Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/454

440 sacrifice their ancient liberty as the price of assistance. In short, she harangued them in a strain so bold and so pathetic, that it spoke to their hearts, and inspired them with a portion of her own enthusiastic ardour: they resolved to defend her with their lives and fortunes. She then made a progress through all the other fortresses of the duchy, and induced them to adopt of similar measures; visited the garrisons, and provided every thing necessary for sustenance and defence; and having secured the whole province from surprise, shut herself up in Hennebonne, attending the English succours, and sent her son over to England. Charles of Blois opened the campaign, expecting soon to terminate a war merely conducted by a woman. Rennes soon surrendered to him. He next proceeded to Hennebonne, where the brave countess commanded in person. The garrison, actuated by her presence, made a vigorous defence. She herself performed prodigies of valour; clad in complete armour, she stood foremost in the breach, sustained the most violent assaults, and flying with active vigilance from post to rampart, encouraged her troops, and displayed skill that would have done honour to the most experienced general. Perceiving, one day, that the besiegers, occupied in a general attack, had left their camp unguarded, she immediately sallied forth by a postern with five hundred men, set fire to their tents, baggage, and magazines, and created so universal an alarm, that the enemy desisted from the assault, to cut off her communication with the town. Finding herself intercepted, she gallopped towards Auray, which she reached in safety. Five days after, she returned with her little army, cut her way through part of the camp, and entered the town in triumph.

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