ISABELLA OF ANGOÏÏLEME, (Êntin nf 3nl;ti CHAPTER ι. Parentage of Isabella—In ner childhood she is betrothed to Hugh de Lusignan— Xing John divorcedfrmn the bride of his early choice—He falle in love with Isabella—Causes her to be abductedfrom Count Hugh, and marries her—Challenge of Hugh de Zusignan—Isabella comes to England with John—Her coronation—Power —She resigns herself to feasting and pleasure—Confederacy against John—Isabella accompanies her husband to Normandy—John captures Count Hugh and other illustrious personages at the battle of Mirabel—Returns to England with his prisoners, many of whom are starved to death—Count Hugh liberated—Tyranny and cruelty of John—Terrible fate of the de Braose family—Royal drapery establishment—Mean attireof Isabella—Costly dress of John—His conjugal infidelity—•Jealousy—Isabella imprisoned—Restored to her husband*s affections—Her children. ; SABELLA OF AN- GOULEME, one of the most beautiful women of her times, was the only child of Ailmar, Count of An goulême, and Alice de Courtenay, a descendant from Louis tho Sixth of France. Of the early portion of her life but little is known, save that she was born about the year J185, and whilst yet a child, betrothed to Hugh de Lusignan, by some writers surnamed Le Brun. This Hugh was rich and brave, and being the eldest son of Hugh the Ninth, Count de la Marche, and sovereign of French Poitou, the province forming the northern boundary of Aquitaine, his power was considerable, as his father, who entertained great affection for him, could, whenever he pleased, by virtue of his authority as marcher, or protector of the border, and without waiting for the consent of his lord paramount the King of France, summon to his standard all tho feudal militia of the southern French provinces. Isabella became the Queen of England under circumstances alike discreditable to her parents and her royal husband. Immediately on his accession, King John was divorcedfrom the bride of his early choice, Avisa, the fairest of the three daughters of Robert, Earl of Gloucester. To Avisa he hadheen betrothed about ten years, but she being his c&usin, although illegitimate, the church prohibited him from living with her, on pain of excommunication. Scarcely was the sentence of divorce pronounced, when, attracted by the fame of the beauty of the Princess of Portugal, he sent an embassy to that land of sunshine, to seek her hand. Meanwhile he proceeded in person to his transmaritime possessions, to arrange important state matters, and receive the homage of his vassals. "When he reached Aquitaine, Isabella, as was the custom of the age, was residing in a castle of