November 1st 1307, must have been a happy day for Piers Gaveston, Margaret de Clare - and Edward II. For Piers, now created Earl of Cornwall, was married into the royal family. For Margaret de Clare, this was a good marriage. The second daughter of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Hertford and Gloucester, and Joan of Acre, this made her the granddaughter of Edward Ist. Her husband was the king's favourite and she was now Countess of Cornwall. Edward II was happy because he had brought his beloved Piers into his own family. Margaret was only 14, and history does not record her feelings. But there is no reason to suppose her unhappy at her choice of husband, whatever the relationship between Piers and Edward. She had been raised to do her duty, and expect a 'good' marriage. Her husband was handsome, well mannered and graceful - even his enemies gave him credit for these virtues. Plus of course he was the favourite of her uncle, Edward II, and she herself was now a countess. So pleased was Edward with the wedding, he gave £7 in coins to be thrown over the couple outside the church. These were then distributed to the poor. This was a well established custom.
I've been reading about marriage customs, shocking abductions of heiresses and forced marriages, including Eleanor, the eldest of Edward II's nieces, and a widow, in 1329, planned abductions with the bride colluding, medieval ideas of sexuality and contraception, and medieval marriage in general. I've been reading Kathryn Warner's 'Sex and Sexuality in Medieval England', just released. It's a fascinating read and does what the title says. I'd highly recommend it.
