Chapter I: Preface

The story of Margaret of Anjou forms a part of the history of England, for the lady, though of Continental origin, was the queen of one of the English kings, and England was the scene of her most remarkable adventures and exploits. She lived in very stormy times, and led a very stormy life; and her history, besides the interest which it excites from the extraordinary personal and political vicissitudes which it records, is also useful in throwing a great deal of light upon the ideas of right and wrong, and of good and evil, and upon the manners and customs, both of peace and war, which prevailed in England during the age of chivalry.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE HOUSES OF YORK AND LANCASTER 15

II. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE TIME 30

III. KING HENRY VI 46

IV. MARGARET'S FATHER AND MOTHER 59

V. ROYAL COURTSHIP 75

VI. THE WEDDING 93

VII. RECEPTION IN ENGLAND 115

VIII. THE STORY OF LADY NEVILLE 125

IX. PLOTTINGS 143

X. THE FALL OF GLOUCESTER 157

XI. THE FALL OF SUFFOLK 171

XII. BIRTH OF A PRINCE 188

XIII. ILLNESS OF THE KING 199

XIV. ANXIETY AND TROUBLE 207

XV. MARGARET A FUGITIVE 222

XVI. MARGARET TRIUMPHANT 231

XVII. MARGARET AN EXILE 237

XVIII. A ROYAL COUSIN 244

XIX. RETURN TO ENGLAND 254

XX. YEARS OF EXILE 269

XXI. THE RECONCILIATION WITH WARWICK 278

XXII. BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT 285

XXIII. CHILDLESS, AND A WIDOW 292

XXIV. CONCLUSION 306

ENGRAVINGS.

PAGE

THE BRIDAL PROCESSION _Frontispiece._

GENERAL MAP 14

SELECTING THE ROSES 22

ORDEAL COMBAT 35

HENRY VI. IN HIS YOUTH 54

THE PENANCE 56

DISTRESS OF MARGARET'S MOTHER 65

SUFFOLK PRESENTING MARGARET TO THE KING 107

ANCIENT PORTRAIT OF QUEEN MARGARET 117

FEMALE COSTUME IN THE TIME OF HENRY VI 138

THE CHARGES AGAINST GLOUCESTER 160

ROUEN 176

VIEW OF BORDEAUX 180

THE TEMPLE GARDEN 192

THE LITTLE PRINCE AND HIS SWANS 220

MURDER OF RICHARD'S CHILD 235

LOUIS XI., MARGARET'S COUSIN 251

MAP OF THE BORDER 255

MARGARET AT THE CAVE 263

DEATH OF WARWICK 289

TEWKESBURY 297

THE MURDER OF PRINCE HENRY 302

VIEW OF CHERTSEY 308

MARGARET OF ANJOU.