Page:The child's pictorial history of England; (IA childspictorialh00corn).pdf/108

 unmarried, there were two princes, who each thought he had a right to succeed to the throne; so they agreed to let the king of England decide the dispute, which he readily took upon himself to do. One prince was named Robert Bruce, the other, John Baliol.

37. Edward said Baliol ought to be king, and he was crowned accordingly; but the English monarch soon began to find fault with him, and at last went to war, for he made up his mind to try to unite England and Scotland into one kingdom, and to be the king of both countries himself; but he did not succeed, although he dethroned Baliol, and was at war with Scotland for nearly eleven years.

38. I dare say you have heard of a renowned Scottish chief, called Sir William Wallace. He fought bravely for his country in these wars, but he was taken prisoner at the battle of Falkirk; and, I am sorry to say, king Edward was so cruel and unjust as to have his head cut off.

39. But this did not put an end to the war, for another chief, Robert Bruce, grandson of him before-mentioned, took the place of Wallace, gained several victories, and was crowned king.

40. The two sovereigns then prepared for a long war, and Edward was on his way to Scot