Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/45

Rh  their own destruction, has been a doubt with the learned.

A work called the Sybilline Oracles, was published at Amsterdam, in 1689; but is believed to be spurious.

brought up at the court of Brittany, and married to Peter, brother to the reigning duke, a man of a violent and jealous temper; but the heroic patience and gentleness of the duchess, at length made him ashamed of the excesses into which his passions transported him; he demanded pardon for his injustice, and they ever after lived perfectly happy.

Some time after their reconciliation, the death of his brother called Peter II. to the throne. Frances used her influence and authority only for the happiness of the people. The reform of luxury in dress, was the first object of her attention. She herself practised the most perfect simplicity; and the ladies of the court following her example, it soon spread through all ranks. The Duke wished to profit by this economy of his subjects, to impose new taxes; but the duchess persuaded him to relinquish the design. She engaged him to solicit the canonization of Vincent Ferrier, who was called the Apostle of Brittany; and to erect a house in the city of Nantes, for the nuns of the order of St. Clair.

While this house was building, the duke fell dangerously ill, of a malady to which the physicians could give no name. Ignorance attributed it to some magician, who, gained by his enemies, had reduced him to this situation.