touched her heart and made her reflect bitterly upon her past。 But a league's distance from Avignon a magnificent triumphal reception awaited her。 Louis of Tarentum and all the cardinals present at the court had come out to meet her。 Pages in dazzling dress carried above Joan's head a canopy of scarlet velvet； ornamented with fleur…de…lys in gold and plumes。 Hand some youths and lovely girls； their heads crowned with flowers； went before her singing her praise。 The streets were bordered with a living hedge of people； the houses were decked out； the bells rang a triple peal； as at the great Church festivals。 Clement VI first received the queen at the castle of Avignon with all the pomp he knew so well how to employ on solemn occasions； then she was lodged in the palace of Cardinal Napoleon of the Orsini； who on his return from the Conclave at Perugia had built this regal dwelling at Villeneuve； inhabited later by the popes。
No words could give an idea of the strangely disturbed condition of Avignon at this period。 Since Clement V had transported the seat of the papacy to Provence； there had sprung up； in this rival to Rome； squares； churches； cardinals' palaces； of unparalleled splendour。 All the business of nations and kings was transacted at the castle of Avignon。 Ambassadors from every court； merchants of every nation； adventurers of all kinds； Italians； Spaniards； Hungarians； Arabs； Jews； soldiers； Bohemians； jesters； poets； monks； courtesans； swarmed and clustered here； and hustled one another in the streets。 There was confusion of tongues； customs； and costumes； an inextricable mixture of splendour and rags； riches and misery； debasement and grandeur。 The austere poets of the Middle Ages stigmatised the accursed city in their writings under the name of the New Babylon。
There is one curious monument of Joan's sojourn at Avignon and the exercise of her authority as sovereign。 She was indignant at the effrontery of the women of the town； who elbowed everybody shamelessly in the streets； and published a notable edict； the first of its kind； which has since served as a model in like cases； to compel all unfortunate women who trafficked in their honour to live shut up together in a house； that was bound to be open every day in the year except the last three days of Holy Week； the entrance to be barred to Jews at all times。 An abbess； chosen once a year； had the supreme control over this strange convent。 Rules were established for the maintenance of order； and severe penalties inflicted for any infringement of discipline。 The lawyers of the period gained a great reputation by this salutary institution； the fair ladies of Avignon were eager in their defence of the queen in spite of the calumnious reports that strove to tarnish her reputation： with one voice the wisdom of Andre's widow was extolled。 The concert of praises was disturbed； however； by murmurs from the recluses themselves； who； in their own brutal language； declared that Joan of Naples was impeding their commerce so as to get a monopoly for herself。
Meanwhile Marie of Durazzo had joined her sister。 After her husband's death she had found means to take refuge in the convent of Santa Croce with her two little daughters； and while Louis of Hungary was busy burning his victims； the unhappy Marie had contrived to make her escape in the frock of an old monk； and as by a miracle to get on board a ship that was setting sail for Provence。 She related to her sister the frightful details of the king's cruelty。 And soon a new proof of his implacable hatred confirmed the tales of the poor princess。
Louis's ambassadors appeared at the court of Avignon to demand formally the queen's condemnation。
It was a great day when Joan of Naples pleaded her own cause before the pope； in the presence of all the cardinals then at Avignon； all the ambassadors of foreign powers； and all the eminent persons come from every quarter of Europe to be present at this trial； unique in the annals of history。 We must imagine a vast enclosure； in whose midst upon a raised throne； as president of the august tribunal； sat God's vicar on earth； absolute and supreme judge； emblem of temporal and spiritual power； of authority human and divine。 To right and left of the sovereign pontiff； the cardinals in their red robes sat in chairs set round in a circle； and behind these princes of the Sacred College stretched rows of bishops extending to the end of the hall； with vicars； canons； deacons； archdeacons； and the whole immense hierarchy of the Church。 Facing the pontifical throne was a platform reserved for the Queen of Naples and her suite。 At the pope's feet stood the ambassadors from the King of Hungary； who played the part of accusers without speaking a word； the circumstances of the crime and all the proofs having been discussed beforehand by a committee appointed for the purpose。 The rest of the hall was filled by a brilliant crowd of high dignitaries； illustrious captains； and noble envoys； all vying with one another in proud display。 Everyone ceased to breathe； all eyes were fixed on the dais whence Joan was to speak her own defence。 A movement of uneasy curiosity made this compact mass of humanity surge towards the centre； the cardinals above raised like proud peacocks over a golden harvest…field shaken in the breeze。
The queen appeared； hand in hand with her uncle； the old Cardinal of Perigord； and her aunt； the Countess Agnes。 Her gait was so modest and proud； her countenance so melancholy and pure； her looks so open and confident； that even before she spoke every heart was hers。 Joan was now twenty years of age； her magnificent beauty was fully developed； but an extreme pallor concealed the brilliance of her transparent satin skin； and her hollow cheek told the tale of expiation and suffering。 Among the spectators who looked on most eagerly there was a certain young man with strongly marked features； glowing eyes； and brown hair； whom we shall meet again later on in our narrative； but we will not divert our readers' attention； but only tell them that his name was James of Aragon； that he was Prince of Majorca； and would have been ready to shed every drop of his blood only to check one single tear that hung on Joan's eyelids。 The queen spoke in an agitated； trembling voice； stopping from time to time to dry her moist and shining eyes； or to breathe one of those deep sighs that go straight to the heart。 She told the tale of her husband's death painfully and vividly； painted truthfully the mad terror that had seized upon her and struck her down at that frightful time； raised her hands to her brow with the gesture of despair； as though she would wrest the madness from her brain…and a shudder of pity and awe passed through the assembled crowd。 It is a fact that at this moment； if her words were false； her anguish was both sincere and terrible。 An angel soiled by crime； she lied like Satan himself； but like him too she suffered all the agony of remorse and pride。 Thus； when at the end of her speech she burst into tears and implored help and protection against the usurper of her kingdom； a cry of general assent drowned her closing words； several hands flew to their sword… hilts； and the Hungarian ambassadors retired covered with shame and confusion。
That same evening the sentence； to the great joy of all； was proclaimed； that Joan was innocent and acquitted of all concern in the assassination of her husband。 But as her conduct after the event and the indifference she had shown about pursuing the authors of the crime admitted of no valid excuse； the pope declared that there were plain traces of magic； and that the wrong…doing attributed to Joan was the result of some baneful charm cast upon her； which she could by no possible means resist。 At the same time； His Holiness confirmed her marriage with Louis of Tarentum； and bestowed on him the order of the Rose of Gold and the title of King of Sicily and Jerusalem。 Joan； it is true； had on the eve of her acquittal sold the town of Avignon to the pope for the sum of 80；000 florins。
While the queen was pleading her cause at the court of Clement VI； a dreadful epidemic； called the Black Plaguethe same that Boccaccio has described so wonderfullywas ravaging the kingdom of Naples； and indeed the whole of Italy。 According to the calculation of Matteo Villani； Florence lost three…fifths of her population； Bologna two… thirds； and nearly all Europe was reduced in some such frightful proportion。 The Neapolitans were already weary of the cruelties and greed of the Hungarians； they were only awaiting some opportunity to revolt against the stranger's oppression； and to recall their lawful sovereign； whom； for all her ill deeds； they had never ceased to love。 The attraction of youth and beauty was deeply felt by this pleasure…loving people。 Scarcely had the pestilence thrown confusion into the army and town； when loud cursing arose against the tyrant and his executioners。 Louis of Hungary； suddenly threatened by the； wrath of Heaven and the people's vengeance； was terrified both by the plague and by the riots； and disappeared in the middle of the night。 Leaving the government of Naples in the hands of Conrad Lupo； one of his captains； he embarked hastily at Berletta； and left the kingdom in very much the same way as Louis of Tarentum； fleeing from him； had left it a few months before。
This news arrived at Avignon just when the pope was about to send the queen his bull of absolution。 It was at once decided to take away the kingdom from Louis's viceroy。 Nicholas Aeciajuoli left for Naples with the marvellous bull that was to prove to all men the innocence of the queen； to banish all scruples and stir up a new enthusiasm。 The counsellor first went to the castle of Melzi； commanded by his son Lorenzo： this was the only fortress that had always held out。 The father and son embraced with the honourable pride that near relatives may justly feel when they meet after they have united in the performance of a heroic duty。 From the governor of Melzi Louis of Tarentum's counsellor learned that all men were wearied of the arrogance and vexatious conduct of the queen's enemies； and that a conspiracy was in train； started in the University of