Editing Edward II of England (section)

===Childhood, personality and appearance===
[[File:Edward I - Westminster Abbey Sedilia.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=painting of Edward|Portrait in [[Westminster Abbey]], thought to be of Edward's father, [[Edward&nbsp;I]]]]

Spending increased on Edward's personal household as he grew older and, in 1293, William of Blyborough took over as its administrator.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=48}}.</ref> Edward was probably given a religious education by the [[Dominican friar]]s, whom his mother invited into his household in 1290.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2006|p=226}}.</ref> He was assigned one of his grandmother's followers, [[Guy Ferre the Elder|Guy Ferre]], as his ''magister'', who was responsible for his discipline, training him in riding and military skills.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=53–54}}.</ref> It is uncertain how well educated Edward was; there is little evidence for his ability to read and write, although his mother was keen that her other children be well educated, and Ferre was himself a relatively learned man for the period.{{Sfn|Phillips|2011|pp=55–57}}{{Sfn|Haines|2003|p=11}}{{Efn|Earlier histories of Edward II considered him poorly educated, principally because he took his coronation oath in French, rather than Latin, and because of his interest in agricultural crafts. His use of French at his coronation is no longer interpreted in this fashion, but there is little other evidence to show to what extent Edward was educated. The links drawn between an interest in crafts and low intelligence are no longer considered accurate.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2006|pp=53}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|pp=11, 45–46}}.</ref>}} Edward likely mainly spoke [[Anglo-Norman French]] in his daily life, in addition to some English and possibly [[Latin]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=60}}.</ref>{{Efn|The historian Seymour Phillips considers it probable that Edward possessed some Latin; Roy Haines is less convinced.{{Sfn|Haines|2003|p=11}}{{Sfn|Phillips|2006|pp=53}}}}

Edward had a normal upbringing for a member of a royal family.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hamilton|2006|pp=5–6}}; {{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=45}}.</ref>{{Efn|Earlier historical accounts of Edward have suggested that his childhood was marred by a lack of contact with his family and an absence of familial affection, influencing his later personality and problems; although Edward's father, Edward&nbsp;I, is still considered an "irascible and demanding" figure, his childhood is no longer thought unusual for the period, or particularly isolated.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hamilton|2006|pp=5–6}}; {{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=43–45}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|pp=4–5}}.</ref>}} He was interested in horses and [[horsebreeding]], and became a good rider; he also liked dogs, in particular [[greyhound]]s.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hamilton|2006|pp=6–8}}.</ref> In his letters, he shows a quirky sense of humour, joking about sending unsatisfactory animals to his friends, such as horses who disliked carrying their riders, or lazy hunting dogs too slow to catch rabbits.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hamilton|2006|p=8}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=7}}.</ref> He was not particularly interested in [[hunting]] or [[falconry]], both popular activities in the 14th century.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=73–74}}.</ref> He enjoyed music, including [[Welsh music]] and the newly invented [[crwth]] instrument, as well as [[musical organ]]s.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=37, 74}}; {{Harvnb|Hamilton|2006|p=9}}.</ref> He did not take part in [[jousting]], either because he lacked the aptitude or because he had been banned from participating for his personal safety, but he was certainly enthusiastic in his  support of the sport.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hamilton|2006|p=6}}; {{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=40}}.</ref>

Edward grew up to be tall and muscular, and was considered good-looking by the standards of the period.<ref>{{Harvnb|Prestwich|2003|p=71}}; {{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=41}}.</ref> He had a reputation as a competent public speaker and was known for his generosity to household staff.<ref>{{Harvnb|Prestwich|2003|p=73}}; {{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=61}}.</ref> Unusually, he enjoyed [[rowing]], as well as [[hedge|hedging]] and [[ditch]]ing, and enjoyed associating with labourers and other lower-class workers.{{Sfn|Phillips|2011|pp=72–73}}{{Sfn|Prestwich|2003|p=72}}{{Efn|The historian Seymour Phillips notes, however, that there is relatively little hard evidence to support the statements made by contemporaries about Edward's enjoyment of rural pastimes.{{Sfn|Prestwich|2003|p=72}}}} This behaviour was not considered normal for the nobility of the period and attracted criticism from contemporaries.{{Sfn|Phillips|2011|p=72}}{{Sfn|Prestwich|2003|p=72}}

In 1290, Edward's father had confirmed the [[Treaty of Birgham]], in which he promised to marry his six-year-old son to the young [[Margaret, Maid of Norway|Margaret of Norway]], who had a potential claim to the crown of Scotland.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=41}}; {{Harvnb|Haines|2003|p=19}}.</ref> Margaret died later that year, bringing an end to the plan.<ref>{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=42}}.</ref> Edward's mother, Eleanor, died shortly afterwards, followed by his grandmother, [[Eleanor of Provence]].<ref name="Phillips2011P43">{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|p=43}}.</ref> Edward&nbsp;I was distraught at his wife's death and held a huge funeral for her; his son inherited the County of Ponthieu from Eleanor.<ref name=Phillips2011P43/> Next, a French marriage was considered for the young Edward, to help secure a lasting peace with France, but [[Philip IV of France|King Philip{{nbsp}}IV]]'s refusal to release fortresses in [[Duchy of Gascony|Gascony]] offered by Edward{{nbsp}}I provoked the [[Gascon War]] in 1294.<ref name="Phillips2011PP77HallamEverard">{{Harvnb|Phillips|2011|pp=77–78}}; {{Harvnb|Hallam|Everard|2001|p=360}}.</ref> The idea was replaced with the proposal of a marriage to a daughter of the [[Franco-Flemish War|rebellious]] [[Guy, Count of Flanders]], but this too failed after King Philip was able to have the proposed bride sent to Paris.<ref name=Phillips2011PP77HallamEverard/>