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.

YORK, EDWARD PLANTAGENET, SECOND DUKE.

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.