#queen philippa

The Burghers of Calais

Artist: Benjamin West (American, 1738-1820)

Date: 1789

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Royal Collection Trust, London, United Kingdom

Description

This painting depicts a scene from English history during the fourteenth-century Siege at the French Port of Calais by the English King Edward III. Dressed in white, Queen Philippa stands next to the armor-clad king with a hand outstretched toward several prisoners — the burghers, or leading citizens, of Calais. The Burghers surrendered themselves to Edward, who promised to spare the populace of the city in exchange for their lives. Philippa intervened on their behalf, convincing the king to spare them in honor of their bravery and sacrifice.

Depicted People:

Philippa, Queen of England (1314-69)

Some of the Plantagenets’ mottos:

Henry III: “He who does not give what he loves does not get what he wants”.

Edward I: “Keep Faith.”

Edward III: “It is as it is”, “ Hay Hay the wythe Swan/By Godes soule I am thy man”, “ Syker as ye wodebynd” (”Strong as the woodbine”).

Queen Philippa: “Ich wyndemuth" (I wind myself [around you]) and "Myn biddeneye" (”My bidding”).

Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales: “Ich dien” (”I serve”).

Richard II: “Sauz Departier”

Henry IV: “Soverayne”.

 Henry V: “Dieu et mon droit”.

Edward IV: “Modus et Ordo” (”Method and Order”).

Tʜᴇ AU·s I·ᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ﹐ ᴘᴀʀᴛ IV﹕ Jᴏᴀɴ ᴏғ Eɴɢʟᴀɴᴅ﹐ Qᴜᴇᴇɴ ᴏғ Cᴀsᴛɪʟʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ Lᴇᴏ́ɴ.

[𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎 𝑆𝑒𝑦𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑠 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝐽𝑜𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐸𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑; 

“My dearest Margaret,

At last I can write and tell you that I am a wife! Ned and I were married in York on the 24th, or thereabouts—I always did have a poor head for dates, as you well know. Anyway, it was a very nice wedding, presided over by Archbishop William Melton. It was snowing and cold in York, but the new robes Papa bought me before I came here kept me very warm. Queen Isabella said that it helped too that I had some meat on my bones. (She’s such a witch, Meg.) I just pretended I didn’t hear her. Stupid cow.

I was hoping that I would be able to tell you that I had been crowned, but Queen Isabella told me that I had to wait! When I asked why, she would only say, “We need to find a more suitable time.” Ned was furious when she said that—he’s so handsome when he’s angry, though, I really didn’t mind. But I am rather upset that I can’t get crowned until God knows when, especially since Uncle Edmund—that’s the old king’s brother, the Earl of Kent—said that the queen was crowned when she was twelve years old, so why should I have to wait when I’m older than that now? The queen was not happy when he said that, and neither was Uncle Roger. But they didn’t say anything, just gave him a look. (The Queen and Uncle Roger are really good at giving people looks.)

Oh, I should mention that Uncle Roger is Roger Mortimer, whom they call the queen’s “close advisor.” They must think we’re really stupid in Hainault, not to know what they really are to each other. Once I get to know Ned a little better, I’m sure he’ll tell me all I want to know about that story. In the meantime, I just put on my I’m-just-a-naive-little-girl-from-Hainault face whenever they ogle each other in public. (It’s so disgusting.)

Speaking of my new in-laws, had you heard that my father-in-law, the late Edward the Second, was buried just last month? I got to England just after the funeral. I’ve learned that talking about the late king is a definite no-no around the Queen and Uncle Roger, though. When I asked what he had died of in Berkeley Castle they started to give me looks, but then they told me to run along and play with Ned. (I think that’s their code for begetting an heir. So I didn’t mind doing that at all.)

I don’t have a household of my own yet, like a king’s wife should. When I asked the queen about that very nicely (I’m always very polite to her, Meg, don’t worry), she got the usual expression on her face and snapped, “Well, at least your husband didn’t give all of your wedding jewels to his lover,” and Uncle Roger laughed. I really didn’t understand the humor in that, but I suppose when you’re the queen’s “close advisor” (wink), you can laugh at just about anything.

Ned is very sweet, though, and even more handsome than he was when he came to Hainault. Uncle Edmund told me that he looks a lot like his father, and that certainly got the looks from Queen Isabella and Uncle Roger! (Poor man, he’s always getting looks from them. I think if I were him I’d go on pilgrimage for a while.) But unlike his father, Ned really enjoys tournaments, and we’ve been having a lot of them to celebrate. Ned and Uncle Roger both joust, and you know whose favor Uncle Roger gets to wear! (So very subtle.)

Well, I must go now; the queen has sent one of her ladies to tell me we’ll be late for the tournament if I don’t quit fussing with my hair (that’s what I tell her I’m doing when I’m writing to you). Sigh. But I suppose mothers-in-law are what we married women have to put up with, aren’t they?

Your loving sister,

Philippa”

Queen Philippa Interceding for the Lives of the Burghers of Calais

Artist: Benjamin West (British-American, 1738-1820)

Date: 1788

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan, United States

Description

This painting depicts a scene from English history during the fourteenth-century siege at the French port of Calais by the English King Edward III. Dressed in white, Queen Philippa stands next to the armor-clad king with a hand outstretched toward several prisoners — the burghers, or leading citizens, of Calais. The burghers surrendered themselves to Edward, who promised to spare the populace of the city in exchange for their lives. Philippa intervened on their behalf, convincing the king to spare them in honor of their bravery and sacrifice.

“On Sunday 24 January 1328 Edward met Philippa of Hainault, his bride, at the gates of York. It had been more than a year since he had last seen her, at Valenciennes, but the kind and pretty Philippa was a most welcome sight. 

She was pratically the same age as Edward, probably eighteen months his junior. She was of the same blood, being his second cousin on his mother’s side. Most important of all, she was temperamentally his ideal companion. She had a sense of humour, loved romances, and displayed a sympathetic understanding of people.

Her wedding present for her husband was an illuminated collection of texts for aspiring rulers, including the ‘Book of Julius Caesar’ and the ‘Government of Kings’, and a book of statues and music, with illuminated picture of Edward in his favourite pose, holding a falcon:altogether a well-considered gift. Side by side they rode into the city, with the crowd celebrating in widespread and heartfelt joy at their union.

Either the next day or on Tuesday 26th they were married in the cathedral by the archbishop, William Melton, with Bishop Hotham of Ely in attendance, watched by Mortimer and Isabella and thousands of lords, knights, esquires, priests and citizens of York.

The Hainaulters were as fervent in their celebrations as the English. Count William of Hainault, struggling with gout, had accompanied his daughter and his brother, Sir John, bringing a large contingent. Of course there were tournaments. Philippa watched as Edward fought, with the pennons of his chosen protector, St George, flying above him.

For Edward the wonderful thing about Philippa was that, for the first time, he had someone totally loyal in whom he could confide. Isabella could read his letters and Mortimer could spy on his conversations, but neither of them could come between him and his wife. She very quickly became his support in his struggles with the leaders of the regime. 

Although Edward could not reduce Mortimer’s authority, he could obstruct his plans. Also with Philippa came a number of young pages and Hainaulter servants who owed no allegiance to anyone but her. One, Walter Manny, would prove a lifelong friend to Edward.”

Ian Mortimer, “Edward III: The Perfect King”.

“Philippa, by the grace of God queen of England, lady of Ireland, and duchess of Aquitaine, to our dear clerk Sir John de Edington, our attorney in the exchequer of our very dear lord the king, sends greeting.

We command you, that you cause all the writs which have been filed from the search lately made by Sir Richard de Cressevill to be postponed until the octaves of Easter next ensuing; to the end that, in the meantime, we and our council may be able to be advised which of the said writs are to be put in execution for our profit, and which of them are to cease to the relief of our people, to save our conscience. And we will that this letter be your warrant therefore. 

Given under our privy seal, at Westminster, the 14th day of May, in the year of the reign of our very dear lord the king of England the twenty-eighth.”