Sixth son (but fourth who reached manhood) of Edward the Third and
Philippa of Hainault Born at Langley, June 5th, 1341; baptised by
Nicholas Abbot of Saint Albans; and committed to the care of Joan de
Oxenford, Agnes de La Marche, and Margery de Wyght. He was brought up
in the nursery palace at Chilterne, or Children's Langley, Herts. On
the 8th of February, 1362, ambassadors were appointed to contract
marriage between Edmund and Margaret Duchess of Burgundy. The marriage
was appointed to take place at Bruges, February 4th, 1365; but Pope
Urban refused to grant a dispensation (urged by the King of France, who
wanted the Princess for his son), and the negotiations came to nothing.
Edmund was created Earl of Cambridge and Lord of Teviotdale, November
14th, 1362. In 1366 his name appears in the marriage treaty of his
brother Lionel with Violante Visconti of Milan, which provided that
Edmund should be substituted for Lionel if his brother died before the
marriage. From 1369 to 1371 the Earl was on the Continent with his
brothers, the Black Prince and the Duke of Lancaster. It was at
Rochefort, near Bordeaux, about November, 1369, that Edmund first saw
his future wife, the Infanta Isabel of Castilla; but he did not marry
her until 1372. In 1374 he was Governor of Bretagne; Constable of Dover
and Warden of the Cinque Ports, July 12th, 1376. At the coronation of
Richard the Second, July 16th, 1377, Edmund was second of the homagers,
and walked next but one after the King. In May, 1381, he sailed for
Portugal, accompanied by his wife and eldest son. Little was done in
respect of the errand on which he had gone--the furtherance of the
Infanta's claims to Castilla; and he came back, disappointed, in
October, 1382. He was created Duke of York, at Hoselow Lodge, August
6th, 1385, "by cincture of sword and imposition of gold coronet on his
head." (_Harl. Ms. 298, folio_. 84, _b_.) A grant of 1000 pounds per
annum was made to him on the 15th of November following. During the
long struggle between the various members of the Royal Family, York
always sided with Gloucester, except when Lancaster was present. In
1388 he was co-surety (with Gloucester, Derby, and others) for 5000
borrowed from the Londoners for Gloucester's purposes. (_Rot. Pat_. 11
R. II, _Part_ 2.) The King visited him at Langley, April 18th, 1389.
About September, 1391, he and his brother of Lancaster concluded a truce
with France. His first wife died, and he married the second, in 1393.
(See subsequent articles.) He was created Regent of England, for the
first time, September 29th, 1394, during the King's first voyage to
Ireland. King Richard relieved him of this charge by returning home
about May 11th, 1395. His second regency was from August 6th, 1396, to
about November 14th following. It was by the advice of Lancaster and
York--but the latter was really the mere echo of the former,--that
Gloucester was arrested, August, 1397. Some of his brother Gloucester's
lands were granted to York. After this, both York and Lancaster retired
from Court to their own country homes. In 1399, on the death of
Lancaster, York was created Steward of England _pro tem_, "until Henry
Earl of Derby shall sue for the same." (_Rot. Pat_. 22 R. II, _Part_
2.) In May, 1399, he was created Regent for the third and last time.
About the 7th of July he met, and at once went over to, his rebellious
and banished nephew, Henry of Lancaster. He was present at Henry the
Fourth's coronation, and remained a guest at Court for the rest of that
year, where we find him several times during 1400. On November 25th,
1400, he made his will; and in 1401 he was received into the fraternity
at Canterbury. His last recorded visit to Court was on the opening of
Parliament, January 20th, 1402; and on the following first of August he
died at Langley, aged 61. He was buried in the Church of the Friars
Predicants, Langley. Edmund was unquestionably a weak man, both in
character and abilities: indeed, Froissart goes so far as to hint that
he was deficient in intellect. (Book four, chapter 73.) His being made
Regent by no means disproves this; for the post was chiefly honorary,
and his brother Lionel had filled it when only seven years old. For his
wives see the later articles.