Isabella's outfit was magnificent. She had two superb solid gold crowns ornamented with precious stones, a large number of gold and silver drinking vessels, golden spoons, fifty silver soup-bowls, twelve large silver dishes, and twelve smaller ones. Her dresses were made of gold and silver stuff, velvet, and shot silk. Six of them were of the finest imported green cloth, six were of mixed and figured material, and six were scarlet; she had, besides, a supply of costly furs, four hundred and nineteen yards of towels, and six dozen nightcaps. She brought with her the tapestry for her own chamber, on which were embroidered in gold the arms of France, England, and Brabant.
Her father presented his son-in-law with a large number of the costliest rings, jewels, and other precious articles that could be found; but Edward was foolish enough to give all to Piers Gaveston, who had a perfect passion for finery.
Such conduct on the part of her husband made Isabella very angry, for she looked upon these handsome gifts from her father as part of her dowry, and naturally she objected very decidedly to having them handed over to a stranger whom she had already begun to dislike.
Just a month after the marriage the day was appointed for the coronation of the young king and queen, but the nobles informed Edward that unless his haughty favorite were banished from court they would not attend the ceremony. This threat signified that they meant to refuse their oath of allegiance, so Edward was very much alarmed, but promised that at the parliament, which was to meet immediately after the coronation, everything should be arranged to their entire satisfaction. But he gave fresh cause for complaint by bestowing upon Piers Gaveston the very highest office at the coronation,—that of bearing the St. Edward's crown. This made one of the royal earls so angry that he would have killed the favorite on the spot had it not been for the respect he felt for the young queen.
Gaveston had taken it upon himself to manage everything; and either his arrangements were badly made, or he was so unpopular, that nobody would obey him, for there was nothing but disorder and confusion from beginning to end. The crowd was so great that several people were injured, and one poor knight was knocked down and trodden to death. It was three o'clock in the afternoon before the coronation was over, and since early morning those engaged in the ceremonies had eaten nothing. The company were not seated at the banquet until after dark, and then every dish was so poorly cooked and so badly served that the hungry nobles were indignant, and felt that they could sooner have forgiven the favorite for any offence than this one. Isabella, too, was out of humor and exhausted; in short, all classes were dissatisfied, and many of the customary ceremonies had to be omitted because the usual masters of them were absent.
Whether by accident or design, several slights were put upon the young queen that made her French followers so angry that they went back home and complained to her father. Besides, Isabella sent a letter filled with complaints against her husband and his too-powerful favorite. This made the King of France use all his influence to strengthen the party of French barons who despised Gaveston, and even to induce the English ones to oppose him, too.
Probably, if the queen had been older, her beauty and talents might have enabled her to gain such control over her husband that his favorite's presence would have had less effect; but she was so young and inexperienced that, although she felt the importance of her position in the English court, Edward treated her like a child, and this vexed her beyond everything.
Gaveston was just the sort of a person who could, if he chose, lead so weak a young man as Edward II., and, unfortunately, he did so choose. He was very handsome, a perfect Adonis, remarkable for his courteous manners, courage, and sparkling wit. He would mimic and make fun of the peculiarities of the English nobles for the amusement of the thoughtless king, which was, of course, most displeasing to them, and he even went so far as to ridicule the queen. She complained to her father, who secretly induced the barons to insist upon the banishment of the favorite. Edward was at last compelled to yield, and promised to send him beyond the seas, but the wily Gaveston had recently strengthened his position by marrying a niece of the king, so he had himself appointed Governor of Ireland. Even his worst enemies own that he ruled that country very well.
But the following year he came back to England to attend a tournament. He brought such a magnificent retinue, and made so great a display, that the barons were jealous, and hated him worse than ever. Little did their dislike or their displeasure affect him, for he took his revenge by ridiculing them anew, and calling them most provoking names. The Earl of Pembroke was dark, thin, and sallow-complexioned, so he named him "Joseph the Jew;" the Earl of Warwick, who foamed at the mouth when in a passion, was "the Wild Boar of Ardenne;" and the Earl of Lancaster, who dressed peculiarly, was styled "the Stage Player." Thus he made fun of the entire party. But the insults were treasured up against him; and when, some years later, his day of reckoning dawned, not much mercy was shown him.
In the meantime he had stirred up such a storm that his royal master's throne tottered under him. The queen and her uncle, the Earl of Lancaster, with all the barons, formed a combination against him so strong that Edward dared not oppose it, and dismissed him to Guienne. At parting with his favorite, he lavished on him all his jewels, even the rings, brooches, and buckles that his young wife had presented him with at various times. This was one of the most foolish things Edward ever did, and nobody can blame Isabella for feeling offended.