Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-02-19

1
theless she had the courage to say:
Sire You need not betroth me Ia
the Duke of Cleves know of him
-he is ignoble, and ] will not marry
| him.
The king left the castle in terrible
rage. and poor Jeanne was greatly
alarmed and very unhappy. Madame
de Silly was in great trouble lest she
should DO blamed in the matter, and
tried to convince the child that the
king had the authority TO force her to
would be best not TO offend either the
king or the duke. But Jeanne re.
manned steadfast to her purpose |
shall never consent to marry The Duke
of Cloves.
Preparations for the wedding were
being made. and the most costly gar
ments were being prepared for her.
but she took no interest in any OF the
arrangements but kept repeating:
mo matter how they plan to bedeck
me in cloth OF gold and jewels | will
never consent to marry the Duke OF
| Cloves"
For years she had desired to ESCAPE
from the gloomy castle of Pessis but
now when the order came for her to
appear at court. and the great iron
doors OF the castle were thrown open
for her to pass out she shrank back
in terror When she reached the
royal palace the Duke OF Cleves hast
ened 10 pay his respects to his bride.
She received him ooldy. but with
great respect and dignity. She had
never seen him before. but her swift,
keen glances penetrated all his de.
signs and she read his real character.
and when he retired this was her
verdict:
"a great bombastic uobody-a
craven" His conduct in after years
fully justified her estimate OF the
duke.
Jeanne's mother was ordered to nt-
tend the wedding, and the king and
| queen of Navarro received threaten.
ing letters that If they did not consent
TO this marriage. and compel their
daughter Jeanne to consent the ban
ners of France would float over their
kingdoms that he would send q great
army to compel submission.
When Jeanne met her mother she
throw her arms about her. and begged
her to save her from the terrible fate
that threatened her. But her mother
commanded her TO consent to the
marriage.
She answered her mother as she
had answered the others: Il never
will consent to marry the Duke of
Cleves"
Her mother in her terror, not know
ing what the consequences might be.
first entreated. then thr, atened to whip
her TO death il she did not consent,
but she would not consent
The mother then went to the king
and entreated him to consider that she
was only child, and was not respon-
sible for her conduct
Jeanne got up protest and had it
duly witnessed. This protest which
is an able paper, set forth all the facts
and protested against her being mar
ried to the Duke of Cleves.
The Wedding day came at last.
There never was such brilliant we'd
ding in France before nor since that
time. Everything was magnificent.
All the nobility of the kingdom, the
dignitaries of state and the foreign
ministers and diplomats OF Europe
gathered in the royal chapel to wit
ness the ceremony. The chapel was
ablaze with costly jewels. and brilliant
with scarlet and gold hangings.
ptipoaco Jaanna Hal hoo,,
by her attendants in her robes OF cloth
of gold. and a ducal coronet blazing
with costly gems encircled her sad
brow Everything was ready. the
distinguished guests were waiting in
the royal chapel when the king came
to conduct her to the altar. She arose.
as was the habit OF the ladies of the
court when the king entered the
room. but she would not move one
step.
If you will not go willingly l will
havo you carried 10 the chapel" the
king said in great anger And he sent
for Montgomery, the constable Of
France, and ordered him to take her
in his arms and carry her in. and put
her in her proper place at the altar
The ceremony was proceeded with
at once although the unwilling bride
made no responses. Everybody knew
that she had been forced into the mar
riage and everybody felt sorry for the
poor child but no one dared to inter.
fere.
After the ceremony she kept herself
so secluded that the duke of Cleves
had no opportunity even to SEQ her
During the eight days OF festivities in
the palace, she only appeared once
and then only at the stern command
of the king. 1t was finally agreed
that they were not TO live together for
three years, and that she should in
the meantime stay with her mother in
Navarro and finish her education.
But she never lived with her hus-
band. When the three Yeas had
passed she secured a verdict on her
protest and the marriage was pro-
nounced illegal. She became a great
woman. She was crowned queen OF
Navarro, and was tho strongest best
ruler Navarro ever had. She COM
manded great armies, and made the
kings OF France and Spain tremble at
her achievements and brilliant victor
les. Her son became king of Navarro
and France under the title of Henry
".
Jeanne though beautiful and titled,
and rich. with armies at her command
never in all her life had chance to
be happy and free. The boys and