Transcriber's Notes: 1. Page scan source: https://books.google.com/books?id=RGEWAAAAYAAJ Harvard University 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. COLLECTION OF BRITISH AUTHORS. VOL. LXV. --------------- ROSE D'ALBRET BY JAMES. IN ONE VOLUME. TAUCHNITZ EDITION. By the same Author, MORLEY ERNSTEIN (WITH PORTRAIT) 1 vol. FOREST DAYS 1 vol. THE FALSE HEIR 1 vol. ARABELLA STUART 1 vol. ARRAH NEIL 1 vol. AGINCOURT 1 vol. THE SMUGGLER 1 vol. THE STEP-MOTHER 2 vols. BEAUCHAMP 1 vol. HEIDELBERG 1 vol. THE GIPSY 1 vol. THE CASTLE OF EHRENSTEIN 1 vol. DARNLEY 1 vol. RUSSELL 2 vols. THE CONVICT 2 vols. SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON 2 vols. ROSE D'ALBRET OR TROUBLOUS TIMES. BY G. P. R. JAMES. _COPYRIGHT EDITION_. LEIPZIG BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ 1844. ROSE D'ALBRET; OR TROUBLOUS TIMES. CHAPTER I. Whatever effect the institution of chivalry might have upon the manners and customs of the people of Europe; however much it might mitigate the rudeness of the middle ages, and soften the character of nations just emerging from barbarism, there was one point which it left untouched by its softening influence, and which remained, till within a few years of the present period, as a case of great hardship upon those who are supposed to have benefited more particularly by the rise of chivalrous feeling. Women, to whose defence the knights of old devoted their swords: women, for whose honour and renown so many a gallant champion has shed his blood: women, for whose love so many wars have been kindled and so many deeds done, were, till within a short period of the present day, mere slaves in those matters where their own happiness was concerned. Their influence, it is true, might be great over the heart and mind, but in person, at least till after their marriage, they were simply bonds-women; they ruled without power even over themselves, and had no authority whatsoever in those transactions which were of the most importance to them.