Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/347

Rh great part in the government during his frequent absences. This made her favour the claims of John, as the continuation of her power appeared more probable under her son than her grandson. Arthur had a mother not less ambitious than Eleanor, not less accustomed than she was to command in the name of her son, and who would no less essentially reign in England than in Brittany, if Arthur had succeeded Richard. Eleanor possessed great influence over John also, and, as much as in her lay, counteracted his indolence and folly, by vigorous measures. In crossing Poitou, the young Arthur, who had lost his mother, learned that his grandmother Eleanor was in the castle of Mirebeau; he besieged and took it by assault; but she had time to take refuge in a tower, from whence she found means to inform John of her danger, who was then at Rouen. This prince awoke in a moment from his slumber; he delivered his mother, and Arthur fell into his power. The certain destiny of the latter is unknown; but he disappeared two or three days after the death of Eleanor, who had never ceased to be his enemy, but who would not have suffered her son to be the executioner of her grand-child. . of Arthur, the undoubted heiress of the English crown, and the greatest beauty of her time, wasted forty years in Bristol castle, where she died, in 1241, having never been prevailed upon to recede from her pretensions to the crown of England. ELFLEDA,