Eldest son of Edmund Duke of York and Isabel of Castilla; born probably
about New Year's Day, 1373. He accompanied his parents to Portugal in
May, 1382, and was formally affianced to the Infanta Beatriz; but her
father subsequently broke off the engagement, by dispensation from the
Pope, and married her to the rival King of Castilla. King Richard was
deeply attached to him, or perhaps rather to the ideal being whom he
believed him to be. He granted him the stewardship of Bury, January
22nd, 1390; created him Earl of Rutland, May 2nd, in the same year; gave
him the reversion of the Constableship of the Tower, January 27th, 13925
employed him in embassy to France, February 26th, 1394, and again, July
1395; created him Constable of England, July-12th, 1397, and Duke of
Aumerle, September 29th, 1397. A grant was made to him from the lands
of Archbishop Arundel, September 27th; and his patent as Constable of
the Tower was renewed, October 30th. In May, 1399, he went with the
King to Ireland. When Lancaster's rebellion broke out, Aumerle merely
waited to make sure which was the winning side, and then went over to
his cousin Henry without a thought of the Sovereign who had styled him
"brother," and had been the author of all his prosperity. In the midst
of the tumult his patent as Constable of the Tower was once more
renewed, August 31st. At the coronation of Henry the Fourth, Aumerle
was one of the peers who held the canopy. He is named as one of those
who requested the usurper to put the King to death. How he betrayed his
friends at Maidenhead Bridge is recounted in the text. Henry the Fourth
trusted Aumerle as he trusted few others, in a manner incomprehensible
to any one acquainted with the character of either. On March 10th,
1400, he pardoned Aumerle's debts; then he made him Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland; and then Governor of Aquitaine. Edward became Duke of York by
his father's death, August 1st, 1402. The next escapade of this
singular individual was to address to Queen Jeanne a series of verses,
painfully laboured, of which the first is the least uncouth, and even
that halts in the rhyme.
"Excellent Sovereign seemly to see,
Proved prudence peerless of price,
Bright blossom of benignity,
Of figure fairest, and freshest of days!"
It is evident that Nature never intended Edward for a poet. His next
adventure was a futile endeavour to scale the wall of Eltham Palace, and
seize the King; and the third was his share in Constance's theft of the
Mortimers. He and his sister were both arrested, and all his lands,
goods, and chattels confiscated. He was sent to Pevensey Castle, and
there placed in keeping of Sir John Stanley; but his imprisonment was
not long, for on the fourth of November he was free and in London.
Perhaps his experience was useful in curbing his plotting temper, for he
kept very quiet after this, and we hear of him next engaged in a pious
and orthodox manner, founding Fotheringay College. York did not sit on
the bench at his brother's trial; he had the grace to prefer a proxy in
the person of Dorset. He made his will August 22nd, 1415, wherein he
styled himself "of all sinners the most wicked;" desired to be buried at
Fotheringay, and ordered that the expenses of his funeral should not
exceed 100 pounds. His death took place at Agincourt, October 25th,
1415, in the manner described in the text; and his obsequies were
celebrated at London on the 1st of December. He married Philippa,
daughter and co-heir of John Lord Mohun of Dunster, and his wife Joan
Burghersh, one of the most eminent Lollards of her day. Philippa was
married (1) before March 6th, 1382 (_Reg. Joh'is Ducis Lanc, folio_ 60,
_b_), to Walter, Lord Fitzwalter; (2) between 1386 and 1393, to Sir John
Golafre; (3) after 1397, to Edward Duke of York; and according to some
authors (4) after 1415, to John Vescy. She died July 17th, 1431.
(_Inq. Post Mortem_ 10 H. VI, 45; _Ph'ae. Ducissa Ebor_.)