Edward was the son of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence. He was born at Westminster on June 17 1239. He was just, and selfish, reverent of beauty and deeply religious. "No man ever asked mercy of me, and was refused" he said in his old age. The rough soldierly nobleness of his nature was seen at Falkirk when he lay on the bare ground among his men, or in his refusal during a Welsh campaign to drink of the one cask of wine which had been saved. "It is I who have brought you to this strait, and I will have no advantage over you in meat or drink", he said to his soldiers...