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326 82(3 B. FRANCES spent all her time in deyotion, only leaving her honse to make her daily ▼isit on foot to the dnke and duchess. He deprived her of her property and jewels, saying it did not become a widow to be BO rich, nor a nan to have sach fine jewels, and he wanted her to re- marry because she had no children. All this she bore with patience and cheer- fulness, and at the end of Arthur's short reign, she nursed him dutifully in his last illness, and closed his eyes when he died. His nephew and successor, Francis, made good to her all the spolia- tion she had suffered from Arthur. She spent all her revenues and her time in charity and masses for the souls of her hus- band and other near connections. With permission of the duke, Frances made arrangements to take the habit of St. Clara, and end her days in the convent she and her husband had built ; but she was prevented by a serious illness from carrying out her intention. She took leave of the nuns, and had herself carried to the castle of Nantes, where the duke wished to have her near him. She re- covered, contrary to all expectations, and began to think of taking the veil in some order less ascetic than that of St. Clara. At this time, Father Soreth, general of the Order of Carmelites, arrived in Nantes, and spoke so much in praise of his own order that Frances founded a Carmelite convent for nuns at Yannes, where she took the veil, with four of her nieces and several other young ladies of the most distinguished Breton families. After she had made her vows, but before she was a regular nun, her father, having disinherited his second daughter, who had married Mon- sieur de la Tremouille without his con- sent, wanted to marry Frances to the Duke of Savoy, who was brother to the Queen of Franco. Louis XI. tried to persuade her to this second marriage, but in vain. Shortly after this, she was shut up in Nantes, as her relations still hoped to arrange her marriage. One day, on her way to the cathedral, she mot the duke, who began to discuss the subject and to remonstrate about her intention to become a nun. In the heat of argument he laid his hand upon her shoulder, and as Frances showed some sign of offended dignity, the passers-by who were watching them, spread an alarm that violence was being used to carry off their beloved duchess. Imme- diately thousands turned out to protect her ; the duke had to seek in all haste a place of concealment. The crowd escorted her to church, stood round it until she had finished her devotions, accompanied her home, and would not disperse until she appeared on the balodiy, thajiked them for their devotion, and assured them that she was safe and free, and that she intended to live and die in Bretagne, near the grave of her husband. Nevertheless, her uncles, in league with her father, made a plan to capture her. A litter was to be ready at midnight, in which she was to be carried to a boat on the river. Her holy vocation was de- fended by a miracle; although it was the month of June, the Loire was frozen hard from the bridge of Nantes to that of Mauves. The boats became immovable, and when the ice gave way, they were all broken to pieces and completely spoilt Her father disinherited her, and left his estates to the king. He afterwards repented his harshness, but the king would not give them up. After her father's death, she brought an action in favour of her sister's children, and the lands were restored, with the exception of Amboise, which continued to be the property of the Crown. Frances bore the death of her mother quietly, because she felt sure her soul was safe ; but she grieved greatly at her father's death, as she knew his worldly life, and feared for the salvation of his soul. She now finished her convent, and brought Flemish nuns to fill it. It was called " Des Trois Maries," and was the first for Carmelite nuns founded in Brittany. It was close to the monastery of the Carmelite Fathers of Bondon. She was obliged to remain secular for four years in order to confirm her gifts to the convent. She took the novice's veil in 14<>7. She would not be called " Madame," but ''Sister Frances, the servant of Jesus Christ." She helped to nurse during