It was with an aching heart that Queen Joanna was called upon to receive the royal victor when all England rejoiced at his return; for her son-in-law and her brother had both been killed at the battle of Agincourt, and her son, Arthur, was brought to her kingdom in chains. She had been separated from the boy for twelve years, and now she was only permitted to give him a fond embrace, and then see him consigned to the gloomy Tower. Although Henry continued for a time to treat the queen with consideration, he would listen to no proposition or entreaty of hers for Arthur's release. [[A.D. 1419.]] At last, on an accusation of witchcraft, preferred against Joanna by her confessor, who declared that she was planning with two sorcerers who were dealing with the powers of darkness for the destruction of the king, she {262}was committed to Pevensey Castle as a prisoner. Henry V. gave the queen no opportunity of justifying herself, but no attempt of hers on his life was ever proved. [[A.D. 1422]] Her money was all appropriated by King Henry, and she did not regain her liberty until his death was at hand; then his conscience smote him, and he did his utmost to make amends. Joanna lived many years to enjoy her restored liberty and kept her court chiefly at Havering Bower, surrounded by all the luxuries that wealth could procure. She died in 1437, and was buried at Canterbury Cathedral beside Henry IV. [Illustration: 0266] {263} CHAPTER XVII. KATHERINE OF VALOIS, SURNAMED THE FAIR, WIFE OF HENRY V. (A.D. 1401-1437.) |Charles VI., King of France, and his wife, Queen Isabeau of Bavaria, had eight children, three sons and five daughters, of whom Katherine was the youngest. The boys became in turn Dauphins of France; Isabella, the eldest of the family, was married to Richard II. when she was only eight years of age, and had an experience throughout her short life such as has never been recorded of so young a girl. But she proved herself a devoted wife, and bore her sufferings with true heroism. She died when Katherine was only nine years old. Two of the daughters of Charles VI. became duchesses, Marie entered a convent, and the two little ones, Michelle and Katherine, at the respective ages of three and five, we find shut up in the dismal Hôtel de St. Paul with their brothers and their infirm father.