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_.)

YORK, ISABEL OF CASTILLA, DUCHESS.

Third and youngest daughter of Don Pedro the First, surnamed The Cruel,
and Maria Padilla, whose marriage is usually considered a fiction by
modern writers, though Pedro himself solemnly affirmed it, and their
daughters were treated as Princesses through life. Isabel was born at
Morales or Tordesillas, in 1355. In 1365, when