heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

394 THE HERALDRY OF YORK MINSTER.
of Lancaster, and from whom our present Queen
is descended, and thus
inherits
the Diichy of Lancaster.
Edmond Crouchback seems to have been a man of most winning
and affectionate disposition. Evidently his father's favourite, he excited
no jealousy in the heart of the noble Edward, his brother, " the greatest
the records is that
"of the Plantagenets." His earliest description among
of " Edmond, the King's son," which, on the death of Henry and the
accession of Edward I., was changed into " Edmond, the King's brother "
:
the same love, the same affection, continuing even to
the end.
Next in chronological order in south-east window of chapter-house
(see coloured illustration, plate 7)
is the shield of
JOHN OF ELTHAM, EARL OF CORNWALL.
The life of John of Eltham was short but eventful. He was the
second son of Edward II., born at the King's manor-house, Eltham, 1315,
during the only happy period of the married life of Edward and Isabella,
which lasted from the execution of Gaveston in 1312, to 1323, when the
unhappy influence which the Despencers were exercising over Edward
caused the final and fatal estrangement between man and wife. During
those eleven years all their children were born: Edward, 1312; Eleanor,
afterwards Duchess of Guildres, 1318; Joane de la Tour, 1322. The birth
of the Prince of Wales had been the King's
solace when smarting under
the death of Gaveston. The birth of John happened as opportunely; for
Edward, anxious to retrieve Bannockburn, had been again discomfited in
his efforts against the Scotch, both by sea and land, by the vigour and
courage of the Black Douglas. Edward had almost succeeded in landing
his armaments at Dunybristle, but Sinclair, Bishop of Dunkeld, at the
head of sixty of his servants, with only his rochet over his armour,
rallied his panic-stricken countrymen, and seizing a spear from the nearest
soldier, and " crying Turn, turn for shame, and let all who love Scotland
" " follow me ! headed the charge, and drove the English back to their ships
with the loss of 500 men. Indeed, by an opportune diversion, Douglas
had nearly captured the Queen, who had accompanied her lord as far as
Brotherton. With 10,000 men he had almost arrived at the village, when
one of his scouts fell
into the hands of the Archbishop of York, and being
forced by threats of torture to confess, the Queen had just time to escape
to York, and from thence return to the south, where, shortly afterwards,
her son John was born. The gratification of the King may be gathered
from this entry in his household book : " To Sir Eubulo de Montibus for
"bringing the first news to the King of the happy delivery of Queen
"Isabella of her son John of Eltham, _ioo." The castle and honour of
the peak, with the chase and appurtenances, amounting in annual value