Queen”

67-93 CHAPTER IV
ISABELLE DE LORRAINE Child marriages—“The Pride of Lorraine”—A mailed fist—Duchess’s bare feet—Satin skin—Cardinal matchmaker—Ten considerations—Woman’s wit supreme—A charming boy—Jean “sans Peur”—“Polluyon”—A Sovereign’s oath—“Noël! Noël!”—First free Parliament in France—Veterans—Antoine de Vaudémont—“You may go!”—Bulgneville—René a prisoner—Insecurity of life—The Duke’s terms—Two boy hostages—La Tour de Bar—René’s parole—Money the crux—René at Naples—The Golden Rose—A royal artist—Music and song—Duchess Margaret dies—“Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi!”—The sword of Lancelot—A very young widow—Isabelle leads an army—Alfonso in check—King René free—Women of Genoa—On the throne—A troubled land—“Cette vraie Amazone!”—Fortune did not smile—“Too much blood”—A dastardly outrage—Peace—Princess Marguerite betrothed—Black armour—Jehanne de Laval—Black buffaloes—Grey hair—Splendid tournaments—Ordre du Croissant—Double nuptials—Henry VI. of England—Ferri carries off Yolande—Cupid’s “Lists”—The spectre of war—Death of Queen Isabelle—“My heart has lost its love!”—“Amour et Foy” 94-142 CHAPTER V
JEANNE D’ARC—“LA PUCELLE” “Give me René!”—Village of Domremy—Village feuds—A busy mother—A weird accouchement—Le Bois Chènus—Voices—St. Michael—Mad Jehanne—A coarse kirtle—She touched the hilt—Duke Charles’s strange visitors—A dash around the courtyard—“Vive la nostre Royne!”—A pilgrimage march—Priests and minstrels—A famous sword—Jeanne’s oriflamme—A dissolute Court—Charles VI. at Chinon—A winning hazard—Certain secrets—Jeanne’s double ordeal—Bishops and matrons—“La Pucelle” so named by Queen Yolande—Filles de Joie—White armour—An ultimatum—Divided counsels—The siege of Orléans—“The Maid” wounded—En route to Reims—The “Sacré”—Jeanne’s modesty—Her apotheosis—“Sire, I bid you farewell”—René the hero—Jeanne the heroine—To expel the hated English—The fall of Paris—“The Maid” a prisoner—Deserted by everyone—A mock trial—A human wreck—Burnt to death—A maiden’s heart and a white dove—“Ma Royne est mort!” René’s lament—Charles’s remorse—The memory of Jeanne d’Arc 143-173 CHAPTER VI
MARIE D’ANJOU “The little Queen of Bourges”—A master-stroke—A lovely bride, an ill-looking groom—An evil mother’s influence—Three fair witches—Yolande’s prestige—Woman’s power in France—Marie v. Agnes—Unhappy Charles VI.—The Châtelaine de Courrages—A gallows and a flagellation—Marriage of Charles and Marie—Impecuniosity—Never touched her below the chin!—Jacques Cœur’s loyal succour—Terrible disasters—A treacherous deed—Isabeau’s rage—Queen Marie’s speech—A lovely bevy of Maids of Honour—Outrageous fashions—Correcte’s crusade—“À bas les hennins!”—Scudding stones—Plain chapelles—A faint-hearted King—Queen Marie’s “I will”—Marie d’Anjou and Jeanne d’Arc—No place for the Queen!—Agnes Sorel, “la Belle des Belles”—Serge chemises—“The plaything of the most valiant King?”—Agnes’s four daughters—A loving son—Boxed her ears!—Agnes’s heart in gold—“Males femmes”—“Everything for France!”—Disasters and delirium—Marie in shade and shine—A pillion—Poor little Princess Margaret!—“A curse on life!”—A dissolute Prince—Slander and hypocrisy—The Bastard of Orléans—A tryst disturbed—The obscene Fête des Fous—A royal repast-Tours for delicacies—A famous pack of cards—The Queen as a business woman—Cocks and hens—Marie dies at Poitiers—“A good and devout woman” 174-215 CHAPTER VII
GIOVANNA II. OF NAPLES “Like Queen Giovanna!”—Anjou succession in Naples—A lover suffocated—King Ladislaus—Many suitors—Hard to please—A rare quality—Marriage ring torn off—Louis d’Anjou’s advance—A poor old Queen—Butterfly courtesans—A champion of physical beauty—A wily woman—The cord of St. Francis—A base-born athlete—The chief of the pages—The Queen’s master—Vampire kisses—Louis v. Alfonso—A romantic story—Fair Leonora—Not a tool of the Queen—Fierce rivals—Pulled the Queen’s hands—Giovanna in her lover’s arms—Flashing eyes—Beneath the lips—Superb entertainments—Giovanna discovers the liaison—René bravest of the brave—Treason—Duchess Covella Ruffo and her jewelled poniard—René at Naples—“Il galantuomo Re”—The Jews—Alfonso defeated and a prisoner—Belated pious deeds—Giovanna as the Virgin Mary!—An embassy from Naples—Many claimants for the throne—Isabelle a virago Queen—A macaroni basket—“I’ll not fight with a woman!”—Colossal orgies—A Spartan mother—Decisive battle of Troia—End of the Angevine dynasty—Jean, Duke of Calabria, raises the flag in vain 216-252 CHAPTER VIII
MARGUERITE D’ANJOU “The loveliest Princess in Christendom”—A storm-rocked cradle—A child’s kiss—Troubadours and glee-maidens—An eligible suitor—The love of all the boys—Neglected education—A delighted grandmother—Marriage tangles—Philippe, Count de Nevers, repudiated—Henry VI. of England looking for a Queen—The “Three Graces of Armagnac”—Cardinal Beaufort charmed with Marguerite—An unpainted face—“Oh fie! oh fie!”—An autograph letter—Splendid nuptials—La Confrèrerie de la Passion—Too poor to buy her own wedding dress—A peachy blush—Fine fashions—Gold garter chains—Sumptuous hair-dressing—A “Marguerite” flower-holder—A sorrowful parting—A truly royal train—The