Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/145

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one of her biographers, "at the head of the American poets of that time." She died in 1672, aged sixty.

BRAGELONGNE, AGNES DE,

A French poetess, lived In the 12th. century, in the reign of Philip Augustus. She was the daughter of the Count de Tonnerre, and was married when very young to the Count de Plancy, and after his death, to Henri de Craon, whom she had long loved, and to whom much of her poetry is addressed. The poem of "Gabriette de Vergy" which is only a romance versified, is attributed to this writer.

BRAMBATI, EMILIA,

Of Bergamo, was the wife of Ezechiello Solza, distinguished for her poetic talent, and for her eloquence. She became the pleader for the life of her brother, condemned to death by the Tribunal of Venice, and drew tears from the eyes of all the bystanders. Some of her poems remain.

BRAMBATI, ISOTTA,

Of Bergamo, was a good classical scholar, and understood all the polite languages of Europe. She wrote poetry with great elegance; and is said to have managed several law-suits, pleading them herself, in the Senate of Milan, with consummate ability, and, what is more extraordinary, without being thought ridiculous. She was the wife of Girolamo Grumelli. She died in 1586. Some of her letters and poems were published by Comir Ventura, in Bergamo, in 1587.

BRATTON, MARTHA,

A native of Rowan county, N. Carolina, married William Bratton, of South Carolina, and, during the Revolution, a colonel In the American army. While her husband was engaged with his troops away from home, Mrs. Bratton was often left to defend herself and the stores entrusted to her charge. At one time, she blew up the ammunition left under her care, when she saw that otherwise it would fall into the hands of the enemy, and boldly avowed the deed, that no one else might suffer for her act. When threatened with instant death by a British soldier, if she persisted in refusing to give information concerning her husband's retreat, she continued firm in her resolution. Being rescued by the intervention of an officer, she repaid the obligation by saving him from death, when taken prisoner by the American party, and by entertaining him at her house till he was exchanged. She died in 1816.

BRAY, MRS.,

Is a native of Devonshire. Her first husband was Charles Stothard, Esq., whom she greatly assisted in his antiquarian researches, and hence her knowledge of the arts and antiquities of her country. In 1836, she published a very amusing book, "Description of Devonshire, bordering on the Tamar and Tavy." In 1841, she produced an excellent description of her travels on the continent,—"The Mountains and Lakes of Switzerland," etc. She has besides published several novels, which are not without