ISABELLA OF LORRAINE,
Eldest daughter of Charles the Second of Lorraine, was married in 1420, at the age of thirteen, to René, Duke d'Anjou, brother-in-law of Charles the Sixth of France, then about fourteen. She united to great beauty, intellect, generosity, and courage. When her husband was taken prisoner by the Duke of Burgundy, in 1429, she assembled the nobles of Lorraine, placed her four children under their protection, and raised an army to rescue her husband. While he was still a prisoner, the kingdom of Sicily, by the death of Charles the First, became his; and René sent Isabella to claim it. She went there, and by her wise and skilful government acquired great popularity. In 1437, René joined her; but in less than five years he was forced to return with his family to France, by his victorious rival, Alphonso of Arragon. In 1444, Isabella's youngest daughter, Margaret of Anjou, married Henry the Sixth of England; and the misfortunes of this beloved child so preyed upon the mother, that they are supposed to have caused her death. She died at the castle d'Angers, February 28th., 1452, at the age of forty-four. Her husband's grief at her loss nearly proved fatal to him; and though he married again, he never ceased to regret her.
ISABELLA OF VALOIS,
Was the daughter of Charles the Sixth of France, and Isabella of Bavaria. She was born in the Louvre palace at Paris, November 9th., 1387. In October, 1396, Isabella became the second wife of Richard the Second of England, though she was then only eight years old. When Richard was dethroned and murdered by Henry of Bolingbroke, afterwards Henry the Fourth, in 1400, Isabella remained in England for two years, treated with great respect as queen-dowager, but steadily refusing the hand of Henry's eldest son, who had fallen greatly in love with her. In 1402, Isabella returned to Paris, and at the age of eighteen married her cousin, the celebrated Archduke of Orleans, who, though some years younger than herself, she dearly loved. She died at Blois, September 13th., 1410, leaving an infant daughter only a few weeks old.
ISABELLA, QUEEN OF HUNGARY,
Sister of Sigismund Augustus, King of Poland, married, in 1539, John Zapolita, King of Hungary. In 1540, she brought him a son, ' while he was besieging the castle of Fogarras; and he was so transported at the news that he gave a splendid feast to his soldiers, and died of intemperance on the occasion, Isabella, unable to retain the crown for her son, implored aid from the Ottoman Porte, the armies of which, entering Hungary, vanquished the troops of Ferdinand of Austria, employed in the siege of Buda. Solyman, who headed his troops in person, sent magnificent presents to the young king, whom he entreated he might be allowed to see. He excused himself, at the same time, from visiting the queen, lest their interview might prove injurious to her fame. Isabella, while she acknowledged the kindness and delicacy of the Sultan, hesitated whether to trust her son in the Ottoman camp. But, at length, impressed by the services which Solyman had rendered to her, and overcome by the remonstrances of her counsellors, she determined
