Queens of the Age of Chivalry by Alison Weir

Author:Alison Weir [Weir, Alison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2022-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

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In August 1333, Edward and Philippa were together again at Knaresborough, before riding south. Edward made a pilgrimage to Walsingham and visited his mother at Castle Rising, while Philippa rode on toward London. At a solemn ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral, three-year-old Prince Edward made his first public appearance, walking between his parents, and was given an alabaster cup by the monks. It was his first visit to the cathedral, for which he would always cherish great affection and be a generous benefactor, and where he would one day be buried.

In September, Philippa paid for seven ships to convey the Countess of Hainault and 250 mounted attendants from Wissant to Dover. Mother and daughter spent nearly three weeks together before the Countess sailed home on October 13.

Soon afterward, the King, the Queen, and Queen Isabella traveled to Durham Cathedral Priory to witness Richard de Bury’s enthronement as bishop of Durham on December 19. Among the huge concourse of guests who attended the consecration were Archbishops Stratford and Melton, five bishops, seven earls, numerous northern barons, and the commons of Durham. Edward and Philippa were guests of honor at the feast hosted by the new Bishop afterward in Durham Castle, and gargantuan quantities of food were consumed, including 2,300 herring, 1,100 eggs, 15 piglets, and half a porpoise.

Edward and Philippa, who was pregnant again, spent Christmas at Wallingford Castle, where they feasted royally and played games with hobby horses. Afterward, Philippa moved to Woodstock, where she received a letter from the Chancellor and masters of the University of Oxford, praying her to write to the Pope on their behalf to seek his assistance in opposing plans for a rival university that had been established at Stamford, to which they were losing many students. In 1335, Edward would suppress the new foundation and send its students back to Oxford.

Around January 27–29, 1334, Philippa gave birth to a second daughter, Joan, named after her mother. Joan’s date of birth is sometimes given as December 19, 1333, but Philippa was not churched until March 8–10, 1334. Joan is often said to have been born in the Tower of London, but has been confused with her aunt, Joan of the Tower, Queen of Scots, for her mother’s churching ceremony took place at Woodstock, where she must have been born. On March 6, Edward granted Philippa more revenues from the earldom of Chester for the maintenance of Prince Edward and their daughters.

From the time they were infants, Edward III pursued marriage alliances for his children, but most of his plans came to nothing. He clearly loved their company and was an indulgent father, even allowing them to turn down marriages they did not want. Philippa was a loving mother and took her children on pilgrimages to Canterbury and other shrines. Although she had charge of them, they appear to have spent much of their early childhood at the castles of Pleshey and Marlborough in the care of Ralph, Lord Monthermer, the King’s uncle, and his

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