Page:The Queens of England.djvu/199

JOANNA OF NAVARRE. 167 with singular prudence, talents and discretion. Eighteen months after her husband's death she put the young duke into possession of the duchy. He took the customary oaths on the 22nd of May, 140 1, in the cathedral of Rennes, and was knighted by De Clisson on the following day. Previous to these events, the Duchess x)f Brittany having re- ceived overtures of marriage from King Henry the Fourth, had taken the necessary steps to obtain a dispensation, which was at last granted. At this time there was a schism in the Church ; yet, although Joanna acknowledged one pope, and King Henry another, matters were, after some delay, finally accommodated, and she was united to the King of England, by proxy, on the 3rd of April, 1402, at the palace of Eltham. It is remarkable that upon this occasion a male representative was chosen by the duchess, being Antoine Riczi, who received for her the troth of Henry of Lancaster and pledged hers in return. King Henry's proposals had been made to the Duchess of Brittany with a view to obtain the guardianship of her sons ; but the court of France, alarmed at this alliance, took the gov- ernment of Brittany into their own hands, and the young princes were removed to Paris to receive their education. Joanna consigned her sons to the care of the Duke of Burgundy, and she not only did this with the best grace imaginable, but also, by her good sense and prudence contrived to overcome the displeasure which her marriage had excited at the French court. In her last act of regal power in Brittany, she secured, the independence of her relative Joan of Navarre, by settling upon her a pension of 1,000/. per annum, and she also disposed of a part of her dower to De Clisson. The next day Joanna sailed for England, having previously assumed the title of queen, and written to her affianced husband on some matters of great importance. The queen was accompanied to England by her two daugh- ters, Blanch and Margaret, and various attendants. It was her intention to land at Southampton, where the king's envoys awaited her ; but her fleet encountered a terrible tempest, and after being tossed about during five days, and driven to the coast of Cornwall, she landed with all her suite at Falmouth. From this place the queen proceeded to Winchester, where the king received and welcomed her, and where their nuptials were celebrated with pomp and splendid festivities.