Transcriber's Notes:
1. Page scan source:
https://books.google.com/books?id=RGEWAAAAYAAJ
(Harvard University)
COLLECTION
OF
BRITISH AUTHORS.
VOL. LXV.
ROSE D'ALBRET BY JAMES.
IN ONE VOLUME.
TAUCHNITZ EDITION.By the same Author, | |
| MORLEY ERNSTEIN (WITH PORTRAIT) | 1 vol. |
| FOREST DAYS | 1 vol. |
| THE FALSE HEIR | 1 vol. |
| ARABELLA STUART | 1 vol. |
| ARRAH NEIL | 1 vol. |
| AGINCOURT | 1 vol. |
| THE SMUGGLER | 1 vol. |
| THE STEP-MOTHER | 2 vols. |
| BEAUCHAMP | 1 vol. |
| HEIDELBERG | 1 vol. |
| THE GIPSY | 1 vol. |
| THE CASTLE OF EHRENSTEIN | 1 vol. |
| DARNLEY | 1 vol. |
| RUSSELL | 2 vols. |
| THE CONVICT | 2 vols. |
| SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON | 2 vols. |
ROSE D'ALBRET
OR
TROUBLOUS TIMES.
BY
G. P. R. JAMES.
COPYRIGHT EDITION.
LEIPZIG
BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ
1844.
ROSE D'ALBRET;
OR
TROUBLOUS TIMES.
CHAPTER I.
Whatever effect the institution of chivalry might have upon themanners and customs of the people of Europe; however much it mightmitigate the rudeness of the middle ages, and soften the character ofnations just emerging from barbarism, there was one point which itleft untouched by its softening influence, and which remained, tillwithin a few years of the present period, as a case of great hardshipupon those who are supposed to have benefited more particularly by therise of chivalrous feeling. Women, to whose defence the knights of olddevoted their swords: women, for whose honour and renown so many agallant champion has shed his blood: women, for whose love so manywars have been kindled and so many deeds done, were, till within ashort period of the present day, mere slaves in those matters wheretheir own happiness was concerned. Their influence, it is true, mightbe great over the heart and mind, but in person, at least till aftertheir marriage, they were simply bonds-women; they ruled without powereven over themselves, and had no authority whatsoever in thosetransactions which were of the most importance to them.
Where parents were living--although even then it was thought scarcelynecessary to consult a young woman upon the disposal of her ownhand,--yet we may suppose that parental affection might occasionallyenable her to exercise some influence, however small, in theacceptance or rejection of a lover. But where the parents were dead,she had for many centuries, especially in France, no voice whatever inthe matter, and was consigned, often against her inclination, to thearms of one whom perhaps she ha