General Notes

Edmund of Langley, 1st duke of York, also called (1362-85) EARL OF CAMBRIDGE (b. June 5, 1341, King's Langley, Hertfordshire, Eng.--d. Aug. 1, 1402, King's Langley), fourth surviving legitimate son of King Edward III of England and founder of the House of York as a branch of the Plantagenet dynasty.

Created earl of Cambridge in 1362 and duke of York in 1385, Edmund was the least able of Edward III's sons, and in the political strife of Richard II's reign he played an ineffective part. Between 1359 and 1378 he served without distinction in several campaigns in France, Spain, and Brittany, and his one independent command, the Lisbon expedition of 1381-82 to aid King Ferdinand of Portugal against Castile, was a failure. York was appointed keeper of the realm during Richard II's absence in Ireland in 1394-95, and again on the King's departure for his second Irish expedition in May 1399. When Henry of Lancaster (afterward King Henry IV) invaded England (July), York tried to organize resistance, but he soon submitted (July 27), recognizing that Richard's cause was lost. [EncyclopEdia Britannica CD '97]

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EARLDOM OF CAMBRIDGE (II, 1)

DUKEDOM OF YORK (I)

EDMUND, "of Langley," 5th but 4th surviving son of EDWARD III, by Philippe, daughter of William, COUNT OF HOLLAND AND HAINAULT, was born 5 June 1341 at King's Langley, Herts, and baptised there by Michael, Abbot of St. Albans. On 6 August 1347 he was granted all the lands beyond Trent late of his godfather, the Earl of Surrey. He took part in his father's campaign in France, 1359-60, and witnessed the final form of the Treaty of BrEtigny at Calais, 24 October 1360; nominated K.G. in or shortly before April 1361. He was created, 13 November 1362, in full Parliament, EARL OF CAMBRIDGE. Having landed with the Earl of Pembroke at St. Malo, in Brittany, in 1369, the two Earls joined the Prince of Wales at AngoulEme, whence they were sent to besiege Bourdeilles and Roche-sur-Yon, both of which were captured. The following year he went with Pembroke to relieve Belleperche, was at the relief of Bergerac and distinguished himself under the Black Prince at the siege and sack of Limoges, September 1370. He was with the Duke of Lancaster at the siege of Montpont-sur-I'Isle, January-February 1370/1, but later in that year was recalled to England. In August-October 1372 he sailed with the King's abortive expedition to relieve Thouars; and he was granted for life, 23 April 1373, the manor and lordship of Wark, in Tynedale. As the King's Lieutenant, with the Duke of Brittany, in France and Brittany, appointed 24 November 1374, he captured St. Mathieu and St. Pol de Uon and laid siege to St. Brieuc in 1375. He was a Commissioner to treat for peace with France, 20 September 1375; Constable of Dover Castle and Warden of the Cinque Ports, 12 June 1376-1 February 1380/1; was granted, with his wife Isabel, the castles of Fotheringhay, Northants, and Anstey, Herts, 25 May 1377; Chief Commissioner for the defence of the Kentish coast against the French, 30 June 1377. At the Coronation of Richard II, 16 July 1377, he bore the Sceptre with the Dove. He took part in his brother Lancaster's unsuccessful expedition against St. Malo in 1378; was Chief Commissioner to treat with the ambassadors of Bohemia concerning the King's marriage, 29 March 1381; and commanded the English troops in Portugal against the Spaniards without much fighting or success, 1381-82. While accompanying the King on his only expedition into Scotland, he was created, 6 August 1385, at Hoselaw, in Teviotdale, DUKE OF YORK, and was invested therewith, 20 October following, in Parliament, then sitting at Westminster. For the support of the Dukedom he received a grant of £1,000 a year, 15 November 1385, with remainder to his heirs male. Justice of Chester and co. Flint, 28 September 1385.

On 19 November 1386 he was one of the 14 Commissioners appointed to receive the Crown revenues for one year, who formed the Council of Regency. Keeper of the bailiwick of the forests of Rutland and Leighfield, 4 May 1388, and (in reversion) of Hadleigh Castle, Essex, 9 February 1390/1; Commissioner, with Lancaster, to treat for peace with France, 10 March 1393/4. During the King's absence from England he was three times Regent, viz., 29 September 1394-May 1395, 6 August and 27 Sepyember-November 1396, and May-August 1399. Surveyor of the temporalities of the Archbishop of Canterbury, 5 August 1396; Keeper of Mortagne-sur-la-Gironde, 24 February 1396/7, and of Freemantle Park, Hants, 12 May 1397. Though he had licence, 28 August 1397, to come to Parliament with 100 men-at-arms and 200 archers for the comfort of the King, he had no part in Gloucester's death in that year. Steward of England, 20 March-August 1399. As Regent, while the King was in Ireland, he prepared to oppose the landing, in 1399, of his nephew, afterwards Henry IV, but made his peace with him at Berkeley, 27 July. By the new King, to whom he was P.C., he was made Master of the royal mews and falcons, with a grant of the lordship of the Isle of Axholme, Lincs, 10 October 1399.

He married, 1stly, between 1 January and 30 April 1372, it is said at Hertford Castle, Isabel, sister of (his sister-in-law) Constance, DUCHESS OF LANCASTER, younger surviving daughter and coheir of PEDRO THE CRUEL, KING OF CASTILE AND LEON (1350-69), by his mistress, Maria DE PADILLA. She died 23 December 1392, aged about 37, and was buried 14 January 1392/3 in the church of the Dominicans at Langley. Will dated 6 October 1392 proved 6 January 1392/3. He married, 2ndly, Joan, sister and coheir of Edmund (DE HOLAND), 4th EARL OF KENT, daughter of Thomas, 2nd EARL OF KENT, by Alice, daughter of Richard (FITZALAN), 10th or 3rd EARL OF ARUNDEL. He died 1 August 1402 at Langley, aged 61, and was buried there with his 1st wife. Will dated 25 November 1400, proved at Lambeth, 6 October 1402. His widow married, before 9 August 1404, as his 2nd wife, William (DE WILLOUGHBY), 5th LORD WILLOUGHBY, who died 4 December 1409, She married, 3rdly (licence 6 September 1410, to marry in the chapel of Faxflete, co. York), as his 2nd wife, Henry (LE SCROPE), 3rd LORD SCROPE (of Masham), who died s.p. 5 August 1415, being beheaded at Southampton. She married, 4thly, between Michaelmas 1415 and 27 April 1416 (pardon for marrying without licence, 14 August following, as his 1st wife, Henry (BROMFLETE), LORD VESSY, who died s.p.m. 16 January 1468/9. She, who was said to be aged 36 in 1416, died s.p. 12 April 1434. [Complete Peerage XII/2:895-9, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]