Government, the Nobility of _France_ began to take up Arms under the
Conduct of _Philip_ Earl of _Bologn_, the King's Uncle, crying out (as
that excellent Author _Joannes Joinvillaeus_ writes) [cap. histor. 4.]
"_That it was not to be endured that so great a Kingdom shou'd be
governed by a Woman, and She a Stranger._" Whereupon those Nobles
rejecting _Blanch_, chose Earl _Philip_ to be Administrator of the
Kingdom: But _Blanch_ persisting in her Purpose, sollicited Succours
from all Parts, and at last determined to conclude a League with
_Ferdinand_ King of _Spain_. With _Philip_ joyned the Duke of
_Brittany_, and the _Count de Eureux_ his Brother. These, on a sudden,
seiz'd on some Towns, and put good Garisons into them. And thus a
grievous War was begun in _France_, because the Administration of the
Government had been seized by the Queen-Mother: It hapned that the King
went (about that Time) to _Estampes_, being sent thither by his Mother
upon Account of the War: To that Place the Nobles from all Parts hastily
got together, and began to surround the King not with an Intention (as
_Joinville_ says) to do him any Harm, but to withdraw him from the Power
of his Mother. Which She hearing, with all Speed armed the People of
_Paris_, and commanded them to march towards _Estampes_. Scarce were
these Forces got as far as _Montlebery_, when the King (getting from the
Nobles) joyned them, and returned along with them to _Paris_. As soon as
_Philip_ found that he was not provided with a sufficient force of
Domestick Troops, he sent for Succours to the Queen of _Cyprus_, (who at
the fame Time had some Controversy depending in the Kingdom) She entring
with a great Army into _Champagn_, plunder'd that Country far and near;
_Blanch_ however continues in her Resolution. This constrains the
Nobility to call in the _English_ Auxiliaries, who waste _Aquitain_ and
all the Maritime Regions; which Mischiefs arose thro' the Ambition and
unbridled Lust of Rule of the Queen-Mother, as Joinvillaeus tells us at
large, [cap. 7, 8, 9, 10.]

And because many of our Countrymen have a far different Opinion of the
Life and Manners of Queen _Blanch_, occasioned (as 'tis probable) by the
Flattery of the Writers of those Times; (For all Writers either thro'
Fear of Punishment, or, by Reason of the Esteem which the Kings their
Sons have in the World, are cautious how they write of Queen-Mothers:) I
think it not amiss to relate what _Joinville_ himself re