Page:The Queens of England.djvu/90

74 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. as to evade her return to the custody of her hetrothed, she was married to her royal lover at Bordeaux in the month of August, 1 200 — the Archbishop of Bordeaux and the Bishop of Poitou, who both assisted at the ceremony, declaring that no impediment existed to the union. Lusignan, on being informed of this marriage, was highly incensed, and sent a cartel to the English king, defying him to mortal combat. John, however, affected to laugh at the mes- sage. "If," said, he, "the Count of Lusignan wishes for a combat, I will find a champion to do battle for me." "A champion appointed by the unscrupulous king," returned the brave Marcher, "would be either some mercenary ruffian or a common stabber, unworthy of my weapon." He therefore silenced his outraged feelings, and patiently waited for his revenge, whilst John carried off his bride in triumph to Eng- gland, where she was publicly recognized as queen. The coronation of John and Isabella took place at Westmin- ster on the 8th of October, 1200; and the intervening months between this time and the following Easter were spent in a continual round of feasting and jollity. Wars and insurrec- tions then broke out. The young Arthur Plantagenet, sup- ported by Sir Guy of Thouars, who had married the Duchess Constance of Brittany, and in whose behalf Anjou and Maine had already declared, asserted his claim to the crown ; added to which, the wrathful Lusignan, together with his brother, the powerful Count of Eu, was raising Poitou. Under these circumstances John and his bride embarked for Normandy, and establishing their court at Rouen, where Prince Arthur was afterwards murdered, resolved to meet the coming dangers. For some time, nowever, after his arrival, the king neg- lected all necessary preparation ; and, as was his wont, spent the hours which should have been dedicated to sterner mat- ters, in voluptuous pleasure. His days were, for the most part, passed in bed — his nights in riot, drunkenness, and de- bauchery. From these idle follies he was suddenly roused by news that "the mother-queen," Eleanor of Aquitaine, was assailed at her castle of Mirabel, in Poitou, by the forces of Count Hugh of Lusignan and Prince Arthur. For once the spirit of the Plantagenet seemed alive ; he traveled with incred- ible speed, and appeared so unexpectedly before Mirabel, that he struck a panic into the hearts of his foes. Isabella had