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her husband and her eldest son were tomb, which has since been destroved : seized and accused of the poisoning, all that now remains being her mutilated when the redoubted Count De la Marche statue, which, thanks to Mr. Stothard, declared his wife was belied, and made i has been removed by the French governappeal to battle by challenging his ac- ment from the prison cellar where he cuser, Prince Alphonso, to single combat. found it in 1816, and thus preserved from But Alphonso, being not over-brave, ex- total destruction. cused himself, on the plea that he never fought with treason-polluted felons. Then the son of De la Marche offered to fight in the place of his father; but this challenge was met with the same refusal as the former.

Meanwhile Poitou rose in insurrection, and when, shortly afterwards, the sad tidings of these troubles reached the cars of Isabella, now called the wicked Jezebel by the French and Poictevins, who to her base influence attributed their disastrous warfare, she, overcome by misfortune, poverty, and a consciousness of her many misdeeds, sunk into a decline, which terminated her existence in 1246. "She died," says Matthew Paris. "in her secret chamber, at Fontevraud, much in need of the spiritual benefit to be derived from the alms of the poor."

After the death of Isabella, Count de la Marche became reconciled to Louis of France, afterwards styled St. Louis, and with him set out in 1248, on a disastrous crusade in the Holy Land, where, on reaching Damietta, the Count was slain in a fierce encounter with the Saracens.

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What family Isabella had by Count de la Marche is not known. Speed says, by this marriage she had divers ehildren," and from other sources we learn that her eldest son succeeded to his parent's patrimony as Iugh the Eleventh, Count de la Marche and Angoulême, and that shortly after their mother's death, four of the sons and one of the daughters came to England, and were loaded with favours by their half-brother, Henry the Third. Of these, Guy de Lusignan, a knight of some renown, was killed at the battle of Lewes; William de Valence was married Her remains were interred without to Joanna, the rich heiress of Warin de pomp in the churchyard of ontevraud. Muntchesnil, and became Earl of PemAbout eight years afterwards, her son, broke; Ethelmar, who was in holy orders, Henry the Third, on visiting the abbey, was, after much opposition from the was so shocked on beholding his mother, clergy, clevated to the rich sec of Wineven in death, cast off from the fellow-chester; Geoffrey de Lusignan was ship of his royal ancestors, that he had her remains removed to the choir of the church, where he erected .or her a noble

created Lord of Hastings, and the Lady Eliza was espoused to the powerful John, Earl Warrenne

ELEANORA OF PROVENCE

Queen of Benry the Third.

CHAPTER I.

Parentage and beauty of Eleanora-Her talents-She sends a poem, written by herself, to Earl Richard-The Earl advises Henry the Third to marry her-Henry's unsuccessful efforts to procure a consort-He agrees to marry Eleanora without a dower-Her journey to England-Marriage-Coronation-Dress-Jewels-The Pope approves of her marriage-Extravagance and early difficulties of Henry the Third-His partiality for foreigners-Doings of Italian ecclesiastics-Henry's religious devotion, and extravagant liberality to Eleanora's foreign relations-The Earl of Leicester marries the Countess of Pembroke-Earl Richard advises the King to discard his foreign councillors.

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LEANORA OF PROVENCE, surnamed La I elle, from her exquisite beauty, was the second of the five fair daughters of the illustrious Raymond Berenger, Count of Provence. This Count Raymond was alike celebrated as .a poet and a warrior, but being fond of battle strife, he, by continual wars, had so wasted his money, that his poverty had become proverbial. His consort, Beatrice, daughter of Thomas, Count of Savoy, was remarkable for beat:y, wit, and high accomplishments.

Born in that land of sunshine and song, the south of France, the birthplace of the most renowned troubadours of the middle ages, and where the language spoken was remarkable for its grace, clegance, and superior fitness for poetical composition, Eleanora imbibed a spark

of the poet's fire, and whilst scarcely yet in her teens, penned that really creditable heroic poem on the love adventures of Blandin of Cornwall, which is still preserved in the royal library of Turin, and which, singular to relate, won for her the crown matrimonial of England.

The poem completed, she, by the desire of her father, who, it appears, was counselled to the course by his far-secing confidant, the poet Romeo, sent it with many compliments to King Henry's brother, Richard, Earl of Cornwall. Farl Richard was then at Poitou, preparing for a crusade; but feeling flattered by this mark of respect from the peerless maiden, and being himself already married to a fair daughter of the Earl of Pembroke, the Protector, he wrote on the instant a long epistle to his brother Henry the Third, in which, after lavishly praising her beauty, her accomplishments, and, above all, her romantic rhymes, he concludes by carnestly entreating the King

to lose no time in bringing about the and learning, through a secret messenmatch, as not in all Christendom could ger-Richard, prior of Hurle-tnat the so fair, so sweet, so weil-gifted a young parents of his lady-love were favourable bride be found, as this beauteously beau- to the match, he made known to his notiful Eleanora. bles that he had broken his engagement with Joanna of Ponthieu; and they, says Hemmingford, most considerately advised him to marry the very lady he wished for, Eleanora of Provence. Indeed, the alliance presented prospects of political advantages, as her eldest sister, Marguerite of Provence, was married to the good St. Louis of France.

As an embassy to the court of Count Raymond, King Henry, with great judg

With what joy this messenger of love was received by King Henry, may be imagined, when we remember how his previous endeavours to enter the holy pale of matrimony had all failed. In the courts of Brittany, Austria, and Bohemia, he had sued in vain for a bride. Nor were his efforts more successful when directed towards Scotland. The Scotch Princess, Margaret, on being told that he was lewd, squint-eyed, deceitful, weak-ment, dispatched the Bishops of Ely and minded, and more faint-hearted than a Hereford, the prior of Hurle, and the woman, rejected his suit, and married brother of Robert de Sandford, Master his justiciary, Hubert de Burgh; and of the Knights Templars. When these when, after this, he, in 1231, resolving sober-minded ecclesiastics reached Pronot to be out-Caesared by his own chief vence, the needy Count, desiring above minister, paid court to Margaret's all things that his daughter Eleanora younger sister, the English barons, should wear the crown matrimonial of dreading an increase of the already England, received them with great honour kingly power of Hubert de i urgh, pre- and respect. But on opening the negovented the alliance from taking place; ciation, a rather formidable difficulty prewhich so dispirited him, that, believing sented itself. The embassy had been inhimself doonied to a life of single bless-structed to demand twenty thousand edness, he made no further efforts in the marks as Elcanora's marriage portion. matter till 1235, a period of four years, This sum it was beyond the power of when he demanded for his Queen, Jo- Count Raymond to raise; and being too anna, daughter of the Count of Ponthieu. proud to own his poverty, he, with His proposals were now favourably re- the astuteness of a clever diplomatist, ceived both by the lady and her friends. met the obstacle by objecting to the palThe marriage contract was signed, and triness of the dower which Henry would they being fourth cousins, ambassadors be able to fix on Eleanora during the were dispatched for the Pope's dispensa-lifetime of his mother, Isabella. tion. But, before the ambassadors On this, Henry desired his procurators reached Rome, he sent secret orders to them to return home with all haste and secrecy, as he had changed his mind. This change of purpose was occasioned by the letter from his brother Earl Richard, which painted the beauty and accomplishments of Eleanora in such brilliant colours, that he henceforth overlooked the claims of the disappointed | Joanna, for the more captivating charms of the fair maid of Provence.

Henry exerted his utmost energies in prosecuting this, his seventh purpose of marriage. After writing in June, 1235, to the Earl of Savoy, brother to Eleanora's mother, requesting his friendly Assistance in bringing about the nuptials,

to reduce his demand to fifteen thousand marks, and if, continued the moneygrasping sceptre-bearer, this sum is unobtainable, get ten thousand, seven thousand, five thousand, or even three thousand marks. But the haughty Count expressed great indignation at this mode of proceeding, and declared that his daughter was not to be bargained for like a beast; which so alarmed Henry, that, fearing to lose the lady, he wrote in haste to the ambassadors, telling them if they could not obtain money, at any rate to procure the infanta, and conduct her to him in England without delay. cordingly the marriage contract was signed, and the young, but portionless

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Eleanora, ceremoniously delivered to the embassy.

On her journey to England, the royal bride was attended by a magnificent train of nobles and knights. including her uncie, the Bishop of Valentia, and the Count of Champagne. Thibaut the Seventh, the poet King of Navarre, whose songs are still remembered with fondness in the province over which he bore sway, attended her in person as a guide, whilst she and her company passed through his dominions. The journey occupied five days, and although the retinue consisted of more than three hundred horsemen, besides a bevy of ladies, and a host of minstrels, jongleurs, and other more humble followers, he generously feasted them right royally, and himself paid all the expenses.

At the French frontier she was hospitably welcomed by St. Louis and his consort, her sister Marguerite, and the French Queen Dowager. After passing through France, she embarked at Wissant, and making a speedy passage, safely arrived at Dover, whence she and her stately train proceeded to Canterbury, where, on the fourth of January, 1236, she was married to Henry the Third, by St. Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the bishops who had accompanied her.

Immediately after their marriage, the royal party proceeded to London with great pomp, when, on Sunday, the twentieth of January, it being the feast of St. Fabian and St. Sebastian, the coronation of the Queen was solemnized, with extraordinary splendour, at Westminster Abbey.

Previous to the performance of the magnificent ceremony, King Henry, with the taste of an artist and the affection of a lover, caused the palace at Westminster to be improved and beautified for the reception of his charming bride. The Queen's chamber was decorated with historical paintings and ornate works of art, whilst both the King's chamber and wardrobe were painted in imitation of green curtains, emblazoned with clegant devices, and rich borders.

Nor were the good Londoners backward in demonstrations of loyalty to the

young Queen. After cleansing their thoroughfares from mud, dirt, sticks, and everything offensive-a purification which, difficult as it might be to effect in those days, when sewers were unknown, must, in a sanitary sense, have proved a blessing to the inhabitantsthey adorned their city with banners, hangings, candles, lamps, marvellous devices, and unheard-of costly pageantry, on which Eleanor, as she passed by, gazed with astonishment and delight. At one spot, where the display was remarkably profuse and gorgeous, the young Queen paused, and, after feasting her dazzled eyes, exclaimed: "Oh, London, thou art indeed the world's centre of riches and greatness!"

On the coronation day, not a citizen was within his house; every street and lane was crowded with gay, countless throngs; and there was assembled such a host of nobles of both sexes, such numbers of ecclesiastics, and such a variety of minstrels and players, that London, with its capacious bosom, could scarcely contain them.

The citizens of London performed the duties of butler to the King-an office acknowledged to belong to them of ancient right-at the coronation. Mounted on swift horses, to the number of three hundred and sixty, they rode forth to accompany Henry and his consort from the Tower to Westminster. Dressed in silken garments, with long graceful mantles, skilfully worked in gold, their horses trapped with glittering new spurs and costly saddles, they moved in procession, such as London had never before witnessed, each rider bearing in his hand a skilfully-wrought cup of gold or silver for the king's use. Thus arrayed, with the king's trumpeters sounding martial music before them, they procceded to the coronation banquet, where they served the noble company with wine.

The duty of crowning was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the usual solemnities, assisted by the Bishop of London, and the other bishops, who took their station according to their ranks. The coronation procession was magnificent. The King clad in royal

robes, and wearing his crown, was pre- | Accordingly, the chagrined mayor bowed ceded by the Fari of Chester, bearing to the royal will, and served the two the sword of St. Edward, called "Cur- bishops at the King's right hand. After tein," in token that, as Earl of the Pa- the banquet, the eari butler received lace, he had the power of restraining | the cup out of which the King had drank the King, should he act wrongfully; as his right, and Master Michael rewhilst the Lishop of Chinchester, the ceived the eari's robes as his perquisite; chancellor, carried that ancient corona- indeed, with few exceptions, all the artion ensign, the cup of precious stones; ticles and trappings used at the coronaand Hugh De Patishull, the King's tion were apportioned out to those who treasurer, robed in a rich Dalmatica, served on the festive occasion. walked before, with the paten. These were preceded by Sir Richard Siward and Sir Nicholas De Molis, carrying the royal sceptres. The Grand-Marshal of England, the Earl of Pembroke, went before, and with a wand cleared the way for the royal train, both in the church and in the banquetting-hall, and arranged the guests at table. A rich silken pall was carried over both the King and the Queen; each pall was adorned with four silver gilded bells, and supported by four curiously-wrought silver lances, borne by the wardens of the Cinque Ports.

Thus, the citizens of Winchester superintended the cooking of the feast, and the head cook in the royal kitchen received the steward's robe as his right. Gilbert De Sandford was door-keeper of the Queen's chamber on that day, and obtained as his right the Queen's bridalbed and furniture. The cloth that hung behind the King at table was claimed as a perquisite both by the door-keepers and the scullions, whilst the knives, dishes, saltcellars, and other articles, even to the cloth on which the King walked in the church and the banquettinghall, were all similarly appropriated.

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After declaring that the scene was too magnificent to describe, and the splendour of the dresses of the ladies, the nobles, and the clergy too dazzling to behold, Matthew Paris remarks: Why should I name those who, as their duty wanted, performed the offices of the church? Why describe the abundance and variety of meats, fish, fruits, wines, and dishes of delicacies on the tables, or mention the sweet voices, the fantastic antics of the gleemen, or the comeliness and gaiety of the waiters? For whatever the world could produce for magniñicence or delight, was there brought together from every quarter."

At the banquet the Earl of Leicester supplied the King with water in silver basins, to wash before his meal. At the King's table the archbishops, bishops, and a few favoured abbots, sat at the right of the King, whilst the left was occupied by a few privileged nobles. Much jealousy and ill-will appears to have been occasioned by defective and unjust arrangements at the banquet. Many persons seated at the lower tables considered that their rank and station entitled them to a place nearer to the King, whilst others endeavoured to fill offices that of right did not belong to them. However, as the decision of these matters was put off to a more fitting Like his father, King John, Henry opportunity, the festivity was clouded was the greatest fop of the age. But with but one dispute worthy of mention. although he himself was the first Prince This dispute, which arose from Andrew who wore garments of sparkling goldBuckerel, the Mayor of London, who tissued baudckin, he liberally ordered for came with his good citizens to serve in his Queen apparel the most choice and the buttery, claiming the honour of costly. Dresses, robes and mantles of holding the King's wine-cup, and re- satin velvet, cloth of gold, ermine, and plenishing it whenever needed, was de- other superb texture filled the wardrobe cided by the King ordering that only of Eleanora. Her magnificent jewelMaster Michael Belot, the deputy of lery, consisting of richly-jewelled "chapAlbini, the Pincerna, or grand butler of lets of fillagree gold, to wear over the England, had a right to fill that office. | hair, splendid girdles, clasps, armlets,

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