d several of his children do the same, including the
Princess Isabel. There is no mention of any visit from the Queen, but
she corresponds with her mother-in-law, and they exchange gifts. The
most frequent guests are Joan Countess of Surrey, and the Countess of
Pembroke: there were then three ladies living who bore this title, but
as letters are sent to her at Denny--her pet convent, where she often
resided and finally died--it is evident that this was the Countess
Marie, the "fair Chatillon who (_not_ `on her bridal morn,' but at least
two years after) mourned her bleeding love." Both these ladies were of
French birth, and were very old friends of Isabelle: the Countess of
Surrey was with her when she died. Her youngest daughter, Joan Queen of
Scots--an admirable but unhappy woman, who had to forgive that mother
for being the cause of all her misery and loveless life--spent much of
this last year with Isabel. Her most frequent male guests are the Earl
of Tankerville and Marshal Daudenham, both of whom were probably her own
countrymen; and Sir John de Wynewyk, Treasurer of York: the captive King
of France visits her once, and she sends him two romances, of which one
at least was from the _Morte Arthur_. Oblations are as numerous--and
sometimes more costly--as in her earlier accounts. She gives 6
shillings 8 pence to the _head_ of the eleven thousand virgins, and 2
shillings to minstrels to play "before the image of the blessed Mary in
the crypt" of Canterbury Cathedral. Friars who preach before her are
usually rewarded with 6 shillings 8 pence. Her Easter robes are of blue
cloth, her summer ones of red mixed cloth. Two of Isabelle's ruling
passions went with her to the grave--her extravagance and her love of
making gifts. Her purchases of jewellery are vast and costly during
this year, up to the very month in which she died: two of the latest
being a gold chaplet set with precious stones, price 150 pounds (the
most expensive I ever yet saw in a royal account), and a gold crown set
with sapphires, Alexandrian rubies, and pearls, 80 pounds, expressly
stated to be for her own wearing. Two ruby rings she purchased exactly
a fortnight before her death. She was probably ill for some weeks,
since a messenger was sent in haste to Canterbury to bid Master Lawrence
the physician repair to Hertford "to see the state of the Queen," and he
remained there for a month. Medicines were brought from London.
Judging from the s