On their return journey, while resting in Sicily, the Prince and
Princess received the intelligence of the deaths first of their eldest
son John, and then of King Henry. Their homeward journey was, however,
still greatly delayed; Edward running the fantastic risks of a
knight-errant in Burgundy, and becoming embroiled in bouts of partisan
warfare in the South of France, while the Queen visited her royal
relatives in Spain, and rested for some time at Bayonne, where her son
Alphonso was born.
It was not till late in the following year that they returned to
England, when both Edward and Eleanor were hallowed and crowned at
Westminster amidst surroundings of the greatest magnificence, and with
the promise of a fortunate reign, especially in their relationship with
the King of Scotland (19th August, 1273).
One of the first great designs of Edward’s statesmanship was to secure
the more complete subjection of Wales to the English crown. Eleanor’s
influence appears to have been exerted to moderate the impetuosity and
harshness of her husband, and to add the occasional touch of
graciousness which became notably absent when her guiding hand was
removed. Llewelyn II, the Prince of Wales, had been in close terms of
intimacy with the de Montfort family, and was betrothed to Eleanor, the
King’s cousin and only daughter of the great Earl Simon. On her way to
Wales from France in 1276, the ship conveying this lady was captured by
Bristol sailors. The distinguished captive was promptly sent to Edward
at Windsor. Eleanor de Montfort was too valuable a counter in the game
of Edward’s politics to be given up easily, and she was accordingly kept
in captivity in order to influence the negotiations with the Welsh
Prince. The rigour of her captivity, however, was much alleviated by the
action of the Queen, whose kindness and consideration stands out in
pleasant relief to the unremitting harshness of Edward’s dealings with
Llewelyn. The unfortunate Princess, Eleanor de Montfort, died soon after
her marriage, after giving birth to a daughter, and happily did not
witness the savage outburst signalising Edward’s final triumph over
Llewelyn. Accompanied by the Queen, Edward gradually established himself
in Wales. In 1284, Eleanor’s son, Edward, was born at Carnarvon, and the
Welsh once more received a native-born Prince, but the episode of
Eleanor’s kindness to the de Montfort Princess and her presence with
Edward during the later stages of the occupation of Wales, were no doubt
factors of great assistance to Edward in bringing his Welsh policy to a
successful conclusion.
The following years of Eleanor’s life seem to have passed in much
contentment in the midst of her numerous family. She still retained her
custom of accompanying her husband on his travels, and undertook in his
company another long voyage to France and probably to Spain. The memory
of her domestic happiness is recalled by the traditions which still
remain of the gaiety which distinguished the “Maiden Hall” at
Westminster.
The Queen, however, did not entirely escape trial and mental anxiety
even in her relationship with her daughters. She keenly felt Edward’s
decision that her daughter, Princess Mary, a girl aged 6, should take
the veil and enter the great Benedictine nunnery of Amesbury. Edward
seems to have been forced to this harsh decision by the masterful
influence of the Queen Mother, Eleanor of Provence, who was living in
retirement in this convent. The Princess Mary survived to the year 1332,
and saw much of the trouble which subsequently befell the Royal House.
Records remain which show that Edward allowed himself to relax from the
severity of the warrior and the statesman in the domestic circle. His
domestic relaxation seems to have been often of a boisterous character.
There is, for instance, the story of the King being held in bed by seven
of the Queen’s ladies and damosels on the morning of Easter Monday,
1290, till he paid them the fine of £14 expected on that day.[25] On
another occasion, in the same year, Matilda of Waltham, stated to be the
King’s laundress, wins a wager from the King by venturing to ride his
horse, when he had gone hunting in Essex. The King recovered his steed
by paying a fine of 40s. to the bold Matilda.[26]
Footnote 25:
Wardrobe Account 18 Edw. I, fol. 45b. Chancery Miscellanea 4/5.
Footnote 26:
Wardrobe Account 18 Edw. I, fol. 47b. Chancery Miscellanea 4/5.