JANE OF FLANDERS T. 
433 
nature;” he attended no place of worship; nor would he without 
great effort and much reluctance, vote at the city and county elec- 
tions. But when he did, it was always in support of the candidate 
most favourable to the cause and rights of the people. 
“Never vote for the ministerial members,” he used to say, “ the 
king and the great men will always take care of themselves.” He 
used to carry about with him a large sponge, and on long walks and 
rides he would now and then stop, dip the sponge in water, and soak 
the top of his head with it, saying it refreshed him far more than 
food or wine. He admitted no visitor whatever at his own house ; 
but sometimes went himself to see any person of whose genius or 
eccentricity he had conceived an interesting opinion ; and he liked, 
on these visits, to be treated with a cup of tea or coffee, books, and a 
pen and ink ; he then sat down close to the fire, rested his elbow on 
one knee, and, almost in a double 'posture, would read till morning, or 
make extracts of passages peculiarly striking to him. His favourite 
subjects were the pedigree of blood-horses, the writings of freethink- 
ers, chemistry, and natural history. 
Jane of Flanders I. 
This remarkable lady,wJio seems to have possessed all the best qua- 
lities of both sexes, was the wife of John de Mountfort, a competitor 
for the dukedom of Brittany upon the death of John HI. This duke 
dying without issue, left his dominions to his niece Jane, wdfe of 
Charles de Blois, nephew to the king of France ; but John de Mount* 
fort, brother to the late duke, but by a second marriage, claimed the 
duchy, and was received as successor by the people of Nantes. The 
greatest part of the nobility sw ore fealty to Charles de Blois, thinking* 
him best supported. This dispute occasioned a civil war, in the 
course of which John was taken prisoner, and sent to Paris. This 
misfortune would have ruined his party, had not his interest been 
supported by the extraordinary abilities of his wife Jane. Bold, 
daring, and intrepid, she fought like a warrior in the field ; shrew^d, 
sensible, and sagacious, she spoke like a politician in the council ; 
and endowed with the most amiable manners and winning address, 
she was able to move the minds of her subjects by the force of her 
eloquence, and mould them to her pleasure. 
She was at Rennes w hen she received the news of her husband’s cap- 
tivity ; but that disaster served only to rouse her native courage and 
fortitude. She forthwith assembled the citizens ; and, having in her 
arms her infant son, recommended him to their care and protection 
in the most pathetic terms, as the male heir of their ancient dukes, 
who had always governed them with lenity and indulgence, and to 
whom they had always professed the most zealous attachment. She 
declared herself willing to run all hazards with them in such a just 
cause ; pointed out their resources in the alliance of England ; earn- 
estly beseeching them to make one vigorous effort against an usurper, 
who being forced upon them by the intrigues of France, w'ould, as a 
mark of his gratitude, sacrifice the liberties of Brittany to his pro- 
tector. The people moved by the affecting appearance, and animated 
3 I 
