ST. BLANDINA 125 son to bring to Paris the holy crown of thorns, which he got from the Turks. A festival was instituted in its honour, Aug. 11. (GynecsRum and Oebeihuch.) During his second expedition to the holj wars in the seventh crusade, Blanche died, on hearing that he had vowed to remain there. She had eleven children, several of whom died young. One was Charles, count of Anjou, who had Anjou and Maine from his father, Provence and Forcalquier from his wife, the kingdom of the Two Sicilies by his sword. He would also have had the empire of Greece, but for the jealousy of the Pope (Mezeray). Of her two daughters, one died in infancy and the other was Sainte Isa- BELLE DE FRANCE. Mezeray, Histotre ds France. Dr. Brewer, History of France, Gustavo Masson, Mediseval France, The con« temporary accounts of the reign of Louis IX., and particularly of his expedition to the holy wars, in the collections of Bouquet, Bouchon, etc., are full of interest. Saussaye, Mart, Oall. Her Life is to be given by the Bollandists when they come to her day. B. Blanche (2), April 26. Daughter of Philip lU. the Fair, king of France (1285-1314). Worshipped in the con- vent of Longchamps, near Paris, founded by her great-aunt, St. Isabellb de Fk^NOK. AA.SS.f Prseter, from the Franciscan Mart. B. Blanche (3), Jan. 14. Abbess of Argensol, in Champagne (founded 1220). When it was revealed to her that Blanche, eountess of Champagne, queeu of Navarre, and founder of her convent, must die and lose her soul, this saintly woman gave up her own life as the only con- dition on which she could ransom that of her friend. Bucelinus, Men, Ben. St Blanda (l), May lo, M. 222. Wife of St. Felix, M. She was paralytic and bedridden for four years. Felix, hearing of the miracles of the Christians, applied to Palmatius — a consul newly converted to Christianity — promising to adopt that religion if his wife were cured. Palmatius, who was a guest and prisoner in the house of Simplicius, threw himself on his knees and prayed for the restoration of Blanda to health. Before an hour had elapsed, Blanda ran to the house, praising God, and begging to be baptized with her husband. Pal- matius then sent for St. Calixtus, the Pope, who baptized them and converted and baptized Simplicius, his wife and children, and about sixty-eight persons of his household. The Emperor Alex- ander was very angry, and had all the new converts beheaded and their heads stuck on the different gates of Home, as a warning to Christians. B.M. Boll., AA.SS.f who give the Ads " per notaries Eomanos Conscripta." Blanda (2), May 13, June 12; with St. Eleutherius, Feb. 20, V. 6th century. Baised to life, baptized and consecrated to God by St. Eleutherius, bishop of Toumay. She led a holy life, and her relics are honoured, with those of Eleutherius, in the cathedral of Toumay. Oallia Christiana^ iii. 571. Henschenius, AA.SS., Feb. 20. St. Blandina, June 2, V.M. f c. 1 77. One of the martyrs of Lyons. Patron of young girls. Represented (1) with a gridiron; (2) tied to a stake or pillar, a lion, bear, or ox standing by. A sanguinary and indiscriminate per- secution of the Christians occurred at Lyons and Vienne, in the reign of one of the best of men, as well as most tolerant of rulers^ namely, Marcus Aure- lius Antoninus. These cruelties were carried on by the local authorities after the Emperor had ordered the suspension of the persecution. There is nothing in sacred history more authentic than the story of the Martyrs of Lyons. The circumstances are related in a letter from the surviving Christians of those Churches to those of Phrygia and Asia. This letter is supposed to be written by St. LrensBUs, coadjutor of St. Photinus, bishop of Lyons. Part of it is preserved in the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, who says that he has given it in full in his Book of Martyrs, which is lost The letter says that "the faithful were dragged about the streets, imprisoned, stoned, and overwhelmed with outrages." Among the most distinguished of the
