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This is commonly cited as the outstanding "Socialist" expression by Edward VIII and it was stretched at the time by some Laborites into an indication that "King Edward the Eighth will be England's first Socialist King!" Happily last week the nationwide coal strike which has been angrily brewing this winter as miners demanded a daily increase of two shillings was settled as the miners agreed to take one shilling—an auspicious economic opening for His Majesty's reign.
Victorian Jewel Box. Meanwhile his 500,000,000 subjects can ruffle the pages of English history and survey their previous King Edwards. Too late came Edward VII to be included in that magnificent and useful doggerel The History of England in Rhyme which so many sturdy Victorians still know by heart. In some 400 lines of galloping and definitely learnable verse it equips an Englishman with the history of his country from "great Julius Caesar, B. C. fifty-five." Gems from this Victorian jewel box apropos the long dead Edwards:
House of Plantagenet
. . . EDWARD FIRST took the crown as his due.
For the wisdom with which he controlled his dominion,
He justly is known as the English Justinian.
He conquered in Wales, named his son as its prince
(The King's eldest son is so called ever since).
Away from the kingdom he banished the Jews,
And put Wallace to death, acts that none would excuse.
King Edward the First died in thirteen and seven;
To his son, EDWARD SECOND, the crown was then given.
His fav'rite, Piers Giveston, caused discontent,
But, seized by the Nobles, to th' axe he was sent.
Scotch forces were led by King Robert the Bruce,
Who won Bannockburn's fight and made thirteen years' truce.
The fair Queen, Isabella, deserted to France,
Secured foreign troops, on the throne made advance;
Both the Spensers in hate to the gallows they bring,
And within Berkeley Castle they murder the king.
His son, EDWARD THIRD, came the sceptre to hold,
Thirteen twenty-seven, being fourteen years old.
This powerful king warred with Scotland and France;
At Crecy and Poietiers, his son, the Black Prince,
Gained victory and glory, but early expires,
His death by one year antedating his sire's.
To wars Edward Third by ambition was driven,
Till his death in the year thirteen seventy-seven. . . .
House of York
Through Warwick, the Kingmaker, Richard's first son
Was crowned EDWARD FOURTH in fourteen sixty-one.
Cruel deeds he enacted throughout his demesne ;
He made Lady Grey, though a subject, his queen.
Earl Warwick rebelled, as this union he hated,
And Henry from prison was then reinstated.
At the battle of Barnet, Earl Warwick was slain,
And Edward the Fourth then continued his reign.
'Gainst his brother Duke Clarence some charges were found,
'Tis said, in the Tower in wine he was drowned.
Edward Fourth ceased to breathe in fourteen eighty-three;
His son, EDWARD FIFTH, was the next in degree,
But he and his brother were killed in the Tower. . . .
House of Tudor
King EDWARD THE SIXTH, of Jane Seymour the child,