Page:The Queens of England.djvu/89

 ISABELLA OF ANGOULEME, QUEEN OF JOHN OF ENGLAND. Isabella of Angouleme, the consort of John — the mean- est, most cruel, and evil-disposed monarch that ever wore the English crown — was the daughter and heir of Aymer Taillefer, Count of Angouleme. In infancy her parents had contracted this fair and rich heiress to Hugh de Lusignan, a noble gen- tleman, brave and handsome as he was powerful ; and who, through his influence as eldest son of the reigning Count de la Marche, governor of those provinces forming the northern boundary of the Aquitanian dominions, then called French Poitou, could at any time raise the ban and arriere-ban, and pour the chivalry of a large portion of France on the southern provinces. This match was, at the time of its contraction, considered an eligible one for the heiress ; and she was accordingly, after the custom of the period, with all ceremonious observance, delivered over by her parents to the care and custody of her betrothed, and placed by him in one of his stout fortresses, where she remained, strongly guarded, and with a brilliant retinue, up to the age of fifteen. At this time John cast his eyes upon her at a festival held on the occasion of his being recognized as sovereign of Aquitaine, and struck by her won- drous beauty, and ever impetuous in all his motions, instantly — although he knew of her betrothment, and was himself married to Avisa, the grand-daughter of Robert of Gloucester — offered her his hand. There can be little doubt but that Isabella was attached to her affianced husband; but, urged by her parents in John's favor, she was unable to withstand the dazzling splendor of the crown. John at this time was thirty-two, and Isabella just turned fifteen ; and as the lady's parents managed matters so 73