The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-03-29
MARGARET OF ANJ0U.
Tho Record OF "a stormy Life.

The Record OF "a stormy Life.
From her cradle 10 her grave, Marga.
ret Of Anjou-the last OF our Proyencal
Quecns-was the heroine oi tcmpestu-
GUS misfortune and romance, aud for
fye-and-twcnty years played a cOnspicu-
GUS part in England's history. During
her sojourn among the English arose that
deadly feud between the rival houses Of
York and Lancaster, which eliminated
in the terribly devastating "War OF tho
Roses" Thus Margarets position as
an English Queen cOnsort was one OF
constant anxiety, danger and difficulty
occasionally relieved, it is true, by
few brilliant CLEANS Of royal splondor
and neutrality-suspicious. that only served
10 bring into greater prominence her
overwhelming calamites.
Tho illustrious King Rene Of Anjou,
rich in titles but not in wealth, was tho
father OF the peerless Margaret while
bormothcr, Isabella, WIS adircct descend
ant Of the renowned Charlcmagno, and
n Princess highly endowed with beauty,
cloqnencc, energy ard virtue. Princess
Margaret was born BIRD OF March, 1929,
OF Pont-a MOussOn-hcr mother DOVER
palace, one OF the grandcst castles in
Lorraine. When but years old tho
baby Princess commenced her appren.
ticeship to sorrow and adversely; for at
this early age her father was taken captive
while engaged in a struggle respecting
her mothers patrimouy in Lorraine; and
the anxious aud distraught Isabella,
while claspin9 Margaret TO her breast,
gave vent to her grief in tears and low
murmurs of alarm.
Margaret was twice botrothed during
her infancy, firstly to the Count st. Pol,
secondly to tho Count do Ncyers; but
both these projected alliances fell
through. When II little over | 4 years Of
age her youthful attractions were tho
theme Of general admiration.
"The courts Of France aid Burgundy
rang with her charms" tho learned
chronicler, Barante, declared. "Thcro
was 10 Princess in ChristcDdom more
accomplished than my Lady Margaret
OF Anjou."
The young bachelor King, Henry VI.
Of England, having heard OF her peer
less beauty and lofty spirit sent trusty
cmissary TO the Court of Lorraine to OBJ
tain portrait Of her Tho gentleman
OF Aniou intrusted with the duty Of
presenting the picture TO tho English
monarch described in glowing terms tho
many attractions of this Incompatible
Princess, and his report was well Sec
onded by the painting. Both Tenry's
great uncle, Cardinal Beaufort, and Mar
garets uncle, Charles VII. OF France,
lent their influence in supporting Hen
rvs choice. The Cardinal in particu-
lar was very anxious for the alliance.
He had educated his royal nephew, and
he saw clearly enough that Henry was
lamentably deficient in energy and de-
clsion of character and, rs Margaret
possessed these requisites in marked
degree, he hoped her influence in these
respects would prove beneficial for tho
King. At the same time he also hoped
her youth and inexperienco would ron
der her valuable instrument in pro.
noting his own political influence and
power
The darling of the people" Duke
Humphrey of Gloucester, uncle to tho
young King, was opposed TO this ali-
ance with Margaret; consequently Car
dinal Beaufort and the Duke were ut an
issue rs to the choice of consort for
their royal kinsman.
Henry himself, however, was deeply
enamored by her pictured charms. He
resolved to obtain Margaret at whatever
cost; and. MS King Rene demanded the
cession OF Maine AID Anjou as the price
OF his daughters hand, Henry readily
agreed to the sacrifice, only too pleased |
TO secure this "dowcrless bride whose |
beauty and merits were allowed to out
weigh all the riches in the world"
The Duke OF Suffolk, accompanied by |
MS Duchess and a brilliant train of tho ]
nobility, was dispatched to France "to
espouse the Lady Margaret of Anjou, as
proxy for his sovereign" Tho festivi-
tues, lasting eight days, were carried out
with great magniiiccnce.
At the close of the festivities Margaret
took most ailectionate leave of her par
ents, kindred and friends; and the lively
emotions called forth on her departure
for England in the charge Of the Duke
and Duchess of Suffolk were eloquent of
the love and admiration universally felt
for her.
Her landing in England was heralded
bya terrific storm. "The cliffs of Al
bion were first visible TO her amid flashes
OF lightning, and the shores resounded |
with peals of thunder" On arriving at
she was seized with dan
gerous illness-supposed to have been
the anxious young King
awaited her recovery with the greatest
impatience.
The beautiful Margaret, then in her
10Th year, even suffered from poverty.
both in her own home and in that OF
her adopted country. Miss Strickland
relates
Her bridal wardrobe was 80 scantily
furnished that King Henry was under
the necessity of supplying her with array
suitable to Queen of England before
she could appear in that character"
The impoverished state of the national
treasury-cepsed chiefly by the dis
astrous wars with France and the unset
tied state OF tho country-added to
King Henry's difficulties in raising the
necessary funds to meet the expenses
upon his marriage. "He was COM
PEELED to pawn nearly all his private
levels and household plate, many of the
ewels being pledged to his great uncle,