Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/666

652 a princess of great merit and a superior genius. After the captivity of her husband, in 922, she sought refuge in the court of her brother Athelstan, with her son Lewis, who from thence was called Outremer; and made every possible effort to persuade the Count de Vermandois to set her husband at liberty. She came back in triumph, on the death of Raoul the Norman, their most potent enemy; and it was principally by the succours from England, that this revolution was effected. Ogina herself conducted the army, composed of French and English, to the combat. More worthy to reign than her husband or her son, she revenged the first, established the other on the throne, and restored peace to the kingdom. Till the age of 60, her life had been illustrious; but she tarnished the lustre of her grey hairs, by marrying a young man, second son of the Count de Vermandois, the enemy of her husband, and was despised.

father was formerly an officer in the guards, and possessed a competent estate; which he spent in extravagance, leaving his family, at his death, unprovided for. In these unhappy circumstances, his widow was forced to live with her sister, who kept a tavern in St. James's market, and the daughter was placed with a sempstress, in King-street, Westminster. In the mean time. Miss Oldfield shewed an  vagant