A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Musnier, (Ann)
MUSNIER (ANN).
"I do not know," says St. Foix, "a more flattering or finer title to nobility, than that which the descendants of Ann Musnier produced, at the reformation. Three men, whilst they were waiting in an alley of the count of Champaign's garden, for that prince's rising, consulted together upon a plot they had laid for assassinating him. Ann Musnier, who was concealed behind a tree, overheard part of their conversation: seeing them withdraw, shocked at the thoughts of a design against her prince's life, and fearful perhaps that she should not have time enough to acquaint him of it, she called out from the other end of the walk, and beckoned to them as if she wanted to speak with them. One of them advancing towards her, she stabbed him with a large kitchen knife, and he fell at her feet: she then defended herself against the other two, and received several wounds.
By this time people came to her assistance; and in searching these villains, there were found upon them presumptive proofs of a conspiracy. They confessed the whole, when put to the torture, and were quartered. Ann Musnier, Gerard de Langres her husband, and their descendants, were ennobled.