| Philippa de Mohun | |
| Duchess of York | |
| Spouse: | Walter Fitzwalter, 3rd Baron Fitzwalter Sir John Golafre Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York |
| Father: | John de Mohun, 2nd Baron Mohun |
| Mother: | Joan Burghersh |
| Birth Date: | c. 1367 |
| Death Place: | Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight |
| Place Of Burial: | Westminster Abbey, London |
Philippa de Mohun (c. 1367[1] – 17 July 1431) was Duchess of York, as a result of her third marriage to Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York (c.1373–1415), Lord of the Isle of Wight, a grandson of King Edward III (1327–1377). She succeeded her third husband as Lady of the Isle of Wight (1415–1431).
Philippa's birthdate is unknown. She was the third daughter and co-heiress of John Mohun, 2nd Baron Mohun (c.1320–1375), KG, one of the Founding Knights of the Order of the Garter, feudal baron of Dunster, of Dunster Castle, Somerset, by his wife Joan Burghersh (d.1404), daughter of Bartholomew de Burghersh, 1st Baron Burghersh (c.1304–1355).
Although her father was the last in the male line of Mohun of Dunster (for he died without male issue), neither she nor either of her sisters inherited their paternal estates at Dunster. (These lands had been held by the family since before the Domesday Book of 1086.) This was because her mother Lady Mohun (died 1404) had sold the reversion of the estates in 1374 to Lady Elizabeth Luttrell (d.1395), wife of Sir Andrew Luttrell and a daughter of Hugh de Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon (1303–1377).[2] The Luttrell family and their later descendants in a female line from 1737 owned Dunster Castle until 1976, when it was donated to the National Trust.
Philippa married three times:
Philippa died 17 July 1431 at her seat of Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight and was buried in Westminster Abbey,[6] where her chest tomb and effigy survive in the Chapel of St Nicholas.[7] Also buried in Westminster Abbey was her second husband Sir John Golafre (d.1396), who was interred in the royal chapel, his grave marked by a monumental brass now lost. Her mother, Lady Joan Burghersh de Mohun was buried at Canterbury Cathedral, where she established a chantry and her tomb is still located.
Her monument is today situated in the north-west corner of the Chapel of St Nicholas, Westminster Abbey, with one side against the chapel's screen, but before 1600 was situated in the centre of the chapel. In effigy,[8] recumbent upon a freestone chest tomb, Philippa wears a long cloak with widow's hood, the head resting on two cushions. The original paintwork which once covered effigy and base has almost completely worn away. The hands are missing. On the two visible sides of the base are sculpted seven heraldic shields:
In 1723 the monument had an elaborately carved wooden canopy above it, since removed, as is illustrated in John Dart's history of the Abbey published in that year, but a tester in the Abbey's collection may have come from this monument. The Latin inscription, of which only two words now survive, was recorded in a work on the Abbey's history published in 1822 as follows: (translated): "Philippa daughter and co-heir of John Lord Mohun of Dunster who died Anno Domini 1431". An earlier work stated the inscription to have included also the words: "wife of Edward Duke of York".[10]
The text of the last will of Philippa de Mohun (in French) was published by Richard Gough in 1780.[11] In it she mentioned her son Walter, Lord Fitzwalter and bequeathed money to several charities and to Thomas Chaucer.[12] Her last will and testament was dated at Carisbrooke Castle. She appointed that her body should be interred in Westminster Abbey, and directed further as follows:[13]
"At the place where she died, and at every place where her body rested in its way to Westminster, she directs that her Exequies be performed with Dirge over night, and before the removal thereof in the morning, a Mass of Requiem; each Priest assisting at the said service to receive 12... and that twenty marks, more or less, be spent and distributed on the road, in masses, alms, and other charges: that being arrived at Westminster, twenty-four poor men, clothed in long gowns, and black hoods, each bear a torch at the Dirge, and at the Mass of Requiem in the morning, each to receive 20... in money: the herse to be covered all over with black, and a very handsome herse of wax of the same proportion set on it; and on the day of the funeral, six marks and 40... to be distributed between one thousand poor men and women, a penny to each. A thousand Dirges to be sung on the first day, and the thousand Masses the next; and to each Priest 4d, as soon as possible, for her soul and all Christians ; 1 3s. 4d. to two men for their trouble in distributing money at the Dirges and Masses: to the Abbot and Prior of Westminster, each 13s. 4.... on the day of the Dirge, and on the next day 6s. 1d. and to each Monk 3s. 4d.; and to each Priest coming to the funeral for Dirge and to sing Mass, 1s. 2d. ; £20 to buy russet cloth for cloaks and hoods for one hundred poor men and women; twenty marks to two honest Priests to say Mass and St. Gregory's Trentall for her soul and all Christians a whole year; to fourscore poor men and women bedridden £13 6s. 9d ; £20 or more, at the discretion of her executors, for the expense of her funeral, and £20 to buy black cloth for her household the day of her funeral. She left money to the Monasteries of Christchurch, Canterbury, Chertsey, Barking, and Stratford, to pray for her soul; also to the Nuns of Brimham and Goryng, and the College of Fotheryngay, and to every house of the four orders of the Friars in London coming to her funeral, 20... Among legacies of plate, she remembers her son Walter, Lord Fitz-Walter, and leaves one hundred marks to Thomas Chaucer. The residue of her goods to be divided into four portions for Masses, relief of Prisoners, and Poor, and repair of Roads."
. 1898. The Complete Peerage. 8. George Edward Cokayne. 214.
