Henry of Monmouth, Volume 1 | Page 8

one of the most (p. 006) amiable and
exemplary persons of the age, "above other women innocent and
devout;" and from her husband she deserved treatment far different
from what it was her unhappy lot to experience. But however severe
were her sufferings, she probably concealed them within her own breast:
and she neither left her husband nor abandoned her duties in disgust. It
is indeed possible, though in the highest degree improbable, that whilst
his unprincipled conduct was too notorious to be concealed from others,
she was not herself made fully acquainted with his infidelity towards
her. At all events we may indulge in the belief that she proved to her
husband's only legitimate son, Henry (p. 007) of Bolinbroke, a kind and
watchful mother.
[Footnote 4: His wife's sister, Matilda, married to William, Duke of
Holland and Zealand, dying without issue, John of Gaunt succeeded to
the undivided estates and honours of the late duke.]
[Footnote 5: Froissart reports that Henry Bolinbroke was a handsome
young man; and declares that he never saw two such noble dames, nor
ever should were he to live a thousand years, so good, liberal, and
courteous, as his mother the Lady Blanche, and "the late Queen of
England," Philippa of Hainault, wife of Edward the Third. These were
the mother, and the consort of John of Gaunt.]
[Footnote 6: For this fact and the several items by which it is
substantiated, the Author is indebted to the kindness and antiquarian
researches of William Hardy, Esq. of the Duchy of Lancaster office.
These accounts begin to date from September 30th 1381.]
[Footnote 7: In 1387 the Duke of Lancaster, accompanied by Constance
and a numerous retinue, went to Spain to claim his wife's rights; and he
succeeded in obtaining from the King of Spain very large sums in hand,
and hostages for the payment of 10,000l. annually to himself and his
duchess for life. Wals. Neust. 544.]

[Footnote 8: There is an order, dated June 6th, 1372, to lodge two pipes
of good wine in Kenilworth Priory, and to hasten with all speed Dame
Ilote, the midwife, to the Queen Constance at Hertford on horse or in
carriage as should be best for her ease. The same person attended the
late Duchess Blanche.
The Author has lately discovered on the Pell Rolls a payment, dated
21st February 1373, which refers to the birth of a daughter, and at the
same time informs us that his future wife was then probably a member
of his household. "To Catherine Swynford twenty marks for
announcing to the King (Richard the Second) the birth of a daughter of
the Queen of Spain, consort of John, King of Castile and Leon, and
Duke of Lancaster."
The marriage of John of Gaunt with Catherine Swynford took place
only the second year after the death of Constance, and seems to have
excited among the nobility equal surprise and disgust. "The great ladies
of England, (as Stowe reports,) as the Duchess of Gloucester, &c.
disdained that she should be matched with the Duke of Lancaster, and
by that means accounted second person in the realm, and be preferred
in room before them."
King Richard however made her a handsome present of a ring, at the
same time that he presented one to Henry, Earl of Derby, (Henry IV.)
and another to Lady Beauchamp. Pell Rolls.]
At that period of our history, persons married at a much earlier age than
is usually the case among us now; and the espousals of young people
often preceded for some years the period of quitting their parents' home,
and living together, as man and wife. In the year 1381 Henry, at that
time only fifteen years of age, was espoused[9] to his future wife, Mary
Bohun, daughter of the Earl of Hereford, who had (p. 008) then not
reached her twelfth year. These espousals were in those days
accompanied by the religious service of matrimony, and the bride
assumed the title of her espoused husband.[10]
[Footnote 9: In this same year Bolinbroke's life was put into imminent
peril during the insurrection headed by Wat Tiler. The rebels broke into

the Tower of London, though it was defended by some brave knights
and soldiers; seized and murdered the Archbishop and others; and,
carrying the heads of their victims on pikes, proceeded in a state of fury
to John of Gaunt's palace at the Savoy, which they utterly destroyed
and burnt to the ground. Gaunt himself was in the North: but his son
Bolinbroke was in the Tower of London, and owed his life to the
interposition of one John Ferrour of Southwark. This is a fact not
generally known to historians; and since the document which records it,
bears testimony to Bolinbroke's spirit of gratitude, it will not