AMAZONS. 
153 
Henry the Fourth’s governor 'at Leucate, ventured to attack them, 
but unfqrtunately fell into their hands. They were persuaded, that 
by thus having the governor in their power, the gates of that place 
would be immediately opened to them, or at least would not hold out 
long. But Constantia de Ceselli, his wife, after having assembled 
the garrison, put herself so resolutely at their head, pike in hand, 
that she inspired the weakest with courage ; and the besiegers were 
repulsed wherever they presented themselves. Shame, and their 
great loss, having rendered them desperate, they sent a message 
to the courageous woman, acquainting her, that if she continued 
to defend herself, they would hang her husband. She replied 
with tears in her eyes, “ I have riches in abundance : I have offered 
them, and I still do offer them, for his ransom ; but I would not 
ignominiousiy purchase a. life which he would reproach me with, and 
which he would be ashamed to enjoy. I will not dishonour him by 
treason against my king and country.” The besiegers having made 
a fresh attack without success, put her husband to death, and raised 
the siege. Henry the Fourth afterwards sent to this lady the brevet 
of .governess of Leucate, with the reversion of it to her son. 
The famous maid of Orleans is a shining example of female 
courage and patriotism, well known to every reader ; and her fate 
is an everlasting disgrace to the tyrant who murdered her. In the 
end of the 18th century, the enthusiasm of French liberty and equality 
excited many females of that nation to commence Amazons, and 
to follow their husbands, brothers, and lovers, to victory or death. 
The Abbe Arnaud, in his memoirs, speaks of a countess of St. Bal- 
moiU, who used to take the field with her husband, and fight by his 
side. She sent several Spanish prisoners of her taking to marshal 
Feuquirs ; and what is not a little extraordinary, this Amazon, at 
home, was all sweetness and good nature, and gave herself up to 
reading and acts of piety. John de los Sanetos, a Portuguese author, 
in his description of Ethiopia, speaks of a nation of Amazons existing 
in Afi ica, and ^neas Sylvius gives a very particular account of a 
nation of real Amazons in Bohemia, which lasted seven years, founded 
by a courageous maid named Valasca. 
Dr. Petit, a French physician, published a Latin dissertation in 
1685, to prove that there was really a nation of Amazons ; it con- 
tains abundance of curious inquiries relating to their habits, their 
arms, the cities built by them, &c. Others of the moderns also 
maintain that their existence is sufficiently proved by the testi- 
mony of such historians of antiquity as are most worthy of credit, 
by the monumerds which many of them have mentioned, and by 
medals, some of which are still remaining : and there is not the least 
room to believe that what is said of them is fabulouS. 
Dr. Johnson seems to have given some credit to the accounts 
which have been transmitted to us concerning the ancient Amazons, 
and he has endeavoured to shew, that we ought not hastily to reject 
ancient historical narrations, because they contain facts repugnant 
to modern manners, and exhibit scenes to which nothing now occur- 
ring bears a resemblance. — ‘‘Of what we know not,” says he, “we 
can only judge by what we know. Every novelty appears more 
u 
