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but young Edward imparted his secret to his mother, and, as she had taken a great fancy to pretty Philippa, she promised to aid him as best she could. Therefore as soon as possible after her return home she led the public authorities to decide that one of the four daughters of the Count of Hainault would be the most desirable alliance for her son, but without naming which one. However, we may be very sure that the young man gave his own private instructions to his messengers, for they made no mistake in their choice, nor is it likely that he would risk trusting entirely to their discretion as to which of the young Hainault ladies would prove most worthy to become Queen of England.
The messengers applied first to Sir John, Philippa's uncle, who had been in England fighting the cause of the new king, and requested his assistance in the selection of a wife for their young sovereign. Sir John received them with all the honors he could lavish, and gave them the most sumptuous feasts and splendid entertainments of all sorts. After several days spent in this manner, he conducted them to Valenciennes, where they were equally well received at his brother's house. A special dispensation was required from the Pope, because the two mothers of the lovers were cousins; so messengers were sent to obtain it, which they did without much difficulty.
A.D. 1327. As soon as Edward heard that all necessary arrangements had been completed, he ordered the marriage ceremony to be performed at Valenciennes, though as he was engaged in a war on the Scottish border with the renowned Robert Bruce, he could not be present. In the absence of the bridegroom, the wedding must have been rather a tame affair, but there was no help for it, and preparations were made for a grand display. The costume and equipage of the bride were unusually costly and elegant, no expense or pains being spared to render the festival worthy of the wealthy country in which it was given.
Afterwards Philippa, accompanied by her Uncle John and a large retinue, proceeded to Dover, and then to London, where a solemn procession of the clergy introduced her into the city, and she was presented by the lord mayor with a service of silver worth three hundred pounds as a marriage gift. The city was illuminated, and there were great rejoicings, feasts and public entertainments of all sorts, that were kept up for three weeks after the bride's arrival.
She did not stay long in London, however, but hurried on to York to meet her husband, being received with honors at every town through which she passed. All the parliament and royal council assembled at the union of the young king and his bride, as well as a hundred of the principal nobility of Scotland, who came to conclude a final peace with England.
Nothing is said about the bride's marriage dowry, because the queen-mother had already got possession of it and spent it. She had besides so managed to get hold of the public funds that the young sovereign of England was nearly penniless. The following summer was passed by the new couple at Woodstock, the beautiful country residence which was the favorite home of Philippa so long as Isabella, the queen-mother, and Mortimer ruled the kingdom.
Sir John of Hainault returned to his native land laden with jewels and rich presents, almost all of his countrymen accompanying him. Among the few who remained behind was a youth named Sir Walter Mauny, whose office was to carve for Philippa. He became one of the first Knights of the Garter, an order established by Edward III., of which we shall hear later.
A.D. 1330. The coronation of the young queen did not take place for nearly two years after her marriage. All the customary duties were performed on that occasion, but the ceremony was remarkable for the absence of display on account of the emptiness of the treasury.