These homely touches introduce the student of “_La Vie Privée des Français_” to a charming hobby of the good Queen Marie--her love of animals and birds. In the _Comptes de Roy René_ is a letter to the Agents of the Audit; it is dated July 16, 1458, and is as follows:
“We have noted that our brother the King of Sicily (René) has in his house at Rivetes, of which you, Guillaume Bernart, have the superintendence, some cocks and hens of good strain, and that they are very fine, as we have seen. If you are well disposed, then, the messenger can bring us a cock and a hen, with a broody hen and her chicks. You will see that they are in good condition. Do not be at all fearful of displeasing our royal brother, for we shall make him both pleased and happy.
“Dearly beloved, may Our Lord protect you. Written at our Castle of Chinon, XVI. day of July, 1458.
King René had a farm at Rivetes, and from an inventory dated November 12, 1458, we learn that he had--“69 _chés d’animaille_ (heads of stock), 1 _jument_ (mare), 1 _poulain_ (colt), 42 _chés de pourceaux_ (pigs), and much poultry.” Rivetes, with its forest of chestnuts, was situated between the rivers Loire and Anthion, at no great distance from Angers. René had also wild beasts and birds--a vast menagerie at Rivetes and Reculée. His keeper of lions and leopards in 1476 was Benoist Bagonet, and of his eagles and peacocks, Vissuel Gosmes. He had also at Reculée a Court fool, Triboullet. They were all very pleasant fellows, and helped to amuse the King and Queen and their guests.
King Charles VII. died at his favourite castle of Mehun-sur-Yèvre, July 22, 1461. He had suffered for a considerable time from an incurable ulcer in his mouth, which denied him the pleasure and necessity of eating. In his last illness Marie was at Chinon; he cried piteously for her to come to him: “_Marie, ma Marie!_” She hastened to Mehun, and was in time to hold his hand and moisten his heated brow, and quietly he died in her arms--the arms of the truest of wives and noblest of queens. Charles was buried in the royal vaults at St. Denis, and Louis XI., his son, reigned in his stead. Devoted to his mother, her widowhood was lightened by his affectionate regard. His father’s death made no difference in her royal state; the King placed his mother before his wife--Charlotte of Savoy.