CHAPTER IV

ISABELLE DE LORRAINE

Child marriages--“The Pride of Lorraine”--A mailed fist--Duchess’s bare feet--Satin skin--Cardinal matchmaker--Ten considerations--Woman’s wit supreme--A charming boy--Jean “sans Peur”--“Polluyon”--A Sovereign’s oath--“Noël! Noël!”--First free Parliament in France--Veterans--Antoine de Vaudémont--“You may go!”--Bulgneville--René a prisoner--Insecurity of life--The Duke’s terms--Two boy hostages--La Tour de Bar--René’s parole--Money the crux--René at Naples--The Golden Rose--A royal artist--Music and song--Duchess Margaret dies--“Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi!”--The sword of Lancelot--A very young widow--Isabelle leads an army--Alfonso in check--King René free--Women of Genoa--On the throne--A troubled land--“Cette vraie Amazone!”--Fortune did not smile--“Too much blood”--A dastardly outrage--Peace--Princess Marguerite betrothed--Black armour--Jehanne de Laval--Black buffaloes--Grey hair--Splendid tournaments--Ordre du Croissant--Double nuptials--Henry VI. of England--Ferri carries off Yolande--Cupid’s “Lists”--The spectre of war--Death of Queen Isabelle--“My heart has lost its love!”--“Amour et Foy” 94-142