Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/571

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OF CELEBRATED WOMEN.
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MARGARET OF AUSTRIA, Duchess of Savoy, only Daughter of the Emperor Maximilian I; born 1480.

After the death of her mother, was sent to France, to be educated by Charlotte of Savoy, wife of Louis I. where she was contracted to the dauphin, afterwards Charles VIII.; but this prince choosing the more advantageous match of Anne of Brittany, whom he married in 1491, Margaret was sent back to her father, and given in marriage to John, infant of Spain, 1497. It is said, while she was on her voyage to espouse this prince, a violent storm arose, during which she made the following epitaph upon herself.

C'y git Margot, la gente Demoiselle,
Qu'eut deux Maris, et si mourut Pucelle.

She had the presence of mind to fasten these lines and her jewels round her arm, with a waxed cloth. The storm, however, abated; and, after being obliged to lie by a little time in England, she reached Gallicia, and the marriage was celebrated at Burgos soon after. But her husband did not live long; and Margaret was, in 1501, married to Philip the handsome, duke of Savoy, who died 1504, upon which she retired into Germany, to the court of her father, who made her governess of the Low Countries for his grandson, Charles of Austria. Here she acquired great reputation, by her wise and prudent conduct. She was averse to the doctrines of Luther; and died 1550, aged 30. She left many works, as well in prose as in French verse; amongst others. An account of her life and misfortunes. She was buried in the beautiful church she had built at Bamgen-bresse, where is her motto, fortune, infortune, fors une; which the curious explain differently. Henry Cornelius

Agrippa,