Lives of the queens of England, from the Norman conquest;

Google

This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project

to make the world's books discoverable online.

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject

to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books

are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.

Marks, notations and other maiginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the

publisher to a library and finally to you.

Usage guidelines

Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the
public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing tliis resource, we liave taken steps to
prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying.
We also ask that you:

+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for
personal, non-commercial purposes.

+ Refrain fivm automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine
translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the
use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help.

+ Maintain attributionTht GoogXt "watermark" you see on each file is essential for in forming people about this project and helping them find
additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it.

+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just
because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other
countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of
any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner
anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liabili^ can be quite severe.

About Google Book Search

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers
discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web

at|http: //books .google .com/I

LIVES

or TBI

QUEENS OF ENGLAND.

A NEW EDITION.

THREE VOLUlfES IN ONE.

o^^^^^^^#M»^^^^^*<^^^ »^»%

VOLUMES FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD.

tf I I I . t#

icri

LIVES

Of TBI

QUEENS OF ENGLAND,

moK

THE NORMAN CONQUEST;

ifnn

ANECDOTES OF THEIR COURTS,

NOW FIRST PUBLISHED FROM

OPFlClAli RECORDS AND OTHER AUTHENTIC DOCaMENTS,

PRIVATE AS WELL AS PUBLIC.

KE*V EDITION, WITH CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS.

BY

AGNES STRICKLAND.

oU

tWMUW cf antiqaity kid up
rolb, I openeiL

Bbaomort.

VOL. I.

PHILADELPHIA:
BLANCHARD AND LEA

t9

BEk HOST EXCELLENT MAJESTT,

(!>nr Sooereigu £abn (Qncen iMctoria,

Ihi: LIVES OF THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND

ASE BY GRAClOUl PERMlSSIO.f INSCRIBED,

W.IU FErlTNOS OF TROFOVSV RESPECT AND IX>YAL AFFEL-TUa,

ET KCR MAJESTY 8 FAITIIFrL SUBJECT

AHO DEVOTED SERTA!«T

AGN't.S STKICXLAND

(3

CONTENTS

OF THB

FIRST VOLUME.

m0*0>t*0***f»0^*^**f*f»**f»f^

Peepacb Pagb vii

PSBFACB TO THB SbCOND EdITION Zl

Pbepacb to THB Thied Edition xii

Introduction xiii

Matilda op Flanders, Qaeen of William the Conqaeror .... 17

Chapter II 40

Chapter Ul 67

Matilda op Scotland, Queen of Henry 1 79

Chapter U 97

Adelicia op Loutainb, Second Queen of Henry 1 119

Matilda op Boulogne, Queen of Stephen 142

Elbanora of Aquitaine, Queen of Henry IL 166

Chapter U 188

!•

(5)

BTJtStmO

41tUJDV flAlt

PREFACE

TO

THE FIRST EDITION.

All annoancement of this work, the first volume of which is now
submitted to the public, appeared in the Literary Gazette of August
26, 1837, and other leading periodicals of the day, under its original
title of "* Historical Memoirs of the Q,ueens of England.'* I had jnre-
nousiy had the honour of communicating to her majesty, queen
Victoria, that for some years I had been engaged in preparing for
publication, the personal history of those royal ladies, from many of
whom her own illustrious descent is derived ; and I was fovoured with
a most gracious permission fi'om her majesty, to dedicate the work to
herself

A long and dangerous illness delayed the publication of the first
series. Meantime, the title I had chosen was appropriated by another
writer, and, under that very title, memoirs have been published of
iome of the queens whose biographies, in regular and unbroken
succession, are comprised in the present series of the *' Lives of the
Q,ueens of England.'*

Biography, however, especially when historically treated, is a widely
extended field, to which all labourers are freely welcomed, in this
intelligent age of inquiry. Such opposite views, indeed, are taken of
the same events and characters, by persons of difierently constituted
minds, that the cause of truth is sure to be benefited, when the re-
search of several writers is directed to tlie same subjects.

** Facts, not opinions," should be the motto of every candid histo-
rian ; and it is a sacred duty to assert nothing lightly, or without good
evklence, of those who can no longer answer for themselves. I have
borne in mind the charge which pre&ces the juryman's oath,~it runfi
as folk)ws: — "You shall truly and justly try this cause; you shall
present no one from malice ; you shall excuse no one from favour,**

|'.«1U

FRBF&CB.

I

Feeling myself thus charged, by each anil every one of ue bwled
queens of England, wliosi' actions, from the crudie to Iht tomb, 1 was
about to liiy betbre the public, 1 considered the responsibility of the
taak. rather than the necessity of expediting the publication of the
work. The number of auihoritiea required, some of wht'-h could not
be obtained in England, and the deep research among iii-" Nortoui,
Provencal, French, and monastic Latin chroniclers, that was indispen-
•ably necessary, made it impossible to hurry out a work which I
hoped to render permanently useful,

As it has been one ofuiy principal objects to render the Uves of our
Queens a work of general interest to every class of readers, I have
modernized the orthography of extracts from ancient authors, and
endeavoured as much as possible to avoid prolix and minute details,
on matters more suited to the researches of the antiquary than to
volumes which, I would fain hope, may find a place in domestic libra-
ries, as well as public literary institutions.

The Introduction contains brief notices of our ancient British and
Saxon queens. Their records are, indeed, too scanty to admit of any
other arrangement. Yet a work professing to be ihe history of tlie
female royalty of our country, would have been incomplete without
some mention of those princesses.

The plan of chronological arrangement adopted in this work pre-
■enied, at £rsl sight. ^ reat difficulties in writing the lives of querns
who survived their royal husbands, and were involved, as queen^dow-
egers, with the annals of succeeding queen -con so ris. Sometimes
there have been two dowager-queens of England contemporaries, or
two dowager-queens and a queen-consort, as In the reign of John,
when Beanora, the widow of Henry 11., Berengaria. ihe widow of
Richard L. and Isabella, ihe consort of John, were all in existence at
the same period. In these Instances, and others where it has been
necessary to avoid Ihe evil of a twice-told late, or confusion of dates,
the sequel of the queen-dowager's memoirs has been related among
the chronological events of the era to which it belonged.

The biographies of Ihe queens of England commence, in their natural
order, with Ihe life of Matilda, the consort of William rhe Conqueror,
the first of our Anglo-Norman queens, and the mother of the suc-
ceeding line of kings, whose dynasty, in the person of our present
sovereign lady, queen Victoria, occupies the throne of England. Inde.
pendenlly of her Important position among the queens of England, the
Incidents of the life ofMalilda are peculiarly interesting, and it nlForda
me much pleasure to make her better known to the English reader,
since Ihe rich materials of which her memoir is composed are chiefly
OeriredAvat untranslated Norman and Latin chronicles. i

PRBFACB. IX

The history of the empress Matilda is incorporated with tliose of
the contemporary queens of England, with whose annals the events
of her life are inseparably connected.

As the uniting link of the Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman dynas-
ties, as the mother of the royal line of Plantagenet kings, the empress
Matilda is a character of great importance in the annals of England ;
hut she has never been included by any historian, either ancient or
modem, in the catalogue of English sovereigns. Even on her great
seal she claimed no other title than that of «* Domina of England ;** and
as she was neither a crowned nor anointed sovereign, and, though
queen de jure, she fiiiled to establish her rights by force, and volunta-
rily ceded them to her son Henry II., a separate memoir of this prin-
cess could not with propriety appear among those of the queens of
England.

The life of Berengaria, the crusading queen of Richard CoBur de
Lion, is for the first time presented to the public, in the second volume
of this work.

The memoir of Isabella of Vaiois, the virgin widow of Richard IL,
with whose eventful history some authors are little acquainted, is
included in these biographies.

The memoir of Margaret of Anjou contains a portion of her life
which is at present unknown to English historians — the details of her
childhood and early youth. These are derived from the most authentic
sources, and comprise many new particulars, both of her personal and
public life as queen of England, and the mournful epoch of her widow-
hood.

The life of Katharine Parr will, I venture to hope, form an attractive
portion of the fifth volume of the Lives of the Queens of England ;-^
my ancestral connexion with that queen affording me peculiar facilities
as her biographer.

The personal histories of the Anglo-Norman and several of the
Plantagenet queens are involved in such great obscurity, that it has
cost years of patient research, among English and foreign chronicles,
ancient records, antiquarian literature, and collateral sources of infor-
mation of various kinds, to trace out the events of their lives, from the
cradle to the grave. The most difficult part of the undertaking is now
achieved ; for the concluding volumes of the lives and times of the
queens of England belong to eras abounding in authentic materials
for rojral biography. State papers, autograph letters, and other im-
portant documents, which the antiquarian taste of the present age has
drawn forth, firom repositories, where they have slumbered among tlie
dust of centuries, to afford their silent, but incontrovertible evidence,
an matti^rs connected both with the public and private V\\sXot^ o*

I

royalty, enable those writers who, unbiassed by ihe learMi of pvrtj
■pirit. deal in facts ratlier tlian opinions, in unruvel Ihe tangled web
ol" felsehfjod, and tn set forth the truth in alt sincerity,

In conclusion, I have to acknowledge my obligations to iits Efrace
Ihe duke of Norfolk, and to Mr. Howard of Uorby, the descendsnis
of queen Adelicio, for some important parliculars connected with the
nfe of that princess, for which I was indebted to Ihe ■• Memorials ol
the Hownrd Pamily." To Mr. Howard, indeed, my ttmnka ore pecu-
liarly due, as well as lo his sccomplished son, Philip H. Howard, Esq.
M.P. forCarhale, I am likewise deeply indebted to my learned friends,
fitr Thomas Phillips of Middlehiti, Sir Harris Nicolas, and Sir Culhbert
Sharp, for their inestimable Idndness in regard to MSS. and books of
reference.

The courteous attention I have receiveii from Sir William Woods,
garler king-at-arms, and the valuable assistance afforded by G. F.
Dells. Esq. Lancaster Herald, end C. O. Young, Esq. York Herald,

aim also my grateful remembrance.

My acknowledgments must likewise be otfered to the Earl of Strad-
oroke. Lord Mimnera, D. E. Darey, Esq., and oilier learned and noble
lOdividuBla in my nulive county, who have facilitated my arduous
undertaking, by placing tlieir extensive and valualile libraries at my
■tlsposal : nor can I omit to express my sincere npprtci.ition of the
courteous attention and assistance I have received during roy re-
searches, from Mr. Calea and Mr. Grabham, librarians al the British
Museum, and ottier gentlemen connected with that national treasury
of learning.

My warmest thanks are due to my accompIislieJ friend, Mademoi-
selle FaDtaJnr. of .\iniilly, for her unwearied kindness in supplying me
^iwlth foreipi chronicles, and in transcribing French dorimients from
Biblioth(-<|iie du Roi," not always accessible In England ; also to
|4he Rev. J. Hunter, of the augmentation Record Oflicr ; to J. Bropc,
iBsq., the Ireaaurer of liie Camden Society, and the learned editor of
Ijtume of its publications; to J. O. Haliiwell, Esq., to whose reseai'ch
ind literary labours that Society is so much indebted; and last, not
least, to that dear sister who is my fellow-labourer and faithful assistant
In the Lives of the Queens of England, tliough she lias forbidden her
name to be united on the title-page with that of

AGNES STRICKLAND.

PREFACE

TO

THE SECOND EDITION.

^»«>^^»<»^^^i^^^

Thb demand (or the three yolumes of the ** Lives of the dueens of
Bnglaad,** already before the public, has been so unexpectedly rapid,
that a very large edition has been exhausted, and a reprint of the
commencing portion of the work is required, before the concluding
volumes could be brought through the press.

This unusual, but most gratifying circumstance, has afforded an
opportunity for corrections and additions, which, it is hoped, will ren*
der the publication more worthy of the flattering reception with which
it has been honoured, both by the critical press and the public, to
whom my grateful acknowledgments are due. I likewise avail myself
of this circumstance to express my warmest thanks to that great
historian. Dr. Lingard, for the valuable assistance he has rendered me
In the present edition.

(x«)

PREFACE

THE THIRD EDITION.

In Introducing a third edition of these volumes of the " Lives of th
Queens of England," it may be proper to state, that they have agai
undergone a complete and very careful revision, and that variou

INTRODUCTION.

^^^^m^^0^*0*f*^mt»^0»^t0*0^^^t0

^ Thb dueen of England,** says that learned commentator on the
laws and constitution of this country, Blackstone, *Ms either queen-
regnant, queen-consort, or queen-dowager/' The first of these is a
female sovereign reigning in her own right, and exercising all the
functions of regal authority in her own person, — as in the case of her
present majesty, queen Victoria, who ascended the throne, both by
rightful inheritance, the consent of the people, and also in full accord-
ance with the ancient British custom, noticed by Tacitus in these
remarkable words : — ** Solent fosminarum ducta bellare, et sexum in
imperils non discemere.'* *

No other princess has, however, been enthroned in this land, under
such auspicious circumstances as our present sovereign lady.

Mary L was not recognised without bloodshed. £lizabeth*s title
was disputed. Mary II. was only a sovereign in name, and as much
dependent on the wul of her royal husband as a queen-consort The
archbishop of Canterbury forfeited the primacy of England, for de-
clining to assist at her coronation, or to take the oaths. The same
scruples of conscience withhdd the nonjuring bishops and clergy, and
many of the nobility and gentry, of England, from performing their
homage either to her or to queen Anne.

Not one of those four queens, therefore, was crowned with the
unanimous consent of her people. But the rapturous acclamations
that drowned the pealing of the bells and the thunders of the artillery,
at the recocrnition of our beloved liege lady, queen Victoria, in West-
minster Abbey, can never be forgotten, by those who then heard the
voices of a united nation uplifted in assent I was present, and felt
the massy walls of the Abbey thrill, from base to tower, with the
mighty sound, as the burst of loyal enthusiasm within that august
sanctuary was echoed by the thronging multitude without, hailmg her
queen by universal suffrage.

The queen-recrnant, in addition to the cares of government, has to
preside over all the arrangements connected with female loyalty,
which, in the reign of a married king, devolve on the queen-consort ;
she has, therefore, more to occupy her time and attention than a kmg.

*Life€.^ i^icola.

I in hei
^ Tt)« l]

INTBODL'CTION.

for whom the laws of England expressly provide, that he is not to to
troubled with his wife's affairs, like un ordinary husband.

Tliere have been but Ihree unmarried kings of Enfilnnd, Willlona
Rufus, Edward V., and Edward VI. Tlie twu latter were removed at
very lender age ; but the Red King was a determined bachelor, and
' court, unrestrained by llie presence and beneBciai influence ol' a
_ wn, was the locus of profaneness and all evil-doing.
The Queens of England, commencing the series with Matilda, the
of Williaui the Conqueror, ari? forty in number, including her pre-
!ni majesty queen Victoria, tlie sovereign ol these reulms, and Ade-
Ide, our revered queen-dowager.

Of tliese. file are queen-regnsnta, or sovereigns, and Ihirly-five
queen-con«orts. Our present series begins, not acoording to rank, but
chronological order, with the queen-con soria, of whom there were
twenty-six. before a female monarch, ascending the throne, combined
in her own person the high office of queen and sovereign of England.
The lives of ilie queen-regnants will appear in due course, ourgreat
~'~}e<.-t being to present, in a regular and connected chajn, the history
lemale royalty, to trace the progress of civilization, learning, aod
_ iineinent in thi« country, and to sliow bow greutly these were affected
Ifey qtieenly inSuence in all ages.

The wives of the kings of England, ttiough wisely excluded by the
constitution of the realm from any share in the government, have IVe>-
quently exercised considerable nuthority in atiajrs of state, and some
bsve tjn-n regents of the kingdom; every one has been more or less a
'~* trader of historical importance, aa will be shown m their respective
e^raphiea.

'he earliest British queen named in history Is CarlUmandua. who,
lUgh a married woinun, appears lo have been the snvereign of th«
iganies, reigning in her own right. This was about the year 50.
Iluadicpa, or Btidva, the wurrinr queen of Ilie Iceni, succeeded her
:eased lord, king I'rasuliigus, in the regal office, Speed gives us a
•ious print of one of her coins, in his ciironicte. The desLTiption of
dreu and appearance, on the morning of the battle, that ended so
istrously for the royal amazon and her country, quoted from a
_ nan histohnn, is remarkably picturesque : —

"After she had dismounted from her chariot, in which she had l>eea
ivifig fi^m rank to rank to encourage her troops, attended by her
lughtera and her numerous army, she proceeded to a throne of
irshy turts, apparelled after the fashion of the Romans, in a loose
iwn of changeable colours, under which she wore a kirtle very
' kly plaited, the tresaes of her yellow hair hanging lo the skirts of
drew. About her neck she wore a chain of gold, and bore 3 light
" tn her hand, being of person tall, and of a comely, cheerful, and
■t countenance; and so a while she stood, pausing to survey htv
, and being regarded with reverential silence, she addressed Uk
an Impassioned and eloquent speech on the wrongs of her o
try."

The overthrow and death of iliis heroic princess took place ia t
year 60 ^

. There is every reason to suppose tiiat the majestic code of
"llied the comnmn law of EngJ'ind. usunlly attributed to Alfred,
f him derived from the laws first established by a British qi
Uaritn," says iloHnshed,' -surnaroed Prolia, or tlie Just, was
' Hohiisbsd'i DeMription of England, vo\. i., p.^^S, *to. •d.

INTRODUCTION. XV

widow of Gutiline, king of the Britons, and was ]efl protectress of the
realm during the minority of her son. Perceiving much in the con-
duct of her subjects which needed reformation, she devised sundry
wholesome laws which the Britons, after her death, named the Mar-
tian statutes. Alfred caused the laws of this excellently learned prin-
cess, whom all commended for her knowledge of the Greek tongue, to
be established in the realm." These laws, embracing trial by jury and
the just descent of property, were afterwards collat^ and still larther
improved by Edward the Confessor, and were as pertinaciously de-
manded from the successors of William the Conqueror, by the Anglo-
iNormans, as by their Anglo-Saxon subjects.

Rowcna, the wily Saxon princess, who, in an evil hour for the un-
happy people of the land, became the consort of Vortigern in the year
450, is the next queen whose name occurs in our early annals.

Guiniver, the golden-haired queen of Arthur, and her faithless suc-
cessor and namesake, have been so mixed up with the tales of the
romance poets and troubadours, that it would be difficult to trace a
single fact connected with either.

Among the queens of the Saxon Heptarchy, we hail the nursine
mothers of the Christian faith in this island, who firmly established
the good work begun by the British lady Claudia and the empress
Helena.

The first and most illustrious of these queens was Bertha, the
daughter of Cherebert, king of Paris, who had the glory of converting
her pagan husband, Ethelbert, the king of Kent, to'that faith of which
she was so bright an ornament, and of planting the first Christian
church at Canterbury. Her daughter, Ethelburga, was in like man-
ner the means of inducing her valiant lord, Edwin, king of Northum-
bria, to embrace the Christian faith. Eanfled, the daughter of this
illustrious pair, afterwards the consort of Oswy, king of Mercia, was
the first individual who received the sacrament of baptism in North-
umbrian

In the eighth century, the consorts of the Saxon kings were ex-
cluded, by a solemn law, from sharing in the honours of royalty, on
account of the crimes of the queen Edburga, who had poisoned her
husband, Brihtric, king of Wessex; and eveh when Egbert consoli-
dated the kingdoms of the Heptarchy into an empire, of which he be-
came the Bretwalda, or sovereign, his queen Redburga was not per-
mitted to participate in his coronation.

Osburga, the first wife of Ethelwulph, and the mother of the great
Alfred, was also debarred from this distinction; but when, on her
death, or, as some historians say, her divorce, Ethelwulph espoused
the t)eautiful and accomplished Judith, the sister of the emperor of the
Franks, he violated this law, by placing her beside him on the King's
Bench, and allowing her a chair of state, and all the other distinctions
to which her high birth entitled her.

This afforded a pretence to his ungallant subjects, for a general re-
volt, headed by his eldest son Ethel bald, by whom he was deprived of
half his dominions. Yet Ethelbald, on his father's death, was so cap-
tivated by the charms of the fair cause of his parricidal rebellion, that
he outraged all Christian decency, by marrying her.

The t>eautiful and unfortunate Elgiva, the consort of Edwy, has
afforded a favourite th#»me for poetry and romance ; but the partisans
of her great enemy. Uunstan, have so mystifie.l h^r history, tl\tvl VI
wouJd be no easy matter to give an authentic accouul o1[ ht^v Wle.

INTBOOt:CTtOIf.

K. Elfrlda. the fair and false queen of Edgar, has acquired an InfatnouB
Jeeietirity, for ber rcuiorselesa liardncss of he&it. She did not possess
■Hie Ittleiild necessary to the accomplishmenl of her design, of EcizJn^
Kihe reins of government, nJler she had assassinated her unfottunale
■ptep-son St Corle Custlo: lur in this she was entirely circumvented by
Ttte pohlicnl genius of Duiislan, the master spirit of (he age.

Emma of Normandy, the beautiful queen of Ethel red, and after-
V'VBrds or Canute, piaya a conspicuous part in the Saxon Annals.
(There is a Latin treatise, written in her praise by a contemporary his-
torian, entitled, " Kncomium £mnifE ;" but, notwithstanding the Sorid
tommenduiiuus there bestowed upun her, the cliaracter of this queen
Fnust be considereil a doubtful one. The manner in which she sacri-
ficed the interests of her children b^ her first husband, Ethelred, to
those by her second unnatural marriage with the Danish conqueror,
is httle to her credit, and was certainly never forgiven by her son,
Edward the Confessor ) (hough that monarch, alter he had witnessed
the triumphant manner In wliich she cleared herself of the charges
bfoueht against her by her foes, by passing through the ordeal of
vslkmg barefoot, unscattied, over the nine red-ho( plouglisharea in
Winches(er Cathedral, threw himself at her feet in a transport of filial
penitence. Implored her pardon with tears, and submitted to the dis-
I eipiine ul the high altar, as a penance for having exposed her to such
I • test of her innocence.'

Eiiilha, the consort of Edward the Confessor, was not only an

JUninble, but a learned lady. Tlie Saxon historian, Ingulphus, him-

Vrfelf a scholar at Westminster Monastery, close by Editha's palace,

iffinns that the queen used frequently to intercept him and his school-

Ulows in her walks, and asli (hem questions on (heir progress in

rLntin. or, in (he words of his translator, " moot points of grammar

' with Iliem, in which she oftentimes posed them." Sometimes slie gave

them a piece of silver or two out of her own purse, and sent them to

the palace buttery, to breaktkst She was skilful in the works of the

ntedle, und with her own hands she embroidered the garments of her

Toyal husband. Edward the Confessor. Bdilha is perhaps the most

IftiterestinK of all our Saxon queens, and it was not without regret

'- ' we telt precluded, by the nature of the plan we have adopted,

including her life in the present series of the Lives of the Queens

f England.

I Mi I net's Wincheatar.

MATILDA OF FLANDERS,

QUEEN or WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.

CHAPTER I.

Tlt1« of qnaen — ^Regina — ^Matilda first so called — Her descent from AlfVed—
P^ettts'-^EducatioD— Learoing — Beauty — Character— Skill in embroidery-
Sought in marriage by William of Normandy— His passionate love — ^Unsuc-
cessful oourtship-^Brihtric Meaw, the English eniroy*— Matilda's love for him
— Perseverance of William of Normandy-— Furious conduct of William to
Matilda — ^Their marriage— Rich apparel — William's early life — ^William and
Matilda excommunicated— Dispensation — Matilda's taste for architecture-*-
Matilda's sister married to Tostig — ^Birth of Matilda's eldest son — ^Harold's
Tisit — ^Betrothed to Matilda's daughter — William's invasion of England — ^Le^
ter to Matilda's brother— ^Matilda appointed Regent of Normandy— Her son
Robert — Happy arrival of Matilda in the Mora — Ship presented by her—
William sails in it to England — Matilda's delineations — Battle of Hastings-
News of victory brought to Matilda — Our Lady of Good Tidings.

Matilda, the wife of Wflliam the Conqueror, was the first consort
of a king of England who was called rtgina} This was an innovation
in the ancient customs of the land, for the Saxons simply styled the
wife of the king ^ the lady his companion,''* and to them it was dis-
pleasing to hear the Normans speak of Matilda as la reine, as if she
were a female sovereign, reigning in her own right :^ so distinct in
those days was the meaning attached in this country to the lofty title
of reUie^ or reginOf from that of queen, which, though at present the
highest female title of honour used in England, then only signified

companion.

■ ■< I ■ ^— — ^-^^i^— ^^^-^-^— ^— ^»— ^^

' Thierxy*s Anglo>Normans. In the Boomsday-book, Matilda, the wife of tha
Conqneror, is called Matilda Regina.

* Hlafdige m ewene is the Saxon phrase. Hlafdige, or lady, means the giver
of bread. Cwene, or Quen, was anciently used as a term of equality, indisorimi*
nately applied to both sexes. In the old Norman chronicles and poems, instead
of the Duke of Normandy and his peers, the phrase used is the Duke of Nor-
mandy and his Quens. ** The vrord quen^ signifying companion," says Rapin,
vol. i. p. 148, ** was common both to men and women." So lata as the tfamaaath
century, a collection of poems written by Charles of Aigou and his courtiers, is
quoted as the songs of the Qnens of Aqjoo. Also in a chant of the twelfth cen-
tury, enumerating the war-cries of the French proviaoes, we find

*■ And the quem of Thlbaut
'Champagne and passavmnt' cry!**

The people of the Innri mnrmnred among ihnmselves at Aw rniprfr

f vedeiiieil usuniption of <ligniiy, in the wife of (bcir Nnrnian sovereign ;

Lyet ^ llie slraiige woman," as tliey called Slaiilila, coulil boasl of royal

PSuon blood.' She was, iu fact, the direct deaceiidaiit of the best rdH

■ DobWt of their iiioiMrchs, AlfreJ, through [he marriage of his diiu^hi«r,

[Slstrith, with Baldwin H. of Flanilpr*, who«e son. Arnold (he Gr«ai,

I the immeiliaCe nntestoT of Slalilda, — an inlareatiiig cimmiBlaiicr

khich history posses over in silence. Few of the tjuecns of England,

biliwl, can claim a more illusiiions descent (han this princess. Her

fciher. Baldwin V„ suruami-ij the Gentle. Earl of Flaiidera, was tlm son

if Baldwin IV. by Eleanors, daii^I^r or<1iikc Richard [I. of Normandy;

IDiI her iDoiber was Auelais, daughter of Robert, king of France, anil

T In Henry, tlie reigitinf sovoceifn of tluit country- She was nearly

lelatcd to the emperor of (jermany, and lo most of the royal families in

Matdda was bom about the year 1031. and was very carefully edu-
She was poHgcsted of fine natural lalenUt, and was no less cde-
raied for her learning than for her great bMuiy. William of Malmsbury,
Bpi'Aking of this jirincess, says. " She was a singular mirror of
rudencc in our days, and the perfection of virtue."

King her other acquireuienls. Matilda was particularly famed for
' skill in otiiantental needlework, which, in tkit age, was considered
e of the moci important and desirable accomplishments which prin-
•*e» and ladies of higii rank could possess. We are told by a worthy
thmnicler,' '•That tlie prnliciency of the four sisters of King Alhelstane,
spinning, weaving, and embroiderj-, procured these royal spinsters
essea of the gre-Blest princes in Europe.^
lie fame of this excellent sdlchery is, however, all the memorial
ins of tlie industr}- of Slalilda^s Saxon cousins; but her own
^ the Bayeux tapestry, is still in existence, and is, beyond all
(tilion, the most wonderful achievement, in the gentle craft of net
4 that ever was cxecuterl by fair and royal hands. But of ihia we
have la speak more fully in its proper place, as a pictorial chronicle
e conquest of England.

le earl of Flanders. Matilda's father, was a rich, powerful, and poti-
't prince, equally skilled in the arts of war and of peace. It was to him
the town of Lille, which he rebuilt and greatly beautitied, OW«d lla
>e>]umi greotnesa; and the home manufactures of his native country
rough his juclidnus encouragement, became a source of wenlth anil
usperily lo Flanders. His lamily coimeiion with the king of France,
a utitrinn and ally, and his intimate relationship to most of ijie royal
juses in Europe, rendered his alliance very desirable lo several of the
pkigninj princen, his ueighbonrs, who became suitors for llie baud of
'» bnauttful daughter.

"" I must accomplished of these was the young duke William of
Homiamly, who was not only desirous of this union in a poUtical pma
■ Noimaa Anlii<iitin.

ratlw

m

•edie- I

MATILDA OF FLANDERS. «9

of view, but passionately enamoured of his fair cousin. Yet William,
though no less remarkable for the manly beauty of his person than for
his knightly prowess in the field, and his great talents as a legislator,
had, in the first instance, the mortification of receiving a very discou-
raging reply to his suit, not only from the parents and kindred of the
young lady, but also from herself. The fact was, Matilda had bestowed
her first afiections on a young Saxon nobleman, named Brihtric Meaw,
who had visited her &ther^s court in the quality of ambassador from
Edward the Confessor, king of England.'

Brihtric, sumamed Snaw, or Snow, from the fairness of his complexion, ^
was the son of Algar, the lord of the honour of Gloucester, and pos- -
«e8sed of very ei^tensive domains in that county. He appears, however,
to have been insensible to the regard with which he was distinguished
by Matilda. This, together with the dark sequel of the tale, which will
be subsequently related, is one of those authentic but obscure facts which
occasionally tinge the page of history with the semblance of romance.

It is more than probable that the passion which Matilda cherished for
the fiur-haired English envoy, was dbe most formidable of all the obsta-
cles with which her cousin, William of Normandy, had to contend
during the tedious period of his courtship.

A less determined character would have given up the pursuit as hope-
less ; but William, having once fixed his mind upon this marriage, was
not to be deterred by difficulties or discouragements. It was in vain
that his foes and jealous kinsmen intrigued against him in the Flemish
court ; that the parents of the lady objected to his illegitimate birth, and
his doubtful title to the duchy of Normandy ; that the church of Rome
interdicted a marriage between parties within the forbidden degrees of
consanguinity ; and, worae than all, the lady herself treated him with
coldness and hauteur. After seven years' delay, William appears to have
become desperate ; and if we may trust the evidence of the chronicle of 1
Inger, he, in the year 1047, waylaid Matilda in the streets of Bruges, as
she was returning from mass, seized her, rolled her in the dirt, spoiled
her rich array, and, not content with these outrages, struck her repeat-
edly, and then rode off at full speed. This Teutonic method of court-
ship, according to our author, brought the af&ir to a crisis ; for Matilda,
either convinced of the strength of William's passion by the violence of
his behaviour, or afraid of encountering a second beating, consented to
become his wife.' How he ever presumed to enter her presence again,
after such a series of enormities, the chronicle saith not, and we are at a
loss to imagine.

The marriage between the royal cousins took place in 1052, at Wil-
liam's own castle of Angi, in Normandy, whither Matilda was, with
great pomp, conducted by her illustrious parents, and a noble company
of knights and ladies.

* Chronicle of Tewkesbury, Cotton. MSS. Cleopatra, c. Ill, 220. Lelaod'8
Collections, vol. i. p. 78. Monasticon, 111, 50. Palgrave'8 Rise and Progress,
vol. L p. 294. Thierry's Anglo-Normans, vol. i. p. 335.

* Chronicle of Inger, likewise called Ingerius. The anecdote has bediL liana
kied by J. P« Andxewju

I

I

I

Wnee,' iq hia poetical ehronirle of the dukes of Norniainivi wys,
** that Ihe couiiu her farher, gave Matilda joyfully, with very rich appa-
reilfmenl, that she was very fair aiid graceful, and that William macried
her by the advice of his baronaife.'"

The royal mnnlle. pimiahed wilh jewels, in which Matilda wsa ar-
nycd ou the day of her espouanls, atid also Ihal worn by her mighty
totd on the aome occasion, together with his helmet, were long pre*
•erred in the treasury of the cathedral of Bayeux, Lancelot mentions
8n inventory of prerious effecia belonging to ihe chareh, dated 1476, in
which these cosily bridal eiimietits are enumerated. ImmedtBlely after
ihe marriage solemniiy, William conducted his fair and royal bride lo
Ronm, " where," says Wace, " she was greatly served and honoured."

Nothing could be more perilous than the position of William's afGi'm
"« the period of his marriage with Matilda of Flanders. He was me-
naced OD every side by powerful neighbours, who were eager to appro-
priate and parcel out the fertile Gelda of Normandy, to the enlargement
of their respective borders ; and at the name time a formidable party waa
amying itself against him within his own dominions, in favour of Guy
of Burgundy, ilie eldest son of his annt Alice. This prince was the
ncarcai legiiiinate male descendant of duke Richard the Second of Nor-
Inandy; and as the direct line had failed with duke Robert, the late sove-
>rign, he was. notwithstanding the operation of the Salic law, considered
hy many to possess a belter right to the dukedom than the son of duke
niehard by Arlolta, the skinner's daughter of Falaise. The pariiculRra
of William^ birth are too well known lo reqoire Tecapitulalion ; but it
ia proper to notice thai there are historians who maintain that Ariotta
%as the wife of dake Robert, though not of rank or breeding fit to he
acknowledged as his dnchess.' This we are disposed to regard as a mere
naradox, since William, who would have been only too happy to avail
nimaeir of llie plea of even a contract or promise of marriage between
his parents, in order to strengthen his defective liile by a pretence of
lagfitimacy, never made any ^uch assertion. On the contrary, not only
before hia victorious sword had purchased for him a more honourable
ntname, but even afterwards, he submitted to the use of the one derived
from his mother's shame, and in the charter of the lands which he be-
llowed on his son-in-law. Alan, duke of Bretagne, in Yorkshire, he nil^
■cribcd himself ^William sumamed Baslardus."*

It IS a genera] opinion that Arioita was manied to Herlewin of Conte-
»ille dtiririg the lifetime of duke Robert, and that this circumsianee pre-
vented any possibility of William aiiempiing to assert that he wa* the
lagitimate oflspring tk his royal aire.'

* The aullior of llie Roman de Rao.
' The noblpt or Nonnsn'ly, minding iti^ir rluke of sueceAUon, penoaileil bin

IS tiiarry Maulila, or Miiiul, daughter of Baldwin V., of Fland™, — Sandfbol.
■ Vfjlliun of Malmibniy. Ingulpbus. 'LeUnd.

* After ibe icoeuion of Henry ihe Second lo the Ihronp, ■ Saion pnligrva ww
' bnniuualjr invented Ibr Arlc^H, whidi is loo grest a euruMily to t>e oaiitied.
L^Samni ' " ..... .......

■nil Ifontjile," fsyt ibe Saxon ganralopst, " bad iwo tons, Edwin ond
name doci not appear in tumarf baeaaN '

i

ATI LDA OP FLA

4

lAfV-onling to all historians, William was, rrom ihe very momenl of hia
~'ii r«^rci(<tl as a child of the most singular promiae. The manful
with whi<rh his baby hand detained the rushes nf which ho had
n uriicn" ' the moment after his entrance into life, when, in conse-
>e of the danger of hia mother, he was pemiiited to lie unheeded
e floor of his chamber, where he first saw tiie light,' gnve occasion
lijtothe oracular gossips in attendance on Arlotia to predict "that the child
uld become a mighty man, ready to acquire everything within his
ich, Bnd that which he acquired he would with a strong hand stead-
maintain against all challengers."
It does not appear that duke Hobert bestowed much notice on the
5 during the early stages of infancy ; indeed, the contrary may be
J from the testimony of the historian,' who Hays, " When William
year old, he was introduced into the presence of his father; and
Ata (hike Robert saw what o goodly and tkir child he was. and how
lely he resembled the royal line of Normandy, he embiaced him, and
inwlcdged him to be iiis son, and caused him to receive princely
ure ID his own palace. When William was live years old, a batta-
I of boys, of his own age, was placed under his command, with
in b« practised the military exercise, according to the custom of
e days. Over these infant followers William assumed the authority
■ Borereign in miniature; and if dissensions arose among them, they
lays referred to his decision, and hia judgments are said to have been
taikable for their acuteness and equity."* Thus early in life did the
Hiiy Norman learn to enact the character of a leader and legislator.
Itore had, indeed, eminently lilted him for the lofty station which be
a aftarwudi destined to fill ; and his powerful talents were strength-
ened and improved by an education such as few princes in that rude, un-
lettered age were so fortunate an to receive. At the age of eight yeari
he was able to read and explain Caisar's Comraenlariea.'

Tlie heauiy and early promise of this boy caused him to be regarded
with peculiar interest by the Normans ; but as a child of fliegitimate
birth, William possessed no legal claim to the succession. His title was
■imply founded on the appointment of the duke, his father. This prince,
having no other issue, had centered all the doting affection of i fulher'fl

bar twd e<nHlucl, aceiDi: tliat she rormBd a most iinprudeni ■lliance with the
kins'* aklnoM. Tba king, id bis sngci, tnuiiihed ihe skinner f^om England,
CPtlier with bis daughter. Tlioy both wc-ut la Normamly, wlieio they lived oa
rublic charity, anil luul sucoessively diree d&ughlerB. Uaviag one day oomi
Fvlitiiw to licg « duke Ricbncd's duor, ihr duke, sltupk with ihe bcBUly of
laa anil hei ohildren, aaked, ■ who aho ws> V ' I am an Englishwoman,'
, 'And of die royal btooil.' Tlie duke, on Ibia answer, ueat«d her with
jui, took the ildnner into liia tervicv, and liad ODO of his daughten brought
D tlM palaiu). She wa* Arloue or CkarSaUi, the roolliec of Ihe Couqueioi. —

ioa _■

SI

?ith ^

O frndal leun for takiiig poiaesaiiin.
"• Life pf the Conr\ueToi.
Hlooording id William of JMntm;>bury. the

;ultuni wna grpoL Thrau|{baul life

William of MHlmsboty,

Ibid.

^ which the CoiiqDeR<r

I

pes HA TILDA OF PLAHDBRS.

hart on the foun^ William ; and feeling naWrally deslroue of securing
Id him ihe iJum] crown, before he sel oui on his my^tfrious pilgrimage
for l)ie Holy Uind, he called ihe peers of Normandy logeihrr, in llie
HoipI dc Ville, and required thfm to swear fealiy \o his son, whom he
then aolecnnlv appoinied for hia cuccMsor. When the princely boy,
tiiMi n child of siei-eii years old, was brouglil in lo receive the homage
of the usenibled nobles, duke Robert look him in his anns, and, after
lUBeing and paastonately enibrai^ing him^ he pretiented him to hts valiant
t^Qura*" as their future sovereign, with ihia remark, "He is little, but
he will grow." '

The peers of Normandy gralilied their departing lord by paying the*
homage required lo the young William. The duke then appointed ht«
Vosaof, kinsman an<l fnenil, Alan, duke of Breiagne. seneFchal of his do-
tninions, with full [rower to govern the state of Normandy in his >b-
•ence. Thea he carried his son lo Paris, and delivered him into the
huid* of the king of France, his tuuraiiL, or paramount lord : and hir-
ing received his promisee of protecting and rherishing the boy with a
loving care, he made William perform the same homage to that monarch
M if he WCTE already the reigning duke of Normandy; by which be
•ecured his sovereign's recognition of the title of his little vassal-peer to
the ducal crown- After lhe«>e arrengrmenis, duke liobert departed on
that expedition from which be never again returned lo his own domi-

At the court of his sovereign, Henry 1. of France, the uncle of his
future spouse, Maidda of Flanders. WdJiam completed his education, and
learned the science of diplomacy, secure from all the factions and intrigues
with which Normandy was convulsed. The slates, true to the fully
they had «wom to the son of their deceased lord, sent ambassadors to
'It «l ppiil, miiii il cmiiein, — Wttce.
'Cbroiiielo of Nnrimmily. Malmtbaij.

*Ie wu wL»iwr«l bf tome itiai duke Robert onHcnmik this pilgrimaga to Je-
tnailcin a* an (-i|iiiitorT ponance for llie ilealti ot liis elder bnitliec nni) MV»
tdEn, ilnko Rii haid 111., wbiah be wiu luspMirJ of having liBiipned; wliUa
mhiCM boliwKl be vrm* impelled (kma molirei of piety aJone lo pty liis row* al
Ihe L»l7 p«r«, aumnliiii; lu a new bul prevailing npiiit of niiwlirerteJ ilov-itiM^
whioh ntanllVstciI iTtrlf among the princes aiu) tioblM of that af- of lupciicmcn
and romance. Witetliat duke Robert ever reachnt the place of liii iltrMiiiabda,
tl OManaiD. Tbe Inst anlhcntic tiilinp reB|>ecliiig liim thnt resctlieH hi* oaphal
WW* brougbi by Pirou, a reiumed piltcriin from the Holy I^nd. wto rcponad
Aal be tonl bis lord, tha dulie of Nomiand]', on his way lo Ihn Holjr City, borae
I llio (binildets uf four Mout SnJacens, being Iben loo ill la prnowd
ley on foot. When Ihe rojfal pilgrim recogniied his vi
eloiniMl, wllh gKBt animaiion, " Tell my valiBiil pwra llisE fou hs

ign ntrrinl inwatdi hearan on the baclu of llrnds." — Willum of Midm
Whether thit oBGooneous Bansioa

t •uBletentlj intelligible to ibem to Inve the efleut <if pn>niking'll«i»

into •hnrtniing hi> joume)' ihilher, we know not Some chronicle*, indanl,

a»en ibai he died at Nicea. lu ffiilirnia, on lii^ lenim; l>ul there ia a (liange

I hit faie, and il >|ipeBr9 Ilist tha Norman noble* long

•tp«rle<l hl> return — »n cxptvlation thai »n« probably man Bivo

of duke ftoban.

MATILDA OP FLANDBRl. 23

Paris, to claim their young duke.* The king of France resigned him to
the deputies, but soon after invaded his dominions. William, howevei,
was possessed of energies equal to any difficulties in which he might be
placed, and he had some &ithful and powerful friends among the coun-
sellors of his late fiuher. Raoul de Gace and Roger de Beaumont stoudy
maintained the cause of their young duke, both in the court and in the
camp. They were his tutors in the art of war, and through their assist-
ance and advice he was enabled to defeat tlie king of France, and to
maintain the dignity of a sovereign and military chief, at a period of life
when princes are generally occupied in childish amusements, or the
pleasures of the chase.'

One by one, almost every Norman noble who could boast any portion
of the blood of RoUo, the founder of the ducal line of Normandy, was
incited by king Henry of France to stir up an insurrection, as a rival
claimant of the crown. On one occasion, William would in all proba-
bility have fallen a victim to the plot which his cousin Guy of Burgundy
had laid to surprise him, when he was on a hunting excursion, and was
to pass the night without any of his military retinue, at the castle of
Valc^es ; but from this peril he was preserved by the fidelity of his
fool, who, happening to overhear the conspirators arranging their plan,
travelled all night at full speed to give the duke notice of his danger;
and finding means to make an entrance into the casde at four o'clock in
the morning, he struck violently with the handle of his whip at the
chamber-door of his sleeping sovereign, and shouted, ^Levez, levez,
Seigneur .'^^ till he succeeded in rousing him. So close at hand, how-
ever, were Guy of Burgundy and his confederates, that it was only by
mounting his swiftest steed, half-dressed, and riding with fiery speed for
many hours, that William could efiect his escape from his pursuers ; and
even then he must have fallen into their hands, if he had not encountered
a gendeman on the road, with whom he changed horses, his own being
thoroughly spent Guy of Burgundy was afterwards taken prisoner by
the young duke ; but having been on affectionate terms with him in his
childhood, he generously forgave him all the trouble he had occasioned
him, and his many attempts against his life.'

The king of France was preparing to attack William with redoubled
fury^ at the period when, by his fortunate marriage with Matilda, he
strengthened his defective title to the throne of Normandy, by uniting
himself with a legitimate descendant of the royal line, and at the same-
time acquired a powerful ally, in the person of his father-in-law, the eail
of Flanders. The death of Henry averted the dark storm that lowered
over Normandy ; and the young Philip of France, his son and successor,
having been left during his minority under the guardianship of his aunt's
husband, Baldwin of Flanders, Matilda's fother, William found himself
entirely relieved from all present fears of hostility on the part of France.*
Scarcely, however, was he preparing himself to enjoy the happiness of

'Chronicle of Normandy. • Ibid. Malmsbury. Wace.

'Chronicle of Normandy. MezeraL Wace.
*Sl Marthe. Wace.

aroee, which had b«eD little

W HATILDAOPFLA

vcdiled life, when > caase of annoyance
aDticipaied.'

Mau^r. Uio arehbtBhop pf Ronen, an illegitimate uncle of the yonnf
duke, who had taken great pains to prevent hia maniage with Matilda air
FtaiiHcra, finding all the obstacles which he had mised ai^nsi it vren
unavailing, proceeded to pronounce sentence of excornmunicaiinn a^nst
the nctrly-wedded pnir, under the plea of its being a marringe witliin th<
forbidden degrees of ronsangiiinily/ and therefore unlawful in the nghl
cf man. and abominable to God.

William indignantly appealed to the pope against this «enienre, who,

on the parties submitting to the usual tines, nuitified the arehbishop'a

I ecclesiastical censures, and granted the dispensation for the marriage, on

I eoniiiiion of the young duke and duchess each building and endowing in

I ^bey at Caen, an<l an hospital for the Uind. Ijinfranc. afterwards the

' nielnrated archbishop of Canietbury, but at that time an obscure iiidivi-

dudi to whom William had eiiended bis prolection and patronage, was

ininiat«l with this negotiation, which he conducted with such ability u

to secnro lo himself the favour and confidence both of William and Ha-

lildo, by whom he was, in after years, advanced to the office of tutor lo

their royal ol6pring, and finally lo the highest ecclesias ileal rank and

William and Matilda cheerfullv* submiited to the conditions on which
dio dispensation for their marriage had been granted, by founding the
lister abbeys of St. Stephen and the Holy Trinity. That of Sl Stephen
was baili and endowed by Wdliam, for a fmiemiiy of monk^. of which
he made Lanfnine abbot Matilda founded and endowed that of the
Holy Triuiiy. for nuns. It should appear that ihe ground on which
these holy edifices were erected was not »ery honestly obtained, as we
flbtll have occasion to show hereafter.'

All thai Mauger gained by his impertinent interference with Ihe mUri-

I nonial coiMwrm of his royal nephew, was the exposure and punishment

I'llf his awn evil dec<ls ; for William, highly exasperated at the archbi-

1 ^op's attempt to separate him from his br)<le, retaliated upon him, by

P nlliiig a convocation of all Ihc bishops of Normandy, at Ltsieu, before

whom he caused Mauger lo be accused of several ctimes and misde-

iMwiora, enpectally of selling consecrated chalices, and other aniclea of

ohurch-plaie, to supply his luxury.' Mauger, bebg convicied of theM

1 nal practices, was deposed from his office, and Haurilliers was elected io

^his room.*

All tilings being now tranquilly settled, William proceeded lo build a

P royal palace within the precincts of Sl. Stephen's abbey, for his own nsi-

r dmctt and that of his young duchess. The greai hall, or council-cham-

liRT, of this palace, was one of ilie moel uiagniliceul apartments at that

lime in Europe.

'Cliioiiicle of NonnnnJy. Ilapiti.

*ClirmiJ''la of fioiniaiuly, Slaiitda wm ilia ttinnilJauKliiec orElefinoi of Kot-
nMtuljr. Wllliara'i aunt. *}iliiHitAiDoini. Itolniiburr. *RH{nn.

■This couiuilwB* bald uLialM, anno IQS3. Vida bit Hvrli NKholM't Ctuv

MATILDA OF FLANDERS.

-^*j

Matilda, inheriting from her father, Baldwin of Lille, a tisto for arclii-
lecture, took great delight in the progress of these stately buildings ; and
her foundations are among the most splendid relics of Norman grandeur.
She was a munificent patroness of the arts, and afforded great encourage-
ment to men of learning, co-operating with her husband most actively
in all his paternal plans for the advancement of trade, the extension of
commerce, and the general happiness of the people committed to their
charge. In this they were most successful. Normandy, so long torn
with contending Actions, and impoverished with foreign war&re, began
to taste the blessings of repose ; and, under the wise government of her
energetic sovereign, soon experienced the good effects of his enlightened
policy.

At his own expense William built the first pier that ever was con-
structed, at Cherbourg.* He superintended the building and organization
of fleets, traced out commodious harbours for his ships, and in a com-
paratively short time rendered Normandy a very considerable maritime
power, and finally the mistress of the Channel.

3Ieantime the domestic happiness which William enjoyed with his
beautiful ducliess appeara to have been very great All historians have
agreed that they were a most attached pair, and that, whatever might
have been the previous state of Matilda's aflections, they were unaltera-
bly and fiiithfuily fixed upon her cousin from the hour she became his
wife ; and with reason, for William was the most devoted of husbands,
and always allowed her to take the ascendant in the matrimonial scale.
The confidence he reposed in her was unbounded, and very shortly after
their marriage he intrusted the reins of government to her care, wlien he
crossed over to England, to pay a visit to his friend and kinsman, Ed-
ward the Confessor. By his marriage with Matilda, William had strength-
ened this connexion, and added a nearer tie of relationship to the English
sovereign ; and he was, perhaps, willing to remind the childless monarch
of that circumstance ; and to recall to his memory the hospitality he had
received, both at the Flemish and the Norman courts, during tlie period
of his advenity.'

Edward ^received him very honourably, and presented him with
hawks and hounds, and many other fair and goodly gif^,^' says Wace,
*^ as tokens of his love.'' Duke William had chosen his time for this
visit during the exile of Godwin and his sons ; and it is probable that
he availed himself of their absence, to obtain from Edward the promise
of being adopted as his successor to the English tlirone, and also to
commence a series of political intrigues, connected witli that miglity
project, which, fourteen years aflerward:!^, he carricil into eflect

In purauing the broad stream of history, how few writers take the
trouble of tracing the under-currents by which the tide of events is influ-
enced ! The marriage of Tostig, the son of Godwin, witli Judith of
Flanders, the sister of Matilda, wife of William of Normandy, was one
great cause of the treacherous and unnatural conduct, on his part, which
decided the fitte of Harold, and transferred the crown o{ England to the

' Henderton^t Life 0/ ViiDimm tiie Conqueror. * Higden ¥o\Yc\iTOtvviQ\\

witli

Willie
princi

MATILDA OF FLA.tDESS. ^^B

Nonnan line. During ihe period of their exile from England. OcNJiriR
and liis famtiy HDUptil refuge ai ihe coun of ihe eaii of Flanders, To»-
tig> fallier-iit-kw, front ivtioiu lliey received friendly and hospitable en-
lenaintnent. and were treated by the duke and duchess of Nornisndy
with all the macka of friendship that might reasonably be expected, in
' I of the family connexion to which we have alluded.'
ilhs after tier marriu^, Matilda ^ve binh to a sun, whom
Williaiti named Knberi, after his TuiIrt, tliinking that the name of a
e, whose memory whs dear to Normandy, would ensure the popu-
of his heir.* The happineit* of the royal pair was greatly increased
by liiis event. In tact, nothing could exceed tlie terms of afTeciion and
eonHilrnce in which they livuil. They were at that period reckonetl the
liandsomest anil most tenderly unileil couple in Europe- The line na-
.lural talents of both had been improved, by a degree of mental culliva-
lion ver>- unusual in lliat age; and there was a similarity in their lastea
id piirettits, which rendered their compaoionehip delightful to each
r in private hours, and gave to all their public acta thai graceful uiia-
ity, which could not foil of producing the happiest eSecia oa tlie
linda of their subjects.

The binh of Robert was followed in quick succession fay that of
Rieli&rd. VV ill tarn-It ufus, Cecilia, Agatha, Constance, Adela, Adelaide, and
Gundred. During several years of peace and national prosperity, Ma-
lilila and her husband employed ihemsdves in superintending the educ»-
lion of their lovely and numerous family ; sevci^ of whom, according
i«o the report of contemporary clirouicles, were childreu of great pro-
nise.*

very remarkable event occurs in the records of Matilda's coart,
the arrival of Harold in the year 10G5. Harold, having undertaken
lyage to Normandy in an open fishing-boat, woe driven by stress of
thor into the river 3Iaye, in the territories of the earl of Poulh'
vhom, with the intention of extorting a large ransom, he «
ioiiDured in the dungeons of Beaurain.

'he duke of Normandy, however, demanded the illuBirioua a
the enrl of Honthieu, understanding thai Harold's brother was b
!o ilie duchess of Normandy's sister, thought it most prudent to
his prey lo the family connexion by whom it was claimed.
Harold was treated with apparent friendship by William and itiaiiltlib
even olicred to bestow one of tlieir daughters upon liiin i
—a young lady whose age did not exceed seven years ; and U
il permitted himself to be aflianced, iliough without any iotei
keeping hii plight,
"'illiam llien confiiled lo his reluctant guest the tale of his

by EMw&rd the Confessor, far his successor, and proceeded to cxtorl
him a solemn oath, to render him all the assistance in his power, in
lerance i^ his designs on the crown of England.*
Harold, on his return to England, came to an open rupture with liia

'ouihi^^

udent to

i.
Maiilth.

JTtiSjta

*-n adB^^

'W*.!

•Msliiisbury. Wnce,

* Wace. Malnubutr. TUeii|l

MATILDA OF FLAHDBRS. 37

brother Toetig. Probably he had, during his late visit to Normandy,
discovered how entirely the latter was in the interest of his Flemish
wife^s connexions. Tostig then fled, with his wife and children, to the
court of his iather-in-Iaw, the earl of Flanders, and devoted himself
entirely to the cause of William of Normandy.

At this perilous crisis, when so dark a storm was slowly but surely
gathering over England, a woful deterioration had taken place in the
national character of the people, especially among the higher classes,
who had given wny to every species of luxury and licentiousness. Wil-
liam of Malmsbury draws the following quaint picture of their manners
and proceedings at this period. ^Englishmen," says he, ^^had then
transformed themselves into the strange manners of the French, not only
in their speech and behaviour, but in their deeds and characters. Their
fiuhioQ in dress was to go fantastically appointed, with garments short-
ened to the knee. Their heads shorn, and their beards shaven all but
the upper lip, on which they wore long moustaches. Their arms they
load^ with massive bracelets of gold, carrying withal pictm^d marks
upon their skins, pounced in with divers colours ;" by which it is evi-
dent that the Anglo-Saxons had adopted the barbarous practice of tat«
tooing their persons, like the rude aborigines of the island eleven centu-
ries previous. ^ They were," continues our author, ^ accustomed to eat
to repletion, and to drink to excess ; while the clergy wholly addicted
themselves to light and trivial literature, and could scarcely read their
own breviaries." In a word, they had, according to the witness of their
own chronicles, arrived at that pass of sensuality and folly which is
eenerally supposed to provoke a national visitation, in the shape of pesti-
lence or the sword.

^ The Normans of that period," says Malmsbury, ^ were proudly ap-
parelled, delicate in their food, but not gluttonous ; a race inured to war,
which diey could scarcely live without ; fierce in rushing upon the foe,
and, when unequal in force, ready to use stratagem or bribery to gain
their ends. They live in large houses with economy. They wish to
rival their superiors. They envy their equals, and plunder their inferiors,
but not unfrequently intermarry with their vassals."

Such were the general characteristics of the men whom William had
rendered veterans in the art of war, and, both by precept and example,
stimulated to habits of frugality, temperance, an^ self-control. A mighty
sovereign and a mighty people,' possessing within themselves the ele-
ments of every requisite that might ensure the success of an undertaking
which, by every other nation in Europe, must have been considered as
little short of madness.

When the intelligence of king Edward^s death, coupled with the news
of Harold's assumption of the regal dignity, reached the court of Nor-
mandy, William was struck speechless with indignation and surprise, and
is said to have unconsciously tied and untied the rich cordon that fast-
ened his cloak, several times, in the first tumults of his agitation and
anger.' He then gave vent to his wrath, in fierce animadversions on

> W. Malrasbur/. * Wace.

I

I

I

MATILDA or rLAKDEBS.

Ilkrold's broken fiuih, in cousing himsoir to be crowned king "f Eng-
land, in defiance of Ihe eolemn oath he had swoni to him, lo support lui
cl&ima.

Willtain alao complained of tlie aSront that bad been offered to hti
daughter by the faithlesB Saxon, who, resanlleBs of his conliafl io the
litilo Norman princess, just before king Edward's death, strengthened bis
interest with the English nobles, by mnrrying Algiiha, sister to the pow-
erful FDrls Morcar and Edwin, and widow lo GritTith. prince of Wales.
This circumstance is mentioned with great bitterness in all William's
pruclamationa and reproachful raesEages lo Harold, and appears lo ha»B
been considered by him to the full as great a villany as the assuiuption
of the crown <^ Einglsnd. Some of the historians who wrote neat that
period say, thai the lady Adeliza, the affianced bride of Harold, was dead
■I that time; but if so, William could bare had no preteit for upbniid-
ine him with the insult be had oflered to his &mily, by entermg itilo
mother matrimonial alliance.'

When William first made known to hifi Norman peers hLi positive in>
tentioa of asserting, by force of arms, his claims to the crown of Eng-
land, on the pica of Eidward the Confessor's verbal adoption of himself
as successor to that realm, there were stormy debates among them oD
tlie subject. They were then assembled in the hall of Lillebon, where
they remained long in council, but chieQy employed in complaining to
one another of tlie warlike temper of their lord. There were, however,
creat diDerences of o|Huion among them, and they separated tjiemsel»e«
mio several distinct groups, because many diose to speak at once, and
no one cimld obtain the attention of the whole assembly, but harangued
as many hearers aa could be prevailed on to linen to him. The ma-
jority were opposed to the idea of ilie expedition to England, and s»iil
they had already been grievously taxed to support the duke's foreign
wars, and observed, lliat ^ ibey were not only poor, but in debt ;" wlule
others were no less veliement in advocating their sovereign's projecL, and
*pake " of the propriety of contributing ships and men, and crossing the
*n willi him." &>me said, " they would," others, " that titey would
not;" and at last the contention among them became so fierce, that Fits-
Osbom. of Breteul, sumamed the Proud Spirit, stood forth and baiuigued
the malcontent portion of the assembly in these words : — .

" Why should you go on wrangling with your natural lord, who Mtkt
to gain honour ? You owe him service for your fiefs, and you ou^l M
Tender it with all readiness. Instead of waiting for him to entreat yOQ.
you ought to haxten to him. and offer your assistance, that he may Hot
iiereafler complain that his design has failed through your delays."

" Sir,'' replied they, "■ we fear the sea, and we are not bound to tent
beyond it; but do you speak to the duke for us. for we do nut seem to
knnw our own minds, and we think you will decide heller for us tlwa
we, cnn Ao fbr ourselves."'

Pia-Osbom, thas empowered to act as iheir deputy, went to the dnk*

I Wace'i Clitoaxlei of llie Dnlcei of FtorniaiiiJr. * Wairo.

MATILDA OF FLANDBRf. 29

at their head, and in their names made him the moat unconditional prof-
fers of their assistance and co-operation.

^ Behold," said Fitz-Osbom, ^ the loving loyalty of your lieges, my
lord, and their zeal for your senice. They will pass with you over
sea, and double their accustomed senriee. He who is bound to furnish
twenty knights, will bring forty ; he who should serve you with thirty
will now serve yon with sixty ; and he who owes one hundred, will
cheerfoUy pay two hundred.' For myvelf, I will, in good love to my
sovereign, in his need, contribute sixty well-appointed ships chaiged
with fighting men." Here the dissentient barons interrupted him with
a clamour of disapprobation, exclaiming, ^ That he might give as much
as he {leased himself, but they had never empowered him to promise
such unheard-of aids for them ;" and they would submit to no such
exactions from their sovereign, since if they once performed double ser-
vice, it would henceforth be demanded of them as a right

^ In short," continues the lively chronicler,' ^ they raised such an
uproar, that no one could hear another speak — no one could either
listen to reason, or render it for himself. Then the duke, being greatly
peq>lexed with the noise, withdrew, and sending for the barons one by
one, exerted all his powers of persuasion, to induce them to accede to
his wishes, promising ^ to reward them richly with Saxon spoils for the
assistance he now required at their hands ; and if they felt disposed to
make good Fitz-Osbom^s ofler of double service at that time, he should
receive it as a proof of their loyal afiection, and never think of demand-
ing it as a right on any foture occasion.' "

The nobles, on this conciliatory address, were pacified ; and feeling
that it was a much easier thing to maintain their opposition to their
sovereign's wishes in the councS than in the presence-chamber, began
to assume a difierent tone, and even to express their willingness to oblige
him as far as it lay in their power.'

William next invited his neighbours, the Bretons, the Angevins, and
men of Boulogne, to join his l»nners, bribing them with promises of
good pay, and a share in the spoils of merrie England. He even pro-
posed to take the king of France into the alliance, o&ring, if he would
assist him with the quota of money, men, and ships, which he required,
to own him for the guzeram^ or paramount lord of England, as well as
Normandy, and to render him a liegeman's homage for that island, as
well as for his continental dominions. Philip treated the idea of Wil-
liam's annexing England to Normandy, as an extravagant chimera,^ and
asked him, ^ who would take care of his duchy while he was running
aAer a kingdom ?" To this sarcastic query, William replied, ^ That is
a care that shall not need to trouble our neighbours ; by the gnce of
God we are blessed with a prudent wife and loving subjects, who will
keep our border securely during our absence."'

William entreated the young count Baldwin of Flanders, the brother
of his duchess, to accompany him as a friendly ally; but the wily
Fleming, with whom the fiunily connexion seems to have had but little

^ Wace'9 Chronicle of Normandy. *Ibid. 'Ibid. Ubid. *\XaOu
8*

UATILDA OF FLA5DERS.

■wfli^ht, replied by asking Willumi : ^ What share of England he intendKl

to beslow on him by w«y of recompense ?" '

The duke, surprised nl this demand, told his brother-in-law, "Thu
- he could not satisfy him on that point till he had consuliol with bn
■ bamns on ths suhjecl ;" but instead of naming the matter to them, be

tanl( a pi«co of fair parchment, and having folded it in the form €>f *
liciter, W Mtpencribed it to count Biddwin of Flanders, and sealed ii

wUh the diical seal, and wrote the following distich on the label lh«

■arrooDded the scroll —

which 19 to say, '' Brother-in-law. I give you such a share of England
as you shall liiid within thia letter*'

ilc sent the letter to the youne count by a shrewd- willed page, who
was much in his confidence. When Baldwin had read this prnmiiiog
endorsement, he broke the se.i1, lull of expecuttion. but (iniling the
parchment blank, he showed it to the bearer; and asked what was the
duke*B meauing.

" Xought is written here," replied the messenger, " and nought sh»h
thou receive, therefore look for nothing. The honour that the duke
seeks will be fur die advantage of your sister and her children, and lh«it
ffrcatncss will be the advancement of yonrself. and the benefit will ba
iflt by your country ; but if you refuse your aid, then, with the bleuipg
of Gud, iny lord will conquer England without your help,"'

Bui tliough William ventured, by means of this sarcastic device, to
leprove the selfish feelings manifested by his broiher-in-law, he was liin
to subscribe to the only terms on whirh the aid of Aluiilda's ftthn '
, could be obtained, which was by securing to him and his succeason I
periK-tual pension of 300 marks of silver annually, in the event of hit
lucceediiig in esiablishiiig himself as king of England.* Accordiiw to
' "the Flemish historians, this pension waa actually paid during the life of
' Baldwin V. and liis sou Baldwin VI., but aAerwards discontinued. Ilii
1 that Matilda's family connexions rendered the most iinporunt
a William in the conquest of England, and her couDtiymcn
' were nmong his bravest auxiliaiies.* The earl of Flanders was, in bet.
the lir»t person to commence hostilities against Harold, by fumishiof
,tiie traitor Tostig with ships, and a military force, (o make a descent a»
England.

Tostig executed his mission more like a pirate-brigand than an ace»-
dfled leader. The brave earls Morcar and Edwin drove him into Scot-
land, whence he passed into Norway, where he succeeded in persiMiUiig

France, vol. iu. p. 91
I DaMwin &rl of FlanJers (iirnuhed Toiug wlih aiiiy ships. " " ' —
< Saxan Aiiuati.

* Tiadilion makes the binoiu Robin Howl a dsKiendanl of Matilda'
' (iilbnrt 4e Gint, who utenilcd \be Conqaetor lo EnglanJ. Hitl. of S

KTILDA OF PtAXDESB.

king Harikgcr In invndc Fngland at one point, simuluineoiisly with W^
lum nf Nunnnndy'a nttnrk in niinilier qunrier of the islund.'

The minds of the people of Cngland in geiieral were, at this moment-
mis cri«i^ labouriiie uiuler a painrul depression, occasioned by the
*(ipatnuic« of the splendid ihree-iailed comrt, which became visible In
(bcir horixon at the commencement of the memorable year lOfift, a few
day* before ihc dtath of king Etiwaril. The unsettled smte of ihp suc-
niMion, and the siiperstitious spirit of tlie age, inclined all classes of
prrwws to regnrtl, with ominous feelings of dismay, any phenomtnicm
which eoutd be. eonMriied iiilo a porleiU of evil : moreover the aalrolo-
gns who had furvtold the approach of this comet had thought proper to
tnnnunce their piediction in an oracular I^iin distich, of which ihe fol-
lowing rude couplet is a literal transluiion: —

1

^BkJtbont liiu lioic," says Alalmsbury, "a comet or aiar, denoting m

^fff "Ti <t change in kingdoms, appeared trailing its extended and fleiy

^Sin alon^ the sky; wherefore a certain monk of our monastery namM

Dnicr. howing down with terror when the brii^ht star first became vist*

Up [u hii eye. proplietically eiclaimed, 'Thou art come! a matter of

L"i'.ii kimfMtniion lo many a mother art thou come. I have seen thm

"' ; but now I behold thee in thy terrors, threatening deatrue^

- I'ounlry.'"'

A li^m we may almost regard in Ihe light of a contemporary
: . in slill (juninler lansfiingc describes the appearance of this
■■■■r.m, and the impression it made on the un philosophical star-gazers
III Uic elifventli cr^ntury. ^ Tliis year a great star appeared in the bet-
'"111. >hintn|; for foiiriren daya, with three lonj^ rays strcHmiiii; lownrda
\'m Hiuih. Sarh a alar as b wont to be seen when a kingdom is about
'f riiange i!« ruler. I liai-e seen men who saw ii — men who were of
"ill ase at the time of ita appearance, and who lived many years al\er-

T)ie descriptions which 1 have just quoted, from the pen of the Noi^
MB port and the monastic clironicler, fall far shorl of the inarvellou»r
Dm of Matilda'n drimeation of this comet, in the Bayeux tapestry,
«1itn th«t royal nctxlle has represented it of dimensions that might w«l
bre jitflificd lite alann of the terror-stricken group of Saaon prmceS|.
|rints> sail ladies, who appear to be rualiing out ol their pi^y dweU*
mgi, and puinting to ii with unequivocal signs of horror ; for, indepen*
Mtlf of the fact that it looks near enough to singe all their noses, it
^'•aii inevitably have whisked the world and all its sister planets out
' their orbits, if it had lieen of a hundredih part proportionable to the
''■^niiude there porirayeil-' Some allowance, however, ought to be
riuJc for the pjuggemtion of feminine reminiscences, of an object which
>r can »carcely suppose to have been transferred to the embroidered

Saxon Anaali. 'Hendetson. *MBlni9butr.

I

I
I

MATILDA OF FLANDERS.

chroniclfl dT the conquest o( England, lill after ihe triumphant teniiii»-
don of Willmm of Xonuanily'a enterprise affonJed ills queen-duchess «o
jnngiulicoui a subJM^i. for iho employmeDt of the skill sad ingeuuiij of
beneir and the ladie* of tier court, in reconliug his ftchievemenis on
CanTass by dint of needlework. But, on the eve of ihii adventuroui
expfilition, we may oHlurally conclude, that Matilda's time aud thought*
were more importantly occupied than in the labours of the loom, or the
Ikbticaiion of wonted pictures; when, in addition to all her feara uid
.anxieties in parting with her lord, we doubt not but she had, ttt least, na
nucli trouble in reconciling tlie Norman ladies to tlie absence of ib«ir
.huabandij and lovers,' as ibe duke bad to jirevoil on these his valiant
gaeiu to accompany him on an expedition so full of peril to all putin
concerned in it.

rreviously to his departure to join his ships and forcea assembled U
the port of St. Vatleri, William solemnly invested Matilda with Ow
regency of Normandy, and entreated, " that he and his companions in
•rras might have the benefit of her prayers, and the prayerv of her
ladies, for the succpes of their expediiion." He appointed for hercomv-
«il some of the wisest and most experienced men among the prelatM
and elder nobles of Normandy.' The most celebrated of tliese, for
courage, ability, and wisdom, was Ro^r de Beaumont, and bv him Wil-
liam recommended the duchess to be advised in all matters ^ domestic
policy. He also associated with the duchess, in the regency, ihrir
eldest Bon, Robert, and this youth, who had just completed hie tliirteenih
year, was nominally the military chief of Normandy during the abaetue
of his sire.

The invasion of England was by no means a popnlar measure wilh
any class of William's auhjerts; end during the time that his armameni
remained wind-boimd at St. Valleri, the common soldier? began to mnr-
mtir in their tents. ^ The man must he mad," they said, " to persist in
going to auiijugnte a foreign country, since Ood, who withhetd the wind,
upposed him \ that his lather, who was sumamed Robert le D'labb-,
purposed something of the kind, and was in like manner frustrated!
and tliai It was the fate of that lamily to aspire to things beyond ihem,

d to find God llieir adversary .'"

When the duke beard of these disheartening reports, he calicij a
council of his chiefs, at which it was agreed that the body of St. Valleri
ihonld be brought forth, to receive the offerings and tows of those who
ahould feel (ii8|>osed to implore his intercession for a favourable wind.*
Thus artfully did he, instead of interposing the authority of a 9Vt-
*eign, and a military leader, to punish the language of sedition and
mutiny among his troops, oppose superstition to superstition, to amtiae
tlie ihort-«ighi»d insirmuenis of hts ambition. The bones of the pawai
aaint of the port were accordingly brought forth, wilh great eolcmmty,
an*) exposnl in their shrine, on the green turf, beneath the canopy m
heavFiii for the double purpose of receiving the pmyers of the pious at '

■Waw. WilllaiDor Prttou. Wace. MBlmiboiy.

MATILDA OF FLAHDSKf. 33

the contributions of the charitable.' The Nonnan chroniclers affirm
th&t the shrine was half-buried in the heaps of gold, silver, and precious
things which were showered upon it by the crowds of votaries who
came to pay their respects to the saint Thus were the malcontent Nor-
Bians amused till the wind changed.

In the meantime William was agreeably surprised by the arrival of his
duchess at the port, in a splendid vessel of war, called the Mora,' which
•he had caused to be built unknown to him, and adorned in the most
royal style of magnificence, for his acceptance. The effigy of their
youngest son (William), formed of gilded bronze, some writers say of
ipld, was placed at the prow of this vessel, with his hce turned towards
England, holding a trumpet to his lips with one hand, and bearing in
iie other a bow, with the arrow aimed at England.' It seemed as if the
vind had only delayed in order to enable Matilda to offer this gratifying
nd auspicious gift to her departing lord ; for scarcely had the acclama-
tions with which it was greeted by the admiring host died away, when
the long-desired breeze sprang up, ^ and a joyful clamour,'^ says Malms-
bury, ^ then arising, summoned every one to the ships.'' The duke
himself, first launching from the continent into the deep, led the wny
in the Mora, which, by day, was distinguished by a blood-red flag,^ and,
as soon as it was dark, carried a light at the mast-head, as a beacon to
nide the other ships. The first night the royal leader so far outsailed
his followers, that when morning dawned, the Mora was in the mid-seas
alone, without a single sail of her convoy in sight, though these were a
thousand in number. Somewhat disturbed at this circumstance, William
ordered the master of the Mora to go to tlie topmast and look out, and
bring him word what he had seen.

The reply was, ** Nothing but sea and sky." " Go up again," said
the duke, ^ and look out." The man cried out, ^ That he saw four
q^ks in the distance, like the sails of ships."

^ Look once again," cried William ; then the master exclaimed, ^ I
see a forest of tall masts and a press of sails bearing gallantly towards

U8."»

Rough weather occurred during the voyage, but it is remarkable that,
out of so numerous a fleet, only two vessels were lost In one of these
was a noted astrologer, who had taken upon himself to predict that the
expedition would be entirely successful, for that Harold would resign
England to the duke without a battle. William neither believed in
omens nor encouraged fortune-telling, and when he heard the catastrophe
of the unfortunate soothsayer, who had thought proper to join himself
to the armament, shrewdly observed, ^ Little could he have known of
the fiite of others who could not foresee his own."'

On the 28th of September, 1066, the Norman fleet made the port of
Pevensey, on the coast of Sussex.

Wace's Chronicle of the Norman Conquest affords a graphic picture

>Mmimsbiirj. Wace. *Wace. *Ibid.

* Tbierrj^t Anglo-Normaiis. * Ibid. ' Wace. Henderaoo.

Tlieknighlai

F of the dUerabsrkation of ibe ilukc and his
I ferdiera landed Gnu'

After the soldiers, came tlie cnrpunlcre, amiorers, and mofions, %
L Iheir tools in tlieir liuids, and planes, snws, axes, aitd odier iiuplei: ~
r alung (o tlieir sides. Lasi of all nime llie duke, wlio. stumbling a
I lM{>eiI to sliure, lueasureil liis nuijeslic lieighl upon the beach.

ForihwitJi all raised a cry of JiBlress. "An evil sign is

I Mclaimf^ the super«liuou» Noruiana ; but the duke, who, in reci

I liiiuM'lf, had filled his iionds with sand, cried nut in a loud and c

I Voice, ■' See, sri^^ncurii .' by the sptendimr of God I have st^ised England

with my two hands.* Witliout challenge no prize can be made, and

that which 1 have grasped I will, by your good help, mainUiin."

On this, one of his followers mi forward, and enatching a h^kndful of
thaich from the roof of a hul, brought il lo the duke,' exclainitng mer-
rily, " Sire, conie forward and receive «iiin. I give yon seisin, in token
I (bai this realm is yours."

I "I accept il," replied the duke, "and may Ood be with uaT"
I They then sal down, and diued logeihtr on the beach ; after *
' they sought for a spot on which to rear a wooilen fort, which they^l
brought in disjointed pieces, iu theic ships, from Normandy.

Matilda hofi, in a curious section of the Bayeux tapestry, shotn
the manner in which the inieiy followers of her loin carried the,^
. joJjQled ^me-work of tliis timber fortress to the shore. Th« sol^
L usisied tito car|>enter« and other crartsmeo in iliis arduous underti
I ind the duke encouraged and stimulated tbem, in this union of latq
1 1p euftli good purpose, thai before even-ftill they hod finished llieir
■ ing. fortified il, and supped merrily ilierein. Here the duke tarried ]
I days. William had, through the agency of >latilda'» brother
I'Totttg. arranged measures with Ilarloger, king of Norway, that 1
rlll&cks upon England should be simultaneous; but the contrary v
ITlii^ had detained his Seels so long ai St- Valleri, had speeded the >..._.
I «f his northern ally, so thai Harfager and Tostig entered the Tyne wiili
I ihrec hundred ships, and commenced tlieir work of rapine and devasta-

liiion in the north of En^lmul, iliat ihe foremn-i i- - - - '' -
tpaD]' M) touch l)ie land r>r promlfS. wni ilip anc«lnr of (he S'
irgb CasllB, in Wesimoialsnd, wlio tlvriVB iheit name and m i.
», TlieT •tiow the fvtiinl in tlie ancient banquetin.

lowet of Sisergh Ca»I|p, wiib wliich it is sMened by t:

■Ip, DadUion, llist llie rcdoutited chief Rt a tinicb the land b1 Pcv^'ii.t^'i'. 'I'ha

wyoh nppeara furmisl for a giant's gia^p, ii not. however, wc Imagfiav

t dau iban die dar> of Edwanl 111., and ereatly rHembJeg ihe «wa«4 I

t Mase twIniiKiuE 10 lliat mnniiroli, wliinli in shown in W«Uiiin*lai AUi*/. Il |

• more pnibublv ihni II pennined la Mr Ttaomat Siiickjand, wliu mtivmlerj tin

^Btntiaiu Edward in bil French cmnpaigDa, ilian U llie Nornian fouiidoi of biS

tbaich fruin lliF

Matthew of Wen>nin>vi, This ceremony ii
■ — le copyliold esoiics, Formetljf a turf fnm a

: puicliMcr a legal lillr of puiwMion,

MATILDA OF FLANDERS. 35

fion a full fortnight before the arrival of the Norman armament Harold
was thus at liberty to direct his whole strength against his fraternal foe
and Harfager; and the intelligence of his decisive victory at Stanford
Bridge, where both Tostig and Harfager were defeated and slain, reached^
William four days after his landing at Pevensey,' while he lay entrenched '
in his wooden citadel, waiting for a communication from his confede-
rates, before he ventured to advance farther up the country. On receiv-
ing this un&vourable news, William manifested no consternation or sur-
prise, but, turning to his nobles, said, ^^ You see the astrologer^s prediction
was false. We cannot win the land without a battle ; and here I vow
that if it shall please God to give me the victory, that on whatever spot
it shall befall I will there build a church to be consecrated to the blessed
Trinity, and to St Martin, where perpetual prayers shall be offered for
the sins of Edward the Confessor, for my own sins, the sins of Matilda
my spouse, and the sins of such as have attended me in this expedition,
but more particularly for the sins of such as may fall in the battle.'' '

This vow greatly reassured his followers, and appears to have been
considered by the valiant Normans as a very comfortable arrangement
Hard work, however, it must have prepared for the priests, who had to
sing and pray away the sins of all the parties specified, if we take into
consideration who and what manner of people they were.

Harold, meantime, was far beyond the Humber, and in high spirits at
the signal victory he had obtained at Stanford Bridge, supposing at the
same time that the duke of Normandy had delayed his threatened inva-
sion till the spring,' as the &ther of Matilda had deceitfully informed
him. But the intelligence of the arrival of these unwelcome guests was
too soon conveyed to him, by a knight from the neighbourhood of Pe-
vensey, who had heard the outcry of the peasants on the coast of Sus-
sex, when they saw the great fleet arrive, and being aware of the project
of the Norman duke, had posted himself behind a hill, where, unseen
himself, he had watched the disembarkation of this mighty host, and
their proceedings on the shore, till they had built up and entrenched
their wooden fortress; which, being done with such inconceivable
rapidity, appeared to him like the work of enchantment Sorely trou-
bled at what he had seen, the knight girded on his sword, and taking
lance in hand, mounted his fleetest steed, and tarried not by the way,
either for rest or refreshment, till he had found Harold, to whom he
communicated his alarming tidings, in these words : ^^ The Normans
have come — they have landed at Hastings, and built up a fort which
they have enclosed with a foss and palienides ; and they will rend the
land from thee and thine, unless thou defend it well." *

In the forlorn hope of ridding himself of his formidable invader,
Harold offered to purchase the departure of the Norman duke, telling
him ^ that if silver or gold were his object, he, who had enriched him-
self with the spoils of the defeated king of Norway, would give him
enough to satisfy both himself and his followers."

' Scucon AdimUs, Malmsbury. Simon Dunelm. Henry Huntingdon. Waoa.
•Wac« '.^pdld. ^NV«tt^

y^

*

MATILDA OF FLANDERS. ^^|

Thanks for Harolirs feir words," replied Wniiam, "but I did nol
bring 90 many teas inio ihis countn,- to chan^ ihem for his rtietlin*.'
Hy purpose in coming is to claim ihis realm, which is mine, according
to ihe gifi of king Edward, which was confirmed by Harold's oath."

"Hay, but you ask loo much of ns, sire." returned the messenger, by
whom t)ie pacific offer had been made ; '■ my lord is not so pressed that
he should resign his kingdom at your desire. Ifarold will ^ve yott
nothing but what you can take from him, unless in a friendly way, as ■
rondilion for your departure, which he is willing to purchase with iaise
ctore of atlver and gold and line garments ; but if you accept not lila
olfet, know that he is ready to give you balUe on Saturday nest, if yon
be in the field on that day." *

The duke accepted this challenge , and on ihe Friday evening pre-
ceding that fatal day for the Saxon cause, Harold plained his ganfuuon
on the very spot where Battle Abbey now stands.

The Nornnns and English being equally apprehensive of attack during
the season of daikness, kept watch and wanl timi night, but employed
their vigils in a very difleient manner.

The English, according to the report of contemporary chroniclere,
kepi up their spirits with a riotous carouse, crying IVassatl and Dnnk
htalf dancing, laughiiig, and gambling all night. The Normans, on ihe
contrary, being in a devout frame of mind, made confessions of their
sins, and employed the precious moments in recommending thcmselvM
to the care of God. The day on which the battle was to lake placa
being Saturday withal, they, by the advice of their spiritual directors,
Tow^ed that if the victory were awarded to them, they \rould never inaro
eat flesh on that day of the week : an obligation which, till very recently,
was observed by the Catholics in England.

" Odo, (he warrior bishop of Buyeux, William's half-brother by the
BioAer's side, and Goisfred, bishop of Coutauces, received coufessioiWt
'ItUtowed benedictions, and imposed penances not a few." *

Tlie battle joined on the 14ih of October, Harold's birth-day, on a
•jwt about seven miles from Hastings, called Ueathfield, where tlie town
of Battle now stands.

When WUliam was arming for the encounter, in his haste and agitation
he unwittingly put on his hauberk the hind part before." He quickly
changed it : but, perceiving, from the looks of consternation among tlu
bystanders, that his mistake had been observed, and construed into as
omen of ill, he smilingly observed, " I hare seen many a man who, if
such a thing had happened to him, would not have entered the bftttl^
field ; but 1 never believed in omens, nor have I ever pat my bith b
(brtune>-tellers nor divinations of any kind, for my trust is in God. Id
not ihis mischance discouisge you, for if this change import aught, it ■

' Wace. A pl>y on words meeiuns (nnnu and thiihngt ; /», ine«iiitiB K ibi' U
■• well M ifae ooin ulled a. crown.
■BfalnuboiT. Matihow of ■WpBiminsier. Wao»,
"^bh heallh" and '•Drink be
WlM. irilliam o( Vt&K

MATILDA OF FLAlfDBRS. 37

that the power of my dukedom shall he turned into a kingdom— -yea) a
king shall I be, who have hitherto been but a duke.'' *

Then the duke called for the good steed which had been presented to
him as a token of friendship by the king of Spain.

Matilda has done justice to this noble charger, in her Bayeux tapestry.
It is represented as caparisoned for the battle, and led by Gualtier Gi^brt,
the duke's squire. There is in the same group the figure of a knight
armed cap-d-pi^, in the close-fitting ring armour, and nasal conical
helmet, worn by the Norman chivalry of that era, with a gonfanon
attached to his lance, something afler the &shion of the streamer which
forms part of the paraphernalia of the modem lancer, with this difierence
only, that the gonfanon of the ancient knight was adorned with his device
or armorial baring, and served the purpose of a banner or general ral-
lying point for his followers.

The knightly figure in the Bayeux tapestry, which I have just de-
scribed, is generally believed to have been designed for the veritable
effigies of the redoubtable conqueror of this realm, or at any rate as
correct a resemblance of liim as his loving spouse Matilda could produce
in cross-stitch. He is delineated in the act of extending his hand to
greet his favourite steed.

" The duke," says Wace, " took the reins, put foot in stirrup, and
mounted ; and the good horse pawed, pranced, reared himself up, and
curveted." The viscount of Toazay, who stood by, thus expressed to
those around him his admiration of the duke's fine appearance and noble
horsemanship : '

^ Never," said he, ^ have I seen a man so fairly armed,, nor one who
rode so gallantly, and became his hauberk so well, or bore his lance so
gracefully. There is no other such knight under heaven ! A fair count
he is, and a fair king he will be. Let him fight, and he will overcome :
and shame be to him who shall fail him." '

The Normans were drawn up in three bodies. Montgomery and Fitz-
Oshom led the first, Geoffrey Martel led the second, and the duke him-
self headed the third, which was composed of the flower of Normandy,
and kept in reserve till the proper moment for its most eflective advance
should be ascertained by its skilful and puissant leader.

Taillefer, the warrior minstrel of Normandy, rode gallantly at the
head of the chivalry of his native land, singing the war-song of Rollo.*
William had that day three horses killed under him, without losing a
drop of his own blo(>d ; finding, however, that Harold had succeeded in
rallying a strong body of men around him on one of the heights, with
the evident intention of keeping possession of that vantage ground, till
the approaching night should favour the Saxon's retreat, he made his
last desperate charge upon the people of the land. In this attack it was
supposed that Harold was slain by a random arrow, which was shot
through the left eye into his brain.

* Wace. • Ibid. • Ibid. Chronicle of the Dukes of Normand/.

* MalmsbuTj. Matthew of Westminster. Henry Huntingdon. Speed. Rapin.
Chronicle de Bello Will. Gemeticensis.

VOL, 1. — 4

The »Ifl(rri(«ia duke pitched liie tent that niglil in the lielJ of the
desilt which, in inemoiy of the dreadful slaughter that had dyeil the
«»nh to erinison, was ever after called by him the vale of Sangurlae.'
This fiercely coiilestei! baliie com William the lives of six thousand of
his bravenl followers ; but Malmsbury, and other arrredited htstorikiu
of thai lime, rale the loss of the Saxons at threescore tlionsand men.'

When the duchesB-regcnl of Normnndy. Maiihla, receired the joyful
tidings of the victory which her lord liad obiuinod nt Hasliiiga, she wu
'engaged in her devotions, in the chapel of the Benedictine priory nf
Kotre Dame, in the fields near the suburbs of St. Sevre ; >iid after re-
turning her thanksgivings to the God of battles, for llie success of hei
ronson's arms, she ordered that the priory should henceforth he dJIcd,
in memory of that circumslance, ^olrf Damt ds Bonws .\buvellc*
And by that name it is distinguished lo this day.'

The coronation of the mighty forefaiher of our present line of save>
Teigns UTok place at WeBiminsler, on Monday the K5lh of Dt-ceniber.
being Christmas-day. or, as it was colled by oiir Saxon ancestors, Mtd-
•winter-dny. Splendid preparations were made in the sister cities of
'London and Westminster, for the celebration of the twofold fesiivgj, of
the nativity of our Lord and the inauguration of the new sovereign. On
fte afternoon of Christmas ere, William of Nommndy entered Uie city
on hoTBeback, and was greeted by the acclatnaitons of the Londonen.
Hb took Dp his lodgings that nighi at the palace iu Blackfriars, when
Bridewell now stands. Early in the morning he went by water to
Lundou-bndge, wiierc he landed ami proceeded In a house near London-
■tone, where, af^r reposing a while, he set forth with a stately CAvalcaiie
'gallanlty rauniitcd, and rode to Westminster, amidst the shouts of 8
'prodigious multitude, who were reconciled, by Uie excitement of titt
pageant, to the idea of receiving for their sovereign a man whom natun
had 80 admirably qualified lo set oflT the trappings of royidty.'

- ■ Saxon Annals. Sp«ed. OnleriiMia ayt it wbb i:al1ud n Iohb hvlore Ihii

*Tb* fallowing day wa* devoied by llie Norman conqueroti to Itji? iniotinent
of ihvir iliwil 1 and Wiltiam bbtb laiie and lioeoca to tlie Eoii-n : ~-

Croim llie liliD chanubte otllce to ilia rciiiBiin
Rih was insJ» fbr ihe iKxty of Hatoli], bnl r
(trippeil md gashed tliv viotims of the fliiht, so thai ii was diiKriii^
A«IW*ra lbs ronrtiU remaini of tb« Imtcr and llie serf. Giths. r'i<
BaroliI, bad been lirrwtf unable to ideDlify th» boily of her bi^l'ivpH ''■n ; bni
ibara wa* ons wbosa food eye ao chaoge iu ilie objoel of hn mffixtioa mold
^awive i this was a. Salon liuly of great beauiy, EJiUi, suiDanied &wans-Ral>i
m tlie Swan-nmked ; she bad Girmoi ly been on ihose icims widi HaioliT whigh
ilui tmdered hec only loo Ifaniiliar With bis )H!riiniial chnmcliiTistiiM. itnd by b«
'thir DOipse of liet folM lover was reoognised. Giihn. il is said, ofTprni to pw

'khaae il of William, at the piiceof iis Weight in gold; but he yieidnd ii witlioM
■ taoKHn to the afflicled moiher, either througb a grnaroii* impulse of cumpW-
•■oil, or with * vi(>w of flonoiliating ihe kindred of Ihe deccoied. He nlso taab-
ietcd a Nwiuan wUiei, wtio boasled of baviiig gaslied Uie leg of ih<! lojal
Saxon aAer ba had fallen. The mollin of Haruld burin) bet son ai hi* lojfal
ItliiDdalion of Wallliam Abbey, placing over his tomb l]ie simple bul expiiiwit*

^mwaiv, -HarolJ J dfelii."— Thierry. Chron. of Wallham. Malniibury.
I 'i^K^ora/i A'cirman Antiquities. ' IiiRu\p\iu». Oid«nQusTli:^lK|

ic unforiuiiN

MATILDA OF FLANDXEf*

Next to his person rode the nohility of England, and those of Nor-
mandy followed. Up to that period, so brilliant a coronation had never
been witnessed, and perhaps there have been few since that have sur-
pasfted it in splendour : it is certain that there has never been one at
which so many foreign princes and peers have assisted.

In consequence of the dispute between Stigand, archbishop of Can-
terbury, and the Pope, William chose to be crowned and consecrated
by the hand of Aldred, archbishop of York,' to avoid the possibility of
the ceremony being questioned at any future time. He took not the
crown, however, as a right of conquest, but by consent of the people,
for the archbishop, before he placed the royal circlet on his head,
paused, and Cuming to the English nobles, asked them ^ if they were
willing to have the duke of Normandy for their king ;" to which they
replied with such continuous acclamations of assent, that the vehemence
of their loyalty, more noisy than sincere, had nearly been productive
of the most fatal consequences. William had surrounded the abbey,
and guarded its approaches with a large body of Norman soldiers, as a
prudential measure, in case any attempt upon his life should be made
by his new vassals ; and those trusty guards without the abbey, mis-
taking the clamorous applause within for a seditious rising amongst the
Saxons, with intent to massacre their lord and his Norman followers, in
the first emotions of surprise and rage, set fire to the adjoining houses
by way of reprisals. The flames rapidly communicating to the wooden
buildings round about, produced great consternation, and occasioned the
loss of many lives. AVilliam, and the pale and trembling assistant pre-
lates and priests within the church, were dismayed, and faltered in the
midst of the ceremonial, and with good cause ; for if great exertions
had not been used by the more sober-minded portion of th^ Norman
guards, to extinguish the conflagration, which presently extended to the
abbey, that magnificent edifice, with all the illustrious company within
its walls, must have been consumed together. Some persons have con-
sidered this fire as the work of the Saxon popidace, witR intent to destroy
at one blow the Norman conqueror and his followers, with such of their
own countrymen as had forgotten their honour so far as to become, not
only witnesses, but assistants, at the coronation of their foe. And this
indeed is not improbable, if the Anglo-Saxons of that period had evinced
a spirit capable of conceiving and carrying into execution a design of
such terrific grandeur, for the deliverance of their country. We are,
therefore, inclined to agree with all contemporary chroniclers, in attri-
buting the conflagration to the Norman soldiery, who could by no
means be appeased, till their beloved chief came out of the abbey, and
shewed himself to them, in his coronation robes and diadem.'

" *• Then on Midwinter-day, archbishop Aldred hallowed him to king at Wesl-
minstc^rf and gave him possession with the books of Christ; and also swore
him, ere that he would set the crown upon his head, tliat he would so well
gorem this nation, as any king before him best did, if they would be fkithful to
bim.* — Saxon Chronicle. * William of Poitou. Lingard.

MATILDA OF FLA»DER8.

MATILDA OF FLANDERS.

QUEEN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.'

CHAPTER 11.

I

Ibtild* unaias rho tilleof qamt ofEnBliind in Normandy — Her tegraaf]
— Punmiige of l«iming— Chsrities — H«r vengeance on Brililri "' '
Obuuiw hia lindf — His iiiiprin>aineni — Death in prrson — WilMan
BnbhBinsleBd — Triumphant lelom to NormanJ]' — Matilda awaiti
— Triumphal Ndiduui ptogreMiu — R«tij1u in England — ^William
Matilda icgoni — Einbarlu for England in a Bloim — Witliaoj isndi fa
tilda— She airivea in England with hrr children — Het cDmnalion ai
tct — Champion nl her Coronaiian — Biilh of her son Henr; — Bojrpu
—Her dwarf atiut Torold— Her daughter beirothni to Earl Eitwiu-
brobni — Queen Matilda's leiuin lo Nonnaiul)- — Regent tliore iIm ibint
Bet paSBionalD toTo Ibr her eldest ion — Death n( her father — Dbsci
hci brother* — III eUeuts of her ■Iwcuce — English miseries — Scparait
tnenu of William nnd Matilda — King of France anacki Malilds — Uei
BDvemmeni — Diaoonteni of Konnan lodiei — Somdaloui report* — Wi"
■appoaed conjugal infldelity — Malilda'i cruelly to hor rival — Duke of ~
bivaile* Hormandjr — Marriage trilli Matilda's second daugttm —
Cieelj iMofeucd — DUsensioui in llie tofa! family — Matilda's gianialitjr
•on Robeit — Uet sacMid son, Prime Richairl — His death — New ForeM.

" Oi'K mistresa Madlda," m)** Williain of Poitoti,' ihe chaplain a
Conqueror, "had alreadv BMumei] the name of queen, though ahs
not yet crowned. She had governed Normandy during Ihe absem]
her lonl with ^real prudence and sklU." So fimily, indeed. IukI
anihorily been sustained, that, though ihe whole flower and streiigt
Npnnandy had followed the fortunes of Uieir warlike duke to ihe aX
of £n)(land, nut, one o! liie neighbouring princes had ventured to
■he duchess- regent.

Il is true lliat her klnrman, the emperor Henry, had engaged, j
of any aggression on the part of France or Brelagne, lo defend H«*
■Muuly with the whole strength of Germany ; and she alao had a po»-
vfu) neighbour and protector in ihe curl of F'Landen, her JaLher; but
peal credit was ccrutiuly due to her own political conduct, in kccpiif
ue duchy free, boili from esu^nial cnihroilnicnt* aud internal sum, M
•uch s momentous period. Her goTernmenl was very popular, n» vrtU
M prosperous iu Nomundy,' where, surrounded by the most Ivajnod
tneii of ihe age, she advanced, iu no slight degree, ilie progress of caiilH
xstion ami retineiiient. The encourageinenl aflbrdcd by lurr to ana ami

'This elfganl auUior. wlio is alsii called Pii^tavicnsis, was atcbdmi'iia uf IjsiMU
H» ChnuuJe of Uie ConqueM of England i> wrillen in verf Uuwiiic langiMH
Ktemljr teKinbliug in style an hemic |K>em. It abounds With oulogiums on U(
rofal pauon, but is ailnmelr valiialile on aixHimil of tlio petHiinl luslii>]t whld
it eontaina, li i* wmotiinet ealied the Domestic Chronicle of Wtlliom oT Ifo
—'^ *Oidefico* Viialit. William of PaUM,

■ ▲TILDA OF TLANDBR8. 41

letters, has won for this princess golden reports in the chronicle lore of
that age.

Well aware was Matilda of the importance which it is to princes, to
enlist in their serrice the pens of those who possess the power of de-
fending or undermining thrones, and whose influence continues to bias
the minds of men aAer the lapse of ages.

^ This princess,'' says Ordericus Vitalis, ^ who derived her descent
from the kings of France and emperors of Germany, was even more
distinguished for the purity of her mind and manners than for her illus-
trious lineage. As a queen she was munificent, and liberal of her gif^.
She united beauty with gentle breeding and all the graces of Christian
holiness. While the victorious arms of her illustrious spouse subdued
an things before him, she was indefatigable in alleviating distress in
every shape, and redoubled her alms. In a word, she exceeded all com-
mendations, and won the love of all hearts."

Soch is the character which one of the most eloquent and circum-
stuitial historians of the eleventh century has given of Matilda. Tet
Ordericus Vitalis, as a contemporary witness, could scarcely have been
ignonot of the dark stain which the first exercise of her newly acquired
power in England has led upon her memory.

The Chronicle of Tewkesbury,^ which states that Brihtric Meaw, the
lord of the honour of Gloucester, when he resided at her father's court
as ambassador from Edward the Confessor,' had refused to marry Ma-
tflda, adds, that in the first year of the reign of William the Conqueror,
Matilda obtained from her lord the grant of all Brihtric's lands and
honours, and that she then caused the unfortunate Saxon to be seized at
his manor of Hanelye, and conveyed to Winchester, where he died ir.
prison and was privately buried.'

Thus, then, does it appear that Matilda, after having filled for fourteen
years a most exalted station, and enjoying the greatest happiness as a
wife and mother, had secretly brooded over the bitter memory of the
slight that had been ofkred to her in early youth, for the purpose of
inflicting the deadliest vengeance in return, on the man who had rejected
the love she had once condescended to ofier.

This circumstance is briefly related, not in a general, but a topogra-
phical history, without -comment, and it is in no slight degree confirmed
by the recoitls of the Domesday-book, where it appears that Avening,

'Chron. Tewkesbury Bib. Cottonian MSS. Cleopatra, c. 111. Mouasticoa,
vol. iiu p- ^9. Lelamrs Coll., vol. i., p. 78. i

• The Author of the continuation of Brut, born in the same age, and written ia
the reign of Henry L, son of this queen, thus allmles to this circumstance : —

*^Lii quele jadis quant fu pucelle,
Ama un conte d'Angleterre,
Brihtric Mau, le oi noraer,
Apres le roi ki fu riche ber,
A lui la pncell envoeia mcssager.
Pur sa amour a lui procurer :
Mait Brihtric Maude refusa.''

* Chionicle of Tewkesbury. Thierry's Anglo-Normans.

4*

Who when she was maiden
Loved a count of England,
Brihtric Mau he was named,
Except tlie king was no richer man.
To him the virgin sent a messenger
His love for her to obtain :
But Brihtric Maude refused.

H&TltHA OF rLAXDERf.

Tew1(e*liury, Fairford., Thnrnhury. ^Vliircn burst, and rarinns other pc»-
Besainris In Gloiic«slershire. lielong;iiig lo Brihtrir, ttie sun of AlffBr, wen
pwited Ml Matilda by ihe Comjueror, and. after ber deaih. rcverliti)^ lo
the crown, were by Willuun again btntuw ed on their iecond son, Willkn
Rnfna.'

Alaiilda, moreover, deprived Glouceainr of its charter and civic tibei^
ties, merely becauw il was the ciiy of ibe nnfcirtunnte Brihiric — perhspn,
for sbowing annie sign of rescntnient fur his fate.

We feur tbal the first of our Normal) queens must, on this evidencn.
•land conxiettd of ihe crime of wrong and robberj", if not of mlmdntr
inunler; and if tl liad been posMible to make a posl-mortem exaininalkNi
; on the body of ilie nnfonnnaie son tif Algar, sufficient reason nuglil
have btwn seen, perhaps, for the piinw nainre of his interment AH
this wrong wn« done hy agency ; for, If dates be correct, Matilda hx)
not yet eniored Englani!.

A few (bys afler his cnronalton, Williiun, fecting some rea!<on to dis-
trust the L»iidi>ners, withdrew to his old (jiiartera at BnrkhnmalwA
where he kept liis court, and suecenled in diaving round him many ti
the moct inlluential of the Saxon princes and thanes, lo whom, in letim
lor their osihs of allegiance, he resiorcd their estates and honoun^

His next step, for the nintual saii«faciion of his Nonnan followen
•nd Saxon subjects, was to lay the foundation of the chtrrch and ahbey
ef St. Mnitin, now called Daiile Abbey, ivhere perpetual prayers wen
directed in t>e aliened up. for tlie repuse of the souls of all who had
fallen in lliai sanguinary coiillict

The iiigh aliar of this magnificent monument of the Nonnao tictnnr
was wt up on the very spot w bore Harold's body was found, or, aecocii-
ing lo others,' whcip be first pitched bis gonfanon.

Tranqnillity wm now restored in England, or things werci fast pro-

l^reeaing to that most desired consnmrnaiion. William having betn now

't monib* separated from hi> wife and family, his desire to rtnbnec

Ihem once mure, and to display to his Norman subjects his newljr

Kquired grandeur, induced him lo revisit his native cuuntr}-, at a tine

when it woulil liave been far more conducive to his interests to have

f mnAined in England, Previoirs to his depnrtum, he placed strong Nor-

aian garrisons in all his awt\e* ; be appointed his half-brother. Odo,

'bishop of Bayeux,* with his faithful kinsman and friend, William Fio-

L Osbarn, r^cnla of England ; and carrinl with him to Motninndy all ibe

pleading men among the Anglu-SaxonB, Among these were Edgar Alhd-

■JDg, Morcar, Edwin, and Wallheor.' These lords, who cenaiidy hail ni

Pwisb to become the companions of his voyage, were not over-pleased

W Bi the idea of swelling the pride of the Normans, by forming a part of

r William's triumphant pageant.

' " Inft™ •rripta* lerru ("nnil Bnlitiu! el poM Begina Maliida."-
BOfc, ami. il, p, I"n. Hlmory i>f GlnuceWe;.

■ Milinilnirr. Wniinni of Poiiou.

■ TliF ton of hi> mattier Arlona, bf Heilewin or ContcTillv.
• WiUam of Fduu. Malaibwiy. S-Duiwlm. Wabuvhso. X-tfOSau^K

J

illmra wu detrrminfid to spend llie Easier festival in Norma ndjit ^^M

hia qtieen; anil reckless of tlie seeds of diaifleclion and disgMt ^^

h he was iiowirig in ilie husnins of tiis new subjecis, he re-cm Iwrkwl ^H

-_ M>Jt Munu to the month of March, 1U67. uicl with the most splendid '

I

4m tfae Mem, to the month of March, 1067, uicl with the most splendid
emnp*iiy ihai ever sailed from England, he crossed ihe seas, and landed
un hi« natiTC shore, a little below the abbey of Fescamp.

^laiilila was already there, with her children,' in readinesi to receive
■nd wplrome her illustrious lord, who was greeted with the most ejithll-
■uatir niptare by all ola<ses of his subjeets. For joy of William's retun
tlic sulFinn &3t of Lent was this year kept as a festival ; all labour vnt
naspenOnl. aiiil nothing but mirth and pleasure prevailed in his nittiTfe
Xnnnanily.'

WilliAra appears lo have had infinite piea«ure in displaying, not only
to bin wife and family, but lo the foreign aml«4sador«, the cosily epoib
ohirh he li»d brought over from England.' The quantity and exquisite
worliinaiiship of the gold and silver plate, and withal, the richness of
the onbrDidered gurmenti, wrought by the skdfu! hands of the Anglo-.
Saxua bulies, (llien esteemed so inestimably precious in all parts nf E»-
tope, that ihey were called, by distinction, AngUcum opus,') esrited the /y'
KlniiraUoQ and astonishment of all beholders ; but more purlicularly did
ihi- kiilrndid dress of hiii guards, end the magnificence and beauty of the
t^-^ioircd anil uiouslached An^lo-Ssson noblus, by whum he was
iiirndcd, attmct the wonder of itie foreign princes and peers.

Ttw whole summer was spent by William iu a series of triumphant
ITiieTewes, through the towns and cities of Normandr, with his queei>-
ilucbem.* Meanwhile, EiigUiiU, in addition to all the recent horrora of
"4rmid rapine, wna suHeriug at one and the same time the evils atienil-
aai on a system of aliscriteeism, and the oppressive weight of a foreign
irokt:. The spirit of freedom was crushed, but not extinguished, among
llw|itopIa of tlie land; and ihe absence of the Conqueror was rcgunln.,'
■■ ■ bvoarablo opportunity for expelling tlie unwelcome locusts '*h»j^^B
bd fuitetied upon ihe Und, and were devouring its fatness ; and a sev*A^^H
ftot was in ngiiation, fur a simultaneous rising throughout Englantl, filV-^H
dw porpoM nf a general massacre of the Normans/ Bat though the ^|
Mror w WiUiain's aL'iual presence was wiilidrawn for a season, he kept
V ■ strict espionage on iho proceedingH of the English. The first
MMnr of what was going on among them, roused him from the career
<f plawure which he had been pursuing. Helinquiahing the idea of
nifiuig a splendid Christmas with his beloved family, he re-appoinied
■■dld& anij his son Robert regents of Normandy, and embarking on a
>mD7 SM, he sailed from Dieppe on the Olh of December.^ On the
3lb lie arrived al Winchelsea. ami proceeded inimediaiely to London, to
Iw emuiemation of the luaj contents, who thought they were sure of
Um for Ihe winter season.
% kept diriitmss in London, ami though he used very prompt and

MATILDA OF FLA

I mergetic mMsures fur crushing ihf

L reception lo such of the English prelates and nobles as veiiiured lo atiend

I iiis summons.

After the Huppresaion of ihe revolt caused by the imposition of D«ne>
gelt, Williitni, perceiving the disadvantages attendant on a queenle^s court,
and feeling withal the greatest desire to enjoy the aocieiy of his heuulifitl
consorii despatched a noble company into NomiAndy, to conduct Matilda
and her children, to England.' She joyfully obeyed the welcome man-
date of her lord, and crossed the aea, with a stately cortege of nobiM,
Itoights, and Indies.' Anions; l^c learned clerks hy whom she was ■!•
tendiMl was the celebrated Gui, bishop of Amiens, who had distinguished
himself by an heroic poem on llie defeat and fall of Harold.

Matilda arrived in England soon after Easter, in the month of April,
1068. and proceeding im mediately lo Winchester, was received witfi
great joy by her lord; and prepnmtions were instantly commenced fot
her coronation, which was appoititeil to take place in tliat city on Whit-
Sundsy.* The great festivals of the church appear in the middle agn
lo hnve been considered by the English as peculiarly auspicious days for
llie solemnization of coronations and marriages, if we may judge l>y the
frequency of their occurrence at Uiose seasons. Sunday was generally
chosen for n cnronationtlay.

William, who had been exceedingly anxious to share his newly
acquired honours with Matilda, chose to be re-crowned at the same tims,
|fl render the pAgeant of her consecration more imposing; and farther to
conciliate the atfections of his English subjects, he repeated for the secuod
time the oath by which he engaged to govern with justice and modm-
lion, and to preserve inviolate that great piLlladiuni of English liberty, thi
right of trial by jury.*

This coronation was far more splendid than that which had preceded
it in Westminster Abbey, at William's first inauguration, where the ■!>•
cence of the queen and her ladies deprived the ceremony of much of ia
brilliancy, and the alarming conflagration hy which it was intemipwd
must have greatly abridged the pomp and festivities that had been anii-
cipntcd on that occasion. Here everything went off auspiciously. Ii
was in the smiling season of the year, when the days were long and
bright, without having attained to the oppressiveness of summer lieaL
The company, according to the report of contemporary historians, wM
exceedingly numerous and noble ; and the Conqueror, who a|ipt«is to
have li««n in a wonderfully gracious mood on that day, was very sprii^d*
snd facetious on the occasion, and conferred favours on all whosolicilM.
The graceful and majestic person of queen Matilda, and the number mi
beauty of her line children, channed the populace, and every one pmtm
was delighted with the order and regularity with which lliis sttractin
pageant was conducted.'

The nobles of Normandy attended their dachees to die church ; bat

' Oideiicus Vitalii. ■ Ibid.

*FlotPnc(i of WmcMier. S. Dunelm. M. Weetminiur.

* jL JJHoaliii. tiaioa CluDniclo. 'Hendema. -^h

MATILDA OF FLANDSmS* 45

titer the cn>wn was placed on her head by Aldred, archbishop of York,
she was served by her new subjects, the English.

The first occasion on which the office of champion was instituted, is
said to have been at this splendid coronation at Winchester, where Wil-
tiam caused his consort to be associated with himself, in all the honours
<tf royalty.'

The splendid ceremonial of Matilda's inauguration banquet afforded
precedents for most of the grand feudal offices at subsequent corona-
tions.' Among these, the office of grand pannetier has been for some
time extinct His service was to b^ the salt and the carving-knives
from the pantry to the king's dining-table, and his fees weie the salt-
cellars, spoons, and knives laid on the royal table ; ^ forks were not
among the royal luxuries at the board of the mighty William and his
fiiir Matilda, who both, in feeding themselves, verified the proverb which
says ^that fingers were made before forks.'" ^The grand pannetier
likewise served the bread to the sovereigns, and received, in addition to
the rest of his fees, the bread-cover, called the cover-pane. For this
service the Beauchamps held the manor of Beauchamp Kib worth. The
manor of Addington was likewise granted by the Conqueror to Tezelin,
his cook, for composing a dish of white soup called diUegrout, which
especially pleased the royal palate."

** When the noble company had retired from the church, and were
seated at dinner in the banqueting hall," says Henderson, in his life of
(he Conqueror, ^a bold cavalier called Marmion,' completely armed,
rode into the hall, and did at three several times repeat this chal-
lenge:—

^ If any person denies that our most gracious sovereign, Lord William,
and his spouse Matilda, are not king and queen of England, he is a false-
hearted traitor and a liar ; and here I, as champion, do challenge him to
single combat"

No person accepted the challenge, and Matilda was called la reine
ever after.

The same year, BCatOda brought into the world her fourth son, Henry,
sumamed Beauderk. This event took place at Selby, in Yorkshire, and
was prodnctive of some degree of satisfaction to the people, who consi-
dered the English-bom prince with far more complacency than his three
Norman brethren, Robert, Richard, and William Rufus. Matilda settled
upon her new-bom son all the lands she possessed in England and Nor-
mandy; they were to revert to him after her death.

Tranquillity now appeared to be completely restored ; and Matilda,

'flendenoo. 'Glories of Regality.

* Henderaon inaootumtely tays Dymock ; it was Marmion. This ceremony,, un-
known among the Saxon monarohs, was of Norman origin. The lands of Fon-
tenaye, in Nonnandy, were held by Marmion, one of the followers of William
the Conqueror, on the tenure of championship. The office was hereditary in the
frmily of Ah|2B[ioD, and fh>m them, by heirship, descended to the Dymocks of
ScriTtf^ljibye.— See Dugdale. The armorial bearings of the Marmions, from the
performance of this great feudal service, were, sable, an arming sword, the ^ini
in chief argents— Glories of Regality.

MATILDA OP FL\M)EBS.

F n^nyin^ every hsppinea* ■» a wifp, a mniher. and a queen, secntpd \n
be plnceil at the very autnmil of earthly prosperity.

Whnlher tl be by utciilent, or owing to a close aitenlion lo ihr rmliii-
Iie Mw before him, il is certain that the antique limner who drevi Matii*
da's portraili has reprexented the organ ol' construe liveneM in her lind*
Ki very decldcclly developed. U is singular, loo, thai of (his propensity,
tier laates and pursuiia aflbrded remarkable instances, in the noble ecele-
■ia«ticnl bnitdings of which she was ihe foundress ; and In her iiii^eiiioiH
Kod trurioiis example of indnsiry. in the Bajeux lapeslry, wherein *h*
has wrought the epic of her husband's exploits, from Harold's first lwid>
ing in Normandy lo his Hill at Hastings.

!i is, in fact, n most important historical document, in which the evenU
and costume of that momentous period have been fbiihrully presrtvnl te
us, by the indefatigable fingers of the lirst of our Norman queens, and
certainly deserves a parlieuliir description.

This curious monument of antiquity is still preserved in ihe catbedtd
of BayeUK, where it is distinguished by ihe name of -^ the duke of Nor-
niandy's toilette ,-" which simply means the duke's ^real eloili.

It is a piece of canvas, about nineteen inches in breadih, but upwanh
of sixty-seven yards in length, on which, as we have said, is cmhroidemi
the liislory of the Conquest of England hy William of Nunnimdy, com-
piencing with ihe visit of Harold to the Norman court, and ending with
his deaili at the baule of Hastings, 1 060,

The leading transactions of these eventful yeare, the dealh of Elilwari
the Confessor, and the coronation of Harold, in the chamber of tlie ruyil
dead, are represenied in the clearest and most regular order, in this pieM
of needlework, which contains many hundred dgures of uien. horaes,
birdii, beasts, trees, houses, castle?, and churches, all executed in their
proper colours, with names and inscriptions over ihcm, to elucidate thf
■ton-.'

I'hia pictorial chronicle of lier mighty consort's achievements n|^Maa

'TUa Bafcux taj>e»iTy lisi Intel]' brrn mur^ti liie fulypcl of mntrovprsjr udooi
nme Imriinl iiulivulunl>, who tuo ilomrmined to Hcpriro MoiiMii iiC l.-'r i^iil^-
I Ikiaiuy fiUDF, as liic pciwn Bvni wlicim Uiis yjifcimsu ofreniBle eL."

notu.!. MonUkuaiui, Tliierry. Plmiirhe, DiHtatc<l. Tariw, n;,
I Bqintlf nn[>ortaoisuiliuriii», maybequDied in support of tlie hi--i' .
I mi it vat the work ol' Malilda aad Iier lailiei. The brief liiij< -
t are iinnftned in tli««e Bingrnpliiea, will nol admil of our cnieriDC >i.

W or tbMs who dirpute the flKi, thooiih we have esnnillf einriiiri>-<l thfi^;
witli due durereiKa to the judifinnil of the lorH* fyf tlie oreatkni. on all «b> I
I jmh Dcunvaled wiih pDlirjr and aaioua?, we vponire u tbiak aur Inunad frlswk |
iicbiKiUigiiU and antiqiMriei, would do well in direct ihrir i<ii(-iii..'ii;ii1
n lt> mice maaouline objMits uf inquiry, and lMVpiliFqiiEfti.->:i '

bpntrjr, (wiib aJl oibot matter* allipil lo uudle-craft,) to ihe '
Mies to whoH piVTioRe ii peuubarly balou^i. Ii is manet of i<' <
ttirr ono out of Ihs majif gaiitlomeii who b»e diipated UatiUii .-
work. If called upoa to axevule * copy of either of ihe figures on >.
inow how 10 put ill ilw fliei itjuh. The whole of the Beyeui Upi'nir
roElntrrl, and ttoknifcd like the onglnnl. by ihe Sociely at Aritii|uaTios, whs,
(liry liad done nottiins «)>b to merii the appiubabou of the hisiaricBl world,
r i>*» i/itawitJ il Hw this atane.

•rha,ir I

i

MATILDA OF PLANDBB8. 4T

to have been, in part at least, designed for Matilda by Tnrold, a dwarf
inist, who, moved by a natural desire of claiming his share in the cele-
brity which he foresaw would attach to the work, has cunningly intro-
duced his own effigies and name, tHus authenticating the Norman tradi-
tion, that he was the person who illuminated the canvas with the proper
outlines and colours.'

It is probable that the wife of the Conqueror, and her Norman ladies,
were materially assisted in this stupendous work of feminine skill and
patience, by some of the hapless daughters of the land, who, like the
Grecian captives described by Homer, were employed in recording the
story of their own reverses, and the triumphs of their haughty foes.

About this period William laid the foundation of that mighty fortress
and royal residence, the Tower of London, which was erected by a
priestly architect and engineer, Gundulph, bishop of Rochester. He also
built the castle of Hurstmonceaux, on tlie spot which had, in the first
insttince, been occupied by tlie wooden fort which he had brought over
from Normandy, and, for the better security of his government, built and
strongly garrisoned many other strong fortresses, forming a regular chain
of military stations, from one end of England to the other.' These pro-
ceedings were regarded with jealous displeasure, by such of the Anglo-
Saxon nobles as had hitherto maintained a sort of passive amity with .
their Norman sovereign, and they began gradually to desert his court.
Among the first to withdraw from the royal circle were the mighty Saxon
brethren, Edwin and Morcar. They were the darlings of the people,
and secretly favoured by the clergy. A third part of England was under
their authority, and the reigning prince of Wales was their nephew.
William had in the first instance endeavoured, by the most insidious
caresses^ to conciliate Edwin, who was the youngest of the two, and
remarkable for the beauty of his person, and his noble and engas^ing
qualities. The Conqueror had actually promised to give him one of his
daughters in marriage.' When, however, the young nobleman demanded
his bride, he met with a denial, at which he was so much exasperated,
that he retired with his brother into the north, where they organized a
plan with the kings of Scotland and Denmark, and the princes of Wales,
for separate but simultaneous attacks upon William, in which the disaf-
ferfecl Saxons were to join. The prompt and energetic measures of the
Conqueror defeated their projects before they could be brought to matu-
rity ; the brother earls were compelled to sue for pardon, and obtained
a deceitful amnesty.

' I1:icrry'8 History of the Anglo-Normans. Tlie figures were, in foot, always
preparefl fot tapestry work by some skilful artist, who designed and traced them
ont in tlie same colours tlint were to be used in silk or woollen by the cmbroi*
d4"ress ; and we are told in the life of St Dunstan, ** that a certain religious lady,
beinir moved with a desire of embroidering a sacerdotal vestment, earnestly en-
trcat'.*d tlic future chancellor of England, who was tlien a young man in an ob«
icuTv <tatioD of life, but creeping into notice through his excellent taste in such
delineations, to draw the flowers and figures which she aflerwards formed wiiL
thr«*atU of gold.*'

' At Norwich, Warwick, Lincoln, York, Nottingham, dui. dio.

'Ordericus Vitalis.

I

I

I

KATILDA OF FLArfDERB.

The roprated snil ronniclable revolts of the English, in 1000, compellfd
Willisjii lo provide for the Jarety of Maiililit and her children in Nor-
mandy.' The presence of the queen-du chess WBf<, indeed, no le!<s re-
quired ihere, than thai of her warlike lord in England. She was greatly
beloved in llie duchy, where her government was considered exceedingly
able, and the people were beginning to murmur at the absence of ihe
courl and the nobility, which, aAer the stales of Normandy hail been m
■ererely laicd lo snpitori the expense of the English wars, was regarded
» a national calamity. It was therefore s measure of great political
expediency on the part of William, lo re-appoint Matilda, for the thin!
time, to the regency of Normandy. The nuine of his eldest son, Robert,
wa», as before, associated with that of Matilda in the regency ; and at
parting, the Conqneror entreated his spouse " to pray for the speedy (er-
roination of the English troubles, to encourage the arts of peace in Nor-
mandy, and to take care of the intercsLi of tlieir youthful heir." '

The latter injonction was somewhat superfluous; for Matilda's fond-
aem tor her firsi-born betrayed her into the most injudicious acts of
partiality in his favour, and in all probability was the primary cause of
Uie dissensions between him and his brothers, and the subsequent nip-
lure between that wrong-headed prince and his royal father.
. The death of the eaii of Flanders, Matilda's father, and the unsettled
BKte oif her native country, owing to the strife between her brothers and
nephewn, who appeared beni on effeciing the ruin of each other, ami the
bll of the ancient royal house of Flanders, greatly troubled her, and
added in do slight degree to the feelings of anxiety and sorrow with
which her return to Normandy was clouded, after \he brief eplendooT
of hrr re!<idence in England as queen.'

The year 11)09 was a season of peculiar misery in Endand.* The
breaking np of the court at Winchester, and the departure of queen Ma-
tilda and her children for Normandy, cast a deep gloom on the aspect
of William's alSiirs, while il was felt as a serious evil by the industrious
classes, whose prosperity depended on the encouragement extended lo
iheir handiworks, by the demands of the rich and powerful, for those
articles of adornment and luxur%-, in the fabrication of which many hawb
are profiiably employed, employment being equivalent to wealth with
those whose time, ingenuity, or strength, can be brought into the market
in any tangible form. But where there is no custom, it is useless to lai
the powers of the ciaflsman or artisan to produce articles which aia no
longer required. This was the case in England from the year I0S9.
when, the queen and ladies of the court having quitted Ihe country, trade
languished, employment ceased, and the horrors of civil war were aggn-
valed by the distress of a starving population. The most peaceably dis-
posed were goaded by their sufierings to desperation.

It was, according to most accounts, in this year that William, lo p«-
rent tlie people c? the land from confederating together in nocmtntl
aesemblies, for the purpose of discussing their grievances, and sttmaltt-

MATILDA OF PIANDSBS.

mg each other to revolt, compelled them to couorefeu^ or to extiiiguisl)
the lights and firei io tlieir dwellings, at eight o'clock every evening, ai
the tolling of a bell, called, from that circumstance, the curfew, or cou-^
TTtfeu} Such, at any rate, has been the popular tradition of ages, and
traces of the custom in many places still remain. The curfew has
become so thoroughly identified with the institutions of William the
Conqueror, that we doubt not it originated with him, especially as there
is great reason to believe that he had previously resorted to the same
measure, in his early career as duke of Normandy, to secure the better
observance of his famous edict for the suppression of bmwls and mur-
ders in his dominions, called emphatically ^ God's peace." '

When Williaro took the field aAer Matilda's departure, and commenced
one of his rapid marches towards York, where Waltheof had encouraged
the Danish army to winter, he swore ^ by the splendour of God," his
usual oath, that he would not leave one living soul in Northumberland.
As soon as he entered Yorkshire, he began to execute his terrible threats
of vengeance, laying the whole country waste with fire and sword.
Afler he had bribed the Danish chief to withdmw, and the long defended
city of York was surrendered at discretion by Waltheof, he won that
powerful Saxon leader to his cause, by bestowing upon him in marriage
Lb beautiful niece Judith.

These fittal nuptials were solemnized among the ruins of the van-
quished city of York, where the Conqueror kept his Christmas, amidst
the desolation he had wrought.'

Not to enter into the melancholy details of William's work of devas-
tation in the north of England, which are so pathetically recorded by the
Saxon Qironide, we will close the brief annals of the direful years 1070
ind 1071, with the death of earl Edwin, the affianced husband of one o{
Lhe daughters of the Conqueror and Matilda. He was proceeding from YXy
to Scotland, charged, as was supposed, with a secret mission from his
lisinherited countrymen to the king of Scots, when his route was be-
;nyed by three brothers in whom he had rashly confided, and, af\er a
raliant defence against a band of Normans, he was slain, with twenty of
Its followers. His death was passionately bewailed by the English, and
!ven the stem nature of the Conqueror was melted into compassion, and
ie is said to have shed tears wlien the bleeding head of the young Seocon,
irith its long flowing hair, was presented to him by the traitors, who
lad beguiled him into the Norman ambush ; and, instead of conferring
iie expected reward on the murderers, he condenmed them to perpetual
sxile.*

A singular curiosity was turned up by the plough, 1004, in a field
lear Sutton, in the Isle of Ely, where Edwin and Morcar are said to
lire met It is a small shield of silver, about six inches long. On it
a Saxon inscription, which has been found to express that it had the

' Speed. It was first established at Winchester. Cassan^s Lives of the Bishops
»f Winchester. Pol jdore Vergil is tlie first chronicler who mentions the curfew.

'Ordericns Vitalis. The curfew is still tolled in some distriou of Norroaody,
rfaera it is called »£a ISciratfs."— -Docarel.

•Matthew Paris. « Ordericns Vhalii, p. 821,^-3 lE^rani'BMKi.

TOL.J. — iJ p

I

I

60 HATILDA of FLANDERS. ^M

double property, of protecting ihe person wlio wore il, and ihe lotcr Tot
wlioae sake it was worn. If it belonged to ihe young earl Edwin, ii
WI19 pcrhnps a relumed love-pleilge rrooi the beiroihed princess.'

The Saxon biahops hod stood forth ss ehampionB for the rights anj
anfiieiil Inws of the people ; anil William, finding it imposaible to awe or
silence these ime patriots, proceeded to deprive them of their beneficee,
end to plunder the churches and monasteries without ecrujile; and,
according to the report of Roger Wendover, and other ancient chroni-
tiers, he appropriated to his own use all the chalices and rich shrinea on
which he could lay his hands.'

It was in rain for the English clergy to appeal to the Romsn poniiff
for prDi«ctiDn ; for William was nipporled by the authority of the new
system of churcli govenunent adopted by the Nomian bishops, which
was to deprive the people of the use of tlie Scriptures in the Snxnn
tongue; thereby rendering one of the best anil noblest legacies be-
qucKihed to them by that royal reformer, king Alfred, — the trvnBlalioD
commenced by hiui of the Word of God. — a dead letter. It also became
an understood thing, that no scholar, of English birth, was to be admit-
ted to any degree of ecclesiastical preferment.*

The Norman language was at that lime introduced, by ro^'nl autho-
rity, into all schools, colleges, and public foundations for the iastnictian
of youth. The laws and statutes of the country were written in tliu
language, and no other was permitted to be used in courts of justice, to
the great perplexity and vexation of the people of the land, who wera
thus under the necessity of employing Nonnan advocates to plead for
redress against the wrongs of Normans.*

The luckless SaxoDs were, of course, sure to obtain more law thaa
jtwlice in such cases, being for the most part wholly unconscinua of the
purport of the proceedings ; so that unless they had the good fortune to

"Edwiani me pignori dat;
Ilia, O DomiDe. Dominev
Cum Mniper defeadat,
QaiB me ad pecliu <uum griMl,
Niii ilia nic ■lienavorii
Sua ■pontc.''
Edwin hi) pledge liai ]ett in me,

Now u> the baitle presi ;

if gunnliin angel mayiAt be,

Wbo woui me on hot breast.

To bim the tnie-heaiteiJ ma)' the prove,
OGo(l, lolbee I pny:
Ai ihii talinnan wu found where earl Edwin Tell,
tati beiud of^ ci

the laily lie loved, wlio had, in all ptol»biliiy, bcrn
' 1 ORU Iphua. Malrn,btiir> Brom pUm .
■ InKuIphiu. HalkcL Eadmer. Saion Annali.
•iatui^nr. UalieL PalyJote Teitpl. Milli. Bcsdy.

But it fDrgeifnl of her vowi,
(May Heaven avert ihe iLodkUI*)

Sim lell ihii love.chann orhet*pauM
Wliich never coald be bou^^

IT of her own free wit

This talis man away
Mny Edwin'i life no [onger Ui^

To rue thai fatal day."

Ul!)

i

IT, Bt least, where he «
I poueisioD of

MATILDA OF FLAV

(Into the hands of very conscientious Norman pleatlera, they wei
Bccd lo ihe superior interesi of iheir opponents, nnd, for aught ihsi
d w\\ to the cootrery, liie advocates wliom ihey hod paiil migh^
■ rmployed their eloquence on the contrary side, or, at the least, '
brtnying nil the weaker points of their clients' causes.

It yna the earaest desire of our Norman sovereigns lo silence th(
Suton tongue for ever, by substituting in its place the Normal) dialed
vbtch was a mistare of French and Danish.' It was, however, fount. ,
to be a more easy thing to subjugaie the land, than to suppress the natu-',
ml language of the people, k change was all that could be eflecled,
am) (hat change was on amnlgBmaiion between the two languages, tha
% i mians grxiiially acquiring as many of the Saxon words and idioma
:li(? Anglo-Saxons were compelled lo use of theirs. Letin was used
. ilie Irumed as a general medium of communication, and thus became,
111 A (light degree, mingled with the parlance of the more refined portion
I'l nieteEy. From these mingled elements our own copious and expressivs
IsDgiugc was in process of time formed.

(>nr of the Conqueror's moat diffieuit undertakings was the reduction,
' f the Ifle of Ely. which had been fortified with the most consummate
ilitary skill, by llio Saxon patriot, Herewanl, who was accounted one
!' ihe bravest champions and most accomplished leaders.
Tlif unsettled slate of England had the efleci of dividing William
, ,,- I. .loved queen, and forced them for a considerable lime to
— he in England, and she in Normandy.

meantime, who appears to have possessed no inconsiderabla,
. ilie art of government, had conducted the regency of Nop-
iniJy, ihiring oil tlie troubles in which her lord was involved, with
.-^1 nnideneeand address. She had been placed in a position of pecu-
ir difficulty, in consequence of the revolt of the provinre of Maine,
-r.it the combined hostilities of the king of France and the duke of Bre-
iL'Tip, nho had taken advantage of the manner in which William wwi,
'i-apied with the Scotch invasion and the Sason revolt, to attack hb^
iiiincnui] dominions; and Matilda was compelled to apply to her'
'■•vja lord for succour. William immediately despatched the son of
' iz-0«botn to assbt his fair regent in her military arrangemenia for iho

' VThito ibe Provenful languagfl waa yec in iu iiiAiiiGr in Iha Souih of Franae,
' Ranwice WhIIooq, or Lalin. corrupted by Gurniau, u'hs lbs dialtrui ipukeii
1^ Konli of Franee, and, wilh a further iniiiuiB of None, becnme Iho polite
. A lartieal laJigunge of the ducal court of Narmandy. It woa called the langitt
u, <n u>ii£uc of Dili, from its alBrmative. Tlie appellBtioo of WbIIooii was
;!;•*( from Ihs word Waalchland, the name by which Iho Gecmaiu to this dsy
nup iHily. William the Conqupror waa to murJi attached to tta« Rnmiiiica
am, ttiai be encouraged in litcmuie amoa;; liu lubjcnia, snJ Ibrceil il un -i
!acl>*li by means of rigorous snictmcnis, in place of tlie aaciDQI Saion, J
b elowlf rnemblcd lh« Norse of liii awu auceeloto. It was IVoin Nat< I
Madf that Iho flni poeu in the French language tprang. A djgcn of the Inuri
•kM William irapoted on hii Eiigli«li subjocu, is iho most ancient work eiisi-
kvklbcBonianMi Walloon. Then Ihe Book of Biut, a rabuloiis hiiiory of tliu
*" as; asxt Woee't Romuioe da Ron, oi Hiitory nf Hollo: Ibe word ramann
imt namtive, and not a Action.

i

I

I

MATILDA OF PLAKDERS. ^

defence of Normandy, and eipedilcJ a prate ivith tite king o[ Scotland,
tlial he might the sooner cothb lo her aid iii person, with his veteran

The Nonnan ladies were at that period extremely mBlcanteiil at the
long-protracted abBence of their lords.' The wife of Hugh GranimesDil,
the govemor of Winchester, had causeJ tliem great uneasiness, by the
reports which she had circulateil of ihe infidelities of their husbands.
These representations had induced the indignant dames to send peremp-
tory inestages, for the immediate retiini of their lords. In some instances
liie warlike Nonnans had yielded obedience to ttieso conjugal laandates,
and rMurned home, greatly to the prejudice of William's ai&irti in Eng-
land. This was the aim of ihri lady of Grantmesnil, who had for some
reason conceived a particular ill-will against her sovereign; and, tiol
contented with doing everything in her power to incite his Norman sub-
jects to revolt, she had thought proper to cast the most injurious aspei^
eions on his cliaracter aa a husbajid, and ioainuaied that lie luid made an
attempt on her virtue.'

Giiha, the mother of Harold, eagerly caught at these reports, which
she a said to have taken great pleasure in circulating. She communi-
caled them to Sweuo, king of Denmark, and added, thai the reason why
31erle3wen, a Kentish noble of some importance, had joined the laic
revolt in England, was, because the Xorman tyrant had dishonoured his
lair niece, the daughter of one of the canons of Conierburj',' This tale,
whether false or true, came in due course to Malilda^s ears, and caused
the first conjugal diOerencc that had ever arisen between her and her lord.
She waa by no means of a temper to take any affront of the kind
patiently, and it is said ihal she caused the unfortunate damsel la he put
to death, with circumstances of great cruelty.* Heame, in his notes to
Robert of Gloucester, furnishes us with a curious sequel to this tale,
extracted from a very ancient chronicle among the Cottonian MSS^
which, aAer relating " that the priest's daughter was privily slaia b
confidential servant of MaliUla, the queen," adds, " tliat the ConqiM
was so enraged at the barbarous revenge taken by his queen, tlialj
his return to Normandy, lie beat her with his bridle so severely, i _^^
she soon after died.^' Now, it is certain Matilda lived full leu yeus
aAer the period at which this matrimonial discipline is said to have been
inflicted upon her by the strong arm of the Conqueror; and the worthy
chronicler himself seems to regard that part of the tale as apocryphal,
and merely relate* it as one of the current reports of the day. We are
willing to hope that the sioiy altogether has originated from the scnn-
dolous reports of that malign busy-body of the eleventh century, the
lady Grantmesnil; though at the same time it is lo be feared, that H
woman who waA capable of inJUciing such deadly vengeance on.^

Uiatiji^^

' Onl«rietis Viulii. Mnlmsbuiy. ' Henderson. Oideii

' HendetMn'i Liiit of ihi? Conqueror. Ii must lie lemembeted that tli« n
nagpi of the Enitlish clergy were slloired hj ihe Angl^^uoa Catliolle C
a quaner of ■ cetimiy BHerwanli.
■uwtl Kbi u be hanuinuig. — Rapin. Eradenan h;* Hslilda oi^fvad

X A T I ). D A

FLANDERS

nofortDMt^ Saxon nobleman who had been ihe objecl of her earliest s
fivtioiu, wouM ntil have heen very scrupulous in her dealingB with
iVidmIp whom she siupceted of having rivalled her in hor husband's r^^
gnrd. At tliis distance of time it is impossible, after most careful inve«-
ligpitiiin, tO speak with any certainty, as to the degree of credit which
may be attar.h«d to this dark talc ; but as il is recorded by several of ihe
(ilil«st clironiclerv. it becomes a matter of duty in the biographers of
MalilJa of Flanders to relate it, and leave the readers to form likeir own

William was attended, on his voyage to Normandy, by a great mili-
ury retinue; matiy English aa well as Norman troops accompanieJ
hiiD,' and performed good service for him, in the reduction of the rebel
pt»>vm« of Maine. The king of France made a liasty retreat before the
WTor of his ^vB^lil(.e neighbour's arms, and peace was quickly restored

rcle of William's continental dominions.

le of anger or mistrust liad occurred, during their long sepa-
ia, to interrupt itie conjugal happiness of Matilda and her husband,
m but a passing cloud, for historians all agree that they were living
her in a ataie of the moat alTeciionBte union, during the year 1074,
B pun of which was spent by the Conqueror with his family in Nor-
* It wns at this period that Edgar Aiheling came to the court at
J make a voluntary submisaion to the Normau sovereign, and to
ia forgiveness for the several insurrections in which he had been
The Conqueror freely accorded aa amnesty, treated him with
ilness, and pensioned him with a daily allowance of a pound of
. fi the hope tliat tliia amicable arrangemeut would secure his
' iMiuBient in England from all future disturbances. He was mistaken :
nih troubles had already broken out in that quarter, but this lime they
)racMil«l from his own tnrbulent Norman chiefs; one of them, willul,
w» Iha eon of his great ftvourite and trusty kinsman, Filz-Osbom ; who
*Mdef(vted and taken prisoner* by the nobles aud prelates of Worcester.
The Dmiab fleet, which had vainly hovered on the cuaal, waiting for a
^mI to land trwps to assist the conspirators, was fain to retreat without
weting its objecL As for the great Sajton earl, Waltheof, who had
^ dimwn bto the plot, and betrayed by his Norman wife. Judith, to
til mxlt, the Conqueror, he was, after a long suspense, beheaded on a
{•ground, jusi without the gales of Winchealur ; being the first
' ' " nan who had died by the band of a public executioner.'

'Iliiri. Malmfbuty, Ssxaa Annals.

ilsLinslnny. Brociiplon

ion Iff bit iovercign, nud. berorc this (ol of oontumwIJV
A CiTOUt. He was oiil]' puniilied Willi iiii|iIiMnmoni, [o
■cr, Altrr a lime Ids royal muier, as a lokaa thai he
him, >cnl liiiii n eotily siiil or clolhes ; but FiO-Ogborn, ii|'
i» pBlgfiir ni'linnwIi^ilKmcnti Tor tliij preunl, ordered a ius*
i, f n iha prcMMu^ ur ihp moasvager, tnimed the rii^li

ilisoltinl u]ireMiiint of coniempl. Wiliinm wiu very
W in wliieli Ilia luiwonieil grBiiousnem waj received by hji
II inflictod no eeveiei punittinicai thiia n lengthened tttm of
jlomlvraoii. •Ordciicus Vimlu.

^.nnals. ^^H
intumwlj'il^^H

t,rorbtoH

il he WW ^M
■born, ii|~ ^H
^d a bust ^1
{(nnnenli,

HATtLDA OF FLANDERS. ^^

William next pursued hig Norman irnitnr, Ralph Je Gtiader, to Uie
cnntinenl, and besie^ him iu the cily of Dol, where he had taken refiigc.
The young duke of Bretagne, Allan Fergeant, assisted also by the king
of Trance, came with a powerful army to the sutcour of the besieged
eorl ; and William was not only compelleil in raise the siege, but to
Abandon his ifnis and baggage, to the value of lilleen thousand pounds.
Hi« diplomatic talents, however, enabled him to extricate himself from
(he enibarrassing stiaic in which he had placed himself; and a pocilie
ttcaiy was entered into, between him and the valiant young duke of
Brcingne, the conclusion of which was a marriage between Alan and his
daughter Constance. This alliance was no less advantageous lu tlie
princely bridegroom, than agreeable to William and Matilda. The nup-
tials were celebrated with great pomp, and ilic bride was dowered with
all the lands of Chester, once the possessions of the unfortunate eatl
Edwin, who hod formerly been coniracied to one of her sisters.'

At the close of this year died Edilha, the widow of Edward the Con-
fessor. She had retired to a convent, hut was treated with the respect
and honour of a queen-dowager, and was buried by the side of her royal
husband, in Westminster Abbey. She was long survived by her ^nfo^
tunate sister-in-law, Algilh, the widow of Harold, llie other Saxon queeu-
dowager, who, having had woful experience of the calamities of great-
ness, and the vanity of eanhly disiinciions, voluntarily resigned her royal
title, and passed the residue of her days in obscurity.

In the year 1075, William and Mnlilda, with their family, kept the
festival of Easter with great pomp, at Fescanip, and attended in person
the profession of their eldest daughter Cicely, who was there veiled ■
nun, by the archbishop John.' "■ Tliis royal maid," says Ordericus Vh
talis, "* had been educated with great c«re, in the convent of C«en, when
shr was instructed in all the learning of the age, and several aciencu
She was consecrated to the holy and indivisible Trinity, and took thi
veil under the venerable abbess Matilda, and faithfully conformed to al
the rules of conventual discipline. Cicely succeeded this abttess in hei
ofHce, havii:g, for fourteen years, maintained the highest rcpuiation for
mnctily and wisdom. From the moment that she was dedicated to God
by her fiither, she became a true servant of the Most High, and conlinueil
a pure and holy virgin, attending to the pious rules of her order, for >
period of fifty-iwo years."

Soon after the profession of the lady Cicely, those fiital divisions beeu
to appear in the royal family, of which Matilda is accused of havuig
sown the seeds, by tile injurious partiality which she hod shown for
Boben, her first-bom.

Thia prince, having been associated with his royal mother, in iki
regency of Normandy, from the age of fourteen, had been brought more
into public than was perhaps desirable, at a period of life when presuro))-
tnous ideas of self- importance are only too apt to inflate the mind. Bo-
bert, during his father's long absence, was not only emancipated from all
I Control, but had accuetomej himself to exercise the functions of a acn^

a AnimltL &. Dunelm. Malrasbuty. 'Otdericua Vialis. Mnluub-iiJ

MATILDA OF FLANDERS. 55]

rnga, in ITnnnanily, by anticipBtion, and to receive the homage and

Aaucry of all ranks of people, in the dominions lo which he was iha

hrir. The Conqueror, il seeme, huiI promised that lie woiilJ one day

lieatDw ihe duchy ofNoimandy on him; and Roberl, hnving rcpreBcnted

the dncul majesty for nearly eight years, considered himself an injured'

penon when his royal father took tlie power into his own hands once

more* utd nacled from him the obedience of a subjerL, and the duty of

■ son.' There was nI»o a jealous rivalry between Robert and his two

youager brnthers, Willioui Rnfua and Henr>-. William Rufus, noiwith-

namling his rode, lioisi^roua manners, and the apparent recklessness of

hi» disposition, had an abundant share of world-craft, and well knew

how to adapt himeelf (o his lather's humour, so that he was no less a

Eirouriie with the Conqueror than Robert was with Matilda. Robert

was A prince of a generous disposition, but of an irritable lempenuncnt,

uriiiid, and i]uick to Ijike offence. From his low stature his faliier had

' .''iwed on him the Cf^nonicn of Court-hoee,' and this appellation, like

names ilerired from some personal peculiarity, was, no doubt, very

/li'iising to a hauglity young man, and tended in no slight degree ta

i'lisc the mortilication attendant on the loss of power, and to create

::tiu;Bof ill-will against his royal sire. He had, withal, many injurious

I n-n and pretended friends, among the dissipated young nobles of

uiiondy, wbd took every occasiou to porsuade him that lie was un

rnl person, especially with regard lo the province of Maine. Robert

; in his infancy been espoused to Margaret, the heiress of Herbert, iha

carl of that province. The little countess died while they were yet

lUlren, and William of Normandy, who had, during hor minority,

i'-.;'it her lands under his wardship, annexed them to his own dominions

I'lT her death. When the juvenile widower became of age, he consi-

' >Tt-d hinmelf entitled lo the earldom and lands of Maine, in right of his

i!<~ccsMd wile, and chtitned them of his father, who put him off with fair

words, bnt withheld the territory, though the people of Maine demanded

Robert for their lord ; and at the surrender of the revolted city of Mans,

it ms amouff the articles of capitulation, that he should receive the in-

rcslitnre of the eurldom. Thia condition was violated by the Conqueror,

who had no mind to part with any portion of his acquisitions during hia

; veiifying, in this its in every otlier action, the predictions of the

• at his birth, " that he wotdd grasp everything witliin his reach,

^ M which he had once grasped he would keep."'

I ihe year 1070, while Matilda and William were with their family,

p castle of L'Aigle, their two younger sons, William and Henry, in

^_ IDB play, threw some dirty water from the balcony of an upper

TrjSnment, on Robert and aome of hia partisans, who were walking in

cnutl below. The fiery heir of Normandy construed this act of

\ i^h folly into an act of studied contempt; and being just then in an

irritable and excited frame i>f mind, lie drew his sword, and ruclied np

twitb a threat of taking deadly vengeance on the youthful itans-
* who had ollered this insult to him before the whole coui^

fiMMIw at
a|Miat«

^kn pi

I
I

isVii^Ia. tftobert ofGloiuieinr. ■ Oidericiu Titalit

\

I

\

^88 MATILDA OF PLANDERB. ^J

This occssioned ■ prodiginua tniniili und uproar in the ciwilr. ari'I
noiliing but the presence aoil stern authorJly of ihc king, who, heBrtni;
ihc BiBim. burst into the loom wilh his Jrawn swunl in hiii hnnil, rouli'
Iinve prevcntcil Tatal consequences.'

Robert, not obtaining the attisraMion he expected, for the afTroiit hr
had received, privaicly retired from ihe conn thai Tery evening. foUoiral
by a pnriy of the youn^ nobility whom he had atlarhed to his cause.'

Eicharil, the second son of William and Matilda, dofs not sppcar to
hare taken any part in tliese quarrels. He was ihe ptipi! of the Immeii
I^infranc, and w«s probably occupied with siudions pursnits, ns he is
taid to have been a prince of great promise, and of an aniiable dii>pwi-
tion.* He died in England, in tlie flower of his youth. Acrorditig Id
popular tradition, he was gored by a stag, while hunting in the Nes
Forest, which caused his death; bui some hisioriaiiB record thai he died
of a fever, occasioned by the mnlaria in the depopulated district of Hamp-
ehlre, at the time when so many thousands of llic unfonnnate Saxo(t>
perished by famine, in consequence of having been drivrn from then
tiomcs, when tlie Conqnernr converted that once fertile pan of F.ni^lani!
into n chase, for the enjoyment of his fevourite amusement of hnnlinf-
Princc Richard was buriL-<l in Winchester Calhedml : a stab of stone
marked with his name is still seen there.

Drayton gires a political reason for (he depopulation of ihe shore of
ihnnpebire, occasioned by the enclosnre of the New Forest, which is
well worth the conaideraiion of the historical reader.
"Ckar Aron, coming in, her litiM Siour doih ™U,
And (t Now Fomt'a l^t i»<a Xhe tea iIdI)i (nil ;
Thiu F»rmt now, wlioae dght e'en bonnilleu sMms to lie,
Its 1>cing CTit receiveil i>om WiltUun't lyrannir.
Who frame'l taw> lo keep (hose beaiu he planted then.
UU tawlesi will (rota hcD«c brfore hnil driven men :
Tlisl where tlie Bwili wsi wsimeil will] Winipt's len&l ttt*.
Hie mclaneholi« bare now totms in tantitcKl brnko and briers;
And Oft liles of fhnicliei, grown with nellies, fein, and woedi.
Sands now ihv aged raaiiiDh trunk, whire ploughmen cast Haiii '
The people Were, by Williaro horo, cut off IVoin everytnule:
That <iQ lliif ipot the Nonnnii still might enter <o invade,
Adi), on tbU dMoIalcd place and unricquonted tbore.
New l!>iDM etermoro might kind lo aid tho»e here lierore."

Tlie SaxoD Chrtmicle comments on the oppressive statutes en
tlio Norman Conqueror, for ihe preservation of game, in an pl
siraiii of indiguaiil irony, and says, '*lie loved the tall deer as if
been ilieir father."

Thai game4awB were in existence at a much earlier period, i
criain ; but it was during this rei^ that they nere rendered a ^ '
■> llic people, and assumed the character of a moml wrong in ij
lalure of the country. The raore enligiitened policy of modem 1
rudent^e, has in some degree ameliorated the rigorous penalties •
r Norman line of sovereigns, against poaching i

MATILDA OF FLANDSftff. 9t

rtments; but the bitterness engendered by the spirit of those laws
mains in full force, in the hearts of those classes against whom the
itutes are supposed to point, and is constantly acted upon by persons
nuning the office of political agitators, for the purpose of creating
ritions between the people and their rulers.

MATILDA OF FLANDERS,

QUEEN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.

CHAPTER III.

itildm mediates between her husband and son— Robert's insolence and rebel*
lion — Matilda supplies him with money — Conqueror seizes Matilda's agent—
Conqueror's remonstrance — Queen's answer — Robert's military prowess — Field
of Archembraye — ^Robert wounds the Conqueror — His penitence— Matilda in-
tercedes—Conqueror writes to his son — ^Robert jmrdoned — Conqueror's legis-
lation in ISngland — ^Domesday Book — Rojral revenue — Queen of England's per-
quisites and privileges — ^Her dues at Queenhithe — Officers of royal household
-—Matilda's court the model of succeeding ones — She continues to govern Nor-
mandy— ^Her visit to the monastery of Ouche — Illness and death of her second
daughter — ^Fresh cause of sorrow to the queen — Robert's dissensions with his
&ther — Matilda's distress — Applies to a hermit — ^His vision, and message to
the queeti — Her grief and lingering illness — ^Dying of a broken heart — The
Conqueror hastens fVom £ngland»-^he dies — Her obsequies — hor alms — ^Tomb
— ^Epitaph — Will — ^Articles of dress named therein — Portrait and costume —
Her children — The Conqueror's deep affliction — ^Disquiets after the death of
the Queen — ^Fatal accident to the Conqueror — ^Death — His body plundered —
Accidents and interruptions at his funeral— >Monument — Portrait — Destruction
of his tomb— Of Matilda's tomb— Her sapphire ring — ^Their bodies re-iuterred
— Matilda's tomb restored^>Final destruction at French Revolution.

The feud between her royal husband and her first-bom was Very
infnl to Matilda, whose anxious attempts to efiect a reconciliation were
nvaOing. When Robert's passion was somewhat cooled, he consented
see his father, bnt the interview was anything but friendly. Orderi-
ti Vitalifl gives the following particulars of the conference.
Robert assumed a very hi^ tone, and repeated his demand, of being
vested with the duchies of Normandy and Maine. This was of course
fbsed by the Conqueror, who sternly bade his ambitious heir ^ remem-
T the fate of Absalom, and the misfortunes of Rehoboam, and not to
(ten to the ievil counsellors who wished to seduce him from the paths
' duty." On which Robert insolently replied, ** That he did not come
ere to listen to sermons, with which he had been nauseated by his
tors when he was learning grammar, but to claim the investiture
hich had been promised to him. Answer me positively ^^^ coi\\xcrai^

he, " ore nnt these Uiings my right i Ilaie you nol promised to buio'
them on me V '

'^ It is Dot my ciuloin to strip till 1 go to bed,'" replied the Conqaeror;
''and as loitg as 1 live, 1 will not deprive inyseir of my naiivc naJn.
Iformandy, neither will f divide with another; for it is written in iht
holy evnugelists, ^ Evnry kiogilom that is divided against iiselT shdl
become draolaie.'* I won England by mine own good sword; the
TicarB iif Chnst placed tbe diadem of iia ancient kings on my brow, and
the sceptre in mine hand ; and 1 swear that all (he world combined shall
nol compel me to delegate my power to anoiher. It is not to be borne,
that he who owes his existence to me should aspire to be my riral in
mine own dominions."

Bill Itoberl scornfully rejoined, with equal pride and disrespect. '^ If
it be inconvenient for you to keep your word, I will withdraw from Noi-
numdy, and seek justice f(x>m strangers ; for here 1 will not remain u a
subject." '

With these words he quilled the royal presence, and, with a party of
disalTectcd nobles, took refuge with Matilda's brollier, Robert earl of
Flanders, snmamed Le Prison, from his having married the counien
of Friesland.

From this uncle, Robert received very bad advice, and the kui^ ot
France endeavoured, by all the means in bis power, to widen tbe brearii
between the undutiful heir of Kormandy and his father. Encouia^
by these evil counsellors, Robert buried himself in fomenting disron-
tents, and organizing a formidable faction, in his father's dominioiu,
whence he drew large sums, in the shape nf presents and loans, from
many of the vassals of the ducal crown, who were wdling to ingratiau
themselves with the heir apparent, and to conciliate the favour of ibf
queen-ducheas, whose jurtial fondness for her eldest son was weB

The supplies thus obtained Robert improvidenily lavished among hi*
dissolute companions, both male and female. In consequence of this
cxtramgance, he was occasionally reduced to the greatest inconvenience
'When under the pressure of those pecuniary embarrassnientji, which
cuuld not fail to expose him lo the contempt of the foreign princes wbu
espoused his quarrel against his father, he was wont to apply lo bis loo
indulgcDl mother, Maulda, by whom he was so passionately beloved,
that she could refuse him nothing; from her private cufiers she secretly
supplied him with large sums of silver and gold; and when ibttt
resources were exhausted by tbe increasing demands of her prodigd
Bou, Matilda had the weakness lo strip herself of her jewels and pncioM
garmenu, for the same puqiose.*

This system continued even when Robert had taken up arms againcl
his father and sovereign. Roger de Beaumont, Uiat faithful minister .—
whom William hail, previous to his first embarkation on the luewotaUr
expedition from St. Vallerie, appointed as the premier of Nonuamiy,—

■Onlfricui ViialU. UvmingtuirJ. WalsinKliam.

■Oidpricus Viial^ S. Duaelni. P.Daniel.

'(JMmleiH Ytflii. ' Uahmhuij. Oiderlant Vitally

M

■ ATILDA OF FLANDERS.

■ad wlti> bad ever since usisled his royal mistress, not only with Ills 1
cootisvls in the aclruiuistmliou of affiiirs of sUle, bul even iu the ctluca. T
ban of her children, felt il his duty to inrorm his Boveteijn of the under-
haad proceeding o( MatdJa in favour of her rebel son.'

WiUiun WB» in England when the startling intelligence reached hinii I
of the unnatural rebelliou of his first-born, and the ireat^hery of his be-
lonred consort, in whom he Imd ever reposed ihe moat nnbounde<l confi-
dence. He appears scarcely to have given credence to the repreaenl»-
tiuBx of Roger de Beaumont, relating to the conduct of his queen, till,
on hia return to Nomkandy, he intercepted nne of Matilda's privals
iffeat*, nanicd S&mpson, who was charged with communicalions from
the ipiecn to Robert, which left no doubt on William's mind, of thil
idcatily of the secret friend by whom his uiiduliful eon had been sup-
[died with the means of carrying on his plots and hostile measurea
a^nat liia government.'

Thrre was ■ Btem grandeur, not unmixed with tenderness, in the

;>r>.>uf wliich be addressed to his oflending consort on this occasion.

"TIio observation of a certain phdosophcr is true," said he, "and S
1-411 only too much cause to admit the force of his words —

' NBuTrBgium rorum est niuliec itiBlefiJa jnatila;'

■Tlie woman who deceives her husband is the destruction of her -
mhoDW.'

"Whwa in all the world could yon have found a companion so faith-
U Bd devoted in his afleclion f" continued he, passionately. '' Behold
mr vift, she whom I have loved as my own soul, to whom 1 have con-
mi tb* ^vemment of my realms, my treasure,aud all that I possessed
iaAavtmd, of power and greatness — she haiK supported mine adver-
Wfigliaat me — she halh strengthened and enriched him from the
vaUt which I conlided to her keeping — she hath secretly employed
iu ImI ind flubtlely in his cause, and done everytliing she could to
JB him against me !'' *

k** replv to this indignant but touching appeal, which her royal I
, more, it should appear, in sorrow than in anger, addressed to j
W. il aa Ina remarkable for its impassioned eloquence, than the sub-
''■■■^y with which she evades the pnncipal point on which she is presseil,

:'-i ratrrucbes herself on the strong ground of maienud love.

" My lord," said she, " I pray you not to be surprised if I feel a
'.iumer'i lendemess for my first-bom son. By the virtoe of the Most
lUh. I protest that if my son Robert were dead, and hidden far from
Uk •iglii u{ the living, seven feel deep in the earth, and that the price of
my bluud could restore him to life, I would cheerfully bid it flow. For
*iu mLb 1 would endure any sutfering, yen, things from which, on any
otbtr occasion, the feebleness of my sex would shrink with terror.
Bo» then ran you suppose that 1 could enjoy llie pomp and luiurip«
•ith which 1 was surrounded, when I knew tlint he was pining in warn
-111 mwcry ? Far from my heart he such hardness, nor ought your
. hririiy (o impose such insensibility on a mother."'

i 1^
I 1M»1„
I Mr. uaa

MATILDA OF FL.INOBRS

\

I

up,

William is reported lo have turned pale with nnger ol ihis rejoindtr.
Il WB9 not, however, on Maiilda, the object of liia adoring ano Consiut
afleclion, thai he prepnied to iiiHict the measure of vengeauee which htr
trancgreseion againsl him had provoked. Sampson, tne comparaiirdf
innocent agent whom ahe had employed in this transaction, was doomed
to pay the dreadful penally of ihe oOence, with Ihe loss of sight, by iIk
order of his enraged sovereign.' In such cases il ia usual for the instni-
nieni to be the sacrifice, and persons of the kind are geneinlly yirlded
a sort of scapegoat, or expiatory victim. But Matilda did nnt

jandon her lerritied agent in his distress j she conirived lo convey »
hasty iitiimation of his peril, and her desire of preserving him, to •omt
of the persons who were devoted to her service ; and Sampson, man
fortunale than his illustrious namesake of yore, was enabled to eacape
the cruel seDlence of his lord, by taking sanctuary in the monastery of
Ouche, of which Matilda was a muniticent patroness. Nevertheless, u
it was a serious thing lo oppose the wrath of such a prince as Willmm.
the abbot Manier found no other way of securing the trembling fugilift
front his vengeance, than that of causing him to be shorn, shaven, and
professed a monk of Ouche, the same day he entered the convent, "ia
happy hour both for his body and soul,'*' observes the conlemponiy
chronicler who relates this circumstance.*

It does not appear that William's alFcction for Matilda sulTered ai^
material diminution in consequence of these transactions, neither wonli
he permit any one to censure her conduct in liis presence.' She was the
love (if his youth, the solace of his meridian hours of life, and she jot'
served her empire orer his mighiy heart to the last hour of lier lilt
But though the attachment of the Conqueror lo his consort rnnoincd
nnalleried, the happiness of the roysl pair waa materially tminiffii
Robert, their first-born, waa in arms against his father and sovereign, and
St the head of a numerous army, supported by the hostile power of
France on the one hand, and tlie disalTecied portion of William's suhjcAf
on the other- He had made s formidable attack on Rouen, and in srvt-
nl instances obtained successes which at first astonished lus iodignaal
parent, who had certainly greatly underrated the militart' talents ^ hi*

When, however, the Conqueror perceived that the filial fr>e who had
thus audaciously displayed his rebiDl banner against him, had inlieriled
all the martial prowess of his race, and was bj- no means unlikriy U
prove a match for himself in llie art of war, he arrayed a miglily amy,
and advanced with all his wonted energy, to give him battle, not dogbl-
ing but that success would, as usual, attend his arms. The royal chj^
of Normandy met in hostile encounter, on the plain of Archeml»ayci
near the castle of Gerbetg. William Rnfus, the Conqueror'a fiivoivJK
son, was in close attendance on his father's person that day. This ptinca
had already received the honour of knighthood from Lanfrenc, aifV
hisliop of Cajiierbury, hia tutor, and he was eager to assist in humblii]

MATILDA OF FLANDERS. 61

the pride of his elder brother, over whom the Conqueror anticipated a
signal triumph.'

The battle was fought with no common fury on both sides; but Ro-
bert, who headed a choice body of cavalry, decided the fortune of the
day, by his impetuous charge upon the rearward of his foes, where his
ro^-al father commanded, whose utmost endeavours to preserve order in
his ranks were inefiectual. It was in this charge that the memorable
personal encounter between the Conqueror and his rebel son occurred,
where Robert, unconscious who the doughty champion was against
whom he tilted, ran his father through the arm with his lance, and un-
horsed him* This was the first time that'William had ever been over-
come in single combat, for he was one of the strongest men, and most
approved knights, of the age in which he lived ; and it is a singular fact,
that in all the battles in which he had been engaged, he had never lost
a drop of blood, till it was in this field drawn by the lance of his first-
bom. He was on tliis occasion in great danger of being slain in the
melee ; but transported with rage at the smart of his wound, and the
disgrace of the overthrow, he called so loudly and angrily for rescue, that
Robert recognised him, either by his voice or some of his fevourite exple-
tives, and hastily alighting, raised him from the ground in his arms, with
much tenderness and respect, expressed the deepest concern at the unin-
tentional crime of which he had been guilty, for which he most humbly
entreated his forgiveness, and then placing him on his own horse, he
brought him safely out of the press.' According to some of the histo-
rians of that period, William, instead of meeting this generous burst of
feeling, on the part of his penitent son, with answering emotions of pa-
ternal tenderness, was so infuriated at the humiliation he had received,
that he uttered a malediction against him, which all the aflcr submissions
of Robert could not induce him to retract ; while otliers, equally de-
serving of credit, assert that he was so moved with the proof of Robert's
dutiful reverence for his person, and the anxiety he had manifested for
his safety, that he presently forgave him, and ever af\er held him in
better respect Both accounts may be true in part ; for it is very possi-
ble, that when the Conqueror of England found himself defeated by his
rebel subjects, on his native soil, and his hitherto invincible arm over-
come by the prowess ol^ his son, (whose person he had hitherto been
accustomed to mention with a contemptuous allusion to his inferiority
in stature,) he might, while the smart of his wound lasted, have in-
dulged in a strong ebullition of wrathful reproach, not unmixed witli
execmtions, of which it appears that he, in common with all Normans
of that era, had an evil nabit. But after his passion was abated, it is
certain that he did, in compliance with the entreaties of his queen, con-
sent to receive the submission of his victorious but penitent son/

In this battle, William Rufus was severely wounded, as well as his
bther, and there was a considerable slaughter of the English troops, of
which the Conqueror^s army was chiefly composed; for Robert had

' Horeden. S. Dunelm. M. Paris. Polydore Vergil.
'S.DuDelm. Malmetbury. Hoveden. M. Paris.
"S.Bunelm. M. Paris. « Ordericos YitaOis.

TOL. I. 6

■ ATILO& OF PLATCDERS

Molen the hearts of the Normans, whfle asaociatetl in the regencj- mtfc
his mother Alatilda, and his father considered it unsafe to oppoae him
with his native troops. As it was, Robert remained ihe master of ch*
field, having that day given indubitable proofs of able geDeralehi]), ud

Ct personal Talour; but the perilous chance that had nearly readiTcd
ihe murderer of his lather, inade so deep an impression on his raiod,
ihol he remained for a time conscience-stricken, which caused him lo
endeafour, by employing the inlercession of his doting mother, to obtua
a reeoncilialion with his oflended sire.'

Matilda had sul&red greatly in mind, during the unnatural war&re bfr
tween her husband and her tiist-born, especially after the frightful eii>
cujDstance of their pen^onal encounter in the field of Archembmy^
which was fought in the year 1077. Some feelings of self-reproMb
mifht possibly mingle with her uneasiness on this occasion.

Her health began to decline, and William was at length moved by lur
incessant pleading, and the sight of her tears, to write a letter wiQi hit
own hand to Robert, inviting him ^ lo repair to Rouen, and receive a full
pardon for his Inte rebellion, promising at the same lime to grant hua
everything that he could expect from the aileclion of a father, coiuitf-
ently with the duly of a king." On tlie receipt of this welcome leiia,
Robert delayed not a moment to obey the summons. He came to Roaec.
attended only by three servants \ he was received by his parents ta tht
most afiectionatc manner; and a temporary reconcUlatioti was eftuted
between bim and his brethren.*

MatUda did not long enjoy the society of this beloved son ; for iht
Conqueror's a^rs in Zngland requiring hie presence, he thought propel
to carry Robert with him, under the pretence that he reqtiir^ his ■c^
vices in a military capacity, to defend ihe northern counties against iba
aggression of Malcolm, king of Scotland, who had once more vi^tul '
llie treaty of peace.

William's real motive for making Robert the companion of liis vorafC,
was because he considered Matilda was too much devoted to the iaierest
of her firsi-bom, to render it expedient for him to remain with her in
Normandy.

The following spring, Robert was commissioned to chastise the Scot-
tish monarch; but having been given an inet^tual force, he performtd
nothing remarkable in that campaign. While in the north, he founded
the town of Newcasde-upon-Tyne, in the same place where Monkcbv-
ter, or the city of the monks, was situated.'

The year 1078* was remarkable, in this country, for the great natiacid
fcurvej', which was instituted by the Ck>nqueror, for the purpose of asco-
taining the precise nature of the lands and tangible properly throughust
England ; so that, says Ingulphus, " there was not a hide of land, wmUt,
or waste, but he knew the valuation, the owners and possessors, togaba

>Ot<lerioii> Vin

' Heniy Konlini^on. M. Weioniniier.

■ Acuoiding lo wme bittoriana, ihe tiinej vaa not gtaenllj began till IMI |
U/rira>jaM/liUrcoa>pIeied tiU 1086.— Tuid>l'sN<nu(u " ' '

MATILDA OF FLANDBKS. 63

with the rents and profits thereof; as also of all cities, towns, villages,
liamlets, monasteries, and religious houses ; causing, also, all the people
in England to be numbered, their names to be taken, with notice what
any one might dispend by the year ; their substance, money, and bond-
men recorded, with their cattle, and what service they owed to him, who
held of him in fee ; all which was certified upon the oaths of commis-
sioners,'"

Such is the account given by the learned abbot of Croydon, of the
particulars of William's " Great Terrar," or " Domesday-book," as it
was called by the Saxons. The proceedings of the commissioners were
inquisitorial enough, no doubt, since they extended to ascertaining how
much money every man had in his house, and what was owing to him.
rhat in some instances, too, they were partial in their returns, is evi-
Jent, by the acknowledgment of Ingulphus, when, speaking of his own
monastery of Croyland, he says, ^^ me commissioners were so kind and
avil, that they did not give in the true value of it :" we may therefore
xmdnde that, whenever the proprietors made it worth their while, they
irere equally obliging elsewhere. Yet it was at the risk of severe pun-
iriunent that any fraud, favour, connivance, or concealment, was prac-
tised, by either the owners of the, property, or the commissioners.'
[lobert of Gloucester, in his rhyming chronicle, gives the following
}naint description of the Domesday-book.

** Then King William, to learn the worth of his land,
Let enquiry stretch throughout all England,
How many plough laud, and hiden also,
Were in every shire, and what they were worth thereto j
And the rents of each town, and the waters each one.
The worth, and woods eke, and wastes where lived none ;
By that he wist what he were worth of all England,
And set it clearly forth that all might understand,
And had it clearly written, and that 9cript he put, I wis.
In the treasurie of Westminster, where it still is^"

The king's great object in instituting this survey, was to form an exact
calculation of his own revenues, and especially how much money ho
night be enabled to realize in the way of a land-tax. Accordingly, he
aid an impost of six shillings on every hide of land' throughout England
IS soon as he had ascertained this point ; which tax affected the Nor-
nans, who had become, generally speaking, the lords of the soil, far
nore than it did the Engush, who were for the most part reduced to
kbject poverty.

The description or survey of England was written in two books, the
jreat and Little Domesday-book,^ and when finished, they were carefully
iiid up in the king's treasury or exchequer, to be consulted on occasion,

'Ingulphus.

'This furvey was made by presentment of juries, that is, certain persons who
vere appointed from every hundred, wapentake, or county, and sworn in before
^omraisnooers, consisting of the greatest earls, bishops, or leading persons in th#
listrict. — ^Brady.

■This was called Hydage.
The little book contains only Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.

t mi

MATILDA OF FLA

I

I

I

Potydore Vergil shrewdly obsen'cs, " when it was required in
know of how mucli more wool the English flocks might be fleoeed."

By ttie &id of ihia survey, William was enabled to raise die royai
rereuue to the sum of four hundred thousand pounds per yeari which ii
computed by Bnuiy to be upm-arda of five millions of our present money.
In oadilion to this settled income^ he was entitled to ttmay perquisiltf,
aa mulcts, fines, forfeilures, lirences for buying and selling, for gnuittag
leave to marry, and many other profitable contingencies, which were In
those days constantly bringing supplies into the royal purae. Then djen
vere certain occasions on which subsidies were granted, as a niaiter of
course, as on the marriage of an eldest daughter, or when knighiiiood
wtts conferred on a son.

Matilda, though residing chiefly in Normandy, had her distinct rert-
nues. perquisites, and privileges, as queen of England. She was allowed
to claim her aurun rcgina, or quccn-gold ; that is, the tenth part of
evoiy fins voluntary tliat was paid to ihc crown.' She received, frocn
tbo city of London, sums to furnish oil for her lamp, wood fur iter hearth,
and tolls or imposts on goods landed at Queenhithcj with matiy odiet
immunities, which the queen-coosorls in latter days have not ventuted
to claim.

The table at which the queen hEtself sat was furnished with viuibi
St tlie daily expenditure of forty shillings. Twelve pence each wii
Allowed for the sustenance of her hundred attendants.'

The royal revenues were never richer than in this reign, and they
were not charged with any of the expenses attending on the utaintenuM
of the military force of the country, for the king had taken care to im-
pose that burden on snch persons, among his foUowers, who had been
enriched widi the forfeited lands of the Anglo-Saxons. Almost every
landed proprietor then held his eslaiea on the tenure of performing cra«D
service, and famishing a quota of men-at-anns, at the king's De«d or
pleasure. In this reign the Court of Exchequer was instituted, so calbd
from the chequered cloth, figured like a chess-board, that was laid on
the table when the court was sitting.*

The principal or supreme court of judicature in ordinarv wri^ call«j
earui regis,* or King's Court, which was always at the r<i\Ml
There councils were held, and all affairs of state trnnsaclcil
throne was placed, wliich was an ordinary court of judi. ;
justice was administered to the subjects by the king, as rhu i
The chief oflicers of this court were : — 1st. The grand ju.-Dnurv : \,e
was next to the king in power and audiority, and in his absence guvenuij
the realm as viceroy : if the king were not present in person in a '
rcgi*, ho acted as chief judge, both in criminal and civil canses.
The constable : he was a high officer, both in peace and war ; this a
was anciently hereditary. 3d. The matcschal : this office is still li

' Ptynne^. " Aimiro Begiiw."

■ Til* bnuwhold book of Edwatil IV. MU(>d Ibe "
prec«ilenl« ftmn EitreniB uiliiiuiljr.
' Msiloi'i Siittirr or lbs Exohequet. ■ Ibid.

MATILDA OF ILANDBSS. 65

ditaiy, and U at present exercised by his grace the duke of Norfolk.
The office of the mareschal, or earl marshaU was to provide for the secu-
rity of the royal person, in the palace, to distribute lodgings there, (not
always the most enviable task in those bellicose days,) and to preserve
peace and order in the king's household. How the latter duty was per-
fijrmed when the mareschal chanced to be himself one of the most quar-
relsome persons in the court, as in the case of Bigod earl of Noifolk,
our authority saith not It was also the business of the earl marshal to
assist in determining all controversies : there is a notable one on record,
that took place between king Edward the First and his mareschal, the
said Bigod, which we shall relate, among the events of that reign.

The 4th great officer of the King's Court was the seneschal or steward
of the palace, called the dapifer. The 5th was the chamberlain, who
presided over all matters of courtly ceremonial. The 6th was the king's
chancellor, generally some famous ecclesiastic. The chancellor was ^e
king's prime counsellor, and was* accustomed to supervise the charters
to be sealed with the king's seal ; and likewise to supervise and seal the
acts and precepts that issued in proceedings from curia regisj or the
king's court

The 7th officer was the king's treasurer, and he was also most fre-
onently a prelate or noted churchman. Besides these, there were le
ioteUr^ or the king^s butler, who presided over the royal cellars, and
served the wine-cup to the sovereign ; the sewer, whose business it was
to place the dishes on the royal taUe ; and many other officers, of infe-
rior reckoning in the housenold, but who were nevertheless nobles or
knights.

We have been thus minute in our particulars of the first Anglo-Nor-
man court, because, although it was little graced by the presence of the
<iaeen, its arrangements foraied the model and precedent for those in the
succeeding reigns, and cast no little light on the habits and customs of
royalty in the middle ages of English history.

We must now return to the personal history of Matilda. The latter
years of this queen were spent in Normandy, where she continued to
exercise the functions of government, for her royal husband.'

Orderictts Vitalis relates the particulars &. a Tisit which she paid to
the monastery of Ouche, to entreat the prayt,*s of the abbot Manier, and
kis monks, in behalf of her second daughter, the lady Constance, the
wife of Alan Fergeant, duke of Bretagne. This princess, who was pas-
rionately desirous of bringing an heir to Bretagne, was childless, and to
ihe grief of her mother, md fallen into a declining state of health. Ma-
tilda, in the hope of averting the aj^rehended death of the youthful
duchess, sought the ^rine of St Enrole, the patron of the monks of
Ouche, with prayers and ofierings. She was most honourably received
by the learned abbot Manier, and his monks, who conducted her into
the church. She ofiered a mark of gold on the altar there, and presented
to tlic shrine of St Eurole a costly ornament, adorned with precious
stones, and she vowed many benefits in reversion, if the saint were pro-

'OidericiuTitalit.

I
I

BATILDA OP FLAXDBBS.

iritinns. After this the queenniu chess dined in the comraon refeclory,
behaving at the same time wiih the moat edifjing humility, so as lo lean
ail agreeable remembrance of her risit, on the minds cf the brethren, of
whom the worthy chronicler (who relates this circumalaocc, lo tlw
honour and glory of his convent) was one.'

Matilda found that her viaii and nflerings lo the ahrine of St. Enrols
were unavailing, to prolong tlie life of her daughter, for tlie iluchew
Conitunce died in the flower of her age, after an unfruitful marriage of
■even years. Her reniaina were conveyed to England, and interred in
the abbey of Sl Edmund's Bury. Like all the children of William and
Matilda, she bad been caceliilly educated, and is said to linve bc«n a
princeas posaeased of great mental acquirements. After her death, Alas
duke of firetagtie married again, and had a family by bis second wife;
bui the rich grant of English lands, with which the Conqueror had
dowered hia daughter Conaiance, he was permitted to retain, together
witli the title of earl of Richmond, which was long borne by tlie dukee
of Bretagne, his 8uce«Bsor«i.

The grief which the early death of her danghier caused Matilda, wm
soon succeeded by feelings of a still more painful nature, the reaull of a
freah difference between her royal husband and her beloved son Robert
Some historians* assert that this was occasioned by the refusal of the
prince to marry the young and lovely heiress of Earl Wallheof, whicli
greatly displeased his father, who was desirous of conciliating his En^
tish subjects by such an alliance, and, at the same time, of making some
atonement for the murder of the unfortunate Saxon chief, which alH'ayi
appears to have been a painful subject of reflection to him.

About this time, Matilda, hearing thai a German hermit, of great sanc-
tity, was possessed of the gift of prophecy, sent lo entreat his prayen
for her jarring son and husband, and requested his opinion on the subject
of their dissension.'

The hermit gave a very afTectionste reception to the envoys of (be
queen, but demanded three days before he delivered his reply to bet
questions. On the third day he sent for the messengeia, and gave fail
in the following strain of oracular allegory. ^ Return to yon
" said he, "and tell her I have prayed to God in her behalf, and

■OnlcricDi Vitaljt. ilie moel eloquent a( nil llie hUiorians of that |ienod, «•!
Ibe most miiiulo and feilhrul in his pptsonni records of the ConiiiiiTtir, !„ . .juo-l,
d fJimiJy, vras, DeTerlheless, born in Kng^and, &od of Anglo-SiH."
■ u-Bs leu ycon old nl Ilie epoch of the Koiman invBsioo, u ■
««curity tie vrOM, lo use his own languuBC. "i-onyeyed with Wf<(i
hia n»iive poontry, lo be (fducBled in NormB!nly,8tlhe conTent cl i'
finally l>«*me so deat to him, tbat oil llie aficctiona of bis heart nj ;

red within its boands. In hii clmmicle of tha NorniBn soviniijn^ M
a nialcea digrewioaa of a hundred pagM, to deseant on Si. Eurala, aad
Iha ineiiM of the brethien ofOuche.
' Benderton. in hit Life of the Conqaoror. nates thai Robert wag tnucli U
ritli ilie beauly of Ihs young Saioa liuly ; but that bia legord Wu by no uiMIil
if an bonouiable uature, and his coniliicl to her disfleBied the Coni^uorai M
nuch. Ihsi, 10 punish his Mm Ibi innilu offered lo bia t-eaudfiil ward, be forbail>
im (be court ' Ocdeiicui Vitalii.

MATILI^A OF FLAllDSmS. 67

tfie Most High has made known to me in a dream the things she desires
to learn. I saw in my Tision a heautiful pasture, covered with grass and
flowers, and a noble ehaiger feeding therein. A nnmerons herd gathered
round about, eager to enter and share the feast, but the fiery charger
would not permit them to approach near enough to crop the flowers
and herbage.

^ But, das ? the ra^estie steed, in the midst of his pride and courage,
diad, his terror departed with him, and a poor silly steer appeared in his
place, as the guardian of the pasture. Then the throng of meaner ani-
mals, who YuA hitherto feared to approach, rushed in, and trampled the
flowers and grass beneath their feet, and that which they could not
devour they defiled and destroyed.^

^ 1 will explain the mystery couched in this parable. The steed is
WiUiam of Normandy, the Conqueror of England, who, by his wisdom,
courage, and power, keeps the surrounding foes of Normandy in awe.
Robert is the dull, inactive beast who will succeed him ; and then those
baser sort of animals, the envious princes, who have long watched for
the opportunity of attacking this mir, fruitful pasture, Normandy, will
overrun the land, and destroy all the prosperity which its present sove-
reign has established. Illustrious lady, if, afler hearing the words of the
vision, in which the Lord has vouchsafed to reply to my prayers, you
do not labour to restore the peace of Normandy, you will henceforth
behold nothing but misery, the death of your royal spouse, the ruin of
all your race, and the desolation of your beloved country." '

This clever apologue, in which some sagacious advice was implied,
Matilda took for a prediction; and this idea, together with the increasing
dissensions in her familv, pressed heavily on her mind, and are supposed
to have occasioned the lingering illness which slowly but surely con-
ducted her to the tomb.

This illness was attended with great depression of spirits. She en-
deavoured to obtain comfort, by redoubling her devotional exercises and
alms. She confessed her sins frequently, and with bitter tears.' It is to
be hoped that a feeling of true penitence was mingled with the affliction
of the queen, who, at the highest pinnacle of earthly grandeur, afibrded
a melancholy exemplification of the vanity and insufficiency of the
envied distinctions with which she was surrounded, and was dying of a
broken heart

As soon as William, who was in England, was informed of the danger
of his beloved consort, he hastily emlmrked for Normandy, and arri^
tt CSaen in time to receive her last farewelL^

Afier Matilda had received the consolations of religion, she expired
on the 2d of November, or, according to some historians, the 3d of that
month, anno 1083, in the fifty-second year of her age, having borne the
title of queen of England seventeen years, and duchess of Normandy
upwards of thirty-one.

Her body was carried to the convent of the Holy Trinity at Oaen,

> Ordexieiis Yitalit. ' Ibid.

• Malmsbmy. Hovedeo. Ingalphiis. Oidericni YitaUi. * OitokraaNVaaS^

^

MATILDA Op PLANDBBfl.

which she had buill and mnnilicentlr endowed. The corpse of tht
queen-duchess wai reveranlially received, at ihe potuti of the churrh,
by a numerous proceMJon of bishops »im1 nbbots, comlncUid wii)iin the
choir, and depo§it«l before the high altar. Her obsequic« were eele-
brated with ^real ponip and solemruiy. by the monka and rlerka, and
attended by a vast concourse of the poor, lo whom she had beea
ihrougboDl life a generooH benefactress ; •* and frequently," mti Ordert*
eui Viialic, >^ relieved with bounieoua alma iit the name of hn R^
deenier."

A tnagnificenl tomb was raised to her memory, by her sorrowing lord,
adorned with precious stones and elaborate sculpture ; and her epitaph,
in Litin verse, was emblazoned tliereon in letter* of gold, selling foflk
in poaipoua language the lofiy birth and noble qualities of the illustriovi
dead. The following is a umnslation of the quaint monkish tbywm,
wbich defy the imilaliTe powers of modem poetry : —

" Hp™ rests within ibis feii and ttatelj lamb,
MnIildB. scion of a r^i^I linv ;
The FlemiBh duke lire lire ; ' and Adelnia
Her nKMbei, Id gnat Hnben, kiiig of PnnB»,
Buigliiei, and finer to his royal belt-
In wedlocit to our migliiy WilJiun joined.
She built (his boly lample, nod endowed
Wiih IbqUi and gooilly gifts. Slie, Ihe true fiiend
Of pi*iy. and (ooiber of distrera.
Enriching ixlien, jndigenl herself;
Kuerviog all ber ueofurH ibr ibe pool;
And, by sucb deeds as these, tb« merited
To be jmnaJiM of ew-rnal life :
To which she pasi'd November Sd, 1083."

Matilda's will, which is in the imperial Library of Paris, in the rtft-
ler of the Abbey of the Holy Trinity of Cben,* fnlly bears ooi dw
•aaertion of her epitaph, touching her poverty ; aince, from the items in
this curious and inieresiing record, it is plain that the Grst of onr Angl'>
Norman queens had little to leave, in the way of personal propmy;
and, as to the bulk of her landed possessions, they were already settled
on her son Henry.'

•• I pve," sayf the royal testatrix, " to the Abbey of the Holy Trinity
my tunic worked at Winchester, by Aideret's wife; and the inantle em-
broidered with gold, which is in my chamber, to mitke a cope. Of in*
two golden girdles, 1 give that which is ornamented with cmblenu, Icir
the purpose of suspending ilie lamp before the great altar.

" 1 give my large candelabra, made at St. Lo, my crown, my sceptre,
my in»p« in their cases, another cup made in England, with all my hont-
ttxppings, and all my vessels ; and. lastly, I give the lands of <}aMchoa
and Coi«niiB, except those which 1 may already hare disposed of in BT

■ Baldwin, Maillda's Iklbei, was the desccndnnl

•orereigns of Flanders were called. "Due .^

'1 am indebted lo (iie private conununicalion of that great b'lloiiaia Pt. Lia-

MATILDA.OPFLANDERS. 69

Blirtlitie, wiih two dwellings in England ; and I have made all these
ImudcsU witli ihe eonsent of my liusbaod."

ft is aiaasine lo tnce the reminiiie feeling with regard to dress and
hijouterie, which has led the dying queen to enumerate, in her last will
•nd teetamenL, her embroidered tunic, girdle, and mantle, with sundry
othej personal decorations, before she mentions the lands of Quetchou
vid Cotentin, and her two dwellings in England ; which are evidently
objecu of for less importance, in her opinion, than her rich amy.

Ducard lelU us, that among the records preserved in the archives of
the Holy Trinity at Caen, there is a curious MS. containing an account
of ttatil'la, (he roval foundress's wardrobe, jewels, and toilette ; but he
was unable to obtain a sight of (his precious document, because of the
jealous care with which it was guarded by those holy ladies, the abbess
and nuns of that convent.'

Till the middle of the seventeenth century, the portraits of Matilda
•nd William were carefully preserved on the walls of Si. Stephen's Cha-
pel Dt Own. The queen had caused these portrails to be painted when
itus magiiilicenl endowment was founded.' We have seen, by the Bayeux
tapestry, that Matilda took great delight in pictorial memorials; and if
we may judge by the engraving from this portrait, preserved in Moat-
fiuGon, it were a pity that so much grace and beauty should fade from
the earth without remembrance. Her costume is singularly dignified
and becoming. The robe simply gathered round the throat, a flowing
nil &lliiig Iram the back of the head on the shoulders, is confined by
an elegant circlet of gems. The fuce is beautiful and delicate, the hair
&Us in waving Iresaes round her throat ; with one hand she confines her
dt^MTy. and holds a book ; she extends her sceptre with the other, in
U Btutude full of grace and dignity. Mont&ucon declares that thia
painting was actually copied from the wall, before the room in which it
WM piMerved was pulled down. The elegance of the design and cos-
tuow ou^it not to raise doubts of its authenticity, for it is well known
that all remains of art were much belter eiecuted before the destruction
of Conslanlinople than alier that jteriod. Female costume, with the
exemption of some tasteless attire which crept into the uproarious court
of Wiltiam Rufus, was elegant and dignified ; the noble circlet, the Itow-
tng tianspareni veil, the natural curls parted on each side of the brow,
the vestal stole drawn just round the neck, in regidar folds, the falling
tl-'eve*, the gendy belled waist with its gemmed zone, confining the

>t!i of a garment that swept the ground in rich fulness, altogether
i.rd D eostume which would not have disgraced a Grecian statue,
ihall see this elegant dress superseded in time, by the monstrous

n.ui caps, of sugar-loaf or homed form, and by the heraldic tabards,
aiid vutcoata, seemingly made of patchwork, which deformed female
coatumca in succeeding ages : but we must not look for lliese barbarisms
■1 Uia date of Matilda's portrait.

■tilda bore ten children to her royal spouse, namely, fo

I

1

^iltilda bore t

Ik

t MoBinhte Franfotm.

I

•ix daoghtus. Hoben, »uriiRmed Courlhogc, her eldest boo, succeeded

his failicr as duke of Nonuondy.
Tills darling son of AUiildit's heart is thus described in the old chro-

Bicler'a lines; —

■■ He waa r-woi (gtowa) era faia fiuler to Englanl eune,
Tliiok roaa lie wai Fnoiv, but nai well long;
S<|iure wBi b«, anJ well niBde for u> be ttiong.
Belbia his lader, once on h. lime, he diJ sturdy d«d,
Wliea he WH> foung, who beheld bim, and lliefe word* mid :
'By the upHsiog of God, Robelyn mo toll see
The Couithoae, ray young son, a nalwrnit bni)!lit nit be;' —
Foi hs wai lomewfaBl shon, lO he narnod him Couithote,
And he might nairar alter tliia niune Inie.
He was quiet or couQsel and epeecli >iiil of body stiong.
Never yel man of might in Chriaiendoni ne in Payniin,
In batiail from bia fttced could bring luin down.*^

After the death of Matilda, Robert broke out into open revolt ogaiiM
his Toyal father once more ; and the Contiueror. io his famous death-btd
speech and confession, alluded to this conduct with great biltetoett,
wliea he spake of the disposition of his dominions: these were the
words of the dying iDonarch. "The dukedom of Kortnandy, before I
fou^t in Ihe vale Sauguelac, with Harold, I granted unio my soti Bi>-
bert, for that he is my firsi begotten, and having received the homage d
his baronage, that honour given cannot be revoked. Yet I know ihatil
will be a miserable reign which is subject to the rule of his goveniDMsL
for he is a foolish, proud knave, and is to bo puuishcd with end
fortune," '

After the death of his father, Robert acquired the additional cognomen
of the Unready, ftom the circumstance of being always out of the way
when the golden opportunity of iniproviitg his forlaoes occurred.

Kobert, though an indiffeienl politician, was a gallant knight and*
skilful general. He joined the crusade under Godlrey of Boulugac,
and, to obtain the funds for this purpose, mortgaged the dukedom of
Normandy to his scllish brother William, for the sura of six thuunnd
flii hundred and stxty^six pounds of silver.' He so greatly distinguisbtd
himself at the taking of the holy city, that of ail the Christian prioee*.
his fellow-crusaders, he was judged most deserving of the cronu of
JerUBOleni.' This eleclion was wade on the Easler-evc, as tltey all stood
U the high altar io the temple, each holding an unlighted wax lopetil
his hand, and beseeching God to direct their choice ; when llie t^
which duke Robert held, becoming ignited without any visible AgsOfFi
it was regarded by the rest of the Croises as a miiaculous inliioatioa ■
bis favour, and he was entreated to accept the kingdom.'

Robert, however, at that critical juncture, hearing of the death of Vt
Itatn Rufns, refused ilie prolTered diadem, and returned to Europe under
llie idea that he should obtain ilte crown of England; but not onlyfU

■Sm de«Lli4>ed tpecch of the Conquorm, in Sjieed's Chronicle.

' S. DunElm. Bovedcn. Brompton.

'Maabew P»at. Poi/chnwiooo. Speed. * ftbnhew Patifc

MATILDA OF FLANDSR8. 71

ne fail of dispoesessing his brother Henry of England, bnt he was finally
defeated by him at the battle of Tinchebray, stripped of his dukedom,
and made prisoner. After a weary captivity of eight-and-twenty years,
Robert died at GardifiT Castle. While in the Holy Land, he had married
the beautifid and amiable Sybilla, daughter of the Count Conversana, by
wliom he had one son, named William.

Ricliard, the second son of William the Conqueror and Matilda, died
in England in the lifetime of his parents, as we have already stated.
William, their third son, surnamed Rufus or Rous,' from the colour of
Ills liair, and called by die Saxon historians the ^ Red King,'' succeeded
to the crown of England after his father's death. He was slain in the
New Forest, by the erring shafl of his favourite hunting companion, Sir
Walter Tyrrel, whom he familiarly called Wat de Poix, from the name
of Tyrrel's estate in Picardy.

Henry, the fourth and youngest son of William and Matilda, won the
surname of Beauclerc, by his scholastic attainments, and succeeded to
the throne of England after the death of William Rufus. The personal
history of this prince will be found in the memoirs of his two queens,
3Iatilda of Scotland and Adelicia of Louvaine.

There is a great confusion among historians and genealogists, respect*
ing the names of the daughters of Matilda and the Conqueror, and the
Older of their birth, no two writers appearing to agree on that point,
except with regard to the eldest princess, Cecilia, who was veiled a nun
in the Abbey of Fescamp, and became the abbess of the nunnery of the
Holy Trinity, founded by her mother Matilda.' William of Malmsbury,
who wrote in the reign of Henry I., when enumerating the daughters of
the Conqueror, says, ^ Cecilia the abbess of Caen still survives."

The generality of historians mention Constance, the wife of Alan duke
of Bretagne, as the second daughter of this illustrious pair. Ordericus
Vitalis, a contemporary, calls her the third,' and Agatha the second
daughter. Of Agatha he relates the following interesting particulars.
^ This princess, who had been formerly afiianced to Harold, was de-
manded of her &ther in marriage, by Alphonso king of Galicia ; but
manifested the greatest repugnance to this alliance." She told her father
^ that her heart was devoted to her first spouse," as she called Harold,^
^ and that she should consider it an abomination if she gave her hand to
another. She had seen and loved her Saxon betrothed, and she revolted
from a union with the foreign monarch whom she had never seen ;" and
bursting into tears, she added, with passionate emotion, ^ that she prayed
tliat the Most High would rather take her to himself than allow her ever
to be transported into Spain." Her prayer was granted, and the reluc-
tant bride died on her journey to her unknown lord. Her remains were
conveyed to her native land, and interred at Bayeux, in the church of
St. Mary the perpetual virgin.* Sandford calls this princess the sixth
daughter. If so, she could not have been the betrothed of Harold, but
of earl Edwin ; and indeed, if we reflect on the great disparity in age

'^Apres William Bastardus regna Will le B^ut."-Fitz-Stepheii'8 Chronicle.

•Ordericuf Vitalia. William of Malmsbury.

• Orderiom Vitalis. Malmsbury. «Ibid. ^TXvv^

[

I

MATILDA OF PLASDKRS.

between Harold and the younger daughters of William of Xonnanily
ami take into tonsideratinn the circumBiancea of Iiis breach of coninct
with the lillle Norman lady, and tliat he died the liugbaiid of anuihcr
woman, il ia acarcely proluihle that his memory could have been cht-
rixhed with nich a degree of pamionate fondneea as OnJeriens Vinlii
Riiribule« to ihe lady Agatha; whereas Edwin was youn^, and reinafka-
ble for his beauty; he had, in all probabilitj', been privileged with soini
iniimary with the princesii, whom the Conqueror had promiaed to bestow
on him' in marriage. The breach of this promise on ilie pan of Wil-
linni, Ino, was the nufe of Edwin's revolt, which unplies that the youth-
fid thane was deeply wounded at ihe refusal of ihe Norman monarch li>
fulfil his engagement; and il is at least probable, thai lo the princtn
who had innocently been made a snare to him by her ^ileful eirc;, lie
mig'lit have become an object of the lenderesl and most lasting^ nfR-ctioii

Malmsbnry, apeakiiig of tliis princess, says, " Agallia, lo whom Q«!
gmnled a virgin death, was so devoted to the exercises of religion, ihal
after her decease it was discovered thai her knees had become hard lOu
horn with constant kneeling." '

W. Gcmiticejisis and some other ancient chroniclers assert, that il n<
lo Adeliza, the Ghh daughter of William and Matilda, that Hurold wm
contracled, and that she died young. Perhaps this is the same princes*
whom Ordericus Vilalis mentions as iheir fourth daughter, of whom ha
Sdya. "Adelaide, very &ir and very noble, recommended herself enltrely
lo a life of devotion, and made a holy end, under the direciiou of Rapt
de Benumont."

Adela, or Adelicia, generally classed as the fourth daughter of William
and MatddB, Ordericus Vitalis places as the fifili, and aavs, " She «1>
sought in marriage by Stephen earl of Blois. who was desirous of aflf-
ing himself with die aspiring bmily of the Conqueror, and far the adrici
of William'a councillors she was united to him. The marriage took
^ace al Breleuil, and the marriage filtes were celebrated at Chartrei;
This princess was a learned woman, and possessed of considerable dipb-
matic talents. She had four sons : William, an idiot ; Thibaul. suraamed
the erent earl of Cliampaigne; Stephen dc Blois, who succeeded to tha
EnglisR throne after the death of Henry I.; and Henry, bishop of Win-
chesier. After Ihe death of Ihe count de Blois, her husband, tlie countew
Adela look ihe veil al Mareigiiey.'

Gundrcd, the sixili and youngest daughter of the Conqueror and Ma-
tilda, was married to William de Warren, a powprfid Norman noble,«ad
the Ursi earl of Surrey in England. By him the lady Gundred hsil IWO
aons, William, the snccessor of his faiher and the progenitor of a oUfitrf
line of earls of that family, and Rainold, who died without issue. "H*
counless Gundred died in chUd-bed ai Casdeacre in Norfolk, anil i*
buried in the chapter-house of Si. Paneras church, within the priocyt*t
Lewes in Sussex.*

The death of his beloved queen Matilda afHicted ihe Conqueror very
deeply. He wept excessively, for many days aficr her decease ; and 10

'Old&riaa FitaJia. Jfalmsbniy.

'Oidericut Vltalu.

XATIIiBA OF FLANDSmS. 73

testily how keenly he felt her loss, he renounced his favonrite amuse-
ment of hunting, and all the hoisterous sports in which he formerly de-
lated.' After this event his temper became melancholy and irritable,
Co which, indeed, a train of public calamities and domestic vexations
might in a great measure contribute. To the honour of Matilda, it has
been assert^ by some of the historians of the period, that she used her
influence over ihe mind of her mighty lord, for the mitigation of the
snfieringB of the people whom he had subjugated to his yoke. Thomas
Rndboome, the author of the Annals of Winton, says, ^ King William,
by the advice of Bfatilda, treated the English kindly as long as she lived,
bat after the death of Matilda he became a thorough tyrant.'" It is
certainly true, that after Matilda left England in 1070, the condition of
the people became infinitely worse, and it is possible that it might be
•ggimvated by her death.

Not only the happiness, but the worldly prosperity, of William, ap-
peued sensibly dinunished during his widowed state. In the course of
the four years that he survived his consort, he experienced nothing but
trouble and disquiet'

William met with the accident which caused his death, at the storm-
ing of the city of Mantes. He had roused himself from a sick bed, to
execute a terrible vengeance on the French border, for the ribald joke
which his old antagonist, the king of France, had passed on his malady ;
and in pursuance of his declaration ^ that he would set all France in a
Uaze at his uprising,^' he had ordered the city to be fired. While he
was with savage fury encouraging his soldiers to pursue the work of
destruction to which he had incited them, his horse, chancing to set his
foot on a piece of burning timber, started, and occasioned his lord so
severe an injury from the pummel of the saddle, as to bring on a violent
access of fever/ Being unable to remount his horse, after an accident
which must have appeared to him like a retributive chastisement for
the barbarous deed in which he was engaged, he was conveyed in a
litter to Rouen, where, perceiving he drew near his end, he began to ex-
perience some compunctious visitings of conscience, for the crimes and
of^Messions of which he had been guilty.

In the first place, he ordered large sums to be distributed to the poor,
ind likewise for the building of churches, especially those which he had
recently burnt at Mantes ; next he set all the Saxon prisoners at liberty
irhom he had detained in his Norman prisons ; among them were Mor-
car, and Ulnoth, the brother of Harold, who had remained in captivity
from his childhood, when he was given in hostage by earl (rodwin to
Gdward the Confessor. The heart of the dying monarch being deeply
tonched with remorse, he confessed that he had done Morcar much
MrroDg, and bitterly bewailed the blood he had shed in England, and the
desolation and woe he had caused in Hampshire, for the sake of planting

* Ordericus Viimlii.

*** Ittiut Matildis consilio Wilhelmus Rex pacifice cum Anglis tractabat, quam-
din ipsa Tixisset; post mortem vero ipsius Matildis omnem induit tyrannidem."
Winion, Anglia Sacra, i. 257. Thomae Rudbome Hist Major.

'Malmsbury. Orderknu ViuUiM. *Malmft\>UTY. lELvtL^tu

VOL, /. — 7

I

IIATILDA OF FLAKDEBS.

the New Forest, prolealing " tliul having so misused Uiat fnit and beanli-
ful laiiil, lie dated not appoint a successor to it, but left ilie disposal «f
that nialiec in tlie hands gfGod." ' He had, however, taken some pains,
by writing a letter lo lAufraiic, expressive of his earnest wish that Wi-
linm Rufiis should succeed him in his regal dignity, and to aFcare llw
cruwn of England to lliia his favourite son — for whom he called, u
soon as tie had concluded his edifying Dckiiowledgment of tlie errors of
his past life; — and sealing the letter tviih his own seal, he put il into
the hands of the prince, bidding him liasien lo England with all speed,
&iid deliver it to the archbishop, lie (hen blessed him with a farewell
kiss, nnd dismissed him.

When ilie Conqueror had settled his temporal af&irs, he caused him-
self to be removed to Hennenrnide, a pleasant village near Rouen,' dial
iip iiii^ht be more at liberty lo prepare himself for death. On the Sth
of September the awful ctuinge which he awaited look place. Hearing
ihe sound of the great bell in the metropolitan church of Si, Gervii,
near Rouen, William, tnising his exliausted frame from the supporliiif
pillows, asked "What it mean! ?"'

One of his aitendanis replying, "That it then nag prime to Onr
lady." llie dying monarch, lifting his eyes lo heaven, and spreadit^
abroad his hands, exclaimed, '' ] commend myself (o that blessed Laity,
Mary the mother of God, that she by her holy intercession may recon-
cile me lo her most dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ ;" and with ttme
words he expired, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. 1087, after a leip
of fiAy-two years in Normandy, and twenty-one in England.

His eldest son, Robert, was absent in Germany at the lime of lia
death ; ' William was on his voyage to England ; Henry, who liad ukeo
i^rge of hia obsequies, suddenly departed on some self-inteiested bmi-
aees, and all llic great officers of the court having dispersed themselrei,
some to oiler their homage lo Robert, and others to William, the inb-
tior seri'ants of the household, wiili some of their rapacious confale-
lales, look the opportunity of plundering ihe house where their sorerrip
bad Jtiat breathed his last, of all the money, plate, wearing apparel, hang-
ings, and precious furniture; lliey even stripped the pcrsou of the royil
dead, and leit his body naked upon the floor)

Every one appeared struck with consternation and dismay, and neilbn
tlie proper officers of slate, nur (he sons of the deceased king, issniif
the necessary orders respecting the funeral, the remains of the Con-
queror were left wholly neglected, till Ilerlewin, a poor country kniglitt
— but in ail prohabilily the same Herlewiu who married his lnoliler.A^
lolla, — undertook lo convoy die royal corpse lo Caen at his own eo*
lor intcnneni in the abbey of St. Stephen, where il was met by piian
Henry and a procession of monks.* Scarcely, however, had the ddo^
riles comnieiTced, when ihere was a terrible alarm of fire in thai qntitff
tif the town ; and as there was great danger of the devouring cIcimhI
tommnnicatiug to the cloisters of St. Stephen, the monks, ' '"

■ Sm William '■ death-lwd coiireuiun in tpoed. ■ EadiDft.

' Oniericat \ itniit. BfitlmBbuiy. *Ord«riciu Vitalii. BroineoA

*Ont»ficaa ritafik, firomplon. Mntmtbuif. Spead.

MATILDA OF FLA1IDSR8. 75

more coneemed for the preservation of their stately abbey than for the
lifeless reoiains of the munificent founder, scampered out of the church,
without the slightest rmrd to decency, or the remonstrances of prince
Henry and the fiuthful Herlewin. The example of the ecclesiastics was
followed by the secular attendants, so that the hearse of the mighty Wil-
liam was in a manner wholly deserted, till the conflagration was sup-
pressed.' The monks then re-entered the holy &ne, and proceeded with
the solemnity, if so it might be called ; but the interruptions and acci-
dents with which it had been marked were not yet ended ; for when the
funeral sennon was finished, the stone coffin set in the grave which had
been dug in the chancel between the choir and the altar, and the body
ready to be laid therein,* Anselm Fitz-Arthur, a Norman gentleman,
stood forth and forbade the interment : ^ This spot,'' said he, ^^ was the
site of my fiither's house, which this dead duke took violently from him,
and here, upon part of mine inheritance, founded this church. This
ground I therefore challenge, and 1 charge ye all, as ye shall answer it
at the great and dreadful day of judgment, that ye lay not the bones of
the despoiler on the hearth of my fathers.''*
The eflect of this bold appeal of a solitary individual, was an instant

giose in the burial rite of the deceased sovereign. The claims of Anselm
itz-Arthur were examined, and his rights recognised by prince Henry,
who prevailed upon him, as the lawful owner of the soil, to accept sixty
•hillings as the price of the grave, and to sufler the interment of his royal
&ther to proceed, on the condition of his pledging himself to pay the
fall value of the rest of the land.^ The compensation was stipulated
between Anselm Fitz-Arthur and prince Henry, standing on either side
the grave, on the verge of which the unburied remains of the Conqueror
rested, while the agreement was ratified, in the presence of the mourners
and assistant priests and monks, whereby Heniy promised to pay, aifd
Fitz-Arthur to receive, one hundred pounds of silver, as the purchase of
the ground on which William had, thirty-five yeara previously, wrong-
fully founded the abbey of St Stephen's, to purchase a dispensation from
tbepope for his marriage with his cousin ]VIatilda of Flanders.

The bargain having been struck, and the payment of the sixty shillings
earnest money f for Sie occupation of the seven feet of earth, reauireNd,
u the last aboae of the Conqueror of England) being tendered by the
prince and received by Fitz-Arthur, — strange interlude as it was in a
royal funeral^— the obsequies were suflered to proceed. According to
some historians, an accident occurred in placing the lid on the stone
coffin, attended with such unpleasant results that moumera, monks, and
tssistant priests, afler vainly censing the chancel with additional clouds
of incense, fled the church a second time before the intennent was com-
pleted.* This tale, inasmuch as it was refuted by the appearance of the
royal remains when the grave was opened upwards of four hundred and
fifty years afterwards, we are disposed to regard as a piece of mingled

' Ordericut Titalis. Speed. Brompton. Malmsbury. 'Speed.

*£admer. Kalmtbury. OrdericuB Vitalis. « Ordericui Vitalis. M. Paris.
*Se« Spoed^s Gmmicle.

I

76 MATILDA OP FLANDEKS.

mnrrellonsnest and malice on the part of the Saxon chrowielem. who
ha™ uken eridenl pleasure in enlarging on all the miadiances mid hu-
miliations which befel the unconscious clay of their great nat iottal ndm-
Mry, in its psasa|;e to the tomb. Tet anrely so singular a chaprer of
accidents was ne»er yet recorded, as occurring to the corpse of a mighty
■orerdgn, who died in the plenitude of his power.

Wiltiani of Normandy was remarkable fur his personal strength, and
foi the majestic beauty of his countenanre. It has he^i said of him,
that no one but himself could bend his bow, and that he conid, when
riding al full speed, discharge eiiherarblast or long-bow with nncrringaim,'

Ilia forehead was high and bold, his aspect stem and commanding;
yet he could, when it pleued him to do so, assume such winning swwt-
nes9, in his looks and manner, as could scarcely be resisted ; but when
in anger, no man could meet the terror of hia eye.' Like Saul, he waa,
from the shoulders upwards, taller ihao the rest of his subjects; hm
before he became too corpulent, his ligure was finely proportioned. Hii
eloquence was both powerful and persuasive. His habits were tempv-
niie, and hia household was well regulated, with a view to the striclesi
economy; yet npon proper occasions he indulged his taste for magnifi-
cence, and took pleasure in appearing in all his royal ajate. He wote
hie crown three limea in the year;' al Christmas or Midwinteriiay, in
(he city of Gloucester; Easter at Winchester; end when he celebrttad
Whiisimtidc, at Westminster. Ue wisely cairied his court, it aeena, It
these festivals, to diltreni parts of England.

William Rufus caused a stalely monument, adorned with gold. aSfw,
and precious stones, and very rich scnlpture, to be ereetoJ to the tnemofy
of liis lather, before the high altar of Sl Stephen's Abbey.'

The loftiness of stature which contemporary chroniclers hare ascribed

to William the Conqueror. wa.» fully confirmed by the posl-morlem e»-

^ amination of his body, which was made by the Bishop of Baj-eux, in ths

year IS-IZ, when, prompted by a strong desire to behold the remains of

this great sovereign, he obtained leave to open his tomb.*

On removing the stone cover, the body, which was corpulent, and
exceeding in stature the tallest man then known, appeared as entire t>
when it was first buried.

Within the tomb lay a plate of copper gilt, on which was engraved fl
ma«ription in Latin verse.*

'Bobuit ur Glauoester. W. Maliiubuiy. *W. Malmabniy.

*Saxon Annali. Oidericu* Viulu. Modoi, HiiLEicbequer.
*Otilc[icus Ti»lu. 'Ducatel'a Ifoimsn Anliquitiei.

•Thomnt, nrchbUliop of York, WM the author of the Latin vers*, of wtikbtl>
tiUowinR linei preienl > oloBe translation not nnpoeticB] in iu antique ail

Ho who Ibo uninlf Nonniina rnlcd, and over England reiened,

And •tnuilj' won and ntongly kepr what he bad i» obuinsd ;

And ilid the iwonli of llioae of Maine bf torce bring under awa

And ir.ade ihem under his commund live lubjecl to his lew ;

This gi»at King Willism lieib bete enioral«d in litlle giave;

So great a lord, to nnail a hoiue sufficeth him to have.

VThen PhiEbiu in the Virgia'a lap hi* circled course applied,
Aad (wenty-ilme degnea had put, e'en ai that time le died.

whkbtia
>pbaM

MATILDA OF FLAKDBSS. 77

The bishop, who wn grMtly surprbed at finding the body in such
perfect presemitiGii, caueed b painting to be executed of the royal re-
mains, in the slate in which they tJben appeared, by the best artist in
Cben, and canaed it to be hung up on ths abbey wall^ opposite to the
BKMiiiiiient The tonb was thin carefully closed, but in 1562, when
the Calvinists under Chastillon took Caen, a party of the rapacious sol-
diers forced it open, in hope of meeting with a treasure, but finding
nothing more than the bones of the Conqueror wrapped in red tafieta,
they threw them about the church in great derision, viscount Falaise,
haTing obtained firom the rioters one of the thigh-bones, it was by him
deporatod in the royal gm?e. Monsieur Le Bras, who saw this bone,
tsstified thai k was longer by the breadth of his four fingers than that
of the tallest man he had ever seen.'

The picture of the remains, which had been painted by the order of
the bishop of Bayenx, fell into the hands of Peter Hdo, the goaler of
Cben, who was one of the spoilers, and he converted one part into a
taUe, and the other into a cupboard door ; which proves that this por-
trait was not painted on canvas, but as usual, on wood. Some years
after, these curious relics were discovered, and reclaimed by M. Bras, in
whose possession diey remained till his death.'

Jjfo sooner had die Calvinist spoilers plundered the abbey of St Ste-
phen, and exhumed the bones of the Conqueror, than they entered the
church of the Holy Trinity, threatening the same violence to the remains
of Biatilda. The entreaties and tears of the abbess and her nuns at first
had no efilect on the rapacious bigots, who considered the destruction of
church ornaments and monumental sculpture an acceptable service to
God, quite sufficient to atone for the sacrilegious violence of de&cing a
temple consecrated to his worship, and rifling the sepulchres of the
deM.* In this instance they contented themselves with throwing down
the monument, breaking to pieces the effigies of the queen, which lay
thereon, and opening the grave in which the royal corpse was deposited.
At that juncture, one of the party observing that there was a gold rinff
set with a fine sapphhre on one of the queen^s finffers, took it ofl^ and,
with more gallantry than might have been expected from such a person,
presented it to die abbess, Madame Anna de Montmorenci, who after-
wards gave it to her &ther, the baron de Conti, constable of France,
when he attended Charles the Ninth to Caen, in the year 1563.*

In 1642 the monks of St Stephen collected the bones of their ro3ral
patron, William of Normandy, and built a plain altar-shaped tomb over
them, on the spot where the original monument stood in the chancel.
The nuns of the Holy Trinity, with equal zeal, caused the broken frag-
ments of MatOda's statue and monument to be restored, and placed over
her grave, near the middle of the choir, on a tomb of black and white
marble, three feet hiffh and six long, in the shape of a cofiin, surrounded
with iron spikes, and hung with ancient tapesti^.'

The restored monument of Matilda remained undisturbed till nearly
the close of the kst century, when die French republicans paid one of

^Docarert Norman AntiquitiM. •lUd. •Ibid. «U»4. *\\>'A.

7*

Its matilda of FLANDERS.

I their destructive Tisila lo the church of ihe Holy Trinity at Caen, viH,
I among other ouliagea against taste and feeling, awepl away this memo-

ial of its royal foundiesB ; ' but while a single arch of that majestic and
I time-honoured fane, the church of the Holy Trinity, survives, the first

if our Anglo-Nonnan queens, Matilda of Flanders,' will require no

ither monument.

* In ailditioii to our nuiueroni aJilhoritiei regardjag Bribtric Hcaw, we nibjain
Ilia important extract from a work conUtininjf gzest reKarch among fcncieni
lODumpnia >^- Brielric, the Kin of Algar. h ^oion Thane, ia itated, in Domeidmr,
) tinve held this mitnor in the leign or Edward ibe Conresrar j bal having giTea

I offence lo Maoil, iha dBiifthtGi of Baldwin count of Flaodara, preTioui id hei
ifltringe widi William duke of Normundy, by refusing lo marir her himsell^ liif
ropeily waa leizBd bf llial monarch on the conquest, and beatowed, aeeiaioftf

■ in revenge, upon theqoeen." — Blub*! lEMtor) of Thonibur/ Cattlt. BiiMol, IBM.

MATILDA OF SCOTLAND.

QUEEN OF HENRT I.

CHAPTER I.

n Alfred — Margaret Alhsling, her iM>
aiiUlas hirilj— Hat god&iher— Eduom-
■uitor— Her falher inTaaDs England— Hit death—Kcr moOier's
i9 dtarh — Revolulion in Scollniid — Kdgai Alheling cnrriet ibe royal
o BnslBDd — Ptinceuet Maiitila and Mary — Placed ia Rumiry abbey —
•bbe*3 Chrittina — Matilda's brother Edgar — Regtored to ths IbioniB
I— The Aiheling a crutadei— Maulda at Wilton Abbey— Her lito-
J education — Atlacbmeni beiwtcn ^latilda and Henry BcBUclerc — Uet
on— Eaily life of Henrx^E.1uca<i(iD al Caiolitidge — Satname— Lil»-
li by him — Legacy at thp Conqueroi's death — Poverty or Henry —
d by Matilda's (uitor, eari Watren — Couilship of Matilda — Harah ralo
ly Chititina — Henry wire* EnBlinh tbrone — AikiMaiilda'i baud — Oppo-
n of her auni — Council of iho church — Matilda') evidence— Her acruplea
IbipottuDBd by Anglo-Saions — CoiiwiiM — Address lo hot by Anselm — Con-
It sf Um peopls— Hdi moiringe and coioaatjOD — Saxon laws restored.

r we consider Ihe perils lo which the repreBentativeB or our
ml IIdc or sovereigns, Edgar Athcliiig ai\i his sisters, were exposed
feinj die ustirpalioti of Harold, and the Normsn reigns of terror, it
^osl appears as if an overruling Providence had guarded these descend-
■B of the great Alfred, for the purpose of continuing the lineHge of that
priol king on Uie throne of these realms, through the marriage of
oaij I. with the daughter of Margaret Aiheling, Matilda of Scotland.
TUt princeas, iho subject of our present biography, is distinguished
Wonj ihe many illustrious femoks that have worn the crown inatrimo-
'■'-li of Englanii, by the title of " the Good Queen ;" a title which, elo-
ni in its simplicity, briefly implies thai she possessed not only the
'11 and ahining qualities calculated to add lustre to a throne, but that

■ employe*] them in promoting the happiness of all classes of her
'j^«ts, alibttJing at the same lime, a bright example of llie lovely and
.roriDg attributes which should adorn (lie female character,

S.KiK liistoriotis call this princess Slalilda Aiheling. and by these she
i)nww inresled with ihc digtiiiy of a queen-regnant, and styled ihe
am ot the Anglo-Saxon monarchs. In tlie same spirit, her grandson

■ rmrcKntative, Henry H., is desiffnated " the restorer of the EiigHsli
" 'u iftie," This is, however, ns Blackslone justly observes, « a great

' ', for tJie rights of Margaret Aiheling to the English succession were
' '1'-^ in ber sons, and not in her daughter." ' James I., on hia acces-

llacksiODo'^ CiiiniiieaUitiet, Vol, i,

(,i«i

)

tioB lo lite throne of EiiglBitd, faileil not lo set forlh that important leaf
in his neiligree, and laid clue slresa on ilie circumstance of his deacrat
from tlie aiicieni line of English aovereigns by the elder bloixj.

Alexander, the archdeacon of Salisbury (who wrote the iracia of the
Exchequer, quoted by Gervase of Tilbury in hii celebrated Dialogue!
of the Exchequer), has gruvely eel forlh, in his red-book, a pedigree of
Matilda of ScuUiiiid, tracing her ilesreni in an unbroken line up to Adam.
There is a strange medley of Christian kings and pagan sinners, such ai
Woden and Balder, with the Jewish patriarchs of holy writ, in ihii
royal genealogy.'

Matilda ia the only princess of Scotland who ever shared the ihroiu
of a king of England. It is, however, from her maternal ancestry th^
■he derives her great interest, us connected with the nnnals of ihia eona-
Iry. Her mother, Margaret Alheling, was the grand-daughter of Edmund
Ironside, and the daughter of Edward Aiheltng, aumamed the Outlaw, by
Antha, daughter of t)ie emperor Uenry II. of Germany. Her broiler,
fidgar Aihefing. bo often mentioned in the preceding biography, fnling
•ome reason to mislrust the apparent friendship ^ William the Coth
querot, privately withdrew from his court, and in the year 1068, (ifae
some year in which Henr}- I. was bora,) took shipping with Mugaid,
■nd their younger sister Christina, and their motlier Agatha, intending lo
■eek a refuge in Hungary, wilh their royal kindred j but, by stress of
ireather, the vessel in which they, with many other English exiles, wm
embarked, was driven into the Friih of Forth. Malcolm Canmore, th«
young unmarried kine of Scotland, who had just regained his dominioH
from the usurper Macbeth, happened to be present when the royal fugi-
tives landed, and was so struck with the beauty of the lady Marganl
Aibetmg, that in a few days he asked her in marriage of her broihn.
Edeir Joyfully gave the hand of the dowerleas princess to the youig
aaa handsome sovereign, who had received tlie exiled English in the
fnoat generous and honourable manner, and whose disinterested BfieciioB
«as sulficicnt testimony of iJie nobleness of his disposition. The »(ial
where Margaret first set her foot on the Scottish land was, iu roemocy
of thai circumstance, called Queen's Ferry, the name it bears to this iby-

The Saxon rltronicler, of whom this lady is an especial lavounUf
indulges in a most edifying homily, on the providence which lod Hx
holy ilargnret to become the spouse of the king of Scotlaml, wltuis
evidently regarded by ihe cowled historian as liiiie better than a pwan-
■Certain it is, llml the mighty son of " the gracious Duncan" could nei-
ther rend nor write. After her roarriage, the Sason princess became lltf
happy insinimeut of dilTusing the blessings of Christianiiy ihroughoDi
Iter bueband's dominions, commencing the work of conversioti in iIm
proper place, her own household and the court. The inf1ti<-ncc whick
tier personal charms had in the first instance won over Ihe heart of bs
ro}*al husband, her virtues and mental powers increased and retained U
the last hour of Malcolm's existence, ile reposed the most unbuundal
eon&Ienoe, not only in the principles, but tlie judgment, of hie> Eu^ob

■Ub.fiub.fol. DQUta, 4. I

MATILDA OF SCOTLASD- Sf

, wlin hcTuiir! the Joiuesiic legjslalnr of the realm. She tiia-

laispnl from ibe palace all persona «ho were eonvieled of lending iin-.

■nontl lirws or who nete gniliy of frniid or injustice, ftiid oIIowmI n*

pcooDS lu l)ulil oflices in llic roynl huueeholil, unlese tliey conilucted

lIumBL-liies in a solier and Oiscceei manner; observing, moreover, that

tlte Scutch nobles haU an irreverent babit of rising from lAble before

gnee could be pronuunced by her pious chaplain Turgot, she rewarded

!•■• "f the more civiliied chiefs, who cnuiil be induced to nticnd the

r.>rninnce a( thiu edifying ceremony, with b cup of the chi.iicest wine.

.' irtnptation of such a bribe vtOB too ytovetful to be resisled by ibe

..'lierlo iierverse and graceless peers, and by degrees llie custom became

?n popiiliir, Ib&l every guest was eager to claim his " grace-cup ;" llie

futuoii spread from the palace to ihe casiles of the nnbiliiy, and thence

ijricrnditig to the dwellings of their humbler neighbours, became an

aiabli^lied usage in the bnd.

Many deeply interesting, as well na amtieing particulars, connected
■lib llie parrnts of .Muldda of Scotlniid, the subject of our pretuni
lueuioir, have been preserved by the learned Tnrgot, the historian ot
thi» roval faaiily, who, in his capacity of confessor lo queen Margaret,
tod pfvceptor to her children,' enjoyed opportunities of becoming
■opainif^ not only with all pteraonal particulars respecting these iliu*-
UiMii yulitjdiuUt but of learning their most private thoughts and
Uiofs.

Toigot gives great commendation to hra royal
lOHUione care she bestowed on the education o
fRcefitors she enjoined to punish tbein aa oAen a
mncitoa.

lUolda, the aubjecl of this memoir, was her eldest daughter, and was
Inbably bom in the year 1077. This we infer from the remarkable
t:irctDiw(ftnc&, of the elder brother of her future husband, Robert Cour^•
k<M, bring her godfather.' Malcolm C^more, her father, invaded En^
InJ in ihnt year, nnd Robert of Normandy was, on his reconciliation
*iib li» father, William the Conqueror, sent with a military force to

'Tarfnit wu H !<uon or good fiunilf, bom in Lincoltiiliire. He U
u s hiutajie lu WlliUun lb* G>iu]ueror, and thut up by bim ia Lincoln Cottle. ..
ftm ikmc* b* ficapFil to Norwajr. Returning rioai tbsi oouDDy, lie was tbip- ■
■wkpd an the Eutiluh coast, and having loil cvprj^biog ha poB9<H9c<l il
•MM, W I>Hsin« ■ pcjen, Bad diiliiiguijhed hintiaJf k> muoh by hi> lea;
n4 fi»tj tb&l tie Wfti pramolad to be prior of Durliam. WhOD Margaret Alhalx^
i^ boniae qui^eo of Siwiland ihe prerecred him lo the office of ber conleuor.
B* ((Ubwb^ itie IbTninef of hia rojrai pupil Matilda, iha dsugbier of hU illunri-
<« IMfoani, aArt htr mafnage with Qeaty I. i and we find Ibat lh« Englidl
n»>ai«.L, mhn (xMiibljr wialied to remove biin fiom the qoeen, in 1107 WBjml^
"■■Dnwnded biin hj his royal bmihei-in-law, Edgar of Sooitaad. as a fii perioii
■ h« ifipointed to iha bisbopria of Sl Aodiew't. Tuigol, bowevei. died prior
'tr^tbaiii He is laiil (o have been the author of the ■' Chioniole of Duibam,"
»*kfc |oe* by the aamo of » Simeon of Durhnin," and has been approptiaied
kf a aoDMoiponirj monk vf tbU nune. Turgol't Chrooicle of the Lives of hi*
■(fal mixrrai, Margaret Alheling. and her consort, Malcolm Caiunore, king of
i°Wka4. ba* been prefcrieil by Fordun, and ii ftaquentlj cited hj fia D&v\&
f^tUwgila. -Htcbolsen. Utuuj'. ' Sat J . tUy ward.

I

B, for the con-
lier children, whose
their bulls required

I
I

I
»
I

I

MLDA OF iC'OTLA^n.

rep«l this northem attack.' Boherl, finding his forces inaiircjiiHte in
maintain successfully h vor of aggression, eniered into a negntiation with
the Scottish inonarch, which emied in a frientlly treaty. Malcolm re-
newed his homage for Cumbprlund ; anil Itoherl, who, whatever liis
fniills might be as a privnie characier. waa one of ttie most courtecrat
knighla and polished gentlemen of the age in which he lived, Anally ce-
mented the auspicious amiiy which he had established between hie royal
■ire and the warlike husband of the heiress presumptive of the Saxon line
©f kings, by becoming the ajwnsof of the infant pruicess Matilda. Sorat
historians assert thai the name of the Itiile princess was originally E<Iil[ia,
anil tlist it was, out of complinienl In the Norman prince her goOfalher,
changed to Matilda, the name of his beloved mother; the contemporary
chronicler, Ordericus Vitalia, says, "JWifiWcw yua prius dicta ett Bfi-
rta." — Matilda, whose first name was EJiih.'

Matilda the Good received her earliest lessons of virtue and piely from
her illustrious mother, and of learning from the worthy Tu^roi, tlie pre-
ceptor of ihc royal children of king Malcolm and (jucen Mar;garet of
Scotland. While Matilda was very young, there appears to have been
an attempt on the part, either of tlie queen her mother, or her aunt Chris-
lina Aihcling, the celebrated abbess of Rumsey, to conseccBtc her to d»>
church, or at least to give her lender mind a conventual bias, greatly to
the displeasure of the king hec lather; who once, as Matilda herself te^
liiied; when she was brought into his presence, dressed in a nun's veil,
snatched it from her head in a great passion, and indignantly lore it in
pieces, observing al the same lime, to Alan duke of Brelagne, who suxd
by, " that be intended to bestow her in marriage, and oot to devote ha
to a cloister."*

This circumstance, young as she was, appears to have made a very
deep impression on the mind of the little princess, and probably a-tsifUd
in alrenglhening her delermination, in after years, never to complete the
profession of which she was, at one period of her life, com[H-Ued to
assume the semblance.

AUn duke of Brelagne, lo whom king Malcolm addressed this obirr>
ration, was the widower of William the Conqueror's daughter Conslanecj
and though there was a great disparity of years between him and Madlds,
it appears certain, from his after-proposals, ihat [he object of his visit to
the ScoUish court was to form a matrimonial alliance niih the youif
Maulda ;* and this was indubitably one of the nnsuilable malcdes U
which we shall Hud that Matilda allerwards alluded.

Matilda's uncle, Edgar Atheling, became resident at the court of htf
father and mother for some time, in the year 1091, Robert Conrthost
having sacrificed his friendship to the temporary Jealousy of William
RufuR. This displeasure did not lost long, for both the eldest soni of
William the Conqueror seem lo have cherished an afiection for the Aihc-
ling, and he was often treated with confidence and generosity by a^
The misunderstanding, which occasioned Edgar's retreat into Ssutlaadr

" 'Seethe precoflinB Mtmmi, Life o7 MaUIJn ofFlnndM*!

'Sre Dr. Iiin^rdi learned nnle. p. 136, vol. ii
" ■ ' Eadn\<!! and Gem

MATILDA OT BCOTLAlfD. 85

presence of Him who is now oor only witness, I beseech yon to promise
and perfonn." '

Adversity was soon to try these yonthful scions of royalty with her
touchstone ; and of the princess Iklatilda, as well as her saindy mother,
it may justly be said,

■* Stent, nigged nvne, thy rigid lore
With patience many a year flhe bore.**

Soon after the disastroos defeat and death of her royal father and eldest
brother, Donald Bane, the illegitimate brother of Malcolm Ganmore,
seized the throne of Scotland, and conmianded all the English exiles, of
whatsoever degree, to quit the kingdom^ under pain of death.' Edgar
Atheling, Matilda^s uncle, then conveyed to England the orphan £unily
of his sister, the queen of Scotland, consisting of five young princes,
and two princesses.*

He supported Bfatilda, her sister and brothers, who were all minors,
privately, from his own means. They were in considerable personal
danger, from the accusation of one of the knights at the English court,
who told William Rufus that the Saxon prince had brought into England,
ind was raising up, a fiunily of competitors for the English crown. A
friend of Edgar challenged and slew this mischievous talebearer; and
William Rufus, supposing Providence had decided in favour of the inno-
cent« treated Edgar and his adopted family with kindness and friendship.

The princesses Matilda and 5lary were placed by their uncle in the
nunnery of Rumsey, of which his surviving sister, Christina, was abbess;
tnd for the princes, he sought and obtained an honourable reception for
them at the court of William Rufus, who eventually sent him at the
head of an army to Scotland, with which the Atheling succeeded in re-
establishing his nephew, the elder brother of Matilda, on the throne of
his ancestors.

Ordericus Vitalis confirms, in a great measure, the statements of

' Queen Margaret was buried at Dunfermline. Her body was disinterred at
the Reformation, and the head is now preserved in a silver case at Bouay, where
the historian Carruthers declares he saw it at the Scotch college. It was in
«]ttniordiDary preservation, with a quantity of fine hair, fair in colour, still upon
it. This was in 1785.— HisL of Scotland, vol. L p. 313.

*Carrutben' HisL of Scotland, vol. i. p. 316.

' Hardinge, in hit rhyming chronicle, thus quaintly enumerates the posterity of
>firgaret Atheling (See Henry Ellis's edition):^

<* EduTinl, Dunkan, E<1gar, Alixander the gay,
And David also, (that kings were all they say,
Eache after other of Scotlande throughout,)
Whose mother is now St Margarete without doubt.
At Dunfermljrn shrined and canonised ;
By wtiom Malcolyn a daughter had also,
King Henry's wife the first, full well avised
Queen Maude, that 't right welt loved England thraogh,
Those crosses &ir and royal, as men go,
Through all England, the made at her expense,
And divers good orders through her providence."

^ MATILDA OF SCOTLAND.

Tni^l , and, after reUling the death of i]ueen Margsret, ulds, ^ She luJ I
sent ber Iwo daughters, Edith (Matilda) and Mary, to Chmiiu, to
aiHier, who wa< u religieuae of tJie alibey of Itumscy, to be ituiniclal
by her ia holy wnL These princesses were a long linie pupila aattai
the nuns. Tliey were instructed by iliem, not only in the ari «f readii^
but iu tlie observance of good manners ; and these devoted maiden*) H
ihey approached the age of womsabood, waited for the consolaiion of
God, As we have said, they were orphans, deprived of both tlwif
parenla, separated from their brothers, and foi froni llie protecting eut
of kindred or friends. They had no home or hope but the cloister, ud
yet, by the mercy of God, they were not professed as nuns. They ww
ilestined by tlie Disposer of all earihlv events for better things,"

Camden proves that the abbey of Wilton, ever since the profMmun ef
the saintly princess Edilho,' was the plnce of nurture and education fo
all the young princesses of tlie Au^lo-Sason royal family. This abbif
of Black Benedictine nuns liad been founded by king Alfred, am) tiMt
his days had always received a lady of his royal line as its abboasi^
custom which does doe seem to have been broken by the depwitiuo df
bis family.

VVilton Abbey had been re-founded by queen Edillm, consort U
Edward the Confessor.' While that monarch was building WeslmiDSV
Abbey, his queen was employing her revenues in changing the mmaj
of Wilton, from a wooden cdilice into one of stone.

The abbey of Bunisey was likewise a rnyul foundation, genenllj'
governed by an abbess of the family of Alfred. Christina is first tam-
tioned as abbess of Rumsey in Hampshire, and aficrwanls as sapeiin
of the Wilion convenL As both belonged to the order of Black BciU-
:iD^, this transfer was not diHicdl; but chroniclers do not mentioii
en it was efiecied, simply staling the fact, that the Scottish prinem
first dwelt at Rumsey, but that when she grew up she was resident st
Wilion Abbey, under the superintendence of the abbess Christina, bet
aunt. Matilda thus became an inhabitant of the same abode where &t
roj-ol virgins of her race had always received their eduratioo.'

It was the express desire of the queen, her mother, who survivnd llut
request but a few hours, that she should be placed under the can oflfat
ladv Cliristina at Rumsey.

Wilde in these English convents, the royal maid was compellsd U
isnime the thick black veil of a votaress,* as a protection froai Al
L insults of the lawless Norman nobles. The al)bess Christina, her aaA
\ who was ejcceedingly deaifous of seeing her beautiful niece becofiw i
nun professed, treated her very harshly, if she removed this cumbraaa
and inconvenient envelope, which was composed of courae black dffh
or serge; some say it waa a tissue of horse-hair. The impositioa sf
this veil was considered by Matilda as an intolerable grievance. Sb
wore it,' as she herself acknowledged, with sighs and tears, in the ft^

■Oiu^iet of Edgar the Peaceable. 'Camdao. 'Onlerkiu T

MATILDA or ScnTLANl). 87 1

nsiee of herEletn aunt; and liie moment she round herself alone, she
durtg it uu ilie ground, and stamped il under her (nel.

Curing ilic utien yesre ihai Maidda resided in this dreary asylum, she
was carefidly iiutrucled in all the learning of ilie age. Ordericus Vitolis
•afs alic was langhl ilio "•liittratoTiatn arlem," at which she aflerwards
brcamr, like hrr predecessor, Matilda of Flanders, a most muniScent
(■lUonces. She was also greaUy akilled in music, for which her lore

'TL'unted almccl to a passion. When queen, we shall find her some-
<i-s cviiBured. for the loo greal libemlity she showed la rewarding,

' Ml cxMiIy presents, the monks who sang skilfully in the church

The superior education which this illustrious princess received during
■ -p ycBrt of cimvenlual seclusion, eminently fitted her lo become the I

iMirt of »o ocmmplishtMl a prince ns Henry le Beauclerc. Robert of
. >uc(«irr, and Piert of Langtofi, and, above all, Eadmer, a coDtem|>o-

;., asseri tliat the royal pair had been lovers before circumstances nd»

''d of ibcir iiuion. Tliese are the words of quaint old Robiu on tlw
-■'jt^l: —

* ^padial love tharo luil *«' hern, as I undetitanil,
8«iw«n tiiin ind tlie king'i la.ir dau^liiet, Maiul of Scotland.
5o thai ha wUJi>d bi-t to wife, nad tbe tnshopa also,
And tba h^b axca of the land taddt* liiiii ll)er«|i>,"

MaiUda received two proposals of marriage while she was ia the nun-
;' at Rumsey ; one from Alan duke of Brctagne, the mature suitor
ire tnenlioned, who demanded her in marriage of his brolher-jn-law,
^ Warn Hufus, and oblained his consent, but he was prevented by dealh
' i.i fiiliiNiMg his engagement. Had it been otherwise, Matd da's only
I -I I. "in ihis ill-assorted union, would have been the irrevocable
'- :'■■. f the black veil, of which she had testified such unqualified

riic i>ilier candidate for the hand of the exiled princess, was the
' ijiuig and hanilsome William Warren, earl of Surrey, the son of iho
'.-toijorn'r's youngt-et daughter, Gundred, the favourite nephew of Wil-
ium Itufufl, and one of ilie richest and most powerful of the baronago
(if K-iiglaiid and Normandy.

Tliir pir.lesnion of Matilda was delayed for a time, by the addresses
i' ihpM' jirincca.' " But," continues the chronicler, ^ she was, by ilia
pit* uf Gi-d, rcsen'ed fur a higher destiny, and through his pcrmiesion
tonuaci^ a more illustrious marriage."* It is remarkable, that of iha
thfco lovers by whom Mniddu was sought in marriage, one should har*
Wen lfa« Min-in-law, another the grandson, and the thinl the son, of ihat
TSoauMO conqueror who liad established a rival dynaaiy on the throne of
W asKotori.

ya'il'la pleaded her devotion to a religious life, as an excuse for de-
clining the addresses of Warren, though, under existing circumstances, it
- '^11* sirang« that she should have preft-rred a lengthened sojourn in «

"trli. '£n means befbie, 01 Ibrmerl]'. ' Radd

>: ierkus Tllalis. 'Ibid.

I
1

I

I

glocRiy HtHRter, to a union with a young, handsotne, and wetdlhv pMr
of the blood-royal of the reigning sovereign of England ; am! h«r tt»
fiwai of Warren nfTords some reason for firing credence to ihc »!■»-
mente of Eadmer, Robert ofGlouceiler, and others of the anrienl rhroiii-
f ItTS, ns to " llie special lore" that existed between Hejirf Beaiidf re and
Matilda, daring the season of their muina) adversity. Matilda was at
thai time residing in the nunnery of Wilton, not far from Winchntn,
the prtneipal seat of the Norman sovereign. When we reflect on ths
great intimacy which subsisted between Mniilda's tinele, Edgnr Athdin;,
and the sons of the Conqueror, it appears by no means iroproboMe thai
prince Henry might have accompanied him in some of his vtnits to his
rayal kinswomen, in the nunnery of Wilton, and perhaps been adraiOnl,
tinder tlie sanction of his presence, to converse with the princesses, and
even to have enjoyed ihe opportunity of seeing Matilda without h<r
veil ; which, we tetm. from hei own confession, she took every oppo^
tunity of throwing aside.

Awording to the testimony of the ancient chroniclers, esp«^ially tht
chronicle of Normandy, this princess was remarkable for her beamy.'
Matthew Paris says she was "^ very &ir, and elegant in person, as well ai
learned, holy, and wise." These qualities, combinerl wiili her high
lineage, rendered her doablles* an object of attraction K» liie NomM
princes. Henry Beauclerc was ten year? the senior of his nephew Ww
Ten, but his high mental acquirements &nd accompliahmenla wetViUii
mind like that of Matilda of Scotland, far beyond the tnereirieioM iA>
vnntnges which his more youibrul rival could boast.

Robert of Gloucester, in his rhyming chronicle, gives this qnill
nuumwy of the birth, education, and charBcteristics of Henry : —

" In England wai he bofn, Henri, tin's nobleman.

In (he tlhird jreat thai hl> taxhei Englnnd wnn ;

He v-B!, of b[I lib sons, beit flUcd kini; ii> be,

Of lursM rortn and iDHniieTt, bdiI mu^o gentle and fVee.

Foi ^t be wai the youngpil to bcwk hit Eiihsi liim drew.

And he becBme ■» ii btfel a ptod clerk enow.

One time whrn he wns yonng, lib hroitier imoto him. I wia.

And he wept while his bdier Mood bj- and beheld all thit;
■Ne weep duw,' he said, 'loving son, Tor it ihsll opme to be,

That thnu shBtt ^t be king, and thai thou shnlt see.'

Bit laiher made hinir al WesUninitei, kriigUt of hia own band.

Id die ninolcenlli jrenr or his age, &c. ttt-.

Taller he wu wme drol Ihnn hii brediren were,

Fair man and tlirat enow, willi brown hair."

Henry was regarded by the people of the land with a greater dcftw
of complacency than ihe elder sons of the Conqueror, from the cirtm-
stance of his being an English-horn prince. While yet a tender iBkut,
hi* mighty aire named him as a witness, (the only male wiinesA,) oi the
I'uUowing curious charter to one of his followers, the (cmnder U tb>
bmily of Hunter of Hoplon : —

>Tbr chronicle or Kotmeniy ttja that Matilda wu s ladf of steal bcaaVi

WiTfaaa, die king, iho ijiiril yea

liofe (loving) nnci do«r

inrli uji and down,

■ gosd Bnd as fiiir ■< •vrr ifai-'y u

e JagKP,' Hniidn. iind Mnrgprjr.

B K bovit uid a broad bi

I fhvmes of Ihis quaint feudal grant ore undoubtedly Tar more

be to the yenr than the halting heroics of honest Robert ofGloa-

l| nrcWously quoted, though compnundcd more than a ceiitory

^ nis jingling chronicle was wrillcn. Several of the charters of

=tn tlifi Conoiieror are in this form, and with (lie names of llie enme

' -n >>r hia Itatiiiy. Il is probable that they were executed iti the

act of his queen, " Maud ;""Jugife,"(8onieiimes used as an abbfp-

f ft»r Judith.) must have been his niece Judith, aAerwards the wife

Jheof ; and Margery, a daughter, who is sometimes enumerated in

P5, by (he chroniclers ; and to these the name of that notable

I the baliy Ilcnn-, was doubtless added, as a joke, by the royal

iitiiig Ihe white wai was supposed lo give particular aulheniiinty

/ancee from the crown, which were formerly each duly fur-

irith k proof impreasion of that primitive substitute for the great

■.Eogluid, the royal eye-tooth, sometimes familiarly specilied by

rch S9 bis « fang-looih." This custom, which took its ]'

y remote antiquity, was needlessly adopted by the Anglo-Nor-

le of •o»creigns, whose broad seals are peculiarly fine workman-

»«riiiff their veritable effigies crowned, sceptred, nnd in royal

EmsImI on the king's stone bench ; and on the reverse of the seal

■e monarch is figured, armed cap-d-pic, and mounted on a u

KpIUntly appointed* Such are Ihe luipreeslous affixed to all

b mon^ the boasts of Ciimbriilge' that Henry, so celebrateil fot
ntng, received bis education iJiere. The ancient annals of St.
ii Canierbury, however, alBrm ''that be was instruciid in phi-
J beyond s«a8, where, for liis knowledge in the liberal sciences,

hby the French sutnamed Beauclerc." '

plfattowiBg dialogue took place between Henry and his mynl sire,
leluMr hy on hia death-lied at tlermeiiirude,' and was cunclud-

d /■<?, which rhymes lo Mnrgctf j thfl ihynici.Il Will Iw nliiofved,
""' "Ihe lines. ^ •Siowo ex Lihro Riehmond.

'J. Cnios Cnnlabrig,
iS. A Ipampd-wriler in tlie ArohavJo^i m|ipo!«i (Hal
on by Henrjr ■ Zaijiith Tables m Iha Gwpian il/Ic; uU
TroubRdciuT [Hieie^s, Marie or Fmnce, wIki flouiult«d 'v_
III,huirao«yjii«f I/ie £i^ul] inonarch'i work inn Not- '
'Spevrf.

I

i

HATII. DA OF 8 GOTLAND.

ing Ilia elaborate conression of hU pnst ileecis of oppression and cnwll}',
with t)ie verbal bequest of his dominions to Iiib two elilesl son*.

^' And whut do yon give to mc, father ;" interrupted Henry, u-ho «tnod
veepins at the bedside, leae louclied, we fear, at the swfiil list of situ
and wickednesscEi of which his dying sire hiid just disburUieneil liiH con-
science, tlian B( the tenour of a last will atiil leelameiit in which he
appeared to have no ahare.

** Five thousand pounds in silver, out of my ireasmy, do 1 give ihce,"
replied the Conqueror.

"But what shall I do with tieasure, if I ha*e neither e&stle not
domain V demanded the disappomied prince,

" Be paiieDt, my son, and comfort tjiyself in God," rejoined ih*
expiring monarch ; ''' Ihy elder brotliers do but go before thee : llobcn
■lioll iuive Iforniandy, and Wdli&ni Englruid ; but thou shall be tht
inheritor of all uiy honours, and shall excial botli tity brethren in tichr«
■ud power."

Tliis oracular speech, lliough far enough from proring sntiafactoiy il
the time lo llie landless Henry, was afierwurds mogiiilied into s propbriis
annuticintion of his accession lo the united dominions of England tti
Mormaiidy.

Discontented as Henry was with the paternal legacy, he was in tndl
haste to secure ils payment, that he lell the last duties to the reinaiu of
his royal sire to tlie care of strangers, while he Hew to make his cUin
upon llie treuBurj- of the departed sovereign ; rightly judging, that untai
he forestalled his elder brcllireu in taking possession of the bequest, his
chance of receiving it would be but small. In fact, Robert, «iiwM
exlravagance had exhausted all bis resources before he succeeded to iht
dukedom of Normandy, besought his youtigest brother to assist bin
vlth a loan of at least part of the money. IIenr>', who had all Hit
worldly wisdom of a premature statestnan, complied, on condition of
being pnl in possession of his mother's bequest of the Cotentin. Robtrt
agreed ; but, after he had been foiled in his attempt to dethrone RuTuti
he returned to Normandy with exhausted coflers, and wrongfully t^
possessed himself of the Cotentin. Henry, greatly enraged at tliis tictl-
nient, was prepnring to lake up arms against Robert, when the latter,
finding himself allocked by WilUam, and abandoned by his fntse tHj,
PhUip of France, thought proper to make the most earnest solieitatioM
to Hpnry for assistance, and forgiveness for the late outrage of wbieb bi
had been ffiitlty.

Henry, lieing mollified by the submission of his elder brother, ttti
un<]ereUinding that a plot was in agitation to deliver Rouen to Willkn,
midde:ily entered the city, and seizing Conon, the head of ilie conspin
tors, dialed him with his treason to the duke, and caused him to be
flinig headlong from one of the highest towers. By this decisive lUf
Henry preserved the capital for Robrtt.

Robert and William soon after came to an amicable ^reemenl, nidi
conceiving a sudden allt^ciion for each other, they terminated their quv-
n\ by making their wills in each other's favour, without any meatioii
«/ Ueory. Uenry regarded this as a great alTront, especially on the put

I

MATILDA QF SCOTLAND* 91

of Robert, to whom he had rendered such signal services, and demanded
of him eiliier a restitution of his silver, or to be put in possession of the
Cotentin. On Robert's refusal, he seized on Mount St. Michael, where
be strongly entrenched himself.

The youthful adventurer maintained his rocky fortress with obstinate
valour, against the united efibrts of his august brothers of England and
Normandy, till he was reduced to the greatest straits for want of water.
He represented his distress to Robert, in a moving message, and obtained
leave to supply his garrison with water, and a present of wine for his
own use. Rufus upbraided Robert with his compliance, which he called
'•an act of folly."

•* What !" replied Robert, with a sudden burst of that generous warmth
of feeling which formed the redeeming trait of his character, ^ is the
jnarrel between us and our brother of that importance that we should
nake him die of thirst ? We may have occasion for a brother hereafter,
yDt where shall we find another if we destroy this ?"

After Robert had besieged St. Michael^s Mount during the whole of
\jenU he brought Henry to terms ; who, weary, perhaps, of keeping a
itricter fast than even the church of Rome enjoined at that season, sur*
rendered the fortress ; and having permission to go whither he pleased,
wandered about Grermany and France for some time, forsaken of every
one save four fiuthful domestics, by whom he was attended.

In the year 1094, we find, from Matthew Paris, that Henry was in
England, and employed by William Rufus in assisting to quell Uie formi-
dUble rebellion of Robert Mowbray, the Lord of Nor&umberland. Prince
Henry^s poverty, and dependence on the caprices of his brother, tlie Red
King, subjected him occasionally to the sneers of the wealthy Norman
barons, but more especially of his kinsman and rival, Warren,* who took
occasion, from his swiftness in pursuit of the forest game, ^ which oft-
times," says the chronicle of Normandy, ^ he, for lack of horse or dog,
followed on foot, to bestow the name of Deer^s-foot on the landless
prince. This gready troubled Henry, who hated Warren to the death,
but had no power to avenge himself, because the Red Kin£ loved Warren
greatly."' It is possible that Warren^s courtship of Matuda of Scotland
was one cause of Henry's bitter animosity.' This courtship was sanc-
tioned by Rufus, and some of the ancient chroniclers assert that 3Iatilda
was contracted to him, but this appears without foundation.

Henry was in his thirty-second year, when the glancing aside of Wat
TyrrePs arrow made him king of England. The chroniclers of that era
record that, from whatever cause, omens, dreams, and predictions of the
death of the Red Ring, were rife in the land, immediately preceding that
event* Prince Henry was at this fatal hunting party ;' and Wace, the
minstrel chronicler of the Norman line of princes, relates a most re-
markable adventure that befell him on this occasion.* ^ Prince Henry
being separated from tlie royal party, while pursuing his game in an
adjoining glen of the forest, chanced to snap the string of his cross-bow,

•Wace. •Ibid. •Chronicle of Normandy by Waco.

*lfabntbiiry. Saxon Chion. •Duneim. •Vfaob*

or arblast, and rep«iring to the hot of a forester, lo get it mwiIM m
replaced, he was, die moment he emerPii this svlraii al)(<de, nil\i)pd at
king bjr an old woman whom lie ft^imd lliere." whfwc descnption it
iomcwhol similar to tliat of one of the witches in Macbeth.' Ttie M-
luwirig is a literal version of her address, from the Norman Freneli
rhyioes of Wace : —

" Ba^f neva lo llipe 1 biing,
Henif, Ihoa art now a king;
Mmk ibe word; anil herd lliem well,
Which to ihee in aooili I tell.

And fofall ilietn >□ iho 1io.>r
or thy rcgnl auu uid power."

Pefore Henty had rerovered from the surprise with which the wctid
woninn's prediction had startled hini. the cries of the Red King's aUeo^
mnls procbinied the fatal accident that had befallen their roval maaM
and llie hasly flight of the utilucky marksman by whose erring *hrf
lie had died. Prince Henry acted aa Rufus doubtless would have dliM
in his case; he sprang to his saddle, and made the best of his way la
Winchester, without bestowing a moment's care or attention on the liedy
of his deceased brother, which was irreTcrently thrown into the an of
one Purkiss, a Saxon charcoal-burner, that was passing tlttotigh itx
forest, and, on no gentler bier, was ignobly borne back tn the ctiv whirh
he had i)uiiied that morning with such proud parade.' Robert of Gtw-
center relates the circumstance, with his usual quaint rainateneM; wl
among a number of his tame and lame lines, the following graphic eofr
plet occurs, which we think our readers will consider wOTtiijr of qiio»
lion,- —

"To WinohesWT they Imre him, ril! mid« h)< green wound,
And evur M he Imy Uie lilouJ welld lo giouiul."

William Breleuil,' the royal treasurer, vcas also at this nientotabb
bunting party, and with him prince Henry actually rode a race to \ViD>
Chester — ay, and won it loo; for when BreleuU arrived at the door of
tlie treasury, he found prince Henry standing before it, who greeted him
wilh a demand of the kej-s. Breteuil boldlv declared, '• That Iwlh tr«*-
sure and crown belonged to ihe prince's elilesl broilier, duke Robert of
Normandy, who was then absent in the Holy Land, and for that prion
he would keep ihe treasures of the late king his master." Then Ileiuy
drew his sword, and, backed by his powerful friend, Henry Bellumoal^
nfierwards earl of Leicester, and other nobles of his party, forced tb
' keys from his kinsman Breteuil, and took possession of the treasure uJ
regalia. Breteuil loudly protested against the wrong that was done w
duke Robert

Some of the nobles who possessed large estates in NormandT, nW

•W>etL

*!nuon Cliion. The lineal dsKendanU of the tBid EhBieoal-mBlCM', \ij loMS
Purkiu, lull live within tha disuncc of > how-ihoi from il)e (pot whom Koto
frlU srul continus lo eierciie the trade or tlieir ancHtor. — Miloer'a WinohMS>.

' Williun Breteuil wag the »n of the G^nquerori Kreai ftiei
d iBto_Proud Spirit. — Sea ilia fiwiediiit in

MATILDA OF SCOTLAND. 93

•

with Breteuil, in advocating the rights of the royal Crusader; and the
(lehate growing rery stormy, it was considered more expedient to argue
the momentous question in the council-chamber. Thither the nobles
ind prelates adjourned; but while they were eng8(ged in advocating,
according as interest or passion swayed, the rival daims of Robert and
Henry to the vacant throne, the majority being inclined for the elder
brother, (the brave but proverbially unready Robert,) Henry had suc-
cessfully pleaded his own cause to Uie populace, in the streets of Win-
chester ; and they, strong in numbers, and animated with sudden affec-
tion for the English-bom prince, who had promised to bestow upon
them English laws and an English queen, gathered round the palace,
ind quickened the decision of the divided peers in council, by making
he name of Henry resound in their ears ; and Henry, thus elected by
he Toice of the people, was immediately proclaimed king, at Winches-
er. The remains of the luckless Rufus were hurried into the grave,
rith a sort of hunter's mass, the following morning, at an early hour, in
Winchester Oathednd ;' and Henry hastened to London, where, on Sun-
lay, the 9th of Au^rust, the third day after his brother's death, he was
nt>wned in Westnmister Abbey, by Maurice, bishop of London. Before
he regal circlet was placed on his brow, ^ Henry, at the high altar at
kVestminster, promised to God and the people,'' says the Saxon Chroni-
de, ^ to annul the unrighteous acts that took place in his brother's reign,
ind he was crowned on that condition." '

Henry promised everything that could reasonably be demanded of
him, and set about reforming the abuses and corruptions that had pre-
vailed during the licentious reign of the bachelor king, and completely
•ecu red his popularity with die English people, by declaring his resolu-
tion of wedding a princess of the blood of Alfred, who had been brought
up and educated among them. Accordingly he demanded Matilda, the
daughter of Malcolm, king of Scotland, and Margaret Atheling, of her
brother Edgar, king of Scotland. The proposal was exceedingly agree-
able to the Scottish monarch ; but great difficulties were opposed to the
completion of this marriage, by those who were of opinion that she had
embraced a religious life.* The abbess Christina, Matilda's aunt, in
particular, whose Saxon prejudices could not brook the idea that the
throne of the Norman line of sovereigns should be strengthened by an
alliance with the royal blood of Alfred, protested, ^ that her niece was a
veiled nun, and that it would be an act of sacrilege to remove her from
her convent"

Henry's heart was set upon the marriage, but he would not venture
to outrage popular opinion, by wedding a consecrated nun. In this
dilemma, he wrote a pressing letter to the learned Anselm, archbishop
of Canterbury, who had been unjustly despoiled of his revenues by

' The monument that Henry L raised for hie brother Rufiu, before the hi^h
altar at Winchester, is still to be seen there ; he put himself to no great cost Ibr
fiueral expenses, for it is a plain gravestone of black marble, of that shape
called do§ tTam^ to be seen, of brick or ireestone, in country ohmchyards.

* Saxon Q-roDJcle. ' Eadmer.

I

I

i

H MATILDA OF SCOTLAND.

Williun RDfus, and was then in exile at Lyons, entreating him U
remm. nnd render him his adiice atrd assistanpe in thin nffcir. WIwb
Aneplin heard ihe partirulars of the case, he declared Umt ii wm lm
mighty for his single derision, and therefore stimnionetl a council »f llw
church at Lambeth, for the ptirpose of entering more fully into this io-
porlant question.'

Matilda made her appearenee before the synod, and was closely int«t"
rognted by the primate Atiselm. in the presence of Ihe whole hierarchy
of England, as to the reality of her alleged devotion to a religions lifO

The particulars of hpr examination have been preserred by Eodrmr,
who, as the secretary of the archbishop Anselm. was doubUesiB an tn-
witness of this interesting scene, and, in all probability, reconled tht
*«ry words uttered by the princess.

The urchbishop commenced by slating liie objections to her mwrisff,
grounded on the prevailing report that she had embraced a religious Itfi^
tiul declared, " tliat no motive whatever would induce him to dispeiM
with her vow, if it had already been given to Almighty God."

The priacesa denied that there had been any such engj
her part-
She was asked " if she had embraced a fcligious life, either by htt
own choice or the vow of her parents ;" and she replied, « Netthef,"
Then she was examined as to the fact of her having worn the black td
of s votaress in her father's court, and subsequently in the niuiDenra of
Rnmsey and Willon.

" 1 do not deny,"' said Matilda, "having worn the veil in my biheA
court: for, when I was a child, my aunt Christina put a piece of hhrii
cloth over my head ; but when my father saw me with it, he snuidnd
il off in a great rage, and execrated the person who had put it on ni".' I
tflcTWards made a pretence of wearing it, to excuse myself from nnsuil-
able marriages ; and, on one of these occasions, my father tore the vril
■nd threw it on the ground, observing to Alan earl of Bretagne. wfci
stood hy, that it was his intention to give me in marriage, tiot to devoK
me to the church." *

She also admitted that she had a.«sumed the veil in the nunnery «f
Ruinsey, as a protection from the lawless violence of the Notma
nobles, and that she had continued to wear that badge of onveati^
devotion, against her own inclination, through the harsh compulsiofl t#
her annt, the abbess Christina. " If I attempted to remove it," eontiowtt
Maiildn, '■she would tonoent me with harsh blows and sharp reproaebn:
■ighing uid trembling, I wore it in her presence; but as soon as I wil^
drew froiB her sight, I always threw it off, and trampled upon it.^*

This explanation was considered perfectly satisfactory by the cmmd
tt Uimbetli. and they pronounced, that ■^ Matilda, daughter of Maleobh

'Ndt loni; Kftei Ihe nlnm or Archbiahop Anwim to Engluu), Ibe Idas, bgr A>
iw>lvi(<(i i>r hii fTir-ndt, i«Kilv«d n Imve off liit mislreMes and tnnrry; mai tt
iamii a icrf gnat afftttvm for Matilda, dnuftliwr lo Malcolm, UtB kias etSm
Isii.l, molrsd, if il miglit be Uwfbl, to man]- ber. — ^TjTtolU

'Eadmei, 3Saiatii>urf. ' Eadinei. ■ Ibid. ■ Dnd.

MATILDA OF SCOTLAND. 95

king of Scotland, had proved that she had not erohraced a religious life,
either by her own choice or the vow of her parents, and she was there-
fore free to contract marriage with the king.^ The council, in addition
to this declaration, thought proper to make public the most cogent
reason which the Scottish princess had given for her assumption of the
black veil, on her coming to England ; which was done in the following
remarkable words.'

^ When the mat king William conquered this land, many of his
foDowers, elated by so great a victory, and thinking that everything
ought to be subservient to their will and pleasure, not only seized the
provisions of the conquered, but invaded the honour of their matrons
and virgins whenever they had an opportunity. This obliged many
young ladies, who dreaded their violence, to put on the veil, to preserve
their honour.^'

According to the Saxon chroniclers, Matilda, notwithstanding her
repugnance to the consecrated veil, exhibited a very maidenly reluctance
to enter the holy pale of matrimony with a royal husband. It is possible
that the report of the immoral ten our of Henry's life before he ascended
the throne, which was evidenced by his acknowledging the claims of
twenty illegitimate children, might be regarded by a princess of her
parity of mind and manners as a very serious objection ; and if, as many
of the early chroniclers intimate, there had been a previous engagement
between Henry and herself, she of course felt both displeasure and dis-
cast at his amours with the beautiful Nesta, daughter of the prince of
Wales, and other ladies too numerous to particularize. It is certain that
after the council at Lambeth had pronounced her free to marry, Matilda
resisted for a time the entreaties of the king, and the commands of her
royal brother and sovereign, to accept the brilliant destiny which she
was ofiered.

All who were connected with the Saxon royal line importuned Ma-
tflda, meantime, with such words as these : ^ O most noble and most
gracious of women, if thou wouldst, thou couldst raise up the ancient
honour of England : thou wouldst be a sign of alliance, a pledge of
reconciliation : but if thou persistest in thy refusal, the enmity between
the Saxon and Norman races will be eternal ; human blood will nevei
cease to flow." *

Thus urged, the royal recluse ceased to object to a marriage, whereby
■he was to become the bond of peace to a divided nation, and the dove
of the newly-sealed covenant between the Norman sovereign and her
own people. Henry promised to confirm to the English nation their
ancient laws and privileges, as established by Alfred, and ratified by
Edward the Confessor — in short, to become a constitutional monarch;
and on those conditions the daughter of the royal line of Alfred con-
sented to share his throne.

Matthew Paris says positively that Matilda was a professed nun, and
BO averse to this marriage, that she invoked a curse upon all the de-
seendants that might proceed from her union with the Norman king

' Eadroer. * Ibid. * Saxon C\xTOmc\<&.

I

M\TtLI>A OF SCOTLAND. ^H

But ihij is conlradictRi] by all otlier historians ; and if any fouodatioB
existed fur ihe story, we think friend Matthew must, by a atmnpe alip
of ihe pen, have written down the name of the meek unij saintly JMatildi
ineieaU of ihal of the pervcree virago, the abbess Chrislina, her uni,
who was BO greatly opposed to those auspicious nuptials, aud, for atigbt
we know, might hove been aa much adiliclt'd to the evil habit of irapro
cation ns she was to eeolding and fighiiiig.

Matilda's ikmurs, al^er all, occasioned little delay, for the orchblflhop
Ansclm did not return to England till Orloberi the council ai [^mbeih
was held in the latter end of that month, and her marriage and coiona-
tiun look place on Sunday, November 11th, being St. Martin's day, just
three months and six days alier the inauguration of her royal lord at
Westminster, August 5ih, 1 100 ; which we may consider tjuick work,
for the despatch of such important business, aud solemn ceremonials of
ataie.

We gire the singular scene of the marriage, in tlie very irorda of ooa
who was a contemporary, and moat likely an eye-witnes«.

" At the wedding of Matilda and Henry the First, there was a most
prodigious concourse of nobility and people assembled in and about the
ctiurcn at Westminster, when, to prevent oil calumny and ill report that
the king was about to marr)' a nun, the archbishop Anaehn mounted
into a pulpit, and gave the multiinde a history of the events proved before
the synod, and ila judgment, tluit the lady Matilda of Scotland was (m
frimi any religious vow, and might dispose of herself in marriage as she
thought fit. The archbbhop tiuished by asking the people iu a land
Toice, whether any one there objected to this decision, upon which they
answered unanimously, with a loud shoui, ' that the matter was rightly
settled.' Accordingly the lady was immediately married to the king,
and crowned before thai vast assembly." ' A more simple yet majestic
appeal to the aeuse of the people, in regaid to a royal marriage, history
records noL

To this auspicious union of the Anglo-Norman sovereign Henry L
with Maiitda of Scotland, a princess of Englisli lineage, English edne»-
tion, and an English heart, we may trace alt the constitutional blessings
whicli litis free country at present enjoys. It was through the influence
of this virtuous queen that Hcnrj- grantetl iIlc important charter which
fonneil the model and precedent of that great palladimn of Eogliab lib-
erty. Magna Charta; and we ctdl upon our readers to obseivc, thai it
was the direct ancestress of our present sovereign-lady, who refused W
quit her gloomy conventual prison, and to give her hand to the hand-
somest and most accompliBhed sovereign of his time, till she liad obtained
jUBt and merciful laws for her suflering country, the repeal of the tytaa*
nical imposiiion of the curfew, and, in some slight degree, a recogoiticai
of the rights of the commons.

When the marriage of Matilda of Scotland with Iletuy I. took p)aei,
t hundred copies of this digest of the righteous laws of Alfred aud Eil-
ward the Confessor were made, and committed to the keeping of th(

^H t hundre
^K ward the

' William t>r MKlnubiuy.

HATILnA OF SCOTLAND. 97

bishoprics anti niomslt^rjes in England ; but when these were
for, ill ihe reign of John, li> furm a legal authority for the
of the people, Rapiu says, only one could be found, which was
I i<j th« barons by CBrdinal I^iiglon. Thia vas, in Gict, ihe
io<lr) on which Magna Charta was framed.
mippiMed that Henry 1., al\er Matilda's death, destroyed all the
which he could lay his Imnda) of a covenant which, in the
of his leign, he scrupled not lo iufriuge whenever he felt

after recording ihe death of ihe Ited King, relatea the accea-
H«aty I-, and bis mairiage with Mutilda of Scotland, in the foW

■Hent; hU brother, ibe flttl king of ibal name,
Wm crowned with nil tlio honour Ibai migtit lie;

Hb [«coariled St Ad»>Iiii who name home,

Anil cniwnpd Maudr his wire full Ihir and f^se f
Tbm daugJitur wu ((Ull of b&nignile)
To king MaJrolyne and Si. Margrcts llie queen
or Scollmu), which albre that liine bad been ;

Of whom ha gu William, Richard, and Molde,
WhOie KOndoHsa ii yet spoken of full wide ;

It alia w«i« fall, her vtriuea nian;-Jold

Eteaeded far— nil vice ^e lei aside ;
JVbatei thai were engendcTed of pride
Bke w 11 rot with all bcnevoionce.
Ami visited ibe sick and pour with diligeoce.

Thft priaanBii and women cka with child,

Lfing in abjpct mi^pry ay about,

Cloibai, meat, and bedding new and andoflled,

And wine and ale ibe gave wiihouien doubt,

When the saw need in countries all ihiouKboat,

TboM oroaseB all that fet be most royal

In the bighwajrs, with gold site made them all."'

MATILDA OF SCOTLAND.

QUEEN OF HENRY I.

CHAPTER II.

of Matilda'* maniage— Called Mntilda Atheling— Her oliaiitie*— Her

■ ' Aleiander the Fierce — Her works of utility— Equitable Iswa of

Ds nickname tho king uid quean — Duke Robert'a icTasioa

loiaiian l&r Matilda — MutilJannd arch bieliop's mediation — Benrj *

vldl arohbiihop Anselm — Duke Robert'i visit — Piesenli his peosioa

' Sir Benrf ElUt'i rartion.

^

MATILDA

F SCOTLA

[D.

I
f

Malilda — Bepenta — Anselni'i rpliiin u- Engl anil — Malilda'* Triendilup Ibt
hltn — Binb of princcia Mntilda — Robfrl regieu hii p«tisioa — Kevil(» MstiU*
— Bfttlle of Tinchebnj— CnptiirA of Boberi and iho queen'i unci? EdgU—
FBTiloned Ihioiqcb the qofim n influence — Court flrel keplat Windeor by Brai;
•nd Malilda — Piinceu Matilda betrodied lo the emperoT — Court at Winckt^
ter — Rrmoval at king Alficd a bones — Mairisgo of Frince William — Depuma
of CDipTcia Matilda — Paiiiameni hrlil — Wontlslncic palace coinplelnl — Brroll
in Normandr— Illncts of ilie queen— Hec death— King Henry's grief— BukI
nf MBt.lda — Iniciiption 10 her memory — Hrr fBlaco at Wnlm inkier — Pwirnl
remain* — PoMiaii of Maulda^-Het children — Death of her elde^i Kn — Th*
ampicM Matilila.

Matilda's EnglUh ancestry, and English eiluestion, renderH the oew
king's marrkge wiili her a most papular mensure with the AngloSaion
people, oC whom the great bulk of his atihjecls was compoaetl. By
theni tlie royal bride was fondly styled Matilda Alheling. and regarded
as the lepreseniative of tlieir own regreltcd sovereigns. The allegiance
wtiicb the mighty Norman conqueror, and his despotic son, the Red
King, had never been able to obtain, except through the sternest ine«-
sures of compulsion, and which, in deiiance of the dreadful penalties c'
loss of eyes, limbs, and life-, had been frequently withdrawn from thSM
powerful monarchs, was freely and faitlifuljy accorded to the husband of
Malilda, Henry I., by the Saxon population. All the refomis eflect«d by
his enlightened government, and all the good laws which his cnlargMJ
views of political economy taught that wise monarch to adopt, were
attributed, by his Anglo-SAXon subjects, to the beneficial influence of hi*
young queen.

Robert of Gloucester was fully impressed with these ideas, as we
may plainly perceive in the following lines in his rhyming chronicle) ia
which he speaks of HenrA's marriage : —

" So thai as soon as he waa king, on 81. Martyn'a day I ween.
He (pouted her that was called Claude the good queen, ^^

Thai wai kt*d' htir a/ England, ai I have lold before. ^^H

Man

a England,

Five-and-ihirty years had elapsed since the metropolis had enjajti
the advantage of a resident court. Matilda of Flanders, dn ring her t»itf
visit to England, held her state at Westminster, the ferotirite abode tt
the two tirsi Anglo-Xorman monarchs ; and the Londoners, whoR
prosperity had sensibly diminished in consequence of the entire abiwnce
of female royalty-, beheld with unfeigned satisfaciioa the palace of Gil-
ward the Confessor, at Westminster, once more graced by the preseiK*
of a queen of the blood of Alfred, whose virtues, piety, and learaiitf^
rendered her a worthy successor of the last Saxon queen who had bJo
her court there, Editha,

'■ That giBciou* nwe of Godwin'j thomy siem."

MATILDA OF SCOTLAND. 99

Those to whom the memory of that illustrious lady was justly dear,
were probably not unmindful of the fact, that the youthful queen, on
whom the hopes of England were so fondly fixed, had received that
gamine Saxon name at the baptismal font ; and though, in compliment
lo her Norman god&ther, she was called Matilda, she was also Editha.

Like her saindy predecessor, Matilda fully verified the primitive title
bestowed by the Saxon on their queens, Hlaficlige, or the giver of bread.
Her charities were of a most extensive character, and her tender com-
passioo for the sofierings of the sick poor carried her almost beyond
the bounds c^ reason, to say nothing of the restraints imposed on roy-
alty. She imitated the example of her mother, the saintly queen of
Scotland, both in the strictness of her devotional exercises, and in her
personal attentions to those who were labouring under bodily afflic-
tions.' She went every day in Lent to Westminster Abbey, barefoot,
and clothed in a garment of haircloth ; and she would wash and kiss
the feet of the poorest people, for which, according to Robert of Glou-
cester, she was once reproved, not without reason, by a courtier. He
had lias answer, however, as our readers will perceive from the follow-
ing curious dialogue >-

** *■ Madam, ibr Ciodde*8 love is this well ado
To handle such unclean limbs, and to kiss so 1
Foul woald the king think if this thing he wist,
And right well arile him ere he your li]>s kisL*
* Sir, sir I* quoth the queen, *■ be still. Why saj you to?
Our Lord himself example gave for to do so.' " *

On another occasion, her brother, Alexander the Fierce, king of Scot-
land, when on a visit to the court of her royal husband, entering Matil-
da's apartments, found her on her knees, engaged in washinff the feet of
some aged mendicants ; on which she entreated him to avau himself of
the opportunity of performing a good and acceptable work of charity
and humiliation, by assisting her in this labour of love, for the benefit
of his soul.'

The wariike majesty of Scotland smiled, and left the room, without
making any reply to this invitation. Perhaps he was conscious of his
want of skill as an assistant at a pediluvium party ; or it might be that
he had seen too much of such scenes during the life of his pious mother
qoeen Margaret, and feared that his sister would carry her works of be-
nevolence to extremes that might prove displeasing to the tastes of so
refined a prince as Henry Beauclerc.

Bat to do Matilda justice, her good works in general bore a character
of more extended usefulness ; so much so, that we even feel the benefit
of them to this day, in the ancient bridge she built over ^ my Lady Lea.''
Once being, with her train on horseback, in danger of perishing while
fording the river Lea, at Oldford, during a JdghJIood^ in gratitude for her
preservation, she built the first arched bridge ever known in England, a
little higher up the stream, called by the Saxons Bow * Bridge, still to

> Weever. * Robert of Gloucester. ' M. Paris.

* Bow, from ftofta, an arch, a word in the German language, pronounced with
the g aoanded like y, which brings it close to the Angto-Saxon.

STiKS'^TiSS

^

I

I

at Siroironl-le-Bow. " though the ancient and mighty Lonilog
Uriilge h»s been broken down."

Bow Bridge she built at the head of the lown of Stiatfon] ; likewiw
Channel's Bridge, over a iribuiary siream of the Lea, the way beiireen
ihem being well paved with gravel. She gave certain manors, a [id a mill
ralM Wiggin Mill, for ever, towards keeping in repair (he said bridget
and way.'

Alatilda founded the hospital at St. Giles in the Fields, and also Chrhl
Church,' which stood on the very spot now called Dnke's Place, noted
as the resort of a low class of Jews.

This exceUent queen also directed her attention to the importmt
object of making new roads, and repturing the ancient highway*, thai
had Inllen into decay during the stormy years which hail succeeded thi
peaceful and prosperous reign of her great uncle, Edward tlie ConfcsMt,
By this means, travellers and itinerant merchants were greatly facibtatrd,
in tlieir journeys through the then wild and perilous country, which,
with the exception of the four great Roman ways,' was only inieracctaJ
by a few scattered carl-tracks, through desolate moora, heaths, and
uncultivated wastes and woodlands. These public benefits, which Mi^
tilda tlie Good conferred upon tlie people from whose patriotic nii>-
narchs she derived her descent, were in all probability ilie frnits of
her regency, during the absence of her royal husband in Nonnaiuly-,
for it is scarcely to be supposed that snch stupendous underlakiogl
could have been eflected, by the limited power and revenues of a mtre
queenHMnsort.

Henry the First, be it remembered, was placed on the ^rone by ifu
Saxon dirisian of his subjects, who were the commons of England, and
by litem he was supported in his regal authority agninst t>ie NotiMD
aristocracy, who formed a powerful parly, in fevour of his elder broilier'i
pretensions to the crown of England. The moral and political reforms
with which Henry commenced his reign, and, above all, the cven-handsd
measure of justice which he caused to be observed towards all who pre-
sumed to infringe ihe laws, gave great oQbnce to many of tliose haugbij
nobles who had been accustomed to commit the most (lagrant crinwa
with impunity, and to oppress their hmnbler neighbours, withont lirar
of being anaianed for their misdeeds. The estabhshroent of ttie ei]iii(i-
ble laws whicl protected the wives and daughtere of Englishmen froa
insult, the honest trader from wrong and robbery, and the poor (tea
violence, were attributed to the inQuence of Matilda, whom they insult'
ingly styled "the Saxon woman,"' and murmured at the rimoM
fwlf«i(its which her preaence and authority imposed upon the eoort'
The conjugal afleciJon which subsisted between the royal pair, exeiiedi
witfial, tlie ridicule of those who bod been the profligate associates of

Hafwnitl'i Tluee Norman Eingi. 'PeunanL

Which mightr woiki were of iiifimie uh u> oiir anceaion in ngei laier tbse Af
Noiunui era. Kobcrl of Gloucesier ipwJii of (heir uiiLity m hu daj, and i^

"Thilk wnj-p by mony a town do wend."
Thifny. *EBdiMV.

MATILDA OF SCOTLAND. 101

the bachelor king, William Rufiu ; and it was universally displeasing to
the haughty Norman peers, to see the king's gracious demeanour
towards the hitherto oppressed and dispirited English portion of his sub-
jects, for whom his amiable consort was constantly labouring to procure
a recognition of their rights. ^ The malice of certain evil-minded men,"
says E^mer, ^ busied itself in inventing the most cutting railleries on
king Henry and his wife of English blood. They nicknamed them
Leofric and Godiva, and always called them so when not in the royal
presence.'' * It is probable that Warren, the disappointed suitor of Ma-
tdda, and his kinsman Mortimer, with others of the audacious Norman
quens^ who had previously exercised their wit in bestowing an offensive
Mobriquet on Henry before his accession to the throne, were among the
foremost of those invidious detractors, who could not endure to wimess
the wedded happiness of their sovereign, and the virtuous influence of
his youthful queen.

The invasion of duke Robert, Henry's eldest brother, on his return
from the Holy Land, took place in the second year of Matilda's mar-
riage. King Henry's fleet being manned with Norman seamen, and, of
course, under the influence of Norman chiefs, revolted, and, instead of
guarding the coasts of England from the threatened invasion of the duke,
swept across the narrow seas, and brought him and his armament in
triumph to Portsmouth, where he was joined by tlie majority of the
Anglo-Nonnan baronage.' Robert had also his partisans among the
English ; for Edgar Atheling so far forgot the interests of his royal
niece, queen Matilda, as to espouse the cause of his fnend Robert against
the king her husband.

Robert landed at Portsmouth, and marched direct to Winchester, where
queen Matilda then lay in with her flrst-born child, William the Atheling.
When this circumstance was related to the duke, he relinquished his
purpose of storming the city, with the observation, ^ that it never should
be said he conunenced the war by an assault on a woman in childbed,
for that would be a base action.'"

Matilda duly appreciated this generous consideration, on the part of
her ro3ral brodier-in-law and godfather, and exerted all her influence to
negotiate a peace between him and her lord, in which she was assisted
by the good offices of the archbishop Anselm ; and this formidable crisis
passed over without the eflusion of a drop of blood.^ These are Har-
dinge's words on the subject :

**But Anselm archbishop of Canterbury,
And queen Matilda, made tliem well accord;
The king to pay three thousand marks yearly
To duke Robert, withouten more discord."

AAer this happy pacification, Henry invited Robert to become his
goest at the court, where the easy-tempered duke was feasted and enter-
tained, greatly to his satisfaction, by his royal god-daughter Matilda,'
who, in her love of music, and the encouragement she bestowed on

^Eadmer. Thierxy. * Saxon Annals, a.d. 1101.

' Cbronique de Normandie. * Ibid. * VL Pax\&.

9»

I

I

IfK MATILDA OF SC OT I. A :« D.

minsliels, or Iromieres, quite coincided vith the uatea of her epotaot
and broUier-in-Uw ; " for," rays Malmsbur>'i " e^eiy poel haslMted to
ilie court of Matilda to read his verses to that queen, and to partake of
her bounty." ' So much did Robert enjoy hia sojourn at Henry's court,
that he stayed ihere upwards of six moiiiha, though liis presence wu
grpBily required in his own dominions*

An uufortunale nibunderslanding took place between Henry and the
archbishop Anselm, early in the yew- 1103. Tliia quarrel originated in
an aileropt made by the archbishop, to deprive the king of s privilege,
which had been claimed by the Saxon monarchs, of appointing his owa
bishops Aneelm wished to restore the nominaiion to ihc chapten,
which llenry resolutely opposed. Both appealed to the pope, bm Ab-
Gelm went to Rome, to plead his own cause against the king's thrM
advocates, and remained in exile.

The following year Robert revisited England, either to demand pay-
ment of hia pension, or to raise a revolt. He was, however, attended
by only twelve gentlemen. Henry, having speedy information of hu
landing, declared, if he fell into liia hands, he would keep him so closely
imprisoned, that he should never give him any more trouble. "' Not mv
eint," replied the count de Melleni, « he is yotir brother, and God Imbiif
tliat you should do so great a villany; let me meet and talk with bin,
and I will take care that he shall return quietly into Normandy, lad
give you acquittance of his pension withal."

" By my &iih," replied the king, " 1 will make yon do what you say."
The count then mounted his horse, and encountering duke Robert «n
the road to Southampton, greeted him with these words: '^St.Maiy!
what brings you into this country f Who has eiven you such Ciial
counsel? Tou know you have hitherto compelled (he king to pay yoB
four iliousand marks a-year, and for this cause you will be taken and
put to death, or detained in prison for life. He is deierniineil lo bt
avenged on yon, I promise you." When the duke heard this ha mf
greatly disturbnl, and asked '^ if he could not return to SouthampMti ?"
"No," replied Melleni, "the king will cause you to be intercepted; bat
even if you could reach that place, the wiud is contrary for yoar taeapi
by sea.'^
"Counsel me," cried the duke. " what I ought to do."
*» Sire," replied the count, " the queen is apprised of the nem, ml
you know that you showed her great kindness when you gave dp ttw
BAMiilt on Winchester, because she lay in cliildbed there. Hasten to
her, and commit yourself and your people to her care, and [ am sure *i»
will guard you from all harm." Then duke Robert went to the qneea!
and sbe received and reassured him very amiably, and by the sweel
words she said to him, and the fear he was in of being token, ho vai

'Matilda wm »o generous h palron of poeli Biiii minsirela, lliat tlie irhrtnicbn

declan tbej crowded Ler rouil from nil paiti of Europe, and Ndtiff h«t imim

III jireHnted her wilti their ptneffftici ; sJid Ilie onljr fnuli leA oa het masiarf

thai ifae HMneiime* oppteueU liei lenanu. and jpeni ber monueg too ciMdj.

... _ ■ , .. "■ ■limm of Malraabury. '

'Cbtoniqna da Normandia.

J*. uiH Ban BuiiiBujiie* oppreued nri wiiBrjis.
in providiiig rewanli Ibr ihete BBDUy. — Will.

I *ina. " — ^ — '- •

MATILDA OF SCOTLAND. 103

induced to sacrifice those pecuniary claims on the king his brother, for
which he had resigned the realm of England.

When Henry hound that his brother had granted an acquittance for this
money to the queen, he sent to the queen, to come to him with duke
Robert. Matilda brought the duke to the king, and the duke thus ad-
dressed him :

^ Fair sire, I am come to see you out of afiection, and not to injure
either you or yours. We are brothers, bom of one &ther and one mo-
ther. If I am the eldest, you liave the honour of a crown, which is a
much better thing. I love you well, and thus it ought to be. Money
and rents J seek not of you, nor ever will. I have quitted to the queen
all yoa owe me for this kingdom. Enter we now together into perfect
amity. We will exchange gifts of jewels, dogs, and birds, with such
things as ought to be between brothers and friends."

^ We will do as yon say," replied the king, ^ and thanks for what
you have said." '

The Saxon chronicler and some other historians affirm, indeed, that
he invaded England ; ^ but it is plain," says Sir John Hay ward, ^ that
he only came mr di^rt and play," that is, to recreate himself at the
eovti of Henry Beauclerc, and to enjoy the agreeable society of the
queen his god^ughter, with the music and minstrelsy in which they
both so greatly de^ghted.

Well would it have been for the luckless Robert, if all his tastes liad
been equally harmless and refined ; but he had propensities disgraceful
to his character as an individual, and ruinous to his fortunes as a prince.
The chroniclers relate that he indulged in such excess of revelry, while
he was at the Enriish court, that he was often in a state of inebriation
foi days together.'

According to some historians, Robert resigned his pension to Matilda
at a carouse, and when he becaime aware of the folly of which he had
been guilty, he was greatly exasperated, and bitterly reproached his bro-
ther Henry ^ with having cheated and despoiled him, by employing the
queen to beguile him with &ir words out of his pension, when he was
under the influence of wine."*

There was nothing but animosity between the royal brothers, after
this a&ir. Robert's indignation at the trick he had been played, led
him to make use, not only of reproaches, but menaces, against Henry,
who availed himself of that excuse to make war upon him. In the year
1 104, Henry left the ffovemment of England in the prudent hands of
Matil^ and embarked for Normandy. While there, he consented to
meet Anselou the archbishop, at the castle of PAigle, where, through the
mediation of his sister Adela, countess of Blois, a reconciliation was
happily eflected. Anselm then returned to En^nd, where he was met
at Dover by the queen Matilda, who received and welcomed him with
the greatest demonstrations of satisfaction.* As the venerable primate

* Chroniqae do Normandie, 24S->9. * Eadmer. ' Ibid. Gemiticensis.

* Fucal IL admitted Anselm, the ikvourite priest and prelate of Matilda, to a
■eat near his right ibot, saying, " We admit this prelate into our circle, he being,
as if were, the pope of the &rther hemisphere."— Godwin de Ihaei*

I

I

404 HAT1I.0A OF SCOTIiAnn.

in leeble health, ihe queen look llie precaution of preceding him pn
nrait from Dover to ihe oietrapolie, proTicliag, as she went. Cor h*
comfurls aud Accoioinudaiion.'

Matilda, ind^'pendeuLly of the feeling of political cxpodiency wltidi
rendered this public lestimonial of respect to the archbishop oceinUci
After the onpopuUr schism between him and her royal husband, ms, is
all probability, oatundly inclined to testify her regard for a person who
tiad been to actively ioatniineiital ia raising her to tlie exalted siatioa
which she then enjoyed.

Tct the return of Anseloi was attended with circumstances which ga*(
great pain to Matilda, as an English queen. Both the king anil arch-
bishop, after their reconciliation, uniietl in enforcing inesorably the cct
bary of the Anglo-Saxon clergy, whose lower orders had previotwly
been able lo obtain licenses to marry. Anselm now excommunicated
kll the married clergy.

Two hundred of these unfortunate Saxons, barefoot, but clad in iheit
clerical robes, encountered the king and queen in the streets of London.
They implored the king's compassion j he turned from them with vcnli
of insult. They then supplicated the queen lo intercede for ilicfu, bol
Matilda, with tears in her eyes, assured them "' that she dared n&t inbo^
fere."'

The year 1104 was marked by the binh of a princess, who was fini
named Alice, or Adelais,' but whose name the king afterwards cliangeil
to that of his beloved and popular queen, Matilda. This princ««t WM
afterwards the celebrated empress Matilda. Some writers, on the aiulu^
rily of Gervasius, the monk of Canterbury, assert that she was the fat
born child of Henrj- and Afatilda; but tjie fact that prince WillioiikTli

tborn child of Henrj- and Aiatilda; but tjie fact that prince Wdlwiik-«||^^
eighteen at the lime when the fatal loss of the nliite ship deprived JE^^|
land of her heir apparent, in the year 1 1 20, makes it evident that Iw^^H
the eldest of the two. It has been said that Matilda placed iter iSl^n
(laughter, for education and nmture. in tlte Koyal Abbey of W3t^^

I

where uhe had herself completed Iter studies.

The profound trwiquillily thai subt.istcd in her husband's dominions,
during his frequent absences in r^onnBnJy,is a proof that Matilda ns-
tterslood the art of domestic goTcmment, and practised it with a liap-
pier eflect tlian the two first Anglo-Normaji sovereigns, whose teips
were so greatly disturl>ed by insurrections.

Henry, oRei his successful campaign iti Normandy, returned to Eng-
land— ni his personal appearance, ut least, an altered man. The An^(^
Normans Imd adopted the picitire^jue Saxon fashion — which, however,
was ccHilineil to persons of high rank — of wearing their liair long, aad
Howing in ringlets on tlieir shoulders ; and tlie king was rtinarkable iat
the luxuriance and beauty of his lovp-locks, which he cherished viih
peculiai' care, no doubt out of a laudable desire to conform to the butw
of Ids queen, the daughter of a Saxon princess. His courtiers imhatal
the royal example, which gave great ncandal to the Norman ctcrff-
One day, while the king was in Normandy, he and his train eiiioM a

MATILDA OF SCOTLAND. 105

ehnrch, where an ecdesiastic of the name of Serlo, bishop of Seez, took
ap his parable on the ainfalneas of this new fashion/ ^ which," he pro-
tested, ^ was a deTice of the evil one to bring souls into everlasting per-
dition ; compared the moustached, bearded, and long-haired men of that
age to filthy goats ;'^ and, in short, made so moving a discourse on the
unloveliness of their present appearance, that the king of England and
his eonrtiers melted into tears ; on which Serlo, perceiving the impres-
sion which his eloquence had made, drew a pair of scissors out of his
sleeve, and, instead of permitting their penitence to evaporate in a few
unmeaning drops, persuaded his royal and noble auditors to prove the
sincerity of their repentance, by submitting their ringlets to his discre-
tion, and brought hu triumph to a climax, by polling the king and con-
gregation with his own hands.'

Henry was then courting popularity, in the duchy of Normandy, and
well knew that the readiest way to effect his object, was to win the
good report of the monks. He had previously scandalized all piously
disposed persons, by choosing for his private chaplain a priest whose
only merit consisted in being able to hurry over matins and mass in half
an hour. This was Roger le Poer,' afterwards the rich and potent
bishop c^ Salisbury, whose hasty despatch of the morning service so
charmed Henry, that he swore aloud in the church, ^ that he had at
length met with a priest fit for a soldier." Roger, when he received
this flattering commendation from the lips of royalty, was only a poor
curate at Caen, but was advanced by Henry to the highest preferment in
the chureh and state.

After Henry had submitted his flowing ringlets to the reforming shean
of Serlo, he published an edict, compelling his lieges to relinquish these
sinful adornments also.

Qpeen Matilda did not long enjoy the society of her royal husband
in England, and during the brief period he spent with her at Northamp-
ton, in the winter season, his whole time and thoughts were employed
in raising the means for pursuing the war in Normandy. His unfortu-
nate brotfier, Robert, finding himself sorely pressed on every side, and
left, by his own improvident folly, without resources for continuing the
contest, came over to England unattended, and, repairing to the court at
Northampton, forced an interview with Henry * (who was reluctant to
admit him into his presence), and earnestly besought his compassion,
telling him at the same time, ^ he was ready to submit ever^nhing to his
brotherly lore, if he would only permit him to retain the appearance of
a sovereign.'* As it by no means suited Henry's policy to yield to the
dictates of natural aflection, he coldly turned away, muttering some-
thing to himself, that was unintelligible to the by-standers, and which
he could not be induced to explain.

Robert's quick temper could not brook this contemptuous usage, and,
in a paroxysm of rage, he indignantly assailed his younger brother with
a storm of reproaches, mingled with abuse and menaces ; and without
waiting to employ the good offices of queen Matilda, through whose

> Ordarieiu Vltalis. ' Ibid. • Godwin de Praes. « M.^vlt\%.

r

I

VK UATILDA OF SCOTL\IVD.

kinill}' inflapnce it b possible he might luive obtained reasonable condi-
lions of peace, he departed from Nortlinmptnn the saine hour.

Id tlie spring, Henry once more commiiied the domeaiic aSiun of hi*
kingdom to the cnre of Matilda, and having levied an enormous tux on
his subjects, lo support the upensca of the war, eintwrked for S<v
mnndy.

Matilda waa principally employed, during the king's absenre, in vf

grintendiog the inagnilicent buildings at New Windsor, which were
mided by Henry, and in the completion of thu royal apaitments in iha
Tower of London. She. as well as Henry, patronised Gtmdulph, ibt
tjaacopei architect, to whom England is indebted for the most nnigni6-
cent and lasting of her public buildings. Itlany useful pubLe work*, to
which we have before alluded, furnished, under her auspices, emplt^
ment for the working classes, and iniproved the general condition of ibe
people.

While civilisation and the art* of peace were rapidly progresaiBg,
throug!) the beneficial influence of Maiiiila, at home, the arms of hef
royul consort were universally triunipliani in Normandy. The unfo^
timale Robert Coutthose, with his young son William, (who was callsd
Clito, or royal heir,) with the earl of Montaigne and all the nobles of
their party, were taken prisoners, at the decisive battle of I'inchebny,
which was fought on the vigil of St. Michael, exactly forty years after
the famous batde of Hastings. The English were much elated at ihi*
(^ircuniB lance, whereby they flattered ^eir national pride with the idea,
that the husband of their beloved queen, of Saxon lineoget had wiped
away the dishonour <^ the Norman conquest, by subjugating Normandy
to the yoke of England.' Edgar Atheling, Matilda^s uncle, was lakra
fighting for hb friend Robert of Normandy, besides four hundred valiant
knights.* Henry instantly released the aged prince, for love of th«
queen his niece, say some of the chroniclers of that period, and at her
intercession settled a pension upon him for life.

Henry, now at the summit of his ambition, baring verified the death-
bed prediction of his father, the Conqueror, that he should unite in lii^
own person the inheritance of both his brothers, returned Iriumphanilf
lo England witli his unfortunate captives. Bobert he sent to Oordifl
Castle, where for a lime his confinement was ordy a sort of honounUt
restraint — at least, if we may credit ilie account which Henry tthntctf
gives of it, in a letter to the pope ; as followa :

« 1 have not," says he, " imprisoned him as an enemy ; but 1 have
placed him in a royal castle, as a noble stranger broke down with many
truvbies, and I supply him abundantly with every delicacy and eqjc^

1 year at Bath, and, during ikt
of making a royal prc^Hi

?nry and Matilda kept their Es
Irmlurcd the popula
through dilferent parts of England.'

The following year Henry and Matilda kept court, for Uie first tinft
at New Windsor, then called, from the picturesque winding of the lint
Thames, Windlesore.

' W. Malmi^jurj.

MATI&DA OF 8COTLAHD. 107

This beautifal retreat was originally used as a hunting-eeat by William
the Conqueror, who, for better security of his person, converted it into
a fortress or castle; but the extensive alterations and improvements
which the elegant tastes of the Beauclerc sovereign and his accomplished
consort Matilda of Scotland effected, first gave to Windsor Castle the
magnificent and august character, as a royal residence, which has ren-
dered it ever since a fiivourite abode with succeeding sovereigns.

In the year 1108, the afiirs of Normandy requiring the presence of
the king, another temporary separation took place between Matilda and
her ro^ lord* Indeed, from the time that the duchy of Normandy was
subjected to his sway, it became a matter of necessity, in order to pre-
serve his popularity with his continental subjects, to pass a considerable
portion of his time among them. Meanwhile the peace and integral
prosperity of BIngland were best promoted by the presence of Matilda,
who formed the bond of union between Henry of Normandy and the
Saxon race. Therefore it appears to have been a measure of political
expediency for her to remain, with her splendid court, at Westminster
or London, endearine henwlf daily more and more to the people, by her
works of princely (Parity, and the public benefits which she was con-
stantly labooring to promote. Thus we see, on accurate examination,
that, contrary to the assertions of one or two paradoxical writers, who
have assumcm that Matilda was not treated with the afiection and respect
that were her due in wedded life, she enjoyed a degree of power and
influence in the state, perfectly unknown to the Saxon queens.

Matilda was so nobly dowered withal, that in after reicns the highest
demand ever made on the part of a queen-consort was, that she should
be endowed with a dower equal to that of Matilda of Scotland.*

By close examination of the earliest authorities, we find, that the first
parlmments held by the Anglo-Norman dynasty, were the fruits of the
virtuous influence of this excellent queen over the mind of her husband.
Bat as the (act that parliaments were ever held before the reigns of
Henry III. and Edward I. has been a point of great contest among modem
historians, we feel it indispensable to bring forward our proofs, first, that
parliaments were held ; and next, that they were held through the influ-
ence of Matilda. The eariiest historian who wrote in English, Robert
of Gloucester, declares of Henry I.'

** When his daughter was ten years old, to coaxicil there he drew,
On a Whitsunday, a greet parliament he namt (held)
At Weftmh»ter noble enow, that mneh folk came." '

The other &ct is proved by Piers of Langtof^ a parallel historian,
who wrote in French, and, with the most minute detail, points out the
classes of whom Matilda advised Henry to take counsel— viz., barons,
lonis of towns, and burgesses. Here are the lines :

^TjrrrelL ' Vol. ii., p. 430. The edition is royal octavo.

* Robert of Oloooetter died before he completed the reign of Henry III ; con-
•eqaently, if the first parliaments were held in that of Edward I., he could not
eren have mentioned such legislative assemblies without possessing the gii\ of
prophecy.

Matilda of Scotland.

' Mkld iliii gnod qseen gnre bim in c^ouixril
To JoTr (ll bii Tolkt and Iroie all hit ttirprik, (dispuiingj
To benr him wiili his bBroiu that Leld of Urn their Ceet, (feoU^,
And v> lordi of towns and burgipsaca of cities ;
Thiongb couni:iJ of Ditme Maid, s kind womaa ind mm,
lantead of hatred old, there now wa» ioTe alt new;
Wow love <h^ fiill Weil the barons and the king.
The king does ilk a deal ai their biddint."

I

I

I

Roben of Gloucester, &om first to last, speaks of queen MatitJa u
tax active agent in the government of England, and the resiurer u>d
upholder of the Saron fortn of legislature, whose sptem was that of a
representative constitution. He says,

"The goodness thai king Henry and the good queen Mold
Did to tbii Iimd ne may never be sold."

The y«nr 1 109 must have been an era of eventful interest to Matilik.
Her royal husband, having spent the winter and spring in Nnroiuiiljr,'
Teiumed to England in the summer, to visit her and their infant bmilgr,
and kept court with ancommon splendour, in his new palace at Windsor,
which liad been completed in his absence. It was there that he recetveil
the ambaasadors who came to solicit the hand of the princess Malildt
for the emperor Henry V,' The proposal was eagerly acc«p(«d br
Henry Beauelerc ; sud the princess, then jusl turned of five year* old,
was solemnly espoused, by proxy, to her roval suitor, who was fortr
years her nenior; but, on account of her tender age, the infiint bfin
was aHowed for the present to remain under the care of the queen hn
mother.*

About ihe same period Alexander the Fierce of Scotland, Matilda^
brother, condescended to wed Isaliella, the youngest illeeitimaie Uaufhnr
of his sister's husband. His motives for contracting this alUanee m
tlilficult to imagine, since the young lady wu remarkable for ^i« pWi*
ness of her person and ilie impropriety of her contluct'

The fact that Henry's numerous illegitimate children were many of
them adults at (lib period, proves that they were bom in his youth, and
at all evetils before his marriage with Matilda of Scotland.

In the year 1109, the mi^ly Norman chief Fitz-Haynuin, lurd of
Glamorgan, dying without sons, left the lady Aimabel, his young luana,
to the guardianship of l]ie king. Henry, wishing to secure eo rich %
prize for his eldest natural son Robert, proposed him to his fair ward,
>s a suitable huabaDd for her. But the haughty Norman damsel, thnofh
only sixteeo, intrepidly replied, "■ That the ladies of her bouse were iiM
Bccuiiiomeil to wed nameless persons."

Then the king answered, "Neither shall thou, damsel; for 1 wiD
pre my son a fair name, by which he and his sons shall be called.
Robert Fitzroy shall be his name hencerorlh."

"BuU" objected the prudent heiress of Glamorgan, "a name so given
14 nodiing. Where are the lands, and what the lordship, of Uie aaa
voD will me to wed, sire ?"

' Saxoa Aiumlr. 'U. Paris. Houtiogdon. *M. Paris.

MATILDA OF SCOTLAND. 109

^ Truly,** responded the king, with a smile^ ^ thy question is a shrewd
one, damsel : 1 will endow my son Robert with the lauds and honours
of Gloucester, and by that title shall he henceforth he called."

The lady Aimabel made no further demur, we are told, but wedded
the king's son without delsry. The fact was, the king was generously
bestowing upon his son Robert the lands imd honours which had been
granted or sold to Fits-Haymon, hef deceased father, by William Rnfus,
once the patrimony of the luckless Brihtric Meaw,' and the young lady,
who seems to have been gifted with no ordinary share of worldly wis-
dom, thought, no donbt, that she had better hold the lands and honours
of Gloucester on the tenure of wife-service to the king's son, than lose
them altogether. Such were the dealings of the Anglo-Norman sots*
reigns wiUi their wards. The high-spirited heiress of Fitz-Haymon
was, however, fortunate in the marriage that was thus arranged for her
by her ro3ral guardian. Robert Fitzroy was the princely ean of Glou-
cester who so valiantly upheld the title of his half-sister, the empress
Matilda, to the English crown, in the succeeding reign.

The following year, an enormous tax, of mree shillings on every
hide of land, was levied, to pay the portion of the princess Matilda, by
which the sum of 824,0002. was raised ; and the princess was sent over
to her imperial husband with a magnificent retinue : she was espoused
to him in the cathedral of Mentz,' and solemnly crowned by the arch-
bishop of Cologne.

Queen Blatilda was in the next year left to keep court alone, in con-
sequence of a formidable insurrection in Normandy, in fiivour of Wil-
liam Clito, son of the unfortunate Robert Ck>urthose, which was pri-
vately fomented by the earl of Flanders. King Henry, perceiving that
all classes of his continental subjects were averse to the yoke of an
absent sovereiffn, considered it expedient to forego the society of his
queen and theur children, for a period of nearly two years, while he held
his separate state in Normandy.

In the year 1 1 12, we find the king and queen* were together at Win-
chester, with their court, where they personally assisted at the removal
of the bodies of Alfred the Great, and his queen Alswitha, from the
ruinous chapel of Newminster, close to Winchester Oathedral, to the
magnificent abbey of Hjrde,* founded and endowed by Henry and Ma-
tilda, as a more suitable shrine for the relics of their illustrious progeni-
tor^ — ^from whom, be it remembered, Henry, as well as his Saxon queen,
was descended in the eighth generation, through the marriage of Els-
trith, the daughter of AUred, with an eari of Flandeia, his maternal
ancestor.

Here, too, the bones of Edward the Elder, and his queen, the imme-
diate ancestors of Matilda, were at the same time translated.*

— - — — *

' See the preeedint Biogmpby, and Domeadaf -book.

' Simeon of Durham. ' Aroheolosia.

* Henry VIIL bmmlly deteerated the place where reposed tiie remain* of these
patriot Borereignt. Englishmen of the eighteenth centar^i more barbarous still,
converted the holy fime into a bridewell, and the bones of AUred were by felon
hands exhumed. * AxobKoVo^EA.

TOL. I. — JO

I

I

I

I

MATILDA OF SCOTLAND.

Tlie following yrar Henry was again in Nonnnndy, where he eiilvrrd
into an bmicabie Ucaiy wiih one of his most troublesome eneniiee, Fulk
earl of Anjnu, by a mBtrimoRial alliance between his heir, prince Wil-
liam, and AlicCf the daughter of that earl.

The educaiioa of Matilda's eldest daughter being considered as roat-
pleicd in IIU, the marriage was fully solemnized between her and tlia
emperor Henry V^ and ihey were both crowned a second time, wilb
great pomp, in the cathedral at Meniz. The young empress was liieo
only in her twelfth year. Notwithstanding this great disparity in sgc^
it appears that the youthful bride enjoyed a reaiionable share of happi-
ness with her mature consort, by whom she was treated with the
greatest indulgence, while her great beauty and majestic carriage won
ihe hearts of the German princes, and obtained for her unboanded popn-
lariiy.

Matilda^B eldest son, prince William, (or the Alheling, as he was moN
generally styled by the Rnglish,^ was, in tlie year 1113, conducted by
tiie king hie father with great pomp into Normandy, where he was pie-
aented to the stales as the heir of the duehy, and fealty was sworn to
)ii:n by the barons and fieemen. This prince was then only twelre
years old. He relumed with his roj'al father to England in July, and
the following year Henry summoned that memorable parliament men-
tioned by Uolinahed, as the first held since the Normsn conquest, to
meet at Sulisbur}', and there appointed the young prince as his successtx.
William of Halmsbury says, ^ Every freeman of England and Normvt-
dy, of whatsoever degree, or to whatsoever lord his vassal service wM
due, was made to perform homage, and swear fealty to William, son of
king Henry and queen Maiihia." The Easter festival was kepi this jm
by the royal &mily at Odiliam Castle, in Hampshire.

Matilda passed the Christmas festival of the aame year, io tlie com-
pany of her royal husband, at the abbey of St. Alban's.' They were tht
giiesis of abbot Richard, who had then brought to a happy conclunW
ihe building of lliat magnificent fabric. He invited die queen, who mu
one of its benefactresses, the king, and the archbishop of Rouen, and
many prelates and nobles, to assist at the consecmtion of the tbbry,
which took place Christmas-day, 1115. The royal pair, with their soils
of nobles and ladies, were lodged in the abbey, and entertained from
December 25th to January 6ih. The queen, sanctioned by Ucfuy,
gave, by charter, two manore to SL Alban's. The eiisieiice of a pM^
trah of queen Matilda is certainly owing to this visit; for in a tidi
illuminated volume, called the Golden Book of Sl Alban*s, (now to ttw
British Museum,) may still be seen a miniatnre of the royal beocA^
tress.' The queen is attired in the royal mantle of scarlet, lined wttk

' Newcome'a Hiatorj of Sl Alban's, pp. 52. 93.

'Cotlonian MSS. Ncro D. T. A beBiiuAil and accuiaie vopj from tha otifSMi
tins Iwen dmwn by M. Eraroey at ibe expense of Heoiy Howard, Esq. Kf
Corby, the detoendiial or MaiiUla, anil pivKnteil by luni to ibe nuthon or ttni
work. Ii oOTKGIs, in many paniculan. the eiioii of an enpitvinir (iubli*lied hf
SlrulL We bava llie opporlunily, in this second ediiioo, of devribiug Maltid*^
patlrail, latm an eiaDiiualian of the Golden Book itwif. The Golden B ' '

MATILDA OF BCOTLAHD. Ill

white for; it eoreis the knees, and is very long. The mantle is square
to the host A cordon of scarlet and gold, with a large tassel, passes
through two gold knobs : she holds the cordon in her left hand. She
wears a tight kirtle of dark blue, buttoned down the front with gold.
Her sleeres fit close to the arms, and are scarlet like the mantle. A
white Teil is arranged in a square form on tlie brow, and is surmounted
by a gold crown, formed of three large trefoils, and gold oreillettes ap-
pear beneath the veil, on each side of the cheeks. The veil flows
behind her shoulders with lappets. Matilda is very fiur in complexion :
the has a long throat, and elegant form, of tall proportions. She dis-
plays with her right hand the charter she gave the abbey, from which
bangs a Tery lai^ red seal, whereon, without doubt, was impressed her
effigy in grand relief She sits on a carved stone bench, on which is a
scarlet cushion figured with gold leaves. This cushion is in the form
of a woolpack, but has four tassels of gold and scarlet. A piece of
figured doih is hung at the back of her seat There are no armorial
bearings — one proof of the authenticity of the portrait ^ Queen Ma-
tildis gave us Bculwick and Lillebum,'' is the notation appended by the
monks of St Alban's to this portrait

About this period, the stately new palace at Woodstock being com-

Ceted, and the noble park, reckoned the finest at that time in England,
ivinff been walled round, Henry stocked it with a curious menagerie
of wild beasts, the first zoological collection ever seen in this country.
It is described in very quaint terms by Stowe, who says, ^ The king
craved from other kii^ lions, leopards, lynxes, and camels, and other
curious beasts, of which England hath none. Among others, there was
a strange animal called a stryx, or porcupine, sent him by William of
Montpelier; which beast," says the worthy chronicler, ^^is, among the
Africans, counted as a kind of hedgehog, covered with pricking bristles,
which they shoot out naturally on the dogs that pursue them."

Unbounded hospitality was one of the social virtues of this peaceful

St. AIbaD*s ii a lort of conventual album, in which were entered the portraits of
all the beneftctort of the abbey, together with an abstract of their donations.
FiTe different artists, of various degrees of ment, may be traced in this collec-
tion. Some of the miniatures are exquisitely designed and coloured, others aro
barbaioos and puerile in their execution ; some <if the portiaits are represented
holding well-filled purses, others displaying tho charters, with large pendent
seals, which secured broad lands to church and poor. It is true, that Matilda's
portrait was not entered till the fourteenth century, when the book was first
commenced ; bat the style of dress, together with the form of the throne on
whieh the queen is seated, prove that the original design was drawn in the
queen^s own day ; for the artists of the middle ages drew only what they saw ;
and had die limner been inclined to give a supposititious portrait of queen Ma-
tilda, he would have designed her figure clad in the costimie of Edward the
Third's era, and seated in the high-backed Gothic chair of state on which royal
persons were enthroned since the days of Edward the First, as may be seen by
reference to any collection of engravings from regal seals ; instead of which,
Matilda is seen seated on the primitive stone bench of Anglo-Saxon royalty,
represented oa the seals of the Aogto-Norman and early Plantagenet mo-
Bar:ba.

r„ ...„...,....,...,
nign,' especiallT at this pecniinr era, «-heii llie benignant example of the
rooil queen hail, for a perioil of ncsrly seventeen years, pruduceil lite
hnppicst eftxt in sojlening the manners of the haughty aitd powerfiil
Korman femilies, who were ai that lime the magnaies of ihe lanJ.
The Noriuan tiunilte:), at this perii>il, were beginning to practise same
of the poaceful pursuits of the Anglo-Saxons, anJ la^iea of high rank
considereil it no infringement on the dignity of their station to attend to
tlie prolilnbte concerns of the poultry-yard and the dairy. The counien
Constance of Chester, though the wil« of Hugh Lupus, the king's fini
eousin, kept a lieni of kine, and nmle good Cheshire cheeses, three of
which the presented to the archbishop of Canierbttiy. Giialdua Csia-
bricnsis bears honourable testimony to the exceUence of the produce of
the cheese-shire in that day.

A fresh revolt in Normantly' deprived Matilda of the society of her
husband and son in 1 1 17. The king, according to Eadmer, relumed and
Bpent Christmas with her. as she was at that time in a declining state of
health;* lesring prince William with his Norman baronage, as a ptedp
for his return.* His sojourn was, of necessity, very brief. He waa coot*
pelted, by the distracted state of affiiirs in Normandy, to rejoiii his anqr
^M there, and Slaiilda never saw either her husband or her sou again.

Resigned and perfect in all the duties of her high calling, the dyioi
I in her palace at Westminster,

I

i

I

queen remained, during this trying

lonely, though surrounded with all the splendour of royidiy ; endnriag
with complacency and patience the sepaiaiiun from her beloved consort
tiid children, and alTurding, lo thclaai hour of her life, a beautiful exantpls
of piety and self-denial.

She expired on the 1st of May, 1 11 S,* passionately lamented by eniy
class of the people, to whom her virtues and wisdom had reodcfcd bcr
inexpressibly dear.

Accorling to the most ancient chroniclers, the king her hosbaud ms
much afflicted when the intelligence of Matilda's deatli reiwhed hint,
amidst the turmoil of battle and siege in Nonnandy.'

Piers of Langtoft alludes lo llie grief fell by the royal wiilower, bIiIm
loss of his amiable consort, in terms of lite most homely Eimplicitjr >-

•' Now is die king torrj, bor dealh iloth liim gram'' (Buevc),

Hardinge's rhyming chronicle produces tiie following quaint stsniat
on the death (rf Matilda, and the sorrow of king Henry for her Icm :—

'Th« frillowing Terwa tiora ui Biiciein MS„ qumod by Collins, aliiird an iH»
inlinK wilneu of ttuB Jant. Tbrj were iuKriliea by iiir Willjim Fits-WtllMa
cha lurd of SpnHborongb, on an ancieui croii which wu damoliahed H As
EteCMtiiBCioni —

" Who«) is bm^^iy, and Vitta well to eni.
If I bin come U> Sprotboioogh lo bin meal.
And fot a ni^bt and a day
Ilu horte ihall tuive bolU corn and hsjr.
And DO ODB iball aak bim; ■ wbea he goetli away t* "
Oldviicui VitalU. ■ Saion Annals.

Eadmei, |). I IB; te« Rspin, toM IN. •William of HalmatMHyi

itaioo Anoal*. >Ki>bert GlouceMeb

MATILDA OF 9C0TLARD. IIS

*The yenr of Christ a thousand was full clear,
One hondred eke and therevrithal eighteen,
Whea good queen Maude was dead and laid on bieri
At Westmiiiater buryed, as well was seen;
For heaviness of which, the king I ween,
To Normandy then went with his son,
The doke William, and there with him did won.**

•e is, however, mistaken in supposing that Henry was with his
msort at the time of her decease.

ne chronicler gives us another stanza on the death of Henry,
ie, in yet more positive terms, speaks of the conjugal afiection
ted the Norman sovereign to his Saxon queen :

** Of Christens date was there a thousand year,
One hundred also, and nine and thirty mo,
Buryed at Redynge, as well it doth appear,
In the abbyo which there he founded so,
Of monkes black, whenever they ride or go.
That pray for him and queen Jiibude his wife,
Who either other loved withouten strife."

r chronicler says, ^Nothing happened to trouble the king,
eath of his queen Matilda, the very mirror of piety, humility,
»ly bounty." •

me causes that had withheld the king from attending Matilda
xig illness prevented him from honouring her obsequies witli
nee. Matilda was buried on St Philip's day in Westminster
I the right side of her royal uncle, Edward the Confessor.*
yutes, however, have existed as to the place of her interment,'
I been contested with almost as much zeal as was displayed by
cities of Greece, in claiming the honour of having given birth
'. The monks of Reading averred that their royal patroness
d in her own stately abbey there, where her illustrious consort
irards interred. The rhyming chroniclers insist that she was
Su PauPs cathedra], and that her epitaph was placed in West-
bbey. These are the words of Piers of Langtoft : —

** At London, in St, Paul's, in tomb she is laid,
Christ, then, of her soul have mercie.
If any one will toUten (know) of her storie,
At Westminster it is written readily.^*

> saVi so that it may be plainly read.

I declares that she was buried at Winchester, but that tablets to

ory were set up in many churches^ — an honour, which she

ith queen Elizabeth.

ollowing passage from the learned and fiiithful antiquary,

^pressly indicates that it was his opinion that the mortal

of Matilda, ^ the Good Qjueen,^ repose near the relics of her

:Ie, Edward the Confessor, in the solemn temple founded by

*e of Worcester. * Pennant's London. Robert of Gloucester*

ing to 8lowe, her grave was in the vettry of the abbey.

0* H

I

I

' 'I'M MATILDA OF SCOTLAND,

tnat lost Saxon mooarch, and vt-htch had been cnmpleletl under Iter rtrt-
fill superiniendence, "Here lielh in Weaiminster nbber, wiilioul wy
lomb, Matilda or Maad. daughter of Malcolm Canmore, king of Srav.
auil wife of Henry I. of En^and, who brought to him children, Wiliiutu
Itirhard, and Mary, who perished by shipwreck, and likewise Mawt,
who WHS wife to Henry, Uie lifUi emperor. She died the firvi day of
May. 1 1 18." ' She had an pxcelienl epigram made to her coauDeadi
lion, whereof these fonr verves only remain :

" Proipera non Inetnm feoeic, noo aspcra iriMem,

Non d«ror effltil ttnfiieio, non tceptnt eu]>eibsm,
Sol« poien* humilii. sola pudica dfcen«."

Benry of Huntingdon, the chronicler, no mean poet, was the aQlW
of these Latin lines. From the numerous transhlions exlsnl of lUi
beautiful epitaph, we select the following exquisite lines, which ease
Teiy close to the original, and aflbrd a lovely portrait of the fenunJM
graces of this admirable queen.

"SueceM ne'er sal Mnlting in (ler eye,
Nor diuppoimnWDi caused iho irc<|ueiil ligb ;
Beauty not raade her vain, nor icapicB ptouil,
Nor litlci taughi lo worn ihe mcBnec crowd ;
Supreme hurailiiy was awful giBoe,
And ber ben chnrm a basliruliieBi of Tace."

Matilda died in the eighteenth ycsr of her marriage, and about dit
forty-first of ber age. Her favourite residence was tlie royal pdare o(
the Saxon kings at Westminster, where, with occasional visits to N(w
Windsor, Winchester, and Woodslork. and other places in which ikt
king her busbaml thought proper lo hold his couild, ahe paaaed dw
greater portion of her wedded life.

Many curious remains still exist of the old pafacc in WeaUniiutoi
where Matilda kept slate as queen, and ended her life. This vetietMi
abode of our early sorereigns, was originally huilt by Canute, rniil. btiaf
devastated by fire, was rebuilt by Eklward the Confessor, with «uch «■
during solidity, that antiquaries still point out diflcrent poriious, whtrh
were indubitably the work of the royal Saxon, and thenfore must h»«
formed pert of the residence of his great niece. Part of the old palan
of Westminster is still lo be seen, in the buildings near Coilan-gardes.
and the lancet-shaped windows about Old Palace Yard are di^clarr^l w
apnerbiin to it.' Coiton-garden was the private garden of the uicteai
{niaee, and therefore belonged especially lo queen Matilda. It wiiiii)
be idle to dwell on Westminster Hall and Westminster Abbey, tlioi^
the original sites of both were included in the precincts of this pdwt
because one was rebuilt from the ground by Richard H., anil the oAb
by Henry III. Great devastation was made in the royal abode of ibt
.4riE;lo-Saion queen, by the late disasirnue conflagration of t' "
of Xiorda and its adjacent apartments, which all belonged to it.

■Weeiei'sFuneisl Mod

MATILDA OF SCOTLAHD. 115

The House of Lords was an antique oblong room ; it was the hall

uf state of Matilda's palace ; it was called the white-hall, but without

■ny reference to the Tast palace oi Whitehall, to which the seat of Eng^

iish Tojdlty was trensierred in the reign of Henry VIII. As the Painted

Chamber, still entire, is well known to have been the bedchamber of

Edward the Confessor, and the apartment in which he expired,* there

can be no doubt but that it was the state bedchamber of his niece. A

curious room in Cotton House was the private oratory of the Confessor,

and was assuredly used by Hatilda for the same purpose ; while at the

south end of the Court of Requests are. to be seen two mighty Saxon

arches, the lig-ng work of which indicates that its architecture is the

most ancient in our country. This was once a deserted state-chamber*

of the royal Saxon palace ; but it has been used lately by the House of

Commons.

There is a statue of Matilda in Rochester cathedral, which forms the
pilaster to the west door; that o£ king Henry, her husband, forms
another. The hair of the queen depends over either shoulder, in two
long plaits, below the knees. Her garments are long and flowing, and
she holds an open scroll of parchment in her hand.

King Henry proved the sincerity of his regard for Matilda, by con-
firming all her charters afler her death. Madox, in his History of the
Exchequer, quotes one of that monarch's charters, reciting ^ that he had
confirmed to the Priory of the Holy Trinity in London the grant of his
queen Matilda, for the good of her soul, of 25/., on the farm of the city
of Exeter, and commands his chief justiciar and the barons of his ex-
chequer to constrain the sheriflf (^ Devonshire to pay the same to the
aid canons."'

Matilda's household was chiefly composed of Saxon ladies, if we may
trust the evidence (^ Christian names. The maids of honour were
Emma, Gunilda, and Christina, pious ladies, and full of alms-deeds, like
their ro3ral mistress. After the death of the queen, these ladies retired
to the hermitage of Kilbum, near London, where there was a holy well,
or medicinal spring. This was changed into a priory* in 1 128, as the
deed says, ^for the reception of these three virgins of God, sacreil
damsels who had bdonged to the chamber of Matilda, the good queen-
coosort to Henry 1."*

History only particularizes two surviving children of Matilda of Scot-

* Howell.

'The appellatioii of Court of Requests has no reference to modem legal pro-
eeedinfs. It was the feudal court of the High Steward of England. It is naed
Vf the House of Commons since the destruction of St Stephen's Chapel, while
the Lords have taken possession of the Painted Chamber.

'Charter Antiq. N. n. 10.

*On its sita are a pubHo-honse and tea-gardens, now called Kilbum Wells.

* The original deed, preserved in the Cottonian MSS., Claudius A. says of these
maids of honooi^-^^ Tres virgines Deo sacratas domioellas, videlioit, oamere
Matildis bone regine Consortis regis Henrici primL" The term dumiedla proves
their rank was noble, as this term will be seen applied even to the daughters
^4 emperors.

I

I

r

•J 16 KATILDA OF SCOTLAND.

land and Henry I.; but Gervase, the monk of Canterbury, says she tiiiJ,
besides Williura and ihe empress Maiilda, a son named RiehsnI. Ilerint
Boeihius mentions a daughter of hers, named Euphcmia- The Suon
Clirnnicle and Itobert of Glouccsier both spe^ of tier second Mt
Richard. Piers of Langiofi lays, "The Inu princes, Iwr sons, wm
both in Normandy when Matilda died^" anil Hardinge eaya she had iva
eons, William and Richard.

Prince William never returned to England after ihe death of his nyil
mother. During the remainder of the year IMS, he was 6gbting by
his iaiher's side, against the invading force of the king of >'mitce, ud
the partisans of his cousin William Clito. On one occasion, when itw
noble war-horsG and its rich caparisons, belonging to that gallant bM
unfortunate prince, having been abandoned during a hasty retreat, wen
captured, and Henry presented this prize to his darling heir, the ddUb
youth generously sent them back, with a courteous message, to hi» lind
Lmsman ajid namesake.'

His royal father, king Henry, did not disdain to imitate the inagnaii-
mous conduct of his youthful son, after the memorable battle in wbidi
the standard of Trance ^vas taken: when the favourite charger of I»BiB
le Gros fell into his hands, he returned it to ilie Firach monarch the

The king of France, as murain of Normandy, at ihe general pacit-
cation, required of Henry the cusIomHry homage for his feof. Tlui iht
vicioriouB monarch considered derogatory to the dignity of a kinj of
England to perform, and therefore deputed the office to prince Williaai,
vrho was then invested with the duchy, and received the oath of ftalty
from the stales.' The prince solemnly espoused his betrothed liriot
.Mice, the daughter of Fulk, earl of Anjou, June 1119. King llmry
called her Matilda, out of respect, it is said, for the memory of h»
mother, but more probably I'rom a lender regard for bis deceased con-
sort. Matilda of Scotland, the love of his youth, and the mother of bit
children. The marriage was celebrated at Lisieus,' in the county o(
Burgundy ) and the prince remained in Normandy with his young bride.
attended by ail the youthful nobility of England and the dnchy, passing
the time gaily with feasts and pageants, till the 2Sth of November, io
the year 1120; when king Henry (who liad been nearly two yean
absent from his kingdom) conducted prince William, with liia retinne,!')
Barflcur,' for the purpose of embarking for England. The king and ha
(rain set sail the same night, leaving the prince to follow in another *hip.

Fiiz-Stephen, the captain of the Blanche JV>/"(the finest veswl in tb«
Norman navy) demanded the honour of conveying the heir of Engbad
home; because his father had commanded the Mora, the ship viluA
brought William the Conqueror to the sliores of England, lixa pelilioa
was granted; and the prince, with his gay and splendid company, entand
Ihe laial bark with light hearts, and commenced their voyage with minb
and minstrelay. The prince incautiously ordered three casks of wine ix

Holmtlied.
SaiOQ Amials.

■Ordericui Tinilis. TytielL

XATII.DA OP SCOTLAND. II'

k given to iKe sliip's crew; nnd the Bailora were, in consequence, fi*
~ it pari, intoxtcaleil, wlien they soileil, about ilie close of dav.
e Wiliiaiii. who waa desirous of overtaking the rest of (he'fleet)
1 Pitz-Stephen In crowd his sails, and put out hta sweeps. Filz>
a., hkviDg named the white ship as the swiftest vessel in the world,
alee ;^od his bottst, and oblige his royal passenger, caused his niea
Bsireich wiih all their might to the oars, and did everything to accele-
T the speed of Ub light bark. While the Blanche AV/ was rushing
Joa^ the water with the most dangerous velocity, she suddenly struck
■ k rock called the Calle-raze with such impetuosity, that she started
nral planks, and began to sink. All was instant horror, and confu-
MOO. The boat was, however, let down; and the young heir of Eng<
land, whh several of his youtliful companions, got into it, and having
cteoreil (he ship, might have reached the Norman shore in safety ; but
(be cries of his illegitimaie sister, Matilda countess of Perche, who di»-
tiBttly e«lled on him, by name, for succour, occasioning a tender impulse
if coBpuaion, he commanded the boat back, to take her in. Unfortu-
oalriy, the moment it neared the ship, such numbers spmng into it, that
it (BalaDiiy tank with its precious freight, and all on board perished \ and
af iIm thrae hundred persons who embarked in the white ship, but one
•ool neaped to tell the dismal tale. This person was a poor butcher of
BOHCfii naitipd Bcrthould, who climbed lo the lop of the niasl, aticl nu
■ke aext morning rescued by some lishermen. Fitz-Stephen, the master
tf dw luckless while ship, was a strong mariner, and stoutly supported
Umelf (or some hours in the water, till he saw Berihould on the mast,
ml calling to him, asked if the boat with the heir of England had
■Mfad; bm when the butcher, who had witnessed the whole cataslro-
■Iwt IHOmI, " that all were drowned and dead," the strong man's force
mW nm ; he ceased to battle with the waves, and sank to rise no
■orb'

Tbo nporl of this disaster reached England the next day. Theobald
<f Blois, ihe king's nephew, was the first who heard it; but he dared '
Mtinfocm his ancle of the calamity which had rendered his house deao* ,
Bendes the heir-opparetit of England, prince William, the Saxoa
lucler say*, there was another son of Henry and Matilda, named
Kidiard, and also Richard, a natural son of the king; Matilda, his natn-
■Idn^ter, countess of Perche; Richanl earl of Chester, his cousin,
(rilh bia briile, the young lady Lucy of filois, daughter of Henry's
tkiM Adelo, and the ilower uf the juvenile nobility, who are mentioned
if the &ixoa chroniclfr as a multiiude of " incomparable folk."

Kii^ H«iuy had reached England with his fleet in safety, and for three
4m WW penniited to remain in a stale of the most agonizing suspense
tsal nsmrteinty respecting the fate of his children. No one choosing
i<» iMMme the' bearer of such evil tidings, at length Theobald de Blois,
Ending it could no longer be concealed, instructed a favourite little pag*
■.'■ riMiimaniCBie the moumfid news to the bereaved father; and tbr
Mid, Rilenng ilie royal presence with a sorrowful step, knell down it
'Tliiciij's Anglo- Nocni Mil.

I

I

J

^118 MATILDA OF SCOTLAND.

Henrr'a feel, and told him that the prince and all on board the wluu
ahip Were lost. The ^real Henry was so lliumlera truck with lliis Jwtd
ful news, ihul he sia|;gered and »ank upon the floor iii a deep swn»n, in
which Elate he remained fur many hours. When he recovered, he brokt
iiUii ilie bitterest lameniations, magnilying at the sanie time the gm(
qualities of hia heir and the loss he ha<j suHi&ined ; Mid ilie ehroniclm
all agree that he was never again seen to smile.

It in Henry of Huntingdon who exults so uncharitably ot'er the Catat-
irophe of the white ship, in the following buret of poetic eloquenn:—

*^ The proud youth ; he thought of his future reign, when lio said ba
would yoke the Saxons tike oxen. But God said, ' It shall not be, di«
impious one, it shall not be :' and so it has come to pass ; that broir
has worn no crown of gold, bui has been dashed against the rnekt of
the ocean. It was Gi^ hiinseir who would not that tlie aoii of tk*
Norman should again see England."

Brompton also speaks unfavourahly of this unfortunate yonog ptiiM«i
but it should be rentembered thai England was a divided nation at thu
period, and that the Saxon chroniclers wrote in the very gall of iHtlai^
nest against tlioae whom the Norm^ historians commended. Iraf^ieit
credence is not to be giren to the assertions of either. It is only by
reading both, and carefully wcigliing and collating facts, that the irulb a
lo be elicited.

In the laat act of his life, William Alheting manifested s spirit so
noble, «o tenderly compassionate, and forgetful of selfish considorationi,
that we can only say it was worthy of the aon of Matilda, the good

The yonng wife of prince William was left a widow at the earif iga
of twelve years. She was not among the devoted company who atilcd
in the white ship.' Henry 1. was much attached to her, bnt alM If
turned lo her father, ihe earl of Anjou, and remaining constant to tbi
memory of her princely consort, she was veiled a nun at FonteTnod.
The body of prince William was never found.

^ueen Matilda's only surviving child, the empress Mntild», thw
became king Henry's heiress presumptive. She was the first feinale who
rlaimed the royal office in England. The events of her life are to
eloaety inierwoven with those of the two snccee<ling que«na, Ad<tiM,
Mid Matilda of Boulogne, her contemporaries, that to avoid Uie wdioB
of TPpeiition, and also to preserve the chronological stream of faiAcry
in unbroken unity, which is an important object, we must refer aw
readers to the lives and Times of those queens, for the personal bmUiJ
of this princess, from whom her present majesty queen Victoria dad
her title to llie crown of Englamt.

' She wu with kitig Heoiy in his >hip.

^

ADELICIA OF LOUVAINE,

8URNAMED THE FAIR MAID OF BBABANTi
SECOND QUEEN OF HENRT 1.

A^Ueia'a Ixnutr — Iinp«riKl descent fVoni Chnrlemasne — flumlard cmbroiilfred
liy AdBlteia — Pinrivod at Lkj[^~Atl*Iici« foaglit in ntarriag« \tj Honiy Ir—
tirhlf doWMwl — EdilMrki (tii England with Hency — King snd quean paiiab-
tooer* or arehbUhop of Caowrbuiy — Violeace of itrchbishop — He urowu Addi-
I'm V.uiOfita on hei beauty — Her prudenco — Encouragrmeat or lilenluiA—
Emimw Macilila — Adelloia cHltllega — Empress MndMa kepi in Adclkia't
vtembii — Ditfimill polUion of ih« quwn — Friendship wilh hM Jtcp^Bughter —
Savsnil inBiriB|[e of [he einpreii — Adelicia'i conhi^l vinuFi — Matilda reiuiM
tn Enftanil — Remnint with tlie queen — Binh or prince Henry — Dealli of kln|
Hmty — Ailelioia's leipect Tde bit mtrnorjr — Her iroubsdour write* king Heary't
nrr— Her leooiul mBrria«B— WiUiain Albini— Her dowry— PalacB—ReceivM
rQi|ire« Matilda — Meunge to king Stephen — Cjojugal happinesi of Adrlii'ia —
Har cliilJieu — CbariMble rouHdaliDii) at Aruiulel — Hei youngci bmiliBr abbot
nf AlBighain — Adelteia ri>Iire« lo Afllighaiil nutinery, in Flanden — Dies Ihera

-^Re^vril i^r hdr dauh — Buried — titr iasiu hj Albini — Adtlicia aiie»>tiir Af

^w-o of our itDeena.

Tb19 prince**, to whom eontcnipomry chroniclers have given ihe name
■! '• lh« 6iif maid of Bmbant," is one of the moet obscure characierB IQ
K' jlliKtricius catalogue of Engliali queens. Tradiiion, and her hand-
.. Ill] Portry, hare, however, spoken bright things of her; and the sur-
MViK hiaturical records of her life, though brief, are alt of a nature
1' :tijing til coafirm (he good report which the vcrsca of the rrovonfals
hsTe prMcrred of her Tirtnes and accomplishments.

DMC«nded, through both her parenis, from (lie imperial Carlovingian
line,' Adelida boasted tlie moat itluatrious blood in Chrisleudom. She
wu ihe dtiest daughter of Godfrey of Louv&ine, duka of Brabant adiI
Lotfaeir (or Lower Lorraine), and Ida, countess of Namur.* Her fiilher,
as ihe gnat-grandson of Charles, brother to Lolliaire of Prance, was ib6
bwAil repmeniaiive of Charlemagne. The male posterity of the unfur-
noateCharlea having b««n cut off by Huf^h Capet, the righu of his house
h«euiM) rested in the descendants of his eldest daughter, Gerbergs.'
l>nheTt. the ion of Gerberga, by her marriage wilh Koherl of Louvaine,
WM the falbrr of Godfrey. Crmengarde, the second daughter of Cliarlea,
UMiried .VIberL, the third count of Namur^ and their sole daughter and
hriim, Ida, (the motlier of Adelicia,) became the wife of her cousin,
Go(trn>jr of Louvtine, Humsnied Batbatus, or the Bearded, because be
hftd nude a row never to shave his beard till he had recorered Lower

il Herooriala.

•bdiafli'* G«ieala«ieB] Tables.

Menwrisl* of the Uowatd Family.

I
I

I

I

ADBLICIA OF LOCTAINE-

, the potrintony of hia aneeslors. In llii* he sncceetlet] in l)i(

ypar 1107, after which lie triumphanlly displayed a emouih ehiiuiB
ioken that he had fultilletl his obligation, and finally obiaiiied fiam hi*
eul'jeria and conienippraries the more honourable appellatiou of Goddtr
the Great.' The dominions of this prince were somewhat more esteiunt
ihnn the modem kingdom of Belgium, and were governed by him wiik
the greatest wisdom and ability.

From this ilhislrious lineage Adelicia appears to have inlieriied lb*
distinguished beauty and fine talents for which the Lorraine btmocb of
Ihe house of Cliarlemaene has ever been celebmied. She wm iIm
remarkable for her proficiency in feminine acqnirements. A aundwi
which she embroidered in silk and gold for her fiiiher, during the ardtwM
conusl in which he was engaged for the recovery of his patrimonyf m>
eetebraled throughotit Europe for the exquisite taste and akill di*)il^<ri
by the royal Adelicia in the design and execution of her patriotic achine-
menu' This standard was nnforiunately capliired at a baiiie near the mdf
of Duras, in the year 1 129, by the bishop of Liege and the earl rif Lim-
bonrg, ihe old competitor of Godfrey for Lower Lorraine, placed by ihan,
as a memorial of their triimiph, in the great church of Si. Ivmitxn. <i
Liege, and was for centnries carried in procession, on T'.:
through the streets of that city. The church of St. Lambert ^^
during the French Revolution ; yet the learned editor «i'
^lemorials fondly indulges in the hope that this inieresiiriL'
royal anceslress^s feminine skill and patriotic feelings may be »tiM iii ct-
istence, and destined, perhaps, hereafter to be brought to light, like ihe
long-forgotlen Bayeus tapestry. The pkin, where this memoralile inwbr
was taken, is still called the Held of tlie Standard.'

The lame of the fair maid of Brabanl's charms and accoraplisluneais.
It is said, induced the conlidenlial adviserB of Henry L of EngUnd la
reeommend iheir sorrow-stricken lord lo wed her, in hopes of ditsipadag
that corroding melancholy which, since [he loss of his children in tlw
fatal while ship, had become constitutional to him. The temper of the
monarch had, in foct, grown so irascible, ihat his grealest nobles ftmml
to enter his presence, and it is said thai, in his causeless tranepona aS
rage, he indulged himself in the use of the most unkingly lenna o( '
peration to all who approached him ;' which made his peers ttia
earnest in their counsels for him lo lake a second wife. A ' "
1.ouvaine was the object of his choice- Ilenry'^s ostensible
ronlracting Uiis marriage was the hope of male posterity, to inherit
tiniled realms of England and Normandy. He had been a widower iwo
vears, when he entered into a treaty with Godfrey of Louvaine {at iha
hand of his beautiful daughter.

Robert of Gloucester, when recording the fscl in his rhyming dm^
mele, says,

" Bo knew no woman tn fair ai ibo

'Bucknpi'i Trcpliif*. Hownrd Mei
*Hem>ar* of Ilia Ilovatd Fanjily.
'BniMlmlinc.

]

ADBLICIA Op tot

m

TltF name of this princess hna been variously written by the chroaiclera
<if En^laiitl. Nfirmancly, Germany, and Brabant, as Aiteliza, Alicia, Ade-
Uide, Alvyila or Atldbeile, uhit-h nieniis must noble. In the Saxoa
Chninirk the ia called £tbe1ice, or Alice.

Mr. Howard of Coiby Cueile, the immediate descendant of this cjueeoi^i
m hia "McmoriBla of ihe UowanJ Family,"' calls her Adelicia for tit* '
b«st of rcatons — iier nune is so written in an original charter of
3lM ei Henry I., conlirming her grant of lands for the foundation ol
ho«{4iBl of lepers at Fu^lestone, near Wilion, dedicated to St. Gili
viucb deed, with part of the seal appendant, is stUl preaerved in
eononticrn chtst at Wilton.

Thft Pioren^il and Walloon poeta, of whom this queen
ficrat nimnese, style her AlU la Brlle, Adelnis, and Aliae, varying
KTllablea according to the etruciure of the verses which they compo
in her bunuur — a licence alwuya allowed to poetical writers ; ihcrefa
the rhymes of ihe troubadours ought not to be regarded as the slight
mnhoriiy in leliling the point. Slodem historians generally speak
this princess by her Latinized name of Adeliza, but her learned
Kduknt's version of her name is that which ought to be adopted
bcr haugrepher.

There is no authentic record of Ihe dale of Adelicia^s bltlh. Mr.
liowanl aspposee she was about eightceD years old at the perioU of her
~ iniagT- wiui Henry I., and it ia certain that she was in the bloom of

* beauty at the lime lie sought her liand.
* Id proportion to the estimation in which the charms of Adelicia were
■W, did Henry fir het dower, which was so muoiliceni tliat the duke
I LouTiitie, ber father, scrupled not to consign her lo her allianced
ilrscl of niarriage was signed,
Thi« ccrrniony look place on ihe lOth of Aprd, 1 120, hit the nuptials
« not celebrated till some months after this period. King Henry, in
I, cotiducted his betrothed bride lo England, in ihe i
They landed about Mirhaelmas, and, according I
royal pair were married at Ely^ c^oon after their
_ .!t have been a private arrangement, for the iiupiials were pul
PBdy aolcmnized at Windsor, on the 24th of January, 1121 ;' having
l>tai delayed in consequence of a singular dispute between the arch-
of Canlerbury and the bishop of Salisbury, which eslnblislied a
Ut loo important to be omilted in a history, embracing, in a peculiar
■ner, lh« habils and customs of royally.
K~XagW le Poer, the bishop of Salisbury, ihal notable preacher of short
^■loiis, claimed ihe right to marty tlie royal pair, because iho fortress
»Wind»or was within his diocese. This right was disputed by ll«
' Vi Ralph, archbishop of Canterbury, who was a great stickler for tl
pVifalives of his office; and an ecclesiastical council was culled,

'tliron^ th» miitVur «r his grace i)ie diikc of Noifulli. I hnre bvra TiiTOur.^ ,
ii<h ■ Hipj- dT llii* inHilrnnbte vuliinia, wtiiuli, at it i> pnnleil lor privBM uMfc. 1
J iHoeeniltl* u> ilie piibliu, but it inoM iuiiXHUiikl ■* a book of rr' - - ■- -'•^ '
~ ' ■! and Dubte btograpliiu.

', in

I

list 4DBLICIA OF tOtrVAIXB.

which il was decided, ihat wherever iho king and queen mtglit be wiiliia
Uie reidtn of England, they were ihe pariahiuners of the archbishop of
Canterbury. Accordin|ily, the reremony was iriumphanily perfurmR]
by ihe venerable primate, thuiigh bowed down by bo many infirmiiuf.
that he a[ipeared like one loilering on ihe verge of the grave.

This nlTorded Henry an excuse for deputing the honour of crowninf
Jiitn and his fair young bride on the following day, at WestmiaEter, to
his favourite prelate, Roger le Poer, the bishop of Salitbary, ^mtb
namei), lo console him for his disappointment with regard to the hyme-
neal office. But the archbishop was not thua to be put olT. The lighl
of crowning tlie king and quei^n lie considered a still inore iniporttM
branch of his archiepiscopal prerogatives tlian ihal of marryiug Htm,
and, malgri his age and pamlysis, lie hastened to the abbey, woertlfaa
ceremonial had commenced at an unusually early hour. Rog«r 1« Pmt
having, according lo his old custom, made unprecedented expetlidon a
the performance of bis office, bad already placed the royal diadem «
the monarclfs brow, when archbishop Itnlpb slendy approached lilt
royal chair, and asked Henr}-, "Who had put the crown on his heail!"'
The king evasively replied, " If tlie ceremony had not been properiy
perfonned, it could be done again." On which, aa some chtoniden
asaerl, the choleric old primate gave the king such a aniart blow with
his crosier, that be smote the crowa from his head \ ' bni Eadmer aay*,
he only mised it up by the strap which passed under the chin, and lO
turned it olf his bead. He then proceeded lo replace il with all dM
form, and afterwards crowned the fair young queen. Thia moat exk^
ordinary coronation took place on Sunday, January 30tli, 1111.
The beauty of the royal bride, whom Piers of LAiigcofi calls

"The May wilboulon vice/'

made a great impression on the minds of the people, which the sweet-
of her manners, her pruderwe, and mild virtues, streuglheued ta no
■tighl degree, li was on the occasion of her bridal corooatioa that
Henry of Huntingdon, the chronicler, addressed lo Adelicia tliose ctl^
bnite<l Latin verses, of which Camden has given us ihe following Lw^
blioD >J

"When Adelim'i name shoulJ grace mf song,
A aoilden wondor ttupi the tnii^ ■ loiigae)
Your orown and jpweli, wlien winpnreil K) jon.
How poor your crown, bow pale your jewels ihowl

1, decores.

' Eadmer,

'"Aiielarum n^ina, luos Ail(

Ipsa referro pacBiu miisa siiipore tegiL
Quid diadema nbi pulchcrrima! Quid libi
I%Uet gemina tibi, dec diBdema nilcL
De me libi eullui. culinm nalura raiiiialiat:

■i forma beaia potest,
OrnamenlB e»va, npo quici|UBni lumini* inde
Accipit; ills miennt lumliie
Nan puduil modicu de ntngnis dicete laodea,
An pndeat Dominum,

A

ADBLICIA OF LOUVAINX. 133

T«k« off joar robes, your rich attire remoTe;
Such pomps may load you, but can ne'er improre;
In vain your costly ornaments are worn,
Ton they obscure, while others they adorn.
Ah I what new lustres can these trifles give,
Whieh all their beauty from your charms reoeiret
Tims I your lofty praise, your vast renown,
In lowly Terse am not ashamed to have shown,
Oh, be you not ashamed my services to own !"

* wMoni of this lovely girl-qoeen early manifeflted itself in the
id manner by which she endeavoured to conform herself to the
of her royal lord, in the encouragement of the polished arts, and
itTonage o( literature. Henry's love for animals had induced him
He an extensive menagerie at Woodstock, as we have seen, during
'e of his first queen, Matilda of Scotland, who was probably weU
nted with natural history. The youthful Adelicia evidently knew
\g of soology previously to her marriage with Henry Beauclere;
lie a good wife, in order to adapt herself to his pursuits, she turned
«ntton to that study; for we find Philippe de Thuan wrote a work
( nature of animals for her special instruction. The poetical natu-
did not forget to allude to the personal charms of his royal
MS in his courtier-like dedication.

** Philippe de Thuan, en ftanceise raisnn.
Ad estrait bestaire im livre de grammaire,
Pout lour d'tme feme ki mult est belle,
Alix est nam^ reine est comn^
Reioe est d'Engleterre, sa ame natt ja guaie.*'

** Philippe de Thuan, in plain French,
Has written an elementary book of animals,
For the praise and instruction of a good and beauteous woman,
Who it the crowned queen of England, and named Alix."

) of the most approved historians of her day, the author of the
am Abbey Manuscripts,' states of himself, that he was appointed a
of Waltham Abbey, through the patronage of queen Adelicia.
^ronicler is the same person who has so eloquently described the
[ search made for Harold's body, after the battle of Hastings.
licia was deprived of the society of her royal husband a few
aAer their marriage, in consequence of a formidable inbreak of
elsh, who had entered Cheshire, and committed great ravages,
went in person to the defence of his border counties, and having
*d the invaders, pursued them far into the country,
ing this campaign his life was in. some peril, while separated from
lin body of his troops, in a narrow defile among the mountains,
he fell into an ambush, and at the same time an arrow, which
med at him from the heights above, struck him on the breast, but
ided from his armour of proof. Henry, who probably did not
is Cambrian foes credit for that skill in archery for which his

^ 8«e Cottonian MSS. Julius D. S. See note, p. Sa

\

I tSi ADELICIA OF LOTVAINE.

Tforman followers were Ottnet], intimated his Bii«ipirinns of Itnchnj
among his own people, by exclaiming, " By our Lord's death, it wm da
Welsh l^nd thai shot that arrow !" '

This narrow escape, or, perhaps, a wUh of reluming to Atlelick U
Wesbninsler, induced the king to conclude a peace wtlh the Wel'h. A
very brief season of domestic iiilereonrae was, howerer, peimitl«d to
the royal pair. Fulk, earl nf Anjoii, having esponsed hi« youn^
daughter, Sybil, to William Clito, the earls of Mellent and Montfon, wilb
a ponsiderable parly of the baronage of Normandy, openly iledand
themselves in favour of that prince, the heir of their lawAil duke, Kobai
Coiirlhose.

Henry 1. was keeping the Easter festiral, with hia be-autiful yomif
queen, at Winchester, when the news iliat Folk of Anjou had joined thiv
fonnidable confederacy reached him. He sailed for Normandy in Ajvil
1 123 ; and Adclicia was left, as her predecessor, Matilda of Seollind.
had often been before her, to hold her lonely courts during iha pro-
tracted abaence of her royal consort, and to exert herself fur the p»
wrvaiioa of the internal peace of England, while war or ■tale polii^
detained the king in Normandy.

Adelicia, following the example of her popular predereaaor HatUk
" the good queen," in all thai was deserving of imitation, conducted hn-
•elf in a manner calculated to win the esteem and love of the nation:
using her queenly infiuence for the establishment of gooil order, reli-
gion, and refinement, and the encouragement of learning and tlie am.
The king was absent from England three yean and a half, l>cfore iIm
expiration of which time Adelicia joined him in Norman<ly. Henrj- had
defeated his enemies at the battle of Terroude, near Kouen, and laken *
merciless vengeance on the revolted vassals o( Normandy, who wtrre h
unfortunate as to fall into his hands. Hia treatment of the lucklrv
troubadour knight, Luke de Barrt,* though the circumstances are almoct
loo drewlful for repetition, bears loo strongly on the manners and cn»-
loms of the twelfth century to be omitted. Luke de Barre had, acconl-
ing to the testimony of Ordericua Vitalis. been on terms of tlie grralcA
litmiltariiy with Henry Beauclerc in the days of ilieir youth, but, (too
some cause, hail joined the revolt of the earl of Mellenl in the bte ia-
*urreciion; and ijie said earl, and all the confederate peers allied ag^mt
Henry's government in Normandy, had been wonderfully cotnfortttl asd
encouraged by the sirotniei, or war-congs, of Luke.

These songs were prorokingly satirical ; and, being personally lenl-
led against Henry, contained, we should suppose, some passages, wlueh
involved a betrayal of confidence ; for Henry was so bitterly ijweoxA
that when the luckless poet was made prisoner at the baiUe of TorTMidb
he tmrbarously condemned his former friend to lose hia eyes on ■ self-
fold, by the hands of the public executioner. This aentence was groulv
lamented by ttie court ; for Luke de Barre was not only a pl^asaut anil
jocose companion, but a gentleman of courage and honour. The ai
of Flanders interceded for the wretched victim.'

•• No, nir, no," rcplieil Heiiry ; " for iliis mati bv.'iaq a wii, a Iwivl,
t minsirvl, fareiiuth ! haih composeil many ribolii songs aguinsl me, and
rniiK thein to raise the horse-laiigha «f' mine enemies. Now ii hath
pleft*ed Ooi] to deliver him into niiim haiida, punished he shall be, to
ietfr oth<'rs from the like petulance." '

Th« sentence therefore tuok place, and the hapless poet ilietl of the
vvnnds he received in struggling with the executioner.' The Provencal
uiimliaU. however, declare tiiat the gallant troubadour avoided the exe-
eittioa of Henry's Buntence, by dashing his head against the wall, which
eagaed his death. So much for the punishment of libels in tlie twellUt
wnlury.

The Saxon Chronicle epecilies that queen Adelieia returned to Eng-
land. September, ll^a, accompanied by king Henry and his daughter^
th>' empress Matilda, the heiress presumptive of England, then a widow,
in her twenty-fourth year.

According to Malmsbary and other several contemporary historians,
.nnge and mysterious reports were in circulation throughout Eur
"iinecbed with the death, or rather we should say the diaappearanci
^blildu's imperial spouse; for it was atlirmed that he was not dead,
ihoufh bia obsequies had been performed with all due solemnity, and a
Unriy monument was raised lo his memory, in the eaihedrel of Spires,
EfBi (incc ihc miMrabie death of bis unhappy father, Henry IV., ih«
mperor Henry V. had been subject to great menial diaqoiet, ham iho
TKoane which perpetually deprived him of rest. ^ One night," says
William of Malmsbury, " he rose up from the side of ihe empress, and
hLnff his etaff in hand, with naked feet he waudered forth into the
duincM, clod only in a woollen garment, and was never again seen in
ht own palace," This wild tale is repeated by Hoveden, Uiraldus, and
Hifjilf^ tmd is confirmed by various ancient mannscript chronicles,
mdre Trevisa, who adds, by way of sequel to the legend, that "■ the
esBarience-stricken emperor fled to England, where at Westchester he
bMutiB a heimit, changing his name to GodVcall, or the called ofGnd.
S> lind in daily penance for the space of tea years, and was buried in
ibe cathedral church of St. Werburga the Virgin."
The empress 31atilda, after ilie funeral of her august spouse at Spires
1 13&, took possession of his imperial diadem, which she brought to
: leland, together with a treasure which, in those days, was by soms
' .'usideivd of even greater importance — ilie hand of Si. James. Matilda
wu rrluctani lo leave Germany, where ahe was splendidly dowered, and
tnioved a remarkable share of popularity. The princes of the empire
•tre to much charmed with her prudent conduct and stately demean-
odr, that they entreated the king, her fether, to permit her lo choose a
■wuod eoiuorl from among their august body, promising lo elect for
fiieir onperor the person on whom her choice might fall.'

King Il«nry, however, despairing of a male heir, as he had been mai^
t^ to Addicia six years, reclaimed his widowed daughter from thn

4

>ns, ■

■•3 m

I

I
I

ADBLtCtA OF LOUVAIXB.

kdmiring Bobjects of lier lale eonaort, and carried her with liiin to Eng-
land. Soon after iheir arrival, Uenry Gummoned a pariiaoteiit for the
purpose of causing the empreis Matilda to be ofknowledgiil as tlic
heite»s preeiunptive to the crown. This W8« the £rsl inilance thtit !iui
oceurreui since the consolidation of the Heptarchy under one supifmc
head, of a female itanding in that important posiiioo with reg»ril to the
suceesaioti of the English crown. There was, however, neither law n«
precept lo forbid a female from hoLding the re^ office, and Hi^nry lailnj
not to Hi forth to tlie representatives of the great body of the people,
who hod been Bummoned on this importaoi business, bis danghitr'*
descent from their ancient line of sovereigns; telling them, '•Tbu
through her, who was now his only heir, they should come to Ix
governed again by the royal English blood, if they would make aaih lo
secure to ber, alter his death, the succession as queen of Engluul, a
case of his decease without a male heir." '

It is, dmibltesi, on the authority of this remarkable passage in Henij'i

rech, that historians have called his first wife, Matilda of ScollaWi
heiress of the Saion line. This is worthy of observation.

The people of England joyfully acceded to Henry^s proposition ; nd
the nobles and prelates of the Norman aristociacy, then BMembleil »
council on this occasion, swore feajty to ibe high and mighty lady K*-
tilda as their future sovereign.

Stephen earl of Moriagne, the king's favourite nephew, (being lh« thtnl
son of the Conqueror's fourth daughter, Adela, countess of Btois,) wis
the lirat who bent his knee in homage to the daughter of his li^e lut^
as the heiress of England, and swore lo maintain her lighleous title la
the throne of her royal father.

Stephen was the handsomest man in Europe, and remarkable for hii
fine ciirriagc and knightly prowess. He bore great sway in the couscQi
of Ilia royal uncle, and was a general favourite of the nobles of Eo^inJ
and Normandy. It has been said withal, that his fine person and giac*-
ful manners made a deep Impression on the heart of tlie widowed heiiCH
of England -

The royal family kept their Christmas this year nt Windsor,' hot iht
empresfl Matilda did not grace the festivities by her presence, but rfr
mained in the deepest seclusion, ■' abiding continually," says Hatthc*
Paris, "in the chamber of Adelicia;" — by which it appears, that not*
withstanding her high rank and matronly dignity as Ibe widow of u
emperor, the heiress of England haii no establishment of her oaii
This retirement, lasting for several months, gave rise to many roystf-
rious reports as to tlie cause of her being hidden from the people, wio
liad so receudy been required to swear fealty to her as their future »of*
leign. By some it was said. "^ iliac the king, her bther, suspecied b((
of having accelerated the death of her late husband, the emperor, otM
(Wising him to be spirited away from his palace." Bat that was en-
denily a groundless surmise ; for Gemiiicensis, a contempoiwy chioiu-
elet, beara testimony to " her prudent and gnicioua behaviour to htt

' Hearjr al fiuntiDgdon. W. Ualuuburjr. W. GemUiceiuis. ■ Smwb Annis

ADELtCIA OP LOrVAIKE. 137 1

1 apuose, which." lie observes, ^ wub one of the enusea which
won llic Htcern of ilie Gcnniiti princes, wliu were urgent in ilicir entreat-
ties lo hw royal fiuhfr for her resiormtion." This Henry jjertinairiousty
rvAtMil, tcpeating, " that she wbb his only heir, and must dwell amoog
her own people." ' Yet, early in the following year, he again bestowed
L nurriago, without the consent of his peers of parliumenl, and
idly Bgainst her own inclination, on a foreign prince, whom she
TVfudcd with the most incflkble acorn, as her inferior in every point of

We have seen tltat, in licr tender infancy, Matilda was used as a politi-
cal puppet, by her parent, lo advance his own interest, without tha
diicfabBl con»ideialion for her happiness. Then the victim was led ■
■■ding sacrifice to (lie altar, unconscious of the joyless destiny to which
{Mrcnliil ambitioD had doomed her. AW the case was different j it was
ao merk inlWaL, but s royal matron, who had shared the imperial throne
of ■ Kvscr, and received for years tiie homage of Taesal princes,
Morrorer, alie whom Henry endeiivoured to compel to an abhorrent
marrian of stale, possessed a mind, as inflexible as his own. The dio-
pMe« oetweea the king and hi^ daughter must have arisen to a veiy
moaoa height, before he look the unpopular step of subjecting her to
ptaoiwl nairaint, by confining her to the apartment of his queen.

Jbttliew pHia, indeed, Inhours lo convince us that (here was nolhia^f

(■{una live rather than with a (jueen, a daughter than with a mother, a
Ut lady, a widow, and the heir of a great nation, than where her person
■qgfat b« ufest from danger, and her conduct from suspicion ?" The
Worian, however, fbrgela that Matilda waa the step-daughter of the
qqecn; that Adelicia was not older than herself, and, from the acknow-
Uged jreuilenesa of her disposiiion. unlikely to assume the slightest
IBatomal control over the iiaughty heiress of England. Adelicia must
li:itr fr Ii ht-rself very delicately situated in this business; and it appears
[' < !<i'>l ilial she acted as a mediator between tlte contending parlies,
I .' I ji iiri^' herself rather as a loving sister than an anibitious step-dame.
1 Ml .1 irMiiplished editor of the Howard Memorials infers that a very
^'i.<M ):i>nilship existed between the empress Matilda and Adelicia
V ; >ij'i lii'e, which probably had cojnmenced before the fair maid of
i:',. I i:,i It OS selected from among the princesses of Europe lo share the
rr.iMn tti England wiih Henry I.; for Matilda^s imperial spouse, the
rvnfKtvt Henry V., had been actively instrumental in assisting Godfrey J
Ba^a.iu>t (he father of Adelicia. in the recovery of Lower Louvaine— ■ I
■n obligkiidii which the Louvaine princess certainly endeavoured tv4
npay to hia widow.* I

Atktieia's uncle, Wido of Louvaine, aiferwards Pope Calixtus II., waa
>l 000 period bishop of Vienna, and it is even possible that Henry'a
anantion was first aitracted lo the fair maid of Brabant at the court of
Im danghlrr; and the previous intimacy between the ladies may accoui.l
(or (hr fact tltat the haughty Slatilda lived on such good terms with her

I

IS8 AOELICI.V OF LOVVAIHB.

■tep-moiher; for AilelicLi njipeurs in linvc bt-eu the only person ttiih
whom sKe did not quarrel.

The princp lo whom Henry I. hail pleilged the haiiil of his perrerw
lieiress, was Geotfrey Planlagcnet, llie eldest son of his old aiiugosiit,
Fulk, etirl of Aiijou, atid broiher lo ihe widovred princess, who hid
been espoused lo Mutilds's brother, WiUiain the Aiheling.

GeolTrey Pianlageoet, the heir of Anjou, had been ihe &Toirril8 ees-
puiion of king Henry I. when on ihe continent. His line penon, hii
elegant manners, great bravery, and, above all, his learning, made bii
society very agreeable to the nionnrch who still possessetl these eied-
lencics in great perfection.' He chose to become the sponsor of Geofr
irey in chivalry, and, at his own expense, had had that high cerentauf
performed at Rouen. After the bath into which, according lo the anuent
custom, the young chevalier was plunged, Henry gave him, as his god-
son in amis, a Spanish steed, a steel coat of mail, and cutsses of douUe
proof asuinst both lanes and arrow, spurs of gold, a scolcheon, adurasd
with golden lions, a helmet, enriched with jewels, a lance of asli, wiih
a Poictiers' bead, and a sword mode by Gallard, the most famous of liis
ancient armorers. Some of the French chroniclers declare this Groffity
to be the first person that bore the name of Plan lage net, from piiuingin
his helmet a plume of the flowering broom, when he went to haul in
the woods.

The king of England did not coullne himself lo this chivalric adof^
tion; he was resolved that his accomplished favourile should becodw
liis son-4n-law. There were, moreover, strong political reajoits, ia
Henry's opinion, for this union. Fulk of Anjou, who had hitlierio mf-
porittl the claims of liis gallant young son-in-law. William Clito, to tht
(lukedora, was willing lo abandon his cau.se, provided Henry wo^
marry Jltalildn lo his heir. This Henry had engaged lo do, without the
slighiesl attention to his daughter^x feelings. His favourite nephtw,
Stephen of Blois, who is said to have rendered himself only too ilcw
to the imperial widow, was, unfortunately for them both, a muried mfl
at that time, or the long and ruinous civil wars lliat desolate<l EngUnd
during his usurpation might have been averted by a mairinionial alluuiM.
The ceremony of beiroihment between the reluctant Maldda and Qeof-
hey of Anjou took place on Whitsunday. 1 127, and she was, after ih*
festirtlies of Whitsuiilide were over, conducted into Normandy by btf
half-brother, Itobert earl of Gloucester, and Brian, sun of Alau Fergnn),
etri of Kichinond, with great pomp.

The feasts and pageants that niiended her arrival in Norttmndy wm
prolonged during three weeks. On the first day, heralds in grand ens*
iiune went through the streets and squares of Bouen, shouting at tntf
etouway this singular proclamation : —

'^Thus saiih king Henry!
lO man here present, wiielher native or foreigner, rich or poW)

" ADELICIAOPLOIVAINE. 129 1

hieti or \ow, iTBrrior or rnstin, lie §o boiil as lo slay away from the royd
rrjaieiogB; for whenever shall not lake n part in the games and diwer-
roRs. thall he considered fuiliy of an offence lo our lord the king.'"

Kiiii^ Henry lud pvcn poshive commands lo Maiilda and her illu»-

irioiii rwort. that ilie niiptinis should be solemnixed by the archbishop

iif HoiK^ii titimediitlely on her arrival;' bnt he was himself com peLed ti

uiKlr.TUke a voyage to Normandy, in Ansusi, lo see the inarriage con

liideO. which did not lake place itll the 26ih of that month;' from

■ Inch we may Trasonably infer that ihe reluctant bride paid very liille

^diiun lo his dirtctiona. The affair was ut length, however, accom-

; (i>-hcfJ to Henry's mlisfkclioii, more especially as Fidk of Anjou, beinj

called to the Uirone of Jenisakm. by the death of Baldwin IL Ilia fallier-

iii>law, resigned his palriraoiiial territories to his heir. Yet there were

nany cireuinslunees that rendered this alliance a fruitful source of an-

ii'Tance to Henry. The Anglo-Nonnan barons and prelates were highly

'Ti-iided, in tlie first place, that the king should hare presumed to marry

It' hrirrsa out of the realm without consulting them on the subject;

-:ui ihr pimple of England were no less displeased, at the open violenca

'-'u\ li:iJ licen put on the inclinations of the descendant of thetr ancient

. ,,. p. 1^1,, II, iiiig foreign marriage. As for Matilda, it Hbould seem that

• 'ii ill lilt consider herself by any means bound to practise the duty

ri( i.iK. [)i,'ni'e, or even of common courtesy, to a husband who had thus

bna forced upon her against her own will; and while she exacted the

ROM nnqualilied submissions froto her luckless helpmate, she perpetually

'«d her father with her complaints of his conduct.

. sen Adelicia was rejoined by king Henry, in the autumn, and

[ An kepi ilieir Christmas together in Loudon. Early in the following

IliBDg. 1128, he was again compelled lo embark for Normandy, to

■ mm the enterprising designs of his nephew, William Cliio, who,

I knng sncreeded to the earldom of Flanders, in right of his grand-

■ rr Matilda, tlie wife of William the Conqueror, was enabled to

at a mure formidable attitude ihan he had yet done. But this gaU

iml unfortunate prince met with his death in consequence of a slight

id in tiie thumb, which he took in disanning a mutinous soldier of

MHX. He died six days af\er,* in the monaalerv of Sl Berlin, July

n, ii«s.

Tlii* formiilable ri^-al being now removed, Henry appeared at the
■OBBUt of his ambition, and was considen^d the mightiest monarch of
die Weal. He was the husband withal of one of the most beautiful and ]
■BiahlA piiBceasus in Europe.

Whedier the fair Adelicia loved her r
cecoided; but her conduct as a wife, a queen, n
■a* irtrproachable. When all i '

'ko«i|TiD<i. MBlmtbui)-. Sci ,
'^■iDn Aniula. S. Dunalm. Malnisbuty. Huntingdon. * Saxon Amuls.
■Hi* catntre Tather, Robert Counbose, it ia Mid, one morning sucpriacd Wr |
'-nil>Bt* bjr WMping piteoiulr, and exolaiming, " My »on ii drad ! mf torn iai '
-ti r aaJ tabued, " thai ha had in hi* dreams, that night, teea him mortally
■otadad wiik ■ l«nc».''-0>airtnil TiKUl.

I

t ADELIcrA OF LOtJVAIHK.

(carcely be tma^«il, however, ihiti lier aplenilid marriage was prodne-
tivc of happiness to Itie youlhCul wife of Henry I. To Bay noiiiiii^ of
liie (lispariiy in yrare between this iUusirioua pair, llie morbiil Borraw
of wliich Heofy was the perpetual prey after the loss of hia cliiltlren is
the white ship, the iraBcibility of temper to which he gave way in hi*
old age, and his biller disappoin intent at the want of o&pritig from hii
■ecDud marriage, muai hare been mo«t distressing to the feeUng* of hit

Setitle consort. Then the stormy disputes between Henry and hti uiilf
tughter Matilda could not hare been oilierwise iliai) very piunfol to
her. Whatever, however, were the trial* with which Adetiria bad to
contend, she evidently supported them with silent magnanimity, andil
the same time endeavoured to sonihe and cheer the glooin of her wajT'
ward lord by attracting to the cniirt the moat distinguishetl poeB ud
minstrels of the age, who repaid her liberal patronage by cdcbnUng
her virtues and her c banns.

Adelida frequently altended her royal husband on hia progw*
Her presence was, doubtleaa, of medicinal inllueuce iu tiiow fniM
hours when the pang8 of troubled conscience brought the visilatioiM <^
an evil spirit upon Henry, and sleep either forsook his pillow or broo^
visionary horrors in its train. " In the year 1 130, the ktn^ romploinBd
to Grimbald, his Saxon physician, that he viae sore disquieted i>f nights,
and thai h? seemed to see a great number of husbandmen with llMir
rtislical tools stand about him, threatening him for wrongs done aguiM
them. Sometimes he appeared to see his knights and soldiers thtmtoB^
ing him ; which sight so feared him in his sleep, that ofttime^a he igM
undrest out of hU bed, took weapon in hand, and sought to kill tb*n
he could not find. Grimbald, his phvsician, being a nouiblv wiee mni
expounded his dreams by true conjeciuie, and willed him to rcfim
himself by alms and prayer, as Nebuchadneziar did by lite coutisfl tt
Daniel." '

It is probable that the unfortunate troubadour knight, Luke de Bans,
was not forgotten by the conscience- stricken monarch, though ttinn-
rians have not recorded that his mangled form was among the gbwilf
dranvtt* pcrtona thai, in his latter years, made king Hcrtr)''s iU|IUi
horrible; — no enviable stale of companionship, we should itnagins, ior
the young and innocent being whose fate was indissolubly linkeil witb
hts. It must have been a relief at all times to Adelicia when her royal
husband's presence was required in Normandy.

On the death of Adclicia's uncle, pope Golixtua H., a dispute octah
ring ill the election of two rival pontids as succeuore to the pap^ dnir,
Henry proceeded to the continent, in the year 1130, in the hope of r«^
ing some poUlical advantage from the candidate whose cause he espoimi
His errangemeots were perfectly salisfa^ory as to that matter, but tw ww
lo the last degree, harassed b}- the quairels between his doubter bimI hfc
unbeloved «)ouse, Geoffrey oi Anjou. After he had thrice Bdjuned tiet
dif&teiices, Matilda, on some fresh oflence which she eitlier gave or ImL
abjured her husband's company, departed tram his court, ami rl>iT<

ADXLICIA OF LOUVAINB. ISl

ihe protection of the king her father, with whom she once more returned
to England,' having, by the eloquence of tears and complaints, succeeded
in exciting his indignation against her husband, and persuading him that
die was an injured person.

Soon after their arrival in England, a parliament was summoned to
meet at Northampton, September, 1131, where the oath of fealty to
Matilda, as the heiress of England, was again renewed by the general
estates of the nation.'

It was a subject of the greatest disappointment, both to the sovereign
and the people, that there was no prospect of either the queen Adelicia,
or the empress Matilda (though both were -still young and beautiful
women) bringing heirs to the crown. So desirable was the possibility
of the royal line being continued through Matilda considered, that when
the count of Anjou sent an humble entreaty to his haughty consort to
return to him, the king and parliament seconded his request ; and all due
submissions having been made by Geofiirey, Matilda was at length induced
to return to him.'

A passage from Mezerai casts some light on the mysterious separation
that took place between the widowed empress and her new spouse.
After the nuptials of this pair, a monk came to Matilda, and declared
that her late lord, the emperor Henry, had not died at Utrecht, as she
and all the world supposed, but that he finished his days as a servant in
an hospital, which severe penance he had sworn to inflict on himself
for his heavy sins. When dyin^ at Angers, the disguised emperor dis-
covered hiniself to this monk, his confessor, who came to Matilda with
the news. In conclusion it is said, the empress attended the death-bed
of Henry V., and recognised and acknowledged him, as the emperor,
her first husband.

This is a fine tragic tale, whether it be true or false.

The following year was remarkable for a destructive fire, which con-
sumed the greatest part of London '* but soon after this national calamity,
the joyful news that the empress Matilda had given birth to a prince,^
diverted the attention of the royal family from the contemplation of this
misfortune, and cast the last gleam of brightness on the declining yean
of the king.

The young prince was named Henry, after his royal grand&ther, the
king of England. The Normans called him Fitz-Empress, but king
Henry proudly styled the boy Fitz-Conqueror, in token of his illustrious
deseent from the mightiest monarch of the line of Rollo.*

King Henry summoned his last parliament in 1133, for the purpose
of caosing this precious child to be included in the oath of fealty, by
which the succession to the throne was, for the third time, secured to
his daughter, the empress Matilda. If his queen Adelicia had brought
him a son, after these repeated acts in favour of his daughter by a
princess who was regarded by the minority of the people as the heiress
of the royal English line, in all probability, a civil war respecting the

* Roger Hoveden. H. Hontiiigdoii. 'Malmtbuiy. H. Huntingdon.

•M. Paris. «H. Huntingdon. *R. Diceto. M. Paris. *M WaatmmauBt.

I
I
I

I

133 ADKLICIA or LOl1VAI\8.

Euccesfiion, would have occurred on ilie dealh of king HeniT'. Hm
liarrt^nnraR of the beautiful young queen, however, though so deeply
kmenled by her royal husband, was ai ihai time, no doubi, a prorideo-
tial dispensation, and one of the causes of the amity and confidence ihu
mb«isted between her and her haughty step-daughter.

Towardi the latter end of this ennimer, king Henry embarked on hit
Iwl voyage for Nonnandy. The day wag remarkable for B loUJ eclipw
of ihe Eun, accompanied will) storms and violenl commotions of ibt
deep.' It was so dark, say the annalists of that era, >* that on board the
royal ship no man might eee anollier's face for some hours." Tlit
eclipse was followed by an earthquake i and these two phenomena were,
according to the spirit of the age, regarded aa portents of ItoiTor and
woe, aud it was predicted thai the king would never return from N«r-

On a former occasion, when Henry had embarked for Englsodr in
June 1131, he was so dismayed by the bursting of a wslet^pont orcr
the vessel, and the fury of the wind and waves, that, believing hia Iwi
hour was at hand, he made a penitent acknowledgment of his sina, pro-
mising to lead a new life if it should please God to preserve him fna
the peril of death, and, above all, he rowed to repeat the oppronin
impiwl of danegelt for seven years, if he were permilled to reach tb«
English shore in safety * From this incident we may infer that Uenrr L
was by no means impressed with his brother Rufus's bold idea, ofdH
Hecurily of a king of England Irom a watery grave ; but the eatastraphc
of his children in the fauil white ship had no doubt some offibcl on Hi
mind, during these perils on the deep.

The summer of 1 1 39 he spent in Normandy, in feasts and rejoiringi,
for the birth of his inlant grandson. That event was, however, only ^
precursor of fresh dissensions between that ill-assorted pair, the empKH
Matilda and her husband, Geoffrey Plantagenet Her late visit to Eit|-
land had renewed the scandalous reports respecting her partiality for ha
cousin, Stephen of Blois ; and the birih of a son in the sizOi rear of
tlieir marriage to the long childless pair proved anything but tt oond rf
union between them.*

There is no reason to suppose that Adelicia was with the king bci
husband at the time of his deatl), wliich took place in Normandy, in the
year 1 1 35, at the Castle of Lyons near Houen, a place in which be nmeh
delighted. It is said, that having over-fatigued himself in bunting in tM
forest of Lyons, he returned much healed, and, contrary to the aihin
of his courtiers and physicians, made too full a meal on a dish of stewsd
lampreys, his favourite food, which brought on a violent fit of indigo
lion (called by the chroniclers a surfeit), ending in a fever, of which he
died, after an illness of seven days, at jnidnight, December 1st, in the
sixty-«eventh year of his ege. He appears to have been perfectly oao-
scious of hi* approaching dissolution, for he gave particular directioM
respecting his obsequies to his natural son, Robert earl of G1ouc»1ct,
whom he charged to take 60,000 marks out of his treaaure-chesi U

'Stxoa AaitAlM. ' W, Malmtbuiy. * Saxon Annali. ' Saxoa OrranM^

ADKLICIA OF LOUVAI5B. 133

liaise, for the expenses of his funeral, and the payment of his merce-
iry troops.' He solemnly bequeathed his dominions to his daughter
e empress, not without some indignant mention of her luckless spouse,
eofirey of Anjou, his former Sieve and bel ami. He absolutely ex-
uded liim from any share in his bequests, and with much earnestness
instituted his beloved son, earl Robert, the protector of his daughter's
Shts.

Ilis nephews, Warren earl of Surrey, and Stephen de Blois earl of
[ortagne, with Robert eari of Leicester, were standing round the bed
!* the expiring monarch, and were witnesses of his charge to his son,
le earl of Gloucester.'

Robert of Gloucester gives the following serio-comic account of the
lyal wilfulness, in partaking of the interdicted food which caused his
9ath:

" When he came home he willed him a lamprey to eat.
Though hit leeches him forbade, for it was a feeble meat ;
But he would not them believei for he loved it well enow,
And eat in evil case, for the lamprey it him slew,
For right soon af\er it into anguish him drew,
And he died for his lamprey unto his own woe."

The noble earls who surrounded the death-bed of king Henry, and
stened to his last instructions respecting his funeral, attended his
emains from the town of St Denis le Forment (where he breathed his
Mt) to Rouen ; and when they entered that city, they reverently bore
he bier, on which the royal corpse was laid, on their shoulders by
oms.*

At Rouen, the remains of this mighty sovereign, in preparation for
emoval to England, underwent the process of embalming, as it was
ailed, according to the barbarous fashion described by the chroniclers :
he body was sliced and powdered with much salt, and vnrapped in a
lolPs hide.

The remains of king Henry were interred with great pomp on Christ-
sas-day, at the abbey of Reading, which he had built and magnificently
ndowed for that purpose. On the anniversary of the death of her
oyal lord, queen Adelicia, to testify her respect for his memory, gave
ry charter the manor of Eton in Hertfordshire to the abbey of Reading,
or prayers to be said for his soul ; and, by a second charter, she also
[are the manor of Stanton Harcourt, in Oxfordshire, and the churches
if Cham, Eslingham, and others, for the expenses of his anniversary — a
olemn service for the repose of his soul, — which was yearly to be cele-
Mmled there.^ The royal widow also save one hundred shillings, out
if the hythe, or wharf (Qjueen hythe),l)elonging to her in London, to
le applied to the expenses of a lamp, to burn perpetually before his
4NDb.* In these charters and deeds she styles herself ^Adalid the queen.

*Qrderknis Vitalis. W. Malmsbury. Ibid. * Henry Huntingdon

« Howard Memorials. Monasticon, Charter 7. art Reading. *Ibid.

TOL. I. — 12

I

ADELICIA OF LOUVAtNE.

»i-ife of ihe moBi Doble kiug Henrj', and Jauglitcr of Godfrey, Jukt d
Lutharingia." '

The chroniclers of that rfign, several of whom verc well acqmiDtiJ
with him, hate given the following lively description of the person rf
Adelicia's royal lord. « He was, for peraouage, of reasonable fUlnre,
broad-breasted, well-jainled, and full of flesh, amiable of caunWoaiMe,
with fine and penetrating eyes, and black hair, carelessly hanging sboil
hia forehead."' It is to be remarked, that after he had been inducMLbf
llie eloquent preaching of friar Serlo, lo submit (his natural ornainait to
the siiearB of iliai priesily reformer, he was verj' strict in Lb prohibilkm
to his subjects against long hair.

Two illuminated portraits of Henry 1. are jn existence: both repnant
him as advanced iu life, and in a melancholy attitude ; suppoaed to Im
after the loss of his children. His face is handsome, with high
regular features, his hair curling, but not lung; his figure is eaiscn
he is clad tn a ven' close dress, the shoe and slocking all of a pice*, tad
the loe pointed: he wears a mantle wrapped about him. Uis crown ii
ornamented with [liree trefoils^ his sceptre is a staff with an ornamented
head. Ue is sealed on a stone bench, carved in an architectoral deaigt-
He is represented in the coronation robes he wore at the crowning df
Adelicia.'

Henry received from his subjecls the title of the Lion of Jualice. TIb»
appellation was drawn from the prophecies of Merlin, then very pofli'i
in England. On the accession of every sovereign to the English llinHi
all his subjects consulted these rigmaroles, as naturally as we coDraltu
mlmnnac, lo know when there is a new moon.

■* After two dragons," says Merlin, '■'■ the Lion of Justire shall oonC)
at whose roaring the Gallic lowers and island serpents shall trembla."

This Lion of Justice certainly suffered no one to break the law* but
himself, if he is accountable for the villanies of his purveyors, his ilam)-
ard of justice was not very high : "' the king's servants, and a multindt
following the royal reliuue, took and spoiled everything the way lb*
king went, there being no discipline or good order taken.* When llWT
ronld not consume what they found in the house they had brokeji iato,
they made the owners carry it to maiket and sell it for them; ihw
bonied the provisions, or washed their horses' feet with the ale ot naiii.
or poured tlie drink on the ground, or otherwise wasted it, so that f*nv

Egu Arlalid Regina, uxor nobilisumi Regis Hi-nrici. el llll.i I .
LolbulnsiiE. 'Cnnoninti MS^

* Thew poitniu eincllf agree wllb the deieri]iuans of tbu < <<
niDiKisiic i-hioniclea. " Tbey wore dote bieeube* ami ■locking -
made of fiae cloth ;" the pointed shoes were broiighi in by ^^ i ■
-» flm inrenled hj Ynlqoe \e Rechin (whose aurnnnio mca.i.-
nt of Anjou, lo hide hiseoms and bunions. The queen an.' >
ro gown* and mantles Wailing oii the ground. The marripa \.
additional robe over iJie gown, noi UQlikH tlie «M;erdoial gaimtui . ;^ ...^ ^.-
■ largo pooch oi purse whb Bu>pen<ted, called an aunutni^. The tueit hi'.'?
iheir hair in long curls, unless seiKRl wiili suitden fits of hnatl^luii. The u*^
rioJ wDmen biaided their* verj- cicael]' lo the aide of i2ib Ihoe, or liid f.

ADXLICIA OF LOUVAINX. 135

one hearing of the lung's coming would run away from their houses."
Whenever Henry t. was under any apprehensions from his brother
Robett, he regulated his household somewhat better, and kept the law-
lessness of his purveyors within bounds.*

Henry carried the art of dissimulation to such a pitch that his grand
insticiary started when he heard the king had praised him, and exclaimed.
•God defend me! the king praises no one but him whom he means to
ienuroy.""

The result proved the deep knowledge which the minister liad of his
royal roaster's chaiacter, as Henry of Huntingdon, his archdeacon, de-
tails at length.

What degree of hi^ypiness Adelicia the Fair enjoyed during the fifleen
rears of queenly splendour which she passed as the consort of Henry
Beauclerc, no surviving records tell ; but that she was very proud of his
ichievements and brilliant talents, we have the testimony of the poetical
chronicler, who continued the history of Brut, from William the Con-
queror, through the reign of William Rufus. It appears, moreover, that
the ro\*al dowager employed herself during her widowhood in collecting
materials for the history of her mighty lord ; for Gaimar^ the author of
the history of the Angles, observes, ^ that if he had chosen to have
written of king Henry, he had a thousand things to say, which the
Inmbadour called David, employed by queen Adelicia, knew nought
about ; neither had he written, nor was the Louvaine queen herself iu
possession of them.''

If the collection of queen Adelicia should ever be brought to light, it
would no doubt afford a curious specimen of the biographical powers of
the illustrious widow, and her assistant. Troubadour David, whose name
has only been rescued from oblivion by the jealousy of a disappointed
rival in the art of historical poetry.

During tlie life of the king her husband, Adelicia had founded and
endowed the hospital and conventual establishment of St. Giles, near
Wilton;' and, according to a Wiltshire tradition, she resided there dur-
ing some part of her widowhood, in the house which is still called by
her name.* She was likewise dowered by her late husband, king Henry,
in the fair domain of Arundel Castle, and its rich dependencies, the for-
feit inheritance* of the brutal Robert earl of Belesme ; and here, no doubt,
the royal widow held her state at the expiration of the first year of
cloistered seclusion, after the death of her illustrious spouse.

Camden thus describes the spot which the magnificent taste of the
kle duke of Norfolk has, within the last centuiy, rendered one of the
most splendid objects of attraction in England : — ^^ Beyond Selsey, the
shore breaks, and makes way for a river that runs out of St. Leonard's
forest, and then by Arundel, seated on a hill, o\er a vale, of the river
Aran." At this Saxon castle, built and strengthened on the hill above
the waters, Adelicia was residing when she consented to become the
wife of William de Albini, of the Strong Hand, the lord of Buckenham
ID Norfolk, and one of the most chivalrous peers in Europe.

' Malmsbuiy. ' Henry of Huntingdon. * ^oward Memon&U*

* Sir Richard Hoare't Modern Wiltshire. ^Tiemey'ft XTuikii^V.

L

ADELICIA OF I.OUVAIIIB.

AccordiDg to Mr. Howard's compulation, Adelicia was in her ihatf
Bccontl yeor at t!ie time of king Henry's denih. in the irty nriiJe of hn
beauty ; and slie contracted her seconil niurriage in llie ihinl year of ba
widowhoixi, x.D. 1136.'

Her second «pouse, William de Albini, with the Strong Arm. was lbs
Boti of William de Albini, who was called Pincerna,' hsiug thr ebirf
butler or cup-bearer of the duchy of Normandy. William iha Con-
queror appointed him to the same ofSce in England at his coronuianiB
Wesliniuster Abbey ; which honour has descended by hereditary cinlm
to the duke of Norfolk, his rightful representative and heir ; and «hei
there is a coronation banquet, the golden cup out of which llm «orereigi
drinks to the health of his or her loting subjects beconius hia pw-
^uiBite.'

It appears that Adelicia and Albini were alfioneed some time preriouf
to liieir marriage ; for when he won the prize at the toumument beM it
Bourges in 1 137, in honour of the nuptials of Louis VI I. of France aiul
Eteanora of Aquilaine, Adelaide, the gay queen-dowager of France, fcU
passiunately in love with him, and wooed him to become her bushwuli
but lie replied, " that his troth was pledged to Adelicia, the i]ueen of
England.'**

Although it may be considered somewlial remarkable that two qucew
downgerti of similar names shoidd have dxed (heir affectioas un the mim
gentleman, there is every reason to believe that such waa the fact; bit
the marvellous legend so gravely related by Dugdole,* containing ibf
sequel of the late, namely, the uiilady-like conduct of ilie rejected ditw-
i^r of Fiance, in pushing the strong-handed Albini into a ca*c in bfr
garden, where she had secreted a fierce lion lo become the minister of
her jealous vengeance, together with the knight's redoubtable exploit in
tearing out the lion's heart, which he muEl have found conveniently
situated at the boilom of his throat, a piece where no anatomist would
have thought of feeling for it, must be regarded as one of the
romances of the age of chivalry.

We have seen another version of the story, in which the hero ii
lo have deprived the lion, not of liis heart, hut his tongue ; _

doubtless the tradition lelatitig to William of the Strong Hand, sitiea ifal
Albini-lion on the ancient armorial biarings of lliut house is tongocleMt
and is, by-llie-bye, one of the most good-tempered looking bessis ever

Romance and ideality out of the question, William de Albini w«s wtt
inly n knight sotm priir tt sans reproeht, stout in combat, and consUnl
u loyally atid love, but history proves him to have been <>iie of lb
greatest and best men of iliai age. His virtues a:id lalents suifieii
justified the widow of the mighty sovereign of England ami Kog
in bestowing her hand upon him ; nor was Adelicia^ second i;
in the slightest degree oiTensive lo the subjects of her late I
considered derogatory to the dignity of a queen-dowager of £ngti

• Ibid.
■DuKiIale'iBuoi

ist wonu

ADKI.ICIA OF LOUVAIXE. 137

Addina^ hy hfv union with Albini, conveyed to him a life iiilereEl in
her ricli ilowry ofAniniiel. anil he accordingly aisHuiued ihe tille of enrl
of AniiiU^I. in her rigiii, as the possessor of Acundel Cusile.' It was at
this feudal fodms, on (he iheii solitary coast of Sussex, that the royal
baauly. «ho had for fifleen years presided over the splendid court of
Hnrj Beaoclerc, voluniarily resided with her iccond husband — the
bubwid, doubtless, of her heiirt — in the peaceful obscurity of domestic
h^pituiM. far remold from the scenes of her former greatness.

Addicia'a ni&doo) iu avoiding all the snares of party, by retiring from
pttblic Ufa at a period so full of perilous excitement as the early part of
Strphen's reign, cannot be disputed. Her gentle disposition, her good
lute, aod feminine feelings, fitted her for the enjoyments of private life,
ud the tiiadc them her choice.

Tbero was, however, nothing of a seliish chnracler in the conduct of
the loyikl matron in declining to exert such influence as she posseted in
•dvueating the claims of her slep-ilaughler Matilda to the throne of
Eoghnd. As a queen-dowager. Adelicia had no voice in the choice of a
toTWMgn ; as a female, she would have departed from her province, had
lbs intermeddled with intrigues of stale, even for the purpose of aseisi-
isg tht lawful heir to tlie crown. She lelt the question lo be decided by
llw pMn and people of England; and as they did not oppose the ci to-
nam of Slephen, she bad no pretence for iulerfering ; but Gtie never
MBCtioned the usurpation of the successful rival of her step-daughter s
ngbt, by appearing at his court. And when the empress Matilda la ided
in EaglBnd, lo dispute the crown with Stephen, the gates of Irundel
Chtlle wer« Uirown open to receive her and her train, by the royal ^ile-
licit and her high-minded husband Albini.* It was in the jear 1139
when this perilous guest claimed the hospitality, and finsJly the protec-
Iwtti of Uie Doble pair, whose weilded happiness had been rendered more
farfect by the birth of a son, probably very little before that period, for
a vu only in the second year of their marriage. And she, over whose
MB aa the consort of the mightiest monarch of the Weet, both
» and people had lamented for nearly fifieeii years, became, when
tba wife of a subject, the mother of a numerous progeny, the ancestress
of an Qlustriiius line of English nobles, in whose veins her royal blood
has bscn prewrvei) in uninterrupted course lo the present day.

According lo Malmsbury, and many other hbtorians, the empress
Halikk waa only attended by her brother, the earl of Gloucester, and a
hondrad and forty followers, when she lauded at Portsmouth, in the
lutar and of Srpiembcr. Gervase and Brompton aver that she came
wilil S niUUnroue army ; hut the general bearings of history prove that
ttH wtt not dte Iticl, since Matilda was evidently in a state of aliBnlute
INtil wbcn hfr generous step-moiher allbrded her an asylum within
ife wall* of Anindel Castle, for we lind that her devoted friend and
I fcntber* Robert earl of Gloucester, when he saw that she was honours-

I

I

' IM AnBLICIA or LOUVALXB.

biy ret^rirei) there, considered lier iii a jiluce of csTeiy, and, attendMl hj
only twelve persons, prorcetlei) to Bitslol.

No sooner was Stephen inrnnned t)int the empress >lMilda wa> n
Ariindel Cosile, ihan he mised the siege of Mnrl borough, and cob-
mencecl a rapid march towards Araiiilei, in order to attack her in htf
retreat. The epirJi with which he pushed his operations alamieil the
royal ladies.' Adelicia dreaded ihe deatruciion of her casile. ihi- li«i of
her ticloved bosband, and the breaking up of all tlie domf-^ '
ahe had enjoyed nince her retirement from public life. '
Matilda Birflcred some apprehension lest her gentle atep-ir
be induced to deliver her into ihe hands of her foe. Tli^
ever, no lesa linnneas than ^nileness in the character ul~ ^
the moment Stephen approached her walls, she sent n-
entreat his forbearance, assuring' him ''■that she had ailn

not as ^ enemy, but as her daughter-in-law and early frii.u.. _

claimed her hoapitality, which respect for the raemoiy of her late tojji
lord, king Henry, forbade her lo refuse ^ the same considentioiu wooid
i;ompel her to protect her, while she remaine<l beneath tlie ■Iwjutd'
her roof."' Adelicia added, '• that if he came in hostile array agaaM
her castle of Antndel, with intent to make Matilda hia priaoorr, ibt
must frankly say, that she was resolved to defend her to the IM
extremity, not only because she was the daughter of her Ute dnu* ionl,
king Henry, but as the widow of the emperor Henry and her gmtif
and she besought Stephen, '^ by all the laws of courtesy and the tin o(
kindred, nut to place her in auch a painful stmil as to compel hci to da
anything against her cuitfcience." In conclusion, she requested vuli
much earnestness " thai Matilda might he allowed to leave the caailc
and retire to her brother."'

Stephen acceded to the proposal, the siege was raised, and tlie emprtM
proceeded to join her adherents at Urislol. Malmsbury assures ui, that
the impolitic conduct of Stephen on this occasion was nothing iDon
than what the laws of chivaJrv demanded from every true knight

We are inclined to regard Stephen's courteous compliance with tb
Bomewhal unreasonable prayer of tlie queen-dowager, as a proof of tin
high respect in which she was held, and (he great influence over tin
ininda of her royal husband's kindred, which Iter virtues and wiaaia|
qualities had obtained while ahe wore the crown-matriiuonial of Ei^
land. AdeUcia conducted herself with equal prudence and mngnaitiad^
in the defence and deliverance of her step-daughter, eihihitine a tcri
laudable mixture of the wisdom of the serpent with the innocence «
the dove and the couiage of the lion. The lion was the cogniionca d
(lie royal house of Louvaine \ and Mr. Howard is of opinion, that lUi
proud bearing was assumed by the family of Albioi, in token of detont
from the fair maid of Brvbant, rather than with any reference to ibt
lUiIeil exploit of her second hnaband, related in Dugdale's butmaM.*
■ ' " ephenTla ■B

L

A grateful remembrance of the generous conduct of Stephen, ni

ADXLICIA OF LOUTAINX. 139

babilitj withheld Adellcia and Albini from taking part with the
yress Matilda against hini) in the long and disastrous civil war which
olated the ravaged plains of England with kindred blood, during so
ij years of that inauspicious reign. They appear to have main-
ed a strict neutrality, and to have preserved their vassals and neigh-
rs from the evils attendant upon the contest between the empress
the king.

idelicia, after her happy marriage with the husband of her choice,
not forgetful of the respect which she considered due to the memory
ler late royal lord, king Henry ; for, by a third charter, she granted
lis fevonrite abbey of Reading the church of Berkeley Harness in
ucestershire,' with suitable endowments, ^^ to pray for the soul of
I Henry and duke Godfrey her father, and also for the health of her
lent lord," whom she styles, ^ William earl of Chichester, and for
own hodth, and the he&lth of her children." Thus we observe
this amiable princess unites the departed objects of her veneration
be devotional offices which she fondly caused the monks of Reading
tfler up, for the welfare of her living husband, her beloved children,
herself. To her third son, Adelicia gave the name of her deceased
ry king Henry. Her fourth was named Godfrey, after her fiither and
T brother, the reigning duke of Brabant

idelicia chiefly resided at Arundel Castle, after her marriage with
liam de Albini, but there is also traditional evidence, that she occa-
tally lived with him in the noble feudal castle, which he built, after
marriage with her, at Buckenham in Norfolk. It is still designated
ihat county, as JVTeto Buckenham, though the mound, part of the
it, and a few mouldering fragments of the walls, are all Uiat remain
he once stately ball, that was at times graced with the dowager
rt oi Alix la Belle.

*he priory of St. Bartholomew, likewise called the priory of the
seway, in the parish of Lyminster, near Arundel, was established by
en Adelicia, after her marriage with William de Albini, as a convent
iugnstinian canons.' It was situated at the foot of the hill which
riooks the town from the south side of the river.
'he number of inmates appears originally to have been limited by
Tojdl foundress to two persons, whose principal business was to
i charge of the bridge, and to preserve the passage of the river. All
gifts and charters were solemnly confirmed by her husband, William
Ini, who appears to have cherished the deepest respect for his royal
ise, always speaking of her as ^ eximia regina^'* — that is, inestima-
or surpassingly excellent queen.'

iTe find, from the Monasticon, that Adelicia gave in trust to the
op of Chichester certain lands in Arundel, to provide salaries for
payment of two chaplains to celebrate divine service in that castle,
last recorded act of Adelicia was the grant of the prebend of West
n to the cathedral of Chichester, in 1150.

^ MonuticoD, Charter 9. Howard Memorials.

* Dugdale't Monasticon. Lib. Epist B. vol. xviiL * Dad.

I
I

\

I

14ft ADELICIA OF lOCVAtXB.

In the year 1149, a yountrer brother of Adelicia, UeQry ofLonniM,
wns professed a monk in ihe monastery of AlHighnin, near Altwl in
FItuidcrs, wliich bad been founded by (heir father Godfrey, and bis bru-
iher Henry of Louvaine; and soon after, the royal Adelicia hfradl,'
eiimulaied no doubt by his example, withdrew not only from the pomp*
and parade of earthly grandeur, but from the endearments of her adonn;
husband and youthful progeny, and, crossing the sea, retired to the unfr
nery in the same foundation, where she ended her days,' and wu like-
wise buried.'

Mr. Howard, in his interesting sketirli of the life of bis royal ance*-
tress, slates it to be bis opinion, that Adelieia did not take this importani
Btep without the full consent of her husband. Strange as it appears to
us, that any one who was at the very summit of earlliiy felicity should
have broken through such fond ties of conjugal and mntern^ lo»« ta
those by which Adelicia was surrounded, to bury herself in cloiatered
seclnsioD, there is indubitable evidence that such was the lacL

Sanilerue, in his Account of the Abbeys and Churches of Brabant,
relates that ^ Fulgentius, the abbot of AM^ham, visited queen Adelicia
at the court of her royal husband, Henry !.; where he was received
with especial honours." The same aathor expressly states, that Adelidi
died in the convent of AfHighara, and was interred there on the 9th of
the calends of April- He does not give the date of the year. From the
mortuary of the abbey, he quotes the following Latin record of tbi
death of this queen ; *

"Aleiilem genuit cum borba dm Godefrddus,
Que fait Angiorum i^ina piiaiima rouium."

The annals of Margan date this event in the year 1 151.

There is a charter in Affligham, granted by Hemy of Louvaine, on
condition tliat prayera may be eaid, for the welfare of his brother God-
frey, the reigning duke, his sister Aleyda the queen, and Ida, the counter
of Cleres, and their parents.*

Adelicia must have been about forty-eight years old at the time of h(r
death. She had been married eleven years, or thereabouts, to Willitia
de Albini, Lord of Buckenham. At hia paternal domain of New Bntk-
enham in Norfolk, a foundation was granted by William de Albiiii of
the Strong Arm, enjoining that prayers might be said for the <leptti1«d
spirit of his eiimia regirta. He survived her long enough to be tbt
happy means of composing, by an amicable treaty, the dealh-etrifs wturil
bad convulsed England for fifteen years, in consequence of the bhmltf
succession war between Stephen and the empress Matilda.*

This great and good man is buried in Wymondham Abb(>y, near Af
tomb of his father, the Pincema of Engiand and Normandy.

I3y her marrtage with Albini, Adelicia became the mother of tent
surviving children. William earl of Anmdel, who suoceeded to At
csiates and honours ; Reyner ; Henry ; Godfrey ; Alice, married to lh«

' Bntkon'o iiopbi« du HnlMiii. Ibid.

* Sandenu'a Abbeji and Churcbea in Bialnnt. * Ibid.

'Howmrd MeworiaiM. ' Tbii will ba detailed in the luooeediBK biognffef.

ADXLICIA OF LOUVAINB.

141

count d^u ; Olim ; Agatha. The two latter were buried at Boxgrove,
near Arundel.

Though Adelicia had so many children by her. secocd marriage, her
tender a&ction for her father's &mily caused her to send for her younger
brother, Joceline of Louvaine, to share in her prosperity and happiness ;
and the munificent earl, her husband, to enable this landless prince to
mtnr adTantageously, gave him the fair domain of Petworth, on his
wedmnff Agnes, the heiress of the Percies : ^ since which," says Cam-
den, ^ me posterity of that Joceline, who took the name of Percy, have
ever poescaeed it-«a &mily certainly very ancient and noble, the male
wpeacntatiTes of Charlemiagne, more direct than the dukes of Guise,
who pride themselTea <m that account Joceline, in a donation of his
whieh I have seen, uses this title : ^ Joceline of Louvaine, brother to
(jueen Adelida, OMtellaina of Arundel.' "

Two ducal peers of England are now the representatives of the im-
perial Garlovingian line — ^namely, the duke of Norfolk, the heir of queen
Adelicia; and the duke of Northumberland, the lineal descendant of her '
bfodier Joceline of Louvaine.

The two most unfortunate of all the queens of England, Anna Boleyn
and Katharine Howard, were the lineal descendants of Adelicia, by her
seeood marriage with William de AlbinL

MATILDA OF BOULOGNE.

QUEEN OF STEPHEN.

I

U»ilila't deecenl from Saxon Iuqeb — Her moibet > Saxon princei* — H« Uikm
—MbIiMb cspouMd IS Sicpbrn of Bloit— Rrsldcsace at Towcr-Roxnl— Mull-
da'« popularity in London — Stephen seizes the throne — Birth nf priTiri; Emtirii
— Coronnlion or Malildn — Queen left regent — Disasteri — Queen (."---l--' i1">—
Cutle — Medi»te» peaoe with her uncle — Bniptefs Matilda iani-
— Heniy of Bloii — Civil war — Quern puis lo France — SiairiH^.
heir — Knifes an army — Slrpben OHpltireil — Arrogance of eiiii
grief — Elerlioiu in Slephen's enuee— Queen Matilda writei i( i
Her >I^>pUcaIion for Siepben'e libany — Obilunic; of empreas — ' '
, loann* — E^prws id Winchefiei — Herieat — Inaultj LondcQcr- -
London-^-SDccesies of the queen — Takea Wincheiier — E«(i[.,-
Sat] of Gloucexct taken — Eiflianged for Stephen — Illness of . i

Emprass escape* from 0»ft>rd — Her son — Decline ofemprcss., ..,^.,^ .,..-._

Matilda fbimds Sl Kadierine hf the Tower— Death of ths quc-eu — &i[.w-
Tonih— Epitaph— Children— Eutiace— Death of king Stephen— Burial hf hn
queen — EzhuuiatiDn of their bodiei.

Matilda of Boulogne, the last of our Anglo-Nonnan (jtieeas, wu I
princess of ihe ancient royal line of English monarrhs. Her mother,
Mary of Scotland, wag the seconi) daughter of Malcolm Conmnrc and
Margsrel Atheling, and sister to Matilda the Good, the first queeo cl
Henry Beauclerc. Alary of Scotland was educated with her elder lelit,
in ilie royal monasteries of Wilton and Rumsey, under the stem tnlel^i
of iheir aunt Christina; and woa doubtless, like the princess Malilifa,
compelled to assume the habit of a Tolaress. Whether llie youifafid
Mary lestiljed the same lively antipathy to the coneecrated black ral,
that was exhibited by her elder sister, no gossiping monasLje chrotiidcr
has recorded ; but she certainly forfiook the cloister, for the court of
England, on Matilda's auspicious nuptials with Henry I., and exclHa|ld
the t«dge of celilmcy for the nuptial rin^ soon aflerwarda, wbtn Iw
royal brother-in-law gave her in marriage to Eustace, i;ount of Boi^

The father of this nobleman was brother-in-law to Edward tlie Coe>
fessor, having married Goda, the widowed countess of Mantes, etsier to
that monarch; both himself and his son Eustace had been poweiful
supporters of the Saxon cause. The enterprising spirit of the conDU
of Boulogne, and the contiguity of their dominions to tlie Envliih
shores, had rendered them troublesome neighbours to William the Coih
(lucrnr and his sons, lill the chivalric spirit of crusading attracted ili«ir
encieies to a different channel, and converted these pirates of the ni
«e8s into heroes of the cross, and liberators of the holy city.

Godfrey of Boulogne, the hero of Tasso's Gierusahme Lihgrata,iai
hlf hrothPz Baldwin, who successively wore the crowa of ierunlni J

the Coo-
rled lll«ir

c narro* I

raUfiai f
'ruidni J

XATILDA OF BOVLOONX. 143

were the nnclefl of Matilda, Stephen's queen. Her father, Eustace count
of Boulogne, was also a distinguished crusader. He must have been a
mature husband for Mary of Scotland, since he was the companion in
•nns of Robert of Normandy, and her uncle Edgar Atheling. Matilda,
or, as she is sometimes called for brevity, Maud of Boulogne, was the
fole of&pring of this marriage, and the heiress of this illustrious house.

There is every reason to believe Matilda was educated in the abbey
of Bermondsey, to which the countess of Boulogne, her mother, was a
munificent benefitctress. The countess died in this abbey while on a
visit to England, in the year 1115, and was buried there. We gather
from the Latin Terses on her tomb, that she was a lady of very noble
qualities, and that her death was very painful and unexpected.'

Tonnff as Matilda was, she was certainly espousea to Stephen de
Blois b^ore her mother's decease ; for this plain reason, that the charter
by which the countess of Boulogne, in the year 1114, grants to the
CXugniac monks of Bennondsey her manor of Kynewardstone, is, in the
jmr she died, confiraied by Eustace her husband, and Stephen her son-
iii4aw.* Stephen, the third son of a vassal peer of France, obtained this
gnat match through the fiivour of his royal uncle, Henry I. He inherited
from the royal Adela, his mother, the splendid talents, fine person, and
enterprising spirit of the mighty Norman line of sovereigns. A very
tender friendship had subsisted between Adela, countess of Blois, and
her brother, Henry Beauclerc, who at different periods of his life had
been under important obligations to her ; and when Adela sent her land-
less boy to seek his fortunes at the court of England, Henry returned
the friendly offices which he had received from this faithful sister, by
lavishing wealth and honour on her son.

Stephen received the spurs of knighthood from his uncle king Henry,
previous to the batde of Tinchebraye, where he took the count of Mor-
tigne prisoner, and received the investiture of his lands. He was farther
rewaroed by his royal kinsman with the hand of Matilda, the heiress of
Boulogne.*

^ when Stephen was but an earl,'' says William of Malmsbury, ^ he
gained the auctions of the people, to a degree that can scarcely be
imagined, by the affiibility of his manners, and the wit and pleasantry
of his conversation, condescending to chat and joke with persons in the
humblest stations, as well as with the nobles, who delighted in his com-
pany, and attached themselves to his cause from personal regard."^

Stephen was count of Boulogne in Matilda's right, when, as count of
Mortagne, he swore fisalty in 11 26 to the empress Matilda, as heiress to
the Norman dominions of Henry I.

The London residence of Stephen and Matilda was Tower-Royal, a
palace built by king Henry, and presented by him to his favoured nephew,
on the occaaion of his wedding the niece of his queen Matilda Atheling.
The spot to which this regal-sounding name is still appended, is a close
lane between Chespside and Watling Street Tower^Royal was a fortress

> Hist. Bermondsey Abbey. * Annales AbbatiB Bermondsey.

" Oiderieus Yitalis. * W. Malmsbnry. Ordeiicaft YiAbWu

I

I AM MATILDA OF DDILOGNE.

of prodiipous sirengili ; for more ilinn once, when ihe Tower of Lowui
itself fell into the hands of ilie rebels, ihis einbaiiW palace of Stephen
remained in security.'

Il IK a remarkable faci, that Stephen hai embarked an board ifat
Bltmekt ,Vcf, with his royal cousin, William the Atheling, nnd tlic ml
of her fated crew; but with two knights of his train, and a few othcn
vho prudently- followed his example, he left the vessel with lite recntrk
thai "she was too much crowded wiili foolish, headstrong young
people."'

After the death of prince William, Stephen's influence with his rwil
uncle became unbounded, and he was his constant companion in all hii
voyages to Normandy.

There are evidences of conjugal infidelity on the part of this gay and
gallant young prince, about this period, proving that Matilda's rup iJ
happiness was not without tome alloy of bitterness. How far faerptMC
was affected by the scandalous repoits of the passion which Iter haughty
cousin the empress Matilda, the acknowledged heiress of England «od
Normandy, was said lo cherish for her aspiring husband, we annoi
presutne to say ; but there was an angel-like spirit in this princess, wtiieii
supported her under every trial, and rendered her a beautiful example la
every royal female in the marriod state.

Two children, a son and a daughter, were bom to the young earl and
countess of Boulogne, during king Henry's reign. The boy was nanKat
Baldn'in, afler Matdda's uncle, the king of Jerusalem; — a Saxon nUM
wilhal. and therefore likely to sound pleasantly to the ears of the I^
lish, who, no doubt, looked with complacency on the infant heir «
Boulogne, as the son of a princess of the royal Atheling blood, bcni
among them, and educated by his amiable mother to veaemle thtir
ancient laws, and to speak their language. Prince Baldwin, howe*tfi
died in early childhood, and was interred in the priory of the Holy
Trinity, without Aldgate, founded by his royal aunt, Matilda of Scot-
land. The second child of Stepheu and Matilda, a daughter naniad
Maud, )>om also in the reign of Henry I., died young, and was buried
in the same church. Some historians aver that Maud survived loa|
enough to be espoused lo the earl of Milan.

So dear was the memory of these, her buried hopes, to the heart of
Matilda, that afler she became queen of England, and her loss ww VO^
plied hv the birth of another son and daughter, she continued to laaxU
for them; and the Church and Hospital of St. Katlierine by the Tower
were founded and endowed by her, that prayers might be perpeiiisllT
said by the pious sisterhood for the repose of the soula of her tirst^Kni
children.

In the latter days of king Henry, while Stephen was engageil in steal-
ing the hearts of the men of England, al\er the &shion of Absalom, thr
mild virtues of his amiable consort recalled to their remembnace ha
royal aunt and namesake, Henry's first queen, and inspired ibem wiilia
trembling hope of seeing her pbce filled eventually by a priocoa ■>

'Slovre'c SDivey. Penaam't LottdoD. ' Otdariout ViMlH.

MATILDA OF DOtJLOONB. 145

mach more resembling her than the haughty wife of Geoffrey of Anjou
The Norman woman looked upon her mother^s people with scDrn, and
from her they had nothing to expect but the iron yoke which her grand-
father, the Conqueror, had laid upon their necks, with, perhaps, an aggra-
facioii of their miseries. But Stephen, the husband of her gentli* cousin,
the English -hearted Matilda, had whispered in their ears of the con-
firmatioo of the great charter of their liberties, which Henry of Normandy
had granted when he became the husband of the descendant of their an-
cient kings, and broken, when her influence was destroyed by death and
I foreign marriage.

King Henry ^8 daughter, the empress Matilda,^ was the wife of a foreign
prince residing on the Continent. Stephen and his amiable princess were
living in London, and daily endearing themselves to the people, by the
roost popular and affiible behaviour. The public mind was certainly
predisposed in &vour of Stephen's designs, when the sudden death of
kinz Henry in Normandy lef^ the right of succession for the first time to
I female heir. Piers of Langtof^ thus describes the perplexity of the
aation respecting the choice of the sovereign : —

** On bier laj king Henry,
On bier beyond the sea ;
And no man might rightly know
Who hit heir suld be.'*

Stephen, following the example of the deceased monarch's conduct at
the time of his brother Rufus's death,' lefl his royal uncle and benefac-
tor's obsequies to the care of Robert earl of Gloucester, and the other
peers who were witnesses to his last words ; and embarking at White-
nnd, a small port in Matilda's dominions, in a light vessel, on a wintry
sea, he landed at Dover, in the midst of such a storm of thunder and
lightning, tliat, according to William of Malmsbury, every one imagined
the world was coming to an end. As soon as he arrived in London, he
convened an assembly of the Anglo-Norman barons before whom his
confederate and friend, Hugh Bigod, the steward of king Henry's house
hold, swore on the holy Evangelists, '* that the deceased sovereign hau
disinherited the empress Matilda on his death-bed, and adopted his most
dear nephew Stephen for his heir."'

On this bold affirmation, the Archbishop of Canterbury absolved the
peers of the oatlis of fealty they had twice sworn to the daughter of their
late sovereign — and declared ^ that those oaths were null and void, and
contrary, moreover, to the laws and customs of the English, who had
never permitted a woman to reign over them."

This was a futile argnment, as no female had ever stood in that im-
portant position, with r^rd to the succession to the crown of England,
in which the empress Jnatilda was now placed; therefore no preosdent
hid occurred for the establishment of a salique law in England.

Stephen was crowned on the 26th of December, his name-day, the
feut of St Stephen.* He swore to establish the righteous laws of

'The Biography of the empretfl Matilda is continued through this life.
*Malmtbnry. 'Malmsbury. Rapin. * Sir Harris NiooLChronoloft^^^''^'^*
TOL.I.~I3 K

I

I

vIM MATILDA OF BOLLDOKE.

Eilwanl the confe»stir, for llie general liappinpss of all cIbbbm oT hi« nih-
jec.ls.' The Eiigliah regarded Siephen's union with a priiicm of tluv
nee as the bon pledge of the Biaerriiy of his profesaioru in n^rd u> ih«
ameliorBlioQ of iheir condition. These hopes were, of course, increaMj
by the birth of prince Enstnce, whom Matilda brought into the world
Tory soon after her hiwhanU's accession lo the throne of EngUnJ. h
was, perhaps, this auspicious event that prevented Matilda from htin^
asiocialed in the coronation of her lord on Si. Stephen's day, in V!ttH-
minsier Abbey. Her own coronation, according to Geri'aBe. took pbc«
March 22d, 1 136, being Easter Sunday, not quite three months aftM-
wards. Stephen was better enabled to support the ex|>ense9 of a splendid
cerenioniol in honour of his beloved queen, having, immediately >ft*t
his own hasty tnaugumiion, posted to Wiiichesier and itiadc fatoiMlf
master of the treasurj' of his dereosetl uncle king Heni^-; which eo*
tained, says Malmshury, ^ one hundred thousand pounds, besides Hon
of plate and jewels."

Tlie empress Matilda was in Anjou at the time of her father's twUtt
demise. She was entirely occupied by the grievous airkums of hv
nusband, who was snpposed to be on his dcath-bed.' AfWr the eonnte-
ceneeof her lord, as none of her parliaans in England made the slightM
movement in her favour,8he remained quiescent for a season, well know*
ing that the excessive popularity of a new monarrh is seldom of loo;
eontiniiance in England. Stephen had begun well by abolnhing dane-
ge1t,aDd leaving the game in the woods, forests, and uncultivated watts,
common to all his sunjects ; but afler awhile he repented of hia libeal
policy, and called courts of inquiry lo moke men give occohqi of iht
damage and loss he had sustained in his fallow deer and other wild
game; he likewise enforced the offensive syaleni of the other KomuB
monarcha for iheir preservation.

Next he obtained the enmity of the clergy, by seizing the rerennet
of the see of Canterbur;-; and lastly, to the great nlaim and dctrinMHi
of the peacefully disposed, he imprudently permitted his nobles to bniU
or fortify upwards of a thousand of those strongholds of wrong oin] mt>-
bery called castles, which rendered tlieir uwocis in a grral mcwon
mdependent of the crown.

Baldwin de Redvera, earl of Devonshire, was the first lo gire Su^ilwii
a practical proof of his want of foresight in this tnatler, by telling linn,
on some slight cause of oflence, " that he was not king of right, and U
would obey him no longer." Stephen proceeded in person to '
him ; in the meantime David, king of Scolbnd, invaded the i
counties, under pretence of revenging the wrong that had bwn
his niece, the empress Matilda, by Stephen's nsurpation and penury,

Matilda of Boulogne, Stephen's consort, stood in the same mgnttt
relationship lo the king of Scotland, as the empress Matilda, hum bff
mother, Mnry of Scotland, was his sister, no less than Matilda, the otMi
of Henry I.

Stephen concluded a hasiy peace with the Welsh princes,

' JklaJmsbOr/. fimmplon. * Carrutheii' Hiit. ol SeotUbd, pfi. 3>7, JOL.

MATILDA OP BOULOONX. 147

to repel the inTasion of king David ; but when the hosthe armies met
near Carlisle, he succeeded in adjusting all differences by means of an
iroicable treaty, perhaps through the in treaties or mediation of his queen.

Easter was kept at Westminster this year, 1137, by Stephen and Ma-
tilda, with greater splendour than had ever been seen in the court o
Henry Beaudere, to celebrate the happy termination of the storm that
had so lately darkened the political horizon ; but the rejoicings of the
queen were fearfully interrupted by the alarming illness which suddenly
•ttacked the king, in the midst of the festivities for his safe return from
the Welsh and northern expeditions.

This illness, the efiect no doubt of the preternatural exertions of both
mental and corporeal powers, which Stephen had compelled himself to
use, during the recent momentous crisis of his fortunes, was a sort of
stupor, or lethargy so nearly resembling death, that it was reported in
Normandy that he had breathed his last ; on which the party of the
empress began to take active measures, both on the continent and in
England, for the recognition of her rights.* The count of Anjou entered
Normandy at the head of an army, to assert the claims of his wife and
son ; which were, however, disputed by Stephen's elder brother, Theo-
bald count of Blois, not in behalf of Stephen, but himself; and the earl
of Gloucester openly declared himself in favour of his sister the em-
press, and delivered the keys of Falaise to her husband, Geoffrey of
Anjou.'

When Stephen recovered from his death-like sickness, he found every-
thing in confusion, — the attention of his faithful queen, Matilda, having
doubtless been absorbed in anxious watchings by his sick-bed, during
the protracted period of his strange and alarming malady. She was now
left to take care of his interests in England as best she might ; for Ste-
phen, rousing himself from the pause of exhausted nature, hastened to
the continent with his infant heir Eustace, to whom queen Matilda had
resigned the earldom of Boulogne, her own fair inheritance. Stephen,
by the strong eloquence of an immense bribe, prevailed on Louis VII.
of France, as suzerain of Normandy, to invest the unconscious babe with
the duchy, and to receive his liege homage for the same.'

Meantime some portentous events occurred during Matilda's govern-
ment Sudden and mysterious conflagrations then, as now, indicated
the sullen discontent of the very lower order of the English people.
On the dd of June, 1137, Rochester cathedral was destroyed by fire;
the following day, the whole city of Tork, with its cathedral and thirty
churches, was burnt to the ground ; soon afler, the city of Bath shared
the same &te. Then conspiracies began to be formed in favour of the
empress Matilda, in various parts of England; and lastly, her uncle,
David king of Scotland, once more entered Northumberland, with ban-
ners displayed, in support of his supplanted kinswoman's superior title
to the crown.^ Queen Matilda, with courage and energy suited to this

* Hoveden. Brompton* Orderioot Yitalis. * M. Paris, iLO, 4tc

' Ordericas Vitalis. Henry of Huntingdon. Brompton. M. Paris. Rapin. SpeecL
*Brouipton. Bapin. Ordericus Yitalis.

I

I

K^ITtLDA OF BOVLoaSE. ^H

klanDing crinst n-eni in peraun, and besieged the insui^nU, who M
eeiied Bover cusUe ; and she sent orders to ihe men of Boulo^e, ba
loyal KubJecU, lo attack the rebels by sea.

The Bonloonois obeyed the commaiids or iheir beloved princes* with
•lucrity,' and to such good purpo«ei by covering ihe Chonael wvih ibeif
ligbt-armed vessels, that ifae besieged, not being able to receive ih*
•lightest succour by sea, were foiced to Bubmii to the queen.' At lliil
juncture Stephen arrived, uid lucceeded in chastising the Ic&den of the
revolt, and drove the Scottish king over his own border. Nercrthelc«
the empress Matilda's parly, in the year 1 138, began to assume n fbrm^
dable aspecL Every day brought tidings to the court of Stephej) uf aooe
fresh revolt. William of Malnubury relates, that when Stephen ma
bifTmed of these desertions, he passionately exclaimed, " Why did thiy
make me king, if they forsake roe thus ? By the birth of Gkxl,' J ril
never be called an abdicated king!"

The invasion of qneeu Alalilda's uncle, David of Scotland, lor the
third time increased the dialractioa of her royal husband's ai&irs, ttf»-
r-ially as Stephen was loo much occupied with the internal troubles of
his kingdom, to be able to proceed, in person, against him. David, ud
his army, were, hovrever, defeated wiih immense slaughter, by the war-
hke ThursUn, archbishop of York, at Cuton Moor. The paniculan
dI this engagement, called the battle of the Standard, where the church
militant performed such notable service for the crown, belong to getwdl
hislor}-, and are besides too well known to require repetition in the
biograpliv of Stephen^s queen.

Matiloft' was mainly instrumental in negotiating the peace which ww
concluded this year between her uncle and her lord. Prince lleniy,
llie lieir of Scotland, having, at the same time, renewed bis homags to
Stephen for the earldom of Huntingdon, was invited by the king lo hit
court. The aiieniion with which the young prince was irraied by tba
king and queen was viewed with invidious eyes by their ill-mannertd
courtiers; and Ranulph, earl of Chester, took such great oQence at tk*
myal stranger being seated above him at dinner, that he made it an ei>
cusc for joining the revolted barons, and persuaded a knot of equally
uucivdized nobles to follow his example on the same pretence.'

The empress Matilda, taking advantage of the fierce contention be-
tween Stephen and the hierarchy of England, made her lardy appearaDU,
in pursuance of her claims lo the crown, in the autumn of 1 14i>. Uks
her uncle, Robert the Unready, ihe empress allowed the critical tnomtat
to slip, when, by prompt and energetic measures, she migbl have gatnad
tlte priie for which she contended. But she did not turive till Sttq^UB
had made himself master of the caslles, and, what was of more import*
nuce to him, the greal wealth of his three refractory prelalea, tiie bwiof*
of Salisbury, Ely, ami Ijncoln.

' Onterkns Vitalia. * ThU was Siephen 3 Diunl oath. MalmitniT.

'"Throu^ die mediatiOD orMotiUa, Uie wife orStcpbcn, and nieoa of Davia
a peace was conclQileii at I)uihBm beiween ihesa two king*, t^Bii>b4e hi Imit
and Dwrul laboiii paniei." — C^rruthers' HisL oT Scotland, vol. i. p. 39t.

MATILDA OF BOVLOONK. 149

When the empress was shut up within the walls of Arundel castle,
Stephen might, by one bold stroke, have made her his prisoner; but he
was prerailed upon to respect the ties of consanguinity, and the high
rank €i( the widow, and of the daughter of his benefactor king Henry.
It is possible, too, that recollections of a tenderer nature, with regard to
his cousin the empress, might deter him from imperilling her person, by
pushing the siege. According to some of the chroniclers, the empress
sent, with queen Adelicia's request that she might be permitted to retire
to Bristol, a guileful letter or message to Stephen,' which induced him
to promise, on his word of honour, that he would grant her safe con-
duct to that city. Though the empress knew that Stephen had violated
the most solemn oaths which he had taken in regard to her succession
to the crown, she relied upon his honour, and put herself under his pro-
tection, and was safely conducted to the castle of Bristol. King Stephen
gave to his brother, Henry of Blois, bishop of Winchester, and to Wal-
leran, earl of Mellent, the charge of conducting the empress to Bristol
castle. This bright trait of chivalry contrasts beautifully with the self-
ishness and perfidy too prevalent at the era.

It was during this journey, in all probability, that Henry de Blois
anmnged his plims with the empress Matilda, for making her mistress of
the royal city of Winchester, which was entirely under his influence.

While the earl of Gloucester, on behalf of his sister the empress, was
contesting with king Stephen the realm of England at the sword's point,
queen Matilda procapded to France, with her son Eustace, to endeavour
to strengthen her husband's cause by the aid of her foreign connexions ;
and« while at the court of France, successfully exerted her diplomatic
powers in negotiating a marriage between the princess Constance, sister
of Louis VII., and prince Eustace, then about four years old. The
queen presided at this infant marriage, which was celebrated with great
splendour.

Instead of receiving a dowry with a princess, queen Matilda paid a
large sum to purchase her son the bride ; Louis VII. in return solemnly
invested his young brother-in-law with the duchy of Normandy, and
lent his powerful aid to maintain him there as the nominal sovereign,
under the direction of the queen his mother. This alliance, which took
place in the year 1140,' greatly raised the hopes of Stephen's party;
but the bands of foreign mercenaries, which his queen Matilda sent over
from Boulogne and the ports of Normandy to his succour, had an inju-
rious eflect on his cause, and were beheld with jealous alarm by the
people of the land ; ^ whose miseries were in no slight degree aggra-
vated,'' says the chronicler Gervase, ^ by the arrival of these hunger-
starred wolves, who completed the destruction of the land's felicity."

It was during the absence of queen Matilda and her son, prince Eub-
tace, that the ^ttle, so disastrous to her husband's cause, was fouffht,
beneath the walls of Lincoln, on Candlemas-day, 1141. Stephen hail
shut up a great many of the empress Matilda's partisans and their fami-
lies in the city of Lincoln, which he had been for some time besi^[ing.

> Gervase. Henxy of Hontinfclon. * Florence of Woiceitiex. TyncW

13*

•tfid

ILDA OF BOV LOGSE.

I

The Mrl of Glotioejter's youngest daughter, lolely married to lier eonrin
Raiiulpiii earl of Ciiesler, was amon^ the besieged; anil bo iletermtncd
were die two earls, her father anii her huabaiiil, for her delivemnc«, tlitt
tht^y encouraged (heir followers to swim, or ford, the deep cold waten
of the rirer Trent,' behind which Stephen and hia army were encamped,
and fiercely attacked him in their dripping garmenta ; and all for ihe
relief of ilie fair ladiea who were trembling within the walls of Lincoln,
anil beginning to suffer from lark of provisions. These were the dayii
of cliivalry, be it remembered.' Spned gives ns ■ ilescriptjre ntlalogne
of some of the leading characiers among otir valianl king Sl«plwn'>
knighls $ani peiir, which, if space were allowed us. we would abstiact
from the animated harangue with which the earl of Gloucestsr endn-
*oure<I to warm his shivering followers into a virtuous blaze of iadign»-
tion. aAer ihey had emeiged from their cold bath.'

His sutirical eloquence was received by the partisans of the emprsM
with a tremendous shoui of applause; and Stephen, not to be behind-
hand with his foes in bandying personal abuse as a prelude tn the fight
as liis own powers of articulation happened to be defective, deputed oar
Baldwin Fitz-^ilhert, a knight who was blessed with a Sientoriiin rnifc,
to thunder forth his recrimination on the earl of Gloucester and his host,
in the ear* of both armies. Fitz-Gilberl, in hia speech, laid ecornibi
flress on the illegitimacy of the emprees^ champion, whom he destg-
Dated, "Robert, the base-born general."'

The btttile, for which both parties hod prepared ihetnsclvee with mi<t
■ sharp encounter of keen words, was. to use the eiipiession of contem-
porary chroniclers, " a very sore one ;" but it seems as if Stephen bad
fought better than his followers that day. ".A very strange sigM it
was." says Matthew Paris, ** there to behold king Stephen, Icf^ alinoei*
■lone in the lield, yet no man daring lo approach him, while, grimlint
his teeth and foaming like a furious wild boar, he ilrove bark with hu
fcalll<^-axe the assailing squadrons, slayitig the foremost of them, to the
eternal renown of his courage. If but a hundred like himself had bten
with him, a whole army had never been able lo capiirre his person ; y«.
single-handed as lie was, he held out till lirsl his baitle-Hxe hrake^ am)
afterwards his sword shivered in his grasp, with the force nf his owa
resistless Mows ; though he wss borne backward to his knees by a grAl
stone, which by some ignoble person was flung at him. A stout knigtit,
William of Kiunes, then seized him by the helmet, and holding ih*
point of his sword to his throat, called upon him lo surrender,"*

Even in that e»lreiniiy Stephen refused lo give Dp the fragment of hii
sword to any one but the earl of Olourester, his valiant kinsman, who,

L coming up, bade his infuriated troops rtfrain from further violentn., and
cnndueted his n>yal captive to the empress Matilda, at Gloucester. Th«
carl of Gloucester, It Is said, treated Stephen with some degree of cour-
trsv ; but the empress Matilda, whose hatred appears to huve e

■ Matin ibury. RB|)in. SpM^I. ■Polyitore Vrrgl!. Speed. MiilmibaTT.

'Roger HtiriHlen. R. HiinlinRiIna. Polfchronicon,

'Jtogrt Hortdcn. H.Hunlincdan. Spc^d. 'H. Huntingdon. Epi^. Rafun.

■ MATILDA OF DOULOQNE. 151

ftam a ilscper root of bilternrss tlinn mere rivalry of powefi loadeil hlffl
witli indigni tin, anil unlernl liim itiio itie mosE ri^oroua conflncment, in
Bristol ewxie. According lo (jeiietnl tusiorians, the caused liim lo be
liraTilr irpcicd, and used the royal captive aa ignominiously as if lie had
been Uie lowcat Tclon; but Williaiu o( Malmsbury says, "this was not
btl afl«r SWfihen tuul attempted to make his escape, or it was reported
tint Ike haij beea eeeu eev«ral timtis beyond the bounds prescribed for air
and Merfiae."

The cq^ireM Matilda made her public and tiiumphant entry into the
riif of Winchevter, February 7, wliere the was received with great state
by Stephen's equally haughty brother, Henry de Blois, bishop of Wiu-
c^rster, and carding Ifgue. He appeared at llie head of alt the clurgy
and monks of the diocese; and even the nuns of Winchester' (a thine
hetam unheard of) walketi unveiled in the procession, to receive and
wcJeonie the rightful heiress of the realm, the daughter of the great and
learned Henry Fitz-Conqucror, and of Matilda, the descendant of the
Atbeling. The English had also the satisfaction of seeing the male
Rpivaeiiiative of their aucient rouiiarchs on llial occasion within the
walls of Winchester; fur David of Scotland, the son of Margaret of
Alhding, w» precent, to do honour lo his niece, — the victorious rival oC
Sirpbeii'a crown. Henry de Bloia resigned the regal omatnents, and the

fiuy midue of her father's irGoaure, into the hinds of the empress,
he next day he received her with great pomp in his cathedral church,
where be excommunicated all the adherents of hii! unfortunate brother)
and pmoiued absolution lo all who should abandon his cause and join
the tmprasa.'

In ihi* melancholy position did queen Matilda find her husband's
ruMT. when she retimied front her successful negotiation, of the luar-
nagc hciircen tlie Frenrh king's sister, and her son the young connt of
Boahi|rne, whom slie had left, fur the present, established us duke of
V onmady. The peera and clei^y had alike abandoned the luckiest
-.ipben in his adversity; anil the archbishop of Canterbury, being I
...in a( lender conscienee, had actually visited Stephen in prison, lO
jL^joeai hb permission to transfer his oath of allegiance to bis victorioiif
fiial, tlw cnipreis Matilda.

!■ thia praUcameni, the faithful consort of the fallen monarch applied
hxTMclf to the citizens of Londiin, with whutn she had ever muinlatliad
a fTtBi share of popularity. They knew Iter virtues, for she had livtd
tnong lliein; and her tender atlection for her royal spouse in his vi-
ittmitj, w«a well pleasing lo those who had witnessed the domestic hap:*
piacM ()f the princely pair, white they lived in Tower-Royal, as count
«ad cuunteaa of Boulogne ; and the remembrance of Stephen's free and
pleaaaJii cwduct, and a&ble association with all sorts and Cundiiioiis of
aea, before he wore the ilinmy diadem of a doubtful title to the sov»-
le^Bty uf Efi^nd, disposed the magistracy of Loniton to render eveiy

hlk. 'RudbamFi HiiL oT Winrhosior.

^r 'Ottili Stephani. Oernue. Malmabuiy. Rapln.

I

I

I

MATlLIlA OF BnVLOONB.

Bssislance in their power lo itieir unfortunale king.' So powcifaWy, in*
deed, had tiie personal iiiHuence of queen Matdda operated in thni quulrr,
tbat when ihe msgistrales of London were sniiimoned to send iheir de-
puties to a synod al Winchester, held by Henry de BIuie, wliieh had
ptedeleryiined the election of the empress Matilda to the ilin^ne, ihey
lusirucU'd them to demand the liberation of the king in the name of ihe
burona and citizens of Ixindon, as a preliminary to entering into anr
discussion nilb the paniGuns of his enemy. Henry ile Bloia repliM.
^ that it dill not become the Londoners to side with the adherenit uf
Stephen, wliose object was lo embroil the kingdom in fresh troublm."*
Queen Matilda. Ending that the trusty citizens of Ix>ndon were baffled
by the priestly subtlety of her husband's brother, Henry de Itloif, took
ihc decided, but at ifiai time unprecedenCed, step, of writing, in her owtt
name, an eloquent letter to the synod, eamcstly entreating those in
whose hands the government of Englaud was vested, to restore the Ling,
her husband, to libeily.

This letter the queen's faithful chaplain. Christian, delivered, in M
synod, lo the legale Henry de Bloia. The prelale, after he had |)erniri
the touching appeal of his royal slster-in-luw, refused to eoinmunicste
its purport to the assembly ; on which Christian boldly look the quentV
letter out of his hand, and read it aloud to the astonished cnnclaTO
courageously disregarding the auger and opposition of the legate, wbu
was at that time virtually the sovereign of the realm.* Henry dc Bluia
eflectually prevented any good eflect resulting from the persuasive ad-
dress of the high-minded consort of his unfortuuaie brother, by ifit-
solving the synod, and declaring '^ that the empress Matilda was lawfully
elected as the domina or sovereign lady of England." The followiDg
are the words of the formula in wiiich the declaration was deliremd:

" Having first, as is lit, invoked tlie aid of Almighty God, we clod «
lady of England and Nuimandy the daughter of the glorioua, ilie ridi,
the good, the peaceful king Henry, and to her we promise fealty and
support."'

No word is here of the good old laws — the laws of Alfred uid SL
Edward, or of the great charter wiiich Henry 1. agreed to observe. The
empress was the leader of the Norninn party, and the hetid of Korman
feudality, which, in many instances, was incompatible with the Sued

1

Arrogant and disdainful as her imperial education had renderHl h«,
she bore those new honours wiih anything but meekness ; she lefiMEd
to listen lo the counsel of her friends, and treated those of her adm^
ties whom misfortune drove to seek her clemency with insnlene* nd
cruelty, stripping them of their possessions, and rendering (hem jieffeedf
(tesperaie. The friends who hiul contributed to her elevation fre<|t)eMFF
met with a harsh refusal when they asked favours ; "■ and," myn ma dd
historian, " when they bowed themselves down before ber, ■be tlid Mt

MATILDA OF BOULO

Mtfontime the sorrowful i|uecn JMatilda wai unremitlin^ in her ei
liMu Tor itie Ubeislion of lier unfortuiiale lord, who was al tilts
hH*ily bxmed, wid iguominiaualy ir^aied, by order of the empr
Mot mly Enfkml, bat Nonuaiidy. tvas now loit to the captive luuiiartll
bar huaband, and ^ir young heir, prince Eustace ; for GeotTrey of
Aajod, aa aoon ae he received inielligence of the decisive b&tlle of Lln-
f«la, pamiaded the Norman baronage to withdraw their allegianre front
ihnr reototly invested duke, and to transfer it to his wife the cmpreaan
»ihI her son Henry, certainly die rightful heirs of William the C ~~
r,ucTor. The los« of regal siste and sovereign power was, howe<
ncBfded by the queen of Stephen as a matter of little
the •ewHMi of adveraily. it was not the king, but the man, the hus-
band of her youtli, and the fcther of her children, to whom the
icMlef-beuted Hatilda of Boulogne clung, with a devotion not often lo
be met wiili in the personal history of royalty. It was for his sake
^lini she coudftirended to humble herself, by addressing the most lowly
' liiiTsties to her haughty cou^n, ilie empress Matilda — to her, who, if
f leporl of some contemporary chroniclers is to be credited, had
Lttmycd ber husband into a breach of his iimrriage vow. The insult-
iag »eom with which the empress rejected every petition which the
vtdded wife of Stephen presented lo her, in behalf of her &llen foe,
looks like ibp viudiclive spiril of a jealous wnman; especiBliy, wliea
«■ ntket, thai not only the virtues of Matilda of Boulogne, but the
dsMaeia of her consanguinity to herEelf, required her to be treated
with fame degree of consiileralion and respect

There appears even to be a coven reference to the former position in
■likh them prince«»es had stood, as rivals in Stephen's love, by the
|n)»ea«l made by his fond queen. She proposed, if his life wore tntt
•faitd, to relinquiah his society, and thai he should not ouly for onti
hn^o ill claims upon llie crown and succession of England and No^
mandv. but, taking upon himself the tows and habit of a monk, devota
liiinirll to a teligious life, either as a pilgrim ot a cloistered auchorile,*
■m (■oticUiiou Lliat their son, prince Eustace, might be permitted to enjoy,
iti her right, the earldom of Boulogne, and his father's earldom of Mor-
Ugae, lilt) grant of Henry I. This petition was rejected by llio victo-
liiiaa onpress, with no less contempt than all the others which Ste-
phen's aii€Pn hod ventured to prefer, although her suit in this instance
naa liarkod by the powerful mediation of Henry de Blois. This prelate,
who apficar* lo have thought more of peace than of brotherhood, was
1I1.H only destraus of settling public order on such easy terms for his
iidw iKiTercign, hut wUling lo secure lo his nephew ilie natural inh»-
ntancE at his parents, of which the einpress's pariy bad obtained
•r^ton. So blind, however, was this obdurate princess, in pursuing
liewllong impulse of her vindictive nature, that nothing cold '
Iter to prrwivc how much it was her interest to grant llie pray
unhappy cousin ; and she rcpuUed the Guit of Henry de Blois so rud<
llut, when next summoued to her presence, he refused lo come, ^ui

I

>r Ris

inh»-

1

I

i

f'VH UATILDA OF BOULOGNE.

Matilda improved this tliflemice between her hHiiglii}- ririil end faer
brolher-in^w. In her otni adTaninge; and, having ohuitml a prinu
interview wiih him, she prevtiilcd on him, by ilie eluquence of hec Iran
and enlreatiest to absolve all her husbund'a party, vrhoin. as [x^'i
legate, he had a Tew day* before excornniunieateU, and U> enier into t
Re|;otialion with her for ihe deliverance of his brother.'

Not did tlie queen MaLlda rest here. In the name of her iion.pnKS
Eustace, aided by William of Ypres, Stephen's able but unjxipuUr inia*-
ler of stale, she raised the standard of iier captive lord, in Kent and
Surrey, where a strong party was presently organized ia his favour; mi
finding that there was nothing to be hoped for from her obdurate kii»
woman, the empress Matilda, on any oilier lenns but the unrewuia^
one of giving up her own I'uir inlierilanee, she, like a true dau^hur of
the heroic house of Boulogne, and the nieee of the illnalrioua Godfiri'
and Baldwin, prepared herself for u struggle, with such coun^gmw
energy of mind and promptitude of action, that many a recreant bonm
was shamed into qaiiiing the inglorious shelter of Itis castle, and led-
ing forth his vasrals to strengthen the muster of the royal heroine.

In the pages of superliriiilly written histories, much is said of te
prowess and luilitaty skill displayed by prince Eustace at this period',
but Eustace was scarcely seven year* old. at tlie time when tWse eflbiU
were made for tlie deliverance of his royal sire. It is, therefore, pUni
to those who reHeci on the evidence of doi«s, iliat it was the hii^
minded and prudent queen, liis mother, who avotdMl all Aiuazouian »
pluy, by acting under the name of her son.

Her feminine virtues, endearing qualities, and conjugal ilevolMin, h*i
already created the most powerful interest in her favour ; while rrpum
of tite pride and hardness of heart of her stern relative and iiaineMlu,
the new domina, began to be industriously circulated through ilie load,
by the ofieiided legate, Henry de Blois.*

William of Malmsbury mentions expressly, that the emprma Mstild*
never bore or received the title of ri-^ina. or queen of England, bat (hu
of domina, or lady of England. On her broad seal, which she eaaxd
to be made for her royal use at Winchester, she entitles herseli', ■■ KooN-
uorum Regina Mactliildis ;" and in a charier granted by her, just oAcf
the death of her brother and champion, Robert earl of Gloucealer, ibt
styles lierself ''' Regiua Romaiioruni, ci Domina Angloruni."

Tiie seel to which we have just alluded bears the ligurc of the fmBil
daughter of Uie Norman conqueror, crowned and seated on tJie Kinn^
Bench, with a sceptre in her riglit hand, but bearing neitli«r orb nor
duve, the symbols of sovereign power and mercy. She was not M
anointed queen, neither had the crown-royal ever been placed
brow.' The garland offieur de lis, by which the folds of her

'S|wed. TjTreiL 'TymlL

• We »fe inilebleJ to oat tLnci friend, Mr. Howan!, of Colby Cuile, for • da*
iag or Ilie impreuion at another sual penaining to MiiiMtt Ihe EmprDM^ tlfde
Slwt by Uiis Mary Aglkinbf Aom ■ iletil belantpng to hfir thmil;. Th* kaA
<lreH of itie eirpr«Bi ia ainipler tbnn that aliOTF-nieniIon«I. Iba nil beia( (M
Batd by ■ men iwiMad flUet, taeh as we aee beiieub helneta aaJ cnM It

MATILDA OF BOULOGNB. 155

wimple are confined, is of a simpler fonn than the royal dia<lem8 o(^ the
Anglo-Norman sorereigns, as shown on the broad seals of William Ru-
fii&. Henry 1., and Stephen. Probably an alteration would have been
made, if the coronation of Matilda, as sovereign of England, had ever
taken place. But the consent of the city of London was an indis-
pensable preliminary to her inauguration ; and to London she proceeded
in person, to obtain this important recognition. Though the majority
of the city authorities were disposed to favour the cause of Stephen,
for the sake of his popular consort, Matilda of Boulogne, the Saxon
citizens, when they heard, ^that the daughter of Molde, their good
queen,'' claimed their homage, looked with reverence on her elder
claim, and threw open their gates to receive her with every manifesta-
tion of aflectioo.

The first sentence addressed to them by this haughty claimant of the
rrown of St Edward, was the demand of an enormous subsidy.

The citizens of London replied, by inquiring after the great charter
granted by her fiither.

^Te are very impudent to mention privileges and charters to me,
when ye have just been supporting my enemies," was the gracious.
rejoinifer.'

Her prudent and gallant brother, Robert of Gloucester, who stood by
her side, immediately perceiving that the citizens of London stood
•gbast, at this intimation, of their new sovereign's intention, to treat
them as a conquered people, endeavoured to divert the public rage, by a
most discreet speech, beginning with this complimentary address : —

^ Te citizens of London, who of olden time were ddled barons "

Although the valiant Robert was a most complete and graceful
orator, we have no space for his speeches, so carefully preserved by the
contemporary historians, nor could all his conciliatory eloquence draw
the attention of the Londoners from the harshness of their new liege
lady.

Her uncle, king David, was present at this scene, and earnestly per-
luaded the empress to adopt a more popular line of conduct, but in
Tain.'

The Londoners craved leave to retire to their hall of common council,
in order to provide the subsidy.

The cmpress-domina was waiting in full security at the new palace at
Westminster, built by her uncle William, the Red King, till the deputies
from the city of London should approach, to ofler on their knees the
bags of gold she had demanded ; when suddenly the bells of London
rang out an alarum, and from every house in London and its vicinity
issued a man with a sword in his hand. ^ Just," says the old chronicler,
^ like bees swarming round the hive when it is attacked." A formidable
army soon gathered in the streets, ready to defend themselves from de-

heimldic blazonry. The inscription, in Roman letters, is S-MATUIDIS- DEI •
GRATIA • ROMANORUM • REGINA. Tlie manner of sitting, and the arrange-
ment of the drapery on the knees, resemble the portrait of the mother of th«*
rmpreas deaeribed in her memoir.

* J P. Andrews. *Carnuhert' Hist of Scotland, p. 341.

I

I

HATtLDA OF BO L' LOCKE.

mtinds of subsidies and all other grieTanceB. The empms-doniina, wjik
her Norman and Angerin chevaliere, by no means liked the ida of
charging this posse in their own crooked and narrow itreeta, whew
enifalric evolutions could Rvaii bui little. They therefore niounKKl ihair
steeds, and fled. Scarcely had ihey cleared the suburbs, wlien a troop
of riiizens broke open the doors of the palace, and finding nu one Hun,
plundered the eflects leli behind.

The empress, with her barons and chevaliers, galloped on the rnod M
Oxford ; and when they had arrived there, her train had becomn mi nnill
with numerous desertions, that, with ihe exception of Robert of Gloo-
c«Bler, she entered it alone.

Her uncle, king David, who left London with her, would ttavo JMt
either his life or liberty, but for the fidelity of his godson, Daiid Ot
phount. Thoroughly disgusted with the obstinacy and haugbtiucM of
his niece, he made the bMt of hia way to his own borders, li i* snd
that he held her ever after in low esiimation.

A strong reaction of popular feeling in favour of Stephen, or n&ti
of Stephen's queen, followed iliia event. The counties of Kent aad
Surrey were already her own, and prepared to support her by force of
Brms; and the citizens of London joyfully received her within iMr
w&lls once more. Henry de Blois had be«i induced, more than oott,
'.o meet hia roj^l sister-in-law secretly, at Guildford. Thither tbt
srouglil the young prince, her son,' to assist her in moving his powufal
uncle to lend his aid, in replacing her husband on the throne. Ilewf
de Blois, touchedijy ihe tears and entreaties i>r these inlorestiiig cupplh
cants, and burning wiih rage at the insolent treatment he had recriftd
from the imperial virago, whom Camden quaintly styles '*a niggitkM
wife." solemnly ptomised the queen to forsake the cause of lirr tinL

Immediately on his relurn to Winchester, the preUle foni£rd Ui
rasile, and having prepared all thinga for declaring hinisidf in farimr rf
his brother, he sent messengers to the queen, begging her to put hmdS
at the head of the Kentishmen and Londoners, and march with hrt toe,
prince Eustace, to Winchester.'

The etnpress Matilda, and the earl of Gloucester, having some ifUeOi-
gence of Henry de Blois' proceedings, advanced from Oxford, acciMBpi.
nicd hy David, king of Scotland, at the head of an army, to ovenwt
him. When ihey approached the walhi of Winchester, tlie empreu Mat
a herald to the legate, requeeting a conference, as she had something if
importance to communicate ; but to this requisition Henry de Bloia o^
replied, -"Parabo mr,'"' that is, '* 1 will prepare rnvBelf;" and lindiogifeal
the Norman party in Winchester were at preseni too stroitg for him, it
left the city, and retired to his strong castle in tlie suburbs; caasiBg,*!
th« same time, so unexpecied an attack to be made on the emptn«,lte
she had a hani race to gain the shelter of the royal citadd.*

^uecn Klaiilda, with her son and »ir William Ypres, at the he«J cf
Ihe Londoners and the Kentishmen, were soon aAerat the gates uf ftW
Chester; and the empress was now bo cJusely blockaded in her palwt

'TjTrelL

*Uslin*buT7. Gerrue.

* Mtiinshbuiy,

MATILDA OF BOULOGNB. 157

that she had ample cause to repent of her vindictive folly, in driving her
gentle cousin to desperate measures, by repulsing the humble boon she
had craved with such earnest prayers. For nearly two months the most
destructive warfare, of famine, fire, and sword, was carried ou in the
streets of Winchester ; till the empress Matilda, dreading the balls of fire
which were nightly thrown from the legate's castle, and which had
already destroyed upwards of twenty stately churches and several mo-
nasteries, prevailed on her gallant brother to provide for her retreat.
This he and her uncle David, king of Scodand, did, by forcing their
vay through the besiegers at swords' points ; but it was at the cost of
the noble earl's liberty. While the empress and the king of Scotland,
by dint of hard riding, escaped to Lutgershall, the earl of Gloucester
arrested the pursuit, by facing about and battling on the way, till almost
ill his followers were slain, and he was compelled to surrender, after a
desperate defence. This skirmish took place on the 14th of September,
1141. The earl of Gloucester was conducted to queen Matilda at Win-
chester, and she with great joy committed him to the charge of William
of Tpres, as a sure hostage for the safety of the king her husband.

The Wife of king Stephen obtained the praise and admiration of all
parties, by her generous conduct to her illustrious captive ; for, instead
of loading him with chains, and subjecting him to the same cruel treat-
ment under which her beloved lord was suiiering, the confinement of
the earl of Gloucester, at Rochester Castle, was alleviated by every
indulgence consistent with the safe custody of his person.*

The empress and her party, with some difficulty, fied from Lutgershall
to Devises, where she Mras so closely pursued by the queen's troops,
that she only escaped their vigilance by personating a corpse, wrapped
io grave-clothes, and being placed in a coffin, which was bound with
cords* and borne on the shoulders of some of her trusty partisans' to
Gloucester, the stronghold of her valiant brother, where she arrived,
frint and weary, with lonff fasting and mortal terror.

Her party was so dispirited by the loss of her approved counsellor
ind trusty champion, the earl of Gloucester, that she was compelled to
make some overtures to the queen, her cousin, for his release ; but Ma-
tilda would hear of no other terms than the restoration of her captive
husband, king Stephen, in exchange for him. This the empress peremp-
torily refuted in the firat instance, tliough she ofiered a large sum of
gold, and twelve captive earls of Stephen's party, as her brothcr^s ran-
som. Queen Matilda was inflexible in her determination, never to resign
her illustrious prisoner, on any other condition than the release of her
tojral husband. Although she had treated the captive earl most hu-
manely, she now had recourse to threats ; and she caused the countess
of Gloucester to be informed, that unless the king were speedily
exchanged for the earl, she should cause him to be transported to one
of her strong castles in Boulogne,' there to be kept as rigorously as Ste-
9hen had been by the orders cf the empress and her party. Not that it

' Liogard (from Malmtbury), fourth edition, p. 178.

* Brompion. John of Tioemouth. Geryase. Knighton. * Malmsbury.

TOL. I.— i4

I

I

I

^fS8 MATILDA OF BO L- LOOM.

was in Ae gcntte nature of the qwecn lo have mnde these hatsli rrpnnt*
on B gallant ^entletnan, whom the fonune of war had placed at her du<
piieal ; nor did she proceed to the use of thrmtii liU she had ined. bv
eloquent entreaties, to win eail Robert to uae his influence with hi* •■»■
In, for the release of her husband. She had even promuied that Iw
•hould be restored lo all hie powesnoDs and honoura, and etitramd
with the principal ad minis nation of the government, if he wnold co«k
elude a peace, geeuring England to Stephen, and Normandif to th*
empress.' Gloucester's high principles, however, vontd not admit af
his entering into any treaty which he eonBidered prejndicial to hie as-
ter's interest ; and, esHeniial as his presence was to her, the obdniais
temper of the empress woold never have auttered bar to purchase Iw
release, at the price of restoring Stephen to his queen arid fneods. Ind
it not been for the reaolnie detenninalion displayed by her sist«T-in-U«,
Aimabel, countess of Gloucesier. Fortunately, the person of StepbHi
happened to be in the possession of this lady, who was the MgieUatne
of Bristol during the captivity of Gloucester, her redoubted lord. U«
aniieiy for his rcstorBiion being no less than that of the queen fof ibt
libemtion of Stephen, these two ladies contrived to arrange a sort rf
amicable treaty, which ended in the exchange of their illusiHou* pB-
soners.' This memorable event look place in the month of NovemMH
lUl.

C^ueen Matilda was not long permitted to enjoy the re-union iriiiri
took place between her and her beloved consort, after she hnd j^iircreiiri
in procuring hb deliverance from the fetters of her vindictive nval ; fn;
nothing could induce the empress to listen to anv terms of [ui-iticsHoo.
and the year 1142 commenced with a mutual renewal of hosiilii^
kelween the belligerent parties.

While Stephen was pursuing tlie \nr at York, with the fiirj- tt *
newly enfranchised lion, he was seiied with a dangerous niulmlv H»
ftfterlionate queen hastened to him on the first news of ',
which was so sore, that for some hours he was suppct^-i
ami was only restored lo life by the indefatigable care i ■
consort. In all probability his illness was a return of Ihe i._. .,i._.^....
plaint with which he had once or twice been afllicted, ai itie coibikoc^-
meni of the internal troubles of his realm.

Through the tender aiteniions of his queen, Stephen tvas, howvon
soon afler able to take the field ag»in ; which he did wilh snch noctfm,
thai the empress's party thought it high lime to claim the aMislanc«<f
GeolTrey, count of Anjou, who was now exercising the furietions of dnk
of Normandy. Geoffrey, who had certainly been treated by hts imp*'
rial spouse, her late father king Henry, and her English partisan*, u '*
fcllow of no reckoning." thought proper to stand on crreinotiy, iti
re<)uired the formality of an invitation, preferred by the entl of QlouMMcr
in person, before he would either come himself, or part with the pttdem
heir of England and Normandy, prince Henry. The empreas, iaipaiitf
! her firsi-bom son, and to obtain the Angevin and KmMB

' Halmstmry.

MATILDA OP BOULOGNE. 159

fDCCoura to strengthen her party, prevailed upon her brother to under-
lAe this mission, to which he was also urged by all the empress's
idherents.

Gloucester left her, as he thought^ safe in the almost impregnable
castle of Oxford, and embarked for Normandy. As soon as he was
pone, the memorable siege of Oxford took place, which was pushed by
Stephen with the greatest ardour, in the hope of capturing the empress.
But when the besieged were reduced to such distress for want of pro-
rision, that a surrender was inevitable, the haughty domina, by a shrewd
exercise of female ingenuity, eluded the vengeance of her exasperated
rival. One night she, with only four attendants, clothed in white gar-
ments* stole through a postern that opened upon the river Thames,
which at that time was thickly frozen over and covered with snow.'
The white draperies in which the empress and h^r little train were
envelcyped from head to foot, prevented the sentinels from distinguishing
their persons, as they crept along with noiseless steps under the snow-
banks, till they were at a sufficient distance from the castle to exert
their speed. They then fled with headlong haste, through the blindin?
storms that drifted full in their faces, as they scampered over hedges and
ditches, and heaps of snow and ice, till they reached Abington, a dis-
tance of six miles, where they took horse, and arrived safely at Wal-
linfford the same night.' The Saxon annals aver, that the empress was
let down from one of the towers of Oxford Castle, by a long rope, and
thai she fled on foot all the long weary miles to Wallingford.

At Wallingford the empress was welcomed by her faithful brother,
Robert of Gloucester, who had just returned from Normandy with her
ion prince Henry ; ** at the sight of whom," says the chroniders, ^ she
vu so greatly comforte<I, that she forgot all her troubles and mortifica-
tions, for the joy she had of his presence." ' Thus we see that the
•lemest natures are accessible to the tender influences of maternal love,
powerful in the heart of an ehipress as in that of a peasant.

Geoffrey count of Anjou, having no great predilection for the com-
pany of his Juno, thought proper to remain in Normandy with his son,
the younger Geoffrey of Anjou.

After three years of civil strife, during which the youthful Henry
learned the science of arms under the auspices of his redoubted uncle,
the earl of Gloucester, the count of Anjou sent a splendid train of Nor-
man and Angevin nobles to England, to reclaim his heir. Earl Robert
of Gloucester accompanied his princely eleve to Warham, where they
parteii,* never to meet again ; for the brave earl died of a fever at Glou-
cesier, October 31, II 47, and was interred at Bristol. With this great
man, and true-hearted brother, died the hopes of the empress Matilda^s
party for the present, and she soon af\er quilted England, having alien-
■teff all her friends, by the ungovernable violence of her temper, and
her overweening haughtiness. The great secret of government consists
inlv in an accurate knowleds^e of the human heart, by which princes

' M. Paru. W. Maliiidbury. Sim. Dunclin. Ypoclipna Neustria.

* Ypodijona Neustria. Malmtbury. Speed. Rapin.

* Gervmte. * Chronicle of Cbester, at cited by TyrreU.

IW MATILDA OP BO U LOCI B.

acquire ihc arl of coiicilialing; ihe a^f lions nf ihoae vooDd ihem. and,
by gniccrii! condescensitin;, will llie regnrd of ihe lower ortlfrs, of
whiiiii tl)e grettl body of ibe natiim, empbalically railed '^ ihe people,^
is composed. The Geniuiii educBliun, and the «elf-4ufficieDcv, of the
empress, prevfn led her from considering ihe imporlauce of these lhing»,
and, as a iiiatier of course, she failed in obtaining the great object for
which she conlended-

"Anay with her!" was the cry of tlie English populaljoa; "we will
noi have this Nonnan woman to reigu over us." '

Yet this unpopular claimant of the throne was the only survinof
child and representative of iheir adored queen Matilda, the daughln d
B Saxon princess, the descendant of the great Alfred. But the TirUM*
of Matilda of Scotland, her holy spirit, and iier ^ces of mind Uil
manners, had been inherited, uoi by her daughter, (who had been
removed in her lender cbddhood from under the matomal tnflueace,) |
but by lier niece and name-child, Matilda of Bonlogne, who was un-
doubtedly educated under her wise superintendence, and exhibited all the
excellence of her prototype. The younger queen Matilda was, how-
ever, not only one of the best, but one of the greatest, women of the
use in which she lived. That she was perfect in that which we have
sliown lo be the most important of all royal accomplishments — the art
of plceiiiiif — thai art in which her haughty cousin the empress n

MATILDA OF BOULOONB. 161

The same year queen Matilda, jointly with Stephen, founded the royal
abbey of Feversham in Kent, and personally superintended its erection.
For many months she resided in the nunnery of St. Austin's, Canter-
bur}*, to watch the progress of the work,* it being her desire to be in-
terred within that stately church, which she had planned with such
nnble ta.ne. There is great probability that slie was at this time in de-
clining health, haring gone through many sore trials and fatigues, both
of mind and body, dunng the long protracted years of civil war. The
repose of cloistered seclusion, and heavenward employment in works of
pieiy and benevolence, whereby the royal Matilda sought to charm
away the excitement o(f the late fierce struggle, in which she had been
forced to take so active a part, were succeeded by fresh anxieties, of a
pohtical nature, caused by the return of the young Henry Fitz-Empress
in the following year (1149), and by the evident intention of her uncle,
David of Scotland, to support his claims. The king her husband, ap-
prehending that an attack <m the city of York was meditated, flew to
arms once more ; on which David, aAer couferring knighthood on his
youthful kinsman, retired into Scotland, and prince Henry returned to
Normandy, not feeling himself strong enough to bide the event of a
banle with Stephen at that period.'

A brief interval of tranquillity succeeded the departure of these in-
vading kinsmen; but queen Matilda lived not long to enjoy it Worn
out witir cares and anxieties, this amiable princess closed her earthly
pilgrimage at Heningham Castle in Essex, the mansion of Alberic de
Vere, where she died of a fever, May 3d, 1151, in the fifteenth year of
her husband's reign. Stephen was forty-seven years old at the time of
this his irreparable loss ; Matilda was probably about the same age, or a
little yoimger.

This lamented queen was interred in the newly erected abbey of Fe-
ffcrsham, of which she had been so munificent a patroness, having
endowed it with her own royal manor of Lillechurch, which she gave
to William of Ypres for his demesne of Feversham, the spot chosen by
her as the site of this noble monastic establishment, which was dedi-
cated to St Saviour, and filled with black monks of Ouni.

The most valued of all the gifls presented by queen Matilda to her
favourite abbey, was a portion of the holy cross, which had been sent
by her iUvstrious uncle, Godfrey of Boulogne, from Jerusalem, and was,
therefore, regarded as doubly precious, none but heretics presuming to
doubt of its being ^vera crux,^*

^Here," says that inde&tigable antiquary, Weever, ^lies interred
Hand, wUe of king Stephen, the daughter of Eustace earl of Boulogne
(brother of Godfrey and Baldwin, kings of Jerusalem), by Mary Aliie-
ling (sister to Matilda Atheling, wife to Henry, her husband's predeces-

Inm and ample maintenance for a limited number of those fiivonred ladies
who. prefbrrinf a life of maiden meditation and independence to the care-wom

Eths of matrimony, are fortunate enough to obtain sistertfhips. A nun of Sl
idierine may truly be considered in a state of single-blessedness.
^ Siowe. ' Roger Hoveden. ' Robert of Gloricester.

14» t

ATII.II A OP :

aor^. She died si Heningtiam Cutic in Essex, ihe 3d o( May, 1151;
whoM epitaph 1 found in a nameless manuscript/'

" Aniio milteno C. qniaqoagenoque primo,

Quo tns non minuii, H-d lilii noflra lulil,
Mstliililis tbiix cODJui Sli^huii qorxiue Regis

Osoidil, iotiKDii moribuj el titulig;
Cultiil Tcra Dei, cniliii el peupeiieL

Hie lubruxa Deo, quo rruereiur eo.
Ff-mina ti i^OA PoTq» (roD5ci>nclere r]u«que mm

Angelicit Diantbai diva hiec Regina lenctar.

ovmM

I

I

The monutjc LaUq of this inscription may be thus r(1ndefMl^-
ihe yon one tliousand one hundred and filly-one. not to her oira,n
lo our great loas, the happy Illaiilda. the wife of king Stephen, (tied,«i>-
Dobled by her virtues as by her lilies. She wub a true wnnhipjier of
Uod, and a real patroness of the poor. She lived subniiasive lu God.
thai she might afterwards enjoy his presence. If ever woman dewrnd
lo be carried by the hands of angels to heaven, ii was this holy queeo."

Queen Matilda left i)itee surviving cliildren, by hec marriage with
Stephen : Eustace, Williani) and Mary.

The eldest, prince Eustace, was, after her death, despatched by Stepbcs
lo the court of his royal brother-in-law, Louis VII., to solicit his tau^
ance in recovering the ducliy of Normandy, which, on the death d
Gcofijrey of .Anjou, had reverted to Henrj- Fiiz-Empress, tfie righlfiil
heir. Louis, who had good reason for displeasure against Heat;, n-
invested Etislace with the duchy, and received his homage once laon,
Stephen then, in tlic hope of securing this beloved sod's siiccessioD in
the English throne, endeavoured to prevail on the archbishop of Cantt^
bury to crown him, as the acknowledged heir of England. But nciiluT
the archbishop, nor any other prelate, could be induced to perform tiii*
ceremony, lest, as they said, " they should be the raeans of ii]VoUin{
ihe kingdom once more in the horrors of civil war.""

Aecordiiig to some historians, Stephen, was so exasperated at this re-
fusal, thai he shut all the bishops up in one house, declanng his inlni-
lion lo keep thera in ward, till one or other of ihern j'ietdtd obedirat*
to his will. The archbiahop of Canterbury, however, succoeilrd in
making hie escape to Normandy, and persuaded Henry Plantagcnct, who,
by his marriage with Deanor duchess of Aquiiaine, the divorced qtwtii
of France, had become a powerful prince, to iry his fortune once mow
in England.

Henry, who had now assumed the lilies of duke of Normani^f' ud
Aquiloine, and count of Anjoa, landed in England, January llS3,bd«a
preparations were made lo oppose his victorious progress. He marrhrf
directly to Ihe relief of his mother's friends, at Wallingforil, Anil arttvtd
at a lime when Eustace was carrying on operations, in the nbseun iiT
the king his lather, who had gone to London, to procure freeb cu{t)di0
of men and money. Eustace maintained his position till the reitim id
Siepbeti, when the hostile armies drew up in baltle-airay, with lb* v

MATILDA OF BOULOONB. 163

tendon of deciding the qaestion between the rival claimants of the
erown, at swords' points. An accidental circumstance prevented the
deadly efTusion of kindred blood, that seemed as if doomed to stain the
snows of the wintry plain of i^aw. ^That day Stephen's horse,"
says Matthew Paris, ^ reared furiously thrice, as he advanced to the front
to'array his battle, and thrice fell with his forefeet flat to the earth, and
threw his royal rider. The nobles exclaimed it was a portent of evil,
and the men mmrmnred among themselves ;^ on which the great William
de Albini, the widower of the late dowager queen Adelicia, took advan-
tage of the pause, which this superstitious panic on the part of Stephen's
adherents had created, to address the king on the horrors of civil war,
and reminding him of the weakness of his cause, and the justice of that
of his opponent, implored him to avoid the effusion of his subjects'
blood, by entering into an amicable arrangement with Henry Plantagenet"
Stephen and Henry, accordingly, met for a personal conference, in a
meadow at Wallingford, with the river Thames flowing between their
armies, and there settled the terms of pacification, whereby Stephen was
to enjoy the crown during his life, on condition of solemnly guarantee-
ing the sQCcession to Henry Plantagenet, to the exclusion of his own
children.' Henry, on his part, swore to confirm to them the earldom of
Boulogne, the inheritance of their mother, the late queen Matilda, and all
the personal property and possessions enjoyed by Stephen, during the
rrign of his uncle, Henry I. Afier the treaty was ratified, William de
Albini first affixing his sign manual, as the head of the barons, by the
style and title of William earl of Chichester,' Stephen unbraced his
annonr, in token of peace, and Henry saluted him as ^^ king," adding the
endearing name of ^ father ;" and if Polydore Vergil, and other chroniclers
who rdate this incident, are to be believed, not without good reason.

Of a more romantic character, however, is the circumstantial account
of the cause of this pacification, as related by that courtly historian,
Mattliew Paris, which, though he only mentions it as a report, is of too
remariuble a nature to be omitted here. We give the passage in his
own words :—

^ The empress, they say, who had rather have been Stephen's para-
mour than his foe, when she saw him and her son arrayed against each
other, and their armies ready to engage on Egilaw Heath, caused king
Stephen to be called aside, and coming boldly up to him, she said^ —

^ ^ What mischievous and unnatural thing go ye about to do ? Is it
meet the &ther should destroy the son, or the son kill the sire ? For the
love of the most high God, fling down your weapons from your hands,
sith that (as thou well knowest) he is indeed thine own son : for you
well know how we turabi were acquaint before I wedded Geoflrey P
The king knew her words to be sooth, and so came the peace." ^

The moet doubtful part of this story is, that the empress is represented
aa making this communication personally to Stephen, yet no other his-
torian mentions that she uras in England at this period, much less that

' Henry of Huntingdon. Lord Lyttleton. Speed. Tierney's Arundel.

' Tiemejr's Arundel. Matthew Paris. Speed. ' Tierney's Arundel.

* Matthew Parii.

I

I

164 MATILDA OF BOtLOOKB.

the was the aalhor of ihe pnrilicaiinn. Lord Lyillelon, however, in hii
hiaiory of Henry 11^ says, " that at one of his mierviews with Sirphen,
previous to the settlement of the succession on Henry, thai prince u
stated by an old author ta have claimed the king for his fkilin, on the
confession of the empress, when she supposed herself lo he on a <)cBlb-
heil." Kapin abo mentions the report. Thai which lends most colooi
to the lale, is the fact, that the empress Matilda's second son OenlTrey,
on the death of his father, set up a claim to the earldom of Anjnn,
gronndcd on the supposed illegitimacy of prince Henry. Tbii ungn-
cioua youth even went so far as to obtain the leslimony of the An^vtis
harona, who witnessed the lust moments of the count his father, lo the
Msertion " that the expiring Geoflrey named him aa the successor to hii
dominions, because he suspected his elder brother to be the son M
Stephen." '

Prince Eustace was «o much enraged at the manner in which ha
inierests had been compromised by the treaty of Wallingford, that ht
withdrew, in a trenspori of indignation, from the field, and gBlhertn^
toother a sort of free coropany, of the malcontent adherents of hn
father's party, he marched towards Bury Si. Edmund''s, ravaging and
laying under contribution all the country through which he fmaaei.
Tlie monks of Bury received him honoarably, and oAered to re&«ab Uf
men, but he sternly replied, " That he came not for meal bui moaer."
and demanded a subsidy, which being denied by the hretliren of St. Ei)-
nmnd — "■ they being unwilling." they said, '' to be the means of nisii^
fresh civil wars, which fell heavily on all peacefully disposed men. tal
heaviest of all on the clergy" — Eustace, reckless of all moral reatninia,
instantly plundered the monastery, and ordered all the com imd othor
provisions belonging to these civil and hospitable ecclesiastic* k> be
rarried to his own castle, near the town ; and " then sitting down lo
dinner iu a frenzy of rage, the first morsel of meat he essayed to ainl-
low choked him," says the [Chronicler, who relates this act of wrimg md
violence. According to some historians, Eustace died of a brain ferer.
on the 10th of August, 1153.' His body was conveyed to FevetBhan
Abbey, and was interred by the side of his mother, qoeeii Matilda.
Eustace left no children by his wife, Constance of France.

William, the third son of Stephen and Matilda, inherited hia mollMf'l
earldom of Boulogne, which, together wiih that of Morlagne, and aO hii
father's private property, were secured to him by the treaty of Walling
ford. He is mentioned in thai treaty by name, aa having done boffis^
lo Henry of Anjou and Normandy- Shortly afterwards, however, thn
prince, though offender aee, entered into a conspiracy with Bome of lb*
Flemish mercenaries, to surprise the person of prince Henry on Barham
Cowns, as he was riding from Dover, in company with the king. Ste-
phen himself is noi wholly clear from a suspicion of being coae«nM«IiL
this plot, which failed through an accident which befell prince Wiltiua,
for just before the assault should have taken place, he was thrown bjrhb
metilesorae steed, and had ihe ill tuck lo break his leg. Henry, on n>

'Vila Gau&edi de NoimondL *Spee>:t.

MATILDA OF BOULOGNE. 165

eeiTioi^ a secret hint of what was in agitation, took the opponnnity of
the coofusion created by William's fall, to ride off at full speed to Can-
terbury, and soon after sailed for Normandy.

It does not appear that he bore any ill-will against William de Blois
for this treacherous design, as he aifVerwards knighted him, and con-
firmed to him hia mother's earldom, and whaterer was possessed by
Stephen before his accession to the throne. This prince died in the
year 1160, while attending Henry II. on his return home itom the siege
of Thoulouse.

The lady Marie de Blois, the only surviving daughter of Stephen and
Blatilda, took the veil, and was abbess of the royal nunnery of Rumsey,
in which her grandmother, Mary of Scotland, and her great aunt, Ma-
tilda, the good queen, were educated. When her brother William, count
of Boulogne, died without issue, the people of Boulogne, desiring to
have her for their countess, Matthew, the brother of PhiUp, count of
Flanders, stole her from her convent, and, marrying her, became in her
right count of Boulogne. She was his wife ten years, when, by sen-
tence of the pope, she was divorced from him, and forced to return to
her mooastery. She had two daughters by this marriage, who were
allowed to be legitimate ; and Ida, the eldest, inherited the earldom of
Boologiie, in right of her grandmother, Matilda, Stephen's queen.

Stej^n died at Dover, of the iliac passion, October 25th, 1154, in
the fifty-first year of his age, and the nineteenth of his reiffu.

He was buried by the side of his beloved queen Matilda, and their
aaibrtiuiate son Eustace, in the abbey of Feversham. ^ His body rested
here in qoietness," myn Stowe, ^ till the dissolution, when, for the tri-
fling gain of the lead in which it was lapped, it was taken up, uncoffined,
ind plunged into the river: — so uncertain is man, yea, the greatest
princes, of any rest in this world, even in the matter of burial." Honest
old Speed, by way of conclusion to this quotation from his brother
chronicler, adds this anathema : ^ And restless may their bodies be alstt,
who, Ux filthy lucre, thus deny the dead the quiet of their graves !"

ELEANORA OF AQUITAINE,

QUEEN OF UENRY II.

I

CHAPTER 1.

Froren^al qutem — Cbuntry of Elranoia of Aquilaiof — Her gnod&tltn — OMd
pf luc fiuliei — Her grmi inhenaiice — Muiiage — Become* qunmi otFmniM
BeBUtjr — Sbe becocnu s cnunJei — Hei gUBid of Amozona — BicMWM mi
lailiot eacumbci itis um}' — Occaaion <Iercsl~-Refu^ wilh quvan's —h .
Eleanois's coijucthi?* — Relumi u> France — Hei clisgusu — Tamil*— Staif
PlBFiUGenel— ^'nndiils— Birih of inlanl piincei! — Eleanora ialti in lora wU
Henry — Je«Iou!ic»— She opplios for divorce — Her matriBgo dis»l*ttd-^»
iiinu U Aquilame — Adventures on jframey — Marries Hanry Planinfr"''—
Knli of b«r mit — Enablea Henry lo ftaia England — Henrj'i loro tot Bd*
mood — Roturci to Eieauora — Sunwedg to tlia EnglUb ihrono — Elonat
crnwneJ at Weauoiiuier — Cotiunie — Binh of pHnca Henr; — Qiun piWMW
bei iiif&nis 10 ibe horoni — Dcoib of eldest son — Her court — Tiafcil/ Jfi*t*t
before Lei — Uor hiialsnd — His clianu^tei — Rosomorid diKOtereJ hf tbaqwM
— Eleonora's children — Binh ofptinoe Geoiffrey — Eleanon r^geni of Eaflnl
— Guct to Noniisndy — Conclusion of empren Maalda'i nienioit — Mldllt
resent of Naroiaiidy — Medutteg pL-aae — Uiei— -Tonili — Eleuwrk Kona*
regent — She goes lo Aquilaiue.

The lire of ihe consort or Henry II. caramencee ihe bio^rapluea of*
Mries of Provencal princesses, with whom the eulier inotiArchs of ont
royal liouse or PJantngenel allied iliemselves, fur upwards of ■ ccdIdcT'
ImpoTtani efTecls, nol only on ihc ijomesiic hialoty of ihe court of Eng-
land, btil on its cotamercc and statistics, may be truceil to tu union, bf
B of tliis queen, wiih ilie moat polished and eivilized people on live
face of ihe earth, la the Proren^als of the twelfth and ihiriet^lh mUK
riea indisputably were. With the arts, the idealiiies, and the relioeoiaitt
of life, Eleanom brought acquisitions of more importance lo the Aoj^
Nonnan people, than even that " great Provence dower" ou n&A
Dante dwells with such earnestness.

But before the sweet provinces of the south were united to EitfliBd,
by the marriage of iheir heiress with the heir of the Conqnenu, a
tissue of incidents had chequered the life of the duchesa of A
and it is necessary to trace tficm, before we cut describe her
i)ueen of England,

It would be in vain to search on a map for the doiaiiiioiis of ridinii.
under the title of dukedom of Aquilaine. In the eleventh coDtiKf, (he
roimtiea of Guienne and Gascony were erected into this dukedom, afiu

cm)

BLBAIfORA OF AQUITAINB. 167

the ancient kingdom of Provence, establislied by a diet of Charlemagne/
had been dismembered. Julius Csesar calls the south of Gaul, Aquitaine,
from the numerous rivers and fine ports belonging to it; and the poetical
population of this district adopted the name for their dukedom, from the
classics.

The language which prevailed all over the south of France was called
Provencal, from the kingdom of Provence ; and it formed a bond of
national union among the numerous independent sovereigns under whose
feudal s\nj this beautiful country was divided. Throughout the whole
tract of oountry, from Navarre to the dominions of the dauphin of
Auvergne, and from sea to sea, the Proven9al language was fipoken — a
language which combined the best points of French and Italian, and pre-
sented peculiar facilities for poetical composition. It was called the
langue cToCy sometimes langue d^oc et noj the tongue of ^^yes" and
^00,^ because, instead of the ^^oiii" and ^^non'' of the rest of France,
the affirmative and negative were ^^oc" and '^ no." The ancestors of
Eleanora were called par excellence the lords of ^Oc" and ^^JVb.'' Wil-
liam IX., her grandfather, was one of the earliest professors and most
liberal patrons of the art His poems were models of imitation for all
the succeeding troubadours.'

The descendants of this minstrel hero were Eleanora, and her sister
Petronilla. They were the daughters of his son, William count de
Poiton, by one of the daughters of Raymond of Thoulouse.' William
of Poitou was a pious prince ; which, together with his death in the
Holy Land, caused his Other's subjects to call him Si William. The
mother of this prince was the great heiress Phiiippa of Thoulouse,
duchess of Quienne and Grascony, and countess of Thoulouse in her
own right Before Phiiippa married, her husband was William, the
seventh count of Poitou and Saintonge ; aderwards he called himself
William the fourth duke of Aquitaine. He invested his eldest son with
the county of Poitou, who is termed William the tenth of Poitou. He
did not live to inherit the united provinces of Poitou and Aquitaine,
which comprised nearly the whole of the south of France. The rich
inheritance of Thoulouse, part of the dower of the duchess Phiiippa,
was pawned for a sum of money, to the count of St Gilles, her cousin,
which enabled her husband to undertake the expense of the crusade led
by Robert of Normandy. The count St Gilles took possession of
Thoulouse, and withheld it, as a forfeited mortgage, from Eleanora, who
finally inherited her grandmother^s rights to this lovely province.

The fiither of Eleanora left Aquitaine in 1132, with his younger bro-
ther, Raymond of Poitou, who was chosen by the princes of the cru-
sade that year to receive the hand of the heiress of Conrad prince of
Antioch, and maintain that bulwark of the Holy Land against the assaults
of pagans and infidels. William fell, aiding his brother in this arduous
contest; but Raymond succeeded in establishing himself as prince of
Antioch.

> Atlas G^ogmphique. * Sismondi's Literature of the South.

* Rer. ScripL de Franc. ; likewise Suger.

t
I

I

168 BLKa:«ORA of AQtlTAtKB.

The gnuiflfsiher of Eleonora had been piy and even licratinns in hk
yniiili ; and now, ni the age of siiiy-eighL, he wished to devote wum
limp, lieforc his death, to meililation and penitence, for the siiiB nf hi*
early life. When his gran d-d sni^hier had aiiained her fouileenth jtu,
he eommenced his career of self-denial, by Eummoning the baronage iJ
Aquiiaine. and rOTniDunicaiing his intenljon of abdicatini; in faroiir uf
his grend-daughler, to whom ihey all took the oath of aljegianre.' lie
then opened his great project of uniting Aquicaine wiih France, lijr ji».
ing EI«snora in inarriage to the heir of Louis leGros.' The bmat
agrred lo this proposal, on condition that (he lawa and cnstoma of Aqni-
laine should be held invtolale ; and thai ihe consent of the young pri»-
cesa should be obtained. Eleanora had an inlervien with her auiiorf utd
professed herself pleased with the arrangemcnl.

Louis and Elesnora weie immediately married with grent pomp, >t
Boiirde«ux ; »nd, on the aolemn resignation of duke William, the youihfal
pair were crowned duke and duchess of Aquitaine, Angus! 1, ) 137.

On the conclusion of this grand ceremony, duke William,* grandfitc
of the bride, laid down his robes and insignia of sovereignly, and took
up the henuit's cowl and statT. He departed on a pilgrimaige «i SL
James's of Compostenella, in Spain, and died soon after, very pcaiUsli
in one of the cells of that rocky wilderness.'

At tlie time when duke William resigned the dominions of ih« (ovlb
lo his grand-daughter, he was the most powerful prince in Europe- Hit
rich ports of Bourdeauz and Sainlonge supplied him with commercjil
wealth i his maritime power was immense ; his court was Uio focw wf
learning and luxury ; and it must be owned, thai at the accession uf (tie
fair Eleanora, this court had become not a little licentious.

Louis and his bride obtained immediate possession of Poitou. Gi»
cony, Biscay, and a large territory extending beyond the PyreoMs.
They repaired afterwards lo Poiciiers, where Louis was soloiRdr
crowued duke of Guienne,' Scarcely was this ceremony condoM

■ Suger. OrdericDs Vimlit.

'Cillnl Le Jeune, lo duiinguiih him from tut fklhei Louii TL. who c«u*ed tot
tna ID be crowned in bU lirelune.

'Mouiaifpe, "who speaks fWnn his own IochV tnulTiJOTU of ibo louclk, a^gnt
thai Jnke WilliaiD lived in hia henniagp, ai Monisprni, leu ot ltt-«lt« fmr\
wealing, a* a penaixte Ibr his youthful liDi. hii annoui nnder hii bennii'i woidk
Ii i> RUiI by Dlhera, that be died a* a bemiit. in a grono at Florenta, alliv kaTliC
maccniHl Ml bod]' by tremeiulou) penoncei, and ettabliihed iba mnt* (MM
ut the Guillemiuei.

■To this greai prines, ibe anceslor, ihrougb Elennora of A<]uilaiim,af o«T Dfal
iiae. niny be traced armorial bearings, and a war-iry, whose origbt luu OMI
liille perplexed ibe leaders of English history. The patron ■■tai of ffiigliai.
Si. OwrgE, was adtrpted liiDro the Aqoiiaine dnlce*. as we find, from the JA ff
Uie Ptaiich hecald, Gilles de Bonnier, ttui ihe duke of Aiuifuie'i aW, nt W^
pry, wai. " St George for the puiHani duke." Ilii crest Wu a {•efiaH ; a^ IM
ileMcndani* in Englaml bore leopaidt on Ibeit sbielils lill after the noM af SI-
ward I. Edward III. it called " valiant pard" in his epimphs; ami iTil i«tni<l
of Germany tent Henry Ut. a present of tliree leopards, expmaly Mjiim iktf
were in compliment and atluaion to bis armorial b^iota,

*Bwer, ciied by Oilbrd. '

BLBAlfORA OF AQUITAINB. ^69

when Eleuiom and her hosband were summoned to the death-bed of
Louis Vf^ that admirable king and lawgiver of France. His dying
word^ were,

^ Remember, royalty is a public trust, for the exercise of which a
rigorous account will be exacted by Him who has the sole disposal of
erowns and sceptres.^

So spoke the great legislator of France, to the youthful pair whose
wedlock had united the north and south of France. On the conscien-
tious mind of Louis VII. the words of his dying father were strongly
impressed, but it was late in life before his thoughtless partner profited
by them.

Eleanora was very beautiful ; she had been reared in all the accom-
plishments of the south ; she was a fine musician, and composed and
itng the chajuons and tetuons of Provengal poetry. Her native trouba-
dours expressly inform us that she could both read and write. The
government of her dominions was in her own hands, and she frequently
resided in her native capital of Bourdeaux. * She was perfectly adored
hf her southern subjects, who always welcomed her with joy, and they
bitteriy mourned her absence, when she was obliged to return to her
court at Paris ; a court whose morals were severe ; where the rigid rule
of St Bernard was observed by the king her husband, as if his palace
had been a convent. Far difierent was the rule of Eleanora, in the cities
of the south.

The political sovereignty of her native dominions, was not the only
anthority exercised by Eleanora in ^ gay Guienne." She was, by here-
ditary riffht, chief reviewer and critic of the poets of Provence. At cer-
tain iSsflUvals held by her, after the custom of her ancestors,* called
Courts of Love, all new sirventes and cJiansons were sung or recited be-
fc»e her, by the troubadours. She then, assisted by a conclave of her
ladies, sat in judgment, and pronounced sentence on their literary merits.
She was herself a popular troubadour poet. Her chansems were remem-
bered, long aAer death had raised a barrier against flattery, and she is
reckoned among the authors of France.'

The amusements of the young queen of France seemed little suited
to the austere habits of Louis VII. ; yet she had the power of influencing
him to commit the only act of wUnil injustice which stains the annals
of his reign.

The sister of the queen, the young Petronilla, whose beauty equalled
that of her sister, and whose levity far surpassed it, could find no single
roan, in all France, to bewitch with the spell of her fascinations, but
chose to seduce Rodolf, count of Vermandois, from his wife. This
prince, who was cousin and prime minister to Louis VII., had married a
sister of the count of Champagne, whom he divorced for some frivolous
pretext, and married the fair Petronilla, by the connivance of Eleanora.
The count of Champagne laid his sister's wrongs before the pope, who
commanded Vermandois to put away Petronilla, and to take back the
injured sister of Champagne. Queen Eleanora, enraged at the dishonour

* Siimondi. * Nottndamiu*s History of Frovenoe, and I>a Chein«.

VOL. J.«-15

I

170 ELEAXOBA OF AQLITAIKE.

of Petrcinil]&, prevailed on her husband to punish the count of Ch4a)
pit^ne for his ioierference. Loui^, who already had cause of oSeoc*
agHJiisi t)ie count, invadeil Champagne al the heaJ of a large aimv, atul
IwgBii a devastating war, in ihc course of which a mosl dreailful ncruf-
TCMM happened, al the siormiiig of Vilry: the calliedral, wlieirin tht^
lecn hundred persons had taken refuge, was burnl^ and the poor [itciple
perished miserably.

It was at this juncture that Si. Bernard preached the crusade al Xe-
zalai, in Burgundy. King Louis and queen Eieanora, with all ibrir
courl, came to hear the eloquent sa'uit ; and such crowds attf ndeil th*
niynl auilitors, that Sl Bernard was forced to preach in the market-place,
for no cathedral, however large, could contain them. Sl Bcmaiil
loucbeil with so much eloquence on the murderous conJlagTatiiio at
Viiry, that the heart of the pious king Louis, full of penileiice for llrf
sad efTMts of his desiruciiveness on hia own subjecu, resolved to atou
for il to the God of mere)-, by carrying sword nod fire, to destroy ihon-
eanda of his fellow-creatures, who had neiUicr otl^njed him, nor evtft
heard of him. tiis quecu, whose inSueuce had led to llie misdeed il
Vitry, likewise becatne penitent, and as sovereign of Aquiiaiue, vowed M
accompany her lord lo the Holy Land, and lead the forces of the Suudi
to the relief of the Chrisiian kingdom of Jerusalem.

The wise and excellent abbot, Suger, the chancellor of Louis VIl.,
endeavoured Co prevail on his royal master to relinquish his mad elpt-
dilioo to Syria, assuring him that it would bring ruin on his countrj;
but ihe Ikiiaiicism of the king was proof against such persuasisM.
Moreover, the romantic idea, of becoming a female crusader. luJ c<>i
into the ligbl head of Eieanora his queen; and, being at ilii~
very flower of her youth and beauty, she swayed the K' .
according to her will and pleasure. Suger gives us the de^i
pre|iaraiions F.Ieanom made for this campaign, which were nl •
lo raise the idea, that tiie good Elatcsman was romancing, if ciii'^-ni^
lary historians had not conlirmed his evidence. When queen ElcaatKi
received the cross from St. Bernard, ut Vezalai, she directly put on lb
drees of an Amazon ; and her ladies, all actuated by the fiune freia;:
mounted on horseback, and forming a lightly armed squadron, nu-
rounded the queen when she appeared in public, calliiig tLemwln)
queen Eleanora^s body-guard. They practised Amazonii
-and performed a thousand follies in public, to animate their
lical crueaderiL By the suggestion of tlieir young queen,
madwomen sent tbeir useless dislafik, as presents, to all i)k
nobles who had the good tense lo keep out of this insmi'
This ingenious taunt had the effect of shaming many wi^i
their belter resolutions; and to such a degree was thi" i
crusade carried, iliat, aa St. Bernard himself owns, whcilr
dcserieil by tlieir male inhabitants, and the land lef\ to be iilli
•nd children.

Such fellow soldiers as queen Eieanora and her Atnazonn, woaU ban
been quite sulEcienl lo dbconceri the plans, and impede the pr^rrth
of Hutnibal htitiaalfj and though king Louis conducted hiinaeU ndl

BtBANOJtA OF AqUITAIJJE. 17||

ftcot ability and courage id Ilia diflicull cnlerprise, no prudence could
cmiolnaei the misfortune of being eucumberEil with on anny of lanlaslic
waaustu King Lauii,rollowiiig the course of ihceinperorConnu], whose
MDijr, rouncd Djr ihe eloquence of Si. Bcrnarci, hud just preceded iJiei%
nilnl wp the Boaphorue, mtJ lauded in Thrace.

Th« in»ii3 uf <|ueeii Elcanora and her female warriors, were the raus
tt kll tbe inutfortunes dial befell king Louis and his army, especially ii
<i» drfMt u Idodirea.' The king hud seni forward the queen and httfi
Ui*», ncorted by his clioicest troops, undei the guard of count Mbo^
otKiut. II« chtrged them to choose for their conip, the arid but cum*
■Bwling ground wliich garc ihem b view over the deliles of tlie vulhqr
gf lAodicca. While this detachment was encamping, he, at the distance
t^fiTv miles, brought up the rear and baggage, ever and anon turning lo
taule bnively with the akiimishing Arab cavalry who were Itamasing
biainarch-

QuMB Eloanors acted in direct opposition lo his rational direction^
Sb* inaistMl on her detachment of the army lialting, in a lovely romantic
niUjr, fiilJ of verdant grass and gushing fountains. The king was eom
coinbcKd by the immense baggage which, \Villiani of Tyre declarer, ib^
ieoMln warriors of queen Eleanora insisted on retaining in the camp, M
dl risk*. Oarkness began to fall as the king of France approacheu llift
ntiura of the valley ; and to bia consteniation, he fauod the hei{;lili
tfaove it unoccupied by the advanced body of his troops. FiuJing the
gorai «rms aot encamped there, he was forced to enter the valley ia
b of her, and was soon aAcr attacked from die heights by swarm*
ti»t *f*o engRged him in the passes among the rocks, close to the
bal spot where die eintieror Conrad and his heavy horse had been dis-
DMifiwd but n few weeKs before. King Louis, sorely pressed iu one
fwt of Ibis murderous engagement, only saved his life by climbing a
tnv, whence he defended himself with the most desperate valour.' At
'rn£lh, by elTori* of personal heroism, he succeeded in placing himself
•riwetu the dctarhment of his ladies and the Saracens. But it was not
>.: iIm dawn of day that he discovered Ids advanced troops, encamped
.^1 lh« fucnaaiic valley chosen by his poetical queen. Seven thousoiHl
of Um Bower of French chivalry paid with tlieir lives the penally of
'i inenperience iu warlike tactics; all the jirovision was cut
1, containing the fine array of iho lady- warriors, wtiicli
h an encumbrance to ihe king, was plundered by (hfij
\t-Jm and Saisccns, and the whole army was reduced to great disirei
- .rusaaU-ly Aniioch was near, whose prince was the uncle of the en ,
•iiiag, quMD of France. Prince Raymond opened his friendly gates h
ihc duIrcMcd warriors of tlie cross, and by the beautiful streams of
Utunt)-* Uia defeated Freacli aruiy rested and refreshed diemsrtves, n
tbeir rrcoQi dinsters.

RnyinunJ of Poitou was brother lo the queen's father, the b
WiIIhoi of Puiluu. There was, hnwever, nothing of the saint ii
.-<)KMitioa of Raymond, who was stUl young, and was the handsomeat j

•^m^^^ l^tmiQia, mad Saga. 'Williainaf 1^7>a>„

4

J
I

, b«gagB,
or ta (urh

I

I

179 BLBANOSA OP AQUtTAIXB. ^^H

man of hi* timr. The onrle anil tiiwe, who hait nrver tncl hcTive
Miftw much charmed wiih rsrh oOicT. It seFHis stntnire that tiie man
wliu lint anaktmed liie JnUuusy nf king LnuU, should siuid in such
very n Mr relatiunship to hio wife; yet it ia cerUiiii thai as eoon ai
queen ^eanota had roeuTered her beauty, aomewliat sullied by tli« hard-
ahipa ahe endured in ihe ramp, Khe rommeitred luch a fvries of coquet-
ries with her hsndanme unclr, that kin^ Louis, grratly araailaliml a '
inrensed, hurried her out of Antiorh one night, and deciunped tti It
wlem, with slight teafe-taking of Itaymond, or notie at all.

It is true, many autlioriliM say ihal Raymond's iiilrigues WJA _
niere were wholly poltlirat, and that he woa persuading his aiMU'S
employ her power, as dueheii of Aquitaioe, U>r the eilaDeioo of hit
doniinioni, and hii own private advantage.

Eloanoni was enraged at her sudden remoi'al from Antioch, ami
enteied the Holy City in a moat indignant mood. Jerusalem, the objeei
of (he ardent enthusiasm of every other crueoder, raised on rvligioui
ardour in her breoM; the was burning witli resentment, nl the unaccu»
tometl harahneaa king Louis exercised towards her. In Jen:*aleiu, ting
Baldwin received Eleanom, with the honours due both to her mnk u
queen of Franec, and her power as a sovereign ally of the cnuuliDg
league ; but nothing could please her. It ia not certain whether hu
uneasiness proceeded from a eoneeiousnees of guilt, or indigiialiuD ■(
being the object of unfounded suspicions ; but it is indisputable that, ,
after her forced departure from Aniiorh, all afirciion between Elnnnn
and her husband was at an end. While the emperor of Germany and the
king of France laid an unsuccessful siege to Damastiqs, Eleanoia «U
detained at Jerusalem, in something like personal restraint.

The great abilities of Sultan Noureddin rendered ihie siege auviit-
ing, and Louis was glad to withdraw, with the wreck of his army, fmn
Asia. After many perds at ConslanliDople, and detention at Sicily, the
king and queen of France arrived safely in their own dominions, 1N8-
There are letters ' still extant from Suge'r, abbot of Sl Drnis, Uie minif
ter and conlidant of king Louis, by which it appears that the king had
made complaints, of the criminal attachment of his que«n to a yi>uiig
Saracen emir, of great beauty, named Sal-Addin. For this miBcoodofl
the king of France expressed his intention of obtaining a divorce inna^
diately, but was dissuaded from this resolution by the su^estioitt rf
liis sBgacioDs minister, who pointed out to him the troubles whidi
would accrue to France, by the relinquishment of the "great Prorenp
dnwer,'' and that his daughter, the princess Alarie, would br dqirivN
in ail probability, of her mother's rich inheritance, if the queen wcM «
liberty to marry again.

This remonstrance so br prevailed tin Louis, that from the unrorts-
nate crusade, Eleanora resided at Paris, with all her usual state and &i
iiiiy, aa long as Suger lived, about four years. She was, however,
closely watched, and not penuitted to visit her southern dominions — i

' III tJiO coileciion of Du Cliesno, wbieh hu fiunUhed much
in Ihli narratiVD.

ZJ

BLEANOBA OF AQUITAINE. 173

prohibiuon which greatly disquieted her. She made many complaints,
of the gloora of the northern Gallic capital, and the monkish manners
of her devout hoshand. She was particularly indignant at the plain and
unostentatious clothing of king Louis, who had likewise displeased her
Inr sacrificing, at the suggestion of the dei^, all )\\8 long curls, besides
shaving off hiB beard and moustachios. The giddy queen made a con-
itant mockery of her husband^s appearance, and vowed that his smooth
kce made him look more like a cloistered priest than a valiant king.

Thus two years passed away in mutual discontent, till, in the year
1150, Geoffrey ' Plantagenet, count of Anjou, appeared at the court of
Lonis VII. Geoffrey did homage for Noimandy, and presented to Louis
his son, young Henry Plantagenet, sumamed Fitz-Empress. This youth
was about seventeen, and was then first seen by queen Eleanora. But
the scandalous chroniclers of the day declare, the queen was much
taken by the fine person and literary attainments of Geofirey, who was
considered the most accomplished knight of his time. Geoffrey was a
married man \ but queen Eleanora as little regarded the marriage engage-
ments of the persons on whom she bestowed her attention, as she did
her own conjugal ties.

About ei^teen months after the departure of the Angevin princes,
the queen <^ France gave birth to another princess, named Alice. Soon
after this event, Henry Plantagenet once more visited Paris, to do ho-
mage for Nonnandy and Anjou, a pleuritic fever having suddenly carried
off his &ther. Qjueen Eleanora now transferred her former paitiality for
the &ther, to the son, who had become a noble, martial-looking prince,
fill! of energy, learned, valiant, and enterprising, and ready to undertake
any conquest, whether of the heart of tlie gay queen of the south, or
of the kingdom from which he had been unjustly disinherited.

Eleanora acted with her usual disgusting levity, in the advances she
made to this youth. Her beauty was still unimpaired, though her cha-
Ticter was in low esteem with the world. Motives of interest induced
Henry to feign a return to the passion of queen Eleanora ; his mother^s
cause was hopeless in England, and Eleanora assured him that if she
could efiect a divorce from Louis, her ships and treasures should be at
his command, for the subjugation of king Stephen.

The intimacy between Henry and Eleanora soon awakened the dis-
pleasure of the king of France, and the prince departed for Anjou.
Qpeen Eleanora imn^diately made an application for a divorce, under
the plea that king Louis was her fourth cousin. It does not appear that
he c^iposed this separation, though it certainly originated from the queen.
Notwithstanding the advice of Suger, Louis seems to have accorded
heartily with the proposition, and the divorce was finally pronounced,
by a council of die church, at Baugenci,' March 18, 1152; where the
marriage was not dissolved on account of the queen's adultery, as is
conunonly asserted, but declared invalid because of consanguinity.

' Via He GaufViHl, Duo de Normaod.
' Sir Harris Nioolaa' ChroDoloKV of HUtory.
15 •

r

I
I

I

174 KLEAItOIlA OP AQI'ITAI.'VB.

Eleanofa and Lonis, wiih most of ilieir relations, mci at Baiigenci, ind
were present when the dixorce was pronounced.'

When ihe divorce was firet agilated, Louis VII. tried the experiment
of seizing several of ilie strongholds in Guienne, but found the power
of ilie Bouih WM too strong for him. It is useless for modem hiitoritns
either to blame or praise Louis VII. for his scrupulous honesty, in tt-
storing to Eleanoni her patrimoniBl dominions ; he restored nothing ifaM
he was able to keep, excepting her person. Gilford, who aever wW«
a Hue without Ihe guide of contemporary chronicles, has nuidc it fijlly
apparent that the queen of ihc south was a stronger poieniale than the
king of the north. If the ladr of Oc and JVo, and the lord of Oui and
Abn, had tried for the mastery, by force of arms, the civilized, the vtt-
like, and maritime Provencal would certainly have raisod the luuiner of
St. George and the golden leopards far above the oriflantme of Fran«,
and rejoiced ai having such feir cause of quarrel with their suzeraio,!!
the rescue of their princ«Bs. RIoreover, Louis could not detain ElesDon. |
without defying the decree of the pope, ,

On her way southward to her own countrj,' Eleanors stayed »nii» (
time nt Blois. The count of this province was Thibaut, elder brolto ',
tn king Stephen, one of the handsomest and bravest men of his tinif.
Much captivated with Ihe splendour of "the great Provence dowa,'' ',
Thibaut offered his hand to his fair guest. Jle met with a refusal, whii .
by no means turned him from his purpose, as he resolved to ilctam tbt
lady, n prisoner in his fortress, till she complied with liis propoaL
Eleanora saspected his design, and departed by night, without tlie nn- l
mony of leave-taking. She embarked on the Loire, and went down At J
■trenm to Tours, which was then belongiitg to ilie dominions of Anjon.

Here her good luck, or dexterous management, brought her off dar
from another mal-ad venture. Young Geoffrey Plantagenet, the otii
brother to the man she intended to marry, had likewise a great incline
lion to be sovereign of the south. He placed himself hi atnbush, tl >
part of the Loire called ihe Port of Piles, wiih ihe intention of sanig
Ihe duchess and her train, and carrj-ing her oft and marr%-ing her. " Bol,"
snys the chronicler, " Eleanors was pre-wamed by her good angel, ud
she suddenly turned down a branch of the stream soulhwarda, towaiA
her own country."

Thither Henry Plantagenet, the elder brother of Geoflwy, nfiMi
to claim the hand which had been promised him monlhs before 4*
divorce.

The celerity with which the marriage of Eleanors foUownl to
divorce, astonished nil Europe ; for she gave her hand to Henir PtaB*
tngenet, duke of Normandy and count of Anjou, only mx wawks altar
the divorce was pronounced. Eleanora is supposed to have been in to
ihirty-second year, and the bridegroom in his twentieth—* iimt^
somewhat ominous, in r^rd to their future matrimonial felicity.

The duchess of Aqnitaiue and the duke of Normandy were maimd
at Bourdeaux,* on May-<lay, wiih all the pomp lltat the losutiam Ml

'Bouquei Uei Uwuir«a, 'ScripL Rer, Franc. 'See Oerraje.

BLBAHOKA OF

^^^Bwion, aided by Provent^al wealih,
^^^Enora cotiltl have been laaTried a few m
^^^ft li«(tPr for the rcpulalioii of the bride,
^^fcu»e in fixing the binh of her eldest e
Aogust, 1 152, little more than four rnoiiihs
of May. The birth of this boj-

ITA.IME. 175

could elTect. If Henry and
jiiihs earlier, it would hare
since all chroniclers are very
>n, William,' on the l7Lh of
alier their union, on the tirsl
for the haate with whiel

Had kine Louis detained his unfaithful v
1, respecting the succession to itie c

Elmn»ra waa divorced.
iiv[iiitr might h*

Thu child was bom in Normandy, whither Henry conveyed Elcanora

iliiK'tly lifter tlicir marriage, leaving tlic garrisona of Aquilaine cum*

''. Norman oflicers Ihithrul In Jiis interest; a step which wa^

' i]<-i'inenl of bis unpopularity, in his wife's domioiona.

II. waa much displeased at the marriage of his divorced queea

r I) iif Anjou. He viewed with uneasineas, the union of ths

- - ['["vuife* of the souUi with Anjou and Normandy ; and. in order

' inraliduu: it. he actually forbade Henry to marry without his permia-

lA, riaiining that aniliarity as his feudal lord. His measures, we think,

"III to :^>-<fiut king Louis of the charge of too much righteousness itt

'! ilf^nifs. for which he is blamed by the superficial Voltainv

ij'. hoeiiliiy of Louis, who entered into a league with king

:.'<ut<^d yuuii); Henry from the pleasures in which fae wasepend-

uig lup iirsi year of hia nuptials ; and, breaking from his wedded Circe,

Wi4i(ain«d, from her fonduess.a fleet, for the enrorceraenl of his cinttnf

Wki* lightful inheritance, Eleanora was sovereign of a wealthy mari-

<■■ tounuy, whose ships were equally used for war and commerce.

Ltaing hia wife and son in Normandy, Henry embarked from Ilarfleur

ti^ thirty-six ships. May, 1153. Without the aid of this Provencal

iMIf England would never have reckoned the nama of Plantagenet

tnoog bcr royal dynasties.

ThflM circumstances are alluded to, with some dry humour, in t
Mlowitig lines, by Kobert of Gloucester :

"■ In elrven hundred jmm of grace ard forty.one,
Died Geoffroy of PlaDtagen?!, ih* eirl of Anjou.
Hnniy hia son anil heir, enrl was mails Ihorongh
All Anjoa, and duke of Normand — fliuch il was bis mind
To came ami win Eagland, Toi lie was neil of Iklnd (Itin),
And ID Iiejp bis model, wlm was oft ia feoblo chanoe,
Bm be WHS much aoquaini with tho queen of Fiance,
&mt Aat loo muck, at mi uttmtd; to thai in some thing
The quren loved him, as me irowod, more thui her lord the Idni;
So thai il WB« Ihrtli put iliat llie king and *be
te «ibbe Here, ihai ihsf niual no loDgei togetbei be.
The kindred wan proved » uenr, tlia[ king Louii ihoro
AmI Eloioai liin ijiiuen hy ihe popa daputied weie.

N**i Ckronologicnl Hittory givri thit dale, ii ia aupporied by Sandford '
wH tnm ohnmkln, and the nuetiinn of Robert of Glouceite '
I wtwd* ■ — Henry wa« acquaint with the queen of France n

I
I

I

I

k

Vm ELEAKOItA OF AQUITAIDB.

Soma WBio Klml tnow, us tni^Uf Iw iruly lecn,

For H«nrf ibe Finprcts' ton fiinhuiili rs]wrt«(t the queen.

The quern rielie* i-now had unilcr her bnnil,

Which lielped Hanry ilivn lo war on Enelaiil-

In lh# pIvTench hundreil year anil (iftf-(wo

After God on mulh came, lliii apousing wai ado ;

The next year after ihal, Heurr liis power nom (look),

And with >ii4nd-thiny abipi to England com."

There ia reason m believe ihal, al this period, Henry wthicfd iht
heart, and won the aflbclions, of Ihe bcauliful Rosamond CiitTon). undn
the promise of marriage, as the birth of her eldest son corresponds wiib
Henry's visit to Eii|;land at this time; for he left England tlie yar bt-
forc Stephen's deatti, 11 S3.' Henry waa busy, laying siege to dieCMllt
of one of his rebels in Normandy, when the news of ^phen^s dctih
reached him. Six weeks elapsed before he sailed to lake posaeseioa of
hi* kingdom. His queen and infant son accompanied him. They miw)
a month at Bartleur, for a favourable wind,' and al\er all th«y had a dn-
gerous passage, but landed safely at Osterhara, Dec. 8. The king ud
queen waited at the port for some days, while the fleet, dispersefl bjr the
wind, collected. They then went to Winchester,' where they rewinj
the homage of the souihem borons.

Theobald archbishop of Canierbury, and some of the chief iiebte
came to hasten their appearance in London, "^ where Henry wai,''a7
the Saxon chroniclers, "received with great honour and worafaip,ai
blessed to king the Sunday before illidwinter^ay."

Eleanor and Henry were crowned in Westminster Abbey, Deenbv
10, 1154, '•after England," to use the words of Henry nf Hnntingddi^
" lud been without a king for sin weeks." Henry's security, duringMi
interval, was owing to the powerful Hcei of his qneen, which comimW
the seas between Normandy and England, and kept all rebels in awe.

The coronation of the king of England, and the luxuriotu lady ft
the south, was withoat parallel for mBgnificence. Hen were teat in
profusion mantles of silk and brocade, of a new fashion and splegKUd
texture, brought by queen Eleanora* from Constantinople. In the illir-
minaied portraits of this queen, she wears a wimple, or close coif, wiib
a circlet of gems put over it ; her kirtle, or close gown, has tight sImtbs
and fastens with full gathers, just below the throat, confined with • neb
collar of gems. Over this is worn the elegant peliason, or outer rets.
bordered with fur^ with very full loose sleeves, lined wiih emuM.
showing gracefully the tight kirile sleeves beneath. The elegant Hat
of Eleanora, or, perhaps, her visit to tlie Greek capiiaJ, revived ibe h(n>
tiful costume of the wife of the Conqueror. In some portfuiSi th*
queen is seen with her hair braided, and cloeely wound round the bid
with jewelled bands. Over all was thrown a square nf tins laws or

eedinga in England bare be#n ilelnileit in the prccedluf liingnphf
o. 'Sir Hanii Nifola** Chianolaj^ of Huwy.

1 ihe introduced the growth of lilk in her Knllhl^m (kaniBiaoa, ■ tr
neAi aiiribuleil lo Ueniy ihe Great ; but in the murdoioui civil Wan «t tmtt
a/t mijfbl have been loiL

BLBANORA OF AQUITAINB. 1T7

gauze, which supplied die place of a veiU and was worn precisely h'ke
die faziola^ still the national costume of the lower orders of Venice
Sometimes this coverchief, or kerchief was drawn over the features,
down below the chin ; it thus supplied the place of veil and bonnet,
when abroad ; sometimes it descended but to the brow ; just as the
wearer was disposed to show or conceal her face. Frequently the co-
verchief was confined, by the bandeau, or circlet, being placed on tlie
head, over it Girls before marriage wore their hair in ringlets or tresses
on their shoulders. The church was very earnest in preaching against
the public display of ladies' hair after marriage.

The long liAir of the men likewise drew down the constant fulmina-
tions of the church ; but after Henry I. had cut off his curls, and for-
bidden long hair at courts his courtiers adopted periwigs ; indeed, if we
may judge by the queer effigy on his coins, the handsome Stephen him-
self wore a wtf. Be this as it may, the thunder of the pulpit was in-
stantly levellecf at wigs, which were forbidden by a sumptuary law o^
king Henry.

Henry H. made his appearance, at his coronation, with short hair,
mnstachios, and shaven chin; he wore a doublet, and short Angevin
doak, which immediately gained for him from his subjects, Norman and
English, the sobriquet of Court-mantle. His dalmatiea was of the richest
brocade, bordered with gold embroidery. At this coronation, ecclesias-
tiet were first seen in England dressed in sumptuous robes of silk and
velvet, worked with gold. This was in imitation of the luxury of the
Qreek church : the splendour of the dresses seen by the queen at Ck>n-
■tantinople, occasioned the introduction of this corruption in the western
church.

Such was the costume of the court of Eleanora of Aquitaine, queen
of England, in the year of her coronation, 1 154.

The Christmas festivities were celebrated that year with great pomp,
at Westminster Palace ; but directly the coronation was over, the king
conducted his queen to the palace of Bermondsey, where, after remain-
ing some weeks in retirement, she gave birth to her second son, the last
day of February, 1 155.

Bermondsey, the first place of Eleanora's residence in England, was,
as delineated in its ancient plans, a pastoral villa^^e, nearly opposite to
London, of a character decidedly Flemish. Rich m well-cultivated gar-
dens, and wealthy velvet meads, it possessed, likewise, an ancient Saxon
palace, and a priory then newly built

Assuredly the metropolis must have presented itself to the view of its
foreign queen, from the palace of Bermondsey, with much more pic-
turesque grandeur than it does at present, when its unwieldy size and
smoky atmosphere prevent an entire coup (PtBiL But at one glance from
the opposite bank of the river, the eyes of the fair Proven^ could then
behold London, her royal city, situated on rising ground from the
Thames. It was at that time girdled with an embattled wall, which was
9tadded with gateways, both by water* and laud. The new Tower of
London kept guard on the eastern extremity of the city, and the lofty

* J>owgBte and Billingsgate.

U

^

e of the ancienl calhedral jirecided over llie weitem siile, just behini
iiie antique gaieway of Ludgaie. Tliis ^t« led lo llie pleasant ruad of
llie river's Strand, omampnled with ihr Old Tcniple, ita lair ganlciu uid
wharf, and interaperued with ■ few inns,^ or melropolitsn dwellings of
the nobility, the cultivated g;rtiuiids of which sloped down to their waiet-
riairs and boat-houses, tjte Thnuies bejni; (hen the highway of Lomlua

The Strand road terminated in the majestic palace and abbey of Wmi-
miitater; the Old Palace, widi its yard and gardens, once beloof^inj in
Sl Edward ; and the New Palace, lU noble hall and water-etairs, which
owed their origin to the Norman dynaaiy.

Sucfa waa ibe metropolis when Henry II. succeeded to the EDglisb

If the example and conduct of the first Proven^ queen wa« aeitlia
edifying nor pleasing to her aubjecta, yet, in a commercial point of tir«,
the connexion of the merchants of England nitli her AqtiiUinian duBU-
uiooa was highly advantageous. The wine trade with fiourdtnux tieeaoK
considerable.* In a few months after the accession of EJeanora, aa quMk
consort of England, large fortunes were mode by the London Uadtm.
who imported the wines of Gascony from the port of Bourdevui;' and
above all i by the example of the maritime cities of Guienne) the shipping
of England was governed by the ancient code of laws, called tlie code d
Oleron.

In compliment to hie consort Eleanors, Henry 11. adopted for bit
plate-mark the cross of Aquiiaine, with the addition of his initial Icitn
j^. An instance of this curious bet is siill to be seen, in the graoe-rap
of Tliomos a, BeckeL*

The English (:ho6c to regard Henry 11. solely as the descendant of
their ancient Saxon line. "Thou art son,"' said they, i' to th« loail
glorious empress Matilda, whose mother was Matilda Atheting, daughiet
to Margaret, saint and tjueen, whose father was Edward, son to kinj
Edmund Ironside, who was great-grandson to king Alfred."

Such were the expressions of llie English, when Henry convrncd ■
great meeting of the nobility and chief people, at Wallingrord, in Blaitb
1155j where, by the advice of his mother, ilie empies* Uatilda,(wbo

'Inn was ddI, in tar[y timca, a word nted Ibr a hotue oTpoblic
lu original tigoifiiMltm was a temporaiy aboite in London, i
bishop, or peer. ' Anil*T»On'» Vitiory of Cim

'••The land," sbtb ana of the malctnurni Snion chroniolen, ■■ hFcuniB fall rf
iliink and ilmnlisidi." Clarel wu id. per gailon U Uus time. Giuctai via* it
gcTiFrsI EOld al S0(. per nin.

'Thti cup formeTly belonged (o the Aru^d(^l Coltmtion, and wiu fStm bf
Bernard Edward, Ifas laic duke of Norfolk, to H. Howaid, B«q., of Cnrti)' faak,
who ihut b«ranie the possessor of this hJEl'lf-prized relic of BInuioira i «*. TW
(■TOSH of Aquiiaine eomewhai rmmblea iho MbIIpib cioss ; thn cop in b( mf
mmnird with silver, which ii itudded on the loinDiil and baie Willi fnaih^i^
pteeioui atooet. The inecriplion round llie cup i*, Fmum laum tit* ami pa^
— ■■ Drink Iby wine with jof :" bui round the [id, deeply engravMl, i« tha n iljifc
inj[ iojunctioa, Sobrii fita't, with the initials T. B. iDieilaced iriih a Blln^te
peculiail; low (bnn of which tiampi the antiqailj' of the whole.

^Ailml IJhronHjIe. -j ■

^^m BI.GAXORA np AQI'ITAIVE. I7tf I

h*d learnt^ wixdoin Trom adversity,) he swore lo rontirin tn tlte English
the laws of Alfred aiid Edward the ConfeBsor, ns set forlh in ihe great
rhmrtfr of Henry I. At this uirsnd convocation queen Eleanors appeoRM),
with her elili^I son, then in his fourth year, and the infant Henry. The
laroiutgi! of England kissed the handa of the infants, and vowed to lecog-
n»e ihinn la tlie heirs of the English monarchy. A few weeks after ihia
rpco^Hion, the queen lost her eldest son, who was buried at Reading,
at the fir«t of his great-grand lather, Henry I.

The principal residences of the court were Winchester Palace, West-
minster Palace, and the country palace of Woodstock. The amusements
ni :i« favoured by queen Eleanom were of a dramatic kind. Besides the
Mv4l«riea and Miracles played hy the parish clerks and siudenis of
imity, ^e classic taste of the accomplished Eleanora patronized repre-
irjttions nearly allied to the regular drama; since we find thai Peter
■■'■ Hlnis.' in his epistles, congratulates his brother William on his tragedy
"t FUura and Marcus, played before the queen. This William was an
aSbot, but WW master of the revels or amusements at court; he com-
f>oKnt all the Mysteries and Miracles performed before the queen, at
Westminster and Wiitch ester.

h is to Peter of Blois we owe a graphic description of king Henry'*
tiF[<i>Q and manneis; likewise the picture of his court setting out ta

" When king Henry sets out of a morning, you see multitudes of
p«iple running up and down as if they were distracted, hotsee rushing
Viinst hoTves, cajriages overturning carriages, players, gamesters, cooks,
(unfmrtioners, morricc-dancera, barbers, courtesans, and parasites, making'
M much noise, and, in a word, such an iniolersble tumultuous jumble
of horse and foot, that you imagine the great abyss hath opened, and
that hell hath poured forth all its inhabitants."

Wo think this disorderly crew must have belonged lo the queen's court,
fnr the sketch given os by tliesame most amn sing author, of king Henry
himself, would lead us lo suppose that he coonienanced no such riotous
Hoioga. The chaplain Peter' thus minutely describes king Henry, Ae
hiuhand of Eleanora of Aquilaine, in his Idler to the archbishop of
Panonuilan.

"In praising David the king, it is read thai he was ruddy, but
nmst onderaiand that my lord the king is sub-rufus, or pale-red ; his-
haroMB {annonr) hath somewhat changed his colour. Of middle staturs
he is, «o tluit among little men seemelh he not much, nor among long
men Memeth he over little. His head is round, as in token of great
«■!, and of special high caunsel the treasury."

'Oi Paanu Blrsantii, wlio wu bom 1190, at ths citf of Blois. or a noble Gunily.
lUi paiBon waa iIm iftj llrsl who ever used ihv word IratititMai^lialion. Ha |
«a* pr«c«ptnr M Williuu 11, of Sicily, 11S7; was invited Id Englaail by Henijr !(,
aad main his utiaiilaiu, uid archdeacon oT Bath, likewise privnle wrrelaiy m tht
Ua^ Hr (poni nomc years at ihe court oT Bngland. and dieil about ibo end of
mm IwfllUt onliity. He wrote nbaut one bimdcei) and lliiii/ lettari, in Iho
■osi Hnljr and iulividualUiag nyle. Theu he niUecied and twipeuiatml, bjr
umlaat maor eopie*, al ihe Mprem ciMita of his rayal manar, Henry U.
^•dilod by Heaioe.

I

k

R

I

ISO BLEAKOSA or AtjriTAINB. ^H

Our reader* would ickrcely expeci plireTiol<^icsl obserratioos in in
cpielle of ihe tweliUi cenlury, but wre faiilifuUy write whit we find
Dierein.

" Ilia head is Df auch quanlitj-, that to lh6 neck, aod la all tUe boiy,
ii accordeth by even proportion, ilis een pykel«d (fine), and clwti
to colour, while he is of plcnaoU will, but ihroogh dislurb«nce of btin,
like iparkling lire or lightning wiih hasLinegs. His bead of cmiy ban,
ulien clipped square in the forelieBtli dlieweib a lyonoua *inge, ike aw-
liila even and couely, according u> all ilie other features. Hi^ nnliad
feet, lege able to riding, broad bust, and long champion ann*, wlikh
lelleth him to be strong, light, and hardy. In a loe of his loot the OiH
gruwoth into the flesh, aud in harm to the fool over waseth. Ilis htodi
tliruugh their greatness shewelh negligence, for he utterly loavcih ihc
keeping of them ; never, but when he beareih hawks, wesreth he glotc*.
E^u day at mass and council, and other open needs of tlie realm.
throughout the whole morning he standeth a foot, end yet wbei) he m-
elh he never Bitlelfa down. In one day he will, if neeJ be, riile two at
three journeys, and thus bath ho oft circnmvenled the plots of bia a»
mies. A huge lover of woods is he, bo tliat when he ceaaelh of war be
haimletti phices of hawking and hunting. He useih boots without foM-
iiig cap«, and homely and short clothes wearelh he. Ilia tieab wuuld
have charged him with fatness, but with ttsvel and fasting he odaanlcth,
I keeps ii down,) and in riding and going tnivailetb he mightily tiis Touih.
Not as otiier kings Uelh he in his palace, but travelling about bjr Im
provinces espielh he the doings of all men. He doomctb iboee ibulM
judges when they do wroitg, and punisheth them by stronger judnuot
than other men. No man mote wise in counsel, ne more droacuul in
prosperity, ne stediaster in adversity. Wlien once he lovelh, scarcdy
will he ever hate; when once he hatelh, scarcely ever receiveth he iuo
^race. Oft holdedi he in hand swords, bows, and hunting gear, exer^
ing he be at council or at book. When he may rest from worldly biui-
neas, privily he occupielh himself about learning and reading, and anraif
his clerks askeih he questions. For though your king' be well y-lM>
tered, (learned,) our king by far is more y-letlered, I, forsooth, in
science of letters, know the cunning of them both, ye wotting well thai
tny lord the king of Sicily a whole year was my disciple, and ttam^
by you he bad the beginning of teaching, yet by me he had ilie ben^
of more fiill science.' And as soon as I went out of Sicily, your Lisg
cast away his books, and gave himself sp to palatine* idleuess. Bot,
forsooth, our lord the king of England has each day a school for H^
well lettered men ; hence his conversation, thai he halh with them, ii
busy discussing of question. None is more honest than our king ia
speaking; ne in alms largest. Therefore, as holy writ seiili, w« mT
say of him, ■ his name is a precious ointment, and the alms of him u
the church shall take.' "

'Tbe king of bicilf, William Ihe Good, arteTWaoii Henty Ihs 8«ooii^'i tm

BLHAKORA OP AQCtTAINE. ISI

'Sneb ia the pielure nf the Tirat <
drawn to minute pencilling, hy the i:
chdilbuod.

li ia not a very easy task to reduce to anything like perspieuily the
nrioua traditions which float through the chronicles, regarding (|ueen
Elminra's unfortunate rival, the celebrated Roaamond Clifi<ir<I. No one
who sludiea history ought to despi«e tradition, for we shall find that tru-
ditiun is generally founded on fact, even when defective, or regsnllcs!)
of chmnology. The learned and accurate Oirte has not thought it
broenth hira, to examine oireftilty the testimony that pjtisia regarding
Koaunoiid ; and we hud, from him. that we must canlin<
wuk Heiwy to the two yoara succeeding his marriage.
ihat tfas birth of her youngest son, and her profession as a nun at (joci-
now, look place wilhin that apace of time, and he haa proved it from
At irrelrBpible witneas of existing charters, of endowments of Innda
^irea by the Clifford liimiiy to benehl the convent of Oodstow, of pro-
liion maile by Henry 11. for her son Willium Long Espee and hia bro-
thrr, and of benefactions he bestowed on the nunnery of Oodatow,
btRuue Rotoinond had beeome a votaress therein. It appears that the
■0]Baiatsnee between Rosamond and Henry commenced in early youth,
•boDt the time of his knighthood by hia uncle the king of Scotland;
ihil a waa rpnewed at iho lime of hia succt^ssrul invasion of England,
"hm he entered privately into marriage contract' with the unsuspecting
tul; and before he left England, to return to his wife, his noble boy
tfiUiain, aamamed I/ing Espee, was bom. Ills own wonts afterwards
MolinDDd ihia report : >■ Thou art my legitimate sou," said he to one of
ibe MM of Koiamond, who met him at the head of an armed force, at
■ line when the rebellion of the princes had distressed him; "and,"
roulmoed he, * the rest are bastards." ' Perhaps these words aflbrd the
iraait esplanntion of the niyslcnous dissensions which perpeluully dis-
loctoil the roiTil family.

Itow king Hcjiry excused his peijury, both to Rosamond and the
qaren. is not explained by chronicle ; he seems to have endeavoured, by
(•tile expeilienis, to keep them both in ignorance of his perfidy.

Aa KMamond was retained by him as a prisoner, though not an
nawilUng one, it was cosy to conceal from her the facts, tliat he had
wmUhI a quetn. and brought her to England ; but his chief difSruliy
waa to conceal Rosamond's existence from Elcanora, and yet to indulge
htmaelf with frequcnl visits to the real ob|ect of his love.

iktMBpton eaya. " That one day queen Eleanora saw the king walking
in iha pleoaance of Woodstock, with the end of a ball of floss silk
altarfwd to his spur; coming near hira un perceived, she took up tlte
ball, anil the king walking un, the sdk unwound, and thus the queen
Incnl him to a thicket in the labyrinth or maze of the park, where he
diappewd. She kept the mutter secret, often revolving in her own
umA 'm wbM company ho could meet with balls of silk. Soon aAer,
ihm king Wt Woaxlstock for a distant journey ; then queen Elesnon,

*Gane. fcuBipHo. BosweH'i Aaitqutiiei. 'Lingaid.

I

I

IS3 ltI.e«.M)RA OF AQUlTAtNB. ^^H

bavinc thia iliicovery in mind, eearctiMl Lh«> thicket in tba jwk, and db-
covcml a \ove d(K>r cunningly rnncoBleil ; this door eho Iim forcnl. uitl
fnunil il ivax the ^ [iimncf lo a wiiulinfi; Kubl«riunean path, which led out
Bt R distance lo a svlvan lodge in ihe most retired part nf ttit? kdjncerii
furMl." Hero ilie qtiecn found, in ft Imwer, a yrning lady of incom-
parable b<-iiuiy, busily eufaged in embroidery.

t{iieL'[i Eleanora then raaily giirswd how balls of silk atuclied ihftni-
tdvea to tint; Henry's spurs, WhaieTer waa ths result of ihc inierview
between Elcanora and Kosamond, it is certain that ihe qneen did nni
deviroy her rival cither by sword or poison, tiKiugb io ht-r ngc ii is
poMihlc that she mi)ilit tiireBien both. Thai Rosamond was not ktiy.
may be ascertained by ilie ch&ricrB before named, which plainly tbon
that she lived tweiiiy years, in j^rcai peniirnce-, after her rvtiremeal froii
the kin^. It is extremely probable that her inierview wiih Doanura \ti
to her first knowledge that Henry was a married man, and eonsHiDenilT
lo heT profe«aion at GmIsiow, which took place the second year nf
Henry's reign. The ^tid error in the slaimienls reKardine; Ro«ani(niil
is the assertion, tliat alie was a youni; girl seduced and cnnccaleil br A'
king, when lie was in advanced life. Now the charters collaieil hf
Carle, prove thai the acquainloncc of Itneamond and Henry comnicnMtl
in early youlh; that ihey were nearly of the same age, and tint deir
connexion tentiiiiated soon after queen Eleanora came lo Eiii^land.

Twenty years afterwards, when Kosamond's death realty oecuned a
her convent, it happened to coincide with Eleanore^s impriaonmeal twl |
diegraee. This coincidence rcvivij tlie memory of the romantic inci-
dents connected wilh Henry's love for Itosainond Cliflord. The bigti
nnk of tbe real object of the queen's jealousy, al llial time, anil the
circumBlances of horror regarding Henry's profligacy, as tlie bbJok*
of his son's wife, occasioned a mystery at court which no one ibmd ti
define. The common people, in their endeavours lo ^eas this m\t i
secret, combined the death of the poor peiiileni al Godsiow with El«-
Dora's imprisonment, uid thus the rejiorl was raised that Elcauoia h«l
killed Itoeumond. To these causes we Imce the disamuiEement of the
chronology in the story of Rosamond, which lias cast clonbls on lb>
truth of her adventure*, In Brompton's narrative we find the h^iinb'

' A> to th( labyhalh or maze at Wooditock. il man likely eiitl^ brhn ihi
timD of Rosunonil, sad remained adei hei death, sinco all [i1cili-iiii[-<'.« .» ni- I
dens in tho middle age wcie conlriT«d with this adjunct. Trn. -j^
to thu dny, in ihe nsmes of places near defkuicl royal palmws ,
bill at Gtemwicb, (near the site of the miue or [sbyiinth of Gii- :
and the Haia in Southwark, cooe part of tlie itsideD of ihe {m i
dor'* palace. We have eTideoce that Edward 111. (bffiwnTu >'
drath of Rosamond linlo more Uum a century iniciireni-d) fun.
striidiire pertujiiiog In WoodaUick Palace, KowmDnd's Chambif.
which he minutely dewribes in a letter prpwrved in the Fcedi;:.i
In Uiil docomanl be diiccis Willlain de Moniacute lo order Vm.. i., :., ..
lUt manor of Wnndiiook, and Ibal (he hoiiH! btyand llu gatt >n Iht nrv mil )v
Imlli again, and thm *ame chaiobet, called Rotainond « Cbamliai, to bv rowaed |
a* before, suU oryilal plate*, and marble, and Irad lu be provided tbi ii. Bale
ti indi^utable proof ibai there wms a stnuiura called BMamood's

E L E A N O II A O I A Q r I T A I N E . 1 S3

a( U'oodstock, &nd the clue of silk, famous in the romance and ballad.
His chronology of the incidents is decidedly wrong, but the actual
erents are confirmed by the most ancient authorities.

Queen Eleanora brought her husband a princess in the year 1156;
this was the eldest daughter, tlie princess Matilda.

The next year the queen spent in England. Her celebrated son,
Richard Coeur de lion, was bom September 1 157, at a palace considered
one of the finest in the kingdom, called the Beau Monte, in Oxford.
Thus, that renowned University claims the honour of being the birth-
place of this great warrior. This palace was afterwards turned into tlie
White Friar's church, and then to a workhouse. The chamber in which
Richard was bom still remains, a roofless min, with some vestiges of a
fireplace ; ' but such as it is, this fragment is deeply interesting to the
finglish, as the birth-place of a hero of whom they are proud.

Eleanora of Aquitaine, in some passages of her life, appears as one of
the most prominent characters of her age : she was very actively em-
ployed, either as sovereign of her own dominions, or regent of Nor-
mandy, during the period from 1157 to 1172.

Eleanora was crowned a second time at Worcester, with the king, in
1159. When the royal pair came to the oblation, they both took ofT
their crowns, and, laying them on the altar, vowed never to wear them
more.

A son was bora to Henry and Eleanora, September 23d, after the
Worcester coronation : this prince bore the name of the king's father,
Geoffrey Plantagenet

The same year the king betrothed this boy to €k)nstance, the heiress
of Conan, duke of Bretaffiie. The infant Constance was about eighteen
months older than the little prince Geoffrey. Henry had made most
anjnst seizure of Bretagne, by way of conquest ; he, however, soothed
the independent Bretons, by marrying their infiuit duchess to his son.
His ambitious thirst for extension of empire was not sated by the acqui-
sition of this dukedom ; he immediately laid siege to Thoulouse, and,
in the name of queen Eleanora, claimed that sovereignty of earl Ray-
mond, who was in possession, and the ally of the king of France. A
year was occupied with skirmishing and negotiation, during which time
Eleanora acted as queen-regent in England.

Henry sent for his queen to Normandy, in 1160; she went in gpreat
stale, taJung with her prince Henry and her eldest daughter, to meet
their &ther. The occasion of her presence being required, was the mar-
riage of Marguerite, the daughter of her former husband Louis VIl. by
his second wife, with her young son Henry. Chancellor Becket went,
with a magnificent retinue, to Paris, and brought the little bride, aged
three yean, to the queen at Rouen. Both bride and bridegroom were

distinct ftom Wooditock Palace, yet belonpng to its domain, being a building
sauated beyond the pork wall. Edward IIL pasted the first years of hit mar-
riage principally at Woodstock, therefore he well knew the localities of the
place ; which will agree with the old chronicleri, if we suppose Rosamond's
residenoe was approached by a tunnel under the park wall.
>fiosweU*s Antiquities.

IS'l ELBANOBA OV AQUITAIXI.

given, afler their muringe, to Becket ' for eilucatiun ; and lliia extraonli-
nury penon inspired, in their young boaome, an atiachment to him, ilitt
enileil but wii!i thtir bves,

Queen Eleononi kept her Chrislniaa at Maoa, with the king, iii groU
■lale and splendour, the year of this betrothmenU

ATief a sharp diepule, between Henry IJ. and Lnuia Vil., relaiire to
the portion of the pcinceu Marguerite, the king of France voinprtMiiwd
the matter, by givbg the city of Gisors, as s portion, with anutfaer infiuit
princess of France, named Alice, in 1 163.' This child was in bet tliiri
year when wedded to prince Richard, who wm then acveo years old.
The liide princess was unfortunately consigned to the king of England
for education. Two marriages were thus contracted between the datigb-
ten of Louis VII^ and the sons of his diTorceil queen ; connesiuo*
which must seem most extraordinary, \v~hen we consider that the father
of the brides, and the mother of the bridegrooms, had been married, tnd
wero the parents of children, who were sistere to botb-

l^uisVn. gB»e his eldest daughter, by queen Eleanora, in msrriagBta
Henry the Large, count of Champagne. It was in this year thai king
Henry's troubles began with Thomas a Becket, who had, hitherto, ben
liis favourite, his friead, aod prime minister.

Tlie contest between the king and fieeket, which fills bo matiy folio
pages of modem history, must be briefly glanced al here. It wm ibt
same quarrel which had agitated England, betwt^po Henry L and Ansdin.
But England no longer possessed a virtuous daughter c^ her toyti tttt
for a (jueen, who, keenly feeling the cry of the poor deprived of duir
lawful provision, mediated between iheee haughty epirila. The gay,
luxurious daughter of the South was occupied wiili her own plfa«ui«,
and heeded not the miseries which the king's aequeslniions of limericM
brought on the destitute part of the population. Becket appealn! tii ilit
empress Matilda, the king's mother, who haughtily repubcd his taiL
Becket was the son of a London citizen, who had followed Edgxr Albk>
ling, on his crusading expedition, and was luade prisoner iu Sjnia^ In
oblaiiied his liberty through the al^lion of a Syrian lady, aa muA
daughter, who followed her lover afler liis departure, and »iieoee(M ■
finding him in London, although slie knew but two European vnvdit
- London" and '■Gilbert," the place ofabode, andCIiriBtiannaiiM,of bn
lover. The pagan maiden was baptized, hy the favourite NartMn mat
of Matilda, and from this romantic union sprang Thomas i Boekeuwbtt
was remarkable for his learning and brilliant talents, and his tine atainfc
and beauty. The love which Gilbert Becket bore to the nee and falnoi
of Alfred, which had sent him crusading with prince Edgar, readered biiD
tlic firm partimn of his niece, the empress Matilda.

Yotmg Becket had taken the only road to distinction i^toi to an AngW-

■Tha KKulat BilBesiioo ■nd nippon of die linle prinetn. was
Robert dp fiowbuigh, ooe of Heniy tlie twcond'a tarons, who
lier pciMjn, and biing up die priocesi Marnuetilo in a manner bcBitug Im rayal
tiirlli.

e by Eleanon, and this ddU 1^

ELCANORA OP AQCITAINE. 185

he waa d/'ihe churchibul nol in it; for he wm ndtherptiesl,
being rather a chureh-lawyer tlian a clergymaii. Henry II
DiahMl this Anglo-^oxon wiiK peculiar favour, lo die indignn-
wifc anil mother, who warned hini aD;aifi9t feeling friendship
lo-Saxon aerf, with the toailiing ihal the daughters of rajalis
Ibr a pariah.

uf Cinlerbury liaving reitiainei] vacant a year and a half, Heniy
ivourti« to accept it, in hopes that he would connive at liia
iwrtitig the revenues of the church, lo enrich those of the
litis was simply the whole cause of the perpetual contest,
) Attglo-Norman kings, and the archbishops of Canterburyt
nic{ue«t; but «a the church supported the desiiiute poor, it is
lo decide which had ihe moral right. .Archdeacon Becket
it, if he were once a bishop, he miial uphold the right* uf
{ but the king still insisted on investing him with the arch-
The night before his consecration, at supper, he told the
)m &rchbiahopric would place an eternal bdrrier between their
Henry would noi believe it. Beekei was consecrated priesl
d was invested as archbiahop of Canterbury the iiexi. To
rce of the king, he instantly resigned his chancellorship, anO
m champion for the rights of his see.
I yan, the contest between Becket and Henry continued,
fa time we have several events to noie; and to conclude the
be emprees Matilda.

left' regent of Normandy by her son, which country she
ith great wisdom, and kept in a peaceful state', but she never
England.

ar 1 169, king Louis VII. gave the princess Alice, his youngest
f (^ueen Eleanora, in marriage to the count of Blois, but, at
^B, endowed hini with the otTice of bigh-acneschal of France,
the feudal right to Ilenrj- II., as count of .^njou. Heniy
leated this disposal of his otTice ; and the empress his mother.
V the rising storm, and who had been thoroughly satialed
ifron of war in her youth, wrote lo pope Alexander, begging
■ her, to mediate between the angry kings.
crfieyeil llie summons of the royal matron, and the kings
and llie pontiff at Gisors. The dilTerences between Becket
I. had then risen to a fearful height. It appears ilial Mutildii
t, by the pope, with a commission of peace-making, between
liit royal mui«r. Emboldened by the mandate of ilie pone,
t more referred to llie empress Matilda, as the mediator be-
hurch and her son, and no more mei with repulse,
teta the disgust, with which Matilda recoiled from any com
with Becket, as the son of a Saxon villein \ nevertheless, this
hy means of his eloquent episdes, was beginning to exercise
iominion over ilic mind of the haughty empress, that he did
living cmiunt with whom he communicated. Heifry 11,,

den. GuiVBSe. Kewliurj-.

I

L

180 BLKA7IOBA Or AfJUITAIXK.

■Uniml Bt his progrMa, wu lo hia lUOLher a priest Damftl John of Ox-
fonl, wlia wu cliarCHl lo infurtn her of mmiy [jarUcuJ&rs dna|Uat]r lo
Burket's morel chftractpi--eveiiu probably lliAi bappcnnl dnhag hii gtf
uid iiisj^nificenl ean«T, w clwnrrllor uiJ ^rrliiJcacun.

The dmlh of thn duke of Bretagne had rjJIod Henry II lo Uike [nm>
Hvsinn of thfti iluchy, iii the iihuic ft( ihe iiitniit iluclicss Constaiiea<wd
hcT hclrotlitxl loni, his aun Grolirey, when ihe neu-s arrived of the dMlfa
of ilie empresi Matilda, which occurred SrpLeiuber 10, 1167. Thpa»
thi-r of llcorj- II, was deeply regreued io Nonnandy, where she wu
called « ibe lady of iho English." She governtnl NomaDiiy wiih di»- .
cretlun and muderalion, applyiti;; her rcvnnuea wholly to ilie bcnefiiof
the roniiuon weal, and mnny public works.' Her partiality for briil^
huildmg is the only point of Tc^smblBiice between her actions aiul ihon .
of bfr mother. While rt-geni of Nunnaody, she applied her prinu ,
revenues to building; l)ie niagniticenl alone bridge, of tliirtern arehcii r-
over the Seine, colled Le Grand Pont. The conBlruciion of this bndp i
was one of the woiideia of th« age. being biull with currcd piers, lo '
humour the npid current of the liver. The enipreas built aiul cndmnd L
three inonasleries ; among these was tlie niagniltceni strurture of &
Ouen. She resided chiefly at tlie palace of Kouen, willi occaaional ritf
to the abbey of Bcc.

Matihln Was interred, wilK roynl honour*, in the abbey of Bee bdbrt
tlie altar of tlie Virgin. Her son lefl his critical aiGiira in Bretagnale
attend her futieml. He mitted a stately marble tomb lo her uieiB«T>
tipon it was the following epitaph, whose climax tends rather to adnoci
the glory of the stirnTing son, than the defunct mother : —

"Grnl bom, ppsl inntiifi'l, gteaier bnniglii lo beil,
Ui^ie Ueiaj't dauglitec, wife, awl molhcr'a laid."*

Here her body remaineil till the year 1282, when the abbey cbtud)
of Bee being rebuilt, the workmen discorered it, wrapped up in an a-
hide. The colHn was taken up, and, with great solemnity, re-intcmd
in the middle of ihe chancel, before the high altar. The ancieal loob
was removed tu the saiiie place, and, with the atieniion the dioith cf
Rome ever showed to the memory of a foundreas, erected over the Bt>
grave. This structure foiling to decay, in the seirenteenth cenuuy,iu
place was supplied by a liue monument of brass, with & ponpow

The character of this celebrated ancestress of our royal line wis U
much revered by the Normaiw, as disliked by the English. B<«W»
Henry II.. she was the mother of two sons, Geullrey and Willinni, who
both preceded her to the giave.

Queen Elinors was lesideiit, during these events, at the palaca of
Woodstock, where prince John was bom, in the year 1100.

Henry comj^ctcd the noble hall of the palace of Rouen.' bc^mi br

' Ducaier* Sonnsiuij,
' - Onu nuisna, vita mijoi, wd inaitma par
Hie jacBi Ueiuici filia, (paiua, pueo*."

J

R&KORA OF AdUITAIXE.

Uenry I-, and nearly finished by the einpreas Matilda. He seat for queen
^ Vrnioro, from England, lo btiog her daughier, ihe prim^sa Matilda, lliot
t Ae uiigbt be luarnMl to her alfianced lord, Heniy the Lion, duke of
' fkxauy. The nupiioi fcaat was celebrated in the newly-tiniehed hull of
i touM) Palacv, lim opened Tor this stalely banquet, 1167.

(^ireD Eleinore wns left regent of Normandy by her royal lord ; but
>hc prople, discontented at the loss of tlie empresa Matildn, rebelled,
i^iui her authority ; which insurrection obliged ileury to come to ths
ul of his wife.

tiaicnue and Poilou became in a slate of revolt soon after.' The
ptuftle, who earnestly desired Eleanors, their native princess, to govern
ihcm, would not he pacified till Henry brought Ins queen, and left Iter
tt Bounleaux, with her son Kichard. Ileury, ilie heir of England, wu
cQUiled (be duke of Guienne ; hut for Eleanora's favourite eon, Richard,
'- 1-> inlcndrd the county of Poitou, subject lo vassalage to his broilier

i: tather. This arrangement quietetl the discontents of Aqiiitnine.
I K- princrss Marguerite, the young wife of prince Henry, was Ictt in
I < uirnne, with her mother-in-law, while Henry II. and his heir proceeded
lA Engl&udt then conviils«d with the disputes between church and stale)
rATTKd on by Becket Queen Eleanora and prince Richard remained at
B-iunleaux, lo ihe satisfaction of the people of the South, who were
'vlightetl Willi the presence of iheir reigning family, although the Nor-

Ul deputies of king Henry still continued to exercise all the real
, -ftr of the government.

The heart of Heiirj's son and lieir siill yearned to his old tutor,
Irrkel — an allection which the king beheld with jealousy. In order to
UFBO hie son from this attachmenU in which ibe young princess Mor-
pinite fully shared, Henry 11. resolved, in iinilaiioii of ihe Capetian
roiil family, to have hia sou crowned king at Westminster Abbey, and
lu usocmie him in die Bovernment.

"Be glad, my son,"* said Henry II. lo his son, at this coronalioDt
■then be set the first dish on the table, at the coronation banquet; ''then
is DO prince in Europe has such a sewer* at his table V

''So tivM coDdesceneion fur the eod of an earl to wait on i
of X iting," rrplied the young prince, aside to the earl of Leicesle

Ths princrss Marguerite was not crowned at the same time with her
hoabvia ;* she remained in Aquitaine, with her mother-in-law, queen
□raaon. Her faiJier, the king of France, was enmged at this slight
nttatd to his daughter, and Hew to arms to avenge the afTront Yet it
WW no bult of king Henry, who had made every preparatio
cDrMMtion of ihe princess, even to ordering her royal robea to be in
nwltaeM. But when !t1arguerite found that Becket. the guardian of her
foatli, ma not to crown her, she perversely refused to share the i
aMJoti of her husband.

I

•Hoi

'<len.

'TrnelL

'Tbl Mm c™ ^^ *^'^ funuiioiiB ar the grand seneschal of France, which
Bsnrf bad VtpufOno. b* bii t'cudaJ wrvke, at ilie coiouailon ofa liiiig of FraaiM
ttamat of Anjou, tni Ui liit pertbimiog ths caiue office at hu toit't bouquet.

■rMaof Uou.

r

I

JM Bl£A»ORA OP AqCITAlNB.

Th« rhnrartpr of Henry 11-. ilnrinp the Ifmg strife tluil mibfi^teil
brtwrcn him and hii fnrmrr friondt tuiJ cltan^l fmtii ihe ntlra ht-mism
pnnniTed by Poler of Rloia ; he haij p*«ii way I" fiW «f violence, ajt)-
nizin? to himrelf, and tlangnous to hia hmlih. I( waa raid, ili&i wliea
Biiy tHlincs cain«, of the eootnidiction of his will by Borkel, lie v/nttiA
Tear his nsir, and mil on the ground with ntgc, gnuping baaileful of
ruehea, in the paroiyams of his pMainn.'

It woi ionn after <}nf of these frenziea of m^, that. In 1170, ho fril
ill,' at Domfroni, in Maine ; he then made hia will, bclierine hia nnd
apprnaching. To hia son Hmry, he left Fngland, Normandy, Ktiiius
and Anjou; to Ridiard he li'ft the Atiuilauian fJotninionB; tieolTrey b«il
Brctngno, in right of his wife, while John was left depcndpnt oo hi«
hroilicrs. From this order of affiiira John obtained ihc nicluuune of
].itcklttnd, first gi»en him by Henry himself, in jeal, sifler hia recovwr.

During a fit of penitence, when he thought himself nev death, Ueniy
•ought reeoncilialion with Beekel ; but when fresh con trad ietiona aroM,
between the archbiahop and the king, in <me of those violent accMaiMU
of fury desrribed above, Henry unfortunately demnndEd, in his nge,
before the knights who attended in his bedehamher,' ** Whether no mm
loved him enough to revenge the sffronU he perpetually received frtw
an insolent priest?"

On this liint, Piiz-Urse, Trucey, Brillon, anJ Morville, slaoghtenJ
Becket, before the altar in his eathedral, (ha last day cf tlie year llTl.

ELEANORA OF AQUITAINE,

QUEEN OF HENRY II.

CHAPTER II.

Elfiuiora in Aquiuine — ControlJed by Normans — Cnnipirei v:-^ '

Jpn)oii»y — EKap«s, in man's anini — Mentis «> virii hor frn-

Sei<oil— -CBiricd prisnnoi w Bounleaiix — Quean Huiucrilr. > ■

law — TUb Iwo qaiHm* in caplivily — Henry dpr»«l« bi* xoas — I"

wncd in Winohsiier ynlace — DsKih of RubuoudiI — Turhulrai

otid Eleaooi* — TrouLadoui n^talon — Deatli of ihe ynuiiget L::

recoiioilialion uf king and queen — Piinee Rirbant'a wronK* — ''

Rppom of riiroroo — Ekanor npiin tmprisoned — Sonjti eono. : .

snlyKis' tors — D«aih oT prinoa Oeoflroy — Oricr d( Elifnr. .

bruu^hi ID Poiion — Clnlnu lior doiniiuon* of priuoc RichanJ^I'

tliiqutet* — -Dcttih — Buiial — Quaan iii captiviif — King RichoiLl :< . —

Api'iinu hei queen refill — Her justice — Tteaaoie-vnull n: '.'^ . ■ -

Queen mnilicts ilower — Eleanorn sou out for Nnvnrre — Berei.^; l; ■ I

drnvet at Mefsina. villi Kiclinrit's liciile — Depiiu — Meilim.'! .1 .ij-^ ii<< •:

Bonie^Eleanora'a reiieiKy — Uel tailfome tgo.

' HoTpHen. ' Bronipton. Gcrvue. Hovtvlra.

' yiti-SippIien call) Ihe four wbo murdered the sichbishop, tjw bataiu m m
vauu of ifae king's bedchambet.

■ LSAXORA OF AQUITAINE. IS9

From the tinie of the marrio^ of her daughter Matilda to tiie Lion
uf Saxony, EHeanora had not visited England. The coronation of her
eldest son, and the marder of Becket, had occurred while she resided in
her native province. She had seen her son Richard, in 1170, crowned
count of Poiton, with all the ceremonies pertaining to the inauguration
of her ancestors. But king Henry only meant his sons to superintend
ihe state and pageantry of a court ; he did not intend that they should
exercise independent authority ; and Richard's will was curbed, by the
biihiiil Norman reterans pertaining to his fether. These castellans were
Ihe real governors of Gnienne ; an order of aflkirs equally disapproved
of by prince Richard, queen Elcanora, and their Aquitanian subjects.
The queen told her sons ' Richard and Geoflrey, that Guienne and Poitou
owed no obedience to a king of England, or to his Normans ; if they
owed homage to any one, it was to the sovereign of France ; and Richard
•od Geoflrey resolved to act as their Provencal forefathers of old, and
pay no homage to a king of England.

All these fermentations were approaching a violent crisis, when Henry
lU in the summer of 1 173, arrived, with his son, the young king, in
Guienne, to receive the long-delayed homage of count Raymond of
Thoalonse, and to inquire into the meaning of some revolts in the south,
against his Norman castellans, evidently encouraged by his wife and
prince Richard.

It was part of the duty of a feudal vassal to ffive his sovereign advice
in time of need; and when Raymond of Thoulouse' came to this part
of his oath of homage, as he knelt before Henry II., he interpolated it
with these emphatic words: —
^ Then I advise you, king, to beware of your wife and sons."
That very night the young king, although he always slept in his
fiither's bedroom, escaped to the protection of his father-in-law, Louis
Vf I. From Paris he made all manner of undutiful demands on his father.
Simultaneously with the flight of young Henry, his brothers, Richard
and Groffrey, decamped for Paris. Richard's grievance was, that his
wife, the princess Alice of France, was withheld from him ; while Geof-
frey insisted, as he had arrived at the mature age of sixteen, that the
duchy of Bretagne, and his wife Constance, whose dower it was, should
be given to his sole control.

Reports had been brought to Eleanora, that her husband meditated a
diforcc; for some lady had been installed, with almost regal honours, in
her apartments at Woodstock. Court scandal pointed at her daughter-
in4aw, the princess Alice, whose youthful charms, it was said, had cap-
tivated her fiither-in-law, and for that reason the damsel was detained
from her afiianced lord, prince Richard. Enraged at these rumours,
Deanoia resolved to seek the protection of the king of France; but as
she was surrounded by Henry's Norman garrisons, she possessed so
little power in her own domains as to be reduced to quit them in dis-
guise. She assumed male attire, and had travelled part of her way in
this dress, when Henry's Norman agents followed, and seixed her, before

■ Script Rer. Pnnc. 'Hud. 'Gervmte.

I

I

I

190 BLEANORA OF A<]riTAIKe.

she Miuld reach the lerritorics of her ilivorced husband. They brongh
her back very rudely, in ihn diB^ise she had adopted, and kepi her pn-
■oner in Bouideaux, till the arrival of her husband. Her son* punuol
their flight safely, to the court of the king of France.

Now commenced thai long, dolorous, and mysterious inipri*oniDrai,
which may be considered the third era in the life of Eleanors of A()utitii)i.
Bui the imprisonment of queen Elcanora was not stationary ; we net
her carried, with her royal husband, in a stale of restroinL, to Barflent.
where he embarked for England. He had another prisoner, in coin{aBT
with Eleanora; this was his dauehter-in-law, the young Marguerite, who
hod roniumaciouely defied him, left the royal robes, he had made for
her coronation, unworn upon his hands, and scorned the crown be had
Dllered lo place on her brow, if not consecrated by BeckeL With tbtH
royal captives, Henry 11. Innded at Southampton, some timcin July, llTl.'

Henry 11. proceeded directly lo Canterbury, carrying the captive (jntou
in his train. Here ho performed the celebrated penance bo ofien desrnhid,
Bt the tomb of Becket. We have no new light to throw on this wdl-
known occurrence, except the extreme satisfaction that his daughtTf-il-
law Marguerite (who was in the city of Canterbury at the time) nmo
have felt at the sufleringB and humiliation of the man who had aund
the death of her tutor and friend.

Scarcely had king Henry completed his penance, when tidings mm
brought him that his high constable had defeated prince Ridianl and it
earl of Leicester, near Bury ;' and this news was followed hy a meaMiiflr
announcing the capture of king William the Lion, at Alnwick, anil IM
the royal prisoner was approaching, with his legs tied beneath hiti bim*
— the most approved method of showing contumely lo a 'm;.;.'.
middle ages. All this manifested very clearly, lo the Angl
Sl Thon^as had forgiven his royul friend, and was now F\r :
very actively in his behalf; but when, within a very few li .
genre came that the fleet of young king Henry, which had act i^ail it> in-
vade England, had been entirely demolished by a siorm, public enthuraM
for the saint knew no bounds. The king went to return UMoki tok
Thomas, at the shrine before which he had done penance, and (be ptW
oflhe kingdom was wholly restored.

Then was queen Deanore consigned to confinement, which hflli
with but short intervals, for sixteen years. Her prison w«« no wflBi
place ihen ber own loyal palace at Winchester,* where she ww wcB
guanled bv her hhsband^s great justiciary and general, Ranulph de Gka-
ville. who likewise had the chan^ of the royal treasury, at the mat
place. That GlanviUe treated her with respect, is evident from lotti
subse<{iient events.

The poor penitent at Godstow expired in the midst of these
— nol cut ofl" in her brilliant youth by queen Eleanora, but " fron

' Diceio. Dr. Henry hss litapwi^eliaced tlie progress of Henry widi tWQ ■
Dom ilic eonlcrnporary chromeleri, 'B(o

*B*nc(iict Abluf. and m»n)r chiDniclM. Benedioi
during liei long Tps^icf, in ihe sacceeiling rpign; ibeTefm
irlMra fail TO^l miitreN Te^e4,d«nac w long a period atbm life.

ELBANORA OF AQUITAINB. 191

icay by pining.^ She was nearly forty, and was the mother of two
ofl, both of age. She died practising the severest penances, in the high
lour of sanctity, and may be considered the Magdalen of the middle
*eB. Tradition says she declared on her death-bed, that when a certain
ee' she named, in the convent garden, was turned to stone, they would
now the time she was received into glory.' She died deeply venerate<i
f the simple-hearted nuns of Go<]stow, who would have been infinitely
»idalized had she received visits from Henrv. Nor does one of the
any church manifestoes, fulminated against Henry, charge him with
ich an aggravation of his ofiences as the seduction of a nun ; an indu-
itmble proof that the conventual vows had effectually estranged Henry
nd Rosamond.

As the princess Alice was still the betrothed of prince Richard, no
ne dared to hint at anything so deeply heinous as her seduction by her
ither-in-law ; for the vengeance of the victorious Henry would have
everely visited the promulgators of such scandal. The public, finding
bat the queen was imprisoned on account of her restless jealousy, com-
•icd the circumstance with the death of Rosamond, and revived the old
tory of Henry's passion for the penitent of Godstow. From this acci-
leatal coincidence, of Eleanora's imprisonment and Rosamond's death,
he memory of the queen has been unjustly burdened with the murder
if her former ri\'al.

Henry U. seems to have indulged his eldest and his youngest son,

*The body of Rosamond was buried at Grodstow, near Oxford, a little nunnery
mong the rich meadows of Evonlod. (Camden.) According to the peculiar
Uftom of the times, the grave was not closed, but a sort of temporary tabernacle,
ailed in chronicle a hearse, (of which the modern hatchment is a relic,) was
tected over the coffin; this was raised before the high altar, covered with a pall
f fcir white silk, tapers burnt around it, and banners with emblazonment waved
•ver it. Thus lying in state, it awaited the time for the erection of a monu-
bent Twenty years afler, the stern moralist, St. Hugh, bishop of Lincoln, in a
onne of visitation of convents, came to Grodstow, and demanded, " Who laid
bcfe in soch state under that rich hearse?" And when the simple nuns replied.

It was the corpse of their penitent sister, Rosamond Cliflbrd," the reformer,
lerfaaps remembering she was the mother of his superior, the archbishop, de-
lared ** that the hearse of a harlot was not a fit spectacle for a quire of virgins
> contemplate, nor was the front of God's altar a proper station for it.*' He
ben gave orders for the expulsion of the coffin into the churchyard. The sisters
f Godstow were forced to obey at the time ; but after the death of St Hugh,
bey gathered the bones of RoKimond into a perfumed bag of leather, which
liey enclosed in a leaden case, and, with all the pertinacity of woman's afiec-
ion, deposited them in their original place of interment pretending that the
nnalbrmation of the tree had taken place, according to Rosamond's prophecy.
ouihey records a visit to the ruins of Grodstow. The principal remnant serves
M* a cowhouse. A nu^tree grows out of the penitent's grave, which bears every
tmx a profusion of nuts without kernels. King John thought proper to raise a
Mnb to the memory of Rosamond ; it was embossed with fair brass, having an
BKription about its edges, in Latin, to this effect : —

** This tomb doth here enclose I Rose passing sweet erewhile,

The world's most beauteous rose-~ | Now nought but odour vile.**

'Boswell't Antiquitiai.

I

I

VB BtEA50KA OF A q C I T A 15 B.

with ibeiDMt rainous I'-indnes^; he slway° kepi them near him, if m
sible, while ptioce Itichard mill priric« Genflrpy. equally belmed by tb
moilier, were ctiielly reaiJint with her, on the contiaenL Prince John
luul entirely an English piliitrniion, hnviDg for bis luloc ihM Ittraid
ecclesiastic, allied to the Welsh myal loniily, well known to biUohMi^
aa Ihe chronicler Ginldus Csnibrienets. liut aaiatl profit, eilhar to lill
rottnliy or lo bimKlf, accrued from the English edacaiioa oi pmN

Through the mediation or the king «f France, his &iher-ia-lsw, ihi
youiig king Henry waa reconciled to Henry II. for a time, and hia ^Miit
queen Marguerite was restored lo him. King Louii hiinaelf ria^
England in 1 179, for [he purpose of praying for hiit son's health ■■ tto
ahrine of St Thomas a Becket

PfoHvithaiaading the singular relationship in which the kings of Eof-
land and France stood to each other, as the former and presirol hmhanJ
of the same queen, ihey appear to hnre frequently met in friendly tni0>
course. Henry recei red Louis with much respect, and rode all nigh,
Augiu^ 18, with his train, lo meet Louia VII. at Dover, where the cfarth
nicjers relate that Henry made many curious observations, on ■ toul
eclipae of the moon, which happened during his nocturnal joutney,— I
&CI reminding us of hia fondness for scientific questions, as rvcordad i>
hia character by Peter of Blois.

Henry il. aKerwards took hia royal ^est to his Wincbeater Palan.
where he showed him his treasure-van! U and invited him to t^e ay-
thing he chose. Queen EUeanora was then at ^Vinchester, bill wbOM
she met her divorced lord, is not recorded.

In the course of a few months Louis VII. died, of a cold cangfel tf
his vigils near the lomb of St. Thomas a Becket. Such was the ad itf
the first husband of Elcanora of Aquitainc.

To enter into a minute detail of all the rebellions and iuaarrectMi
nDdcriakcn by the insurgent sons of Eleanora, during their mother's m-
prisonment, were an endless, and indeed an impracticable task, h unal
suffice to hold up a picture of the manners and temper of the peoal*
over whom she \t'as the hereditary sovereign, and who diadaiDed at
rule of any stranger, however nearly connected with the hcinsa o^ ihi
country.

All the elements of strife were kept in a perpetual slate of actitkfi
by the combativeness of the troubadours, whose tensons, or W-*0$ft
perpetually urged the sons of Elcanora to batde, when ihoy WW
inclined lo repose- Such, among many of inferior genius, was BnlB '
de Bom, viscoum de Hauteforle, whom Danie has inlroduccd with n
lerrilic grandeur, in his Inferno, aa the mischief-maker betwr<en H^n
II. and prince John. But he hcgan this work tvith Henry's eldMaw
beet beloved son. Bertrand, and all the other Iroubadoan, haia) Bmtf
II., whom they considered as an interloper, and a pen^uior of An
rightful princess, the duchess of Aquitaine, hia wife. It is aaiil iJist Bcr-
irand was in love with queen Eleanora, for he addresses many COTwt
declaialiona to a " royal Eleanora" in his chatumu, adtfiag ezxttbaglir

KtBANORA OF AQCrTAIlfK. I

"ihey were not unknown lo her, for she mn rrail!"' But there
fe« misuhe of the mother for ibe datiuluer, since prince Ridianl, who
■M ■ bruthor tronbadi>ur, eiiconfaeivl Benraiid in a [m.isioi) for liia beao-
iTiii miter Klntnoia;' and to i!ie daughter of ihc queen nf England, r
iL^'plf, these passionate declamliona were addressed.
ifie nudsi of insurrection against his aire, ihe maiiTspring <^ which
liiR itiec-uaiit sini^le to obtain an independent sovereignly, yoang
.,i.iy Plunlagenel died, at the easile of Martel inGmenne,ia histwcnty-
ngtitn y«w. Whea he foond his illness mortal, he was seized with
Iwp renonci for his frequent rebellions against his eTer-indii)s?nl fntlier.
lie aent to king Uenry, to implore his pardon for his trane^reasionf.
itfan he expired, he had the saiisfHction of receiving a rin^' frnm his ,
m. as * token of forgiveness. On the receipt of this pledQ;c of atTcc- i
IMM, Uie penitence of the dying prince became passionate; when ex-
fimgt he caused himself to be mken out of bed, and died on sackcloth '
nd sehea, u an atonement for his sins.

The death of their heir for a short time reconcile queen Dcanora
lad her royal husband. Henry moiirned for the loss of this son, with
Ike deep grief of David over Absalom. The contemporary chroniclers
l|m, that from the year 1 183 to the year 1 18-1, when the princess jtla-
id^a, with her hu.iband Henry the Lion of Suxuiiy, sought rpfuge in
Ei^ud, tlie captive queen was restored to her r^nk al the English

Bce Richard, now become the heir of Henry and Eleanors, remained

« quiet, in order to see how his talher would condnct himself

urn. Although he had arrived at the age of twenty-seven, and

incesB to whom he was half-married was twenty-three, she was

I detained from hJm. Richard had formed, at Guicnne,* an attach-

it to a virtuous and beautiful princess, the daughter of a neighbouring

ito, and he was anxious that his mysterinus eulanglement with the

a Alice shoulrl be brought to a termination.

Richard seems to have met with nought but injury from his lathery

nor tns Ilia brother Geoffrey much belter Ireutei). The continual

upacy of prince Richard, in regard to the princess Alice, was met

wub eoiutant evasion. Reports were renewed, of the king's intention

lodi*a«ee queen Eleanora; and the legate resident in England, cardinal

Hugo, vaa conaidted on the practicabdily of this divorce, and likewise

m ihs poasibtlity of obtaining a dispensation for the king's marriage

nth some person nearly allied to him.'

The cooae^uence wa.*, that prince Richard flew to arms, and got pos-

' t 0^ hia mother's inheritance, while queen Eleanora was again

o some restraint in Winchester Pnlnce.

■lTUeii7.

i Auniljr conaidcre'l the love of die noble Ii
■ion, uiil (lie yoiiiig princeta was married
at of rasdHo. It WB« no trifle in the eyes of Be
_ I, 1^ lb* Rer» R»l1cs9nasa with whii-'b ha ilislur
f the Ufr of Henry II. — Msinonili.

It Abha*. * UoTcilen and Dr. HeiiFjr,

I

I

;1M BLBANOB* OF AQtlTAtKB.

The leoB^ihened im prison iiicnl of qnpeti EDeanora infuriaied ber mA-
jecu ill .Aquitaiiic. Tlie tr'>ti bad ours rnuKcil Llie national sprrii in &TDai
of Uipir nalJTe princess. Iiy surh airnins as tficsc, which were the >■^
■on^ iliHi Biiiniatcd ilie contest maiuuiiietl by Hichanj in the auoe i(
hw mother.

'- Dnughler of AqiiiUnia,' fair rniiiful vine, ihnu hn.*l brm tarn Ira
thy country, and leil inin a stmnge lonil. Thy harp is chnne«! mlo iht
voice o^ cnouruiiig. and iliy snngs into aounilE of lameuuiiiun. Bron^
up in delicacy ami nbuDdaiice, ihou onjoyed« a royal liberty, livine ia
the bosom of wealth, delighting thyself with the sports of tiiy noawa,
with their snngs, to the sound of the lute and tabor: and now thai
moumest, ihoti weepeai, thou consumest thyself with aorrow. H«a^
poor prisoner — return to thy cities, if ihnn cnn«t; ond if thou cwMoaf
weep and say, 'Alas! how long is uiyexjle!' Weep, weep, and iq^
' My tears are my bread both day anil nig'ht^ "

" Where are thy guards, thy royal escort? — where thy maiden tnua.
thy counsellora of slate ? Some of them, dragged far from thj country,
have sulTered an ignominous death; others have been deprived of^igbij
others banish^ and wandering in divers places. Thou CTiest,hni as
one hears thee ! — for the kinjj of the norili keeps thee shut np bkc i
lawn that is besieged. Cry, then— cease not to cry ! Itnise thy fotct
like a trumpet, that thy sons may hear it ; for the day is spprotwluif
when thy sons shall deliver thee, and then shall thou see aeaiu tliy &■)>•«
bnd l'>

These expressions of tenderness for the daughter of the old oUtdMl
chieb of Aquilaine. are followed by a cry of malediction against Ite
towns which, either from force or necessity, still adhered to the king d
the foreign race.

" Woe lo the traitors which are in Aqnilaine, for ilie day of theirdas'
tisement is at hand ! La Roclielle dreads [hat day. She dnublea iMt
trenches, she girds herself all round with the sea. aud llie nouie of \m
great works is heard beyond the mountains, Fly before Ricliani. dote
of Aquiiaine, ye who inhabit the coast! for he aliall orcrtliri'W ihe^if"
rious of the land — he shall annihilate, from the greatest to the leasuiil
who deny him entrance into Saintonge T'

For neariy two years, tlie Angevin subject; of Henry II., and the Aqu-
Unian snbjecis of bis captive qneen. gave battle to each other ; and ^tm
Koehelle to Bayonne, the dominions of queen Eleanors wen in a Mh

The cmitemporary chroniclers who beheld this ronieai of bialwl
gainst wife, and sons against father, instead of looking upon ii H tk(
natural consequence of a divided rule in an extended empire, swajal hr
persons of great lalenL*, who had received a cotrupl eduoitMiii, coot-
dered it as the influence of an evil destiny presiding nrer the not d
PIsniageneL, and as the pnnishmeni of some great crime.

Many sinister stories, relating lo the royal family, were cumnL ^IM
Kleannra, when pursuing, in her early days, her guilty raro-r aa ipi**

' Cluouia. Bicanli FtolavieDiu ap. Soripl. Bei. Fraae.

SLBANORA OP AQUITAI.YB.

105

nno«,' it was whispered, h&d been too intimaie with GeotTrey Plaii'

I' '. her husband's hihet. Then the atocy of Fulk the Red,' (he first

'. -A Ihe name of Planta^Piitit, was revtvetj, and ihe murder of his

-I'-r ilismitaed. Likewise, ilie wonderful tale was reniemlterei] of itie

iu:h-coanli'.M of Aiijou, Henry (l.'s )^reat-^rand mother, wife to Foulke

Rcchm (or the Qtiarrelier). This count, having observed tlial hie

M* sddom (vent lo church, (and when she did, quitted it always at the

Kiliiiii of the }ioet,) thought proper not only to force her lo maM, but

•de four of hia es.(uirGa hold her forcibly by the mantle when she was

«f«; wh*n, lo! at the momeni of consecmtioD, the countess, untying

!■ mantle 1^ which the was held, left it in the hands of the esquires,

' JjrinK thraugb the window of the chapel, was never heard of more.

t thunder-storm happened at the moment of her departure; a

1 Huell of brimstoae remained, which " no singing of the monks

.ll.y."

B truth of lliia marvelloils tale probably ta, that the countess was

tbv lightning, in a church injured by a iJ] under- storm.

W angraeions dcscenduit, Richard Cisur de Lion, used to tell this

t glee, to his ktiiirhls at Poiiou. and added, " Is it to be

iili-rcd, that having sprung from such a stock, we live on bad terras

i-nch other ? From Satan we sprang, and to Satan we must go."

i-'lTrey held out Limoges, in )iis mother^s name, with great pertiiia-

Anioiig other envoys came a Noriuan clerk, holding tlie cross in

• 'laiid, and supplicated Geaffrey not to imitate the crime of Absalom.

"WhatT' said Geoffrey. " wouldst thou have me deprive myself of

iiri>' inli«ntnn«e ? It i« the fate of our family that none shall love the

tlUtiml is our rightful heritage," added he, bitterly, '■'■ and none will
tceced in depriving us of it."
Ing a conference which prince Geoflrey soon after had with htK
in the marhet-place at Limoges, for the purpose of discussing
the Aquitatiian soldiers and suriporters of Geot^ey, full of rage at
kl of the monarch who kept uieir duchess imprisoned, broke the
by atniiiig from the castle a shower of cross-bow shaiis at the
nf ihe king, one of which came so close as to shoot his liorse
ii'Fiijh tlie eitr. Tlie king prejenied tlie arrow lo Geoffrey, saying,
I irtrs, " Tell me, OeoHrey, what has thy unhappy &ther done to
. in drsmrc thai tliou, his son, shouldst make him a tuark for thins

X' uras gr^tly shocked at thw accident, of which he declared
lly innocent. It was the outbreak of popular fury in
's subjects.

1 prtnc« Richard and prince Geoffrey were not combating with

..ber's snbjeria, they employed themselves in making war on each

JoBi before the deatlt of Geoffrey, his brother Ricliard inTaded

minions in BrciBgue, with fire and sword, on some unaccountablr

L blvwD inlo n lihuEe by the sirveMri of the troubadours. After

9 jMcilted, Geoffrey went lo assist at a grand toumamwit

■ IlK>><ii<ii<n. 'iitiin. Rui. Fiiuw.

I

I

i

I

I

L

m KLIAKORA OP AQVITAIill. ^^H

Pari*, where h« wm flun;; rrotn hi* ilcci! in the roitkt of die ■■Ite
■nd wms irnililPH tn i)ml}i brnr«lli thc^ feel of ihe eouraen. lie vrv
bnrM al NuItc Pnmp.

TbiB wui ilic »crunil aon (|U(vii Eleanorn had tost since her tnipri«(m>
menii in (he very dower uf his youth and strength. Like Ikia bruthw
Henry, this prinee waa remarkable fcir hin nianly beauty, ui] the afile
gnee of h)« martial figuie. Hi* death afllirted hi« mother cqiwlly w-iih
that of hrr firvl-born ; for GcnlTrey had been brought up a I'rovenfil.
and had shown Ikr more rrscnlment for his inaiber''9 impnsoiuneni t^
the youtif kiniE Henry. That Eleanorn loved botli with all a rootlter'*
pasiionate teiideniMs, we have the evidene* of h*r own taasi cloqurai
worde. In one of her letiera to the pope, preMrved in the collectiM of ,
Pi^r Bloia, she wyi, —

"I'he youngsr king and the count of HrrtagnP both skrp in iluti, '
while their most wretrlied mother is comprllpd to liTC on, though lu^ 1
ttired by the irremediable recoltectiona of tlie deail.'" ^

The dislike lluil queen Eletuiorv iiiaiiifeBled for the widow of her MB ',
GeoOrey, is one of the c ire urns lances that Aoat like strawa oa the stnam k
of iMmmon htslorv. without any one defining front whence it rame. A -
MMnge in the " Newbury Chrnnicle," hitherto Imlc nolircd. cast* aam •
iighl on this aversion, which certainly did not commence, on the quifd't ,
Jiart, tdl after the dnth of Geolfrcy. Krom it we find that the miffiv-
tunee of prince Arthur began before ha birth, and were Rlrenglhenod ^
hia baptism, on tite 29th of March, 1187. The duchess CotulaaiB
brouf^ht thin heir of misfortune into Uie world a few mouths afker th*
dMih of his father. Eleaiiora. the cldfsi child of Consiaiic«, had faai
proclaimed heiress of Brelagne, but was disinherited on the birthaf Imt
brother. " It wnii the pleasure of king Henry and queen ^eanonlhli
Uie infant should be named Henry ; but l)ic Bretons rJio«e to lodi^
tikeir natural prejudices in &voiir of kin^ .Arthur, whom they tiumU
tlieir countryman ; and as they liKikcd forward to the boy as the posaitili
beir of England, they insisted on giviitg the lost descendant of the At'
morican princea that favourite name. This was the lirst public dtsplo-
wire given by Constance to the parents of her husband ; their cniniir
increased with years."

" Great scandal arose after the death of Geoffrey, regsiding the duchw
Conslance and her brother-in-law John : till his marriage with iMbtll*
of Angouleme, he wa* constantly 'haunting her;' and on this acciinUi
it is supposed, Henry H.. after the binh of her |>osihuinau8 son Anhnr.
forced the duchess to marry the earl of Chester, as prince Jultn's sUM-
lions to his sisler-in-law c-nused considerable comment,"'

Prince Richard having got possession of the whole of Atguioi
ftther commanded him to surrender it to his mother, queen Eleatian,
whom he bad brought as far as Normandy, to claim her rigtiL' Tbt i

a inftJW"

liniB vivrte oogiiut, ul iitcmedisbiliicr de moituuruin iiiemoHl lorijiMasK-' I
S^efitul LeuBt ftoin Eleaiiara to Pope Celesiine.^Fuslera, vol I. p. 71.

ELEANOR&

AQCITA INB.

19?

mt ihe prince rticeived this manrlalc, lie gave up ihe terrilory. and
liMienn] lo Normiuiily lo welcome ilie queen, auJ coiigraliilaie her on
her reawration lo freedom.
Tiiia release b recortJed by (he friend of the queen, abbot Benedict.
; <rji him we learn, that, during the year 1186, Eleanora exercised so-
' 11^ power at Bourdeaux, and then resigned it lo her son Richard,
. '. in the meantime, had made his peace with his father
Hrnry 11. was with his queen during this period; for Benedict declares
that, the following April, they sailed from Barfleur to England. Eleanora
WM a«ain put under some restraint at Winchester Palace, which ahe
({Ditted no more till the death of King Henry, iliree years afterwards.

The commission of moral wrong had involved Henry, great and pow-
eifal as he was, in a net, within whose inextricable folds he either vainly
itTvggted, or awaited the possibility of deliverance by the death of the
•{ueen. If Eleanoia lijid preceded him to the grave, as in the common
courve of nature might have been expected, he would have sued instantly
(or a dispensation lo marry the afliaiiced bride of his son. While the
qown lived, this could not be done without an explosion of scandal,
wliich would have dishonoured him in the eyes of all Europe. Henry
had only two alternatives; either to permit his heir to marry the princess
Aticr, or to shorten the life of the queen Eleanora by violent means.
Allbongh his principles were not sufficiently linn to resist indulgence in
rnilt, he was not depraved enough to commit deliberately either atrocity.
bo lime wore uneasily on, till prince Richard attained the age of thirty-
(bar. and -Alice that of thirty ; while the king still invented futile ez-
ts, to keep his son in this miserable state of entanglement, wherein
'uutd could neither free himself from Alice, nor give hia hand to any
'f bride. Yet Richard, to further his own ends, made the brother
e believe thai he was willing to complete his engagement.

the wish of Uenry 11. to crown his son John king of Biig-

g his lifetime, and to give Richard all his dominions that lay

d the English sea. Richard was not content ; he came to the king

mee, and cried for aid, saving, 'Sire, for God's sake sufier me not

■ disinheriietl thus by my sire. I am engaged to your sister Alice,

koughl by right to be my wife. Help me lo maintain my rights and

e king of France, al\er vainly aeeking for explanation of the reason
f bis sister was not married to her betrothed, made, with prince
1 appeal ti> arms. Kmg Philip contrived lo induce prince
John lo join in the rebellion. When Henry heard that this idolized child
of hit old age had followed the insurgent example nf his brethren, he
r himself into a paroxysm of rage, and invoked the bitterest curses
id, and that of prince Richard ; he cursed the day of his own
I, after giving orders to his painter at Windsor, lo paint a de-
f a young eaglet pecking out the eyes of an eagle, as a reproach
cr J >hn,lie set out for the continent in an agonized slate of mind,
r waippg, for the first lime in his life, an uiisuccessful war, king

litoi'i Chroit.

I
I

B«nin:.l le Tm

J

I

)

L

19B BLEANORA OF AQUITAtNR.

Henry agreed to meet his eon Richard and the king of France at Te
xalai.

Ab the king was on his progress to thi« con^ss, he fell ill at Ctucua,
after indulging in one of his fits of violent passion.' Finding that bii
life was departing, he caused himself to be carried before the high tllv
of the cathedral, where he expired in the supporting arms of Ceo&tj
the youngest eon of Itosaoiond, who was the only one of hts chililrat
from whom be received Ulial attention in his la^i moments. Before ht
died) he spoke earnestly to his son, and eave him a ring of great nlns
then laying his head on the bosom of Geodrey,' hia spiiit depmUii
leaving his features siill convulsed with the agony of roge, which twl
hastened his end.

When the news was brought to Richard, thai the crown of En^ud
had devolved upon him by the sudden death of his lather, he wu Ua
with remorse and regret He went to meet (he royal corpse at Fool^
vraud, the place of interment pointed out by the will of (he decOMJ
monarch.

King Henry, when he was carried forth to be buried, was Grsi apt*'
reted m bts princely robes, having his crown on his head, gloves oa oil
hands, and shoes on his feet, wrought with gold^ spurs on his hedi.i
ring of gold on his finger, a sceptre in his hand, his sword by hii sidh
and hia face uncovered. But ihis regalia was of a strsnge nature; in
the corpse of Ueury, like that of the Conqueror, had been strippod tti
plundered ; and when those who were charged witli t)ie fiiiiti^ d^
manded the ornaments in which Henry was to lie in state, the Ireunm,
as a favour, sent a ring of little value, and an old sceptre. As brikt
crown with which the warlike brow of Henry was encircled, it wattV
the gold fringe from a lady's petticoat, torn ofl'for the occasion', aodn
this odd attire, the gresiesi moiuu-ch in the world went down to tuf hV

Thos he was conveyed to the abbey of Fonlevraud, where fa* lif
with his lace uncovered, showing, by the conliaclion of his fealum, iw
Tiolenl rage in which he departed. When Richard entered the ■bbor ht
shuddered, and prayed some moments before the altar, when the oom
and mouth of his father began to bleed so profusely, that ilie monk in
attendance kepi incessandy wiping the blood from his face. Ricbsnl
testified the most poignant remorse at this sight. He wept bilieilyi ind>
prostrating himself, pmyed earoesily, under the tningled stimulus of
grief and superstition, and then, rising, he departed, and lookadoelb*
face of his sire no more.*

Henry died July flth, I IBS.

The first step taken by Richard I., on his accession to the En^ifc
crown, was to order his mother's release from her consinitaed irtiitwiB
at Winchester Palace. From a captive, queen Eleanors in one maoMI
became a sovereign; for the reins of the Iijtglish goveranmit nf*
placed in her hands, at the time of her release. She made a noUt W*
it her authority, according to a manuscript cited by Tyrrell-

' Wliirh Rrompnn declares wu ilie immediate onuie of dMUk

'Lord Lrllleun. 'Jtogei WendoTU. ,

■Count Ttiierr)-, fniiD Nonoan Chiomclei. ^^1

JiLBAHOEA OF AQUITAINB. 190

^ Elfianom of Gnienne, directly she was liberated from her restraint
t Winchester, was invested with full powers as regent, which she most
eoeficially exercised, going in person from city to city, setting free all
lose confined under the Norman game-laws, which in the latter part of
feniy's life were cruelly enforced. When she released prisoners, it was
n cooidition that they prayed for the soul of her late husband. She
kewise declared she took this measure for the benefit of his soul."

Her eon bad given her full power, but, to her great honour, she did
ot nee it, against those who had been lier gaolers or enemies. Her
B^ency was entirely spent in acts of mercy and wisdom, and her dis-
rimioating acumen in the prisoners she liberated may be judged by the
blowing list

Sho liberated fully— ^ All confined for breach of forest laws, who
accused of no further crime. All who were outlawed for the
die invited back to their homes and families. All who had been
by the king's arbitrary commands, and were not accused by their
oadred or county, she set free."

^ But all male&ctors accused on good and lawful evidence were to be
apt in prison, without bail."

When we consider Eleanora going from city to city, examining thus
ito the wrongs of a government that had become arbitrary, and seeing
oMice done to the lowest, we are apt to think that her imprisonment
ad impioved her disposition.

The queen-regent next ordained that ^ every freeman of the whole
wdom should swear that he would bear faith to his lord, Richard, son
fking Henry and queen Eleanora, for the preservation of life, limbs,
ad tenene honour, as his liege lord, against all living ; and that he
ponld be obedient to bis laws, and assist him in the preservation of
eaoe and justice." ^

Eleanora showed so little distaste to the Winchester Palace, that she
Murned thitlier af^ her justiciary progress, to await the arrival of her
OB from the coast of Normandy.

h appears that king Richard, when he gave commands for his mother's
deaae, ordered her castellan, the keeper of the treasure-vault at Win-
hester, Ranulph de Glanville, to be thrown into a dungeon in Winches-
!r Ckitle, and loaded with fetters weighing a thousand pounds.'

Our ancient chroniclers, when labouring to reconcile the prophecies
f Merlin with the events of English history, while hunting after the
npoesible, very often start some particulars which would otherwise
ave slept shrouded in the dust of the mve. Thus, speaking of the
beiatioii of Eleanora of Aquitaine by her son, Richard 1., Matthew
luis nys she is designated, by Merlin's sentence, Jlquila ruptifaderis
ffrid nidijicaiian$ gmidehU ; ^ The destructive eagle shall rejoice in her
aid nestling." — ^ Eleanora," pursues Matthew, ^ is the eagle, for she

'This i» tbo first o«th of allegiance ever taken in England to an uncrowned

lag.

•Tjrrell, to whose most learned and indefatigable reteaivh the elucidation Oi

liny dark paasagea of Eleanora'i life is owing.

I

I

I

I

1300 ELEANORA QF AQUITAtKS.

i![ir«Bds her wings over two nations, Englnnil «nH Aqnitaine; tltcby
reason of her erctisive henuty, she ilealrojed or injured nation*. Shi
was sepsraied from the king of France by rcaHon of conmn^inily, ml
from (be king of England by divorce upon iuspicum, and kept in otat
confinement. She rejoiced in her third nestling, since Richard, bir
third Bon, honoured her with all reverence after re1ea.sing ber htm
prison."

If Mnlltiew would imply thai Henry confined Eleanom for imprO]»ien' }
of conduct, he id not supported by other aulhom. '

Kini» Richard I. landed at Portsmouth, Angnst the 1 2th, 1 1 89. Thnt
days aAer, he arrived at his mother's court at Winchester, where his fat
rare was directed to his father's treasure. Afier he had conrened wiA
his mother, he ordered before him Ranulph dc Glanville^ who gtn Ub
80 good an account of the secrets of the Winchester traasnrMwh,
that he set him at liberty, and ever afler treated him witli cotifidMtt.
Either Rnnulph de Glanville had behaved lo the queen, when hu pi>
soner, with all possible respeci, or Eleanora was of a very m^naniaoM
disposition, and forbore prejudicing her son against her late fiwitthni
Glanville gave up to the king the enormous sum of nine hundred ikM
s&nd pounds, besides valuable jewels. At his first seizure, only IP04N
marks were found in the treasure-vault, which, it seems, posaeaaed MM
intricacies only known lo Glanville.'

The king's neit care was to settle the revenue of the mother Im«
passionately loved, and whose wrongs he had so fiercely resentert. Hv
dower was rendered equal to those of the queens Matilda AthdiqgMl
Hatilda of Boulogne.

The king's coronation took place on the 3d of September, 1189. ii
the etiquette of the queen- mother's recent widowhood prevented Int
from sharing in this splendid festival, all women were forbidden toll
present at its celebration. The chroniclers declare that Richard ImmJ
a proclamation the day before, debarring all women' and Jews frn
entering the precincts of Westminster Abbey, at the lime of bis iongB-
ntion ; — a classification of persons greatly impugning the gallanUy </
the lion-hearted king, when we remember the odium atlached to ibt
name of a Jew.

The Proven^l alliance had produced a prodigions influx of this ih>-
rious lace into England. As they enjoyeil iiigh privileges m tha htn-

'Hoveden. Brarnptoo. Tyrrell. Psru. The tingulai cmpiiijsaBiu of mt-
like bnroDS si jui'iiciaHE'i, aiul ihe combinuion or llie officPt of grnMal mt
of lawyer in on* man, arc strange feaiurej in Ihe Normnn an't Aagvrin 4ial
nation in England. Thii Ranu!|ih de Glanville la an instance ; lie waa Honji
great geneial, who dereated and took prisoner William the Lion at SmitiBt, ta
tie is only known to aiu fenilemen of the bnl aa (he author of ■■ GtamilW'* ^
nilnlei i" this ateel-ctad benin being die first who redooed the law* «t ~ ' '
!0 ■ wrillen code. To make the conlnul with modern dmee
pt»t legalist died ctmading, having, either (o please Ocui de
lot hia >in>, both as lawyer anil general, taken up (he croca, for the
'ntiling 'Mahoun and TerRiBgiunt."

'Hoveilen. Biompion. M. Paris. He lail says, all womaq flf tarf <

XLBANOKA OF AQUITAINB. 901

Eiy dddiinions of qneen Eleanora, they supposed they were secure
der her son's ffoverament Believing money would buy a place every-
lere, they flocked to tlie abbey, bearing a rich present, but the popu-
« set upon them and slaughtered them, being excited to a religious
inia by the preaching of the crusade. The massacre of these unfor-
oate money-brokers was not perpetrated with the connivance of either
nir Richard or the queen-mother, since Brompton expressly declares
It tlie ringleaders were, by the king's orders, tried and put to death.
Alice, the long-betrothed bnde of Richard, was neither married nor
owned. On the contrary, she was committed to the same species of
•traint, by tlie orders of the queen, in which she herself had been so
ng held captive. The princess Alice had been twenty-two years with-
II leaving England ; and as she was the only person on whom Eleanora
taliated any part of her wrongs, the inference must be drawn, tliat she
msidered Alice as the cause of them.

Eleanora departed for Aquitaine as soon as her son had settled her
ngiish dower, and Richard embarked at Dover, for Calais, to join the
iMule, taking with him but ten ships from the English ports. His
oops were disembarked, and he marched across France, to his mother^s
ominions, where he formally resigned to her the power he had exer-
ised, during his father's lifetime, as her deputy. Richard appointed the
indezvous of the crusade at Messina, and, directing his mother to meet
im there, he set sail from Marseilles, for Sicily ; while Eleanora under-
lok a journey to Navarre, to claim for him the hand of Berengaria, the
inghter of king Sancho.

Richard had much to effect at Messina, before he commenced the cru-
ide. Before he stnick a blow for Christendom, he was obliged to right
le wrongs of his sister Joanna, queen of Sicily, the youngest daughter
f Deanora and Henry II. William the Good, through the recom-
lendations of Peter of Blois, (who had formerly been his tutor,) asked
le liand of Joanna Plantagenet of her father. The Sicilian ambassador
rmnted Joanna an immense dower; but when the aged bridegroom
mnd that his young queen was still more beautiful and sweet-tempered
lan her father's chaplain, Peter, had set forth, he greatly augmented her
ower. The king of Sicily died childless, leaving his young widow
reat legacies in his will.

King Tancred robbed her of these, and of her dower : and, to pre-
mt her complaints, encloseil her in prison at Messina. It was this
ntrage Richard hastened there to redress. But the list of gooils the
ir widow directed her brother to claim of Tancred, could surely have
nly existed in a catalogue of Aladdin's household furniture : — an arm
\imt of solid gold ;' footstools of gold ; a table of the same with tres-
iU, twelve feet long ; besides unis and vases of the same precious
letal. These reasonable demands were enforced by the arm of the
iighty Richard, who was as obstinate and wilful as Achilles himself.

' HoTeden and Vinisanf ; likewise Piors of Langtoft, who mentions many other
iriotu artiolet.

ELEANOK.\

AQ r t TAIN K.

TaDCred deserves piiT. when we comtiiler die eztnionlinary lulurt o(
tlic legacy. However, he compounded lur tlower and leirnry si lul.
wilh the enomous tiaymenl of 40,000 ounces of gold. Tins 'liwiurt,
with the royal widow herself, were consigned lo Richard fonhaiib.
Thus was a companion provided for Richanl's expected bride, iht ele-
gant and refined Beren^ria, who, under the conduct of Eleanora at
Aquitaine, wae daily expected.

Richard was so well pleased wilh the restoration of hi* st«ter and Ko
treasures, that he asked Tancred's daughter in marriage for his iha
acknowledged heir, Arthur of Brelagne.'

During this negotiation Eleanors arrived in Measina,' bringing •iili
Iter tlie long-beloved Berengaria. Although il was long since Eleiaon
had seen her daughter Joanna, she (arried but four days in her compuf,
and then sailed for Rome. There is reason to suppose thai her emnd
was lo sellle a dispute which bad arisen between king Richard and hit
half- brother Geoflrey, the »on of Rosamond, whom the king twl
appointed archbishop of York, according lo his & therms dying rei|Uf9i<
bul had retiuired an enormous sum from the revennes of llie arrhbisb-
opiic' Queen Eleanora returned to England,* with her friend the wtii-
bishop of Rouen ; he was eoon after appointed its governor, in plan of
Longchamp, who had convuWd the country by his follies.

We have seen Eleanora taken from captivity by her son Richard, m)
invested with the high authority of queen-regeni : there is no rcasoa w
suppose thai ihol autlioriiy was ravoked ; for) in every emergency (ivtwf
the king's absence, she appears as the guiding power. For this purpow
Kite abseiiied Imrseir from Aquilaine. whose government she plnrel id
the hands of a deputy, lier grandson Olho of Saxony ;* and at ihn cii'
of the reign of Cteur de Lion, we liud her, according to the wiwh
of Matthew Paris, "■ governing England will) great wisdom and pop>-
loriiy."

Queen Eleanora, when thus arduously engaged in watching over tlx
' itereais of her best-beloved son, was approacliiiig ber seventieth y«f—
a age when rent is imperiously demanded by the human frame. Bm
'' oil still remained before her. ere death closed her wrarr pil-
grimage in 1'2U4 ; and these years were laden with sorrows, which if*
from her lliat palhetic alteration of ihe regal style, preserved in herlrtto
lo the pope, on occasion of ihe captivity of Ccenr de Lion, where >bt
declares herself —

■■ Blnuiora,* bj- Uie wntb of God, queea of Englauct'

Nul only in this instance, but in several others, traits of the sobduM
spirit of Cleanom are to be discitvered ; for the extreme mobility of he
spirilB didiised tuelf even over the cold records of stal». when in biua

'Tlie tlocuKiitnl

■ pertnitiing lo this oonlnitl prove lli*t Anhut wa» ili™n»*

dered. t>r hi* un<;

le, lu die heii of Kbglimd.— Ficdera, vol. i.

•.<«edig«u:OK.

Lliiig memoir, 'Rapin, vol. i. 24ti. •SpMil.lll

•Tr"«ii.

• Pf^iei of Bloii** KfMiti

VLVANOBA OF AQVITAINE.

203

grief she subsGribes herself, ^in ira Dei Regina Anglorum," and ^iElie-
son misera et utinam miserabilis Anglorum Regina.^' When swayed
bf calmer feelings, she styles herself ^^^ienora, by the grace of Ood,
Imblif queen oT England."^

Eleanom of Aquitaine is among the very few wonen who have atoned
for in ill-spent youth, by a wise and benevolent old age. As a sove-
logD, she ranks among the greatest of female rulers.'

>R]rmer, vol. L

*To prevent repetition, the rest of >ier life is ootnprehended in the memoirs
if Wr daughters-in-law, fierengaria and Isabella.

IVD OF TOL. I

LIVES

or TBI

lUEENS OF ENGLAND,

fMK

THE NORMAN CONQUEST;

WITH

ANECDOTES OF THEIR COURTS,

ROW naST PUBLISHED FBOM

fP'ClAL RECORDS AND OTHER AUTHENTIC DOCHMENTSt
PRIVATE AS WELL AS PUBLIC.

ilCW EDITION, WITH CORRECTIONS AND ADOITIOKJ.

BT

AGNES STRICKLAND.

The trMMUW of aatiqaily Wd ip
IB old liMono roUs.IoptMd.

BtAOHoirr

VOL. 11. i

PHILADELPHIA:

BLANCHARD AND LEA

lSo2.

Fno(dd bf T. X

CONTENTS

or TBI

SECOND VOLUME.

BesENGARijt OP Navarre, Queen of Richard I Pags 0

"ABELiA o> Anuoulrme, Qucen of King John 28

UKANOB ^F Provence, surnamed la Belle, Queen of Henry III. 46

CLdpter II 64

^KVNORA OF Castille, sumamed the Faithful, First Queen of

Edward I 05J

^^•^'JiERiTE OF France, Second Queen of Edward 1 109

'**»ELu OF France, surnamed the Fair, Queen of Edward II. 122

Chapter II 142

'^'^'LIPPA OF IIainault, Queeu of Edward III 173

Chaptei II 187

*^^'s op Bohemia, surnamed the Good, First Queen of Richard

n. 206

(7)

BERENGAKIA OF NAVARRE,

QUEEN OF RICHARD 1.

■of Borengaria and Riohard — Berengnria'B dcKenl^ — Beranga-
1d niBtriage — TraielB wiih quei^n FJcanora — Wails Willi Iiir at
ligned lo queen Joanua — Emboili! far Palesline witli ber — Storm
of Bernigaria — Berengaria lam) *— Nuptial • at Typnn — Costume of
retiffarj^-^rownfld qufl«n of England and Cypni* — -Beri^ni^aria aaila
IDB — Reoeirnl bf king PbilipalAore — Her resklenco tbers — Beim-
Unlmrka with Joanaa — Richard ahipwreoked — Iinpii«on«l — Berengaria
e— Queen* eworted by count Raymond Si. GillBB — Queeo Joanua mar-
him — Misfonunea of king Ricliard — Eieano™'» n-genry— Betcngaria
IlircapliTcCj^riol — Bcrengaria'i brother — Queeii-molher returns vilh
I to England — Berengaria furiMiken — Richard'i peoiiencc — Bemngaria'i
«— Putlowi Richard to war— Devotoil loTe — King* deaili — Death of
]»innB — Bcrenfsria's dowor — Her peouniary iroublea — Bujlda abbey
in— Bee idea there — Dips there— Buried— E^gy—Characler.

IRARIA, the beButiftil daughter of Saneho ilie Wise, king of Nu-
ts firei seen by Richard Ctcur de Lion, when count of Poiiou.'
d louniaiiipiit given by her gallant brother at Painpekinu, her
,ly. Richard was then captivated by the beauty of Berengaria,

eiigngemeni lo the fair and frail Alice of France prevented hint

irritig her hla hand.

igBtia may be cunsidcrcd a Provencal princess, by language and

n, though she was Spanish by descent. Her miglily aire. Sanclio

h had fur hia immediate ancestor Saneho the Great, called the
of all Spain. He inherited the little kingdom of Navarre, and
Besirice, daughter to Alphonso, king of CaslUle, by wham he
B children, Berengaria, Blanche, and one son, Saneho, surnamed
ag\ a hero celebrated by the Proveni;al poets fur his gallant
■gaiiiBi the Moor^; he defeaieil the Miramolin, and broke, with

iMxe,' the chains that guarded the camp of the infidel, which
'ere aTteruanls transferred to the armorial bearings of Navarre,
dent friendship had subsisted, from bnyhood, between Richard
iho the Strong, the gallant brother of Berengaria. A sitnilarity
ita sirengiliene<l the intimnry of Richard with the royal family
rre. The father and brother of Berengaria were celebrated (or

11 and judgment in Provencal poetry.' Berengaria was herself
princess; and Riehsnl, who was not only a troubadour-poet,
■ting aoTercign of Aquiiaine, was the prince and judge of a"

■ > r Aquioiue. vol. i.

* Chronicle of Navarro I

I

10 SEIt B?40AR1A OP N A V A B S B. I

IrDnbadours, liri-nine natiinilly drawn into dose linmls of amity itidi i
Gunily, wliO!>e usies and pursuiu were similar to his awn.

No one can marvel that the love of itie anient Richard shouU be
sirenglhened, wlien he met the beautiful, the culliraled, and Tinuoui
BereDgaria, in iha lainiliar intercourse which sprang from hia frienJohip
with her gallant brother;' but a long and secret en^^^nienl, rrplnt
with ■• hope delerrcd." was the fate of Richard the Lion-hcaned ami the
lair flower of Navarre.

Our early historians first mention the attachment of Ricliard and B(-
ten^ria, about the year 1 177. If we take that rvent for a datum, ern
allowing the prinrcss to have been very young when she aliracttd in
lore of Itlehani, she mui'l have been twenly-i<ix, at leant, (Mfore dit
death of his father placed him at liberty to ileinniid her luind. Richtnt
had another motive for his extreme deaire for thia alliance ; ht cosn-
dered lliat hia beloved m'>ilier, queen Eleanora. was deeply indebted to
kin^ Sancho. the fiilher of Bereiigaria. bocaUM ho had pleaded hercMK
with Henry II.. and obtained aomp ameliomiion of her impriHonnifliL

Soon afier Rirliard ascended the English throne, he ?ent hi* mother,
qtieen Eieanora, to tlie court of her friend, Sancho the ft'ise, to demud
the princess Berengaria in marriage \ "* for,'*' aaya VinisauT, ■" he had la>{
lo»«l [he elegant girl." Sancho the Wise not only received the propo-
sition with joy, but CDtrusted Berengaria to the care of queen ElouuA
The royal ladies travelled from the court of Navarre togMher, acM*
Italy, to Naples, where tliey found the ships beUm^ng to D>-anon twl
Brrived in the bay. Btil etiquette forbade Berengaria to appreaeh btt
lo*er till he was free fiom Uie claims of .\lice; therefore she snjoiinid
with (jtieen Eieanora at Brindisi, tn the spring of 1 191, wajliog tbt
message from king Richard, announcing that he wa« free to receive Iht
hand of the princesa of Navarre.

It was at Messina that the question of the engagement belwwa At
princes!! Alice and the king of Enghinil was dehateiTwith Philip Align*-
tus, her brotlier ; and more ilian once, the pntenlntea assembled for ibt
cniMde, expected that the forces of France and England would be o«M
, to decide the right of king Kirfiard to give hia hand taM
other lady than the stisier of the king of pTance.

The rhymes of Piers of Langtotl recapitulate these e*enU will
«nd quaintness ; —

I Piiiiip,

And in grisf said,

'My rtrter Alice
b raw fonaken.

Since one of mote riebe*
or Navarro luut ibciu takon.'

Wlmn kiiiB EicbHtd unilc/MOod
Whai king Philip had (WDm,

Belhrp clprgj- he ttood,
And prOTBiI on that n»tn.

TIlBI

Alice to Ilia
h hi( lira king

DOW and U I*.

B Huxr

W«i*

--1

III* nephew, ihe inubailoui now . _ .

ilanchc. [lis grounder oMCr at BrrenciriB. «M«, wah AawkalW
OM iDtimale iiirni] of ftieoitiliip. being fratnt jmnA, «rM^
Buslum uf Ilio chivolik ii«

■ BKEKOAttIA OP NAVARRE. 11

J Philip contonded ihnl Rirhnrd hclil in liand his siswr's dower,
ij niy of Giiora. Upon iliis, ilie king of Eiiglniid brought ihe
B lo s coDcluaioD, in these words : —

WW.' «1.) kFnK Richard.

1

Bf foro wilneas nt sighl.

(Or clerk and eke hnion,)

br iboa <li>ll liBK ward

Hi« fiatirr he miglil miinj.

or GlKini Uiy v>i^,

Wherever Goil miidil like,

kn<l ireaaate ilk n dpn),'

And, w moke cpiioinijr.

BicbBTd yisiaed liim l<i>

riphl,

Riuhatd a quiHancc look."

U* irMuDn and big !□«□,

M French contemporary chroniclers, who are exceedingly indignant
Id rrpodiaiioa of their princess, sllribuie it sniely to Eleanora's influ-
net. Bernard, ilie Treasurer, sayB, " The old queen could not endtrrc
ilui Rirhnrd should espouse Alice, but demanded the sister of the king
uf Novarre for a wife for her son. At tliis the king of Navarre was
njtlit joyful, and she irsveljed wilh queen Klcaiiura to Messina. When
tl» srrived Richard was absent, hui queen Joanna was tliere, preparing
hfiBejr to embark next day. The queen of England eoiild not tnrry^
boi said to Joanna — > Fair daughter, take this damsel Tor ine to the king
^■r brother, and lell him 1 command him to espouse her speedily.'
^■u received her willingly, and Eleanors returned to France.^' '
^■pn of Ungtofl resumes :—

^H -She be leA Berengere, I Queen Joanne held her denr^
^H At Richard's Botutge, | I'Lpy lived as dovca in tnge."

^Hbg Richard and king Tancred were absent on a pilgrimage to the
^Hm of Sl Agatha, at Catania, where Tancred must have devoutly
■nyed for the riddance of his guest, Richard here presented the Sci-
liin king with a famous sword, pretending it was Calibum, the brand of
king Arthur, lately found at Glitstonbury, during his falher^s antiquariaa
retiairches for iJie tomb of that king.

Rictiard then embarked in his favourite galley, named by him Trenc-
ihe-mcre,' lie had previously, in honour of his bctrothment, instituted
ID order of twenty-four kiiighta, who pledged tliemselves in a frnteruity
»-ith the king, lo senle the walls of Acre ; and that they might be known
in tlie storming of iliat city, ilie king appointed ibem to wear a blue
band of lenilier on itie led leg, from which ihey were called Knights of
the Blue Thong.'

T)>e leaBon of Lent prevented the immediate marriage of Richard aod
his betrothed ; and. as etiquette did not permit ihe unwedded maiden,
BercDgwia, lo einhark in the Trenc-the-mere under the immediate pro-
lactioii of her lover, she sailed, in company with queen Joanna, in one

It i« Piera of Laninoft who preierTes tU* K

, Kulffn. Sir Egerton Bridge) nnme* Bogei Si, John as out oC llieae early
b of (be Gnrtei, 8l. George wa< ihe tiilclnrjr Mint of Aqiiiinine ; his naiYM
Ifce wn-ctj of the dukedom. King; Rii^hnrd bad o Titian of Sl. Oeorg*

■ lit tuidertnok tlie crusade, end many iiidJcaiioas tlirauglinut ilie chronltlen

■ llial St. OeorgD w» oonsldeied the palron jainl of ibe el|irditia

J

13 BERE.YBARIA OF NAVARBB.

of ihc atrongeat t>hip9, uniler llie care of a brave knight, adltd Si«phai
lie Tumliam.

AftiT these arrangements, lUelianl led tlie »an of the Jl<«l, iu Tmw-
ihe-mere, bearing a huge lanierii al her poop, to mlly ihe fleet in (li*
darkness nf night. Thus, with a hundred and My sliips and lifty gal-
leys, and aecompanied by his bride and his sister, did Lion^auud
Itiehard hoist sail for Pnlesiinei where Pliilip Auguetus had itlicady iaJo-
lently commenced the si^ of Acre.

■■ Syrian virBiiii wail and vreep,
Engllali Rii'lisril plnuglii lite ileep."

But we must turn a d^.if car tn die bewitching metre of poUiM
verm, and qiinie deiaila inken by Piers or Langton fiom Uie Piotni^
comrade of Richard and Berengaria's enisade voyage.

-Till kina Rioliaf-I be forwar.

He ninj' linva no rosl,
Acre* tUcn ia liii tiyntB,

Upon SBiBcen fiends,'
To TBnge Jesli Cfaritl,

Hiiherwaril he wendi.
The king! li^ler Joanna,

And lady Borengare,
Foremoai sailed of ilk one;

Next them hU chaacellor,
Soger Mancel.

~ ■ high^

The I
Hii tide Toll a

well;

A rirmprsl on him light,
Ki> ship wu ilown liame,

Hiinseir tliero lo iJie;
The kings ■enl «nu lost,

Willi oiliot gBlliet iwajr.
Lady Joanno she

Tlir Lord JoTO Iiejought,
In Cypnii tlic migfit be

To haven ()Mickly brou^
Tlie mnidnu Beretitnre,

She was wre alHglil,
Thai nelilier (Ur nur near.

Hor kiim tixle In aighi."

Queen Joanna was alarmed for herself; but the maiden Berengirii
only ihou^ht of Richard's safety.

Bernard, the treasurer, does nm allow thai Joanna was qitile so modi
rrighlenetl. We translate his words: "Queen Joanna's gallw shelund
in the harbour of Limoussa, when Isaac, the lord of Cyprus, sml t«e
boats, and demanded if ihu queen would land ? She dcriin-'ij the nftr,
nying, 'all she wanted was to know if the king ofKnglatid )iad pused'
They replied, ' ihey dirl not know.' At that junrtnre Isaac appnatiol
with a great power, upon which the chevaliers, who guarded the royil
ladies, got the galley in order to be rowed out of (he harbour) at the
Erst indication of hnjiility. Meantime Isaac, who saw Bcrennria «a
boanl, demanded ■ ^Vhal damsel that was with tliem .''' Thev declard,
J was the sister of ihe king o( Na\-arre, whom the king of Enj-
land's mother had brought for him to espous*.' Isaac seemrd «> aiigrr
al this intelligence, that Stephen de Turiiliam gare signal tn hetre vf
Uie anchor, and the queen'.s galley rowed with all cpn>d into tki

When ihe gale had somewhat abated, king RichattI, after tniwenni
I hia navy, found not only llial the ship was missing wherein WW*
f drowned both die chancellor of England and tlie great anal,' """"'
I galley thai hore the precioua freight of his sislcr and hi* bride.

^H BBBBNOAIIIA OF NAVARRE.

^Hfairly ■ailrd rmm a rHeniMy Crelan Ijarbniir. in e^parcli of his lost

^Mpi. WfieD nrrived off CypniN, iip entered die bay of FarnagiisCu, uid

Hpllal Uin ^ili-y thnt r^nnlaineii lits princesses lal'ourjiig heavily, and

^Waing in ihr nffine. lie became infuriated wiih the thought that some

wmne had bi^n oflcred to thrm, and leaped, armed aa he was, into the

fini boat that roidd be prepared. His anger inrrenKed on learning, thai

tie queen's galley had put inii the Imy, iu ilic slorm, but had been

ilritcn inhoBpiiably from shelter, by the threats of the Greek despot.'

At the time of Richard's landing, Isnue and all his islandem were
biKitv employed, in plundering the wreck of the chancellor's Ehip. and
Iwn English IranaporU, then stranded on the Cypriot shore. As this
•rif-fiyled emperor, though in behaviour wor«c than a pagan, professed
ui he a Diripiian, Richard, at his lirai landing, sent him a eivil message,
•uEgetting the propriety of leaving off plundering his wrecks. To ihia"
Wf rFlurnt'd an impertinent answer, say'mjr. •■that whatever goods iba
•n threw on his island he should take, without asking leave of any

"Thoy iliall 1* Wii-lit full d™, l.y J«u, lipnvi-n'a kiiigl"

Wjih tliJB saying, RichanI, batlle-Axe in hand, led his criisaderB so

Mdly tn ilie rescue, that tlie mock emperor and his Cypriots scompered

iaio LiinoussB, ilie capital of the island, much faster than they had

WiiL

r'r'.rd ftoto ilie presence of the inhospitable despot, king Richard

' ■ rignals for Joanna's galley to enter the harbour. Bereupiria, half

; 11 Uh laligue and terror, was welcomed on shore by the conquering

:. M'hen. saya the chronicler, '■ there was joy and love enow."

li i-otin as Isaac Comuenus was safe behind the walls of his citadel,

- (I a MieHraire, to rei^uest a conference with king Richard, who ex-

< <: tiial he bad a little lowered the despot's pride; but when they
. I«aar was so full of vapouring and boasting, that he elicited from
_■ HiclinrtI an "aside" in English; and as Cceur de Lion then uitere<l

< idv winds in our language he ever was known to speak, it is well
. iiMve been recorded by chronicle.

!l,i? de dehil."' exclaimed king Richard, ^he speke like a fole

■ l-«ac and Richard could not come to any terms of pacification, the
'X retreated, to a stronghold in a neighbouring mountain ; while
'.rJ. after making a speech to the liouduners, i^we hope in more
< &)gliih than the ntiove,) instigating them lo the siorm of the
j'-t rsniuil, with promise of phmder, led them on to the attack, axe
'i 'iind. The Londoners easily captured Linioussa.

1 was clear of Isaac and his myrmidons, magnilicent

•nd Pirn Lan^oA. Dtipel ■ai
I^DV*^ Tbli speeph implied

lille giv

D itie p(^^y GrMk

olTi-Mce lo l1i« Englifh, bui wu
111 ■taj' piDvtrhiil in Fmute fbr

iitil WBn biurr SKainM ihe Btri|nn*,who ilppriie'l
of lita lh>n ai'bnowlcilgEd lirir, .Arthur, ttiett Julie. (nniMn/.J

14 BERENOABIA OP N A V A R K B.

Ervparaiions were nnailc al IJmnDSKa, for ihe nupuals am] c
itig Ilirlinnl and Rereiij^an >. Wi; are able [o describe tlie
maiTe by ilipse rovnl pereoiinge*. nt this high solemnil^. Ki
coalume, we may supjiose, raried lilile frt>m Ihal in which h
ence to the despot Isaac, a day afler llie marriage had taken {
*'A salin tunic o[ rose-colour was belied round hia w&ial
lie was of striped silver tissue, brocaded with silver half-*
><wor<l, nf line Dninascus aieel, had a hilt of gold, and a ■'
tiheaih : on hia head be wore a scarlet bonnet, brocaded ii
rigurea of aniitiBlii. lie bore a truncheon in his hand. I
steed was leil before him, saddled and billed with sold, aiu
was inlaid with precious slones: two little ^nhkn liiMM w|
it, in the place of a cnipper: they were figured with iheir (
in art to Birike each other." In this attire, Vinisauf adds, **
ard, who had yellow curia, a bright complcxiuu, and a figun
htmseir, apprai«d a perfect model of military and manly gi
The eftigy of queen Bercngaria, at EspHn, certainly pre
bride — H circumstance which is ascertained by the flowing
matrons always wearing their hair covered, or else closely In
Her hair is parted, d la viergc, on the brow ; a transparen)
on each fide, like the Spanish mantillas, hangs behiiiil, and
rich tresses at their length ; the veil is confined by a regal i
peculiar splendour, »t"dded with several bands of gpms, and ■
by ^flfurs-de-lit, \o which so much foliage is added, as to gifj
peamnce of a double crown ; perhaps because she was croi
of Cyprus as well as England. Our anliqnaries affirm, that I
character of Berengaria's elegant but singular style of be«
conviction to every one who looks on her effigy, iliat it ia
finished portrait.

At his marriage, king Richard proclaimed a grand feast

» To Llmouixa ihe lulf wu led, I Tlie ihird day of Ui« r«l

Hi« Tca^i ibc king did ciy. Bisbop Beraard of Bayo

Bi-rciip^fti will l« weJ, i Newed ofl the gettr

And wijtiiKn llicnhy. | To the qusen he gava i

■• And there in the joyous month of May, II91," says
writer, " in tlie fluurisliing and spacious isle of Cyprus, celebt
very abode of the goddess of love, did king Richard «olen
wife his beloved lady Berengaria." By the consent of t]
wearied of Isaac^s tyranny, and by i!)e advice of the allied ei
came lo assist al his nuptials, Richanl was crowned king at \
lii9_bridc qtieen of England and Cyprus.

Soon after, ihe fair heireRS of Cyprus, daughter to the
fame and threw herself at the feet of Richart, " Lord KiiL
** have mercy on me ;" when the king courteously put [bnh
lift her from the ground, and sent her lo his wife and his sii
As many historical scandals are afloat resjiecting the Cypnl
implying that Richard, captivated by the distressed tieauiyi

■ Viuiaauf. 'May i8th. Slows Chroniol** |

BXftXNOARIA OF HAVARRB. 19

ok his queen, it is well to observe the words of an eye-
declares ^ that Richard sent the lady directly to his qneen,
lie never parted till after tlieir return to Europe.'^
der of the Cypriot princess was followed by the capture
whom the king of England bound in silver chains, richly
•nted to queen Berengaria as her captive.*
mclusion of the nuptial<«, and coronation of Berengaria, her
K)m once more hoisted his flag on his good galley Treuc-
I set sail, in beautiful summer weather, for Palestine,
d her sister-in-law again sailed, under the protection of sir
*umham*, such being safer than companionship with the
ird.' Their galley made the port of Acre before the Trenc-

arrival at Acre, though," says Bernard le Tresorier, " it
rous to the king of France to know that Richard was mar-
her than his sister ; yet he received Berengaria with great
ng her in his arms, and liAing her on shore himself, from
c beach."

peared before Acre on the long bright day of St. Barnabas,
3le allied army, elated by the naval victory he had won by
ched to the beach, to welcome their companion. ** The
with footsteps of the Christians, and the sound of their

} was taken, Richard established his queen and sister safely
remained at Acre with the Cypriot princess, during tlie
Syrian campaign, under the care of Richard^s castellans,

^erdun and Stephen de Munchenis.
of the mosque at Acre are the ruins of a palace, called to

Dg Richaid^s Palace*,"^ this was doubtless the abode of

3t a more pleasant spot in history, than the tender friend-
igaria and Joanna, who formed an attachment, amidst the

9al metrical historian^ who is the guide of Piers of Langtoft
nirds entered among the Templaris and died in their order,
ited hi:^ island to Guy de Lusignan, his friend, a;* a compensation
ren]!«alem. Tliis dethronement of Iraac, and the captivity of his
the origin of Richard's imprisonment in Germany, as we shall

irrifal was delaye<l by a naval battle with a rich Saracen argosie,
ired with great plunder. The mansuvres of the Trenc-the-mere
bed by the Provencal ; likewise the casting of the Greek fire.

» own galley The galley to her drew,

it Trcnc-the-mere; The king stood full stout,

under weijjh, And many of iliem slew.

that ship full near, Though wild fire* they cast'*

her buckets out.

; Travels. The tradition is that Richard bnilt the palace; but he
for any such work. The architecture it ^rac-euic, and it wwt
ace of the re»id#»ut emir of Acre.

* Greek fire.

16 BEBeN<IAItlAOPNA%'ARRB.

perils And terrors of storm anil aie^, enJiiig; onlywtlh tkeirll'M.' Hov
quaintly, yet cicpreesively. is ilieir gentle unil femiuiiie love fur Mcft
other marketl, hy tlie sweet Bimplkiiy or l)ie words,

•"Tliry tmlii piu'h oxhfi lieor,
And liveJ in i!ovi-« in ragul" I

noting, at the rame time, the harem-like sreliioinQ in which the roril
ladies dwelt, while sharing the rruwde campaign.

It was from the citaiM of Acre thai Kichard liire i)i>wn the banner ol
Leo)>o1d, archduke of Austria, wlio was Lhe uncle of the Cy{mM bilf. '
Her caplivitv was the real mutter of dispute.

Wb have little space to dwell on Richard's deeds of T'-ii , ' i ' -
in Palestine, on the capture of .^sralon, or ihc lialile -d '•
which city was killed Hiclmrd's good slced, named K.i i
feats in battle are nearty as much celebrated, by the iiii.
those of his master.'

AFler the death of Fanuelle, Richard wa^ obliges! to figlit on foot. Thf
»urteous Saladin. who saw him thus biiiilitig, was eliucked thu w
accomplished a cavalier shimld be dismounted, and sent Imn. m j p-
seni, a masniliccnt Arab charger. RichanI had tlie prer^nt''

e «r his knights to mount the charger first The hcail-i
•ooner found a stranger un his hack, than he took the )>ii
teeth, and. refusing all control, gallopped back tn his nwi: , . >
^ing the Christian knigltl into the midst i>f Saladin's camp- li' i^i
Richard had ridden the wilfitl animal, he woidd, in like manner, haw
been at the mercy of tlie Saracens. Soladin was ao ranch aslianird M
the misbehavinur of his present, that he cnuld st^rcj^ly look up <*Ue hi
apologized to the Chrisiian knight; for it appeared as if be liad lai^ i
it%p for the liberty of king Richard. He sent back the kiiight, uinualiJ
on s more manageable steed, on which Richard lode to the cni^ i^'iSc

Irampaign.'
King Richard, during his Syrian campaign, was once ^
Jerusalem, but never took it. While he was with his i|ij> >
at Acre, an incident befel him. of which de Joiirville, the .
anna of St. Louis, has ihuti preserved the memnry. ,

"■ In those times, wbci. Hugh, duke of Burgundy, and king Rirlian) of I
England, were abiding n' Acre, they received inlelligence tliai ihry mista I
take Jerusalem if they rhnse, for its garrison had f^one to itu- u.'.i-;:"t I
of Dumascus. The dnke of Burgundy* and king Richar'
!

»

' Sinilanj CmUn, in tier cel^hmVed b«I florid r

1mi ■ !i5ln f( Kinliara'a (hare.! hU ciiis>.,l<. w,ii, i
Imiy nor Sir Wntler Sootl soein awaro which pi^n

called FaTBllf. probablr Flavel, meanin|r jreUow,
liwIiKiW' ihlt pei-tlcssclmtiT was laUenainongtbe cpaJIsorC;! ■
nam-!,! LfBri). 'Vhe civnliers in aticipni limes nmneil Iheu ^'■
ooloar. HS BayanI, ImjMiilour; Ljiari, gtrj; FerraiHil. black ■* imn: FIjw^ p- J
low iir v»r)r liirtir *nrrrl, I

" "■ .i<:la of flrrimr,! le TrcMrier. I

I Ai>)(i»i<i- "><'< tliF iliikc ol' AnitriB ilorampml fVnm l9ii> rriaa^ WfV 1
H'lgli "1 eu'L;iiid/- eoiiimnniled ilie rcmoiul of Iho Prei^-h f--— . '

lA or NAVAnRE. 17

_ .. .a Uie holy city. Rirhard's ballalions led ihe way. wlijle
•* force brouc;hl up ilie rear. But when king Richard ilrew
tunleiD. intelligence was brought )itin that the duke of Biir-
[ lumuil back with his division, out of pure etivy, thai it might
id that ihc king of England had Uiken Jerusalem. As iheKe
ere diHCUssing, one of the king n{ England's katghls cried

Bire, only come hilher. and I will show you Jerusalom,'
le kingt throwing down his weapons, said, with tears in his
'hands uplifted lo heaven, —

' Lord OotI, I pray ihee ihai I may never see thy holy city,
I, since things thus happen ; and Kince 1 cannot deliver it from
tof thine enemies .'' Richard could do nothing more than re-
R queen and sister, at Acre.

tnuei know thai this king Richard performed such deeds of
Vrhen he was in the Holy Land, that the Saracens, on seeing
n frightened ai aahadow or a bush, cried out lo litem, ' What!
k Mclech-Ric is there ?' This they were accuslomed to say,
many times he had vanquished them. In tike manner, when
fen of Turks or Saracens cried, their mothers said to ihem,
lah! or [ will give yoti lo king Richard; and from ihe terror
ITonle the babee were instantly quiet.'"

evenqal historian affirms that the final trace between Richard
in was concluded in a fair llowery meadow* near Mount Tabor;
thard waa so much charmed with the gallant bearing of ihe
Utacreanis, as Saladin is civilly termed in the crusading treaties.
Bclared he would rather be ihe friend of that brave and honest
in the ally of the crafly PhUip or the brutal Leopold.
Iliinin of 1192 had commenced, when king Ricliard concluded
I with Saladin, and prepared lo return, covered with fniilleM
bis native dominions. A mysterious eatrangement had, at this
li place between him and Berengaria; yel the chroniclers do
ion thai any rival had supplanted the queen, but merely that
of war had divided him from her company. As for the Cy-
ecsi, if he were estranged from his queen, he mnst likewise
\ Bepttrated from the fair captive, since she always remained with

tig bade fiirewell lo his queen and sister, and now them eml>ai^,
iveniiig of his own departure. The queens were accompanied
^nriot princess, and tiailed from Acre, under the care of Stephen
BID, September the 29th. Richard meant to return by a difierem
DM Europe. He travelled in the disguise of a Templar, anil
'f in a ship belonging to the master of the Temple. This vessel
ked olT Ihe eoasi of Istria, which forced Richard (o proceed

.9 parBphnsaJ by Drj'den:

irp Sebaslion's fonniclable name
b longfrr u*ed to (till llie crying babo."

A

I

I

p

19 BEBB.NGARIA OF NAVARRE. ^H

homewards through ilie iloinnins of his enemy, LeopolJ of Anltlh
But to Ills ignonini-« of geography is attributed bis nwtr appruub to
Lecpolil'g L-apiial. Afier several narruw es«-jpes,a page win by Rkhwil.
to piirrliase provisions at a village near Vienna, waa ntcn^niml by u
ufficer who had muile the ble crusade with Leopold. The boy «u
seized, aiid, after enduring cruel tunuenis, he cou[eaatd where he had
left his master.

When Leopold received certain intelligence where Kidiard lwr!xnin<l.
ihe inn was searched, but not a Houl fuuud there who Ixire any appear-
ance of a king. " No," said the people, " there i« no one here, without
he be ilie Templar in the kitchen, Dow turning the fowlx which tn
riMsiing for dinner. The officer of LeopolJ took the hint, and wm
into the kitchen, where, in fact, was ceated a leniphu, very busy iuruui|
the spit. The Austrian chevalier, who hud servej in the cruaile, koeir
hira, and said quickly, " There he in — seize liitn I"

C<eur de Lion started from the spit, and did battle fur his liberty Djhl
valiantly, but was overborne by numbers.'

Tiie revengeful Leopold inunediatety imprisoned his gallant eaeoir.
and iinniured liiin so closely in a S^'riaii castle, called Teiiebreuw, ilnl
for months no one knew whether the lion-hearted king was alin- or
dead. Richard, whose heroic name was the theme of adniiralioa in
Europe, and the burden of every song, seemed vanished from the htt
of the earth.

Better fortune attended the vessel that bore the fairfreight of the liuM
royal ladies. Stephen de Tumham's galley arrived, without acctdfin,*
Naples, where Berengaria, Joanna, and the Cypriut princass, tandid
safely, and, under llie care of Sir Stephen, Journeyed to Home.

The Provencal traditions declare, diat here Berengarin first look A>
alnrai, thai some disaster had happened to her lord, from seeing a Ml
of jewels ollered for sale, wliich she knew had been on his persoa aha
ahe parted from him. At R>>ine she likewise heard some vagne rvforiB
of his shipwreck, and of llie timiity of the emperor Henry VL*

Berengsria was detained at Rome, with her royal companions, W ha
fear of the emperor, for upwards of half a year. At length the pop
moved by her distress and earnest entreaties, sent them, under the cart
of Messire Mellar, one of the cardinals, to Pisa, whence they procralnl
til Genoa, where they took shippijig to tlur^eilles. At MaraeUtes, Be-
reugaria was met by her friend and kinsman, the king of Arragou, who
allowed the royal ladies every mark of reverence, gave them safe can-
duct dirough his Provencal doinauis, and sent ttiem on, under Ifac scot
of tlie count de Sanclo Egidio.

This Egidio is doubtless the gallant Raymond count St. GiUea, who,
travelling from Rome with a strong escort, olTered his protection U tat
distressed queens; and though his lather, the count of ThoulooMS hal,
dnring Richards crusade, invaded Guienne, and drawn on himsrif *
severe chastisement from Berengaria's faithful brother, Saneho the Smiif,

BRENGARIA Op NAVABBE. l!l

>nng oant lo well arquiitcd himseif of his charge, thai he
"i-cliotift nf tiie f»\t widow, queen Jofinna. on the Journey.'
lent uf the«e Wers henteil the eninily ihnl hnti hmg^sub-
vtt the house of Ai|«itiiine anil ih»l of tlie couiiu of Thou-
Ti-uut nf the superior cliijniH of qiieon Eleaitora on thai great
n Elfauura found the love iliat siihsisicd between her ynunijesl
'ie heir of Thoulouse, she conriliated his father, by giving up
[> her (laughler, and BereDgaria hui! the satisfaction of seeing
{ftieiuts united, after she arrived at Pollou.*

II Berengaria is \e(l tafely in her own dominions, it ia lime

0 her uiifurluiiate lord, who seems to liave been declined, by
a of Leopold, to a life-loog incarceraliou. The royal prisoner
Wpairetl of liberty, when he wrate that pathetic passage in hi*

"roveD^nl tens on, saying, "Now know I for a certainly

s for Hie neither friend nnr parent, nr for the lack of gold

luld not so lung reiiiiiin a prisoner."

■icely did justice lo his aiTectioiiate uiuiher, who, direcdy she

b captivity, never ceased exerting herself for his release.

It giving any credence to ilie ballad story of king Richard and

!• heart, which solely seems to have arisen from a meiaphorictil

of the iroubfulour Fej-rols,' iind is not even alluded lo by the

fuginative of contemporary chroniclers, it really appears thai
[ was ill-treated, during his German captivity. Matthew Paris
llin was thrown into a dungeon from whence no other man ever
LpritJi lile, and was loailed with irons ; yet lua couiueiiaiice wu
put, and his conversation pleasant and facetious, with the crowds
gitards by whom he was sunoiinded day and night.
B long time before Richard's friends could with atiy certainly
pi bm locality, lie vtas utterly lost for some monllis. Blomld,
ftatu knight and poet, who had been shipwrecked with him on
tt«f istria.and who liad sought him through the cities of southent
m, sung, beneath the lower 1 euebreuae in which he was confined)
LwUich Bichard and he had composed together. Scarcely had

1 the first stanza,' when Richard replied with the second.

JuvrUon, fol, A4T.

t iMOfUiR nri lliat king RicliuJ betroiheii hi! rislsr to the galbun

'l Gitln. in PiilrmliiF , an aHpnion cotiuuliuHd by the «niniir su^

nod/Id etUBula limili cimni by Feyrol*, he enlia Die Viog lio«Jltarlii

' ifiol* WM hi» fallow-tolJier.— (Si«m«rfi.) Tha eiuUett olirouklsr

isriie lion lagctiil it lUiuill, ilt« bniiliec-iii-Jnwor^iiTlioinuMoia,

I»tii-c ludiuit of knowtiig i)ie iiuih than we havi.. Here are his

ison lli« iiil|j«>^i. "Il ia ini<l tliat a !V"n wna |>u> ■" king Riehard.

n ha»e drrnuied him. and when the lyon was pipUig, ho p«

mouQt ai"! piMtd lU Urn by IM htart a hard Uuu ho »l«w ih»

1^ dierafore l* palleil Cutur .lo Lyon; wUilo olhrri Mf lio U caUod
nans* of hi* boldnei* and hardy ilomaoh. '

n b not pieHtvad, bui llie poem Kiuliud compoMil i» alill in

l^u« Royatn. Tb.^0 ii no jn^t rPiuon for (Joublimt tbii I'rovBnfal
~' - - -' c dbcovvty of ItH-liiuii. CiuKciuUni and

30

« K C A 11 F .1 A V

Blondnl dirrctly wcni in nuncn Eleanorn. antl rJ^e her litunga jf in
eximnticD of iwr min.anil nht (uok meonutea forlim releue. IW ]tUes>
to iliB pojip are wrilicii with b pu«ionaie eloqiiaiice, highly illunintitc
of that trnJiliui) uf lliB aouth wliich naiiiM her among the poeta of ha
couiilry.

•• Moilier of pity," she wys. " look upon a mother of so many ifflw-
tiona t or if thy holy Sun, the fountain of mercy, iklHicts my son for aij
iraiifgrvMion, oh lei me, who nm the muse, endure nlone thi! pnniih-
inent. Two *ons nlnni; remnin for my succour, who but iniiecii eumie
fnr tny miwry^ for king Itichanl I'xiats in fHlers, while prince Joluii
brother to the cajtlive, denupulalt^a wiih the ewoni, and wuteii with 6re.
Thr Lord in agniiiBt me, hla wrvth fi»hls against me, iherefure do mj
children fight a^insl each other !"

The queen-mother here alhides to the strife raised by prince Jnlui.
(Id had obtained his brother's leave to abide in England, on conJioua
that ho submitted to tlie government e«tnblislicd there, (^iicen Eleouan
had intended lu fix her residence at Rouen, ns a central situation, be
tween her own dominions und Itiose of king Kiehard. Bui the cnnfasMt
•tale of afliiirB in Englnnd summoned her thither, F'ebruur>' 11, 1191
She found John in open rebellion; for, stimtjialcd by uieji^MigBS trnn
riiilip Anguaius, offering him nil Kirhard's continental pnivinres, and
the hand o( Alice, rrjuctcd by Kichnril, he aimed at nniliing Icaa Ltiu Uk
Engliah crown. The arrival of his mother curbed his Eutbulencc} sh*
loll] him lo touch his brollier's right* under peril nf her curse ; she hn-
bade his disgraceful intention of allying himself with Alice; and U
render such mischievous project impossible, she lel\ lliat princess m
close confinement at Rouen, instead of delivering her to Phdip AugaxIM
u king KiclianI had agreed ; so liiile iniLli is Acre in the common ajtw
tion, that the worthloMs character of John might ho altribuiml to llM
encouragement his vices received from hie mother; but it waa tliedoiaf
ailcctian of Henry il, for his youngest son, that had this eQecL, at h*
was the child nf his old ngo, and constantly near him, while the queca

.s kept in confinement, at a distance from her family.

When

II Eleanora and the chief justiciary heard of the deteation

of king Richard, ihey sent two abbots to confer with him in Germany
They met hua, wiih his guards, on the road to Worms, where a dielof
the empire was soon to bo held, and were received by hiiu with hi*
usuul spiril and nnimniion. He inqnirrd into the state of hii> friends, Iw
•ubjeets, and his dominions, and particularly after the hmlilt of ilie kuf
of Scotland, on whose honour, lie said, he entirely relied ; and certainly
he was not deceived in his judgment of the character of that hero. OS
hearing of the base conduct of his brotlier John, he was shocked wi
looked grave ; but presently recovering his cheerfulness, lie laid, will)
■ smile, "My brother John was never made for contjneriag kli^-

« iffrfr

BBRBNGARIA OF NAYARRB. 31

Richftrd defended himself before the diet, with eloquence and pathos
[hat drew tears from most of his hearers; and the mediation of the
princes of the empire induced the emperor to accept as ransom, one
hundred thousand marks of silver.

Meantime the ransom was collected in England, Normandy, and Aqui-
taine, to which queen Eleanora largely contributed. When the ^rst
instalment was ready, this affectionate mother and the chief justiciary
Rt out for Germany, a little before Christmas. Queen Eleanora was
arcompanied by her grand-daughter Eleanora, sumamed the Pearl of
Brittany. This young princess was promised, by the ransom-treaty, in
marriage to the heir of Leopold of Austria.' The Cypriot princess was
likewise taken from the keeping of queen Berengaria, on the demand of
the emperor, and surrendered to her German relatives.*

It was owing to the exertions of the gallant Guelphic princes, his
relations, that the actual liberation of Cceur de Lion was at last effected.
Henry the Lion, duke of Saxony,' and his sons, appeared before the diet,
end pleaded the cause of the Englisii hero with the most passionate elo-
qvence ; they pledged their credit for the payment of the remainder of
hit ransom, and actually left William of Winchester, the youngest
Gaelphic prince, in pawn with the emperor, for the rest of the ransom.

After an absence of four years, three months, and nine days, king
Richard landed at Sandwich, in April, the Sunday after St George's day,
ia company with his royal mother, who had the pleasure of surrendering
to him his donunions, both insular and continental, without diminution.

Eleanora's detention of the princess Alice in Normandy, had drawn
on that country a fierce invasion from Philip Augustus, the result of
which would have been doubtftil, if the tears of Berengaria, then newly
urived in Aquitaine, had not prevailed on her noble brother, Sancho the
Strong, to traverse France with two hundred choice knights. By the
nJour of this hero and his chlvalric reinforcement, Normandy was deli-
vered from the king of France.^

Berengaria, during the imprisonment of her royal husband, lost her
father, Sancho the Wise, king of Navarre, who died in 1194,' after a
glorious reign of forty-four years.

After a second coronation, Richard went in progress throughout Eng-
lind, with his royal mother, to sit in judgment on those castellans who
had betrayed their fortresses to his brother John. At all these councils
queen Eleanora assisted him, being treated by her son with the utmost
reverence, and sitting in state at his right hand.

The magnanimous Cceur de Lion treated these rebels with great
lenity ; and when prince John, on the arrival of the king at Rouen, ^ing

' The marriago was aAerwards broken.

'She was the daughter of the duke of Austria's sister; hence the extreme
hatred borne by Leopold to Richard ; he considered, and not tu reasonably, that
Richard had disinherited his niece. The emperor Henry was her first cousin.

' Her mi^esty queen Victoria is the representatiye of this great and generous
pruice : and at tlie same time, from his wife, Matilda, eldest daughter of Henry
IL derives a second direct descent from the house of Plantagenet.

•Tyrrell. * Hittory ol '((vraxi^.

I

32 SERefCOARIAOPKAVAIIRB.

intrcxlucetl by queen Eleanors^ knelt at his brother's feel for par^oni (m
raised him, with this remarkable exprvpsion : " I ftvgive yon, John, aad
I wibIi 1 coald as eaaily forget your oflence as yon will my panJon."

King Richard iinislied his progress by residing some inontlis id hii
Angevin lerritories. Although he was in the vicinity of the loringBtKl
faithful Berengaria, he did not r^um to hersoriety- Tho maaa atttm
estrangement was, that ihe kittg had renewed his connexion with a
numher of profligate and worthless tusociate*, the coinpanions of hi)
long baclielorhood in his father's lifetime. His conduct at this tim« iufi-
niirly scandalized all his subjects, as he abandoned hitnseir to drinking
and great infamy ; for which rarious virtuous chiin^hmen reproied hin
boldly, to their eredit be it spoken.

"The spring of 1195, Richard was hunting in one of bis ffnnpa
forests,' when he was met by a hermit, who recoEDiscd hiiu, and pcttdicd
him a very eloquent sermon on his irregular lite, linishing by prnpliMy-
ing, that uutess he repented, his end and punishment were close at hand.
The king answered slightingly, and went his way ; bnt the Eaeier (<A-
lowing he was seized with a moat severe illness, which threatened to bt
&tal, when he remembered the saying of the henntt-prophet, nml, graUy
alarmed, he began to repent of his sins."

Richard sent for all the monks within ten miles round, ami made pi^
lie confession of his iniquities, vowiog, withal, that if queen Berengarit
would forgive him, he would send for her, and nerer forsake her agaia.
When he recovered, these good resolutions were strvngtheneil by ad
interview he had with an English biahop.

When Richard first parted from the queen, he quarrelled with At vi^
luous Sl ilugh, bishop of Lincoln, on the old ground of enenilg a
simoniacal tribute on the installation of the prelaie into his see. Wflung
to evade the direct charge of selling the see, king Richard intitnated ifaU
a present of a fur mantle, worth a thousand marks, might be the eooH
position. St. Hugh said he was no Judge of such gauds, and thertCM
sent the king a thousand marks, declaring, if he would deronr Uu reti-
nue devoted to the poor, he must have his wilful way. Kichard poA-
eted Uie money, but some time aller sent for ilie fur mantle Sl. Hath
set out for Normandy, to remonstrate with the king on this double ei
tortion. His friends anticipated that he would be killed', but Sl [liuh
said, " I fear him not," and boldly entered the chapel where Richard <n*
at mass, when the following scene took place.

"Give me the embrace of peace, my son," said St. Hugh.

"That you have not deserved," replied the king.

" Indeed I have," said St. Hugh, " for 1 hare made a long joamev m
purpose to see my son."

So saying, he look hold of the king's sleeve, and drew him on om
Kidc- Kichard smiled, and embraced the old man. They withdreS IC
the recess behind the altar, and sat down.

•* In what atate is your conscience ^" asked the biabof).

' Tytrell. from a Qitonicle by Rigf'd- Maitie Rigord wai oii^iiiallr a ■i«fiii
man; Jir wa> ilie contemporBrj of kinR Ricbud anil kiugJcdiit. Hli cSuiai^
it, tro ihinic, among tUoM edited by Qiuhh.

BBRBNGARIA OF NAVAKRB 23

•* Very ewy," answered the king.

** How can that he, my son," said the hishop, ** when you live apart
from your virtuous queen, and are faithless to her — when you devour
the provision of the poor, and load your people with heavy exactions ?
Are these light transgressions, my son ?"

The king owned his faults, and promised amendment ; and when he
related this conversation to his courtiers, he added :

^ Were all our prelates like Hugh of Lincoln, both king and barons
must submit to their righteous rebukes P' '

Whether the interview with St. Hugh took place before, or after, the
king's alarming illness, we have no data to declare ; but as Richard was
evidently in a tamer state, when St Hugh visited him, than when he
hwlessly demanded the fur mantle, we think the good bishop must have
arrived opportunely, just as Richard was beginning to foiget his sick-bed
vows, without quite relapsing into his original recklessness.

The final restoration of Berengaria to the afiections of her royal hus-
band, took place a few months ttfler, when Richard proceeded to Poic-
tiers,* where he was reconciled to his queen, and kept Christmas, and
the new year of 1196, in that city, with princely state and hospitality
It was a year of great scarcity and famine, and the beneficent queen ex-
erted her restored, influence over the heart of the king, by persuading
him to give all his superfluous money in bountiful alms to the poor^ and
through her goodness many were kept from perishing. From that time
queen Berengaria and king Richard were never parted. She found it
best to accompany hun in all his campaigns, and we find her with him
at the hour of his death.

Higden, in the Polychronichon, gives this testimony to the love that
Berengaria bore to Richard : ^ The king took home to him his queen
Berengaria, whose society he had for a long time neglected, though she
were a royal, eloquent, and beauteous lady, and for his love had ventured
with him through the world."

The same year the king, despairing of heirs by his consort, sent for
young Arthur, duke of Bretagne, that the boy might be educated at his
court, as future king of England. His mother Constance, out of enmity
to queen Eleanora, unwisely refused this request, and she finished her
folly by declaring for the king of France, then waging a fierce war
against Richard. This step cost her hapless child his inheritance, and
finally his life. From this time Richard acknowledged his brother John
as his heir.

The remaining three years of Richard's life were spent in petty pro-
vincial wars with the king of France. In one of his treaties, the prin-
cew Alice was at last surrendered to her brother, who gave her, with a
tarnished reputation, and the dowry of the county of Ponthieu, in mar-
riage to ihB count of Aumerle, when she had arrived at her thirty-fifth
year.

After the reconciliation between Richard and Berengaria, the royal
levennet arising from the tin-mines in Cornwall' and Devon, valued at

* Rigord, Fieooh Chron. * HYm^i" t ¥ CB\et«L«

34 BEEE^OARtA OP KAVARRE.

Vmu ihoussnd marks per arinum, were confirmeJ to thfi queen, for Iwr
dower. Her continental dower wtia the rity ol* Bigorre in Aquitaine,
maii ihe whole cnunly of 3Iaiu.

ll wu the lively iroa^HBiion of Richard, healed by the ^eodid fic-
tions of Arabian romance, ihal hurried him to hie end. A report ww
brouebt to him, tliat a peasaat, ploughing in the fielda of Vidomw, lonl
of Cluiluz in .^quitaiiie, had struck upon a trap-door which concealed an
eiichauled treasure,' and going down into a cave, discovered aevtnl
golden statues, witli vases fuU of diamonds, all of wbich had been
secured in the castle ofChalux, for tlie private use of the eteur de Vido-
inar. Riehanl, when he heard (his fine lale, sent to Vidomu, deinu>d-
ing, as sovereign of the cauntr)', his slwre of the golden statues. The
poor caatelian declared that no such treasure had been fouiid ; nothing
but a pot of Roman coins had been discovered, and tboee he was wel-
come to have-
As Richard iiad set his mind on golden stalnes and vases of diatnonils.
aw) had thriven so well when he demanded the golden furniture bom
king Tancred, it was not probable he could lower his ideas to the reality
Slated by the unroriunale lord of Vidomar. Accordingly, lie tii«rclied M
besiege the casUe of Chaluz, sending word to Vidomax, eilhei to deliver
the statues, or abide the storming of the castle. To this siege quan
Berengaria sccoropauied the king. Here Richard met his death, bwf
pierced from the walU, by an arrow from an arbalista, or rrocs-bov,
aimed by the hand of Bcrtiaud de Gordon.' It was the noekilfulnu* U
the surgeon, who mangled the king's shoulder in cutting out tlie anoiTi
Joined to Richard's own wilfulness in neglecting the r^men of bis phy-
sicians, that caused the mortification of a trifling wound, and occasioDol
llie death of a hero who, to many faults, joined a redeeming generutiiy,
that showed itself in his last moments. After enduring great agony ligii
liis wound, as he drew near to death, the castle of Chaluz was lakea.
He caused Bertrand de Gordon to be brought before bio), and telling hiffl
he was dying, asked him whether he had discharged the &tal arrow with
the intention of slaying him.

" Yea, tyrant," replied Gordon ; " for to you I owe the deaths of laj
fuiiier and my brother, and my first wish was to be revenged on yon-"
Notwithstanding the boldness of this avowal, the dying kinx cdB*
manded Gordon to be set at libert}-, and it was not his fault uat Ui
detestable mercenary general, the Fleming, Marcade, caused lum M it
put to a cruel death.

Richard's death took pbce April 6th, 1199. Uis queen DnqnMioB-
ably was with him when he died.' She corroborated iJie lestimonyltial
he lelV his domioioiis, and two-thirds of his treasuies, to bis brother

Richard appears to have borne some personal resembtanoe to hi*
great ancle, William Rufus. Like him, bis hair and complexioa «Rt

'BcomplOQ. Nswbiirr, Hsnuningrord and Wlkes.

* We And the tame or Gordon among tbe inOammatory sirrenies or > —■*
ds Born. , - _

BXftXNOAKIA OF RATAKKX. 35

Winn in edour, and his eyes blue, and fiercely sparkling. Like Rufus,
his strength was prodigious, but he had the advantage of a tall majestic
figure.' There are some points of resemblance in character, between
Richard and bis collateral ancestor, though Richard must be considered
a more learned and elegant prince, and susceptible, withal, of more fre-
quent impulses of generosity and penitence. They both seem to have
excelled in the same species of wit and lively repaitee.

At the time of king Richard's death, Matthew Paris declares queen
Eleanora, his mother, was governing England, ^ where," adds that his-
torian, ^ she was exceedingly respected and beloved."

Before the body of CoBur de Lion was committed to the grave, an
additional load of anguish assailed the heart of his royal widow, through
the calamities that befel Joanna, her friend, and Richard's favourite sis-
ter. The persecution on account of religion, that afterwards visited
Joanna's gallant son, in the well-known war against the Albigenses, had
already attacked his father incipiently. Owing to the secret agitations
of the catholic clerffy, the barons of Thonlouse were in arms against
the gallant Rajrmond. Queen Joanna, though in a state little consistent
with each exertions, flew to arms for the relief of her adored lord. We
translate the following mournful passage from Guillaume de Puy-Lau-
rens ^ — ^ Qpeen Joanna was a woman df great courage, and was highly
sensitive to the injuries of her husband. She laid siege to the castle of
Cesser, but, owing to the treachery of her attendants, her camp was
fired. She escaped with difficulty from the burning tents, much scorched
and hurt Unsubdued by this accident, she hastened to lay her wrongs
before her beloved brother king Richard. She found he had just expired
as she airived. The pains of premature child-birth seized her as she
heard the dire intelligence, and she sank under the double afiliction of
mental and corporeal agony. With her last breath she begged to be
laid near her brother Richard." To Berengaria the request was made,
and the cold remains of the royal brother and sister, the dearest objects
of the sorrowing queen's aflections, were laid, by her pious care, side by
side, in the stately abbey of Fontevraud.' The heart of Richard was
bequeathed by him, to be buried in the cathedral of Rouen, where it has
lately been exhumed, in 1842. When the case was unclosed, the lion-
heart was found entire, but withered to the consistency of a faded leaf.^

The deaths of Richard and Joanna were immediately succeeded by
that of Berengaria's only sister, Blanche. This princess had been given
in marriage, ^ CoBur de Lion, to his nephew and friend, the troubadoup-

> ViniMof. * Gaizot's Chnmicles, vol. zv. p. 919.

' The desoriptkm of Richard*s statue has been given by Miss L. S. Costello in
her reeent charmiog work, entitled, ** The Boccages and the Vines." It coincides
well with the descriptions we have given of his person, from his contemporary
Vinisaud

*This is fVom a most interesting description of the exhumation of Richard's
heart, by Mr. Albert Way, in vol. xxix. Archslogia, p. 210 ; where may be Ibuna
a eopy of- the inscription identifying it as the heart of Richard, and likewise an
•eooant of the discovery of a fine portrait statue, raised by the men of Rouen to
fhe memory of their beloved heia

VOL. II. — 3

I

I

iiij BI:RE.\C ARIA UF »AVARBK.

prince, Tliibaut or ChampBgiie. Tlie princess Blanche died the 6aj
after tiie birth of a ion, who aAerwitrJa woi the heir both o( Soncha
and Berengaria, aod fiaally kuig of Kavarre. Thus, iu the coiirve nf a
few short weeks, was tlie queen of England bereft of all that were tmr
and dear to her. The woild had become a desert to Bereugaria before
Bhe left it for a life of conventual seclusion.

Queen Berengaria lixed her residence at Mans in the Orleaniioiis when
*he held a great part of her foreign dower. Here she founded the noble
abbey of L'Espan.

Once queen Berengaria lefl her widowed retirement, when sha met
her broth er-in-^aw, king John, and his fair joung bride, at Cliinon. her
husband's treasure city. Here she compounded with the LiigUBli rooa-
arfh, for the dower ahe held in En^and, for two ihousoad marks pti
annum, to be paid half-yearly. After being entertained witJi rnyal mi^
ciliceiice, and receiving every mark of respect from the £n;gli>h conn,
the royal widow bade farewell to public splendour, and retired to coi^
ventual seclusion, and ilie practice of constant charity. Bui do soouet
was John fixed firmly on tlic English throne, tlion he began to ae^ea
Ute payment of the dower for which liis sister-in-law had compo
and, in 1206, there appears in the Fcedera a passport for the
dowager to come to Engiand, for the purpose of conferring witli
John; but there esiats no nuihority whereby we can prove "' '
arrived in this country.

The records of 1209 present a most elaborate epistle from pope Ibimk
cent, selling forth the wrongs and wants of his dear daughter in Qina,
Berengaria, who, he says, had appealed to him " with Hoods <^ MO
si reaming down her cheeks, anil with audible cries," — which we Unit
were flowers of rhetoric of the pope's seerelary.' As pope Innocsai
threatens John with an interdict, it is pretty certain that the wrong* ot
Berengaria formed a clause in the subsequent cscommutiicjUion of tbs
felon king.

In 1214, when the excommuuicsiion was taken off, there exiotai In-
ter from John to " his dear sifter, the illustrious Berengaria, Pi^dm
dial the pope's nuncio might arbitrate what was due lo hor." Tne Htf
year brings a piteous letter from John, praying lliat his deariy httont
sister will excuse his delay of payment, seeing ihe - greainsM of U
adversity by reason of the wickedness of his magnates and bvons," wbs
had invited prince Louis of Fraiice to spoil her estates; "but rnhml"
says king John, " these clouds that have overcast our serenity shall ito-
pei^e, B[id our kingdom he full of joj'ful tranquillity, then the pccnitiuy
debt owed lo our dear sister shall be paid joyfully and thankfully."

This precious epistle was penned July Sth, 1216, by John, but ba
died the succeeding October, and Berengaria's debt was added to the n>
■nm of his other trespasses; for "joyful tranquillity" never canwls'
liim, nor of course her time of payment.

In the reign of Henry III., Berengaria had again to require the popt^
assistance, for tiie payment of her annuity. Uer ariesrv at tfaat UC*

' Rymer, FisJeia, vol. i, p. ISti.

BERENGARIA OF NAVARRB. 27

amounted to 4040 Z. sterling ; but the Templars became guarantees and
agents for her payments ; and from that time the pecuniary troubles of
Berengaria cease to form a feature in our national records.

The date of Berengaria's death has generally been fixed about the
year 1230 ; but that was only the year of the completion of her abbey
of Espan, and of her final retirement from the world ; as from that time
she took up her abode within its walls, and finished there her blameless
life, at an advanced age, some years afterwards.

Berengaria was interred in her own stately abbey. The following
most interesting particulars of her monument, we transcribe from the
noble work of the late Mr. Stothard, edited by his accomplished widow,
.Mrs. Bray.

^When Mr. Stothard visited the abbey of L^pan, near Mans, in
search of the effigy of Berengaria, he found the church converted into a
bam, and the object of his inquiry in a mutilated state, concealed under
a quantity of wheat It was in excellent preservation, with the exception
of the left arm. By the effigy were lying the bones of the queen, the
silent witnesses of the sacrilegious demolition of the tomb. After some
search, a portion of the arm belonging to the statue was recovered.'*
Three men who had assisted in the work of destruction stated ^ that
the monument with the figure upon it stood in the centre of the aisle, at
the east end of the church ; that there was no coffin within it, but a
imall square box, containing bones, pieces of linen, some stuff embroi-
dered with gold, and a slate, on which was found an inscription." The
ilate was found in possession of a canon of the church of St. Julien, at
^lans: upon it was engraven an inscription, of which the following is a
translation :-^

*^The. tomb of the most serene Berengaria, queen of England, the
Doble founder of this monastery, was restored and removed to this more
sacred place. In it were deposited the bones which were found in the
ancient sepulchre, on the 27th May, in the year of our Lord 1672.'*

The sides of the tomb are ornamented with deep quatrefoils. The
effigy which was upon it is in high relief. It represents the queen with
her hair unconfined, but partly concealed by the coverchief, over which
is placed an elegant crown. Her mantle is fastened by a narrow band
crossing her breast; a large fermail, or broach, richly set with stones,
confines her tunic at the neck. To an ornamental girdle, which encir-
cles her waist, n attached a small aumoniere or purse. This greatly
resemUes a modem reticule, with a chain and clasped top. '^ The queen
holds in her hand a box, singular from the circumstance of its having
embossed on the cover a second representation of herself, as lying on a
bier, with waxen torches burning in candlesticks on either side of her.*'

From early youth to her grave, Berengaria manifested devoted love
for Richard ; uncomplaining when deserted by him, foigiving when he
retomed, and ftithful to his memory unto death, the royal Berengaria,
qoeen of England, though never in England, little deserves to be foigot-
leoy by any admirer of feminine and conjugal virtue.

ISABELLA OF ANGOULkML. ^t

QUEEN OF KING JOHN. ^M

alvlooUKi by king John— Marriage id king John— Challeo«o of coiinl Ba|^

Liuury— Cooclorion of Eleanora of AquiOiine'* blograph/— B«iFgiBd— B
liovod by ting Jolin — Hb capiures count Hugh — Denth of Eleanora— EOfT

H,igh to Isoljella's liiile daughter— Royal dress^-Murdci of M vuUU il,r t,
—John's alrocitiei — Meeu the qufen al MarliionJiigh — SIil' ■ ■ ^

b«r wn— She leavM England- MartiF. eoum Hugh— Depr. >

bfoili hai hutband in war— Atleropu die life of Si. Louif — !

Takw llie veil— Dies— Tomb— Elfigy— Children of second inairiiigo.

No one would have imagined ihal Isabella Angoul^ioe was tlei^

Ihrnne; for she was then not only ilie pngnged wife of another, be
according lo the custom of ihe limes, hadlteen actually cooaigned '
her betrothed, for Ihe purpose of education.

Hugh de Lusignan, sumamed Le Brun,' was ihe affianced lotd.of li
belta. He was eldest son of Hugh )X., the reigning count de ]» Jifamk
who governed the provinces which formed ihe northern boDwIiry of l|
Aquitanian dominions, called in that age French Poilou. Re «ai
vassal prince of the French crown, and, by virine of bis kuthnri^,!

ban and am'er( Sun, and pour on tliem the whole feudal mUiiift of
large portion of France.

conciliating thia powerful neighbour. She had been forced, at ibc ilai
of Richard, lo do homage at Tours,' in person, to Philip Au^iituf,fil
Poitoo, 1199; and by her wise mediation she reconciled John M
Philip, negoiialing an alliance between prince Louis and her piai

' " Hugli," say. G. de N«Ilgi^ " wbom iho people of the liiile town of Utmm
would «.!1 il.e Bmwa, was a noble personage, brave, powerfiil. ana |«e«M
rreal rirlies." Ho did not own the Kbriqurl of Le Brun. bnl li^t himtrlf Itait
nan in bis charten. 'Guillaiune de Naafit.

ISABELLA OF ANGOOLBMC. 29

IftDctie of Caslille. She even travelled lo Spain, and was
e splendid marria^ of her granddaughter, who was wedded

prince Louis by procnralion. Al'terwards her daughier, the
tin, accompanied her across the Pyrenees, with the young
native territories of Guienne. Queen Eleanors intended to
be to Normandy, where prince Louia waited for them.' but
with fatigue, and retreated to Fonlevraud, towards the cIobb
I9S. In a letter written by heron her recovery, she informs
■that she had been very ill, but that she hail sent for her
Bin, Amcricus de Thouara, from Poitou ; that she was much
f his presence, and through God's grace she was convaler-
En Eleanora then proceeds lo urge her son to visit Jmuie-
foictevin provinces, and, for the sake of their peace and

ite desires him lo form an amicable league with the count

le is dated Fontevraud, 1200, and was the occasion of king
ress to Aquilnine, in the Hummer; but little did the writer
t, before the year was expired, the whole powerful family of
puld be exaspemled, by king John's lawless appropriation
wedded lo the heir of their house*

«s ihe only child and heiress of Aymer or Americus, count
KiBDrnamed Tailiefer. By malernal dcsceni she sliarei! the
l> Cbpetian sovereigns, her mother, Alice de Courtenay, being

Lof Poter de Courtenay, lifth son of Louis VI. king (?
inherilance of Isabella was a beautiful province, caDed the
'■itnaJed in the very heart of the Aquilanian domains ; with
the south, Poilou on ihe north, Ssintonge on the west, and
I on the east. The Angoumois, watered by the clear and
iar«nie, abounded in all the richest aliments of life; allo-
t &ir and desirable as its lieiress. The ProvenQnl language
Ira spoken throughout the district; Isabella of Angoulfme
K be Kckoned the third of our Proveiifnt queens, Thn
which she was heiress, had been governed by her anceelon,
te reign of Charles llie Bald.

ru actually abiding at one of tlic castles of her betrolhod,*
MDia sent for her, to be present al a day of high ceremo-
di they paid ihcir homage to king John for the province of
' Indeed, it may be considered certain that ihe young Is^
M.U.Si9,SlB.

H. L Th* IaiJd 1fII« of the nged qaeen is [ifecedpd by Bnolbsr
W. uniJng ihe ™mo advice, and pving an sirouni of Ihe hoahh Of
nramitn. The concluaioB of ihe liTe of Elennora t>r Aquiniine is
nil Uographir.

KMOMlinf M All gpoflalofrief, was b[Ivs long nfler hii tan't h«lrolh-
Bb. Us borrA Uivn of Inbella iBrTccnliHl hii faibrr, by Ui« dlle

Itntoa. Dr. Hanrjr astern tha tame, and givM Hovetlen awl M

I

heiself, ss iheir sole heir, was required lo pay her peraonal honuifc lii
her lurJ psraniounL, as ituke of Aquilaine. Her betrotlieil yiag abtuii
but ihp count of Eu, bis brother, surrendered the fair heiress, nt l)u
request of tier parents. He waa deceived ' by ilie message uf the cuuni
of Angoulfme, and incurred great blame, as if he had trsacbcrotuly tut-
rendered the young bride o^ his brother; but, vbo could deny dtf
parents the pleasure of enjoying the society of their child ?

It was at the high fesiiral of king John's recognition in AngoaUmc.
aa sovereign of Aquilaine, that the Ejighah king tirst «aw the bcauiilvl
ftanc^e of Luaignan. He was ihirty-lwo; she had jual enterrd htr
fifieenlh year ; notwithstanding which disparity, he become niDdlv em*
nioured of her. Tlie parents of Isabella, when ihey perceiveo their
sovereign thus captivated with her budding charms, ilishoaouiaUy
encouraged his passion, and by deceitful excuses to ihe count of Eo,
prevented lite return of Isabella to the castle of Valence ; a proeeetjing
the mure infamous, since subsequent events plainly showed thai tti*
heart of the maiden secretly preferred her betrothed.

Had John Plautugenet remained in the same state of poverty aa wliio
his father surnamed him Lackland, the fierce Hugh de Lusipisn nii^
have retained his beautiful bride ; hut at tlie time liia fancy trat capD-
vatetl by Isabella, her parents saw bim universally rect^ised ai lb
possessor of the first empire in Europe. They had jusi done IiooNfl
(o him as the monarch of the south of France, and they knew he M
received the elective snSrages of the English people, in prvferenc* W
the hereditary right of his nephew Arthur ; that he had I>een acuaSf
crowned king of England, and that bis brow hai! been circleil wiA nt
duplet of golden roues which fonncd the ducal coronet of Nortnan^f.

John was already married to a lady who had neither been crnwM
with him, nor acknowledged queen of England ; yet she appean tl
have been the bride of his fickle choice. The son of hi* gu-m urn-It.
Robert earl of Gloucester,' had left lliree daughters, ccr-lii ^. -- -
vaal possessintM. The youth and beauty of Aviso, the \i<
sisters, induced prince John lo woo her as his wife. The
place at Richard^s coronation, but the church forbade tliu ; .
together.'

The pope, who had previously comtnanded the divorce of ATin 6i>
John, because the empress Matilda and Robert earl of OloottMef W
been half brother and sbter, now murmured at the brok<m cooliaetV'
iween Isabella and the heir of Ltisignan ; but as this betrothnuDi 4Ni
not seem lo have been accompanied by any vow or promise on thajM
of the bride, his opposition was vain.

The lady Isabella, as much dazzled as her parents by the splndw
of the triple crowns of England, Normandy, and Aquitatae, wcnilil >dI
acknowledge that she had consented lo any maniiM^ coatrvct v^
count Hugh. As Isabella preferred being a queen to giving her band W

'8ee the Chtoniole of Willinin le Breton. GuUoi t FrcDcb CollaolitB.

'a deaeeai, u itiicUy ai

I8ABBLLA OF ANOOULEMB. 31

the man she really loved, no one could riglit the wrongs of the ill-
tmted Liwignan. Moreover, the mysterious chain of feudality inter-
wove ita inextricable links and meshes even round the sacrament of
marriage. King John, as lord paramount of Aquitaine, could have ren-
dered invalid any wedlock that the heiress of the Angoumois might
contract without his consent ; he could have forbidden his fair vassalcss
to marry the subject of king Philip, and if slie ]iad remained firmly true
to her first love, he could have declared her fief forfeited, for disobe-
dinice to her immediate lord.*

Ring John and Isabella were married at Bordeaux, some time in the
month of August, 1200. Their hands were united by the archbishop
of Bordeaux, who had previously held a synod, assisted by the bishop
of Poitoo, and solemnly declared that no impediment existed to the

This event threw connt Hugh of Lusignan into despair ; he did not,
however, quietly submit to the destruction of his hopes, but challenged to
BK)rtal combat the royal interloper between him and his betrothed.'
lohn received the cartel with remarkable coolness, saying, that if count
Hngh wished for combat, he would appoint a cliampion to fight witli
him ; but the count declared that John's champions were hired bravoes
nd vile mercenaries, unfit for the encounter of a wronged lover and
Irae knight. Thus, unable to obtain satisfaction, the valiant Marcher
nited his hour of revenge ; while king John sailed with his bride in
Hiomph to Elngland, where he was anxious that she should be recognised
11 his wife, not oidy by the peers, but by the people.

For this purpose, being just then on his best behaviour, he called
that the chroniclers term ** a common council of the kingdom^' at West-
minster. The ancient Wittena-gemot seems the model of this assembly
flere the young Isabella was introduced, and acknowledged as the qucen-
consort of England. Her coronation was appointed for the 8th of Oc-
kber^ and there exists a charter in the Tower, expressing ^^ that Isabella
of Angoid^me was crowned queen by the common consent of the
barons, clergy, and people of England."' She was crowned on tliat day
by the archbishop of Ganterbury.

Clement Fitz-William was paid thirty-three shillings, for strewing
Westminster Hall with herbs and rushes, against the coronation of lady
Isabella the queen; and the chamberlains of the Norman excliet^uer
^ere ordered to pay Eustace the chaplain, and Ambrose the songster,
twenty-6ve shillings, for singing the hymn Christus rici/, at the unction
«nd crowning of the said lady queen.^ The expenses of her dress at this
time were by no means extravagant; three cloaks of fine linen, one of
■earlet cloth, and one gray pelisse, costing together twelve pounds five
mnd fourpence, were all that was afforded to tlie fair Provencal bride, on
this august occasion.

The whole of the intervening months, between October and Easter,

BnctoD. ** By the feiwlal law, any woman who is an heir forleita her
lands if she marries without her lord's consent."
* Speea t Chronicle. * Boger Hoveden. * Madoa.

I

n ISABELLA OF ANQOULSUS.

vreK spent by the king and queen, in a ronlinual round of fmiinf ana
vohiptuouMiesi. Al ifie Easter feslival of 1201, they were ilio ^omh
of nrchbiahop Hubert, nt Caalerbury,' wher« they were onco man
crowned,' or rather, tliey wore their crowns, aerording to l)ic wieim
English custom at this high TeaiivBl ; it beinf the offic« oT the pnnntt
of England, always to plaee them on the heads of the kinf and qnm
on such occasions, when he was abiding' in the vicinity of royalty.

Warx, and rumours of witra, awoke the beoutiful Isabella and kiaf
John from their dream of pleasure. Tlie ducbeas Constance of BnHfW
had eloped from lier liusband, the earl of Cheater, and marriwi a nlini
Pojctcvin, sir Guy of Thoaars,* who showed every detnonnntion of
suecfiBsfully asserting the claims of his son-in-bw, young Aithitr Ha*
tagenet, for whose cause Anjou and Maine had already declared. Addd
to this alarming intelligence, was the news that Lusignan and his broihtr,
the count of Eu, were conspiring with the family of firriaipe, nt
raising insunections in Poilou, to avenge the abdaciioo of k^tella ol
Angoul£me.

These troubles caused Isabella and her husband to eisbBrk at PmM-
moiiih for Normandy. Ring John sailed in a separata gaUry tnm dR
queen, and in stress of weather ran for the Isle of Wight, a pUee of i^
tireraeut where John often abode for months togetlier. - The <tOMrfl
ship was m the greatest distress, but at last made the port of Btttimi
where king John Ibund Isabella waiting his arrival.

The conspiracy, of which the disappointed lover of Isabella was iht
niover, was somewhat retarded by the death of the duehese ConctuU^
of Brelagne, in 1201, soon after the birth of her tbiid child, the princn
Alice, who was finally the heiress of the duchy.

King John, regardless of the tempest tliat still mutterfid sroDnd htBi
established himself at Rouen, and gave way to a career of inilolat v»
luptuouanese, little in accordance with the restless activity of liia
nobility. In that era. when five in the morning was th« eu
breokfast-time, and half-past ten in the forenoon the onhodoi
hour, for alt ranks and conditions of men. the court were scandi
finding that king John never lefl his pillow before mjd-dav, at wUik
lime his barons saw him, with coDiejnpt, issuing from the ebamAtcJ
the fair Isabella.' This mode of life made him Ibr man UDpopaltr,B
the iliirleenth century, than the perpetration of a few more uurden Ml
, abductions, like (hose with which his memory stands already divpA
His young queen shared some of this blame, as tlie enchanlKei «rfa» ■
kept hira chained in her bowers of lusury. The roy»l ptkir paid, '
ever, some alieiition to the fine arts, for the magnificent mooaie fmn
of the jialace of Houen, was laid down while the queen kept bcr i
ihere."'

Eleanora of Aquitaine — now advancing into her ei^nlMh ytat-

■TrrtBll.

* AiEenne, Brvion ITut. Tba dJMoniolBU widowluioilorCtoncmaMaio*^ I
in llie po^ea of fiction.

'Aigeaue. * Horeden and H. Paris.

ronno an,

doleatv^ I

tiis ivariib J

eaablMtat \

01 dinM^ r

AOELLA OF AHOOULC^IE. 33

I on ihe areua of Europe. Al'tcr resigning lier vite-

I EiigUoiJ ' iuiu the builds of king John, sbe had sMumeJ ilje

her lulive dominiuus, and was then governing Aquitainc,

ti ■ peace estabtistimenL, in perfect security, bI her summer

' el, in Poitou ; when cuuiit Mugh de LusignaOi joining his

me of young Arthur of Brelagae, suddenly laid iiege to

I of the aged queen. This tvaa a plan of count Hugit'o

a meant, if Eleanora had been captured, to have exchanged

• lost spouse. But Eleanora, after they had stormed the (own,

beraelf lo the cit&del of Mirabel, from whose loAy heights she

■t their ellbrta; she ecat to her son fur speedy aid, and, with a

jfiiaaa and scanty provisions, held out heroically till his arrival.

upad once only, did itie recreant John prove hintaelf of '^ the

IB of gre«t Plantagcuet." When he heard of his mother's danger,

•d FruicB with lightning speed, and arriving unexpectedly be-

1, bi« force* hemmed in count Uugh and duke Arthur, between

pnd citadel. His enemies had reckoned on hie character as a

id faineaia knight, but they reckoned in vain ; tie gave them

t on his arrival, and overthrew them with an utter defeat,

s hii rival in love, count Hugh, and his rival in empire,

r, together with four.«nd-twenly of the principal barons of

|o had risen for the right of young Arthur, or were allies of

Ralph of Coggeshall and Matthew Paris declare that queen

ibarged her son, on her malediction, not to harm the noble

>iu had made his prisoner. While the queen-mother retained

W, John contanted himself with incarcerating Arthur in the

talaiw; but be insulted count Hugh, the unfortunate lover of

i with every species of personal indignity, carrying him, and

" "xroiu of Poilou, after him wherever he went, "chained

a tumbril carls dmwn by oxen." " A mode of travelling,"

tei^al chronicler, very pathetically, "to which they were not

' '* la this manner he dragged them afWr him, till he made

k with him for England.'

■abella must have exerted her uiroosi influence, to save tlie

g Lneignui from the fate of his fellow -prisoners, for two-and-

■-jctevin lords, who had been exhibited with count Hugji in the

ilarved to death in the dungeons of Corfe Castle, by tlie

P.Kiog John.* The lover of liubella, positively refusing any

D to tbe abductor of liis bride, was consigned to a weary con*

B the donjon of Bristol Castle, at the same time with John's

a prisoner, Eleanor, the sister of Arthur, suniamed the Pearl

lut %a Ihs righUul heir, for frar Cooilaiioe should
(I dnriuft hia minoiitjr.
r Arn deuila Ihii inoideni aratlf in eimitkr words.
■ sad Di. Henif,

9 tHppo«e thai this unfortnnaw XfXj, oa whom tbs lineal
rrown devolvHl, took the vowa allei a king impnsonmenL
idle of obatlBn bclonniirg to the abbef of FoalsTiaud, axamised by

J

L

SI ISABELLA OF AXOODLEMB.

Isabella nf Angoul^me had not bnrne an beir (o John, when Arlhnr
wu cut ofl^ in 1202 ; thererore, after John had desiioyed this promrnng
scion of Plantagenet, the sole represenlalive nf that heroic line wm hn
(lishonoured self.' The cledsion of the twelve peers of France, roo-
vened lo inqalre into the fate of Arthur, declared Normandy forfeiwd bf
king John, in 1203. The demise of queen Eleanora, his molber. tool
place the year after: she lived to mourn over the dismemberment oflhi
conliiicnlal possessions of her family. Paulus Emilias, in his lift of
Philip Augustus, declares that the queen-mother interceded etrennntwly
for Arthur, and (lied of sorrow when she found the depths of guilt iaia
which John had plunged.

The annals of the monks of Fonlevraiid testify, that queen Elmaoii
took the veil of their order, in ihe year 1202, and that she died in thr
year 1204, having been for many months wholly dead to the world.

Her last charter is given to ihe men of Oleron,* soon after the dwni*
of her SOD, Richard 1. In this document she confirms the privilege of
this great maritime guild or Iraiernity.

Adversity evidently improved the character of Eleanora of Aquitnnc;
and after the violent passions of her youth had been conecied by Mr-
row and experience, her life exhibits many traces of a great ruler uJ
magiiunimous sovereign. A good moral education would have ivadami
Eleanora of Aquitaine one of the greatest characters of her tinte. Sb«
had been reared in her sunny fatherland, as the gay votaress of plavwr ;
her intellectual cultivation had been considerable, but its sole end •»*
to enhance the delights of a voluptuous life, by calling into actWiiv lO

Sir Tliomas Phillipi, Ban., ii u evident that EIboikiib of Brettgns wtts ippoMri,
bjr the nhlMsa of Fonievimud, aupctiot of Iho nunntry of Amlimtnirf. iH
known hitlieno' of the sislei at Anhur wom, that slie died Jn 1333, ud wn
liiiriod Bi Ambtesburf.

' ll ia iu an allusion 10 (Ilia fsci tlinl Le Breton, in his beautirut ^esriip'ifa "(
Arthur's death, (whioh. wiili other rie!i though iirelevsnt mactpr, we are Ixoii
to eielude,] makes Arthur exeinim, when pleading pasnonately fiir his lir*,*ih
ID)' iinolu, apa/e the aon of ihy brother — spare Ihy faung nrpLew — •psr* »J

* ElEuioia of Aquitaine, at that ent the greelen naval polennia in th* woit'^
i« teen in this chuier lo exetciie full Kivereiguty over these mctoliaM illuil'n
■'To the beloved and faithful mariuea of Oleton," rays Eleanora, ' «a (Dnfta
the former GmoU of llial venerable and illnattioas mna, our )»r<1 flcnry tinf cf
Bnglanit, with whom wo oowracled our matrimony, on condition •':'.■ r'- ■-'—'

en orOlerOD keep lajth with our heira." She names not king *

tilts ohaner is fbllowed by amnhflr rromhim, ■■ onnfirnitng, for lii.
our dearest and mon venerable mother baa giBDiod diihng h >
Ihii Jbrgolten cliarler willioul a deep and vilsl iateresi to out :
disDMil iate of Oleion was the source of out maritime laws, and tba cnif'' i^
our infuil couimerce. — (Fiedera, vol. i.) To one of ber cbarten, fttMtni^
the FonlevrBud coUecdon in the Bibliotliiqae Royule, eiamiiM4 bjT Sb "T M
lips is appended the seal of Eleanora, representing liar figate at (hll Ik$^
niiRiliog with a fleur-de-1i« in her ri^-ht hand ; pho holds in the Igft a ^loba, f^
bol trf soveieigaly, on which ia a binl alandiDg an a cross. Ttu) charter itiaUn
a great curiosity, granting cettaia lands, anniiai value tOs., to Adam Ccidi ul
Joan hia wife, on condition of ibeir paying hei every yrmt oat pound oS
mon. — Adam was possibly bar coo^

ISABELLA OF ANGOCLBMK. 35

the powers of a poetic mind. Slowly and surely she learned the stem
lesson of life, that power, beauty, and royalty, are but vanity, if not
linked with moral excellence : she learned it too late, for the thorns her
own reckless hand had planted beset her path to the latest hour of her
txistence.

She was buried by the side of Henry II. at Fontevraud, where her
lomb was to be seen, with its recumbent statue, till the French revolu-
tion.' The face of this effigy is beautifully worked with strokes of the
pencil, like miniature ; the features are noble and intellectual. Eleanora
wears the gorget, wimple, and cover-chef; over this head-gear is a regal
diadem ; the royal mantle is folded gracefully round her waist ; it is of

Get blue, figured with silver crescents. A book was once held in the
ds clasped on the breast, but both hands and book are now broken
away.'

With his mother king John lost all fear and shame. Distinct as his
ehamcter stands, on a bad eminence, the reader of general history knows
little of the atrocity of this man, whose wickedness was of the active
and impetuous quality sometimes seen in the natives of the south of
Europe, combined with the most prominent defects of the English dis-
position. He exhibits the traits of the depraved Proven^d, whose
dvilizatioQ had at that era degenerated to corruption, joined to the bru-
tality of his worst English subjects, then in a semi-barbarous state. Isa-
bella's influence did not mend his roannera; he became notoriously
worae after his union with her.

Ignorance could not be pleaded as an excuse for John's enormities ;
like all the sons of Eleanora of Aquitaine, he had literary tastes. Some
ilems in his close rolls prove the fact, that king John read books of a
high character. His mandate to Reginald de Comhill, requires him to
send to Windsor the Romance of the History of England.' The abbot
of Reading supplied his sovereign with the Old Testament ; Hugh St
Victor on the Sacraments ; the Sentences of Petre Lombard ; The Epistles
of St Austin ; Origen's Treatise ; and Arian. The abbot likewise ac-
knowledges that he has a book belonging to the king called ^^ Pliny." ^

After the dower knds of the English queens had been led free, by the
death of the queen-mother, and the composition of Berengaria, king
John endowed his wife most richly, with many towns in the West of
England, besides Exeter, and the tin-mines of Cornwall and Devonshire.
The jointure paUce of the heiress of Angoul^me was that ancient resi-
dence of the Conqueror, the castle of Berkhamstead, in Hertfordshire.

Queen Isabella accompanied her dishonoured lord to England, Decem-
ber 6, 1203. As Aquitaine, since the captivity of count Hugh de Lu-
signan, had been in a state of revolt, John was forced to reside in Eng-
land, until he made an attempt to subdue Poitou in 1206. Having set at
liberty the queen's unfortunate lover, Hugh de Lusignan, and entered into

' Her beautiful statue is still preserved, thanks to the research and zeal of our
lwn<*nie(l antiquary Stothnrd.

* Montfiiiicoirs engraving gives the hands and book.

"April *29, 1203. See Ezcerpta Historica, 393; the word nmanetj it mnit bs
remembered, merelf meant proie narration. *lbii\.. ^'^.

18 ABELL

OF ANGODLEM

I

b

s pucifio treaty mih him, lie cmhorkeJ utih him, and they toon lAtr
luiiled Bi Rocbelle. By the inllueiice of Liisif^nan, tbe principal pan nf
the South of France agaia owned the sway of tlie line of llie Pknnaiwt

Queen Isabella, during th« king's abeeuce, brought him an Imt H
Winchester, who received the name of Henry. After his return (u Enf-
land, king John began utterly to diaregani all the ancient lawa uf hu
kingdom ; and when the barons murmured, he required from ikm
the surrender of their children as hoetagea. In tbe Tower rolli f^
documenis proving that those young nobles were appointed to n
his queen ' at Windsor and Winchester, where they attended her in.
serving her si meals, and following her at cavaieadeei and jt

Tlie trsQedy of the unfortunate family of De Braosc, visa oceaMMC
by the resistance of the parenia to these ordinances, in 1211. Kiaf
Jolin had demanded the eldest son of William de Braoae. lord of Bnua-
ber, in Sussex, as a page to wail on queen Isabella, mmuing bim ia
reality as a hostage for his father's allegiance. When the ki^a in»
sage was delivered at Bramber by a courtier who bore the omiMM
name of Mauluc,* the imprudent lady de Braose declared in his hMiiK
'^ that she wonld not surrender her childtcn to a king who had monlMW
his own nephew." The words of the unfortunate mother were Mf
reported, by the malicious messenger. The lady de Braose xepentsd rf
her rashness when it was loo laie, and strove in vain lo propitiate qi»a
Isabella by rich gifts. Among other offerings, she sent tlie quMi i
present of a herd of four hundred cows and one beautifVil bull: lUt
peerless herd was white as milk, all but the ears, which were red.'

This strange present to Isabella did not avert the deadly wruih ofhni
John; forheseizedlheunforinnate&milyatMeaihin Irelanil. i
had lied for safety. The lord of Bramber, his wife and i'
conveyed to the old castle at Windsor, and enclosed in n -
where Ihey were deliberately starved to death. Father, ni"i-
innocent little ones, suffered, in our England, the (ate of count Ujolino
and his family; an atrocity compared with which the dark fltain of Jf>
Oiiir's murder fiides to the hne of a venial crime.

Tbe passion of John for his queen, though it wae sufficimily stmu
lo embroil him in war, was not exclusive enough lo secure coorftwu
fidelity; the king tormented her with jealousy, while on hid nan W
was far from setting her a good example, for he ofton invaded the haooof
of the female nobility. The name of the lover of ls^)elb bai never
been naeertained, nor is it clear that she was ever guilty of any ilwtfiO'
tion from rectitude. But John revenged the wrong that, perhap*, oal*
existed tn his maligimnt imagination, in a manner peculiar lo hiiiMiC

'Two of ibese hosmea cbiMreo, Elizabtith hciiBu of sir RaJpU Dviiaiuitef
SUerili Cuilfs in WeiUnotelaml, ami WaltPi The lielt of ni Thumai Sir«UnA
of Strickluod, rotmed an BHachmmit for each other at thi* coon uf Wliclla. iml
>Aerwi>r<Lt mairieil.

' rmer de MhuJuo wu raid lo be the OBsisUDl of Jdba in tbe miU'l« cf i>
ibui; Jicnce ihc lanni of the lady de Biaose. — (l^pmL.) She wh a ZfoMB
barouct* by binh, lici name Matilda St. Vaiery.

'An «ecJeot Flemish ctuoiuBle siiad by Sgotii aad Bolinjtdiad.

IlABBLLik OF ANOOULSMB. 37

Re made his mercenaries assassinate the person whom he suspected of
npplauting him in his queen's affections, with two others supposed to
be accomplices, and secretly hung their bodies over the bed of Isabella.'
Her rarpriae and terror when she discovered them may be imagined,
though it is not described by the monastic writers who darkly allude
to this dreadful scene.

After this awful tragedy, the queen was consigned to captivity, being
ecmveyed to Gloucester abbey, under the ward of one of her husband's
nercenary leaders. In a record-roll of king John, he directs Theodoric
de T3res ^ to go to Gloucester with our lady queen, and there keep her
ii the chamber where the princess Joanna had been nursed, till he heard
fiirther from him." Joanna was bom in 121 0, according to the majority
of the chroniclers. The queen's disgrace was about two years after the
birth of her daughter.

The queen had brought John a lovely family, but the birth of his
(bildren iailcd to secure her against harsh treatment : she was at this
time the mother of two sons, and a daughter.' Isabella inherited the
prorince of the Angoumois in the year 1213, at which time it is proba-
ble that a reconciliation took place between the queen and her husband,
tince her mother, the countess of Angoul^me, came to England, and put
hmelf under the protection of John. Soon afWr he went to Angou-
i^Die, with Isabella.

To &cilitate the restontion of the Poictevin provinces, again seized

hy Philip Augustus, John found it necessary to form an alliance with

w former rival, count Hugh de Lusignan.' Although that nobleman

had been set at libeity some years, he perversely chose to remain a

hadielor, in order to remind all the world of the perfidy of that faithless

boMity who had broken her betrothment for a crovm. The only stipu-

Uiioo which could induce him to assist king John was, that he would

give him the eldest daughter of Isabella, as a wife, in the pbce of the

mollier. In compliance with this singular request, the infant princess

Joanm was betrothed to him immediately, and forthwith delivered to

him, that she might be educated and brought up in one of his castles,

%• her mother had been before her.^ Afler this alliance, count Hugh

eftctnally cleared the Poictevin borders of the French invaders ; and

king John, flushed with his temporary success, returned with his queen,

to plague Elnffland with new acts of tyranny.^

Although die most extravagant prince in the world in regard to .his
own personal expenses, John was parsimonious enough toward his
baatilifiil queen. In one of his wardrobe-rolls there is an order for a
my doth pelitsom for Isabella, guarded with nine bars of grey fur. In
king John's wardrobe-roll is a warrant* for giving out cloth, to make

^ S«a Dr. Linsard, reign of John.

* Her tecond Km, Richard, was born 1208, and her daughter Joanna at Gloocester.

"Matthew Paris.

*Goant Hugh is called the son of count de la Blarche, his father being alive.
F<Bd^ vol. i. *Oct 20, 1214

'It was not beneath the attention of the English monarch to order the minntast
articles of dress for himself and his queen. Indeed, the wardrobe accosmX^ «^
VOL. II. — 4 c

I

OF AKGOU LKXE.

iwo robes for the queen, each to consist of live elU ; one of green dolb,
the other of brunet. The green robe, lined wiih cendal or ttrcenei,ii
considered worth sixty shillings. Tbe king tikpwive ordere (or hit
queen cloth for a pair of purple sandals, and four pair of women'a boota,
one pair to be embroidered in circles round the ankles. There is, lit*-
wise, an item for the re[iair of Isabella's mirror.' The dress of Joha wm
costly and glittering in tbe extreme, for he was, in addition to nilicr fol-
lies and frailties, the greatest fop in Europe. At one of lii« Christmu
festivula, he appeared in a red satin mantle, embroidered with mpphini
and ]>eBrls, a tunic of white damask, a girdle s^t with garnets and ma-
phires, while the baldrick that crossed from his lefl shoulder lo siHtiu
his sword, was set with diamonds and emeralds, and hia white glow
were adorned, one with a ruby, and the other with a aaf^hin!.' The
richness of king John's dress, and the splendour of his jeweller}', partir
oerasioned the extravagant demands he made on the purses of bis peo^,
both church and laity ; he supplied his wants by a degree of corruption
that proves him utterly insensible to every feeling of honour, both u t
man and a king, and shamelessly left rolls and records whereby posterity
were enabled to read such entries as the foilowiug ludicrous speciroeu
of bribery.'

" Robert de Vaux gave five of his beat palfreys, thai the king m^
hold his tongue about Henry Pinel's wife."

Wliat tale of scandal king Jolm had the opportunity of telling, depo-
nent saith not ; but the entry looks marvellously imdignified, in nipl
accounts, and shows that stiame as well as honour wu dead in the bfwt
of John.

" To the Bishop of Winchester is given one tun of good wine, fof »d
putting the king in mind to give a girdle to die countess of Albemsrie."

The scarcity of coin, and absence of paper-money, made bribery re-
markably shameless in those daysj palfreys prancing at the levee,' uJ
the four hundred milk-white kine of the unfortunate lady de BibM^
lowing before the windows of Isabella, must have had an odd cflrcL*

The queen, soon afler her return to England in 1314, ivas aupereeded
in the Uckle heart of her husband, by the unfortunate beauty of Malilik
Fits-Walter, suntamed the Fair. The abduction of this lady, who, to

the sovEreigns of ibe middle ages prove tlint ihoj kept a royal warsluHiH of
raoipcry, haberdaBhcrjr, and linen, from wlicnce ilieir offioer* mmsutcil oat ni-
VHls,-brocnde, wuconels. liesue, ^iue«, and Iiinnnings of all tona,' uul ibnqb
ihfl teipi of Henry VIII,, nt least, ihe Branu for IhiB hnbprdufaety wrre l^od
by the warlilie hand of the English sovsrelgii. See Ihe order Ibr lady tlUlt
fold's coiin nwuraing, quoted by Dr. Liogaid al Ihe end of ihs Tcjgn of lluu B»
narab ; in whioh even ber caps ar« diaoataed.
■F^crpta Hlitorico, p. 398.

■ Siich otnamenied glovei are *eea oa hii effigy al Worcester calbedial, tM m
that of bi« father at Fontevraud.

• Vpo Neustria. Man. VfeBtm\nMtet-

■ It realiaei Uie mtire of Vapf, applied U> ilie Walpole tninutty. Tte fMt
laiuling the convenipnce of bonk noiei in such oaiea, conlrattf tlw cliirBif ««
rflyaiice of tangible properly as bribes, saying,

■■ A bandM& VIML U^J llBTM MM."

ISABELLA

XGOULEME.

in hn juslice, ihoroughly abhorred ihe royal felon, was ihe exploit
■■hirh completed ihe eiBsperaiioii of the English burona, who flew W>
imi* for ihc purpose of svenging ihe honour of the most disiinfuislied
i!Ti(tng their cIms, lord Fitz-WiJter, liither of the fair victim of John.

r.vny one knows ihnl, clad in steel, they met their monarch John nt
uiiiinymede, and there

- In Uapry bour
MnJp the fell lyrani frrl Ins ppoplf's power."

The unfurinnaie Maulda, who had rouaeil the jealousy of the queen
«ii(l excii«<l the IbwIces passion of John, was supposed lo be i
>' t Uiatj in ihe spring of ihe year 1215.'

.\Aer the signature of Magna Charta, king John retired in & rage ta
>:■■ foitreM at Windsor, the scene of tnany of hia secret murders. Hent
.'- gave way lo lempesta of personal fury, resembling his fulher^a bursU)
' poxsion ; he execrated his birth, and, seizing slicks and clubs, venlof
' 1.^ maniantl feelings by biting and gnawing them, and then breakitu
iiiim in pieces. While these emoitons were raging, mischief matur
tiarif in his soul ; for after passing a sleepless nighl at Windsor, he (
puwd for Ihe lale of Wight,' wliere he sullenly awaited the arrival ot '
■ome imaiia of mercenaries he had sent for from BmbanE and Quieniicit
with whooe assistance he meant to revenge himself on ihe barons,
the btr isle John passed whole days, idly sauntering on the beach, chaV-
tmB fiuniliarly with the fishers, and even joiuing in piratical cxpediliona
wiui ibem against his own subjects. He was absent some weeks ; eveiT
Mie ihooghi he was lost, and few wiahed that he might ever be fouiia>
He onerged from his concealment in good enmeal, when his mercenary
'~'-op« urived, and then he began that atrocious progress across ths
•iani), always alluded to by his contemporaries with horror. One trail
1/ hi* conduct shall sen-e for a specimen of the reel : — The king every
urnming took delight in firing, with his own hands, the house that had
^clicrvd Ikim the preceding night.

Ill ilie luidst of this diaMical career be reconciled himself to Isabellaj

■■ ' '- lind kept in a stale of palace reattuinl ever since Ihe abductiov !

' I tlie Fair.' The queen advanced as far as Marlborotigh Id

11' jau Illi," Mith tho book oT Dunmow, "there atoie a grtat dit^
^ b«f Jnhn and hit barom, becaiui of MnliiJa, iornamed ihe FaiTi
■:: .r I ; I Rnbi-n lord Filz- Waller, whom ibe king unlawrully loveil. but codHT
aa .tictif. bcf. nor ber Ikthec'i consent thereto. Wheien|ion Ihe king baoisha^' ,
a* B.-i )'ia<Wiiltei, Iba mcMt valianl knight in England, aud csussd hia caalW
i> Laiit..ii. callod fiijmard, and, all bis oibor dwelliaifi, uj be spoiled. Whidh I
l-3i( if.ur, lie tent to Matilda ihe Fair about his old auit in laeo, and beoani
■dv V. I lit TKii a^ree in h>> wickeilneH. the meiecngei poisoned aa egg, aud
l« Icrf.'fi, when ibe was hungry, boil il and giTB her to eat. She did K
•!i-^] " rmdilion points out ouo of ihe toCtj lurrelB, perched on the top, at tl
■<ryt i-t ttir Whit« Tower of London, as ilie «eene ot this miirdor. She wi
a:tr7.<l Eb-re, Biter ibe storming of Bnynnrdi easile, in 1313. In a like spidt' 1
to 'xuit Julian, her enraged fatlier brought iLe French iato England, to aven^ '
^1 ^ufi'itiM Matilda's lortvb and offig7Bre nill to ht teen in Ihe prioijr obuiob
of I.Hilii thtnmaw in Essex. — Srt Bnjty'i Graphic Ptrambulalor.
'Bamaid'i Hiitorj of England. 'Mallbew of Westminsler.

ISABELLA

OP

KOnDLESE.

^

meet hinii whei« ihej' abode some days, at ihe royal polar
of Savr^ruake,' which was one of the principal doner caallei c
<|ueeiu. Al ihiB lime there is an iniimation on the rcconl-fQUs, ll
new building, al the queen's castle on Savemakd wen compli
guiDOg which were kitchens, with tireplaccs for roasting oxon whult.

John consigned to the care of Isabella, nt thia time, his heir pnnc*
Henry, with whom she retired to Gloucester, where the rest of the roT«l
children were abiding. The queen had, in tite year 1214, become llie
mother of a secood daughter, and in the succeeding year she gate birlt
to the princess Isabella.'

Scarcely had the queen retreated to the strong city of Gloucester, whni
tliat invasion by prince Louis of France took place, which is so wtU
known in genenil history. The barona, driven to desperetion hy Jobo't
late outrages, oScred the heir of France the crown, if he would aid iIko
against their tormentor.'

Hunted into an obscure corner of his kingdom, in the autiimD of 1316,
king John coniided tiL? person and regalia to the men of Lytin in X<s-
(blk. But OS his af&ire eununoned him northward, he croaaed iheWuiii
to Swinshead Abbey, in Lincolnshire. The tide coining in unexpectedly,
swept away part of his army and his baggage. Uis splendid regalia ■n*
■wallowed in the devouring waters, and John himself scarcely evaped
with lile. The luug arrived at Swinshead Abbey imwell and dispiiual,
and, withal, in a malignant ill temper. As he sat at me&l in the •btwt'i
refectory, he gave vent to his spleen, by saying, " that he hoped to dmLc
the half-penny loaf cost a sliilling before the year wad over.*' A Sason
monk heard this malirious speech with indignalion : if tbe evidence itf
coniejnporary historiaus niay be believed, John uttered this folly at dia-
ner, ana before his dessert was ended, he was poisoned in a dish of aulmm

In all probability the king was seized with one of thoae wvera ^pbB
fevers, often endemic, in the fenny countries, at the close of ih* ytm.
The symptoms of alternate cold and heal, detaUed by the chraaidMt
approximate closely with that disease.

Whether by the visitation of God, or through the agency of n«i.llia
fact is ecjdent, that king John w^ stricken with a fatal illnem ai Skip*-
head; but, sick as he was, he ordered himself to be put in a liner, md
carried forward on his northern progress. At Newark he could praecel
no further, but gave himself up to the fierce atlacks of the nulaoy. Bi
sent for the abbot and monks of Croxton, and made full con&Miai (d
all his sins ; (no slight imderlaking;) he then forgave his enoMiiee, wi
enjoined those about him to charge his son, Henry, to do the eauM} u^
after taking the eucharist, and making all his officers swear fealnr to kii
eldest son, he expired, commending his soul to God, and hts soJv to
bucial in Worcester Cathedral, acccmling to his especial ■JtrMiin* ii"—

' See FoDdera, in many deeds,
' AAeiward* muried lo the emperor of Geimanr.
'touti'claun wai rooaded on bis ni»rri»gB with tl
t'^uille, nieoo w John.

a Saxon liishop, of great repiitalion Tor
his vicinity the dying king eviilcntly emt-
io be convenient, for keeping his cnri>se from tlic atlaclu J
one wlinm he had indefatigably served during hia life. Hh I
''I'tiieinpcirary hislorisne did not seem to think ihnt l)iis arraiigeinenl, .1
Imwrvtr pnidentty planned, was likely to be elTecln&l in altering hia I
ilatinAtinn ; as one of them sums up hia rliaracier in these words tf- |
Wnific energy — "Hell felt itself defiled by the presence of John."

Tilt c|ttGen and the royal children were at Gloucester, when the m
of the king's dwith airived. Isabella and llie earl of Pembroke imm^ ]
liiaiely caused prince Henry to be proelaimeil, in tlie streets of that eity,
In the coraoalion letter of lienry III. is preserved the memory of t
Trry prudent step, taken by Isabella as queen-m oilier. As the kingdca
wu in ftn unsettled and tumultuous state, and as she was by no means J
Bwiirra! of the safely of the young king, she provided for the security iff |
^•'•\k l.i-r sons, by sending her son Itirhard to Ireland, whieh was at that I
turn.' loyal and iranquil. The boy-king says m his proclamntion,* "ThtJ
lady ijueeii our mother has upon advice, and having our assent to it| I
•rni our brother Itichard to Ireland, yet so that you and Dur kitigdot
f«n »pecdily see him again."
Only nine days after the death of John, the queen caused her young ]
bo crowned, in the cstiiedral of Gloucester.' .'Although so r&> J
BBitlj' K widow, the citrrmc exigencies of the limes forced Isabella to J
child's coronation. The regal diadem belonging to his faihtir I
_ lost in Lincoln Washes,' and the crown of Edward the ConTessn I
bcng (u distant in London, the little king was crowned with a gold I
ifu«Ml cellar belonging to his mother. A very small part of Engliw4 1
rnvgnised llie claims of Imbella's son ; even Gloucester was divided, I
llie citizens who adiiereil to the young king being known by tlie croM
■ 'f Aqnilaine, cut in while cloth oa their breasts.

' The nobtv monumenl i>f king Jolin, in black itinible. with hia flna effigjr, ii to
: iivu ill Worv«9ti.'i callieilnJ, Ihougb now removed to die choir, at noinv dil-
- .■:r (nrni th« ilpairablu ni-i|jlibou[tioiiil or llic Saxon siiinl. JoUn wai rechone4
\.j hia coDWnipnntlcs ciiremftly liniiclsomc ; but ihc great breaullh over Iba
■■Wtto and emio, Which is the ieiiJing characleriglic of lhi> monarclt, i« not con-
ria,nt wllh modarn ideu of beHuly. In the mors animal comelinegs of cM^
pliiiiiii anci farm faa ptobabiy sxoelled.
'Foiiara, vol. i. ■Speed'i CtaKiaiclb

■RrgBid* w«a circulated in Noilblli, that the royal circle! of king Jobn tng ]
nrtunlj nnind, in tlio laus eictvation for ilic Eau brink dminxge, near the i
tadlcaied tyf chronicler! ni the scene of Ibii lost; and n wel I'sinker, who ki
vAlng dT hiftory, informed a gentleman of Norfolk, of a eiirioua discovery M J
■mIo wbcn dig^ine fbr a well in tbc wme nei^liboarhood. "I found," mid h'
'ill IIhi oOurHi of my wll-ditcsins. • king* crown." On l>sinf deiliKl » d
KDb* iU ha dcrUtiitl tlmt it wu no larger tliHii (he lop of ■ quut pot, but Otf' I
Ml in WDBtnenu round tlie lep i tint it looked black, uid thai b« had no laok (1^ I
Ihe Tahii', Cir when ■ JuW imilat oflBred liim iliree pounijs ten (hillings, he «!■ 1
fjaj u> aecepi ll, hut he afturwiirds hcarJ ilinl the Jew had made upward* cf 1
Uty ppundj by the •pecalatian. Tllii Was moil likely one of the golden Mr» 1
mJ* m dnlm (Ued at die back of the king* belmais, a» iu liza ihawi tbaf^ J

I
I

4'2 ISABELLA or AKOOILENK'

Henry vim (lieu jiui nine yt»n clil -, but lliou^h likely lo be > minor
fur aome vmrs, ji tiiuit Iw obrntrveJ ihai tlie (juuen-moihOT wu oftnd
no vharo in ihe goiremm<-ui ; *iid lu i|uecn« of Englooil h«d (Jr«i}iKflily
acted OS rvgrnta, during ihc nliscncG of ihcir )iaab«nda or aotia, iliii n-
elusion Li a prDof ihut itir English liclil laabclla in little Mteen.

London snil ihe ndjai-'eni cuunliH were \iuio in the ImuuIb of Lmiiad'
Frauce. Animig other ^sbcmIoos. he hclJ ilie ijueeii's dower>palace of
Berkhampstcad, which was strongly gartiauned with French aolilim.
(lowfTcr, the lalout and wisdom of iho protector Pembroke, and Iht in-
trppitlily of IluWrl di: Bur^fh, in n few mouths cleared England of ihcH!
in trader*.

Before her year of wiilowhood liad espiied, l«al>ella retired U) her
native city. Angoul£ine, July. 1217. The princess Joanna mided m
ttie vicinity of her luutlier'a doitiBina. being al Valence, the c&piial of ibi
count do la Marchc. Nothing could be more aingular than the aiiuatiai
of queen l»bclla, as niuthvr lo the pmmised bride «f count [iagb.wi
that bride but ocven years old. The valiant Ltisignan himaelf wai ^iM
from bia territories, venting his superfluous ccinibotivenesa, and aoolhl^
hia croasos in lova, by a cruude which Ite uoilrrlook in I3I& Tia
demise of his father obliged him to revisit Puitou in 1220, when ba««
frequrnily in cmupany with the ijucen of England, who wu al tb« «M
time hia false love, and tlie mother of iiis little wife. laabelU, at limfi
of ihirty-^our, still rtitained that marvellous beauty which hiKl cauid M
tu be considered the Helen of the middle ages. It ja iheKibit no gml
wonder, thai alie quickly regained her old place in lite conatant taiM tt
the valiant Matcher. Accordingly, we find this notation in UatlliavW
WeaUninater, that in the year 1220, or'* about that time, Isabella, qM«-
dowagerofEjiglaod, having beTore crossed the teas, took lo her binburf
her former tpou$t, llie couui of Marche, in Frauce, without leav» of b>
son, llie kin^, or his council."' As the queen took this step witboot
asking the cuoseni of any one in England, the council of regcttcy witb-
held her dower from her, lo the indignation of her husband. A very It"
months afforded them an opportunity of righting this wrong.

The countcss-queen and tfie count de U .Marche had still retained U
^'aleiice the little Joanna, who had been deprived by her mother of im
mature bridegroom. But it so happened that the council of Hr-nnr lil
greatly needed the resioniUon of tiie princeas. in order lo make peaH
with Alexander, king of Scotland; upon which king [lenr;- took llio
opportunity of writing a congratulatory episde to hia muiher on hrt
marriage, and demanding the restoration of his sister; but queen Isabell*i
highly inceused at the deprivation of her jointure, poaitivety refuaed U
give lip the princeas. The young king then wrote to the pope, eomesllt
requesting him to escommunicaic his mother and failier-in-law ; the
latter he vituperated as a very Judas. Before the pope complied with
this dutiful request, he inquired a little into the meiits of ilic case, lixl

' Maitliaw Paris. Beside M Paiii, all hiitoriiui!, nnrienl and mckleni. maaiiaa
the nnnanlie le-tnanio^. Rymet's Ttuden, Hemniiaglbid, Wikee, Ratuiiil'' 311,
Carta, Tj^etl, Collier, mad Monii

ISABELLA OF ANGOtlLEME. 43 '

I Ihwd that Henry III. had ilepriveil his royal mother or all, in England
mdGtiienne, ihat appertained to her as the widow of king John, because
At (Ud not ack his leave to marr}' a sccuiid time ; and as he was only
bnrtern, timl waa scarcely to be ex{>erted. After a most Tohiminous
correapottdence between tlie contending parties, on the kin|; of Scots
declanng he would not be pacified without a wife from the royni family,
Heitry was glad to make up the difference with his mother, by paying
Urr ■rrearM of jointure, and receiving from the count de la Marclie the

The king of Fninre was the liege lord of count de la Marche; but
the ci>uiit«a9-<)ueen waa infuriated whenever she saw her husband arrayed
■{{aiiuii llie iprritorips of her son, and her sole study was, how French
pMtou could be rendered independent of the king of France. " She was
a ifuwiii'** she aaidi ^ and she disdained to be the wife of a man who
had lo kneel before another." Another cause of violent irritation ex-
M«l>— Prince Alphonso, the brother of the king of France, had refused
Imdaughler, by ihecount delaMaiche. and married Janeof Thoulouse;
en this occasion king Louis created his brother, count of Poictiers, and
nqoiml llie count de la Marche, as possessor of Poitou, to do him
homage. Isabclb manifested great disdain at the heiress of Thoulonse*
liking precedence of her, the crowned queen of England — mother, ea
ibe nid, ofa king and an empress.

From that time she suflered the unfortunate count de la Marche to
btn DO domestic peace, till he transferred his allegiance from Louis IX.
Co ber won Henry 111., who undertook the conquest of French Poitou at '
the insiigntion of his moiher.'

Several ymn of disastrous war<are ensued. The husband of Isabella
nearly lost his whole patrimony, while the district of the Angoumois
«« overrun by the French.' After king Henry III. lost the ^llle of
Taifleboorg, fought on the hanks of Isabella's native river, the sparkling
Charmt*, ■ series of defeats followed, which utterly dispossessed both
the qarai-mothcr and her husband of their territories. Henry IH. fied to
BonnlAiu, wairccly deeming himself safe in that city; while the queen-
mother, whose pride had occasioned the whole catastrophe, had no
RMMrce but lo deliver herself up to the mercy of the king of France.
The cuoni de la Marche had fought like a lion ; but his valour availed
liHlSf wh«n the minds of his people were against the war.

D this dilemma, the couniess-queen and her lord determined to send
Ir heir, Ibe young Hugh de Lusignan, to see how king Louis seemed ,
d inwards them. Thai amiable monarcli received the son of hit I
i such benerolence, that the count de la Marche, taking his '

»St Pari*. Tha princna w»» married to AlBiander II, bi Yorlt, MidmmnivT,
US I. Tlwufth only eleven ywin or age, her manisgee had already mice itoppcd
■ cnwl wai. Sbp wai ■ child of an^lia bcniily nnd (weeineas of dispoailiDii,
UkI wva vBinsmeJ, by Il>e Eiiglitb, Joan Makepeace. She died, when twenty-
SO, ■4' a dwelinr, piiHlncpd tiy a change of cUitiole. The king a( Seal*, at this
{■ciltcatio*. tcccived baek Uia (Wo sieiera, who had been pledged lo Icing Joha' J
tu a Mm at nonay.

•Spoc^ •TiUndsRecueil, IMl. 'H. Paris.

wi(^ and the rest of the children with him, to the Cftmp of Sl t
iht^inselTes at his feet, and were very kindly reccired, on no
ditions, than doing homage to prince Alphonso, for three cm

It might liavc heen eupfioed ihal the restless epiril of t
lamed by tliese disasters; but soon alier, in 1244, die ItfB of
was twice atiemptcd: the last lime the assasnns were
before (heir execnlion confessed that Ihey had been niboi
Isabella, to poison the good king of France, fsabcdla gSTC'
the accusation by flying for sanctuary lo the abbey of T
" where she was hid in the secret ehunber, and lired at her
niatihew Paris; "though the Poictevins and French, cociaidf
the origin of the disasiroos war wiih France, called her b
name than Jezebel, instead of her rightfal appellation of Isat
thew says, tht whole brunt of this disgracefnl business feQ'
unfortunate husband and son. They were seized, and attoul
on this accusation of poisoaing, when count de la Marche ni
to bailie, and oflbred lo prove in combat, with his MCiwer
brother to St. Louis, lhal )us wife was belied. Alphonao, '
to liave had no great stomach to the fray, declined it, on I
coimt Uu^ was so « ireaaon-spoited," it would be pollni
with him. Then Isabella's yonng sou Hugh dutifully ofll
in the place of his sire, and Alphunso actually appointed
place lo meet him; nevertheless, he again withdrew, ezci
on the plea of the infamy of the family. *^This sad n
Matthew, " for evil tidings hasten bat, soon reached the
in the secret chamber of Foiitevraud."

The affront otfitred lo her brave young son seems to hare
heart of Isabella. She never came out of the secret chamber
assuming the veil, (lied of a decay brouglil on by giief,
1246.

As a penance for her sins, she desired to be buried hn
common cemetery at Fontevraud. Some years aAerwards h«ri
III-, visiting the tombs of his ancestors at Fonlevraud, was i
being shown ^le lowly grave of his mother : he raised for b
tomb, with a fine enamelled statue, in the choir at Fontei
Henry II. and deonom of Aquitaine, her mothei^in-law.'

Her statue is of fine proportions, clad in fiowing garment
to the waist by a girdle. She wears ilie wimple veil, and
frontlet. Her face is oval, with regular and majesiic feature*.'

'Ataitbew or WestmiiisleT.

*Ttia alate or Ihe loynL etRgies HI Fouler mud. in ihe pmeni od
■iMciibed in Sntbud* Monumenlat Aniiqullii-). by tbe ndmirKble
Bmy. "WheD Mr. SnnfaBtd lirct vUited Ftwme, diiiiog rli*
came dltecl lo FonlevrKud h> aweiiam it ibe vfflgiet of oui
wire bucieil iheio weie to be hod. He Sbnad Uie nbbejr coavcitad
and diicovered in b ocIIhc belonging u> it the effigies o( Heaiy I
Eltsnora or Ac|Uilaiao. Riehatd I, and lubella of Angoultmi
where I'je flpjiei were placed prnviou* lo Uie roTolulion wiii »t»
■ad' ibfan iovaluatal* effl^i then i«bwxb& «> «- coUaXiWhoM

ISABELLA OF ANGOULBMB. 45

The count de la Marche simrived his unhappy partner but till the year
1219. The enmity between him and the family of St Louis entirely
diMppeared after the death of Isabella ; for her husband shared the cm-
ade that the king of France made to Damietta, and fell, covered with
woonda, in one of the eastern battles, fighting by the side of his old
mttigoniet, Alphonso, count of Poictiers.'

Ubella left several children by this marriage ; dve sons, and at least
three dangfaters. Her eldest son, by the count de la Marche,' succeeded
ooC only to his Jhther's patrimony, but to his mother's inheritance of the
Angoumois. He is reckoned in the genealogy of Lusignan as Hugh XL,
count de la Marche and Angoultoe.

The count de la Marche sent all his younger sons, with his daughter
Alice, to Henry III., who provided for them very liberally, to the great
iHlignalioa of his subjects.

pOMd to oonstant mntilmtioii ttom the prisoners who came to draw water from m
irtU twice every day. It appeared that they had sustained severe ir^ury, as Mr.
SaNlierd finind the broken fragments scattered round. He made drawings of
(he flgurea, and upon his return to England suggested to our government the
pnprietj of obtaining possession of these interesting relics, that they might be
among the rest of our royal effigies in Westminster Abbey. The appli-
friled, but it succeeded in calling the attention of the French govern-
towards theae remains, and in preserving them from total destruction."

'Mbotfiuioon, who gives the date of his death 1249.

*Afl a modem writer has committed the strange blunder of marrying Isabella
to her own son, instead of her fbrmer husband, the following note is subjoined
ftOM Speed, no slight anthority in matters of genealogy.

*Qnieea iMbella, surviving king John, was married to Hugh le Brun, earl of
Mnchy and k>rd of Losignan and Valence in Poictou, to whomfirU tlu ihould
km€ beem tmarried, hui ytt (^oi tumeth) continutd ker affectum to him tiU now. By
Inm she had divers children, greatly advanced by Henry 111., their half brother
(ttd aa graatly maligned by his subjects). The eldest was Hugh, earl of March
and AngoalSme ; the second Chiy de Lusignan, slain at the battle of Lewes ;
the tbirdf William de Valence, earl of Pembroke ; the fourth, Ajrmer de Valence,
faiiliDp of Winchester ; the fifth, Geoffrey of Lusignan, lord of Hastings."

ELEANOR OF PROVENCKj

flUBNAMED LA DBLLB.

QDEEN OFHENRYin.

CHAPTER I.

Elt-aiior of Prorcnc?— ParpDiBEe— Biriti— Talenu— Poem writtm by !
beauty — Henry acappls EIpbhot witboul dowry — Escorted lo EnfUml-
ried nl OtDlerbory— -Crowned iit WpilminMBr — Coctnme and ]«wel> — I
■Itention lo dresi — Rapncily of the ijaeen't relalivsi — Binlk or hei ehlcMMt
— PuuIinKs in her obambers — Attempt on the kiag't llfh — Eleauor nilM M
kin^— Birth of bei sldost daughter — Queeu aocanipanie) the kittg to GttiaM
— Birth of the princeu Beuiict! — Return to Enslaiid — Tmboiencc iif riiWfrt
un^le— Etennor's teeond ton bom — Kingnud qupsn robbed rm the higbMq^
_SleaDOt'e unpopulariiy in London — Dower — Elennor's nrother^ — -Kint pi***
■bIb — Mnrriapeof princPH Marfiaret — Projected cnts»il« — EiMM
leen-regent— King's tlefinriuro for Goicnne — Makes hii wiB— ■»
a loyal power to Elesuor — PriniHMa Katliurino born.

i of Provence waa perhnpa the moat unpopoUr queen te

OTtr presided over the couii of England. She was imrortanalely tiiU
to share the crown and ro}til dignity of a feeble-minded sovrrei^alu
earlier age ihan any of lier predecessors ; for, at the time of W Il■^
riage with king Henry, she had scarcely completed her fourteenth ytati
a penod of life when her education was imperfect, ber Judgiuoit n*
formed, and her character precisely thai of a spoiled child, of pncociuB
beauty and genius — perilous gifts! which in her case aerved bui to
foster Tanily aiid sclf-sulHciency.

This princess was ilie second of the 6Te beautiful daughl«ra of Beiw
ger, count of Provence, tlie grandson of Alfonso, king of .Amfw
Berenger was the last and most illustrious of the royal Provonf^ oountii
and even had he not been the sovereign of the land of song, his o«9
verses would have entitled him to a distinguished rank among the trw-
Iwdour poets.' His consort Beatrice, daughter of Tbnnus, ftmnl of
Savoy, was scarcely less celebrated for ber learning and Uiemry fowm.'

From her accomplished parents the youthful Eleanor inheriled boA*
natural taste, and a practical talent for poetry, which the «ny m A

> M. PBtia. ■ SismoDdi's Litetalure oT tfaa £ea«k

'According lo «ome writpts, ahe was the friend anil coirespemlenl of Sidtfl
Coeut d« Lion, and it hu boaa pnerally tuppoHHl thst the caOolDiliBgt >*>■*
£nK>y«, in hi> eelebtiued prUon poem, bcKiiuiiog ■ Comleue,'' ii aiUn^al *
tbLt liuly, lo whom alra he ii laid lo have icot a copy of his wpna^^ RbaaA
mad J. P, Aadnwt,

SLSAICOR OF PROVENCE. 47

•bretthed tended to foster and encourage. Almost before she entered her
teeos, she had composed an heroic poem hi her native Proven9al tongue.

This work is still in existence, and is to be found in MS., in tlie royal
library at Turin.* The composition of this romance was the primary
ciuse to which the princess, or (as she was then styled^ the infanta of
Provence, owed her elevation to the crown-matrimonial of England.
Her fiither^s major-domo and confidant, Romeo,' was the person to whose
able management count Berenger was indebted for his success in match-
ing his portionless daughters, with the principal potentates of Europe.
No doubt, to Romeo's sagacious advice the following steps taken by
young Eleanor may be attributed.

She sent to Richard, earl of Cornwall, Henry the Third's brother, a
fine Provencal romance of her own inditing,' on the adventures of Blan-
din of Cornwall, and Guillaume of Miremas, his companion, who under-
took great perils for the love of the princess Briende and her sister
Irionde (probably Britain and Ireland), dames of incomparable beauty.

Richard of Cornwall, to whom the young infanta sent, by way of a
eonrtly compliment,^ a poem so appropriately furnished with a {xdadin
«f Cornwall for a hero, was then at Poitou, preparing for a crusade, in
which he hoped to emulate his royal uncle and namesake, Richard I.
He was highly flattered by the attention of the young princess, who was
■o celebrated for her personal charms that she was called Eleanor la
Belle ; but as it was out of his power to testify his grateful sense of the
hoQoar, by ofilering his hand and heart to the royal Provencal beauty in
letam for her romantic rhymes, he being alr^y the husband of one
food lady (the daughter of the great earl protector Pembroke) he obli-
giurij recommended her to his brother Henry 111. for a queen.

That monarch, whose share of personal advantages was but small,
and whose learning and imaffinativeness far exceeded his wit and judg-
ncnt, had been disappointed in no less than &ye attempts to enter the
holy pale of matrimony, with as many different princesses. Henry
would fitin have espoused a princess of Scotland, whose eldest sister had
married hia great minister Hubert de Burgh ;* but his nobles, from jeal-
ousy of Hubiert, dissuaded him from this alliance.*

* Nostrodamna, Hiit. of Troubadours.

' CrescembinL Romeo is mentioned by Dante as one of the greatest Italian
poett of hit tim«; be was tutor to Eleanor and her sister Marguerite.

' Lirea of the Troubadours, by Nostrodamus, who very stupidly mistakes Rich-
ard, earl of Cornwall, for his uncle Cceur do Lion ; but Fauriel has, in tlie Revue
des Deox Mbndes, satisfiuitorily explained the blunder.

*The poem written by the princess Eleanor bears marks of its origin, being
pRcisely the sort of composition that a child, or jroung girl of some genius and
Unle literary eiporience miglit have composed. It was not without iu popula-
rity in bar native country, where it is yet remembered. Probably the young
Eleanor received some assistanoe firom her mother and fhther, as the countess
Brairiee and the count Berenger were both poeu of great popularity in tlie Pro-
vni^l dialect — Fauriiij Rtvue dn Deux Mo9uUm.

* It was reported to king Henry, by Hubert's jealous foes, that he had dissuaded
a lady fhmi folfllling her engagement with the king, by telling her ^ that Henry
waa* a aqninteyed fbol, a lewd man, a leper, deceitful, perjured, more fiunt«
iManed than a woman, and utterlf unfit for the company oC an^ fa^i ov tMC^\%
lady" (ArticJef a/* /miwacfamen^ Sneed.) ^'BLa^vou

CLEinOK OP FROVEKCS

. Ao»- *

I

r then vainly suwl for a conson in ihe rnurtt of Brvta^i
d Buherau ; and al length, wholly Aiapiriun] hj hb vnni n( ouo
_.,Jrfal every mairbnonial nt-g-ftialion inio whirh he hmit tntenf^i Ae
TO^ Cwleht, havin' arrivcil ai (he age of iweniy-ifTe, began, no dmAt.
to imagine himvetf deTotcd to a life of single bleisethieu, and reniabtil
fonr years without further attempts to provide himself with a qiit«n.

In IS39, howcvn, he agiun tnolc rnnnigr, and offered bis li.'iiii] (o
Joanna, the daitghier of ihp rarl of Ponthicu; and harjn-
time in his life, received a favourable answer to his pmpii- .
of marriage with this lady wan ni^ied, and ambanxadors <l
ihe ij(i[w'i dispeuBation ; but when diey were wiihin a (i'a : ,
(ley of Rome, Henry »ent word that he had altered his miud, iiud diirjfJ
ihern not to proceed.'

Tliia sudden change of pnrpnsG was occuioned by the agreeable i»
prcesion Henry had r«rived from his bruiher Richard, wrl ofConxral],
of the beauty and brillumt genius of his (air corrcspondeni, Eleanor of
Provpncc'

The treaty was privately opened in June 1239 ; and » soon at Reoiy <
thought proper to make known to his court, that be luul broken hi) '
engagement with the maid of Pontbiru, his nobles, according to \lt» '■
mingfurd, were so obliging as to rvcmnmend him to many the very lidy
on whom he had secredy fixed his mind.

As Louie IX. of France (afterwards styled Si- Louis) «
Rlcanor'a eldest sister, the infanta Mar^crite of Provence, HemyV
sellurs were of opinion that great political advantages might on d
from (his alliance.

Henry discreetly made choice of three sober priests, for his _
tors at the court of count Berenger.' The bishops of Kly and ■
coin, and the prior of Ilurlc ; to these were added llie masln <
Temple. Though Hpiiry'a age more than doubled that of the fiorBi
of Provence, of whose charms and accomplishments he had recvinJ '
such favoumble repoits, and he was aware thai the poverty of the Evn^
Tons count her father was almost proverbial, yet the king's const! dmooil
covpiousness impelled him to demand the enormons portion of tntnir
tliousnnd inark^, with this (kirest flower of the land of roee^ and aweri
song.

Cunnt Berenger, in reply, objected on the put of his daughter, to IM
very inadeqnaie dower Henry wotdd be able to settle upon her duiiif
the life of his niollier queen Isabella. Heury, on this, proceeded to
lower hit demands from one eum to another, till finding that thv ima^
veriohed but high-epiriied Provencal count vras inclined t
Rordid manner of bargaining for the nnplial pc»lion,* and b

BI.BANOR OF PROVENCE. 49

alarmed lest he should lose Uie lady, he in a ^cat fright wrote to his
ambassadors, ^ to conclude the marriage forthwith, either with money or
without, but at all events to secure the lady for him, and conduct her
wttdy to England without delay."

The contntct was then joyfully signed by count Berenger, and the
infcnta Eleanor was deliveied, with all due solemnity, to the ambas-

HcDiy, in the coarse of his matrimonial negotiations with the count
of Pioveiice, addressed two letters, one to the count, and the other to
the eonntess of Provence, in which he requests them ^ to permit the
■■ptiik of Eleaoor to be postponed till the feast of St Martin, and to
•i^lain to their daughter, that such was his wish." *

Elaanor was dowered in the reversion of the queennmother, Isabella
«f Angoul^me's dower, whose settlement is recapitulated in the marriage
tnsaty between Henry and his future consort ; but no immediate settle-
■eol is specified for the young queen.

When the royal bride commenced her journey to England, she was
attended on her progress by all the chivalry and beauty of the south of
Fiance, a stately train of nobles, ladies, minstrels, and jongleurs, with
crowds of humbler followers. She was treated with peculiar honours
by Thibaut, the poet-king of Navarre, who feasted the &ir Provencal
frincess and her company for £ve days, and attended her in person, with
all his knights and nobles, to the French frontier. There she was met
and welcomed by her eldest sister, the consort of that most amiable and
wtaoas of kings, St Louis ; and, after receiving the congratulations of
these illustrious relatives, she embarked for England, landed at Dover,
and, on the 4th of January, 1236, was married to king Henry III. at
Ganterboiy, by the archbishop, St. Edmund of Canterbury.'

Piers of Langtoft gives us the following description of the royal
bride:—

■* Henry, our king, mt Westminiter took to wife
The eaxrs daughter of Provence, the fairest May in lifb ;
Her name is Elinor, of gentle nurture ;
Beyond the lea there was no such creature."

All contemporary chrcmicles, indeed, whether in halting English
fhjrmee, or sonorous Latin prose— to say nothing of the panegyrical
siiains of her oountrymen, the Provencal poets— are agreed in represent-
ing this princess as well deserving the surname of ^ La Belle.''

King Henry conducted his youthful consort to London in great pride,
illendMl by a splendid train of nobility and ecclesiastics, who had accom-
■animl the sovereign to Ganterbuiy in order to assist at his nuptials.
nepaiations of the most extraordinary magnificence were made for the
approaching coronation of the newly-wedded queen, which was appointed
\o take place on the feast of St Fabian and St. Sebastian, six days only

tet demand of 20.000 marks :— 15,000^10,000— 7,000— 5,000— 3,000 marcarum.
— Rymer** FisdenL It i« by no means certain that even the paltry minimum
ten DWDSd by the royal calculator was obtained.
■These letters are dated the 10th of October, 1235. *M.Pana.

▼oi.. II. — 5

r

OB OP PHOVEXCB.

I

I

I

after the bridal, being ihe 20lh of Januarj'. Pre«
ccremonv, Henry had caused great improvetnenw
palace of Weslminstcr, for the reception of his yon

There is a precept in the twentieth year of hts reign, direeiinf

the king's great chamber at Weatminater be psinlcd a good gT«eii colonr.
like a curtain : that, in the great gable or frontispiece of the s&id e)am<
ber, a French inscription should be painted, and that the king'* liitle
wardrobe should also be painted of a green colour, to imitate & cttrtMO."
The <iueen'3 chamber was beaotilied and adorned with historical pui^
ings at the same time.

The Saturday before the qneen was crowned, Henry Idd the first matt
of the Lady Chapel, in Westminster Abbey. We read also that lbs
good citizens of London, in their zealous desire of doin? honour lo
their beauliful young queen, set about the scarcely less thnn Hemilm
labour of cleansing their streets from mud, and all other oilenaire Km-
mulalions, with which they were, at that season of the year, rendenl
ahnosi impassable.

This laudable purification, which must have been regarded alnuHtli
a naliodal blessing, being happily eflected, the loj-al citizens prepared lU
sorts of costly pageantry, before unheard of, lo gmce the coroouifl
festival, and delight the young queen.

Eleanor was just at the happy age for enjoj-ing the spectncle tt iS
the gay succession of brave shows and dainty devices, so elegnndr d«-
lailed by Matthew Paris, who, after describing streets hung with ilifltiM
coloured silks, garlands, and banners, and with lamps, emsets. and otbir
lights at night, concludes by saying : — " But why need I recount tbt
train of those who performed the olbces of the church ; why de«ei3*
the profusion of dishes which fumiEhed the table, the abundancsof
venison, the variety of fish, the diversity of wine, die gaiety of li*
jugglers, the comeliness of the alieudaiils ? ^Vhateve^ the world eodi
produce for glory or delight was there conspicuous."

But the most remarkable feature in the coronation of Eleanor of P*
vence must have been the equestrian procession of the citizoia of L*
don, who, on ^at occasion, claimed the othce of cellorera to the Ulf
of England.

The claim of his loyal citizens having been wisely granted, ther n^
turousty mounted swift hones, and rode forth to accompany tlia kill
and queen from the Tower, clothed in long gartnents, embroidertd wiifc
gold and silk of divers colours. They amounted to the number of thw
hundred and sixty. Their steeds were finely trapped in array, wuli
sliining bits and new saddles, each citizen bearing a gold or liiirt nip
in his hand for the royal use, the king's trumpeters !.>k.
them ; and so rode tliey in at the royal banquet, (betiei r
were they than the men who wear long gowns in the ci:
in these degenerate days), and served the king and that nt>' .
)rdmg to their duty.'

.Mnnlirw Pnrii. Ciiy Record. Sp>^eiJ. Aa cFllarcn xhfy handed the via
the ton! builei.

i) ^e tofal builer

SLBANOR OF PROVBNCB. 51

The mayor of London, Andrew Buckerel, the pepperer, headed this
nlendid civic calvacade, and claimed the place of Master Michael Belot,
the deputy of Albini, earl of Arundel, the gprand boteler or pincema of
En^and ; but he was repulsed by order of the king, who said, ^ no one
ooght by right to perform that service but Master Michael." The mayor
mbmitted to the royal decision in this matter of high ceremonial, and
lerved the two bishops at the king^s right hand.' After the banquet, tlie
arl-boteler received the cup out of which the king had drunk as a
antter of right ; and Master Michael, his deputy, received the earPs robes.
Gilbert de Saodford claimed, for the service of keeping the queen's
chamber-door at this coronation, the queen's bed and ail its furniture, as
her chamberlain.'

Alms were bounteously distributed to the poor on this occasion, king
Henryf with all his faults, being one of the most charitable of princes.

The most sumptuous and splendid garments ever seen in England
were worn at the coronation of the young queen of Henry III. The
peaceful and vigorous administration of Pembroke and Hubert de Burgh
aad filled England with wealth and luxury, drawn from their commerce
with the south of France. The citizens of London wore at this splendid
ceremony garments called cyclades, a sort of upper robe, made not only
of silk, but of velvet worked with gold. Henry III., who was, like his
fttfaer, the greatest fop in his dominions, did not, like king John, confine
die cMnders of his wardrobe rolls to the adornment of his own person ;
hot liberally issued benefactions of satin, velvet, cloth of gold, and
nmine, for the appareling of his royal ladies. No homely dress of green
cloth was orderiMi for the attire of his lovely queen ; but when a mantle
fined with ermine was made by his tailors for himself, another as rich
WIS given out for Eleanor.

The elegant fashion of chaplets of gold and jewels, worn over the
hair, was aidopted by this queen, whose jewellery was of a magnificent
order, and is supposed to have cost her doting husband nearly 30,000/. ;
an enormous sum if reckoned according to the value of our money.
Eleanor had no less than nine guirlands, or chaplets,' for her hair, formed
of gold filagree and clusters of coloured precious stones. For state oc«
cauons she had a great crown, most glorious with gems, worth 1500/.
at that era ; her girdles were worth 5000 marks ; and the coronation
present given by her sister, queen Marguerite of France, was a large
silver peacock, whose train was set with sapphires and pearls, and other
precious stones, wrought with silver. This elegant piece of jewelry was

^ Ai the citizens of London had claimed the service of the butlery, so those of
Winchester claimed that of the royal kitchen ; but the doings of tlio men of
Winchester, in the capacity of the cook's assistants, have not been recorded.
The cloth that hong behind the king's tabic was claimed, on the one side, by
the door>keepers, and, on the other, by the scullions, as their perquisite.

' Speed. City Records.

" See the elegant description of this kind of head-dress, in the lay of sir Laua
fel, written a few years aAer :

*^ Their heads were dight well withal,
Each with a jolly coronal
With sixty genu or mo."

I

I

I

KLKAMIK OF P R O V K N C ■•

twcd u a rsMirToit for swei^l watent wliicli were furcei) out of ib bnk,
into B buiii of sUver chaiwiJ.

Henry dui nol (orgol hl» own ipptrtl, when Ke endowed hi* queen to
riclily wUh jcwcU ; lie wu aoled as tho firat prince who won the eomlj
iDklsrHl nlled baudekitu, bmI, urayvd in a gaimeaE of ihia brillitat
UMue of gold, be lal upon bia tlirane, and •* glitlered very glarioosly,"'
wbcn his young mkI tovely queen aluired his llunl corotMliun.

Tile expenwa of Eleuior^s curonaiiou were enorntous. So greU mu
the outlay beyond the lungVreeource»,that lien ry expended the p<^itioii
of hU ftister Ifsbctk, Ju»t manicil tr> iho ctn)icror of Uermany, for ih«
purpose of ddraying llienu* When be peiitioned the lords for a thirlielh
of his ■iihircts' propprly, bb a relief from liis dilTii'ulueH, thtiy told him
*• Uicy hnJ amply supplied funds boUi for his marriage, and iliat of tkt
enipreaa-, aiiil as he had wasted the money, he might defray the uzpencet
of his wedding as he could."

Oreat oflijncc, it seems, had tJready been taken by the nation tl lb«
nniubor of foreigners, especially lialians, who had accompwiied, oi fol-
lowed, ijueen Eleanor to Rutland. Among these was licr uncle, pMer .
of Savoy, one of the yuuiiger bruiliera of ilie countess of ProTeoK,
lienry created Peter earl of Kichiiiond, and, at the suit of the nuiea,
bestowed upon him thiU pari of Loudon itince called the Ssroy, fton
this ptiiice. lie paid the crown but the nominal nuit-r«nl of tlim bm4
arrows. Peter founded there a noble pnloce, which the queen, hi* niMti
afterwords jntrchased of him fur her soti Edmund, earl of Loncaslac-'

In the course of one short year, the ascendancy which the nnde of
hie young queen guined over tlie plastic ntuul of Henry was so cob»
dendile, Uiat the adminiairation of the kingdom was entirely left in ha
discretion, and all the patronage of rhureh and slate puaeil ihruugb ba
huids.

Kichsid, earl of Cornwall, at tliat lime the heir praauniptiTfl to tin
throne, ihotuh greatly attached to the king his brother, reprobaied
llenr)''s conduct in permitting the iiilnisioii and interference of iht
tiueeu's foreign relalivea and utleud&nts; bidding his brother "fuUo*
llie prudent exnmple of their brother-in-law, tho emperor, who, vhoi
he received ilicir sister, l)ie princess Isabella, sent bark all her tnio ol
followen." The king of Fmnce, loo, he remnidnd Henry, hod i^bi
the same course, when he married the elder sister of queen Eleanor.'

In tlie fourth year of hor murriage Eleiuior brought an hcii to Eof
land. The young prince was bom on the Ittlb of June, 1233,alWesi-

■ Maulicw P&ris.

'Uuiiiy )iaJ iniieed fined lils lifiet out wiili a aumpiuniu wardnbc. tht i^ntA

of wliicli lio bad iieiioeaU)' auponnieiulo<i, wiUi ft degree or niiiiiv" - •■■' •■

lining!, liirnmingi, puiflint^ bdiI gnmitara, perrcolty lucprUing ir <: . .
ceiftni but quite in acoordance wlih the geDcral (Hioliij of :'
ohvocter, nnil his laalr tot finery. He bIu r&vourod ilieiKBoe'i '■'
viUi a parlioHlar inTcnloir of iho dreHS) or the priiioi!**, oail n < I

mulerlBl and feiJuon of t»c)i, even to ibc rvU di tfiaJiArt : nini Ija.int I'j'
extni-iHuni for liii sialci'i ouiwatii Bdornineni, w« iLippiwe, »aliifled bis bjO-
mce, bo apprDjifialed the rest of bar portion u bi> own use. (ii^pH. So^'l

' Pennaut'i Lgndon. ■ M. Vm».

SLEA50R OF PROVB!«CB. 53

niinster«and received the popular name of Edwaid,in honour of E«1ward
the Confessor; for whose memory Henry III. cherished the deepest
Teneration.

The celebrated earl of Leicester,' was one of the godfathers of prince
Edward* and held him at the baptismal font : he was then in the height
nf &Tour both with Eleanor and the king. But the scene changed be-
fore the queen left her lying-in chamber ; for when she gave a grand
festival on occasion of her churching,' and the king summoned all tlie
ireat ladies of the land to attend the queen to church, Leicester brought
his newly wedded wife, the king's sister, to perform her devoir to Elea-
nor, but was received with a burst of fury by Henry, who called him
** the seducer of his sister, and an excommunicated man, and ordered
his attendants to torn him out of the palace." Leicester endeavoured
to remonstrate, but Henry would not heir him, and he was expelled,
veeping with rage, and vowing vengeance against the young queen, to
whose influence he attributed this reverse.

Independently of his noble taste in architecture, of which Westminster
Abbey is a standing proof, Henrv HI. was undoubtedly possessed of a
love for the fine arts ; for we find, in the seventeenth year of his reign,
a precept directed to the sheriff of Hampshire, commanding him to cause
the king's wainscoted chamber, in the castle of Winchester, to be painted
with Saxon histories, and the same pictures with which it had been
painted before ; which proves, not only that historical paintings in oil
on wainscot were then in use, but that they had been painted so long
ihat the coloure were fiided, and required renewing.

Again, we have a precept of Flenry 111., twenty-three years afler this
perioid, which mns thus :— <^ Pay out of our treasury to Odo the gold-
smith, and Edward his son, one hundred and seventeen shillings and ten-
pence, for oil, varnish, and colours bought, and pictures made in the
chamber of our queen, at Westminster, between the octaves of Holy
Trinity, and the feast of St Barnabas, the same year, in the twenty-thim
year oif our reign.'' '

Among many other proofs of attention paid by Henry to his young
queen on the birth of his heir, we find that he onlered ^^ the chamber
behind her chapel, in his palace of Westminster, and the private cham-
ber of that apartment, supposed to be Eleanor's dressing-room, to be
freshly wainscoted and lined, and that a list or border should be made,
well painted, with images of our Lord and angels, with incense-pots
scattered over the list or border." He also directed that the four evan-

'Simon de Montfbrt, carl of Leicester, the third son of Simon, count de Mont-
fbn, the sanguinary leader of the crusade ajcainst the Albigetises. He had 8orve<l
tlie office of seneschalf or high steward of the royal houitchold, at the coronation
of the queen : and this year Henry, with his own hand, secretly bestowed upon
him hii wiiiowed sister, Eleanor, countess of Pembroke, in St. Stephen's chapel,
though the princess had rowed to become a nun. There were circumstance^, it
should teem, tliat rendered a hasty marriage necessary ; and an enormous bribe
fron Henry purchased a dispensation for tliis marriage from tlto iK)pe, the lady
Having taken the ring, but not the veil of a nun. — Matthew Paris. Speed. Rapin.

'Sandford't Genealogies. ' Walpole*s Anecdotes of Painting. StruU.

6» D

I

I

54 BLBANOR OF FROVENCE.

{rdiflls sliouli) be peinied in ilie (jueen's ehacaber, and ibat b etyilal hm
■hauld be made for keeping the relics be possessed.

A few curious particulars, illuBtnitive o( the ini«rior of the uciat
palace of our English kings ai Woodstock, may be gnthered frost llw
itiUowing minute instructions, contained in a precept' ijdnjsurf iy
Henry III., in the 25tli of his reign, to ibe keeper of thnl palace, dinet*
ing him " to cause an extension of the iron trelllsra on the steps lodiif
from our chamber to the hf.rbariiuH. or garden ;' also of the wmdca
lattices in two windows of our queen's chamber, und to cause a ptM n
be niade over tJiese windows, covered with lead, and an apertun lobl
made in the pent, between the hall, and our queen's chamber, tad Ik
chapel towards the borders of our herbarium, and two windows of wtDtt
glass looking towards the said borders. Two spikes, also, in the pM
of our hall, and windows of the fame kind on the east of the hall, oiul
the piciures now in the hall are to be repaired. And we deeire thai ill
the courts, fountains, and walls of our houses there be repaiml"

This reign affords the first example of a poet-laure&te, in the panot
of one Master Henry, to whom, by the appellation of '' our Mo*id
versilicator,"* ibe king orders ^■'one hunditNl shillings to be gt*n ta
payment of his arrears." This officer was in all probabiliiy introAicri
into the royal household by the Provencal queen, who was, as «« hm
seen, herself a poet, and who had been accustomed in her early yuQih
to he surrounded by minstrels and troulmdours, in the literary comltf
Iter accomplished parents.

Henry HI. was also a patron of literature, and a great lovra of P»
venial poetrj-. Fauriel points out seversJ romances written tioderfll
soperintendence of this king, who, when he married Eleannr of 1^
vence, received a parloer whose tastes and pursuits certainly aMitnibwi
with his own -, and to thb circumsiance may, no doubt, be aiirifanli'
the unbounded influence which she acquired over his mind, wlurh ^
retained long after the bloom of youth and beauty had passed awiv.

While the king and queen were still residing at the palxce of Woo4-
stock, about three roonihs after the birth of their heir, an attnnpl n
made on the life of the king by a mad poet named Ribald, or KibiM,
who, according to some of the chroniclers, was a gentleman and a
knight.' One day he rushed into the rovnl presence, aiMi, befnts tb
whole court, called upon Hcniy to resign the crown, wliich he W
usurped and so long detained from hira. The officers of ibo '

'Rot Libcimii, 25ih Henry Ut., m. a3.

'Otttdening WBl b/noniraDB Di^slccled in Ilia reign of tliupiiocw; I
Puie meniioni "that lh« iiiclemciii year 1357 was a year offomttu:: i.'ai sff'" ]
were •cnrce, and pears jearce; but tbal fig« arxd cli»rriea, plu:n-
Of fhiilincludnt in ibelliihBd imally fflileil-" Sevrral of ibc- ;
warili named in our aonDls, as laiely iiiiioducni in ib« reign i
bin ifaorft ii DOt n dmibl IlutI the ciTilizmioii of England had gi,' ,
Ihmi tlie lime of tlie ProTaofal ■gucvna. During the li&rbuoiic u,.,v ..-.. ' ■
roign of Hrnry V. to Rirlinrd fll., England bad Ion man}- am,
ture, — for the fruit* te-introduced in iLc reign of Beniy VUL wri<
foltivaled in Ihai of Benty IIL

'Hiaifai, HiiiDty EichmMi. 'E^eod. M-f^k.

ELEAHOROP PRnVENCB. 55

ISrtti Wm out of Ihe prMence-rharaber, and would have inflicW a

•enre chastisement npou liim, if the kind-heaneJ monarch had not

ItileqMwed, and charged ihem " ntit to hurt s man who talked ao like a

-.Ml out of his scnBes," The king lold ihem "to lake him into his

, nud entertain him hospitably, and let him go." Thia was done,

Uibnui p>I into high spiriiA. and began to be very amusing lo the

:] minne, joeiilating for their entertainment, and singing some choice

■irelsy.' Thns he whiW away the time till daik, when he stole

ilie king's hed-chamber through a window, armed with a long sharp

, and concealed himself among the rushes under the king's bed.

Henry, forinnBiely for himself, pnased that night in the queen's cham-

hrr. and Ribald, rising up al midnight, stabbed the bolster of the rdjrnl

bed »e»etal times, searching for the king in vain, and demanding wheVe

Im wa«, in a loud roaring voice, which so alarmed Margaret Bisaet, one

of the (joeen's maids of honour, who was silting up late reading a

dcvom fcwok by the light of a lamp, ihai her shrieks awakened the king's

Mirants, who took him into custody. The unhappy creature was

Omoim} at Coventry for this oflence.'

The following year two other uncles of ihe queen, Thomas, count of
SiTov, and Boniface, his younger brother, visited England ;' and Henry,
wit of complnisance lo his consort, received and entertained them wiih
toch roagni5cence, (hat, not knowing how to support the chaige by
liiflWl means, he sent word lo the Jews, that unless they presented him
•Lih twenty thousand marks, he would eipel them all the kingdom ;
mi thus lie supplied himself with money for his unjust generosity.

TV denih of Sl Edmund, archbishop of Canterbury, funiished Henry
' I'ij » furtltcr opportunity of obliging Eleanor, by obtaining the nomina-
!: iif her uncle Boniface lo the primacy of England.
Mjiiliew of Westminster, as well oa Paris, informs us that Eleanor
ir, with her own hand, a very elegant epistle to the pope in his be-
;, "taking upon herself," says the worthy chronicler, (who appears
' iiive been highly scandalized at female interference in ecclesiatlical
ir^,} '^ for no other reason than his relationship to her, to urge the
Mr of this unauiiable candidate in the warmest manner; and so,"
iinues he, " my lord the pope, when he had read ihe letter, thought
jrj- lo name liiis man, who hatl been chosen by a woman ; and it
: I iimiiioiily said that he was chosen by female intrigue."

'>;iii'r proofs of Eleanor's unbounded influence over the mind

i\ was observed, that when, on the death of Gilbert Mare-

I Pembroke, his brother Walter demanded of the king the

: t^ifl .Marshal, which was hereditary in his family, Henry at

U in a gi<i3t passion, denied hiui, telling him, ^ lliat his two brothen

TT a ptut of luibuleni traitors, and tliat he had presumed to attend a

'In ilieM Aajt he would have been with more proprieljf consigned to ito My-
hn for loruuic*. Tho MpreiBioo of " nbald rbymea" w»«, no doobt, derived
BWB (Im BOina of Ait rnntic Terrifier of the ihirlsenth ocntuiy.

'31. ftwU. Polydofo Vergil. SpMd.

I
*

I
I
I

I

■ do eiif:

^m The

M

BLBAXOR OF rROVEXCB.

which he had forbidden him U> be presenL" Tm^ •
the ettri, having succeeded in biece^ticg queen Eleanor in hit bioH^ 1
k^ia preferred his suii, it vraa iinmedulely gramed through hec povtr-
ful iulercesBton.'

(ioedn EUsnor preAented her royal husband widi a daughter id the
yosr 1241, who was named MHrgaret, after the elder sister of Cleaooi,
ilip queen of France. The following year, the queen accoiDintiinl llw
king her busbaud on his itl-mlvised expediltoTi agaioat her brutlin-iii-
Uw, the king of France,' with whom that pe&ce^oving monarch hiil
BiiAared himself to be involved in a quarrel, to oblige hu mother, Inbdii
of Angoul^ute.' The king and queen emWked at rori«mouih. May 19,
1242. Henry was totally unsuccessful in hia aiUcka on the kiiif d
France, and, after a seriea of defeats,* look refuge with his quwo al
Bourdeaux, to the great scandal of all his English knights and oobla^
niony of whom forsook their sovereign, and relurned hwBe, wbieb
Uenry rerenged in tlie usual way, by fining their estates.

Eleanor gave birth to another daughter at Bourdeaux, trhoB i^
trained Beatrice, after her mother, the countess of Froveiu:e.*

la cousequcnce of the close conuexiou between their queens, Loa
IX. was induced to grant a Inice of five years to his vanqubbcd fiM
Uenry and Eleanor then resolved to spend a merry winter u Bourtei^
where ihey lunused [hemselves with as ntuch feasting and yuff»aUjm
if Henry had obtained the most splendid victories, alUiough be m
much impoverished by losing tiis military chest, and his moveude chifit
royal, with all iis rich plate, at ihe battle of Toillebouig. ITUta Satj
and Eleanor returned to England, they landed al Portsmouth, anil coin
were issued thai the principal iuhabilanls of every town on tbe toWM
bjndon should testify their loyal aflectioa, by coming forth on boW
back in their best array, to meet and welcome their sovereign ind Ul
queen.'

During Ihe residence of the royal family on the continent, qosa
Eleanor strengthened her interest by bringing about a onion betwteatar
youngest sifter Cincia, or Sancha, and tlie kjng's brother, Rirliard, mI
of Cornwall, who had recently became a widower. The (r.^,,;.™ »«
solemnized in England, whither the countess of Provence ■
affianced bride in the autiunn of tlie same year. Henry <■■;
Jews to furnish the funds for the splendid festivities, whi'
proper to ordain in honour of the nuptials between his tir
sister of his queen. One Jew alone, the rich Aaron of T ■
pelled to pay no less than four hundred marks of gold, an : .
of sHver; and the Jews of London were mulcted in lik. ■
The charge Henry was at, on account of tins marriage, may tw nsiimWni
by the wedding-dinner alone, which consisted of thirty ttiousand dolK
" The kuig," say the chroniclers of that day, ■* thought lie never OMB
do enough to testify his love for the queen and her fomily."'

The countess of Provence, not contented with the splctMlouf of ^

* Sm the prscvdii^ bkva)^

SLBANOR or PROTENCG.

57

iMmnent, (honghl proper, before she departed, lo borrow four

il marka of the kinj for the use of her hueband.
a mtMeonduct of Rleaiior's ancles, uid their unfitHMs for ihs high
poRsible aitnalion, in which ihey were placed in England, may
IhCTcd from the following disgraceful fracas, which look place be-
■ itie archbishop Bonifaee and the monks of St. Bartholomew-. In
r im, Boniface, archbishop of Canterbury, thought proper to
e himself in the bishop of London's diocese, on a viiitation lo the
jinury of Sl Bartholomew. The monks, ^ough they liked not his
eoomf , received him with respect, and came out in solemn procession
i«ni«Mhim; hut the archbishop said "he eame not to receive honour,
hm tar the purposes of ecclesiastical visitatitMi.'" On this, the monks
nplml, '* ihnt having a learned bishop of their own, they ought not lo
be THtlrd bv any other.^' ■ This answer was so much resented by the
vraihful primate' thai he smote the sub-prior on the face, exclaiming in
ijiiL'OTemcd fary, " Indeed, indeed, doih it become ye English traitors
■ u.i withstand me ?" and, with oaths not proper to repeat, he lore the
1 \-<>pe of the sub-prior to pieces, and trampled it under his feet, and
it liim DgKtnst a pillar of the chnncel with such violence thai he had
~(gft slain him. The monks seeing their sub-prior thus maltreated,
I the arehbtshop back, and in so doing dtscovered that he was
i in armour, and prepared for battle. The archbishop's attendants,
e all Proven^ls to a man, then fell on the monks, whom they
I, and trampled under foot. The monks, in their rent and
BjamwRU, ran to show their wounds and to complain of their
^ to tiieir bishop, wbo bade them go, and tell the king thereof.
tRly four who were capable of getting as far as Westminster, pro-
I to the palace in a doleful plight ; but the king would neither see
-WT receive their complaint,' The populace of London were, how-
■ g«at indignation, and were disposed to tear the archbishop to
I pursDing him all the way to Lambeth wirii wecrations, crying
f " Where is this mOian, this cruel emiter ? He is no winner of
^acter of monev — a stranger bom, unlearned, and unlaw-
Boniface fled over lo the palace, where he made his story
Il Ihe king, through the influence of ihe queen, his niece ; and
imlU of St Bartholomew got no redress.
Il this time, Henry, it is said, ordered all the poor children, from
laand highways round Windsor and its neighbourhood, lo be
1, anil munificently feasted in the great hall of the palace there.
!■ tho royal children were all publicly weighed, and their weight
IT dtatribnled in alms among the desutute individuals present, for
1 of the souls of the princely progeny of himself and queen

i lie following year. 1244, the threatened war, between England and
■laiiil. was averted by a contract of marriage; in which the liand of
■Idcst daughter of Henry and Eleanor, the infant lady Margaret, was
'arfd to the heir of Scotland, the eldest son of Alexander 11.'

I
I

I

I

I

98 ELEANOB OF FBOTE5CS.

Id tl)« beginning of the year 1245, the queen was delirerod of in
second son, prince Ealmund. The porliameni having, in llio prKcdiBt
November, relused an aid to the king, he levied a fine of fifleen hnndnB
marks on the city ot London, under pretence that they had ■bellati
one Walter Bukerel, whom he had banished. Henry was encoin^cd k
his unconstitutional proceedings, by a very trivial circuntslanee, A £n
broke out in the pope's palace, and destroyed the chamber la wbillLlkl
principal deed of Magna Charta was kept, which made the quocn iuij
tliat it was rendered null and void.'

England was at this period in such a state of misrule, that in Ilaiw-
shire no jury dared to lind a bill against any plunderer; nor om IM
tysteni of universal pilluge confined to the weak and undefended, sian
Matthew Paris declares " king Henry complaiued to him, that wboihi
was Itaveliing with the queen through that pouniy, iheir Ivgg^^m
robbed, iheir wine drunk, and themselves insulted by the lawless nbUs."

Such was the insuigent stale of Uampshiie, that king Henry toM
find no judge or justiciary, who would undertake to aee the laws dilf
executed. In this dileiQioa, he was forced lo sit on the bench of jiislill
himself in Winchester Castle j and no doubt the causes detenniiwd tf
him would have been well worth the attention of modem ropatW*
While thus presiding personally on the King's Bench, Henry hw oc»
■ion to summon lord Cliflord to answer at this justice-«eat br teat
nalefaclion ; when the turbulent misdoer not only contumMJou^l^
fused his Btiendance, but forced the king's officer to eat the rojnl nr>
rant, seal and all!' Henry punished him with spirit and caang».

One great cause of the queen's unpopularity in Londont orifuMJ
from the unprincipled manner in which she exercised licr iatliMtict tc
compel all vessels freighted with com, wool, or any peculiarly valwUi
cargo, to unlade their cargoes at her hithe, or quay, called ^uecnhUkf:
because at that port (the dues of which formed a part of the r«veiuiei ti
the queen-consorts oi' England,) the tolls were paid according 10 lb
value of the lading.' This arbitrary mode of proceeding was wilbost
parallel on the part of her predecessors, and was considered as a icrm>
grievance, by the masters of vessels, and merchants in general.' JttkM
Deaaor, for a certain sum of money, sold her tights in this quay tn kr
brother-in-law, Richard, earl of Cornwall, who, for a quil-rtmt cf IAt
pounds per annum, let it as a fee-farm to John Uisnrs, the maycB •*
London, for the sake of putting an end to the perpetual disputes, bet«(M
the merchants of London and the queen.*

Ill order to annoy the citizens of London, Henry, during the ilJitiW
regarding the queen's gold, revived the old Sxxon custom nf c«
folkoioles, and by tliis means reminded the commons, as the gretl
of his subjects were called, that ihey had o political existe
than the barons of England, — and they never again forgot iL

" ' M. Paris- ^ ''

■ Hnrrisonj Suivef of London. '

■ Haiiiion's Surrej of London. T1>il w<
the IbMinotee, vtdch were iitad by t)ie k

afBuni the ma^Mnles who had QSended.

SLSJLIIOE OF PEOVBNCB. 59

Modem writers have asserted that there was no middle class, in the
days of the Plantagenets— what, then, may we ask, were the citizens of
[4MMlon, those munificent and high-spirited merchants, whose wealth so
often in this reign excited the cupidity of the court ? If the conduct of
the king and queen, towards this class of their subjects, had been guided
by a more enlightened policy, they might have found in their loyal
•flection no trivial support against Leicester, and the disaffected aristo-
eiacy of En^nd ; but, excited by the rapacity of Eleanor, the king pil-
laged and outraged the citizens, till they threw their weight into the
■ale of the mighty adversary of the monarchy.

Qpeen Eleanor was somewhat relieved from her pecuniary difficulties
Ky the death of the queen-mother, Isabella, in 1246. She was put, aAer
this event, in full possession of the dower lauds appointed for the Eng^
lish queens; she however appropriated her replenished purse to the use
of her mother, who, now a widow, paid another visit to England, to the
great indignation of Henry. The king was discontented at the manner in
which count Berenger had disposed of Provence, to the exclusion of his
ddest dauffhters. He was, besides, very little able to afford gif\s to his
wife's moUier, since he had not at that very time wherewithal to meet
his household expenses. He was advised, as the parliament refused to
assist him with more money, to raise the sum required to satisfy his
damorous creditors, by selling his plate and jewels. ^ But where shall
I find purchasers, if money be so scarce ?'' demanded the king. ^ In the
city of London,^ was the reply. On this, Henry petulantly observed,
*^ If the treasures of Augustus Cossar were in the market, the city of
London would purchase Uiem, I suppose. Those clownish citizens, who
call themselves barons, are an inexhaustible treasury in themselves.'' *

With the determination of participating in some of this envied wealth,
Henry and Eleanor thought proper to keep the Christmas of 1248 in
the city of London, and extorted presents from the most liberal of the
leading men there, to the amount of upwanls of two thousand marks.'
This was, however, fiur from satisfying the royal visitors. Henry com-
plained that he had not been treated with sufficient respect, and to testify
his displeasure, proclaimed a fair in Tothill-fields, for the benefit of the
men of Westminster, which was to last a fortnight; and during that
period he forbade the citizens of London to open their shops for any
sort of traffic, to the great injury of trade.*

In Henry's thirty-k>urth year, occurs his order to the master of the
Temple, ^ that he deliver to Henry of the Wardrobe, for two years' use,
I eertain great book, which is at his house in London, written in French,
eootaining the acts of the king of Antioch, and of other kings." It had
been compiled and illuminated, under the care of Henry himself, and if
it was, as supposed, relating to Uie crusading Provencal princes of An-
tioch, it would be a valuable history.*

The extreme straits to which the king and queen were, at times,
teduced for the money they profusely lavished, may be gathered from

» M. Paris. Speed. ■ Survey of London. ■ Stowe.

•CUme Rolls, quoted by Brayley. Hist Palace of Westminster.

I

^m lb*

^H md

VO BLEAKOR OF PROVE^CCB-

lliF ftet, that in th^ twrntynKvenlh yew of tiis tvign, Heiin-, Mf '
wiihout the meu* iiT fMvini; llie oRiMn of ihc diap«'l ruf al M WindMii
iMued m unliT tu John MHniHrl, directint; him " lo pawii the moat nlfr
able image uC the Vir^n Mu-y for (lie iiuru iequiiv<l. bui undet npwal
condiiion that thi* luillowed p]cilg>« be ctepooiteid in a decent plstcc."'

In the year 1240, the roynl coflcn being entirely fxhnniied, 1111] dw
parliament rrfiiiing to ^m any aid, 1 ) en ry proceeded to pnuiiar tlw
degimdiiie expedient of suliriiing loans and gifts of every person ri ceth
diiion wno Liiien<d hi* presi!ii(-e, usuring i)iem ''lliai it wnold hei
gtcatcr an of charily tu b«(l>>w money on nitn, titan on those who wsu
trotn door tu door begging an aim*.'*'

The king and qwecn were ne«i eeixed with an unw"ii'
noniy, and noi nttly forhnre to ninke expensive ^nts nm I '
put nil tiiBir tcrvanta on ahort allowrancei nbrid^l ihi .
nduanl to diabtirec any of the gntuiiiea whieh the kinp :i:
Fjigland had been acciutionied to bestow. They ruaaeil it. [.'ui ua iticir
ruj'al robes/ and, to rtb the expense of keeping a table, they hSj
invited Iheinfelvei, with thrir son, prince Fdwan), and a chosen nombti
of their foreign kindrett, or bvouriiea, to dine with the rich tnini if (t>
city of London, or tlie CTeal men of ilic r<iurl, and mnnifiatnl ttiurh <!i>-
content unleas preaonted wiili costly gilts at their departure, which ihr
look, nni ns uhligaiiuns and proob ur loyal al&eiioii to ilicir pewBi.
but aa iiiatiera uf righL

The cry of the land, in that reign, waa agninat foreign infloeticeBit
forei^i oppression ; and it was a proverb, thai no one but a Pnnmjtl
or B Poicievin hiui any hopes of advaneement, eillier in ihf "ifiK! w
church J and which were held in the grcalesi abhorren...
thcrs of the king, or llie uncles of ihe queen, it was dilfl< :..

On St. Dunatan's day, I30I, queen Elcnnor'a apartmLH'.-
Oaaila were struck by lightning, and the cliimney of tin r .. '^ 'i^
ah« and the royal children were, ww thrown down by tin

' Madox. ' M. Parit

*A liiieign hisKirian Jeclaio> that llio 1liiij,-iiiiu<' nr Uii? Kjii;]',>t
r»lgn M bartaroiu u their inannprii. T •• ■-
repilnr eotiAuion of longUFi.as in Engtiin '
haul, II wn> a nisfk or nobilitjr oud Ri- :
NonDan-FiDiioli, 01 in ProTBnpil ■ and mn
thvni not. All the qawa'* nun ipokv I':

langtiH|p> but NDi-man-FtCQcb ; the uliun'li iiliiIititk )»iI Liiiui ; tho
rnpipd SBXOQi tliertifute, in addiiioa 10 hrr o^or ailalbnuDoa, pcm
10 cnduie the plapiM of lbs Tower uf BebrJ, »Sonie um," i^
farjr wriWr, "sunnEi! (ibberiag, ohatiBrlng, wnffing. anil rnlingi '
umbrM iDn|cu<> (uid »Bp<<<siallrat York) ii to ibnrp. dining, ftofllag, ■nd'tM
Ihai WF ^uilitoii IDPO majr not undanlaml iluu lani^uage." — niifwi "

it o( wliich r

' Eogliab Uinna)(c. u
onu lermnu. xne loag niiuuii>D wilb l^T«no» «kiu
lion or llii? riiiog Isiigiwgi', its iharp of liannoDT and tj
!igii nf El«n.ir uf PioTenrr. and b "

iiintty, aidpd Ihis Itannfutioa. It !( 1

11, in ordoi 10 prewne ihi; kinBs poi , . _,

•nlMivoiu, had 10 be nad ia ihne lansuaKM — Saxon, PMOoh, wmt

■ LBAHOR OF PROVBIfCB. 61

» shock, and reduced to dust.' In the parks many oaks were rent
mder and uprooted ; mills with their millers, sheepfolds with their
epherds, and husbandmen in the fields, were, by the same awful storm,
tten to the earth and destroyed.

The year, however, closed, more auspiciously than it commenced,
tfi the espousals of the princess Margaret, the eldest daughter of Henry
d Eleanor, then in her tenth year, to the young king of Scotland,
esander IIL, who was about twelve. The nuptials were celebrated
Ih great pomp at York, where the royal families of England and Scot-
id kept their Christmas together.

The youthful bridegroom was knighted by king Henry, in York cathe-
■1, on Christmas-day, in the presence of the whole court, and the next
oraing the marriage was solemnized at an early hour. Henry endea-
mred to persuade the young Alexander to pay him homage for the
■Im of Scotland ; but the princely boy excused himself with good
Idreas from the performance of this important ceremony,' by replying
that he came to York to be married, not to discuss an af&ir on which
B, being a minor, could determine nothing, without consulting the states
r his kingdom.^^ Henry, finding his son-in-law was of so determined
^Hrit, could not find it in his heart to break up the nuptial festivities
f iiiflisting on his demand, especially as the archbishop of York had
BBcrously promised to be at the expense of all the entertainment, which
ost him upwards of four thousand marks, ^^and six hundred oxen,
teh," says Matthew Paris, ^ were all consumed at one meal." *
More worthy of remembrance, however, than these enormous devour-
igi of the hospitable archbishop's beef, does the worthy chronicler
OBsider the dignified and princely conduct of the youthful majesty of
eodand, at his bridal feast, and the amiable manner in which he suppli-
Med, on his knees, with clasped hands, to his ro3ral father-in-law, for
le pardon of Philip Lovel, one of his ministers, who lay under the
iai^s heavy displeasure at that time. The royd bride joined in the
Bdtion, kneeling with her newly-wedded lord at her father's feet, and
inging on his garments. Henry was so moved by the artless earnests
» of their supplications, as to be only able to articulate one word,
V^illingly," and all who sat at the feast melted into tears of tenderness
id admiration. The object for whom these interesting pleaders used
eh powerful intercessions was an unworthy peculator, convicted of
seiving bribes in the dischai^e of his office ; nevertheless, the misjudg-
I sovereign was persuaded, by the engaging prattle of two inexperi-
eed children, to invest him with the tempting office of treasurer. No
ubt the royal supplicants had received their cue from the queen, or
me person who possessed the means of influencing them, to make an
pral in favour of Lovel, for it is very improbable that at their tender
e they would have thought of him at such a time.
The extravagance of dress at these nuptials, has been noted by many
iters. Matthew Paris declares the nobility were arrayed in vests c)
k called eointoisesj or quiniises; and the day afler the nuptial cere-

Stowa. 'Chronicles of MailrOB. * Matthew ?«i\a, ^t^««^

r

I

I

cnony, ihe queen of England anil her loilies laiii tliese new robe* wiiict
and appeared clad in others sijll mure costly, and of a new piun,
The robes quiiUisei, thus named ta express their fanciful quainwah
were upper, or superlunics, with no sleeves, or very short oiiea, bordcnd
wilh vandyking, or acoUoping, worked and notched in various paUenu,
scarfs were worn by knights, li la quitUUc, meaning thai they wtn
ornamented with a notched border. The qtiiniiie robe was worn by
queen Eleanor so long before and behind, as to trail on lite eround, and
was held up with one hand, lest her steps should be iinpedeil. The &^
man de la Rose, speakins; of these gaimenU Arst worn by Eleanor taJ
h«'r court, counsels the ladiea, if their feel and aucles be not «m*ll tnil
delicate, to let their robes iail on the pavement and hide them, whilil
those whose feet are of a beautiful form, may hold up the robn ui Iroid,
fur the convenience of stepping along briskly. He uncivilly conipam
the ladies to pies and peacocks, which, lie says, " delight in fEoilien oC
various colours; so do our courl ladies. The pies have long laiN lliai
train in Ihe dirt, bul the ladies make ilieir tads a thousand tiiues longrr
than the peacocks and the pies.^'

Ladies' head-dresses were singularly elegant, in the yonlh and mukilf
age of this beautiful queen. The hair was gathered up under a golikn
network, over which was thrown the veil, or covcrchef. Those woffltfi
who ventured to walk in the street with only the caul, garUiMl,uil
bandeaus. without the shelieiiag veil or coverchef, were deemed touio
per characters, and liable to insult. The unmarried females wore W>
hair Aowing in ringlets on the shoulders, or, if their tiessea w«n Wf
long and luxuriant, braided in two tails, and tied with ribbouf , or k Imi
of gems, at the ends. Tlie veil, surmouuied with a bandeau, was miimri
when tliey rode or walked in the open air. The queen is Bomatinci
represented with the homely g'orget or wimple, in illuminatiofts of llMt
lime. The gorget fashion imiiated, in cambric or lawn, the kni^bt'l
helmet, with an aperture, cut like the vizor, for the &ce to peeoihraogh;
and very lovely that face must have been which did uol look opf
through so hideous an envelop.

The felicity which the king and queen enjoyed, in the
celebration of their daughter's union with the Scottish king
rupted by the return of Henry's discarded favourite, Simon de Mnatfitft, |
earl of Leicester, who had passed sis years in a sort of honotiniU*
banishment, as governor of Gascony. Deputies had been sent ftiw
thai province wiUi complaints of Leicester's tyrannical conduct, and br,
having succeeded in refuting the charges of his Gascon foes, procMdoI
to call upou the king to reward him for his services, r«miniliog bim of
his royal promise to that e^cL Henry, with infinite scorn, re{med,tliK
'■ he did not consider himaelf obliged to keep his word with a tnitaL"
Leicester fiercely told the sovereign " he lied, and were he not hit kinf
he would make him eat his words ;" adding, " that it was acarcely f)^
■ibie to believe he was a Christian, or ever bud made confession <J to
■ins." " Yes," replied the king, " I am a Christian, and hare nfien
at confessiou." *• What signifies confession," retorted the eaH, "'
oiii repenisnee i'* *^ 1 nevet leputtol of Miything ao nmcb iit taf1^{

■ LCAIIOE OF PEOVBNCC. 63

rejoined the intiilted monarch, ^ as liaving bestowed favoars on one who
hm so little gratitude and such ill manners." AfVer this characteristic
dialogue, there was nothing but hatred between the king and his inso-
kol brother-in-law.

To add to the troubles of the king and queen at this juncture, even
so late as the year 1252, the validity of his marriage with Eleanor was
perpetually agitated at the court of Rome, owing to the king^s capricious
breach of promise with the countess of Ponthieu ; ' and this year he
was forced to obtain bulls at a great expense from pope Innocent, de-
ckling the contract of the king of England with Joanna ^who had been
lonff married to the king of Castille) null and void, ana his marriage
wi£ Eleanor of Provence good matrimony. In a little time we shall
tee the heir of Henry, and the young daughter of Joanna enter into
wedlock.

Henry's temper now became so irascible, that he quarrelled with his
best friends ; he was more extortionate than ever, and demanded of the
clergy a tenth of their revenues, towards the expenses of a projected
cninde. He sent for the bishop of Ely, who appeared to have great
influence with his brethren, and endeavoured by flattering caresses to
secore his interest; but when that conscientious prelate attempted to
reason with him on the folly of his conduct, Henry angrily retorted,
*^ that be did not require any of liis counsels,'' and order^ his officers
^ to torn him out of doors for an ill-bred fellow as he was." '

Louis JX. of France, and the gallant retinue of noble crusaders, by
whom he had been attended on his ill-starred expedition to Palestine,
were at this time languishing in the most doleful captivity, and the
flower of the French chivalry had fallen victims, either to the pestilence,
or the sword. The luxurious Eleanor of Provence talked of accom-
panying her feeble-minded lord in a crusade for their aid, but it was not
probable that she would abandon her painted chambers and jewelled
pomp, to expose herself to the peril of hardships and privations, like
those which her sister was sufl^ering at Damietta.

The queen was this year, again, in imminent danger from a thunder
storm ; she was, with her children, visiting the abbey of St. Alban's,
when lightning struck the chimney of her chamber and shivered it to
pieces. The abbey-laundrey burst into flames ; while such a commo-
tion was raised by the elements, that the king's chief justice, (who was
escorting two treasure-carts, and had accepted hospitality at the abbey,)
thinking the whole structure was devoted to destruction, rushed forth
into the highway, with two friars, and as they went, they fancied a
flaming torch, or a drawn sword, preceded them.'

The same summer Henry made preparations for going in person, to
quell the formidable revolt in Guienne, occasioned by the recall of the
earl of Leicester, and the misgovemment of prince Edward, who had
been appointed as his successor in the fourteenth year of his age.

i^een Eleanor, being near her confinement, did not accompany the
king, but was solemnly invested by her departing lord with the regency

* F<8il«trm, vol. L ■ M. Parii. " Hist, of the Abbey of St. iLVbixi v

64

ANOa OF PKOVBNCB.

n{ ihe kingdom, jrtinily with his brother Rtchanj. eaH of Comwall, the
huslmnt! of htr sislPr Sanrha of Provence. While Henry wm wsiiin;
in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth for a fsrourable wind, he made hi*
« ill, » hirh is a VLTV iiileresiiiig document, alfonhitg proof of his afet-
lion for his queen, anil the unbounded confidence which h« reposed

HENRY THE THIRD'S WILL."

' I, HfTiry i'tnn if EriizTiiinl, duko of KToriniindir nnd Aquiolnc, tai ml of
Ap.ji", ^'li 'li" Tui-.,lny iiflrT St. Pewr and Sl P«al, in Ihs yeai of gnn ItiX »t
S ii(!iuii.-k,' [inijuxjiii! Ill ^n III Giuoan]r, 1 mnke my will in the fottn folhiviiif:
^1 u ill ilini my \i":1y b>' Liiru'd in llie chutoh of the bleited Edward of Wot-
iMh^i.T, ill, |, I .■ liTncDi — luTiiig tormerly &ppaint«d mj boAj to ba

liiin'-'l III i: ^ ' I . . <<l Loiiilon. i commii the Kuardiaiuhip of Bdni^
III V ■ ■■f my other chililren, snil of my kingdoOL of Eel-

lull. I. III,! . . ■ N 111 W»1b«, and Ireland, aud Gascony, W mf itli*

trii.ii. i-]ii- ■ ■ li' ■ I ■■.■■I Tliry arrtra ai flill B|re. Alw, I bsqueath Iha mbw
u hull III" <-riimi<'» of Kt.'tii i^ve me, to the unall aliai oT the aforenid chiuck

Though lit; lived manv rears after, Ht^nry never made another wiR.
Kini; Uenr\% aiiendcd by the ffreaicr number of his baroiH, BaiJeit
froni I'ommoui)], Mij^u^t fiih : he arrived at Bourdeaux on the 15th of
iitimand of his army in person.

E I. E A N o u o r r K o V i: .\ c i: . Gf)

Kaihaiine — Folly of ihe king — Qiicons unpopular conduct — Garrisons Wind-
Wf — Prince Edward robs the Templar:; — Queen plcdj^es jewels — Pelted from
London Bridge — ^Takes sanctuary— -Goes to France with the king — Civil war
— King and prince taken at Lewes— Queen raises forces on the continent —
Battle of ETeaham — ^Londoners fined — Her return to England — ^Prince Ed-
ward's cnuade— Household expenses of the queen— -Death of Henry III.— <•
Eleanor's widowhood— Refonnds St Katharine's hospital — Death of £leanor*8
daughters — Royal letters — Queen retires to Ambresbury — Miracle by Henry
in. — Eleanor mkes the veil — Visited by king Edward — His dutiful respect—
Her death — ^Petition of Jewish converts.

Wheit Henry IIL appointed Eleanor regent of England, he lefl the
great seal in her custody, but enclosed in its casket, sealed with the
impression of his own priyy seal, and with the signets of his brother,
Richard eail of Comwall, and others of his councU. It was only to be
opened on occasions of extreme urgency.

Eleanor was directed to govern by the advice of her Toyvl brother-
in-law, but the regal power was vested in her ; and we find that pleas
were holden before her, and the king's council, in the Court of Ex-
chequer, during Henry's absence in Grascony. ^At this time," says
Bfadox,' ^the queen was custos regni and sat vice regit?^^ We have
thus an instance of a queen-consort performing not only the functions
of a sovereign, in the absence of the monarch, but acting as a judge in
the highest court of judicature, curia regis. There can be no doubt
bat this princess took her seat on the King's Bench.*

No sooner had queen Eleanor got the reins of empire in her own

fauds, unrestrained by the counterbalancing power of the great earl of

Leicester, who had volunteered his services to king Henry against the

iniiTgent Gascons, than she proceeded to play the sovereign in a more

despotic manner, in one instance at least, than had ever been attempted

by the mightiest monarch of the Norman line. Remembering her for-

nier disputes with the city of London, she now took the opportunity

of gratifying her revenge and covetousness at the same time, by de-

j&inding of their magistrates the payment of a large sum, which she

wwted they owed her for awrum regina^ or queen-gold — a due which

Ae queens of England were entitled to claim on every tenth mark paid

to the king, as voluntary fines for the royal good-will, in the renewals

pf leases on crown lands, or the granting of charters. Eleanor, in this

inslance, most unreasonably demanded her queen-gold on various enor-

liODs fines, that had been unrighteously and vexatiously extorted by the

^ing, from the plundered merchants and citizens of London. For the

lion-payment of this unjust claim, Eleanor, in a very summary manner,

Committed the sheriff of London, Richard Picard and John de North-

^pton, to the Marshalsea prison, in the year 1254 ;* and the same year

Hlatoiy of Exchequer, ehap. ii. p. 47.

* History of the Eseheqner. Judicature of the king's court

' Pbicita oomm domina regina et consilio domina regis in craitino nativitatis
|sa Maria anno 37, Hon. IX. Ex ngula rotulor. anni illius menes Thoi. et
Camerar, Rot 1. 4.

* Stow. Harrison.

0

I

I

OT CLEAKOR OF rROVB>CB.

Ae ag»in eommiitpd UiPin, togMh«r with Kiclurd fhrdpll, dnper. Die
mayor, v> iho nmo prison, for •rreara of ui aid, towards ihe war in

GtMOBJ.

Thwe ftTbilmry proceedings of the <iuMn-regenl were reganied wiui
indignant aslonianmrnl by a city guvemeil by laws peculiar to itidf^
London being, in fiirt, a republic williin a monarchy, who»c priTilefa
had hilhcrlo been respecled by the moit dwpotic Bovert'ijrns. |l biil
b«en hoped that Bichard, rarl of Cornwall, Elcanor'i roajjulor m the
delegated regal power, would have restmined her from such reclden qm
—or rather wc thould siiy abune — of the authority, with which she had
been invested by her absent lord ; but since his marriage wiib hrr usia,
that prinee had ceaseil to oppose the queeu in any of her designa. Ilia
ibc queen aud llie counles* of Coiuwail made common causr, cnniriTiag
to govern beiweoii iheni the king and his brother, and, through ihoDi
the whole realm, uccording to llieir own pleasure, whether it were 6k
good ur evil

In the beginning of the year, Flonor received instructions from Ac
king to aummon a parlinmcnt, for the purpose of demanding an aid fiv
carrying on tlie war in Gascony. Bui finding it irapoMible to oblu
tliia grant, queen Eleanor >enl the king fire hundred marks from te
own private eolTers, as a new year's gili, for the immediate reli«f of ha
mart pressing etigeaciM.' Henry then direeled his brother to esUt
from liie lucklew Jewa the sum required, for ijie nuptial festKJtin of hii
heir. As soon as Henry receivnl the glittering fruits of this uuquilf,
he aent for Eleanor, to assist him in squandering il away, in the t^
and vain espeusea, in which they mutimlly delighted, and lo grant wok
her presence the bridal of their eldest son, pnnce Edwani.* Fioum,
who loved power well, hut pleasure belter, on this welcome summinii
resigned the cores of government tu the earl of Cornwall, and, wilh h>
sisUit, itie countess of Cornwall, her second son, prince Edmund, and i
courtly reijoue of Indies, knights, and nobles, sailed from rortsnioinh
on the ISih of May, and, Unding at Bordeaux, was jo)-fully welcooied
by her tiusband, and their heir, prince Edward, whom she had not seeii
for upwards of a year. She then crossed the Pyrenees with her son,
■nd having assisted at the solemnization of his nitpUals with the in&nti
Eteanora of Caslille, relumed with tlie royal bride sod bridegroom K
king Henry, who was waiting for their arrival at Bordeaui. Inslgid cf
■ailing from thence to England, tlie queen persuaded Henry lo aeupl
the invitation of St. Louis, her brother-in-law, to pass soffle days at lut
court with their Uain.

At Chartres. Eleanor enjoyed the pleasure of embracing her sister^ li<
queen of Freuce, who, wilh king Louis and their noblea, Uiere nAu' I
welcomed dielr royal guests, and couducted tliem with dl due ponp*
Paris.' Here Louis assigned the palace of the Old Tem|^, lor ifa* W
df^nce of his royal guests ; a domicile thai could almoat furnish aeraO* I
moilations for an army. The morning after their arrival, Henry firt*-
buted very abundant alms among the Parisian poor, and made a tplEndid
ruLi*. ■ M. Paiu. ■ M. Paris. M. WeBmlaMn.

XLBANOR OF PROVBlfCB. 67

ontertaiiunent for the relatives of his queen, which was, in memory of
ks magnificence, and the number of crowned heads present, called the
Feast of Kings.' Contemporary chroniclers record that neither Ahasu-
enis, Arthur, nor Charlemagne, ever equalled this feast, in any of theit
frr-fiimed doings. King Henry sat at table on the right hand of the
king of Fimnce, and the king of Navarre on the left. King Louis, with
the princely courtesy and meekness which so much characterized the
niyal saint of France, contended much that the king of England should
take the place of honour; but Henry refused io do so, alleging that the
king of France was his suzerain, in allusion to the lands which he held
of him as a rassal peer of France ; on which Louis, in acknowledgment
of the compliment, sofUy rejoined, ^ Would to God that every one had
his rights without offence." '

At this memorable entertainment, queen Eleanor enjoyed the happi-
ness of a reunion with her four sisters, and their children, and her
mother, the countess of Provence. Ailer the royal family of England
had received, during a sojourn of eiglit days in Paris, all the honour,
which the power of the king, and the wealth of the fair realm of France
could bestow, they took their leave of these pleasant scenes. The king
and court of France accompanied them one day's journey.

DeancHT and her husband landed at Dover on the fiAh of January,
lt55, and on the 27th made their public entry into London with extra-
oidinaiy pomp. They received a present of a hundred pounds sterling,
which the citizens of London were accustomed to give on such occa-
lioiis ; but as Henry did not seem satisfied, they added a rich piece of
plale of exquisite workmanship, which pleased, but certainly did not
content, this most acquisitive of all our monarchs ; since, a few da3rs
after, he extorted a fine of three thousand marks from them, on the
frivoloQs pretence of the escape of a priest from Newgate, who was
■censed of murder. It was very evident to the citizens, that Eleanor had
not foigotten their resistance of her illegal exactions ; for much strife
ttfucd regarding her claims.*

Eleanor, who was probably ambitious of being the motlier of as many
cmwned heads, as those, by whom she had seen the countess of Pro-
vence proudly surrounded at the feast of kings, was much elated at the
pope sending her second son, prince Ekimund, then about ten years old,

■BLPvis.

'M. Paris. The king of France alluded to the detention of Normandy and
Aqirm, the inheritance of the House of Plantagenet

' In addition to this impof ition, Henry forced the Londoners to pay fourpenea
t day for the maintenance of a white bear which he kept in the Tower of Lon-
don, having six years previously commanded the sheriffii of London to provide
a muzzle, and iron chain, and a cord, for the use of the said royal pet, while
Ashing in the river Thames. Henry appears to have hod a mighty predilection
fe wild beasts. Tlie menagerie at the Tower was formed in his reign, com-
ItaeDcing with three leopards, which his brother-in-law, the emperor, presented
Id bim. Then he had an elephant, which was so highly prized by him, that on
hf decease he issued a writ to the constable of t)'e Tower, '*to deliver the bcnei
of the elephant lately buried in the Tower ditch to the sacristan oi Westminster,
\o make thereof what he had enjoined him to do.'*

R OF P R O V

a ring, whereby lie professed to invest him wiili ilie kingdMB of 8kil)r.
But ihe <le1ight of king Henry nl the imoi^innry prefemisnt of bii bfowiw
eon exceeded all bounils. He museU a seal lo be mule, wiUi the rfSpM
of the young prince enihroned, bearing the sceplre and ofb of •»*•
reignty, and frowned with the royal diadein of Sicily ; ' he nexi pqand
to rush madly into an expensive and unpopular war, fi>f lb« porpoM tt
eslablishing the chimerical claima of the boy to tbis sbsdowy <li(iiilf.
Henry was only deterred from parsuiiig his design by ratnoiili of M
«Unning nature, touching the king' and queen of Scots ; qiwni riniiw
having been informed ihal they were deprived of royal pnwer, and bfl
in close con6nement by the regents. Sir John Baliol and the ConytH,
who were the next heirs to the Scottish crown. The nialemal anwty
of the queen being very painfully excited by these report*, sh;^ pHvudy
dcspalcbed ber physician, a person in whose sagacity she coaltl confix
into Scotland, to ascertain the real situation of her daaghtcr. Tlut
trusty agent asc«rUtined that the king and queen of Seoie wen Wli
imprisoned in the castle of Edinburgh, but in eeparale apitrliBegti;

having succeeded in gaining a secret interview with the younr ((■■■■
she gave him a lamentable account of her treatment ever eince mt Qlf
fiage ; '■' having been rudely torn," she said, "■ from her rontl I
and kept apart from him in a doleful damp place, the bad atr of
had seriously injured her heallb ; and, so far from having any aban M
the govemoient, ihey were treated with the ulinoal contaiDdy, aad wH
in daily peril of their lives.''

While the falc of the young king nnd queen of Scotland vas tn s^
pense, the maternal anxiety of Rlennor was of the most poignant oalnt
She accompanied her royal lord on a northern campaign, which he W
dertook on this occasion, constantly urging hiin lo exert hiniselflixlhr
benefit of his child. Before ihe earl of Gloucester, whnm he hwlfMl
lo the ud of the young queen, could forward newi of his misaiaa ■!>
England, Eleanor's trouble of mind brought on a violent iltncas nJ
she was confined to her bed at Wark Castle,' with amall hope* of bi
life.* At last tidings came, thot Gloucester and Mansel had gaiaaj W-
millaoce into the castle of Edinburgh, by assmntng th« dress of lenaM

L

■Speed. 'Rymet*! Vaioa.

*1'lirte h among Ihc Tower records b Icuer fiom Henrj, ilaud Ann Vut,
Seplember 13th, cvidonily wnllcn wl>ili> be wbj yel in Boipenw u w IhB w^
or iliifl sdair, enfomjug " bU deal loii IjUlwaril or WeMminstet, ami hu lna«aMt
Tbilip Lovcl, irf the love siul faiili thejr owe biia, to keep the £»*«* irf tM
bvouiilD saint, EJwud tbe ConG-iwl, with ail due pomp, the same ■* it M»
Rif were piewni) and to make an olTeiing in golil fbc faimwll^ ht tkt q^H
and the royal ohildien ; also thai tLey cause to be touched the sU m croa «a tt
jpest altai at WeiUiiinaui, and otter a plate of gold weigliiog <»• tPutm, te
■ame aa wai ouMomar]' to be done whcu the king waa prcvMit at Ihe maa it%
EUwant ; and ibai ihcjr cauie nj come ■olcmnly to WetimlniMt. iw Sl btraA
dar. the pnuMsion of iha church of Sw Margivrel, and all iha pnmeieHBu (f ^
eit/ of London, with wax-tigh(9, as (ha kltig haih commnnd^ Uu nu^ mi
the liouMl nieu of Loiulun." Benijr concludes with coinimislinf ir-iU Wk
of tlie [islaue at WeiQuinstei In be Ailed with poor men and woini ' "

I

■ LCAMOE OT PROVBNCS. 69

Saliol ihe governor, and, in this disguise, they were enabled to give
«t access to their ibllowens by whom the garrison was surprised,
the rescued king and queen restored to each other. Their cruel
lers, Baliol and Ross, were brought to king Henry at Alnwick to
irer for their treasons; on their throwing themselves at his feet and
loring for mercy, he forgave them ; but as Baliol was his own sub-
he mulcted him in a heavy fine, which he reserved for his own pri-
! use. He then sent for the young king and queen of Scotland, to
I him at Alnwick, where the king of Scotland solemnly chose him
c his guardian during the rest of his minority.
Ipwen Eleanor's illness continued to detain her at Wark Castle, even
r her mind was relieved of the anxiety which had caused her sick-
L Her indisposition, and extreme desire of her daughter's company,
certified in a letter of king Henry to his son-in-law, the king of
tJand, dated the 20th of September, 1255,* in which he species.
at the queen of Scotland is to remain with the sick queen, her mo-
r, his beloved consort, at Wark Castle, till the said queen is suffi-
itly recovered to be capable of travelling southward.''
hi Eleanor's convalescence, the king and queen of Scotland accom-
ied her and king Henry to Woodstock, where she kept her court
h more than ordinary splendour, to celebrate their deliverance from
ir late adversity. There were then three kings and three queens at
todstock, with their retinues.' Richard, earl of Cornwall, having
lined his election as successor to the emperor of Germany, had
imed the title of king of the Romans, while his consort, queen Elea-
h sister, took also royal state and title.

ifler exhausting all the pleasures that the sylvan palace of Woodstock,
extensive chase and pleasance, could afford, they proceeded to Lon-
ly where, in the month of February, the three kings and queens made
ir public entry, wearing their crowns and royal robes.*
kU this pomp and festivity was succeeded by a season of gloom and
e. The departure of the king and queen of Scotland was followed
that of the new king and queen of the Romans, who went to be
wned at Aix-la-Chapelle, carrying with them seven hundred thousand
uds in sterling money. A dreadful famine was added to the public
barmssment, occasioned by the drain on the specie.
I was at this season of public misery that Eleanor, blinded by the
ish spirit of covetousness to the impolicy of her conduct, chose to
iw her demands of queen-gold on the city of London. These the
I enforced by writs of exchequer, himself sitting there in person,*
compelling the reluctant sheriff to distrain the citizens for the same,
liis year the queen lost her little daughter, the princess Katharine,
3m she had borne to king Henry duriug his absence in the Gascon
. The king caused a most sumptuous monument to be erected for
in Westminster Abbey. There is among the Tower records an
sr to his treasurer and chamberlains of the treasury, to deliver to

lymer't FcKlera. ' Matthew Paris. M. Westmiaattr.

latthew Paria. * Stow't London.

E

BLEAXO

OP PROVE!«rB.

Miister Simon de Wills fire marks mil a half for his
from 'Lon lion a ccrtsin brass image tu be set on the rayal
anil fur paying to Sirann de Gtoucesier, the king's go]
image for ihe like purpose, ihe sum of eevenly tuariis.

The ardent desire of ihe king ard queen foi ifae mtin
second son's title as king of Sicily meeting with no enca
litile piece of stage cfleci was deviled by the sorereipi, 1
foolishly imagined he should move his obdnrale bsrona to gM
niary supplies for his ilarling project. Having caused the j
to be aliired in the graceful costume of a Sicilian hii^,h«i r^
of tho parliament, presenied him lo the assembly vith I
speech : — " Behold here, good people, my son Edmitnd, w
his gracious goodness haih called lo ihe excellency of kie
how comely and well worthy he is of all your favour, am
and lynnnical must they be, who, at this pinch, would doxy
and seasonahle help, boih with money and adricer"

Of the latter, truth lo tell, the barons were in no wise I
they urged the king not to waste the blood and treasure of'
people on such a hopeless chimera ; but Henry, who waa ai
as he WHS unstable in well-doing, periinacimisly relmned 1
notwithstanding the strange insensibUity manifested by llM
comeliness of the young prince, and the picturesque bemH
I dress, for which the royal sire, in the fond weakneai
lity, had condescended to bespeak the admiration of tha
The aid was finally obtained through the interference t
_ ite, but on condition that the sovereign should consider ta
ly the Oxford statutes. The object of those stalutea wu I
power of the crown to a mere nominal authority. '

One day, as the sovereign was proceeding by water lo d
as overtaken by a tremendous thunder-slonn, ami in gra
le boatman push for the first stairs, forgetting, in bis U
ilonged to Durham-house, where Leicester then dwdt T
iwelcome courtesy, came In receive his royal brother^!
landed from the boat, telling him, at the same time, " not ' '
aa the storm was spent." " I am beyond measure afraid c
lightning, but by the head of God I fmr thee more than id
in the world," replied Henry, wiih as fierce a lorft as be
To which Leicester mildly rejoineil. " My lord, you are t
your only true and firm friend, whose «ole desire it is to J
land from ruin, and yourself from the destruction which yr
sellora are preparing for you."

Henry, for from confiding in these professions, took tbe
lunity of leaving the kingdom, to fceW assistance from th
iiexions of his queen. In his absence, die king ami qtt
arrived at Windsor Cascle. on a visit lo queen Cleanor.
after Henry's return, John, duke of Rreiagne, came o*i
princess Bcairice. The earl of Leicester allawed the kj
tmple supplies for the entertainment of these illustrioiis pi

w*M.PiU.

•Und.

ELEA^OR OF PK0\E<1CE. 71

• ctniTi U Windsor had never been more numerously alli'niled, or
I magnificenily appointed, than on this orcasion ; but there wai- a
iding elooni on the mind of the royal parenta, which the pr^enee
lir difesi daughter, and the marriage of iheir second, fniled to di«si-
The young (jueen of Scotland passed the whole winter with her

1 Windsor Castle, where she lay in of n daughter,

state of Henrj-'s mind at the period preceding the baron*' war

e gatherMl Irom his issuing directions to his painter, Master Wd-

a monk of Westminster, to paint a picture for hini, of a king

1 by his dogs, from an attack made upon him by his subjecia,

p LoTel, the king's treasurer, is ordered by this precept, which was

I in the fortieth year of Henry's reign, to diaburse, m the said

ir Williams, the full charges and cspeiises of executing this picture ;

b is ordered to be placed in tlic wardrobe of Westminster, where

was accustomed lo wash his head,

a period, the king and queen chiefly confined themselves within

W other of the royal fortresses of Windsor, or the Tower, both of

rere nrengthened, and prepared with additional defences, to stand

After Henrj- had violated llie provisions of Oxford, he took up

dence in the Tower of London, while Eleanor remained wilh r

J gwrison to keep Windsor. The principal communication be-

■ these forliJied palaces was by water.

I^ISfll died the queen's sister, San cha countess of Cornwall and

■ of the Romans, for whom the king and queen made greet lamenia-
h and gave her a mttgniltcenl funeral.

B^at year the royal party gained such strength, that the earl of

r fband it m<ist prudent to withdraw to the continent. Prince

I lo England, to guard the realm while king Ilcnry went

tay, where his presence was required, and where he fell sick of

n agne, which deiained him there during the autumn.

> prince Edward was carrying on the war against the Welch,

T^i cause became more formidable, and in 1*203 that might)

r relumed almost at the same lime with t)ie king, lo whom he

e barons to present an address, requiring him to confirm the

I, adding a defiance lo all who opposed them, the king,

L, and the royal children excepted. This exception may he

It things considered, as a very remarkable piece of civility on

f die reforming barons of the 13th century- One of ihe moat

■1 of these was Roger Bigod, earl of Norfolk and Sutlblk, lo

1 angiy parlance king Henry said, "What, sir earl, are you so

Ji me, whose vassal peer you are ? Could I not issue my royal

HI fat threshing out all your corn ?" " Ay," retorted Ihe earl, *'and

in return send you the heads of the threshers.""

n would ihey have been who had ventured to undertake thai

A striking instance of the disregard of all moral restraints,

I die high and mighty, in that reign of misery, may be seen '

■ robbery, committed by the heir apparent of the realm, on the

1

I

I

fl9 BL*A!in« nr TRovmncm.

tiTtaory of the Knts;)iUi Trinpluv. in tiir year 13d3. "nioM mSiarr
fuonki wei* Dot only tl)e iiHUtera of gmiL wealih, bul aewil u bonkm
uhI money-broken lo all Europe, lending suma on rich ptedgw S
luuiioii) inicrcM. (^eni Elrooor, U tlto ciRUDCTorni«)t of thi OvMm
m which l)» rorktrse canoeRls had inrolrcd ihc kin^, had drwxMihm
jewrlt, for mtextnty, with tliia fnilcniity, \iho hai.] advancoa a nn uf
money ufiun ihein. On die retitni at' pnnce Uward front In* ncUcwa
coinfwiifn in U'lklea. Huiliiig hiniaelf without the menu of dkAoniag llR
anf urs of puy which he owed hu iruupa, and anwfllbig to dmimai nM
whom ha forrtaw hia Taihpr's c«uk wouM raqaire, naH;hc4 Mniglkmy
to ihe Tempb, onil told the master thai it was tut fiwman lo Me ihf ^
irweU of the queen his motticc, na he undcntood lh«y wore aot mUl
kept. On thi* cxctiee he eniBnid llie treasury, and broke open the coF-
Sat* of many person* who liad lodged their money, and pledga tot
Mfcurity, in ilie IibiuIh of (he Teniplsm, and Mised ten ihountid pouoAi
aterliii^, pttBcipally belonging to the cituieus of Londoti, which, together
with the tfuecn'B Jewels, he carried olT to the royal rortreas of WmiltorJ

A few monUiB alWrwarda ilie queen pawned these jewels a kcmkI
time to her st«i«r'« bushnnd, llio king uf Kranoe ; that monareti [irat«blf
rivinliii^ the ruhbery ol' the Template as a very emaU ain.*

The active ptui taken by queen Eleotior aiid faer eldatt Km, m lilt
iiiisiiiaiiagcineiii of the king's allairs, at this critical pariod, is mwJwl

iby mUtihew Farts, who is certainly a credible witne«a,tBd one wbohid
ever)- means of information on the aubject, sine*, (mm the great ntftft
in which bis tnleiits were held by king Henry, b« was ianisd to <iiiieal
the royal table every (lay, niiil. as he bimaelf sialea, (ntpusntlj wrote m
tlie prcsemw, and from tlie dictation, of the king. Neither Hemy aei i
Eleanor wer« probably aware how ofi ilutt sly monk took avtn of iM i
roulisb Mying* and evil doings, for the example of diutaiu geoeauewj £,
enriching his chronicle, moreover, with many a choice aaecdoie, iUi» „
Intive of the persunal history of royalty, in the thirteenth centor}'. ,j
Koberl of tiluncester, s cimicrapiirBry, thus notice* the procacdii^ ',
of the queen, and prince Edward's puliucol opiniutis. 1^

I "The qunn went br^nnd ttie eee, Ibe king;'! bmtliiea Din; '^^^H

Am) Bvpr lli»r sinXB tbe obnrict tu uiirlo; ^^^^|

Titer iniraUKMHl liinl tite pops sbould kwdI, t Wi*. ^^^H

Of tlie oaili, siul the ctuuler, aiul Uia Iubc iuuI oil his. ^^^H
It wai ever the qaeoa't ihooehl (as nuelt *■ tAi oould lliuik) ^^^|

To luBak the ehattet bjr luam wmuBB's wranclus |' ^^^|

And ihoogti lii Edward ptuved a haidr knisUi and Bood, ^^^|

Yet Ihia same obancr wat lilllo to liU mood." ^^^H

'Chrmlols or Diinmow, Annali of St Aii^uitine. R»i>in. Harrinm') Satrt^ t>

of Lunaon, ic. 441 )t

'Far LoDis hod pennitiod his Bnaclicd tiicnd and foilnwer, Ae loiO ds Ja<>- ^

Ivilln, who iriuioiiIiBBlJy leueiU* Uia Ihcl in tug otiioBk'Iool'thu onsBtde. to M>> ^
open Ujs tmauip-cheaii of ibii wcslthy fyatcnuty of ibe oliureh militant at Di-

miens, will) a iJsdjie-liijnnier. and take from (Lance tlio lum requitoJ to wsta I

■p bis taocom. Joinville't Clinraiele, ytt lU Si, I/m,a. ' *
* Pionouticeil wmk, meaning twining or n-roDcbing (he words of I
CSarla fhxn llirir clear uid simple rigBidealioa.

KLEANOR OF PROVBHCE.

7»

f indeed were the wiles and e\-atiion«. very inFonstsienl with the

d MiUier-like pltiiineBs o( his characler in after lire, which were

d by ihe valiauL heir of England, while acting under the influ-

iSiDcere mother, in the hope of circumventing the barons

M by force.

, notwithstHDilin^ the relucinncc of the qiteen,' king Henry
o sign an amicable amng«ment with the barons, by which
d bmiself to confirm the provJHions of Oxford. This agreement,
_l might hA*a averted llie storm of civil strife, was regarded with
to impatience, by some of the destnictives of the thirteenth century,
L«ager for phmder and athint for blood, linding they were likely
■diaappoinled in the object which had led them to rank themselves
%• tide of the reformbg barons and their great dictator, Moniforl,
IS • dreadful tiproar in London against the unhappy Jews, whose
.h excited their envy and cupidity.

I^Wikes, a contemporary chronicler, thus details the particulars of
ult, which was the prelude to a personal attack upon the queen,
d of SL Faults gf^' bell, a numerous mob sallied forth, led
phen Buckrell, the marshal of London, and John Fitx-John, &
I baron. They killed and plundered many of these wretched
I wilhont mercy. The ferocious leader, John Filz-John, nn
li with his awortl, in cold blood, Kokben Abraham, tlie wealthiest
w resident in London. Bexides plimdering and killing fire hundred
led race, the mob turned the rest out of tlieir beds, undressed
i, keeping them so the whole night. The next morning they
iced the work of plunder with such outrageous yells, that the
s then at the Tower, seized with morlnl terror, got into
B with many of her great ladies, the wives and daughters of the
iding to escape by water lo Windsor Castle. But the raging
whom she had rendered herself most obnoxious, aa soon as
—Y obaerved the royal barge on the river, made a general rush lo the
bridge, crying — " Drown the wiich '. — drown the witch !"' at the same
■idM! polling tl)e queen with mud, addressing the most abusive language
k) her, and endeavouring to sink the vessel by huriing down blocks of
kood tnd stone of an enormous weight, which they tore from the
MoCniahed buildings of the bridge. The poor ladies were pelted with
roam eKK*! and ■heep^s bones, and everylliing vile.' If the queen had
t^misieirin shooting the arch, the boat must have been swamped, or her
•e«»el dsslied to pieces, by the formiilable missiles that were aimed at
tk«r pcDon. As it was, she with dilhculty escaped the fury of the assail-
•au by returning lo the Tower. Not considering herself safe there, she
>«nk skDctuikry at night in the bifiliop of l,ondoii's palace at Sl Paul's,
Mwsc* she wna privately reraoTcd to Windsor Castle, where prince
bdword kept garrison willi his Uoops. This high-spiriied prince never
^ k*e iIm Londoners for the insult ihey hud o%red to his mother.*

«

I

hj^*e lite Lout
^■ilpilrit. Id llie

MuiboworWetUnmsinr. Wiltra. Speed. Rapia. 'Ibid.
0( Wotininitri, i n Ilia FJuwets of Uiilory, delaili tbis oatrafis wfth
int. Id llie Latin of tlia oluiitei.

^1

BLBA

iOR I

Tliough Eleenor had been o modi unpriucipled plunderer o( the J
wkenevbr opportunity served, stie was accused of patranbtn^ t'
because great numbers of ihein liud llotrkcd into Engtand a
her marriage with king Henr)'. t^e Proveogal princM hiring i
granted toleration to litis people. Eleanor never foigol hor Icmv K
London bridge, which had the etiect of hurrying forward tha cini war.
Al the lime when the harons had agreed to reler their gricmoen Ut llit
drbitrstion of Sl Louia, the brotlier-in-law uf tlie uucen, king Henry lonll
Eleanor with him to France, and led her lliere in October, 1!C6I, milt
her children, at the court of her «isler Marj^erile.

The decision of St. Louis, though really a rational om, did not MWfr
tlie barous, who protested against it on iho gmutids of fiiniily pwubiy,
and Eugland was forthwith involved in the tlomes -of ciril war. Amt
Henry had placed his adored queen in security, and taken • letKlnr iatn
of her and her young children, he returned to Engkud to encmoier it»
■lorm, with more spirit and manliness than whs usual to hta charMirr.
On Passion Sunday, Henr}' gained a great victory at Nonhamptoa urw
the barons ; be took hi^ rebellious nephew, the earl of LvictMtar'a ddtM
son, prisoner, together widi fourteen of ilie leading barona.* Ilnry %u»i
his victory with great moderation.' At the oas^e of Tunliridge. Inrfcit
countess of Gloucester, the wife of one of the most invelemleof bit (dm,
fell into hia hands, but he geueroualy act her. at liberljri witL the BBll^

BliBANOR OF PROVBlfCB. 75

Croydon, where he made a merciless slaughter of the hapless citizens.
When he returned to the field of battle with his jaded cavalry, he found
his &ther, who had lost the support of all the horse, taken prisoner with
his uncle the king of the Romans, and Edward had no other resource
than surrendering himself to Leicester, who conveyed him, with king
Henry, as captive to the castle of Wallingford.

The remnant of the rojral army retreated to Bristol Castle, under the
command of seven knights, who reared seven banners on the walls. The
queen was said by some to be safe in France, but old Robert of Glouces-
ter asserts that she was etpy ^ in the land for the purpose of liberating
her brave son. Let this be as it may, she sent word to Sir Warren de
Basingboume, her son's favourite knight, one of the gallant defenders of
Bnstol, that Wallingford was but feebly guarded, and that her son
might be released, if he and the rest of the Bristol garrison would attack
ii by surprise. Directly Sir Warren received the queen's message, he,
with three hundred horse, crossed the country, and arrived at Walling-
ford on a Friday, just as the sun rose, and, right against All Hallows
church, made the first fierce attack on the castle, and won the outermost
wall. The besieged defended themselves furiously, with cross-bows
and battle engines : at last they called out to sir Warren, that ^ if they
wanted sire Edward, the prince, they should have him, but bound hand
tod foot, and shot from the mangonel" — a terrific war engine used foi
casting stones. As soon as the prince heard of this murderous intention,
he demanded leave to speak with his friends, and coming on the wall,
assured them, ^ that if they persevered in his mother's intentions he
vhould be destroyed." Whereupon sir Warren and his chevaliers retired
in great dejection. Simon de Montfort, pretending to be angry for the
violence oflered to the prince his nephew, carried off all his royal pri-
soners for safe keeping to Kenilworth Castle, where Edward's aunt, his
countees, was abiding, and who ofiered her royal brothers and their sons
'* all the solace she could."

The queen, thus disappointed in the liberation of her gallant heir,
soon after found a partisan, in a lady strongly attached to her. This
was lady Maud Mortimer. Lord Roger Mortimer had, much against
the wishes of his lady, given his powerful aid to Leicester ; but having
received some affront since the victoiy of Lewes, he now turned a com-
placent ear to the loyal pleadings of Lady Maud, in behalf of the queen
and her son. What all the valour of sir Warren failed to accomplish,
the wit of woman efl^cted. Lady Maud Mortimer having sent her in-
structions to prince Edward, he made his escape by riding races with his
atttendants till he had tired their horses, when he rode up to a thicket,
where dame Maud had ambushed a swift steed. Mounting his gallant
courser, Edward turned to his guard, and bade them ^ commend him to
hia tire the king, and tell him he would soon be at liberty," and then
galloped off; while an armed party appeared on the opposite hill, a mile
distant, and displayed the banner of Mortimer.

'Concealed.

r

I

I

To BLEA:tOR OP PROTENC8.

■Wbr (houli! hall a kmg lalf t Ha off n»p>^ h>,
To ■!)« oULle of Wigmore ihs injt »ocin hs toolt,
TbuRi was jay srul blisi emw wlirii lin eamn thiUmc,
To ihe loiIy of that ensile, clauio MbuJ de MortiniBr,"

Damg ibe captiTUr of her huBbanil btkI eon. it is aaserlMl that D»
nor pr Ptovence made more than one privalo visit to England. Oaim-
tibly, ihe reaiiled in France, with her younger children, amler ih« kiiul
protection of her siaier, queen Marguerite. Meantime, she had, liireetlf
itfler the disastrous ticld of Lewes, borrowed all the moaey alie eonld
raise on her Jewde and credit, and proceeded lo muaier forces, and nnip
a fleet, Matthew of Wealminster does full justice lo the euer^ik efiun
of "' this uoble virago,*' as he styles qtieen Eleanor, for the lib«r>i>ad nf
her husband. ''She sacceeded," be mys, "in getiinfi; to^etlier a pM
nrmy, conimaQJed by so many dukes and carls as aeomeii incredible;''
aiid those who knew the strengllt and power of that army affinattL
" lluit if they had once landed in England, they would prreseatly hm
subtlued the whole population of the country ; but God in his ineret,"
continues tlie chronicler, '^ ordered it otherwise ;^* for while il>e qoMa
and her foreign troops remained wind-bound on the other side olf tin
water, the battle of Evesham was fought and won, by her vnlianl ««■
prince Edward. Leicester had the audacity to proclaim that pcinmod
all his loyal chivalry traitors to the captive sovereign, for whoee delim-
anre iliey had displayed their banners.

There are letters in the Fusdero, written during Hemy's eaptiTi^, att-
dressed by him " to queen Eleanor abiding iu foreign parts," in whsi
he assures her of his health and comfort, and continued afleclion (or ba
and their children, and of his good hopes of a liappy peace being tottt
established (through the blessing of God) in his dominiune. Thne
letters are, however, evidently written under the resLraiui and diciatioii
of the carl of Leiceaier, since the captive monarch desires, ziay, «a^
mands, the queen to >■ abstain from any attempts to alter the state sf
things, and charges her to exhort his heir not to interfere in bny war
against his will, which will be further explained by master Edttarddii
C^rol, the deacon of Wells, who is the bearer of tbeae ■uissmii.''
Thev are dated Windsor, IStli of November, 1264.'

Eleanor, of coarse, paid no regard to the forced nutodales of bet m^
forttinale consort, but, like a faithful helpmate in tlie lime of itoabi*,
exerted all the energies of her nature for hia delivecanoe. Possnsoig
the pen of a ready writer, she addressed llie most persuasive leiicn U>
Urban IV. and his legates, setting forth the zeal and ubvUience her lu»
band had ever shown to the church / she obtained bulls in favour al^
party, which were of great service to the royal cause.

The batde of Evesham was won by a eoap de mai
took prince Edward's army for that of his own son, Simoo de Sit
which the prince had intercepted and dispersed. Wlien
covered his error, he was struck with consternation, and
aloud, '^ May the Lord have mercy on our souls, for our bodies

•Rfm»T't Fcedera, vol. 1.

•Matlhew of W.

SLSAHOR OF FROYSirGS. 77

6^8 P Leicester exposed his royvl prisoner, and former benefactor,
Henry, to the shaf^ of his own friends, by placmg him in the front
e battle. Poor Henry was wounded with a jarelin, in the shoulder,
ras in imminent danger of being slain by one of the royalist sol-
, who, mistaking him for one of Leicester's party, would hare cut
lown, had he not cried out, in a lamentable voice, ^ Slay me not, I
[enry of Winchester, your king.'' An officer, hiring this, ran to
isistance, rescued him from his perilous situation, and brought him
Ince Edward, who, greeting him with the tenderest affection, knelt
mplored his blessing ; and then, leaving a strong guard for his pro-
«i, pursued his victorious career.'

lis liattle was fought on the 4th of August, 1265, fourteen months
the defeat and capture of the king at Lewes. Though great pro-
ion had been given to the king, and every member of the royal
V, there was not a single drop of blood shed on the scaffold after
fecisive triumph. Henry, with all his fiiults and follies, was tender
uuui life, and mindful that the noblest prerogative of the crown is
jr. Neither is it recorded of queen Eleanor, that she ever caused a
linary vengeance to be inflicted on any of her foes. King Henry,
!ver, made the Londoners pay pretty dearly for the pelting they had
wed on the high and mighty lady, his companion.' At length he
ed a charter of remission for their sins to his consort, in these
s: —

bart of Okmcester, in strains of rugged strength, bewails the death of Leices-
id describes the singular darkness which overshadowed the fhtal plain
esham, ** while England's barons fought a field."

** Such vras the murther of Evesham, for battle none it was.**

proceeds to sa]r, that the victory was much displeasing to the Saviour, who
token of his anger by a darkness over the middle earth, such as befel
1m died oa the rood. For,

** The while the good men at Evesham were slew,
In the north-west a dark weather arose,
Suddenly swart enow that many men rgros, (terrified)
And overcast all through the land, that me might scarcely seoi
Grislier weather than it was might not on earth be ;
Few drops of rain fell, but they were large enow,
Tokening well through the land when these men were slew,
For thirty mile then. This I say, (Roberd
That first this book made,) and I was sore aiVaid."

divested the city of its ancient charters, caused its posts and chains to be

away, and ordered the mayor, with a party of the principal citizens, to
t him at Windsor, to confirm the instrument of their own degradation, by
if die seal of the city to a written form of their submission to tlie royal
% Wh(*n they arrived at Wimltor, tlicy were treated with the utmost con-
y by the oflcert of the royal hoitseliold, and committed to the custody of
msfable of the castle, who shut them up in the keep till the following day,
, as a great Ikvonr, they were bestowed in less alarming lodgings, except
ftyor, and four of the most obnoxious to tlie ro3ral cause, who were deli-

to prinee Edward, and by him subjected to a rigorous confinement till thej
«id ransom for their own persons, and consented to petition the king to

a sum as the price of reconciliation with the city of Lcmdon. Hftixn^i^n\

I

I

78* ELBAHaR OF PBOVENCE. ^^|

" Know ye> itial in conBidentlion of twenty tiiousuul marki, paij lo
IM by our citizens of London, as ui nioiicaieni fur their great crium ■tkl
tnisdcnieanoura ogaiast us, our royal consort, our royal brother, fUchanl
king of ilie RonuLua, and our dear sod E<1 ward, iliai we have, and do. by
these our presents, remit, forgive, acqnit," &c. tec. &c.

TKis enormous fine was not paid into the king's exchequer, ererf
fiinliing of it being devoted lo queen Eleanor's use, and, by hrr daairt,
it wa« iransmilicd to certain persona in France, who had supplied her
with money at her need, during her exile from England.'

As for Henry, he had a rich harvest of fines and confiscations, grauiMl
by his obliging parliament, from the lands of the rebel barons. The
"disinherited," as they were called, who were thus stripped of lh«r
patrimony, liaving nothing more to lose than their lives, raised a &Wi
revolt, under the banner of Simon de Montforl, Leicester's ruined heir,
who was also king Henry's nephew.

The consequences of this rebellion were happily averted by the atrinl
of the queen, who landed at Dover, October 29ih, 1266, bringing wiA
her tlie pope's legale, cardinal Ottobone, whom she had iiidueed lu vmi
England, for the purpose of hurling the anathema of the church agiinsl
the rebel barons. Ollobone accordingly convened a ^ynod, and solemnlv
exeommunicaled all the adherents of the late earl of Leicester, wheiMr
living or dead, which had a wonderful elTect in suppressing the infiD'

The discontented annalists of tlie era mention tliu event, by aytBf
that the queen returned with the legate, and that " together they toMet
great cursing."

Thus did Eleanor see the happy termination of the barons' wm,
and was once more seided with her royal partner on the throne i^
England.

In the year 1267, the formidable revolt of the earl of GloncesKT
occurred. Fortunately for the queen, she was at Windsor when hii
partisans stormed her palace at Westminster, which they socked, brmk-
ing and destroying everything they could not cany away, even to the
doors and windows, and making a great slaughter of the roj'al dontMtin,
who offered some slight resistance. They also did great mtacliicf to At
beautiful new-built abbey. Four of these banditti being discuveml tobt i
the servants of the earl of Derby, were, by that nobleman's onlera, DmI
up in sacks, and thrown into the Thames.' J

It was at this juncture that prince Edward personally encountered ibt I
last adherent of Leicester, and overcame him. The queen afierwinU I
proved the benefactress of the gallant outlaw, Adam tie Gorili'ii. >rb"
was not B Scot, but a Poictevin. We translate, from i ; i

lit be offeied wi-'

■Iks. Bui the I.,

; to unreaaomiblii .i >,

-aA been KniltL™ uS

agaiiut liirn ami Ibe (guson, tliiit ne Wu al leomh inilKCecl

innads ro tw(-nl^ thoiiunri mnrluL— ^amam't Sun^f.

' 'Awali of London. T.WUttx.

< whom rarTf blaiifht termi ooi
tiioui fina or liiiy ihouHiiiiJ n
'igly the iin)>o»{bililj' of lainn
et riiin many families who I

r R O V E X G B.

Ucniingfonl and Wikn, lliia odrenCure, so credilable bolh to Eleaiio^
kuii her son.

■* Edward engaged iht brave outlaw, Adam de Gordon, in Alton
funtl to hand, «ad fHirly conquered him in a personal encounter.
Ifnuitiiig him hia life, he brought him to his wife's palace or Guildrord^
where hiB mother happened la be that evening, and introducing him to
ilie queen, pleaded so eariiesily for him, that Henry 111. pardoned thia
adherent of Leicester, and Eleanor soon after gave Gordon an office at
Windsor Oude."

St. Eflward'a Chapel being now complered, and forming the crowning
^nry of that sublime ehff d'auvre of Gothic archiieciure, St. Peter'a
Abbey at Weslmineler, which Henry III. had been lifty years in build-
ing, he, ou the I3lh of October, Si. Edward's day, 1200, assisted by hia
brother, the king of ilie Romans, and his princely sons, Edward arid,
Kdmund, bore the bier of the royal saint on his shoulders ; and, in liul
pnsence of his queen and all the nobles of bis court, placed it in ita
new statidti, tjueen Eleanor oflering a silver image of the Virgin, and
oUier Jewels of great value, at llie fnrine. King Ilenry reservetlthe old
coffin of St. Edward for his own private use ; having, with his usud:
Mrapliciiy, an idea that its previous occupution by the royal saint bad
made it a peculiarly desirable tenemenl.

rorliinately for Uie future peace of England, Boniface, archbishop of
'''i/iU-ritur}', the chief cause of queen Eleanor's unpopularity, ditnl at
~..vi>y the same year thai prince Edward leti England.'

From the exchequer rolls of this reign,' some lighl is thrown on ihs
ilomeslic usages of royally in the middle ages. The royal table was,
it ihould seem, chiefly supplied by the Hherllfs of the counties, or ilie
bailiffii of towns. Thus, w^ find that the ahenff of the counties of Buck-
ingham aiid Bedford, by ihe king's command, on one occasion brought
har hundred and tweniy-eight hens to Westminster, for his use. The
bwli& of Bristol provided coiiget eels, and the sheri^ of Essex, fowla
and other victuals. The bailiff of Newhaveu brought lompreya. Th»
•herifi' of Gloucester was commanded to cause twenty salmons to be piK
inio liis pies, agiunst Christmas. The herring pies of YarmouLli and
Norwich still form part of iheir quil-reni to llie crown. The sheriff of
Sbsmx waa to furnish brawn, and other provisions, for the royal usft
The shcrilf of Wiltshire provided oxen, hogs, sheep, fruit, corn, and
many otlier tilings for llie queen, when she was at her dower castle of
Uarlborough. Tliesc requisitions were, however, by no means coniined
tn eatabjes. In tlie thirty-«evttnth of Henry lll.'s reign, the sheriffs of
Wiltshire and Sussex were each ordered to buy a thousand cUs of fina
iiiiro, and to send it to ihe royal wardrobe al \Vesiminaler before thi
utit Whitsnmide; and the linen was to be very fair and delicate il

' Mitdnx'i HiiL Eiehenuei Libtrnl. 37 H. III. m. 4. Somo of thete suppli
'•■t know were quii-raDit, u the bertini pies of Yntmouth and Narwiub. T^M
N'tilTi. in aOter it.jimDcei, bouglit the pioductiua) for wliicli oaoti iocalily ^'
:.Jiii(nu, and pskl tliemselrei oul of the crown lenu of ihe couaif or cily.

I

ha a

I

I

i

SQ ELEANOR OP PBOVEKCE.

quality. In the forly-eecond of Henry, ihe sherifig of Norfolk vi
Suflolk were cominantleiJ to diiburse tliiriy bezants, to be off^nnl U 9l
Edmund's shrine, for the king and queen, and iheir children. Thir Att-
jiff of Nottinghamshire was enjoined lo cause llie queen's chunbnil
Nottingham castle to be painted with the hiBiory of Alexander iheOrai;
and the sheriff of Southampton to cause the image of St. Chri*toph*t,
with our Saviour in his arms, and the image of SL Edward Ihe kiiig,U
be painted in her chapel at Winchester.'

lie of the Tower rolls, dated Woodstock, April 30th. in tli»
ihtriy'secoDd year of Henry IIl.'s reign, that monarch directs lii« tnt-
surer and chamberlain to pay Master Henry the poet, whom he ktIe^
Liouately alyles, " our beloved Master Uenry, the versiGcBlor," one hiiD-
dred shillings, due to him for the arrears of his salary, enjoiniug ibmi
to pay it without delay, though the exchequer was then shut.

In the great roll of the forty-ninth of Henry IH. there is a carimn
account of queen Eleanor's wardrobe expenses, as rendered by Hugh of
Ihe Pen ; from the feaat of St. Philip and Si. James, in the forlv-finl yw
of the king her linshand, till the feast of 3l Simon and St. Judn, fom-
ninth year, under Ihe control of Alexander de Bradeham, chaplain lo liii
queen. The accounts are of a more creditable nature to EWuor Iha
might be imagined, when we consider the reckless expcndtlnre ot At
first years of her marriage.' There was expended in Ihe lin«n dsfw^
menl. the botlery, kitchen, scullery, saisary, hall, in feeding the poaii >■
liveries of garfons, farriery and shoeing of horses, six tliouawid ^{kl
hundred and eixteen pounds. In oblations for holidays, and alniaMti-
buted d^ly, and by the wayside, one hundred and fifty-one pounikuJ
eighteen shillings. In f ilks, mantles, upper garmeats, linea hose (at W
ladies, and otlier miicellaneous expenses for the wardrobe, t, kitoM
and four-score pounds, eleven shillings, and twelve-pence halfpentif'
In horses purchased, and robes for the queen's family, in mnding nbM
in shoes, saddles, reins, almonds, wax, and other neceasuie* for dv
wardrobe, one thousand six hundred and ninety-one pounds, anbt
shillings, and one petiny. In gifts presented to knights, derka, wd eliHt

'Madoi'i HitL Eiclwq. Roll*, Memonnda, aod LilirnL or (lint rn^n.

'From tbe pniuKl of tbe ancieuL roll*, it apimi* liiat ■ part at iha n>rsl nf*-
nuB WHi alwajra devoieil lo bIhis, Tliie alms wns called £Jtmuyaa iiiiiifr—
or Killed alnu, and we Qnd dial ppiuions were aocusuxnnl ta be taitl n 4*
tetvanu of ibe king and queen, when aiBkness or age inOopneJlBwd ihcM ftH
(lie performBOce at their reipeclive duties. In th« reifcn of Hamy ID, fli
ilierilfj of London were commanded " to par uuto Riehard Iha ouMC iha MMf
per day of Ilia king's alms, which Nicholas the carprntet (ued u tvon-ntttt
theillTi of ibal eiljr for the lime being." The king granted lo Eliai d* ICIii^
for hi* good service. Llue« liaUpeuce par daf during liii life ) anil la hoMM
.le Fanihani, the king's porter, Iwopenoo per dnjf, lo be received nf tV *>rf
oT Essex, unlil the king should otherwise provide for him. In thr nmi ht^c
bold there Wu on EUtmoifi»a itttula and /oriniaa, besides wliiii ,.
in oblaliuni iumI daily alms, hj the liaadi of the king anil qD(>>?:i -
ulotbinit for the poor, and other necessaries sent to them. The-'
rilieii with otlien ol^ Uie like kind, were disbuned out of tbe kin
aaJ Ihe queen's private cbatitiQi out. ot Uci wardrobe ai

BLBANOR OF PROVENCE. 81

aettengen coming to the queen, three hundred and sixty-eight pounds,
leven shillings, and ten-pence. In secret gifls and private alms, four
UMuand and seventeen pounds, ten shillings, and three-pence. In jel-
es, spices, apples, pears, and other fruit, two hundred and fifty-two
oimds, sixteen shillings, and nine-pence halfpenny. In jewels bought
n the queen^s use, Co wit, eleven rich garlands, with enaeralds, pearls,
ipphires, . and ffanets, of the value of one hundred and forty-five
ooDds, four shifiings, and fourpence. The sura-total of these expenses
I jC21^60 dJL 7^d^ and the accomptant acknowledges that he was in
oqilimge £10,446 3s. 3d. Thus, we see how large a portion of her
leome Eleanor of Provence devoted to charitable purposes. But the
hancter of this qneen undoubtedly improved as she advanced into the
lie of years.

When men were indebted to the queen for aurum regina^ she some-
lOies respited, pardoned, and discharged the debt, as she saw fit' Elea-
or of Provence, oppressive and exacting as she was, occasionally
sercised this mcious prerogative, as we learn from memoranda con-
lined in the rolls of the Exchequer, where it is recorded that the queen
ave respite to Imoyne de Sulleye for thirty marks, which he owed her
or amrum rtgina ; and in the same roll, dated Southampton, it is certi-
iad, ^ that the queen pardoned Patrick de Chauces a hundred shillings,
nred for queen-ffold, due on the fine which he paid to the king, to have
eisin of the lands that were his patrimony .'' ' In the fifth roll there is
Iso record of Thomas, son of Aucher, having respite of the fine of
iAeen marks, due for a trespass in the forest, and of the portion coming
0 Eleanor.

The nuptials of queen Eleanor's second son, Edmund, earl of Lan-
aater and Derbv, with the beautiful Aveline, heiress of William Fortibus,
arl of Albemarle, had been celebrated on the 8th of April, 1270, before
lit departure for the Holy Land. The youthful bride died before his
etom, in the first year of her nuptials.'

Her death was quickly followed by that of the kine of the Romans ;
or grief of which, king Henry fell into the deepest dejection of mind,
ad, having been in person to quell a riot in Norwich, in which great
•rt of the cathedral was burnt, he was attacked with a mortal sickness
t Banr St. Edmunds : but his anxiety to settle the affidrs of the kingdom
aoacd him to insist on being carried on to London by short stages.
Vlien the dying monarch arrived in the metropolis, finding his dissolu-
km at hand, he summoned Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester, into his

* Mailox'B History of the Exchequer.

*Tbe care of the wards of the crown was occasionally grentetl to the queen,
■ we find by a memomndum of Henry UL, specifying that queen Eleanor, haT-
SB the cusiody of Baldwin de Lisle, her ward, the hereditary chamberlain of
ha exchequer, she presented Thomas Esperen to the barons to fulfil his diiti«»
M deputy chamberlain, and her appointment was confirmed by tlie king.
*8he was interred, with pompous obsequies, in Westminster Abbey, near the
tfta ; her stately monument and effigy adding another ornament to the marrela
of acalptured art, witli which the exquisite taste of Henry HI. had graced that
MgMi Kpository of England's royal dead.

SS ELEAKOB OF FBOVBTICE.

prtsence, anil made him swear lo prescfre ihe peace of England, ilfl
ihe absence of prince Edwan). He expired on iht IBtb of Nfweu
1872, aged eiiiy-Bii, having reined fifty-iris years and twcoiyil
His decease happening in the nighi, John Kirkeby delivered the n
seal Ihe nexl morning lo Peter of Winchester, keeper of the wanb"
the archbiahop of York, and the lesl of the council-'

By the only will king Henry ever made, queen Eleanor haria^ I
appointed regent uf England, she caused the council to assemble U
New Temple, on the 20ih of November, the feast of St. Edmonil
martyr and king, where, by her consent' and appointment, and tlte
vice of Robert Kilwanlby, archbishop of Cnnlerburj-, the earl a'~' '
ter, and the chief peers and prelates of the realm, her eldeal •
Edward, waa proclaimed king of England, by the style a
Edward L

The remains of king Henry, roj-aily robed and crowned, ^ __
cording to his own desire, placed in the old coffin, in which thvt
of Edward the Confessor had originally been iniefred, and burial j
the slirine of that monarch in Westminster Abbey. The kniffht* t
plars, with the consent nf queen Eleanor, his widow, undertook the
and expense of his funeral, which was very magnificent.' They n
s sumpiuous monument to his memon', which waa afterwards M
inlaid with jasper and precious stones, brought from the Holy L
his son Edward I. for thai purpose.

We copy the translation of his Latin epitaph from Slow:

'• Tbe fijend of pity anil almE-dced,
Henry Uie Tliiril wliilunie or England kins,
W)io Itiis cliuich bnlcc, and after, ai bil
Aeain t»n«wed inio iliis Giir buiiding,
Now restelh here, which did bo great a

After the funeral of king Henry, the barons «
to the high altar of Westminster .Abbey, and sn
sovereign.

In 1273, the widowed queen, on account c.
dissolved the old foundation of the hospital of St. I
Tower, and refounded it in honour of the same n' '
chaplain, three brethren, three sisieis, ten bedeawct
scholars. ^

The pope addressed a pastoral letter of condolence (o 1
deaih of the king het husband; it ta written jointly to bfvl
Edward, whom he felicitates on hia accession, and re<)neata I^
give him the letter on liia return.

Soon after his return, Edward I. was forced to nciift m m
milled by his mother, which was much in the stvle of her f<
of rapBciiy. Just before the death of her husband she I
him lo grant her the custody of London bridge for atz y
Ihu term was expired, ihe citizens found their new-buS

"Slew.
'Uam'sm's Surrey.

•Speed-

naunm^i

r Hntris Nitolai. . C

■LBANOR OF PKOTBNCS.

ring great injury, ^ for,^ they declared, in their aupplicatioii
, ^ the said lady queen taketh all the tolls, and careth not hv«v tne'
•e is kept"' Edward I. soon put an end to his mother's imcon-
tious proceedings.

eanor of Prorence lost her husband and daughter in one year ; for
ely had the tomb closed over the mortal remains of her royal lord
ihe was called upon to mourn the death of her eldest daughter,
rmret queen of Scotland. This lady had come to pay her moUier a
ul risit of condolence, on the death of the king her father, and died
igland in the thirty-third year of her age, and the twenty-second of
narriage, leaving only one daughter, who was married to Eric, kinff
'orway, and was the mother of the Maid of Norway, heiress of
and.

It the rejoicings and festivities of the coronation of Edward I. re-
d a melancholy interruption in consequence of the death of the
eta of Bretagne, who came, with her lord, to witness the inaugura-
of her royal brother, and died very unexpectedly a few days
vards, in the thirtieth year of her age, greatly lamented by her
rious consort, and by her mother queen Eleanor. Matthew of
Iminster says she was a princess of great beauty and wit'
leen Eleanor and Edward I. preserved a great regard for the duke
retagne, after the decease of lady Beatrice.

lere is a letter in the second volume of the FoBdera from Eleanor,
ig her widowhood, to the king her son, in which she appears to
a lively interest in the welfare of her son-in-law. It is thus
ed:—

>w*s London.

lere is a letter in the first volume of the Foedera, from Blanche duchess of

^e, the mother-in-law of this princess, addressed to Henry III., in which

ia affectionate mention made of Beatrice and her eldest son. We transcribe

itter, as affording one of the earliest specimens of fiuniliar correspondence

sen myul personages in the middle ages. After the usual superscription to

ny high and very dear lord Henry, by the grace of God, king of England,

bc, slie commences : —

ire, I pray that you will be pleased to inform us of your state, which may

Old of his grace make always good; for know, my dear lord, that I have

joy at all times in having good news of you.

now, sire, that my lady Beatrice, your dear daughter and ours, is still sick

r fever, but is much better, God be thanked, and her physicians tell us that

!ver cannot last long.

pray you, my dear lord, if we have anything in our parts that you would

ne to send, to inform me; for know, sire, that I shall have very great joy

mn do anjTihing for you. And know, sire, that Arthur is good and very

lAil, God be thanked ! Our Lord have you in his care."

is letter is dated 1205, and is written in old French. There is also a letter

tin from the young duchess Beatrice to the king her father, on the same

of tlie Fcedera, written at the time of this illness, which she says Is " a

in fever or ague," and she entreats her father ** not to distress himself on

nt of her indisposition.'*-— She had six children by the duke of Bretagne

whom she lived happily twelve years. She was buried in the chuick ol

nj Friars.

ELEA

DR OF PROV

i.NCE.

R tomm DCS* or 8u*

I

■■ LkTTIB Of AlIXIUBI. TBC aOTVEH or th

" AUonor, by [ho gioce of God, qiieeu of England, 10 tha Icing oot Mo. ki
wiih (mi lieniHin.

*<Inurniicb a» our son, John of BreUigne. « in n fpreign lBBcI,Bnd r
me w hrii nio(he«, anil yvo as lii* lonl. Hime recoiiiineBiliiiioii, oar Sit ^
Uksitb (his saneschal in iLaglnndJ ouxlii ut gu 10 Lh Dome quiddy le hi
tain adinga of hU luid.

" Wo pray and re<]uira ihat you would giunl thjj. n> my Sir Klrol de 8i _ ^
on Bitend bi hii wmu ht tliit enunttj, and we wish itinl yon wmild troi fvai
lenar by him, a* hi- will underitiuid It, tor he will Dot go wiikoai your iai»0Bl
oomniand; and wc pray you thai yoa will do il ijuickly. and if you irtll phat
K> give ihe powei by joar lener thai lis auty ba*a oJIgrM,' whetv h« plt*««
the MJiie as fan sranied ID ihe Sirs do Dreux, Lii bmtlur.

" And eicuHi Sir John de Maurro dial be uannoi make hi» fn«/ » you bdbi*
he dppHrti, for ho cannot do il on account of haste. We oominend you » CoJ

•'Civen at Luteefihall, 8ih day of October. "

It is probable thai Eleanor was eudeting ftpm some kind of ttdacaa.
in llie year 1275, for wo finil in the Fwileni a proieclion ^nltd fcj
Edward I. " lo Master William, the Provemjal, physieo lo the ^
mother, whom the said queen tind procured lo coine 10 her from h
B««." It is especiHlly provided, in this proieclion, " That the P
physician is to be left in quiet at all times and plares, saw tf
he answerable far any debts that lie may contract in this eomiir

It has been generally asserled llist Eleanor of Proreuce 1
nunnery of Ambreebnry, soon alter the coronation of her son EdwanI
L; but this does not appear to have been the case, for several cif ha
precepts and letters are iIsIm] from Waliham, Guildford, Luigfrshali. mi
other places.* She retired lo Ainbresbury as a residence in 1280, but
she ilid not take the veil till four years afWrwanls.

There is an original letter from queen Eleanor to her son, k.in{ Ed-
ward, dated from Wallhain :

■Alianoiu, by the grao* of God, queen of England, lo our dear aoa ik* UiC
health and our biesaing,

• We bare sent your prayei lo thd king of FraDce. that he may Itnd hk Ml
ia puKhating our abore of ibe Imnil of PioveucB.* We have ilona ib* iMNrfa
you, wlikh you sent to in, and we pmy you to hear it psul, Knd if it p|«aM |««
b«*e it Moled, and if not, that you would be pleatol to eomaanJ ii B 1*
■mended, and sent Ibrthwilh ta your aunt, my lady of Fiance. We bIsb aaoM
you that you would lend to Mecue Bonnst, your clerk, that be woal4 il
tilvance Ihii loquesl io Iha court of France ta much ■: '

the que»

iGod.

b day of July, 1383."
The four younger sons of queen Eleanor, Richard, John, ^

'Rymet'i Ftedern, vol. ii. p, 831.

'SuppoiB ntloruBy letterj of petoniary oreJil.

'Pram fliis letter it appears thai the surviving a
wliom our Eleanor was one, compnundi^d dieic ligbls ti-t monny to ih
sifter, who, by Ibe will of iheii fclhet Barrngei, waa 10 aueceed lo the <
dT that diiirici. This sister, Beatrice, wu the wife of the bnnber U
rharles of Anjoa. in whoae line the beautiful eouuly of ProTBuoe tf
ftwBB ty ttu euAm of 4w tu^ oCota tnJiappr qMen, IT

■ LBANOR OF PROVBNCB. 85

nd I Jeniy, all died before the king their fiither ; so that, of her nine
^ildren, two sons only were surviving at the time she retired to Am-
vsbury. In the year 1280, her son, king Edward, visited her there,
hen he was on bis march to Wales. Queen Eleanor then showed him
Dsan who said be had received his sight through the miraculous inters
•ition of the late king Uenty III., in consequence of having ofiered up
I prayers at his tomb.

Edwvd, whose sound judgment taught him to regard the legend with
5 contempt its felsehood merited, entreated his mother not to bestow
r pfttrooage on a base impostor, whom a prince of his father's piety
d justice, would certainly rather have punished with loss of speech
r his hypocrisy, than restored to sight, had he indeed possessed the
•wer of doing either.'

Two years after this date, king Edward again visited his widowed
3Cher in her monastic retreat Her profession as a nun did not take
ice till the year 1284, when she was solemnly veiled, in the church
Ambresbury; and, according to the words of her contemporary
ikes, ^ she laid down the diadem from her head, and the precious
trple from her shoulders, and with them all worldly ambition." She
nnaded her younff grand-daughter, the princess Mary, the fifth daugfa-
r of Edward ]. and his queen Eleanor of Castille, to take the vows at
e same time, together with Eleanor, daughter to the deceased duchess
' Bretagne.

Qpeen Eleanor, though bent on a conventual life, had delayed her
ofeMion till she could obtain the pope's license to keep her rich
iwry as queen-dowager of England.'

She received the tenderest attention and respect from her son, king
Iward, who regarded her with great afiection ; and once, when he was
mg to France to meet the king, his cousin, on a matter of the greatest
iportance, and had advanced as far as Canterbury on his journey,
eeiving intelligence of the sudden and alarming illness of his mother,
) instantly gave up his French voyage^ and hastened to her.
Uatthe w of Westminster mentions the profession of queen Eleanor as
king place in the year 1287, in the following terms : — ^ That generous
rago, £lianora, qneen of England, and mother of the king, took the
dl and religious habit at Ambresbury, on the day of the translation of
: Thomas, the archbishop of Canterbury, having obtained leave of the
ipe to keep possession of her dower in perpetuity, according to her
kh."

After queen Eleanor's profession, her uncle, Philip, earl of Savoy,
)plied to her and her son, king Edward, requesting them to choose
om among his nephews a successor to his dominions, as he was him-
ilf childless, and distracted by the intrigues and quarrels of tlie rival
iimants.'

There is a long letter in the FcBdera on this subject, addressed jointly
> Eleanor, the qneen-mother, and king Edward her son, by the dying

'HWeitminster. T.Wiket. 'T.Wiket. Annalt of Waverlef .

' Pvmer'tFaBdeim, vol. U.

VOL. U.^8 F

*

earl, in which he enireats ihem to deride for him, anJ ^'declam ihtl
hi« bishops and nobles are willing lo recognise whomsoever ihev on
think proper lo appoint for his heir."

Qneen Eleanor was, in the following year, named aa executor to
Philip of Savoy's laat will and testament, jointly wiili her son, kinc Ed'
war<l. The testator, with many cumpHments lo " ihe wisdom, jinmnwe,
sflbflion, and, more than lljal, the good faith and probity of the ({Wal
and her son, rommiis the disposal of all his personal properly lo ie by
them divided between all his nephews and nieces."'

It appears that Atnadeus, the son of the deceased Thnmas of Svnjj
eail of Flanilers, was ihe sovereign chosen by queen Eleanor ' ' "
son, king Edward, la sncceed to the dominions of her dyit^ ni

When Eleanor's life was fast ebbing away, and »he I«y iiii
pain OD her sick-bed, it is recorded that she gave excellent
her son, regarding a very perplexing sl&ir, which had just ha| ,
his court. Edward had given refuge to a slate-prisoner, who
capcd from the ChStelei in Paris, This Frenrhiiuin was a literary da-
racter, and named Thomas de Tnrbeville. It tnmed ont thai TtiAcTSIt
was in reality a spy. a clerk of the king's council having interecptfd t
letter, in which the ungraiefid man described ihe best place for miiof
kiiig Edward, and taking him prisoner to France. Tnrbeville, brinf
fully convicted of treason, was condemned to be execuled ; " but," «Ji
Piers, from whom we draw ihe siory, "he had dread to die,'' attd *«i
the king word that he was willing lo confess who b&d iiiBbgaled ilic
crime, as several great men at court were implicated in ihe aitcnpt
Thoma-t was therefore respited, till the king's pleasure was knnwa.
The dutifnl monarch was watching by ihe bedside of his agwi rnMbt,
when the messaee was detivcred, **lhai a confession regarding arrmii-
pi ices, usually exlorled by loriure, was voluniarily offered by Ttionw
sumamed Troubletown," ihe liieral interpretation of the name of Torte-
ville. But the dying queen-mother, seeing, perhaps, tho thing* of ^
world by the light of that which was approaching, offered advice foil tt
wisdom OQ the subject :

ury ihe king

At Ambfeib

With his mo

Wlien to hilt) came tiiliiif

Of Troubletown TliomaB

Tber Mid him « iIhI

Thomas would saj' to bin

To «-.r

J^or kiUt wiO makt a ht.
A»d iknmgh taeh «rrf nUlr
Vtngtattet and filany.
Son, on my blsnng
Which were his tnitoki grim; Trow you not his aiw,

Bui frt bim h&ve ending
As iraiwr bf law."

Edward took this wise advice, and Tnrbeville died without hit m^
n being required, a proceeding which saved the king
torroenting suspicions, regarding llie lideliiy of bis aem
EJeanor of Provence survived the king, her husband,

'Symei'B f iBdeTB, vol. u, ' Cea

BLXANOR OF PROVBIICB. 87

!ied at the nunnery of Ambresbury, June 24th, during the absence
r ton in Scotland. Thomas Wikes thus records the particulars of
leath and burial, in his LAtin chronicle, ^^The fleeting state of
ly glory is shown by the fact, that the same year carried off two
ih queens, wife and mother of the king, both inexpressibly dear to

The nnvs of Ambresbury not being able to seputare the queen-
!r with sufficient magnificence, had her body embalmed, so that no
)tion ensued, and in a retired place reverentially deposited it, till
rd returned from his Scottish campaign. On the king's return, he
oned all his clergy and barons to Ambresbuiy, where he solemnly
eted the entombhig <^ his mother, on the day of the nativity of
eased Mary, in her conventual church, where her obsequies were
ntly celebrated. But the heart of his mother king Edward carried
lim to London. Indeed, he brought there the hearts of both the
B ; ^ and, on the next Sunday, the day of St Nicholas, before a
lultitude, they were honourably interred, the conjugal heart in the
i of the Friars Preachers, and the maternal heart in that of the

Minors,' in the same city."

ODff the parliamentary rolls, we meet with a remarkably pitiful

0 from the converted Jews, patronised ^ by Dame Alianor, com-

1 of king Henry III.,'' setting forth, ^ that their converts had been
led two hundr^ and two pounds and four-pence, from the ex-
er, for their sustenance, which had not been received by them ;
At the poor converts prayed their lord, king Edward I., to grant
me, seeing that the said poor converts prayed indefiaitigably for the
of the late king Henry and the queen Eleanor, his companion, on
I God have mercy ; therefore they hope the said sum may be paid
i treasurer for the sustenance of the converts. For God's nke,
ike pitie ."' is the concluding sentence of this moving supplication.

i«n Eleanor survived to see the conquest of Wales, and the con-
if marriage between her grandson, Edward of Caernarvon, the heir
gland, and her great-grand-daughter, Margaret, the heiress of Scot-
nd Norway, through which a peaceful union of dioee realms with
nd, Ireland, Wales, Aquitaine, and Ponthieu, was contemplated ;
Wdgement which promised to render her descendants the most
iul sovereigns in Europe.

• implies that he had carried the heart of his beloved consort with him
IiikL

nraonlf called the Minories. Those authors are mistaken who say she is
in Si. Edward's chapel ; <here is no memento of her in Westminster

ELEANORA OF CASTILLE.

SCBNAMED THB FAITHr0L.

FIRST QUEEN OF EDWAKO I.

I

I

ElMinon IniBniiL of Cutille — Desccol — Inheriiance — Mar

niolher ami prince Edwan! liiit Spsin — Elesnora's marriaBe M ,

Jonrnpy to Bnglond — Fe«ii at ToihiU — Eleonofa fetirp* to Tnact — Brtim
10 Engtand — Sons bom — Croiaitf — Elesaon prepares ID aliBre it — Arrim M
Aoie — Eilwardi wound — Aieatsin — Grierof Eleanom — Prinoe EJwuil'iB'
nea* — His will — Bitih of Joanna of Aere — Death of Elesnoia'i loiu — OfUil
Henrj — Qoeou Eleanora viiiu Rome — Kiih of aji heir at 3[aine — Ttvnif*
tial «9cape of king and queen — Land a( Dover — CoronalioD — V~
of Llewellen — Eleanora astisu at nuptialt — War renewed — BtEanon i
Edwaid'i canipaigni — Eeep« codtI at Rbuddlan — Pnoceas bom in W»>»
Caarnatvoti Canie — Quspn'a chamber — The eagle lower — Binh of pnait
EdwBid — Death of prince Alphonso — Queen at Guienne — Binb of jiiunir
daughleis — Queen's plnu — Edward ilepaili Ibr the nonh — Elcauora iuttm
him — Sudden ilealh — King returns — His extreme grief — Follow* her mnu
Solemn mourning — Burial — Tomb — Epiia|)h — Crostei lo Elmuiom') atafj
— Traill of the limei — Eleanorai imptovemenu — Hoi creditor*— Ihajrn fa
bar aool — Her children.

Tbb marriage of the inranta Donna EleaDora of Caaiille with priaet
Fklward, heir of Englanil, happily (erminated a war, which her bnMjiBi '
king AlphODSo, sumained the Aatronomer,' was waging with [Itsvy Dl-r /'
ou account of eoiae obsolete claims the Caatillian monarch Uitl U) iht '
province of Gascony.'

AlphonsD had invaded Ouienne, but, contrary to his usual fottoiM
Ifenry IIL had Uie best of the i^onteel, and the royal CostiLliaii v»f gU
to maLe overtures for peace. Henrj-, who had not the least gall of hfr
lerupss in his composition, and was always more willing to protnolti
festlral than continue a fray, luckily recollecteil that Alphonso Md ■ Hi
young sister to dispose of, whose age would just suit his beii, pnott
Rdwuxl. He therefore despatched lus private chaplaia, the hi^wfti
Baih, wilh his secretary, John Manse), from Bordeaux, (o demud At
hand of the young Infanta, as a pledge of her brother's placable iliM-
tions. These ambassador? speedily returned with Don AiphocuoS OBf

' He was the Eelebrmled icfol philompber who inven
of Rirmnoiaf. His countrymen ctilleil him, 11 Sabio, or the Wiss.

'He pretended that Henry H. bad tetilsd thi* proviiica tn fail i
Ptamtion, ^ueen of CasliUe.
CM)

BLBANORA OF CA8TILLB. 89

It, inscribed in a scroll sealed with gold.' Alphonso stipulated that
English prince should come to Burgos, to receive the hand of his
Je, five weeks before Michaelmas-day, 1254 ; otherwise the contract
mid be null and void.

rhe stipulation was not unreasonable, for both the mother and grand-
ther of the bride had been long engaged to English princes, who had
ken their troth.

;*he king of Castille was but half-brother to the young donna Elea-
I. She was the only child of Ferdinand III. of Castille, by Joanna,
ntess of Ponthieu, who had been many years before contracted to
iry III., king of England. Joanna inherited Ponthieu from her
her^ — that princess, Alice of France, whose betrothment with Rich-
Coeur de Lion, in the preceding century, had involved Europe in
. Eleanora, as the sole descendant of these princesses, was heiress
nmptive to Ponthieu and Aumerle, which provinces the royal widow
!!SMtille, her mother, retained in her own possession.
IThen the preliminaries of the marriage were settled, the queen of
land, Eleanor of Provence, set out for Bordeaux, with her son prince
raid} and from thence travelled across the Pyrenees with him to
108, where they arrived August 5th, 1254, within the time limited
be royal astronomer.

stately festival was held in the capital of Castille, in honour of the
tials of the young Infanta with the heir of England. At a touma-
C Kiren by king Alphonso, the prince received knighthood from the
ra of his brother-in-law. Edward was just fif^n, and the princess
e years younger,' at the time of their espousals.
Anr the chivalric festivities at Burgos had ceased, queen Eleanor
noesed the Pyrenees, accompanied by her son and young daufhter-
iw. King Henry waited at Bordeaux to receive his son's bride.' He
prepared so grand a festival for the reception of the young Infanta,
oe expended three hundred thousand marks on her marriage-feast,
le indignation of his English peers. When one of them reproached
for thtf extravagance, the king replied, in a dolorous tone :
O ! for the head of God say no more of it, lest men should stand
led at the relation thereof?^

enry settled on the prince, his heir, all the Aquitanian domains,
rited from Eleanora, his grandmother; he likewise created him
ce of Wales, with an exhortation to employ his youth in conquering
principality, of which he and his princess, rather prematurely,
mad the title, together with that of Guienne. One thousand pounds
annam was the dower settled on the young Eleanora, in case the
ee should die before his father.

ienry 111. ordered a suite of rooms to be fitted up for his daughter-
iw, in the castle of Guildford ; his directions particularly specify

reserved iQ the Chapter Houie at Westminster. (Rapin.)
he is mentioned by all chroniclers as a very young girL Piers of LangtoA,
Dontemporary, speaks of her as a cliild. Her ago seems about ten, at this
od. Robert of Gloucester, Piers, and Matthew Paris, are the authoriXMM fm
erenu of this marriage. * Matthew l^ina.

I

I

90 BLEAKOR* OF CAftTILLE.

ibsi ber chuuber i* tu have glaxed window*, ■ niaeil hcartht k clunuic/.
• wnrdrobci miiI wi Mijoining wraloryi or oriel.'

The young prinrcH BccompMiKl ihe 1°}'*^ &mily la HauUuiI, Ltirriii|l'
Francr, and til Pans was lixl^ iii the Tcniplo, whim II< i.
ihttl celebntwl Uuiquet loSl. LouiB^mvulJuued, ia theprocr.:
M the f«aal of kiiigo. Hi^h fesUvtla tiul hoaoan wwo yi<
reception in EnglanJ, Tho most nolet! of these wna ili.. ^
taiiiniGut, giren by the sermlary of slate, John Mansel, a pri<:$L
Henry, queen Elmniini. thr bri(l« of prince EiiwanU llie jirince
Lite king and queeii i>l' Scoilaiid, wiib hucU nuiolwrs of iheii reiiauBillBl
John MiuiMirs houtie at Tuihtll coultl not hold tislf the compaayi thtj
wcra lodged iu tents and gre«n booths, tcl up round tho luansiou. Setei
liuridred inefMfl of mtat wcro served up nt ihia diimcr.

I'ritice Eilward aitil bii youn^ bride paMett o«tc to Bordeaux in T35I1; '
4ad while Eleanorti wai comjUcting her edncaliuu, the yim-y- ■"■'•'•-- >a<
th« wHnderiiig lil'u of a knight-emuil, " liaunting loumaui'")
they were (pvn;.* U« wa« at Paris, tiliiug at a ve^' -
tmtch ia l^Sll, when n«w8 wm brought him of thn tloI' <
betu'iien tlio English barons and hia father, which M to tiic i> imti ii'u
war iliBt convulsml England for more ihati three ycttrs. During ite ;
whole of that disaxirous em, liis youii^ princess resided ui Fnnof, w'llk ,
iho i««i of iJie royal (omily, eiilicr with qiinen Marguerite of Fnncc,oi .
with her own muUier at Pouthieu.

After the heroic eirurla of prince Edward had freed his dtbrr ud
nwlored hitn to hie tltroike, and the country breathed iu peace afUt (Ix
dreadful strife at Evesham, tite royal ladies of England ventured to tPlnni
Ou llie -iadi of October, 1205, Eleanor of Provirnr«, iiuceu of EugM
Willi her daugbter-iu-Iaw, Kleanora of Coslille, landed at Dover,' what
they wore rocwved by Henry III. and prince Eilwurd; from ihene? th»r
were C3e\)rl«d (u CautfTbur)-, where iho royal party was magQi"" ""
enterlaincd by liie arclibishi>p.

Prince Edward hnd Ie(\ hie wife an uninformed girl ; she
lovely young woman of twenty, lo wlioce chnmctcr the luicei
fortune bad assuredly given a favounhle bios. The prinrc
restored wife to Sl John's, Siniibfield, after a nugniliceut weicomt
the citisens. Eleanor* afterwards removed lo the jmlace of the Sum
which had been origiiinily built by count Peter of Savoy, her hmbaon
uncle, and afterwards purcliased by Eleanor of Provence, •( a Loate
■in, or residence fur the younger hrauches of her family. Thii wm Uo
abode of Eleanoia of Casiillu when she attended the court at WasDU*
*>er, but her lavourite reeideuce was the casllo of Windsor. Uen h*
eldest child wns horn, the year after her return to England ; be «■
luuiied John, after hia grandfethcr of evil meniorj-. Iii ihe «acceedfal(
year, li^Ctf, Eleanon gave birth, at Windsor, Iu a princess naned Ql^
nora, and the year after lo prince Henry. The beauty of these nhildnn>
and their early promise, so much delighted their royal grandlMher, Ad
ne greatly augmented the dower of Uie mother.

it

' Stow'f l^,^■l^Tn_

■ I.BAHORA OF CA8TILLB. 01

klward took up the cross in 12G9, and his virtuoos princess

share the perils of his Syrian campaign. Before she aeparted
mdy she accompanied her mother-in-Uw, in a grand progress

shrines. During tlie royal progress to Northampton, the
leanora made a pilgrimage to Dunstable, in company with
nor, and oflered at the shrine of Sl Peter an altar-cloth of
le, as a thanksgiving for the health of her children. On her

assisted at a magnificent convocation of the barons of Eng-
9lminster Hall, where they swore fealty and kissed the hand
I son, prince John, and recognised him as his father's soccet-
i of the death of Edward, in the ensuing crusade,
oporary historian * has leA us a very graphic portrait of the
' Eleanora, at tliis period of his life. ^ He was a prince of
n, and majestic stature, so tall that few of his people reached
sr. His ample forehead and prominent chest added to the
his personal appearance. His arms were most agile in the

•word, and his length of limb gave him a firm seat on the
)d horses. His hair was light bdore his eastern campaigns,

dark in middle life. His lefl eyebrow had a slightly oblique
a shade of resemblance to his father's face, in wnose portrait
is very strongly marked. The speech of Edward was some-
iting, but when animated was passionately eloquent His

which EUeanora of Castille had the sole merit of sof^ning
ng, was naturally a fiery one, but generous when opposition

id the ladies of Eleanora represent to her the hardships and
er attendant on a crusade; for death on the Asiatic coast
in many forms beside the sword. The princess replied in

rd.

un relates a circumstance of prince Edward, which took place be-
an campaign ; it is an anecdote that oasts some light on his cha-
iwking one day on a river, he saw one of his barons not attending
that had just seized a duck among the willows. Prince Edward
im for his neglect ; and the noble tauntingly replied, * it was well
the river parted thera/ Stung by the remark, the prince plunged
un, though ignorant of its depth, and having with difficulty reached
side, pursued the noble lortl with his drawn suvord, who, seeing
ess, turned round his horse, flung off his cap, and advancing to Ed*
himi^elf on his mercy, and offered his neck to the blow : this sub-
rmed the prince ; he sheathed his sword, and rode home quietly
5nder.*' An accident that happened to the prince, just before the
sign, gave a devotional turn to his mind. One day, when he was
less at Windsor with a knight, the prince suddenly, fhom an impulse,
I game, without any motive or decided purpose which he could de-
himself ; the next moment the centre stone of the groined ceiling
41 on the very spot where he had been sitting. From this accident
himself to be under the •i»ecial protection of Providence, and re-
Mne great purpose ; he attributed his preservation to our lady of
. Why that Norfolk shrine was connected with his preservatioD,
i does not inform us; but from tliat time this English lady of Loretio
ith votaries.

^

I

■ LEANOkA OP CASTILLB.

words llwl well JMeire to be irmcmbered and notrd. " Nothing," Miil
this admirable lady, " ought w pMl ihose whom God haih jomnt, ai
ths way lo lipavrn ii a* nnir, if not nearer, from Syria, a:* frnm England
pr my natlre Spain."'

Much has bern said re^anliRg the ruujugal lidetiiy or prinnr Kdwanl. '
Bill [iKvioualy lo his Symn canipaign lie was impi'luous and wilful id
cliarai^lrr, and far from a fatililtms husband. He had inspired llie rad '
of Gluucealer with a mndjralimsy,* who nut only accused him ofrrinnuil , .
ioiimary with his connirts, bat declared thai he, the fsH of Gloumtn, I
had beet) [K>ison«d by the agency of prince Edwan], auid the fiuihlcsi |
rounless. It is to be feared tliat the countess of GIoiH-esier was a gnat i
eoqiiellc, for she had previously bten exercising her powers of hsdM-
nn the old king, for in ihe Wakefield Tower has recently been Ji»-
'rml a »ery curious letter from Margaret, queen of France, expiws-
uncaainoa, for her sbter'B take, al the hnimacy between Henry HI
and this euunteas* The scandal regarding prince Edward's aueniioo lo
the fiiir cotinless had coinniencoJ before iho reunion of Eleanore wiih
her husband, in lSO-1 ; but its eflecis convulsed the eourl with hroitt,
tilt the princess left the court and all its iiirmoilB in the spring of 1270;
when she bade btewell lo the iwo lovely boys she never saw again, aoJ
aailcd for Bonleaux, where she superintended the preparations for the
crusade campaign.*

Edward sailed from Portsmouth about a month later, and met l)i^
consort at Botdeaux ; ihey proceeiled to Sicily, where they sojnuTtwI
during the winter, »viih the expectation tlial SL Louis, ilie king of Fninet.
rould unite in the crusade. Soon afler their arrival, tidings wen
brought of the death of St. Louis, at Tunis, and the discomlilure of Iw

The king of Sicily, who was hroiher lo St. I^uis, and husband hi
Edward's aunt, endeavoured to persuade his royal guests (ogive up d
crusading expedition ; whereupon prince Edwanl struck hia b ""
exclaimed with energy^ —

■■ Snngue de Dieu, if all should desert me,' I would lay nffe to J
if only attended by Fowen, my groom !" * ^

The following spring, Edwanl and Eleanora arrived at PuAetuSm
Tlie prince made an expedition as far as Naiareth,' and pul all the gar- '
rison lo the sword ; and when the Saracens came U> their rescue, ht
engaged the infidel army, and defeated ihem with great elanghier. H*
won another battle, June 1371, at Cahow, and thus terminated his fiiM
an<l second campaign. He returned to Cyprus for the winter, and, htjng
reinforced by the Cypriots, undetlook the siege of Acre the succeeding ',
aumnier, still atienilcd by his faithful Eleanorti.

TIh* emir of Joppa, who was the Saracen admiml, pretending that ba
was desirous of becoming a Christian convert, had sent a measengCf

' Fonrth ifpon of the recordi,
lel'l Tower.
' W. Butunger i likewii

' SWWB C

lendai ofthe lojal leKr-r*

' Manhpw of Weaimi

M. Put*. 'Knollci' History of

in theWa* 'I
UloTBtb. i

BLBARORA OF CASTILLB. 99

nee with letters to the prince of England. This envoy was
I BgentB of the Old Man of the Mountains, who kept a band
murders, called Assassins. Afler the cunning fanatic had
confidence in Edward's mind by frequent messages, he was
[ into the royal chamber, bringing letters, for the fifth time,
rmir. The prince was indisposed from the heat of the climate,
y^ing on his bed bareheaded, wearing only a white vest. The
tve him some letters to read, written on purpose to please the
prince. They were alone in the apartment, because the nego-
ached the life and honour of the admiral of Joppa, therefore
as imperatively needful. The assassin pretended that he had
iper to deliver, but he drew out with it a poniard, and aimed
Uie side of the prince, as he lay before him on the bed. For-
Sdward perceived the treachery, and, suddenly raising his arm,
he blow upon it The assassin endeavoured to reiterate the
t Edward, who seems not yet to have risen from his recumbent
tiled him to the ground, with a kick on the breast : again the
etumed to the attack, and the prince finally killed him, with a
r stool, that stood by. The attendants, hearing the scufiie,
ling in, and the prince's harper, or minstrel, beat out the assas-
}fl ; whereat the prince sternly reproached him, asking, ^ What
»e of striking a dead man ?''

3me days, the prince's wounded arm began to show unfavour-
ktoms, and the flesh blackening, exhibited si^s of mortification ;
that all about him began to look heavily upon each other,
[lisper ye thus among yourselves ?" said the prince ; ^ what see
? Tell the truth, and fear not P' Then Hemingfoid * declares,
Ulster of the Temple recommended incisions, which would be
'dy painful. ^ If sufifering,'' said the prince to the surgeon,
to him by the roaster of the Temple, ^ may again restore my
commit myself to you ; work on me your will, and spare not"
n was by his bedside at this dreadful crisis : she lost her firm-
bewailed, with a passion of tears, the anguish about to be
m her husband.

d, with his usual decision of character, cut short the agony oi
by bidding his brother Edmund, and his fiivourite knight, John
, carry the princess out of the room. They took her in their
I bore her from the apartment, she shrieking and struggling all
till her brother-in-law told her, ^ that it was better she should
nd cry, than all England mourn and lament."'
iiTical operation was e^ctual ; in fifVeen days Edward was able
t his horse, though his health was long in a precarious state.
rs attributed his final recovery to the tender care and attention
>ra. But if there had been any truth in the story of her sucking
»n from his wound,* the narrators of the scene, who have en*

Heraingford^s Chronicle. * Knighton and Hemingford.

>r]r is to be found quoted by Camden, but only as recorded by Sanotinsi
biitorimn, who lived a hundred and fifty years after tha ikfb cC Kfi.i%

9t BLEANOKA OF CASTILLB.

Ured into ita details so luiuulcly, would nol have fargotten the cifcom-

Wliile yet in ill health, prince Edward mode his will.' With t philo
iophy rare al this era, he leaves his body lo be butled wherever ti

To his principal executor, his brolhet-in-Iaw aiid fe!low-cnM«d(r,
John duke of Breiagne, he leavos the guardianship of his children, ifba
should die before ihey come of age. He provides for the dowrj- of Im
dear wife Eleniion, but doea not leave her either guudiaii U> the ruin,
iu reversion, or to her children.

Scarcely was the prince recovered from his wound, when Eleanon
brought iuio tlie world an infant princess, named Joanna, and called bma
the plac« of her bittli, Joanna of Acre.'

I'he nest renwrkable event that happened at Acre, while Elaanati »■
mained tliere with her royal Lord, was, that a pope was choeea, in ■
manner, out of their household. Theobald, archbishop of Li«^, vbo
attended the royal pair on ibeir crusade, was in his absence elected ts
the papal tliroue, wliich lie ascended under the najne of Gngvrj X>
This pontilT had been the tutor of prince Edward.

The army of tite prince being reduced by sickness, want, nnd dtscf
tion, he considered that it was useless lo tarry longer in Syria. Lmvibi
behind him a reputation nol inferior to that of his great-uncle, Cwut tit
Lion, Edward turned his buck post reluciandy on the Uoly l^nd; Mil,
with his princess and her infant daughter, arrived safely at Sicily, whm
heavy tidings awaited thei

The news first reached them that prince John, their lovely and pn-
rowing heir, whose talents were uneijualled for his years, luul i"
August 1, 187^. Scarcely had the princess and her husband rKeivid
tliis intelligence, when tliey hfard of the death of their feconJ •
prince Henry; and a third messenger brought the news to Mevsiita, thai
king Henry Uf. was dead, and thai prince Edward was now Edward t
o[ England. The firmness and resignaiioa, with which Eluuion ud
Edward bore Uie loss of their protnising boya, surprisetj every o
the Sicdion court ; but when the prince heard the desth of hn loj^
aire, he gave way to a burst of anguish so bitter, that hia uoele' OimIm
of Anjou, king of Sicily, who was in company with him, osUioished V
his manner oi receiving iutelligence tliat bailed hiiu king, asked him
>'how it was Uiat he bore the loss of both his sons with such qnO

end wbo iiitriHluPeil ii iu a commt'iit lie wroie on ilie woiki of Roiltiri)^ TulfUL
Tliii aiiihoi due* not Wai iho wt'inlii nt WbImi Hominglbnl, wlio ainiiiHr
Kleanorn, Inil does iioi alluile lo Ibis c^vanl.

'Sir Harrii Ificolaa. TesUnienia Vnuala, Etlwird ten do other wilt.

*Thi* princeu ii t)ie flrsi inmnoeof a minlliuwe In lliti rojral houcaof Pta»
Alter die daaili of bei Am huibnmli alie iiols ■ mateli h ' '

iiprs, Ralph Mautliermer, catled by •oine «

Joanna u

a 1306. furtitven by liar iliiliet, c

rs bis gmoai, but he ww is J

nediaiot in this reconnjlialioa.

*X1m bartand nC l^ nadtu'asMiw.

■ IiBAXOBA OF CASTILLfe. 85

ipiation, and abandoned himself to grief at the death of an aged
n ?'' * Edward made this memorable answer :—
* The loss of infants may be repaired by Uie same God that gave
m ; but when a man has lost a good father, it is not in the course of
mre for God to send him another."

From Sicily queen Eleanora accompanied her royal husband to Rome,
lere they were welcomed and magnificently entertained by their friend,
M Gregory X.

England, happy in the permanent setdement of her ancient representa«'
B government, now, for the first time, practically established since the
p of Sl Edward, enioyed such profound tranquillity, that her youn^
ig and queen were able to remain more than a year, in their conti-
ital dominions. During this time the queen gave birth, at the town
Maine, to another heir,' more beautiful and promising than either of
deceased brethren. The queen named him after her beloved brother
ihoDso ; a name which sounds strangely to English ears, but had this
nee lived to wear the crown of his great father, it would, in all
liability, have become as national to England as the names of Edward
George.*

K second time, at this juncture, the life of Edward was preserved, in
Mumer that he considered almost miraculous. As he was sitting with
queen on a couch, in their palace at Bordeaux, a flash of lightning
ed two lords who were standing directly behind them, without in-
ing the royal pair.*

ulward, with his queen, made a progress homeward through all his
nch provinces, tilting at tournaments as he went Passing through
ii, he did homage to the king of France, for Aquitaine and its depen-
cies, before he returned to assume the English crown.' The king
I queen landed at Dover, August 2, 1273. Ail preparations had been
de for their speedy coronation, which took place on the iOth of the
le month. They were received in London with the utmost exulta-
I. The merchants, enriched by peaceful commerce with the rich
le provinces of the south, showered gold and silver on the royal
iane, as they passed under the windows of the Chepe.' Both houses

Suirlef was not likely to be troubled with much Bensibility, for while St.
us waj bitterly weeping for the death of their mutual brother, the count of
ton, slain io their crusade, Charles, who was on ship-board, amused himself
k playing at tric-trao all day long. When the king of France was informed
this hard-hearted way of spending the hours of mourning, he came softly
ind his brother in the heat of his game, and seizing his backgammon-board,
sw men, dice, and money, into the sea. The humour with which the Lord
loinville (who saw the incident) relates tliis anecdote is irresistible.
Pkalus Emilius. He was bom Nov. S3, 1272.
Alphonso is an abbreviation of Ildelbnso, a native Iberian saint.
Matthew Paris. * Walsingham and Wikes.

Edward brought in his train, Guasco, a rebel Gascon baron, whom he had
demned to death, but his punishment seems to have been commuted by his
Bg exhibited, at the London entry, with a rope about his neck. The poor
live expected nothing but death. He was forgiven the capital part of his
•Qce. by the act of indemnity at the ooionation. He returned thanks to Edward

I

BLBAKORA OP CASTILLB.

1 aMrmblfKl, In wpkome and do honour to th«ir
nd lib virluoiis convoiL

I of EdiranJ and EleaDora proparatinns wctv madp tor
of the motl proruM honpiulJiy ; (he whole areu of ite
Palaeu Yards, old and new, were filled with wnodra bnildine^' open it
the lop, lo let out ihe imokc of cooking. Here, for a whole foruii^t,
wrm prepured BUceM8ion8 of banquets, iivrTpil ap for ilie entertainmeat
of nil comers; where the itidependrnt franklin, the stout yeoman fiom
lh<^ country, nnd the rich citizen and indnatrious ariizan fimn the raetto-
polis, alike found a welcome, and were entertained graluilously. Good
order w&b general, and every one delighted with this auspicious cfNB-
mcncemenl of the new rci^n. Edward and Eleanors were crowned by
the hnnilB of Robert Kilwnrdby. archbishop of Cameibury. One of th*
ino«I extraordinary features of this coronation is recorded in so old
black -letter manuscript chronicle.'

" King Edward was crowned and anointed as right heir of En^Iudl,
with much honour and worship, with his virtuous queeu; and afler
maxs the king went to his palace to hold a royal feast among all ibe
peers that hnd done him honour and worship. And when he was set it
Iiis meal king Alexander of Scollnnd came to do htm serrire, and l»
Worship with a ^enlysr,' and n hundred knights with him, horiied and
tmyed. And wheit ihev were lijjhl US' their horses, Ihcy let their horm
go whither they woulcf, and they that could catch them had them to
their own behoof And afier that came sir Edmund, the kind's brother,
a courteous knight and a gentleman of renown, and the earl of Glnuces-
ter. And after them came the earl of Pembroke and the ear! of Watiw,
and each of them led a horse by their hand, and a hundred of their
knights did the same. And when they were alight off their hotaca they
let there go wherever they would, and they that could take them hu
iheLn still at their liking."

The coronation of Edward and Eleanora had been graced by the pr^
tenco of the king of Scotland and the duke of Bretagne; bnt Llewrllya,
prince of Wales, absented himself; upon which the king of England sini
him a sharp message, '■ to know wherefore he did not tender homage al
the late coro:ialion of himself and queen .'" Llewellyn relused lo ackoov-
ledge thai any homage was due; he was a viclotiuus prince, for, lakinf
advantage of Uie recent civil wars in England, he had reconqucrml all tht
territory, which the Norman predecessors of Edward 1. had wrested fran
the Welsh.

The first mischance that befel the Welsh was the capture of the bride
of Llewellyn,' coming from France; her vessel was seieed by the Bnslul
merchantmen, who carried her prisoner to king Edward. This prince
had not yet lesmed lo behave with cruelly to women. The young

on his 1tne«. This mnsl have ni«flo s mem sinking fraluro of thai jmnotii*
ememaajr. Ouisni wiu altprward* a lojml IViPod and nibjecl M EdwmnL

' Ancient Chronicle, qiioied by Oine. ■ PreMrrsd by Sii Rob«n Coww.

*A tjuaint derise, Di in^nioai InTsiitkin.

' WalBntfwBi and fawaUa W«l»h ChwaJBla^ —

J

GLKA.tODA OF CASTlLtB. 97

L though UiP daughter of Simon ile Muntfort, hit mortal Toe, whom
he had slain in baulc, was ul ihe same time the chtlil of lus aunt, Eleanor
Plsntagciiet He received her with the courtesy of a kineniaii, and con-
cisned her to the geuile keeping of his queen, with whom she resided at
Wmdaor Castle.'

The war with Wales lasted till 1278, when Llewellyn, finding it im-
poaeible to recover his bride by foice of arms, submitted to the required
iKanage, and queen Eleanora brought the lady Elinor MontTort to Worces-
ur, wnen king Edward bestowed hia kinswoman upon Llewellyn, giving
bcr away with his own royal hand, while his amiable queen supportoij
her at the altar of Worwtster cathedral, and graced the nuptial feast of
prince Llewellyn with her presence. The prince and princess of Wales
ifierwards accompanied the king and queen to Westminster,* with a
gmt retinue of malcontent Snowdon barons, and their vaasala.

\l\er this pacification, the death of the queen of Castille caused tlic

Enncea of Ponthieu and Aumerle (o devolve on her daughter, queen
uiora, who quilted England with king Edward, in order to take po»-
Ktaiun of her inheritance, and do homage to Ihe king of France. The
iTiurn of the royal pair was hastened by another Welah war; for the
&ir bride of Llewellyn died, after bringing hira a living daughter," and
ilx^ prince, urged by die songs of the bards, and the indignation of hia
(ubjerts regsr^ing bia homage, suddealy invaded Engluid. The ainbi-
Tuous words of a prophecy of Merlin, asserting tlist a prince bom in
^'<-s should be the acknowledged king of the whole British island,
- ihe stimulus that led to a war, terminating in the death of the brave

1 he gold coronet of the unfortunate prince, taken from hia head by

-lill'i Cu^ogua of Honour. Wikes.

I " prinpc of Walei did homage in Westminiler Ball. According lo an

■ ^T'^ rrnmlaied hy Carle, in liia Hialory, ihe Snowdon barons who aeoom-

!!:.■;! 10 England with iheir serfs, were quBTtered ai Islinpoii, whore

. Ii.nB but eonifortable. taking ftcnl offence bi the fare provided fot

uld neither drink the wine nor the ile of London; mead and

I 111 Dot ba gol Tor ibem ; ihe Engliih bread Ihef tefiusd lo cot, sod

I riJirii I'ould not aflbtd milk enough for their dailj diet. Tbej were indig-

~ ul ih* itaring of ihe Loadoners, when they walKed in iLs tireeis iu their

'ridirt garb, and even liupocted thnl ifae Engliih look Ihein for savagei.

. ciimI they in chorus, "we will never Bgain visit Islington, excepting u

;^irmn.'' Dioll as the auocialion of ideal may be between the Welsh bard*

liIiDgion. ihe name of that bBrmleaa suburb was the eonstanl refrain of Ihs

'!i !ai<l( till Eilwnid silenced Ibem in death. Aa all the popular agilalions

■ raiM^d by the bardi, who were pei&ctly frantic concerning llio prophecjea

^Iciiln al tlii* crisis, Iheir eilirpanou by Edward IS a very probable ciicum

T'. llioiigh oonlesied by hiiloiisns.
) :.ii Bhild. whose name was Guendolen, was brought lo Edward a capdve in
raMi: aba was tearvd, and professed a nun in ilie convootof Sempringluim,
'< &F( eoiHta Oladii. the only daughter of prince David, brother lo Lewollyn,
»i>ii iMinoe was eieeuted by Edward. Thus ended Ihe line of Roderick Iha
.' (biw. — Pirn iMmgtafl. Pieii roentioos hi* personal aeguainlam* wilh thcM

rou tl. — 9

I

BLE

r ASTIttB.

loitl Mortimer, afl^r the ftial skirmish at Biiihh, was offered by princr
Alphoneo, at the shrine of EilwarJ the confessor.

The un^eiiled slalr of Wales necdnl the constant proence of Itiag
Blurani, to keep down the spirit of the people; and quem Ehonoci,
wild had followed him in all his Welsh campaigns, kepi (mt Mxm ■
Rhuddtan castle, in the summer of 1383. Here h«T eixm daH^irr. the
princess Isabella, was born a natWe of Wales.'

Early in spring, 12S*, Edward carried his qneen to his newly-bmll
castle of Caernarvon, a stronghold he had just finished, tn awe the mmi-
gents of the principality. This truly royal fortress, according lo Iht
antiquary Pennant, appears at present^ in its external rtalff, precisely B
when ([ueen Elcanora first entered ihe stupendous gBte«»ay so many ciB-
luries ago. The walls are studdetl by defeneive round lowere; ihw
have two principal gales, the east feeing the Snowdon mountain*, itw
west commanding the Menai. The entrance to the <-«stle is Terr aistriv:
lienealh a noble lower, on the front of which appears the siaitie of ijit
great Edward,' finely carved from the life, drawing a dagger with a aUta
air, as if menacing his unwilling subjects. This eniranco hotl four port-
cullises, and every requisite of strength.

To ibis mighty castle, Edward brought Eleanora, « a time when ha
situation promised an increase to the royal family. Tht Eafte Toww,
through whose gate the aDectionate Eleanora entered, is at k prodigion
height from the ground, at the farthest end, and could only be approurM
by a drawbridge, supported on masses of opposing rock. Every ooe
who beholds it is struck with Its grand position : it is vtill, by the to-
dilion of the district, called queen Eleanor's gate; &or was the b^
Tower an eyry by any means too lofiy, for the semrity of the n^al
Eleanora and her expected infant, since most of the Snowdan buOM
still held out, and the rest of the principaliiy was fiercely chalEng at Ac
English curb. This consideration jusiilie^ ihe tradition vrhKh pnou
out a little dark den, built in the ihickneas of the walla, as itie chtiobcT
where the faithful queen gave binh lo her son Edward. Th* dunbet
ia twelve feel in length, and eight in breadth, and is wtlboul a ftrcplaci.
lis discomforts were somewhat modified by liansinn of upartiy, li
which some marks of tenters elill appear in the walle. Qoaeii Elt«Mn
was the firet person who nsed tapestry as gamiture for walla, in £a^
land ; and she never needed it more than in her dreary lying^-cliaabR
at Caernarrou.*

■ kii noble portrait, engraved by Terta« !n Cntw, ii taken Ihnn this tBMa.

*li was the iirimitiTe office or the groonis or the cbsmber to hB.ag nf> ibrafr*
try. wliieli wis alwnyi curried in progrca wiih the rojral tngptgc^ and mm Ik-
wiirdt with the puiveyoi And gnwmi of tfae chamber, M thai dM fjoan *■!
llie none walls or her sleeping <Tbam)ier in eomfottabl* order ftn '

* Among ths mcmoiialt oT ({Ucen Elranota't scjauTn at Cacman
Civile or her inftnt son i* still ibown. It ii hung by lingi aail aapka la M*
npriglit pioett of wt«d, like a a*; ii it nf nid« wtirkmanahip, fm wilk WA
ptrtenre to amammt, having tnany nioulcling!^ thoagfa Iha natto an tttt M^(
it it mv\e of oaii, and i* in lenglli Ibree leei iwo iochet, iii width nwftM^II
ioollnvt the head. amdoiaafoK best the Gmt 1l hai mrtnf n

BLBA?rORA OF CASTILLB. 99

The prince was bom April 25th, when fires were not indispensable
in a small, close chamber. As a soldier's wife, nsed to attend her lord
in all campaigns, from Syria to Scotland, the queen had, in all proba-
biKty, met with hr worse accommodations, than in the forlorn chamber
in the Eagle Tower. The queen certainly provided a Welsh nurse for
her infant :' she thus proved her usual good sense, by complying with
the prejudices of the country.

Edward 1. was at Rhuddlan castle, negotiating with the despairing
magnates of Wales, when news was brought him, by GrifHth Lloyd, a
Welsh gentleman, that the queen had made him father of a living son
of surpassing beauty. The king was transported with joy ; he knighted
the Welshman on the spot, and made him a magnificent donation of

iHlds.'

The king hastened directly to Caernarvon, to see his Eleanora and
bar boy ; and three days af\er, the castle was the rendezvous of all the
chiefs of North Wales, who met to tender their final submission to
Edward I., and to implore him, as their lord paramount, to appoint them
a prince who was a native of their own country, and whose native
tongue was neither French nor Saxon, which they assured him they
eoidd not nnderstand.*

Edward told them he would immediately appoint them a prince, who
eould speak neither English nor French. The Welsh magnates, expect-
ing he was a kinsman of their own royal line, declared they would in-
Mnitly accept him as their prince, if his character was void of reproach ;
whereupon the king ordered his infant son to be brought in and pre-
Moted to them, assuring the assembly, ^ that he was just bom a native
of their countiy, that his character was unimpeached, that he could not
■peak a word of English or French, and that, if they pleased, the first
words he uttered should be Welsh.'' The fierce mountaineers little
expected such a ruler : they had, however, no alternative but submis-
■OB, and, with as good a grace as they might, kissed the tiny hand
which was to sway their sceptre, and vowed feal^ to the babe of the
faithful Eleanora.*

The queen soon changed her residence to her magnificent palace of
Oonway CSutle, where all the elegances of an age further advanced in
lunry than is generally supposed, were assembled round her. Many
Inces of her abode at Conway exist; among others, her state bed-
ehamber retains some richness of ornament ; it opens on a terrace com-
manding a beautiful view. Leading from the chamber is an arched
called by tradition queen Eleanora's Oriel ; it is raised by steps

kf two birds ; whether dovei or eaglet antiqnaries have not jet decided. — Bo^^
MiTf AHiiquitim,

'There ii an entry in the household-book of Edward II. of twenty shillings,
wbicb the king presented to Mary of Caernarvon, his nurse, for ooming all the
way from Wales to see him.

* Fnuiant's Wales. " Speed.

■ *8tow miaulely details this incident, the authenticity of which is not only
■ipported by the local traditions of North Wales, but by the giant authoriw- of
IsMen.

I

I

I

|00 BLEANORA OF CASTILLE.

from the Soot, and beautiCulty aJonied with painled glua winilon
Here Ihe queen of Cnglsnd, iluriug her kvre or risiag, sat lo receive tbi
ladies qualilieil la be preeeDted to her, wliile her tirewoman ccmbt^l uA
bntided those long treeses,' wliich are the glory of a Spanuh doiina,tiid
which her riatues shaw Eleanors o( Cusiille to have poaaeMetl. A poaoi
couleiuporary with this queen, minutely describe these sl«te toikt
places.'

"In h^r oriel there sbe was, | Filleil it wu wiih iniRgerir,

Closed well wilh royal gliui; | Every window liy and bf."

The August Tollowing the birth of prince Ednuil, saw the death of
prince Aiphonso. llie heir of England— «n event which deeply alRiM^
his mollier. The same year brought calamity lo her brother, king Ai-
phonso X. of Caalille.' This great prince was the most eslraordiiiu;
person of hia time, but wrapping himself up in his malhemaiical stadiMi
in the latter part of his reign, his son, Sancho the Bmve, deposed him.
This cvenl was a source of great grief to Elennora, for her royal broilia
was tenderly beloved by her; she had named her favourite child *Aa
him, and now, in his reverse of fortune, she urged her royal totd U
interfere wilh her nephew Saucho,' for the restoration of her brodm.
The interposition was in vain, for the learned Alphouso died in coute-

The death of king Alexander of Scotland, in 1385, openei) a nr«
prospect for still funlier aggmndizing the progeny of queen Eleaoca
The heiress of Scotland, ilie princess MargBrei of Norway, greal-DiMi
to Edward 1., was, by ibe consent of the uoblea of Scotland, uAeaaif
belroilied lo Edward of Caernarvon, prince of Wales, and erery proapHt
appeared thai ihe island crowns would be happily united, in the penoM
of Ihe infant son of Eleanoia, and the little queen of Scotland. Ate
this pacilicBlion of ihe whole island, the king and queen resided (hit*
years in Aquilaine. Deanora then gave birth to her seventh and eigUI
daughters, the princesses Beatrice and Berengaria.

When the queen returned to England, she was urged lo devote h«
fourth daughter, the princess Mary, to the cloister. Her relucianc* *»
relinquish this child is noted by most chroniclers, and produced mm
ttinn one pathetic epistle from dignitaries of the church, on the iraptv-

' Tliia L*u3l»in, derived [tola Ihe middle AfiFs, wsa coDtinued io Finiiue ItU ikt
revolution. The word lev^, slill used at our court, i> derived l'ii>tn it.

'This kinfc, ■nrnuned B Sabio, «niployed ihe moal Ipamnl men, not ndf t*
TopeuiB. Iiut Arab* and Jews, lo auisi liim in conilracdne the aetebrui>.<l AlpljKr.
line Talitet, mi long the itandud or uirouomical olciilBIianL bIj
KJino glimpici of the lighl afterwnrJa ea»l on toieneo, by Gnlil- .
Newlon, Alphonao paid hi4 leanted BHisuuits Ibny thouiand ' -
•crvices, ■ beucraclioti JnQtiJlely roenied by hi* combBiivo soI.n
their itionnmb and hi* ssironomers lor conjurors, und ware rarniiui...
should bestow ireaiurB on nuy peacerul proression. — Se<? jIlUa Gafiofkf*
Alpboau puoued bi< studiei in quiel when impriioiied, conioling huaiel/tf
wuMideiing thai liia lubjeuti were fiiola.

' if Boy papers on Otis su^qect a9f««>i m dte Focdera. ^Tj

ELEAKOKA OF CASTtLLB. lOj^

pnM;^ of witlkbniding from heaven a choKeii lamb, from her nutneroua
nuck.' Among the other odiniraljle qunlities of Eleanora, we find fre»-,
dotu from die prejudices af her eta. She kept a happ}' meilium beiweea
im bulil infiilelity of her philosophic brother Alphonso, the mathein^
Ucitn,' anil the superfluous deroiion of the middle agea. The princeac
\\uy Maa. however, veiled, at the age of ten years, al Ambresbury, I28S.
Thi' year after her profession the queen added a ninth daughter, the

»puiceu Blanche, to her family.
Elnnoim reared and educateil her numerous train of beautiful prin-
OUcs, in a Retired angle of Westminster Palace, which was given, oa
Mtonui of their residence there, the appellBtion of the Maiden Mall.'

Time of ihe queen's elder daughters were married, or betrothed in
IWO. The princeas-royal, Eleanora, was affianced to Alphonso, princiy
of Amijfon : this prince died soon after, when she married llie duke of
Bur. The next sister, Joanna of Acre, in her eighteenth year, renownea
fiir hrr beauty and high spirit, was married, with great pomp, at ihtr
niunaiieiy of the Knigfata of St. John, Clerkenwell, to the premier poor'
'^ England, Gilbert the Red, earl of Gloucester. A few weeks latw.
^ca Eleanora assisted at a still statelier ceremony, when her tbin^
uhter, Margaret, then ttf^een, wedded, al Westminster Abbey, JohOb
I^Kcund duke of Brabant.'

IF liislorians dwell much on the magnificence displayed at the ruj^
■ of these princesses. A list of the plate used in the queen's housfr-
1l will prove that the court of Eleanom hail attained a considerabia
« of luiury. The plate was the woik of Ade. the king's goldsmitl^
Bthf description of the rich vessels furnished by this member of the
' ' '» company has been brought lo light by modem research.*
r pitchers of gold and silver, calculated to hold water or wine;
in gild chalices, of the value of £140 to £293 each ; ten cups of sQv«r
' , or silver white, some with stands of the same, or enamelled ; more^
B one hundred smaller aHvet cups, value from four lo one hundred
d eighteen pounds each ; also cufie of Jasper, plates and dishes of
r, gold salts, alms bowLs, sdver hanapers or baskets ; cups of beni-
I viih holy sentences wrought thereon ; enamelled silver ju^

'Tfa«e ve umiiinerable grsnu recorded in the Fisclera to tbe nDn-prinoSM;
Hn Ihihpt gnnts the Itireal ot SaTeinBks and other woodlands, Tor Ore Ibr bar
tli«!nb«[; ihe port of Souihfljnpion ii taxed Tor tuns of wine foi her 0«ltar,
Wnin oil lilt her lamp.
'Aipboou 1* Hid ID hare deolated, » thai ho coald b«T» deviBod a belter w»
tif uniaiii'g Uia moements or llia oelesdal bodieB;" which speech led le hi(
•trfiMJtiDa. Tbe fact ii, he was not satisfied with his own astKraomical tables,
tod lunww aulMeqiiem iinptoTemepis.

'Sntirj't and Bniton'i Palace o( WesimiDiler, lU. Thin portion of the old.
|«teea WM deaiioircd by tlte, a Utile lime after lbs queou'i death.

'Tti* rounf dairheis did not iaioiedialelr quit EngJaiuI. bat bad a Mpaiala.
TiMhllihinnni •< appears I17 the following entry in Edward IL's household
tooks : ~ PaiJ lto!>eit de Ludhnin tliirleen shillii^s and siiponce, who was ponai
ta the Idne's diiHglitei, ibe tacly Maigarpt, duchesi of Brabant, whsa >he nwia-
^tiwd ■ bouMibold differcal ftom the king'i ion,"
*%^llt<ii«cb«(H«i9libti^iiaa, in his UiiloiT trf' Citjr ConpaMiM, >-

102

ELEATtORA OF CASTILLE

ailomed with eRigieii oT the king, in a siircoal snil hood, nai
edigies of qneen Eleanora. It is generally suppose) ihal Toi
of qneer memory, introduced ihe use of foiks from Italy, I
the time of James I. But our Provengal Plaiitagenet qooL
feed with iheir lingers, whatever their English subjects might
in the list of Eleanora's plate occurs a pair of knives with sih
naoielled, wiili a fork of crystal, and a silver fork,' handled %
and ivory. In the list of royal valuables were likewise I
looking-glasses of silver-gilt, and a bodkin of silTer, in a 1m
five serpents' tongues set in n standitrd of silver ; a royal ci
rubies, emeralds, and great pearls; another with Indian pearl*
great crown of gold, ornanienled with ememlda, sapphires d
rubies, and lai^ oriental peurlc. This seems to have been :
state crown, used at the coronation feasL Above all, thei
ring with a great sapphire, wrought and set by no other 1
of Si. Dun Stan.

The countess of Gloucester brought forth a beautjfiil I
spring of 1291, lo the ingnite joy and plessure of her roolli
the king and queen Eleanora welcomed this first grand-chi]|
light, and called hit name Gilbert.

The autumn of the year 1290 brought threelening clouds U
perily of the island kingdoms, and to the royal family of q^^
nora. The little queen. Margaret of Scotland, was lo be s>
from Norway to Scotland, and thence, by agreement, to t
England, that she might be educated under the care of ths
igueen of Edward I. The bishop of St, Andrews wrote to k'
that a report was spread of the young queen's death * on be
voyage. Edward, who had already sent the bishop of Durhai
regents, to take possession of Scotland,* in [he names of f
Caernarvon, and Margaret of Norway, was startled into pro
at these alarming tidings. He took a hasty farewell oif I
queen, and chared her to follow him with all convenient «pi

Edward had not reached the Scottish borders, when the
reached him that Eleanom, the faithful com)>aQian of his lif^
ling through Lincolnshire, to join him, previously lo his e:
land, had been seized with a dangerous autumnal fever, U E
Grantham.

Ambition, at the strong call of conjugal love, for once i
giusp on the mighty heart of Edward. In comparison witli
dead ot dying, the coveted crown of Scotland was nothing i

■See likow>» Record Commisiion, p. TB, where fiirks bts
Ihe items of Edward L'l domcBlic atmiilB.

■ S^lie died at the Orkney!, il ii rappoaaJ ot tlie faligoe of
Kgn, being driven to ihoie ialands bjr violent wesitaer, Oclobar tWOL'
niigbam. Her death wb> Ibe grcateit nalional calamilf ihM stc
An elegant female poet, Mis* Uolfbrd, tKj*~-

"Tbe nonh wind lObs wtieie M«reeret tleepa,
And (till in lean of blood her memory Scoittod Mn

■Ana As Ufia v^ Viktt.. - _ ' -^t. Pub, m

ELBAlfORA OF CASTILLE. l03

He turned souUiward instantly ; but though he travelled with
ost speed, he arrived too late to see her living once more. His
le queen had expired, November 29th, at the house of a gentle-
med Weston. She died, according to our calculation, m the
Tenth year of her age.

irhole affiiirs of Scotland, however pressing they might be, were
ted, for a time, from the mind of the great Edward by the acute
he sufiered for the death of Eleanora ; ' nor, till he had paid the
e considered due to her breathless clay, would he attend to the
t temporal business. In the bitterest grief he followed her corpse
»n during thirteen days, in the progress of the royal funeral, from
m to Westminster. At the end of every stage the royal bier
surrounded by its attendants, in some central part of a great
II the neighbouring ecclesiastics came to meet it in solemn pro-

and placed it before the high altar of the principal church. At
ne of these resting-places the ro3ral mourner vowed to erect a
I memory of the chere reine^ as he passionately called his lost
a. Thirteen of these splendid monuments of his aflections once
: those of Northampton and Waltham ' still remain models of
tural beauty. The principal citizens of London, with their ma-
r, came several miles on the north road, clad in black hoods and
ur cloaks, to meet the royal corpse and join the solemn proces-
rhe hearse rested, previously to its admission into Westminster
at the spot now occupied by the statue of Charles I., which
ided a grand view of the abbey, the hall, and palace of West-
>

' buried queen Eleanora at the feet of her fiither-in-law. Her
statue, reclining on an altar-shaped tomb, was cast in bronze by
t patronised by Henry IH. and Edward I. He was supposed to
xaebrated Pietro Cavallini, but his name is now certified as To-
iherwise called Master William, the Florentine. He built his
I to cast the queen's statue, in St Margaret's churchyard. The
ent Edward paid Torelli £1700^ for his elegant statue of the
«nora. It is well worth it, for he produced a work of which
dern artist miffht be justly proud. We feel, while gazing upon
it possesses all the reality of individual resemblance. The coun-

of Eleanora is serenely smiling; the delicate features are per-
th in form and expression. The riffht hand held a sceptre, now
away ; the left is closed over someming pendent from the neck
ring, supposed to be a crucifix. Her head is crowned with a
:ent circlet, from which her hair falls in elegant waves on her

lD|^m and Speed.

lam CroM was built where Eleanorm's corpse turned from the high north
fest lor the night at Waltham Abbey, which is situated about a mile
I spoL

he accounts of the executors of Eleanom of Castille, edited by B. Bot-

!|., Rozburghe Club, published since the second impression of this biogn^-

n which the author is glad to rectiiy the error into which WalpoU %&i\

had led her. ^I&nsi.

EI,E\NOB A I

C & a T I L L K.

I

!
i

^honldcrs. The queen of Edward I. must have been a modd of fonil-
nine beauty. No wonder that llie united inlluence of lovidiowt, viriue.
and Hweei temper, should have inspired in ilie heart of her renovHil
lord an attachment so deep and true.

The king endowed the abbey of Wesitninster with mnoy rich ipli*,
for dirges and masses, to commemorate his beloved qUL-en. Wox-liehu
perpetually burnt around her tomb, till the Reformation extinguutneil
them, three hundred years afterwards, and look away the fuuds ili«t
kept them alight. '■'■ She halh,'' saya Fabiaut "■ two wax ttipcrs bunnuj
upon her lomb both day and nighi, which hath so continued lya iht
day of her burying to this present." '

The tomb itself is of grey Petworlh marble, and is deai^ied in a styie
corresponding with the rich memorial cross of Wullhami especially die
lower range of shields, on which are seen embossed the loweis of 0»-
tille and the puiple lions of Leon, with tlie bendleta of Ponthieu. Rouod
the metal table on which the statue reposes is a verge, einbuaaed witli
Saxon charvciers, to tliis edect ; — '' Here lies Alianor, wife lo king Ed-
ward, formerly queen of England, on whose soul God for pity lun
grace. Amen," This is at present the sole epitaph of Elnnon of
Caatillei but, before the Reformation, a tablet hung near the tomb, oa
which were some funeral verses in Latin, willi an English translation 1^
some ancient rhymester,' transcribed here, not for llieir beauty, InU itMlf
historical chameter. ^h

oQueea Eleuion ii heie inlerred,
A rornl Tiriuoui dame,

Siaier UQIo ibe Spnnish king,
Of ancirnt blood and fame ;

King Ed wBid'i wife , fini of (hut nam*
And prince of Wales by right,

Whoie falher Henrj- josl the ihird
Wu Mue an Engliali wi^L

Ha emved bet wife unlo bis ton.
Tba prince himself did goe

Oq that embassage luckiljr,

Himteifwiih many moe,

This

31 or li

The king Alphonso likod, ^^H

And wiih hia siltei and diis Prf^^H

Thr mairiage up was ctrikod. ^^|

The U0W17 rich and royal WBi

For )uch a prince moat meetj

For Fonihipu was the matriaga ^t,

A dowry rich and gresi,

A woman bolh in caunul wis*,

Religious, fruitful, ineek,

VVliodidiQcreatehoiliusbuKl'sfanai.

And 'laiged his UoDOur eke.

L«un 10 dia.

Of all the crosses raised to the memory of Eleanora of CutUle br

'The tomb of Ueniy III. is richly inlaid with curious and preciiMis aRDO^
which his Mm, Edward L, brought with him from Syria Ibr ibal purpose. Ip
iplvndour may be noticed by thcisa who wHlk in the abb«y banenlh St. Cdwanl^
chapel. Fotuiwuely most of this beautiful mosaie of outioo* tionea is fttba
on the ouuide of (he obapel, which is placed al an inconreDiDDl height ix <bi
operaiions of the pickers and stealers wlio daily visit that stately biie; ibar
Ibre this memenlo of our great king's filial piety still remains in a lolerahia sMC
of proser ration. "Edward I. reserved some of his precious itorn to ailan i«
slstoe of his beloved wife, ftir tuuod the neck are cusps, where a camnet llM
been ftKcd, but it has been wrenched off and stolen." — PtnnaM.

*A iradiiion is exlanl, Ihat Skelion (whom we are loath 10 call ■ pool, iSnt^
Poet Laureate to Henry VUI.) translated the Latin epilaphs into Englbfa, whDf
he was ■ sanctuary-man, under the protection of Abbot Islip, who bad lk«>
huftg on laMels neu th« torabi. — Bvftey't UisioTical FenmbolvBf.

BLBANOEA OP CA8TILLB. 105

her Borrowing widower^ that of Charing is the most frequently named
by the inhabitants of the metropolis, although the structure itself has
fanished from the &ce of the earth. Yet every time Charing Cross is
mentioned, a tribute is paid unconsciously to the virtues of Eklward I.'s
bdored queen, for the ^pellation is derived from the king's own lips,
who always spoke of her in his French dialect as the chere reine. Thus
hid words Charing Cross signify, the ^ dear queen's cross,'' ' an object
tmi was alwajTS seen by the royal widower in his egress and regress
from his palace of Westminster. This anecdote is corroborated by Ed-
ward's personal habits, who certainly, like his ancestors, spoke French
n his ftioiiliar intercourse.' Our sovereigns had not yet adopted English
as their mother tongue. Although Edward and his father spoke Englisli
readily, yet their conversation in domestic life was chiefly canied on in
Fiench.

Foreigner as she was, Eleanora of Castille entirely won the love and
fDod-wul of her subjects. Walsiagham thus sums up her character:'
**To our nation she was a loving mother, the colnnm and pillar of the
iriiole realm ; therefore, to her glory, the king her husband caused all
those fiunous trophies to be erected, wherever her noble corse did rest ;
for he loved her above all earthly creatures. She was a godly, modest,
iod merciful princess : the English nation in her time was not harassed
bj foreigners, nor the country people by the purveyors of the crown.
The sorrow-stricken she consoled as became her dignity, and she made
Ihcm friends that were at discord."

Civilixation made rapid advances under the auspices of a court, so
veil regulated as that of Eleanora of Castille. Wdes, in particular,
emerged from its state of barbarism in some degree. The manners of
ibe Welsh were so savage, at the time when Eleanora kept her court in
North Wales, that her royal lord was forced to revive an ancient Welsh
lav, threatening severe punishments to any one ^ who should strike the
queen, or snatch any thing out of her liand." The English had little
reason to pride themselves on their superiority. Although there was no
dinger of their beating the queen in her hall of state, they had pelted
her predecessor from London Bridge. Moreover, in the commencement

'Melcolm** Londiniam Rediviva. In the accounts published by Botfield of
Kleanora of Ckstille** executors, the progress of 'this cross is repeatedly men-
tioBed as Cmetm dt la Char Rjfnge. It is possible that the word Charing may
faive oome ftom the car or char-ring, being the drive where the carriages or cars
•f those visiting at the palace, drove round while waiting for their owners.

"Rblindied.

*The common people have not dealt so justly by her ; the name of this virtuous
woman and excellent queen is only known by them to be slandered by means
of a popular ballad, called ** A Warning against Pride, being the Fall of Queen
Elfanora, Wife to Edward I. of England, who for her pride sank into the earth
■i Queenhithe, and rose again at Cliaring Crosf, aAer killing the lady mayoress/*
'ome feint tmces of the qiwrrels between the city of London and Eleanor of
Nyvence regarding Queenhithe, had been heard by the writer of this ballad,
^lio ormibunded her with her daughter-in-law, whose name was connected with
^Wing Cross.

I

I

4V ELKAIIORA OF CASTILLI. ^^M

of ihe reign o( Eilwanl I., Luodon was so ill-gwanied, that avatiem
mm coDiiuitwd in the Btreeta in noan-*lay.'

Sculpture, artliilcrtiirp, and cwiing in brass and bronze, were not oalj
encournxcd by king Edward aiid his quern, but brought to ^creat perirc-
lion by Torclli, and native ariistii wliotii tliejT cncoumgeil in liiia rouutr;.
Oarriiig in iVi>od, an art purely £ngluli, now richly deconled boili
ecdesiaatical anil domestic Btructures.

Eleaiiora o( Oistille lirst introduced tlie use of tapestry as hangiiui
for walls. It waa a la^hion appertaining to Moorish luxury, ulopiu of
the Spaniards. The coldness or our clintale musi have mode it iali*-
penpable lo the Tnir daughter of the South, chilled wiilt the damp '
walU of English Gothic halb and chambers, hi the preceding cei
Ispestry was aolely worked to decorate aluirs, or lo be disf^ayed
torial exliibiiions, in oolcrnn coi urn cm oration of great eveuta, like iht
fiayeux tapestry of Matilda of Flanders.

The robes worn by the court of Eleanora of Castijle were graceful;
the close under-gown, or kirtle, was mnde high in the neck, with ligtil
sleeves, and a tmiii, over which an elcg-^nt rube, with full fur slecm
was worn. The ugly gorget, an imitation of the helmets of the knlghu,
executeO in white cambric or lawn, out of which waa cul a visor for itit
lace to peep through, deformed the head-tire of some of the ladies of to
court, and is w be »«n on ihe €tli^ (oUierwite niosl degiinI)of Ardiit
countess of Lancaster, her sialcr-iii-luw. Bui Eleanors had a bMter W
in dress ; no gorget bi<les her beautiful throat and fine shoulders, IV
her ringlets flow on each side of her face, and (all on her neck iita
under the regal diadem. The lavlics of Spain are celebrated tot the
beauty of their hair, and we gee by her statues ilint Elmnora did Bot
conceal her tresses. The elegance and simplicity of the dress niaf«i
by this lovely <]iieen, might form h model for female costume in any mi-'

There is fiille more than tradition lo support tho assertion, that M
Eteonora of Casiille England owes the introduction <if ibe fiimoui brMd
of sheep fur which Colswoir) has been so famous. A few of these cRt-
lures were introduced, by the care of the patriotic queen, from her naiin
Spain; and they had increased to that degree in about half a oeotnry,
that their wool became the staple riches of England.

The last time ilie name of Eleanors of Caslille appears in our nalionti
records, is in the Parliamentary Rolls, and from Nonuan French a»
translate the following supplication: — •'The executors of Oiirer de
Ingram pray to recover before the king's audiiora three handred and Sitj

' Tlie vigoroui goremmeni of Edwnrd (oon cniihed theas aTila. Bs laaJ*!!
I>et>B] bf proclamslian lot on^ perioD, but the graBl lotd*, to Im spod in LooiIb)
■Itaels with etihrr ipear or liuclilet, tRei iho partem at St. Maittn'>-le.OfafKl AmI
nirm t>ut hiiouifpw beK, ■ ptoor Ihalthe curfew \Fa> rung u late u ilwilnNtf
EUward I. Il bail Ifeoome ea instnimeal of civil police, nihot Uian mUtm^
i)e>potiiin. Tlie hiihw&fs, on wtiich we have isen Hetirf TIL ami hi* qon*
fobtwd in open dny.wMo nowclearedof all wood eiceptiDg high ireti. fin Hw
ft«t on Mch (iile. Tlit flrsl clock in England waj set up in
p««lo to Wedmuatei Palace.— Slow.

MhMJLMORJL OF CAtTIX.I.B« 101

)d by Dame Alianora, late queen and companion to our lord
rd I^ and the said executors show that thoueh our lord tlw
iren command to have it paid, it is not yet done ; therefore
ly ciare that he will be pleased to give a new order for thai
ceoont of the health of the soul of the said queen Alianora^
lion.**

ioeument we learn from the beet authority, that creditori, in
rhtn Catholicism was prevalent, conaidnred they kept a detain-
n the souls, even, of rojral debtors.'

r, in the same parliament, the poor prioress and her nuns of
iresent a pathetic petition to the king, representing ^ how
ley have prayed for the soul of madame the queen, late com-
ling Edward, and they hope for perpetual alms for the suste-
heir poor convent in London, in consideration of the paina
teken,""

. of Gsstille left seven living daughters and one son. Only
daughters were married.

' the sixth daughter of king Edward and Eleanora of Gastille,
d at Ipswich (the year before her father's wedlock with Mar-
Trance) to the count of HoUand. It is doubtful if the young
rer left England, for two years afterwards her lord died, and
ft a widow, childless. She afterwards married the earl of
lumphrey de Bohun. Another entry mentions the birth of
Ud.

80, 1803. To Robert le Norreys, servant to the lady Isabella
* Hereford, the king's daughter, for bringing news to the prince
of the birth of her first son, £26 ld«. 4d.
icese-royal married, afWr the death of her mother, the duke of

3 king paid Husso de Thomville, valet of the count of Barr,
f him news of the birth of her eldest son, the enormous sum
nds ! But this boy was the next heir to England after Edward
von, as Edward I. settled the succession on the daughters of

4 Cutille; first on the countess of Barr and her progeny,

neediDg tuch stimulus, and solely prompted by family honour and a
itegrit}, we have seen our young queen pay the debts of a ftther
tever knew — a line of conduct in early youth which is, we trust, duly
by her country. Long after this sublunary scene has dosed npon
of regality, the biographers of succeeding centuries will remember
this action of the then maiden sovereign of Great Britain.
>ar. Rolls, 475.

les in the household book of Edward I., 1298, preserve some of the
>f this marriage. ** To Maud Maktfofff for dancing before Edward,
^ales, in the King s Hall at Ipswich, two shillings. To sir Peter
in lieu of the bridal bed of the countess of Holland, the king's
bich be ought to have had as his fee when she married the earl of
Ipswich, twenty marks. To Reginald Page-Ho John the VUhtUUm
non, minstrels, for making minstrelsy, the day of the marriage of die
Iter, the countess of Holland, fiAy shillings eiioh.''

106 BLSAiroBA or castillb.

then on Joanna of Acre, and all the Ktta princeaMa dien aHre, i
cession.

Edu-aril I. survived moat of hii beloved HMHon'a Aildrtn. J
of Acre died soon after her &ther. The conniesa c^ Barr pneede
la the tomb soon after the birth of her aecond MO, io 1S9B, ai
countess t>{ ilerpford sum*ed him but four yewa.

The nun-princesB, and the onfoitnnaie Edward II., mn the
indiTiduala that reached the t«ni of middle life, ovt of tba mm
family itiat Edward I. had by Elemom of ChatiUa.

MARGUERITE OF FRANCE,

SECOND QUEEN OF EDWARD I.

ikii fcmity of Maigoerita— Ditconaolate widowhood of Edward L — ^Demsndt
Mugnerite's sister — ^Blanohe la Belle — ^Edward contracted to Miargaerit»—
Espousals— Maids of honour — Edward leaves his bride for the Scotch wai^-*
Qoeen follows Edward — ^Lives at Brotherton— -Eldest son bom there — Lett at
Oiwood — Queen goes to Scotland-— Danger of journey owing to Wallaoe— Her
oourt at Dunfemi line— High festival at Westminster Palace— Marguerite's gold
eiiolet — ^Birth of the qoeen's seoond son^^Queen's kindness — Robert J^ruce^s
oowB— Queen saves a goldsmith's life— Benevolence to the mayor of Win
efaester^-Residence at Winchester— 'Death of king Edward — Happy Wedlock
of Marguerite-^Her good qualities— Her historiographer John o' London— His
Aetch of Edward's character— -Anecdotes of Edward— Marguerite's visit to
Fmnce— Friendship with her son-in-law — ^Widowhood — Early death— Burial
^-Cbaritiee — ^Foundations— Debts^-Children — Present descendants.

The early death of the braTe eon and successor of St Louis, king
Uip le mrdif left his joongest daughter, the princess Marguerite,
AiierksB at a very tender age. She was brought up under the guardian-
bip of her brother, Philip le Bel, and carefully educated by her mother,
Qsen Marie, a learned and Tirtuous princess, to whom Joinville dedi-
aiad his immortal memoirs.' Marguerite early showed indications of
la Mme piety and innate goodness of heart which, notwithstanding
ane superfluity of devotion, really distinguished the character of her
nudfttber.

If Marguerite of France possessed any comeliness of penon,her claims
» beauty w€«6 wholly overlooked by contemporaries, who surveyed
rith admiialion the exquisite persons of her dder brother and sister,
•d somamed them, by common consent, Philip le Bel and Blanche la
Me. The eldest princess of France was full six years older than Mar-
iwrite,' and was withal the reigning beauty of Europe, when Edward I.
^■B rendered the roost disconsolate of widowers, by the death of EJea-
Nxi of Oastille. If an historian may be believed, who is so completely
* contemporary that he ceased to write before the second Edward ceased
o reign, Marguerite was substituted, in a marriage-treaty, commenced by
Sdwvd for the beautiful Blanche, by a diplomatic mancBuvre, unequalled
or craft since the days of Leah and Rachel.

'Of the Life of St Louis.

*8ee Piers of Langtoft, corroborated by Speed's calculation of the age of Mar>
F^inite. As th«^ most extraordinary blunders have been made by an ajflC^^n ^\a
'v* endeaTonred to write thii menunTf the point deserret aUensoDTi.

VOL. u. — 10 ivatt\

I

IIO MABGtBRITE OF FHA^ICB.

It hafl been seen that grief in the energetic mind of Etlwanl 1. 1
Uie cliaracler nf intense activity ; but aftet all was done that hiiinu
ingenuity roulU contrive^ or that the gorgeous ceremonials of tike Rotnu
church could deTise, of funeral honours lo the memory of the ekht
reine, his beloved Elcanora, the warlike king of England sank into ■
morbid state of mdiuicholy. His contemporary chronicler eniphatinUy
says —

I

• A more forlorn widowerhood no pen can portray than is thna
by the monk Piers.

It is exceedingly curious to observe how anxioiu Edwftnl
aseerlain the qualifications of the princess Blanche. Hi
were commanded to give a minute description doi only of her face wd
manners, but of the turn of her waist, the form of her foot and of htr
hand; likewise tn fiu;ovn, perhaps dress and demeanour.

The result of this inquisition was, that Blanche was perfeclly lovdf,
for tif plua bel erealuTt rati Irouve, Moreover, sire Edward, at his n»-
ture age, became violently in love (from report) of the charms of Blaadu
1> Belle. The royal pair began to correspond, and the d&msel ulm^
ished him by letter, thai he must in all things submit lo her btotktr.
king Philip. In truth, the extreme wi»h of king Edward to be ipis
united in wedlock with a lair and loving queen induced him to comdr
with rondilions loo hard, even for a young bride to exact, who hta j
hand, a waist, and a fool perfect as those possessed by Blanche In Belk
Philip demanded thai Gascony should be given up by Edward fvcrvBi
as a settlement on any posterity Edward might have by his bMuAil
sister. To this our king agreed ; but when he surrendered the (ituiiMa
according to the feudal tenure,' to his auzeTsin, the treacbvoua IVif
refused to give it up, or let him marry his beautiful sist«r i and jw *
this time the name of Ma^uerile, tlie youngest sister of Blanche, a dii
of little more than eleven years of age, is found in the marriage IKtl
between England and France.

The consternation of the king's brother, Edmund of
he found the villanous part Philip le Bel meant to play, i
of the duchy of Guienne, is very apparenL His letter
•amiraes so much the style of famUiar correspondence, that it is l*tt

'Pii

raof Langtofl.

. .._ y, at nuTsled bj Piers, is

modecQ copjrhold.

EdwKid without te«er*o
Sal give Philip lbs king
The wIioIp oCGaKoay,
Without Jinuibing
After the /arif day>
JIMing '»«/"2'

iceetliogly like the

JIMing t»« frnfmna

£b^K

MAmaUBRITB OF FRANCS. Ill

lial the limits of this work will not permit the entire insertion
nment

^ says earl Edmund, ^ my lord and brother had surrendered,
ce of Christendom, this territory of Crascony to the will of
ig Philip assured me, by word of mouth, that he would agree
esaid terms ; and he came into my chamber, where the queen
ras, with monsieur Hugh de Vere, and master John de Lacy,
ught with him the duke of Burgundy, and there he promised,
to the ^th of loyal kings, that, in reality, all things should
opposed. And on this faith we sent master John de Lacy to
n order to render up to the people of the king of France the
le land, as afore agreed. And the king sent the constable of
receive it. And when these things were done, we came to
ueens,' and they prayed the king of France that he would
riTe safe conduct to my lord the king, to come and receive
Hid and fortresses according to his covenant And the king
in secret, in the presence of queen Jane, told me he was
t he must return a hard answer before the council, but never-
meant to fulfil all he had undertaken. And forthwith he de-
re his said council ^ that he never meant to restore the terri-
ieh he had just been given full seisin.' " .

nund evidently concludes his letter in a great fright, lest Philip
lid persist in his cheating line of conduct ; but he makes a
bortation to his brother, not to let tmall causes break the
His letter is accompanied by a treaty of marriage, in which
not the name of the beautiful princess Blanche, but that of
Marguerite. A fierce war immediately ensued, lasting from
l98, during which time Edward, who at sixty had no time to
sft half married to Blanclie ; for, according to Piers of Lang-
eems intimately acquainted with this curious piece of secret
3 pope's dispensation had already been completed.'

ot till the year 1298 that any pacific arrangement took place,
dward and the brother of Blanche. The treaty was then
H" Marguerite, who had grown up in the meantime. The
ngement was referred to the arbitration of the pope, who de-
t Guienne was to be restored to the right owner ; that Ed-
•uld marry Maiguerite, and that she should be paid the portion
bousand pounds left her by king Philip le Hardi, her mther.''
Piers verily believes, Philip le Bel meant to appropriate to
e.

es not say why the younger sister was substituted instead of

iger of Navarre, queen Blanche, mother to Jane, wife of the king of
married to Edmund of Lancaster.

Q of France and her mother, queen Blanche, wife of Lancaster,
•tated by Piers are most satiofactorily confirmed \jj Wikes. Like*
learned researches of sir Harris Nicolas ; see a Latin poem pre*

■ city archives, Chronicle of London, p. 1312.

I

■ ARarSBITB OP F8ANCK.

Blsnehe,' but he seems to insinuate in these lines that she w
charocter : —

MsTg;ucrile was maiTied to EJwanI, who met lier at Cnnterlrary, by
Robert de Winchelsea, September Sth, 1299, when she waa in her saveti-
tcenth year.

Among '■^ the folk o{ good array," sent by Philip for the aceommixl*-
tion of the May* his sister,' we find by the wantfobe-book of E!dwiT<J
I. ihal there were three ladies of the bed-fhamber, and four noble dcinoi-
selles, or mai<ls of honour. Among these attendants are two Fiench,u
Agnes de la Croise, to whom was paid 10 marks; and MatilJe de VnL
100 shillings. Two ladies were sent from England to watt on the young
queen ; these were the lady Vaux and the lady Joanna Fountayne ; mch
received 101, Our chroniclers speak much of the goodness of Margue-
rite of France, and she seems to have deserved the respect and a^ctiiHi
of her royal lord. At the time of her marrif^e with the king of Eng-
land, her niece, the young daughter of king Phdip, was solemnly be-
trothed to her aon-in-lttW Edward.

■'Now," says a Laiin poem' descriptive of the Scottish war, "the
king returns tliat he may marry queen Marguerite the flower of Fniacf.
When love buds between great princes it drives away bitter sobs from
their subjects." The stormy aspect of the umea did not aflbrd tiw
royal bridegroom leisure lo attend to the coronation of Margueiilf.
King Edward had very little time to devote to his bride ; for, to hi*
great indignation, all his barons, taking the opportunity of his absencr,
thought proper to disband themselves, and disperse their feudaiory mili-
tia, Icnving their warlike king but the shadow of an army, lo pursue the
advantages he had gained by the sanguinary battle of Fatkii^.* la less
than a week the royal bridegroom departed with fiery speed to crush, it

' Ii WB§ ttwauMi ihp bmiiiful Blanclie had tbe prospccl or beinE wnpitu.
Blunclio, dDugbier of Pbilip le Uardi. and tin>ei to Philip le Bel, married Rodol-
pliua duke of Austria, eldest ma lo ilie eniperat Albert I. Her liu'banil wiu
Kttctwatds lung of Bohemia. Tbia marringe »-bs sjrangcd twtweeii king Philip
mill Albert The joudk lad;', Who had accompanied her brother, wa* befrcHbrd
al T<iol, in Lorraine, io the apilng of 1SB9, — iht Frmm'l Neltt to fWitmtt cftU
Prima it Joimait.

■ Philip for ibat Maf I With )b1k ot geod mmp

Made Pioviilmoe readjt; | To Dover came ihs.

[n the king'i household booif ibere it a prnseni of two handmt n«ika to A*
valet of the Iting'a obBmber. Edmund de Cloinwall, oo occaston of the kkc'i
marriflge with Marguerite of Fraiica.

• Song of the ScoitUh Wars. Political Songj of England, Csniden Snoierr. I?*.

*tl Was al IhU juncture that Robert Bniee first manilestmi lonn WHiaiUlit]r tor
ilie woei of the muntiy whole rorsl blood he iharnd. After taa flmllr Ivft iha
baud! Af Edward I., ho wai not able to pnviilp for tbe relmt of hi* wife, wh*
WHJ left St the court of the yoimB qupen. The [adjrde Bruce iraa not lU Baai*<t
tliDugh ihe was put onder realrainl at me of the royal manor*; aha wsj ■Ho*'iai
three jxiund* per month for maintenance, and was prDvided wuh «
ainotig wUoat it speoi&ed "one &itfr4»], d«a«tu and not rtotou to a

MAmeCERITS OF FRANCS. 113

possible, the gallant efibrts the Scotch were making for ibeir fireedom.
lie left London the Wednesday after his marriage.

The queen, while her husband was thus engaged) reipained in Lon-
don, and resided chiefly at the Tower. The suite of apartments where
the queens of England had previously kept their state at Westminster
liaTing been lately d/estroyed by Are, the royal palace of the Tower was,
in (act, the only metropolitan residence at which Marguerite could so^
jouni.' During the summer succeeding the queen's bridal, her court at the
Tower was placed almost under quarantine, owing to the breaking out
of a pestiienee, remarkable for its infections nature. From the writings
of Gaddesden, court physician at this time, we come to the conclusion
thai this was the smaU-pox, imported by Edward I.'s crusade from
Syria.

AAer this summer, queen Marguerite spent the principal part of her
time, like her predecessor, Eleanora of QistiUe, following the camp of
king Edward : and when the ferocious contest he was carrying on in
Scotland made her residence in that kingdom too dangerous, she kept
court in one of the northern counties. Edward set out, with his queen
and his eldest son, in April 1300, and, taking his route through Lincoln-
shire, crossed the Humber into Yorkshire, and left the queen at Brother-
ton ; a village on the banks of the Wherfe in Yorkshire. Here that
prince was bom, from whom the noble family of Howard is directly
descended, and in whose right the head of that house bears the honour
of earl marshal of Enriand. Marguerite gave birth to prince Thomas
on the 1st of June. The queen had made rich offerings to the shrine
of Canterbury, previously to the birth of her in&nt ; and she named
him Thomas, after the favourite English saint'

"The king Md her not nay,
But come to tbo north countrie,
Unto Birothorton on Wherfo,
Then was she
Mother of a ton, tfast ehild hif^t,

* When the king heard my
She had to well /ens (&red)

Thither he went away
To see her and her bairn.

** The queen, with her son,
At Cawood leaves he,
And oft he came on Ouse
Her to y-aee." *

bed." Her whole retinue coniisted of three men, three maids, and three grey-
hoanda. She was allowed withal fish and game, and the fkirest house on the
manor. AU this olemency is accounted for by the fact that Robert Brace's father
liad been, in the onmdet, the companion in arms and dear friend of king Ed-
ward. In a bond still extant for forty pounds lent by Edward to the elder
Bruce, the king styles him his beloved bachelor. When Edward advanced in
yestrs be grew fierqer, and, forgetting the affections of his youtliful days, hanged
the younger sons of his old fhend, Alexander and Thomas de Bruce. — &t Fw-

' Before Marguerite took up her abode at the Tower, king Edward took the
pMcaulioa of issuing his royal mandate to the civic authorities, in which, after
ialormiDg them, ** that his beloved companion the queen would shortly sojourn
in the Tower of London, he ei\|oins that no petitioner fVom the city should pre-
sume 10 appxoaeh that spot, lest the person of the queen be endangered by the
contagion being brought fh>m the infected air of the city." This order is dated
fnm Cariisls. Jans 88th. "YsarBookof Edwaxd L • (^an qI \aA«cA.

10*

n* HAItOL'ERITE OP FSkSCB. ^^|

The young queen was stationeJ at Cowood Castle, a insgniliceni jmIs
of feudal grandeur, being a coiin try -seal belonging to ihe arclibishonnr.
seven miles from York. King Edward often came there down ihe Ouie
lo see her and her infant. Here Marguerite chiefly abode-,' till the yesT
1304. Her husband then considered Scotland subdued from tea lo Ms,
and as completely prostrate as the principBlily of Wales ; npon "kkh
he sent for his young queen to behold hia triumph, and lo keep Chmt
mas at Dunfermline,

Piers of t^ngtofi declares there was much danger in her joumifv ;
for though Scotland vaa appnrenily subdued, the woods and hig-liirav!
swarmed with armed men, who would not come in and submit lo ilie
conqueror. Thus irreverently doea thai time-«erving historian ding of»
hero, whose memory lias been embalmed, by the justice of more morlem
ages. Speaking of the danger of ihe royal Marguerite's journey to
Dunfermline, he aays ;

" Bui tho lord of Bodenocb,
PrBser, nnd Wallitce.
Lived al tliieTei Intr,
And robbed all the wafa.
Tbey linil di
Tlie

" By that Ibe wni wb» em (ended),

Winter was three year,

To Dunfermeline he wont,

For ro« will he there.

For the qoeon ho hdi,

And ihe did diglil her eheer ;

From CbwixkI >1ie Weill But lived upon chance,

To Sunfermeliiie lo fare. And robtied nye betwevn."

Scotland, at the lime when queen JMarguerite kept hei couH, lilt
Christmas of 1304, at high Dunfermline,' seemed to lie bleeding at iht
feel of Edward; every fortress had surrendered excepting Stirling Gmlf.
from whose unconquered heights the Royal Lion of Scotland still floaud
in the national banner.

Marguerite and Edward kept iheir royal state at Dunfermline until the
Idst fatal wound was supposed to be inHicted on Scotland, by the tts-
chcroua capture of Wallace, and the fall of Stirling. Lexving Lonl
Scgrave, commander at DunfermUne, Edward and his queen comnMiKCd
ihi^ir celebrated triumphal progress homeward to England. Wbeiixr
Edward brought Wallace in chains with him in this triumphtd pngnmf

I cannot be precisely determined, but bis cruel execuiion waa (he HO*
nieneemcnt of the high festivities, held by Edward and his yonof tpiM
at Westminster, lo celebrate the conquest of unhappy ScotUmd.*
' For aeven years, at lliis juneture, the courts of King'* Bench and die Elfl*
quer were held at York, to be near the royni court — VValaiaiAam.
' Among the iciuitf noiicei of the leiidenco or the queen '■ oourt at Ihaitim'
line, lliere is in tlie household book of EUlwarJ La pnymifat of rony shllluipB
John, the young ton of John the boilis; a* boy bishop in the cbapal of Dw-
fermline, and forty ■hillingB lo Nicbolas, the valet o( Ihe eorl bT CIsBt H
b'inging the news of ihe dereal of Sir Simon Fnuei and William Waltan;'
KoppHsDWe, by Latimer, Segrave, and Cliflbrd.
* A iradilion of Carlisle exist* vhich points out the arch of the otnle piumwt
U the spot where Wallaco passed a night manacled in hit cart, daring his WW
proKreas thnnigh £ugland. This ciTcumelonca favmirs the suppoaitioa ibar ^
was brought in the royal train, and thai room could not be round in Ae tatOl >
'odga the fbrlom pritonei.
* We heit subjoin llie commencnncDl ot i. ifsat, of la^iOMsi

MARaVBRtTE OP PHANCK. 115

While the «trocirtua execution of Wallace was perpetraled, (lueen Mur-
goerile and her eourl were making preparations for the grandest limrna-
■nent e»er celebmtej in Kngtanil since, aa the chronklere declare, tlie,
daye of king Anhur's round table. On new-year's day, 1306, this
lournament was held si Westminster Palace, where prince Edward
nceived knighthood, and was invested with Ihe principaliiy o( Wales ;
tirn hundred young nobles were knigliled, and two of the lung's grand-
dan^hters inarried or beirothed.

The fesiivul of Si. JoIid the Baptist, the same year, was likewise kept
with ^rand ceremonial. Among ihe parliamentary rolls we meet the
loDowing Tnnnoranda of this event. " Thomas de Frowick, goldsmith
of l.ondon, pmya king Edward for the payment of 221. lOj. for a circlet
of fold made for Marguerite qtieen of England, to wear on the feast of
Si. John the Baptist" This goldsmith had previously made a rich crown
for the queen, and by the orders of the king left his bill with John de
Chesm and his fellows, who had neglected it, and being injured by the
delav, he prays the king, in 1306, "' for God's sake and the soul of hts
ftiher. kin^ Henry, to order payment ;" he is answered " that he may
^e his bill \n the King's Exchequer, adding to it the charge for certain
caps and Taie«, which he had likewise made, and the clerk of the Ex-
chequer ihould pay him 440/. in part of his bill. Thus we find that
<|onn Mir{^erite was prnvi(]«l with a Rplenitid state erawn, though Bh«
«■■ w.rer crowned ; a ceremony prevented by the poverty of the
<Miii I n Marguerite is ihe lir!<t queen, since the conqtiest, who was not
wleinnljr crowned and anointed.

Qucf-n Mai^erile's beanliful sister, Blanche, duchess of Austria, died

',"■ riose of 1305. Early in the succeeding year, prayers for

■-■-■ I'ommanded by king Edward lo be solemnly observed by

'!■ of Canterbury, because "she was the dear sister of his

=' irl, queen Marguerite." The king certainly bore no malice

r:-r Qii^ [ifrlidy of his fomier love, doubtless, being convinced that he

ViJ eliMnged for the better.

Pram the royal household -books may be gleaned a few particulars of
ikt English court arrangements at this lime. The king's state ship was
oiled, in compliment to ihe queen, " the Margaret of Westminster ;*' it
iotm not seem a ship of war, but a sort of royal yacht, in which the
kioc made his voyages, when he went to the continenl.

Ill* queen allowed her chief minstrel, who was called Guy of the
hoi wry, a stipend of 28«.; he rec«ived bmtehe of court (or board at
CDVTt), and had the use of ihree horsea when the queen was in progress

I
I

Lbettl

r laos.

iraie Ibe Mvago and unjust muidi
of their uncomli spelling.
— From ihe Harli * '""

lib leil«n and with Efvei,
Vkliace wai j drawn,
From ibe Tower of London,
Thai Dianjr might know ;
In ■ kirtls at bonel,*

'CoatTM ciDtb.

I spelling. Ii if ■ ipBcimrin of Edj;- ^^H

lelnn MSS., Tol. 61, Bril. MuMiun. ^H

Sclcoulli wise ^^|

Through Chepe, ^H

And a gailand on hi* hmul of lh« ^^M

□ewait guiie. ^^M

«tb. ^M

r

I

I

IIP MABOUGItlTE OF FRANCS.

Gu; of Paahery ofteu received gratuities from king Edward, who wis.
as well OS his young queea,' o lover or music and the Bae arts, and frv-
quenlJy encounigeil their professors, as may be seoii by diese uiicla of
hi« expeiulilure : — To Meliorn, ihe harper of Sir Jolm Mauliaten, fix
playing OD the harp while the king was bled, 20*. ; likewise to Waha
Luvei, the harper of Chichester, whom ilic king found playisg on \ai
harp before the tomb of Si. Richard, at Chichester cubearal, 61. 9i,
To John, the orgaoist of the earl of Wareone, for playing befoK iht
liiflg, 'iOs.'

The queen s;«ve birth at Woodstock, in the thirtieth year of her boi
baud's reign, to her second son, prince Edmund, who was afiervank
the nnforiunate earl of Kent. About this time ** iwenty-eii piecta of
dimity were giveu out liom the kind's wardrobe stores to maks ijwio
Marguerite a feaiher bed,' and cushioua for her cliarreite."

Instead of finding the national rolls and records burdened with aauitt
of oppressive esacliona made by ilie ijueen-consort, aa in the csar of
Cleanur of Provence, it is pleasant to observe tlutt Marguerite^s chontidJt
kindness pervades these memorials, seen by few, and by atiU fewM i|i-
preciuted. In the exchequer rolls exist many requlaitiuiia Iron ihi
queen, ordering that debtors, for fines due to her, may be panloBad ite
debts, and more llinii one petition '^ thai debtors of her dear lord it
king may have tine extended or he excused." One of these royal N^
^cntiuns is curious, and proves that the queen and her two Utile MM
Thomas and Edmund, pievailed on king Edward to panlon their dsv
friend, the lady Margaret Howuj'd,' a debt owed by that lady U Ac
crown.

Aa prince Thomas, liie eldest son of queen Marguerite, wna oojyiii

'UouieliolJ Bwk ot EJw. U p[>. 7— S>5,

' Veij ilifferenl is luiolher euliy in Ibe eipensei or the iDUi)f-l»tiii( haa
■To seven women meeiiiig ihe king on ibe rotul between Gask snil ruiilsH
and singing belbre him u ihey hod been BccuiKimeil 10 do in the iiar cf tls|
Alexander, 3>." Small in proponion ia (lie beneliuticia Iwauweil bif III* ^
quwing Edward on thew Saotch songnreuw, who miobi have tuogHwIadMsai
an him in tlieii dialect, Ibi auelil tm kosw to tliH couuary, Wbila aoiM Ml
Mulpuue had aliainod s«ne d^tea o( perfeciion in Englaud ai tlut tiniKO**
aru snd Kiencei were in a tuange slate or barbarous i^iuiiaace. Tbe etrUM
notice of lacdlcal praoUce is to be lound, at ihi« era, in ibe I.alin Work nt Oat
desden. pliyaiciaa at Ibe oonrt of queen Marguerite. This learned dcME^fr
(cribing bis traattnentof prirkoe Edward in the amatl-pm, Ihuaiteclarw IiiBOidi
of pnciice: "I ordered dia prince 10 be enveloped in soails) eluih. and ibMU
bed and all the liuaiture of bis cbambcr should be of a brigtil rod laltM
which practice ool odI/ cured bim, but pievenled his being marked." Ibaalr
good luck iljtui good maoBxeiocct ; uuuedlj', it may bo luppoaisJ that Gativ
dan wUhed Id uare the red i nflammaiion of the amsjl'pox out of oousneaias^k
hii glare of scarlet teBeciionsI He add> in hi* Bon Anglaiuia, dm "Imm^
the Knit or Ihe nobletl bouse* in England wiib ihc reil sj-aif m, and nads pl^
cure* nr bIL" In this cLildisb *ta.te was the noble art of beBlingat A* lawlff
Maicuchlo. * Houaehold Book t£ Edwaiil I

'"Hie name iiipelled Bcmrarifia the French; the ordur Was aeni Iiy dit^n
to Ihe baroni of (he Exchequer. (Madoi'i Hiiiory of ihH Exoboqisa.l ^
Jad/ Margaie: Howaid was a widow, and Ihe debt soma aopj^aU tarn.

XARGUSRITE OF FRANCS. 117

years old, and the in&nt Edmund much younger, it may be judged who
|>rofnpted the young petitioners, and how the queen must have made the
caresses of her infants work on the heart of their great father.

^ To the honourable father in God, Walter, bishop of Chester, trea-
surer to our lord, king, and father, Edmund son of the king, salutes in
;reat love. As our dear lady, madame the queen, has required, we
would that you would grant to our good friend ma dame Marguerite,
late wife of Monsieur Robert llereward, the remission of her debt.
Written at Northampton, June 15.^'*

Prince Thomas and the queen each wrote letters to the same efiect,
that their good friend may be spared her payment to the exchequer.

Marguerite of France is the first instance of a queen consort of Eng-
land, who ventured to stand between a mighty Plantagenet in hui wrath,
and his intended victim. We leam^ by tlie statement contained in an
act of pardon by Edward I., that Godferey de Coigners ^ had committed
the heavy transgression and malefaction of making the coronal of gold
thai crowned the king's rebel and enemy, Robert de Brus, in Scotland,
and that he had secretly hidden and retained this coronal till a fitting
occasion, but that these treasonable doings had since been discovered
tod convicted by the king's council.'^ No doubt, Godferey the gold-
mith would have been dealt with, according to the tender mercies shown
to Wallace and Eraser, if he had not found a friend in queen Margue-
lile ; ^ for," says Edward I., ^ we pardon him solely at the intercession
of our dearest consort. Marguerite queen of England.'^'

The citizens of Winchester were likewise deeply indebted to queen
Haiguerite, whose beneficent interference relieved them from the terrible
Consequences of king Edward's displeasure. To the mayor of Win-
chester had been confided the safe keeping of Bernard Pereres ; a hostage
of some importance, whom the city of Bayonne had delivered to the
king, as a pledge of their somewhat doubtful loyalty. Bernard made
his escape. On which king Edward stenily commanded his sheriff of
Hampshire to seize upon Uie city of Winchester, and to declare its
liberties void; thus reducing the free citizens to the state of feudal
villeins. The mayor he loaded with an enormous fine of 300 marks,
«nd incarcerated him in the Marshalsea till it was paid. In despair, the
Winchester citizens appealed to the charity of queen Marguerite. She
recollected that when she was first married she had been received at
Winchester, with the most affectionate demonstrations of loyalty; more-
over, she remembered that her husband had given her a charter, which
entitled her to all the fines levied from the men of Winchester. Armed
\rith this charter, she went to her loving lord, and claimed the hapless
Unyor and his fine as her pergonal property. Slie then remitted half the
fine ; took easy security for the remainder, and set the mayor at liber^;
nor did she cease pleading with her consort, till he had restored to Win-
chester the forfeited charters.'

During her husband's absence in Scotland, queen Marguerite retired

■ Folio ii. 1048. * Rymer's FcDdeia.

Milner'i Hiatoij of Winohester, ftom the Trustel MS.

H

I

I

118 HABCCERITE OF FRANCE. ^|

rorMcnriiy lo Winchester, wherp she wsa deserredly belovfd; (i^fufc
gnre birlh lo s princess — her ihinl. bui the king's Bixteeiiih riiiW. V»
infunl was called Eleanora, afi^r Edward^s first qucm snd htf ditf
dughter, who waa deccawd m thai time. Shf dird in a fem montiu.

Before king Edward rwiched the Scottish bonier he fell ill, m Barfi
on Sands. He gurrived a firvr days, till the prince or Wales ramr up
with the remaining forces, time enough to recfire his tasl comnnftK
which breathed implacable fury against the Scots. The dying wamof,
moreover, commanded his son "lobe kind lohis little brothera Thoow
and Edward, and, abore all, lo treat with respect and tenderiKM b
mother, queen Margneriie," While Edward 1. remained unburwd, IWi
was paid by his treosorer, John de Tunford, for the expenses of the nni
widow.'

*■ The May, queen Marguerite," was married lo Edward in hw •pto-
teentli year; notwiihstatuling the disparity of their ages, lh« iari
happily during a wwilock of eiglit years. The chroniclers of Enijluid
record no fault or folly of queen Marguerite ; nothing exists to cootik-
diet the assertion of Piers, that the was "' good wiihoutra lack." aaJ ■
worthy successor to Eleanora of Cuaiille.

Like Adelicia of LouTnine, the queen of Henry I., Sfargnerile k'pl »
chronicler to record the actions of her great lord. He was itsmrd Jfta
o' London, (not a very diatinciive appellntioo -) but a» we have fim a
persona] sketch of Eijward in his youth, we add a portmit of hiM,ia
advHnced life, drawn tinder the superintendence of his royal widow.

" His head spherical ; (this is the serond instance in which w»hl«
found that the chroniclers of the middle ogea notice (be funn of ite
head ;) his eyes ronnd, gentle and dnve-like when plettsed. bat fiorn H
n lion's, and sparkling with fire, when h« was distatbed ; his hsir mf,
his nose prominent, and rebed in the middle ; his chest brrwd, luf uat
agiie, his limbs long, hie feet arched, his body firm and fleahy, boi m»
I'al. lie was so strong Bad active, llial be coold leap inu> his iwldle bt
merdy patting his hnnd on it. Passionately (bnd of hauling, be m
ung^cd with his dogs and falcons when n<M in war. He wfts 9cblna JD,
and neither lost his teeth nor was his sight dimmed with ate. He n>
temperate ; never wore his crown after the coronation, uiinking il i
burdcD \ he went about in the plain garment of a citizen, exoqkinf m
ilsys of festival." " What could 1 do more in royal robes, bther, i^h
in this plain gabardine Y" said Edward once to a bishop, who fBM»-
strateil with him on his aitire as unkingly,'

How so elegantly proportionetl a man as Edward I. came to be •«■
named Longahaaks has been a question to all writers, since the opmiif
of th« stone sareophagua in Westminster Abbey, when the body o( i*«
great warrior and legislator was found of just and fine propoflions. w^
out any undue length of legi ; his stature was six feet two rorbv, &■•
skull to heel. Ji appears that the insulting epithet, Longshanks. mi>
tohriqitel given by an infensed enemy, and first took its rise (na »
satirical song, sung by the Scots, when Edward laid siegn to BctbhU

HAKOIJESITE OF FRA

119

1 ot Scoiland.' Edwan) In
incensed at this song, ihal when iie bod slonneil
Btmriek he puc everr living soul to the sword, to the number of four
thonssnd persons, in this siege he tUspIayed the fine horsemanship for
which he was noted.

" Wbni did kinK Edwatdl
r.'ei lie liud none like,

Besides this steed Bsysrd. another colled Grey Lyard ie celebralcd in
the hdrons' waT«,n one on which he ever « charged forward;" likewise
h>9 horse Ferrauni, '^ black as a raven, on whose back, though armed in
prooC Sire Edward eould leap over any chain however high."* No
eheratier of his day was so renowned for noble hoTsemanship as this
most accomplished monarch. Yel it is certain, that b1! which finally
ntnain^d, from his ambiiious war in Scotland, was the insulting tobriquet
of Lmfishanks.

The original MS. of the queen's chronicler, John o' London, is a great
cnnoaity. li is written in Latin on vellum, very finely and legibly
praaed^ and ornamented with initial letters, illuminated with gold and
eokturs ; the centres of the most of these are aafinished, and the manu-
■lipl ilMlf is a fragmenl. The de-scription of Edward's pterson is accom-
faiued by an odd representation of his face, in the midst of an initial
Inter. The features bear the same cast as the portraits of llie king ',
tbrre is the small haughty mouth; the severe penetrating eyes, and the
long straight nose ; the king is meant to be shown in glory, but the head
H sorrouiided with three tiers of most suspicious -looking flames. Mow-
CTCT. such as it is. it doubtless satisfied the royal widow, to whom the
»ofk was dedicated. " The noble and generous matron, Margareia, by
the gmcir of God, queen of England, invites all men to hear these pages."
The plan of the oration is to describe the doleful bewailings of all sorts
mmI eundilions of persons for the loss of the great Edward. Of course,
4m lameniaiion of the royal widow holds a distinguished place in the
te^mtmontUi. it commences thus : " The lamentable commendation of
Harnreia, the queen. Hear, ye isles, and attend my people, for is any
wBow like unto my sorrow ? Though my head wears a crown, joy is
Anut fmm me, and 1 listen no more to the sound of my cithara' and
sifBiu. I mourn ineeasantly, end am weary of my existence. Let all
Mnkwil hear the voice of my tribulation, for my desolation on our

^

"Hunflte king Edwaid

" Wbal wcniih kiag Edward wiih his Ions sbB"!^
To wia Berwick with all our unltuuUu,
Gaei pyke him
AnJ when he has hit,
Gael dike him."

[Jdditiimt U Botm o/ GlMifrtlir.)

I

Meaning the chains used in dcfeniii

*

I

ISO MARCLEKITE OP FRAKCE.

esnh is comjJete." • • • The queen's chronicler proceeds
liie lament for Saul and Jonathan ; at lengih he remeuiben ibe rojti
Maiguerite by adding, " Al the Toot nf Edward'a mounmeni, with m;
little fluns, 1 weep and call upon him. Whoa Edward died, all ncs
died to me."

These lamentationa for a husband more than seventy, from a widow
Iwenty-six, seem a tilile exaggerated; yet the after>life of the tojt
Marenerile proved their sincerity.

Although queen Marguerite appeared in pnblic earlier than was dmhI,
for the etiquette of royal widowhood in the fourieeatli cenluiy, il wm
in obedience to the dying comn»nda of her royal lord, whose heart m
«ei on a French alliance. Soon aftei her husband's death site weal to
Boulogne with her ^on-in-law, and assisted al his marriage with bs
niece Uabellu.

After she returned lo England she lived in reiiremeat, spending bit
magniliceni dower in acts of charity, and in the encouragemeat of U^
lorians and architects. While she lived, her niece, queen k&bdb, M ■
virtuoua and respectable life. Marguerite did not survive to aea Ac
infamy of this near relative, or the domestic wretchedness of her W^
son, with whom she had always lived on terms of affection and aniisr.

Marguerite is the first queen of England who bore her arms with ihoN
of her husband, in one scutcheon ; lier seal is aflixed to the pwdoo d
John de Dalyeng, which pardon she liad procured of her aon-ii>-4aVt il
the ninth year of his reign. We trace the life of this beneficent qiBifr
dowager, by her acts of kindness and mercy.'

Qrieeo Marguerite's principal residence was Marlborough Casdl^M
the borders of the forest of Saveroake ; it was there she died at tJH
early age of ihirty-«ix, on the 14th of February, 1317. King Gdavri
II. 's household-book has the following entry relative to this evnit "Sari
by the King's order, to be laid upon the body of the laily Mai){wnto
late queen of England, by the hands of John de Hauled, at Msd-
borougli, the Slh of March, two pieces of Lucca cloth."'

Also at the place of its final destination, the Grey Friar«, vuions olbe
pieces of Lucca cloth were to be laid on her body, at the expense of ^
king. She was buried at the Grey Friars church, the magnificent tn^
turn which she had principally founded;' her body was buried bdiai
the high altar, wrapped in the convenlutd robe of the Franciseaiu.

The splendid monument mised to the memory of ihie *

■ThcM-al is of ted Wi
own Qciu-de-lis on llie I
lizBui-e.— See Saad/ard, p. 130.

* LuTftt cloth was tLD ItaliBn mBnnfBctuieorsitk itriped with Bold ; oaajraM
moTMlolha were proTid»d by Edward 11^ lo ihow his respect for hi* ilsp !■■>'
er'* luetDorjr. Tbese rich palli were tlic fee* of the offiaiaiiag prion, al VKf
ottuich where the royal corpse rested on iu piogien to its place of Mpolna*

•Stow. Shebegau ihectioii' in 130G, and finisbed it in her widowhmd. Ai
leR by bet will one hundied marks to this church. This Ibundaliaa is ss*
Clirist Charch, Newgate. Part o( Maiguerite'i origiml buildinK la lbs eloV*

MAROrEBtTE OP FRATfCE. 121

mtaun tns destroyed by ihe acquiBJiifeness of Sir Martin Bowes, lord
BMyor, in the rei^n of queen Elizabeth, when the Grey Friars' church
was mnde parochial ; he, to the indignation of the aniiquBry Slow, solil
queen Har^erite's tomb and nine others of royal personages, logeiber
with a nnmher of grave-Btones, for fifty pounds.

Marguerite left her iwo sona joint executors to her will. Edward I(.
mpowered his dearest brothers, " ThomoB eiarl of Norfolk, earl marshal,
nd Edmund erf' Woodstock, co-execulois, by the testament of our molher
of good memory, Marguerite, late queen of England, to execute the raid
ttstament, and to have all ^ods and chattels that belonged to the said
queen ; and all her com on her manors, whether housed or growing
green in the earth; from the 14th day of February last, when she died,
1318. They are to receive all debla due to the queen-dowager, and pay
what she owes, according to her will." ' The troubles of the reign of
Edward IL prevented the debts of the widow of his father from oeing
paid ; a* we find the following petition concerning them. In the eighth
;nr of Edward [II., there is a petition to Parliament,' from Thomas,
earl of Norfolk, marshal of England, and executor of the testament of
ifuepn Mai^erite, his mother, praying, " that the king will please lo
gnmi of his good grace, that the debts of the deceased queen may be
fofthwith paid by his exchequer, according to the order of King Edward
IIt whom God aasoil,"

Qiieen Marguerite is Ihe ancestress of all our English nobUity, bearing
die great name of Howard ; the hononre of her son Thomas'planloge-
net, earl marshal, were carried into this family, by his descendant, ladv
Mwgaret Mowbray, marrying Sir Robert Howard. The Howards,'
Aniugh this queen, unite the blood of St. Louis with that of ihe mighti-
f» of llie Plantagenet monarchs. The heiress of her second son, £d-
mnnd earl of Kent, married first Sir Thomas Holland, and then Edward
ib« bl>«k prince : through her this queen was ancestress of tlie nobility
•ho bore the name of Holland; which family became extinct in tM
■m of the Roses.

'IV(tianieauiT7 Bolls. 'Ibid,

'Smna of i!ie mon iliualrious chEiracters among rhe English nobility, boih u
lURiti anil warriors, bavo belonged id tliis ramil/. Sii disiiact bnuicliea of iha
dxal ItmUy of Howard, devendann of queen Marguerila and Edwud I., are
inc. Firstlj-, the Norlblk line, repteeented by Bemud Edward, duke of
Secondly, the elder line of Sud^lk and Betk>bire, repteieiiled by die
t. Greville Howard, heireis of Cnstio Rising, Lcven's Hal], &«. Jbc
M jouDger line of Suffolk, icptesenied by Thorr.aa, earl of Suffolk and
Fourthly, the Carlisle line, icpre«enled by George, earl of Carlisle.
I", flje Coiby line, whose teptewnlBlive wai Henry Howard, otq^ of Corby
, auUtor of llie Howsid MemoriBta, Tb» patriarch of the Cailitle and
Coif luancbea wai the celablated lord William Howard, niinamed "Belieb
Will," grandaon of the illuitriaui Bail of Surrey, bebeaded by Henry VIIL In
a of Catliile and Corby. Ihs literary lastea of their renowned anoeaun
T«d. SdiUily, the EfBngbani tine, whose repreaenlatiTe is Kenneth Alei-
all of Efflnghaui, ibe dcsueadant of ihe admiral who defeated the

I «U«tauic.

mtf- **

1

A

ISABELLA ^F FRANCE, 1

eUKNAMBD THX FAIB.

QDEEH OF EDWAHD II.

I

CHAPTER i.

InbellA) paicnlafiK — Boilj parenu teig

Itj (lie piiiuis or Waieii — Her great beiuly — Her maniage — it

— Sails /or Eugland wiih Edward IL — Snintnoin for [adiei ij

DoTur — Her wardrobe — Her coronadon — PeBrt

Sltgtiis oSered lo Isibella — Queau'i ooiiiplaiiil»— ReTFnues — Her potmluitf—

Her jaaloua)' of Gaveilun — Ci*il w>i — Queen's charily — M»]nli» poa nl

buoo* — fiirlh of he> eldeit too — Fieienu lo hei KrTuiis — Qur«a(»> t,

Fraoce wiih the king — Eeuim — Obtajna ajuiiesty — Cunjagsl happtni " '

of her eecond aoji — Queen's cliurcbing robe — Birth of h«r eldeii A

Gifta ID queen"a nurse and aeivmita — Kings grants lo Isabella— M—

Ht Brotherton — Roger Mortimer — Queen ■(pilgrimageloCBnt.-ilMi- —

of lady Bedlesniero — Indignation of the queen — She exeitej i

Bircb of princeu Joanna in the Tawei— Queen Isabella'* rii :

wilb Mortimer — Hei influence witJj the king — Mortinwi'a

— Queeo'a jealaugy of lite Despenceii — Dt^priied of her tevenuei — HtM S

^rrants disiniBsed — Complaints to Uer broitiei — EsUnngeuieiit AT It

bobella mediatrix with France.

8t\CE the days of ihe fair and false ElTrida, of Saxon celrf
(jueeti of England has left so dark a slain on ihe annals of fniia!«
ally, as ilie consort of Edward II., Isabella of France. Sh^ wai ihi
eleventh queen of England from Ihe Nomian Conquest, and with ibf
exception of Judith, the consort of Ethelwolph, a prinr-ess of higbtr
rank ihan had ever espoused a king of England. She was ihf ol^nis{
of a marriage between Iwo sovereigns ; Philip le BeJ, kin^ of Vnaa
aiid Jane, queen of Navarre. Three of her brothers, Louis le Hiitie<
Philip le Long, and Charles le Bel, successively wore the royal imAai
of France.

Isabella was bom in the year 1295, and, when but four years old, he
name was included in the twofold mairimonial treaty whicli Ceot&tjit
Joinviltc, as the envoy of Edward I., negotiated between iJist aoMlit
and Ihe princess Marguerite, sister of the king of Fnutce, uul the pliW
»f Wales, with the princess Isabella his dauirhler.

By the marriage articles it was covenanted, that Philip le Bd WifM
give his daughter a portion of e^hlecn thousand nouDtls, tai itMit
was to suecccd lo the dower which Edward 1. seitled on his tHriiKll'
ptinoeaa Marguerite, her

(IB)

^P ISABELLA OP FRA!)CI. 123 '

A 9oleina act of beiratluneiil took place ai Paris, in the yrar 1303,'
wlien the pope's dif>pen«alioa Tor ihia utiiou was publislied. The count
of Savoy and ihe earl of Lincoln, as ilie procuraiiire of Edward piince
ot Waled, affianced the youug priucces, on hia pan, in the jiresence of
her illiistiious jwrenta, Philip IV. of France, atid Jane, queen of Fmnce
and N'DTsrre. The lady Isubella received the Iroth of her future lortl,
Ettwanl, son of the king of England, from the hand of PereGJIl, ilie
archbishop of ITarboiine. It appears tiiai the young princess signified
her assent to (he /narrioge, by pulling her liand iti Iliat of Pere Gill, oa
Cvndilion that all the articles of ilie treaty were duly performed. She
was then nine years old,"

Edn'ard [. was so ilesirous of this alliance, that among his denih-bed
injuncliona to his heir, he charged ikim, on his blessing, to complete hia
cnngeinent with Isabella. This was, in truth, the only command of hia
dying aire to which Edward II. thought proper to render obedience.
Such was his haate to comply with a mandate whicli happened to be in
accordance with bis own inclinatioo, tliat before the obsequies rtf his
dee«a9n! kine; and father were performed, he dispatched the bishops of
Durluuo and Norwicli, witli the earls of Lincoln and Pembroke, to the
court of France, to appoint a day foi the solemnization of his nuptials.

The i«i>ort of the personal cbarius of hts intended bride, had indeed
(utdi! so lirely an impreEsioa on ihe iiiitid of Edwud II., iliai he is
itpnwched by the chroniclers of his reign with having lost liie kingdom
nf Scotland, through his impatience to complete his marriage with her.'
TTIvrn he was apprised that all the arrangements for hia marriage wert
OMicludcd, though perfectly aware that his recognition, as king of Scot-
land, depended on his remaining there till tiie importaut affiiirs which
nqniird his presence were selued, he treated every consideiation of
puilical expediency with lover-like contempt, and hasted to the fitlliU
nent «f his conimct witli the royal beauty- There was the lees catise
(or such unreasonable liasle, since the lair Isabella had scarcely com-
j4etej her thirltieuih year at the time of her espouBala.

Great preparations were made at Westminster Palace tor the reception
of ihe young queen. The loyal apartments, which had been burnt
down in the preceding teign, and had been rebuilt, were completed and
furnished', the gardens were new turfed and Irelissed, the fish-ponds
•rcn drvwn and cleaned, and a sort of pier jutting into the Thames,
allrd tlic Q.ueen's Bridge, was repaired. The royal ship called the
Xat^garct of U'ealniinsler, woe, with her boats and ba^s, entirely cleaned
nd bautiGed. Various butleriea and waidrobes were constructed in
the «e«ei, not only by the command, but according to the device of the
kiof bimsetf, for his expected queen's accommodation.' After appointing
lii> recalled favourite. Piers Gaveston, guardian of tiie teahn, Edwartl
■lied, early on Monday morning, January 22, 1308, accompanied by
bia molher-in-law, queen Marguerite, to meet bis bride. He landed at

I
I

■ Bf luirr'i F(e<l>i'rB, vol. ii. p. 93S. 'Rymci'i Frxdeta.

•AiMwl* ut »l Anguiun. Baiiio. WKUJngliaiD.
■Sng'lejr aod BriiioD s Wauny of (be Palace of Weitmiu

iBuucu ai j

L4,11«,M7. ^J

|u

OF PRANCE.

I

Boulogne, where Isabella had already arrifed with het myil nifiili
There king Edward performed homage for Guieniie and PoaUuey,W
Itiiig Philip.

The oeKt day, being ihe festival of the Conversion of Sl Paul, (hi
niipliab of Isabelia and her royal bridegroom were celebrated, in du
famous cathedral church ot Boulogne, with peculiar magniGccnoe. Tom
sovereigns, and as many qneens, graced the bridal with iheir pmeMt
These were the king and queen of France, the parents of the hridcj
Marie, queen dowagei of France, her grandmother ; Louis, king of S^
*arre, her brother, lo whom queen Jane, their mother, had rmigMiJ ifie
kingdom she inherited ; the king and queen of tlie Romans, the kinf of
Sicily, and Marguerite, queen dowager of England, IsabeUa^s auiiL Tim
archduke of Auatria was also present, and the most numerous asaeniUy
oi' princes and nobility thai had erer met together on such an octanOL
The dowry of the bride was provided from the spoils of the hiplw
Knighls Templars, who had been recently tortured, plundered, and mtt*
dered, by her father.' Like most ill-gotlen gains, this mouey bj no
means prospered in the spending.

The beauty of the royaJ pair, whose nnpiiala were celebrated with &a
exiniordinary splendour, excited the greatest odmiralion ; for the bride-
groom was ihe handsomest prince in Europe, and the precocious chanu
of the bride hail already obtained for her the name of Isabella the Fsit.'
^Vho of all the royal and gallant company, wimesses of tliese espowib.
could have believed their fatal termination, or deemed that the epitlMlW
She-Woif of France could ever have been deserved by l)ie bride?

High feasts and tournaments were held for several days afier dK
espousals, at which the nobility of four royal courts assisted. Tlac
festivities lasted nearly a fortnighL Edward and Isabella wcte ni»oi«d
on the 3&th of January, and on the 7th of February they embarked hi
England, and landed at Dover the same day. There is, in the Fiedni,
a copy of the summonses that were sent to Alicia, the wife of RofB
Bigod, earl of Norfolk, the countess of Hereford and other noble ladks,
by the regent, Piers Gaveston, in the king's name, appointing tlieni U
be at Dover on the Sunday after the Purification of ilie Virgin Mary. W
receive the newly-wedded queen, and lo attend her on her prognM te
Westminster.*

The king and queen remained at Dover two days, where Pter* Ga-
veston joined lliem. The moment the king saw him, he flew to bin,
fell on his neck, and called him ■'brother^"* conduct which gnul*'
displeased the queen and her uncles. From Dover the royal parly frtr
ceeded to Elthara, where they remained till the preparations were eo*-

?leted for the qotonation. Two of Isabella's uncles, Charle* covoi li
alois, and Louis de Clermont, count of Evreux, brothers of PhiUp 1'
Bel ;' the duke of Brabant, with the grand chamberlain of rraacc tei
many other nobles, came as guests to the coronation. This ceremuaitl

■De la Moot. p. 1. bitjili Miueum,

* Froisati sayi, aha wai one of lh« gteateal biantiea in the woticL

ISABELLA OF FRAIICE. 125

K>aed till Quinquagesima Sunday, February 25th, one monUi
nuptials of the king and queen. The royal circular in the
ddressed by king Edward to his nobles, in which ^ he corn-
er attendance with their consorts at Westminster, to assist at
ition solemnity of himself and his consort, Tsabellti queen of

is the first royal summons in which the wives of the peers of
re included.'

•ung queen^s outfit was magnificent' She brought with her to
two gold crowns, ornamented with gems, a number of gold

drinking vessels, golden spoons, fiily silver porringers, twelve
T dishes, and twelve smaller ones. Her dresses were made of

silver stuff, velvet, and shot tafiety. She had six dresses of
th from the Douay, six beautifully marbled, and six of rose
isides many costly furs. As for linen, she liad 419 yards for
Jone ; she was likewise endowed with six dozen coifs — pro-
btcaps. She brought tapestry for her own chamber, figured in
of gold, with the arms of France, England, and Brabant.
Dg of France, on the occasion of his daughter's nuptials, had
imde his royal son-in-law a profusion of costly presents, such
, rings, and other precious articles, all of which Edward imme-
sstowed on his favourite. Piers Gaveston, whose passion for
8 insatiable.' Such conduct was peculiarly calculated to excite
•sure of a young girl, and Isabella naturally resented this im-
amsfer of her futher's munificent giAs, which she regarded as
Bt dower, and as heir-looms to her descendants,
obles took occasion of the anger manifested by the young
ainst the haughty fevourite, to signify to their sovereign, that
iveston were banished from the court, they would not attend
Niching coronation. Edward, alarmed at an intimation which
amounted to a threat of withholding their oaths of allegiance,

that everything should be arranged to their satisfaction, at the
It that was to meet directly afier his inauguration.
I coronation itself, fresh discords were engendered. Thomas,
sncaster, the son of Edward's uncle, Edmund Crouchback, bore
or the sword of mercy, and Henry of Lancaster, his brother,
I rod, surmounted with the dove. But the indignation of the
iceeded all bounds, when it was found that the king had assigned
id office of bearing St Edward's crown to his unpopular fa-
irho, on this occasion, was dressed more magnificently than the
I himself. This gave such ofience to one of the earls of the
jral,^ that nothing but the respect due to the young queen re-
turn from slaying him, within the sacred walls of the abbey,
rchbishop of Canterbury being absent from the realm at that

*• FoDders, vol. iii. p. 50.

e la Bibliotheque Roi, vol. xxxiv. The amount is stated b7 M. Raumefi

79 livres, but the articles enumerated would have cost a great deal

ess the Uvres meatit pounds sterling.

iw of Westminster. ^ Mills. OicM^.

!•

^crated and crowned by ibe biilMp

I

k

period^ ihe kins and queen
of Winehfisier.

So gKat wu the concourse of speclaiora
many serious &c>^idenla occurred, through ihc eager desire of the |>nniU
to obtain a eight of the beautiful young queen ; and a knight, air Jooa
Bakeweil, was Iroddcn to death.

Gaveslon had laken upon hiineelT the whole manageoieni of ibe to-
ronatioa ceremonial ; and eithei bis arrangements were made witb iiule
judgment, or liU directions were perversely disobeyed, for il u-a*,fraai
the cegiuiiing to the end, a scene of (he most provoking coufumm ui
diaonlei. Il was three o'clock before the consecralioD of ilie kin; ami

3ueen was over; and when we consider die sbortncsa of ibe wjoHl
tys, we cannot wonder al iJie &cl stated, Lhtit though there wu abuK
dance of provisions of everv kind, there wad not a morsel served upd
the queen's table before darL' The lateness of the dinner-hour apinn
to liave excited the indignation of llie hungry nobles, more ibM ibj
other of Gavesion's misdeeds that day. Tlie banquet w«s, jtuxtant,
badly cooked, and, when al last brought to table, ill served, and frw ■/ I
the usual ceremonies were observed, for the want of the proper <ificai
to oversee and direct In short, all classes were dissadefied and ootif
hiiinuur, especially the queen, on whom many slights nen poSlS
whether out of accident or wilful neglect is not sl«ted.* - '

Tlie French princes and nobles returned home, in a j
eiaeperation at ibe alTrouis which they considered their
received ; and Isabella herself sent a letter to the king ber biher^i
«omplaiiii« of her lord, and his all-powerful favourite, Gavesbig.*
had the elTecl of inducing Philip le Bel to slreu^hen tlie party of Iftr
discontented barons against Gtiveslon, with alt his miluence, auil gvn a
excuse to the French party for commencing those intrigiiea wbjck k^
niinated so fatally al last for Edward II.

King Edward was at that time in great pecuniar)- disiresv, lanf
empiied his treasury in giltd to Gaveston, so that he had not irhMF
wiiJial to pay his coronation eipenaes, nor to supply his household, ii
for his young queen, she was wholly without money, which cau«ed hs
great uneHsiness and disconlenL

Il is possible that if Isabella had been of an age more euitsUe to ^
o( tier husband, and of a less haughty temper, her beauty and tiloi
might have created a counter-influence to that of the Gascon liinMn
productive of beneficial efTecis ; but, at the period of his nuiraiQiB'
ward was in hie ihrec-and-tweniieih year, and evidently coaaidtMJ *
consort who was only entering her teens, as entitled to m very nttf

'Tlir king's lint ofleriog was a poi
Ving iioldinj^ a ring in hU tnnd. U
(bnn of a pilpira pulling Tonh his

" ■ k. U> BiTo it,for ihis dpTioB repre „....__

^■DDJTing the ring Irom Si.JuhD tbe ETmngduu in WbIUmid _.»,....» _.
Haverins-bowsr detJTetl its luuiia. Tliit *ery ring ii declued b}- mdiUos

.1 .:,^ ,i„g 1„, prBMiil majetir reoeivMl — ' — — - —

' WaJsingliatii.

jnd of sold, Auliioncd Id ihs likt^MSf*
is second was (igUl ooiwn of pM. fa A*
liaad lo take the ring, dt raUwt. wr tttii
•n\ed tlio IvKeitdor E^witnl tha Cu^"*

ISABELLA OF FRANCE. 127

ihgrae of allention, either as a queen or a wUe. Isabelk was, however,
pcnectJy aware of llie importance oT her poaiiion in the English court;
and even hail she been as childish io mind as she was in age, she wae loo
eloMly aUied in blood to the greai leadere of ihe disamcted jieers of
England^ Tlionias earl of l^ncasier, and his brother, Uenry earl of
Derby, lo rcinatn quiescently in ihe back-ground. The mother of the
■bciTo^named nobles, Blanche of Artoia, the queen-dowager of Kuvarre,
mw l»bcUB''a maternal grandmother;' consequendy) ttie sons of queen
Btaache, by her second marriage viiih Edmund earl of Lancaster, were
half-tinclea to the young queen, and resolutely determined to act as her
chuupioiia against Piers Gaveston, who was now allied to the royal
family by his marriage with Margaret of Gloucester, die daughter of
Edward^B »i»ter, Joanna of Acre.'

Care»l(H] was not only the Adonis of the English court, but remark-

•Ue for his knightly prowess, graceful manners, and sparkling wit. It

«»• ihe laticr oualification which rendered him peculiarly displeasiug to

the English nobles, wliom he was accustomed to deride and mimic, for

the amuvetnent of his thoughtless sovereign ; nor was the queen ex-

unptMl, when he was disposed to display his sarcustic powers.' The

gill* of the tongue are those which more frequently provoke a deadly

Trngesncfi than any other oDeace ; and Gaveslon's greatest crime appears

u> have been Uie fatal propensity of saying uiifo^veable thln^ in spott.

'MU-Jla'a father secretly incited the English barojis to a combination

'^iiini Gaveston, which compelled the king to promise to send him he-

':] setM. Thia engagement Edward deceitfully performed, by making

> nceroy of Ireland, which country, his worst enemies own, he ruled

HHii (treat ability.

The queen'a pecuniary distrcMeB were then brought before the lords,'
Md w they found there was no money in the treasury, to furnish her
with an income befitting her station, the revenues of the county of Pon-
ihirD and Monlrieul, the inheritance of the kiug^s mother, were appro-
jinatcd to her use. The king specilied as his wish, " that his dearest
cooMirt, babelU queen of England, shall be honourably and decently
provided with all things necessary for her chamber; and all expenses
for jewels, gifts, and every other requisite."'

During the first year of Isabella's marriage with Edward II.| her
fclber, Philip le Bel of France, appears lo have acquired some degree of
n tlw councils of the nation, for we observe several letters

'Miln' Catalogue of Honour. Brookei, Spt-ni, d»s. &c.

'The huDos were uiaspeiated hI thii marriage, which made the (hvoariie Ed-
*«fdi DCiihewj yiM Ilio eml of Gloucenlpr, wbo wa» certainly Ilia poison wliotn
'* OMwe atnilj concerned, oa he was the young laiifs btoiber, nppeaied jwt-
hcCf mOtlted, and remained Gavesuin's lirin friend ; and It is more ibui pto-
baUe ihu iIm lady heitelf wu quiie agieealrlo lo the union.

Walringbain. * Carte,

■■Tbaratiiie be it pleased (o assipi the tanda of Pniitbieu, Ite., fur het me, lo
prDTtit* Im wilb tucb tbingi ; and be directs Richard de Snkeslie, his tenescbal
tt iIbU pnrTiim, 10 give ibe depuiica of Ilie queen peaceful posKSsion of Ilie
" Fmlm, vol. iii., May Ulh, I3B0.

I

I
I

196 ISABELLA OF FRANCS.

in Rymer'a Fiedere, from Edward to his ralher-in-law, in whi
descends to expkin his conduct with regard In Gavestoa t
narch, and weakly solicits his mediaiion with hia turbulent bi

The following year Gaveslon took occasion lo rclum to E ^
attend a toumament at Wallingford.' The magnificence of bis n
and the great number of foreigiiera by whom he was BUrrouodDd. aen
to increase the jealous disple.asure of the barons. Gaveslon, sceotrti
to his old practice, retaliated their hostility with scornful raillery, taS
fliit occasion bestowed provoking xobriquels on the lenders of ibe fi
against him. The earl of Pembroke, who was dark, (hin, and tJh
complexioned, he calkd " Joseph the Jew ;" the earl of W«nrick, m
foomad at the monlh when angrj-, ^ the wild boar of Arttenne ;" lad
earl of Lancaster, from hia acting a picturesijae style of dm*, «
Bia^ player ;"* and in like manner ne characterized the rest of the pn
either from their peculiarities or defects. These insults wen not a
treasured up against a fearful day of reckonine, but had the tSM
stirring up such a storm in the court, as made the throne of hia ro,
mister totter under him.

The queen, her uncle the earl of Lancaster, and all the huotmei
England, made common cause against Gaveston ; and Edward, not ufi
lo oppose so potent a combination, dismissed his lavooirile to Gwmi
At parting, the king lavished on Gaveslon all the jewels of whidi
was possessed, even to the rings, brooches, buckles, and other tiiali
which his young and lovely consort bad at various limea presenMd
him as tokens of regard. Nothing could be a greater proof of H
than such a proceeding, which was sure to create feelings of gritf
resentment, in the bosom of a high-spirited girl of fifteen.*

Queen Isabella was at that time much beloved by the nation, and <
hear no more of her complaints of conjugal infelicity, till the ynrlSI
when, to her great displeasure, as well as that of the nobles, ijii ki
recalled Gaveston, and made him his principal secretary of state,*

All the a^rs of the realm were under his control, and no one en
obtain access to the sovereign except through him; lie wa« aem
withal of leading the king into a reckless course of dissipuioa, n
ofiensive and injurious to the queen.

Isabella, not being of a temper to bear her wrongs in ailenca^ Wlfi
remonatrated with Gavesion; on which he so lar forgot the rctpeei^

'Wal«in|^wm. 'Thoouu V

'Edwaiil'B want of juilemenl wa* eiguollj peireptible in al] hit ■
llMUGfailBH proriuion bnd been ilir means of involving bii
nannEDU. to thai he win pompelled to «enil precepts to »
of hit manors, lo raise and borrow all the monej ihej could fix tliB tt
his bouirbold. When tbsse espedienis feilod, his ai&irs wiirv bra^
his parliunent in 1310. His misconduct wms highlj ceDsnrnd, wl4fl
refbrm oammiHioii was Bpp<nnleJ. to restrain hii lavish aapi *'
I'Ompel htm to apply hif income !□ the paj'ment of his debts a
iiaDCS of his household, and otherwise lo circumscribe tiis i

ar'> n'l barons, who were called ordainets. — Waitiaghawi. Brmdg,
* ItisIsJn^liBlD. Bapiu. ' ^^

ISAbELLA OF FRA?(CE. 1^9

A rank, ta to make a conlempliious reply ; and when she pas-
.eoiui>laiiiri] lo the king of the affront alio had received from liis
kvouritei E^divard treated it as a matter of little importance. Ii
rUenl that, at this period, Isabella was only considered by him
■ t child.' Less perilous, however, would it have been to
and provocations to a princess of more advanced age and
iilgnienl; for Isabella vented her indignant feelings, by sendiJig
it detail of her wrongs to her father the king of France, lo
wrote bitter compUints of her royal husband's coldness and
icribing herself" as the most wretched of wives, and accusing
of beiM the cause of all her troubles, by alienating king Ed-
gction ^m her, and leading him into improper company."
dward's letters, at the same period, to the father of hia queen,
B in the most slavish style of prostration,* and he constantly
turn for counsel and assistance in his internal troubles, appa-
BODScious that hia " dearest lord and father," as he calls the
W Philip, was the secret agitator by whom his rebel peers were
disturb bis dreams of pleasure.'

mmrkable that Isabella's name is mentioned but once, in Ed-
to the king her father, and then merely to certify " that
;ood health, and will (God propitious) be fruitful.^"
not, however, till the finh year of Isabella's roaniage with Ed-
" any well-grounded hope existed of her bringing an heir
tnu the period at which this joyful prospect first became
WU amidst tlie horrors of civil war.

i of I^ncaster, at the head of the malcontent barons, look up
ist the sovereign in the year 1312, in order to limit the regal
and to compel Edward to dismiss Piers Gaveston from his
Isabella accompanied her lord and his bvonrite to York, and
ir flight to Newcastle ; where, not considering either Gaveston
' safe from the victorious barons, who had entered York in
Sdward, in spite of all her tears and passionate entreaties to the
abandoned her, and took shipping with Gaveston for Scarbo-
,The forsaken queen, on the advance of the confederate barons,
Tynemouth. During her residence at Tynemouth (!:astle,
nployed her time in charity and alms-deeds : of this, most inte-
[oence appears in the royal household-book for 1312.
tt V. — To little Thomeline, the Scotch orphan boy, to whom
^ being moved to charity by his miseries, gave food and raiment
oont of six and sixpence." But Isabella's good work did not
feeding and clothing the poor destitute creature; she provided
nra wel&re of little Thomeline, for we lind another entry : — •
M Mue orphan, on his being sent to London lo dwell with
I uriJe of Jean, the queen's French organist ; for his educaiioni
■hea bought him, and for curing hia maladies, tifiy-two ahU-
Bightpence."

Mbiil.

1M ISABELLA OF PBAXCE.

Willie ihe queen remained disconsolate &t Tynemouih, LAnracter.vl
had got posseflsion of Ifewcastle, sent a ilepuiation to his roni niH
" with assurances of her safely," explaining " that ihdr sole lAjecl <t
to secure the person of the favourilf."

The king, meanlinie, hering left Gaveston in the suoag (oiIumI i
Scarborough,' proceeded to levy forces in the midland counties, fori
defence. The indignation of the men of the north of EngUnd hMl, hoi
ever, been so greatly excited at his neglect and desertion of the {pin
wbQe in a siiuation which required more t)mn ordinary sympathy ai
tendemeas, that ijiey rose, fit imttse^ to storm her adreraary in I
shelter ; and Gaveston, being destitute of provisions, or the nmn» <
standing a siege, surrendered to Ihe confederate lords, oit cooditinn i
being safely condueled to the king, and allowed free communicatii
vith hiro previously to hiK trial before the parliament

In violation of the articles of this treaty, wliich the earl of Ittnnr^
and ttie rest of the confederate barons had solemnly sworn lo nhum
Gaveston was brought to a sliam trial, and beheaded at Bbtcllow^i
near Warwick, on a spot which, in memory of the tngedy cotnoili
there, is called Gavesheod.

The barons enjoyed llie extreme satisfaction of ransacking the h^H
of the luckless favouriie, where they found many of the croirn jrnl
some articles of gold and silver plate belonging to the king, anil »pa
number of precious ornaments, which had been presented to the In
by queeu Isabella, his married sisters, and other persons of hifh nal
There is a minute list of these valuables in Rymer's F>ndem,~uiil |k
catalogue is indeed likely enough lo have excited the indignaiiun of ib
jealous peers, who, on the greeu hill-side, sat in relentless jodgnail (I
Ihe man whom the king deHghted to honour'

ITol withstanding her avowed hostility against Gaveainn, then v n
reison to suppose that Isabella was in the slightest degree irodiciB^ll
his murder, though his misconduct to her was one of the nio^
grounds of accusation used by the ear] of Lancaster agsinst him.

When Edward received the tidings of the tragic fate of the con"
of his childhood, he was transported with rage and grief, and di.
his intention of inflicting a deadly vcngemice on Ihe perpelruors el A
outrage. He sullenly wiilidrew from London to Cauterbury, wmI Cr^
joined the queen at Windsor, where she was awaiting the birth of M
first child.*

This auspicious event look place on the 13th day of TTortaibail
forty minutes past 6ve in the morning, in the year 1312,' wtwa Udl

' (Gathrie.) Oammoa wm mlten vrry ill « Neweaitie ; far ibaue ;• »a MQ
In rbs liMitetnia-tiaok of Edwvtd IJ.— "To ihuim WiUub da BMnf^l
pbj'siitian, Ibi hi* atismlance on Sit Piers <)e Uxmim, ilniiag lu* BkMMWKV
ciuilc-upon-Tyiuie, two pouiuli."

'Among oilier fritolou] chargeB that were brought a^nM GavOHB W 6l
BMOciale batons, he wru accused of bring ■' ihs •ou of s wiwb," and oTteM)
olnaiacd bit iuflurnce ovrt the nund of his nreteign bj ihe {iraoiiM of HMff
Hii moiber bad bMn mctnallr butnt for tonerj in dueaiie.
- Wtlaio^iam. 'RrMt^ t

'kfatitiQ

ISABELLA

RF FRANCE.

13t

Hhe efehteenih year of her age, and ihe fifth of her marriage,
piaio Ihe world the long-ileairei] lieir of England, afterwnrda that
" iwned of our moaarchs, Edward HI,, aumamed of Windsor,
ilaee of his binh,

loom and gullen sorrow in which the king had been plunged
the death of Gaveslon, yielded lo feelings of paleriial rapture
il event, and he testified liis approbation, by bestowing an
iges, valet lo the queen, and Isabel his wife, twenty pounds,
llie iame on them as an annunl pension for life.'
Ibm delighted were Isabella's uncle, the count of Evreux, and
ibles. who were then sojourning in England, at the birth
infant, who was remarkable for his beauiy and vigoiir,
ited Ihe king to name the young prince, Louis, after the heir
and the count of Evreux ; but the idea was not agreeable to
teeHngs of ihe English in general, and it was insisted by the
the itew'bom heir of England should receive the name of his
ler and hia renowned grandfather, Edward. Four days after
^ he was baptized with great pomp, in the old chapel of St. Ed-
fte castle of Windsor.'

influence, after this happy event, was very considerable with
hiuband, and at this period her conduct was all that was pru-
ible, and feminine. It waa through her mediation that a lecon-
U length etTecied between king Eklwsrd and his barons,' &nd
restored to the perturbed realm. Before the amnesty waa
queen Isabella visited Aquitaine, in company with her royal
from thence ihey went to Paris, where they remained at the
Philip the Fair nearly two months, enjoying the feasts and
which the wealthy and magnificent court ofFrance provided
entertainment. Plays were represented on the occasion, being
and Moralitiea for amusement and admonition, entitled, " Tlie
the Blessed, and the Torments of the Damned."
fh the earnest entreaties of the queen, the long-delayed pardon
ihcd hy king Edward, October 13ih, 1313, without any escep-
id the rnyn] deed of grace expressly certilics, " that this pardon
eion is gmnled by the king, through the prayers of his dearest
lit, lubetla queen of England."' The parliament met amicably,
ftaroHB solemnly made iheir submission on their knees to the
in Weslrainster Hall, before all the people.' Soon after, llio
Fvwick, ihe most active agent iu the death of Gaveston, dying

l>Bay>l PkIum.

ivemuny wsi perfbtmed by Arnold, midinal piicit, unci the ro;Bl balw
M ibao HVvn Kodrallier* ; namely, RinUara. bisbop of Poit-licni John,
'Bidi ami Weill ; Wiltiwn, bishop of Worcester ) Looii, count of Ev
!• to tilt qn^Pii ; John, dulle of Brplaina and c«rl of Ricbmoiiil i Af-
iaiciwe, earl of Pombroke; >ail Hugh le d« Spcncei; but there is not
^Tona lodniolher rKordpd. Afewdayaiifler his binh, hit fbnd rather
I hi* deMly-prixcd heir, his new and blameless Ikvourite, the ooiinljr
L M ba ImUI by bint and Lis heirs Tot eveti also the county of Flint.
Mem, vol, iil.

' R/mer'i Ftrdera.

r

I

IS? ISADGLLA OF FBAXCE.

suddenly, it was iiiiluBiriniisly circulated by his friends Uut he had bn
taken off liy pobon. The barons niiBtrusted llie king, tuid qt]«8D htf
Iwlla WHS the only link that kepi ihetn rrom open war.

The year 1314 commeDccd with aeiiTe preparations on the pmnf
the kioj^ for renewing the war with Scotland-' Stirling, so appropniidf
designated by the chroniclers of that stormy era, SiritreliTig, wa« thai
besieged by the energetic Bruce, and it was for the relief of Uiai unpon-
BQt posseiision tlial the laggard heir of the conqueror of Scotlcotl U
length crossed the Tweed. He met with a decisive overthrow at Bu*
Dockbum. Queen Isabella frequently resided at York and Bniihi>ruin.
lo be near the king during liis nurihem campaign. In the ninth i>f U-
ward 11. an information was brouglil before ihe king's rouocil m the
exchetguer, agaioal Robert le Messoger, for speaking irreverent or indr-
cent words against the king. He was tried by a jury, and found guiltvi
for some reason, however, the queen induced tlic archbishop c^ Ou-
terbury to become his bail, and on lliat surely he was reloMed frm
prison.'

In Ihe month of September, 1316, king Edward was joined bylw
royal consort, queen Isabella, at York, who had remained at Elthim for
her confinement, as there is an entry soon after, in the king's houMbitU
book : ^' To sir Eubulo de Moniibus, for bringing the first news la lb
king of the happy delivery of queen of her son John of Elilium. £11^."

There is likewise a reward to the queen's messenger T ><
the fiist tidings of the queen's arrival al York. Septemin
queen sent costly presents to the new pope, John, of cnpi -
with large pearls, bought of Catherine Lincoln, and a eopi' >
by Bosia de Burford. To the same pope qtieen Isabella
through don John de Jargemoc, her almoner, of an inceitse boat,
and a gold buckle, set witli divers pearls anil precious stonu, value £901

" The queen sent her valet, Goodwin Hawtaine, with letien 19
bishop of Norwich and the earl of LaQCaster. requesting ihoai 10
U> Eltham to stand sponsors for her eon John j his travelling c]
were sixteen shillings. John de Fonlenoy, clerk of the queen's
received one piece of Turkey cloth, anil one of cloth of gold for
ing the font in which the lord John, son of the king, w&s '
Ellhani, 30th August; to Stephen Taloise, the queen's iai|ar,wMaB'
vered fire pieces of white velvet fur ihe making thereof a ceruin ttbl
against ihe churching of the queen, after the birth of her awii son."

The birth of the princess Eleanor look place in 1319. The boB^
hold-book notes the king's gift of £333, •« to the lady Isabelh, ^MP
of England, for her churching feast, after the birth of the fc^
Eleanora."

There are likewise notices of money thrown over the heads d

'Roben Biui^e slibwed ao iLighl judgment or chancier when he iliu* qi^

I9l belween tiic tint Eilwsnl of England and iho Miamd Edni^

afruil of ihe bonei of ihc Tsiher dead, iltan or the livinf nu-, m^

hjr all tlie HinU. it wu more ,!ifficull to gel half a foul of Innil lh<m HMtM

king, than a wholn kingdom fiDm the ton." — Jtallktm ^ Wnit

ISABELLA OF FEAMCB. 133

firious brides and bridegrooms, as they stood -at tlie altar — the royal
pair were present at their marriages, at Havering Bower, Woodstock,
ind Windsoi^— and for money given by the orders of tlie king, at the
cbapel doors. Several other entries afford amusing information, respect-
ing tlie maoners and customs of Edward the Second^s court Vanne
Bsllardi for pieces of silk and gold tissue of fustian, and of flame-
eolonrecl silk^ for the making cushions, for the charrettes of the queen
Md her ladies. To Robert le Fermor (the closer), boot-maker, of Fleet-
Mreti, for six pairs of boots, with tassels of silk and drops of silver
gill, price of each pair &ve shillings, bought for the king's use. Griffin,
Ihe son of sir Griffin of Wales, was selected as one of the companions
of the yoonc prince Eldwaid, afterwards Edward III., at Eltham, by
Older of the king.

When the king and queen kept Twelfth-night, their presents were
magnificent : to the king of the Bean, in one instance, Edward gave a
silver gilt ewer, with stand and cover, and anotlier year, a silver gilt
bowl to match, as new yearns gifls. To William Sal Blaster, valet of
the count of Poictiers, bringing to the king bunches of new crapes at
Newbofough, 28th (k October, 10s. Qjaeen Isabella's chaplain was
tnlhled to have the queen's oblatory money, of the value of sevethpence^
Ndeemed each day of the year, except on the assumption of the Virgin,
vhen the qveen offered gold. To Dulcia Withstaf^ mother of Rol^rt,

Ihe king^ fool, coming to the king at Baldock, at Christmas, ten shil-
yags. To William de Opere, valet of the king of France, for bringing
dw king a box of rose-coloured sugar at York, on the part of the
nkl king, his gift, September 28th, two pounds ten shillings. To the
hdf Manr, the king's sister, a nun at Ambresbury, the price of fifteen
ptBces of tapestry, with divers coats of arms, bought of Richard Hor-
■laai, mercer of London, and given to the lady Mary on her departure
ihini court, home to Ambresbury, twenty-six pounds. To sir Nicholas
de Becke, sir Humphrey de Luttlebury, and sir Thomas de lAtimer, for
dngging the king out of bed on Easter morning, Edward paid twenty
pounds.'

Edward II., in 1316, bestowed a considerable benefaction on Theo-
phania de St Pierre, his queen's nurse : besides fifty pounds sterling
money, he gives this person, whom he calls lady of Bringnencourt, lands
in Ponthieu, where queen Isabella was dowered.' In the household-
books of Thomas Lancaster, Stow found that ninety-two pounds had
been presented by that prince to his royal niece's nurses and French
servants.

In the twelfth year of his reign, Edward II. granted to his consort
iiebella the escuage, belonging to him for the army of Scotland due
from the knight's fees, which the queen held by grant for the term of
her life.

Edward's disasters in the north were succeeded by the most

' Madoz. ' Bymer'f Fcsdra, voL iiL

VOL. II.— 1% I

dr«adfu1 famine v

SABtLLl. or PIAMCE.

known in Enfflnni}, wtnoh lui«d for netAy QnM
yoar»/

l*lip king nnil qiiprn krpi their conit ■! WMminfWr* dunag ibc Whit-
HuntiJe remtii-al o( 1317; and on oae onaiiuB, M iboy wart iliBinr to
public in the grval banquctiag-lMlt, s WomMa in • milt aBUnd on bon^
back.. Slid riding up to ihe n>y«l i»bk, detivend « IsUer u dw kJig.
Edward, imagining thai it contkiiwfl tomo nlowiitt eaneai or elqpM
roiDplinient, onleretl it tn bo npnni^ and nsad aktnd (or llie unateaat
n( )>i» rnuniera; but to his gmc mintifiminu tl w<u ■ cutuaf aunw
hi» nnkingly jirnnensiiirs. wiun^ fiTth tit no mewured umM ifl ibp
caluinilicti whii^h uii iniHguvBrnnirQi bai) brou^tht ujkhi EagUad. Tte
woinau waa iniintd lately taken into rnMoiIy, nni] wmfiwaBil that abt !■!
bei'n employed by a ccrinin knight. Thf knight biiliUy adoMnrladgaJ
what he had done, nnd luiil. •• liiat anppoaing that the king woahl m
thr Inttrr in privatn, he tot^ liM muthud of sppriatng bim a( tba «»
plaints nf hi* Kuhjeeu.'" '

Thu following year Kobwt Bruce laid viege to Berwick. Quna Sm-
bella accompanied her lord Inta the tiurih, and while b* idnaeai H
Berwick, she, with her young family, look up her abods at BwnhmWi
the former residence of her Utc Btiim qaem MargwK. Thk V>*
place of apparent securiiy, h it wu nearly a hitiMU«d nuka feoN tt
ueene uf wtr: vei siie nin ninnMri tn n Tirv

ISABELLA OF FSANCK. 135

It was in 1321 that the storm gathered among the lord niaichers,
rhich led to the barons' wars, and brought Isabella and Roger Mortimer
nto acquaintance with each otherJ

We now come to that eventful period when Isabella exchanged the
ywtW character of a peac&-maker for that of a vindictive political agita-
sr, and finally branded her once-honoured name with the foul stains of
dnltery, treason, and murder. The circumstances which in the first
istance led to this fearful climax of guilt were, as far as concerned Isa-
ella, accidental.

On the 18th of October, 1321, the queen set out on a pilgrinuigc to
be shrine of St Thomas i Becket at Canterbury, and proposing to pass
he niffht at her own castle of Leeds, of which Bartholomew Badlesmere,
oe of the Associated Barons, was castellan, she sent her marshal and
(Dfveyors before her to announce her intention, and to order proper
nangements to be made for her reception.'

Badlesmere was absent at that time, and being deeply involved in the
reasonable designs of the earl of Lancaster, had charged his lady to
BBintain the castle, though it was a royal demesne, being one of the
bwer palaces of the queens of England. Lady Badlesmere, feeling
ome mistrust at the real object of Isabella in demanding admittance for
lenelf and train, replied with great insolence to the royal messengers,
•That the queen might seek some other lodging, for she would not
dmit any one within the castle without an order from her lord.''

While the dispute was proceeding between the hidy Badlesmere and
he pnrveyors, the queen and her train arrived at the castle gates, and
rere received with a volley of arrows, which slew six of the royal
aeort, and compelled the queen to retreat with precipitation, and to seek
iCber shelter for the night*

The queen complained bitterly to the king of the affront she had re-
ehred, and entreated him to avenge the murder of her servants, and the
Molence of lady Badlesmere in presuming to exclude her from her own
Bstle.^ Badlesmere had the folly to write the most insulting letter to

'King Edward Yiad married hu new favourite, the young Despencer, to hi*
icat-niece Eleanor, one of the co-heiresses of his nephew Gilbert de Clare, earl
r Gloucester, who had been the most potent among the lords marchers of Waleis
nd ■ sort of lord paramount over them all. The warlike Mortimers, during
le long minorities of the two last earls of Gloucester, had taken the lead among
M marchers ; and now the king's favourite, in right of his wife, assumed a sort
f nipremacy on tlie Welsh borders, and prevailed on the king to resume the
rmnta of some of his late nephew's castles which he had given to the Morti-
icn. Those fierce chiefs Hew to arms with their marchmen, and in the course
fa few nights harried lady Despencer^s inheritance widi so hearty a good will,
Mt they did many thousand jwunds* worth of mischief. The leaders of this
Kploit were lord Roger Mortimer of Chirk, and his nephew and heir, lord Roger
fortimer of Wigmore, who luul been the ward and pupil of Gaveston. The
Etimordinary influence of the younger Mortimer exercised over the destiny of
le queen requires these few words of explanation as to the origin of this rebel-
on. ' Walsingham. De la Moor. ' Ibid.
* Leeds Castle was a part of the splendid dower settled by Edward L on queen
larpuvt, Inbella*s aunt, to which queen Isabella had succeeded. B!%wmn'%

I

I

U6 ISABELLA OF FUAUCB.

the queen, in reply to the coinplainis that hnd been nddremed to hioi of
biB wife's coDcliict, expreBsing his entire approval of what site had doM
Tliis cunduct was aggravalei!, by the fftct, llint Badlesmere had tvf^
lately been one of the principal officers of the palare, and held the bigli
BULtioD of steward ti> the inyal housoliutd, before Edward gave bin iht
appoinimoni aa caatellan of Leeds. The whole iransaction impUeewBe
previous peraonal quarrel with the queen. Hilherlo the queou bad been
on the mc«t amicable terms with the bsroiu; but a* neither ! if i-"
nor any of the associates thought proper to exprcae any tvprobstiaa «f
the disreepect witli which she had been treated by their cotOedentatibe
determined to be revenged on all ; and accordingly represented to iht
king thai if he raised an array for the piupoee of besieging Leeds Cwtk,
he would eventually be enabled to use it for the extenciou of his kiniljr
power.' The king would willingly have temporized, but Uie haopiv
Rpirii of Isabella would not permit him to delay becoming Out iniiiwMl
of her vengeance. Edward published his manifesto, setting (iMh thf
contempt with which his beloved consort Isabella queea t>f Fflglairi hid
been treated by the family of Bariholomew Badlesmere, wbo had in»
lently oj^Kwed her in her desire of entering Leeds Castle, Mid that ibi
eaid Batiholomew Badlesmere had by his letters approved of ihw n»
conduct of his family, in thus obstructing and contumelMmaiy fraMlif
tlie queen, for wliich cause a general muster of all persona faetwvedlb
ages of swleen and sixty was called to attend the king iit ao e^tab^
against Leeds Castle."'

A large force, of which the Londoners formed a considerable pottiuL
was quickly levied, for the queen was Llic darling of the tiatioa, aajafi
were eager in avenge even the shadow of a wrong that was otkni M
her.

The lady Badlesmere, who was uudoubiedly a nolable vingO) ami
the royal threats with contempt; and, with her senescltal Waller Cal»
pepper, defied both ihe king and his army, wheji they appeared bcDMlli
the walls of Leeds Castie, wluch was well stored with proviaiona, tai
she confidently relied on receiving prompt relief from lite aiti'rrt'
barons. In this, however, she was disappointed, for the earl of Imntn-
ter had no intention lo come to a rupture with the queen, hia n
castle of Leeds was in consequence compelled to surrender ai
on the last day of October.

Immediate vengeance was taken by the king, for the naitanli am tt
queen and her servants, on the seneschal, Walter Colepeppot, vIm, wtt
eleven of the garrison, were hanged before the castle gataa.* L^
Badlesmere was committed to the Tower of London aa a slate IHWtmi.
and was threatened with the same fate tliat had been iiUlichNl cu hv
agents : but it does not appear that she suHered any woim poa^itf
than a long and rigorous imprisonment.* With all their bulta, tbstii
no instance of any monarch of the Planlagcnet line paltinr a hdy t*
death, for high treason.

ItABBLLA OF PSANCE. 137

Flmhed with his success at Leeds, King Edward recalled his banished
.▼ourites, the two Despencers, whose counsels quite accorded with the
rerious persuasions of the queen to use the military force which he
id levied for the reduction of the Leeds Castle, for the purpose of re-
pessing the power of the associate barons.*

Isabella was so deeply offended with the barons, as the allies of the
•dlesmeres, that she not only refused to employ her influence in com-
oaing the diflerenees between them and the king, but did ererything in
er power to influence the mind of her lord against them.'

Lancaster was taken at the battle of Boroughbridge, where the sove-
ngn fought in person against the associate barons, March 16th, 1322.
lie earl, and ninety-five of his adherents, were conducted as prisoners
» Poatefiaet Castle, where the king sat in judgment upon him, with a
nail jury of peers, by whom he was sentenced to lose his head. The
Been was not aware of her uncle^s sentence till after his execution, which
M>k place only a few hours after his doom was pronounced. Probably
lis indecent haste was used to prevent the possibility of the queen's in-
ircesaion being used in behalf of her kinsman.*

While king Edward was battling the rebellious barons, the queen, for
realer security, took up her abode in the Tower. In this royal fortress
lie gave birth to her youngest child, the lady Joanna, who from that
irciimstance was called Joanna de la Tour.^

Some time before the birth of the princess Joanna, the two Morti-
lers, uncle and nephew, having been taken in arms against the king,
ren brought to the Tower as state prisoners, under sentence of death
nd confiscation of their great estates.' Roger Mortimer, lord of Chirk,
le nncle, died of famine, through the neglect or cruelty of his gaolers
I fiiiling to supply him with the necessaries of life, it has been said,
MMi after his capture. Roger Mortimer, the nephew, was in the pride
nd vigour of manhood, and possessed of strength of constitution, and
nergy of mind, to struggle with any hardship to which he might be
cpMed. The manner in which he contrived, while under sentence of
ealh in one of the prison lodgings of the Tower of London, to create
0 powerful an interest in the heart of the beautiful consort of his ofllended
svereign, is not related by any of the chroniclers of that reign. It is
oasible, however, that Isabella's disposition for intermeddling in political
MCiers might have emboldened this handsome and audacious rebel to
btain personal interviews with her, under the colour of being willing to
ommnnicate to her the secrets of his party. He was the husband of a
'ranch lady, Jane de Joinville, the heiress of Sir Peter Joinville, and
raa in all piobability only too well acquainted with the language that
rwM most pleasing to the ear of the queen, and the manners and refine-
lenta of her native land, which in civilization was greatly in advance

* WaJfingham. Rapin. 'Ibid.

* Bnrtboloraew Badlcsmerc, the primary cause of the war, was taken at Stow«
^rk, the seat of his nephew, the bisliop of Lincoln, and ignominiously hanged
t Canterbury.

* La Moor. Walsingham. Bayley's History of the Tower. Brayley. Brittoa^
itto. * Wal&inghani, &c. 'D^Xvk'ttnat.

19 •

I

138 ISABELLA OP FRAKCE.

of liie bellicose redm of England. Be this M it may, Moi
reprieved through ihe good olRceB of some powefful ii
the king commuted his sentence of death into perpetual iinpruonmeni in
the Tower. Thia occasioned some aslonisbnieni, wlien it wu rnnan-
beted thai Mortimer whs llie firel who had commeDced tlic civil wu by
his fierce attack on the limds of Hugh Dcspencer, who was hia twon
foe, and who at this very time hail regained more than hU fonner awij^
ill the councU of king Edward ; but al thai time the influence of ik
queen was pa amount to any other, and it was probably on this ticcoitat
that the deadly feud commenced between her and ilie two Deepeitctn,
which ended bo fatally for both.'

About this period, we observe the following precept, addmwd hj
king Edwaid lo his treasurer and the barons of the excliet|uer, fertbi
aupply of hifl own and hia queen's wardrobe.

"EdWBid, by Ihe grace of Cod, tc,^. Ik.

" We comiD&ud that yt provide ainern piecet of cloih for ibe n)<ii«>eUin( rf
oarselvci and our dene coni|>aiiion, alw fuii, agaiosl Itie next koM OtOttuiam
and thirteen pieces or cloth for corsets Toi our (aid compsnion Mail bcr lisinnli.
with nsping linen' and other thing* or which wf stand in need af[«iBM ibe «U
feMi ; requiring fmx to assign to William Cassoncei, the clerk of cnir wudnta
one hundred and ftfleeD pounds, in suoh manner as mnyohiaia prompt pa/MM
of iha nme for llna purpose.

" Given at Lsngief, Ihe 10th dny of Dwembor, and «( out reign the lAtk'*

The king and Isabella spent their Christma.^ together, and it is proli^
thai she availed herself of that opportunity of obtaining not only to «■
conscinnable nn allowance of cloth for her corsets, but a rt^prieve fra>
death for Mortimer.

In the succeeding year, 1333, we 6nd the lamdesa border chief, fiov
his dungeon in llie Tower, organizing a plan for the seiiure, not ait
of that royal fortress, but Windsor and Wallingford. Again iraa ttoO^
nier condemned to euifer death for high treason, but through tlteagM<}
of Adam Orleton, and Beck, bishop of Durham, he obiaineil « mM.
On the Ist of August, the same year. Gerard Alspoye, the «atet of St
grave, the constable of the Tower, who was supposetl ta b« ia »■
operation with him, gave the men-ai-arms a sopoii£e pi^tjoa is tin
drink provided by the queen ; and while the guartis were asleep, H<n^
mer passed through a hole he had worked in his own prison itua lb
kitchen of the royal residence, ascended the chunney, ^t oti Um roc'
of tlie palace, and from thence lo the Thames side by a l&dder of rap«
Segrave's valet then took a sculler and rowed him over to the oppMK
bank of the river, where they found a parly of seven horaeiuen pertuo-
ing to Mortimer wailing to receive him. With this gnanl he maik Im
way to the coast of Hampshire; from thence, pretending to aailwtb
Isle of Wight, the boat in reality conveyed the fugitives od boaidalqr
■hip, provided by Ralf Bolton, a London merchant, which wms •ndnat'

I8ABBLLA OF FRANCS. 139

iff the Needier: this ship landed them safely in Normandy; and from
thence Mortimer got to Paris.*

Edward was in Lancashire when he heard of the escape of Mortimer :
he roused all England with a hue and cry aAer him, but does not seem
to have had the least idea of his destination, as he sought him chiefly in
the Mortimers' hereditary demesnes, the marches of Wales.'

Directly Mortimer was in safety, the queen commenced her deep-laid
achemes for the ruin of his powerful enemies, the Despencers, whom
she taught the people to regard as the cause of the sanguinary executions
of Lancaster and his adherents ; though her own impatient desire of
avenging the affronts she had received from lady Badlesmere, had been
the means of exasperating the sovereign against that party. Now she
protested against all the punishments that had been inflicted, and was
the first who pretended to regard Lancaster as a martyr and a saint

The Despencers had succeeded in obtaining the same sort of ascend-
ancy over the mind of the king that had been once enjoyed by Gaves-
*on ; and the whole authority of his feeble despotism was committed to
tlK^'ir administration. Their first act was to curtail the revenues of the
queen. This imprudent step afforded Isabella a plausible excuse for
declaring open hostilities against them. No one had ever offended her
wiiliout paying a deadly penalty for their rashness.

She perceived that she had lost her influence with her royal husband,
durinff his absence in the civil war in the north ; and though it is evi-
dent Uiat an illicit passion on her part had preceded the alienation of the
king^s regard for her, she did not complain the less loudly of her wrongs
on tJ»t account ; neither did she scruple to brand the Despencers with
all the accusations she had formerly hurled at Gaveston, charging them
with having deprived her of the love of her royal husband.' There
was a fierce struggle for supremacy between her and the Despencers^
dufiog the year 13;S4, which ended in the discharge of all her French
servants, and the substitution of an inadequate pension for herself, in-
stead of the royal demesnes, which had been settled on her by the
king.*

Isabella wrote her indignant complaints of tliis treatment to her bro-
ther, Charles le Bel, who had just succeeded to the throne of France^
declaring, *^ that she was held in no higher consideration than a servant
in the palace of the king her husband,^' whom she styled ^ a grippU
miser,'*a character which the thoughtless and prodigal Edward was very
liur from meriting. The king of France, exasperated by his sister's repre-
■eolations of her wrongs, made an attack on Guienne, which afforded an

■ Rjrmer. Baylejr's HitL of the Tower.

**' Mortimer," says the chronicle quoted by Drayton, ** being in the Tower,
ordered a feast for his birthday, and inviting there sir Stephen Segrave constable
of the Tower with the rest of the officers belonging to the same, gave them a
•leepy drink provided him by tlie queen, by which means he got liberty for his
eecepe : he swam tlie Thames to the opposite shore, the queen doubting mnoh
of his strength for such an exploit, as he had been long in confinement"

* Walsingliam. De Ui Moor. * WaUingham. Rapin. Speed.

*De la Moor. Speed.
12*

nB ISABELLA f>F FRANCB-

excnse to the Despencere for advising king EJwanJ to deprire Ibe ipua
of her last possession in England, the earldom '^f Comn-nll. Th« kin(
resamed this grant in a perulinrly disobliging manner, gning the qneni lo
understand " 3iat he did not consider it mife to allow any pnttioa «f hi)
tenitoties lo renjain in her hand>i, m sh« mainlained a n-oM com-
pondence with the enrmies of the stale." '

The feuds between the royal pair proceeded to raeh a htifhl, ttnl
Isabella denied her company to her lord,' and he refiis«l lo cuine wfcxr
she was* The queen passionately char^ lliis eatno^nDent va ife
Despencers, and reiterated her complaints to her broilier.

Ki[ig Charles testified his indignant stnoo of his Mister's tmioMnl. )if
de<-laring his intention of seizing all Lh(i prarinrr^ hold br kiaglliwiri
of the French crown, he having rcpeatrdly sumnioned fiiai In nJB 10
perform the accustomed homage for tlinn. Rdward vm tioi jftnmi
lo engage in a war for their defence, and neither he nor hi* aiouMi
liked the aliemaiive of a personal visit to the courl nf thp bwMrf
brother of queen Isabella, after the indignities tlist hhi bem altnt to

In this dilemma, Isabella herself obliginglj vottinteered in art » i
mediatrix between the two monarchs, providM she rnivhi be pi ' '
lo go lo Paris to negotiate a pacification. Edward, wnn hMJ a
beni extricBted from bis DoUtical diffietthjea bv dn itiiiliiiwMiii >■

ISABELLA OF FRANCE. 141

The propriety of the queen undertaking the mission to me court of
nnce, was debated, first in the council, and afterwards in the parlia-
lent which met January 21st,' 1325, to consider the af&irs of Guienne,
hen it was agreed that any expedient was better than pursuing the
ar."

A hollow reconciliation was effected between Isabella and the De«
KDcertf, who were delighted at the prospect of her departure from
ngland ; and the royal pair parted, apparently on terms of the most
ftctionate confidence ana good-will.

Isabella sailed for France in the beginning of May, attended only by
le lord John Cromwell and four knights. She landed at Calais, and
-oceeded to Paris, where the first-fruit of her mediation was a truce
itween her brother and the king, her husband. She then negotiated an
nkable treaty, proposing the surrender of Guienne, already forfeited by
le neglect of (he feudal homage to the king of France, which was to
» restored at her personal instances, by her brother, to the king of £ng-
nd, on condition of his performing the accustomed homage, and remu-
snting the king of France for the expenses of the war. This was to
ke place at a friendly interview between the two monarchs at Beau-

The Despencers, anticipating with alarm the great probability of the
aeen regaining her wonted ascendancy over the mind of her royal hus-
ind, dissuaded him from crossing to the shores of France, even when
is prepatatioDS for the voyage were completed. Isabella, who was well
formed of these demurs, and perfectly understood the vacillating cha-
cter of her husband, proposed to him that he should invest their son,
m prince of Wales, with the duchy of Guienne and the earldom of
onttiieu, and send him as his substitute to perform the homage for
lose countries to the king, her brother, king Charles, having signified
is assent to such an arrangement, in compliance with her solicitations.
Edward, fiir from suspecting the guileful intentions of his consort*
igeiiy complied with this proposal; and the Despencers, not being
Msessed of sufficient penetration to understand the motives which
ixnpted the queen to get the heir of England into her own power, fell
lo toe snare.

On the 12th of September, 1325, prince Edward, attended by the
ishops of Oxford, Exeter, and a splendid train of nobles and knights,
fled from Dover,* and, landing at Houloflie, was joined by the queen
s motl^er on the Hth, who accompanied him to Paris, where his firat
terriew with the king his uncle took place in her presence, and ho
srformed the act of feudal homage on the 2l8t, at the Bois de Vin-

nnes.*

' Walsinghnm. Public Aou. "Ibid. 'Rymer'i Fcsdera.

RTiner^i F'sdeni.

'Act mftde a* the wood of Vinccnnet by Edward, (son of Edward IL) in the
eeenoe of tlie queen hit mother and many gmndeuA of England. .
\er the usual formula reKiirdin^f tlio homaffo of Guionue, a clause is added, iu
ete words— ^ And as for tlio country of Ponthiuu, according to the protestation
ide by msdaine the queen of England} then present, the homoL^ donA \k^ ^«

ISABELLA OF FRANCE,

SlfRMAMED THE P.Mi.
QUEEN OF EDWAED U.

CHAPTER II.

-Queen and pitncerEcnlled loEnglaiid — Hat diiei. _.
&.nft Edwd's lelletB — BuoDS invilc but lo invwLe EogUml— F«mklina«»
Willi Mordmer — ScBodrJ ol Ibe Fiencli court — Inobclla Jiatniatad bum KbM
-UvT tiail to Haimiiili — Hei Toj-iige lo Eiiglmiil — L»n(Ii — EniliiHluia ii M
people — ProclamsiioD — Her iriuinpbBl progTOft^Caplurs at Am \\tt~-lttr
donrri welcome the queen — Deporition o{ EilwnnI II. — Qi
Seiiet the govenunent — Exorbjnuit dower — H«r bail preTiemHl hj ■
tumuli — Murder of the ting — Unbelln'i peoHi wilh Saul* " "
B quBen — Her vindiclive dia|)o*ilion— Ji>l!i«» of Morti

NoQia

— IsabeJla'* Dtecaationi — MorUmot aJiaii u

ISABBLLA OF FRAKCB. 149

igB, and urged him to command her immediate return, with
Wales.* King Edward vainly issued his private letters and
•uses to his consort and son for that purpose : his most per-
;rs were disregarded by Isabella, who asserted ^ that it was
of the Despencers to cause her to be put to death if she
Ingland :'' on which the king of France, her brother, wrote
ird, ^ that he could not permit her to return to him, unless
iranteed from the evil that was meditated against her by her
Despencers.'' *

ard's manly and eloquent reply to this letter is preserved
lose Record Rolls of the nineteenth year of his reign. We
om the ancient French copy, printed in the fourth volume
Tosdera :

■AB AVD BILOVID BBOTBIB,

received, and well considered, your letters delivered to ns, by the
ther in God, the bishop of Wincheiter, who has also discoursed
>rd of mouth, on the contents of the said letters,
lat you have been told, dearest brother, by persons whom you oon-
f credit, that our companion, the queen of England, dare not return
Q peril of her life, as she apprehends, iVom Hugh le Despenoer.
; brother, it cannot be that she can have fear of him, or any other
Um ; since par Dieu I if either Hugh, or any other living being, in
I, would wish to do her ill, and it came to our knowledge, we
9 him in a manner that should be an example to all others ; and
rays will be, our entire will, as long as, by God's mercy, we have
.nd, dearest brother, know certainly, that we have never perceived
ither secretly or openly, by word, look, or action, demeaned him-
than he ought, in all points, to do^ to so very dear a lady. And
Bmber the amiable looks and words between them that we have
great ftiendship she professed for him before she crossed the sea,
: letters which she has lately sent him, which he has shown to us,
>wer to believe that our consort can, of herself^ credit such things
umot, in any way, believe it of him, who, after our own person,
all our realm, who would most wish to do her honour, and has
good sincerity to you. We pray you, dearest brother, not to give
y one who would make you otherwise suppose, but to put yooi
who have always borne true wimess to you in other things, and
) best reason to know the truth of this matter. Wherefore we
earest brother, both for your honour and ours, but more especially
' said consort, that you would compel her to return to us with all
rtes, we have been ill at ease ibr the want of her company, in
e much delight ; and if our surety and safe conduct is not enough,
me to us, on the pledge of your good fiuth for us.
intreat you, dearly beloved brother, that you would be pleased to
s EdMrard, our beloved eldest son, your nephew ; and that of your
ion to him you would render to him the lands of the duchy,' that
{inherited, which we cannot suppose you wish. Dearly beloved
ray you to suffer him to come to us with all speed, for we have
iiim, and we greatly wish to see him and to speak with him, and
long for his return.

)f the Lord Treasurers, by Francis Thynne, esq., in the collection
Phillipps, hart, at Middle Hill.

Walsingliam. Rapin. Speed.
B» which the young prince had gone to Parit to do bia Vmbdbic^ "sft

m

" And, dearest brother.

le thehonoi>TNt]leAlbrTtaGaa,WBMr.

'-"»

I lanishHi enemies, and we. havnit Ktvnt ttaed st hwi
enjoiiied liiin dd his iiwiii anil allef iance to letuin Ibitbwilii, l^lrUif tU **«
mstiera io Uie beat wnyhe could. We pmy foil, Aetefoir, lo ewnua dieiaUfl
depanure oftlie etiict bishop for the chuk t>efore Eaid.

■■ Given at We»(miinler, llie firsi day of December (ISSS)."

Edwonl^s letter 10 Isabella herself, on [he Mune subject, b oravdindt
lempeiaie, but evidently written under a deep sense of uijmTi aad wA
a fonnal courtesy, very dilTereDt from Uie friendly iui<i eaoMaOai ttjla
ia which he addtesses her brother, aa our reaiivra ' "

I Edwai

D Qc>

• I»»i

"Onentiiaes hare we sfiil to you. both before and al^r the hamate, <rfi«
grtnt detirs lo have you with ua, bdJ of our griof of tunti iit ymu kmc ah^lBt
Bod s« we undeiglniul that yaa do u) giesi muohief by tliw. w« wtU ttalfM
como to us wiih nil speed, and without fiiilbct axcuaat,

" Before the homace' wdj peifuimeit, you mada the adraiioeninil aC AM lan-
neu an eiousa, nod now tluu we have sent by Cae bonouiable ladict, lb* biikif
of WiDOhealer. our attfe cundual lo you, ' you will not eome for U» Am aod dnaM
of Hugh le Deapewerl' whereat wo canDOt marTel too muck, vliaa «*> mS
yooT daiteri&fi deponmeDl towards each otbei in oai pmcuce, M> uniiaM* »ai
tveet was youi dapcRmenl, with s]>eelBl nieuraneea end looktiaod otbcf nki*

ISABELLA OF FRAJICB. 14$

Iter to Uie prince of Wales, written on the next day, is as

T DXAm loir,

I are young and of tender age, we remind you of that which we charged
anded you at your departure from Dover, and you answered then, as
with good will, * that you would not trespass or disobey any of our lu«
in any point fbr any one/ And, since that your homage has been
If our dearest brother, tlie king of France, your uncle, be pleased to
leave of him, and return to us with all speed in company with your

80 be diat she will come quickly, and if she will not come, then come
It ftirther delay, for we have great desire to see you, and to speak with
fbre stay not for your mother, nor for any one else, on our blessing.

at Westminster, the 2d day of December."

after of regret that the replies to these most interesting letters
been preserved among our national records ; but the substance
nay be gathered from tlie following uigent and touching appeals*
injured husband of Isabella, to the prince their son, and to her
he king of France :

ITABD, TAia soir,

idersiand by your letters written in reply to ours that yon remember
iharge we gave you j among other things, not to contract marriage, nor
t to be contracted for you, without our knowledge and consent j and
It your departure fVom Dover you said, * that it should be your pleasure
ir eommandments, as far as you could, all your days."
on, if thus you have done, you have done wisely and well, and accord-
jr duty, so as to have grace of God of us and all men; and if not, then
It avoid the wrath of God, the reproach of men, and our great indigno^
re charged you so lately and so strictly that you should remember well
gs, and that you should by no means marry, nor euficr yourself to be
vithout our previous consent and advice; for no otlier thing that you
would occasion greater injury and pain of heart to ns. And inasmuch
IS yxm say * you cannot return to us because of your mother,' it causes us
isiness of heart that you cannot be allowed by her to do that which ia
ral duty, and which not doing will lead to much mischief.
Km, you know how dearly she would have been loved and cherishedi
1 timely come according to her duty to her lord. We have knowledge
of her evil doings, to our sorrow; how that she devises pretences for

herself from us, on account of our dear and faithful nephew,* H. la
r, who has always so well and loyally served us, while you and all the
re seen that she openly, notoriously, and knowing it to be contrary to

and against the welfkre of our crown, has attracted to herself, and
har company, the Mortimer, our traitor and mortal fbe, proved, attainted,
Iged, and Aim she accompanies in the house and abroad in despite of iiS|
nm, and the right ordering of the realm— him, the malefhetor* whom
ed brother the king of France at our request banished from his domi-
3iir enemy I And worse than this she has done, if worse than tkU can
itring you to consort with our said enemy, making him your counsellor,
openly to herd and associate with him in the sight of all the world,
great a villany and dishonour both to yourself and ns, to the prejudice

r*i Fcedera, vol. i. p. 182.

Edward bestows this appellation on the flivourite, because he was the

of his great-niece the heiress of Gloucester.

Iff is the word used in the original French bj the inoftnuHl kiii|^

L. II. — 18

I!<ABELL\ OP PSAHCE.

.--' V ' .ill'. ' ' - .inii L-usioms cf oui mlm, which )FO>u«

I:' f' T you from a pan whieb is to shameful, •ad laf

■ I I ■■■ s in loo mnny «-my». We Me mn pleued wift

:iL<i>ieT,DOT for BnyolheriOughi^utodiipItaHM.

' . ". I've. luid alUgiuiee which JDU owe lu, uid (natt

11 LI- wiihoul oppcMilion, delay, ot anj (btther esca»i

II r 'I r ; '- '-' " "' 1'' lit, 'that if yaa wi«h lo letorn to a> th» will M

II II. mill |^ '- 11 ' ii"i iiri'Ii^itmnd Tbnlyour uncle ihe king denial jo* «sviM
■111 uf jipui Hilc (.pii.Ili.-i. In no roannet, then, either Bn jooi iiiQ(bai,«B
liri itui.-|iy, niLt r<r UN)- othcc cuiM, delay to fome to ua. Our conrauidi
' ynuc i^c-kI, niid I.ir ymir honoui, by Ihe help of God. Come qnickly. dm,
Li rLinlii-r t'VviiF>'. if ya wuuld hare out bleuing. and aroid oni rrjmack

<- .'.IT It .~li Til iiiili'r rill tilings for Ihe good of A« dachy, aad om <A>

.1.-1 1 Hr.'Mi^iii'. nnil John de CioiDwell, will coma in j iiiii iiiaMl«ny,

iir »iii. >ira|iii?ii iim againal our coaumndl, for we hear much llml JM

liLiio iiri1iMitrsy<pUt>i<i;bi not.

vrn at U-liii^lil. ilii- ISih day of March.'"

<ni ilie tenour of ihin letter, jl is evident, that Edward II. had beta
vd iif liis iiiiwii's rlantlesline and certainly must uaconslimiioMl
?(liiii:s, wiili rt'Liiird lo coiilraciing ilieir son, the youthful heij of

ISABBLLA OP FRAHCB. 147

!• ibr withdrawing from us. We have already shown yoa tiat what the
i jou ia, taTing your reverence, not the truth, for never (lo much as she
ae against us) has she received either evil or villany from us or £tom any
Neither has she had any occasion * for feints to support herself in times
nor to escape from worse,' * for never in the slightest instance has evil
lone to her by him;* and, since she has departed from us and come to
hat has compelled her to send to our dear and trusty nephew, H. le De-
r, letters of such great and especial amity as she has been pleased to do
me to time ?

; truly, dearest brother, it must be as apparent to jrou as to us and to all
imt she does not love us as she ought to love her lord ; and the cause why
I spoken falsehood of our nephew, and withdrawn herself IVom us, pro-
leoording to my thoughts, from a disordered will, when she so openly,
asly, and knowingly, against her duty," Slc. Slc.

B king Edward passionately repeats the same observations respect-
tbella's shameless intimacy with Mortimer, of which he had made
the preceding letter to the prince his son, and then proceeds :

fOQ wished her well, dearest brother, you would chastise her for this mis-
ty and make her demean herself as she ought, for the honour of all those
tn she belongs. Then our son, dearest brother, is made also by his
, yonr sister, the companion of our said traitor and £)e, who is his coun-
a delaying his return, in our despite."

le requests touching Guienne follow, and after repeating his en-
I for his son to be restored to him, king Ekiward concludes his
B the following words :

1 that jrou will be pleased to do these things, dearest brother, for the
' God, reason, good feith, and namral (hitemity, without paying regard to
It pleasaunce of a woman, is our desire :
"Given at Lichfield, the 18th of March."

r this letter, Charles le Bel is said to have looked very coolly on
Iter, and even to have urged her to return, with her son, to the
busband ; but Isabella had another game in view, and had gone too
e felt, to recede, without incurring in reali^ the perils which she
fore pretended to dread. Her party in England had now, through
alignant activity of her especial agent, Adam Orleton, bishop of
>rd, become so strong, that about this time she received a deputa-
om the confederate barons, assuring her ^ that if she could only
, thousand men, and would come with the prince to England, at
•d of that force, they would place him on the throne to govern by
iduice.''*

f queen had already been very active in securing the assistance of
enterprising young nobles, and soldiers of fortune, who were, by
ranasive words and fair promises,^ ready to attend her ; but though
d conducted her preparations with great secrecy, the Despencen

le sentences marked by commas are evidently quotations fhmi Isabella's
ntations.

h le Despencer. Yet the deprivation of the queen^s revenue was a sei ioiifl

its restomtion must have taken place directly, or the queen would hava

t at this time as a matter of eomplaint.

singham. Le Moor. Froissart.

I

^^ ISABELLA OF FRANCE.

■had information of tier prucceiliii^», sni], if we may trusi
of Froissart, iliey circumvenlei] ber, by the skiiful Jisuibulion nf toanm
bribes among tbe minisiers of the king of France ; nay, he even guei w
far as lo say that the Drapencere aJdreraed tbeir golden argumciiu to
king Cbarles himself, eo siurcessfuUy, thai he withdrew his cotniieiaan
from Itis royal aiaier, and forbade any person, under pain of pQiiithiDnii.
lo aid or assist her in her projected invasion of Ctigland.' Ua* prqu-
diced liialorians, however, aiiribute Uie marked change of king CWlrv
with regard to his sisler'a cause, lo llie scandal which her oiidDguud
passion for Mortimer had caused in his court.

Some tmpresKion, too, might have been made on the mind of IinbdVi
brother, by the urgent app^ which her luckless huaband about tliii
liuie addressed to him, in the following letter :
"Man HUB xsd biiovid aaoTBtB,

" Wo would wish jTDu 10 icineiiibur, that we have ai diSeient timet ngiiM
10 you by our Ielleri,!H>w improperly jrour sister our wife hai coiiiliwlAt boxd
in withdrawing f^om o», and refusing to retarn at our commani), wUl> Aa w
natorioiulj hu silacbed 10 her oomjiany, and conaoiU with, oar tnia*, ti
mortsl enemf the HDiiiioer, and out biMhet eaemiu thete,-BDd bIhi irabw Efr
wmfd oar ion and heir mii adhaienl or (he sune our eneiaf, to oa* gnat ri^K
and UiBl of every one or liet blood ; and it you wiih her well, ym iiaiii^M
for your own honout ami ouii, 10 have these things duly radresx^d.''

Then, after reileraCing hie earnest enlreatic* to his royal brotfag l»h«.
for the realoration of the prince, hia son, "who ia," he absem*,-^^
loo tender an age to guide and govern himself, and therefore ought lob
under his paternal care," — king Edward implores him to put his ton ii
possession of the before-named duchy, for which he had perfutaed •(
homage as stipulated, and that without dwelling too jiaruculaily 00 ik
wording of the covenant, (which had evidently been designedly taymiii
by the contrivance of Isabella,) he adds :

" But tliesB things are at nothii^. it ii Ibe heidiog of oui niil wifc a^ mm.
wiiti our treitor) and iDonal eapmies, ihal nolariously cooIiDoaa ; iruemtt^ M
the laid traitor, the Monimer, wai ea/tied iu Iho train of oni »i "
VI Paris, al Ihe eolemiuty or the coronation of our v«ry .tcnr ii^u
i\ueen of Franco, ai Iha rBWocoal just pasjeJ, to our _■
of us.

" Whereiiire, dearsM hraiher, we pray you, aa 1. > .
rigbu and bleHingi of peace, and ib« entiio ftieniinii.,'
thai yoa wiil o( your bsnevoleuce ofleeUially atletiil i<<
wo ho not thiu dishonoured, and our son disinherited, wfjicL w .-
you Willi.

" Deareet brother, ymi ought to feel fijr ns, and to ahonld all iti
Ifar moeb we are, and much we have been, grieved at iho ^^

gieal injury whi«h we Ibto hi long rndored. Nay. verily, t)rMb*r-i»Jn^
we cannot bear ii longer. Tbe Holy lipirii have oharEe al you."'

At the same time, in the month of June, 1336, king Edward aaia «
fruitless attempt to prevail on the prince, his aon, to wiihdnw hi*-

^1 'Ryn

ItABBLLA OF FRAHCB. 149

bIT froiii the evil counsels and contumacious companions of the queen,
lis mother, and to return to him. This letter, like the preceding cor-
Bspondence, affords indubitable evidence how accurately the nnfor-
mate husliand of Isabella was informed of her proceedings with regard
» Mortimer.

■^ESWABB, PAIS HOB,

• We have seen by your letters lately written to us, that you well remembered
le cliarges we ei\joinod you on your departure from DoTer, and that you have
N transgressed our commands in any point, that was in your power to avoid.
Dt to us it appears that you have not humbly obeyed our commands as a good
m ought bis father, since you have not returned to us to be under government,
I we have et\)oined you by our other letters, on our blessing, but have noto-
ously held companionship, and your mother also, with Mortimer, our traitor
id mortal enemy, who, in company with your mother and others, was publicly
urried to Paris in your train, to the solemnity of the coronation, at Pentecost just
1st, in signal despite of us, and to the great dishonour both of us and you : for
Q^ lie is neither a meet companion for your mother, nor for you, and we hold
iBt much evil to the country will come of iL

** Also we understand that you, through counsel, which is contrary both to our
iierest and yours, have proceeded to make divers alterations, ii^unctions, and
ndinances without our advice, and contrary to our orders, in the duchy of
■wnna, which we have given you ; but you ought to remember the conditions
^ the gift, and your reply when it was conferred upon you at Dover. These
lOigt are inconvenient, and must be most ipjurious. Therefore we comm9.«d
id chaige you, on the faith and love you ought to bear us, and on our blessing,
ml you show yourself our dear and well-beloved son as you have aforetime
MM, and, ceasing from all excuses of your mother, or any like those that you
ive just written, you come to us here with all haste, that we may ordain lOr
HI and your state as honourably as you can desire. By right and n^sson you
Hht to have no other governor than us, neither should you wish to have.

"Also Cair son, we charge you by no means to marry till you return to us, nor
iliiout our advice and consent, nor for any cause either go to the duchy, or
sewhere, against our will and command.

*P. S. Edward, fkir son, you are of tender age: take our commandments
nderly to heart, and so rule your conduct with humility, as jrou would escape
ir leproech, our grief and indignation, and advance your own interest and
moor, fie lie ve no counsel tliat is contrary to the will of your father, as the
ise king Solomon instructs you. Understand certainly, that if you now act
nirary to our counsel, and continue in wilful disobedience, you will feel it all
e days of your life, and all other sons will take example to be disobedient to
eir lords and ikthrrs." '

The eril influence of Isabella prevented the paternal remonstrances of
m toywl writer from having any proper effect on the mind of her son ;
id it should seem that she succeeded in persuading him that she was
m object of the most barbarous persecution, both from the Despencers
id the king, her husband.

King Edward sent copies of these letters to the pope,' and entreated
M interference so effectually, that the pontiff addressed bis censures to
baries le Bel, on his detention of the queen of England from her royal

' Rynter*s Fosdera, vol. iv. From the Close Rolls of 19th Edward II.

* Rymer's Fcsdera, vol. iv F«vm the Close Rolls of 19th of Edward If. JPVob-

rt. Walsingham.

13 • jr

I

I

I

I

' f Btf ISABBLLA OF rRATTCB. ^^

cnnsort, and pharspd him. under ifie nfrnattj of exeoinmtmication, lo
ili*nii«« both Imbclln and licr sun li-um ain dotninioiis.

*• When king Charles )uid read these letiers," mvs FroiMart, " he wu
gmUy (litlurtiedt and cinlered hia sister to be inado a(X(imini«d wiili their
conieni«, for he had held no convprsaiion with hrr for • Inn^ dme, and
commanded her tn leave his kingilom iimnediBiely, or be would make
h*r Invo it with Khami'." '

■■ When the queen received ihis angry and coniempluoua mesaage 6tm
her brother, she wai greully troubled ;" for the Freiicii barons hod already
withdrawn iheinselvet, either a« Froieaari stales, by the king's roo-
inands, or through disgust at the infaitialinn of her condaei wiiii tr^atd
to Mortimer, '^and she had no adviser left but her drar coaein, Robal
d^Aftois,'' and he rould only asiisi her secretly, since the king, her
brother, had not only coid, b'ni sworn, - that whoever should i^«ak ia
behalf of bis sister, the ijiieen of England, should forfeit his lanils. ud
he banished the realm.'' Kotierl of Arlois had also di:«corer^ that a
plan was in agilaliun for delivering queen Isabella, the nrinee her fan,
tlie earl of Kent, and Sir Ro^r Mortimer, to king Edwata.*

" Sir Robert Artois came in the middle of the nighl lo want liabelk
of the |>eril in which she stood. The queen was struck with consiein^
lion at ibis intelligence, nnd Artois strongly urged her to enter the inf
perinl iciritoncs, and lo throw herself upon the protection of some of d»
independent Gennan princes, especially Willimn earl of Hainault, wiiose
consort was Isabella's 6rsi cousin.

" The queen ordered her baggage to be made ready as aecretlv as pos*
■ible, and having paid everytMng. (a point of honesty reconl«l U> ha
credit by Froissarl,) she quilled Paris, wiili .Mortimer; and arcompaaied
by her son, and by her husband's brother the earl of Kent, who hod beeo
altached to the homage deputation, and yitvi at this time decidedly hrr
partisan. AAer some days she came into the country of Camhny. j
When she fuund that she was in the territories of the empire, she «■•
more ai her ease; she entered Ostrerani in Hainault, and lodged at ibi
house of a poor knight, called sir Euslaee d'Ambreti court,* who rcoeirtd .
her with great pleasure, and enlerlained her in the best manner he coidd, I
insomuch that afterwards the queen of England and her son invited ibt I
knight, his wife, and all his children, to England, and advanced tf "'
fortunes in various ways."

" The arrival of the queen of England was soon known in the hnoM j
of the good earl of Hainault, who was then si Valenciennes ; sir Jehu, ]
his brother, was likewise informed of the hour when she alighted tl dx \
house of the lord of Ambreiieourt. This sir John being ai thai liM (
very young, and panting for glory, like a knight errant, inounied Im ^
horse, and, accompanieu by a few persons, set out from Valencienni* i
and arrived in the evening to pay the queen every respect and honmif-"

The queen was at thu time very dejected, and made a lamentable ^
eomplainl to him of all her griefs ; which aflected air John so much llu' '
he mixed his tears with hera, and aaid :

jtjimt

'Vim,

ISABELLA OP PRANCB. 151

•* Ladj, PM here your knighi, who wiil not fcil to die for you, though
erery one else should forsake you ; therefore 1 will do every thine in
iBy power to conduct you safely to England with your son, and to
rcMore you to your rank, with the aHEisiiuice of your friends in those
parts ; and I, and all those whom I can influence, will risk our lives on
ihe ftdrcDture (or your rake, and we shall have a BulEcienl armed forcr,
if it please God, without fearing any danger from the king of France."

The queen, who waa sitting down and sir John standing before her,
would have cast herself at his feet ; but the gallant sir John, rising up
(jnickly, caught her in his arms, and said,

''God forbid that the queen of England should do such a thing!
Madam, he of good comfort to yourself and compnny, for I will keep
my promise — and you shall come and see my brother and the countess
his wife, and all their fine children, who will be rejoiced to see you, for
1 have heard them soy so." '

The queen answered : " Sir, I find in you more kindness and comfort
ihnn in all the world besides ; and I give you five hundred thousand
Oianks for nil you hare promised me with so much courtesy. I and my
«m shall be for ever bound unio you, and we will put the kingdom of
England under your management, as in justice it ought to be." '

When Isabella quilled the castle of Ambreiicourl she told sir Euslaee
ud his lady, " that she misled a lime would come when she and her son
Muld acknowledge their courtesy. She then mounted her horae and
)rl ofTwiih her train accompanied by sir John, who with joy and respoci
tondncied her to Valenciennes. Many of ihe citizens of the town came
fart.*! to meet her, and received her with great humility. She was thus
(onducted to William count of Hainauli, who, as well as the countess,
ifcrtvrd her very graciously. Many great feasts were given on this
'iccasion, as no one knew belter than the counless how to do the
Konours of her house.*

Queen Isabella remained at Valenciennes during eight days, with the
jTicd count and his couniess, Joanna of Valois. Then the queen made
rvery preparation for her depanure, and John of Hainsuli wrote very
■j&ctionnte lettera to ceitain knight-companions, in whom he put great
ronlidcnre, from Brabant and Bohemia; ■'beseeching them, by all the
fnfndjhip there was between Ihem, to arm in the cause of the distressed
tjurrn of England."*

All the expediiion gatheretl at Dort. "Then the queen of England
took leave of the count of Hainault and his countess, thanking them
much for the honourable entertainment they had shown her, and she
kiw«d ihem at her departure. Sir John, with great ditliculty, ob-
Iftinrd liis .ord and brother's permission to accompany Isabella. When
lie took leave of him he said, — ■ My dear lord and brother, I am young.
«ikJ believe that God has inspired me with a desire of this enterprise for
Inj ■(Inuicemenl. 1 also believe for certain, that this lady and her sou
Imvp beeo driven from their kingdom wrongfully. If it is for the glory of
Oo<l to comfort the sfHicied, how much more is it lo help and succour

I

■FraiMUL

m^mm

^

\SS IfiABSLt.A OF PSAXCE.

one who is ilHughier of a king, ilearendeil from royal LiDflage, ui H
vrhow blood ive otireelves are relit^ ! I will renounce everything taoi
and go and take vp ihe cross in heathendom b^-ond sMa, if thi* food
lady leaves as wiihoui coinfon and aid. But if you grant me ■ wiHini
leave, 1 shall do well, and accomplish my purpose.' "

When tlie good earl heard his brother, and perceived the gnat iktm
he had for this eipedition, he said —

■* Dear brother, God forbid there should be any hiodetaoce to youi
wiHJv therefore I give yon leave, in the name afOuiJr" He thenkined
him. and squeezed his hand, in sign of great alTecliou.

The queen, her son, and suite set oS, accompanied by air Johiu uhI
went that night to Moos, where they slept. They embuied at Bon.
according to Froissnrt, whose account of their voyage and Uadisg o*
the terra inargnila between Orford and Harwich, is so marrelluiBii thu
we have, in preference, translated the authentic and circuinsttnual duiiii
of the chronicle of Flanders.

f" The tieel was tossed with a great tempest, but made the pott abo0
noon, when the ()ueen being got safely on sjiore, her koigltts aind aOut-
auts made her a house with four carpets, open in the from, when ik^
kindled her a great fire of the piecet of wreck, some o( ikat tkifl
having been beaten to pieces in the tempest; meaatime ibe (IniA
sailors got on shore before midnight all tlie horEei and arm. Mid ikai
the ships that Imd survived the storm sailed (the wind being btfoaattt)
to the oppofkile coast. But the queen, dnding herself ill at cam «i Ik*
atomiy sea-beach thai night, marched at day-break, with buuMn di^
played, towards the next country town, where she foimd all tbe huiwi
amply nad well furnished with provisions, hut all the people Aed."

Tiie advanced guard meantime spread themselves over th« anuUj,
and seized all the cattle and food they could gel, and the ownen U-
lowed them, crying biiierly, into the presence of the quocn, who ukai
them "■ what was the tair value of the goods P" and when they nuwl
the price, she paid them all liberally in ready money. The people wm
so pleased with this conduct, that they eupplied her well vith pi*
visions.

'' Queen Isabella arrived at Harwich on the 35th of SeplKtober, ISM^'
on the domain of Thomas of Brotherton, the king's brother, who *■
the lirsl that greeted her on her landing.' Then she was met and ml-
coined by her uncle, Henry of Lancaster, and many other l«ro«M ^
knights, and almost all the bishops, notwiihstanding the liii^'s pnd^
maiion, commanding ail men to avoid the queen's armuneat U iu M
landing."

Her force consisted of two thousand sevea hundred and '

"And beiaf earl iDsuhal great upon the coast,
Witb bells and bonfire* welcome* het lui tboni,
Aad by hi* oiEce gatheriog up an hott,
Sbowi>d 'ihe v"*-'^ tV^Bctt 4du he u Edwiid

ItABBLLA OF FBAMCB. 153

ohiiera, well appointed, commanded by lord John of Hainault, brother
0 her ally, the sovereign of Hainault Roger Mortimer commanded
ler English partisans.

The historian of Harwich declares that it was wonderful how the
ommon people flocked to her. Every generous feeling in the English
haracter had been worked upon by her emissaries, who had dissemi-
ated inflammatory tales of the persecutions she had endured from the
ingi, her husband, and his barbarous ministers. It was asserted that she
ad been driven into a foreign land by plots against her life, and that she
pas the most oppressed of queens — ^the most injured of wives.

So blinding was the excitement which, at this crisis, pervaded all
lasses of the people, that the glaring falsehood of her statements, as to
le cause of her quitting Engknd, was forgotten ; the improprieties of
er eoodnct, which had excited the disgust of her own countrymen, and
rased the king, her brother, to expel her with contempt from his domi-
ions, were regarded as the base calumnies of the Despencers. The
kcts that she came attended by her paramour, an outlawed traitor, and
t the head of a band of foreign mercenaries, to raise the standard of
eT<^t against her husband and sovereign, having abused her maternal
iHiience over the mind of the youthful heir of England, to draw him
ito a parricidal rebellion, excited no feeling of moral or rdigious repro-
■tion in the nation.

Every Plantagenet in England espoused her cause ; but it is to be
baerved, that the king's younger brothers by the half blood, Thomas
f Brotherton and the earl of Kent, were Isabella's first cousins, being
la sons of her aunt Marguerite of France, and that Henry of Lancaster
ras her ancle. The connexion of these princes with the blood-royal
f Fiance, had ever led them to make common cause with queen Isa-
dla. By them and by their party she was always treated as if she
rere a person of more importance than the king her husband.

When the alarming intelligence of the landing of the queen's arma-
WDt reached the king, he was paralyzed, and, instead of taking measures
Mr defence, he sat down to write pathetic letters to the pope and the
iag of Fiance, entreating their succour or interference. He then issued
pfoclamaiion, proscribing the persons of all those who had taken arms
gainst him, witn the exception of queen Isabella, the prince her son,
nd his brother, the earl of Kent It is dated Scot 28, 1326 : in it he
a thousand pounds for the head of the arch-traitor, Roger Morti-

The queen, who had traversed England with great celerity, at the head
if an increasing army, immediately published a reward of double that
Bin for the head of tlie younger Despencer, in her manifesto from Wal-
iogford, wherein she set forth, that her motives in coming are to deliver
lie kingdom from the misleaders of the king.'

The next attack on the king was from the pulpit at Oxford, where
idara Orleton, bishop of Hereford, having called the Univereity together,
1 the presence of the queen, the prince of Wales, Roger Mortimer, and

*FcBden.

r

I

ISA ISABELLA OF PRA.XCe.

tlteir followers, preaclieil a sermon from the following text : '*My \Mi,
my head aclielli;" (3 Kings iv. 19;) in which, afier espltUAiDg ihl
queen's motive for appearing in arms, he with unprieaily fetocjiy «»■
cludeJ with this observation : " When the head of a liingdom bMoattb
sick and diseased, it musi of necessity be Isken off, without tudM
attempts to administer any other remedy." ' The delivery of this nui^
Jerous doctrine, in the presence of the wife and eon of the iletoied
sovereign, ought lohuve filled every bosom with horror and iadi^aaiioBi
but such is the blindness of party rage, that its only edect wu to uicnHi
the madness of the people agahisi their unhappy king. That misjuil^
prince, after comniiiiing Ihe custody of the Tower, aod the can of ha
iieconil son, John of Ellham, to the young lady Despencer, liw niMt.
and the guardianship of the city of London to the faithful Sutplcton.
bishop of Exeter, left the metropolis,, attended by the two Des|>eiicav
tlie earls of Arundel and Hereford, his cliancellor Baldock, bishop ef
Norwich, and a few others of his adherents, and fled to Bristol, wiik
the intent of taking refuge in Ireland.'

The departure of the king was the signal for a general rising of Af
Londoners, in which the bishop of Exeter immediately fell a McaSet Vt
the fury of the partisans of the queen and Mortimer. The head of iki*
honest prelate was cut off, and presented lo the queen at Glouce«ter,M
an acceptable olTering. "Six weeks afterwards," says Thynoe, "ihi
queen, forgetting all discourtesies, did (like a woman deairaiu to sbov
that his death happened without her lilung, and also that she revcregad
his callmg) command his corpse to be removed from the place of IB
first dishonourable interment under a heap of rubbish, and crniMd U H
be buried in his own cathedral." ' The lady Despencer, intimtdated I7
this murder, surrendered the Tower to the mob, who prnolainiMl pROct
John the custos of the city ; and in the queen's name libenicd tht fl^
toilers in all the gaols.

^ The queen and all her company," says Froissart, ** the Ionic ^
Hainault and their suite, look ihe shortest road for Bristol, and in t*vj
town through which they passed were entertained wiih every muka
distinction. Their forces augmented daily until they arrired al Piirtt^i
which they besieged. The king and the younger Hugh Dnpeacartta
themselves up in the castle; old Sir Hugh and the carl oT Annidil
remained in the town, but these the citizens delivered up soon tHttV
the queeu, who entered Briniol, accompanied by Sii John Hainaull, «iib
all her barons, knights, and squires. Sir Hugh Despencer, the ddrt,
and the earl of Arundel, were delivered to the queen, that she might Jo
what she pleased with them.

" Tlie children of the queen were also brought to her, John of DikM
and her two daughters. As she had not seen them for a long tiine, i»
gave her great joy as well as nil her parly."

" The king, and the younger Despencer, shut up in the CMtle, M»

ISABELLA OF FRANCS. 155

jonch grieved at what paised, seeing the whole country turned to the
queen^s party.

^The queen then ordered old Sir Hugh and the earl of Arundel to be
brought before her son and the barons assembled, and told them ^ that
she should see that law and justice were executed on them, acc(»rding
to their deeds.' Sir Hugh replied,

'^^Ah, madam; God grant us an upright judge and a just sentence!
and that if we cannot find it in this world, we may find it in another.' ^

The gallant old knight, when he made this reply, was ninety. He
was speedily sentenced, and his execution took place on St Denis's day,
1326, in sight of his son and the king, who were still safe in the castle
of Bristol.

^ It seems,'' says Froissart, ^ that the king and the younger Sir Hugh,
intimidated by this execution, endeavoured to escape to the Welsh shore
in a boat which tliey had behind the castle ; but afler tossing about some
days, and striving in vain against the contrary winds, which drove them
repeatedly back within a mile of the castle, from whence they were try-
ing to escape, Sir Hugh Beaumont, observing the efforts of this unfortu-
nate bark, rowed out with a strong force in his barge, to see who was
in iL The king's exhausted boatmen were soon overtaken, and the con-
sequence was, that the royal fugitive and his hapless fovourite were
brought back to Bristol, and delivered to the queen, as her prisoners."
According to other historians, Edward fled to Wales, and took refuge
among the monks of Neath ; but his retreat was betrayed by Sir Thomas
Blunt, the steward of his household.

Now the evil nature of Isabella of France blazed out in full view.
Hitherto her beauty, her eloquence, and her complaints, had won all
hearts towards her cause ; but the touchstone of prosperity showed her
nataral character.

The queen and all the army set out for London. Sir Thomas Wager,
the marshal of the queen's army, caused Sir Hugh Despencer to be fast-
ened OD the poorest and smallest horse he could find, clothed with a
tabard, such as he was accustomed to wear, that is, with his arms, and
the arms of Clare of Gloucester, in right of his wife, emblazoned on his
sorcoat, or dress of state. Thus was he led in derision, in the suite of
the queen, through all the towns they passed, where he was announced

Sir trumpets and cymbals, by way of greater mockery, till they reached
ereibrd, where she and her suite were joyfully and respectfully received,
and where the feast of All Saints was celebrated by them with great
•oiemnity.

The unfortuitate Hugh Despencer would eat no food, from the mo-
ment he was taken prisoner, and becoming very ^int, Isabella had him
tned at Hereford, lest he should die before he reached London. Being
neariy insensible when brought to trial, his diabolical persecutors had
him crowned with nettles.' But he gave few signs of life. His mise-
were ended by a death, accompanied with too many circumstances

* Chronicle in Lelaiul, written hy sir W. Packington, treasurer to Edward the
Prin'*^.

L II i: M. V OF r R A !( c «•

i h, mrirc iliati nitiitlci) to here. He was rw
■ :-;r<iti^!iLilil tit' ihi' |Htwcr of Moniiner', mm
•.:■ < ti H'iiii ])n':<etit at tiis esc-rulion.
1-^1 twii );i-nili-iiii'tt iiuiiicd Daniel ami Michcl-
<ti.>ii'>ly lit tli'iff-inl. Ill ijniiiry tltc vinJinirt
111 i'li<':iKli(iI an (i<|Ni'ial aniinn«iiy aiguiiiat ihem.

i'iiiii:;li priitcriinl liy hi» pno«lly vocation, as
11 ihi' Lix>- ami till! hnltiT, durivnl little beuefii

w.i^ ri>iisi)!iit'il to l)ic IlihIlt ilicrcic* <rf" M^m
' I'liiitrivaiirc lie was atlackctl by Llie LoudiKi
ry fury, that lie died nf tliu injuries he received

.1 [»'rl!i!ii)u$ sjiiril whirh rharacicrized Uie coa-
I WiT- rulliieKit iliiiliri^ with the Knights Tnu-
:li< iir<ir>'iiliiii.r!< of his (Iau>;liUT Isabella, at this
\r:: thir |K>|Hilnr iilol of tlie Eni^li^h Jumi then;
ii.il iIi-IiiMiiii la^teil. she eoukl ilu no wnini;.
-. llie i)uitii set out fur London, aeroni{nninl
ilimiijiioLi. Sir John of lluinaulu and her par*-
>:iial partiKiii.«. uud her foreign Iroops, while a
r~. wlio had oeeimiuUiixl uti the road, followed

irABBLLA OF TKANCB.

19^

r to the inauguration of his successor ; but they found nothing
satisfy the young Edward, as to the lawfubiess of his title
ne.

lappy king had already been compelled to resign the great
t delegates of his queen and parliament, at Monmouth castle,
ton, &e traitor bishop of Hereford, was the person employed
en to demand it ; and as the king quiescently resigned it to
18 deputed, with twelve other commissioners, to require the
) monarch to abdicate his royal dignity, by delivering up his
plre, and the rest of the regalia, into their hands,
imissioners proceeded on their ungracious errand to Kenil-
le, where the king was kept as a state prisoner, but with
t treatment, by his noble captor, Henry of Lancaster. The
tor Orleton was the spokesman,' and vented the insatiable
lis heart, in a series of the bitterest insults against his fallen
under the pretence of demonstrating the propriety of depriv*

a dignity of which he had proved himself unworthy,
listened to the mortifying detail of the errors of his life and
t, with floods of tears ; ' and when Orleton enlarged on the
>wn him, by tlie magnates of his kingdom, in choosing his

successor, instead of conferring the crown on a strangier, he
uiowledged it to be such, and withdrew to prepare himself
ffnation of the outward symbols of sovereignty.*
foor, the faithful servant of Edward H., gives a pathetic
' the scene in the presence-chamber at Kenilworth Castle,
commissioners, in the presence of Henry Plantagenet, earl of
he earl of Lancaster's eldest son, were drawn up, in formal
>rleton, to renounce their homage to king Edward, and to

personal abdication of the royal dignity. Afler a long pause,
unate prince came forth from an inner apartment, clad in
nreeds, or, as the chronicler expresses it, ^ gowned in black,^
uggle of his soul being sufficiently denoted by the sadness
ires ; but on entering tlie presence of his obdurate subjects,
»wn in a deep swoon, and lay stretched upon the earth as one
e earl of Leicester and the bishop of Winchester immediately

assistance, and, raising him in their arms, with some tender-
•rted him. After much trouble, they succeeded in restoring
>py master to a consciousness of his misery.* ^ As piteous

as this sight was," continues the chronicler, ^ it failed to

compassion of any other of the queen's commissioners,
ideed, had the kin^ recovered from his indisposition, before
ess Orleton, regardless of the agony he had inflicted, pro-
1 repetition of his cruel insults.''
g gave way to a fresh paroxysm of weeping ; and being much

his decision, he at length replied, that ^ ne was aware that

a Moor. Knighton. * Walsingbam. Rapin.

la Moor. Walsingbam. * Ibid.

la Moor. * J>e la Moot. WiiwEnriBMsu

1.— 24

I

I

1

i

199' ISABELLA OF FRA>'Ce.

for liiB mimy sins he was thus punished, and ihereTore he booughl lliott
present to have coropassioo up<iD hiin iu liis adversity ;'^ ■dding, ■■ tbn
much as he grieveJ for having incurred ihe haired of hi* people, ha wh
glad that hia eldest son whs so giacious in iheir sight, Hnd ga*e ibv
Sianka for choosing him lo be their king."'

The cecemony of abdication, in this instance, it eeenui, cnnnabd
chiefly in the king's surrender of ilie crown, sceptre, oib, and other «■
signs of royalty, for the use of his son and successor.

Sir William Trussell, the same judge who pronounced sentetiee «f
deiiih on the Despencers, and other adherents of ibe king, and thou
ftppearooce among tlie commissioners of the queen and parlUment lad
pniiiably caused the king's swoon, pronounced the miiuiciatioa tf
Lu[r.iti;e.

The chief dults of dlwarit II. appear to have been errors otjudfftmt
and levity of deportment. He is accused of having made a party oalfal
Thames in a returned fagoi-baige. and of buying cabbages of the gy-
deners on the banks of the river, to make his soup; — a harmles* Wit,
wliirli might have increased tlie popularity of a greater sovereign. Eil-
ward wad, however, too much addicted to the pleasures of the bible, Uit
is said to have given way lo habits of intemperance.

From an old French MS., we find that he paid Jack of St. Alhaa. bn
painter, for dancing on the table before him, and making hiiu bugfa fi-
cessively.' Another person be rewarded for diverting him. bv tut iiA
fashion of tumbling off his horse. The worst charge of all U, ihtfk
was wont to play at chuck-farthing, or tossing up fanhii^ for ImiA
and tails; a very uukingly diversion certainly, and suflicieni la dilgwl
the warlike peers, who had been accustomed to rally rounil ifae TV>^
lious banner of the mighty father of this grown-up baby,

Adversity appears to have had a hallowing inHuence on ifae diaacttt
of Edward II- ; and tlie following loucliing lines written by hint in l^lUk
during bis captivity, sutlicieutly denote that he was iMmed. and f»-
sessed redective powers and a poetic imagination : —

Graced wiih fiur

Her bitieteti slioweti,
All from ■ wiutr/ cloud,
Siarn Ibrtune pouri.
View bui her ftvourile'
Sage and discerning,

Famed k
Stioiild slie witlidrsw li« a... .
Each grare iUe batiislie*,
Windoin and wit are OovK.
And bcautf T»ni<lie«.*

n as the commissioners relumed lo London with the IW^
and signified the abdication of tlie ble sovereign to the queen mm iI>
parliament, the prince of AVales was publicly proctaime^l kjag en Af
20th of January, 1927, and Walter, archbishop of Canterbury, pnvW

Be la Moor. Walsingbam. Polydore Vergil.
J. P. Andrews. Colleeiiona from the Chroiiiele*.
' tuppowd to mean Mortimer.

Tliese line* are irsnslated by J. P. AodiBW*, from ihe orlfiual lAlin,|l^
•orved in Aldetmao Fabiui't Chronicle :

■'Damnum mihi contuiit
Temfoie bnmali," dec Ac

ISABELLA OF FSAIICS. «50

m Mnnon in WettmiDster Abbeyy preparatory to the coronation, taking
for his text, not any Terse from tcripture, but the words. Vox populi^
vox DeL

The queen judged it prudent to detain her sworn champion, Sir John
de Hainault, and as many of his stout Flemings as he could induce to
mnain in her sendee, till afVer the coronation of the young king, who
had completed his fiiVeenth year in the preceding No?ember. He re-
ceiTcd knighthood from the sword of his cousin, the earl of Lancaster,
assisted by sir John Hainault on this occasion.

^ There was, at this time," says Froissart, ^^ a great number of count-
esses and noble ladies attendant on the queen Isabella. The queen gave
leare to many of her household to return to their country-seats, except a
few nobles whom she kept with her as her council. She expressly ordered
them to come back at Christmas, to a great court which she proposed to
hold. When Christmas came, she held her court ; it was very fully at-
tended by all the nobles and prelates of the realm, as well as by the
principal officers of the great cities and towns. The young king Edward,
since so fortunate in arms, was crowned with the royal diadem in West-
minster, on Christmas-day, 1326."

The most remarkable feature at this coronation was the hypocritical
deoManoar of the queen-mother Isabella, who, though she had been the
principal cause of her husband's deposition, aflected to weep during the
whole of the ceremony.'

Sir John de Hainault and all his companions, noble or otherwise, were
much ieasted, and had many rich jewels given them at the coronation.
He remained during these grand feasts, to the great satis&ction of the
lords and ladies who were there, until Twelf\h-day. Then the king,
by the advice of the queen, gave him an annuity of 400 marks, to be
hdd by him in fee, payable in the city of Bruges ; and to the countess
of Gamines, and some other ladies who had accompanied the queen
Isabella to England, king Edward HI. gave many rich jewels, on their
taking leave.

With a view of increasing the unpopularity of her unhappy lord, Isa-
bella wrote to the pope on the last day of February, 1326, requesting
him to canonise the beheaded earl of Lancaster, her uncle, whose virtues
she greatly extolled.*

The parliament, immediately after the coronation, appointed a council
of regency for the guardianship of the youthful sovereign and the realm,
eonsisting of twelve bishops and peers. Among these were the king's
two uncles, Thomas of Brotherton, earl marshal, and Edmund of Wood-
slock, earl of Kent, and the archbishops of Canterbury and York, &c. &c.
The earl of Lancaster was appointed the president.

Tlie queen made no remonstrance against this arrangement, but, having
military power in her own hands, she seized the government, and made
Roger Mortimer (whom she had caused her son to create earl of March)
ha prime minister, and Adam Orleton her principal counsellor.' Thii

' Planche*! Hist, of Coronation!.

• Bradyi Hiat, p. 138. and Appendix, No. 64, 66. Rapin, 397.

* WsUingham. De la Moor.

m

SABELLA OF FBAJICB

e trio managed the af^ira or ihe kingdom belwem dim. A6n
ma arrangement, Isabella, hilherlo ihe rao#t nccomplinhcd of iltMuMii-
'ore, threw off the mask, and, with the Eanclion of a [larliatDeiit IM^ tf
of her partisans, appropriated lo herself a dovrer exc«Mbn; t*'»4Mli
of Uie revenues of the kin^nni.

The Easter fotlowing brought an inTaaJon front iha SocKs, hMMtf
the heroic king Robert Brace, and the qa»en invited bftr riiampMn, *
John ITainaolt, to assist in repulsing this JRvnsion. At WIiilMiliilr, ^t
John, and a number of mercenary irtiops, airivwl in EnpUmt, boi «tlf
very ill received by the populace, as the following namttaa wfll An.

" The queen held a great court on Trinity Sunday, at ih* hwMt rf
the Black Friars, but she and her son were lodged in Oxe ritT. ■*■•
each kept iheir lodgings separate^ the young king with hia knlKlitB.a4
ihe queen with her ladies, whose numberg ware very coniridenbla. J*
this court the king had 6ve hundred knights, and daUwd fiAm m
ones. The queen gave her entertainment in the dormitofy, whtivM
least sixty ladies, whom she had invited la entertain air Jnhn dp EUoii*
and his suite, sat down to the table, There might be Mwa • tmmstm
Kobiliiy, well served wiili plenty of eiran^ dishee. ao diagtitwd itel t
could not be known what they wen^. There were b]mi ladjaa matt
superbly dressed, who were expecting with impatiencd Uia hoar of ibe
ball, but they expected in vain. Soou after diimer, the gw ~ '

ISABELLA OF FRANCE. 161

** Such tools the Tempter never needs
To do the savagest of deeds.*'

B7 this pair the royal victim was conducted, under a strong guard,
tint to Coife Castle, and then to Bristol, where public sympathy operated
so &r in his hrouT that a project was formed by the citizens for his de-
liverance. When this was discovered, the associate-traitors, Gurney and
Maliravers, hurried him to Berkeley Caade, which was destined to be
his last resting-place. On the road thither, he was treated in the most
barfaaroua manner by his unfeeling guards, who took fiend-like delight
in augmenting his misery, by depriving him of sleep, compelling him to
lide in thin clothing in the chilly April nights, and crowning him with
haj, in mockery.'

Aecording to De la Moor, the queen^s mandate for the murder of her
ro3ral huaband was conveyed in that memorable LAtin distich from the
iobtle pen of Adam Orleton, the master-fiend of her cabinet; it is capable,
by the alteration of a comma, of being read with two directly opposite
meaniDgs :

** Edwardmn occidere oolite timere, bonum est
Edwarduni occidere nolite, timere bonuin est*

** Edward to kill fear not, the dee«l is gnotl.
Edward kill not, to fear the deed is good/*

Manriee de Berkeley, the lord of the castle, on the first arrival of the
mhappy Edward, had treated him with so much courtesy and respect,
fhat he was not only denied access to him, but deprived of all power in
kit own home.

On the night of the 22d of September, 1327, exactly a twelvemonth
after the return of the queen to England, the murder of her unfortunate
husband was perpetrated, with circumstances of the greatest horror. No

' De la Moor adds, with great indignation, that they made him shave in the
open field, bringing him cold muddy vrater in an old helmet, from a stagnant
ditch, for that purpose. On which the unfortunate Edward passionately ob-
fcrTcd, in allusion to tlie bitter tears which overflowed his cheeks at this wanton
cruelty, ** In spite of you, I shall be shavefl with warm water.*' The excellence
of Edward*! oonsdtutioa disappointing the systematic attempts of the queen's
BMciless agents, cither to kill liim with sorrow, or by broken rest, improper diet,
and unwholesome air, they applied to Mortimer for fresh orders, it being well
known that the whole body of the friars-preachers were labouring not only for
bis deliverance, but his restoration to royal power. The influence of tliis fra-
trmity was ealculated to awaken the sympathies of every villngc in England in
ftrvoor of their deposed sovereign, whose patience and meekness under his
aflictions and persecutions had already pleaded his cause in every heart not
wbolly dead to the tender impulses of compassion. It is supposed the sudden
idea of shaving the king originated in die fear of his being recognised by his
partisans on the journey.

*A modem biographer of tliis prelate, with some degree of plausibility, en-
deavours to acquit him of tliis orime, on the grounds that the equivocal Latin
venesi quoted by so many English authors, were composed more than a century
|irior ID this era, by an archbisliop of Strimonium, with reference 10 Gertrude
i)uf«n of Hungary, and also tliat Orleton vms out of the kingdom at *J<e time of
Edward n.*s murder; but there is no reason why he ihoukl aot have altered
and adapted the lines for this purpose.
14*

I

"Wl ISABELLA OF PRA<(CB.

ontwarJ marks of violence were perceptible on his person, when ia
body was exposed lo public view in Gloucester i:nthMlral, bul the r^
and distorted lines of die bee bore evidence of the agonies he hnl M-
dergone, and it is reported thai his cries had been heaid at a coMJitftrti
distance from the castle, where (his barbarous regicide was eomniillii
t' Many a one woke," adds the narrator, " and ptayed to Got) for it
harmless soul, which that night was departing in torture."'

The public indignation, in that part of the country, wu M gntHf
excited against the infamous instruments of the queen and MortiniBrftkH
they were fain to make their escape beyond seas, to avoid the mtfrntt
of the people.'

The murdered king was interred, without funeral pomp, inOhimuf
cathedral, and Isabella endeavoured, by the marriage fesiiTiiieauTbcnoi
and hia young queen, to dissipate the general gloom, which Uw t«p-
cious c ire urns lances attending the death of her unhappy emuon W
occasioned. But so universal was the feeling of disgust which lb* e«>
duet of the queen and her tavouriie Mortimer excited, that nolliia; ta
the despotism she had succeeded in establishing, enabled b«r to tef
possession of her usurped power.'

The pacification with Scotland gave great oflence to the pablir.l»-
cause Isabella bartered for twenty thousand pounds, the claims nf ilir
king of England over Scotland, and Mortimer appropriated the niontTia
his own use. Br the same treaty they restored the regalia of tj^uihwl
lo their rightful owners ; the English were indignant, that in ibit iqplih
was comprised the (amous Black Cross of St. Margaret, wbid) hid kNi
one of the crown jewels of their Anglo-Saxon kings.* Stitl omw aoi
they enraged, that, without sanction of pariiameni, the qiisen eoodiAt
a marriage between the princess Joanna, an infant live j^emn oU^tfJ
David Brace, the heir of Scotland, who was about tvro ycai* sUk
She aecompanied her young daughter lo Berwick, attended by Mv^aK,
and, in their presence, the royal children were luarried at thaIM«%
July 12, 1328.'

It was observed that the two brothers of the late lung, Th(»M4f
Brolherton and Edmund earl of Kent, and Isabella's own uiicle.U)ewl
of Lancaster, with some other magnates, had withdrawn thenoelvHAvB
the national council, in utter indignation at the late proceeding ef tbt
(jueen, and the insolence of her favourite Mortimer. They perMimL
too late, that they had been made the tools of an artful, ambitiooM, hJ
vindictive woman, who, under the pretence of reforming the

■Ttrne wers ihe words of t)e la Moor, the bitliful and aflectionsle iBnwttf
Edwnid n., who did justice to his maner'i memory in his patlietic lobad*-
nicl«. Edward HL silrrwardi nlaed s tomb with a fine eSBgy to Ut IWt«'<
memory,

* Thtre jrean sfterwards, GitTnej wai teiied «I 8iiiE(m by ktng Bdura;^ HL'i
Olden, noil beheaded at sen, on hia yoyage lo Engluid, in otArt to artmal M >

luppoted, Uie diigrnce which musi hnve &llen an ibe i
te in the murder of the late king, her husbuiJ, bail 1
light Bt hii Iri^. ' De la Moor. Wa^iinshan.

* See iho biographf of Maiilda of Scotland, vol. j.
The Scotch oajled Itaeii futoiB ii'acBa,^!! deiidoo, JiMa 1

ISABELLA OF FRANCE. 163

her hnsband's government, had usurped the sovereign authoiity. and in
one year committed more crimes than the late king and his unpopular
miDisters together, had perpetrated during the twenty years of his reign.'
Moreover, the baiharous persecutions, and cruel death, of their late sove-
leign made the princes recoil with horror, at the idea of their having
httku in some measure, accomplices in the guilt of the queen.

Mortimer had even had the audacity, when parliament met at Salis-
Kury, October 16, to enter the town at the head of an army; and, burst-
ing into the room where the prelates were assembled, forbade them,
nmler peril of life and limb, to oppose his interests. He then seized on
the young king and queen, and carried them off to Winchester ; and,
far from paying any regard to the earl of Lancaster's complaints, of the
infringement of his office, of guardian to the king's person, he marched
to Leicester, and plundered his domain there.'

Isabella's cruelty, her hypocrisy^ and the unnatural nmnner in which
•he rendered the interests of the young king, her son, subservient to the
aggrandizement of her ferocious paramour, Mortimer, excited the indig-
nation of all classes ; and a strong party was organized, under the
anspiees of the Plantagenet princes, for the delivering of the nation from
the tynnny of this modem Semiramis. The earl of Lancaster, who
was by this time fully aware of the disposition of his vindictive kins-
woman, perceived that he was intended for her next victim ; on which
he» with the brothers of the late king, and their confederates, took up
aims, and put forth a manifesto containing eight articles, all alarming to
the guilty queen and Mortimer, especially the first clause, which threat-
ened inquiry into the unlawful augmentations of her dower ; and the
fifth, regarding the late king's death.' The queen mother, aware of the
impoasibility of meeting such inquiries before parliament, urged the
young king to attack tlie malcontents ; assuring him that the object of
hii uncle was to deprive him of the throne.^

The interference of the archbishop of Canterbury prevented another
civil war, and through his exertions a hollow pacification was effected
between Isabella and the princes. It was not, however, in the nature of
this princess to forgive any offence that had ever been ofifered to her;
and It is to be observed, that her enmity had hitherto always proved fatal
to every person who had been so unfortunate as to incur her ill will.
With the wariness of a cat, she now examined the characteristic qualities
of the members of the royal family, whom she determined to attack
separately, since she had found them too strong to engage collectively.
She commenced with the earl of Kent, who had, ever since the death of
the king, his brother, suffered the greatest remorse for the part he had
taken in the late revolution.

Isabella, being aware of his state of mind, caused it to be insinuated
to him tliat the late sovereign, his brother, was not dead, but a prisoner

* Walvingham. De la Moor. Knighton. * Lingnrd. * Knighton.

'LaiK-mflter wai compellml to ask pardon, to submit to an enormous fine, and
to enter into recognisances not to do any evil or injury to the king, the two
qoeensi or anj of their household or council, whether great or small. — ^lAii^\\

\m

ISABELLA OF F R * X C I ■

withio the w»lU of Coife Cwtlo.
inquite into ihe truth of ihu

I
I

A frinr, irlKun the eari '
e. on findia^ ikmi evi^r\
?ieighlKinrliO(Ml canfidenlly briiovnl llial the udibrUlllAle V
uTiDg, unilrr very rlomi rettmitiL, in tlie caailp>au!mvu(i:.i: .
tccoa lo ihi< mysterioiM raptite : hf was diowa. U a (IUlanc«,
sitting al table, who«« aif aiid tigure gmily rc>cinblcd thai of
f^aseil kingt ubom, inilced. bp was mcani to pcraunnic. Tlw i
Kent. aniii'Ds to make repnntiinn in his royal broUier fur the
tuu) done him, hastened lo Curfe Oitlle. and boldly tlcmant
gOTtrnor " to br cnnilucted to the ajiartuufiit of sir Edward of
»on, hi* broiJier," Tlie governor did iioi deny thai king Edi
in the ouilt^, but protested the impossibility of permitting any
Bee him. Thf earl then prcTail'xi on him to lake charge of a leilef I
his iIlu<irii<Dg prifioticr. I'lii* letter wm immodiately conrej-ctl loqnea
l«ab«lla. oud used by her as a pretence for the arrest of the dciiuM
prince.'

Thi» w'M done at Winrhestcr, where the parlionient was thea MMB-
bUd- £arl Edmund was impeaclml oT hifh trtnson, befon the pMa>
lli« own Irtter wa* the cliinT eridunre pruduced aipiinsi hitn, lo^ctfal
with Ilia coiifeHJoii, in which he acknowlndged " lliat a oorlua fn»
pnaehftf of London lold him he had conjured up a apiriu who mtmi
nim that hia brother Kdwanl wai atiU alive ; alau, that sir bgaa B»
renger brought bini a letter from llie lord Zouche, requesting bis tmin
tnM in the restoration of hiti late euvereign.'"

For this imposaible tr^oiion he was senienred to lose bis bead.' U
arr&igumeni took plar.c nn Sunday, Ahrch 13, 1329, (ItabelU's Sa^ufi
being no holidays,) ami be was condemned to dio on the morrow, 'id
tlial day,'' says tlie chroniclers, ^ the king was so beset bv the qoMS
Ilia mother and the earl of March, ilint it was impofsible for hin u
make any eflbrts to preserve liia ancle irom the cruel fate lu whiAlfc
had been so unjuidy doomed,"*

This murder, which was designed by Isabella as
the princes of thp bloofl-^'ayal. had llie eliefl of increasing the
rence in which she was now held iliroughoul the kingdom. Thel. ,
pr«sc.nted Mortimer's son, GeofTrey, grants of the principal part jflf'
estates of the princely victim.*

' Waiainetiun. • Public Aeu.

'See Ui« ohionioler in Lolaod, vol. ii. p. 417, who deeftljr inipltc*(as b
tliii miBdecd. It itwpirad *ll |>«ipla wilh Lortor The C'xeculioner him
Mcceilj Bwar. sad th<> earJ of Kent waited on the KaSnia ai Wm«h*«tf^
sale from noon lill Hve in the anemoim, becmue no on« coulil b* inA

Eform thai office. Ai length a mndemned felon, in the Mar^aiMta, 9
pnnlon on die condition of dneapinuint the onfonunue PtaniagMwi. 1
' Aftur Ihit BsacMioa. Mortimer augmeated bis own tatiuM '"

and BtTn^led at) the pomp and eonrcquence a( princely nnk.
ilrod and ci|[hi]' knit^ls in hi* entnbtiihineiil, and nevar moved wiihoul « j
(imi» imln of rolluwcn. Ho held so many round tabiei, n (pw * * '
pseullar la hi> rurally, in liniiaiion of kinn Arihuc'i chivaliHt i
■Wuined 10 nnioh imponaiwe in hii deroeanoui, that cTan his mi OssAiTMI

1

IB left IsBbplU I

h of Chartps le Bel. without male iseue, havtiig left Isabrlts
krtivitig rhilil of Philip le Bel, her eldest eon, Edward HI.,
^httt he had the belt claitn lo [he aaven'igtiiy orFranre. The
f of Fnaee decidtnl otherwiae, anJ gave, first the regency,
n the birth of llie jHKlhumojs daughter of Charles le Be'l)
Eta Philip of Valois, the cousin of iheir late king. Eilwiird
> assert hiB rliini, as the nephew of that monarch and the
t Philip te Bel; but his mother, deceived by overtures front
^ double niHrriage, between her daughter Eleanor and the heir
kud her second son and Philip^ ttnnghler, not only prevented
wrting his own claims, but compelled liim, sorely agajnul
I ftcluiowledge those of his rival, by perTonning homage for
M hctd of the French crown.

returned froni his last conference with l^iiig Philip at Amiens,
lour with himxelf, and still more so with hia mother. The
n which Isabellii's repuiation was generally held, both at home
i, though perhaps concealed from him in his owti court,
[was as yet bui a siale puppet, surrounded by her crealure»,)
■ed to him through a variety of chaimela, aa soon an he wns
i limits of her usurped authority.' The pride, the crueltv,
ke of Mortimer were represented to the king by hi» faithful
B other circuiusUmcea, tending to convince him of the infamy
■en-molher's connexion with ihai favourite. Edward was
bached when informed of these things, and delermiced no
H a quiescent wilnesB of bis niother^s dishonour.
ftament was summoned lo meet at Nottingham a fortnigiti
Umas, and llie youthful sovereign considered that it wonld
pble lime for the arrest of his mother's parEjnour, when all
I of Enitland were assembled round him in support of hia
■riiy. Edward had intended to take up his abode in Notiing-
k one of his own royal palncee ; but Isabella, (brestftUing his
n already established herself tliere. with Mortimer and bis
U of armed followers. Isabella had used the precaalion of
M keys of the casde to be brought lo her, and at night, for
Wily, she placed ilieni imder her pillow.'
jkiculars of this most interesting crisis are best related in ihe
jbe lively chronicler, from whom Stow has taken his graphic
■ the arrest of the queen and her lover.
,«*■« a parliament, where Roger Mortimer was in such glory
K that it was without all comparison ; no man durst name
jnan earl of Alarch ; and a greater rout of men waited at his
liun the king's person. He would suflbr the king to rise lo
|,VrouId walk with him equally, step by step, and cheek by
■r preferring the king, but would go foremost himself with
L He greatly rebuked the carl of Lancaster, cousin to tlis

Ebim, " ihv kiDi of follf." In fluit. be izoaeded GsvcMdm
qwonen in pilda and oruelly. — Dugdak.
bam. •Kw^Mm^ C%Wt.

_

kin^i for that «riihout his conseni he anp>int(s! cerloin DotiUoeo to
IcMlgingB in the town, netting, ■ Wfio mv1e him so bold to lake up hb
lodgings close to the (jueen ?' Wiih which worda. ihe conRahle, btnf
grentij frarfd (alarmed 'i, appointed lodging* for the (^li nf Lanntieii
full mile out of the town, where waa lodged John Bohnn, ibe ml rf
Hereford, lord hi^ constable of Gnuland ; by nliirh nunni a ^nst tim-
leniiAn arose Hmong the noblemen and thi? commnn people, who olM
Roger Mortimer ' the queen's paragon and the king's maJHcr, whu it-
Biroys the king's blood and usurpa ihe regal aiajesiy.' All ilii« iroiW
the king's friends; and William Mnnlague, nud olhera, ilmr lo dtaa
Robert de Holland, keeper of Notiiiizhaffl Gaitlc, unto vrhoiD all wm*i
cnratn of the same were known. Then, on a rertain night, ibt ki^
lying without the castle, both he and his friends wcm bruagbt, by ba^
light, through a secret way underground, bGginitiog far rrom tlal (Ml*,
till they eame even to the queen's chamber, wbidi iliey by chance Cxni
open ; they, being armed with naked swords in ihelf hiUiil*, wvnt Af>
wards, leaving the king armed without (he chamber-door, iMt hi* mote
should espy hiin. They eniered in, slew sir Hu^ Turpinfton, who fr
sisted ihetn ; and to John Neville they gave a deadly woand' tt^
ihenee they went to the queen-mother, whom thev found with tbc obI
of March, just readv to go lo bed ; and, having seized Uie *aid eail,Aiy

1ib< hin> Inin Ihii KbII Ihi nn«.n r»»naj«t »..:_««•■ «la^*IIFl l~

I

meh SMI

n

ISABELLA OF F B A !< C E.

h SMtenre had neilhPT delay nor mercjr. Thi« wns in-
icd inio effect, wiihoui wailing lo hear wlial the accused had
K own vindication."

B Burfonl and Jolin Deverel, who were taken in the queen's
ir aj Nollingliam Casile, earnestly desired to disclose the par-
Edward II.'b murder, but were not permitted to disburthen
iences of their guilty knowledge, lesl they should loo deeplv
le qneen-m other.

r was the firsi person executed at Tvbuni, which waa ihci
ttie name of the Elms. Burfotd and Deverel weie exeniteil
His body hung on the gallows at Tyburn two days and
Ifae especial order of the king; it was tlien taken down and
k Grey Friars' church, within Newgate, of which queen Isa-
, benelhctres?.'

iru spared the ignominy of a public trial, through the inler-
Ihe pope, John XXII., who wrote to the young king, exhort-
tto expose his moiher'c shame.' After this, Edward attri-
tr crimes to the evil inflnence of Mortimer, as may be seen
I decliuBlion lo parliament of the reasons which induced him
IS punishnient of death on that great stale criminHl. In the
B of this posihnmous arraignment it is set forth that,
U Roger falsely and maliciously sowed discord between the
ir lord the king and the queen his companion, making her
I if she came near her husband he would poignard her, or
in some other manner. Wherefore, by this cause, and by
ttiei, the said queen remained absent from her said lord, to
tishtmour of the king awl of the said qvecn his tnother, and
9ge, perhaps, nf the vhoh nation hereafter, irhich God

he first acts of the emancipated monsich, after the gallant
It by which he had rendered himself nuwlcr of his own
lo strip the queen-mother of the unconscionable dowor in
'had helped herself, and to reduce her income to 1000^ a
fas also Judged expedient by his council to confine her to
loyal fortresses at some distance from the metropolis, lesl by
1^ disposition she should excite fresh troubles in ihe realm.
y afler relating the particulars of Mortimer's death, adds,
'won after, by the advice of his rouncil, ordered his mother
bed in a goodly castle, and gave her plenty of ladies to wail
la well as knighta and squires of honour. He made her a
dlowance to keep and nuiintain the stale lo which she had
Dmed,' bul forbade her ever lo go out or show hecselT abroad,

, Do l> Mwr. Wnltinnliani. Sww. There i> ■ piHP[ii in Uio
jllininic the wife and eon r>f Mottioier lo bur/ his bcKijf al Winraoie;
B to Weetpr, tliB liniisfiM w>e not mode till the nexl osDIury.

^r. 413, qiioioii by Dr. LinRonl, vol. iv. p. 14.
ni.,anno 1330i Par. Roll*, p. P3. 'Kniithtcm. Walalneham.

IT 1333, Eitwiril iI(>ckarM Uiml his moihci bu nrnplgr and tpMta
)]MbU« bands all the cutleiand csMlei which forauA^MtewCiv

r

I

I
I

I

m
7t

ISABELLA

at CMttin times, and when ouy sliows were exhibited in ibe cobI

Outte Rising, in Norfolk, vraa the pUce where queeu Inhellk ni
destined to spend the long years of her widowhood. Ii had beloopd
to the Albinis, froon vFhom it paaaed to [he lords of Slonlali ; the wido*
of the last baron of that line had surrendered it to queen IsaboQa, dunaf
her regency, for an annuity of 4001. per annum-
It was a noble pile, built, in 1 ITS, by Wdliam Albini, husband te
queen Adelicio. It was constructed in the manner of Norwidi Ctrtlr,
on a bold eminence surrounded by a high bank and deep valluBi. 1^
walls were three yard« thick ; the keep was a large square Iowvt, oh
coin[)aseed with a deep ditch and bold rampart, on which was a Mimf
wall with tliree lowers. Enough remains to show thai Caatle Rinf
must have been a most formidable, if not an impregnable, forlrtat.*

Froissarl says, " The queen passed her time there meekly ;" by whidi
oar readers are lo understand that she neither devised plou nor inwats
against the government of her illustrious son, Edward III^ and gut* m
further cause for public scandal.

More than one ancient historian hints that, during her loog ooulo*-
inrnt, Isabella was afflicted with occasional Gts of derang>;aienL' ba
asserted that these aberrations commenced in a violent acceea of mmt"
oeas, which seized her while the body of Mortimer hung on ihc gdlovt
Iler agonies were so severe, that, among the common people, the lyW
prevaded for some months that she died, at the lime the body wm tikta
down. These tiadiUons lead us lo conclude that for many tnonthi iht
populace did not know what had become of her. Her retired Ue, ■>■
conaecled with conventual vows, must have strengthened Uie reports t(

in return he bai aeigned liii mDihec diven otber lands and castles nt A* «<M
of -2000/. perBDniun: iheae aie chiefly in Nonh Wales, and the canJe oTBn*
ford, with iu i«l&iul, mill, and sppunenHitce, in Soiiih Wales: th* ten if Qa

ftaali are mniB annuiliei pBjsble from Tsiion* lojal clpmeww*. Cdifi

fa^ira. p. B39.

■We have hu« an alJuiioa lo ibe cottomi of thine tiinea, wbea miaUiit
■liows were the only ihealrioal eihibilion in lue, and much enrounigBd bf ^
msenales of ilie lend. The couru ot [Qyal and baroni*] canles wpia bMh «1t
galleries Toand them for ibe conTCnience of the liunily witnessing llii wi ■■nm
■pemiKlest the principal bonels wets bnill in a aimilsi msniwr fix te MM

*ThB keep of Caitle Sising is not wholly dilapidaisd ; die grsM Ml » ■*
Uiod liM conn-Ieets. It now IwloDgs lo Ibe boo. Mrs. Grsville Uovant, ••• it
the detoendania of the Kreal Albini, the origiaal founder. The rnnaJiu J da
caslTc, M> noted for its hieloriCBl reminiventrer, have been, by lb* fliut tuN <i
the hon. Col. Howard, partly reslored ; the principal itaircaaa bas been l>]al>4
and two rooma rendered habitable.

'Sir Winston Cburobill mentionfl this tradition as a EMtt; Horeii kioH ■»
These reports are somewbal slrBngllieDed by the extravagant ssiaiy paid mia
laiuily phyaician bI Kiting Castle. In ihe Fovlera is a deed Metuing • tOK t«
annum U> master Pontio de Cod rtiDne, late physiciaii to king Edwsrd 11,^ *■*
lathe qaeen-mother, laabella; the ball IBs of Norwich are eiijoined MpafUatlU

ISABBLLA. OF PRANCE. 169

«ff derangrairnt. which was attributed to the horrors of conscience.
She «*s in her sii-aa it-thirtieth year when her seclusion at Castle Rising
Corn men red.

The king het son generally, when in Knglan{I, viailed her twice or
1hric« B ynf)' and never penniited any one lo name her in his presence
otherwise than wiih the greatest respect It is to he observed that E<!-
wmtTa council, in regard to ihe petitions of certain individuals for the
te^nrery of money due to Iheni during her government, are by him
nftrred to the advice of queen Isabella. Her name in carefully guarded
from ail repronch in the rolls of parliament, which nevertheless abound
in dtspatee relative lo her regency.

T'here is one petition, from the poor lieges of the forest of Maccles-
I lo king Edward, declaring that "Madame his mother holds ihe
-1 as her heritage, and yet the boil iff of Macclesfield kills her venison
! destroys her wood." Isabella is not named as queen, but only a>
e the kiug''s mother ; the king replies, ** Let this petition be shown
to the queen, thai her advice may be learned thereon."

Daring the two first yeara of Isabella's residence at Costle Rising, her
•eclasioo appears most rigorous^ but, in 1332, from various noiations,
(be ^1 mny be gatlieied that her condiiion was aoieliorated. That
ytmr king Edward declared,* " that, aa his dearest mother had simply
and vponinneously surrendered her dower into his hands, he iiaa assignee

- divers other cosiles and lands lo the amount of 2000/." The same
. r this dower was settled she was permitted to make a pilgrimage to

l^y ahrine of IValsingbam, not far from her residence in Norfolk.

! j is evidenced from the ancient Ijiiin records of the corporation of

[in,* which is in the neighbourhood of Castle Rising. There is an

-V of'ZOi. for bread sent to Isabella, queen-dowager, when she came

:.', Walsingham; also 4/. for a cask of wine, 3/. IBs. 6d. for a piece

: -A ax, and 21. for barley; also 3s. for the carriage of ihese purchases.

King Edward restored to his mother, two years afterwards, the reve*

nurs (li Ponthieu aud Montrieul, which were originally the gift of her

mutdered lord. The same year, 1334, her eon, John of Eltham, died in

the bloom of life, and her daughter, Eleanor, was married to the duke

of Gueldres;* Edward 111. likewise visited his mother at Risings: the

neordu of Lynn return this notice, dated 1334. "The queen laabelU

Mnt h«r precept to the mayor to provide her eight carpenters, lo make

praparatioois for ihe king's vbit." lu 1337, Inward 111. again made

•onus stay at Castle Rising with his mother, and Adam de Riffham, of

I^fut, seat him a present of wine on this occasion. Once only have we

efiiience that Isabella visited the metropolis; this was in the twellUi

• ir of Iier son's reign, when she is witness to the delivery, of the great

i JD its purse, by king Edward to Robert de Burghersh, in the gnmd

.jrnbcr of llie bishop of Winchester's palace in Southwark.

fnriMon. 'Ciileya Faden, 635.

MV h«*e be™ ravoured wiih llirw extracu hj \lie lion. Mrs. Grevillo How>-
, ihpf ore of hi«iorica! importance, »ince ilipy sel Bl roM nil doubis re^t<l\«i

- fwi of lialyLU'i i-Eidence ai Castle Riaing. * Sec sooceeAmt hvskmiix.
VOL. U. — IS

I

I

I

r

I

I

J70 ISABELLA OF fiia:«cb.

Parliameiil granted lo Edward III. an aid of 30,000 sacks of nod;
uid by a wiil, ilaied Feb. 27, 1343, ihe baroria of ilic exchequer wm
forbiddea to levy any part from ihc lands and niaiiors of tht qutsi^
mother, '^ because it was unreasonable ihal a person exempt aM Dol
■ummoned lo parliament should be burlhened with aids gnuiMd by m^
liament." ' The same year Isabella received another fjsil from ihi Ul|
Ueraon; on ihis occasion the Lynn records note that lU. 13«. 104. «M
expended for meat sent to ■' our lady queen Isabella." Thers is u iun
oi il. 1Q«. Id., paid by ihe corpoTBtion, for a present sent to the botK-
hold of our lord the king, at Thorndenes, ai his first coming to Riiiiigt
and 3d. for a horse sent by a messenger to Rising. The corpontioa
also is answeraUe for V2d. given to William of liikenhaui, the Utai^
bearer at Risings, it. 'id. given to the messengers and miiisirela ottptn
Isabella, 23. 9d. for wine sent to the queen's maid, and 12^., a lai|M
for the earl of Sulfnlk's minstrels. Barrelled aturgeoa was a ityomt
food at the queen's table, end it tvos certainly very costly, when mb*
pared with the price of other viands. The corporation of Lynn lb*
mine year sent gifts of a pipe of wine and a barrel of sturgison, ooilini
logeilier 9/. 12s. 9f/., to their lady, queen Isabella ; and, moreover, pii
John, the butcher, money for conveying the said gifia to Cnslle Iti«n{.
1'hey senl to her ireasurer and seneschal gifis of vrine that cost tOi,
and presented I'ls. to John de Wyndsore and other men of the kii^
liimily, when at Rising; besides 2d. given to a senani louktnf n
strayed horses from the castle; likewise iOd. given to the tWwmtf
Rising, when he came lo obtain horses, for the use of king Ed«>nL A
barrel of sturgeon cost as much as 2^ I5j.; the men of Lynn IWtt Aal
they paid 111. for four barrels sent at diflerent times, as gilW to ttwifMn
a( Castle Rising, and 20s. for two quarler-barrels of sturgeon mat n im
servant Peroie. The aupply of herrings, as gifts from ihc men a(Cpt>
amounted to 6/., and Iliey seni her 103 quarters of wajc, ai a cost «4£
16s. Id. In Ihe eightcenih year of his reign king Edwan] dale* mvol
letters to ihe pope from Castle Rising.

A curious plan for ibe annoyance of king Edward was devbcd, ■ t*
year 1348, by the French monarch, who proposed lo make ihe fUO"
dowager of France and Isabella, the mediatrices of a peac«. 'Hiey *ae
to meet between Calais and Boulogne; but E^lwarO was too wi*e,tDU
inio the snare of atiraciing public aileniion to the guitljr and dcgiaM
mother, from whom his claims lo the throne of France were dMtwi
babellu vtAs not sufleied lo lake any pan in the ncgotiattua : lh« ar-
ceeding documents prove that Ihe treaty was completed by the ilakt<'
Lancaster and llie count of Eu.'

In the ihinv'firsl year of his reign king Edward grsnted nf<^-c*^
lo William de Leitb, lo wait on queen Isabella at her caslle of Itai^
he coming from Scotland, probably with uews from her daaghur,ilM<*

1 French, Edwaidi tvplte m

1

ISABELLA OF FRANCE. 171

Joanna, who was then very sick. This person was physician to the
queen of Scotland.'

The next year Isaballa died at Castle Rising, August 22d, 1358, aged
sixty-three. She chose the church of the Grey Friars, where the man-
gled remains of her paramour Mortimer had been buried, eight-and-
tu'enty-years previously, for the place of her interment ; and, carrying
her cliarecteristic hypocrisy even to the grave, she was buried with the
heart of her murdered husband on her breast. King Edward gave his
mother a pompous funeral, and issued a precept to the sheriff of London
and Middlesex, November 20th, to cleanse the streets from dirt and all
impurities, and to gravel Bishopsgate-street and Aldgate, against the
coming of the body of his dearest mother, queen Isabella ; and directs
tlie officers of his exchequer to disburse 0/. for that purpose. Isabella
was interred in the choir of the Grey Friars, within Newgate, and had a
fine alabaster tomb erected to her memoiy. She had given 62/. towards
the building of this church. It was usual for persons buried in the Grey
Friars to be wrapped in the garment of the order,' as a security against
the attacks of the foul fiend. Queen Isabella was buried in tliat gar-
ment, and few stood more in need of such protection.

According to Bloomfield, local tradition asserts that queen Isabella lies
buried in Castle Rising church, and that all the procession to the Grey
Friars in London was but an empty pageant In confirmation of this
assertion, they point out a simple grey stone, with tliis inscription deeply
cul —

^ ISABELLA RBOINA.^

Antiquaries, however, are of opinion that this stone covers the grave
of one of the officers, or ladies, who died in her service at Castle Rising;
but it is also possible that she might have bequeathed her heart to her
pariah church, and that this inscription nmy denote the spot where it
was interred.

An effigy of Isabella is to be seen, in the most exquisite preservation,
among the figures which adorn the tomb of her son, John of Eltliam,
at Westminster Abbey. It is the third from the right hand, when the
examiner stands with his back to St Edward^s chapel. The workman-
ship of this, and the other statues of John of fUtham's kindred, is of

* Bloom fielfl's Norfolk. Public Acu. WnUingham. Bloomfield. Stow. London.
PennanL The F(£dera implies, '*that William de Leith was employed to re-
quest qu^en Isabella to act as mediatrix between David and Edward, regarding
the rarmom of David, king of Scotland.*'

■ Pcrbaps Isabella, in the decline of life, had been admitted into the third order
of St Francis, inntiiuted, about twenty years Ijofore her death, for lay-penitents
wbo were not bound by conventual vows. That she made some pretence to
piety may be inferred from the following list of her relics, for which Edward III.
^ve a receipt *' to his beloved chaplain F«dmund dc Rammersby on behalf of
bis mother, the first year of her imprisonment: — Two crystal vases, containing
minute bones, relics of the holy Innocents; one silver fla»k, containing relics of
St. Sylvester; part of the side of St I^wrence enclosed in silver; aud a joint
of Jolin the Baptist's little finger. •—CoZfyj Fadtra, p. 825.

ISABELLA

' VKANca.

the iDosl delicate kini] ; the easiness of the attitudes, united with nrinitt
attention to details, denote an artist of Bu(>eTior ffeniue. Tleeffigiaut
bII cast in bronze, and the row opposite to Si. Edward's chapd m to
well secured from the mischievous assautis of abbey depfedalon. Vf ik
griik of thick iron, which parts the tomb from tiie poswagr, ihu liuj
are in the same state as when they came from the hands nf thf UUL
First stands the mother of Isabella, the queen of France and Fi'tnne:
she exactly resembles her pottrait engraved in Montfaucon- Then (tanii
the eSigy of Isabella's father, Philip le Bel. Next ia givev ImtirUa he^
self; her head is remarkably broad and lot*, and she has consiitnlile
breadth over the cheek-bones ; she b very like her mother, but her fri-
lures &re pretty, with a laughing expre«siun; the elligy » >d«iiiiMit
hers by the garb of royal widowhood. She wears a crown on tlir tuf
of her hood, her veil liangs on each side of her fece, the wiitoo'i b»t
appears half covering her chin, and a sceptre is in her hand. Soeh im
certainly her dress at C^lle Rising, at (he death of her son, princt: Join,
in 1334, and such must have been her costume during tho nmakiuSttol
her life ; since widows in ihoss times wore the dreaa >>f BUHtniiu ill
their lives, unless they found second husbouds. The cfBgT of htt nv
dered lord, Edward 11., stands next hers; il is extremely- llk« tfaMontii
tomb at Gloucester.

Isabella's virtuous daug^hier, Joanna qacen of Scotland, the UdAI
and devoted consort of the unfortunate Dnvid lirace, lurviret) her mate
onlv a few davH. and was interred in the elnirdi at ih« Giwr HAhI

PHILIPPA OF HAINAUIT,

QUEEN OF EDWARD III.

CHAPTER I.

ynvioDS nitncliTn^nt or Edwi^rd ITI. nnd Philiiipa — Hii ■ojoiim ai ber tktlwi'l
Ptmri — Her btoooiing bmiiiy — Demonrfeil in mfljriago — Pbifipp* arriTea in
LotwIoD^Rceeption — Pbilippa travels lo Yoik — MarrieJ iheie — Her clowar —
C<woQin[oii — Claim on her thoaa, bed, and silver bauna — Bitlh of lier elileit
•on — QueeD aoiuiihei hlin — HerportiailB — TourDamcni — DaiiKarous acoident
— King's futy — Queen's inleccfuion — Philippa's woollpn msnuraEluierB —
Scstcb n'ar — Queen besieged in Bntnhonnigh coslle — Krth of tlie piincsaa
lOT"! — Of the princess Joanna — Of William of Halfield — Do«th of Iliii pfino*
— Dearth of the qaeen'i father — Poverty Of iU« ting — Pawns queen's etown —
Philippa's rasideiica in FlBoderi — Bicth of prince Linnel — Queen's visit M

Kofwich— KingB noTal victory — Qucena Ttmnh boh— King Eilwaids dial-

IcDfe — Pscificalioa hj ilio queens molhf r — Eilrcnio poverty of Edword and
Phllippn — Theii secirt deptirlnre lYom GlienI — Embark wiili their infant —
Luul a.) the Tower — King's linger — CouiileH of Salisbnty— Order of ilie G»t-
lei — Philippa aisisu al the Bnt chapter — Reeideoae u Woodsioclc.

Tax happy union of the illustrious Philippa with hpr thrice renowned
lofd bad been previously cemented by iduIubI preference. manH'cated in
the first sweet springUme of existence, when prince Edward look refuge
with his mother, queen Isabella, al ihe court of HaiiiaulL

"Count William of Hainaiilt had. at that time, four daughters," ««ys
Froiuart; "these were Margaret. Philippa, Joanna, and Isabel. The
yogng prince, during his mother's residence in Hainault, paid more court
and ttieniiou to Philippa than to any of the others ; the younj; lady also
conversed with him more frequently, and sought his company oUener.
than any of her sisters." This was in 1326, when prince Edward was
in his fifteenlli year, and the lady Philippa a few months younger. She
powessed some Flemish beauty, being tall in stature, and adorned with
th« brillianl complexion fur which the women of that country are cele-

A poel of her lime has commemoraled " her roseate hue and beauty
Vr^l;" and we can well imagine, though Phdippa's matixin charms
Wsme a little too exuberant in after life, that, as a sweet-tempered Flem-
isbeirl in her fifteenth year, her early bloom was very lovely.

The ynuihftd lovers, after residing together in the palace of the count

of HainaulL, at Valenciennei, for about a fortnight, were separated. Ed-

nunl embarked, with his mother and John of llainault, on the dangerous

upedition of invading his unfortunate father's kingdom, while his h«^«A

15 • f^\.-\-S^

I
I
J

174

Fill

IPPA

ACLT.

was lert in h state of iincerlainty, whether the exigencies t
and the caprice of relatives would ultimately permit to be
hands of those whcwe hearts had already elected each other.
Although B decided alTection Buhsisied between yoang E
Philippa, it was dqi considered in accordance with the rtm
of that era, for the heir of England lo acknowledge lIiU he u
of hie heart without tlie consent of his porliameai anil cooni
Isabella undertook the arrangement of this aSiir, and soon le^
RUthoritiea to the decision, tliut a daughter oC the c
would be the most desirable alliance for her son ^ but, evei
the fifth of August, 1327, ihe particular daughter of thai G
pointed out in the Jocumeni re<iue8iing the dispensation at
the words are, " to marry a daughter of that noblemant Wil
of lloinault, Holland, and Zealand, and lord of FriesUad,
name of Philippa is not once mentioned throughout the li
the lovers remained seven months aAer the coronation of

The council, ai last, gravely decided thai Adam Orleion,' tl
bishop of Hereford, should visit ilia court of Hainaull, aud dio
the daughters of the count, the young lady who seemed moa
be the queen of England. As the choice of the bishop and 1
Philippa, the young king had certainly informed Adam C '
fidence, which princess among the fair sisterhood was Ihe ■
of his heart. The proceedings of the bishop are thttv nai
lost rhyming chronicler, Ilardijig: — •

Hd wot rotth then to Hainault, for a wits,

A luihop and other lords teir;|H>ra1,

Among ibfta-fl/i our lords, for bigb piadenoe,

Of Ibe Iniliop asked counsel and sonieno*,

K Which dnuglilei of tlis Are sliould b« oat Ifam

WliD coiinteU'd tlius with sad avisemrnl,

To which the)' all Hccorded wiib ona mindi
And cluwe Pttilippe tbal wu full (emJniiM,
As the wise biabop iliJ determine;
But then among Ihvxa-ttt/t ibej lauded w
Tlioss lords then said, tbeii bishop judge
The beauty of a lailf.*
> The luane of Philippa it not laentioned till the iait U
wn* execulcd, daled Sept. 3, 1337. — i'mStra, vol
■HiiL Biahopi of Wincheiter, vol. i.

' Harding was ■ LiDcolnshtre man, a chnmicler, and an a
m Ihe family of the eall of Nonhuiubeiland, '
Rirliard II. In his youth be acted as aecrelaiy ta his tont, aad •
Ihe bottle of Shrewaboiy. Ue is. theielbre, nearly a o
hi« onthoriiy i* ftml. Ui> age must have t>ean eiu-eme, as ho tivadlfl
wliole of Ihfl reipu of the bouse of Lancaster ; wai pensioned hf }^
9W. pel aonuni, and finally presented his complete biilorf M Ed«^
must then have boon more than uioeiy. He mentions flee da^li'
uauh; tlie eldril, Sybella, who had hecu ooniracied to EdwanI lU-ia
wm* dead ai this lime.
* Thi* passage, amoi^ many aiben, will piove dial penpMl, k

PHILIPPA OF HAINAULT. 175

>illy after the young king Edward completed his sixteenth year,''
■oifl»art, ^ his council sent a bishop, two knight bannerets, and
le clerks, to Sir John of Hainault, to beg of him to assist the
kinff of En^and in his suit to one of his nieces, since the young
ould loTe her more dearly than any other lady, on his account
n feasted and paid many honours to these messengers. He took

0 Valenciennes, where his brother the count of Hainault gave
ich sumptuous entertainment as would be tiresome to relate. He
illingly complied with their requests, if the pope and holy church
objection. Two of the knights and some able clerks were des-

1 to Arignon ; for without the pope's dispensation it could not
f, on account of their near relationship, for their two mothers
nisins-german. As soon as they came to Arignon, the pope and

consented most benignantly. On their return to Valenciennes
ate preparations were made for the dress and equipage of a lady,
IS considered worthy to be the queen of England."
king, then at Nottingham, empowered the bishop of Lichfield
rentry,' on the 8th of October, 1327, to conclude his marriage
e noble damsel, Philippa of Hainault. He likewise charges ^ his

Bartholomew de Burghersh, constable of Dover, to receive and
le into his kingdom that noble person, William count of Hainault,
e illustrious damsel Philippa, his daughter, and the familiars of
[ count and damsel ; and he charges all and singular his nobility
)ple of the counties through which the count, damsel, and fiuni-
ly pass, to do them honour and give them needful aid."' It was
ry for the lady Philippa and her escort to travel across England

the royal bridegroom, who was then performing his warlike no-
on the Scottish border, under the auspices of his mother and
er, against the great Robert Bruce.

ppa was married at Valenciennes by procuration, soon afler the date
mstrument. She embarked for Ennand at Wisan, landed at Dover
. her suite, and arrived in Liondon, December 23, 1327, with a reti«
I display of magnificence in accordance with the ^eat wealth of her
'. She was escorted by her uncle, John of Hainault, and not by
ler, as was expected. A solemn procession of the clergy intro-
ler into the city, and she was presented by the lord mayor and
in of London with a service of plate worth 300/., as a marriage
benefaction prompted most likely by the g^titude of the citiatens

by our ancestors as a most desirable quaiiflcation in a queen-consort,
reason, these biograpliies are compelled by truth to dwell on the per-
I vantages possessed by our queens. The queens of England, down to
le of Arragon, seem, with few exceptions, to have been the fineet women
time.

tra, vol. iv. Adam Orleton, who began the negotiation, had not the
of finishing the treaty. He had at this time fallen into disgrace
ibella and Mortimer, for accepting the rich bishopric of Winchester
the consent of the crown, and pertinaciously refusing to pay a br.ba
»ugh to satisfy the rapacity of the queen-mother. The attnte priest oou-
ifae was too much in hif. power to need such comideration. (See pre-
iography.) 'Dated at CUpttowe. Fodera, voL Iv.

I

170 PRILIPPA OF llAINAtLT.

for k tmtT of fioanneirp, caublishej brlwaen Eo^uid ftni) the \/rw
t\ianUin in tha preceiliag summer, when itieve iiuplialfl were Rnl giub-
Ikly ■f^UiinL The king «u titill will) hia ann^ in ibe nardi, Tuik
being hu heail-quviera ; ami tlioutfb Loiiilun was in an upraorltnui rait
of Mjoicing U her arrival, th« royal bride tefl il imtuoilialely to nwel h«
lord. Bui there wen reasiin^ and sumptuoui eoiertainiueaU in London '
for threo weeks aAcr hrr Uniling.

The h«nil« of (IdwtnJ an<t Pliilippa were oniled at Tork, Januujt St,
13^8 The maj^nificence of ihe esiiuugala was hcijghlcned bv the mti
etiUy of a hunli^(^d of llie principu] uubiliiy of Scotland, wno hn ■>•
nved in onler to conclude a lasting peace with England, cetneoled b^ Dm
marriage of the king's Utile sister Joanna. Tlio pEu-ltuucut and royil
council wen likewise convened at York, and the dower of the EngUtli
nobiiJij, then in arms, were tsaembled round the young king and hj>
bride.

The n>yal pair kept Easter at Tork, and aAer the final pnce witfi
Scutlontl they ratamcd southward rroni Lincoln to Northampton, wnl
Itnolly settled, in June, at the heaulifnl suniitter palace of Woodftock.
wliifh seems the principal abidin)(-phice of Philijipa, while her younj
husband was yet under tlie tutelage of Mortiuior and tlie queeii-ni<i6ei.

A dead Filencc is kept in all tlie public documeuta regarding ibi
unount nf Philippe's portion, fof ressona good, since the queen-fOAlher
had already spent it. As for the usual dower of tlte queens of EiigUn^
the whole of iu lauds were possesied by the quocn-muther ; bui byi
deed executed at If orthunpton,' May Sdi, •■ ihe king," says the Tenoi-
ble father, Hoger, bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, " had promised tM
l&jaOOI. pet annum of lands should be settled on her."

[«abclla provided so well for herself and her daughter-in-law, thildl
lefl her son, ihe aovereign of England, ncariy pennUesa.

Afler assisting at the marriage of his niece, sir Jnha of Uaioanll »
turned to his native country, laden witli jewels and rich presents, fn
of the Ilainaullers who had escorted her lo England stayed with oun
PhilippB ; but among tliose who remained was a youth, nanwd air Wv>-
lelet de Manny,' wlioee oHice was to carve fiic her.

The corooalioii of the young queen did not take place till more ^M
two years after her marriage. The king, Irooi his palaoe at EllhaBt
issued a mmimcnis, dated the SSth of February, 1330, » for his MuTViJ
nnd bithful Banholomevr de Bnrghersh to appear wiih his barons of ihf
Cinque Porta, lo do their customary dnlies st the coronation of hit
deareul queen, Philippe, which takes place, if God be propilious, tbi
Sunday next to the feaat of St. Peter, in tlie cathedral of Westminster"
ll look place on that day with no particular splenilour, for tlie rtptciiy
of Irabolla and Mortimer had absorbed all the funds provided lo suppoR
the diguitv of the crown. But the period of their sway drew near iU
close. I'he young lion of England had already manifested g^ns of dis-
dain, at the ignoble restrunt, in which he was held.

Fiptlcrii, vol iv.

Froittail. This alMndant of qoaen Philippa )« lu Wallar
of the flrsl luugbu ot ^e k"^<3-

Ifara^, sesric J

pntLipp.v or iiAixAL'LT. 1*7

'nt wu «umniiinc<j ihal spiin^ at Woodviotk; wliiiher PhU

hrr roynl lonl had retired after the coronaiion. A siitgular

is dtled ffoni thence, the surceedine April, in which the king

lia treasurer, "ihal his fuiihfiil and l>eloved Robert de VerS)

of dronl. was heredilarj- chamberlain lo the queens of Eng-

«II coronations the ancestors of the earl had oHiciated in the

ity ; and tlinl in consequence he claimed the bed in which

hail slept, her sboea, aud three silver basins — one. in vrhich

(1 her hetul,' and two olheta in which she washed her hands.

log desires tliai the earl may freely receive the basins and the

t ai for the bed, the treasurer is to pay the earl chamberlaiu a

marks M a compeitsaiiou for his claim thereon."

idle young king was yet under the dominion of his unworthy

fhu consort, Phdippa, gave birth lo her firsl-bom, afterwards the

I hero Edward, sumamed the Black Prince. lie first saw the

lie palace of Woodslitck, June IS, 1330. The great beauty of

L his size, and the tirm texture of his limbs, tilled every one

itration who saw him. Like that renowned queen-regent of

Blanche of Csstillc, mother of St. Louis, Philippa chose to

Iwr babe at her own bosom. It is well known, that the por-

the lovely young Philippa and her princely boy formed the

Biodels, for the \ ir^in and Child, at that era.

tr to ceiebrsie the birth of the heir of England, a grand tour-

wu proclaimed at London. Philippa and all the female nobility

Mted to be present. Thirteen knights were engaged on each

■ the tournament was held in Cheapsiile, between Wood-slreet
Hn-«tr(«t; the highway was covered with sand to prevent the
Ibet fram slipping, and a grand temporary' tower was erected,
; boarding, filled with seats for the accommodation of the queen
ladies. But scarcely had this fair company entered the tower,
be scaffolding suddenly gave way, and all present fell lo the
with the queen. Though no one was iniurea. all were terribly
Bd, and great confusion ensued. When the youiig king saw the
Ilia wife, he flew into a tempest of rage, and vowed that the
carpenters^ who had constructed the building, should instantly
e death. Whether he wotild thus far have stretched the pre-
I of an English sovereign can never be known, for his aneclic
..■Caroely recovered from the terror of her fall, threw hemi'lf on

■ before llie incensed king, and so eflectiially pleaded for the
of the poor men, that Edward became pacilied, and forgave them.
Idaeline of the year 133U, Edward III. ehook off the restraints
ivpon him by his unworthy mother and her ferocious paramour,
lilted justice on the great criminal Mortimer, in the stmiintry
(y way, in which he was always inclined lo act, when under the

o( fmatwot and at a distance from his queen. No one can won-
he waa impatient to destroy the murderer of bia father and of

I

I

1?8 F n I L I p r A (

liis uncle. Still this eagerness lo execute siiddea vengeonce niicirt IM
influence of rage, whether justly or unjustly excited, is a trail ia ilw
churacter ot tliia tnighly sovereign which appeara in his yuuih; inJ
which it is necessaty (o point out in order to develop the beautiful and
nearly perfect character of his queen.

No sooner were the reins of government in the hands of tlie yoimg
king, than he vigorously exerted himeelf for the refonnalion nf tht
ahuseB, for which the adminislration of Mortimer was tnfumous; imnt
excellent laws were made, and others revived, to the grenl satislaction
of the English people. But, above all things, the king had the wiKlmn
to provide a profllable occupation for the active enei^ies of bis pec^C-

"' Blessed be the memory of king Edward HI. and Philippa of Haioaull
his i^ueen, who first invented clothes;" says a monastic chronidfr.
Start not, gentle reader ; ilie English wore cloihca before the lime of tiu
excellent queen ; the gntieful monk, by lliis invocation, merely anot
to imply, that by her advice, ihc English first manufactured clolk.'

Philippa, young as she was, well remembered the sources of [vm-
perity which enriched her own country. She established ■ mann&e-
luring colony at Norwich, in the year 1335 ; but the first steps lowinb
this good work were commeuced so early as ilie 3d of JuIt, 133\,
within a few months of the assumption of power, by the youthful kmf
A letter so dated, from lincohi, is addressed to John Kempe of rtandm
clolh-weaver in wool, in which he b informed, " that if he will copK lo
England with the servants and apprentices of his mystery, and wilblw
goods and chattels, and with any dyers and fullers who may be tDdiBid
willingly to accompany him beyond seas, and exercise their myiien'*
in the kingdom of England, tliey shall have letters of proiecti'oo ai
assistance in their eeitlement." '

Philippa occasionally visited Kempe, and the rest of her colour in
Norwich. Nor did she disdain lo blend all the magnificence of chinltj
with her patronage of the productive arts. Like a beneficent queen ^
the hive, she cherished and protected the working bees. At a mtvi
of her life, which, in common characiers, is considered girlhixM. At
had enriched one of the cities of her realm by her statistical wnJon-
There was wisdom likewise in the grand tournaments she held at S»
wich, which might be considered us exhibitions showing ilie cilimi

'A more ooherEnt notice of Ihis greai hpnefit lo England is (Cina hfT^^
who dpflnea the diBerence bc<we«ii D [HUtoml and ■ manubcturing tant \m I*
nsual impressive though ()u«in( stj-le. "Tlie king, t ' - . ~ .. -..

Ilie tnule of cloihing. Our king thei?forr resolved, if posdbls. W tidaw tt

trarlr lo his own eountrjrmen. who as fei weie ignonni, a> kDaWla( M ■■■'

whni U do with their wool than tlie Bheegi that bore it."
• FiEiJerH. PcobabJy the name of John Kempe ii derived &otn oonb. (Mt>

nrument being used in bis employment,) and means Joba of riia Cknli. u it
old Englisli of the verb "to c>>n\b" it to kmp<. Kemtra was IhM^]
the Norwich woollen manuGuivaiet.

~ PBILIPPA OF HAIKADLT. 171)

how veil, in time of need, ihey could be prolected by a gallant nobility.
These festii'sls displayed the dprensive cU^s, and the productive clasa,
in admirable union and benelicial iniercoutsp ; while the example or tht
queen promoted mutual respect beliveen them. Edward HI. did not
often lake part In these visits lo Norwich, which were gcnemlly paid
by the queen while her huslmnd spent some days wiili his guilty and
miMrable mother, at Cusile Rising in Norfolk ; ' a strong proof that he
did not consider Isabella a fit eomjianioti for his Philippa.

It is likely that the eslahliahmeni of the Flemish artists in England
had Bome connexion with the visit that Jeanne of Valois, countess of
Itainaultf paid to her royal daughter, in the autumn of 1331. The
mother of Philippa was a wise and good woman, who loved peace and
pmmnted the peaceful arts. During her sojourn in England she further
•tren^iheued the beneficial alliance between England and the Low Coun-
tricf, hy negotiating a marriage between the king's sister, Eleanora, and
the duke of Gueldres, which was soon after celebrated.

Edward III. commenced a furious war on Scotland in 133.1. Hi*
dlthful qu«en followed his campaign, but while the king laid siege to
Berwick, Philippa was in some danger at Bamborough Castle, where
•he resided that summer; for Douglas, the valiant guardian of his youn^
kmg. tnmed ihB tables on the English invader, and made a forced marrb,
to lay fierce siege to Bamborough,' hoping that Edward, alarmed at the
lUnger of his queen^ would reliniiuish Berwick, and fly to her assistance,
boi Edward knew too well the strength of "king Ina's castle broad and
hish." and the firm mind of his Philippe, to swerve from his designs on
Bnvick.

Tel the temper of Edward was certainly aggravated into ferociousness
by the attempt lo capture his queen; and he was led by sudden passion
into the cruel murder of the iwo young Sealons. These unfortunate
youths were the sons of the governor of Berwick, either given by him
•s hostages lo Edward III., for the performance of certain terms of sur-
TFnder, or, what was still worse, were prisoners put to death, because
their fether would not surrender bis trust. Either way, the act was
aiiociouE ; perhaps it would have been prevented if the just and gracious
PhilipfKt had been by the side of her incensed lord. But Philippa waa
closely besieged in Bamborough : and her danger exasperated her hus-
baad tnio an act, really worse than any performed by his stem grand-
■te, Edward I. The king knew that the Douglas was no tfiller in any
wnric be took in hand ; he therefore resolved, by a desperate blow, to
take Berwick, and march to relieve his queen from the attacks of the
Seouish regent. He certainly gained Berwick from the stunned and
paralysed father; hut by the munlcr of the hapless youths, he for ever
•uinol bis chiralric name.

Douglas and Edward joined battle, not far from Berwick, soon aAer,
■ Hi ihr Scots were overpowered at the disastrous battle of Malidi

I

»M th« ptrcedins hlagnphy. ■ Gut)ui«, Jblio Hub

J

180 P II I L I r F \ OF ][ A I > A I' L T ■

GdwarJ, with Ins ijiieen, Aflerwards triumpliantly eDtered Berwidi, wliid
lias ever Bince remained anneieJ to the English crown.'

Edward and PhUippa were in England during the wiiilec of 133<. J
llie palace of WootUiock, on Fpbruary the 5th, the queen hrnu^ht rnl
ihe world Elizabeth,' (likewise called Isabella,) the princess roj-«l, Tl
cjueea undertook another campaign in the succeeding spring. Thai Jo
her father sent king Edward a present of a rich helmet, made of go
and set with precious stones ; with a remonstrance agaiiut wasliog L
etreogth in Scotland, where there was no plunder to be got, whan tl
same expense would pmsecute his claims on France, The queen ll
winter became the mother of a second princess, named Joaiiiu. PI
lippa followed her lord lo a third northern campnigii. Her second H
Wflliam of Hatfield, was born in a village in Yorkshire, in the niattr
1338 : this infant lived but a few weeks*

In the absence of Edward, the Scotch war was proseciited by hia nii
brother, John earl of Cornwall, with great cruelty ; this young prin
died at Perth, October the 6th, of a wound which he got in his Irrocu
attack on Lesmahago.*

While Philtppa resided in the norili of England, a circmnataiiea t
curred which is an amusing instance of monastic etiquette. Kln^ I
ward had returned from Scotland, and advanced as far as Durham, wIh
he eatablished his lodging in St. Cuthbert'a Priory, near tlie caslle. T
queen travelled from York to meet and welcome him. She snpatd
the prinry, and, thinking it was no offence, retired to pass the nq|hl

'Eilwaril Baliol invailecl Scotland wilb iLe Kngliih nniijr, linviii^ Ant*^
pivil mesMgo xo young king Dnvid, olTerins "o »e.^>iJe lo him tlie faiaitr ••■I
of the Briire, it bs would aurrender lo him his kingdom and hii wife, the fm
tbiei of king Edward. To lids modeit request the Syitcb oounril (6a dw f
lant DouglBi loal hit liA at Halidnn) repIiM by unding iheii yimi^ Ugg ■
qneen Ibr lafeif to France, and preparing lo delbuil their kfin^om to to k
gii>p, Some Bulhori declara that, after ihii □onquaet.Edwnnl kciilhivCWiM
Bt Rriiburgb, with his queen, but liii gavenunmt bms aia daiwl in Junn;
Wallinglbrd.— fitKb-tf.

*T)iD nnmps or Isabella and Eliiabetli were aynonTTnaus in tlie mliUI* ig
to Ihe confli«ion of hiilory and gf neoln^,

'The aoeounts or the llineral expentet or this infhni, who wag harinl m T*
Catheilial, are ouiioui feauirei in the Waiilrabe Book of his Intber:— IS
" Paid for ilifiereiil nuuMa about the body of lord Willimik, arm to i)ir Ura. tl
raaaed; likewise lot the purelinse uf thioe hiinUteil and ninrit- -' : '-

v.-nx. burnt lounil tlie prince's corpse at HsUleld, Poiiiflct. mi '
WM buried; and for ilirao cloths of gold diapetwl. lo bo [il .
corpse and tomb, al»o for a hooil for ihe fnce, and for webs, : .
Man* M, ninib jrear of Edward III., i-it. lU, IK' "Pai'l i
Um king, for llie ■oid of hi* *Dn William, divided between Haiii'M md \t
mooae at Pom&M aad York, and fbt widow* watcliiog riniad the nU caqi
and burial service, m. 3i. Sjd"

■Boeihiiis aSRnnt that Edward III., enrnged at ihe emelirof hi« bcnAar.l
burning Ihe church Of Lcemnhago with a (huuaand Snntch pm^plp theraa,*r
liii nvord atid slew the younj; prinne before Ihe high altnt of iba cbnndiwNli
Ko liulo is known of this priove, that tlte anucilols is wortli r«aD(dii« ; A*^
'fie tifiif cC rht deserved punishment of John i» iklte, liir fcjiif|yjj TWIfti

PniLIPPA OF nMNACLT. 181

T husband^s apartment Scarcely liad she undressed when the affrighted
Dnks came to tlie door, and pathetically remonstrated against the in-
ngement of the rules of their order, intimating ^ that their holy patron
Cutlibert, who during his life very sedulously eschewed the company
the fair sex, would l^ direfuUy offended if one of them slept beneath
B roof of his convent, however high her rank might be.'' The pious
lilippa, distressed at the idea of unwittingly oflending St. Catlibert,
mediately rose from the bed in haste, fed in her night-dress to the
itle, which was fortunately close by, and passed tlie night there by
nelfJ

The gout and other maladies put an end to the existence of count
illiam of Hainan! t, soon after he had formed a league against France
ih King Edward ; and with the wealthy father of his queen, Edward
It the liberal supplies, with which he carried on his warfare. The
Iglish people chose always to be at war; but they expected their
narchs to find the cost out of their private revenues and feudal dues,
lich were certainly not sufficient for the purpose. Edward was re-
ced to extreme poverty even in the commencement of his long war,
1 obliged to pawn his queen's crown at Cologne for 2500/., in the
ur 1330. Soon after the English people submitted, not to a tax on
lol, but a tax of wool, and subscribed 30,000 packs of that commo-
y,* which, being sent down the Rhine to Cologne, redeemed Philippa's
It crown from thraldom. During the whole of this reign the crown
vels were seldom out of pawn, notwithstanding the wealth that the
int manufacture of cloth was already drawing to the coasts of Eng-
id. The prosperity that the queen's colony of Flemish artists had
Night to Norwich had been felt so early as 1330, when Philippa paid
It city a visit, during her husband's progress to Castle Rising. She
m received by the grateful citizens with all the honours due to a public
lefrctrew.

As vicar of the empire, and head of the confederated league of Ger-
loy, Edward III. had his head-quarters, during several of the Flemish
npftigns, at Antwerp and Ghent, where his queen kept her court. At
ftwerp the third son of Philippa and Edward Ilf. was bom, November
th, 1338. This prince was a true Fleming, being bom in Flanders
ft Flemish mother. In due time prince Lionel grew to be nearly
ren feet in height, and, being athletic in proportion, was a champioi
whom any country might be proud.

The queen returned, with this infant Hercules, to England in the
minii of 1339, and in the ensuing year king Edward paid a long visit
his unhappy mother in Norfolk, while queen Philippa went to Noi
eh lo visit her woollen manufactories. She found a vast number of
>rwich people, who, having been apprentices of Kempe and his fol«
rera, were establishing themselves in the profitable trades of weaving
] dyeing. She was received with great joy, and favoured the citizens

History of the Cathedral of Durham. The priory is at present the residenoa
the dean. 'Fcederm. Guthrie. Carte. Bloomfield'» KomSfiitau

YOL. II. — 16

M

I

IBS nilLIPFA OP IIAIAAtLT.

wilh her presence Troni February lo EaKier.' Al ihe reeiivtlie* of
■eaeoii her royal lord held a giand lournameiii si Norwich, when Ik
lilted in person.

In Ihe spring of the same year, PhilippB again aniled for tbe uppu
roast, BD(I established her coun ai Ghent. Kine Edwaril, ia the mm^
time, cruised between Engiland and Holland, where he had ■ flw it
upwards of 300 ships. Phihppa gave birth U> her Toiiinh aon ml GUol,
OQ .Midsummer-day 1340, a the very lime ihai her warlike Irml an
Hghting his great DSval battle off Blakenburg. Next day, the kutf UmU
at Sluys, impBiient to embruee his queen and her inlant, ftrid bniti Plii-
lippB tidings of the greatest dbvbI victory ilie English aX that tune hul
ever gained over Frauce. Philippa'i boy was John of Gnunt, sftervrwili
so renowned as duke of LAncasier.

The interference or the mother of Philippa about this lime ocoiioa-
ed a lemponry cessation of hofltiliiies between France and FjtgUnJ.'
This princess, jusl as the belligerents were about U> eingage Ixfen
Toumay, weiii lo her son-in-law, and then lo her brother, king Pliilqi,
and, kneeling before them, ioiplured them to make peace and slop ibt
eiTusion of Christian bloud.*

The pacilicalion elTecied by ihe motlier of queen Philippk fof a«i
put a stop lo this kindred warfare. It was indeed lime, for both Iht
mighty Edward and his liiithful queen were literally ia a slate o( U
ruptcy. She had given up her cruwn, and all the jewels shv poaM
which her royal lord liad pawned to the Flemish iDerchanUj bat
wants were slill so great, that to raise a further aum he Itkewiae ptv

' Hatiling. BJuomfleld.

'Froiasart. Jeanae of Talois Lad retired inlo ■ eonveni aftn ilie ileadiof )■
huibnnd, Iha count of Uainaull. Thii ntreat wat fired bj her Ijmfcii U4
Cbilip B liDop* in tbia war.

'TUe relatioDsliip belweeo Eilword's queen and tbs competitot loi ib* A
of Ftance was nem ; »be was boih hia Diecc and name-child, noil Uip lamii
■ml loTe wUinh Ler molhei bore 10 king Philip wore excessJTe. The no
ihni pronipIii>d thv molbn of Pbiliiipa to interfere in Ilii* extrwudinarr ma
beiwesn armiM ready to engage aie perfeclij- ooRuitent wilti tba epiM <d A*
middle ages. Hor hinstnan. king Roger of Sicily, a royal BAtn>lo|[*r, bad cb4IW
nativiliai of Philip and Edward, autl declared thai be Ibreuw the ilueo«fB0
of die king of Prance if eror he fouglit agunil hU rival. T|mj Igncn of kM|
Roger, Hlaiming tlie li^terly feati of die counieeB Jeanne, indneed her MMfr
tencB. At Toumay, Edward was endeavouring (o provoke Philtp into a pen
ccmbal. TliU excellent inctliod ofdelormininga niccaisian-irat, Philip didl
becBute the cartel was nol direoteJ to ihe king of France. Upod tIiii.ilLii ■M*'
English camp cried out on the cawardice of Pliilip, and a poet behiDfiag H It
ward, pOMesiing more loyalijr than I^iin. wtmb the following oouplef—
Si valeas, venias, ValoUl depetle limoram
Non lateaij pBlE&9; moveaa. Oslende vjgOTem—
Which may be rendered,

Valoit, be VBliantI vile fear pan't avail ifaee:
Hide nol, avoid rloi, lei tiet vigout fiitt there.

Edward, who bad himself ienl a ihymiiig decUialion of w« u Ailip, •••■

(hew were valiant veisev" and cfuued ibcoi to b* liutMiod iitsa WIVPiMt j

■bol

o PhiUp'i

PniLIPPA OF IIAIIfAULT. 183

the person of his Taliant kinsman the earl of Derby,' who actually gave
himself up to personal restraint, while Edward stole away with his
queen, and the child she nourished, to Zealand. Here he embariLed with
Philippa and the infimt John of Gaunt, attended by a few senrants. The
ship was small, the weather stormy, and the royal passeng^ers were in
frequent danger of losing their lives : however, at midnight, December 2,
1840, they landed safely on Tower wharf. Here the king found that
three nurses, and the rest of the ro3ral children, constituted the sole
garrison of his regal fortress of the Tower; the careless constable,
Nicholas de la Beche, had decamped that evening to visit a lady-love in
the city, and his warders and soldiers, following so good an example,
had actually left the Tower to take care of itself.* The great Edward,
who was not in the mildest of tempers, owing to the untoward state of
his finances, took possession of the fortress of his capital in a towering
vage. As his return was wholly unexpected, the consternation of con-
stable de la Beche may be supposed, when he had concluded his city
▼int. It was well for the careless castellan, that the gentle Philippa was
hj the side of her incensed lord, at that juncture.

About this time, the heart of the mighty Edward swerved for a while
from its fidelity to Philippa ; and had not the royal hero been enamoured
of a lady of exemplary virtue, the peace of the queen might have been
for erer destroyed. Sir William Montacute had been remrded for the
good service he did the king, in the beginning of his reign, by the title
of the earl of Salisbury. He had married the fair Catherine de Grason,'
and reoeived the castellanship of Wark Castle, whither he had taken his
countess, who lived in retirement away from the court In the mean-
time, Salisbury had been captured in the French war. His castle in the
north, which was defended by his countess and his nephew, was be-
sieged in the second Scottish war, by king David. When in great danger,
young Montacute, by a bold personal adventure, carried the news of the
distress of the countess to king Edward, who was encamped near Ber-

' Carte. Guthrie. Oilef'a FoMiera. Ho remained in prison, being detained
by Matthew Concanon and partners, mcrcliants of the firm of the Leopard. Ed-
ward obtained tuppliet of bis parliament next year, by declaring " that, if ha
was not enabled to redeem his honour and his cousin, the earl of Derby, he
would go to Flanders, and surrender his royal person to his crt^ditors." In
answer to this appeal, the commons granted the fleece of the ninth sheep and
the ninth lamb throughout England ; coin seemed to be as scarce with tlie sub-
jects as with their royal matter and mistress.

' Proisssrt and several chroniclers.

* In MiUes* Catalogue of Honour, the parentage of the countess of Salisbury is
clearly traced. She was the daughter of William de Orafton, a Burgnndian
knight of imperial lineage, a favourite of Edmund earl of Lancaster, who pre-
"Vasled on Sibyl, heiress of Lord Tregose of Wiltshire, to marry his friend. Gra«on
possessed nothing in the world but a handsome person, and a pedigree derivecc
fiom the emperors of Constantinople. Catherine tlie Fair was the only child of
this oouple, and was endowed riohly with her mother's wealth and her father's
bcautj. She bestowed both on the brave earl of Salisbury. Dugdale confirms
this account, by quoting charters, in which he calls the countess Catherine de
Graadison ; of this name, Grason is an evident abbreviation.

I

18il raiLirPA or haikault-

wiri(. At the ■ppnMch of Cdwwdt llie kin; of Scot* naeA the ut^
of Wwk. The royal hen'* iniMvieir trith CBlbertus ilw F«u (ollivn,
in thr wonk of Pmuwan :—

" The tnomeni ihe cdubum tmrd oT the kio^'* ■ppmaeh, she onknd
ill the faiH lo be ihruwn opni, «ii<l nprtt to men him mwl licUj^
dfMBM); iniooiuch, ihsi no one could look at licr but with mooitrwii
nifmiratioa at her noble depnriinetn, tpait beamy, and afUnlity of b^
Tiour. When ihe came near kmg EdwarxL afae made lier pb^iwllOi U
the frounil, and i;ave liim LliankJ Tor coming lo her aasistajieef mhI thai
conducUMl him iiitu the caade, lo ealenain aiid honour hiia, at ib* m
rery caj»ble of doiu^.

'■ Every one wai dclighled with her; but ihe king coold ncM ttkehii
eyee off fmm her, *o that • ipark nf fine love struck apoo his hatfi
which la*ted a long time \ for he did nul believe, that the whole w«U
produrrd any other lady, so worthy of being beloved. Thue they uUiiii
the castle, hand ia hand. The counteea led hiin fim to the hall,iri
then to the best chamber, which was very richly rumiahed, u bdaa|n4
lo au fine a lady. King Edward kept his eyea so filed upon the eonflWit
that the gentle ilanie wae ituite abashed. Afler he hnd eafficiemly rt-
Brained hie aparifflenl, he retired to ■ window, and, leaning on it, y
intu n profnand raverie.

**Tlic countess left him lo onler dinner to be maile ready, ami lb
tables sut, and the hall onuimenied and set out; likewiae lo wdeoH
llie knights and lords who accompanied the king. When ahe bad p<v
all the orders lo her servants she lliaught needlul, she returned wdkt
cheerful countenance to king Edward, and said —

" ' Dear air, what are you musing on } Such medilaliojj k not ptff
for you, saving your grace. You ought rather to be in hi^ ffUHt
having freed England from her enemy witiiout loaa of blood.'

■'The kingn-plied—

" ' Oh, dear lady, you must know that, since I hare been in tfaU eMilt-
some thoughts have oppressed my mind that 1 was not before awaiaof;
so that ii behoves me to relleci. Being uncertain what may be the anA
[ cannot withdraw my aiienlion.'

■' ' Pear sir,' answered (he lady, ' you ought to be of good cbeer, ai
feast with your friends, lo give them more pleasure, and leave off poada*
ing ; for God has been verj- bountiful to you in your undertidbogi, W
that you are the most feared and renowned prince in Chriatendooi. If
(he king of Scotland have vexed you by the mischiefs he hath done is
your kingdom, you will speedily be able lo make reprisal in his deoih
nions Therefore, come, if ii please you, into the hall to your kaJftMi '
for dinnet will soon be served.'

" ■ Oh, Bweel lady,' said king Edward, ' there be other ihiogi whltft
loueh my heart, and lie heavy there, ihan wlui you talk of. fiUii*

■ >l.at
^K whir

!;(>od tmlh, your beauteous mien, and (he perfeetions of your face ud
Hihaviour, have wholly overcome me; and so deeply impress my h«fl|

my happiness wholly depends on meeting a nstum to my Huth
which no denial ftota you can ever exlinguish,'
" ' Oil. my drcttd lotd,^ le^Ue^ \!i;te twiw^u^^ do uoi amuae youndLJ

hy Isughing al me n-ith trying to tempt me, for 1 cannot believe you are
in rarnesi as [u what ynu have Just said. Is il likely that so noble end
gullant a prince as you are would ever think of diBhoiiouriiig either me
or luy husband, a valiant knight, who has served you so faithfully, and
who now lies in a doleful prIsoQ on your account? Certainly, sir, ihii
wontd net redound to your glory; nor would you be the better for it, if
you rould have your wayward will.'

*'Tbe virtuous lady then quitted the king, who was astonished at lier
words. She went into the hull to hasten dinner; a^erwards she ap-
proached the kiiig'a chamber, aiiendeil by all the knights, and said to him,

" * My lord king, your knights aie all waiting for you, to wash their
hBn<l9 ; for they, aa well as yourself, have fasted too long.'

" King Edward lefl his apartment, and came to the hall, where, after
he lioil washed his hands, he seated himself with his knights at the din-
ner, «■ did the lady also ; but the king ate very little, and was the whole
time peiisive, casting his eyes, whenever he had the opportunity, on the
counie«8. Such behaviour surprised his friends ; for they were not
■ccostomed to it, never having seen the like before in their king. They
EapiKised it was his chagrin, at the departure of the Scots without a
bkttle. The king remained at the casile the whole day, wittiout knowing
wItBt (o do with himself. Thus did he pass tlial day and a sleepless
ni^ht, drbnting the iDBtter with his otvn heart At iJaybreak he rose,
dnw out his whole army, raised his camp, and made ready to follow
llie Scots. Upon taking leave of the countess, he said,

**'My dear lady, God preserve you safe till t retuin, and 1 pray that
rou will think well of what 1 have said, and have the goodness to give
me ■ diflereni answer.'

"'My gracious liege,' replied the countess, ' God of his infinite good*
nrss preserve you, and drive from your noble heart such villanous
ihon^lits; for 1 am, and ever shall be, ready lo serve you, but only in
wiial is consistent with my honour and with yours.'

"Tbe king leA her, quite astonished at her answers."

The love of king Edward wandered from queen Philippa, bni for a
rfiort time ; yet it was awing to the high principles of Catherine the
r«r that be never swerved into the commission of evil.'

Qdmui Philippa, aiiired in the august robes of the new order of the
Gaiter.' and attended by the ladies whom the plUntiy of king Edward

'Though he ippean atill lo havs vlierisbed a cliiTBlric and lieraia BilBchment
b> Oa countru, be eoon iliowcd that he had reiigned whai ilis very propally
mM hint wets " villanoiu thougku." In proof of iliia Tact, wc find bim, ditectljr,
bbUbc a two j«an' lni«e with the king of Scotland, one o[ ihe canditionB of
«4ifaili WM, -ibal king I>aTid ■hould uaderiske a nPgoiiBikin wiin bd Bllf. ih«
Uof of Fnniic, 10 exjcbiui«D tba earl of Many, & prisoner of king Edwoid, lot
(b* nwl of Satiibuir," tliea in caplilily in the diiunal lower* of tbe Ctiatelel.->
fWitMTf, ml. I p. S07.

'Tbe MOry th«t tbo origin of thi» order, the Order of the Osner, took iti ti^a
ttm an acridsni tliBt liii|>prni!d lo ibe conntpu of Saliibury'i dres«, wben
Icing Edu-ard 111^ mutt be unliue, since we have K«n thai Ih6
Blue Gntiet weiB oonfederaled by Cckut ile Lion long before
It hem; therefore tiM Oann was a part of the ordal iJltU \dt&>i>«n> j

I

I

PUI LIFF A

U A I K A V fc T.

uiociated with his knighis,' aasisieii her royal lord ki boUliig tba fal
chapter ai Wiinlaor, on Si. Geor^^s day, 1344.

Philippt kept the binhOay of her mighty lord with gra«feniTit]r,«
Woodttock, in the year 1345.* Her«, in that sylrsn f«]m!«, wltovidtt
had spent the first years of her happy wedluckf did sho Snd tunacil(ia
middle lire, surrounded by a iriin of beauiirul cfatldrea, at the hod </
whom was Edward, prince o{ Wales, then on the ere at wiamng Wt
vast meed of reuoiTii. Philippa's protege, Cliaucer, has in ^MM 4»-
gaiil lines described one lovely feature of iha bvoiDtte iMmi 4f Ui
loyal iniatresB. He speuks of a maple,

Ai Wocliii

I of iJie queaa

deiiwd amaj yetttt prnvimiMly lo the era of king Edwvnl. But lluu ih* «e«i^M
of Saliibuijr wai coniiileiad the heriMne of the tmviif nviveil onler, w* bn*
ihe eipreas wonli of Froiiinrt, as fotlouri : — " Vou hA*e all lieani hair [aal^
kiely king Edward Waa nniTlcn with Iha cbatni* tit llial ooUe tojjr, C*4hwt
Municsa of Salisburj'. Out of afTeciion u> the nld Inily. and liU ilniirn ■■■
r.er, b« proclainied a eissl (ran in Aufruit, IHa. Ha eotmntutAri all UiHt
lonttuid knighia sbould be tliprp wiihout Toil, kOd l» BXi>rBMl)ranl«c»4 teMll
-f Sklubuiy lo biiiig lbs luly hi) wifr, willi 14 maa)' jcnOf l*dlda a* «lvtMU
Collect ID atte-nd ber. Ttie enrl Tpty chceirully coii>Cli«d wttta iJi* kMa^LfafM
r«rA«lAM«U<»RiiI;«idhURDodlBdTdBiiadmBr.aa*. fiw'Mfln&K ■

raiLippA

PHUIPPA OF HAINAULT,

QUEEN OF EDWARD 111.

CHAPTER II.

n PbiliplM left regent or England — Battle of Cretsy — Qua

rf Calais—Scalch inTwion — Uueea defeadi England — Queen'a eibons-

-Her

ictorj' of Net

's Crosa — King Dsviil ei

a to London -

i< doDmnl m death by Edward — Philippn's iniercesfion — Binh of princesi

pre! — GilwBrd &nd Philippa return to England — BeliDihment at the

■ Moond daughter — Death of the princem — King Edward's iHtters —

'• fiTungei cbildreo — Philippa '9 iDUmaraenl at Norwich — Quecn'Bobjea*

^e marriage of the Black Prince — Qneen reeeivei roynl prinmeri—

o with thj Guetclin — Queen goea to France — Marriage of the Blaeh

eeti'a reception of kinf[ Jolin at Eltham — Ailiancea orrojrsi feimilf

9 Atal illness — Dealh-bcd — Tomb — Epitaph — Benefhciiotis —

VColhige, Oxford —-Pennions to bet Women —Ali<» Perten — Queea'i

•ed oonfeasion — Vinuea of queen Philippa.

■ fiiwi years of her marriage queen Philipi» had been ihe coo-
nit Aitendani on her husband in his campaigns; the annats of the year
\M <li«play her characler in a more brilliant light, a« the eagaciout
ruler of his kingdom and ihc Tictorioua leader of hia army.

After the order or the Garter hail been fully eslabtished, king Edward
mnindetl liis valiant knights snil noblea, that, with him, they made ■
TOW to Bsiisi diairessed ladies; he then apecilied that the cotinteaa de
Mnnilbrt parucularly required ihe aJd of his chiTalry, for her lord wai
helJ 11) captivity by Philip de Valoia, in ilie tower* of the Louvre, whil*
the founteM was endeavoorlng to uphold the cause of her iurani aon,
■|[Bin«t the whole power of Fmnce. He signified bis triteiition of givinf
-tua persoual support to the heroic oounLees, and of IcBTiiig queen Pht^
^JMi OS regent of England dtiring hia absence.

^^^p St John the Baptist's day, the king took leate of queen Philippa^

^^^■ioting the earl of Kent as her assistant in the government of Eng-

^^H. The nam* of her young son, Lionel,' a child of eight years old,

^fiSa KMoointed with bis mother in the regency. Philippa bade fareweU

to the darling of her heart, her ion Edward, then in his sixteenth year.

This voting hero accompanied his royal sire, in order to win his spurs

no iJie soil of Franee. i'he exploits of the heroic boy sre well known ;

btii it is not quite so well known that he was opposed, at llie Geld of

Crrwy, to his mother's nearest connexions — to her uncle, Philip of V«-

I

fin

ILIPFA OF II A

r HaiiiaulL, that Tavouriie rplmifc «
;eii as if he were her laiher. In

I

I

epini of a mercenary soldier, air John had left Ihe service of hia awcei
bualmnd, in whose employmenl he had spent the best part of bU liit.
merely because the king of France gave him a higher salftry.

The first English military despatch ever written was addms«<l lo
queen Philippa and her council, by Michael Nonhborougli, king Ed-
ward's warlike chaplain : it contains a most original and gnphio detail
of the battle of Cressy. It is dated, at the siege, before ilie town »(
Calais; for the battle of Cressy was but an interlude of thai ftmnua

It was now Philippa'B turn to do batile-royal, with a king. As a di-
version iu favour of France. David of Scotland advanced into En^Uod,
& foiinigbl after the battle of Cressy, and bunted the suburbs of York
At this juncture Philippa herself hastened to ihe relief of her nortbtn
subjects. Froissart has detailed willi great spirit (he brilliant roodocldf
ihe queen at this crisis : —

''The queen of England, who was very anxious lo defend heikiac-
doni, in order to show she was in earnest about il, came faendf M
Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She took up her tesidenco there to mil kt
her forces. On the morrow the king of Scots, with full forty dMMh
rand men, advanced within three shorl miles of the town o{ HentuHt;
he sent to inform the queen tliat, if her men were willing to eoiot ibnh
from the town, he would wait and give them battle. PhiTippft kiia««i«l«
' that she accepted his olTer, and that her batons would risk their hw
for the realm aC their lord the king.' "

The queen's army drew up in order for battle at Nerille's CrMK
Philippa advanced nmoiig ihem mounted on her white charger^ and (■■
treated her jneu lo do iheir duly well, in defending the lionuur o( iWr
lord Ihe king, and uiged them, " for the love of God to ligtit uunloltjr*
They promised her " that they would acquit themselves loj-ally VO'Ab
uiniost of their power, and perhaps better than if the king hwd bva
there in person," The queen then took her leave of them, «nd nn»
mended them " lo the protection of God and St. George."

There is no vulgar personal bravado of the tigbtiug wdhihi, ia ihl
character of Philippa. Her courage was wholly moral coDrege,andia
feminine feelings of mercy and lendemeas led her, when she had imt
all that a greal queen could do, by encouraging her army, to w'ubdnm
from the work of carnage, and pray for her invaded kiugdooi wbil* ih*
battle joined.

The English archers gained the battle, which was fought a«t tha loA
of loid Neville.' King David was taken prisoner, on liis '
retreat, but not without making the most gallonl resistance.

' Tlie Sniurday before MichaclmaE-ilay, 134
There it rEnsan lo suppose tlist, wbere Frc
■liould be DurliMD, eioce the English nrmy
PaiL SI Auckluid, and NeTille's Crou iuelf
Durbam.

PHILIPPA OF HAINAULT. 189

*^ When the queen of England (who had tarried in Newcastle while
ihe battle was fought) heard that her army had won the victory, she
nounted, on h^ white palfrey, and went to the battle-field. She was
nfonned on the way that the king of Scots was the prisoner of a squire
nmed John Copeland, who had rode off with him, no one knew
thither.' The queen ordered him to be sought out, and told ^ that lie
lad done what was not agreeable to her, in carr3ring off her prisoner
rithoot leave.' All the rest of the day the queen and her army remained
m the battle-field they had won, and then returned to Newcastle for the
light"

Next day Philippa wrote with her own hand to John Copeland,
xnnaianding him to surrender the king of Scots to her. John answered
D • manner most contumacious to the female majesty, then swaying the
oeptre of EIngland with so much ability and glory. He replied to Phi-
ippa, ^ that he would not give up his royal prisoner to woman or child,*
at <Hiiy to his own lord king Edward, for to him he liad sworn alle-
:iance, and not to any woman.'' There spoke the haughty spirit of
emklity, which disdained to obey a female regent, although then en-
anped on a victorious field.

The queen was greatly troubled at the obstinacy of this northern
quire, and scarcely knew how to depend on the assurance he added,
adding her knight tell the queen, ^ she might depend on his taking good
are of king David." In this dilemma, Philippa wrote letters to the king
ler husband, which she sent off directly to Calais. In these letters she
nlbrmed him of the state of his kingdom.

The king then ordered John Copeland to come to him at Calais, who,
mwkig plaoNl his prisoner in a strong castle in Northumberland, set out,
nd landed near Calais. When the king of England saw the squire, he
ook him by the hand, saying, ^ Ha ! welcome, my squire, who by thy
rulour hast captured mine adversary, the king of Scots !"

Jchn Copeland fell on one knee, and replied, ^ If God, out of his
{leat kindness, has given me the king of Scotland, and permitted me to
sofiquer him in arms, no one ought to be jealous of it, for God can, if
le pieasea, send his grace to a poor squire, as well as to a great lord.
iue, do not take it amiss if I did not surrender king David, to the
jfden of my lady queen, for I hold my lands of you and not of her^
md my oath is to you, and not to her, unless, indeed, through choice."

King Edward answered, ^ John, the lo3ral service you have done us,
lad our esteem for your valour, is so g^reat, that it may well serve you
la an excuse, and shame fall on all those who bear you any ill-will.
fon will now return home, and take your prisoner, the king of Scotland,
ind convey him to my wife ; and, by way of remuneration, I assign

'Knighton lays he lodged him in the stroug fortress of Bamborough. King
D^vid wtLB determined to provoke Copeland to kill him, knowing the miseries his
si^ptiviijr would cause his country. Hi* resistance was terrific ; he dashed hit
paantlet on Copejaod's mouth, when called on to surrender, and knocked out
MV«iml of his teeth. Copeland kept his temper, and succeeded in capturing him
ftiive.

* Philippa waa associated with the young prince, Ldonal, in tke i«i|m0f .

>i I riiftgiliilli

1 nbmh^MImm

HV FBILIFPA of OAIVAC iiT.

Iinih u iM«r ^ur hu«M m fua nn duoM ibiii i

MKi/. « ynr, fur tdu ami jour iMMn."' Jobs

tliinl ilttf al'ict hu ■rmml.MMl ttuuMil loCanhML Wiwate««na(

home h« uwrnlilnl lii. rnetHb mm! —fahbwMm. and, n iin^Mj «lk

tlieiD, look UiB kiii^ ul' ScoU aad «MiMd Ua U York, litw* ttftf

■cutnl )>iio, iu iliM lume o( lung Erfwwd, to qw PiuU|if>, lAd Hdl

•veil HcuoM IImi (lie wm mii<l<^

Ant] (rni maKnauiniiijr thiipfa 4ia^7*d ia b
htppy rMult. How rnanv wotMR «i " '
tuiml lo John 0<>|ifIiuiiI, (otAtuU
10 K (IriR^Uxl Mri-ptre.'

fliiliiiim ludgeil Ditviil tn tba Timr of LoMloa; ha «v eariMUl
by her utilm, iu gniti ptnoiJfiB, Uunqgii iba twwttis neoNd a*
toll ItUck war-bontp, iliai etw; ■■• Ruxlrt rMMgnuw lii« ^iwiii. U am
of c*a>p«. Noil diy aho wJM fat C«l»i»,Mri JaoJed ihwfc fcy»ti#ll
AUSaiitu.' Tiietmral (if Plulip)HOcta«nwda>tiMrf^«lMbaaii«i
bmirging c«mp. lict royal itml MA a gnod eran in wtieone htt ti^
lorioui qiuniii, anJ mxln a nundieait IStt for bn Udin. niill||i
brnuj^il Willi her Uiu (lower prthe female ftnbilny of Ei^kikl,a^
Uilies ImiiiK ansinus Ui aeeoinpwiy W to Gakio, in oriw to aM btot
huabaiithi, aittl bruilit^re, all Baiiai|«d in lUia faiaoaa mm.

While Hiinn Philittpu was m«mM «H>ii Iw wnl luri.

M«mnURie, the breve defenilerB of CbUU were bo much reduced bjr
hmine IM Ui be (oicei to capitulate. At fint Edward resolved to pDt
tliun nil to the sword. By the pcrsuiuioiis of sir Walter Maun;, bf
tomewhat relaxed from his bloody intcDtioiiB. " He bade sir Walter,'*
wya Fiuiesart, " retam lo Calais with the following lemu >— ' Tell ihs
^frrnor of Calais that the garrison and iiihabiiania shall be psrdunedi
excepting six of th« principal citizens, who must surrender iliemBelvef
to duiti, with iope« round their necks, bareheaded, and barefooiod,
bringiag the krys of the town and caalle in their liands.' Sir Waller
TCUirapd lu the brave governor of Calais, John de Vienue, who wa$
•rniUiig for him on lh« luttlemeuU, &nd told him all he had been able l»
litn fruui the king, The lord of Vienne went lo the market-plare, and
Mused the bell lo be rung, upon which all the inhabiianis assembled in
tfac tona-4iall. lie then related to ihem what he had said, and ihe aar
■ wem he had received, and Ihal he could not obtain beller condition^
Thfn they broke inio lamentations of grief and despair, so thai ths
luinlesi heart would have had compaEBioci on ilieni ; and their valiant
guTcraor, lord de Vienne, wept bitterly. Aller a short pause, llic moat
weelllty citizen of Calais, by name Eustace 8l. Pierre, rose up and saidi
'G«nileiueD, both high and low, it would be pity lo sutler so many of
our cotiutrymen lo die through famine; It would be highly roeritorioui
id ih« eyes of our Saviour if sueh misery could be prevented. If I die
lo **rve ray dear townsmen, I irusi I shall find grace before the tribunal
of God. i name myself Arst of the six.'

'^ WItcn Eustace had done speaking, his fellow-citizens all rose up
and alnosl adored liim, casting ihomjN'lves on their knees, with tears
and groans. Then another ciiixon rose up, and said he would be the
•eoand u> Euatace ; his name was John Daire : after him, James Wisant,
wtio WM very rich in money and latidn, and kinsman to Eustace and
John ; his example was followed by Peler WisanI, his brother ; two
oihrr>>' then offered themselves, whicli completed U)e number demanded
by kipg Edward. The governor mounted a small horse, for it was with
dilTiculiy he could walk, and conducted ihein through the gale lo Uie
barriers; he said to sir Walter, who was ihere waiting for him —

•■ ■ I deliver up lo you, as governor of Calais, these six citiiens, and
•we*r to you they were, and are at lliis day, the moat wealthy and (^
■pcctable tiihabiianta of the town. 1 beg of you, gentle sir, that df
ytttu goodueas you would besoech the king lliat they may not be put M
d«a(h.' ' I cannot answer what the king will do with them,' replied W
Waii«r; 'but you may depend upon ihis, that I will do all I can loaftvs
' 'Din barriers were tjien opened, and the six citizens were con-
d to Ihe pavilion of king Edward. When sir Waller Mauny had
led those sis citizens to the king, they fell upon their knees, and,
pltlW hands, »aid-

(

Most gallaut kmg, sec before you si

B capital mere hi

9 of Calais, who h'vgl

who bring you the keys of llie town a

y I H»<li»h tnililioa dNlua* ihal on* c>r llien was tba joaag Mn cf EuHaca I

I

I

I

I

ifii PniLtPr.\ op IIAIXAGLT.

castle. We OTrrender ourselves to your absolute will i
order to save the remainder of our fellow-citizeoa am
Oalais, who have suffered g^'cat distress ami niiserr.
out of your nobleness, to have compaasion on us.'

'^All ihe Knglish barona, kuigliis, and squires, that
ihere in great numbers, wept at this sieht ; but kin|; Edwrnrd eywl ihM
with angry looks, for he hated much the people 0[ Calais, bvcaws rf
the great losses he had suflered at sea by tliem. Ponhwith he oidind
the heads of the sis citizens to be struck off. All present enlrrvlad ih*
king to he more merciful, but lie would not lisieo to them. Then v
Waller Mauny spoke : — 'Ah, gentle king. I beseech yoo reArvin yow
anger. Taniisfa not your noble reputation by such an Mt m ibitt
Truly, the whole world will cry owl on yout enielty, if you sbaauld pot
to death these six worthy persons.* For all this, Ihe king gvrt a wmk
to his marshal, and said, ' I will have it so ;' and ordered the bcaiaMB
to be sent for, adding, ' the men of Calais had done him sue)) duna^ il
was fit they suffered for it.'

"At this, the queen of England, who was very near her lyiiig-jii,fii
on her knees before king Edward, and with tears said, — 'AK, gunk m,
silhence I have crossed the sea with great peril to see you, I ban mw
asked you one lavonr; now, I most humbly ask as a gift, for ite Nkt
of the Son of the blessed Mary, and as a proof of your lore to n*, iM
lives of these six men.'

" King Edward looked at her for some lime in silence, anil (hen suj,
— 'Ah. lady, I wish you had been anywhere else than here; yoo ban
entreated in snch a manner that I cannot refuse you. I iberefars (in
them you — do as you please with them.'

'^ The queen conducted the six citizens to her apartmenis, and tnllht
hallcra taken from about their necks ; after which she new cloih«d lh■i^
and served them with a plentiful dinner; she then presented aach *itfc
six nobles, and had ihem escorted out of the camp in nfeiy."

The French historians, who, from mortified national pnde, tan
enilenvDured to invalidate this beautiful incident, pretend to do to kf
proving, as an inconsistency in the character of Pbilippa, that sto IMI
possession, a few days after the surrender of Calais, of the lea^HNi
halonging to one of her proteges, John Daire. They have ItkvwiMiiK
pugned the psirioiism of Eustace Su Pierre,' because he renuuDad ■ (V
taiB, as Edward's subject. But king Edward giaateU imnumitrt»d
ihrise who swore allegiance to him, and ataj-ed io CaUia ; while Asa
who chose expatriation, like John Daire, forfeited their tenennnis, winit
thej- certainly could not take with them. Now, Froissurt has sbon
that Edward presented his Calitiian captives to his queen, lo " do •<*
ihem what she pleased." This transfer gave Philippi righta ont Aa

' EuBince WBJ tw.1 a solJicr. mwad w his banner, liki- ilip k^ J* r«iaa,t«
a burglipr, aUBi^hed by maor inliabiaiive tie* <d bii (own. He ww flnrir l^a
Hi Ills princp. wltile Piiilip oonlc) extend kintilf pcolectiuti lo III* Ikyia « Uhk
tnit when PhiJi[i wai tbrced to leave Cnlau lo iti fate, Une aaise nil n^ili ■'i^r^
Eututot K Irantfer bis allegiance. Eipauialion ii am ibe liimiiiliM itf ft *

PniLIPPA OP HAINAULT 193

penons and property, which she used nio«t generously in regard to tlie
first, but retained her claims over the possessions in the town, of those
who refused to become subjects to her husband. The very fact, proved
by deeds and charters, that Philippa became proprietress of John Daire's
iKmses, greatly authenticates the statement of Froissart.

It wonld hsTe been pleasant to record that Philippa restored the value
of John Daire's tenements. But biography, unlike poetry or romance,
iridom permits us to portray a character approaching perfection. Truth
eompels os to display the same person, by turns, merciful or ferocious,
fMierous or acquisitive, according to the mutability of human passion.
he philoeophic observer of life will see no outrage on probability in
the filets, that Philippa saved John Daire's life one day, and took posses-
Bon of his vacated spoils the next week.

^The king, after he had bestowed these six citizens on qneen Phi-
lippa, called to him sir Walter Mauny, and his two marshals, the earls
31 Warwick and Stafford, and said — ^ My lords, here are the keys of Ca-
lais town and castle ; go and take possession.' * Directions were given
or the castle to be prepared with proper lodgings for the king and queen.
When this had been done, the king and queen mounted their steeds, and
ode towards the town, which they entered with the sound of trumpets,
Irams, and all sorts of warlike instruments. The king remained in Ca-
um till the queen was brought to bed of a daughter, named Margaret."

Three days before Edwaid and Philippa returned to England, the em-
wror Louis of Bavaria died, who had married Marguerite of Ilainault,
he eldest sister of the queen. Towards the close of the same year, £d-
iranl was elected emperor of Germany ; an honour of which he very
raely declined the acceptance. At this time it was considered that the
njral Philippa and her husband had touched the height of human pros-
lerity.

With the exception of the trifling disappointment in the disposal of the
land of her eldest daughter, the year 1347 closed most auspiciously for
Philippe and her waiiike lord. But the military triumphs of England
mmght with them some corruption of manners. At that time the jewels
md omamenlB, that once decorated the females of France, were trans-
bned to the persons of the English ladies, who, out of compliment to
he queen's successful generalship, and the personal heroism of the
reliant countess of Montfort, her kinswoman, began to give themselves
he airs of warriors ; they wore small jewelled daggers as ornaments at
heir boeoms, and their caps, formed of cambric or lawn, were cut like
he aperture of a knight's helmeL But these objectionable caps brought
heir own punishment with them, being hideously unbecoming. The
divrch was preparing suitable remonstrances against these un^minine
woeeedings, when all pride, whether royal or national, was at once sig-
lelly confounded by the awful visitation of pestilence which approached
he shores of England, 1348.

■FroittaiV Tha siege lasted fVom June, 1346, to August, 1347. Walsingfaam
laelares king Edward spared the people of Calais in life and limb— «n obsar-
ratkm ha would soareely have made if the contrary had not bean ezpaolad.
VOL. II. — 17

miLirp*

nr n Acx AULT .

il

I

This pMlilMrtr wnn callrd rmphntii^ally. rmm iu efleeli
bcKly, the Biark Dt^alh. Rvt^ry houarliolil in I^auloa wia ■■IMi,a)d
■omc wholly eiterminalMl : nur did Philippa's roy*l family Meape, In
the omrl p^iknoe robbed her of ihe birMi of her danghtrnr uwin cl^
rum»Uince8 of pecnlMT horror.

The bcauiy Bnd ^cm of ihe WHrond d«n|rhtCT of Phili[^M, c«Ued At
princPM Joanna of WootlMtick, were surh as to be ih« tboiiM nf (ivrr
miiiiirt-I ; iihe was in b«r fifteenth y«<ir, when Alpbonso, king of CkMilk
demanded her in mamage fur hi* heir, the Infant Pedro, who tAtnoA
allained an undcKirable relebrity under ihe name of Pedro the Cnd
The prhrpM hail hern nnrliirrd and educalml by that Tirutooi Uf
Msrie St. Pol, the wiilnwnl eonntmm of Prntbmke, to whoae muaifinu
tove of lenrninK Canibriilee owe* one of her noblMt fi>iiiidsuon&' A* I
reward for rearing and edurnlinfi the youn^ princess, king Filwud gtn
Ihe rounlMs, her govemeay, ilie manor of Stroud, in Kctil, with timj
exprcMionB of graiiiude, catling her "his deoreat conaia Mane d«3L
Pol."'

The fair Joanna wax spared i\tf lormeni of bei^oming the wife ef dii
most furious man in Enropi>. by the more merciful plafue of the Kick
Dmlh. 1'he royal bride sailnl for Botdt^aux, at ihe latter end of liw
aninmer of 1346. white her falher^in-law. ihe knig of Casulle, innlU
10 thf frontier dtV) Rnynnne, wilh tlie liilADt Dun Pedro, to meet la.
Kin^t Edward's loyal citizens of Bordnaui eacorted ihe princcvs Jcuni
aA far as Baycinne, in ihe raihedral of which eiiy ahe waa to give km
hand to Pedro. On Ihe very evening of her iriumplial eniiy litt
Bayonne, the peatilenee^ nut of all the assembled muhitnd^v. »tixr<d m
the fcir young Flaniagenel aa a »ieiim ; it terminated her n i
few hours; her Spanish bridegroom and the king, hia tu'
her funeral procession on ihc very iliiy and hour that she u
to give her hand as a bride, at ibe allar of thai catbedral "

The deep grief of the parent* of Joanna is visible in the Litin letint>
written by Edward [II. to the king of C^tille, to lina Podro. and lo ^
queen of Casiille. If (he Latinity of these letters will not bear the
eritieism of the classical scholar, they are, nevertheless, lofty in Mali*
ment, and breathe an expression of parental tenJemesa seldom to In
found in stale papen,

"Your daughter and ours," he says to the queen ofCbstille, ''was by
nature wonderfully endowed with gifts and irraces, but little doM it nnv
avail to praise them, or specily the charms of that beloved one, wlm ti
— 0 grief of heart !—Jbr ever taken from us. Yet the debt of mortalin
must be paid, however deeply sorrow may drive lbs ihon)| ami iW
hearts be ttvnspierced by anguish. Nor will our sigba and laara catcsi
(he inevitable law of nature. Christ, the celestial spouse, boa lakm tbi
maiden bride to be his spouse. She, in her innocent and JmroacBlMl

■nderBil a widow on liet btiilal ilaj, hjr h»r noxtT
killAl at ilia unirnainenl rIvui in honotu of hi* n:ii>ll»i»
i«VBi maiiied affiio, but dcvoiod hei gnrnt weatib to rhuitr

FBILIPPA OF nMHAULT. 195

I has been transferred to the virgin choir in heaven, where, for us
r, she will perpetually intercede."

e queen must have imadned that her royal and handsome progeny
ioomed to a life of celihacy ; for some extraordinary accident or
, had hitherto prevented the marriage of her daughtera. Her heroic
Edward had been on the point of marrying several princesses, with-
18 nuptials ever being brought to a conclusion,
long attachment had subsisted, between him and his beautiful
1, Joanna, daughter of his uncle, Edmund eail of Kept, and the
had remained un wedded till her twenty-fifth year, afler being
»d from the earl of Salisbury, to whom she had been contracted in
lAuacy. Queen Philippa had a great objection to her son^s union
bis cousin,* on account of the Mightiness of the lady's disposition,
vainly hoping for the royal consent to her union with her cousin,
a nve her hand to Sir Thomas Holland ; but still the Black Prince
Ma a bachelor.

sr the grand crisis of the capture of Calais, Philippa resided chiefly
^[land. Our country felt the advantage of the beneficent presence
queen. Philippa had in her youth established the woollen manu-
es : she now tiimed her sagacious intellect towards working the
nines in Tynedale — a branch of national industry, whose inesti-

benefits need not be dilated upon. The mines had been worked,
j^reat profit, in the reign of Henry III., but the convulsions of the
sh wars had stopped their progress. Philippa had estates in Tyne-
ind she had long resided in its vicinity, during Edward's Scottish
igps. It was an infallible result, that, wherever this great queen
•a her attention, wealth and national prosperity speedily followed.
did her actions illustrate her Flemish motto, Iche wrude muche^
. obsolete words may be rendered, ^ I labour (or toil) much." Soon
lier return from Calais, she obtained a grant from her royal lord,*

permission to her bailiff Alan de Strothere, to work the mines of
leston, which had been worked in the days of king Henry III. and
rd I. From this re-opening of the Tynedale mines by Philippa
ided our coal-trade, which, during the reign of her grandson.
' IV., enriched the great merchant Whittington and the city of

B queen continued to increase the royal family. The princess
who afterwards married the duke of Bretagne ; prince William,
at Windsor, who died in his twelfUi year ; Edmund, afterwards
of York, and Blanche, of the Tower,' were born before the sur-
r of Calais; the princess Margaret, and Thomas of Woodstock,

hrie mentions the long celibaof of Joanna, the Fair Maid of Kent, pre-
' to her union with Holland. Froisiart speaks of Philippa*8 objections to
.rriaire of Edward with his ooasin, and Terjr ft-eely enters into some sean-
sfories regarding her.

9f% FcBdera. To this grant is added a curioat claote, giving permiadoQ
en da Veteriponte and his heirs to be oaUed kiogs of Tynedale.
langham.

I

I

b

haipia,ow

enriched by her siaiisiiral wisdoi
pd by ihe c

I 19K FIIILIFFA OF nAl:>AUI.T.

afterwards Edward's presents lo hia queen un iheae occaaioii* m
■nunilicent. One of his grams is thus anectionately worded —

July 20. The king orders his exchequer to pay "our Philippe, ew
deereel consort, five hundred [Kiuiids, to litiuiilate the exp«[uea ■' '
churcliiag at Windsor." ' This was an occasion of the birth o'
William, Piiilippu's second son of that name.

Philippa did not disdain the alliance of the great English noblai
objeciion (o the union of Edward, her cliiialric heir, with Joa _
Fair, arose solely Irom disapprobation of the moral chancier g
priacess.' Her next surviving son, Lionel, she not only anilei* '
English nukideu, but undertook the wardship and education of h' ^
bride, as may be learned from this document. >* January 1, 1347.
ward III. gives to his dearest consort Pliilippa the wardship of the penal
of Dizabeih de Burgh, daughter lo the deceased earl of Ulster. (iluD it
Ireland,) with her lands and lordships, until Lionel, yel in lender yart)
shall take the young Elizabeth lo wife." * Two of Philippa's tout w(R
married to Englishwomen by her special agency.

Queen Philippa, with her son ihe Black Prince, paid a trisit to ttm-
wich in 1350, and there held a magnlGceut lournanietiL The mil
mother and her heroic son were received by the inhabitants of Hie aSf,
n, Willi the utmost gratitude, ud «•(
jrporalion, at an expense of 37/. is. 6|^ >■ Mfftn*
by their records.

The grand victory of Poiriiers distinguished the ye«r MW. i
prouder day than that of Neville's Cross was ihe 5th of SCay, tISTi
when Edward the Black Prince landed at Sandwich with his ro^fi^
soner, king John, and presented him lo his molher. after that ^ionm
entry into London, where the prince tacitly gave John the lioaaurs eft
suzerain, by permitting him to mount the famous white charger on wUd
he ro<le at Poictiers, and which was captured with him.' Al the not
lime that the i|ueen received Iter vanquished kinsman, her son pmeaMl
to her another prisoner, who, young as he was, was far fiercer io Wi
captivity than the king of Prance; ihis was Philip, the fourth foaof
king John, a little hero of fourteen, who had fouglii dcsp^rsiely by In
father's side on the lost field, and had been captured whh atrnt'SH-
cully alive, and not till he was desperately wouniled.^ The 6m (IbT tl
Iiis arrival at the court uf England, he gave a proof c>f hU fii iiinw.tff
starling from the Cable, where he sat at dinner, with the katg and ^ms
and his father, aud boidng the ears of king Edward's ea)i-be>rei^fe(
serving the king of England before the king of France; •* for," ha isi
^thongh his lather, king John, was unfortunate, he was the m
of the king of England." Edward aud PhUippa only ^ti"' '
boy's petulance, and treated him with indulgent benevoleni '

'Ciili-7^» FuKlera. ■Froinart. vol. li. 'Cj

'Tlie whits horte va» always, in the middle Bgei. tlio sign <

'Pliilip te Haidi, dulce of Bar)pind]r. He waa a prince or gnti
alwayt bidifiit to bis anfbmuiMiB no^bew, Clurles VI. — Giffard.

zM

PIIIMPPA OF IIAtXAULT. 197

be qimtrrllei] tvith the princ-e nf Wales, at a gnme of chess, ihey most
COnrliHiUsly deciileti the ilispuieil move in favour of prince Philip.

Tlwi nnowiied cbNinpion, eir Bertranil Uu GuescUn, was one of the
pmoners of Puicil^ra. One. day, when queen Philippn was enterlainins
■t her court a number of the noble French prisoners, the prince of
Wales proposed that Du Gueecliii should aame his own ransom, accord-
ing lo the eliqiieltc of the limes, adding, that whatever sum he men-
lionedf txi it small or great, should set him free. The Taliant Breton
vklued Iiiniself al a hundred Ihousaml crowns ; the prince of Wales
•IBited at the imniejise sum, and asked sir Bertranil " how he could ever
expect to raise «uch an enormous ransom ?" " I know," replied the
hno, ^ a htindreii knidus in luy native Breta^e, who would morlg^
their Ia«l acre, raiher than Du GuDsclin should either languish in cap-
QTiiy, or be ntted below hts vahre. Yea, and (here is not a woman in
Fianco DOW toiling at her diatalT, who would not devote a year's earn-
ings In art me free, for well have I deserved of their sex. And if all
ihr fair spinners m France employ their hands lo redeem me, think you.
pniir.n, whether I shall bide much longer with you f"

Queen Phillppa, who had listened wiili great attention to the diecus-
Uon fietween her son and his prisoner, now spoke ' —

" I name." she said, '' til^y thousand crowns, my son, as my conlribu-
Uon towards your gallant prisoner's ransom ^ for though an en^my lo
icy husbaml, a knight who is famed, for the courteous protection he has
•nirOed to my sex, deserves the assistance of every woman '

Du Guesclin immediately llirew himsetf at the feet of the generous
queen, saying —

■* Ah, Uidy. being the ugliest knight in France, I never reckoned on
uy gmxliiess from your sex, excepting from those whom I had aided or
potected by my aword, but your bounty will make me think less
dnpicably of myself."

Philippa, as is usual in the brightest specimens of female excellence,
vu the friend of her own sex, and honoured those men most who paid

I

"iCl

. .. ^ us festival ever known in England was that held at

^V'indtor, in tlie cnmniencement of the year 1358, for the diversion of
liie two roynl prisoners, John, king of France, and David Bruce, of
Sci^ilauil. The Itound Tower at Windsor, despite of the heavy expenses
<^ war, was completed, on purpose that the feast, called the Bound Table
of the Knights of the Garter, might be held within it. The captive
mtjeaties of Fmnce and Si-otlund were invited to that feasl as guests, and
M OCX on each eide of Edward III. King John and king David tilted
)i the li»ta.' The interest of the ceremony was further enhanced by the

'Gldhnl anribiit-i this brautifiil anwilote lo JraniiB, tlie wife of iha Blact
fnre, and (ilwe* the incident i.Rer the bailie of NnvBir^e. We fbltow the
■nbntit^r of St. Pela)^, in his Hiatorjr of rhivnlry, snpjiorlcd by wveral French
hausiu. It is the subject of a vpirited Breton Inllnil romanoc.

It ftning qiinen i* in poijeiiion of two iro|ihieKif the triumph* oflier gre"t
t, nillippa and EdwanI, which are M the nunc lime memorioli oC tKi*

I

Hi VUILIFF* or HAIITAIILT.

hul ■'■cidpnl whirh bcrd the (tout earl nf Sslinbury. whn wm ki1Ii>d ii
our of the enroiinten ni the lists- Rqxirt nvs. tliBt kiu^ John. «i
Fnuicr, wms Rlill mare captiTainl with the beauijr of Udy Ssliabur; than
king IMwuiI )iad bivti, snc] M ho])cles»ly, Tur that fair and rinaoBi
woman relink into the deepest Be^luiioci, nTtcr thr calttmilotH deaih d
Iter lord.' Afler the WiiKlsnr (tnwnl, Edward plnrcd king John in u
irksome captivity, and prcpored for thr re»inva»ioii of Frmiet.

Unrcn Philinpa rnibitrki-d, with her husband, tor lh« mw i ■iihm"(ii.
on ihp 29ih of Ortobtr. 1359. All hrr Bons were with ihe annT,ci-
crptine the liiOc priiire. Thonias of Woodstork. who, at the redouMabli
KF offlre year*, wa« left guanlian of the kingdom,' and repreaentcd te
niajeaiy of his father** person, by sitting on (he throne wlira pvUuanli
wore held.

After Edward had marched ihroagh France without rvsreianccaadfif
the iTUih must be epnken) devolaiing, as he went, a bleeding and nm-
ing country in a most ungenerous manner, his career was sti>f^>ed, u it
WHS hastening to by mf^ to Parts, by tile hand of God ilseU". One tl
lliose dreadful ihunder-alunns which at disunt cycles pass urer the CM-
(iiient of Prance,* liieislly atlaeked the invading army wiiliin two iMW
of Charlres, and wreaked its utmost fury on the proud chivaby olflf-
land. Six thousand of Edward's finest horses, and one thouaaod ef w
briTcsi cavnliers, nmong whom wfrc the heirs of Wsrwick aod Horini
were struck deati before him. The guilty ambition of Edward hiwU Iw
ronscieiice; he knell down on ihespot, and, spreading his hands towirii
llie churehof Our Lady of Chartres, vowed tosioplbe efibsiooofblMd,
and make peace on the spot with France. His queen, who wistHsit mB
for the noble-minded king of France, held him to his resulutitm; andii
pMi^e, containing tolerable articles for France, was concluded at Bretifiiy.
The queen, king Edward, and tho royal family, relumed, and landed A
Rye, I61I1 of May, ten dsys after the peace.

After the triumph of Poicliers, the king and queen no lon^r oppottA
the union of the prince of Wales with Joanna the Fair,* although ihX
princess was four years older than Edward, and her chanctirr sod di»*
posilioii were fer from meeting the approval of the queen. Edward and
Joanna were married in the queen^t presence, at Windsor Chapel, Ocinfao
10, 1361. AHer this marriage, king Edward invested his son wiihtlw
duchy of Aquilaine, and he departed, with his bride, in «n evil hnur. is

tiiltli l»Hval of itae Rounil Table at Windrori these are ibe mils of aiu^
viora by king John aiul king OsviJ on thai oecsiioo.

' Dug jnlp. MiUn. *F<B(len, vol, ii.

* It wni isonBideml ibnt ihp acconnts of ihii itorm had been grrailj «a>gL
by lite rhnmiclert. till thai itill more dtMilfiil one nvaged France bi ITMXan
hiistenBii, tyy Ibe fliminv il bnmghi, thr Freoob r«Toluiion.

■ Jonnna manieri the prioce, a Ipw moalba aAet tho death of her Orel bi
Aaeidei iheit neamei* of kin, Mher impeiliineDl* eiUtnl M ~ *
IMincs had farmed ■ itill nroiURr relitioii<bi|> wilb hu omiiin,
lnwi of the Cniholia church, by bewming ipoiiKiT 10 hei two 1
tbam in bia aims at Ibe baptismal ttu\\i lUiU, ■.bovo nil, the d.
ttan llie nul of Sniitbury was not ooneiiieteit legal. All ihew ii

bf a buU, citMBieiai lomia ttne aOm lUa ■■wiiai Jtumf^Jt^dM^. ■

PHILIPPA OF nAINAULT. l99

ffem that territory. Froiasart, speaking of the farewell Tint of the

** I) John Fioianrt, aothor of theee chronicles, was in the serrioe of

leen Philippa^ when she accompanied king Edward and the ro3ral

iuIt to Beirklnmstead Castle, to take leave of the prince and princess

Wales on their departure for Aquitaine. I was at that time twenty-

iir years old, and one of the clerks of the chamber to my lady the

cen. During this visit, as I was seated on a bench, I heard an ancient

light expovndjDg some of the prophecies of Merlin to the queen's

lies. According to him, neither the prince of Wales nor the duke of

nvDce, though sons to king Edward, will wear the crown of England,

tt it will fall to the house of Lancaster.^

Tliis gives a specimen of the conversation with which maids of hon-

nr in the reign of queen Philippa were entertained, not with scandal or

riiioiis, but with the best endeavours of an ancient knight to tell a for*

De, or peep into futurity, by the assistance of the wizard Merlin.

King John, soon af^ the peace, took leave of the queen, for the pur-

me cf returning to France, that he might arrange for the payment of

■ ransom : he sent to England the youn£ lord de Courcy, count of

wBBons, as one of the hostages for its liquioation. During the sojourn

' De Courcy in England, he won the heart <^ the lady Isabella, the

dest daughter of Edward and Philippa. Afler remaining some time in

nnce, and finding it impossible to fulfil his engagements, king John

tnmed to his captivity, and redeemed his parole and his hostages with

is noble sentiment : ^ If honour were lost elsewhere upon earth, it

ight to be found in the conduct of kings.'' Froissart thus describes

m letam of this heroic, but unfortunate sovereign.

■*News was brought to the king, who was at that time with queen

bilippa at Eltham, (a very magnificent palace the English kings have

Ten miles from London,) that the captive king had landed at Dover.

his was in 13G4, the Ist of January. King Edward sent off a grand

station, saying how much he and the queen were rejoiced to see him

, En^nd, and this, it may be supposed, all things considered, king

ihn readily believed. King John o^red at the shrine of Thomas a

ecket, at Canterbury, on his journey, and taking the road to London

9 arrived at Eltham, where queen Philippa and king Edward were ready

I reeeive him. It was on a Sunday, in the afternoon ; there were, he-

reen that time and supper, many grand dances and carols, at which it

seras the young lord de Courcy distinguished himself by singing and

neiog. 1 can never relate how very honourably the king and queen

ihared to king John at Eltham. They afterwards lodged him with

rent pomp in the palace of the Savoy, where he visited king Edward at

remninster, whenever he had a mind to see him or the queen, taking

Ml, and coming from Savoy-stairs by water to the palace." But king

ibn's health was declining, and he died at the Savoy Palace the same
I

I Knowing hit end approachinfc, king John had certainly furrendered his
n, in hopes of saving hit conntiy the expenie of his tansom.

I rr A op IIAIN AL'bT.

an] lit; j

•

I
I

^B soon oner tuok |ilace, bciw nh i)ie cipgant De Ctyatmfwi
the princoM royal. Aliliou^b an eiDporur's ^raudsoa, thia nobUmn
CoaM tctrcely be conudered a malcli for the daugliter of Eiliran] HI-;
bui ainc» the rscspe nf her Taiihlesa beiroilicd, ihe coani of Rsniler*, '
IwbciU hul eiiii^reil into no marriage conUvct, uid was, at the lime of
lii^r iiiipliflU, tunicd <>!' tliirty. On occasion of tlie miuTiagii fcturak
kiiii; (jlwnnl preMiitcd his qu#«n with two rich cancts, one mibronlefei
with tlir wonla^^rt biddingr, aad the oilier with her motlo^ lehe wnii i
muelu.' Prince Lionel al thia liioe eauoused the ward of aneen Phili|9%
Elizabeth tie Burgh, who brought, as dower, at least oue-third of ItdlWi
with the tnighty inheritance of the Clares, earla of Gloucester. Edwwd
111. aftcrwanla creAted Lionel duke of Clarence.

Thid prince, tlirough wliiMe daughter, married to Edmund MwtinMr,
the line of York denved tlieir primogeniture, was a handaonie and «»■
rageoua Flemish giant ; mild-tempered and amiable, aa pervoni of pfll
strength and stature^ by a beneficent law of nature, usually are. liotd
is r»iher an obacure, though imporlant person in English history: itn
is bis pwrtrait by the last of our rhyming chroniclers :

" In nil llie world then was no prince hiin like,
or bigli tlalure and of all ■pemlin^n
AtMVs atl men Wilhln Uie whole kingrib (binFlom),
Bt tlie (boulJon inighi br teen, doubdcu,
la hall wu he ■uai.l.like foi KeMletxct,
In other placr. filmed lor rhciorio.
Bui in the Held a liuii KiaMoaiit. "■

Death soon dissolved the wedlock of Elizabtrth de Burgh : she left »
daughter but a few days old. This motherless babe the quet^n Philip|ia
adopted for her own, and became sponsor to her, with the connieaa of
Warwick, as we leam from the Fnar^s Genealogy, when roentioniDg
Lionel of Clarence :

■' Hia wife wu dead anii at Oue bniieil.
And DO heir had be but bii daiigblei fiui, ,

Pbi1i|ipf, that highl as chroniolea (peoifled,
Whom queen Philippe cbiiflened for hii h«r.
The arcbbithop or Yoik for her compoei ;
Her Kotlmoiher nlgn w«» of Wirwiok ci
A tadf likewiw of great wortbineu."

John of Gaunt, (he third enrvivjng son of Phflippa, mamed Rlaneba,
the heiress of Lancaster ; the princess Mary was wedded lo the dtke rf
Rreiagne, but died early in life. Edmund Langley, *»rl of Ounbftlin
afterwards duke of York, married Isabella of Oislille, wbow dner, nl
brotlict, John of Gaunt, took for his second wife. The roungett praM
Thomas iif Wnodslock, afterwards created duke of Gloucesivr, narried
an English lady, the eo-heiresa of Humphry de Bohun, cooelaMe of
England. Margaret, the fiAh daughter of Edfrard III., was gireo in mi^

iwt 6>ct to (ii Harris Nioolas's elcelieni work a
vflfaaOaner.

Vhat son of ibing Oils maj be, •>« ham m

PHILIPPA or HAINAVLT. 201

m to the earl of Pembroke ; she was one of the most learned ladies

tier nge^ and a distinguished patroness of ChaucerJ
Notwithstanding their ffreat strength and commanding stature, scarcely
e of the sons of Philippa reached old age ; even ^ John of Gannt,
le-honoared Lancaster," was only fifty-nine at his demise : the pre-
itnre introduction to the cares of state, the weight of plate armour,
d the violent exercise in the tilt-yard — ^by way of relaxation from the
rerer toils of partisan warfare — seem to have brought early old age on
m gmllant brotherhood of princes. The queen had been the mother

twelve children ; eight survived her.

Every one of the sons of Philippa were famous champions in the
Id. The Black Prince and John of Gaunt, were learned, elegant, and
illiant, and strongly partook of the genius of Edward L and the Pro-
of ml Plantagenets. Lionel and Edmund were good-natured and brave.
liey were comely in features, and gigantic in stature ; they possessed
I great vigour of intellect, and were both rather addicted to the plea-
les of the table. Thomas of Woodstock was fierce, petulant, and ra-
icious ; he possessed, however, considerable accompUishments, and is
ekoned among royal and noble authors ; he wrote a history ^ of the
iws of Battle," which is perspicuous in style ; he was the great patron
* Gower the poet, who belonged originally to the household of this
ince.

The queen saw the promise of a successor to the throne of England,

the progeny of her best-beloved son Edward. Her grandson Richard
■8 bom at Bordeaux, before she succumbed to her &tal malady.

Philippa had not the misery of living to see the change in Uie pros-
iritj of her fiunily ; to witness tlie long pining decay of the heroic
riaoe of Wales ; the grievous change in his health and disposition ; or
le imbecility, that gradually took possession of the once mighty mind
r her husband. Before these reverses took place, the queen was seized
^ilh a dropsical malady, under which she languished about two years.
U her sons were absent, on the continent, when her death approached,
Kcepting her youngest, Thomas of Woodstock. The Black Prince had
ast concluded his Spanish campaign, and was ill in Gascony. Lionel
( Clarence was at the point of death in Italy ; the queen's secretary,
'roissart, had accompanied that prince, when he went to be married to
^iolante of Milan. On the return of Froissart, he found his royal mis-
RHs was dead, and he thus describes her deathbed, from the detail of
hose who were present and heard her last words. ^ I must now speak'
i the death of the most courteous, liberal, and noble lady that ever
lined in her time, the lady Philippa of Hainault, queen of England.

Voile her son, the duke of Lancaster, was encamped in the valley of

-^_ -^^^■^^—^~ _ —^^•^^^

'Philippa, in conjunction with her sod, John, duke of Lancaster, warmly pa-
tttiaed Chaucer. With this queen, the court favour of the fiither of English
»M expired. He was neglected by Richard 11. and his queen, as all his me-
M» will testify. Nor did the union of his wife's sister with the duke of
Hieaster draw him iVom his retirement.

' FMsmrt, vol. iv. p. 30. Froissart wrote an elegy in verse, on the deadi oC
I patroness, queen Philippa, which has not been preserved.

I

I

909 ruiLirpA op haikaitlt.

Toarnehain. ready In give builc to the duke of Baimouif, tm tetb
hai^ned in Engkiul, \a thu infinite miBTorUDe of king Ed<nnlttui
ebililrrn, vid the whnle kin^lom. Tlmi sxcelleni tady ih* qowo, wtio
had done 90 mix^l) g<i<H!, oidiii;; ill knighu, ImImm, and dtnaeU, whd
(liKtrwsrtl. who luul ap^ilied lo h«r, wu* al ihi* lime dwigcraoily scku
Wiiid«or Caitlei aiid every <lay b^r disonkr incnnaed. Wt|CDlli*|iiod
i|ur-en (H-rceived iltni livr «nil ipprotched. ahe called lo ibe ki^awtt-
leiidtug tier ri^hi hand from under the bedclMhu, pui it inio ihc afkl
hand of Kiiif toward, who was op|>rc»Md wiiJi •orrow, and ibM

••■ W« ha*e, my hu *ha ml. enjoy ftd onr long union in hapmnMi.pnat
and proaperlty. But 1 eniieat, before I depart, and we are lor em wjt'
lalod in ihiB woHd, that yuu will Kninl me three reannta.' Kif^FJ-
ward, with ligli* and t«ars. replied — * Lady, name them; whatfttrbi
your rrqaesla, lliey aliall be granted.' 'My lord,' ehe aaid, 'I bcg*m
will fulfil whatever enfafpiuenia I have entered into with mcrchaiKi fot
(heir warea, •■ well on this as on the otlier aide of the mm ; I bcMM^
you to fullil wliatever gifia or legariea 1 have made, or Irii lo chtmha
wherein I have jiaid my d«*oiiona, and to all my serranla, wballM
niale or female; and when it ahall please Ood lo call yon bayO»,Jtt
will chooae no other sepulchre llian mioe, and that you will liekjriw
side |[. the cloiateis of Westmmaler Abbey.' The king in (eu> Itfbi,
' Ijuiy, all iliia ■hall be done.'

■'Soon al'ter, ihe good lady made the sign of the croae on hnbMi(
and having reconimeniled to ihe king he.t ymingral aon TtiotBa% rtl
wai preaenu praying to God, ilie gave up her spirit, which I firmly t»-
lieve wa« caught by holy angrU, and carried to tlie glory of heavaStfet
the hail never dune anythnig by thought or deed to endanger bar aaiL j
Thus died tliii admirable queen of England, in the year of grace iSflft '
the vigil nf the AMnuiptitHi of the Virgin, the 14ih of Auguat- Infona^ •
Uun o( this heavy loea was carried lo the Engliih army at TourarhaB. '
wluch gready alHieied every one, mora espMtally her aon. Jobs et
Gaunt, duke of Laocaaier."

Philippa'a word* were not complied wiih to the letter; her gn*eit
not by her husband*! side at Weiiminaier Abbey, but at hie feet tia
■talue in atabsBter is placed on the monument.' Skelton'a translalino «f
her L^iin epitaph, hung on a tablet cloae by her tomb, la as follow* :

■ Slow fiVB* naniM 10 lb* DUinatoui imDtn vrbinh lurround tba lonilk ntbt I
BOIBonlj of u oJil MS. At iba Jccl ara Uw kiug of Navarre, the kin( of B(>k» .
mia. ibe kmg of Scoli. ilie kioji or Spain, aod Ihe kiugof SKily, Ai ihf fi™^

William emlDf Hainauli. Pbilippai faibei ; John. kiBfOtTm:,. . ' -'■ ■

•on ; E'lwin! HI-, hei bwband ; tUe emperor, her broi!ipr-iD-I--> >«

piiuceof Wain, her ton. Od lbs left aiJa are Juuma, t^tic .

•iMer-iu4aw i Jolm rarl of Cornwall, bar bKHber-in-law ; Juu.

Walaa, br daogbier-in-law, and Ilia ducheHO i>f Clarenea .1 <

ttia prinoe»» ItabcUa, and ibo priiwei Lionel, John, Edmund arnl Thi^cuw

"V dm liglit >i<Ie of the lonib may be leen het laolhri, b«i bruUicc W t' }"

Bcpbew Louia of BaTBiia, ber uncle Jofan of Uaioaull. Iier daujkan
hnd MarsaiH, audi Cbatlc« doke of Brabant.

P

PBILIPPA OF HAINAULT. 303

"Faire Philippe, William Haiiuuilt's child, and younger daughter deare,
Of loeeate hue and beauty bright, in tomb lies hilled here ;
King Edward through his mother's will and nobles* good consenti
Took her to wife, and joyAilly with her hit time he spent
Her brother John, a martial man, and eke a valiant knight,
Did link this woman to this king in bonds of marriage bright
This matoh and marriage thus in blood did bind the Flemings sure
To Englishmen, by which they did the Frenchmen's wreck procure.
This Philippe, dowered in gifts full rare, ami treasures of the mind,
In beauty bright, religion, (hith, to all and eaeh most kind,
A fruitful mother Fbliippe was, full many a son she bred,
And brought forth many a worthy knight, hardy and full of dread ; *

A careful nurse to students all, at Oxford she did found
Queen*s College, and dame Pallas school, that did her fiime resound.

The wife of Edward dear,

Queen Philippe lieth here.

Learn lo lire."

Tnilh obliges ii8 to divest queen Philippa of one good deed, which
in &ct out of her power to perform ; she is generally considered to
be the first foundress of the msgnificent Queen's College, at Oxford. It
WM founded, indeed, by her chaplain, — that noble character, Robert de
Eglesfield,* who, with modesty equal to his learning aiul merits, placed
it under the protection of his royal mistress, and called it her founda-
tion, and tlie College of the Qjueen.

Philippa herself, the consort of a monarch perpetually engaged in
foreign war, and the mother of a large family, contnbuted but a mite to-
wards this splendid foundation : this was a yearly rent of twenty marks,
lo the sustenance of six scholar-chaplains, to be paid by her receiver.
Qpeen Philippa's principal charitable donation was to the llospital of the
Nuns of Sl Katherine, by the Tower. She likewise left donations to
the canons of the new chapel of St. Stephen, which Edward III. had
ktely built, as the domestic place of worship to Westminster Palace.

The only shade of unpopularity ever cast on the conduct of Philippa
was owing to the rapacity of her purveyors, aAer her children grew up.
The royal family was numerous, and the revenues, impoverished by con-
•laot war, were very slender, and therefore every absolute due was en-
forced, from tenants of the crown, by the purveyors of the royal house-
hold.'

* Hittorj of the University of Oxford.

'These tormenting adjuncts to feudality used to help themselves to twenty-fiva
quBRers of eom, iiuteail of twenty, by taking heap, instead of strike, measure,
•nd were guilty of many instances of oppression, in the queen's name. Arch-
faitbop blip wroce lo Edward III. a most patlieiio letter on the rapacity of the
royal purveyors. Ho says, "^the king ought to make a law enforcing honest pay-
ment for all goofls needed by his household. Tlien,'' continues he, ** all men
will bring neoessaries to your gate, as they did in the time of Henry, your grea^
gmndfisdicr, at whose approach all men reiuice<l.'* He declares. " that he, the
aiebbisliop himself, trembles at hearing tlie king's born, whether he haps to be
ka bis bouse or at mass ; when one of the king's servants knocks at the gate, ha
ftwnblas nx>re, when he comes to the door still more, and this terror continues
m long as the king stays, on ecoount of the various evils done to the poor. Ho
Aioks the king's harbingers come not on behalf of God,bui of xha d«i^ "^I^m^

s UeJrhninber were pensioned bv tingEj-
ng lo her request. He charges his eicbe'
rms or iheir seperale lives, on account of
^3 lo Pliiljppa, late que^n o( Ejigland; &iA
1 <!c Predion,' lea marks yearly, U fmAt
SlatJlda Fiaher; to Elizabeth Penhorejw
■early ; lo Johanna Cosin. lo Phili

I 201 Pit I LI PTA

The (kmsets of tlie qiieeii
.uril nfler lier ilealli, iitfordi
ii.-r, ■■ lo ]ny .luring Uie I.
■leir goD,! ami faiilif.il servic
I lo the lidijvcd ilainsel, .\liri
iiiul.MicliBetinas; likewise lo
Juliaiiiia Kawley, Icn marks _

Fycanl,'' anil lo A^iha Liergiii, a liuiiJreJ shillingB yearly; anil loMi-
ijlda Uailscrofi ami Agnes tie Saxilby, five marks yearly."

The name of Alice Ferrers Joea iioi appear ou thu" Usl of hAmi
damsels, bill a Ijiile Furllier on, in the Fcedera, occurs a weU-knowa inJ
disgracefid grant. " Know all, lliat we give and concede to our bebtri
.Alicia Perrers, late damsel of the chamber to our dearest consort Pbilipfi
deceased, and lo her heirs and executors, all the jewels, goods, and chx-
tels that die said ritieeii left in llie hands of Euphemib, who was wife to
J Waller de llcsclartori, knight, and the said Euphemb is to ddJTct tfaca
I to the said .Alicia, on receipt of this onr order."

s to be feareil iliat the king's aiiacliment to this woman had bega
g Piiilippa's lingering illness, for in 1369 she obtained a gift (^1
r thai had beloiiged lo ihe king's aunl, and in ihe course of IW
irichet by the grant of several manors.'

PHILIPPA OF UAINAULT. 205

in law, history, and the divinity of the times : he understood and spoke
readily Latin, French, Spanish, and German."

Whilst the court was distracted with the factions which succeeded the
death of the Black Prince, when John of Graunt, duke of Lancaster, was
suspected of aiming at the crown, a most extraordinary story was circu-
lated in Elngland, relating to a confession supposed to he made by queen
Philippa, on her deathbed, to William of Wykeham, bishop of Win-
chester.

^That John of Gaunt was neither the son of Philippa, nor Edward
III., but a porter's son of Ghent, for the queen told him that she brought
forth, not a son, but a daughter at Ghent, that she overlaid and killed
the little princess by accident, and dreading the wrath of king Edward
for the death of his infant, she persuaded the porter's wife, a Flemish
wcNBan, to change her living son, who was bom at the same time, for
the dead princess ; and so the queen nourished and brought up the man
now called duke of Lancaster, which she bare not ; and all these things
did the queen on her deathbed declare, in confession to bishop Wyke-
ham, and earnestly prayed him ^ that if ever it chanceth this son of the
fleiniih porter aflfecteth the kingdom, he will make his stock and lineage
known to the world, lest a fidse heir should inherit the throne of Eng-
kttd."'

The uiTentor of this story did not remember, that of all the sons of
Philippa, John of Gkiunt most resembled his royal sire in the high ma-

Ktic lineaments and piercing eyes, which spoke the descent of tlie
LQtagenets from southern Europe. The portraits of Edward III., of
the dcgant Black Prince,' and of John of Gaunt, are all marked with as
fltrong an air of individuality, as if they had been painted by the accu-
nte Holbein.*

The close observer of history will not fail to notice that with the
liib of queen Philippa, the happiness, the sood fortune, and even the
mpectiuiility of Edward III. and his fiunily departed, and scenes of
«tnle, sorrow, and folly, distracted the court, where she had once pro-
■Myled virtue, justice, and well-regulated munificence.

* Arebbithop Parker'f Ecclesiai tical History, and a Latin Chronicle of the reign
cf Edward IIL, printed in the Archsologia. Some slur had been cast on the
legiiiiiiaof of Richard the Second by the Lancastrian party. John of Gaunt was
iben a decided partisan of Wiokliffe, and this story seems raised by the opposite
party for the purpose of undermining his influence with the common people.

*Pere Orleans affirms that the prince of Wales, just before the battle of Poic-
tiMBi was generally called the Black Prince, because he wore black armour in
Older to set off the fairness of his complexion, and so to improve his bonm mme.
]t is to be noted that Froissart never calls him the Black Prince.

* See the beautiful engravings by Vertue, irom originals, in Carte's iblio Histoij
cf England, toL ii.

TOL.U.— 18

ANNE OF BOHKIIIA.

eURNAHBD THE DOOP.

FIRST QUEEN OP BECBABDII.

Dewvni of AnnF of Boliemia — Leaet at iha aniprMi Wliiiitmlli .ft him at Hf
■ betToibnl — Seu mit for Eiiglanl — DcmneJ <U Bt>l»n»— Dufl*n bf la '
III — Her piDgtCH - ■ ■ —

MB— Luids I
— Mariiaee and coroiialion — Queens tuliioo* Mid iiaprOTnavMI— l^iM
fuvciiiiBble lo [he RcrominiioD — King'i campaign in ilie rtunb— QWMI*I knV
mnrdereil — Kin 'i broilief condemned — Dmili iif tli» prine«M of Wa)«^-tW
quenn'i fbrourit? maid or honour — EieeuiicMi*of tbaijiwra'* "

pieaA* for their Uvbb — Gnnd lonrnantenl — QuWnii proai '
for tlic cilj of London— Her Ti»il lo lb- rity^— Oifti K

ANNS OF BOHEMIA. 907

Kiiig Richard Il.'a minority, demanded her hand for their young king,
just before her father died in the year 1380.

On the arrival of the English ambassador, Sir Simon Burley, at Prague,
the imperial court took measures which seem not a little extraordinary
at the present dav. England was to Bohemia a sort of terra incognita ;
and as a general knowledge of geography and statistics was certainly
not among the list of imperud accomplishments in the fourteenth century,
t}ie empress despatched duke Primislaus of Saxony, on a voyage of dis«
eovery, to ascertain, for the satisfaction of herself and the princess, what
sort of country England mi^ht be.

Whatever were the particulars of the duke's discoveries— and his
homeward despatches must have been of a most curious nature^ — ^it ap-
pears he kept a scrutinizing eye in regard to pecuniary interest. His
report seems to have been on the whole satisfactory, since in the Fmdera
we find a letter from the imperial widow of Charies IV., to the effect
^ that I, Elizabeth, Roman empress, always Augusta, likewise queen of
Bohemia, empower duke Primislaus to treat with Richard, king of Eng-
land, coDceming the wedlock of that excellent virgin, the damsel Anne,
bom of us, and in our name to order and dispose, and, as if our own
•oiil were pledged, to swear to the fulfilment of every engagement

When the duke of Saxony returned to Germany, he carried presents
of jewels, from the kinff of England, to the ladies who had the care of
the princess's education^

^ The duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt, would willingly have seen
the king his nephew married to his daughter, whom he had by the lady
Blanche of Lancaster ; but it was thought that the young lady was too
nearly related, being the kinr s cousin-german. Sir Simon Burley, a sage
and valiant knight, who had been king Richard's tutor, and had been
mneh beloved by the prince of Wales, his father, was deputed to go to
Germany, reelecting the marriage with the emperor's sister. The duke
and ducheas of Brabant, from & love they bore the king of England,
noeivod his envoy most courteously, and said it would be a good match
tar their nieca. But the marriage was not immediately concluded, for
the damsel was young; added to this, there shortly happened in Eng^
land great misery and tribulation,"' by the calamitous insurrection oi
Wat Tyler.

Ricfaaid IL was the sole surviving oflspring of the gallant Black Prince
and Joanna of Kent Bom in the luxurious south, the first aceenu of
Richard of Bordeaux were formed in the poetical language of Provence,
and his infant tastes linked to music and song^— tastes which assimilated
ill with the manners of his own court and people. His mother and
hal^bffothen, afler the death of his princely father, had brought up the
fiilara king of England with the most ruinous personal indulgence, and
nneonstitutional ideas of his own in&llibility. He had inherited more
of hii mother's levity, than his Other's strength of character; 3ret the
domeatic afiections of Richard were of the most vivid and enduring
natnra, eapeeially towards the females of his &mily ; and the state of

«r

AX5e nr ■oubmia

edilwoliiedP'

diatrrM and ti^rror w whirh ho Mw hi) mmher ndvecil br fti
or Wai T)'t(!t'* nioti, wai the cfaivT •tunnluit oT hi* |Ubiit I
wh«n thai teM f^Il btneaili the swan] of WalworUi.

Wheti lhe«« troubles wf re >up]inuaMf. lime bad o(i*Mted ll
to the union of Itichard nni AnOB. Tlw yoan; prioMM bad Wluwd
hf r tilWnlh yrar, nnd woi can«iil>rad nDal4e « giriag i iuwhI cob-
■•mt lo her own nmrrio^ ; aoi! kfter tenuing • leun Iq the cmnwil of
Encland, Hy:n^, iiht- tweame Ihe wife of thdr kti^r with foil uhI &m
wUl, •* she wi out," MVi Ffni—rt, *ia her pwilout joanuy, kUcnM
by ibe duke of Saxoay anil hu (hKhour who wu her aunt, aoil wicb i
tuitablc numh«r af knight* and ibrMpli. Thoy came Ibruu^h Bnfaui
to BniMrU, whrnr ihr diiko Wrocotan* and hi* dochMa reecivai] Ac
yoiin| ijiipun, and her company. »ery gfnnilly. The lady Ana* n
with her undt and aunt laore ihnn a mnnlli; die was afimtd oTp
ing, for »he had been inronned there were twel»e lai^e ■
Aill of Normani, on the sea helween Oilai« and Holland, Lh«t tBui
and pillaged all that fell in iheir haoils, withoui any mipecl lo penom.
The rrporl was current, that they rmited in ihtwr lai*, awaitiif tie
rnming of the king of England'* brtrfr, hccnaiw the kin^ at Fnanni
hi* rouncil were very imeaay al Richsnl'* Genius alliance, and 'Ktn
dotrous of breaking the rnateh."

-^ Deuktned by these appitluRnMM, lk« liMroib«l qami mualM

AXSE OF DOUEUIA. SOD

the water waa so violently shaken aiid troubled, and put in such fu-
is commotion, tbai the ahip, in which llie yount; queen'i person waa
veyed, was very terribly rent in pieces before her very face, and the

of the veseel^ that rode in company were tossed ao tlial it asionied
seholdera.'*

i'he English parliameoi was silting, when intelligence came that the
r'a bride, after all the diHiculiies and dangers of her progress from
giie, had safely arrived at Dover, on which it was prurognei! ; but
., funds were appointed, that with all honour the bride might be pre-
ted U> the young king.

)o the third day afler her arrival, the lady Anne set forth on her pro-
u lo Canterbury, where she waa met by the king's uncle Tltotnas,
[> received her with the utmoat reverence and honour. When she
roached the Blackheath, the lord mayor and citizens, in splendid
tses, greeted her, and with all the ladies and dtuiiscis, both from Iowa

country, joined her cavalcade, making bo grand an entry in London,
I lliQ like had scarcely ever been seen. The Goldsmiths' company
ren score of the men of this rich guild) splendidly arrayed themselves
neet, ta ihey said, the " Cesar's sister ;'' nor was their munificence
fined to iheir own persons ; they further put themselves to the es-
se of sixty shillings, for the hire of seven minstrels, with foil on iheir
s and chaperons, and expensive vestures, to do honour to the imperial
le; sud lo two shillings further expense, "for potaHons for the aaid
ialr«b." ' At the upper end of Chepe was a pageant of a caette with
ram, from two sides of which ran fountains of wine. From these
ren beautiful damsels blew in the fitccs of the king and queen gold
*; (bia was thought a device of eiitreme elegance and ingenuity; they
itrbe threw counterfeit gold florins before the horses' feel of the royal

Hjiiie of Bohemia was married to Richard II. in the chapel-royal of

palace of Westminster, the newly erected structure of St. Stephen.
Ill the wedding-day, which was the twentieth aAer Christmas, thera
K," aays Froissarl, '' mighty feasiings. That gallant and noble knight,

Robert Namur, accompanied the queen, from llie lime when she
tted Fragile, till she was married. Tlie king at the end of the week
ried bia queen to Windsor, where he kept open and royal house.
ey were very happy together. She was accompanied by llie king's
ther, the princess of Wales, and her daughter, the duchess of Bre-
ne, half-sister to king Richard, who was then in England, soliciting

the restitution of the earldom of Richmond, which hod been taken
in her husband by the English regency, and settled in part of dower

queen Anne. Some days ai\er the marriage of the loyal pair, they
nmetl to London, and the coronation of the queen waa performed
M magnilicenily. At the young queen's earnest request, a general
■don was granted by the king, at her consecration."' The stHicied
>p]e Blood in need of this respite, as the executions, since Tyler's in-
Tvclion, bad been bloody and barbarous beyond all precedent. Tba

•Tyrrell. Waliinsham. E^roai.

Aff ANNR OP BoneviA.

land was reeking with ilie blood oT ilie unhappy peamntiy, whm Iht
humane inierceKMon uf the gentle Anne of Bohemia put a alop to ih*

This mediation obtained for Bichani's bride the title of " the fomf
queen Anne ;" and years, instead of impairing the popularity, niiiialfy w
evanescent in England, only increased the ealeem fell by ber aubjectt for
this beneliceni princess.

Grand louruamenis were held directly afler the coronation. MmT
dayt were spent in these solemnities, wherein the German nobles, whc
ha<l accompanied the queen lo England, displayed their ctiivmlry to thf
great delight of the English. Our chroniclers call Anne of BohmiL
« the beauteous queen." At fifteen or sixteen, a blooming Oenmui pH
is a very pleasing object ; but her beauty must have been limited to
stature and complexion, for the features of her staiire are homely tod
ondigniSed. A narrow, high-pointed forehead, a Imig upper lip, cheelt,
whose fulness increased towards the lower part of the fa(«, ean scairdf
entitle her to claim a reputation for beauty. Bui the hrad-drm drt
wore must have neutralized the defects of her Cice in some degrM, by
giving an appearance of breadth lo her narrow forehead. This was tt\t
homed cap which constituted the head-gear of the ladies of Bithmni
and Hungary ; and in iliis " moony tire" did the bride of Kiehard jn-
sent herself to the astonished eyes of her female subjecu.'

Queen Anne made some alonement for being the importer of tto(
hideous fashions, by introducing the use of pins, such as are used at Mr
present toilets. Our chroniclers declare, that, previously to her anini
in England, the English liiir laatened their rob« with skewnv ; a gnat
misrepresentation, for, even ns early as the Roman empire, (he OM rf
pins was known; and British barrows have been opened, wberviB wot
found numbers of very neat and efficient little ivory pins, whicli M
been used in arranging the grave-clothes of the dead ;
irreverent chroniclers suppose that English ladies used W'
for their robes in the fourteenth century ?

Side-saddles were the third new fashion, brought into Et^fcuirf liy
Anne of Bohemia : they were different from those used at pM^ent. whict
were invented, or first adopted, by Catherine tie Medicis, qoecii o( Fault.
The side-saddle of Anne of Bohemia was like a bench with ■ bai^iaf
step, where both feet were placed. This mode of rtdiov
fooinian or squire at the bridle-rein of the lady's pelftey, and
Dsed in processions.

According to the fashion of the age, the young queen hd a 6enrt,

'Tliia cap wii nl least two Teei in beigbl, and as inMn]r in width; \» HA
wsa buill or vire and p«iielHBrd, like s very wide-spreading aum, mi aM
these hom> was extended w>nie fUttenng listue oi gKiue. Mi in win— mat M
rageoua were the horned rap> Ibal mued their heads in EngUad, dnaMlf ^
roful ijride appeued in one ; tliSM rormidable novellies eipuMUd ibali vh^
un ever; aide, till mt church or proceMioa ihs lilminuhsd bead* of brJi iM
kniKliti were eoJipwd by their ambiijoiu parmen. The chunih 4aelan4 Aif
wcr« "the moony tiio," deooiuiced by Eieklel ; likaty entnii^ fix tb«f tadteM
itmauceJ by Bohemian craMLden tion ^-jnii. " '

ANKE OF BOasHtA. 211

wbith sll herknighls weie especli^d lo wear at tournamenU; but her
device was, vre liiink, a very stupid one, being an ostrich, wilh a bit of
iroa in hit moulh.'

Al ilie celebration of the featival of ihe Order v( the Garter, 1384,
quern Anne wore a robe of rinlet cloih dyed in grain, the hood lined
with scarlet, liie robe lined wilh fur. She was attended by a number of
noble lailics, who are mentioned " as newly received into the Society of
iJie Garter." They were habited in the same costume as iheir young
queen.'

The royal spouse of Anne was remarkable for the foppery of his
dre«a ; he had one coal estimated at thirty thousand marks. Its chief
T«lae must ha*e ariten tram the precious stones wilh which it wm
idomMl. This was called apparel "bmidered of stone.'"

Nol withstanding the great accession of luxury that followed this mar-
ringv, ilie daughter of the Ctesars, (as Richard proudly called his bride,)
Bot <>nlv came porlionlesa lo the English throne mairimoniaJ, but her
bvsbanJ liad to pay a very handsome aum for the honour of calling her
hi* ctwR : he paid to her brother 10,000 marks, for the imperial alliance,
besidei being al the whole charge of her journey. The jewels of the
dnchy of Aquiiaine, the floriated coronet, and many broochea in Iho
form of otiitnals, were pawned to the Londoners, in order lo raiae money
for the expenMS of the bridal.

To Anne of Bohemia is aiirihuled Lhe honour of being the first, in
thai itlusirious band of princesses, who were lhe nursing moilicrv of
thr. Keformalion.* The Proiesiani church inscribes her name at the
roniDiRncrmeni of the illustrious list in which are seen ihos? of Anne
BolevR, Katharine Parr, lady Jane Grey, nnd tiueen Elisabeth. Whether
lJi« young queen brought those principles wiih her, or imbibed them
froai her mother-in-law, the princess of Wales, it is not easy to ascei^
tun. A poiMge quoted by Huss, lhe Bohemian reformer, leads to the
infervnce that Anne was used to read lhe Scriptures in her native tongue.
•• It is possible," says WickliiTo, in his work called the ' Threefold Bond
«f Lo»e,' " ihot our noble queen of England, sisier of the Oesar, may have

■CWnulifi'a R«iiiuna. It i* poieibie Ihni tills wa* not a deTice, bu) an orroiv
lia) bvaiing, and had wiine connriion with tlie oalrjch plume the Blnck Priac«
■oak tiara bcc K'^ndlkihcr at Crettf . The dukei of Aiuiria are perp«luall)r
oalint ilulteri o( OttrirK by lhe Eiiglisb vriten, wt late as Spetul. Baa thii tem
•Miy pnnniog Kmoeiinn Wiiii lliii device and lhe Bobeminn croM of Mlrjoh
AalliBtaT 'See air Uarrla Nicolu, Hislory of lhe Order of Ihe Garter.

'Id thii reign Ihe aboea were worn with pointed lOra of aa absurd and incon-
iHilant lengili. Camdpn t^uulc* an amusinft paavage ttnm a quaint work, frall-
tM Kulngitnn on iha ExiravHftance of llie Fuhions of this Reign. "Their
tbon and paneoi are anowied and piked up more ihan a flnget Ions, which
Ihey oill Cravcywei. leicmbliiig ihe deviKa olawa, which wern foileited tt» dia
kneoi wilh chains of gold and lilvcr, and ihtu weietkqr pumenled which wets
Ijrnia in Ih* hall, and Laiea in ihe fleld."

•Tot thB manjrrelogiat deolaiea^thal lhe Bohemiani who attended quern Aniie
fim inlroiluFcd the worka of Wickliffe lo John Hiiaa ; oouni Vsleriaji Knainaki,
la bi> mmil valuable bivlnry of lhe BerormalioD in Poland, conflmu ihia Bl■e^.
lim flrom ilw records of hia cuuDirjr.

I

I

I

i ANNEOFBOIIEMIA.

the gospel written in three languagi^s, Bohemian, Gemmn, un) Lltift:
now, to hertiicale her (brand lier with heresy) on that nccoimt, wgoU
be LuciTerian folly-" The influence of queen Antic o?er the mtmlii
her young husband was certainly employed by Joanna, princeM of WtU*,'
to aid her in Eaving the life of WicklilTe, when in greU danger il At
council of Larabelh, in I3S2.*

Joanna, princets of Wales, was a convert of Wicklifle, who b>d bxt
introduced to her by his patron, the duhe of Lancaster. Josnna, «did
by her daughleHn-Iaw, swayed the ductile miud of king Richard W
their wishes.'

Soon aAer, the queen was separated from her buaband by a war JB
Scotland. The most remarkable incident of hia campaign w^ lb« m»
der of Lord Stafford, by the king^s half-brother, John HtdLuid. 3»
louny of the queen^s fafour, and malice against her adherents, ^>peH it
be the secret motives of this deed. StatiTurd was a peerlna chrnlitr,
adoied by the English amiy, anil, for his virtuous conilnct, b bi^
bvour with Anne of Bohemia, who called him " her knight ;" aad W
was actually on his way to London, with messages from tlie king la At
queen, when this fatal encounter took place.* The ostensible oaaaa cf
the murder likewise waa connected with the queen ; as we lam btm
Froissarl, that the archers of lord Slafibtd, when protecting sir Me)e%l
Bohemian knight then with the army, who was a friend of queen Abm
slew a favourite squire belonging to sir John Holland ; and lo nveagia
punishment which this man had brought upon himself, sir John rat M
StafTord down, without any personal provocation. The grief of th* mI
of Stafford, his entreaties for justice on the murderer of bb •a«,«ii
above all, the atrocious circumstances of the case, wrought on
lUchard to vow that an exeiuplary act of justice should
on John Holland, (brother though he might be,) as soon «
from the shrine of St. John of Beverley, whither this homiciile hml hi
for SBUctuBiy. In vain Joanna, princess of Wales, the muiual nMXbtr tf
the king and murderer, pleaded with Richard, after his reinni fnm Sect*

'That Anne'B mollicr-in-teH' was Ilie active proleciiess of WickJiib u (fifv
rent fiom Dt. Liiigaid'e words, vol. iv. p. iS9. '- Some mid ibot Ilia isq ttiir^r
were intuniduleil, hf n nie»aGe from the priacesi of Walei; by Wii'Utda kii^
telt, Ilia escape wtu coaBideied and oelebrated as a uiuDipb.'* Mode>» wtMi
have uiuallr airributed Ihii gnod deed to Anne, bai ahe vaa ln> jtMUgMli
more tlian follow the lend of her motber^D-law. From WalMttilicm, n M
thu wveral kaigbta of the bousebold were accused or LollBtdutn ; ftoa lai^M
■uthoriijps, we find >ir Simon Burtej, tir Lewis CliBbrd, and sir Jaha QM^rfa
were more or les» accused u disciplei of the new doctrine.

■WickliOe died in his bed, at Lullcrwonli, ia I3S4, <»»i when daifctt d^
KiDse Rfterihe i3eaih of this beneficeat queen, persBCnlion Ibund oougbl taveatlt
■pile apon eicepdng the insensible bones of the ■- evil panoo of Lxlawutfc'
as he was calUil, when his remains were eihomed and ost iulu Iha hot
Wbicb Tons near his rjllage; but if Wicklifie had IJred in ih>rw daft tie atf
Dm bare etcnped being called a papist, for he wu actuallj- atiiKk bt daulL i*
the B?| of eelebialing the mass, al the ajur of his Tillage ebsichi tt^iAM
while living lie was never cut oS fiom the Oommnnioa of ihe oJmIcIi bI l^M

•Life of WiekMe, BtognL. Biii. - - -

ought aa Vm
1 Im petfixwi
as he naanl

AHNB op BOtlEUIA. 2lW

UbA, that the life of ajr John mii^ht he sptired. .Afler four daya' ince»-
•tnl ttunpntaiinn. the king''t> mmher di^d on ihe tifih day, at ilic royal
orUe of Walliiigfiml. Hirhanl's nurolution lailpd him at ihia caiaBlro-
^«i aildf when loo lute lo save his nmlher, he pardoned ihe criiuino],
Th« aggTJev^ ^none, in this unhappy aiJventure, were the friends of
Ar quern, btii there is no evidence that she excited her hueband's wrailL*
Thd homicide who had ocMsjoned so much trouble departed, on an
Btonme pilsrtmage, to Syria. Ke was absent from England during the
Ufe of t[uc:eii Anne, and happy would it have been for his brother if h«
bad never returned.

Anne of Bohemia, unlike Isabella of France, who was always at waf
with her husband's favonriies and friends, made it a rule of hie lo low
all that ilie king loved, and to consider a sedulous compliance with hi§
will as h«r first duty. In one instance alone did this pliancy of temper
lead h«r into ilie viokiinn of justice ; litis was in ihe case of the repu-
MMuitm of the countess of Oxford.

HM||'iTheTe were great munnurings against ihe duke of Ireland," sayi

^PNMbnrt; "but what injured him moat was his conduct lo his ducheas,

Ptt»<hdy Philippd. daughter of the lord de Courcy, a handsome and nobitt

*-'tiitf> Foi the duke was greatly enamoured with one of ihe ((ueen'l'

' , JMHch, called the landgravine.' She was a tnleiably hatidsonie, plea-

' mmt hdy, whom queen Anne had brought with her from Bohemia. The

duke ai Irvlaud loverf her with such ardour, that he was desirous of

iHkbtg hn, if possible, his duchess by marriage. All the good people

of England were mtich shocked ai this, for his lawful wife was grand-

dmghtcT lo the gallant king Edward ajtd the excellent queen Philippa,

baing the daughter of the princess Isabella. Her uncles, ihe dukes of

OlaacwMir and York, were very wroih al this insult."

The linl and lost error of Anne of Bohemia was the participation to
tU* disigTaceful transaction, by which she was degraded in the eyes of
fobjecls who had warmly admired her meek virtues. The ofleiisive part
takca by Llie (]Deen in tliis iransactiuri was, thai she acRially wrote witb
her owo hand, an urgent letter lo pope Urban, persuading hiro to sane-
don llie divorce of the counters of Oxford, and lo aulhorire ihe marriage
of her fiiithtpBs lord with the bndgravine. Whether the maid of honouf
wetv a prinress or a peasant, she had no right to appropriate another
wonuuiS husband. The i^ueen was scarcely less culpable iu aidijig aud
■betting so nefarious a measure, lo the inGoile injury of herself, and of
Ac coiison ahe so lenderly loved.
There was scarcely an earl in England who ww not related to ibe

•rf>^l nan.

■PmUHiii (lire* this lii|;li >iile to this maid orlionoar, whil9 lbs English ehiooi-
dB>i bimiid bet wltb bw bJnli, Th* Fccdcra at oaet pnu an and «r Uieie di»
pBi** lif iiutiinc b«r tlie landgratina or bindgmvine or LuieuilKiurg, which

ilii.-a-t I.I ' I'iiir ilini 'lin WBi nobli>, bui nllipd lo ibc JmperiBl fumily 'nmlT. The

.. 1 IU Uii« lan^gTOiruia, U> eoinp lo England with all batj
r, , rM vafuiil]l<>( trni by tlie iiiii|in-H Hit tlie una Of bigj
">i bavini; appoltiTed lb» taarfgrardia, hpr ilaui^w

• royal

ANNB OF BOHEMIA

I

I

I

ro}fil hmilv', the queen, by the part she took in ttiis divprscefid afit^
a(fenile<t every one allied lo ihe royal houst of Planla^ncL'

The siornt fell in iia fury oa the head of the anfortuaale «ir Siaa
Burley, ilie same knight whom we have seen niak« two jonrneyi to
Prague, in solemn embassy, reganJing the queen's ma^riaga. This n-
foriunate knight, who was the most occomplisbeiJ man of hi* »ft, toA
iieen foreiloiimed by his persecutors. The earl of Aniadrl hiul pR-
riously expressed an opinion to king Richard, that sir Simon <]« &ui^
deserved death.

" Didst thou not oay to me in the lime nf thi/ parliament, when w
were in the baih Ijeliind the white-hal), that sir Simon Je BurieT it-
served to be put to death on several accounts I And did uoi 1 o^
anawer, ' I know no reason why he should suffer death ?' and, yet ym
and your companions traitorously look his life from him !'' Such m
(he accusation hy king Richard, when Arundel stood on his trial, la p^
tbe bitter debt of vengeance that Richard had noted against him, as tht
cause of his tutor's death.

The death of sir Simon Burley was a bitter sorrow to tlie queen, ^
haps her first sorrow ; and as it appears that the expenses of her Joonif
from Germany being lefl unpaid by the government, during Uie ki^^
minority, ultimately led to the disgrace of her friend, liie ijueen DIM
have considered herself as the innocent cause of his death.

While the executions of sir Simon Burley and many o^un ti it
king's adherents were proceeding in London, Richard and bis ^MM
retired lo Bristol, and fixed their residence in the castle.

A civil war commenced which terminated in the defect of tba lopl
troops at Radcol Bridge, near Oxford, by the duke of Glooeeder, ut
young Henry of Bolingbroke. It was the queen's mediation alanc iktf
could induce Richard to receive the archbishop of CanterburyT wtmbf
came to propose an amnesty between the king and his sDbJ«ciB; t«a
days and nights did Richard remain inflexible, till at last, of the f^
suasion of Anne, the archbishop was admitted lo the royal pmMtt.
" Many plans," says Froissart, " were proposed to the king j at latt hr
the good advice of the queen, he restrained bis choler, and iciw4 H
accompany llie archbishop to London." Ailer the queen i«iiia^ ID
London from Bristol, the proceedings of that parliament eornvMCi'i
which has been justly termed by history, the Merciless. The niiH*!
servanifl were the principal objects of its vengeance, the Imdencf ■>
Lollardism in her household being probably the secret rooliTe. h Ml
in vain that the queen of England humbled herself to the TajdlUt|)>
hopes of saving her ^ihful friends.

King Richard in an especial manner instanced the undutifaioMi of Ik*
earl of Arundel to the queen.' who, he declared, ^ was thres booB *
ner knees before this earl, pleading with tesni for the life of JobaO^
Terley, one of het esquires." All the answer she could get wu iB^

' After all, iha divorce wsa not carried iiiLo eSecl, (at. in tbw yew IMt, tt^
Ua letter of ate-aoadact, trom kiog Ritlmjil lo bis deacpii coutin Philjjqa. «l^
ID Bobert de Teia. *At the nial oT '

AH HE OP BOHEMIA. 3Ifl

"P«y ftir yootwlf and your husband, for that ii ihe besl thing yon can
do, Mid ]m iliii) request alone," and all ihe iinpoiiunilies naeil could nol
MTV Calveilry'slife.' Indeed, Ihe duke of Gloureeier and bin collMguei
cstablishitd n reii^ of terror, making it penal For any pereon (o tealiiy
fidelity III (he kiiiff or queen, or to receive their confidence,

The duke ol' Ireland lied to ilic Low Countries, from whence he never
rrtunied during his life. It is worthy of remark, that the niece* of his
ill-treaied wife, for whose divorce Anne of Bohemia had intri^ed with
pope Urban, married llie great and (towerful emperor Sigivniund, own
Mother to that queen.

Tlie intermediate time, from the autumn of 1387 to the spring of
1988, waa spent by the young king and queen in a species of restraiitt.
Btliain and Sliene were Ihe favourite residences of Kichard and Ann%
aud ill tlteae palaces they chieQy sojourned at tliia lime. The favouriM
■uintner palace of Anne wua named, from the lovely landscape arouiid
it, Sbene : tradition aays that Edward the Confessor, delighting in tilt
(uf KCiincry, culled it by thai expressive Saxon word, signifying eretf
Ibing that is bright and beauteous.

The king had, during this interval, attained his twenty-second yeai^
and his firbl question, on the meeting of his parliament, was, " Itow olil
be was ?"

And when they named the years he had attained, he declared thai his
Wic^siors were always considered of age much earlier, and lliat iba
Mwauest of his subjects were of age at twenty-one ; he therefoie deteiw
minml to shake off the fetters that controlled him. This scene waa {(A-
lowed by a sort of re-«oronation in St. Stephen's chapel, where tht
Bobiliiy renewed their oaths to him ; and il was particularly observed
thai he kissed those with afeciion whom he considered as hia adheretiM,
and M-ciw|ed on those who had been die leaders in the late insurrections.

The king always appears to have been exceedingly ailarhed to his
■acl«, tlie duke of- Lancasieri but he had a strong wish to rid hiinsetT
of hia turbulent and popular cousin, Henry, the eldest son of llial duke,
who wa* bom the same year aa himself, and from infancy was his rival.
On one occasion Henry had threatened the life of tlie king in the presence
of the quncn.

- Tlince have I saved hia life !" exclaimed king Richard. " Once mg
dexr uncle Lancaster (on whom God have mercy) would have slain hiB I
for bis treason and villany, and then, 0 God of Paradise .' all night didl |
ri-i* to preserve him from death, Once also Ue drew his sword
I < the rhamher of queen Anne."'

I
I

'linls, vol. f.

the daughiei of li<
r Kingi, nnil Bellia

by iha count da Cittny. See i

tHMtryofBalingbr
... . _ ... -.ii)|imna, in oruef m cmtrj a

iho boriliiis of Lithuania, with wliod

■ cruMilo tt-orfliro. (Speed.)
whptn iha Engliih |irini:e ci

1 the year 1300. nnc

England, in order to carry ...

whom the 1^

Valerian Knuine
ipnl in Litbuani

Ha

ANN E I

oncH) A.

Kiag Ilich*rd soon nhet be^ioiTnl on the dnke uf Itinwlnr dw Mf»
reignty oT Aquilaine. probably with Uie desi^ ofkeepinif lluMa of te
pnnee al a (liBtaare from Eii^Uiiii. Tlie queen held a grand iMinlM
(his oriiininn. Prtrt nf ibe liicli crrenioiiial consUW in tbr qsMo^ ]>»
UDlaiion '>r ihe duchess of lAtiosicr wiih tlie e^nU] cirrlet stir *m1*
wear as iluchcM of Aquiuiue. wlule Richard iiivevtcd hu i nrii wiik At
dual coronet^ bul ihe iovesijlure was useless, for the [i«i>]4e of \f^
toine refused Ui be lepsnied froui tlie duiuiiiiou of England.

The king's full astniraption of the royal authority wu ecUboiad wtt
a splendid i4>umamciiL over whirh qii^en Anne presideiL M ths ant-
Riga lady, to beotow the prize — a rich jnwelM clanp — in ibe ksM MM
of the lists, and a rich crown of enid to the besiof ihc! oppotMMs. San
of her Indies, mounted on beoiiCtful palfreys, eturh led a knight, Wa
chain, to the lilting ground at Smithtirld. thmiigti the streets "
by the sound of trumpets, attended by numerous mtftstrda. In to
onler they paeeed before qiieen Anne, who was already «ni*ed wilk ha
ladies, and placed in open rhambere," richly decoratnj. 1^ t/am
retired, at dusk, lo the bishop of London's palace al St. PaatV vAm
shs held a grand banquet, with dstu-ing both before and &As-avffK
During the whole of the totinioDiem the queen lodged at the palMad
the bisbop of London.'

The queen's good offices as a mediaior were rei]mrad in dM jnv
1382, to compose a serious dilTtrence between Richard II. and dit dv
of London. Richard had asked a loan of a tliounnd pnon^ froatts
nliiens, which ifaey peremptorily refused. Au Italian inetehMtt pfcal
die king the sum required, upon which [h« citizens raii«t) a tmaolLi^
tore the unfortunate loan-lender lo piscee. This oninge being MImmI
bj^ a rioi. attended with bloodshed. Kichard ileclanid ■* tliai as the on
did not keep his peace, be should resume her chnrlvrs,'* and anaiB"
removed liie courts of law to York- In distress. Ihe city afipM b>
queen Anne lo mediate for them. Fortunately. Ricband had tiit «ke
bvourite at tlial lime than his peace-loving queen, " who was." «« tt
aooieiil historians, » very precious to the nation, being cuntinaally taf
some eood lo the people ; and site deserved a ranch larger dowar llMa
the sum sellled on her. which only amounted to fonr
hundred pounds per annum."

The manner in which queen Anne pacified Riclmrd. is
Latin chronicle poem, wniien by Richard .Mayde^too, an
the scene;' he was a pnesl aiiached to the court, and in &iw«r «<&
Richard and the queen.

Throui;h the private inierresston of the queen, the kit^ eoaHHoiii
pass ihrongh ihe ciiy, on his way from SKeiie to VVestminsicr Palae^ ■
t]ic29th of AngusL

'Tl«]r wow tEmpoiary Muutg erncieil al SmiikflK)
«a neiiiK ommn in ihe present timn, 'tHW cal. J<
*Laul]r irablulied by itie Csmilea Swicij. Hajpdi
Innnl liy u Mm ftiiin RichanL in ihe FiBdeta. v
(Cimiicil«<l W iiie cniteiu (hroiiBh iho meilikuouof

ANHB or DOIICMIA, SIT

•When they ftrtived al Souihwark ihe qtieen assumed her crown,
which »he wore tluting ihe whole procesBion ihrougli London : it was
bbziiig with various gems of Ihe choicest kinds; her dress vim likewi»e
ttuilded with precious stones, and she wore a rich carconet about hor
tiwk; she appeared — according to the taste of Maydeston — 'fairest
among the lair,' and from the lienign humility of her gracious counie-
Oanre, the anxious citizens gathered hopes that she would succeed in
pBcifiing the king. During Ihe entry of the royal pair into iha city,
ihey rode al some disiance from eacli otlier. At the tir^l bridge-lower
Ihe lung and queeu were met by the lord mayor and other auiliorities,
followed by a vast concourse of men, women, and cbildren, every arii-
fic«r bearing some symbol of hia crafL Before the Sou thwark- bridge
gale llic king was presented wiih a pair of fair white steeds, trapped
with gold cloih, figured with red and white, and hung full of silver bellai
■Steeds such is Ctesar might have been pleased to yoke to his car.' "

Quren Anne then arrived with her train, when the lord mayor Venner
preeenled her with a small white palfrey, exqnisiiely trained, far her
omt riding. The lord mayor commenced a long speech with these
Words :

"O genorons oSpring of imperial blood, whom God hath destined
worthily to sway the sceptre as consort of our king .'"

lie then proceeds to hint ihat mercy and not rigour best became iha
qorenly station, and that gende ladies had great influence with their
loving lords; tlien entering into the meriis of the palfrev, he com>
mended iis beauty, its docility, and the convenience of iia ambling pnces,
hkI the magnificence of iis purple housings. Afier the animal had Iwen
gndonsly accepted by the queen, she passed over the bridge and cantA
U> ibe bridge-portal on the city side : but some of her maids of honour,
who were following her, in two wagons, or cbarretiea,' were not quite
■0 (nrtunnle in tlieir progress over the bridge.

Old London Bridge was, in the fourteenth century, and for some ages
•Tier, no such easy defile for a large inHux of people to pass through :
ibtKiffh no[ dien encroached upon by houses and shops, u was encum-
bered by for tilicai ions and barricades, which guarded the draw-bridge
lowers in the centre, and the bridgp-gaie towers at each end. In thif ]
tniiancc the multitudes pouring out of the city, to get n view of ihB j

3ueen and her train, meeting the crowds following the royal prncotsion, |
le throngs pressed on eacli other su tumulluously, that one of tlie cliaT> |
Totles containing the queen's ladies was overturned — lady rolled Upon ]
lady, all being sailly discomposed in the upael; and, what was wona, I
nothing could restrain the laughter of the rude, plebeian ortiticera ; M 1
last tlie equipage was righted, the discomliied damsels replaced, and 1
thrii charn'itc resumed its place in (he procession. But such a r

■Tlw-M eoriTrfancet vera nciiiicr more rvDi leir Uiiui Imncbe,! wngnnn. wbicll 1
w*ti! kn>< f"' 'he uRcmnnindaiinn iif Ihe ijuenra iiiaiili ofhcnour; thccbarrenes 1
*enT vejj riiil|rofnBinen(r<(l with rti) pninl, mil lined witit •cartel clotli Oirou^ I
•at. Tbey ■» ilaaeiitiMl in tlia IwrumlioM boolit nf ro]ralt]r. very minuwljr; Ihsf 1

^_ TOt. II.— 10 .

I

i

SIS AMNB OP BOHEMIA.

of homed caps did not happen witlioul serious inconveniences lo ifit
weattrsi as HaydeaWn very minutely particularizes.

Aa the king and queen pnaseil through the city, the principal ihorocgli-
fares were hung witti gold ctoth and siWef tisKue, and tapesuy of sUi
and gold. When ihcy approached the conduit at Cheapeide, red toil
white wine played from (he spouts of a tower erected against it, iba
royal pair were served " with rosy wiae smiling in goltlen cups," uhI
an angel flew down in a cloudy and presented lo the king, and ihm U
the queen, rich gold circlets worth several hundred pounds. Annlto
condnit of wine played at St. Paul's ea-ttem gate, where was iiatMud
n band of antique musical instruments, whose names alone will aslMmil
modern musical ears. There were persona playing on tympanies, maw-
chords, cymbals, psalteries, and lyres ; zainburas, citherns, situlas, horu,
and viols. Our learned Lalinist dwells with much unction on tlie sja-
phonous chorus produced by these instrumenls, which, he says, ** wi^
idl hearers in a kind of stupor." No wonder !

At the monastery of St. Paul's the king and queen alighted from ihrir
■teeds, and passed through the cathedral on foot, in order Eo pay ibui
oflerings at the holy sepulchre of St. Erkenwald. At the western pti
ihey remounted their horses, and proceeded to the Ludgnie. That,
just above the river bridge, — which river, we beg to remind our m^tn,
was that delicious stream, now called Fleet-ditch, — was perched -i
celestial banil of spirits, who saluted the royal personages, as An
passed the Flele-bridge, with enchanting singing, and sweei psalmudy,
making, withal, a pleasant fume by swinging incense-potn ; tliey Gk^
wise scattered fragrant flowers on the king and queen as they sevctiUf
passed the bridge."

And if the odoura of that civic stream, the Flete at that lime, by wy
means rivalled those which pertain to it at present, every one mtM o«ii
(hat a fumigation was appointed there with great judgment

At the Temple barrier, above the gate, was the representation of i
desert, inhabited by all manner of animals, mixed with TfptilM and
monstrous worms, or, at least, by their resemblances; in the fctfk-
ground was a forest ; amidst the concourse of beasts, was snud the
holy Baptist John,' pointing with his finger to an Agnus Dei. lifter ilw
king had hahcd to view this scene, his attention waa struck by thi
figure of St. John, for whom he had a pecidiar devotion, when an u^
descended from above the wilderness, bearing in his hands a stdcmiil
gift, which was a tablet, studded with gems, « fit for any altar,'' wi*
the cniciSxion embossed thereon. The king took it in his band sri
said, ^ Peace to (his city ; for tlie sake of Christ, )ijs moiber, Snd vt
patron St. John, 1 forgive every ofience."

Then ihe king continued his progress towards his paUce, mJ lb*
queen arrived opposite lo the desert and Sl John, when loni rhjm
Venner presented her with another tablet, likewise represoiiing tlK Cf»
eiiision. He commenced his speech with lliese words ^—

^ Illustrious daughter of imperial parents, Anne — « name ta BtbiW

■ The Temple waa ilion in ^oiwaiio

ANNS OF BOHBMIA. 319

iigniiying grace, and which was borne by her who was the mother of
the mother of Christ, — mindful of your race and name, intercede for us
to the king ; and, as often as you see this tablet think of our city, and
fpeak in our fitvour."

Upon which the queen graciously accepted the dutiful offering of the
city, saying, with the emphatic brevity of a good wife who knew her
innuence, ^ Leave all to me."

By this time the king had arrived at his palace of Westminster, the
great hall of which was ornamented with hangings more splendid than
the pen can describe. Richard's throne was prepared upon the King's
Bench, which royal tribunal he ascended, sceptre in hand, and sat in
great majesty, when the queen and the rest of the procession entered
the hall.

The queen was followed by her maiden train. When she approached
the king, she knelt down at his feet, and so did all her ladies. The
king hastened to raise her, asking,

^ What would Anna ? — declare, and your request shall be granted.''
The queen's answer is perhaps a fair specimen of the way in which

die obtained her empire over the weak but affectionate mind of Richard ;

more honeyed words than the following, female blandishment could

■carcely devise.

^ Sweet," she replied, ^ my king, my spouse, my light, my life! Sweet
love, without whose life mine would be but death ! Be pleased to govern
jour citizens as a gracious lord. Consider, even to-day, how munificent
their treatment! What worship, what honour, what splendid public duty,
have they at great cost paid to thee, revered king ! Like us, they are but
mortal, and liable to frailty. Far from thy memory, my king, my sweet
love, be their offences, and for their pardon I supplicate, kneeling thus
lowly on the ground."

Then, after some mention of Brutus and Arthur, ancient kings of
Britainf— which no doubt are interpolated flourishes of good Master
Maydeeton, the queen concludes her supplication, by requesting ^^ tliat
the king would please to restore, to these worthy and penitent plebeians,
their ancient chartera and liberties."

<^ Be satisfied, dearest wife," the king answered, ^ loth should we be
to deny thee any reasonable request of thine. Meantime ascend, and sit
beaide me on my throne, while J speak a few words to my people."

He seated the gentle queen beside him on the throne. The king then
■poke, and all listened in silence, both high and low. He addressed the
lord mayor: —

** I will restore to you my royal favour as in former days, for I duly
prize the expense which you have incurred, the presents you have made
me, and the prayers of the queen. Do you henceforth avoid offence to
your sovereign, and disrespect to his nobles. Preserve the ancient faith;
despise the new doctrincH unknown to your fathers ; defend the catholic
church, the whole church, for there is no order of men in it, that is not
dedicated to the worship uf God. Take back the key and a^-o^c^^ V««^

I

I

mv peace in ^our my, rule tl« iahabiuuits u (oaaerly^aai be >wm|
them my repreBeniaiive." '

No further dillereaces with llie king diiituibed the couoiry, donof At
life of Anne of Bohemia. Ii ia probable ilmi if the exiitenct <^ dui k-
Inved queeQ had been ipared, the calamities uid crimes of ItidwA
future yean would have been averted, by her milil advice.

Yet the king's extravagant generosity nothing could repren; lbcpr>
fusion of the royal household is severely coinin«utt>d upon by Wtten^
ham aiid Knightou, Sidl, their elriciure« seem invidtotis; noiliinf tal
partisan malice could blame such hoepitality as the foUowinf is a uv
of fsniine. ^' Though a terrible series of plagues ami fanuiw «A«m<
England, the king retrenched none of his diver«oiis or espMMM. Of
entertained every day six thousand persons, most of them were indifiM
poor. He valued himseir on surpassing in mag niticence all the aortmftt
in Europe, as if he possessed au inethausiible treasure; in bis kiirba
alone, three hundred persons were employed; and the (jueen had a lib
nuniber to attend upon her service-'"

VVbile Richard was preparing for a campaign in Ireland, wliich KMCn
had revolted from his aulhorily, bis departure was delayed by a urtMi
bemivemenL This was the loss of his beloved partner- It is nnppiT^
she died of the pestilence that was then raging througbnut Europ^w
her decease was heralded by an illness of but a few hoars FrauHCl
says. speakiJLg of the occurrences in England, June, 1394 — " At im
period the larN' Anne, queen of England, fell sick, to the infinite &akm
of king Richard and all her household. Her disorder increased wo nfi^.
thai she departed this lile at the feast of Whitsuntide, 1 301. The Vm
and all who loved her were greatly aJHicied at her death. Ktag RiehMd
was inconsolable for her loss, as they mutually loved each other, kwii^
been married young. This queen \eti no issue, for she nvvcr bona
child."

Anne of Bohemia died at her favourite palace of Shene ; dw ki^ mt
with her when she expired. He had never given her a riva] ; abe appMB
to have possessed his whole heart, which was rent by ilw num vtrit
sorrow at ilie sudden loss of his fiiiibful partner, who was, in kt, hit
only friend. In the frenzy of his grief, Ricbart] imprecatMl Um hMMMi
curses on the place of her death, and, unable to beu Uw sight rf At
place where he had passed his only happy hours, with this brinivi iri
virtuous queen, he ordered the palace of Slieoe lo b« levelled mA th
ground.'

The deep tone of Richard's grief is apparent even in ibe sonaMM
sent by liitn to llie English peers, requiring their allendaoeea b» Al it^
our to the magnificent obsequies he had prepared for his loal nwsl
His letters on this (occasion are in existence, and are addresaed t« ott
of his barons in this style :

e aeniallr difflinnlad, fas BiMT I

ANNS OF BOBSM.I4. 3S1

■y^BT BSAB AVD YAITHTUL COUtlSr,*

" Inasmuch as our beloved companion, the queen, (whom God has hence
eommandcd,) will be buried at Westminister, on Monday the third of August
next, we earnestly entreat that you (setting aside all excuses) will repair to our
eity of London, the Wednesday previous to the same day, bringing with you our
▼ery dear Linswoman, your consort, at tlie same time.

** We desire diat you will, the preceding day, accompany the corpse of our
dear oonaort from our manor of Shene to Westminster; and for this we trust we
may rely on youi as you desire our honour, and that of our kingdom. Given
under our privy seal at Westminster, the lUth day uf June, 1394/'

We gather from this document, that Anne's body was brought from
Shene in grand procession, the Wednesday before the 3d of August,
attended by all the nobility of England, male and female; likewise by
the citizens and authorities of London,' all clothed in black, with black
hoods ; and on the 3d of August the queen was interred.

^ Abundance of wax was sent for from Flanders, for flambeaux and
torches; and the illumination was so great that nothing was seen like it
before, not even at the burial of the good queen Philippa; the king
would have it so, because she was daughter of the emperor of Rome
and Germany."'

The most memorable and interesting circumstance at the burial of
Anne of Bohemia is the fact, that Thomas Arundel, aflerwards arch-
bishop of Canterbury, who preached her funeral sermon, in the course
of it greatly commended the queen for reading the holy Scriptures in
the vulgar tongue/

Richard's grief was as long enduring as it was acute. One year
elapsed before he had devised tlie spf>cies of monument he thought
worthy the memory of his beloved Anne, yet his expressions of tender-
ness reganling lier pervaded his covenant with the London artificers em-
ployed to erect this tomb. He took, witiial, the extraordinary step of
having his own monumental statue made to repose by that of the queen,
with the hands of the elFigies clasped in eacii other.

The tomb of Anne was commenced in 1395; the indentures descrip-
tive of its form are to be found in the Fccdera ; tlic marble part of the

*Tbe style of this circular will prove how much modern historians are mis-
talcpn who declare, that king Henry IV. first adopted that form of roynl address,
which terms all carls the king's cousins; yet the authority is no less than tliat of
Bfaickstone. It does not appear tliat this circular was confined to earls.

'Tb« FoKlera contains a circular from the king to the citizens, nearly similar
to the alwve. " Froissart.

*Rapin, vol. i. 701. There is a great contradiction between Rapin and Fox,
when alluding to tliis funeral sermon. Fox, in his dedication of the Anglo-Saxon
Gospels to queen Elizabeth, in 1571, uses these words: — "Thomas Arun<lel,
airhbi»hop, at tlie funeral oration of queen Anne, in 1394, diil avouch, as Poly-
dore Vergil faith, that she had the gospels with divers expositors, which she sent
unto him to be verified and examined.*' This is the direct contrary to Rapin' t
asperticm, yet the whole current of events in Richard II.'s reign strongly supports
the Bsm*rtion of the early reformers that Anne of Bohemia was favourably in-
dined to fli»:in. CtTtnin it is that her brother, king Winceslaus of Bohemia
(th'KiKh no great honour to the cause), encouraged the Hussites in her native
•ouutry.

19*

I

I

Jaa ANHB op BOUEHIA.

monument wu consigned to the care of Stephen Loat, citizen uJ nam
of London, and Henry Yevrle, hie partner.

In the document alluded to above occur these rem&rkabU wonb,
'- And also iasciipiioDB are to be graven about the tomb, ancb ai wiD be
delivered proper for it" The actual inscription is in Latin ; die venb-
meiils are tender and elegant, and the words probably composed bj tLf
king himself, aa it enters into the personal and mental qualifiealioiif «f
Aitrie, like one who knew and loved her. The Latin commence*,
" Sub pecni lam maim Anna jacel nunulata," dee.

The following is a literal transbtion : '

" Under lhi» bIodb li«> Anna, hero enlombed.
Wcdiled in tliic wotld'i life to the teeaad RjchatiL
To Chrin were het niBak tiriuei detaied.
Hi* poor itis tteely Ted rrom Iiei Ireaiures;
Strife ibe ususgeil, and twelling feuds appeasod.
BcButeoui hrr fcirin. her &ce lurpatiing Ibii.
On Jajf'i ae»onth day, iliineen hundred nincijr-faijr,
All comfort was bereft, fbr ibrougb irremediable sickoeH
She pasaeJ away inio eternal jays.''

Richard deponed for Ireland soon after the burial of Anne, but b(
heart was still bleeding for the loss of his queen ; and thongb her «nl
of progeny was one of the principal causes of the troubles of his reif^
he mourned for her with the utmost constancy of affection. PrntDcnltT.
wlieu he was in his cuuiicii-chamber at Dublin, if aovihing acctdenBlb
recalled her to his ihoughls, he would burst into tears, rise, anil Euddnlf
leave the room.'

■• The year of her death," says Walsinghmn, " was notable for spItnAd
funerals. Constance, duchess of Lancaster, a lady of great intioedBrT
of life, died then ; and her daughler-in-Iatr, the co-heiresa of Uenl'«J>
wife of Henry of Bolingbrokc, and mother of his children, died id iht
bloom of life. She was followed to the tomb by Isabel, dochoM d
York, second daughter of Pedro the Cruel, a lady noted for h«j o*w
fineness and delicacy, yet at her death showing much penitence fbf hff
pestilent canities.* But the grief fur all these deaths by no insm
ei^ualled that of the king for his own queen Anne, whom lie loved nts
lo niudneea."

The people of England likewise deeply regretted this benignuit wd
peare-loving queen, and lone hallowed her memory by the Bimpfe ni
expressive appeliaiiou of "Good i^ueen Anne."*

'There li

n LaliD. proliDlily Inloiigliig to the b
iial vaigai jiiigle. As tba men naai
re omitted, tii

lie htiDg a tablet

epiiiiph it given, llie tablet vvixi are omitted, but they msy be tesa ia Aav
* Burton t Irish Hi!«)ry. 'Heinwi of Pedro iht l>«L

*A letter wriilen by Anae of Bohemia i> pteierveil in die arobimof <)■*■
Collego, Oxibid, in lai-oui ot learning. We haVe ceoeiTMl Uil* ioiiii ' '
Mr. Bnlliwell, wlioia learned and iatelligi'Dt laboan la iIm Camdaa 1

%X« OV VOL. It.

LIVES

OF THB

:iUEENS OF ENGLAND,

nam

THE NORMAN CONQUEST;

WITH

ANECDOTES OF THEIR COURTS,

NOW naST PITBLISHED FBOH

7ICIAL RECORDS AND OTHER AUTHENTIC DOCUMENT'!^
PRIVATE AS WELL AS PUBLIC.

htir EDITION, WITH CORKECTIONS AND ADDITIONS.

BY

AGNES STRICKLAND.

Tb* trtararM of aatiquily taid op
k. oM hMorto roili, I o|«miI.

BsAOHoirr.

VOL. III. J

PHILADELPHIA:

BLANCHARD AND LEA

1852.

Fnc;«! ty T. £ A P. 0. Ct

CONTENTS

or THB

THIRP VOLUME

rf^^^>^^^i^^>^^^^^^^^«fc^

ABkLLA OP Valois, sumamed the Little Queen, second Claeen

of Richard II ' Page 9

lANNA OP Navarre, Queen of Henry IV 38

Chapter II 57

ATRKRiNB OP Valois, sumaoied the Fair, Consort of Henry V. 83

Chapter II 106

ARGARET OP Anjou, Quecu of Henry VI 123

Chapter II 160

uizABETH WofjoYiLLB, Quccu of Edward IV 205

Chapter II 222

WN B OP Warwick, Queen of Richard lU 242

(3)

PREFACE.

^^t^^^^^^MAAA

r apologies are due to an indulgent public for the tardy
ince of the third and concluding volume of the First
o{ the " Lives of the Queens of England."
2ause of this delay will be best explained by a letter which
the honour of receiving from his Excellency Monsieur
in May last, and which I avail myself of his courteous
(ion to publish, as affording not only a cogent reason for
stponement of the present volume, but a testimonial of
receding iu of which I can scarcely be too proud.

<< Londns, Mai 17, 1840.

MOIBELLE,

r^ponds bien tard k la bont6 que vous m'avez t^moign^
ivoyant vos 'Vies des Reines d'Angleterre.' Je n*ai pas
ous en parler sans les avoir lues, et jusqu'ici j*ai eu bien
tems disponible. J'ai lu eniin. Mademoiselle, et avec un
* plaisir. C'est un ouvrage chanpant, plein d'un int^r^>t
et doux. Vous avez ^tudi^ les sources, et vous savez
sr les faits simplement, bien que sans s^cheresse. Ma
finie, j'ai envoys votre livre k mes filles, qui sont encore
p et qui le lisent k leur tour avec le vif amusement de leur

^

rsEPACK.

" AgT'-cz, jo voua pric, Mnii(ttnuit«ellG, tous met
et rhvinmagu do mon respect.

-Gmwai'

" Wa. — J'ai ecril a Paris pour deniander s'y exyMnt qod^
ducumcns p:iriicuiLer3 et tn^ita sur IliUtoirc do Mugotritt
d'Anjou, Hi on m'cn envoje j'aurai rtionncur dc viiua !« tn»
maltrc"

I had been so maicrially indi^btcd, in tlic 6rst and wcond
volumes of the Lives of the Queen* of Engtaod. to the inraluthla
documents wliich the rosoarcli of this iUustrious jtatesmwi-hiito-
riari lias been the means of rcKCuing fiom oblivion, that 1 *u
naturally anxious to nvoil myself of his friendly lusUtaoce. in
writing the memuir of Margaret of Anjou; and as MnnnOir
MinheJel, the President of itw Historical Suciely at Paii*. E
Lefrevoit, M. Abel HuBA, Mademoiselle Fontaine, and tenai

PKBFACB. Vli

I connected with the Queens of England, from authentic
rces, accessible only through the influence of private friend-
>. My grateful thanks are offered to sir Harris Nicolas; J.
ice, c^q. ; J. O. Halliwell, esq. ; the Rev. J. Hunter ; 6. F.
tz, esq., Lancaster Herald ; C. G. Young, esq., York Herald ;
T. Saunders, the restorer of the Ladye Chapel, in St. Saviour*s,
thwark ; and most especially to that great historian, John
gard, D. D., and to the Rev. George C. Tomlinson, editor of
Breknoke Computus.

"he First Series of the Lives of the Queens of England, con-
ing the Anglo-Norman and Plantagenet queens, is now com-
ed. The present volume presents the personal history of six
ms — namely, Isabella of Valois, the second Queen of Richard
^hose life has never before been written ; Joanna of Navarre ;
berine of Valois; Margaret of Anjou; Elizabeth Woodville;
Anne Neville. These princesses were all more or less in-
ed in the changeful events of that stormy era of our annals,
:h is thus finely described by the masterly pen of Guizot : —
The history of England in the fifteenth century consists of two
t epochs : the French wars without, those of the roses within
e wars abroad, and the wars at home. Scarcely was the
ign war terminated when the civil war commenced, and was
and fatally continued while the houses of York and Lancas-
contested the throne. When these sanguinary disputes were
sdy the high English aristocracy found themselves ruined, de-
ited, and deprived of the power they had formerly exercised,
associated barons could no longer control the throne when
as ascended by the Tudors; and with Henry VII., in 1485,
era of political concentration and the triumph of royalty
menced.**

he sovereign and the great body of the people from that time
e common cause, to prevent the re-establishment of an oli-
thy, which had been found equally inimical to the rights of
Commons and to the dignity of the Crown. I have traced
history and influence of the queens of England, from the
blishment of the feudal system to its close; commencing

wilh the first Anglo- Norman queen, Matilda, tJio wife of WilKa
Itic Conqueror, and concluding wilh Anne of Warwick, ihc li
Planlageiiet queen, lierstlf the sad representative of the migtili<
of all the aristocratic dictators of the fifteenth centtiry, ihe ei
of Warwick, surnamcd the liing-maker.

The Second Series of the Lives of the Queens of Englii
will commence with the Tudor queen-conaorts, and will ccnlai
in chronological succession, the queen-regnaaUi as well u t
queen- consorts, from that era.

ISABELLA OF VALOIS,

8URNAMED TBB LITTLE QUEEN,
SECOND QUEEN OF RICHARD II.

Jkn iufiint qneeii'COiiMit'— Isabella, daughter to Charles VI. — English ambasta^
dors — Isabella's dialogue with tliera — i^he is betrotlied to Richard II. — Married
at Calais — Embarks — Enters London — Called the Little Queen — Educated at
Windsor — King's visits — Her childish love for him — Conspiracy to imprison
the king and queen — Young queen's tournament — Richard's farewell visit—
The young qneen^s growth and beauty — Extravagance of her governess —
Change in her household — Parting with Richard — Queen's passionate grief —
Invasion — Queen sent to Wallingford — King s return — ^His poetical address to
the queen — She is seized by Bolingbrokc — Richard in the Tower — Dejection
^Fierce burst of passion — Demands restoration of the queen — Deposed —
— Queen at Sinning Hill — Joins the revolt against Henry IV. — Richard's mur-
der— Widowhood of queen Isabella — Offer of Henry, Prince of Wales — Re-
fusal— Queen deprived of jewels and dower — Returns to France — Tender
farewell to the English ^Restoration to her family — Renewed offers from
Henry, Prince of Wales — Her aversion — Betrothed to the heir of Orleans —
Murder of her iather-in-law — Mournful procession of Isabella — Birth of Isa-
bella's infant — Her death — Burial at Blois — Grief of her husband — Elegies
written by him — Discovery of Isabella's corpse— Re-interment.

The union of Isabella of Valois with Richard II. presented an anomaly
lo the people of England unprecedented in their annals. They saw wim
•■toniahment an infant, not nine sommers old, sharing the throne as the
chosen queen-consort of a monarch who had reached his thirtieth year.

Richard, whose principal error was attention to his own private feel-
io^ in preference to tlie public good, considered, that by the time this
USle princess grew up, the lapse of years would have mellowed his grief
for the loved and lost Anne of Bohemia ; he could not divorce his heart
from the memory of his late queen sufficiently to grive her a successot
never his own age.

Isabella of Valois was the daughter of Charles VI. of France and
liabeau of Bavaria, that queen of France aAerwards so notorious for her
wickedness ; but at the time of the marriage of Richard II. with her little
dtaghter. Queen Isabeau was only distinguished for great beauty an^
luxurious taste in dress and festivals.

Charles VI. had already experienced two or three agonising attackr

if inflammatiofi on the brain, which had yielded, however, to medica.

ikill ; and he was at this time a magnificent, prosperous, and popular

I

I
I

L

10 ISABBLLA OF VALOtS.

•DTereii;!!. InhellR, ihc rlilnt rhild o( this rn) ul pair, fint «« Jw ligtit
u) tlio LoUTre [uIiimi, dI Psris, 1 387. Nirvemtxr Slh. She wm lh« UtM
uf a ounicrniu uid lovely liiiiuly> ibe fviuales ot wliicli were nmiBUife
for iha brauly laTjsheil on ihein by ihe hnnil of naiun. Tlie ^imm tt
Tmaee ww iho ilni)^hi«r of a Gemi&n princ« and an Italian princeM ; At
waa tvnuwiied r'>r the e^lemlniir of her lanp dark ej^cs. and ihe dw>
iiaa* anil briijlitnngs of bcr romplrtion, charms which wpre inuwniiad
iFi htff (Uughlera in no roninion (Icijttc. Isabella hail threv hmhan.
who ven aurressivcly ilaujihins ; atitl four sistc^r? — Jnanno, dllcbCM ti
Briiuiny ; Marie, a nun -, Michelle, the fim duchesa of Philip Ibe Qaei
iif Burgundy ; and Kaiherine ihe Fair. i)i« quKn of [l«ury V. of En^amL
These loyal iadir* inhrriied their laihctN goodness wjihoui bis midailfi
and iheir mothcr^s beamy niihnut hrr Tiers. Th« princuM Isab«llii wu
)ireci>ciou« in iniellcci and autiiiiv, and was every way worthy of fulall-
ing a qiiernly dMliny, Unlike lier sister*, Mirhelle and Katheriiw,«bi}
Kcre fcuellv neulecied in their infant yeors, she was the darling nf hrt
parenia ond^of llie court of France. Isabella is no mule on Ihc biogi*.
pliiad puge; the words she uLieteil have been clironiclcd ; uml duMgK
tio yuuti^. ImiiH an the wife and widuw of on English king, research inll
■how thai her actions were of some hisloricnl imporianee. The bfe of
Kiehanl'ii Inst consortia aeurioua portion nf the hiofp^phy of ourqifew
nt Gnglaiid, us an iostunre of a girl of lender »ge pliccd in annnnl d^

rurastancra.

" The king," says air John de Gcailly, a courijy infonnani of FW^
•art, " it adriaed to marry again, and 1ib« had researches made crery
where, hut in vain, for u autlable lady. He has been told that lite ksi(
of Navarre has sisters and daughtem, but he will not hear of them. Tb>
iluke of Gloucester has. likewise, a grown-ap girl, who ia marritgnUh
and well pleaHed would he be if his royal nepliew would ctiocoe tej
bui (he king says ' she is too nearly related, being hid eousin-genniB.'
King Kirliarvl's thoughts are so bent on ihc eldest dniii;liier of ilie buf
of Fninee, he will not hear of any other ; it causes griuit n eiidtr in dui
roiiiiiry tliai he ehoulit be so eager lo marry liie ilaui^hicr of hii ailfR-
rary. and he is not ilie better beloved for iL King Kii^hard has bran
luld ' that the lady was by far loo young, and thai uvcn in live or ta
years she would Dot he the proper age for a wife.' lie replied plcanallyi
■ that every day would remedy the defirieucy of age, and her vouih tt
one of his reasons for preferring her, berauae ho should eduoile her tai
bring her up to his own mind, and lo the manners and cusluws oi ih
English ; and that, as for himself, he was young onoagh Uj tnil Jbf
her,' "

Froissftrt was staying at Eliham pnloce when the parliament aMM

debate the marriage in the beautiful gothic hall.' While they <m

walking on Die teirace, sir Richiird Sturry, one of the kmg's houschakli

gave him this information ; —

** The king made the archbishop of Canterbury speak of the btuiiuM

ISABELLA OF TALOia. 11

In the ilebale i[ wm ngrMd, iliat the nrchbishop of
niH oT Ririlani!, and llie pnrl martilial, with tweiitv kntgliu
ty wjuires of honour, sliould ivul on the krne of Prance, and
B treaty of marriage between him and the princess Ittabella.'
n the EnilUh einba^y tirrived at Paris, they were lodged near
[ ilu Tiroir, and l!i«ir attendants and horses, (o the number o(
drtd, in the adjoining sireeLs. Tlie king of France resided ai
rre, and the ijueen and tier cliiklren at the Hotel de Sl Put, nn
W of the Seine ; and to please the English lonjs. their renuest
lietl 10 visit the queen and her family, and especially the liule
li whom they were soliciting to be bestowed as the wife of iheir
I they were impatient lo behold her. Ttiis hud been at liral
'fiw the French counril excused ihemaelves by observing, 'That
I M vet but eight years; how could any one know how so
) child would conduct herself al such an interview V ^' She had,
I beeh carefully educated, as she proved when the English
miled upon her; for when llie earl marshal dropped upon hi>

Jam, if it please God, you shall be our lady and ([neen.'
replied insinntly. nnd irithoiil any one promptiiis her. '• Sir. if ll
mI and my lord and lather, that I be queen of England. 1 shttll
[Jeued ihereal, for I have been lold ] shall then be a great

nude the earl marshal rise, and, taking him by the h»nd. led
[Deen babeau her mother, who was much pleased at her answer,
ill who heard it The appearance and manners of this young
wtnt very agreeable to ilie EnglMh ambassadors, and they
UDong themselvei she would be a lady of high honour and

tefore the yomi^ Imbella arrired in England, the duke of Iao-
ought &t to pre his princely hand lo Catherine Rouei. who had

■Mliiir Hnor ihe Jepannie of iho embais)', Ricbiuil 11. wu nl tpimire to
te ptBKuUIion copy of ilio puF^iiu prfpaceil fnt lilm \ij tii Jolin Frois-
pf<«*nt»l il to him in hit cbunlior. Ibr I had i< wiih mr. mil Inlil il on
Pn>m ihii pauKge ii would nppear tliat rtiv kint; mtetird lirm hi>lbra
tra, "He tnnk it. anrl Irwked inio it with tnueh ptramrp. He ought
•*n pItaMd, fill ii wu bandiamAlr written and iltinniniUfid. ami IodbcI

■ velvai. wiLh trtt ailrer gill (ludi, ami r>hi of ih* mme in iha mid-
two large nlaaps of lilvet (ilt, ticliljr worknl Willi ro*H in ibe ceoDW.
■iketl nm ' of what the book liraled I' I repli«l. ■ Of I"vb.' Re wsa

riOi the answer, iml lUppcil into w-vftal plueo?. lea-linf: part* aloml
Itf well, fct h« rrnd and ipok* Pt«icli in periWrtlnn. Hr dim gsra It
fcU ktilKhu. sir Rirfaird CreHon, to eanjr ti lo hit onsntf, anil mails me
BMwIedgnxnn Ibr it" This kniffhi w»« probably ih* nuibor of " Cue
rieal CfaiOBicI*." The kiiiC did noi tnn&nr his Kmliliule In enrmy

■ we Sod be Kdetward* pmanipd the ninstrrl-liifiorian wiib B fln*
Im gOblM, eonlaiiiint one hundmil nohlci, a lieiislV>--lioii which, M
tddi, was of inflnile tt<e to him. The whole of iliii •rene it a preckiui

domeMle hintcry of En)ili*h royalty, and carrin lb* rcadtir back fbw
■ if il W4re but yeiterilay. *¥nnHM>.

I

IS ISABELLA OP VALOtB. ^^M

been goTerness lo liia ttangliters, and was already mother to ihoK tOH

of the duke »o cclobniied in English hislory as [ho Besafotu, Serio«
wtru the feuds iliie iiiis-allianee rsiaeil io the royal family, ffhea On
marriage of tlie duke of Lnucnster was antiniinced lo ihe jiultes afrovtl
descent in England, such as ihc duchess of Gloucester and the cuuniea
of Arundel, who was a Mortimer of ihe line of Clnren':ei they v«t
greatly iihocked, and said. '- The duke had saiUy disgmce<( hinuwlf b;
marrying a woman of light character, since she would take rank m
second lady in the kingdom, and the young qu^en would be dbhonntv-
ably accompanied by her; but, for their parts, they would leave her to
do the honours of the court alone, for they would never enter any pUci
where she was. They ihemsoWes would be disgraced if ihev perniiiinl
cud) a base-born duchess, who had been mistress to the dnkr, badi
before and after his inarriage with the priJicess CoiiaiAnce, in take pr*>
cedence of them, and their hearts would burst with grief were it to
happen. Those who were the most outrageous on the sttbject ws( tlw
duke and duchess of Gloucester." ' Thus was the court of king Rtdk
ard in a state of ferment, wiih the discontents of the princeMea nf A)
house of Plaitiagenet, just ai the tune when he required tii^m to asMm-
ble for the purpose of receiving his infant bride. While these IuIh*
were seeding their points of precedency, the prineesa Iwlicila tx
espoused in Paris by the eai'l marshal, as proxy fur tii» roVKl lavit:.
''She was from that time," says Froissart," styled the (|iie«n of EagiiiMl.
And I was at the lime told it was preity to see her, young as she wk,
practising how to act the queen."

About this time the king of France sent to England thtr roiini .<^i !''>i,
rho liad married Biehard's half-sister, Maud Holland, >>
Fair. King Richard promised Ids brother-in-law thai lie ^.^
Calais, and have an interview with the king of France, 'a
was to he delivered to him; and if a peace could nm be ;i^
truce for thirty or forty years was to be established. Tliii liuki: -i'>i
dtichess of Gloucester, with their children, wera a^ked by the king l^
be of die ptirty, as were the dukes and duchesses of York and lMa>
ter. This lost lady, deapile of all the displeasure of the ladies vi ttu
blood royal against her, was staying with the king and her lord alCU
tham, anil had already been inviied to die king's marriagn.

With this royal company king BicharJ crossed thtt sra W OM
while the king of France, his queen, and the young princess, ad*a^
as far as St. Omer : where they remained till the treaty of peace iwwJ
some hopeful form. It was, however, in vain that the Frt-ncli ttTtmH
aoflen tht' opposition of the duke of Gloucester by llaiieriiu' aUrii:><>a)
and the hajidsonie preseuia they olTerei] him. He Bccepti-<1 i ?
"birt the same rancour remained in his breast, and, in >; .
thing, when the peace was mentioned, his answers were >i-
aevere as ever. It was observed, that he pointed out tht ::
gold and silver to his friends, oliserving • that Fnneo was iiilj :
rich country, and that peace ought not yet to be made,* n remark

tBABBLLA OF VALOIfl. 19^

worthy of ■ biinJii than a roya! gurst. The king of England, at I
axiU-iTed to iIJHCOTcr the niPans of allaymg; Ihis bellirn^e ihsposiljon i^'J
hia uncle; the hnbe wb5 enormous, eonaiileritig ihe iluke's constant ev* T
liortations in regard to rejonnalion anii efonomv in the govCTnmenl-
The king wm forced to promise his pstrioiic imele fifiv ihouEand noliles
(in liis reitirn home, and to make his only son. Humphrey, earl of Ko*
ehcsUr. with a pension of two thousand nobles per Dnnum. After the
piplimlion of this unconscionable bribe, no impediment remained to
i).c peace and marriage, which wei'e concluded, without the restoration ■
i^ CaLiis being insisied on by France. [

"■ On the vigil of the feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, which fell on tf '
rridnr,' the 2Tlh of October, 1396, llie two kings led their lodging on
ihr point of ten o'clock, and, accompanied by a grand attendance, went
In the tents thai had been prepared for them. Thence they proceeded
tin foDl to a ceriain ipace. which hud been fixed on for their meeting,
and which was snrrounded by four hundred French, snd as many Eng-
lali. kniuihts, brilliantly armed, who stood with drawn swords. These
kntghta were ao marshalled, that the two kings passed between iheir
mnitA, conducted in the following order : — The dukes of Lancaster and
'i|»iicc«ier supported the king of France, whde the dukea nf Beiri and
i'urgnndy, iiiicjes of the French king, conducted kin^ Richard; and
' 111* itiey advanced slowly through the ranks of the knighis ; and when
.he two kings were on ihe point of meeting, the eight hundred knights
fell on llieir knees and wept for joy" — -a unanimity of feeling »ery re-
markable in eight hundred knights. " King Richard and king ChsrlM
met bare-headed, and, having saluted, took each other by the hand;
* len the king of France led the king of EngUnd to his tent, which was
Kisome and richly adorned ; the four dukes look each other by the
I, and followed them. The English and French knights reinaiaed
it ranks, looking at each other witli good humour, and never stured
1 Ihe whole ceremony was over.
fVWlien the two kings entered the lent, holding each other by the
id, Ihe duke« of Orleans and Bourbon, wlin had been left in the tent
_> welcome the monarchs, cast themselves on their knees before them;
the kings slopped and made them rise. The six dukes then assemblrd
in front of the lent, and conversed together, while the kings v
iliv trni ami conferred solus, while the wine and spicks were piep«rinb |
The duke of Bern served the king of France with the comfit-boi. UM>
thp duke of Burgundy with the cup of wine. In like manner was lh«
king of England aerred by ihe duke« of Lancaster and Gloucester.
Af^r the kings had been served, the knights of France and England look
the wine and comliU-and served the prelates, dukes, princes, and counia;
hI, BfWr them, the stiuirea and other ollicera of the household did the
Di(> to all within the tenia, unlil every one had partaken of the win»-l
I »picM; during which lime the two monarchs conversed freely. i

" At 1 1 o'clock of ihe Saturday morning, the feast of St. Simon ami'
L Juide, the king of England, atiende<I by his uncles and nobles, waited

1

i

4

I

'J

I

I

k

on ihe king of France in lib lent. Dinaer-lable« were kid oUj ite
Tor ibe kings was very handanme, aoil the eiilt-boani wu cowaei wiik
itiaenificeni plaic. The two kings were senied by ihoncelTM, Owku^
of France ai ihe top of the table, and ibe king of England b«law Im,
St a good diblance from each other. They were served by iba dak« of
Berri, Burgundy, and Buurbon; ibe lant entertained the two nwaarda
with many gay remarket, to make ihem laugh, and those abaui ifae npi
table, for he bad much drollery ; and addressing the king of Engludi

** ■ My lord king of England, you ought to make good cheor. Eat Voa
have had all your wishes gratified. You have a wife, or atudl ban OOA
for she will speeddy be delivered to you.'

" * Bourbonnois,' replied the king of Ftanee, * w« wi»h OOT AUfhW
were at old as our cousin of SL Pol,' thougit we were lo dosUe h*r
dowrr. for (hen she would l<ive our aon of England much ntne^*

" The king uf England, who understood French well, notieod ihm
words, and. imrncdiaiely bowing lo the king of Fraricrn, replied, —

** * Good faiher-in-law, ilie age of our wife pleases us riglii writ We
pay not great alteniiun respecting age, as we value your love; for we
shall now be so strongly united, ihat no king in Chris lendota aaioMf
way hurt ua.' "

When dinner was over, which lasted not long, the cloth wu ihkiiwI,
the tables carried away, and wine and spices brought. After tliii lb
young bride entered the teut, attended by a great number of tadita !■!
damsels. King Chiirles led lier by ilie hand, and gave het lo the lag
of England, who imniediaiely rose and took his le»*e. The Ihile qwM
was placed jn a ver^- rich Utter, which hud been prepared fiw her; M
of all the French ladies who were there, only the lady de Coiircy wM
with her. for there were inauy of the principal UJics of Engtanil in pr*.
Bcnce, such as the duchesses of Lancaster, of York, of GluuoMtn,^
Iri-land,' the lady of Numur, the lady Poinings, an<l many olben, mio
all received queen Isabella with great joy. When the ladiec ware tmtf,
ihe king of England and his lords departed with the yooi^ phtwM;
and, riding at a good pace, arrifed at Culaii.

On Ihe Tuexday, which wax AU-Sainta' day, the king of Eogkad «»
married by ihe archbiiihop of Canlerbury iJi the church of Si. WinhnlM.
of Calais, to the lady l«abella of France. Great was the fe«sun#o«lbl
occasion; and the heralds and minstreLs were so liberally paid, tut ihiv
were satisfied.

Richard renounced at this marriage (lo the indignaiioa of the doletf
Gloucester, all claiuia to the crown of France in right of Igdalta m
her desceiidanle.'

The dukes of Orleans and Bourbon earns to Oalus lo visit ihf M^

Tills roung loily was nioce lo king Ricbard. the UaughUr of Maud Bnl^l.

•ltmnm«l die Fair. She was jiroUlily llir beauly of ilwi rcKiral.

"*" widow ol Rulicn de Vere, nieniiaaed in a lonnPi meianir ef q^M

Till- Ja>ly d« Comc)-. who ttieampnnied Ihe liule <}aeeD to EnelaiiA *■■

:r or Liii Iiuly; ■!]« wa* married to llie aaunt de Cilty, Uul wet EDBV

to kiug Biotuud. ■•■ ■ -

ISABELLA OP

ALOIS.

s il queen of Rowland luro days after ihe itmrriage; am) on
. y went back lo Si. Omcr, where llie king aiid qiieen of France waited
' ihrm. That tame FriJay rnornin)( kinjf Ricliard and queen Isabella,
.'Viu^ hcnrd nn earlv mass and drunk aume wlue. embarked on board
ilir ressels il»( had been prepared fnr them. With a favourable wind,
in iMi than thire houra they arrived al Dover. The queen dineil at ihe
nuilo, anil »lepi (he next niufht al Rocheater. Passins through Darifurdi
■'ic arrived al the palace at Elihitm. where tlie nobles and their ladiw
'. .iL leave uf llie king and queen, and went lo iheir homes.

The yoiMi^ qneen'a entry into Lundon is ihu» noted by our chronK

•'.m : — ''The young qneon Isabella, commonly called the Litile ifur sbe

.IS not eii;hl yesrB old), was conveyed from Kenninglon, near to Laifr-

iti palaee. ilirnugh Southwark. lo the Tower of London, Nov, 13tli,

:.i:n such a multitude of persons vrent out to see her, that on I^ndon

! : !:;e ninr persons were crushed to death, of whom the prior of Tip-

'1,1?! I'di-.nnd a matron of Cornhdl another.'" The queen slept one

■ ,ii 'lu' Tower, and the next day waa conducted in high pomp ts

I I I IT. where king Richard was wailing in his palace lo receiv*

' I Till- day the Londoners made very rich preseiiis to the quee^

U'iiich were most graciously accepted.

The portion of Isabella waa considerable, consisting of 900,000 fmnci
in gold, to be paid in yearly instalments. She brought with her a ward-
robe of grpni richness. Among her garments was a robe and mantle,
QBc^callcd in England, made of red velvet embossed with birds of gold-
■niUia* work, perched upon branches of pearls and emeralds. The robe
«ra« trimmed down the sides with miniver, and had a enpe and hood of
thp f«me fur. the mantle was lined with ermine. Another robe was of
marray-me/ereon velvet embroiiiered with pearl roses. She had coroneU)
vin^ nerklaces, and clasps, amounting lo 500,000 crowns. Her chait)-
Ixrr-tiangings were red and while satin, embroidered with Itgiires of TJt^
tB|p« and shepherdesses. These jewels were afterwards a matter of
pcihtiral controversy belween England and France,

Several authors declare that young Isabella was crowned al Westmin-
ftier wiih grvat magnificence, and there actually exists, in ihe Ftedera, b
suinintMi* for her coronation on Epiphany Sunday, I3S7.'

Wtddsor was the chief residence of itie royal child, who waa railed
queeu-conson of England. Here her education proceeded, under ibe
■a peril) ten den ee of the second daughter of Ingelram de Courcy; and
lien! the king, whose feminine beauty of features and complexion ■om^'
wbal ijnalifiMl the disparity of years beiween a man of thirty and a girl
dT un, behaved to his young wife with such winning atientiuii, tliat aiu
TOaiiicd a Lender remembrance of him long ader he was hurried lo priao^
•uil (ho grave. Ilia visiia occasioned her a cessation from the routinp/
«>r rilucation ; while his gay temper, his musical accoinplishmenis, hjsj

I

I

L

Hi ISABELLA of V a LOIS.

■plenilour of dress, anil soflness of mnnnera to females, made htr n^
bufband exceedingly beloved by ihe young bean of Inbelk.

The king had expended prodigious suidb on the royal prof
France, and on the murriage and pompous entry of the litde
These debts had now to be liquidated ; and a stnigglB ■<
between the king and the popular party concerning the nipiiUtS', wbwfa
ended in the destruction of the dake of Gloucester, and b'ta mon hmatm
colleague, the earl of Arundel. A short but fierce despotion was esofr
lished by Richard, which ultimately led to his deposition.

From the earliest period of her sojourn in England, there ww matt
probability that Isabella would share a prison than a throne. PnMMn
thus details one of the duke of Gloucester's plots, the objeci ol windi
was the lifelong incarceration of the harmless little qneeo.

"He invited the eari of March' to come and visit him ai Pteshf.
There he unbosomed to him all the secrets of his heart, telliag hJoitM
certain influential persons had elected him as king of Eaglamli nM)|iiB(
that king Richard and his queen were to he deposed and forthwith t««-
fined in prison, where they were to he maintained with ampls prtrrmm
during their IJves; and he besought his nephew '■ to give (ine coasidoa-
tion to this project, which was supported by the earl of ATatul(l,il»
earl of Warwick, and many of the prelates and barons of E'l^in'
The earl of March was thunderstruck at hearing this proposal froab*
uncle ; buU young as he was, he concealed his emotion.

The duke of Gloucester, observing the manner of tus luftim,*-
treated that he would keep hie discourse very secret. This MoniM
promised to do, and faithhilly kept his word ; but honourably imhsf
to flee from such strong temptation to his integrity and loyalty, hs onri
leave of king Richard to visit his Irish domaius.'

•' I'he count de St. Pol had been sent into England by the tafd
France, in order to see his daughter, and learn how she was goin *
The king consulied him and his ancles Idncastei and York on thi^tf*
that threatened him and his young consort. *My good uoclcs,'aidtir
* for tlie love of God, advise me bow to act. I ain daily iiifurmed ihu
your brother, the duke of Gloucester, is determined to seize and c«ab(
me for life in one of my castles, and that the Londoners meaa lo fM
liim in this iniquity. Their plan is, withal, to separate oiv quew RW
me, who is but a child, and shut her up in some other gilace of coafa^
menL Now, my dear uncles, such cruel acts as these tnut bt p^
Tented.'

■' The dukes of Lnncsster and York taw that ihnr nephe^ m a
great anguish of heart, and they knew that what he said was «a^
true, but tliey replied to this effect: —

" ' Have a little patience, my lord king. We know weO thai im hn-
tbet Gloucester has the most passionate and wrong-headed tmnperW'sif

'It will lie rsmcinlMredlhBI tliis prince wsa the lieir-pre»iiin|itlra«>AA^^
ihr gmnrtson of Lionel of CliirFn<!e. A (i^^ep obscurity nsu cm Uh
and oonduct of iba piincei of ihe blood of the lti>e ot MottUnur is
tary- ' He wm iDiui« l(i[<t.depui; (vioerogr} <f

■ran in England. Ileiallis frequently of ihiii^ he raiinol e«ciite, ani.
netiliLT lie nor his abetmrs can break ihe peace, ihal haa been signed;
nor auceoed in imprisoning you in any castle. Depend on it, we wil
Hver nulfer it, nor ihai you should be separated from the queen.'

" By ihcse words the two dukes culmcil kin^ RirhKni's miml; but to
■Toid ln'iin mlleil on by eiilinr pnrty, llicy left the king's household
wit}) tlirir familife, and retired to their own cnsileit, the iluke of Lane^s-
ler Hiking wiib him his duchess, who had for sonic lime been the com-
panion of the ynong queen of England. This desertion wm followed
by sir Thomas Percy's retirement from court, and surrender of his office
(if steward of the king's hoiisehuld, avowedly out of apprehension lest
hr should incur the fate of sir Simon Burley. The king's remaining
-I'lvmits very frequently represented to him the danger of reniaining tn
:liL'ir ollices, in such words as these:

-■ ' Be assured, dear sir, that as long as the duke of Gloucester lives,
'iicre wdl never be any quiet for your . - — .._..

'■ii- publicly thrcalet ""

i

si

icedn

EnelaiiH. Besides,
queen. As for the qticen,
id the beloved child nf the king of
^ not hurl her, but inuny evils will
These repreacnialions sank deeply
30II after led lo his uncle's violent

s young, B
I nnce ; the duke of Gloucester dat
If Liriiig on you aud on England.'
::i the Miind of king Richard, and s
death."

Whatever were the ill intentions of tlie duke of Gloi
dM king and his oflending little queen, the treacherous manner in which
luBg Uichanl lured his uncle lo destruction must revolt all minds ; for
every He of hospitality and social intercourse was violated by him. In
. - III of wickedness was combined a tissue of crimes. This lin<t

: ill was followed by the illegal execution of the earl of Arundel,
'ouscience was not accustomed lo cruelty ; and after the deaiii
_; _L. I'll I his sleep was broken and his pence was gone. He used tn
a«t ulb lii horror, exclaiming, ■' that his bed was covered with tlie blood _
of the enrl."

The hollow peace of the courl was soon broken by the quarrel (
twecii Henry of Boling broke, heir lo John of Gaunt, duke of Lancn^lfl
miul tlie earl marahal, who had been created duke of Norfolk. ""
tntituAily accused each other of treasonable conversation agninst C
king. I" the true spirit of i!he age, they appealed to wager of battle,
actually presented themselves in ihe lists at Coventry, when the 1
partrd ihero by throwing down his warder, and finished the seem
wotcneing Mowbray, duke of Norfolk, to banishnient for life, and llenr

Willie Richard's afiairs remained in ihta feverish and unseiikd state^
the Eiiei'*h courl was thrown into consieniation by the death of ihe
beir-p(E«umpiive of die kingdom, Hoger Mortimer, who was at that time
lord-drpuly of Ireland. There was a strong atlachmeut between Richard
i bis chivalric heir; the king passionately bewailed him, and resolvtJ^
■ an eipedition to Ireland, to quell the rebellion ihul ensued o
h of his viceroy.

5 def^ure oL

I

I

I
I

19 tBABELI.4 OF VALOIS.

proclaimed ibron^hont his rcBlm. that a grand tanrnainent wooU b» Ut
■t Winilsor, by foriy kni^lits snJ foriy squires, ali clad ia fraeD.btwi^
the young queen's ilevice of a wliite Titlcoii. Tliey niaiutoiaL-d ihe bnev
oT ihe virgin queen or Eiiglanil agsiDSI all cimpis. Jsabelk hnriC
attended by tlie nobieai ladiea and diunifels orihe Und, wma prMtMLaJ
dispensed itie prizes.

King Uichard lurried some hours a( Windsor Castle, on lii« nrnttt
the nestern coast, in order to bid hia young queen lkre«rell btfaic b

deiMitcd for Ireland. Allhoaa:h only eJeveo years of sne.

grown IaII and very lovely ; she was rapidly assuming' a
pearaiice. The kii>g eeemed greaily stiuck with the inpfun
hex perean, and the progress she had made in her «daeaiicn. Ik
treated her with the utmost deference; and, if the chrotiicln* nf kci
country are to be believed, he entirely won her young heart at iliii ia>
lerriew. Tel he had sent to dwell witli lubclla witi)es«es,»hnwfap
grief and moumrul liabilimenis, for the loss of a huaband and Um,
could have toU t)ie young queen, even if their lips dar«d ooi tpA
thai the king had stained his lionds with kindred blood. Accotdilf «
Froisaart, Richard II. had eent the widowed duchess of GloDceMiraJ
her daughters to reside wiiJi liiabella at Windsor; apfMrtatlj' nlff
■ome specie? of re^iraini.

Before king Kichatd left Windsor Castle, he discoreml that cmmlti-
able reforms were required in his coiiaorl's establishment. The Ur4(
Courcy, hia cousin-germ au, was her govemesa ajid principal kdy ti
honour; hut, on his arrival at Windsor, it wis i^reaented to biiAilbtf
(hia lady look as much sUile upon her as if she lull been in iha ani'
tion of her mother, the princess royal of England, or even ih» ^acM
herself. The eKiravagance of tlie queen's governess knew no txmU
'' For," said the king's uiformer, ■* slie has eighteen hones at ber «•»■
mand; but this does not suttice; she has a large Iraiii faeluticing to Iwt
husband, and his livery, whenever she cornea and gnes. She koepi Vf
or three goldsmiihx. two or three cutlers, and twro or ihrm Fuinti.
constantly cinptoyed, as much as you and your qae«n. Shv it ais
building a clinttcl that will cost MOO nobiea."

Exasperated at this exiiavagance. the king diamiased thn Wr ^
Courcy from her office in the queen's establishmeDt ; ba paid aH tki
debts she had incuned, and commanded her to leave the CoiUlU^ (iffb-
with, — on Older she certainly disobeyed, as will afterwards b» ■«(& h
the place of this laily, llichard appointed the widowed lady Mttrvrntt!
who was his own niece Eleanor ; to her he gave ihe preciofH ekap ^
his fair young ronsorL

The scene of Kichard's parting from Is^>elU was Wlndanr cbnciL
lie liad previously assisted at a solemn mans, and indulged his tnasiBl
tastes by chaniing a collect ; he likewise made a rich olfering. Dn Ih^
ing the church, he partook of wine and comiils at the diior, wtdi I*

' MaiiatrDiM and ills MS. ot the Amtiauadca.
■The wbule of thii pranee i> drawn fivm die MS. at tlia
Lad J- Motiiiuei wu ELnuor MdUbiuL

i Wales. He cnilured ihis it
I truih a ferthing^s worih of viciuala
Certee, 1 cannoi lell ihe misen* of
■on. He then returned In Conw«y,
tite from his wife, of whom he wm
a little [Kicin, ihal the king composed

V ISABELLA OF VALOta. 10

KtUc consorl, then lifting her up in his anns he kissed her rfpcalrdly,
aayinj^. "Adieu, madame. adieu, till we meet again."

The kin^ immediately commenced his march to Bristol, and embarked
on his ill-timed expedition lo Ireland.

The landing of llenry of Bolingbroke al Ravenspiir, during Hichard^
absence, had an immediate eflert on the declination of the little quaen
laabelU ; the regent York hurried her, from the casllc of Windsor, 10
ihe Blill stronger fortress of Wullingford. where ehn remained while
Ensiaiid was lost by lier royal lord, and won by his rivul, Henry of
bolingbroke.

AAer landing al Milford Haven on his return from Ireland, king
Richard took shelter among ihe Welsh castles siill loyal to him. Here
he tnight have found refuge till a re-aninn in his favour in England
gnrc hopes of heller limes; but the king's luxurious hnbils made ih«
rough living ai ihsse castles inlnlcrable to him. Indeed, De Marque
decUres. " ihat iliey were totally unfurnished, atid ihai Richard luid
ilMtp on straw during his sojourn
vmicnce for five or six nights, but i
waa not to be found at any of ihcm.
ibe king's tmin, even at Giemarv
where he thus bewailed his aliscr
rery fond." The following seen
ia his tribulation : —

■^ Aly niistresa and my consort .' accursed be ihe man who thus eepa-
ntrih us ; I am dying of grief because of it. My fair sister, mv lady,
and my sole desire! since 1 am robhed of the pleasure of beholding
ihec, such pain and alHiclion oppresseth my whole heart, lliat I am olV-
liinrs near despair. Alas, Isabel ! rightful daughter of France, you wera
worn lo be my joy, my hope, my consolation. And now I plainly see,
Ihai through ihe violeuce of fortune, which hath slain many a man, I
must l>e deprived of you -, whercai 1 often endure so sincere a pang, ihat
day and tiighi I am in danger of hitler deaih. And it is no marvel, when
I from such a height have fallen so low, and lose niy Joy, my sohice,
and my consort." '

Henry of Bolingbroke, tl is said, gained poasession by a coup-do-
main of 700,000/., Ihe treasury of ihe unfortunate Richard. With amaz-
ing celarity Hcnty lraver«ed England, attended by silly thousand Lon-
doners and other malcontpnW, who had been dismiated with Richard's
drspniic government, With this disoiderly militia Henry presented
himself liefore the gates of Flint Castle, where Richard, ami a few fuith<
ful knighls. remained on the defensive. Here he boldly demanded m
audience with the king, who agreed to admit him, and eleven other
pUB Ihe wicket of the castle.*

Henry "poke aloud, without paying any hononr or laTerence to tlw
king, asking. *> Have you broken your last i"
^- Tbe king answered, ^ No, it is yet early mom. Why do you aak ?"

HBtAf^aoliEin, fium ll»- MS. b( « Fienoh gi
^Klptuod by Um U«v, Mr. W<!l>l.e.

I
I

I

ISABELLA OP

i

'^ It ia lime yon should breakrasi," replied Heitr)', ^(ar yon fam
greni way to riile." " Wbal roail ?" asked the king. •• Ton ntut <raii
U> Loailon," said Henry; "-and 1 advise that you eat aiMl dnakltnnlT.
thai you luny perforai the jouroey more gaily." ** Well," said the tai{>
>• if that is the com, let the tables be covered." When thia vw toct
the king washed his hands, seated hiuiself at table, and wn tniA
During the time the king was eating, whidi was not long, (ot hi* hnt
was much oppressed, the whole couoliy. seen rroni the windows of Ik*
nistlc, was covered with men-at-arms and archera. Tl)« king, os ttiiif
I'ruRi Ihe table, perceived iheoi, and asked his cousId whoiheywaK
•* For most part Londoners," was the answer. " And what da <k(y
want i" asked the king. " They want to take yna," said Bewy, "W
carry you prisoner to theTowcr; and there ia no pacifying Uiaii,ndHi
you yield yourself my prisoner."

The king was alarmed at this intimation, for he knew tlie Loiukan
hated him, and would kill him if he were ever iu their power ; bs k»-
fore yielded himself prisoner to bio cousin, promisii^ la do wiatmi
he should advise. Uis knights and officers sufrendetcd
llemy, who, ia the presence of the eleven that accoiDponiaa
t»iveil the king and his altendonts as prisooera. He then on
horses to be saddled instantly and brought inio the court, and
of the castle to be flung open ; whereupon many archers anii
arais crowded into the couri-yard-

** I heard," says Froissart, '^ of a singular
just then, which 1 must mention. King Richard liad a
named Math, beautiful beyond description, who would ihh
follow any one, but the king. Whenever Hichard rode abftMd, tkt
greyhound was loosed by the person who had the care irf him. sail Aat
iiiHlant he ran to caress the king, by pUcing his two fate fcM on Ut
ehoulilers. It fell uu[, titat as the king and his cousin. flesiyofllA-
lingbfoke, were conversing in the cnuri-yard of Flint Castle, tharbtnM
being preparing for them to mouni, the greyhound Math was naiiii
when, instead of running as usual to king Richard, he paaaod ium, a'
leaped to Henry's sliouliiers, paying him every court, the saas w bi
tided lo hie master, the king. Henry, noi acquainted with this grcc-
huund, asked the king die meaning of his fondness.

*■ ■ Cou»in,' replied ttie king, ■' it means a great deal for yoa, and nrf
litile f'>r nie.>

" * How P said Henry ; ' pray explain it.'

■■ ' 1 uiiiler^tflnd by it,' said llie unfortunate king, * that tfau my ^
muriie greyhmmd .Matli foiidlea and pan his court to you thif day, M
king of Fii^bud, whicli you will be, and 1 shall be drposetl, tot dot ikl
natural mstinci of the creature perceives, Keep him, tbcnfon, bf jVK
«de ; fi>r lo, he leaveih me, and will ever follow yew ."

" Henry treasureil up whai king Kichard had said, and pnd aHMHa
to the greyhound Math, who would no more follow Richard ot 9»f
dcaux, but kept by the side of Henry, as was witnessed by thirty tlwa*

^m tSABBLLA OP VALniS. 31

Thp atlenilaiila of king Richard (wlio have chronicled the huiiiilift-
ikins and siilffti'iii^ of their royal ma«ler, on this pilgrimaif "f sorrow
and drcmdatinn, with a more intlignanl pen ilian that of Froissari), de-
clatf lliai lo friere and hreak the spirit of i)ie ro)^! captive, hia nn»>
vpiriicd horses were taken rram him, and he was compelled lo perrnrni
BTcrT,' stage un sorry, miaerable jades, nol worth ten shillings. This
was a deep moriificatton, since among the king's lumiues an expensive
la>tc fitr noble and rosily steeds had been one of the greolcsL Perhaps
thi* vna nftcr the king's attempted escape ai Lichfield, where be dropped
from a window of the tower in which he slept, but was perceived, and
brouelit by force into Lichfield Cbstle again. As far as Coventry, parties
of the king's faithful Welshmen pursued Henry of Bolingbroke's army,
sni) harassed its rear. They were instigated and led by Richard's
beloved squire and minstrel, Owen Glennnwer, who, from ihe hour
when his rnynl patron became the prisoner of the aspiring Bolin^broke,
vovfcj and maintained a lifelong enmity against the supplnnler of his

The yoime fjueen found herself in the power of the usurper almost
Miniiliaiieou!>ly with her unforlnnnto hnsbiind. Directly the news
arrivetl thai Riehurd had surrendered himself, the cBrrisons of the royal
easilcs »f Windsor and Wallingford yielded lo Henry of Bolingbrok«.
Tradition declares, thai ihe young Isabella met her Inekless husbund on
the Tmd, during his sad pilgrimage towards the metropolis, as a captive
lo llrnry. and that their meeting and parting were tender and heart*
breaking; bul ihe whole of Richard's progress has been uiinniely
rieactibetl by eye- witnesses, who. it may be thought, would nol havt
been silenl on a circumsutnce so picturesque and touching. Tins inter-
view must, ilierefiire, be considered as a mere romance of history, ihough
Shakapeare has made use of it with beautiful effect.

In the midst of these changes, the young queen was hurried from
plore to place witli litile resl. From WBllinglbrd she Ivan carried hf
the popular jiarly to Leeds Cn.vlle, in Kent, where she was placed ut»]er
Ihe care of llie widowed duchess of Ireland, who, having been wronged
by king Richard and his late queen, was nol suppuseil to l>e extremetf
b'vinirablc lo [he cause of ihe imprisoned monaich. As lady de Conrcy
was AisU'r lo the duchess, she certainly obtained acccHS to the queen
strain, notwiihsifuiding her dismissul by king Birhard, for she '
UinU Castle when the insurgent Londoners look umbrage i
Tjeinily to llie ipieen of Ricliacd, and one of their leaders tlius addressed
hrt: —

•» iMiVt make iuBlant preporsiions of departure, for we will nol suffer
to remain longer here. Take care, on saying faiewell to queen
' (hat yon show not any tokens of anger at our dismiaaing yot^ j

I

I

I

gAmuiig Ih* innat UmiitiCul 'if tlio WtIbIi ni<>l<
atr, ■ &WMt Richard." Tnulitjon iIccIbiu iliii
ri .wer Hboat lhl> lime m a ttibuta of kukx io liit unlbrtunalc r
I'.-iwBnli HinE anil plnyn) in Ibv mnnr riaiiiK> ici fiivnur o( Hicli
ij.- imwcrAil effect timt llie cclubraled Jacobite airs liail on iJic
uie liuUM of Sluut

I

I

jSi ISABELLA OF VALOIB.

but tell her that your husband anii daughter ' have sent to entital yotf
raium. This we advise you U> do, if you reganl your life. Tou onrt
uk no rjuestions, and make no remarks lo (he queen, on anything Ifatf
is going on. Tou will lie escoried to Dorer, and embarked in ihejM-
Mge-boat for Boulopie," The lady of Courcy, alarmed ai tfaew a^
naees, uid knowing those who made tliem to be cruel and full of hMR^
replied, " That in God's name she would do as they directed."

•■ Palfreys and hackneys were ruinished for herself and BtietRhMl*,i*d
all the French of boili sexes were sent ofl? The French htiuaehulJ of
the i|ueen bcin|^ thus broken up, noue were left with her tliat wntalill
attached to king Richard. A new retinue was formed lor htr, of bdiKr
damseU, and varlets. who were strictly enjoined never u> meniioo l)w
name of king ItJcliard to her, or to acquaint her with what was bw

It is nsaerted by all authors of that day, that the heart of th« jtm^
Isabella was devoted to Richard ; the chroniclers of her oirn counirr
especially declare, ■' that he had behaved so amiably to lict tlul ■
loved him entirely." While, by a cruel policy, her youthful nund wn
torn with the pangs of suspense, and the pain of parting from beriwun
attendants, Rinhard was conveyed from Shene by night, aud ioiqti "•
creily in ihe Tower, with such of his friends and minisieiv as wen fe
cnliarly obnoxious to the Londoners.

Adn' enduring many mortifications at the Tower, king RichanI aSeiti
to resign the crown lo Henry of Bolingbroke, who immediately repii>di
^ h is necessary that the tliree estates of the realm should hear ihn {im-
position ; and in three days the parliamentH will he collected, and as
debate on the subject.*' So far bis rejoinder was made with modeniMi
and propriety, but he added —

" The people want to crown me ; for the common report in tk« e
try is, that I have a better right to the cmwn than you. This »« lM
our grandfather, king Edward, of happy memory, wlieit he educated y<
and had you acknowledged heir lo the crown ; but his love wv
strong for his son, the prince of AVales, nothing rould make bim tbn
his purpuw. If you had followed the exanifde of the prince, you lai^
still have been king; but you have always acted so contrary, as to oet^
eioa the rumour to be generally believed ihroughout England, ihilfM
were nut tlie son of the prince of Wales, but of a priest or eaiHiii.

'■ 1 have heard several knights who were of the household ot «f
uncle, the prince of Wales, declare that he was jealous of the cawtw
of ihe princess. She was cousin-german to king Edward, who b(|pa»
dislike her for not liaviitg children by his son, for he knew that du M

'Tha count de Cilly wu her buiband, and Bsttsua. de Coiwcy ha ia^tr
sA»rwaidi empteu ui tbu IhoiIidi oi Aaixe of Bghenuo, Uic greoi iiip|»iiiif %■'
mund ; she wai heiieia or tie Conrcj. — Brooiii.

Either FiniMuri it miaMken in lliis asseilion, or Ibe Ftcncb wui^arfB*
n weni replaced by Henrf IV.. jbr lli« Minum of Coiwd) OVMI* ■
French piraout, ivlio letunieil lo Franoe Wilb UaMti, as tUd^^
ti<ii»ebol(l.
'f minart, and M.SS. o( \lie Xiu\»vnd.eL ■

t^Mi by her rormer marringe with sir Thomas ITdIIrikI, since ht had

Mnsclf stood gotlfalher lo two. The prinress of Wales knew well haw

tvlcpep my uiK-le in lier chiiiiis. hitTing iliroiigli subil^ty enticed liim to

QBUry her ; but fearful of Iwing divorreil by the king, his Taiher, Tor

^^■■1 of heira, and tlial Uie prince would mnrry ntniii. ii is said she had

^Km ftnd another arm, who died in his inlitney, by some other person ;

HW fi^tn yonr modes of thinking and nciin^f, being so diSi^reni to the

' ^llaniTy and prowess of the prince, it la Ltiought you wrre the son ofa

pritst or canon. Ibr, at the lime of your birth, there were mrtny young

aiid liandsoine ones, in the houBcholil uf my uncle, at Banlcaiix.

"Such is the report of this country, which your conduct has cot^
fimteii ; for ynii have ever shown a ^reat affeciton to the French, and a
d^ifire In live at peace with ihem. to the loss of the hononr of England.
Btrausc my unrie of Gloucester and the giiod earl of Arundel gave you
gond advice, and wiithed you to follow in the footsteps of your ancea-
lors, you hare treacherously put ihem to deaih. As for me, I will gira
foti luy proieciion. and will guani and preserve your life tltrongti coin-
paasiui), as long as I shall be able." '

For two hours did Henry thus cnnvorsc, coniinuing to reproach the
FjUu with all [he wrong he had ever been guilty of. in the whole couiM
HKkislifc. He then look leave, rename r^ his barge, and returned lo
Pl^p house, and on tite morrow renewed his orders for the assembling of
Llujian

A* an inlcrlude to the narralire of FroJssarl, which details the deep
dqtction of Richard, the accoimts given by hie faithful attendant, and
the maniiKcripi of the Ambassades. show Richard, at intervals, wiili th«
Ittjci-like rlespair of the Planlagenets awakened in his breast. Sonietimo*
ifH> llioughu of his young wife a prisoner like himself, and perhaps is
a«}iHl danger, gave rise to tempests nf rage, before whose sway the ineo^
lance of the nsurper seems to have quailed, when in his presence. The
tine of the interview here described must hove been one day of the
three which intervened between the conference concerning the abdica-
tion jnat detailed and the meeting of parliament.

The dukes of Vork and Aunierle. and Henry, now called dnke of
LADcaJttrr, went lo the Tower, and sent tlie young earl of Arundel* to
bid lh«i king come to them, oni of his privy chamber. When this nwa-
aagr was delivered to liicbnrd, he replied, '* Tell Henry of l^ucuter
fram me, I ihall do no such thing ; if he wants lo see me. let him coma
lo me." On entering the king's afHirtineni, none sliowed any respect to
him but Henrj', who took olf his cap. and, saluting him respectfully,
aaiil, ^ Here is our cousin the duke of Aumerte, and our uncle the duka
(•{ York, who wish to speah lo you," Richard raid, " Cousini they are
III '1 lit to speak to me.'' " But have the goodness to hear ihem." said
I' i>ry. Upon which Richard uttered an oaili, and said, turning lo Ym-k,*

riiou villain ! what wouldst thou sav to mc ? and thou traitor of Hut*

I
I

t

" "■ id left him r^Btiil

I
I

land — thou art neiiher good nor wortlir lo speak la me. anr to bear tha
name o( Jukf, earl, nor knight; thou, und the vilioiii iliy falhei.&uiUy
have ye beireyeU me;' in acurseil hour were ye bora; by your Ewe
counsel was my uiifle Gloucester pill lo d«aLli !^' AuEOrHe irplird lo
the king, -' tlial he lied," and threw dowa hia bonnet at hia (en ; npM
whif-h ilie king said, ^' I am hiiig and ihy lord, and will contioDa kiafi
and be greater lord than 1 ever was, id spile of all my eacmie* '^' tfpM
thia, Henry tiopoaed «iIeDCe on Autnerle. Ricbanl, then luniirig willia
fierc« countenance to HenrV] askeij ■■ why he was iu coofifianiBiK, aad
whv under a guard of armed men ?" '- Am I your aemuit ur an I yoM
'king ? What do you mean to do with me f" Henry replied, " Y« M
my king and my lurd. but die council of the realm liave licKrrnuncd ihn

Siu are to be kept in condnenient tilt the decision of parliainem." The
ng then swore a deep oath, and said, " I*ct nie hive my wife,'' "Ex-
cuse me," replied Henry ; ^' it is forhiilden by the cuaocil that jitt
ahoiild see queen Isabel." Then the Jiing in wnith walked abmuthi
room, breaking into passionate exclanialions and ap|ie«la lo Unra,
called ihem false imiiura, ollered in lighl any fuur of iliem, tlircw dowa
hU bonnet as a gage, spoke "■ of lus lailier'a and his grandiallier^ baa,
and hia reign of twenty~ono years." Henry of l^tncast^r then feU <■
his knees, and besought him " to be quiet till tlie meeting atft^'

Before the meeiing of parliament, this burst of spirit hail
ieep despondency. Htsiorians are not agreed whether tlie aUiiniioa of
Richard took plac« in the hall of the Tuwer. or in Weslminrtrr UsIL
Stow declares it was in Weslniineier Hall, and that by n singuhff eoii-
cidence, tbis ceremony was the first solemnised in tliat batlilinf, nu
its new erection by Ricliard. The parliament, in fact, waited, ■iliojin
Westminster Hall, the termination of the fitllowing scene. Uew^ndi
to the Tower with a selected number of prelates, duked, mb, i^
kuighls, and dismounted in the court-yard ; while king Riclianl, imBr
dressed, with the sceptre in his hand and the crown on his head, eaicRd
iKe hall in the Tower, but witliout supporters ou citUer side, wluih w
his iiauaj state.

He then addressed tlie company as follows : " ] have reigned kinii tf
England, duke of Aquilaine, and lonl of Ireland, about tweiiiv-iwn yea*;
which roj-alty, lordship, sceptre, and crown, 1 now fi'ecly and wSJwglj
resign to my cousin, Ilenry of Lancaster, and entreat of him, ia ito
presence of you all, to accept of this scepife." He thvo tnndpiMl lb
Hcejilte to Henry of Lancaster, wbo took it and gave it l«i i)iv nrdil«JMf
' of Canterbury'. King Kichatd next raised up his crowo with both to
bands from his head, and. placing it before liim, said, —

" Benry. fair cousin, 1 present and give to yon this crowik villi vUik
I was crowned king uf EugUad. and with it all the rtghia d
il." Henry of Lancaster received the royal diadem, and
uver to the arrhbishop.

'Aumarle bnd jusi surieiiJefaU tlic loynl iiitif of Brinlnl. iho last hufc af *W
JnTortunale king.

I

^B ISABELLA OF VALOIS. 35

Tlitu was ihe resignation mcceptetl ; Henry o[ LancaBter calling in &
public notary, thai an authentic act mighl be drawn uji of this procoed-
isg. which was wiinesseil by all present. Soon afier ihe king was led
back to the aparlmetits in ihe Tower, from whence lie had been con-
ducti-d. The two jewels I ihe crown and acepire) were snfely [meked up
uid given to proper giiarda, who placed them in tho treasury of Wes»-
niinsler Abhny, until they should be needed.'

The news of ihe rtvirainl, in which the young queen of England waa
held, liad been carried by some merchants of Bruges lo ihe coast of
France, together with the account of die deposition of her husband. Bui.
when the lady de Courcy arrived, who bad been attached to the house-
hold «r I»ibclla, the whole truth was known. Directly she ali^tcd al
ihe hotel of her lord 01 Paris, ihe king tif France sent there to hear nevs
of his dnngbier. The king of France was ho much shocked al ihe ill
lidingn «hD tnid of Isabella and her btisbatid, ihal though his health had
ht^n good for some lime, his agitation, on hearing of his daughter^
reverse of fortune, broughl back his fits of frenzy.

The duke of Burgundy said, "The marringe of king Richard wilh
lenbelU was unadvised, and so I declared when it was proposed. Sines
the Eiiglisli have imprisoned king Richard, tliey will assuredly pul him
to dmth ; for lliey always haled him because he preferred peace to war.
Tliey will as certainly crown Henry of I^ncaster."

This prediction of the queen's uncle proved true. During llie last
days of September, Henry of Lancasler was recognised by the mojorjiy
of ihc assembled parliament as king, and was magnificently crowned in
Ocioher, without ihe slightest lecoguilioii of ihe prior claims of iha
orphan hciis of the earl of March. ^H

While this revolution was ellecieil. ihe young queen was removed to ^|
SuflRing Hilli diBr« she was kept a state prisoner, and sedulously mi»> ^H
ioforiDed regarding iho events ihat had befullcn her husband. The lut ^^
hopes of kiug Richard had ended in despair, when his cousin Anmerls
had yicldeil the loyal city of Bristol, and his brother-in-law Huniingdon
pive up Calais, and swore feidiy to Henry IV. This fealty, however,
only lasted six weeks. A plot was eel on fiHit, headed by Autnerle,
Munlingduu, and Salisbury, for killing Henry IV. at a tournament they
were about to give at Wmdsor. Henry, whose health soon broke under
the anxieties which beset the crown of tliorns he had assumed, was sick
^SlrWindaor Castle. There was a spiked instrument concealed in lii> JH
^^^^ for the purpose of destroying him when be lay down to rest ; ju ^H
^^BOttaction, snys the monk of Evesham, " was attributed lo one of th^ ^H
V^Huttg qURCu's servants." ^H

Kiebnnrs doom was now scaled. He was hurried from the Tower to
Ponlcfmrl Castle; nimntime, the confederate lords llew to amis, and,

>Fr(ii»nn. Tliii nnirHtiTa it in s-erfefft u"iw>n wilh Hie ancipnl Iswiand mifc ^^
BaM or EnKlnnil. wliivb oflnlniMl tlial Si. F^Jword'l Diown Hiid reKnlin should ^H
^^^^ div kraplng of ttie slitxil of Weatmintter. ^H

^K VOL.UI. — 8 ^^M

I
I

I

i

dreeing Dp king Richard's rliaploiii. AfBiidelain,' in royal ndM
claimed Uiai the tlepowil king had esca]>e<l from his gaolcfs.

Tiie young qupcn Isabella look an eiirannlinitry pan in thta mm-
mcnt for the reslunitian of her busbnnd.' When the rails of Kaiod
Salisbiirv carne with their rorres to Sunning Hill, where sb« ira* abidi^
thev tnid her '^ ihey hail driven the uaiiiper. Bulingbrokc, from Viaiui
to the atro[igh(ild of the Towi^r, and thai her hustiiuul hod CMapsd, nd
was thea in full march to meet lier al llie bead of a huadmJ tboaaad
men." Overjoyed at this news, the young que«u |>ut liccMlf tiibH
disposal. Slie likewise took great pleasiiro id onletiue ihe twigcs rf
Henry IV. to be lom from her household, and replaced by tliowi at te
royal husbuod -, ia which ^ harmless spite," says Hay ward. ^ the fNCi
Isabel tuok the utmost saiislaction." A pioclamaiion won likerai
issued in lier name, doclaiijig " thai she did not recognise Henc^ otlt^
caster as king." The queen then set out with her brotber^iMaw. fa
turl of Kent, and his allies, on their march lo Wallingfoni ami Almgilt.
Full of jiiyful hope, the entbusiasiic girl etpected every ktiut U ami
her king triauiplisnt at the head uf a loyal nrmy. She wm wkb di
buruns when they entered the fatal town uf Cirencester; bui. amiikltta
mysterious durluie.ss which shruuds the termination of Uiis insnnwtida,
wc lose sight of the actual manner in which the young qiit^n «« n-
captured by Henry IV. Let fortune have declared fur wluitcvsr ptrtyil
might, disappoiiiiinent alone was in store for the heart of l^wlk, ma
the Ricltanl, whom she hoped to meet, was but a counterfeit ia nml
robes to deceive the common people. The chiefs of the instimsra
were betrayed by the mayor of Cirenr«ster, and their BumnuTy ewoliai
followed in a few hours. Isabella was loo young lo be punisheil lorhe
share in litis rebellion, excepting by close resirainL She was srat. aftfl
quiet was restored, strictly guarded, lo the palace of Haverine aiie BoWK
and this appears to hare been her place of residence, ditriog the iapai
eveiiis Ehat succeeded the insurrection, in which she look a pMt «
deciiled, considering her tender age.

These transactions took place at the end of January, and ibe big^
ning of February, 1 100, when the insurrection was subdued ; ii bseui
a luvnurile topic of conversation between the knighls and lords of Ilea*
ry^s bed-rhamber, who always concluded by observing OD the iflipo»
biliiy thai Henry IV. should reign peaceably while Richard II. ww td-
fered lo exist. The wily king gave no inlinistion that ho hnrd ihm
colloquies. After an abortive invasion by the eoniit dc St. Pol, ItidnflA
brother-in-law, the king's flatterers and templets beset hin mon dfl
ever.

" Yet," says Proissart, emphatically, " the king of EngUoil imJt M

' Br wu riceetlinsly like Ricbaid, and 9U|)po*ciJ lo Ik an illi ^iiiiwH ■■*(
royal hmily ; bs wiu iniplicat<>il in L)ie illc^l exwubua of lb* ilsla
of GkiucMter. He had odhoieil lo Kinluuil wiili tlie utuuist fid<lnx, lisa Hi
tsnilinv in W&lcs till hii csptore si Flint.

■ Gtilhtie and FroiesirL Sir Jotui Hafward, p. 137, edition I SMl tU mf»,
■ha insurgent lorilicama Id tlie iiueeii finm Oilnebcook to Siui)liig,a,fllMS^
"-'■'.ing. I

ISABELLA OP VALOIS. 37

Hit, leaving ihprn in conversation, went to his falconers, tod
a fftlron on liis wrist, forgot all in feeding' him." Froismrl is
courtier m acknowled^ that so accnmplishril n knig^hi m Henry
carter ordered eo foul a murder; but other historians do not
that Henry forgot all while feeding his falcon.
rt are so tunny circumstantial details, in ttie narrative of old
f concerning the deaik of RichanI II., that there is liiile doubt of
'le true history of the murder of the unhappy Icing. Frois-
■ i^iveii the opening or prologue of the Irt^edy ; but ilie follow-
ttion, gathered from Fabian and others, tells the manner in wliicli
played out.

: Henry, sitting one day at table, in a sighing manner said, " Have
thful friend who will deliver me of one whose life will be my
mil whose death my life ?" " This speech was much noted of
ttn, especially by one sir Piers ' of Exton. This knight left thn
ind, with eight persona more, went suddenly to Fontefract Castle ;
t being come, he called before him the squire, who w'as Bccns*
Id wait on Kichard at table, giving him a charge ' that the king
IS mnch as he would,' for that now he should not long eat.*
bchard being eet at dinner was served negligently, and without
(■1 ceremony of lasting the dishes, before he commenced his
ftichonl, marvelling at this sudden change, asked the reason, and
ll that new orders had been given by king Henry to that efTecl.
e devil take llt^nry of Lancaster and thee together !'" exclaimed
g iu a |Nuwion, airiktng llie man with a carvuig-kuife. On tbat
It rualied sir Piers Exion, wiili eight tall men, every man having
M ill his liand. Kictiard, perceiving theni, put the table boclt
nil and stepping up to the man next him, wrung the weapon out
Ittiid (a brown^jtl), and iherewitb right valiantly defended hiu-
t that in conclusion four of them he slew ontrighL Sir Piera,
I thereat, leaped upon the chair where king Richard usually sat
Wtfaorilies say it was a curiously carved stone chair) ; while with
If surviving ru/Tians the king was fiercely striving for conquest,
ising diem rouud the chamber, he passed near to the chairs
D sir Piers had gotten, who willi a pole-axe smote him on the
r the head, and withal, ridded him of his life in an insianL'*
I, battling like a champion of proof, in the full exerciKe of aiight]r

was a lord mayor, one of Richard's oppturrs, c

,'b E'anilxui.

«mtiKalt coiiloi. ,
1X11 Til* xrtuxrf iMHii^p uin cnuiiiinlfl Bllcn^e of FroiHn
la jKiini ai iniinler iiion(lr, but tlioy fpaab U OM.

^^^■^^^^^^^^^^^^H

^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^V

HjM ISABELLA OP

^r raer^M awakene)) at liie call of ilcspair, f«ll ihe son of ihr I

■ (be miiuls ol'liis combative uoblea, lo have aBpergetl llie <.u;i. .....,-,

■ macy, with which his rival roully tainwd him. We hur iio inof*, u>
^H rJironicle. of his being the son of a priesU

H <* iUcbard of Bonlenui, when dead, was placed on s lilirr rovonl

■ with black cloth, and a canopy of the nune. Four blaek liorm «m
^1 harneneJ to it, ami four varleU in mourning conducted the lintt, U-

W less one of the kuielils, and ihe varleta the worthy sunrivots of RidmN

they came to the Chepe ; which is the greatest thoroughfare in ibr rig.
and there they halted for upwards of two hour*. Mure tlian iHcoit
thousand persons came lo see king Richard, who lay in the littn, bit
head on a lilaek cushion,' and his lace uncovered."'

Thus was queen Isabella left a widow in her lliiTteenih ytu; tbi
death of her royal lord was concealed from her a constdenitib! am:
but she learned the murderous manner of it soon enough, lo ifjeci mvi
horror all offers of union with the heir of Lancaster. Young m ^h
was, Isabella gave proofs of a resolute and decisive chancter; iniu<4
firm and faithful afleclion were shown by this yomliful ipieen, wbirii
captivated the minds of the English, end caused her to be matle lb
heroine of many an historical balLid, — a species of limntiire that A«
people of the lard much delighted in at that time.

fit of insanity ; brought on by anxiety for his daughter's fiue. TV

1

bably to conceal any BccWental effusion of blood.

but ibe (hoe." Thiis, aliboiigh the body wu exposed to the »lew cl iSr ;ic^to»
in all tlie lowm llinni^ which it pasted, as wvU dj in tlie mru
cODid pouibly EUOMIain what woundj were on the hend. 'lu.
ptaiul/iNnnt out the peculiar maonec ofRkhard's d«uh. Tia.!.

Iflyal cuile of Ponlefraci wm dilapidated by CromweH. " Wc -=...,-^1 ; j; ..^

Mrenph. simatiao. and largeneu, may compare wilh soy in Ihe kkn^doa. b
Ibe cin-'Uil of Ibii caslls are aeveo faounu Xoutn; the higbut at Uien it ^U

poll till hii baibuoBi bulchen deprived him of lifB. Vvon Um ,
haddvgi andfiira bbw do ,m rtmain. Wp viewed tbe ;p«i< u-

aod aaw llic cbanilier oT presence, the king ard ijUMn's cbair.i. r
^— and many other room*, all fit and niiinble for princes, '■ — Brufi-\ . -t^^&w
^ iftutfrntor." p, IM. The Bound Tower i> by Weaver (Fowr.! iJ™«™.j
H MlW - .be BUdy Tower," be «.y* by tnuli.ion of tbe wurtiy |k<vU •> *
^m tWoK/, in meiwiij of ibe nitirdei of Riobanl a

'

ywiBif quMii, but lleary IV, wnuUI not hear of it, answering, ** thM «hff
fthould reside in li^gland like oilier qiieeD-iluwngcr!!, in e^i^Dt honour)
w livr dowcr^ anil thai if »lie hnu unlorkily loit a hutliaiul, she should
b« provided witli anulher forthwith, who would be young, hanilflomc,
ami evrry way deserring of her love. Richard of Bordeaux was loo
old for her, hut the person now olTeroil was suitable in etery reepwt;
beitig no other than the prince of Wales."'

It aeenis strange that Jsabella, who had exprefwed such infant pri<!e in
beiii^; queen of England, should give up voluntarily all prospect ofenjojr-
log that ■tation, with a youthful hero, whose age was so suitable to her
own ; yet so it was. Bui she was inflexible in her rejection uf the
gkllant ilenry of Monniouih, and mourned her murdeied husband in a
moinnFT exceedingly louchnig, as all who approached her, Fieneh of
tnglish, bore witness."' Her refusal would have been of ijiile avail, if
her family and country had not seen the matter in the same ligiit In
reply to Henry IV.'s proposition, the French regency declared •'ihal
liming tb« grievous illness of their lord king Churles, they cuuld not
give away his eldest daughter without his consent." I'herefore, uionihs
jHtmed away, and the maiden queen-dowager atill continued u inuuming
widow, in the bowers of Havering. It is recorded that king Htnry and
hi* gsllani heir did, in that ijiterval, all in their power to win her con>
siaxit bcnrt liom the memory of Richard, but in vain. She was just of
the age to captivate the lancy of an ardent young prince like Henry of
Momnouih; nor can there exist a doubt, by the extreme perttnacrly
with which he wooed the widow of his cousin, tliat she was belovra
by bin). However this may be, the modern paradox of Iticlwrd ll.'a
escape from the bloody towers of Pontefract' is utterly annihilated, by
the continual elG>rts of Henry IV. to gain the hand of Isabella for his
son. " Would Henry," asks an historical aniiqaBry, in the Archeologia,
" have U-en so desirous for the marriage of his heir with the wiilow of
Rit^snl, had he not been certain, beyond all doubt, tlint her husband
was dead i" He would not surely have pronioteil a murriuge, which
would have diegitimaled the heirs of Lsnrasler. This is one of the
hiatDfical proofs of a disputed poiut which appeals directly to common
■oiae.

Wlien Charles VI. recovered His senses, he sent the eouiii d'Albret to
inquire into tlie situation of IsaliC'lla. King Henry and liio ruuncd were
ai Eltham, where the French ambassador was splendidly enieititined by
him. He told Henry he had been sent by the king and queen of Fraatv
to »c« tJie young queen their daughter. The king replied —

■• We no way wish to prevent you from seeing Tier, but you must pro*

•FroiHvi. ■Moii»tifl...i.

■ Toe much ilte*! )iu been laid (by ihme who have worknl IxirU lu prove thil
(■mdoi] on iho foot, tliat Blobard t ihull wu Touud ontiie, wlicii bii unnb waa '
•■HtrilMil in WeitiniiuiFt Atibry, Let ihe snliciiuuie*. huwuTct, contult med^
eal avihoTiti». ariH ibi^)' will And ilinl iaitanl dralh mar eniui*, rroni a ooddi
■■DO on the brain, without Ilie bune o( iha lieail being braked j Biul how easy
WM, if ths king hail. indr»d, been only ([onnrd, Ibr hi* smiHiini lo <'i»ii[i|<
*ip> nOMh and oMirlli, m lliat llie tolum of rospira'ion wb« pinveouU I

I

I

I
I

mise, on ftath, lliat neither yoiirself, nor any of your company, ipni a
lier any tiling cnnccmin? Richard of Bocileuux. Shouh! you do oiiie>
wise, you will ermtly olletiil us and tile whole couiiuy, autl reuuiu m
peril of your lives while here."

Nat long after ihisi the earl <>f Northumlierland csrrieil mum d'Albict
to Haveriug sue Bower, where Isabella then resided. She wat ■ileaJnl
by the duchess of lieland, (he duches? of Gloucciter, hei tvo ikut^
ten, aed other Indiea and diunaela as companiorie. The ecul intradoa^
the Freni-h embasfy to ihe youn^ C|ueen, who conversed aotne linw wnk
llienu askiitg engerly many questions afier her ruynl parcnU. Thiy
kept till! pfiuite iliey had inaile, by never mentioniiig kiog Richti^lM
ratnrneil lo Loudon after a short interview. Al ElihaiUi on iheir mjr
homCi they dined with k.in^ Henrj~, who presented them with some neb
jeweb. iVlien Ihey tooli. leave, he said amicably, "Tell those who
sent you (hat llie queen ehatl never auder the sniallcst hnrni, or any ili*-
tnrbance. but shall keep up a slate and dignity becontiag her btrin ni
nnk, and enjoy all her rights ; for, young as she is, she ought SM W
be made acqtuinted with all the changes that happen in ihis woHd."'

The council of Henry ]V. meantime amtiously delibcisied on Uwilt^
tination of tlie young queen.' Ii conie at last to the tlecbion. that Iw
bellEi, heiiis of tender a^^e, had no riifhl to claim revenue aa qneen-duW'
^er of England ; liul ihai, as no accommodation could be c&cttd hj
the marriage with the prince of Wales, she ought to be realared to ber
frienda directly, witli all the jewels »iid paiaphern«lia tbal she broii(hl
with her.' But on this poini a grand dilJiculty arose, for Henry IT.latd
■eised the little tgueen's jewels, and divided them among hi« six chiUm.
the prince of Wales havuig the greatest sliare. The kirig wrote lo h>
nouncil decLuing '* that he hud coininiuided his sou and other dHUm
to give up the jewels of their dear cousin queen Isabeiln, and thai i^
were lo be sent to London.^' But intention and p«rforniuice ve mt
diflerent niai(er«, for that " the dear cousin's jewels" were never tcunicd
we have the evidence of the queen's uncle, Orleans, and the Fmrk
treaties between Henry V. and Charles VI.* Nor are ihey named wiik
h«r property sp>ecilied in her journey to Leiilinglieti ; yei iu the acbedilf
her silver drin king-cup. a few silver saucers and dishes, with a liolt i4l
tapestry, are pompously enumerated, it is worthy of rainark, to ibo*
the extreme pareimony of Henry, tliat an item demondit^ nvw ikA^
for the young queen and her uuuds of honour, with dotli for ibev ctar-
Kttes or cliariuts, is sharply met by the answer, ^ iluit the lung's «ud-
robe had given out aU that he intended."

Queen [rubella set out fur London, May i7, accompanied by t«*
ladies of the royal tarn ily, who had both received great tnjiina frw

■For Oih inrormalion and ttie rest of the faeu follawms. wa ore In^Md*
sir Harris Nicr'lua' invaluable adition of ilie SlinuiH of tlio Priiv CewiL nAk
pp. 118-134, Hi.

*Sm p. lU, wbore a, deicripiioD is ^voD cf ber rcAtet, rhJ aa •atbnaa tf fli
waJne oT iuc jewels. ■ Rapin, roL i. Ucnn- V.'a n%^

ISABELLA OP VALOtI

SI

Kcfmnl n.' The dur.heas of Ireland was one, and the countess of
Herefoni' (mother lo llie duchess of Gloucester, the widow of the
■tkngluern] Thomas of Woodstock), the other. To these ladies was
cmuigned the care, or rather the custody, of Isabella'd person. Tha
sweetness of this angelic girl's ihsposition hod certainly converted tliesa
natural enemies into loving friends, as will presently be shown. Next
in rmnk to these great ladies in the train of Isabella was Eleanor UoUaud,
the young widow of Ro^r, earl of March, slain in Ireland, whose soq
was heir of England dt jure ; she had been appointed governess to tho
qut-eii by Itichard 11., and siill adhered lo her, though merely claeseil
now among her Indies of honour ; the other ladies were, lady Poioinga,
lady Mowbniy, end Madame de Vache. Isabella had likewise seven
iBaida of honour, and two French chambermaids, Simonette and Mari-
ftBoe:. The French chamberlain was Monsieur de Vache. She had a
ocMifeesor anil a secrciary. She was escorted by the bishops of Durham
■nd Hereford, and by the earl of Somerset, Henry IV.'s half-brother,
with four kniglits bannerets and six chevaliers.

With this train and escort the young queen set out from Havering,'
At Tolienham Cross, she was met by the late lord chamberlain, the earl
of Worcester, with a gallant company, who joined her train. The lord
mayoi and his viscounts (as the aldermen were then called), with other
food people of the city, met her at Saiidford-hill, and, falling in with
ber procession, guardeil her to London. At Hackney, prince Thomas,
Kcond son to Henry IV., met the young queen, and honourably accom'
puiiMl her lo London, assisted by the constable of England, tlie marshal,
and other great ollicers.

It is supposed Isabella tarried at Ihe Tc
don entry, for she did not sail for Fra
three bal lingers and two armed barges

I

T from the day of her Loi>.
i till July 1st followin^t, when
re appointed to receive her and

■ far advanced before the
a hor parents; during which
Uis in their power (i
y of Richard, But her
r rafusal. remained the same ;
dinory, and her
twenty-eight thi

1 widow of Richard H. »

Henry fV. anil his son Hied ,

diake her chihlish eonsiaucy to i

steady aversion," as Moiisirelei caila I

of this child was extnioi^ I

ness, more probable in a royal heroine of I
> had seen liide more than half ns monf 1

'Sec preceding voliimf, memoir ofAnne of Bohemia,

*1li9 iBily, calM couutoti ofllercrorrl, was tlio mother of the co-heireSMi
Hcrelbril. tin duBhera of Gloucester, and Mnry, the rlKcDHwi wift of die imir. ._ ,
Utatf IV. Tba doohau of GUniwMer. wlio hut heen in the fltmily of Iwbella,
* 1 iaiBly loM hcT pRimi>in( son, liy tlia pl>)^ifl, snit ha<I died of grief. Her i
ar, liii< DOOUtBH of Herelbrtl, wii> Uio grandmoilier, by tlie mal'-tnal lido,

It this dowvr-pnlnoe of iha Engliili queens ai ber Inlesl reii-
■lo ihai Kine political rcaun miKl>t hnva inadi- Isabella's
il itiniuKh WnliliiuD (hioit. anil IoJkb "t Wnliliaiii huiilin([ i>B)aoe ,
. ■Itn miiflil niD« Itio Loa lo gain tin ooilli roaul iniHad of tlie aaal rcsd, lot
kar tsouiM wiu plainly by TottoiiIiiunJiill, aod her enmitos into Londoo bjp
ittokuey.— Soa Miaaia of /V»y Craanf, vol. i. p. US.

I

I
I

ISABELLA OP VALOtS.

suRimfrra. At lanx. Use usurper resolveil lo restore the yonti^ irido* lA
Fnnc?, bui refuseil lo return her dowry, saying, that as b gnat faWNf
he wfiuld agree lo dedurl its amount fram ihe sum total thai Fnaee nU
(ra-ed Engiaiid. Tor the ntnsom o( king John. The Jewels of the J<mf
queen h« likewise retained, although it was expressly siipolBt«d bjr ibt
will of king Richard that, in case of his ileaih. the rich jewels hit liilb
wife had hiought rroin Fnuice should be restored to her. Hmry eoM

l plead ienor&nee of hia cou9in''s testament, sinre the poor iMf* will.
while he nax yet nlive, had been broken open to furnish Kniclea often-
ntion ni^inst him.'

The roval virgin was approaching her (ifteenth year when lhiw]dnh
Jered, aud. wearing the deep wee(lB of widowhooil, she enrtharW «
Dover for Calais, escorted by the same sir Thomas Percy' who bti
Mttended her as chsniberlnin during her espousals. Nolwithslamhng At
fael that his family had been "the ladder wherewithal tlie rnountiiigBfr
lingbroke BSf^eiideil the throne of RichnrcE,^' there is little dvobi dKt M
Thomas Percy's heurt ever heat loyiilly towards his rightful mafUTt't'
he was bathed in tears during the time he thus coo<Iuct«d th« foug
widow of Richard lo her native shores.

" My queen to France froni whertce wl Totth in potnp
Slit coinc ulornsil Idllisr like iweet Mmy,
Sent litrk like Hallowmu, or iliotleti day." — ShaJaptan.

Leulinghen, a town between Boulogne and Oalais, a sort of froMiR
ground of ilie English territory, was the spot appointed for the tiHori
tion of Isabella to her uncle of Burgundy. >* It was on the 26A of J^>
1402, wlien air Thomas Percy, with streaming tears, look the j*iai(
qneen by the arm. and delivered her with good grace into ibe Imii i
Waleian count St. Pol, sumanied the Righteous,' and raceived eoMl
tellers of c[uillance for her from the French. In these the Eogliah ««■
missioners declared, thai the young ijueen was jusi ns she h>d hm
received, and Percy offered to fight d Voulranct tmy one wbo ihiiiril
usserl the contrary." To do the French justice, they could no* bnt
welcomed back their young princess royal with more enthusiiam aaJ
loyolt}', if she had been dowered with all the wealth of Ennlajid, iniiai
of returning destitute, and plundered of all but her beauty nnd hoDoor.

The virtues and sweet temper of the youthful queeit bwl won lit
affections of her English ladies, for our nianuRCripl pursues*—

" Know, before ihe parlies separated, they all wept moel nilMwlfi
and when they came to quit the chapel of our I^dy nl Leulinghes, qua
Isabel, whose young heart is full of tenderness and kindliness, hnvjli
all her English ladies, who were making sore lameutatiiMUy tBM ikl

■eeding, wliioh i* mil]' wiibout prae^eni for sl>«UTdji]r.

*AneiWBiil9 tbe nul of Woiceslpr. 90 faminu in tile Percjr nballicM.

'He wiM bmUi<rr-m-l»w 10 liinp RielisrJ.

•This iifttjm Ihe MSS, ofibe AmbsMadev. Ha])'* H I |. ._]jj, Tl lj| 1

a Kgolar receipt farlbe iiu«en dial ah e bad been •afelj'delStiarad.wwiWtMi-
WttM like a reoekpt fQt ft VnXe oi mcnAnuLue.

ItABBLLA OF TALOIt. JT

Frencli tenUr, where she made them dine with her. And afler dinner,
queen Isabe] took all the jewels she had remaining, and divided Uiem
among the lords and ladies of England who had accompanied her, who
all, neTerthclesfl, wept mightily with sorrow at parting with their young
queen. Tet still she sweetly bade them ^ be of good cheer,' though
weeping herself; nerertheless, at the moment of parting, all renewetl
their lamentations."

^ The damsel of Montpensier, sister to the count de la Marche, the
damsel of Luxemburgh, sister to the count de St Pol ; and many other
noble ladies, were sent by the queen of France to wait upon her
daughter.

^ Then the count St Pol led her to the dukes of Burgundy and Bour-
bon, who, with a large company of armed men, were waiting, intending,
jf any demur had taken place regarding the restoration of their niece, to
have charged the English party over hill and over valley, and taken her
back by force to her fair sire the king of France.*

She was received by her countrymen with every honour, and thence
eaeorted to Boulogne and to Abbeville, where the duke of Burgundy, to
celebrate her return, made a grand banquet She then proceeded through
France to Paris, ^ where her coming caused many a tear and many a
nnile.' Most kindly was she received by the king and queen of France ;
but though it was pretended, by king Henry, that she was restored with
tfvery honour, yet there was not any revenue or dower assigned her
from England as queen-dowager.''

Louis duke of Orleans, who was anxious to obtain the maiden queen
wm a bride for his promising heir, mdertook to championise her wrongs.
He sent a challenge, soon after her arrival in France, to Henry IV., de*
fymg him, as the plunderer of the young queen and the murderer of her
husband, and oflering to light him in the lists, on this quarrel. Henry
'^Idly replied, ^^ He knew of no precedent which offered tlie example
n£ a crowned king entering the lists to fight a duel with a subject, how-
ever high the rank of that subject might be."

^ How could yon suffer," replies Isabella's uncle,* in his letter of de*
tfanee, ^ my much redoubted Isdy, madame queen of England, to return
to her country desolate by the loss of her lord, despoiled of her dower,
and of all the property she carried hence on her marriage ? He who
aeeks to gain honour must support her cause. Are not noble knights
bound to defend the rights of widows and virgins of virtuous life, such
as my niece was known to lead ?" He concludes his episile with bitter
thanks for the superior care Henry took of the safety of tlie French
knights, by refusing the combat, to what he did of tlie health and life
of his own royal lord king Richard.

This taunt roused Henry into the indignant denial of the murder of
hia ^ dear lord and cousin king Richard, (whom God absolve.)" He

* MoDstrelet, and MSS. of the Ambasndet. ' MonstreleL

" These letters ate tnmtleted in the <* Pietorial History of Engluul ;'' Ukewiaa
see Cnite, Moaitielet, and Guthrie.

I

tB&BBLLA OF VALOI9.

''God kniiws how anil by whom thai itealh was done,' hat
if you mrain to mv his ileaih whs caused by our order or conical, wa
aniwiir ihnl you lie. and will lie foully oft as you say 90,"

The periinacity of Henry IV. 10 ^in die " aweoi youii^ qu«en'' w a
bride fur Ins ^llaiti son was not overcome even by litis I'liriiius turn-
spondrace with licr nnde. in ihe year UU6, arcording ■>> lUiiutirJrk
I1B made a moat exlrnordinary proposal, declnring ihttl if Uie hanii >4
kabella (now in lier eighteenth year) were bestowed un the prince uf
Wales, be would abdicate (he English crown in larour of the yiniof
prince.' The royal council of Frauce sal in debate on this ofler for 1
Ions; lime; but the king's brother, Louis duke of Orleans, eoniendd
that he had the promise o( die hand of Isabella for his son Charles M
Angouli^me ; he represented the frduds of the king of Enflan^ mi
called to iheir memory the * steady aversion" of his niece to ally be^
self with the assassin of the husband site still tnved. An an&routahlt
■nswRr WHS iherEfore given to (he English ambassadors, who departed
malcontent, *

The bctrolhmenl of Isabella to her youthful rousin took plarr u
Compiegne, where her mother, queen Isabean, met the duke of Orieaif
and his son. Magnificent ft'ies took pisre at the ceremony, eonaisuiig
of "banquett, dancings, jousts, and other jollities." Bui ifae bride wept
bitterly while her hand waa pledged (o a brtd^room so mneh voonirr
than herself; (he court charitably declared that her Irars (lowed on t-
count of her losing the tide of queen of England ; but the hean of Ibt
fair young widow had been too severely schooled in advereiiy to mocm
over a mere empty name.' Der ihonghis were on king Itirlinnl.

The husband of Isabella became duke of Orleans in 14<'',
felher was atrociously murdered in the Rue Barbette, by
the duke of Burgundy. Isabella took a decided pan in <'i
tice to be executed on die powerful assassin of her nncb: .: '

"The young queen-dowager of England came with her motheris-
law, Violante of Milan, ducbess of Orleans, both dressed in the (Iwpm
weeda ol' black. They arrived without the walls of l'ari» in a rharnvA
or aagon. covered wiili black cloth, drawn by six soow-wbite steak
whose funeral trappings strongly contrasted with their (^olou^ baMli
and her mother-in-law sat weeping in (he from of the wagoo; a Ui^

' Here U an evident admiaiion that Ricliard died by violence, — but llnuy i>
illioiit Lii orders ; thus comilioratiTiE Ihe nccoiint of llip ntunler M o*
wiiti sir PitTs E^lon. Had Richard bfrn clarvcd, Haar; iircmid bin
d»Flar«) his blood was ntnsheil.

*No English higtohan can believe this sssetliaa, yet Gifforil id hi* adininUc
Bislory of France does not diepule it.

■ Moiiiticlcil. and die Clironiclex of Sl Deoii. MonstrFlrl doclue* tl>M(^it«
dnbeorOrloani had b«u Ibe godrndiei of Isabella, and it.i-tclbrr n .tj.i.iii ati,!

the dat^B of the liirth of Isabella anil Orlcnns show ihai ihli u ..
bllitjr. Ii U pnsfible that Uabella bad Ixtta godmiHlH-i 10 t'r
Migbt VDtlttl CriOT ot the tnniciibers of Moostrrlel niifihi «(»<■ 1
AMtdi, 'Chronlclaiaf >i 1'

ISABELLA OF TALOIt. ID

file of moorning wa^ns, filled with the domestics of the princesses, fol-
lowed. They were met at the gates by most of the princes of the
blood.'' ' This lugubrious train passed, at a foot's pace, through the
•treets of that capital stained by the slaughter of Orleans. The gloomy
appearance of the procession, the downcast looks of the attendants, the
flowing tears of the princesses, for a short time excited the indignation
of the raiisians against the popular murderer, John of Burgundy. Isa-
bella alighted at the gates of the H6tel de St. Pol, where, throwing her-
self at the feet of her half-crazed father, she demanded, in concert with
the duchess Violante, justice on the assassin of her uncle. The unfor-
tunate king of France was thrown into fresh agonies of delirium by the
Tiolent excitement produced by the sight of his suppliant daughter and
sister-in-law.

A year afWrwards the same mournful procession traversed Paris again ;
Isabella again joined Violante in crying for justice, not to the unconscious
king, who was raving in delirium, but to the dauphin Louis, whose feeble
hands held the reins of empire his father had dropped.

Soon afler, Isabella attended the death-bed of the duchess Violante,
who died positively of a broken heart for the loss of Orleans. The fol-
lowing year Isabella was married to her cousin : the previous ceremony
had been only betrothment The elegant and precocious mind of this
prince soon made the diflerence of the few years between his age and
that of his bride forgotten. Isabella loved her husband entirely ; he was
the pride of his country, both in mind and person. He was that cele-
brated poet duke of Orleans, whose beautiful lyrics are still reckoned
among the classics of France.' Just as Isabella seemed to have attained
the height of human felicity, adored by the most accomplished prince in
Europe, beloved by his family, and with no present alloy in her cup of
happiness, death claimed her as his prey in the bloom of her life. She
expired at the castle of Blois, in her twenty-second year, a few hours
after the birth of her infant child, Sept. 13th, 1410. Her husband's
grief amounted to frenzy ; but afVer her infant was brought to him by her
attendants, he shed tears, and became calmer while caressing it.^ The
first verses of Orleans that attained any celebrity were poured forth by
his grief for this sad bereavement He eays^ —

Alas!
Death, who made thee so bold
To take from me my lovely princess f
Who was my comfort, my life,
My good, my pleasure, my riches.
Alas ! I am lonely, bereft of my mat»^
Adieu, my lady, my lily I
Our loves are for ever severed.

' Chronicles of St Denis.

*ln the publio library of Grenoble is a fine copy of the poems of Charles duke
of Orleans, the husband of this queen of England. It was written from his dic-
latkm by bis secretary, Antoine TAstisan. It has been copied for the Bibliotheque
Rojmle. Another fine copy exists, richly illuminated, in the British Museum,
SDDpoaed lo have been transcribed iar Henry VIL

' lMbella*s inihnt was a little girl, who was reared, and aAerwaida t»AmMl>f^
tfM duke of Aleopon.

SABELLA OF VALOia.

Bvt B mnre finished Ivric lo ilic memory of Imbella thiu o
a Preach .' — Xaifa'd tobfeqiu de Madame,'

To tiiBke mjr l»dy'» ob»iiuiB4

My love a niinstai wraughl,
And in the cbsmc)- service ihera

Was sung by doleful thoogllL
The uprn were of burning (igfai^

Thai lighl bihI odour gavn,
And grief Illuniiiied by loan

Itrailiated li«r grave;
And rouiut abDu^ in quBinreR gnita,

The bin

1 thing u

iBl s;

AboTC her lielh ipread a ramb

Of gold and Bn|i]>hirei blur:
The gatil <lciih ebow her ble^onlnaw,

The a|iphice* insik bei mioi
For bleisedneja and truth in bft

Wers livplrly porlray'd,
When grarious Ucxl, uilM btth M* A«aA

Her wondroua beamy msda ;
She wai, lo npeali willumt duifiiia*^

ItABBLLA OF TALOIS. 37

bdla. Gbaries of Orleans, by the peculiar malice of fortune, was doomed
to a long imprisonment by the very man who had so often been refused
by his wife — a circumstance which perhaps was not altogether forgotten
by Henry V. The gallant husband of Isabella, after fighting desperately
at Agincourt, was left for dead on the lost field ; but, being dragged from
beneath a heap of slain, was restored to unwelcome life by the care of a
▼aliant English squire, Richard Waller. Orleans refused to eat or drink,
after recovering from his swoon, but was persuaded out of his resolution
of starving himself to death by the philosophic and friendly remonstrances
of Henry V. His wounds soon healed, and he was seen riding side by
side with his conqueror and kinsman, conversing in the most friendly
terms, a few da3rs afler the victory of Agincourt

But after thus reconciling his unfortunate captive to life, Henry refused
all ransom for him^ because he was the next heir to the throne of France
aAer Charles the Dauphin. Orleans was sent to England, and at first
eonfined at Groombridge, in Kent, the seat of Waller, but was aAerwanls
consigned to a severe imprisonment in the Tower of London, where he
eoropoeed some of his most beautiful poems. It was well that his fine
mind possessed resources in itself, for his captivity lasted twenty-three
years!

Isabella was first interred at Blois, in the abbey of St. Laumer, where
her body was found entire, in 1624, curiously wrapped in bands of linen,
plated over with quicksilver. It was soon afler transferred to the church
ci the Celestines, in Paris, the family burying-place of the line of Orleans.

vor« lu*— 4

JOANNA OF NAVARRE,

QUEEN OF HENRV IV.

CHAPTER 1.

Imnna't jiBrcntBge — DeKeoI — Eiil crhnmctec iX brt biJ.er — M«| *mtlf jn
ConiiBCieil loitie princo of Ca«iilte — Conuact brokni — Captund IqrtlMF^
— Rags of hnr fatbet — Her rRleB««— Deouuded bf tba daka (W ttat^
Dower — MarriKge — Hotriblo deaili i .. . _

Oliver CliesoQ — Birth aul dcaili of Joanna', d«D|diiM— [Ictt vC llnntf* bl
— French ambusdadors nved by Joanna — Ilsr oonjugnl ittBuirtiM Hat ■
betrnihi^il lo JoHnna »r Fiance — BenegAl a.1 VannM — Miv En«ilimM a pMi
• — Hcf danKhtet conttsrled » ihe heir of Dcrbj' (HHUy V.)-
— Eipousal* of two of her children — Joa ' "" "

JOANNA OF NATARRS. 39

her appointed bridegroom, on the death of his father, to break his en-
gagement with Joanna, and to espouse a princess of Arragon.

The intrigues and crimes of Charles the Bad, who was perpetually
engaging in some unprincipled project or other, with a view to esta-
blishing himself on the disputed throne of his grandfather,' rendered
the early youth of Joanna and her brethren a season of painful vicissi-
tode. On one of these occasions, when this unquiet prince had em-
broiled himself with the regents of France, Joanna and her two elder
brothers, Charles and Pierre of Navarre, having been sent for better
security to the castle of Breteuil, in Normandy, were, in the year 1381,
made prisoners and carried to Paris, where they were detained as host-
ages for their father's future conduct Charles le Mauvais, finding his
entreaties for their liberation fruitless, out of revenge suborned a person
to poison both the regents. The emissary was detected and put to
death, but Charles, the greater criminal of the two, was out of the reach
of justice.'

Joanna and her brother might have been imperilled by the lawless
conduct of their fother, had they not been in the hands of generous
foes — the brothers of their deceased mother ; but, though detained for
a considerable time as state prisoners in Paris, they were affectionately
and honourably treated by the court of France. Their liberation was
finally obtained through the mediation of the king of Castillo, whose
sister, the bride of young Charles of Navarre, WMth unceasing tears and
supplications, wrought upon him to intercede for their release. Thus
did Joanna of Navarre owe her deliverance to the prince by whom she
had been betrothed and forsaken.

In the year 138G, a marriage was negotiated between Joanna and John
de Montfort, duke of Bretagne, surnamed the Valiant. This prince,
who was in the decline of life, had already been twice married.* On
the death of his last duchess without surviving issue, the dukes of Berri
and Burgundy, fearing the duke would contract another English alliance,
proposed their niece, Joanna of Navarre, to him for a wife.* The lady
Jane of Navarre, Joanna's aunt, had marrie<l, seven years previously,
the viscount de Rohan, a vassal and kinsman of the duke of Brcta.^ne,
and it was through the agency of this lady that the marriage between
her new sovereign and her youthful niece was brought about.^

That this political union was, notwithstanding the disparity of years
and the violent temper of the duke, agreeable to the bride, tliere is full
evidence in the grateful remembrance which Joanna retained of the good

* He itf alK> accused by contemporary historians of practising the dark myste-
ries of the occult sciences, in the unhallowed privacy of his own palace ; and
it is certain tliat, as a poisoner, Charles of Navarre acquired an infamous
•elcbrity Uiroughout Europe.

* Mezerai. Moreri.

* First to Mary Plantagenet, the daughter of his royal patron and protector,
Eiiward 111., with whose sons he had been educated and taught the science of
nar. Mary dying witliout children in the third year of her niarriiigo, lui
•spoiised, secondly, Jane Holland, the half-sister of Richard II. of Kuj^land. .

* Doiu Morice. Chron. de Bretagne. * Dum Mocvc^a,

I

I

I

r4D JO&MIiA or IfATAKRB.

offices of her aunt on ihis occaaion,' long arter the auplial lir MMM
net anil lier mature lonl bad been dissolved by d«alli, and aha M Cfr
icred iiilo mutrimuniitl eiigagetnenta with Henry IV. of

The <!uke nf Brelngne having been induced, by Uic
or the lady of Kohao and ihe nobles attHched to the rauM of T(
lo lend a lavourable ear to the overtures for this alliance.
Joanna's hand of tier tklher, and gave coiiimi^aion to Pierre tk
to nian and appoint a vessel of war to convey the young
ahorea uf Bretagne.

Pierre etnbarked on the Itjiti of June, 1386. Thare is. m^PfrBn>
Uisloriqura," a memorial of the expensna of Pierre de Leauemc for tta
voyage, specifying that lie stocked the vmmIs with tha |>roviw«
required for the royal bride and her train.

The roniiacL of marriage between the duke of Breutgne aod Jotnm
was signed at Pampeluika, August 25th, 1380. The king of Kmnt
engaged to give his daughter 120,001) livres of gold of tlie coin* of At
kings of France, and 6000 livres of ihe rents due to him on the lavli
of the viscount tJ'Avtanches.' The duke, on his side, usignnl (o iht
princess, for her dower, the citiea of Nantes and Guerrand, the fvaiy
of Rais, of Chatellenic de TottSbn, and Guerche. Joanna then itftad
with Pierre de Leanerac and her escurt for Bretagne, and on th* lllhd
September, 1386, was married to ihe duke of Bretagne at Saille, mm
Cuerrand, in the presence of many of the nobles, knights, and siiiifaM
of Bretagne.' A succession of feasts and pagcmiia of the mnet aulawfJ
description were given by the duke o( Bretagne at Naoles, ia boaatf
of his nuptials with his young brides*

In the beginning of the new year, February' 1387. "■ ia toiea iJ Mr
muinal aSection and delight in their union, the duke and duebMt ti-
ebonged gifts of gold, sapphires, pearls, and other cowily gnna, wit
borees, Cilcons, and various sons of wines.'

Joanna appears to have possessed the greatest influence owwr ktr In^-
baiid's heart, and to have been treated by him with the fciMlm MMi-
deration, on all occasions, although her Cither was uiMtUe to MS to

firomiK with regard to the portion the duke was to have reetitaj wiA
ler.

The death of Joanna's lather, which took place the nine vetr. *■
attended with circumstances of peculiar horror. He had long tien <^
fering from a complication of maladies. In lopes of recoverBf ka
paralytic limbs from their mortal cbillness. ht -aitsed his whole p«>*
to be sewn up in cloths dipped in spirits of wine and salpfanr. Ox
night, after these bandages had been fixed, neither knife nor aijiii
being at hand, the careless attendants applied the flame of the caarfk !■
•ever the needle with which the linen had been sewn; the >pihi«rf
wine ini'Utitly ignited, and the wretched Charges was btimed ao dm^
fully, that, after lingering several days, he expired,' Jantcar^r Is, IVT,

ttymet't Ftcilera. *Ddir Uoiiue^ Cluon. ila Riiiisim

*I>IUn Moriua. Pteiivcs KUloiique*.

*Dom Moiice. CUion. d« Gieucnc

JOANNA OF If ATABBS. 41

Iflftving his throne to his gallant patriotic son, Charles the (}ood,'and his
name to the general reprobation of all French chroniclers.

The Bretons, who had, according to Don Morice, boded no good
cither to themselves or to their duke, from his connexion with this
prince, far from sympathising with the grief of their yoang duchess for
the tragical death of her last surviving parent, rejoiced in the deliverance
of the earth from a monster whose crimes had rendered him a disgrace
to royally.'

The last bad act of the life of Charles le Mauvais, had been to in-
■inuaie to his irascible son-in-law that Oliver de Clisson entertained a
criminal passion for the young duchess of Bretagiie ;* and this idea ex-
cited in his mind a tliirst for vengeance, which nearly involved him and
ail connected with him in ruin.

In early life, John the Valiant and Clisson had been united in the
tenderest ties of friendship. The courage and military skill of Clisson
had greatly contributed to the establishment of this prince's claims to
the dukedom of Bretagne. Latterly, however, Clisson had opposed the
duke'a political predilections in favour of England, as productive of much
evil to Bretagne ; and he had further caused great oflence to the duke,
by ransoming, at his own expense, John count de Penthievres, the
rival claimant of the duchy, from his long captivity in England, and
marrying him to his eldest daughter and co-heiress, Margaret de Clis-
son, just at the time when there appeared a prospect of the duchess
Joanna bringing an heir to Bretagne.*

Clisson was the commander of the armament preparing by France
for the invasion of England, which was to sail from Treguer, in Bre-
tagne, the king and regents of France imagining that they had wholly
■ecured the friendship of the duke, by his marriage with their young
kinswoman, Joanna of Navarre. Their pUns were completely frustrated
by the unexpected arrest of Clisson by the duke/ of which Froissart
gives the following lively account; attributing, however, to political
motives a proceeding which appears to liave been dictated by furious
jealousy.

Dissembling the deadly malic« of his intentions under the deceitful
blandishments with which the fell designs of hatred are so frequently
masked, he wrote the most aflectionate letters to the constable, request-
ing his presence, as a vassal peer of Bretagne, at a parliament whicli he
h^ summoned to meet at Vannes, where his duchess was then holding
her court at the castle Dc la Motte.*

Suspecting no ill, the constable came with other nobles and knights
to attend this parliament The duke gave a grand dinner to the barons
of BreUgne, at his castle De la Motte, and entertained them with an ap-
pearance of the most aifectionate hospitality till a late hour. The con-
stable of France* then invited the duke and the same company to dine

' Nouv<»au Dictionnnirc lli»t(iritjue. Dom Morice. Cliron. dc Brotngne.

■MSS. process again!*! the king of Navarre, quoted by Outltrie. Guthrie calls
Joanna, by mistake, Mary.

•FroisiarL *Ibid. Cbroniques de Bretagne. *FroiiMirt *IbkL

4*

I
I

i

M JOAHNAOFNAVABBI.

with liim on the folluwing day. The tluke accepleO ihe invilaliaB mf
frankly, and behnveil in ihe most friendly oiBnn«r. seauog himtdT
■Riuiig ihe gneeiB, wiih whom he ale, drank, and convrrseil, with «*viy
appearance of good'WlU. When ihe repast wsa concludcnU br intiwil
the cnnalable Clisnon, the lord de Beaumanoir, and some otlien, tn
come with him and see the impTDvements made by him at hi« Bne mile
of Erndne. wtiich he had nearly rebuilt and greatly beaaliiinl, oa ibe
occasion of his late marriage with the princess of Navarre.

The duke's behaviour had been so gracious and winning, that bis iB-
vilaiion was frankly accepted, aud ihe unsuspecting noblira accMnfanid
him on horseback to the casUe. When they arrived, the duke^ dw mi>
•table, anil the lords Laval and Beaumanoir dismouritcid, am) tirgta U
view the apartments. The duke led the cimstnble by the hand fiota
chamber to chamber, arid even into the cellars, where witie was oflntd.
When iliey reached the entrance of ihe keep, the duke paused, tni in-
vjied Clisson to enter and examine the construction of the timkliag,
while he remained in conversation with lord de L^val.'

The constable entered the lower alone, and ascended ilie ftaitoM.
When he had passed ihe first floor, some armed men, who bad btn
ambushed there, shut the door below, seised him, dragged him iltton
aparimeni, and loaded him with three pair of fellers. As they wtn
putting iliem on. they said, ''My lord, forgive what we Kre daJDf,&r
we are compelled lo this by the authority of ihe duke of firclafne."

When the lord de Xjimi, who was at ihe entrance of iJie tower, IkwJ
the door shut with violence, he was afraid of some plot asainH hk to-
ther-in-law, the constable ; and, turning to the duke, who Indtad M
pale a> death, was confirmed that something wrong waa tnteiided. ni
cried QuL ''Ah .' niy lord, for God's sake, what are they.doiug ? Do niX
use any violence againut the constable."

''' Lord de Laval," said the duke, '^ mount your liorse, and gu boa*
while you may ; 1 know very well what I am aboni.''"

" My lord." raid Laval, " 1 will never depart without my btolhtrHO-
law. the constable."

Then came the lord de Beaumanoir, whom the duke greatly hMi.
and naked, " Where ihe constable was ?'' The duke, driving liii ih^
ger, adranced lo him and said, " fieauiunnoir, dosi thou wish to be At
ihy master?"

'' My lord," replied Benumanoir, " I cannot believe my nwater to bl
otherwise than in good plight."

" 1 ask thee again, il' ihou wouldest wish to be like
the duke.

" Yes, my lord," replied Beaumanoir.

" Well, then, Beaumanoir," said ihe duke, holding lh« dae^
him by the point, "since ihou wouldest heUke him, thou inui
out one of thine eyes.'"

This malignant taunt on the personal defect of the roiuit«h|ft. ..
ing, as il donbllesa ilid, from the jealous ire that was boiling ■ hh

'Fnii«nut. 'lUiL

JOANNA OF NATARRB. 4B

bmsU came with a worse grace from the angreteful duke, since Cli&son
had lost his eye while fighting bravely in his cause at the battle of
Aaray. The lord de Beaumanoir, seeing from the expression of the
dnke^s countenance that things were taking a bad turn, cast himself on
his knee, and began to expostulate with him on the treachery of hi&
conduct towards the constable and himself.

^ Go, go !'' interrupted the duke ; " thou shalt hare neither better nor
worse than he." He then ordered Beaumanoir to be arrested,' dragged
into another room, and loaded with fetters, his animosity against him
almost equalling his hatred to Clisson.

The duke then called to him the Sieur Bazvalen, in whom he had the
greatest confidence, and ordered him to put the constable to death at
midnight, as privately as possible. Bazvalen represented in vain the
perilous consequences that would ensue ; but the duke said, ^ he had
resolved upon it, and would be obeyed.'^ During the night, however,
hia passion subsiding^ he repented of having given such orders, and at
daybreak sent for Bazvalen, and asked ^^ if his directions had been
obeyed P'^ ' On being answered in the affirmative, he cried out, ^ How !
it Clisson dead ?"

^ Yes, my lord^ he was drowned last night,' and his body is buried
in the garden," said Bazvalen.

^ Alas !" replied the dVike, ^ this is a most pitiful good-morrow. Be*
gone, Messire Jehan, and never let me see you more !"

As soon as Bazvalen had retired, the duke abandoned himself to ago-
nies of remorse ; he groaned and cried aloud in his despair, till his
■quires, valets, and oflicera of the household, flew to his succour, sup-
posing he was suffering intense bodily pain, but no one dared to speak
to him, and he refused to receive food. Bazvalen, being informed of his
alate, returned to him, and said, ^ My lord, as I know the cause of your
misery^ I believe I can provide a remedy, since there is a cure for all
things."

^ Not for death," replied the duke.

E>azvalen then told him, that, foreseeing the consequences and the
lemorse he would feel if the blind dictates of his passion had been
obeyeil, he had not executed his commands, and that the constable was
•till alive.

^ What, Messire Jehan ! is he not dead ?" exclaimed the duke, and,
fclling on Bazvalen's neck, embraced him in an ecstasy of joy. The
lord de Laval, then entering, renewed his supplications for the life of his
brother-in-law Clisson, reminding the duke, in a very touching manner,
of the early friendship that had subsisted between them when they were
educated together in tlie same hotel with the duke of Lancaster, and
what good service Clisson had since done him at the battle of Auray ;
and ended with imploring the duke to name any ransom he pleased for
his intended victim.^

*Finssnrt. 'Dom Morice's History of Bretagne.

* Ibia. A prisoner could be quietly drowned in bis dungeon by letung in the
Wmtert of the inoaL * FiovMiiXX.

lile."

Clisson and Bean mane
and plenty of provisions
had kept fast as wfll as ^
murderous ire of John ll
ful feelings wliich had d
crime had been perpetrat
expected plunder as the
been fruaranteed as the p

In four davs^ time the
constable by the lords de

w

was put into possession •
selin, and Le Blanc, and
exchequer ;* but, like m<
were of little ultimate ad

The arrest of the cons
the efTect of averting tlie
As he was the commandc
armament, some of whon
their men to disband thei
from his perilous but bi
whole force had melted a

Clisson carried his coi
general feeling of indign
of Bretagne^s conduct oi
whose invidious feelings
glance at her as the prom

JOAKNAOFNAVAKBE. 45

lad him in his power." ' Thn duke's insolpiii reply lo the BuibaESBtlnra
wu ('•'owvd by a declaratioti of war from France. -He expecl«il no-
thing less," Mys FroiesarL, " but his hatred a^insi Clisson was so great
tli&t ii deprived him of ihc use of his reason." ' In fact, the frantic
lentil* lo which ihis feeling carried him can only he accounted for on
die grounds of the jeatoiwy which the incendiary insinuniiona of iha
lale king of Navarre had excited in his mind. The conduct of th«
duch^s? was, howerer, so prudent and irreproachable, that no p«rt of
th«w niigry and suspicious feelings were directed against her. She »p-
pears, Irom first to last, to have enjoyed the undivided affection »nd
micrai of licr lord. During this siorniy period, she continued to rnids
with him at iJie strong castle of De la Motte -, but they tieldoni ventured
beyond the walls nf Vannes, for fear of ambuscades. The duke garri-
soned and vicluniled the principal towns and castles in his dominion!,
ud eatered into a strict alliance with the young king of Navarre. Joan-
na** bfoiJier, whom he promised lo Eissist in recovering his Norman
dmninions, if he would unite with him and the English against tlie
French.'

In diB midst of these troubles, Joanna was delivered of her first-bom
child at the castle of Names, — a daughter, who was baptized by thd
tmhnp of Vsnnes, and received the name of Joanna.' The infant only
■arrived a few months. The grief of the youthful duchess, for this
bcrnrement, was at length mitigated by a second prospect of her bring-
ing an heir to her childless lord's dominions; but the sniicipalions 6f
Uiis joyful event were clouded by the ^oomy aspect of the affkirs of
Bmta^e, the duke having involved himself in a fearful predicament with
Tnxict.

The council of the duke strongly urged the necessity of peace with
Tnace. Among other arguments, they represented the situation of the
daehess, saying. — ^Your lady is now far advanced in her pregnancy,
mil you should pay attention that she be not alarmed; and as to hn
brother, he can give you but little support, for he has enough lo da
himself.*' The council concluded by imploring him to make peace with
the lord of Clisson.

The duke waa much struck, on hearing this reasoniug. and remained
•Mne lime leaning over a window that opened into a court. His council
were standing behind him. Afler some musing, he turned round and
Mid, "Huh- can I ever love Oliver de Clisson, when the thing I moal
itpeni of in this world is not putting him to death, when I had hiia in
my casile of Ermine ?'"

Stubborn and headstrong as the duke waa, the fear of agitating his
ymmg consort decided him. at last, to yield an ungracious submission to
Ml auMtrain. Accordingly he went to Paris, and performed his long
wMibeld homage to Charles VI., and the feudal service of pouring water
inio a golden Inain, and holding the napkin for the king to wash.* All

i

I

I
I

iiiliiiicy mill cliililtiooJ <

. lull ilie French monarch tal^

i>iit of confide rati on for liuirkiai-
. M I houl takiug any rery decided [wl
V U-. (J her iiiliuence for the puTpoM of
ulil liuve been placed in a siiuaum nf
liic presiding over a court ho torn t
rrne.as the consort of a prince olileDoaib
I iif fo violent and irascible a loBpn

L' ■ he was always involriug hinucK

r iilhcr. Yet the coinbalive ilisp^

~. .inily csciie our wonder, whet

■ lilts niid the stormy scenes in wi

I passed. He might have nid <

n bncklcr, and fell [mai a blade."

iiitrlil fiirih in his nurseV arms, amidst iW

,!;i- lliB partisans of his father's title to

. or [il;ireil in hin cradle on the ramparts of Hnux-

iiibli! dcfuiire of that place by his mother, Ma^mi

riiii- the

ui<TS.

viiilcnt temper of thi' diikt? ajip

o have been chieflp eierciwd

JOANNA OF NAVABRB. 47

the nii^h nnk and importance of these envoys, that, suspecting they in-
tended to appeal to his nobles against his present line of conduct, he
detennined^ in violation of those considerations which in all ages have
lendcred the persons of ambassadors sacred, to arrest them all, and keep
them as hostages till he had made his own terms with France.' Le
Moinn de St. Denis, a contemporary historian, declares ^ he heard this
from the very lips of the ambassadors, who related to him the peril from
which they escaped, through the prudence of Joanna.'^ Fortunately for
all parties, it happened that her younger brother, Pierre of Navarre, was
at the court of Nantes, and, being apprised of the duke's design, hastened
to Joanna, whom he found at her toilet, and confided to her the alarm-
ing project then in agitation.

Joanna, who was then in hourly expectation of the birth of her fourth
child, immediately perceived the dreadful consequences that would re-
sult from such an unheard-of outrage. She took her infants in her arms,
and flew to the duke's apartment, half-dressed as she was, with her hair
loose and dishevelled, and throwing herself at his feet, bathed in tears,
conjured him, ^for the sake of those tender pleflges of their mutual
love, to abandon the rash design that passion had inspired, which, if
persisted in, must involve himself and all belonging to him in utter
rain."'

•The duke, who had kept his design a secret from his wife, was sur*
prised at the manner of her address. After an agitated pause, he said —
^ Lady, how you came by your information, I know not ; but, rather
than be tlie cause of such distress to you, I will revoke my order.'"
Joanna then prevailed on him to meet the ambassadors in the cathedral
die next day, and aflerwards to accompany them to Tours, where the
king of France gave him a gracious reception, and induced him to renew
his homage, by promising to unite his second daughter Joanna of France
with die heir of Bretagne.

High feasts and rejoicings celebrated the reconciliation of the duke of
Bretagne with the king of France, and the treaty for the marriage between
their children. On this occasion, the choleric duke condescended, at
die table o( the king of France, to dine in company with his rival, John
of Bretagne ; but not even there would he meet sir Oliver Clisson,^ so
tnie is it that the aggressor is more difficult to conciliate than the injured
puty. This vindictive spirit on the part of the duke, next betrayed him
nto the dishonourable proceeding of extending his protection to sir
Peter Craon, a(\er a base attempt to assassinate the constable in the Place
de Sl Katherine.

The king of France was much exasperated, when he heard tliat Craon
was sheltered by tlie duke of Bretagne, and wrote a peremptory demand
for him to be given up to justice. The royal messengers found the
duke at his casde of Ermine with his duchess, and were civilly enter-
Hined. The duke positively denied any knowledge of Craon ; but the

* Dom Morice. Moxemi.

* La Moiiio de Sl Denis, p. 257. Actes de Bretagae. MexenL Dom Moriofi
*Argciiue. Chronicles of Bretagne. Meienu. * iftovMArv

iici»am»aiiv uie aijvaiiiai^e
successes not neces^•ary ic
and silver plate belonging
jewels and other precious
war against them; and, t
country, there was not a Bi
ai^inst Clisson. At length
sounder politician than her
uaderstanding with some oi
The viscount Rohan, her agi
the son of her aunt, Jane o

The duke of Bretagne ha
that surrounded him. He fe
dren were very young, and.
gundy, there was not a frier
wife and her infants. As
duchess sprang, the wicket
remarkably unpopular in
hatred of sir Oliver de Cliss
to be united against his hoi
case of his decease, be left \

Having pondered these it
advice from his council, ca
chamber, he gave a large sht
shall dictate.' ' The secrets
repeated every word that be
the most friendly terms to C

for lKonr» *r\ n%^n* •— U^

^

JOAN !<

ined the private ei^el of ihe ijitke, which
Um letter, and read it Iwo or three timen ovet. and wa« miirh astoiii*lied
■I the Trieiidly luid alTcctionate terms in which ii was compounded.
After niuaini; some time, he told the varlet he would consider his antwer,
■nd ordered him to be conducted to an apartment by biniseir. The>
attendnnis o( the lord of Clisson were amazed ai what they saw usl'
hmnl, for never before had any one come from the duke of Brelagnc^
withfiul Iwing mured in the deepest dungeon.'

Otsson wrote, in return, that if the duke wished lo see hiin, he mUMt
■end Uis son as a pled^, who would be taken the greatest enre of tiU>
faia return. This letter was sealed and given to the varlet, who hnstened
bwk to the duke at Vannes. On receiving the letter from the lord of'
Clisson, he paused after reading it, then exclaimed —

"I will do it: for, since 1 mean to treat amicably with him, every
CMiM of distrust must be removed." He then said to the viscount
Rohu). ** Viscount, you and the lord de Monboucher shall carry my
little aon lo the chateau Josseliu, and bring back with you the lord tie
ClisBon, for I am determined to make up our quarrel." Some day*,
however, elapsed before tlie duchess could resolve to purl with her boy.
At length, her eumest desire of composing the strife overcame h^r
matenial fears, and she permitted her kinsman. Kolian, lo conduct the
pnncely child to castle Josselin. When Clisson saw the boy, and per-
c«iv«d the confidence the duke had placed in htm, he was much aflected.

The result was, thai he and the duke's envoy set out together from
caaile Josselin, carrying the boy with them, for sir Oliver said — "He
would give him back to his parents, as henceforth he should never dia-
inul the dnke, after the trial he had made of him." Such generosity
was ehown on both sides, that it was no wonder tt firm peace was the
eoDMquence. Sir Oliver dismounted at the convent of Dominicans, the
plmce where the interview was appointed to take place. When the duke
of Drelagne found that sir Oliver had brought back his son, he was
higMy delighted with his genen>aily and courteBv, and, hastening to the
convent, shut himself up in a chamber with sir Oliver. Here they con-
versed some time; then they went privately down the garden, and
entered a small boat that conveyed them to ati empty ship anchored in
the river, and, when at a distance from their people, they conferred fat
B long time. Their friends thought all the time they were conversing
^.ia Ihe convent-chamber. When they had arranged all mailers ihw
^^anvily. they called their boatman, who rowed them to the church of

^

I

4

I Domitricans, which they entered by a private door through the

D and cloisters, the duke holding sir Oliver by the hand all the
All who saw them thus were well pleased ; indeed, the whole of
BiMagnc was made very happy when this peace was made public; but.
»wing to the extreme precautions of the duke, no one knew what passed
iuring the conference on the river.

Such is the very interesting account given by Frojsmrt, of t)ie ri
nliation of these two deadly enemies. The Breton chroniclers w

I uie recoo'^H
ers attribu^^^l

I

I

H JOARNAOFKAVAKRS.

the paciiiration wholly lo the iiilluence of Joanna, aii appliniifia fannf
been niaile in lier bv vUcnunt Itohan, itie husband of tier nuni, ptayiw
her gooil offices in roedialiiig a peaco belwcen bcr lonl Slid the km
peers of firem^e. In coinplianre with ihis request, she {irevaileil w
the duke to raise ilie aiei^ of Jossalin, anil to make those coaecaioni ts
Cliason which produced the happy result of putting an fnd to the eiiil
war.' Clisson agreed to pay ten thousand franca of gold la the dokf.
and, with ihe rest of the Btelon barons, associated the diirhens of tin-
tague in the Rolemn oaths of hom;^ which tliey renewed to lliriT
sovereign, on the 28th of December, 13S3, at Nantes.*

In the name year proposals of marriage were made by Joanna's (utun
husband, Henry of Lancaster, earl of Derby, to her uie^re, the yonof
princess of Navarre, but the n^oliation came to nothing.*

The following year, Marie of Bretagne, Joanna's eldest dnochter. wii
contracted to the eldest son of this prince, (alierwards Henry V.) The
duke of Breiagne engaged to give Marie one hundml and &ity ikamni
francs in gold for her porlinn. "The caslle of Brest, ihoi^ al dM
lime in the jiossession of the English, was, at the especial desire at ilM
duchess Joanna, appointed for the solemnisation of the nupu»l«. and ^
residence of rhe youthful pair ; but afitT the ccssioo of this
town had been guaranteeil by Richard II., the king of France
to break the marriage, by inducing the heir of Alenqon to afkt U> miRy
the princess, with a smaller duwer than the lieir of Ijuicasier wtt ui
hare received with her."'

Marie was espoused to John of Alengon, June 26th, 1 396. and i
peculiar animosity always subsisted between her huabiind and iliB
defrauded Henry of Moimiouib. The heir of Brelngne was married tu
Jitenna of France the same year. I^eviously to this cereniaDyi il»
young bridegroom received the sacrament of confinnsiiou Irum Hnuy
bishop of Vunne-s, and, according to the wish of his father, cxcjiangiil
llie name of Peter for that of John. The espousals were soleiiinistd (t
the hotel de St. Paul, by the archbishop of Rouen, in the prcsMiasfths
king and queen of France, the queen of Sicily, Ihe duke Mid dacbnsitf
Breiagjie, and the dukes of Berri and Burgundy, Joanna's undn.

The duke of Bretagne undertook a voyage to England, in I396il0
induce king Richard to restore to him the earldom of Richmoad, wkkk
liad been granted by Richard II. to his lint queen, Aune ut Bcbtmm
and, Bt\er her deatli, to Jane of Bretagne, the sister of the duke, who
was married to Raoul Basset, an English knigfaL Kicbnrd iL reaiMii
Ihe enrldom to the dnke, and gave htm an scquiilance of ell his debu (o
id the duke did the same by him at Windsor, HH6 of April, 139)9.
lime," says Dom Morice, with some na<eft^.'' that these prim*
should settle Lheir accounia together, for the one wan oii the pginlaf
deposition, the other, of death."

It was in the following year that Joanna first becanis act|uutited with
ber second liusband, Ueniy of Bolingbroke, during the period of ki*

•Dom

nf to j

1

JOAHHA OF XATAMBB* 51

btnishment iirom his native land. Henrv was not only one of the most
accom[di8hed warriors and statesmen of the age in which he hved, but
remarlutble for his fine person and graceful manners. The vindictiire
jealousy of his cousin, Richard II. of England, had pursued him to the
eourt of France, and exerted itself successfully to break the matrimonial
engagements, into which he was about to enter, with the lady Marie of
Bern, the daughter of Charies Vl.'s uncle. This princess was cpusin-
gennan to Joanna, and in all probability was the object of Henry's affec*
lion, if we may form conclusions, from the bitterness with which he evei
appears to have recurred to Richard's arbitrary interference, for the pre-
vention of this marriage.

Charles VI. of France, though he entertained a personal friendship for
Henry, whom he regarded as an ill-treated man, had reluctantly requested
him to withdraw from his court, as his residence there was displeasing
to Richard II. Henry then turned his steps towards Bretagne; but,
aware of the intimate connexion which subsisted between the duke and
Richard, he paused at the castle of Blois, and sent one of the knigh^ of
ham train forward to announce his approach to the court of Vanncs, and
10 ascertain the nature of the recqytion the duke might be disposed to
give him.

John the Valiant, according to Froissart, was piqued at the mistrust
ioiplied by this proceeding on the part of Henry ; ^ for,'' says that his-
tonan, ^ he was much attached to him, having always loved the duke
of Lancaster, his fiither, better than the other sons of Edward HI. ^ Why,'
Mud he to the knight, ^ has our nephew stopped on the road ? It is fool-
irii, for there is no knight whom I would so gladly see in Bretagne as
my lair nephew, the eui of Derby. Let him come and find a hearty
wdcome ." " ' When the eari of Derby received this message, he imme-
diately set forward for the dominions of the duke of Bretagne. The
dake of Bretagne' met the earl at Nantes, and received him and his com-
pany with great joy. It was on this occasion that Henry first saw, and,
if the chronicles of Bretagne may be relied on, conceived that esteem for
the dochess Joanna, which afterwards induced him to become a suitor
for her hand. We find he was accustomed to call the duke of Bretagne
^ his good uncle," in memory of his first marriage with Mary of Elng-
hnid;^and it i9 very probable that, in accordance with the manners of
thoee times, he addrnsed the duchess Joanna, in courtesy, by the tide
of annt The archbishop of Canterbury accompanied Henry to the
ooiirt of Bretagne incognito, having just arrived from England with an
Invitation to him from the Londoners and some of the nobles attached
to his party, urging him to invade England, for the ostensible purpose
of claiming his inheritance, the duchy of Lancaster.

Henry repeated this in confidence to the duke of Bretagne, and re-
quested his advice. ^ Fair nephew," replied the duke, ^ the stiaightest
toad is the sorest and best : you are in a perplexing situation, and ask
advice — I would have you trust the Londoners. They are powerful,
and will canpd king Rwhard, who, I understand, has treated you un-

'PioisMrt. •Ibid. UVMi.

JOAKH A

OF KAVABIB.

im. Tim

jnilly, to do as ihey please. I will assist you with vessels, mciMHnfc
anil croas-bow9. Tou shall be conveyeil to the Bhorea of EofUod ia
my ships, and my people shall defend you from any pents yog my
encounter on the »Qyage." '

Whether Henry was indebted lo the good offices oT the dndieHJomn
for i)iis favourable reply from the duke, history has not reconleil. BmI,
as John the Valiant had hitherto been the fast frieod, and, as &rM fait
ilisatlected nobles would permit, the faithful ally of his rojU b
law, Ricliard II., and now that his suzerain, Charles VI. of Fnnc
united in the closest bonds of amity with that prince, and the j
heir of Bretagne was espoused to the sister of his queen, it oiai
been some very powerful influence, scarcely less iadeed than ih
quence of a bosom counsellor, that could have induced hint to fll
Richard's mortal foe with the means of invading England. Tbi __
veyances of >* aspiring Lancaster" were, however, prepared U Vtf
and the duke of Bretagne came thither with his guest, when all ihi
were ready for his departure.* Henry was conveyed by ihrM of the
duke's vessels of war. freighted with meo-ai-anns and croaa-bom. This
royal adventurer, tlie banished Lancaster, appears to have been to J
who gave lo ihe mgosotU anenms, or " forget-me-not," "
c and poetic meaning, by uniting it, at the period of his f
his collar of SS, with the initial letter of his mot, or waiehwonl, ^
veigiK-vous de moy;" thus rendering it the symbol of reinemlnanutfl
like the subsequent fatal roses of York, Lancaster, and Stuart, the IQy
of Bourbon, and the violet of Napoleon, en historical flower. PoeU
and lovers have adopted the sentiment, which makes the blue nivaaolit
plead the cauae of the absent, by the eloquence of its popular nukb
" Porget-me-not." Few indeed of those who, at parting, exchanp this
simple touching appeal to memory are aware of the fact, that il wsi 6m
used as such by a royal Planiagenet prince, who was, pociiapa, indditNJ
to the agency of this mystic blossom for the crown of EngUod/ Wr
know not if Henry of Lancaster presented a myotolit to the duetwM o(
Brelagne, at his departure from the court of Vannea, but he aflbnlsda
convincing proof, that his fair hostess was not forgotten by h'<% when
a proper season arrived for claiming her remembrance.

The assistance rendered by the duke of Bretagne to ilie futniv hat-
band of hia consort, was not the lost important action of his life, lit
was, ai that time, in declining health, and had once more iavolred ium-
sell' in disputes with Clisson and his perty. Qisaon's daughter, Mifg^
ret, countess de Penthievres, being a woman of an ambitious aikd 4tWf
spirit, was perpetually urging her husband and failter to set up the rinl

I title of the house of Blois to the duchy of Bretagne, and is accused bf
Alain BouchanI, and other of the Breton chroniclers, of havitw b
the death of John the Valiant, by poison or sorcery.
:

I

■ Froiswrl.

■ WillMiien:'!
I P 117

Regal Heralclrf, p. 43. Anstia'a Oidn of tliar

JOAHHA OF HATABBB. 53

The doke was carefully attended by Joanna in hia dying illness. By
a codicil to his last will and testament, which he had made during his
iaie Tisit to England, he confirms her dower and all his former gifts to
his beloved companion, the duchess Joanna,' whom, with his eldest son
John, count de Montfort, the bishop of Nantes, and his cousin the lord
Montauban, he nominates his executors. The document concludes witli
these words : ^ In the absence of others, and in the presence of our said
companion the duchess, this codicil is signed, 26th day of October,
1399. Dictated by our said lord the duke from his sick bed, and given
under his seal in the castle tower, near Nantes, about the hour of ves-
pers, in the presence of the duchess ; Gile, a knight ; Master Robert
Brocherol, and Joanna Chesnel, wife of Guidones de Rupeforte. Writ-
ten by J. de Ripe, notary, at the castle at Nantes.^"

On the 1st of November, 1399, the duke breathed his last; and Jo-
anna having been appointed by him as regent for their eldest son, the
young duke, with the entire care of his person, assumed the reins of
government in his name.' Her first public act, after the funeral of her
deceased lord had been solemnised in the cathedral church of Nantes,
was a public reconciliation with sir Oliver Clisson, with his son-in-law,
coont de Penthievres, and the rest of the disafi^ted nobles, who had
been at open variance with her deceased lord.^ She employed the pre-
lates, and some of the most prudent of the nobles of Bretagne, to medi-
ate Uiis pacification ; and, after many journeys and much negotiation,
concessions were made on both sides, and Clisson, with the rest of the
malcontents, swore to obey, the widowed duchess, during the minority
of their young duke, her son. This treaty was signed and sealed at the
castle of Blein, January 1, 1400.* Gisaon^s power in the duchy was so
great, owing to his vast possessions there, his great popularity, and his
infiuence as constable of France, that he might have been a most formi-
dable enemy to the young duke, if the duchess-regent had not taken
such laudable pains to conciliate him.'

'In the year 1395, a very rich addition to the dower of Joanna was assi^ed
by the duke, her husband. Chron. de Bretagne. Dom Morice.

* Preuvei Historiques. ■ Actes de Bretagne.

' Cliron. de Bretagne. Preuves Hist *Actos de Bretagne.

'Alain Bouchard gives a very interesting account of Clisson 's conduct when
tempted by bis daughter Marguerite, the wife of the ri\'al claimant of the duchy,
to destroy the infant family of tlie late duke when the death of that prince had
IrA their destinies, in a great measure, in his hands. Marguerite, having heard
iSnt the duke of Burgundy, the uncle of the duchess Joanna and tlie king of
France, was likely to have the guardianship of the duchy and of die perMns, of
the princely minors, flew to the apartment of her father, exclaiming in great agi-
laiion-— ^ My lord, my father! it now depends on you, if ever my husband reco-
ver his inheritance! We have such beautiful chiUlren, I be^eech you to assist
U4 fuT their takes." " What is it you would have me do ?" said Clisvon. "Can
yna not slay the children of the false duke, before the duke of Burgundy can
come to Bretagne?'* replied she. "Ah, cruel and perverse woman!'' exclaime<l
her &ther, with a bur^t of virtuous indignation ; ** if thou livest longer, thou wilt
be the caose of involving thy children in iniamy and ruin.*' And drawing his
sword, in the first transports of his wrath he would have slain her on the tpoc,

I

i

6-i 30ATIKA OF nAVAKRB.

IVhen Joaniia ]ind exereiseil the sovereign anihorilr as rvgent fer ber
son a year and u half, the young iluke, accompanied by hM, nwlr bti
solemn entmncc inio Rennes, !klarcli 22, 1401, and look thn raihi in
the presence of his prclaies and Dohlee. having entered his iweifth year.
He then proceeded to the catheJtat, and, according to the ruaWm <rf'the
dukes, his predecessora, passed the night in prayer before the gmialor
ol' Si. Peter. On the morrow, having heard mass, he was hni^hied br
ClisHon, and then conlerred knighthood on his younger brothm, Atlhw
aadJulos; arter whieli he was invested with the ducal hatni, drtlM.
and swoi'd, by his prelates and nobles, and carried in procesaioo thm^
ihe city.

When the ecclesiastical ceremony was ended, the young dtike modBted
his horse, and, attended by his nobles, relumeil to llie castle of RenMi,
where a royal banquet had been prepared under the auspices of dH
duchess-regent.'

Joanna put her son in possession of \he duchy at so tender mi tft,
SB a preliminary to her union with Henry [V., who had been in a gnU
measure indebted to the good offices of her late lord for hia elentioi U
ihe throne of England. Henry had been for some years a widowtr;
his tirel wife was Mary de Bohun, the co-heiress of the earl of Ilertfonl.
lord-constable of England.'

Joonna, to whom tlie proposal of a union with this prince appnn in
have been peculiarly agreeable, being aware that a serious obstacle tiiiiHl
on the important subject of religion, kept the a^r a profound teaUt
till she could obtain from the pope of Avignon a genemi dispCRsatioB H
marry any one whom she pleased, within the fourth degree of coimB-
guinity, without naming the person;' Henry ^who had bt-eti cdocaKd
in Wickliffiie principles), being at that time attached to the pany t-f
Boniface, the pope of Home, or the ami-pope, as he was styled by liiosc
who denied his authority.

iftlie liad not fled precipiatplf from his pi9firnD«. "Sh* did not w)K>l)r«E>r*
ptinisbmi-al," adds Ihe olironicrffi, " for in licr fKgtil rhe fell, md biste bo
ihigh-bonc, of which the was Inme for the lesl of her life."'

'Atain Bouchard. Dom Morice.

*She wiu gr«B.i-giBnd<ditugtiier to Edwkrd I., and Eleanors of CoMiUr, ml lt«
riclien heiieu in Englaod, exceptiog her ainer, who was manrisd to Htv^'t
uncle. Glouceiter. She hud poucfsions lo the amoDni of Ibriy thonnnd na6)n
per annum, arising Itoiii sereral eaildoms and toionief. She was ^ettmi » >
conTenruai life hj her iniere«ted broihrr-in-law. who hod her in miniltlufs M
evaded that deslinr by marrying Henry of Lancasier, who, bjr tbo raamnv*
Of her aunt, carried ber olT fhim Pleahy. and marriHl her. 13M. 5h« dM U
tiie blooRi of life in 1394, leaving six infants — namely, tbo renowfisd Jirrlh > -
Thomai duke of Clarence. John duke of Bedford, tegem of Frjy -'■ -- • " -
phrey dake of Glouoeiier, pRxector of England ; Blanche, lanrn' '
Palatine, and Pfallippn, lo Eric, king of Denmark, the unworthy i.
Waldemar. It was ftom Mary Bohun that Henry derived hi> ■■-
Hereford, Tbough her decease happened «o many years before li: ■
the royal digni-y he cameil masses lo be said for the icpose Of her
Ihe tiiie of qucei. Mary, by tlie monks of Siira Abbey, wb)«h ha C
*-- eamc to the thnne of l^nglan-!.

Lobioetk'i. Preuvc» U»t. ^ fim^k^ua.

JOAKK A OF K AV

IBRI.

^ ITa agents ofgotiateJ tliis ditHcull arrangement so tdtoiily, that
p'bull was execuiei], aci-ordtn^ lo lipf desire, Murrh 'iO, 1403, without

■ •ligbtcsi suapiciou being eiilcrUiineil, by [lie oriho<li<x court of Avig-
I, liiHi llie schtsmaiic kiug of England was die mysierious peraon,
liin the forbidden degrees of coiiHtDguiiuty, whom Benedict had
uingly grauted ihe duchess-dowager of Brelagiie liberty lo espoui

la had thus ouiivilled her pope, she despatched a Uw
Mire of her houschnhl, named Antoine Kiczi, to conclude her ireit
f maniage with king Henry. After tlie articles of iliis
kUiAJQce were signed, Joanna and her royal bridegroom were espousi
by procur«tion, at the palace of Elthnm. on the third Jay of April, U(
Antoine Rieai acting as ihe proxy of the bride.' W'hal motive coi
h«Te induced the lovely widow of John the Vatianl of Breiague lo
choose a male representative on thU interesting uccasiuni ii is difficult
lo say i but it is certain that Henry promised lo lake his august jiancit
I wife in the person of the said Antoine Ricii, to whom he plighted
]^ nuptial troth,' and on his finger he placed the bridal ring.* This act
ft performed wiili gieai solemniiy in the presence of the archbUhop
LChiiierbury, the king's hall' brothers, (he Beaufort princes, the e«tl oif
Btcester, lord-chamberlain of England, and other uiticers of state.'
Ricxi had previously produced a letter from the iluchess Joanna em'
pering bitn to contract nutnmony with the king of England in her
; on which die trusty squire, having received king Henry's plight,
uncnl that of Joanna in these words : —
F* I, Antoine Riczi, in the person of my worshipful lady, dame Joanna,

I daiiehter of Charles, lately king of Kavarre, duchess of Bretagne,
3 of Richmond, lake you, Henry of Lancasler, king of Eng-

ktnl and loni of Ireland, to my husband, and thereto I, Antoine, in the
spirit of my said lady, plight you my troth.'"

No sooner was this ceremony concluded than the rigid canonists
eseoied to Joanna, that she would commit a deadly sin by complex
{ her marriage with a pritice attached to the communion of pope Boar-
The case, however, not being without precedent, the court of
n thought it hctt«r to quiet the conscience of ibe duchess, thinking
il possible that great advaiiiages might be derived from her forming an
alliance with the king of England; whose religious principles hod
hitlierlo been any thing but stable.' She obtained, July 23, permtasioa
of Iter pope to live with the schismatic catholics, and even outwardly la
' ' o them by receiving the sacraments from thrir hands. proviiM'

II ahe nunained firmly attached to the party of Benoit XIH.'
Meantime tlie court of France beheld with alarm lite proceedings

■ dnchess. apprehending, and with reason, that it was her intention
/ het children with her to England, and to attach them to ilie inter-

I of ihejr royal step-father. The duke of Burgundy, who, at tliU

-I

ca. ■ Dom Monro. Chran ds Brpisgns

' Aru of the Privy Council, tijr tli lUm* Nieolm
Hir. d'! Brtcitgiia. ' MS. Clii

Ida

%

J

i, had the principal direction of the gorerntneni of FraaMilt
thai lo counietact king Henry's policy, il noiilJ he Tiecrwwrr ftr
n person to BreUi^iie. He proceeded to Nanips na ibr II
October. The duchess, having heard of his arrival, inriteO him lo
ner, and reg^ed him sumptuously. The iluke, on hii pnrl, hanaf p^
jmna a treat of a more impurianl kind for the duchess, preseuted Iwr,a
the coDclnsion of the repast, with a rich crown and a sceptre of o^lhl,
&na another of gold, onumented with pearls and precious aioaM. Hi
gave the yoang duke a buckle of gold, adorned with rubies and pMilii
a beautiful diamond, and a number of silver vessels. To each ti Ui
litile brothers, Arthur earl of Kirhmoiid. »nd count Jules of BrenpiA
he presented a collar of gold, enriched with rubies and pearls. He pm
the countess of Rohan, Joanna's aunt, a splendid diamond ; anil a bwkk
to each of her ladies and damsels who were present. The lonl* in-
wailing and officers of the duchess's household, were not fnrgotlto it
this magnificent disiributiua of largKues, in which the duke espondid

These discreet gifi-i entirely gained the heart of the duclwM, of tbt
princes, her children, of her lords and officers, but, above &11, of llai
most influential coterie, the ladies of her court and bedchamber. ThPf
were sure he would be ihc best person in the world to defend the ri^H
and protect the person of their young duke, and to dilTuse luppuwM and
prosperity among his subjects ; and they besought hiul lo uniieftake ikt
guardiuuKJiip of the roynl ndtiors, and their patrimony.

The duke accepted this charge as the nearest rcUiioa of the d
of bis friend and kinsman, the late duke, and ihe uncle of th« di
and awore upon the holy evangelists lo preserve faithfnUjr tbi
liberties, and privileges of the Bretons. The duchess, having htaa tho-
roughly persuaded how much better il would be, fur the inleresia of fas
children to leave them tinder the care of this pnwerful protector, Au M
atieoBie the afii^ctioni of the people of Bretagne, by laking tbem lo &if-
land, subscribed lo the treaty.'

After the duchess had confided the g'uardianxhip nf her children Utk
duke of Burgundy, he departed from Nantes for Paris on the U of If»
veinber, I40U, after a stay of two months, taking witli him the fouag
duke and his two brothers, Arthur and Jules. The duke was naif it
his thirteenth year, and the younger princes so small, that (lury raid
scarcely guide the liorse on which they were mounted, one brtinJ till
other. They were conilucted by tlie duke of Burgundy to Parcu wIm*
the young duke of Breiagne performed his homage to Chario VLcf
France. Joanna had another son. nameil Richard, an infant, who is not
mentioned in ilie Breton ChrontcU's as forming one of ihis p^riy.*

One of Joanna's lasi actions as duchess of Bretagne woa to mcor tn
her aunt, Jane of Navarre, ilie wife of ihe Viscouiii Rohan, a pcawM rf
1000/. per year, out of the rents of hei dower cilv and county of NmM-
Thii deed, which is printed in the Ktedcra, affords ■ '

JOAHHA OF HATARRB. 57

of Joanna's affection for her deceased lord, as she expressly states
fllial this annuity is granted, not only in consideration of the nearness of
kindred and friendship that is between her and her aunt, ^ but also for,
and in remuneration of, the good pains and diligence she used to procure
OUT marriage with our Tery dear and beloved lord (whom God assoile).
Of which marriage it has pleased our Lord and Saviour, that we should
ciNitinue a noble line, to the great profit of the country of Bretagne, in
oar very dear and beloved son, the duke of Bretagne, and our other
children, sons and daughters. And for this, it was the will and pleasure
of our said very dear and beloved lord, if he had had a longer life, to
hare bestowed many gifts and benefits on our said aunt, to aid her in her
MWteoance and provision.'^' This deed is executed at Vannes.

JOANNA OF NAVARRE,

• . ■

QUEEN OF HENRY IV.

CHAPTER II.

Joanna assumes the title of queen — Writes to Henry IV. — Embarks for England
—Her infknts — Perils at sea — Lands at Falmouth — Married at Winchester^
Nuptial feast — Honours paid to her by the Londoners — Historical picture of
her coronation — Tournament — Her injunctions to her sons — King Henry*8
gimnu to Joanna — ^Arrival of her son Arthur — Joanna's foreign household-—
Queen's Breton servants dismissed — Income settled by parliament — Marriage
of her two daughters — Peril from pirates — Unpopularity of Joanna — She me-
diates peace with Bretagne — Additions to her dower — Her moiiuuicnt to her
llrtt huslmnd — Queen's lead mine? — Her influence with tlie king — Sickness
and death of king Henry — His will — Widowhoo<l of Joanna — Re.^pect paid to
her by the new king — Her political influence — Capture of her son Arthur at
Agincourt — Returns public thanks for the victory — Afl^ccting interview be-
tween Joanna and her son— Joanna a lady of the Garter — Treachery of her
confessor — Arrested at Havering Bower — Accused of sorcery — Goods and
dower confiscated — Imprisoned at I-^eeils Castle — Removed to Pcvensey — Her
doleful captivity — Henry V.'s death-bed remorse — His letter of restitution—
Her release — Petition to parliament — Restoration to her rank and posses^-ion■
^-Conflagration of her palace at Langley — Her death — Her children — Obs^

?uies — Her tomb— Mysterious reports — Exhumation of tlie bodies of Henry
V. and Joanna.

Joanna assumed the title of queen of England some months before
her departure from Bretai^c,' and she is mentioned as such in all con-
temporary documents. She appears to have exerted a sort of matrimo-
nial influence with her royal bridegroom, soon a(\er the ceremonial of
dieir espousals had been performed by proxy ; for we find that she wrote

■Joanna's grant was confirmed by her betrothed husband, Henry IV. of Eng-
land, to her aunt, under his great seal at Westminster, March 1st, 1402. Ryiuei't
Fttdenu 'Dom Morice. Rymer'i Fcedera^ voU x\^

I 68 JOAKNA OP HAVAKBB.

to Henry, m behalf of one of her countrymen, the amaiet of b If innaa
wine-5liir>. wlio had been plundered of hU cargo, in Uie rei^naftlidutd
U., by WiUiam Prince, a capuin in the earl of ArumlBl'B Am. Uar
inlerceasion proved eOedual) for king llenr^-, as he ex^naaij nm
** at the request of liii de&resl consurL, enjoins his adintnl, ThodMi
RuropBloiie, to see that proper satisractian be inade to the maawt^f ihl
nine-«lup, by the said William Prince."'

Previous to her departure from Breiagne, Joanoa sold t)ie ^ovstbdoI
of her castle of Nantes to Ctiason for twelve thousantl crowm; Kti
having only larried lo complete this arrangement, she, on the 20th of
December, H02, proceeded to Cnmaiet with her two infant dauetilfn.
Bluni-he and 3Iarguerite, tiieir nurses, and a numerous tnin of bicua
>nd Navarrese attendants.'

The English fleet, with the two half-broihers of her atlianced bni*-
groom, the earl of Somerset and Henry Beaufort, bishop of Lincoln, wilk
Thomas Percy, earl of Worcester, the lord-chsmbeilain of England.* W
keen waiting at that poit a considerable lime. Joanna, with her dmgt
l«rs and her retinue, embarked at Camaret, January 13ih, in a nmii<t
war commanded by the yoting earl of Arundel.* The expedicioa mid
ihe same day with a favourable wind, but encountered a dreadful lettipW
&I sea, by which the vessels were much damaged. After tossing 6n
days and five nights on ihe wintry waves, Joanna and her chililrca ««n
driven on the coa^t of Cornwall ; and instead of landing at SoutlutmpnOi
iheir original deatinaiiou, they disembarked at Falmouth. From ihwN
the illustrious travellers proceeded to Winchester, where king Hmj
was in waiting with his lords, lo receive his long-expected bride. 1)t
nuptials between Joanna and Henry were publicly solemniaed, FobnaiT
7lh, 1403. in that ancient royaX city, in the church of St. Swithrn, witt
great pomp.' The bridal least was very costly, having two coqims M
Ash, and, at the end of the second, panthers crowned were inttvduoni
for what was, in the quaint language of the times, called a ^talt^U^
or bniiquet ornament of confectionary. Eagles, crowned, f«misl A*
soitiliie. at the end of the third course.'

Great prepatalioUB were made by the citizens of London la mcdai
welcome the newly-married consort of the sovereign of their cIkmcc *■
her approach to the metropolis. Among other expenses fur llie ait

g'ocossion ordained in her honour, tlie Grocers' Compaity aUoxd
obert Stiens, their beadle, 6s. Sd. for riding into Suflolk lo hii« nu*
■treU ; he engaged &ix — namely, a panel myntlraU et fci rampaga^'
probably meaning companions. This Suffi>lk musical band wa« pv'

'Kymer'i Fiedeis. Ibid. * Dom Morioe. * ttjrmm'i Faitm

' Hp was ihe ton of tlie brave Richard Fiizallan. lord^dmimi or Eiiftanl, <H0
was behesiled by Richard U. There is in Ibe eigbth voluiae of RhinBrrB Dntf
(upplicaticn Jiom ibis noblemaa lo tbe king, " aettiiiK lotlh tfaal be Itrnd pmlM.
bjr (be royal coramiunl, a ship well appoinieil »" ' '

mariner*, for ibc service of bringing our Im'
Dmying lo be reimburaed from the eichequei

• Afu of Privy rouncil. by at H. Nict '

■Willcmenl'i Kesal Oetaldrf, ]/. 31.

I

I

JOANXA OF MAVAERK. 59

■'■- pounrfi, fnr tilling lo Blackiieaih lo meet ilie queen. The inayori
ililermen, and ahenilx, went oui in procesBion nn Ihis occasion, with
rrnfta in broun aiitt blue, and every man a red hood on hie head.
II Joanna rcaied ilic ti:sl day at the Tower. Tlial iihe went la
imiiiBier in ^od procession on llie following, is ucerlainMl by ihe
. lor paying the said SulTulk minstrels 13a. 4d^ on ihe morrow,
II the queen passril through Cheapside lo WeBlminsler.'
' K're is nn eii|uisit« drawing in a contempoTary manufcript,' illns-
•' >if Juannn's coroiinliun, which look plane, February 29th, 1403,
jUiIe three weeks aAer her bridal. She is there represented ae a
■J. iimjesiic and graceful wonnn, in the meridian glory of her days,
tilh a fofiu of the nio«l symmetrical proportions, and a coontenance of
qual beauty. Her aiiLinde is thai of easy dignity. She is depicted
n bar coronation robes, which are of a peculiarly elegant form. Her
laltndtjca differs little in fashion from that worn by our sovereign lady
' '11 Victoria, at her inaueuraiion. It pariially displays her throat and
:. and is cloM-d at the breast with a rich cordon and tassels. The
.:le has apertures through which her arms are seen ; Ibey are bare,
■. iry fiotly moulded. Slie is enthronnd, not by the side of her royal
iiiid, but with the same ceremonial honours that are juiid lo a queen-
tut, in a chair of state placed singly under b rich cnnopy, em-
i iiicd, nnd elevated oii a Tery higlf plaU'orm, of an hexagonal shape,
' 'luched on every aide by six steps. Two archbishojM have just
.' iiL-d her, and are still svpporiing the royal diadem on her head.
hiur fulls in rich curls on her bosom. In her right hand she holds
' |iire, and in her left an orb surmounted by a cross — a very unusual
, ute for-B (lueeii-consort, as it is a symbol of sovereignty, nnd could
liave been iitloweO lo queen Joanna as a very especial mark of her
il bridegroom's favour.

[ I this picture, a peeress in her coronet and robes of stale, probably
iipying the office of miatress-of'ihe-robes, stands next the person of
lueon. on her right hand, and just behind her are seeti a group of
-ic maidens wearing wreaths of roses, like the imin-bearem of her
I' "ty queen Victoria ; affording a curious bnt probably forgotten his-
.-nl testimony, that such was the costume piescribed anciently, by
-umpiuary regulations for the courtly demoiselles, who were ap-
rLiiii'd lo the honour of bearing a queen of England's liain at her coro-

Ai tltis ceremonial, John lord de Lalimer received forty marks, for
l^n*e of the almoner's dish placed before queen Joanna, on the day of
her coronation, he having tlie hereditary right of almoner on such occa- i

iiiiang oilier courtly pageants at queen Joanna's coronation, a Innma- ^^^

.1 wa* held, in which Beaiichamp, earl of Warwick, maintained the ^H

li<i> ia honour of the royal bride. In the pictorial chronicles of tha ^H

I' Hubert's Hiilory or Ibe Livery Compuiies, ^^M

■Conimian MS. Juliui E. 4, fblio KO. Slow'* Antmli. ^M

•bwa Eollj, aS7. ^M

NUO

JOANNA

IP NATASSE

I

I

1

I

lift and arw of ihk chivalric peer,' who was surnamed ihe ronrlMSt,il
is said that ^ he kepi jcusl on the queen's part againai all ntfan comoi,
and so iioiably and knightly behaved liimself, a* rvdoatided Vo hu DoUc
fiune and perpetaal worship."

This <tuaini sentence is in eiplanaiion of another historinl ^wi^
in which •* queen Jane," as she is iliere stylefl, is rppresenlcJ litliitf n
elate with the hing, attended by her Inilies in an open ^teiy, betKHOf
with evidf.nt saiislkciioD the prowess of her champion.

Instead of her royal robes, tlie queen is here represealed In a rm
Gtling close to her shape, and has exchanged her crown, for oiu i^ At
lofly Syrian caps, then the prevailing head-dress for ladies of tuk ii |
Engbnd, with its Urge, stiff, transparent veil, supported on a fnme-mA
Kt least two feet in height

The queen's ladies-in-waiting wear hoods and veils tbtt emtfJif
dmped, and by no means emnUiing the towering head-gear oTtheuinid
mistress.

King Henry b by queen Joanna's side, wearing a furred gown wi
velvet cap of maintenance, looped up with sJleur-dc-K*. Uis Bppaaaci
is titat of a gallant gentleman in middle life. The balcoay, in wbich 4t
royal bride and bridegroom are seated, is not unlike ih« royal Hi^M
Ascot, only more exposed to public view ; and the king and qvMii m
both accomniodated with the luxury of large square rushioaa Tot dn
elbows, with laasels at the comers. King Henry sits qoitc il om
resting his anns on hie cushion, but tlie queen leans fonnud axid rttmb
her hands with a gesture of great animation, as she looks down obA>
contesL Warwick has just struck his opponent. He vnmrt the tac
and ragged slaCon his helmet. This historical sketch, besides it* flH
beauty, is very valuable for its delineation of costume.

Joanna of Navarre was the first widow, since the NorruM MOMMt
who wore the crown-mairimoDial of England. She wa8,«sweBtt
seen, the mother of a large family- Her age, at the period of lKr•^
codU nuptials, must have been about three-end-thirtv ; and if fad t*
morning freshness of her charms, her peraonal attractions were still n
considerable. Her monumental eSigy represents her as ■ tnpdrif
miniiie loveliness. Her exemplary conduct as the wife of t
irascible prince in Christendom, and the excellence of her go
as regent for her eldest son, had afforded unquesiionabPe eviileB
prudence and wisdom of this princess ; and she
very Gue dower ; yet the marriage was never popular in Englw

Il has been asserted, by many hisloriaos, that Henry IV. m
duchess-dowager of Bretagne, chiefly with the view of dira
councils of the young duke her son. If such were his c
were completely frustrated by the maternal feeling* o( JtmoM,'^
Dohly consulting the welfaie of her son, and the wishes o( his m ' '
rather tlian the iiilerests of her second husband, placed Im d
we hare seen, under tlie protection of the dake of Bargoody, [

JOAKNA or IfAVABBE. Gl

lepttrture from Brtlagne ; and even afier her comnalioti as queen
tt EiiglDiii], we find, by her letters dated Weslminster, Alarcb 9th, 1403,
ihM ehe confirms ber last net as ducliess-rPgent of Breia^e by solemnlj'
tf^iointing ** her well-beloved iiiide, the duke of Burgundy, the gosrdkii
N ber son« — Juhn, duke of Breiagne, Arthur, and Jules — and enjoins
ifaoae yuuiig princes to be obedient to hini, end to uitend ddigently to
hi* advicer'

The bridHl fetlivities of Henry FV. and his new queen were conn in-
'^:pi(Hl, by the news of a descent of the French, on the Isle of
jtii; but the iuhabitauM cumpelled (he ioTaders to retjre lo iheir
y^ witli dishonour. Next the Breton flee I, being wholly under the
lion of llie court of France, put to aca and committed great ilepre-
I'HLS on the coast of Cornwall, and on the merchant shipping, caus-
iiiuch uneasiness to the king, and rendering the new queen disiute-

'I'he memorable Percy rebellion occurred in the same year ; and It
bfts been eaid that this was fomented by the earl of Worcester, in cnnso-
^ence of a disagreement between him and queen Joanna during her
vojage from Bretagne. This might possibly have originated in some
dispute with Joanna's natural brother, Charles of Navarre, who accom-
panied her to England in the capacity of chamberlain to berst-lf.' Be
this as It may, it is almost certain that the battle of Shrewsbury might
have been prevented, if Worcester, who was employed by the insurgent
lords to negotiate a pacification with Henry, had fairly and hoiicsll)r
•(■ted the concessions the king was willing to make; but he did not,
Bod his own ruin, with that of his whole house, was the result/ Part
a( tlw confiscated properly of ihe Percys, especially the earl of Norlh-
nnberland's mansion in Aldgale, was granted to <)neeu Joanna by the

In the year 1404, Henry IV. granted to queen Joanna tlie new tower,
M the riitr&nce of the great portals of his large hall, against the palsca
of Westminster, adjacent to tlie king's treasury, for her to hold her
councils, and for the negotiation of her a&irs; also, for her to hold her
■ndi»nce>s for charters and writings theiein; the queen to hold the
Mme, for the term of her natural life, having free ingress and egress for
bcnelf and officers to the said tower.'

In the month of February, 1404, Joanna enjoyed the happiness of
wdcouiing ber second son, Arthur of Breiagne, to England, kiug Henry
having been prevailed upon by her solicitations to bestow upon him the

■Ctiton. d* Breiagne. 'Chmn. tie BiriBgne.

■A dnlrrminf^ let wu mads agsinel t)i« life of ihe newly wfif<lc<I kiog, al
lb* laoulo of Sbievibacy, by a wnain numbpr of chnmpions ■mong ihe huur-

Kt, wbi> liwl Kivrad to liais tiii blood. Thin confedem-y beinR mupputed bj
rj'* [Aiuuni, ihirteen iloul genlleinen arrayed UHtnnlv^ iii drc»M liin^
Ut to that whicli he was accuitouied to wear, anil wpre >iuD iu dilferent jwiH
t4 (he Arid. Hanif killed no leu iban >iztBeD of his unilnnu, Willi hi* own
taod, in wlf-^ffunce tlutday. ud, like U* ton, the piinoe of Wulci. peitbrmad
{vnltEiB* of vsluni.
'Rjrmar't Fatdera.
*«_ IU. — •

1
I

J

ihocc liclovcd littl« ooei tlie puwcrfDl
(if iha ruyo] inoiIiM' dung to lier liitia
be prevBiled upon lo ntiga ibaiD, ef «n
iJip ptupcny of BrriBgnc.'

Ilor ftun. lite diikr- lif BrEtagtM. wks j
of lh« fMllicr of hi« duclieta, OharlM
mpouBC hi' i]aarTt!l kj^suuI king Henry
doninians wiiuIU liavti contiBOtUd Jtw
VHl«(l Uie payrueiit of it in the handi
&•! friends ;' and the tisd her own otBce

Tti*t 8hn WW irnlisfipd wilh the com
gathered from (he liirt thnt she piesentc
her, 1404, with the sum of lovenly tha
bar from her brother, the kiiiir of Nam
her renla in Nonnnndy. Her gil^ mud
ibe youiig duke ; (at, t)iau)(h reaidilig ill I
exerciaing the nuvereign auiliuriiy, his i
trolled by the court of F'isnce, that he
away more than one hundred aols, witboi
cellor, and oilier afljcera appointed by thi

At the commencenieDt of the year 140
states, '' at ihc uiedialion and earnest snlii
ijueen Joanna, forj^ve and hbenited, witi
iak«n ill arms a^inai him a1 Dartmoul
natural exercise of conjugal influence in
the piratical Bretons, incfeaaed the unp

JOAKNAOFNAVABRE. G3

Dm influx of forptgnere, which ihe kind's late marnn^ na^ intro-
cwd inW ihe tcbIiii ; the disorderly stare of ihe royal household ; and
) evil influence exercised over public alftirs by certain individuali
jpoacd to be about the peraons of the king and queen."
The«e grievances, as they were conaidered, altntcling the attention of
rltunent, the comnionE, with ihe consent of ihe lords, proceeded to
brrn the royal household ; and, aa a preliminary step to their re^nla
fu. they requireii ihal four persons should be removed out ol the
ig's house ; riz. the king'u confessor, the abbot of Dore, with Der-
m uid Croibie, gentlemen of his chamber.

Hmry, lemembering full well that his title lo the crown was derived
n the voice of the people, far from testifving resentment at the inter-
ence of that hitherto disregarded branch of the legialsiure of England,
t eommona, summoned the inimical members of hia household tc
end him in parliament. February Sih. 1404. which itiey did, with the
sepiion of the abbot of Dore. Tlie king then, in his speech from the
■one,' said, " That he neither knew nor could imagine any particulai
me or reason, why the accused ought to be removt^ out of his house-
Id; nevenhelese, aa the lords and commons thought proper to have it
, considering ii to be for the good of the realm, and most proiiiublB to
ncelf, to conform himself to iheir wishes, he would discharge liiera
<m hia household forihwiih." " Our sovereign lord," eoniinuse the
:ord, " said further, '■ That he would do as much by any who were
Mil hia royal person, if ihey should incur the haired and indignation
his people.' "

The commons next appointed a committee of lords. Pebniary 2i, to
ike further regulniions and alterviions in the appoiutmeuisof iheioyst
DM-hold, especially in those connected with ihe queen, when it was
lolved, ■' Tliat all French persons, Bretons, Lombards, Italians, and
ivarrese, whatsoever, be removed out of the palace from the king and
een, except ihe queen's two daughters, .Uaria St Parensy, Nicholas
derwychc, and John Purian, and their wives.' This was complied
ih by Henry, and put into execution that very day ', and we do not
d that the queen Joanna offered any resistance lo the wishes of die
if-Tia and couusellora of her royal husbaod; but the lords agreed lo
'.1;^ her with a Breton cook, two knighu, a damsel, two chnniher-
''. one mistress, two esquires, one nurse, and one chnmbermnid for
Liin^n's daughters, and a messenger to wait on them at rerinin times.
adilition lo these persoiis, Joanna retained eleven Breton lavenderen
washerwomen, and a varlct-lavenderer. or washerwoman's aasislant.*
Much wiser would it have been of Joanna, if she had taken exani]>le
the politic condescension of the king 10 the wishes of their subjects,
J yielded an unconditional assent to the dismission of her foreign
endania, since Ihe retention of her Breton cook, chambermaida,

Thp (iiibHAEce of Henry'i pntriolie dwlarsuon is ebBirmoieJ from ilie Bull* of
rlUuiicni. :nb nf Henry IV. i>ee bIh Qiitbrie t Iblio UiiL of Eoglaoa, Vul. ii.
\ Pari. HW.. vol. ii.

Patliammtuy Roli*, ath of Honry IV., p. 6^2 ; PailiBniaitur Hift.

IteliameDiujt Rolls, 4ib of Henry IV., p. 973.

I

i

irasheiwomen, &c., offereJ a pretence for a second inietlmnw from
parliameni.'

In ihts year tiie commons presentetl a petition (o ihe king, praying,
■mong other ihiiigs, " that ihe queen would be pleased lo pay for bn
journeys to the king's houses, as queen Philippe had been used lo d»^
Joanna had no settled revenue as queen of England at iho timevtiM
■his implied remonstrance was made by the commons to kin; Hmrv,
who was himself in the most urgent want of money, hamsacd with p»
petual rebellions, especially in Wales, and without means to par )ui
mutinous and discontented troops iheir wages. "■ Every souiti oi
revenue." says sir Harris Nicolas, in his luminous preface lo the "Arii
of the Privy Council," " had been anticipated, and it is scarcely poniUt
to imagine a government in greater distress for money than that of Utiuy
IV. at that moment." If Joanna had not been in the receipt of a spleixU
dower as duchess-dowagpr of Bretagne, she would hare f.iund herself
involved in the most embarrassing straits, as the consort of so im-
povertshed a king as Henry.

But pecuniary cares and popular discontents were not the onir
troubles, that disturbed the wedded life of Jobdub of Navarre, whe.
though no longer young, was still sufficiently charming lo become tb*
iheme of the following amatory stanzas from no meaner a pen than ihii
of a royal Planlagenet poet, Edward, duke of York, cousin-gcrmu <a
king Henry : —

Ir ye but wist 111; Ufe, and knew
or all the paini that I y-fcel,
1 wii yo would upon me nip,
Alifaough yoor heart wen mailaef mnI

And though ye be of high reaown,
Lei metcy rule yonr heart »o &«J
From you, lady, lliis is ntj boon.
To gnni iD« gnoe in Mine iI^km

To inercy if ye will me mke,
ir SBdi your will be Ibi to do,
Then would I truly foe my lak*
My heart wiQ mall as snow in »!□. Cliange my ohuec, Kod ilafce mj aW*

The arrest of the duke of York, who, after a series of lojral m1
valitml services to king Henry, was, on a very frivolous pretence, to^
mitted to B rigorous imprisonmeni in Pevenaey castle, is possibly 00 Iw
attributable to the personal jealousy of the king, than the ouinfWH
conduct of Joanna's Jirst hustiand, the duke of fitotagne, towards his ali
friend Clisson, was lo the same balelul pession.

The virtuous and matronly deportment of Joanna, bowevei, bollk ■)
duchess of Bretagne and queen of England, were such as to prercot 6*
slightest shade of suspicion from resting on her conduct. Wbatt**

' Pnrliamentsry Htiiory, voL u.

■ Walpole dmlares there is no doubt, that the retsra ate by tfaa dokaof Tak;
d aa they are addraued 10 the queaa oT England, ttaera wh 10 gdiar at A«
le but Joanna ot ttavam.

•■ Excellent sovereigu, seemly In lee,*
Proved ptudenoe, peerleu of prioe;
Blight bloiKim of iKnigniiy,
Offlgure fBireet,and fredleit of days.

I reeomnHod me la your royalnesi
As lowly as 1 can or may ;
Beseectiing inwardly your gentleness,
Let never faial heart love betray.

JOAHMA OF NAVARRE.

nichi have been the oQeiice of the Juke of York, Ifi^nry's displeiiflura
waa but IcfiiiMrory, for, in the cuuree of three inoiiliis, he nua rekoseii,
Mil ri'sinreJ lo his old employments.'

The yenr 1406 commeDceil wiili freali remonstrances from parliimenl,
on the subject of Joanna's foreign alleuUBnts. The coiiiriiona huviag
uov asaumed a decided voice in the legi'tlation of Kn^Uiiil, J<^ii Tip*
totu the speaker, in his ceiebraied addrexa fur liberty of speaking, luvk
on the disorderly stale of the royal household^
; time, ■> ihaL the order of tliat houae for removing
> from the queen's court hnU been very ill observed." Ii was, oa
solved by iiiianimouH consent, "That certain strangers there
who did seem lo be olfieen about llie queen, shoalU by a
a day depart the realm." Whereupon a writ lo proclaim ihti sama
■ direcied to the sherifls of London, ilie aliens being charged, witlialt
ptving in all patents of lands and annuities granted them by the king
or queen.*

The parliniDenl also look tlie liberty of recommeniling the sorereign
■o observe tlie siricieiit economy in his household. Henry received this
advice very graciously, and promised to retrench all superlluous expeuses,
and reatncled the expeuililure of his establishmenl to 10,UU0/. a year.
He likewiee declared his wish for the reformation of all abuties, and
r«t)u<«ied the parliament lo lake order for tlie payrooiil of the debts of
bia household, and to |(rani a tuitable income lo his queen, fur the maii^
unAiice of her stale.* The request for the dower of queen Joanna vraa
prcKiiled by John Tiptol\ the speaker, and others of the comiuona ;
ami by vote of iliis parliament she was endowed with all the revenua
enjoyed by Anne of BoJiemiu, ilie lirst queen of Itieliard II., to the vnlua
of ten tiioUHand marks per annum; so that with wards, marrioget, and
other comingencies, her income was equal lo that of any previous queen
«f England.*

King Henry granted a eafe-conducl, January 4th, 1400, to John de
Boyn*, '■ t)ie secretary of his dear and royal conaort Joluine, to eti^le
ber to negotiate certain mailers in Breiague with regard to her tlower
tliere ; also, for hmi to bring horses and other things for her use, pr».
rid«)d noiliiiig be attempted to the prejudice of llic people and crown of
England." Henry, at the same lime, granted letters of protection to ihn
tnuters of two ships from Urelagne, bringing lamps and other articles for
_tbe use of Uie queen.'

tThis year, Henry's youngest daughter, the princess Phdippa, wu
" (I to Eric, king of Sweden and Denmark. Aboui the same period,
I was compelled lo resign her two youngest daughters, BUnche

> ituke of Vork'i oiianaibJe crime wan a tupiHMod pai1ici|nli
' a of du> heiu or MarUnieri bin tlinl bo liaU never laileJ lU bit layslqr

m of Ladtuihi wan provni by llgnrjr iiiinue of Walei lalling
n paitianieiit. mad (iHlailnK dial lii> lite, and ■<! Iii> amiy in Wale
. iv«l hj die fMliwiuf at..! wixbitn of Vork. (Tyler > Hcuij \ )
PhrlutniRnUrj Holla, Sili and iltli of Haiity IV.
PParliam^niBiy Rullt, Sib uid Oih of Hrnry IV,
^raibafnaulBi/ Bolla, 6ili of Henry IV. • R/inct't ForJ

1

I

I

of the king's ship?, and c<
chainl)erhiin, with all the
The kintr himself had a ve
those bold adventurers.^

Notwithstanding her unj
nite pains to promote a go
the duke her son. Henrv

1407, addresses him as ^^ h
wish, on account of the cl
dearest consort, that peace
efilision of Christian blood,
mother, the queen of Engla
all good friendship should
father, Henry king of Engla
on one part, and ourselves •
cable treaty/^

Accordingly, a truce betv
mediation of Joanna, procla
town of Hereford was adde
same year; and she was, ^
John, and Humphrey, reconi
pecuniary grants.*

An interesting proof of ,
lord, the husband of her y<
found in one of the royal

1408, in which king Henry
an alabaster tomb has beei

JOAMHA OF NjLVARRE. 0f I

tbrmerly lier ItusbsDd, lo be conveyed in die barge o( Sl, Nicliolaa of
Nantes lo Biciagrie, with three of our English he^eo, the Bsn)e wh*
made liic tomb^viz : Thomas Colyn. ThonittB Holi'well, and Thnniaa
Poppehnm, to place the said tomb in the church ofNantM, John Guy»>
banJc, Uie muter of the Boid barge, and ten mnrinerB of Brettt^ne ; and
ihe sail! bnrue is lo be considered by the English mBrchanta under onr

There i» a (ine engraving of this early specimen of English sculpture
in Ilie second volume of Dom Morice's ChrunicleB of Breiagiie. It bears
the recumbent lijjure of the warlike John de Montfort, duke of Bretagne,
armed csp-A-pie, accordiug to the fashion of the limes.

tlcnry IV. (panted to Joanna six lead mines in England, with work*
men and deputies lo load her ship ; and this he notified to her eon the
duke of Bretagiie, in 14I1U, as these mines had been accustomed to ex-
port ore lo Bretagne, und he wished the duke lo remit the ioiposi for the
tiioe lo come. The king and queen kept their Christmas court thu
year at Elihara, which seeins to huve beeu a. favourite abode with ihe
royal juur,'

in the eumuier of 1413, Joanna received a visit from her third sou,
count Jules of Breiagne. Henry granted a safe-conducl for him and hu
ntinuo, ronsisliiig of iwenty persons, with horses and arms; bul tliwf
WM A provision, " that no baiiishetl person be brought into England io
the prince's irain, to (he injury and peril of the realm."* The young
)>rince only came to England lo die. He was lord ofChantoce.

At Uie close of the parliameiil ihe same year, the speaker of the cooih
inons once more recommeuded to the king, '' the persons of the queen
and the princes his sons, praying the advancement of their estales." The
pclilion was quite unreasonable as regarded queen Jounnai who enjoyed
>o large tiii income as queen of England, besides her ric-h dower from the
>Ut^ of Bretagne ; bul she never omitted an opportunity of adding lo bet
weallli, which must have been very considerable.

At'orice was certainly the beaelling sin of Joanna of Navarre ; and ihil
•ordiil propensity probably originated from the pressure of pecuniaiy
<are« with which she had had to contend as princess of Navarre. aaduche ~
• >r Bretagne, and during the first years of her marriage wilh king Henry.
; i."r conduct as a step-mother appears to have been conciliating. Evan
k hen the wild and prolligalc conduct of the heir of England had
■ Atranecd him from his fiitlier's councils and aSections, such confidential
f«rluig« siibsisled between young Henry and Joanna, that he employed
ber iiitluenee for llie purpose of obtaining the king's consent to the
nwrriflse of the young earl of March, at that lime ward to the prhice.
To the disgrace of Ihe queen, however, it is recordwl, by the indubitabi*
evidence of the Issue RolU. that she received, as the price of her good
ofTiee* on this occasion, a promissory bribe from the piince, as the f<^
lowing entries testify . —

■^Td Joanna queen of England. In money paid to her by the handa

■Rymoi'i FoHleni. 'Stow. 'Brmsi.

I

I
I

a^rrCd Upon Miwewt our nki lom mt uii
thu mid queen, fnr thr iturriage of Uw ear
"By wril, 100/."'

Wlif!) we consider. Ilial in point of Ifl
March was the rij^htTul sovereign of Eitgia
a riieiiiiire woa over ulvoeslcd by the I^n
permitlrtl hy tn nrofoimil n poliui^ino m )ii
awam of tlir^ pRriloui consequences to his (
thm the iiufrii must have piissosed an anl!
miti<l of Ifenry IV. lo he able lo carry that

Henry IV., ai thai lim* einkinf under i
was probably indebted lo thi^ cherishing ea
comfort he was ca|«hlc of enjoying in
Iramrd so well hnw in adnpt hemelf, whilf
wai<l humoura of her titst husband (the
Europe), was doubtless an adept in the art
iiig. without appearing to da so.

ICenry, though only in hia fortr-aerenl
bodily and mental suflerings. Hia feature*
and of which he, in some of his penilenliar]
himself lo hove been so proud,* became, in
marred and disfigured hy thai loathsome dii
vent him from apwaring in public* On I
n<^ss, lie kept h» last Chrimmus at Efiham «
»i'>n. His coniptainl was accom[mnied by
trances, in which he Bomeiimea lay for h
si^ns of life. He, however, rallied a littl
holydays, and was enabled afler C^ndtenns

' This KlcbnlM Aldstwjuh wms ona oT ■qnaai

JOAII5AOFNAVABRB. GQ

9 his palace at Westminster. lie waa at his devoiionx, berora
Btnp of St. Eilwunli in the abbeviwhen his laat fatal atroke ofapc^
■eizei) him, and it waa BUpposBcl by every one ibat tie was dead ;
tug removed to the abbot's state apartmenta i:i the abbey, wliirh
B nearer than bis own, and laid on a pallet before ihe Are, he revived,
aakeil. *• where he waa." He was told, " In the Jeruaalcm Cliam-
" Henry received this answer as his knell; for il had been pre-
ed of him thai he should die in Jertisaleni, whicb he siippnsed to
he holy city, and had solemnly received the crosa, in token that it
hifl iaieiition to undertake a crusade for the expiation of his sins.
• bloo<l he had shed in supporting hia title lo the throne pressed very
fily on his coiiacienee during the latter years of his reign, and in the
r of hlH dcj«rture he particularly requested that the mistrere should
end to bim, which contained a penitential acknowledgment of sin,
« Bupplicaton to be delivered from "blood-gudiiness." He then
al for liis eldest son, Henry prince of Wales, to whom he addressed
e ftdmimblc cxhortationa aa to his future life and governinent. Sliak-
.T« has repeated almost verbatim the dcath-beil eloquence of the
ring king, in llial touching speech, commencing, '■ Came hither,
ry, ait ihou on my bed," &.C.'

ing Hfnry was, doubiless, arrayed in his re^I robes and diadem
e publicly performing his devotions at the shrine of llie royal sainl,
popular predecessor; which accounts for the crown having been
ed on bis pillow, whence it was removed by his son Henry, prince
Vales, during the long death-like swoon which deceived all present
the belief that the vital spaik waa extinct.

f ihe many historians who have recorded the interesting death-scene
lenry IV., not one has mentioned his consort, queen Joanna, aa
g pment on that ocrasion.

ing Henry's will, which was made three years before bis death,
I leattmony to the deep remorse and self-condemnation which
mpanied him to the grave. This curious document, a copy of
;h was discoveied by sit Simon d'Ewes,' al^er diligent seareh, is aa

1, Henry, sinful wretch, by tlie grace of God king of England and
'nuire. and lord of Ireland, being in mine whole miud. make my
uncm In manner anil form that ensuetli. First, I bequeath to At*
itj- CihI my sinful anni, the which had never been wordiy lo be
p man, but through bjs mercy and his grace, which life I have mis-
led, whereof 1 put me wholly at his grace and mercy willi nil mine
I. And at what time it likelh bIm of bis mercy to Lake ine, my
r lo be baried in tlie church of Canierhnry, after the discretion of
cousin iho arrhhlshop. And I also ibunk my lords and true peopla
he true aervlcn ibcy luive done to me, and ] ask their forgiveneaa
lUva misinirented tl.em in anywise-, and as far as ihey have oilended
in anywtM, I pray Uod to forgive them it, and I do. And I will

L

r

I

I

that my qneen be e»dowed of llie duchy of Luncaster.'* He lam
Henry V. hLs sole eiecuCor.

" The words," says Hardyng, •* which the king said bI hi'i detth wtn
o{ high complaint, but Dooght of repeniance or restoration of the rijiii
lieire of the crown."

Henry expired on St. Cuthbert's Jay, Marcli I9ih, HIS. He m
buried by the side of Eklward ihe Black Prince, with greai pomp md
stale, Henry V. and all his nobility being present, upon Triniij Saairi
next following the day of his death.

In the first yeara of her widowhood, queen Joanna received erwy
mark of attention and respect from the new king, Henry V., who ml
anxious to avail himself of her good offices with her son, llie dolerf
Brciagne, in order to secure the alliance of that prince in hie pityOd
wars with France. Henry V., in his letters and treaties, ^way» fijptal
the duke of Bretagne his dearest brother, and the duke reciprocaut At
title when addressing him.' Joanna certainly exerted her idiSucnee wU
her son, in order to induce him to enter into amicable amngtnnn
with England.*

According to some historians, Joanna was entrusted by her roral
■tep-son with a share in the government, when he undertook his ex'pe-
(lilion against France. Speed, Stow, Hall, and Goodwin, aud eren iluf
most industrious antiquary, White Kennel, alfinn thai sli':^ Ma-i ku'L'
queen-regent, at the same time that John, dnke of Be<lt : . . -
pobled protector and lord-lieu tenant of Ejigland ;' and ll. \ •
to strengthen Trussel's text, who uses these words : — " H . i
his mother-in-law, Joan de Navar, a woman of great [.. .._,.,., ..
judgment in national alHiirs, to be regent in liis absence, with Ute «ili>w<
of the privy council." But, notwithstanding these imporloat authnnlin.
there is no documentary evidence proving that euch was the fart. Six
was, however, treated with higher consideration than was ever ^on
lo B queen-dowager of this country, who waa not also queen-molhrr,
and appears to lukve enjoyed the favour and confidence of ihe kioc i>
no slight degree.

The same day that Henry quilled bis metropolis, June II
having been in solemn procession to St. Paul's with the lord-m
corporation of the city of London, lo oiler his pmyers anil obi
the success of his expedilion, he relumed to Westminster, for
pose of bking a personal leave of (]neen Joanna.* This
commemorated in a curious poem of the lime:' —

'Rymori Ftrdero.

'li ii probable thnl it WK3 on Bocuuut o( Uie cluke's <"' ~
quuiH belween bim anil hit yoiuig diwho**, ttie dmif: ■
tnok plBos, whioh endeil in bii beating hii lii^h-bi'iri .
occasion that ilie duke of OrlMms. who had espoiucd I
of Ricbaril II., ihe eld«M lister of the duchem, tali) 'u '
h»n wai not biggei than tbnl of a ohiM oTa ytat i

eHar

rHarri
i> MSS. 505, Ibl, 130.

>■■>' Aguiconr^ p. H.

■To Fovija liirn he belil hit way
Willi nil bin lortlys, aoolh lo s>y;
The mayor win leady, and mel him there
With the crnns nf London in ^/Mid amf.
• Hail, «i>inoty king.' the mayor 'gau tny,
*Tbs giBce of God now be with th*c,
Asd aliKd llioa well io liiy journey,
Anil grant llioe ever, more ilcgrcel'

To Saint Powlyi then h« lirld hii way,
And offpred tliore fiill worthily;
From liience Bo the queen the selfsame day.
And look his leave full toverontly.'

riiis fitrewHi vUit to Joanna was the Inst thing Henry V. did, pmvj*

10 lenvine his capilal. Their ptrTecl amity, at that tirne, may b«

1 ^i! from Henry's gracioiia license lo the royal niilow, whom hn

- •' his ilcaresi mother, Joanna, queen of Eiigtand," to resiJe with

1 liiiue in any of his royal castles of Windsor, Wallingford, Berk-

, - u-ad. and Hertford, as of old, during his absence io foreign parts.

- ..rder is dated Winchester, June 30ih, I4U.'

iPTfl arc also various gifts and concessiona granted by Henry V. to

. I Joanna, on the rolls of the 3d, 4th, and 5ih years of hia rrign.

' hlcst son, die duke of Bretagne, either from rautinn, or becnuBe he

iitiable to take a decided part in the great political contest between

,Ti(l mid France, maintained a strict neutrality; hut Arthur, her

1,1 son, boldly espousing the cauae of France, was the firat who

i.ci\ the ouiguards of Henr\''H camp, near Agincourt, at the head of

I'luusand French cavalry. This fiery assault, his firsi essay in arms,

' iiisde al midnight, on the eve of Si. Crispin''a dny, in the midst of

i:[-^st of wind and rain, Arthur was repulsed by the troops nf hia

.1 step-brother, and was desperately wounded, and made prisoner in

.ittle, the following day.

The chronicler, from whom While Kennet has collaled the reigns of

■ ihree LATicastrian sovereigns, records ihe capture of Arthur. 111 lliese

■ rdfl r — " The son of the late duke of Brelagne, by the quecii-regeni
V'Ti-'land. was taken prisoner.*' The same author again mentions Jo-

I . if Navarre by this title, when he aoys, " king Henry despatched
--enger over 10 England, to the queen-regcni,' with ihc news of his
rv, which filled the nation widi universal joy. Te Deum was sung
all the churches, and a. mighty procession, consisting of the queen,
»lHies and nobility, with the mayor and corporation of Die ciiy ofLon-
n. walked from Sl Paul's lo Wesiminster. on the following day, lo
tim public thanks to Almighty God." The Chronicle of London*
111 stales '^ that queen Johane, with her lords, ailetided by the mayor,
temicn. and several of the livery companies of London, walked in
leitm procession from Su Paul's 10 Westminster Abbey, lo ofliir thaoko*
I for the victory;" and, having made a rich olTering at the shrint

E

' Rymei ■ Fmle™.

'While KenneK Complete Hiffory of En«laii<l, pp. 31K, .119.

' btuwl by all Uaru* Nicolu. UaitiMii * aurv«f of Londoa.

r

I

I

79 JOANXA OF ITAVABBB.

of St Eilward, they all retained in triumph to ihe city, smiilci die nd^
tualions of the people.

Whosoever iniglit exult in the nnlional Iriumph of Asinrnort, Joamn
had little cause fur joy. The husband of hei clUesI ilnughi^r,' tlic pltaM
tluke of Alen^on, who clove king Henry's Jenellei] coronal with hti Utile-
axe in the mfUe, was there slain. Her brother. Charles of NaTim. ihc
constable of France, died of liis wounds the following day ; and Antuir.
her young gallant son, was a captive. No iriHijig lax mil*! ilie wiiiowtd
queen have paid for greatness, when, in<ilesd of putting on her Diininiiag
weeds, and induJj^ing in the natural grief of a fond motlier's bnit, (w
these family cslumities, she was called upon in aasnnie the gliUffiaf
trsppings of stale, and to take ihe leading part in a public pafntua
rejoicing. Till this latter duly was performed, as beliitcd the (jucm of
England, she forbore to weep, and to miike bmenialion for the dad;
or Id bewail the captivity of him, who was led a prisoiieT in the tnm
of the royal victor.

The trials of Joanna only commenced with the battle of Agincourt,
foi she had to endure much maienial anxiety as to the future poatioa
of her eldest son, the reigning duke of Brelagne, with whose lemporiniif
conduct Henry V. was gready exasperated ; and she had lo petfarni &
bard task of welcoming, with deceitful smiles and congraioUlioo*, llit
haughty victor, wjio had wrought her huuse such woe, and whn m
ihe arbiter of her son Arthur's fate. Arthur of Breiagne, w eari ofBkli-
niond. was Henry's subject, and, by bearing arm? against him at Agia-
court, had violated his liegeman's oath, and siooil in a vert dtllini*
position with his royal step-hrother, from the otiier prisonefs. WA
was it for him, considering the vindictive temper of Ilenry V., ihit *•
queen had iu fonner times laid that prince under oliligatioos. by a*n*-
ing him, in time of need, with p>ecuniBry aid. The first inleirie* b^
Iween Joanna and her captive son is, perhaps, one of the most londnif
passages in hisioty. Tliey had not seen each other since I UH, vbn
Arthur, as a boy, visiied the court of EngUnd, to rec«ire the iniDnicnt
of the earldom of Hichmond from his royal etep^aiher, Henry \V.
twelve years before. Joanna, anxious to ascerlaia wheihei tte rroiaaJ
any remembrance of her person (which, perhaps, she fell was iado! W
years of anxious tendance on a husband sick alike in body and niii^i,
yet, fondly huping that malemal instinct wuuld lead him to his mniWi
arms, placed one of her ladies in her chair of sute, and retired uamf
her attendants, two of whom stood before liur, whde she watched «tsl
would follow. Arthur, as might be expected, look the quern^ mo-
sentative for his mother ; she supported ilie character for sokh n«*
and desired him to pay his cojnphments lo her ladies. When, in UAi
Joanna, her heart betrayed her, and she exrbuni*A''fr
happy son, do you not know me ^" The call of nature was felii boA
mother and son burst into tears. They tlien enibraced with pMI »•
demess, and she gave him a tliousand nobles, which the priacdrywA
distributed among his fellow-prisoners, and his guarda, (ogMbs «iik

lOAttSA OF KAVARRB. 791

lome appKrel. BuL, after ihis inicrview, Henry V. prevenieJ alt comniD-
niraiidn belWMn the mother and her son.'

Ariiiiir wns donmcil in waste the Dower of hin youth in a rigornus
ccinftni-meiit. 6ni In the Tower «{ London, and afieru'ards in Fotiierin-
g»y Cnstle, Henry V. being loo much exanpemted against hi
to Jannnn'a inlerceMiona, either for hi« release, or ransom. Hem
liowcver, continued to treat his royal step-mother with great
At tlie rea.st of St George, 1410, queen Joanna, who was a lady of th«
Gari«r, with the king's aunis, ilie queens of Spain and Portugal, his sii-
tera, the queen of Denmark ami dueliesa of Holland, received each eight
rlla nfhlue-colnured cloth, with two furs made of three hundred bellies
if minivrr, and one hundred and seventy garter stripes, to correspond^
:.i make them robes, furred and embroidered with the military order of
:^ie Gnrier. all alike, as the gifl of the king. Henry, on this occasion,
[■rrsenteil rlnth and fur to a chosen number of the great ladies of the
I 'iiirt. as well as to the princes of the blood-royal, and to the knighl
>r the Garter, that they might all appear in llie robea of their order, to
;tiicc [he high festival of that year.'

Heury was induced lo conclude a iruc« wiih the duVe ofBrciagne, isii
!'■ Iiini)u>lf specilies, "al tlie prayer of Joanna."' whom he styles " lhaif>(
< \rHleni and most dear lady, the queen, our mother." This was in tlttf*
>.arl417. ^

King Iknry directed his collectors of the port of London to allaw^J
three scaleil cases of money, sixty pipes of wine, seven baskets of lamp^
two bales of cloth of Joa»plin.' and one barrel of anchovies, coming !••]
hi" drarest mother, Joanna, queen of Rngland, at her need, in the abio^
oiled ihe St. Nicholas of Nantes, lo pass, in July 1418, witliout ci£'
Icctiiig any impost, or due. The same day, he direcis the aulhoritiea
n( llie |)orU o( Plymouth and Dartmouth to admit, free of all duly,
JuImii dp Moine, from the puns of Brclagne, with eight great barrels
of win* of Tyre and Matmsry. for his dearest mother, Joanna, queen
England, flora her son, the dulie of Bretngne.

Titc year following, Joanna was nrresieil at her dower palace of Hi
wring Bower, by the order of the duke of Bedford, the regent of En|
land. These an Walsingham, a contemporary historian's words:' —
■•The king's step-moilier, queen Johanne, being accuiied by certain per-
sons of an act of witchcraft, which would have tended lo the king's
hum, was committed (all her atiendanis being removed) to llie custody
nf air John Pelham, who, having furnished her with nine servants, placed
her in Povonsey Caslle, there lo be kept under his control."* Joanna's

■ HiKinirv d Anut, 3cine Ihic ilfv Btclngnc. Ftom tit llairii Nicolas' Aki'ii^ouii,
p. 1-18, rr,l. ii. • Kj-mcr'i Fad.-ra. • Ibiii.

• Bj-inflf < Trr^rn. Thj* floih w«i a fjwcio of tin*n mannrnPlUro, much
ibr natum nf HiiHand ; i< was the llii<-*l b[ tliat linMi oatJM] ReDun ohitli,
wbfeli R[«iat[nB WBi Ikinoiu in ib« mlddto ngpt. Rrnnoi ulivpta were oRml
by will. ■! ruHlf luiutict; ilirjr Ilpiie in sir John Falatafl"! boufphold iiiVf

•Liii'wiH' Holingihad, Spowl. «iow. Pailiitmonurf hUiorjr of Englnnd.

•Ill* Chronicle of London, a cimirmponif. sIbo pvM ihii accauni:— .
lUi ■"■"« jimt Frere KaadoK^ a master of divinity, tbai Kime tims Vm
L, IIOL. lU. — 7

t.rtJ

I

JOANNAOF NAVARRB.

principal acciuer was her confcMor, Juhn Randoll^ a Mikimit !■>
thotJ£h it flceniB Henry had hail previous mronnation that ttM fMft-
dowager, Willi tlie aid of two domealic SDrreren, Roger CoUci of Sife^
hury. and Peiroiiai BrocarL,was dealing with the poweis of duiaaafiv
)uB destruction.' Jnhn Ramlolf was arrnwd al the Ule oT Gatmaafi«i
Bent over to the king in Noraiandr.' where his coiil'cssioiu emu laimt
(Iriennined Henry to proceedings of the utmoei riguurt againx hi« npt
tn<>iher-in-lnw, who was, aa we ha«e said, fonliwith arrtrsied. wilk Al
suspected members of tier household, and committed as a close pnasatf,
tirst to ilie casile of Leeds, one of her owa palaces, and afterwanh M
tliai uf Perensey. She was, by Henry's order, deprived not oalytiba
rich dovror lands and teuementa, but of all her money, funiiiare. tid
porsonal properly, even to her wearing appnreL IJer Benaata wcn^
missed, aiid others placed ahout lier by the autlioriiy of her giK>U>,Mt
John felham.* These circumBtancea are all ael forth in the (oiiemin
extract from the Parliamentary Rolls for 7tli Ueiiry V. ; —

W remembftpd Ant, upon iiilbrnialion givni to the Woj, Oar miwlip
s well b/ the relBliun snil coiireaiion Of one A-iar John BamlolC «f A(
onlpr of Prian Minoas, ai bf other cin>i<i)>le eviilvnc^ that JidiaiuM, i|ii«ia rf
En^^nnd, had compkssed anil iinagineil the deatb and dcstructioD cf ammi
it higli and horrible mantier lh»l oould be ilsTHat; As
whiuli conipBfsinE, imaginaiioii, and dettmDticm, hove heun i>pmlf \ia\i\ittt
' loughom all Enslaod. So ii ii liy llie council of tlia lord ibc king MtnMt
BUMiled and ordaineil. iliai, amongn other things, all ihe gooili aiul i hMWll nf
tb* (aid queen, and also all the ^uodi and cliallels of Ri^er Collea at "atiifcai
and of Pvuonel Bnwnrt, lamty roiiding widi lh« wd •^ueeli, wbo ■>* iiiwuhbSJ
smpected of the *aiil ireaenn, in wlime hand* (oerer tbey n>«r be. wliirit <!•
■aid queen had (or tlie said ollivr pi-cw)D« betbrs named) on ihe 2Tili i^d
September loil patl and tmec. and alto ntl ibo isauea, renu, iae. cf all naaba
miinciT>i &c., which Ihe tnid (jueen lielil iu dower ami otlietwLw, sbOBld to»
ceived and kept by ttie treasurer of England, or bii deputy fiir tb« tiraa taa«
CDstodf of the said goude and ohatt«l*, &c„ aiul ikal lMH>
pairni Bbould be passed under tha great seal ia thai bebaLT; and do* tka Mil
rer or bis deputy slionlil ptoviila (br the support ofiha sul i]u«— . mA tf
lia a»jgned to her, hoa rally, according to the adnoo of Uio coustiL <T»4
n lliis pnrliairtent. And because it wa> doubted whether penous koMJ >
(its, Ac, to the queen could be aiirel/'lisehaiged. it i» occUiM^ iBdnl|»
fenlpnrliBinenI, itilip lequeitof the Commons assembled, all sorh penoM,)^

paymt

lo the (zeosnre

cied Bgaiiui tbe said <)oeaB to afi ■■>

In the iMiie Boll for the same year* is the followiiig ealry : —
"27ib Korembct. To sir John Pclhain, linighi, appoinlBcl bjr the tine W
ouncil for tlie EnTernance and safe cnfilwly of Jc«o queeD of GogliUKL !■ ^

qUeen''* eonfeunr, a

, , le exciting of the aaid queen, by torcerf and

Wrought for lo atlroif flio king; but, is God wolde, I:'* "-'

etpied, wherefore by

I Cliionide — ■—■>■-
bnurne

... , . Jbifeiied li.>r b'.iti.'' tin
•,at.tt<t lua tiri;iuii»i«ii.,-n ti r,i icui pomry willi the 5i"gf of B'ns. On»

— ^ -.•^elf says, Joanna committed an intklnoai mak/Idnm, an'l *«• '^

6om her lainti]' and giTen to the chai^ of lord idlia Pelliam iu (t» oaitil (f
Pevensey. He notes it in the events of 1410.
'Holingshed. Mbid. Par

*IUii. Pai'iLsmenUTT %eco^&i, 'Henn- V.

JdANNAOFKAVARRS. 75

i-r puid lo bim bj tlia hnoili or tiiahnrcl Je Venr, hi>r Mqiiiri^, in iidr<in», fbt
II I'pan nnil fnTa cu»uh\y ot llie <|uri:ii aTaieHiu!, IGliC^L J3i. -Id. Muter Po-
' IJTball wu appoiiittHi tlic Baid qiipcti's pliysicinu.'"

'^ liiW Kt'iiiwt UB«rtB Ihal Jonnna was brought to a trial, thai tsbe wu

> uted, and forfeited her goods by aenlence of parliament ; bul of this

' in not ihp alighieeit proof, On Uie contrary, it is quite certain, that

i;i-XTit was allowed an opportunity of juaiifying'heraeif from the dark

L.uions iliBt were brought a^inai her. She was coodemned unheard,

. iiilnl of her properly, and consigned to years of solitary confine-

:. without the slightest regard lo law, or justice. Her perliiliaus con-

.- 1 >r. Kaudolf, while ttispuling with the paraon of St Peter's nil Vincula,

«-as for ever silenced, by the combative priest atraiigling him, in the

dmIx uf his debate.' The fiiry with which the argument was pursued,

(ltd it* murderous termination, would suggest the idea, ihui the guilt or

iiiii>cence of their royal mistreaa must have been the subject of diacus-

■II Be this as it may, the death of KanUolf, under these circumstaDCes,

■ gndeiuiled ilie "high and horrible means" whereby the royal
■ ivi was accused of practising aKoinst the liife of the king. He waa

only wtinesf against her; and, by his death, the whole a&ir remaina
utinag the most inscrulable of historical mysteries.

There ia. however, among the unpublished papers of Rymer, a docn-

neni which aeeoia to throw aome light on the af&ir, by evidencing the

•~»i*>u» ailempts of Henry V. to extort from Joanna the pritrcipal part

n-r di>wer in loans ; for, we lind some liroe before her arrest and dia-

, I . thai in the beginning of Uie year, he enjoins " hia dear chevalier

ii'im Kynwolmerah, to send all the sums of money he can possility

. w' of the dower of Johane, the queen, late wife of our sovereign

. :inJ lire, the late king, whom God assoil. I.et tliese sums be sent

.1 lime lo time without fail, leaving hrr only mpnry tnougk for ker

'•'•nabit riprnKa, and In pay any annuiiiea she may lia*e grante<)."

hi :ill prohabihly, Joanna's resiaiance of this oppression was answered

■ r arrest, on the frivolous accusniion which alTorded the king a pre-
.1 for replenishing his exhausterl coffers, at her expense.
'<'anna did not enjoy the solace of her young and gallant son Arthur's

^iiiiipany, in her capiivity. Their doleful years of durance were wasted
la aeparali) prison-housra.

The relum of the royal victor of Agincourt, wiih hia beautiful and
iluatriona bride, brought no amelioratioD to the coniliiion of the unfor-
tunaie qncen-ilo wager and her son. Kaiherine of Valois was nearly
rclal«(l in blood to Joanna of Navarre, being the daughter of her cousin-
icrmain, Cliarlcs VI. Kaiherine was also sister to the youne dnehesa
[>r Breiagiie, Joanna's daugliler-in-law ; yet she received neither aympa-
Ihjr Dur attention from her, but had the moiiitlcation of knowing that
bv dower, or, at least, ihe larger part of il, waa appropriaied u> maiiK
lain Kaiherine's state, as ijueeii of England.

: ■ vHii't Ettiaen fnm fell Rnsordi. p. 36i.

: li-y't Hitioiy ol tlie Tawef. Ppocd. HolingilieJ.
' uoif Jmwi i* ih« eipmsion used by the king. Unfubliahod MSS. of Ryawt

(■../. HuLcaiil. r.

I

I

I

J

I

JOAXSA OF NAVARRB. ^^H

Bmry V. lAewiM prsMnled the abbM* of Syoa with a thoumml marks,
from iht re»enuM of the impriBoned quwn.'

W« find, ii) ihc acM of ihe Pri*y Counfil, thm Hptiry fptnni*d t
favourable answer to ihe petition t>f William Pomeroy. one of J*«niia'«
Mifutrca, who liumhly snpplicntcs for a continuance of a petisioQ nf
twenty ninrlk!! a^ytuir, which liad furmirrly been gninie<! by the ijnwn
Joliaiicie, ill reward <>f hia long and faitliful iervires to Iter. Ilimr)-,
with his own liBud, has writian, "We wol that he haw thn twenty
marc*.'"

Ill tJie fourth year of hn captivity, nn important prisoner of slate ww
GoRKi^ni^il to the same fortress in whirh the cjueen-ilo wager wns iiirar-
ccratcil. This was sir John Mortimer, ihd ancle of the rairl of Mnrch.'
Ilin freqiieni altempla to escape from the Tower, caused him to be rv-
inoved l<> ihe gloomy fortress of Pevensey. The widow of Heiiry IV.
being confined within the same dark walls with this fettered liun of the
rival house of Mortimer, is a cnriout and rotnaniic circumstance. Yet,
when Moriimrr arrived at Pevensey, the perio<l of Joanna's incarcention
there whs drawing to a close. Her royal persecutor, the piiissnut con-
queror of Fmnce. feeling the awful mnmenl was al band when ho mtm
Uy his sceptre in ihe dual, and render up an aecounl of ilie iiiannet in
which he had exercised his regal powpr. was seized with late remotM
for iJie wn>ng and robbery of whicli he had been guilty towards hii
biher's widow; and, knowing tlial repentance wiiliout mtituiion isef
little arail in a cAse of conscience, he addressed die fuilowiog Injuticlica
to the bishops and lords of his council, dated July 13, 14S9 :

"Rl^t wocdiiiirul Aiihfir* in God, out lighi (ru«ir nml well-lj*Ti> ' i'
ws have inken inio our hand lilt a renoin lime, and fbt lucb cun-
iha doweri oT mir minUei, <|ueen JolmnTie, eieepl » crttniii j'
jraarlr. which we oiaigiird fbr ili» expciue reatDmbln of hct. [i<
nwmf' tbal alioutd be atxnit taei : we, doubling lail it ibonld bo u 1 1 „
OODHieDCis for in uooiipy funb Inosec Ihe taiJ dowei tn this wi-r, tIi' u.l;l<b
ehargs we he advi»d no lonser lo besr on oui mnuifDCe, Will and cUmr^ r^ i
fli fa will appeat bi'bre Gud Toi ui in Ibii aiar, and Unnd diwLai^iMl in jnt ]
own Eonnience also, that jrs make deliTetanoo unio our taid mother, ili>.' igniK^i.
wholly ofher said dewer, and lulfei h« to r«Five It aaihe did Im-
that (he make bar oAcBn whom ihe liit (in ihry bo oar lii-C'
men), and tlial Ihtrrclore we have given in charge and Domin n
time, lo uiake hoi full riulitntion of hei dower above aaid. Purilj< '

and char^ jrou that her beds and all other iliing« movenblot Iho,. ^.. _

ft deliver bor again. And ordain her that >he bare of mob cloiti niii! ui <•
colour ai she will deviie heTErlfT-Ot n. Ei>wiu, luch ■■ ihe unelli low-vr. t
beeann we 4iippoB« she will soon remove from die place where (he now !>, I
ye ordain hei lioraea Ibr eleven thertt,* and let her reicx>vc them inki wbaw^
plare within oiii raalm that her liil and when her lilt, ibi.

" Wriuen iho ihtrleenth day of July, ihe year of our reign lenlh.'*

'Tyler^LifrofHenrr V.

■ Acts of i'riv/ counoil. Edited by air Hartia Kicolo*. rol. ii p, 301 'B

•HouselioM Brrvsiiw; fioin wlUah woid e«iuet Ihe term ineniaL

JOAK.IAOPNAVARRS. 77

In cuinuion jusuce, Henry ought lo have made tliis amende perfect,
by mldiiig a ilecUration of lits royal siep-ni oilier'* iiinoreiice, frora ihe
foul clmrgo which had bpeii the ostensible pretext fur iho pei'^erulion to

Bliicli she had been subjected. His letter cotiiain» in effpct. howeTcr,
not thr' worils, a coiupktc exoneratinn of queen Jonrnin ; and it appenrs
IKcniinuibir, tliat any upulogisl &hoiild be fourul lu Jusiify the con-
wror (if A);incourt for acta which were ao sore a bunlen i<i bis dqNirt-
ing spiriL, and which he hiniMlf coufessM, in (his 'mejiiorHble lelitrr - that
he hud been adfieed no longer to bear on hii conacJeiicr," lest lio xhuiild
rue ii Ikere&Aer.

The spoliation of the queen-downgcr hnil extentted, we linil, tvon to
ihe irq lie strati on of her beds and rich array. She hnd cetiHinly been
compelled to divest herself of her queenly atlire. and to nssinne thv
course gnrb of penance. Whether tlie pcece-ollcring of live or six new
gowns, with the royal permission for llie injured lady lo citnsuli her own
taste in die colour, material, and fashion of tlic tame, was coii-^idcreil bjr
Joanna as a sulHcieni compensation for (he wrong and robltery and
wcHfv imprisonmeni she had undergone, is doubtful. But, be this as k
nii^hi, and even if the gowns (which tlie warlike majesty of England M
aolcmidy enjoins his chancellor, and Uie other lords spiritual unil tna^
jtnnl ol" hifl cooucil, lo endow her with) were promptly rendered, il is
ceruiii »he coulJ not have enjoyed the satisliietion of appearing iJi ihem :
courtly eiiqueiie compelling her, within seven weeks aAer the dale of
lli^nry'i letter of restiluiinn, to assume the mockery of mourning weedi
for his decease. This eveni occurred August 31, 142'!. Bui, it appears,
that some amelioration had previously taken place in regard In JiKiniui*s
capliviiy i for, by a contemporary document, it is evident she had been
rcmoTcd m Leeds Castle, the same summer, aa the following entries
appear in her household book,' dated July 14th, first year onienry Vr
It ix lo he observed, thai first ihe duke of Gloucester, and then cardinal
Bcvtifort. visited her, just before the formal oflieial notice nf Henry's
penitence, and assuredly brought her private intelligence of the changv
m her favour ; for, on June the 12ih, is an item "- iluii the duke dined
with her at Leeds, and went away after dinner ; expanses for the feasL
4l. if" and, on the Sd of the next month, "cardinal Beanfort diiwa
with lier at a cost of 4/. 14«. 2d." Hor oblations and alms "at llw
Crosa of tlie chapel within Leeds Castle came to Cn. B J. ;" but sdw '
' I in a stock of Gascon (clarel). Rochelle and Rhenish wines, at dia
It of 50/. U*. 4ii. Her alms seem influenced by her usual avarioe,

e could find money to buy so ttiuch wine, she mieht h

rated her ligtud deliverance from captivity and ofaloqny by a lai

'^'outlay than a mark. All her recorded donations appenr despical

nnn ; indeed, this precious historical document singularly confinna

Mtimale of her character, that grasping avarice was the chief source

■Thii inninnnuun i* icatlirrcd Brom one o( the rnlunbli- dooumei
IseUDD ol'air TluJinu fliillippa. of Mi>)iJlahill, WaTRe>ter*hir«. TbI* gHullni
Willi ■ lilienlirf only •qu■Ut^d bj bi* mnniSoeTwe in porchasing HSS. (oontal
iag iba uue inuiUln"Dla of biuoT)') tuu ponnined at tiM only wnm ta bia MAM
bal tJtiKlrd tiia ovm ailvii^ aail aatiilsnoa iu th« tnniarivtvm oC ivWraasak^

I

I

1 oz. oi DiucK uiread, 1
to Agnes i^iowe, of th(
good stTvirt'sj lo the (jl
to plead lor ilie queen
the queen, 6*-. Sd. N(
the amount of a mark,
of green ginger, 95. 6d.
cinnamon, 75. lOd. T
and 7(2. for those of hei

Notwithstanding the
Joanna'*s dower, the ir
count of the manner ii
had, in fact, sold, mon
sons, besides endowing
\vith the town and app
which had been scttlec
The smoothing of such
to all parties ; and we
was presented from the
all the grants made by t
ment, that she might re<

The answer to the p<
all points, provided tha
the queen's lands, shouli
at the same term, or
crown.'"

Joanna of Navarre a

JOAMHAOFNAVARRE. 79

ft« Rylrnti relrest of flavering Bower. She aho kepi her slate innia>-
times Dt Lan^\ey, where her riflirement was enlivencJ occasionnlly b^
ihows, na ihp rude ihenlrirtil entertain menu of the (lAeciilh century
were ileijj^ai«(t. We leom, from a conlemparary rhmnicle, ihnt in tJie
ninth year of Henry VI. a grievous and lerrihltt lire took plsri-, at the
nanor tif the lady queen Joauua, at Langley, in wliicli lliere was great
destruction of the buildingB, furniture, gold and silver plate, and liouee-
bold Bluff These diMaiers happened '• through the want of care, and
drowaiiiese. of a pinyer, and tlie heedless keeping of a randle.^"

This tire is the last event of any importance that befell the royal
widow, aAer her restoration to her rights. Joanna was treated with aU
|»rop«r coiisidoretion, by the graiulson of her deceased consort, the
young king Henry VI. While residing at her palace of Langley, 1437,
ahe was honoured with a new-year's gift, from this amiable prince, aa a
lokea of his respect. This was a tablet of gold, garnished with four
balaM rubies, eight pearls, and in the midst a great sapphire. The tablet
had been Ibrmerlv presented to ihe young kin^, by iny lady of Glouees-
■er ; whether by Jacqueline or Eleanora Cobhara, is \e(t doubtful.'

In the July following, Joanna died at Havering Bower. This event
is thns Qoaintlv noted by the chronicle of London, a contemporary re-
cord :— *

"This same year, Bth of July, died queen Jane, king Henry IV.'t
wife. Also Ihe same year died el! the lions in the Tower, the which
was nought seen in no man's lime before out of mind."

Joanna was certainly turned of seventy at the time of her death,
which occurred iu the l^lleenih year of Henry VI., 1437. She survived
her first tiusbaiid, John duke of Bretagne. nearly thirLy-«iglit years, and
her second. Henry IV. of England, twenty-four.' She had nine children
Vy ttie duke of Rrciogne:* Joanna, who died in mfancy; John, who
ancceeded his ilithrr, and died in 1443; Marie, duchess of Alen^on,
who died in 1446; Blnnehc^ countess of Armagnac, and Margaret, vis-
couutess Bohan, both of whom died in the flower of youth, supposed
U> have been poisoned ; Arthur, eorl of Richmond, so long a captive '
England, who afterwards became illustrious in French history, as thfl
vaJiani count de Kichemonte ; Jules, the third son of Joanna, died in
England, 1112; Hichnrd, count d'Estampes, died the year after hW
The queen had no children by Henry IV.
le following eummunses were issued by Henry VI. to tlie nobles,
ukI female, to do honour to the funeral of tliis queen : —

PTruirr and wcll-l»lovpd cousin, know M miiph as wc, by name of
IB oTGIoucvulec. mill otiiei or out coiirwil, Imvr aiipoinwd Ihe ruiirn
idmoiliei queen Jonnnn (wliom Ooil auoilp) to bp holdm nni( tulirn
^larlwry, the iiitli ilay of Aui^bi nnit nniins. B«lieve ibst we I
■aWd the said uncie, sni) other lords and Indiea of our realm, Hnil yo
~ . k fir 'A< itMH}. to be nndy, for ibo nmc day v the worthip of God a
■ Mill pand mother ; we ilfite, IfapTpfoie, amt pray you (putting a~

art. HSS. 3773, ait. 9.

4

\
I

wav to Caiiterburv Caihet
which her pious care hai
consort, licnry IV. A su
auspices for that monarch
in solemn state, near the
like her portrait in the pic
very lovely woman ; her I
anns ; her bust beautiful,
expression o^ finesse ; the
singularly high, and at th
upw^ards ; the whole gives
wrought in alabaster, enai
her beautiful arms are na
mantle, fastened to the bac
passes round the corsage
shoulders. Her bosom 8
throat is a collar of SS, ve
this ornament. Studs, set
cotehardi, which is a tight
round her hips is a band o
in full folds over her feet.

Joanna^s device, an erm
her motto, "Temperance,
Her arms may be seen by t
iication, "Regal Heraldry,*
the windows of Christchui

The tomb of king Henr

JOANNA OF NAVARRB. 81

posed to credit the statement of a contemporary, though certainly not
unprejudiced chronicler, subjoined.

The testimony of Clement Maydestone^ translated from a Latin MS,
in the library of Bennet College^ Cambridge^ 1440 : —

"Tliirty days after the death of Henry IV., Septt^inbcr 14ih, 1412,* ono of his
dctmesiics came to the house of tlie Holy Trinity at Hound!>iow, and dined there.
And ns the byjttanders were talking at dinner-time of the kin^r's irreproachable
nicirals, this man said to a certain es<iuire name<l Thomas MaydeKtone, tlien sit-
ting at table, * Whether ho was a gnotl man or not, God knows, but of this I am
c^Ttnia, that when liis corpse "was carried from Westminster towards Canterbury
(l>y water) in a small vessol, in order to be buried there, I and two more threw
his corpse into tlie sea between Birkingham and Gravesend. For,* he added
IV i til an oath, * we were overtaken by such a storm of winds and waves, that
many of the nobility who followed us iu eight :iliips were dispersed, so as with
much difficulty to escape IxMng lost But we who were with the body, despair-
ing of our lives, with one consent threw it into the sea ; and a great calm ensued.
The coffin in which it lay, covered with a cloth of t^old, we carried, with great
■olemnity, to Canterbury, and buried it ; the monks of Canterbury therefore say,
that the tomb, not the bixly of Henry IV., is with us! As Peter said of holy
JUavid.' As God Almighty is my witness and judge, 1 >aw this roan, and heard
him speak to my father, T. Maydestone, that all the almve was true.

''Clkmbnt Matdbstostx."

Tills wild and wondrous tale, enuinatin^ as it docs from a source so
suspicious as Henry's sworn foes, the two Maydestones,' we are disposed

*Both dates are incorrect; Henry died March 20, 1413.

•The narrative of Clement Maydestone was considered by the antiquarians of
tho present century sufficiently worthy of attention to cause the examination of
die loinh of Henry IV. and his queen Joanna, which took pln«'e Au^ist 21, 1832,
in tlie presence of the bi:>hop of Oxford, lady Harriet and sir rharles Bajiot, John
Alfred Kemp, esq., ice. We give tlie following account from the testimony of
an eye-witness : —

•* When the rubbish vms cleared away, we came to what appeared to be the
lid of a wooilen case of very rude form and construction ; upon it, and entirely
within the monument, lay a leaden coffin, without any wooden case, of a nmch
tmaller sire and very singular slmi>e." From the wotxlcut given, the Inst nl)ode
of Joanna of Navarre, queen of England, resembles what children call an apple
turmiver. It was her coffin which rested on that of her lord.

** Not l>eing able to take otf the lid of the large coffin, as a great portion of its
length was under the tomb, they sawed an aperture in the lid. Immediately
under the coffin-boanl was found a quantity of haybands filling the coffin, and
on the surface of them lay a very rude small cros?, fornied by merely tying two
twigs together. Tliis fell to pieces on being moved. When the haybands, which
were very sound and perfect, were removeil, we found a leaden case or coffin,
in some degree moulded to the shape of a human figure ; it was at once evident
this had never been disturl)ed, but lay as it was originally dei)osited, tliough it
may IjC difficult to conjecture why it was placed in a ca?e so rude and unsightly,
and so much too large for it that the haylmnds had been u«ed to keep it steady.
AAer cutting through lend and leather wrappers, the covers were lifted up, and
die face of tlie king appeared in perfect preser\*ation ; the nose elevated, the
CHiUlnge even remaining, though on the admission of air it rapidly sank away.
The skin of the chin entire, of the consistence, tliickness, and colour of the upper
katbor of a shoe; the beard thick and matted, of a deep russet colour; the Jaws

F

perfect, and all the teeth in rlie
of Navarre was not examined
Although tlie gentlenian to
pears convinced that he has <<
cumstances corroborative of t
•orb as the absence of the rej
of England were alway:* adon
the outer caae and the leaden
space witli haybands ; as if, a
to the roaring waves, they hj
from some vault or cemetery <
haybands. llie cross of wii<
natural fears had been excitei
the skin, too, is inconsistent w

* In an old topo^rniphteal wo
iBted even in the laet centnry
iie site of her &vourite palace

KATHERINE OF VALOIS,

BTJENAMBD THE FAIR,

CONSORT OF HENRY V.

CHAPTER I.

Early calamities of Katherino— Abducted by her mother — Recaptured — Henir
prince of Wales — Bo&therine demanded for him — His accession as Henry V.
—Reiterates his demand — Refused — His invasion of France — ^Agincourt—
Marriage-treaty renewed — Katherine's picture — Henry's exorbitant demands
—Interview of Katberine and Henry V.— Her beauty — Henry in love with
her — His anger — Treaty broken — Renewed after two years — Katherine .writes
to Henry — She is offered with the crown of France — Receives Henry at
Troyes — Betrothed — Queen's knight — Marriage of Katherine and Henry —
Queen's dower — French marriage-ceremonial — Letters descriptive of mar>
riage— Musical taste of the queen— She enters Paris in state— Voyage to En9>
land — Grand coronation — Her friendship for the king of Sct»ts — Northern
progress— Katherine left in England — Disobedience — Birth of her son (Henry
Vl.) — ^Katherine's maids — Her guest — JCatherine writes to tlie king — Prepares
to join him in France.

Katherine of Valois was a babe in the cradle when Henry V., at
prince of Wales, became an unsuccessful suitor for the hand of her eldest
•ister Isabella, the young widow of Richard W

Katherine was the youngest child of Charles VJ., king of France, and
his queen, Isabeau of Bavaria ; she was bom at a period when her father's
health and her mother's reputation were both in evil plight She first
saw the light, Oct 27, 1401, at the H6tel de St Paul,' in Paris, a palace
which was used during the reign of Charles VI. as a residence of retire-
ment for the royal family, when health required them to lead a life of
more domestic privacy, than was possible at the king's royal court of
the Louvre. The young princess was reared at the H6tel de St Paul,
and tliere did her unfortunate sire, Charles VI., spend the long agonising
intervals of his aberrations from reason, during which the infancy of bis
little daughter was exposed to hardships, such as seldom fall to the lot
of the poorest cottager.

Queen Iwbeau joined with the king's brother, the duke of Orleans, hi
pilfering the revenues of the royal household ; and to such a degree dirl

' See the Lifo of Isabella, commencement of the volume.
* Moreri, — Katherine.

}>alace of Si. Paul, was still i
of liis niisory, till one day he
the disarray and neirh'ct arou:
from hi.s attack of delirium, 1
tions, without any intermedia
was, that directly llie news >
Spoke and looked composedl
with Louis of Orleans to Mil
her brother, and the partisan
children.

Louis not only obeyed thii
his two young brothers, and
with them the children of i
forces having arrived at the 1
children, the duke of Burgun(
suit of them : for the heir of
to Katherine"'s sister, Michelli
pursuers overtook the two pr
sing themselves of the childrc
ihey res|)ectfully asked the t
*' whither he would please t
return to my father." He wt
Paris, with his sister Kaiher
France.'

After the duke of Burtjund'
m the streets of Paris, the con
that she was imprisoned at

KATHBRINB OF VALOIS. 85

Henry V. is supposed to have been bom in 1387. Monmouth Castle,
the place of his birth, belonged to his mother^s inheritance : it is one of
the most beautiful spots in our island. As Henry was a sickly child, he
was, according to tradition, taken to Courtfield to be nursed, a village
about five or six miles from Monmouth. His cradle is still preserved,
and is shown as a curiosity at Bristol.* The name of his nurse was
Joan Waring, on whom, afVer he came to the tlirone, he settled an an-
nuity of 20/., for her good services performed for him. He was given
a learned education, the first foundation of which was, in all probability,
laid by his mother, who was, as Froissart expressly declares, skilled in
Latin, and in cloister divinity.

This princess died in the year 1391,* early in life, leaving an infant
fiimily, consisting of four sons and two daughters.^ The maternal grand-
mother of young Henry, the countess of Hereford,* bestowed some care
on his education. This is proved by the fact, that he left in his will, to
the bishop of Duiham, a missal and a portophorium^ given to him by his
dear grandmother.

Henry was extremely fond of music, and this taste was cultivated at
a very early age ; in proof whereof the household book of his grand-
sire, John of Gaunt, may be cited. New strings were purchased, for
the harp of the young hero, before he was ten years old. About the
same time tliere is a charge for the scabbard of his little sword, and for
an ounce of black silk to make his sword-knot ; and, moreover, four
shillings were expended in seven books of grammar, for his use, bound
up in one volume. There is likewise an item, for payment of a courier
to announce to Henry of Bolingbroke the alarming illness of the young
lord Henry, his son.

Richard 11., during the exile of Bolingbroke, took possession of his
heir. The education of young Henry was finished in the palace of his
royal kinsman, who made him his companion in his last expedition to
Ireland. Here young Henry was made a knight banneret, by the sword
of the king, after distinguishing himself in one of the dangerous, but
desultory combats with the insurgents.

While Richatd went to fulfil his ill-fortune in England, he sent young
Henry to the castle of Trim, in Ireland, with his cousin-german, Hum-

fi1rey,duke of Gloucester, whose father he had lately murdered. Young
enry was brought home from Ireland (afler his father had revolution-
ised England) in a ship fitted out for that purpose by Henry Dry hurst,
of W^est Chester. He met with his father at Chester, and in all proba-
bility accompanied him, on his triumphant march to London. Creton
affirms that Henry IV. made his son prince of Wales, at his coronation.
^ But I think,'' adds Richard's sorrowing servant, ^ he must win it first,

' It wa.« formerly at Troy House, a seat of the duke of Beaufort

•Walj«ing!jam ; Speed.

* Henry V/s mother was buried within King's Cc liege, Leicester. He paid for
s likeness of her to be placed over her tomb. — Pell Rolls.

*This lady was alive long afler Henry had aaeended the throne, and had won
tae victory of Agiiicourt.
VOL. tu. — 8

I

KATnEBINE OF VALOI8.

I for the whole Un<] of Wales is in « lUte of rerolt, oh kccoimt of ili*

wronga of our dear lord, kiug Ilicliiinl."
1 There Is reason to suppose that, nller hii sire's coronatioD, pnnce
I Heiiry completed his eilucation at Oxford : for there is an antique ebaiu-
I b«r of Queen's Collie pointed out by SQCcessive ^ner«iioR*, u oner
t lltviiig been inlMbited by Henry. This is a loom orcr the gsiewiv.
1 opposite to Su Edniuml's llall. A portrait of Henry was paioicil iik ili*
I glass o{ the wiiiilow,' and uodet it these versea in Latin : — ^h

"To record ihe bet tor eret, ^^H

Th« Emperor of Brilsin, ^^H

The trlumgiliant LokI of France, ^^H
Ths ounqueroi of tui «nemies ami Uitoult

Of ibis !iti!e cliBioliec once the great itiliiibitanL"

Fuller, who lived mora than a hundred yeara afler Henry, point* Mt
tlte sBoie coLege-chainber as the abiding place of the prince.

Hejiry was placed at Oxford, under the tutorship of his bsltwuki
Henry Beaufort, a young, handsome, and turbulent ecclesiastic, wboM
imperious haugliliness did not arise from bis ascetic rigidity of n
as a piiesu* Beaufort had accompanied his charge to Ireland, i
Itirned with him to England. The early sppointnienl of the piii
Ueiiienant of Wales, March 7lh, 14(13, limits the probable time c
■ojourn al Oxford, as a student, to the period between lite commi
meiil of the year I4UU and 1402. The prince was but sixteen when ftc
fought coursgeously at thai great conflict, where his fatlier's erown ci*
coniesled. Al the battle of Shrewsbuij-, when advancing too r&^y oa
tfie enemy's forces, he received a wounii with an arrow in the lac«, ih*
Kar of which might be seen all his life. Being advised to retire, ibat
Ihe steel might be drawn out, '-To what place P" said he; » who wilt
remain fighting, if I, the prince, and a king's son, retire ror fear, it the
first taste of steel ? Let tny fellow-soldiers see that I bleed at the Sat
onset; for deeds, not words, are the duties of princes, who shoaU Mt
the example of boldness.'"

Until after 1407, the prince of Wales was actively employed ia the
Welsh campaigns. Allliuugh Glenduwer was finally be«t«] b«clt to his
mountain finesses, yet the whole of the principality whs, during the
reign of Henry iV., but a nominal appendage to the English mooardiy.
Thus dnprived of the revenues annexed to his title, tlie gnllant Hairy
was subjected to the moel grinding and bitter poverty. U» wihl diMi-

uc, «twM

prioo^H

me of^^^l

bIh99 liBil gteadf falloD into
ibliged lo iiiipori tlia wuidCM*,
Ins* pormit btioet iIm

'TjfloTa Henry V.— Th« «M of pninung
ifter Km BoteMJon o{ Hrnry VII., wUo wi
MBfipl^■l^ WesiiniiisiPi, fiam Don. Thi
I HWtial nesr Henry's own times.

' BsHunirt'i bctruyal ot ■ (lauifhiet of the illuMiious house of
■ by ia< will.

f ■ TmiislDied from ibe Latin of Tiuu Lirjiu of Priuli, a leiniail man, '
f tf Huinplirej-, duke of Oluuc-ealer, &ii<t employeil hf h' ' '

"in broOier; wliioli work is (aa migbi be eipooteilj more teploia wUlT
Li tlian inctdeut.

KATHBRINB OF VAL0I8. 87

ptdon seems to have comnienced after his desultory rampais^ns in Wales
concluded, when he returned to court with no little of the license of the
partisan soldier.* His extreme poverty, which was shared by his royal
sire, made him reckless and desperate, and had the natural consequence
of forcing liim into company helow his rank.

Stow, in his Annals, declares ^ the prince used to dis^ise himself and
lie in wait for the receivers of the rents of the crown lands, or of his
fiuher's patrimony, and in the disguise of a highwayman -set upon them
and rob them. In such encounters he sometimes got soundly beaten,
but he alwa3rs rewarded such of his father's officers who made the stouts
est resistance.''*

But Henry's wildest pranks were performed at a manor of his, close
to Coventry, called Cheylesmore, a residence appertaining to his duchy
of Cornwall. Here prince Hal and some of his friends were taken into
custody by John Homesby, the mayor of Coventry, for raising a riot*
Cheylesmore^ was regarded by his careworn father with painful jealousy;
*^ for thither," says Waisingham, ^ resorted all the nobility, as to a
king^ court, while that of Henry IV. was deserted." But Henry did
not eonleot himself with astonishing John Homesby, the mayor of Co-
ventry, and his sober citizens, by a mad frolic now and then ; he saw
the inside of a London prison as well as the gaol of Coventry. It does
not appear that the prince was personally engaged in the uproars raised
l»y his brothers, prince John and prince Thomas, at Eastcheap, which
are noted in the London Chronicle ; but in one of these frays the lord-
mayor captured a fitvourite servant belonging to the prince of Wales, and
carried him before judge Gascoigne.^ Directly the prince of Wales heard
of the detention of his servant, he rushed to the court of justice, where
his man stood arraigned at the bar. He endeavoured with his own hands
to free him from his fetters, and, on the interference of the judge, be-
stowed on that functionary a box on the ear ; for which outrage Gas-
coigne dauntlessly reproved the prince, and, at the end of a very suitable
lecture, committ^ him to the prison of the King's Bencli, to which
Henry, who was struck with remorse at his own mad violation of the
lawa of his country, submitted with so good a g^race, that Henry IV.
nade the well-known speech; ^He was proud of having a son who

^In this asiertion we follow Titus Livius. And we ask tlie question wlujtlier,
if Henry *s wildness as a youtli had not been very notorious, would a contempo-
raiy (who is little more than a panegyrist), writing under the direction of the
kinp's brother, have dared to allude to it 1

* Speed is enraged at the playermen, who, he says, have Terified the impiit»*
tions of AJain Copus, a contemporary of sir John Oldcastle, accusing that noble
as a seducer of the prince's youth, a wild profligate, who even rubbed occasion*
ally on the highway. Shakspcarc thus had some ground? for the character of sir
John Falstafl^ whomf it will lie remembered, he calls sir John Oldcantle in his
first edition. Titus Livius describes the dismissal of sir John OUlcasiIe, befbro
the crown was placed on Henry's head, in words which authorise Nhakspeare*8
scene, excepting that the olfcnce imputed to the knight was protestantiumf rather
than profligacy. ' Appendix to Fordun, quoted by Carte.

* Cheylesmore actually descended to George IV« who sold it to the marqnls
of Hertlbrd * Harrisoa's Survey of Londoi*

X ATnER

jl

I

I

would thus submii himsdr lo the law*, anil thnt he Uad a jnd^
COuIO so Tearleasly ciilbrcu tliciu." Ttiia espluu is suppnstnj In luit
been ihe reaaan that Henry IV, retnovuU liie son from his jiUm tt tbc
privy council.

The ilesperaie slate of the yirince^a linanrea, ii is powible, might im-
tate him into tlieae exceaeo*, lor oil iiis Eiieiish reveiiuM wen tnt
litwed up in the prosecution of Uie war, lo recuiii|uer WsIm.' Indcal,
liiB chief income waa denveil Troin the grenl estates of hi* wani,ttii»ari
of March. This young prince, wlio poaseaMil s nearKr ckiu W llw
tlirone of England tluo the line of Ijkncasler, had been kept • poMwi
in Windsor Caatle, from hia iivfnticy. In 14112, Henry IV. gave iht p^
■nil of tlie minor earl) trilh llie ward^liip of his iwenncx, to hb dilM
aon — thus pulling no small temptation in the path of an ainhiiinoa yooai
hero. But here ihe *ety best trails of priiic« Henry's mixed rinincM
derelope themselves : he fonneil the lenderest friendship fur hit he^lot
ward and rival.

From lime to time TIenry IV. made stiempis to obuiti a wife for hii
heir. In the preceding memoir it has been shown that he was. in child-
hood, contracted to the eldest daiii;hier of Joanna, dnche«s ■•! Hiriiiriit,
aAerwards his atep-molher. The bioerapliy of Isabella "i '
proved how long and assiduouiily princp Henry wooed Elir v
of Lite murdered Richard, until all hoprr ended, in her ma> i
leans, Marie, the second danghier of France, was the nex' ■ ■
choice ; but she, who had been devoted to tlie cloister even
birth, on being consulted whether she would prefer on earthly
and accept the prince of Wales,* indi^iianily reproved her fiuhi
Toys, for imagining so profane a thought A daughter ol' the *
Burgundy was demanded for prince Henry, but the negotnuii
imauccesaful. At last, both the prince and his father aeeoie '
determined on obtaining the hand of the fair Catherine, the yi
the princesses of France, and a private mission was con^ded m
duke of York, to demand her in marriage for the prince of Wale
wai absent, on this errand, at the lime of the death of Henry IV.

Modem research lias found reason, for the supposititm, '
Henry was intriguing lo depose his father, just before his In
nesa. The angry assertions of Humphrey, duke of Glnncester,'
Henry Beaufort, bishop of Winchester, of the double treachery
gating the prince of VVulea to seize hia father's crown, and at ib«.
lime of plotting lo assassinate the prince. These are Glouoealer'
"■ My brother was, when prince oi Wales, in great danger oitce, nl
alept in the green chamber al Weaiminster palace. There waa
vered, by the rouie of a little spaniel belonging to the prince.s

I, to pawn liit permnal omamii
a gBrrixiDi in Walei, for no moaij tt
See lie Harris Nicolas* Acu of (htl

Jle wu ■¥«» Rirenl. at this ti
Jpiiali,'' lu he culls Ihem, lo pay
" laineil IVoiii Uie royal tevenn
incTI. vol. ii. p. fil.

In the ImiD Kolt) are ifae eipenae* of Henry IV.'t Ambundon far damsiC

'■SB >n mniliaiie, "fir [lis prince of Wales. Ihe aeeaad dangbtc^ of itia mirra^.'

'l^rliarauniarj' Rolte-, VaiViunemaiY Hiatocv, vol. ii. pp. 293, a»4.

KATHBRINB OF VALOI8. 89

reded behind the arras near the princess bed. When he was hauled out
by Henry's attendantit, a dagger was found on the man's person, and he
eonfessed he was hidden there to kill the prince in the night, instigated
by Beaufort; but when the earl of Arundel heard this, he had the assas-
sin's head tied in a sack, and flung into the Thames, to stitle his evi-
dence.'^

Although no chronology is expressly marked for these events, yet
internal evidence refers them to the close of Henry IV.'s existence, just
before the extreme indisposition of that monarcli caused the prince to
wek a reconciliation with his father. This he did in a manner usually
eonsidered very extraordinary. He came to court on a New-year's day,
dressed in a dark blue robe, worked with ailhts round the collar, to
each of which hung a needle and thread ; and this rohc,' it is asserted,
was meant to indicate how much his vilifiers had slandered him to his
royal sire. Why needles and threads should point out such an inference,
baa been an enigma ; but it is explained easily enough by the memorial-
iat of Oxfonl. There is a quaint old custom, founded by Robert de
El^lesfield, still in use in Oxford, at Queen's College, on New-year's day,
irhen the bursar presents to each of the members of the college a needle
and thread, adding this exordium —

••Take this, and be tliriny.*'

What the fellows of Queen's do now with these useful implements we
know not ; in the time of prince Hal they certainly stuck them on their
collars. The prince went to court wearing all the needles he had
received from his bursar, it being the anniversary of their presentation
on New-year's day;' he likewise wore the student's gown, which at the
aame time reminded his sire that he had not forgotten the lessons of
ihnfiiness he had imbibed at Queen's College. Thus apparelietl, he
advanced into the hall of Westminster Palace,' and leaving all his com-
pany, because the weather was cold, ^^ round about the coal iire^' in the
centre of the hall, he advanced singly to pay his duty to his father, who
was with his attendants at the upper end. After due salutation, he im-
plored a private audience of his sire. Henry IV. made a sign to his
attendants to carry him in his chair, for he could not walk, into his
private chamber, when the prince of Wales, falling on his knees, pre-
aenled his dagger to his father, and requested him to pierce him to the

* Many writersit liave copied tliis curious passage, and most have quoted the
biography of Titus Livius as an authority. It is, however, certain no such inci-
dent is contained in its pages. Guthrio throws light on this circumstance in
his folio history of Knglnnd, vol. ii. reign Henry IV. He gives the paf>sage at
length, quoting it from some traet» of Titus Livius ; noting, moreover, that this
historian received the particulars from the lips of the earl of Onnond, an eye-
witness of the scene.

* Messrs. Braley and Britton coincide with our views of this event, but they
hare not note<1 the confirming circumstance of the anniversary.

*Kot Westminster Hall, but tlie room calle<l the white-hall (lately the House
of Lords), which was the state reception room of Westminster IHiloce. The
hed-chamber of the king, and the bed-chamber of the queen, opened into it; and,
oa oocasions of grand festivals, the whole suite were thrown o^tu

8»

oulwanlly sllribulnt by iK-riry V. to hii (
kinnliaii, but ill md'ay a dre{>-jald metutiul
■ccite wan oiM uf ihe peculiar realurvi uT 1
which it W4S rondurinl linda no panllti
exhumation nf Aj^ae* de Castro. Itichw
rmiaed rrom iu obsnire rriling-nlBce at I
clitir of KtBle,' idnrnrd with rc^l omattiea
his dead kiiitman, and all his court follows
llie cnrpst! of the hoplcMi Itirhord wa« can
Aiid laid, will) Boleiuii poinn, in tlie tixnb
by ihe aide of hia b*loi«l Anne of Bobi
nya ihp London Chronirte, "■ there wat & ^
cutlo at Su Paul^i Cross," who had been I
that llirhan) ira« in i-xi»lMi«e. I

When these n^uitinns had subsided, 1I«
for iho hand of ths princess Kaiherine. ,
with her an enormous dowry. If the kntj
lo ^re him his daugliier, it was srareely |
her two RiiUiona of crowns, the bridal
together willi the renioratiun of Norman'
rinces. once the inheriiancc of Eleanora e

There was a tortti niicgivin^ on the
ambitious heir of l^ricastcr should make
their princesses, in streiigihen the claim o
of France; yet Charips VI. wraiW have ,
a dowry of ISn.OOO crowns. This the 1
ilnii). Henry deaJreJ »u beitur Uuui a lea

lERI^E OW TAI.OI9. 9l

e Planragenpt kingi lo»k, in induce ilieir rmilnl mnsler

and llie forty Jayi tliey wrre bound In «|ipair in artp^, by

Among niher posiimBtons a( ibe mrul lauiily, llie nia^-

. n belonging to Henry IV^ railed ihe Great lEsn-y. wn,«

fkile cupboards and beaufeU al royal palaces, were rsiitackeil
Hi goblels and flasons. and distributed lo like knights nnrl
pti expedition, as pled^s and pawns, that their pay ihoulJ
g, when coin was more plentiful.
■tout northern squire, to whose keeping was enn<ideil the
kOeorgei' by his warlike Rnrerei^, did not undertake his
■femission without a pawn of brnken silrer Itagnn*. Il wm
■r Henry to make ihese personal sacriiires. in oriler tn pay

■ the unsetiled temper of the times forced him to be esceed-

Kin his pecuniary applications to his parliament. France,
Id pay for all.
bklilaiMt, ihs banner-bcnrEr or St. Gootgc ■( Agincoart, aRrrwarili
Prickland, knighl uf the ahire toT WesunotelHnil. His I'r'nion in
■b i* Bdurimu illudreiion of tha Male of the iini», bivI prove* haw
Bee apecie WM in Cniland ; fornotwitliBliiiKlingthD etirtiiie piliios
pa peiitnn*. as ■ poor >quir#, not to be bckl Kccountiiblfi fM iho
I tilret flagoni, knd Tot tlis refloration or bii fiiuttrcn |hwik1i Ibur
nanpenoc. not foiKGlting an odd farthing; 'heww heii lo nlraiive
M lb* eldetl ttnx of tit Wkltcr SttieklKad or Halunetbii, koichl of
Weaunotetaad, and gnuiJron of [oid Daaie of Gililand." — ^ee Bum**

niion to Ihe council of Ihe inhol Heni; TI. ia ihu worded : —
m rapplioatei ■ poor tquiic, Thomiu <le Strickland, laleljr ihe bearer
tO( Sl George fat Ihe vety noble ki*g Hmry V„ whom (iod uwil I

■ 70UI good grece to coogidet the long »er«>oo ihai ths nil! auppliBnt
Ha king in put* beyond ten, at liiit airival al llaifleur, and l)is bdltlo
land since that time, when the city of Rouen waa won. And jour
It bas had no conipenBaiion Cor hi) labour Bi tbe wiit) dii]r ft Asin-
t|«y al all saTinfi do!/ for one halFyear. Not only thai ; but your
K il bRraghl in arrear with llis eichequei foi Ihe iiim of Ut. ICU.
ib btoken (ilrer pal* which waia pawned ID him bj tha said king
Be whiob Tecael* your *uppUiuU was forced to sell. aiiJ the mooef
Kern wa* all expended iu the Kivics of hi* late king. And thai it
bur wiie diMtretioni, out of reTeranoe to God mud mpcul lo tbo
■a king, to giBDl 10 youl suppliant Iho aaiil \U. 10a, li<L, in reganl

pa. and aa pan payment uf Ihe debt owed him by tlie Inte king }
giant nuy bo lufflciem vrniiant lor the dinclinrge of ilie said tup-
le 141. lOt. tid. nibieaaid, and itu* ibr the love of Cod and a work

U. There i* an orJei &om the ocuncil to exonerate SlriMmd, at
, (Wim the 141. lOi. Hit. See Ficdem. vol. x. pp. IIS, 319.
not aflbrd n remnncraie the banner-bfraier uf Hi. Gmrgc for whu
latinui" at Ibe day of AgiDconit. 10 lay nothing of t)ie atill fteicer
ding the slonning of Haiflenr and Roum j Inil ihry gave hia aoii,
lekland, by way of payrnenl, Uie office of herediuiry nuwlor of tbe
, an oSloe whinb hi* direct ilcKendatil and rcprrHniial'Ve, Charlea
■idlah, c«l. M. P. oertainjy doe* oM po**™ ai pri^nL
Ma (niiticulara are lereired lo by lit Uarrii Nicnlni, in hii Iliatoiy

Kliun wiih ifiril and Hie woilhy of ila )uliin.-l. To hi
ftaquently indebted.

!■«••• *• « •• •-

tliiiiiT!* tor liiiiuurronlinir to his toriner c
he (hMnuiiilnl."* The KiinHsh and tht^ir
atcd at this witiinsiii. ^* 'Dicso balls/
angry puiu ^* shuU be ti^tnick buck with %
Paris gales."'

But on ilie ven* eve of Henry's embt

*• To croM the sen, M*ith pride ai

• plot for his destruction was discover
friend tiie earl of March to the crown c

This plot was concocted by the ea
relative, who had married Anne Mortii
lady had died, leaving one son, aAerwi
York, who. as his uncle March was ch
Ills claims. The rights of this boy
Soutliamplon ctmspimcy. The grand (
assert his hereditary' title against his fn«

The earl of Cambridge intended, a
through the agency of the kiiig^s truste
to the bonlers of Wales, where the ei
be crowned with the ^ royal crown of
the common people for the ciown of ]
▼an of the army on a cushion. This

■ Wliite Keniiet's History, vol. i. •
•No pan of hi.*tory i^ bettor niither)ticate<'
a contein|>omr}' chronicler who does not me

K4THSRINS OF TALOIfl.

f the earl to assert his rights, or dispossess his friend and
After Cambridge had opened his plan to the earl of March,
ce, avowe<lly by the advice of his man Lacy, refused to swear
he secret, but requested an hour^s space to consider of the pro-
; which time he used in seeking the king, and informing him
mger, first requesting a pardon of Henry for listening sufficiently
rebels and traitors to understand their schemes.^^ Henry sum-
sort of court-martial, of which his brother Clarence was pre-
nd made quick work in the execution of Cambridge, Scrope,
Thomas Grey.

were led out at the north gate, and had their heads stricken off,
[enry^s fleet hoisted sail, and steered, with a favourable wind, out
ort of Southampton, August 7th, 1415.*

' landed at the mouth of the Seine, three miles from Harfleuri
r tremendous slaughter on both sides, took that strong fort of
* by storm, in the beginning of October. Notwithstanding this
disease and early winter brought Henry into a dangerous predi-
till the English Lion turned at bay at Agincourt, and finished
' and late campaign with one of those victories which shed an
ng glory on the annals of England —

) glared he when, at Agincourt, in wrath be turned at bay,

od cru^h'd and torn beneath his paws the princely hunters lay.'*

Macattlay.

Ireadful panic into which this victory threw France, and tlie
of her nobles and princes slain and taken prisoners, were the
rantages Henry gained by it. He returned to England, Nov.
15, and deviating from his favourite motto, Une sans plus^'^ for
le gave up all thoughts of obtaining Katherine as a bride, and
ed his favourite valet, Robert Waterton,' to open a private nego-
or the hand of the princess of Arragon, if the beauty of the
i considered by that confidential seivant as likely to suit his

ime Katherine and her family were thrown into the utmost con-
n by the victories of this lion-like wooer. The death of the
rother of Katherine, the dauphin Louis, was said to have been
ted by grief, for the day of Agincourt, and his demise was fol-
ith such celerity by the decease of her next brother, the dau-
in, that all France took alarm. The loss of the princes was
d to their unnatural mother, Isabeau of Bavaria, to whom the
as imputed of poisoning them both. The unfortunate father of

ardon requested by the earl of March is, in the Fcedera, dated the samo
is a pardon, not only for listening to treasonable conirnunirations, but
I list of tranf4rression^ that if March (who was really a highly moral
ince) had spent the whole of bis short life, in sinning, he coul<l scarcely
nd time to commit them all. The unfortunate orphan of the earl of
;e, Richard of York, vms left in the custody of Waterton, tUe brodiei
V.th's favourite valet, — FaderOf vol. viiL
e, vol. ii., reign of lleury*V,

Iieau weiDMl eentmJ on Katb«nne ilonfl
(jihd chililren. Kmherioe haJ »ery eai
of EngUnil, and tl will •oon b« ahown li
i ill nil hrr d«U|;hicr'i wishes

111 otiler u> fullil ihi» obJFCl, when it i
longer 8usUin iu tuns iloloniiia siege,
KaitiPiine's picture, to ask Urnry ^wIm

auired siirli a ^r«a[ dowry at he drnmn
ore ilt^kreil iliey ftmiK! Henry at Bou
gazed luij^ and eianieKily on the porin
thai tl wia •urpassingly fair, bul refusad
biunt ijcmanils.*

The close of ilic year U 1 8 raw the fa]
uid inrrensed the (lr<pair of Kalherini
laabeau resolveil tlial, aa tlie pielare of
in mollifying (lie proud heart of the cm
persuiwl cliamia of her KKiherine coal
Willi Henry V.. who liad now pushed
The poor diBiracied kiii([ of France, n
beauiifiil daughter Kaiherine, in s riel
Ponioise, in hopes of elleeiing an bidk
queror. At Ponloise a large cnclosun
which the conferences were lo be au\
fay a deep (tileh, having on one side iha
several entrance* well secured by three
made of blue and green velvet, wotii
repose and refrexhrnenL
HoundMUMliw iIm kiar t£ Fbm

EATIIERtNE OF VALOIi. 99

fothen and council, arrived on ihis neutral ground hy unoiher bar-
and with a tnnsi rcspeclTuI obeisance mel and tainted queen lsab«u ;
then kiug Ileory nol only kissed bet, but the laily Kntheniic.
key PBicreJ ttie lent (liiched fur ihe conrcreiice. liing Henry leading
n IrabMU. Henry seated himself oppofile lo Katlierine. ami gazeJ
ir miMi inlenily, irhile the earl of Warwick was making a long ha
lie in French, which he »poke very well. After they had remsine'i
) long time in conference, lliey ieparaied, taking the moat reapectAil
( of cBcli other.

hia harrier ccetie is evidently meant to be depicted by the celebmteil
Mil painting once in the possession of Horace VValpole.' Henry VII.
tliia picture painted for hit chapel at Shene, and, u the well-known
K«9 uf Henry V, is striking, tliere i» reason lo believe the satne care
taken in purtrayiiig the features of Katherine of Valois. The oval
* of her face, her clear ivory complexion, and large dark eyes. cotD-
wiih the descriptions of the old French chroniclers.* Kaiherine'a
u loo short, or ihe fac« would be perfuct; the expression is inane
p«ssion|pss. She wears an arched crown, and a species of veU,
n>ed at each side witli einiiiie, and reachine to the shoulders. Her
Ir, uf the regal form, is worn over a close gnt^n, tight to the throat;

[i i>f ermine posses ilown the front, and is studded with jewels.

ri'v weeks afierwurds, all the [oyal personages, with the excepiicn
I' l.iiiy KatlieriiiCt met fur another conference, at the barrier-gTouiKl
uoioi*«>. As llie view of Katherine'a beamy had not induced Henry
iiwer his demands, queen Isabeau resolved that the Englbh coni^ueror
old SCO her no mnic. Henry was exceedingly discuntenied at this
Dgctnent. "For," says Monairelet, "(he princess was very hand-
le, and hiid most engaging manners, and it was plainly to be seen

king Hitnry was desperately in love with her." Tel the stcontl
rere»c« ended, without the least abatement in his exorbitant requi-

ifter the English hero had wailed unsrailingly a few days. In hope*
>eiiig courted by the family of his beloved, he impaiien^r demanded
lird interview, meaning to modify his demands ; — when lo! to his
mU displeasure, when he arrived at Ponioise, he found iho lent*
ick, tiie barriers pulled down, and the pales tliai markfid out the neu-

grouud taken away — every thing showing that llie marriage-ireaty
I supposed to be ended. Henry V. was infuriated at the sight, wid in
tnuisnorts betrayed how much he had become enamoured of Kaih^
I.' He turned angrily lo lli« duke nf Burgumiy. who was llm only
■oa belonging to the royal family of France atiendiiig the cuufetvuce,

said abruptly —

■ Fair cousin, we wish you to know ibai we trill have the dsughter
r.r king, or we will drive him and you out of his kingdom.' The
irplied, * Sire, you are pleased to say so ; but, before you ha*«

riiii iikiBiF WM wM Bi tbo Uta uJe u Sirewlierry GUI), wh«i« it wu. m

t, •nbniiRe'l to imblii: impeotion. It it painlad on boartl.

(m Gulllauina de Orual. 'Uonstrolel.

L

Ircal with no one l)iit the pr
he was surr, would not try

Notice of this speech bei
she made the bishop of Arni
if he would come lo Troves
that as her inheritance he s
death of king Charles ;" and
8ecretly delivered to the kin
Katherine herself, so full o
happiness as certain.*

The English monarch was
fine, not only the provinces 1
sovereignty of France, with
regent. By this treaty the c
rine were to be disinherited.
Henn', accompanied by his h
teen hundred combatants, n^
he arrived on the 2()th of }
clothed in the deepest mour
little distance from Troves, ;
Hotel de Ville, where lodgin
was presented the next day
enthroned in the church of N
suit of burnished armour ; bi
met a fox^s tail, ornamented ^
tliat the warrior king of Engla

recTHrdinor r1rp««r Hpnrv nnm

^V EAT II ERIMBOPV ALOIS. 97

MMnmt of his infiim healih, saying, ■' thai the king was ill (1U|iosed."
The unfurnmale (ather of KaiherJiie could not go through ihe scene,
which apparently annihilated (he hopes of hia young heir; but llie duke
of Burgundy officiated as the deputy of biti royal kinsman, and the iin-
ponant treaty was signed.'

The be trc) thine nt of Henry and Kalherine instantly followed; ani},
whrn (he English monarch received Katherine's prooiise, he plitccd nu
ber finger a ring of iDeslimahle value, supposed (o be the same worn hf
our English cjueen-consorls al their coronation.* After the conclusion
of the ceremony, Henry presented to his betrothed bride his favouiits
knight, sir Louis de Robsart,' to whom he committed the defence nf
her person, and the ofEce of guarding her while in Frnnce. The real
meaning of which ceremony was, that Henry V, took the princesi into
his own custody afler betrothmeni. and would bave retaineil her by
force^ if her family had changed their minds legarding hifl marriagr.
Katherine was now bis property ; and it was the duly of sir Louis de
Robsart to guard the safe keeping of that propeny.

Henry himself announced the pe&re and betrnlhmeni, in a letter'
addressed to his council of regency, the duke of Gloucester being juet
appointed regent of England : —

- Right UUII7, and well-belorod brother. RLglit worsliipriil fathers in God,

tnd irutiy and well-beloved. Forasmuch, tbat we wot well ibu your dHirei

were to iieat joyful tidings of our good apeed ; — We sieniiy lo you, (wonhippod
be our Loril, tlini of our tsliour bnili sent us eood conclusion.)

■Upon Mon'tay. ihe 90ih dny of ibii May, w* arrived at this nmrDorTroyn*;
■nd on ihe morrow Saddin a convoniion betwii our motler tlie>]ue<<nof Francei
and »» brolhei tbo doc of Burguit(ne (us cumuiiauirai of the king of Fniwe,
SBT bder. Tot bit partit). and us in our own person for our jiarlii (lide]. And
ihe xv^'id of peaoe ppipetunl wiu there sworn, by both die snid oommiBiiineTS
Id tba Tume ofour aforenid (adcr.and wmblably by ni in our own nunc. And
the letten Ihrreiipon fortbwitb eniealed, under lh« great seal of our niil ftdot
ID ii#-iMrrf, and undpr nun lo ftim-ward, tlie copy of whifh Irllet we send yea
enclosed tu Iliii. Also, ai the taiil convention wa« mnrringe lietfotlied belwiit
u and our te^, dau^ier of our aibrenid fader, the king of Praooe."

The treaty of peace, which the king declarer is enclosed in hi* letter,
ii addressed lo hia viscounts' of London.
Some exinicta are of a envious naiure >—

I

, by,

lenry, "aecorrled balween our Cider of France anil
e bond of maiiimon]' made for die good of Deuce
i Diual beloved Kaiheiine, the daughter of

.nd Notes of London ChnnuDle, hj ti

lUrrl

ur uid bdor and
Nioolaa, p. ISl.

'Ilia English nf Henry V.'a letter*, bolb in phraMology and onhogniphy, is
benct than Uiat of Henry VUL itir John Pen, in bis I'uMun Papers, obMtves
Ihat the very hlguly eiluraied persons of ihi> era Write leitcrs ag well tpelled ai
In Ihe era of Chade* I., and adduces the autograph letleis of Etlmund Clerp.
Henry V. spella all his sninll worils of the preposition and conjunctive kiml
ptrfmnly. For the take of peropiuuity. we give hit wriiiog in the ortbogtapbj

'' On Trinity Sunday, Ju
land wedded the lady Kath
which he lodged. Great pt
and his princes, as if he hac

The archbishop of Sens
and during the nighl a gn
royal pair, bringing them v
things to comply with the
this strange ceremonial was
next day, after a splendid fe;
proposed a succession of tc
at fighting was not to be th
siege of Sens, where they
chose."*

The letters written on oc
co»:ftiers, are the earliest spc
lowing epistle by John Uffo
hensive a view of afiairs, at l

" Worshipful Maibtbr,
" I recommend me to yoa. I
lord was wedded with great so
mid-day on Trinity Sunday. Ar
towards the town of Sens, sixte
queen and the French egtat'*. ,
to that town — a gre^t town, and
is holden strong with great num
boeiegod. For there lie at that

KATnSKIHK OF YALOIfl. 99

* And at this siege also are lien many worthy ladies and j'antilwomen^ both
French and English, of the which many of them began feats of arms long time
■fone, but of lying at sieges now they begin first.

" I pray that ye will recommend me to my worshipful lord the chancellor,
■od to my lord the treasurer. And, furthermore, will ye wit (know) that Paris,
with other, is sworn to obey the king our sovereign lord, as heritcr and governor
of France— and so they do.

** And on Wittund Monday final peace was proclaimed in Pans, and on Tues-
day was a solemn mass of Our Lady, and a solemn procession of all tlie great
■nd worthy men of Paris, thanking God for tliis acconl.

** And now Englishmen go into Paris ofl a5 they will, witliout any safe con-
duct or any letting (giving leave). And Paris and all other towns, turned from
die Armagnac party, make great joy and mirth every holiday, in dancing and
DBiolling. I pray God send grace to both realms, of much mirth and gladiiess,
tnd give you in health much joy and prosperity long to endure.

■■ I pray that ye will vouchsafe to let this letter commend me to Abel Howit
md &iyley, and to sir John Brockholes, and to greet well Richard Prior (M'hom*
die fair town of Vernon on Seine grceteth well also), and Will Albtow and
[Ark and all the meinie^ and king Barbour and his wife. Written at the siege
at Sens, the Cth day of June, in haste, ^ens is further than Paris thir^-four
leagues, and Troyes is furttier than Paris thirty-six leagues.

** Will ye say to my brother, Maister Piers, that I send him a letter by the
ftnnger hereof! *< Your own Servant,

"JoBAir Ofort."

Thus was the honeymoon of Katherine the Fair passed at sieges and
leaguers ; her bridal music was the §rroans of France. Horror, unutter-
iUe horror, was the attendant on these nuptials ; for the cruel massacre
of Montereau* took place within a fortnight of the queen^s espousals.
TeC Katherine was no unwilling bride ; for, as her brother-in-law, Philip
the Good of Burgundy, expressly declared, ^ she had passionately longed
to be espoused to king Henry; and, from the moment she saw him, had
constantly solicited her mother, with whom she could do any thing, till
her marriage took place.'" But not a word, not a sign of objection to
the cruelties and slaughter that followed her marriage, is recorded ; nor
did the royal beauty ever intercede for her wretched country with her
rly-wedded lord.

Sens received Henry and Katherine within its walls, soon after the
had commenced in form. The king and queen of England entered
in great state, accompanied by the archbishop of Sens, who had a few
dftyv before joined their hands at Troyes. This prelate had been ex-
pelled from his diocese by the party of the Armagnacs, but he was rein-
mted by Henry V., who, turning to him with a smile as they entered
the cathedral, said, ^ Now, Monseigneur Archevesque, we are quits ; for
yoQ gave me my wife the other day, and 1 restore yours to you this
dey.*^

While the desperate siege of Montereau proceeded, the queen of Elng-
knd, and her lather and mother, with their courts and households^

* This sad page of history is detailed by Monstrelet Henry Y^ exasperated
bj the desperate defence of this town for its native sovereign, butchered the
larnson, under pretence of revenging the death of John duke of finrgundy, with
whose death the gnrriMin had not the slightest coneern, nor was Henry in tba
It called ufMn lo avenge it. * Martin's Chron&ole, * MocA«Tt\«v»

I

100 HATHttXINEOP VALOtS.

miilpd ai Bray sur Seine. Here Henry pnid rm^iHrnt vints to hm bnSt
After ihe Iragetly of Monlerrau, ihe united courw roiKned U) CoiM,
wliere queen Kattieiine \va» joinetl by her siEier-in-law, Msrgsrvl daehoi
of Clarence, and by many noble ladies, who had come from EngtaDd la
pay iheir duly lo the bride of king Henry. Siie n-as with her nnilbR
anil kitig Charles at the camp before Meluu. " But, indeed,'" ny* Mm-
strelet, " il waa a sorry sight to see the king of F«n<* beren lif aU In
usual Slate and pomp. They resided, with many ladies and danucU
about a month, in a hoasc king Henrj- hod built for Uicm near hii tnok
ami ai a distance from the tomi, thai the roar of ihe csnnoD might not
«iartle king Charles, (^veiy day st sunrise," coiUiitu*.-s ihe Burfuwln.
■■ and Bi nighifail, ten clarions, and diven oiher instrurnenis, nm •«•
dered by king Henry lo play for an hour, nifwl melodiously, btSon tSi
door of the king of France." The malady of the unhappy biher gf
Katheriiie was soothed by music.

This was evidently ihe military band of Henry V., the first whi^ a
i!i«tinctly mentioned in chronicles. . Henry was himself a pecfomier oa
the harp from an early age. He likewise was a composer, dctigkiing ■
chtirch harmony, which he used in practise on the or;gan.' Thai bt
found similar tastes in his royai bride, is evident from an item ID ikt
Issue Rolls,' whereby it appears he sent to England to obtain new harpi
for Ratherine and him.ielf, in the October succeeding his wedlock : " pjr
Ihe hands of William Menslon was paid Si. 13« id., for two nev b^
purchased for king Henry and qneen Katherine," If itie reader il
aiuiouE to know who was the best harp-maker in Loudon al ihia period,
complete satisfaction can be given ; for a previoM (kicnmnil neniiom
another harp sent to Henry, when in France, " purchasml of John Bom
harp-maker, London ; together with several doaeii hnrp-chordf uri i
harp- case."

M the surrender of Melurt, the rile mother of queen KBibniiM wm
proclaimed regent of France, through the inlluence of her siw-n-ln,
who considered queen Isabeau entirely d<^oted to hnr daugbler'* nir-
rest. This was a preparatory step lo a visit which Henry tntonM*
make 10 his own country, for the purpose of showing the £ngUiA to
heauiirul bride, and performing the cen-monial of her coronatton. Tb*
royal personnges of France and England now approached i'ari», ia <Kict
that the king and queen of England might m^e their triumphal aof
into that city; but Henry, not knowing how the Parii^iaiiK iniehi irtti**
thero, chose to precede his wife, and take possession of ttie alv, bcfoM
■ ventured to trust her within its walls.

"Qneen Kaiherine and her mother made their gretid pntry iiHo P»*

'Xt day. Great magnjticence was displayed at ihe arrival of Um ^mM

of England, but it would take up too much time lo relaio all Hi* ilct

presents that were oflered to her by the citizens of Paris. 7*h* a

and houses weie hung with tapestry the whole of that day, an

' Elfnliam'k Cliroiitole, p. IS. UkewLte a Froncb nlironicler, unuwJ hj CU
hiivs In hit nmc* lo Mouuelalj auil Di. Reni;, voL a. p. 337,
TiStM 361,301.

KATHKRINK OW YALOIf. 101

eonstantly ranning from brtss cocks and in conduits through the squares,
■o that ali persons might have it in abundance; and more rejoicings tKan
Umirue can tell were made in Paris, for the peace, and for the marriage
of Katherine the Fair.^' '

The miserably exhausted state of France prevented Katherine from
teceiving any solid sum as her fortune ; but she had an income of forty
thousand francs, the usual revenue of the queens of France, settled on
her at her marriage by her father ; a few scanty instalments of which
|iroved, in reality, the only property she ever derived from her own
country. This circumstance gives an exemplification, by no means
uncommon in life, of the manner in which exorbitancy in pecuniary de-
■lands often defeats its own ends. Had Henry V. required a more reason-
Me dowry with his bride, Katherine might have been reckoned amoag
the richest of our queens, instead of being, with all her high-sounding
expectations, in reality, the poorest among them all.

The ro3ral pair spent their Christmas at Paris ; but, at the end of the
fintivaU Henry thought it best to pay some attention to the prayer of
kis fiiithful commons, who had lately begged that he, with his gracious
queen, would please to return to England, to comfort, support, and re-
fresh them by their presence.' Accordingly, Henry set out with his
queen on a winter journey through France, escorted by the duke of
Bedford, at the head of six thousand men. Queen Katherine arrived at
Amiens on St. Vincent's day, and was lodged in the hotel of maitre
Robert le Jeune, bailiff of Amiens, and many costly presents were made
to her by that magistrate.'

The royal pair embarked at Calais, and landed at Dover, February 1st,
^ where,'' observes Monstrelet, ^ Katherine was received as if she had
been an angel of God."

The magnificent coronation of the queen took place as early af\er her
landing as the 24th of February. She was led on foot from Westminster
Palace to the abbey, between two bishops, and was ci owned by tho
bands of archbishop Chichely, on the 24th of February, 1421. It is
expressly mentioned that Katherine sat on the King's Bench at West^
minster Hall, by Henry's side, at the coronation feast.

^ It is worth the noting," says old Raphael Holingshead, ^ to take a
Tiew of all the goodly order and reverend dutifulness exhibited on all
aides, towards the new queen. Afler the coronation was ended, queen
Katherine was conveyed into the great hall of Westminster, and there
eat at dinner. Upon her right hand sat, at the end of the table, the arch*
bishop of Canterbury and cardinal Beaufort. Upon the lef\ hand of the
queen sat James I., king of Scotland,^ under his canopy, who was served

■ MonstrelfU • PnrliRmentary History, vol. ii. p. 106. 'Monstrelet

* The royal miDi^trel, James Stuart, who had been captive in England sines
his l>oyliOod ; he was given a careful education at Windsor by Henry IV^ and
wrote many beautiful poems, taking for his models Chaucer and Qower. whom
be trails his "maistres dear.*' From the top of the Maiden's Tower in Windsoi
Cn«tle he foil in love with Joanna Beaufort, half-niece to Henry V., whom hs
saw walking in the garden below. Queen Katberine's friendship gave a turn
IS lus adverse Ibrtunes.

9*

alderman Fabian, '* that this fej
24th, Lent was entered upon,
brawn, served with mustard."
Fabian mentions especially deai

The table ornaments, called
their mottoes a political meanin
St. Katherine, the queen's patro
ing a label in her right hand,
and a pelican held an answer in

Cest la signe et du toy

Parer lencz joy,

£t tout sa gent

Ellc mette sa content

The second course of this f
lumbine flowers; white pottag
sea ; conger ; soles ; cheven, or
crayfish, or lobster; leche, da
flourished, ^' Unc sans plus;'^'^ Ian
with a scutcheon royal, and th(
fleurs-de-lis and (lowers of can
fectionary), and a subtlety nam'
St. Katherine, having a wheel ii

La reyne ma fille
In cette ile
Per bon reason
Aie renown.

K4THBKIHS OF TALOIf. 108

II est ecrit, It is written,

Pur voir et cil, It majr bo seen and is,

Per manage pure In marriage pure

Cest guerre nc dure. No strifes endure.

And, lastly, there was a subtlety, named a tigre^ looking in a mirror,
•nd a roan on horseback clean annei], holding a tiger's whelp in his
hands, with this motto : — Perforce sans reason je prise celte teste: ^ By
force of anns, and not by that of reason, have I captured this beast."
The small tiger and the motto meant an uncivil allusion to Kutherine's
▼oung brother, the dauphin ; the figure made show of throwing mirrors at
the great tiger, which held in his paw this reason (label with motto) :—

Gile che mirronr The sight of this mirror

Ma festa distour. Tames wild bea^its of terror.

The only instance of active benevolence ever recorded of Katherine
the Fair, took place at this coronation feast, when the queen publicly
interceded with her monarch-bridegroom for the liberation of liis royal
guest and prisoner, James I. of Scotland, then at table. This suit seems
to have been granted, on condition that James should bear arms under
Henry V.'*8 banner, for the purpose of completing the subjugation of
France.' Katherine likewise took in hand the management of the love-
afEiirs of the accomplished king of Scotland ; and, through her agency,
hopes were held out to the gallant James, that if he gave satisfaction to
king Henry in the ensuing campaign, he need not despair of possessing
the beautiful Joanna Beaufort, with whom he was so desperately ena-
moured. Stow affirms that this lady was betrothed to king James before
the festivals of Katherine's coronation ended. Katherine presented sir
James Stuart with the gilt cup with which he served her as sewer at
the coronation.'

After the festivals had concluded, the queen was left by Henry in her
palace of Westminster till Palm Sunday, when she removed to Windsor,
expecting to meet the king, who had promised to pass Easter with her
at the castle. Henry, however, found it impossible to return from the
north, whither he had gone on progress ; he therefore sent for the queen
to Leicester, where they celebrated the spring festival ; they then con-
tinued the progress together, visiting the shrines of all northern saints.

* This was done, but it is certain that James macle Uie ensuing campaign as a
private knight; for his nubjects were fighting for the dauphin, under the earl of
Ax:Uan, son to his usurping uncle, the dnke of Albany. This Scotch army soon
mfler gave to England the first reverse they had met in France, at iJaugy,

Swinton laid the lance in rest

lljat tame<l of yure the sparkJing crest

Of Clarence's Plantagenet

tfir John Swinton, of Swinton, unhorsed the duke of Clarence, and wounded
him in th(> face; the enrl of Biu^han afterwards killed him with a blow of his
truncheon, but to the gallant JSwinton certainly belongs the chivalric part of the
victory. The late SM'inton. of Swinton, descendant of sir John, gave the spear
which nchieved tliis conquest to sir Walter Scott, and it is now to be seen aft
Abloulord. •Exceriita Historica, p. 87S.

I

I

I

k

101 K ATHBRi;«E or V A LOIS.

Henrr was so superdnons in his de^oiiona, anil bo awni b nu;)prreinii|
all the Balrricul wrilin^ of ihe Lnllartls aeainst ihc rlrr«y. llut the It»>
fumiers gave hini ihe Bobriquet of the "prince of ihe pri**!*."'

The oljjeel of ihe kin^ Id ihis progress was lo prepare Ills jiMfdefar
the exiraortlinary supplier he meant lo request, at ihe nuwiig pari*-
roenl. For this purpose he harangueil the corpontjona of r»ny tmni
through which he passed ; and showing ihem his kit queen H • paaf
of (he progress he had made in the ronquesl of France, be i i|ilaiiwJ la
theni, with great eloquence, what forces anil runds h wouM Mke to
complete il.

Henry proceeded no further northward than the ahrine of 9l JoIid rf
Beverley. While he was □flerinE[' to thai p"pular saiui. be left h» qoeaa
ai the royal ca»tle of PontefracL,' that featful TortreM wbrr* her Mm
Isabella's first husbsnii, Richard lU had met with hi? Qiyeterioin daA.
and where tiial sister's second husband, and her own cousin-gprrau, lb
poal duke of Orleans, was then enduring a strict capiiviiv. It nuv b
inlerreil that queen Kalherine was permitted to see this ttew rebllTc, W
Henry would scarcely have taken her lo liis pluce nf abode. Katfaeiiaf
reiurned to Wesuninster in May, 14*21, whtm the king met lui f»
lioinent

Soon aFler, the disastrous news arrived of ihe defeat and death, al ika
ialal lield of Baiigy, of tliat stainless knight, the king's beat br^imj
brother, Thomas, duke of Cbrt^nce. Henty had not iuietnliil lo lean
England till after the biith of the heir, which the situation of his vouaf
queen led him to expect; but now, burning tn avengv Cbrenee,' b
hurried lo France, JuDe ID, leaving his Kalhi^rine m the care of ibc Jukt
of Bedford. Me laid one especial command on his wife at hia {nnii^
which was. not to let his heir be bom at Windsor.

Our clironiclers lead us to suppose that the king himself hai! eXHiiiMl
the aspect of the planets, nccoidiug to the vain rule* of art : for th* n-
pression always is, » that he prophesied* the calamities uf Httuj Yl.'
Now, if il was a marvel that Saul was among the prophets, it woolil b«
one still greater to lind our gallant Planutgeuet king assumirig ibe nv-
phet's mantle; unless, indenl, dunng his education at Oxford, he ml.
among other trash then considered learning, acquired the an of eastilf
horoscopes. Be tilts as it may. Henry, from some niysteriom mMa.
deemed that destiny lowered darkly over the royal lowers of WiudsM)

■ Wliile Kennct, rrign Henry V., vol. ii. p. 163.

■ Vfkiu K^nnei. ibkl. In ihs ele«Bnl ediiion of MansmBlet's Chttinicks, f^
lUhsl by Smith, Fleet SireeC, 1S40. ttaere is a bnuutifut wooH-citl pnrpotav n
be ■ portrait of queen Katherine, copied from a tculpiore on mu aid cal ebol
at York. The 6gaie ot lli» qaeeo ii ooble and Eiaoerul. tlie sMtuoie |vf0if
acreeing widi the uroet. exccpling the ampHiU'le tit the dmperiri. Ifrd^^tt,
ibe Kulplure is a itlio or this progrfia, anil, if il K>Uld be pnivnil to V svA
Wmild bo deeply iaieresiiug lo llie auihoc at lliii life, — Nol« id this idid*
«f 1IM4.

A> ihe Sconiah aimf had doTeated Clareiinc, ha tiiiiiK cierj 1

KATHKRINK OF YALOIl. 105

diiriiif the month when he expected Kttherine to bring forth her Bnt^
Dorn.' It is certain, however, that Katherine disobeyed her royal lord,
either from want of belief in astrology, or because she chose that her
child should first see the light in that stately fortress, where his great
Mid fortunate ancestor, Edward III., was born.

On the 6th of December, 1421, the son of Katherine came into a
world which assuredly proved most disastrous to him. When the news
wa« brought to Henry V. that Katherine had brought him an heir, he
was prosecuting the siege of Meaux. He eagerly inquired ^ wliere the
boy was bom ?" and being answered *^ at Windsor," the king repeated
with a sigh to his chamberlain, lord Fitzhugh, the following oracular
stave, which certainly does little honour to his talents as an impromptu
▼ersifier : —

** 1, Henry, born at Monmoath,
Shall small time reign and much get;
But Henry of Windsor Miall long reign and lose all.
But as God will, so be it*' *

No regular English dower was at this time settled on Katherine, bat
it is evident that the revenues of the unfortunate queen-dowager were
confiscated for her use, as her maids were paid from that source. Her
damsels were, Joanna Belknap* Joanna Troutberk^ and Joanna Courcy,
besides Agne«, who has no surname. *^ These ladies," says Henry, ^ the
demoiselles of our dear companion, are to receive ten licres a-piece oat
of the funds of queen Johane.^ Guillcmote, damsel of the bed-chamber
to his said dear companion, is to receive one hundred shillings from the
moneys of queen Joanna." Not very honest of the valiant Henry, to
pay his wife's servants with another person's money.

These gifUi are declared to be in consideration of the ^^ costages and
ejcpenscs the beloved demoiselles are incurring, by following Uie said'
drar queen and companion to meet me, king Henry, in France." Like-
wise an annuity of twenty livres* per annum " for that dear doctor of
philosophy « Maister Johan Boyers, because of his oflice of confessor to
queen Katherine." The revenue of the unfortunate dowager was like-
wise taxed, for the maintenance of Katherine's guest, Jacqueline of
Hainauh,* to the enormous amount of a hundred pounds per month.

* Speed. Stow. Fabian. Holingshed.

> Wbite Kennet TruMel's Chronicle of Henry V., vol. i. p. 336. Most of the
chroniclers who wrote during the latter part of Henry's VI.'s reign to Henry
VII/s era, mention this singular piece of court gossip. If the saying was indeed
prevalent from the coinmenccineiit of ihc life of Henry VI., it must have fought
more fttally against the Red Ro:<c than an army M'ith bnntierji. It is well
worthy of observation bow completely tiiese oracular sayings brought their own
Ihlfllment by the peculiar bins they gave to the minds of men ; hope was raised
on one »ide« and despair induced on the other, and thus predictions were ful-
fUled by natural cauj<es.

* FcBdera, p. 204, vol. x. The dce<l is in Norman French. We think the word
**Uvrea*' means English pounds sterling. ^Fcedcra, vol. x. p. 134.

* This princess had eloped (Vom a bridegroom whom she hated, and had taken
nfuge at the court of Katherine, with whom she lived on great terms cf isti

KATIIERINE OF

SURNAMED THE

CONSORT OF H

CHAPTER

Qne*»n Katlicrine joins lloiiry V. — Her cour
Oripf (»f Uie f]UPi»u — *^lio prc-i'lo!* over tl
Arrives in Kni^laml — Is iit th»» «'xpiMis<» o
AMm'V — Qii»»en ami hrr iiifrit son (Hi»nry ^
ln|i — Ifer Iy>n<liiTi rosideiire — Last piihiic r
— Kallii»riiie retiros iVorn j»nl)li«* lilt* — Attao
b«'r«»rf ln»r — IiitnHl!j<»tioii of his kinsmen-
Birth of »e<'on<l fH.Miilv — iKrath at' hl^r mot

•

fl^iiiMient — I nn»*ss — IVniienre — Present fro
Poaih — Rurial — Oriirinnl epitaph — Pi*rseci
Dealli of (>wi»n Tmlor— Gniml'Min of Kath
— Katharine's brv!y exhumed — Made a 6p«
kisses her remains ^Re-interred.

QiTERN Katherine CFossed the sea,
2l8t of Mrv, 142*2, e^<corte(l bv the dul

KATtlERIXE OF VALHIS. 107

flhn mortal. She had left her lilile inrnnl in Eiiglaml, under (he care
of its iititli?, ilie iluke of Gloucester'

Grpal rejoicinais were made al Paris for the arrival of ihe i|iieen of
England, and the binh of llie heir of Henry. The royal parly left Vin-
cennes,* and eiilere<l Faria in great ma^ni^cence, that day being Whil-
■iin eve. May 3fllh. Queen Katherine, ivith her train, were lixlged at
the Louvre, while her mother and king Charles took up their abode at
Uie Hotel de St. PnuL '>And on Whit Sunday queen Kaiherine sat at
table at the Louvre, gloriously apparelled, having her crown on her
bead. The English princes and nobles were partakers (vith the great
lords of France al this feast, each sealed according to his rank, while
the tables were covered with the richest viands and wines. Queen Ku-
ilierine next day held a ^real eoiiri, ajid all the Parisians went to see
llieir princess, and her lord silting enthroned, crowned with their moat
precious diadems ; but," cuiiiinues Monstrelet, -■ as no meat or drink
was otibred to the populace, they weni away much discontented. For
when, of old, the kings of France kept open court, much good cheer
WB» freely given to all comers. King Charles V!, had once been as
conrleous and liberal as any of his pretlecessors -, hut now he was seated
al a lahle with his queen, quite forsaken by his nobles, who all flocked
to pay their court to his daughter and her husband, at which ihe com-
mon people grieved tiiuch." Kalherine likewise gave great offence by
having the frmmes carried before her coach, as if she bad been the sove-
reign of France.'

'i'he last year''s harassing warfare had greatly injured the constitution
of Henry V. He was ill when his queen arrived, but he paid no regard
to Ills foiling health — he scarcely allowed himself a day's repose.

But conquest, empire, and all worldly things, were fast fleeting IVont
ilic gmsp of ihe warlike lord of Katherine the Fair. At Senlis he wtE
Kixcd with a mortal distemper. He stru^led fiercely against its en-
croorhments, for he daily expected to hear of a haiile between his
&iend, the duke of Burgundy, and the dauphin, and hoped to assist his
tlly in peisoii. He had even assinned his armour, and marched as far
U Melun ; bill the strong hand of disease was too powerful even for the
energies of his mighty mind. Sorely smitten with illness, he wa»
obliged to give up his march ; and, the malady increasing every minute,
he was forced to be carried hack to Senlis in a litter. He had tefi his
[|ueen nt Senlia, but for greater security she had retired to her father's
Gastle in the wood of Vineennes; thiliier the " niighiy victor, mighty
loni." was carrie<l to her, helpless, on that liner which was almost a (a-
aeikl couch to him.

In the castle of Vinrennes, near Paris, which has so often been the
Llieatre of the destinies of France, Katherine and her mother siiendad
bhe bsi hours of Henry V.'

•Gomlwin. Il is ilifllcnU 10 goeM what \hn rrni
ouiiiiioeJ ilui tiivy weni hi.1i lliKir; ui ilic Ituis

I

i

'MnnalreloL ^^H

t iRiplied. ^^^1

IiPt tnntKcT win b« ^^|

I

■MB KATHXXIXK OF VALOIS. I

I Hb mad* a very pcniteniial end. but wai to liule eonseioiH cf bo I
i^ood-^iUiness, tlinl wlieo Ins cunfessor was m<liag the Brian PmIim I
rjn the Bcrvice fur tlic ilyinji, he irtupjieii him when he came lo i\it vent. I
I *Boilii tlmu iJic wnlU uf Jerusalem,"' with «nearnB»lpruli-9lnii>'», -iliU |
I when hu hail cuiiipletvil liU cmiqucsu ia £ur»|>c. he al»'ii> -
I jHmlrrUike a (^ru<miii'." When he hiul armngral hia albirs. I'
1 Bliy»iciaiiB " how long he hail lo live r" One of ihwn i' |
[ t>ec«. "UlAl, wilhnut a niicnclr, he touJd not survive tw< i I.
1 moeC* ;

I " Ccrorurt my dear wir«," he said lo ihe duke o( Bedfonl. ^ ihe iBml
I aAIicl«d creaiura living."' In a will he inade on his death-brd, bt
I IravuB Kaiheriue a guld vcepire. He expirod on the 3l>t <if Aogwti
f 14W.

Uenry was a learned prince, but lie had ihe bad hahti of borroiriit
I h ">kH and never rciurtiing lliera. AAer lii« death a peiition wan *cni lo
lite rr^ncy by the lady Westmoreland, his relaUVf, praying that l»r
*■ Chronicles of JeruMlern," and the •■ Rtpedilion uf tiodfrey uT BoO'
logne," burrowed of her by the laie kiiii;, might be returned. Thf
prior of CliriBithurvh. likewise, sent in a moat pitiful euniplninl, thai hi
bad lent the works of St. Gregory lo his ilear lord, lujig Henry, wfco
lud never restored them to him, tlirir rightful ownpr.

Ill persiiii lUnry V, wu (all and Bi{ile, and ao swil^ of !<»(• thit bt
I could, wiih the aid of two of hia lords, capture deer in the Tt>>-al m-
I closures, without the assistance of dogs. Ilia porltaits poaoesa iltai di*-
I linclive character which proves peraooal reaemblance ; bis Itnlurcfe an
' n^ular, though very strongly marked ; Uie perceptive brow denotes ibc
greal gcncml ; the eyes are majestic and overpowering j the nove vrll
cut, but eiern in the expression of ihe noairil; ttio mouth wide, twi
cloieJy presaed, oiiil the haughty upper lip curls wiili no very benevo-
lent expression. There is a great developumcnt of frontal bcain in hit
|)oriraiIs : ihey ore oil proltlas, excepting ihai over ihe chaniry at Woi-
(uinaier Abbey, whicli liaa a wen on the right side of the neck.

At the lime of Henry's deaili, his fair wiJow had not atiaintd ha
Iweniy-firsl year. Her nOi-ctJon was, as ilio dying hero observul Xo hit
brother, must violent, bul it certainly proved in the end radier evann-
cent

The funeral of Henry V. was arranged and conducted by queen %»■
theriue, with all the pomp of woe.' ■■ His body was laiij on a chartnl
drawn hy foor great horses. Jusl above ilie dead corpse dtey plarMi i
£gure niad« of boiled leather, pn»eniing his person as nigh as miglil
be devised, painted curiously to the geiiibJance of n living eroaiur*. uo
whose bead wu put an imperial diadem of gold and precious slnnes;

briiiRi Her

iro at Spniis, atiH Blfimis bM mniher VM wSUi

It the palnce near IHuis, inofl luad as a tmHi

likHly he woiilil lesvo liiK tvilp at iIif («ni|il

<n o[ iCaUi.>-rin« lo hii bmlliBr, a<i>l Kstlipti*

D the fUuotsl ritea of Im d

•Stow.

XATtiERI^E OP TALOIS. 109

(m ibi hcxly. a piirplr rfiF>r fntrn) wiih prniinr; in ibe li^bi Iiand, ■
KTpin' roval ; in ihe left, an orb of ffold, with a cross fixcil tliereoiii
An<l. ilins ndomed, waa litis figure Uij in a bet) on ihe saire charioU
-Mth itie vt«af[e unro*ere<I townrds ihe hearens; and the covertore of
:>.i-> hnl H'ii» of red, bcaUm with giilil; and besides, when the bo<tT
■^ijiiU paBB ihruugh anv good lown, a canopy of marrellotit valae wb«*
lorne over ii, by men vl grwit worship. In this maimer he was Bcrom—
pniiied by the king of Scott, as chief mmirner,' and by all ihp princpr,,
ionls, anil hnights of his house, in rrstures of deep mourriii-t;. Al ft.
diitanro from the corpse of nbont two English miles, folKntfd iho
widow, qiiccn Katherine, ri^ht honourably aiTompaniei^. Tile body '
rr^trd at ilie church o( St. OlFian, in Abbeville, where masses were sung*
by the queen's order*, for the repose of Henry's soul, from ihe dawn of
Bioniirig till the close of night. The procession moTeil through Abb*-
tilte with increased pomp. The duke of Exeter, the earl of March* sir
Loois Robsart, the queen's knighu and many nobles, >>ore the banners
of the mints. The hatchments were carried by t«el»e renowned Mp«
Bins ; and around the bier-car rode four hnndreil men-at-arms in black
_ ■nnotir, their horses barbed black, their lances held with the poinM
H^pwnwards. A great company clothed in white, bearing wnx-iorchc^
HB|kteti, encompassed the procession. The qtieen, with a nn^tv reti-
^KlSet came after al a mile's distance.^ Thus she passed, keeping her hu»i
' Wnd'a corpse in view, through Hesdin, Monircnil, and Boiilngiie, till
they came to Calais, where, on the I2lh of October, the privy couneS
had ordered Tessels to meet the qneen, with ladies to attend her.*

When the queen, aAer landing at Dover with the royal corpse, ap-
nra«chrd London, she was met by tiAeen bishops in their poniilicBl
ksbits. anil by many abbots in their mitres and vestments, with a vast
erowd iif priests and people. The priests ehanled all the way from
Blackheaih, and through the streets of the city, hymns for their dea<l
king. A general and picturesque illumination was elTccinl, by each
houneholder standing at his door with a torch in his hand. The prince*
of tlie royal family rode in moumAil postures neit the funeral car. Tha
grief of the young qneen ^really edilied the people, and they were still
■lore impressed by the barbarian magnilicence uf the tomb she mised to
Uie memory of their loyal hero ; on which a Latin inscription exprcvMd
'that it waa raised by his queen, Katherine.'* The famous nilver-plaled
itue, with the head of solid silver gilt, was placed on the tomb <tf
^ F»ry V. nt the expense of his widow^

f Directly after the obsequies of her husband, Katherine reiirrd to WiniW

r Castle,* to enibr«ee her babe, and pass ihe first weeks of her widow-

U«r little child waa eight months old, on the day of his warlike

I

I

l*G<Mdwln'i Llfoof Hi
™ of Privy Cot
n of Sp<-»il, Itisl
1> maile ibt
f or thi

I. (icvpiing that all □<

isuw.
VOL. 111. — 10

, vol. III. p. a. Them dncumend larUIr rimflim iha

inle king Hpniy VI. »-iu l»ft In Erglinil ; toj da

wpinicin, nor it the rofnl inftnl eien Ririiii'>n«l

reiing hi* ilnd laibi-r uid moiiiniiiK tnoAir

I

I

110 E ATIIBRtNB op VALOIS.

blhtu'* dmlh. Wlicn llir pailianiGnt tn^ she reiDOTed to I^taduiuW
jtameA llinmali tlie rilv. on r in'iririe llirnne ilrnwn bv whiw liurso.
(Uul «i.fri.mi.lM by ill ihe prm.« ami i.ol.les ,.1" EngUiiii. Thr lu&iu
kine wu )<ni«il uii Iter kp, "ami iIi<m« preiiy liaitds," ^>'b o"e o( our
qtuutit rhrvniclcra. " wbicli c^ultl nut yet feud liiniself, wen; mait np-
ble a( wioldiiig ■ drtpirr ; and he, who was bebnIOen to Bnr<p« (at null[<
did distribuw Buoteiiaiiiw in the Inw iind justice of h if nation. 'I*he qoeai.
with her infiini on her knee, wu rntlininKl Miioiig ihe Ionia. \'lum. bt
Uie rliiinc<-Llar, the iiitic king nlulcd. and spoke to them at laret bi'i
piind, b)' mMiis of ujioiher's tuiigue/' The kine ciinducipd hinufir
with extiBonJinarv qiiiirtness and grafity, eoiisiJenng ho had not re
attained tlie n^ of twelve uioniha.

Henry did not always b«buve au orderly, aa lliat curious annaL ihf
iMuduu Cbroni<lc, thus bears grave testimony :' — "Thia ynr i^llSSX
upon Saturday, the I3ih of November, the king and his mother retoofnl
from Windsor to hold a parliament in London. At night, the king ind
his mother, the queen, lodged at Stnities, sjiil upon the morrow, bein|
Sunday, the king being borne towards bis mother's car, he skreelinl, ht
tried, lie epnirig, and itouM be earritHl no furllier ; wherrfore they but
him again to the ion, and there h« af)ode the Suriilay all day."

The chronicler certainly inean« to insinuate that all (his violence wu
becsuM llio roytii babe, by a Jioly iitstincti would not hreak ihe Sabbub
by tmvelling, and therefore made this notable resistance, by shrifkio;
Bnd kicking, when he was carried to his mother's car. In all proba-
bility he hul been well amused at the inn at Staines, and diJ not wiih to
leave it

''On the Monday," continues the chronicler of London, "he Vf
borne to bis mother's cor or cliair, he being then gUd ami roerrv o(
cheer, and so they came to Kingston, and ccsKii that niijhL On the
TuRsday queen Katherine broiigUi hira to Keuiilt^ton. On WedneedaT
he came lo London, and with glad semblance and merry cheer on his
mother's banii* (lap) in the car, rode through Ixiniton to WentiniucKt.
and on the morrow was so brought into pailiiuneni."

Kalherine leJl Westminster with her infant, and retired lo WaJtham
Palace, November ^6th. and from thence to llerlford, whore she kfpl
her Christmas with her friend, Jsmes I. of Scoitaud,' whom she had lit*
pteaauie of seeing united, at St. Mary's, Suutbwark, soun after. Id the
lady he jiaaBiunaiely loved, anil whose liappiness she liad kmdly pro-
moted.

Kaiherine's dower was not settled by Act of Partiameni nntil the w
cond year of her infant's reign. She appears to have been pm in po»-
aession of oil the ancient dower palaces belonging to the qneena of Eo^
bind, Willi the exception of Havering Bower and Lingley, where residffl
llie quecn^lo wager, widow lo Henry IV.

» In the third year of the reign of Henry VI. was granted to hb deami

^^u ■Chnui
^^Bpnnedb

Chnuiolet of LoiuloD, p. Ill (<lale H23).

n is an ■mH-rm word NCuiyinB l»p. An apfoii ii by run <•
UuntcUjilL. 'Cliron. of lioailbii, llv ki

KATHBRINB OF VALOI8. Ill

mother Katherine, all that inn or hospitinm in the city of London, where
his dear cousin the earl of March, lately deceased, used to reside ; and
that she may have possession of it during the minority of his dear con-
tin, Richard duke of York, on condition that she keeps in ^ood repair
•11 the buildings and gardens, and is at all charges concerning them."
There is reason to suppose that this was BaynanPs Cattle.

This year, Katherine,* and her mother, Isabeau of Bavaria, were en-
treated on the part of England and France to act as mediatrices between
Humphrey duke of Gloucester and Philip duke of Burgundy, who had
challenged each other to mortal combat. Duke Humphrey insisted on
retaining, as his wife, Jacqueline the heiress of Holland, who had for-
merly thrown herself on Katherine's protection. Katherine, being the
intimate friend of all the parties, succeeded in preventing the duel'

Two days before the opening of parliament in 14'i5, Katherine en-
tered the city in a chair of state, with her child sitting on her knee.
When thev arrived at the west door of St. PauPs Cathedral, the duke-
protector lifted the infant king from his chair and set him on his feet,
and then, with the duke of Exeter, led him between them, up the stairs
ffoing into the choir; from whence the royal infant was cariied to the
high altar, where he kneeled for a time, a traverse having been prepared
lor him. It is expressly said, ^^ that he looked gravely and sadly about
him.^' And then he was borne into the churchyard, and there set upon
a &ir courser, to the infinite delight of the people, and so conveyed,
through Cheapside to St. George's Bar, to his own manor of Kenning-
ton. At Kennington Palace, Katherine and her royul son reposed till
the 30th of April, when they set out on a grand procession through the
city to Westminster Palace. The little king was held on a great white
horse, and the people flocked in multitudes to see him, declaring lie had
the features of his father, and loading him with blessings. Being come
to the palace, Katherine seated herself on the throne iu the white-hall,
where the house of lords was held, with the infant sovereign on her
lap.*

Oor warlike barons were not a little embarrassed bv the mutations of
this world, which had snatched from them a leader of singular energies,
both as monarch and warrior, and, placing a little babe at their head, made
them directors of a nursery. The chivalric earl of Warwick had the
irdianship of the king's person at a very early age ; a fact illustrated
a beautiful contemporary drawing in the pictorial history of the earl.*
[e is represented holding the king, a most lovely infant of fourteen
months ohi, in his arms, while he is showing him to the peers in par-
liament. One of the lords is presenting the infant monarch with the
orb. The royal babe is curiously surveying it, and, with an arch look,
gently placing one dimpled hand upon the symbol of sovereignty, seeois
doubtful whether it is to be treated with reverence, or chucked, like a

* Monstrelct.

*The king's moder and his amdt are enu^ated by the English parliament to
^flfect a peace. — Parliamenuiry History, toI. ii. p. 197.

* Parliamentary History, 101, and Holingshed.

* ^'ee the pre(*^ing memoir. Beauchamp Pictorial Gironicle,

vemesi<, daint* Alice l^ntrler, and liu nur
of him in his htnirs of rctireiiu'iiL

In n vrrv luiivelv woriU'd dorumonU
the kinif wt^ru giving liis tliroctioiis to
dmme Alice '* from lime \o time reason
may require, without heiog iielii accoun
at any future time. The well-beloved
and expert person) \b to teach us courtei
and many things convenient for our roy

After these arrangements were ciicc
behind a cloud so mysterious, tluit for t
no public document which tells of her
forced to wander in search of panic u Ian
regions of tradition and private anecdoU

Deep obscurity hangs over the birth {
husband, Owen Tudor. Some historiani
was a brewer at Beaumaris.' Never th
fuince of North Wales, called Theodon
to the Saxon tongue, was corrupted intc
•ound of 'I'idder. There is an ancient 1
called Glengauny, still pointed out as
and the Welsh say that he possessed t'
three thousand pounds per annum. Bu
means consistent with the assertion of
naot, who has proved that Meredith, the
•on of a younger son, of the line of Tu
office than that of tcutifcr^ or sbield-1

KATIIKRINE OF VALOIH. 1 1) f

tml, being oiiOawed, lleil wJili his wife to ilie faBinesses of SiiowiJon
wliiTi^ Owen Glendower upheld ttie banner of deliance^ against (lie IiijUM
of Lancaster. If young Owen were nol born in this slronghuUt of frL-e-
(lom. he waa probsbly baptixeJ there : for a tnuliiion declarex, that ha
wa» godson to the great ctiief, Glendower. He was thus brought up
froin his cradle a« b hardy, predatory soldier.

The next fact regarding Owen, is, that he certainly belonged to th*

brmve Welsh band with whom Henry V. most prudently entered into

■tnicable terms, on the death of the warlike Glendower. These hardy

warriors, it is well known, under the command of Dary the One-nyed,'

did good service at Agincourt. Tradition says that young Owen Tudor

aided his countrymen in repelling ihe fiery charge of Alenqon, aiid thai

Henry V. made him, for his bravery, one of the squires of his body;*

hence his title of armiger.' There is great reason to suppose, that tha

bniv« and hsiidsonie Owen fought only as a comniun soldier in the

Walsh band. But when once he had received the preferment uf Mjuira

of the body to Henry V., he certainly continued the same olfiee about

lh« person of the infant king, and hence his acquaintance with tha

qnaen-m other.

^^ In (his station Owen Tudor is next found keeping guard on (he infant

HB^U and his mother, at Windsor Caslle, and very soon after the death

^^y Henry V. it appears the handsome Welsh soldier attracted the ntten-

^Bmi of the royal widow of England. Owen did nol ceitaiidy possess

^■■n pounds per annum at this tmie : if he had, he must have taken up

^Bia knighthood.

H^ While Owen was on guard ai Windsor, on some festival, he was re-
Bj^njred to dance' before the queen ; and, making too elaborate a piroi^
eiW} he was not able to recover his balance, but fell into the queen'a
lap, aa she sat upon a low seaU' with all her ladies about her. Th*
qiMten's manner of excusing this awkwardneiis gave her ladies the first
aaspicion that site was uoi entirely insensible to the attractions uf the
brave Welshman. As her passion increased, and she indulged herself
in greater intimacy with the object of it, those of her ladies, who could
uka the liberty, remonsiraied with the queen, and represented " how
' 'Vnch she lowered herself by paying any attention to a person, who^
wagh possessing some personal areomplishmenls and ndvanlages, had
p princely, nor even genUe alliances, but belonged to a barbarous clan
f aavagei, n-ckoned inferior to the lowest English yeomen.'' Upon
'ich the queen declared, "^ that being a Frenchwoman, she hod DM
b aware that there was any diderence of race in the British island."
lerwards, communicating these strictures to her lover, he held forth
f eloquently concerning his high-born kin and princely descent, and

' Darj Gam. broihor-in-law to Olojidower.

'Slow a Aiiiials. TIicm Kjuirea uT ilifl hoclf Kiintded dia pama of iha tjrt
r*i|tn; Oipir wn probabljr ihv origin of ilii> ganik<nen«(-iimi*. $«vvral of Iha
Wct*b Imn.l or Gain wi-rr iliut promoli-d.

■Owfn ■> nntitlvJ similar, or iti[uir;, in tlie t'nHlera, but iieter knigUl.

'Stow'i Antmb.

'llii* low ml iiHlimtda Uial tbe inftnl Utaij v/m in prHMiM.
^ !«• It

I

I
I

wh*! holy place lli(<ir linnds were untied
■nd iimnge it iit, thai llt^niy Vll^ with i
dnct^ul. ihuuld not hare 1«^ suine uilim
iliB marriniKF of Ratheiine nod Owen. J
■Mert conlideniiy ibni ilio nwrria^ ai
Tuilor wan at Irast taridy icknowlfxlpid
reign. Alodrm htsloriaos iiapliciily ful
■Imdow of .ckiiowbdgmenl o( ih<; nvxn
her son's rrifii Boiue auapiciuns aroas
llumphrfv uf tiloticMter. thai ilio i)ueea
unaiiiuble aUiance, and ■ aevere ataluu
thfi licnvimt ppDoltieB, ''any one who 9
downer, or any lady who hpid laiitls of
of llii! king unil liis council.'" i

Ii i> tisunlly affirmed ^ iliat the re^nn
wai miirrinl when lliia law waa cnacind.'j
be the coat, bul ihty had not assuredn
attach m eni ; ulherwise wuuld ihey liave
innwii) of Kailierine*s household, till at I
of her life? — a (an incoiiteatably proM
Counril,' He was clerk of b«r wardron
a grrat biMoncal sntiqunry.

SiMin afWr lb« prohibitory suiute <nJ
iictioii ai^inst (he bishop of Carluke, N
dowdr liindEi. Her cause was carried onl
fli^hiME ellusion to any s«cond huebandJ

^^V KATHERINE Or TALDIS. Itfl^H

^^^■An office like that borne br Owen Tudor ^vas peculiiirly Ifahle tt ^|
^^Hbmnte pernonaJ acquainlance between Ibe queen and iiiin : as clerk o^ ^M
^^V« wanirobe, it was Owen's offire nol only lo guard the queen's jew^ ^|
' fhrai robbery, but to pay Tor, if not purchase, alt maieriaU for her dre«tf' ^|
Many serious consultation* might have taken place on occaiton oreTa'l''^H
new purchase or paymenl.as to the colours and style mosl becoming ttf'^l

ltlf> mVAl bjuilllV. Anil romnlimenra mioht hut itmiTif^il urhirK lli^ Inuilir ^^

ihe royal beauty, and complimenls might be implictl which the lowly
lover could have no other opportunity of expressing.

The only notice that occurs of Kaihenne from the third i-ear of her
tnftni'a reign, till \43a, is, ihal her son. (hen in his seventh year, by iJie
advice of his governess, Alice Boteler, presented his mother, for a New-
year^ gin, with the ruby ring given him by hia uncle, the duke of Bed-

Katherine'a life of reiirenienl enabled her to conceal her marriage for
amy years, and to give birth, without any very notorious scandal, lo
three Rr>m succeKsively- The eldest was bom at the royal mnnnr-hniise
ef Hadham ; from the place of his hirlh he is called Eilmunil of Had-
Iwni. The second was Jasper of Hatfield, from another of the royal
lendences. The third, Owen, first saw the light ai some iitconvenient
season, when Kalherine was forced to appear at the royal palace of
Wesiminsier. The babe was carried at once into the monastery, wherf
tui was reared, and afterwards professed a monk.

While Katherine was devoting herself to conjugal aflcction and ma-
ternal duties, performed by stealth, her royal son was crowneil, in his
eighth year, king of F.ngtand, at Weslntinster, with great pomp, in which
his mother took no share. The next year he crossed the sea, in order
la be crowned at Paris. It is natural to suppose that queen Katherine
Bccooipanit^d her son, and supported his claims on her native crown, by
ber personal inllnence ; but no traces are to be found of her presence.

Her mother was alive in Paris, full of years, and, it must be added, of
diahonours. The English princes and lords did not condescend lo in-
troduce their little king lo the degraded woman, and the maternal granAt*
mother of Henry VI. became first known to the son of her daughter, by ■
kissing her hand' and making a reverential courtesy lo him at a eroilttt
(window) of the HAtel de St. Pol ; after which it was not considered^
decent lo forbid the young king's request lo visit her, and an inti'rvtei^
took place between queen Isabeau and her grandson.

Ttnic wore on. and one disaster to the English in France followed
■notber. They evacuated Paris just three days before the wicked queeo
Isabeau died. There was scarcely a person found to bury this ones
powerful princess. Katherine, though in the prime of life, being bnl
tkirty-Hre, survived her wretched mother only one year.

A strong suspicion of the queen's connexion with Tudor seems lo
have bean first excited in the minds of Henry V.'s guardians, towards ths

'Tlie cImIu of the wardrobe bouRht jeweli and aloth of golil liit thi
m pHncT-iu*. Sen Riclmtil ClilTonl's pareha*-! fnj ilie lad]r Philipjia. ilaughl
■r Hmiy 1V„ when sba nratned Eiie king OT Sw»dea.^^»ua Kollt, pp. W3,<

*Vniy L'ouiu^il, vol. tii. p. aU. ■ MODttrBlaU

\

]

RATH BKtN

OP TALOia.

I

IH

•nd of (h« rammrr of 143S; itwhiRh time Katheriae etiher M
In ihe iihbry of ItermnnilMry, or ww e<n\, Uu^re nnJer som* r
Tliia rvpnl a sappngtul tn hnvp iicriirnMl junl oAer iJie birth of b
(taoghter, Margaret, who lireil but a few ilnys. Anxiety of n
the queen into ilecliDiiig health, luiJ she Temaiaed very ill at S
■)!¥• duriog the lutuiiin.

" The high apirii of ihe ttuke of Gloucester," my* one of our hitto-
riaiis.' " eouM not brook her marriage; neither the beauty of Tudof'i
mraon, nor hia genealogy ilednced from Cndwallniler kin^, enuld tihirld
him or the qaeen from a tharp penecutJun aa soon as tlic match wii

The rhlldren, lo whom queen Kaiherine had previotisly Ktren btnh
in seereu were lom from her by the orders of the cnnncil, and conaitiwd
to the keeping of a sister of ihe earl of Suffolk.' This erueliy ptmpa
haxienei:! the death of the unfortunate que«n. The pitying nnns who
■tiendeil her deelared she wafl a sincere penitent, and among all otbM
■mall Kins «he expressed llio deepest contrilion' for having disobtyed
her royal husband Henry V., and perversely choaeu the forbidden euilc
of Windsur as the biriliplaee of the heir of England, lu her yoUh
Katheiine had evidendy scorned the astrological oracle, ^ ihal Henry of
Windsor shall lose all that Henry of Monmouth had gained ," but now,
■UhflUfh Ihe Iste diraslcrs in France, snd the loweriin; prospects iuEnit-
Und, were plainly the natural consequences of a Ihicly years' war, 9U-
pcrsiiiion seized on the mind that had formedy rejected il : and Ksths-
rine, weakened by snrrow and sullering, devoutly believed thai her fiK*
bidden accouchment at Windsor Casde was Ihe reason of the iU-fortune
of her son, Henry VI., and duly repented of her supposed crime on Ix
dealh-bed.

While languishing between life and death. Kaiherine made her will,
ill terms which fully denote the deep depression of her apirila ; —

"Thn IBM will of queen Kslhnrine mule unio our sovereign lonl, bat ■»
Upon lier departing out of iliis worlH.*

- Riglil hiK>i and miglily prince, anJ my full {n>)iloubicil lotil, and Gtll m-
lireljt hvlovnd ton. in duo linmlile wiae, with fnll heartj naluml blsMint, IMO-
menil me id ynut highneai. To the whicli plmse to be cBinilaJ. that baltee&<
■Ilsnl and fMiful conclution of Ihii luntf, grioroui innlailf. in the wtikh I Hn
be«n lonB, anil yet am, troubled anil vexed bjr ihe Tinuiioa of Ood (V> akaai
be ibaiihing nnJ laud in all hIa giAs). I purpose, hf the enii» of Ood, and oalv
jwiT suctioiir, pnHaction. mnd comlbn (in whom onlf. bdkhii kII olhar sBdUy,
sunJi alJ m7 tiud), ID ordaia and dlapoie of my tmameiu, both fbr mjr oil
and my body.

a tlie mora a

nd unju9t of GlmKestei to pecieciite ami u
n of ui

self boil formed a mnn degmding BlIiBiu-e with Eleanora Cobhant. who tmi <■«

only previouilf lived willi liim on diirepuDble letioa, but bad bucna an tnlk

moua clininuur. 'AbbeH of Bnrhiiia, Kslberiae de la Pola. 'SproL

' This dopiimenl hat. u far a> we know, never belbre been printsd. It ii f""

I ftally Injured by ibe Hrs thai damagHt Ibo Conoiiian MSS. in the but cunluT

b remain! to be inielligibte. Mr. Halliwell has kind))' uanauibnl ■

IE lantnuitr- The onhography alone lias bran allerad, in jia iatni"'-

hit bio|[rov>M- CutonuM US. Tiibtrau E. viii. Ibl. SSI.

KATHBKIIIB OF VALOIB. 117

" And I trust fullj, and am right sure, that, among all creatures earthly, ye
oett mny, and will best tender and favour my will, in ordaining for my soul
and boily, in seeing that my debts be paid and my servants guerdoned, and in
Under and favourable fulfilling of mine intent} Wherefore, tenderly I beseech
yoii, at tlie reverence of Go<l, and upon my full, hearty blessing, that to my per-
petual comfort and healUi of soul and body, of your abundant and special graco
(in full remedy of all means that in any wise may amnentise* or deface the
effect of my last purpose and intent), grant at my humble prayer and request to
be my executor ; and to depute and assign such persons to be under you of your
servants, or of mine, or of both, as it shall like you to qhuse tliem, which I remit
fully to your disiposition and election. Beseeching you, also, at the reverence
of our Lord God and the full entire blessing of me your mother, that, this done,
ye tenderly and benignly grant my supplication and request, contained partico-
larly in the articles ensuing.

** And if tender audience and favourable assent shall be given by so benign
•nd merciful a lord and son to such a mother, being in (at) so piteous point of
to grievous a malady, I remit to your full, high, wise, and noble discretion, and
to the conscience of every creature that knoweth the laws of God and of nature,
that if the motlier should have more favour than a strange person, I remit (refer
or appeal) to the same."

From the perusal of this solemn exhortation, a conclusion would
naturally be drawn, that it was the preface to the earnest request of
Railierine, for mercy to her husband, and nurture for her motherless
infants. Yet the articles or items which follow contain not the slightest
allusion to them. All her anxiety seems to be centred — firstly, in the
payment of her creditors (without which she seems convinced that her
•oul will never get free) ; secondly, in obtaining many prayers and
masses for her soul ; and, thirdly, in payments being made and rewards
given to her 8er>'ants. If Katherine, by this mysterious document, really
made any provision for her helpless family, it is all comprised in the
dark hints to her son of acting ^ according to his noble discretion and
her intents ;^' which intention, perhaps, had been confided to the young
king in some interview previously to her imprisonment There is no
enumeration of property in the items that follow, excepting the portion
of income due at the day of her departing. She declares that her soul
^ shall pass as naked, as desolate, and as willing to be scourged, as the
poorest soul God ever formed."

This piteous exhortation to her son was written, or dictated, a few
hours before her death ; yet, even at her last gasp, she evidently dared
not break regal etiquette so far as to name to her son her plebeian lord
or her young children.

Whilst this pathetic document was in course of preparation, the dying
queen receive<l a token of remembrance from her son, king Henry, on
New- yearns day, consisting of a tablet of gold, weighing thirteen ounces^
on which was a crucifix set with pearls and sapphires : it was bought
of John Pattesby, goldsmith, and was sent to Katherine at Bermondsey.

'This is the only sentence which can be construed into an a1lu!«ion to her
fkmily ; here some intent, supposed to be known to the king, is imp]ic<l — a my
terinus clause evidently di!«tinct from the previously enumerated portions of tha
irntnnce — viz., obituary and burial ; ])nying her dfbt* and rewarding her aet-
Wits. ' '"^his word seems to mean unpedt.

memory, on which was engi
same preserved in the pages
lowing is a translation : —

Death, daring sp>oile
Within tliis tomb ih
Queen Katlierine's e
Of our fifth Henry, ^
Henry, mother. As
A perfect flower of
Here, happy Engl an
On whose auspiciou:
And, reft of whom, ;
Joy of this land, an(
Glory of mothers, to
A follower sincere o
Heaven and our ear
This woman, who a
Earth, by her ofTspri
In the fourteen hund
First month *s third d
And this queen's soi
In heaven, received

This original epitaph has 1
it is very probable, that as i
widow, and not a wife, it oc(
the reign of her grandson.

Owen Tudor had been put
Bermondsey.' From thence

r 11

ITATHBftlNB OF YALOtS. 119

and free to go^ The council gave the king's Terbal promise that
ould depart unharmed. Owen vowed he would not venture hiro«
vithin their reach, without a written promise. This was granted^

he hastened to London, and threw himself into the sanctuary at
minster, where he remained many days, ^ eschewing,'' as a docu-

of the privy council says, ^ to leave it, although many persona,
f friendship and fellowship, stirred him to come out thereof, and
rt himself, in the tavern at Westminster Ghite." Here, when on
at Westminster Palace, Owen had evidently been accustomed to
If and, as a retired soldier, tell over, with boon companions^ all hia
of Agincourt. He vras right to resist the temptation of ^ disport*
imself," for the council certainly meant to entrap him there,
last, he heard that the young king was ^^ heavily informed of him^''
\s listening to serious charges against him. Upon which Owen
;nly appeared before the privy council, then sitting in the chapel
ber at Kennington Palace, and defended himself with such manli-
ind spirit, that the king set him at liberty.

ren immediately retired into Wales ; but the duke of Gloucester^
a base prevarication perfectly inconsistent with the high character
wed on him in history, sent after him,' and, in despite of the double
conduct, had him consigned to the tender mercies of the earl of
k, in the dungeons of the royal castle of Wallingford, under pre-
of having broken prison.'

e lord -constable of England, Beaumont, was paid twenty marks,
le expenses he had incurred in catching and keeping Owen, his
, and servant. The place where the privy council met to arrange
usiness is rather remarkable : it was transacted in the secret chamber
ging to cardinal Beaufort as bishop of Winchester, in the priory of
iry's Overy. There were present, in this secret conclave, ** the
:anlinal, the lord-chancellor, the earl of Suffolk, the treasurer, lord
erford, and John Stourton, knight"

was found convenient to remand Owen back from Wallingford
) to Newgate, where, it may be remembered, his priest and servant
committed. No sooner were these three persons in Newgate onca
, than its walls were found inefficient to detain them ; they all made
ind escape, aAer ^ wounding foully their gaoler," as an old MS. in
arleian Collection declares. Owen laid his plans so successfully,
econd time of breaking out of Newgate, that he was not retaken,
ed with his fiiithful adherents to the Aptnesses of North Wales,
* he waited for better times.

s, perhaps, not too much to infer, that the priest thus connected
Dwen, w^as the person who secretly performed the marriage-cere-

*9e curious links in the histoiy of the unfortunate Katherine*8 partner,
led up from sir Harris Nicolas* Minutes of the Privy Council, vol. v. p.
I.

:ieni, vol. X. p. 685. The order for his imprisonment there, ends thD»—
moreover, we will that you send us the fourscore and nine pounds that
und on the raid prirst, wtiich you hare now in hand, the which jrou are to
r up Ibi wur use to the treasurer and chamberlain of our ezolieqiier."

I

KATHBKINR or VALOII.

Sj bMwM-n him and Kalliorinc^ and iliat the wrrnnt wu viuen lo
WtdWk. Tho LonUiin (.'hnioicle rindicates the hrniour of the
oi vm- cainplintcnuir)' lo her spouse. "Thisywr,
SW Owen. ■ man ne' of biriii, n« ti( bvetiliuiHl, brake uui of Newguc ai
•earrhing; time, (be wliicli Oweu had pnvily wedded quei-u Ivathenitt.
and Itail three or four cliildren bj her, unkuowa lo the comiiioii pM)|dt
till ahe waa dead and buried."*

Kaiheriiie'a elileii boys moat hare been very youn^ ■■ the lime of hn
death, sine* they icmained inrimtfti of a nunnery, under the care of the
abbea* urBarkin^c, till th<? year II'IO. They were wholly ne^lrctcil by
the cauri ; fur, till the abbesn Bup])hcat«d inint urgently, no muaer bail
been paid for the auaienanee ot ibese neKlecied litile uoea, after the dnib
of the muiher.'

Soon after the abbess had drawn the attention of Henry VI. lo the ex-
istence of the children of hia unfortunate mtilher, he placed lliera ouilet
the care of discreet prieals, to be brongbt up choslely and viiiuously.*
The tuli^io^ «f ihc king hnnself linil, at this lime, eeuae<l by the laws of
England If Katlierine hod survived till thia )>eriod, she would ha*ii
been ilifTerenily treated ; fur more ihiui one ulU hisLorian asaena, Ihit
Uenry VI. never forgave hia undo Gloucester the harah usag« hia mother
had experienced, Aa soon as the young king aiiained his majoriiyi he
allowed Owen Tuilor an aiiimity of Ml. per Biinum, ** which, for ccrtUD
causes, him niof iiig, he gave him out of liis privy purse by especial
gtmee,"'

The eldeel son of Catherine and Owen was marrinl, by the influent
of Henry VI., to Margaret B«tuforl, the lieiroa^ of the houac of Sam«-
•et. .At the palace of Reading, bin royal lutlf-brother bestowed un kan
the liile of Itii'hiu'Hid. This waa done aiuidsi the reJotcingB for ihe bmi
of Edward, prince of Wales, and ihe festivities in celebnitiou of the kinf't
resLoraiiou lo health and reason. Edniuiid look preeeitence of all olto
Eiif^lish peers. He died in his twentieth year, leaving an in&ni •«<
afterwards Henry VII.

The next brother, Jasper Tudor, wns created earl of Pembrnkei tbt
same day thai his brother receivnl the title of Kichmond.* The iluni
aon lived and died a monk al Weslminster.

Owen Tudor himnelf was ukeii into aoroe sori of favour, bul ntrer
graced with any title, or ownod by Henry VI. as his fatber-iit-law ; u
■nay be plainly seen by a deed dated so late aa U6U, jusi before the
battle of North iinplnn, where ihe king declares, " that out of considen-
tinii of ihe good services of that beioved tqwre, our Owiiius Tudyr, wc
for [he future lake him into our special gnu;e,a[id moke him park-keepw

■Nrlilier.

>A obronicler in Leland'a Oillecilon uwa neailjr Iha same woriisi bat l«lind
has ■ppendcU a nnu. nying. " II was the pri'ie ot Ihe king's uncle* aloiw wlik'h
Nitighl to casi tBOtn on Owvii's birtli ; likeH-we, " llial Owen eHpAd by M of
the pripii." • Ftniero, vol. s. p. 828.

' Blaakman's Chronii^le. piinlei) al iha rud of Oueibourne > Chniiiidn.

a%\ pkymeiiu of thii aonuily, Slsi ami 3'Jil of llenrr VL't intft

KATHKKIIIB OF VAI.OI8. 121

of our parks in Denbigh, Wales.''' This was granted when the king
was in a distressed state, and the old warrior, his father-in-law, had
drawn his Agincourt sword in his cause.

After the defeat and death of Richard duke of York, at Wakefield, a
Lancastrian anny, commanded by Jasper earl of Pembroke, and his
fiuher, Owen Tudor, pursued the earl of March, who, turning fiercely al
bay, defeated them near Mortimer's Cross. Jasper made a successful
retreat ; but his father, with true Welsh obstinacy, positively refused to
quit the lost field, he was taken prisoner ; and, as he was the first vic-
tim on whom Edward had the opportunity of wreaking his vengeance
ibr the death of York and Rutland, he ordered Owen Tudor's head to be
smitten ofif in Hereford market-place, with two or three Lloyds and
Howels, his kinsmen and comrades.' Such was the end of the second
husband of queen Katherine, who lost his life stoudy battling for the
cause of Lancaster.'

When Henry VII. ascended the throne of England, he caused the
Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey, with the tomb of queen Katharine,
to be demolished for the purpose of building a new and stately chapel.
In place of the epitaph destroyed, (wiiich must, in its assertion that
queen Katherine died widow to Henry V., have proved very embarrassing
to the Tudors), the following lines were hung up, which were evidently
written after Henry VILA'S accession." *

* Here lies queeu Katherine closed in grave, the French king*8 daughter fair,
And of thy kingdom, Charles tlic Sixth, the true undoubted heir.
Twice joyful wife in marriage— matched to Henry the Fifth by name,
Becmuse through her he nobled was, and shined in double fame.
The king of England by descent, and by queen Katherine's right.
The realm of France he did enjoy — triumphant king of might.
A happy queen to Englishmen she came right grateful here,
And lour days* bpace they honoured God, with lips and reverent fbar.
Henry the bixth this queen brought forth, with painful labour plight.
In whose empire France was then, and he an English wight.
Under no lucky planet born unto himself or throne,
But equal with his parents both in pure religion.
Of Owen Tudor, after this, thy next son Edmund was,
O Katherine, a renowned prince, that did in glory pass !
Henry the ISeventh, a Britain pearl, a gem of England's joy,
A peerless prince was Edmund's son, a good and gracious roy;
Therefore a happy wife this was, a hapj)y mother pure.
Thrice liappy child, but grand-dame she more than thrice happy, sure !"

Although Henry VII. had demolislied the tomb of his grandmother, it
10 certain that he liad not caused her remains to be exhumed, since he
mentions her in his will, as still interred in the chapel ; and it is evident
that he intended to restore her monument.

^ Specially as the body of our grand-dame of right noble memory,
queen Katherine, daughter of the king of France, is interred within our
monastery of Westminster, and we propose shortly to translate thither

* Foedera, vol. x. p. 43!). * Stow's Annals, and PennanL

' ** A report liad previously existed,** says Biondi, ^ that Owen had been put to
daatb by Humphrey, duke of Gloucetter.** . * Stow'f London.

?OL. III. 11

SATUKRINX OP TALOIS.

xncie of blesai^il iii«nory, Uenrr VI^ ami whsAft

I

r bndy in to btr buried in the bU
nioiiaaiery — that is to mv, in ilie ctia{<el where our said gnutd-dtme lid

Whiaj Henry VII. wia interred, llii' corpw of Kaiherine w»s eihumeiii
and w hrr ungmrtous dascendani, Henry VIII., did not fiiltil his bther^
inlentiun of n«tarin|( ker tutnb, (he bunea of ihe iinrortniiaif quern
never found a final rMling<place till ihe coiamenei^mmi of the prtstnl
eeniury. Wben exhuiuMl, ilie queen's corpsa was round lo be in ettiv
ordinary prveerraiion ; il wns, iherrfore, ahown as a euTiosity to pe^
eoRg visliiiif; Wnctminilcr Abbey, for at ienst three centuriiM. Weenr,
in his Funeral Monumenis, t)iui tnentiotie iis etale it) ilie lime cf
Charles I.

"Ilcfn lieih Kathenne,queenurCnglaml.wire tnllenryV., in ■ ehnt
or Collin, ivilli a ioost? fover, lo lje seen tiiid haudlfd nf any who n
desire it, and who, by Iter own appoinimeoE, inllicti^d this pent
her>ielf, in regard in her dmobedience lo her husband, for behig di
of her Ron, lUnry VI., al Windsor, which place he forbade."

In the rei^ of Charles II., the poor qiiccn was made s common 4
tadr; for that quninl coinpnnnd of absurdities, Pepys. journalises, «
infiiiile satislnction, lliol he had *• this day kiase<l a quren," and, thai 1m
[iii);lit make litis \natn, lie liad kidveU llie mummy cf Kiilierino ihe Fiir<
shown for tlie eilra charge of iwo pence to lite curious in such huiron-
Late in Uie rei^n of George III., the Mine diagiuliii^ imffic was canled
on ; for Huiton repnibales ii in his Tour Uirwugh ihe Sights of Londoo.
This exonlium probably drew the attention of the then dean of W^
minster; for the wretched remains of Kalhenns the Fair ha« n
■inrc then, shelierod from public view, in some nook of tha f!
WesUniiister Abbey.

amonj^^l

MARGARET OF ANJOU»

QUEEN OF HENRY VI.

CHAPTER I.

Pventage and descent of Margaret — Her birth — Baptism — Misfortunes of her
ftther — Conjugal heroism of her mother — Margaret betrothed in infancy — Her
residence at Tarascon — Charms and early promise— Goes with her mother to
Naples — Her Italian education — First proposal of Henry VI. — Margaret
courted by count de Nevers — Poverty of her parents — Fame of her beau^
and talents — Henry VI. obtains her portrait — Secret negotiations — Treaty of
Tours — Henry appoints Sutiblk his procurator — Margaret married to king
Henry at Nanci — Bridal f^tes and tournaments — The daisy her badge — Sor-
rowful parting with her family — Poverty of Henry VI. — Attendants — Progress
<»f Margaret through France — ^Dines with the duke of York — ^Margaret's scanty
eqtiipment — Bridal wardrobe purchased by the king — Margaret embarks for
Kngland — Lands at Porchcster — Falls sick at Southampton — Married to king
Henry at Tichficld Abbey — Splendid pageants at London — Her coronation-
Foreign followers — Embassy of congratulation — Friendship with cardinal
Beaufort — Murder of the duke of Gloucester— ^ueen Margaret's influence in
tlie government — Endows Queen's College — Banishment and murder of Suf-
folk— Cade's rebellion — Terror of the queen — Persuades the king to retire-
Revolt suppressed — Queen persecutes John Poyn — She favours Somerset —
Wars of the Roses — Talbot MS. presented to the queen — Death of her mother
— King's aberration of mind— Birth of prince Eilward — Queen's churching—
Slic exercises regal power — Loses it — King's recovery — Battle of St, Albans.

The history of Margaret of Anjou, from the cradle to the tomb, is a
lisaue of the most striking vicissitudes, and replete with events of more
powerful interest than are to be found in the imaginary career of any
neroine of romance ; for the creations of fiction, however forcibly they
may appeal to our imaginations, fade into insignificance before the simple
majesty of truth.

When we consider the stormy grandeur of character of this last and
most luckless of our Provencal queens, her beauty, her learning, her
energetic talents, and the important position she occupied for more than
m quarter of a century in the annals of this country, first as the uncon-
stitutional, but cerUtinly supreme, director of the power of the crown^
mnd lastly as the leader and rallying point of the friends of Lancaster, it
is remarkable that no complete and authentic memoir of this princes*
has ever been given to the world.

Kene of Anjou, the father of Margaret, was the second son of Louis
II., king uf Sicily and Jerusalem, duke of Gilabria aniT Anjou, and count

l^i MARGARET OF ANJOT.

of Provence, bir Yolanie of Arragon. In 1 430 Rene ma, in Ui ddr-
leenlh year, espoused to Isabella, ihe betren of Lominr, wImi w«inly
ten years old at the period of her nupliali. This Udy, «hii wtt lli«
<lit«ct descendant of Charlemngne. in addiiran lo her prinertv ]«iTiiiRiaT.
brought tlie beauiy, the high spirit, and the imperiut Uikh) of Lhu ill«-
ti-ious line, into the family of Anjou. Her yoiiii4^!ii liattj^bitt, Hat^Mtt,
was in alt reapeels a genuine ecion of the Carlo* ingiau race; the ab«
inherited her father's love of learning, and his ta»i« fur po«trT ud iht

Some of the English historians, following Mottsirelol, filao« tht te
of Mar^ret'a birth in 1425; but this is a jMlpable orior, far ticrwAK
who was Rcareely fifteen at that lime, did not give birth lo ScrcUw
diild, John of Calabria, till llie follDwing year.' Thm cunv pran
Louis, followed by Nicolas and Yolante, iwiu-rlitlilren, whn vrra bn
October i, 1428. Al^r the decease of Reo^ and tit< at
Ihe title of queen of Sicily, as the nest htir; and this
gether with her marnage-setttemenU, suliie.iendy attests ibe Eki thu ttt
was the elder sister of our Margarel,' since the dales of ihe btrtb irf (M-
dren having claims to a disputed succession are ^nerslty HlrirUv sviWi-
licated by (he records of ilieir own country. Thus we sea thai Marpn<
of Anjou was four years younger than has been geiwraUf iwpf»w»l
According lo the best authorities.* Margaret waa bom Match S3, Itii.
at Point i MouBson, her mother's dowtttfalMebf tMte vf tbvmriil

MARGARET OP AKJOD. 135

gam ma her niother''s companion, during the aa^'oisii^ hnnn at mis>
pfiitie in nrhieh she remainetj at Nanri, swHJiing tkliti^ of ihc Usae of
thiU dUnstriMiB fight. The eveni was too soon annDiintnl, hv the arriral
of the fiigiiiret from the lost battle. ■■Alasf" exclnimeil the <lurhe«<a.
cbuping her liiile Margaret to her bosom, '• where is Kcne mr hird ? —
he is inkeii — he is siaiH !" '

" Mailarii," k-iid tbey, *■ be not thus abandone<l to grieT; the ilake is
in good health, ihnni;!) disabled, and priioner lo the Biirginidianfi." But
the durhrss was inconsolablp. The council of Lorraine regarded her
Willi the tieepest synipathy, for she was left with four helple«» childttn,
two boys and two girls, the most beautiful ever seen.

While the duchess Margneriie (her mother) rallied the dispirited
fnenda of Rene, for the defence of Nanci. Isabel, the tenderwl and most
ciiurngeout of conjugal heroines, sought an interview with her hostile
kiDSRiMt, in the hope of obtaining the release of her captive luril, and a
ceaaaiion from the horrors of civil strife. Moved by her pathetic eIo<
(pwince, Antoine granted a truce of sii months, dated Augim 1, 1431.

Her ntpplicaiioni) in behalf of Ren^ were fruitless, for he had been
already given up to the duke of Burgundy, by whom he was consigned
to a lung imprisonment at Dijon, at the lop of a high tower, eiill tn ex-
istence.' The only condition on which the aire of Margaret could obtain
ereo a tempnniry release from his ihraidoni> was at the price of bestow-
ing his clde-il daughter, Yolsnte, then in her ninth year, on the heir of
bin rival, the young Ferry or Frederic of Vaudemont, with part of tho
disputed lands of Lorraine for her portion. The litile Margaret was at
the mnie time betrothed lo Pierre of Luxemburg, count St. Pol, whose
•quire had cut Rene down at the battle of Bulgneville.'

Rene, being pledged to pay a heavy sum of money to the duke of
Barguiidy fur his ransom, was obliged to give his two boys as his host-
•gea, and to resign Yolante to her new mother-in-lnw ; so that, of their
fiMjT beautiful children, the infwnt Margaret nns the only one who f*.
innteij to Nanci wiib her parents. Such a meeting and such a parting
•8 that of Rene with his family was never befure witnetued. and the
"pelile crtaturt," Margaret, as she is called by the chroniclers of Lotw
nine, is said to have tesiilied the uiinust sensibility on this occasion.*

The death of the virtuous Margaret of Bavaria, the granihuother of

I

oreRoaia tiJI be wu blinded bj [he blrxxl (Vom ■ woand on tin IbH brow, tha
■ear of which ho carried (o Ihe grave.'*

■ Hera, n disripale tfae sorrow or hi) ai[iliTit]r, Kimi empla]ml himielf in
puntinc- Tbs cbtpel of the castle of l>iji>n i> •tilJ enrichnl witli bmuliftil
mioianire* ■nd paintsd glku by thx io)ml Imml nr the fHllier of out Mstg>rM of
Aitiiou. Il nu lliii cMnion of hia talenu iJibi &xi*\ly irrminsleil hi* cBpii*iq>,
Ibr Pliilip lbs Good wu so much pl»*ed with the ilgbt of hli own portMib
painted on ilao bjr bia interesting {">■■""''' ''"' be uiught an inicrtirw wltk
bin, ela*pAi him in hi* annt. and. aner eiprpHing lbs Kreateil admintion Ibr
Ma aalmti. nffetiHl to mediale with Anloine ■)« Vuidemonis fbr liin librntloa.
TUi pormii. togMlirt with one of Jran-Mn*-Peur, ilie Ikthvt ofdiiki* Pbiliik was
|ilTii ' in tba wtndnw of ihF eliureh of CtianwuM ai Dijon, but Wat drmolialwil
, .■ na Rpvolaiion. *Chroniale> of Lomine. MewnL

I

4

8ontil etuiow incuts, her rounifre, and c<
this ilhistrious parent that Mar^ret in
sternest Hhttcks (if adversity were unahl
•8 litabella uf L(»rraine, who was the \
contemporary of Joau of Arc, born an
ivarfare and domestic calamitv, it is so
ifticB of AnjouV heroine partook of t
she was unlmppiJy thiowii.

While arranging her measures for
claims of her captive lord, to the dis
mother of Margaret, who had now ac
Two Sicilies, tiH)k up lier abode with
teau of Tarascon, on the banks of the
and graces (»f these illustrious childr
▼en^e, ^ caused them to be regarded i
lants.^'

The ProYcn^als, whose poetic feeli
the advent of the consort and lovely
followed them in crowds, wherever th(
praise, strewing flowers at their fe
wreaths, and nigiitly kindling bontin
them from infection. Nostradamus f
number of witches and evil fairies, wl
loyal throngs who came to gaze on t
creatures, ^ the Infanta' Marguerite am

The fearful visitation of the plague
lies to hurrv her precious little ones

e waled by their royitl moiliEr, ii) the iriumphal cliAir of tiue,
'elvet anil embroidered wiili gold, in wtiich \\»a conjugal
ome llirou^h ihe street of Naples.

hiefly indebted for his deliveranre from bondage lo the
iXcrtinnH of hia fnilhrul ronaort. Jn the treaty for his liberation, tlis
bllnwing remarkable article was proposed by the duke of Biiriiunily,
wbich affiwis an indication thai the English alliance was contemplated
M early tta l-fSS-O: — "And to cement the peace between the two powers,
Haniaiei o( Anjim, second dsii^hior lo Uie king Kene, aball espoufie tho
young king of England." This was nine years before t)ie maiTiaga
took place, the bnde being but six years old ; it appears a mere sugges-
tion on tlie side or Burgundy,' without any sanction of the English, utd
was oppose<l hy Cliarles VII,

Margaret ol' Anjo'j remained at the Capiiu Palace, with her heroic
mother, till ill e year 143S. when Rene, having obtained his freedoitii
made his entry into Naples, with a Pruvengal anny, mounted on a
atately while charger. After tenderly embracing Margnrel and her ino-
tber. he tmnsferred their abode to the elegant jMlace, finished wjili the
nunosi profusion of luxury, by his volupiuous predecessor, Joanna il.
Here, in the soft air of Itajy, our young Margaret of Anjou proceeded
in her education, under the care of her mother, and her brother's leamei]
nioT, Anioine de Salle, author of some of the earliest romancca of
FWnch literaiure, which, it is said, he wrote for the amusement of Mar-
gsrei's brother; "Because," says Antoine, in his dedication, •* you wort
always very fond, my prince, of hearing me letl you little tales."

This littniry education, in the sweet and ToIupHions dime of Naples,

I 1- by DO means a suitable preparation for Margaret's English deslina-

I : for there could be few ideas in common between her and a ruilg

iple who had rptrogradeil from the civilisation they had altained under

K I'rovenfal alliances of England.

In the yeor 1413, Margaret rctunied to Lorraine with her royal mo-
ther, having lint experienced the grief of losing her brother princs
Louis, with whom she had been educaletl. Previous to ihai event, ihe
contnct of marriage with ihe count de Si. Pol having been broken ol^
her hand was sought by the count de Nevers, nephew lo the duke of
Birrgundy. and mailers were so far advanced that a day was B|>pointed
for the ariicles to be signed ; but when it was discovered that a clausa
had been inserted, disinheriting the children that might be borti of lier
tider sister Tolante and Ferry of Vaudemonte, Charles Vll,. whose con-
•orV Mary of Anjou, was auni to both princesses, would not permit ibe
alliance to take place on such eontlitlons.

The propoiMils of the count SL Pol were renewed after the deaih of
prince l.ouis, but Nostradamus tliinks the idea of the more splendid
alliance wiib the king of England prevented them from bting accepted.

Meantime l)ie terriioriea of Anjou and Maine, king Rent's patrimoof

I

^ ScBKely hnd MnrBJir^rnfAtijoi^nli
BOUs chitrms and tnli-nu rrrnW llip m
of hrr aunt, llic ijurni «f Fmnce. " Th

Aninu. She wa! nlreaily renownwl in
and ill tb* iiiisfunuiies of her Tathfr ht
of (!i«playing her lofiy tpiril and roitraj
"Tlie report of ihwe eharroi,'' &C(
aiwicwhat iniagiiiaiive, Freiicli auihofi
yoiin)^ hnrhcior king nf Englsnit, ihroi
of Anjou, iiamral Chompehevrier. a pri
Julin Folatnlf), with whom king U«n
OCCasiuually ; siiil he gave so eloquciil i
menu which nature had beetownl nn
impowet'uhod king of the Two Sinii
to the roiirl of Lorraine, lo procure
CMS." This slniempiK is quite consUb
regard iq the preliminaries for his alliai
of Armngnnc ; for wc find, by the euri
two ronrI«, that a painler named lUnt
monarch, to paint (he porlreils of l)it^ t
his MLisfHCiion. Henry was very expli
BMW* should be perfect, requiring i)
painied in their kirUea simple, and thei
stature, nnd their beauty, the colour

MARGARET OF ANJOU. 129

nances.^" The commissioners ^ were to ur^e Uie nrlist to use jrreat ix-
pedition, and to send the picture or ymagine over to the kinur as quickly
M possible^ that he might make his choice between the three.'^'

Champchevrier^ more successful in his mission than the reverend
plenipotentiariea who had endeavoured to ncgotuite the matrimonial
traaty with the court of Armagnac, obtained a portrait of Marj^aret,
painted by one of tlie first artists in France, who was employed, our
author adds, by the earl of Suffolk. This is not unlikely, for SufH^Ik
was the ostensible instrument in tiiis marriage ; but the real person with
whom the project for a union between Henry VI. and Margaret of Anjou
originated, appears to have been no other than cardinal Beaufort, the *
gieat-uncle of the king.' The education of Henry VI. having been su*
perintended by the cardinal, he was fully aware of the want of energy
and decision in his character, which rendered it desirable to provide him
with a consort whose intellectual powers would be likely to supply his
constitutional defects, and whose acquirements might render her a suit-
able companion for so learned and refined a prince.^

In Margaret of Anjou all these requisites were united with beauty,
eloquence, aitd every feminine charm calculated to win unbounded influ*
ence over the plastic mind o{ the youthful sovereign. She was, more-
over, at that tender and unreilective age, at which she might be rendered
a powerful auxiliary in the cardinaPs political views. Under these cir-
cumstances, there can be little doubt that Champchevrier had received
hi* cue from the cardinal, when he described to Henry, in such glowing
colours, the charms and mental graces of the very princess to whom he
had determined to unite him, both for the reasons we have before stated,
and at a means of concluding a peace with France.

In the meantime sir John Falstolf, who was not in the secret, being
greatly enraged at the departure of his prisoner without having made
any agreement for the payment o{ his ransom, employed the duke of
Glouceater, with whom he enjoyed some credit, to write a letter to the
king of France, explaining the circumstance, and entreating that he might
be reatored to him.^ According to the laws of chivalry, no prince was
justified in extending his protection to a captive who had forfeited his
parole of honour ; therefore king Charles issued orders for the arrest
of Champchevrier, who was taken on his way trom the court of Lor-
mine towards England. He was brouglit before the king of France at
Vincennes, and fully cleared himself from all imputations on his honour.
by producing a safe conduct to Lorraine, signed by king Henry, and
explaining the nature of the mission on which he had been employed
by his captor's sovereign.

* Beckington'n Jcnirnnl, o<litr«! by sir Harris Nicoliij*, p. 9.

* There is much correspondence in Beok}n|(ton's Journnl, as to tbf^se portrait*,
vrhich were painted in oil on canvass. The count of ArinA^nnc, who, it soems,
was only amuning tlio Knglish with nofeutiiitiont) ho never iiitendeit to fulfil,
Slmtee^ **that one oi* the })ortrHit4 is done, and the others slinll l>o completed wiih
■II speed ;" but tiiey cprtniniy never reached Kn^lHud.

* terante's Chronicles of the dukes of Burgiuidy. Guthrie's fol. Hist, of Enf*
land. * ririd.

*'rbie letter is still in existence in the royal archives oCFmv««. — ^PvttiMi.

I

an otliauce

p49i MARCARKT OF A!(jnn. ^H

Charles VII. wax tii^hlv smitsrd nt ihr inrnmiBlinn ihus nhtanwd rf
bis nepliew's U)V)>a(1nira ; nnd briiij; rlriick with the gient ailvanU|ei
tliHi mighi iTsuli u> tiimseir and hi? Iiafasied kinKOuni. if an otliauce
WFr« RCiimlly lo be funned between Henry and his fair kiniwt
rflrainl <'hninpchevrier, and enjoined him to raiuni lo the court i
land without delay, atid make use of every reprefleniatii
ti inrline king Henry to choose ihe lady Margaret for bU queen.'

The rt^^ppearance of Chanipchevri^r at WindsDr, and his
runferencet with the king, cauned. it is added, BUipicions
lure of the biitriiicsB on which ho had been employed, in the mmd ff the
duke of Gloucrster, who kept up a j>«lou8 egpionage on the actioniw'
his myal nephpw. Theie luapiriona were conlimiei) when king licvry
undertook himself to satisfy sir John Fahtolf fur the ran»un) uThiipn-
Boner, antt ile#palched him a second lime on a secret niiwion to lilt
court of Lorraine.

Henry VI, was then in his four-snd-tweniieih year, beaniiful in pf^
Bon. of a highly culiivaied and refined mind, holy and pui« in ihoofhi
and deed, rexitiing with vinunue indignation every allcmpt that hid
been made by the unprinripled females nf his court to en'anirlc him ia
the anarcB of illicit passion ; ' yet pining for the sweet ties of conjufd
love and sympathv. The lonelineaa of his condition, and " his caninl
desite lo livp under ihe holy sirrament of imringp," arf pnhfticalljMi
forth hy the bachelor monarch, in his cnrinua instructiona lo die eom-
miasioners empowered by him, two years before, to conduct the atga-
tiationa belneen him and the court of Armagnac.'

The choice of a consort for the young kin^, was the deciding eonlM
for political mastery, between those fierce rival kmamen. tile duke rf
Gloncesier and cardinal Beaufort. Gloucester')* favourite pTojecti nf
uniting his royal nephew with a prineesB of the house of Armagnac «■
re nderml abortive, hy Henry's detemiinaiion u'll to commit hUDMirhi
any wnv, till he had seen the pfirlraits of the ladies;* and while ibe
count of Armagnac, who was playing a douhlc game with the onrl of
Prance, delayed the artist's progress, for diplomatic reasons, the lirrly
IrauBCripl of the charms of his lovely kinswoman, Margarri ii( .^ajoii,
made an indelible impression on the heart of the yauiliful monarcli, sod
he resolveil to obtain her hand at any sacrifice. The sacrifice wan, «fw
all, much less than has been represented ; and Henry VI., in his ardent
desire to give peace to his exhausted realm, proved himself a mora co-
lightened ruler than hia renowned eiie, who had deluged the continual
with blood, and rendered the crown bankrupt, in ihr vain attsmpl »
unite England and France. The national pride of the English prampud
them to desire a continuance of the contesL hut it was a contest do W>
ruinous now to England than to France ; and cardinal Beeufort, with the
other members of lleuiy's cabinet, being destitute of the meens of n«i»-
laining llie war, were only too happy to enter into amicable w^otiilMW

'Whan di» liuliM prr«enicd ihem«elsc
_ tirns'l MM/ny, with Itii* priim
fa to blame."

a Janiart. aBMilVf fclUWa'Suai^*.^. 7.

MAROARKT OF All JOU. 131

with France^ on the grounds of a matrimonial alliance between king
Henry and Margaret of Anjou, who, through her grandmother, Margaret
of Bavaria, was nearly related both to Charles VII. and to Henry.

In January, 1444, the commissioners of England, France, and Bur-
fundy, were appointed to meet at Tours, to negotiate a truce with
Fimnce, preparatory to a peace, the basis and cement of which were to
be the marriage of the young king of England with the beautiful niece
of the queen of France. Many historians are of opinion that the matri-
monial treaty, with all its startling articles, had been privately settled
betwem the courts of England, France, and Liorraine, before the publi-
cation of the commission for negotiating the truce.'

Sufiblk, who was appointed the ambassador extraordinary on this
oecasion, was so much alarmed at the responsibility he was likely to
incur, that he actually presented a petition to the king, praying to be
excused from the office that had been put upon him;' nor could he be
peTailed upon to undertake it, till he was secured from personal peril,
oy an order from the king under the great seal, enjoining him to under-
lie, without fear or scruple, the commission which had been given
him. Thus assured, Suffolk was, in an evil hour for himself and aU
parties concerned, persuaded to stand in the gap, by becoming the pro-
eoimtor of the most unpopular peace, and fatal marriage, that were ever
negotiated by a prime minister of England. As a preliminary, a truce
for two years was signed, May 28th, 1444.

Neither money nor lands were demanded for the dowry of the bride,
whoee charms and high endowments were allowed by the gallant am-
bassadors of England ^^ to outweigh all the riches in the world.'"

When the proposal was made in form, to the father of the young
Hargareti he replied, in the spirit of a knight-errant, ^ That it would be
inconsistent with his honour to bestow his daughter in marriage on the
oeurper of his hereditary dominions, Anjou and Maine;''* and he de-
manded the restoration of these provinces, as an indispensable condition
in the marriage-articles. This demand was backed by the king of
Prance, and, after a little hesitation, ceded by king Henry and his
Booncil.

The handsome and accomplished count de Nevers, who was a prince
sf the house of Burgundy, a soldier and a poet, was at the same time a
oandidate h>r the hand of the royal Proven9al beauty, to whom he was
paaaionately attached ; * and it is probable that the idea of this formidable
rivals wno was on the spot withal, to push his suit in person, might have
bad some efiect in influencing king Henry to a decision, more lover-like
than politic.

Ab soon as the conditions of the marriage were settled, Suflblk re-
tnmed to bring the subject before parliament, where he had to encounter
i stormy opposition from the duke of Gloucester and his party, who
were equally hostile to a peace with France, and a marriage with a

* Gathrie. Bsrante. Sp^ed.

* Rinner'f Fotf1«*ra. It U remnrkable timt Suffolk, Molyns, and Wenlock, ths
•^itnnrwoiicrii in thiji treaty, nil came to violent ends.

*fi;p'»wtl. r»a|>in. Giitiirie. Barante. * Ra^u. ^ N*^VQk»a^%.

■ < 'I «<■•« < ••^••a^'«i->

Mar::aitMtu« the serene daui^luer of the 1
we tfhull ronlmct iimtrimonv with her, w
rumhiried to us over seas, tVoin lier couni

Suliolk, accoiii{»aiiie(i by his lady, and
hatl Mided from Liiffluiid on thisi lulal mii
recdetl to Nanri. The kin^, queen, and
dukcH f>t* Brt'tagne and Alen^on, and, in e
per!ion:i^es of the courts of France and ]
to do honour to ilic ettpoudaU of the yo

Historians vary an to the time and pla
cordiiii( to the best autliorities, it was «>
by I^>uis d^llarancourt, bisliop of Toul, f
where, in the presence of iicr illustrioi
France, and a concourse of nobles and
es{H>used the laily Margaret, in the n
■oven^ifirn, Henry VJ. of Kuj[;land.*

Drayton, in his p<ietical chronicle, aft
and nunil>er of the di8tinll:ui^<hed tresis
thus elegantly alludes to the ciiarms of

•■ Whiln
Like to tho ro«y morning Ui\
Cheers all the church rs it t\

King Rene indulged his passion for
tliese nuptials, to his heart's content,
htmour of the young queen of Cnglan
kniirhts and ffallant warriors wore i;arhi

MAROARBT OF ARJOU. 133

ie Breze, lord of Varenne^ and seneschal of Normandy, one of the com*
mitfsioiiere, who negotiated the marriaj^e-treaty of the beautiful Margaret,
in whose service, during the melancholy period of the wars of the Roses,
he afterwards performed such romantic exploits.' Charles VII. appeared
in tlu* listii more than once in honour of his fair kinswoman ; he bore
on his shield the serpent of the fairy Mrlusina. He tilted with the
iklher of tiie royal bride, hy whom, however, he was vanquished. The
most distinsruisiied renown was won by Margaret^s forsaken spouse, the
count St. Pol, who received the prize from the hands of her aunt, the
queen of Fiance, and her mother, the queen of Sicily.'

It is to be observed tliat Suffolk took no part in the jousts or games.
Such exercises were, in fact, little suited to his grave years, which
greatly outnumbered Uiose of the father of the youthful bride, notwith-
standing all that poets and romancinsr historians have feigned, on the
subject of the imaginary passion of Margaret, for the hoary proxy of
her lord.

The bridal festivities lasted eight days, and the spot where the tourna-
ment was held, is still called, in memory of that circumstance, the Place
de CarrLre. All the noble ladies in Lorraine came from their Gothic
castles to be present at these /V/f«, where all the beauty and chivalry of
France, and England, and Burgundy, were assembled.' The long-de-
layed marriage of Margaret's elder sister with her cousin. Ferry of
Vaudemonte, was completetl at the same time, under the following
romantic circumstances : ^» Ferry, who was passionately enamoured of
his beautiful fiancee^ Yolante, to whom he had been betrothed upwards
of nine years, rendered despt^rate by the delays of her father (who never
intended to allow her to fulHl her forced engagement, with the son of
his adversary), formed and executed a plan, with a band of adventurous
young chevaliers, for carrying her oil*, at the nuptial tournament of het
vounger sister Margaret. King Hene was very angry at lirst, but was
induced, by the mediation of the king and queen of France, and the rest
of the rf>yal company, to forgive the gallant trespass of the long-de-
frauded bridegroom ; and a general rcconciliatitm took place, in which
ail past rancours were forgotten, and the pageants and games were re-
newed with fresh spirit.''*

At the conclusion of the eight days' fete, Margaret was solemnly de-
livered to the marquess and marchioness of Suffolk, and took a mournful
liirewell of her weeping kindred and friends. ^ Never," say the chroni-

* Unrante. Moii>tn'li*t. ■^Vas^ul>urg. Burauio

• Akhou Sorol, ihi.' Rll-iK»wt*rfuI nii:itres8 of Clmrlos VII.. who li:ul twolvf year?
previf»U!«ly 1mm*ii maid of honour to queen Mnrjpir«»t's nioihcr. riin«le a conjipit-uou*
ft|i|>cariuirc at ihis touruaineiit. She wan calUvl **tlie I-iuly of B«*auty,*" and ^m
tliif* 0(.'f*a.»ion n.^sunicti the dress of an Ania/.on, Wfnrinf; a ^uit of fanciful armour
bIfixinK ^'iib jewels, >n which she came on the (iround, mounted on a ^uperb
cIiHTfrer, s|iU*ndidly caparisoned. Such were the nioraU at the court of the la^t
ot'tlie l*roven9al bovert* i){n!s, tliat the preneni-e of "X*! ItclU .^ifnr*,"' far frtmi be-
irifc rctnirded iia an inpult to the vir|pn brith', in whose honour the tournament
WB'^ held, or tn htT aunt the nuern of France and the danphiuei(n, was couMdered
lo add the frreaie-t etiut tu thi'/Kr«. — Baranle. * V ilicncuvc. Wa^»uburg.

YOL. III. — 1 2

Bar ; there he comnieiiiied her to Got:
dMif(hter could speak to each other, b
without uttering a single word.'

These regrets, — in which persons \
restraints of royalty, taught to conceal
passionately indulged on tiiis occasion,
amiable and endearing qualities of the
would not hare been so deeply lamenti
a precarious and care-clouded home, te
tire was, at that time, brilliant

Margaret's eldest brother, John duk
Alen^on, attended her on her route, I
train, as queen of Elni^iand, under the p
folk and his wife.' This lady, who we
of Geoffrey Chaucer, the father of Eng
to cardinal Beaufort, and was, doubile
him as the chaperon^ or state governess
If was, probably, through the influence
that the young queen fonned that invio
the princes of the house of Beaufort, \
auch great unpopularity.

The countess of Shrewsbury, and
also in the personal retinue of the you
five barons and baronesses in attendanc
services 4$, 6d. per day ; seventeen kn
mt 2s. M. per day. Breknoke, the clerl
those of his coadiutor, John Everdon, vi

MAROARBT OF ANJOU. 135

Sixty-fire squires receired each U. 6c2. per day; 174 valets at 6d. per
day ; nineteen palfreymen and sumptermen id. per day ; and, in addition
lo those who received wages, many persons were attached to tlic suiUi
who served gratuitously.'

In anticipation of Margaret's arrival, king Henry wrote a quaint and
earnest letter to the Goldsmith's Company, ^^ entreating them to do their
devoir at the coming of his entirely well-beloved wife, the queen, whom
he expected, through Go<i's grace, to have with him in right brief time."
This letter is dated Nov. 30th, 1444, but the advent of the royal bride
was delayed nearly four months.

We are indebted to the Breknoke Computus for the following diary
of the last three weeks of Iklargaret's journey to England.

^Pontoise, March 18th. This day the lady Margaret, the queen,
came with her family to supper at the expense of our lord the king.
Cost, 12/. lU. Id.

^Friday, 19th. The queen went to sup with the duke of York, at
Mantes. Cost, 5/. 5«. Id.

^ Saturday, 20th. To dine with the duke of York, at the same place.
Cos^ 4/. 75. SJcL"

These were important days in the journal, not only of the bridal pro
gress, but in the life of Margaret of Anjou, for it was her first introduc-
tion to the prince, whose rival claims to her husband's throne engen-
dered those deadly animosities, whicli proved in the end fauil to them
both. The entertainment received by the royal bride must have been
agreeable to her, as she repeated her visit. We gatlier from this entry,
that Margaret's acquaintance with the duke of York preceded her intro-
duction to the king her husband. On the 20th, she proceeded from
Mantes to Venion, where she slept. On the 23d she arrived at Rouen.
There is an item of is, 9d. for fourteen pairs of shoes, bevtowed by
Alargaret on various poor women, on her journey from Mantes. At
Rouen she remained a week, and there two curious entries occur. The
first certifies the fiict that the young queerf made purchase of some arti-
cles of second-hand plate, of a goldsmith of that town ;' the second, that
her want of money was so pressing, that she was compelled to pawn
divers vessels of mock silver to the duchess of Somerset^' to raise funds
for some of the expenses of her journey.

Haigaret left Rouen, and slept at Bokamshard monastery, March 31sL

* Breknoko Computus.

* To John Tnbauite, goldsmith, at Rouen« ibr taking out and removing the arms
of Henrj de Luzembiirgh, lately chancellor of France, fVom sundry silTer vet-
•els bought from him by the lady the queen, together with ... of the aforesaid
■ilver vessels, and the polishing of the same. In the reward given to him on
the 12th day of March, 1445, by the hands of William Elmesley, valet of the
jewels to the lord the king, 2/. 3«. 4d. — Breknokt Computui.

' Tn money paid to Thomas Dawson, esq^ in the service of the lady dneheti
of Somerset, coming from Rouen to London, with divers vessels of mock iihMTf
belonging to the lady the queen, mortgaged to the said duchess for a certain sum
€€ money advanced by her, for the wages of divers mariners. Sec. In reward tO"
him Ibr his expenses and safe carriage of the said vessels, dbc, 2/. 13$, id
[This entry is cancelled in the origiual MS.] — Ibid.

The nf<xt dny the |ir<H-««](-i] k> Pimiitamdi'ur-, itha mohed HttmUmt,
April 3il. There iiIip tmnaitiwl peveml days; April Htli. a small Enclitli
vcwcl. called llie -Trinily. «r C'lkliMler," IranB|i(>rl«! hrr %nd lit
tuiU lo ili« |K>rt (if KlJdcrawa, where the " Cokke Johii," of OicrburE,
the aliip afipoiutcd Tor h«r T»yagt, had been long wailing hrj arrital
The Brvknnkc Otrnpuiui provM ■ pavrntnt of ft/. 4a, ind. lo die pilai
Biieotling in ibe •■ Cokke John," ■)«» to the purser of the ■ame, lal 6i.
Bd., price of n large cable b()ui;ht by hnii, for ihe secnrily oT ifae Kii
■hip whilsl ridiiig al anelior near Kuldrcanrs, and of 0/. 7(. for makjnf
couveniciicee io ihe vessel — via., divera rhainbera and cabin*, aiitl t
bridge fur the iiigrvei and egrese of the la:)) -iiuerii. These shijie kii
been in coiuRiiMion evef einee ihe &th of September, 14 U.'

Ma^arei'a Iuri; flejoani on the continent wtm eaii-ted by the niKeniiy
of the king fuinmoniii^ a new pttrlmmeni, fur the purpose of ohnmiirg

tlie iieedftil t

dies for his

Riarnage,

It met at VVfm

irisier, Fehnnrv

I

VSih, 1443. I he king rein<dne<l «e«lH in hi« chair of state, while la
chaaeellur Stafford. Hrelihishop of Canterbury, explnioed the otaie {at
whirh pnrliainciit was suminoiied, in a speries of political aennoo, eom-
mciiciii^ with ihia text, "Justice and pence bnvc kissed each otli«r.''
He then prnceeiled to notify llie 9u«pi-i)«i(in of hoatihties in Prance, and
tlie marriage between the kiiig and MarKarel, dnuuhter of ilie kin* of
Sicily ; ** hy which two liappy eventfj ht; ntHliiiif doubled bu', (hmu!*)
Ood's grace, jusiice and |>eace ^lould be limdy esiablishi.v' ■'- ■ -r'' '
the realm .*" The parliament grwited a half-fifWnth on ,'
goods lo the kiuK. to defray the expenses of the Intr en.
the iruee with Ftauee and his marriage, and leas then prnr...
S(hh of April, to allow the neceaMry interval fur the ami-al <ii iiii^ ju-w
queen, and the ■olernnizaiion of i)io loyal nuptials.

There is a curious ilociinieiit in the Pteden, in wiiich tbe needy late-
reign makes an assignment of part of his haltgfteenih. granieci, bot di»
yet msed, to n ceruun kniglit, liir the purehnae nf liia jewel of Sl
George, and aim aa secuniy fur the sum of two thoUMnd niiHih
** wliicli," myv Henry, ■' our beluTcd knight has now lent us in jmS
(ready) money, at the conteinpkiiun of the coming of our mo«i bcal
beloved wife the queen, now into our presence."

The records in the Kwdera, from the Pell Hull, tSA of Henry Vl^
bear melancholy testlmcin)' to the uiter destitution of ibe myul urn?
purse at this period, and the pitiable expedients In which the unlorKi-
uaie sovereign waa reduced, in onler lo meet his bridal expenses. Auong
oihor items, there ia an order directing •■ that the rcmuuiiig thin) |»n
of one of the orown jewels, ealled the ■ rich collar' (which had slrwdy
been broken and pledgetl, in two sepamle picrn, to his uncle cardio*!
Beaufort, for two iliousantl uinrks, in ihe liine. as Henry jtathetialh
AbMrvea, *of our great ueceisily'; should be deiivereil to the eaid moil
Wonhipfol father in Gud, and a patent made out sticuniig to hint tlit
"* two pans, and f..r the delivery of the thirti." This jewel *»*
redeemed by the impoveri"hod king, who wae, in fact, compdW

f weie paid u& u

li -A kvr&, VUrii.

'iWliameaMt; HiaBtf.

MAKOARBT OP ARJOC. 137

to pftwn all his private jewels and household plate, to provide the equi-
pages and other iiifhspensable articles i^uirct], for his iiiarri:ige, and the
coronation of the young queen.

The wars so ruthlessly carried on with France for lb'* third of a cen-
tury, had made the English crown nearly bankrupt. Henry cmild with
difficulty keep his royal state, though he was anxious that «i great dis-
play should be made to welcome his bride. Povf rty was the plague
which pursue<] Margaret all her life, at her father^s court, and was ready
lo receive her in Henry's palace.

The funds necessary for her reception having been at length obtained,
the royal bride enibarkcd with her train, as pieviously mentioned, .\pril
8th« and on the following day landed at Porchester. She was so much
indisposed with the voyage, that Suff()lk carried her from the boat to the
shore in his arms. A terrible storm gietucd .Margaret of Anjou, almost
as soon as she set foot on shore. But the people, notwithstanding the
thunder and lightning, ran in crowds to look at her, anil the men of
Porchester courteously strewetl their streets with rushes, for her to pass
over. She was conducted to a convent at P«>rtsmouth, called Ginlde's
House, where, having reposed a little, she entered the church, and there
made her oblation of 6s. Sd, The followintr duv, Saturday, 10th, she
was conveyed by water to Southampton with great stale. The sum of
I/. 35. 4d. was {mid lo seven foreign trumpeters, '* for playing on the
decks of two Genoese galleys, as they jxissed our lady-<piefn between
Portsmouth and Southumpto'i.^' Margaret was conveyed by rowing.
At S<mlhampton, as well as at Portsmouth, the youiii; queen lodgetl
in a relii;ious hospital, called Ginlde^s Hous**.' Ili-re she was seized
with a dan{rt*n)us cutaneous nialady, wliirh from kini; HcMiry^s quaint
and homely description of its symptoms, in his letttT to liis cliancellor,
appears to have b(>en no other tiian the small-pox' This sickness ** of
his most dear and best beloved wife the <|ucen '' is stated by Henry lo
be the cause why he could not krep the feast of St. George, at ^Viruisor
Castle.' He had been waiting some days at South wirk, to welcome his
long-ex |iec ted bride, and ren^ained there in anxious suspense, during the

Eeriod of her alarming illness, till she was su:ririently recovered to join
im there.
•• In the Breknoke Computus we have the following entry of money
paid to master Francis, the physician, who had atirnded xhv quern on
her journey and voyage to England, for divers spices, confeclious, and
pouflers, bitught and provided by him, for making mt'dicines for the
safe keeping of the person of the said lady th(> (picen. as well by land
as by sea, by precept of the man]uess of Siitlolk, ut Southampton, on
the lUih day of April, in the 23d year of the ri'ign of the king,

'The hoiisx* (it' iliist name nt Portjiinouth. wa.< Imiiiilivl hy Pctor ({o Kii|jibu«,
bi^iup ill \\ iiK-iifrter ; wiiii»t CiiKi k Hou»e at N>utliiiiii|iUiii wa» 1'uuiulei.l by two
Bien'it:iiit«. Ui'di wrro tvriiird " liobpitulss ai>*i wt-re I'loe tu all sick iravcilcxa,
lioiii thf tiuinbU'.-t vnyav^i'r to the monarch or his brilIt^

' PreULc to tfir ilarri> Niculad' Acts of the Privy Council, vol. i. p. 18.

•Ibi-1. p. 10.

queen, for ilivers atlairs loucnmi^ me sai
H^Difiir uikI coiiiiiii^, by gift ot* the queen

The iiupiiald of Margaret of Anjou
on the *i'J(i of April, 1445, in Tichlicl
been made in tlie preceding January, fr
a fair ruby, whirli had fonnerly been p
cardinal Beaufort, ^' with the which/' 1:
day of our coronation at Paris/' A je

The beautiful young queen receive
on the orcahion of her bridal, a presei
characteriMtic otlering of a lion, and t
speciticii the cost incurred by the a
charges of the houselioid : — ^* To Joh
the food and keeping of a lion, presen'
field, together with the carriage of tl
Tower of London, for the expenses
2/. 5ji. 3c/."

Margaret had completed her fifteent
her marriage with king Henry ; and, i
of the nation at her want of dower, tl
lier father, and the prejudice created
royal family of France, her youth, he
cured her an enthusiastic welcome whi
pressed in crowds to gaze upon her, a
England wore her emblem-ilower, the
of estate, when they came with the
sumptuous liveries, in all the pomp a

« • • 1

« dcligH

Kinji Henry.

her emblem-llov

Byn

1

■abgarbt c

"Of eiilieiHX who doth

cumplimeiil lt> his lovely and beloved consorl, can
r to be enamelled and engraved on his pluie.
Marj^aret irealed with more peculinr marka ol* respeal|.j
on tier bridal progress, iIjhii by ihe duke of Gloucester, who, as if '
■tone for liis opposilioii to her marriage with liia royal nepheWi,
men hrr at Blackhealh, wiih live hundred men wearing his livery and
badge, to do her honour,' and so conducted her to hia palace at Greeii-
wichi where ahe was refreshed. Greai preparations bod been made in
London aud iiB vicinity, for the reception of the young queen. Tii>
uniptial arches were erected across the road through which she was H»
paas, and " many cosily pageants were made ready." aavs Fabyan, " tt
divers old histories, to her gieal comfort, and thai of such aa canM
■ iih her."

Oit llie 2aih of May, queen Margaret was met at Blackheath by on
leslrian procession, consisting of the mayor, aldermen, and sheril& of
.■le Ctly of London, in scarlet, anil the crai\s of tlie same, all riding on
horseback, in blue gowns, with embroidered sleeves, and red hooda,
who cuiiveyed her with her train through Suulhwnrk, and so on to the
city of London, which was then beautified with pageants of divers his-
tories and other shows of welcome, marvellous cosily and sumpluotu,
of which I can only name a few. At tlie bridge-foul towards SouUw
wmrk nus a pageant of Peace and Plenty; and at every street-corner, in
allitsion to the lent of the parliamentary sermon, two puppets, in a
moving pageant, called Justice and Peace, were made to kiss each other.
Noah's ^liip ^the atk) upon the bridge, with verses in English, At Lead-
en hall. Madam Giace, the chancellor of God. At the inn in Co[iihill,St
Margaret. At the great conduit in Cheapaide, the live wise and five
ilish virgins. Ai the cross in the Cheap, the Heavenly Jeiusalem,
verses. At Paul's Gate, the General Itesun-ection and Judgment
verses accordingly, all made by John Lydgate."*
_ Margaret was crowned at Westminster, May 3i>lh, with a degree of
royal splendour litdc suited to the exhausted irfcasury of her enamoured
ConHort 1 but doubtless to the no small saliBfaetion of the faithful stew*
ard. squire, and minstrels of her father, who came to witness the euro*
nation of their princess, and report the same in their own liind.

A few notices of the grants bestowed on those hungry .'\iijevimi and
Italians are to be found in ibe Issue Rolls.' In addition lo all the aplen-

' .ViuoiiK ilic rroeuily puhlislied lecurdu of the royal jewels, we lliui IbMe ea-
■rips: — "llcni, one laltuellar of gold, and cover, enainrllad wiih Ihe srin« of lbs
kjag and iha Ooweti called Margucciies. ilie bou gaiiii>hed with ona balass,
ipien l>f Ilia lord kiii); lo ijuaen Matipuel. Likewise b piloher or jujf of gold,
dw fcot mi'nithed wiih a sapphire, Kiveu by the king lo queen Marearel.
■ 'Slow'* Annal*. 'Slow.

t**TD Jotin d'EwHMB, so esquire of ihe king of Sicily, who, as Iha subfcot of
't, len Ids own ocDupations aluwirl, and come in the rjneMl'*
M the cetemuny of her canmatioD, in niDDey paid W hiin, OAL
' Luuislieii of Uiu kiuK cif £iuily, wIhi IdIcIj gi

Marg

I

folk, ami other poors. When the ami
tiuls, the kini; raised his hat a little fro
addressed their speech to him on th<?
and ^ood-uill borne him hy his inirh
Imt from his head, and said several
thanks to St. John.' lie then told th
^Tbat he did not hold them as strange
hold of his uncle of France, whom, o
the quetMi his wife, he loved the best.'

'•The followinir day after the arriva
an andienre in his privy chamber. Th
ri»be of black velvet The real object
the two years' truce into a permanent
ject hy trreat j)rotessions of love and a
nephew, and apolojries for the lon^j de
added, * that they now came to inquire
both much joy and a long-continued p
might be established between the kini
land.' Henry n*peated (probably tr
nobles, with a countenance full of sali
amlKtssadors« ^That he had great joy i
mighty king his uncle, whom he lovei

witness the :>tate and fj^rand solemnity on tl
to make a re|>ort thertsjf, 10/. each. To
whi» rann* on the same errundf to report th
their country, ilie kinj:, hy the advice of his
paid five marks. To John de Sorrencourt

XAKOARST OF ANiOU* Ml

irorld, excepting the queen his wife^ ant] that he desired the continoQiiee
»f pence beyoad any thing on earth ;^ to which all present responded
Anien.^ "

^ Henry then called the ambassadors close to him^ and conrersed
rith thpin famiharly. Suilblk repeated, that Uie king loved his uncle
)f France ilie secuml best in the world, on which Henry exclaimed in
liUiKli>*h, ' Sl John, yes r "

Exteosiye repairs and improvements bad been made in all the royal
palaces previously to Margaret^s arrival. This was very necessary : foi
90 many years had elapsed since a queen-consort had held her suite in
EIngland, that those portions of the abodes of royalty, known by the
BMDe of ^ the queen's lodgings,'^ were absolutely desolated and unfit
Cor her reception, till a considerable outlay had been expended upon
iheni. The royal residences at the Tower, Westminster, Eltham, and
8l«ene, in particular, were restored to tlieir pristine splendour, in honoui
of the new queen.*

For the two first years of Margaret of Anjou's union with Henry VI.,
cairdinal Beaufort was tlie supreme director of the power of the crown.
KiDg Henry, new to the delights of female society, was intoxicated with
the charms, the wit, and graceful nuinners of his youthful bride, of
whom an elegant French historian thus speaks: — ^England had never
•eeo a queen more worthy of a throne than Margaret of Anjou. No
woman surpassed her in beauty, and few men equalled her in courage.
It aeemed as if she had been formed by Heaven to supply to her royal
husband the qualities which he required, in order to become a great
kuig.**'' Another chronicler, quoted by Stow, says — ^This woman ez«
eelled all others, as well in beauty and favour as in art and policy, and
was in courage inferior to none."

These brilliant characteristics were yet in the germ, when Margaret
of Anion was unfortunately called to share the throne of England at a
period of life when her judgment was immature, and the perilous endow-
ments of wit, genitis, and lively perceptiveness, were more likely to
ereate enemies than to secure friends. Slie had been deeply piqued and
oftnded at the opposition the duke of Gloucester had made to her mar-
riage, and, with the petulance of a spoiled child, she took every occa-
sion of mortifying him, by a foolish display of her unbounded infiuenoe
orer the king, and her regard for cardinal Beaufort and tlie duke of
Sufiblk, his sworn foes.

To cardinal Beaufort, indeed, she was indebted for her elevation to
the pride and power of royalty, and, with all the devotion of a young
heart, she resigned herself wholly to hia direction. Independently of
political considerations, cardinal Beaufort was exceedingly fond of
Margaret, who was a frequent visitor at his house in Walthain Forest,
where there was a state chamber magnificently fitted up for her sole use,

• Acu of die Privy Council, by sir H. Nicolass \*ol. vi. p. 32, 'Hie |>ovcrty of
Heiiry VI.'i exchequer at tliis period is deplorably cvidenccf) hy the piteous
sapplicmtion of William Clcve, chaplain to the king and clerk nf the works,
■•te money to pay the poor laliourers their weekly wages,** whirh, he 8tate%
•^hm has the utmost |min and difllculty to purvey. *Orlcuii\a.

ininiiiters ot kiii^ Henry having buj«i
dared not venture in the virinity of
destrurtion of the duke of Gloucestei
the heir- presumptive to the throne.
to counlerart t!ie queenly influence, ha
to make common cause with the duke
lately superaedeii in his office of reg«
his enemv the duke of Someiset, cardii
historians it has been supposed, that it
ous to the government of king Henry,
whom his cabinet was composed, det
■elves of their formidable opponent.'
Bury with their court, and all the C(
moned to attend the king there, in thei
that some danger to tlie royal person i

The parliament met« February 10th
Abbey. The session was openeii, not
Staflbrd, archbiHhop of Canterbury."
ceedcd smoothly; a speaker was ch<
Margaret^s revenues of 4600/. 13«., out
and herediuiments settled on her for
second day of tlie session, all England
the duke of Gloucester on a charge
mitted to close custody under a stro
king had of his nucleus guilti^' says ^
but nothing could persuade him of his

Seventeen days aAer his arrest, thi

MAHGAHBT OF ANaOV. 143

cm] J WM produced in both houses of parliament, and exposed to pnblic
ieiv for several days; but these measures failed to remove the sus-
cions which so sudden a death, under such circumstances, naturally
ccited throughout Eng[land. No actual proof, however, exists, that he
ma murdered, and Whethampstede, a contemporary and warm partisan
r Gloucester, states, ^ that he died of an illness that seized him on his
Test ;" so does William of Worcester ; and no writer of that period
tempts to implicate the queen, as a party concerned in that transaction.
ftpin, indeed, suffers his prejudices against Margaret to betray him into
le following unauthenticated assertions, as to her share in the supposed
ivrder. After stating that Henry's ministers had resolved to compass
le destruction of the duke of Gloucester, he says — ^ The queen, who
«i of a bold and enterprising genius, was the person who first en-
>uniged this resolution. At least, the historians insinuate as much, if
my have not said it"

Who these historians are, Rapin has not thought proper to inform his
Mdera ; but, in the same conclusive strain of reasoning, he proceeds to
ij— -^And, indeed, the ministry would never have ventured upon such
a action, without having her at their head.'^

A responsible leader, in sooth, would a girl of queen Margaret's age
■re made, in a business of that kind ; if, indeed, cardinal Beaufort, who
•d treasured up the accumulated rancours of six-and-twenty years of
nquenchable hatred against Gloucester, and before she was biom had
iieatened to decide their deadly quarrel ^by setting England on »
dd,*** would have asked her sanction for wreaking his long-cherished
engeance on his adversar}'. Did Rapin remember that these ministers,
f whom cardinal Beaufort was the master-spirit, were the same people,
rfao, three years before Margaret of Anjou set her foot in England, had
erised, and successfully carried into effect, the subtlest plot that ever
imagined, against the duchess of Gloucester ?' and could they have
the prompting and advice of a girl of seventeen, to work out
lieir scheme of vengeance on the duke, of which that blow was the
ore prelude ? There can be little doubt that the destruction of the duke
f Gloucester would have been accomplished, if Margaret of Anjou had
lever entered this country ; and it is scarcely probable tliat she was even
Binisted with so important a secret, since her greatest misfortunes were
■used by unguarded manifestations of her prejudices and partialitieS|
sr which she is greatly condemned by Philip de Comines, her contem-
oiarj.

Within eight weeks a(\er the death of Gloucester, cardinal Beaufort

*8ee eardiiwl Besafort's letter to the duke of Bedford, 1426, in the old Cbroni
les, and Parliameotary History, where there is a curious account of the qumr
•Is between Beaufort and Gloucester.

"The accusation and disgrace of Eleanor Cobbam, duchess of Gloucester, are
lO fkmiliar to every reader to require recapitulation. Beaufort, Suffolk, and the
nhbishop of Canterbury, were her judges. Many persons, and even school
Isiorfes, misled by Shakspeare, are iUlly persuaded that Margaret of A^joa
then a child in Lorraine) effected the disgrace and ruin of tlie duchetf ot
IIOQcester.

VI bill, ivniiii « «'iiii\iiiit; iitii'tiii't.a \ft kii<

Uie iict*t'>.siiy of restraint and concea
doubtless, acteil uitli lite best intentii
Eui(laiiii, iiisUMfl of ullyiiii; berseif
favuurilers slie resiif^iied benieir to tbe
iavourite uncle and counrdlor, a mai
years, and reputation for wi»dom. A
quainied as she was with the niannei
consortia subjertik continued her confic
at the iiead of which was her iirst £n|
duke of Suffolk.

Sbakspcare has f^'eatly misled hip
oetw^cen this unpopular minister and A
her first as liis prisoner, and, al\er hei
paramour. Tbe one she certainly nei
their ages renders the other very unlik
his acquaintance with the royal beaut;
at her father's court, far from being th
and romance have portrayed, was a g=
had served tbirtv-four years in the Fn
a member of Ilcnrv VI.'s cabinet. H
the shady side of fifty when he actec
nuptials of 3Iargaret of Anjou. Suffol
married man, devotedly attached to
place of honour about the person o.
death, his duchess continued to retai
rourt of Margaret^ where she appears

XAROARBT Of ARiOU. 145

lion of the truce with France left the goverament of her royal husband
the alternative of fulfilling the conditions of the treaty on which it was
oaned, or renewing the war without the means of supporting the honour
of England.

Not even that consummate politician, cardinal Beaufort, had ventured
to declare to the parliament the secret article by which Maine, the key
of Normandy, was to be restored to the house of Anjou ; and now the
responsibility of that article fell on SuiTblk and the queen. Most unfor-
tunate it was for Maigaret, that her own family were the parties who
received the benefits of these sacrifices, for which her misjudging inter-
ference in the government at this crisis rendered her acconnuible, ihorgh
they had been solemnly guaranteed by king Henry and his council, at
the treaty of Tours, before she was even affianced to him.

Bellicose as the character of Margaret of Anjou became in after years,
when the stormy temper of the times, aud the nature of the circum-
•Innces with which she had to contend, kindled all the energies of her
•pint into Amazonian fierceness, not even her meek and saintly consort
laboured more earnestly, at this period, than herself, to preserve that
of which her own strong sense taught her England was in such

. During the brief interval that preceded the ruinous war into which
the government of England was soon after forced, Margaret commenced
tbe foundation of Queen^s College, Cambridge. This college was dedi-
cnted to the honour of Almighty God, by the royal foundress, and de-
voted by her to the increase of learning and virtue, under the tutelary
auspices of St. Maigaret, her patroness, and St. Bernard. The first stone
WM laid by sir John (afterwards lord) Wenlock, in behalf of, and as
deputy for, queen Maigaret, with this inscription in Latin : —

^ The Loiti shall be a refuge to our sovereign lady, queen Margaret,
and this stone shall be for a token of the same.'' '

Maigaret also sought to turn the attention of the people to manufac-
tares in woollen and silk ; but the temper of the times suited not the calm
tenor of peaceful employments. A spirit of adventurous enterprise had
been nourished during the French wars, and, from the princes of the
Uood-rojral to the peasantry, there was a thirsting for fighting fields, and
a covetous desire of appropriating the spoils of plundered towns and
castlea, pervading all classes. The very misery of the people of Eng-
luid rendered them combative, and eager to exchange the monotony of

■ Thii college was involved in the mi^fortnnet of iu foundress, but was pre-
MTved by the care of Andrew Ducket, a Cannelite friar, who for forty years held
the office of provosL Queen Margaret made over to her college possessions to
the amount of 20(U., which, though no mean sum in those days, was but a slen-
der endowment ; but her liberal destigns were not frustrated. What she began ^
was continued and complete<l by Elizabedi, consort to king E<lward IV. The
vsual similarity between the armorial bearings of founders, and of their found*-
tkma, is obser\-able in the arms of Queen's College. Tlie only difl'erence be-
tween the arms of Margaret, as given in "^ Regal Heraldry," and those of the
oullege, as now borne, are, that the college arms are surrounded by a Wiisrs

TOL. III. — IS K

r^ii^ii:*!! iuirc:«, uiiurr iiie coiniiiaiKi
rather to general history than to t
althoiis^h they had a fatal influcnre on
object of 8uspiri«>n ami ill-will to t
Frenchwoman to be applied to her a.s
well knew the art of appealing to the
flions, of the vult^ar apiinst her. Th*
iailed not to attribute all tlie losses
misgovemiiient of the queen, insinuati
cloister than a throne, and had, in a m.
the aflairs of his kin<nioni in the han*
his name to conceal her usurpation, sii
Imnd, a queen-consort hath no power,
willing to procure the absence of the (
increased his political power by inves'
Ireland. York had left a strong party
were those |>owerful nobles, Richard '.
son, the earl of Warwick, the brother a
were the great political opponents of
not publicly to attack, otherwise than
pie against the measures of the court, e
of the countr}' to the treasonable praci
Sutfolk boldly stood up in the IIou;
^ he had been traduced hy public repoi
if they had aught to lay to his char
crimes."' He adverted to the services
formed for their country, and stated
brethren had been slain in France; th
wars thirty-four years, and, being but
soner,* he had oaid 20.i)00 cr«>wn« fnr

MABCIARBT OF AHIOU. 147

order of the Garter thirty years, and a councillor of the kin^ fifteeo
irs, and had been seventeen years in the wars wiihotit returning home;
I asking God^s mercy, as he had been true to the king and realm, he
uired his poigation."*

t is scarcely possible to imagine any thing more frivolous than the
iea of articles which were exhibited against the luckless premier. In
first of these^ he is charged with ^^ having intended to marry his son
in to Margaret Beaufort, the heiress of the late John duke of Somer-
. with the design of murdering and destroying the king, and then de-
ring her to be the heiress of the crown, for lack of heirs of the king^s
ly.'" This most absurd accusation is in itself a refutation of all the
ndalons imputations which modern historians have cast upon the
ndahip between the duke of Suffolk and queen Mai^ret, since her
B must have been comprehended in the murder and destruction of the
g. Margaret was, at that period, only nineteen ; and, though child-
I at yet, there was a possibility of her having many children, as she
I considered one of the finest women in the world. It was, perhaps,
I Tery article which first gave the aspiring family of Beaufort an eye
the succession to the throne, in the event of a failure of the royal
atagenet line of Lancaster. The accusation was treated with infinite
ilempt by Suffolk ; and his replies to the other articles being such as
bsiffle his enemies, they, at the end of three weeks, exhibited eighteen
ih charges against him ; but it is to be observed, that neither in these,
r in the previous catalogrue of misdemeanours, is there the slightest
ision to queen Margaret, nor is her name mentioned in any record or
itemporary chronicle in connexion with Sufii>lk; not even in the
irical anonymous verses that were circulated on the arrest and impri-
iment of that unpopular minister.*

Tet Rapin and other modem writers have not scrupled to assert, ^^ that
een Mai^ret, in her anxiety to preserve her favourite, caused the par-
nent, on his arrest, to be prorogued to Leicester, where he attended
1^ Henry and herself, and appmed publicly in his place as prime
nwter.^' Now the incontestable evidence of the records of parliament
>Te, that the parliament was summoned to meet at Leicester, Septem-
'j 1449, five months before the arrest of SuflS>lk; but the peers and
nmons, taking warning by the events of the parliament that sat at
ry St. Edmunds, refused to meet any where but at Westminster/
lerefore the writs were re-issued, commanding them to meet at West
aster, November 6th. The same day they were prorogued to Lon-
D, on account of the plague ; adjourned from London again to West-
nster, December 4th ; and on the 17th adjourned till January 22d,^ at
Mtminster, where SuflToIk, as we have seen, in a fatal hour for himself,

my make you one. Tor I cannot otherwise yield to you.** This wa« accord-

ly done, and alfords a rich characteristic of the age of chivalry.

Pteliamentary RoHm 28 Henry VI. No. 17. *Ibid.

For cpocimeus of these political squibs of the fifteenth century, see Ezcarpta

•nrica, pp. ItVfuiA'i, and 279; and Cottonian MSS., Charters, ii. 33.

Rolls uf Parliament, 28th of Henry VL * Parliament* r}* Historf.

They surprised his servants, but SufToIl
wirh« where, aAer arranging his af&irs,
thetic letter to his son, which afTords su
ally to his sovereign, and his devotion
from Ipswich, April 30th, with two sn
before him, to inquire whether he migh
but the pinnace was captured by a squf
diately I he Nicolas, of the Tower,* bfor
He was ordered on board, and received
^ Welcome, traitor !"* He underwent i
whom he was condemned to suflfer deat
his capture a small boat came alongside
sword, and an executioner. They low
^ he should die like a knight,^' and at lY
off^ and was left with the severed boi
were found by his chaplain, and receii
collegiate church of Wingiield, in Sufib
The consummation of this tragedy, f
of excitement to which the public mini
the first sign and token of the scenes <
store for England. Pestilence had aggr
disaffected population, and the inflamm

• K«>II» of Parliaincnt, 'iiith of H-nry VI.

* It is a mtMnorablp fact, that this vessel, 1
(a:*, indeed, did iht» whc»le squadron by w!
wa- part of the royal navy placed at the (!
Hf:iry Holland, the young duke of Exeter,

MAKCIABBT OV ANJOU. 119

endiaries, acting upon the miseiy of the lower classes, caused the ter-
B outbreak of national frenzy which immediately af\er this event mani-
ted itself in the rebellion under Jack Cade. It was to suppress this
niidable insurrection that Henry VI. prepared for his first essay in
IS, by setting up his standard, and going in person to attack Cade and

rabble rout, who were encamped on Blackheath in formidable array.

the news of the sovereign's approach at the head of fif\een thousand

tDt the hot valour of the captain of the great assembly of Kent, and

I followers, received an immediate check, and they fled to Sever

ks.

Qjaeen Margaret accompanied her lord on this expedition ; but so little

the warlike spirit for which she was afterwards so family renowned
I she manifest at this crisis, that when king Henry would have fol-
ired up his success by pursuing the insurgents to their retreat, her
nioine terrors, and anxiety for his safety, prevailed upon him not to
peril his person by going any further.' He therefore, in compliance
ih her entreaties, gave up the command of his army to sir Humphrey
ifibrd and his brother William, and returned to London with her.'
Never did Margaret commit a greater error, than by thus allowing her
ttdemess for her royal husband to betray him into conduct so unbe-
ining the son of the conqueror of France and Normandy.
The rebels, attributing the weakness of the king to fear, took courage,
Died, and defeated the royalists, who, with their two generals, were
It to pieces. The victors then returned to Blackheath ; and when the
efabishop of Canterbury, and the duke of Buckingham, were despatched
MB the court, to treat with them, they found Cade dressed in a suit
'gilded armour (the spoils of sir Humphrey Stafford), encompassed by
m victorious troops, and giving himself the airs of a sovereign. He
Mitively refused to treat with any one but the king himself, nor with
im unless he would come to the Blackheath in person, and grant all
lair dennands.

When this answer was returned to the king and queen, together with
le news that the rebels were ready to march to London, they were
irown into such alarm, that, leaving the Tower under the command of
le lord Scales, and the valiant sir Matthew Gough, they fled to Kenil-
forth Castle.' We fear this cowardly proceeding must be attributed to
le same fond weakness, on the part of queen Margaret, which inflo-
aeed the retreat of the king from Blackheath ; and it is to be observed,
Mt till she became a mother, and the rights of her child were at stake,
D timit of fierce or warlike propensities was ever manifested by her.

On the 2nd of July, the rebels, who had previously taken up their
darters at South warii, entered London, when Cade smote his stafl* on
ondon-stone, with these memorable words, ^Now is Moi timer lord of
(OndonP'*

The proceedings of tliia motley company of reformers, and their pun-

•Guthrie. *Ibid. 'Ghithne. Stow.

*CWde pretended to be sir John Mortimer. See memoir of Jouma of
bvaiie.

13*

tacl 18 evuieiiceu in a privaie iciusr iruj
sen'icc of sir John Falstolf, who, after
which he had been despoiled and inalti
bad been carried otf by them sorely ag;
peril of the battle of the bridge^" adi
over, the bishop of Rochester impeach
I was arrested, and was in the Marshal
of my life. Tliey would have had n
Falstolf, of treason, and, because I woi
ster, and there would have sent me to
two cousins of my wife's and mine, '
went to king Henry, and got grace for

Margaret^s desire to implicate sir Joh
to his previous conduct with regard to
DO less than to the suspicions she ei
quent events, however, prove that the >
to FalstolPs practices against the govei
most zealous partisans of tlie house of

Margaret and Henry returned to t
July, 1450, and the disclosures of so
late insurrection, left no doubt, on the
of York had been the instigator of
confirmed by the return of that prini
government in Ireland. He was atteni
retinue of four thousand men, to the
having extorted from the king a promi
drew to his castle of Fotheringay.'

rnu_ — ..._«. ^C .k« ,I..I.,» ^f c^

ttxtrntoa

MAROARXT OF ANJOU. 151

lanctioned the queen in the close friendship which, from first to last,
subsisted between her and the Beaufort princes of the house of Lancas-
ter. Unfortunately, however, tlie unpopularity in which the disasters
io France and Normandy had involved Somerset very soon extended to
herself, when it was perceived that he was shielded, by court favour,
from tlie fury of the commons, and the jealousy of the peers. lie was
impeached by parliament, and committed to the Tower, but, immediately
ihe short and stormy session was over, he was releai<ed, and piomolei'
to the high office formerly enjoyed by Suffolk. He has been said to
owe hb elevation entirely to the influence of the queen ; but he appears
lo have been the especial favourite of his royal kinsman, king Henry.

The violent temper of Somerset was the means of precipitating the
direful collision of the rival factions, whose strife for twenty years de-
luged England with kindred blood. According to historical tradition,
ibose fatal badges of the contending houses of York and Lancaster,
^ the pale and purple rose,'' were assumed to distinguish the rival fao-
tiona during the memorable dispute between Somerset and the earl of
Warwick, in the Temple Gardens, when Somerset, to collect the suf-
frages of tlie by-suinders, plucked a red rose, and Warwick a white
rose, and each called upon every man present to declare his party, by
taking a rose of the colour chosen by him whose cause he favoured.
This was the prologue to that great national tragedy, which ended in
the extinction of the royal line and name of Plantagenet. That enlight-
ened statesman-historian, Philip de Comines, who was well acquainted
with queen Margaret, attributes all the misfortunes that afterwards befell
her, and tlie overthrow of the house of Lancaster, to her rash interposi-
tion in the feud between Somerset and Warwick, in which she indicated
her preference for the former, in a way that never was forgiven by War-
wick. ^^ The queen had acted much more prudently,'' says Comines,
** in endeavouring to have adjusted the dispute between them, than to
have said, ^ I am of this party, and I will maintain it' " And so it
proved by the event

it is probable that the red rose was originally worn by Margaret as a
compliment to Somerset, in token that she espoused his cause, and that
his great political opponent, the duke of York, assumed tlie white, as a
■ymbol of hostility to him and his adherents.'

Rosettes of white and crimson riband, or even of paper, among the
comiDOQ soldiers, were worn as the substitutes of these ill-omened

* Shakspeare, in his spirited version of the scene in the Temple Gartlens, errs
in chronology, by placing it prior to the marriage of the king and Margaret of
Aigou. He alM uses a poetical license in representing Richard, duke of York
«• the leading character engaged in the dispute, while Warwick, merely acting
«• his second, rays, *' I pluck tliis white rose with Plantagenet." Suffolk, who
bad been dt*Hd some months when the veritable dispute occurred, is made to
exclaim — ^ I pluck this red rose witii young JSomerset.'* These badges were
only revived ; for Edmunfl, earl of Lancaster, the brother of Edward I., had, a*
Clamden dei*lares, red roses emblazoned on his tomb in Westminster Abbey, and
Rdward the Black Prince wears a coronet of white rotes, in his portrait dirnvm
ID Richard ll.'s missal in the Harleian Collection.

cncamptm uu i^uiiii,-..v.u..., ...

took up his post about four miles
neart, and his scruples at the idea
mm to negotiate when he ought to
his old adversary, Somerset, shoulc
to an arraignment for his misdeme
by the advice of his prelates ; Yor
unattended to confer with his 8ov<
time, having represented to the que
fu) friend to purchase a deceitful
obtained his liberation by her c
Somerset was concealed behind th
cret witness of the conference bet^
York, who imagined the minisu
assured the king ^ that he had bee
of Somerset alone, in order that he
roent'^ On this, Somerset, unabh
his hiding-place, and defied York,
on the crown.' York fiercely ret<
his misgrovemment in France, and
by reproaching Henry with his ^
who does not appear to have bee
mier, remained speechless and an
was closed by the arrest of the
According to most historians, this
Henry, however, would not penn
leased, on condition of swearing )
Q* P.„P« r-^tVipHrftl. March 10th ;

MABOABBT OF AKJOU. 153

dinttioiu regency in France.' But what is there of fideehood that the
demon of party will not inrent, to rilify its Tictiros, or of improbability,
that the vulgar will not believe and ciiculate, especially, if in the sliapo
of scandal on royalty ?

During the deceitful calm that for a brief interval succeeded the Sate
tempest, Margaret turned her attention to foreign aflairs, and, tlirougli
her influence, the renowned Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury, was despatched,
with such forces as could be raised, to the assistance of the English
party in Guienne. The aged hero achieved some brilliant successes in
the first instance ; but it*was impossible for the queen, struggling, as she
wttp, with the mighty faction that opposed her in parliament, to support
a war against the overwhelming force of France. Talbot was borne
down by numbers, and slain in his eightieth year ; his brave adherents
were eut to pieces.

In the valiant Talbot, Margaret lost one of her most devoted friends
— one of tlie few, out of the many warrior peers of England, at that
nide ere, who possessed a mind sufficiently cultivated to appreciate the
learning and accomplishments of tlie lair Pn>ven9a] queen. The mag-
nificent illuminated manusciipt volume which he presented to her is a
surviving monument of his exquisite taste in the fine arts ; while his
dedicatory lines, addressed to his royal patroness, contain a delicate
testimonial of his opinion of her talents and acquirements. He requests
her ** to explain to his sovereign any thing that may appear difficult to
undersuind in the book : for,^' says he, ^ though you speak English so
well, yon have not forgotten your French.'*

The illuminated title-page represents the queen seated by Henry Vf.,
and surrounded by their court, receiving the volume from the hands of
Talbot.' The state-hull in which they are assembled is worthy of atten-
tion. Tlie royal seat fills up a rich oriel, with vaulted ceiling, groined,
and painted blue, with gold stars ; the clustered windows are long and
]ancet-eha})ed, but the tops of the lancets are rounded. Probably the
scene took place in some hall of the destroyed apartments, in the Tower
or Westminster Palace. An arras of gold and ctdours, representing the
royal arms in numerous chequers, is stretched from pillar to pillar, and
forms tike hack-ground of the royal seat, which is a broad, low divan,
covered with cloth. On this, Margaret, robed in queenly costume, sits,
with her right hand liKkcd in that of king Henr^'^s, who sits by her in
regal array. Maigarct wears a royal crown ; her hair, of a pale golden
ccuour, is most gracefully flowing from under her diadem, and falls in
profusion down her back and shoulders, and over her regal niantlcy
which is pale purple, fastened round the bust widi bands of gold and
gems. The dress beneath the mantle is the furred cote^hardi^ precisely
the same as before allucd to. She is exquisitely lovely, and very
majestic, in this carefully finished portrait, which does not lepresent her

> Hall.

*As this mighty warnor ilied in 1453, Margaret*! portrait must have beeii
limnrd fome liiiie bt^fure tliat prriod. This magnidcent Iblio it still in tlie AnaSt
frasarvatioii, iu the British Museum. King's MS&

oUer Lhftn in her tweniielh year. Talbot u kuMlitig bcfote fatr,|n>
senting Lhe very folio fram whirti this dcKriptinn it akeu. ItH4<^ii
in aliendaiice.' The liile-page of the inagiit&ceul rolmne u ndnWuif
MargaieOa emblem-flower. Daisies are wen jawing in Ulennki«r
Uio palace ; daisies, willi their liitle red hutluoii, are urarijpid la pK^
fusion up Uie sitle of ilie liiie-page; ilaiijios awarm iu clmten munilha
arnxiTial bearings, and flourish in evury comer of ilie illuiuiiMUNl p^H
of the volume. Amougst other embellish ineMa may likewiae to mm!
a crowned M., the queen's initial, surrounilei) by (lie gariiri ikI M
motto. The queeii's ladies are seeu behind ihs rnynl MUl, MiUitd it
heart-slinped cupB, which were a graceful motlifirsiinn. m Mir^na^
court, of the monstrous horned cap nf the preroiling hnir ccntgtt ^ dq
were formed of a atufled roll, wreathed with j;otiI and ffiaM%, ud boi
in a fatidfitl turban shape, over a close caul of ^uld clulti ur Uri-ml^
brought to a point, low in front, and rising behind itie hend HnQ*!
nolile3 are assembled iu crowds, to the ri^^bt of the royal Mai-, UiCjr ■
clothed iu full surtouts, like the beef-catart' drrMW, but of aMt
colours, and triiamed with fur. They either wear roiuHl Mack, e^K| V
tlieir hair is cropfwd close to the head, — • fashion oJwayg prvniM ii
the lime of war, when the helmet prevented the ^owth of uir.

The ariisis, employed by the enrl of Slir«wiAury in the «pl«n£d dl»
minatiouB of this vulume, have compltiuented ilaisant, bj pnttnjM

thp niitvn nivmnmo ivilh h-r r«>nlii»>-. oniHa^imMdnk Iu. '•^JJ'OK- !

MAMGABBT OF ANJOU. M5

blue, probably of that deep, dark, melancholy tint which has recently
been called French black.'

The lo99 of a mother— of such a mother, too, as Isabella of Lor-
imine— could not have been otherwise than keenly felt by Margaret, who
had, in childhood and early youth, shared and solaced so many of her
trying adrersities. But a heavier calamity than even the death of that
dearly beloved parent oppressed the royal matron, as the dreaded hour
of peril and anguish drew near, from which the consorts of monarcht
are no more exempted than the wives of peasants.

When Margaret was in the eighth month of her pregnancy, and the
political horizon became daily more gloomy, in anticipation of an event
more feared than wished by all parties, king Henry was seized with one
of those alarming attacks of malady, to which his grandfather, Charles
VI. of France, was subject The agitating character of public events,
and the difBeulties with which the court hid had to contend, for the last
four years, had been too much for a prince of acute sensibility, and who
bad, moreover, hereditary tendency to inflammation of the brain. For
a time both mind and body sank under the accumulated pressure, and
he remained in a state that lefl litde hope for his life and none for hie
leeson.

Margaret had doubtless been long aware of the dark shadow that im-
pended over lier royal lord, and felt the strong necessity of thinking and
acting for him^ at seasons, when his judgment could not be trusted to
form decisions for himself, on any matter of importance. She has been
blamed for encouraging him to spend his time, in pursuits fitter for the
cloister than the throne ; but, considering the circumstances of his case^
she acted with et^'ual tenderness and prudence, in directing his attention
to tranquil and sedative amusements, instead of perplexing him with the
turmoils and strong excitement of politics.

King Henry was at Clarendon when he was first seized with his dan-
gerous malady ; but after a few days he was by slow degrees conveyed
to his palace at Westminster, where queen Margaret, on the 13th of
October, 1453, gave birth to a prince, the unfortunate Edward of Lan-
caster, whom Speed pathetically calls ^ the child of sorrow and infeli-
city >*

Henry remained vibrating between life and death, and perfectly uncoo-
acious of an event the anticipation of which had, a few months earlier,
been hailed by him with transports of joy. The Parliamentary Rolls
bear witness of the munificent reward he bestowed on Richard Tunstaly
his squire of the body, whose office it was, by a strange etiquette of the
fluddle ages, to announce publicly to the king, for the information of the
court, the hopeful situation of the queen. Forty marks per annum
were granted from the duchy of Lancaster by king Henry, in these
words, ^ Because Richard Tunstal, esq., made unto us the first comfort-
able relation and notice, that our most dearly beloved wife the queen

and ooiiiplotolf drpiirhiNl those »|>ectators who did not ub« mnno Rfrility in getti&a
cut of the way. — VilUntwH. 'Arundel MiS., No. zivi. p. liQ,

try in iiie reii ixuns.cn ^n%. ouiu vr.
queen, for a richly embroidered ch
of the prince ; also for twenty ya
the font, and five hundred and forty
own churching-robe.

As the royal infant wa« born o
in the hope of propitiating the pe*
England, on her son. This fair t
baptized by Waynflete, bishop of
bishop of Canterbury, the duke of
ingham, were his sponsors.'

The birth of an heir, to the lor
whom the duke of York had hithf
tion, was regarded by the majorit
bloody succession war ; while the
all the suspicion they could, on U
insinuations prejudicial to the hoi
tended by some that it was a spun
of the king and queen died soon .
substituted in his place.^

Q^6en Margaret had not comp
king was just thirty-three, when i
only son, whose birth, so far froi
vantage to them, had the worst p*
determining the duke of York to
Henry, at swords' points, instead •
him, at the death of his royal kin^

MABOAmKT OF AfTJOIf. 157

fbnowin£^ the birth of the prince, and the house of lords took adrantaffe
Off his death, to depute a committee from their body, to ascertain the
real state of the king, for the purpose of learning his pleasure touching
the appointments left vacant by the death of the cardinal.' The com-
missioners proceeded to Windsor, whither the king had been removed
by queen Margaret and his physicians, for change of air. They were
Admitted into his chamber, and declared their errand ; but the king made
BO reply, and appeared to hare lost all consciousness of the things of
this world. His reason must at that time have been under a total
eclipse. On the 25th of March, 1454, the committee reported to the
parliament, ^ that they had been to wait upon the king at Windsor, and,
after three interviews with him. and earnest solicitation, they coatd by
no means obtain an answer, or token of answer, from him.^"

When the situation of the king was made known to his peers of
pviiament, they, on the 27th of March, appointed the duke of York
protector and defender of the king, during the king's pleasure, or till
mich time as Edward the prince should come to age of discretion.' The
parliament thus evidently acted under the impression, that the kinff^s-
indisposition was a mental aberration, that would last as long as he
lived, and at the same time they showed a desire of preserving the rights
o€ the reigning fiimily, by reserving this office for an infant not six
months old.

Patents, bearing the name of the king's letters patent, were read in
the parliament on the 3d of April, granting to the infiint prince the same
allowance that was made for his royal mther in the first year of his
reign, with the yearly fee of two thousand marks only, besides allow-
ances for learning to ride, and other manly exercises, ^ provided the
aune grant be in no ways prejudicial to any grant made to Margaret
qneen of England.''

King Henry, though incapable at that time of business, is made, by
similar instruments, to create his son Edward prince of Wales and earl
of Chester. This was confirmed by the hands of all the lords, and by
the commons in parliament^ By the same authority queen Margaret
received the grant of 1000/. per annum for life, out of the customs, and
aubeidies on wools at the port of Southampton, besides sundry manom
and hereditaments in the counties of Northampton, Southampton, and
Oxfordshire, which were confirmed to her by this parliament These
concessions to the queen and her infant boy, were probably granted to
induce her to acquiesce in the appointment of the duke of York, to the
office of protector. A medical commission of Bve physicians and sur-
geons was appointed by the duke of York and his council, to attend on
the person of the king, and to watch over his health.*

* Pirliamentarj History. 'Ibid. Acts of the Privy Council.

* Parliamentary History. Rymer*s Fcsdera. * Parliamentary Hist * Ibid.

* Rymer's FaBdenu The date of this commission is April 6th, and empowers
ibofO belored masters, John Arundel, John Faceby, and William Haclifr, physi>
etans, and Robert Warreyn, and William Marschall, surgeons, to administer Mr
the king, at their disoretion, electuaries, potions, and syrups, conffTtions, aad
lazatiTe medicines, in any form that may be tbcHisJliX Vim\\ \m^vb, W»»vMi3C>iafci^

TOL* Ut. — 14

queen's presence-chainbe
was unable to do any t
York proceeded to depo^
and by letters patent, issi

Henry VI. began to a
he was so much recover
to Canterbury, with his c
at the shrine of St. £dw
witness, who describes tl
pears to have been like
when reason and convale
the infant princess recog
narrated, in the letter to ^

^ On Monday at noon
prince with her, and ther
the queen told him, ^£<
thanked God thereof. A
nor wist what was said t<
had been sick, till now; i

embrocalions, unctiona, pla^t
of other inflictions in the '
&vourite physician who had
a pension of lOOL per ann
Margaret, as the reward of 1
find the court dress of the 1
▼er cap.

* There is in the Patent Ro

mr « -'»

MAROARBT OF ANJOTT. 159

IVMn mid liim. and he was well apatd (conlent). And she loIJ him
ihe (ordinal was dead,' and he said lie never know uf it till ihis lime ;
th«n he said one of the wisest lords in ihis land was dead. And my
lord of Winchester (bishopl, and my lord of St. John of Jerusalem,
were with him the morrow after Twelfth day, and he did speak tn Ihem
aa well as ever lie did, and when they came oul they wept for joy. And
he sailh he is in charity with all the world, and so he would all ihe
lords were. And now he saiih matins of Our L«dy, and evensong, and
besrelh his maea devoutly."

Margnrpt immediately look prompt measurea for Henry's realoralion
lo the soverei^ authority, by cansing him lo be eonvevcd, thoiii^h alill
Tery weak, to the House of Lords, where he distaolved the pari lam eni,'
■nd the duke of Somerset was immediately released and reinstated in
hiB former post

The triumph of the queen and her parly was short-lived. The dnka
of York retired lo the marches of Wales, raised an armv, with ilie assisl-
ance uf his powerful friends and kinsmen. Salisbury and Warwick, and
marched towards London, with the intention of t>urprisii\g the king
there. All the troops that eoidd be mustered by the exertions of the
queen and Soraersei scarcely amounted lo two thousand men.' On the
21st day of May the royal army lay at Watford, and the next day the
king took up his head-quarters at St. Albans. The royal sbtitdanl was
erecled in Sl Pater's Street. The duke of York and his men lay at
Heyfietd.

King Henry was not deficient in personal courage, bni his holy nature
revolted from being the cause of bloodshed, and he sent a meNsage to
the duke of York, to aak, " wherefore he came in hostile array against
him !" York replied *' that he would not lay down his orais, uuless the
duke of Somerset were dismissed from king Henry's councils, and de*
iJTered up lo Justice." Henry for once in his life manifested Bomethiog
of the fiery temperament of a Plantagenet, when this answer waa re-
ported lo liim by llie agents of the duke of York: for with a loud im-
Erecalion — the only one he was ever known to utter — he declared, ■* that
e would deliver up his crown as soon as he would the duke of Somer~
ael or Ihe least soldier in his army, and that he would treat as a traitor
Every man who should presume lo fight against him in the field."' The
earl of Warwick, who commanded York's van-guard, coramenceil the
attack, by breaking down the gardeD-woll which aiood between the Key
aad ilie Chequer in Hollowell Street,' and led his men on through ilia
gardens, shouting, '*A Warwick ! a Warwick !''

The battle lasted but an hour. The king's army, made up almost all
of genilemen, was inferior in numbers, and pent up in the town. They
fboght desperately, and n dreailful slaughter ensued, in ihe narrow
aiicets. The king, who stood under his own standard, was wounded
in the neck with an arrow, at the commencement of the fight. He r^
mained till he was leSi solus under his royal banner, when he walked

I
I

MARGARE

QUEEN O

CHAl

Queen at Greenwich— News of defe
tared in Parliament— Royal femUj
Greenwich— King restored— Queei
portrait- Pacific negotiation*— Q«
the peace— Court at Coventry— I
Blore-heath— Success at Ludlow-
ton— Queen's flight— Taken by pi
—King in captivity— Queen goes
field— York's head presented to
king Henry— Retreats to York— r
wick— Skill in archery- AUianc<
gpes to France with the prince—

Repulsed at Tynemouth — He

Flight from Hexham— Romantic
at the court of Burgundy— Her re
Reconciliation with Warwick— M
parts for England— Contrary win
l-ier despair— Takes sanctuary
—Brought to king Edward— Led
u-» «r«/inwhnnd — Five years' ca

MABOABBT OF ANJOV. 161

biaTe friends^ and the captivity of the king her husband, plunged her
into a sort of stupor of despair, in which she remained for many hours.*
Her chamberlain, sir John Wenlock, whom she had advanced to great
honours, and loade<l with benefits, took that opportunity of forsaking
her, and strengthening the party of her foe. lie was chosen speaker of
the Torkist parliament, which king Henry had been compelled to sum-
mon.' The king^s wound was dan^rous, and the alarm and excitement
he had undergone brought on a relapse of his malady ; so that, when
the parliament assembled at Westminster, July 4th, he was declared
incapable of attending to public business, and the duke of York was
commissioned to attend in his name.'

It was in this parliament, made up of her enemies, that queen Mar-
garet was for the first time publicly censured for her interference in
mfiairs of state, it being there resolved, ^^ that the government, as it was
managed by the queen, the duke of Somerset, and their friends, had been
of late a great oppression and injustice to the people.''^

The king was petitioned to appoint the duke of York protector or
defender of the realm, ^ because of his indisposition, and tilh he would
not come down to them, that his commons might have knowledge of
bim.^ Henry, being tlien in the duke of York^s power, was not per-
mitted to reject this petition, but it was repeated and urged upon him
many times, before he would accede to it*

As soon as the duke of York got the executive power of the crown
into his bands, he resigned the custody of the kmg's person to the
qneen, and enjoined her to withdraw, with him and the infant prince,* to
Hertford Castle without fail.' Margaret was not in a condition to resis
thie arrangement, but soon aAer found means to remove to the palace of
Oreenwicb, with these helpless but precious objects of her care, and
, nnpeaied entirely absorbed in the anxious duties of a wife and mother.
^ II teemed," says one of her French biographers, ^ by her conduct at
thie periody as if she deemed nothing on earth worthy of her attention
but the state of her husband^s health and the education of her son, who
was a child of early promise."' Meantime, however, she strengthened
the party of the red Koee, by holding frequent secret conferences, in her
retreat at Greenwich, with the surviving princes of the Lancastrian
fiunily, and the half-brothers of king Henry, the young gallant Tudors,
who were nearly allied in blood to herself.' She had gathered round
her, withal, a bs^nd of ardent and courageous young nobles and gentle
men, whose &thers were slain at St Albans, and who were panting to
avenge their parents^ blood.

• Prevofft. • FarlmmeniBry History.

'Guthrie. Rapin. ParliameniBry Hiitory. *IUpin. *lbid.

*Tba righiB of prince Evlwurd were ttill recofnited, end the reversion of the
pffoteotoreie secured to him when he came of age. It was enacted alM> that the
jroung prince shoulfl be at diet and sojourn in the king's court till the age of
Imirteen years ; allowing yearly to the prince, lowanls his wardrobe and wages,
t«n thousand marks, until tlie nge of eigtit yearn, and. from the age of eight till
fHirteen years, twenty thousand marks yearly.' — RoiU of PmrliameiU.

» Piiflion Pfepert. •PreTosU 'Qntlvie.

14* L

the unexpected appearance oi tneir S(
lected and dij^niJied manner in whic
acceded to his desire. The same da\

w

to the duke of York, demandini^ th(
Salisbury, and Warwick, were fairly
the queen, and retired into the counti
of the late duke of Somerset, Henr
prime minister, and Henry bestowe
Waynflete, bishop of Winchester. I
ous state, queen Margaret took great
thing that was likely to have a soothi
tranquil frame of mind.* There is,
council, stating, ^ that the presence
the king in his sick state, and there!
counties were required to seek for be
cal powers, to be instructed in the ai
service in his court, and to receive
amused and comforted by receiving c
others of his subjects, for leave to go
in foreign parts, to pray for the re-estj
unfrequently, he was beguiled with
was about to he replenished with im
of the philosopher's stone, by one c
who were constantly at work in the
The regal authority la^as, at this
queen Margaret and her council, with
impetuosity of her temper betrayed

MAmOARBT OF AVJOU. 168

wn Margaret, not considering the person of the king safe in London,
Boved him to Shene, where she left him under the care of his brother
iper, while she visited Chester,* and other towns in the midland coun-
■, lo ascertain how the comitry gentry stood affected to the cause of
I crown. Having every reason to confide in the loyal feelings of that
itioo of their subjects, Margaret decided on brin^ring the king in ro3ral
sgress through the midland counties, and keeping court for a time at
vrentry. Nothing could exceed the enthusiastic welcome with which
» king, queen, and in&nt prince of Wales, were received by the wealthy
fgesses of that ancient city. On their arrival, Margaret was compli-
■iled with a variety of pageants, in which patriarchs, evangelists, and
iota, obligingly united with the pagan heroes of classic lore, in ofler-
f their congratulations to her, on having borne an heir to England,
d they all finished by tendering their friendly aid against all adver-

Tbere are curious original portraits of Henry VI. and Margaret of
you, wrought in tapestry, still preserved in St. Mary*s Hall at Coven-
r, probably the work of a contemporary artist in that species of manu-
uure, which, we need scarcely remind our readers, is not very favour-
le for the delineation of female beauty, but highly valuable as aflbrd-
f m faithful copy of the costume and general characteristics of the
nonages represented. Margaret appears engaged in prayer ; her figure
whole-length ; her luuids rest on an open missnl, which is before her,
I A table covered with blue cloth ; her head-dress is a hood richly bor-
ted with pear-pearls, which hang round her face ; on the summit of
e hood is a crown of fieur-de-lis, which bends to the shape of the
md at the back of the head ; behind the hood hangs a veil, figured,
d fringed with drops shaped like pears. On the temples, and in front
' the hood, are three oval-shaped gems of great size. The queen wears
rich collar necklace, made up of round pearls and pendant pear-pearls ;
chain is suspended round her neck. Her dress appears brocaded : it
Off a yellow colour, cut square round the bust ; the sleeves are straight
I the shoulders, but gradually widen into great fulness, which turns up
iUi ermine. This style is called the rehras sleeve, and nearly resem-
es the modes of Anne of Bretagne, queen of Charles VJH. of France,
ho was almost a contemporary of Margaret. With the exception of
c crown, so oddly placed on the top of the hood, the whole costume
similar to the dress of that queen.*

The maternal tenderness of the queen, and the courageous manner in
hich she had upheld the rights of her royal husband, and devoted her-
If to the care of his health, her brilliant talents, her eloquence, and

' PSrton Paper*. * Sharp*! Antiquitiei of Corentrj.

* Th«* Corentry tapentrj Hkewiie prrtentt a figiire of Henrjr VI. kneeling ; ear-
iml Bpauibrt kneels behind the king; and there are aeventaeo of the Engliah
ibility utanding in attendance on the royal pair. The figures are the lise oi
e. Tliis noble historical relic it thirty feet in length, and ten leet in height
'illiani S'jiiinton, e»q^ of Longhridge Hoom, near Warwick, has hail the figures
' Mar^nnM Bnd Henry rtijrmvfd, and has kindly fhvonred us with a copy of
e print, and wiili hi? own do«('ii]»(ion of the present state of the tapestry.

irARG4KST or AXJOV.

m^mic bMitty. "w« at ihai lime mItoUictI to pmducf a powwfnl HIM f
(Ht tha miiub of all whnm> hn>m the rancour of party liiul iiol iVtM
apuntt her mfluenee. The (iiTounhle imptesnoB tnade by SUrpi« in
Ihai iluirici wa« nrvrr fntpMwn ; mad Coventry, whet* she held h«
eourt, wu evfr anrr sn dcTotn] to Iter s^rricv, that ii went bjr ihe namt
of nueen Manpirrt'* tafr hdtrhour.

York, Siilisnury, aod W&rwirtc, were iumraonml to aitrad the etnori
•I Covrniiv ; but these lonlt, niiaimning the (jumn and SumeTwi, n-
tiinl to three remote lUtionR ; Tnrii u> hii dmtesnpfl on llie muclin,
vhm he had Uie alaW anil power of t sonnign ; Sah^biir^- to hi* n<il(
of Middleham, in Yoriiihire ; «nJ Warwick to his (t"*enimpni iif (V
hn ; of which he, tinfoflunaiely for the cause of Liincnsier, rvuintij

ftunwinn,'

The Ftench and Scotch availed Ihenuelvet of ihe mtenml |joiiM» of
tlic iralm to attack (liigland ihi« year; on which the VorkiBin took ad-
▼aiitajje of tlie aggreasiuns of her conntrii'mcii to work upito the t\n(ii,
national prejudice* which were more p»werfiilty fdl ai llial era, ptrhtM,
than at any other period, lo nciic the ill-will of [he prnplc against the
queen;' aa if Margaret could have preferred the inierests of her annft
hiifbaiid to her own, and thni of the father of the child whom ahe lond
with such proud and pamionnte foiidncss. So alarming, indeed, &i At
eoiidu/'t of Franre appear la Mar^|u«t at lhi« enais, that *he wu tbaliiit
to Kuggent the expediency of a rcroncilialion between the coan and ih*
advene party of York and Warwick, that the whole strength of th»
realm uiiglu be em[4oyed against Ibreign ini^ders. York nnd Wnnrirk,
by whom Margaret wa* etjually haled and uii»trusle<t, (wid litili- nueniJM
to hpr pacific overtures; but when king Henry, in the ~: .
Binceriiy of hit heart, wrote with hia own hand a patheiii- r
of the eTils resulting from this protracted strife, and pr"i<
woid ofa Christian and a king, thai novengeancn shoilJJ 1 i
any individual for past offences o^itinst ihe cmwn, they fi-li
poGsible ti) doubt the honour and honesty of hia intenilnna.'

A general cungresa or pacifiration betwoen the belligprenl 1
then resolved upon. To llie lord-mayor of Lond<in, sir Godfrey B
was assigned the anluous office of guardian of the public iramitiitlity'**
this extr«or<liciary occasion; and for this purpose ten thnusnnd ot the
citizens were armed, and patrolled the streets day and night na a naiiMiil
guard, to prevent the plunder and bloodshed that were only too likslv
to arise from quarrels between the followers of lh<! hostile peers. On
the tSth of January, 1458, the earl of Salisbury, with live hundred tnan.
arrived, and took up his quarters at his own mansion at Cold Harbaor
The duke of York, with four hundred, lodged ai &.yi.ard's Castle. Thr
earl of Warwick arrived from Calais in February, with a pompous re-
Imue of SIX hundred men in scarltrl coats. The dukea of Soioetsei siiiJ
F.xuier, with eight hundmj followers, lodged without Temple Bar, in
Ami about Holburn, and other placet) in th» suburbs. The earl (^
A oithumbetland and his kinsman, lonl Egreniont, maintained (lie fn)<!*l

utiiillMat >

m MABCABET OF AKIOV. 165

■ of the Percys,' by bringing lideen hundred roUowers; bein^ mora
iiaiy aiteiidcd ihan any or ilie oiher adlierents of itie red Rose.*

Ilow Huch a ciiiigress ever caine to any (bing in ilie shape of an ami-
rkbie treaty, inusi ever remain among the most marvellous of hiHtorir
rvcortls. Two whole inoiiihn were spenl in fierce debates and angry
rccriminatimis, before the mediations of the archbishop of Canterbury,
iani the other prelates, produced ilw desired cflecu The king and queen
were easily satisfied, for they required nothing more than a renewal of .
hotnsge, in which the namef of queen Margaret and lier son Edward
prince of Wniea, were to be inrlnded ; but the lords demanded pecuniary
cnmpensalion of earh cither, for the damage they had sustained, not only
in the plundering of their respective castles and estates, but for the loss
of kinsmen.'

The king and queen, who had not considered it pnident to trust their
perscms before, among the armed negotiators of ihe peare, made a public
entry into London, and took up their abode, Mari^h 27, in the bishop's
police, which was a central position. The feast of the Annnnrialion
wko appointed as a day of public thanksgiving for this pacification, wheD
lltB king and queen, wearing their crowns and royal robes, and atiended
by all tlie peers and prelates, walked in solemn procession to St. Paurs
Citlietlrttl ; and, in token of the sincerity of their reconciliation, the
Ittdiag nieniliers of ilie litely adverM factions walked hind in hand u»
getlier, being paired according to the degree of deadly animosity tliat
liad previously divided ihem. The duke of Somerset, coupled with the
carl of Salisbury, his ancient foe, headed the proces.sion, followed 1^ the
duke of Exeter and the earl of Warwick, in unwonted fellowship. Then,
behind lite king, who walked alone, came the duke of Tork, Icadins
((iteen Margaret by the hand, apparently on the most loving tenns wiili
each other. The delight of the citizens of London at this auspicious
pagaaot manifested itself, not only in acclamations, bonfires, and other
fieiia and tokens of popular rejoicings, but called forth some of the halt-
ing lyrical effusions of their bards, in commemoration.*

Utt aooner was ^ this dissimulated lore-day," aa Fabyan calls it, over,
ilian Tork withdrew to the marches, Salisbury to Yorkshire, and War-
wick to his government of Calais.' He was at that time lord-admiral by

'Stow. Hnll, Bapin. 'Si.

'Tlie duke of York acnially consented to pny \h

■■: eneaiy. Edmund duke of SoToorHt. 5U<Jlif,, lo n

..ii,)H(nd slain at St. Alboiis; this inim lo be .ti^id

Warwidk and SalUbury )iaid two llioiuand d

, . ,..<a CaiToKt.

§ia s apeumen : —
"Oiir iovereijm if'd. Qod keep alw«]r,
And (he quooti and Bichbialiop of Cnnletbury,
Anil olhsi Ibal have laboured la mnke ibis love-day —
O Ood preaerve them, we pray heanily.
And London for them full diligently:
Kejoice. England, in nincord and unitie."

Cmumuin MSS. Viipariao. b. iri. p. 111. k
■Bapin. Public Aou.

I

cui iiiijuir^ lu w pusneu

committed, by pluudering

cused her of insincerity in

little regard for the glory c

repeated in the city, cauj

which her attorney-general

and Clifford's, and Bama

ward in which the fray U

was followed by a persont

as he was returning from (

cbnstrued this riot into a p

destruction. Margaret reu

a tumult at the palace ; an

an order in council, for hin

This fracas, whether origi

fatal hour for the queen, bi

umvirs of the adverse part)

the sword once more agaii

again sheathed, Ull it had d

est to Margaret, her husbar

King Henry, leaving his

tired to pass that Easter at

having nought else to besto

the prior. His treasurer h

knowing the poverty of th(

no other gaiment suitable f<

one at his need ; so, steppi

^^P M.lROARfiT OF ANJOC. 167

nte for fifty marks. Henry unwillingly complied with ihis prudent
wrangemeiit, but he chared ilie prior lo follow him to Lonilon for th«
money, which he made ihe reljciant treasurer disburse in his presence.
Thn following June, USS, the court departed from the melropolia.
Qlii«n Margaret took the king in progress through the counties of War-
wick. Stafford, and Cheshire, under U)e pretence of benefiting his heitlth.
b^r change o( air and nylvnn sports. She was accompanied by her son,
the young prince of Wales, llien in his sixth year, a child of sin|{ular
besuLy and promise, for whom she engaged the favour of all the nobles
and gentlemen, in those loyal couniies. by causing him to distribute
Utile silver swans, as his (udge, wherever he cume, and tn u)l wha
pressed lo look upon him. Margaret displayed peculiar tact in adopting^
for her boy, the well-remenihered device which had distinguished hia
renowned ancestor, Edwanl III., whose name he bore. So well were
her impassioned pleadings in hia behalf seconded by the loveliness and
winning behaviour of the princely child, that ten thousand men wore
his livery at the buttle of Blore-heath.

Queen Marguet witnessed this fierce conflict from the lower of Muc-
clesion Church, a small village, seated on a rising ground in Slairord*
ahtre. King Henry was then at Colesluli, in Warwickshire; atid
Margaret, fearing for his safely, sent lord Audley lo miercepl llie earl of
Salisbury, ihen on his mardi fiotn MidUleliain Caalle, wiili a reiuforce*
meni of four or five thousand Yorkists. Margaret sternly bade Andley
bring Salisbury before her, dead or alive. Audley posted himself on
Uore-beatb, at the head of ten thousand Cheshirernen, disiinguished
by the red rosette of Lancaster, and their leaders by the silver swana
woru on their breasts, in honour of Edward, prince of Wales. Nearly
three thousand of the (lower of Cheshire, cavaliers and yeomen, peHslied
with Audlev, their leader. When Margaret, from MncdcilonTitwer, be-
held Uie fall of Audley's banner, she Hed to £ccleshall Custle.' King
Henry, who wis dangerously ill at Coleshill, lay stretched on a pallet
durmg the battle of Blore-heath, and the only token of cojisciousness ha
gave was tluit, when his people were removing him, he asked iu a feeble
Totce " who had got the day ?"

Salisbury, dirougli this victory, was enabled to form a junction with
the duke of York's army, and it was expected itiat the duke, who wow
boldly asserted his title to the crown, would speedily attain the object
K> which ail his actions, for the last twelve years, had tended.

The energies of queen Margaret's niind increased, with the perils and
difficulties witli which the cause of her royal huiiband was beset. She
kad, for the first time in her life, looked upon a battle, and though it
was the disastrous defeat of Blore-heaih, far from being dismayed, or
regarding it ax the death-blow to the hopes of Lancaster, it appears lo
h««e had the eifect of rousing a dormant faculty within her soul — the
eourage and enterprise of a miLlar>- leader. Hitherto she had fouglit her
enemies from the cabmet; now she Iwd cauglit the fierce excileinenl of
e nobles, and kindled with the desire of asserting the righw

I

iu ijuuiow, wnere me auR<
in warlike array.

So greatly had the popul
of his appearance in the p
nishment and confusion, fo
against the anointed sovei
report of the king's death,
his soul to be sung in his
by this ruse deprive his adv
But the sturdy marchers s
the queen, or impugn the ti
done to draw the sword agai
tion of what was passing i
proclaimed in the king's r
nance. This was, in the
1 orkist leaders, who replie
staff of reed, or buckler of
present guidance.'' *

Urged by his energetic <
of Ludlow Castle. The di
tious antipathy to fighting,
had, under similar circumsl
letter to him, full of protes
praying his sovereign to n
ehewing his evil counselloi
influence of Marfi[aret'8 masU
with, and, therefore, answen

,^_ . - .1-

MAROARBT OW AITJOU. 109

fini CMopttgn that was shared by the queen, and, if we are to credit the
aaaertions o^ all historians, directed by her counsels.

Tliis signal victory having been happily achieved without bloodshed.
Margaret returned in triumph, with her royal spouse, to her trusty
firiends at Coventry, where Henry commanded a parliament to meet^
November 20th. King Henry appears to have been more ofiended at
the mass that was said for his soul, in the camp of his enemies, than at
any of their less innocent acts of treason. It is mentioned with pecu*
liar acrimony, in the bill of attainder passed against Tork and his party,
by this parliament, as the very climax of their villanies.

For the security of Margaret and the young prince, a new and solemn
oatii of allegiance was framed and sworn to, by the peers and prelates
€if this parliament, in which each liegeman, after engaging to do his true
devoir to king Henry, added these words : ^Also to the weal, surety,
and preserving o( the person of the most high and benign princess Mar-
garet, the queen, my sovereign lady, and of her most high and noble
estate, she, being your wife, and also to the weal, surety, and honour of
the person o( the right high and mighty prince Edward, your first-
begotten son." ' The king, by the authority of the same parliament,
granted to queen Margaret the manor of Cosham, with the appurte-
nances, in Wilts, and 20/. yearly out of the aulnage of cloth in London,
in exchange for the manor of Havering Bower, which had been settled
oo her.'

The triumph of the royal cause was brief; Oslais and the naval power
of England were at the command of Margaret's determined adversary,
Warwick; and from that quarter the portentous storm-clouds began
once more to threaten.'

Bfargaret was, at this period, personally engaged in courting popu-
larity among the aristocracy of Norfolk. Dame Margaret Paston de-
aeribes some of her proceeding while in Norfolk^ in a familiar epistle
to her husband, which is too rich a specimen of the manners of the
times, and of the arts used by the queen to ingratiate herself individually
with the ladies of Norfolk, to be omitted.

LITTIA rSOX XABOABIT PAtTOS.

* As for tidinKt, the queen came into this town on Tucfday last, past alVernoon,
and abode there till it was Thursday three o'clock ; and she sent after my cousin
Clixabetli Clere, by Sharinham, to come to her, and slie durst not disobey her
oommandinenf, and oame to her; and when the came in the queen's presence,
the queen made right much of her, and desired her to have a husband, the which
ye shall know of hereafter ; but, as for tliiit, he is never the nearer than before
The queen was right well pleasetl witli her answer, and reported her of the best
irise, aiKl saith, * by her troth she taw no jatUfflwomany since she came into Nor^
Iblk, that slie liked better than slie doth her.* When Uie quoen was here, 1 bor^
rowed my cousin Elisabeth Clere's device (necklace), for I dum not for sliama
go with my beads amongst so many fresh gentlewomen (ftuhionably dressed
ladies) as here were at that time.

•* Norwich, Friday before St. George."*

' Parliamentary History. *Ibid. *.Lingard, vol. v. oh. li. p. 213.

*Fen dates this letter, ftom coi\jecture, in 1452, but adds, ^' That Margaret t/

VOL. III. — 16

nil UUiKiri'u ^llll|||l^:« iitt-iviii, iv'i 1.1... II n^'^-^ •
an<l nil of us tlint were Hpprnled for thnt oaitr
to my lord,* hy ihe ini^nii?* of the duke of Sn
from hiiu/ and witliiti tiiiii two ye<irs we wei
the queen, 90 that the wrote to my lord to a
she couldf nor might, in no ways, be assured
were about him ;' and much other things, ta
queen's writing, under her own signet and s
lord of Canterbury and other lords/'*

Meantime, the band of veterans whic
Calais had swelled into a puissance, whc
reported by historians, from twenty-fr
men. With this force he and his militar
triumphantly entered London, July 2d, 1
their ^tcs for their admittance. On th(
measured swords with the royal army a

So ardently devoted to her service di
valry, whom she had arrayed beneath
defend the rights of her husband and
secure of victory, she induced the kin|B

Ai\jou, alarmed at the apprtmch of Edward,
a great power, endeavoure<l to make what ft
place.", on her journey:} fur tliat purpose, vit«
the kitig's brothers, attending her. Her fam
tlie Ndrfulk gentry," Now, as Edward, ear
must have been when he appeared in ho»
14(K), jutt before the battle of Northampt
■tiengthen her husband's cause in Norfolk.—
'John Mowbray, duke of Norfolk, in whos*

MARGARET

ror. 171' I

md, crossing the river Nenp, to enramp niih his army in the plain be- I
iweeti Ilnrelngion and Saii'litKml.' I

The fiery heir of Tork then adranced hix Tather^s banner, anrl attacked- 1
tile hoHi of Lancaster, at seven in Ihc morning, iviih one of hia iremen* I
dou9 charges. The battle lasted but two hours, and was decided by th*' I
treachery of lord Grey de Ruihyn, who aclniitled the Yorlcists into ihd' ■
heart of the royal camp. "Ten thousand tall Englishmen," says Hallf I
■'u-ere slain or drowned in attempting to repass the river, and king Henty' M
himself, lefl all lonely anil disconBolate, was taken piiaoner." ■

The dukes of Somerset and Buckingham were the leaders of the royar"!
artny. Buckingham was slain in the battle, where also fell anolno^ I
stanch friend of Margaret and the catise of the red Rose, John Talbot,'. I
ear) orShrewsbury,B son not unworthy or his renowned sire — "TalbotL I
our g<XH) dogge," as lie was called in the quaint, but significant parlancv 4
of his party. Somerset escaped to fiillil a darker destiny. I

<^neen Margaret was not herself in the battle, but, w'ith her boy, ihtf i
inlant hope of Lancaster, was posted at a short distance from the seenA I
of action, on a spot whence she could command a prospect of the Relit I
and commiinicnie with her generals. When, however, she wiuiesseq' I
the treachery of lord Grey, and the headlong rush of her disordered' I
tronpK, In repass the river they had crossed that morning so full ofhopa I
and ardour^ the pride and courage of the heroine yielded to maternd I
lermr ; and. forgetful of every other consideration but the preservatioii I
of her hoy. ehe lied precipilalely, wilh him and a few faithful follower^' 1
towardi* the bishopric of Durham. But Durham was no place of refugB' J
for the qiieen, who had previously incurred the ill-will of the citizens, 1
by some arbitrary measure or imprudent burst of temper. I

William of Worcester relates, that queen Margaret and the prince of
Wales were actually captured, while Hying from Eggp)>hall to Cheater,
by John Cleger, one of lord Stanley's Mrranta, and spoiled of all h«
jewels \ but while they were rifling her baggage, of which her atiendauia
had charge, she seized an opportunity of escaping with the prince. On
the road she was joined by the duke of Somerset, and, after a thousand
perils, succeeded in reaching Harlech Castle, an almost impregnable for-
tress in North Wales, where she was honourably received, and manfully
protected, by Dafyd ap Jeuun ap Einion. a Welsh chieftain, who, in
stature and coorage resembled one of the doughty Canibiian gisnls of
metrical romance.'

In this rocky fastness, which appeared as if formed by nature for tto.
shelter of the royal fugitives, they remained safe from the vindictive pUP> i
suit of tlieir foes, whde the unfurluiiBte king was conducted to Londo^* I
by those whom the fortunes uf war had rendered the arbiters uf his ft>tB.'B
lie was treated with extemat marks of respect by the victotv, but v
compelled by them to summon a parliament, for the purpose of sai
tinning their proceedings, and reprobating those of his fiiidiful (riendi
g the interval beiure it met at Wesimiisler, and while itll p

inTitation lo take possession of it. 13
among his own ))artisans, which was a
of Canterhury asking him, ^^ If he woi
who was in the queen^s suite of ap
sovereign having heen appropriated
know of no one in this realm who oi
the haughty rejoinder of the duke,
tlie house.

The peers by whom tliese rival cl
man, sworn their liegemen^s oaths to 1
ferred the question, as to which had t
self, or his cousin Richard, duke of Y
the power of his rival, replied in these
his father was also king ; I have wor
cradle ; you have all sworn fealty to
fathers have done the like to my (at
can my right be disputed r"**

The king, notwithstanding, agreed, 1
the crown during his life, the duke of
to the royal dignity at his decease. H(
who had the custody of his person,
peremptory mandate, for the return o( \
polis, attaching no milder term than
disobedience of this injunction.

Margaret was a fugitive, without an
money, when she received this summoi
that the rights of her hnv ^•a i

■ ABOAKBT or AITJOV. 173

with Margaret of Anjou, both by marriBge and friendship ; and ffhe re-
•olTod on trying^ the efficaey of a persona] application to that monarch,
for assistance in this emerj^ency. Having caused a report to be circu-
lated, that she was raisinf forces in France, Margaret quitted her rocky
eyry among the wilds of Snowdon, where her b^uty, her courage, and
the touching circumstances under which she appeared, had cfeated among
her loyal Welsh adherents an interest, not unlike that which is occa-
■ioDally felt, for the distressed queens of tragedy and romance. The
populs^ Welsh song, *^ Farwel iii Peggy han^^^ is said to have been
the effusion of the bards of that district, on the occasion of her depar-
ture.

The communication between Wales and Scotland was facilitated for
Margaret, by the proximity of Harlech Castle to the Menai, on which it
is suf^Kwed she embarked, with her son and a few trusty followers.'
Her n^^iations at the eourt of Scotland were prosperous, and her mea-
sures so vigorous, that, in less than eight days after she had receimed the
order, in king Henry's name, for her immediate return to London, she
was at the head of an army, had crossed the Scottish border, unfurled
the banner of the red Rose, and, strengthened by all the chivalry of
Northumberland, Cumberland, Lancashire, and Westmoreland, presented
herself at the gates of York, before the leaders of the white Rose party
were fully aware that she was in England.

The duke of ToriE, who had by no means anticipated this prompt
and bold response to the proclamation he had enforced his royal captive
lo send to the fhgitive queen, left London with the eaii of Salisbury, at
the head of such forces as could be hastily collected, to check the fierce
career of the lioness whom they had rashly roused from her slumberous
stupor of despair.

On Christmas-eve, the duke reached his strong castle of Sandal, where,
with five thousand men, he determined to await the arrival of his son
Edward, who was raising the border forces. Before this could be effected,
queen Mamret advanced to Wakefield, and, appearing under the walls
of Sandal Castle, defied the duke to meet her in the field day after day,
and used so many provoking taunts on ^ his want of courage in sufifer-
ing himself to be tamely braved by a woman,^* that York, who cer-
tainly had had little reason to form a very lofty idea of Margaret's skfll
as a military leader, determined to come forth and do battle with her.

Sir Davy Hall, his old servant, represented to him ^ that the queen
was at the head of eighteen thousand men, at the lowest computation,
and advised him to keep within his castle, and defend it till the arrivAl
of his son with the border forces. The duke disdaining this prudent
counsel, indignantly replied — ^Ah ! Davy, Davy, hast thou loved ne to
long, and wcraldest thou have me dishonoured ? Thou never sawest
me keep fortress when 1 was regent in Normandy, where the dauirfiki
himself, with his puissance, came to besiege me, but like a man, and not
like a bird in a cage, I issued and fought with mine enemies, — to their

' Notes to the Wsik worth Chroiucle, by J. O. Halliwell, esq.
■Pennmnt. •H«ll,p. 93a

16»

force waH commanded by Somerset^ unde
it is by no means certain that she play
person on this^ or any other occasion. '
ambushed to the right and left, under the
and lord Clifford ; and as soon as York 1
engaged by the van -guard, they closed \
Bays llall, *^ a fish in a net, or a deer in a
half«n-hour he, manfully fighting, was sli
Two thousand of the Yorkists lay dead
Clifford, on his return from the pursuit, ii
earl of Rutland, in cold blood, on Wak<
of the duke of York from his lifeless bo
presented it to queen Margaret on the
words : — ^ Madame, your war is done ; 1
The Lancastrian peers who surrounds
acclamation, not unmixed with laughter
of their royal mistress to the ghastly w
garet at first shuddered, turned pale, and a
by the horrid spectacle thus unexpected!
instinctive emotions o( woman's nature
feelings of vindictive pleasure; and whe
upon ^ this king without a kingdom,'' w
the crown of England from her husbam
laughed — laughed long and violent — and
her fallen foe to be placed over the gati
(lered the earl of Salisbury, who was am

ihm mi*stff(i\]i\ tliA frkllnufincr Ha v. JtnH miuiA

SABOABBT OF AHJOir. ITS

Tlie demons of war were now let loose in all their destroying fary,
«nd the leaders of the rival parties emulated each other in deeds ol
Mood and horror. Edward earl of March won a battle at Mortimer^s
Croat, Fehniary 1st, which was followed by a sanguinary execution, in
reprisal for his hroUier's murder, and the outrage ofiered to his father's
mnams.

Hargareti howerer, pushed on, with resistless impetuosity, to the me-
tropolis, with the intention of rescuing her captive lord from the thral-
dom in which he had been held, ever since the battle of Northampton.
h must have been at this time she published two remarkable manifestoes,
addrened to the English people.

«" By the Queen.

** Right tmsty and well beloved, we greet you heartily well.

* And whereas the late duke of N ' (York), of extreme malice, long hid

«Bder eokmr, imagining by many ways the destmetion of my lord's good graee
(Heniy VI.), whom God of his mercy ever preserTe, hath now late, upon an
VDtrue pretence, feigned a title to my lord's crown and royal estate (contrary to
his aliegianoe, and divers solemn oaths of his own), and fully purposed to have
depoaed him of his regality, ne had been (but for) the said unchangeable and
true dispositions of you and other his true liegemen. For tlie which your wor-
shipful dispositions we thank you as heartily as we can. And howbeit the said
antnie, uaiad (unsteady), and unadvised person, of Tery pure malice disposed
to eootinne in his crmeUtiM^ to the utter undoing (if he might) of us and of onr
mid lord's son and ours, the prince (which, of God's mercy, he shall not have
the power to perform, by the help of you and all other my lorcfs fiiitliful disposed
snlgects), hath thrown among you, as we be certainly informed, divers untrue
■od leigned matters and surmises ; and in especial that we and my lord's said
son and ours should newly draw towards you with an uncivil power of strangers,
disposed to rob and despoil you of your goods and havomn ; we will that ye shall
know for certain that at such time as we or our said son shall be di8]»osed to
see my lord (Henry Yl.), as our duty is, ye, nor none of ye, shall be robbed,
despoiled, or wronged by any person or any other sent in our name. Praying
you in our most hearty way that in all earthly thing ye will diligently initnd
(attend) to the safety of my lord's royal person, so that, through the malice of
his said enemy, be be no more troubled, vexed, and jeoparded ; and in so doing,
we shall be to you, such lady, as of reason ye shall be largely content.

** Given imder our signet."

Margaret, in this proclamation, endeavoured at the same time to coun-
teract Uie report, that her northern allies had received from her the pit>-
miaa of pillaging all England south of the Trent, to shield the person
of her lord from injury. She added a second manifesto, in the name of
her young son, much to the same purpose, but meant more paniculariy
to re-assure the city of London ; for young Edward is made to assert
how improbable it was ^ that he, descended of the blood-royal, and
inheriting the pre-eminence of the realm, should intend the destruction
of that city which is our lord's (king Henry's) greatest treasure.'' The
•ddicas concludes with most earnest entreaties for all men to have such

■Harleian, 543, 48 V. 14. This manifosto, in whieh the queeo^s personal
foelings are much mingled, is a rough draft in the original, with the letter N foi
MMnm, where York is meant We owe these curious documents to the reseaieii
of the rev. Mr. Tomlinson.

Warwick's army was c

match for the stout north

them. Lovelace, who coi

ing a secret understanding

of the day were decided i

Torkists dispersed and fl

nearly alone in a tent, wii

or three attendants. Hit

northern muster arrayed

Rose ; for they were unao

for plunder and for blood.

The queen was not hers

to the scene of her thump

Qiflbrd's quarters, to anno

to greet him, and they ea

joy.«

Margfaret exultingly pres

been her companion during

chised sire and sovereign,

on the gallant child, and th

cularly distinguished thems

The victorious queen, w

northern lorda, went immed

church of St Albana, for th

ceived by the abbot and mo

door. After thia solemn off

conducted to their apartmei

MARGAKBT Or AHJOV. 177

of a nature calculated to irritate her no less aa a woman than as a queen.
The imputations which had been cast, by party insinuations, on the
Intimacy of her son, had naturally kindled feeling of the bitterest in-
dignation in her heart ; and the attempt to exclude him from the suc-
ression, in fiivour of the hated line of Tork, acting upon her passionate
■Mtemal lore and pride, converted all the better feelings of her nature
into fierce and terrific impulses, till at length the graceful attributes of
mind and manners by which the queen — the beauty, and the patroness
of learning — had been distinguished, were foigotten in the ferocity of
the amaion and the avenger.

The parties of the rival Roses were so nicely balanced, in point of
physical force, at this period, that one folse step on either side was sure
to prove fiital to the cause of the person by whom it might be taken.
That person was queen Margaret ; flushed with her recent triumphs,
and cberiahing a wrathful remembrance of the disafiection of the Lon-
doners, she sent a hauffhty demand of provisions for her army to the
civic authorities. The lord-mayor was embarrassed by this requisition ;
for, though he was himself fiuthfully attached to the cause of Lancaster,
his fellow-citizens were greatly opposed to it However, he exerted hia
anthority lo procure several cart-loads of salt fish, bread, and such Lenten
&re, for the use of the queen's army ; but the populace, encouraged by
the news that tlie earl of Warwidi had formed a junction with the
army of the victorious heir of York, and that they were in full march
to the metropolis, stopped the carts at Cripplegate. Maigaret was so

Ciatly exasperated, when she learned this, that she gave permission to
r fierce northern auxiliaries to plunder the country, up to the very
gates of London.' The lord^nayor and recorder* greatly alarmed, sought,
and (through the influence of the duchess of Bedford, lady Scales, and
Elisabeth Woodville) succeeded in obtaining, aa audience with the
qoeen at Bamet, for the purpose of dissuading her from her impolitic
revenge. Biargaret would only agree to stop die ravages of her troops
on cimdition of being admitted with her army into the city. The loitl-
roayor represented the impossibility of complying with her wish, as he
was almost her only adherent in London.

Before the queen and the lord-mayor had ended their debate, the
northern troops, whom Margaret had lured across the Trent with pro-
mises of plundering the rich southern counties, had already commenced
their depredations in the town of St Albans ; and king Henry broke up
the conference between the queen, her kidies, and the lord-mayor, by
imploring her assistance in preserving the beautiful abbey of St Albans
from fire and spoil.'

The danger that threatened their lives and properties, and the disgust
created by the rash and vindictive conduct of the queen, decided all
London and its vicinity to raise the white Rose banner, on the approach
of the heir of Tork, with Warwick, at the head of forty thousand men ;
and the firm refusal of the Londoners to admit the queen, and her ill«
disciplined and lawless troops, within their walls, compelled Margaret,

'Hall. Gsm. • Wethanpstwis..

the northern aristocmcv and the i
had imflered 00 severe! v for their d<
to rally, at her need, round the hi

w

aixty thousand men was, in the coi
bot her generals, Somerset and Clifl
with the king* and the Ti>ung princ
gaged the ri^'al sovereign of Englan

Edward, with nearly equal forcei
of Warwick, to Ferrybridge, where
his men, early in the morning, wo
▼anced ffiiard of the Yorkists. Th(
king Edward retrieved the fortune
parted the combatants he remained :
contest was renewed in the fields
redoubled (iin% at nine the follow
** which," savs the chronicler, •*«
instead of palms.'* A heavy snow-^
Lancastrian party, blinded their ar
those of York with &tal efleet disc
advancing a few paces, shot a secon*
red Rose.*

The result of this dreadful battli
the Lancastrians perished, is best de
reate Southey : —

**Witnet8 Aire's unhappj wnter,
Where the ruthless Clitfbr<l fell ;
And where Wliarfe ran red with

MAKO-AKBT OW AHJOU. 179

ttrrow^ in Alnwick Park. This anecdote implies that the royal fugitives
enjoyed the relaxation of sylvan sports, while partaking of the generous
hospitality of the loyal and courageous house of Percy, on their disas-
trous retreat to the Scottish border. It is, moreover, the only proof of
Margaret's personal prowess in the use of deadly weapons, and shows
that she possessed strength of ami) and no inconsiderable skill in han-
dling the IcMig-bow. She had been always accustomed to accompany
the King in hunting, hawking, and other field-sports, in which Henry
VI. so much delighted, and in which he was encouraged by her, as
beneficial to his peculiar constitution.

From Alnwick, Margaret proceeded to Berwick, with her husliand,
her son, and a few fiuthful ladies and followers, who attended the peril-
ous wanderings of the Lancastrian court. While there, the desperation
of her husband's cause betrayed the distressed queen into the unpopular
measoie of surrendering Berwick to the Scotch.'

She also negotiated a treaty of marriage between the young prince of
Wales, then in his eighth year, and the lady Margaret of Scotland, sister
to the young king James II!., having won the friendship of the queen-
regent, Mary of Gueldres, and purchased the good offices of the power-
fbl eari of Angus, by the promise of an English dukedom.' Warwick,
with shrewd policy, endeavoured to traverse this negotiation, by profler-
ing to the queen-mother of Scotland the hand and crown of the hand-
some bachelor sovereign, Edward of York, for herself, in lieu of a mar-
riage between her little daughter and the youuff heir of Lancaster. But
Maigmret's personal influence prevailed over lul opposing interests, and
the prince of Wales became the betrothed spouse o( the princess of Scot^
bnd.''* After all these eflbrts of Margaret, the marriage was finally
broken by the interference of Philip duke of Burgundy ,^ who forbade
his niece, Mary of Gueldres, queen-regent of ScoUand, to ally herself
with his family foe, Margaret of Anjon : a proceeding which threw Mar^
garet into transports of rage, and caused her to utter some vain threats
against the person of duke Philip.

While Margaret of Anjou, with the formidable activity of a chess-
queen, was attempting, from her safe refuge in Scotland, to check her
adversary's game, she was, with the king her husband and her little
son, proscribed arid attainted by the parliament of the rival sovereign of
En^nd, and it was forbidden to aU their former subjects to hold any
sort of communication with them, on pain of death.* The whole of
England was now subjected to the authority of Edward IV.; yet there
was still an undying interest pervading the great body of the jpeople in
frvour of the blameless monarch to whom their oaths of allegiance had
been, in the first instance, plighted. Poetry, that powerful pleader to
the sympathies of generoos natures in behalf of Mien princes, fiuled not

* Lingarcl, voL t. p *i35. Rapin.

* WoccMUr, p. 49a Rymer, vol Ik. p. 438. Lingard. * HaK.

* Monstrelec See the ootnmenoefiient of this bfegraphf , wlieie the enmity of
tlie liotue of Burgundy to the fiunihr of Ai\)0o is explained.

* Rolls of Parliament Rymer't FcDderm.

The devoted nature of the attacl
Lancastrian chiefs, may be gathered
of her adherents, whom she had sen
private mission to her royal kinsma
letters, which were intended to breali
tons tidings of that monarches deat
Scotland, but were intercepted at

" Mndam, — PIe«M jam good grace, ws
to your hightieu thric«, one bj the carvel,
Dieppe. But, madam, it was all one thing
of your uncle's death (Cliarles VII.), v
arrested, and do yet. But on Tuesday oe
your cousin-german. His eommUgairtg^ a'
letters and writings, and bare them up to
in keeping (under arrest) at the castle o.
and mo (for we had safe conduct) in the

** Madam, fear not, but be of good con
person, nt my lord the prince, by sea, til
your person cannot be sure where ye are.
And for Ood's sake let the king's highne
are informed, the earl of March (E<lwur
sent his navy thither by sea. And, moda
vered. we shall come straight to you, unit
we trust he will not, — till we see the k
reulm ; tlie which we beseech God soon '
ness desireth. Written at Dieppe the 30t

-You
«1

These faithful adherents of Margarc

MAKOARBT OV ANJOO. 181

for their liberation, as well as to implore his svceonr in the cause of her
unfortunate husband, that Margaret undertook her first voyage to the
continent. Leaving king Henry at the court of Scotland, she, with her
young son, the prince of Wales, sailed from Kirkcudbright, and landed
in Bretagne, April 8th, 1462.'

According to one of her French biographers, ^ Margaret, being en-
tirely destitute of money, was indebted for the means of performing this
voyage to the gratitude of a French merchant, to whom, in her early
days, she had rendered an important service at her father's court at
Nanci. He had since amassed great wealth, by establishing a commer-
cial intercourse between the Low Countries and Scotland. He was in
Scotland at the time of Margaret's sore distress, and provided her with a
Teasel and money for the purpose she required."'

The pecuniary aid supplied by private friendship is, however, seldom
proportioned to the exigencies of exiled royalty, and Margaret was com-
pelled to make an appeal to the compassion of the duke of Bretagne,
immediately afler she entered his dommions. The duke presented the
royal suppliant with the seasonable donation of twelve thousand crowns;
with which she was enabled to administer to the necessities of some of
her mined followers, and to pursue her journey to Chinon in Normandy,
where Louis XI. was with his court*

Somerset, Hungerford, and Whyttinffham, had been liberated before
the arrival of their royal mistress, and had engaged a carvel, or small
nerehant-vessel, in which they sailed from the inhospitable shores of
Normandy, and, unconscious that she had sailed for France, long ho-
vered off the coast of Scotland, in expectation of being able to convey
her to some Flemish port.

Queen Margaret of England and Louis XI. of France were the chil-
dren of a tenderly attached brother and sister, Ren^ and Mary of Anjou,
and they had been companions in childhood ; but the ties of kindred
and afiection were little regarded by the cold and selfish son of Charles
VH. When the distressed queen, with her disinherited son, threw her^
•elf at his feet, and, with floods of tears, implored his assistance in be-
half of her dethroned consort, she found hun callous to her impas-
sioned eloquence, and not only indiflerent to her grief, but eager to
profit by the adverse circumstances which had brought her as a suppliant
to the foot of his throne. The only condition on which he would even
advance a small loan of 20,000 livres in her dire necessity was, that she
should, in the name of king Henry, pledge Calais to him^ as a security
Amt its repayment within twelve months.^ The exigency of her situation
compelled Margaret to accede to these hard terms. Probably she con-
sidered, in the very spirit of a female politician, that she made litde
aaerifice in stipulating to surrender that which was not in her pos
session.

The agreement into which queen Margaret entered with Louis did
not, as her enemies have represented, involve the sale of Calais, but

simply amounted to a mortgage of that important place. This is the

• ' ■ ^

* Lingard. Hall. * PrevotL * Paston Paper*, fiaranta. * Liiicartt
VOL. 111. — 16

•«.^.M.i«j« Miiu, amc uic rrccrill 8UITCII'

the grrai body of the people as ai
Lou 14 hestowetl many deceitful mark
negotiation was in progress, and she
with him in the office of sponsor i
duchcM of Orleans, afler wards Lou
•en ted at the baptismal font.'

It was fruidesa for ^largaret to loc
Ring R«'ne and his son were engagec
with Alphonso, king of Arragon, «
Proven^ were over-lazed to suppor
&iled her in her sore adversity, but h
her in her attempts to redress the wr
dicate the rights of her son, met wid
days of chivalry were not ended. ^
historians,'^ says Guthrie, ** Pierre Bi
impelled by a more tender motive thi
entered as a volunteer, with two thoi

Breze had formerly been the mil
uncle, Charles VII. lie was one of
inauspicious marriage of that princec
and he had greatly distinguishet! \
Eighteen years of care and sorrow ha
who^e honour sir Pierre de Breze ha
the ** daisye flower,'' against all chalh
and now she, who had been the star
ehevaliers of France, had retnmfd to

XAEOARXT OF A9JO0. 18^

noQ againft her.' According to some accounts^ she resolntely effected
her purpose, hut had scarcely net her foot on shore, when the foreiga
leTy, understanding that Warwick Mras in the field at the head of forty
thousand men, fled to their ships in a panic, leaving queen Margaret, her
son, and Brez^, almost alone. A fisherman's boat was the only vessel
thai could be obtained for these illustrious fugitives, and in this frail bark
they escaped the fury of the storm, which dashed the tall ships of the
recreants who had forsaken them on the rocky coast of Bam borough.
Margaret and Breze were the first who carried the evil tidings of the
loss of her munitions and dearly purchased treasures to her anxious
friends at Berwick.' The fate of the Frenchmen, who vrere cut to
pieces by sir Robert Ogle when they fled to Holy Island, was prbbably
regarded as a minor misfortune.

Hope must have been an undying fiteulty of Margaret's nature, and at
this crisis it animated her to exertions almost beyond the powers of
woman. The winter was unusually severe, and she, the native of a
southern dime, exposed herself unshrinkingly to every sort of hardship.
Once more she sought and obtained assistance from the Scotch, and
placed her devoted champion, Breze, at the head of the forces with
which she was supplied. She then brought king Henry into the field,
who had previously been hidden in her safe refuge at Harlech Castle.
Their precious boy she lefl at Berwick,' not wishing to expose his ten-
der childhood, though by this time well inured to hardships, to a north-
em campaign during so inclement a winter. This was her first separa-
tion from her son, and doubtless it was keenly felt by Margaret, who
was apt at times to forget the heroine in the mother. Success at first
attended her efforts ; the important fortresses of Bamborough, Alnwick,
and Dunstanburgh* were taken by her, and garrisoned with Scotch and
Frenchmen. But these alliances did her more harm than good with the
people of England; and popular prejudice is always more terrible to
princes ^ than an army witli banners.''

In the course of this campaign a defection happened among her own
party, for which Margaret was not prepared. Somerset, for whose
house she had sacrificed so much, surrendered the castle of Bamborough
to Warwick, on condition of receiving a pension from king Eldwanl,
and, with Suflblk and Exeter, carried their perjured homage to the
throne of that monarch. This was followed by the fidl of Dunstan-
burgh and Alnwick. Tet Mai^ret continued courageously to struggle
against fortune, and speedily succeeded in winning back Somerset, Exe-
ter, and Percy, to the banner of the red Rose, and also in re-taking
those fortresses. In the spring of 1463, Perry was defeated and slain
at Hedgely Moor, by Montague, and a few days later ^ England was
again set on a field " at the fiital battle of Hexham. ^ King Henry,"
says Hall, ^ was the best horseman of his company that day, for he fled
tfo &st, no one could overtake him ; yet he was so closely pursued, that

* Ho1ingBhe<l. Trusael. Monstrelat •PreTott

'Hall. Holingsbed. TruMeL Linsard.

'Hall. HoUnsshed. ^Lingard. HalL

ihe division of the plunder, Margan
mind had been the means of extrii
captured by lord Stonley't followe
snatched her son up in her arms,
served by the pitiless ruffians, «
swords^s points.^

When the shades of evening doi
son crept fear fully from their retrei
refuge, began to thread the tangled
every other peril, the misfortune of
ward's partisans. It was possible tl
into this very danger. While Mi
alarm, was considering what coun
light of the moon, another robber, o
her with a drawn sword. Gatherin
her situation, Maigaret took her son
the freebooter, with the dignity of 1<
her, she said, «* Here, my friend, sav

Struck with astonishment at the
the touching loveliness of the boy
the feet of the royal suppliants, anc
of safety. A few words explained i
Lancastrian gentleman, who had ht
and she frankly committed herself ai
prince in his arms, he led the queen
ham Forest, where the royal fugitive
attention as his wife was able to affo

MABCARBT OF ANJOV. 185

1 btnk of the little rapid stream which nine »t the foot of Blackhill.
still linown by the name of queen Mai^^aret^s Gave, and at the time
re shelter to her and the prince of Wales it must have been sur-
ded by forest It is about two miles firom Hexham. The entrance
le cave is still very low, and was formerly artfully concealed from
L Its dimensions are thirty-four by fourteen feet ; the hei^t will
ly allow a full-grown person to stand upright. A massive pillar of
masonry, in the centre of the cave, seems to mark the boundary of
ill which, it is said, once divided it into two distinct apartments.
m warmed and cheered by fire and lamp, it would not appear quite
isoial a den as at present

ich was the retreat in which the queen and prince remained perdu,
wo days of agonising suspense. On the third morning their host
lontered sir Pierre de Breze, who, with his squire Barrille, and an
lish gentleman, having escaped the robbers at Hexham, had been
ing anxious search for her and the prince.'

rom these devoted friends Maigaret learned the escape of her royal
Mmd, and the terrible vengeance that had been executed on Somerset,
her fiuthful adherents, the lords Hungerford and Roos.' Margaret is
to have received these tidings with floods of tears, the first she had
I since the overthrow of the despairing hopes of Lancaster on the red
of Hexham.'

few houn later, the Elnglish gentleman by whom Brexe was accom*
ed, having gone into the neighbouring villages to gather tidings of
ic events, encountered the duke of Exeter, and Edmund Beaufort,
brother and successor of the unfortunate Henry duke of Somerset
conducted them to the retreat of the proscribed queen and the youth-
lope of Lancaster.

argaret's spirits revived at the sight of these princes, whom she had
bered with the slain of Hexham, and she determined to send them
leir powerful kinsman, the duke of Burgundy, to solicit an asylum,
le court of Dijon, for herself and the prince of Wales ; while she
> mure proceeded to the court of Scotland, where she imagined king
ry had found refuge. On quitting the dwelling of the generous out-
from whom she had received such providential succour in her dire
ess, she accorded all she had to bestow — her grateful thanks ; but
dukes of Somerset and Exeter offered a portion of their scanty
Ay of money, as a reward to his wife for the services she had ren-
d to the queen ; but, with a nobility of soul wortliy of a loftier sta-
, she refused to receive any portion of that which might be so pre-
s to them at a time of need.

Of all I have lost,'' exclaimed the queen, ^ I regret nothing so much
le power of recompensinff such virtue.''

ecompanied by Breze and his squire, and attended by the outlaw of
ham in the capacity of a guide, Margaret and the young prince hei
took the road to Carlisle, where a passage to Scotland had been

revott

bey were belieed«xi in the Dmrkei>plao6 at Hexham withott triaL * Prevoet
16*

he had provided for the purpose, a
the abduction of the helpless queer
were aware of the captivity of the
enabled the queen and Breze to re
sad conviction of their peril. Tb
however^ had enabled him to extric
course of the night, and he watchei
of his squire. They were then twc
sion of the oars, they contrived to
desperate stniggle, slew some, and t
out extreme peril of upsetting the I

^fter tossing for some hours in
the boat on a sand-bank near Ci
chance of her being beaten to pie
so near the shore, that Breze, wadi
ceeded in conveying the queen on
ville performed the same service f<
they had gained was wild and bar
no fear of being recognised, since
they could not believe any one wai
her head and a sceptre in her hand
this rude country, Margaret remaj
Breze, while she despatched Ban
public report the general state of a
Henry.'

The tidings were such as to c«
energies for better days ; and thou

MktL€ikmmT ov Aiijov. 87

pil^ — Dr. Morton, afterwards the fiunoue cardinal archbishop of Toit,
d about two hundred of the mined adherenta of Lancaster, shared her
jrht

Her usual ilMuek, with regard to weather, attended Mai^ret on this
jrage. The first day she sailed, her vessel was separated by a terrible
>mi from its consort, and during twelve hours she expected every
nnent to be engulfed in the tempestuous waves ; and when the vio-
ice of the hurricane abated, her ship was so greatly damaged, that she
IS (breed to put into the port of Ecluse, in the dominions of her here-
mry enemy, Uie duke of Burgundy.' She left prince Edward at Bruges,
d went on to Lille, to meet the eldest son of Philip of Burgundy,
unt de Charolois, whose mother was nearly related to Henry Yl.
'lis prince came out of the town to meet Maigaret, with the greatest
irks of respect From Lille she passed on to Bethune, to meet duke
lilip ; but, as he was at St Pol, he sent a guard of archers for her
eort, she having proposed travelhng by the way of Hesdin, because
e dreaded the skirmishing parties from Uie garrison of Calais. When
e arrived at St Pol, the duke of Burgundy gave her a very honourable
seption, and entertained her with grand festivities.' When he under-
Kxl her great pecuniary distress, and the painful straits to which her
thful followers were reduced, he, with truly princely munificence, pre-
nted to each of her ladies a hundred crowns : to Brez^, who had ex-
nded the whole of his fortune in her service, a thousand ; and to
•rgaret herself he gave an order on his treasurer to pay her on the
ot twelve thousand crowns. The treasurer took a base advantage of
e misfortunes of the queen, by endeavouring to defraud her of half the
oney. Margaret, who was not of a spirit to put up tamely with such
wrong, informed the duke of the villany of his minister. Philip, in a
wsport of indignation, oidered him to be put to death ; and the sen-
rire would have been executed but for Margaret^s intercession in his
trour.' She was sensibly touchetl with the generous treatment she had
;perienced from the duke of Burgundy, whom, from her cradle, she
id regarded with the deepest-rooted hostility, and had often been ac-
istomed to say, ^ that if by any chance he were to fall into her hands,
e would make the axe pass between his head and shoulders.''*

If this unfeminine end impolitic speech reached the ears of Philip the
9od, he did not allow it to influence his conduct towards the Ullen
leen, when she condescended to become a suppliant for his bounty ;
It, remembering only that they claimed their descent from the Mune
yal stock, he treated her in all respeets m a princess of the house of
ance, and the consort of a king of Englaml. He would not, bow-
er, violate his treaty with king EidwanI, nor sufier his subjects to be
rolved in her quarrel *, but when she had stayed, as long as it pleased

Buronte. Monttrelat The latter saya, aHer narrating the adventure in tbti

••t of Hezbain, that Margaret alter got to the coatt and embarked for i>luy%

lioh fbowt that the adventure happened in England.

finmnte, Chron. duct de Bourgngne. BaiuUer.

CUioiuuk'tf of Lurraiue, M^»i. of *Ue BiUiuihe<juo du RoL ^Baraote.

The dwiracted state of kinf ]
utterly precludetl him from exert
thouffh not unfreijuently 8olicite<
cause. IMie Proven^l bards toot
haplefis princess for their theme,
nke was accustomed to aaMil k
these strains : —

*< Arouse thee, ajousi

Nor let ■orrow tk

Thy daiiffbter, the i

Now weeps, now

Rene, however, was compelled
Man?>ret^s affliction. All he cot
asylum in her adTersity. He gave
the diocese of Verdun, near the to
and contributed to her support, as i
Here Margaret^ bereaved of all the
were beyond the power of adversi
remnant of her ruined friends, ani
the education of the last tender bu<
she yet fondly hoped to see restore
expectations. During the seven yi
continued to reside with queen Mi
that his l>eloved pupil was too mue
wrote his celebrated work on the co
Ltgum JingUa^^'* to instruct him in

M A R G A R E T O F A \ J O U . 189

he was many months concealed, sometimes in the house of John Machell,
at Crac ken thorp, sometimes like a hermit in a cave. There are, even
now, traces of his restdenre in several of the northern halls and castles.
The glove, boot, and spoon, he left with his kind host, sir Ralph Pnd-
ny, at Bolton Hall, in Yorkshire, are still preserved. They were the
only gifts fortune had left it in his power to bestow. The size of the
glove and boot show that his hands and feet were small. There is also
A well where he used to bathe, which retains the name of king Henry^s
Well.

King Henry^a retreat in Lancashire was betrayed by a monk of
Abingdon, and he was taken by the servants of sir John Harrincrton as
he sat at dinner at Waddington Hall. He was conducted to I^ondon in
the most ignominious manner, with his legs fastenetl to the stirrups of
the sorry nag on which he was mounted, and an insulting placard aiiized
to his shoulders. At Islington he was met by the earl of Warwick, who
iMaed a proclamation forbidding any one to treat him with respect, and
aflbrded an example of wanton brutality to the mob, by leading the royal
eaptive thrice round the pillory, as if he had been a common felon, cry-
ing aloud, ^ Treason, treason, and behold the traitor ."'

Henry endured these outrages with the firmness of a hero, and the
meekness of a saint ^Forsooth, and forsooth, ye do foully to smite
the Lord^s anointed,'" was his mild rebuke to a ruffian who was base
enough to strike him in that hour of misery. The following touching
line*, which have been attributed to Henry VI., were probably written
during his long imprisonment in the Tower :— -

*' Kingdoms are but caret,
State it devoid of ttay,
Richet are ready tnaret,
And hatten to decaj.

Who meaneth to remove the rocke

Out of hit tlimj mad,
Shall mire himielf, and hardly *Bcapa

The twelling of the flood."

There are preserved two sentences written and given by him to a
L'light' who had the rare of him :^-

^ Patience is the armour and conquest of the godly ; this meriteth
mercy, when causeless is suflered sorrow.^

*• Nought else is war but fury and madness, wherein is not advice,
tot rashness ; not right, but rage, ruleth and reigneth.^

Q^ieen Margaret must have felt the indignity and cruelty with which
her unoffending consort was treated, as the greatest aggravation of all
her own hard trials. She was still formidable to the reigning sovereign
of England, who established a sort of coast-guard, to prevent her from
effecting a sudden descent on the shores of Enghind. It has been confi-
dendy asserted that Maigaret herself visited England, disguised as a
priest, in the train of the archbishop of Narbonne, in 1467.' William
of Worcester records, that various persons, who were apprehended on

> MTarkwnrth Chronicle. Hall.

*Nu|pp Antiqua. The Harrington ikmily fonnded their fortunet on the cap-
tare of the kinic at tir John Harrington, in the Niiga Antiques expresAly afllrme:
and at thew verset and linet are preterved in that work, doiibtie.«9.tliey were
9 Ten by Henry VI. to Harrington't ancettor. ' PrcvotL

in the same year, many icticia, ^ «
hands of king Edward.

An emissary of Margaret) who '
outlawed adherents (which had so
and all his puissance) accused the
misMon to the continent, spoken U
conference with Louis XI., at Ro
castle to be confronted with his ac
in arms with the avowed intenti
throne, but was forced to retreat t
him.

Q]ueen Margaret, in the Decein
Verdun, and came to Tours with |
father, her brother, her sister Tob
who had all assembled there, to
improving the momentous crisis f
aod her fiuher were so greatly a|
opening for her in England, that
floods of tears. Every one presei
cold-hearted Liouis XL, who is si
of sensibility on this occasion, f]
pathy in the griefs and calamities
m the circumstances that ezcitec
pect of great political advantages
with all the respect and honour tl
to himself demanded, and exertec
reconciliation between the exiled

MARGARBT OF AirJOU. 101

of a mediator between these deadly foes^ engaged to procure the queen^B
fiwdon for the earl. ^ In thia," says the chronicler,' ^ queen Margaret
was right difficult, and showed to the king of France, in presence of the
duke of Gnienne, that with honour to herself and her son she might
not, and she would not, pardon the said earl, who had been the greatest
ansa of the downfal of king Henry, and that never of her own spirit
might she be contented with him, ne pardon him.'' Queen Margaret
■bowed ^ that it would be greatly prejudicial to pardon the earl of War-
wick ; for in Enffland she and her son had certain parties and friends,
which they might likely lose by this means, which would do them
more hindrance than the earl and his allies could do them good."
Wherefore she besought the king of France ^ to leave off speaking for
die said pardon and alliance.*'

The earl of Warwick on this entered into a defence of his conduct,
owning ^ that it was by his means the queen was dethroned, but that,
before he had done or thought of doing her any harm, her fiilse coun-
•dlors had plotted his destruction, body and goods, and that no noble-
Han, outraged and detpaired (driven to desperation), could have done
olherwiae."

It does not appear that Warwick mentioned the execution of his
fcther, the earl of Salisbury, which is almost a confirmation of the state-
ments of those historians who deny that he was beheaded by Mai^ret

fn this scene, Margaret seems to have demeaned herself more like an
oflended woman than a queen and a political leader. But the more
loAtly she spoke and looked, the more submissive her former adversarv
became. ^ He told her ' he had been the means of upsetting king Eii-
ward and unsettling his realm, and that he would, for the time to come,
be as much his foe as he had formerly been his friend and maker." He
beeooght the queen and prince ' that so they would take him, and repute
him, and forgive him all he had done against them, oflering himself to
be bounden by all manner of ways to be their true and faithful subject
for the time to come ; and that he would set, for his surety, the king
of Fruiee.' King Louis, being then present, agreed to be surely, pray-
fav the queen Marearet ^ that at his request she would pardon the earl
or Warwick, showmg the great love he had to the said earl, for whom
he would do more than any man living.' And so queen Margaret, being
likewise urged by the agents of king Rene her father, after many trea-
ties and messages, pardoned the ean of Warwick, and so did her son

The earl of Oxford, who had, by the exigency of circumstances,
been compelled to acknowledge the authority of the white Rose sove-
teign for a while, came also with Warwick, to entreat queen Margaret's
•fotgiveness, and permission to renew his homa^po to the house of Lan
easter. The queen received kU supplication m a very difierent spirit
from that with which she accorded her forgiveness (if such it might be

* •• Manner and Guiding of the earl of Warwick. Harleian MS., edited by sir
Benry Ellis." h it apparently written by a fpy of Bdward IV.
•Uarleten MS., edited by iir H. KlUs.

would not in anywise
France might make her.
nour nor profit, ne for
she ^ alleged that she wc
and of more advantage
deed, she showed to th
sent to her out of Engla
her son my lady princ<
heiress of Edward IV.

Qpeen Margaret perse

the alliance with Warwic

sellors of her father, kin

mised in presence of the

ther to Louis XI.) accon

" First, the earl of Wa

Sl Mary's Church, that t

of king Henry, and sen

ikithful subject oweth to

**The king of France 1

in the said church of St

the utmost of their powc

Henry. Qpeen Mai|[aret

fill to king Henry and th

*«« any reproack

" After the recovery of
regent of all tlie realm, a
lands and those of the di

MARGARBT OF ▲IIJOU. 19J

bm folk, he would psm the see without delay. Louie gare a suheidy
of forty-eiz thoueand crowue, beeides two tlioueand French archers." '

According to some of the French chroniclera, the prince of Walea,
who had entered hie eighteenth year, and was one of the handsomest
■nd most accomplished princes in Europe, was very desirous of becom-
ing the husband of Anne Neville, whom he had seen at Paris some time
before. They were allied in blood, for Anne^s great-grandmother, the
countess of Westmoreland, was Joanna Beaufort, the daughter of John
of Gaunt, the patriarchal stem of the royal line of Lancaster. Anne of
Warwick was co-heiress to mighty possessions, which rendered her a
match, in point of wealth, not unworthy of a spouse in full possession
of lenl power.

While these negotiations werepending, Louis's queen gave birth to a
fair son at Amboise, afVerwards Charles VIII. Edward, prince of Wales,
WM complimented with the office of godfather to the infant dauphin,
the other sponsor being James of France.' Some historians say that
Margaret was the godmother ; but there had never been any regard be-
tween her and the queen of Fiance, Charlotte of Savoy, who, being
desirous of marrying her sister. Bona of Savoy, to Edward IV., had
always treated the fallen queen of the Lancastrian sovereign with a con-
tempt that the high spirit of Margaret could scarcely brook.'

AAer the christening of the young dauphin, which was solemnised
with great splendour at Amboise, Edward of Lancaster plighted his nup-
tial troth to Anne Neville, in the presence of queen Margaret, the king
of France, king Rene, and his second wife, Jeanne de Laval, the earl
■nd countess of Warwick, the duke and duchess of Clarence, and tlie
ftithful adherents of the cause of tlie red Rose, of whom Margaret's
oziled court was composed.*

This romantic marriage was celebrated at the hitter end of July, or
the beginning of August, 1470, and was commemomted with feasts and
high rejoicings. Warwick departed from Angers on the 4th of August,^
leaving his countess and the newly wedded princess of Wales, as pledges
of his fidelity, with queen Margaret and her son. They were enter-
tained with princely hospitality by king Rene till the autumn, when
Blargaret, her son, and his bride, with the countess of Warwick, pro-
ceeded to Paris, with a guard of honour for their escort They arrived
in November, and Margaret was received, by the express orders of
Louis XI., with all the honours due to a queen of France. The arch-
bishop of Paris, the university, the pariiament, the officers of the Cha-
telei) the provost of the merchants, all in their habits of ceremony, both
leeeived her and conducted her out of the city. All the streets through
which she passed, from the gate of St. Jaques to the palace of St. Paul,
hung with rich tapestry, and nothing was omitted that could add

*The origimil of Charles duke of Ouienne't osth to s»»ist queen MargAret, ap-
Moving alao of the marriage of Anne of Warwick, is ui be found in CoUouian
MS., Vespasian, F. 1 11. p. 3*i, r. o. It is Mgned by himself, AnKer^ July 30, 147G

'Comines. Wassninirg. Villeneuve. Monstrelet. *Hall.

'Comines. WaMaburg. Bourdigne. Vilieneuve. * Harleian MSSi

TOL. III. — 17 "

•8 on many a previous one, it m^
coarsea fought ajpiinst Sisera.'* Tl
inga from the men of Harfleur, pni
often was ahe driven back on th<
damai^e to her thipa; till many c
■trance oppoaition of wkida and wa
endeavoured to prevail on her to ti
to EngUnd, m it appeaiBd in a mani
atrong mind rejeeted with equal a
either magic or omens. She knew
fortunea of her hnaband and her aoi
towna through which Warwick hail
London, had toaaed the white roae i
a Harry (— A Warwick f a Warwick
holy Henry to the royal power wicj
lar rejoicing, yet she had too aore ei
lar excitement, not to feel the imp
improve the preaent &vourable jun
return of king Edward, and the dc
Garence \^ and her anxiety to reac
tioned to the deapemte nature of
phtying there. Up to the last moi
the sliorea of Normandy, she con
munitioiM, for the aid of Warwick i
On the 24th of March she once
despite of all opposing influences on
cious voyage to Engluid. The paa
might have been achieved in twelve i
days and nights, which were spent

MAmOARBT OF AlfJOU. 105

of the voyage. It was there that queen Margaret, with the prinoe and
princess of Wales, kept theii Easter-festival, at the very time their cause
was receiving its death-blow on the fatal heath of Barnet,' where the
weatlier, as will be well remembered, once more turned tlie fortunes of
the day against the fated Rose of Lancaster.

When the dreadful news of the deadi of Warwick and the re-capture
of king Henry, was brought to Margaret on the following day, she fell
to the ground in a deep swoon, and K>r a long time remained in a speech-
leu stupor of despair, as if her faculties had been overpowered by the
greatness of this unexpected blow.' When she revived to consciousness,
It was only to bewail the evil destiny of her luckless consort. ^ In her
agony, she reviled the calamitous temper of the times in which she
lived, and reproached herself,^' says Hall, ^ for all her painful labours,
now turned to her own misery, and declared ^ she desired rather to die
than live longer in this state of infelicity,' '' as if she foresaw the dark
adversities that were yet in store for her.

When the soothing caresses of her beloved son had in some manner
restored her to herself, she departed, with all her company, to the
frmous sanctuary of Beaulieu Abbey, where she registered herself, and
all who came with her, as privileged persons.' Here she found the
countess of Warwick, who had embarked at Harfleur at the same time
with her, but, having a swifVer-sailing vessel, had landed before her at
Portaroouth, and proceeded to Southampton, with intent to join the queen
at Weymouth. On the road, the countess had received the mournful
news of her husband's defeat and death at Barnet, and, fearing to pro-
ceed, fled across the New Forest,* ^ and so," says Fleetwood, ^ took
ber to the protection of the sanctuary of an abbey called Beaulieu, which
has as great privileges as that of Westminster, or of St. Martin's, at Lon-
don.*^ A melancholy meeting it must have been, between the despairing
queen, the widowed countess, and the princess of Wales, now so sor-
rowfully linked in fellowship of woe.

As soon as the retreat of the queen was known, she was visited by
the young fiery duke of Somerset, and his brother, Jasper Tudor, the
king's half-brother, and nuiny other of the Lancastrian nobles, who wel-
coined her to England. Finding her almost drowned in sorrow, they
atrove to rouse her from her dejection, by telling her ^ the/ had already
a good puissance in the field, and trusted, with the encouragement of
her presence and that of the prince, soon to draw all the northern and
western counties to the banner of the red Rose."*

The elastic spirits of Margaret were gready revived and comforted by
the cheering speeches of these ardent partisans, and she proceeded to
explain to them the causes that delayed her coming to them, in time to
support Warwick, and the reasons that had induced her to take sanctu-
nry, which was for the security of tlie prince her son, for whose precious
mkty ^ she passionately implored them to provide." She added, ^ that
it was her opinion no good would be done in the field ihU time^ and

* Fleetwood's aironicle. ' Hall. Fleetwood. • Hall, p. 296.

« Fleetwood t Cbroiiicle. p. S2. *Hall. Fleetwood. Lingard.

uwing lo UU8 cauuon, aiiu uio t
to her cause, she had got a great i
ward IV., while her actual locality
advanced to Marlborough ; but, af
to his own victorious forces, she r
intention of crossing the Severn «
Jasper Tudor's army in Wales.* <
the biogtaphers of jfargaret of Ar
to record, than the events of the
men of Gloucester had fortified th
|Muis, neither for threats nor fair v
the city, through whom she oflerc
the obeisance of the duke of Gk
oppose her passage.'^

Margaret then passed on to Te
a mile of that place before she c
her. Though she had marched m
army, and was greatly overcome
urgent with Somerset to press on
with inflexible obstinacy, express
and take such fortune as God sh
for reason, he pitched his camp
himself, sorely against the opinio
experienced captains of the army
advanced guard ; the prince of Wi
lock, and that military monk, thi
van ; the earl of Devonshire the

VABOARBT OF ANJOU. IWf

m his presence was most required in the field, made fiercely up
od, calling him ^ Traitor P' cleft his skull with his battle-axe.
under Wenlock's banner, panic-stricken at the fate of their
id. The prince of Wales had no experience as a general, and
aal courage was unavailing to redeem the fortunes of the day.
queen Margaret, who was an agonised spectator of the disconn
her troops, saw that the day was going against her, slie could
culty l>e withheld from rushing into the milee ; but at length,
1 by the violence of her feelings, she was carried in a state of
ity to her chariot, by her faithful attendants, and was thus con-
oiigh the gates of Tewksbury Park to a sniall religious house
where her equally unfortunate daughter-in-law, Anne of War-
countess of Devonshire, and lady Katherine Vaux, had already
ige. According to Fleetwood's Chronicle, she remained there
lay, May 7th, tliree days after the battle. Other writers affirm
vas captured on the same day which saw the hopes of Lancas-
ed, with her ^gallant springing yoimg Plantagenet,'' on the
M of Tewksbury.

tnerally received historical tradition, of the manner of the prince
s death, has been contested, because two contemporary chron-
irkworth and Fleetwood, have stated that he was slain in the
ing on his brother-in-law Clarence for help. In the field he
was slain — that part of the plain of Tewksbury, which, in
of that foul and most revolting murder, is still odled ^ the
?ld.^' Sir Richard Crofls, to whom the princely novice had
ed, tempted by the proclamation, ^ that whoever should bring
called prince) to the kinff, should receive one hundred pounds
' life, and the princess life be spared,'' ^ nothing mistrusting,^
I, ^ the king's promise, brought forth his prisoner, being a
7ell-featured young gentleman, of almost feminine beauty.''
vard, struck with the noble presence of the youth, after he had
sidered him, demanded, ^How he durst so presumptuously
realms with banners displayed against him .^'
scover my fiither's crown and mine own inheritance," was the
rash reply of the fettered lionceau of Plantagenet
i basely struck the gallant stripling in tlie fiice with his gauot-
1 was tlie signal for his pitiless attendants to despatch him with
^rs. A small unadorned slab of grey marble, in the abbey-
:' Tewksbury, points out the spot where the last hope of Anjou's
md the royal line of Lancaster, was consigned, without funeral
an unhonoured grave, among the meaner victims of his vie-

following day, queen Margaret's retreat was made known to
ran), as he was on his way to Worcester, and he was assured
ihould be at his command. She was brought to him at Coven-
Uth, by her old enemy, sir William Stanley, by whom, it it

lis Bcomint i« colIaie<1 fVom the French historians and oar own.
land's Collectanea. Lingard.

son, Anne ol Warwick, who had
of her &ther, her uncle, her yoon|
princeM of Wales, some say, was i
this abhorrent pageant

On the 22d of May, being the
her unfortunate daughter-in-law e
of the haughty victor, and it is sai
of Margaret,' that they trarelled
were so, they were separated immi
was incarcerated in one of the mc
that gloomy fortress where her re
that husband to whom she was no
tion, and yet was to behold no mc

The same night that Margaret o
the Tower of London, she was mi
deren and twelve of the oVlock,"
king Henry, being prisoner in the
Gloucester and divers of his me
^ Mav God give him time for repei
ftacrifegious hands on the Lord's a
Chronicles of Croyland.*

Tradition points out an octago
the scene of the midnight murder
had, for five years, eaten the breai
tivity, from H65. A few learned

'PwTOIIt

MAftGARBT OF AlfJOU.

was the companion of his solitude, his relies, and the

ts of one or two learned monks, who were permitted to ad-

3 his spiritual wants, were all the solaces he received in hia

hirty years aAer his death, a metrical life of Henry VI. was

hy a monk of Windsor, his contemporary. It opens with a

latin hymn, of which, with the assistance of a learned friend,^

bled to ofier the reader a literal tranalation, in the original

l| MILSt VBtOIOttl

With spotless goodness crown*d 1
By sorrow stricken and oppressed ;
To those who Taanlf sigh for rest,

Mirror of patienoe found.

IT.

«* Hail, beacon of celestial light,
Whose beams may guide oar steps
aright,
Thy blessed course to trace!
In Tirtue's paths for cTer seen,
Kild, and ineffably serene,
Radiant with erery grace.

T.

** Hail, whom the King of endless time
Hath caird to angel choirs sublime,

In realms for tret bless'd !
May we, who now admiring raise
These all-unworthy notes of praise,

Share in thy glorious rest!"*

I.

iry, soldier of the Lordl
all precious gifts accord,
of the hearenly Tine ;
charity and Iotc,
blooming as aboTe,
ints angelic shine.

II.

'^er of true nobility!
ind pmise, and dignity,
thy diadem ;
ler of the fatherless,
le's succour in distress ;
urch*s strength and gem.

III.

IS king, in whom we see
?s of humility

Id ward and the Duke of Gloucester, as if apprehensiTe of some
)f popular indignation, left London early in the same morning
tragic pageant, of exposing the coipse of their royal victim to
w, was to take place ;' an exhibition that was a matter of poli*
diency, to prevent any further attempts for his deliverance,
ly after the Ascension, the last Lancastrian king was ^ borne
on the bier,^' surrounded by more glaives and bills than torches.
Cheapside to St PauPs, that every man might see him ; ^ and
silent witness of the blood, that welled from his fresh wounds
pavement, gave an indubitable token of the manner of his
The same awful circumstance occurred when they brought
iackfriars, and this is recorded by four contemporary authori-
laint but powerful language.*

rief was the interval between the death and funeral of holy
In the evening his bloody hearse was placed in a lighted barga

rl. Howard, esq., M.P. for Carlisle, to whose learning, research, and
kindness, I haTe been deeply indebted in the course of this work.
ginal Latin stanzas are printed in Mr. Halliwell's introduction to hii
tlition of the Warkworth Chronicle, p. 20 ; published by the Camdsa

■ Warkwonh Chronicle, p. 31.
ondon Chron. Bibl. Cotton. Vitell, A. XTi fol. 133.
ortli, p. 2L Habingtoo. Fbbyan. Croyland Chnm.

aJl died within a few \
vered from the stupor o
repeated bereavements,
calamities that had befa
sufferings he shed those
own. Under the influx
touchmg letter to Margi

Dies for the death of hef

J* My chUd, may God

wd of man tendered in s

thought from your own

11?^^^ yet would 1 CO

The imprisonment of

It was, after a ume, amel

Edward's Qqeen, Elizabe

remembrance of the ben<

mistress^ Alargaret was

Walliiigford, where she s<

castellaine, Alice Chaucei

lie ; at least such we thim

•Uon, in one of the Pasto

^ueen Ma^ga^e^ I undei

n alJmgford, nigh to Ewej

Five marks a-week wej

oi the unfortunate Mam

CasUe. Her tender-beari

shakspeare. in hin tr.»^»

MARGARET I

OV. SOU

nerlions for her emancipaiion, which was al length accompliBhed, U
;he sacritice of his inheritance of Proven(;e, which he ceileJ lo I>iuts
jCI. al Lyons, in 1475. foi half ils value, that hn might deliver hia b»-
lovetl child from coptiviiy. Yolaote and her aoa murmured a Utile al
ihifl loM, but they appear, nevertheless, fond of Margaret. The agree-
ment between Edwanl IV. and Louis XI., far the lensom of Margaret of
Anjou was finally settled, August 'iSth, 1475, while Edward was in
Fiance. Louis undertook to pay fifty thousand crowns for tier libera-
tion, at tive instalments.' The Rrsl instalment of her ransom was paid
to Edward's treasurer, lord John Howard, November 3d, the same year,
Mut the bereaved and broken-hearted widow of the holy Henry, afttc
five years' captivity, was conducted from her prison al Wallingfiitd
Caatle to Sandwich. In her journey through Kent she was conMtgned
to the care and hospitality of John llaute.' a squire of that countVf
strongly in the interests of the house of York, who attended her to
Sandwich, where she embarked. Her reiinue, when she landed in
France, according to Prevost, consisted of three ladies and seven gentW
men ; but these must have been sent by tlie King of France, since iIM'
miserable sum allotted to Haute for her travelling eipeus«s allows fof
little attendance. The feelings may be imagined with which she took
a last farewell of the English shores, where, thirty years before, she baA
lojided in the pride and flush of youthful beauty, as its monarch's bridsi
and all tiic chivalry of ilie land thronged to meet sod do her honour.
Now it was treason even to shed a tear of pity for her sore affliction*,
or to apeak a word of comfort lo her. Truly might she have said, "■ See
if any sorrow be like unto niy sorrow !"

She safely arrived at Dieppe, in the bejtinning of January, 1476- It
vu requisite, for the validity of the deeds of renunciation she hod to
li^.tliat she should be at liberty. Thenfore, iiir ThoniBS Montgomtr;
took her to Rouen, and on the 22d resigned her to the French ambe»-
ssdnm; and on tlie 20tK of January she signed a formal lenunciation
of all rights her marriage in England had given her.

There is something touching in the very simplicity of the Ijiiin sen-
tence with which the deed begins, that was wrung from the broken-
Itnned heroine, who hail, through so many storms of adversity, defended
Ihs rights of her royal consort and son. While they remained in life,
tine would have died a lliousand deaths, rolher Itian relinquish even tll«

t^oM shadowy of their claims ; but the dear ones were no more, and
■<■ Ambition, pride, llie rival namci I Wiiii n!!i)ii-ir Inng-contcilcx) rUimt,
Of Yuik and Lancastri, { U'Lat were Ihcy Uien » tier !"

^Paasively. and almost as a matter of indiflerence, Margaret subscribe"!
wtt innrnment commencing. -^ Elgo Margarita, olim in regno Anglia ma-
inta,'* &c. " 1, Mai^;aret, formerly in England married, renounce nil
Qtat I eould pretend to in England by the conditions of my marriage,
with all other things there, to Edward, now king of England."' Thia

'Rymer. and Fiencti Archivci. 'Issue Rolls. Appendix. I'jiwatd IV

•Brmcr, vol. xu. p. 31. Ihi Tillel, 143. Atotiiv» de Fniic«,^\1.

1

I

life.' Afier Normandy h

some colonies of Englis

one or two of these seltli

unable to emigrate to th(

flcious of these circumsta

day's journey from Roue

tents. Curiosity led a cr

when the word passed

returning from England

** she had been the origi

consequently, of all their

gwince upon her." WitI

but fortunately she had t

gentlemen, her attendants

swords, till the French aui

fered, and rescued the ur

She retraced her steps imi

protection she had before

We now come to that

of our times, lord Morpet

" Anjou's I<

Like Naomi, Maigaret n
but, not like her, attende
the unhappy widow of hei
ward's brother, Richard o
branded as thp murHoror r^e

MAKOARST OF AftMOV.

Me that Rene, like a (rue Proren^l sovereign, sought forgetfulness of
I afflictions. But Margaret's temperament was of too stormy a nature
admit of the slightest alleviation to her grief. Her whole time was
ent in painfully retracing the direful scenes of her past life, and in
ssionate regrets for the bereavements she had undergone. The
oker-worm that was perpetually busy within, at length made its rfr-
ges outwardly visible on her person, and eflecte<l a fearful change in
r appearance. The agonies and agitation she had undeigone turned
e whole mass of her blood ; her eyes, once so brilliant and express-
^ became hollow, dim, and perpetually inflamed, from excessive weep*
^ ; and her skin was disfigured with a dry, scaly leprosy, which
insformed this princess, who nad been celebrated as tlie most beautiful
the world, into a spectacle of hdrror.'

Villeneuve says, Margaret seldom leA h^t retreAl at Reculee, with the
eeption of one or two visits to the court of Louis XL . Another mo-
ra French historian mentions her, as the person who kept alive the
crests of the Lancastrian party, for her kinsman, the young earl of
chmond, of whom Henry VI. had prophesied ^ that he should one
y wear the crown of England." But tne generally received opinion
that she, after her return to her own Country, lived in the deepest
elusion.

A Burgundian poet of her own times, Geoiges Chastelain,' wrote a
em called the ^ Temple of Ruined Greatness," in which Margaret of
ijou is greatly celebrated. A little before his death, king Rene com*
sed two beautiful canticles, on the heroic actions of his beloved
ughter, queen Margaret.' This accomplished prince died in the year
80. By his wilt, which is preserved among the MSS. in the Biblio-
eque du Roi, Ren^ bequeathed ^ one thousand crowns in gold to his
ughter Maigaret, queen of England, and, if she remains in a state of
dowhood, an annuity of two thousand livres, and the ch&teau of
leniez for her abode." He wrote a letter on his death-bed to Louis
!., earnestly recommending to his care his daughter Margaret and his
dow.*

Afier the death of king Rene,' Maigaret sold any reversionary rights
lich the death of her elder sister and her children might give her to
f duchies of Lorraine, Anjou, Maine, Profven^e, and Bar, to Louis XI.,

* a pension of six thousand livres. She executed this deed on the

-

Villeneuve. * King-cit-artoit of the order of the Golden Fleeoe.

Vie de Roi Ren^ d*A^jou. * VilleneUTe. Momtrelot. Bibliotheque du Roi.
Through the kindnoM of Mr. Beitt, the Lancaster herald, I have been favoured
th a copy of Margaret's acknowledgment for the first payment she received of
t pension, with a (kc-similie of her signature, which is ekil^mely rare.

• Nous l^rguerite Royne d'Angleterr^ oonfessons avoir eu et receu de Maistie
nis de Bidant, notaire et secretaire de monseigneur le roy, et receveur-general
•es flnan., la somme de six mil livres tourn., ^ nous ordonnee par mon sei-
Mir pour nre. ponsion de cestc pnie ann^ commenc^ le premier jour d'Ooio-
t dernier passS, de laquelle somme de vi" Ir. nous nous tenons i>our contents
>ien pni^ et rm avons quitte et quittons mon seiicn' le roy le dit roreveur*«lial
tuutf auirc». Ku te»iui'iai( tie cu nuutf avou» ^i^iw cc» putes. de uro. main at

.— ••«>«• v«^ wfta\j ai

obtain the bodies of hei
but, till the last day of 1
in England, to perform a
tliose offices deemed nee

On her death-bed she
valuables that remained I
with the pressure of her
her troublous pilgrimage
the fifty-first year of her

She was buried in the
her royal parents, withou
excepting her portrait, pa
A tribute of respect was
ter o( St. Maurice, who, i
vespers for the dead, mad
singing a suhveniu} Thi

Margaret^s elder sister,
beautiful daughter, called
Napoleon's empress, poss
there is one sentence sup|
inl, powerful, and admirec

fiut 8c«ll^e du aeel de nos i
qustre vingts et ang.

ELIZABETH WOODVILLE,

QUEEN OF EDWARD IT.

CHAPTER I.

DiMqiMl royal marriafra — Pluvnts of Elizabeth WoodTille — Sbe is maid «f
honour to Maigaret of Anjou — Duke of York writes to Elizabeth — Earl of Wat-
wick writes to her Ibr Us fKend — Sbe rejects sir Ho|^ Johns — Acceptt the
heir of lord Ferrers, John Otaj — Bradgata— Elizabeth's son»— 4Sir John Gray
killed at St Albans— Elisabeth's destitute widowhood— Captiraies Edward
IV. — ^Their meetings The queen's oak— Private marriage with the kini^—
Opposition of the king's mother — Recognition of Elizabeth as queen — Her
sisters — ^Her brother, Anthony Wnodrille Scene at her court— Coronation —
Enmity of queen Isabella of Castille — Elizabeth endows Qneen's College —
Birth of eldest daa^iter — Warwick's ennllty to tiie queen— Portrait of die
queen — Her influence— Her fiither and eldest brother murdered — Her mother
accused of witchcraft — ReTolution —Edward lY.'s flight — Queen and her
nother at the Tower— Flight to sanctuary — ^Birth of prince Edward-^Queen's
distress — Her humble fHende— Return of Edward IV. — Queen leaves sano-
tuary for the Tower — ^Her brother Anthony defends the Tower — Re-establish-
ment of die house of York- The queen's friends rewarded.

Thb fiAeenth centuiyis, abore all other ens, mnarkaUe for nneqind
Barriam made bv persona of rojral station. Then, for the first time
ainee &e reigns of oar Plantagenets commenced, was broken that high
and stately etiqnette of the rokldle agea, which forbade king or kaiser
to mate with partners below the rank of princesses, fat that centoiy,
the marriage of the handsome Edward IV. with an English gentlewoman
caused as much astonishment at the wondrous archerjr of Dan Cnpid,
as was fid»led of old—

** When he shot so true
That king Cophetna wed the beggar maid."

Bat the mother of Elisabeth Woodville had occasioned scarcely less
wonder in her day, when, following the example of her sister-iii4aw,
queen Katharine, she, a princess of Lmembnivh by birth, and as the
widow of the wmrKke dake of Bedford, the Aird lady of the realm,
choae for her second helpmate, another sqoire of Henry V., Richard
WoodTille, who was considered the handsomest man in EngUnd.

After the death of Henry V., WoodTille entered the serrice of the
duke of Bedford, on whose death he was employed to escort the yoony
widow, who was bat serenleen, to England, where she was dowered ott
the royal demesnes.

VOL. III.— 18 ^?s«J\

eorery ol her parent's mmrnge*
«• one of the English cammutdeis
*«n«« thu prince's fcnncy.*

AAer the death of £e nnibtuiiMti
oflhe queeiwiomger Jomim. ih» di
tee, u mnk. the fim Ut in Ei»k
««g»w of inllueMe ia cmMequence.

«« to «eort MugMet of AmoB to I

«''M««d .t court, nde bioo, an

daehes, of Bedforf be«n.,7n«t fi

dBches. was «i,| .^eoad kJT^

gw- more ezahed Hmo herftHtuaiT

•*• was riad to proride for than at tl

Pre«: Her eldeat daiyhier, the bi

•ppomted maid of h«««rr» toAat q»

*y to ffll her place on the English th

te royal misuna, she captand Iht

Jobot, a gieat lavoiuiie of Richaid dak

■ the vorld wherewithal to eodow

whoae temper had been proved ia i

■Mwover, a timid wooer.and, wit imr

«o the beautiful maid of honour ZdL

"""He to «peak himseU:

Richard duke of York was protect
»^l •tyle,' recommended his Undless
one day to share the diadem of his hei

ELtXABBTH

ILLE.

"To ilfime EUiMbeih WmlerillP.'
" RiBlit Ifualy niirj wcll-bslovpii, wo gruel you Wi-11. ^

" For n» muoh ■■ we ate cwdibly inliitmed tlini oiir riglil henrtjr nnA w«Ur
iif lovod Lnight, sir Hugh John, for Ih? gtoBI wonnnhood •nd gpnllenew sppfOVei
and ICDown in your peraon — ye being Hole fsinglej iind lo be muried — liii fteut
wholly bsve; Wherewilh we are right well pU-B»eil. How ba il of your dtspo-
•iiion townrdi him in thai behnlr, ni yet ii to u* unknown. We IhoreforB, ■> fat
the Ikith true «iul good lonlalii]! we owe unto bin ii Ihi> time (and no will ooa-
tinue), we deairs and heariily pray ye will on your pntt bo id him woil-willed
lo iho perfoiDiuifi of this our writing aod hii denre. Where in ye >h>il do not
only lo our plcaaure, but, we doubt not, to your own great weal and wcniilp In
lime U cume ; uertiQting, that If ye nilAI our inlenl in Ihia mailer, wb will and
ttuiTI be to him (ind you mKh lord ai thsll b* to both your great weni atid wor-
ship, by ilip grace of God, who preoede and guide you in nil heavenly lcli«t|f
and welfiuel

" Written by Birntan DcBi or Yoa»."

Even if Elizabeth's heart had reeponded lo this pamesi appeal of har
lover's princely maaier, yel she was too sicnderly gifted by fortune to
venuire on a mere We-maich. She probably demurred on lliis point*
■nd Bvnitjed reluming a decisive answer; for her delay elicited n •ecood
letter, on ihe subject of sir Huirh's greai love bihI affection. Tbia tins
it was from the pen of the famous Richard Neville, earl of Warwick. It
is not written as if by a stranger to a stratiger; at the Eatiw lime, by faw
promiKs of "good lordship" (patronage) to Elizabeth and her lover, fl
is very evident he considers himself as the superior of both.

"To Jame Elizabeih Wodoiille.
" Wotlliipful and well-beloved. I greet you well, and lbra»mnch my right
well-beloved lir Hugh John, knight (which now laie was with you unto hia fiMI
great joy, and had great cheer, ai lie eoiih, whereof I Ibuik you}, liaili iulbrinad
me bow tliHl he halti, for ibe ^resl love find slfertion thai he hatb uiilo youi fV
•on, fta well for tlie gteai ladiieM ((rriouineu) and wiadom tliai be bnib Ibund
■nd proved in you at thai time, aa Tor your great aod praised biaiity, and wo-
manly demeaning, he deiireth with all haslo to do you worthip by way of mBr-
riage, before any other crenlure living (as be niA). I (eonaidering hia aaid
deaiie, and the great wotsbip that he had, which was made knight at jerunleiti,
and s/ter hia coming home, for ilie great wiadom and manhood that he waa te-
nowned of; was nude kniglii-msrshall of France, and nfter knighlHniirihall «f
England' unto hie gieui worihip. with other hie great and many virtue* and
desen, ami also the gnoil nod notable service that be baih done ami daily doA
to me) write unto yon at tjiie time, and pray you ifftetuou*!) that ye will Ik*
istber (at ihii my rei^ueil and prayer) to condeacend and apply you niHo Ha
aaid lawful and honest desire, whereio ye shall not only pnrTry (provide) rifbl
notably for yourself unto your weal and worabip (projtt and ftoniw) in time M
come, aa 1 hereby uuat, but also cause me to ihow unto you such good lordalltp
(palnnagi') aa ye by reaaon of it shall h<fld you content and pleaaed, with 'A«

'The name i> apelled Wodeville, in the MS. letters, which oonei very UMt
thtt popular mode here adopted ; one of the addietaea ii spelled Wodehill, liul
ihu is a mere ilip of Ihe pen, as it is evident that bodi ate addtosAed to the eam^

I
I

a^l EUcabelb was single i

^.^ «— • ^x^mt ^wcaty-one^ and tlie
**tole and to be nuuried'^ — that ti
remarkable crisis of her life, when ii
wooed by the avowed partisana of
Some worldly cooaideratioiis, beaa
queen Maifaret, aeeoi to have led i
MB, sir Hi^ Johnea, and accept tb
and wealthy loidahip of Ferfen of
the house of Lancaster.

The time is not dktinctly spadfted
▼iile with John Gray ; it probably tc
the Yorkist champion. This wedlc
the penniless maid of honour; for
aoees of the Plantagenet princesaea.
lord Ferrers of Oroby, possessor o
which was hereafter lo derive such li
Eliaheth^s deacendant, lady Jane (
mony, bv reason of his descent from
nobility.'

Tradition declares this was a moc

' See the copy of the mooiimental brass
•dition of Um Itinermry of Giraldas Cmmb
LandyniOi whbh it is expressly ai&nned ^
of Noriblk ; his lumTery, and the orders of
in the words of the earl of Wnrwiek, hot 1
scNne li^t on the abore oorrespoodenoe.
OMntions no somame or descent. Sir Hu
dren. His name aooeeni »» • •— — -« •-

■ LISABBTH WOODTILLS. 300*

beth and Gny must have been frequently separated by the ferocious
contest between York and Lancaster, which commenced directly aAer
iheir union.

An adrenture connected with the struggle for the crown, in the last
stormy years of Henry VI.'s reign, plac^ young Edward Plantagenet^
then earl of March, and earl Rivers, the father of Elizabeth, in extrior-
dmary collision. The earl of Rivera, and his son sir Anthony, ardent
partisans of Lancaster, were fitting out ships at Sandwich, by orders of
queen Margaret, in order to join the duke of Somerset's naval arma-
ment in 1458. At this time sir John Dinham, a haral captain in the
•errice of Warwick, made a descent at Sandwich, and, surprising the
earl of Rirers and his son in their beds, carried them prisoners to Calais.
How they were received there, William Paston ' shall tell, in one of his
letters to a Norfolk knight, his brother : —

"To mj right worehipful brother be this lettnr delivered. As for tidings^ the
lord Rivers was brought to Calais, and before the lords by night, with eight-score
totjhes, and there my lord of Salisbury rated him, calling him * Knave's son,
'tliBt ineh as he should be so rude as to call him and these other lords traitors,
fi»r they should be found the king's true liegemen, when such as he should be
Iband a traitor I' And my lord of Warwick rate<l him, and said, * His fiither was
bot a little squire brought up with king Henry V., and since made himself by
marriage, and also made a lord, and it was not his part to have held such lan-
guage to those who were of king's blood !' Add my lord March rate<l him like-
wise. And sir Antony Woodville was likewise rated for his language, by all
the three lords.**

AD this rating seems to hare been the denouement of some old quar-
rel at court, with the earl of March. As the duke of York had not
yet claimed the crown, but only the right of succession, his son dared
not take the lives of Henry Vl.'s subjects in cold blood ; therefore the
Woodvillea escaped with the payment of ransom.

Edward, lord Ferrers, the father-in-law of Elizabeth, died December
18th, 1457. The distraction of the times was such, that her husband
had no opportunity of taking his place, as lord Ferrers, in the house of

Era.' He was then twenty-five, handsome, brave, and manly, the
ler of queen Margaret's cavalry, a(id an ardent and faithful partisan
of her cause. Elizabeth had brought her husband two sons ; one, bom
jmt before the death of lord Ferrers, was named Thomas, the other's
name was Richard. These children were bom at Bradgate, which,
daring the lifetime of her lord, was the home of Elizabeth.

There is reason to believe that Elizabeth followed her lord in the
campaign which queen Margaret made in 1460. Prevost states, that

BBViously to the second battle of St. Albans, queen Margaret persuaded
izabeth to visit Warwick's camp, under pretence of requesting some
little &vour or assistance for herself, as it was known that the stout
aari was very partial to her; but in reality Elizabeth acted as a

lorml situation as a country lady at GralVm ; it is a palpable fkbrication, and
ftierefore not to be quoted here.

> Paston Papers. Hall, Hotingshed, and Rapin, mention the incident.

* Duffdale.

18^ ^

.«ai vean MO. wer

■"»• »B«ra oia. wer

pte. aiid Eliaheth henelf m

iiiherii«tiTeboweriofG«Aoii
The mother of Eliabeih «
•bUity; iiMMDuch that the coini
Jhemind. of men to wtcery.
bawelf lo voun; Edwud, when

,1^ •«■«» i»«g»««, afler the et,
*M pnnee Mid her loirf wd «»
^hii 7»loar, almoM tamed the
. "^ " '«uy noKcoanmble : I

ihe dm ye« of hi. «ign ,he,«

bSSS^ «r*df ring the .u
Bedfofd, ud lord Rim., of hi*

-mj-l «V«d of her W, tSi
•»^Jl«»g^ and. third of. Ik^ii™

Je^o|^Eai-beth,.hree .ej^l

„./' '' P**"We that the fcir wid
qu«inied with the rictor, in the d«
hu,h«,d, and that EJw,Jd'. Sdd«

»e death of ,„ John Giay, such i
WjO- tn Uie l««e Roll, J^y H"'

&LISABBTH WOODYILLB. SlI

There she waited for him, under a noble tree, still known in the local
timditions of Northamptonshire by the name of the Queen^s Oak.'
Under the shelter of its branches Uie fair widow addressed the young
monarch, holding her fatherless boys by the hands ; and when Edward
paused to listen to her, she threw herself at his feet, and pleaded ear-
nestly for the restoration of Bradgate, the inheritance of her children.
Her downcast looks and mournful beauty not only gained her suit, but
the heart of the conqueror.

The Qjueen's Oak, which was the scene of more than one intenriew
between the beautiful Elizabeth and the enamoured Edward, stands in
the direct track of communication between GraAon Casde and Whittle-
bnry Forest ; it now rears its hollow trunk, a venerable witness of one
of the most romantic &cts that history records. If the friendly entry '
in the Issue Rolls be taken for data of Elizabeth's acquaintance with
Edward IV., he became acquainted with her soon after the battle of
Towton; thus she was litde more than twenty-nine' when she first
captiTated him, and her delicate and modest beauty was not yet impaired
by time.

Edward tried every art, to induce Elizabeth to become his own on
other terms than as the sharer of his regal dignity ; the beautiful widow
made this memorable reply : ^^ My liege, I know I am not good enough
to be your queen, but I am far too good to become your mistress.''

She then left him to settle the question in his own breast ; for she
knew he had betrayed others, whose hearts had deceived them into al-
lowing him undue liberties. Her afiections, in all probability, still clave
to the memory of the husband of her youth, and her indifference in-
creased the love of the young king. The struggle ended in his ofierinff
her marriage. The duchess of E^ford, when she found matters had
proceeded to this climax, took the management of the a&ir, and, pre-
tending to conceal the whole from the knowledge of her husband,
arranged the private espousals of her daughter and the king. In the
quaint words of Fab3ran, the marriage is thus described : — ^ In most
secret manner, upon the 1st of May, 1464, king Edward spoused Eliza-
beth, late being wife of sir John Gray. Which spousales were solemn-
ised early in the morning at the town called Grafton, near to Stoney
Stratford. At which marriage was none present but the spouse (Ed-
ward), the spousesse (Elizabeth), the duchess of Bedford, her mother,
the priest, and two gentlewomen, and a young man who helped the
priest to sing.* After the spousailles the king again rode to Stoney

*Bsker*8 Northamptonshire.

* Edward, according to hit own aooonnt in the Fragment Chronicle at the end of
Spioct (Heame's edition), was bom at Rouen, during hit frther*t regency, 1440.

* The Fragment Chronicle, printed by Heame, at the end of the Sproct Chnmi-
ele, is written by a person who appears to hare been a secretary to Thomai
duke of Norfolk, the second duke of the Howard line. The author of this re
roarkable history solemnly calls on duke Thomas as witness of these cTents.
He says many circumstances were fVom Edward IV/s own mouth. The narr»>
ciTe is Tery^rany and pen>piciious. Tliis Chronicle dates the marriage of Eliza
beth Wcodville uiueh earlier than other authors, and adds to the date he glTes,

great desire waa to provi
of the house of Luxeml
mother waa to marry thi
an embassy to his ally C
f ome of the princes of
claim kindred with his v
this head, ii may be gatl:
forgotten and lost sight
they had been incensed ]
says, ** Richard was the
was an exceedingly banc
the continent, or her bro
both." Jaquetta was gn
ment of Elizabeth, and t
membranes of her Flemi
word "that the corona
kindred."

Of all persons, the mai
mother of Edward IV.
queen, before the fall of

1463, the words, «» in the thh
of accideDt regarding a slip <
" The priest that wedded El
the church of the Minoressei
of Edward had long prece
wedded because she was the

■ LIIABBTH WOODTILLB. 313

field, was infuriated at haWng to give place to the daughter of a man
who commenced hii career aa a poor squire, of ordinary lineage. Among
other arguments against her son's wedlock was, that the fact c^ Elisabeth
hmng a widow ought to prevent her marriage with a king, since the
•overeignty would be dishonoured by such bigamy. The king merrily
answered, ^ Siie is, indeed, a widow, and hath children, and by God'a
blessed Lady, I, who am but a bachelor, have some too. Madame, my
mother, 1 pray you be content, for as to the bigamy, the priest may lay
it in my way if ever I come to take orders, for 1 understand it is for*
bidden to a priest, but 1 never wist it was to a king." '

This is the version king Edward^ courtiers chose to give of the eon-
▼enation ; but there is little doubt the duchess of York' reproached her
•oo with the breach of his marriage-contract with Elizabeth Lucy, the
predecessor of Elisabeth Woodville in the affections of Edward. Bit-
terly was this per6dy afterwards visited, on the innocent fiimily of the
royal seducer. Edward was likewise supposed to be married to lady
Eleanor Butler, the daughter of the great earl of Shrewsbury. Possibly
this was a betrothment entered into in Edward^ childhood.

It was at the ancient palace of Reading, on Michaelmas Day, 14G4,
that Edward IV. finally declared Elizabeth to be his wedded wife. A
council c^ the peers was convoked there, when the king took Elizabeth
by the hand, and presented her to them as his rightful queen. She was
then led by the young duke of Clarence, in solemn pomp, to the stately
abbey-church of Reading, where she was publicly declared queen, and,
having made her offering, received the congratulations of all the nobility
•aaembled there, among whom, some authorities declare, was the eari
of Warwick.*

A portrait of Elizabeth Woodville, to be found in a fine illumination
in tlie Haileiaii Collection in the British Museum, represents her in the
costume in which she first appeared as a royal bride, at Reading. The
manner in which EUizabeth's hair is arranged proves that the limning

* Catndeii*8 Remsint.

* Cicely of Raby, the youngett daughter of Ralph Neville, earl of Wetitinore*
laiul, by Joanna Beaufort, daughter of John of Gaunt Cicely married Richard
duke of York, in whom centred the Mortimer title to the throne ; he was the
ward of her father and mother ; by him she had Edward IV. and a large family.
The ducheM of York was remarkable for her beauty, and fitill more m> for her
indomitable pride. In the north she was called the Rose of Raby, but in th«
neighbourhood of her baronial residence of Foiheringay Cattle the common pec^
pie calleil her ** Proud Cis." She had a throne-room at Fotheringay, where she
gave receptions with the state of a queen. Curious portraits in painted glass of
Cicely and her husband are still to be seen in the south window of the chancel
of Penrith Church. They have been engraved in Mr. Jelferson's valuable His-
tory and Antiquities of Leath Ward, Cumberland. Cicely is decorated with a
garland of gems, and gives tbe idea of a very bandiome woman in the declioa
of life. Her reputation has not descended to posterity unwathed. Philip da
Comines scandalises her with derelictions from her duty, during the duke of
York's regency in France. Hence Charles the Bold and Louis XI. always, in
private, calle<l tlie handmme Edward IV. **the son of an archer."

* Ur. I«ingnrd rrjects the Mory of Warwick's embassy for tbe hand of Bona ot
hmtoy at tlie time of Edward's marriage.

•houldera : it ii girded roond the waist
like an officer's sash. The skirt of the
border, and finishes with a train many
held up by the queen, while the extrem
train-bearer, who is probably one of 1
Mtin petticoat is seen beneath the di
pointed form, called sometimes emcc
The queen wears a pearl neddaoe strun
a device.

lllthough Edward IV. was at times no
and other women occasionally seduced
Elizabeth, from first to last, certainly 1
most dangerous in the hands of a worn
than firmness, more skill in concocting i
to form a rational resoWe. She was eirc
purposes, but she had seldom a wise or
ment of her own relatives, and the depr
and family, were her chief objects,
with her husband, by an assumption of
were soft and caressing, her gUuices tim

The acknowledgment of Elizabeth's n
of the most brilliant fixes and toumami
England, since the establishment of the
III. At these scenes Elizabeth preside
of lovely sisters, who were the cynosui
baronage of England. Although these
tionless daughters of the duchess of Be<
to thirty unwooed and unwedded, yet tl

wera comnAnihlp tn thA uiniptm of h^r

■ LIZABBTR WOODVILLB. 315

the realmJ Anthony Woodville roarried the orphan of lord Scales, the
richest heiress in the kingdom, whom the duchess of York designed for
lier son Clarence.' Neither infantine juvenility, nor the extreme of
jotage, seems to have been objected by the Woodvilles, if there were
I superfluity of the goods of this world ; for the queen ^s eldest brother,
I fine young man, wedded, for her great jointure, Katharine, the dow-
^^r-duchess of Norfolk, then in her eightieth year, — ^a diabolical mar-
riage,'^ wrathfully exclaims William of Worcester.

Soon aAer the queen had made the match between the young heiress
if Scales and her brother Anthony, the ladies of England chose thai
pliant knight, to sustain the honour of his country, at the toumameot
iiey expected would be proclaimed in celebration of Elizabeth's coromi-
ion. On the Wednesday before Easter-day, 1465, on the return of air
Anthony Woodville from high mass, with his royal sister, at the chipel
)f the Shene Palace, a bevy of her ladies surrounded him, and by the
iresentation of a golden knee-band figured with SS, and ornamented
irith a Forget-me-not, gave some mystical intimation that he was ex*
lected to remember his knightly devoir, of high emprise, at the corona-
ion of his sister. The antagonist he selected was the most renowned
thampion of Europe, being count de la Roche, illegitinuite son of Phi-
ip of Burgundy* and the constant companion of all the rash eMi||||bes
>f his brother Charles the Bold, whetiier in field or tourney. fSlllUt
opponent Anthony Woodville, who had now adopted the title of ioid
Scales in right of his lady, thus wrote,* from the palace of Shene.

** Truth it is, that the Wednesday next before the solemn and devout resurreo-
ion of our blessed Saviour and Redeemer, for certain causes I drew me near
Dward the queen of England and of France, my sovereign lady, to whom I am
igbt humble servant, subject, and brotlior. And as I spoke to her highness on
ny knees, my bonnet off my head, according to my duty, I know not how it hap-
lened, but all the ladies of her court environed me about, and anon I took heed
bat ihey had tied above my left knee a band of gold, garnished uith precious
tones which formed a letter (it was a collar of SS, meaning Souvenance. or r»-
oembrance), which, when I perceived, truth to say, it came nigher to my heart

* Sir John Paston's mother advises him " to marry right nigh to the queen's
»lood, so that he could get his land again'* — a popular proof of tlie great favour-
tism of her family. Margaret Woodville, the Gk*tober aAer Elizabeth was ac-
Lnowledged queen, married lord Maltravers, heir of the earl of Arundel. Soon
iflerwards, Henry duke of Buckingham married Katharine Woodville ; Jacquetta
narried the carl of Essex, and the fourth si:»ter married the heir of the earl of
Cent. In the next September, the queen's sister Mary married the heir of lord
ierbert, and from this wedlock proceeded the first affront given to the earl of
¥arwick, for Herbert was promoted to some office which interfered with his
nterests.

' Some represent this lady as a child, others as a widow. She might in tbota
lays have been both.

'This alludes to an old English proverb on marriage, **That the marriage of a
xning woman and a young man is of God's making, as Adam and Eve ; an old
nan and young woman, of Our Lady's making, as Mary and Joseph ; but that
•fan old woman and a young man, is made by the author of evil.''

*flxcerp>a Hixt. 18G. The extract of this letter is, for the sake of brevity,
imited to tlie pannage in which tlie queen is a personal agent The origiMU k
Q French ; it is of course tranilatad into perspicuous wtliography.

OTHw ux uie Mja lener, to bnog Um adf
0Ooq1 ttsion. * '

King Edward broke the thread a
baU and permitted the jooste ;' then
eombttt, and the enaoMtted jewd o(
Roche, by a hanld, reqoeeiing him ^
aad kaifhtlj hand, in token of hii
eomil did to, and expected to be on
Bold, to do honour to the oorooatio

The coronation of Eliabeth wa
WhitMnday, the S6th of May. C
London firoin Eltham pahice, the ma;
at tlie foot of Shooter's Hill, and eoi
Ihe Tower. That morning Edward
knighted thirty-two persona, amooj
ciiiaena, and behaTed with the utmoi
iiTonr of the citiiens for his qoeen.
to her jpalace of Westminster, in a
aedan chair, supported by stately pac
all rode, on this occasion, in solemn
She was crowned next day, with gres
the young duke of Clarence officiatin
nation, the queen sat in state at a g
where the bishop of Rochester, who
took his place at the king's right hi
(now the king's brother-in-law, by i
rine Woodrille) sat at his left. Cha
of sending to England a soyereign pri
the Londoners that Edward had takei

■ LIIABXTH WOOOVILLX. 817

a hundred knights with their eennnts. These Flemish chevalierb

stituted an armed band of mercenaries, ready to aid in enforcing obe*

ice, if any opposition had occurred at the recognition of Elizabeth as

ien-consort. The king regularly paid them for their attendance, for

presented the count de St. Pol with three hundred nobles, and each

lis chevaliers with fiAy.*

Elizabeth's marriage with Edward IV. drew upon them the enmity of

less a person than the celebrated Isabel of Castille, queen of Spain.

he Harleian MSS. is a letter from the Spanish ambassador, Granfidius

Sasiola, who uses these remarkable words :* ^ The queen of Castille

\ turned in her heart from England in time past for the unkindness

took of the king of England (Edward IV., whom God pardon), for

refusing her and taking to wife a widow-woman of England, for

ich cause there was mortal war between him and the earl of War^

k, even to his death."

*he benedictions which Margaret of Anjou had bestowed upon Ca|n-

Ige were continued by her successor; for early in 1465 Elizabeth

ropriated a part of her income to the completion of the good work

ler former mistress, and Queen's College owes its existence to these

il ladies—

** Anjou*8 heroine and the paler Rose,
The rival of her crown and of her woes.**

*he enmity between Elizabeth and Warwick had not at this time
»unted to any thing serious, since he stood as godfather to her eldest
^hter, born at Westminster Palace, 1466. The baptism of this
cess for a while conciliated her two grandmothers. Cicely duchese
fork, and Jaquetta duchess of Bedford, who were likewise her spon-
I. The christening was performed with royal pomp, and the i>abe
ived her mother's name of Elizabeth, — a proof that Edward was
e inclined to pay a compliment to his wife than to Ilia haughty
her.

ome months af\er the queen had brought an heiress to the throne,
ventured on another affront to the all-powerful minister, general,
relative of her royal lord. Warwick had set his mind on marrying
le, tlie heiress of the duke of Exeter, to his nephew, George Ne-
». Meantime the queen slily bought the consent of the rapacious
liess of Exeter,* for four thousand marks, and married the young

lundjr did not take place till two years aHerwards, when Anthony Woodrille
ed great honour by a decided personal advantage over the Burgundian. The
) of Clarence, afterwards the mortal foe of Anthony, carried his basnet.
lomitTeiet.

>ated August 8fh, 1483. When this was written, the Spanish ambassador
at the court of Richard III. See Second Series of Sir Henry Ellis* Letters.
bis letter it is evident Warwick was negotiating for the hand of Isabel of
ille, who, it appears (fVom her history by Bemaldes Andr^ a Spanish MS.
te library of sir Thomas Phillipps, hart of Middle Hill), was fburteen in
, not a little girl of six jrears, as Hall represents her. A Spanish maideii
lat age would feel all the indignation her countryman describes,
niliam of Worcester, p. 501. Aime of York, eldest ohikl of Riofaard doka
ork and Cicely NeviUe, was (according to the Friar's GenealaQf ) waddad

. ..^«,^ »i«c uiiesi young lai
more agginvatini^, since Warwic
marriage with various princesses,
old .enough, EUlward would have
ever disappointed by the exaltatio
his daughter Isabel in marriage U
was soon aAer in a state of insurre
directed against the queen^s frmil^
■cond for a time*

The first outbreak of the muttei
shire, under a freebooter called R
to have been a noble, outlawed for
Burgent defeated Edward IV.'s force
lives from the battle, into the foresi

3ueen^B father, who was then high
ley were, in the names, if not by
harried to Northampton, and behea>
queen^s mother a still more fearful
terrific accusations of witchcraft wa
occasionally aimed at ladies of roya
mark for other calumny. This wi
which had taken place in the royal

The queen was preparing to acc<
into Norfolk, when this astounding
der of her father and brother appea

in early youth to Henry Holland, duke <
Che line of Lancaiter, by Elisabeth, siati
was an atrocious character ; she divoro<
caused the death of her seoon/i n-- "^
•I. — • -

ELIXABBTH WOODVILLS. SI9

iif harvest, 1469. The blow mutt have fallen with great sererity ou
Elizabeth, whose auctions were knit so strongly to her own fomily.

When the king advanced to the north, in order to inquire into these
outrages, he was detained, in some kind of restraint, by Warwick and
his brother Montague, at Warwick Castle, where an experiment was
tried to shake his affections to EUizabeth, by the insinuation that her
whole influence over him proceeded from her mother's skill in witch-
craft. For this purpose, Thomas Wake, a partisan of the Neville fac-
tion, brought to Warwick Castle part of the stock in trade of a soree-
ress, which he declared was captured at GrafVon.' Edward was far from
being proof against such follies, yet this accusation seems to have had
DO effect on his mind. Afler being carried to Middleham Castle (War-
wick's stronghold in the north), where he was detained some time, he
entered into negotiations for the marriage of his infant heiress, Elizabeth
of York, witli young €reorge Neville. This scheme greatly pleased the
uncle and godfather of the boy, the archbishop of York, who persuaded
his brotliers to let Edward stay with him at his seat called the More, in
Hertfoidshire. Warwick sent up Edward, very severely guarded, from
Middleham Castle.

From the More, Edward escaped speedily to Windsor,' and was soon
once more in his metropolis, which was perfectly devoted to him, and
where, it appears, his queen had remained in security during these
alarming events. Again England was his own : for Warwick and Cla-
rence, in alarm at his escape from the More, betook themselves to •their
fleet and fled. But the queen's gallant brother, Anthony Woodville,
who had the command of the Yorkist navy, intercepted and captured
all the rebel ships,' excepting that in which Warwick and Clarence, with
their families, escaped with difficulty to France.

The queen was placed by the king in safety in the Tower,^ before he
marched to give battle to the insurgents. Her ^situation gave hopes of
an addition to the royal family ; she was the mother of three girls, but
had not borne heirsHmale to the house of York.

' This information is KRthere<l from the memorial of tlie queen's motlicr, who,
after all these distractions were compose*!, thought it pnidcnt to defend herself
in the following terms: — "Jaquetta duchess of Bedford to her sovereign lord
the king thus humbly complaineth — That when she at all time hath, and yet
doth, truly believe on God acc*ording to the faith of holy church, as a true Chris*
tian woman ought to do, yet Thomas Wake, esq. hath caused her to be brought
into a common noise and disclaunder (slander) of witcboraA. At your last
being at Warwick, Mvereign lord (he was tlien in the custody of the three
Nevilles, Warwick, Montague, and tbe archbishop of York), Wake brought to
Warwick Castle, and exhibited to divers lords there present, an image of lead,
made like to a man-at-arms, containing tlie length of a man's finger, and broken
in the middle, and made fast with a wire, saying it was made by your said ora-
tress to use with sorcery and witchcraft, when she never saw it before, God
knoweth.'— -Par/. HolU, vol. vi. p. 232. •

■ Fragment Chronicle. At this time England presented the strange spectacla
of two kings both in captivity ; Henry VI. was still prisoner to tbe York partjr,
which seems, till a late period of this revolution, to liave kept possession of the
metropolis. * Warkworth Chronicle, edited by J. O. Halliwcll, esti^ P- ^

' Fraguieut Chronic ie.

.»..%«; viiMfDU jjondoDfin a ini

beraelf to her barge, and fled ap the 1
own palace, but to a strong, gloomy b<
oecupied a space at the end of St. A(
registered beraeU^ her mother, her thre
wd Cicely, with the &ithfal lady Sei
vonen; and in this dismal place sh
hour in which the fourth child of Edi

On the 1st of Norember, 1470, the
bonif during this dark eclipse of the fc
was in want of erery thing ; but Tho
■ter, sent various conTenienees horn tb
a well-disposed midwife, resident in t
the distressed queen in the hour of mat
the little prince* Nor did Elizabeth, in
for master Serigo, her physician, attendi
fiuthful butcher, John Gould, prevented
being starved into surrender, by supplyi
two muttons every week.^

The little prince was baptized, soon a
no more ceremony than if he had ha
Millings the abbot of Westminster, hofi
for the little prisoner, and the duchess o
his godmottiers. The sub-prior perfom
him the name of his exiled sire.

Early in March the queen was cheen

•The Sprott F»— - —

■ LIlASaTH WOODTILLS.

har royal lord, had landed at Rarenapar, and soon after that his broCher^
Clarence, forsook Warwick. From that moment the rerolution of hia
restoration waa as rapid as that of his depomtion.

When Edward drew near the capital, ^ he aent, on the 9th of April,
1470, very comfortable roessaj^ to his qoeen, and to his true lords,
aenrants, and lovers, who advised and practised secretly how he might
be received and welcomed m his city of London.'^' The result was,
thai the metropolis opened its gates for Edward IV., and the Tower,
with the unresisting prisoner, king Henry, was surrendered to him.
Edward harried to the Canctoary, ^ and comforted the queen, tliat had
a long time abided there, the security of her person resting solely on the
gremt franchises of that holy place ; sojourning in deep trouble, sorrow,
and heaviness, which she sustained with all manner of patience belong-
iw to any creature, and as constantly as ever was aeen by any person
en such high estate to endure, in the which season, nathelcss, she had
brought into this world, to the king's greatest joy, a fair son, a prince,
wherewith she presented her husband at his coming, to his hearths
ainffular comfort and glaihiess, and to all them that him truly loved.''*

The very morning of this joyful meeting, Elizabeth, accompanied by
her roy^l lord, leA the Sanctuary. Never before had Westminister Sanc-
tuary received a royal guest, and little was it ever deemed a prince of
Wales would first see light within walls that had hitherto only sheltered
homicides, robbers, and bankrupts. The ruthleas wars of the Rosea,
indeed, made the royal and the noble acquainted with strange house-
mates ; but never did the power of sanctuary appear so great a blessing
to human nature, as when the innocent relatives of the contending par-
ties fled to the alutr for shelter. Like all benefits, sanctuary was abused,
but, assuredly it sheltered many a htuuan life in these destructive and
hideous contests.

The same day that Edward IV. took Elizabeth out of Sanctuary, lio
carried her to the city, where he lodged her and her children in hia
mother's palace. Castle Baynard, a Bastille4)uilt fortifieatioii, which had
been held in his father's time, when the Tower of London was unten-
able Here Edward and his queen heard divine service that night, and
kept Good Friday solenmly next day. On Easter Sunday, Edward
gained the battle of Bamet, and the deaths of Warwick and' Montague
insured the ultimate success of the house of York. Elizabeth remained
at the Tower while her husband gained the battle of Tewksbury. The
news of his success had scarcely reached her, before the Tower waa
threatened with storm by Falconbndge, a relative of the earl of Warwick,
and ^ therein," says Fleetwood, ** was the queen, my loni prince, and
the ladiin the king's daughters, all likely to stand in the greatest jeopardy
that ever was," from the formidable attack of this last partisan of Lan-
caster. But the queen's valiant brother, Anthony Woodville, was there,
and the quaen, relying on his gallant aid, stood the danger thia time

' Fleetwood's Cbrooicle ^edited hj J. Bmce. esq.) has heeiu in thisi narrativai.
eoUnted hy the valuable Warkworth Chronicle, edited by J. O. Halliwell| •*ffq.
both published hj the Camden Society.

* Fleetwood's Chionicle, edited by J. Braoe, esq., p. 17.

i

4

)

. _ ...... •••« iftuuiiiiiaote spur

oppoeita party. Wonder and afl
and, during the winter of 1470-1,
Sanctuary were the &Tounte goasi]
IV. bestowed princely rewar& on
^ hia Elixabeth,'' as he caUs her, ii

I ELIZABETH

QUEEN OF

CHAP1

Elizsbeth*8 court at Windior — Deacribed
— Banquet in her apartments — Her
Wettminfter — Queen's yisit to Oxford-
Clarence— Queen's robes of the Gart
widowlKXxl — Her troubles— Oppose<l
to the queen — She sends for the 3roun|
and son's arrest — Takes sanctuary—^
the young duke of York — Her son, F
declared illegal —-Usurpation of Ricl
Richard of York — News of their death

BLItABBTH WOODVILLE. 32) f

pencM) was Louis nf Brunei), lord of Grauthiise, envernor of Holland,'
who had bospjiably received Edn-ard, when he fled, in [he preceiling
year, from EDglsnd, and landed with a few friends ni Sluys, " the most
Hisires»ed company of creaiurex," as Comines affirms, » that ever wrb
seen ;" for Eklwurd had pawned his miliiary cloak, lined with mania fur,
to pay ihe luasier of his ship, and was put on shore in his waiBicrMl.
The lord of Grauthusc rrceived him, and fed and clothed bim. Thia
Ftejning had previously performed a mighty service for Edward, when,
as amWaaUor from Philip of Burgundy, he had visiieil Soilond, and
broken ilie contract between the daughter of itie Scota' queen-regent,
and the son of Margaret of Anjou.'

Finally, Grauthuse lent Edward IV. money and ships, without which
)>« would never have been restored to his country and queen. Aflet
his restoration, Edward invited hia benefactor to England, in order to
l«slify his gratitude, and introduce him to his queen. A journal, writ-
ten either by thia nobleman or his secretary,* has been lately brought to
light, containing the following curious passages : — " When ihe lord of
Grauthuse carae to Windsor, my lord Hastings received him, and led
him to the far side of the quadrant (the quadrangle of Windsor Castle),
t>j three chambera, where the king was then with the queen. These
aparlmenls were very richly hung with cloth of gold arras ; and when
he had spoken with the king, who presented him to the queen's £rac«,
ihey then ordered the lord chamberlain Hastings to conduct him to his
chamber, where supper was ready for him."

After his refreshment, the king had him brought immediately to the
queen's own wiihdra wing-room, where she and her ladies were playing
at the marteaui ;' and some of her ladies were playing at closheys uf
ivoiy,' and some at divere other games, the which sight was full pleasant.
Also king Edward danced with my lady Dizabelh, his eldest (laughter.
•^ In the morning, when matins were done, the king heard in his own
chapel (that of St. George, at Windsor Castle), Our I^dy ntaas, which
was most melodiously sung. When the mass was done, king Edward
gave his guest a cup of gold, garnished with pearl. In the mKlsi of the
cup was a great piece of unicorn's horn, to my estimation seven inches
in compass ; and on the cover of the cup a great sapphire. Then the
king came into the quadrant. My lord prince, also, borne by his cham-
beflain. called master Vaugfian,' bade the lord Grauthuse welcome."

' He WD9 Dppuly in die Low Coumrin for hi> niaaiei, Chailn the Bnld. Louis
of Brunei MCms 10 have united <he characters of nobleman, mercbanl, atul man
of Ipltert. Most of ilie precious MSS. of the Biblioth^DB du Roi an of his
eolI«ating. Ue was likewise an author. 'Monsuelet, vol. ii. p. 313.

'NaintiTa oT Loiii* oC Bmge*, lord Gnuthuie, edited by lii F. Haddeo.
A'chzologi'i. 1S30.

•A game with brnXlt, probably resembling matblea. ,

• Nine-piru, made of ivory.

*This AiiihAiI cbamberlun, who culled che prince, in bis iofhncy, eveiy whsn
■Abe hii father'* ttepi, is llie tame sit Richard Vaughan, wlio teiiified bis fldeliqr
ID his beloved charge in the btoody towers of Poittrrtaci, durtog the usurpation
of Riobaid of Gloucester. He bclongnl to a very Derce and hatdy elan nf
WtUl. man-hm-^n.

■—■ »*^» v«ovi|^«; 1MUUIC9 sccieuuy lo

fide table, at which sat a great vu
room. Also on one side (^ the o
woman. And when they had fii|
eldest daughter, danced with the dt
band."

It appears to hare been the etiq
princess, then but six years old, sJ
uncles.

^ Then about nme of the dock

ladies and gentlewomen, brought til

bcrs of pleasaunce. ail hanged with

the floors covered with carpets. T

of as good down as could be gotten.

fine festoons ; the counterpane doUi

tester and eeifer also shining cloth <

net ; as for his head-suit and pHlo

ordering. In the second chamber

white. Also in the chamber was m

hanged above like a tent, knit like a

the third cliarober was ordained a ba

▼ered with tento of white cloth.'*

Could the present age ofier a mor
in a suite of sleeping-rooms, than in
husband's friend ?

** And when the queen, with all
rooms, the queen, with the king and a

SLIXABBTH WOODTILLS.

, and ipocras^ seired hj the order of the queen. And in the
g he took his cup* with the king and queen, and retnrned to
inster again. And on St. Edward's day, 18th of October, king
I kept his royal state at Westminster Palace. In the forenoon
e into the parliament in his robes, on his head a cap of roainte-
and sat in his most royal majesty, having before him his lords
il and temporal. Then tlie speaker of the common parliament,
William AUington, declared before the king and his nobles the
md desire of his commons, especially in ^ their commendation of
manly behaviour and great constancy of his queen when he was
[ sea \ also the great joy and surety of his land in the birth of the

and the great kindness and humanity of the lord Grauthuse, then
, shown to the king when in Holland.' " Grauthuse was theoi
1 due ceremony, created earl of Winchester,— Occleve, the poet,

aloud his letters patent. Then the king went into the White-
hither came the queen crowned ; also the prince* in his robes of
)ome aAer the queen, in the arms of his chamberlain, master
in. And thus the queen, the king, with the little prince carried
em, proceeded into the abbey-church, and so up to the shrine of
trard, where they ofiered. Then he king turned down into the
Bvhere he sat in his throne. The new earl of Winchester bare
>rd unto the time they went to dinner. As a finale to the enter-
its, king Edward created a king-at-arms, baptising him Guienne.
r was forced to proclaim the largess of the new earl of Winchester,

Master Garter had an impediment in his tonffue," — a cireum-
afifording much mirth to the king. ^ A void* of light refresh*
mras then served to the king, and the lord of Gimuthuse made his

queen's visit to Oxford took place soon after ; it ^vas long reroem-
\ieTe ; she arrived from Woodstock after sunset with the king* her
, and the duchess of Suflblk. They entered Oxford with a great
of people running before the ro3ral charrettes, bearing torchea.
een's brother, Mr. Lionel Woodville, the new chancellor, received
rangued the royal party, who tarried till after dinner the next day.
Idward viewed the new buildings of Magdalen, and made an ora-
praise of Oxford, declaring he had sent his nephews, the sons of
ihess of Suffolk, to be educated there, as a proof of his esteem.'
queen presided over the espousals of her second son, Richard
f York, with Anne Mowbray, the iniant heiress of the duchy of
k. St. Stephen's chapel, where the ceremony was performed,
jT, 1477, was splendidly hung with arras of gold on this occasion,
ing, the young prince of Wales, the three princesses, Elixabeth,

on calls the break fiist rrfre»bment tmking kii emp^ it being generallr of
)re the introdiiction of tea and cotfee.

meal now called tea was, at tliis era, termed ** a Toid.** fVom being the
il of the company. It was nerved on a tray, rince called a voider.
Memorials of Oxford date this toyml visit 1481, at the coropletioo of Mag-
bnt the mention of the duehess of Bedford, the queen's mother, who disd
proves that Elisabeth's visit lo Oxibrd took pistte before tlMH jreat.

r

UOO sou uiauiiervsMnj ivpvc , uc uc

hit &ther^8 unprotected younger ch
twelve yean old at the battle of T
owed hia hiffh station wholly to 1
The best fedings of Edward were
of Qareoce, nor did his return to i
moat sordid motives, raise him in
aesaed, in an exaggerated degree, t
of Plantagenet ^ Ue shall repent
was his usual expression if any oi
kept his word. But if the miadeei
loved, were not likely to be forgi
likely to be forgotten by the que<
Clarence. Her beloved fiither and
his name ; her brother Anthony, tl:
lowly eaoiped a similar (ate, at a t
and responsible agent ; and her m<
his party.

Towards the spring of 1477, C
tions, being exasperated because (
obtain the hand of Mary of fiur|
wealthy marriage, his grief at the
had almost unsettled his reason,
i attendants to death, whom he acci

imputations of sorcery against the
Edward.*

The queen was at Windsor w
brought him that his brother Clar<
for many days, doggedly silent, ^

■ LIXABBTH WOODYILLS. 237

nislied into the council-room, and uttered moet disrespectful woids
aigainst the queen and his royal person, concerning the deaths of his
friends Burdett and Stacy. The comments of the queen did not sootlie
Edward's mind, who hurried to Westminster, and the arrest, arraign-
ment, and sentence of the unhappy Clarence soon followed. He was
condemned to death, but the king demurred on his public execution.
Clarence had, since the death of his belored Isabel, desperately given hinv-
aelf over to intemperance, in order to drown the pain of thought. In his
dismal prison a butt o[ malmsey was introduced, where he could have
access to it The duke was found dead, with his head hanging over the
butt, the night after he had offered his mass-penny at the chapel within
the Tower. Probably Clarence was the victim of his own frailty. He
was beset with temptation ; despair, loneliness, a vexed conscience, a *
habit of drinking, and a flowing butt of his favourite nectar at his elbow,
left little trouble, either to assassins or executioners^ The partisans of
the queen and the duke of Gloucester mutually recriminated his death
on each other. Gloucester was certainly absent from the scene of
action, residing in the north.

On the St. Geoige's day succeeding this grotesque but horrible tragedy,
the festival of the Charter was celebrated with more than usual pomp,
and the queen took a decided part in it, and wore the robes as chief
lady of the oider.

The queen kept up a correspondence by letter with the duchess of
Burgundy, with the ambitious hope of obtaining the hand of Mary of
Burgundy, for her brother, lord Rivers. When the duchess visited the
eourt of England in August, 1480, the queen's youngest brother, sir
Edward Woodville, was sent with a fleet to escort her. The duchess
aojoumed at Cold Harbour, the city residence which lately belonged
to her deceased brother Clarence. Among other gifts, she was pro*
aented, at her departure, with a magnificent side saddle.'

The queen's accomplished brother, lord Rivers, continued his patron-
age to the infant art of printing. In the archbishop of Canterbury's

* History has little more than the traditions of this mysterious fact to relate.
The Bowyer Tower is one of the most retired of that circle of gloomy fortresses
which surround the white Donjon, emphatically called the Tower of London ; it
it declared by Mr. Bayley (History of the Tower) to be the scene of Clarence's
death. It consists of a strong prison-room, with a most suspicious-looking recess,
and vaulted door walled up, a store-room for bows and arrows, and a dungeon.
As neither the offices of cook nor butler could have been performed there, the
malmsey could not have been the remnant of some festivity. For the purpose
of Clarence's destruction, in some way or other, this butt of liquor must have
been introduced into his lodging ; the very fumes of tlie butt, with the head
knocked out, would have destroyed a delicate person. AAer his death the story
went among tlie common people, that being permitted to chooee how he would
die, he requested to be drowned in a butt of malmsey. This tale evidently was
invented from the position in which the corpse was found.

* See Wardrobe accounts of Edward IV., edited by sir Harris Nicolas, p. 13.
who has reasoned in a luminous historical manner on the fallacious inferences
drawn by Walpole regarding the absence of Margaret fhnn England liiice her
elerenth year.

.M...VU* avrvcf was UIO imillOdll

ini^, he made hit AiTourtteB, Stanl
with the queen mnd her &iiiily ; m
monarch exhorted them to protect i
professions of penitence.

If the king left any direetiona for
ing his son's minority, they were n
extant, but one made at the time of
cepting the control of his daughten
autliority to the queen ;' though it h
expressions, all the furniture, jewels
at various palaces, and the possesaii
tunately for her, appropriated to he
of Lancaster.

Eklward expired at Westminster, I
death, his booy, with the fiice, arms,
on a board for nine hours, and all tl
aldermen of London, sent for to re
really dead. Afterwards he was rob<
pMiIter was said over the body, and
knights, in long black gowns and ho
queen's chamberlain, lord Dacre, otii
of DorseU and lord Hastings, bore din
the earl of Lincoln, son of the duchi
attended as chief mourner at his unci
finally taken by water to Windsor, ai
beautiful chapel of St George.

SLIEABBTH WOODV ILLJit S99

I made Nottmgham a palace rojral,
Wiadtor, Eltham, and many other mo;
Yet at the last I went from them all,
£t ecet nunc in puhert donmol
Whore is now my conquest and royal array 1
Where be my coursers and my horses high?
Where is my mirth, my solace, and my play?
As vanity is nought, all is wandered away!"

TliCn addressing his widowed queen by the familiar epithet which tra-
dition says he was accustomed to call her, Edward is supposed to say —

**0h! Lady Bessee, long for me ye may call!
For I am departed until the doomsday ;
But love ye that Lord who is sovereign of all."

Elizabeth was leA, in reality, &r more desolate and unprotected in
her second than in her first widowhood. The young kin? was pursu-
ing his studies at Ludlow castle, and presiding over his prmcipality of
Wales, under the care of his accomplished uncle. Rivers, and the guar-
dianship of his faithful chamberlain, Vaughan, the same person who
carried him in his arms, after the queen and his royal father, on all pub-
lic occasions, when the little prince was a lovely babe of eighteen
months old.

Elisabeth sat at the first council afler the death of her husband, and
proposed that the young king should be escorted to London with a
powerful army. Fatally for himself and his royal master^s children,
jealousy of the Woodvilles prompted Hastings to contradict this prudent
measure. He asked her insolently, ^ Against whom the young sovereign
was to be defended ? Who were his foes ? Not his valiant uncle
Gloucester? Not Stanley, or himself? Was not this proposed force
rather destined to confirm the power of her kindred, and enable them to
violate the oaths of amity they had so lately sworn by the death-bed of
tlieir royal master ?^ He finished by vowing, ^ that he would retire
(rom court, if the young king was brought to London surrounded by
soldiers."

Thus taunted, the hapless Elizabeth gave up, with tears, the precau-
tionary measures her maternal instinct had dictated ; the necessity for
which, not a soul in that infotuated council foreboded but herself, and
even she was not aware of her real enemy. The turbulent and power-
ful aristocracy, at the head of whom was Hastings, and who had ever
opposed her family, were the persons she evidently dreaded. The duke
of Gloucester had been very little at court since the restoration, and
never yet had entered into angry collision with the Woodvilles. He
was now absent, at his government of the Scottish borders. When he
heard of the death of the king, he immediately caused fxlward V. to be
proclaimed at York, and wrote a letter of condolence' to the queen^ so
full of deference, kindness, and submission, tlutt Elizabeth thought she
should lutve a most complying friend in the first prince of the blood.
The council commanded eail Rivers to bring up the young king, unat-

' Carte. Hall.
TOL.UI — 30

y, ..«.. vovvtiu von 10 satety^ u

M Therefore,^ My* Hal V ^ she too
and her daughtara, and went out o
Sanctuary, and there lodged in th(
children and company, were registi
the queen^a eldest son, directly h(
weakly forsook his important trust,
into Sanctuary to his mother. ^ B
then the archbishop of Rotherham,' y
minster Abbey, having received th<
proceedings, called up his serranU
and went to the queen, about whoo
haste, and business, with conreyi
Sanctuary. Every man was busy U
stuft, chests, and &rdel8 (packages)
walked off, with more than they wc
queen sat alone below on the rushei
chronicler adds to this picturesque <
so renowned for its beauty, escaped 1
over her person, swept on the grot]
rigid etiquette of royal widows' cos
that such profusion of glittering tre«
veil, but that even the queen's foreh(
frontlet, and her chin, to the upper
barb. The fiiithful archbishop acqn
cheering message, ^ sent him by lore
** 'Ah, woe worth him !' replied !

BLIXABBTH WOODVILLB. 331

iKwto full of the duke of Gloucester's servants, watching thtft no one
might go to the queen's asylum.''' Sir Thomas More (and he ought to
be good authority for any thing relating to chancellor's seals) affirms,
that the archbishop, alarmed at the step he had taken, went afterwards
to Elizabeth, then in Sanctuary, and persuaded her to return the great
teal ; but Gloucester never forgave him for its original surrender.

The apartments of the abbot of Westminster are nearly in the same
state, at the present hour, as when they received Elizabeth and her train
of young princesses. The noble stone hall, now used as a dining-room
for the students of Westminster School, was, doubtless, the place where
Elizabeth seated herself in her despair, ^ alow on the rushes, all desolate
and dismayed."' Still may be seen the circular hearth in the midst of
the hall, and the remains of a kmvre in the roof, at which such portions
of smoke, as chose to leave the room, departed. But the merry month
of May was entered when Elizabeth took refuge there, and round about
the hearth were arranged branches and flowers, while the stone floor
was strewn with green rushes. At the end of the hall is oak panelling,
latticed at top, with doors, leading by winding stone stairs, to the most
curious nest of little rooms that the eye of antiquary ever looked upon.
These were, and still are, the private apartments of the dignitaries of the
abbey, where all offices of buttery, kitchen, and laundry, are performed,
under many a quaint Gothic arch, in some places (even at present) rich
with antique corbel and foliage. This range, so interesting as a speci-
men of the domestic usages of the middle ages, terminates in the abbot's
own sanctum or sitting-room, which still looks down on his lovely quiet
flower-garden. Nor must the passage be forgotten, leading from this
room to the corridor, furnished with lattices, now remaining, where the
abbot might, unseen, be witness of the conduct of his monks in the
great hall below. Communicating with these are the state apartments
of the royal abbey, larger in dimensions, and more costly in ornament,
richly dight with paintni glass and fluted oak panelling. Among these
may be especially noted, one called the organ- room ; likewise the ante-
chamber to the great Jerusalem Chamber, which last was the abbot's
state reception-room, and retains to this day, with its Gothic window
of painted glass, of exquisite workmanship, its curious tapestry, and
fine original oil portrait of Richard 11.*

Such are the principal features of the dwelling, whose monastic seclu-
sion was once broken by the mournful plaints of tlie widowed queeo^

- —

* Hall, p. 350.

* Hall's expression is, that the queen fled to the abboi'i place, or palace, within
Westminster Abbey; an assertion which proves that Elizabeth was not an in-
mate of the Sanctuary building. It must be remembered that the whole of the
Abbey garden, cemetery, dwellings, and precincts, were sanctuary ground, as
well as the building called tlie S^anctuary.

*The fire-place, before which Henry IV. expired, had been enriched by Henry
VII. with elabonite wood entablatures, bearing his armorial devices; an addition
wliich is the most modern part of this exquisite remnant of domestic antiquity
The authors of this work are indebted fitr the examination of tfie secluded poi
linns of Westminster Abbey to the courteous permission of the rev. Henry Mil

years old. Katharine, bom at Elihi
tween three and four years old; sh
Devonshire. Bridget, bom at Elthai
her third year ; she was devoted to tli
afterwards professed a nun at Dartfon

The qoeen had, in council, appoin
nation ; bis ^se uncle, however, did
day. Edward V. then entered the ci
duke of Gloucestei's retinue, who w(
death of the late monarch. At the h<
himself, habited in black, with his c
low, and pointing out his nephew (wh
velvet) to the homage of the citizens
at the bishop of Ely's palace ; ' but as
an the high clergy) was fitithful to thi
king was soon transferred to the rega
pretence of awaiting his coronation,
get possession of prince Richard, the
long and stormy debate, between the i
pond peenh at a council held in the St
retreat), it was decided ^ that there mi|
but as chUdren could commit no crime
the privileges of sanctuary could not es
of Gloucester, who was now recognise<
himself of his nephew by force, if he
Canterbury was unwilling that force si
a deputation of the temporal peers, to
her son. When they arrived at the Jei

BI.ISABBTH WOODYILLB. 233

•ickneM ? as though priDces, so young as they be, could not play with-
out their peers— or children could not play without their kindred, with
whom (for the most part) they agree worse than with strangers P'

At last she said, ^ My lord, and all my lords now present, 1 will not
be so suspicious as to mistrust your truths.'^ Then, taking young
Richard by the hand, she continued, ^^ Lo, here is this gentleman, whom
I doubt not would be safely kept by me, if 1 were permitted ; and well
do I know there be some such deadly enemies to my blood, that, if they
wist where any lay in their own bodies, they would let it out if they
could. The desire of a kingdom knoweth no kindred ; brothers have
been brothers' bane, and may the nephews be sure of the uncle ? Each
of these children are safe while they be asunder. Notwithstanding, 1
here deliver him, and his brother's life with him, into your hands, and
of you I shall require them before God and man. Faithful be ye I wot
well, and power ye have, if ye list, to keep them safe ; but if ye think
1 fear too much, yet beware ye fear not too little !'' And therewithal,
continued slie, to the child, ^^ Farewell, mine own sweet son ! God send
you good keeping ! Let me kiss you once ere you go, for God knoweth
when we shall kiss together again !"

And therewith she kissed and blessed him, and turned her back and
wept, leaving the poor innocent child weeping as fast as herself. '

When the archbishop and the deputation of lords had received the
young duke, tiiey brought him into the Star-chamber, where the lord

Crotector took him in his arms, with these words, ^ Now, welcome, my
>rd, with all my very heart!" He then brought him to the bishop's
palace at St. Paul's, and from thence honourably through the city to the
young king at the Tower, out of which they were never seen abroad.

Meantime, preparations went on, night and day, in the abbey and the
vicinity, for the coronation of Edward V. Even the viands for the ban-
quet were bought, which Hall declares were aAerwards spoilt and thrown
away.' On the 13th of June, Richard of Gloucester called a councU at
the Tower, ostensibly to fix the precise time of tlie coronation, but in
reality to ascertain which of the lords were in earnest to have young
Edward for tlieir king. The first attack on Elizabeth took place at this
council Uible, when Gloucester, after finding Hastings incorruptible in
his fealty to the heirs of Edward IV., broke out uito a strain of invective
against him, as leagued with that ^ witch dame Gray, called his brother's
wife, who, in conjunction with Jane Shore, liad by their sorceries
withered his arm." He showed his arm, which all present well knew

* Sir Thomas More ; aud Hall, p. 358. These historians, with greiit appear*
ance of truth, place Elizabeth's surrender of the duke of York some days before
the executions of her son Richard Gray and her brother, at PontefracL

•Karl. MSS. 4:Ki, KtSl, is a note of 14/. Us. td. paid to John Belle, being a
<»mpo.«ition for his charges of 32/. for the supply of wild fowl bought for the in-
tended coronation of ^ Edward, tlie bastard son of king Edward IV.*' He wa*
thus designated in tlie charge the court tailor made for his dress prepared foi
this ceremony. The partisans of Richard HI. have made some odd mistakes, as
if he wore the dress at his uncle's coronation ; but he no more wore the dresi
than he ate this wild fowl
20 •

.»^^M*«;i , lie repeaiea m

upon her name, mnd reaped no 1
malice.

Soon afterwards^ the fiiction of
petition, to prevent the crown from
marriage between king Edward ai
assent of the lonis of the land, ant
and her mother Jaquetta (as the pul
and secretly, in a chamber, without
the laudable custom of the churcl
being married and tn>th-plight a lor
daughter to the old earl of Shre^
Richard as king, in the hall of Cro
lowed the presentation of this peti
the son of Elizabeth was considered
ard III. took place ten days afler.

Among the gloomy range of fortn
tion has pointni out the Portcullis 1
the young princes. The royal chile
building when their uncle came to t
roents in the Tower, on the 4th of J

'AH Richard's pri\'mte councils were he
at Baynards Castle, where she was then
niOHt of his proceedings (see Walpole't I.
his letters, there is little duubt but what
attack was tliat of an officious partisan, e
information of what was required fVon
iHend. the lord-mamr — *

BLIXABBTH WOODTILLB. 835

princes were both shut up, and all their people removed^ but only one,
called Black Will, or Will Slaughter, who was set to senre them, and
four keepers to guard them. The young king was heard to say, sigh-
ingly, ^ I would mine uncle would let me have my life, though he taketh
my crown.' After which time the prince never tied his points, nor any
thing attended to himself, but with that young babe, his brother, lingered
in thought and heaviness till the traitorous deed delivered them from
wretchedness."

During Richard^s progress to the north, he roused sir James Tyrrel
from his pallet bed, in his guard-chamber, one night at Warwick, and
sent him to destroy the royal children. Sir Robert Brakenbury refused
to co-operate, but gave up the keys of the Tower for one night to the
usurper's emissary.

^ Then sir James Tyrrel devised that the {nrinces should be murdered
in bed, to the execution whereof he appropriated Miles Forest, one of
their keepers, a fellow flesh-bred in murder ; and to him he joined one
John Dighton, his own horse-keeper, a big, broad, square knave. All
their other attendants being removed from them, and the harmless chil-
dren in bed, these men came into their chamber, and suddenly lapping
them in the clothes, smothered and stifled them till thoroughly dead ;
then laying out their bodies in the bed, they fetched sir James to see
them, who caused the murderers to bury them at the stair-foot, deep in
the ground, under a heap of stones. Then rode sir James in great haste
to king Richard, and showed him the manner of the murder, who gave
him great thanks, but allowed not their burial in so vile a comer, but
would have them buried in consecrated ground. Sir Robert Brakenbury^s
priest then took them up, and where he buried them was never known,*
for he died directly afterwards."

^But when," continues sir Thomas More, ^the news was first
brought to the unfortunate mother, yet being in sanctuary, that her

breviatcd, have been followed. Later diiooveries have shown that Tyrrel was
vice^ondtable of England, under Edward IV. and u^d to put illegal executioiis
into effect.

' Sir Thomas More has, in these accounts, followed the deposition of the crimi-
nals who perpetrated tlie dark deed. Tyrrel was condemned so late as 1499,
lor some minor Yorkist plot, and gave this information before his execution. His
•▼idence, and that of his satellites, was diWy corroborated by the bones disco*
Tered under the stairs of the Record Office in 1664, which office was no other
than tkt cKapel within thi Towtr; a spot which embraced the two requisite ob-
jects of concealment and consecration. Tlie murderous usurper, whose first pang
of conscience originated in the unchristian manner of bis victim's burial, ortlered
them to be exhumed from under the stairs where they were first put, and laid m •
kalkfwtd place. The priest of the Tower found no spot equally sacred and secret
as the entrance to his own chapel, in which service was then performed every
day. The desecration of the cliapel and the change of its name to that of the
Rc^rd Office, have prevented historians from identifying it as a consecrated
spot, perftH:tIy agreeing with Richard's directions. Henry VII., who could only
gain intelligence of tlie firtt burial, vainly searched for the bodies, as the priest
of the Tower, who could have directed him, had died soon aiWr ho had trans*
ferre<l the boflien. ami the i^errot diod with him ; till the alteration of the chapol
iuto a d<*p6: for pa|>ers re venled it iu the reign of Charles 11.

W

dared Uiat the imprecatioiu of the a
The wretched queen^s health sanl
inflicted by these murden, which ha
cutioo of her son^ lord Richard Gra
at PoDtefract She waa visited in a
Lewis,* who likewise attended Mai
Todor, earl of Richmond, then an exi
ing the princess Eliiabeth with this i
WIS first suggested to the desolate •
embraced the proposition, and the go
of daily visits, the medium of negotia
queen finally agreed to recognise He
be were able to dispossess the usui
daughter.

Buckingham, having been disgusted
rose in arms. The queen's son. Dor
loary by the agency of his friend L«o
taised an insurrection in Yorkshire, w.
Edward Woodville; but, on Buckingl
he continued the treaty for the marria
royal, and Henry Tudor.

After the utter failure of Buckingh
reduced to despair, and finally was foi
render herself and daughters into th*
1484. For this step she has been bhu
not taken a clear and close view of
She had probablv. in th* #•#*».— -^

SLIZABBTH WOODVILLK. 337

he kept s gnard of soldiers round the abbey, commanded by John Net-
field, who watched all comers and goers. Elizabeth, however, would
not leare her retreat, without exacting a solemn oath, guaranteeing the
nfety of her children from Richard ; which the usurper took in the
presence of the lord-mayor and aldermen, as well as the lords o( the
council. The terms of EUizabeth^s surrender are peculiarly bitter ; for it is
CTident that she and her daughters not only descended into the rank of
mere private gentlewomen, but she herself was held in personal restraint,
iince the annuity of seven hundred marks, allotted by act of parliament
for her subsistence, was to be paid, not to her, but to John Nesfield,
squire of the body to king Richard, ^for the finding, exhibition and
attendance of Dame Elizabeth Gray (late calling herself queen of Eng-
land)." Thus Elizabeth had not a servant she could call her own, for
this myrmidon of king Richard^s was to find her, not only with food
and clothes, but attendance.

Afler leaving sanctuary, some obscure apartments in the palace of
Westminster are supposed to have been the place of her abode. From
thence she wrote to her son Dorset at Paris, to put an end immediately
to the treaty of marriage between the earl of Richmond and the princess
Elizabeth, and to return to her. The parties who had projected the
marriage were struck with consternation, and greatly incensed at the
queen's conduct ; but these steps were the evident result of the personal
restraint she was then enduring.

If Richard III. chose to court her daughter as his wife, queen Eliza-
beth ought to be acquitted of blame ; for it is evident, that if she had
been as yielding in the matter as commonly supposed, she would not
have been under the control of John Nesfield.

The successful termination of the expedition undertaken by the earl
of Richmond, to obtain his promised bride, and the crown of Enghndy
at onoe avenged the widowed queen and her family on the usurper, and
restored her to liberty. Instead of being under the despotic control of
the royal hunchback's man-at-arms, the queen made joyful preparation
lo receive her eldest daughter, who was brought to her at Westminster,
from Sheriff Hutton, with honour, attended by a great company of noble
ladies.'

Queen Elizabeth had the care of her daughter till the January follow-
ing the battle of Bosworth, when she saw her united in marriage to
Henry of Richmond, the acknowledged king of England.

One of Henry VII.'s first acts was to invest the mother of his queen
with the privileges and state befitting her rank, as the widow of an Eng-
lish sovereign. She had never been recognised as queen-dowager,
excepting in the few wrangling privy-councils that intervened, between
the death of her husband, and her retreat into the abbey of Westminster ;
and even during these, her advice had been disregarded, and her orders
defied ; therefore to Henry Vll., her son-in-law, she oweil the first re-
gular recogrnition of her rights, as widow of an English sovereign. Un*
Fortunately Elizabeth had not been dowered on the lands anciently

>Lord BMK>n't Life of Henry VII. p. 2.

xE«»iiuu{^ii ou iiiucii nas oren said i
tecution of his mother-in-law, this,
her which appears on the rolls, is n
the were deprived of her rights ai
exists of the fact, excepting mere as
eontemporaries, to be credited with
era when a country was divided into
the reign of Henry Vll. in a continu
yjl. personally disliked his mother
means singular, for there never wai
more personal enemies ; hut that he
or dignity, remains yet to be proved

This queen had passed through
wean the most frivoloos person trot
to mourn the untimely deaths of thr
daughters wholly destitute, and dep
can therefore scarcely be matter of
■he seldom shared in the gaieties of ]
the appeared there frequently enough
dons, that she fell into disgrace with
lions of the earl of Lincoln and La
possible ? The earl of Lincoln had
by Richard HI., and, as such, was t
and Lambert Simnel represented a yo
her enemy, and the grandson of the i
foe of all the house of Woodville.
declared to be in disgrace for such ui

BLIXABBTn WOODTILLJi* S39

«

dnl.'^ After describing the proce9sion, in which the princess Cicely
carried the infant, the historian adds, ^ Queen Ellizab^th was in the
cathedral, abiding the coming of the prince ; she gave a rich cup of gold,
covered, which was borne by Sir Davy Owen. The earl of Derby gave
a gold salt, and the Lord Mai tra vers gave a cofier of gold ; these stand-
ing with the queen as sponsors.'' *

Soon afterwards, Henry VII. songht to strengthen his interest in
Scotland, by negotiating a marriage between James III. and his mother^
iii4aw, a husband certainly young enough to be her son ; yet his violent
death alone prevented her from wearing the crown matrimonial of Scot-
land^— when she would have been placed in a situation to injure her
•on-in-law, if such had been her wish.

The last time the queen-dowager appeared in public was in a situa-
tion of the highest dignity. The queen-consort had taken to her cham-
ber, previously to her accouchement, in the close of the year 1489,
when her mother, Elizabeth Woodville, received the French ambassador*
in great state, assisted by Margaret, the king's mother.

The next year, Henry VII. presented his mother-in-law with an annu-
ity of 400/.' No surrender of lands of equal value has yet been disco-
vered ; yet, strange to say, historians declare she was stripped of every
thing, because about this time she retired into the convent of Bermond-
•ey. Here she had every right to be, not as a prisoner, but as a che-
rished and highly honoured inmate : for the prior and monks of Ber-
mondsey were solemnly bound, by the deeds of their charter, to find
hoapitality for the representatives of their great founder, Clare, earl of
Gloucester, in the state-rooms of the convent^ Now Edward IV. was
heir to the Clares, and Elizabeth, queen-dowager, had every right, as his
widow, to appropriate the apartments expressly reserved for the use of
the founder.' She had a right of property there ; and as it was the cus-
iom in the middle ages, for royal persons to seek monastic seclusion,
when health declined, not only for devotional purposes, but for medical
advice, where could Elizabeth better retire, than to a convent bound by
its charter to receive her ? Eighteen months afler, she was seized with a
&tal illness at Bermondsey, and, on her death-bed, dictated the following
wiU.^

■• In the name of God, 6ui^ 10th April, 1493, 1, Elisabeth, by the grace of God
qaeeii of England, late wife to the moit victorious prince of bletced memory,
Edward IV.

«• Itewi. I bequeath my body to be buried with the body of my lord at Windsor,
without pompous interring or costly expenses done thereabout. Item, Whereas
I have no worldly goods to do the queen's grace, my dearest daughter, a plea-
sore with, neither to reMrard any of my children, according to my heart and
mind, I beseech God Almighty to bless her grace with all her noble issue, and
with as good a heart and mind as may be, I give her grace my blessing, and al.

> Leiand, Collectanea, vol. iv. p. 349. *Ibid.

• Memoir of Elizabeth of York, by sir Harris Nicolas.

« Quoted in Londinum Redivivum, by Malcolm, ftom Annales Abbatv de Bar
moiulsey, formerly belonging to the Howard ftmily, now in the British Musemu

* The noble panelled halls and state-chambers in this convent were, in 18^4,
standing nearly in the same state as when Elisabeth occupied them.

died the t nd.y before Whiironlkfa
f«r .p«dy «,d private boml, hS
I4W. Her will rfiows il»t she cli.
•ban. no proof of prerioue peneea.

*«• pronded for, died not much i
•"Mbr perMoe, who h«J only . lif

Eiiabeih had four danrhter* wl

their matotenance. The treat xtoat
•^ed her hated d«ighteMn^w ,

Of Eiiabeth, ha« dewnbed it, and p»

S \u^ *''•' "complied tS: ^
from the nrer to Windaor Quile. «
•hughter of Edward IV.* ^

to W^'liI!'"'"'?^^' 'h" queen-dowa«
•oWmdaor, and Uiere pririly, Um,^

«wle, withoat any ringin*^ bellf ,
«com«u,ied by L ^of of Se C
Haute,* and Misti*-, HL.L?'J?^. Y

BLISABSTH WOODTILLB. 341

^On the Tuesday hither came, by water, king Edward^s three
daughters, the lady Anne, the lady Katherine, and the lady Bridget (the
nun-princess), from Dartford, accompanied by the marchioness of Dor-
set, the daughter of tlie duke of Buckingham ; the queen^s niece,' the
daughter of the marquis of Dorset; lady Herbert, also niece to the
queen ; dame Katherine Gray ; dame Guilford (governeas to the children
of Elizabeth of York) ; their gentlewomen walked behind the three
daughters of the dead. Also, that Tuesday came the marquis of Dorset,
son to the queen ; the earl of Essex, her brother-in-law ; and the vis-
count Welles, her son-in-law. And that night began the dirge. But
neither at the dirge were the twelve poor men clad in black, but a dozen
divers old men,'' — that is, old men dressed in the many-coloured gar-
ments of poverty,—^^ and they held old torches and torches' ends. And
the next morning one of the canons, called master Vaughan, sang Our
Lady mass, at the which the lord Dorset offered a piece of gold ; he
kneeled at the hearse-head. The ladies came not to the mass of re-
quiem, and the lords sat about in the quire. My lady Anne came to
ofler the mass-penny, and her officers-at-arms went before her; she
oflered tHe penny at tlie head of the queen, wherefore she had the carpet
and the cushion. And the viscount Welles took his (wife's) oflfering,
and dame Katherine Gray bare the lady Anne's train ; every one of the
king's daughters ofiered. The marquis of Dorset ofiered a piece of

Sold, and idi the lords at their pleasure ; the poor knights of W iudsor,
ean, canons, yeomen, and officers-at-arms, all oflered, and after mass
the lord marqnis paid the cost of the funeral."

At the east end of St Greorge's chapel, north aisle, is the tomb of
Edward IV., being a monument of steel, representing a pair of gates
between two towers, of ancient Gothic architecture.' On a flat stone at
the foot of this monument are engraven, in old English chai«cters, the
words,

Wnfl BtrtsaU sun tCs tfUictii, Slffiftet^ OTHiUlle.

In 1810, when the place of sepulture for the fiunily of George III.
was in course of prepaimtion, at the east end of St George's chapel, aa
excavation was formed in the solid bed of chalk, of the full size of the
edifice above, when two stone coffins, containing the bodies of queen
Elizabeth Woodville and her son prince George, were discovered, fif-
teen feet below the surface: thus realising the emphatic words of
Southey —

•* Thoui Elizabeth, art hers: I Who wert placed upon the bier

Tbott to whom all griefs were known; | In happier hour than on a throne.**

* Banister of her sister Katherine, who married Bnckingham.

*Thit beaatiful work of art it said to be bj the hand o£ Quentin Matsyi, the
Fleniiah blaekftmitb-painter; it hat the appearance of black lace.

*The third ton of Elisabeth, who died in infrnoy. The coffin of her tecoiul
daughter, the princen Mary, a beautiful girl of fifteen, who died the year befiwa
her lather, wat toon after ditcoyered. A curl of hair, of the moet eiquitite pale
pold, had Inrinnated itself through the ehinks of the ooffia; it wat cut ofl; and is
ia Une pretervation.

9i Warwick, lut PteBifwnrt qM
York mmI \MVfmimn — Her ftimorwl be
•rd of Qlonc^etBt HU earlj •coaainimi
hagv of her sMtr — RetnnM to Eagfun
buile— DiftfCM before Celei*— Lendt
prinee of Wilet Bemiiut with qaec
Cloeemir wiibee to marry her — Her ■
-^Riehaid diaoovers her— She reaidea «
piopertf— GmpeUed to marrj Rkha
aoo^Raudeaee at Bfiddleham^Daatl
lor Loodoo — Anne't arhTal at the Ton
Dorth— Her ■on— Re-oorooatioo of Rk
qneen — Death of her tOD— Her filial f
lioii of her hashand refaidinf her — I
ooonplaiiits— Her kindneia to FJiiabei
bariaL

AiTHB OF Wabwick, the hit of oi
who had prerioatly borne the title o
Warwick Cattle, io the year 1454.'
choly portimit of this onfoituoate lai
raateroal aDcestrj, called the Rous Ri
trodoced, oflering U> her the rival ero
the while bear, the cogniiaoce aeaui

* There have been bat ax princeMoe of
left widows ; and it is singular, that all
qneen-consorts, neither of them derired
she had wedded. The first princea of
the Black Prince, died of a broken heart
the widow of Edward of Lancaster, prif
Hke misfortunes of Katharine of Arracon,

▲ RRB OF WAmwicx. 343

the kiog-maker, lies muzzled at her feet, as if the royal lions of Plan-
tagenet had quelled the pride of that hitherto tameless bear, oa the
blood-stained heath of Barnet

The principal events which marked the career of her ftther have been
traced in the memoirs of the two preceding queens. Richard Neville,
sumamed the king-making earl of Warwick, was heir, in right of the
countess his mother, to the vast inheritance of the Montagues, earls of
Salisbury. He aggrandized himself in a higher degree by his union, in
1448, with Anne, the sister of Beauehamp, earl of Warwick, who had
become sole heiress of that mighty line, by the early death of her niece
the preceding year. Richard was soon after summoned to the house of
lords, in right of his wife, as earl of Warwick. He possessed -an in-
come of 22,000 marks per annum, but had no male heir, his fiunily con-
sisting but of two daughters ; the eldest, lady Isabel,' was very hand-
some. Bucke calls lady Anne ^ the better woman of the two,'' but he
gives no reason for the epithet

When, on the convalescence of king Henry, Mai^ret of Anjou re-
covered her former influence in the government, Warwick, having good
reason to dread her vengeance, withdrew, with his countess and younc
daughters, to his government of Galais, where much of the childhood
and early youth of the lady Anne were spent Occasionally, indeed,
when the star of York was in the ascendant, Warwick brought the ladies
of his fiunily, either to his feudal castle, or his residence in Warwick
Lane. The site of this mansion is still known by the name of War^
wick Court Here the earl exercised semi-barbarous hospiuility, in the
year 1458,' when a pacification was attempted, between the warring
houses of York and Lancaster ; six hundred of the retainers of Anne's
&ther were quartered in Warwick Lane, ^ all dressed alike in red jackets,
with the bear and ragged staflf embroidered both before and behind. At
Warwick House, six oxen were daily devoured for break&st, and all the
taverns about St Paul's and Newgate Street were full of Warwick's
meat, for any one who could claim acquaintance with that earl's red-
jacketed gentry might resort to his flesh-pots, and, sticking his dagger
therein, carry ofi* as much beef as could be taken on a long dagger."

At this period the closest connexion subsisted between the £unilies
i)f the duke of York and the earl of Warwick. Richard PlanUigenet
afterwards Richard HI., was two years older than the lady Anne ; he was
bora October 2d, 1452, at his lather's princely castle of Fotheringay.
He was the youngest son of Richard duke of York and his duchess
Cicely, the earl of Warwick's aunt ^At his nativity," says Rous, a
contemporary chronicler, ^ the scorpion was in the ascendant ; he came
into the world with teeth, and with a head of hair reaching to his shoul-
ders. He was small of stature, with a short &ce and unequal shoulderS|
the right being higher than the leA."'

> Bom at Warwick CafUe, 1451. Rout Roll, Herald't College.

* 8lo¥r*t London.

* Tbo oft-quoted tattimonjr of the old oonnteet of Desmond ought not to invmb-
daie this statement; for many a lady would think any prince handtome who
bed danced with her. Rout knew Ridiard well\ Ua ma. v>uV| AAVitM:«M^\k\addk
WifiD the pen, hut with peuciL— 4)ee the Eous BoVL

ICIi iiaiiu f 111* aivKsi) »iiv uuvii

maklens his cousins, the ladr Anne a
to himJ These ladies must have be<
the prince, by allbrding him coropa
coontess of Warwick, their mother, i
much lower in dignity. Richard be
aunt, an intimacy naturally subsisted
jerres, a Flemish annalist, affirms tha
aftctiou for his cousin Anne ; but s
lady did not bestow the same regard
on his brother Clarence, nor was it tc
agreeable person and temper. As lad;
backed cousin, there was no inducei
of huf brother, king Edward.

h was in vain his brother Qarem
wick, <*By sweet 9l George I swei
would ioin me, 1 would make Edwa
•ons, which should be nearer to him t

Anne was, at this juncture, with
^ For,** continues Hall,* *• the earl of ^
sailed directly thither, where they we
entertained by the countess of Wan
aAer the duke had sworn on the sac
mise with the earl, he married Isabel
the presence of the countess and her

The earl of Warwick, accompanief
returned with the newly-wedded pair
in-law soon raised a civil war, that
After the loss of the battle of Edgec
with his familv to Dartmouth, where

▲ MHB Of WAmwicx. IM5

in labour, with her first child.' In the midst of this accumulation of
disasters, the tempest-tossed bark made the offing of Calais ; but in spite
of the distress on board, Vauclere, whom Warwick had left as his lieu-
tenant, held out the town against him, and would not permit the ladies
to land ; he, however, sent two flagons of wine on board, for the duchess
of Clarence, with a private message, assuring Warwick ^ that the refusal
arose from the townspeople,*' and advising him to make some other port
in France.' The duchess of Clarence soon after gave birth, on board
ship, to the babe who had chosen so inappropriate a time for his en-
trance into a troublesome world, and the whole family landed safely at
Dieppe, the beginning of May, 1470. When they were able to travel,
the lady Anne, her mother and sister, attended by Clarence and War-
wick, journeyed across France to Amboise, where they were graciously
received by Louis XI., and that treaty was finally completed which made
Anne the wife of Edward, the gallant heir of Lancaster.'

This portion of the life of Anne of Warwick is so inextricably inter*
woven with that of her mother-in-law, queen Margaret, that it were vain
to repeat it a second time. Suffice it to observe that the bride was in her
seventeenth, the bridegroom in his nineteenth year, and that Prevost
afiirros that the match was one of ardent love on both sides. The
prince was well educated, refined in manners, and, moreover, his portrait
in the Rous Roll bean out the tradition that he was eminently hand-
some. The ill-fiited pair remained in each other's company from their
marriage at Angera, in August 1470, till the fatal field of Tewksbury,
May 4th, 1471.^

Although the tevtiraony of George Bucke must be received with the
utmost caution,' yet he quotes a contemporary Flemish chronicler,' who
afiHrms that ^ Anne was with her husband, Edward of Lancaster, when
that unfortunate prince was hurried before Edward lY., after the battle
of Tewksbury, and that it was observed, Richard duke of Gloucester
was the only pereon present who did not draw his sword on the royal
captive, out of respect to the presence of Anne, as she was the near
relative of his mother, and a person whose affections he had always de-
sired to possess."

English chroniclera, however, affirm that, at this very moment Anne
was with her unhappy mother-in-law, queen Bfargaret AAer Margaret
was taken away to the Tower of London, Clarence privately abducted
his sister-HU-law, under the pretence of protecting her. As he was her
sister's husband, he was exceedin^y unwilling to divide the united inhe-
ritance of Warwick and Salisbury, which he knew must be done, if his
brother Gloucester carried into execution his avowed intention of mar-
rying Anne. But very dififerent was the conduct of the young widow

'Hall, p. 279. 'Cominai. 'Ibid. « Hall, p. 28a

*Sir John Bucke wms in the tervkse of Richard III., and high in hit fiivoar; he
waa beheaded at Leicester after the battle of Botworth, and his Suniiy nearly
ruined. For this reason the atmoM degree of pertonal prejudice guides the pea
of Richard's hintorian, liis descendant, when vindicating that usurper, and a^eit
'ng the reputation of everjr oonnexioii of Henrf VIL
* W. Keimet. Bucke, vol. i. p. 549.
21 •

iMT ; mis was mucn disapproved by t
who did not wish to divide his wife
the yoanf lady. But the cunning of
her, in the disguise of a cook-maid in
diately transferred her to the sanctuar
need^l this asylum, because she was
hapless mother and queen Maigaret w

The unfortunate widow of prince E
the protection of her uncle Oeoige,' i
e?en permitted to visit and comfort hi
at the Tower; but as she still rasa
deprived of her unde^s protection, 1
cousin.

The unfortunate mother of Anne n
first taken, till the same year. A let
serves, ^ that the countess of Warwi
and that sir James Tyrrel' conveyeth
Clarence liketh it not" And on Api
world seemeth queasy, for all the pers<
sent for their armour, on account of
htance of Anne."^

The dispute was debated in counc
assigning certain lands to the duke c
rest of the estate to Clarence. This
of Anne, countess of Warwick, the m<
true heiress of the vast estates of De
act of parliament specified ^ that the e<

^ Continuator of Cropland ChroDicle, p. 5
espresflions, appears to have at one time

▲ RMB OF WAmWICK. 9t4T

to be considered, in the award of her inheritance, than if she were
dead." ' In hct, Rous accuses Richard of incarcerating, during his life,
^ the venerable countess Anna, the rightful mistress of the Warwick patri-
mony, when in her distress she fled to him, as her son-in-law, for pro-
tection," an ill-deed which has not commonly been enumerated in the
ample list of Richard^s iniquities.

The marriage of the lady Anne and Richard duke of Gloucester took
place at Westminster,' 1473, probably a few days before the date of
Paston's letter. Prevost affirms she was compelled by violence to marry
Richard. Some illegalities were connected with this ceremony, assur-
edly arising from the reluctance of the bride, since the Parliamentary
Rolls of the next year contain a curious act, empowering the duke of
Gloucester ^ to continue the full possession and enjoyment of Anne's .
property, even if she were to divorce hinij provided he did his best to
be reconciled and re-married to her :" — ominous clauses relating to a
wedlock of a few months ! — but which prove that Anne meditated avail-
ing herself of some informality in her abhorred marriage ; but if she
had done so, her husband would have remained in possession of her
property. The informalities most likely arose from the want of the
poper bulls to dispense with relationship; and as the free consent of
both bride and bridegroom was an indispensable preliminaiy to such
dispensation, the absence of these legal instruments negatively prove
that the unfortunate Anne Neville never consented to her second mar-
riage. The birth of her son Edward at Middleham Castle, 1474, pro-
bably reconciled the unhappy duchess of Gloucester to her miserable
fate ; but that her marriage was never legalised, may be guessed by the
mmotun of a subsequent period, when the venomous hunchback, her
eousin-husband, meditated in his turn divorcing her,

Richard and Anne lived chiefly at Middleham Castle, in Yorkshire,
an abode convenient for the office borne by the duke, as governor of
the northern marches. As a very active war was proceeding with Scot-
land, in the course of which Richard won several battles, and captured
Edinburgh,' his reluctant wife was not troubled much with his com-
pany, but devoted herself to her boy, in whom all her aflections were
centred, and the veiy springs of her life wound up in his welfare. Dur-
ing her abode at Middleham she lost her sister, the duchess of Clarence,
who died December 12th, 1476.

The death of Edward IV. caused a great change in the life of Anne.
The duke of Gloucester, who had very recently returned from Scotland,
left Anne and his bov at Middleham, when he departed, with a troop of
horse, to intercept his young nephew, Edward v., on progress to Lon-
don. Richard's household-book^ at Middleham, affords some notitia
regarding the son of Anne of Warwick, during his (athet's absence.
Geoflry Frank is allowed 22«. dd, for greencloth, and Is. Sd. for making
it into gowns for my lord prince and Mr. Neville ; 5s. for choosing a

Cfcrte, Reign of Edwnrd IV^ 1473.
* ^prott Fragment, at to place ; but it gives dttte, 1474. Hntton givei 1473, m
the date. * Holingthed. « HarleiMi MSS^ 433.

wiui iicr son, in ume lo share tier
think her arriTal was but just bef*
the occasion, was only bought l
There is an order to ^ Piers Can
qneen, four and a half yards of p
July 3d.^ Short time had the tin
day their skill in the fitting of her
be worn on the 6th of the same
who had preriously been prodaimc
son, in great stale, by water, frc
where his hapless little prisooers w
ments, and were consigiied to a tof
the Bloody Tower.' The same d
created prince of Wales.' The gra
and their young heir, through the c
they were attended from the Towc
sans, whom tlie king and queen <
who were regarded by the citiiens i
pack of vagabonds. The next da}
ard and his queen took place, wit
great part of which had been prepa
Edward V.

*^ On the following day," says G

His wife, came down out of the wl

ainster, and went directly to the ]

»ime, and from thence the king and

cloth unto king Edward^s shrine, i

▲ miB Of WAEWICK. 91$

**Theii came,'' eontinues a contemporary manuscript,' " onr aorcreign
lady the queen, over her head a canopy, and at every corner a bell of
gold ; and on her head a circlet of gold, with many precious stones set
therein ; and on every side of the queen went a bishop ; and my lady of
Richmond' bare the queen's train. So they went from St Edward's
shrine to the seats of state by the altar, and when the king and queen
were seated, there came forth their highnesses' priests and clerks, sing^
ing most delectably, Latin and pricksong,* full royally." This part of the
ceremonial concluded, ^ the king and queen came down from their seats
of estate, and the king had great observance and service." Our autho-
rity states, that the king and queen ^ put off their robes, and stood all
naked from their waists upwards,^ till the bishop had anointed them."
Their majesties afterwards assumed their robes of cloth of gold, and
cardinal Morton crowned them both with much solemnity. The priests
«nd clerks sung ^ Te Deum" with great royalty. The homage was
paid at that part of the mass called the ofiertory, during which time the
queen sat with the bishops and peeresses, while Richard received the
kiss of fealty from his peers. The bishops of Exeter and Norwich
stood on each side the queen ; the countess of Richmond was on her
led hand, and the duchess of Norfolk knelt behind the queen with the
other ladies. Then the king and queen came down to the high altar
and kneeled, and anon the cardinal turned him about with the holy
sacrament in his hand, and parted it between them both, and thus they
received the good Lord."

Their crowns were ofiisred, as usual, at St Edward's shrrne. The
king proceeded out of the abbey-church, and the queen followed, bear-
ing the sceptre in her right hand, and the dove with the rod in her left,
ao going forth till they came to the high dais at Westminster Hail ; and
when they came there, they lefr their canopies standing, and retired to
their chambei Meantime the duke of Norfolk* came riding into West-
minster Hall, his horse trapped with cloth of gold down to the ground,
and he voided it of all people but the king's servants. And the duke
of Buckingham called to the marshal, saying how ^ the kinff would
have his lords sit at four boards in the hall ;" and at four o'clock the
king and queen came to the high dais. On the queen's riffht hand stood
my lady Surrey, and on her left the lady Nottingham, holding a canopy
of state over her head.

*Harleian MSS., 2115. Commutiieated bj John Bnce, Esq.

' Mother of Heniy Tudor, afterwards Henry VII.

* Meaning they tang from musical notes set in alternate parts.

*This expression, which appears startling at first, merely implies the Act that
Jtiohard and Anne were then divested of their regal mandes and insignia, pre-
paratory to being anointed, and renmined in their under garments^ The attire
in use, during the administration of that rite, is particularly described in the
** Order for the coronation of the kings of France,** as " close-fitting tunics of silk,
having apertures on the breast, and between the shoulders, which at the time
prescribed were drawn aside, in order that the consecrating prelate might traoe
the sign of the cross, with the tip of the thumb moistened in the chrism, as or-
dained in the pontifical."

*OralVon asserts that there were three duchesses of Norfolk present Kso^ dir
;nftat wiflp of Richard duke of Tork must have been one of the<A.«

•

I

king and her sou. Uere Richani
progress, ending at Tewlubury.
menced a splendid progT«aa» in n
latee and peens and the Spanish a
an alliance between tlie eldest dau
Isabella, and the aoo of Richard 1
j Warwick GbMie, the place of her

&ther, which belonged to the yo
sister Inbel and the duke of Clai
the queen brought him with her
Warwick Castle, where they kept
week. It must have been at this f
of Richard III., and their son, wen
pular opinion concerning Richard's
for his figure, if not crooked, is deci<
ance be attributed to the artist's lac
form, for the neighbouring portrai
Annexe &ther, the great earl of War
meant for a model of St George,
thick shoulders, and no neck. Sun
not been matter of great notoriety,
noble sketch as that of the earl, woi
and shoulders in quite such close coi
was alive, when this series of portra
flattery exists, in all probability Rid
Among other contemporary desi

I GraHon, collated with the Harleiftn 1
•The whole paragraph it from Rft»i«'*

AHHB OF WAEWIOK.

»1

known, it the following metrical portrait* The aothor teems inelined
to apologise for drawing him as he really was :—

*' The king*8 own brother, he, I mean,
Who wns deformed hy nature :
Crook-backed and ill-conditioned ;

Worse-faced— an ugly creature;
Tet a great peer, for princes — peer*-*
Are not always beauteons."

From Warwick Castle queen Anne and king Richard went to Coven-
Iry, where was dated August 15th, 1488, a memorandum of an account
of 180/. owed to Richard Gowles, mercer, London, for goods delivered
for the use of queen Anne, as specified in hills in the care of John Ken-
dal, the king's secretary. The court arrived at York, August 31. The
re-eoronation of the king and queen, likewise the re-investiture of
prince Edward of Gloucester as prince of Wales, took place soon after,
at this city ; measures which must have originated in the fact, that the
tons of Edward IV. having been put to death during the northern pro-
gress of the court, the usurper considered that oaths of allegiance,
taken at the re-coronation, would be more legal than when the right
heira were alive. The overflowing paternity of Richard, which, per-
haps, uived him to commit some of his crime&i thus speaks, in his
patents fer creating his son prince of Wales : ^ Whose singular wit and
endowments of nature wherewith (his young age considered) he is re-
inarkaby furnished, do portend, by the favour of God, that he will
make an honest man."' But small chance was there for such a mira-
cle, if his life had been spared. It is curious that Richard III. should
express hopes for his son's future honesty, at the very moment when
he was putting him in possession of his murdered cousins' property.

After the coronation had been performed in York cathedral, queen
Anne walked in grand procession through the streets of the city, hold-
ing her little son by the right hand ; he wore the demi-crown appointed
for the heir of England.

The Middleham household-book mentions, that five marks were paid
to Michell Wharton, for bringing the prince's jewels from York, on this
occasion. The same document proves that the court were at Ponte-
fract, September 15th; that fearful fortress, recently stained with the
blood of Richard's victims. Richard gave, by the way, in charity to a
poor woman, 8s. 6d.\ the chaige of baiting the royal charette was 2d.i
and the expenses of the removal of my lord prince's household to
Pontefract, 24s.

A formidable insurrection, headed by the duke of Buckingham, re-
called Richard to the metropolis ; he left his son, for security, among
his northern friend/S but queen Anne accompanied her husband.

It is a doubtful point whether Anne approved of the crimes which
thus advanced her son. Tradition declares she abhorred tliem, but par-
liamentary documents prove she shared with sir James Tyrrel the plun

* A curious MS., in the possession of sir Thomas Phillipps, of Middle Hill, su|^
pnaed to be written by it Olover, • herald ; it is called ** The Honour of Ch«-
ihire/'

* White Kenneths notes to Booke. The prince was tevan years old acoccdiag
ID Rous.

1 he loss of Ihis child, in w

garnered, struck to her he

health or comfort ; she seen

this dreadful loss her only a

declining and miserable cons

he did not consider her in

certainly did ; for they begai

gality of the king^s marriage

A» Edward IV.'s parliament (

diTorce Richard in 1474, it c

resorted to the same manner

Her evident decline, howe

any trouble regarding a divor

ing peevish complaints to I

his wife's sickliness and dis

just been released from as ;

ofl^ to a spiritual peer, who

tured to prophesy, from the8<

suddenly depart iVom this w

g^ard-chamber, and gave rise

suflenngs in a protracted dec!

for some days, was actually c

Anne was sitting at her toil

strange rumour was commun

forerunner of her death by vi

her husband, with her liair <

eyes and piteous sobs askec

ANIIB OF WAmWICX.

le next report which harassed the declining and dying queen was,
ler husband was impatient for her demise, that he might gire his
to his niece, the princess Elizabeth of York. This rumour had
fiuence on the conduct of Anne, since the continuator of the Croy-
Chronicle mentions the queen's kindness to her husband's niece,
ese words : ^ The lady Elizabeth (who had been some months
f sanctuary) was sent by her mother to attend the queen at court,
e Christmas festivals kept with great state in Westminster Hall.
beth and her four sisters were received with all honourable courtesy
leen Anne, especially the lady Elizabeth was ranked most fiuniliariy
? queen's fevour, who treated her as a sister ; but neither society
ihe loved, nor all the pomp and festivity of royalty, could cure the
lor or heal the wound in the queen's breast, for the loss of her
' ' The young earl of Warwick was, aAer the death of Richard's
proclaimed heir to the English throne, and as such took his seat at
lyal table,' during the lifetime of his aunt, queen Anne. As these
urs were withdrawn from the ill-feted boy directly aAer the death
e queen, it is reasonable to infer that he owed them to some influ-
she possessed with her husband ; since young Warwick, as her
^s son, was her heir as well as his.

ithin the year that deprived Anne of her only son, maternal sor-
put an end to her existence, by a decline, slow enough to acquit
usband of poisoning her ; a crime of which he is accused by most
rs. She died at Westminster Palace, on March 16th, 1485, in the
. of the greatest eclipse of the sun that had happened for oaany
Her funeral was most pompous and magnificent Her husband
present, and was observed to shed tears,' deemed hypocritical bv
y-suinder, but those who knew that he had been brought up with
, might suppose that be felt some instinctive yearnings of long
lanionship, when he saw her laid in that grave where his ambitious
»ts had caused him to wish her to be. Human nature, with all its
icting passions and instincts, abounds with such inconsistencies,
h are oflen startlingly apparent in the hardest characters.
it queen was interred near the altar at Westminster, not fiur from
lonument of Anne of Cleves. No memorial marks the spot where
roken heart of the hapless Anne of Warwick found rest, from as
I sorrow as could possibly be crowded into the brief span of thirty
rears.

Qtinuator of Crof land Chioniole. ' Root Chronicls. * fiaker^t Ghraoioia.

BUD Of VOL. Ill«

VOL. 111. — 23

ji

OCT 1 1 1937

1 1 1931