René was a great collector of works of art and curios, although, by the way, he was obliged very frequently to distribute his treasures in order to raise money for his warlike enterprises and philanthropic pursuits. A speciality was the acquisition of relics of saints and other venerable objects. In 1470 he and Queen Jehanne assisted at the translation of a piece of the True Cross, which he had obtained in Italy, to the Church of St. Croix at Angers. Lists of such treasures, and, indeed, of the treasures in general of his house, may be read in _Les Comptes de Roy René_. Many originally came from King John the “Good” of France, René’s great-grandfather, handed down by Louis I. and Louis II. of Sicily-Anjou. René had a penchant for rock-crystal objects and miniature carvings in wood. Among the former he possessed a very famous winecup, upon which he engraved the following quaint conceit: “Qui bien beurra Dieu voira. Qui beurra tout d’une baleine Voira Dieu et la Madeleine!” “Whoso drinks me God shall see. Whoso at one good breath drains me Shall God and the Magdalen see!” CHAPTER II YOLANDA D’ARRAGONA--“A GOOD MOTHER AND A GREAT QUEEN.” I. The Queen was in labour, and shivering groups of robust citizens and sturdy peasants were gathered in front of the royal castle of Zaragoza, eagerly awaiting the signal of a happy deliverance. The fervent wish of King Juan for a male heir was shared by his subjects, for his brother Martino, next in succession, was in delicate health; moreover, he had only one son, and he was a cripple. The succession to the throne was a source of anxiety to all good Aragonese. To be sure, there was a baby Princess already in the royal nursery, but whether her mother had been a lawful wedded wife, or no more than a _barragana_ of the Sovereign, few knew outside the charmed circle of the Court. In the opinion of the men and women of the triple kingdom generally, this mattered little, for natural children were looked upon as strengthening the family; _hijos de ganancia_ they were called. The Salic Law, however, barred the female heirs of the royal house, so little Juanita was of no importance. [Illustration: YOLANDA D’ARRAGONA (KING RENÉ’S MOTHER) From Coloured Glass Window, Le Mans Cathedral _To face page 30_]