Pictures of the old French court; Jeanne de Bourbon, Isabeau de Bavière, Anne de Bretagne

Preface

IN a former book I endeavoured, from information gathered out of the records of the first half of the fourteenth century, to give some idea of the court and social conditions of France at that time, and also of the first three Valois Queens, whose very existence appears unknown to the average English reader. This was no easy matter owing to the scarcity of details, which had to be carefully gleaned from amongst masses of histories and chronicles of battles, sieges, conspiracies, general councils, and other public events.

The present volume treats of the years between the latter part of the fourteenth and beginning of the sixteenth centuries, about which so much more information exists that I have found it necessary to abandon, for want of space, my intention of giving a short account of the courts of Marie d'Anjou and Charlotte de Savoie, wives of Charles VII. and Louis XL, who took very little part in public affairs ; and to give a much shorter account of the reign of Anne de Bretagne.

viii PREFACE

Very little has been written about Isabeau de Baviere, and much less still concerning Jeanne de Bourbon, whereas a great deal is known of Anne de Bretagne, the history of whose life has more than once been related. To an interesting biography of her by Louisa Stuart Costello, and an invaluable one by Le Roux de Lincy I am much indebted. I have, as before, consulted many early chronicles, histories, and letters, French, English, German, Italian, and Spanish, besides the works of various excellent modern writers, whose names I quote. Accuracy being of the greatest importance in books like these, I give, in reply to the observation of a critic, that the lines I quoted referring to the siege of Cassel are incorrect, the original of De Nangis : —

Le Roy Cassel conquestera."' 1

I quoted these lines from the " Grandes Chroniques." 2

1 " Chron. Guill. de Nangis," t. ii. p. 94. Societe de l'histoire de France.

2 " Les Grandes Chron.," confirment la le;;on in gallo, mais donnent deux vers un peu differents.

PREFACE ix

To another critic who says he has never heard of the " Grand dictionnaire de Morery," and suggests that no such book exists, I can only reply that I have it upon my shelves. It is in several folio volumes, was published at Paris 1699, an< ^ is quoted by various historians. It is sometimes spelt " Moreri."

Contents

REIGN OF CHARLES V. AND JEANNE DE BOURBON.

Chapter I. Page

The House of Bourbon — Marriage of Pierre de Bourbon and Isabelle de Valois — Birth of their children — Betrothal of Jeanne to the Comte de Savoie — To the Dauphin Humbert — Her marriage with the heir of France — Character of t ~"~ Charles — Death of Philippe VI. — Coronation of King and Queen — Charles invested with Duchy of Normandy — Marriage of the Queen of Spain — Pedro el Cruel — Marriage of the Comtesse de Savoie — Death of the Due de Bourbon at Poitiers ....... I

Chapter II

France after the Battle of Poitiers — The Jacquerie — The Marche de Meaux — The Comte de Foix and the Captal de Buch — Rescue of the Dauphine — Vengeance of the nobles . .16

Chapter III

Return of Charles and Jeanne to Paris — Marriage of Catherine de Bourbon to the Comte de Harcourt — The Celestins — The Treaty of Bretigny — Marriage of Isabelle de France to Giovanni Visconti — Return of the King — Death of the children of the Dauphine — The plague — The Duchy of Burgundy . . . . . -33 xii CONTENTS

Chapter IV. Page

King Jean returns to England — His death — Coronation of Charles V. and Jeanne de Bourbon — Murder of Blanche, Queen of Spain — The Celestine Church— The Abbey of Chelles — The King's library — Magnificence of the Court — Birth and death of the second Princess Jeanne . . 49

Chapter V

Comet — Meeting of Parliament — Marriage of the Queen's sister — The Louvre and its gardens — Christine de Pisan — The Dauphin — His christening — War — French victories — Prosperity of France — Hotel St. Paul — Birth of Marie de France — Capture and liberation of the Queen's mother — Bonne, Comtesse de Savoie — Birth of Louis and Isabelle de France — Louis, Due de Bourbon . . . . .68

Chapter VI

Illness of the Queen — Her recovery — Floods in Paris — Death of several princesses of the royal family — Bertrand du Guesclin — Court of Charles V. and Jeanne de Bourbon — The peers of France — The King's will — Betrothal of his daughters — Visit of the Emperor — The Emperor Charles and the Duchess-dowager de Bourbon — Birth of the Princess Catherine — Death of the Queen — Of the Princess Isabelle — Grief of the King — His death ......

REIGN OF CHARLES VI. and ISABEAU DE BAV1ERE.

Chapter I

The House of Wittelsbach — Stephan von Wittelsbach and Taddea Visconti — Birth of Isabeau — Negotiations for her marriage — Her journey to Brussels — The fair of Amiens — Her interview with the King — Her wedding — Charles and Louis de France 107

CONTENTS xiii

Chapter II. Page

Royal Family and Court of France — Birth and death of Charles and Jeanne de France — Dress and amusements — The Abbey of St. Denis — Knighthood of the King of Sicily — The ball — Duchesse de Berry — Valentine Visconti . . .124

Chapter III

State entry of Isabeau into Paris — Magnificent fetes — Southern tour of Charles and Louis — Bad health of Charles — Bonne d'Artois and Jean de Clermont — Dreadful storm — Birth of Dauphin — Death of Blanche, Duchesse d'Orleans — Pierre de Craon and the Constable de Clisson — Madness of the King . 147

Chapter IV

Tyranny of the Duchess of Burgundy — Birth of Marie de France — The Duchesse de Berry saves La Riviere — Doctor Hassely — The King recovers — The Masquerade — Dreadful fire — King ill — The sorcerers — King recovers — Dr. Freron — King ill again — Accusations against Louis and Valentine d'Orleans — Birth of Louis de France — Betrothal of Isabelle de France to Richard II. of England — Their marriage- Disastrous crusade — Marriage of Jeanne de France to Due de Bretagne — Marie de France takes the veil . .166

Chapter V

Illness of the King — Execution of the sorcerers — Birth of Jean de France — Death of Queen Blanche de Navarre — Household of Isabeau — Ludwig of Bavaria — Ancient Paris — The Queen's chateaux — Burgundy and Orleans — Henry of Lancaster — The plague — Revolution in England — The Dauphin Charles . 192

Chapter VI

Courage of the young Queen of England — Death of the Dauphin — Birth of Catherine de France — Intrigues of Louis d'Orleans, and quarrels at Court — Return of the Queen of England — Burgundians and Orleanists — Birth of Charles de France — Dreadful storms — Death of Duke of Burgundy xiv CONTENTS

PAGE

— Illness of Due de Berry — Conduct of Savoisy — Frere Jacques Legrand — The Princess Marie's choice — Accident in the forest — The King and the Dauphin — Jean Sans-peur — The King ill — Eclipse — Royal weddings — The great winter — Murder of Louis d'Orleans . . . .212

Chapter VII

Departure of Royal Family — Hundred Years' War — Valentine d'Orleans — Queen's return to Louvre — Death of Valentine — Forced reconciliation — Philippe de Bourgogne and Michelle de France — Misconduct of the Due de Bretagne — Death of Isabelle de France — Of the Due de Bourbon — Quarrels of the Duke and Duchess of Aquitaine — Of the princes . . 242

Chapter VIII

Riots led by Burgundy — The Due d'Aquitaine's ball — His quarrels with Burgundy — The Comte de Charolais — The Battle of Azincourt — Death of Louis d'Aquitaine — The Dauphin Jean — His court — His death — Imprisonment of the Queen — Jean Sans-peur rescues her — Enters Paris by night — Massacre of Armagnacs — The Dauphin Charles — Murder of Jean Sans-peur — Marriage of Catherine de France to Henry V. — Departure for England — Birth of a son — Return to Paris — Festivities — Death of Henry V.— Death of Charles VI. — Retirement of the Queen— Henry VI. enters Paris — Treaty of Arras — Death of Isabeau . . . 260

Marie D'Anjou, wife of Charles VII. ; Charlotte de Savoie, wife

of Louis XL ...... 299

REIGN OF ANNE DE BRETAGNE, WIFE OF CHARLES VIII. and LOUIS XII.

Chapter I

Birth of Anne and Isabelle — Their childhood — Louis d'Orleans — Alain d'Albret — Death of Francois II. — First council — French war — Marriage ceremony — Siege of Rennes . 303

CONTENTS CHAPTER II.

PAGE

Joustes before Rennes — Death of Isabelle — Betrothal of Anne — Marguerite of Austria — Marriage of Anne to Charles VIII. — Birth of the Dauphin — Italian war — Return of Charles — Death of Dauphin — Birth and death of other children— Death of Charles VIII. . . . .316

Chapter III

Despair of the Queen — Resumes duchy — -Friendship with Louis XII. — Returns to Bretagne — King's divorce — Charlotte d'Aragon — Marriage of Anne to Louis XII. — Italian war "■" — Birth of Claude de France — Splendour of the Court — Hotel des Tournelles — The Maids of Honour — Disasters in Italy ........ 328

Chapter IV

Ludovico Sforza — Shipbuilding — Queen's gardens — Library — Treasures — Dress — Betrothal of Claude de France — Archduke's visit — Illness of King — Marechal de Gie — Second illness of King — Queen in Bretagne — Second betrothal of Princess Claude . . . . . . 341