PHILIPPA OF HAINAULT, Queen of Edward the Third. CHAPTER I. Philippa's gentle, virtuous character-Her parentage-Birth-Attachment of Edward and Philippa-His sojourn at the court of Hainault-Sorrowful separation from her-Artful arrangements for their marriage-Her betrothment-Journey to London--Thence to York-Marriage-Philippa's dower-Edward claims the throne of France-His dissensions with Philip of Valois-Philippa's coronationBirth of Edward the Black Prince-Celebrated by a tournament-Edward assumes the regal reins-He encourages commerce, manufactures, and tournaments-The Princess Isabella born-War with Scotland-Philippa accompanies her lord to the north-Gives birth to the Princess Joanna, and Prince William, and William of Hatfield-Edward commences war with France-To support which, pawns Philippa's crown and jewels-Prince Lionel born at Antwerp-The French pillage Southampton-Edward assumes the arms of France-Gains the naval victory of Sluys-Philippa gives birth to John of Gaunt-Edward concludes an armistice with France-Returns with Philippa to England-His anger on finding the Tower in a defenceless state-Prince Edmund born-Edward's love for the Countess of Salisbury. rectitude and respectability of her lord and his court, must be attributed to her kindly offices or ennobling example. The very beautiful Philippa of Hainault was the second of the four fair daughters of William, Earl of Hainault; Margaret being her elder, and Jane and Isabella her two younger sisters. Her mother, Jane de Valois, daughter of Charles de Valois, brother to Philip the Fair, was first-cousin to Isabella, Queen Consort of Edward the Second. She was born about the year 1310, and first beheld by Edward the Third, when he and his mother took refuge at the court of Hainault, in 1326. Then it was that the young Prince, who was but in his fif teenth year, fell in love with Philippa, who with maidenly modesty reciprocated his glowing passion. After Edward had passed a delightful fortnight with Philippa in the Earl of Hainault's palace at Valenciennes, and been betrothed to her with all possible privacy, he accompanied his mother on her venturous invasion of his unfortunate father's dominions. The young lovers separated with sorrow, and for a period remained in doubtful uncertainty as to whether the fortunes of war, the exigencies of state, or the policy and caprice of their relations, would permit them to be united together in holy matrimony. where the court was then staying; whilst the young English King made his first essay in arms on the Scottish border against the bold, energetic Robert Bruce, and where, on the twenty-fourth of January, 1328, she was married to Edward the Third, in the cathedral, by the Archbishop. The bridal festival was graced by the presence of nearly all the English prelates and barons, and one hundred Scotch nobles, who had come thither to negociate a peace and the marriage of Edward's sister, Joanna of the Tower, with the heir of Scotland. After passing the spring at York, the royal pair journeyed to the southward, and passing through Lincoln and Northamptonshire, settled at Woodstock Palace, which from this time became the favourite residence of Philippa. Im The cause of Isabella triumphed ; but as she dared not own to the English magnates that she had betrothed the heir to the throne without their know-mediately after her marriage, Philippa's ledge or sanction, and as it was con- uncle Sir John, and, with a few exceptrary to etiquette for the Prince to avow tions, all the other Hainaulters who that he had disposed of his heart with- had accompanied her over sea, returned out the advice and consent of the no- to their native land, loaded with valubles and the parliament, Isabella her- able presents. self undertook to arrange the marriage of Henry the Third. Accordingly, immediately after the solemnization of his coronation, a dispensation for the marriage of the young King of England to one, but without specifying which of the daughters of the Earl of Hainault, was obtained from the Pope, and the Bishop of Hereford dispatched to choose the future Queen of England. When the bishop departed on the delicate mission, Edward privately informed him of his passion for the second of the Earl of Hainault's daughters, and therefore the choice fell upon Philippa. After being betrothed by proxy at Valenciennes, in October, 1327, Philippa, accompanied by the embassy, by her uncle John of Hainault, and a magnificent suite, sailed from Wissant to Dover, and on the twenty-third of December reached London, where, being met by the mayor, the aldermen, and the city companies, she was welcomed with great joy and pomp, and presented by them with a rich service of plate, worth about three hundred pounds. From London she was conducted with great feasting and rejoicing to York, As Isabella had spent Philippa's marriage portion, and as she herself possessed the broad lands forming the usual dower of the queens of England, a document was executed on the fifteenth of May, assigning lands to the yearly value of fifteen thousand pounds to Philippa for her private expenses. It was about this period that Edward first advanced his pretensions to the throne of France. The three brothers of his mother, Isabella, had died without heirs, and as females were by the fundamental laws of the kingdom excluded from the French throne, he contended, that although his mother's sex might be a disqualification as far as she herself was concerned, it could be no barrier to the succession of her son, The peers and barons of France, however, thought differently, and decided in favour of Philip the Sixth, who, on assuming the regal reins, summoned the King of England to do homage to him for Aquitaine. As Edward was then unable to enforce his claim to the sovereignty of France, he deemed it prudent to answer the summons, and leaving Philippa at Woodstock, em |