A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Barri de S. Aunez, (Constance de Ceseli)
BARRI DE S. AUNEZ, (CONSTANCE DE CESELI) Wife of.
The town of Leucates, in Languedoc, being besieged by the faction of the league in 1590, M. de Barri, who was the governor, was taken prisoner, under pretence of demanding an interview with him. He, however, contrived, at the moment, to write to his wife, whose talents and courage he was well acquainted with. He begged her to take the command of the town, and to defend it to the last extremity. Not losing a moment's time, she obeyed him, maintaining order and shewing herself often upon the walls with a pike in her hand, encouraging the garrison by her example. When the assailants perceived her plans and intrepidity, they sought to intimidate her by threatening to put her husband to death, if she did not give up the place. She had large possessions, and offered all willingly to ransom him; but said she would not buy even his life by an act of perfidy, at which he would blush. They put him likewise to the most cruel tortures, that he might command his wife to open the gates to them; but he braved their menaces; and, being obliged to raise the siege, they were atrocious enough to strangle him.
On receiving this news, Madame de Barri was struck with grief and horror; but feeling that a Christian must not give way to vengeance, she opposed the wishes of the garrison to make reprisals on some gentlemen who were their prisoners; and, in the hour of anguish, exerted herself to save their lives.
To do honour to her virtue, Henry IV. commanded her still to enjoy the government of Leucates, which she held for twenty-seven years.