A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Amboise, (Frances d')
AMBOISE, (FRANCES D',) Duchess of Brittany, Daughter of Lewis d'Amboise, Viscount de Thouars, and Prince of Talmond. Died 1485.
Was 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. The greater part of the courtiers said, a more able sorcerer should be sought, to counteract the charms of the first; but, whether the good sense of the duchess led her to disbelieve the efficacy of this expedient, or her piety revolted from using unlawful means, for the attainment of any purpose, however desirable, she refused to comply.
The duke expired in her arms, in October, 1457, after having reigned seven years. Arthur, his successor, wanted to deprive her of her dowry, and caused her many unpleasant embarrassments. To ensure her a protector, her father was anxious to engage her in a second marriage, with the prince of Savoy; and the king, (Louis XI.) and queen of France, took the most lively interest in the affair: but, neither their solicitations, nor those of her father, could overcome the resolution she had formed, of living in perpetual widowhood; and, at length, to put an end not only to their entreaties, but to their well-meant, though ineffectual constraint, she retired into a convent, near Vannes, and took the habit of a Carmelite.