Chapter V 1503–1514
Story of Anne de Graville—Illness of Claude—Court of Anne de Bretagne—Italian war—Marriage of Marguérite d’Angoulême—Dress and customs at Court—Birth of Renée de France—The Prince de Chalais—The Queen ill—Birth and death of a son—League of Cambrai—Sea-fight—Death of Queen.
Though much vexed at her daughter’s engagement the Queen still hoped something might happen to prevent the marriage; meanwhile she formed the household of the Princess, and amongst others she placed in it Anne de Graville, one of her demoiselles d’honneur, a sister of whom had been in that of the King’s first wife. To Anne, as to some of her companions, is attached a romance, which, after four hundred years, clings to her memory, and like the scent of rose leaves and lavender in some old-fashioned country house, the refrain of an ancient ballad or the quaint phrases traced in faded ink on some letter yellow with age coming to us from a long-vanished generation, seems to give us a momentary glimpse into the life of those far-off days.
Louis de Malet, Admiral de Graville, bore one of the oldest names in France, and had been the favourite of three kings. That he was a man of great capacity and wisdom is proved by his correspondence, now existing in the Bibliothèque Impériale. He was also extremely cultivated. He gave a bell to Rouen Cathedral, built the portal of Sens and a church near Paris. He collected a valuable library of manuscripts, with illuminations, miniatures, poems in French and Italian, &c., and filled his château of Marcoussy with pictures and splendid furniture.
Marcoussy, about eighteen miles from Paris, was one of the most imposing castles in the Ile-de-France, with its massive walls, huge towers, and deep moats, surrounded by trees and gardens with terraces, fountains, and fishponds. Here he passed most of his time when not occupied in public affairs, and here grew up his children, Louis, Joachim, Jeanne, Louise, and Anne. They studied music, poetry, literature, and received altogether as good an education as was then attainable. The youngest, Anne, was herself the authoress of a poem written on one of the stories of Boccaccio, and many an exquisite embroidery for church or convent was done by the three sisters.
But upon the prosperous, happy lives of the Gravilles sorrow began to fall. Louis and Joachim died, and their loss so affected their mother that she also died in March, 1503, desiring to be buried near Joachim in the monastery of Marcoussy. Louise and Jeanne had made brilliant marriages, and Anne was left alone with her father, whose favourite she was, and who dreaded parting with her. However, between marriage and the cloister there was no alternative, and the Admiral wrote to her saying he had received offers from three young nobles, of whom he thought the first frivolous, the second rash and hasty, but the third, though less rich, was sensible and irreproachable in character.334
But meanwhile, Anne fell in love with her cousin Pierre, Baron d’Entragues, illegitimate son of Robert de Balzac, a young soldier of four and twenty who, fearing the Admiral might not allow the marriage, carried her off; some said with, others without her consent. At any rate she forgave him, and their marriage was celebrated without waiting for the permission of the Admiral, who was very angry, threatened to disinherit his daughter and forbade any one to help them. The Baron d’Entragues had no money and when he applied for help to his relations they refused; the young people had nothing to live upon and did not know what to do. So they bethought themselves of the good monks of the Céléstin convent of Marcoussy and took refuge with them. The Prior and brotherhood received them with kindness, sympathy, and promises of help, and they stayed in the monastery waiting till Good Friday, which was now approaching, when the Admiral was sure to come there to church.
Accordingly, when he presented himself at the office of the veneration of the Cross, the Prior stopped him, saying, “Dare you approach with your lips the sacred wood on which the Son of God shed His precious blood to reconcile men with His Father; if you have not resolved from your heart to forgive your two children who are here at your knees with profound repentance imploring pardon for their fault?” As he spoke Pierre and Anne threw themselves on their knees before him. The solemn words of the Prior and the sight of the child who had always been so dear to him were too much for the Admiral, he held out his arms to them both, and took them back with him to the castle.335 The marriage proved a very happy one. Anne had a long prosperous life, and one of her children inherited Marcoussy.
In the spring of 1507, Louis went to Genoa, to put down a revolt there, which, having done, he recrossed the Alps and came to Grenoble, where the Queen went to meet him. While he was there the Princess Claude was seized with a kind of continuous fever which greatly alarmed and distressed the Queen, who kept up a constant correspondence with Madame des Bouchage, governess to the little princess, being always fully informed of her condition. The doctors at first declared she would not recover, but as she very soon became much better, the Queen, who did not believe in doctors because they had been altogether wrong about her eldest son, and failed to save either him or any of her other children, was so angry, and so confirmed in her opinion that she wrote to Madame des Bouchage that the child was not to see any more of them, for they were no use, she must take care of her herself.336 The Princess Claude soon recovered.
The Italian war dragged on. The league of Cambrai was formed against Venice in 1508, and Louis was eager to be again at the head of the French army. Anne did all she could to dissuade him, and tried to induce him to return to Blois, assuring him that Claude was fretting to see him,337 but it was useless. He recrossed the Alps, and soon came tidings of the victory of Agnadel and conquest of nearly all the Venetian mainland provinces.338
He returned, safe and victorious, to Blois at the end of the summer, and there during that year took place the wedding of Marguérite, sister of François, Duc de Valois, with the Duc d’Alençon. It was celebrated with suitable splendour and followed by a great banquet and ball, after which there were joustes. The Duc de Valois kept the lists with eight others, served by the King himself, the princes who contended were so young that small lances were made on purpose. The Pope’s legate not being well, looked on from a window. Next day they fought again, this time in white armour, the bridegroom dressed in white satin. The Queen and her ladies gave the prizes.339
They all delighted in festivities and amusements, fêtes champêtres were often given in the open air, a favourite day being Mid-Lent Sunday, called, especially in the valleys of the Marne and Meuse, dimanche des fontaines. M. Siméon de Luce describes those given in a preceding reign by Beatrix de Bourlemont when young men and girls from the neighbouring châteaux and peasants from the villages hung garlands, dined, sang, and danced under an ancient beech tree said to be haunted by fairies.340
A solemn and important domestic fête in the country was the first mass of a young priest. M. de Ribbe describes one of their mediæval village festivals. Presents were given, relations and friends assembled as for a marriage or christening. They walked to church two and two in a long procession, minstrels playing before them and crowds following. A collection was made in church and then there was a great banquet in the bergerie to which the relations contributed various dishes, the cooking being done in a mill close by.341
On the opening of parliament it was customary to present quantities of roses and violets to the members, one special person being responsible. De Sauval mentions an account owing to Marguérite le Mercier, marchande de roses, for four dozen chapeaux of red roses, eight bouquets of violets, and a great basinful of flowers to cover the table, distributed to the Presidents, Councillors, and other officers of the King, the vigil of the feast of Whitsuntide, who were assembled at the Chastelet for the deliverance of the prisoners in the said Chastelet “comme d’anciennté a este coutume de faire.”342
Renée de France was born October, 1509. Amidst the general disappointment at not getting a Dauphin, the King and Queen rejoiced that this child lived. She was afterwards the celebrated Duchess of Ferrara.
The Queen from this time entertained the project of leaving Bretagne to Renée, if she could not break off Claude’s marriage, and constantly endeavoured to gain the consent of the King; but, although, dreading the outcry which would be the consequence, he would not agree to her wishes, it seems very possible, considering her great influence over him, that had she lived longer she would have succeeded in carrying out one or other of these plans. During her lifetime she would never allow the marriage of Claude to take place.
Anne was extremely fond of music; amongst other musicians in her household were four Bretons minstrels. About six months after the birth of Renée, being at Chartres, she was so struck with the voice of a chorister boy in the cathedral that she asked the chapter to give him to her, and in return for their doing so she said, “You have given me a little voice and I will give you a large one,” and accordingly presented them with a great bell, named “Anne de Bretagne” to be rung every day from Easter to Trinity, and 3,000 livres.343
She rather prided herself upon her conversational powers, indeed, writers of her day assert that nobody could talk better, either in society or on State affairs. The King, who liked to have her opinion about everything that went on, always sent the ambassadors to her after an audience with him.
One day she was going to receive the Spanish ambassador, and not understanding Spanish she asked her chamberlain, the Prince de Chalais, who understood several languages, to teach her some sentences to say to him. Chalais, who had a mania for playing practical jokes, without considering whether the Queen was a proper subject for one, taught her some words not possible in any decent society. Fortunately for himself he was so delighted with his trick or so doubtful of the result of it that, just before the audience, he told it to the King. He laughed but hastened to warn the Queen, who was, of course, exceedingly angry, would not receive Chalais for some days, and would have dismissed him had not the King dissuaded her, assuring her that he would never have allowed her to say the words to the ambassador.344
In 1510 Louis and Anne sustained an irreparable loss by the death of the Cardinal d’Amboise.
As usual, the French successes in Italy had been short lived. The Venetians under their famous Doge, Loredan, had reconquered nearly all their territory, and the members of the league of Cambrai had turned against France, the Milanese was lost, and the King of Spain seized the Spanish side of Navarre including Pampeluna. Catherine de Foix, heiress of the gallant Princes of Navarre and Queen in her own right, remarked to her husband, Jean d’Albret, “Dom Jean, if you had been born Catherine and I Dom Jean, we should never have lost Navarre.”345
The Queen had so dangerous an illness in March, 1511, that her life was despaired of; but after receiving the Communion she revived and by the middle of April was tolerably well. In the following January she had another son, who died like all his brothers, and the doctors managed the Queen so badly that her health was permanently injured. Late in March the Austrian ambassador, who went to take leave of her, found her still in bed but brave, cheerful, and taking her usual interest in public affairs. She did not get up until May, when she appeared much better, but never really regained her strength, and just then many circumstances combined to depress and trouble her.
A great battle was fought August 10, 1512, between the French and English fleets. The Regent with the English Admiral on board attacked the famous Cordelière, commanded by the Breton Hervé Portzmoguet. The two ships were grappled together, the battle raged fiercely and the dead lay in heaps on the decks. Then Portzmoguet, seeing that all hope was lost, set fire to both vessels, and, clad in complete armour, threw himself from the mast into the sea. The ships went down together with more than two thousand men, the French fleet drew off to Brest, the English to the high seas.346
There was strife between the King and Pope, and the Queen’s views were strongly opposed to those of Louis. The Pope laid France under an interdict from which he excepted Bretagne. In vain the King assured her that women had no voice in Church matters; she had but to point to Bretagne as her answer, and to remind him that at fourteen years old she had successfully opposed Innocent III. when he illegally appointed two of his nephews to benefices in her duchy. Also that her influence had prevented Louis from occupying Rome, when, after the battle of Ravenna, the road to the Eternal City lay open to his victorious troops. She ultimately induced him to subscribe to the Lateran Council, whereby the Roman gained the victory over the Gallican party in the Church.347
Anne was not yet thirty-eight, but her brilliant, eventful life was drawing to a close. For a year or two her health had been failing and on the 2nd of January, 1514, she was taken ill at Blois and died a week afterwards. Knowing that she would not recover, one of her last orders was that her heart should be sent to Nantes and laid in the tomb of her father and mother in the land and among the people she had so faithfully loved.
The King shut himself up alone for days wearing the black mourning he had chosen, contrary to the custom for Kings of France. From the shock of the Queen’s death he never recovered. He only survived for two months the preposterous marriage he was induced to make in the following year with the young sister of Henry VIII. for the purpose of stopping the English war. Claude, wife of François I., died ten years after her mother leaving several children, one of whom was Henri II., whose three sons were the last kings of the house of Valois.
The funeral of the Queen at St. Denis was of more than usual magnificence, and when her coffin was lowered into the tomb there stepped forward Champagne King-at-arms who, after calling three times for silence, said, “King-at-arms of the Bretons, do your duty.” Then Bretagne King-at-arms in his coat of mail stepped forward and proclaimed, “The most Christian Queen and Duchess, our sovereign Lady and Mistress, is dead? The Queen is dead! The Queen is dead!” The Chevalier d’honneur with the hand of justice, the Grand Maître de Bretagne (brother of the Queen) with the sceptre, and the grand écuyer with the crown advanced, kissed them, and gave them to the Bretagne King-at-arms, who laid them on the coffin.348
In France, to which she had given a great province, Anne de Bretagne was soon forgotten; but, in the land she loved and ruled so well four hundred years ago, her name and her memory are still honoured and cherished by her own people.
Footnotes
1 “Chron. Guill. de Nangis,” t. ii. p. 94. Société de l’histoire de France.
2 “Les Grandes Chron.,” confirment la leçon in gallo, mais donnent deux vers un peu différents.
Quant ce coq-ci chanté ara
Le roy trouvé ça entrera.
3 Charles de Valois had three wives and fourteen children; two or three of his daughters were named Isabelle. One married Robert d’Artois. Sainte-Marthe says the marriage of Pierre and Isabelle took place in 1322, in her early childhood; but other historians, with more probability, place it in 1332.
4 It is difficult to reconcile the conflicting dates given by historians. There is no doubt that Jeanne was the eldest daughter, yet some place her birth in 1337; and the second daughter Blanche, who in that case would not have been born till 1338, is nevertheless declared to have been sixteen years old when she became Queen of Spain, 1352, which is manifestly impossible.
5 There seems to be some doubt about Isabelle, as we hear nothing about her in after life. One historian confuses her with her sister Marguérite; another states that she married one Guillaume, Sire de Mello; others that she died unmarried; most do not mention her at all. If she ever existed she most probably died in childhood.
6 The Counts of Savoy were, as is well known, ancestors of the Kings of Italy.
7 Only the children of the King and the heir-apparent were called “Enfants de France.” It was for centuries later the rule that only the Enfants de France might ride or drive into the Louvre, Palais, Hôtel St. Paul, Tournelles, or any royal palace. Princes of the blood must get down at the door, nobles in the street. (De Sauval.)
8 “Grandes Chroniques,” t. vi. p. 2.
9 “Grandes Chroniques,” t. vi. p. 2. M. Paulin Paris remarks that the distinction here made between the gens de métier, or workmen, and bourgeois, or burghers, sufficiently proves the existence of the latter as a class.
10 Mariana, “España.”
11 Morèry, “Grand dictionnaire historique,” 1699.
12 “Grandes Chroniques de France,” t. vi. p. 35, Paulin Paris.
13 The northern part of France was the Langue d’oil, the southern the Langue d’oc, so called from the languages spoken there.
14 Sismondi, “Hist. France,” t. vii. p. 78.
15 “Hist. de la Jacquerie,” chap. ii. p. 31. Siméon Luce.
16 “Grandes Chroniques de France,” Paulin Paris, t. vi. p. 110.
17 Siméon de Luce, “Guerre de cent ans.”
18 “Hist. de la Jacquerie,” Siméon Luce.
19 “Hist. de la Jacquerie,” Siméon Luce.
20 “Hist. de la Jacquerie,” p. 135, Siméon Luce.
21 This is the first time the white banner appears in French history.
22 “Hist. de la Jacquerie,” p. 140. Siméon Luce.
23 Siméon de Luce.
24 “Sire, vous etes le plus gentilhomme du monde, ne souffrés pas que gentillesse soit mise à néant. Si ceste gent qui ce dient Jacques durent longuement, et les bonne villes soient de leur aide, ilz mettront gentillesse au néant et du tout destruiront” (“Hist. Jacquerie,” Siméon Luce; et “Chronique des quatre premiers Valois”).
25 Sismondi.
26 A gold florin was worth twenty francs.
27 The “Grandes Chroniques de France” place this marriage in October, 1359.
28 The guild or confraternity of tailors and dressmakers of Paris.
“Item. Que quiconque sera tailleur de robes à Paris, et il mestaille une robe ou une garnement par mal ordonner le drap au tailler, ou par l’ignorance de sa taille, le meffait et dommaige sera veu et regardé par ledis maistres; et s’ilz rapportent que la robe ou garnement soit empiré par mestaille ou par la coulpe du tailleur, le tailleur rendra le dommaige à celui à qui la robe ou le garnement sera; et y paiera cinq solz d’amende, dont les trois seront au roy, et les deux à la dicte confrairie.”
29 “Item. Que nul ne mectent lay ne estouppes en doublet qu’il face pour vendre; et qui fera le contraire; le doublet sera ars, et paiera six solz d’amende au roy, et quatre solz à la confrairie.
“Estouppe était probablement chanvre, filasse, lin.”
30 Bonne villes, i.e., fortified towns.
31 “Grandes Chroniques de France.”
32 “Grandes Chroniques de France.”
33 Sainte-Marthe.
34 “... ma il drappo sopra capo non sofferse, e così stette infino che fu sposata; e da quel punto dinnanzi posto in oltre la reale dignità e nobilità di sangue, reverenza fece a messer Galeazzo e a messer Barnabo e alle donne loro.”
35 Sainte-Marthe.
36 Loggie are arcaded galleries, terraces or balconies generally to be seen in Italian palaces or houses of any antiquity. The vulgar and tasteless buildings that now disfigure modern Italy are frequently without them.
37 De Mézeray.
38 Bonne de France died November 7, 1360. “Item, le jeudi 12 Novembre furent enterrées les deux filles du duc de Normandie à Saint Antoine près de Paris, et fu present le dit duc à l’enterrage moult courroucié qui plus n’avait d’enfants.”
39 Dulaure, “Hist. Paris.”
40 “Hist. du Cérémonial Français,” Godefroy.
41 Soon afterwards released.
42 Guizot, “Hist. France,” t. ii. p. 179.
43 “Trésor des Chartes,” No. 386, p. 221.
44 Dreux du Radier, “Reines et Regentes.”
45 There is also a letter of his son Charles VI.
46 De Sauval, “Sablier.”
47 “Environs de Paris,” Nodier.
48 Sauval, “Antiquitez de Paris.”
49 “Bibliothèque du Roy,” Félibien.
50 Félibien.
51 Douet d’Arcq.
52 “Grandes Chroniques de France.”
53 De Mézeray, “Hist. France.”
54 “Archives Nat. de Bourbon,” No. 1,409.
55 “Paris in its Old and Present Times,” p. 157. Hamerton.
56 “Antiquitez de Paris,” Sauval.
57 “Paris à Travers les Ages,” Fourmier et Hoffbauer.
58 “Comptes du vieux Louvre. Topographie historique du vieux Paris.” A. Berty et Tisserand.
59 “Comptes du vieux Louvre. Topographie historique du vieux Paris.”
60 “Paris à Travers les Ages,” Fourmier et Hoffbauer.
61 Documents inédits, 3me serie: Archéologie.
62 Documents inedits, 3me serie: Archéologie.
63 “Grandes Chroniques de France,” t. vi. p. 251.
64 “Queens of England,” A. Strickland, vol. ii. p. 345.
65 Christine de Pisan.
66 “Grandes Chroniques de France,” t. vi. p. 267.
67 Idem.
68 Marguérite de Bourbon.
69 “Grandes Chroniques de France.”
70 “Chron. de Bertrand du Guesclin,” Cuvelier, 14th century.
71 Martin, “Hist. France.”
72 Sauval.
73 Abbé Choisy, “Hist. Charles V.”
74 Montfaucon, “Monuments de la Monarchie française.”
75 Some doubt has been thrown on the certainty of this occurrence, but an ancient chronicler of Du Guesclin gives an account which confirms the fact of the keys being laid on the coffin of the dead hero. (Guizot, “Hist. France,” t. ii. p. 201.)
76 “Chronique des quatre premiers Valois.”
77 He had couriers who rode night and day and brought him news from a distance of eighty leagues on the following day. (Martin, “Hist. France.”)
78 “Hist. Cérémonial Français.” T. Godefroy.
79 Christine de Pisan.
80 Documents inédits.
81 “Grandes Chroniques de France.”
82 “... en leur hostel avoit esté norry en sa jeunesse et que moult de biens luy avoient fais.”
83 “C’estoit piteuse chose à regarder.”
84 “Grandes Chroniques de France,” t. vi. p. 401.
85 De Mézeray.
86 “Baierischen Geschichten,” Heinrich Zschokke.
87 The house of Wittelsbach claims descent from Charlemagne. The Kings of Bavaria descend from Johann, or John of Munich the third brother.
88 “Chronique de Flandre.”
89 “Antiquitez de Paris,” t. i. p. 667. De Sauval.
90 “Chronique de Flandre.”
91 Froissart.
92 Christine de Pisan.
93 “La Vie politique de Louis de France, Duc d’Orléans,” Jarry.
94 Christine de Pisan.
95 “Chronique du religieux de St. Denis,” t. i. p. 25.
96 Froissart.
97 “Relig. du St. Denis.”
98 “Comptes de l’hôtel de la reine Isabeau de Bavière. Doüet d’Arcq, Archives de l’empire.”
99 The Princess Catherine died in childhood.
100 It is true that the Valois were strictly speaking Capétiens also; but the elder line are generally known as the Capétiens and the younger as the Valois Dukes.
101 Froissart.
102 “Ducs de Bourbon et Comtes de Forez,” J. de la Mure. Notes, Steyert.
103 Brantôme.
104 Relig. de St. Denis, trad., Bellaguet, t. i. livre vii., p. 459.
105 Juvenal des Ursins.
106 “Isabeau de Bavière, étude historique,” Vallet de Viriville, p. 8.
107 “Comment discerner les styles, le costume et la mode du viii. au xix. siècle,” L. Roger-Milés.
108 “Comment discerner les Styles,” etc. L. Roger Milés.
109 Ibid.
110 “Histoire des Ducs de Bourgogne,” t. ii. p. 161. Barante.
111 De Sauval, &c.
112 “Grand Dictionnaire Historique: père Louis Morery, prêtre, docteur en théologie,” pub. Thierry, Rue St. Jacques, devant les Mathurius, 1699, t. iv. This name, when quoted by some writers, is spelt “Morèri.”
113 With this account of St. Denis in mediæval France, let us compare the following account of it in modern France:—
“Most of these persons were still drunk, with the brandy they had swallowed out of chalices—eating mackerel on the patenas! Mounted on asses, which were housed with priests’ cloaks, they reined them with priests’ stoles; they held clutched with the same hand communion-cup and sacred wafer. They stopped at the doors of dram-shops; held out ciboriums: and the landlord, stoup in hand, had to fill them thrice. Next came mules high-laden with crosses, chandeliers, censers, holy-water vessels, hyssops; recalling to mind the priests of Cybele, whose panniers, filled with the instruments of their worship, served at once as storehouse, sacristy, and temple. In such equipage did these profaners advance towards the Convention. They enter there, in an immense train, ranged in two rows; all masked like mummers in fantastic sacerdotal vestments; bearing on hand-barrows their heaped plunder—ciboriums, suns, candelabras, plates of gold and silver.... Not untouched with liquor, they crave to dance the Carmagnole also on the spot: whereto an exhilarated Convention cannot but accede.... Several members, quitting their curule chairs, took the hand of girls flaunting in priests’ vestures, and danced the Carmagnole along with them. Such Old-Hallowtide have they in this year once named of Grace, 1793” (“French Revolution,” Carlyle, vol. iii. p. 193).
114 “Au cloistre d’icelle maison royale se voit un bassin de fontaine fort ancien et admirable pour estre grand et d’une piéce, et relevé tout à l’entour de figures qui representent quelques fables des dieux paiens” (Père du Breul).
115 “Ils souillèrent la sainteté de la maison religieuse” (“Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. x. p. 599).
116 “Vie politique de Louis de France,” &c., Jarry.
117 “Isabeau de Bavière,” Vallet de Viriville, p. 13.
118 “Madame et cousine, je fairay volontiers ce dont vous me priez. Car j’y suis tenus par lignage, et pour ce vostre fille ma cousine je garderay, et penseray bien d’elle comme si ce fust ma propre fille...” (“L’Art de vérifier les dates,” t. 10, p. 145).
119 “Valentine Visconti,” Mary Robinson, Fortnightly Review.
120 “Valentine Visconti,” Mary Robinson, Fortnightly Review.
121 Blanche de Navarre. “Lives of the Early Valois Queens,” to which this volume is a sequel.
122 “Relig. de St. Denis”; Froissart.
123 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. x. p. 615.
124 “Antiquitez de Paris.” De Sauval.
125 “Savoisy, je te pris tant que je puis, que tu montes sur un bon cheval et je monterai derrière toi et nous nous habillerons tellement qu’on ne nous connoistra point et nous allons voir l’entrée de ma femme.”
126 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. x. p. 609; also Juvenal des Ursins and Froissart.
127 De Sauval.
128 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. x. p. 627.
129 “Archives de l’Art Français, 1858,” p. 342 et suivantes. “Isabeau de Bavière,” Vallet de Viriville.
130 Ibid.
131 “Histoire des Ducs de Bourbon, Comtes de Forez,” La Mure.
132 Juvenal des Ursins, p. 83.
133 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xi. p. 685.
134 “Antiquitez de Paris,” De Sauval.
135 “Hist. de la maison de France,” Sainte-Marthe, t. 1. p. 675.
136 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xiii. p. 63.
137 Froissart, t. xiii. c. 27, p. 45.
138 “Comment! vous voulez donc m’enlever, monseigneur?” “Nenni, Madame, à Dieu ne plaise; je n’oserai seulement pas y penser.” “C’est vrai, je sais tout et suis bien informée; monseigneur vous aime et vous l’aimez, la chose va même si loin qu’il vous a promis 1,000 écus d’or. Mais vous avez refusé, et vous avez fait sagement. Je vous pardonne pour cette fois et vous défends, si vous tenez à la vie d’avoir désormais nul entretien avec monseigneur” (“Ducs de Bourgogne de la maison de Valois,” Barante).
139 Froissart, t. xiii. c. 28, p. 38 to 61. “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xii. c. i. p. 214. Juvenal des Ursins, p. 88.
140 “Regardez mon connétable, et sachez me dire ce qu’il y a à craindre, etc.” (“Ducs de Bourgogne de la maison de Valois,” p. 341.)
141 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xiv. Juvenal des Ursins, p. 91.
142 Froissart; “Relig. de St. Denis,” &c.
143 “Chronique de Flandre.”
144 Froissart, xiii. c. 50, p. 102. “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xii. c. 4, p. 221. Juvenal des Ursins, p. 91.
145 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xiv. p. 95.
146 Juvenal des Ursins, p. 91.
147 Juvenal des Ursins, p. 91.
148 “Chronique de Flandre.”
149 Ibid.
150 “Chronique de Flandre.” Froissart. Paradin.
151 “Chronique de Flandre.”
152 A curious relic of this ancient custom still survives in villages in the west of England, where, after the marriage of a widow or widower, the villagers will sometimes assemble at night outside their house blowing horns, beating drums, and making hideous noises.
153 The “Religieux de St. Denis” says this ball was at the hôtel St. Paul; but Juvenal des Ursins, who from his position at Court was certain to have known where it took place, and was most likely himself at the ball, declares it was at the hôtel de la Reine Blanche, we will therefore accept his authority, which De Sauval considers conclusive.
154 Froissart, t. xiii. c. 32, p. 240. “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xii. c. 9, p. 255. Juvenal des Ursins, p. 93. Monstrelet, t. i. pp. 312 and 423. Also Barante, “Ducs de Bourgogne,” t. ii. p. 197.
155 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xiv. p. 93.
156 Sismondi.
157 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xv. c. 14, p. 324.
158 Juvenal des Ursins. The “Relig. de St. Denis” relates this ghostly story, but places it in 1397.
159 It was the “Chroniques de France.” Philippe de Bourgogne, like all his brothers, was a collector of books, manuscripts, and objects of art.
160 “Relig. de St. Denis,” t. xvi. p. 407.
161 “Diabolicum recitas et quod est impossibile,” Valentine Visconti, M. Robinson, Fortnightly Review. Gian Galeazzo bought the title of Duke from the Emperor, 1395.
162 Froissart.
163 “Relig. de St. Denis,” l. xvii. p. 465.
164 “Relig. de St. Denis,” l. xvii. p. 469. Froissart.
165 Barante, “Ducs de Bourgogne.”
166 “Les demandes du roi Charles VI. avec les réponses de Pierre Salmon, son sécrétaire et intime.” “D’après les Manuscrits de la Bibliothèque du Roi,” p. 17. Salmon was one of these attendants. The Minutes of the Council contain a long list of the French members of Isabelle’s household returning with her some years afterwards to France.
167 Planche, “Hist. de Bourg.,” l. xiv. c. 150, p. 147.
168 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xvii. p. 483.
169 Ibid.
170 “Relig. de St. Denis.”
171 “Relig. de St. Denis.”
172 “Relig. de St. Denis.”
173 Ibid.
174 “Isabeau de Bavière,” Vallet de Viriville.
175 “Isabeau de Bavière,” Vallet de Viriville.
176 Idem.
177 “Isabeau de Bavière,” Vallet de Viriville.
178 “Poésies d’Eustache Deschamps.”
179 “An Idler in Old France,” Tighe Hopkins.
180 I do not, of course, mean to say that the Roman baths were destroyed by the early Christians.
181 Vallet de Viriville.
182 De Sauval, “Antiquitez de Paris.”
183 “The Mediæval City. The Transformation of Paris,” F. Harrison.
184 The hospice of Quinze-Vingts was founded by St. Louis for the blind. A tradition, which is not considered true, says it was so named from three hundred knights who were blinded by the infidels for the Christian faith. They had a cemetery, chapel, chaplain, and two bells, and bore the fleur-de-lis, being a royal foundation. A tavern keeper in Paris having adopted the sign of the “Quinze-Vingts,” they complained to the provost, who ordered him to give it up.
185 “Antiquitez de Paris.” Sauval.
186 “Relig. de St. Denis.” Juvenal des Ursins.
187 Sismondi.
188 Froissart, t. xiv. c. 69, p. 155.
189 Strickland, “Queens of England,” vol. iii. p. 25.
190 Sismondi, “Hist. Français,” t. viii. p. 125.
191 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xx. p. 745.
192 Juvenal des Ursins.
193 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xxi. p. 771, t. ii.
194 The whole history of it may be read in ancient French chronicles, Juvenal des Ursins, Paradin, &c.
195 “Compte de l’hôtel de la reine Isabeau de Bavière,” 1401. “Archives de l’Empire.” “Registre Côté,” R. K. 45, fol. 87 à 101. Doüet d’Arcq.
196 Vallet de Viriville.
197 “Compte de l’hôtel de la reine Isabeau de Bavière,” 1401. “Archives de l’Empire.” “Registre Côté,” R. K. 45, fol. 87 à 101. Doüet d’Arcq.
198 “Relig. de St. Denis,” t. iii. l. xxii. p. 7.
199 Plancher, “Hist. de Bourg.,” l. xiv. p. 182.
200 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xxi. c. 4, p. 442. Juvenal des Ursins.
201 “Compte de l’hôtel de la reine Isabeau de Bavière,” 1401. “Archives de l’Empire.” “Registre Côté,” R. K. 45, fol. 87 à 101. Doüet d’Arcq.
202 “Relig. de St. Denis,” t. iii. l. xxii. p. 9. Another account says the Queen was in bed at the time, but escaped unhurt.
203 Aquitaine was beginning to be called Guyenne about this time.
204 Monstrelet, “Chronique,” t. i. p. 89. Barante, “Ducs de Bourg.,” t. ii. p. 17.
205 Sismondi.
206 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xxiv. c. 8, p. 493. Monstrelet, c. xiii. p. 126.
207 “Isabeau de Bavière,” Vallet de Viriville.
208 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xxvi. p. 275.
209 Ibid., liv. xxvi. p. 281.
210 “Relig. de St. Denis.” Juvenal des Ursins.
211 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xxvi. p. 283.
212 “Relig. de St. Denis.”
213 “Early Valois Queens.”
214 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xxvi. p. 295.
215 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xxvi. p. 331.
216 Juvenal des Ursins, p. 177.
217 Juvenal des Ursins.
218 Many historians make out Isabelle and Charles to have been younger, which is impossible, as she was born in November, 1388, and he in May, 1391.
219 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xxvii. p. 397.
220 “Relig. de St. Denis.”
221 It was the custom to use mules to go about in the town, also for two to ride the same horse on these occasions.
222 Félibien, Monstrelet, Paradin, “Relig. de St. Denis,” &c.
223 De Mézeray, Monstrelet, Félibien, &c.
224 The hôtels of princes of the blood were sanctuary, as well as the churches.
225 Vallet de Viriville.
226 Sismondi, “Hist. France.”
227 “Lives of the Early Valois Queens,” Catherine Bearne, p. 8.
228 The Yorkists claimed the crown of England by a marriage with the heiress of the elder line, i.e., of Lionel.
229 Monstrelet, “Chronique,” t. i. c. 43, p. 165.
230 Monstrelet, c. 37, p. 229. “Relig. de St. Denis.” The Duke of Burgundy before an assembly of princes boldly tried to justify the murder, and employed a friar to speak for that purpose. Charles was induced in his weak state to sign letters of pardon for him.
231 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xxviii. p. 749.
232 Ibid., liv. xxix. p. 59.
233 “Isabeau de Bavière,” p. 15, Vallet de Viriville.
234 Before the final expulsion of the English, Aquitaine was gradually taking the name of Guyenne. But, when it became the settled name, Guyenne did not include Gascony, Limousin, Saintonge, Anjoumois, and Poitou.
235 “Relig. de St. Denis.”
236 Historians differ as to what this meant.
237 Paradin, “Annales de Bourgogne,” liv. iii. p. 518.
238 Juvenal des Ursins.
239 Jeanne de Navarre, mother of the Duc de Bretagne, had, as a widow, become the wife of Henry IV. of England.
240 Monstrelet, “Chron.,” 1. ii. p. 96, édition Buchon.
241 Idem.
242 M. de Maulde de Clavière, however, in his interesting history of Louis XII., son of Charles, says that, with respect to the second at any rate of these poems, it is not known for whom it was meant, it was written during his captivity in England. There is, however, no reason why it should not have been about Isabelle.
243 Monstrelet, “Chroniques,” c. lxv. p. 81, édition Doüet d’Arcq.
244 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xxxi. p. 333.
245 La Mure, “Hist. Ducs de Bourgogne, &c.”
246 Paradin, “Annales de Bourgogne,” liv. iii. p. 560.
247 Paradin. “Relig. de St. Denis.” Monstrelet.
248 Paradin.
249 Paradin. “Relig. de St. Denis.”
250 “Relig. de St. Denis,” xxxvi. 587.
251 “Chronique de Flandre.” Monstrelet, “Chron.,” c. cxliii. p. 85.
252 Juvenal des Ursins, p. 330.
253 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xxxv. p. 1002.
254 Monstrelet, “Chron.,” c. cxliii. p. 85.
255 Monstrelet, c. cxlvii. p. 102.
256 The battle of Azincourt was the last at which the Oriflamme appeared.
257 Monstrelet.
258 “Le Fèvre St. Remi,” t. viii. c. 61, p. 1. Monstrelet.
259 Sismondi in the account he gives of this battle says that Le Fèvre Saint-Remi who writes of it was himself present, and to him most of these details are owing. The description of it is also given by the “Relig. de St. Denis,” Monstrelet, Juvenal des Ursins, Pierre Fenin, Barante, Walsingham, and others.
260 “Mem. Sire de St. Remi, ed. Buchon,” t. viii. p. 27.
261 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xxxv., c. 9, p. 1016. Monstrelet, c. clxiv. p. 168. “Journal d’un bourgeois de Paris,” p. 210. Paradin, Juvenal des Ursins, &c.
262 “Chronique de Flandre.” “Messager des sciences historiques de la Belgique,” 1887.
263 “Relig. de St. Denis,” t. vi. liv. xxxvii. p. 61.
264 “Messager des Sciences historiques de la Belgique,” Leopold de Villers, 1887.
265 “Chronique de Flandre,” “Relig. de St. Denis,” Monstrelet, Juvenal des Ursins, Paradin, De Mézeray, &c.
266 “Relig. de St. Denis.”
267 “Relig. de St. Denis,” liv. xxxix. p. 283.
268 De Mézeray, p. 1023. Monstrelet, c. ccvii., p. 322.
269 “Chronique anonyme.” Bibliothèque imperiale.
270 “Relig. de St. Denis.”
271 Ibid.
272 Strickland, “Queens of England,” vol. iii. p. 135. Katherine de Valois.
273 “Journal d’un bourgeois de Paris,” p. 148.
274 “Journal d’un bourgeois de Paris.”
275 Monstrelet.
276 T. Chastier, t. i. p. 211.
277 Except his eldest daughter in after years, for whom he had a strong affection.
278 Sainte-Marthe. Hilarion de la Coste. Morèry, Grand Dictionnaire. Lobineau, “Hist. Bretagne,” t. i. p. 727.
279 About a game of paume. Commines, Bellefont, &c.
280 De Maulde La Clavière. Louis XII. t. i. p. 115.
281 Lobineau, “Hist. Bretagne,” t. i. p. 745.
282 Lobineau, “Hist. Bretagne,” t. i. p. 790.
283 D’Argentré.
284 Lobineau, “Hist. Bret.,” t. i. p. 796.
285 Ibid., t. i. pp. 798, 807, 808.
286 Philippe de Commines. “Mém.” t. ii. p. 241, note 1, édition Dupont. L’Art de Vérifier les dates.
287 Le Roux de Lincy.
288 Jean Molinet, “Chroniques,” t. iv. p. 577.
289 “Revue des provinces de l’Ouest,” Juillet, 1854, p. 235.
290 Dom Morice; Lobineau, “Hist. Bretagne,” t. ii. col. 1550.
291 Commines.
292 Ibid.
293 Le Roux de Lincy, “Anne de Bretagne,” t. i. p. 133.
294 Brantôme, “Dames illustres,” t. v. p. 4.
295 De Maulde-la-Clavière, “Louis XII.,” t. ii. p. 272.
296 Commines; Brantôme, t. ii. p. 19, ed. Petitot.
297 Villeneuve, “Mem. Anne de Bretagne,” p. 246.
298 Commines, Villeneuve, Godefroy, &c.
299 Villeneuve, “Mem.,” p. 246.
300 Godefroy, “Hist. Charles VIII.,” p. 745.
301 Dom Lobineau, t. i. p. 823.
302 Brantôme, “Hommes illustres,” t. ii. p. 59.
303 Touchard Lafosse.
304 Biblio. Imp., fonds Béthune, MS. 8465, fol. 10, recto (Le Roux de Lincy).
305 Douey d’Attichy, “Madame Jeanne de France de Valois,” &c., p. 143.
306 Moréry.
307 Brantôme, “Capitaines étrangers,” t. l. p. 404.
308 “Etat de la maison d’Anne de Bretagne,” p. 708. “Hist. Charles VIII.” Godefroy.
309 Tomasi, “Bibliophile Jacob, Hist. xvi. Siècle,” i. p. 176. Le Roux de Lincy.
310 Sainte-Marthe, t. ii. p. 620. De Seyssel.
311 De Mézeray.
312 The buildings were sold in 1542 and pulled down; scarcely a trace remains of them except a tower at the corner of the rue St. Paul, which may have belonged to one.
313 Le Roux de Lincy.
314 Hilarion, de la Coste.
315 Guizot, “Hist. France,” t. ii. p. 505.
316 Jean d’Auton.
317 De Mézeray.
318 Brantôme, “Dames illustres,” t. v. p. 8.
319 Musée des Souverains, Louvre.
320 Roger-Milés, “Comment discerner les styles,” &c.
321 Godefroy, “Ceremonial français.”
322 Ibid.
323 Lobineau.
324 Brantôme, D’Argentré, Jean d’Auton.
325 “L’Art de vérifier les dates.”
326 “Jean de Saint Gelais.”
327 Le Roux de Lincy.
328 Spinola was one of the four great Genoese families allowed to build their palaces of striped black and white marble. The others were Grimaldi, Fieschi, and Doria.
329 Le Roux de Lincy.
330 Ibid.
331 These valuable letters were first published by M. Le Roux de Lincy in his work on Anne de Bretagne; they belonged to the collection Lajariette.
332 De Mézeray, “Hist. France,” p. 375.
333 Dane, “Hist. Bretagne,” t. iii. p. 242; Henault, Ste.-Marthe.
334 Letter preserved in Archives of Château de Marcoussy.
335 Archives of Monastery of Marcoussy, “Histoire manuscrites des convent et des seigneurs de Marcoussy &c.,” given by M. Le Roux de Lincy.
336 Bibliothèque Imperiale. MS. 8457, fol. 5, given by Le Roux de Lincy.
337 Jean d’Auton.
338 Guizot, “Hist. France,” t. ii. p. 520. Henault, Sainte-Marthe.
339 Touchard-Lafosse, “Hist. Blois.” St. Gelais.
340 “Revue des deux Mondes,” 1 Mai, 1885.
341 “La Société provençale, à la fin du Moyen Age.”
342 “Antiquitez de Paris.”
343 Le Roux de Lincy quotes “Hist. de l’auguste et vénérable église de Chartres, &c.,” Chartres, 1683.
344 Brantôme, “Dames illustres,” t. v. p. 9.
345 Henault, “Hist. France,” t. i. p. 442.
346 Alain Bouchard, “Chron. de Bretagne,” quoted by Le Roux de Lincy, &c.
347 Louarches, “Les Femmes dans l’hist. France,” p. 105.
348 M. Le Roux de Lincy giving these details says they only exist in a manuscript called “Le trépas de l’Hermine regrettée.” MS. fol. 35. vo.