Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/456

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
442
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY
JANE, Countess of Westmoreland, eldest Daughter of Henry, Earl of Surrey, who was beheaded 1646-7; Wife of Charles, Earl of Westmoreland, by whom she had four Daughters.

This lady made such a surprising progress in the Latin and Greek tongues, under the instruction of Mr. Fox, the Martyrologist, that she might stand in competition with the most learned men of that age. The latter part of her life was rendered very unhappy by the misconduct of her husband, who engaged in an insurrection in the north, in 1569, for which he was adjudged a traitor; and in consequence his goods and lands were confiscated, and himself sentenced to death, which he escaped by fleeing beyond sea, where he lived long in exile.

Female Worthies.



JARDINS (MARY CATHARINE DES), a French Lady, in the 17th Century, Native of Alençon, in Normandy, where her Father was Provost, Died 1683.

At the age of nineteen or twenty, reflecting on the smallness of her fortune, she went to Paris, where, though she had little beauty, she soon became sought for the charms of her understanding. M. Ville-Dieu, an amiable man, possessed of a good fortune, paid his addresses to her, and married her; but it was not long before his death plunged her in grief, and she retired to a nunnery; but, being a woman of spirit and vivacity, did not continue long there, but came again into the world, and married, secondly, M. de la Chate, whom she also buried. Being greatly afflicted with this new misfortune, she absolutely renoun-

ced