BINS, (ANNE DE) a Native of Anvers in the 16th Century. A Woman of Learning, but a violent Bigot,
Refused to be married, that she might devote herself entirely to the belles lettres. She composed poems in the Flemish language against heretics; and her admirers have called her a second Sappho.
BLANCHE of Castile, Daughter of Alphonso IX. called the Magnificent, King of Castile, and Eleanor of England, Wife of Lewis VIII. and Mother of Lewis IX. King of France, called Saint Lewis. Died 1253; aged 68.
Blanche was the second of eleven children, and educated by her mother, a wise and virtuous princess, with great care. When about fifteen or sixteen years of age, she was chosen to be the guarantee of a peace between two kingdoms, in becoming the wife of prince Lewis, son of Philip Augustus, king of France.
In the continual wars which happened between France and England in those times, much depended on the personal qualities of the monarch; and a weak prince was sure to lose those insecure possessions, which it had usually cost the wisest and bravest monarchs much time, blood, and treasure to secure or obtain. Perpetually reverting from one to the other, each felt little scruple in breaking treaties, when they could thereby recover, as it were, their own.
Philip Augustus had recovered, in this manner, by a breach of faith, Normandy, Touraine, Anjou, and Maine; Guyenne alone remained in the power of his
