The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-02-24
MARGARET OF ANJOU.
The Record Of a stormy Lille


Queens--was the heroine OF tempestu-
GUS misfortune and romance, and for
fve-and-twenty years played a conspicu-
GUS part in England's history. During
her soiourn among the English arose that
deadly feud between the rival houses of
York and Lancaster, which eliminated
in the terribly devastating " War Of the
Roses" Thus Margaret's 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 splendor
and sunshine-gleams that only served
to bring into greater prominence her
overwhelming ealamities.
The illustrious King Rene of Anjou,
rich in titles but not in wealth, was the
father Of the peerless Margaret; while
hermother, Isabella, was adirect descend
ant Of the renowned Charlemagne, and
q Princess highly endowed with beauty,
eloqUence, energy and virtue. Princess
Margaret was born 23rd of March, 1929,
at Pont-a Mousson- mothers DOVER
palace, one Of the grandest castles in
Lorraine. When but years old the
baby Princess commenced her appren-
tioeship to sorrow and adversely; for at
this early age her father was taken captive
while engaged in struggle respecting
her mothers pahimony in Lorraine; and
the anxious and distraught Isabella,
while cIasping Margaret to her breast,
gave vent to her grief in tears and low
murmurs of alarm.
Margaret was twice betrothed during
her infancy, firstly to the Count St. Pol,
secondly to the Count do Nevers but
both these projected alliances fell
through. When u little over IA years of
age her youthful attractions were the
theme of general admiration.
''The courts of France ahd Burgundy
rang with her charms" the learned
chronicler, Barante, declared. There
was no Princess in Christendom more
accomplished than my Lady Margaret
Of .Aniou."
The young bachelor King, Henry VI
of England, having heard of her peer
less beauty and lofty spirit, sent trusty
emissary to the Court of Lorraine to OBJ
tain portrait of her. The gentleman
of Aniou intrusted with the duty of
monarch described in glowing terms the
many attractions of this Incompatible
Princess, and his report was we'll sec
onded by the painting. Both Henry's
great uncle, Cardinal Beaufort, and Mar
garet's 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-
cislon of character and, as Margaret
possessed these requisites in o marked
degree, he hoped her influence in these
respects would prove beneficial for the
King. At the same time he also hoped
her youth and mex perience would rem
der her q valuable instrument in pro-
noting his own political influence and
power. ~
''The darling of the people" Duke
Humphrey of Gloucester, uMcle to the
young King, was opposed to this ali-
Gnce with Margaret; consequently Car.
dinal Beaufort and the Duke were at an
issue as 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, as King Rene demanded the
Cession of Maine and Anjou as the price
of his daughters hand, Henry readily
agreed to the sacrifice, only too pleased
to secure this 'tdowerless bride whose
beauty.and merits were allowed to out
weigh alr the riches in the world"
The Duke of Suffolk, accompanied by
his Duchess and brilliant train of the
nobility, was dispatched to France s'to
spouse the Lady Margaret of Aniou, as
proxy forEhis sovereign" The festivi-
ties, lasting eight days, were carried out
with great magnihcence.
At the closeof the festivities Margaret
took most affectionate 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
by terrific storm. "The cliffs of AL
blon were first visible to her amid flashes
OF lightning, and the shores resounded
with peals of thunder" On arriving at
Southampton she was seized with dam
gerous illness-supposed to have been
small pox-and 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 so scantily
furnished that King Henry was under
the necessity of supplying her with array
suitable to'a Queen of England before
she could appear in that character.
The impoverished state of the national
treasury--csnsed chiefly by the dis
astrous wars with France and the unset-
tied state of the 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
jewels and household plate, many of the
jewels beng pledged to his great uncle,
the rich Cardinal Beaufort.
On the ODD of April, 1445, the royal
nuptials were celebrated at Tichfeld
Abbey, with great splendor, and on the
2Sth OF May following Margaret was
crowned ut Westminster. when ga
tournament was held which lasted three
days, the lists occupying the entire space
between the Palace Yard and the Sanct-
nary. ~ .,;+s5.s
Humphreys Duke of Gloucester. find.
ing hlssopposition to Henry's marriage
with Margaret had been useless. was
one OF the first to treat the young
Queen with. marked courtesy and friend
hness. Unfortunately, Margaret was
too inexperienced, and too much of a
spoiled. beauty, to readily overlook his
previous sighting behavior. Her i'm
petuous temperament never allowed her
to acquire that command over her likes
and dislikes which discretion impera-
lively calls for: O less clever or less