PICTURES OF THE OLD FRENCH COURT
AMBOISE.
Pictures of the
Old French Court
Jeanne de Bourbon
Isabeau de Bavière
Anne de Bretagne
By
Catherine Bearne
Author of
“Lives and Times of the Early Valois Queens”
ILLUSTRATED BY EDWARD H. BEARNE FROM ANCIENT
PRINTS, ORIGINAL DRAWINGS, &c.
NEW YORK
E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY
1900
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 XI., who took very little part in public affairs; and to give a much shorter account of the reign of Anne de Bretagne.
Very little has been written about Isabeau de Bavière, 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:—
“In dicto vero castro, in regis et totius Francorum exercitus derisum et subsannationem, in quodam eminenti loco posuerant Flammingi quemdam gallum permaximum de tela tincta, dicentes: ‘Quando gallus iste cantabit, rex Cassellum capiet vi armorum.’ Unde et gallice in gallo scriptum erat:
‘Quand ce coq chanté aura,
Le Roy Cassel conquestera.’”[1]
I quoted these lines from the “Grandes Chroniques.”[2]
To another critic who says he has never heard of the “Grand dictionnaire de Morèry,” 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, and is quoted by various historians. It is sometimes spelt “Morèri.”
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 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 Duc de Bourbon at Poitiers | 1 |
| [CHAPTER II]. | |
| France after the Battle of Poitiers—The Jacquerie—The Marché 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 Céléstins—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 |
| [CHAPTER IV]. | |
| King Jean returns to England—His death—Coronation of Charles V. and Jeanne de Bourbon—Murder of Blanche, Queen of Spain—The Céléstine 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—Hôtel 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, Duc 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 | 89 |
| [REIGN OF CHARLES VI. and ISABEAU DE BAVIERE.] | |
| [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 |
| [CHAPTER II]. | |
| 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 fêtes—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’Orléans—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 Rivière—Doctor Hassely—The King recovers—The Masquerade—Dreadful fire—King ill—The sorcerers—King recovers—Dr. Fréron—King ill again—Accusations against Louis and Valentine d’Orléans—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 Duc 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 châteaux—Burgundy and Orléans—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’Orléans, and quarrels at Court—Return of the Queen of England—Burgundians and Orléanists—Birth of Charles de France—Dreadful storms—Death of Duke of Burgundy—Illness of Duc de Berry—Conduct of Savoisy—Frère 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’Orléans | 212 |
| [CHAPTER VII]. | |
| Departure of Royal Family—Hundred Years’ War—Valentine d’Orléans—Queen’s return to Louvre—Death of Valentine—Forced reconciliation—Philippe de Bourgogne and Michelle de France—Misconduct of the Duc de Bretagne—Death of Isabelle de France—Of the Duc de Bourbon—Quarrels of the Duke and Duchess of Aquitaine—Of the princes | 242 |
| [CHAPTER VIII]. | |
| Riots led by Burgundy—The Duc 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 XI. | 299 |
| [REIGN OF ANNE DE BRETAGNE, WIFE OF CHARLES VIII. and LOUIS XII.] | |
| [CHAPTER I]. | |
| Birth of Anne and Isabelle—Their childhood—Louis d’Orléans—Alain d’Albret—Death of François II.—First council—French war—Marriage ceremony—Siege of Rennes | 303 |
| [CHAPTER II]. | |
| Joustes before Rennes—Death of Isabelle—Betrothal of Anne—Marguérite 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—Hôtel 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—Maréchal de Gié—Second illness of King—Queen in Bretagne—Second betrothal of Princess Claude | 341 |
| [CHAPTER V]. | |
| 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 the Queen | 353 |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
| Amboise | [Frontispiece] |
| PAGE | |
| Jeanne de Bourbon | [6] |
| Meaux | [25] |
| French Noble, Fourteenth Century | [56] |
| Lady of French Court, Fourteenth Century | [67] |
| The Bastille | [80] |
| Meeting of the Queen and her Mother | [86] |
| Shield of Jeanne de Bourbon | [105] |
| Isabeau de Bavière | [117] |
| Nevers | [186] |
| The Prioress of Poissy | [190] |
| Bedroom of the Fifteenth Century | [197] |
| Old Paris | [202] |
| The Louvre, from the Hôtel de Nesle | [207] |
| Hôtel Barbette | [237] |
| Bourges | [257] |
| Man in Armour, Fifteenth Century | [273] |
| Map of English Possessions in France, 1380–1422 | [287] |
| Shield of Isabeau de Bavière | [298] |
| Marie d’Anjou | [299] |
| Shield of Marie d’Anjou | [300] |
| Charlotte de Savoie | [301] |
| Shield of Charlotte de Savoie | [302] |
| Anne de Bretagne | [310] |
| Trumpeter | [316] |
| Tour d’Amboise | [323] |
| Louis XII. | [330] |
| Bourges | [333] |
| Lady of Fifteenth Century | [339] |
| Blois | [342] |
| Loches | [349] |
| Shield of Anne de Bretagne | [364] |