A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Bectoz, (Claude de)
BECTOZ, (CLAUDE DE) Daughter of a Gentleman in Dauphiny, Abbess of Honore de Tarrascon. Died 1547.
Appeared, in her early years, of such a promising genius, that a monk, named Denis Fauchier, determined to teach her Latin and the Belles Lettres. In a little time she made so great a progress, that she equalled the most learned men of the age. Her Latin and French poems, letters, and treatises, for acuteness and solidity have been classed with those of the ancient philosophers. She maintained a correspondence with many learned men in France and Italy, Francis I. her sovereign, was not contented to write to her; he carried her letters about with him, and shewed them to the ladies of the court, as proper models for imitation; and, being at Avignon, went to see her, as did his sister Margaret, queen of Navarre. She died the same day as this monarch, and also Henry VIII. of England. On becoming a nun, she took the name of Scholastica.