Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/453

Rh nobility, and the honour of the university of Paris, and was the protectress of the learned. Rivalite de la France et de l'Angleterre, &c.

The count de Montfort, heir male of Britanny, had seized that duchy in opposition to Charles of Blois, the French king's nephew, who had married the grand-daughter of the late duke. Sensible that he could expect no favour from Philip, Montfort made a voyage to England, and offered to do homage to Edward III. as king of France, for Britanny, proposing a strict alliance for the support of each other's pretensions.

Little negociation was necessary to conclude a treaty between two princes connected by their immediate interests. But the captivity of the count, who was taken prisoner by the enemy, which happened soon after, seemed to put an end to all the advantages naturally to be expected from it. The affairs of Britanny, however, were unexpectedly retrieved by Jane of Flanders, daughter of Lewis, count de Nevers, and wife of De Montfort. Roused by the captivity of her husband from those domestic cares to which she had hitherto entirely confined herself, she boldly undertook to support the falling fortunes of her family. When she received the fatal intelligence, instead of giving way to despair, the failing of weak minds, she instantly assembled the inhabitants of Rennes, where she then resided, and taking her infant son in her arms, conjured them to extend their protection to the last male heir of their ancient sovereigns; expatiated on the resources to be derived from England, entreating them to make one daring effort against an usurper, who, being allied to France, would sacri-