that had a carpet, which she brought from Spain, for the floors of the best apartments in the palace were strewed with rushes; and, in houses, where they could not get rushes, they used straw.
10. Henry the Third died about seven years after his restoration, in the year 1272, having reigned fifty-seven years; and, although the news was sent to his son as soon as possible, it was nearly two years before he returned to England; such was the difference between travelling then and now; for the journey to and from the Holy Land may now be accomplished in a few weeks.
11. Edward the First was a much wiser and better prince than his father, but he was too fond of war, and too anxious to be renowned as a conqueror, which was the cause of the long wars in Scotland, for his great ambition was to conquor that country.
12. But, the first thing he thought of, when he came home, was to make such regulations as were most likely to protect the people from robbery; so he had watchmen and patrols appointed in all the cities, and ordered that nobody should be abroad in the streets of London, nor any taverns kept open, after the curfew bell had tolled.
