ABSTRACT
ThefinalannexationofWalesbyEdwardtheFirst wasnotoneoftheleastmemorableactsofhisreign,so fertileineventsofthehighestinterestandimportance. HadhiseffortsforthesimilarannexationofScotland beensuccessful,itwouldhavebroughtthewhole Britishislandunderonegovernment,andaverteda vastamountofevil;butthisconsummationwas reservedforasubsequentperiod.Edwardrepressed thedisorderswhichhadsprungupduringhisfather's feeblereign,andcompelledhisturbulentbaronsto submittothelaw,whichheatthesametimeso enlargedandimprovedastoearnforhimselfthetitle oftheEnglishJustinian.Tohimweowetheestablishmentofjusticesofpeace,andthesettlementofthe jurisdictionoftheseverallawcourts.Hiscourage, industry,andpenetrationwerealikeconspicuous,and hewasineveryrespectagreatandpoliticsovereign. Hediedonthe7thofJuly1307,andwassucceededby hisson,EdwardtheSecond,whosecharacterwasin allrespectsthereverseofthatofhisfather.
