Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/371

Rh. They are almost the only romances of that period which are still read with pleasure. Mrs. Thicknesse., F. C.

FERREYRA, (BERNARDA)

poetess, much esteemed by Lope de Vega, who was well skilled in rhetoric, philosophy, and mathematics. Father Feejou.

1527, was married to Hercules d'Este, the second of that name, duke of Ferrara and Modena. M. Varillas assures us, that she was mistress of immense erudition, that she excelled in all parts of the mathematics, but especially in astronomy; but what he says of Calvin's journey to that princess's court, after having converted her from popery, seems at least doubtful, if not false; because there are authors who mention that event before Calvin went thither.

In the year 1559, her husband died; and, in 1560, she left Italy on account of her religion, and returned to France, where she was permitted to profess Hugonotism. She resided at Montargis, and there gave protection to as many as were persecuted, till she was obliged to do so no longer. It was with much regret that she yielded to go rigorous a restraint; and, if her courage appeared on this occasion, her charity was no less conspicuous; for, during the troubles in France, she fed and