Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 50049-h.htm or 50049-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50049/50049-h/50049-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50049/50049-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/kingrendanjouh00stalrich KING RENÉ D’ANJOU AND HIS SEVEN QUEENS [Illustration: THE CEREMONIOUS ENTRY OF THE “LADY OF THE CREST” SAUMUR TOURNAMENT 1446 From “Le Livre des Tournois” Painted by King René] KING RENÉ D’ANJOU AND HIS SEVEN QUEENS by EDGCUMBE STALEY Author of “Lords and Ladies of the Italian Lakes,” “Guilds of Florence,” “Fair Women of Florence,” “Tragedies of the Medici,” “Dogaressas of Venice,” “Heroines of Genoa and the Rivieras,” etc. With Coloured Frontispiece and Thirty-Five Other Illustrations “Fides Vitat Servata” _King René’S Motto_ [Illustration] London John Long, Limited Norris Street, Haymarket MCMXII TO MY BROTHER VERNON AND HIS WIFE ETHEL CONTENTS PAGES CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY--KING RENÉ King René’s titles--His character--A beau-ideal Prince--His occupations--His work as an artist--Visits to Italy--Scrivani--“The Burning Bush”--“Souls in Purgatory”--“La Divina Commedia”--“St. Madeleine preaching”--“Preces Præ”--“Pas d’Armes”--“Livres des Heures”--René’s literary work--“Regnault et Jehanneton”--“Mortifiement de Vaine Plaisance”--“La Conquête de la Doulce Mercy”--“L’Abuzé en Court”--“Le Tracte des Tournois”--Charles d’Anjou-Orléans--Dance songs--Letters--Collections, books, curios, etc.--Work as a craftsman--Orders and Guilds--Agricultural tastes--The rose de Provence--Workshops--“Les Comptes de Roy René”--La Cheminée du Roy--Intercourse with his people--A troubadour King--Relics--A famous winecup 17-29 CHAPTER II YOLANDA D’ARRAGONA--I.