Chapter VI: Marie D’anjou

“The little Queen of Bourges”--A master-stroke--A lovely
bride, an ill-looking groom--An evil mother’s influence--Three
fair witches--Yolande’s prestige--Woman’s power in
France--Marie _v._ Agnes--Unhappy Charles VI.--The Châtelaine
de Courrages--A gallows and a flagellation--Marriage
of Charles and Marie--Impecuniosity--Never touched her
below the chin!--Jacques Cœur’s loyal succour--Terrible
disasters--A treacherous deed--Isabeau’s rage--Queen Marie’s
speech--A lovely bevy of Maids of Honour--Outrageous
fashions--Correcte’s crusade--“À bas les hennins!”--Scudding
stones--Plain chapelles--A faint-hearted King--Queen
Marie’s “I will”--Marie d’Anjou and Jeanne d’Arc--No place
for the Queen!--Agnes Sorel, “la Belle des Belles”--Serge
chemises--“The plaything of the most valiant King?”--Agnes’s
four daughters--A loving son--Boxed her ears!--Agnes’s heart
in gold--“Males femmes”--“Everything for France!”--Disasters
and delirium--Marie in shade and shine--A pillion--Poor
little Princess Margaret!--“A curse on life!”--A dissolute
Prince--Slander and hypocrisy--The Bastard of Orléans--A tryst
disturbed--The obscene Fête des Fous--A royal repast-Tours for
delicacies--A famous pack of cards--The Queen as a business
woman--Cocks and hens--Marie dies at Poitiers--“A good and
devout woman” 174-215