Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/443

Rh whom was disguised as a bear, and the other as an unicorn.

In the year 1392, the king was attacked with that dangerous delirium which, except some lucid intervals, attended him through life; and, in one of these, the queen, with four princes, were appointed guardians of the children. Hitherto Isabella had appeared as an affectionate wife; but from the king's illness, and the attractions of the duke of Orleans, his brother, she began to regard her husband with disgust. Violent, vindictive, and intriguing, she had a heart open to flattery, and susceptible of every lawless passion. The power of the duke was supported by the queen; and so intirely were they occupied by their pleasure and ambition, that the king and his children were often left without food and clothes!

The duke of Burgundy, a vile and ambitious man, called John the Fearless, envied the power and superiority of Orleans, and procured his assassination, in 1407. The greatness of this daring crime seemed to produce universal stupefaction; but he soon made the king proclaim an approbation of his conduct, though arms were frequently had recourse to. In the queen's party, were the young princes of Orleans, headed by the count d'Armagnac, and thence called the Armagnac faction; but Paris opening its gates to Burgundy, the queen and dauphin fled, and the most dreadful proscriptions followed. The mob became ungovernable by him who had raised it; and Burgundy, in his turn, retiring with precipitation, the queen again entered Paris; and instead of improving the moment, gave herself up to vicious pleasure; of which Armagnac at length informed the king, who had hitherto been ignorant of her crimes, and he caused her to be confined at Tours, Isabella, eager