Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/150

136 the rest was Thibaud, C. of Champagne. The air of disgrace thrown upon him by his quarrel with the late king, made them reckon much upon him. Their confidence was imprudent, and it was betrayed. It is said, this politic queen made the passions of the young count, whom, herself forty years of age, she disdained, serve her designs, and ordered him to enter into the league, for the purpose of revealing its secrets to her. However this may be, the diligence of Blanche disconcerted all the movements of this cabal. She came upon them in Brittany, when they were unprepared, dispersed, and engaged with them separately; adding to every other advantage, that of sowing disunion amongst them.

After composing those troubles, Blanche, by offering pardon to the Albigenses, on condition of their renouncing their opinions, persuaded their count to abjure them in a public and humiliating manner. But the quiet of the kingdom was disturbed by the intrigues of the malecontent princes. They wanted to get possession of the person of the king, but the ever-awakened vigilance of Blanche defeated all their measures; she raised three armies at one time; one made head against the English, who were come over to Normandy to take advantage of the troubles; one in Touraine, against the allies of the duke of Brittany; and the other laid siege to Belesme, a place then very strong in Per die. The queen was with this part. She visited the camp, and saw that all were taken care of. Once, when it was very cold, she had large fires lighted during the night, near the men at arms and the horses. Watchful and enterprising as she was, aided by the constable de Montmorenci, easy to pardon, on submission, and always fortunate, Blanche