Edmund had a greater aim to the throne than the younger Henry as well, but when Henry IV died in March 1413 and the Prince of Wales became king, he had to make a decision about Edmund. He had no doubt come to know Edmund well, not only personally but through Henry's siblings (Edmund and Roger had originally been raised alongside Henry's younger brother and sister), and decided he was not a threat by himself, despite what his older relatives might have tried in the past.
Henry (illustration) gave Edmund and Roger their freedom. Not only that, on 8 April 1413 (the day before Henry's coronation as Henry V), Edmund and Roger were made Knights of the Bath.
Two months later, Henry granted to Edmund his hereditary estates (Edmund's father was the 4th Earl of March). Edmund was 21, free, and now living in style. In 1415 Edmund received a papal dispensation to marry someone whose relationship to him was a little closer than was considered proper due to the laws of consanguinity, Anne Stafford. Edmund and Anne were both descendants of Edward III, and second cousins once removed. Henry was unhappy with the marriage—he had not been consulted for approval—and fined Edmund 10,000 marks.
This was the only disagreement between the two. Edmund never tried to claim the throne and was completely loyal to Henry, taking part in the king's court as an advisor.
There were, however, others who were not pleased with Henry V, and tried to use Edmund without his will. Tomorrow I'll share the story behind the Southampton Plot.
