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i66 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. made liberal promises to him of assistance, and, after feasting him for several days, at his departure sent with him three ves- sels of Brittany, full of men-at-arms and others, to escort him to Plymouth. Before the close of the same year, the Duke of Brittany was no more ; Henry had usurped his cousin's throne ; and, not long after, Joanna of Navarre became his queen. John "le Valiant" died on the ioth of November, 1399, and some have supposed his end to have been hastened by poison, administered through the agency of Margaret, Countess of Penthievres, the daughter of Clisson. However this may be, his faithful consort attended him during his last illness, and had the satisfaction of closing his eyes in peace. A few days previous to his decease, the duke added a codicil to his will by which he confirmed to Joanna her dower, and all his gifts to her, his beloved wife ; and appointed her, with her eldest son and two other persons, his executors. He also left Joanna sole guardian of his children, seven in number. The duke was interred with due solemnity, and Joanna having been appointed regent during the minority of the young duke, her son, she immediately commenced the charge of her public duties by a formal reconciliation with Oliver de Clisson and the other confederate lords. This was an act of great policy, to say the least of it; but it is probable, that Joanna knew the real char- acter of De Clisson, and justly thought it wise, at any cost, to secure the friendship of such a man. There is an anecdote related of the constable which redounds so much to his honor that it may not be amiss to introduce it here. The daughter of De Clisson was the wife of the rival claim- ant of the Duchy of Brittany, and it is said that when Duke John died, leaving an infant family, she rushed to the chamber of her father and requested him to kill the noble minors, to make way for her own children. This base appeal so roused the ire of the virtuous constable that, forgetting at once his just resentment against Duke John, he drew his sword, exclaiming "that if she lived longer, she would initiate her children in infamy and crime ;" and he would have killed her upon the spot had she not made a retreat, so hasty that, in quitting the presence of her incensed parent, she fell and broke the bone of her thigh, which caused her to be lame throughout the remainder of her life. The Duchess of Brittany exercised the high duties of regent