Chronicle of London: Edward I, British Library Harley MS 565 ff. 27, 27v, 32v
Test your understanding
Which King of Scotland did Edward fight in 1295?
Close... but not the right answer... Go back to the document and study it in a bit more detail... Don’t forget to listen to the transcript...
Good answer — it was Sir John Balliol, who was the King of Scotland from 1292 to 1296.
Why does a great and terrible king need Magna Carta?
- Has Edward only re-issued Magna Carta because he needs money for his wars against France, Scotland and Wales?
- Or, once again, are the barons are simply trying to get out of paying the taxes which are needed to run and protect England?
- It is the view of this chronicle that Edward had re-issued Magna Carta because…
- Is it?
