By the Rev. J. E. Jackson. 



63 



years, still remains in the Tower of London, of which a small 

 portion only has been printed in the Foedera. Her letters are 

 principally written in Norman French, which was almost the 

 native language of this Provencal Queen." 



%. Eleanora Queeen Dowager of England to her son, Edward I. 



" To the most noble prince and our dearest son-, Edward by God's grace King 

 of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Guienne, Eleanora, humble nun of 

 the order of Fontevrand of the convent of Amesbury, health and our blessing. 



Sweetest son, our Abbess of Fontevrand has prayed us that we would entreat 

 the King of Sicily to guard and preserve the franchises of her house, which 

 some people wish to damage. And, because we know well that he will do 

 much more for your prayer than for ours, for you have better deserved it, we 

 pray you good son, that for love of us you will request and especially require 

 this thing from him ; and that he would command that the things which the 

 Abbess holds in his lordship may be in his protection and guard, and that 

 neither she nor hers may be molested or grieved. Good son, if it please you, 

 command that the billet be hastily delivered. We wish you health in the sweet 

 Jesus, to whom we commend you." 



2. The same to the same. (Original Letter No. 1106, Tower 

 of London. French). 



" To the most noble prince and her very dear son, Edward by God's grace 

 King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine, Eleanora, humble 

 nun of the order of Fontevrand, of the Convent of Amesbury, wishes health 

 and her blessing. 



Sweetest son, we know well how great is the desire that a mother has to see 

 her child when she has been long away from him, and that dame Margaret de 

 Nevile, companion of Master John Giffard, has not seen for a long time past 

 her child, who is in the keeping of dame Margaret de Weyland, and has a 

 great desire to see him. We pray you, sweetest son, that you will command 

 and pray the aforesaid Margaret de Weyland, that she will suffer that the 

 mother may have the solace of her child for some time, after her desire. 

 Dearest son, we commend you to God. Given at Amesbury the 4th day of 

 March." 



The Queen Dowager died 1291 or 1292. King Edward I. came 

 back from Scotland to give her a sumptuous funeral. Her body 

 was buried at Ambresbury, but her heart in the church of the 

 Friars Minors, London. 1 



1 Leaving for a moment the history of Amesbury monastery, the casual men- 

 tion of this Queen's name brings to memory that of a mysterious and remark- 

 able person to whom she owed her elevation to the throne of England, but 

 about whom one would wish that something more could be discovered. The 

 Queen (as already stated) was one of the daughters of Raymond Berenger, (or 



