Chapter II: Yolanda D’arragona--I

A Queen in labour--Natural children--Princess
Juanita--“La Gaya Ciencia”--Troubadours--Iolande de
Flandres--Bar-le-Duc--Highwaymen--Recruits--Fêtes
galants--Court of Love--Juan I., King of Aragon--A beauteous
damsel--L’Académie des Jeux Floraux--A royal Mainteneuse--Nails
in their heads!--“Plucking the turkey”!--“Quite as good as
you!”--“A gay woman”--A royal baptism--Princess Yolanda--The
Salic Law--A bridegroom-elect--Mauled by a wolf--A silver
throne--“The Queen!”--Bullfights--A royal trousseau--A
brilliant cavalcade--Louis II. d’Anjou--Attractive
girls--Castle of Montpellier--A royal progress--“The Loves
of Louis and Yolanda”--A King-suitor in disguise--An ardent
kiss--A royal marriage--Beautiful Arlésiennes--“A lovely
creature!”--A splendid dowry--Gardens at Tarascon--Legend of
St. Martha--A deadly dragon--State entry into Angers--The
castle and its contents--“Mysteries”--Inartistic
fare--Feastings--Yolanda Lieutenant-General of Anjou--English
invasion--Rabbit with a medallion--Isabeau de Bavière--A
wasp-like waist--Jewels--Catherine de Valois--Yolanda’s
first-born--The “Black Death”--Queen-Duchess Marie--Princess
Marie--Taxes and tax-gatherers--René d’Anjou born--St.
Renatus--The Queen’s enterprise--Cutting off his
tail!--Claimants for a throne--A piteous little Prince--A royal
betrothal--Henry V. of England--Louis II. in Italy--His death 30-66