followed, were in the highest degree prejudicial to his interests; and he now totally withdrew his confidence from Catherine. Mortified at the loss of an authority she had so long enjoyed, and advanced in years, she expired at Blois, 1589, in the 73d year of her age. In her last moments she perceived the fatal effects of her own insidious policy, and strenuously exhorted Henry to be reconciled to the princes of his blood, particularly the king of Navarre, whose sincerity, she declared, she had constantly experienced; and advised him to restore tranquillity to his kingdom, by putting a stop to the persecution of the protestants, and allowing them the free exercise of their religion.
MEGALOSTRATA, a Grecian Poetess, Friend of Alcmon the Lyrist, about 672, B. C.
None of her poems remain; but there are satires written against her.
MERIAN (MADAME), see Gravio; born at Frankfort, 1647.
Famous for painting flowers, &c. in water colours; look several journeys, to forward her favourite study, particularly to the West Indies, where, during two months stay at Surinam, she painted after nature all the insects she could discover, which were published, with explanations in Latin, at Amsterdam, 1705, folio, and twice reprinted, in Latin and French. She published also a book of Caterpillars, their changes, and the plants
