heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

ROYAL HERALDRY. 389
When, therefore, Margaret, his granddaughter, married Edward I. as
his second wife, she would be entitled to
bear not only the lilies of France,
but also the arms of Castile and Auvergne; and, therefore, according to
the practice then first
coming into vogue, the latter are quartered on one
shield.
The window in which these arms are emblazoned (nave, south aisle
fourth west), was probably erected by Archdeacon de Mauley (see page 103),
and his object in inserting the three royal shields therein would be to
compliment the King and his second wife ;
and therefore, for the former,
he placed the lions of the Plantagenet, for the latter, two shields, one
bearing the liUes of France, the other the arms of Blanche of Castile ;
and
he did this, probably, because he felt that the Queen would appreciate such
a recognition of her illustrious descent, not only from the kings of France,
but also from the royal family of Spain. The latter would be specially
agreeable to her. First, because commemorating one who had been so
and whose name was
great a benefactress to her country and her dynasty,
still treasured with affection and reverence, not only by her descendants,
but also by the people of France. Secondly, because shewing that she
(Queen Margaret) also had a Spanish descent, even higher than her
predecessor Eleanor of Castile, as descended from the elder branch; for
Blanche of Castile became eventually de jure heiress of the throne, her
brother, King Henry, being killed by
the fall of a tile from the roof of
his palace, 1217, leaving no issue, though her younger sister Berengaria,
wife of the King of Leon, was chosen queen because Blanche had married
a foreigner.
Queen Margaret, "the flower of France," was not unknown in Yorkshire
during her residence in England. It was on a hunting excursion
from Cawood that she was compelled to tarry at Brotherton, where her
first-born, Thomas, afterwards Duke of Norfolk, the progenitor of the
house of Howard, was born. She seems to have filled the office of
peacemaker between the King and his foolish son Edward Prince of
Wales, afterwards Edward II., one while ;
and then in behalf of Godfrey
de Coigners, who had dared to make the gold crown for Robert Bruce ;
and again in behalf of the citizens of Winchester for allowing Bernard
Pereres to escape. Edward L, when dying, commanded his son to be
kind to his little brothers Thomas and Edward, and, above all, to treat
with respect and tenderness their mother, Queen Margaret- She was
present at Edward II.'s marriage with her niece Isabella, and at the
birth of Edward III., soon after which she passed away peacefully at her
residence, Marlborough Castle; and her body was laid in the church of
the Grey Friars, London, which she had founded, now the site of Christ's
Hospital. Her best epitaph are the words of the old chronicler Piers
Langtoft " Good withouten lack."
:
C3