JEHANNE DE LAVAL--“THE LADY OF THE CREST”
I.
There are roses at Christmas as well as at midsummer, and although the
pale single blossoms of the winter festival have not the fragrance of
the floral queens of the month of May, they are roses all the same.
All roses, though, have thorns, or their petals are crinkled and their
leaves torn. In the Temple Gardens, as the story goes, once on a time
two rival warriors met, and plucked, one a white, and one a red, rose
from the bushes. They stuck them in their caps, and so carried them to
battle, fierce and long--the deadly Wars of the Roses. The story of the
rose heroine of those troubled scenes, the intrepid Queen Margaret,
we have learnt; now we must read the narrative of another Queen of
Roses, La Demoiselle Jehanne de Laval, and of her nigh fifty-years-old
bridegroom, le bon Roy René, a Christmas rose.
“May and December” we call such nuptials. But never mind. The monarch
and the maid went very well together, and for them literally came
true, “Roses, roses, all the way.” He the great red standard rose of
Provence, she the nestling, creeping, sweet wild-rose of Laval, mingled
their renown and charm for the pleasure of all ages.
[Illustration: JEHANNE DE LAVAL
From a Painting by King René, finished by Nicholas de Froment (1475-76)
at Aix Cathedral
_To face page 306_]
Jehanne, or Jeanne, de Laval, “a very beautiful woman and superbly
dressed”--this is a succinct and alluring description of one of the
most fascinating beauties, as lovely in mind as in body, be it said,
who ever took her gracious path across the pages of sentimental
biography. Born at the Castle of Auray,--of which now not a stone is
standing,--in Brittany, overlooking the tempestuous Atlantic and the
Druid fable-land of Carnac-Locmariaker, on November 10, 1433, Jehanne
was the fifth child of Guy XIII., Count of Laval, and his wife,
Isabelle de Bretagne, whose father was Jean VI., Duke of Brittany, and
mother Princess Joanna of France, sister of Charles VII. The House of
Laval was very famous in the annals of mediæval France, and linked
by auspicious marriages to all the Sovereign Princes of the land.
The first Count was a Baron of Charlemagne--a “Guy,” the unalterable
prenominate of all the line. Their castle was founded by that King of
romance and chivalry, King Arthur, and each succeeding occupant made
good his claim to the gilded spurs of knighthood either on a stricken
field or in a crusade to Palestine; they were war-lords all. Laval was
their principal stronghold, midway between Rennes and Le Mans, where
the machicolated donjon of the Seigneurs of La Trémouille, upon its
isolated rock, dominates the smiling country-side.
The full title of the lordly Guys was Counts of Laval, Vitré, Gaure,
and Montfort--all in Brittany. Count Guy XIII. had ten children by
his consort Isabelle: Guy, who succeeded him as Guy XIV.; Pierre,
Duke and Archbishop of Reims; Yolande, sponsored by Queen Yolande
of Sicily-Anjou, and twice married, last to Charles of Anjou, King
René’s brother; Françoise, who only survived her birth fourteen days;
Jehanne, or Jeanne; Anne, died in infancy; Artuse, who died unmarried
at Marseilles in 1467; Hélène, wife of Jehan de Malestroit, son of the
Bishop of Nantes by his mistress, Isabel Kaër; and Louise, who married
Edward, Count of Penthièvre. Guy XIII., inconsolable for the loss of
the mother of his children, sought comfort in another matrimonial
venture, and for his second wife took Françoise, daughter of Jacques
de Dinan, Seigneur of Châteaubriant and Grand Butler at the Court of
King Charles VI. She bore him three children,--Pierre, François, and
Jacques,--so Jehanne was a member of a large and, we may presume, a
happy family. Little Jehanne was baptized in the Audience Hall of the
Castle of Auray by Amaury de la Motte, Bishop of Vannes.
There is rarely very much to record of the early years of any girl’s
life, and Jehanne de Laval was no exception. A maiden was only made
conspicuous by an early betrothal, and for that her parents worked
assiduously. Jehanne was an exception to the rule of precocious
marriages, for no one appears to have claimed her hand and heart until
she was past her majority, and suitors probably regarded her as a
negligible quantity. Jehanne, however, was not wanting in her _entrée_
upon the world of men and manners, and we make her acquaintance when
not more than fourteen years of age, as she comes forward curvetting
upon a _blanche haquenée_ at a royal tournament.
This was King René’s Anjou tournament, famous, with those in Lorraine
and Provence, as the most brilliant ever seen in France. The “Lists”
in the Anjou tournament were held in turn at Angers, Chinon, and
Saumur, and it was at the latter gathering of chivalry, in 1446, that
every knight and squire, every dame and damsel, turned in amazement
as they beheld “a very young girl of most graceful shape and bearing,
covered with a thin veil, and wearing silken garments sparkling with
precious stones, riding most easily up to the tribune of honour.”
The colours of her habit were blue and white--blue, as tender as her
eyes; white, fair as her skin. The reins and crupper of her palfrey
were decked with ribbons, blue and white, and he bore nodding feathers
upon his head-piece. At each side walked her brothers Guy and Pierre,
decked, too, in Laval colours, the most good-looking and best dressed
of all the pages, holding the horse’s snaffle. By way of suite there
rode behind Jehanne de Laval,--for such was the beauteous maiden’s
name,--four maids of honour, each one a comely feature of a picture
pageant. Amid exclamations of admiration and most pleasant greetings,
the charming cavalcade described the circuit of the festival ground,
and then its “Queen” leaped lightly to her feet, and, advancing to the
royal stand, made curtsies to the Queens of Sicily and France, and to
Charles and René, their royal consorts.
Young knights and old came flocking round the “Fairy Queen,” and she,
naïve and winsome, cast furtive glances here and there, until her
bonnie blue eyes fastened themselves upon the young Count of Nevers,
and he delightedly stepped forth to cavalier her to her seat amid the
throng of beauty and fair fame upon the ladies’ seats of honour. He
was still _a parti_ in spite of his rejection as suitor for the hand
of Princess Margaret, and his handsome looks and gallant bearing stood
him in good stead where amorous maidens forgathered. King René,--ever
susceptible to female charms, both of mind and body,--did not behold
the fair Demoiselle de Laval unmoved; he had a tender spot in his
great loving heart for any attractive damsel; what healthy-minded man
has not? He could not know that that pretty, clever hand, which so
skilfully managed her curvetting cob, would one day take his in hers
for better, and not for worse!
The coming of young Jehanne de Laval to the tournament at Saumur
provided the sensation of the day’s exploits. The highest honour, which
the assembled knights before the encounters in the “Lists” began could
confer, was hers by universal acclamation. She was to be the lady
bearer of the champion’s crest, and, as “Queen of Queens,” to affix
the coveted guerdon of victory upon the helm of the most successful
knight. This election was preceded by a characteristic observance, true
to the pure spirit of chivalry. Each knight had to kneel before an
altar for the blessing of his weapons, and for the mental registration
of his suffrage for the “Queen.” She was “the lady of his thought.”
So, certainly, the beauteous apparition of the young daughter of Guy
de Laval caused many a misgiving in the hearts of gallant men. The
“Lady” each had chosen none divulged by name, but, all the same, Cupid
had done so to the ears of curious friends and foes. The wholesale
desertion of their chosen divinities might very well account for hard
looks and frowns from emulous maidens:--all we know, is not gold that
glitters!
The precious _gage d’amour et de guerre_, the champion’s crest, took
the form of a small gold crown, heavily jewelled, from which sprang,
retained by wires of gold, three pure white curled feathers of the
crested heron. It was awarded to the knight whose bearing in the
“Lists” had been the most gallant, and whose victories over adversaries
had been most effective, and who had thereby gained the unanimous votes
of the tournament judges. Other prizes there were of scarcely less
distinction: the first, a golden lance in miniature, to the knight
who administered the most brilliant blow and in the shortest time;
the second, a rich ruby valued at 1,000 _écus d’or_,--for mounting in
his helm,--for the breaker of the most lances; and the third, a pure
diamond of a similar value, for him who lasted out the longest before
being vanquished by his opponent’s lance.
The “Bringing in the Champion’s Crest” was a remarkably pretty
ceremony. The “Queen of Beauty,” attended by two maids of honour, all
clad in full state robes, with towering _hennins_, and wearing superb
jewels and ornaments, were escorted to a chamber of preparation, within
the castle, immediately before the closing banquet of the tournament.
There a procession was marshalled; pages of the contestant knights,
arrayed in their proper colours and wearing ermine mantles, danced
gaily before the “Queen of Beauty,” and knelt as she advanced, bearing
the flashing crest upon an embroidered scarf. Pursuivants, heralds, and
kings-of-arms, swelled the glittering progress with tabards, wands,
and crowns. Masters of the ceremony were in attendance on the “Queen.”
All moved with grace and dignity to the banqueting-hall, which they
traversed up to the royal daïs, accompanied by attendants bearing great
flaring torches and waxen candles. Everybody rose at the entry of the
procession, and the Prince of highest rank handed the “Queen” to her
special seat, whence she might receive the homage of the knightly
company, and bestow upon the champion the crest she bore. Strident
music and the blare of brazen horns filled the great hall, and the
high-pitched roof re-echoed the plaudits of the company.
The “Grand Prix” was gained neither by King René nor by King Charles.
The former, indeed, caused a sensation by appearing in black tournament
armour, his shield studded with silver spangles; his lance was black,
and his charger caparisoned in a black housing, which trailed the
ground. René was mourning still for his good mother, Queen Yolande, and
for his second son of promise rare, Louis, Marquis of Pont-à-Mousson.
The “Champion of Champions” was not the Count of Nevers,--perhaps
to Jehanne’s regret,--but Louis de Beauvau; whilst the second prize
fell to Robert de Florigny, and the third to Ferri de Vaudémont.
These famous tournaments did not lack the assistance by illustration
of painters; Jehannot le Flament,--better known nowadays as Jan van
Eyck,--King René’s master at Bar-le-Duc, was in attendance on his royal
pupil, and painted at least two considerable pictures of the pageants.
Alas! those valuable paintings are lost to us.
Well, the “Lists” were over, and the world and his wife resumed their
usual avocations, and Jehanne de Laval went home once more with her
parents, to finish her education and to be provided with a husband. And
now the chroniclers of such events as matrimony fail us. Very well we
might have expected the announcement of the “Fairy Queen’s” betrothal
immediately after that famous tournament. But no--and in vain we search
for the reason. Jehanne was not espoused. Some have said that Count
Guy, seeing King René’s unconcealed admiration for his captivating
little daughter, and bearing to his beloved companion in peace and
war well-worn confidence, conceived a romantic dream. Queen Isabelle
was said to be very delicate. She might die young, and then Jehanne
might be René’s solace and his love! Whether the King and the maiden
met again and often we do not know. Very likely indeed they did, for
Jehanne and Margaret d’Anjou were playmates, and Laval was not so very
far from Angers. This is a dream, of course.
There is a touching story which connects Jehanne de Laval with another
Margaret--Margaret of Scotland, the virtuous and accomplished spouse
of Louis the Dauphin, and a great favourite with King Charles and
Queen Marie. The unhappy Princess died of poison at Sarry-le-Château
on August 16, 1445--poison administered, it was understood, by her
unscrupulous husband. She was only twenty-three years of age, but had
been Dauphiness for eight years--years of neglect and cruelty. Among
the suite which gathered around the bonnie Scottish Princess were
young girls, and of these one was Jehanne de Laval, of whom Margaret
made a special pet, and shared with her her meals and leisure. Some
candies were given to the children by the Princess, who rejected them
as tasting bitter. Margaret, to allay their mistrust, ate a number, and
she sickened and died. Her last words were: “A curse on life! Don’t
trouble me about it.” This lamentable cry was drawn from her through
the false aspersions on her honour raked up against her by her husband.
Marriage was indeed a failure to Margaret of Scotland, for “there was
no one she dreaded,” says de Commines, “like my lord the Dauphin.”
The next scene wherein Jehanne de Laval is recorded to have been a
participant was the obsequies of Queen Isabelle of Sicily-Anjou and
Naples. We may, however, be quite certain that she was not absent very
far what time that excellent Princess was in Angers attending to the
education of her family. They were all of near age to the daughter of
Count Guy. Yolande d’Anjou was five years her senior, and Margaret no
more than four. Be this as it may, King René, anyhow, was not very
much in Anjou; his brain and hands were full of warlike things, and
embarrassed by lack of means.
René d’Anjou, King and Duke, the _preux chevalier_ of all the
beautiful women in his dominions, did not fail to excite feelings
of admiration and of a profounder passion in the pulsating hearts
of the amorous women and girls of Genoa. There he was received
with acclamations by warrior men, and with kisses by their wives
and sweethearts. A foreign Prince, especially if he had gained
renown in love and war, was always welcomed enthusiastically by the
strong-blooded Ligurians. The customary characteristic offering of the
city,--a maiden or two of high birth,--was at the King’s disposal.
Their names, alas! have not been recorded, but René showed his
appreciation of his host’s magnificent and patriarchal hospitality by
despatching, on November 10, 1447, four splendid collars of beaten
gold, with medallions of himself, to Tommaso Spinola, Giacomo Fiesco,
Tommaso Fregoso, and Francesco Doria, fathers of his _innamorate_.
The historians of Genoa all wrote sententiously of the royal visitor:
“Every woman, even the poorest, put on a new guise,--pure white
raiment,--in compliment to the Holy Maid’s lieutenant, and all wore
ornaments of pure gold in token of their love for her, and for him
their favour. Tournament, dance, and song, made the city a rare
paradise of joy.” The daughters of Genoa,--true daughters of Eve,--ever
evoked the encomiums of all, as the following quaint quintet, in
perhaps dubious parlance, affirms:
“Le Donne son Santi in Chiesa,
Angele in Istrada,
Diavole in Casa,
Civette alla Finestra,
Gassi alla Porta.”
“Women are Saints in Church,
Angels in the Street,
Devils at Home,
Owls in the Window,
Magpies at the Door.”
On Monday, March 5, 1453, when the Queen’s burial casket was borne
under its silken canopy through the streets of Angers, twenty fair
daughters of Anjou and the adjoining States strewed white flowers in
the way. Their leader was Jehanne de Laval, now grown to womanhood,
fresh and sweet. She had loved the lamented Queen, and learned
much from her gentle ways and her heroism, and she grieved for the
bereavement of King René and his children. Companions in love and
comrades in sorrow cling equally to one another, and those who rejoice
together in the sunshine compassionate each other in the shade. Pity is
the tender veil of Cupid’s favours.
II.
King René’s grief at the untimely death of his devoted spouse
completely unstrung the man and disabled the monarch. He gave himself
away to tears and melancholy, from which even the embraces of his
children failed to rouse him. His Ministers and courtiers viewed the
desolation of their Sovereign with sincere and deep concern, for it
threatened to unnerve him permanently for the arduous duties of his
station. A consultation was held at Angers by the Barons and nobles
of Anjou, Maine, Lorraine, Barrois, and Provence, with respect to
their beloved Sovereign’s prostration, and a unanimous decision was
reached--a second marriage with a young consort, comely, cultivated,
and of good fame. A petition was presented to the King praying him to
yield to the advice of his “right loyal lieges,” that he should look
out for some noble and virtuous “_pucelle qui fust à son gré_.” They
add: “We have found just such _une très belle fille nommée Jehanne de
Laval_,--wise, well-conditioned, and of adult age,--and we know that
she is ready to become the spouse of our very good lord.”
The sorrowful King took heart of grace, acceded to his subjects’
agreeable suggestion, and, knowing well himself all young Jehanne’s
charms, despatched forthwith a gallant embassy to his old friend,
Count Guy, demanding the hand of his beauteous daughter. Only one bar
appeared to stop the course of true love,--for such René’s was for
Jehanne,--the disparity of age: he was forty-seven, she twenty-two.
This was soon dismissed, and “May” and “December” were betrothed in
the August month of ripe red gold. Articles of marriage were signed
at Angers on September 3, 1455--by Seigneur de Couldray, Captain of
the Guard; Guy de Laval; Louis de Beauvau; the Counts of Vendôme and
Tancarville; the Seigneur de Lohere; Raoul de Bosket; and Olivier de
Feschal--whereby the bride’s _dot_ was fixed at 40,000 _écus d’or_
(_circa_ £2,000). The marriage ceremony was celebrated at the abbey
church of St. Nicholas d’Angers on September 16 by Cardinal de Foix,
Archbishop of Arles, in the presence of Bishops and deputations from
every part of King René’s dominions. The wedding ceremony was notable
for the appearance of the bride’s young brother Pierre, a boy of eleven
years of age, habited in full episcopal vestments. He was nominal
Archbishop of Reims and Bishop of St. Brieux and St. Malo.
The citizens of Angers received their new Queen “_en grant joye et
lyesse_,” but, notwithstanding the general satisfaction, the Court
became grave and serious, and, to universal astonishment, there were
neither tournaments for the nobles nor junketings for the poorer
people. The heart of the King was still sore; he seemed disinclined for
festivities, and sought solitude and devotional exercises; his spirit
was _acharné_--sad within him. “Had he,” people asked, “renounced the
pleasures he so loved for ever?” René found relief from the tension of
his feelings in the composition of a moral allegory which he entitled
“_Le Mortefiement de Vaine Plaisance_,” which he dedicated to his
confessor, Jean Bernard, Bishop of Tours. It is by way of being a
dialogue between a soul devoured by love divine and a heart full of
earthly vanities. Other _dramatis personæ_ are introduced at intervals:
“Fear of God;” “Divine Justice;” “Faith,” “Hope,” and “Sovereign Love,”
with “True Contrition.” Midway in the lengthy poem is a “similitude,”
accompanied by a very beautiful drawing, showing a Queen,--perhaps
Isabelle,--seated open-bosomed in a country waggon, bare-headed, her
crown upon her knees. The two horses are tandem-harnessed, the wheeler
bestridden by a rider with a thong in hand, the leader turning sharply
round. Thus did René’s poetic imagination picture his loss and his woe.
The dedication is most touching: “Considering that the course of life
runs like a river, without stopping or running back, it is necessary to
do good deeds to earn a sweet repose. I set myself to write this book
for the love of the Redeemer, but, that my work may be useful for all,
I tell in plain speech the conflict of the soul and heart.”
The royal couple left Angers immediately after their marriage, and
spent the month’s honeymoon at the Castle of Launay les Saumur. Then
they set off for Provence, and reached Arles early in November. This
was the prelude to an entirely new course of life which King René had
in his mind. For thirty years and more he had courted the smiles of
Fortune in the arena of arms, and she had only given him frowns. His
courage and his chivalry had met with scant success. Hopes disappointed
and finances wasted, he was a wiser if a poorer man; but now the
residue of his days and enterprises should be differently expended.
Peace has its triumphs as well as war. Poets and writers, troubadours
and musicians, artists and craftsmen, farmers and sportsmen, and
peasants and fishermen, were peaceful folk; with such would he throw in
his lot--a _roi-patron_, a _roi-fainéant_, would he be!
The journey to the south was, as usual, by river barge up the winding
sylvan Loire to Roanne, and thence _à portage_ to Valence, and on by
water past Montelimart, Orange, and Avignon. The King, like other
rulers in France, maintained a fleet of vessels for trade and pleasure
upon the splendid waterways. It was, of course, a royal progress such
as René and his father and brother, and Queen Yolande, his venerated
mother, had often made, and very cordial were the greetings by the
way. At Arles, where the King and Queen were rapturously received,
they found awaiting them deputations from every considerable place in
Provence, each bearing goodly offerings to their liege lord and lady.
Arles presented 400 _écus d’or_ in two enamelled gold flasks, and six
chased cups of silver; Aix, two great bowls of silver embossed and
jewelled, six silver cups, and three goblets of gold; Marseilles, 200
_écus d’or_, to be spent in buying fine wax, at the pleasure of the
Queen,--a treasured possession,--and four silver cups; Avignon, twelve
enamelled silver cups and two gold goblets; Tarascon, a great gold ewer
and six small goblets--and so on. Formalities completed and _Te Deum_
sung, René and Jehanne went off to Aix, there to settle and to arrange
their household affairs. In recognition of this auspicious visit to
Provence, the King created his consort Countess of Les Baux, with
proprietary rights in that ancient stronghold.
The ancient family had become extinct in the comely person of
Countess Alix, a helpless girl placed under the guardianship of her
uncle, Robert de Beaufort, better known as “_Le Fléau de Provence_,”
the leader of a band of ruffians designated “_Les Tards-Venus_.”
Fair Alix died unmarried in 1426, and the county of Les Baux passed
to Louis III. d’Anjou, King René’s brother. For Jehanne de Laval her
loving spouse repaired and decorated the ruinous old castle. The
pleasure-grounds were laid out by René, and the “_Pavillon de la
Royne Jehanne_” erected, a true “_Pavillon d’Amour_,” wherein he and
she could repose and utter sweet nothings to one another, and revive
also some of the fascinating observances of the once famous “Court of
Love” of Les Baux. Spirits of former Countess-Presidents of Chapters
of the Troubadours flitted to and fro the “Chamber of the Rose.” The
beauteous if fateful sisters, Étiennette and Douce, gracious spouses of
two fierce rival Counts, Raymond des Baux and Berenger de Barcelona,
but rivals in the poems and dances of the troubadours, away in the
twelfth century, looked down, perhaps, from the eerie thrones in “_Il
Paradiso_” upon the new Queen of Beauty. The girlish figure, too, of
Cécile des Baux, “_La Passe Rose_,” the fairest beauty of them all,
sought, a century later, the spiritual companionship of Alix, the last
of the châtelaines, with her to observe the graceful figure of Queen
Jehanne. Memories of lovely women and the romances of their lives
appealed irresistibly to the royal troubadour; he could picture the gay
crowds in the games of Love. Dark deeds, too--the clash of weapons and
the stealthy poniard; the smothered cries from the _oubliettes_, and
the defiant oaths of men in irons: these the imaginative poet-monarch
could most easily re-create. A thought-moving memento of a vivid and
lurid past was brought to light not so many years ago in a coffin
discovered in the crypt of the ruined church of St. Catherine--it was
a woman’s long soft golden hair cut off at the roots. To whom did this
_cabelladuro d’or_ belong? Some beauty done to death, perhaps, or
peacefully fallen upon sleep in the dim, dim past? Or was it, as it may
have been, the _chevelure_ of that beautiful young Italian girl in the
suite of Queen Jehanne, who married at Les Baux the Queen’s Seneschal,
and died ere ever that day’s curfew sounded? The “_Pavillon de la Royne
Jehanne_,” with its miniature dome and delicate frieze, supported
on Ionic columns, still stands, but hidden away amid cornstalks and
verdure, whilst, alas! nothing whatever remains of the Queen’s gardens,
where courtier cavaliers flirted and toyed with her Maids of Honour.
Jehanne loved Les Baux almost as much as she did her Laval barony of
Beaufort, and René loved it, too, for her sake.
[Illustration: SAINT MADELEINE PREACHING BEFORE KING RENÉ AND QUEEN
JEHANNE AT MARSEILLES
From a Painting by King René. Musée de Cluny, Paris]
Early in the springtide which followed the settlement of the King
and Queen in Provence, they sought the peaceful charms of the
country-side, and made their way, accompanied by a very limited suite,
to the neighbourhood of Tarascon. The stately castle, so lately
René’s favourite abode, had little attraction for ruralizing royalty,
so they packed themselves into a modest _bastide_, or farmstead,
upon the kingly estate, Pertuis, not far from Cadenet, below Mont
Lubéron. Its position was delightful, overlooking the turbulent river
Durance, with its strewn verdure-grown rocks and boulders, and its
banks lined by sedges, willows, and alders, hiding many a still pool
of trout. There the royal couple wandered forth hand in hand, quite
unattended, amid the growing vines and chestnut woods, conversing with
all the country-folk they met, sharing with them their homely fare,
and watching delightedly their rural games and dances. Many a time
René, with Jehanne as his happy assessor, sat upon old _saules_, or
willow stumps, under a spreading tree, to receive requests and discern
disputes, dispensing royal justice with the simple hand of equity.
The life they led was an ideal one--a dream, an inspiring fantasy. The
songs of birds, the brush of wings of butterflies, the thousand and
one mysterious sounds of animated, sun-cheered Nature, and the scent
of spring narcissi, with the glowing glories of anemones, seemed all
to be in harmony with the fresh greenery of tree and crop, the gambols
of young lambs, and the cooing of sweetheart doves. The King and Queen
became for the nonce shepherd and shepherdess; Jehanne was nymph of
the bosquets, René her impassioned Apollo, his heart’s wounds healed
at last, his soul’s new hopes at bud. The Muse of Poetry dwelt also
in that pleasant fairy-land, and her voice, rustling the zephyr-moved
foliage, reached the poetic nature of the agrestical King, and out of
his sympathetic brain came the impulse of the hand which penned one of
the most delicate and affecting “Pastorals” that ever man produced.
The scene is laid in the meadows of the royal country house, where
shepherds and shepherdesses and toilers in the soil,--vigorous and
fair,--are giving themselves away to the joys of pastoral revels.
Chancing that way is a pilgrim, newly come from recording his vows
at the shrine of Nôtre Dame de Larghet. Looking ahead, the penitent
beholds the entrancing vision, and, whilst he brushes away the
assiduous attentions of a big bumble-bee, he is conscious of voices
murmuring close at hand. It is but the love-chat of a lovelorn lad and
lass, seated by a dripping fountain of the rivulet. Behind them is
the stump of a great forest king with no more than one lean branch to
show its life. The youth vanishes mysteriously, but the girl beckons
caressingly to the wandering pilgrim, and she invites him with dulcet
voice:
“Regnault, vien environ
De la souche; et nous asseon,
Cy toy et moy!”
“Regnault, come thee near
This tree; have no fear,
Only thee and me!”
The shy wanderer approaches diffidently, and then the maiden opens her
little luncheon basket, which hangs from her shoulders by blue silken
ribbons, and eats a portion of a roll; to him she offers the remainder.
The fascination of the moment overrides all scruples, and Regnault,
as she has called him, kneels at his enchantress’s feet, strokes her
hands and arms, and protests his love. The damsel is willy-nilly, and
naïvely cries: “All fall in love, and all fall out; and so may you,
fair sir, for aught I know!” Carried away by the vehemence of his
passion, Regnault tries to seize the girl and press his hot lips upon
hers, so coral pink; but she evades him, slips from his grasp, and,
presto! she has vanished. All dazy-wazy Regnault rises, holds out his
hands beseechingly, and then, folding them upon his breast, with bowed
head he seeks once more the mountain shrine, and before our sweet Lady
of Consolation pours out his heart and his soul. Compline still finds
him saying his _Aves_, and Night covers him with her restful shroud;
his last words are addressed to his meadow nymph:
“T’ameray très parfaictment,
Du bon du Cuer si loyaument,
Que ne te fauldray nullement
Jusques à mort.”
“I love thee perfectly,
From bottom of my heart;
I will never fail thee
Till death us two shall part.”
This very beautiful poem the royal lover entitled “_Regnault et
Jehanneton_,” or “_Les Amours du Bergier et de la Bergeronne_,”--a
play, of course, upon his own name and Queen Jehanne’s. At the end of
the manuscript René drew a very pretty design--side by side two shields
of arms, his and Jehanne’s, united by a royal crown; his supporter,
on the left, _une souche_,--the stump of a forest tree,--with one
flourishing foliaged branch bearing a censer of burning incense; her
supporter, on the right, a chestnut-tree in full flower, and on a
branch two royal paroquets--lovebirds!
In 1457 the poet-King put forth an allegory of chivalry which he called
“_La Conqueste de Doulce Mercy par le Cuer d’Amour espris_.” The
conceit of the story is just a simple knight,--youthful, vigorous, and
a true lover of women,--setting forth for the devotion he holds for his
mistress to endure perilous adventures. René himself is, of course, the
hero of the poem, the intrepid soldier of Naples, the heroic prisoner
of Bulgneville.
The opening of the poem reveals “_le Bon Roy_” one night wakeful, and
suffering heartache--“_Mortie dormant en resverie_.” It appeared to
him that his heart left his breast, and that “_Vif Désire_” whispered
gently:
“Si, Doulce Mercy,
Desires de povoir avoir,
Il fault que tu faces devoir
Par la force d’armes l’acquerir.”
“If, True Chivalry,
Thou wouldst have power,
Then thy metal try
And by arms acquire.”
“_Vif Désire_” then armed “_Cuer_” with a blade of steel, keen and
bright, a helmet stamped with amorous thoughts bearing the crest of
hope, three blooms of “_N’oubliez mye_.” Then led gently forth, he
meets “_Franc Vouloir_,” tall and strong, and fully armed for all
emergencies; and putting spurs to his charger, he goes off at a gallop
with his companions. Over hill and dale they dash, until they come in
view of a lovely damsel--
“plaiesante et blonde
Et de tous biens la plus parfaict du monde.”
After passing through a weird forest, they emerge upon a smiling
valley, where they behold a sumptuous palace. On approaching, they see
a very splendid column of jasper, and after dismounting they read the
inscription carved thereon:
“A vous, tous Cuers gentilz et gracieux,
Qui conquérir voulez pour valori mieulx
Du Dieu d’Amour et de vos Dames aussi
Doulce grace et eureuse mercy.
N’ayez en vous changement de pensée
Pour delaissier vos premières amours,
Soiez loyaux sans varier tousjours,
Pitie pur vous ne sera par lasée.”
Whilst pondering over this epithet, a very beautiful woman approaches
them, splendidly attired in royal robes, and seizes hold of the reins
of “_Franc Vouloir’s_” steed. “_Cuer_” at once turns to her, and,
kneeling, kisses her hand and asks her name. “_Douce Éspérance_,” she
replies, “and I greet you, worthy gentlemen, and desire to set you
on your way.” Directed by this gracious lady, they reach the shores
of a great lake or sea, and, moored by the water’s edge, they espy a
little sailing vessel, and in it two lovely maidens--“_Fiance_” and
“_Actente_”--about whom “_Douce Éspérance_” had spoken. Leaving their
mounts to wander free, the travellers board the frail craft, and,
presto! they are at the glorious temple of the Isle of Love. The day
passes dillydally; they all sup together, and the sweet, soft shadows
hide their repose. Other characters are “_Bel Accueil_,” “_Franchise_,”
“_Piété_,” “_Faux Semblant_,” and “_Largesse_”; and the allegory ends,
as all should do, in the complete victory of Cupid.
The year that Louis XI., by his greed and treachery, drove his
noble uncle, “_le Bon Roy René_,” out of Anjou was one of trial and
embarrassment for the King of Sicily. At first his feelings, outraged
by the infamous behaviour of the son of his best-loved sister, Queen
Marie, got the better of his equanimity, and he gave way to indignant
protests; but when a man is in his sixties he learns to put up with
base affronts. René learned by sad experience to measure hypocrites
by their professions, but to leave their castigation to posterity. He
accepted philosophically, adverse circumstances as they arose and not
only checked the expression of his own sentiments, but discouraged
reprisals on the part of his impatient and indignant subjects. With
this same restraint the poet-King put forth a sententious drama, which
he entitled “_L’Abuzé en Court_”; we may translate it, perhaps, “The
Victim of Circumstances.” Its theme may be gauged as follows: Within
the shady portal of an ancient church,--the pavement strewn with the
persons of the blind and crippled seeking alms,--a pious wayfarer
beheld an oldish man whose silken though shabby attire spoke of better
days. His doublet was torn and his long poniard broken, his light brown
hair streaked with silver strands, and his pouch poorly furnished. The
wayfarer speaks kindly to the victim of Providence:
“Mon gentil homme, Dieu vous garde,
Et vous doint ce que déseriez.
Pardonnez moi, je vous en prie,
Et me dictez par courtousie
De vostre vie le renom
Que vous estez et vostre nom.”
“My good fellow, God protect you,
And grant you all that now you desire.
Forgive me fully, now I pray you,
And tell me something of your despair.
By your courtesy I would your name,
And your life’s story and deeds of fame.”
_L’Abuzé_ politely replies:
“Sire! pourquoi le demandez
C’est raison que je vous le dye.
J’ay nom sans que riens en mesdye
Le pouvre homme abuzé en court.”
Then he goes on to tell his story--the story of his life’s adversity,
a biograph of René’s. In happy days, now past, he had his amours and
his ambitions, his military exploits and his acts of peace. Much
of his time he had spent unselfishly caring for others, whose weal
depleted his purse and embarrassed his affairs until he was forced to
settle with his creditors. The narrative is worked out in dialogue
by the concourse of many speakers--among them a great lady, “_La
Court_”--Providence, and two _demoiselles_ of pity--“_Abuz_”--Wantoncy,
and “_Folcuideo_”--Mockery.
The _mise en scène_ varies as the tension, and the vicissitudes of
human life are presented under every aspect. The poem is a “morality,”
as that term was erstwhile understood.
The end of the whole matter is summed up characteristically as follows:
“J’ay pascience!
Et pour vostre paine et salaire
Y-a-t-il aulcun que y pense?
Pour à voz loyers satisfaire
Que avez vous?
J’ay pascience!”
“Patience is mine!
For your ailing and for your health,
Is there anything for which you pine
Openly to gain, or by your stealth,
What would you?
Patience is mine!”
René and Jehanne went to Provence in 1473 in the guise of fugitives.
The Angevines deplored excessively this exile; they loved both King and
Queen, and Louis and all his works they hated cordially. René saw no
other course to follow. He was heavily cast down by family afflictions.
Jean, his noble eldest son, was dead; dead, too, were Charles d’Anjou,
his brother, and Nicholas, his dear grandson, and Ferri de Vaudémont.
He sought peace and consolation, and Provence and the Provençaux
offered both most loyally.
The story of Louis’s perfidy may be shortly told. In 1474 René
proclaimed Charles de Maine, his nephew, his heir to Anjou-Provence,
regardless of the French King’s presumptions. Louis summoned his uncle
to Paris to answer before the Parliament. Something of a compromise
was come to, for Louis said he should be content for Charles to be
proclaimed Duke and Count, but after him he or his heirs would annex
both duchy and county to France.
It had always been the policy of Sovereigns to encourage
knight-errantry and tournaments, for the competitors who assembled
became lieges of the lord. The names and performances of candidates
were inscribed on parchment rolls with gold and enamels; these were
read out aloud by tabarded heralds. The champions were escorted
in pageants to be decorated by the Queen or Lady President of the
“Lists”--a graduation, so to speak, in a world-wide University of
chivalry. In 1453 Duke Philippe of Burgundy instituted a very singular
festival, “The Pageant of the Pheasant,” in which knights were made
to swear for Church and fame. The oath ran as follows: “I _N._ swear
before God, my Creator, in the first place; the ever-glorious Mary,
His mother; and, lastly, before these ladies of the tournament and the
Pheasant, to be a true and Christian knight.” The Pheasant was the
emblem of fecundity, the mascot of would-be brides and mothers!
Troubadours and “Courts of Love” were complements of warlike deeds on
stricken field or in tilting-joust. The Provençal seigneurs and their
ladies lived in lonely castles, with nothing on earth to do. Provence
was the cradle of the troubadours. Every troubadour had to choose the
lady of his passion; she might return it or not, as she chose. It was
Guillaume de Poitou, a very famous troubadour, who gave the maxim: “If
you propose a game of love, I am not too foolish to refuse, but I shall
choose the side that is the best.” All this appealed to King René, and
his bent fell in distinctly with that of the famous troubadours of the
past. His poetic and sentimental nature found reflective expression in
the old “_Magali_,” of the popular melodies of Provence:
“O Magali ma tant amado,
Mete la tête au fenestroun,
Esecuto un pan aguesto subado
De Tambourine, de Viouloun
Esplein estello paramount,
L’Auro os tournado
Mailes estello paliran
Quand te verraut.”
This was the spirit of the life to which King René introduced his young
and beauteous consort--a romantic existence which appealed forcibly
to the sweet instincts of the royal bride. Her response was the joy
of René’s heart; if denied the fruit of sexual love, he and she were
productive of the issue of kindred souls. They lived for one another in
an elysium of bliss, chaste and unalloyed, with no qualms of conscience
and no aftermath of reproach.
René’s love of Jehanne became a passion; her freshness and animation
and the evenness of her disposition were to him like so many springs of
invigorating water, whence, quaffing, he ever rose to new activities.
She became the inspirer of his poetry, the spur in his official duties,
and the pivot of his benevolence. He was never tired of extolling her
virtues in prose and verse, nor of painting her in miniature and in
large. It was said that he always carried about with him wherever he
went her portrait, which he himself painted upon a small oval piece
of walnut wood let into a locket frame of chiselled gold and enamel.
More than this, his most treasured trophy of the “Lists”--the lance
with which he unseated Charles VII. at the nuptial tournament for Queen
Marguerite d’Anjou--contained an orifice wherein he inserted another
likeness of “_la bonne Jehanne_.” In the inventory of his garderobe
at Angers Castle we read: “_Item, Ung bois de lance creux, ou il y a
dedans un rollet de parchemin, auquel c’est dedans la portraicture de
la Royne de Sicile._”[A]
[A] “Item, A hollow lance pole wherein there is a roll of
parchment upon which is a portrait of the Queen of Sicily.”
The _Comptes de Roi René_, filling very many folios, wherein are
noted household, State, and private expenses and other correlative
matters, were stored in the _Chambre des Comptes_ which René caused to
be built at Angers Castle. A suite of apartments facing the river was
used for the transaction of business matters and for the deposit of
valuable documents. Here, too, was the King’s council-chamber, whilst
in the gardens stretching in front along the river-side were cages and
caves, wherein were kept many lions and strange beasts the collection
of which became a royal hobby. Beyond the spacious buildings at the
centre of the gardens was a pavilion which René used as a study and a
sanctum, wherein he spent much of his leisure time dreaming, reading,
and writing. Here he kept a register of artists and artisans, noting
their several qualifications, their works, and their honorariums and
salaries. He had a sort of school of architect-surveyors who, under his
personal direction, prepared plans and projections of all the works,
public and private, in which he was interested--markets, bridges,
fountains, cottages, etc.
A work at Angers in which he took the greatest interest, and on which
he lavished large sums of money, was the erection and decoration of
a chapel within the Cathedral of St. Maurice, which he dedicated to
the ever-blessed memory of St. Bernardin, his cherished friend and
confessor.
Giovanni della Porta was born at Massa di Carrara at the close of 1384.
He took the cord and cowl of St. Francis d’Assisi, and was sent with
other brethren of the Order to evangelize the people of Marseilles.
He became attached to the household of King Louis II., René’s father,
and thus an intimacy sprang up between the two. He accompanied René
on all his expeditions to Italy, and remained in priestly attendance
upon him when at home. The good man died of fever at Aquila in Calabria
in 1449, and René, ever grateful to his mentor and spiritual father,
in 1450 prevailed upon Pope Nicholas V. to order his canonization.
Certain miracles said to have been wrought at his tomb in Southern
Italy, and weird happenings as his body was translated to Anjou,
convinced the Curia of his sanctity. His memorial chapel at Angers was
a sumptuous erection, and in its adornment the King took an active
part, painting the glass windows and the altar and its reredos. Before
the resting-place of the dead saint’s corpse René directed a funeral
chamber to be made, wherein he subsequently ordered by his will that
his heart should be deposited. This was an action truly characteristic
of “_le bon Roy_.” He had so often unburdened himself to the saint, and
from him had obtained not only absolution, but direction, that their
two hearts beat in accord in life, and in death they were also joined.
Not only did the heart of René rest near St. Bernardin, but the hearts
also,--each in its golden casket,--of Jehanne and the valiant and
chivalrous Jean de Calabria, René’s eldest son.
King René and Queen Jehanne were pious folk indeed. At Marseilles, at
Tarascon, and at Aix itself, they assisted humbly at Church festivals,
processions, and pilgrimages. The lives and loves of the humble
home at Bethany in Palestine, transhipped to the reverent shores of
tuneful Provence, kindled the affection and the reverence of one and
all. The feasts of “_Les Maries_,” St. Marthe de Tarasque, and of St.
Maximin, good Lazarus’s disciple, were honoured by enthusiastic annual
devotions. No one tired of hearing of those saintly lives, and no
sacrifice was too great to show the heart’s devotion. King René and
his consort’s offerings took the form of costly reliquaries in gold,
enamels, and jewels, depositories upon high-altars for holy relics.
The royal couple assisted at the translation of St. Martha’s relics
to Tarascon, May 10, 1458. In 1461 from Aix went a splendid casket
to the collegiate church of St. George at Nancy, in pious memory of
that redoubtable warrior and of the gentle Isabelle de Lorraine. It
was intended for the encasement of a thigh-bone of the Knight of
Cappadocia. The King and Queen in 1473 presented another precious
reliquary to the Church of St. Nicholas du Port at Angers, and with it
they bestowed upon the clergy the unique gift of an arm and a hand of
the saint. Twelve leagues from Aix is the curious little town of St.
Maximin, where, in the thirteenth-century church,--built by Charles
II. of Naples and Provence, ancestor of Queen Giovanna II.,--are
preserved the sacred bones of St. Mary Magdalen. The skull, it is said,
has still a small fragment of flesh adhering where Christ touched her
forehead. Here, too, the kingly couple bestowed a golden reliquary for
the saint’s right arm and founded a perpetual Mass. This sad saint of
Christ, the repentant one, ever had great influence with René and his
royal consort. Not content with listening to her sweet voice,--perhaps
an imagination, after all,--in the streets of Marseilles (as the King
himself has depicted), in a beauteous retreat near Angers he fixed a
sweet shrine, La Baumette, or Bausome, near Reculée, where he founded a
hermitage, “La Madeleine de St. Baumette.” This was partly in honour of
“St. Baume,” as the Magdalen, the patroness of Provence was familiarly
called. In the chapel the King painted a picture of St. Bernardin
hearing confession--perhaps his own.
If René had lost the crown of Naples, another crown was shortly
laid at his feet. In 1469 the Grand Council of Barcelona rejected
Juan II. as King of Catalonia. He was brother of Alfonso V., René’s
rival and conqueror in Naples, but unpopular and blind, and somewhat
unready. His wife, the courageous Queen Blanche of Navarre, had taken
his place in line of battle, and was enthusiastically beloved by the
Catalonians; she died, unhappily, in 1468, of a cancer or of poison,
so it was rumoured, and with her died the love of Juan’s subjects. The
vacant throne was offered with one accord to King René of Sicily-Anjou,
the son of the beloved and venerated Princess Yolanda,--who had been
brought up at Barcelona,--the only child of old King Juan I. René, in
accepting the graceful tribute to his dear mother’s claim and person,
placed his son Jean de Calabria in the hands of the Catalonians, and
begged them,--his own age being far advanced, and his son in his
prime and a famous warrior,--to proclaim him in his stead. Jean was
acclaimed generally, and hastened to Barcelona to assume his crown,
being backed by Louis XI. with a money subsidy and a strong force of
men. The landing of the new King was a scene of uproarious rejoicing.
His princely qualities appealed to them, and his grandmother had been
their own Princess. People struggled to embrace his knees as he rode to
the castle; they kissed the harness of his charger, and ladies tossed
valuable rings and jewellery with their flowers and their kisses sweet.
[Illustration: “THE BURNING BUSH”
A Triptych at Aix Cathedral. Portraits of King René and Queen Jehanne.
Designed by King René, finished by Nicholas de Froment]
Alas for the joys of nations and of individuals! when things are
rosiest, and all tend to good and peace and prosperity, there swoops
down the insatiable mower with his scythe, to garner what men can
least well spare. King Juan III. of Catalonia and Calabria had not
been installed in the kingdom of his grandmother more than one short
year, when he fell ill of plague or poison,--the two fellest foes
to Sovereigns then,--and died at Barcelona on December 13, 1470. He
had fought for his father’s cause and his own right nobly in Italy,
defeating Ferdinand d’Aragon, Alfonso’s son, at Sarno in 1460, but,
beaten at Troia, he fled to Ischia.
The Castle of Beaufort was built upon a lofty rock rising above
the Loire, overlooking the whole of that fertile and lovely valley;
from its battlements both Angers and Saumur were visible. King René
purchased it and its estate in 1469 for 30,000 gold crowns, and
assigned it as part of Queen Jehanne’s fortune. After the King’s death
and burial, and when she had taken a sad and affectionate farewell of
her devoted people in Provence, the royal widow settled down in this
attractive residence, and there spent the residue of her life. The
_Comptes_ contain many items for building materials, decoration, and
furniture, showing King René’s anxiety to make his dear wife’s bijou
residence a very real pleasaunce for her.
René indeed was a master-builder, not merely in the way of a hobby,
but practically and in many places. He studied the works of Leon
Battista Alberti and other famous architects, and entertained and
employed numbers of Italian sculptors. Pietro da Milano was one of
these; he was engaged principally in Barrois, and there added the
duties of director of revels to his other artistic occupations. Marble
busts of René and Jehanne, of Queen Margaret of England and her unhappy
son Edward, Prince of Wales, of Ferri de Vaudémont and Yolande, with
their young son René, and many others, found expression under Pietro’s
skilful chisel. In the “_Farce des Pastoureaux_,” acted at the Palace
of Bar-le-Duc in August, 1463, King René provided costly dresses for
his clever little namesake grandson, then twelve years old, and for
the rest of the juvenile cast; these were made by Noel Bontault,
after Pietro da Milano’s designs. The King and his Court were then in
residence at the Castle of Louppy, which he had repaired along with
the castles of Clermont en Argonne, de Koeurs, and Bonconville, and
where he received and comforted his miserable daughter, the heroic
consort of Henry VI. Queen Jehanne’s ministrations to the forlorn
Queen were tenderly rendered and gratefully received. She is credited
with the characteristically graceful acts of reclothing the fugitive,
and according to Queen Margaret precedence and homage. King René’s
handiwork in all these enterprises was varied and extensive. He painted
the windows, he carved the escutcheons of arms, and he fashioned the
hinges and locks of the doors. The _Comptes_ prove by very many entries
his royal excellence as a craftsman as well as an artist. Scarcely a
church in Barrois, Lorraine, Anjou, and Provence, but bore evidence of
the kingly artistry. Perhaps his two specialities were glass working
and decorating, and wool and silk weaving and embroidery.
One of the most admirable works of the King and Queen,--for Jehanne
was not only the amanuensis of her husband, but his inspirer also,--was
the conception and the elaboration of the procession of the “_Fête
Dieu_” and “_Les Jeux de la Tarasque_.” This pageant originated in the
mind of René when, as a youth, he witnessed with emotion in 1427, at
Bar-le-Duc, “_La Mystère de la Passion_,” under the direction of Conrad
Bayer, Bishop of Metz. Thirty years of war and travel did not banish
the impression the young Christian warrior gained, and from time to
time in Anjou and elsewhere he composed _rondeaux_, _ballades_, and
_chansons_, in a masque or mystery which he called “_Le Roy Avenir_.”
In 1474 the King and Queen assisted at Aix at the first rendition of
“_Les Jeux de la Fête Dieu_.” This was preceded by “_La Procession du
Sacré_”--the Procession of the Sacred Host. All the clergy, nobles,
troubadours, pretty women, and gallant knights, of Provence assisted,
and all the trade corporations took part. Everybody in the procession
carried upon the tip of a white wand a piece of _pain béni_. Each
section of the cortège was a moving spectacle or pageant. The first
section, by acclamation, exhibited “_Lon Grand Juée deis Diables_”--the
Grand Play of the Devils. The devils were black and red and green, and
every youth’s ambition was to figure as a Prince of Darkness; indeed,
in later times a young fellow based his claim to be a devil on the
fact that his father and all his ancestors had been devils, so “_c’est
pourquoi ne le serrais je pas!_”
To “the Devils” succeeded “the Magi,” “the Innocents of Bethlehem,”
“the Apostles,” “the Queen of Sheba and Solomon,” and other _tableaux
movants_ from Scriptural sources. Most amusing were “The Play of
the Jews,” represented by human cats--a reference to the features
characteristic of the race; “_Les Chevaux fringants_,” hobby-horses
played by four-and-twenty children, dressed as knights of the “Lists”;
a masque of morris-dancers. The two last spectacles were lugubrious:
“The Company of Lepers” and “The March of Death.”
The revels filled five whole days in and out of church, through
and through the streets and squares, and out into the open
pleasure-grounds. Prizes were awarded, honours bestowed, and profits
made, and everybody was the better for the prodigality of “_le bon
Roy_” and the graciousness of “_la bonne Royne_.”
René had been in early life remarkable for his simple tastes and
abstemiousness in food and drink, and Queen Isabelle was equally
careful in personal matters. Their lives were passed in strenuous times
when self-denial required great sacrifices of individual indulgences.
Isabelle was a soldier’s wife, Jehanne the consort of a statesman when
life’s battle had given way to the ease of peace. Both were attractive
women, few their superiors, but Isabelle’s hand was upon the hilt of
the sword and the snaffle of the charger. Jehanne’s held the mirror of
fashion and the goblet of pleasure. After René and Jehanne had arranged
their domestic settlement in Provence, at once their Court became noted
for its magnificent hospitality. René employed the first master-cook of
the day, Maestro Guillaume Real, as his Master of the Household. People
nicknamed him “_Courçon_,” as marshal of the courses of a banquet,
rather than “_Soupçon_,” the secret of each! The royal repasts were
arranged as spectacles; at the cross high table were placed the hosts
and guests of honour, and at tables down the hall other guests were
accommodated. The walls were hung with silver and crystal sconces full
of torches or tapers, and the trophies of war and the chase belonging
to the house were there displayed. The covers and the service were as
rich and costly as could be. Gold, enamels, crystals, rare faience, and
other art treasures, were used with lavish taste.
Each course was proclaimed heraldically by blasts of horns and
_motets_ from the music gallery. The high table was served by knights
and men of rank, who bore the splendid bowls and dishes upon napery of
cloth of gold. The richer viands were enclosed in golden caskets, and
the keys offered to the guests, who in turn unlocked them and took or
refused their contents. Some of the confections have not their parallel
to-day. One table, for example, was made to represent a stag-hunt,
another a village revel, one a castle with a moat of rare vintage,
another an abbey church with bells pealing and hidden children singing.
Small animals and birds, and actually growing trees and flowers, were
used. The roast and the dessert were the _pièces de résistance_; each
was carried up the hall in gay procession with much ceremonious bowing,
and guarded by archers of the guard in gorgeous liveries. At the sight
of any very splendid and appealing course the whole lordly company were
wont to burst out into song--a well-known and lengthy _chanson_; it was
called “_Le Sauve-garde de ma Vie_.”
Over the anticlimax of the feast the kindly chroniclers usually draw a
discreet veil, for warriors in the field were vanquished in the hall,
and beauties beloved in the boudoir were forgotten in the debauch.
We may suppose rightfully, however, that the hospitalities of René
and Jehanne never caused a flush of shame or a prick of scorn. They
aimed at and happily succeeded in proving that “_il n’y pas au monde
de royauté comparable au bonheur d’être aimé d’elle_,” as the King
prettily termed it.
For twenty-five years the simple delights of a useful domestic life
were serenely enjoyed by the happy King and Queen. Their spirit of
contentedness hallowed the homes of their people, and Provence became
a paradise of peace. Certainly the want of children caused Jehanne
many a pang, but the devotion of a good husband, one so accomplished,
so unselfish, and so universally beloved, was a real compensation,
and she had learned the lesson of mingled weal and woe. She found
congenial occupation in furthering the good intentions of the King
and in ministering to all in need around her. She had, nevertheless,
quasi-maternal cares, for in the palace at Aix and in other royal
residences were several children and young people of both sexes,
besides the three acknowledged bastards by convention, who could lay
claim to royal parentage. Some of these are mentioned in _Les Comptes_
as receiving alimony and gifts from René. An entry on July 8, 1466,
records the gift to Demoiselle Odille of a pelisse of marten fur.
She was then somewhere about twenty years of age, but had charge of
the King’s rings and jewellery under the eye of Sieur Guillaume de
Remerville, the Treasurer of the Household. René had married her, in
1460, to Gaspare Spinola, a Genoese attendant in his train, who died
in 1465, leaving his child-widow to the care of her father. Another
child is also named, Hélène,--“_la petite Hélène_,” as René called
her,--an attractive little creature, “singing like a lark and dancing
like a gazelle,” who died on her fifteenth birthday, in the year 1469.
The King liked to have her near him at meal-times, when he fondled her
affectionately, “_comme ma vraie fille_.”
Besides these family cares, Queen Jehanne devoted much of her time
to feminine industries. In the convents, in the workshops, in the
fields, were poor girls and women needing assistance and encouragement.
The example of “good Queen Yolande” was ever before her eyes, and
she strove to make herself not only mistress of their hearts, but of
their occupations. Spinning, weaving, embroidering, and generally all
needlework, found her an accomplished executant. She, too, could use
her brush and palette, in miniature and in large, and her chisel and
mallet both in wood and stone, and she was a very excellent artificer
in gold and silver work. Her benefactions were on the most liberal and
most catholic scale; no good cause was overlooked, and when she came
to make her will, paragraph after paragraph was taken up by bequests
to charitable institutions and to cherished needy individuals. If
less devout than her sister-in-law, Queen Marie, and less religiously
exercised, Queen Jehanne was a model daughter of the Church, and
none recognized this more completely than His Holiness the Pope, who
bestowed upon her the precious decoration of the Golden Rose, “for
virtue as a spouse and benevolence as a Queen.”
Approaching her jubilee,--an anxious period for many women,--the good
Queen fell away in health, and appeared to be sickening for her end.
Poison was hinted at, but in all probability she suffered, not from
poison designedly administered, but from the poison of the atmosphere,
laden time out of mind, in those low-lying lands near the mouths of the
Rhine, with the seeds of disease--the dreaded plague and black-death.
Happily, Jehanne was able, through her robust constitution and
abstemious way of life, to throw off the evil effects of her malady;
but no sooner had she regained her accustomed vigour than a crushing
sorrow came to her--the mortal illness of her cherished spouse, King
René. His was a green old age, with his venerable but erect figure
and his winning if somewhat melancholy expression. His blue eyes and
gracious aspect drew forth confidence all round, and his gentle voice
and genial manners excited true affection. Dressed almost with monkish
severity in a great long coat of black silk or velvet, with a heavy
collar and revers of brown squirrel fur, and wearing a girdle with a
crucifix and beads, his long white hair was capped by a simple velvet
_berretta_, and he displayed neither jewels nor decorations, only his
Sovereign’s badge and chain of gold. He was a typical father of his
people.
Struck down mysteriously one day at Mass in the Cathedral of Aix by a
stalking epidemic,--he had not spared himself in visits of condolence
to the stricken and bereaved,--in the springtide of 1480, the King
was borne tenderly to the palace. No more tender nurse could there be
than his devoted consort. She took her station at once at his bedside,
and, laying her head upon his pillow, she cheered and solaced him as
none other could; only did she rouse herself for needful ablutions,
for food, and for the saying of the “Hours” in the oratory. With her
was a little maiden, René’s grandchild Marguerite, thirteen years of
age, Yolande de Vaudémont’s daughter, a great pet of Queen Jehanne. The
child had the sweetest of sweet voices,--a quality very precious in the
estimation of the King,--and she soothed his sufferings and refreshed
his weaknesses by childish songs and minstrelsy, whilst she stroked his
withered hands and in them placed her own.
At dawn of day, July 10, amid the rustling of the summer foliage
outside the wide-open windows of the palace, came whisperings from the
sick-room--soft, low, and sad: “_Le bon Roy est mort!_” It was gently
told to the weeping Queen by the royal physicians, but her Ladies of
Honour in the anteroom caught the ominous news besides. They stole
outside the heavy arras and told the terrible secret to the valets and
men-at-arms; then it flashed out through the galleries and across the
courtyards, and stayed the janitors of the gates as they prepared to
open them as usual for the new day’s life. “_Le bon Roy est mort!_”
soon was echoed through the city streets, and tears and protestations
of affection and tender souvenirs of regret found full utterance. “_Le
bon Roy is mort!_” was like the knell of doom. No one could realize it
or prophesy.
III.
No one has told us of Queen Jehanne’s sorrow--better so. No stranger
ever shares a full heart’s loss. Broken, but submissive and
self-sustained, her consort’s fortitude in distress had come to her as
well; she failed not at the moment of her trial. With her own hands she
led the last offices of reverent duty to the dead. Shrouded in a simple
white linen shift, but covered with the crimson and ermine mantle of
state, they laid their deceased Sovereign upon the canopied bed of
Estate, moved to the centre of the great hall. The Queen herself had
closed his eyes, and now she arranged his hands. In them she placed a
costly ruby cross he had given her at her marriage; at his feet she
laid the “_Livre des Heures_,” which was also his nuptial gift; and
then she placed around his neck the Sovereign’s jewel,--there was no
heir to wear it, alas!--and last of all she knelt and sprinkled holy
water on his corpse.
Every door and window was set wide ajar that, night or day, all might
see and pray and bless. Dusk fell on that long, long day, but the crowd
of loving servants and subjects still surged along reverently to pay
their last respects; and so night fell and passed, not in the peaceful
hush of slumber, but with smothered tread of painful feet and the
smothered sob of woe.
All Aix was hung in black, and on July 14 the streets were lined by
weeping citizens as the funeral cortège of “_le bon Roy_” passed to
the Cathedral of St. Sauveur. The burial casket, after the requiem and
Court ceremonies, was placed, not in a tomb direct, but in a _chapelle
ardente_, and watches of religious mounted guard and prayed. Soon the
wish of their venerated Sovereign was made public property, and then,
amid fresh lamentations lest Aix should lose his remains, appeals were
made to Queen Jehanne. She was deeply affected, but remained quiet and
resigned. She could not reverse her husband’s will, but she could allow
his body to remain awhile where it was. With this the authorities had
to be content, and forthwith, to strengthen their hold upon that sacred
casket, steps were taken to erect a splendid monument and tomb. An
embassy was sent off at once to Rome to ask for a “Bull” whereby the
late Sovereign’s directions as to the place of sepulture might be laid
aside. Aix was not so much jealous of Angers as she was devoted to her
King.
In accordance with the marital customs of the time, King René had
a mistress--perhaps more than one, but one at least whose name has
been preserved by chroniclers, Marie de la Chapelle, a respectable
middle-class woman of Provence. Whether “de la Chapelle” was a
sobriquet or not is not clear; probably it was so, and given her later
on in life after the artist King had painted her wearing a _chapelle_,
or black velvet hood, in a diptych, wherein he faces her, which he kept
secretly in his own studio. It is said that she did not really love
René, but liked to rule him and to direct the royal household. She was
exigeant, too, for the legitimatizing of the three children she bore
the King, whom René had always duly acknowledged as his. These were
Jean, “_le Bâtard d’Angers_,” created, after the premature death of
Prince Louis, Marquis de Pont-à-Mousson and Seigneur of St. Cannot;
Blanche; and Madeleine. Jean married Isabelle, daughter of Raymond de
Glandevez, Ambassador to the Pope, pro-Governor of Genoa, and Grand
Master of France. Blanche d’Anjou married Bertrand de Beauvau, Seigneur
de Precigny, Master of the Court of Angers and Seneschal of Anjou. He
was in 1462 appointed President of Provence. His father was Seigneur
de Rochette. René gave his daughter the estate of Mirabeau in Poitou,
which he purchased in 1488. In the _Comptes du Roy René_ is the record
of a gift to Blanche of a gold mirror worth 20 _écus d’or_, under
date January 12, 1488, and the same year, on March 18, she received a
large table diamond from her father, which unfortunately she lost when
playing in a farce before the Court on the following _Jour de l’An_.
The precious bauble was found by a monk, Alfonso de la Rocque, Prior
of the monastery of Les Anges d’Aix, and restored on payment of a tun
of red wine. The discovery was only made known, it appears, through
the confessional; the good friar had qualms about not making known his
find. This Blanche d’Anjou was educated at Beaucaire by Demoiselle
Collette, a worker in furs, who received many costly gifts from King
René. It has been sought to prove that Marie de la Chapelle was this
Demoiselle Collette. Among the King’s gift were homely objects, too.
His _Comptes_, under April 4, 1447, record “three cannes of fine
holland cloth; two ditto fine muslin, and five black silk velvet for
a head-dress.” Another gift to Blanche d’Anjou, on May 16, 1447, was
hair for a _rigotter_, a _coiffure postiche_ for which the King paid
7 florins to Marguerite, wife of Jehan Augier, at Beaucaire. Again
Blanche was the recipient of her father’s generosity, for on June 7
the same year he gave her a cincture of wrought silver which cost 11
florins.
Before Blanche married the Seigneur de Precigny he had buried three
wives, and he himself was buried with them at Angers in October,
1474. She died prematurely in giving birth to a child, April 11,
1470, no more than twenty-one years of age. Madeleine, René’s second
illegitimate daughter, married Louis Jehan, Seigneur de Belleneve,
Chamberlain to Charles VIII. of France when Dauphin. He gave him for
his marriage 15,000 florins, that he might “espouse worthily _ma
cousine_,” as he calls her. Louis XII. gave her on her widowhood a sum
of 12,000 florins.
On the death of King René, his eldest daughter, Yolande, Countess of
Vaudémont, claimed and assumed the title of Queen of Sicily, Jerusalem,
Naples, and Aragon, but took no steps to enforce her claim upon that
vulture monarch, Louis XI., who at once seized upon the lands of his
uncle, and styled himself Duke of Anjou and Count of Provence. Countess
Yolande was her father’s child, tender and retiring. She craved the
charms of the quiet life, and consequently, at the convocation of
the Estates of Anjou and Provence, she renounced her title, and made
it over to her son René. He had already taken up the gauntlet of his
grandfather, and given proof of the sterling qualities of his ancestry.
The duchy of Lorraine and that of Bar were his through his mother also,
and as Duke of Lorraine René II. is known to historians. Countess
Yolande died at Nancy February 21, 1483. René II. was the Prince whom
his father, Ferri de Vaudémont, insisted should make a pilgrimage from
Vezelay,--famous in the history of Thomas à Becket,--the capital of
Le Morvan, to Jerusalem with one foot booted, the other bare, and, as
he went, to distribute to every poor person he met 12 _livres_ by way
of satisfaction for small sums he himself had borrowed and had not
paid back--surely a wide stretch of fatherly authority and the law of
substitution!
The widowed Queen lost little time in settling her affairs in Provence,
for she was minded to go to Anjou with her precious dead; indeed, René
had expressed a wish to that effect. She carefully surveyed the names
of all the people René loved and of those who loved him most nearly
too. To each and all some token was sent or given; she spared few
things for herself. Churches, institutions, schools, guilds, and all
public bodies, received mementoes of the dead monarch. To Jehanne came
many pangs at parting. She had learned to love the gentle Provençals,
and they had not failed to return her regard most warmly. At last her
preparations were completed, and she spent a day and night in the
cathedral by the casket of her dear dead, and then sorrowfully she took
her journey to distant Anjou, home to her kith and kin.
[Illustration: RENÉ D’ANJOU
(_Circa 1470_)
Painted by himself on wood. Aix Library
_To face page 348_]
King René in his will speaks thus of his beloved Queen: “Because
Jehanne has loved me, so I do and shall love her as my dearest wife
till death. Her virtues and her goodness to me I cannot forget, nor her
loving services which she has rendered me for so long a time. I will
that she shall have unrestricted liberty of action to settle, when I
am dead, where she will.… I give to her the county of Beaufort; the
castle and estate of Mirabeau; the town of Aubagne; the castles of San
Remy, Pertuis, and Les Baux, with my _bastides_ in and about Aix and at
Marseilles, with all their furniture and appurtenances.” King René also
specially bequeathed to Jehanne his most valuable jewels: collars of
diamonds; “_le grand et le petit bulay_,” rubies, with sprays of gold
and gems;[A] his diamonds “_à la cesse_,” uncut and strung (?); his
plates and caskets of gold; his great bowls of gold; his great trays of
silver; and his precious goblet and ewer of gold encrusted with jewels;
and many other splendid precious objects.
[A] “_Le grand bulay_” was a famous ruby, richly mounted, which
he had bought for 18,000 florins (= £7,000).
With respect to the body of King René, it has been chronicled that the
Queen before leaving Aix made secret arrangements for its translation
to Angers. She feared a hostile demonstration if open measures were
taken. She took into her confidence a priest belonging to the cathedral
chapter, and they together worked out a plan which was put into
operation after Queen Jehanne had arrived at Angers. She sent two of
her most trusty attendants, Jehan de Pastis and Jacquemain de Mahiers,
with an imposing suite, conveying a letter to the Archbishop of Aix
asking for the heart of René. The priestly confidant was at the service
of the envoys, and they very cleverly contrived to secrete the casket
with the King’s body in a royal chariot which the Queen had commanded
to be laden with certain dresses and properties she had left behind,
and in particular the pall she had worked with her own hand, and which
was still covering the dead King’s coffin. The precious burden was
driven to a secluded backwater of the Rhone, and there embarked upon a
great royal barge; and so King René’s body passed through France once
more, as he had so often done in life. The disembarkment of the royal
corpse was effected at Ponts-de-Cé, across the Loire, a few miles out
of Angers, and thence the second obsequies were conducted with splendid
ceremonies and amid universal tokens of joy and sorrow of his Angevine
subjects. The heart was with the body, but the entrails were left at
Aix in the cathedral.
This was the last public appearance of Queen Jehanne. She retired
to her Castle of Beaufort, and there she spent the residue of her
life, eighteen long and solitary years--years never idle, never
self-indulgent, years loyal to the fond memory of her spouse, years
yearning for reunion. The day Jehanne entered her new home was St.
Luke’s festival, 1481, the second summer of the year, when the last
grapes hang ripened upon the vines, and the year’s vintage is gathered
in. Perhaps the simile from Nature enforced itself upon the widowed
Queen’s sympathetic mind. Her harvest was now that of the quiet
eye; its growth had been when eye met eye--hers and René’s; now was
approaching the winter of her life, when her work was to be finished
and her rest full-garnered.
Jehanne chose as the companions of her widowhood three trusty
servitors--René de Breslay, her Seneschal; Thibault de Cossé, her
Master of the Household; and Bernard de Praneas, her Confessor. She
spent her time in prayer and charity. She established hostels for poor
people, for pilgrims and the sick; schools for children left orphans,
and for those cast upon the world by miserable parents. Besides these
pious works, the good Queen preserved her interest in such arts and
crafts as she and René had encouraged in Provence. She studied once
more books and sciences he had loved, she painted miniatures, composed
madrigals and hymns, and sang and played as she had done for him, and
her pen became that of the ready writer. She translated Guillaume de
Guillerville’s tragedy, “The Pilgrimage of Human Life”; “The Soul
separated from the Body,” a poem by Jehan Galoppez, a priest of Angers
and her Private Secretary; and a moralization upon “The Certainty of
Paradise.” All her works were, however, in prose, which, she said
“_conservez le sens et les images, mais déliverez moi du martelage et
des grimaces de ce baragouin!_”[A]
[A] “Preserve the sense and the shape, but protect me from
forced metaphor and gibberish!”
Perhaps the action which most endeared the memory of the good Queen
to the hearts and minds of the people about her was the extraordinary
pains she took to alleviate taxation and to readjust tribute. When René
took over the estate in 1471, he made vast reductions in the imposts
on land and stock and crop. These were confirmed by Queen Jehanne ten
years later, and further reductions were conceded. Her plea to herself
was: “Now René is no more, I have no other rôle to play but to do as he
would have wished me.” The Forest of Beaufort, where René and she had
followed the chase in princely fashion, now no longer echoed the blast
of hunting-horns and the cracks of hunting-whips, but with the gentle
notes of the _Angelus_, and when the curfews rang out in neighbouring
village and homestead, they carried with them the refrain, “_Priez pour
la bonne Jehanne_.”
These soft nocturnes and sweet visions of ancient days still linger
in Anjou. The memory of the Queen of Sicily, Jehanne, is cherished,
and almost a proverb it has become, that all good things done in that
rich province are due to the watchful spirit of the Queen. In this
connection a very weird narrative may be told. In 1469 Guillaume
de Harancourt, Bishop of Verdun, invented a cage of wood and iron
for refractory criminals. One such was sent to Angers, which after
Jehanne’s death became known as the “cage of the Queen of Sicily.” It
was said that Jehanne had been put therein wearing wooden sabots. The
why and wherefore of her incarceration was perfectly uncertain, but the
sabots are to-day in Angers Museum; the cage has disappeared. Another
version has it that King René had among his wild creatures at Reculée
and elsewhere a very ferocious eagle which he could not tame, and so
the bird was sent to Angers and placed in the Bishop’s wood and iron
cage, and dubbed “_La Reine_”--“The Queen”! This bird of prey deserved
the name; its appetite was prodigious. In _Les Comptes_, among other
entries referring to “her Majesty,” is--“June 3, 1474, ‘La Reine’ has a
whole sheep day by day.” This is quaint indeed, but characteristic of
stories and storytellers!
Queen Jehanne died at the Castle of Beaufort, December 19, 1498,--as
the chroniclers tell us,--“in the odour of sanctity and with all the
consolations of Holy Church.”
The Queen’s will--a most lengthy document--contains many affecting and
many quaint bequests. She first of all commends herself conventionally
to the Almighty, and then goes on to indicate her desire to be laid
not far from “Marie of blessed memory”--her consort’s grandmother,
Marie de Blois-Châtillon--“before the altar where is laid my lord and
consort,” and she warns all and sundry against laying any other bodies
there. Her heart she bequeaths to the Chapel of St. Bernardin, within
the Church of the Cordeliers at Angers, to be placed beside that of
René. She directs that her body shall be covered with a pall of black
silk, and that at her funeral six poor religious should attend habited
in black, and each bearing a flaming torch. Her heart and René’s should
repose upon a pall of cloth of gold embroidered in crimson, and bearing
their joined shields of arms. Lights shall always burn in front of the
tomb and the cardial reliquary. She instructs her brother and nephew,
Seigneurs de la Roche and de Montafiland, to hand over to the Chapter
of St. Maurice in Angers 200 _livres tournois_ (_circa_ £120) to pay
for her burial cortège, and for Mass, absolutions, vespers, and bells.
Particularly she notes her preference for flags of _bougran_--stuff
(?)--over silken banners.
The day after her interment the Queen directs that with reverent
ritual a crown shall be placed over her head like that she placed over
René’s, upon their monument. Certain saintly relics which he and she
had been the means of rescuing from sacrilege, and had deposited in
the Church of St. Tugal de Laval, shall be displayed gratuitously to
“such _dames comtesses_ as may wish to become mothers.” Her “Breviary,”
“Psalter,” “Hours,” and other books of devotion, she bequeaths to the
Church of St. Tugal de Laval, for the use of daughters of her father’s
house at their marriage or when residing in Laval. Two gold rings she
particularly desires to be placed upon the relics of St. Nicholas
d’Angers, within his reliquary: “one, my wedding-ring, which my very
redoubtable lord and consort,--whom God absolve,--placed upon my
finger at our nuptials, with a small heart of diamonds and enamelled
with deep red roses.” The other ring had a large diamond mounted on
a fleur-de-lis, and the band bore the enamelled arms of Anjou. Queen
Jehanne did not forget her friends and attendants; for example, among
very many legacies, she left 200 _livres tournois_ each to three
ladies: Jacqueline de Puy du Jour, Catherine Beaufilz, and “_ma
petite_” Gindine de la Jaille, to provide them with trousseaux upon
marriage.
The body of the Queen was reverently shrouded in a plain linen
chemise, such as that with which she herself had assisted to cover King
René’s corpse, and over it was placed his robe of state. Hers was the
last lying in state of a Queen of Sicily, and every mark of homage and
respect was rendered her remains by high and low. Peasants and citizens
conspired together to show their grateful sense of her virtues and her
benefactions, and the country road from Beaufort to Angers was lined
with sympathetic crowds of mourners. Her passing was in the night
time,--so consonant with her love of seclusion and simplicity,--and the
whole country-side was ablaze with torches and bonfires. The Queen’s
burial was at St. Maurice’s Cathedral, in the tomb of her consort;
whilst her heart,--“so full of love and so tenderly beloved,”--in a
golden casket exactly like that of the King, was placed next his in
the Chapel of St. Bernardin. Upon a memorial tablet was inscribed the
epitaph: “Here lies the Heart of the very high and puissant Princess,
Jehanne de Laval, second wife of King René, and daughter of Guy, Count
de Laval.”
The monument to King René, which she at last came to share in blessed
memory, had his effigy reclining, and at his feet a sculptured lion,
symbol of courage; at Jehanne’s feet were carved two hounds, emblematic
of fidelity. The Chapel of St. Bernardin thus became the royal
mausoleum of the last Anjou dynasty--René, with his father and mother,
his two wives, his eldest son, and his two daughters, in holy company;
and so they remained for 300 years, until that cataclysmatic year 1793,
when every holy stone was tumbled down and every reverent memorial
defaced. The memorial chapel was for centuries a thing of beauty. King
René himself painted the glass windows and designed the tomb. Soon
after his marriage with Jehanne de Laval he employed Francesco Laurana
and Pietro da Milano to decorate the chapel.
Soon after the death of King René, Sieur Guillaume de Remerville,--his
Treasurer at Aix,--voiced the universal sorrow and permanent regret of
all the royal servants of his lord in a beautiful funeral ode, which he
dedicated to “Queen Jehanne, his worshipful mistress”:
“Pleurez, petits et grands! Pleurez!
Car perdu avez le bon Sire.
Jamais ne le recouverierez--
Sa mort sera grief martyir.”
“Weep little, weep great, weep all!
For we have lost our good Lord.
Ne’er more his form to recall--
Hearts broken by his mord.”
Such was the refrain. The same loving dirge of woe was re-echoed
through Anjou and Provence when Jehanne passed royally to her burial.
[Illustration: KING RENÉ’S SIGNATURE.]
BIBLIOGRAPHY
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED
I. LE ROI RENÉ.
“Histoire de Roi René.” Vicomte F. L. Villeneuve-Bargement. 3
vols. Paris, 1825.
“Le Roi René: Sa Vie, son Administration, ses Travaux
Artistiques et Littéraires.” A. Lecoy de la Marche. Paris, 1875.
“Le Roi René en Lorraine.” Le Chanoine Cherrier. Marseilles,
1895.
“Vie de Roi René.” R. Legonvello. Angers, 1731.
“Le Roi René et la Fête de Charité, 1448.” J. B. Gaut. Aix,
1869.
“Le Duc René.” Gaston Save. Nancy, 1899.
“Les Comptes de Roi René.” 3 vols. Paris, 1909.
“Les Tournois de Roi René.” Paris, 1826.
“Œuvres de Roi René.” Comte A. de Quatrebarbes. 2 vols. Angers,
1885.
II. MISCELLANEOUS.
“Histoire de l’Ordre de Chevalerie.” F. F. Steenackers. Paris,
1867.
“Les MSS. et les Miniatures.” Lecoy de la Marche. Paris, 1884.
“La Chronique des Roys de France.” J. de Ongoys. Paris, 1579.
“Chroniques et Mémoires.” Juvenal des Ursins (1400-1472).
Paris, 1653.
“Le Règne de Charles VII.” G. Du Fresne de Beaucourt. Paris,
1856.
“Histoire de Charles VII.” A. Bandot de Juilly. Paris, 1754.
“Histoire Généalogique de la Maison de Bar,” etc. A. Du Chesne.
Paris, 1631.
“Étude de la Vie Privée d’Anjou du XV. Siècle.” A. Joubert.
Paris, 1884.
“Histoire des Reines Jeanne I. et II.” A. T. Guzot. Paris, 1700.
“Le Orgie della Reina Giovanna II. da Napoli.” G. Cattallani.
Naples, 1895.
“Storia della Regina Giovanna II. d’Anzio.” N. F. Faraglia
Naples, 1904.
“Coustumes du Pays et Duché Dainon.” 1510.
“Coûtumes d’Anjou.” A. Beautemps-Beaupré. 4 vols. Paris 1881.
“Histoire de Lorraine.” A. Calmet. 3 vols. Paris.
“Histoire de Provence.” J. E. Papon. Aix, 1786.
“Chroniques de Charles VII.” A. Chartier. Paris, 1528.
“Mémoires Sécrets de la Cour de Charles VII.” Madame D(urand).
Paris, 1735.
“Maison de Laval.” Comte Bertrand de Brousillon. Angers, 1895.
“La Chorographie de Provence.” H. Bouche. 1664.
“Mélanges.” J. B. Champillon. Paris, 1809.
“Lettres Autobiographiques.” A. Charavaz. 1884.
“Chroniques des Ducs de Bourgogne.” G. Chastellain. Paris, 1825.
“Anecdotes des Reines de France.” Paris, 1785.
“Musée des Monuments Français.” A. Lenoir. 5 vols. Paris.
“Le Moyen Age.” P. La Croix. 5 vols. Paris, 1848.
III. PERIODICALS.
“Bibliothèque Nationale”--“Album des Portraits.”
“Revue Historique et Archéologique du Maine et Loire.” Vol. vi.
“Revue d’Anjou.” Vol. xv.
“Revue Historique d’Angers.” Vol. xviii.
“Revue Numismatique d’Anjou.” Vol. i.
“Bulletin Société Industrielle d’Angers.” Vol. x.
“Mémoires de la Société Agriculturelle d’Angers.” 1850, 1866,
1872.
“Bulletin Mensuel de la Société d’Archéologie Lorraine.” Vol. i.
“Dictionnaire Biographique de Maine et Loire.” Vol. i.
“Documents Historiques de l’École des Chartes.” 1873.
“Recherches Historiques sur l’Angers.” Vols. i. and ii.
“Recherches Historiques sur le Saumur.” Vols. i. and ii.
“Archivio Storico Lombardo.” 1894.
“Joyeuses Histoires de nos Pères.” Paris, 1891, etc.
“Revue Historique et Archéologique du Maine.” Vols. xv. and xvi
“Réunion des Sociétés des Beaux Arts.” Vols. v. and xxxii.
IV. IN ENGLISH.
“History of Louis XI” P. Mathieu. London, 1814.
“Romantic Episodes of France.” H. Vance. Dublin, 1868.
“Old Provence.” J. A. Cooke. 2 vols. London, 1905.
“Troubadours and Courts of Love.” J. F. Rowbotham. London, 1895.
“Troubadours at Home.” J. H. Smith. 2 vols. London, 1899.
“Life and Times of Margaret of Anjou.” M. A. Bookham. London,
1872.
“Lives of the Queens of England.” A. Strickland. Vol. i.
London, 1864.
“Close of Middle Ages.” R. Lodge. London, 1908.
“Life of Joan d’Arc.” Lord Mahon. London, 1876.
“Paston Letters” (1422-1509). 4 vols. Reprint, 1901.
INDEX
“A Henry! A Henry!” 296, 298
Alagni, Lucrezia d’, 251
Alliance, A great, 262
Animals and birds, Love of, 213, 214, 352
ANJOU, Anne of (daughter of King René), 141
Blanche of (natural daughter of King Louis II.), 68
Blanche of (natural daughter of King René), 68, 254, 267
Charles, Duke of (brother of King Charles VI. of France, the elder
Anjou line), 24, 25
Charles of, Duke of Maine I. (brother of King René), 24, 57, 86, 87,
92, 93, 307
Charles of, Duke of Maine II. (son of above), 57, 165, 328, 329
Foulques-Nerra, Count of, 92
Hélène of, “La Petite” (natural daughter of King René?), 341
Isabelle of (daughter of King René), 141
Jean of (son of King René), Duke of Calabria and Lorraine, King of
Catalonia, 85, 90, 91, 104, 108, 113, 114, 124, 127, 134, 140,
244-254, 264, 270, 279, 280, 291
Jean of (natural son of King René), 254
Louis I., King-Duke of, see Kings
Louis II., King-Duke of, see Kings
Louis III., King-Duke of, see Kings
Louis de Maine of (natural son of King Louis II.), 68
Madeleine of (natural daughter of King René), 254
Margaret of (daughter of King René), see Queens
Nicholas of (son of King René), 85, 141, 254-258, 328
Odille of, “La Demoiselle” (natural daughter of King René?), 341
René, King-Duke of, 17-356
René of (son of King René), 141
Yolande of (sister of King René), see Brittany
Yolande of (daughter of King René), see Vaudémont
ARCHITECTS:
Leon Battista Alberti, 20, 236;
Francesco Brunellesco, 20;
Giovanni Capistrani, 340;
Cennino Cennini, 20
Armagnac, Mahaud d’, 34, 38
Three Graces of, 260
Banquet, A sumptuous, 129, 211
BAR, Bonne of, wife of Nicholas de Ligny, 34, 80
Édouard of, 34, 69
Frederic, Count of, 32
Henry IV., Count of, 32
Iolande of Flanders, Countess of, 32-34
Jehan of, 34, 69
Louis, Cardinal of, 69, 77-81, 86, 98-103, 162, 191
Marie of France, Duchess of, 32, 34, 49, 69, 80
Robert I., Duke of, 32, 69, 78
Violante (Yolanda), see Queens
Barragana, A, 30
Bare breasts, 56, 186, 188, 262
Bare feet, A Duchess’s, 97
BATTLES:
Azincourt, 34, 64, 69, 96;
Arienzo, 20, 130, 131;
Baugé, 82;
Bulgneville, 88, 109-115, 130, 192, 238, 256;
Gaeta, 241;
Montpiloir, 168;
Rocca-Secca, 219;
Rosebach, 96;
Sarno, 335;
Troia (I.), 250;
Troia (II.), 252, 335
Wars of the Roses:
Barnet, 297;
Bloreheath, 282;
Hexham, 287;
Northampton, 282;
St. Albans, 281, 284;
Towton, 285;
Wakefield, 280
Beaufort, Cardinal, 261, 262, 264, 275
Beauty, A village, 83, 147
“Belles, La Belle des,” see Agnes Sorel
“Better die right out!” 297
“Bloody Edward,” 298, 304
Blushing maids, 45
Bois Chènus, Le, 144, 173, 190
“Bourges, The little Queen of,” 174
“Bourges, The little King of,” 188, 279
“Box her ears!” 147, 198
Bride burnt to death, A, 88
BRITTANY, Arthur de Richemont of, 126, 133, 207
Charles, Duke of, 127, 185
Francis, Duke of, 286
Francis, Count of Montfort, 86
Isabelle of, 72, 88
Jean VI., Duke of, 71, 88, 116, 207, 307
Yolande of Anjou, Countess of Montfort, 86
BURGUNDY, Catherine of, 62, 70, 71, 76, 79
Isabelle of Portugal, Duchess of, 65, 126
Jean, Duke of, 62, 70, 71, 91, 99, 182-184
Philippe, Duke of, 25, 96, 102, 108, 111, 113, 115, 116, 120, 126,
127, 138, 159, 163, 184, 236, 243-254, 258-260, 288-290, 329
Burlesque, A royal, 289
CASTLES:
Aix, 19, 333, 340;
Amboise, 294, 295;
Angers, 19, 43, 44, 51, 60, 67, 72, 169, 191, 258, 293, 295, 309, 331;
Auray, 307;
Aversa, 227;
Bar-le-Duc, 88, 103, 254, 291;
Bastile, 183;
Baugé, 82;
Beaufort, 335, 350, 352;
Bisclin, 40;
Blois, 179;
Bonconville, 336;
Bourges, 64, 165, 181, 192, 201, 215;
Bourmont, 81, 113;
Bracon (Tour-de-Bar), 112, 119, 120, 138, 192, 193, 238, 242, 249;
Breauté, 196, 197;
Capua, 232, 257;
Castel Nuovo, 232;
Châtille, 113;
Charmes, 113;
Châteaudun, 182;
Chinon, 134, 154, 160, 189, 194, 201, 214, 253, 261, 286, 309;
Clermont, 113, 139, 173, 259, 336;
Coucy, 88, 95;
Dampière, 304;
dell’ Ovo, 222;
Dourdan, 177;
Forcalquier, 76;
Gaeta, 245;
Gerona, 46;
Gien, 192;
Harlech, 283;
Koeurs, 336;
Kuerere, 291;
La Ferté, 81;
Launay-les-Saumur, 318;
Laval, 307;
Les Baux, 320, 321, 348;
Loches, 170, 171, 181, 199, 201;
Louppy, 336;
Marseilles, 19, 333;
Maulevrier, 196;
Mehun-sur-Yèvre, 63, 184, 214;
Mesnil-la-Belle, 198;
Middleham, 292;
Montpellier, 45;
Muro, 217;
Nancy, 19, 95, 106, 109, 114, 133, 134, 149, 150, 254, 265;
Nantes, 270;
Nesle, 177;
Pertuis, 349;
Pierrepoint, 103;
Plessis-lès-Tours, 203;
Pont-à-Mousson, 253;
Queniez, 304;
Reculée, 19, 214, 302, 303, 334, 352;
Renancourt, 81;
Renne, 259;
Sarry-le-Château, 313;
Saumur, 19, 91, 136, 185, 258, 261, 296, 309;
St. Mihiel, 101;
St. Pol, 289;
San Remy, 349;
Talant, 110;
Tarascon, 19, 50, 134, 137, 256, 258, 333;
Toulouse, 44, 57;
Tourg, 101;
Tours, 201, 203, 211;
Troyes, 184;
Val-de-Cassel, 34;
Varennes, 259;
Vienne, 254;
Zaragoza, 31
Cathedral, A magnificent, 163-168
“Cell, Fit for a,” 279
Champion of champions, 265, 312
Chapelle, Marie de la, 21, 345, 346
Châtelaines, 54, 59, 139, 180, 181, 196, 320, 329
Chemises, 195
Child marriages, 94
Claimants for a throne, 41, 42, 62, 63, 245, 246
Coffin, Golden hair in a, 321
“Comptes de Roy René, Les,” 28, 29, 60, 182, 213, 266, 331, 336, 337, 346
Conclave, A sacred, 157
“Confrèrerie de la Passion, La,” 256
“Conquête de la Doulce Mercy, La,” 23, 324-326
Cooking, Art of, 53, 211, 339
Coronations, Royal, 41-43, 165-168, 237, 274, 275
Correcte, Friar Thomas, 186-188
Country life, Joys of a, 318, 321, 322, 340
Court, A frivolous, 190
“Courts of Love,” 35, 37, 42, 320
Courtiers, see Nobles
CRAFTSMEN:
Colin d’Angers, 302;
Juan d’Arragona, 27;
Jean Butort, 60;
François Castargis, 267;
Jehan Dueceux, 60;
Julien Guillot, 60;
Henri Henniquin, 27;
Jehan le Gracieux, 27;
Jehan de Nicholas, 27;
Guillaume le Pelletier, 27;
Guillaume de la Planche, 266;
Luigi Rubbotino, 27;
Guillaume Real (chef), 339;
Jean Tubande, 271
CRAFTSWOMEN:
Marguerite Chamberlayne, 273;
Demoiselle Collette, 346;
Jehanne Despert, 27
Cry, A piteous, 173
Cupid’s ways, 87, 140, 310
“Curse on life! A,” 313, 314
Dame de Courrages, La, 180, 181
Dancing fool, A, 251
Dare-devils, 221-223
Day, An ill-omened, 296
Delicacies, 48, 53
“Devils at home,” 315
Devils and hobby-horses, 338
Disguise, A royal, 34, 47
Divorce, A royal, 218, 219
Dowries, Royal, 49, 70, 76, 114, 127, 196, 198, 218, 259, 317, 346, 347
Dress, A reformer of, 186-189
Dresses, Gorgeous, 233, 234, 266, 267, 311
Elopement, A royal, 138, 139
EMPERORS:
Charlemagne, 282, 307;
Lothair, 95;
Otto III., 32;
Robert III., 95;
Sigismund, 118, 119, 253;
Wenceslas, 212
Erotic ascendancy, 197
Farewell, A sad, 269
Fashions, 48, 49, 55, 56, 67, 186, 187, 194, 195, 202, 267
FAVOURITES, ROYAL:
Pandolfo Alopo, 222, 223;
Sergianni Caracciolo, 223, 228-231, 237, 238;
Sforza da Colignola, 222, 223, 228-232;
Bartolommeo Colleone, 224;
Braccio Fortebraccio, 229-232
Feast of Folly, 37
Fête Dieu at Aix, La, 337, 338
Fête des Fous, La, 210
Fêtes and sports, see Merrymakings
Fierbois, The sword of, 154, 160, 166
Flagellations, 181
Foix, Cardinal de, 317
Foul deed, A, 298
Foul-play, 182-184, 205, 206, 218
GARDENS:
Lovely Tarascon, 50;
Bar-le-Duc, 80;
Aversa, 234, 235;
Les Baux, 320, 321
Garters, Chained, 267
“Gaya Ciencia, La,” 31, 36, 37, 46, 53
Genoa, Maiden offering at, 314
Girls, Character of, 45;
tribute of, 128
“Give me René d’Anjou!” 143
Glee-maidens, 31, 35, 256, 274
Glory of France, Everything for the, 200
Golden Rose, The, 119
“Grey wolf of Anjou, The,” 304
Grotto, Voices in a, 235
Hard-heads, 36
Hairdressing, 49, 67, 148, 164, 187, 194, 195, 202, 204, 261, 266,
267, 268, 311
Hair in a coffin, Golden, 321
Harvest of a quiet eye, 350
Heart, A pierced, 290
Herring, Only one, 290
Highwaymen, 33, 132
“Hold your tongue!” 230
Honour, Dames and Maids of, 186, 222, 226, 234, 264
“Hope of England, The,” 298
Horsewoman, A splendid, 150, 151
Hostages, Royal, 113-116, 120
Jacques d’Arc, 143, 144, 167
Jeanne d’Arc, “La Pucelle,” 83-87, 143-173, 189-192, 236, 253
“Jeanne soit bonne,” 145
Jehanne de Laval, see Queens
Jehanne the Inspirer, 330
Jewels, 35, 43, 49, 56, 80, 128, 196, 202, 203, 234, 247, 266-268, 275,
276, 289, 309, 315, 335, 346, 349, 354
Jews, 240
Joke, A royal, 61
KINGS:
Alfonso, “The Magnanimous,” of Aragon-Sicily-Naples, 75, 117, 124, 126,
128, 130, 224, 225, 227-235, 241-258, 280, 334
Andrew of Hungary, 217, 246
Charles IV., “The Fair,” of France, 177
Charles V. of France, 82
Charles VI. of France, 40, 44, 55, 63-65, 68, 179-181, 193, 209, 265,
276, 308
Charles VII. of France, 63-65, 81-85, 88, 91, 109-111, 117, 126, 132,
154-199, 200-215, 236, 239, 251-254, 260-264, 269-279, 331
Charles VIII. of France, 294, 347
Charles II. of Naples, 333
Charles III. of Naples, 216, 217, 220
Edward IV. of England, 281-286 292-304
Ferdinand of Aragon, 221, 227
Ferdinand I. of Naples, 252, 335
Henry IV. of England, 295
Henry V. of England, 56, 65, 72, 181, 184
Henry VI. of England, 138, 260-263, 272-304, 363
Henry II. of France, 196
Iago II. of Aragon, 36
James III. of Scotland, 285, 290
Jean II., “The Good,” of France, 29, 32, 44, 65, 67, 73, 80, 127
Juan I. of Aragon, 32-49, 334
Juan II. of Aragon-Catalonia, 334
Juan III. of Aragon-Catalonia, see Jean d’Anjou
Ladislaus of Naples, 216-220
Louis IX. (St. Louis) of France, 51, 176
Louis XI. of France, 85, 175, 197-205, 214, 232, 264, 286-296, 300-304,
326, 335, 347
Louis I. of Sicily-Anjou, 29, 39-44, 58, 73, 118
Louis II. of Sicily-Anjou, 29, 39, 40-46, 55-67, 73, 85, 93, 99,
174-176, 207, 217-219, 332
Louis III. of Sicily-Anjou, 57-64, 68-76, 82-89, 117, 121, 165-169,
185-188, 212, 225-246, 320
Martino of Aragon-Sicily, 30, 42, 62
René of Sicily-Anjou-Naples, 17-356
Robert of Naples, 217
Philip V., “The Tall,” of France, 177
King, A libertine, 218;
meagre fare of a, 182;
Most Valiant (?), 195;
skit on a, 201
Kisses, 47, 52, 75, 137, 152, 195, 201, 208, 209, 226, 255, 257, 269, 335
“L’Abuzé en Court,” 24, 327, 328
“Lady of his thoughts, The,” 310
Lady of the Crest, 306, 310, 311
“La Française,” 275, 279, 280
“La Royne Blanche,” 85, 112, 161, 166, 173
LAVAL, Françoise de Dinan, Countess of, 308
Guy XIII., Count of, 68, 87, 135-137, 162, 170, 307-312, 316, 317, 355
Guy XIV., Count of, 307
Isabelle of Brittany, Countess of, 307
Jehanne of, see Queens
Pierre of, 307, 309, 317
Yolande of, 307
“Le Bon Roy,” 318, 321, 322, 324, 326, 332, 338, 343
LEGENDS:
Nôtre Dame de Sousterre, 35;
St Catherine les Baux, 320, 321;
St. Frisette de Reims, 164;
St. Martha of Bethany, 50, 51, 333;
St. Maximin d’Aix, 333;
St. Radegonde de Tours, 157;
St. Renatus d’Angers, 59, 60
Leonora, Fair, 225, 231-235
“Le Sauve-garde de ma Vie,” 340
LES BAUX, Alix, Countess of, 319
Cécile of, “La Passe Rose,” 320
Douce of, 320
Étiennette of, 320
Jehanne of, 319
Raymond, Count of, 320
Robert Beaufort, Count of, “Le Fléau de Provence,” 319
“Les Tards-Venus,” 319
Library, A famous, 120
“Ligue de Quatre, La,” 73
Likeness in a lance, A, 331
“Like Queen Giovanna!” 217
Lioness at bay, Like a, 303
LORRAINE, Adelebert, Duke of, 95
Charles II., Duke of, 88, 95, 96, 98-104, 121, 143, 148-151, 163,
171, 244, 245
Isabelle of, see Queens
Jehan, Count of, 95
Margaret of Bavaria, Duchess of, 95-100, 104, 105, 110-115, 118, 121,
148-153, 254
Marie of, Dame de Soissons, 95
Raoul, Duke of, 105
René II., Duke of, 336, 347, 348
The Pride of, 94, 98, 151, 156
Love of all the boys, 257
LOVE, COURTS OF:
Bar le Duc, 35;
Zaragoza, 37;
Barcelona, 42;
Les Baux, 320
Love, The Chamber of, 320
Love Lady-Day, 281, 282
Loves of Louis and Yolanda, 46
Charles and Agnes, 192-200
Charles Dunois and Marie d’Anjou, 208, 209
Louis and Leonora, 225-235
Love’s rosebush, 97
“Magali,” 330
Maiden tribute, 316
Maids of Honour, 186, 222, 226, 234, 264
Maignelais, Antoinette de, 193, 198
Catherine de, 193
Malady, A terrible, 276
Margaret d’Anjou, see Queens
Margaret, Truce of, 281
Marguerites, 268, 271, 274
“Mariage, Quinze Joyes de,” 77
Marriage ring torn off, 219
Martyrdom, A royal, 172, 173
Matchmaking, 35, 39, 64, 65, 70-73, 76, 86-88, 91, 127, 218, 220, 256,
257, 259, 293, 294
Matrimonial pros and cons, 99, 100
Matrons, A panel of, 83, 157, 158, 191
Mermaid, A Sicilian, 226
“Merrie Mol, Une,” 289
Merrymakings, 31, 35-37, 46, 48, 50-54, 61, 72, 91, 104, 134, 135, 139,
234, 256, 265, 338
Millionaires, Royal, 58, 62, 182, 212
Montereau, Derouillée de, 206
“Mortifiement de Vaine Plaisance, Le,” 23, 317
MOTTOES:
“Amour et foy” (Isabelle de Lorraine), 142;
“Ardent désir” (King René), 134;
“Fides vitat servata” (King René), title-page
Murder, 222, 223, 298, 299
Mystery plays, 38, 52, 265, 274, 337, 338
Natural children, 30, 68, 196, 220, 227, 252
NOBLES AND COURTIERS:
Agout, Raymond d’, 44, 45
Aigle, Jean, Lord de l’, 60
Amboise, Louis d’, 206
Andrews, William (Private Secretary to Henry VI.), 268
Avellino, Robert, Count of, 245
Barbazan, Armand, 109, 158, 162, 168
Baudricourt, Robert de, 147, 148
Beauvais, Pierre de, 68
Beauvau, Bertrand de, Lord of Precigny, 267, 346, 347
Beauvau, Louis de, 20, 26, 137, 312, 317
Beauprémont, Pierre de, 258
Belleneve, Louis Jehan, Lord of, 347
Biège, Pierre de, 68
Brézé, Jacques de, Count of Maulevrier, 196
Brézé, Louis de, 196
Brézé, Pierre de, 287, 288
Breslay, René de, 350
Cabarus, Vidal di, 244
Capua, Andrea di, 219
Champchevier, Jules, 261
Charantais, Jehan, 225
Charny, Adolphe de, 258
Châtel, Tanneguy de, 20, 182, 184
Clifford, Lord, 283, 284
Cœur, Jacques, 182, 212
Coëtivi, Olivier de, 196
Cossé, Thibault de, 350
Couldray, Lord of, 316
Courrages, Lord of, 180, 181
Coyrant, Yovunet, 61
Crepin, Jehan, 76
Dunois, Count Charles (le Bâtard d’Orléans), 159, 161, 168, 207-211
Escose, Jean d’, 274
Falstaff, Sir John, 261
Fenestranger, Jehan de, 125
Flavy, Guillaume de, 81
Fortescue, Sir John, 292
Gaudel, Antoine de, 258
Gris, Jehan de, 180
Harancourt, Gerard de, 125
Harancourt, Jacques de, 125
Hérault, Alain le, 28
La Hire, 159, 161, 168, 182
Lenoncourt, Philippe de, 30
Laval, Guy de, 87
Louvet, Étienne, 207
Luxembourg, Jehan de, 78
Maçon, Robert de, 83
Mahiers, Jacquemain de, 349
Maignelais, Raoul de, 193
Mailly, Hardoin de, 186
Mattaincourt, Jehan de, 81
Maulevrier, Jacques Odon de, 186
Metz, Jehan de, 148
Mezières, Louis de Maine, Lord of, 68
Montague, Lord, 284
Montelar, Charles di, Baron, 244
Moraens, François de la Vignolles de, 304, 305
Morien, Jehan de, 44, 45
Oxford, Earl of, 293
Pastis, Jehan de, 349
Pulligny, Hugues de, 32
Remerville, Guillaume de, 355
Roche, Philippe de Pot, de la, 288
Roches, Guillaume Chevalier des, 60
Ruthen, Lord Guy de, 282
St. Aubin, Pierre, Abbé de, 60
Salisbury, Earl of, 281, 282, 284
Sancerre, Antoine de Benil, Count of, 196
Sarrebouche, Robert de, 78
Sérancourt, Jehan de, 28
Somerset, Duke of, 279, 281, 287, 297
Sorel, Jehan de, 193
Suffolk, Earl of, 132, 138, 262, 264, 270
Toreglia, Giovanni di, 251
Toulongeon, Antoine de, 109, 110
Trémouille, Pierre de, 158, 161, 168, 207
Valorey, Barthélèmy de, 68
Valorey, Gabriel de, 68
Villerequier, André de, 198
Warwick, Earl of, 281-284, 292-297
Wenlock, Lord, 297
Westmoreland, Earl of, 295
Xaintrailles, Pothon de, 207
Nuptials, Royal, 41, 48, 49, 81, 86, 87, 91, 101, 123, 138, 179, 181,
204, 217, 218, 221, 256, 264, 272, 273, 295, 317
Obsequies, Royal, 40, 41, 57, 58, 66, 67, 68, 72, 92, 121, 122, 132,
135, 214, 219, 241, 258, 300, 314, 315, 344, 345, 349, 354
Ode, A funeral, 356
“Oh fie! Oh fie!”, 262
ORDERS:
of the Sturgeon, 26;
of the Plough, 26;
de la Fidélité, 79;
Toison d’Or, 115;
du Croissant, 136;
Golden Rose, 119, 342
Oriflamme, “The Maid’s” white, 153, 167, 169
Pack of cards, A famous, 212
Pageant of the Peasant, The, 329
PAINTERS:
Fra Angelico, 20;
Petrus Christus, 79;
Hubert Van Eyck, 19, 20, 79;
Jan Van Eyck, 19, 20, 79;
Jean Focquet, 19;
Colantonio del Fiore, 20;
Angiolo Franco, 20;
Hans of Antwerp, 260;
Fra Filippo Lippi, 20;
Jehannot le Flament, 19, 312;
Antonio Solario (“Il Zingaro”), 20, 242;
Paolo Ucello, 20
Pastoral, A royal, 322
Payments, Quaint, 271-273
Peach, Bite a, 206
Pilgrimage, A warlike, 159-161
Plot, A royal, 231
“Plucking the turkey,” 36
Poison, 89, 205, 206, 218, 313, 342
“Polluyon,” Ceremony of the, 105
Poniard, A jewelled, 238;
a stealthy, 320
POPES:
Benedict XIII., 69;
Boniface IX., 219;
Clement VII., 40;
Eugenius IV., 125, 130, 250;
John XXIII., 80;
Martin V., 229;
Nicholas V., 332;
Sixtus IV., 25
Porta, Giovanni de la (King René’s confessor), 332
Poverty, Royal, 181, 182
Presents, Extraordinary, 273, 274;
splendid, 186, 346, 347
Preux chevaliers, 87, 96, 236, 287, 314
Prince, An ugly, 175, 176, 203
PRINCES:
Alençon, Jehan, Count of, 86
Alençon, Charles, Duke of, 264, 270
Anjou, see Anjou
Aragon, Juan of, 221
Aragon, Pedro of, 124
Armagnac, Henri, Count of, 183, 260
Austria, Ladislaus, Archduke of, 211
Austria, Leopold III., Duke of, 218
Austria, William, Duke of, 218
Baden, James, Marquis of, 96, 107
Bavaria, Louis of, 109, 123
Bar, see Bar
Bedford, John, Duke of, 161, 169
Berg, Arnould, Duke of, 77
Berry, Charles, Duke of, 205, 206
Bourbon, Charles, Duke of, 91
Bourbon, Louis, Duke of, 62
Bourbon, Jacques of, 221, 222
Brittany, see Brittany
Brunswick, Otto of, 217
Burgundy, see Burgundy
Castile, Ferdinand of, 40, 63
Charolois, Count of, 289
Clarence, Duke of, 295
Foix, Gaston de, Count, 211
Gaunt, John of, 295
Gravina, Charles Durazzo, Count of, 217
Gloucester, Humphrey, Duke of, 262, 274, 275, 277, 279
Lorraine, see Lorraine
Luxembourg, Henri, Count of, 27
Luxembourg, John, Duke of, 171
Luxembourg, Pierre of, 256, 259, 265
Marche, Robert, Count de la, 259
Milan, Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of, 241, 250
Milan, Francesco Sforza, Duke of, 130, 250, 280
Montfort, see Brittany
Nevers, Charles of Bruges, 259, 262, 309, 312
Nevers, Philippe, Count of, 259
Orange, Louis of, 81
Orsini, Raimondo of, 219
Savoy, Amadeo VIII., Duke of, 211, 238
Taranto, Charles III., Prince of, 176
Taranto, Jehan de Beaux-Taranto, 176
Taranto, Lodovico of, 217
Vendôme, Antoine, Duke of, 62
Wales, Edward, Prince of, 277-279, 282-288, 293-300
Würtemberg, Ulric VII., Count of, 123
York, Edward, Duke of, 264, 270, 275-280
PRINCESSES:
Anjou, Blanche of, 68, 254, 267
Anjou, Margaret of, see Queens
Anjou, Yolande of, Countess of Montfort, 86
Anjou, Yolande of, Countess of Vaudémont, see Vaudémont
Aragon, Juanita of, 30, 35, 38
Armagnac, Isabelle of, 260
Austria, Anne, Duchess of, 259
Baden, Catherine, Marchioness of, 96
Bar, Bonne of, 34, 80
Bar, Marie of France, Duchess of, 32, 34, 49, 69, 80
Bar, Violante of, see Queens
Bavaria, Elizabeth of, 118
Beaufort, Joanna, of Ghent, 295
Bourbon, Anne, Duchess of, 289, 290
Bourbon, Marie of, see Queens
Brittany, Isabelle of, 72, 85
Brittany, Yolande, Countess of Montfort, 86
Burgundy, Catherine of, 62, 70, 71, 76
France, Catherine of (daughter of Charles VII.), 214
Catherine of (natural daughter of Charles VII.), 196
Jeanne of (daughter of Charles VII.), 173, 211, 214
Jeanne of (natural daughter of Charles VII.), 196
Madeleine of (daughter of Charles VII.), 211, 214
Margaret of (natural daughter of Charles VII.), 196
Margaret of (daughter of King Philippe V.), 176
Yolande of (daughter of Charles VII.), 211, 214
Harcourt, Marie of, 28
Laval, Françoise de Dinan, Countess of, 308
Laval, Yolande of, 307
Les Baux, Alix, Countess of, 319
Cécile of, 320
Douce of, 320
Étiennette of, 320
Jehanne of, 319
Lorraine, Isabelle of, see Queens
Lorraine, Margaret of Bavaria, Duchess of, see Lorraine
Lorraine, Marie of, Dame de Soissons, 95
Luxembourg, Blanche of, 177
Luxembourg, Jehanne of, 177
Marche, Jeanne de la, 259
Provence, Beatrix, Countess of, 216
Vaudémont, Anna, Countess of, 125, 138
Vaudémont, Margaret of (granddaughter of King René), 343
Vaudémont, Yolande of Anjou, Countess of, see Vaudémont
Wales, Anne Neville, Princess of, 294-299
Würtemberg, Sophie, Countess of, 95
“Priez pour la Bonne Jehanne,” 352
Prisoner, A royal, 115, 116
Progresses, Royal, 33, 40, 44, 46, 47, 62, 107, 127, 185, 269-271, 274,
296, 319
Quatrain, A royal, 179
QUEEN:
Bath of, 242;
begs alms, 247;
borrows a farthing, 290;
bountiful, 351;
dances on highway, 33;
day in the life of a, 242;
Epitaph on a, 305;
“great,” 93, 141, 143, 150, 305;
handiwork of a, 341;
heroic, 189, 290;
intrepid, 253;
knighted, 285;
last words of, 205;
leprous, 304;
letters of a, 213, 244;
noblest of France, 215;
of beauty, 135, 309, 311;
of hearts, 42, 195;
of Queens, 310;
of roses, 306;
prisoner, 232;
robber and, 288;
speech of a, 185, 290;
state entry of Queens, 35, 50, 81, 103, 105, 106, 202, 257, 274, 317
QUEENS:
Blanche of Navarre-France, 334
Bonne of Luxembourg-France, 44
Catherine of Valois-England, 56, 65
Charlotte of Savoy-France, 214, 286, 294
Constance of Clermont-Naples, 218
Giovanna I. of Naples, 217, 246
Giovanna II. of Naples, 66, 75, 89, 116-121, 217-252, 333, 357
Isabeau of Bavaria-France, 40, 51-59, 63-68, 177-186, 190, 206,
216, 262
Isabelle of Lorraine-Sicily-Anjou-Naples, 77, 86-88, 90, 91, 94-142,
166-169, 185, 193, 206, 239-259, 264, 269-279, 280, 313-318, 338
Jehanne of Laval-Sicily-Anjou, 135, 203, 264, 291, 303, 306-356
Margaret of Anjou-England, 85, 125, 134-140, 244, 253-305, 310, 313,
331, 336, 337
Margaret of Savoy-Sicily-Anjou-Naples, 73, 89, 90, 122, 123, 130, 139,
235, 237, 240-247
Margaret of Durazzo-Naples, 216-220
Margaret of Scotland-France, 203, 205, 313, 314
Margaret of Denmark-Scotland, 285
Maria of Lusignan-Naples, 218
of Sicily, 42
Marie of Anjou-France, 58-64, 68-70, 82-85, 90, 91, 139, 158, 165, 170,
173, 174-215, 236, 261, 264-266, 269, 286, 291, 313, 326, 342
Marie of Châtillon-Sicily-Anjou-Naples, 39-41, 45, 47, 57, 58, 353
Marie of Bourbon-Calabria-Catalonia, 91, 127, 134, 135, 204
Marie of Enghien-Naples, 219
Yolanda of Bar-Aragon, 30, 35-47, 98
Yolanda of Aragon-Sicily-Anjou-Naples, 30-93, 98-104, 112, 117-121,
127, 142, 150, 158-160, 166, 169, 174-179, 185, 188, 197, 203,
207-209, 225, 236, 239, 243-247, 249, 258, 263, 266, 307, 312, 319,
334, 341
Ransom, A King’s, 65, 117, 118, 119
“Regnault et Jehanneton,” 23, 322-324
Relics, 29, 333, 334
RENÉ OF ANJOU, King, 17-356;
titles of, 17, 101;
character of, 18, 106;
occupations of, 18, 19, 120;
painter, 20, 21;
miniaturist, 21, 22;
writer and poet, 22, 23, 81;
a bosom friend of, 24;
letters of, 25;
patron of crafts, 26, 27;
accessibility of, 27;
generosity of, 28;
devotion to relics, 29;
his winecup, 29;
travels of, 20;
tutors, 77;
arms, 78;
marriages of, 101, 317;
in prison, 88, 110, 112;
“La Pucelle” and, 149, 150, 151;
love of nature, 213, 322;
his heart, 349;
signature, 356
Rings, 49, 137, 219, 272, 335, 354
“Rose, The Golden,” 119, 342
Roses at Christmas, 306, 316;
in Temple Gardens, 306;
Queen of, 306;
showers of, 226;
Wars of the, 279-300
Royal hussy, A, 257
“St. Madeleine preaching,” 21
Sand, Writing in, 208, 209
Sash, Tripped on a, 128
Scales, The Lady Emma de, 268
Scapegoat, A, 105
“Scourge of France, The,” 68
SCULPTORS:
Della Robbia, 20;
Pietro da Milano, 316;
Francesco Laurana, 355
Second marriage advocated, 316
“She wolf, The,” 299
Silver swans, 282
Sisters, Unfortunate, 177
Slanders, 84, 156, 191, 206, 207, 241, 277, 278
Snails, Horns of, 187
Sorel, Agnes, 91, 111, 170, 171, 178, 182, 194-199, 255, 264
“Soul and Heart,” a dialogue, 318
Stabbed to death, 196, 238
STORIES:
a lost diamond, 346;
a pathetic, 313;
a pretty, 55, 208, 209;
a romantic, 225-235;
a tragic, 180, 181
Tapestries, Rich, 179, 185
Taxes, Queen Yolande’s, 76
Tempests at sea, 271, 287, 296
The “Cokke John,” 271
Theatre, The French, 265
“This is Queen Margaret!” 299
Three Graces of Armagnac, 260
Toast, A popular, 164
“Too much blood!” 131
Tournaments, 135, 136, 139, 265, 308-312, 315, 329
Tournament prizes, 311, 312
Tower, In the, 283, 290, 296, 299
“Le Tracte des Tournois,” 24
Treachery, 282, 287, 297, 298
Tribunal, An imperial, 119
Tragedy, Stories of, 180, 181, 205, 206
Troubadours, 31, 34, 35, 37, 46, 153, 212, 256, 265, 274, 318, 329;
maxims, 329;
royal, 34, 97, 268;
Queen of, 36, 42
TROUBADOUR LAUREATES:
Eustache des Champs-Morel, 34;
Jehan Durant, 153;
Guillaume de Poitou, 329
Troublous times, 58, 59, 62, 64, 65, 201, 202, 236, 237, 246, 248
Trousseaux, Royal, 32, 43, 49, 50, 266
TUTORS, ROYAL:
Jan Van Eyck, 19;
Jehan de Proviesey, 77;
Antoine de la Salle, 77, 288;
Philippe de Lenoncourt, 125;
Sir John Fortescue, 292
VAUDÉMONT, Anna, Countess of, 125, 138
Antoine, Count of, 62, 88, 104, 108, 109, 111-113, 119, 120, 138, 149,
255, 260
Ferri, Count of, 113, 137, 138, 215, 260, 263, 265, 292, 303, 312,
328, 348
Margaret of (granddaughter of King René), 343
René, Duke of Lorraine (grandson of King René), 336, 347, 348
Yolande d’Anjou, Countess of, 63, 70, 85, 87, 113, 125, 134, 138, 140,
244, 254-257, 260, 265, 291, 292, 347, 348
Venus di Milo, 48
Village gossip, 146
Virago, A royal, 111-114, 124, 130, 169, 192-200, 261, 275, 280
Visconti, see Princes
“Voices” The, 144, 145, 146, 158, 159, 168
Volte face, A, 293
Widow, A girl, 122, 129, 218
WIFE:
a blind, 250;
a stick for a, 77;
a much-enduring, 178;
an unfaithful, 180, 181
Wine, Delicious, 48, 211, 212, 213
Winecup, A famous, 29
Witchcraft, 177, 195
“Woman, Fortune is a,” 82;
very beautiful, 307;
threats of a, 84;
A gay, 37;
vampire, 222-227
WOMEN:
Character of, 45;
of Arles, 48;
of Genoa, 128;
paramount, 178;
gay, 159, 200, 206
Word, A Duke’s, 116
Worldly-wise canons, 200
WRITERS AND CHRONICLERS:
Martial d’Auvergne, 139
Louis de Beauvau, 26
Jean Bourdigne, 58
Philippe de Commines, 204, 314
Viollet le Duc, 163
Neron, F. Faraglia, 242
Louis de Grasse, 139
Pierre de Hurion, 26
Pierre Mathieu, 18
Enguerrand de Monstrelet, 187, 188, 214
Jehan Pasquerelle, 85
Étienne Pasquier, 111
Jehan de Perin, 26
Antoine de la Salle, 258
Jean Juvenal des Ursins, 49, 50, 176
Yolanda d’Arragona, see Queens
“You may go!” 108
“You villains!” 132
BILLING AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, GUILDFORD.